CHAPTER XVI. NEW SCENES. 66 'For though her smiles were sad and faint, She never murmured a complaint, Nor harboured in her gentle breast Pure and perfect still." ANON. "WELL, Emily, I think it is very unkind of you. Lizzy had the book first, and you should not have snatched it from her." 66 Yes, but I am the eldest, and she had it all play-time yesterday; I won't give it up," and the little girl stamped her foot passionately. Lizzy began to cry, and her champion made a dash at the book. A violent quarrel ensued, during which the object of contention was in imminent danger of being torn to pieces. The rest of the school rushed to the scene of conflict; and Emily, seeing that all her companions took part against her, burst into a storm of tears, and with all her strength flung the book far out of the open window. While her companions stood mute with astonishment at this daring act, Lizzy crept out of the room unob served, with the intention of quietly gaining possession of the volume. "O, Emily, you will catch it; it is gone right over the garden-wall, and the lane is ever so muddy!" exclaimed a little girl, stifling her laughter. Emily made no reply, but stood sobbing and sulky. "Well," said Harriet, the girl who had first spoken, "only wait till Mrs. Ellison comes, and see what she will say; the new story-book which she got us for the Easter, holidays!" 66 I don't care; I can buy another if I like," answered Emily; "and that is more than you could do, Miss Harriet, for nobody ever sends you any money." Poor Harriet coloured deeply, and returned no answer: but the other children cried out, "Shame, shame, Emily!" for they knew that Harriet's parents were dead, and that she lived at the school partly through the charity of Mrs. Ellison. In the clamour of indignation excited by Emily's unfeeling speech, the children had not noticed the entrance of one of their mistresses, who, astonished at the unusual disturbance among the pupils, had come to discover the cause. Having at length obtained silence, she asked one of the elder girls to explain the origin of the dispute. After hearing all, she severely rebuked Emily, and told her she must keep silence till the end of recreation. She then led the weeping Harriet into another room, and sitting beside her on the sofa she tried to console her. "It is so very cruel of Emily; she often says things like that," said the poor child. "It is no harm to be poor, and it always makes me very unhappy; it reminds me of poor papa's death, and how different everything was when he was alive. O, you don't know how miserable I am !" "Yes, my dear child, I do know, and can understand it very well. It is very naughty of Emily, I know, but she has always been well off, and does not think for a moment how much it hurts your feelings. She is much She is much younger than you you must forgive her." are, and "Yes, I know that, and I do forgive her; but I sometimes think," she continued sorrowfully, "that I am the most unhappy person in the world." "But think, Harriet," said her young mistress, in a low tone of voice, "how much worse it would be, if, in addition to this, nearly everyone that you loved believed that you had done something very wicked, which you would not do for the world." "But do you know anyone that was treated in that way?" inquired Harriet doubtfully. "Yes," said the other, her voice faltering; "I know one who has to suffer all that and more." "And does she bear it well?" "As well as she can; but it is a hard trial;" and the governess hastily left the room. Poor Agnes! her attempt to console another had revived the recollection of all her own troubles; and she was forced thus abruptly to leave L the child, that she might indulge her grief in pri vate. As the reader knows, Agnes left Ferncliffe to seek a home for a time at the convent where she had received her education, and whither she had already sent Rose. It was some time before the nuns succeeded in finding her a suitable situation. She seized the first that offered, which was but a poor one, being that of assistant teacher in a small Catholic school. The salary was much lower than what she might have obtained, had she waited longer at the convent; but she did not wish to be a burden to her kind friends any longer than was absolutely necessary. Herbert's generous proposal, at a time when everyone appeared to have deserted her, had touched her deeply. Her answer would have been the same even if a blighting accusation had never been brought against her, as she was quite aware that she was not the wife that Mr. Percival would have chosen for his son. She cherished with gratitude the memory of his unselfish affection, and ever after added his name to Edith's in her prayShe never forgave herself for her behaviour to Edith in their last interview, and would have given worlds to have seen her again, that she might ask her forgiveness; but that was impossible. She dared not write to her, as Edith had taken no notice of her message sent by Herbert. This, the reader knows, was out of Edith's power; but Agnes, ignorant of Mr. Percival's prohibition, could not understand her silence. ers. The day before she had left Ferncliffe she had paid a visit to Mr. Saunders, her godfather. He was amazed when she told him that she was about to leave the neighbourhood. She was reluctant to explain her awkward position; but he told her that it was her duty to inform him of all, as he was now her only protector; and he would not suffer her to depart until he had obtained a perfect knowledge of the whole case. His indignation was extreme when he heard her story. He had, of course, been aware that his brother's will was missing, but he had never before heard that Agnes was accused of having destroyed it; he was too well acquainted with her character to credit the statement for one moment. He saw that it would be to no purpose to urge her to remain with him, as it would be unpleasant for her, in her present circumstances, to be so near to her former home. He began to consider what he could do for her, and at length gave utterance to his thoughts in the following words: "Agnes, I had felt it incumbent upon me to leave to Herbert Percival the same amount of money as that which was left him by my brother; I now consider that obligation cancelled, in consequence of the dishonourable conduct of the Percival family. I shall provide for you amply during my life, and my will shall be worded in the same manner as was my brother's,-I remember it well, -except that for the name Herbert Percival, Agnes Falkland shall be substituted; and thus will I prove to all the world my firm belief in your innocence.' |