Part 106 (1/2)

”Oh, yes,” cried Julia, and was for some time too interested and excited to think of anything else. But presently she returned to the charge.

”Anything else, dear?”

”Humph? Well, not of equal importance.”

”Oh, if it is of no importance, there can be no reason for not telling me. What was it?”

Edward coloured but said nothing. He thought however, and thus ran his thoughts: ”She's my intellectual superior and I've got to deceive her; and a nice mess I shall make of it.”

”It _is_ of importance,” said Julia, eyeing him. ”You have told a story: and you don't love your sister.” This fulminated, she drew herself up proudly and was silent. A minute afterwards, stealing a look at her, he saw her eyes suddenly fill with tears, _apropos_ of nothing tangible.

”Now this is nice,” said he to himself

At noon she put on her bonnet to visit her district. He put on his hat directly, and accompanied her. Great was her innocent pleasure at that: it was the first time he had done her the honour. She took him to her poor people, and showed him off with innocent pride.

”Hannah, this is my brother.” Then in a whisper, ”Isn't he beautiful?”

Presently she saw him looking pale; unheard of phenomenon! ”There now, you are ill,” said she. ”Come home directly, and be nursed.”

”No, no,” said he. ”I only want a little fresh air. What horrid places what horrid sights and smells! I say, you must have no end of pluck to face them.”

”No, no, no. Dearest, I pray for strength: that is how I manage. And oh, Edward, you used to think the poor were not to be pitied. But now you see.”

”Yes, I see, and smell and all. You are a brave, good girl. Got any salts about you?”

”Yes, of course. There. But fancy a young lion smelling salts.”

”A young duffer, you mean; that has pa.s.sed for game through the thing not being looked into close.”

”Oh, you can he close enough, where I want you to be open.”

No answer.

The next day he accompanied her again, but remained at the stairfoot while she went in to her patients; and, when she came down, asked her, Could no good Christian be found to knock that poor woman on the head who lived in a plate.

”No good Heathen, you mean,” said Julia.

”Why, yes,” said he; ”the savages manage these things better.”

He also accompanied her shopping, and smoked phlegmatically outside the shops; nor could she exhaust his patience. Then the quick girl put this and that together. When they were at home again and her bonnet off, she looked him in the face and said sweetly, ”I have got a watch-dog.”

He smiled, and said nothing. ”Why don't you answer?” cried Julia impetuously.

”Because least said is soonest mended. Besides, I'm down upon you: you decoy me into a friendly conversation, and then you say biting things directly.”

”If I bite you, you sting me. Such want of confidence! Oh how cruel! how cruel! Why can you not trust me? Am I a child? No one is young who has suffered what I have suffered. Secrets disunite a family: and we were so united. And then you are so stupid; _you_ keep a secret? Yes, like a dog in a chain; you can't hide it one bit. You have undertaken a task you are not fit for, sir; to hide a secret you must be able to tell fibs: and you can't: not for want of badness, but cleverness to tell them smoothly; you know it, you know it; and so out of your abominable slyness you won't say a word. There, it is no use my trying to provoke him. I wish you were not so good-tempered; so apathetic I mean, of course.” Then, with one of her old rapid transitions, she began to caress him and fawn on him: she seated him in an arm-chair and herself on a footstool, and suddenly curling round his neck, murmured, ”Dear, dear brother, have pity on a poor girl, and tell her is there any news that I have a right to hear, only mamma has given you your orders not to tell me; tell me, love!” This last in an exquisite whisper.

”Let me alone, you little fascinating demon,” said he angrily. ”Ask mamma. I won't tell you a word.”

”Thank you!” she cried, bounding to her feet; ”you _have_ told me. He is alive. He loves me still. He was bewitched, seduced, deluded. He has come to himself. Mamma has seen him. He wants to come and beg my pardon.

But you are all afraid I shall forgive him. But I will not, for at the first word I'll stop his mouth, and say, 'If you were happy away from me, I suppose you would not have come back.'”