wanted to be unkind to her; he would rather have been kind to her now than not; but if a little vessel stands in right across a man-of-war, whose fault is it if the war-vessel cuts her through and passes on over her? 220 CHAPTER XVII. "For how hard it seemed to me, When eyes, love-languid through half-tears, would dwell Then not to dare to see! When thy low voice, Tennyson, Love and Duty.' SUCH early visitors were unusual at Mossingford Hall. The clang of the swinging gate, and the echo of Magney's footsteps, borne on the still morning, when the stir of the Hall life had hardly commenced, had attracted the attention of Lorisse's maid, and she told her young mistress of the unusual visit being made to Mr. Ronald, when she came in to arrange her hair. "Then, Zomille, listen, child. That clergyman is very, very good, as good as your Padre Berlazza at Florence; and I am not well, and in trouble. So, go down, and stand near the passage, and if he goes along the hall alone, say to him to come with you, and follow you. And if any one is with him to the hall-door, speak nothing, but go round the lawn, and if he is then alone, speak to the good Padre, and say to him to come with you to the side-door, by the shrubbery, and lead him that way to my studio. Zomille, do you understand? And then, child, when we are there, stay in the outer room and tell your beads, till I call you; and then I will be very pleased with you, and take you back to Florence one day." The dark-eyed Florentine gracefully lifted to her lips the end of one of the crimson bands with which she had just fastened up her young mistress's hair, and at once disappeared, to do her bidding. She had not to wait long; and when Mr. Ronald's study opened, with quick tact she preceded Mr. Magney, as if to wait upon him to the hall door. Then, having heard the study-door close, she lifted her finger to her lips, and said to Mr. Magney, "Signorina says she must see you." Then, turning down a corridor, she ushered him through an anteroom into Lorisse's studio. Leaving him a few moments, she went to tell her mistress, and to be praised as a good child. When she returned with Lorisse, she took her place by the anteroom door, and obediently commenced repeating her prayers. Lorisse's countenance bore traces of great agitation; she spoke, however, in firm tones, but very low. "I do not know how I can consult you, Mr. Magney; and yet I greatly need wise. counsel. In England I am alone, for I dare not just now listen to the advice of my aunt orcousin." "I shall be most glad if I can render you the least service. You may command me as a minister of the Church, whose duty it is to help all her children in their difficulties." "Yes, I know I may rely on you. I consult you as a minister of the wonderful God, who knows His will, and can show me the right path." "I have very little light, but I will faithfully advise you according to that little." "I have seen poor Helen. She came here yesterday. I do not think any one here knows who it was that called. She told me her dreadful history, and she said that the man was my cousin." Lorisse's beautiful hands were clasped over her face; but Armstrong did not look at her. "She had not told you that Now this woman has been fearfully sacrificed for him; would it not be a crime if another were, though in a different manner? I want to open my soul to the divine life, and give up self utterly for my suffering race; but surely God is not calling on me to give up myself to a life that would be less sweet than a corrupting tomb? A living sacrifice should not be offered up, surely, linked with one putrefying? Good God, what am I saying! But my passion blazes against my cousin's crime. But yet, I know, he is much altered, and may alter more. But how could I stand up in my purpose for God, if the fatal link were fastened? I am not strong enough |