"Man is unjust, but God is just; and finally justice
Triumphs."
--LONGFELLOW'S _Evangeline_.
"How disappointment tracks
The steps of hope!"
--MISS LANDON.
One afternoon, the next week after the Carringtons had left, the
younger members of the family, Arthur, Elsie, Walter and Enna, were
setting out to take a walk, when Elsie, seeing a gold chain depending
from the pocket of Arthur's jacket, exclaimed:
"O Arthur! how _could_ you take grandpa's watch? _Do_ put it away, for
you will be almost sure to injure it."
"Hold your tongue, Elsie; I'll do as I please," was the polite
rejoinder.
"But, Arthur, you _know_ that grandpa would never let you take it. I
have often heard him say that it was very valuable, for it was seldom
that so good a one could be had at any price; and I know that he paid a
great deal for it."
"Well, if he prizes it so, he needn't have left it lying on his table,
and so I'll just teach him a lesson; it's about time he learnt to be
careful."
"O Arthur! do put it away," pleaded Elsie, "if anything should happen
to it, what will grandpa say? I know he will be very angry, and ask us
all who did it; and you know I cannot tell a lie, and if he asks me if
it was you, I cannot say no."
"Yes, I'll trust you for telling tales," replied Arthur, sneeringly;
"but if you do, I'll pay you for it."
He ran down the avenue as he spoke, Walter and Enna following, and
Elsie slowly bringing up the rear, looking the picture of distress, for
she knew not what to do, seeing that Arthur would not listen to her
remonstrances, and, as often happened, all the older members of the
family were out, and thus there was no authority that could be appealed
to in time to prevent the mischief which she had every reason to fear
would be done. Once she thought of turning back, that she might escape
the necessity of being a witness in the case; but, remembering that her
father told her she must walk with the others that afternoon, and also
that, as she had already seen the watch in Arthur's possession, her
testimony would be sufficient to convict him even if she saw no more,
she gave up the idea, and hurried on, with the faint hope that she
might be able to induce Arthur to refrain from indulging in such sports
as would be likely to endanger the watch; or else to give it into her
charge. At any other time she would have trembled at the thought of
touching it; but now she felt so sure it would be safer with her than
with him, that she would gladly have taken the responsibility.
The walk was far from being a pleasure that afternoon; the boys ran so
fast that it quite put her out of breath to keep up with them; and then
every little while Arthur would cut some caper that made her tremble
for the watch; answering her entreaties that he would either give it
into her care or walk along quietly, with sneers and taunts, and
declarations of his determination to do just exactly as he pleased, and
not be ruled by her.
But at length, while he was in the act of climbing a tree, the watch
dropped from his pocket and fell to the ground, striking with
considerable force.
Elsie uttered a scream, and Arthur, now thoroughly frightened himself,
jumped down and picked it up.
The crystal was broken, the back dented, and how much the works were
injured they could not tell; but it had ceased to run.
"O Arthur! see what you've done!" exclaimed Walter.
"What will papa say?" said Enna; while Elsie stood pale and trembling,
not speaking a word.
"You hush!" exclaimed Arthur fiercely. "I'll tell you what, if any of
you dare to tell of me, I'll make you sorry for it to the last day of
your life. Do you hear?"
The question was addressed to Elsie in a tone of defiance.
"Arthur," said she, "grandpa will know that _somebody_ did it, and
surely you would not wish an innocent person to be punished for _your_
fault."
"I don't care _who_ gets punished, so that papa does not find out that
I did it," said he furiously; "and if you dare to tell of me, I'll pay
you for it."
"I shall say nothing, unless it becomes necessary to save the innocent,
or I am forced to speak; but in that case I shall tell the truth,"
replied Elsie, firmly.
Arthur doubled up his fist, and made a plunge at her as if he meant to
knock her down; but Elsie sprang behind the tree, and then ran so
fleetly toward the house that he was not able to overtake her until his
passion had had time to cool.
When they reached the house, Arthur replaced the watch on his father's
table, whence he had taken it, and then they all awaited his return
with what courage they might.
"I say, Wally," said Arthur, drawing his little brother aside and
speaking in a low tone, having first sent a cautious glance around to
assure himself that no one else was within hearing; "I say, what would
you give me for that new riding whip of mine?"
"O Arthur! anything I've got," exclaimed the little boy eagerly. "But
you wouldn't give it up, I know, and you're only trying to tease me."
"No, indeed, Wal; I mean to _give_ it to you if you'll only be a good
fellow and do as I tell you."
"What?" he asked, with intense interest.
"Tell papa that Jim broke the watch."
"But he _didn't_" replied the child, opening his eyes wide with
astonishment.
"Well, what of that, you little goose?" exclaimed Arthur impatiently;
"papa doesn't know that."
"But Jim will get punished," said Walter, "and I don't want to tell
such a big story either."
"Very well, sir, then you'll not get the whip; and, besides, if you
don't do as I wish, I'm certain you'll see a ghost one of these nights;
for there's one comes to see me sometimes, and I'll send him right off
to you."
"Oh! _don't_, Arthur, don't; I'd die of fright," cried the little boy,
who was very timid, glancing nervously around, as if he expected the
ghost to appear immediately.
"I tell you I will, though, if you don't do as I say; he'll come this
very night and carry you off, and never bring you back."
"O Arthur! don't let him come, and I'll say anything you want me to,"
cried the little fellow in great terror.
"That's a good boy; I knew you would," said Arthur, smiling
triumphantly. And turning away from Walter, he next sought out Enna,
and tried his threats and persuasions upon her with even better success.
Elsie had gone directly to her own room, where she sat trembling every
time a footstep approached her door, lest it should be a messenger from
her grandfather. No one came, however, and at last the tea-bell rang,
and on going down she found to her relief that her grandfather and his
wife had not yet returned.
"You look pale, Elsie," said her father, giving her a scrutinizing
glance as she took her seat by his side. "Are you well?"
"Yes, papa, quite well," she replied.
He looked at her again a little anxiously, but said no more; and as
soon as the meal was concluded, Elsie hastened away to her own room
again.
It was still early in the evening when Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore
returned--for once, bringing no company with them; and he had not been
many minutes in the house ere he took up his watch, and of course
instantly discovered the injury it had sustained.
His suspicions at once fell upon Arthur, whose character for mischief
was well established; and burning with rage, watch in hand, he repaired
to the drawing-room, which he entered, asking, in tones tremulous with
passion, "Where is Arthur! Young rascal! this is some of _his_ work,"
he added, holding up the injured article.
"My dear, how can you say so? have you any proof?" asked his wife,
deprecatingly adding in her softest tones, "my poor boy seems to get
the blame of everything that goes wrong."
"He gets no more than he deserves," replied her husband angrily.
"Arthur! Arthur, I say, where are you?"
"He is in the garden, sir, I think. I saw him walking in the shrubbery
a moment since," said Mr. Horace Dinsmore.
The father instantly despatched a servant to bring him in; sending a
second in search of the overseer; while a third was ordered to assemble
all the house-servants. "I will sift this matter to the bottom, and
child or servant, the guilty one shall suffer for it," exclaimed the
old gentleman, pacing angrily up and down the room. "Arthur," said he
sternly, as the boy made his appearance, looking somewhat pale and
alarmed, "how dared you meddle with my watch?"
"I didn't, sir; I never touched it," he replied boldly, yet avoiding
his father's eye as he uttered the deliberate falsehood.
"There, my dear, I told you so," exclaimed his mother, triumphantly.
"I don't believe you," said his father; "and if you are guilty, as I
strongly suspect, you had better confess it at once, before I find it
out in some other way."
"I didn't do it, sir. It was Jim, and I can prove it by Walter and
Enna; we all saw it fall from his pocket when he was up in a tree; and
he cried like anything when he found it was broken, and said he didn't
mean to do it any harm; he was only going to wear it a little while,
and then put it back all safe; but now master would be dreadfully
angry, and have him flogged."
"That I will, if it is true," exclaimed the old gentleman,
passionately; "he shall be well whipped and sent out to work on the
plantation. I'll keep no such meddlers about my house."
He looked at Enna. "What do you know of this?" he asked.
"It is true, papa, I saw him do it," she replied, with a slight blush,
and sending an uneasy glance around the room.
"Did you see it, too, Walter?" asked his father.
"Yes, sir," replied the little fellow, in a low, reluctant tone; "but
please, papa, don't punish him. I'm sure he didn't mean to break it."
"Hold your tongue! he _shall_ be punished as he deserves," cried the
old gentleman, furiously. "Here, sir," turning to the overseer, and
pointing to Jim, "take the fellow out, and give him such a flogging as
he will remember."
Elsie was sitting in her own room, trying to learn a lesson for the
next day, but finding great difficulty in fixing her thoughts upon it,
when she was startled by the sudden entrance of Aunt Chloe, who, with
her apron to her eyes, was sobbing violently.
"O mammy, mammy! what's the matter? has anything happened to you?"
inquired the little girl, in a tone of great alarm, starting to her
feet, and dropping her book in her haste and fright.
"Why," sobbed Chloe, "Jim, he's been an' gone an' broke ole master's
watch, an' he's gwine be whipped, an' old Aunt Phoebe she's cryin' fit
to break her ole heart 'bout her boy, kase--"
Elsie waited to hear no more, but darting out into the hall, and
encountering her father on his way to his room, she rushed up to him,
pale and agitated, and seizing his hand, looked up eagerly into his
face, exclaiming with a burst of tears and sobs, "O papa, papa! don't,
oh! _don't_ let them whip poor Jim."
Mr. Dinsmore's countenance was very grave, almost distressed.
"I am sorry it is necessary, daughter," he said, "but Jim has done very
wrong, and deserves his punishment, and I cannot interfere."
"Oh! no, papa, he did not, _indeed_ he did not break the watch. I
_know_ he didn't, for I was by and saw it all."
"Is it _possible?_" said he, in a tone of surprise; "then tell me who
did do it. It could not have been you, Elsie?" and he looked
searchingly into her face.
"Oh! no, papa, I would never have dared to touch it. But please don't
make me tell tales; but I know it wasn't Jim. Oh! _do_ stop them
quickly, before they begin to whip him."
"Aunt Chloe," said Mr. Dinsmore, "go down to my father, and tell him it
is my request that the punishment should be delayed a few moments until
I come down."
Then taking Elsie's hand, he led her into her room again, and seating
himself, drew her to his side, saying, with grave decision, "Now, my
daughter, if you want to save Jim, it will be necessary for you to tell
_all_ you know about this affair."
"I don't like to tell tales, papa," pleaded the little girl; "I think
it so very mean. Is it not enough for me to tell that I know Jim didn't
do it?"
"No, Elsie; I have already said that it is _quite necessary_ for you to
tell _all you know_."
"O papa! don't make me; I don't like to do it," she urged, with tears
in her eyes.
"I should be very much ashamed of you, and quite unwilling to own you
as my child, if under any other circumstances you were willing to tell
tales," he replied, in a tone of kindness that quite surprised Elsie,
who always trembled at the very thought of opposing the slightest
resistance to his will; "but," he added, firmly, "it is the only way to
save Jim; if you do not now make a full disclosure of all you know, he
will be severely whipped and sent away to work on the plantation, which
will distress his poor old mother exceedingly. Elsie, I think you would
be doing very wickedly to allow an innocent person to suffer when you
can prevent it; and besides, I will add the weight of my authority, and
say you _must do it at once_; and you well know, my daughter, that
there can be no question as to the duty of obedience to your father."
He paused, gazing earnestly down into the little tearful, downcast,
blushing face at his side.
"Have I not said enough to convince you of your duty?" he asked.
"Yes, papa; I will tell you all about it," she answered in a tremulous
tone.
Her story was told with evident reluctance, but in a simple,
straightforward manner, that attested its truthfulness.
Mr. Dinsmore listened in silence, but with an expression of indignation
on his handsome features; and the moment she had finished he rose, and
again taking her hand, led her from the room, saying, as he did so:
"You must repeat this story to your grandfather."
"O papa! must I? Won't you tell him? please don't make me do it," she
pleaded tremblingly, and hanging back.
"My daughter, you _must_," he replied, so sternly that she dared not
make any further resistance, but quietly submitted to be led into her
grandfather's presence.
He was still in the drawing-room, walking about in a disturbed and
angry manner, and now and then casting a suspicious glance upon Arthur,
who sat pale and trembling in a corner, looking the picture of guilt
and misery; for he had heard Chloe deliver his brother's message, and
feared that exposure awaited him.
Walter had stolen away to cry over Jim's punishment, and wish that he
had had the courage to tell the truth at first; but saying to himself
that it was too late now, his father wouldn't believe him, and he would
make it up to Jim somehow, even if it took all his pocket-money for a
month.
None of the other members of the family had left the room, and all wore
an anxious, expectant look, as Mr. Dinsmore entered, leading Elsie by
the hand.
"I have brought you another witness, sir," he said, "for it seems Elsie
was present when the mischief was done."
"Ah!" exclaimed the old gentlemen; "then I may hope to get at the
truth. Elsie, who broke my watch?"
"It was not Jim, grandpa, indeed, _indeed_, it was not; but oh!
_please_ don't make me say who it was," replied the little girl,
beseechingly.
"Elsie!" exclaimed her father, in a tone of stern reproof.
"O papa! how can I?" she sobbed, trembling and clinging to his hand as
she caught a threatening look from Arthur.
"Come, come, child, you must tell us all you know about it," said her
grandfather, "or else I can't let Jim off."
Mr. Dinsmore was looking down at his little girl, and, following the
direction of her glance, perceived the cause of her terror. "Don't be
afraid to speak out and tell all you know, daughter, for I will protect
you," he said, pressing the little trembling hand in his, and at the
same time giving Arthur a meaning look.
"Yes, yes, speak out, child; speak out at once; no one shall hurt you
for telling the truth," exclaimed her grandfather, impatiently.
"I will, grandpa," she said, trembling and weeping; "but please don't
be very angry with Arthur; if you will forgive him this time, I think
he will never meddle any more; and I am quite sure he did not mean to
break it."
"So it _was you_, after all, you young rascal! I knew it from the
first!" cried the old gentleman, striding across the room, seizing the
boy by the shoulder and shaking him roughly.
"But go on, Elsie, let us have the whole story," he added, turning to
her again, but still keeping his hold upon Arthur. "You young dog!" he
added, when she had finished. "Yes, I'll forgive you when you've had a
good, sound flogging, and a week's solitary confinement on bread and
water, but not before."
So saying, he was about to lead him from the room, when Elsie suddenly
sprang forward, and with clasped hands, and flushed, eager face, she
pleaded earnestly, beseechingly, "O grandpa! don't whip him, don't
punish him! He will never be so naughty again. Will you, Arthur? Let
_me pay_ for the watch, grandpa, and don't punish him. I would so like
to do it."
"It isn't the moneyed value of the watch I care for, child," replied
the old gentleman, contemptuously; "and besides, where would you get so
much money?"
"I am rich, grandpa, am I not? Didn't my mamma leave me a great deal of
money?" asked the little girl, casting down her eyes and blushing
painfully.
"No, Elsie," said her father, very gently, as he took her hand and led
her back to the side of his chair again, "you have nothing but what I
choose to give you, until you come of age, which will not be for a
great many years yet."
"But you _will_ give me the money to pay for the watch papa, _won't_
you?" she asked, pleadingly.
"No, I certainly shall not, for I think Arthur should be left to suffer
the penalty of his own misdeeds," he replied in a very decided tone;
"and, besides," he added, "your grandfather has already told you that
it is not the pecuniary loss he cares for."
"No; but I will teach this young rascal to let my property alone," said
the elder gentleman with almost fierce determination, as he tightened
his grasp upon the boy's arm and dragged him from the room.
Arthur cast a look of hatred and defiance at Elsie as he went out, that
made her grow pale with fear and tremble so that she could scarcely
stand.
Her father saw both the look and its effect, and drawing the little
trembler closer to him, he put his arm around her, and stroking her
hair, said in a low, soothing tone: "Don't be frightened, daughter; I
will protect you."
She answered him with a grateful look and a long sigh of relief, and he
was just about to take her on his knee when visitors were announced,
and, changing his mind, he dismissed her to her room, and she saw no
more of him that evening.
"Oh! if they only _hadn't_ come just now," thought the sorely
disappointed child, as she went out with slow, reluctant steps. "I'm
sure they wouldn't, if they had only known. I'm sure, quite sure papa
was going to take me on his knee, and they prevented him. Oh! will be
ever think of doing it again! Dear, dear papa, if you could only know
how I long to sit there!" But Mrs. Dinsmore, who had hastily retired on
the exit of Arthur and his father from the drawing-room, was now
sailing majestically down the hall, on her return thither; and Elsie,
catching sight of her, and being naturally anxious to avoid a meeting
just then, at once quickened her pace very considerably, almost running
up the stairs to her own room, where she found old Aunt Phoebe, Jim's
mother, waiting to speak with her.
The poor old creature was overflowing with gratitude, and her fervent
outpouring of thanks and blessings almost made Elsie forget her
disappointment for the time.
Then Jim came to the door, asking to see Miss Elsie, and poured out his
thanks amid many sobs and tears; for the poor fellow had been terribly
frightened--indeed, so astounded by the unexpected charge, that he had
not had a word to say in his own defence, beyond an earnest and
reiterated assertion of his entire innocence; to which, however, his
angry master had paid no attention.
But at length Phoebe remembered that she had some baking to do, and
calling on Jim to come right along and split up some dry wood to heat
her oven, she went down to the kitchen followed by her son, and Elsie
was left alone with her nurse.
Chloe sat silently knitting, and the little girl, with her head leaning
upon her hand and her eyes fixed thoughtfully upon the floor, was
rehearsing again and again in her own mind all that had just passed
between her papa and herself; dwelling with lingering delight upon
everything approaching to a caress, every kind word, every soothing
tone of his voice; and then picturing to herself all that he might have
done and said if those unwelcome visitors had not come in and put an
end to the interview; and half hoping that he would send for her when
they had gone, she watched the clock and listened intently for every
sound.
But her bedtime came and she dared not stay up any longer; for his
orders had been peremptory that she should always retire precisely at
that hour, unless she had his express permission to remain up longer.
She lay awake for some time, thinking of his unwonted kindness, and
indulging fond hopes for the future, then fell asleep to dream that she
was on her father's knee, and felt his arms folded lovingly about her,
and his kisses warm upon her cheek.
Her heart beat quickly as she entered the breakfast-room the next
morning.
The family were just taking their places at the table, and her
half-eager, half-timid "Good morning, papa," was answered by a grave,
absent "Good morning, Elsie," and turning to his father and entering
into a conversation with him on some business matter, he took no
further notice of his little daughter, excepting to see that her plate
was well supplied with such articles of food as he allowed her to eat.
Elsie was sadly disappointed, and lingered about the room in the vain
hope of obtaining a smile or caress; but presently her father went out,
saying to the elder Mr. Dinsmore that he was going to ride over to Ion,
and would probably not return before night; then, with a sigh, the
little girl went back to her own room to prepare her morning lessons.
Elsie was now happily free from Arthur's persecutions for a time; for
even after his release, he was too much afraid of his brother openly to
offer her any very serious annoyance, though he plotted revenge in
secret; yet the little girl's situation was far from comfortable, and
her patience often severely tried, for Mrs. Dinsmore was excessively
angry with her on Arthur's account, and whenever her father was not
present, treated her in the most unkind manner; and from the same cause
the rest of the family, with the exception of her grandpa and Aunt
Adelaide, were unusually cold and distant; while her father, although
careful to see that all her wants were attended to, seldom took any
further notice of her; unless to reprove her for some childish fault
which, however trifling, never escaped his eye.
"You seem," said Adelaide to him one day, as he sent Elsie from the
room for some very slight fault, "to expect that child to be a great
deal more perfect than any grown person I ever saw, and to understand
all about the rules of etiquette."
"If you please, Adelaide," said he haughtily, "I should like to be
allowed to manage my own child as I see proper, without any
interference from others."
"Excuse me," replied his sister; "I had no intention of interfering;
but really, Horace, I do think you have no idea how eagle-eyed you are
for faults in her, nor how _very_ stern is the tone in which you always
reprove her. I have known Elsie a great deal longer than you have, and
I feel very certain that a gentle reproof would do her quite as much
good, and not wound her half so much."
"Enough, Adelaide!" exclaimed her brother, impatiently. "If I were ten
years _younger_ than yourself, instead of that much older, there might
be some propriety in your advising and directing me thus; as it is, I
must say I consider it simply impertinent." And he left the room with
an angry stride, while Adelaide looked after him with the thought, "I
am glad you have no authority over me."
All that Adelaide had said was true; yet Elsie never complained, never
blamed her father, even in her heart; but, in her deep humility,
thought it was all because she was "so very naughty or careless;" and
she was continually making resolutions to be "oh! _so_ careful always
to do just right, and please dear papa, so that some day he might learn
to love her."
But, alas! that hope was daily growing fainter and fainter; his cold
and distant manner to her and his often repeated reproofs had so
increased her natural timidity and sensitiveness that she was now very
constrained in her approaches to him, and seldom ventured to move or
speak in his presence; and he would not see that this timidity and
embarrassment were the natural results of his treatment, but attributed
it all to want of affection. He saw that she feared him, and to that
feeling alone he gave credit for her uniform obedience to his commands,
while he had no conception of the intense, but now almost despairing
love for him that burned in that little heart, and made the young life
one longing, earnest desire and effort to gain his affection.