Parr_Hero_Carthew.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
CHAPTER I.
A LITTLE CONTRE-TEMPS.
Among the inhabitants a tradition existed that when the
great naval port of Dockmouth was a fishing village, Mal-
lett was a thriving town, and sent two members to Parliament.
It needed a considerable amount of faith to credit
this assertion, and of imagination to picture the quiet, old-
fashioned place as other than it now stood a quaint, ill-
i built cluster of houses stretching from the water's edge by
a steep street to the high road above, and terminating in a
straggling colony of pretty cottages, villas, and pleasant
detached houses. These last were the residences of military
and naval men, with large families and small means, and
retired officers, maiden ladies and widows, who formed the
principal gentry of Mallett. The noses of the Mallett folk
were not at all offended by the odor of fish, seaweed, and
old rope, which pervaded every nook and comer of their
primitive village. When strangers, pointing to the refuse
heaps rotting here and there, declared that even the deli-
cious breezes from the adjacent commons could not coun-
teract such baneful poison as this, the Mallett folk only
smiled. They treated as new-fangled notions the talk of
the Dockmouth people about the drainage being so bad
that visitors could not stand it And when a suspicion
dawned upon their untutored minds that some slur was thus
intended to be cast upon their beloved \\ome.
turn suddenly, as was their wont, quick and fierce, and ask,
"Who wanted strangers? Not they. Folks as couldn't
abide a good wjiolesome stink o' fish had best stay away.
Who was they, they wondered, for whom Mallett must be
altered? 'Twas good enough for the Capen and Miss
Hero; and if any man or woman at Docktnouth, or at any
other pott, would say that they could lay fingers on their
betters, why p'raps they'd stand out and say it." And this
challenge being given by men, who, noted as wrestiers, are
strong and sturdy of limb, ic was rarely taken up, and a sur-
ly silence) an unintelligible growl, was accepted by the Mal-
lett champions as an acknowledgment that the Capen, the
King o' Mallett, as many fondly called him, ranked second
lo none.
The Captain would most assuredly have sided with
his friends. It was his boast that no one could tell the
time when there hadn't been Carthews in Mallett. From
his father he inherited Sharrows, an unpretentious, ramb-
ling sort of residence, visible from the high road, while the
grounds if such the tangle of flowers and shrubs could be
designated ran down to the sandy beach below. Captain
Carthew had married somewhat late in life, on account so
he said of his having been little on shore, and not having
been a good hand at keeping up a running fire in the shape
of epistolary wooing. When at length he had made his op-
portunity, he did not long enjoy domestic felicity. His
wife died soon after the birth of their first child, named
Hero, in honor of the dashing frigate which the Captain
then commanded. Since that time, by his ardent admira-
tion of the fair sex, and his devoted attentions. Captain
Carthew had raised many a fluttering hope among the spin-
ster portion of Mallett society ; but one by one these illu-
sions fell to the ground. 1 1 gradually came to be under-
stood that these flattering gallantries were only part of the
Captain's chivalrous manners, that they meant nothing in
E articular to anybody, and that it was more than improba-
le that the dead mistress of Sharrows would ever have a
upcessor.
^Bj^ty yeaja had passed since Mrs, Carthew's death.
HERO CARTHEW, 3
during which time the Captain had been placed upon the
retired list, the navy had gone to the dogs, and his daugh-
ter had grown from the ** Capen's little maid/' who shouted
with delight as her rough devotees swung her in their
brawny arms, into a bright fearless girl, whose presence was
greeted with delight by every inhabitant of Mallett. It
took outsiders some time to comprehend, or in the least de-
gree to understand, the bond of faith and trust which exist-
ed between the owners of Sharrows and their humble friends.
It was patent to all that a man with nothing beyond his
pay and good service pension could not win popularity
by gifts or money. Yet not a joy or sorrow entered one ef
the village homes without sympathy and help, to the best of
their means, coming from Sharrows; and there was not a
man or woman in all Mallett but felt securely confident
that no matter what happened, the doors of Sharrows
would never be closed against them; that if the Capen had
but one loaf of bread he would share it with them, and that
if he had a fortune left him they would be all gainers.
This trust formed the basis of their .loyalty, and was a
good reason why the inhabitants, while they freely tendered
their respects to the rector, the doctor, and the whole of the
Mallett gentry (with most of whom either they or their
children had served or were serving the Queen), Captain
Carthew was " the Capen," their councillor in difficulties,
and their sheet-anchor in trouble or sorrow. When com-
plimented on his popularity, the Captain would shake his
head, saying, " But you know it ought not to be so ; the
master of Combe should be port-admiral at Mallett. Why,
do you think I'm blind, because I won't see the things
which people, who turn up their noses at us, are pointing
out ? But there's no getting Sir Stephen down here, and
until he knows us, he'U never care about us. Ah ! it's a
thousand pities to see the old place going to rack and ruin."
The place referred to was Combe-Mallett an estate
which would have found little favor in the eyes of most
landowners. The house was moderately large, and old-
fashioned enough to look picturesque ; but the laud XtA.clved
to it had, from neglect, become aJlbul \)i&d'e8&\ icA ^^2^ ^
ffSKO CARTffSW.
Peen allowed the handling of a fine property, which _^
been in the family for generations. Poor Mre. Presco'tt,
bent on living on bread and water to try and keep it for
her son, lived in terror that she would not be able to
hold out till Sir Stephen was of age, but would have to
take the lawyer's advice and sell it. But, impossible as
it had seemed, hold out she did ; and at twenty-one Sir
Stephen Prescott found himself called upon to manage a
large estate, which was hampered by liabilities of every de-
scription, and which kept him in a continual strait by
forcing him to contract new loans to pay off old scores.
Thus it was, that while the simple Mallett folk regarded
him as a Crcesus, who Uved a life of thoughtless pleasure,
and could turn their poor village into an earthly paradise,
without being obliged to deny himself a single luxury; he
refrained from asking his agent one word about them,
dreading to hear of distresses which he could not remedy,
or suggested improvements which he had not the money to
The agent, Mr. Tniscott, lived at Dockmouth, and for
the last five or six years, on account of Sir Stephen having
been abroad, had reigned supreme over Mailett, rulmg with
so strict a hand that people rather let things go on, however
bad they might be, " than knuckle down to that Truscott,
who had swept out Glynn's offices for all he rode on horse-
back, switching his whip as flourishin' as if he was his mas-
ter." During the past year, however, hope had greatly re-
vived. Sir Stephen had not only returned to England, but
had announced that he should most probably pay Mallett
a visit an announcement which, a few weeks before, had
been confirmed by Mrs. Tucker, the housekeeper at Combe,
receiving a letter from Sir Stephen himself, saying that she
was to get a couple of rooms in order, as, in the course of a
week or so, he would be at no great distance, and would
probably run down to Mallett for a few days.
What was to be done ? How was he to be received ?
When would he come ? These, and a dozen other ques-
tions were speculated upon, without any conclusion being
' ait that something must be done; but it'""
1
HERO CARTHEW. , 7
agreed that what this something ought to be need not be
decided upon until Sir Stephen wrote again, which most
assuredly he would do before he came.
" One thing I am glad of," said Hero Carthew, who was
seeing her father as far as Ferry Bridge, on his road to
Dockmouth ; " I am glad Sir Stephen has chosen this sea-
son to pay his visit to Combie. It never looks so lovely as
in the spring."
" I wonder when the fellow means to make his appear-
ance ?" said the Captain. " These youngsters want such a
sight of backing and filling. Why, in my day "
** Now, you dear old thing, it's your day now," interrupt-
ed Hero ; " and Sir Stephen never positively said how soon
he intended coming."
" Oh ! of course, you'll take his part," replied the Cap-
tain. " You women are all alike, ready to wager any mor-
tal thing against the likelihood of a full-blown baronet
doing wrong."
Hero laughed.
" I hope he will turn out to be as nice as we want him
to be," she said. " It would be a little trial to give up
going in and out of Combe, as I suppose we should have
to do, if Sir Stephen came to live there. Find out if you
can, papa, whether Mr. Truscott knows when he is coming,
and how long he intends to stay."
" And what do you mean to do with yourself while I am
gone ?" asked her father.
" I ! Oh, I shall go to the Joslyns, and see Alice. You
are certain not to be back until five or six o'clock. Be sure
and bring me the parcel firom Home's, and the wool from
Miss Gregory's, and don't forget my brooch and Betsy's or-
ders, whatever you do."
" All right," said the old gentleman, bidding his daughter
good-bye.
** Take care of yourself, and don't get into mischief," she
called after him; and then, with sundry nods, lookings-
back, and shouted messages, the two parted. Captain Car-
thew to take his place in Ned Wallis's boat fox DocV:reva\\i^
and Hero to strike across Passmore 've\ds^ VWLdcv ^CkdiA
8 HERO CARTHEW.
bring her, by a short cut, close to the coast-guard station of
which Mr. Joslyn held command.
Hero Carthew fell very far short of a beauty, and yet she
generally contrived to cany off the lion's share of admira-
tion and attraction. There was an unstudied grace about
her figure, an elastic freedom in her movements, which at-
tracted notice before perhaps you had even caught sight of
her face, which was, like her nature, sunny and loveable, yet
with plenty of character, and showing very openly its likes and
dislikes, its pleasure and its pain. It would have thorough-
ly unhinged the nerves of many a town-bred belle or beau to
have followed Hero's track to Winkle station. She walked
and ran, climbed hills, jumped gates; singing merrily, and
whistling familiarly to all the animals who chanced to lie in
her road. Perfect health, temper, and spirits, what more
was wanted to make her, what she declared herself to be,
as happy as the days were long ?
It always gave her additional pleasure to spend a day
with the Joslyns. Alice was her greatest friend, the three
boys were all in love with her, and Mr. Joslyn was her fa-
ther's oldest shipmate. However long she had to stay at
Winkle, the hour for return came all too soon ; so that in
this case none of them would credit Mr. Joslyn's assertion
that it was already four o'clock, and high time to get into
the boat, or the tide would not serve for landing Hero at
Combe Point, and thus save her a three miles* walk. It
did not take them long to reach Cape Farewell, as they
had dubbed the narrow spit of sand which stretched out
here ; and, after a very reluctant leave-taking, and many
promises of another such meeting, Hero was landed,
scrambled up the rugged path, and stood waving her hand,
watching the little boat as it tacked about, until it finally
caught the wind and sailed swiftly out of sight
Then she turned and began to look about for a certain
old bullace tree, which jutted conveniently out of the cliff.
By mounting a stone placed there for the purpose, you
could catch hold of a branch and swing yourself down into
the park below. It was some time since Hero had availed
herself of this mode of ingress, and she had wondered if she
HERO CARTHEW. 9
should hit the exact spot. She critically examined the
bough to ascertain if it would bear her weight ; and being
satisfied on that score, with a one two three the top
was gained and by the reaction, of the bough she came
down together with a shower of blossoms, loose stones, and
dust at the feet of a gentleman whose hat she knocked off,
and flattened under her feet.
" Oh I what have I done ?" she exclaimed, as she endea-
vored by beating the cloud to disperse the dust in which she
had enveloped him ; ** I beg your pardon I am so sorry
1 had no idea that any one would be here ; why didn't you
call out ?'
" Call out," he said,, in a somewhat injured tone, " really
that was an impossibility ; I only heard a rustle, and before
I had even time to look up, you had descended."
Then, seeing the look of unutterable confusion which
came into Hero's face, as her eyes fell on the hat all battered
and spoiled, he burst into a hearty laugh, saying,
" Pray, don't mind it; but you must pardon a stranger
for being ignorant that the young ladies here have a way of
dropping from the clouds."
Hero tried to smile, but the hat weighed heavily upon her.
" Can't something be done to it ?" she asked anxiously,
trying to restore it to shape, " I feel so dreadfully ashamed
of myself."
" Don't do thit," he said, looking admiringly at her pret-
ty confusion, " it will come right again, I dare say; and if
not, I have some more luggage coming this evening, so
don't distress me by distressing yourself."
His luggage ! who could he be ? Hero looked at him
inquiringly, and then a dreadful suspicion arose that this
must be Sir Stephen Prescott.
" I had no idea that there was any path outside the cliff,"
he said, trying to divert her from the unlucky accident.
" Not is there," stammered poor Hero, who felt that, if
ho" last conjectiure proved true, she ought to add an apolo-
gy for this unwarrantable mode of entrance. " I have been
to Winkle station; and, as the tide prevented m^ ixotsv %^\.-
ting back by the beach, Mr. Joslyn landed me aX \ivfc ^qvdX
lO HERO CARTHEW
below, and I climbed up here to get home through the
park. People have always been allowed to come this way ;
Sir Stephen Prescott has never objected to it ;** and then
with a blush and half-smile she asked shyly, '^ Are you Sir
Stephen Prescott?"
" Yes, I am ; what made you think so ?"
" Because^ for one thing, I did not know you, and we
seldom have strangers here ; and then you look at least
you are not quite the same as the people we generally
see."
Sir Stephen smiled.
" May I venture to ask," he said, " whom I have the
honor of addressing ?"
" My name is Hero Carlhew. I am Captain CartheVs
daughter, of Sharrows, round Combe Point;" and she
pointed in the direction where the house lay.
** Sharrows ! I think Mr. Truscott has spoken to me of
Sharrows is it not the next place to this ?"
"Yes, we are neighbors, though not very near ones.
Papa will be so pleased to see you. We heard that it was
likely you would come, but no one expected you to-day, or
you would have had a proper reception. How did you get
here ?"
" I came by train from Garston to Dockmouth, and took
a carriage on to this place. The old housekeeper seemed
perfectly aghast at seeing me. She kept on insisting that
she expected I should have written. I told her that I had
written otue. But this was of no use, she kept repeating
that she expected I should have written again."
** So we all thought," said Hero. " You know you only
said in your letter that she was to get the rooms ready, as
it was probable you might run down while you were in the
neighborhood. Mrs. Tucker brought it for me to read the
morning she got it, and I believe almost every day since;
she was so afraid there might be some mistake. How vexed
the poor old soul will be, that everything is not in apple-pie
order ! Of course, nothing was ready."
" Ready !" echoed Sir Stephen. " In all your life, you
uever saw such scrubbing and cleaning as was going on
HERO CARTHEW, II
there ; only that the horse would have been dead beat, I
should have returned to Dockmouth without delay."
" Oh, that would have been too bad," exclaimed Hero
energetically ; " you must not4hink of such a thing. You
have no idea how every one has been looking forward to
your visit. We have talked of nothing else."
" Very flattering, and all that kind of thing," replied Sir
Stephen, laughing ; " but practically, I know of nothing
more disagreeable than to arrive where you fancy you are
expected, and find no rooms ready, and no chance of dinner
an event which this sea air makes exceedingly important
to me just at present. I really think it would have been
better to have gone back to the hotel at Dockmouth," he
added, reflectively.
But Hero shook her head at this. While he had been
speaking, she had been rapidly running over in her mind
the contents of the home larder. Of course, she decided
that she must ask Sir Stephen to return with her. Her fa-
ther would be very vexed if she did otherwise ; for Captain
Carthew's principles of hospitality consisted in oflering freely
what he had, not in withholding his invitation because he
had not that which his liberal heart desired to place before
his guest. Turning, she said,
"Papa went to Dockmouth this morning, but by this
time he must be back again. I hope you will not stand
upon ceremony with us, but return with me, and at least
give us the satisfaction of knowing that you are not alone
the first evening of your arrival."
" Really, you are very kind. Miss Carthew ; but ," and
as he hesitated. Hero said
" You will only be saving papa a walk, for I know he
would set off" to fetch you tiie instant I told him that you
were all by yourself."
" I should be sorry to give him that trouble, so perhaps,
as I wish very much to make his acquaintance, you will per-
mit me to accompany you back."
CHAPTER II.
A FIRST WELCOME.
" Shall we go by the cliff path ?" asked Hero. " Perhaps
you will not care to go through the village."
" Hardly, if it can be avoided. I do not fancy that at
present my appearance is calculated to inspire the authority
I am supposed to possess."
" I don't think any one would see it unless they were
told," said Hero coloring, as she glanced at the unfortunate
hat. " It was too bad of me, and at our first meeting."
" Oh no, it has but made us better friends," replied Sir
Stephen. " A little contre-temps is often most successful in.
putting people at their ease. Don't you think so ?"
Hero shook her head.
" I was in an awful state of fright," she said, " when I be-
gan to suspect who you were."
Sir Stephen laughed.
" It is evident I ought not to have come here. I shall
fiever be able to keep up the character to which distance
lent enchantment."
" Oh, yes you will ; and if we can only make you like the
place, and come and live here sometimes, the people will be
ready to do anything for you, as they are for papa."
" Ah ! Mr. Truscott told me that Captain Carthew has
immense influence among the villagers."
" Yes, papa understands them. Mr. Truscott does not j
one must live among them."
" Rather a heavy penalty to pay, though," said Sir Ste^
phen. " In winter it must be fearfully dull."
" Oh, no ! it is not ; though perhaps you would feel it so ;
I am forgetting that I have never lived in any other place."
"And jou are quite content here ?"
HERO CARTHEW. 13
" Perfectly. Of course, I am longing to go to a hundred
places, and see all one hears about, but I know I shall never
find another Mallett"
Here a bend in the path brought them to a cottage, at
the door of which a fresh-colored middle-aged woman was
standing.
" Well, Lois," said Miss Carthew, with a fiiendly smile,
" has Osee come home yet ?"
" Yes, miss, and the Capen, he said, comed back with
'em."
" Oh, that is all right ;" then, turning towards Sir Stephen,
she said,
" Lois, this is Sir Stephen Prescott."
" My dear life !" exclaimed the woman, dropping a suc-
cession of cmtseys. " Well, I never did. I'm sure, sir,
you'll be as welcome as the flowers o' May to Mallett
Why, Osee !" she called, " do'ee come out here then. He
will be took aback sure enuf," she added, as a square-built,
weather-beaten, sea-faring man made his appearance, and
was duly pushed forward by his wife with the introduction,
" This is my man, Osee Triggs, sir, and at your service by
night or by day. 'Tis Sir Stephen Prescott, Osee," she
wound up with.
Osee's astonished face beamed again, as with several
touches at an imaginary cap he said,
" I'm proud and happy, sir, as you 'be come among us at
last, as Miss Hero will tell ye, 'tis what we've all hoped for
for ever so long, 'til some of us thought 'twas never to be;
but the Capen he stuck to his colors ; says he, he'll come
yet, never you fear that, he says; and you may always take
yer Davy to what the Capen says ; he oeyer hauls his col-
ors down, he don't." '^^Cy^ *
" Sir Stephen has not seen papa yet,"iMBc(^Bero, nodding
her adieux. " So good-bye." z^-
" Good evening," said Sir Stephen.
" Good evening, sir, and thank'ee for coming."
" And thank you too, Miss Hero," called out Osee. " I
shall just ha' somethin'," he added, *' to tell my mates^ as I
was the first as dapped eyes on un "
TTERO CARTtmw.
1
y " These people seem very odd to me," saiil Sir Stepbi
as he and Hero walked away, laughing over his first
come.
" Odd I" echoed Hero, who was not quite certain of
meaning.
"Yes," he answered, " they are so completely difFeretit
from the general class of villagers. They have none of the
chronic shyness with which most country people seem op-
pressed,"
"Oh, no; they are not shy; but they have nothing to-
shy about."
"Neither have my other tenants; but they would nc
think of telling me that they were glad to see me,
tering into any conversation with me."
" No ? Well, they are odi then, if you like ; but prepare
yourself to answer all sorts of queslions here; for Mallett
people ask anything they want to know." "
" So I find," said Sir Stephen. " My driver, and the
destrians we met and passed, kept up a running fire
'Why, where ever be you going, John Hicks?'
ECombe, to be sure.' "
[f " And then," laughed Hero, " I know came, ' Why, what
Hte goin' to do there ?' "
' " Oh yes, and the answer was given by a turn of tb^
whip, and a jerk of the head towards me, accompanied M
selected occasions by the advice to ask Mary somebody .fl
the pike, her'il tell'ee."
" I don't think you imagined that we were quite fl
primitive as you have found us," said Hero, " althougli^B
don't consider that we are regular country folks ; we are wB
near Dockmouth for that. There is our house ; you ji^
catch sight of it round that corner. We have only to go up
this hill and we shall be there."
"We have done nothing else but go yp hill," said Sir
Stephen, a little out of breath, while Hero's pace never
slackened, neither did her voice falter. He could but look
admiringly at her lithe figure and elastic step, bespeaking
/jcrfecc health and no small amount of bodily strength.
^ "I must induce my molhet to come here in the sui
if en-
allett
sum^
HERO CARTHEW. 1$
mer,'' he said ; '' she is somewhat of an invalid, and the air
seems to be delicious."
" Oh, I am sure it would do her good. It is always said
that a doctor cannot live nor die at Mallett. People are
never ill here."
" I shall tell her that as a certain inducement."
" Yes do," she said, stopping half way down the lane be-
fore a black painted wooden gate. " Here we are. This is
Sharrows, and there is papa," and she pointed to a rather
stout-looking figure in a short jacket and broad Panama
hat.
" Papa ! papa ! He doesn't hear me ; he is a little deaf,
but I'll soon make him look up," and, to Sir Stephen's great
amusement, she put her two fingers into her mouth and
gave a long shrill whistle.
" Shocking," she said, turning to her companion, with a lit-
tle shrug at herself, " but he sees us now ;" and, waving
her hand, they descended the path towards which Captain
Carthew had turned to meet them. As soon as they were
within speaking distance Hero called out
** Papa, who do you think I have brought to see you ?
This is Sir Stephen Prescott."
" Sir Stephen ! God bless my heart, you don't say so !"
and CaptaiqgGarthew, hurrying forward, seized the long-ex-
pected visitor by both hands, giving them a grip they were
totally unaccustomed to, as he said heartily
" Welcome, very welcome. So youVe found your way
to Mallett at last. Well, I'm very glad to see you. Why,
you've regularly stolen a march upon us. When did you
come ?" '
" This afternoon."
" And," broke in Hero, " he was going -back to Dock-
mouth, because nothing was ready at Combe. Mrs. Tuck-
er expected that he intended writing again, as we all did."
" Now," said the captain, " didn't I tell you she had best
set to and get everything square at once ? I expected fi-om
the first that you'd come and catch us all napping; but
these women folk make as much fuss ovet aell\ii\E^xYi!^\t Ocvixs^
and tables straight, and getting their sheets om\. olVa-N^xA^x,
rT6 NERO CARTITEW. ^H
as we should in rigging out a ' seventy-four.' But thel^l
there; it's an ill wind that blows nobody good, and since
we've got you down here I won't say any more. Run
round to Betsy, Hero, and say she must give us the best
dinner she can. Get her steam up," he added, with his
hand to his mouth and a jerk of his head towards Sir Ste-
phen, " by telling her who's going to eat it."
Hero ran off by some shorter way, and the captain, put-
ting his arm in Sir Stephen's, the two proceeded towards
the Bat upon which the house stood.
Sir Stephen had intended making an elaborate apology
for the unceremonious, way in which he had accepted Hero's
invitation ; but somehow he quite forgot about it, and be-
fore an hour had elapsed he found himself chatting away
to Captain Carthew as if he had known him all his life.
When he casually spoke of leaving Mallett the next day the
captain would not hear of it.
" No, no," he said, " now you are here don't run away
directly. I want you to take an interest in the place and
the people, and you'll never do that until you've seen a lit-
tle of them. Why, there are no such sailors in the world as
the Mallett men fine, hardy fellows, true to the backbone,
rough and ready to shed their last drop of blood for those
they're bound to. Then the place; I've beeiWialf over the
world, but I never saw anything to touch b^iiett. Talk
about foreign scenery, pshaw ! stuff and nonsense I Look
at Winkle; goto Silver Sands. Why, when you've been
here a month you won't know yourself for the same man.
Except of old age people can't die at Mallett ; when they
come here they gel a fresh lease of their lives. So tlon't
talk of running away^ and what's the use of going back to
Combe? No, no; I shall send for your traps, and you
just lake up your quarters here, and then I can lay an em-
bargo upon you whenever I see any signs of weighing an-
chor,"
And so finally the matter was settled. Sir Stephen de-
murred at first, and put forward several feeble objectio
which as he was nothing loath to remain he was not s
V to hAve ovsTiy^tA. The end was that he consented t
s not sor- i
sented tl^l
HERO CAR THE W. 1/
remain, and owned himself very much obliged to Captain
Carthew and his daughter for asking him.
By the morning of the next day there was not a man,
woman, or child in all Mallett but knew that Sir Stephen
had come, and was staying with " the Capen" at Sharrows.
Ann House had been up with some whiting pout which her
man had caught the night before. Ned Wallis had picked
out the finest of the shrimps that he was taking to Dock- .
mouth market, and left them with his duty. Mrs. Carne
would be bound that Betsy was put to it for butter, and sent
her boy Johnny up with a fresh pound and a pot of
cream. The general thought was how' Ihey could assist the
" Capen" in duly entertaining his distinguished guest Nor
was it in the village alone that this feeling existed. Mrs.
Thompson remembered that Hero had said some days before
that their stock of jam was nearly exhausted, so she must
supply that default Miss Stevens routed out some choice
ginger tliat her brother the chaplain had brought from
China. Old Mr. Jamieson, the paymaster, thought he'd
take down a bottle of his old Constantia (he'd only four or
five left), that the captain might give Sir Stephen a taste of
something he did not get every day. And so all through
the small community each drew on his or her little store of
dainties, trvgg to assist their neighbor in setting before his
guest those^ungs which his hospitality would prompt, but
his resources they knew would not supply.
CHAPTER III.
AT S HARROWS.
" There is one thing which must be done," said Hero, as
Sir Stephen, on the second morning after his arrival, stood
waiting for Captain Carthew to accompany him to Combe ;
" so it is of no use talking about your going away. Stay
you must, * for it is your duty to.* "
" And, pray, what is my duty ?"
** Well, your duty to your neighbor, in this instance, is
that you remain, and I invite all Mallett and its environs
to tea, and to meet Sir Stephen Prescott"
Sir Stephen laughed outright. The whole thing was to
him so irresistibly comic ; in fact, during the last few days,
his life had been so entirely altered from its usual routine,
that, after the fashion of the ancient dame who fell asleep
on the king's highway, he had asked himself, over and over
again, " Can this be I ?"
A man accustomed to a certain amouA of luxury,
amusement, and society, found himself suddenly domesticated
among comparative strangers, who, though they did their best
to entertain him, could offer him nothing beyond the simple
^enjoyments of their homely life.
Hero's light-hearted face and merry gossip. Captain
Carthew's quaint stories, the primitive, out-spoken village
folk whom they met on their rambling investigations all
combined to amuse him wonderfully, and somehow the
days had seemed very Hhort. But when he called up some
of the queer-looking old men and antiquated ladies who had
been pointed out to him as of Mallett gentry, and pictured
himself doing the agreeable to them at a tea-party, the idea
tickled him more than he would have cared for his present
/rjcndu to see.
k
HERO CARTHEW. 1 9
"It is of no use ' laughing," said Hero, trying to look
grave. " I really mean what I say ; they would be so dis-
appointed if they were not properly introduced to you, just
as we should have been if you had stayed somewhere else,
and had gone away without our seeing anything of you.-
People have so looked forward to your visit, and they are
really all so good and kind-hearted, that I fear if you went
away, and did not meet them, they would feel hurt, and
fancy you took no interest in the place. If you think you
can stay, you would be granting me a favor by doing so."
" My dear Miss Carthew, say no more. I would do a
great deal more than that to please you ; besides which,
you and your father are so good to me, that, unless I was
absolutely obliged to get back to London, I doubt very
much whether you would not experience considerable diffi-
culty in getting rid of me."
" Then you really will stay ?"
" Of course I will"
" That is kind of you thank you so much. I shall in-
vite all I can for to-morrow evening. They know my heart
is good to ask everybody, but as papa says, our stowage is
not large enough."
" Now I have a brilliant idea," said Sir Stephen, " if you
will obhge me by helping to carry it out."
"What is it?"
" Why, this ; instead of asking them here, ask them all to
Combe-Mallett ; the rooms are already dismantled, the
people have nothing to do, and III send my man off to
Dockmouth to order some supper."
" Why, we could have a dance," exclaimed Hero, twist-
ing round in an imaginary waltz ; " what a glorioi^ idea !
Everybody can be invited there, can't they ? They will be
BO delighted ; oh, thank you, Sir Stephen ; I am so much
obliged to you. You don't know how kind every one will
think it"
" There is really no great kindness in it from me, not one
quarter as kind as you were going to be ; see to what
trouble you intended putting yourself."
' "Troubled oh, I do not call that trouYAe', ^o\x ^ovi^^
^^Esee
HERO CARTHEW.
s at Christmastime. We always give two parties thenjH
one to our friends, and one to the village, although they
nearly all come to each. The whole house is turned up-
side down, the rooms are decorated with flags and holly,
and festooned with bunting ; you would not know the place,
it looks so gay and pretty,"
" And you really enjoy that ?" said Sir Stephen, looking
rather incredulously at her.
" Enjoy it 1 why it is the greatest fun in the world, Alice
and the Joslyn boys from Winkle always slay here, so I
have tlieir help ; then Jack Pringlc, Jervis Randall, and
any of the young men at home or the girb who think they
can be of use, come down, Joe Bunce, the carpenter we
went tb yesterday, nails it all up for us, and papa walks
about declaring he does not know where to go or what to do,
but really enjoying it twenty times more than any one else.
Last year Alice and I were so tired afterwards that we
could hardly move. We never sat downall day, and danced
all night."
Sir Stephen looked admiringly at the young girl's ani-
mated face, and then he said, " 1 wonder if you know how-
much you are to be envied. I could lell you of dozens of
people who would give the half of their fortune to possess
your wonderful capacity for enjoyment."
" I don't understand you," said Hero, puzzled.
"Well, I mean this; most of my acquaintances are
people who every night of their lives go to operas, balls,
(theatres, or have amusement of some kind."
I " How delicious I" exclaimed Hero.
\ " But they do not think so."
" Why do they go then ?"
"Jiist that I They go because they have no pleasure in
staying away, although they enjoy nothing by going out.
They are moped to death if they stay aj home, and bored
to death by the society they seek."
' Poor things !" said Hero. " Surely they must be ill."
No, it is not that ; they are well enough. \Vhy, do
know," he added, " 1 am but describing \^'hat is very,
aently my oivji condition," ^^3
HERO CARTHEW. 21
"You, Sir Stephen! Ah, now I know that you are
laughing at me."
* Indeed, I am not ; you must not think, because I have
not shown my hoof, that it is my wont to be as cheerful
and happy as I have felt since I came here. I cannot make
my contented self out, and can only put it down to the
influence of the atmosphere by which I am surrounded.
You are all so good and happy that you diffuse it to those
less fortunately constituted."
"Fancy I" ejaculated Hero. "Do you know, I have
been envying you so much. I fancied that people who
lived in London, and went to court and into grand society,
where they actually saw and heard all the things that we
can only read about, could have nothing left to wish for ;"
and yet you mean to say that you are resdly sometimes dull
and unhappy ?"
" Very frequently ; although I believe I am not torment-
ed half as sorely as many. Whether," he added, smiling at
Hero's incredulous face, " it is the curse entailed on riches,
or the penalty enforced on those who have the power to
supply every wish and want, I cannot tell ; but this I can
assure you, that I have heard women in satins and jewels
envy some poor girl whose merry face they have caught
gazing with admiration into their carriage. I have a cousin
who, having a large fortune at her command, is regarded
by most people with especial envy. She is still young, and
by many considered very handsome; yet she is always com-
plaining of low spirits and depression complaints which,
I expect, you hardly know the meaning of."
Hero shook her head.
" When I was a child," she said, laughing, " I remember
feeling cross some days, and inclined to cry about every-
thing, which Betsey, my old nurse, took as a sign that I
needed a powder, and, I believe, it generally cured me ; but
now, Well, if papa is away, I may feel a little dull some-
times, and then I put on my hat and run up to the Ran-
dalls or the Thompsons, and I am soon all right. One
can never be dull with Mrs. Thompson : she ys ^o MV qC
fim. She has seven children, and only one leA ^.exN^wV
^^V and sb
I
HERO CARTHEW.
makes everything they wear, because a captain of
pay is so small. I hope she will be able to come
I St
" 1 hope she will," replied Sir Stephen. " I should like to
make her acquaintance: she must tea wonder."
" Oh, no I she is not. I know several people who do or
have done the same."
"And would you be contented with that kind of life.
Miss Carthew ?"
" Well," laughed Hero, " it is somewhat startling to con-
template just now, but it comes on one by degrees, and
oh, yes, if it was my fate, I should not be very miserable
under it; the worst to me would be the partings and the
long separations," and she gave a little sigh.
"Yes, that would be exceedingly disagreeable; supposing,
of course, that you cared for one another."
" Bui I mean husbands and wives," said Hero, getting a
little red.
" So do I," said Sir Stephen ; " but I have known hus-
bands and wives not at all sorry to part, after they discovered
they could not live happily together,"
" Yes, I know that. Of course all do not get on well ;
in the village some of the married people disagree terribly.
They come up here with such stories of eacli other, and
quarrel and fight constantly. But even then, I suppose, a
sort of regard exists between them ; for if any one else
takes sides or interferes, they are sure lo leave off and fall
upon the unlucky interloper. Papa can always separate
two men or two women, but he says he shears off when it's
a matrimonial squabble."
What an influence your father has in the village I" said
Sir Stephen; " I quite envy him his popularity."
' Come and live here, then, and you'll soon share their
r."
More unlikely things than that might happen," said Sir
Stephen, gravely; "sometimes one's life seems to remain
stagnant for years, then suddenly an opening is made for
new hopes, resolves, and interests. Perhaps this visit which
HERO CARTHEW, 23
I have paid without even telling my mother that I intended
coming, may be a turning point in my life who knows ?"
** It would be the making of the Mallett people if you did
come to Combe," said Hero ; " you might find it dull at
first, though we would do all we could to make you like
the place. Papa I papa !" she called out, seeing her father
pass the window. "I want to speak -to you. Only think,
Sir Stephen sa)rs I may ask all the people to Combe in-
stead of here. Won't it be nice ? I must go to the Joslyns,
and ask them ; Alice must come, you know I"
" Oh ! that means the boat and Bunce, I suppose ?"
** No, I'd rather go with Jim."
The Captain shook his head. " The wind is sure to drop
in the afternoon," he said.
" And if it does we can manage, and perhaps," she added,
turning to Sir Stephen, " you might like to come with me."
" I should very much, if our Combe business is over."
" Very well, then, I will be at New Quay by three o'clock,
and I shall wait until you come. Good-by, now I am off
to issue the invitations."
Hero had not at all overestimated the amount of pleasure
which the news, of which she was the happy bearer, would
give.
" So thoughtfiil, I call it," said Mrs. Jamieson, turning it
over in her mind as to whether her best cap would do.
" You know, my dear, it is not every young man in his ex-
alted position who would care to Know us simple folks."
" It's all your doing. Hero," said Mrs. Thompson, ** and
sorry I am my Terence isn't here to enjoy it with us."
** Yes, I wish he was ; and that Leo was here too. He
knows my step so well; nobody dances as well as Leo at
least I think so."
Mrs. Thompson shook her head. " I often wish now,"*
she said, " that you didn't think quite so much of Leo Des-
pard. Hero. I'd far sooner see ye listening to Jack Pringle,
poor boy ; and he hanging on your words like the bee does
to the flower, and finding nothing but honey in it. Leo
thinks too much of himself, and not enough of other i^eo^le \
and you and Aunt Lydia, just tickle \iim vfVt\v ^. fe.^ ^'^^
114 HElfO CARTITEW. ^^^k
of his own tail. I suppose she'll hardly venture so far ^|
the night air."
" No," said Hero, thinking it best to let the remarks on
Leo go unanswered ; " I am going to her next, but it is not
at all likely that she will come ; she is so afraid of taking
cold;", and, after some discussion regarding the dress Mrs.
Thompson meant to wear, Hero left for the cottage where
the late rector's sister, Miss Despard, or Aunt Lydia, as she
was more generally called, resided.
As had been anticipated, the old lady would not hear of
it being prudent that she should accept Hero's invitation ;
although she was equally obliged to Sir Stephen for asking
her, and it was only Hke the Captain to offer to fetch her,
and see her home. " But I don't feel equal to it, my dear ;
more particularly as Leo is not going to be there,"
" You'd go to see him, wouldn't you. Aunt Lydia P" Hero
said, with a look which made Miss Despard take the girl's
hand and press it in token of their sympathy on that point.
" Ah, dear fellow ! that I would," she replied, with a burst
of pride. " Sir Stephen, or fifty Sir Stephens, I know there'll
not be one to equal my Leo in that room. You are right
to be very proud of being his choice, Hera, for I don't know
where you'd go to find his equal."
Hero smiled approvingly; she liked to hear Leo's praises
sung, for though there was no openly -acknowledged en-
gagement between them, everybody knew that there was to
be as soon as his ardently longed for promotion came.
Not a few of Hero's friends shook their heads disapprov-
ingly over this arrangement, and hoped that something
might happen to prevent a marriage of which tliey did not
heartily approve ; for Leo was not universally popular in
Mallett. He did not belong to the place, nor the county,
but came from London, which was !ike belonging to no
place, and next to being a foreigner; then there was a little
air of mystery about him, inasmuch as no one knew for
certain who he was, or who his parents were before him.
He had come to Mallett some twenty years before with Mr.
Despard, the laie rector. Two or three different stories had
' a given out at odd limes about the boy, whether trueq
HERO CARTHEW. 2$
false nobody could undertake to say, for Mr. Despard him-
self was a stranger to Mallett, and held the living because
he had been a friend of the former baronet, Sir Bernard
Prescott, in whose gift it was. When Leo was sent to
Dockmouth grammar-school, the rector gave him his own
name in place of the one he had heretofore borne, announc-
ing to Mallett that he meant from henceforth to adopt the
boy as his own son, and that they were in future to call him
Leo Despard. These circumstances, combined with an un-
due reticence on the rector's part, and a confusion in his
sister's manner whenever the relationship was alluded to,
led to the conclusion that perhaps the less said about Leo's
birth and parentage the better. On one point every person
was agreed ^that no parents could have shown more tender
love towards the boy than did the shy, reserved rector and
his ailing spinster sister. By them Leo's wishes, his likes
and dislikes, were regarded as those of a genius who ought
not to be trammelled with the ordinary rules by which youth
is usually governed ; and it naturally came to pass that this
blind affection strengthened the faults that should have been
curbed, and killed the unselfishness and thoughtfulness for
others, which in*most characters is the result of early train-
ing, and accumulated small self-denials.
It had been Mr. Despard's wish that Leo should follow
his profession, and, after him, take the Mallett rectorship ;
but to thisi plan the boy would not listen, he would be noth-
ing but a soldier; and, as most people agreed that such a
handsome yoimg fellow seemed made for a soldier, Leo was
in due time gazetted to a regiment, where his hardest task
was trying to keep pace with his brother officers, most of
them men more moneyed than himself. Few, if any, of his
associates guessed that their pleasant, popular companion
imposed upon himself cares and worries which cankered all
his happiness, because his false pride had rebelled against
his originally acknowledging his true position; and having
commenced his career by announcing a cleverly concocted
falsehood, he had now to keep up the fraudulent statement.
All this was unknown to his Mallett frieud^, v\vo \i2&^\
their opinions of him on the foolish way m wYv\c\v\veT^'e?\^^
r26 HERO CARTHEW. ^^H
against the small economies which Aunt Lydia, in comtad^l
with her neighbors, had to practise; and he often vexed
Hero by seeming to be ashamed of the unpretending mode
of living, and the small house to which he had to return.
Knowing nothing of such feelings herself, she had no sym-
pathy with them, and she tried to assure herself that in time
she should make Leo forget them, and leach him to love
Mallett as she loved it.
"If he were but at home now to meet Sir Stephen, and
hear his admtratiou of the place and the [jeople, it would be
more likely lo do him good Chan anything else," But un-
fortunately that was impossible, so she must trust to the im-
pression which her repetition of all that lier new friend said
and did would produce ; and with this thought uppermost
in her mind, she bade Aunt Lydia good-by, and proceeded
to deliver her round of invitations.
The news " that doings was to be up to Combe" very
soon spread through the village, and infected the humbler
inhabitants with a general air of excitement. All who could
be of any service volunteered their help to Mrs. Tucker, the
steward, Betsey, and the captain, until Sir Stephen, infected
by the unwonted stir and bustle, declared that there must
be two gatherings, and that, if Captain Carthew would
assist him and give him quarters for a day or two longer,
they would contrive to get up something for the village
people, whose cheerful alacrity he considered was really
deserving of recognition This idea so delighted the Captain
that he could scarcely contain his joy until lie got down
to the water's edge, and no sooner had he reached there,
than he roared out lo the men gathered about the quay,
" Here, listen to me, my men. Sir Stephen Prescotl has
asked his friends and neighbors to his house to-morrow
evening, that he may become better acquainted with themj
and now he proposes the next evening to have you and
your wives and sweethearts, that he may have the oppor-
tunity of knowing you too, which 1 call a very kind action
on his part, and every one of us, I am sure, feels it as such,
and therefore I say Three cheers for Sir Stephen Prescot^.j
" God bless him." Vli
HERO CARTHEW. 2/
" Three cheers for Sir Stephen Prescott, and God bless
him," shouted idle loungers, sturdy young sailors, weather*
beaten tars, and the small fry of ragamuffins, who seemed
to thrive equally well above or below their native element.
Tlien, after a momentary pause and consultation, Joe Connor,
who was generally spokesman, stepped forward, and taking
off his hat, into which he gazed intently, said,
** If we might make so free, we thanks your honor for
your kindness, which us and ours hope ever to deserve, and
that your honor will never regret the day you set foot in
Mallett, where 'twould be our pride to know you'd live for
ever and die at a good old age, covered wi' medals and
glory. With," turning to his comrades, whose pleased faces
bespoke their admiration of his eloquence, '^a hip, hip,
hooray," and out ran the women, children, and occupants
of the near-by cottages, ready to join in any fun or fray
which might happen to be going on.
" One more for the Capen," and up rose the cheery shout
again ; then seeing Hero approach, and Sir Stephen turn to
greet her, Ted Connor, who declared he envied the very
ground she trod upon, called out, " Once again, boys," and
the rocks resounding and seeming to echo back again the
enthusiastic outburst. Sir Stephen, laughingly, put his hands
to his ears, saying, "This is the price we pay for your popu-
larity, Miss Carthew."
3
CHAPTER IV.
"hard to please in regard to she."
" We are going to haVe some one besides a boy ?" asked
Sir Stephen, looking at the little boat, which the surf run-
ning up the beach was handling rather roughly.
" It will be right enough outside," said Hero ; " when we
have rounded the point you'll find die sea as calm as a mill-
pond."
" Because I am nothing of a salt-water sailor ; I can
contrive to manage a boat on the river, and that is about
all."
" Jim will take care of us ; he is not a boy ; Jim," she
cried, and starting up from the bottom of the boat, where
he had been taking a siesta, appeared a wiry, under-sized
man, whose age, from his agility, might have been forty,
and from his face, might have been seventy. Sir Stephen
felt more satisfied, until, after a minute or two's inspection,
he exclaimed,
" Why, he has only one arm."
"Ohl that's nothing," replied the captain; "except for
rowing he never misses it, and if the wind veers round or
drops, as I think it will, you must lend a hand. Hero."
" Is rowing one of your accomplishments. Miss Car-
thew ?"
" Yes," replied Hero, laughing, " I have not many, but I
can manage a boat"
" Oh, She's a capital oar," said the captain, with pride.
" She'd get her rating on board any Queen's ship." Then
putting his two hands to his mouth to form a speaking
trumpet, he roared out to Jim,
^^Sbr Stephen wants to know if Miss Hero can take an
oar?"
HERO CARTHEW, 29
" Ay, ay, sir," answered the man, in the low distinct kind
of whisper, so often used by very deaf people. " That
she can ; Td back her agen Ann Granville^inny Adams,
or any o' the Saltashers."
" That's a compliment you won't appreciate until you
have been to one of the regattas and seen the women row,"
said Hero ; " then you will fully understand the pride I
feel at Jim's flattering opinion of my stroke."
The boat tumbled and tossed in the foam, pretending
every minute that its intention was to be upset To get
into her it needed the agility of a cat, which Hero seemed
to fKssess ; for, seizing her opportunity, she sprang in first.
Sir Stephen was not so fortunate, but thought himself lucky
in meeting with no worse fate than ' breaking his fall ' on
Jim, and bimdling on top of Hero.
" Never mind," shouted the captain, who stood watch-
ing their departure from the shore ; '^ you'll shake down all
right by the time you get outside. Don't you bother about
the ropes, he'll manage them with his hook and his teeth."
^ I hope you can swim," shouted Sir Stephen, as soon as
they were fairly ofif. Jim put his hand to his ear and looked
at Hero.
" Sir Stephen hopes that you can swim." Jim shook his
head.
" Not I," he answered, " 'taint lucky, sir; so far as I've a
seed, most o' they as puts their trust in swimmin' is pretty
nearly certain to be drowned. Uncle Bill could swim like
a fish," he said, turning to Hero, **so could Seth Lavis, and
Osee Triggs, and what comed of it ? Why they all three
went down like lead, and I by their side was saved. No,
no, sir, don't 'ee put no hold by swimmin' ; set your trust in
One above, who never fails to save they who is to be
saved, and if you'm bom to be drownded, drownded you'll
be ; 'taint swimmin' will keep your poor sinful body above
water.
" Comforting !" ejaculated Sir Stephen.
" Oh ! we are safe enough," laughed Hero, " though I
see yours is only make-believe fear. In iVv^ ^xxtovasx^ \\sfiv.
and I go out (or whole days together, aud \vt X*^^ "ki^ ^x^
30 HERO CARTHEW. ^
nes and I sing him songs. I am telling Sir Stephen howfl
we amuse ourselves when we go out fishing, Jim," she sai(l,
seeing the old man's bright listening eyes fixed upon her.
Ah!" and Jim gave a long sigh of satisfaction.
Them's the times. I haven't beerd nolhin' nat'ral like,
Lpever since the 29th o' last October; that's the day we went
Battera Reach."
" What does he mean ?" asked Sir Stephen.
"Well, if you speak to him you have lo roar at him, and
he says the noise is like thunder, but he can hear singing
at least he says he can hear mine and it so delights him to
listen to his old sea songs, that I often repeat them over
and over again for his amusement."
" You refused the other evening ; you told me that you
could not sing."
^^^^ " Neither can I ; but when I was a child papa taught me
^^^keveral of his favorite nautical ballads, which are not exac^^|
^^^Kompany music, you know.'' j^H
^^^V " I dare say they are ver^ much prettier." ^H
^^^^^ Hero shook her head. ^H
' " Let me hear one ?" ^H
" Oh, no, I could not; they are not in the least what fi^H
would care for." ^^
"You cannot tell that. Jim," he called out, "ask MiSS
Carthew to sing one of your favorite songs,"
" Will 'ee, Miss Hero ?" said Jim ; " 'es now, do 'ee, like
a dear," he added in a coaxing voice,
" Yes, do'ee, like a dear," said Sir Stephen, trying to imi-
tate Jim's insinuating voice.
Hero held up her finger reprovingly, but she nodded as-
sent to Jim's pleading and further request that the song
should be " The lass who loves a sailor." After a momen-
tary pause she began : her voice rose clear and sweet, doing
justice to the tuneful melody, which she sang with heartfell
feeling. Her face was turned so that the old man might
hear, and he, with his eyes on the sail and his hand to his
ear, sat listening with a rapt expression, which made his
liin, worn face seem to beam with delight. ^_
Su' Stephen gazed on the pair, and then the beautj^^g^H
HERO CARTHEW, 31
the whole scene seemed to suddenly come over him ; the
calm " great heaven of blue " which reflected itself in the
water below, the high samphire-patched rocks fantastically
jagged and broken, the foam dashing and lapping against
them, frothy and white above the sea's borrowed depth of
color.
" Surely," he thought, " my mother's prejudice would
give way before this wild scenery, which she always admires.
I hope I shall succeed in getting her to feel an interest in
these people. They have made me somehow take to them
wonderfully ; they have such simple ways and pleasures, and
are so different to the common run of country folks. What
a sweet face this girl has, and such a pretty air of coquetry ;
conscious but not vain of her beauty; a real unspoilt woman,
with a heap of weakness to make the man who loves her
proud of his strength, and a heap of strength to turn his
pride into weakness." And then the vision of another face
rose up before him a face which had once to him been
the fairest in all the world, but which now was shadowed
by clouds of distrust and bitterness, lived out but not for-
gotten.
" God bless you for that sound to the deaf ear," said old
Jim, reverently. Sir Stephen, roused from his reverie,
smiled at her, saying, ** I can say nothing but that I am
very much obliged to you. It must make you feel very
happy, Miss Carthew, to be so beloved and have it in your
power to make people so happy."
" If you will but stay here and live among us, I will pro-
mise you an equal share of popularity^ As long as I can
remember, people have been wishing that you lived at
Coombe, and now we know you, and have seen you, noth-
ing but your doing so will content us."
" I won't promise you to come and live here altogether,
but I shall certainly come and stay some part of each year.
Your father has been showing me that it is not fair to hold
land and yet do nothing for those who live upon it. We
decry Irish absentees, and yet in many instances follow
their example, and I feel I have been very much to blame."
*' But you knew so little about us," said Hero.
HERO CARTUEW.
'' For llie reason, I suppose, that I asked so little ; and
then, as Mr. Truscott said that they never complained in
any way, I tried to hope they were in a very flourishing
condition."
" Mr. Truscott," said Hero, in a scornful voice, " is a
I Dockmouth man, and does not understand Mallett people;
. it was not at ail probable that he would hear many cora-
plamts by riding over when it suited his convenience, and
Stopping such as he chose with, ' Well, my man, and how
does the world serve you ? ' " and Hero's imitation of tlie
hand on the hip, and the wave of an imaginary whip, was
so life-Uke that Jim, who was watching her, chuckled out,
"That's Lord Truscott to a T."
'There you see," exclaimed Hero significantly, "he was
not very likely to gain their confidence."
" True, I see now that things must be managed very
differendy in future. As I explained to Captain Carthew
this morning. I am anything but a rich man ; my other
estate of Paraphillon was left to me encumbered with debts,
so that instead of deriving any income from it, I have to
I spend money on it every year. The fact is, when I came
I trf age I ought to have sold that place, but my mother
^ would not hear of it ; and 1, shrinking, as one naturally
does, from giving up wliat has been in one's family for
generations, tried to see if, by any means, it was possible to
keep it. Afterwards I went abroad for some year^, and
gave up attending to business matters ; but now I see so
plainly what is the riglit tiling to do, that I sliall hesitate
about it no longer, but put Pamphillon into the market
directly I return to tOHii. I dare say 1 shall find a bidder,"
he added with a sigh, " it's a fine old place."
" What a pity to have to sell it !" said Hero.
"Yes; belter never to liave had it at all. My poor
uncle, wlioni I succeeded, was a most eccentric man. He
had no need to speculate ; he had a good income, and no-
body to spend it upon, for he abhorred the sight of women,
and never married, or went into society ; and yet, after his
death, it was found that he had entered into the very;
wildest s/eculations, and completely beggared the
verjiM
HERO CARTHEW, 33
perty. I was quite a child, and my mother had to econo-
mise and retrench in every possible way^ in order to try to
get tilings a Htde straight during my minority How she
managed to keep things from going to the dogs I can never
tell, but it completely broke down her health, and people
all say that she has never been the same since. The strain
on her nervous S3rstem was too great; she overestimated
her responsibility in the desire to keep Pamphillon for me,
and it has ended in her throwing herself into a fever of
anxiety at the bare mention of selling it, and yet disliking
the place so that she hates to go near it"
" Poor thing," said Hero compassionately, " what will
you do to avoid paining ho- ?"
^ Say as litde about it as I can, and induce her to come
down here. I think you and she would soon be excellent
friends ; she is very fond of young people's society."
** You have no sisters ?"
*' No ; my cousin always fived with my motho* until she
got married, and since then she has preferred to be alone."
" I hope she may come here, then," said Hero. " I should
be very glad to try and make her like me."
" That would not be a difficult task," said Sir Stephen ;
** the difficulty will be to get her to come ; she declares
Mallett is at the worltl's edge, and perhaps the journey is
a fatiguing one for ho-.**
" But not in the summer ?"
" Oh, no ; I must contrive it somehow ; and if I can then
manage to interest her in the people, we shall soon set
everything straight. I hope," he said, speaking to Jim,
^ that you will not have so much to complain of another
winter. I am very sorry to hear how much many suffered
during the past one."
** Thank 'ee, sir," said Jim, " mostly times is a little hard
then, but as I says, * Tdce heart, mates, the summer 'ill
come,' and come it does, and so it will, I reckon, for * while
the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat,
summer and winter, day and night, shall hot cease,' and
after 'twill all be changed, and there'll be Yravtsi tvo mota^
but to they that praise the Lord light and suiva\iMi^ ^^.^%r
r34 HERO CARTHEW.
"He is a local preacher," said Hero, answering Sir
Stephen's surprised look, " and a very eloquent one accordiDg
to Betsey's opioioii, which is that preaching is a free gif^
and not to be picked up likeverses by reading books. Her
sayings used to amuse poor old Mr. Despard greatly. You
knew him, did you not ? I mean the late rector," she
added,
" No. My mother gave him the living when I was a
boy ; he had been, I believe, an old friend of my uncle's,
and, through bim, she had formed a high opinion of Mr.
Despard. I don't fancy ihey were personally acquainted."
The sudden shift of the sail, as they Eacked into Winkle
creek, put an end to the conversation. Tlieir approach had
been made known to Captain Joslyn by the signalman,
and by the time the boat reached the shore, a line had been
formed by the fine stalwart coast-guard men to run her out
of the surf up the beach, where they could step out high
and dry, and be welcomed by the whole family, who were
standing to receive them. Mrs. Joslyn willingly acceded to
Hero's request, that they might carry off Alice, a pretty,
shy girl who looked upon her friend Hero as the standard
of perfection ; and, only waiting until she was ready to
accompany them, they set ofifon their return to Sharrows.
The wind dropping as the captain had prognosticated.
Hero's services were put into requisition ; and Sir Stephen,
instead of attending to the tilier, found his eyes straying
from the undulating movements of Hero's lithe figure to
her sweet face flushed by exercise, her hair a little tossed
by the gentle breeze, and her eyes sparkling with fun ^nd
enjoyment of his pretended surprise, and his assertion tjiat .
he was afraid to stir, although as soon as the beat touched i
he sprang uponshore, and insisted upon lifting her out, with A
care that made old Jim eye him suspiciously. The boat '
landed them at the foot of Sharrows, and as Alice wanted
to unpack her bag the two giris went off together, leaving
Sir Stephen to follow.
" Here, Jim," he said, putting a few shillings into the old
boatman's hand, " you mu^t drink my health." ^_
Jim shook his head. ^^^^^^H
HERO CARTHEW, 35
" I gived it up years agone, sir. For more than half of
my life through love o' drink the devil stuck to me like a
Hmpit, but, bless the Lord, who has overthrown the powers
o' Satan in that respect as in many others."
" Well, then," said Sir Stephen, " keep it and do what
you like with it."
" Thank*ee, sir, but there's lots in Mallett who has more
need for it than me."
" Nonsense ; Miss Carthew told me that you had been
ill, and not able to do any work for a long time."
" Twas only a touch o' the screws," said the old man,
smiling ; " the jints is gittin' a little rusty, I reckon, sir ; but
our Heavenly Father was good to me ; and as for Miss
Hero," and he took off his cap, seeming to forget Sir
Stephen's presence, and said reverently, " May God send
her the blessings I asks for her amen," he added, after a
moment's pause, turning with the money still in his open
palm.
" Keep it for my sake, Jim," said Sir Stephen, patting the
old fellow's shoulder; " I hope soon that you and I will get
good friends."
Jim smiled his satisfaction.
" I hope so, sir ; but," and he gave a knowing shake of his
head towards Sharrows, ' you musn't mind us being main
hard to please in regard to she."
Sir Stephen nodded. " She ?" he thought, as he
walked up the path ; " I wonder what the old chap means ?"
and at something which seemed not distasteful to him-
self he smiled, and then indulged in a quiet laugh, and
finally lighted a cigar, and sat down on one of the numerous
seats the captain had placed up the steep ascent, as resting-
posts to the aged and weary.
CHAPTER V.
As Sir Stephen sat dreamily watching the shadowy miM
gradually encircling the sea-bound hills and rocks, he asked
himself again the cause of his present content. He recall-
ed tJie journeys he had taken, the money and time he had
spent, and the fatigue he had undergone ; seeking, in the
first instance, a remedy against hopeless depression, and
afterwards, when his bitter disappointment had ceased, to
ward off those fits of unutterable weariness which threatened
to take the place of an anguish he had finally succeeded in
mastering. He was neitlier particularly energetic, nor
easily moved to fresh action ; but he had a wholesome hor-
ror of falling into a condition in which there seems nothing
left to give attraction, or afford interest to the end of a use-
less and wasted life. Cramped as he had been by his
position and inadequate income, he always felt there was
but one step by which he could right himself selling hia
estate of Pamphillon, But from the only two persons whose
opinion afiected his actions, he met with determined oppo-
sition. His mother declared that such an act would be h
death-blow. She entreated her son never to part with an
inheritance which had been theirs for generations, Sh
reminded him of the struggle which she had made during
his boyhood to prevent an acre of the lad being parted
with ; and she asked him whether now, wli?n by a hundred
ways a man of energy and talent could build up anew the
fortunes of his house, he was going tamely to sacrifice it aS,
and bury himself alive at a place which was out of reach rf
all civilized society, and where he must sink to the levd fd^
tie people with whom he would be compelled to mix. Mrs -
J^vscott waa ^gUe, deli.c%te-Vookvci^ wom&a, in aUolJM
HERO CARTHEW. 37
things willing and ready to be guided by whatever best
pleased her son ; but whenever mention was made of this
subject, she seemed to grow obstinate and unreasonable.
When Sir Stephen left England on his lengthened tour,
she had obtained a promise from him that all should go on
as usual until his return a return which for years she sighed
after; for, excepting a few hurried visits for the express
purpose of seeing her, Sir Stephen was always bent on some
fresh expedition, and for six or seven years he had been
roaming about in all quarters of the globe. When at
length Mrs. Prescott received the welcome announcement
that now he intended to setde at home altogether, her joy
knew no bounds. She hardly asked herself, and dare not
ask him, the reason of this resolution ; whether the excite-
ment of travel had been worn out, or whether the cause
which had led him to sedc diversion no longer existed.
Could it, she asked herself, have anything to do with Mr.
Labouchere's death, and that Katherine was again in
England? Elatherine! whose name had never been
spoken between them for years. Klatherine I for dread of
meeting whom he had banished himself, for bitterness of
whom he called all womankind hypocrites. What had
wrought this wondrous change ? And Mrs. Prescott would
sit musing until a softened expression, stealing over her
u:e, hailed the revived hope that, after all, the dearest wish
of her life might still come to pass.
There had been a time when any doubt that Katherine
Douglas would be Stephen's wife had never entered Mrs.
Prescott's mind. Katherine was her favorite brother's
daughter, and had been almost entirely brought up by her
aunt, who, next to her son, bestowed upon her the greatest
share of her affi||ion.
When childnv, the two cousins had scarcely ever been
apart ; and, as they grew into man and womanhood, it gave
Mrs. Prescott the greatest satisfaction to see this early at-
tachment ripen into a love of a more serious nature. Many
Dersons (knowing how much Sir Stephen's fortune stood in
need of repair) wondered that his mother should be content
to see him woo a. girl with nothing but Viet gpo^L\oc^iSk \c^
rgS HERO CARTBEW.
recommend her, but Mrs. Prescott loved her niece dearly,
was proud of her beauty and talents, and, without either
mother or son knowbg or irksomely feeling it, Katherine
entirely ruled both. She possessed her couiiiu's love so
completely, that he willingly gave in to every wish and
plan she formed ; and her aunt leaned so confidently upon
her, that the idea of thwarting Katherine never occurred to
a mind thoroughly convinced that whatever Katherine did
To a formal engagement between herself and Stephen
Miss Douglas objected, on the ground that her grand-
mother Dormer might raise obstacles. They understood
each other, she said, and, as they could not marry for two
years (when Sir Stephen would get an addition to his in-
come), what was the use of being talked of, and perhaps
annoyed about it ? Mrs, Prescott thought there was a
great deal of truth in what Katherine said, and between
them Sir Stephen was oveiTuled. The time of probation
was within a few months of being accomplished, when Mrs.
Dormer summoned Katherine to attend her (o Nice, where
she had been ordered for change of air, and from which
place she lugubriously announced that it was highly im-
probable that she should ever return. What was to be
done ? Mrs. Dormer must not be offended, or, though
Katherine was her favorite grandchild, she would be safe
to leave her money elsewhere.
"Well, let her," said Sir Stephen, "I would willingly
give up every chance you have of her money, rather than
let you go away from me, and we be parted all these
months."
" Stephen I" said Katherine, and she looked at him re-
proachfully, " how foolishly you talk ! You know of whfit
importance money is to us. Without this prospect from
grandmamma it would be madness in you to think of
marrying nte, but I hope that with it we shall be able to set
everything right."
"She may live for years," he said, moodily; " I am sure u
J don't desire otherwise. The safest and only sure way q
}fmy difficalues is to sell Pamphillon, ^a.^ off d\e TOartga
way qvAm
HERO CARTHEW. 39
and live on what is left. A very fair income it would b
and then if Mrs. Dormer left us anything " but the cloud
on Katherine's face would stop the indulgence of further
hopes, and she would say in a voice which bordered on a
sneer,
" Have you no ambition, Stephen ? for it seems to me
that except as an object of barter Pamphillon has small
value in your eyes ;" and this, or some such misinterpreta-
tion, wounding the young man, the two would grow vexed,
he angry and sharp of speech, and she stubborn and
cold
Mrs. Prescott quite held with Katherine, that to refuse
compliance with Mrs. Dormer's request would be folly.
She, too, counted on the expected fortune, entered into
Katherine's schemes, and would remonstrate with her son
on his seeming rashness and selfishness.
"Is not Katherine making a sacrifice equal to your
own ?" she would say. " Can it be pleasure for her to leave
you, and shut herself up with a fidgetty old woman ?"
" Why does she go ?" Sir Stephen would answer ; " she is
doing this for my sake, she says, but I don't want the sac-
rifice. I would rather a thousand times never touch a far-
thing of the money than gain the whole by giving her up
for months."
And Mrs. Prescott turning away would sigh, and ask
herself if men ever appreciated the heavy burdens borne by
women for their sakes.
Before any of these discussions commenced, Katherine
had determined to join her grandmother ; during the time
they were going on she settled her plans and made her
necessary arrangements, so that when, after every artifice
had been used to soften the matter, an unwilling consent was
forced from Sir Stephen, it was but an absurd matter of
form, the whole thing having been finally settled several
days before, and Mrs. Dormer having heard from her
granddaughter the very day and hour she intended joining
her. Under the cloak of Mrs. Dormer's continued illness,
Katherine's stay was greatly prolonged*, Yvw \e\Xs ^gt^'^
shorter^ with longer intervals between. She %2ln^ x^ w^r
40 HERO CAR THE W.
swering any questions, and seemed distressed, often cold,
and entirely different from herself.
Mrs. Prescott tried to soften down the varied moods her
son was thrown into through this air of mystery. She at-
tributed it to anxiety, over-exertion, being among strangers,
Mrs. Dormer's caprices. But all to no purpose ; Sir Ste-
phen's suspicions were aroused, his fears increased, until he
determined to go to Katherine and learn from her the
meaning of her strange behavior; but a stop was unex-
pectedly put to his journey by an announcement in the
morning paper : " At Carabacel, Nice, Katherine Prescott
Douglas, second daughter of the late Stanhope Douglas,
Esq., of Pentam, to John Pitman Labouchere, Esq., of
Endor Court and Great Danesfreld."
CHAPTER VI.
RICH AND FREE.
Little by little, from friends who knew them and people
who had met them, Mrs. Prescott learnt what there was to
learn of her niece's extraordinary conduct. All of this she
had to keep to herself; for, after a burst of outraged love
and trust, on the receipt of a few lines from Katherine in
defence of a step which she said he would one day under-
stand and pardon. Sir Stephen would never hear her name
mentioned. He began at once making preparations for a
lengthened tour, and, as soon as was possible after the
announcement of the marriage, he was on his way ; leaving
poor Mrs. Prescott solitary and heart-broken, to brood over
her shattered hopes. Many a bitter tear did she shed over
Katherine's letters, which she had given a promise to her
son she would not answer. Eagerly did she catch at every
straw of gossip relating to the strangely-matched couple ;
how that it was impossible for Mr. Labouchere to live a
year ; that his wealth was enormous ; and that Mrs. Dormer
(who had managed the whole business) said everything
was left solely to her granddaughter, who, she did not
hesitate to add, would in all human probability soon be free.
Free ? And if so, would Stephen ever forgive her ? And
Mrs. Prescott, remembering the fierce words her son had
spoken^ the bitter accusations he had brought against
Katherine, shuddered as hope was swallowed up by fear.
In a letter written the night before her marriage, Katherine
had said, " It is to save our hopes from total wreck that I
make a sacrifice^ which you at least will comprehend, for
you have often told me all that you have suflfered for
Stephen's sake ; and surely it is worth giving up a few years
of my life to "know that our ambition is allamtA, ^xA ova
42 HERO CARTHEW,
aim accomplished, for I can make a will to-morrow leaving
to whom I please the reversion of the money which will
virtually then become mine, aunt. If Stephen will not see
this, if he is bitter and misjudges me, entreat, plead for me,
remembering that you have taught me that for those we
love we can endure all things."
Yes, that was true ; Tor what had not she, his mother,
endured for his sake a burden which had robbed her of
peace, health, and all internal comfort ; a sorrow repent-
ance for which, in all save reparation, was complete ?
Under the shelter of delicate health and over-strained
nerves, Mrs. Prescott hid the storms of agonized fear and
remorse which every now and then would sweep over her.
Though quite innocent of the cause of these attacks, no one
could soothe and manage her like her niece. Her son
pitied her from his heart, but, not one whit understanding
the reason of her, to his mind, causeless depression, he
generally attempted to rouse her when she needed sympa-
thy, and to sympathize with her when she only wanted to
be assured and rallied. Until her support failed her, Mrs.
Prescott never knew how entirely she had leaned upon
Katherine. No one else understood her, no one else was
a companion to her : and when mutual acquaintances
would speak of her niece's altered appearance, how she
avoided all society, looked pale and worn by the devoted
attention she paid to her sick husband, whose side she
seldom left, Mrs. Prescott's heart would ache for the girl's
sufferings, and she would long to take her in her arms, and
seek comfort for both in their mutual bond of sorrow.
Well she knew that, though Katherine no longer wrote to her,
her love was in no way diminished. Each birthday or
recurrent period of home festivity, some simple gift would
arrive, with no word or donor's name, but showing how
fondly the heart of the absent one still clung to the old
memories. These little tokens Mrs. Prescott hoarded and
treasured, often wondering, as she fondly handled them, if
the old hopes, now growing dim, would ever be realized ;
for nearly five years had passed away, and Mr. Labouchere
still lived, kept alive, it was said, by ihe uwwearled care of
HERO CARTHEW, 43
his young wife* He had never dared to leave Italy, but
moved from one invalid resort to another, according to the
change of season and temperature.
Old Mrs. Dormer had not lived to see Katherine sole
possessor of the fortune she had secured for her. When
she died, she left her all she had to leave, so that not a few
spoke of the wonderful catch Mrs. Labouchere would one
day be, and rather hinted that Sir Stephen would not
remain long abroad after he heard that she was a widow.
And at length the long-looked-for event came to pass,
and Katherine, with her dead husband's body, returned
rich and free to the country which, nearly six years before,
she had left an affianced bride, poor in all save the love
she had seemingly set small store upon.
" Forgive me, Stephen, if I have been weak," wrote Mrs.
Prescott some two months after her niece's arrival ; " but
when I learned that Katherine was in London, sorrowful
and lonely like myself, with health gone and spirits broken,
I could not refuse her entreaties to see me."
Sir Stephen's answer was that, if seeing his cousin afford-
ed his mother any pleasure, he should be sorry to think any
misgivings on his account would prevent her from gratifying
her desire. Further, he begged that she would entirely fol-
low her own wishes, and if she desired to renew her old
terms of intimacy with her niece, he should be the last to
place any barrier between them.
Gradually, therefore, and by slow degrees, Mrs. Prescott
and Katherine saw more and more of each other. At first
Stephen's name was hardly mentioned ; but as their conver-
sations grew more lengthy and confidential, reserve was
thrown aside, and they combined their energies to bring
back the heart-broken lover as they both secretly pictured
him. So in each letter Mrs. Prescott wrote to her son, in-
creased mention was made of Katherine; and because,
though he did not answer, he did not forbid these remarks,
much hope was indulged in that all might yet go well.
Mrs. Labouchere's first year of widowhood was over, be-
fore Sir Stephen announced to his mothei Xlci^X Vv^ ^^& ^\Sk.
bb way to England and home.
HERO CARTHEW.
" I shall go to Scotland at once," Katherine said, as
as their delight at the welcome intelhgence had somewhat
subsided. " It will be best for us not to meet until you find
out how he feels towards me."
"I fear," said Mrs. Prescolt, "that we must be prepared
for coldness at first and bitterness, too, Katherine, Ste-
phen's love for you was of no common kind, and he has al-
ways been unreasonable about money. Oh ! what a lime
that was !" she exclaimed, clasping her hands, as if in thank-
fulness for its being over. " I often wonder that I am alive
after all I have gone through : you lost to us, Stephen mad,
reckless, not caring what became of anything. Why, each
time he has come back, I have to plead for keeping Pf ~
phillon as if I was begging for a life."
" Forget it now, dear aunt ; you have forgiven me ?"
" Entirely ; a temptation of that kind is so terrible.
Stephen will never understand it. Men forget that li
makes women weak and prone to act from unputse.
some things Stephen is very hard."
" Will he ever forgive me, aunt ?"
" Oh I love changes a man's whole nature, and
slightest word had always more weight with Stephen than]
volume spoken by any one else. Dear fellow, how I li
to see him 1 It seems hard that you should go, Katey,"
" But it is best, aunt, and I know you will do better
me than 1 could do for myself. I feel I cannot know i
real happiness until Stephen is reconciled to me and we
friends again."
For thus the two, woman-like, fenced with ihe word,
though they each knew the other's meaning, no warmer i
than friendship had ever been given to the tie sought to
renewed between the cousins.
From this time until her son's arrival Mrs. Prescol
whole mind was engrossed by the one object of effecii
reconciliation. Not a moment of the day but she was f
through imaginary scenes in which she delicately, and s
ingly unconsciously, led round to Katlierine's name.
diplomatic opening well received, she proceeded to imf
^gfJiai s4ir should say, what As would say, the answers
HBRO CAR THE W. 45
should make, the arguments she sRould use, until she had
the crowning happiness to know that ho: point was gained,
and Stephen and Katherine brought face to face.
Indeed, so much time did she spend in arranging and per-
fecting her plans, that she felt quite vexed when Stephen,
on the evening of his arrival, during their after-dinner chat,
said, in the most easy manner and unemotional tone of
voice,
" And so you have seen a great deal of Katherine lately.
How is she, and how is she looking ?"
Was it possible ? Had she heard aright ? She could
scarce stammer out her confused answers. The tables were
indeed turned. It was she who was to have been calm, and he
ill at ease and agitated, and when he went on to make further
inquiries about her plans, her house, her fortune, Mrs. Pres-
cott was entirely puzzled and completely perplexed.
" Perhaps you have no objection to meet her ?" she asked
timidly.
** I ! not the least ; I expected to find hex in town, perhaps
here."
" Certainly," reflected Mrs. Prescott, ** Stephen is peculiar."
And she decided that it was quite impossible to know how
to deal with men, whom she began to think had very little
sensitiveness in their natures.
" I only thought," she said, nettled by his coolness, " that
after what has passed you might till feel unwilling to meet
her."
"Wliat, bear malice all my life," he said, stretching
himself into a more comfortable position, " because once
upon a time she preferred a rich old gentleman to a spoony
boy ? On the contrary I have lived to applaud her for
such an uncommonly sensible decision, which has tended to
enlarge my views considerably. In love those who are
first cured are best cured."
" My dear boy, pray don't lay down those horrid maxims
as any rule of Ufe," said Mrs. Prescott, regarding her son
with a troubled gaze, " I am sure they only tend to shake
one's fiiith in everything and every peisotu"
Sr Stephen laughed.
rHERO CARTHEW. H
'Don't be alarmed, my dear mother," he said. "'}&^
doctrines are most soimd, and my faitli unshaken. All I
want you Co understand is this, that, as long as it afTords
you pleasure to receive your niece, it will give me no ineasi-
ness to meet her."
Mrs, Prescott kissed him as she thanked him, but she
could not recover from her disappointment. Reilecling, af-
ter they had parted, on what he had said, she felt that her
son had very much altered during these past six yeaff
Each time he had returned to her she had noticed achanjl
but now all the slight alterations had seemingly culmina^j
in producing a man who thoroughly differed from the |
dent impassioned lover Katherine Douglas had ruled e
slighted. From a natural love of home, and the t
companionship of the two in whom all his affections \
centred, Sir Stephen had formerly seen but very little of d
world, and so had retained a boyish freshness which f
lady-love did not always appreciate. But these six yeai
absence and constant change now told in his altered be
ing, and Mrs. Prescott saw but a fresh cause for fear 1
Katherine should disapprove of the change, and her regs
diminish in consequence. Slie betrayed, however, none I
her anxiety in the letter which she at once dispatched I
Mrs. Labouchere. After giving a minute account of his j
rival, his looks, and wliat he had said and done, she vi
on,
" And suddenly he spoke of you, asking me liow j
were, if you were at home, and how you were looking ?" I
And with the triumphant smile which the reading j
these words produced on her face, what wonder that J
therine Labouchere was satisfied with the answer her presew
would give the man, who, she elected, should now own 'S
beauty he had so often praised ?
Yes, she had wonderfully recovered her good looks ;
eyes were no longer surrounded by dark rims ; her che
were fast regaining their roundness ; and her fair pale
plexion had once more the hue of health, which for a
time seemed gone forever. '* Oh ! that time !" the shadOf
of ApassiDg across her memoiy caused i shuddec to r
*^ HERO CARTHEW. 47
through her, and she turned away and sat down again to
her lett^, lingering over, and dwelling upon every sentence
which related to Stephen and herself.
" Rich, handsome, and free," not a few mouths watered
over the good gifts fortune had so liberally lavished upon
Katherine Labouchere ; and thought, that if any one in the
world was to be envied, it was the woman thus happily situ-
ated. Katherine herself perfectly concurred that the posi-
tion she held was most desirable, and yet she wondered,
whether to obtain this heaven of worldly good, many, know-
ing all, would consent to pass through the purgatory by
which she^ had attained it.
Influenced greatly by all she had heard from her aunt, it
has Katherine's earliest dream of ambition to become the
means of restoring the decayed splendor of Pamphillon.
Many a long hour had she beguiled in weaving a tangle of
schemes and plans by which this purpose was to be eflfected.
Her aunt was to do this, Stephen was to become that, va-
rious people were to lead up to the end by various ways ;
but she was the showman who held the puppet wires ; she
piped, while they but danced to her music. Of course Ste-
phen would marry her, about that she never entertained a
doubt ; and when the time came, and he told her of a love
different from aught he had ever felt, called into being and
fresh bom for her alone, she cheated herself and him into
the belief that she shared the feeling, instead of regarding it
primarily as an essential to the scheme she was resolved to
carry out. Not but that Katherine had more love for Ste-
phen than her self-imposed restraints permitted her to in-
dulge in ; but hers was a nature to undervalue allthat she
was thoroughly secure of, and, believing that Stephen's love
could never be shaken, she became indifferent, and made
her own plans and wishes the sole guide of her actions.
Her marriage with Mr. Labouchere was mainly brought
about by Mrs. Dormer's influence. It was throwing away
the gifts of Providence, she said, for a portionless girl to give
up a fortune which the man, who could not carry it to hi^
grave, was imploring her to accept. Every otv^ kxv^^ t\\a.t
Mr. Iji^uchere was suffering from a moilii ctK^^\.\
r^S HERO CARTReW.
every doctor he had consulted agreed that nothing could
keep him alive beyond a few years. He was not ignorant
of all this himself, and indeed had freely spoken to Kathe-
rine on the subject.
And then the old temptress drew cunningly devised pic-
tures to the girl of herself, possessed of a large fortune and
able to marry whom she ple-osed. She constantly intimidat-
ed her by saying, that if she set so little value upon money,
she would take care that hers should be left to some one
with more sense ; until, harassed by the dread of losing all,
on the one hand, and, on the other, buoyed up by the idea
that there was something grand in sacrificing herself for the
man she loved, Kalherine gave a sudden consent, and, when
all was over, she began gradually to realize that, to a woman
not unprincipled nor hardened enough to calmly wait for
the end, which Mr. Labouchere's fits of illness seemed to
constantly threaten, her true position was by no means an
enviable one.
At each attack Katherine, knowing how greatly in her
secret heart she desired the sufferer's death, was seized with
misgivings, grew anxious and nervous, was tormented by
conscience, until the very guilt of a murderer seemed to
weigh her down. To still these reproaches she would de-
vole herself to her husband by day and night;, catling in
every available aid, consulting each authority, carrying oat
the most minute suggestions, until those around her mar-
velled at an anxiety, which was so evidently unfeigned, as
to leave no doubt that aught but love could call it forth.
In addition to her self-inflicted torments, she had to listen
to Mr. Labouchere's praises, and accept his thanks and
blessings, every word of which seemed to humiliate and stab
her. And, when to the wonder of all about him, the inva^
lid would begin to rally again, then Katherine's strength
seemed to fail, her spirits began to droop, and hope would
sicken and die out while contemplating visions as far out o(
reach as ever. It was a terrible life of struggle, althou^
she hid the conflict from all who saw her. But when Mrs.
Dormer, feeling death drawing near, called her to her bedr.
' '? said said, ^hB
HERO CARTHEW. 49
^ Kadienney I hjiYe Idt evaydimg to jroo. In spite of
what I used to sa j to urge jou to a maiiiage which I fore-
saw would turn out ha^nly, I never meant that any but
you should ever possess a feithing of my money " her
misery seemed greater than she could bear, and, hiding her
u:e in her hands, she cried out that aue had dealt very
hardly with her.
But why recall these clouds now, when all their darkness
has passed and only the sflver Hning remains in the shape of
wealth andhqpes which make life again look rosy and smil-
ing?
MsB. Prescott's letter concluded by begging that her niece
would not delay her return to London, and that immedi-
ately after her arrival she would come to her; and as this
was the very thing Mrs. Labouchere longed to do, the next
week saw her back again in town and (kiving towards her
aunt's house.
9
CHAPTER VII.
"A SCHEME OF HIS."
Never had Mrs. Labouchere dressed herself with more
care, surveyed herself more critically, nor found more rea-
son to be satisfied with her personal appearance, than on
the morning of her long wished-for visit Her heavy
mourning was particularly becoming to her fair face and
slender figure. Excitement gave a pretty flush to her
cheeks, and made her eyes brighter than usual Her chief
perplexity arose from her doubts as to the manner in which
Stephen would meet her. She had already decided that she
would take her tone from him. If he was distant and
frigid, she would be silent and grave ; if he seemed agitated
and embarrassed, she felt certain she should break down,
for her nerves seemed strung up to a high pitch.
Finding that Mrs. Prescott was in the morning room,
she desired the man not to announce her, but, opening the
door herself, she went up to her aunt, around whose neck
she threw her arms, and clinging there for an instant, as if
to gain courage, she raised her head, and timidly turned her
eyes towards Sir Stephen, who, to her great mortification,
came most composedly towards her, holding out his hand
as he said,
" How do you do, Katherine ? Glad to see you looking
so much better. Mother tells me you have not been well
lately. What an age it is since we met !"
Mrs. Labouchere felt her face grow crimson. Do all
she could, she found it impossible to steady her voice to
answer as she wished. Her confusion, however, seemed
quite lost upon Sir Stephen, who went on,
" I have been half over the world since I saw you. I
expect you find this climate rather trying after such a so-
HERO :AR'TIIE fV. $1
joum in Italy. I felt myself shivLring in the biting wind of
yesterday."
And this was the meeting she had yearned for and looked
forward to ? Yes ; and this, too, was the meeting that he
had spent whole days and nights in picturing when, and
where, and how it would take place. So devotedly had
Stephen Prescott loved Katherine Douglass, so implicitly
had he trusted her, so thoroughly had he believed in her,
that fbr years he could not separate the ideal which had
called forth his love, from the fair shape with which he had
identified it. Now that his eyes were opened he saw that
Katherine was no more that sweet creation, than is the
player the mimic queen whose name for the hour she bears.
Had her love been false to his, he could have made more
excuse for her than for the cold calculating nature, which
set love aside until death untied the money-bags, that had
weighed down the scale against plighted troth and passion-
ate devotion. When he read those passages in his mother's
letters, speaking of the sacrifice which Katherine had made,
and which devotion to him alone had prompted, he laughed
bitterly ; but when, as she grew bolder, Mrs. Prescott ven-
ture to say, Ihat Katherine could not disguise her anxiety
to gain any atom of news about him, and that it was plain,
to one who watched her narrowly, that her hope of happi-
ness lay in the thought that some day he might forgive her,
renew their shattered ties, and live over again those days of
peace and joy, about which she never wearied of talking.
Sir Stephen felt all his old feelings of hatred and bitterness
come back. So, she was going to try and carry out her
scheme, and he was to be lured back and cajoled into a
marriage.
He could fancy himself portrayed by the hands of his
mother, how she would picture him heartbroken, wandering
in a distant land, banished by a grief he could not overcome,
reckless, mad ; so he had been once, but not now. " My
love is dead," he exclaimed joyfully, " dead for ever;" why
then keep away ? Ah, why indeed ? he would go back at
once ; he would go home, meet Mrs. LaboucKete, axvd b^
treating her with the unceremonious indiffw^xic^ t^l\n^s^
w
/ffiffO CARTHEW.
often exercise towards each other, show her that not only
his love for her dead, but that even the memory of it
was forgotten. And truly, if he sought revenge in the suc-
cess of this plan, he secured it. Kalherine felt humbled to
the dust. Nothing could have so completely overthrown
her. Had he refused to meet her, to speak to her, had he
poured forth a torrent of reproach against her, she could
have met it. But with this present manner how could she
act, what fault could she find ? She was not a woman to
be easily cast down, but her heart sank at the bliured pro-
spect before her.
Between this first meeting and the time when Sir Stephen
paid the visit to Garston, which ultimately resulted in his
going down to Mallett, nearly a year had elapsed. During
this period Mrs. Labouchere had tried many plans, and
laid innumerable snares, into which she hoped her cousin
would fall. She had remained in town, gone away fi-om
town, stayed with his mother, absented herself from the
house; had been distant, friendly, sad, lively, all in turns,
and all to no purpose. Sir Stephen's manner was unal-
tered, and he remained indifferent and apparently uncon-
scious.
A complete change seemed to have been effected in their
characters. In place of devoted worshipping Stephen, and
calm calculating Katherine, he now was perfectly self-pos-
sessed, while she found herself racked and tossed about at
the mercy of the' man who had formerly been her slave;
watching for his presence, craving for his love, and guilty
on his account of a thousand weaknesses which she lacked
the sense or the strength to conceal.
Money was now valueless in her eyes when compared
with Stephen's love ; the past glory or present decay of
Pamphillon quite forgotten in straining after the goal she was
at present putting forth all her energies to gain; and while
the object of her solicitude was enjoying the fresh breezes
and briny odors of Mallett, Katherine stayed with her aunt,
indulging herself by listening to Mrs. Prescotl's assurance
that, in spite of his altered manner, Stephen's love was im-
impaired.
HERO CARTHEW. 53
In his home letters Sir Stephen had not thought fit to
enter into much detail about his visit to Mallett. He had
merely told his mother, that having found it necessary to
give his personal attention to several matters at Combe, he
should be detained there longer than he had anticipated. H e
felt sure, he said, that she would be pleased with Mallett,
and, as he should go there again in the summer he hoped that
he should induce her to accompany him. The scenery was
wild and picturesque, the people very primitive, and the air
delicious and invigorating. A postscript added that he had
accepted an invitation to stay while there with his neighbor.
Captain Carthew, to whose house she would please to for-
ward his letters.
" Stephen knows that I will not go to Combe unless you
will go with me, Katherine," said Mrs. Prescott ; " I wonder
now if this is a scheme of his to get us all down to some
quiet retired spot." Poor Mrs. Prescott was so anxious for
the fulfilment of her heart's desire that she ran every event
into that groove.
" I don't suppose Stephen would wish you to ask me,
aunt, and if you did he would not care about my going."
" Now that is not fair of you, Katie ; you seem to expect
that Stephen is to suddenly ignore the past, which is utterly
impossible. When a great love has been shaken it takes a
long time before it can trust again. Do you think that if
he did not like to see you he would be always telling me to
ask you here ?"
Mrs. Labouchere restrained herself from giving utterance
to the wish that he would object to see her, avoid her, do
anything but ignore her.
" I am sure," added Mrs. Prescott, " I hardly ever receive
a letter from him without constant mention of you, and that
does not look like indifference."
Katherine sighed.
** He must find it very dull at this place," she said ; " he
does not speak of having met any one there."
* Oh, no I there is no society of any kind ; it is a most
out-of-the-way place. Your uncle has been t\\ei^ \xi\vi&\ia^ -
hood, and he used to speak of it as bemg laosX. ^'^^ ^^^
54 HERO CARTHEW,
un-get-at-able. The inhabitants in his day were a set of
semi-barbarous smugglers and wreckers. Of course things
are changed for the better there as elsewhere ; but I fancy
it is still very far behind the rest of the world."
" Combe is a small estate ?" asked Katherine.
" Quite, in comparison to Pamphillon. I hope Stephen
will not be induced to lay out a lot of money on the
place. It would be very foolish, for he could never live
there."
" Ah ! how valueless is money when one cannot do the
good with it one longs to !" said Katherine, sadly,
" I know what you mean, dear ;" and Mrs. Prescott
pressed her niece's hand tenderly ; " but we must have pa-
tience. I fear Stephen's pride is a strong bar to his happi-
ness ; perhaps thrown, as he must be now, entirely upon
himself, he may see things in a very different light. Poor
fellow, I wonder how he gets through his evenings ?"
Very merrily, she would have said, could she have seen
the despondent swain standing up with the Captain and
Hero, perfecting himself in the mysteries of a reel, which
Alice played on the old-fashioned piano.
" A little faster, Alice," Hero would call out, her whole
energies bent on her pupiPs accomplishment of his task.
" The other hand. Sir Stephen ; come along, papa don't
stop."
" My wig and feathers, child ; I must take breath. You
youngsters forget the amount of ballast I carry." Notwith-
standing which the old man danced away as merrily as his
pretty daughter.
" Alice, look round ; he does it capitally ; isn't it all
right ? Now, you may sit down. Sir Stephen, and well
release you. Alice dear, thank you ; nobody plays the Fairy
dance as you do. I'm longing for to-morrow evening; it
will be such fun.'*
" Remember, you are to be my first partner," said Sir
Stephen."
" I am not likely to forget that," returned Hero.
"Oh, I don't know ; I daresay I shall have all the beaux-
of the place looking daggers at me for my presumption.
HERO CAR THE W, 55
Miss Carthew is sure to be surrounded by admirers, is she
not, Miss Joslyn ?"
" Yes, indeed," replied Alice, " I*d advise you to secure
her beforehand ; for she is always engaged for every dance,
and there is generally a contention about taking her home."
" Taking her home !"
" Yes," laughed Hero, " you know there is but one fly
in all Mallet, so it is our fashion to walk home with our last
partner, and . . . ."
" Now you have done for yourself," said Sir Stephen, " for
I put in the first claim to the last dance. It is of no use your
looking " No," at me ; you will have to give up your pre-
arranged tite-i-iite walk with"
** Tell me his name," he whispered to Alice ; but Alice
shook her head, and Hero, with a pretty confusion, which
betrayed itself in most becoming blushes, said, " I am sure
I would rather go home with you than with any one who
will be there to-morrow."
CHAPTER VIII.
SORRY TO GO.
" The doings up to Combe" were over. Both parties
had given the greatest satisfaction, and in each cottage and
house about Mallett the entire conversation ran on the
events, which had taken place on the particular evening,
when those who spoke were present. Nothing could exceed
Sir Stephen's popularity. He had been so attentive to
everybody that, as Miss Batt truly remarked, each for the
time felt the favored one. Then it was so nice of him to
take Mrs. Randal down to supper. Of course, the captain
had told him about her father having been a K.C.B. and
the governor at the Cape ; for nobody knew better than the
captain what was proper you might always trust to him,
" My dear," exclaimed Mrs. Jamieson to her deaf sister
Miss Kellow, "did you ever see such a magnificent
supper ?"
" Splendid, and all firom Dockmouth too ; it must have
cost a pretty penny."
" That's what I like to see the heart to do it, and the
means to pay for it. How nice all the girls looked, to be
sure I I don't believe there was one but Sir Stephen danced
with. As I said to Captain White I'd be bound for it, he
didn't often see prettier faces than he met here."
Among the second batch opinions were equally favorable.
Sir Stephen had led off the Triumph with Mrs. Came ; join-
ed in the reels, and made a most beautiful speech, the best
part of which was, that he was coming again in the summer,
and that then he should ask them all back again.
" Capen took good care nobody was passed over," said
Kepzibah Bunce, who, uniting the trades of grocer and to-
bacconist, was generally sure to have several loungers in her
little shop.
ffERO CARTHEW. 57
" I say," she continued, " didn't Miss Hero look a reg'lar
booty, all in white with a red rose in her hair."
The heads were nodded in general assent.
" I reckon," said Ned Wallis, " her'd take the wind out
the sails of some o' the taller-faced Londoners he sees.
Coast-guardsmen was arsking o' me if he wasn't casting a
eye that way."
" The very same struck me," said Hepzibah, " and a pret-
ty pair they'd make too ; folks do say, tier's gived her com-
pany to that young Despard, but I for one hope 't isn't so."
** He's a likely young chap," said one of the younger men
admiringly.
" Iss, but you mustn't take people by their looks, nor
parsons by their books," and Hepzibah gave a knowing
laugh, " else I s'pose he wouldn't stand in his own shoes."
" Why, what do'ee mean ?" asked the same man, who,
not being Mallett born, was but imperfectly up in the do-
mestic history of its inhabitants.
" Mean I" said Hepzibah, " why, nothin' that I know by ;
only from first to last there's bin a goodish lot o' talk about
who this young Despard is. I'm sure he carries his head
as high as if he was the Emperor o'Rooshia's son ; and so
he may be for anything I can gainsay, or anybody else in
Mallett, I take it"
" Sir Stephen's still up to Sharrows, I s'pose ?" said Wallis.
" Well, the talk was he was goin' a Friday, but he ain't
gone yet, for he was in to Joe's this morning."
" Well, I'm glad to see he ain't in no hurry to be off. I'll
wager he don't find better quarters." In which opinion
perhaps Sir Stephen shared, for the festivities had been over
now for four days past, and yet he lingered at Mallett.
He had, however, positively decided upon leaving the
next mMming a decision he was somewhat ruefully con-
templating, as he stood waiting for Hero to join him in a
farewell stroll to Combe Point.
** I feel quite sorry to go," he thought, " I've taken such
a fancy to the place, and as to old Carthew, I seem to have
known him all my life; I never felt so at home in any
house. My mother must like them ; t\\al ga\ \v2& ^\c^
58 HERO CARTHEW.
pretty, unaffected ways, I*d defy any one to see her at home
and not be charmed with her. What a nice wife shell '
make 1 I don't see any one about this place for her to
marry though ;" and here, giving a rather lugubrious sigh,
his meditations seemed to come to an end, and he stood
making thrusts in the direction of a clump of old sea-pinks,
too sturdy to be easily dislodged. Suddenly a sound above
made him look up. It was Hero, running down the steep
path with the surefootedness of a goat.
" Take care ! take care !" he called out, his admiration of
her agility curbed by fear lest she should slip.
" Take care of what ?"
" Why, that you don't " but with the bravado of high
spirits and perfect confidence, before he could finish his
sentence she had given another run, and with a final jump
was at his side.
" You are not tired of waiting, I hope," she said ; ** papa
kept us ; Alice and he will be here in a moment, and I ran
on in front to tell you."
" And to frighten me out of my life."
" Frighten you ! How did I frighten you?"
" Why, by running down the rocks as you did. Suppose
that you had fallen, what should I have done then ?"
Sir Stephen's looks and tone somehow conveyed a great
deal more meaning than his words.
" Why, picked me up, of course," said Hero, laughing,
and getting a little red, " unless," she added, trying to taS:
down her slight confusion, " I had tumbled on top of you,
as I did before. Oh ! dear me ! I shall never forget our
first meeting ; shall you ?"
" No, indeed ;" and a quickening of his heart, as he look-
ed at her, made him instinctively lower his voice, as he said,
not quite knowing why he said it, " And will you promise
that you will not forget me before I come again ?"
" Forget you, Sir Stephen !" and Hero opened wide her
eyes in astonishment, ** you don't know what an event your
coming has been to us all ; we shall do nothing but talk df
it until you come back again."
''Then you will think of me sometimes?"
HERO CAR THE IV. * 59
How she wished that her father and Alice would make
haste!
" To hear you," she answered, not looking up from the
imaginary picture she was drawing with a bit of cast-up
stick on the sand, " one would fancy that I had heaps of
things to take my attention. Why, I shall think of you fifty
times more than you will think of Mallett."
" Say, of me," and he bent down towards her.
" Mallett and me mean the same."
** No, I am afraid not ; Mallett is mine already, you know,
but ^"
" Dear me, what a time they are in coming !" exclaimed
Hero, suddenly springing upon the nearest stone; " I think
I hear them," she continued hurriedly. " Papa ! Alice I
come," she called, as Caj ^ain Carthew and Alice appeared
leisurely strolling down ft ^ther. " It will be nightfall be-
fore we get to the Pointy v
" I wonder what on ei^ih made her do that," thought Sir
Stephen. " By Jove, I Welieve my head was gone. What
odd beings women are 1 I wonder if she had any idea what
I was going tcr say."
Hero gave him no further chance for a i^te-h-tHe, She
so managed it, that they all four walked side by side until
they reached the Point, where Sir Stephen proposed they
should scramble up to the old buUace tree.
" Yes, do," said the Captain. " I'll stop below, and give
the signal of recall ; but remember there's no keeping the
tide waiting/'
" Come, Miss Carthew," said Sir Stephen, as he jumped
upon the ^at slippery rocks.
" Come along, Alice," said Hero, following him ; but Alice
shook her head, " No, I am going to stay with the Captain,"
she answered, " I am too tired to mount that hill."
" We shall only be a few minutes gone," said Sir Stephen, .
with a great increase of cheerfulness. " Now, you must let
me help you, Miss Carthew. Give me your hand." But
Hero did not stir.
" Nonsense, Alice," she said, " you are not so tired as all
that. Come along, J s\\2i}\ not go unless you %oJ^ ^xA^^
made as If she ivould step down to tV\e beacYv a^iwi.
Hero! Miss Carthew," Sir Stephen whispered, "remem-
ber it is my last evening. Why cannot you come with me ?"
She did not answer. " Alice," she repealed, with a look
which made Alice very reluctantly prepare to accompany
them.
Sir Stephen of course could say nothing, hut he felt un-
reasonably angry. Until Alice proposed slaying behind,
the idea of going alone with Hero had not presented itself;
but directly it did, and was frustrated, it seemed to him the
thinghe most desired and cared for, It was in vain he tried to
conceal his vexation ; a cloud seemed to have settled upon
them, and it was not long before they rejoined the Cap-
tain. During the walk back Sir Stephen remained unusual-
ly silent. He had never fe!t a more irresistible desire to
quarrel with any one than he did with Hero, in whose di-
rection he never once looked, alt. igh she cast several fur-
tive glances towards him. " I aJnost wish I had gone,"
she thought. " If he only knewetbout Leo, 1 would not
mind; but we won't keep it secrW any longer. I would
rather now that every one knew. I can see that he is vexed
with me." By the time they reached the house, even the
Captain began to feel the chill which had fallen upon them.
" ]l's turned quite cold," he said ; "I hope Betsey has had
an eye to, the fire while we have been gone,"
Hero ran out to the wood-basket, and returned with a
couple of fir cones, which she threw on the fire ; then turn-
ing round she found Sir Stephen close by her tlie others
were not in the room.
" It will soon blaze up." she stammered, all her self-con-
sciousness returning ; " I'll go and take off my hat, I think ;"
but Sir Stephen did not move, he only stood looking at her
reproachfully, " Let me pass," she said, with a little ner-
vous taugb, "No, I won't let you pass," and he laid his
hand defuningly upon her arm, " you shall stay here now,
and" but the Captain was already in the room, exclaiming,
" Hulloa ! why we're all one color here ! Come, Hero, let's
have a light on the subject." But Hero had flown, and Sir
Stephen began stirring the fire so vigorously that the Cap-
tew said, " What, are you cold too ? I thought there ifM '
^ange, somehow."
CHAPTER IX.
LEO DESPARD.
** I CANNOT bear saying Good-bye," said Hero.
" I am so sorry he is gone," said Alice, as the carriage,
which was to convey Sir Stephen to the station, finally
turned into Ferry-bridge Lane, and was hidden by Parson's
Hill. Captain Carthew had gone to Dockmouth with his
friend, so the two girls returned alone to the house, by the
gate of which, mounted on the hedge, they found Betsey,
whose regard Sir Stephen had completely gained.
" Well, youVe seed the last of 'im," she said discontent-
edly. " I run up here to catch sight of 'em rounding Ferry-
bridge, but you might so well look for a needle in a bundle
o' hay, as hopfe to see anything for they Norris's clothes;
they'm always washin' when any sight's going on."
" Ain't you sorry he's gone, Betsey ?" asked Alice.
" Well, I be ; and that's the truth," said Betsey, descend-
ing fi-om her post of interrupted observation ; " for he's one
whose &ce I'd rather see than his back any day, though I
can't say so much for that Jackanapes he brought to tend
on 'm," meaning his man, whose contempt of Mallett and its
inhabitants had given considerable offence. '' Mrs. Tuck-
er '11 shake off the dust as comes from his feet with a light
heart, any how," continued Betsey ; " poor miserable toad,
with his brass and his brag, as if anybody couldn't see the
lies runnin' out of 'm like He." ^^^
** Come, Betsey," said Hero, ' I didn't noti^^^ very
much amiss with him."
" I dessay not; he was mealy-mouthed enuP before his
betters, but his stomachky ways in the kitchen was past
bidin.' I only wish I could ha' got'n to chapel with me ;
wouldn't he ha' bad a slap in the face from '^i. "SoCcvamO*^
62 HERO CARTHEW.
to the text of * All flesh is grass.' He did just speak his
mind to a few who needed it, and no mistake ; but la ! no,
my lord must go to church like the gentry. * I don't hold
with chapels and meetin's,' he says. * No,' says I, * they tdl
'ee the truth there, and that don't suit your complaint, maister.'
However, that don't go for nothin' agen Sir Stephen, for he
ain't his man, and his man ain't he, or else I shouldn't hope
and trust, as I do, that he'll come and live here altogether.
This momin', when he come to wish me Good-bye, he says,
* Betsey,' says he, * what w'd you say if I was to come to
Combe to live ?' ' Say ! sir,' I says, * why that you'd cut yer
wisdom teeth at last ; for I'm sure nobody, unless they was
mazed, would live up to London, I reckon.' "
" Why not?" asked Alice.
" Why not ?" said Betsey, " well, you just hear what Sa-
rah Jane Mudge says of it ; why, there ain't a bit o' butter
that's fit to eat ; and as for the milk, 'tis chalk and mess made
up together ; they don't know the meanin' o' wholesome vic-
tuals. Why, when Sarah Jane asked for a tough cake, the
baker busted out laughin', and told her she was welcome to
take her choice from they in the window ; as for pilchards
and hakes, they'd never heerd tell of 'em. Londoners in-
deed ! I shan't ever think much o' they after what Sarah
Jane's told, and this poor ha'porth o' cheese we've seed.
That minds me I'll pot down a hundred or so o' pilchards
and some butter, and get maister to send it to Sir Stephen ;
I'll wager he'll be half starved when he gets back."
" I wish he would come and live here altogether," said
Alice, as soon as Betsey had left them. " Do you like him,
Hero ?" she asked.
" Yes, very much. Why do you want to know ?"
"Because I am sure he likes you very much indeed.
Hero^^believe he has fallen in love with you."
" 4|P you always thiilk that of everybody. Sir Stephen
is not^kely to give me a thought, and if he did, it would
be of no use, you know that."
" Then you have quite made up your mind to accept
Leo ?" said Alice sadly.
" Quite made up my mind !" repeated Hero. " Why,
HERO CARTHEW. 63
Alice, you surely have forgotten him. I never have seen
any one with whom I could compare Leo."
" I know he is very handsome and nice," said Alice, with
. a sigh ; " but oh, Hero ! he is not half as nice as you are ;
everybody says so."
" Then I am very angry with everybody, and, as for you,
if you were not so weak, you horrid little thing, I'd shake
you until I made you confess that the very handsomest,
sweetest, most loveable man you ever saw is Leopold Des-
pard, and when I am his wife, I shall think myself the most
fortunate woman in the whole world."
Alice laughed.
" Very well," she said ; " but I shall still continue to say,
I wish you would marry Sir Stephen. I have thought about
it since first I saw you together."
" Don't say so any more," said Hero, gravely. " Of
course I know the whole thing exists only in your imagi-
nation ; but if it did not, and he asked me twenty times, I
should say No. Why, Alice, I love Leo with all my heart.
There, I declare you have made me blush ;" and she put up
her hands to cover her face. Withdrawing them the next
moment, she added, " Not that I am one bit ashamed if all
the world heard me, for I am proud of my love and that he
has given his love to me."
And had he given her his love? Yes; for as much as
was in him to love any one. Leo Despard loved Hero
Carthew. He could not change his nature, which was to
care more for himself than for anybody else, but second to
the worship of self, came his feeling for Hero. Perhaps
combined with this was no small amount of vanity, for he
knew himself envied by all the young fellows at Mallett as
the fortunate suitor, who, in spite of their constant oppor-
tunities, had made the most of a short visit, and seoMed^the
prize they were all coveting. In his inward rev^^^Leo
could not but regard Hero as a singularly fortunat^eing.
" for," he would say, " I've had capital opportunities, if I'd
chosen to go in for rank or money, and it isn't every man
would be constant to a girl without a stiver, as I do. Ob,
dear 1 1 wish she had a fortune, or I had, ox &QXCiOci^6?j ^^Tk*
BEKO CASV^m
lected with us had, for she's awfully pretty, and very good
style too when 1 take the country rust off her,"
Poor Leo ! he was alwaj^ sighing after money, and envy-
ing the fortunate possessors of that, to him, all-powerful talis-
nian. Naturally of a weak character, with strong faults,
his home training had been most injudicious. Every one
yielded to his wishes, pampered his vanity, and glossed over
his imperfections. The world, he found, was not inclined
to be so indulgent, therefore, having made up his mind to
be a favorite, he set to work to accomplish his desire, and
so happily did he succeed, that in a short time he was voted
by his brother oihcers a first-rate fellow, and a capital
companion. He spoke of himself as being the nephew and
adopted son of the late rector of Mallett; and told the
Colonel's wife (who made it her business to find out every-
thing concerning each fresh comer to the regiment) that his
father and mother had both died while he was a very young
child, and that he knew little or nothing about them, as his
uncle, wishing to be regarded with parental affection, was
always extremely reticent on the subject.
" So very strange," said his sharp questioner, " for, hap-
pening to mention you to some friends of mine, they said
they used to know Mr. Despard years ago, but they never
heard he had a brother, though they knew of a sister."
"Really!" said Leo, with assumed indifference. "Ah!
I expect my poor father was not regarded as much credit to
his family. I suppose they looked upon a man, who could
in a few years run through a large fortune, as sonnethi
second only to a criminal."
" Indeed! your mother's money, I presume?"
" Oh, yes; the Despards have not been burdened in
way for years," laughed Leo; "the name is about all'
hav^Bboast of; that's pretty good, I believe at least my
podl^Bne used to tell me about our past glories our com-
ing over with the Conqueror, and so on ; it pleased him,
dear old man, though to me it is but sorry satisfaction to be
descended from a hne, who have left nothing behind them
but the boast of Quixotic deeds, by which they contrived |o
ram their family " V
ould
1
HERO CARTHEW. 6$
Then, having already discovered the lady's weakness, he
adroitly turned the conversation to the peerage generally ;
apd, plying her with questions relating to her intimates ot
exalted rank, he escaped further questioning, and was from
that moment regarded by Mrs. Fitzgerald as a very gende-
manly young man. She gave out (embellishing his story
with native talent) that he was the son of a man of good
family, who married an heiress, ran through her money,
and killed himself and her in a few years ; that his uncle,
old Walter Despard, an excellent man, but very eccentric,
had brought him up and adopted him, and of course at his
death had left him everything that he possessed.
Nothing could have been more fortunate for Leo than
this excellent woman's appropriation of every kind of know-
ledge. She always spoke of persons by their Christian
names, and with an air of such intimate acquaintanceship
that even those who knew her peculiarities best were never
sure how much they ought to believe and what they should
give no credit to. There being nothing improbable in this
narration it was allowed to pass, and now was so thoroughly
believed in that even Leo himself accepted it, and answered
any questions or allusions without the slightest qualm of
conscience for propagating a story which he took immense
'Credit for not inventing.
Among the people who for many years were most inte-
rested about his origin the one least concerned was Leo. As
a child he had asked time and again about his dead father
and mother, and was satisfied with a simple reply to his
question. Later on he grew more inquisitive ; but it was
not until just before he obtained his commission that the
old rector felt obliged to tell him something of the truth,
but even then, shrinking from inflicting a wound on the
pride of the handsome boy, whom he loved with weak ten-
derness, he kept back whatever he could, and all Leo
learned in this and future conversations was that he liad no
li^t to the name of Despard, nor any legitimate claim on
any other name ; that his mother's origin was humble ; that
the had in some way attracted the notice of his father, who
had been an early friend and college chum ot ^x. X^t's^'^^x^i!^,
66 HERO CARTHEW,
His father's name was Bernard; he had been of no profession,
and had lived on bad terms with his family, who allowed
him an income for his support. For some years before and
after Leo's birth Mr. Despard had lost sight of his friend,
except that he knew he was living in Wales, and that Leo's
mother passed as his wife. Suddenly something happened
which caused Mr. Bernard to break this tie, and he came
to Mr. Despard, who, with Aunt Lydia, was living in Lon-
don, and asked him to take charge of the child, whose mo-
ther had deserted it. To this he consented, and soon be-
came so attached to him that parting was never spoken of;
the father had an aversion to see his son, and no induce-
ment on Mr. Despard's part could overcome this prejudice.
He kept away from the house, and, except on rare occa-
sions and by letters, they held no communication. When
Leo was about nine years old his father wrote, saying that
he had just received intelligence of the mother's death, and
that now he intended seeing the boy, and taking an inte-
rest in him. He appointed a day to pay them a visit ; but
before that day arrived Mr. Despard was informed of his
death, which was sudden, and the result of excitement
consequent on the failure of a speculation which had ruined
him.
As there was no one to claim him, Mr. Despard gladly
adopted the orphan boy who, he said, had been the solace
and comfort of his life. Naturally Leo asked many more
questions, but this was the sum total of the knowledge he
obtained, and with his usual discrimination he saw that the
less he knew the less he had to hide. As, therefore, there
was nothing to be gained by being placed mi courant with
his history, his wisest course was to acceptthe pre sent and
ignore the past. Few men were more popular than Leo.
He seemed to make fresh friends wherever the regiment
happened to be, and these, too, were invariably the best
people in the best set.
What wonder then that Mallett seemed dull to him, and
its inhabitants, excepting Hero, insupportably uninteresting.
Besides, he knew that much of his history was known
there, and this caused him to dislike the place. He felt
HERO CARTHEW. 67
that his attachment to Hero was the great weakness of his
life, sdil he cared for her more than for any other girl he
had ever seen ; and he had made up his mind that as soon
as he conveniendy could he would marry her, and, to use
his own expression, cut Mallett altogether. ^ If her old
father and Aunt Lydia would only drop off the hooks," he
would say, '* I could clear myself of these abominable duns.
But there's no such luck. In a place like that they live as
long as they Uke. I wonder how I shall get through the
time there !" for, in consequence of a letter which he had
received from Hero, he had applied to get the charge of
some forts that were to be built close to Combe ; and if he
obtained the appointment he would most probably spend
three or four months there, a longer time than he and Hero
had yet been together.
CHAPTER X.
"that extreme simplicity."
Sir Stephen found Mrs. Labouchere still staying with his
mother, unable to resist the pleasure of meeting him, al-
though her judgment told her that it would be wiser for
them to see less of each other.
She gave some slight excuse for having delayed her in-
tended departure, adding, " I have been trying to persuade
aunt to go down to Cumberland with me ; I think it might
give her strength, for she has not seemed at all well lately.
Indeed, that is one reason why I have remained here; I
hardly liked leaving her alone."
" Thank you very much," said Sir Stephen. " I always
feel she is perfectly safe when you are with her; I do not
know what she would do without you now."
" I do not know what I should do without her," replied
Katherine, without looking up; "she is the same to me
that she ever was. Most other things have so completely
changed."
" Yes, that's true," said Sir Stephen complacently ; " it's
wonderful how things alter."
" And people too, I think."
" Well, I suppose they do ; as they get older they get
wiser and "
" Colder."
" No, I do not know that that is always the case ; less
demonstrative, perhaps ; but I should be sorry to think I
had less power of feeling now than I possessed years ago."
" You have attained the power of keeping it remarkably
under control," and Katherine, whose voice shook with
suppressed emotion, and whose pale face had turned crim-
son, got up quickly and went out of the room.
HERO CARTHEW. 69
" What the deuce does she mean now ?" exclaimed Sir
Stephen, as soon as the door had closed upon her ; " I
have never been favored With anything of this kind before ;"
and he sat reflecting for some minutes. Then, resuming
his newspaper with a relieved air, he decided that it meant
nothing but a desire that he should be rather more cousinly,
and take a greater interest in her property, about which she
had often endeavored to get his advice and guidance.
Katherine had a great deal more pride than to affect the
r61e of a love-sick girl. She had scrupulously endeavored
that Sir Stephen should see none of her plans, and as, after
the first meeting, there had been nothing in her manner to-
wards him which could excite his suspicions, he had come
to the conclusion that she was willing to accept matters as
they stood. Her annoyance at having, as she conceived,
betrayed her feelings, was excessive ; and, exaggerating her
words and manner to herself, she felt overwhelmed with
shame at the thought of meeting him again. He had, how-
ever, dismissed the matter from his mind, and was already
intent on giving his mother a favorable impression of Mal-
lett.
" I am longing for you to go down there, mother," he
said ; " I can fancy the sensation your caps and bonnets
will produce."
Mrs. Prescott smiled pleasantly. " Poor ladies," she
said, " I am sure I should be delighted to gratify them ; I
had no idea the people were sufficiently cultivated to care
about such a thing as fashion."
" Nonsense, mother ; why, you forget that they are but
six miles from Dockmouth, one of our largest naval ports."
^* I thought you told me that you had a drive of twenty
miles."
" So I did, but that was because I knew nothing of the
boat, and drove there."
" Boat ! oh ! is there a steamboat ?"
" No, a sailing boat ; a steamer would never do there.
You have no idea of the wildness of the place ; magnificent
rocks running out in all directions, and a surf that beats
against and dashes over them with tremeDLdox& ^oic^ "
70 HERO CARTHEW.
" Dear me !" said Mrs. Prescott, not entering at all into
her son's enthusiasm ; " but of course one never need go
by water ?"
" No, but ni take odds you will not have been there
a week before you will thoroughly enjoy a sail."
'* Stephen 1"
" You will, I assure you, mother ; not at first, I know,
for I hesitated at taking Miss Carthew, it looked so rough;
but she assured me that it would be all right outside,
and it was ^like glass."
" Really !" said Mrs. Prescott. " Miss Carthew, did you
say ?"
" Yes, Captain Carthew lost his wife when his daughter
was bom."
" Indeed ! Rather an elderly Miss, I suppose ?"
" No, a very young girl."
" You have not mentioned her before," said Mrs. Pres-
cott after a pause, during which she had been eyeing her
son sharply. Only unconcern, however, was to be seen in
his face.
" Did I not ? I was very much engrossed while I was
there; the place is in a sad condition. It will take far
more time than I can give to it in one summer to get it into
anything like decent condition."
" I hope you are not thinking of spending a lot of money
on it, Stephen," said Mrs. Prescott dolefully; "it brings
you in next to nothing, and you will never find a tenant for
it."
" Perhaps some day I may go and live there myself," Sir
Stephen answered, with a laugh. " It is getting high time
for me to settle down and marry, if I am ever to do so."
Mrs. Prescott's manner brightened. Here was a little o[en-
ing for the introduction of her favorite scheme, which of
late she had thought best to keep in abeyance.
*' Nonsense, my dear," she said cheerfully. " I hope when
you marry, you will contrive to fix upon some one who will
bring grist enough to the mill to set Pamphillon going again.
It has been, and ever will be, the dream of my life to see you
there, Stephen. You have been cruelly dispossessed of your
HERO CARTHEW. 7 1
inheritance, but there is no doubt but your uncle was mad,
quite mad, and had been so for many years."
Sir Stephen shook his head.
" Whether he was mad or sane, I don't know ; but Mw
I know, that I wish he had contrived that any one but me
should have been saddled with his ruined estate. It has
fettered my whole life, and kept me poor, and made me dis-
contented."
Mrs. Prescott's thin, careworn face twitched, her mouth
worked nervously, and her eyes filled with tears.
" You take a painfully exaggerated view of things,
Stephen," she said, in a voice that threatened an outburst
of tears, to avoid which her son got up, and, taking her hand,
said, soothingly,
" Now, mother, don't misinterpret my words. You al-
ways take anything I say about this as a reproach to your-
self, which is so very absurd. Ybu could not prevent my
uncle gambling away his inheritance; you had nothing to
do with the law that made me heir to a beggared baronetcy.
God knows ! you did your duty, if ever any woman did,
and you will have your reward, mother ; I shall never be
able to repay you all you have suffered and borne for me.
There, there," he added, kissing her affectionately, " don't
think anything more of it, or you'll be getting one of your
bad attacks. I only wish we could settle, and have done
with the whole thing. I never shall understand your unac-
countable opposition to selling the place. It is the only
sensible course left to us."
Mrs. Prescott's whole aspect underwent a sudden change.
Her weakness vanished, her face altered, as she said, in a
passionate voice,
" I will never give my consent to your selling Pamphil-
lon. I would bear anything rather than see you part with
the estate."
" The old cry," said Sir Stephen, in a vexed tone. " Now,
mother, I ask you, or any one, what possible reason is there
in what you say ?"
" Every reason," replied Mrs. Prescott ; " and any person
with a grain of feeling would admit, that t\\e \dta ol ^.xxvaxv
72 HERO CARTHEW.
selling a place which has belonged for hundreds of years to
his family, and keeping another in a wild, out-of-the-way
unheard-of district, is most unnatural and unaccountable."
Sir Stephen tried to control himself by changing his chair
and his position.
" As usual in these discussions, you are putting the matter
in quite a wrong light, mother. My feelings have nothing to
do with a thing about which I have not the slightest choice.
If I had a sufficient income to keep up both estates, I
should do so ; or if by selling Combe I could keep Pamphil-
lon, I should only be too willing to do it. I can tell you
that it will be no light matter to see the old place go from
me. But how do I stand ? The owner of two estates for
which I can do nothing the houses upon them are tumb-
ling down for want of proper repairs, the people are sickly
from bad drainage, and brutalised from the way in which
they are compelled to herd together."
" I am sure you do all you can for them," said Mrs. Pres-
cott stolidly ; " we live in the quietest manner possible ; you
are constantly straitened, and in want of money, through
building for this one, and repairing for that one, and what
on earth more can they expect ?"
" Why, this, that if I cannot afford to do what as holder
of the land it is my duty to do, I should give up my author-
ity to a man who could live among them, could raise them
by his influence, and exercise beneficially the only right by
which he should hold mastery the power to advance the
well-being of the fellow-creatures dependent upon us."
" Oh, dear, dear !" exclaimed Mrs. Prescott ; " these new-
fashioned sentiments are quite beyond me. In my day it
was enough that a place belonged to a family, and that they
did their best for those who lived upon the land. No
quixotic notions then existed about giving up an inheritance
because you couldn't afford to build model cottages upon it,
and introduce a heap of new inventions, which, though they
may be called improvements, tend to nothing so much as
making people discontented with their condition of life."
" It is quite useless to attempt to reason with you, my
dear mother," said Sir Stephen, hopelessly ; " but, if you
HERO CARTHRW. 73
wocild try and remember that the world does not stand still,
and that its progress is not entirely confined to one class of
society, you will find that all people in the present day are
forming a pretty correct notion of what should exist, and
what may not be tolerated. Don't think," he added, ** that
what I contemplate doing is a pleasant task to me. I
shrink fixm putting my plan into practice, but how am I to
avoid making the sacrifice ?"
" If you are bent upon sacrifice, there are more ways
than one of making yourself a martyr."
" Perhaps so," said her son in a desponding tone ; " but
I see no other way of obtaining a sufficient income for my
purpose."
"There is marriage;" and this time Mrs. Prescott felt her
voice quiver. " Were I you, rather than part with Pamphil-
lon, I should take a wife with a fortune ample enough to
enable me to carry out these plans, which you seem to con-
sider an essential part of a landlord's duty."
" Ah ! it is rather difficult to meet such wives nowa-
days."
Mrs. Prescott's face assumed an expression between a
sneer and a smile.
" So I should fancy," she said, " by the way in which a
woman known to have money is run after. It is positively
oflfensive to see the way in which some men pursue Kathe-
rine, and without ever having received from her a word, or
a look of encouragement"
" Indeed ! I forgot that she was in the matrimonial mar-
ket"
" Then you are more obtuse than your friends, my dear ;"
and Mrs. Prescott, nettled by the tone of his remark, drew
herself up as she added, " I can assure you that if Kathe-
rine felt so disposed, she might wear a coronet."
" And why is she not so disposed ? Does grief for the
late Mr. Labouchere preclude even that consolation ? What
a striking illustration of conjugal fidelity !"
" You adopt anything but a nice tone in speaking of Ka-
Aerine," said Mrs. Prescott, assuming her most injured air.
" You seem to forget, Stephen, that she \s m^ UAacftJ^
74 HERO CARTHBW.
" I beg your pardon, mother. I never think of her as
anything else.'
" We all know," added Mrs. Prescott, " that she was guil-
ty of great apparent inconsistency, and, no doubt, she com-
mitted a very grave mistake but, gracious me, is Katherine
the only one who has fallen into error ? Are we not all
open to temptation ? and, if contrition and sorrow cannot
induce forgiveness, I fear it is but empty mockery, Stephen,
to ask that our trespasses may be forgiven as we forgive
those who trespass against us."
" I really don't see the application, mother, and we have
wandered entirely away from the original discussion. Your
niece, Mrs. Labouchere, can have nothing to do with my
keeping or parting with Pamphillon, and still less with my
marrying, or being given in marriage."
Mrs. Prescott did not answer. She was thinking over
what her son had said. Had he really made up his mind
to set about this business ? or could she avoid the trouble,
as she had done before ?
" Stephen," she said earnestly, " will you give me a pro-
mise ?"
" Certainly, if it is in my power to keep it, and is within
reason."
** Will you promise me not to take any steps in this plan
of getting rid of Pamphillon, until you have been to Combe
again, and seen, by the experience of living there for a
time, whether it would be possible for you to live there all
your life ?"
Sir Stephen seemed to hesitate.
" I will promise to go down with you," continued his mo-
ther.
" In that case, decidedly, I say, yes."
" And I have your promise that you will not speak a
word about selling to Simpson or to your agent ?"
" Yes, I give you my word to remain perfectly passive un-
til we have been to Mallett."
" Thank you. '
And, with a feeling of respite, Mrs. Prescott left her son.
HERO CARTHEW, 75
went to her own room, locked the door, and sitting down, drew
a sigh of relief.
" What shall I do ?** she murmured after a few minutes of
silent meditation. " Am I never to know rest ? Ah ! if
my life could be written, what a warning it would be to
those who are prone to give way to impulse ! It seems
to me now, as if in five minutes I destroyed my entire peace
of mind. Not that I did it for my own sake, nor to secure
anything for myself. God knows that I should have been
contented. But I could not see my fatherless boy defraud-
ed, robbed by a man who acknowledged that he was mad.
Ah ! truly he has much to answer for ! What right had he
to remain silent about the state of his affairs? Hdmust
have known that he left nothing for his successor but beg-
gary. If I had but known that^ only known it, oh, how dif-
ferent my life would have been !"
" Who is that knocking ?" she asked nervously, hearing
some one tapping at the door.
" It is only I, aunt. Never mind if you are engaged, I
will go down-stairs."
" No, dear, wait a moment come in. I was wishing to
speak to you."
Mrs. Labouchere looked at her aunt for a moment ; then,
putting her hand' on her shoulder, she said,
" You have been crying, aunt. Nothing has happened
to trouble you ?"
" Only the old trouble, Katey ;" and her tears began to
fall afresh. " Stephen has been talking about Pamphillon.
He says, that unless he gets an addition to his income, he
must and will sell it."
Katherine sat down, clasped her hands, and looked the
very picture of despondency.
" I have feared for a long time past," she said in a low
tone, " that things would never be altered."
But Mrs. Prescott had a forlorn hope in view, and it
would never do for Katherine to give in. Away from so-
ciety, thrown upon the constant companionship of his beau-
tiM cousin, much might still be accomplished; and Mrs.
76 HERO CARTHEW,
m
Prescott determined that no stone should be left unturned,
while they were at Combe, to bring these two together.
" Katherine," she said, " although Stephen is my son, I
cannot be blind to his faults, nor shut my eyes to his over-
weening pride. I fully believe that he would rather die
than let you imagine that he cared one pin's point for
you."
"I do not believe that he does," said Katherine, the
memory of the morning's conversation still strong within
her.
" My dear," replied Mrs. Prescott, " Stephen is far less
careful to hide his feelings from me now, than he was at
first. "He knows the many admirers you have, that it rests
with you whether you will be Lady Fareham ; he asked me
why you did not marry again. Indeed, I am perfectly con-
vinced that it is nothing but your fortune that keeps him
silent; if you had returned to us poor and penniless, Kathe-
rine, Stephen would long since have been at your feet"
" Oh, aunt !" exclaimed Katherine suddenly. " How bent
he is upon misunderstanding me ! He little thinks what I
would give to be poor dependent Katherine Douglas again."
Mrs. Prescott looked at her niece, and she could not help
that look being one of admiration.
" What a strange thing life is !" she said gravely ; " almost
every one we meet envies you, Katherine. Only a few
days since, when Mrs. Constable was telling me of their
loss, she said that you were the one person who, it seemed
to her, could have nothing left to wish for."
Katherine gave an impatient movement.
" That is what is being dinned into my ears from mom-
mg until night, as if wealth was the talisman of happiness.
I am ready to admit," she added bitterly, " that its posses-
sion has made me wonderfully witty and charming in the
eyes of many, who used to be blind to the attractions I be-
lieve I did once possess."
" My dear child, you are quite as attractive as you ever
were. I often fliink that I never saw you looking better
than you do now. It was only yesterday, when you and
Flora Hardwick were standing together, that I was com-
HBRO CARTHEW. 77
paring you critically, and you are as young and fresh-look-
ing as she is."
Mrs. Labouchere put her arms round her aimt's neck,
and kissing her, as in the old days she had seldom done,
she said,
" What should I do without you ?"
This new feeling of love, combined with the experience
of her married life, had greatly softened Katherine's nature ;
for, as in the case of many another woman, sorrow sat bet-
ter on her than prosperity. Careless observers would have
said that she was far more vain now, than, when confident
in her beauty, she seemed to lay little store by it. The
truth was, her opinion of herself was not quite so high as
formerly ; now she was filled with anxious dread lest her
beauty was on the wane ; she set down the compliments
paid to her as so much homage to her money ; she envied
women to whom Sir Stephen was paying any particular at-
tention, or whom he said he admired. Fears which were
groundless; for Sir Stephen seldom met her without ac-
knowledging what a beautiful face she had very superior,
he was obliged to own, in feature and contour to Hero's.
The one face seemed to appeal entirely to the eye, the
other went straight to the heart Few people with love in
their composition could resist the charm of Hero's winning
sweetness. She inspired you with the desire to caress her
^to take her soft-rounded cheeks between your hands, and
look into eyes that were by unexpected turns tender and
mischievous. Since his visit to Mallett, Sir Stephen had
often, when looking at Katherine, conjured up a vision of
Hero to place by her side ; and he congratulated himself
that even in absence Hero's witchery carried off the palm ;
and then he would smile at the odd way in which things
had come about. To think that he should have been a
wanderer all these years, without seeing any one to awaken
the slightest feeling of love within him ; and then that, down
in this out-of-the-way place, whither he had gone from a
sense of duty sorely at variance with inclination, he should
meet this " gem of purest ray serene," who in a week had
turned his head, and taken possession oC \vvs Yi^^xl. OtL^^
78 HERO CARTHEW,
again at Mallett, he determined to have no delay about
' this wooing, the success of which he felt pretty confident
of. The principal person he had to consider was hb mo-
ther. He wanted the two to care for each other, " and,**
thought he, " as that dear old mother of mine will need a
little management, ^perhaps as the time is drawing near
for our visit, it may be as well to say something that will
prepare her to take an interest in Hero."
Theretore, soon after, as they sat together one morning at
breakfast, he said,
" I think I told you, mother, what a pretty girl Miss Car-
thew, with whose father I stayed at Mallett, is. I hope you
will like her ; they were excessively kind and hospitable to
me."
Generally Mrs. Prescott had none of those fancies which
torment some mothers, whenever their sons speak in praise
or admiration of the girls they meet, but anxiety on Kathe-
rine's account rendered her painfully watchful. Since their
conversation regarding his selling Pamphillon, she had never
seen Sir Stephen bestow more attention, than she consider-
ed politeness demanded, without being filled with fears, lest
her darling plan should be put an end to.
" How old is she ?" she asked.
" I hardly quite know ^something, I should say, between
eighteen and twenty."
" I cannot fancy how I could have been so misled about
her," said Mrs. Prescott, taking an instinctive dislike to this
rustic beauty. " At first I understood that she was a mid-
dle-aged person, then when you spoke of her it was as of a
mere child.*
" Well," and Sir Stephen, feeling a little guilty, tried to
laugh over the false impression he had given. " And really
so she is a child, compared with many girls, though I dare-
say I should offend her dignity very much were I to tell
her so."
"Some of these childish young ladies are exceedingly
sharp in making good use of their simplicity," said Mrs.
Prescott, pursing up her mouth. " I must confess that I
am Rowing rather afraid of that extreme simplicity."
^ HERO CARTHEW, 79
" Come, come, mother, now that is not yourself speaking.
Nobedy admires a fresh young girl more than you do. Why,
I always say I inherit my taste for unaffectedness from my
old-young mother."
Mrs. Prescott's eyes beamed with pleasurable emotion.
" Well," she said, " I am glad to think you do. Certainly
I greatly enjoy the sight of a pretty young girl ; but the
world terribly spoils one's heart, Stephen ; we meet so many
counterfeits, that at last we fail to recognize what is real and
true."
" I don't think that Miss Carthew will disappoint you ;
at least I hope not ; for I have set my heart upon you two
being great friends."
" Indeed ! have you ?" and all Mrs. Prescott's fears com-
ing back, she added with a nervous little laugh,
" And why, I wonder ?"
When, from a sense that he owed it to his mother to say
something to her on the matter, Sir Stephen commenced
this conversation, he had no idea how diffident and awkward
he should find it, to give any hint of the feelings he enter-
tained towards Hero. He began to wish he had said no-
thing about her. He saw that would have been his wisest
course. The only one now left was to say as little as pos-
sible ; so he answered Mrs. Prescott's question with,
" Oh ! for no particular reason, only that I like her, and
we have always contrived somehow to take a fancy to the
same people."
" That is true." And Mrs. Prescott gave a sigh, which
caused her son to look inquiringly at her. " Don't be vexed
with me," she said, putting her hand on his ; " but where
I once set my heart, there it is forever Ah, Stephen, you
little know how I centred my hopes upon you and Kathe-
rine, nor what it costs me to see you so parted and so wide-
ly severed."
Sir Stephen drew his hand away.
" It is very strange," he said, " that every now and then
you will enter upon this subject. You must see how dis-
tasteful it is to me. Surely, you do not want me to tell you
that I once gave Xatherine all my love, wYvvcYi ^^ Y^^^'^^
8o HERO CARTHEW.
completely and effectually that, if- 1 desired it, I could no
more revive the feeling than I could bring to life a dead
body. For years she robbed me of the power of feeling or
bestowing love, she took from me every hope of happiness,
she made me a wretched, purposeless wanderer/ and yet you
wonder to see us separated ; you say it grieves you to see
me utterly indifferent to her mother !" And he got up,
and walked out of the room, leaving Mrs. Prescott over-
whelmed by this unusual display of passion. She sat for
some time, looking hopelessly at the door by which her son
had gone out, then, roused by a noise outside, she arose,
saying,
" God help me to endure it to the end; it cannot be long
if I have much more to bear."
CHAPTER XL
A MISUNDERSTANDING.
Early in July Leo Despard arrived in Mallett and took
up his abode with Aunt Lydia, whose joy at having him
with her was only equalled by Hero's light-hearted happi-
ness. What a summer this promised to be for her ! Leo
near, and the prospect of Sir Stephen and Mrs. Prescott's
visit to Combe.
" I am so glad you are going to be here, Leo," she said.
" And 1 am so glad that you told me at once about
these forts. I set about getting the appointment that very
day."
Hero's face glowed with happiness.
" How good of you ! I hope you will not find it very
dull. Do you think you will ?"
" Well, perhaps away fi^om you I shall ; so you must be
very good to me, and let me bother and worry you to my
heart's content."
"Only fancy," laughed Hero. "When I told you at
first about the forts it was only as news. I never dreamed
that you would think of getting charge of them. How
long do you say they will take to build ?"
" Three or four months at the least ; so you see it would
have been very disagreeable to have had one of our fellows
poking and prying into everything, and getting to know
about everybody's ways and means, which I am not at all
anxious should be known. I dare say Stavely Pierrepont
might have got it. His* people are no end of swells. It
would have been confoundedly awkward'-'
" Would it," said Hero; for Leo's words jarred, as they
sometimes did, against her frank nature^ " I don't know
tliat. I have not met many grand peq^e, certainly; but
82 HERO CARTHEW,
I rather fancy they are like ourselves, and take very little
notice of how people live, as long as they are nice. It was
so with Sir Stephen."
" Sir Stephen !" repeated Leo. " Upon my word, I am
sick of hearing that man's name. The way you Mallett peo-
ple have fallen down and worshipped him amuses me im-
mensely. By all I hear of him, he must be a precious snob."
" Indeed, he is nothing of the kind," said Hero warmly.
" Nobody could be more unaffected and simple. I sup-
pose it must be our fault that we have given you such a wrong
impression. However," she added, cheerfully, "directly
you know him it will vanish entirely."
" I am not at all likely to know him. Tuft-hunting is
not my forte. . If a man needs to be toadied he had best
steer clear of me."
This was completely one of the sentiments Leo was in
the habit of announcing ; for he saw that if a man credits
himself with good qualities, but few people ever ^ive them-
selves the trouble to find out whether or not he really pos-
sesses them. In some*matters the world is wonderfully
credulous, and is seldom opposed to those who carefully
contrive that the faults they acknowledge and the virtues
they vaunt shall find no echo in their hearers' natures, and
shall bring no blush of accusation to their cheeks.
Rank and wealth had no greater sycophant than Leo
Despard, and these two qualities were absolutely necessary
in the men whom he intended to make his friends. He
was kind and courteous to every one he met ; but he sel-
dom took pains to lay himself out to those he was not
likely to reap some worldly advantage from.. Though, for
various small reasons, he had taken a decided dislike to Sir
Stephen, and chafed to hear him spoken of in such high
terms, he fully intended to make himself agreeable and
necessary to a man who, he felt, might in a thousand ways
be useful to him. But it would never do to risk his reputa-
tion in Mallett by appearing to follow in the general lead.
So he affected to laugh over their weakness, their country
love of greatness, and their capacity for taking in all that a
man said and did because he happened to be a baronet.
HERO CARTHEW, 83
" Good heavens !" he would say, " what an awful
nuisance I should become if I did nothing else but bore you
with all the grand people I meet!" apparently forgetting
that he did entertain his friends with a continual succession
of stories of Lord This and the Countess of That only the
good simple Mallett folk lent a friendly ear to what they
fancied was told to them out of kindness of heart, and a
desire that they should hear something of people whom
they had no opportunity of seeing.
Fond as Hero was of Leo, she would not allow him to
cast these imputations upon Sir Stephen without standing
up for her absent friend. It was a part of her nature to side
with the weak, or those who could not do battle for them-
selves, and so well was this known that many a transgressor
had left some village conclave more cheerfully after Hero
appeared among them, thinking, " I know Hero Carthew
will stapd up for me when I am gone."
Leo, therefore, finding it impossible to bias her opinion,
and nettled at what he called her obstinacy, feigned jeal-
ousy, and at length accused her of having a more than
fiiendly feeling towards her new acquaintance.
" Remember, you know nothing of such men, Hero," he
said severely, " and never dream of the constructions most
of them are likely to put on the freedom of manner which,
solely from your having lived in an isolated place, you are
a little apt at times to give way to."
Hero's face turned scarlet.
" I do not understand you," she stammered. " I am not
aware that I make the slightest difference with people.*'
" That is precisely what I am saying. Of course, here you
know every one, and every one knows you. But that is not
the case in society. There, if you wish to keep up anything
like position, you must draw a line. Why, for example,"
he added, seeing her look puzzled and unconvinced, " if we
were married, you don't suppose I could permit you to go
running after and helping every soldier's wife whom you
chanced to meet, as I saw you doing yesterday."
" Leo, don't be so absurd. Why, that was old Nanny
Triggs carrying home her bread for all those grandchildren
84 HERO CARTHEW.
of hers. The poor old soul has been dreadfully ill this last
winter, and is as weak as she can be. I've known her since
I was a baby. She did not see that I was close behind her
when she set down her basket to give herself a rest, and it
was only fun made me catch it up and run on with it, and
when I found it was so heavy, I could not but help her
with it up the hill."
" Nonsense ; if she could carry it as far as Church Hill
she could have carried it home. Suppose she had not met
you, what would she have done then ?"
Hero shook her head.
" If that is what you mean," she said resolutely, "I am
sure I shall never be otherwise, and I do not wish to be
either. I care a great deal more for Mallett and its people
than you do, Leo, and I cannot help showing it ; so, as we
are not likely to agree on that point, it is wisest to make up
our minds to differ. But," she added, after a pause, fearing
he was a little vexed with her, " you know, I would do any-
thing I could to please you, and I feel sure that there is very
much in me that needs mending. So please tell me of what-
ever you see wrong, and I will try and be exactly what you
wish me."
Hero's sweet face and pretty pleading manner were gene-
rally irresistible ; but Leo was put out, and determined to be
annoyed. So he answered coldly,
" Oh ! I see nothing that I have any right to find fault
with, only it is rather hard, after we have been parted so
long, that^the whole of our time should be spent in discuss-
ing the people of Mallett, or singing the praises of a man
who seems to have found a great deal more favor in your
eyes than it was ever my good fortune to do."
" Now, Leo, that is unjust, and very unkind."
" Is it ?" he said, sulkily ; " I don*t mean it to be. Of
course, I have no right to complain. What chance can a
poor beggar like me have against a man credited with every
good quality under the sun ? What fools men are," he ex-
claimed, " for the sake of one woman giving up everything;
longing for a sight of her, thinking of nobody but her, while
HERO CARTHEW. 85
she is perfectly happy ; more particularly if somebody new
is paying her sufficient attention !"
This was rather too much for Hero to bear. Good-tem-
pered as she was, she had plenty of spirit, and this being
roused, she drew away her hand from his arm, where she
had coaxingly laid it, and said
" Lea, you know perfectly well that the accusations
you are making are quite false. I should never have sus-
pected you of the meanness which gives rise to such charges.
I have every right to think and to speak of Sir Stephen
Prescott as I do. He was exceedingly kind to me, and to
those I am interested in ; and I like him, and I always shall
like him ; but when you speak of such motives, and say
that my feelings are more than friendly towards him, you
make me very angry with you."
" So it seems ; but anger against the accuser does not
prove that the accusation is false."
" Leo ! you cannot mean seriously to tell me that you
believe I could prefer the attentions of any other man to
those I receive from you, or that I could be so engrossed in
his society as to make me forget you ?" and Hero regarded
her lover earnestly.
" I did not say that you could," he answered doggedly.
" What I complain of is, your doing nothing but talk about
and praise a man whom I don't know, and don't want to
know."
" But you often tell me about people you meet f^rhile you
are away. I don't know Lady Jane Heathcote, or Miss
Majoribanks, and yet I like to hear about them."
" Perhaps if I had chosen to tell you the very great in-
terest they both took in me, you would not have cared
about it quite so much," and Leo gave a little laugh. "There
was not a man at York but was dying to know Miss Majori-
banks. They manoeuvred to meet her, and tried everything
they knew to get invited to the house. Whereas, I had
carte blanche to come whenever I felt inclined, and before
she accepted anything, she always contrived to find out
from somebody if I was hkely to be there. As yoM Vivo^ ^
I am the last man in the world to have any \ati\t^ ^Joon^iX.
86 HERO CARTHEW.
me ; but I sometimes think that in this world-forgotten place
you do not understand the temptations we have to go
through, and when these are resisted, you must own, it is a
trifle hard to find the love which made you do it treated as
a matter of course, and a thing of no value."
Hero was silent. She would not trust herself to answer
indeed, words were not forthcoming in which she could
express her feelings. Theie was something despicable in a
man hinting at any personal weakness a woman had betray-
ed towards him. She had always felt certain how mudb
Leo must be admired and sought after, and the assurance
that, in spite of all the clever, beautiful gids he saw, he still
remained true to his little country love, had been a triumph
Hero had hugged to her heart a hundred times.
Was it possible that Leo was not all that she pictured
him ? Hero had not had very great opportunities of per-
sonal judgment. Her knowledge of Leo's character was
principally formed from his letters, which were always per-
fect : for letter-writing was an art upon which he prided him-
self greatly. Since she had been capable of judging, he had
never lived for any time in Mallett, and during the occa-
sional weeks he had spent there, when everything had been
given up to his amusement and pleasure, Leo had been
charming. He was naturally good-tempered, and, so long
as nothing interfered with his personal comfort, vanity, and
love of rule, he was a perfect companion, always entertain-
ing, obliging, and delightful. Love of self was his grand
passion a passion rooted in his heart and nature, bearing
as fruit those captivating qualities which gained him the
popularity and adulation upon which he lived.
Putting down Hero's silence to jealousy, he considered
he had made a successful hit, and thought he, " It is just as
well for her to know that it is not every man who would
give up the many chances I have had." Often when dun-
ned to death for debts contracted, that he might look like
other fellows, Leo had felt tempted to put an end to the
engagement. He knew he could not marry until these
debts were paid, though when they would be paid he had
HERO CARTHEW. 8/
no idea. However, as Hero was content to wait, he sup-
posed that wait they must.
This was the first positive quarrel he and Hero had ever
had, and Leo determined that he would not afford a pre-
cedent by seeking forgiveness, or condoning the matter too
easily ; so looking at his watch, he said,
" I see it is time I was off." Then, taking his hat in one
hand, and holding out the other, he went on in the same
measured tone, " I hope the next time I have the pleasure
of seeing you we may prove more agreeable companions to
each other."
** Don't go yet, Leo," Hero said in a low tone, and with-
out raising her eyes to his. " We have never really quarrel-
led before, and never parted angrily."
" I had no wish to quarrel, neither am I at all angry ;"
and Leo assumed a most injured air. " But I must say,
that the first time I have ever hinted at a fault in you, you
have chosen to receive it in a manner that teaches me I
must be more cautious for the future, and not quite so can-
did and plain-spoken as my stupid disposition leads me
to be."
" Oh, Leo ! why will you misunderstand me ?" and Hero
looked at him reproachfully. " If I have misunderstood you
and I am sure I must have done so^forgive me. We love
each other, Leo, do we not ?" and she clasped his hand
tightly between both of hers. " Let us forget it all, and part
fi-iends, and never allow anything like this to come between
us again."
" My dear Hero, will you please to remember that it is
you who have been angry, not I. However, I am quite
ready to forget it all, only I have no more time to spare now.
I promised Aunt Lydia not to be late, and it is already nearly
four o'clock ; so I must be off at once. Good-bye."
And he stooped, and bestowed a particularly unloverlike
kiss on Hero's upturned face.
Hero let him go as far as the door; then she said,
" Is that your good-bye, Leo ?"
" I really have not an idea of what you re\ulre of me,
HeK. I have told you that I am not angty^ 2i^t^ftL\.olQv
88 HERO CARTHEW.
get our conversation, and already said good-bye. I do not
know what more I can do, except I repeat the same all over
again, and, as I tell you, I am pressed for time."
** Then pray do not let me detain you ;" and, feeling that
she had been over-bountrful in her concession, Hero turned
to the window, and Leo, after a moment's pause and another
" Good-bye," which received no answer, went out of the
house, and up the walk, without once tuhiing round or look-
ing in the direction where he had left Hero standing.
She watched him out of sight, then sitting down, she burst
into a flood of tears.
" How did we drift into this ?" she said, as, her fit over,
she began to dry her eyes. " I suppose I was partly to
blame ; but I wish he had not said what he did. I hope no
one will call. Anybody could see that I had been crying ;
indeed, I should begin again if any one sp6ke to me. I
think 1*11 go and look for Jim, and get him to take me out
for an hour."
Putting on her hat, she walked quickly down by one of
the most unfrequented paths to the beach below, and, after
a few minutes spent in looking about, found the object of
her search busily employed at his usual occupation of sail-
mending.
" Jim, are you very busy ?" Hero asked, hardly liking to
take him away from his more profitable labor.
" That all depends on who wants me," answered the old
man, with a look that told his readiness to do whatever his
questioner might require.
" I want you to take me out in the boat for a little while.
I don't feel inclined to go for a walk to-day. Can you
come ?"
" Surely I can," said Jim, rising with alacrity. " I ain't
doin' ^jothin' that can't wait till to-morrow. You sit down,
and I'll be ready for *ee, Miss Hero, in a brace o' shakes."
And certainly an incredibly short time had elapsed when
the little boat was ready and off.
It was a lovely afternoon, and as Hero leaned back, hear-
ing no sound but the ripple made by her own hand in the
water, she gave a sigh to think how different all would seem
HERO CARTHEW. 89
if Leo were with her. Then she began to take herself to
task on the subject of their quarrel.
Did she think too much of Sir Stephen ? Had she been
too open and friendly with him. Something whispered that
there had been more than friendliness in his manner.
Never before had she felt the difficulties of her position ;
for, in spite of the misunderstanding between themselves,
and the knowledge all her friends possessed of her prefe-
rence for Leo, he had not spoken to her father, nor had they
entered upon any formal engagement. This was not an un-
usual state of affairs in Mallett, where mothers and fathers
would say they would not hear of anything binding until the
promotion was certain. But in this case the objection came,
not from Captain Carthew, but from Leo, who said he could
not endure long engagements, and therefore theirs should
not be called aa engagement, to be canvassed and talked
over by the Mallett gossips \ until he was in a position to
marry, he would not ask Captain Carthew*s formal consent.
Under these circumstances. Hero could hardly tell Sir Ste-
phen that she was engaged.
" If he sees us together," she thought, " he will under-
stand, and I feel I can depend upon him afterwards. Sup-
pose there was no Leo ?"
After this surmise for a few moments, Hero seemed lost
in thought,, the chain of which she rudely snapped, and giv-
ing a resolute shake of the head, she looked up, to find Jim's
scrutinizing gaze fixed upon her.
" You*m moody hearted. Miss Hero," he said sympatheti-
cally.
Hero smiled as she nodded in assent,
" The world at least, my world is looking rather dark,
Jim."
" Well, don't 'ee be cast down at that. If the sun tivas
niver to hide hisself behind a cloud we shouldn't know how
to valley his brightness when he bustes out again. Have
'ee heerd anything from Sir Stephen o' late ?" he asked, af-
ter a pause, during which it had occurred to him that this
might be a reason for her low spirits.
" No; hut he is coming here this summet."
90 HERO CARTHEW.
** Ah !" said Jim in a tone of satisfaction, adding confi-
dentially, as he rested on the oar with which he was assist-
ing the small sail, " he wam't much to look upon not for a
Sir, was he ? But, mind you, I reckon his heart is in the
right place. The talk here is, that he's mazed about you,
Miss Hero ; and, by what IVe seed, though I don't tell
they so, 'tis my belief they baint so far out, neither.
Would 'ee hab un, Miss Hero ? I wish you would. He's
made nearer after your pattern than somebody else I could
name."
And he gave a significant glance towards the point where
the forts were building.
" It is very odd," thought Hero, " that none of the vil-
lage people care for Leo ; they seem to know that he dis-
likes them."
" But you must try and like Mr. Despard for my sake,
Jim."
Jim shook his head sadly.
" 'Tis cos' o' you. Miss Hero, that I turns agin' un. He's
no more fitted to be mated with you' why, than I be."
" That is only because he is a soldier, Jim, nothing else."
" No, now that it aint," replied Jim stoutly. " Why, I
never said nothin' agin' Cap'n Ellis, and he a marine too ;
nor neither that young Crozier, from Dockmouth, as used
to be allers a busnacking about 'ee ; and that time when
you comed to chapel with Betsy, and they two foller'd, didn't
I change the hymn, and give out, * Gird thy loins up, Chris-
tian soldier,* a purpose to show to 'em
* The way we preach is free to all,
And happy they who come. '
No, don't 'ee say that, Miss Hero. 'Tis the heart I looks
to, not the color o' the coat that kivers 'im ; though, mind
you, I niver seed the sodjir yet that, if I was a maid, I'd
marry, there now. But "you're a young lady, Miss Hero,"
added Jim, apologetically; "and the ways o' simple and
gentlefolks, in many respects, is altogether contrary wise."
CHAPTER XII.
RAYS OF HOPE,
That same evening Captain Carthew told Hero that he
had met Mr. Truscott.
" He came over," said the Captain, " to see what more
furniture would be wanted to set the place ship-shape. The
rooms that look towards the water are. to be fitted up for Sir
Stephen's mother, he tells me."
" I hope she will be like him, papa."
" I hope so too, for I took an uncommon fancy to him.
He's a straightforward, plain- sailing fellow. I shall be very
glad to see him again. Here, I say, Hero, we must crowd
on all sail in the way of picnics and tea-fights, so that the
time will pass quickly with her ladyship. These fashionable
folks are accustomed to plenty of pleasure-taking. Leo will
be able to help us there ; it is just in his line. I suppose
that you and he understand each other. Hero," he continued,
after a little pause ; " because Leo has never really asked my
consent. He certainly did once say something about expect-
ing his promotion, and then he should have a favor to ask
of me ; but that is all."
" But you said that he might come here, papa."
" Yes, my dear; and I have no objection to his doing so.
Only, as I don't quite know what tack he's upon, I wanted
to hear in what light you consider that you two stand towards
each other."
" We look upon ourselves as if we were engaged. I
thought you understood that, papa."
" Yes, from you, but not from him ; and as he is stationed
here, and will want to come philandering about, I thought
I'd speak to you, and then to him."
**Not to him, papa."
92 HERO CARTHEW.
And Hero went over and sat on a little stool between
her father's knees.
" And why not to him ?" asked Captain Carthew, rubbing
his hand against his daughter's round, peachy cheek.
" Because I know that Leo thinks that until a man can
marry it is best not to enter into an announced engage-
ment."
" In that case a man is wrong in speaking to the girl her-
self."
" Well, but he did not ^he wouldn't have spoken to me.
Oh !" she exclaimed, taking hold of the old man's hands-
and hiding her face in them, " I don't know I can't tell
how it all happened; but, in some way or other, I knew that
Leo cared for me, and he knew that I cared for him, and
that whenever he could afford to marry he would ask your
consent."
" A very pretty state of things !" exclaimed Captain Car-
thew ; " and I'm expected to say yes, am I ? Ah, well, I
suppose oldsters and youngsters never see alike in these
affairs ; for, had I the choosing of a husband for you. Hero,
Leo Despard would not be the man I should fix upon."
" No, papa ? Why not ? He is such a favorite ; every-
body likes Leo.'*
" Perhaps so ; and I don't say I don't like him only I
well
* I take him for a thief, you see,
I know he'd steal ye, Molly darlint' "
And the rest of the song was stopped by the tightness of
the hug which Hero bestowed upon her father, whose glis-
tening eyes told what it would cost him to part with his
treasure.
To the bluff old sailor Hero was the very apple of his eye,
the sunlight of his life. It was not a love shown in much
outward demonstration, but in the thorough understanding
and companionship which existed between them, and had so
existed from the time that his little dark-eyed maiden could
toddle after him.
Sir Stephen had gradually taken notice of all the small,
silent attentions which Hero paid to hex falVvei ^?^xv\.cs.
HERO CARTHEW. 93
which the mind of a man often unknowingly dwells upon
more than the most elaborate display of accomplishments,
or the most studied toilettes. Hero Carthew possessed very
few accomplishments. Her dress was simple, and, to the
initiated eye, old-fashioned ; yet Sir Stephen found himself
watching her with admiring gaze as she moved about doing
all sorts of homely duties.
Since his return he had seen many women far more beau-
tiful and fascirfating, yet not one had touched his heart, and
made it feel fresh and young again as she had. He almost
smiled at his own impatience to see her again.
" I must remember the lesson I have been taught," he
said, " and not be guilty twice in my life of such folly as I
then indulged in. Good Heavens ! when I recall the misery
a few sharp words or a cold look would give me, I wonder
can I be the same man. I shall never love again like that ;
but I shall love her very dearly, and it shall go hard if I do
not make her happy, as one so sweet and fresh deserves to
be. She will do me all the good in the world, and bring
back a heap of things that of late years seem to have been
slipping away from me. I was getting into a state of disbe-
lief in everything; but th^it queer old Mallett and its people
took a sight of nonsense out of me. By the way, I may as
well find out when we shall be ready to start, so as to give
old Dame Tucker plenty of time."
Accordingly, after dinner he said,
" Mother, when do you think it will suit you to go down to
Combe ? I should like to give the housekeeper fair notice."
" I am going to Horndean on the 8th, and after that I
have promised to pay Julia a visit. Would it suit you if I
said the 2nd or 3rd of August ?"
" Perfectly. I shall have finished my fishing engagement,
and be able to meet you here, and take you down."
There was silence for a few minutes, during which Sir
Stephen conjured up the vision of Hero, which he most
loved to recall, and which was graven most vividly on his
memory. He could bring back the sharp rocks, the green
sea glittering in the bright April sun, the little boat, and
Hero singing her quaint song to the deaf old boatman.
94 HERO CARTHEW.
Mrs. Prescott, on her part, was busy thinking how best
she could put the question she was bent on asking, and she
suddenly broke the spell by saying,
" Of course, Stephen, you have no objection to Katherine
coming with us ?"
" Indeed, I have a very great objection."
" Now, my dear, how very inconsistent you are ! I told
you that I had promised her that we would spend the au-
tumn together."
"Just so. But you added, if it fell in with my plans."
" Most certainly, I put in that proviso, as I always do,
which meant, unless you wanted me to go to some place
where she could not go, or did not wish to go ; but I never
supposed for an instant that this applied to Combe, a place
of all others where I should need her company."
" I do not see why you should need her company. You
will have me with you."
" Now, do not be unreasonable, Stephen. There is no
occasion for me to tell you that your place can never be
filled by anybody else ; but, when you are at Combe, you
will want to enjoy all this boating and shooting you have so'
dwelt upon, and you certainly do not for one moment sup-
pose that such things can possess any attraction for an old
woman like me. Why, my dear, I would not get into a
small boat for all that the world could offer me. I could
not do it my nerves would not stand it. Then, what is to
be done ? Are you to be deprived of all your enjoyment ?
If not, I must sit in the house, or wander about the grounds
alone."
" But, mother dear, you speak as if I proposed taking
you into a wilderness. There are plenty of people there for
you to know. There is Miss Carthew, whom I spoke to
you of. You could not have a nicer girl about you than
she is."
Mrs. Prescott felt her back stiflfen.
" That she may be," she said ; " but you forget, Stephen,
that I have passed the age for making new friends. It is a
thing quite beyond me now. However, I have no wish to
force Katherine upon you. She would never forgive me if
HERO CAR THE IV. 95
I did such a thing \ so I must tell her that I am very sorry
that I should have so misled myself and her, but that I find
you prefer going to this place alone. It is putting me in
rather an awkward position, for I have left so many things
for us to do together down there. I fancied that while you
were off on your excursions, we should be left to our own
devices; so I arranged our little plans accordingly."
Sir Stephen looked as he felt, thoroughly vexed, and out
of temper. It had never once entered his mind that his
mother would ask Mrs. Labouchere to accompany them.
Certainly, she had said something about being engaged to
Katherine, but had added that it could all be arranged ; and
this mode of arrangement he had most assuredly never
counted upon. It was now more than ever his wish that
his present relations with Katherine should not be disturbed,
as when he married it would be a great comfort to leave his
mother with her. ^
He felt certain, from his mother's tone, that she had set
her heart upon having her niece with her, and that if her
plans were thwarted, she would go to Mallett determined
to dislike it, and everybody connected with it. Besides
which, he knew that if she was sighing after Katherine,
Hero would find no favor in her eyes. What had he best
do ? He so much wanted her to like Hero ; but let her
once imagine that it was for Hero's sake that Katherine
was kept away, and, though she were an angel, Mrs. Pres-
cott would do nothing but find out her faults and failings.
So, disturbing the perusal of a gloomy tome, in which she
was pretending to be engrossed, he said,
" Do not say anything to Katherine for a day or two,
mother, and I will think the matter over."
Mrs. Prescott's heart sung again at this ray of hope,
though she was too true a woman to say, " So be it." She
fancied that she saw a safer way of gaining her point
than immediate acquiescence ; so she answered, lugubri-
ously,
** Thank you, my dear ; but I think it is best to let your
present decision stand. You know that I always wish to
act towards others as I should like them to act towards me ;
96 HERO CARTHEW,
SO I feel it would not be fair to permit that Katey should
be an unintentional intruder. Never mind what I said,**
she added, smiling faintly as she took his hand, '' I shall
get on very well alone. I own that for a moment I felt a
little hurt on Katherine's account, as well as my own ; for it
was very unselfish of her to be ready to give up her tour
with the Ingestres to go down to Combe with me. She
hesitated at first ; but, when I said I should be alone, she
wrote, and put them off directly. I fear it is a little late to
renew the arrangement now, but still I can try, and I will
write to Mrs. Ingestre, and give her a hint that I find it will
not be convenient for me to take Katherine. She never
need know about it."
Sir Stephen began to wish that he had never proposed
taking his mother down to Combe. It had arisen solely
out of his love for her, and that she should have an oppor-
tunity of seeing and knowing those who had so taken his
fancy, and won his good opinion. The expression of his
face betrayed his vexation, which, his mother noticing, she
said soothingly,
" I see that I have acted foolishly, Stephen ; but you
must forgive me, my dear, for it is your own thoughtfiil
goodness which has led to it. You have said so frequently,
that with regard to Katherine I was only to consult my
own pleasure and comfort, that I fear I have got into the
habit of so doing, and not studying you sufficiently. I
thought you would not care how I settled about her."
"That is just as I have wished you to feel," said Sir
Stephen.
" Then, my dear, why this sudden alteration ? But there,
there, I will not ask. You show too much consideration for
me to doubt but you have some sufficient reason for denying
me this trifling pleasure. Say no more about it I will
make the best excuse I can to Katherine, and you shall
have no reason to complain of the efforts I will make to
render myself agreeable to your new friends. I think you
said there was a doctor within reach ; for that will now be
of rather more importance. When I have Katie at hand I
feel comparatively easy ; for she imderstands me far better
HRRO CARTHEW, 97
than any strange medical man would. I am always terrified
of their experimentalising upon me."
Mrs. Prescott said this as she was going out of the room,
in answer to a summons from her maid to look at some
travelling-dresses which had been brought for her inspec-
tion, leaving Sir Stephen under the conviction that she was
contemplating herself as a positive martyr.
Well, after all, perhaps it was a little inconsistent to want
to take her down by herself; if what he hoped really came
to pass, she must necessarily be often alone. Then again,
supposing she was taken ill not at all an improbable event
she would declare that no one understood her, and it
simply meant returning home with all speed. Katherine
would certainly be a great companion to her, and she need
not interfere in any way with him. His desire was that they
should all be friendly and nice together, and it was his wish
that his cousin should like Hero. " There is no littleness
about Katherine," he thought ; " and I believe that if I was
married she would be kind to my wife ; and I daresay there
are some small niceties that society requires into which she
might initiate Hero, not that she lacks anything in my eyes."
So, waiting for no more reflections, he ran up to his mo-
ther's room, and, knocking at the door, said,
" Mother, just speak to me for a moment." Then, low-
ering his voice, and half shutting the door, he continued,
" I have thought the matter over, and I have decided that,
upon the whole, it is best that Katherine should go with
you."
" Now, my dear," began Mrs. Prescott; but her son in-
terrupted her Ifc. giving her a kiss, saying,
" Don't let iin*gue the point any more, only let every-
thing be as yoii Md arranged."
Mrs. Prescotllshook her head, as if protesting against
compliance ; bu| when she turned away, it was with a great
inward rejoicing that victory had come so easily, so
swiftly, and without more battling or diplomacy ; for her
mind had been made up that nothing should induce her to
go to Combe without Mrs. Labouchere.
CHAPTER XIII.
A PICNIC.
Now, about the same time that Mrs. Prescott and her son
were holding this conversation in London, at Mallett, Hero
Carthew, with a somewhat heavy heart, was preparing for
a picnic, given by Mrs. James, in honor of her daughter's ap-
proaching marriage. It was three days since Hero and Leo
Despard had parted, and during that time she had neither
seen him nor heard from him. Hero felt that all overtures
at reconciliation ought to come from him, and therefore she
had avoided going into the village, except when she knew
that he was at the forts, or had gone to Dockmouth. Her
heart beat very fast as she walked up the lane lo Stubbing's
field, the place of rendezvous. She did not believe he would
be there ; most likely at the last moment he had sent some
excuse ; but, if not, how would he meet her ? She must
school herself not to betray any sign of agitation before peo-
ple, and not to evince emotion at whatever might take
place during the day.
A large elm-tree hid the field from view, but no sooner
was that passed, than she saw Leo leaning against the gate,
and in an instant he was walking rapidly towards her.
" Hero," he exclaimed hurriedly, taking possession of
both her hands, " can you forgive me ? I have not dared
to come and ask, and I was ashamed to write to you. Say
yes before we get up to the others, for I am so miserable,"
^nd his handsome face wore an expression of most becom-
ing despondency.
Forgive him ! why, in a moment, she felt she had noth-
ing to forgive. All her anger vanished, and she answered,
in a quivering voice, while tears of joy trembled in her
eyes,
HERO CAR THE IV. 99
"You must forgive me coo, Leo. We ought, both of
us, to have known from the first that neither meant wlal
was said."
" You will be quite afraid of me, now that I have betray-
ed my horrid temper," he went on dolefully. " You never
knew before what a jealous beast I am. I feel that you must
despise me, Hero."
" Oh ! I do," she replied, looking laughingly into his face ;
her sweet brown eyes betraying her love and happy trust.
Of course, a great deal of banter was levelled at them from
the party assembled in the field.
*' Ah me !" sighed Mrs. Thompson, "what it is to be young.
Now, girls, make the most of your time; for, take my word,
it won't last for ever. There wasn't a more devoted lover
in the world than my Terence. His sighs and groans
would have melted an iceberg, and just to look at him
now."
And she turned admiringly round to her little, fat, merry-
looking husband, who, in a nankeen costume, much favored
in the West Indies, was standing, breathless from the exer-
tion of stowing the donkey-cart with the necessary baskets
and hampers of provisions.
" Sure the women are hard to please now," he got out,
after a great effort ; " for ain't I still puffing and panting
like a grampus, and doesn't that and sighing both come
under the same category ?"
" Leave room for Betsey, Captain Thompson," called out
Hero.
" The Lord preserve me ! And will I have to hoist up
Betsey. Then it's a fellow-feeling I've got for the donkey,
poor animal."
" No, no ; her basket I mean. I fancy I see Betsey
mounted up there," added Hero, laughing.
" Awh, do 'ee ?" said Betsey, who, assisted in carrying her
burden by her faithful swain, Joe Bunce, had come up at
this point, " then you'm keener at pictering than I be. Lor
bless the man," she exclaimed suddenly, addressing Joe,
" why don't 'ee set the things down, 'stead o' gapin at the
donkey ? Folks '11 think you've met with aie.\3A.\sm V
w
ITEffO CARTITEW.
This speech having the desired effect of turning the laugh
agaiust Joe, Betsey recovered her good temper, and began
to take her place as head and chief of the commissariat de-
partment.
A picnic, or merry-making of any kind, which entailed a
tolerable amount of preparation and bustle, was a source of
much gratification to Betsey, who was never more delighted
than when pooh-poohing in a triumphant way the eulogi-
ums which her bill of fare, her cookery, and her general ar-
rangements in the substantial matters of comfort, drew forth.
Her presence and surveillance were deemed essential to se-
cure a perfect success ; and, certainly, she contrived in some
mysterious way that everytliing should be remembered.
Although she invariably demanded, " Whatever was the use
of having that Joe ?" she would have been highly offended
if he had not been asked to assist her; for it was her boast
that she and Joe had " bin on and off for the last twenty
years," and it was universally imderstood, that some day,
when Joe got a coast-guard, and gave up the flesh and the
devil in the shape of a weakness for an occasional over-
glass of rum and water, Betsey would condescend to take
him in hand, and be the saving of him.
Joe was the mildest of giants, as well as the smartest of
sailors; as easily pleased and amused as a child, and quite
proud of the state of subjection in which his lady- love kept him.
His severest trial was that, during his stay on shore, Betsey
insisted on his accompanying her each Sunday evening to
chapel. Through the whole service she kept an eagle eye
on poor Joe, fearing that his attention should wander, or
that he might be tempted to doze. During the sermon,
each allusion that was made to the especially wicked, or
more than ordinarily miserable sinner, was followed by a
significant nod of her head, or a vigorous nudge of her el-
bow to the unfortunate Joe, who thus became the centre ol
attraction to both parson and people.
Betsey, in common with most of the Ebenezer brethre
rejoiced in having had a call ; one of the privileges
which was, that it enabled her to securely congratulate h
elf that she was not like other men, " more partickelu
HERO CARTHEW. lOI
they Bunces ;" for Joe's family were not shining lights in
the village, and it soothed her immensely to listen to the
vivid descriptions of the yawning pit, and the gnawing worm
the certain doom of such reprobates as laughed at Mr.
Petherwick as a ranter, and called his followers blue lights.
On this especial day the picnic party were bound for the
Swallow Sands, which could be reached either by a tolerably
good road, along which went the elderly people; or a
scrambling rocky path, chosen, of course, by all the younger
folk, who soon paired off at a respectable distance apart, so
as not to interfere with each other.
The sun shone brightiy, the great cliflfe afforded shade,
the breeze from the sea came cool and pleasant, and Hero
Carthew, led by Leo Despard, thought what a difference a
few hours had made. Instead of feeling sorrowM and
downcast, she seemed by contrast to be happier than she
had ever been, and certainly Leo had never before been so
thoughtful and devoted. . He tried by every attention to
make amends for his outburst of temper, which he still de-
plored, although Hero felt she would not mind an occasion-
al quarrel if it entailed such a making up. As for Leo, he
was thoroughly disposed to be pleased with himself and
everybody around him. He had that morning received an
unexpected invitation for the 12 th of August; and though
he told Hero, with an attempt at dissatisfaction, that it
really was too bad of Curzon to accept Lord Shipwith's in-
vitation for him, and so put it out of his power to refuse, in
his heart he was jubilant over the distinguished party of
which he was to form one, and he repeated for Hero*s edi-
fication the names of some of the guests.
" Fancy, Leo ! his asking you," exclaimed Hero, quite
awed by several grand sounding titles.
" And why not, my dear child ; I think myself quite as
good as they are."
" And I think you are a great deal better," she said,
clinging more closely to his arm, and regarding with pretty
pride his handsomeYace ; " but still it is very nice of them,
and it shows how much they must think of you. Oh, dear
me !" she laughed, " what a flustration 1 s\\o\Ad\i^ \t^/\1 \
102 HERO CARTHEW.
was asked to meet a lot of grand ladies and a countess ! I
should think of nothing else but how I should look, and
what on earth I could wear."
Leo smiled upon her condescendingly, as if such small
anxieties never troubled him, although the first thing he had
done was to consider what would be the most effective
shooting costume, and he had already written off proposing
an arrangement with his tailor, by which means he hoped
to obtain what he had decided upon.
" Will any ladies be there ?" asked Hero.
" I believe not ; why ?"
" Because," and here Hero assumed a little make-believe
pout, " if so, I think I should be jealous."
" Ah ! no you would not," and Leo gave a little sigh, as
if to say she did not care enough for him to be that ; " I
was going to say," he added, " that if I thought so, nothing
should induce me to go ; yet I hardly know, I should be
terribly tempted to try."
"Why, Leo!" said Hero, looking earnestly at him, "and
do you think that when I know you are constantly meeting
girls who can sing and play, and do everything beautifully,
that I never feel jealous of them ? I cannot help it, and
when you have been telling me about them, sometimes I
have hated them ; but only for a minute, you know. Then
I have felt quite ashamed, and punished myself by asking
you to tell me more."
Leo took her hand, and pressing it in his, said, " You
never need be jealous of any one, Hero, for I cannot help
loving you. In some way or other you have so complete-
ly bewitched me, that I never think of any one else ; all I
want is to have you and," he added with a hopeless sigh,
" money enough to give you all you ought to have."
" That will come in good time, Leo dear. Why, you are
almost certain of your promotion in another year."
Leo shook his head.
" Well, two at the longest."
" No, nor in two ; and when it does come, what a beg-
garly pittance it is, just enough to keep soul and body to-
gether. **
HERO CARTHEW. IO3
** Oh, you'll see that we shall manage very well on it,"
said Hero, cheerfully. "Why, look at the Blakes, they
have nothing but his pay."
" Yes, I think I see my wife going about like Mrs. Blake.
Why, you little goose, you have no idea how proud I
should be of you."
Here their conversation was interrupted by a turn in the"
path which brought them in front of the Swallow Rock, and
within sight of the road party already arrived, and busily
engaged in unpacking hampers, and spreading out the din-
ner on the sands below.
" Why, Betsey !" exclaimed Hero, as they suddenly came
upon that notable with her gown tucked up, and her bon-
net perched hindside before, " how hot you look !"
" Ah ! and you*d look hot too, I reckon, if you'd had the
drivin' o' that dunkey."
" You should have let Joe drive him," said Leo, with a
knowing look at the giant.
"Joe!" ejaculated Betsey, with the severest contempt,
" beyond rattlin' a tin cup mth stones he's a fine help, sure-
ly. Besides," she added, decisively, " I can't abide to see a
man a larruping a dumb animal," although, as the unfortu-
nate beast could have testified, this aversion did not extend
to her own free use of the stick.
" Have you got anything for me to do ?" asked Leo, lan-
guidly.
" You, lor no," retorted Betsey, with a snort ; " only for'ee
to get out o' my way, for I'm like a toad under a harrow,
I don't know whichee course to steer. Here, come along,
Miss Hero, I'll soon put you to work."
" Then I suppose you intend me to stand by, and admire
you as Joe s doing," said Leo.
" I should like to catch'n at it," and Betsey gave another
snort and a defiant look towards Joe, which caused him
to hastily wipe away a rising smile with the back of his
hand.
" Why, now, you know that he does admire you, Bet-
sey," Leo continued, bent upon teazing her. "If not, he
would be master of tlie Ftince William Henry ^ fot itou
I04 HERO CARTHEW.
Burt says, that until she sees Joe marry you, she'll never
marry any one else."
Joe's lips involuntarily formed themselves for a whistle,
which all but escaped them in his anxiety to see how his fian-
cee would take this banter, which, though not true in
detail, had a certain amount of foundation in the landlady's
acknowledged partiality towards her late husband's first
wife's cousin. But Leo had not in the least miscalculated
his effect, and though Betsey gave a toss of her head, by
which her bonnet completely lost its balance, she could
not conceal her inward satisfaction, as without turning
round, she answered,
" Don't you think, now, Mr. Despard that I don't know,
as well as if I'd spoke the words myself, that you'm only
smearing at me ; thougth mind," and here she confronted
Joe, " her's fool enough to say that, and more a top o' it too,
but wishin' her no harm, for she's none of my acquaintance ;
all I says is take un and a good riddance of bad rummage
'twould be for me any day."
At which speech Joe went into a burst of exultant merri-
ment, in which, after a momentary struggle, Betsey joined,
causing the Captain to call out from below,
" Here, what's all that jackacting going on up there ?"
" 'Tis Maister Despard, sir," Betsey answered, wiping away
the tears her laughter had caused her. " There do 'ee take'n
away, for gracious goodness sake. Miss Hero, or nobody '11
have a bit o' dinner. 'Tween he and that Joe, I can't get
a minute's peace."
" I thought I should put her into a good temper," laughed
Leo, as he followed Hero down to the sands below, where,
when the various arrangements were completed, they sat
down to dinner, in the middle of which the Captain, who
was by this time overflowing with enjoyment, said,
" How much I wish that our good friend Sir Stephen
could have been one of us to-day ! However, we'll drink
his health, and as Truscott tells me that they may be ex-
pected now very shortly, we'll put off" any more junketings
until after they arrive, I think."
"/ suppose,'* said Mrs. Randall, " that we must all offer
HERO CAR THE IV. IO5
them some kind of entertainment. For my part, I almost
wish Sir Stephen was coming by himself ; ladies take so much
more notice of make-shifts than gentlemen do ; but there,
they must take us as we are, we'll do our best, and the best
can do no more."
" And you'll see they will not want more," said the Cap-
tain.
" Do you think they will trouble themselves much about
us ?" asked Leo, rather amused at this discussion about
jeople who he felt sure would regard Mallett society with
the well-bred contempt he secretly held it in. " Don't you
think the Dockmouth great guns and the country people will
call upon them ?"
" Call ! of course they'll call," replied the Captain, " why
shouldn't they ? The Prescotts are as good a family as any
about here. You may depend upon it that every one in the
neighborhood will do what is right, and contrive, I hope, to
give them a hearty welcome. Here, Joe," he called out,
turning round, "just you pass the word in the village for the
place to be kept well holy-stoned, and tell 'em not to be
backward with the tar-brush. We'll show the Dockmouth-
ers that when we choose we can stand muster with them
any day."
" Ay, ay, sir," replied Joe.
" And, p'raps too, you'll mind that charity begins at home,"
sarcastically chimed in Betsey, delighted to get a sly hit at
* they Bunces,' whose neglect of the scrubbing-brush and
dislike to soap and water was one of her favorite topics.
" Come, come, Betsey," said Hero, " keep your proverbs
to yourself, or I shall let Joe into a secret, and tell him that
we are always in danger of breaking our necks over your
brooms, and falling over your buckets."
" Oh, well,* retorted Betsey, " if he ain't to die till he
kicks the bucket in his own home, you'd better get 'un to
lease his life upon your houses, Miss Hero, he'll be a Methu-
salem that way, any how."
"Never mind, Betsey," said Leo, "I'll take your part;
what stunning pies you do make !"
" Ah I" laughed the Captain, " Sir StepUetv fo\wd\!csX^Nx\..,
I06 HERO CARTHEW.
didn't he, Betsey ? Why, he'd never heard of pasties until
Betsey made him some, and then. Rule Britannia ! didn't
he walk into them !"
"Awh come!" said Betsey, modestly refusing to take
more than her share of credit. " 'Twamt all Betsey there.
If I made 'em, Miss Hero filled 'em, and pinched 'em fitty,
and he knew that fast enough."
" Nonsense, Betsey," Hero exclaimed, " I'm sure he knew
no such thing," and she stole a furtive glance to see if Leo
had taken notice of the insinuation. Apparently he had not,
or if so, he was evidently not annoyed by it, for leaning
across he whispered,
" When you are ready, we'll go for a strolL"
CHAPTER XIV.
"awkwardly placed.'
During the next month, scarcely a day passed without
Leo devoting some portion of it to Hero ; apparently never
happy except he was in her society, and in truth, his love
for her had during this time grown so rapidly, that it
threatened to overcome the selfishness and false pride which
were the predominant evils of his character. Each time he
left her, he declared to himself that she was far sweeter, and
more loveable, than he had dreamed it possible for woman
to be ; and he asked himself if, after all, in spite of lack of
means, they might not contrive to be supremely happy.
This increase of love made him. far more attentive and
devoted than he had ever yet been, notwithstanding which
Hero was depressed and her spirits variable. As long as
they were alone, Leo was perfect ; but let them join their
friends, and the fauks, to which Hero could no longer be
blind, would come to the surface, and jar against her gene-
rous nature. To sit thinking of the time when she should
be Leo's wife, was no longer the unruffled dream of happi-
ness it had once been ; and when AHce Joslyn confided to
her that Norman Randall had asked her to wait for him,
so that perhaps after all she and Hero might both be mar-
ried about the same time, in the midst of her good wishes
Hero broke suddenly down, and though she declared her
tears were tears of joy, there was an unaccountable feeling
of sadness respecting her own future.
The torch of hope which had once burnt so brightly
seemed now extinguished.
But whence* came this change ? Perhaps, because she
resolutely refused to admit to herself that her depression
arose from any other cause than not feeling w^U, H^to uevet
HERO CMJiTHBW.
Bsked herself a question, the answer to which it would
have been difficult to solve. By hard speeches and lillle
acts of assertion and selfishness, trivial and unnoticed by
himself, Leo had gradually discovered his real disposition ;
and, though Hero loved him still, the bloom of love was
rubbed off and destroyed for ever.
By one of those not unfrequent freaks of fate, it happened
that Hero's eyes were opened to these faults at the very
time that Leo was making a first effort to overcome them,
Neverbefore had he so resolutely determined to seem satis-
fied by society which bored him more than he could express ;
never had he striven to avoid showing the dislike in which
he held Mallett and its people
" My dear girl," he would say to Hero, " I could live a
hermit's life here with you, alone, and always with me; but
this set of old fogies, with their long-winded advice and
stories about things they know nothing about, is more than
I can stand. The world ! what do they know about the
world ? Their itlea of having seen the world is being
stationed at the Cape, or China, or having a bout of four
years or so on the coast, looking after the slave trade ; and
they set to work to tell me what to do. One thing I can
tell them ; that after 1 get the good fortune to call a certain
litrie girl my own, it's very little I shall trouble Mallett or
" And yet, Leo, I should be very sorry to leave Mallett,
Why, you forget that we have lived here all our lives ever
sbce we were httle children."
" Well, I don't know that it recommends itself much to
my regard on that account. I detest that way they have
of coming up with, ' Oh, Mr. Despard, I recollect you as a
boy, sir, at Mallett.' I could say.'l'm sorry your memory
is so sharp.' "
" But you always help a Mallett man, Leo ?"
'' Yes, help him on to another regiment as soon as possi-
ble," said Leo, laughing. " You know, darling," he added,
seeing that Hero was not quite pleased, "it's different if a
fellow's a great swell; then he likes the men to know all
rl him and his people. Oh, Hero I why can't I chai
HERO CARTHEW, IO9
places with some I know ? Such fools, but heirs to estates
as big as all Mallett put together ; it's no wonder that I
kick against the want of money/'
" And yet," said Hero, hesitating whether she should give
her authority, " rich people are not always so very happy.
Sir Stephen told me that he knew those who, with all they
could possibly wish for, were perfectly miserable."
^' Ah yes ! just the rubbish a man like that would talk.
Let him try my beggarly pittance, and then see what he'd
say."
" But Sir Stephen is not rich. He says himself that he is
comparatively a poor man."
" Comparatively !" echoed Leo scornfully, "but who does
he draw his comparison with ? Some fellow who has as
many thousands a year as I have pounds. I would not
mind that kind of poverty. Tell him I'll readily change
places with him." Then pausing for an instant, he broke
out : " Oh ! if Fortune would but turn her wheel in my direc-
tion, how happy we'd be. Wouldn't I make you dress,
Hero ; and we'd have such a stunning turn-out, that all the
men I know would turn blue, and the women yellow."
Hero laughed at this picture of felicity one of the many
which Leo was always conjuring up though, as she said,
what was the good of sighing after things they should never
possess? Better far to think of themselves as they would
really be.
But Leo could see no pleasure in contemplating any pic-
ture of happiness which was not set in a gilded frame ; and
so frequently and openly did he give his opinions, that even
the Captain, lenient as he was, began to shake his head, say-
ing that he must give Master Leo a hint to draw in his horns
a liule when Sir Stephen came.
** I know him," he would say, " and know that he doesn't
mean half he says. But with those who do not, he lets that
red rag of his run at too many knots an hour ; and you
know Sir Stephen might be able to give him a leg up with
his promotion, so I want him to make a good impression
eh, Hero ?"
Hero nodded her head in assent, althoug^Vi %\vt &\1 v\-
no HERO CARTHEW.
wardly certain that the two men would never be friends.
Formerly she had looked forward to the time when they
would meet, and be mutually pleased with each other ; now,
she was almost relieved that before the 14th of August, the
date fixed for Sir Stephen's arrival, Leo would have left to
keep his engagement in the North.
The 14th day of August was a busy day at Mallett ; for
the village determined that this time it would not be behind-
hand in its welcome to Sir Stephen. Accordingly, arches
were erected, flags waved, and garlands hung all along the
road, from the turnpike gate to the entrance to Combe,
giving to the place such a gala aspect, that Mrs. Prescott
could not help her motherly heart warming towards a people
with such ready appreciation of her dear son, who at Pam-
phillon was not quite so popular as she knew he deserved to
be. Sir Stephen, too, was in high spirits, and had been so
during the whole journey, vividly recalling to Mrs. Labou-
chere*s mind the Stephen of days gone by, when he was
wont to enter with (what she then contemptuously termed)
boyish ardor into very simple pleasures and amusements.
But things were changed with Katherine, and now she
hailed whatever savored of the happy past.
At Combe gates stood a knot of Mallett men, who, with
Joe Bunce at their head, had just taken the hberty of run-
ning up to lend a hand with the traps. Inside they found
Captain Carthew waiting to say a few words of hearty wel
come, and the old sailor's air of devotion and courtesy im-
mediately won Mrs. Prescott, who presented him to her
niece as their nearest neighbor and Stephen's great
friend.
" And upon my veracity," said the Captain, as an hour
or so later he retailed every minutiae of the interview for
Hero's benefit, " I don't know that I ever set eyes upon a
more lovely woman."
" Is she fair or dark ?" asked Hero, interested at once in
Mrs. Labouchere, to the exclusion of everything else.
" Fair as a lily, and beauteous as the rose," quoted the
Captain } " and I expect, between you and me and the door-
HERO CARTHEW. Ill
post, I'm hot far out in taking her to be the future Lady
Prescott."
" I am longing to see hei. I do hope they will like the
place, papa."
** They seemed delighted with it. By the way, Sir Ste-
phen sent his love to you, and said he should run down and
see you "
" His love, papa ?"
* Well, something of the sort I'm not so sure that I
did not give him yours. I rather fancy he expected that
you would have been with me."
" I did not like to go, as I do not know Mrs. Prescott yet.
I am sure I wanted to be there. Hark, papa I" she ex-
claimed, as a crunching sound on the gravel announced
some one's approach. " Perhaps that is he ;" and she ran
out upon the flat 'in front of the open window. " Yes, it is.
Oh, Sir Stephen, how good of you to come so soon ! I am
so glad to see you."
" Then, why were you not at Combe to meet us ?" he
asked reproachfully.
Hero did not give her reason.
" I was looking out for you," she said ; " I went up to
Tilly Mound quite an hour before you came to watch for
the carriage."
'* Then I suppose I must forgive you, but I am very im-
patient for my mother to know you. Will you walk back
with me, and be introduced to her.'*
" What, now, do you mean ?"
" Yes, if it is not too far. I will bring her back safely,"
he added, turning to Captain Carthew, who nodded a
pleased acquiescence.
" But shall I go as I am ?" demanded Hero, looking
down at her plain muslin dress.
" Perfectly, I want you to be just as you are."
" Then, wait until I get my hat ;" and in a few minutes
after the two were on their way towards Combe.
" Papa tells me that you have another lady with you
your cousin, I think. He says she is lovely."
" She is generally considered handsome," said Sir Stephen,
112 HERO CARTHEW.
almost unconsciously assuming an air of profound indififer-
ence.
" Don't you think her so ?" asked Hero, beginning to
have some doubt as to her father's romantic surmises being
correct.
*' Yes, but she is not nearly as good-looking now as she
was before she married."
" Oh, is she married ?"
" She married years ago, and is now a widow."
" Poor thing ! how very sad !"
" My mother ahuost brought her up ; she and I were
quite children together."
"Then you must be very fond of each other, of course."
" Well, I do not know about the * of course,' " said Sir
Stephen, laughing. " After her marriage she lived entirely
abroad, and we saw nothing of each other. Since her
widowhood, and while I was out of England, she has been
a great companion to my mother, by whose wish she has
come here. When I said how much boating I intended
having, my mother seemed a^little nervous about being dull
here, if she was alone ; for I do not suppose we shall get her
often on the water. I am longing for a sail. I wish we
could go this evening, but I suppose that would be high
treason to Mrs. Tucker's preparations. Never mind, to-mor-
row we must have one. You see the result of spoiUng. I
intend to monopolize you quite in the old way."
Hero did not answer except by a sign, which pleased
Sir Stephen more than words would have done. How
could he tell that her blushes arose from a consciousness that
he ought to know about Leo ?
As Mrs. Prescott afterwards remarked to Mrs. Labou-
chere,
"How inconsistent men are ! Who could have supposed
(knowing how fatigued and wholly unprepared to see visi-
tors we both were), that Stephen would have brought a
strange young lady to call upon us ? At least. Miss Car-
thew ought to have known better than to come at such an
unreasonable time."
No sign, however, of this disapprobation was betrayed in
HERO CARTHEW. 113
the manner in which Hero was received. On the contrary,
Mrs. Prescott said it was very kind of Miss Carthew to give
her such an early opportunity of making her acquaintance,
and of thanking her for the hospitaUty she and Captain
Carthew had shown to her son during his former visit to
Mallett. She hoped she had not found them looking
dreadfully untidy, for they had really not felt equal to any
dressing, and were trying to rest a little before dinner.
" You must stay and dine with us," said Sir Stephen, to
his mother's unutterable dismay.
" Oh no ! I thank you," replied Hero, while Mrs. Pres-
cott, feeling bound to say something, faintly murmured about
being very pleased, if Miss Carthew did not mind their
being in a little confusion.
" Thank you very much," said Hero, who felt that some-
how it would have been better had she stayed away, " but
I have had my dinner. I dined in the middle of the day."
" Then I know you are quite able to eat another dinner
now," said Sir Stephen, nettled into a greater show of cordi-
ality by not being satisfied with his mother's reception of
Hero.
" Sir Stephen ! indeed, it is too bad to proclaim my coun-
try appetite ! Thank you, but I am obliged to decline,"
she added, turning to Mrs. Prescott; " I must return almost
immediately. I told papa I should not be away long."
" I hope that both you and your papa will give us the
pleasure of your company at dinner very soon," said Mrs.
Prescott.
" Why not fix the day now, mother ?" put in Sir Stephen.
" If Miss Carthew has no engagement for to-morrow, you
have none."
Poor Mrs. Prescott tried to smile, and say cordially,
" No, I shall be most happy." As for Hero, she had seldom
felt more awkwardly placed. She hardly knew how best to
act. She feared to appear unwilling to come, and yet it
seemed as if Sir Stephen were forcing her upon his mother.
" I am not able to say yes," she said, " because papa
might be going to Dockmouth ^perhaps it would be better
to defer it for a little Amt.^'
114 HERO CARTHEW,
" No, no ! 1*11 manage about Captain Carthew; and if he
is engaged, then all the more reason why you should not be
alone eh, mother ?"
" I can only repeat, my dear, that it will give me great
pleasure to see Miss Carthew ; after that we must leave her,
I think, to consult her own wishes a little."
" Oh, I have every wish to come," said Hero frankly ;
" but I fear that you may be tired or busy to-morrow, and,
unless you don*t mind me, I might be in the way."
" In that case I shall expect you, and I hope to see Cap-
tain Carthew with you." And Hero having risen to take
her departure, Mrs. Prescott bade her good-by.
" We dine at half- past seven, do we not ?" said Sir Ste-
phen. " I shall be back before then."
" I hope so." And the expression of Mrs. Prescott's face
made Hero say
" I beg you will not come with me, Sir Stephen. I know
my way perfectlv ^fifty times better than you do but
really," she added, seeing him still resolute, " I would rather
go alone. It is quite light, and I shall run all the way
home. Please don't come."
But a mocking bow was the only answer he would make;
and, feeling that outside he would listen to her more forcibly
expressed wishes, she made a final adieu to Mrs. Prescott,
and received a frigid shake of the hand from Mrs. Labou-
chere, who had sat silently observing her during the whole
of her visit.
As the door closed, Katherine rose from her seat and
went to the window, whence she watched the two figures,
after a minute's pause outside, pass down the short avenue
out of sight. Then she turned round, saying,
" Aunt, had you heard any mention of this girl before we
came here ?"
CHAPTER XV.
A GREAT CATCH.
While Mrs. Labouchere was listening to the little her
aunt had to tell her about her previous knowledge of Hero,
Sir Stephen was making an appointment with that young
lady for a sail together to Winkle, under the feigned anxiety
of being wonderfully desirous to see his friend Alice Joslyn.
" But will your mother like it ? " said Hero, who, with a
woman's sharp instinct, felt a little shadow of distrust about
how the ladies of Combe meant to treat her.
Sir Stephen laughed. " I am afraid I have been out of
leading-strings for this many a long year," he said ; " besides,
it will take them all to-morrow to get those wonderful boxes
they brought with them unpacked ; so do take compassion
on me."
" We shall try to get up some picnics while Mrs. Prescott
stays here. I hope she will like the place."
" I hope so too, for I have nearly decided upon living
here altogether."
" Have you ? How delighted everybody in Mallett
win be ! "
" And will you be delighted ? "
"/;" ^and Hero's face grew very rosy **yes, you
know " she added with a little confused hesitation " that
if I don't always tell you what I feel, it is because I have
been brought up so entirely with papa, that I am afraid of
saying too much what I think."
Hero considered this a very subtle way of guarding her-
self against the misinterpretation which Leo had spoken
of; but Sir Stephen knowing nothing of these warnings,
read a happier meaning in her words, and looking at her
earnestly, he said
Il6 HERO CARTffEW.
" Always say what you think to me, Hero." As he let
her name slip she glanced at him with a look of inquiry.
"Ah, I did not intend to say that until I had obtained
your permission," he said, by way of apology, " but every
one calls you Hero, and I think of you as Hero ; it
is such a pretty name. Miss Carthew sounds dreadfully
formal; does it not ? "
" Yes, / think so, because I am so seldom called Miss
Carthew. Even the village people say Miss Hero." And
yet she suddenly felt it would not be right to give him the
permission to do so. In the midst of her hesitation it was
a relief to see Betsey standing with a smiling face by the
gate of Sharrows, as far as which, in spite of all her entreaties
and arguments. Sir Stephen had insisted upon coming.
" Baint'ee glad to be breathing the fresh air agen, sir?"
she called out, with an expression of beaming satisfaction
at having her favorite back. " I just took a run tp see
Combe Gate, and the doin's up there, why 'tis for all the
world like Dockmouth streets when the Queen corned
there."
** I did not know that you had seen the Queen, Betsey ? "
said Sir Stephen.
" Well, I hav' and I haven't, as the sayin' is, for I looked
as anybody else would hav' done to see her with the
crown 'pon her head, and while I stood a gawking after
that, lor ! her goes by with a bunnet on, and a parachute
held up over it like anybody else. But now you'd best be
going back, sir," she said suddenly to Sir Stephen, " for Mrs.
Tucker told me dinner was to be at half-past seven o'clock,
and it's nigh on the quarter now."
" I wanted Miss Hero to stay and dine with us, but she
was obstinate, Betsey, and would not be persuaded."
** Well, then, why didn't ee. Miss Hero ? I'm sure you
only had a lairy dinner at home, for what with one and
t'other droppin' in, the cupboard was pretty nigh cleared
out afore dinner time ; and," she added, continuing the
subject after they had bid Sir Stephen good-by, and Hero
and she walked together down the path, " there' d ha' bin
plenty sare/y, [or I've bin to the house ; and down in
HERO CARTHEW, II7
tlie kitchen there was' a dozen things bein' made, fowls
roistin', and tarts bakin*, and I don't know what all ; nor I
didn't stop to see neither, for there was a fire fit to roast a
ox, and the cook was a sweatin' like a bull."
" Did you see Mrs. Prescott ? " asked Hero.
" Yes, I was stood up to Jope's, and they waited a min-
ute or two there. Sir Stephen spied me out to once I
thought he would * Betsey,' he calls out, * is that you ?
Why how are you ?' he says, and then the ladies looked."
** And what did you think of them ? "
" Well," replied Betsey critically, ** so far as I could see,
the young one would be pretty if her wasn't so putty-faced."
"But don't you think Sir Stephen's mother very nice-
looking ? "
"Oh! her looks is well enough, but I didn't care for
that bunnet her wore. I can't abide * old rams dressed up
lamb fashion.* But that ain't sayin' nothin' agen her ways.
How was you took with her ? "
" She was very kind and nice," I thought.
"Why didn't ee stay there, then, my dear?" asked
Betsey, whose devotion to the girl, she had tended and
watched from babyhood, made her familiar with every ex-
pression of her face and each inflection of her voice.
"They were so tired that I thought it best to come
home. You know, they have come a long way to-day."
" Hem ! " snorted Betsey, " I don't know what they'd
got to tire 'em, savin' bein' squatted up together in that
coach."
I am going there to-morrow to dinner, and papa too,"
Aw, that's all right 1 " and Betsey's tone became more
cheerful, than when the doubt was before her that the new
arrivals had not been all that she desired they should be to
her darling, who in her eyes was the very perfection of
grace and goodhess.
That evening Hero wrote a long and full account of the
day's doings to Leo, not omitting to give a glowing per-
sonal description of Sir Stephen's cousin, Mrs. Labouchere,
who, she said, was a widow, and had come to stay at
Combe with Mrs. Prescott. It was a iu\e ol "L^cJ ^ \a Vt^
Il8 HERO CARTHEW.
and find out who people were, and all about them ; so he
casually mentioned, during a tete-br-tete with a fashionable
fellow-guest, that he had been- asked by some friend of his
to meet Sir Stephen Prescott of Pamphillon and his cousin,
a Mrs. Labouchere, a widow, very pretty, they told him.
" What a fortunate dog it is ! " ejaculated his companion ;
" I'd give all I know to get a fair start with that woman.
Why, she is one of the best matrimonial catches out. Old
Labouchere was worth no end of tin, and he left every
farthing to her."
" What is Prescott like ? "
** I don't know much of him ; he's been a good deal out
of England. Rather close-fisted, I should say, or else
hard up ; for Pamphillon* s a fine old place, but you never
hear of him doing anything."
" I wonder he does not go in for his rich cousin."
- "She wouldn't have him ! He has tried his luck there
already. His mother brought her up. She's awfully
handsome, but has an unpleasant way of making a fellow
keep his distance ; so you'll have to be on your best
behavior, for of course you mean to go in for the prize."
"Not I.
" You'll be a great fool, then."
" Very likely. I am that already, I suppose," he added
to himself, feeling confident that under different circum-
stances he might have secured a prize as readily as any
man there ; and a feeling which before had sometimes
oppressed him came over him again, making him say to
himself that it was really a great pity, seeing how circum-
stanced they both were, that he should care for Hero as he
did. His vanity was greatly stimulated by the banter of.
the smoking-room, where, directly it was known that Leo
had been asked down to an out-of-the-way place, described
as somewhere near the Land's End, to meet that rich Mrs.
Labouchere, every one took, or pretended to take, it as
granted that a marriage was settled.
"Hang it, Despard," one would say, "if with an open
field, a good-looking fellow like you cannot carry off the
prize, I shall say you're nothing better than a bungler."
HERO CARTHEW. II9
" Don*t you alarm yourself," another voice would answer.
" Skipwith has offered odds in his favor, and he never risks
his money without being pretty sure of his man. I con-
gratulate you, old fellow, and hope you will give me an
early opportunity of congratulating the future Mrs.
Despard."
This and like idle badinage formed the thin end of a
wedge, which from that time forced itself into Leo's heart,
and threatened to overthrow the fair image of his early love.
" It would be far the best thing for both of us," he would say,
reflecting on the temptation which had taken hold of him ;
" it is not fair to keep her waiting year after year. If she were
free she would be certain to get half a dozen better offers."
And the assurance that she would be benefited seemed
in a measure to justify the sacrifice, he began to tell him-
self it would be his duty to make. These doubts caused his
letters to Hero to be short, constrained, and written with an
effort, which made him fling his pen away, and exclaim, ** I
wish that I'd never come near this place. I can't explain
to these fellows, and they'll all vow I tried my luck and
failed. Then when any of them meet this Mrs. Labouchere,
as they're sure to do, it will all come out about Hero and
Mallett. I should not mind so much if it were an old
woman, who'd soon drop off and leave me her money.
Money ! there's the rub. What is life worth if you cannot
enjoy it ? and how are we to live on a couple or three
hundred a year ? What Forster says is quite true a man
who cannot afford it is a brute to drag a woman down by a
marriage ; far better give the wrench beforehand. There
was something between him and Helen Seymour, but he
gave her up; and now she has married Dacres, and has
more money than she knows what to do with. Forster
told me that it was an awful pull to him, and very nearly
sent him altogether to the dogs, but he saw it was the only
thing to be done."
Thus Leo continued to think, plan, and resolve until the
time arrived for his departure ; and though, up to the last
moment, he continued to declare he had no intention of
becoming a suitor to Mrs. Labouchere, Vie Vaca^^^ ^X. ^.Vv'^
I20 HERO CARTHEW.
banter, allowed the bets, and listened to the advice by
which she was to fall a victim to his well-planned assidui-
ties ; so that when he reached Mallett the nearest approach
he had made to a decision was that he would impress more
forcibly upon Hero the necessity of their engagement be-
ing still kept a secret ; and as for the other matter it was
of no use worrying and bothering he would let things drift,
and leave the end to chance.
CHAPTER XVI.
SOMEBODY,
The day following their arrival was not very far advanced
before Sir Stephen set off for Sharrows. He had already
learnt a short way of getting there, and as he walked briskly
along, invigorated by the bracing air, fresh from the wide
expanse of sea to which the place lay open, he felt more
determined than ever that, as soon as possible, he would
sell his large estate, and settle at Combe. The whole sur-
roundings of the place accorded with his tastes ; he had al-
ways been fond of the sea, and of the people who lived by
it. Their simple lives and outspoken ways interested him.
Here he could be of service, identifying himself with all
that concerned those to whom he desired to be of use.
From the very reason that Pamphillon had never been
aught to him but a clog, and a continual source of dissatis-
faction and annoyance, he disliked the place. The land-
owners near were not men he cared for ; the better class
of his tenantry were opposed to a landlord, who did not do
as much for them and the land as, in their opinion, he
ought to do, and would do, did he live among them.
Without troubling themselves to understand his compli-
cated difficulties, they made it a grievance, that instead of
looking after his estate, he was roaming all over the world.
Whenever he did go to Pamphillon, it was to listen to a
long list of complaints and vexatious losses, which he could
not redress ; and, to see abuses which galled and fretted
him, without his having the means of remedying the evils
by which they were caused. He felt that he was never
seen at such a disadvantage as when at Pamphillon, where
his advice was treated as interference, aud \a^ i^^Tic.^\^-
122 HERO CARTHEW.
garded as indifference. One of his reasons for keeping
away from Mallett was the fear lest the circle of his evils
should be enlarged. But in this he had been agreeably
disappointed, and from the moment Hero and Captain Car-
thew introduced him to Mallett, his life had brightened;
for he found himself welcomed with trust and confidence
by his neighbors, while in the village his presence was hailed
as the forerunner of good, and the sure remedy against ex-
isting exils. Consequently, his eyes rested with far more
pleasure on the old-fashioned house of Combe than they
had ever done on stately Pamphillon. The cheery looks
and voices of the cottagers, as they ran to their open doors
to greet him, pleased him. Their free inquiries as to where
he was going amused him, according with his own strai^t-
forward and genial disposition.
As, with a smiling face, he turned into Sharrows, the
swinging to of the gate caused Hero, who was sitting on the
window-sill below, to look up, and wave her hand. Sir
Stephen returned the salutation, saying in his heart,
** God bless her. I believe she is the chief cause why I
feel so happy."
He had come to claim her for their sail to Winkle, and
after he had spoken to her and the Captain, he asked her
how soon she would be ready to start, and whether they
were to have Jim.
" I want to establish a boat of my own," he said to Cap-
tain Carthew, " if you'll tell me how best to set about it,
and recommend me a man to look after it."
"Joe Bunce would do exactly, papa," exclaimed Hero ;
"he doesn't want, and Betsey doesn't want him, to go to
sea again."
"We couldn't find a better man, nor a smarter sailor,"
said Captain Carthew. " I've had my eye on a little craft
at Clarkson's that will, I think, just hit your fancy. We'll
go round to-morrow, and see it. Here, Betsey ! " he roared
out, " where's that fancy chum of yours to be found ? I
saw him busnacking about here when I turned out this
morning."
'' Well, *tis more than I did, sir, or I'd ha' given 'un a
HERO CARTHEIV.
123
job to do, and no mistake, but if you wants 'un for any-
think, I dessay I could find 'un for ee."
" Sir Stephen is going to have a boat," said Hero, " and
he will need a man to look after it, and I thought it would
just suit Joe."
" I dessay 'twould," returned Betsey, trying not to be-
tray her pleasure. " The parlor suited the dunkey, only he
was rather out of place there."
" Why, there's not a sharper sailor in the service than
Joe, Betsey," said Hero, standing up for her favorite.
"No, not when they pipes to grog, I know there
bain't"
" Ah, well, he's just the man I want, Betsey," put in Sir
Stephen ; " so you tell him to come to Combe, and speak
to me, and he shall have the management of my boat the
Hero^ I mean to call it."
" What, after me ? " said Hero, with a pleased face.
Sir Stephen nodded assent.
" Is it not a pretty.name, Betsey?"
" Oh, *t does well enuf for a boat. Sir Stephen ; but what
for ever anybody should choose such a outlandish name for
a Christian, I couldn't tell 'ee if you was to pay me. And
then to call it a maid's name. Tine a by ! " she added with
infinite contempt, " if a 'era ain't a man, why what is he ? "
" That is what she always says," laughed Hero. " Now,
is it not a proper woman's name. Sir Stephen ? "
" Certainly it is, and a very celebrated one among the
heathens, Betsey," he added slyly.
" The heathens / " repeated Betsey. " Aw* well, I'll give
in to it bein' their fancy ; though why for ever anybody
should want to follow lead to a passel o' Turks and niggers,
is more than I can tell. But there, as I allays says, the
mercy is 'tain't no worse ; for if by chance the Cap' en had
had the Harrythoosa or the illy ruffian^ 'twould ha' bin all
one to he, and a nice handle that had a bin to 'av* fitted
anybody else's name on to, surely."
" I'm afraid that Betsey's familiarity will shock Mrs. Pres-
cott," said Hero, when they were out of her hearing. " She
has been so long with ns, that we nevei rmxid\i&x. 1\xq^
124
HERO CARTHEW.
you don't ; for she says that she never remembers you are
not a common gentleman."
Sir Stephen laughed.
" I like to have a chat with Betsey. Her queer speeches
amuse me immensely. How wonderfully fond she is of
you !"
" Yes, but not more fond than I am of her, dear old soul !
Still, I know that strangers might think she made rather free,
although it is only her manner. She has no thought of be-
ing disrespectful. If Mrs. Prescott or Mrs. Labouchere
should make any remarks on her, please explain how it is.
I don't wish them to have a wrong impression of her."
"Til make it all right," said Sir Stephen. "What a
lovely day it is ! there is not a ripple on the water."
" Yes, it is smooth enough to satisfy any one. Did you
ask your cousin to come ? "
" No, I did not ; I didn't want her," he answered, " I
only wanted you. You promised to teach me to row and
steer, and we must not have an audience so long as 1 am
in danger of catching a crab. Here is Jim and the boat.
Let us jump in, and be off."
" You see I have kept my word, Jim, and come back
again," he said, nodding in acknowledgment of the old sea-
man's silent greeting.
" Iss, so I sees, sir, and I'm main glad of it, and so is
somebody else, too, I reckon." And, his hand and his
hook being employed in steadying the boat, he jerked his
head in Hero's direction.
"I wonder if that is a true supposition on Jim's ^Jurt?"
Sir Stephen asked as they settled into their places.
" I don't know. What did he say ? "
" That somebody would be glad that I have come back."
" Somebody / I don't know who he means."
" Don't you ? I must ask him. Jim, Miss Hero wants
to know who you mean by somebody ? "
" Do she ? Then you tell her, sir ; " and his eyes twin-
kled with significance. "Lord love 'ee," he said with a
quiet chuckle, " I knows more than you thinks for. Why,
/ had 3L somebody o* my own once upon a time ah I and
HERO CARTHEW,
125
as likely a maid as jou'd see in a da/s walk. 'Twas all
plain sailing afore me, as I thought. Howsomedever, close
into port, for I'd bought the ring, and was going to pat up
the bains, I missed stays, and I never managed to get in
the right tack afterwards."
" What does he mean ? " asked Sir Stephen, with a puz-
zled expression.
" Why, that just before they were going to be married he
oiSended her, and he could never set things right again. I
am sure it is plain enough to understand ; and if you keep
so in shore, we shall get under the lea of Combe Point, and
lose the wind, and then before we can make Winkle you'll
have a practical illustration."
" You bain't so handy in aboat as Miss Hero," said Jim,
who watched with great pride the instruction she was be-
stowing upon Sir Stephen. " Why, when her was six her'd
handle the oars or the tiller as fitty as another little maid
would a dolly."
" Do you remember her then, Jim ? " asked Sir Stephen.
" Remember her ! I should think I do. Why, I've a
got her in my mind's eye from the time her was a dinkey
thing hoisted up on the Cap* en's shoulders, till now. Don't
*ee take her from us altogether, sir," he cried out, as the
fear of losing her swept over him, " though as far as a hu-
man eye can judge o' a human 'art, you're the one I hopes
to see standin* in somebody else's shoes."
"What is that old stupid talking about?" Hero ex-
claimed, her face getting scarlet at these delicately-con-
veyed- hints. "Jim," she called out, " if you don't hold
your tongue this minute, I'll throw the tiller at you."
" No, don't 'ee. Miss Hero, I don't mean nothing by what
I says. Marriage is a honorable institootion in all. Ye
know,
* The Lord tf weddin*s did approve
And smiled on wedlock's happy love ;
In token ofhe gived a sign,
And lo I the water turned to wine.' '*
/
CHAPTER XVII.
A DINNER PARTY.
The sail to Winkle resulted in Sir Stephen and Hero be-
ing accompanied back to Sharrows by Alice Joslyn, that
she might be introduced to the new arrivals; and six
o'clock found the two girls, with Captain Carthew between
them, setting off to keep their dinner engagement
The trio were in high spirits ; they enjoyed a little outing
and this one being entirely beyond the common order, was
an event to them all. The old man looked with pleasurable
pride at the two young faces, giving vent to his admiration
by trolling out in a voice which was beginning slightly to
quaver, " How happy could I be with either I "
** No, no," exclaimed Alice. " You're happy with us both.
Leave Sir Stephen to sing that though," she -whispered,
" I know which he'd be most happy with, don't you ? "
"Alice ! " and Hero gave a warning glance in that direc-
tion ; while the Captain, with a knowing wink of signifi-
cance and a nudge of the arm in token of his appreciation
of the allusion, said
" Mum's the word."
He was in the habit of teasing his daughter about all
sorts of admirers, without thinking very seriously about
any of their attentions ; therefore, though he had noticed
Sir Stephen's evident liking for Hero, he had formed no
other conclusion but that he had taken a fancy to her, as it
was but natural that any man should do. " Bless her heart I
There wasn't another such in the world." *
" You think that Sir Stephen will come here to live alto-
gether ? " Alice asked.
" So he says," rephed the Captain. " He seems to have
taken a fancy to the place, and what wonder ? Where elsey
HERO CARTHEW. 12/
I should like to know, could you see anything like that ? *'
a,nd he wheeled round to look at the sea, over which the
sinking sun was casting its warm glow. " He*s just the
man for Mallett," the Captain continued as they resumed their
alk. " Plain sailing ; no starch about the gills. That's
ihat I like in a fellow, and if we get him to settle down
among us, by Jove ! 'twill be the making of old Mallett."
" And how gay we should be certain to get ! " exclaimed
Hero, executing two or three steps in anticipation. " Only
fancy, Alice, a dance at Combe every Christmas at the very
least"
" Up the middle and down again," the Captain called out,
setting all three into an imaginary " Triumph," which ended
in a run that brought them very nearly in sight of the
house, where their presence was being anticipated with
greater anxiety than any of them could have possibly
dreamed of.
The principal interest was centred upon Hero, about
whom, from the first mention of her name, Mrs. Prescott's
fears had been aroused. Since seeing her, these fears had
been greatly increased, and she now only waited for a fur-
ther opportunity to be assured, that the opposition she was
bent upon making was really necessary.
Mrs. Labouchere's thoughts, as she sat silent and ab-
sorbed under her maid's skilful hands, ran solely upon the
same subject " Had Stephen been caught by this girl ? "
her heart kept repeating with jealous uncertainty ; until, her
toilette completed, she surveyed her perfectly-attired self.
Then, almost a smile came into her face as she recalled the
straw-hatted, blue-muslined figure. " Surely no, there could
never be a thought of rivalry between them ; " and with a
renewed feeling of security she descended to the drawing-
room, where her aunt and Sir Stephen were already sitting.
" What a lovely dress, Katie ! " Mrs. Prescott exclaimed
as her niece joined them. " Stephen, is it not beautiful ? "
" It is indeed, and most becoming," he added, regarding
her with visible admiration. "You should always wear
those rich shades of color, Katherine." And while Kathe-
rine smiled a pleased acknowledgment of these, of late,
1 28 HERO CARTHEW.
rare compliments, Sir Stephen began to wonder with sad-
den anxiety how Hero would be dressed. It had not oc-
curred to him before, but now he was filled by a desire that
she should look her best, and in order to be satisfied before
she submitted herself to general inspection, he made an ex-
cuse for going to speak to Mrs. Tucker, whose room over-
looked the approach by which the expected visitors would
come.
He had not long to wait, and by the time they reached
the door, he was standing ready to bid them welcome. As
Hero shook down her soft muslin skirt, Sir Stephen said in
an approving tone
" This is the dress you wore at the dance, is it not ? I
am glad of that ; and have you red roses for your hair ? "
" Yes, real ones this time. See," and she held up a
couple of fragrant buds, which she had been carefully car-
rying to pin in on her arrival.
" Delicious ! " he said, sniffing their sweetness. " Re-
member not to pin them too low. Just there is the place,"
and he touched her bright silky hair with his hand.
** What are they about, my dear ? " asked Mrs. Prescott
pettishly, as Mrs. Labouchere returned from the survey
which her curiosity had led her to take of the party from
over the banisters.
Katherine's Ups trembled with jealous anger. "Appar-
ently Stephen is engaged in arranging Miss CartheVs hair."
" My son ! " exclaimed Mrs. Prescott, starting from her
seat. " Really, my dear Katie, you must be mistaken.
Why I ^" but a movement from Mrs. Labouchere caused
her to stop as the half-closed door was thrown open by Sir
Stephen, who entered with Captain Carthew. Hero and
Alice did not join them until some minutes later, and then
so full of excitement were they, and so struck with admira-
tion and astonishment at Mrs. Labouchere's toilette each
portion of which was something new and quite beyond even
Dockmouth fashions that the over-polite greeting and stiflf
coldness of the two ladies was entirely thrown away and
lost.
'' WiW yoM take my mother, Captain Carthew ? " Sir Ste-^
HERO CARTHEW.
129
phen said, when dinner was announced, offering his arm to
Hero..
"Miss Joslyn, Stephen," Mrs. Prescott half-whispered,
giving a significant glance towards Alice.
" Mrs. Labouchere and Miss Joslyn will have the mutual
pleasure of going down together," said Sir Stephen ; " an
advantage which they both will appreciate, but which must
never be permitted to them again."
" Why did you take me down ? " said Hero, who felt an
undue honor had been thrust upon her. " You ought to
have taken her^
" Who is her?** asked Sir Stephen, ready to accept any
opportunity for lingering behind.
" You know," and Hero nodded her head towards Mrs.
Labouchere. " How lovely she is ! "
" The only person I see is lovely "
" Oh, you're always laughing at me," Hero said with a
pretended pout. " I have a great mind to be very cross
with you. Sir Stephen."
" Cross because I am telling you the truth, Hero ! "
And some mischievous sprite, echoing the sound in Mrs.
Prescott* s ears, she looked up, and the expression she saw
in her son's face made her heart grow sick within her. She
went on smiling mechanically to Captain Carthew, hearing
without taking in his words, for her thoughts were busy as
to what would put the most effectual stop to Stephen's infat*
uation.
Her more than ordinary silence was put down by Mrs.
Labouchere to the usual cause, a coming headache. What
other reason could there be ? for rarely had Katherine
found more occasion to be pleased with Sir Stephen's man-
ner. Towards her he seemed to have suddenly become
his old self again. He spoke of the days when they were
children together, recalled to her memory a trivial incident
which she fancied he had long forgotten, encouraged the
Captain in his outspoken admiration, and laughingly egged
him into paying the most high-flown compliments until
Katherine felt triumphantly radiant under the certainty that
dii was coming to pass as she had willed it. H.O'n i^^\A.^
6*
w
r^ Si
ffERO CAXr/TEtf.
:W(I)Jh
30
been her jealousy of a mere child, whom she
Slejihen could never for a moment have seriously thought
about I This discovery made her thoroughly uubend to
Hero, and Sir Stephen, well-pleased to see his cousin adopt
the kindly tone he had ivished to exist between them, con-
tinued in his gratitude to mislead het more completely.
But not so his mother. To her every tuni of liis face
was known by heart, and her quick eye detected the soft-
ened exjiression, which came up into his eyes every time
they rested upon Hero. " I cannot make her manner out,"
she thought. " That she sees it I am sure, but she seems
rather to ignore than to encourage his attentions. Cim-
ning I artifice I for who would not be eager to secure such
a man as Stephen ? " And, if not her motherly love was
at once in arms at the bare idea of this country girl, who
should never win her son presuming to disdain his love.
" It is evident Katherme does not see it as I do," she add^d
to herself as she gave the signal to retire, '" and I must
strive lo keep her in ignorance. Poor Katey ! I can see
that she is deceiving herself."
And certainly Katherine was most completely.
The key to this sudden change in Sir Stephen's tuan
let lay in the determination he had come to, that as soon
as possible he must hear from Hero's lips the assurance that
she loved him. During his absence from her he had re-
peatedly congratulated himself on the calm tranquillity of
his love a tranquillity which had taken flight at first sight
of her sunny face, and which had ever since been working
itself into astorm of feverish anxiety. Thefearof betray-
ing to others that which he had not yet openly declared to
Hero made him impose on himself a greater restraint
than usual, and his sjiirits rising with the hope of speedy
happiness led to that light-hearted feeling of freedom which
was so bitterly misleadbg Katherine.
No sooner had he and Captain Carthew joined them in
the drawing-room, tlian Sir Stephen, seizing an opportunity
when the olliers were engaged, drew Hero towards Mrs,
Pre SCO tt, saying
"Motlter, do you remember what I said to you a 1
a liU|y
HERO CARTHEW.
131
while since abont you and Miss Carthew becoming great
friends ? It will be a very easy task to love her, will it
not ? " and his whole face seemed to soften and grow tender,
as he turned towards Hero, who stood blushing to the roots
of her hair.
Mrs. Prescott did not speak, and her son, feeling certain
that tears were the cause of her silence, involuntarily put
out his hand for an assurance that she understood him ; but,
instead of tears, Mrs. Prescott was looking straight in front
of her with a fixed, hard gaze, and, before Sir Stephen had
time to recover from his surprise, she got up, and going
over to Alice, said
"I hope you will sing me something. Miss Joslyn. I
am sure you do sing. You have a singing face."
" I don't think my mother can be well this evening," Sir
Stephen managed to get out by way of apology. " She
does not seem at all herself."
Hero did not answer him; she turned away towards
where her father was standing. " It is time that we thought
of going, papa," she said.
"Is it, my dear? All right She's time-keeper," he
laughed, addressing Mrs. Prescott. " I used to say it took
a good deal to get me out, and a good deal more to get me
home, but now I'm under petticoat government. You see
I haven't a voice of my own. Take my advice, Prescott,
my good fellow, and don't give up your liberty. You keep
Cap'en of your own ship as long as you can. Now, Hero,
what about this little gathering we propose having ? Have
you asked these ladies to settle the day ? "
" The people about Mallett are very anxious to be intro-
duced to you, Mrs. Prescott," Hero said, hesitating, and
with a confusion of manner. " Papa would be so very
pleased if you would allow them to meet you at our house."
" Papa would be pleased I " broke in the Captain. " Wliy,
you monkey, it was your own happy suggestion."
" Yes, but I think that you will be a greater inducement,
papa."
" Bless her heart ! " exclaimed the old man, pinching her
already rosy cheek. " She fancies evet^bodj xawsX thicvk
132
BESO CASTBEW.
lother
have
eeing
as much of her old father as she does. And here's another
young monkey just as bad ; " and he put his ami i
Alice. "Ah, they're a nice pair. I don't know who t
me would be bothered with two such rascals,"
" Papa, we have not had Mrs. Prescotf s answer yet. j
thought, if you had no engagement for next Wednesday^
Thursday, or any other day that will suit you and Ma
Labouchere All days are alike to us."
"Thank you very much. 1 am sure you and Capta
Carthew are very kind ; but I so seldom go out I have
long since given up parties."
" But this will not be a party. It would be only seeing
some people who are very ausious to tell you how (' ""
ihey are that you have come here."
" I am sure they are very kind ; but I really hardly k:
what to say."
And she looked imploringly at Katherine.
" Say that you will go, aunt ; for I am sure you will make
the eiFort, as you always do, to give others pleasure. I
shall quite look forward to it. I think we might say
Wednesday if that is perfectly convenient to Miss Carthew,
and suits Stephen."
Sir Stephen felt be could have hugged Katherine in his
gratitude. As it was, he took hold of her hand, and gave
It a silent squeeze, never noticing the quick blood which
leapt into her pale face at die remembrance tliat this was
the first voluntary pressure he had ever bestowed since
that hand had gone out of his recognized keeping.
So it is witli the very best of us. So self-absorbed bad
Sir Stephen become, that it never once entered into his
mind to recollect that Jiatherine could not see his reasons,
his altered resolves, his fresh resolutions,
Mrs, Frescott shook her head.
" You see, I have my despot," she said to Captain Car-
thew, " and if Wednesday will really suit you, in spite of my
perhaps seeming not to appreciate Miss Carthew's thought-
fulness, 1 shall be happy to accept your very kind invita-
tion."
i] going to smoke a cigar, mother," Sir Steph^^
HERO CARTHEW.
133
said ; " so, if you and Katherine have retired before I re-
turn, good-night."
"Are you coming with us?" Alice asked, as they
stepped into the full moon's light. " Then do let us go
home by Sharrow Sands."
'* Oh, no, it is much too late, Alice."
" Fiddle-string nonsense, too late!" exclaimed the Cap-
tain. " It won't be too late for you two fellows' tongues
to go running on at nineteen knots the hour for half the
night long. I know you both. Come along. Ally, my
girl, and we'll have * Lovely night, lovely night,' or
* Meet me by moonlight alone.' Come, which shall it be,
for * my heart, my heart is breaking for the love of Alice
Gray.' "
While these snatches of appropriate melody were being
indulged in. Sir Stephen had taken Hero's hand, and drawn
it through his arm.
" It was silly to put the Sands into papa's head," she
said ; " the walk home is quite long enough, and I am
tired"
" Are you ? "
And Sir Stephen took her hand ; but, before he could
hold it in his own, Hero had drawn herself away from him,
saying :
" We .cannot walk arm-in-arm. I have my dress to hold
up." And she gathered the muslin round her.
" One hand will do for that," Sir Stephen said ; " give
me the other." And this time he let her rest on his arm,
and they walked on without speaking, Sir Stephen silent,
because he could only talk on one subject, and the place
was not yet reached where he could ask the question which
was repeating itself in every pulse and beat of his heart ;
Hiero not talking, because she had determined she would
no longer delay speaking about Leo, and the easiest way
to broach the subject would be, by allowing Sir Stephen to
remark on her taciturnity.
But this, to her disappointment. Sir Stephen did not in-
tend doing ; and she was at length forced to say herself:
" How very silent we both are 1 "
^1^ ffERO CAnTHEW. ^^|
^^F " Are we ? " and, the pathway ended, he gave a deej^^l
sigh of relief. i
Poor Hero ! she could have echoed the sound, at which
her heavy heart sank still deeper down. She fell that it
was riglit that Sir Stephen should know that she was not
free and unfettered, as he thought her ; but the feeling
which prompted her to tell him was accompanied with a
bitterness, such as she had never known before, as if slie
were putting an end to all her happiness ; and her repealed
self-assurance that it would make no difference to Sir
Stephen, and that they should still continue friends, did not
soften the pain one atom.
With these separate objects to be attained, neither of
them had offered any opposition to a little lagging ; so that
Captain Carthew and Alice were tolerably well ahead, and
out of sight, by the time they reached the rocks where the
bay opened out.
Here ihey stood, and silently gazed at the calm waves
swiftly gliding up the great stretcli of pale yellow sand,
until, arrested by a mighty hand, they retired murmuring
and slow, leaving behind myriads of gemmed and sparkling
drops. Not a sound was to be heard but the sea's hushed
melody ; saving themselves, not a living thing was to be
seen. Tlie clouds, rolled up in great masses of feathei
down, sliraiik back from the luminous trail in which
moon, shedding her soft light on all around, sat cali
familiarity had but endeared the scene to Hero, and;'
after she had stood for some moments drinking in its
witchery, involuntarily she turned towards Sir Stephen.
Her eyes met liis, that which lay around vanished, and a
little shiver ran through her, for she saw tliere was to be no
more delay.
Only an inslant before, and the words which Sir Stephen
meant to say lay on his lips ; but now they were gone-
drowned in the great surge wliicli rushed into his heart, and
set it beating so wildly, that the very power of speech
seemed forgotten. The moon hid herself behind an attend-
ant chud, and, before she again unveiled her splend
ind-^
nda^^l
HERO CARTHEW. 1 35
Stephen Prescott held Hero to his heart, and the passion-
ate love which had taken sudden possession of him was no
longer a secret from her.
Had she spoken before ? Was it because he would not
listen that she cried out in a voice sharp and strained,
" No ! no ! Sir Stephen ! " and then, as if with the knife
which was to sever them she first pierced her own heart,
she added slowly, " I I am engaged already."
As in the midst of wedding chimes discordant comes the
passing bell, so Sir Stephen heard these words. They fell
upon his ear, and then dropping down within him, made
his heart of a sudden cease its quick motion, his tingling
pulses die away, and the nervous strength which a minute
before had made his arms seem iron bands, relax and fail
him ; and, with no power to stay her, Hero released her-
self and again they stood side by side looking at the calm
bay, the yellow sands, and the moonlit waves, but seeing
nothii^ but the dark shadow which had fallen between
them.
CHAPTER XVIII.
JEST AND EARNEST.
Both Sir Stephen and Hero felt it a relief when Sharrows
came in sight, and they saw the outline of two figures wait-
ing at the gate for them to come up. Their wa& from the
Sands had been almost a silent one. Sir Stephen had learnt
that he had never seen the man to whom Hero had given
her love ; that the engagement was unacknowledged, that
it had been entered into by themselves, and that even her
father's sanction had not been formally asked.
He refused Captain Carthew's invitation to come in,
under a plea that the hour was too late ; and then, mdien
the door had fairly closed upon them, he deliberately
retraced his steps back to where he had so recently heard
his hopes crushed.
Leaning his arms on a rocky projection, he stood, going
over the whole scene again. Surely he had a right to feel
rebellious. Was his love never to find a resting-place ?
He had been so confident, so secure seeing no one whom
Hero cared for, he had felt sure that she cared for no one.
Who could it be ? Who had forestalled him in securing
the love he now longed and thirsted after with an intensity
of feeling before unknown to him ? Every now and then
his fancy took a wild flight, and he imagined some catas-
trophe absence time a thousand obstacles snapping
the chain which bound the object of his desire to any other
but himself. He could do anything, wait any time ; but
he could not give her up. He would not forego hope.
Surely, in that moment when their hearts seemed to beat a
language for which the tongue finds no utterance, he had
read her rightly. If so come what might, she should be
his.
HERO CARTHEW. 1 37
Hero in the meantime was screening her pale face and
darkly circled eyes under that woman's shield, a headache.
She said she must go straight to bed, she could hardly
speak, she felt so ill ; and Alice promised in her stead to
light the Captain's pipe, and talk to him while he smoked
it
Betsey, with the intuitive sharpness which love bestows
upon all, saw something had gone wrong with her darling ;
but she never asked a question or hazarded an inquiry.
She waited upon her and undressed her with motherly care,
and finally putting her great strong arms round her, as she
had done when Hero was a little child, she called her her
pride, her cosset, " Betsey's dear, she was," until the icy
hold which gripped the girl's quick emotions melted away,
and clinging to her old nurse, she sobbed as if her heart
would break. She did not ask herself why these tears
came. She only knew that it was a relief to give vent to
her misery, and to take her fill of sorrow. In the midst of
all her troubles, her one definite thought was that Leo was
coming back either to-morrow or the day after : then their
engagement must be made pubfic there must be no more
concealment and her tears flowed afresh, feeling that the
one who should have known it had only learned it too late.
Love is blind in more ways than one. Sometimes the
mischievous urchin closes the eyes of his victims to his own
presence, lulling them into a security which he employs in
forging the fetters which, until felt, are seldom seen.
Knowing the hour that Sir Stephen and her father had
appointed to start on their boat-buying expedition, Hero
contrived that before that time arrived she. and Alice should
have left home with the avowed intention of issuing the
invitations for the following Wednesday.
" Here, I say," said the Captain, suddenly noticing Sir
Stephen's haggard face ; " why, you look as if you'd been
draining the blood of a turnip field. Why, what's the
matter, eh?"
"I don't think that wine suited me last night," said Sir
Ste{^en. " Somehow, I never can drink port."
I see I " and the Captain eyed him mouTiAxAV^ \ ^^ '^wix^
138 HERO CARTHEW.
a bad ship to put a cargo into. Well, upon mj life, if I
know what you young fellows are coming to. You do look
uncommonly seedy, Siough; perhaps we'd best put off
going for a day or two."
But to this Sir Stephen would not listen. The sail to
Cargill, he said, would do him good not that there was
anything the matter with him.
" No, no," laughed the Captain ; "you only feel as if the
cat had got you, and the Emperor of Rooshia had got the
cat. I know all about it. But you must brisk up as we
go through the village, or they'll give us credit for having
been three sheets in the wind last night ; for they know 1
dined up at Combe. And how are the ladies this morn-
ing ? "
" I have not seen either of them. I spoke to my mother
through the door, and heard that she was all right ; but I
was off for a good spin before they were down."
" Then you'll be tired before we return, for I suppose
we are to go on to Dockmouth ? "
" Yes ; I want to see Truscott. I must begin to set this
place in order without delay. I shall find plenty to occupy
me for months to come. I dare say," he added, after a
pause, " that you will not think it is saying much for my-
self, but do you know that until quite recently I never knew
that this property was anything but a handsome incum-
brance ? "
The Captain indicated his surprise by a comical pursing
up of his face.
" Of course," Sir Stephen continued, " if I had taken the
slightest trouble to find out, I should have seen that the
reason of my receiving next to nothing from Mallett was,
that it was all but drained dry to keep up Pamphillon,
which my uncle left in a terrible state. My mother sold
what property she possessed to raise money. Combe she
could not sell, but in one way and the other the lawyers
contrived to make it contribute pretty freely to the general
fund without its getting the slightest credit."
" Terrible fellows, those lawyers ! " said the Captain.
**Oh\ It was not their fault. I ought to have come
HERO CARTHEW. 1 39
iown here long ago, but somehow I was brought up with a
prejudice against Combe. My mother never could bear to
lear the place named not that, except by hearsay, she
Imew anjrthing of it"
" That's the way," laughed the Captain. " Give a dog
a, bad name, and hang him. However, we won't talk of
what you might have done ; here you are now, and better
late than never."
Sir Stephen did not answer. He could have said, that
having delayed so long, it would have been for his happi-
ness now had he never set foot in the place. Everything
he did and said seemed to connect itself with the bitter
disappointment uppermost in his mind. All the while he
was talking to the Captain he was longing to ask after
Hero, but something made it impossible to mention her
name, without the Captain seeing that he was making an
effort to appear the same as usual. At length he got out
Miss Carthew has stolen a march on us this morning?"
Yes, she is asking her friends for Wednesday. 1 tell
her she must brisk up a bit before then ; she complained of
not feeling well this morning. Betsey says she's not been
well for a week, but I didn't notice it before."
"She complained last night," Sir Stephen said, with a
mingled feeling of pity and exultation. If she had no love
for him, surely she would not take his sorrow so to heart.
" Your cousin, Mrs. Labouchere, is an uncommonly fine
woman," said the Captain.
Yes."
"She must have married very young. What did her
husband die of?"
** Well, I am not quite certain old age, I think."
" Old age ! pack of stuff and nonsense ! don't tell me
that she married an old man. What in Heaven's name
made her do that? "
" Ten thousand a year is the supposed inducement."
" By Jove ! what a sacrifice 1 "
" Oh, I don't know ; she has what she married for. He
left her everything he possessed an estate in Scotland, and
a place near the lakes."
I40 HERO CARTHEW.
^\ say," said die Captain, widi a confidential nod of
head, *' I ^lonld throw in my hat there. By Jove ! afeUov
doesn't often get sach a chance, eh ? "
Sir Stephen laughed at the meaning conveyed. "Sbe
flies ^ too high for me," he said.
The Captain gave a low whistle. "Nothing short rf a
prince of the royal blood, I suppose ? "
" Oh ! I don't mean that I don't think she cares much
for rank ^indeed, I beheve she has refused a title already :
but she has too much money for any poor man that is,
speaking personally. Unless I loved a woman very much,
I could not stand being dependent upon her."
"'Twould be a shame for her to marry a rich man,
though."
** Well, perhaps yes. She must find some one wUling to
be saddled with her benefits."
" I think I could find two or three who'd stand pretty
quiet under the burden," laughed the Captain, " though I
won't answer about kicking over the traces afler. You
know the old proverb, 'Set a beggar on horseback ^
Hulloa ! " he exclaimed, looking up a lane towards a pretty
cottage, "a soldier at Aunt I.ydia's? Then I suppose Mr.
Leo is back again."
But Sir Stephen took no heed of this remark; his
thoughts had gone back to Hero. AVhat was she doing,
feeling, and thinking and was she, like him, sad and
heavy-hearted ?
Could he have read the innermost thoughts of Hero's
heart, it is probable that he would have been satisfied, for
never had the j^oor girl passed such a miserable day. She
had learnt from Aunt Lydia that Leo was expected to ar-
rive during the afternoon, and she sat in nervous anticipa-
tion of their meeting, and of the conversation she intended
having with him. Mr. Joslyn had early taken Alice back
to Winkle, so that Hero was able to enjoy alone the full
misery of her own companionship. She dreaded, yet
longed for Leo's presence ; her heart beat violently with
each sound, and died away when she discovered that her
fears were unfounded. Somelitnes she thought that she
HERO CARTHEW. 141
would go up and see if he had arrived ; then she would
fancy she heard his step ; until five o'clock struck, and she
knew that if he did not soon come^ she had little chance of
seeing him alone. While she was wondering whether he
had been delayed, Betsey came in to lay the cloth for din-
ner, and before these arrangements were completed, Cap-
tain Carthew arrived.
" I wanted Sir Stephen To come in," he said, " but he
wouldn't ; he isn't the thing at all to-day. I could hardly
get a word out of him."
Hero bent her head to avoid her quick color being seen.
" Oh, by the way, has Leo been down ? He's back."
" No, I have not seen him."
" Ah, he'll turn up soon, I dare say," said the Captain,
with the unpleasant conviction that there was no getting
rid of almost the only visitor to whom he could not always
give a cordial welcome.
Hero tried to assume an interest in all her father had
been doing ; he, in his turn, asked if everybody was com-
ing on Wednesday.
" Very nearly. Aunt Lydia won't ; she says she does not
like meeting strangers."
" Who does she call strangers ? "
"Mrs. Prescott and Mrs. Labouchere, I suppose. I
cannot fancy why, but she always seems to speak slightingly
of Sir Stephen, as if she did not like him."
" Like him ! Why, she doesn't know him. Oh ! she's
jealous, poor old body; she fears that he'll take the wind
out of Leo's sails. Ah, it would need a pretty stifif breeze
to do that, in his own opinion."
" Don't say that, papa."
The Captain gave a something between a grunt and a
sigh ; and then, fearing he had wounded his daughter, he
said, "But, my dear, I don't know that I think worse of
the young fellow because he thinks well of himself. I never
met a red-coat yet that I shouldn't have liked to buy at my
pnce and sell at his own. It's a way they've got in the
army." Then turning the conversation, he began telUn;^
Hero the different good points of two boaXs ^e ^tA ^vt
142 HERO CARTHEW.
Stephen had seen, and between which their choice still
halted.
After dinner old Mr. Jamieson and Captain Thomson
dropped in, and finally Leo Despard appeared.
" 1 expected that I should have seen you before this,"
Hero said in a low tone. ** I waited in all the aftemoon."
"I am very sorry, but it was not my fault. I was
obliged to go up to the Forts first. I found everything at
sixes and sevens. During my absence nothing seems to
have been attended to. I expect I shall have to spend a
great deal more time there than I bargained for. It is an
awful nuisance that none of those fellows can be trusted."
This excuse was Leo's first step towards curtailing his
visits to Sharrows ; and so much had it cost him to keep
away, tliat he felt quite aggrieved at being taken to task for
his self-denial. Without either of them uttering a word
which did not sound kind and cordial, each was senble of
a difference, and by mutual consent they studiously avoided
their eyes meeting. Gradually, as Hero became silent,
Leo, with the desire to seem perfectly at his ease, grew
more than usually talkative ; and in answer to the Captain's
questions as to how he had enjoyed his visit, he gave an
animated account of the whole party, how they had spent
their time, and what the place was like.
" I hear that the Combe people have arrived," he said,
turning towards Hero. " What are the ladies like ^have
you see them ? "
" Seen them ! I should think so," answered the Captain.
" Sir Stephen's mother is a very nice woman ^just like him
no nonsense about her ; and as for his cousin
* She*s all my fan cy painted her.
She's lovely, she-e:'s di-virtu,*
I say, Jamieson," he added, addressing his old shipmate,
" do you remember, when we were at Cadiz, in the old
Thetis? Well, she puts me just in mind of that Spanish
girl Tommy Holmes was so nuts upon."
" But Mrs. Labouchere is so fair, papa."
HERO CARTHEW. I43
" Yes, they're different there ; but Jamieson '11 see what
I mean ^just built on the same lines."
" Tommy found out that the old don he took for her
father was her husband," said Mr. Jamieson.
" By jingo ! so he did," exclaimed the Captain ; " and
strange to say, that this one married an old fellow with one
leg in the grave then and both now ; " and he laughed,
heartily pleased at his joke, and the still further similarity
between the two beauties. "Would you believe it, that
woman's worth ;^io,ooo a year ten thousand a year^^ he
repeated. " Sir Stephen was telling me the whole thing this
morning. The old man left her every penny he possessed,
and two estates in the bargain."
" Of course Sir Stephen intends sharing the benefit,"
Leo said, wanting to hear how the land lay there.
** Not he she has too much money for him. He says he
is too poor to be dependent."
"Quixotic creature !" and Leo laughed derisively; "he
has come to that conclusion very lately, then. Some men
at Dunross knew them both, and they gave rather a differ-
ent version of the story."
" 1 don't know what you may have heard," said the Cap-
tain, " but I am sure that whatever Sir Stephen told me was
the truth. I asked him if she was waiting for the Prince of
Wales, and he said no that she had refused several titles,
and he didn't think she cared much for rank."
" Ah ! doubtless that was her reason for refusing the
greatness he sought to thrust upon her," and Leo laughed
more heartily still, as if all this bore upon some excellent
joke which he possessed, but did not intend imparting.
He continued to rattle on with an unusual appearance of
high spirits, hoping to keep down the gnawing caker at
his heart. With his anger rose his love, and though he de-
termined to punish Hero for sitting silent and, as he thought,
sullen, never had she seemed so dear to him ; and in the
midst of the stories he was repeating, and the jokes he was
retailing, he ever and anon found opportunity to assure
himself that he could not give her up, and that it was of
no use trying.
144 HERO CARTHEW.
All this while Hero was wondering what had wrought this
change in his manner, and while her attention was diverted
from the general conversation, a footstep outside made her
heart stand still, the blood rush to her face, and every
sense seem obscured until she heard herself sa3ring, " Mr.
Leo Despard, Sir Stephen Prescott 1 "
CHAPTER XDL
WIDELY OPPOSED.
Sir Stephen excused himself from staying beyond a few
minutes at Sharrows by sapng be had only strolled out to
have a cigar, and that finding himself at the gate, he thought
he would ask Betsey to send Joe Bunce up to him the next
day ; the truth being that from the moment dinner was over
he had done nothing but make and break resolutions.
He would have been ashamed to acknowledge to him-
self how many times he had turned back from Sharrows
gate, trying to keep to his purpose of not seeing Hero that
evening. He had petulantly said that he was behaving
like some lover of eighteen, possessed by a first mad pas-
sion, which submits to everything but common-sense and
self-control, two things which told Sir Stephen it was best
and wisest not to seek another immediate interview. But
what was the strength of these elderly spinster virtues com-
pared with the young giants, who made his eyes hunger, and
his ears thirst, for a sound or a look from her, who suddenly
seemed to have cast out every object in life, and to have
taken sole and undisputed possession of him. He must go
to her, he would ask for a further explanation who was
his rival, what were the circumstances of an engagement,
which hope said was perhaps nothing but a form. He
would tell her that, until he began to try and quench his
love, he had never dreamed of the mastery it had gained
over him ; that with her his happiness must stand or fall ;
and then he would entreat her to be frank with him, and to
tell him everything, and if aught but love of that other
were the obstacle, nothing on earth should keep her from
him. And these thoughts filling his hearty he walked
146 HERO CARTHEW,
swiftly X)n into her presence, and found himself face to face
with Leo Despard. It needed but a glance at Hero to tell
him who this new guest was ; and, after that one look, he
kept his gaze steadily averted from her until he said good-
by ; then the coldness of her hand irresistibly drew his eyes
towards the poor little face, which, the hot color having
died away, looked like a faded flower, white and ashen.
"Leo Despard Despard Despard," and Sir Stephen
repeated the name over and over to himself as he walked
slowly and moodily along. " I have heard that name some-
where before, but I cannot think where," and he stopped,
took his hat off, and stood straining his memory; but it
would not serve him, until, when he had nearly reached
home, and was thinking about something else, it suddenly
flashed across him that it was the name of the late rector
of Mallett. " He was called Despard, of course." He
remembered now that, after his first visit, his mother asked
him whether he had met any one of that name. Perhaps
she meant this young man, and, anxious to hear something
more of him, he turned his loitering pace into a quick walk,
and soon reached home, where he ran up at once to the
drawing-room, hoping to find his mother ; but Mrs. Prescott
had already retired, and he had to wait until her maid had
left her, then he knocked at the door, and asked if she
would admit him.
" Certainly ; come in, my dear. I am only reading."
Sir Stephen sat down opposite to her, and after a few in-
different sentences, he said
" By the way, mother, you once asked me if I had seen
any one called Despard here. Who did you mean ? "
The book in which Mrs. Prescott had been placing a
mark fell out of her hand, and as she stooped down with
unusual alacrity to pick it up, her son just caught sight of
her face.
" What is the matter ? " he asked.
" Matter, my dear ? "
"Yes, you looked as if something had given you pain."
" Oh, my head ; it often does when I stoop."
^Then why do you stoop ? I would have picked it up,"
HERO CARTHEW. I47
and then he looked at her for an answer to the question he
had asked.
" Oh, yes, the Despards. Well, Mr. Despard was an
old friend of your uncle's, and I gave him the living of
Mallett."
" Had he sons ? "
"I don't know, I know nothing of theni, except that,
because he was your uncle's friend I gave him the living."
" But he has been dead for some years. He died when
I was in Canada. I recollect it because I was so vexed to
think that the living had not been given to Carr."
" It was much better to give it to the man who has it,"
said Mrs. Prescott decidedly.
" Well yes, according to your showing, it seemed, after
he had done the duty with that prospect for so long, to be
almost his right. Then who were these Despards you
asked if I had met ? "
" My dear Stephen, don't I tell you I know nothing of
them ? What makes you ask ? "
" Simply because at Captain Carthew*s I was introduced
to a fine-looking, soldierly young man, called Despard ;
and, remembering that when I returned from Mallett you
asked me if I had met any one so named, I considered you
would probably know who he is. You could not have sup-
posed I had seen anything of an old man, who, you knew,
had been dead for years; therefore, when you made the
inquiry you had certainly some one in your mind."
" Some one in my mind ! " repeated Mrs. Prescott.
" Really, Stephen, I think it rather hard for me to be
questioned and taken to task as if I was a child. I tell
you," she continued, speaking with unnecessary emphasis,
" that I know nothing of these people. How should I,
pray ? "
" I don't know ; but surely, mother, there can be no
possible reason why I, premising this young man to be the
son of the late rector of Mallett, should not ask you if you
can tell me whether such is the case. Really you appear
to take it quite as an offence that you should be thought
to know anything of the place, or the peo^\e.^^
148 HERO CARTHEW.
Sir Stephen was not in a pleasant humor, and was ready
to take umbrage at a thing he would, at another time, have
passed over as his mother's odd way of taking things.
" Don't let us misunderstand each other, my dear," Mrs.
Prescott said soothingly. " You know that I never intend
to vex you."
" Perhaps not ; but you have done so since we came
here," and, bent upon relieving his feelings, he added,
" Last evening I thought you anything but cordial to Miss
Carthew, although I had told you how very kind they were
to me."
Mrs. Prescott hesitated ; what should she do ? Tell her
son her suspicions ? No ; for if he meant nothing serious
by his attentions she might be putting it into his head ; so
she said :
"Well, Stephen, to be candid with you, I was disap-
pointed in Miss Carthew. In the first place, I expected
to have found her far prettier than she is-; and secondly, I
had pictured a simple, timid, artless girl an ingenue va fact"
" Well ! "
" Well, my dear, I found a young lady quite able to hold
her own and give her opinion, and not at all backward in
doing so either."
" Why should she be ? "
" Oh, I have nothing to say against her, only your taste
was so utterly opposed to anything like hoydenism or fast-
ness."
" So it is now, and there is not a trace of either in Miss
Carthew. She is perfectly natural, simple, and unaffected,
exactly what a woman ought to be."
" Indeed ! I am rather old to have opinions thrust upon
me in this way, Stephen. I should have considered, and,
in spite of what you may think, I still do consider, myself
quite equal to forming a correct opinion of my own sex, and
I say that if )'ou met Miss Carthew in any drawing-room
she would be described as uneducated, inclined to be loud,
and not in good style."
" Then the description would be utterly false."
^Ah, people see differently."
f(
HERO CARTHEW.
149
" They do indeed, but I am very sorry that you and I
should find ourselves so widely opposed."
Mrs. Prescott saw that she had let her temper outrun her
discretion. Altering the tone of her voice, she said :
" Surely, Stephen, I can speak to you as I speak to my-
self. You know me too well to suppose that I am going
to make myself rude or disagreeable to any friends of yours,
for I suppose you and this young lady are only friends ? "
and she looked fixedly at her son.
Sir Stephen gave an off-hand kind of "Certainly," over
which his mother rejoiced greatly, feeling confident that if
he had any intention of making Hero his wife, he would
not have treated the question in that way. She was soft-
ened at once, and going up to him she put her arms round
him, saying :
" Let us have no more discussions of this kind. Per-
haps I have been a little severe, and said more than 1
meant, but I will make amends for it, and you shall not
again have cause to complain of my coldness towards Miss
Carthew. Come, Stephen, you must not be vexed, I
always tell you that you have to make the best of a foolish
old mother."
But though Sir Stephen put his arm round her, he did
not entirely relax, as was his wont under these circumstances.
*' You look so pale, dear; what is the matter? " and she
looked up at him with nervous anxiety.
" I told you something in my dinner, or the wine disa-
greed with me. I am bilious, I suppose. I have not been
able to touch anything to-day."
" Is that ain "
" All I and enough, surely. I do not know when I have
felt so thoroughly out of sorts."
" You had best take a dose, /can give you ^"
" Nothing, thank you. A dose of sleep will be my rem-
edy, so good-night."
"Good-night, dear. You are quite sure nothing has
worried you ? "
" Quite. What could I have to worry me here ? "
"Ah, my dear, don't think Pamphillon is the ouly ^lace
I50 HERO CARTHEW.
with troubles and anxieties attached to it. Annoyances
will find you out here as well as there."
Sir Stephen only repeated his goodrnight, walked ofiF to
his own room, about which he moved for some time, trying
to master himself, and think of anything rather than the
heavy burden which was lying close to his heart. Suddenly
he flung himself into a chair, and resting his arms on the
table, he buried his face in them, and sat there for a long
time immovable. When at length he raised his head he
was paler than before.
"It's the old story over again," he said. " I didn't think
I should have taken it like this. I'm a greater fool than
ever."
Somehow, the sight of Leo seemed to have crushed all
the hopes he had before been entertaining. The first
glance at his handsome face and soldier-like bearing filled
him with the dreary certainty that such a man was safe to
call forth love. He had pictured a young fellow similar to
those whom he had lately been introduced to ; but here
was a rival of quite another kind. Then he began specu-
lating how long this attachment had lasted. If he was the
rector's son, most likely they had known each other from
childhood, and he sighed hopelessly, feeling it would be
utterly vain to cherish any illusions about setting aside the
claims of such a suitor as Leo. Hero would naturally care
for a good-looking pleasant young fellow like him; and he^
particularly if he had seen much of the world, how he must
vahie her worship her. Hero's fresh, unaflfected gayety
gave her a peculiar charm in Sir Stephen's eyes, a charm
which, unknown to himself, he admired now far more than
if he had been ten years younger. His spirits seemed to
rise to the level of hers, his heart grew light in the sunshine
of her joyousness she seemed able to infuse into him that
youth which his great disappointment had prematurely
quenched. He saw that she was neither so clever, nor so
beautifi^l, as many of the women he constantly met ; but
all she said and did seemed to find an echo within him,
and was thus invested with an interest, which daily grew
more and more necessary to his happiness.
HERO CARTffEiV. 1 5 1
That same night, after leaving Hero, Leo on his part
underwent a tolerably sharp struggle with, in his case, that
most formidable of all opponents, his own inclination.
This pronipted him to go the next day, and upbraid
Hero with her coldness and ill-temper. But if he did this,
there would be an end to all his plans and schemes ; for, of
course, after a quarrel would come the making up, and he
would have to be more lover-like than ever. And then
that fatal tempter, the temporizing spirit, stepped in, and
whispered a suggestion that he should defer all this until
Wednesday, when, having met Mrs. Labouchere, he would
be in a better position to judge how he should act. He
might see that he had not the ghost of a chance, and then
the matter would be settled, and he could, indulge in quar-
relling with and forgiving Hero to his heart's content. But
suppose that chances seemed favorable^ what then ?
" I don't know that I could give her up," he sighed ; and
after a pause, he added, " If I only thought of myself, 1
should let things stand as they are ; but a niaa of honor is
bound to think of the woman who loves him. Who knows.
Sir Stephen might take a fancy to her,, though.. I would not
give much for his chance ? His title and fortune would be
nothing in Hero's eyes. Poor darling! she has seen too
little of the world for that, and it is this, makes it so difficult
for me. Ten to one if she would believe I was sacrificing
anything for her good.**
His reflections finally ended in the decision to go to
Dockmouth on the morrow, and so try for the present to
avoid a tete-h-tUe,
The next morning, therefore. Hero received a note from
Leo, saying that he was going to Dockmouth on duty. He
was obliged to start at once, and if Hero had any commis-
sions for him, would she give them to the orderly, who
would meet him on the Hard ?
Hero experienced a momentary feeling of relief, that the
explanation, which was to end in a general announcement
of their engagement, must be deferred for another day.
Still, come it would, and the sooner it was over the better.
Poor Hero ! it is hard to brood over sotXQ^ ^^^s\.tc^&t
152
HERO CARTHEW.
ing it away one moment to hug it closer the next to bat-
tle with it to sink under it but each is easier than when,
with these very feelings combating for mastery, one stands,
as it were, apart from self, and refuses to recognize the
cause for stniggle. The most bitter tears are sweet, com-
pared with the efforts made to bring the smiles and mask
the woe.
Happily for the avoidance of scrutiny, Betsey was up to
her eyes in the business of preparation, and well pleased to
find, that Hero was so wilHng to lend her a helping hand
in the various delicacies, which she was bent upon setting
forth before the Combe ladies. To Hero's suggestion, that
it might be advisable to get a few additions to the table
from the pastry-cook's at Dockmouth, Betsey would not
listen.
" Lor', don't 'ee let's have no cotch," she said ; " they
have enuf o' that sort o* trade up to London. When they
gets a chance o' wholesome vittals, why, do 'ee let 'em
have their fill o' it, poor souls."
" I hope it will keep fine," Hero said, looking anxiously
at the sky ; " I don't mind for the others, but it would be
dreadful to have it wet with Mrs. Prescott and Mrs. Labou-
chere here."
** Why, they b'aint salt nor sugar, to melt under a drop
o' rain, any more than other folks."
" No ; only Mrs. Prescott seems so afraid of damp, and
the gravel here gets so wet if it rains."
"Suppose it do; the place 'aint a church nor chapel
neither, where you'm made to lave your pattens outside.
Nonsense, my dear, nobody can't fly in the face o' Provi-
dence ; and the whole blessed day that old bull o' Jack-
man's has bin a helving and the donkeys a hootin', and
sooner or later they allays brings the rain."
CHAPTER XX.
AT MALLETT.
Betsey's unlucky auguries were doomed in this instance
to be falsified, for never did a more lovely day dawn than
the auspicious Wednesday which was to make the gentry
of Mallett acquainted with their new neighbors. The
pleasure at the fineness of the weather was but natural.
Hero had said, " If we can only be out, I hope all who
can will come ; for if we can entertain Mrs. Prescott and
Mrs. Labouchere, we are sure to be able to amuse our-
selves."
Of this no one had any doubt, and armed with this cer-
tainty, the guests began to arrive, and were received by
Hero, whose smiling face betrayed nothing of her heavy
heart ; its heaviness, for the time, considerably lightened
by the unusual excitement, which made her eyes sparkle,
and her color brighter than usual. She looked very pretty,
standing in her fresh muslin dress, with a background of
the thick fuchsias, hydrangeas, and dark-leaved myrtles, with
which the front of the house was adorned.
The Combe party had not yet made their appearance,
and, in consequence, the other guests, instead of wandering
ofl^ remained grouped near, that they might be duly pre-
sented. Each approaching footstep down the gravel walk
caused a little stir, but at length the sound of wheels was
heard the sound suddenly stopped, all doubt was at an
end,. they were coming* A silence fell upon those around,
and in a few minutes their anxiety was relieved by seeing
Sir Stephen, with his mother on his arm, and his cousin
at her side. Then a soft buzz went round, the unmistakable
meaning of which caused Mrs. Prescott' s face to flush,
and a pleased expression to come mto Vvex e^e^\ ^xA
154 HERO CARTHEW.
remembering her promise to her son, she returned Hero's
greeting so warmly, and the Captain's so cordially, that
any lurking distrust as to whether they should like her
died out, and the admiration was universal. Mrs. Prescott
confessed afterwards that Miss Carthew showed to great
advantage in her own house; and certainly Hero was
possessed of that true basis of good breeding, the desire
to forget everything but the comfort and amusement of
those she had gathered around her. Aided by Sir Stephen,
she so dexterously managed to introduce Mrs^ Prescott to
most of the people present, that instead of being fatigued or
bored, as the good lady had prognosticated, she was quite
amused and in good spirits. In truth, she found it rather
pleasant to be the centre of so much homage, springing,
as it evidently did, from admiration of everything whidi
belonged to Sir Stephen. Mrs. Labouchere inspired far
more awe, and, do all she could. Hero found it impossible to
get any one to talk to her freely and unconstrainedly. Her
stately beauty and magnificence completely overwhelmed the
youth of Mallett ; and Leo, upon whom Hero had placed
her greatest dependence, had not yet arrived. Egged on
by Hero, Jervis Randal had plucked up courage enough
to ask, would Mrs. Labouchere like a little scramble over
the rocks? But Mrs. Labouchere, with her sweetest smile,
had said she thought not, it was so very pleasant sitting where
she was ; and then, as he stood near, wondering what he
had best say next, she begged he would not allow her to
detain him, as she found sufficient amusement in watching
the others. Whereupon Norman bounded off like a
cricket-ball, and as suddenly stopped to consider whether
he had done the right thing. Perhaps he had best go
back, and offer some other attention ; but while he debated
in what form this should be, he caught sight of Leo
Despard coming down the path, and with a feeling of
relief, that the question of who should entertain Mrs.
Labouchere was not decided, he hastened on to join Alice,
who had until now discreetly attached herself to a party of
four. The Captain was attending to some of the indoor
arrangements, Sir Stephen had gone to get Miss Batt
HERO CARTHEW.
I5S
some tea; so that, beside the group surrounding Mrs.
Prescott, there was only Mrs. Labouchere sitting a little
apart with Hero, who was trying to interest her by pointing
out the different headlands.
" Here is another friend," Hero said, as an excuse for
leaving her ; and she walked towards the gate, and, after
listening to I^eo's apologies for being unavoidably so
much later than he intended, she took him up, and said,
** Mrs. Prescott, will you allow me to introduce Mr. Des-
pard to you ? "
Mrs. Prescott bent in acknowledgment. Leo mur-
mured something about the great pleasure it gave him, and
the next minute Mrs. Grant was saying in a whisper,
" Our late rector's adopted son really his nephew."
" His nephew ! " echoed Mrs. Prescott, with a cough,
which brought Mr. Jamieson stumping up to inquire if he
should bring a glass of water.
" Oh dear, no nothing but a tickling ; " and she
looked at Mrs. Grant for her answer.
" Well, there's some little mystery about him ; and
old Miss Despard (the rector's sister, only she wasn't well
enough to come to-day) never likes to speak of the matter.
I fancy he was the son of some one who was not a credit
to the family."
"It is not known, then, who his father was?" Mrs.
Prescott said, looking towards Leo, now standing in front
of Katherine.
" Well, not positively. I believe it was a brother, but
the old gentleman never alluded to the mother;" and
a significant shake of the head conveyed Mrs. Grant's sus-
picions.
" He is a fine-looking young man."
" Very." And here Hero's approach caused the tete-b^
tete to cease.
" I hope," she said, " that Mr. Despard will persuade
Mrs. Labouchere to have a stroll. I left him assuring her
that the paths are perfectly easy, and he trustworthy."
'* Ah ! he won't tempt her."
" I don't know ; see, she is getting up."
156 HERO CARTHEW,
" So she is ! Why, Katie dear, you are never going to
venture on the Sands ? "
"I am just going a little way, aunt," and Mrs. La-
bouchere began laughing.
" What are you laughing at, dear ? " asked Mrs. Prescott,
who felt as if a sudden weight had been lifted off her, and
that she could join in any one's mirth.
" Mr. Despard is offering to carry me over the rough
places. I tell him he volunteers for rather a heavy burden."
Leo of course protested against this assertion, and slowly
the two began to descend.
" Now, you must not be in a hurry," he said, as, gaining
confidence, she grew more independent. " Stay one mo-
ment, or," he added, as he freed her light dress from a sharp
angle, " your dress will suffer, and I should not easily for-
give myself"
" I ought to have worn something thicker," she said ; " I
see that this one is not quite appropriate."
" I only see that it is very charming," Leo answered,
" and that the young ladies ought to be very much obliged
to you."
" Why ? "
" Because it may improve their taste a little. It is high
treason, you know, here, to say one word against Mallett
or Mallett people ; but did you ever see such a gathering
in your lifetime ? " and he pointed to the various groups be-
low.
Mrs. Labouchere could not refrain from laughter. Cer-
tainly they were not exactly the everyday guests she was
in the habit of meeting ; added to which, she was somewhat
weary of listening to the praises of everything and every-
body connected with Mallett with which Sir Stephen had
rather overdosed her. To Katherine's disappointment, the
sudden accession of intimacy between them, on the day
when Captain Carthew dined at Combe, had not been fol-
lowed by any other result than the most cousinly inter-
course ; and she did not find herself in a humor to take
quite such a rose-colored view of Mallett as she had then
done.
HERO CARTHEIV. 1 57
" You do not live here, I suppose ? " she asked.
"Thank Heaven! no. I had a dear old uncle, who
was rector of the place, and brought rae up; so that I
spent my boyhood here, and now I am superintending the
buildings of those forts close to Combe. I don't know if
you have noticed them."
" Yes, we have driven past them every day ; but I have
not seen you there."
" No, I have only just come back from Dunross. I have
been shooting there with Lord Skipwith.**"
"You must find it very dull here," Mrs. Labouchere
said, after a pause- " How do you get through your time ? "
Well, really I can hardly tell you."
Perhaps you admire Miss Carthew. My cousin says
she is very attractive. I suppose that is when you know
her. Do you think her pretty ? "
Leo hesitated for an instant.
" Yes," he said, " I do think her pretty ; but she wants
style."
" That is just what my aunt and I said ; but my cousin
insisted that she had a style of her own which she cer-
tainly has." And the tone in which she said this put a stop
to any praise Leo had thought of bestowing.
" Sir Stephen Prescott seems an enthusiastic admirer of
Miss Carthew," Leo said, laughing to recover his slight con-
fusion.
" I do not know that he is quite that ; but he thinks her
simple and unaffected."
" Indeed ! "
"Why, don't you?"
And Katherine looked up rather sharply as she asked
the question.
" I ? Well, really, I never considered the question
perhaps because I care very little for nature unadorned."
Leo felt that he was sinking deeper with every word ;
but, in conversation the pathway of small deceits had be-
come so familiar to him that he slided down it without much
self-reproach, and any slight sting he now felt arose solely
from Hero's dose proximity. He tried to dra.vj "^x^. \a-
158 HERO CARTHEW.
bouchere from the subject, by asking her if she knew vari-
ous people, to whom he had lately been introduced ; but,
after answering his questions, Katherine returned to the
subject which she had at heart the determination to find
out all she could about Hero.
" Miss Carthew is by far the prettiest girl I have seen
here," she said. " I suppose she has a great many ad-
mirers ? "
" There are very few men here to admire her," said Leo.
" Is she engaged to anybody ? "
" Really, you must not ask me," he answered laughing.
" I have not been taken into her confidence."
" But in a place like this, where everybody knows every-
body else's business, you would be sure to hear whether she
is or not ? "
" No, I have never heard it spoken of."
" Then we may conclude that it is not the case."
" Yes, I think we may. Sir Stephen may safely continue
his eulogiums on her simplicity."
In spite of himself, Leo said this with a sneer a sneer
which made Katherine give a little laugh as she said,
" I fear I have aroused your jealousy, Mr. Despard."
" My jealousy, Mrs. Labouchere ! how ? What makes
you say that?" And he felt his face was betraying his
vexation.
" Unless casual remarks give pain or pleasure, they are
seldom remembered. But you need not try and defend
yourself," she added playfully, " for I could excuse the
falling in love with one's own shadow here. That is the
mischief of these places ; they dispose one towards senti-
ment, and afford no eligible object on which to bestow it.
That, of course, does not apply to Miss Carthew."
Leo made a poor attempt at seeming to be amused.
" I see you are bent upon teazing," he said. " Well, as
long as it amuses you it amuses me."
" Thanks," said Katherine, with a smile at the hit she
had unsuspectingly made, for in her own mind she felt con-
vj'nced, that unless she had gone pretty near the truth,
Leo would not have been so anxVoM^ Xo ^.^^\v\^\ve.\ ^Cw^x^^a
HERO CARTHEW.
1 59
was mistaken. She was not nearly so easy as she had been
about Sir Stephen. His manner of speaking about Hero
did not please her, and she saw that during his former stay
he had evidently made himself very much at home. In
another man this might stand for little ; but in Stephen it
meant a great deal, as, unless he cared very much for
people, he never broke through a certain air of reserve, which
had hitherto been a barrier to his forming quick friend-
ships.
" My cousin seems to have made a very favorable im-
pression here," Mrs. Labouchere said after she and Leo had
been chatting on various subjects.
" Yes, I found him the universal topic of conversation.
I dare say he pays rather heavily for his popularity. These
sort of people must bore him terribly."
" Oh dear no ! On the contrary, he admires them im-
mensely, and threatens to settle here altogether."
" But I thought he had another place much larger
Pamphillon ? "
" So he has, but he does not care for it. He says he
much prefers his tenantry here, they suit his tastes better."
" Ah ! more simple and unaffected."
Mrs. Labouchere nodded her head.
" I see you cannot forget or forgive that," she said. " I
must warn my cousin that he has a rival."
" He has a great many, I fear."
And Leo directed a look towards her which made her
say :
" What do you mean ? "
" Nothing only a little bird at Dunross whispered all
manners of secrets about a certain cruel lady who said No
to a certain poor gentleman, who let concealment "
" You are speaking enigmas," Katherine said coldly.
Though she did not intend Leo to see it, she was
none the less pleased, that Sir Stephen should still be
thought a disappointed lover ; and, as the reward of im-
parting pleasant news is a certain connection with the
pleasure, Mrs. I^abouchere said, with a favoiaJcAft dis^QR\
^on towards Leo :
w
l6o ffEXO CARTffEW.
I think it is lime for us to return to the house. 1 have
quite enjoyed our quiet stroll."
And when they reached the lop, Katherine, after saying
a few words to Mrs. Prescott, asked :
" Has Mr. Despard been introduced to you, aunt ? "
" Yes, Miss Carthew kindly made us known to each
other by name," Mrs. Prescott answered ; and then, know-
ing what was expected by this question, she added, "I
hope Mr, Despard will alloTv me an opportunity of extend-
ing our acquaintanceship. My son will be very pleased to
see you at Combe. Stephen," she called, as she caught
sight of Sir Stephen hovering about in Hero's vicinity, "I
have been telling Mr. Despard that we shall be very
pleased to see hiiii."
"1 hope that Mr. Despard will avail himself of your in-
vitation, mother. Miss Carthew has promised to come lo-
motrow," he added, slightly lowering lus voice. " Periiaps
you will come with her."
Leo did not remove his eyes from Mrs. Prescott, but he
wondered greatly whether Hero had betrayed him. He
repeated his thanks for their kindness, and said, that if he
could be of any use to Miss Carthew, and if she would
accept him as an escort, he was at her service ; and then,
finding that Mrs. Labouchere wished to sit near her aunt,
he found her a. chair, and left Sir Stephen free to wander
off to his unsatisfactory occupation of dogging Hero's steps,
and lianging about any place she was nearest to.
" You'm looking at Miss Hero, Sir Stephen," said
Betsey, who had come up from behind him unobserved;
" and no wonder, neither. I dessay you'll doubt whether
I speaks the truth, when I says that not a bite nor sup
hasn'l passed her lips the whole o' this blessed day, and aa
for sittiog still a moment, you might so well ask it from
anybody with the St. Vilus'a dance. Her'U be laid up,
that'll be the end o' it ; I told the Cap'ea so lo-day. But
lor* 1 men never sees noihin' till it comes to pass, and then
its, ' Who'd a thought it?' Do 'ee think that you could
tempt her, sir, with anythink i"' she added, after a mioute^f
pause; "'tis o' no use my spcakirf."
HERO C4RTHEW. l6l
" m try, Betsey."
" If her'd only take a drink o' tea 'twould be somethin'
in her inside," Betsey said lugubriously ; and so urged, Sir
Stephen went over to where Hero stood talking to Mrs.
Jamieson.
" Mbs Carthew," he said, " will you grant me a favor ? "
If I can I will."
" Then drink a cup of tea which Betsey has for you in
the next room."
" Yes, do, my dear," said Mrs. Jamieson. " Go now, like
a good girL I know what it is when one has friends self
is the last one attended to ; and as my dear old father used
to say, Sir Stephen, ' An empty sack can't stand.' He had
been' brought up in the country, and he never forgot his
early days. Dear me ! I often think of his funny sayings.
" I will leave you to take my place then," said Hero.
" Oh, no ! I must see that you fulfil your promise.
Mrs. Jamieson will excuse me, I am sure."*
" My dear, don't you stop here on my account. You go
with Hero, and see she takes something to eat with her
tea or else," she added, with a significant nod, "we
shall think a certain gentleman has taken away her appe-
tite."
" I recognize who Mr. Despard is. Hero," Sir Stephen
said as they moved away. " You can never guess how all
my hopes vanished at sight of him. Ah ! he little thinks
how I envy him."
" Now, whoever have you got call to env}% Sir Stephen ? "
exclaimed Betsey, whose quick ears had caught Sir Ste-
I^en's last remark.
" I was envying Mr. Despard, Betsey," he answered, tak-
ing the tea from her to give to Hero, who had sunk down
wearily on a chair near.
"Then you needn't for to, I'm sure. As I often say^,
'tis a thousand pities folks can't be turned inside out, then
they'd be know'd at their proper valley. Not that I want
to say anythink agin Mr. Despard ^far fron^ it,'^ she added,
glancing down at Hero ; " for I've know'd un since he was
a boy, and he comes nat'ral to me. But Yvaxi^^icvt^ v^ ^z^^
l62 HERO CARTHBW.
handsome does, Sir Stephen, and Brag's a very good dog,
as the sayin' is, but Holdfast's a better."
Here the conversation was interrupted by the appear-
ance of Leo himself, who came to say that " Mrs. Frescott
thought it would not be prudent to stay longer ; and," he
continued, " as I have to go up to the Forts, Mrs. Frescott
has very kindly oKered to take me through the park. I am
sure you will be glad to be quiet," he said, bending over
Hero's chair. "You are looking more tired than I ever
saw you. Promise me to take some rest."
But Sir Stephen could not endure to listen to anothet
word. The under inflection of Leo's voice seemed like
pouring oil on the fire of his jealousy, and he walked
quickly away.
" My poor darling," Leo began, seeing they were out of
hearing ; but Hero checked whatever sympathy he intended
to offer by saying, as she looked at him with a face pale and
resolute,
" Leo, I want to speak to you, very particularly ; I have
not had an opportunity before, but to-night you will be disen-
gaged. Come here after you have left the Fort, and I will
walk down to the beach with you."
" Certainly ; but I may be rather late."
** Never mind if you are ; I shall wait for you."
"Very well."
And so they parted, Leo filled with conjecture not un-
mixed with dread, lest it should be to say she wished to
give him up. Forgetting all his own resolves, and recently
planned schemes, he tried to reassure himself by saying,
" It cannot be tJmt impossible ! Hero is not the girl
to break a man's heart, and she knows how I love her."
When the carriage reached the gate at which I^eo was to
descend, Sir Stephen got down also, saying he would walk
up to the Forts with him.
" Will you be detained here long ? " he asked.
" No, I shall not be ten minutes."
" Then if you are going home, I will walk back with you.
I want a cigar."
Leo hesitated.
HERO CARTHEJV, 163
** Well," he said, " I am not going straight home. Some
of those dissipated people at Sharrows made me promise
to make one of a moonlight party for the Sands."
" In that case, good-night."
' " Good night," Leo said. " I am sorry that we cannot
have a stroll together. I feel much more inclined for that,
and to go quietly off to bed, than anything else ; but I
could not well refuse."
** Oh, of course not ; " and Sir Stephen had hard work
to get his voice to sound as it had sounded before, " then
I shall walk back at once."
Instead of which, an hour later found him within sight of
Sharrows, and there he remained until two figures slowly
descended towards the Sands below. He watched them
imtil they were out of sight, and then turned away with a
gloomy face and heavy heart ; for the two were Hero and
Leo Despard, and they were alone.
CHAPTER XXI.
HIDDEN MOTIVES.
With the exception of a few of the Captain's i
cronies, all the guests had taken their leave, and Hero had'
already gone outside the house to wait for Leo's arrival.
The wind, which had considerably freshened since the
moon had risen, caused the flying scud every now and then
to obscure the light of the lover's lamp. The air felt chilly
and cold, yet Hero was glad to take off her hat, and let
the breeze play about her head. Her impatience to have
this conversation over increased the hot fever wliich had
all day oppressed her. She thought that after she had
spoken to Leo she should feel more at ease, and she clung
to the hope that in some way he would help her.
At a sound of footsteps she rose, walked to the gale, and
listened ; it was Leo, and they turned at once down the
same pathway by which he had lately led Mrs. Labouchere.
They soon reached a grassy ledge planted with shrubs,
which formed a screen behind, while a projection sheltered
it from view in front.
"We will stop here," Hero said, leaning against the
roclc, so as to bring herself face to face with Leo.
"And now what have yo-u to say to me?" he asked, try-
ing to hide his nervousness under a smiling demeanor.
For a moment Hero did not answer; she was trying to
gather up her courage, and swallow down the great lump
which threatened to dissolv-e into an outburst of passionate
tears. She longed, but feared, to obey her natural instinct,
which said, "Tell him all ; say that your love has been
templed, but only to show how greatly it stands in need of
biia lo cling to." Had Leo's love been stanch and hon-
es^ he would have had no cause (oi d\.s\.tust, fat out of the
HERO CARTHEW. 165
truthfulness of her nature came these promptings, and
from the moment her confession reached his ear any rival
would have ceased to exist
"Hero, darling, what is the matter?" for Leo could
not withstand the troubled beauty of the sweet face before
him.
If Hero had known every art of bewitchment she could
not have looked more dangerously lovely than her grief had
this night made her. The slightly-swollen Kds, and the
dark circles round her eyes ; her cheeks white as her low
forehead, round which the breeze was tossing the little dark
rings of stray hair, the drooping curves of the sad mouth,
die quivering lips, told without words the workings of her
sorrowful heart
" Hero ! " and this time the answer came ; not prefaced
as she intended, for Leo's tender looks and tone stirred up
something within her which made her feel secure and cer-
tain of herself. She knew that when, as Leo's future wife,
she took her place by his side, openly and before the whole
world, nothing would make her swerve again ; and acting
upon this she raised her tearful, trusting eyes, and said
" I want you to make our engagement public, Leo ; let
every one know about it"
Leo gave an involuntary start of amazement. This re-
quest was the last one he had expected her to make.
Since she had told him that she wanted this conversation
with him, a dozen conjectures had entered his mind ; some
of them (such as a suspicion that she intended giving him
up for Sir Stephen) making him feel angry and bitter, but
that she only wanted to say this about the engagement was
what he never once dreamed of. Was she jealous of Mrs.
Labouchere ? and so determined to settle these misgivings
at once ! I^o's nature was not a generous one, and cer-
tainly one not given to judge others more highly than him-
self; and these thoughts, clashing as they did with his re-
cent plans, considerably damped the present ardor of his
love, and his voice sounded quite differently as he asked
'* Why, Hero, what is your reason for saying this now ? "
" Becmise J feci that people ought to knoN? \t.'^
ri66 nSRO CARTREW.
^^H "I think there are very few people in Mallett but do
^^H know I love you, Hero."
^^P . "Yes, and because of that before it did not matter,
^^E but now when strangers to us iiave come here, it would
^^^L be better to have it ]jroperly understood, I wish it to be
^^^B EO, and you have no objection, have you?" and she looked
^^^earnestly at him, and then drew back a step.
^^^P "Objection I what objection could I have? only, upon
^^ my word, I do not know quite what there is to say. It
seems rather awkward to go up to Mrs. Prescott and Sir
Stephen I suppose it is to them you allude for the pur-
pose uf telling them that I am in love with you, and that
some day God knows when I we hope to get married.
You judge these people," he added, seeing the changed
expression in her face, "by your own warm heart, Hero ;
whereas, among that class, they care nothing about what
you or I are going to do. The amusement of the hour is
all they want from us ; not to be bored with our hopes and
plans. Ah, my darling ! I know them, and have suffered
from them too. Fellows often say, 'Despard knows such
a heap of swells ; he's sure to get his promotion.' So
I thought once," and Leo sighed hojielessly ; " but though
they are glad enough to laugh and be entertained, just
attempt to Iiint at a favor from them, and see how the/11
soon choke you off."
" I don't think you would find the Prescotts are of that
class, Leo."
I.eo shook his head.
"You do not know the world, dear. If I were to go to
Combe to-morrow, and say, 'Miss Carthew has iiromised
to many me as soon as I get my captaincy,' the first thing
that would occur to Sir Stephen would be, 'This fellow
wants me to use my interest for him,' and there'd be a
change in his manner at once."
Hero did not answer, I,eo's words and tone jarred Upon
her, A vague feeling of distrust came into her mind, and
with it a shadow of resentment against him. She stood
inth her eyes fixed upon Uie ground, unconscious of [be .
look of mingled love, pa\n, and YiMimUa-tian which her cm^h
HERO CARTHEW. 167
panion had turned upon her as he told himself it was best
not to put the question beyond doubt, and proclaim the
toils in which his love still bound him. Every feeling
pleaded on the side of her who had never before seemed
so necessary to his happiness.
" Oh, Hero ! " he exclaimed, allowing his tongue this
time to give utterance to his thoughts, " how a man like
Sir Stephen is to be envied ! What wonder if a poor beg-
gar like myself is miserable and discontented ? He can
do what he likes ; can have what he likes ; can marry when
and whom he pleases. I'd freely give the best half of my
life to exchange places with him at this moment."
"You might not find the position so very enviable,**
Hero could not help saying.
"Pshaw 1 " and Leo gave a contemptuous movement of
disbelief. " You will put faith in the bosh he tells you."
Jealousy was successfully drifting him away from love now.
" You really seem always to have more pity for him than you
have for me."
" I do not see anything to particularly pity you for."
" You don't ? Then I'll tell you. While you have been
light-hearted and happy here, 1 have been scheming and
striving to see how it was possible for me to get my Step,
or whether, by any means, 1 could scrape together the pur-
chase-money who would help me ; whose interest I could
get until what with dwelling morning, noon, and night on
the one thing ; trying to secure this one's favor, and the
other's patronage ; full of hope one day, to be cast into the
depths the next my brain has been pretty nearly distracted.
Not see anything to pity me for ! If that is not enough,
I'll tell you something more. Hero, and it is this that look-
the whole thing fairly in the face, I see no possible chance
of being promoted for ten years to come ; and instead
of going to Combe, and saying that * Miss Carthew has
promised to wait for me,' the only honorable thing left for
me to do is not to breathe a word about the matter, so that
at any time you may release yourself from a promise which
I ought never to have drawn from you. I always said and
knew it was wrong to fetter a girl, mote es^ec^sl^'^ o^^^^^
ffESO CARTSEW. ^^B
Ib safe to have the opportunities you have ; but love nii^^H
!o cowardly, and I was so full of hope that some-
3uld surely turn up " He paused for Hero to
Ipeak, but finding she remained silent, he went on " Alt
i thai is over now. It is folly trying to deceive myself any
longer, and worse than folly, it is dishonorable to deceive
you."
" I am not deceived," Hero said coldly ; " I quite un-
derstand you. Before, you wished for the engagement ;
now, from something which, has happened, you wish for it
" Hero ! do I hear aright^ can you be saying these words
to me?" and Leo turned towards her.
Hero clasped her hands in distress. Was she wronging
him ? Something within her said he was deceiving her.
Could he be doing so, or was it the knowledge of all she
had lost by his tardy avowal which was making her bitter or
suspicious ? Yes, perhaps that was it, and laying her hand
on his aim, she said
" Leo, if I wrong you, forgive me. I have no wish to
believe my suspicions are true ; only be frank with me, and
if you have any reason for this this determination, tell me
what it is."
" 1 have told you my reasons," he answered, without lift-
ing up his head ; "and if I had not by my original selfish-
ness given you cause to suspect my honor, you would never
have thrown such an accusation at me,"
"There was nothing dishonorable in what you did, Leo.
You used no persuasions, nor did you need diem. I was
as willing to wait as you were. From the first you told me
you had an objection to a formal engagement 1 never saw
any, and that is the only mistake we made ; it should have
been open, or not at all."
" And that is all I have said and all I have to say. I am
not in a position .to be engaged no man is until he sees a
prospect of marriage ; therefore 1 have no right to bind you."
Then, after a pause, he added pleadingly, " But why need
things be altered. Hero ? We have always been happy ,
^y aot continue so ? AU 1 -wanl lo feel certain about^*|^
HERO CARTHEW. 1 69
this, that I am not a drawback to you in any way not
standing in your light, darling. Many who have loved as
dearly as we two love, have been separated by circum-
stances which they had not foreseen; and I cannot tell
what may happen. For instance, somebody in a better
position or better off might make an offer to you, and I
don't know whether it would not be right that you should ac-
cept, or at least that I should counsel you to accept, what
would be for your advantage." Then catching sight of her
fisice, he broke out, " Hero, how hard and cold you are !
bent upon misunderstanding me, feeling nothing but resent-
ment in return for the sacrifice I am striving to make. Most
women would take it as a proof of love, that a man offers to
give up his dearest hopes rather than be a dead weight round
her prospects. I gain nothing by setting you free. You
know well enough, perhaps too well, that do what I may I
can never love you less. All I ask is to remain as we are,
trusting to fate and each other. But to draw down the
strictures which such people as the Prescotts would make
to have my actions doubted, and my honor questioned,
I could not stand it."
Leo had by this time lashed himself into the talk by which
nothing is ever accomplished. Hidden motives are very
prone to gobble speech, and lead the conversation straying
into channels by which, though the end may be gained, the
way-is not the smooth path along which it was intended
to go. To explain his motives to himself would have been
a hard task for Leo. Believing that her request arose solely
out of jealousy, his faith in her remained unshaken. Had
he entertained the barest suspicion of the truth, Leo would
have proclaimed their engagement from pole to pole, rather
than have given tip one, whom he loved with all the
strength and fervor of which he was capable.
After delivering his last speech he had turned away, and
a silence of some minutes reigned between them. At last
Hero said, in a weary, saddened voice
" Don't think that I am reproaching you, Leo I have
more cause to reproach myself, perhaps, I suppose we
cannot help chstnging,^*
8
170
HERO CARTHEW.
" I can never change towards you," Leo said.
" We must be friends in future," she went on, not heed-
ing him.
** Friends ! " he echoed bitterly ; " and you can say this,
Hero, so calmly ? "
** Yes, Leo, as long as we live we can never be anything
but friends. I see, now, that neither of us knew the other ;
and as we were, we never should have known each other."
" I think you should speak for yourself," Leo said. " I am
glad to say I am no more mentally than physically blind."
He felt that he could afford to take a higher stand, now
that Hero was displaying " all this temper."
"I am not going to be frightened into giving in," he said
to himself. " If I get a chance the next time we are all to-
gether, I'll give her something to be jealous of. Til seem
to take her at her word now, and see how she likes that"
So he said
*' You seem to look upon this as a final separation be-
tween us?"
Hero nodded assent.
** Then you are as fickle and heartless as the rest of your
sex ! " he exclaimed ; " and I believe you never gave me
the love you professed. I would have sworn that, come
what might, you would have been true to me that it would
have broken your heart to have given me up ; but I find I
was mistaken I deceived myself."
' No, you did not at any cost I should have been true
to you, and I have never said a word to you that was not
from my heart. But, Leo, I distrust you I cannot help
it. What you have said, and the reasons you have given
me, may be just and true, but they are utterly unlike you."
"Thank you," he said angrily. "One of the first priv-
ileges of friendship is the right to be candid with your
friends ; and at length I have the pleasure of hearing your
true estimate of my character. This is something quite new."
Hero gave a sigh. The excitement of the last few days
had been too much for her, and a weariness such as she
had never felt before took possession of her.
*'I mast go home," she savd, " I seevw to be tired out,"
HERO CARTHEW, I71
and she quickened her steps, and began reascending the
path, Leo walking silently and moodily behind her, fight-
ing a little internal battle between love and discretion.
Love said, " Make it up ; " discretion said, " If you give
way now, she will take you to task again." They reached
the house. Leo stopped, and said sullenly
'* I suppose others are to know nothing of this alteration
between us."
**No. People will gradually come to see, and know,
that we are changed. Of course I shall tell papa, and you
will tell Aunt Lydia. They are the only two who have any
right to be further informed."
" May I still come and see you ? "
*'Come whenever you like only say good-night now,
for I feel as if I could not say another word."
CHAPTER XXII.
"CROOKED AS A RAM'S HORN."
*^ I AM sorry that our excursion has fallen to the ground
to-day/' Leo said, as, luncheon over, they sat chattitig to-
gether at Combe.
" Yes," said Katherine ; " but as Miss Carthew is ab^nt,
and my cousin unexpectedly engaged, perhaps it is better
to postpone it ; besides which, I doubt if the water is quit^
as smooth as it was yesterday. You are going to buy a
boat, are you not, Stephen ? "
" Yes ; it is that calls me away this afternoon."
" I hope you have engaged a safe man to go out with
you and take care of it, Stephen," said Mrs. Prescott anx-
iously.
Sir Stephen nodded. " Make your mind easy, mother ;
I am to have one of the best sailors in the viDage, Joe
Bunce," he said, turning to Leo; "you know him, of
course ? "
"What! Betsey's friend? Oh, yes. He's a first-rate
fellow."
" Who is Betsey ? " asked Mrs. Prescott.
"Ah ! " laughed Sir Stephen, "you have a treat to come
in Betsey she is Captain Carthew* s old servant and facto-
tum quite a character."
"You surely don't mean a plain elderly woman who
stood at the table?" said Mrs. Labouchere. "Why,
Stephen, she was my horror. She did nothing but press
me to eat all sorts of things."
"Well, there was nothing horrible in that. You may
depend upon it that she only ofiered you what was good.
She is a capital cook."
''/ wondered at the time Yiow M.\?& Caxthew could en-
HERO CARTHBW.
173
dure such a person about her. I fencied she must have
come up from the village. I never thought she could be
one of the servants."
" Complimentary to the opinion you have formed of the
village ] " said Sir Stephen, not caring to enter into a dis-
cussion of the Sharrows household.
" Well, you must allow that they are dreadfully uncouth
and tough," said Mrs. Labouchere. ^^ 1 can afford to dis-
cuss them with you now," she added smiling, "for Mr.
Despard is quite of my opinion. He says that ships only
touch here on their way to England."
" Oh, too bad ! " and Mrs. Prescott shook her head at
them, " particularly from you, Mr. Despard."
" Yes," said Sir Stephen. " It is your native place, is it
not?"
" Oh, no ! " and Leo wished the conversation had taken
any other than a personal turn, i*' I came here a small boy
with my uncle when he got the living."
" I regret that I did not know your uncle," said Mrs.
Prescott, "he was a great friend of my brother-in-law's
the late baronet," she added, seeing Leo did not seem to
understand to whom she alluded.
"Was he? my uncle was rather eccentric in many
things ; his reticence at last became really painful, and he
seldom or never spoke of his young life. I believe one
motive for this was, that he wanted me to look upon him
as my father, and* he could not bear to enter upon any sub-
ject which might lead to my asking any questions."
" Really I " exclaimed Mrs. Prescott, " then you know
very little about your own parents ? "
" Nothing, except that my mother died when I was a
baby, and my father," he added with a little laugh, " waited
untU he had spent all her money and his own, and then he
very obhgingly died and left me on his brother's hands. I
have an aunt still who lives here, but she perfectly wor-
shipped my uncle, and holds his slightest wish as sacred, sp
that knowipg bow it would pain her to refuse me, I have
never asked her any questions."
" And quite i:^r," said Mrg. Prewtt, vVfii^'S^^^^^
TTERO cAnmew:
I-
who was fidgeting to get away, wondered if his tni
would sit hstening to this uninteresting gossip all day.
"Why don't you offer Mr. Despard a seat to the Forts,
mother ? " he said, " you are going that way."
" I shall be most happy, but perhaps Mr. Despard will
not care to go round by the road I do not feel equal to
that hilly lane to-day."
" I don't want to get to the Forts before five o'clock, and
if you will have me I shall enjoy the drive immensely; I
was thinking how disinclined I felt to walk."
This was said under the certainty that Mrs. Labouchere
intended to accompany them ; but to their surprise, she
asked, ^H
"Are you going to walk across the park, Stephen?" ^H
"I? Yes. Oh, don't mind me. You know I Iifl|
driving. I want a walk." ^|
" So do 1." And the hearts of the two men sank as the
words came out. "If you will have me, I will go with
you ? "
Now I feel I am inconveniencing you."
You see I am going down the village on to the Hard,"
Sir Stephen and Leo exclaimed togellier.
" Then I will go as far as the top of the lane, Stephen."
No, indeed," she said, turning to Leo. " I am mu^b
obliged to you for going with Mrs. Prescott ; I wantedijfl
walk. Shall I get ready now, Stephen i"' fl
" Yes, do."
Sir Stephen tried to assert cordially ; for, after thinking
and arguing with himself during the past three hours, he
had arnved at the conclusion that it would look very odd
if, after Hero had sent an excuse to his mother of not be-
ing well enough to lunch with her, he did not go down and
inquire after her. He would not go in, that he was deter-
mined upon. The engagement to see his boat was quite
an impromptu one, which any other time would suit as well.
Of course, as he said to himself, he had no right to com-
plain that Hero had chosen to go wilh Leo, and yet he
longed to unburden hiiuself of his bitter jealousy. Any*
Kafherine would be comp\eieVj dt frof . ^_
1
HERO CARTHEW: 175
Leo was equally disgusted at having^ to spend a couple
of hours with that " stupid old wotnah/* who wanted, he
could see, to pry into everything, and find out all she could
about everybody. How he wished that he had known
Mrs. Labouchere was not going ! he would have seen her
aunt at Jericho before he would have wasted his time upon
her. He might have gone down to Sharrows, inquired
after Hero, and left his card. He would not have gone in,
and that would rather have touched her, for, of course, he
knew why she stayed away from Combe. While the two
ladies were getting ready, Leo and Stephen were left alone.
" I am sorry to find Miss Carthew is not well," Sir Ste-
phen said, apropos of nothing leading to the subject. " I
suppose that moonlight excursion was too much for her ? "
" Oh ! she did not go," Leo answered.
He rather prided himself on the coolness with which, if a
lie had to be told, he told it, and, of course where a woman
was concerned, any denial was admissible.
Sir Stephen felt his face get crimson, but, as without
seeming to avoid his questioner, Leo did not look him
straight in the face, the surprise manifested passed unno-
ticed.
" Did not anybody go then ? " Sir Stephen asked, after
a moment's pause.
I " No ; I was detained at the Fort longer than I expected ;
and when I got back, with the exception of two or three
old chums, everybody had left."
" What a fine old fellow Captain Carthew is ! " Sir Stephen
said after a pause, intending to give Leo a chance of see-
ing that he knew more of his affairs than he thought.
" Yes, quite one of the old class of sailors looks upon
steam as the ruin of the navy, and a * boiler buster' as a
creation of the devil."
" I took a very great liking to him when I first came down
here ; he and Miss Carthew made me so thoroughly at
home."
It was Leo's turn to become inquisitor, " I'll find out,"
he thought, with a twinge of sudden jealousy, " what he really
thinks about her,**
1^6 HERO CARTHEW.
* I heard that you admired Miss Carthew immensely/* he
answered.
" You heard I From whom ? "
" Oh ! Mrs. Labouchere told me so yesterday."
And Leo laughed at the surprise his announcement had
caused.
"I do admire Miss Carthew," said Sir Stephen, "and I
have spoken of my admiration to Mrs. Labouchere ; but
she is hardly warranted in speaking of it to a stranger for
such you were yesterday."
" Means nothing serious, and is afraid of being misundff-
stood/' Leo thought, with a feeling of relief. Hastening
to soften down Katherine's share, he said,
" It is hardly fair to say that of Mrs. Labouchere's sim-
ple remark. The truth is, she noticed herself how very
superior to most of the Mallett ladies Miss Carthew is, and
I agreeing with her, she began a little teasing, and laugh-
ingly told me I had a rival. I made more of it to you than
1 was warranted in doing."
" I don' t know that if you had a right." And Sir Stephen
hesitated.
** A right ! " echoed Leo. " What do you mean ? "
" He is trying to pump me," he thought as he added,
** I have the same right that every other man has to
admire the young lady."
" Nothing more ? "
"No, certainly not. I don't understand what you
mean."
But Sir Stephen had abruptly turned from him, and was
speaking to the groom.
Before Leo had time for further reflection, Mrs. Prescott
joined them, and a few minutes after they had started on
their different ways.
" A well-mannered man tliis Mr. DespaKli" Katherinc
said. " I rather like him."
" I don't," said Sir Stephen in his most decideAtone.
" No ? Why not ? "
" Oh, for no particular reason except that well^ that I
don't like him."
I
HERO CAR THE IV.
177
" No other but a woman's reason," quoted Katherine ;
** I think him so, because I think him so. He does not
admire Mallett as much as you do ; but then," she added,
laughing, " he knows it better, and though I am not draw-
ing a similar inference he does not particularly admire
your friend Miss Carthew. He thinks she wants style
which she certainly does and he laughed when I said she
was simple and unaffected."
"His mirth is easily provoked," said Sir Stephen, not
daring to give vent to his indignation, for fear of betraying
Hero and himself.
But should Hero sacrifice herself to such a man as this ?
^Aever ; and, in his excitement, he so quickened his pace,
tnat his cousin exclaimed pettishly,
** If you are going to nm, Stephen, I will give in at once.
I generally walk at a tolerably brisk rate, but this is rather
too much for me."
" I beg your pardon. I did not know that I was walk-
ing so quickly." And he slackened his pace to suit his
cxmpanion.
" I suppose most of these paths lead to the water be-
low ? " she said, as they neared the gate.
" All of them do."
"Are they tolerably easy? Could one sit half way
down?"
" Certainly ; and very pleasant it would be. I cannot
oflfer to go down with you ; but, if I am not detained too
long, I will join you."
" Then I will turn down the one we are coming to."
" Very well," said Sir Stephen, well pleased that she had
not accompanied him to Sharrows. " I will get done as
soon as possible only you will not wait for me. Let that
be understood directly you feel inclined, you will go
home."
" Yes, au re voir."
They parted, and Mrs. Labouchere slowly descended
the path she had pointed to, her thoughts all the time fol-
lowing Stephen. His altered looks, his variable spirits,
bad not escaped her quick eyes ; and svxvc^ ^^fta.4.'5ftK^
178 HERO CARTHEW.
the way he had hovered about Hero,, she had connected the
change some way with her. What could it be she could
not fancy. It was hardly credible that Stephen should be
playing rejected lover to a little common-faced country
girl, who would regard being my lady as second only to be-
ing the queen. " Still, if I find that he has made excuses
to me, and gone there, I shall know there is something be-
tween them." And with an angry feeling within her, she
hastened on as fast as she dared, and, gaining the Sands,
walked along, wondering which path would take her to Shar-
rows.
It had seemed easy enough to find while she was allxwp^
but below she could see nothing but the overha]^;itlg ^flE
Suddenly her ear caught sound of a voice, and lodking, she
saw a man seated on the Sands busily employed in some
occupation, over which he was singing,
*^ Oh, what a dis-i-mal state was this !
What honors shook my feeble frame ! **
" Can you tell me the path by which I shall get to Shar-
rows ? "
But though she was nearly close up to him, he neither
raised his head, nor seemed to notice her approach, but
continued,
*' But, brethren, su-urcly you can guess ^"
Here Mrs. Labouchere's impatience overcame her dis-
like of touching such people, and she gave him a little
shake, which made him look up, and, in his amazement,
while regarding her over his horn spectacles, say, ratlier
than sing,
** For you perhaps have felt the same."
" Can you tell me the way to Sharrows ? "
** Ay, ay, my lady ! " for the singer, who was Jim, hav-
ing by this time recognized her, proceeded to bundle his
bits of sail-cloth together, disengage his hook, from its
office of keeping his patch taut, and get on his legs as fast
as Ae could.
HERO CARTBEW.
'791
^B "I have missed my way," Katherine said in explanation. J
" I reckon you must sjwak up a Lit more than you'm' I
used to, my lady, for I'm terrible hard o' hearin'. Do 'ewB
want to go 'pou the waiter ?" M
" No," roared Katherine, exerting herself far more than I
was necessary, " I want to know the way to Captain CaNj
thew's house." 4
"Iss sure," replied Jim. "Will 'ee please to coins j
along o' nie ? "
" Can't you tell me the way to go?"
" 1 could iss but you'd niver git there. You'd belter
le^ae go with 'ee, me lady."
TBrs. Labouchere nodded lier acquiescence, and they
proceeded on side by side.
" Might ye be goin' to see Miss Hero i*" asked Jim
Mrs. I.abouchere gave a haughty little movement of her
head not lost on Jim ; for he added, by way of apologia- J
ing for his cariosity, "cos' her's out. I met her not morel
than half n'our agone goin' to ole Miss Despard's."
Mrs. Labouchere stopped.
" Did you 1 " she said. " Are you sure it was Miss Car-B
thew?"
" What I sure about it bein' Miss Hero ? Lor", i
added Jim, after a surprised pause, "why I've a knotved
her ever since her was bom. Her's like our own to us
about here. 'Twould be like snappin' o' our heart-strings
tlie day she was a took from among us."
' Is she likely to go, then ? " asked Mrs. Labouchere,
with sudden interest in Jim's conversation.
"Well, nie lady, not as I knowed by, though there's
many bard aller her, as 1 dare say you, bein' a married
lady, don't doubt."
Katherine smiled ; and Jim, launched on one of hia |
fa.vorite topics, continued, '
"'Tis a matter o' prayer with me that her chice '11 be '
guided ; for, notwithstandin' he'd a uncle who's, depend
npon it, me lady, a saint in glory though he was a church-
gpet Mr. Dcspard aint titled to tie her shoe-string."
MMj. Despard ? " said Katherine
l8o JKJeO CARTHEW.
**A tallish, fine-looking young chap/' Jim explained^
** up to the Forts."
''Oh, yes, I know him; and is he Miss Cardiew's
lover ? "
" Well, me lady, it's bin goin' on ever since they irtUi
boy and girl. *Tain*t reg'lar gived out that the/m walkin'
together you know, but anybody with half a eye can see
he's got the measure o* her tread."
" Is the liking all on her side then ? " Katherine asked,
sauntering back with Jim ; for his information had decided
her upon not paying her visit.
" No, not by no means, me lady ; 'tain't for me to say
that he ain't fond, but he am't a got the same wayti^
your gentleman has. Lord ! A^ wouldn't let a fly pitdi
upon her, he wouldn't."
" You mean Sir Stephen Prescott," Katherine said, fed?
ing inwardly disgusted that she should stoop to gain her
information from such a source.
" If it ain't a takin* too great a liberty, me lady "
" Oh ! I know," said Katherine, struggling to seem gra-
cious, " that he is very fond of Miss Car the w, and Captain
Carthew also."
Jim looked his delight at this intelligence.
** If so be you could bring it round, me lady, there's
many 'ed be beholden to 'ee, for it don't want a Malletter
to see they'm cut and dried for one another."
" Any of these paths will take me back into Combe
park ? " said Katherine, stopping suddenly.
" I reckon you corned down by that one," said Jim,
pointing out one they had just passed.
" Yes, you are right : I will return by the same, thank
you," and she held out a half-crown.
But instead of taking it, Jim shook his head, " Excuse
me, me lady, but I'd rather not take it ; 'tain't what we've
bin used to hereabouts. If I've a bin o' any little service
to 'ee, 'tis my dooty to thank ^^w, me lady, which I humbly
do, and begs God's blessin' on you and your belong-
ings."
*' Thank you,** said Katherine , then giving a doubtful
HERO CARTHEW. l8i
glance at the old man's face, and another at the money,
she returned it to her purse, and with a parting inclination
towards him she began reascending the cliff.
From Mrs. Labouchere Sir Stephen had gone straight on
to Sharrows, to be met at the gate by Betsey, who ex-
claimed :
" Well, I niver ! if things baint so crooked as a ram's
horn, to-day, sir. There's Miss Hero just a gone out."
" Gone out ! where ? I thought she was too ill."
" And so her was this mornin'. Sir Stephen, cruel bad,
and you'd ha' said so, too, sir. I was all for sending off
for Dr. Cross, for when anybody near to 'ee ails, 'tis fly
to the doctor, as if he'd a got the orderin' o' folks' insides.
I don't trouble 'im much about mine, that's -one thing ; a
dose o' salts, or a cup o' organ tea, and after that put your
trust in a higher than a human hand. I can't abide their
pills and drenches. Winkle churchyard has a taught me a
lesson there :
' If daily draught and nightly pill
Us mortals saved, I've took'd my fill :
But reader, as sure as you'm alive
I was sent here at twenty-five.'
And you may read that headstone any day. Sir Stephen."
Sir Stephen, who had been waiting to get in a word,
now managed to ask where Miss Hero had gone.
" Up to the ole Miss Despards ; her sent down to say
her wanted Miss Hero most particular. I dessay 'taint
nothin' after all," she added, vexed that Sir Stephen should
be disappointed, "but you'd think the world was made
a purpose for some folks and their nevy ; I s'pose
you don't happen to be goin* back by Shivers Lane, sir,
do'ee?"
"No; why?"
" Because you might by chance ha' met Miss Hero ;
her promised to leave a message at Mrs. Kemp's for me,
that's to the bottom, just afore the farm turnin'."
" Shivers Lane, let me see, that is the secotvd ImxtiSxv^
to the left?"
1 82 ^^O CARTJ^MW^
" Yes."
' No ; I shall not be able to go that way to-day, I fear.
Good-by, Betsey; tell Miss Hero thp.t I oidy allied to
inquire after her."
''And that you'll call again?" Betsey added coanD^y;
do 'ee, Sir Stephen, and cheer her up a bit ; he'll look tt
spry as two after you corned, sir."
But Sir Stephen shook his head.
'' Not to-day, Betsey," he $aid as he turned away.
CHAPTER XXni.
LEO's MYSTERY.
Aunt Lydia's summons was for Hero to come to her
that afternoon, as she was alone, and wished to see her
most particularly. The poor girl did not feel very equal
to going, but she was anxious to retain the old lady's love
and esteem, and she could not tell hbw far this difference
with Leo might endanger both.
Directly they met, Aunt Lydia's manner betrayed her
changed feelings, and Hero began wondering how much
of the truth Leo had seen fit to tell her. For, between
standing much in awe of her nephew, and having a very
humble opinion of her own powers of comprehension, it
was nothing unusual for Hero to be summoned to explain
some announcement which Leo had made, and which Miss
Despard could not understand.
" You had best take off your hat while you stay. Hero,"
she said, as soon as they were alone ; "for what I have
to say to you cannot be put into a few words."
Hero did as she was requested, and seated herself on the
chair which Miss Despard pointed out opposite to her own.
" Well, Hero," said Miss Lydia, " to make a short
beginning to a long story, I have not been pleased with
you of late."
" No, Aunt Lydia ? "
" No, my dear, 1 have not ; and as you know it is my
way to say what I think, you must not take offence if 1
speak plainly."
Hero gave a movement significant of willingness to take
in good part Miss Lydia's candor.
** Perhaps," continued the old lady, who found it a very
difficult task to find fault with her favotvt^, ^^ 'v\\a.ViQNi.\vaN^
1 84 HERO CARTHEW.
done has been done thoughtlessly ; for I cannot suppose
that you would willingly wound or hurt any one, least
of all " and here her assumed firmness grew somewhat
quavery "my dear boy."
" How does he say 1 have wounded him ? " asked Hero,
in a manner which conveyed to Miss Lydia's mind an idea
that the culprit meant to defend herself, and thereby
instantly brought back all her anger.
" He does not say anything, Hero ; but I am not blind,
neither am I deaf, or I should not have heard remarks
and observations, which, directly Leo told me that your
engagement with each other was over, made me know
the reason, although he would npt say one word as to the
cause."
" I assure you I do not know what you mean, Aunt
I-,ydia, nor can I imagine the reason you allude to."
" Oh, don't say that. Hero," and Miss Lydia shook her
head reprovingly. " You must know how everybody has
been talking about you and Sir Stephen Prescott. It
was only the day before yesterday that Miss Batt said, that
she had heard several say, that it was generally remarked
how much attention Sir Stephen paid you."
" Indeed ! I think people might mind their own busi-
ness," exclaimed Hero, her face turning scarlet
" Well, I don't know but that it is the business of every
one to comment on actions which call forth remarks.
Perhaps you think that it is no business of mine to interfere,
and that I ought to sit quietly by and see my poor boy's
heart broken, and his peace of mind destroyed. But
I cannot do it, Hero. Who is Sir Stephen Prescott,
I should like to know ? If every one had their right, and
God's laws were the world's laws, as good a man as he
would be in his shoes, I can tell him that."
"I don't understand you, Aunt Lydia."
" Perhaps not, Hero ; but your friends at Combe would,
though I beg you don't repeat a word I may say either to
them or to Leo. Oh, Hero, I cannot tell you how disap-
pointed I am in you. I would never have believed that
you could be turned on one side by riches and vain-sound-
I
HERO CARTHEW. 1 85
ing titles." And in spite of Jier efforts to control them, the
tears came rolling down Miss Despard's thin cheeks, melt-
ing away every spark of Hero's indignation.
Rising hastily from her seat, she knelt down by the old
lady's side and said
"Aunt Lydia, tell me exactly what you mean, and what
Leo has said to you, and then I shall know if you under-
stand him."
" He spoke words plain enough to be understood this
time," sobbed Aunt Lydia. " I'm sure he looked like a.
ghost this morning, and didn't care to speak a word. I
couldn't think what had put him out until I began to say
something about you and him ; and then, Hero, he said I
was not to speak as I did, for it was nothing of the kind,
and that you were not engaged to each other, and you were
free to marry whom you pleased ; no one should say he was
standing in your light Then I knew that he had either
seen or heard something. You'll repent it, if you do,
Hero," she added, following out the flight her fancy had
taken ; " you may marry a dozen Sir Stephens, but they
won't be Leo Despards mark my words, if they aie."
" Do you suppose, then, that I am engaged to Sir
Stephen, Aunt Lydia ? "
"No, I don't think as badly of you as that ; but I do
think your head has been turned by a prospect which may
never come to pass, for men were deceivers ever, and that
you may prove to your cost, yet, my dear. You and Leo
never fell out before why should you now ? "
"We did not fall out. Aunt Lydia. I will tell you the
exact truth, as I intend telling papa. You and he are the
only two who have any right to be told. You know that,
though there was no formal engagement between Leo and
myself, we looked upon ourselves as engaged."
" Certainly ; that is how I have tliought and spoken of
you."
" From different things, I wanted it now to be known by
everybody, like other people's engagements are, and 1
asked Leo to speak openly of it"
1 86 HERO CARTHEW.
" Well, he objected. He said that he should not get his
promotion for years ; that he had tried all his friends, upon
whose interest he had formerly depended, and none of them
would or could help him ; therefore it was dishonorable to
openly bind me to him, and rather than do it he would ac-
cept the alternative that for the future we should be only
friends."
" And you could take him at his word ? oh fie, Hero I "
" I did not object to anything but secrecy, Aunt Lydia.
I had made up my mind that I would have no more of
that. I only told Leo that we must be properly engaged,
or not at all."
"And what objection had he to make ?"
" The objections I have given you that he should not
be promoted for ten years to come. He says he has been
wretched about it for a long while, because he has tried
every means, and all have failed. I don't understand him ; he
always seemed to me so over sanguine, that I do not know
why he should suddenly become so cast down do you ? "
Aunt Lydia did not answer. She sat with a troubled
far-off gaze, intent upon the working of her thoughts. At
length she murmured
" What is best what is best? If Antony could but tell
me how to act surely he would say, do anything, to secure
our boy's happiness."
" Leo would not allow you to sacrifice your income.
Aunt Lydia, I feel sure of that."
But Aunt Lydia did not seem to hear, so WTapt was she
in arguing some question with herself. Suddenly she said
*' 1 sui)pose these Prescotts hardly know the beginning
or end of their wealth ? "
" I don't know. Sir Stephen often says he wishes he had
more money to spend on Mallett."
** Their proper estate is a magnificent place. I remem-
ber, in former days, my dear brother often speaking of the
splendors of Pamphillon."
" I thought the rector knew about the Prescotts," said
Hero, "and I told Sir Stephen so ; but he did not seem to
remember Mr. Despard."
HERO CAR THE W, 1 87
"A short memory is sometimes very convenient," said
Miss Despard sarcastically. " How did he and his mother
meet Leo yesterday ? Did Mrs. Prescott seem to be taken
aback at all ? "
" Mrs. Prescott I " said Hero, with a look of surprise.
" No ; she was the same to Leo as she was to everybody
else, very kind and nice. I wished so much that you had
come."
" Oh no, my dear, I have no wish to be mixed up with
them in any way. AH I want is justice to whom justice is
due, and while they'd never miss it, it would be the saving
of Leo."
" Oh, Aunt Lydia I " exclaimed Hero, fearing the old
lady's fondness was affecting her senses. , " I really do not
see what they have to do with Leo a perfect stranger.
Sir Stephen is a most generous man, but ^"^
" Sir Stephen is nothing of the kind," said Miss Despard
with a flushed face and excited manner. " There may be
a great deal of brag and boast, but actions speak louder
than words ; and, so far from being generous, neither Sir
Stephen nor his mother are just. No, not commonly just
to those claims which nature imposes upon all."
But before she could say more, a knock at the outer
door caused her to stop, and at the sound of a voice she
said
** Oh dear, dear ! How unfortunate ! it is Mrs. Grant.
I dare say she has come to stay. If so, Hero, you must
rim up again to-morrow morning ; and then I shall have
decided what is best to be done. In the meantime not a
word to Leo, or to anybody."
Hero, who did not want to be detained longer, hurried on
her hat, and stood up ready to take her leave.
Mrs. Grant was announced, cap-bag in hand.
" For, my dear, if you will have me," she said, " IVc
come to tea, thinking you*d like to hear how all went off
yesterday : but I expect mine is stale news," she added
turning to Hero, who reassured her by saying she had only
come up to ask Aunt Lydia a question, and they had not
had time to enter upon any .descriptions."
1 88 HERO CARTHEW.
"To-morrow, about twelve," Aunt Lydia whispered at
parting. " Remember your promise."
Hero walked slowly away from the house, filled with
an uneasy dread lest Aunt Lydia had become suddenly
demented. She would have felt almost certain that such
was the case, but that she recollected how persistently the
old lady had always refused to meet Sir Stephen: how
doubtful she had seemed to be of his good qualities, croak-
ing forth, in a fashion not at all usual with her, proverbs
concerning new brooms sweeping clean, and a flourish of
trumpets, etc Then she began to wonder, whether the
speeches Leo made had any deeper foundation than jeal-
ousy. But what could they know about him, or if they did
know anything, how could they know it? Her thoughts
grew more and more perplexed as fresh recollections oc-
curred to her. The road which led to Shivers farm was an
unfrequented one, so that her reverie was not likely to be
broken in upon, and Hero slowly walked along, turning
over the events which had recently given such a different
coloring to her life. Suddenly a shadow in her path
caused her to start, and, looking up, she saw Sir Stephen.
" I have been watching you for a long time," he said.
" Have you ? I never saw you."
" I know you did not. I was wondering what you could
be thinking about. Are you better ? "
" Yes, much better than I was this morning ; but not
quite well. I should not have gone out only Aunt Lydia
wanted to see me."
"Aunt Lydia? Oh, I remember. Mr. Despard's aunt,
the late rector's sister."
Both Sir Stephen and Hero felt a certain awkwardness at
finding themselves alone.
Their minds were fixed upon one subject, which they
mutually dreaded the nearest approach to ; and, in the
desire to avoid it, Hero asked a question which at another
time she would have hesitated over.
'* Do you know anything of Miss Despard's family ? " she
said.
''No. I do not My \xnc\e and Vw^t brother were
HERO CARTHEW. 1 89
friends, and, knowing that, my mother gave Mr. Despard
the Combe living."
" Mrs. Prescott knows them, then ? "
" She knows no more than I have told you. Why, what
makes you ask ? "
Hero did not answer. It was true that Aunt Lydia had
desired her to say nothing to any one ; but if, by speaking
to Sir Stephen, she could show the good old soul that she
bad misjudged the Prescotts, Aunt Lydia would be the very
first to thank her for so doing. And somehow this accusa-
tion against Sir Stephen lay rankling within Hero, and so
sure did she feel that it was false, that she longed to wipe
away the faintest trace of reproach from one, whom, un-
known to herself, she was beginning to regard as the model
of most perfections.
" Aunt Lydia has been talking about you to me,'* she
began, with a little hesitation. " She spoke as if you knew
her nephew before you came here, and had not treated him
properly ^had been pnjust to him in some way."
"II Oh, the poor old lady's mind must be aflfected.
Until I met him at your house I never saw or heard of Mr.
Despard."
** She did not seem to be referring to the present time,
but, as if it was something long ago. Poor Aunt Lydia ! "
and Hero looked quite troubled about her old friend's
state.
" Mr. Despard told us that his father was the late rector's
brother," Sir Stephen said, after a pause.
" Oh ! was he ? I never knew who his father was,"
Hero answered innocently.
" It is very odd," said Sir Stephen, with a puzzled look.
" I'll ask my mother again ; but I know she told me the
other evening that she knew nothing whatever about them.
Has Mr. Leo Despard ever alluded to this in any way ? "
" Never. And Aunt Lydia made me promise not to
mention to him a word that she had said."
"You must tell me if she says anything more to you, and
I will"
But here Sir Ste^htn was interrupted b^ ^"^ ^xsA^^Xi ^^^
I go HERO CARTBiW.
pearance of Mr. Truscott, who said he was on his way to
Combe.
" But, perhaps," he added, ** you would rather that I came
another day. Sir Stephen."
" I am going to say good-by here," Hero said. " I have
to call at the farm for Betsey."
" In that case we will walk across the fields together, Mr.
Truscott. I shall tell my mother that she may expect to see
you to-morrow," he said, taking Hero's hand. " Good-by."
The business upon which Mr. Truscott had come being
rather complicated, upon reaching the house Sir Stephen
ran upstairs to say
" Mr. Truscott will dine with us to-day, mother."
" Certainly, my dear. I have asked Mr. Despard to re-
turn, as he did not seem to know what to do with himself."
"All right," and Sir Stephen returned to business, which
occupied him until dinner-time.
" 1 am sorry I was not able to join you, Katherine," he
said as they seated themselves, " but up to the time I met
Mr. Truscott I was fully occupied, and I knew you would
excuse me."
Here Mr. Truscott, who was endowed with the happy
, talent of saying the wrong thing in the right place, mur-
mured in the voice which he reserved for those who, he
boasted, made him feel quite like one of themselves
" I can assure you, madam, that Sir Stephen had a very
fair excuse, for I met him with our friend. Miss Carthew,"
and he turned a most significant look upon Leo, while a
dead silence gave point to his remark.
" I thought Miss Carthew was too ill to leave the house,"
said Mrs. Prescott ; " her indisposition must have been of a
very transient nature ; " and the ruffled way in which she
drew herself up determined Mr. Truscott to withhold any
more praise of Miss Carthew.
" She is still far from well," said Sir Stephen. " I met
her coming from an appointment she was obliged to keep,
and she desired me to say to you how sorry she was to fore-
go her engagement, but she hopes to call upon you to-mor-
HERO CARTHEW.
191
Mrs. Prescott said no more, Mrs. Labouchere entered
into conversation with Leo, and Sir Stephen began asking
questions relating to the estate. This lasted until the
ladies left the dinner table, after which Leo sat about a
quarter of an hour, and then got up, saying
" I will join Mrs. Prescott now, and leave you and Mr.
Truscott to finish your business."
" Mr. Despard is a nephew of the late rector's, is he not ?"
Sir Stephen asked when Leo had left them.
Mr. Truscott gave a little laugh.
"I think you had best not be too particular about his
family history, Sir Stephen, for, strange to say, no one
knows anything more about that young man's origin than
you do yourself. All sorts of stories have been reported,
but nothing substantiated. I once took it upon myself to
say something to the rector, but he took it in bad part."
"He told my mother that he was old Mr. Despard's
brother's son."
" Nothing of the sort. He may say so to you, Sir
Stephen, but that won't do here. Why, the rector himself
never said that ; he spoke of him as a friend's son, and
when he got about fourteen, and was sent to the classical
school at Dockmouth, the old gentleman entered him un-
der his own name, and only from that time was he called
Despard. His brother's son ! " repeated Mr. Truscott de-
risively, ** I dare say, if Mrs. Prescott had charged her
memory, she could have told him that he was drawing the
long bow there, for old Mr. Despard was known to your
mother. Sir Stephen."
" Not to my mother ; he was a friend of my uncle's.
My mother never knew him."
" But at one time she used to write to him."
" Ah, perhaps so ; that was when she gave him the liv-
M
" And long after that," said Mr. Tiiiscott, with a posi-
tive shake of his head. "Why, let me see, eight yes,
certainly not more than eight years ago, for it was the last
time I saw the old man, I walked with him as far as Collins,
the outfitter's, where he had left Maslw 'L^o\iOT\%^xvft.'5s&\cL^\
/WJ?0 CARTtJEW.
for his first suit of regimentals, and his business with me
was to get your address, that he might write to Mrs. Pres-
cott- That was only a liiilc before his death ; and when
Mrs. Prescolt wrote and said you wished that the living
should be given to some one who was a native of the pli
or about these parts, my eye fell on Mr. Jago at once."
" He had been doing the duty ? "
" Oh, dear, no."
" But he was Mr. Despard's curate ? "
" Bless your heart. Sir Stejihi
kind!" and Mr. Truscott laughed complacently
how much information he was able to impart. " Mr.
Despard never had, nor wanted, a curate. Mr. Jago was
doing duty at St. Winnols, and when I rode over to sound
hira on the matter of the Combe living, you might have
knocked Jiira down with a feather."
"Oh, I've got hold of the wrong end of tlie story, it
"seems," Sir Stephen said, passing the decanter.
" No more. Sir Stephen. No, I never exceed ray third
glass guanlum suf., sir, that is my niaxim. Certainly, I
am ready, if you are."
" I want to speak to you, mother," Sir Stephen said, after
Mrs. Labouchere had left them the same night. Closing
the door, he continued, " 1 want you to tell me what was
the connection between Mr. Despard and our family."
" Connection, Stephen ! " Mrs. Frescott stammered,
while her face changed under her son's scrutiny.
"Yes; there is some mystery in all this what is it,
mother ? I must insist upon knowing."
" Really, Stephen, you are speaking to me in a most
extraordinary manner. I do not understand what you
mean," for Mrs. Prescott's ]resence of mind had returned.
" Once for all, I never saw old "Mr. Despard, neither did
I know anything about him." *
" You never heard from him, or wrote to him ? "
" 1 write to him, Stephen ? "
"Yes, mother. I can see you are trying to hide some-
thing from me," he exclaimed impatiently; "what it is 1
dogot know, but from something I have heard from
I
HERO CARTHEW.
193
Despard, unless you choose to be explicit with me, I shall
see her to-morrow, and from her have a full explanation/'
Something like a groan escaped Mrs. Prescott. Starting
up, she said hurriedly, " No, Stephen you must not, shall
not go it would kill me. I will tell you what there is to
tell. There is no mystery," and she sank into a chair as
if overcome by her agitation. "This young man is ^'
" Who ? " exclaimed Sir Stephen, scared by her emotion.
" Your your ^^ but in spite of her efforts the rest of
the sedtence died away, and Sir Stephen saw that she had
fainted.
9
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE MYSTERY OPENED.
With the help of the remedies which were at hand Mrs.
Prescott was soon restored to consciousness. Faintness was
no unusual thing to her ; it was rather the certain result of
any undue excitement or fatigue, so that her son was able
to attend to her without calling for any assistance.
" 1 am so sorry, mother," he said, looking anxiously at
her.
" It is I who am sorry, Stephen, to let my silly nervous-
ness so completely master me ; but I am better now I
shall be able to talk to you presently."
" Never mind to-night, mother ; you must not worry
yourself. Tell me to-morrow."
Mrs. Prescott pressed the hand in which her son held hers,
and was silent for a few moments.
"I will tell you now," she said, "and you must promise
me not to be vexed that I have not spoken of it before.
Of course you were a boy at the time, and I could not
mention it ; then as years went on, and all connection be-
tween us was broken, I grew almost to forget that such a
circumstance had ever happened, and it appeared a pity
that you should be given occasion to think less of your
uncle. That was the only reason, Stephen. You know, do
you not, that I have never kept anything from you ? There
has been always the most perfect confidence between uS."
" So I have believed, mother."
" Yes, and if I kept this to myself, it was on your ac-
count ; I feared the knowledge might vex you."
" You forget that I have not the slightest idea to what
you are alluding. Of course I suppose it relates to this
Mr, Despsird. Tell me at once, who is he ? "
ffERO CARTHEW. I95
" Your Uncle Bernard's son."
" What I Uncle Bernard's son I Mother, say it again
I cannot believe my ears."
" Ah, Stephen ! nor could I my eyes when first I read
the letter which told me of it," and she shuddered at the
recollection.
" The mother was not his wife, then ? "
" Stephen, how could she be ? "
" Oh, 1 don't know ! " he exclaimed bitterly. " I am so
astounded at this, and that you could keep it to yourself all
these years, that I am prepared to hear anything."
" She was a low, bad woman," said Mrs. Prescott, taking
no notice of his excitement ; " she deceived your uncle in
every way. He met her at some of the places he used to
frequent, and was struck with her appearance and took her
away with him. She never knew what his real position in
life was, or she would not have left him, which she did just
before your grandfather's death. Not knowing what to do
with the child, your uncle asked Mr. Despard to give it
shelter for a little time, and, from some reason, with Mr.
Despard it remained until your uncle's death, when, in a
letter which he left for me, I first heard of the circumstance.
While I was considering what was best to be done, Mr.
Despard wrote offering to adopt the boy, and bring him up
as his own son. I was only too glad to accept the offer, for
at that time, God knows, I had enough on my hands. Oh,
your uncle was cruel, very cruel ! He is dead and gone,
Stephen, and I wish to forgive him ; but if any man ever
wronged the widow and the orphan, he did."
While Mrs. Prescott was saying this. Sir Stephen was
walking lip and down the room trying to grasp this unex-
pected revelation. Suddenly he stopped.
" Do you mean to tell me, mother, that you never did
anything for this boy, but let the whole cost and burden of
his maintenance rest upon this old Mr. Despard ? "
"Stephen !" and here Mrs. Prescott' s tears came to her
assistance ; but her son took no notice of them.
" I I did all I could," she sobbed ; " I deprived myself
of what reaidy money I possessed at \iie \ax3aft\.o ^\A\.^^^^x.
1
^^ nERO CARTHEW.
Despard five hundred poands, which afterwards got
young man his commission j and I gave the old man mia
living, a great thing for a struggling London curate, for that
was all he was before ; and surely it w^s far better tjiat the
boy should be brought up respectably as the adopted son of
a clergyman, than that it should be known that he belonged
to nobody."
"Belonged to nobody, mother! he belonged to us. Now
I can solve the riddle which lias piiz^ied me all my life.
Uncle Bernard's speculations were made to leave something
to this boy. He knew the wrong he had done him, and I
suppose he guessed rightly that, with no claim to justice,
the lad had little chance of getting it given to him b}' his
family."
Mrs. Prescott put her hands over her ears. "I won't
listen," she exclaimed ; "I shall go mad! After all I have
sacrificed and done for you, Stephen, to turn around like
this upon rae. Oh, I am indeed punished!" and she
rocked herself to and fro.
But Stephen seemed dead to everything but his sense of
the injury which I-eo had sustained.
"What opinion could Mr. Despard have formed of us?"
he exclaimed; "what must he have thought of me, inheriting
all my uncle had to leave, yet not caring whether his son
was alive or dead?"
" Really, Stephen, you are the most unreasonable person
I ever met with. So far from having a bad opinion of us,
the few letters that Mr. Despard sent me were filled with
expressions of gratitude, that lie was permitted to have the
boy, whom he spoke of as being the greatest comfort of his
life. Oh, how I wish now that I had never consented to
come here ! I had a presentiment of evil from the fu-st, and
thougli I fought against it, as I have done through life
wherever your wishes were concerned, a shudder ran
through me each time I thought of the odious place."
" Well, mother, I cannot understand you. My only
wonder is that you could ever rest anywhere ; the fact
alone of keeping such a thing from me would have been
Scieot, I sliould have sdd, to woti^ -jou w death.'"
HERO CARTHEIV.
197
" Our anxieties do not kill us, Stephen, or I should have
been in my grave long ago. Sometimes," and here her
tears began afresh, " I think there is very little for me to
live for." ^
** 1 see we have talked enough for to-night," Sir Stephen
said impatiently, as he rang the bell.
" Of course you will not think of mentioning the subject
to any one, Stephen. You see that the young man him-
self knows nothing of it. It would be cruel to undeceive
him ; he seems so very happy and contented, far more
tlian "
But her son interrupted her.
" For Heaven's sake, mother, say no more. Leave me
to decide how I shall act for the future."
The sternness of his face and manner frightened her into
silence, until, startled by a knock at the door, she said,
" Who can that be ? "
" Only Davis. I rang for her to come to you. I will
assist yoi to your room."
Many things connected with this disclosure seemed to
hurt and irritate him. That his mother, between whom and
himself he had believed perfect confidence to exist, could
keep an important secret like this from him, was sufficient-
ly startling and for what reason ? Why was he to be kept
in ignorance ? Who had so great a right to know ? Well
might Miss Despard wish to avoid him in her conduct he
saw the reflection of her brother's feelings. The odd thing
was, that after remaining silent, that is, if she had remained si-
lent for all these years, she should suddenly speak to Hero.
What could be her motive ? This thought perplexing him
considerably, he determined to write a note asking Hero to
oblige him by not keeping her appointment, as, from a con-
versation he had had with his mother, he intended paying
Miss Despard a visit himself, and by going at the time she
had appointed to see Hero, he hoped in all probability to
find her at home and alone.
CHAPTER XXV.
"ALL SOUND TILL WE* RE SIFTED."
The next morning, having dispatched a messenger to
Sharrows sufficiently early to prevent Hero's visit, Sir Ste-
phen, at the appointed time, presented himself at Aunt
Lydia's cottage, thereby so startling the old lady that some
lime elapsed before she knew what she was saying to him,
or what he was saying to her. By chatting about Mallett,
the people he had met there, and the pleasure it gave him
to come among them, he gave her time to recover her
composure, and, with a view of leading up to the subject,
he at length mentioned Leo's name. Immediately Aunt
Lydia's face changed and her manner altered ; so, laying
aside all further reserve, he said,
" Miss Despard, I am a very poor diplomatist, and I am
sure you understand straightforwardness far better than
anything else; therefore you must forgive any seeming
bluntness, if 1 come to what I have to say without more
preamble."
Poor Aunt Lydia's heart seemed to beat quicker at every
word. Could Sir Stephen have heard what she had said
about him and Hero,' and had he come to say that it was
false, or, worse still, that it was true ?
" Until last night," he went on, " I was perfectly igno-
rant of the debt of gratitude, which I and my family owe to
you and your brother. From some mistaken motive, my
mother never told me that my uncle, Sir Bernard Prescott,
had left a son, and until I came down here, except as rec-
tor of Mallett, I never heard of Mr. Despard. Now that I
am made aware of his generosity and goodness to my uncle's
son, I am grieved beyond measure that I cannot tell him,
that what must have seemed v\tvfceV\rv^,s^l^sK neglect arose
HERO CARTHEW.
199
solely from total ignorance of the facts. My mother's life
had been one long sacrifice of self to duty, so that I know
her silence was caused by an idea that she was acting rightly.
She says that deference to Mr. Despard's wishes was her
principal reason for not speaking to me, or doing anything
in the matter."
" It is quite true ; she only acted as my dear brother al-
ways desired that she would," exclaimed Aunt Lydia,
whose anger had vanished before Sir Stephen's tnithful,
earnest manner. "Antony was most grateful that you
never interfered, but let him bring up Leo as if he were in-
deed our own boy. Ah ! Sir Stephen, if ever my poor
brother made an idol, it was of Leo. Don't speak of grati-
tude, Sir Stephen, and tell your mother to be assured that
my dear brother blessed her many and many a time for leav-
ing him such a comfort. Two old people, alone in the
world, our lives would have been very dull without Leo."
Sir Stephen took the old lady's hand. "Your unselfish
goodness," he said, " puts my thanks to silence ; but you
must now tell me your wishes, so that I may see if I can-
not serve your adopted son in some way."
Aunt Lydia sat for a few moments without speaking, but
with an expression in her sweet old face which kept Sir
Stephen from disturbing her ; then looking at him she said,
" How wonderful are the ways of Him, who worketh all
things together for our good ! Until two days ago, 1 never
wished that the silence which my brother kept up between
Leo and his father's family should be broken ; but a cir-
cumstance has occurred which has nfede me hesitate, and
think, would it not be best that you should know, as per-
haps you could be of great assistance to Leo. I cannot
tell you, Sir Stephen, how this thought has worried me, not
having any person to speak to on the matter."
" Mr. Leo Despard is not aware, then, of the connection
between us ? "
" Oh dear no ! nothing could be further from his thoughts.
He knows that the details of his birth are somewhat painful ;
for before he went into the world, my dear Antony thought
it only right to tell him so much, but no moi^ \ NJasx^fot^ i
2O0 HERO CARTHEW.
could not speak to him. I could but seek guidance, and
now you come to me, and ask a question which gives the
answer to my petition. Mrs. Prescott, you say, has only
told you now ? "
Sir Stephen, wishing that Aunt Lydia should suppose his
mother's communication a voluntary one, answered,
" Yes ; she saw that we were likely to be thrown more
together, and she thought it best. You know I am going
to sell my larger estate, and settle at Mallett altogether."
" Dear me ! that seems a pity. I remember Antony
telling me what a beautiful place it was."
" Yes ; most people admire it, and that gives me hope
that I shall have no difficulty in selling it. I presume," he
said, reverting to the subject uppermost in his mind, "that
it was Mr. Leo Despard's wish to be a soldier."
" From the time he was a little fellow so high, he de-
lighted in nothing else. He and his dear uncle would play
by the hour together at fighting battles and drilling armies.
Antony wished him to go into the church, feeling that it was
more than probable that you would, in due time, have al-
lowed Leo to take his place as rector here, and there would
have been a comfortable provision for him for life ;
whereas, where he is, the poor boy has a hard task to pay
his way ; and to put by to purchase his next step, is next
to impossibility, Sir Stephen. If he had a friend in power,
or any one to lend him a helping hand, he thinks some-
thing might be managed. And now, Sir Stephen, I am
coming to my request a very bold one I fear you will
think it."
** No, I shall not ; only tell me exactly what he wants.
This, you know, is strictly between ourselves."
" Yes, I am sure of that, and I feel as if I could really
open my mind to you, Sir Stephen, which is such a comfort
to one pent up as I have been, through having no one to
whom I could speak openly. Well, I dare say you don't
know, though perhaps you may have guessed, that there is
a great attachment between Leo and Hero Carthew."
Sir Stephen nodded his head, to signify that he was al-
ready in. possession of that iacu
HERO CARTHEW. 201
** Ah, I thought whether you hadn't noticed it Then I
dare say you have also noticed that there's a Httle misun-
derstanding between them just at present."
" No. I saw them together on Wednesday."
" Ah, yes ; but it has been since then. They had a fall
out that evening. You see, Sir Stephen, that though they
have been engaged, it has not been anything fomial : and
I suppose Hero (and very naturally) now wants it to be
known, and she told Leo as much, and he took it into his
head it would not be honorable to bind her, and so ob-
jected ; and then, as is always the case, one word led to an-
other, until the poor boy in his warmth, let out what we
had none of us suspected, that he has been miserable for
ever so long, because he can't see his way to getting his
promotion, for perhaps ten years to come, and until he gets
that they must not think of marrying, you know. Sir Ste-
phen ; and he said at length that, rather than tie Hero
down by a long engagement, he would set her free, and
she rather ungenerously, I must say that of her took him
at his word. As he said to me last night, why can't they
go on as the/ve been going on ? But she won't have that.
She says things are altered now, and she wishes people to
know that she is engaged, and from what I can gather she
was a little high and mighty with him, and Leo isn't one to
stand that ; and so when she said then they would in future
only be friends, he took her at her word, and the conse-
quence is, they are both of them heart-broken, and one
won't give way and the other won't give way, so that there
is no knowing how long they may go on making each
other miserable. However, I shouldn't mind that so much
for young people are i^retty sure to get right in the end
if it was not that it has opened my eyes to the dear boy's
anxieties about his promotion, which I never knew before,
and I am afraid it will affect his health, and he talks of vol-
unteering for some of those dreadful places where a strong
young man is taken off like the snuff of a candle in a few
hours" and here poor Aunt Lydia shuddered at the mel-
ancholy prospect. " A wife, you see, is such a safeguard
to a man in the army, because he know^ M \i& ?pfe'5k ^^^-
202 HERO CARTHEW.
ing away bis life, how straitened he must leave his poor
widow: so that I shouldn't be a bit afraid if Leo was mar-
ried only how is he to marry until he gets his promotion,
and how is he to get his promotion without a friend to
give him a helping hand?" And stopping, she looked
wistfully at Sir Stephen, who sat listening to her words with
a grave face.
He had not interrupted her while she was speaking, for ev-
ery sentence she uttered seemed to send his thoughts travel-
ling off in a fresh direction. Viewed in the light which Aunt
Lydia threw upon it, Leo's denial assumed a diflferent as-
pect and Sir Stephen could readily credit the young fellow
was striving to do what he believed to be honorable and right
Until now he hardly knew how strongly hope had sprung
up within him ; but if this was the explanation of Leo's
coldness, he must give up all thought of things being differ-
ent, and until he had done what was plainly his duty, forget
his personal interest in the matter. So, with an effort,
which he strove to hide from Miss Despard, he said,
"If the sum for purchasing a further step will secure
their happiness, you need say no more, Miss Despard, as I
consider you have every right to claim that from me."
" Oh, Sir Stephen, you are too generous ; pray don't
speak in that way to me, for I could not think of allowing
you to deprive yourself of such a sum ; we shall only look
upon it as a loan from you which is to be repaid, and I
know that Leo will leave no stone unturned to repay it, for
he is a good boy, Sir Stephen a dear good boy, a son
whom any man might have been proud to own ; but there,
1 have no right to speak ; it is not for us to judge."
" 1 suppose you never saw the mother ? " said Sir Ste-
phen.
"No, never."
" I thought she might have made some attempt to see
the boy."
**She never knew where he had been placed, and his
dread of her discovering it kept Sir Bernard from coming
to the house. It was not until he ascertained that she was
dead that he wrote to Anlony, say\x\^ Ke should now see
HERO CARTHEW.
203
the child ; and we always thought he meant to acknowledge
him. But there, it was not to be. Sudden death is very
awful, Sir Stephen, and I shall never forget the shock your
poor uncle's death gave Antony. You see they were much
attached to each other like brothers, you may say."
" Mr. Despard had seen the mother?"
" Yes, he had ; poor Antony quite grieved, thinking what
a thousand pities for Sir Bernard to have made such a mis-
take, for you know he quite thought Sir Bernard had mar-
ried her ; indeed, to his dying day it was a mystery to my
dear brother. Ah, we're all sound till we're sifted, Sir Ste-
phen, and the man who trusts to his own strength is lost."
While Aunt Lydia was saying this the expression of Sir
Stephen's face had gradually become more pained and anx-
ious.
" I shall come again soon, and have another chat with
you, Miss Despard," he said, rising from his chair with a
heavy fueling of oppression. "In the meantime, how
about your nephew ? Do you propose to inform him now
of our relationship?"
** Oh, tliat I shall leave to you. Sir Stephen."
" You see that, though I have a large-sounding inconie,
I am from circumstances so straitened for ready money
that I could not conveniently spare this sum until I have
made some arrangement dependent on my estate of Pam-
phillon, which is. at present for sale. Now, suppose we
said nothing about this matter until the money is forthcom-
ing, and then we told Mr. Despard ? "
" That is quite as I think. Sir Stephen."
" I hope to be able to do this in the course of a. few weeks ;
so they will not have a very long term of probation."
Aunt Lydia took his outstretched hand, and while tears
jof joy filled her eyes she said,
" My tongue has ever been a very weak exponent of my
heart, and never more feeble to express its gratitude than
at this moment ; but inasmuch as you have done to me,
may it be done to you, so that the burden which lies near-
est to your heart be lifted suddenly away, and its heaviness
turned into great fulness of joy/'
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE CAPTAIN CLEARS UP SOME POINTS.
After leaving Aunt Lydia, Sir Stephen walked towards
the village, at the* entrance to which he suddenly came
upon Captain Carthew and Leo Despard. Determined
upon making restitution for the false impression he consid-
ered he had formed of Leo, Sir Stephen gave him a more
friendly greeting than their short acquaintance demanded,
and when at the turn to the Forts Leo stopped, Sir Ste^^en
said,
" If you have nothing better to do, will yon str^ round,
and smoke a cigar with me this evening ? "
" Thanks, I will," said Leo, well pleased at the change ;
and the Captain and Sir Stephen walked on together.
" That seems a nice young fellow," Sir Stephen said,
debating within himself whether or not he should speak
openly to Captain Carthew. "You knew Mr. Despard,
the rector, intimately, I suppose ? "
"What, old Antony? Ah, yes ; he and I were great
chums," said the Captain regretfully.
" Did he ever speak to you as to the antecedents of this
adopted son of his?"
The Captain gave a quick look at Sir Stephen.
" I am not asking from idle curiosity, as you will pres-
ently see. I really want to unburden myself a little to you
on a subject which has just caused me great annoyance.
I know I may speak openly to you."
The Captain, on whom the troubled tone of Sir Stephen's
voice was not lost, put his arm through his companion's.
" Let us turn down here," he said. " We are not so
likely to be interrupted." And they walked on a little dis-
tance without eitbcar o{ them s^^i^vxi^. ^^^ow^ abcnit this
HERO CARTHEW. 20S
young Despard," the Captain began. " All I know of him
from his uncle is this as to anything others may say, well,
I put it in the same list with what he says of himself- he
was the son of a great friend of the old man's, who had
got himself into a preT:ious mess through some woman he
took up with. He was a queer kind of fish, and Antony
thought he had married her, and when he took charge of
Leo, then a little chap in [petticoats, he still believed that
she was his wife, though by this time she had bolted from
him, and he was furious against her, so much so, that until
she died, which she did a few years after, he wouldn't even
look at the child, who was the image of the mother. After
her death he softened down a little, and came to see the
bo3% and talked about taking him home, for he'd come
into some property, I fancy when, poor fellow, he died
quite suddenly of some complaint which, it seems, he kept
to himself for years, and everything was found to be at
sixes andk sevens. The next of kin wrote to old Antony,
and, as nothing was found of a marriage certificate, or any
papers to clear up the matter, the poor little beggar had
no claim upon anybody. Old Antony offered to adopt
him, and they were only too willing to be ridden of the
burden. Mind you,'* added the Captain, finding Sir Ste-
phen still silent, " if ever any one was certain of a berth
aloft, that man was old Antony Despard. He loved his
neighbor, he feared God, and honored the king ; and if
there's anything else that ought to be done to make things
square, why, sir, he did it."
And the Captain, in his excitement, pushed his hat far-
ther back, and shook his head defiantly at Sir Stephen.
"You but confirm what Miss Despard told me this
morning, and my mother told me last night, when I was
first informed that the friend for whom Mr. Despard did all
this was my uncle, the late Sir Bernard Prescott, and that
this young Despard is therefore my cousin."
" The devil he is 1 " exclaimed the Captain, stopping,
and turning short round in blank amazement. '*God
bless my soul 1 why, I thought you were asking on Hero's
accouotl Lord} I never had the wind so \L\ioO&&^ oxxV ^\
206 HERO CARTffEW,
me before. Leo Despard your uncle's son ! Well, then,
for once I should have cut up rough with old Antony,
for ^" and he grasped Sir Stephen's hand "by Jingo, iif
the mother had been married, Mallett might have thrown
out signals of distress for a month of Sundays, before Mas-
ter Leo would have come to the rescue."
Sir Stephen smiled.
"You have rather set me thinking," he said. "I sup-
pose old Mr. Despard felt quite satisfied that every justice
had been done to this boy. That is the worst of being
kept in ignorance. Women do what is right ; but they
don't always see the necessity of proving that they have
done so. My poor mother, for instance, is plagued with
such a tender conscience, that she would overstrain and
torment herself in any doubtful matter ; but very likely she
would never think to say this to any one, fancying that
they would be sure to judge her as justly as she would
judge them."
" And so she was judged," said the Captain ; " for I, not
knowing who the parties were, have often asked Antony
if he was satisfied that it had all been plain sailing."
"And he was?"
" Perfectly. He said his knowledge of the person who
wrote to him thoroughly satisfied him ; and now I know
that he meant your mother, I can understand the high
opinion he had of her."
" I am very glad of that," said Sir Stephen, with a sigh
of relief ; " but the good old man must have thought very
meanly of me.^*
" Not a bit of it. He never thought meanly of any one,
and, 4east of all, of any member of your family. On the
contrary, you may depend he was very much obliged to
you for not interfering ; indeed, I've heard hixn sa/ as
much."
" It was very strange that he should not have told the
young fellow himself?"
"Well, I don't know that. He'd a good deal more
sen^^Q than he ever got credit for, and I expect he saw
th3Lt Master Leo was one taxhei ^w^xi \.q X^-^ Vsald of fanci-
HERO CAR THE W.
207
ful notions. He's a queer mixture is Leo, and I can make
more aUowance for his twists and cranks now. I am glad
your mother told you of the circumstance. These things
are better made a clean breast of."
" Her silence has been a terrible annoyance to me," Sir
Stephen said. " At least," he added, wishing to screen her
forced avowal, " she ought to have told me before we came
down here. Directly she did do so I went to Miss Des-
pard, and I have had a long talk with her this morning."
" Does she wish Leo to be told of it ? "
** Yes, we shall tell him, but not for a little time to come.
I may as well be plain with you. I wish to give him the
sum for the purchase of his next step. I cannot do this till
Pamphillon is sold ; then I shall be able to manage it, and
add to it enough, so that he may marry, which it seems he is
very anxious to do."
" The deuce he is ? And who does he want to marry ? "
Sir Stephen hesitated.
" You don't mean Hero ? "
Sir Stephen's silence implied that he did mean Hero,
and the Captain shook his head.
" Why, it was only last night that she told me that they'd
parted company.
" Yes, Miss Despard hinted at some misunderstanding,
in consequence of Mr. Despard feeHng, that it would be
wrong to bind your daughter to one who could not marry
for an indefinite time ; but that is over now they can
marry as soon as they please." And a something in the
tone of these words made the Captain avoid looking at
once at the speaker.
" Well, he may get his promotion," he said, " and very
glad I shall be to see a pair of epaulettes upon his shoul-
ders ; but if he gets my girl, why, I'll eat my head, hat and
all. No, no, not a bit of it."
You won't give your consent? "
Give my consent! Yes, I'll give my consent if he
ever gets hers. But, whereas, a little time ago she'd nailed
her colors to Leo, and would have stuck to him through
thick and thin, like a true woman God XA^^'s^^^tciV^^v^
u
208 HERO CARTHEW.
one 1 ^now, whether he sinks or swims, the same boat will
never hold them, and the longer they live the wider the/ll
drift apart"
" But how ^what has caused this sudden change ? " said
Sir Stephen.
" Nothing, I believe ; only old Time has made a woman
of the child, and she cares for something beyond a good
figurehead. I always knew that if they were thrown much
together her love for Leo would be gone ; they're as op-
posite to one another as the poles. I wish Leo well, and,
for my old friend's sake, besides having a liking for the
boy himself, I'd do him a service with all my heart ; but,
for all that, I say, thank the Lord that he'll never be any-
thing more to my girl, and last night when she told me I
took an extra glass of grog on the strength of it Ah ! by
the bye, that brings me to a promise I gave to our
friend Joe Bunce. Do you really think you shall take up
your quarters here I mean, so that you'll keep on your
boat, and need Joe as a regular hand?"
" Certainly I mean to engage his services to be a handy
man about the place, and to make the boat his especial
care."
" Well, then, will you tell him so ? "
" Of course I will. I was on my way to the village when
we met. If you are going there, we'll walk on together."
** What you have told me," said the Captain, as they turned
into the road, " is as safe as if it was unsaid. Until you
give the word I shall never speak of it to a living soul."
" I shall be entirely guided by his own wishes," said Sir
Stephen. " He may desire that things be left as they are."
" Most probably he. will," said the Captain. "You see,
it's an awkward thing to be chopping and changing, and
I know when Leo has a story to tell he isn't particular to a
shade or two." Then, seeing that they were approaching
a more frequented part, he added, " but we'll talk this over
again. There are two or three things I want to say ; but
we'll leave them for the present, and finish our business
with Mr. Joe, who I can see round the corner keeping a
shsLrp lookout Come, ]oe,Vi.ei?sS\i Si\.^^\ve\v ^now speak
HERO CARTHEW. 209
Up ! " for the expression on Joe's face had suddenly as-
sumed a bashfulness rather at variance with its bronze
color and hairy surroundings.
" Well, Joe ! " said Sir Stephen, " are you ready to settle
down as a landsman ? Is it agreed that you undertake the
charge of my boat ? "
Joe turned the hat which he held by the brim slowly
round, staring hard into the crown, with the hope of gain-
ing an inspiration by which he might duly return his thanks ;
but these means not succeeding, he got redder than before
with the effort to say,
" Thank 'ee, sir. I ain't much of a hand at speechifying,
through allays havin' bin in the carpenter's crew ; but my
feelin's is the same, and I am uncommon obliged to you,
sir, for givin' me this chance, and so the Cap*en can tell,
as has often spoke up for me before, when the wind's bin
pretty stiff up above," and he rather lowered his voice as
he indicated above to mean Sharrows.
" Ah ! " said the Captain, " that's when you've been splic-
ing the main brace, Joe ; but we mustn't have any more of
that now. You must conduct yourself as becomes a steady-
going man, or you'll lose your rating with Betsey."
" Betsey ! " repeated Sir Stephen. " Of course, I had
forgotten all about that. Why, you want to get married,
Joe ? "
Joe became more sheep-faced than ever.
** Well, sir, I have bin a-thinking about it."
" Thinking about it," laughed the Captain. " Why, you've
been thinking about it these last twenty years."
" Yes, sir, but the difficulty is to get a female twice in
the same mind. They don't answer to no helm, they don't
not as I could ever make out. P'raps you gintlemen
knows how to strike tlie right nail on the head ; but I've
never bin able to hit it. If so be now," and Joe gave a sly
look towards Sir Stephen, " I'd a got anybody to give me
a hoist up with a wedge o' their own drivin', she'd take me
straight off the reel."
" Well, we must see what can be done," laughed Sir Ste-
phen. '* I shall tell Betsey that now you liaiv^ ^xiX^x^^ vq^1;^
2IO HERO CARTBEW.
my service, Joe, I must see yoa respectably married, and
rU ask her advice about a cottage which I ^ink might suit
you."
Joe stood speechless, then suddenly turning to Sir Ste-
phen, he said
'' You couldn't find me somethin' to do now, sir, could
ye?"
** No, I am going on some other business."
" Have you got a job of any kind, Cap'en ? "
The Captain shook his head.
" Well, then ! " exclaimed Joe decisively, " I'll run up
and ask Miss Hero to keep a eye on me ; for if I stay
within hail of the Admiral Nelson, I shan't be able to keep
from drinkin' o' somebod/s health, and once inside there^
'tain't so easy to get out again."
CHAPTER XXVII.
MRS. PRESCOTT'S REFLECTIONS.
Until dinner-time Mrs. Prescott saw nothing of her son,
and then Katherine*s presence prevented their touching
upon any but general topics. This was only in accordance
with her desire that, until she had hedged herself in with
clever evasions and discreet denials, there should be no
raking up of by-gone memories between them. Her day,
which, under the plea of indisposition, she had spent almost
alone, had been one of alternating hope and fear hope,
that, now so much was known, the great dread would re*
main more completely shrouded than before ; and fear, lest
Sir Stephen should persist in telling Leo the existing rela-
tionship between them. By way of consolation she in-
dulged, as was her habit, in imagining the different things
to be said and done under different circumstances ;
and, by hanging these events on suitable hinges, they
invariably turned in the right direction, and so were
productive of a certain amount of comfort. It seemed
hard, that when she had almost succeeded in forgetting
those years of endurance they should, all of a sudden, be
brought before her as vividly as ever ; and as she sat in
the quiet of her room, she recounted every hardship she
had undergone to keep the estate to which she had so tena-
ciously clung. She had given up one expense after an-
other, had sold everything over which she had control, and
had lived secluded and apart from most of those she cared
for. Where would Pamphillon be had she not done this ?
In the hands of strangers, and Combe the sole inheritance
of the PrescottSr But was this coming to pass in spite of
her ? Should she yet live to see Stephen possessed of noth-
ing but this paltry out-of-the-world estate \ K^, ^^X.'v^nM.
212 BERO CARTHEW.
be bitterness indeed ! for Combe had ever been a despised
portion ; and though, during the struggling years of her
son*s minorit}', she had derived from it her only certain in-
come, it had never entered her mind to live there, nor had
she considered that either the place or the people had any
claim upon her for sympathy or care.
"It must have been fate which induced Stephen to come
down here," she murmured ; then sighing despondingly,
she added, " I suppose it is ordained that I should never
know peace of mind ; for, whenever there is a lull, it seems
but to mean that a fiercer storm is brewing, and that I. am
to be more tempest-tossed than before. I did think, when
Katherine was given back to us again, that tilings would
go smoothly ; but, there, I suppose it is not to be." After
a time she began considering how soon it would be possible
for them to turn tlieir backs on the place, " for it will be
no exaggeration to say that if I stay here I shall be
seriously ill, to feel under the constant dread of what
Stephen or this aunt, who had entirely slipped out of my
memory, may say is more than my nerves could bear.
Stephen is so odd in his notions he takes ideas which no
one else would dream of; now, instead of seeing how
fortunate it was for this young man to be brought up so
respectably and happily, he flies out at me each time I try
to impress it upon him, and says that, seeing his uncle
evidently intended to do something for him, it should have
been our care to see his wishes carried out. Poor Stephen,
poor boy ! ah, he can never know what I have undergone
for his sake."
These and similar thoughts filled her brain, and kept her
on the stretch during the day and night which followed her
interview with her son ; nor was she the only one, whom
troubled fancies made restless and disturbed throughout
the weary hours. Sir Stephen did nothing but turn and
return to the one subject. A hundred things seemed to
combine in giving strange interest to this new revelation.
That he should ever have come to the place, which he had
been brought up to regard as "a barren, uncultivated
Waste^ fit for nothing bMtxob^\iie3Qoxft of a rough and
HERO CARTHEW, 213
scanty fishing population." How culpable had been his
neglect of Mallett ! He had taken for granted what his
mother had always said, that it brought in next to nothing ;
and now he found that at the time of his uncle's death the
best part of the estate had been mortgaged to relieve the
pressing wants of Pamphillon, and since then, nothing had
been done for the land or the i)eople. PVom a repugnance on
Sir Stephen's part to enter into matters which overwhelmed
and disheartened him, he had acquired the reputation, with
his agents and lawyers, of a ])oor man of business. This,
combined with his continual absence from England, made
them enter into details far more fully with Mrs. Prescott
than they did with her son, and they took it for granted
diat Sir Stephen was by her made acquainted with every-
thing that took place. But they, like many others, had
gauged Stephen Prescott very imperfectly. His weakness
arose from his knowledge, that the moment he faced an
evil, he must, at any cost, set to work to remedy it ; there-
fore, as much as it was possible, he accepted things on
trust, asked few questions; and, while tormented and
worried about the state of Pamphillon, felt no twit lings
of conscience about Mallett, whose inhabitants, when
viewed by the light of Mrs. Prescott's hearsay exaggerations
and Mr. Truscott*s contented state of happiness, he con-
cluded, had not reached that state of civilization ui which
dirt and discomfort cither affect or disturb. When he be-
gan looking into the Pamphillon affairs, he decided he
would at least see Mallett, and with no more definite
interest had he paid that first visit, so fraught with import
to the whole future of his Hfe. Had Providence decreed
that he should be the scapegoat, that while he was to be
die instrument by which happiness should be effected, he
should, in his own person, suffer for the sins of those who
had gone before. Surely he had had his share of suffering
already, for he now saw the reason of his uncle's reckless
speculations, it was to form a fortune for this son, whom,
doubtless, he yearned to make his heir. " And yet," he
said, * my mother, seeing this, could allow her sensitiveness
to overcome her scn^^ and, to screen rcv^ xxxida^ cqvccwX.
214 HERO CARTHEW.
an injustice to his son and to her own. I am quite
ashamed to think how I hope the young fellow will choose
to keep the matter still secret I know how many would
sneer over the false sentiment which kept her silent, while
others would do the same at the idea of my pretended igno*
ranee. What will Hero think of it ? she, of course, must
know what is the meaning of this sudden rupture between
her and Despard. Am I to believe the aunt, or the
father? Perhaps neither of them know the truth; she
may have told him about me, and he may feel bound to re-
lease her, and neither of them may be able to speak
plainly to a third person. God knows," he exclaimed, after
a long pause, jumping up to occupy Umself and so drown
thought, " but at times I could swear that she loves me."
CHAPTER XXVIII.
MUCH MYSTIFIED.
Mallett church stood at the top of St. Kit* s Hill, at
about an equal distance from the dwelling-place of any one of
its scattered congregation. The toilsome roads leading to it
were exposed, the hills were steep ; yet neither the weakly nor
the aged ever grumbled as Sunday after Sunday they wearily
plodded along, for who among them had not some one whose
heart had been, or would be, cheered by the sight of its
gray old tower, which served as a beacon, and was hailed
with joy and thankfulness by all good seamen ? Strangers
had been heard to say they wondered at a church being built
up there ; but this remark met with no sympathy from the
Malletters, who asked, "Why, for goodness' sake, should
it ha* bin put elsewhere than so that the dear blids to sea
could catch sight on it, and know they was close home ?
Why, even the furriners could see the sense o' its placing,
as was shown by the painted winder one of 'em had put up
a hundred years gone by a great, hooge man a-carryin* a
infant child on his back. Then there was a headstone,
with a carved ship a-top, so far back as 1560, showin' that
the church was standin' there then. There was some went
so far as to say 'twas the 'rection of a Popish lady for the
restin' of her son's sawl after his body was washed ashore
close by. If so, many a sailor had had cause to bless her
mem'ry since, and wives and mothers too, so 'twas to be
hoped, any rate, her was at rest, sawl and body too."
Thus viewed, one began to forget the architectural defi-
ciencies of the mottled, weather-stained old building, with
its disproportionately high tower, up to which the people
looked with loving familiarity as each Sunday morning they
lingered under its shadoWf waiting untiY iVi^ ct^^^& \.\\M^
2i6 HERO CARTHEW.
of the bell should stop before they entered the church itself.
The present rector, Mr. Jago, had never attained to the de-
gree of popularity enjoyed by Mr. Despard ; and the older
folk, especially, were glad of any opportunity afforded for
a disparaging comparison.
" Mr. Despard was as regular as clock-work," said one of
the old men, with a shake of the head. " Never no waitin*
for he."
"No," answered Mrs. Collins, the butcher's wife; "nor
no keepin* o' dinners waitin* neither. Our'n was stone
cold last Sunday, through standin' in Inch's bake-house.
Mr. Jago an't a-goin' to tell me he don't know the hour
folks's dinners is drawed at; and 'tain't much good
preachin' does anybody, when their thoughts is set upon
the meat bein* dried up to a stick."
" He should keep the long-winded uns for the arternoon,
missis," laughed one of the hearers.
" Ah, well, he might keep 'em to hisself, and I shouldn't
be no wus pleased, for with dinners at twelve, by four yer
inside' s ready for yer cup o' tay ; and so you'd a chance o*
gettin' it in ole Mr. Despard' s time, and I don't suppose
anybody' 11 contend, but what he know'd how to do the
right thing by us so well as passon Jago, who's for ever-
lastin' at the fire and brimstone, so that it makes anybody's
blood run cold. I'd so lief go down to Pethewick's, only
I don't hold with meetin's, and such like it's contrary to
sense to fancy that folks as is in the grocery, any more
than any other shopkeepin' line, can know so much o' re-
ligion as gentlefolks, who've nothin' else to do. Besides,
it 'ud go agin my grain to sit under one o' my own sort
not a bit of it. I likes to have my say so well as they."
This truism gave rise to a general laugh, in the midst of
which the tinkle preparatory to the five minutes' ringing,
when the rector came in sight stopped, and they all be-
gan bustling into church, where the Joslyns, Miss Despard,
Hero, the Captain, and the few small farmers about, were
already seated.
There was no cause of complaint against Mr. Jago on
this day, for the congregaUo\\Wd\^xe\.^ ^^"aX^d themselves,
HERO CARTHEW. 21/
when old Matthey Cox, the sexton, commenced pulling
vigorously to announce his advent, and before the look of
amazement had well left their faces, the rector, hot and
flustered from his rapid pace, hurried up the aisle, followed,
after a couple of minutes' interval, by Sir Stephen, Mrs.
Prescott, Mrs. Labouchere, and I^eo Despard.
This was the first Sunday that the Combe ladies had
come, and the sensation they created was immense, partic-
ularly among the female portion, who gave a very divided
attention to the service, at which they had come to assist.
Leo sat in the Combe pew, so that Hero had a double
reason for not casting her eyes in that direction. The
Captain, true to his training, concentrated his whole atten-
tion on the duty he had come to perform. So tliat they re-
mained ignorant of the excitement caused by the dress of
the two ladies, and the various small items they had deemed
it necessary to arm themselves with. Their ivory-backed
prayer-books produced a grand sensation among the Sun-
day-school children, which lasted until the middle of
the psalms, when the whispered fact that "one of 'em was
a-holdin' a bottle with a gold cork to her nawse," induced
several of the least fortunately placed to heighten them-
selves on a long rickety stool, which suddenly tipping up,
upset them, thereby causing a titter, which was followed by
the unmistakable whacks of a cane falling promiscuously
among the oflfenders, who spent the remaining term of their
probation in emitting lengthened and dolorous sniffs.
At length the service came to an end, and the humbler
portion of the congregation hurried outside, where they
stood about with the lingering hope of getting a further
look at the gentlefolks. When Sir Stephen appeared, he
had a good-natured word for all those near him. Mrs.
Prescott, also, to please her son, smiled a gracious acknowl-
edgment of the bobs and curtseys ; but Katherine, whose
temper had suflfered from the atmosphere of fish and tar,
tlie shuffling of the men, the sniffing of the children, and
the general primitiveness of the whole service, had not re-
covered herself sufficiently to do aught else than ignore the
offenders, past whom she swept without \OMc5as^^^'^x\NSNSN.^.
10
21 8 HERO CARTHEW.
single glance. Leo, bent upon impressing his intimacy
with the new-comers upon all around, walked by her side,
apparently engrossed by her conversation ; so that the
quick wrath of all present was stirred up against them both.
"Awh, dear, who be she, I wonder," exclaimed sharp-
tongued Mrs. Collins, " flinking herself along as if nobody
wasn't made o* flesh and blood but she ; and that young
Despard, with his pridy airs, as if he '^
" Hush ! " said one of the men ; " there's ole Miss Des-
pard a-comin* with Mrs. Grant," and the rest of the " gen-
tlefolks" appearing, a general exchange of salutations took
place, interlarded with inquiries as to the various absent
husbands, sons, and brothers, when letters were last re-
ceived from them, and what were the chances of their re-
turn or promotion.
" Why are you waiting, Stephen ? " Mrs. Prescott asked.
" I really don't feel equal to much standing, my dear, and
I told Masters not to bring the pony up that dreadful hill
again."
" I shall not detain you long, mother," said Sir Stephen,
craning and peering as if he was looking for some one.
" Just wait here one instant," he added, hurrying back to
the church porch.
He went up to Miss Despard, and after shaking hands
with her and the surrounding friends he knew, he said
" My mother wishes to be introduced to you, Miss Des-
pard. Will you allow me to take you to where she is stand-
ing ? "
Aunt I-.ydia was quite fluttered.
" Mrs. Prescott is very kind," she murmured hesitat-
ingly ; "but"
" Let me give you an arm," he said, not heeding the
" but."
And before the old lady had time to recover herself,
they had reached Mrs. Prescott' s side.
" Mother, this is Miss Despard. I have been telling her
how anxious you are to make her acquaintance.''
Mrs. Prescott started ; but her anxiety not to betray her
confusion made her throw a mwcYv ^i^^.\.?^x de^ee of gm-
HERO CARTHEW.
219
pressement into her greeting than she desired to do. Find-
ing her beating heart seemed to choke down the words she
strove to utter, she took refuge in holding both Aunt Lydia*s
thin little hands in hers until, after looking into her face
for an instant, she got out
" This is a very great pleasure to me, Miss Despard, I
have wanted to see you so much. If I had not been so very
unwell, I should have called upon you long before this."
** Leo told me that you were very poorly," said Aunt
Lydia, overwhelmed by Mrs. Prescott's cordiality, and
nervously afraid lest she should not behave herself, as Leo
would think, properly.
" What a pleasure for you to have your nephew with
you ! " Mrs. Prescott continued, vainly endeavoring to
stand apart from Leo and Katherine.
" Oh, yes, he is my greatest earthly comfort," said Aunt
Lydia.
" And no wonder," Mrs. Prescott answered, lowering
her voice, though not able to prevent the others hearing
her. " He must be a universal favorite, I am sure, so
amiable and nice. We have all taken a wonderful fancy to
him, I assure you."
Aunt Lydia* s face grew radiant.
" I wish his dear uncle could have heard you say that,"
she said. " My dear brother ^"
But Mrs. Prescott interrupted her by exclaiming
"Stephen, my dear, we really must not keep Miss Des-
pard standing. My pony carriage is at the foot of the hill,
and she must return with us to luncheon. I have so much
to talk to you about. Miss Despard. You will come back
with me ? "
Aunt Lydia looked towards Leo. If he wished it, she
dared not refuse, but to accept was a terrible penance.
** Oh ! I know Mr. Despard will not refuse to accompany
you," Mrs. Prescott said, with her most winning smile.
And though Leo would much rather that the " dear old
bit of antiquity," as he was wont to call her, had been al-
lowed to return to her own solitary dinner, he could but
sav
220 HERO CARTHEW.
** Come along, Aunt Lydia, it will do you good"
" But Tve no cap, you see, my dear."
"Never mind your Cap," laughed Sir Stephen; "yon
have a bonnet."
" I left Hero so abruptly," pleaded the old lady. "She
is staying at the Joslyns, you know, and I may not see her
for a week again, and I wanted to speak to her very par-
ticularly."
"Well, you cannot speak to her now," said I^o, "for
the Joslyns have turned the other way. Send the message
by Captain Carthew. Come, do not keep Mrs. Prescott
waiting."
So urged. Aunt Lydia, very much against her inclination,
gave way, and, by Mrs. Prescott* s side, walked down the
hill towards the carriage. Katherine and Leo strolled on
in front, while Sir Stephen returned to the churcli to speak
to Captain Carthew. He knew that, since the day when
they had met in Shivers Lane, Hero had been spending the
week at Winkle, but Betsey had said she was certain to be
back by Sunday, and so he had felt secure in finding her
with the Captain, who, in virtue of being churchwarden,
always stayed behind, to distribute certain small weekly
payments left to seamen's widows.
He was vexed bevond measure that she should have
gone away with no other greeting than the general one he
had bestowed upon the Joslyns, the Randalls, and the
Thomsons. Only once during the service had their eyes
met, and then, on looking up suddenly. Hero had found
his fixed upon her, and something in the expression of her
face, as she hastily averted it, had made his heart beat
quickly and hopefully.
"I am so vexed," he could not help saying to the
Captain, " that I have missed speaking to Miss Carthew.
I had no idea she intended to return to Winkle."
" She was to have come home with me yesterday ; but
when I went for her Mrs. Joslyn asked me to let her stay a
little longer. She says Hero isn't well, and wants looking
after, and the child herself seemed inclined to stay, so I
told them to keep her by a\V m^av\? \ foi: I kaew, if she. felt
HERO CAR THE IV. 221
the thing, she would not have wanted to stay away from
home."
"I hope you told her that I had been down two or three
times to see if she was at home ? " asked Sir Stephen.
" No, upon my honor, I forgot all about you ! " laughed
die old man, frankly ; " and she was so taken up with not
coming back, that she never asked a word a wonderful
thing for her, for she's generally full of questions about
what you're doing, and so on." Then, turning to the sub-
ject uppermost in his mind, he began speaking of Aunt
Lydia's introduction to Mrs. Prescott.
Hero's name was not again mentioned. Sir Stephen,
however, determined that he would get his mother to write
an invitation for her and Alice, and this would be a fair ex-
cuse for paying a call at Winkle the next day. He was as
much mystified as ever by Leo's conduct. Surely, unless he
had purposely determined that Hero should believe his giv-
ing her up to be little or no sacrifice to him, he would not
come to Combe so often as he had done during the past
week. Certainly there was nothing more in his atttentions
to Katherine than the admiration a beautiful woman invari-
ably calls forth from a young man, more particularly if her
position renders any warmer interest between them im-
probable, if not impossible. Still, Hero was not to know
all this, and she might very reasonably feel jealous. If he
could see them together, he should be able to judge better ;
and, apart from all this, in spite of the eftbrts he made to
overcome it, every now and then his love threatened to
conquer him. Suspense was so hard to bear, and yet how
could he feel certain that these two, while seemingly di-
vided, really loved each other truly ?
Such thoughts filled his mind as he walked home after
leaving the Captain. He was told by Katherine, with a puz-
zled look, that her aunt had carried off Miss Despard to her
own room, and that neither of them had been seen since.
" Oh, they will come down when the bell rings," said
Sir Stephen.
And so they did ; but only to retire again as soon as
lancfaedo was-Qven .
1332
HERO CARTBEW.
' A little time after Sir Stephen vanbhed ; and, to Kalh-
erine's increased amazement, when, her curiosity prompt-
ing her to see after them, she left Leo, and went to Ii i
aunt's little morning room, she found them all t^r^
earnestly upon some subject, which was evidently changed -
directly she made her appearance.
It was very odd in her aunt and cousin, to strike up sucii
a sudden friendship with tliis old person, who reall)- had
nothing, that she could see, to interest any one in her.
What did it mean ?
During her absence, Leo's thoughts were busy as bo
own. There was but one reading, that he could see, to
this sudden cordiality displayed towards him by Str Slephsn
and his mother a cordiality to be now extended towards
his supposed aunt they must have noticed, or Mrs. Li-
bouchere must have said, something which led them W
believe that she regarded him with more than ordinary in-
terest. Yes, he believed the game was in his own hands.
If not, why should they act thus ? All the talk about TJncte
Antony being a friend did not deceive him. If that were
true, it was very odd that Aunt Lydia knew nothing of
this intimacy. He believed that the key of it all was Mrs-
Labouchere, and a gnawing pain at his heart made him say,
L with a feeling of bitterness, " It was to be there is a laic
bin these things." If he could but deaden his love for
KHero, happiness seemed within his grasp ; but, the further
r way she was from him, the greater struggle it was to give
her up.
" Either way, I shall regret it," he sighed. " If such a
thing were to happen, and Hero were put out of my readi
forever, 1 should only love her fifty limes more than I do
now ; and if I make it straight with Hero, and let this op-
portunity slip through my own fault, I shall never cease
from thinking what a fool I've been. And so any man
would be who threw away such a chance. What is that
about ' a tide in die affairs of man ' ? only one is often
disposed to steer against it. Poor Hero 1 she will think I
have forgotten her. Ah, if I could but make her kng${
mtb&t I love her more thda ever I did that if I i
HERO CARTHEW. 223
duke to-morrow I'd rather marry her than any girl living.
I wonder what she thinks of me by this time ? "
Judging by what had that morning met her eyes when
she cast a look at the group, in the centre of which stood
the two men who had played so prominent a part in her
life, Hero felt she had forfeited her happiness, and entirely
separated herself from their thoughts and feelings. Some-
how she was much more angry at Sir Stephen's forgetful-
ness of her, than at Leo's apparent indifference, and it
needed all her self-command to listen smilingly when old
Mr. Jamieson whispered confidentially,
" Why, Hero, how is it neither of the beaux is at your
side ? Come, now, don't you be too tnisting, remember,
' When a widow's in ^ur string
n!'it quite another thing.'
You have my full consent to throwing the soldier over-
board if Sir Stephen's made fast. Don't shake your head
now," he added, as Hero turned away, "it's of no use
waiting for me, and I shan't so much mind being thrown
over, tf you're to be my lady."
" My lady," thought Hero, as she resigned herself to
two young Joslyns, between whom she had promised to
walk back to Winkle, " I dare say many would have thought
of that, but I difin't. It only seemed to me that what I
was doing was right, and yet everything has gone wrong ;
now they appear to have quite forgotten me."
Poor Hero ! many bitter tears had fallen from her eyes
during the past week, more especially since her father had
been to Winkle, and had left without saying a word of Sir
Stephen, who, she had quite expected to hear, had called at
Sharrows to inquire after her ; and not having done that,
surely it would have been no such great thing if he had
given her that morning more than a share in the general
greeting. " He never really loved me," cried her aching
heart, and this cry went on repeating itself all through the
day ; and at night the waves lappins against the rocks,
and washing the sands, in sight of ^ich she had listened to
bis vowsi echoed the same sad dirge, and in the intensity
of this new pain Leo was entirely fox{OUtii.
CHAPTER XXIX.
"sudden friendships."
Leo was a little siiri?rised at the small amount of aston-
ishment expressed by Aunt Lydia, respecting Mrs. Prcs-
cott's sudden cordiality ; "but there,*' he thought, "if the
queen sent for her as being my aunt, the poor old soul
would only look upon it as an uncommon display of sense
on her Majesty's part," and feeling tenderly disposed to-
wards such an amiable weakness, he said the next morning,
as they sat together,
** And so you liked Mrs. Prescott, Aunt Lydia ? "
" Very much indeed, my dear."
" What on earth were you talking about all the time
you were away from Mrs. Labouchere and me ? "
" Oh ! of all sorts of things," said Aunt Lydia, longing
to tell him the happiness that was in store for him, and yet
anxious to obey Sir Stephen's desire for present silence,
" they did not seem inclined to stir from where we were sit-
ting, and I was as comfortable there as in the garden, indeed
more so, for though I had my bonnet on, I felt the wind
rather chilly."
" Did they say anything about me ? " he asked carelessly.
" My dear, if you had been Sir Stephen's own brother, he
could not have said more ; and as for Mrs. Prescott, well,
I very nearly began to feel jealous ; you've found friends who
can appreciate you in them, and who can help you on too."
" Why, did they give any hint of the kind ? "
Aunt Lydia hesitated what should she say so as to keep
within the bounds of truth without enlightening Leo.
" Come," said Leo, " I can see something was said."
. " Now Leo, my dear, promise. Well, my dear, I really
do Dot know that I am at all justified in repeatiDg it, u%
HERO CARJHEW, 22$
after all, it may not have meant anything, but certainly
when the conversation turned upon marriage, and I hap-
pened to say that until you got your promotion you could
not think of getting married Sir Stephen did say it would
be a great pity that that should stand in your way ; and he
added, rather pointedly it seemed to me, that he dare say
when the time came you'd find the money was ready."
" How was I to find the money ready ? " Leo asked in
a sharp voice.
" Well, I don't know, I'm sure, unless he could have had
any thought about advancing it."
" Stuff and nonsense 1 " Leo exclaimed, " what on earth
should make him provide it ? How could such a thought
enter your head ? "
" Well, my dear, only because they seem to have taken
such a wonderful fancy to you, that it seems to me as if
nothing was improbable ; they talk about you, and take
quite the same interest in your affairs, as if you were a re-
lation."
" Perhaps I may turn into one some of these fine days,"
said Leo, laughing, while Aunt Lydia seized with horror,
lest she had betrayed Sir Stephen, suddenly discovered that
she wanted to say something very particular to Fanny be-
fore she went into the village.
Daring her absence Leo turned over in his mind what
she had repeated. Not having heard anything of Sir
Stephen's former visit, he naturally concluded that this con-
versation had taken place on the previous day. Could he
in any way accept his aunt's suggestion ? It was highly
improbable, yet what should make them speak about his
marrying? What were his affairs to such people as they?
Then, if his suspicions were correct, came the question of
motive for it. He was far too well acquainted with the
world to imagine that, unless Sir Stephen had some potent
reasons for so doing, he could be anxious to further the
marriage of his cousin to a penniless stranger. Yet what
could the motive possibly be ? Leo was sadly perplexed
how to take it. Could he be deceived altogether? he
asked himself. Forewarned of Mis. "LgiXiOwOcv^^^ ^ ^'^^.'^^
10*
226 HERO CARTHEW.
to allow herself to be drawn into any species of flirtation,
he had been most cautious to savor all his attentions with
a homage to which the most fastidious could not object,
and Katherine noticing this, piqued by Sir Stephen's con-
tinued indifference, and thrown most unusually on her own
resources, had vouchsafed to him a more than ordinary
share of favor. Still there was nothing in all this to war-
rant Leo's hopes, and until this meeting and conversation
with Aunt Lydia, he was in reality more doubtful of success
than he liked to own. Nothing is more easy than for a vain
egotistical man to connect the every speech and action of
others with himself, and by constantly brooding on one sub-
ject to imbue it with the rose-color or gray of his own tem-
perament. In the few minutes which elapsed before Aunt
Lydia's return, I^eo had made the offer, had been accepted,
and, with his wife's fortune placed at his disposal, was in
the position which he had so often envied.
" Was nothing more said ? " he asked as Aunt Lydia
seated herself.
" No," replied the old lady, with a twinge of conscience,
" I think some one interrupted us."
" Oh ! what did you think of Mrs. I^abouchere ? how did
you like her ? "
"Well, as far as liking no not so much as the others ;
but she's very beautiful, no doubt queenly one might al-
most say dear, dear, when she came over and stood by my
side, I couldn't but think of the oak and the bramble."
Leo smiled.
" She is very much admired," he said, " and no wonder,
for she has a heap of money and two estates."
" So Mrs. Prcscott told me ; she seems very fond of
her, in fact, she said that next to her son's happiness came
her niece's, and if she could but see her united to some
one she could give her heart to, she should be happy."
*' She would not have Sir Stephen he wanted to marry
her."
'^Well, you surprise me," exclaimed Aunt Lydia. "I
thought she was alluding to something between them when
sihG spoke as she did, parlicuVaiY^ \nW\\ -^^ \\\Tvied at not
HERO CARTHEW. 22/
knowing what might result from this visit to Combe. Cer-
tainly there was nothing in their behavior ; but these
young people are often so contrary to one another that
there* s no knowing what they mean. You haven't seen
anything of Hero lately, I suppose ? " she added, after a
pause.
" How should I see her when she's at Winkle ? " I^eo
answered pettishly. " I hate that old Joslyn ; he's a worse
fogie than old Carthew, always on his hind legs about
things he knows nothing about, just because his father
happened to be a major."
" Ah, my dear, you'll be old yourself, you know, one of
these days."
" Perhaps I shall ; but I shan't make a fool of myself, as
most of the old fellows about here do ; " and he rose from
the table, and an end was put to the conversation. Miss
Lydia sighed as Leo left her with the announcement that
he was going to Dockmouth, and should not be back until
late. She could not help feeling angry with Hero for going
to Winkle; it showed temper, she thought, on Hero's i)art,
because she knew that Leo could never be induced to go
to the Joslyns ; they were not favorites with him. " If she
had but stayed at home now," said the old lady, " all
would be right by this time, and she would know the
happiness that is in store for them, for I know I could
trust Hero, and 1 should not have said more to her than
that Sir Stephen intended doing this out of friendshi[).
Ah ! how tri.o it is, as Mrs. Prescott said yesterday, thai
* God moves in a mysterious way. His wonders to i)crform.' "
That same morning at breakfast Sir Stephen said
" Mother, I want you to ask Miss Carthcvv and Miss
Joslyn to spend to-morrow or Wednesday here."
" What, again ? " answered Mrs. Prescott.
"Again! why, they have only been here once. You
forget that I stayed a week and more at Sharrovvs, and
that, though quite a stranger to them, they made me as
much at home as if they had known me all my life."
"Your man could not imagine what made you stay
there/' said Katherine languidly, wIi\vouI\oo\lvc\%k^'sx^qj!l
228 HERO CARTHEW.
the letter in which she had seemed engaged. " He gave
Hobson a most amusing account of the menage^
" Did he ? " Sir Stephen said in a tone which made Mrs.
Prescott put in
" Oh ! I dare say he meant no harm. You may be sure
if Fenton was at all uncomfortable, nothing would be right
in his eyes. I'm sure I think them very nice people, and
if Miss Carthew thinks it worth her while to come, I shall
be very glad to see her."
" What do you mean * if she thinks it worth her while to
come ' ? " Sir Stephen asked, his annoyance anything but
cured.
" Why, my dear, I suppose she did not the last time I
asked her, for I cannot see why, if she was well enough to
go out at all, she could not come here."
" I should have thought that I gave you quite sufficient
explanation, and she called here the next day."
" Ah, I was out."
" She was not to know that."
" Of course not. My dear Stephen, how you are argu-
ing about nothing at all ! I tell you that I shall be very
pleased to see Miss Carthew. What more can 1 do ? "
'^ Give a more gracious assent, mother, to a thing which,
you see, I am anxious you should do, and not, as is invari-
ably the case when I mention the Carthews, raise objec-
tions."
Mrs. Prescott looked piteously at Katherine, who said,
in the measured, cold manner she adopted when much
annoyed,
'^I am sorry that I should have spoken at all on the
matter ; but these surprisingly sudden friendships are so
new to me, that 1 nuist be excused for forgetting that
people of such recent date are more than mere acquaint-
ances."
The words were scarcely spoken when the servant
announced Mr. Despard, and, with many apologies for
such an early visit, Leo said, " that just as he got down to
the Hard he remembered, that Mrs. Labouchere had
mentioned something about \vawl\t\^ s,ome silk ; so he had
HERO CARTHEW. 229
run up to say he was going to Dockmouth, and might he be
allowed to get it for her ? "
"But you have not come up all that distance on my
account, surely ? " said Katherine.
" Oh, it is only a matter of ten minutes, and I deserve
the walk for being so stupid. I knew there was something
I wfintcd to remember, and I do believe I thought over
evefiy word that you had said except the silk, and then all
at once it struck me, and here I am for my orders."
A shadow of annoyance seemed to pass over Sir Stephen's
face, which served as an inducement for Katherine to
be particularly gracious to I.eo. He shall see, she thought,
that I can form friendships as sudden and unexpected
as his own. At another time she would most probably
have noticed that there was a little difference in Leo's
manner towards her, a certain air of assured confidence,
an unnecessary lowering of his voice when saying the com-
plimentary nothings Avhich all might have heard ; but just
now she was too much occupied in vexing her cousin
to give Leo a thought, and when he at length took his
leave, she would have stoutly denied, that anything in her
behavior could have given confirmation to the fallacious
hopes, jn which the mistaken young man was indulging.
" I will write the note to Miss Carthew, Stephen, if you
will come for it to my room, when you are ready."
And about an hour after this Sir Stephen went to the
pretty little morning-room, which he had had fitted up for
his mother's use.
" I have named Wednesday," Mrs. Prescott said,
holding the note towards her son. " I thought we might
as well have Mr. Despard, and any one else you may want
to ask."
"Yes, by the way, mc.lher, I have something to say
to you respecting this young Despard ; " and he got up
and shut the door, whicli he had left standing open.
Mrs. Prescott winced at these words ; but she quickly
recovered ; her fears were gradually melting away, and
since her confidential chat with Aunt Lydia, she had
felt a more than complete return o{ hex o\d ^^oidtj*
230
HERO CARTHEW.
" Have you spoken to Katherine yet?"
" To Katherine ? " Mrs. Prescott echoed, with apparent
astonishment.
'* Yes, of course, you will tell her who Mr. Despard
is, and the sooner she knows the better. She may
feel very much annoyed that she has been ignorantly al-
lowed to form any intimacy with him."
"I don't see that at all; and as to telling Katherine,
we have not positively decided that the young man
himself is to be told. I should not think of such a thing,
Stephen."
"Now, mother, do not wilfully ignore things. Once
for all, understand that it is my intention and no argu-
ments will divert me from this to tell him as soon as I
have got the money."
" What money ? " for Aunt Lydia had been too del-
icate to refer to Sir Stephen's offer of assistance. It
might seem like binding him, she had thought.
'' Did not Miss Despard tell you that I intend advancing
the money for his next step ? "
" Yoti advance the money ! How, Stephen, I thought
you were so pressed just now ?"
" I am at present," Sir Stephen said quietly ; " but
I shall be able to manage it, I hope, before another month
is out."
Mrs. Prescott' s face turned crimson, and then white, as
she said with a gasp to cover her emotion
"Is this keeping your promise? You gave me your
word that nothing should be done until we returned to
town."
" No, I did not, mother. I gave you my word, that
nothing should be done until I was fully persuaded, that I
could settle down contentedly at Combe. Besides which,
you seem to forget that things have greatly altered in
my eyes, since I*have been made aware of this young
man's existence ; and at any sacrifice I should think it
right to do something for him. In my present condition,
I need not tell you, that is impossible."
" You could raise the purc\\a?e-moTv^Y "
HERO CARTHEW. 23 1
"Perhaps I could, but I am sick of raising putting
money in with one hand for the sake of taking it out
with the other. Thank God, I shall soon have no more
occasion for that ; so now, let us return to the subject
we started with. I wish you to take the first opportunity
of telling Katherine."
" Stephen, you are cruel to me, very cmel and hard-
hearted. It is only for me to express a strong wish,
and you at once thwart it. You treat me as if I were a
child."
" Mother ! "
" It is true. How do you regard my wishes about
Pamphillon about keeping the fact of his birth from this
young man, even about keeping it from your cousin ?
It is my particular desire that no word of this should
be mentioned to Katherine."
" From what motive ? Only give me a reason for your
wishes."
Mrs. Prescott was silent for a few moments.
" Katherine has always believed that I told her every-
thing, and there is no need for her being undeceived."
" You think she might feel the shock as acutely as I do,"
said Sir Stephen bitterly.
" Katherine has a very curious temper, Stephen. I had
my reasons for being silent, but people do not always see
things in the same light."
" I fear very much you will find it a hard matter, to get
any one to see things in the distorted way you saw them.
Mother, you little think that you laid yourself open to the
gravest accusations so much so that I intend, when I go
to town, to make Holmes sift the matter thoroughly for mc,
and bring together every scrap of information. When I tell
this young man, no vagueness or doubts shall be left upon
his mind. Everything which can be found out shall be
there in black and white to satisfy him."
" Stephen ! " exclaimed Mrs. Prescott, but though she
strove to say more, the words would not come.
Sir Stephen looked at her for a moment intently. It was
evident that she was suffering from some great agitation.
232
HERO CARTHEW.
" Could it be ? no, impossible ! " But true to his char-
acter, the doubt which had sprung up within him must be
at once set at rest
"Mother," he said, "what is in your mind? do not
again deceive me ; tell me, is there anything more I ought
to know ? "
She shook her head, and he stood silent for a moment.
" Then, except that because it has been so long a secret,
you still wish it to remain one, you know of no reason why
all the world should not know the truth."
Making a violent effort to steady Jierself, Mrs. Prescott
said
"Certainly not. Go to Holmes, or to any one you
choose. Seek and search as much as you like. You will
learn nothing more than I have told you."
Sir Stephen drew his breath more freely.
" I do not desire," he said, " that any more of these un-
happy discussions should take place between us, mother.
Therefore, let us say now whatever there is to say."
" I can have nothing to say where I find every remark I
make questioned, and every wish I express thwarted."
Feeling it better not to notice her petulance, Sir Stephen
asked
" Will you tell Katherine, or shall I ? "
" Of course you will do whatever pleases you. I dis-
tinctly refuse to speak to my niece on a subject which
neither concerns nor interests her; and another thing is, I
do not intend to remain here. The perpetual worry I have
to endure is more than I can bear up against ; therefore,
I shall return to my own hpuse, as, if you are determined
upon living in this desolate, uncivilized place, the sooner 1
get accustomed to be separated from you the better."
Sir Stephen did not answer. He stood for an instant ir-
resolute, then seeing his mother was looking fixedly away
from him, he walked out of the room.
CHAPTER XXX.
"I'll manage i t."
If there was one thing more than another that Sir Stephen
wished to avoid, it was the interference, the hindrance,
and the thousand and one small oppositions, which his
mother would be certain to inflict upon him if she were
within reach of Pamphillon, or near any one whom her
words and wishes could at all influence.
" It would be one constant scene," Sir Stephen said, as
he recalled to himself what she had said about leaving
Combe. " I expect that at the bottom of the wish to leave
here is the wish to be where she can send for Holmes, get
hold of Bradstock, and try to talk them over into offering
me every kind of opposition. I must put a stop to this by
taking matters at once into my own hands. When the
place is irretrievably gone, she will come round." These
reflections arose out of the sudden decision he had taken
to go to town at once.
" She would not leave here," he thought, " during my ab-
sence, and this matter about Despard will put her off the
right scent. She will suppose I have gone to make these
inquiries. As much as is possible I desire to spare her,
poor soul ! but part with the place I must, and that it
should be made harder by her continual entreaties, threats,
and argimients, is more than just at present I can stand."
So almost immediately after leaving his mother. Sir
Stephen was on his way to Sharrows, with the intention of
asking Captain Carthew to lend an eye to various matters
of business while he was absent.
" Perhaps," he thought, " it will be as well not to say
anything to Katherine about Despard until I return. I
shall certainly mention the matter to Ho\mes, \?Vvo^ va. s'^v^^
234
HERO GARTHEW.
of his silence, is very probably in entire possession of the
wiiole thing, and he may be able to give me the details, so
that everything is plain and clear to the young fellow. I
hate anything to seem doubtful. Of course 1 know that
everything must be right, still I want to see it all straight
before me ; besides which it will only appear right that di-
rectly I was made acquainted with the circumstance, I
looked into the whole affair for myself."
Just at this point he came suddenly upon Joe.
" Good morning," said Sir Stephen, " I wanted to speak
to you ; what are you about ? "
"Nothin' in partickler, sir. I was only just pokin' about"
"Then come on to Sharrows with me. I am going to
London for a few days, and the Captain will look after
things while I am absent ; so you must go to him for orders."
Joe touched his hat in acquiescence, and, dropping a
little behind, he followed for some distance in silence, then
by a step bringing himself nearer, he said,
*'I was to Winkle last evenin', sir; I took'd Miss Hero
some of her things."
" Oh ! and how was she ? "
" Not like herself by a brave bit ; I can't make it out,
sir, for 'tain't like Miss Hero to be wished and moody-
hearted, and as for up there " and Joe gave the jerk by
which he usually inferred, without mentioning, Betsey " 'tis
look out for squalls, and no mistake. I reckon her can't
help it, tho'. Why if any think was to go amiss with Miss
Hero, sir, mark my words, but Betsey 'ed nivir git up steam
again," and Joe, shaking his head over such a melancholy
sequel, relasped again into silence.
Close by Sharrows gate they met the Captain, who will-
ingly assented to Sir Stephen's request, and he added
" I shall make it my business to drop in upon the ladies
each day to see that all is going on square up there."
" Yes, do," said Sir Stephen ; " my poor mother takes tiiis
parting with Pamphillon dreadfully to heart."
" Poor soul ! well, I'll try and cheer her up a bit, and I'll
send Hero to see her ; she's a capital hand when anything
goes -wrong with people."
HERO CARTHEW.
235
" I have a note of invitation from my mother to Miss
Carthew, which I intended taking to Winkle this afternoon.
I wonder if I have time to go there before I start for Dock-
mouth?"
The Captain shook his head.
" Not if you're to catch the five-o'clock train."
" Well, then, will you deliver a message from me to her,
and say that I had this note to deliver when this summons
to town came, and that I was very disappointed at not find-
ing her with you on Sunday."
'* ril tell her," laughed the Captain. " Bless her heart,
I'd sooner have my grog stopped than that she should be
from home, and that she knows, the young monkey. What
do you say to me seeing you as far as Dockmouth ? I ve
nothing to do."
"Just the thing I wanted. Will you meet me at the
Hard?"^
" All right ; two o'clock, remember. It won't do to start
later."
After they parted Sir Stephen returned to the house, to
tell Katherine, if possible, of his sudden journey. He found
her writing letters, and to his inquiry about his mother, she
said
" Have you been talking to aunt ? she was very well this
morning, but when I went to her, she did not even open
the door, but said she felt a very bad headache coming on,
and she wished to be left quite quiet."
" I expected as much," Sir Stephen said ; " she got very
much excited in a conversation we had, and ended by de-
claring she would return to Lond(n at once."
" Oh ! that would be a pity ; but perhaps she did not
mean it ? "
" I don't know ; I never saw her so put out, and in con-
sequence I am going to London myself."
Katherine' s face changed.
" Only for a few days ; and before I go I want to say
something to you, which you must not take amiss because
I do not fully explain it. I intend doing so on my re-
turn."
236 HERO CARTHEW,
Mrs. Labouchere looked at him inquiringly, and, in rather
an awkward manner, Sir Stephen blurted out
" I don't want you to get too intimate with Mr. Despard."
Katherine felt her face crimson, but she did not look
away. ** Surely," she thought, " Stephen can never think
me capable of such a thing." ,
" I see you do not understand me, and it would be im-
possible that you should," he continued ; "mother may say
something which will enlighten you, but " and there he
stopped, then after a moment's pause he added, " Perhaps
it would have been wiser, as I don't want to say all,
to have said nothing ; but situated together as we are, I
cannot bear to incur a risk, and I think you know me well
enough to trust me ? "
" Perfectly ; shall I refuse to see Mr. Despard ? "
" Oh, no ; I don't want you to alter your manner to him,
but well, I fancied this morning that his was perhaps
rather more familiar to you, and until you know what I
want to tell you, I cannot have you subjected to that it is
about myself, not reflecting in any way upon him."
" I will do exactly as you wish."
" Thanks," said Sir Stephen, giving her hand a little
shake ; "I can always rely on your good sense. I wish
all women were like you, Katherine. Now," he went on,
** I am going to leave you to take care of yourself and
mother. I shall be back on Saturday at the latest. She
does not know I am going, so you must tell her, and man-
age to pacify her as you only know how. Say I wanted to
look into something about which I hope she will s^^eak to
you ; she will understand."
"Til manage it," Katherine said cheerfully; and by the
time he had given Fenton his orders, he found luncheon
on the table. When it was time for him to start, he said
"Perhaps I had better say 'good-by;' if she asks I'll
say I am going to Dockmouth," and he ran upstairs, and
knocking quietly at the door, said, " Mother," no answer,
" Mother," he repeated, " good-by," but he received no
reply, so after waiting a minute longer he stole softly down,
saying he supposed she was asleep.
CHAPTER XXXI.
PRESENTIMENTS AND CERTAINTIES.
It was late in the evening before Mrs. Prescott's maid
canie to say that her mistress felt better, and would be glad
to see Mrs. Labouchere. "Say I will be with her in a
few minutes," Katherine said closing the book which lay
open before her, though she had been so engrossed in her
own reflections that scarce a page of it had she turned.
On going upstairs, she found Mrs. Prescott sitting by the
fire, which the autumnal evenings began to make neces-
sary.
" Oh ! I ara glad to see you are able to get up, aunt,
and you have been having some tea ? that is right, you will
soon feel better."
" I had no idea that you were dining alone, Katey.
Why, where is Stephen ? "
''Oh, I don't mind being alone, now and then," Mrs.
Labouchere said, wishing for the present to avoid answer-
ing the last question. " Davis said she thought you wanted
to be left quiet, so I did not bother you about dinner."
" How odd Stephen is ! " Mrs. Prescott said in a vexed
tone. " I suppose he is stopping at these Joslyns, a hor-
rid wild rocky place, worse than this. I do hope he will
not stay late and come back in a boat ; I expect if he re-
mains here, he will be brought home drowned some of
these days."
" Nonsense," Katherine said with a laugh, " the boatmen
all know the coast, and Stephen is not like a reckless boy,
aunt."
* Oh ! my dear, I shall never rest until I am away from
here. I have taken a dislike to the house, and the people,
and the country. I feel it does not agree vJVtK me, my sijir-
238 BERO CARTHEW,
its are wretched. I could sit and cry from morning until
night."
" But why ? you seemed so well at first ? "
" Yes, but I think the air must be too strong, it over-ex-
cites my nervous system, and then I suffer from the reac-
tion. I have told Stephen that I cannot remain, and I
think he is vexed with me about it. Did he say anything
to you ? "
" I don't fancy he thought you meant it," Katherine said,
wondering how she should tell her aunt that Stephen had
gone to London. She is certain to declare that she has a
presentiment, because she did not say good-by to him, she
thought.
" 1 do mean it," said Mrs. Prescott, firmly. " I believe,
if I were to remain, I should have a serious illness. You
have no idea how shaken my nerves feel ; for instance, of
course I know that Stephen is most likely safe and per-
fectly secure from danger, yet every sound runs through me
with a sort of dread that something has happened."
*'0h ! dear," thought Katherine, "this makes my com-
munication a pleasing prospect. 1 had better get it over
without more delay."
So rising at this last si)eech, Mrs. Labouchere took hold
of her aunt's hand, saying with a little laugh,
"What a silly old auntie it is ! Well, make your mind
perfectly easy, for your son is no more likely to get into a
boat to-night than we are; he is on terra Jlrjna, and will re-
main there for many days to come."
"Why?" asked Mrs. Prescott, sharply.
" What, not satisfied ! " exclaimed her niece, " well, I
will tell you why. This afternoon he came up to your
room."
" Yes, I know he did, and I did not answer him."
" You heard him then ? "
" I heard him call me, and then say good-by."
"Yes, he was going to Dockmouth."
"To Dockmouth! How was I to know he was going
to Dockmouth ? 1 fancied he was going to take my note
to Miss Carthew. What did he want at Dockmouth ? "
HERO CARTHEW,
239
" He said I was to tell you he thought you were asleep
that he has left by the evening express for London."
" London ! " exclaimed Mrs. Prescott. " London," then
letting her head fall forward on her arms which were leaned
upon the table, she groaned out, " Kadierine Katherinc
Katherine."
" My dear aunt, listen ; he told me to tell you that he
had only gone to see Holmes, regarding something which
he wished you to speak to me about."
But Mrs. Prescott seemed only the more distressed ;
standing suddenly up, she clasped her hands together,
" What is to be done ? how shall I act? Oh ! Katherinc
we are ruined, ruined."
" Is it about Pamphillon, aunt," asked Mrs. Labouchere,
frightened at Iier excitement.
Mrs. Prescott did not seem to hear her.
"Aunt, do speak. Tell me, what are you so troubled
about ? "
" Oh Katey, you'll know too soon, every one will know.
My God, they may put me in prison, in prison prison,"
and she sank back choked by convulsive sobs.
Katherinc turned towards the door, but Mrs. Prescott
caught her by the arm.
" No, no, let nobody see me," she cried, " not for the
world. Katherinc, my child, bear with me. Help me, my
poor brain is gone. I seem mad ; " and she sank down help-
less, but not senseless, at Mrs. Labouchere' s feet.
** My dear, dear aunt," was all Katherinc could say, her
tears falling fast from sympathy, to see the agony betrayed
in Mrs. Prescott' s ashen face and quivering limbs ; and,
unable to console her by words, she gave her the mute
caresses which were more soothing.
" Katey," Mrs. Prescott said in a whisper, " help me to
rise ! Yes, that will do. I'll sit down here, and come you
near me. I must tell you everything. Oh! if I had but
told Stephen !" had but told him the truth ! Let me sec
wait."
Mrs. Labouchere sat down, putting her arm round her
aunt; but, with no trace of her usual gentleness, Mrs.
240
HERO CARTHEW.
Prescott pushed her away, and sat silently rocking herself
to and fro.
"You're sure he is gone, Katherine. Something may
have kept him at Dockmouth," and she started up as if to
follow him.
" He is not at Dockmouth, aunt. Fenton has returned.
He went with him to the station."
"Then we are lost, Katherine," and she dropped her
voice to a whisper ; " Stephen is not the owner of Pam-
phillon."
Mrs. Labouchere felt her heart bound with relief.
" My dear aunt, if it is only the sale of Pamphillon, do
not so distress yourself. If Stephen is bent upon selling it,
it is of no use offering further opposition."
" But he cannot sell it ; he must not sell it. It is not
his." .
"Not his?"
" No. Stephen was robbed and defrauded by his uncle.
Bernard Prescott left a son, the offspring of a low, vile
woman whom he had made his wife."
Katherine uttered a sharp cry of pain.
" And Stephen ? " she said.
"Never heard of him. Until we came here he knew no
more of his existence than you do, Katherine. Here he
by chance discovered it, and I told him he was his uncle's
natural son, and he believed me."
" Who who is it, aunt ? "
"The young man they call Despard."
" Despard ! " echoed Mrs. Labouchere, and unable to
ask more, she sat gazing into her aunt's face with eyes filled
with horror and astonishment.
" Oh, Katherine ! do you wonder now at my hating this
place ? A sword seemed to ])icrce my heart every time I
looked upon that unfortunate Despard ; if I had known he
was here 1 would never have come. But 1 -was to be pun-
ished ; my sin was to find me out."
" Then how long have you known it, aunt ? How came
^ou to discover it ? "
Oh, Katcy ! don' t ask me . o\-v\n Vvi\\) me \ tell me what
a
HERO CARTHEW, 241
is to be done. Stephen will go to Holmes, put him on the
right track, and we shall be beggared and disgraced. Oh !
this is a cruel world, glad and quick to condemn, and what
will they not say ? But no one can breathe a word against
Stephen. If it had not been for his just inheritance, wc never
could have kept the one they had tried to defraud him of.
AVhere would Pamphillon be now, if I had not striven and
starved myself to keep it ; and this young man, instead of
being happy and contented, would be hampered and tied
down by a title which would only be a burden to him."
** How much of this does he know ? " Katherine asked,
vainly endeavoring to gain some idea of the matter.
" Nothing. He fancies he is Mr. Despard's adopted
son. His aunt believes him to be Sir Bernard's natural
son, but even that much she would never have told him
without our consent ; but from the moment Stephen had a
suspicion of the thing, he did nothing but upbraid me for
my silence, insist on telling the young man himself, and
declare that as his uncle evidently intended for him the fort-
une he lost, we ought to do all in our power for him."
** And why did not Stephen tell him ? "
" He is waiting until he has sold Pamphillon, so that he
may give him some money he is in want of, and offer him
an annual sum. I did not oppose that, but I wanted no
one to know. Even when Stephen said he would have you
told, 1 refused to tell you. Oh ! how short-sighted I was !
Why did I not tell the truth then ? We might have es-
caped."
Mrs. Labouchere did not answer ; she was trying to
think over and realize their position. Suddenly she was
startled by her aunt's returning excitement. She walked
about the room uttering disconnected sentences, upbraided
herself for the denial she had given her son, called upon
her niece to help her, until Katherine felt, if anything was
to be done, she must at once assume the control she had
always possessed over her aunt ; so rising up, she took hold
of Mrs. Prescott, saying
"Aunt, sit down. No, it is of no use pushing me away.
For Stephen's sake you must listen to ie3i?oxv. IC there is
11
242
HERO CARTffEW:
any way of shielding him from what he would feel far more
than the loss of the estate or the title, it must be done, and
whatever is done must be done at once. Now try and
quiet yourself, and endeavor to tell me the whole story.
Don't say you cannot" for Mrs. Prescott had exclaimed
it would kill her "for a long time you seem to have kept
it secret, but now you have begun to speak you must keep
nothing back. I have been thinking that if I started to-
morrow I might in some way put a stop to the search, or
perhaps prevent it altogether. Something may detain Ste-
phen. Holmes may be out of town, a dozen things may
prove obstacles to his making this communication."
Mrs. Prescott threw her arms round her niece's neck.
" Oh, Katey, if we could but stop him. I should feel
safe if that man did not know ; he has a way of asking
questions and ferreting into things, which I feel would
make me betray myself without knowing it.'*
" Very welL Now you see how important it is, that you
tell me all as nearly as you can ; then we may protect you
from this. Have no fear, aunt ; with Stephen at your side
it shall go hard if any ill come near you," and Mrs. Labou-
chere laid her hand caressingly on the poor distracted head,
and after a minute's pause she felt that tears were raining
from the hot, dry eyes, and she was certain that now she
should hear all her aunt had to tell.
It was some time before Mrs. Prescott was sufficiently
composed and collected to commence. After her tears
had ceased she sat silent, turning the eye of memory in-
ward upon the past. Katherine, by her side, neither spoke
nor stiried, and at length, to her great relief, Mrs. Prescott
began
"Bernard Prescott, as you know, died very suddenly.
He was taken ill while I was with your father in Scotland,
and before I had time to get to Pamphillon he was gone.
Those about him saici what a jiity it was he would not let
me be summoned before, but he put it off until he could
no longer forbid it, and he had been two days dead when I
reached him. Every one knew that Stephen was his suc-
cessor, and therefore 1, as Yv\s i\^\\\x^ ^w^xdlan^ at once
HERO CARTHEW,
243
took possession of ever3rthing. The keys were delivered
up to me, and all the people looked to me for orders and
directions. Mr. Holmes came down the same evening,
and together we looked over the few papers left. There
was no will, and until old John told us that after his first fit
or faint, Sir Bernard had made him destroy *a sight of
parchments,' Mr. Holmes seemed much suq^rised at the
absence of letters and papers. In the drawer of his pri-
vate secretaire we found a packet directed to me, which I
opened. It contained some letters I had written to him
years before, a likeness given then, and a sealed letter, on
which was put * Read this when alone.' "
" Had he not made you an offer before Stephen's father
did?" Mrs. Labouchere asked.
** Yes, and I fancied it was about those days he had writ-
ten ; so I put the letter in my pocket, and we continued
our search. During it Mr. Holmes asked me, if I had
ever heard mention made of any discreditable connection
which Sir Bernard had formed. I told him no, and he said,
* There was something of the sort some years ago : but the
woman is dead, and so, I suppose, is the child. There
was a child, at least so I think.' I did not ask any ques-
tions it was not a time to do so ; and not seeing the cause
for Holmes's anxiety about the papers, I pleaded the fatigue
I had undergone, and went to my room. Bernard Prescott
was a very odd man, not one to inspire any personal regard,
and, beyond a natural feeling of regret, I felt nothing
at his death which could be called sorrow. On the
contrary my love for my boy made me happy to know
that he was owner of the patrimony I had often sighed to
see him the undoubted heir to ; for Bernard was a man
in his prime, who might live to be old, and then perhaps
marry. Doubt was at an end now. I had had during my
married life many more troubles than the world knew of ;
but the mother of Sir Stephen Prescott could afford, in
this unexpected fulfilment of her hopes, to forget past dis-
appointments. All at once I thought .of my letter, and,
taking it out, I sat down before the fire to read it. So
sure did I feel as to its contents thai, fiisX ol ^.IV I took
244 HERO CAR THE IV,
out the likeness, and examined that. I even looked at mv-
self in the glass to see was I much altered ; then I looked
over the girlish effusions, written when I was not more than
sixteen or seventeen. I thought of Bernard more tenderly,
because of his love for me, and remembering that he
was now lying in his distant chamber still and cold, and
that I had forever lost this faithful, enduring love, I shed
the first real tears of sorrow for him. A shiver, too, ran
through me at the thought of being in the house of death,
a vague fear at being alone, and with it the desire to get
into bed as quickly as possible ; so hastily opening 3ie
letter, I read it through and through and through ^un-
til I had no need to look at the words, so stamped were
they on my heart and brain. Whether 1 sat for only a few
minutes or a hour I cannot tell ; but, all of a sudden, a
flame seemed to fill the room my hand was empty, and I
knew I had destroyed it."
** Destroyed what, aunt ? "
** The the his certificate of marriage. The woman
was called IVIatilda Williams, and they were married at
Hatfield. I have never forgotten that. Often when I am
ill I get no rest, because I keep repeating those names
over and over again."
" Was there no word of explanation, then ? " said Kath-
erine, fearing she was wandering away from the subject.
" Oh, yes. He wrote to tell me that, in a moment of
madness, to which my marriage drove him, he had allowed
this woman to cajole him into a marriage, that he had a
son, whom, for Stephen's sake, he would fain disown. But
though he had made away with every other trace of his
guilty folly, he said he could not destroy this, and by a
crime cut himself off from me forever. Therefore, he had
enclosed it to me enclosed it to me, a weak, helpless
woman, who had not strength to resist such a temptation."
And her sobs broke forth again, and her remorse and ac-
cusations made it impossible for Mrs. Ivabouchere to bring
her back to anything like a settled detail. She managed
to draw from her, how she knew who the child was with,
Mr, Despard's offer, and tVval \v^ Wd ^\\3i\.Y taken entire
HERO CARTHEW.
24S
charge of him ; but Mrs. Prescott would only just answer
the question put to her, and then return at once to her
fears, her self-reproaches, and her agony of dread lest
Stephen should suffer for her guilt. Her excitement be-
came so painful, that Mrs. Labouchere wisely forbore to
ask more, fearing an attack of illness might come on, and
she be prevented following Stephen, which the next morn-
ing she was determined upon doing. This she told to
Mrs. Prescott, who at once promised she would be quiet ;
do anything, take anything, if Katherine would but say she
would go to London, and start as early as possible.
" I will give you my word, aunt, to have no delay."
And this assurance seeming to calm Mrs. Prescott more
than entreaties or remonstrances, she became at once busy
about how Mrs. I^abouchere^ had best act ? where she
would go ? what she would do ? until, everything settled,
she took the composing draught her niece gave her, and
Katherine, sitting quietly down, tried to realize all her aunt
had just told her. But the excitement and amazement had
been too much ; she could not think she could only keep
repeating " Stephen, Stephen."
CHAPTER XXXII.
"if I COULD SAY YES.*'
In her anxiety to begin her journey, Mrs. Labouchere
was ready to start a good hour before it was time to leave
the house ; but, having been assured that as the tide would
not suit until a certain hour, she would only be kept wait-
ing on the Hard, she sat down until the time for departure
should arrive. It was a lovely morning, but its fresh beau-
ties were all lost upon Katherine, whose one anxiety was
that the water should be sufficiently calm to enable her to
go to Dockmouth by water, and thereby save the train,
which on the previous day had taken off Sir Stephen. She
had ascertained from his man that he intended going on at
once to Pamphillon.
" You are certain of that, Fenton ? " she asked.
" Oh yes, ma'am, for I heard master say to Captain
Carthew, *I shall just have time to see about that matter,
and then catch the train to Pamphillon ; ' and so he would,
ma'am, easily catch the four-o'clock express."
" In that case," thought Katherine, *^ I ought to be pre-~
pared to follow him there at once, and if I do not find hun
in Albemarle Street, that is what I'll do."
She was busily intent upon her plans when the door
opened, and Leo Despard entered. Strive as she might,
Katherine could not meet him in her usual way, and he,
noticing her agitation, said
" I fear I startled you."
*^ No, not at all," she said, freeing her hand, which in his
solicitude he was still holding, and then, unable to think
of an3'thing to say, she sat down. Leo could not but per-
ceive that she was not quite her usual self, and he wondered
what was the cause of hex neivou? mscwcv^x.
HERO CARTHEW. 24/
" My apology for pa ing such an early visit must be this,"
he said, laying the skeins of silk before her.
" Oh, thank you ! I had forgotten all about the silk ; I
am going to London."
It was Leo who grew confused now.
"To London ! *' he exclaimed with a blank look.
" Yes, Sir Stephen went yesterday about some business."
Leo turned hastily away from the table and walked to-
wards the window.
Should he make the offer now. Her visible agitation
might be at parting with him, and this gave him fresh hope.
It was no use hesitating ; if he did, the chance might be
lost. Going back to her with a face pale and troubled, he
stammered out
"This is so unexpected I I never thought about
your going away ; " and he sat down, half averting his face.
" I know you will not listen to me,'' he began, in a hope-
less voice. " I have no right to expect you should ; but I
cannot hide my love any longer. From the first moment
I saw you, I have thought of nothing else night and day.
I have stiiven against what you will call folly, but it has
been useless, and now that you tell me that you are going
from me, and I may, perhaps, never see you again Oh !
I feel I shall go mad.*'
At Leo's first word of love, a haughty rebuke had risen
to Katherine's.lips, for her conscience told her, that she had
given him no encouragement to indulge in this presump-
tuous avowal; but she had hastily checked it. No, she
must not offend him, nor be too hard in her refusal, for
what influence might not his love give her ? So she said
somewhat confusedly
" Oh ! pray hush, Mr. Despard, you must not say things
of this kind to me."
The tone the words were said in filled Leo with triumph.
He was certain that if such a woman as she was had no feel-
ing towards him, she would have made him see at once, that
she considered he had taken a liberty in addressing her.
He felt success all but certain, and thought he could afford
to be more demonstrative, but as Katherine drew away her
248 HERO CARTHEW.
hand, he was forced to trust to his eloquent speeches, which,
strive as he would, sounded to him forced and tame. For
his life he could not remember the protestations and devo-
tions which he had intended pouring forth, and he felt cer-
tain Mrs. Labouchere would think him awkward and stupid
an anxiety he might have spared himself, for though his
words fell upon Katherine's ears, she hardly heard them, so
intent was she on her own motives and interests. When
he paused, she knew he was waiting his answer, and as well
as she could she endeavored to tone down her refusal so
that his self-love should not be deeply wounded.
" I am so very sorry, Mr. Despard, I had not the slightest
idea of such a thing. Love and I parted company long
ago. In my present position I assume the privilege of
being able to enjoy the friendship of your sex, without the
possibility of anything else ever entering my mind. It would
distress me beyond measure, if I thought I was the uninten-
tional means of giving you pain, or that an end was to be
put to our pleasant intercourse. I really feel quite too
old and out of date to inspire any one with a fresh love ;
beside which, I thought, or dreamed, or was told, that you
were very much attached to Miss Carthew."
" Who coidd have told you that ? "
'* I cannot remember " (Katherine felt it would be too
absurd to give an old boatman as her authority) ; " I only
know that in some way I was under that delusion ? "
" Yes, certainly a delusion. I admit that I went to Shar-
rows much more frequently before you came to Combe,
and that I liked to talk to Miss Carthew ; but she and I
have known each other since we were children, and she per-
fectly understood the footing that existed between us.
Sharrows is not the only house I have ceased to frequent,
nor Miss Carthew' s the only society I have given up, since
you have been here. I have had but one thought when
I could see you ; where, and how I could see you. A spell
seemed to bind me to this place. Night as well as day
found nie unable to tear myself away."
"Why, you might have been taken u]") for a poacher !"
said KatherinCy trying to make \\^Vv\. o^ \\l\at he was saying.
HERO CARTHEW.
249
Ah, you are laughing at me," he exclaimed bitterly.
Well, I suppose that is all I deserve for boring you with
my folly. I shall have time to eat my heart out when you
axe gone," and he gave a little nervous movement as if to
try and dismiss the subject for the present, saying, ** Are
you going to drive ? "
" No."
" What, going by boat ! may I go with you ? "
Mrs. Labouchere hesitated.
" On one condition," she said, " that we are to te
friends."
" If I could say yes," and he caught both her hands,
and held them with a grasp which only escaped being pain-
ful, " how willingly I would ; but do what we can, we can-
not school our hearts, or if so, do you think I would have
set mine upon the moon, for you are quite as far out of my
reach ; " (his penitent humility made Katherine, in spite of
her secret knowledge, feel very kindly towards him) " if you
will forget what I have said and let me be your slave, your
servant, anything that will not banish me from your pres-
ence, and your mind ? "
" That is not quite in obedience to my conditions."
" Yes it is. I promise you all the obedience you ask,
only let me go with you now."
" Very well, and let me go also ; " for he seemed to forget
that he was still clasping her hands. He paused an instant,
then tried to raise them to his lips, but Katherine resolutely
drew them away, saying, as if she had not noticed his move-
ment
" I think it is time I got ready to start."
She did not return to the room until her maid stood there
waiting to accompany her on her journey. Leo could but
see that his companion was too preoccupied to care for
much conversation. She walked along so engaged with
her busy thoughts, that each remark she made was an effort,
and the people they passed on the way were quite unno-
ticed. What attention she could command she bestowed
upon picking her steps along the steep street, down which
they had to go to the Hard below.
11*
250 HERO CARTHEW,
" Don't speak to me," she said in answer to some remark
Leo made, " I dare not breathe. What an atmosphere to
Uve in ! " and as the thought swept over her that in future
this was Stephen's sole inheritance, her heart sent out a
fresh cry for the sorrow he would have to bear. She shrank
from the rough, weather-beaten looking men, the dark-
eyed, bold-faced women, who ran to the doors at the -news
of '* the gentrys' " advent, proclaimed in several cases from
one top window to the other. Arrived on the beach, her
situation was but little mended. Here she had to undergo
the stolid criticism of the numerous urchins, who emerged
from various mounds of sea-weed, heaped together for ma-
nure. The idlers grouped about, nettled by her want of
notice, continued to lounge unconcernedl}'^ by, and the only
civility vouchsafed was by Mother Tapson, the keeper of a
small inn known as "Jack Ashore," who, true to her motto,
that ** all was fish that comed to her net," came out to
say
" If you likes to bring the lady in 'ere, Maister Despard,
the parler bar's to yer service, sir."
" Why could not the boat have been ready ! " Katherine
asked impatiently, taking no heed of this polite offer.
" I cannot think," said Leo.
" Aw can't 'ee, sir ?" snorted Mother Ta])son. " I should
ha' thought you might ha knaw'd ; why her bottom 'ed be
stove in if her'd bin rin dov/n afore you hove in sight.
Wouldn't her, Jim?" she shouted as old Jim stopped to
raise his cap to the gentlefolks. Jim being far too wise to
offer any opposition to a lady so notably clever with her
hands and her tongue as Mother Tapson, though ignorant
of the case in point, nodded assent.
" Why where be you goin to, hey ? " she added.
"To Winkle, to fetch Miss Hero back," said Jim, one
eye still directed towards Mrs. Labouchere and Leo.
"Aw! her's comin home then. Bless her dear heart!
Siie's a real lady, she is, and has often sot in my parler,
and to serve her or the Cai)'en I'd go down on my bended
knees by night or by day, that I would."
'^Comc, come," laugV\ed one o^ vKe men lounging near.
HERO CARTHEW.
251
surveying her short, fat figure, " you're raither broad in the
beam, missis, for that sort o' game."
" Niver you mind that. What I says I sticks to, and so
will many more here who knows where to go mumpin* on a
banyan day. There ain't nobody about here, gentle or sim-
ple, as is fit to tread in the same shoe leather as Miss
Hero, and I don't care a brass farden who hears me say so,
neither ; " and she gave a defiant look towards Mrs. La-
bouchere, which made Leo say
** Take no notice of her. These people are really not
civilized. Come, Wallis," he called out, " lend Joe a hand
with this boat; it's high time we were off now;" and he
gave his arm to Mrs. Labouchere, trying to assist her over
the rough, slippery stones with an assiduity which increased
Mrs. Tapson's ire. " He's as false-faced as two is that
young Despard," she said, " and before he and Miss Hero
walks to church together, I hopes the say'll swaller 'un."
" Sir Stephen, he's the right mate for Miss Hero," said
one of the bystanders.
" Ah, now you've got the stocking on the right leg,"
said Mother Tapson; "he is a likely gentleman. You
should ha seed un yesterday a haulin' an hoistin' Mrs. Col-
lins into the boat, as if her'd bin the port admiral's lady, and
to me 'twas * How de do, Mrs, Tapson, and good day to
'ee, Mrs, Tapson ! ' Don't 'ee tell me ! there's more good
done by gentlefolks with a kind word or haction, than if
they was to stand jawing about 'ee all da), and I for one
says, God bless Sir Stephen, and prosper the day he
comed to Mallett."
CHAPTER XXXIII.
AT PAMPHILLON.
Leo accompanied Mrs. Labouchere to the station, and
remained chatting with her until it was time for the train to
start ; then, after a somewhat confused and hurried good-
by, he walked moodily away, while she, sinking back in
the carriage, gave a sigh of thankfulness that she was again
alone, and free to indulge the thoughts which filled and
troubled her. Step by step she went over the marvellous
revelations of the last few hours, and so at variance did
these seem with all she had been brought up to believe and
to put faith in, that she was tempted to question whether
she could be the same Katherine, who, up to that time,
could have staked her existence, that not an event had ever
taken ])lace in her aunt's life, with which she and Stephen
were not thoroughly conversant ; and here, suddenly, was
brought to light a a crime of which this timid, trustful wo-
man was the secret perpetrator.
" It will cut Stephen to the heart," she thought, as she
wiped away the blinding tears. " If I could but save him
from knowing the worst ! Nothing will be so hard for him
to bear as the knowledge of what his mother has done."
Then, after another reverie, she said to herself, " The feel-
ing that Stephen loves her less, thinks less of her, will kill
her. Oh ! what can 1 do ? how can I spare them ? Poor
aunt ! poor Stephen ! How strangely our lives run !
Longings granted when they have lost their value ; wishes
answered all too late." Her memory went straying back to
the old days, when she had been Stephen's world ; to the
time when a word from her could inliuencc and guide him
bejond all else. What a different promise her life had
given then I Surrounded by \ove, d\c; \vould have laughed
HERO CARTHEW,
253
to scorn the supposition that a time would come when she
would yearn after, and weary for, the faintest sign of that
devotion which she then held so lightly. " Yes," she
sighed, " out of my headstrong vanity sprang my misery :
I took my fate into my own hands ; I shaped my own
destiny ; and to punish me all my desires have been granted,
and I am mocked by the very things I have thirsted after.
I have cried out, * If I were but rich, I should be happy ; ' I
have said, ' So that I were Iady Prescott, I should have no
care for aught else that might happen.* Rich I am, Lady
Fresco tt I might be, but what now ? " and she hid her face,
because of the newly shaped desire which filled her heart,
the desire to be Stephen Prescott*s wife. ** I may well
feel humbled," she said after a time, " as daily I see, that
little as I know of others, myself I know least of all."
This taking her back tocher recent mistake, made her sigh
afresh for her aunt's sorrows. " I never knew until now
how dear she is to me. I must try and in some way keep
her secret from Stephen 1 he will never overlook or forget
it." As she neared London, the task of breaking this un-
looked-for trouble increased in naagnitude, and every min-
ute discovered some fresh difficulty, until, when the train
reached Paddington, her anxiety had resolved itself into
the woods, ** What shall I say to him ? " and this she' kept
repeating during her drive to Albemarle Street, where she
learnt that, after breakfast that morning. Sir Stephen had
left, saying he was going down to his place, but that he
should most likely return on Friday.
"To-morrow," she said to her maid, "I want you to do
whatever business you have in town ; I shall not require
you to go to Pamphillon with me."
Pamphillon was a good three hours' journey from Lon-
don ; so, though the nine-o'clock train entailed rather
early rising, Katherine decided to go by it, and the next
morning nine o'clock found her commencing her journey.
What an undertaking it now seemed ! She began to be
filled with all sorts of anxiety and fear, but she steadily de-
termined to master herself, so that her energies might be
turned upon tlie story she was going to tell. D'viuu^the
254
HERO CARTHEW.
night she had made up her mind, that if possible she would
not repeat to Stephen what his mother had told her.
" If I can but keep the principal fact from him," she
thought, " it will not be half so hard for him to bear ; if I
tell him poor aunt burnt this certificate, what may he not
do ? perhaps as he did before in his trouble, rush ofif to
some wild, out-of-the-way part of the world India or
America ; refuse ever to see his mother again ; or, if they
did meet, treat her with a chilling indifference, which
would kill her." Well did Katherine know how sorely
such fears were distracting Mrs. Prescott ; loss of home,
income, position, all seemed swallowed up in the certainty
that in her son's eyes she would now be lowered and de-
graded. Poor mother ! how this thought racked her ! how
she shrank from meeting his altered gaze a gaze in which
love would be blotted out by reproach ! At the time they
were speaking of this together, it had not occurred to
Katherine that she could do more than endeavor to
soften down Stephen's bitterness, but now she saw there
was a i)ossibility that much more might be effected ; if she
failed, at least she could but try, and the certainty that, at
the barest hint, Stephen would never rest until justice was
done, gave much hope to her scheme. She carefully set
herself to work to consider how much she could withnold,
and how much, in order to impress upon him the impor-
tance of investigating the matter, must be told to him.
Absorbed in these reflections, the time passed very
rapidly, and as the train stopped at a little station near,
she could hardly believe she was close to Pamphillon.
Almost unconsciously she began comparing the rural wealth
among which it stood, with the wild, barren surroundings of
Combe. In that golden time of russet leaves the noble
old woods looked their best, half hiding, half discovering
the principal wing of the house, on which a v/eallh of
architectural taste had been lavished. Katherine closed
her eyes, and resolutely turning them away from all beauty
of sea and rock, she bade her memory picture the ugly,
steep village leading up to bleak downs and barren heights
thQ house built with a IYvoioa^^ eo\v\.^\w^t of all style,
HERO CARTHEW. 255
the one object being to afford the best protection against
beating storms of wind and rain, from which the thick,
stunted trees afforded little shelter. And was this to be
Stephen* s home ? Would he banish himself far from
society and civilization in such a desert ? Never ! Surely
the time had come for all false pride to be laid aside be-
tween them, and this day, at all risks, their future should
be decided.
At the little station, the one man who did the double
duty of porter and ticket collector, could not believe his
eyes when the train stopped, and Mrs. Labouchere got
out ; nor his ears when, instead of waiting for the won-
drous vehicle from the Prescott Arms, she signified her
intention of getting into old Johnson's one-horse fly, which
stood at the wicket gate.
In after days Katherine always recalled Pamphillon, as
that morning it stamped itself upon her mind. The drowsy,
well-to-do village, where each person she saw stopped to
give her a respectful salutation, the neatly kept cottages,
the trim gardens. If Stephen had here chafed and worried
over the evils he could not remedy, surely the horrors of
Combe would distract him. As they turned from the lane
into the road skirting the park, a network of rich pasture
and yellow fields opened out, adding to the sweetness of
the scene, which, viewed under Katherine's present feel-
ings, seemed a very paradise of pastoral beauty. At the
nearest of the several entrances she bade the man sto[),
saying she would walk through the park to the house.
This she commenced doing at rather a rapid pace, having
no wish to encounter Sir Stephen where there was any
chance of their meeting being observed upon, and any-
where out t)f doors he was almost certain to be accom-
panied by his bailiff or his steward. All her minor difficul-
ties began now to encompass her and take the place of
those greater ones which had hitherto filled her mind. "It
is a lovely old place," she said, suddenly pausing as the
house came in view ; then turning slowly round she gazed
with wistful eyes in each direction, on the calm, refined
beauty of the scenQ, The appioacli ot foo\sX.i^'5k %^t her
256 HERO CARTHEW.
heart beating. Suppose but no, it was only one of the
gardeners, who stopped for her to pass him.
" Have you come from the house ? " she asked.
" Yes, ma'am, I'm going to Mr. Sharp's with this letter
from Sir Stephen."
" Sir Stephen is at the house, then ? " '
" Yes, ma'am ; he came down unexpected yesterday."
" Thank you," and she went on to a side entrance always
kept open, and close to the housekeeper's apartment. Here
she ascertained that Sir Stephen was in the library, where
he had been seeing people all the morning, but that just
now no one was with him.
"Then I will go to him," Katherine said. "There is
no need to announce me. I can .find va^ way alone."
CHAPTER XXXIV.
"fate has dealt hard with us both."
" Katherine ! " exclaimed Sir Stephen, in a voice of
amazement and inquiry at Mrs. Labouchere's unexpected
appearance. "What on earth has brought you here?
There is nothing the matter, I hope. My mother ? "
" Is quite well."
" And not with you ? " for it suddenly occurred to him
that in order to make a final struggle she had followed him
with all speed.
" No ; I am alone. I left aunt at Combe yesterday
morning. As soon as I reached town I drove to Albemarle
Street, and there learnt that you had come on here."
She paused.
Sir Stephen said " yes," and then he paused ; but finding
Katherine remained silent, he thought, " Mother has sent
her to try and move me now by fresh offers arguments,
opposition. Well, I had best meet them cheerfully, and
treat them lightly;" so he said smiling, "I suppose my
mother bothered you into coming, Katherine. It's the old
story about keeping the place, is it not ? "
"Not quite, and I proposed to come to you myself.
Are we safe not to be disturbed here ? I want to talk to
you very particularly."
"Perhaps she intends offering to buy it," Sir Stephen
thought, as he got up and fastened an outer door.
" We shall not be interrupted, now," he said ; " that door
shut is a signal that I am engaged." He drew over a chair
and seated himself near her, while she took off her gloves,
unfastened her mantle and bonnet, not able to bear any
pressure near the nervous lump which had begun to gather
in her throat
258 HERO CARTHEW.
"What is it, Katey?" he said, gently, feeling that some
more than ordinary circumstance was necessary to accoun,
for any betrayal of her usually well-controlled self.
" Aunt has told me about young Despard," Katherine
blurted out, forgetting, as one usually does, how she had
intended leading up to the subject.
" I feared you would blame us for not telling you before,"
Sir Stephen said, gravely ; ** but mother has such extraor-
dinary crotchets in her head about this matter, that any-
thing like common-sense arguments are entirely lost upon
her."
"Tell me exactly all you have heard and been told
about him," Katherine said, with such an anxious ex-
pression of face, that though Sir Stephen began his relation
without any delay, he had had time to run over the possibility
of Katherine having taken a fancy to Leo, the probability
that her fortune and position would greatly influence him,
and the fact that Hero would thus be set free. This made
him most exact in repeating every detail he had learnt from
his mother, and Aunt Lydia, of Leo's j)arentage, adoption,
and bringing up by Mr. Despard.
" This, Katherine," he said in conclusion, " is the sum
total of my knowledge, which I only delay telling to Mr.
Despard himself until I am in a position to do what I feel,
on my uncle's part, it is my duty to do. It cannot be
much, but it will be some addition to his present income,
which is not, as I need hardly tell you, a very sufficient
one."
" Aunt seemed to think you were not quite satisfied with
what she told you."
" Satisfied ! Oh, I am satisfied enough ; but you know,
Katherine, what a difficult person my mother is in some
things to deal with ; there is no bringing her to the point.
Now, in this case, had she straightforwardly told me all she
knew about the young fellow, there would have been an
end of the matter. But no, she must beat about the bush,
defend herself on each question I asked, object to every
s'wgiQ thing I proposed, until I lost temper, and told her I
should apply to Holmes, and so \ vcv^^xv v^r
HERO CARTHEW. 259
" But you have not done so ?"
" No, I have not been to him ; I did not want to see
him until I had spoken to two or three of the tenants, who,
like myself, have not been Fortune's favorites, and are a
little behindhand with their affairs. I want them to start
fresh, as I hope to do, and there is no need for Holmes
knowing all this."
"Aunt was so afraid you had gone straight to Mr.
Holmes's."
" Poor old soul ! how she does delight in worrying her-
self ! I left that message purposely, thinking, if I had said
I was coming here, she would have guessed what for, and
given herself no peace. All I want to know from Holmes
is whether Uncle Bernard ever mentioned the subject to
him."
"Yes, he did."
** He did ?" exclaimed Sir Stephen in a tone of amaze-
ment. " Why, how do you know ? "
" Because aunt has been recalling things which had quite
slipped her memory. She recollects now that Mr. Holmes
asked her, if she had ever heard of this woman and a child.
The woman, he said, was dead ; but about the child he was
not certain."
Sir Stephen's face changed.
" Why could not mother have told me this ? "
" I do not know ; perhaps I ask questions that lead her
into remembering things. Then I bring to her mind cir-
cumstances she had forgotten, and so in some way, you
know, she generally tells more to me than she does to any
one else. Poor thing ! she is in a sad way now, Stephen."
"About what?"
" About this young man. She so fears that perhaps she
did not sift the matter as she ought to have done. You
know how tender her conscience is, Stephen, and at the
time of your uncle's death she was so engrossed with the
ruinous state he had left the property in, that no one could
wonder at her having no room in her thoughts for anything
else. Every one must see, that she would only have been
too irlad to shift the burden Upon otJaet Aioxs^its^^^^^^^
26o HERO CARTHEW.
own ; besides which, who could have dreamed of your
uncle marrying any one but aunt ? "
" What should make her suddenly believe that he did ?"
" Well, some letters, or a letter of his in which mention
was made of a Matilda Williams, living at Hatfield, and,
read by this new light, aunt is convinced that the folly to
which he alluded must have meant marriage. At all events,
Stephen, she will never rest until you have been to the
parish church there, and have convinced yourself that such
a marriage never took place."
Sir Stephen sat with his eyes fixed blankly upon Kath-
erine.
" My God ! " he said at length, as the great unbroken
wave of his misery swept over him.
" You may find nothing, Stephen," Katherine said, think-
ing it best to try and soften this calamity by a doubt of its
existence.
"Where is this letter?"
" Burnt ; aunt burnt it with the rest."
" Then as surely as we two sit here, it is true," he an-
swered. " Katherine, you know it ; my mother has told
you so, and this is why she concealed it from me all along."
" If she was remiss or careless, her fearful anxiety is pay-
ing dearly enough now," Katherine murmured.
" Yes. Now she would have me rush off, get together
every scrap of information, and try to persuade every one,
as she is persuading herself, that until I spoke of it the
bare possibility never dawned upon her. Who will believe
me ? Not only shall we be reduced to beggary, but we
shall be looked upon as impostors."
He hid his face in his hands, so that Katherine might
not see its pained working; but her own was scarcely less
troubled. Rising to go over to his side, she trembled so
violently that she was forced to kneel down and lean against
the table.
" Stephen," she said in all but a whisper, " I once did
you a great wrong. I was presumptuous and self-confident
thevij and I thought it a grand thing to force a royal road
through our difficulties. Veiy sooxl\\^^s.^^\.^2cw^ Ca.tal error
HERO CARTHEW. 261
I had made, and that in your eyes I could never regain my
self-respect ; then the money which had cost me my hap-
piness turned to a burden ; so it has remained until this
moment. Now a gleam of hope comes that you will let it
give me some pleasure. This young man cannot keep Pam-
phillon ; he must sell it. Buy it of him. If he chooses to
assume the title, let him ; but do not let the sacrifices aunt
made be in vain. She has been a mother to us both, Ste-
phen ; repay her by doing this. I cannot tell you how it
wrings my heart, to know that both of you may be called
upon to suffer anything which I could save you from. For
her sake, Stephen for your mother's sake do what I ask,
and and take it from me as freely as I, in need, took from
her and from you.
Stephen felt his own eyes fill as he looked upon the ear-
nest face before him.
"My dear," he said softly, "think what the world might
reasonably accuse me of, if I bought the estate from a man
too needy to keep an inheritance of which, for years, I
have been unjustly depriving him. No, my embarrassment
will be my greatest justification."
Katherine was silent ; she saw the reasonableness of this
argument
" But I could buy it ? " she said presently, " Every one
knows I can afford to do so."
" Certainly you could buy it ; but I should not advise
your doing so ; it is a very troublesome estate to manage."
" I should not want it for myself," she said in a low tone,
and her eyes were raised to his with a look of such plead-
ing entreaty, that in a moment all his mother had said and
hinted at rushed across him, and he knew that it was
Katherine* s turn to love him.
" Katherine," he said very gravely, " I know the large-
ness of your heart, and that you are still bent upon bene-
fiting me ; but, my dear, this is a gift which a brother could
not take from a sister, were that sister young as you are,
and likely to form other and nearer ties.
She shook her head, and two heavy drops fell upon the
table towards which she had turned awa^.
263 HERO CARTBEW.
" Do not look upon this as impossible, Katherine dear.
I will tell you something which will show you how very
little we know of our own hearts. For years after you
married I was aimless and purposeless, from the belief that
I could never again take any interest in life. Even after I
came to England, and met you, this feeling still existed,
and I looked upon you as its sole cause, and this prevented
my having the brotherly regard which I saw you wished to
exist between us. Well, I went down to Mallett, and sud-
denly the whole coiu-se of my life changed ; new hopes
and prospects seemed to brighten it, and when I asked
myself the cause for this, I found it was because my heart
had opened again, and the place you had so long left va-
cant was filled by Hero Carthew."
A little shiver seemed to run through Katherine, but she
did not speak nor move, until, feeling she must know the
worst, she said,
" Are you going to marry her, Stephen ? "
" No."
" Because of this ? "
" No, before I knew of this. I knew that she cared for
some one else."
" Can you tell me who ? "
" Yes ; to this very Mr. Despard ;" and with a pang of
intense bitterness, he added, speaking rather to himself
than to her, " so probably she will be Lady Prescott, in
spite of herself."
" He asked me to marry him yesterday," Katherine said,
turning her tear-stained face towards him.
Sir Stephen grew scarlet.
"He asked you to marry him ? "
" Yes ; why or what made him do so I cannot imagine
decidedly nothing in my manner towards him. I did not
tell him so," she added hastily ; " I thought it best to keep
on good terms with him."
*' He knows no more about himself than when lieft ? "
" Nothing more."
" Then 1 wish you had told him, Katherine, that he was
greatly presuming on your coxMtesy and kindness."
HERO CARTHEW, 263
" I do not think he meant it in that way," she said, in-
clined to look upon Leo's offence with less severity than
her cousin did. "He was surprised into it, I think, by my
sudden departure. He is young, and very likely he knows
but litde of the world. Of course I told him that he must
never mention such a thing to me again, because I was
quite determined" and here her voice trembled "as I
am never to marry. So your scruples are very needless,
Stephen. I shall remain a widow as long as I live."
She rose up, and stood gazing into a future which seemed
to her blank and desolate. Unknown to herself, her un-
studied attitude told her tale of crushed hope and lost love.
Looking at her, and remembering how their lives had been
linked together, Stephen was touched to the quick ; the
words he had meant to say died away, and in their place he
whispered huskily,
"God bless you, Katherine, for coming to me in my
trouble. Fate has dealt very hardly with us both."
CHAPTER XXXV.
SIR LEOPOLD PRESCOTT.
Leo Despard had seldom felt so thoroughly miserable,
as he did during the week which succeeded Mrs, La-
bouchere's departure. The hopes, which had been raised
by her manner on that morning, were all but extinguished
by the total ignorance he was left in, as to when she intended
returning to Mallett, or whether she intended returning
at all. The certainty of learning all about her movements
from Mrs. Prescott had occasioned the reticence, for which
Katherine had felt so grateful ; but to his dismay, on calling
at Combe, he was told that Mrs. Prescott was ilLand
confined to her room, and though each day he had re-
peated his visit, the bulletin he received was no better.
Putting together the circumstances of Sir Stephen's un-
announced departure, Mrs. Labouchere's sudden flight,
and this illness (which he believed feigned), he began
to be very uneasy, that it all boded anything but good to
him. The only thing he had to cling to, was the way in
which Mrs. Labouchere had received his avowal ; and the
more he pondered over this, the more satisfied was he
that with a little more opportunity, she would have been
secured. Had she felt this? Had Mrs. Prescott or Sir
Stephen noticed it, and so got up some plan for carrying
her off, and keeping her away ? If so, the game was over,
and he had jeopardized his happiness for nothing. Hitherto,
his claim upon Hero had secured to him her constant
companionship, and whenever he felt dull or lonely, he had
but to go to Sharrows. Never before had he felt how
thoroughly he had excluded himself from the little com-
munity, among whom his boyhood had been spent; but
DOW the truth was forced upoiv \v\m, ^xA -a-VV his vanity
HERO CARTHEW. 26$
could not blind him to the fact, that though lie might be
received kindly, because of Aunt Lydia, or for Uncle
Tonjr's sake, nobody cared for him personally, and all
plainly showed him that they knew his visits were only due
to the Combe people being absent, and he, in conse-
quence, not knowing what else to do with himself. Poor
Aunt Lydia had a sad time of it, for, thrown upon his own
resources, nothing seemed to please or satisfy her nephew,
and twenty times in the day she shook her head dismally
over Hero's obstinacy in staying all this time at Winkle.
She constandy endeavored to get Leo to talk of Captain
Carthew and Sharrows, but before she reached the point
she was aiming at, he invariably turned the conversation,
and the poor old lady's scheme of reconciliation seemed
further off than ever. ** I really think I will try and speak
to him openly," she thought, as she sat one morning
waiting for him to come down to breakfast ; but at the
first sight of Leo's face her courage failed her, and she
thought it would be better to wait for a more propitious
opportunity. He pushed away his breakfast ; almost
untasted, causing Aunt Lydia to say with a doleful shake
of her head, " Oh dear ! oh dear ! what am I to get for
you, Leo ? you really do not eat enough to feed a sparrow.
My dear boy, what is the matter ? "
" Now, for Heaven's sake. Aunt Lydia, don't begin to
bother. I cannot sit down at this hour of the morning,
and make a meal likfe a ploughboy, and nothing short of
that satisfies you."
"I am afraid there is nothing to tempt you. I am
sure, if I only knew what to get, I'd get it. Do you think
now, if Mrs. Carne had got a nice hog's pudding, that
you could fancy a bit of that ? "
Leo jumped up from his chair with an impatient gesture,
but, after a moment, he repented, and turned saying,
" Don't worry me like a good old soul, I don't feel at all
the thing ; I'm out of sorts and spirits."
" It must be so dull for you, my dear," Aunt Lydia said,
sympathetically. " When is Sir Stephen coming back ? "
" Oh, Sir Stephen be hanged, and ^.\L the others with
1$
266 HERO CARTHEW.
him. I begin to wish I'd never set eyes on one of them.
Here's that fellow now with the letters," he continued, "as
if I hadn't enough without people writing to torment
my life out," for the bulky blue envelopes which bore no
official stamp, were almost certain to contain long bills,
made up of small items which poor Leo had entirely forgot-
ten. He took the letters, said a few words to the man before
dismissing him, and then sat down to the unpleasant duty
of becoming acquainted with their contents. Aunt Lydia
hurried out of the room, oppressed with the remembrance
that the dinner had yet to be ordered. What to get she
could not tell, " Hero used to give me such help," she
sighed, "but now I never see her, and from Antony
having been pleased with anything, I have grown so
stupid." Suddenly she gave a start listened a moment
and then, convinced that Leo was calling, she hurried back
to find him standing in the middle of the room with an
open letter in his hand and a look upon his face, which
made her exclaim, " What, my dear ? What is it ? "
Leo could not answer ; the words he wanted to say A^ould
not come. His throat and mouth seemed parched and
dry ; ** Sir Stephen," he got out at length.
"What about him?" then taking notice of the letter,
she burst out, " Oh, Leo, has he told you ? "
" Did you know of it then ? " Leo said faintly, as his
strength suddenly failing him, he dropped down into the
nearest chair.
" I knew it, my dear, of course, from your dear uncle,
but it was his desire that it should never be mentioned to
you, and until Sir Stephen came to me and made his gen-
erous offer, I did not think that I should ever set aside his
wishes."
" Sir Stephen came to you ? " Leo exclaimed, reading
the letter again, *'what do you mean? When did Sir
Stephen come to you ? what offer did he make ? "
Aunt Lydia began to feel uneasy ; she feared that Leo's
pride was hurt by this discovery of his birth " Dear, dear !
what should she do ? everything seemed to be going wrong."
^^BQsidLfSt myself, Mrs. Prescott was the only other person
HERO CARTHEW. 267
who knew of it, Leo. Afler she came down here, she
thought it right to acquaint her son, and very hurt he
seemed to be about it, but you know, my dear, no harm is
done ; Sir Stephen, I am sure, is the last person to men-
tion it, if you have the slightest objection ; " but Leo had
returned again to the letter, which he seemed to be read-
ing over carefully. Aunt Lydia therefore waited until she
saw he had come to the end, then she began, " Your uncle
felt perfectly convinced."
"Never mind about my uncle being convinced," Leo
exclaimed, impatiently, his face looking hot and excited ;
" what I want from you is, who I am. Tell me every
scrap you know about me."
" Well, my dear, of course it's very painful for me, and I
know it must be painful for you too."
" For Heaven's sake, never mind the pain, but try and
answer my question."
" So I will, but, Leo, you forget, after years of silence,
it is very hard at my time of life."
Leo took a turn up and down the little room, then stop-
ping in front of her, he said with a movement of his finger,
as if fixing her reply,
** Now tell me, whose son am I ? "
"Your ^your father was Sir Bernard Prescott."
And why was this kept from me ? "
Because your dear uncle wished that you and all around
us should believe that you belonged to our family."
" Then my uncle was an old fool."
Aunt Lydia gave a Httle cry.
" Leo !" she said in a voice of horror. " You do not
know what you are saying ; consider what your uncle did
for you."
" Did for me ? " he cried, in an excited voice. " I'll tell
you what he did for mg he helped to keep me out of my
lawful estate and position, so that instead of having my
rights, I and every one else believed I was a beggarly nobody.
Why did he keep a secret such as this to himself? And
you ? why didn't you tell me, especially when you found
that these cheats and impostors were coming down here ?
SSSO trAJfTfffftf.-
Oh yes ! joii may stare," he added, seeing her
stricken face. " But cheats they are, and impostors too.
Why every slick they possess belongs to me ! Yes, to me
the rightful heir. I'm no base -bom son. I am Sir Leo-
pold Prescotl Sir Leopold Frescott," he repeated, "by
Jove ! " and he threw himself down, laughing hysterically,
in his uncontrollable joy, while the tears which she could
no longer restrain rolled down Aunt Lydia's withered
cheeks.
" Why, what are you crying for, you old stupid ? " Leo
called out, jumping up and giviog her a shake. " Do you
think I'm gone mad? Well, my head does seem all but
turned, and no wonder : read that," and he thrust the letter
he held into her hand, " read it and tell me what you think
of it then?"
Aunt Lydia drew forth her spectacles, and endeavoring
to steady her hand sutficiently to see the words before her,
she with much difficulty got through the letter which Mr.
Holmes had sent to Leo. Sir Stephen's instructions had
been the most explicit with him : " Tell him everything he
ought to know, get it over as quickly as you can." This
letter, therefore, was but a prehminaiy announcement to
the explanations, which were to follow as soon as Mr.
Holmes was assured that this first epistle had safely come
to hand. Its writing had caused the old gentleman more
pain, than during bis business life he had ever yet expe-
rienced ; and in his frequent ejaculations of " fine fellow ! "
"noble character!" he almost forgave Sir Stephen, for
what he called poking and prying and meddling witli things,
which were intended by Providence to remain as they were.
The letter which he despatched merely informed Leo, diat
it having lately come to Sir Stephen's knowledge, that his
uncle, the late Sir Bernard Frescott, had left a son, he had
instituted an inquiry into the facts, which had resulted in
his being convinced that Leo was that son, the late baronet's
legitimate son, and therefore heir to his title and estate of
Pamphillon. Mr. Holmes added, that Sir Stephen had
placed the necessary evidence and documents with hini for
Leo's use and disposal, andVve ended b-j ^^S^g that ''
1
.^
HERO CARTHEW. 269
his acknowledgment of this letter, instructions might be sent,
as to how and where all particulars relating to himself and
his estate should be communicated to him.
" Now,, what do you say ? " Leo asked, taking the letter,
which Aimt Lydia had let drop into her lap out of her hands.
" Oh ! if your uncle had only lived to see this day ! Oh I
Leo, Leo ! " And overcome by contending emotions, the
poor old lady burst into tears.
" Well, it seems to me, he might have easily seen it if he
had acted to^ me as he ought to have done ; and really,
Aunt Lydia, I don't know what right he could have fancied
he had to take me away from everybody, and keep from
me whose son I was."
"Nothing but his love for you kept him silent, Leo,"
Miss Despard said, gathering up a spirit of defence for her
brother which she never would have found for herself.
" When Antony adopted you, you seemed to have no claim
upon any one. Your mother was dead, your father had died
without acknowledging that he had married her, and Mrs.
Prescott herself wrote, saying that this offer to adopt you was
the greatest act of charity, for she did not know what other-
wise would have been done with you."
" It was a charity to take me out of the way, I suppose,"
Leo said, with a bitter sneering laugh. " The old hypocrite,
ril teach her what charity means ; she shall have a taste of
it now at my hands. I only fancy the Malletters, when they
hear this bit of news about their wonderful Sir Stephen, it'll
rather alter their tune, I fancy."
" Poor young man I What a reverse for him, after all
these years too ! Oh I Leo ; you must try and spare him
all you can, for he was so generously minded towards you.
Pm sure the words hadn't left my lips about your not being
able to marry, before he said that you should have the
money, as soon as ever he was able to sell the estate."
" Sell the estate ! He dare not lay his finger on a stick
or stone of it. I tell you what it is. Aunt Lydia, he may
think himself a precious fortunate fellow, that I choose to
take his word for things. Many a man has found himself
inside Carsleet gaol for less than he has doxv^ "
2/0
HERO CARTHEW.
" Oh, nay dear ! don't say so ; why, but for him, this might
never have come to light."
" I'm not quite so certain of that."
" Oh I^eo ! I am quite certain that Sir Stephen never
knew a word of this when he came to see me, nor did Mrs.
Prescott either."
" Oh, are you ? Well, perhaps it*s a pity that I am not
quite so credulous. However, there is no need for us to
argue about that now ; I have quite business enough to take
up my time in seeing after leave."
" I wonder whatever Hero will say," Aunt Lydia mur-
mured, more to herself, than to Leo.
Leo's face changed ; in his excitement he had forgotten
Hero, but the mention of her nam^ brought additional joy
to him. There was nothing he need deny himself now, and
laughing, as he pictured Hero's surprised delight, he said,
" If she should by any chance come here before I see her,
mind, not a word, Aunt Lydia. I must tell her all about it
myself What do you think she'll say to Sir Leopold and
Lady Prescott ? It doesn't sound so bad, does it, old
lady ? "
" Wonderful ! " exclaimed Aunt Lydia, " I can't realize
it, you know. Sir Leopold Lady Prescott not that Hero
has treated you quite nicely of late, my dear."
" Oh, never mind that now ; I was more to blame than
she was ; it was nothing but a little jealousy, I know that
well enough."
" But who had she to be jealous of? "
" Who ? why Mrs. Labouchere, and with very good
cause," he added with a laugh ; " why I might have her and
her money to-morrow if I liked. I dare say by this time
she's ready to take odds in anything you like to name that
she will be Lady Prescott. Ah, well, now I can have the
girl I love."
CHAPTER XXXVI.
A WORD OF ADVICE.
It did not take long to spread news in Mallett, and before
very long the universal theme of conversation in every
house and cottage was, the " wonderful stroke o' luck which
had overtook the young Despard." For once in her life
Betsey allowed her curiosity to so far master her that, being
in the village, she accepted Hepzibah Bunce's invitation to
" step in and make a pitch," knowing that within the little
shop the affair would have been pretty freely handled and
discussed. No sooner was she seated in a chair brought
out, and, in her honor, wiped with Hepzibah's "filthy"
apron, which Betsey felt sure "hadn't sin soap and water
the time was when," than Hepzibah began, " Why Betsey,
what for goodness gracious sake is all this hoot and cry
about the folks to Combe and the young Despard ? The
talk is, tliat Sir Stephen baint aSir at all, and that the young
Despard's rale name is Priscott ? What have you heerd
about it all ? "
Betsey shook her head. " I've 'a heerd no more than
you can tell me," she said.
" Well, I never ! I should ha' thought that you'd knaw
more than anybody else. Ned Wallis says, that in rum-
magin' about, Sir Stephen has come across the marriage
lines to prove, that the young Despard' s mother was his
imcle's wedded wife, and so he's foas'd to give un up every-
thing. The men's all in a reg'lar quandary. They hold
by Sir Stephen makin' un prove it to law, for Job Trethewy,
whose cousin Jack's in lawyer Truscott's office, says that
unless Sir Stephen chooses to walk out, Despard can't put
un to doors, for that position is nine points of the law ; but
there, as the sayiix* is, somebody s d\i\^^Ti% ^. ^x.*^^
272
HERO CARTHEW.
\
father's luck, and if there's one more than another that I
can't abide the sight on 'tis that young Despard, though
p'raps now I should do better to hold my tongue before you,
Betsey. I'm forgettin' about Miss Hero, though you ain't
one to fetch and carry, for I'd rather swaller my words any
day than hurt Miss Hero's feelin's."
" Aw ! you needn't be afeard there," said Betsey, with a
tone and look of severe contempt; " her' s no thin' to he,
and he's nothin' to she,"
" What, is it all off then?" exclaimed Hepzibah. " Well,
I ain't surprised ; for so soon as iver I see un philanderin*
about after that new madam to Combe, I says to our Tam-
son, * Miss Hero won't put up with that,' I says, * you see if
her do, for I'm thrapped if I would, without the man a
measuring his length, if he was so big as Goliar o* Gath.' "
"Aw! well then as likes orts is welcome to Mr. Des-
pard so far as Miss Hero goes," said Betsey.
"But p'rhaps her' 11 change her mind now," Hepzibah put
in, reflectively, " if 'tis true that he'll be Sir Leo/^?//."
" He may be what poll pleases un," exclaimed Betsey
with a snort ; " but and I've dared Joe to do otherwise
I'll be put in irons and kep there afore I'll call un Sir any-
thing. . I says it," continued Betsey, forgetting in her ex-
citement her caution, " and I'll stick to it, that all this has
bin brought about by foul play somewheres, for they as
knaws can testify to it that Despard's mother was a reg'lar
fly-be-night, and if he'd ever got a father it don't follow
that he was Sir Stephen's uncle, the nointy ole rascal to have
the credit of a son that the father o' lies might own for false-
ness."
" Iss, I hear that he goes about tellin* up, that he's bin
kep' out o' his money all these years by Sir Stephen o' pur-
pose. Why, 'tis shameful. You might so well call any-
body a thief and Hard to their face, and more partic'lar after
the Cap' en a makin' a speech about it on the Hard. They
says you might a heerd a pin drop, till he comed to where
nobody durstn't lay a finger upon Combe, and then they
sot up cheerin' and hurroarin' as if the French was a
coinin'J^
C(
HERO CARTHEW. 2/3
" Ah ! 'tis that what riles un so," said Betsey laughing.
He was for takin' everybody to be so big a lick-spittle as
hisself, carneying to whoever was uppermost. Why, he's
had the brass to say that he'll make the Malletters pay for
it, and if Sir Stephen's left with a coat to his back 'twill
only be through his charity."
" And that after Sir Stephen has found all this out for
un," exclaimed Hepzibah, " aw ! fie upon un."
" If he'd took it and not said a word," continued Betsey,
" why nobody would ha' said a word again he ; but 'tis to
go round makin' out that he's a bin chated, and that the
poor old rector and Miss Despardall but winked at it, that's
what's a turned the whole place agin un, and I says for one
that the sooner he shows Mallett his back the better we shall
all like un."
** He's only waitin* till his leave comes down, I hear."
" That's all. He's sure to be off to-morrow or the next
day, cos he's a got to meet Sir Stephen in London. I heerd
the Cap' en tellin' Mr. Jamieson about it."
" VVhy, now, you baint goin*," Hepzibah exclaimed, as
Betsey rose to take her departure. " *Tis so seldom you do
come, and we all but sister-laws. But there," she added,
" I s'pose this'U put it off agin ? "
Betsey drew herself up severely. "Joe's one of they
who thinks, if he baits his line he's sure o* his fish," she
said ; "but that ain't my way. There's a voice inside me
callin' louder than ever Joe Bunce could holler, and if he
and a few more, who shall be nameless, was to listen to that
voice instead o' followin' the perverse workin'so' their own
fleshly 'arts, there wouldn't be so many empty sittin's in Mr.
Pethe wick's chapel ; " and with that backhander, as Betsey
afterwards remarked, she took her " congee."
Well might it be said that the village, to quote the Cap-
tain, was turned wrong side uppermost ; for this unlooked-
for discovery had completely unhinged the minds of a
simple folk given to put implicit faith in things as they
were, and as they found them. They could not grasp this
new fact presented to them, nor realize that Leo Despard,
whom they had known for all these \e^.IS as old Mr.
12^
274
HERO CARTHEW.
Despard*s nephew, should suddenly turn out to be Sir
Bernard Prescott's son, and that Sir Stephen shouldn't be
Sir Stephen at all, ftnd only Leo Despard's cousin.
" Why," as old Jim said, " it didn't appear natural like."
At lengdi the Captain, being informed of the general con-
sternation, took it upon himself to give them, as plainly as
he could, an account of the whole affair, and inasmuch as
they knew the Captain would never stand by and see any-
thing but fair play, they were quite satisfied, and it was
understood among them that their line of action was ** to
stand by the Cap' en, to stick to Sir Stephen like limpets,
and if any man gainsayed 'em in it, why off jacket and
make un prove his words," and this out of no such particu-
lar ill-will to Leo, only that they knew he had always stood
so apart from them, that in his rise or fall he would never
consider Mallett. But in his elation Leo forgot the past,
and was sorely nettled to find that those, whose joys and
sorrows he had treated with open indifference, should now
presume to be indifferent to him and to his interests. This
vexation caused him to forget his usual tact, and he lost
more ground by the way he tried to assert himself. He cast
upon his newly found relations imputations, and gave covert
hints that unless he was rather more conciliated it might
be the worse for Mallett ; and some of these incautious
speeches being repeated to the Captain, he made up his
mind to go to Aunt Lydia, and give Leo a word of advice.
This resolution he put in practice, and the next morning
walked to the cottage, where he found the old lady sitting
alone, expecting Leo to come in on his way to Dockmouth.
" You saw him last evening?" she said, " did you not?"
" Only for a few minutes; I wasn't at home when he
called, I'd gone to Winkle. It was young Tom Joslyn's
birthday, and as it's the last he'll spend in England for the
next three years, they'd got up a little treat among them-
selves."
** But surely you have seen Leo since he ^"
** Oh, yes ; I found time to say that, sorry as I feel for
my friend Prescott, I am glad that good has fallen to Leo's
share."
HERO CAR THE W. 275
The old lady sat for a moment silent, then, in a quaver-
ing whisper, she said, pointing tocher head, "Ifs been a
little too much for him. You mustn't mind anything he
says just now. Poor boy ! he'll know better after a time."
" Ah ! " said the Captain, drawing a long breath, " to
tell you the truth I thought I'd just step up, and, as an old'
friend of his uncle's, give him a word of advice about letting
his tongue run a little too fast."
" I'm very glad you have ; I dare say he'll pay attention
to what you say ; he never thinks I know anything. Here
he comes ; and, Captain Carthew, I do so want you to say
something on the subject of my going to see Mrs. Prescott ;
I feel it is my place to do so. He says no, let her call
here ; but that is not kind, not Christianlike."
The Captain had not time to answer before Leo entered.
" Ah ! " he said, shaking hands cordially, '* have you got
anything for me ? '*
" No ; did you expect something ? '*
" I left a note for Hero last evening, and I thought she
might have sent me a line in reply."
" No ; she did not come back from Winkle."
Leo looked his annoyance.
" I may be off to London at any moment," he said,
** and I want to see her particularly before I leave."
" Then I'm afraid you'll have to go to Winkle, for they're
all hard at work stitching away at Master Tom's rig-out ;
he's off on Tuesday to join the Callioper
Leo tried to relieve his feelings by an impatient sigh ;
he longed to give vent to his opinion of the Joslyns a
vulgar, ill-bred set. He had always set his face against
Hero being so intimate with them, and now, just when he
wanted her, she must be working for one of those cubs of
boys. Ah ! well. Lady Prescott would have to forget
many of Hero Carthew* s ways.
"Have you been to Combe, yet?" Captain Carthew
said. " I fancy Mrs. Prescott would like to see you ; she
almost said as much to me."
"If she wants me, she knows where I am ; I don't quite
see that it is my place to run after the Prescotts^" Leo
2/6
HERO CARTHEW.
answered, more ungraciously than he intended, through
being out of temper.
" 1 tell you what it is, Leo," said the Captain, " I don't
think you are taking quite the right line in this matter.
You seem to forget that if it had not been for Sir Ste])hen,
you might have remained Leo Despard all your life. I
don't know what your idea of acting honorably and
straightforwardly is ; but, by Jove, if you ask me, I say
'tis the way in which Stephen Prescott has treated you.
You may say it's confounded hard lines to have been kept
in the dark all these years. Perhaps it is ; but there,
again, you fell upon your feet in being brought up by those
who took such care of you, and your property being in the
hands of people who took such care of it. Come, come,
my lad, don't give utterance to anything that your conscience
must condemn. I feel convinced that, when you think it
over, you will feel that what you said last evening in the
boat would have been far better unsaid."
" I don't see that," replied Leo, doggedly. " Why should
every one be on Mr. Prescott's side, and no one on mine?
You talk about good feeling. I have had very little shown
to me ; not a single person in Mallett has said out heartily,
' I am glad to hear it.' Why they should care so much for
his loss, and so little for my gain, I cannot tell, seeing
they have known me as many years as they have known
him weeks. It isn't calculated to improve a man's temper
to find every one's back up against him because he hap-
pens to get his own."
"My dear," said Aunt Lydia, "you shouldn't say that."
" I don't know why I should not, I'm sure. You never
sit five minutes without * poor Mrs. Prescott this,' and ' poor
Sir Stephen the other.' Why, even Hero, who has known
me all her life, can't take the trouble to send me a line of
congratulation."
And a little tremble in these words touching the Captain's
soft heart, he got up, and laid his hand on Leo's shoulder,
saying
"I see we've all been out in our soundings, my lad.
ComQ DOW, for the luluie dox^x. \^\. m^ Vv^n^ a.ay more of
HERO CARTHEm 2/7
this backing and filling, but a thorough understanding that
being sorry for one does not mean that we're not glad for
the other ; and as for Hero ^go to Winkle and see her,
tell her what you're come for, and you'll see she won't be
the one to forget your old friendship, and while you're gone
there Aunt Lydia will call at Combe, and have a chat with
Mrs. Prescott ; and then to-morrow you can go. By that
time I dare say your friend Mrs. Labouchere will be back."
For an instant Leo did not reply ; then he said
" I should be certain to find Hero at Winkle ?"
" Certain that is, if you go soon. I left word with Jim
to fetch her back this afternoon some time."
" I might go with him."
" You might."
" Well, then, I'll give up going to Dockmouth until to-
morrow. I really did not want to go there. And you can
go to Combe, Aunt Lydia."
" Yes, my dear. That's my own dear boy," she whis-
pered, giving him a squeeze of the hand.
And when, after some further conversation, the Captain
took his departure, she continued to say, unheard by Leo
" His heart is still in the right place, my dear friend."
" Oh, yes, yes," said the captain, " he'll pull through all
right, never fear."
" And he says that this little tiff between our dear Hero
and him was all his fault."
" Ah ! " said the Captain with considerable less hearti-
ness.
" Fancy, Lady Prescott I "
But the Captain only shook his head as he walked away ;
for, viewed in- the light of a son-in-law, he found he had less
liking for Leo than ever.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
A PARTING.
When Leo reached Sh arrows beach, he found that Jim
had been gone for some time.
" He'd a got a bit o' a job to Winkle/' one of the men
said, "or else he wouldn't ha* started so early-"
Leo hesitated, wondering whether he had best follow, or
wait Hero's return.
"The tide won't serve for coming back later than five,
sir," said the man ; " that made *un so nimble in settin* off."
In that case, it would be useless trying to reach Winkle
before Hero had started ; so Leo determined to walk up
to the Forts, and be back in time for her return. He was
not sorry to escape the visit to Winkle ; he wanted Hero,
and Hero alone, and was impatient for the time of tlieir
meeting to arrive.
There was one point from which he could catch sight of
the boat as soon as she rounded Combe headland, and,
having completed his survey of how the work, so soon to
pass into other hands, was progressing, he took up his sta-
tion to watch for her approach.
Naturally his thoughts ran on the events of the last few
days the unexpected turn his life had taken, as if Alad-
din's lamp, or Fortunatus's wishing cap had been given to
him. Well, at all events, now he ought to be contented.
Still, he had fancied that he should have somehow felt dif-
ferent to what he did. This led him on to picture the sur-
prise of his brother officers, and from thinking of them, he
began to debate into which of the crack regiments he should
exchange ; and these reflections occupied him, until a sud-
den putf of wind roused him, and in another minute the
boat he was watching fox cam^ vcv ^\^\..
HERO CARTHEW. 279
It was clear enough for him to see the outline of its two
occupants, Jim sitting crossways, so that he might give the
attention which the sail, on account of the chopping wind,
demanded. Hero bending forward, in order that the conver-
sation in which they were indulging might be intelligible.
" Once away from here, and she will be quite different,"
Leo thought, offering an excuse for the vexed feeling it
always gave him to see Hero so familiar with the village
people. " What the deuce she can find to talk about to an
old canting psalm-singer like that I cannot imagine."
Hoping to attract her attention, he took out his handker-
chief, and waved it, but to no purpose. Hero was too en-
grossed to see the signal, and Leo, annoyed at her preoc-
cupation, began to descend to the landing-place below.
From the moment of starting Jim had been trying hard
to engage Hero in conversation \ but she was too much
wrapt up in her own thoughts to give her old favorite his
usual share of attention.
It seemed to her, as if she should never recover from the
bewildered state of surprise into which this wonderful news
had thrown her. It was so improbable, so unlooked-for,
that it was impossible to realize it as a fact. So long as
people spoke of Leo she did not mind ; but to hear them
pitying Sir Stephen was unbearable. To know that he was
in sorrow, and she not able to go to him, seemed the sharp-
est arrow that outrageous Fortune had yet aimed at her.
While giving them the story, the Captain had entered
minutely into the various incidental details connected with
the past week ; and Hero's wounded love recovered, and
grew doubly strong at hearing of Sir Stephen's frequent vis-
its to Sharrows, his incjuiries, and his anxiety to learn that
she was getting stronger.
" Oh, papa ! " she exclaimed reproachfully, "why didn't
you tell me this before ? "
"Tell you what?" laughed the old man. "I should
have enough to do if I repeated all the philandering non-
sense a parcel of young fellows talk. Lord bless my soul I
not a day has passed without Tom Grant coming in two or
three times, and as for Jack Fring\e a\y\ O^^^^^x^
280 HERO CARTHEW.
' AU round my hat
I wears a green willow.* "
" Tom Grant and Giles, papa ! but Sir Stephen is very
different to boys, like they are."
" All tarred with the same brush, my dear : and your old
father the greatest fool of all. However, lUl make it all
square when I write."
Upon Tom Jos1}ti's appointment Hero had consented
to prolong her stay at Winkle for a few days longer ; but
she was most anxious now to be home again ; all her
thoughts ran upon Sir Stephen*s future movements, and the
possibility of her being afforded an early opportunity of let-
ting him know the real state of her heart. Suppose he did
not return to Mallett, could she write to him, and, if so,
what could she say? These perplexities completely ab-
sorbed her, and for some time rendered her blind to Jim's
more than usual desire for conversation."
"Miss Hero," he said, as they passed under Combe
Point, "I reckon they'm glad enuf now that they've a got
Combe. Iss," continued Jim, "'better small fish than
empty dish,' as the sayin' is. Do 'ee fancy Sir Stephen
takes it much to heart ? "
Hero nodded.
"Ah," said Jim, with a sympathetic sigh, "but you must
cheer un up. Miss Hero. Tell 'un * bitter pills has blessed
effects,' and he knows whose hand it is that smites un :
* Only fools that rod despises,
That loves the harder it chastises.' "
Hero smiled. " Have you seen Mr. Despard since ? "
she asked.
" Why, no, I habn't, not to say seed un since the day I
corned to Winkle for you, and cos o' Master Tom's ap-
pointment, you didn't come back. I seed un then. He
was 'pon the Hard with the lady to Combe." Then, after
a ])aiise, "Yon haven't a minded his busnackin' about after
she, have 'ec. Miss Hero?"
" Not in the least," Hero answered, laughing at Jim's
insinuating look and manner.
" JVo, I know*d that* Soia^e v\\ow^\\. ^"Wxkvs.^ ^oa would
HERO CARTHEW. 281
or no. Mother Tapson said her'd sclum un like a cat, if
so. But, says I to myself, all '11 be made plain sailin' now.
Miss Hero, I says, ain't the one to desert a sinkin* ship."
Then, noticing that Hero's eyes had suddenly filled with
tears, Jim discreetly concentrated his gaze uixjn the sail,
and premising that it meant to gibe, he gave vent to a
whistle. PufF came the wind, round the last point went
the little boat, within sight of the beach, on which Leo
stood waiting to help Hero out.
At sight of him Hero's face changed, and Jim, seeing
the cause of its altered expression, asked,
"Shall I tack out again. Miss Hero ?"
" Oh no ; we'll land there, Jim."
Jim got the oar out in readiness ; then he said, in a per-
plexed tone,
"I s'pose we ain't to begin calling un to once, sir any-
think ? 'TuU sound for all the world like gum muck sin' of
un."
But Hero did not answer ; she waited until they were
close to the shore, and then, as tlie boat grated on the
beach, she called out,
" How do you do ? I have just returned from Winkle."
Leo stepped into the boat and took her hand, to steady
her in jumping out. Hero noticed that he had not spoken,
but she was too nervous herself to say anything more.
Under pretence of speaking to Jim, she got a moment to
steady herself, and then, with Leo at her side, she turned
to walk towards the Sharrows Cliff.
" You got my note ? " Leo asked.
" Your note ! No."
" What, did not Betsey send it to you ? I gave it to her
yesterday. I tliou^t your father would have been sure to
take it."
"Papa came straight on from Cargill, and I suj^pose
Betsey forgot to give it to him ; at all events, I have not
had it."
" Can you guess what it was about. Hero ? " and the tone
sent the color flying into her cheeks.
^^Not ia the kast," she aasweced, uv ^ lo^^ &:ca voioe.
282 HERO CARTHEW.
" You have heard of the good fortune which has fallen
to my share ? "
Yes."
" Then you might have known to whom, in my joy, I
should first turn. Hero, I know that we have had a mis-
understanding ; I know that you blamed me for having,
through the world's rough teaching, a larger share of
worldly wisdom than you can comprehend, and I fear you
thought my refusal to let you share in the poverty, which
was all I could then offer you, a want of love. It was any-
thing but that if possible, you have been ten thousand
times dearer to me since I thought I tried to give you up.
I can never tell you how wretched I felt how tame, dull,
uncongenial everything and every one seemed, while I was
breaking my heart for your sake. Ask Aunt Lydia she
will tell you a little of what I have gone through. After
that night I met you at the Thomsons', I couldn't sleep,
I could not eat I could do nothing. I know it would
have been impossible to go on enduring it. I must have
rushed off to you, and told you that I could not give you
up."
** Indeed ! I wish that you had done so," Hero said.
" You do ? "
" It would have spared us this."
" Yes. But that very morning, as I was sitting thinking
about it, the news came. Hero, only fancy, what we have
longed for, and talked about, and sighed after, has come to
pass only it is a great deal more," he laughed ; " for our
imaginations never took us further than an old gentleman
leaving a large fortune, and here is a fortune, an estate,
and a title no, I won't let you speak until you have told
me that all you said on that horrid evening, when we stood
almost in this very spot, meant nothing. I am sure that
you love me, Hero. Love me well enough to forgive me
the i)ain 1 have made you suffer ; and when you have said
so in words, then I will tell you everything about this won-
derful discovery. Ah, how little we thought, when we used
to argue and quarrel about Sir Stephen Prescott, that all
he had, and all for wViich Vie via.? ?o \^o\^\. ^^^V^^longed
HERO CARTHEW. 283
to me. I only spoke against him because I was jealous of
him. I fancied that he might want to marry you, and then
you would forget me."
Those words seemed to sting Hero, and to give her the
key to all Leo's selfishness. Looking at him, she said
bitterly
"That is just what did take place, and what did not take
place. He wished to marry me, and I did not forget you."
" He wished to marry you ? Why ? did he ask you ? "
** He did, not knowing anything about you. He asked
me while you were in Scotland."
" And you refused him for my sake. Oh, Hero, what a
noble girl you are ! Why did you not tell me of this be-
fore ? However, you have your reward, have you not,
darling ? It would only have been a sham before ; but
now, as soon as it is possible, you shall be the real Lady
Prescott ; and I know whose wife you would rather be.
You have proved that to me. What a sneak the fellow
is I " he added, as certain passages between them occurred
with unpleasant vividness to his mind.
" Leo," Hero said, "it is necessary that I should speak
plainly to you. I thank you for the honor you have meant
to oflfer to me, but I must decline it"
" WTiat do you mean ? "
" Just what I say I must decline to accept the honor of
being Lady Prescott."
" Hero ! " his voice was hard and stem ; " this is no
time for standing on your dignity. I have acknowledged
my fault as completely as any woman could desire. 1 ex-
pect to leave this place to-morrow, and except for you I
shall never put foot in it again. You tell me that on my
account you refused a man whom you, like every one else
then, supposed to be a baronet. I now offer you the same
advantages, you must feel, from no other reason than be-
cause I love you. Why, then, do you say you must de-
cline to be my wife ? "
" Simply because I do not love you."
" Do not love me ? and yet, for my sake, a couple of
months since you could say no to ^V\aXmi^\. ^n^ ^^^^xxed
284 * HERO CARTHEW.
like a kingdom to you. Your words and actions are para-
doxical."
" Perhaps so. I do not ask or expect you to understand
what I did ; but I do wish you to feel that, if we are to re-
main friends, there must be no word of love mentioned
again between us ; " and she turned as if she would walk
on. But Leo caught her by the hand
"No!" he exclaimed, "you shall not move from this
spot until you tell me what you mean. I am not one to be
taken up and thrown aside at pleasure ; befooled one mo-
ment by being told of your great love, and flung off the
next with your high and mighty graces. What am I to
believe ? "
"That which in your own heart you know to be true,"
Hero said, her face flushed with excitement. " I gave you
my girl love and trust ; I believed in you ; and I was ready
to sacrifice anything for your sake ; while you failed me
in my hour of need, and were ready to give me up to se-
cure what in your eyes was of more value. I know," she
added, " that you are much more clever in argument than
I am, Leo, so we need not waste words in proving or dis-
proving that which I am certain you feel is the truth.
It is best," she said, holding out her hand, " that we
should part. Our paths will be widely divided, and we may
never meet again. Let us try, therefore, to forget all
which makes us feel bitter towards one another, and when
you remember Mallett and I know you will sometimes go
back to old days think kindly of me, Leo, as I shall of
you Good-by."
"Good-by!" he echoed, looking at her; "good-by to
you^ Hero ! Oh, you don't, you cannot mean to b6 so
cruel. What is all this to me if you do not share it with
me ? " and in truth at that moment his new possessions
seemed utterly valueless to him.
" You did not want me to share your poverty, Leo,"
Hero could not help saying.
" Because I hate poverty," he burst out. " Its shifts and
straits are abominable to mc. They so try my temper and
disposition, tliat it made me doubt vjXveXlasx oMea my love
HERO CARTHEW, 285
for you would stand it ; seeing to what I was born, what
wonder if it jarred against me ? But now I have all I
want, I cannot do without you. Hero, you are necessary
to me. Every minute seems to make you grow dearer,
and surely it is seldom that a man is reproached for the
love he tried to curb in his adversity, but gloried in, and
fed upon, the moment fortune looked kindly on him."
" 1 am very sorry, Leo," Hero said, with a saddened ex-
pression on her face. " You will find many who will love
you dearly and truly, but I could never love you again."
" No, no," he groaned, " don*t say that. I will try so
hard that I must win it back. I will wait, oh ! so patiently
for it Hero, say you will try. If we were married, it
would come then."
" Never," she sobbed ; " it will never come back. I know
it will not, because I like you better than I ever did ; but
I do not love you in the least."
" Because you will not try," he said, passionately.
" Hero, think of what we were to each other. You never
seemed to care for anything but me. Why, see, you gave
up a rich man like Stephen Prescott for me, comparatively
a beggar."
" 1 did," she said, slowly, " and now that you are rich
and he is the beggar, for his sake I refuse you."
Leo felt as if a sudden blow had been dealt him.
** You are going to marry him ? " he gasped out.
"No. I told him that I loved you, and knowing no
more, he will think that I love you stilL"
Leo turned away, hiding his face in the grassy slope be-
hind them. Had Stephen Prescott thought of him, as he
now thought of himself? for in the great anguish of feeling
that Hero was gone from him forever, he judged himself
very harshly. " Had I but been true, but been true." In
days which were to come he found many an excuse for his
worldly wisdom, but not then. In proportion to the tu-
mult of excited joy which had filled him was his despair
and self-reproach.
Hero's voice recalled him to the present moment
" I am afiuid that papa or Btel?k^^ \xwj ^^m^ saexv tha
286 BBRO CARTBEW.
boat," she said, ''and if so, they might come down wonder-
ing what had become of me."
Leo made no further attempt at remonstrance. He took
both her hands in his, and stood looking at her with eyes full
of a sorrow that seemed then to rob his future of all light
" Good-by, Leo. We have both something to forgive.
Forgive me, Leo \ '* and here the tears which had stood in
her eyes burst forth unchecked, *' as I forgive you ; and
God bless you and make you very happy."
But Leo made no answer. All at once he seemed chok-
ing ; then a great sob came, which forced him to let go
Hero's hands and cover his ^ce from her view, and when,
his passion spent, some minutes later he raised his head, he
found himself alone.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
"NO LEO DESPARD."
When, some time later, Leo returned to the cottage, Aunt
Lydia asked him whom he had seen at Winkle.
" I did not go to Winkle."
" Not go, my dear ! " exclaimed the old lady.
** No. I don't feel at all the thing ; my head aches, and
it is quite an effort to speak."
" Oh dear, oh dear ! it's just what I thought," said Aunt
Lydia plaintively. " All this excitement has been too much
for you, Leo. I told Mrs. Prescott that you seemed very
harassed and worried, and she said she did not wonder at
it. Poor thing ! she is so altered, Leo quite an old woman
and the way she clings to her niece is positively painful."
" Her niece ? "
** Yes ; Mrs. Labouchere is back again ; she came back
this morning. She has been in London with Sir There, I
always forget he is Mr. Prescott and oh, ray dear boy, it
cuts me to the heart to feel there is no Leo Despard," and
the poor old soul stopped to brush away her tears.
" Who told you she had been with Mr. Prescott ? "
" Mrs. Prescott did ; she said her niece had been her
greatest comfort, for directly she heard what had taken
place she went straight off to London, to see of what use
she could be to her cousin ; so, depend on it, she had a
heavy heart when you saw her ofiFby the train."
Simple, unsuspecting Aunt Lydia was but a poor observer,
or she must have noticed the change in Leo's face. He
had deceived himself, then, and Mrs. Labouchere had re-
fused him, knowing who and what he was. This accounted
for her agitation this was the meaning of that indescrib-
able something in her manner, viVAdxVia V^-a.^ ^^V^of^xs.^.^^.
288 HERO CARTHEW,
struggle between love and pride. Oh ! how he cursed his
folly as he pictured the whole scene being rehearsed for Sir
Stephen's benefit !
** Both Mrs. Prescott and Mrs. Labouchere spoke very
nicely of vou," Aunt Lydia continued.
" Did they ? "
" Yes ; and I ho]ie you won't be angry, Leo ; but after
what you said, as an opening was given me, I thought it
was best to mention Hero, and how very attached you both
were to each other, and Mrs. Prescott seemed quite pleased,
and said it only confinned her good opinion of you, to find
you constant to your early love."
" And what did Mrs. Labouchere say ? " asked Leo, too
cast down to say one word of rej^roach.
** Well, she never made the slightest remark ; but I could
see by her face that she was quite taken aback. I dare say
she has been so used to flattery and homage, that she can't
understand having a rival, more especially a little home-bird
like our Hero."
Leo did not answer, neither did he hear the little rhapso-
dies Aunt Lydia was indulging in. He sat looking into the
fire, letting his bitter recollection run riot.
*' Is there anything I can get you, my dear ?" Aunt Lydia
asked, bending forward and laying her hand on his knee.
" No, nothing ; " and he gently stroked the thin little
hand witli his own. *' You are a dear old soul. Aunt Lydia,"
he said, trying to smile at her. " I don't think I've ever
been half grateful enough for what you and Uncle Tony did
for me."
" My dear boy, you must be ill, or you would never say
that to me. Why, you were the pride and pleasure of our
lives. What have I left to me but you, Leo ? and has not
my one happiness been to have you with me, and look for-
ward to your coming ? ^ Why, Hero and I used to sit talk-
ing about you by the hour together. She didn't mind open-
ing her heart to me, dear child, and that's why I so dreaded
this misunderstanding between you ; for, my dear, you
might search the world over, without finding another so
loving, so tender, and so true*, axvi\.Vv^\.vaQv\e tiling which
HERO CARTHEW. 289
made me think very highly of Sir Stephen, for when he paid
me that first visit (just after he heard of your relationship)
I spoke openly to him about you and Hero, and his answer
was, * If the want of money is the thing which keeps them
apart, they shall liot be separated ; as soon as ever I have
sold my estate I shall be prepared to advance the sum re-
quired.' How wonderful are the ways of Providence ! for
you see, my dear, the time had come it was to be known
and while going through the necessary papers for the sale
of the place, he came on these very ones, which proved that
you were the rightful heir. Mrs. I^abouchere said, from her
cousin being constantly abroad, he had always left matters
entirely to his lawyer ; so perhaps that was the reason that
these things were not discovered before. She's evidently
very fond of Sir Stephen, and I should not be at all surprised
if, after a time, they two made a match."
" I think I must say good-night," Leo said, getting up
suddenly, " or, if my leave does come to-morrow, I shall
not be up to starting."
He felt as if he could bear no more ; this last communi-
cation seemed to pierce every vulnerable part of his charac-
ter, and to complete his humiliation. At length his tact and
diplomacy had completely led him astray. Until now he
had never known how sorely his vanity could be wounded.
Accustomed to be admired, petted, and made much of, he
had believed that if money were added to his list of attrac-
tions, no one could withstand him. Judging Mrs. Labou-
chere and Stephen Prescott by himself, he felt certain they
would never keep this story to themselves, and his ready
wit provided a dozen malicious settings for it, which the
world would enjoy at his expense, and then, most bitter
pang of all, came the certainty that in time it would come
round to Hero's ears, and she would think he had deceived
her, that he had never loved her. The whole night long
he tossed about, and only when it was time to get up did
he drop off into a troubled sleep, from which he was
aroused by Aunt Lydia knocking at his door, to tell him
that some letters had come for him. One he found to be
from Mr. Holmes, arranging a meeUxv^ Vi^V^^\s. \v\xxv ^.xxd
290
HERO CARTHEW.
Stephen Prescott ; the other was his expected leave ; so
that if he intended to catch the mid-day train, he had but
little time to spare.
Aunt Lydia, feeling confident that on Hero's account
Leo would soon return, treated this departure as only a
temporary leave-taking, and suppressed the tearful anxiety
and nervous forebodings, which at such times she usually
gave vent to.
" Tell Mrs. Prescott," said Leo, standing ready to start,
" that I much regret being prevented calling upon her ;
but say I will write."
"Yes, my dear, and you can go when you come back."
Come back ! When would that be ? But Leo dared not
risk a scene by undeceiving the poor old lady. He wanted
to speak of Hero, but he could not ; so he made no answer,
but listened patiently to all her little loving fidgets about
himself and his luggage ; then he stooped down and kissed
her with far greater affection than usual, and with an un-
bidden sigh, which came he scarce knew why, Leo turned
his back upon his early home and his most faithful friend.
On his way to the water-side he found his steps loiter
wherever there was a chance of his meeting Hero ; but in
vain. The beach was reached, and he had to step into the
boat, venting his disappointment in sharp speeches to the
man for not bringing his luggage quicker. He had taken
care to secure himself against fellow-passengers, so that he
could sit silently taking an unacknowledged farewell of the
old place and its surroundings.
Each point and creek was familiar to him, and associated
with a thousand memories, which, after laying dorjnant for
years, would spring up when recent and more important
events had lost interest, or were forgotten. Here as a boy
he had gone fishing with Uncle Tony, there he had rambled
with Hero, that was the spot where he and Jack Pringle
were all but drowned, and farther on was the Nozzle Rock
they had all climbed down to try and rescue the crew of
the Friscilla schooner. Looking at them then, Leo little
dreai2ied the time would come, when he would grow garru-
lous about these simple recoWecUow^, V\^^."=.wuv^^ their mem-
HERO CARTHEW.
291
ories because they recalled the dear old place where he
had spent the happiest days of his life. But these days
were far distant \ and now, in proportion as the rugged
coast, save in its bold outline, grew dim, his spirits revived,
so that by the time he had landed at the cove, and had
been amused by the buzz of whispered surprise that he
"didn't look no different" had been gratified by several
marks of attention from people he met in Dockmouth
streets had had his ears titillated by his tailor (given of
late to indulge in that familiarity which was a portion of
his premium upon long-standing bills, but now obsequi-
ously hoping that he might be honored by a further con-
tinuance of Sir Leopold's favors), Leo began to brisk up
wonderfully, to take a happier view of life, and to deter-
mine to try and forget all that had given him pain and
annoyance. As he was whirled along, he grew busy and
interested in his future ; and it was only when his eyes fell
upon some quiet scene of rural sweetness that the thought
arose, **I wonder what Hero is doing?" Ofttimes it is
hard that such heart yearnings cannot be answered ; oft-
times the scope given to imagination is more soothing, than
the actual knowledge would prove. So at least it was with
Leo, who might have been somewhat disconcerted to hear,
that about this time Hero was surprised by a visitor, who
was no other than Mrs. I^abouchere. After listening to
Aunt Lydia's story %i the great attachment between Leo
and Hero, Katherine had heard from the old lady the far-
ther fact, that, directly the announcement had come, Leo
had spoken of Hero as the one to share his fortune, and that
she believed he had then gone to Winkle to settle matters,
and make up a little misunderstanding which had existed for
the last few weeks, and which he now acknowledged to be all
his fault. Could this be true ? was it really with but the hope
of securing her money that this man had presumed to ad-
dress her ? Woman like, she could make excuses for most
mistakes and follies prompted by a love inspired by herself ;
but if she had been the object of a mercenary scheme, then
the perpetrator was worthy of a contempt, which, when
opportunity offered, she would ivotb^ ^\o^ \5^Nx\'a2w^\^csss.*ss.'?i^
292
HERO CARTHEW.
Such a rankled hold did this take of her that she could
think of little else. It betrayed itself in a restlessness so
unusual that Mrs. Prescott, noticing it, said
" Katey, dear, don*t you think a little air might be good
for you ? "
"Yes, aunt, perhaps it might. I was just thinking I
would walk across the park to Sharrows."
" To Sharrows, my dear ! Captain Carthew is certain to
call some time to-day."
" I rather want to see Miss Carthew. I should like to
know a little more of her."
" Yes ? " said Mrs. Prescott, in a half-inquiring voice ;
but Katherine, without giving any other reason for this
sudden determination, said she would get ready at once,
and before long she was on her road to Sharrows. When
she reached the gate she waited for some little time before
opening it, wondering how she should begin, and what she
should say to Hero. Circumstances must decide. So,
resolutely, on she went, down the path, and along past the
windows, up to the door, which was opened by Betsey.
" Is Miss Carthew at home ? "
" Please to walk in, ma'am," said Betsey, considerably
softened towards Mrs. Labouchere, since she had heard of
her going to London on purpose to assist Sir Stephen.
''1 hope you find yourself pretty middlin', ma'am, and, if
'tisn't a liberty, that you left Sir Stephen so well as we all
wishes un."
"Thank you, yes, my cousin is very well."
By this time Betsey had opened the door of the room.
"Miss Hero," she said, "here's the lady to Combe come
to see you."
Not knowing of Mrs. Labouchere' s return. Hero thought
only of Mrs. Prescott.
" Mrs. Labouchere," she exclaimed in surprise, " how
kind of you ! " and then she stopped, not quite knowing in
her confusion what else to say.
" I am very glad to find you at home, Miss Carthew ; I
have been in London with Stephen," she added, " trying to
give him some little help."
HERO CARTHEW.
293
Back rushed the color to Hero's cheeks.
" Has Sir Stephen come back too ? '* she asked timidly.
" Not yet. He is waiting in town to see the new heir.
He will return directly matters are settled. But you must
not say * Sir Stephen ' now."
Hero smiled. " I believe," she said, " that he will never
be anything but * Sir Stephen ' in Mallett."
" It was so very kind of Captain Carthew to write to my
cousin about the way the village people behaved. It
seemed to do Stephen more good than anything else ; and
indeed it has made me feel quite drawn towards them."
" I am very glad of that."
"It rather surprised me too," Katherine continued,
" seeing that they had known Sir Leopold Prescott since
he was a boy. One would have expected them to have
rejoiced with him."
" I^eo never cared for Mallett," Hero said, " and they
know it. He always seemed to have a sort of contempt
for everything that belonged to the place. Poor Leo ! "
" Why poor Leo ? "
Hero got a little confused.
" Oh, I don't know that I have any reason to pity him,
only he has cared for riches so much, and sighed so con-
stantly to be rich, that I wonder now if he will be as
happy as he anticipates."
" He will not be a rich man," said Mrs. Labouchere.
"Will he not? But he will be what seems rich to
him, and then he will so value being Sir Leopold ! He
has always longed to be different to the people by whom
we are surrounded perhaps because he really is different.
From the time he was a boy he always wished that he
could do this and that, and, of course, when he got into the
army he was more discontented than before."
"You were engaged to him, were you not?" said Mrs.
Labouchere. Then, feeling she had been somewhat ab-
rupt, she added, "You must pardon me if I seem rude;
but some one has been speaking of it to me."
Some one I who could it be but Sir Stephen? Did he
want to know whether s\ie 'wa.s no^ %oyw^\.^ \asx^ Vsj^n
294
HERO CAkTHEW.
and had he asked his cousin to find out ? Hero's heart
beat so violently, that she was afraid that Mrs. Labouchere
would see, or hear it, before she could manage to answer
her.
"There was an unacknowledged engagement between
us," she said, " but it was all broken off before anything of
this was known."
" Will you tell me why? Don't think I am asking you
from curiosity," Katherine said, earnestly.
Hero raised her truthful eyes as she said, " I wanted the
engagement, for such I considered it, made known, but
Leo did not He said a great deal about its being dishon-
orable to tie me down by an engagement, which might not
be terminated for years. At the time I believed he had
other motives for wishing to be free, but perhaps I wronged
him. I cannot tell. You see, to me it seemed impossible
that wanting, or having, more money could make any differ-
ence, if people really cared for each other. But that was
not Leo's idea. He said that poverty killed love, and that
if his wife was obliged to wear a shabby bonnet, and live in
lodgings, or in a small house, he should be miserable and
make her the same."
Katherine smiled.
"- Well," she said, "I think I am of his opinion."
*' Oh, yes, Mrs. Labouchere, because you are different.
But suppose you had loved some one who loved you, and that
you had the prospect of an income as good as most of your
friends, you would not worry and fret because you could not
outstrip them all ; surely, you would not finally risk the hap-
piness of both, rather than marry, and trust to getting on."
Katherine was silent, and Hero continued
" When Leo, as it were, gave me up, it might have broken
my heart ; but in reality, after the first shock was over, it
was a relief, for these ceaseless regrets and ambitions no
longer made me laugh, as they had done years before. As
I grew older they vexed me ; they divided us ; they made
i)5e feel that we were utterly unsuited to each other ; so
that 1 found my love for Leo \Ya.d d\^d, \^l\\.le I thought it
had only grown faint and co\d."
HERO CARTHEW, 295
" Then you are sure that now you do not care for him ? "
"Quite sure."
" But does he know this ? "
" Yes."
Katherine paused for a moment, then she said
" For how long has he known this ? "
Hero hesitated. Was it betraying a trust to tell her ?
Surely not. She felt certain that Mrs. Labouchere's ob-
ject was to satisfy Sir Stephen, and try and secure their
happiness.
" I told him yesterday," she said, in a low voice.
" Yesterday ! " and as Katherine turned her face to look
at her, a shadow seemed to sweep over it, and her lips trem-
bled, as she said
" Then you have twice refused to be Lady Prescott ? "
But no answer came; for Hero, now convinced that
Stephen had told Katherine, and that she had come to set
all right between them, suddenly slid down beside her, and
sobbed
" Oh, it was nothing to say no this time."
The words seemed to reveal the whole story, and as the
tears welled up into Katherine' s eyes she said, in her
heart
" After all, this girl is worthy to be Stephen's wife."
CHAPTER XXXIX.
"poor YOUNG man!'*
Very slowly did Katherine Laboiichere retrace her steps
back to Combe, going over, as she went, the days of her
life. Past sorrows had taught her endurance, so that
neither in face nor manner did she betray the sharp con-
flict which she had so recently gone through.
She found that Mrs. Prescott was resting, and not wish-
ing to disturb her, she went at once to her own room, and
sat down before her desk, having promised her aunt that
she would that day write to Stephen. To do so now was
a task ; but her task had to be fulfilled, because Stephen
was anxious to know whether his mother had seen Miss
Despard. So, after a little consideration, she began :
" Dear Stephen, I know you will like to hear that Miss
Despard called yesterday, and by her unaffected sympathy
with aunt, and her simply expressed feeling for you, she
really did us both a great deal of good.
" I'his morning she sent a note, saying that her nephew,
as she still calls him, much regretted being obliged to leave
without calling, but that immediately he returned to Mal-
lett, his first visit would be here. My own opinion is that
all this is the old lady's invention, and that he has no
thought of coming back again. I hear that he is dreadfully
vexed at the behavior of the people in the village, with
whom, it seems, he has never been a favorite. By the way,
I have got quite into their good graces, and the amount of
attention I received when I landed would have certainly
made you jealous. Indeed, they were all so glad to see
we, and so eager in their inquiries after Sir Stephen, as
they still call you, that 1 forgave i\iemV^l\\vL\Qj.'^\v^ss^
HERO CARTHEW, 297
and tried to look as if I thoroughly enjoyed the smell of
their fish, likewise the tar, which just now they seem to be
spreading over every available space.
" The packet I enclose is the one you asked aunt for.
A nbte inside, from her, gives the necessary explanations.
I need not say, be prepared to find her looking ill, as these
recent events have, as you may suppose, greatly tried her.
She says if you will lend her to me, and I know you will
do so, that, when I leave here, she will return with me, and
we will do a little quiet visiting together.
" Captain Carthew takes all trouble for this place off our
hands. He and your new man Joe seem at work from
morning until night When I remonstrate, he says he is
only getting matters a Kttle ship-shape, hoping, I think, to
agreeably surprise you. You seem to have completely
won everybody here into really caring for you, and from the
moment your loss was known, aunt says the house was
besieged with inquiries, and notes and messages. Well,
no matter where one may be, it is pleasant to be cared for
and looked up to, and -I intend next spring to stay in Cum-
berland for some time. I begin to think that I ought to
identify myself more with the interests of those with whom
I am connected, and there is very much to be done there.
I wonder if I could persuade Captain Carthew to come
and help me. I think I might, for you have no idea what
wonderful friends we are.
. " Now, I have told you all I have to tell. After you
have had your meeting with Sir Leopold, I suppose we may
expect you any day. Poor young man ! I fear there is a
great disappointment in store for him. He evidently an-
ticipates being rich, and is a greater worshipper of Mam-
mon than I took him for. However, I can forgive him.
** Aunt has most probably sent her messages in her note.
She is trying to get a little rest, so I will not now disturb
her, but only say good-by from
Your loving cousin,
Katherine."
She laid down her pen, and sal awat^xi^^ Vi'?XxvS^'5k^';^
is*
298
HERO CARTHEW,
the shadows from which seemed gradually to fall across
her face, leaving behind them no pleasant index to her
memories.
Rising at length, with a feeling and gesture of intolerable
impatience, she went to the window, and leaning against it,
stood looking out.
Stephen had chosen the room because of its grand
prospect, which he thought she would appreciate. Its
windows looked out upon a great span of water, with
Combe Point on one side, and on the other the rugged
coast of Winkle, ending in the Nozzle Rock, towering up
black and barren.
For some minutes Katherine saw nothing of this. Her
eyes were closed upon all save the bitter darkness and
anger which raged within her. Suddenly her attention was
arrested by the sun slowly sinking down into the sea, bid-
ding farewell to the toilsome, busy world. How strangely
beautiful everything looked around ! The sky, with its
wondrous red lights spread over sea, and rock, and hill, so
still, and quiet, and peaceful ! The scene touched her as
it had never done before over her hot spirit it came
sweeping like the evening breeze of a summer's day.
Lower and lower dipped the sun another few minutes and
it would be gone gone like the hopes of her life a life
which she had striven to shape, and now had to blot out,
and turn her back upon. A weary sigh rose to her lips, a
great longing for rest came into her heart, a mist gathered
before her eyes, tears blinded her, and sinking down, she
hid her face, while she listened to that better part of her
nature already cropping up through chastisements and
disappointments.
When she rose, she hesitated no longer. Returning to
her letter, she added this postscript :
*' Stephen, I have been to see Hero Carthew. Yester-
day Sir Leopold Prescott asked her to marry him, but she
refused to do so."
CHAPTER XL.
NOT A BIT happier!
Before Mrs. Labouchere's letter reached Stephen Pres-
cott the dreaded interview with his cousin was over, and
had gone off with much less awkwardness than either of them
had anticipated. Without doubt, this was in great measure
due to Mr. Holmes, who always expressed immense satis-
faction that the first handling of the young fellow had fallen
to his share, and, therefore, the pleasure of disabusing his
mind of certain errors into which his elation had perhaps
not unnaturally led him. " A little inclined to ride the
high horse," the old gentleman would say, nodding his
head ; " but, by putting him in possession of a few facts, I
soon got him on his feet again, and then the whole matter
was reversed, and he saw plainly enough that if any one
was a debtor it was himself, not Stephen Prescott, who
will, in all probability, be straightened for years to come."
Happily, during this interview Leo's ready tact and pleas-
ant manner served him very well, so that, though both
Stephen and he knew they should never be intimate friends,
they parted with a sufficient show of cordiality to free their
future transactions from any unnecessary unpleasantness.
Leo was doomed to have a large proportion of bitterness
mixed with the gifts which Fortune had flung at him ; for,
after reckoning himself the possessor of an income, which
he swelled in proportion to the wants his imagination
created, it was no small come-down to find the estate was
his, only inasmuch as he, instead of Sir Stephen, was now
the person compelled to sell it, and that when it was sold,
and all due from it paid, his income would be as inadequate
for the necessaries of Sir Leopold Pt^^coU, ^.^ Vvvs '^^.^ \sa.4
been for the wants of Leo Despatd.
300 HERO CARTHEW.
Mr. Holmes little thought that he left an arrow rankling
in his client's heart, by telling him that he should not be at
all surprised if Mrs. Prescott's niece, Mrs. Labouchere, be-
came the purchaser of Pamphillon.
" She is very fond of the place," he said, " and money
would not be any object to her, as she cannot spend the
half of her income."
Leo did not answer ; for Katherine*s name brought a
greater degree of vexed shame to him than anything else.
In the first hours of his elation, while following the natural
bent of his own desires, he cared nothing for any one's
opinion, whether good or bad. I-.et Mrs. Labouchere or
Mrs. Prescott think what they liked if it pleased him to
marry Hero Carthew, Hero Carthew he should marry.
Now all this was altered. Now he dwelt in unpleasant
minuteness on what these same people might say, and
do, before the society in which they would most probably
mix together. With his sinking fortunes common-sense be-
gan to reassert itself in his mind, telling him there was much
to his advantage which these new relations could say, and
much which they could leave unsaid.
With the exception of a week's visit to a friend some
years before, since Leo was a child he had never been in
London, and the feeling of loneHness and isolation, which
most feel in a strange city, was entirely new to him.
Hitherto, wherever he had gone, he had carried his com-
panions with him. Here, without a person to speak to
whom he knew, or who knew him, he felt oppressed and
dull, so that it was a positive boon when he accidentally
stumbled on a homely young fellow, upon whom, when
quartered in the same town, he had been prone to turn a
somewhat cold shoulder.
*' By Jove ! " exclaimed his acquaintance, after he had
heard Leo's story, " you are a fortunate fellow. Here, I
say, don't you feel awfully jolly? "
" Not particularly," and Leo gave a weary yawn.
" Oh," he added, " a man has always something to bother
him; besides which, poslUon and money don't make one
a. bit happier. I could \\ave \.o\d ^ow x^x^xViw^^-^j^c^:'
HERO CARTHEW.
301
" Ah, but you didn't ! " laughed his friend. " You used
to be always wishing somebody would die, and leave you a
lot of tin."
" Well, I wish that still ; for I can assure you that I have
not got a quarter of the income I shall need."
Whereupon, when the two parted, one told those he
met that Despard wasn't half what he used to be. Nothing
now seemed to please or amuse him, and as for airs, why,
he pooh-poohed his title and his money as if he was a regu-
lar swell, who had been brought up to it.
While I^eo returned to his hotel, and, for sheer lack of
knowing what to do with his time, wrote a letter to Aunt
Lydia, asking her to send him back a long account of her-
self, Mallett, and everybody belonging to it.
As long as she lived. Aunt Lydia held by this letter, as
a proof that, however Leo might have changed afterwards,
his heart when he left Mallett was in the right place. As
soon as she could, she set off to show the precious docu-
ment to Hero, who, after a time, gradually told her what
had happened, and that she and Leo had said good-by to
each other forever.
" It is all for the best. Aunt Lydia," Hero said sooth-
ingly, " and Leo will very soon see that himself. We are
so utterly unsuited to each other. You have no idea how
differently we look upon things already."
But Aunt Lydia was deaf to all arguments or consola-
tions. She only sat wiping her eyes, shaking her head
over her shattered hopes, and murmuring,
" Oh, Hero, how could you ? how could you ? I looked '
upon you being the making of Leo. Now he won't care
ever to set foot in Mallett again."
" If Leo does not come to Mallett for you, Aunt Lydia,
he would not have listened to any inducement from me ;
but we have no right to judge him so unfairly, as to sup-
pose he will cease to remember you, who have been a
mother to him and Uncle Tony, and all he did for him.
Come, come. Aunt Lydia ! why you'd be very angry if any
one else hinted at such a thing."
But Aunt Lydia could not be dveeied, ^\A^^\ftx '^n!ckn&.,
302 HERO CAR THE W.
she took leave of Hero, and went back to her little home
with a heart full of regrets and disappointment.
Hero walked with her as far as the lane, where they met
Betsey, and in her company she returned again to the house.
** Poor dear old soul ! " Hero said, by way of explana-
tion, " she is so full of trouble at parting with her nephew."
" Well, 'tis one doin' the work o' all," replied Betsey,
sarcastically ; "for he's a got nobody else to mourn his loss,
that's one thing."
"Oh! I don't know that," said Hero. " Many people
like him exceedingly. Why, I am sure, at one time he used
to be a great favorite with you, Betsey."
" No, never. Miss Hero. I used to put up With un ; for
what else was there to do, when you'd a set your mind on
un ; but, as for a favorite ! well, he might ha' bin lyin' in a
gutter, decked in diamonds, afore I'd ha picked un out ;
but one's loathin' has a got nothin' to do with another's
likin'. A toad's a diamond in a duck's eye."
" Ah, well ! " said Hero, " we need not quarrel about
him now, Betsey; he has gone his way, and I have gone
mine. That seems the fate of me and my lovers ! " she
added, with a sigh.
" Now, don't 'ee say that, Miss Hero," replied Betsey,
softened by the slightest shadow on her darling's face ;
"there's one who'll never go by no other road but that you
fixes upon, mark my words if he do. And there's no cause
for me to ax why everything I takes in my hand falls abroad,
and every blessed night I'm a dreamin' o' funerals and
coffins till I'm so moody-hearted, that I could bust out cry-
in' if anybody was but to hold up their little finger."
" You stupid old thing to pay heed to such nonsense,"
Hero said, though her heart made her listen to every prom-
ise that things would soon be set right again ; and a few
minutes after, as she stood in the kitchen, listening to some
more of Betsey's country superstitions, she suddenly i)ut
her arms round her, and, looking into her honest old face,
she said
^^BQisQy^ you don't think it's likely that he has forgotten
me, do you ? "
HERO CAR THE W,
303
** Forgotten 'ee, Miss Hero ! I'd defy un to do that, not
if he was to live to be up a hunderd. You've got they bab-
byiied ways as twines you round anybody's heart afore they
knows it, and once in, gettin' of 'ee out's like pickin'
rinkles with a pin. You think you've got 'em, when they'm
only broked in two, and the best half's left behind to
torment 'ee with longin's after it."
Hero gave her a squeeze as she said with a happy little
laugh, ** If I were to get married, Betsey, you'd have to
marry Joe."
" Ah, now the stockin's on the other leg. Not, mind, but
there' s wus than Joe Bunce in the world, there now ! though
I should be sorry for un to think I said so. But there's
maister," she added, "what forever's to become o' he if all
hands deserts? I can't abide laws myself, but if you was
married would 'ee mind a mother-law here, Miss Hero ?"
** A mother-in-law ! "
" Well, I was a thinkin' of Sir Stephen's cousin, Mrs.
you know who. Her first, by all accounts, was old enough
to be her father, so why not your pa. 'Twould be a nail
in Miss Jane Stevens's coffin, though, let the day come
when it might."
'* Oh, Bet3ey, what a funny old thing you are ! " laughed
Hero. " The bare idea of Mrs. Labouchere giving papa a
thought. I must tell Sir Stephen ; how it will amuse him."
"Ah, well, he may laugh, but he'll tell 'ee so well as I,
that her wouldn't be the first by scores, who'd rather scheme
to please an old man than louster for a young one's pleasure."
" Papa said to-day that he should not be at all surprised
if Sir Stephen came to-morrow."
"If so, then 'twas he was the stranger in my tay.this
morning, I shouldn't wonder neither. Joe says he's reg'lar
mobbed, when he goes to Quay, by one and another wan-
tin' to find out when Sir Stephen's looked for up to house.
They won't credit that he's comin' back unbeknownst and
without a word ; they'm still all for givin' un a welcome."
" Yes, but papa thinks it would be better not to do so."
"Well, I don't see that," said Betsey, sharing in the dis-
appointment of the village people, that they were wot to
304
HERO CARTHEW.
give an outward demonstration of their feelings in the shape
of flags and garlands.
It was the fear of this reception, which prevented Stephen
Prescott announcing, as he would otherwise have done, the
day of his return. " If I tell them at home," he thought,
" my mother is sure to order some preparations to be made,
and in some way or other it may ooze out," so he deter-
mined to start without a word of notice, and it therefore
happened, that at the time Hero and Betsey were discuss-
ing the probabilities of his return, he was already at Dock-
mouth, only waiting to transact some business with Mr.
Tniscott, before he got into a boat and went on to Mallett.
Several of the persons who recognized him were surprised
to see him look so cheerful and pleased at getting back.
They little knew what a relief this reaching home seemed
to him ; for, having faced his troubles (and few ever knew
or guessed what it had cost him to do so), his one desire
now was to turn his back upon the past, and begin the new
life which lay before him ; and with this desire came a
thouglit which set his heart beating, his blood tingling, and
filled him with a desperate longing to tell the man to land
hini at Sharrows. But no, it might give pain to his mother
if he went anywhere before going to her, so he curbed his
impatience ; and, when Sharrows came in sight, he only sat
straining his eyes to see if he could discern any speck,
which he might reasonably suppose to be Hero.
Four o'clock was one of the hours, when the Hard at
Mallett was comparatively free from its usual company, so
that not more than half a dozen men drew near to see who
the Fan?iy of Dockmouth was bringing, and great was the
excitement manifested when her fare was found to be no
other than Sir Stephen. A sudden beaming satisfaction in
their weather-beaten faces was so expressive, and so far be-
yond anything words could convey, that Stephen antici-
pated them by calling out cheerily,
"Well, my men, I'm glad to see you and old Mallett
agam."
^Thank'ee, sir, we'm main glad to have 'ee back, I can
tell 'ec/' answered one, \\\\\\e ?^v^x^no\q.^5. chimed, "Iss,
HERO CARTHEW. 305
and if we*d only know'd yer honor was comin*, you would
ha* had all Mallett out to tell 'ee so too, sir."
"I'm quite sure of that, but say from me, that I was in
such a hurry to get back that I could not stop to send
word," and with a pleasant nod, and saying something
about seeing them to-morrow, he made a little scrambling
detour so as to avoid the village street.
Delighted to be the bearers of such welcome news, the
little knot strolled into Mother Tapson's for the double
pleasure of telling those, who might be there assembled,
and drinking health and prosperity to Sir Stephen.
"Which I'll stand treat, call for what you may," ex-
claimed that enthusiastic lady in the exuberance of her joy.
" All I axes is, tell me what his looks is like, and every
blessed word he give mouth speech to."
" He spoke up as cheerful as ever," said one of the men,
"didn't he, Tom?" To which Tom assented, while Ned
Briggs, who, from having brought him in the Fanny ^ felt he
was in a position to speak authoritatively, added
" And from what I seed I don't believe not a half o* what
I've a heerd."
"How do 'ee mean, mate?" asked the others.
"Why, this, the talk to Dockmouth's bin that 'tain't only
the givin' up, but he's got to do the payin' back o' all
that he's a spent."
" Tine a by ! " exclaimed Mother Tapson contemptu-
ously, "Why, how can they take from un what he arn't a
got; whether 'tis hisn or theirn, folks must ate and drink,
and ha' garments to their backs."
"Iss, that's true," replied Ned, slowly draining the meas-
ure which was being handed round. Then setting it down
with an unctuous smack of his lips, he ran his mouth slowly
along his jacket sleeve, adding with a sly look round,
"There may be punchin o' heads, mates, but there's no
rippin o' " and the conclusion of his sentence was con-
veyed by the pantomimic movement in which he indulged.
CHAPTER XLI.
how about this marriage ?
" Mother ! "
"Stephen!"
And in another moment the mother's sorrow-stricken
head was bowed upon her son's breast, while her pale,
trembling lips tried to shape words of sorrow and self-re-
proach words to which her son refused to listen. Bidding
her hush them, he told her it was she who had taught him
how to bear reverses and to endure disappointments. Then
stretching out his hand towards Katherine, who at a little
distance stood watching them, he drew her to them, saying
that he had yet much to love and live for.
"Ah, Stephen ! I can never, never, tell you all Kather-
ine has been to me," exclaimed Mrs. Prescott, her tears
gushing forth afresh. "If it had not been for her, what
should I have done, what would have become of me ? "
"My dear mother, what would have become of either
of us?" Stephen answered, filled with fears at his mother's
anguish. "Come," he added cheerfully, "let us try at
least for the present to put away this unfortunate subject.
You will make the effort for my sake, I know. I have
been terribly tried during the few past weeks, and coming
home is the first gleam of anything approaching to sun-
shine."
This appeal was the surest inducement to self-control,
and it was not long before Mrs. Prescott was calm enough,
to listen with apparent interest to the details of her son's
movements during his absence whom he had seen, the
various people who had called upon him, and the several
proofs of kindness he had leceVve^.
HERO CARTHEW.
307
" And one instance more particularly," he said, " for the
offer came from a man who was a comparative stranger to
me, Lord Fareham," and he turned to Katherine, " who
has just been appointed to Vienna, came and asked if I
thought there was anything which he could obtain for me.
It was not only the thing itself, but the way in which it
was done. I had no idea that he was such a nice fel-
low."
**I have always liked Lord Fareham," Katherine said,
quietly, while if a little sigh which rose to Mrs. Prescott's
lips had spoken, it would have said, " Farewell to hopes
and fears, alike past and gone."
" And now about Mallett Which are the victors, Katey,
you or the villagers ? "
Katherine laughed. "Well," she said, "perhaps there
is a Httle on both sides."
" I shall never forget their devotion," said Mrs. Prescott,
"and a delicacy of feeling that I* could not have credited
such a rough set of people with possessing. I entrusted
Captain Carthew to convey to them my thanks and grati-
tude."
" That was right," said Stephen, heartily pleased. " You
could not have found a more fitting ambassador, mother.
He has been very busy, has he not ? "
" Here he is to answe;^ for himself," said Mrs. Labou-
chere, as the door opened, and Captain Carthew was an-
nounced. Very great was the old gentleman's astonish-
ment to find that Stephen Prescott had arrived a full hour
before, and that he had not known of it.
" Well," he said, " you have sloped in quietly this time.
Why, where had all the quay fellows got ? "
" I don't know, but I always notice that about four
o'clock the Hard seems to be pretty clear, so I managed
to land about that time."
The Captain gave a triumphant chuckle.
" It's quite true, my dear madam," he said, turning en-
thusiastically to Mrs. Prescott. " If he'd been born and
bred here, he couldn't know the place better than he dees,
and that's what the fellows \\ke, fox \we^'x^ nssx^^^xwonss^
308 HERO CARTHEW.
cute, are sailor men. They'll see whether you've anything
of the little big coat about you in the handling of a
knife."
"We were just speaking of you as you came in," said
Mrs. Labouchere.
" Yes," said Stephen, " my cousin tells me that you have
been working wonders about the place."
The Captain shook his head in denial of this flattery.
" No, no, nothing of the sort, only as my poor old father
used to say after he'd been beating to quarters for a day or
two, 'What's the use of having a temper if you don't show
it ? ' so there's no use in being left first lieutenant unless
you let 'em know it ; and as soon as your back was turned,
I sent for Joe and old Matthe); Simmons, and we regularly
overhauled the place. The consequence is now" and
the old man went through a mock salute " we're ready
for a general inspection."
" Come along, then," said Stephen, " and we'll rfake it.
I want to have a little chat with you, and we can manage
the two things together."
After leaving the house, some little time was taken up
in seeing a fence which had been repaired, and then
Stephen asked,
"Are you going to Sharrows? Then I will walk there
with you. Shall I find your daughter at home ? "
" Lord bless ye, there's been no getting her under weigh
lately," and he gave a perplexed sigh, after which the two
walked on in silence. Suddenly, in front of a gate the
Captain made a stand.
"There now," he said, flourishing his stick towards a
newly made path. " What do you think of that ? Wher-
ever there's a gate, leave a gangway ; so I set Mr. Joe to
work there, and a very nice job he's made of it. Capital
fellow, that Joe ; wets the other eye a little too often, but
a first-rate workman. Puts his back into a thing. That's
what 1 like to see."
" How about his marriage ? Has Betsey consented to
fix the day yet ? "
"ATot she, nor never wWV n\\\\?i "^^ ? ^q\. n^-^i youngster
HERO CARTHEW,
309
of mine to busnack after. She'd die in a week if she
couldn't get at Hero ; God bless her for it."
"But you cannot keep Hero forever."
" Well, no," said the old man, ** I suppose not. I began
to feel rather shaky, I can tell you, when I found out the
course Master Leo was shaping ; but it's all right, though
it would cost you your commission to say so to Aunt Lydia,
poor old soul. What do you think of a flagstaff here ? It
would be uncommonly handy for the Winkle men."
Stephen did not answer, and the Captain turning to see
the cause, found his hand suddenly seized by his companion,
who said with nervous haste,
" Captain Carthew, will you give Hero, your daughter,
to me ? "
" Will I do what?" roared the captain emphatically, the
visible astonishment in his face and manner so irresistibly
comic, that Stephen could not help smiling as he again
proffered his demand.
" I want your consent to my asking Hero to be my wife.
She knows that I love her."
" The deuce she does ! Why the young monkey," he
exclaimed, a sudden light breaking in upon him.
" I asked her to marry me some months ago," interrupted
Stephen. "Then she fancied herself bound in a way to
somebody else. But now that she is free, I think that is,
I hope I have a chance."
The Captain's face assumed a comical expression as he
said, **Well, I suppose it's time I was laid on the shelf, for
you've both stolen a march on me, it seems ; " and then
gripping Stephen's hand, he added with a rather quavery
attempt at cheerfulness, " However, as I am to be super-
seded, thank the Lord it's by one after my own heart ; so
luck with you, my boy. I believe you're worthy of her, and
I can't say more than that;" an opinion in which Ste-
phen Prescott evidently shared, for, putting his arm
through that of his elected father-in-law, he began telling
him the various details which related to his income, pros-
pects, and so forth. This conversation engrossed them.
3IO
BERO CARTHEW.
-\
until they reached Sharrows gate, which Stephen held open
for the old man to enter.
** Well, no," he said with a laugh, "I think 1*11 go and
see if I can't run foul of one of my old chums."
'* Good-by, then, for the present," Stephen said, holding
out his hand.
" Good-by, and I hope there'll be no hitch in the block,
and that you'll come off with flying colors. As a mess-
mate of mine used to say (poor Tommy Holmes, and no
bad judge either, though he made a mess of it at last, and
married a woman old enough to be his grandmother), * You
may circumnavigate the world and circumvent the devil,
before you'll calculate the exact course a woman's steering
m."
Stephen looked as if he felt tolerably certain of the
woman he was going to, and too impatient to listen to fur-
ther advice, he hurried down the narrow path on to the flat,
and catching sight of a figure as he passed the windows,
without knocking he entered the house, and pushing open
the door of the room, found himself in the presence of Hero.
Suddenly he seemed to realize the joy which lay so close
to him, and this gave the quiver to his voice as he almost
j^ whispered, '^Hero!"
A startled look, a low cry, as she sprang up, a tremor
running through her lithe form, these gave her answer ; then
as she turned her face to his, she caught the soft contagion
of his eyes. " Stephen," she tried to say \ but before the
sound had left her lips she was folded in his arms, while her
heart spoke to his in a language known but to those who
love and are beloved again.
*^* ^m %i^ ^^ ^^fi
^^ ^P ^p ^^ ^^
^M ^M ^M ^M ^^ ^^
w^ ^ g^ ^^ ^ ^^
" I would now that I had all, and much more than I have
lost to offer you," he said, framing her dear^^ upturned face,
as some days after, all settled and the marriage day fixed,
the two lingered together, looking at the Sharrows Sands, on
the very place where once they had endured such misery.
^^I could sometimes sigh, after it, Hero, only you do not
seem to care."
HERO CAR THE IV.
311
"I do not," she said, with her old, bright smile, and
merry laugh. " There is but one thing in the world 1 care
for."
" And that ? "
" Is to be your wife."