The Mothers Recompense, Volume II.

The Mother's Recompense,
Volume II.

Project Gutenberg's The Mother's Recompense, Volume II., by Grace
Aguilar This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and
with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away
or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: The Mother's Recompense, Volume II. A Sequel to Home
Influence in Two Volumes
Author: Grace Aguilar
Release Date: May 16, 2004 [EBook #12362]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE, ***

Produced by Charles Franks and the Distributed Proofreaders Team

THE MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE;
A SEQUEL TO HOME INFLUENCE.
BY GRACE AGUILAR.

IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LEIPZIG
BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ

1859.

CHAPTER I.
"Who amongst this merry party will become sufficiently sober to assist
me in a work of charity?" was Mrs. Hamilton's address, one afternoon,
as she entered her daughter's room, where Emmeline, her young friends
Lady Florence and Lady Emily Lyle, and even the usually quiet Ellen,
were employing themselves in drawing, embroidery, and such light
amusements as diligently as the merry speech, the harmless joke, and
the joyous laugh of truly innocent enjoyment would permit.
"A case of extreme distress has come before me," she continued, "for
which alms and other relief will not be sufficient; clothing is
principally required. Can any of you consent to put aside these pretty
things for a few days, merely for the sake of obliging me and doing
good? I have set every hand to work, and now for further assistance
come to you. To whom shall I appeal?"
"To me--to me--to me!" every voice exclaimed spontaneously, and they
eagerly crowded round her to know what she required, what case of
distress had occurred, for whom they were to work.
Gratified and pleased at their eagerness, Mrs. Hamilton smilingly
imparted all they wished to know. The simple tale drew from the artless
group many exclamations of pity, combined with the earnest desire to
relieve in whatever way their kind friend would dictate, and their task
was received by all with every demonstration of pleasure.
"You, too, Ellen," said Mrs. Hamilton, smiling; "I thought you once
said you had no time for work."
"Not for ornamental work, aunt! but I hope you have never asked in
vain for my assistance in such a case as this," answered Ellen, blushing
as she spoke.
"No, love; my words did you injustice. But you appear to have found

time for ornamental work also, if this very pretty wreath be yours," said
Mrs. Hamilton, bending over her niece's frame, and praising the
delicacy of her flowers.
"Oh, I have time for any and everything now," exclaimed Ellen, in a
tone of animation, so very unusual, that not only her aunt but her young
companions looked at her with astonishment.
"Ellen, yon are becoming more and more incomprehensible," said
Emmeline, laughing. "If Edward do not come home soon, as I suspect
this extraordinary mood is occasioned by the anticipation of his arrival,
I am afraid your spirits will carry you half way over the Channel to
meet him. Mamma, take my advice, and keep a strict watch over the
person of your niece."
"You know, Ellen, you are as full of fun and mischief as I am, quiet and
demure as we once thought you," said Lady Emily.
"Is she? I am glad of it," said Mrs. Hamilton, playfully. "Do not look so
very much ashamed of your mirth, my dear Ellen, and bend over your
work as if you had been guilty of some extraordinary misdemeanour.
You know how pleased I always am to see you happy, Ellen," she
added, in a lower voice, as she laid her hand sportively on her niece's
head, which was bent down to conceal the confusion Emmeline's words
had called forth.
Some little time longer Mrs. Hamilton remained with the young party,
entering with her usual kindness into all their pleasures and pursuits,
and left them perhaps even happier than she had found them.
Ellen's change of manner had been noticed by the whole party
assembled at Oakwood; and by most of them attributed to the
anticipation of the long-absent Edward's return. That indefinable
manner which had formerly pervaded her whole conduct had
disappeared. She no longer seemed to have something weighing on her
mind, which Mrs. Hamilton sometimes fancied to have been the case.
Cheerful, animated, at times even joyous, she appeared a happier being
than she had ever been before; and sincerely her aunt and uncle, who

really loved her as their child, rejoiced in the change, though they knew
not, guessed not the real cause. Ingratiating herself with all, even the
stern Duchess of Rothbury, who, with