Annette Lyster

“ From that time Frank's resting-place was kept in the most beautiful order. Betty could always spare a few plants for this purpose, and Fred cut the grass with shears, and trimmed and tended it, until it was a wonder for colour and smoothness.
After a time, the boy began to speak more frequently, and the doctor put him to school, where he soon surprised the schoolmaster by his quickness and ability. But he did not care to join the boys on the green, unless they were playing cricket or football. In these, he soon excelled, but for a mere game of romps he did not care at all. ”

“ Poor Janet! She would not have admitted to any one, even to herself, that she in the least distrusted her husband. Yet, in doing this, she was unconsciously influenced by a touch of distrust. She felt that if she kept money enough to take her and the boys out, maybe Fred would go on just keeping himself; he had never taken kindly to steady, dull work, and this kind of life might have some strange attraction for him. ”

“ But do not build too much upon it, Janet, my darling; I fear it was but too plain that our boys were lost in the Kelmer."
"I have never been able to believe it; and, you see, Mrs. Rayburn has felt the same. But what do you think of doing, Fred?"
"I shall go to England as soon as I can be ready, and go direct to this place, Edgestone, near Cirencester. The truth must be easily ascertained on the spot. My fear is that her conscience, poor soul, being so burthened, she was startled by an accidental likeness—and the name being Frederick, and the young man an adopted son." ”

“ The sinners, however, were not there to be pounced upon.
After a few moments Mrs. Rayburn's pretended doze turned into a real one, and she filled the cosy room with portentous snores. She woke up suddenly in a fright.
"Bother those boys!" she exclaimed. "Where on earth are they hid?" And, getting up, she began a systematic search. They were not in her rooms, she soon discovered, so she went out into the hall and began poking about behind the suits of armour that stood like ghostly sentinels round the walls. She was thus engaged when Jacob drove up to the porch. ”

“ At first, Janet tried to turn his thoughts into some other channel; but Frank still "wanted Lily," and at last Janet began to comfort him by telling him that Lily had gone to heaven, and was very happy—every one was happy there.
"Who takes care of her, muddie?"
"God, my dear."
"Does He love her?"
"Oh, yes; very much!"
Frank thought this over for a while, and presently remarked—
"But we love her too. Oh, I want Lily back again, muddie!"
"She cannot come," poor Janet said slowly; "but you must be very good, and then some day you will go to heaven too, and see her again." ”

“ I shall take them to Kelmersdale Castle, near Rugeley, where their grandmother is the housekeeper. If she can keep them, I am to leave them with her for a time."
"Well, good-bye, good-bye," said Mr. Gair, retreating hastily towards his private room, for his sons were wont to laugh at him for being always ready to interest himself in any one. But he took a parting glance at Janet, and something in the youth, sweetness, and determination in her face touched his heart. Muttering, "I will now; they may say what they like, just for once I will please myself," back he came. ”

“ A tolerably good clerk is all you are, my boy, and now you have not even an unblemished character. I should have to work all the same, and maybe for them as well as for myself. No, thank you, Mr. Fred; it is not playing the flute that will help you now, and if my lord will get me a snug place, as he offered to do when poor mother died, I don't want to have you on my hands. I think I was a fool not to take the offer then. What great good has my marriage done me? By the way, Janet has a brother somewhere, doing well, if I remember right. But no, Fred is not likely to do well after all this ”

“ As she had before given Lord Beaucourt to understand that Fred Rayburn was a ne'er-do-weel, who had ruined her, and his wife a silly, shiftless body, who never saw what mischief was going on, while she herself was a most amiable, trustful being, whose little all had been made away with by this thriftless pair, the earl was quite ready to pity her. He wrote that he was sorry that she had new difficulties with her stepson, but that the children would be in no one's way at Kelmersdale, and she could keep them, if she liked. ”

“ I hope the darling boys have not forgotten grandma. I seem to hear Frank calling me, dear little rogue. Some day you must all come and pay me a visit; I know my lord will give leave.
"You say the boys go to school, but in the summer holidays they might be glad of a change. But take my advice and get after Fred as soon as you can; don't lose your hold over him, it will be the ruin of him.
"Ever your affectionate mother,
"LYDIA RAYBURN."
"Oh, I wish people would not say things like this to me!" ”

“ How she remembered her route, as sent her by Gilbert, how she contrived to drag herself from place to place, and to keep her luggage together—but that is, I believe, easier in Canada than at home—she never could remember. Her head ached so dreadfully that the effort of moving or speaking was agony, and every now and then she lost all sense of her present surroundings and fell into a half-conscious state of fear and misery, only to be realized by those who have endured the slow coming-on of a bad fever. ”

“ Lily would have been "suffered" to go to Him. It was a ray of comfort—just a ray of that "Light that lighteth every man"—the first that had shone into Janet's heart. But the rays of that Sun have a most wonderful power of increasing and brightening. Janet soon read her Bible for other things besides a need of comfort. She was not clever, but she had plenty of good sense; and before long, she was a different woman, and her two little boys were carefully taught and trained. ”

“ There was no doubt that the Frederick Rayburn so sentenced was really Hopper and Mason's late manager, for Martin had been present at the trial, and knew him very well.
"Here's a pretty kettle of fish, Maria!" Mrs. Rayburn cried, as the girl entered her sitting-room just as she finished reading all this. "There's my precious stepson been cheating right and left, somewhere in Canada, and sent to jail for it, and no doubt, he and his wife mean to make off as soon as he gets out, and leave the boys to me! And what can I do but send them to the workhouse?"
"The poor little things!" said Maria. ”

“ But wait a bit, Miss Lydia Thompson; you're not Mrs. Rayburn yet, nor shall be if I can help it."
She sat meditating various ways of putting an end to the courtship, which, I may remark, was not yet begun. Miss Lydia had as yet no idea of the promotion that lay within her reach. But Judith was no witch, and she could devise no better plan than to amend her ways, give fewer tea-parties, cook the dinners decently, and dust the furniture; nay, she even determined to polish Fred's boots. ”

“ I am to go to Gattigo to my brother, and Fred will meet me there, and when we know where we shall settle, we will get the boys out. It will not be for long. Gilbert thinks of setting up an hotel in Gattigo, with Fred and me to manage it. And when we are quite settled, and can make you comfortable, you must come out to us, grandma. However pleasant things may be made for you here, it is not like being in your own house with your own people."
"No, indeed, Janet, it's a deadly dull life here for one used to sociability and a large town. I often think of Hemsborough and the dear old gatehouse. ”

“ It is only right that Fred should go out to you, but it would be hard on Alick to be left alone. I shall be happy about him now."
"I am sure of one thing—Dr. Wentworth will be Fred's first thought," said Janet, earnestly. "And I am glad to know your wishes. My husband cannot be absent from Gattigo much longer, but this makes it possible to arrange matters."
"Tell me, Janet—I know you wrote to that dreadful woman, Mr. Rayburn's stepmother—have you had an answer?"
"No; but I hope she will write. Poor, unhappy woman!"
"I hardly think she will. She must feel like a murderer." ”

“ But if he is a fine, clever lad, one would give him a chance for his own sake. What did you think of? You are well off, and we have no—no one to come after us, Alick. We might well do this."
Dr. Wentworth's worn face brightened.
"I was half afraid you might dislike the idea of having a boy about the house, dear."
"About the house," she said, with a start, "did you say? I did not understand at first. But no, Alick, I do not object at all. It would be an interest for you."
"My idea is to train him to help me in the dispensary; Mark Fletcher will soon be leaving me. ”

“ Goodness knows how you're to get a dinner when my lord puts you out of this, and it stands to reason he will not keep you for ever."
"I can't eat. It's not that I believe it; muddie would never leave us here always—she wants us—but—but—" the clear little voice broke down—"muddie will come for us soon," he said, with a sob.
"I wish I could think so," Mrs. Rayburn said dolefully, "for I see nothing before you but the poorhouse. What's that, Maria?" ”

“ Next day there was an inquest, and Fred was to have been questioned as to the name borne by himself and his brother, and how they came to be wandering about in this forlorn way. But Fred was in no condition to be examined.
When he awoke, he began calling for "Fwank," and searching for him, with tears and lamentations, looking everywhere for him, and calling incessantly. ”

“ Frank was a very loving little fellow, and long after they hoped he would have forgotten his playfellow, he would begin to cry at the sight of some toy or picture which reminded him of her, and his words:
"Where is Lily? Oh, I want Lily," went to his mother's heart. ”

“ Fred sends you his love. He is now quite well, and only longing to be at work in some way. While on his way to join my brother, he met an old acquaintance who had set up in business in New Durham, and who cheated him, poor fellow! out of all his money, and then ran away, leaving him to be suspected of all sorts of dishonesty. And he managed so that poor Fred could not prove his innocence, nor could my brother, though he felt quite sure of it. However, our troubles are over now, I hope, and a new life about to begin. I only want my boys to make me as happy as ever. ”

“ I could not think any one could be so like your husband but little Fred, who was always so like him. But he calls himself Frederick Giles, and when I was well and left the hospital, I found out where he was lodging, and made what inquiry I could. He comes from a place near Cirencester, called Edgestone, and he had gone home. I could do no more, having no money but what would take me home to my sister's house in Hemsborough. I am weak and ill, more in mind than in body, and so the best thing I can do is to tell you this, and if you tell me what to do, I will do it. ”

“ In one of the outlying cottages—a small white one, containing but two rooms, but standing in a little garden always full of bright flowers, as indeed were the two clean windows, and even the tiny back yard—in this cottage lived a little old woman, whose name was Betty Giles. She had been a servant in her youth; then she married, and brought up a numerous family. Her husband was a good, steady man, and her married life had been happy. Then her husband died, and she was left alone, for her boys were married, and her girls either married or in service. ”

“ Maria departed, and Mrs. Rayburn went on.
"So you have a holiday—how long is it, Janet? I hope you can stay some time. My lord is never here except during the shooting season, when he has a party for the sport; so I can do just as I like. And I advise you to leave the children with me just for a bit—just till Frank picks up a colour and a little flesh. He looks very peaky."
"Yes; Liverpool does not agree with him. May the boys run out and play in the court, Mrs. Rayburn? I want to talk to you alone." ”

“ As soon as ever it is known that I am dismissed, Henley will begin proceedings; but I won't go without you and the boys. Let us get away to-night; we'll go to America. I may get employment there. I must pay that money. Poor father, if he only knew! But the great thing is to get away."
"I wonder, Fred, would Mrs. Rayburn lend you money enough to pay Henley? Then you could stay here, where you are known, and—"
"Janet, Janet, do you not yet understand that to go where I am not known is my only chance? But certainly if I could quiet Henley, it would be a great thing, and I know she has money. ”

“ Business men have to be guided by rules that seem harsh to women, I am sure. Only remember, if you ever feel that there is anything I can do, you have my address. It will give me real pleasure to help you, Mrs. Rayburn."
He bowed and withdrew, and old Mrs. Rayburn gave young Mrs. Rayburn a lecture for being so proud and so foolish.
"I cannot help it," Janet said. "Did you remark how it was all that he wished to help me; not a word of kindness for Fred, who has worked under him so long? ”