Classic Audiobook Collection - Cousin Phillis by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell ~ Full Audiobook [drama]

Episode Date: December 22, 2022

Cousin Phillis by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell audiobook. Genre: drama In a quiet corner of rural England, young Paul Manning begins his first job on a new railway line, commuting between the noise of industry and the calm of his relatives' farm. There he meets Cousin Phillis Holman, a gifted, well-read minister's daughter whose life is shaped by hard work, faith, and the close-knit rhythms of family. Phillis is intelligent and passionate, yet sheltered, and Paul quickly finds himself drawn into the warmth of the Holman household and the subtle tensions that come with a changing world. When an older engineer arrives, bringing wider experience and an easy charm, Paul becomes an uneasy witness to shifting affections and unspoken hopes. As the railway pushes forward, so do questions about duty, love, and the cost of awakening to feelings that cannot be neatly managed. Elizabeth Gaskell paints a tender, realistic portrait of first love, friendship, and moral responsibility, set against the contrast between pastoral tradition and modern progress, where small choices carry lasting emotional weight. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 1 (00:24:38) Chapter 2 (00:54:05) Chapter 3 (01:25:47) Chapter 4 (01:51:28) Chapter 5 (02:15:40) Chapter 6 (02:35:20) Chapter 7 (03:08:15) Chapter 8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cousin Phyllis by Elizabeth Gaskell Part 1 Section 1 It is a great thing for a lad when he is first turned into the independence of lodgings. I do not think I was ever so satisfied and proud in my life, as when, at seventeen, I sat down in a little three-cornered room above a pastry-cook's shop, in the county-town of Eltham. My father had left me that afternoon, after delivering him himself of a few plain precepts, strongly expressed, for my guidance in the new course of life on which I was entering. I was to be a clerk under the engineer who had undertaken to make the little branch-line from Eltham to Hornby. My father had got me this situation, which was in a position rather above his own in life, or perhaps, I should say, above the station in which he was born and bred, for he was raising himself every year in men's consideration and respiration and resp, He was a mechanic by trade, but he had some inventive genius and a great deal of perseverance,

and had devised several valuable improvements in railway machinery. He did not do this for profit, though, as was reasonable, what came in the natural course of things was acceptable. He worked out his ideas, because, as he said, until he could put them into shape, they plagued him by night and by day. But this is enough about my dear father. It is a good thing for a country when there are many like him. He was a sturdy independent by descent and conviction, and this it was, I believe, which made him place me in the lodgings at the pastry-cooks. The shop was kept by the two sisters of our minister at home, and this was considered as a sort of safeguard to my morals when I was turned loose upon the temptations of the

county-town with a salary of thirty pounds a year. My father had given up two precious days, and put on his Sunday clothes, in order to bring me to Eltham, and accompany me first to the office, to introduce me to my new master, who was under some obligations to my father for a suggestion, and next to take me to call on the independent minister of the little congregation at Eltham. And then he left me, and though sorry to part with him, I now began to taste with relish the pleasure of being my own master, I unpacked the hamper that my mother had provided me with, and smelt the pots of preserve with all the delight of a possessor who might break into their contents at any time he pleased. I handled and weighed in my fancy the home-cured ham, which seemed to promise me interminable feasts, and above all there was the fine savour of knowing that I might eat of these dainties when I liked, at my sole will, not dependent on the pleasure of any one else, however indulgent. I stowed my eatables away in the little corner cupboard. That room was all corners,

and everything was placed in a corner—the fireplace, the window, the cupboard. I myself seemed to be the only thing in the middle, and there was hardly room for me. The table was made of a folding leaf under the window, and the window looked out upon the marketplace. So the studies for the prosecution of which my father had brought himself to pay extra for a sitting-room for ran a considerable chance of being diverted from books to men and women. I was to have my meals with the two elderly Miss Dawson's in the little parlour behind the three-cornered shop downstairs. My breakfasts and dinners, at least, for as my hours and an evening were likely to be uncertain,

my tea or supper was to be an independent meal. Then, after this pride and satisfaction came a sense of desolation. I had never been from home before. and I was an only child, and though my father's spoken maxim had been, spare the rod and spoil the child, yet unconsciously his heart had yearned after me, and his ways towards me were more tender than he knew, or would have approved of in himself could he have known. My mother, who never professed sternness, was far more severe than my father. Perhaps my boyish faults annoyed her more, for I remember, now that I have written the above words, how she pleaded for me once in my riper years, when I had really offended against my father's sense of right. But I have nothing to do with that now. It is about Cousin Phyllis that I am going to write, and as yet I am far enough from even saying who Cousin Phyllis was. For some months after I was settled in Eltham, the new employment in which I was engaged, the new independence of my life, occupied all my thoughts.

I was at my desk by eight o'clock, home to dinner at one, back at the office by two. The afternoon work was more uncertain than the mornings. It might be the same, or it might be that I had to accompany Mr. Holdsworth, the managing engineer, to some point on the line between Eltham and Hornby. This I always enjoyed, because of the variety, and because of the country we traversed, which was very wild and pretty, and because I was thrown into companionship with Mr. Holdsworth, who held the position of hero in my boyish mind. He was a young man of five and twenty or so, and was in a station above mine, both by birth and education, and he

had travelled on the continent, and wore mustachios and whiskers of a somewhat foreign fashion. I was proud of being seen with him. He was really a fine fellow in a good number of ways, and I might have fallen into much worse hands. Every Saturday I wrote home, telling of my weekly doings. My father had insisted upon this, but there was so little variety in my life that I often found it hard work to fill a letter. On Sundays I went twice to chapel, up a dark, narrow entry, to hear droning hymns and long prayers, and a still longer sermon, preached to a small congregation, of which I was, by nearly a score of years, the youngest member. Occasionally Mr. Peters, the minister, would ask me home to tea after the second service.

I dreaded the honour, for I usually sat on the edge of my chair all the evening, and answered solemn questions, put in a deep bass voice, until household prayer-time came, at eight o'clock, when Mrs. Peters came in, smoothing down her apron, and the maid of all work followed, and first a sermon, and then a chapter was read, and long-impromptu prayer, followed, till some instinct told Mr. Peters that supper-time had come, and we rose from our knees with hunger for our predominant feeling. Over supper the minister did unbend a little into one or two ponderous jokes, as if to show me that ministers were men, after all. And then, at ten o'clock I went home, and enjoyed my long repressed yawns in the three-cornered room before going to bed. Dinah and Hannah Dawson, so their names were put on the board above the shop-door, I always called them Miss Dawson and Miss Hannah. Considered these visits of mine to Mr. Peters as the greatest honour a young man could have, and evidently

thought that if after such privileges I did not work out my salvation, I was a sort of modern Judas Ascariot. On the contrary, they shook their heads over my intercourse with Mr. Holdsworth. He had been so kind to me in many ways that when I cut into my ham I hovered over the thought of asking him to tea in my room, more especially as the annual fair was being held an Elton Market-place, and the sight of the booths, the merry-go-rounds, the wild-beast-shows, and such country-pomps, was, as I thought at seventeen, very attractive. But when I ventured to allude to my wish in even distant terms, Miss Hannah caught me up, and spoke of the sinfulness of such sights, and something about wallowing in the mire, and then, vaulted

into France, and spoke evil of the nation, and all who had ever set foot therein. Till seeing that her anger was concentrating itself into a point, and that that point was Mr. Holdsworth, I thought it would be better to finish my breakfast, and make what haste I could out of the sound of her voice. I rather wondered afterwards to hear her and Miss Dawson counting up their weekly profits with glee, and saying that a pastry-cook's shop in the corner of the market-place in Eltham Fairweek was no such bad thing. However, I never ventured to ask Mr. Holdsworth to my lodgings. There is not much to tell about this first year of mine at Eltham, but when I was nearly

nineteen, and beginning to think of whiskers on my own account, I came to know Cousin Phyllis, whose very existence had been unknown to me till then. Mr. Holdsworth and I had been out to Heathbridge for a day, working hard. Heathbridge was near Hornby, for our life. line of railway was above half finished. Of course a day's outing was a great thing to tell about in my weekly letters, and I fell to describing the country, a fault I was not often guilty of. I told my father of the bogs, all over wild myrtle and soft moss, and shaking ground over which we had to carry our line, and how Mr. Holdsworth and I had gone for our midday meals, for we had to stay here for two days and to-night, to a pretty village hard by,

Heathbridge proper, and how I hoped we should have often to go there, for the shaking uncertain ground was puzzling our engineers, one end of the line going up as soon as the other was weighted down. I had no thought for the shareholder's interests, as may be seen, we had to make a new line on firmer ground before the railway junction was completed. I told all this at a great length, thankful to fill up my paper. By a return letter I heard that a second cousin of my mother's was married to the independent minister of Hornby, Ebeneese, a home in by name, and lived at Heathbridge proper. The very Heathbridge I had described, or so my mother believed, for she had never seen her cousin Phyllis Green, who was something of an heiress,

my father believed, being her father's only child, and old Thomas Green had owned an estate of near upon fifty acres, which must have come to his daughter. My mother's feeling of kinship seemed to have been strongly stirred by the mention of Heathbridge, for my father said she desired me, if ever I went thither again, to make inquiry for the Reverend Ebeneese a Holman. And if indeed he lived there, I was further to ask if he had not married one Phyllis Green, and if both these questions were answered in the affirmative, I was to go and introduce myself as the only child of Margaret Manning, born Moneypenny. I was enraged at myself for having named Heathbridge at all, when I found

it was drawing down upon me. One independent minister, as I said to myself, was enough for any man, and here I knew, that is to say, I had been categorised on Sabbath mornings, by Mr. Dawson, our minister at home, and had just to be civil to old Peters at Eltham, and behave myself for five hours running whenever he asked me to tea at his house. And now, just as I felt the free air blowing about me up at Heathbridge, I was to ferret out another minister, and I was to ferret out another minister, and I should perhaps have to be catechised by him, or else asked to tea at his house. Besides, I did not like pushing myself upon strangers, who perhaps had never heard of my mother's name, and such an odd name as it was—Moneypenny. And if they had, had never cared more for her

than she had for them, apparently, until this unlucky mention of Heathbridge. Still I would not disobey my parents in such a trifle, however irksome it might be. So the next time our business took me to Heathbridge, and we were dining in the little sanded-in parlour, I took the opportunity of Mr. Holdsworth being out of the room, and asked the questions which I was bidden to ask of the rosy-cheeked maid. I was either unintelligible, or she was stupid, for she said she did not know, but would ask Master. And, of course, the landlord came in to understand what it was I wanted to know, and I had to bring out all my stammering inquiries before Mr. Holdsworth, who would never have attended to them, I dare say, if I had

not blushed and blundered, and made such a fool of myself." "'Yes,' the landlord said, "'the Hope Farm was in Heathbridge proper, and the owner's name was Holman, and he was an independent minister, and as far as the landlord could tell, his wife's Christian name was Phyllis. Anyhow her maiden name was green.' "'Relations of yours?' asked Mr. Holdsworth. "'No, sir. Only my mother's sister. second cousins. Yes, I suppose they are relations, but I never saw them in my life.' "'The Hope Farm is not a stone's throw from here,' said the officious landlord,

going to the window. "'If you carry your eye over yon bed of hollyhocks, over the damson trees in the orchard yonder, you may see a stack of queer-like stone chimneys. Them is the Hope Farm chimneys. It's an old place, though Holman keeps it in good order.' mr holsworth had risen from the table with more promptitude than i had and was standing by the window looking at the landlord's last words he turned round smiling it is not often that parsons know how to keep land in order is it beg pardon sir but i must speak as i find and minister holman we call the church clergyman here parsons sir he would be a bit jealous if he heard a dissenter called parson minister holman knows what he's about as well as air a farmer in the neighbourhood He gives up five days a week to his own work, and two to the lords, and it is difficult to say which he works hardest at. He spends Saturday and Sunday, are writing sermons, and visiting his flock at Hornby,

and at five o'clock on Monday morning he'll be guiding his plough and the Hope Farn Yomda, just as well as if he could neither read nor write. But your dinner will be getting cold, gentlemen." So we went back to the table. After a while Mr. Holdsworth broke the silence. If I were you, Manning, I'd look up to you. these relations of yours. You can go and see what they're like while we're waiting for Dobson's estimates, and I'll smoke a cigar in the garden meantime. Thank you, sir, but I don't know them,

and I don't think I want to know them. What did you ask all those questions for, then? Said he, looking quickly up at me. He had no notion of doing or saying things without a purpose. I did not answer, so he continued. Make up your mind, and go off and see what this farmer minister is like, and come back and tell me. I should like to hear. I was so in the habit of yielding to his authority or influence that I never thought of resisting, but went on my errand, though I remember feeling as if I would rather have had my head cut off. The landlord, who had evidently taken an interest in the event of our discussion in a way that country landlords have, accompanied me to the house-door,

and gave me repeated directions, as if I was likely to miss my way in two hundred yards. But I listened to him, for I was glad of the delights. lay, to screw up my courage for the effort of facing unknown people and introducing myself. I went along the lane, I recollect, switching at all the taller roadside weeds, till, after a turn or two, I found myself close in front of the Hope Farm. There was a garden between the house and the shady, grassy lane. I afterwards found that this garden was called the court, perhaps because there was a low wall round it, with an iron railing up the top of the wall, and two great gates between pillars crowned with stone balls for a state entrance to the flagged

path leading up to the front door. It was not the habit of the place to go in either by these great gates or by the front door. The gates, indeed, were locked, as I found, though the door stood wide open. I had to go round by a side path lightly worn on a broad, grassy way, which led past the court-wall, past a horse-mount, half-covered with stone-crop and little wild yellow fumatory, to another door. The curate, as I found it was termed by the master of the house, while the front door, handsome and all for show, was termed the rector. I knocked with my hand upon the curate-door. A tall girl, about my own age, as I thought, came and opened it, and stood there silent, waiting to know my errand.

I see her now, cousin Phyllis. The westering sun shone full upon her, and made a slanting stream of light into the room within. She was dressed in a dark blue cotton of some kind, up to her throat, down to her wrists, with a little frill of the same wherever it touched her white skin. And such a white skin as it was! I have never seen the like. She had light hair, near a yellow than any other colour. She looked me steadily in the face with large, quiet eyes, wondering but untroubled by the sight

of a stranger. I thought it odd that so old, so full-grown as she was, should wear a pinafore over her gown. Before I had quite made up my mind what to say in reply to her mute inquiry of what I wanted there, a woman's voice called out, "'Who is it, Phyllis? If it is any one for buttermilk, send them round to the back door.' I thought I could rather speak to the owner of that voice than to the girl, but before me, so I passed her, and stood at the entrance of the room, hat in hand, for this side door opened straight into the hall or house-place, where the family sat when work was done. There was a brisk little woman of forty or so, ironing some huge muslin cravats, under the

light of a long vine-shaded casement window. She looked at me distrustfully till I began to speak. "'My name is Paul Manning,' said I, but I saw she did not know the name. "'My mother's name was Moneypenny,' said I. "'Margaret's Moneypenny.' "'And she married one John Manning of Birmingham,' said Mrs. Holman eagerly. "'And you'll be her son. Sit down. I am right glad to see you. Think of your being Margaret's son. She was almost a child not so long ago. Well, to be sure it is five and twenty years ago. And what brings you into these parts?'

She sat down herself, as if she was a child as if she was a child. oppressed by her curiosity as to all the five in twenty years that had passed by since she had seen my mother. Her daughter Phyllis took up her knitting, a long grey worsted man's stocking, I remember, and knitted away without looking at her work. I felt that the steady gaze of those deep grey eyes was upon me, though once when I stealthily raised mind to hers she was examining something on the wall above my head. When I had answered all my cousin Holman's questions, She heaved a long breath and said, "'To think of Margaret Moneypenny's boy being in our house.

I wish the minister was here. Phyllis, in what field is thy father to-day?' In the five-acre. They are beginning to cut the corn. He'll not like being sent for, then, else I should have liked you to have seen the minister. But the five-acre is a good step off. You shall have a glass of wine and a bit of cake before you stir from this house, though.

You're bound to go, you say, or else the minister comes in mostly when the men have their four o'clock." I must go. I ought to have been off before now. "'Here, then, Phyllis, take the keys.' She gave her daughter some whispered directions, and Phyllis left the room. "'She is my cousin, is she not?' I asked. I knew she was, but somehow I wanted to talk of her, and did not know how to begin. "'Yes, Phyllis Holman. She is our only child. Now.'

Either from that now, or from a strange momentary wistfulness in her eyes, I knew that there had been more children, who were now dead. "'How old is Cousin Phyllis?' said I, scarcely venturing on the new name. It seemed too prettily familiar for me to call her by it, but Cousin Holman took no notice of it, answering straight to the purpose. "'Seventeen last May-day—' "'But the minister does not like to hear me calling it May-day,' said she, checking her herself with a little awe. Phyllis was seventeen on the first day of May last, she repeated, in an amended edition.

"'And I am nineteen in another month,' thought I to myself. I don't know why. Then Phyllis came in, carrying a tray with wine and cake upon it. "'We keep a house-servant,' said Cousin Holman. But it is churning-day, and she is busy. It was meant as a little proud apology for her daughter's being the hand-pomber. maiden. "'I like doing it, mother,' said Phyllis, in her grave, full voice. I felt as if I was somebody in the Old Testament, who I could not recollect, being served and waited upon by the daughter of the host. Was I like Abraham's servant, when Rebecca

gave him to drink at the well? I thought Isaac had not gone the pleasantest way to work in winning him a wife, but Phyllis never thought about such things. She was a stately gracious, young woman, in the dress and with the simplicity of a child. As I had been taught, I drank to the health of my new-found cousin and her husband, and then I ventured to name my cousin Phyllis, with a little bow of my head towards her. But I was too awkward to look and see how she took my compliment. "'I must go now,' said I, rising. Neither of the women had thought of sharing in the wine, Cousin Holman had broken a bit of

cake for form's sake. I wish the minister had been within," said his wife, rising too. Secretly I was very glad he was not. I did not take kindly to ministers in those days, and I thought he must be a particular kind kind of man, by his objecting to the term May-day. But, before I went, Cousin Holman made me promise that I would come back on the Saturday following and spend Sunday with them, when I should see something of the minister. "'Come on Friday, if you can,' were her last words as she stood at the curate door,

shading her eyes from the sinking sun with her hand. Inside the house sat Cousin Phyllis, her golden hair, her dazzling complexion, lighting up the corner of the vine-shadowed room. She had not risen when I bade her good-bye. She had looked at me straight as she said her tranquil words of farewell. I found Mr. Holdsworth down at the line, hard at work, superintending. As soon as he had a pause, he said, "'Well, Manning, what are the new cousins like? How do you, preaching and farming seemed to get on together. If the minister turns out to be practical as well as reverend, I shall begin to respect him.' But he hardly attended to my answer. He was so much

more occupied with directing his work-people. Indeed, my answer did not come very readily, and the most distinct part of it was the mention of the invitation that had been given me. "'Oh, of course you can go. And on Friday, too, if you like. There is no reason why not this week, and you've done a long spell of work this time, old fellow?" I thought that I did not want to go on Friday, but when the day came I found that I should prefer going to staying away, so I availed myself of Mr. Holdsworth's permission, and went over to Hope Farm some time in the afternoon, a little later than my last visit. End of Section 1.

Section 2 of Cousin Phyllis. This Librevox's recording is in the public domain. recording by Elizabeth Clett Cousin Phyllis by Elizabeth Gaskell Part 1 Section 2 I found the curate open to admit the soft September air

so tempered by the warmth of the sun that it was warmer out of doors than in although the wooden log lay smouldering in front of a heap of hot ashes on the hearth the vine leaves over the window had a tinge more yellow their edges were here and there scorched and browned There was no ironing about, and cousin Holman sat just outside the house mending a shirt. Phyllis was at her knitting indoors. It seemed as if she'd been at it all the week.

The many speckled fowls were pecking about in the farmyard beyond, and the milk-cans, glittered with brightness, hung out to sweeten. The court was so full of flowers that they crept out upon the low-covered wall and horse-mount, and were even to be found self-sown upon the turf that bordered the path to the back of the house. I fancied that my Sunday coat was scented for days afterwards by the bushes of sweetbriar and the fraxinella that perfumed the air. From time to time, Cousin Holman put her hand into a covered basket at her feet, and threw hands full of corn down for the pigeons that cooed and fluttered in the air round, in expectation of this treat. I had a thorough welcome as soon as she saw me. Now this is kind, this is right down friendly!

shaking my hand warmly phyllis your cousin manning has come call me paul won't you said i they call me so at home and manning is in the office well paul then your room is all ready for you paul as i said to the minister i'll have it ready whether he comes on friday or not and the minister said he must go up to the ashfield whether you were to come or not but he would come home betimes to see if you were here i'll show you to your room and you can wash the dust off a bit." After I came down I think she did not know quite what to do with me, or she might think that I was dull, or she might have work to do in which I hindered her, for she called Phyllis, and bade her to put on her bonnet and go with me to the Ashfield, and find father. So we set off, I, in a little flutter of desire to make myself agreeable, but wishing that

my companion were not quite so tall, for she was above me in height. While I was wondering how to begin our conversation, she took up the words. "'I suppose, Cousin, Paul, you have to be very busy at your work all day long in general.' "'Yes, we have to be in the office at half-past eight, and we have an hour for dinner, and then we go at it again till eight or nine.' "'Then you have not much time for reading?' "'No,' said I, with a sudden consciousness that I did not make the most of what leisure I had. No more have I. Father always gets an hour before going a field in the mornings,

but Mother does not like me to get up so early. My mother is always wanting me to get up earlier when I am at home. What time do you get up? Oh, sometimes half-past six, not often, though, for I remembered only twice that I had done so during the past summer. She turned her head and looked at me. Father is up at three, and so was me. mother till she was ill. I should like to be up at four. Your father up at three? Why, what has

he to do at that hour? What has he not to do? He has his private exercise in his own room. He always rings the great bell which calls the men to milking. He rouses up, Betty, our maid, as often as not he gives the horses their feed before the man is up. For Jem, who takes care of the horses is an old man, and father is always loath to disturb him. He looks at the calves and the shoulders, heels, traces, chaff, and corn, before the horses go afield. He has often to whip-cord the plough-wips. He sees the hogs fed, he looks into the swill-tubs, and writes his orders for what is wanted for food for man and beast,—yes, and for fuel, too. And then, if he has a bit of time to spare, he comes in and reads with me, but only English.

We keep Latin for the evenings, that we may have time to enjoy it. And then he can calls in the men to breakfast, and cuts the boys' bread and cheese, and sees their wooden bottles filled, and sends them off to their work. And by this time it is half-past six, and we have our breakfast. "'There is father!' she exclaimed, pointing out to me a man in his shirt-sleeves, taller by the head than the other two with whom he was working. We only saw him through the leaves of the ash-trees growing in the hedge, and I thought I must be confusing the figures, mistaken. That man still looked like a very powerful labourer, and had none of the precise

demureness of appearance which I had always imagined was the characteristic of a minister. It was the Reverend Ebene's a Holman, however. He gave us a nod as we entered this double-field, and I think he would have come to meet us, but that he was in the middle of giving some directions to his men. I could see that Phyllis was built more after his type than her mother's. He, like his daughter, was largely made, and of a fair round. ruddy complexion, whereas hers was brilliant and delicate. His hair had been yellow or sandy, but now was grizzled. Yet his grey hairs betokened no failure and strength. I never saw a more powerful man—deep chest, lean flanks, well-planted head. By this time we were nearly

up to him, and he interrupted himself and stepped forwards, holding out his hand to me, but addressing Phyllis. "'Well, my lass, this is Cousin Manning, I suppose. "'Wait a minute, young man, and I'll put on my coat, and give you a decorous and formal welcome.' "'But Ned Hall, there ought to be a water-forrow across this land. It's a nasty, stiff, clay, dauby bit of ground, and thou and I must fall, too, come next Monday.' "'I beg your pardon, cousin Manning. And there's old Jem's cottage wants a bit of fatch. You can do that job to-morrow while I am busy.'

Then, suddenly changing the tone of his deep-base voice to an odd suggestion of chapels and preachers, he added, "'Now I will give out the psalm, come all harmonious tongues, to be sung to Mount Eiff from tune.' He lifted his spade in his hand, and began to beat time with it. The two labourers seemed to know both words and music, though I did not, and so did Phyllis. Her rich voice followed her father's as he set the tune, and the men came in with more uncertainty, but still harmoniously.

Phyllis looked at me once or twice with a little surprise at my silence, but I did not know the words. There we five stood bareheaded, excepting Phyllis, in the tawny stubble-field, from which all the shocks of corn had not yet been carried, a dark wood on one side where the wood-pigeons were cooing, blue distance seen through the ash-trees on the other. Somehow I think that if I had known the words and could have sung, my throat would have been choked up by the feeling of the unaccustomed scene. The hymn was ended, and the men had drawn off before I could stir. I saw the minister beginning to put on his coat, and looking at me

with friendly inspection in his gaze before I could rouse myself. "'I dare say you railway, gentlemen, don't wind up the day with singing a psalm together,' said he. "'But it is not a bad practice. Not a bad practice. We have had it a bit earlier to-day for hospitality's sake, that's all." I had nothing particular to say to this, though I was thinking a great deal. From time to time I stole a look at my companion.

His coat was black, and so was his waistcoat. Neck-cloth he had none, his strong, full-throat being bare above the snow-white shirt. He wore drab-coloured knee-breeches, grey worsted stockings—I thought I knew the maker, and strong-nailed shoes. He carried his hat in his hand if he liked to feel the coming breeze lifting his hair.

After a while I saw that the father took hold of the daughter's hand, and so, they holding each other, went along towards home. We had to cross a lane. In it were two little children, one lying prone on the grass in a passion of crying, the other standing stock still with its finger in its mouth, the large tears slowly rolling down its cheeks for sympathy. The cause of their distress was evident. there was a broken brown pitcher and a little pool of spilt milk on the road.

"'Hallow, hello, what's all this?' said the minister. "'Why, what have you been about, Tommy?' Lifting the little petticoated lad, who was lying sobbing, with one vigorous arm. Tommy looked at him with surprise in his round eyes, but no affright. They were evidently old acquaintances. "'Mummy's jug!' said he at last, beginning to cry afresh. "'Well, and will crying, peace Mammy's jug or pick up spilled milk? How did you manage it, Tommy?' "'He?' jerking his head at the other. "'Amy was running races.'

"'Tommy said he could beat me,' put in the other. "'Now I wonder what will make you two silly lads mind, and not run races again with a pitcher of milk between you,' said the minister as if musing. "'I might flog you, and so save Mammy the trouble, for I dare say she'll do it if I don't.' The fresh burst of whimpering from both showed the probability of this. Or I might take you to the Hope Farm and give you some more milk, but then you'd be running races again, and my milk would follow that to the ground and make another white pool. I think the flogging would be best, don't you?'

"'We would never run races no more,' said the elder of the two. Then you'd not be boys. You'd be angels.' No, we shouldn't. Why not?' They looked into each other's eyes for an answer to this puzzling question. At length one said, "'Angles is dead folk.' "'Come, we'll not get too deep into theology. What do you think of my lending you a tin can with a lid to carry the milk home in?

That would not break at any rate, though I would not answer for the milk not spilling if you ran races. "'That's it!' He had dropped his daughter's hand, and now held out each of his to the little fellows. Phyllis and I followed, and listened to the prattle which the minister's companions now poured out to him, and which he was evidently enjoying. At a certain point there was a sudden burst of the tawny, ruddy evening landscape. The minister turned round and quoted a line or two of Latin. "'It's wonderful,' said he. how exactly Virgil has hit the enduring epithets nearly two thousand years ago and in Italy, and yet how it describes to a tea what is now lying before us in the parish of Heathbridge, England.

I dare say it does, said I, all aglow with shame, for I had forgotten the little Latin I ever knew. The minister shifted his eyes to Phyllis's face. It mutely gave him back the sympathetic appreciation that I, in my ignorance could not bestow. "'Oh, this is worse than the catechism,' thought I. That was only remembering words. "'Philis, lass, thou must go home with these lads, and tell their mother all about the race and the milk. Mammy must always know the truth.' "'Now, speaking to the children,

"'and tell her too from me that I have got the best birch-rod in the parish, and that if she ever thinks her children want a flogging, she must bring them to me, and if I think they deserve it I'll give them better than she can.' So Phyllis led the children towards the dairy, somewhere in the backyard, and I followed the minister in through the curate into the house-place. "'Their mother,' said he, "'is a bit of a vixen, and apt to punish her children without

rhyme or reason. I try to keep the parish rod as well as the parish bull.' He sat down in the three-cornered chair by the fireside, and looked about the empty room. "'Where's the missus?' said he. to himself. But she was there in a minute. It was her regular plan to give him his welcome home, by a look, by a touch, nothing more, as soon as she could after his return, and he had missed her now. Regardless of my presence, he went over the day's doings to her, and then getting up he said he must go and make himself reverend, and that then we would have a cup of tea

in the parlour. The parlour was a large room with two casemented windows on the other side of the broad-flagged passage, leading from the rector door to the wide staircase, with its shallow, polished oak in steps, on which no carpet was ever laid. The parlour floor was covered in the middle by a home-made carpeting of needle-work and list. One or two quaint family pictures of the home and family hung round the walls. The fire-grate and irons were much ornamented with brass, and on a table against the wall between the windows, a great bow-pot of flowers was placed upon the folio volumes of Matthew Henry's Bible. It was a compliment to me to use this room, and I tried to be grateful for it. But we never had our meals there after that first day, and I was glad of it. For the large house-place, living-room, dining-room, whichever you might like to call it, was twice as comfortable and cheerful. There was a rug in front of the great large fireplace, and an oven by the great,

and a crook, with the kettle hanging from it over the bright wood-fire. Everything that ought to be black and polished in that room was black and polished. and the flags and window-curtains and such things as were to be white and clean were just spotless in their purity. Opposite to the fireplace extending the whole length of the room was an oaken shovel-board, with the right incline for a skilful player to send the weights into the prescribed space. There were baskets of white-work about, and a small shelf of books hung against the wall, books used for reading, and not for propping up a bow-pot of flowers. I took down one or two of these books once I was left alone in the house-place on the first evening.

Virgil, Caesar, a Greek grammar. Oh, dear, ah me, and Phyllis Holman's name in each of them! I shut them up, and put them back in their places, and walked as far away from the book-shelf as I could. Yes, and I gave my cousin Phyllis a wide berth, as though she was sitting at her work quietly enough, and her hair was looking more golden, her dark eyelashes longer, her round pillar of a throat whiter than ever. We had done tea, and we had returned into the house-place that the minister might smoke his pipe without fear of contaminating the drab damask window-curtains of the parlour. He had made

himself reverend by putting on one of the voluminous white muslin neck-cloths that I had seen cousin Holman ironing that first visit I had paid to the Hope Farm, and by making one or two other unimportant changes in his dress. He sat looking at him. steadily at me, but whether he saw me or not I cannot tell. At the time I fancied that he did, and was gauging me in some unknown fashion in his secret mind. Every now and then he took his pipe out of his mouth, knocked out the ashes, and asked me some friendly question. As long as these related to my acquirements or my reading, I shuffled uneasily and did not know what to answer. By and by he got round to the more practical subject of railroads,

and on this I was more at home. i really had taken an interest in my work nor would mr holsworth indeed have kept me in his employment if i had not given my mind as well as my time to it and i was besides full of the difficulties which beset us just then owing to our not being able to find a steady bottom on the heathbridge moss over which we wished to carry our line In the midst of all my eagerness in speaking about this, I could not help being struck with the extreme pertinence of his questions. I do not mean that he did not show ignorance of many of the details of engineering, that was to have been expected. But on the premises he had got hold of, he thought clearly and reasoned logically. Phyllis, so like him as she was in both body and mind, kept stopping at her work and looking at me, trying to fully understand all that I said. I felt she did, and perhaps it made me take more pains in using clear expressions, and arranging my words than I otherwise should.

She shall see I know something worth knowing, though it mayn't be her dead and gone languages, thought I. "'I see,' said the minister at length. "'I understand at all. You've a clear good head of your own, my lad. Choose how you came by it.' "'From my father,' said I proudly. Have you not heard of his discovery of a new method of shunting? It was in the Gazette. It was patented. I thought every one had heard of Manning's patent-winch.

We don't know who invented the alphabet, said he, half smiling and taking up his pipe. No, I dare say not, sir, replied I, half offended. That's so long ago. Puff, puff, puff. But your father must be a notable man. I heard of him once for him once for. before, and it is not many a one fifty miles away whose fame reaches Heathbridge." "'My father is a notable man, sir. It is not me that says so. It is Mr. Holdsworth and—and everybody.'

"'He is right to stand up for his father,' said Cousin as if she were pleading for me. I chafed inwardly, thinking that my father needed no one to stand up for him. He was man sufficient for himself. "'Yes, he is right,' said the minister placidly. "'Right, because it comes from his heart. Right, too, as I believe, in point of fact. Else there is many a young cockerel that will stand upon a dung-hill and crow about his father, by way of making his own plumage to shine.

"'I should like to know thy father,' he went on, turning straight to me with a kindly frank look in his eyes. But I was vexed and would take no notice. Presently, having finished his pipe, he got up and left the room. Phyllis put her work hastily down, and went after him. In a minute or two she returned and sat down again. Not long after, and before I had quite recovered my good temper, he opened the door out of which he had passed, and called to me to come to him. I went across a narrow stone passage into a strange many-cornered room,

not ten feet in area, part study, part counting-house, looking into the farm-yard. with a desk to sit at, a desk to stand at, a spittoon, a set of shelves with old divinity books upon them, another smaller, filled with books on farry, farming, manures and such subjects, with pieces of paper containing memoranda stuck against the white-washed walls with wafers, nails, pins, anything that came readiest to hand, a box of carpenter's tools on the floor, and some manuscripts in shorthand on the desk. He turned round, half laughing. "'That foolish girl of mine thinks I have vexed you,'

putting his large, powerful hand on my shoulder. "'Nay,' says I, kindly meant is kindly taken. Is it not so?' "'It was not quite, sir,' replied I, vanquished by his manner. But it shall be in future. "'Come, that's right. You and I shall be friends. Indeed, it's not many a one I would bring in here. But I was reading a book this morning, and I could not make it out.

It is a book that was left here by mistake one day. I had subscribed to Brother Robinson's sermons, and I was glad to see this instead of them. The sermons, though they be—there—well, never mind. I took them both, and made my old coat do a bit longer. But all's fish that comes to my net. I have fewer books than leisure to read them, and I have a prodigious big appetite. it is?" It was a volume of stiff mechanics, involving many technical terms, and some rather deep

mathematics. These last, which would have puzzled me, seemed easy enough to him. All that he wanted was the explanations of the technical words, which I could easily give. While he was looking through the book to find the places where he had been puzzled, my wondering eye caught on some of the papers on the wall, and I could not help reading one, which is stuck by me ever since. At first it seemed a kind of weekly diary, but then I saw that the seven days were portioned out for special prayers and intercessions— Monday for his family, Tuesday for enemies, Wednesday for the independent churches, Thursday for all other churches, Friday for persons afflicted, Saturday for his own soul, Sunday for all wanderers and sinners, that they might be brought

home to the fold. We were called back into the house-place to have supper. A door opening into the kitchen was opened, and all stood up in both rooms, while the minister, tall, large, one hand resting on the spread table, the other lifted up, said in the deep voice that would have been loud had it not been so full and rich, but without the peculiar accent or twang that I believe is considered devout by some people, "'Whether we eat or drink, and whatsoever we do, let us do all to the glory of God!' The supper was an immense meat-pie. We of the house-place were helped first. Then the minister hit the handle of his buck-horn carving-knife on the table once, and said,

Now or never! Which meant, did any of us want any more? And when we had all declined, either by silence or by words, he knocked twice with his knife on the table, and Betty came in through the open door, and carried off the great dish to the kitchen, where an old man and a young one and a help-girl were awaiting their meal. "'Shot the door, if you will,' said the minister to Betty. "'That's in honour of you,' said Cousin Holman, in a tone of satisfaction as the door was shut. "'When we've no stranger with us, the minister is so fond of keeping the door open, and talking to the men and maids, just as much as to Phyllis and me.' "'It brings us all together like a household just before we meet as a household in prayer,' said he in explanation. "'But to go back to what we were talking about,

can you tell me of any simple book on dynamics that I could put in my pocket, and study a little at leisure times in the day?' "'Leasure times, father,' said Phyllis, with a nearer approach to a smile than I had yet seen on her face. "'Yes, leisure-times, daughter. There is many an odd minute lost in waiting for other folk, and now that railroads are coming so near us, it behoves us to know something about them.' I thought of his own description of his prodigious big appetite for learning. and he had a good appetite of his own for the more material victual before him. But I saw, or fancied I saw, that he had some rule for himself in the matter of both of food and drink. As soon as supper was done the household assembled for prayer. It was a long impromptu evening prayer,

and it would have seemed desultory enough had I not had a glimpse of the kind of day that preceded it, and so been able to find a clue to the thought that preceded the disjointed utterances, for he kept there kneeling down in the centre of a circle, his eyes shut, his outstretched hands pressed palm to palm, sometimes with a long pause of silence was anything he wished to lay before the Lord, to use his own expression, before he concluded with the blessing. He prayed for the cattle and live creatures, rather to my surprise, for my attention had begun to wonder till it was recalled by the familiar words. And here I must not forget to name an odd incident at the

conclusion of the prayer, and before we had risen from our knees, indeed before Betty was well awake, for she made a practice of having a sound nap, her weary head lying on her stalwart arms. The minister, still kneeling in our midst, but with his eyes wide open, and his arms dropped by his side, spoke to the elder man, who turned round on his knees to attend. John didst see that Daisy had her warm mash to-night, for we must not neglect the means, John, two quarts of gruel, a spoonful of ginger, and a jill of beer. The poor beast needs it, and I fear it slipped out of my mind to tell thee. And here was I asking a blessing and neglecting the means, which is a mockery," said he, dropping his voice.

Before we went to bed, he told me he should see little or nothing more of me during my visit, which was to end on Sunday evening, as he always gave up both Saturday and Sabbath to his work in the ministry. that the landlord at the inn had told me this on the day when I first inquired about these new relations of mine, and I did not dislike the opportunity which I saw would be afforded me of becoming more acquainted with Couson Holman and Phyllis, though I earnestly hoped that the latter would not attack me on the subject of the dead languages. I went to bed, and dreamed that I was as tall as Cousin Phyllis, and had a sudden and miraculous

growth of whisker, and a still more miraculous acquaintance with Latin and Greek. Alas, I wakened up still a short, beardless lad, with a tempest fugit for my sole remembrance of the little Latin I had once learnt. While I was dressing, a bright thought came over me. I could question Cousan Phyllis, instead of her questioning me, and so managed to keep the choice of the subjects of conversation in my own power. Early as it was, every one had breakfasted, and my basin of bread and milk was put on the oven-top to await my coming down.

Everyone was gone about their work. The first to come into the house-place was Phyllis with a basket of eggs. Faithful to my resolution, I asked, "'What are those?' She looked at me for a moment, and then said gravely, "'Petatoes.' "'No, they are not,' said I. "'They are eggs. What do you mean by saying they are potatoes?' "'What do you mean by asking me what they were when they were plain to be seen?'

retorted she. We were both getting a little angry with each other. "'I don't know. I wanted to begin to talk to you, and I was afraid you would talk to me about books as you did yesterday. I have not read much, and you and the minister have read so much.' "'I have not,' said she. "'But you are our guest, and mother says I must make it pleasant to you. We won't talk of books. What must we talk about?' "'I don't know.' How old are you?' Seventeen last May. How old are you?" "'I am nineteen—older than you by nearly two years,' said I, drawing myself up to my full height. "'I should not have thought you were above sixteen,' she replied, as quietly as if she were not

saying the most provoking thing she possibly could. Then came a pause. "'What are you going to do now?' asked I. "'I should be dusting the bedchambers, but Mother said I had better stay and make it pleasant to you," said she, a little plaintively, as if dusting rooms, was far the easiest task. "'Will you take me to see the livestock? I like animals, though I don't know much about them.' "'Oh, do you? I am so glad. I was afraid you would not like animals, as you did not like books.' I wondered why she said this. I think it was because she had begun to fancy all our tastes must be dissimilar. We went together all through the farmyard. We fed the poultry.

she kneeling down with her pinafore full of corn and meal and tempting the little timid downy chickens upon it much to the anxiety of the fussy ruffled hen their mother she called to the pigeons who fluttered down at the sound of her voice she and i examined the great sleek cart-horses sympathised in our dislike of pigs fed the calves coaxed the sick cow daisy and admired the others out at pasture and came back tired and hungry and dirty at dinner-time having quite forgotten that there were such things as dead languages and consequently capital friends and of section two section three of cousin phyllis this librivovok's recording is in the public domain recording by elizabeth clutt cousin phyllis by elizabeth gaskell part two section one cousin homin gave me the weekly county newspaper to read aloud to her while she mended stockings out of a high piled-up basket, Phyllis helping her mother. I read and read, unregardful of the words I was uttering, thinking of all manner of other things, of the bright colour of Phyllis's hair, as the afternoon sun fell on her bending head, of the silence of the house, which enabled me to hear the double tick of the old clock which

stood half-way up the stairs, of the variety of inarticulate noise. which Cousin Holman made while I read, to show her sympathy, wonder, or horror at the newspaper intelligence. The tranquil monotony of the hour made me feel as if I had lived forever, and should live forever droning out paragraphs in that warm, sunny room, with my two quiet hearers, and the curled-up pussy-cat leaping on the hear-rug, and the clock on the house-stairs perpetually clicking out the passage of the moments. By and by, Betty the servant came to the door into the kitchen, and made a sign to Phyllis, who put her half-mended stocking down, and went away to the kitchen without a word. Looking at Cousin home in a minute or two

afterwards, I saw that she had dropped her chin upon her breast and fallen fast asleep. I put the newspaper down, and was nearly following her example, when a waft of air from some unseen source, slightly opened the door of a communication with the kitchen. That Phyllis must have left unfastened. And I saw part of her figure as she sat by the dresser, peeling apples with quick dexterity of finger, but with repeated turnings of her head toward some book lying on the dresser by her. I softly rose, and as softly went into the kitchen, and looked over her shoulder. Before she was aware of my neighbourhood, I had seen that the book was in a language unknown to me, and the running title was, Laferno.

Just as I was making out the relationship of this word to infernal, she started and turned round, and as if continuing her thought as she spoke, she sighed out. Oh, it is so difficult, can you help me? Putting her finger below a line. Me? I. I don't even know what language it is in. Don't you see it is Dante? she replied almost petulantly she did so want help italian then said i dubiously for i was not quite sure

yes and i do so want to make it out father can help me a little for he knows latin but then he has so little time you have not much i should think if you have often to try and do two things at once as you are doing now oh that's nothing father bought a heap of old books cheap and i knew something about dante before and i have always liked virgil so much peering apples is nothing if i could only make out this old italian i wish you knew it i wish i did said i moved by her impetuosity of tone if now only mr holsworth were here he can speak italian like anything i believe "'Who is Mr. Holdsworth?' said Phyllis, looking up. "'Oh, he's our head engineer. He's a regular first-rate fellow. He can do anything.' "'My hero-worship and my pride in my chief all coming into play. Besides, if I was not clever and book-learned myself, it was something to belong to someone who was.' "'How is it that he speaks Italian?' asked Phyllis.

"'He had to make a railway through Piedmont, which is in Italy. I believe, and he had to talk to all the workmen in Italian. And I have heard him say that for nearly two years he had only Italian books to read in the queer outlandish places he was in." "'Oh, dear,' said Phyllis. "'I wish.' And then she stopped. I was not quite sure whether to say the next thing that came into my head, but I said it. "'Could I ask him anything about your book, or your difficulties?'

She was silent for a minute or so, and then she made reply. "'No, I think not. Thank you very much, though. I can generally puzzle a thing out in time. And then, perhaps, I remember it better than if someone had helped me. I'll put it away now, and you must move off, for I've got to make the paste for the pies. We always have a cold dinner on Sabbaths.' "'But I may stay and help you, may, and I?' "'Oh, yes. Not that you can help at all, but I like to have you with me. I was both flattered and annoyed at this straightforward vowel.

I was pleased that she liked me. But I was young coxcomb enough to have wished to play the lover, and I was quite wise enough to perceive that if she had any idea of the kind in her head, she would never have spoken out so frankly. I comforted myself immediately, however, by finding out that the grapes were sour. A great tall girl in a pinafore, half a head taller than I was, reading books that i had never heard of and talking about them too as of far more interest than any mere personal subjects that was the last day on which i ever thought of my dear cousin phyllis as the possible mistress of my heart and life but we were all the greater friends for this idea being utterly put away and buried out of sight late in the evening the minister came home from hornby he had been calling on the different members of his flock and unsatisfactory work it had proved to him

him. It seemed from the fragments that dropped out of his thoughts into his talk. "'I don't see the men. They are all at their business, their shops, or their warehouses. They ought to be there. I have no fault to find with them. Only if a pastor's teaching or words of admonition are good for anything, they are needed by the men as much as by the women.' "'Can ought you go and see them in their places of business, and remind them of their Christian privileges and duties, minister?' asked Cousin. Holman, who evidently thought that her husband's words could never be out of place." "'No,' said he, shaking his head.

"'I judge them myself. If there are clouds in the sky, and I am getting in the hay just ready for loading, and rain sure to come in the night, I should look ill upon Brother Robinson if he came into the field to speak about serious things.' "'But at any rate, father, you do good to the women.' And perhaps they repeat would you have said to them to their husbands and children?' It is to be hoped they do, for I cannot reach the men directly, but the women are apt to tarry before common to me, to put on ribbons and gourds. As if they could hear the message a bear to them best in their smart clothes. Mrs. Dobson to-day. Phyllis, I am thankful thou dost not care for the vanities of dress." Phyllis reddened a little, as she said, in a low, humble voice.

"'But I do, father, I am afraid. I often wish I could wear pretty-coloured. ribbons round my throat like the squire's daughters. "'It's but natural minister,' said his wife. "'I'm not above liking a silk gown better than a cotton one myself.' "'The love of dress is a temptation and a snare,' said he gravely. "'The true adornment is a meek and quiet spirit.' "'And wife,' said he as a sudden thought crossed his mind. in that matter too i have sinned i wanted to ask you could we not sleep in the grey room instead of our own sleep in the grey room change our room at this time a day cousin holman asked in dismay

yes said he it would save me from a daily temptation to anger look at my chin he continued i cut it this morning i cut it on wednesday when i was shaving i do not know how many times i have caught it of late and all from impatience at seeing timothy cooper in his work in the yard he's a downright lazy tyke said cousin holman he's not worth his wage there's but little he can do and what he can do he does badly true said the minister he is but so to speak a half-wit and yet he has got a wife and children more shame for him but that has passed a change and if i turn him off no one else will take him on yet i cannot help watching him of a more morning as he goes sauntering about his work in the yard, and I watch and I watch, till the old Adam rises strong within me at his lazy ways, and some day I am afraid I shall go down and send him about his business, let alone the way in which he makes me cut myself when I am shaving, and that his wife and children will starve. I wish we could move to the grey room."

I do not remember much more of my first visit to the Hope Farm. We went to chapel in Heathbridge, Slowly and decorously walking along the lanes, ruddy and tawny with the colouring of the coming autumn. The minister walked a little before us, his hands behind his back, his head bent down, thinking about the discourse to be delivered to the people, Cousin Holman said. And we spoke low and quietly, in order not to interrupt his thoughts. But I could not help noticing the respectful greetings which he received from both rich and poor as we went along. greetings which he acknowledged with the kindly wave of his hand but with no words of reply as we drew near the town i could see some of the young fellows who met cast admiring looks on phyllis and that made me look too she had on a white gown and a short black silk cloak according to the fashion of the day a straw bonnet with brown ribbon strings that was all but what her dress wanted in colour her sweetly her sweetly

Bonnie face had. The walk made her cheeks bloom like the rose. The very whites of her eyes had a blue tinge in them, and to dark eye-lashes brought out the depths of the blue eyes themselves. Her yellow hair was put away as straight as its natural curliness would allow. If she did not perceive the admiration she excited, I am sure Cousin Holman did, for she looked as fierce and as proud as ever her quiet face could look, guarding her treasure, and yet glad to perceive that others could see that it was a treasure. That afternoon I had to return to Eltham to be ready for the next day's work. I found out afterwards that the minister and his family were all exercised in spirit as to whether they did well in asking me to repeat my visits at the Hope Farm,

seeing that of necessity I must return to Eltham on the Sabbath day. However, they did go on asking me, and I went on visiting them, whenever my other engagements permitted me, Mr. Holdsworth, being in this case, as in all, a kind and indulgent friend. Nor did my new acquaintances oust him from my strong regard and admiration. I had room in my heart for all, I am happy to say, and as far as I can remember, I kept praising each to the other in a manner which, if I had been an older man, living more amongst people of the world, I should have thought unwise, as well as a little ridiculous. It was unwise, certainly, as it was almost sure to cause disappointment if ever they did become acquainted, and, perhaps it was ridiculous, though I do not think we any of us

thought it so at the time. The minister used to listen to my account of Mr. Holdsworth's many accomplishments and various adventures in travel, with the truest interest, and most kindly good faith. And Mr. Holdsworth, and return, liked to hear about my visits to the farm, and description of my cousin's life there. Liked it, I mean as much as he liked anything that was merely narrative, without leading to action. So I went to the farm, certainly, on an average, once a month, during that autumn. The course of life there was so peaceful and quiet, that I can only remember one small event, and that was one that I think I took more notice of than anyone else. Phyllis left off wearing the pinafores that had been so obnoxious to me. I do not know why they were

banished, but on one of my visits I found them replaced by pretty linen aprons in the morning, and a black silk one in the afternoon. And the blue cotton gown became a brown stuff one as winter drew on. This sounds like some book I once read, in which a migration from the blue bed to the brown was spoken of as a great family event. Towards Christmas my dear father came to see me, and to consult Mr. Holdsworth about the improvement which has since been known as Manning's driving-wheel. Mr. Holdsworth, as I think I have before said, had a very great regard for my father, who had been employed in the same great machine-shop in which Mr. Holdsworth had served his apprenticeship, and he and my father had many mutual jokes about one

of these gentlemen apprentices, who used to set about his smith's work in the white-washed leather gloves, for fear of spoiling his hands. Mr. Holdsworth often spoke to me about my father as having the same kind of genius for mechanical invention. as that of George Stevenson, and my father had come over now to consult him about several improvements, as well as an offer of partnership. It was a great pleasure to me to see the mutual regard of these two men. Mr. Holdsworth, young, handsome, keen, well-dressed, an object of admiration to all the youth of Eltham. My father, in his decent but unfashionable Sunday clothes, his plain, sensible face full of hard lines, the marks of toil and thought. His hands, blackened beyond the power of soap and water by years of labour in the foundry,

speaking a strong northern dialect, while Mr. Holdsworth had a long, soft drawl in his voice, as many of the Southerners have, and was reckoned in Eltham to give himself airs. Although most of my father's leisure time was occupied with conversations about the business I have mentioned, he felt that he ought not to leave Elton without going to pay his respects to the relations who had been so kind to his son. So he and I ran up on an engine along the incomplete line as far as Heathbridge, and went by invitation to spend a day at the farm. It was odd and pleasant to me to perceive how these two men, each having led up to this point such totally dissimilar lives, seemed to come together by instinct, after one quiet, straight look into each other's faces. My father was a thin, wiry man of five-foot-seven. The minister was a broad-shouldered, fresh-coloured man. of six foot one. They were neither of them great talkers in general, perhaps the minister the most

so, but they spoke much to each other. My father went into the fields with the minister, I think I see him now with his hands behind his back, listening intently to all explanations of tillage, and the different processes of farming, occasionally taking up an implement as if unconsciously, and examining it with a critical eye, and now and then asking a question which I could see was considered as pertinent by his companion. Then we returned to look at the cattle, housed and bedded in expectation of the snowstorm hanging black on the western horizon, and my father learned the points of a cow with as much attention as if he meant to turn farmer. He had his little book that he used for mechanical memoranda and measurements in his pocket, and he drew it out

to write down straight back, small muzzle, deep barrel, and I know not what else, under the head, cow. He was very critical on a turnip-cutting machine, the clumsiness of which first incited him to talk, and when we went into the house he sat thinking and quiet for a bit, while Phyllis and her mother made the last preparations for tea, with a little unheeded apology from Cousin Holman, because we were not sitting in the best parlour, which she thought might be chilly on so cold a night. I wanted nothing better than the blazing, crackling fire that sent a glow over all the house-place, and warmed the snowy flags under our feet till they seemed to have more heat than the crimson rug right in front of the fire. After tea, as Phyllis and I were talking together very happily,

I had an irrepressible exclamation from Cousin Holman. "'What ever is the man about?' And on looking round, I saw my father taking a straight burning stick out of the fire, and after waiting for a minute and examining the chard-end to see if it was fitted for his purpose, he went to the wood-dresser, scoured the last pitch of whiteness and cleanliness, and began drawing with the stick, the best substitute for chalk and charcoal within his reach, for his pocket-book pencil was not strong or bold enough for his purpose. When he had done, he began to explain his new model of a turnip-cutting-machine to the minister, who had been watching him in silence all the time. Cousin Holman had, in the meantime, taken a duster out of the drawer, and under pretence of being as much in interested as her husband in the drawing, was secretly trying on an outside mark how easily it would come off, and whether it would leave her dresser as white as before. Then Phyllis was sent for the book on dynamics about which I had been consulted during my first

visit, and my father had to explain many difficulties, which he did in language as clear to his mind, making drawings with his stick wherever they were needed as illustrations, the minister sitting with his massive head resting on his hands, his elbows on the table, and he was almost unconscious of phyllis leaning over and listening greedily with her hand on his shoulder sucking in information like her father's own daughter i was rather sorry for cousin holman i'd been so once or twice before for do as she would she was completely unable even to understand the pleasure her husband and daughter took an intellectual pursuits much less to care in the least herself for the pursuits themselves and was thus unavoidably thrown out of some of their interests i had once or twice thought she was a little jealous of her own child, as a fitter companion for her husband than she was herself, and I fancied the minister himself as aware of this feeling, for I had noticed an occasional sudden change of subject, and a tenderness of appeal in his voice as he spoke to her,

which always made her look contented and peaceful again. I do not think that Phyllis ever perceived these little shadows. In the first place, she had such complete reverence for her parents that She listened to them both as if they had been St. Peter and St. Paul. And besides, she was always too much engrossed with any matter in hand to think about other people's manners and looks. This night I could see, though she did not, how much he was winning on my father. She asked a few questions which showed that she had followed his explanations up to that point. Possibly, too, her unusual beauty might have something to do with his favourable impression of her. But he made no scruple of expressing his admiration of her to her father and mother in her absence

from the room, and from that evening I date a project of his which came out to me a day or two afterwards, as we sat in my little three-cornered room in Eltham." "'Paul?' he began. "'I never thought to be a rich man, but I think it's coming upon me. Some folk are making a deal of my new machine—calling it by its technical name, and Ellison of the Borough Green works has gone so far as to ask me to be his partner.' "'Mr. Ellison, the Justice, who lives in King Street? "'Why, he drives his carriage,' said I, doubting yet exultant.

"'I, lad, John Ellison. But that's no sign that I shall drive my carriage. Though I should like to say of thy mother walking, for she's not so young as she was. But that's a long way off. Anyhow, I reckon I should start with a third profit. It might be seven hundred, or it might be more. I should like to have the power to work out some fancies of mine. I care for that much more than for brass.

And Ellison has no lads, and by nature the business would come to thee in the course of time. Ellison's lasses are but bits of things, and are not like to come by husbands just yet, and when they do, maybe they'll not be in the mechanical line. It'll be an opening for thee, lad, if thou art steady. Thar not great shakes, I know, in the inventing line, but many a one gets on better without having fancies for something he does not see and never has seen. I am right down glad to see that mother's cousins are such uncommon folk for sense and goodness. I have taken the minister to my heart like a brother, and she is a womanly, quiet sort of a body. And I'll tell you, Frank, Paul, it'll be a happy day

for me, if ever you can come and tell me that Phyllis Holman is like to be my daughter. I think if that lass is not a penny, she would be the making of a man, and she'll have your house and lands, and you may be her match yet in fortune, if all goes well. I was growing as red as fire. I did not know what to say. And yet I wanted to say something. thing. But the idea of having a wife of my own at some future day, though it had often floated about in my head, sounded so strange when it was thus first spoken about by my father. He saw my confusion, and half smiling, said, "'Well, lad, what dost say to the old father's plans? Thou art but young, to be sure, but when I was thy age I would have given my right hand

if I might have thought of the chance of wedding the lass I cared for.' "'My mother?' asked I, a little struck. by the change of his tone of voice. "'No, not thy mother. Thy mother is a very good woman, none better. No, the last I cared for at nineteen never knew how I loved her, and a year or two after, and she was dead, and ne'er knew. I think she would have been glad to have known it, poor Molly.

But I had to leave the place where he lived to try and earn my bread, and are meant to come back, but wherever I did, she was dead and gone. I had never gone there since. But if you fancy Phyllis Holman and get her to fancy you, my lad, it'll go different with you, Paul, to what it did with your father.' I took counsel with myself very rapidly, and I came to a clear conclusion. "'Father,' said I, "'if I fancied Phyllis ever so much, she would never fancy me. I like her as much as I could like a sister, and she likes me as if I were her brother, her younger brother.' I could see my father's countenance fall a little.

You see, she's so clever. She's more like a man than a woman. She knows Latin and Greek. She'd forget him if she'd had a house full of children, was my father's comment on this. But she knows many a thing besides, and is wise as well as learned. She has been so much with her father.

She would never think much of me, and I should like my wife to think a deal of her husband. "'It is not just book-learning, or the want of it, as makes a wife think much or little of her husband,' replied my father, evidently unwilling to give up a project which had taken deep root in his mind. "'It's a-something I don't rightly know how to call it, if he's manly and sensible and straightforward. And I reckon you're that, my boy.' "'I don't think I should like to have a wife taller than I am, father,' said I, smiling. He smiled, too, but not heartily. "'Well,' said he after a pause,

"'it's but a few days have been thinking of it, "'but had got as fond of my notion "'as if it had been a new engine as I'd been planning out. "'Here's our poor, I thinks to myself, "'a good sensible breed a lad, "'as has never vexed or troubled his mother or me, "'with a good business opening out before him, "'age nineteen, not so bad-looking,

"'though, perhaps not to call handsome, "'and here's his cousin, Not too near, cousin, but just nice, as one may say, age seventeen, good and true, and well brought up to work with her hands as well as her head. A scholar, but that can't be helped, and is more her misfortune than her fault, seeing she is the only child of a scholar, and as I said afore, once she's a wife and all she'll forget it, I'll be bound, with a good fortune in land and host when it shall please the Lord to make her parents to himself, with eyes like poor Molly's for beauty, a colour that comes

and goes on a milk-white skin, and as pretty a mouth. "'Why, Mr. Manning, what fair lady are you describing?' asked Mr. Holdsworth, who had come quickly and suddenly upon Artet-Artet, and had caught my father's last words as he entered the room. Both my father and I felt rather abashed. It was such an odd subject for us to be talking about. But my father, like a straightforward, simple man as he was, spoke out the truth. I've been telling Paul of Ellison's offer, and saying how good an opening it made for him. "'I wish I'd as good,' said Mr. Holdsworth.

"'But has the business a pretty mouth?' "'You're always so full of your joking, Mr. Holdsworth,' said my father. "'I was going to say that if he and his cousin Phyllis Holman liked to make it up between them, I would put no spoke in their wheel.' "'Philus Holman?' said Mr. Holdsworth. Is she the daughter of the Minister Farmer out at Heathbridge? Have I been helping on the course of true love by letting you go there so often? I knew nothing of it.

There is nothing to know, said I, more annoyed than I chose to show. There is no more true love in the case than may be between the first brother and sister you may choose to meet. I have been telling father she would never think of me. She's a great deal taller and cleverer, and I'd rather be taller and more learned than my wife. wife and I have one." "'And it is she, then, that has the pretty mouth your father spoke about. I should think that would be an antidote to the cleverness and learning. But I ought to apologise for breaking in upon you last night.

I came upon business to your father.' And then he and my father began to talk about many things that had no interest for me just then, and I began to go over again my conversation with my father. The more I thought about it, the more I felt that I had spoken truly about it, and I had my feelings towards Phyllis Holman. I loved her dearly as a sister, but I could never fancy her as my wife. Still less could I ever think of her—yes, condescending, that is the word. Condescending to marry me! I was roused from a reverie on what I should like to think my possible wife to be, by hearing my father's warm praise of the minister as a most unusual

character. How they had got back from the diameter of driving wheels to the subject of the Holman's I could never tell, but I saw that my father's weighty praises were exciting some curiosity in Mr. Holdsworth's mind. Indeed, he said almost in a voice of reproach. Why, Paul, you never told me what kind of a fellow this minister-cousin of yours was. I don't know that I found out, sir, said I. But if I had, I don't think you'd have listened to me as you've done to my father. No, most likely not, old fellow, replied Mr. Holds-Wurtswere. laughing. And again and afresh I saw what a handsome, pleasant, clear face his was, and

though this evening I had been a bit put out with him, through his sudden coming, and his having heard my father's open-hearted confidence, my hero resumed all his empire over me by his bright, merry laugh. And if he had not resumed his old place that night, he would have done so the next day, when, after my father's departure, Mr. Holdsworth spoke about him with just such respect for his character, such ungrudging admiration of his great mechanical genius, that I was compelled to say, almost unawares. Thank you, sir. I am very much obliged to you.

Oh, you're not at all. I am only speaking the truth. He is a Birmingham workman, self-educated, one may say, having never associated with stimulating minds, or had what advantages travel and contact with the world may be supposed to afford, working out his own thoughts into steel and iron, making a scientific name for himself, a fortune if it pleases him to work for money, and keeping his singleness of heart, his perfect simplicity of manner. It puts me out of patience to think of my expensive schooling, my travels hither and thither, my heaps of scientific books, and I have done nothing to speak of.

But it's evidently good blood. There's that Mr. Holman, that cousin of yours, made of the same stuff. But he's only cousin because he married my mother's second cousin, said I. "'That knocks a pretty theory on the head, and twice over, too. I should like to make Holman's acquaintance.' "'I am sure they would be glad to see you at Hope Farm,' said I eagerly. "'In fact they've asked me to bring you several times, only I thought she would find it dull.' "'Not at all. I can't go yet, though, even if you do get me an invitation. For the Blank Company wants me go to the blank valley, and look over the ground a bit for them,

to see if it would do for a branch line.' It's a job which may take me away for some time, but I shall be backwards and forwards, and you're quite up to doing what is needed in my absence. The only work that may be beyond you is keeping old Jeevans from drinking." He went on, giving me directions about the management of the men employed on the line, and no more was said then, or for several months about his going up to Hope Farm. He went off into Blank Valley, a dark, overshadowed dale, where the sun seemed to set behind the hills before four o'clock on mid-fam. summer afternoon. Perhaps it was this that brought on the attack of low fever which he

had soon after the beginning of the new year. He was very ill for many weeks, almost many months. A married sister, his only relation, I think, came down from London to nurse him. And I went over to him when I could to see him, and give him masculine news, as he called it, reports of the progress of the line, which I am glad to say I was able to carry on in his absence, in the slow, gradual way which suited the company best, while trade was in a languid state and money dear in the market. Of course, with this occupation for my scanty leisure, I did not often go over to Hope Farm. Whenever I did go, I met with a thorough welcome, and many inquiries were made as to Holdsworth's illness, and the progress of his recovery.

End of Section 3. Section 4 of Cousin Phyllis. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Elizabeth Clutt. Cousin Phyllis by Elizabeth Gascoe. Part 2, Section 2. At length, in June, I think it was, he was sufficiently recovered to come back to his lodgings at Eltham, and to resume part, at least, of his work. His sister, Mrs. Robinson, had been obliged to leave him some weeks before, owing to some epidemic amongst her own children. As long as I had seen Mr. Holdsworth in the rooms at the Little Inn at Hensley-Dale, where I had been accustomed to look upon him as an invalid, I had not been aware of the visible shake his fever had given to his health. But, once back in the old lodgings where I had always seen him so buoyant, eloquent, decided, and vigorous in former days, my spirit sank at the change in one whom I had always regarded with a strong feeling of admiring affection. He sank into silence and despond after the least exertion, he seemed as if he could not make up his mind to any action, or else that, when it was made up, he lacked strength to carry out his purpose. Of course it was but

the natural state of slow convalescence, after so sharp and illness. But at the time I did not know this, and perhaps I represented his state as more serious than it was to my kind relations at Hope Farm, who in their grave, simple, eager way, immediately thought of the only help they could give. "'Bring him out here,' said the minister. "'Our air here is good to a proverb. The June days are fine. He may loiter away his time in the hay-field, and the sweet smells will be a balm in themselves,

better than physic.' "'And?' said Cousin, scarcely waiting for her husband to finish his sentence. Tell him there is new milk and fresh eggs to be had for the asking. It's lucky daisy is just carved, for her milk is always as good. as other cows cream, and there is the plaid room with the morning sun all streaming in." Phyllis said nothing, but looked as much interested in the project as any one. I took it upon myself. I wanted them to see him, him to know them. I proposed it to him when I got home. He was too languid after the day's fatigue to be willing to make the little

exertion of going amongst strangers, and disappointed me almost by declining to accept the invitation I brought. The next morning it was different. He apologised for his ungraciousness of the night before, and told me that he would get all things in train, so as to be ready to go out with me to Hope Farm on the following Saturday. "'For you must go with me, Manning,' said he. "'I used to be as impudent a fellow as need be, and rather liked going amongst strangers and making my way. But since my illness I am almost like a girl, and turn hot and cold with shyness as they do, I fancy. So it was fixed. We were to go out to Hope Farm on Saturday afternoon, and it was also understood that if the air in the life suited Mr. Holdsworth, he was to remain there for

a week or ten days, doing what work he could at the end of the line, while I took his place at Eltham to the best of my ability. I grew a little nervous, as the time drew near, and wondered how the brilliant Holdsworth would agree with the quiet, quaint family of the minister—how they would like him, and many of his half-foreign ways. I tried to prepare him by telling him from time to time little things about the goings on at Hope Farm. "'Manning,' said he, "'I see you don't think I am half good enough for your friends. Out with it, man?' "'No,' I replied boldly. "'I think you are good, but I don't know if you are quite their kind of goodness.' "'And you've found out already that there is a greater chance of disagreement between two kinds of

goodness, each having its own idea of right, then between the given goodness and a moderate degree of naughtiness, which last often arises from an indifference to write." "'I don't know. I think you're talking metaphysics, and I am sure that is bad for you.' Whenever a man talks to you in a way that you don't understand about a thing which he does not understand, them's metaphysics. You remember the clown's definition, don't you, Manning?" "'No, I don't. said I. But what I do understand is that you must go to bed and tell me at what time we must start to-morrow, that I may go into Hepworth and get those letters written we were talking

about this morning. "'Wait till to-morrow, and let us see what the day is like,' he answered, with such languid indecision as showed me he was over-fatigued. So I went my way. The morrow was blue and sunny and beautiful, the very perfection of an early summer's day. Mr. Holdsworth was all impatience to be off into the country, morning had brought back his freshness and strength, and consequent eagerness to be doing. I was afraid we were going to my cousin's farm rather too early before they would expect us, but what could I do with such a restless, vehement man as Holesworth was that morning? We came down upon the Hope farm before the dew was off the grass on the shady side of the lane. The great house-dog was loose, basking in the sun near the closed-side door.

I was surprised at this door being shut, for all summer long it was open from morning to night, but it was only on latch. I opened it, Rover watching me with half suspicious, half-trustful eyes. The room was empty. "'I don't know where they can be,' said I. "'But come in and sit down while I go and look for them. You must be tired.' "'Not I. This sweet, balmy air is like a thousand tonics. Besides, this room is hot and smells of those pungent wood-ashes. What are we to do?" Go round to the kitchen. Betty will tell us where they are."

So we went round into the farm-yard, rover accompanying us out of grave sense of duty. Betty was washing out her milk-pans in the cold, bubbling spring-water that constantly trickled in and out of a stone trough. In such weather is this most of her kitchen work was done out of doors. "'Ehe, dear,' said she, "'the minister and Mrs. is away at Hornby. They never thought of you coming sober times. The missus had some errands to do, and she thought as she'd walk with the minister and be back by dinner-time." "'Did they not expect us to dinner?' said I.

"'Well, they did, and they did not, as I say. Mrs. said to me the cold lamb would do well enough if he did not come, and if he did it was to put on a chicken and some bacon to boil, and I'll go do it now, for it is hard enough to boil bacon.' "'And is Phyllis gone, too?' Mr. Holdsworth was making friends with Rover. "'Nor, she's just somewhere about. I'll reckon you'll find her in the kitchen-garden getting peas.' "'Let's go there,' said Holdsworth, suddenly leaving off his play with the dog.

"'So I led the way into the kitchen garden. It was in the first promise of a summer profuse and vegetables and fruits. Perhaps it was not so much cared for as other parts of the property, but it was more attended to than most kitchen gardens belonging to farmhouses. There were borders of flowers along each side of the gravel walks, and there was an old sheltering wall on the north side covered with tolerably choice fruit-trees. There was a slope, down to the fish-pond at the end, where there were great strawberry beds, and raspberry-bushes and rose-bushes grew wherever there was a space. It seemed a chance which had been planted.

Long rows of peas stretched at right angles from the main walk, and I saw Phyllis stooping down among them. Before she saw us. As soon as she heard our crunching steps on the gravel, she stood up, and, shading her eyes from the sun, recognised us. She was quite still for a moment, and then came slowly towards us, blushing a little from evident shyness. I had never seen Phyllis shy before. "'This is Mr. Holdsworth, Phyllis,' said I, as soon as I had shaken hands with her. She glanced up at him, and then looked down, more flush than ever at his grand formality of taking off his hat and bowing, such manners had never been seen at Hope Farm before.

"'Father and mother are out. They will be so sorry. You did not write, Paul, as you said you would.' "'It was my fault,' said Holdsworth, understanding what she meant as well as if she had put it more fully into words. "'I have not yet given up all the privileges of an invalid, one of which is in decision. Last night, when your cousin asked me at what time we were to start, I really could not make up my mind." Phyllis seemed as if she could not make up her mind as to what to do with us. I tried to help her. "'Have you finished getting peas?'

Taking hold of the half-filled basket as she was unconsciously holding her hand. Or may we stay and help you?' "'If you would. But perhaps it will tire you, sir,' added she, speaking now to Holdsworth. "'Not a bit,' said he. "'It will carry me back twenty years in my life when I used to to gather peas in my grandfather's garden. I suppose I may eat a few as I go along." Certainly, sir. But if you went to the strawberry beds you would find some strawberries ripe,

and Paul can show you where they are. I am afraid you distrust me. I can assure you I know the exact fullness at which peas should be gathered. I take great care not to pluck them when they are unripe. I will not be turned off as unfit for my work. This was a style of half-joking talk that Phyllis was not accustomed to. She looked for a moment as if she would have liked to defend herself from the playful charge of distrust made against her, but she ended up by not saying a word. We all plucked our peas in busy silence for the next few minutes. Then Holesworth lifted himself up from between the rows, and said a little wearily, I am afraid I must strike work. I am not as strong as I have fancied myself. Phyllis was full of penitence immediately. He did indeed look pale, and she was, blamed herself for having allowed him to help her. It was very thoughtless of me. I did not know. I thought perhaps you really liked it. I ought to have offered you something to eat, sir.

Oh, poor, we have gathered quite enough. How stupid I was to forget that Mr. Holesworth had been ill! And, in a blushing hurry she led the way towards the house. We went in, and she moved a heavy-cushioned chair forwards, into which Holesworth was only too glad to sink. Then, with deft and quiet speed, she brought in a little tray, wine, water, cake, homemade bread, and newly churned butter. She stood by in some anxiety, till after bite and sup the colour returned to Mr. Holdsworth's face, and he would fain have made us some laughing apologies for the fright he had given us. But then Phyllis drew back from her innocent show of care and interest, and relapsed into the cold shyness habitual to her when she was first thrown into the company of strangers.

She brought out the last week's county paper, which Mr. Holdsworth had read five days ago, and then quietly withdrew. And then he subsided into languor, leaning back and shutting his eyes as if he would go to sleep. I stole into the kitchen after Phyllis, but she had made the round of the corner of the house outside, and I found her sitting on the horse-mount, with her basket of peas, and a basin into which she was shelling them. Rover lay at her feet, snapping now and then at the flies. I went to her and tried to help her, but somehow the sweet, crisp young peas

found their way more frequently into my mouth than into the basket, while we'd talked together in a low tone, fearful of being overheard through the open casements of the house-place in which Holdsworth was resting. "'Don't you think him handsome?' asked I. "'Perhaps. Yes. I have hardly looked at him,' she replied.

"'But is he not very very very good, like a foreigner." "'Yes, he cuts his hair foreign fashion,' said I. "'I like an Englishman to look like an Englishman.' I don't think he thinks about it. He says he began that way when he was in Italy, because everybody wore it so, and it is natural to keep it on in England.' Not if he began it in Italy because everybody there wore it so.

Everybody here wears it differently. I was a little offended with Phyllis's logical fault-finding with my friend, and I determined to change the subject. When is your mother coming home? I should think she might come any time now, but she had to go and see Mrs. Morton, who was ill, and she might be kept, and not be home till dinner. Don't you think you ought to go now and see Mr. Holdsworth is getting on, Paul? He may be faint again. I went at her bidding, but there is no need for it. Mr. Holdsworth was up, standing by the window,

his hands in his pockets. He had evidently been watching us. He turned away as I enter, So, that is the girl I found your good father planning for your wife, Paul, that evening when I interrupted you. Are you of the same coy mind still? It did not look like it a minute ago. Phyllis and I understand each other, I replied sturdily. We are like brother and sister. She would not have me as a husband if there was not another man in the world, and it would take a deal to make me think of her, as my father wishes. Somehow I did not like to say, as a wife. But we love each other dearly.

Well, I am rather surprised at it, not at your loving each other in a brother and sister kind of way, but at your finding it so impossible to fall in love with such a beautiful woman. Woman! Beautiful woman! I had thought of Phyllis as a comely but awkward girl, and I could not banish the pinafore from my mind's eye when I tried to picture her to myself.

Now I turned, as Mr. Holdsworth had done, to look at her again out of the window. She had just finished her task and was standing up, her back to us holding the basket and the basin in it high in the air, out of Rover's reach, who was giving vent to his delight at the probability of a change of place, by glad leaps and barks, and snatches at what he imagined to be a withheld prize.

At length she grew tired of their mutual play, and with a faint of striking him, and a— "'Down, rover, do hush!' She looked towards the window. where we were standing, as if to reassure her that no one had been disturbed by the noise, and seeing us, she coloured all over and hurried away, with rover still curving and sinuous lines about her as she walked. "'I should like to have sketched her,' said Mr. Holdsworth as he turned away.

He went back to his chair and rested in silence for a minute or two. Then he was up again. "'I would give a good deal for a book,' he said. It would keep me quiet." He began to look round. There are a few volumes at one end of the shovel-board. Fifth volume of Matthew Henry's commentary, said he, reading the titles aloud. Housewife's complete manual, Beridge on prayer.

L'Enferno! Dante! In great surprise. Why, who reads this? I told you, Phyllis read it. Don't you remember? She knows Latin and Greek, too. to be sure i remember but somehow i never put two and two together that quiet girl full of household work is the wonderful scholar then that put you to rout with her questions when you first began to come here to be sure cousin phyllis

what's here a paper with the hard obsolete words written out i wonder what sort of a dictionary she has got ferretti won't tell her all these words stay i've got a pencil here i've got a pencil here I'll write down the most accepted meanings, and save her a little trouble." So he took her book and the paper back to the little round table, and employed himself in writing explanations and definitions of the words which had troubled her. I was not sure if he was not taking a liberty. It did not quite please me. And yet I did not know why. He had only just done, and replaced the paper in the book, and put the latter back in its place,

when I heard the sound of wheels stopping in the lane, and looking out I saw cousin Holman getting out of a neighbour's gig, making her little curtsy of acknowledgement, and then coming towards the house. I went to meet her. "'Oh, Paul,' said she, "'I am so sorry I was kept. And then Thomas Dobson said if I would wait a quarter of an hour he would—' "'But where's your friend, Mr. Holdsworth? I hope he's come.' Just then he came out, and with his pleasant, cordial manner took her hand, and thanked her for asking him to come out here to get strong."

"'I am sure I am very glad to see you, sir. It was the minister's thought. I took it into my head you would be dull in our quiet house, for Paul says you've been such a great traveller, but the minister said that dullness would perhaps suit you while you were but ailing, and that I was to ask Paul to be here as much as he could. I hope you'll find yourself happy with us, I'm sure, sir. Has Phyllis given you something to eat and drink, I wonder?

There's a deal in eating a little often, if one has to get strong after an illness.' and then she began to question him as to the details of his indisposition in her simple motherly way he seemed at once to understand her and to enter into friendly relations with her it was not quite the same in the evening when the minister came home men have always a little natural antipathy to get over when they first meet as strangers but in this case each was disposed to make an effort to like the other only each was to eat a specimen of an unknown class i had to leave the hope farm on sunday afternoon, as I had Mr. Holdsworth's work as well as my own to look in to Eltham, and I was not all sure how things would go on during the week that Holdsworth was to remain on his visit. I had been once or twice in hot water already at the near clash of opinions between the minister and my much-wanted friend. On the Wednesday I received a short note from

Holdsworth. He was going to stay on, and return with me on the following Sunday, and he wanted me to send him a certain list of books, his Theodolite, and other surveying instruments, all of which could easily be conveyed down the line to Heathbridge. I went to his lodgings and picked out the books. Italian, Latin, trigonometry, a pretty considerable parcel they made, besides the implements. I began to be curious as to the general progress of affairs at Hope Farm, but I could not go ever to the Saturday. At Heathbridge I found Holdsworth come to meet me. He was looking quite a different man to what I had left him. In browned, sparkles in his eyes, so languid before. I told him how much stronger he looked.

"'Yes,' said he, "'I am fidging feigned to be at work again. Last week I dreaded the thoughts of my employment. Now I am full of desire to begin. This week in the country has done wonders for me.' "'You've enjoyed yourself, then?' "'Oh, it has been perfect in its way, such a thorough country life,

and yet removed from the dullness which I always used to fancy accompanied country life by the extraordinary intelligence of the minister.' I fall into calling him the minister like every one else. "'You get on with him, then,' said I. I was a little afraid. I was on the verge of displeasing him once or twice, I fear, with random assertions and exaggerated expressions,

such a one always uses with other people, and thinks nothing of. But I tried to check myself when I saw how it shocked the good man, and really it is very wholesome exercise, this trying to make one's words represent one's thoughts, instead of merely looking to their effect on others." "'Then you were quite friends now?' I asked. "'Yes, thoroughly. At any rate, as far as I go. I never met with a man with such a desire for knowledge. In information, as far as it can be gained from books, he far exceeds me on most

subjects. But then I have travelled and seen. Will you not surprised at the list of things I sent for?' "'Yes, I thought it did not promise much rest.' Oh, some of the books for the minister, and some for his daughter. I call her Phyllis to myself, but I use euphemisms in talking about her to others. I don't like to seem familiar, and yet Miss Holman is a term I have never heard used. I thought the Italian books were for her. Yes, fancy her trying at Dante for her first book in Italian. I had a capital novel by Manzoni, e Promessie Sposi, just the thing for a beginner, and

if she must still puzzle out Dante, my dictionary is far better than hers." Then she found out you had written those definitions on her list of words. Oh, yes! With a smile of amusement and pleasure. He was going to tell me what had taken place, but checked himself. But I don't think the minister will like your having giving her a novel to read. Pugh! What can be more harmless?

Why make a bug-bear of a word? It is as pretty and innocent a tale as can be met with. We don't suppose they take Virgil for gospel." By this time we were at the farm. I think Phyllis gave me a warmer welcome than usual, and Cousin Holman was kindness itself. Yet somehow I found as if I had lost my place, and that Holdsworth had taken it. He knew all the ways of the house. He was full of little filial attentions to Cousin Holman.

He treated Phyllis with the affectionate condescension of an elder brother, not a bit more, not in any way different. He questioned me about the progress of affairs in Elton with eager interest. "'Ah,' said Cousin Holman, "'you'll be spending a different kind of time next week to what you have done this. I can see how busy you'll make yourself, but if you don't take care you'll be ill again, and have to come back to our quiet ways of going on.'

"'Do you suppose I shall need to be ill to wish to come back here?' He answered warmly. "'I am only afraid you have treated me so kindly that I shall always be turning up on your hands.' "'That's right,' she replied. "'Only don't go and make yourself ill by overwork. I hope you'll go on with a cup of new milk every morning, for I am sure that is the best medicine,

and put in a teaspoonful of rum in it, if you like. Like many a one speaks highly of that, only we had no room in the house.' I brought with me an atmosphere of active life, which I think he had begun to miss, and it was natural that he should seek my company. after his week of retirement. Once I saw Phyllis looking at us as we talked together with a kind of wistful curiosity, but as soon as she caught my eye, she turned away, blushing deeply.

That evening I had a little talk with the minister. I strolled along the Hornby Road to meet him, for Holesworth was giving Phyllis an Italian lesson, and cousin Holman had fallen asleep over her work. Somehow, and, not unwillingly on my part, our talk fell on the friend whom I had introduced to the Hope Farm. "'Yes, I like him,' said the minister, weighing his words a little as he spoke. "'I like him. I hope I am justified in doing it, but he takes hold of me, as it were, and I have almost been afraid lest he carries me away in spite of my judgment.' "'He is a good fellow. Indeed he is,' said I. "'My father thinks well of him, and I have seen a good deal of him. I would not have had him come

here if I did not know that you would approve of him?" "'Yes.' Once more hesitating. "'I like him, and I think he is an upright man. There is a want of seriousness in his talk at times, but at the same time it is wonderful to listen to him. He makes Horace and Virgil living instead of dead. By the stories he tells me of his sojourn and the very countries where there lived,

and where to this day he says—' But it is like dram-drinking. I'll listen to him till I forget. my duties, and I am carried off my feet. Last Sabbath evening he led us away into talk on profane subjects, ill-befitting the day. By this time we were at the house, and our conversation stopped. But before the day was out, I saw the unconscious hold that my friend had got over all the family, and no wonder. He had seemed so much and done so much as compared to them, and he told them about it so easily and naturally, and yet as I never heard any one else do.

and his ready pencil was out in an instant a draw on scraps of paper, all sorts of illustrations, modes of drawing up water in northern Italy, wine-carts, buffaloes, stone-pines, I know not what. After we had looked at all these drawings, Phyllis gathered them together, and took them. It is many years since I have seen thee Edward Holdsworth, but thou wast a delightful fellow. I am a good one, too, though much sorrow was caused by thee. Part 2. Section 5 of Cousin Phyllis. This Librovoc's recording is in the public domain. Recording by Elizabeth Clette. Cousin Phyllis by Elizabeth Gaskell. Part 3. Section 1. Just after this I went home for a week's holiday. Everything was prospering there. My father's new

partnership gave evident satisfaction to both parties. There was no display of increased wealth in our modest household, but my mother had a few extra comforts provided for her by her husband. I made acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Ellison, and first saw pretty Margaret Ellison, who is now my wife. When I returned to Eltham, I found that a step was decided upon, which had been in contemplation for some time, that Holdsworth and I should remove our quarters to Hornby, our daily presence, and as much of our time as possible, being required for the completion of the line at that end. Of course this led to greater facility of intercourse with the Hope Farm people. We could easily walk out there after our day's work was done, and spend

a balmy evening hour or two, and yet return before the summer's twilight had quite faded away. Many a time, indeed, we would fain have stayed longer. The open air, the fresh and pleasant country, made so agreeable a contrast to the close hot town lodgings which I shared with Mr. Holdsworth, but early hours both at eve and morn were an imperative necessity with the minister and he made no scruple at turning either or both of us out of the house directly after evening prayer or exercise as he called it the remembrance of many a happy day and of several little scenes comes back upon me as i think of that summer they rise like pictures to my memory and in this way i can date their succession for i know that corn harvest must have come after hay-making apple-gathering after corn-harvest the removal to hornby took up some time during which we had neither of us any leisure to go out to the hope farm mr holsworth had been out there once during my absence at home One sultry evening, when work was done, he proposed our walking out and paying the Holman's a visit. It so happened that I had admitted to write my usual weekly letter home in our

press of business, and I wished to finish that before going out. Then he said that he would go, and that I could follow him if I liked. This I did in about an hour. The weather was so oppressive, I remember, that I took off my coat as I walked, and hung it over my arm. All the doors and windows at the farm were open when I arrived there, and every tiny leaf on the tree was still. The silence of the place was profound. At first I thought that it was entirely deserted, but just as I drew near the door, I heard a weak, sweet voice begin to sing. It was cousin Holman, all by herself in the house-place, piping up a hymn as she knitted away in the clouded light. She gave me a kindly welcome, and poured out all the small domestic news of the fortnight passed upon me.

and in return I told her about my own people and my visit at home. Where were the rest? At length I asked. Betty and the men were in the field, helping with the last load of hay, for the minister said there would be rain before the morning. Yes, and the minister himself, and Phyllis and Mr. Holdsworth were all there helping. She thought that she herself should have done something, but perhaps she was the least fit for hay-making of any one,

and somebody must stay at home and take care of the house, There were so many tramps about. If I had not had something to do with the railroad, she would have called them navvies. I asked her if she minded being left alone, as I should like to go and help. And having her full and glad permission to leave her alone, I went off, following her directions, through the farmyard, past the kettle-pond, into the ash-field, beyond into the higher field, with two holly-bushes in the middle. I arrived there. There was Betty, with all the farming-men, and a cleared field. and a heavily laden cart. One man at the top of the great pile ready to catch the fragrant hay which the others threw up to him with their pitchforks. A little heap of cast-off clothes

in a corner of the field, for the heat, even at seven o'clock, was insufferable. A few cans and baskets, and rover lying by them panting, and keeping watch. Plenty of loud, hearty, cheerful talking. But no minister, no Phyllis,

no Mr. Holdsworth. Betty saw me first, and understanding who it was that I was in search of, she came towards me. There wrote yonder, agent with them things are Mr. Holdsworth's. So out yonder I went, out onto a broad upland common, full of red sand-banks and sweeps and hollows, bordered by dark firs, purple in the coming shadows, but near at hand all ablaze with flowering gorse, or as we call it in the south, firs-bushes, which seen against the belt of distant trees, appeared brilliantly golden. On this heath a little way from the field-gate I saw the three. I counted their heads, joined together in an eager group over Holdsworth's Theodolite.

He was teaching the minister the practical art of surveying and taking a level. I was wanted to assist and was quickly set to work to hold the chain. Phyllis was as intent as her father. She had hardly time to greet me, so desirous was she to hear some answer to her father's question. So we went on, the dark cloud still gathering, for perhaps five minutes after my arrival. Then came the blinding lightning and the rumble and quick-following rattling peal of thunder right over our heads. It came sooner than I expected, sooner than they had looked for. The rain delayed not. It came pouring down. And what were we to do for shelter?

phyllis had nothing on but her indoor things no bonnet no shawl quick is the darting lightning around us holsworth took off his coat and wrapped it round her neck and shoulders and almost without a word hurried us into such poor shelter as one of the overhanging sand-banks could give there we were cowered down close together phyllis innermost almost too tightly packed to free her arms enough to divest herself of the coat which she in her turn tried to put lightly over holdsworth's shoulders In doing so she touched his shirt. "'Oh, how wet you are!' cried she in pitying dismay. "'And you've hardly got over your fever. Oh, Mr. Holdsworth, I am so sorry!' He turned his head a little, smiling at her. "'If I do catch cold, it is all my fault for having deluded you into staying out here.'

But she only murmured again, "'I am so sorry,' the minister spoke now. "'It is a regular downpour.' please god that the hay is saved but there is no likelihood of its ceasing and i had better go home at once and send you all some wraps umbrellas will not be safe with yonder thunder and lightning both holzworth and i offered to go instead of him but he was resolved although perhaps it would have been wiser if holdsworth wet as he already was had kept himself in exercise as he moved off phyllis crept out and could see on to the storm's swept heath part of holdsworth's apparatus still remained exposed to all the rain before we could have any warning she had rushed out of the shelter and collected the various things and brought them back in triumph to where we crouched holdsworth had stood up uncertain whether to go to her assistance or not she came running back her long lovely hair floating and dripping her eyes glad and bright and her colour freshened to a glow of health by the exercise and the rain now miss holman that's what i call willful said holdsworth as she gave them to him no i won't thank you his looks were thanking her all the time

my little bit of dampness annoyed you because you thought i had gotten wet in your service so you were determined to make me as uncomfortable as you were yourself it was an unchristian piece of revenge his tone of baddenage as the french call it would have been palpable enough to any one accustomed to the world but phyllis was not and it distressed or rather bewildered her. Aunt Christian had to her a very serious meaning, it was not a word to be used lightly, and though she did not exactly understand what wrong it was that she was accused of doing, she was evidently desirous to throw off the imputation. At first her earnestness to disclaim unkind motives amused Holdsworth,

while his light continuance of the joke perplexed her still more. But at last he said something gravely, and in too low a tone for me to hear, which made her all at once, become silent, and called out her blushes. After a while the minister came back, a moving mass of shawls, cloaks, and umbrellas. Phyllis kept very close to her father's side on a return to the farm. She appeared to me to be shrinking away from Holdsworth, while he had not the slightest variation in his manner from what it usually was in his graver moods—kind, protecting, and thoughtful

towards her. Of course there was a great commotion about our wet clothes, but I name the little events of that evening now, because I wondered at the time what he had said in that low voice to silence Phyllis so effectually, and because in thinking of their intercourse, by the light of future events, that evening stands out with some prominence. I have said that after our removal to Hornby, our communications with the farm became almost of daily occurrence. Cousin Holman and I were the two who had least to do with his intimacy. After Mr. Holdsworth regained his health, he too often talked above her head in intellectual matters, and to too often in his light bantering tone, for her to feel quite at her ease with him.

I really believe that he adopted this latter tone in speaking to her, because he did not know what to talk about to a purely motherly woman, whose intellect had never been cultivated, and whose loving heart was entirely occupied with her husband, her child, her household affairs, and perhaps a little with the concerns of the members of her husband's congregation, because they, in a way, belonged to her husband. I had noticed before that she had fleeting shadows of jealousy, even of Phyllis, when her daughter and her husband appeared to have strong interests and sympathies and things which were quite beyond her comprehension.

I had noticed it in my first acquaintance with them, I say, and had admired the delicate tact which made the minister, on such occasions, bring the conversation back to such subjects as those on which his wife, with her practical experience of everyday life, was an authority. while Phyllis devoted to her father, unconsciously followed his lead, totally unaware in her filial reverence, of his motive for doing so. To return to Holdsworth. The minister had, at more than one time, spoken of him to me with slight distrust, principally occasioned by the suspicion that his careless words were not always those of soberness and truth. But it was more as a protest against the fascination which the younger man evidently exercised over the elder one, more as it were to strengthen himself against yielding to this fascination, that the minister spoke

out to me about this failing of Holdsworth's, as it appeared to him. In return, Holdsworth was subdued by the minister's uprightness and goodness, and delighted with his clear intellect, his strong, healthy craving after further knowledge. I never met two men who took more thorough pleasure and relish in each other's society. To Phyllis, his relation continued that of an elder brother. He directed her studies into new paths. He patiently drew out the expression of many of her thoughts, and perplexities, and unformed theories, scarcely ever now falling into the vein of banter, which she was so slow to understand. One day, harvest-time, he had been drawing on a loose piece of paper-skeaching ears of corn, sketching cards drawn by bullocks, and laden with grapes,

all the time talking with Phyllis and me, cousin Holman putting in her not-purtinent remarks, when suddenly he said to Phyllis, "'Keep your head still. I see a sketch. I have often tried to draw your head from memory and failed. But I think I can do it now. If I succeed, I will give it to your mother. You would like a portrait of your daughter as series. Would you not, ma'am?' "'I should like a picture of her. Yes, very much. Thank you, Mr. Holdsworth. But if you put that straw in her hair—' He was holding some wheat-ears above her passive head, looking at the effect.

effect with an artistic eye. You'll ruffle her hair. Phyllis, my dear, if you ought to have your picture taken, go upstairs and brush your hair smooth. Not on any account. I beg your pardon, but I want hair loosely flowing." He began to draw, looking intently at Phyllis. I could see this stare of his discomposed her. Her colour came and went, her breath quickened with the consciousness of his regard.

At last, when he said, "'Please look at me for a minute or two. I want to get in the eyes." She looked up at him, quivered, and suddenly got up and left the room. He did not say a word, but went on with some part of the drawing. His silence was unnatural, and his dark cheek blanched a little. Cousin Holman looked up from her work, and put her spectacles down. What's the matter?

Where is she gone?" Holdsworth never uttered a word but went on drawing. I felt obliged to say something. It was stupid enough, but stupidity was better than something. silence just then. I'll go and call her, said I. So I went into the hall, and to the bottom of the stairs, but just as I was going to call Phyllis, she came down swiftly with her bonneton, and saying, I'm going to farther in

the five-acre, passed out by the open rector, right in front of the house-place windows, and out at the little white side gate. She had been seen by her mother and Holdsworth as she passed, so there was no need for explanation, only Cousin Holman and I had a long discussion as to whether she could have found the room too hot, or what had occasioned her sudden departure. Holdsworth was very quiet during all the rest of that day, nor did he resume the portrait taking by his own desire, only at my cousin Holman's request the next time that he came. And then, he said, he should not require any more formal sittings, for only such a slight

sketch as he felt himself capable of making. Phyllis was just the same as ever the next time I saw her after her abrupt passing me in the hall. She never gave any explanation of her rush out of the room. So all things went on, at least as far as my observation reached at the time, or memory can recall now, till the great apple-gathering of the year. The nights were frosty, the mornings, and evenings were misty, but at midday all was sunny and bright, and it was one mid-day that both of us being on the line near Heathbridge, and knowing that they were gathering apples at

the farm, we resolved to spend the men's dinner-hour and going over there. We found the great clothes baskets full of apples, scenting the house and stopping up the way, and an universal air of merry contentment with this the final produce of the year. The yellow leaves hung on the trees ready to flutter down at the slightest puff of air. The great bushes of Micklemus daisies in the kitchen garden were making their last show of flowers. We must needs taste the fruit off the different trees, and pass our judgment as to their flavour, and we went away with our pockets stuffed with those that we liked best. As we had passed to the orchard, Holdsworth had admired and spoken about some flower which he saw. It so happened he had never seen this old-fashioned kind since

the days of his boyhood. I do not know whether he had thought anything more about this chance speech of his, but I know I had not. When Phyllis, who had been missing just at the last moment of our hurried visit, reappeared with a little nosegay of this same flower, which she was tying up with a blade of grass. She offered it to Holdsworth as he stood with her father on the point of departure. I saw their faces. I saw for the first time an unmistakable look of love in his black eyes. It was more than gratitude for the little attention. It was tender and beseeching, passionate. She shrank from it in confusion. Her glance fell on me, and, partly to hide her emotion, partly out of real kindness at what might appear ungracious neglect

of an older friend, she flew off to gather me a few late-blooming china roses. But it was the first time she had ever done anything of the kind for me. We had to walk fast to be back on the line before the men's return, so we spoke but little to each other, and, of course, the afternoon was too much occupied for us to have any talk. In the evening we went back to our joint lodgings in Hornby. There on the table lay a letter for Holdsworth, which had been forwarded to him from Eltham. As our tea was ready, and I had had nothing to eat since morning, I fell to directly without paying much attention to my companion as he opened and read his letter. He was very silent for a few minutes. At length he said,

"'Old fellow, I am going to leave you.' "'Leave me,' said I. How? When?' "'This letter ought to have come sooner. It is from Greathead the engineer.' Greathead was well known in those days. He is dead now, and his name half-forgotten. He wants to see me about some business. In fact, I may as well tell you, Paul, this letter contains a very advantageous proposal for me to go out to Canada and superintend the making of a line there.' I was in utter dismay. "'But what will our company say to that?'

"'Oh, Greathead has the superintendence of this line, you know, and he is going to be engineer-in-chief to this Canadian line. Many of the shareholders in this company are going in for the other, so I fancy they will make no difficulty in following Great-head's lead. He says he has a young man ready to put in my place.' "'I hate him,' said I. I." Thank you," said Holdsworth, laughing.

"'But you must not,' he resumed, "'for this is a very good thing for me. And of course, if no one can be found to take my inferior work, I can't be spared to take the superior. I only wish I had received this letter a day sooner. Every hour is of consequence for Greathead says they are threatening a rival line. Do you know, Paul, I almost fancy I must go up to-night. I can take an engine back to Welham and catch the night-train. I should not like Greathead to think me lukewarm.

But you'll come back, I asked, distressed at the thought of this sudden parting. Oh, yes, at least I hope so. They may want me to go out by the next steamer. That will be on Saturday. He began to eat and drink standing, but I think he was quite unconscious of the nature of either his food or his drink. I will go to-night. Activity and readiness go a long way in our profession. Remember that, my boy. I hope I shall come back, but if I don't, be sure and recollect all the words of wisdom that have fallen from my lips. Now where's the portmanteau? If I can gain half an hour for a gathering up of my things in Eltham, so much the better. I'm clear of debt, anyhow, and what I owe for my lodgings you can pay for me out of my quarter's salary, due November 4th. Then you don't think you will come back, I said despondingly. I will come back some time, never fear, said he kindly. I may be back in a couple of times. I may be back in a couple of times. of days, having been found incompetent for the Canadian work, or I may not be wanted to go out so soon as I now anticipate. Anyhow, you don't suppose I am going to forget you, Paul, this work out there ought not to take me above two years,

and perhaps after that we may be employed together again.' "'Perhaps?' I had very little hope. The same kind of happy days never returns. However, I did all I could in helping him—clothes, papers, books, instruments, how we pushed and struggled, how I stuffed. All was done in a much shorter time than we had calculated upon, when I had run down to the sheds to order the engine. I was going to drive him to Welham. We sat ready for a summons. Holdsworth took up the little nosegay that he had brought away from the Hope Farm, and had laid it on the mantel-piece on first coming into the room. He smelt at it, and caressed it with his lips. What grieves me is that I did not know, that I have been not said good-bye to—to them."

He spoke in a grave tone, the shadow of the coming separation falling upon him at last. "'I will tell them,' said I. I am sure they will be very sorry. Then we were silent. I never liked any family so much. I knew you would like them. How one's thoughts change. This morning I was full of a hope, Paul."

He paused, and then he said. "'You put in that sketch carefully?' "'That outline of a head?' asked I. "'But I knew he meant an abortive sketch of Phyllis, which had not been successful enough for him to complete it with shading or colouring.' "'Yes. What a sweet, innocent face it is! And yet so—' "'Oh, dear!' He sighed and got up, his hands in his pockets,

to walk up and down the room an evident disturbance of mind. He suddenly stopped opposite to me. You'll tell them how it all was. Be sure and tell the good minister that I was so sorry not to wish him good-bye, and to thank him and his wife for all their kindness. Ask Phyllis, please God in two years I'll be back and tell her myself all in my heart. You love Phyllis, then, said I. Love her? Yes, that I do. Who could help it, seeing her as I have done? Her character is unusual and rare as her beauty.

God bless her. God bless her. God. keep her in her high tranquillity, her pure innocence. Two years it is a long time. But she lives in such seclusion, almost like the sleeping beauty, Paul. He was smiling now, though a minute before I had thought him on the verge of tears. But I shall come back like a prince from Canada, and waken her to my love. I can't help hoping that it won't be difficult, hey, Paul? This touch of coxcombry just pleased me a little, and I made no answer. He went on, half apologetically. "'You see, the salary they offer me is large, and besides that this experience will give me a name which will entitle me to expect a still larger in any future undertaking.'

"'That won't influence Phyllis.' "'No, but it will make me more eligible in the eyes of her father and mother.' "'I made no answer.' "'You give me your best wishes, Paul,' said he, almost pleading. "'You would like me for a cousin.' I heard the scream and whistle of the engine ready down at the sheds. "'I—that I should—' I replied, suddenly softened towards my friend now that he was going away. I wish you were to be married to-morrow, and I were to be best man.

Thank you, lad. Now for this cursed portmanteau! How the minister would be shocked! But it is heavy! And off we sped into the darkness. He only just caught the night-train at Eltham. and I slept desolately enough at my old lodgings at Miss Dawson's for that night. Of course the next few days I was busier than ever, doing both his work and my own. Then came a letter from him, very short and affectionate. He was going out in the Saturday steamer, as he had more than half expected, and by the following Monday the man who was to succeed him would be down at Eltham. There was a P.S. with only these words.

My nosegay goes with me to Canada, but I do not need it to try. remind me of Hope Farm. End of Section 5. Section 6 of Cousin Phyllis. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Elizabeth Clette. Cousin Phyllis by Elizabeth Gaskell. Part 3, Section 2.

Saturday came, but it was very late before I could go out to the farm. It was a frosty night. The stars shone clear above me, and the road was crisping beneath my feet. They must have heard my footsteps before I got up to the house. They were sitting at their usual employment in the house-place when I went in. Phyllis's eyes went beyond me in their look of welcome, and then fell in quiet disappointment on her work. "'And where's Mr. Holdsworth?' asked Cousin Holman in a minute or two. "'I hope his cold is not worse. I did not like his short cough.'

I laughed awkwardly, for I felt that I was the bearer of unpleasant. news. His cold had need be better, for he's gone, gone away to Canada." I purposely looked away from Phyllis, as I thus abruptly told my news. "'To Canada?' said the minister. "'Gone away,' said his wife, but no word from Phyllis. "'Yes,' said I. He found a letter at Hornby when we got home the other night, when we got home from here.

He ought to have got it sooner. was ordered to go up to London directly, and to see some people about a new line in Canada, and he's gone to lay it down. He is sailed to-day. He was sadly grieved, not to have time to come out and wish you all good-bye, but he started for London within two hours after he got that letter. He bade me thank you most gratefully for all your kindnesses. He was very sorry not to come here once again." Phyllis got up and left the room with noiseless steps. "'I am very sorry,' said the minister. "'I am sure so am I,' said Cousin Holman.

"'I was real fond of that lad ever since I nursed him last June after that bad fever.' The minister went on asking me questions, respecting Holdsworth's future plans, and brought out a large old-fashioned atlas, that he might find out the exact places between which the new railroad was to run. Then supper was ready. It was always on the table as soon as the clock on the stairs struck eight, and down came Phyllis, her face white and set, her dry eyes looking defiance to me, for I am afraid I hurt her maidenly pride by my glance of sympathetic interest as she entered the room. Never a word did she say, never a question did she ask about the absent friend, yet she forced herself to talk. And so it was all the next day.

She was as pale as could be, like one who has received some shock. But she would not let me talk to her, and she tried hard to behave as usual. Two or three times I repeated in public the various affectionate messages to the family with which I was charged by Holdsworth, but she took no more notice of them than if my words had been empty air. And in this mood I left her on the Sabbath evening. My new master was not half so indulgent as my old one. He kept up strict discipline as to—'

hours, so that it was some time before I could again go out, even to pay a call at the Hope Farm. It was a cold, misty evening in November. The air, even indoors, seemed full of haze, yet there was a great log burning on the hearth, which ought to have made the room cheerful. Cousin Holman and Phyllis were sitting at the little round table before the fire, working away in silence. The minister had his books out on the dresser, seemingly deep in study by the light of his solitary candle. Perhaps the fear of disturbing him made the unusual stillness of the room. But a welcome was ready for me from awe. Not noisy, not demonstrative, that it never was. My damp wrappers were taken off. The next meal was hastened, and a chair placed for me on one side

of the fire, so that I pretty much commanded a view of the room. My eye caught on Phyllis, looking so pale and weary, and with a sort of aching tone, if I may call it so, in her voice. She was doing all the accustomed things, fulfilling small household duties, but somehow differently. I can't tell you how, for she was just as deft and quick in her movements, only the light spring was gone out of them. Cousin Holman began to question me. Even the minister put aside his books, and came and stood on the opposite side of the fireplace, to hear what waft of intelligence I brought. I had first to tell them why I had not been to see them for so long, more than five weeks. The answer was simple enough—business and the necessity of attending strictly to the orders of a new superintendent, who had not yet learned

trust, much less indulgence. The minister nodded his approval of my conduct, and said, "'Right, Paul! servants obey in all things your master according to the flesh. I have had my fears lest you had too much licence under Edward Holdsworth." "'Ah!' said Cousin Holman. "'Poor, Mr. Holdsworth, he'll be on the salt seas by this time.' "'No, indeed,' said I. "'He's landed. I have had a letter from him from Halifax.'

"'Immediately a shower of questions fell thick upon me. "'When? How? What was he doing? How did he like it? What sort of a voyage? Many is the time we have thought of him when the wind was blowing so hard. The old Quincy tree is blown downpaw, that on the right hand of the great pear tree.

It was blown down last Monday week, and it was that night when I asked the minister to pray in a special manner for all of them that went down in ships upon the great deep. And he said then that Mr. Holdsworth might be already landed. But I said, even if the prayer did not fit him, it was sure to be fitting somebody out at sea, who would need the Lord's care. Both Phyllis and I thought he would be a month on the sea." Phyllis began to speak, but her voice did not come rightly at first. It was a little higher pitch than usual when she said. We thought he would be a month if he went in a sailing vessel, or perhaps longer. I suppose he went in a steamer.

"'Old Obediard Grimshaw was more than six weeks in getting to America,' observed Cousin Holman. "'I presume he cannot as yet tell how he likes his new work. asked the minister. "'No, he is but just landed. It is but one page long. I'll read it to you, shall I?' "'Dear Paul, we are safe on shore after a rough passage. Thought you would like to hear this, but homeward-bound steamer is making signals for letters. We'll write again soon. It seems a year since I left Hornby, longer since I was at the farm. I have got my nosegay safe. Remember me to the Holman's. Yours, E. H.

"'That's not much, certainly,' said the minister. "'But it's a comfort to know he's on land these blowy nights.' Phyllis said nothing. She kept a head bent down over her work, but I don't think she put a stitch in while I was reading the letter. I wondered if she understood what nosegay was meant, but I could not tell. When next she lifted up her face there were two spots of brilliant colour on the cheeks that had been so pale before. After I had spent an hour or two there, I was bound. to return back to Hornby. I told them I did not know when I could come again, as we, by which

I mean the company, had undertaken the Hensleydale line, that branch for which Paul Holdsworth was surveying when he caught his fever. "'But you'll have a holiday at Christmas?' said my cousin. "'Surely there'll not be such heathens as to work you then.' "'Perhaps the lad will be going home,' said the minister, as if to mitigate his wife's urgency. But for all that I believe he wanted me to come. Phyllis fixed her eyes on me with a wistful expression, hard to resist. But indeed I had no thought of resisting. Under my new master I had no hope of a holiday

long enough to enable me to go to Birmingham and see my parrots with any comfort, and nothing can be pleasanter to meet and find myself at home and my cousins for a day or two then. So it is fixed that we were to meet in Hornby Chapel on Christmas Day, and that I was to accompany them home after service, and if possible to stay over the next day. I was not able to get to chapel till late on the appointed day, and so I took a seat near the door in considerable shame, although it really was not my fault. When the service was ended, I went and stood in the porch to await the coming out of my cousins. Some worthy people belonging to the congregation clustered into a group just where I stood, and exchanged the good wishes of the season.

It had just begun to snow, and this occasioned a little delay, and they found. fell into further conversation. I was not attending to what was not meant for me to hear, till I caught the name of Phyllis Holman. And then I listened. Where was the harm? I never saw any one so changed. I asked Mrs. Holman, quoth another, "'Is Phyllis well? And she just said that she had been having a cold which had pulled her down. She did not seem to think anything of it.' "'They had best take care of her,' said one of the oldest of the good ladies. phyllis comes of a family as is not long lived her mother's sister lydia green her own aunt as was died of a decline just when she was about this lass's age

this ill-omened talk was broken in upon by the coming out of the minister his wife and daughter and the consequent interchange of christmas compliments i had had a shock and felt heavy-hearted and anxious and hardly up to making the appropriate replies to the kind greetings of my relations I looked as scant, said Phyllis. She had certainly grown taller and slighter, and was thinner. But there was a flush of colour on her face which deceived me for a time, and made me think she was looking as well as ever. I only saw her paleness after we had returned to the farm, and she had subsided into silence and quiet. Her grey eyes looked hollow and sad. Her complexion was of a dead white. But she went about just as usual, at least just as she had done the last time I was there, and seemed to have no ailment. And I was inclined to think that my cousin was right when she had answered the inquiries of the good-natured gossips, and told them that Phyllis was suffering from the consequences of a bad cold, nothing more. I had said that I was to stay over the next day. A great deal of snow had come down, but not all, they said, though the ground was covered deep with the white fall. The minister was anxiously housing his cattle, and preparing all things for a long continuance of the same kind of weather. The men were chopping wood, sending wheat to the mill to be ground before the road should become impassable for a cart and horse.

My cousin and Phyllis had gone upstairs to the apple-room to cover up the fruit from the frost. I had been out the greater part of the morning, and came in about an hour before dinner. To my surprise, knowing how she had planned to be engaged, I found Phyllis sitting at the dresser, resting her head on her two hands and reading, or seeming to read. She did not look up when I came in, but murmured something about her mother having sent her down out of the cold. It flashed across me that she was crying, but I put it down to some little spirit of temper. I might have known better than to suspect the gentle, serene Phyllis of crossness, poor girl. I stooped down, and began to stir up and build the fire, which appeared to have

been neglected. While my head was down I heard a noise which made me pause and listen. A sob, an unmistakable, irrepressible sob. I started up. "'Philis,' I cried, going towards her with my hand out to take hers for sympathy with her sorrow, whatever it was. But she was too quick for me, she held out her hand out of my grasp, for fear of my detaining her. As she quickly passed out of the house, she said, "'Don't Paul! I cannot bear it!' And passed me still sobbing, and went out into the keen open air. I stood still and wondered, what could have come to Phyllis? The most perfect harmony prevailed in the family, and Phyllis especially, good and gentle as she was, was so beloved that if they had found out that her finger ached it would have cast a shadow over

their hearts. Had I done anything to vex her? No, she was crying before I came in. I went to look at her book, one of those unintelligible little Italian books. I could make neither head nor tail of it. I saw some pencil-notes on the margin in Holdsworth's handwriting. Could that be it? could that be the cause of her white looks her weary eyes her wasted figure her struggling sobs the idea came upon me like a flash of lightning on a dark night making all things so clear we cannot forget them afterwards when the gloomy obscurity returns i was still standing with the book in my hand when i heard cousin holman's footsteps on the stairs and as i did not wish to speak to her just then i followed felice's example and rushed out of the house the snow was lying on the ground i could track her feet by the marks they had made made. I could see where Rover had joined her. I followed on till I came to a great stack of wood in the orchard. It was built up against the back wall of the out-buildings, and I recollected

then how Phyllis had told me that first day when we had strolled about together, that underneath this stack had been her her her sanctuary, when she was a child, how she used to bring her book to study there, or her work, when she was not wanted in the house, and she had now evidently gone back to this quiet retreat of her childhood, forgetful of the clue given me by her footmarks in the new-fallen snow. The stack was built up very high, but through the interstices of the sticks I could see her figure, although I did not all at once perceive how I could get to her. She was sitting on a log of wood, Rover by her. She had laid her cheek on Rover's head, and had her arm round his neck, partly for a pillow,

partly from an instinctive craving for warmth on that bitter cold day. She was making a low moan, like an animal in pain, or perhaps more than that. like the sobbing of the wind. Rover, highly flattered by her caress, and also, perhaps touched by sympathy, was flapping his heavy tail against the ground, but not otherwise moving a hair, until he heard my approach with his quick erected ears. Then, with a short, abrupt bark of distrust, he sprang up as if to leave his mistress. Both he and I were immovably still for a moment. I was not sure if what I longed to do was wise, and yet I could not bear to see the sweet serenity of my dear cousin's life so disturbed by a suffering which

I thought I could assuage. But Rover's ears were sharper than my breathing was noiseless. He heard me and sprang out from under Phyllis's restraining hand. "'Oh, Rover, don't you leave me too?' she planed out. "'Philis,' said I, seeing by Rover's exit that the entrance to where she sat was to be found on the other side of the stack. "'Philis, come out. You have got a cold already. And it is not a-and it is not a fit for you to sit there on such a day as this. You know how displeased and anxious it would make them all?" She sighed, but obeyed, stooping a little she came out, and stood upright,

opposite to me in the lonely, leafless orchard. Her face looked so meek and so sad, that I felt as if I ought to beg her pardon for my necessarily authoritative words. "'Sometimes I feel the house so close,' she said, and I used to sit under the wood-stack when I was a child. It was very kind of you but those no need to come after me. I don't catch cold easily. Come with me into this cow-house, Phyllis. I have got something to say to you, and I can't stand this cold if you can." I think she would have fain run away again, but her fit of energy was all spent. She followed

me unwillingly enough that I could see. The place to which I took her was full of the fragrant breath of the cows, and was a little warmer than the outer air. I put her inside, and stood myself in the doorway, thinking how I could best best. begin. At last I plunged into it. I must see that you don't get cold for more reasons than one. If you were ill, Holdsworth will be so anxious and miserable out there—by which I meant Canada. She shot one penetrating look at me, and then turned her face away with a slightly impatient movement. If she could have run away then she would, but I held the means of exit in my own power. "'In for a penny, in for a pound,' thought I, and I went on rapidly anyhow.

He talked so much about you, just before he left, that night after he had been here, you know, and you had given him those flowers. She put up her hands to hide her face, but she was listening now, listening with all her ears. He had never spoken much about you before, but the sudden going away unlocked his heart, and he told me how he loved you, and how he hoped on his return that you might be his wife. "'Don't!' said she, almost gasping out the word, which she had tried once or twice, before to speak, but a voice had been choked. Now she put her hand backwards. She had quite turned away from me and felt for mine. She gave it a soft lingering pressure, and then she put

her arms down on the wooden division, and laid her head on it, and cried quiet tears. I did not understand her at once, and feared lest I had mistaken the whole case, and only annoyed her. I went up to her. Oh, Phyllis! I am so sorry, I thought she would perhaps have cared to hear it. He He did talk so feelingly as if he did love you so much, and somehow I thought it would give you pleasure." She lifted up her head and looked at me. Such a look!

Her eyes, glittering with tears as they were, expressed in almost heavenly happiness. Her tender mouth was curved with rapture, her colour vivid and blushing. But as if she was afraid her face expressed too much, more than the thankfulness to me she was a saying to speak, she hid it again almost immediately. So it was all right then, and my conjecture was well founded. I tried to remember something more to tell of her what he had said, but again she stopped me. "'Don't,' she said.

She still kept her face covered and hidden. In half a minute she added in a very low voice. "'Please, Paul, I think I would rather not hear any more. I don't mean but what I have, but what I am very much obliged, only—only I think I would rather hear the rest from himself when he comes back. back. And then she cried a little more, in quite a different way. I did not say any more.

I waited for her. By and by she turned towards me, not meeting my eyes, however, and putting her hand in mind just as if we were two children, she said. We had best go back now. I don't look as if I had been crying, do I? You look as if you had a bad cold, as all the answer I made. Oh, but I am quite well, only cold, and a good run will warm. me. Come along, Paul." So we ran hand in hand, till just as we were on the threshold of the

house she stopped. "'Paul, please, we won't speak about that again.' End of Section 6. Section 7 of Cousin Phyllis. This Librovoc's recording is in the public domain. Recording by Elizabeth Clatt. Cousin Phyllis by Elizabeth Gascoe. Part 4. Section 1. When I went over on Easter day, I heard the chapel gossips complimenting Cousin Holman on her daughter's blooming looks, quite forgetful of their sinister prophecies three months before. And I looked at Phyllis, and did not wonder at their words. I had not seen her since the day after Christmas Day. I had left the Hope Farm only a few hours after I had told her the news which had quickened her heart into renewed life and vigour. The remembrance of our conversation in the cow-house was vividly in my mind, as I looked at, when her bright, healthy appearance was remarked upon. As her eyes met mine, our mutual recollections flashed intelligence from one to another. She turned away, her colour heightening as she did so. She seemed to be shy of me for the first few hours after our meeting, and I felt rather vexed with her for her conscious avoidance of me after my long absence. I had stepped

a little out of my usual line in telling her what I did, not that I had received any charge of secrecy, or given even the slightest promise to Holdsworth that I would not repeat his words. But I had an uneasy feeling sometimes when I thought of what I had done in the excitement of seeing Phyllis so ill, and in so much trouble. I meant to have told Holdsworth when I wrote next to him, but when I had my half-finished letter before me, I sat with my pen in my hand, hesitating. I had more scruple in revealing what I had found out or guessed at of Phyllis's secret than in repeating to her his spoken words. I did not think I had any right to say out to him what I believed, namely that she loved him dearly, and had felt his absence even to the injury

of her health. Yet to explain what I had done and telling her how he had spoken about her that last night, it would be necessary to give my reasons, so I had settled within myself to leave it alone. As she had told me she should like to hear all the details and full of particulars and more explicit declarations first from him, so he should have the pleasure of extracting the delicious, tender secret from her maidenly lips. I would not betray my guesses, my surmises, my all but certain knowledge of the state of her heart. I had received two letters from him after he had settled to his business. They were full of life and energy, but in each there had been a message to the family at the Hope Farm of more than common regard, and a slight but distinct mention of Phyllis herself, showing that

she stood single and alone in his memory. These letters I had sent on to the minister, for he was sure to care for them, even supposing he had been unacquainted with their writer, because they were so clever and so picturesquely worded, that they brought, as it were, a whiff of foreign atmosphere into his circumscribed life. I used to wonder what was the trade or business in which the minister would not have thriven, mentally, I mean, if it had so happened that he had been called into that state. He would have made a case. He would have made a capital engineer, that I know, and he had a fancy for the sea, like many other landlocked men to whom the Great Deep is a mystery and a fascination. He read law-books with relish,

and once happening to borrow De Lombe on the British Constitution, or some such title, he talked about jurisprudence till he was far beyond my depth. But to return to Holdsworth's letters, when the minister sent them back, he also wrote out a list of questions suggested by their perusal, which I was to pass on in my answers to Holdsworth, until I thought of suggesting direct correspondence between the two. That was the state of things, as regarded the absent one when I went to the farm for my Easter visit, and when I found Phyllis in that state of shy reserve towards me which I have named before. I thought she was ungrateful, for I was not quite sure if I had done wisely in having told her what I did. I had committed

a fault, or a folly, perhaps, and all for her sake. And here was she was. And here was was she less friends with me than she had even been before? This little estrangement only lasted a few hours. I think that as soon as she felt pretty sure of there being no recurrence, either by word, look, or allusion to the one subject that was predominant in her mind, she came back to her old sisterly ways with me. She had much to tell me of her own familiar interests, how rover had been ill, and how anxious they had all of them been, and how, after some little discussion between her father and her, both equally grieved by her—and the sufferings of the old dog, he had been remembered in the household prayers, and how he'd

begun to get better only the very next day, and then she would have led me into a conversation on the right hens of prayer, and on special providences, and I know not what. Only I jibbed like their old cart-horse, and refused to stir a step in that direction. Then we talked about the different broods of chickens, and she showed me the hens that were good mothers, and told me the characters of all the poultry with the utmost good faith, and in all good faith I listened, for I believe there was a good deal of truth in all she said. And then we strolled on into the wood beyond the ash meadow, and both of us sought for early primroses,

and in the fresh green crinkled leaves. She was not afraid of being alone with me after the first day. I never saw her so lovely, or so happy. I think she hardly knew why she was so happy all the time. I can see her now, standing under the budding branches of the grey trees, over which a tinge of green seemed to be deep in it, day after day. Her sunbonnet fallen back on her neck, her hands full of delicate wood-flowers, quite unconscious of my gaze, but intent on sweet mockery of some bird in a neighbouring bush or

tree. She had the art of warbling, and replying to the notes of different birds, and knew their song, their habits and ways, more accurately than anyone else I ever knew. She had often done it at my request the spring before, but this year she really gurgled and whistled and warbled just as they did. out of the very fullness and joy of her heart. She was more than ever the very apple of her father's eye. Her mother gave her both her own share of love and that of the dead child who had died in infancy. I have heard Cousin Holman murmur, after a long, dreamy look at Villis,

and tell herself how like she was growing to Johnny, and soothe herself with plaintive, inarticulate sounds, and many gentle shakes of the head, for the aching sense of loss she would never get over in this world. The old servants about the place had the dumb, loyal attachment to the child of the land, common to most agricultural labourers, not often stirred into activity or expression. My cousin Phyllis was like a rose that had come to full bloom on the sunny side of a lonely house, sheltered from storms. I have read in some book of poetry, a maid whom there

were none to praise, and very few to love. And somehow those lines always reminded me of Phyllis, yet they were not true of her either. I never heard her praised, and out of her own household there were very few to love her. But though no one spoke out their approbation, she always did write in her parents' eyes, out of a natural simple goodness and wisdom. Holesworth's name was never mentioned between us when we were alone, but I had sent on his letters to the minister, as I have said, and more than once he began to talk about our absent friend, when he was smoking his pipe after the day's work was done. Then Phyllis hung her head a little over her work, and listened in silence. "'I miss him more than I thought for.'

"'No offence to you, Paul. I said once his company was like dram-drinking. That was before I knew him, and perhaps I spoke in a spirit of judgment. To some men's minds everything presents itself strongly, and they speak accordingly, and so did he. And I thought in my vanity of censorship that his were not true and sober words. They would not have been, if I had used them, but they were so to a man of his class of perceptions. I thought of the measure with which I had been meeting to him with brother Robinson, here last Thursday, and he told me that a poor little quotation I was making from the Georgics savoured of vain babbling and profane heathenism. He went so far as to say that by learning other languages than our own we were flying in the face of the Lord's purpose, when he had said,

at the building of the Tower of Babel, that he would confound their languages so that they should not understand each other's speech. As Brother Robinson was to me, so was I to the quick wits, bright senses, and ready words of Holdsworth. The first little cloud upon my piece came in the shape of a letter from Canada, in which there were two or three sentences that troubled me more than they ought to have done, the judge merely from the words employed. It was this. I should feel dreary enough in this out-of-the-way place, if it were not for a friendship I have formed with a French-Canadian but the name of Ventador. He and his family are a great resource to me in the long evenings. I never heard such delicious vocal music as the voices of these little Ventador boys and girls. girls in their part songs, and the foreign element retained in their characters and manner of living reminds me of some of the happiest days of my life. Lucille, the second daughter, is curiously like Phyllis Holman. In vain I said to myself that it was probably this likeness that made him take pleasure

in the society of the Ventador family. In vain I told my anxious fancy that nothing could be more natural than this intimacy, and that there was no sign of its leading to any consequence that ought to disturb me. I had a presentiment, and I was disturbed, and I could not reason it away. I dare say my presentiment was rendered more persistent and keen by the doubts which would force themselves into my mind, as to whether I had done well in repeating Holdsworth's words to Phyllis. Her state of vivid happiness this summer was markedly different to the peaceful serenity of former days. If in my thoughtfulness at noticing this I caught awry, she blushed and sparkled all over,

guessing that I was remembering our joint secret. Her eyes fell before mine, as if she could hardly bear me to see the revelation of their bright glances. And yet I considered again, and comforted myself by the reflection that, if this change had been anything more than my silly fancy, her father or her mother would have perceived it. But they went on in tranquil unconsciousness and undisturbed peace. A change in my own life was quickly approaching. In the July of this year my occupation on the blank railway and its branches came to an end. The lines were completed, and I was to leave, Blanksshire, to return to Birmingham, where there was a niche already provided for me in my father's prosperous business. But before I left the north, it was an understood thing amongst us all that I was

to go and pay a visit of some weeks at the Hope Farm. My father was as much pleased at this plan as I was, and the dear family of cousins often spoke of things to be done, and sight to be shown me, during this visit. My want of wisdom in having told that thing, under such ambiguous words I concealed the injudicious confidence I had made to Phyllis, was the only drawback to my anticipations of pleasure. The ways of life were too simple at the Hope Farm for my coming to them to make the slightest disturbance. I knew my room like the son of the house. I knew the regular course of their days, and that I was expected to fall into it like one of the family. Deep summer peace brooded over the place. The warm golden air was filled with the murmur of insects near at hand, the more distant

sound of voices out in the fields, the clear, faraway rumble of carts over the stone-paved lanes miles away. The heat was too great for the birds to be singing. Only now and then one might hear the wood-pigeons in the trees beyond the ash-field. The cattle stood knee-deep in the pond, flicking their tails about to keep off the flies. The minister stood in the hay-field without hat or cravat, coat or waistcoat, panting and smiling. Phyllis had been leading the row of farm-servants, turning the swathes of fragrant hay with measured movement. She went to the end, to the hedge, and then, throwing down her rake, she came to me with her free, sisterly welcome. "'Go, Paul,' said the minister, "'we need all hands to make use of the sunshine to-day.

Whatever thine hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. It will be a healthy change of work for thee, lad, and I find best rest in change of work. So off I went, a willing labourer, following Phyllis's lead. It was the primitive distinction of rank. The boy who frightened the sparrows off the fruit was the last in our rear. We did not leave off till the red sun was gone down behind the fir trees bordering the common. Then we went home to supper, prayers, to bed. Some bird singing far into the night, as I heard it through my open window, and the poultry beginning their clattering. and cackle in the earliest morning. I carried what luggage I immediately needed with me from my lodgings,

and the rest was to be sent by the carrier. He brought it to the farm betimes that morning, and along with it he brought a letter or two that had arrived since I had left. I was talking to Cousin Holman, about my mother's ways of making bread, I remember. Cousin Holman was questioning me and had got me far beyond my depth, in the house-place, when the letters were brought in by one of the men, and I had to pay the carrier for his trouble before I could look at them. A bill? A Canadian letter. What instinct made me so thankful that I was alone with my dear, unobservant cousin? What made me hurry them away into my coat-pocket? I do not know. I felt strange and sick, and made irrelevant answers, I am afraid. Then I went to my room ostensibly

to carry up my boxes. I sat on the side of my bed and opened my letter from hold sort of It seemed to me as if I had read its contents before, and knew exactly what he had got to say. I knew he was going to be married to Lucille Ventador, nay, that he was married, for this was the 5th of July, and he wrote word that his marriage was fixed to take place on the 29th of June. I knew all the reasons he gave, all the raptures he went into. I held the letter loosely in my hands and looked into vacancy, yet I saw the chaffinches his nest on the lichen-covered trunk of an old apple-tree opposite my window, and saw the mother-bird come fluttering in to feed her brood. And yet I did not see it, although it seemed

to me afterwards as if I could have drawn every fibre, every feather. I was stirred up to action by the merry sound of voices and the clamp of rustic feet coming home for the midday meal. I knew I must go down to dinner. I knew, too, that I must tell Phyllis, for in his happy Egotism, his new-fangled foppery, Holesworth had put in a P.S., saying that he should send wedding cards to me and some other Hornby and Eltham acquaintances, and to his kind friends at Hope Farm. Phyllis had faded away to one among several kind friends. I don't know how I got through dinner that day. I remember forcing myself to eat and talking hard, but I also recollect the wondering look in the minister's eyes. He was not one to think evil without cause.

but many a one would have taken me for drunk. As soon as I decently could I left the table, saying I would go out for a walk. At first I must have tried to stun reflection by rapid walking, for I had lost myself on the high mowlands far beyond the familiar gorse-covered common, before I was obliged for very weariness to slacken my pace. I kept wishing. Oh, how fervently wishing I had never committed that blunder! That the one little half-hour's indiscretion could be blotted out!

alternating with this was anger against Holdsworth. Unjust enough, I dare say. I suppose I stayed in that solitary place for a good hour or more. And then I turned homewards, resolving to get over the telling Phyllis at the first opportunity, but shrinking from the fulfilment of my resolution so much that when I came into the house and saw Phyllis, doors and windows open wide in the sultry weather, alone in the kitchen, I became quite sick with apprehension. She was standing by the dresser, cutting up a great household loaf into hunches of bread for the hungry labourers who might come in any minute, for the heavy thunder-clouds were overspreading the sky. She looked round as she heard my step.

"'You should have been in the field helping with the hay,' said she in her calm, pleasant voice. I had heard her as I came near the house softly chanting some hymn-tune, and the peacefulness of that seemed to be brooding over her now. "'Perhaps I should. It looks as if it was going to rain.' "'Yes, there is thunder about. Mother has had to go to bed with one of her bad headaches. "'Now you are coming.' "'Philis,' said I, rushing at my subject and interrupting her. "'I went a long walk to think over a letter I had this morning—a letter from Canada. "'You don't know how it has grieved me.'

"'I held it out to her as I spoke. "'Her colour changed a little, but it was more the reflection of my face. face, I think, than because she formed any definite idea from my words. Still, she did not take the letter. I had to bid her to read it before she quite understood what I wished. She sat down rather suddenly as she received it into her hands, and spreading it on the dresser before her, she rested her forehead on the palms of her hands, her arms supported on the table, her figure a little averted, and her countenance thus shaded. I looked out of the open window. My heart was very heavy. peaceful it all seemed in the farmyard. Peace and plenty. How still and deep was the silence of the

house! Tick, tick went the unseen clock on the wired staircase. I had heard the rustle once when she turned over the page of thin paper. She must have read to the end. Yet she did not move, or say a word, or even sigh. I kept on looking out of the window, my hands in my pockets. I wonder how long that time really was. It seemed. seemed to me interminable, unbearable. At length I looked round at her. She must have felt my look, for she changed her attitude with a quick, sharp movement and caught my eyes. "'Don't look so sorry, Paul,' she said. "'Don't, please, I can't bear it. There is nothing to be sorry for. I think not at least. You have not done wrong at any rate.'

I felt that I groaned, but I don't think she heard me. And he? The There's no wrong in his marrying, is there? I'm sure I hope will be happy. Oh, how I hope it!" These last words were like a wail, but I believe she was afraid of breaking down, for she changed the key in which she spoke and hurried on. Lucille, that's our English Lucy, I suppose. Lucille Holdsworth, it's a pretty name, and I hope—I forget what I was going to say. Oh, it was this.

"'Paul, I think we need never speak about this. again. Only remember you are not to be sorry. You have not done wrong. You've been very, very kind. And if I see you looking grieved, I don't know what I might do. I might break down, you know.' I think she was on the point of doing so then. But the dark storm came dashing down, and the thunder-cloud broke right above the house, as it seemed. Her mother, roused from sleep, called out for Phyllis. The men and women from the hayfield came running into shelter, drenched through. The minister followed, smiling, and not unpleasantly excited by the war of elements, for by dint of hard work through the long summer's day, the greater part of the hay was

safely housed in the barn in the field. Once or twice in the succeeding bustle I came across Phyllis, always busy, and as it seemed to me always doing the right thing. When I was alone in my own room at night I allowed myself to feel relieved, and to believe that the worst was over, and was not so very bad after all. but the succeeding days were very miserable sometimes i thought it must be my fancy that falsely represented villas to me is strangely changed for surely if this idea of mine was well founded her parents her father and mother her own flesh and blood would have been the first to perceive it yet they went on in their household peace and content if anything a little more cheerfully than usual for the harvest of the first fruits as the minister called it had been more bounteous than usual and there was plenty all around in which the humblest labourer was made to share after the one thunderstorm came one or two lovely serene summer days during which the hay was all carried and then succeeded long soft rains filling the ears of corn and causing the moan grass to spring afresh The minister allowed himself a few more hours of relaxation and home enjoyment than usual during this wet spell. Hard earthbound frost was his winter holiday. These wet days after the hay harvest, his summer holiday. We sat with open windows, the fragrance and the freshness called out by the soft falling rain filling the house-place, while the quiet, ceaseless patter among the leaves outside ought to have had the same lulling effect as all other gentle perpetual sounds, such as mill-wheels and bubbling springs, have all the quiet,

the nerves of happy people. But two of us were not happy. I was sure enough of myself for one. I was worse than sure. I was wretchedly anxious about Phyllis. Ever since that day of the thunderstorm there had been a new, sharp, discordant sound to me in her voice, a sort of jangle in her tone, and her restless eyes had no quietness in them, and a colour came and went without a cause that I could find out. The minister, happy in ignorance of what most concerned him, brought out his books, his learned volumes and classics. Whether he read and talked to Phyllis or to me I do not know, but feeling by instinct that she was not, could not be attending to the peaceful details, so strange and foreign to the turmoil in her heart,

I forced myself to listen, and if possible, to understand. "'Look here,' said the minister, tapping the old vellum-bound book he held. In the first Georgic he speaks of rolling and irrigation, a little further. on he insists on choice of the best seed, and advises us to keep the drains clear. Again, no Scotch farmer could give Truder advice, and to cut light meadows while the doers on, even though it involved night-work. It is all living truth in these days.' He began beating time with a ruler upon his knee, to some Latin lines he read aloud just then. I suppose the monotonous chant irritated Phyllis to some irregular energy, for I remember the

quick knotting and breaking of the thread which she was sewing. I never hear that snap repeated now, without suspecting some sting or stab troubling the heart of the worker. Cousin at a peaceful knitting, noticed the reason why Phyllis had so constantly to interrupt the progress of her seam. "'It is bad thread, I'm afraid,' she said in a gentle, sympathetic voice. But it was too much for Phyllis. The thread is bad. Everything is bad. I am so tired of it all!' And she put down her work, and hastily left the room. I do not suppose that in all her life Phyllis had ever shown so much temper before.

In many a family the tone, the manner would not have been noticed, but here it fell with a sharp surprise upon the sweet calm atmosphere of home. The minister put down ruler and book, and pushed his spectacles up to his forehead. The mother looked distressed for a moment, and then smoothed her features, and said in an explanatory tone. "'It's the weather, I think. Some people feel it different to others. It always brings on a headache with me.'

She got up to follow her daughter, but halfway to the door she thought better of it, and came back to her seat. Good mother. She hoped the better to conceal the unusual spirit of temper by pretending not to take much notice of it. "'Go on, Minister,' she said. "'It is very interesting what you were reading about, and when I don't quite understand it, "'I like the sound of your voice.'

So he went on, but languidly and irregularly, and beat no more time with his ruler to any Latin lines. When the dusk came on, early that July night because of the cloudy sky, Phyllis came softly back, making as though nothing had happened. She took up her work, but it was too dark to do many stitches, and she dropped it soon. Then I saw how her hand stolen to her mothers, and how this latter fondled it with quiet little caresses. while the minister, as fully aware as I was of this tender pantomime, went on talking in a happier tone of voice about things as uninteresting to him at the time, I very believe, as they were to me, and that is saying a good deal, and shows how much more real what was

passing before him was, even to a farmer, than the agricultural customs of the ancients. I remember one thing more, in a tack which Betty the servant made upon me one day as I came in through the kitchen where she was churning, and stopped to ask her for a drink of buttermilk. "'I say, Cousin Paul,' she had adopted the family habit of addressing me as generally as Cousin Paul, and always speaking of me in that form. "'Some things amiss with our phyllis, and I reckon you've a good guess what it is. She's not one to take up with such as you.' "'Not complimentary, but that Betty never was, even to those for whom she felt the highest respect. "'But, I does leave your on Holdsworth, it never come near us. So there you've a bit o my mind.' and a very unsatisfactory bit it was i did not know what to answer to the glimpse at the real state of the case implied in the shrewd woman's speech so i tried to put her off by assuming surprise at her first assertion

a miss with phyllis i should like to know why you think anything is wrong with her she looks as blooming as any one can do poor lad you're but a big child after all and you've likely never heard of a fever flush but you know better nor that my fine fellow So don't think for to put me off with blooms and blossoms and such like talk. What makes her walk about for hours and hours a night when she used to be a bed and asleep? I sleep next room to her, and here her as plain as can be. What makes her come in panting and ready to drop into that chair?' nodding to one close to the door. And it's, oh, Betty, some water, please. That's the way she comes in, no, when she used to come back as fresh and bright as she went out.

If your friend of yours has played her faults, he's a deal for Tancifor. She's a lass who's as sweet and as sound as a nut, and the very apple of her father's eye, and of her mother's too, only where are she ranked second to the minister? I'll have to look after your chap, for I for one will stand no wrong to our Phyllis.' "'What was I to do or to say?' I wanted to justify Holdsworth, to keep Phyllis's secret, and to pacify the woman all in the same breath. I did not take the best course, I'm afraid. I don't believe Holdsworth ever spoke a word of love to her in all his life.

I'm sure he didn't. Aye, aye, but there's eyes and there's hands as well as tongs, and a man has two are one and but one of the other. And she's so young. Do you suppose her parents would not have seen it? Well, if you ask me that, I'll say, oh, boldly, no. They've called her the child so long. The child is always their name.

for her when they talk on her between themselves, as if never anybody else had a Yulam before them, that she's grown up to be a woman under their very eyes, and they look on her still as if she were in her long clothes. And you ne'er heard on a man falling in love with her babie in long-clothes?' "'No,' said I, half laughing, but she went on as grave as a judge. "'Aye, you see your laugh at the bare thought on it, and I'll be bound the minister, though he's not a laughing man, would have sniggled at the notion of fallen in love with the child. Where's Oldsworth off to?'

"'Canada,' said I shortly. "'Canada here, Canada there,' she replied testily. "'Tell me how far he's off, instead of giving me your gibberish. Is he a two-day's journey away, or a three or a week?' "'He's ever so far off, three weeks at the least,' cried I in despair, and he's either married or just going to be. So there.' i expected a fresh burst of anger but no the matter was too serious betty sat down and kept silence for a minute or two she looked so miserable and downcast that i could not help going on and taking her a little into my confidence it is quite true what i said i know he never spoke a word to her i think he liked her but it's all over now the best thing we can do the best and kindest for her and i know you love her betty "'I nursed her in my arms. I gave a little brother his last taste of earthly food,' said Betty, putting her apron up to her eyes. "'Well, don't let us show her that we guess she is grieving. She'll get over it the sooner. Her father and mother don't even guess at it, and we must make as if we didn't. It's too late now to do anything else.

I'll never let on. I know, nout. I've known true love myself and my day. But I wish he'd been fire. before he ever came near this house, with his please betty this and please better that, and drinking up our new milk as if he'd been a cat? I hate such beguiling wheeze. I thought it was as well to let her exhaust herself in abusing the absent holdsworth. If it was shabby and treacherous in me, I came in for my punishment directly. It's a caution to a man how he goes about beguiling. Some men do it as easy and innocent as cooing doves. won't you be none of em, my lad? Not that you've got their gifts to do it, either. You're no great shakes to look at, neither for figure, nor yet for face, and it would need be a deaf adder to be

taken in with your words, though there may be no great harm in them. A lad of nineteen or twenty is not flattered by such outspoken opinion, even from the oldest and ugliest of her sex, and I was only too glad to change the subject by my repeated injunctions to keep Phyllis's secret. The end of our conversation was this speech of hers. You great, Gorpus, for all your called cousin of the minister, many a one is cursed with fools for cousins. Do you think I can't see sense except through your spectacles? I give you leave to cut out my tongue and nail it up on the barn door for a caution to magpies

if I let out on that poor wench, either to herself or anyone else that is hers, as the Bible says. Now you've heard me speak scripture language, perhaps you'll be content, and leave me my kitchen to myself. During all these days, from the 5th of July to the 17th, I must have forgotten what Holdsworth had said about cards. And yet I think I could not have quite forgotten, but once having told Phyllis about his marriage, I must have looked upon the after-consequence of cards as of no importance. At any rate, they came upon me as a surprise at last. The penny post-reform, as people call it, had come into operation a short time before, but the never-ending stream of notes and letters which seem now to flow in upon most households had not yet begun its course, at least in those remote parts. There was a post-office at Hornby, and an old fellow who stowed away the few letters in any or all his pockets as it best suited him, was the letter-carrier to Heathbridge and the neighbourhood. I have often met him in the lanes thereabouts, and asked him for letters.

Sometimes I have come upon him, sitting on the hedge-bank resting, and he has begged me to read him an address, too illegible for his spectacled eyes to decipher. when I used to inquire if he had anything for me, or for Holdsworth. He was not particular to whom he gave up the letters, so that he got rid of them somehow, and could set off homewards. He would say he thought that he had, for such was his invariable safe form of answer, and would fumble in his breast pockets, waistcoat pockets, breach his pockets, and as a last resort in coat-tail pockets, and at length try to comfort me, if I looked disappointed, by telling me, "'Who had missed this time, but were sure to write to-morrow?'

who representing an imaginary sweetheart end of section seven section eight of cousin phyllis this librivox recording is in the public domain recording by elizabeth clutt cousin phyllis by elizabeth gaskell part four section two sometimes i had seen the minister bring home a letter which he had found lying for him at the little shop that was the post-office at heathbridge or from the grander establishment at horse me. Once or twice Josiah, the Carter, remembered that the old letter-carrier had trusted him with an epistle to Meester, as they had met in the lanes. I think it must have been about ten days after my arrival at the farm, and my talk to Phyllis, cutting bread and butter at the kitchen-dresser, before the day on which the minister suddenly spoke at the dinner-table and said, "'By the by, I've got a letter in my pocket. Reach me my coat here, Phyllis.' The weather was still sultry, and the weather was still sultry.

And for coolness and ease the minister was sitting in his shirt-sleeves. I went to Heathbridge about the paper they had sent me, which spoils all the pens, and I called at the post-office and found a letter for me unpaid, and they did not like to trust it towards Echel. I, here it is. Now we shall hear some news of Holdsworth. I thought it'd keep it till we were all together. My heart seemed to stop beating, and I hung my head over my plate, not daring to look up. What would come of it now?

What was Phyllis doing? How was she looking? A moment of suspense. And then he spoke again. Why, what's this? Here are two visiting tickets with his name on. No writing at all. No, it's not his name on both. Mrs. Holdsworth. The young man has gone and got married. I lifted my head at these words. I could not help looking just for one instant at Phyllis. It seemed to me as if she had been keeping watch over my face and ways. Her face was brilliantly flushed. Her eyes were dry and glittering.

But she did not speak. Her lips were set together almost as if she was pinching them tight to prevent words or sounds coming out. Cousin Holman's face expressed surprise and interest. "'Well,' said she, "'who'd have thought it? He's made quick work of his wooing and wedding. I'm sure I wish him happy.' Let me see."

Counting on her fingers. "'October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July—at least we're on the twenty-eighth. It is nearly ten months after all, and reckon a month each way off.' "'Did you know of this news before?' said the minister, turning sharp round on me, surprised, I suppose, at my silence, hardly suspicious as yet. i knew i had heard something it is to a french canadian young lady i went on forcing myself to talk her name is ventador lucille ventador said phyllis in a sharp voice out of tune then you know too exclaimed the minister we both spoke at once i said i heard of the probability of and told phyllis she said he is married

to Lucille Venterdour of French descent, one of a large family near St. Maurice. Am I not right?' I nodded. "'Paul told me. That is all we know. Is not it? Did you see the Houssin's father in Heathbridge?' And she forced herself to talk more than she had done for several days, asking many questions, trying as I could see to keep the conversation off the one raw surface on which to touch was agony. I had less self-command, but I followed her lead. I was not to see to keep the conversation of the conversation. I was not so much absorbed in the conversation but what I could see that the minister was puzzled and uneasy, though he seconded Phyllis's efforts to prevent her mother from occurring to the great piece of news, and uttering continual exclamations of wonder and surprise.

But with that one exception we were all disturbed out of our natural equanimity, more or less. Every day, every hour I was reproaching myself more and more for my blundering officiousness. If only I had held my foolish tongue for that one half-hour. If only I had not been in such impatient haste to do something to relieve pain. I could have knocked my stupid head against the wall and my remorse. Yet all I could do now was to second the brave girl in her efforts to conceal her disappointment and keep her maidenly secret. But I thought that dinner would never, never come to an end.

I suffered for her even more than for myself. Until now everything which I had heard spoken in that happy household were simple words of true meaning. If we had ought to say we said it, and if anyone preferred silence, nay, if all did so, there would have been no spasmodic forced efforts to talk for the sake of talking, or to keep off intrusive thoughts or suspicions. At length we got up from our places and prepared to disperse, but two or three of us had lost our zest and interest in the daily labour. The minister stood looking out of the window in silence, and when he roused himself to go out to the fields where his labourers were working, it was with a sigh, and he tried to avert his troubled face as he passed us on his way to the door. When he had left us, I caught sight of Phyllis's face, as thinking herself unobserved, her countenance relaxed for a moment or two into sad, woeful weariness. She started into briskness again when her mother spoke, and hurried away to do some

little errand at her bidding. When we, too, were alone, cousin Holdman recurred to Holdsworth's marriage. She was one of those people who liked to view an event from every side of probability, or even possibility, and she had been cut short from indulging herself in this way during dinner. To think of Mr. Holdsworth's being married! I can't get over it, Paul! Not but what he was a very nice young man. I don't like her name, though. It sounds foreign. Say it again, my dear. I hope she'll know how to take care of him English fashion. He is not strong, and if she does not see that things are well aired, I should be afraid of the old cough. He always said he was stronger than he'd

been before after that fever. He might think so, but I have my doubts. He was a very pleasant young man, but he did not stand nursing very well. He got tired of being coddled, as he called it. I hope they'll soon come back to England, and then I'll have a chance for his health. I wonder now if she speaks English. But to be sure he can speak foreign tongues like anything, as I've heard the minister say." And so we went on for some time, till she became drowsy over her knitting on the seltry summer afternoon, and I stole away for a walk, for I wondered some solitude in which to think over things, and, alas, to blame myself with poignant stabs of remorse. I lounged lazily as soon as I got to the wood. Here and there the bubbling, brawling brook circled round a great

stone, or the root of an old tree, and made a pool. Otherwise it coursed brightly over the gravel and stones. I stood by one of these for more than half an hour, or indeed longer, throwing bits of wood or pebbles into the water, and wondering what I could do to remedy the present state of things. Of course all my meditation was of no use, and at length the distant sound of the horn employed to tell the men far afield to leave off work, warned me that it was six o'clock, and time for me to go home. Then I caught wafts of the loud-voiced singing of the evening psalm. As I was crossing the ash-field, I saw the minister at some distance talking to a man. I could not hear what they were saying, but I saw an impatient or dissent I could not tell

which, gesture on the part of the former, who walked quickly away and was apparently absorbed in his thoughts, for though he passed within twenty yards of me, as both our paths converged towards home, he took no notice of me. We passed the evening in a way which was even worse than dinner-time. The minister was silent, depressed, even irritable. Poor cousin Holman was utterly perplexed by this unusual frame of mind and temper in her husband. She was not well herself, and was suffering from the extreme and sultry heat, which made a less talkative than usual. Phyllis, usually so reverently tender to her parents, so soft, so gentle, seemed now to take no notice of the unusual state of things, but talked to me, to anyone, on indifferent subjects,

regardless of her father's gravity, of her mother's piteous looks of bewilderment. But once my eyes fell upon her hands, concealed under the table, and I could see the passionate, convulsive manner in which she laced and interlaced her fingers perpetually, ringing them together from time to time, ringing till the compressed flesh became perfectly white. What could I do? I talked with her as I saw she wished. Her grey eyes had dark circles round them, and a strange kind of dark light in them. Her cheeks were flushed, but her lips were white and white.

I wondered that others did not read these signs as clearly as I did. But perhaps they did. I think from what came afterwards the minister did. Poor Cousin Holman! She worshipped her husband, and the outward signs of his uneasiness were mere patent to her simple heart than were her daughters. After a while she could bear it no longer. She got up, and softly laying her hand on his broad stooping shoulder, she said.

"'What is the matter, Minister? Has anything gone wrong?' He started as if from a dream. Phyllis hung her head, and caught her breath in terror at the answer she feared. But he, looking round with a sweeping glance, turned his broad, wise face up to his anxious wife, and forced a smile, and took her hand in a reassuring manner. "'I am blaming myself, dear. I have been overcome with anger this afternoon. I scarcely knew what I was doing, but I turned away at Timothy Cooper. He is killed the ribstone pippin at the corner of the orchard. Gone and piled the quick-lime for the mortar for the new stable-wall against the trunk of the tree. Stupid fellow! Killed the tree outright, and it lorded with apples. And rib-stone pippins are so scarce, said sympathetic Cousin Holman.

Aye, but Timothy is but a half-wit, and he has a wife and children. He had often put me to its awe with his slothful ways, but I had laid it before the Lord and striven to bear with him. But I will not stand it any longer. It's past my patience, and he has noticed to find another place. Why, if we won't talk more about it?' He took her hand gently off his shoulder, touched it with his lips, but relapsed into a silence as profound, if not quite so morose in appearance as before. I could not tell why, but this bit of talk between her father and mother seemed to take all the factitious spirits out of Phyllis. She did not speak now, but looked out of the open caseman at the calm large moon, slowly

moving through the twilight sky. Once I thought her eyes were filling with tears. But if so she shook them off, and arose with alacrity when her mother, tired and dispirited, proposed to go to bed immediately after prayers. We all said good-night in our separate ways to the minister, who still sat at the table with the great Bible open before him, not much looking up at any of our salutations, but but returning them kindly. But when I, last of all, was on the point of leaving the room, he said, still scarcely looking up, "'Paul, you will oblige me by staying here a few minutes.

I would fain have some talk with you.' I knew what was coming all in a moment. I carefully shut to the door, put out my candle, and sat down to my fate. He seemed to find some difficulty in beginning, for if I had not heard what he wanted to speak to me, I should never have guessed it, he seemed so much absorbed in reading a chapter to the end. Suddenly he lifted his head and said, "'It is about that friend of yours, Hordesworth. Paul, have you any reason for thinking he has played tricks upon Phyllis?' I saw that his eyes were blazing with such a fire of anger at the bare idea that I lost all my presence of mind, and only repeated, "'Played tricks on Phyllis.'

"'Aye, you know what I mean. Made love to her. Caught it made her think that he loved her, and then gone away and left her. Put it as you will, only give me an answer of some kind or another—a true answer, I mean, and don't repeat my words, Paul." He was shaking all over as he said this. I did not delay a moment in answering him. I do not believe that Edward Holdsworth ever played tricks on Phyllis, ever made love to her. He never, to my knowledge, made her believe that he loved her. I stopped. I wanted to nerve up my courage for a confession, yet I wished to save the secret of Phyllis's love for Holesworth as much as I could, that secret which she had so striven to keep sacred and safe, and I had need

of some reflection before I went on with what I had to say. He began again before I had quite arranged my manner of speech. It was almost as if to himself. She is my only child, my little daughter. She is hardly out of childhood. I have thought to gather her under my wings for years to come. Her mother and I would lay down our lives to keep her from harm and grief." Then raising his voice and looking at me, he said, "'Something has gone wrong with the child, and it seems to me to date from the time she heard of that marriage. It is hard to think that you may know more of her secret cares and sorrows than I do. But perhaps you do, Paul.

Perhaps you do. Only if it be not a sin, tell me what I can do to make her happy again. Tell me.' "'It will not do much good, I am afraid,' said I. But I will own how wrong I did. I don't mean wrong in the way of sin, but in the way of judgment. Holdsworth told me just before he went that he loved Phyllis, and hoped to make her his wife, and I told her.

There, it was out, all my part in it at least, and I set my lips tight together, and waited for the words to come. I did not see his face. I looked straight at the wall opposite, but I heard him once begin to speak, and then turn over the leaves in his book before him. How awfully still that room was. The air outside, how still it was. The open windows let in no rustle of leaves, no twitter or movement of birds, no sound whatever. The clock on the stairs, the minister's hard breathing. Was it to go on for ever? Impatient beyond bearing at the deep quiet I spoke again. I did it for the best as I thought. The minister shut the book too hastily and stood up. Then I saw her.

how angry he was. "'For the best, do you say? It was best, was it, to go and tell a young girl what you never told a word of to her parents, who trusted you like a son of their own?' He began walking about, up and down the room close under the open windows, churning up his bitter thoughts of me. "'To put such thoughts into the child's head,' continued he, to spoil her peaceful maidenhood with talk about another man's love, and such love, too.

He spoke scornfully now. A love that is ready for any young woman. Oh, the misery in my poor little daughter's face to-day at dinner! The misery, Paul! I thought you were the one to be trusted! Your father's son, too, to go and put such thoughts into the child's mind! You two talking together about that man wishing to marry her. I could not help remembering the pinafore,

the childish garment which Phyllis wore so long, as if her parents were unaware of her progress towards womanhood. Just in the same way the minister spoke in thought of her now as a child whose innocent peace I had spoiled by vain and foolish talk. I knew that the truth was different, though I could hardly have told it now. But indeed I never thought of trying to tell it. It was far from my mind to add one iota to the sorrow which I had caused. The minister went on walking, occasionally stopping to move things on the table or articles of furniture in a sharp, impatient, meaningless way. Then he began again.

So young, so pure from the world. How could you go and talk to such a child, raising hopes, exciting feelings, all to end thus? And best so, even though I saw her poor, piteous face look as it did. I can't forgive you, Paul. It was more than wrong. It was wicked to go and repeat that man's words. His back was now to the door, and in listening to his low angry tones, he did not hear it slowly open, nor did he see Phyllis. standing just within the room until he turned round. Then he stood still. She must have been half undressed, but she had covered herself with a dark winter cloak, which fell in long folds to her white, naked, noiseless feet. Her face was strangely pale, her eyes heavy in the black circles round them. She came up to the table very slowly, and lent her hand upon it, saying mournfully. "'Father, you must not blame Paul. I could not help hearing a great

deal of what you were saying. He did tell me, and perhaps it would have been wise and not, dear, but, oh dear, I am so sick with shame. He told me out of his kind heart, because he saw that I was so very unhappy at his going away. She hung her head, and leant more heavily than before on her supporting hand. "'I don't understand,' said her father, but he was beginning to understand. Phyllis did not answer till he asked her again. I could have struck him now for his cruelty, but then I knew all. "'I loved him, father,' she said at length, raising her eyes to the minister's face. "'Had he ever spoken of love to you? Paul says not.'

"'Never.' She let fall her eyes, and drooped more than ever. I almost thought she would fall. "'I could not have believed it,' said he in a hard voice, yet sighing the moment he had spoken. A dead silence for a moment. Paul, I was unjust to you. You deserved blame, but not all that I said. Then again a silence. I thought I saw Phyllis's white lips moving,

but it might have been the flickering of the candle-light. A moth had flown in through the open casement and was fluttering round the flame. I might have saved it, but I did not care to do so. My heart was too full of other things. At any rate no sound was heard for lodgered. endless minutes. Then he said, Phyllis, did we not make you happy here? Have we not loved you enough? She did not seem to understand the drift of this question. She looked up as if bewildered, and a beautiful eyes, delighted with a painful, tortured expression. He went on

without noticing the look on her face. He did not see it, I am sure. And yet you would have left us—left your home, left your father and your mother, and and gone away with this stranger wandering over the world?" He suffered, too. There were tones of pain in the voice in which she uttered this reproach. Probably the father and daughter were never so far apart in their lives, so unsympathetic. Yet some new terror came over her, and it was to him she turned for help. A shadow came over her face, and she tottered towards her father, falling down her arms

across his knees, and moaning out, father my head my head and then slipped through his quick enfolding arms and lay on the ground at his feet i shall never forget his sudden look of agony while i live never we raised her up her colour had strangely darkened she was insensible i ran through the back kitchen to the yard-pump and brought back water the minister had her on his knees her head against his breast almost as though she were a sleeping child He was trying to rise up with his poor precious burden, but the momentary terror had robbed the strong man of his strength, and he sank back in his chair with a sobbing breath. "'She is not dead. "'Poor! Is she?' he whispered. "'Horse as I came near him.

I too could not speak, but I pointed to the quivering of the muscles round her mouth. Just then, Cousin Holman, attracted by some unwonted sound, came down. I remember I was surprised at the time at her presence of mind. She seemed to know so much better what to do than the minister, in the midst of the sick of fright which blanched her countenance, and made a tremble all over. I think now that it was the recollection of what had gone before, the miserable thought that possibly his words had brought on this attack, whatever it might be, that so unmanned the minister. We carried her upstairs, and while the women were putting her to bed, still unconscious, still slightly convulsed, I slipped out, and

saddled one of the horses, and rode as fast as the heavy-trotting beast could go to Hornby, to find the doctor there, and bring him back. He was out, might be detained the whole night. I remember saying, God help us all, as I sat on my horse, under the window, through which the apprentice's head had appeared to answer my furious tugs at the night-bell. He was a good-natured fellow, he said, "'He may be home in half an hour, there's no knowing, but I dare say he will. I'll send him out to the hope farm directly he comes in. It's that good-looking young woman, Holman's daughter, that's sail, isn't it?' "'Yes.'

"'It would be a pity if she was to go. She's an only child, isn't she? I'll get up and smoke a pipe in the surgery, ready for the governess coming home. I might go to sleep if I went to bed again.' "'Thank you. You're a good fellow.' And I rode back almost as quickly as I came. It was a brain fever. The doctor said so when he came in the early summer morning. I believe we had come to know the nature of the illness in the night-watches that had gone before. As to hope of ultimate recovery, or even evil prophecy of the probable end, the cautious doctor would be entrapped into neither. He gave his directions, and promised to come again,

so soon that this one thing showed his opinion of the gravity of the case. By God's mercy she recovered, but it was a long, weary time, first. According to the previously made plans, I was to have gone home at the beginning of August, But all such ideas were put aside now, without a word being spoken. I really think that I was necessary in the house, and especially necessary to the minister at this time. My father was the last man in the world under such circumstances to expect me home. I say I think I was necessary in the house. Every person—I had almost said every creature, for all the dumb beasts seem to know and love Phyllis,

about the place went grieving and sad, as though a cloud was over the sun. They did their work, each striving to steer clear of the temptation to eye service, in fulfilment of the trust reposed to them, by the minister. For the day after Phyllis had been taken ill, he had called all the men employed on the farm into the empty barn, and there he had entreated their prayers for his only child, and then and there he had told them of his present incapacity for thought about any other thing in this world but his little daughter, lying nigh unto death, and he had asked them to go on with their daily labours as best they could, without his direction. So, as I say, these honest men did their work to the best of their ability, but they

slouched along with sad and careful faces, coming one by one in the dim mornings to ask news of the sorrow that overshadowed the house, and receiving Betty's intelligence, always rather darkened by passing through her mind, with slow shakes of the head, and a dull wistfulness of sympathy. But poor fellows, they were hardly fit to be trusted with hasty messages, and here my poor All services came in. One time I was to ride hard to Sir William Bentnick's, and petitioned for ice out of his ice-house, to put on Phyllis's head.

Another it was to Eltham I was to go by train, horse, anyhow, and bid the doctor there come for a consultation, for fresh symptoms had occurred, which Mr. Brown of Hornby considered unfavourable. Many an hour I have sat on the window-seat, half-way up the stairs, close by the old clock, listening in the hot stillness of the house for the sounds in the sick-room. The minister and I met often, but spoke together seldom. He looked so old, so old. He shared the nursing with his wife.

The strength that was needed seemed to be given to them both in that day. They required no one else about their child. Every office about her was sacred to them. Even Betty only went into the room for the most necessary purposes. Once I saw Phyllis through the open door, her pretty golden hair had been cut off long before, Her head was covered with wet cloths, and she was moving it backwards and forwards on the pillow, with weary, never-ending motion, her poor eyes shut, trying in the old accustomed way,

to croon out a hymn-toon, but perpetually breaking it up into moans of pain. Her mother sat by her, tearless, changing the cloths upon her head with patient solicitude. I did not see the minister at first, but there he was in a dark corner. Down upon his knees, His hands clasped together in passionate prayer. Then the door shut, and I saw no more. One day he was wanted, and I had to summon him. Brother Robinson and another minister, hearing of his trial, had come to see him. I told him this upon the stair-landing in a whisper.

He was strangely troubled. They will want me to lay bare my heart. I cannot do it. Paul stay with me. They mean, well, but as for spiritual help at such a time. it is god only god only who can give it so i went in with him they were two ministers from the neighbourhood both older than emmeneza homeman but evidently inferior to him in education and worldly position i thought they looked at me as if an intruder but remembering the minister's words i held my ground and took up one of poor phyllis's books of which i could not read a word to have an ostensible occupation presently i was asked to engage in prayer and we all knelt down brother robinson leading and quoting largely as i remember from the book of job he seemed to take for his text if texts are ever taken for prayers

behold thou hast instructed many but now it has come upon thee and thou faintest it touches thee and thou art troubled when the others rose up the minister continued for some minutes on his knees then he too got up and stood facing us for a moment before we sat down again in conclave after a pause robinson began we grieve for you brother holman for your trouble is great but we fain have you remember you are as light set on a hill and the conglue are looking at you with watchful eyes. We have been talking as we came along on the two duties required of you in this strait, brother Hodgson and me, and we have resolved as showing forth an example of resignation." Poor Mr. Holman visibly winced at this word. I could fancy how he had tossed aside such brotherly preachings in his happier moments, but now his whole system was unstrung, and resignation seemed to term which presupposed that the dreaded misery of losing Phyllis was inevitable.

But good, stupid, Mr. Robinson went on. We hear on all sides that there are scarce any hopes of your child's recovery, and it may be well to bring it to mind of Abraham, and how he was willing to kill his only child when the Lord commanded. Take example by him, Brother Holman, let us hear what you say. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." There was a pause of expectancy.

I verily believe the minister tried to feel it. But he could not. Heart of flesh was too strong. Heart of stone he had not. "'I will say it to my God, when he gives me strength, when the day it comes,' he spoke at last. The other two looked at each other and shook their heads. I think the reluctance to answer as they wished was not quite unexpected. The minister went on. "'There are vet,' he said as if to himself. "'God has given me a great heart for hoping, and I will not look forward

beyond the hour. Then turning more to them and speaking louder, he added, "'Brethren, God will strengthen me when the time comes, when such resignation as you speak of is needed. Till then I cannot feel it, and what I do not feel I will not express, using words as if they were a charm.' He was getting chafed, I could see. He had rather put them out by these speeches of his, but after a short time and some more shakes of the head, Robinson began again. Secondly, we would have you listen to the voice of the rot, and ask yourself for what sins this trial has been laid upon you, whether you may not have been too much given up to your farm and your cattle, whether this world's learning is not puffed you up to vain

conceit and neglect of the things of God, whether you have not made an idol of your daughter. I cannot answer. I will not answer, exclaimed the minister, my sins I confess to God, but if they were scarlet, and they are so. in his sight,' he added humbly. "'I hold with Christ that afflictions are not sent by God in wrath as penalties for sin.' "'Is that orthodox, brother Robinson?' asked the third minister, in a deferential tone of inquiry. Despite the minister's injunction not to leave him, I thought matters were getting so serious that a little homely interruption would be more to the purpose than my continued presence,

and I went round to the kitchen to ask for Betty's help. "'Od Rotham,' said she, "'they're always a-comin' at ill-convenient times, "'and they have such hearty appetites. "'I'll make nothing of what would have served Master and you "'since our poor lass has been ill. "'I've put a bit of cold beef in the house, "'but I'll do some ham and eggs,

"'and that'll wrote him from worrying the Minister. "'There are a deal quieter after they'd had their vittle. "'Last time his old Robinson came, "'he was very reprehensible upon Master's learning, "'which he couldn't compass to save his life, so he needn't have been afeard of that temptation, and used words long enough to have knocked a body down. But after me and Mrs. have given him his fill a vittle, and it had some good ale and a pipe, he spoke just like any other man, and could crack a joke with me. Their visit was the only break

in the long, weary days and nights. I do not mean that no other inquiries were made. I believe that all the neighbours hung about the place daily till they could learn from some outcome are how Phyllis Holman was. But they knew better than to come up to the house, for the August weather was so hot that every door and window was kept constantly open, and the least sound outside penetrated all through. I am sure the cocks and hens had a sad time of it, for betty drove them all into an empty barn, and kept them fastened up in the dark for several days, with very little effect as regarded their crowing and clacking. At length came asleep which was the crisis, and from which she wakened up with a new faint life. Her slumber

had lasted many, many hours. We scarcely dared to breathe or move during the time. We had striven for hope so long that we were sick at heart, and durst not trust in the favourable signs, the even breathing, the moistened skin, the slight return of delicate colour into the pale wan lips. I recollect stealing out that evening in the dusk, and wandering down the grassy lane under the shadow of the over-arching elms to the little bridge at the foot of the hill, where the lane to the Hope Farm joined another road to Hornby. On the low parapet of that bridge, I found Timothy Cooper, the stupid, half-witted labourer, sitting idly throwing bits of mortar into the brook below. He just looked up at me as I came near, but gave me no greeting either by word or gesture.

He had generally made some sign of recognition to me, but this time I thought he was sullen at being dismissed. Nevertheless I felt as if it would be a to talk a little to someone, and I sat down by him. When I was thinking how to begin, he yawned weirdly. "'You were tired, Tim,' said I. "'Aye,' said he, "'but I reckon I may go home now.' "'Have you been sitting here long?' "'Well, all day long. Leastways since seven in the morning.' "'Why, what in the world have you been doing?'

"'Now't.' "'Why have you been sitting here, then?' "'To keep car. off." He was up now, stretching himself and shaking his lovely limbs. "'Carts? What carts?' "'Cats is might a-waken you wench. It's Hornby market-day. I reckon you're no better than a half-wit yourself.'

He cocked his eye at me as if you were gauging my intellect. "'And have you been sitting here all day to keep the lane quiet?' "'I have not else to do. The minister has turned me adrift. How you heard of this lass as sparen to-night?" They hope shall waken better for this long sleep. Good-night to you, and God bless you, Timothy," said I." He scarcely took any notice of my words, as he lumbered across a stile that led to his cottage.

Presently I went home to the farm. Phyllis had stirred, had spoken two or three faint words. Her mother was with her, dropping nourishment into her scarce conscious mouth. The rest of the household was summoned to evening prayer for the first time for many days. It was returned to the daily habits of happiness and health. But in these silent days our very lives had been an unspoken prayer. Now we met in the house-place, and looked at each other with strange recognition of the thankfulness on all our faces. We knelt down. We waited for the minister's voice. He did not begin as usual. He could not. He was choking. Presently we

heard the strong man sob. Then old John turned round on his knees and said, minister i reckon we have blessed the lord be all our souls though we've ne'er talked about it and maybe'll not need spoken words this night god bless us all and keep our phyllis safe from arm amen old john's impromptu prayer was all we had that night our phyllis as he called her grew better day by day from that time not quickly i sometimes grew desponding and feared that she would never be what she had been before no more she had been before no more she had in some ways. I seized an early opportunity to tell the minister about Timothy Cooper's unsolicited watch on the bridge during the long summer's day. "'God forgive me,' said the minister. "'I've been too proud in my own conceit. The first steps I take out of this house shall be to Cooper's cottage.'

I need hardly say that Timothy was reinstated in his place on the farm, and I have often since admired the patience with which his master tried to teach him how to do the easy work, which was henceforward carefully adjusted to his capacity. Phyllis was carried downstairs, and lay for hour after hour quite silent on the great sofa, drawn up under the windows of the house-place. She seemed always the same, gentle, quiet, and sad. Her energy did not return with her bodily strength. It was sometimes pitiful to see her parents' vain endeavours to rouse her to interest.

One day the minister brought her to a set of blue ribbons, reminding her with a tender smile of a former conversation in which she had owned to a love of such feminine vanities she spoke gratefully to him but when he was gone she laid them on one side and languidly shut her eyes another time i saw her mother bring her the latin and italian books that she had been so fond of before her illness or rather before holdsworth had gone away that was the worst of all she turned her face to the wall and cried as soon as her mother's back was turned Betty was laying the cloth for the early dinner. Her sharp eyes saw the state of the case. "'Now, Phyllis,' said she, coming up to the sofa, "'we had done or we can for you, and the doctors has done all they can for you, and I think the Lord has done or he can for you, and more than you deserve, too, if you don't do something for yourself. If I were you,

would rise up and snuff the moon sooner than break your fathers and your mother's arts with watching and waiting till it pleases you'd fight your own way back to cheerful There, I never favoured long preachings, and I've had my say." A day or two after Phyllis asked me when we were alone, if I thought my father and mother would allow her to go and stay with them for a couple of months. She blushed a little as she faltered out her wish, for a change of thought and scene. Only for a short time, Paul. Then we will go back to the peace of the old days.

I know we shall. I can. And I will. End of Section 8. End of Cousin Phyllis. By Elizabeth Gaskell.