Village Belles

Do you? Dear me, I am very sorry

"Lewis is gone to Chedworth, is he not ?" said Hannah. "Yes-to Mr. Bateman's."

How long will he be on the road?"

"A day and a half, or perhaps two days."

Perhaps he may return this way to Stoke Barton.”

No, he means to take the western road."

Huntley, not finding the conversation very enlivening, began to wash his brushes.

"Are you for walking to-day, Huntley ?" said Mr. Russell, after another pause.

"With all my heart," said Huntley cheerfully, "if you will wait till I have packed up my tools."

"Well, then, I am your man, for I want a brisk walk and an exciting companion to rouse my lazy spirits this morning." "I am ready," said Huntley, locking his box, and rapidly removing his easel.

"So am I then," said Mr. Russell, taking up his hat. "Good morning, Mrs. Wellford; good b'ye, Hannah;-good morning, Rosina."

They left the room; but Huntley presently returned for one of his gloves. "I fear I shall not have a very lively companion, this morning," muttered he with a smile, as he passed Rosina.

What in the world can have made Mr. Russell so illtempered to-day?" cried she, as soon as the gentlemen were out of hearing. "He was downright cross, surly, and disagreeable."

"he

Hush, my dear Rosina," returned Hannah gently; is only vexed and out of spirits at having unexpectedly lost Lewis."

Unexpectedly lost Lewis, indeed!" repeated Rosina. "Did the man think he was going to live here all his life?— If he did, he was very foolish, I can tell him!"

This was not destined to be the pleasantest day of Rosina's life. Matthew came in the evening, to drink tea with his mother and sisters. Rosina was alone in the parlour on his entrance. He had scarcely inquired after his mother, when he exclaimed in a vexed tone," Why, Rosina! Lewis Pennington is gone!"

"Yes, so I find.”

66 So you find?-How came he to go off so suddenly?" "I do not know what you call sudden-he was not a fixture here, was he?”

"A fixture? no-but considering he was not limited to time, and that every body in Summerfield had been very civil to him, I should have thought he would have given us a little notice of his intentions, and taken leave of his friends. 'Sow a card, and reap an invitation,' you know, and vice versâ. I never was more surprised in my life than when he stopped his horse at the gate for a moment this morning, and told me he was on his way to Chedworth. Mrs. Good had not the least idea of his going, and of course, must feel a little hurt at his not calling on her."

Mrs. Wellford now entering, Matthew went over the substance of all he had been saying before.

"If Lewis had taken leave of Mrs. Good," said Mrs. Wellford, "it would be more than he has done to us."

Well, it is a queer business altogether, mother.

that Rosina, here, could tell us something about it."

I think

"I, Matthew? Pray do not talk such nonsense," cried she, colouring deeply, and seeking, she did not exactly know what, in her work-basket.

"I do think so, though, Rosina."

"You think wrong.'

Come, now, Rosy, be candid."

Her mother's eyes were fixed on her, and Matthew's arm was round her waist.

Pray, Matthew, leave me alone," said she with eyes full of tears, "I cannot bear it."

him, she left the room.

And disengaging herself from

What do you think now, mother?" said Matthew.

"I hardly know what to think," said Mrs. Wellford, uneasily. "You had better not renew the subject when she returns; perhaps she will speak candidly to me, if we let her take her own time. Possibly she may have been disappointed in the extent of Lewis's affection. She could hardly expect him to speak openly yet. He may have been afraid of going too far without his father's consent, and resolved to break all off till that was secured. His head-ache yesterday, was very likely brought on by mental uneasiness."

Matthew scrupulously abstained from mentioning Lewis again. Rosina, however, throughout the evening, dreaded the renewal of the subject, and felt fidgetty whenever her her mother's eyes were upon her. How very pleasant it is to have had an offer!

CHAPTER XXI.

VIOLETS.

A SECOND little rose-coloured note from Miss Pakenham, reminded Rosina of her promised visit, and claimed her as Mrs. Shivers's guest on the following Friday. Engrossed as Rosina's mind was by Huntley, his image had now to hold divided empire with lawns, jaconets, and book-muslins, which rendered her heart not unlike that dissected by the Spectator.

One sitting more was to complete her portrait. On the Saturday of this busy week, Mr. Huntley called at the cottage rather later than was his wont, with a roll of music in his hand, which, after paying his compliments to the ladies, he proceeded to unfold.

"Here are a few songs," said he to Rosina, "which I believe you have never tried-I desired my sister to rummage them out of some old port-folios of mine and to send them down in hopes they might afford you a little amusement."

"How very kind!" said Rosina, colouring and looking towards her mother. Then hastily glancing over the songs, -“Rossini, Cimarosa, Carafa,-how very charming!—A sister, have you, Mr. Huntley? You never mentioned her before-is she young ???

"Yes, about Miss Wellford's age, I should suppose." 77 And her name

Emmeline."

Emmeline! what a beautiful name! Is she very pretty?" "Oh, well enough," said Huntley, carelessly. "Come, will you try this duett, 'Oh, notte soave?' It is very beau

tiful."

Will you explain the words to me first, Mr. Huntley? I do not like singing what I do not understand-it is so difficult to give the right expression."

Huntley took up the songs, one after another, and literally translated them. He even wrote down the English words under the Italian with his pencil. "It is a pity you do not study Italian," said he. It is the sweetest and most feminine language in the world. Besides, Italy boasts so many fine poets, whom you can only imperfectly relish through the medium of translations."

VOL. I.-P.

"Oh! I should like to understand it extreraely, but I have neither teacher nor books."

"I principally taught myself," said Huntley, "and if they will be of any service to you or your sister, I shall have pleasure in sending for my Italian books from town."

"I think," said Mrs. Wellford, "Rosina will hardly have leisure or perseverance

Surely, I am not wanting in perseverance ?" interrupted Rosina, with a mortified air. "You know, mamma, Miss

Pakenham reads Italian; and perhaps, when I am at the Pleasance, she will give me a little instruction. I may not have such another opportunity."

"Are you going from home?" cried Huntley.

"Yes; I am going to Mrs. Shivers's on Friday."

"Huntley's eyes flashed with a momentary expression which was quite inexplicable to Rosina. She tried to fancy it was only surprise, and yet it had seemed like exultation.

The

'Well, I must try to get on with your sister's picture, and surprise you on your return," said he, unable to prevent a look of complacence from stealing over his features. Pleasance is a very beautiful place, is not it? You must take your sketch-book with you, and endeavour to seize some of its finest points of view." After a short silence, he rose and wished good morning, forgetting his proposal to take part in Oh, notte soave!"

Rosina remained thoughtfully leaning over the songs. Mr. Huntley did not mean that music to be accepted as a present, did he, Rosina ?" said Mrs. Wellford.

"I do not know, mamma," said she, starting. 'Why do

you ask?"

"Because I should not wish it to be accepted. not be right."

It would

Oh, Mr.

No, certainly not," said Rosina, colouring. Huntley never thought of such a thing. He only meant to lend it."

You know he said that his sister had found the songs in an old port-folio," said Hannah.

"They look new and clean, however," said Mrs. Wellford. "Here is one which is soiled," said Rosina. Oh, we need not doubt his word. Even if he has been so gallant as to buy them and invent the story of the port-folio, we need not be so scrupulous as to institute an inquiry. Surely that would be wrong."

"And unnecessary," said Mr. Wellford.

All that I beg is, that the songs may be learned or copied, but not kept." Rosina instantly looked for some music paper, and the afternoon was spent in alternately copying and practising Mr. Huntley's songs.

On Monday she sat to him for the last time; and again a little circumstance happened which gave her uneasiness. The day was so fine that they had resumed their seats in the garden; and as Hannah stood looking at her sister's picture, she took a rose and some mignionette which had somewhat faded, from her bosom, and threw them away. Huntley finished his morning's work; and the ladies, who were going to Hexley, returned to the house to dress themselves for the walk. Rosina, however, missed her handkerchief, and returned back to look for it. She saw Huntley, whose back was towards her, stoop eagerly to pick up the discarded flowers, press them to his lips with energy, and hastily conceal them. Rosina stood transfixed for a moment, and then hurriedly retraced her steps. No sooner was she out of sight than she stopped, her cheeks in a glow, to consider what had happened. Here had been no artifice, no attempt at effect. Huntley could not have suspected that a creature was near him. His action had been the romantic and spontaneous result of his feelings. Rosina was bewildered, amazed, and angry, yet could hardly tolerate her own suspicions. Smothering conviction under the persuasion that she must have been mistaken, she entered the house. But although Rosina tried to deceive herself, she could not maintain her usual ease of manner towards Mr. Huntley. She coldly drew back from his offered arm as he prepared to accompany them on their walk, and took that of her mother. He deserves a little punishment at any rate," thought she. Huntley, rather surprised, but not a whit disappointed, offered the rejected arm to Hannah, and seemed little sensible of the designed mortification. Mrs. Wellford and Hannah were equally cheerful, and Rosina alone was sad and silent.

In the evening, Matthew drank tea with his family; and an important question was discussed. How could Rosina be conveyed to the Pleasance? Miss Pakenham had made no mention of Mrs. Shivers's carriage, and though this might be from forgetfulness, it was awkward to depend upon an uncertainty. Mr. Good's gig-! Did Matthew think it would be asking too much, to request that he might drive his sister over? Would Mr. Good be affronted? Would it be putting him to much inconvenience? Matthew did not know. As to

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Village Belles: A Novel, Band 1