A Book for the Young | Page 5

when
mother and daughter sat awaiting the arrival of their new inmate.
Mrs. Fortescue had never seen Beatrice Trevor, but Ethelind was loud in her praises.
They sat in anxious expectation much beyond the usual time for the arrival of the stage,
and were just giving her up for the night, when the rumbling of wheels was heard, and a
post chaise drove up, out of which sprang a young lady who in another moment was
clasped in Ethelind's arms, and introduced to her mother, who welcomed her most kindly.
"Oh what a little Paradise!" said Beatrice, looking round her, "how happy you must be
here. Do Ethelind let me have one peep outside ere daylight is gone;" so saying, she
darted through the French casement, on to the lawn, which sloped down to the water's
edge. "Well I declare, this is a perfect Elysium, I am so glad I made up my mind to come
here, instead of going with the Fultons to Cheltenham."
"I am indeed rejoiced that you are so pleased with our retreat, my dear Miss Trevor, it is
indeed a lovely spot."
"No Miss Trevor, if you please, my dear madam: it must be plain Beatrice, and you must
regard me as you do Ethelind, and be a mother to me; for I know I greatly need a
monitress; for you will find me, I fear a sad giddy mad-cap."
Mrs. Fortescue smiling benignly promised acquiescence, and taking her hand, which she
grasped affectionately; led her into the next room, where tea was waiting. After which,
Ethelind took her up stairs, and showed her the little bedroom prepared for her. They
remained here some time, chatting over their old school days, till summoned to prayers.
On taking leave for the night, Mrs. Fortescue begged if at all heavy in the morning, that
Beatrice would not hurry up. But she arose early, much refreshed and delighted with all
she saw. Ethelind soon joined her, and offered to help her unpack, and arrange her things,

while the only servant they had, prepared the breakfast.
Soon as the morning meal was over, and little necessary arrangements made, Ethelind
proposed a ramble, which was gladly acceded to on the part of Beatrice. They passed
through an orchard into a lane, and as they crossed a rustic bridge, the village church
came in view. It was a small gothic structure, standing in the burial ground, and as they
approached it, Beatrice was struck with admiration at the beds of flowers, then blooming
in full perfection on the graves; this is a very beautiful, and, by no means, uncommon
sight in South Wales; but she had never seen it before. "Well, I declare, this is lovely;
really, Ethelind, to render the charm of romance complete, you ought to have a very
interesting young curate, with pale features and dark hair and eyes."
"And so we have," said Ethelind, "and had he sat for his picture, you could not have
drawn a more correct likeness; but I regret to say, Mr. Barclay's stay is not likely to be
permanent, as one of Lord Eardly's sons is to have the living, soon as the family returns
from the Continent, which we are all sorry for; as short as the time is, that Mr. Barclay
has been among us, he is generally liked, and from his manner, we think the curacy, little
as it is, an object to him; though even now, he does a great deal of good, and you would
hardly believe all he has accomplished. I wish he were here, for I am sure you would like
him."
"I think," said Beatrice, "it is well he is not, for I might fall in love with him, and then--"
"And then, what?" asked Ethelind.
"Why it must end in disappointment to both; for if he is poor and I am poor, it would be
little use our coming together; but were I rich, as I expected to have been, then I might
have set my cap at your young curate, and rewarded his merit."
"Oh!" said Ethelind, "he deserves to be rich, he would make such good use of wealth, for
even now, he is very charitable."
"Charitable!" re-echoed Beatrice, "a curate, on perhaps less than a hundred a year, must
have a deal to be charitable with. Absurd: I grant you he may have the heart, but certainly
not the means."
"I know not," said Ethelind, "but I hear continually of the good he does, and his kindness
to the poor, and doubt if the Honourable Frederic Eardly will do as much."
"Out upon these proud scions of nobility, I have not common patience with the younger
members of the aristocracy, taking holy orders solely for the sake of aggrandizing the
elder