CHAPTER XXV. THE WEST WIND BLOWS.

w.IhavesomethingIcanlovewell,andnotbeafraidofloving.Mamma,whogaveyouthislittlebrooch?Letmeunpinitandlookatit." Mrs.Pryor,whousuallyshrankfrommeddlingfingersandnearapproach,allowedthelicensecomplacently. "Didpapagiveyouthis,mamma?" "Mysistergaveitme—myonlysister,Cary.WouldthatyourAuntCarolinehadlivedtoseeherniece!" "Haveyounothingofpapa's—notrinket,nogiftofhis?" "Ihaveonething." "Thatyouprize?" "ThatIprize." "Valuableandpretty?" "Invaluableandsweettome." "Showit,mamma.IsithereoratFieldhead?" "Itistalkingtomenow,leaningonme.Itsarmsareroundme." "Ah,mamma,youmeanyourteasingdaughter,whowillneverletyoualonewho,whenyougointoyourroom,cannothelprunningtoseekforyouwhofollowsyouupstairsanddown,likeadog." "Whosefeaturesstillgivemesuchastrangethrillsometimes.Ihalffearyourfairlooksyet,child." "Youdon'tyoucan't.Mamma,Iamsorrypapawasnotgood.Idosowishhehadbeen.Wickednessspoilsandpoisonsallpleasantthings.Itkillslove.IfyouandIthoughteachotherwicked,wecouldnotloveeachother,couldwe?" "Andifwecouldnottrusteachother,Cary?" "Howmiserableweshouldbe!Mother,beforeIknewyouIhadanapprehensionthatyouwerenotgood—thatIcouldnotesteemyou.Thatdreaddampedmywishtoseeyou.AndnowmyheartiselatebecauseIfindyouperfect—almostkind,clever,nice.Yoursolefaultisthatyouareold-fashioned,andofthatIshallcureyou.Mamma,putyourworkdownreadtome.Ilikeyoursouthernaccentitissopure,sosoft.Ithasnoruggedburr,nonasaltwang,suchasalmosteveryone'svoicehereinthenorthhas.MyuncleandMr.Hallsaythatyouareafinereader,mamma.Mr.Hallsaidheneverheardanyladyreadwithsuchproprietyofexpressionorpurityofaccent." "IwishIcouldreciprocatethecompliment,Carybut,really,thefirsttimeIheardyourtrulyexcellentfriendreadandpreachIcouldnotunderstandhisbroadnortherntongue." "Couldyouunderstandme,mamma?DidIseemtospeakroughly?" "No.Ialmostwishedyouhad,asIwishedyouhadlookedunpolished.Yourfather,Caroline,naturallyspokewell,quiteotherwisethanyourworthyuncle—correctly,gently,smoothly.Youinheritthegift." "Poorpapa!Whenhewassoagreeable,whywashenotgood?" "Whyhewasashewas—andhappilyofthatyou,child,canformnoconception—Icannottell.Itisadeepmystery.ThekeyisinthehandsofhisMaker.ThereIleaveit." "Mamma,youwillkeepstitching,stitchingaway.PutdownthesewingIamanenemytoit.Itcumbersyourlap,andIwantitformyheaditengagesyoureyes,andIwantthemforabook.Hereisyourfavourite—Cowper." Theseimportunitieswerethemother'spleasure.Ifevershedelayedcompliance,itwasonlytohearthemrepeated,andtoenjoyherchild'ssoft,half-playful,half-petulanturgency.Andthen,whensheyielded,Carolinewouldsayarchly,"Youwillspoilme,mamma.IalwaysthoughtIshouldliketobespoiled,andIfinditverysweet."SodidMrs.Pryor.