A PLEASANT ENDING
MY task was a very pleasant one. I had to tell my parents that Aunt
Milly, acting on their advice, had made many inquiries respecting
her late husband's nephews; and that all she had heard confirmed my
father's account, especially of William, who, everybody said, was a
kinsman to be proud of.
So then Aunt Milly had written to him, just in her own brave, frank
way, alluding to past differences between the elder people only so far
as was needful, and expressing her hope that they would agree with her
in forgetting them, and beginning a new life of friendship.
When my father and mother heard this they were delighted.
"Time will do the rest," exclaimed papa. "All will work right now, and
there will soon be no question about the inheritance of Denesfield.
Aunt Milly will find a son in William Dene."
And so, in the end, it proved. William's mother and brothers also
came to visit my aunt. The widowed mother had no longer to pinch and
contrive for the education of her children, for Aunt Milly did nothing
by halves. She at once made an ample provision for her sister-in-law
and the younger boys, but "William," she said, "I must look after
myself. He is so like what my dear husband was when I first knew him."
I think that year was one of the happiest I ever spent during my early
life. Every day that William Dene was with us, we saw more and more
of the truth and goodness of his character. By degrees, Aunt Milly
learned to consult and trust him just as a mother does a beloved son.
How proud, too, she was of his college honours! Indeed, I doubt whether
his own mother, who was of a very quiet, placid disposition, thought as
much of her son's well-won place as did Aunt Milly.
One day, during the long vacation, my aunt said to him, "William, when
will your birthday be?"
"Did I never tell you, aunt?" said he. "I am a Christmas child. I was
born on the twenty-fifth of December."
"And you will be of age next Christmas?"
"Yes, aunt; and I come into my whole inheritance at once. A pair of
long legs that can get over as much ground as most, a pair of strong
hands, and a head which I have done my best to furnish. These are my
capital and stock to trade with, and I hope they will bring me a fair
return."
"Not to be despised, William: good health, good education, and the will
to use them in a right way, are things to thank God for with all one's
heart."
"I feel that, dear aunt; and there is another blessing I have to thank
you for—an easy mind. You have removed the anxieties I used to have
about my mother and the boys by your generous kindness to them."
My aunt put her hand to his lips to hinder the further expression of
thanks.
"Do not speak of that, William," she replied. "It reminds me that I
might have saved you all these years of suffering and anxiety if I
had only thought less of myself and more of others. Now about your
birthday. Our Christmas this year, please God, will be a double
festival. We shall gather all your people, William, and all mine, and
we will have our friends and neighbours, rich and poor, to rejoice with
us."
When Christmas Day did come, it was such a one as I shall never forget.
The old church at Denesfield was full to overflowing; and there was one
special prayer offered for him who that day attained to man's estate,
that the blessing of God would rest upon him—that indeed he might be
blessed and made a blessing to those amongst whom he would, in course
of time, be called to dwell.
Those who heard that prayer guessed rightly that my Aunt Milly was
asking the prayers of the congregation for him who was, after her,
to be the master of Denesfield. I believe every lip and heart echoed
the prayer, for all the people were learning to know and love William
Dene, and they rejoiced that one of the "old stock" would be heir to
Denesfield.
My father and mother rejoiced with all their hearts. They never desired
the inheritance for their children; and when Aunt Milly took the
course they always hoped she might be led to take, with regard to her
husband's relatives, they were greatly pleased.
There was one thing which excited my surprise, and that was their
anxiety that my aunt should arrange all her affairs and make William
Dene's inheritance certain. I did not know that dear Aunt Milly was
even then suffering from a disease which left no hope of long life,
and that, when she talked to me of her heavenly treasures, she was
expecting ere long to enter upon her eternal inheritance.
I was only twenty when Aunt Milly died, rejoicing in her sure and
certain hope; her one regret being for those who so tenderly loved and
would so sadly mourn for her and miss her.
She left Denesfield to William; and left legacies to the rest of his
family, to my sisters, and myself. In addition, she gave me the famous
diamonds, as she had always declared she would do; but she made one
condition—that, should I desire it, William Dene should pay me the sum
of ten thousand pounds instead of the most important ornaments.
My father had experienced some losses a little time before, of which
he would not let Aunt Milly know anything; but now I was glad that by
leaving the diamonds for the future mistress of Denesfield, I could
far more than replace the money. So I wrote and told William Dene that
the articles named by my aunt were fit for a lady holding a different
position from that of a country clergyman's daughter, and that I would
only keep those which she expressly wished me to retain.
The money was duly paid to me; and in handing it to my parents for
their use, I was happier than I could have been in possessing the most
gorgeous jewels.
The old lady, who had been listened to with the greatest attention
by the youngsters round her, here paused for a moment, and a
thoughtful-looking lad raised his face, and said:
"Grandmamma, I think I can finish the story."
She smiled gently, and replied, "Go on, Will; and if you are wrong,
I will correct you."
"In the first place, then, you got your Aunt Milly's diamonds after
all; and you were, and you are, mistress of Denesfield Manor.
Grandpapa's name is William Dene, and I am called after him."
"Quite right, dear Will. A year after Aunt Milly's death, William Dene
brought me here as his wife, and gave me back my home and Aunt Milly's
diamonds. I have had such a happy married life as wives have who can
honour their husbands and see in them disciples of the Saviour. We
have been spared to see our children grow up, and come in their turn
bringing their boys and girls to keep Christmas at Denesfield. God
grant to us and all a happy one this year!"
"But," said a little girl, "were you not very glad and proud when you
got the diamonds after all?"
"I was glad, dear; but not so glad as I should once have been; for I
had, in the meantime, found a more precious jewel. I wear Aunt Milly's
diamonds still on Christmas Day, for Grandpapa will have it so; but I
have the better jewel always about me—'the Pearl of great price.' That
means very much the same thing as Aunt Milly's heavenly treasure.
"And now we must go and listen, for I hear children's voices ringing
through the air, and I catch the words of the old carol:
"Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King:
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Printed in Great Britain by MORRISON & GIBB LIMITED. Edinburgh