EVERY SATURDAY.

A FOURNAL OF CHOICE READING

Vol. II.]

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1874.

[No. 1.

A ROSE IN JUNE.

on the

no

CHAPTER IX. (continued.) WHETHER Mrs. Wodehouse would have taken her to her arms forth with

open Green in the wintry afternoon light, if no one had disturbed them, I cannot tell ; but, just as she was putting out her hands to the girl, they were interrupted by a third person, who had been coming along the road unnoticed, and who now came forward, with his hat in his hand, and with the usual inquiry about her mother to which Rose was accustomed. The sound of his voice made Mrs. Wodehouse start with suppressed anger and dismay ; and Rose looked out from the heavy shadow of the crape veil, which showed the paleness of her young face, as if under a penthouse or heavy-shaded cavern. But she was not pale at that moment; a light of emotion was in her face. The tears were hanging on her eyelashes ; her soft lip was quivering. Mr. Incledon thought that grief and downfall had done all that the severest critic could have desired for her young beauty. It had given tenderness, expression, feeling to the blooming rose face, such as is almost incompatible with the first radiance of youth.

“ Would Mrs. Damerel see me, do you think”? ” he asked ; " or is it too early to intrude upon her ? It is about business I want to speak.”

“I will ask,” said Rose. "But if it is about business she will be sure to see you.

She says she is always able for that."

“ Then I will say good-by,” said Mrs. Wodehouse, unreasonably excited and angry, she could scarcely tell why. She made a step forward, and then came back again with a little compunction, to add, in an undertone: “I am glad we have had this little explanation. I will tell him when I write, and it will please him, too."

“You have not been quarrelling with Mrs. Wodehouse, that you

should have little explanations ?” said Mr. Incledon, as he walked along to the White House by Rose's side.

“Oh, no! it was nothing;” but he saw the old rose flush sweep over the cheeks which had half relapsed into paleness. What was it? and who did Mrs. Wodehouse mean to write to ? and what was she glad about? These

foolish questions got into the man's try of dreams had been removed - it
head, though they were too frivolous would be hard to say how; for good
to be thought of. She took him into Mrs. Wodehouse certainly was not the
the drawing-room at the White House, door-keeper of Rose's imagination, nor
which was almost dark by this time, had it in her power to shut and open
it was so low; and where the cheery at her pleasure. But what does how
glimmer of the fire made the room look and why matter in that visionary re-
much more cheerful than it ever was gion ? It was so, which is all that need
in the short daylight, through the be said. She was not less sorrowful,
many branches that surrounded the but she had recovered herself. She
house. Mrs. Damerel was sitting alone was not less lonely, nor did she feel
there over the fire ; and Rose left him less the change in her position ; but
with her mother, and went away, bid- she was once more Rose, an individual
ding Agatha watch over the children creature, feeling the blood run in her
that no one might disturb mamma. veins, and the light lighten upon her,
“ She is talking to Mr. Incledon about and the world spread open before her.
business,” said Rose, passing on to If I have freedom in my love,
her own room; and Agatha, who was And in my soul am free -
sharp of wit, could not help wondering I suppose this was how she felt. She
what pleasant thing had happened to had got back that consciousness which
her sister to make her voice so soft and

is sometimes bitter and sometimes sad, thrilling “ I almost expected to hear but without which we cannot live her sing," Agatha said afterwards ; the consciousness that she was though indeed a voice breaking forth shadow in the world, but herself ; no in a song, as all their voices used to

reflection of another's will and feeldo, six months ago, would have seemed ings, but possessor of her own. something impious at this moment, in When her mother and she were left the shadow that lay over the house. alone, Rose got up from where she

Mr. Incledon was nearly an hour was sitting and drew a low chair, "talking business ” with Mrs. Dame

which belonged to one of the children, rel, during which time they sat in the to her mother's knee. Mrs. Damerel, firelight and had no candles, being too, had watched Agatha's lingering too much interested in their conversa- exit with some signs of impatience, as tion to note how time passed. Mrs. if she, too, had something to say ; but Damerel said nothing about the busi- Rose had not noticed this, any more ness when the children came in to tea than her mother had noticed the new

the homely and inexpensive meal impulse which was visible in her child. which had replaced dinner in the The girl was so full of it that she beWhite House. Her eyes showed signs gan to speak instantly, without waitof tears, and she was very quiet, and ing for any question. let the younger ones do and say al- “ Mamma," she said, softly, “I have most what they pleased. But if the not been a good daughter to you; I mother was quiescent, Rose, too, bad bave left you to take all the trouble, changed in a different way. Instead and I have not tried to be of use. I of sitting passive, as she usually did,

want to tell you that I have found it it was she who directed 'Agatha and out, and that I will try with all my Patty about their lessons, and helped heart to be different from to-day.”. Dick, and sent the little ones off at

Rose, my dear child !” – Mrs. Datheir proper hour to bed. There was merel was surprised and troubled. a little glimmer of light in her eyes, The tears, which rose so easily, now, a little dawn of color in her cheek. came with a sudden rush to her eyes. The reason was nothing that could She put her arms around the girl, and have been put into words — a some- drew her close, and kissed her. I thing perfectly baseless, visionary, and have never found fault with you, my unreasonable. It was not the hope of darling,” she said. being reconciled to Edward Wode- “ No, mamma; and that makes me house, for she bad never quarrelled feel it more. But it shall be different ; with him ; nor the hope of seeing him I am sorry, more sorry than I can tell again, for he was gone for years. It you; but it shall be different from towas merely that she had recovered day. her future, her imagination, her land “But, Rose, what has put this into of promise. The visionary, barrier your head to-day?” which had shut her out from that coun- A wavering blush came and went

out.

a cat

It was

upon Rose's face. She had it almost | Mamma, I am not fond of him. I Rose remembered of old, but which in her heart to tell her mother ; but think it would be best to say so pow.” the tranquillity of grief had smoothed yet there was nothing to tell, and " You are not fond of him? Is

A hot color mounted to her what could she say?

that all the consideration you give cheeks, making a line beneath her “I - can't tell, mamma. It is mild such a question? You do not intend eyes. The girl was struck dumb by and like spring. I think it was be- | that for an answer,

Rose ?

this sudden vehemence. Her reason ing out, and hearing people speak - Oh, mamma, is it not enough? was confused by the mingled truth kindly ”

What more answer could I give ? I and sophistry, which she felt without Here Rose paused, and, in her turn, am not fond of him at all. I could knowing how to disentangle them, let fall a few soft tears. She had

not pretend to be. When it is an an- and she was shocked and wounded by gone out very little, scarcely stirring swer like that, surely it is best to give the implied blame thus cast upon him beyond the garden, since her father's it now."

who had been of late the idol of her death, and Mrs. Damerel thought it “ And so,” said her mother, “you thoughts, and whom, if she had once was the mere impulse of reviving life; throw aside one of the best offers that timidly begun to form a judgment on unless indeed

ever a girl received, with less thought him, she had long ceased to think of “ My dear, did Mr. Incledon

say on the subject than you would give to as anything but perfect. anything to you ? ” she asked, with a or a dog! You decide your “Oh! stop, stop! don't say any vague hope.

whole future without one thought. more !” she cried, clasping her hands. *Mr. Incledon? Oh, no! except to Rose, is this the helpfulness you have “I cannot stop,” said Mrs. Damerel; ask me if you would see him — on just promised me? Is this the “not now, when I have begun. I business. What was his business ?” thoughtfulness for yourself and all of never thought to say as much to one said innocent Rose, looking up into us that I have a right to expect ? ” of his children, and to no other could her mother's face.

Rose did not know what to reply. I ever speak, Rose. I see the same Rose," said Mrs. Damerel, “I She looked at her mother with eyes thing in Reginald, and it makes my was just about to speak to you on a suddenly hollowed out by fear and heart sick ; must I find it in you too? very important matter when you began. anxiety and trouble, and watched There are people who are so happy as My dear, I must tell you at once what every movement of her lips and hands to like what they have to do, what it Mr. Incledon's business was.

with a growing alarm which she could is their duty to do; and these are the about you." not control.

blessed ones. But it is not always, it · About me?” All the color went “You do not speak ? Rose, Rose,

is not often so in this life. Dear. out of Rose's face in a moment; she you must see how wrong you would listen to what I say. Here is a way recollected the visit to Whitton, and be to act so hastily. If it were a ques- by which you may make up for much the sudden light that had flashed upon tion of keeping or sending away a ser

of the harm that has been done; you her as he and she looked at the pict- vant, nay, even a dog, you would give may help all that belong to you; you ure together. She had forgotten all more thought to it; and this is a man may put yourself in a position to be about it months ago, and indeed had who loves, who would make you happy. useful to many; you may gain what never again thought of Mr. Incledon. Oh, do not shake your head ! How men only gain by the labor of their But now in a moment her nerves be- can a child of your age know? A lives; and all this by marrying a good gan to thrill and her heart to beat; man who, I am sure, would make you man whom you will make happy. yet she herself, in whom the nerves happy; a man who could give you Will you throw it away because at the vibrated and the heart throbbed, to everything and more than everything, first glance it is not what your fancy

Rose. I cannot let you decide without chooses ? Will you set your own * Rose, you are not nervous or silly thought."

taste against everybody's advantage? like many girls, and you know now “ Does one need to think?” said

Oh, my darling, think, think! Do what life is not all a happy dream, Rose, slowly, after a pause. “I do not let your first motive, in the first as it sometimes seems at the begin- not care for him, I cannot care for great thing you are called upon to do, ning. My dear, I have in my hand a him. You would not have me tell a be mere self!” lie ?”

, it. Mr. Incledon has asked my leave to cried her mother; “I would have you which was choked and broken. She ask you to be his wife.

think of some higher rule than your was moved to the extent of passion “Me! his wife ! ” Rose clutched

own pleasure. Is that the best thing - she who in general was so selfat her mother's hand and repeated in the world, to please yourself ? Oh, restrained.

A combination of many these words with a pant of fright; I could tell you stories of that! Why emotions worked within her. To her though it seemed to her the moment are we in this poor little house with mind, every good thing for her child they were said as if she had all her nothing ? why is my poor Bertie de- was contained in this proposal ; and life known they were coming, and had pendent upon my brother, and you in Rose's opposition to it she saw the heard them a hundred times before. girls forced to work like maid-servants, rising of the poisonous monster which

" That is what he wants, Rose. and our life all changed ? Through had embittered her whole life. She Don't tremble so, nor look at me so self-indulgence, Rose. Oh! God for- did not pause to ask herself what wilaly. It is a wonderful thing to give me for saying it, but ) must tell there was in the nature of this sacri. happen to so young a girl as you. He the truth. Through choosing the fice she demanded, which made it less is very good and very kind, and be pleasure of the moment rather than lawful, less noble, than the other sacwould be, oh l of so much help to all the duties that we cannot shake off"; rifices wbich are the Christian's highyour family; and he could give you through deciding always to do what est ideal of duty: It was enough that everything that heart can desire, and one liked rather than to do what was by this step, which did not seem to restore you to far more than you have right. Here are eight of you

children
Mrs. Damerel

so very hard, Rose lost; and he is very fond of you, and with your lives blighted, all that one would do everything for herself and would make you an excellent husband. might be pleasant and unburdened. I much for her family, and that she I promised to speak to you, dear. have suffered under it all my life. hesitated, declined to take it, because You must think it over. He does not Not anything wrong,, not anything it was not pleasant, because she did wish you to give him an answer at wicked, but only, and always, and be- not like it. Like it! The words

fore everything, what one liked one's raised a perfect storm in the breast of “Mamma,” said Rose, hoarsely, self.”

who had been made with a sudden trembling which seemed Mrs. Damerel spoke with a passion wretched all her life by her ineffectual to reach into her very heart, “is it which was very unlike her usual calm. struggle against the habitual decision not better to give an answer at once ? The lines came into her brow which of her husband for what he liked.

turn to stone.

Rose"

once."