Endicott to the very gate of the Old Wood Lodge. Then he took off his hat to them all, wished them a ceremonious good-night, and went home extremely wrathful, and in a most unpriestly state of mind. He could not endure to think that the common outer world had gained such a hold upon that predestined Superior of the sisters of St. Frides wide. CHAPTER XXXIV.-SOME PROGRESS. He tells me After a long and most laborious father's instructions. investigation of the old parchment, Charlie at last triumphantly made it out to be an old conveyance, to a remote ancestor, of this very little house, and sundry property adjoining, on which the Athelings had now no claim. More than two hundred and fifty years ago!-the girls were as much pleased with it as if it had been an estate, and even Charlie owned a thrill of gratification. They felt themselves quite long-descended and patrician people, in right of the ancestor who had held "the family property" in 1572. there was a deed distinct and formal, and offers to bear his witness of it, as I have offered mine." Charlie took eagerly out of her hand the paper she offered to him. "It is a copy out of his book," said Miss Anastasia. It was headed thus: "Mem.-To convey to Miss Bridget Atheling, her heirs and assigns, the cottage called the Old Wood Lodge, with a certain piece of land adjoining, to be described partly as a proof of Lord Winterbourne's gratitude for services, partly as restoring property acquired by his father-to be executed at once." But it was difficult to see what use this could be of in opposition to the claim of Lord Winterbourne. The date was five-and-twenty Half the estates in the country at years ago; and perhaps nothing but least had changed hands during justice to her dead friend and to her these two hundred and fifty years; living ones could have fortified Miss and though it certainly proved be- Anastasia to return upon that time. yond dispute that the Old Wood She sat still, looking at Charlie Lodge had once been the property of while he read it, with her cheek a the Athelings, it threw no light little blanched and her eye brighter whatever on the title of Miss Brid- than usual. He laid it down with get. Mrs. Atheling looked round a look of impatience, yet satisupon the old walls with much in- faction. "Some one," said Charlie, crease of respect; she wondered if "either for one side or for the other they really could be so old as that; side, must have this deed." and was quite reverential of her little house, being totally unacquainted with the periods of domes tic architecture, and knowing nothing whatever of archaic "detail." Miss Anastasia, however, remembered her promise. Only two or three days after Charlie's visit to her, the two grey ponies made their appearance once more at the gate of the Old Wood Lodge. She was not exactly triumphant, but had a look of satisfaction on her face, and evidently felt she had gained something. She entered upon her business without a moment's delay. "Young Atheling, I have brought you all that Mr. Temple can furnish me with," said Miss Anastasia "his memorandum taken from my "Your boy is hard to please," said Miss Rivers. "I have offered to appear myself, and so does Mr. Temple. What, boy, not content!" "It is the next best," said Charlie; "but still not so good as the deed; and the deed must exist somewhere; nobody would destroy such a thing. Where is it likely to be?" "Young Ateling," said Miss Anastasia, half amused, half with displeasure, "when I want to collect evidence, you shall do it for me. Has he had a good education?—eh ?” "To you I am afraid he will seem a very poor scholar," said Mrs. Atheling, with a little awe of Miss Anastasia's learning; "but we did what we could for him; and he has always been a very industrious boy, and has studied a good deal himself." To this aside conversation Charlie paid not the smallest attention, but ruminated over the lawyer's memorandum, making faces at it, and bending all the powers of his mind to the consideration-where to find this deed? "If it's not here, nor in her lawyer's, nor with this old lady, he's got it," pronounced Charlie; but this was entirely a private process, and he did not say a word aloud. "I've read her book," said Miss Rivers, with a glance aside at Agnes; "it's a very clever book: I approve of it, though I never read novels: in my day girls did no such thingsall the better for them now. Yes, my child, don't be afraid. I'll not call you unfeminine-in my opinion it's about the prettiest kind of fancywork a young woman can do." Under this applause Agnes smiled and brightened; it was a great deal more agreeable than all the pretty sayings of all the people who were dying to know the author of Hope Hazlewood, in the brief day of her reputation at the Willows. "And as for the pretty one," said Miss Anastasia, "she, I suppose, contents herself with lovers - eh? What is the meaning of this? I suppose the child's heart is in it. The worse for her-the worse for her!" For Marian had blushed deeply, and then become very pale; her heart was touched indeed, and she was very despondent. All the other events of the time were swallowed up to Marian by one great shadowLouis was going away! Whereupon Mrs. Atheling, unconsciously eager to attract the interest of Miss Anastasia, who very likely would be kind to the young people, sent Marian up-stairs upon a hastily invented errand, and took the old lady aside to tell her what had happened. Miss Rivers was a good deal surprised a little affected. "So so-so," she said slowly, "these reckless young creatures-how ready they are to plunge into all the griefs of life! And what does Will Atheling say to this nameless boy?" 66 "I cannot say my husband is en tirely pleased," said Mrs. Atheling, with a little hesitation; "but he is a very fine young man; and to see our children happy is the great thing we care for, both William and me." "How do you know it will make her happy?" asked Miss Anastasia, somewhat sharply. "The child flushes and pales again, pretty creature as she is, like a woman come into her troubles. A great deal safer to write novels! But what is done can't be undone; and I am glad to hear of it on account of the boy." Then Miss Anastasia made a pause, thinking over the matter. "I have found some traces of my father's wanderings," she said again, with a little emotion: "if the old man was tempted to sin in his old days, though it would be a shame to hear of, I should still be glad to make sure; and if by any chance," continued the old lady, reddening with the maidenly and delicate feeling of which her fifty years could not deprive her "if by any chance these unfortunate children should turn out to be nearly related to me, I will of course think it my duty to provide for them as if they were lawful children of my father's house." It cost her a little effort to say this and Mrs. Atheling, not venturing to make any comment, looked on with respectful sympathy. It was very well for Miss Anastasia to say, but how far Louis would tolerate a provision made for him was quite a different question. The silence was broken again by the old lady herself. "This bold boy of yours has set me to look over all my old papers," said Miss Anastasia, with a twinkle of satisfaction and amusement in her eye, as she looked over at Charlie, still making faces at the lawyer's note. "Now that I have begun for her sake, dear old soul, I continue for my own and for curiosity: I would give a great deal to find out the story of these children. Young Atheling, if I some time want your services, will you give them to me?" Charlie looked up with a boyish flush of pleasure. "As soon as this business is settled," said Charlie. Miss Anastasia, whom his mother feared to look at lest she should something, or try what she can do for Louis," said Mamma; she did not think how impossible it would be to do anything for Louis, until Louis graciously accepted the service; nor indeed, that the only thing the young man could do under his circumstances was to trust to his own exertions solely, and seek service from none. be offended, smiled approvingly; patted the shoulder of Agnes as she passed her, left "her love for the other poor child," and went away. Mrs. Atheling looked after her with a not unnatural degree of complacency. Now, I think it very likely indeed that she will either leave them CHAPTER XXXV.-A GREAT DISCOVERY. trouble," was nearest of all at that moment to her mother's heart. When suddenly a violent sound of wheels from the high-road broke in upon the stillness, then a loud voice calling to horses, and then a dull plunge and heavy roll. Mrs. Atheling lifted her startled eyes, drowsy no longer, to see what was the matter, just in time to behold, what shook the little house like the shock of a small earthquake, Miss Anastasia's two grey horses, trembling with unusual exertion, draw up with a bound and commotion at the little gate. And before the good mother could rise to her feet, wondering what could be the cause of this second visit, Miss Rivers herself sprang out of the carriage, and came into the house like a wind, almost stumbling over Rachel, and nearly upsetting Bell and Beau. She did not say a word to either mother or daughter, she only came to the threshold of the parlour, waved her hand imperiously, and cried, "Young Atheling, I want you!" The visit of Miss Rivers was an early one, some time before their midday dinner; and the day went on quietly after its usual fashion, and fell into the stillness of a sunny afternoon, which looked like a reminiscence of midsummer among these early October days. Mrs. Atheling sat in her big chair, knitting, with a little drowsiness, a little stockingthough this was a branch of art in which Hannah was found to excel, and had begged her mistress to leave to her. Agnes sat at the table with her blotting-book, busy with her special business; Charlie was writing out a careful copy of the old deed. The door was open, and Bell and Beau, under the happy charge of Rachel, ran back and forwards, out and in, from the parlour to the garden, not omitting now and then a visit to the kitchen, where Hannah, covered all over with her white bib and apron, was making cakes for tea. Their merry childish voices and prattling feet gave no disturbance to the busy people in the parlour; neither did the light fairy step of Rachel, nor even the songs she sang to them in her wonderful voice they were all so well accustomed to its music now. Marian and Louis, who did not like to lose sight of each other in these last days, were out wandering about the fields, or in the wood, thinking of little in the world except each other, and that great uncertain future which Louis penetrated with his fiery glances, and of which Marian wept and smiled to hear. Mamma sitting at the window, between the pauses of her knitting and the breaks of her gentle drowsiness, looked out for them with a little tender anxiety. Marian, the "Young Atheling," said Miss only one of her children who was "in Anastasia abruptly, "I want you to Charlie was not given to rapid movements, but there was no misunderstanding the extreme emotion of this old lady. The big boy got up at once and followed her, for she went out again immediately. Then Mrs. Atheling, sitting at the window in amaze, saw her son and Miss Anastasia stand together in the garden, conversing with great earnestness. She showed him a book, which Charlie at first did not seem to understand, to the great impatience of his companion. Mrs. Atheling drew back troubled, and in the most utter astonishment-what could it mean? give up this business of your father's immediately, and set off to Italy on mine. I have made a discovery of the most terrible importance: though you are only a boy, I can trust you. Do you hear me?-it is to bring to his inheritance my father's son !" Charlie looked up in her face astonished, and without comprehension. "My father's business is of importance to us," he said, with a momentary sullenness. "So it is; my own man of business shall undertake it; but I want an agent, secret and sure, who is not like to be suspected," said Miss Anastasia. "Young Atheling, look here !" Charlie looked, but not with enthusiasm. The book she handed him was an old diary of the most commonplace description, each page divided with red lines into compartments for three days, with printed headings for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so on, and columns for money. The wind fluttered the leaves, so that the only entry visible to Charlie was one relating to some purchase, which he read aloud, bewildered and wandering. Miss Anastasia, who was extremely moved and excited, looked furious, and as if she was almost tempted to administer personal chastisement to the blunderer. She turned over the fluttered leaves with an impetuous gesture. "Look here," she said, pointing to the words with her imperative finger, and reading them aloud in a low, restrained, but most emphatic voice. The entry was in the same hand, duly dated under the red line-" Twins-one boy-and Giulietta safe. Thank God. My sweet young wife." "Now go-fly!" cried Miss Anastasia, "find out their birthday, and then come to me for money and directions. I will make your fortune, boy; you shall be the richest pettifogger in Christendom. Do you hear me, young Atheling-do_you hear me! He is the true Lord Winterbourne- he is my father's lawful son!" To say that Charlie was not stunned by this sudden suggestion, or that there was no answer of young and generous enthusiasm, as well as of professional eagerness in his mind, to the address of Miss Rivers, would have been to do him less than justice. "Is it Italy?-I don't know a word of Italian," cried Charlie. "Never mind, I'll go to-morrow. I can learn it on the way." The old lady grasped the boy's rough hand, and stepped again into her carriage. "Let it be to-morrow," she said, speaking very low; "tell your mother, but no one else, and do not, for any consideration, let it come to the ears of Louis-Louis, my father's boy!-But I will not see him, Charlie; fly, boy, as if you had wings!-till you come home. I will meet you to-morrow at Mr. Temple's office-you know where that is-at twelve o'clock. Be ready to go immediately and tell your mother to mention it to no creature till I see her again." Saying which, Miss Rivers turned her ponies, Charlie hurried into the house, and his mother sat gazing out of the window, with the most blank and utter astonishment. Miss Anastasia had not a glance to spare for the watcher, and took no time to pull her rose from the porch. She drove home again at full speed, solacing her impatience with the haste of her progress, and repeating, under her breath, again and again, the same words. "One boy-and Giulietta safe. My sweet young wife!" NEW FACTS AND OLD FANCIES ABOUT SEA ANEMONES. SINCE the British mind was all sioned this sudden enthusiasm for alive and trembling with that zoological fervour which the appearance of the hippopotamus in Regent's Park excited for many months, no animal has touched it to such fine issues and such exuberant enthusiasm as the lovely sea-anemone, now the ornament of countless drawing-rooms, studies, and back parlours, and the delight of unnumbered amateurs. In glass-tanks, and elegant vases of various device, in finger-glasses, and common tumblers, the lovely creature may be seen expanding its coronal of tentacles, on mimic rocks, amid mimic forests of algæ, in mimic oceans of pump-water and certain mixtures of chlorides and carbonates, regulated by a "specific gravity test." Fairy fingers minister to its wants, removing dirt and slime from its body, feeding it with bits of limpet or raw beef; fingers, not of fairies, pull it about with the remorseless curiosity of science, and experiment on it, according to the suggestion of the moment. At once pet, ornament, and "subject for dissection," the sea anemone has a well-established popularity in the British family circle; having the advantage over the hippopotamus of being somewhat less expensive, and less troublesome, to keep. Were seacows as plentiful as anemones, one could not make pets of them with the same comfort. There would be objections to Potty in the drawingroom. There would be embarrassments in the commissariat. There would be insurgents among the domestics; for the best tempered Betty might find it impossible "to stand" the presence of such a pet, and resolutely refuse to bring up his water, and clean out his crib; whereas, although the red-armed Betty thinks you a little cracked when you introduce "them worm things" into your house, she keeps her opinions within the circle of the kitchen, and consents to receive her wages without a murmur. anemones; lovely, indeed, but by no means the most lovely, and certainly not the most interesting wonders of the deep. Mr. Gosse by his pleasant books, and Mr. Mitchell by his tanks in the Regent's Park Zoological Gardens, have mainly contributed to the diffusion of the enthusiasm; and now that enterprise has made a commercial branch of it, we may consider the taste established, for at least some years. One good result of this diffusion will be an extension of our knowledge, not only of this, but of many other of the simpler animals. For many years the writings of zoologists have given a place to observations on the anemones; but the observations have been incomplete, and all hand-books and treatises which repeat these observation are, very naturally, crowded with errors. To give the reader an idea of the state of current opinion on this one topic, it is enough to mention that on the second page devoted by Professor Rymer Jones* to a description of the habits of the anemone, there are six distinct errors: yet this is no fault of his; he states what all preceding writers state, and his excellent summary of what is known bears the date of 1855. If the habits have been so imperfectly observed, you may guess what a chaos the anatomy and physiology of this animal present. Such being the state of the case, we may hope that the wide diffusion of a taste for vivaria will in a little while furnish Science with ample material; and meanwhile, as many of Maga's loving readers are possessors of vivaria, actual or potential, and will certainly not content themselves with blank wonderment, but will do their utmost to rightly understand the anemones, even if they make no wider incursions on the domains of the zoologist, I may hope they will be interested if I group together the results of investigations, pursued at Ilfracombe and Tenby during last *General Outline of the Animal Kingdom, p. 66. |