CHAPTER XX. "Love, who shall say that thou art not Life has no sorrow like thy sigh !" "As like out of us awakens like in us," so Whithaugh's representation of the life-action of other boys similarly situated had not only arrested the attention of the big boy Dick, but it had appealed to his better nature; it had aroused a latent power which few suspected him of possessing; it had touched a chord which vibrated; it again proved the truth that a "word in season" is good. From that evening his course was changed. He would try to please and amuse the children; try to keep grandfather's quiet undisturbed; try to help mother; try to do his work well. He took much interest in the playhouse, and often brought home some treasure of broken china for the shelves. Another took an interest, too, in that playhouse under the old yew-tree, and would deposit there cakes, fruit, and little books. The young children and Dick often knew "the tall gentleman had been there again." Dick was frequently stopped in his way home to be the bearer of something for his grandfather, and the old man's tears of gratitude would flow when he saw the bright face of the boy. He had nursed him more than all the others, and could not bear that he should be indifferent to him. Highly did Dick prize Whithaugh's confidence, and faithfully discharge whatever task he set him. The great easy chair was finished, covered with an old red moreen window-curtain, and the cook brought the large feather-pillow, covered like it, which she had herself made at her mistress's suggestion, and placed at the back, making its whole appearance completely comfortable. "Come, Jane, do sit a minute, and see how soft it is. There never was anything half like it, and actually made out of nothing. Them old chairs were never hardly wanted; this one won't be missed. The curtain was past using; the old bits of hop-bag were never worth saving, I thought, when I washed them, and I always burnt the fowl-feathers at my last place; and now, out of nothing, comes this grand chair." "Where shall I set it, ma'am ?" asked the house maid. "In the barrow. William is waiting to wheel it away. It is for your father's use, Jane; a present to Dick." The great chair was soon lifted upon the barrow, and Jane, though she said not a word, soon hastened to cover it carefully with her dusting-sheet, and to wipe her eyes with her apron. "And now, Dick," said Mr. John, "this is what I wanted with you, to steady the chair on the barrow, and to take it to your grandfather. Tell him it is given you for your trying so hard to improve, and the more he uses it the better you will like it." The pleasure which beamed on Dick's face, richly repaid those who had assisted to make the old man's seat; and Jane, when she took his evening meal, helped to get him out of bed for an hour, saying, "Please, ma'am, I left father sitting up in his big chair. Не says 'tis grand enough for Sir William, all ways; and Dick sits by him, reading the Bible." These trifling incidents have been related to show the every-day work which engaged Mrs. Whithaugh and her household. Spring, summer, autumn, winter found her thus employed; and peacefully did the days glide on at Broadlands. We must hasten on through the summer months, to notice the unexpected meeting which took place this autumn-an October day, clear and bright as sportsmen could desire, or pheasants and partridges fear. Whithaugh and Mr. Hamilton had been much together lately. Both were "good shots," extremely fond of shooting. Their friendship, too, had strengthened with its growth. On this day they were to shoot upon ground belonging to old Mr. Wycombe, who had a kinsman staying with him. As they were going, Hamilton told his friend he had but a poor opinion of the gentleman who was to be their companion. "I would ten thousand times sooner go another way; but I am here, in a measure, to relieve Mr. Wycombe, who is anxious he should enjoy his visit. He believes he has put himself to some cost and inconvenience to pay this compliment to him. I think that he had some sinister motive. His name is Maylard, alias Braggadocio.' We shall see some shooting, I should think, for he has talked enough about pulling them down in style." 66 Well, if I had to paint his likeness from your not very flattering description, I should give him reddish hair, small eyes, turn-up nose (something of a pug), and a round mouth." "Have you seen him ?" "No, but that style of gentlemen generally use grandiloquence." "I mean not to have much of his company; so when we give over, I shall only call at the house to leave the game and the London bird, who, for aught I know to the contrary, may be here out of sight,' from having 'not a feather to fly with,' or a nest to lie down in. I do despise a boaster. Presuming he did come down to see Mr. Wycombe, why need he for ever harp on it, as if he wanted him to know how many pounds, shillings, and pence it cost him? I should be for giving him the money, without wanting any change out, if I could but get rid of him." Here they met, and all fell into conversation. Mr. Wycombe, who was not given to joke, seemed particularly so inclined. He remarked, "I never saw three more suitable-looking gentlemen go forth. Here is my London friend, thin and short, with dandy boots, can be accommodated conveniently in one of Mr. Whithaugh's pockets, if he gets wet-shod;' and if he's tired, Hamilton can bring him home 'pick-a-back,' and his broad shoulders never feel the burthen." "No, thank you," said Hamilton, "I'd rather be excused. Sin weighs pretty heavily, and that slight gentleman may have a tolerable share.” "Not much fear, at all events, of my troubling your pocket, Mr. Whithaugh. I shall not be getting damp to-day. My good cousin is always roasting me. If I were not as amiable as my mother, I should 'cut my stick.' Too bad, is it not, seeing how far I have come to visit him? We had heard nothing of him for a long time, and were beginning to fear he had kicked the bucket." Soon as they had settled which way they would beat the covers, and received Mr. Wycombe's good wishes, they set off. Maylard commenced conversation by saying, “What do you think of my cousin and his daughter ?” Hamilton immediately replied, "Say what you think proper of your cousin, his daughter is a brave woman. Few at her age have had so many trials, and We Mr. Maylard interrupted him by saying, “Bless her, she made quite an impression me. Don't smile, gents; you shall hear how completely I was ‘taken in.’ heard promiscuously that this old fellow's only child had absconded with some young scapegrace, and was off to America. So I deemed it politic to come down and look after my own interest, for he has no nearer relations than us, although our name is 'legion.' No sooner thought than done. You see, I follow the law. I scraped together all I could about the connection, and, well-crammed, came to this out-of-the-way region, to see the 'clod-hopper.' I deemed it, as I said, politic to pay him a visit. Some of these old kinsmen have a mighty faculty for saving tin, and possessing lands, too. Again, it was an act of charity, for he might be breaking his heart to know or learn of some dear relation beside that worthless, runaway daughter. Now, here's a fix, yes, a fix, for one to find himself in. I had scarcely introduced myself and my portmanteau, claimed kindred, and legally established my claim, begged a fortnight's |