CHAPTER VII.

*¢ Dost thou feel The solemn whispering influence of the scene a Oppressing thy young heart, that thou dost draw
os More closely to my side? ”—F, Hemans: Wood Walk and Hymn.
se CAROLINE and. Evelyn, as was natural, became great friends. _ They were not kindred to each other in disposition, but they — were thrown together; and friendship thus forced upon both, © Unsuspecting and sanguine, it was natural to Evelyn to admire; _ _and Caroline was, to her inexperience, a brilliant and imposing . novelty. Sometimes Miss Merton’s worldliness of thought 4 Bie we Evelyn; but then Caroline had a way with her, as if ~ she were not in earnest—as if she were merely indulging -an inclination towards irony ; nor was she without a certain vein of’sentiment that persons a little hackneyed in the world ae young ladies a little disappointed that they are not wives 7 instead of maids, easily acquire. ‘Trite as this vein of sentiment © was, poor Evelyn thought it beautiful and most feeling, Then, Caroline was clever, entertaining, cordial, with all that superficial ‘superiority that a girl of twenty-three who knows London readily exercises over a country girl of seventeen. On the other _ hand, Caroline was kind and affectionate towards her. The _clergyman’s daughter felt that she could not be always superior, _ even in fashion, to the wealthy heiress. is One evening, as Mrs. Leslie and Mrs. Merton sat under the veranda of the cottage, without their hostess, who had gone alone into the village—and the young ladies were confidentially if = conversing on the lawn, Mrs. Leslie said, rather abruptly, “Ts not Evelyn a delightful creature? How unconscious of es beauty ; how simple, and yet so naturally gifted!” “J have never seen one who interested me more,” said
.
peer wat he Ag aig sl 2) ALICE ; OR, THI
“Tam so anxious about her,” resumed Mrs. Leslie, thought’ fully. “You know the wish of the late Lord Vargrave that sie should marry his nephew, the present lord, when she reaches — the age of eighteen. She only wants nine or ten months” of that time; she has seen nothing of the world: she is not fit’
to decide for herself; and Lady Vargrave, the best of haman
creatures, is still herself almost too inexperienced in the’ world
to be a guide for one so young placed in such peculiar
circumstances, and of prospects so brilliant. Lady Yargrave at heart is a child still, and will be so even when as old as Iam.”
“It is very true,’ said Mrs. Merton. “Don’t you fear that the girls will catch cold? the dew is falling, and the grass must be wet.”
“T have thought,” continued Mrs. Leslie, without heeding the latter part of Mrs. Merton’s speech, “that it would be 2 kind thing to invite Evelyn to stay with you a few months at the Rectory. To be sure, it is not like London; but you see a great deal of the world: the society at your house is well
selected, and at times even brilliant ;—she will meet young
people of her own age, and young people fashion and form each other.”
“T was thinking myself that I should like to invite her,” said Mrs. Merton; “TI will consult Caroline.”
“Caroline, I am sure, would be delighted ; the difficulty lies
rather in Evelyn herself.”
“ You surprise me! she must be moped to death here.”
“But will she leave her mother ?”
“Why, Caroline often leaves me,” said Mrs. Merton.
Mrs. Leslie was silent, and Evelyn and her new friend now joined the mother and daughter.
“I have been trying to persuade Evelyn to pay us a little visit,” said Caroline; “she could accompany us so nicely and if she is still strange with us—dear grandmamma goes too—I am sure we can make her at home.”
“How odd!” said Mrs. Merton ; “we were just saying the
same thing. My dear Miss Cameron we should be so happy to have you.”
_
As she spoke, the moon, a risen, showed the form of isan Vargrave slowly approaching the house. By the light, her tures seemed more pale than usual; and her slight and licate form, with its gliding motion and noiseless step, had in t something almost ethereal and unearthly. Evelyn turned and saw her, and her heart smote her. Her — mother—so wedded to the_ dear cottage—and had this gay — _ stranger rendered that dear cottage less attractive—she who had _ aid she could live and die in its humble precincts? Abruptly | he left her new friend, hastened to her mother, and threw her | arms fondly round her. “You are pale, you have over-fatigued yourself. Where hae _ you been ?—why did you not take me with you ?” _ Lady Vargrave pressed Evelyn’s hand affectionately. a “You care for me too much,” said she. “I am but a dull - companion for you; I was so glad to see you happy with one © 4 - better suited to your gay spirits. What can we do when she | leaves us ?” 3 “ Ah,.I want no companion but my own—own mother. And have I not Sultan, too?” added Evelyn, smiling away the teat that had started to her eyes.
»