stealthily—wrapped in his black cloak. As he entered, my mother bade me leave the room and wait in the garden. I waited all impatiently. I could scarcely refrain from sneaking up under the window, and listening to their conversation. An hour or more their voices sounded from within; at no time did my mother raise her tone; often I heard Mr. Bradbury dictatorial, occasionally persuasive; I believed at last from his laughter that he had prevailed. I lounged drearily about the garden, until I heard the door opening, and saw Mr. Bradbury coming p. 41out, his cloak about him and his hat bent down over his brows.

p. 41

As I stepped forward to open the gate for him, he paused in his path, and eyed me smiling. “So, Mr. John Craike,” he greeted me. “So!”

“Mr. John Craike!” I repeated.

“From now on, Mr. John Craike. Or from the moment of your departure from the village, Mr. John Craike. Can you forget, sir, that you were ever John Howe?”

“I don’t understand, sir?”

“Necessarily, no, Mr. Craike. But I am to have your company to London a week from now. You, sir, are to honour my house, until I have communicated with my client, Mr. Edward Craike; then I trust to have the pleasure of presenting you to your grandfather.”

“What has happened, Mr. Bradbury?” I asked eagerly. “What has my mother told you?”

“Nay, there, Mr. Craike, I must be silent. I must leave it to your good mother to satisfy your curiosity, if she will, sir; if she will. Till this day week, sir”—and with a polite bow he slipped past me, and was gone.

I hurried into the cottage. My mother sat by the table, her hands clasped; so rapt was she that she did not hear me when I came in; she p. 42did not heed me till I caught her arm, crying, “What has happened, mother? Tell me!”

p. 42

She said then, “What has happened! What I have prayed would never come to pass!”

“Dear, what is the matter?”

“That for all my prayers,” she went on, as if speaking to herself; “that for all my hope to keep my son from that doomed house,—this yet should be! Dear God, if it be Thy purpose that out of evil shall at last come good—” but broke off and looked wildly at me.

 Prev. P 27/154 next