CHAPTER VII.

* Nihil est aliud magnum quam multa minuta.” 1 —Vet. Auct,
AN anxious event disturbed the smooth current of cheerful life at Merton Rectory. One morning when Evelyn came down, she missed little Sophy, who had contrived to establish for her- self the undisputed privilege of a stool beside Miss Cameron at breakfast. Mrs. Merton appeared with a graver face than usual. Sophy was unwell, was feverish ; the scarlet fever had been in the neighbourhood. Mrs. Merton was very uneasy. _
“It is the more unlucky, Caroline,” added the mother, turning to Miss Merton, “ because to-morrow, you know, we were to have
spent a few days at Knaresdean to see the races, If poor Sophy -
does not get better, I fear you and Miss Cameron must go without me. I can send to Mrs. Hare to be your chaperon ; she would be delighted.”
“Poor Sophy!” said Caroline; “I am very sorry to hear she is unwell ; but I think Taylor would take great care of her; you surely need not stay, unless she is much worse.”
Mrs. Merton, who, tame as she seemed, was a fond and atten- tive mother, shook her head and said nothing: but Sophy was
1 There is nothing so great as the collection of the minute,
a ECA
—=
much worse before noon. The doctor was sent for, and pro-—
nounced it to be the scarlet fever. It was now necessary to guard against the infection. Caroline — had had the complaint, and she willingly shared in her mother’s watch of love for two or three hours. Mrs. Merton gave up the — _ party. Mrs. Hare (the wife of a rich squire in the neighbour- hood) was written to, and that lady willingly agreed to take charge of Caroline and her friend. :
____ Sophy had been left asleep. When Mrs. Merton returned to. her bed, she found Evelyn quietly stationed there. Thisalarmed _ 4 her, for Evelyn had never had the scarlet fever, and had been forbidden the sick-room. But poor little Sophy had waked and — 4 querulously asked for her dear Evy; and Evy, who had been hovering round the room, heard the inquiry from the garrulous nurse, and come in she would; and the child gazed at her so be- seechingly, when Mrs. Merton entered, and said so piteously, “Don’t take Evy away,” that Evelyn stoutly declared that she was not the least afraid of infection, and stay she must. Nay,
Caroline was to go to Knaresdean the next day. - “But you go too, my dear Miss Cameron ?”
“Indeed I could not; I don’t care for races, I never wished to go; I would much sooner have stayed; and I am sure Sophy will not get well without me—will you, dear?”
3 “Oh, yes, yes—if I’m to keep you from the nice races—I should be worse if I thought that.”
“But I don’t like the nice races, Sophy, as your sister Carry does; she must go; they can’t do without her ;—but nobody _ knows me, soI shall not be missed.”
~ “J can’t hear of such a thing,” said Mrs. Merton, with tears in her eyes ; and Evelyn said no more then ;—but the next morning Sophy was still worse, and the mother was too anxious and too sad to think more of ceremony and politeness,—so Evelyn — stayed.
A momentary pang shot across Evelyn’s breast when all was settled ; but she suppressed the sigh which accompanied the thought that she had lost the only opportunity she might have
~ for weeks of seeing Maltravers; to that chance she had indeed
her share in the nursing would be the more necessary since gu
looked forward with interest and timid pleasure,—the ~ was lost—but why should it vex her—what was he to her ? __ Caroline’s heart smote her, as she came into the room in her
lilac bonnet and new dress ; and little Sophy, turning on her eyes which, though languid, still expressed a child’s pleasure at the } sight of finery, exclaimed, “How nice and pretty you look,
Carry !—do take Evy with you—Evy looks pretty too!” Caroline kissed the child in silence, and paused irresolute ; glanced at her dress, and then at Evelyn, who smiled on her without a thought of envy ; and she had half a mind to stay too, when her mother entered with a letter from Lord Vargrave. It was short: he should be at the Knaresdean races—hoped to
meet them there, and accompany them home, This information.
re-decided Caroline, while it rewarded Evelyn. Ina few minutes more, Mrs. Hare arrived ; and Caroline, glad to. escape, perhaps, her own compunction, hurried into the carriage, with a hasty
“God bless you all!—don’t fret—I’m sure she will be well
to-morrow—and mind, Evelyn, you don’t catch the fever!” Mr. Merton looked grave and sighed, as he handed her into the carriage ; but when, seated there, she turned round and kissed her hand at ‘him, she looked so handsome and distinguished, that a sentiment of paternal pride smoothed down his vexation at her want of feeling. He himself gave up the visit; but a little time after, when Sophy fell into a tranquil sleep, he thought he might
venture to canter across the country to the race-ground, and return to dinner,
Days—nay, a whole week passed—the races were over—but
Caroline had not returned. Meanwhile, Sophy’s fever left her ;
she could quit her bed—her room—she could come down stairs —
now—and the family was happy. It is astonishing how the least ailment in those little things sto life! Evelyn fortunately had not caught the fever: she was pale, and somewhat reduced by fatigue and confinement: but she was amply repaid by the mother’s swimming look of quiet grati- tude—the father’s pressure of the hand—Sophy’s recovery—and her own good heart, They had heard twice from Caroline, putting off her return ‘—Lady Raby was so kind, she could not
chance
ps the wheels of domestic
Re ee
Pah Oi eg ns
ount of sane ‘Lord Vargrave had not yet arrived at the rectory to stay ; ; but
é a had twice ridden over, and remained there some hours. He
leceived by his manners, and influenced by the recollections of long and familiar acquaintance, was blinded to his real character
stepfather. s To the Mertons, Lumley spoke with good-natured praise. of sz ‘Caroline; she was so much admired: she was the beauty at 2 _ Knaresdean. A certain young friend of his, Lord Doltimore, _ was evidently smitten. The parents thought much over theideas conjured up by that last sentence. # One morning, the garrulous Mrs. Hare—the gossip of the 2 neighbourhood called at the rectory ; she had returned, two days : % from Knaresdean; and she, too, had her tale to tell of _Caroline’s conquests. ae __ “T assure you, my dear Mrs. Merton, if we had not all known that his heart was pre-occupied, we should have thought that — __ Lord Vargrave was her warmest admirer. Most charming man, — Lord Vargrave!—but as for Lord Doltimore, it was quite a flirtation. Excuse me—no scandal, you know, ha, ha! a fine young man, but stiff and reserved—not the fascination of Lord _ Vargrave.” e- “Does Lord Raby return to town, or is he now at Knaresdean ~ for the autumn ?”
“He goes on Friday, I believe: very few of the guests are left now. Lady A., and Lord-B., and Lord Vargrave, and your daughter, and Mr. Legard, and Lord Doltimore, and Mrs. and —
the Misses Cipher ; all the rest went the same day I did.”
“Indeed !” said Mrs. Merton, in some surprise.
“ Ah, I read your thoughts: you wonder that Miss Caroline has not come back—is not that it? But perhaps Lord Doltimore ha, ha !—no scandal now—do excuse me / x “Was Mr. Maltravers at Knaresdean?” asked Mrs. Merton, wnxious to change the subject, and unprepared with any other |
ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES,
etait: 126
question. Evelyn was cutting out a paper horse for Sophy, who —all her high spirits flown—was lying on the sofa, and wistfully following her fairy fingers—“ Naughty Evy, you have cut off: the horse’s head!”
“Mr. Maltravers—no, I think not; no, he was not there. Lord Raby asked him pointedly to come, and was, I know, much disappointed that he did not. But @ propos of Mr. Maltravers: I met him not a quarter of an hour ago, this morning, as I was coming to you. You know we have leave to come through his park, and as I was in the park at the time, I stopped the carriage to speak to him. I told him that I was coming here, and that you had had the scarlet fever in the house, which was the reason you had not gone to the races: and he turned quite pale, and seemed so alarmed. I said we were all afraid that Miss Cameron should catch it; and, excuse — me—ah, ah !—no scandal, I hope—but ”
“Mr. Maltravers,” said the butler, throwing open the door.
Maltravers entered with a quick and even a hurried step; he stopped short when he saw Evelyn; and his whole countenance was instantly lightened up by a joyous expression, which as suddenly died away.
“This is kind, esd ” said Mrs. Merton; “it is so long since we have seen you.”
“I have been very much cteied muttered Maltravers, _ almost inaudibly, and seated himself next Evelyn. “I only just heard—that—that you had sickness in the house—Miss Cameron, you look pale—you—you have not suffered, I hope ?”
“No—I am quite well,” said Evelyn, with a smile; and she felt happy that her friend was kind to her once more.
“Tt’s only me, Mr. Ernest,” said Sophy; “you have forgot me.”
Maltravers hastened to vindicate himself from the charge, and Sophy and he were soon made excellent friends again.
Mrs. Hare, whom surprise at this sudden meeting had hitherto silenced, and who longed to shape into elegant periphrasis the common adage, “Talk of,” &c, now once more opened her budget. She tattled on, first to one, then to the other, then tc all, till she had tattled herself out of breath; and then the
a roicdox half-hour was expired, and the bell was rung, and oh carriage ordered, and Mrs. Hare rose to depart.
“Do just come to the door, Mrs. Merton,” said she, “and look 2 my pony-phaeton, it is so pretty—Lady Raby admires it so bche fe you ought to have just such another.” As she spoke,
she favoured Mrs. Merton with a significant glance, that said, as _ plainly as glance could say, “I have something to communicate.” Mrs, Merton took the hint, and followed the good lady out of _ the room. 4 ;
_ posed between the apartment they had left and the hall; _ “do you know whether Lord Vargrave and Mr. Maltravers are "very good friends?”
“No, indeed ; why do you ask ?”
_ “Oh, because when I was speaking to Lord Vargrave about _ him, he shook his head; and really I don’t remember what his lordship said; but he seemed to speak as if there was a little _ soreness. And then he inquired very anxiously if Mr. Maltravers was much at the rectory; and looked discomposed when he _ found you were such near neighbours. You'll excuse me, you _ know—ha, ha! but we’re such old friends !—and if Lord Vargrave _ is coming to stay here, it might be unpleasant to meet—you'll - excuse me. I took the liberty to tell him he need not be jealous _ of Mr. Maltravers—ha, ha !—not a marrying man at all. But I _ did think Miss Caroline was the attraction—you'll excuse me— no scandal—ha, ha! But, after all, Lord Doltimore must be _ the man ;—well, good morning, I thought I’d just give you this hint. Is not the phaeton pretty? Kind compliments to _ Mr. Merton.”
And the lady drove off.
During this confabulation, Maltravers and Evelyn were left alone with Sophy. Maltravers had continued to lean over the child, and appeared listening to her prattle; while Evelyn, having risen to shake hands with Mrs. Hare, did not reseat herself, but went to the window, and busied herself with a flower- _ stand in the recess.
Qh, very fine, Mr. Ernest,” said Sophy (always pronouncing
a Do you know, my dear Mrs. Merton,” said Mrs. Hare, ina _ whisper, when they were safe in the billiard-room, that inter-
x 28
- ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES,
_ that proper name as if it ended in z), “you care very much for
us to stay away so long—don’t he, Evy? I’ve a great mind not to speak to you, sir, that I have!”
“That would be too heavy a punishment, Miss Sophy—only,
luckily, it would punish yourself; you could not live without talking—talk—talk—talk !”
“But I might never have talked more, Mr. Ernest, if mamma and pretty Evy had not been so kind to me;” and the child shook
her head mournfully, as if she had pitié de soi-méme, “But you |
won't stay away so long again, will you? Sophy play to-morrow
- —come to-morrow, and swing Sophy—no nice swinging since you've been gone.”
While Sophy spoke Evelyn turned half round, as if to hear Maltravers answer: he hesitated, and Evelyn spoke,
“You must not tease Mr. Maltravers so: Mr. Maltravers has too much to do to come to us.”
Now this was a very pettish speech in Evelyn, and her cheek |
glowed while she spoke ; but an arch, provoking smile was on her lips.
“It can be a privation only to me, Miss Cameron,” said Mal- travers, rising, and attempting in vain to resist the impulse that drew him towards the window. The reproach in her tone and words at once pained and delighted him; and then this scene, the suffering child—brought back to him his first interview with Evelyn herself. He forgot, for the moment, the lapse of time— the new ties she had formed—his own resolutions,
““That is a bad compliment to us,” answered Evelyn, in- genuously ; “do you think we are so little worthy your society as not to value it? But, perhaps” (she added, sinking her
voice) “ perhaps you have been offended—perhaps I—I—said—
something that—that hurt you!” “You!” repeated Maltravers, with emotion.
Sophy, who had _ been attentively listening, here put in— 4
“ Shake hands and make it up with Evy—you’ve
been quarrel- ling, naughty Ernest!”
Evelyn laughed, and tossed back her sunny ringlets. pace t said she, with enchanting simplicity;
think Sophy is right,” “Jet us make it up;” and she held out her hand to Maltravers,
~ ) - Jt ee, er ce eee
ate Rind
laltravers pressed the fair hand to his lips. “ Alas!” said
ep voice, “your only fault is that your society makes me — iscontented with my solitary home; and as solitude must be . my fate in life, I seek to inure myself to it betimes.” -Here—whether opportunely or not, it is for the reader me cide—Mrs. Merton returned to the room. ; _ She apologised for her absence—talked of Mrs. Hare and the ‘ little Master Hares—fine boys, but noisy; and then she asked _ Maltravers if he had seen Lord Vargrave since his lordship had _ been in the county. Maltravers replied, with coldness, that he — had not had that honour: that Vargrave had called on him in his way from the rectory the other day, but that he was from home, and that he had not seen him for some years.
“He is a person of most prepossessing manners,” said Mrs. "Merton. q “ Certainly—most prepossessing.” -“ And very clever.”
“He has great talents.” “He seems most amiable.” | - Maltravers bowed, and glanced towards Evelyn, whose fae S however, was turned from him.
The turn the conversation had eat was painful to the visitor, and he rose to depart. _ “Perhaps,” said Mrs, Merton, “you will meet Lord Vargrave at dinner to-morrow; he will stay with us a few days—as long as he can be spared.” _ Maltravers meet Lord Vargrave !—the happy Vargrave ;—the betrothed to Evelyn !—Maltravers witness the familiar rights— the enchanting. privileges accorded to another !—and that other one whom he could not believe worthy of Evelyn! He writhed at the picture the invitation conjured up. “You are very kind, my dear Mrs. Merton, but I expect a visitor at Burleigh—an old and dear friend, Mr. Cleveland.” “Mr. Cleveland !—we shall be delighted to see him too. We knew him many years ago, during your minority, when he used to visit Burleigh two or three times a year.” “Hei changed since then; he is often an invalid. I fear I
: Bi acta :
“130 ss ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES,
cannot answer for him; but he will call as soon as he arrives, and apologise for himself.” Maltravers then hastily took his departure. He would not
trust himself to do more than bow distantly to Evelyn; she looked at him reproachfully. So, then, it was really premedi-
tated and resolved upon—his absence from the rectory—and why ?—she was grieved—she was offended—but more grieved
_ than offended—perhaps because esteem, interest, admiration ;
are more tolerant and charitable than love.