Louisa Crow

“ To trace the future career of the Aylmer family is scarcely necessary. The faithful Grace is the wife of one who values her as she deserves; and the lessons of adversity have borne fair fruit, as the good deeds of Arthur and Ethelind continually testify.
Nor was Annie Thorley’s life an unhappy one. The reward of unruffled happiness in this world is not so commonly meted to us as novelists might lead their readers to suppose; but the deeper and truer bliss of looking forward to a home where there shall be no more weeping, is within the reach of all ”

“ On the day of interment she returned. That she had visited Holsby in the interim was apparent from the fact that the owner of Bickley Farm suddenly disappeared, leaving behind him his wife, and all the flocks and herds it had been his pride to gather together. It was whispered—perhaps truly—that he had been seen on board a ship bound for the Australian diggings, for John Thorley visited England no more.
Into the hands of Arthur Annie put the leases of the farm and all the house-property that Ralph had amassed since the discovery of the chest. ”

“ With joyful heart methought I heard the waving fir-tree boughs
Say, as the soft wind through them sang, ‘Such fond words must be true.
Ah! happy, happy Marian! he loves and loves but you!’
“We parted—homeward went your steps, but mine here linger’d still,
Lest other eyes should guess what hopes my flutt’ring bosom fill;
But as I mused, another song the trees sang in mine ear,—
Ah, simple, simple Marian! Doubt, maiden, doubt and fear!’
“Then askèd I my sinking heart—Can such change be in life? ”

“ And the bright-eye tapestried each sunny bank,
⁠The blue-bells tinted each glade,
And the plenteous cowslip beneath our feet
⁠A golden carpeting laid:
Then I wove wild blossoms to crown my love,
⁠A queen on a throne of hay ”

“ VI.
“And I shrink, I shrink from the coming storms,
Thy courage may haply brave—
Lest these clinging arms in my selfish dread,
When the smiling moments of youth have fled
May gulph thee, too, in the wave!” ”

“ Look at me! do I look like a man to be frightened out of my purpose by a weak, silly girl, already believed insane! Swear to keep what you know a secret, and I have done with you; but unless you take the oath I shall propose———you have heard the consequence. ”

“ And the portrait of my lady
⁠Wears the look it wore before.
Madam, see, my work is ended—”
⁠Sinks his voice, his face grows pale,
Twilight deepens into darkness
⁠While he falters through his tale. ”

“ Annie was no heroine; of her brother she had always stood in awe; and now, as his brawuy hands held her with a vice-like te- nacity, her utter helplessness appalled her. He saw the advantage.
"Will you swear ?"
"Never!" "cried Annie. "Father, father! save me! Can you sit by and see me so cruelly used ?"
But Ralph was deaf to the appeal.
"You will not swear?" said John deliberately. "Father, come here."
He rose in obedience to the imperative call.
"Our lives are not safe with a mad woman in the house. Call up one of the shepherds, and bid him go to the town for a fly." ”

“ Altering here, and there retouching
⁠Mistress Edith’s pictured face—
Heedless, in his deep abstraction,
⁠How night draweth on apace.
Now he sighs and drops the palette—
⁠Art indeed can do no more ”

“ I was taking tickets for Kiel, when the kind little Danish guard recommended all who were for Copenhagen (pronounced Shöbnhafn very quickly) to take through tickets, and by starting at five p.m. to arrive at half-past ten next morning. I recommend this plan to all visitors of Denmark. The search of luggage at the custom-house before leaving Altona would not be worthy of notice were there not such a great difference in the treatment of English or Germans and Danes by the officials. ”