Page images
PDF
EPUB

"Oh, don't, dear Ennis!" whispered Sariann, in a tone of pain, that stopped me instantly.

Charles did not answer further than by spurring his horse so sharply and suddenly, it plunged with a frightened violence that, had he not been a skilful rider, would have thrown him to the ground. The three ladies could not restrain exclamations of terror.

We had now reached the brow of the hill, and commenced descending more quickly on the opposite side. The road wound gradually down, commanding an exquisite panoramic view of hill, dale, wood, and water; and, presently, appeared in sight the fine old residence of the Riversdales. It was, we all agreed, a nobly picturesque building, and the warlike style of its architecture fully entitled it to the substantial name of castle.

Lying afar off, in the wide-spreading, wellwooded valley, was our pretty village; and, yet further, a serpentine river pursued its glittering course within sight for miles from our present elevated point of observation.

As the carriages drove through the approaching lanes and principal street of Riversdale it was heart-cheering, as little Cherrup expressed

it, to see so general a presence of comfort, peace, and respectability as pervaded every habitation, and, in most cases, brightened the countenances of parents and children. The latter, clean and neat, as the children of the poor need be, were playing about in all directions; not with noisy, unmannerly quarrelsomeness, as is too generally the case, but with that subdued tone and feeling of enjoyment impressed upon them to maintain, alike in streets and houses, by parent and teacher, and which happy restraint, instead of lessening, doubly enhanced the pleasure of the entertainment, of whatever kind it was.

Fortunately for little Riversdale, it was quite the fashion among the neighbouring gentry to take a keen, often a loving, interest in the moral and physical condition of its poor; and so it was, therefore, few villages enjoyed such charitable care and Christian guiding as did this, producing, as that God-serving conduct ever must, the most beneficial results on both sides.

The weather being still and warm, cottagedoors were all open, and, in most cases, the poor men sat without, in porches or on rustic

seats, smoking their evening pipe and reading some one of the many magazines or newspapers with which they were generally supplied by the wealthy.

Riversdale possessed but one inn-the Bell, SO called in honour of Mr. Bell, the host having lived as butler in his family for nearly thirty years. As may be supposed, the Bell was a most unexceptionably reputable, orderly house, late hours and excess of every kind being resolutely discouraged by the worthy landlord, who well remembered his old master's and the young ladies' great objection to such-like iniquities.

"Pon my honour, I never saw such a jolly, well-to-do set of people as these are!" exclaimed Mr. Cherrup, leaning forward to gaze about him, and benignly smiling and nodding in especial personal acknowledgment of the humble greetings showered upon us right and left.

"Oh! I wish to my heart the Riversdales were not coming here. Of all their many fine places, why need they have selected this quiet part of the world to live in!" exclaimed Sariann. We were again slowly ascending a hill.

"Well, one thing is certain," interposed Charles, gravely; "if you wish to secure the happiness of the poor, the young, and the weak-charactered of every denomination, keep them in blessed ignorance of the world, and its odious fashions and follies; the more effectually you do that the more likely are they to find peace in this life, and I should think-"

"Who do the 'they' really allude to, Mr. Charley?" I interrupted, feeling strongly suspicious Ennis Denzell was one of the weakcharactered individuals forming the list of those to be kept from temptation.

"In the present instance, to all the unsophisticated inhabitants of Riversdale, you amongst the number," replied Charles, smiling cynically.

"If you think me so ignorant of the world, and so weak in character, you are very much mistaken, Charley, I can tell you that!" replied I, flushing hotly at an insinuation which I considered so derogatory to my womanly dignity.

"Am I?" he answered, with provoking coolness.

"Yes, that you are! And I know

VOL. I.

very well

S

what, in your heart, you think and mean. You think me as deplorably ignorant of everything as the simplest cottage girl in our valley; and, moreover, of so poor and fickle a character that the smallest temptation could overcome it!" A general laugh here interrupted this foolish remark, and I could not avoid joining, though very reluctantly. "Under these circumstances," I resumed, with instantly recovered gravity, "you deem it advisable I should remain the ignoramus you consider me in order the better to secure this, in my opinion, very questionable style of happiness."

"Do not you think, Miss Enny, you give me credit for taking to myself a very much deeper interest in you and your concerns than is really the case?" replied Charles, with quiet gravity. I had not thought of this, and again my face burned.

"But, as I said," added I, hurriedly, and ignoring his remark, "you are very much mistaken, Mr. Charley. There are many other ways, remember, of acquiring a knowledge of the world's customs and fashions, quite as effectually as by personal experience; and, though not a town-bred girl, I am certain my

« PreviousContinue »