CHAPTER XVIII. WHICH THE GENTEEL READER IS RECOMMENDED TO SKIP, LOW PERSONS BEING HERE INTRODUCED.

er,asAdamwasHisson." "Sheisveryvagueandvisionary.Come,Shirley,weoughttogointochurch." "Caroline,IwillnotIwillstayoutherewithmymotherEve,inthesedayscalledNature.Iloveher—undying,mightybeing!Heavenmayhavefadedfromherbrowwhenshefellinparadise,butallthatisgloriousonearthshinestherestill.Sheistakingmetoherbosom,andshowingmeherheart.Hush,Caroline!YouwillseeherandfeelasIdo,ifwearebothsilent." "Iwillhumouryourwhimbutyouwillbegintalkingagaineretenminutesareover." MissKeeldar,onwhomthesoftexcitementofthewarmsummereveningseemedworkingwithunwontedpower,leanedagainstanuprightheadstoneshefixedhereyesonthedeep-burningwest,andsankintoapleasurabletrance.Caroline,goingalittleapart,pacedtoandfrobeneaththerectorygardenwall,dreamingtooinherway.Shirleyhadmentionedtheword"mother."ThatwordsuggestedtoCaroline'simaginationnotthemightyandmysticalparentofShirley'svisions,butagentlehumanform—theformsheascribedtoherownmother,unknown,unloved,butnotunlongedfor. "Ohthatthedaywouldcomewhenshewouldrememberherchild!OhthatImightknowher,andknowing,loveher!" Suchwasheraspiration. Thelongingofherchildhoodfilledhersoulagain.Thedesirewhichmanyanighthadkeptherawakeinhercrib,andwhichfearofitsfallacyhadoflateyearsalmostextinguished,relitsuddenly,andglowedwarminherheart,thathermothermightcomesomehappyday,andsendforhertoherpresence,lookuponherfondlywithlovingeyes,andsaytohertenderly,inasweetvoice,"Caroline,mychild,Ihaveahomeforyouyoushalllivewithme.Alltheloveyouhaveneeded,andnottasted,frominfancy,Ihavesavedforyoucarefully.Comeitshallcherishyounow." AnoiseontheroadrousedCarolinefromherfilialhopes,andShirleyfromherTitanvisions.Theylistened,andheardthetrampofhorses.Theylooked,andsawaglitterthroughthetrees.Theycaughtthroughthefoliageglimpsesofmartialscarlethelmshone,plumewaved.Silentandorderly,sixsoldiersrodesoftlyby. "Thesamewesawthisafternoon,"whisperedShirley."Theyhavebeenhaltingsomewheretillnow.Theywishtobeaslittlenoticedaspossible,andareseekingtheirrendezvousatthisquiethour,whilethepeopleareatchurch.DidInotsayweshouldseeunusualthingserelong?" Scarcelyweresightandsoundofthesoldierslost,whenanotherandsomewhatdifferentdisturbancebrokethenight-hush—achild'simpatientscream.Theylooked.Amanissuedfromthechurch,carryinginhisarmsaninfant—arobust,ruddylittleboyofsometwoyearsold—roaringwithallthepowerofhislungs.Hehadprobablyjustawakedfromachurch-sleep.Twolittlegirls,ofnineandten,followed.Theinfluenceofthefreshair,andtheattractionofsomeflowersgatheredfromagrave,soonquietedthechild.Themansatdownwithhim,dandlinghimonhiskneeastenderlyasanywomanthetwolittlegirlstooktheirplacesoneoneachside. "Good-evening,William,"saidShirley,afterduescrutinyoftheman.Hehadseenherbefore,andapparentlywaswaitingtoberecognized.Henowtookoffhishat,andgrinnedasmileofpleasure.Hewasarough-headed,hard-featuredpersonage,notold,butveryweather-beaten.Hisattirewasdecentandcleanthatofhischildrensingularlyneat.ItwasouroldfriendFarren.Theyoungladiesapproachedhim. "Youarenotgoingintothechurch?"heinquired,gazingatthemcomplacently,yetwithamixtureofbashfulnessinhislook—asentimentnotbyanymeanstheresultofaweoftheirstation,butonlyofappreciationoftheireleganceandyouth.Beforegentlemen—suchasMooreorHelstone,forinstance—Williamwasoftenalittledoggedwithproudorinsolentladies,too,hewasquiteunmanageable,sometimesveryresentfulbuthewasmostsensibleof,mosttractableto,good-humourandcivility.Hisnature—astubbornone—wasrepelledbyinflexibilityinothernaturesforwhichreasonhehadneverbeenabletolikehisformermaster,Mooreandunconsciousofthatgentleman'sgoodopinionofhimself,andoftheservicehehadsecretlyrenderedhiminrecommendinghimasgardenertoMr.Yorke,andbythismeanstootherfamiliesintheneighbourhood,hecontinuedtoharbouragrudgeagainsthisausterity.LatterlyhehadoftenworkedatFieldhead.MissKeeldar'sfrank,hospitablemannerswereperfectlycharmingtohim.Carolinehehadknownfromherchildhoodunconsciouslyshewashisidealofalady.Hergentlemien,step,gestures,hergraceofpersonandattire,movedsomeartist-fibresabouthispeasa