the responsibility of mistress, and gave
orders that no visitor should be admitted excepting the Vicar and Mr
Welles. The evening brought the latter gentleman, who had apparently
spent the interval in arraying himself in faultless mourning.

"I am so grieved, my charmer!" exclaimed Mr Marcus Welles, dropping on
one knee, and lifting Rhoda's hand to his lips. "Words cannot paint my
distress on hearing of your sorrow. Had I been a bird, I would have
flown to offer you consolation. Pray do not dim your bright eyes, my
fair. 'Tis but what happens to all, and specially in old age. Old
folks must die, you know, dearest Madam; and, after all, did they not,
young folks would find them very often troublesome. But you have now no
one over you, and you see your slave at your feet."

And with a most unexceptionable bow, Mr Marcus gently possessed himself
of Rhoda's fan, wherewith he began fanning her in the most approved
manner. It occurred to Phoebe that if the gentleman's grief had been
really genuine, it was doubtful whether his periods would have been
quite so polished. Rhoda's sorrow, while it might prove evanescent, was
honest while it lasted: and had been much increased by the extreme
suddenness of the calamity.

"I thank you, Sir," she said quietly. "And I am sure you will be
grieved to hear that my grandmother died just too soon to make that
provision she intended for my cousin. So the lawyer has told us this
morning. You will not, I cannot but think, oppose my wish to give her
what it was meant that she should have."

"Dearest Madam!" and Mr Welles' hand went to his heart, "you cannot
have so little confidence in me as to account it possible that I could
oppose any wish of yours!"

Engaged persons did not, at that time, call each other by the Christian
name. It would have been considered indecorous.

"I was sure, Sir, you would say no less," answered Rhoda.

CHAPTER TEN.

MR. WELLES DOES IT BEAUTIFULLY.

"Thy virtues lost, thou would'st not look
Me in thy chains to hold?
Know, friend, thou verily hast lost
Thy chiefest virtue--gold."

Nine o'clock on the Monday morning was the hour appointed for reading
Madam's will. When Rhoda and Phoebe, in their deep mourning, entered
the parlour, they were startled to find the number of persons already
assembled. Not only all the household and outdoor servants, but all the
inmates of the Maidens' Lodge, excepting Mrs Marcella, and several
other