CHAPTER XV. MR. DONNE'S EXODUS.

inkingandprocessionofthethreeparishesofBriarfield,Whinbury,andNunnelyweretotakeplace.Caroline,heknew,wouldbeatherpostasteacher,hesaid,andhehopedMissKeeldarwouldnotbewanting.Hehopedshewouldmakeherfirstpublicappearanceamongstthematthattime.Shirleywasnotthepersontomissanoccasionofthissort.Shelikedfestiveexcitement,agatheringofhappiness,aconcentrationandcombinationofpleasantdetails,athrongofgladfaces,amusterofelatedhearts.ShetoldMr.Halltheymightcountonherwithsecurity.Shedidnotknowwhatshewouldhavetodo,buttheymightdisposeofherastheypleased. "And,"saidCaroline,"youwillpromisetocometomytable,andtositnearme,Mr.Hall?" "Ishallnotfail,Deovolente,"saidhe.—"Ihaveoccupiedtheplaceonherrighthandatthesemonstertea-drinkingsforthelastsixyears,"heproceeded,turningtoMissKeeldar."TheymadeheraSunday-schoolteacherwhenshewasalittlegirloftwelve.Sheisnotparticularlyself-confidentbynature,asyoumayhaveobservedandthefirsttimeshehadto'takeatray,'asthephraseis,andmaketeainpublic,therewassomepiteoustremblingandflushing.Iobservedthespeechlesspanic,thecupsshakinginthelittlehand,andtheoverflowingteapotfilledtoofullfromtheurn.Icametoheraid,tookaseatnearher,managedtheurnandtheslop-basin,andinfactmadetheteaforherlikeanyoldwoman." "Iwasverygratefultoyou,"interposedCaroline. "Youwere.Youtoldmesowithanearnestsinceritythatrepaidmewell,inasmuchasitwasnotlikethemajorityoflittleladiesoftwelve,whomyoumayhelpandcaressforeverwithouttheirevincinganyquickersenseofthekindnessdoneandmeantthaniftheyweremadeofwaxandwoodinsteadoffleshandnerves.—Shekeptclosetome,MissKeeldar,therestoftheevening,walkingwithmeoverthegroundswherethechildrenwereplayingshefollowedmeintothevestrywhenallweresummonedintochurchshewould,Ibelieve,havemountedwithmetothepulpit,hadInottakenthepreviousprecautionofconductinghertotherectorypew." "Andhehasbeenmyfriendeversince,"saidCaroline. "Andalwayssatathertable,nearhertray,andhandedthecups—thatistheextentofmyservices.ThenextthingIdoforherwillbetomarryhersomedaytosomecurateormill-owner.—Butmind,Caroline,Ishallinquireaboutthebridegroom'scharacterandifheisnotagentlemanlikelytorenderhappythelittlegirlwhowalkedwithmehandinhandoverNunnelyCommon,Iwillnotofficiate.Sotakecare." "Thecautionisuseless.Iamnotgoingtobemarried.Ishalllivesingle,likeyoursisterMargaret,Mr.Hall." "Verywell.Youmightdoworse.Margaretisnotunhappy.Shehasherbooksforapleasure,andherbrotherforacare,andiscontent.Ifeveryouwantahome,ifthedayshouldcomewhenBriarfieldrectoryisyoursnolonger,cometoNunnelyvicarage.Shouldtheoldmaidandbachelorbestillliving,theywillmakeyoutenderlywelcome." "Thereareyourflowers.Now,"saidCaroline,whohadkeptthenosegayshehadselectedforhimtillthismoment,"youdon'tcareforabouquet,butyoumustgiveittoMargaretonly—tobesentimentalforonce—keepthatlittleforget-me-not,whichisawildflowerIgatheredfromthegrassand—tobestillmoresentimental—letmetaketwoorthreeoftheblueblossomsandputtheminmysouvenir." Andshetookoutasmallbookwithenamelledcoverandsilverclasp,wherein,havingopenedit,sheinsertedtheflowers,writingroundtheminpencil,"TobekeptforthesakeoftheRev.CyrilHall,myfriend.May—,18—." TheRev.CyrilHall,onhispart,alsoplacedaspriginsafetybetweentheleavesofapocketTestament.Heonlywroteonthemargin,"Caroline." "Now,"saidhe,smiling,"Itrustweareromanticenough.MissKeeldar,"hecontinued(thecurates,by-the-bye,duringthisconversation,weretoomuchoccupiedwiththeirownjokestonoticewhatpassedattheotherendofthetable),"Ihopeyouarelaughingatthistraitof'exaltation'intheoldgray-headedvicarbutthefactis,Iamsousedtocomplywiththerequestsofthisyoungfriendofyours,Idon'tknowhowtorefuseherwhenshetellsmetodoanything.Youwouldsayitisnotmuchinmywaytotrafficwithflowersandforget-me-notsbut,yousee,whenrequestedtobesentimental,Iamobedient." "Heisnaturallyrathersentimental,"remarkedCaroline."Margarettoldmeso,andIknowwhatpleaseshim." "Thatyoushouldbegoodandhappy?Yesthatisoneofmygreatestpleasures.MayGodlongpreservetoyoutheblessingsofpeaceandinnocence!BywhichphraseImeancomparativeinnocenceforinHissight,Iamwellaware,nonearepure.Whattoourhumanperceptionslooksspotlessaswefancyangels,istoHimbutfrailty,needingthebloodofHisSontocleanse,andthestrengthofHisSpirittosustain.Letuseachandallcherishhumility—I,asyou,myyoungfriendsandwemaywelldoitwhenwelookintoourownhearts,andseetheretemptations,inconsistencies,propensities,evenweblushtorecognize.Anditisnotyouth,norgoodlooks,norgrace,noranygentleoutsidecharmwhichmakeseitherbeautyorgoodnessinGod'seyes.—Youngladies,whenyourmirrorormen'stonguesflatteryou,rememberthat,inthesightofherMaker,MaryAnnAinley—awomanwhomneitherglassnorlipshaveeverpanegyrized—isfairerandbetterthaneitherofyou.Sheisindeed,"headded,afterapause—"sheisindeed.Youyoungthings,wraptupinyourselvesandinearthlyhopes,scarcelyliveasChristlived.Perhapsyoucannotdoityet,whileexistenceissosweetandearthsosmilingtoyouitwouldbetoomuchtoexpect.She,withmeekheartandduereverence,treadscloseinherRedeemer'ssteps." HeretheharshvoiceofDonnebrokeinonthemild