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CHAPTER 3.

            DWELLING in London, and mainly occupied with lawyers and accountants, Noel led a life very different from that which he wished and intended. His whole heart was with Margaret on the blue Mediterranean, and his whole ambition to devote his life at once to her, and to the cultivation of an art inspired by her. Yet he could not but perceive the dangers of such a situation, or avoid owning to himself that the providence was not

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altogether an unreasonable or an unkind one which at this moment seemed to dictate his career.

            As the autumn vacations came on, and little could be done to further his work, he contemplated paying a visit to Capri, and proposing a removal to some other place for the winter. Sophia had for some time been wishing for a more exciting life. Mr. Tresham had begun to pine for his own country, and thought he could now stand an English winter; and Lady Bevan, who never intimated a wish in opposition to the pleasure of those around her, allowed that of late she had thought more highly than ever of the charms of Linnwood.

            ‘But what do yon say, Margaret?’ she asked of her niece, when the question was stirred.

            ‘It is of no use to ask her,’ exclaimed Sophia, ‘she would remain here so long as there is a rock to be drawn, or a sky tint to be caught, and never dream of going away, not even, I believe, to introduce her daughters into society whenever it may be time for them to come out. And, I doubt if she would think it necessary to make a change then. I don’t understand such contentment – indeed, I am not sure that I approve of it; at least, I am sure I should not if I were married.’

            It was on the tip of Margaret’s tongue to say that they might all go and leave her there where she was so contented, and where her little ones throve so well, but she feared to give offence by seeming to wish to be left alone. Besides, she really had a great regard and admiration for Sophia, and was truly attached to her aunt; and as for Mr. Tresham, her gentle firmness of character, and the depth of her sympathetic insight into his needs, had so won upon him that she shrank from giving him the pain she knew he would feel at being parted from her.

            He answered Sophia for her before Margaret had made up her mind what to say.

            ‘Whenever we do return to England, I shall insist on my house being at least one of her homes until Mr. Maynard returns to claim her. She does not care for society as you do, and will be far happier spending the winter quietly with me and Edmund in London, than with the gay parties you will be having in Devonshire.’

            It took all Margaret’s power of self-control to keep from betraying the emotion she felt at this unexpected introduction of Edmund’s name into the conversation; and the more so, as she had an instinctive feeling that Sophia Bevan regarded her

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as an enigma, to which that young lady deemed it a duty to be ever seeking a key. Here her aunt interposed, thus sparing her the necessity for an immediate reply.

            ‘Dear Margaret, this is very nice, and very kind of Mr. Tresham, and I am grateful to him for an offer that will make such a pleasant variety in your life. I am sure James will be so pleased.’

            And Margaret, having by this time perfectly recovered herself, replied to Mr. Tresham by a grateful and affectionate look, of which he keenly appreciated the meaning.

            ‘And you won’t object to my helping in Sophia’s feminine college when it is established? Your house will be so handy for me to attend the classes.’

            ‘And, pray, do you contemplate teaching or learning?’ asked Sophia, in amazement, for the scheme had not been referred to among them for a long time.

            ‘I hope to be teacher in some classes, and pupil in others. But there is one branch that I want to see added to which I should specially devote myself. I quite approve of girls being taught to nurse children, but I think they ought also to learn how to nurse sick people. Now, there, I could really be of some use in teaching, I think.’

            ‘And I am positive,’ exclaimed Mr. Tresham, ‘that you will never have a pupil to rival or come near the teacher. With you and Miss Bevan for presiding geniuses, the institution will be governed, like the world’s climate, by the sun and the wind.’

            ‘Some time ago,’ answered Sophia, ‘I should have quarrelled with you for likening me to the wind, and depreciating my powers of persuasion. But now I am content to recognise and use force of whatever kind it may be. So you see, Margaret, I am not above owning that you have made a convert of me to your principles, if not to your practice.’

            Their plans were still undecided, and Noel was daily expected to arrive in Capri, when a letter reached Mr. Tresham without having first gone through his nephew’s hands according to the arrangement made out of regard to Mr. Tresham’s infirmities. It was a letter from San Francisco announcing the utter break down of the bank, to save which Edmund had gone out four or five years before. The temptation to speculate in land, and especially in certain quicksilver mines, with which no good title could be given, had proved too strong for the local managers; and this time rescue was impossible. The loss to Mr. Tresham

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was very heavy, and the shock proved more than his already enfeebled system could bear. He, indeed, recovered consciousness, but his nephew only came in time to cheer his last hours by his affectionate attentions, and to assure him that his regrets would be all for his lost uncle and none for the lost inheritance.

            Almost the last words of Mr. Tresham concerned Margaret, for whom, in the precariousness of affairs in Mexico, he foresaw possible trouble in store.

            Following her with beaming eyes, as she noiselessly arranged some matters necessary to his comfort in his room,

            ‘Take care of her,’ he whispered to Edmund, ‘she is an angel.’

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