Miriam Monfort | Page 7

had enough of marrying by this time, and funerals and all
that. Your own precious mamma first, an earl's own daughter (Evelyn
Erle, never forget that, if your father was a poor soldier! you have
grand relations in England, child, if you are not as rich as some others I
could name), and then your mother and Miriam's, Miss Harz that was,
such an excellent woman for all her persuasion, to be sure; better than
some Christians, I must say; and she just three years and a half laid in
her grave!" A doleful sigh gave emphasis to this remark. "I was never
more surprised, I must confess, than when he sent for me last night to
tell me he was to marry Miss Glen next week! Who is she, I wonder,

Evelyn; did you ever hear her speak of her kinfolks? Not a soul except
two or three of her church-people has been near her since she has been
here, and Franklin says she very seldom gets letters." A pinch of snuff
emphasized this remark.
"I heard her say she had only one brother, Mrs. Austin, and that he was
in some distant part of the world, in India, or New Orleans, or some
such place, she does not know herself exactly where. He is a young lad,
and she grieves about him; his picture is most beautiful, I think. He ran
off and went to sea, and it almost killed her. That was some years ago,
and since then she has been teaching in a great school until she came to
us, and was never so peaceful before, she says, as she is now. I think
she will make papa happy too, and keep him in his own family, since
she has none of her own. I was so afraid it was Mrs. Stanbury at one
time."
"I never thought of that," said Mrs. Austin, starting. "What put it into
your head, Evelyn, and what made you so close-mouthed about it?
Child, you have an old head on young shoulders--I always said so; as
like your own precious mother as two peas. Yes, that would have been
a nice connection truly! The two young Stanburys forsooth, to divide
every thing with you and Miriam, and her rigid economy the rule in the
house, and Norman riding over every one on a high horse, and that
lame brat to be nursed and waited on! Any thing better than that,
Evelyn. You are right, my dear." And she tapped her suggestive
snuffbox.
My elder sister was about thirteen years old when she uttered those
oracular sentences which elicited Mrs. Austin's commendations, and
her own clear-sighted _prévoyance;_ and I, at eight, whose mind was
turned to any subject save that of marrying and giving in marriage,
stood confounded by her superior wisdom and discretion. I gazed upon
her open-mouthed and wide-eyed as she spoke, drinking in every word,
yet very little enlightened, after all, by her remarks. She turned
suddenly upon me, and tapped my cheek slightly with her fan. It was a
way she had of manifesting contempt.
"Now run and tell Mrs. Stanbury every word I have spoken, just as

soon as you can, Miriam, do you hear? Don't forget one syllable, that's
a darling. Come, rehearse!"
"Won't it do after dinner, sister Evelyn?" I asked, gravely and literally.
"I want to go and see about my mole, now--my poor mole that Hodges
wounded with his spade this morning. It suffers so
dreadfully!"--clasping my hands in a tragic manner, not unusual with
me when excited.
"There! what did I tell you, Mrs. Austin? You will believe my report of
Miriam another time--little blab! There is nothing safe where she is,
and as to keeping a secret, she could not do it if her own life were at
stake, I verily believe."
"I can keep a secret," I said, fiercely, "you know I can! You burnt my
finger in the candle to make me tell you where the squirrel was, and I
would not do it; Now, miss, remember that, and tell the truth next
time!"
"What a little spit-fire," said Evelyn, derisively. "You see for yourself,
Mrs. Austin."
"O Evelyn, Evelyn, did you, do that?" moaned the good woman. "Your
little sister's hand! To burn it so cruelly, and in cold blood. I would not
have believed it of you, my Evelyn--that was not like your mamma at
all," and she shook her head dolefully. "Miriam is a brave child, after
all." A wonderful admission for her to make.
"If you believe every thing that limb of the synagogue tells you, Mrs.
Austin, you will have a great deal to swallow, that is all I shall say on
the subject," and she turned away derisively.
"Do you mean to deny it,