THE CHRISTIAN WARRIOR.

(Cor. ii. 30.)

AWAKE my soul! and for the strife,
Of onward, upward, Christian life,
In earnest faith prepare;

Where the fight rages fierce and high,
Goes forth the Church's chivalry;
And thou, too, must be there.

Thy Lord awaits thee in the field-
Bring forth the spear, essay the shield,
And bind thine armor on;

Low though thou art, for thee there's fame,
By thee a high and honored name,
And glory may be won.

Never, in tourney or in fight

Did warrior old win name so bright,
As thou mayst win and wear,
If like the valiant ones of old
Thy faith be strong, thy heart be bold
To do as well as dare.

Not with a sword by bloodshed stained, Nor for a wreath, that, soon as gained, Shall fade upon thy brow;

But with the sword of God's good word,
And for the "well done" of thy Lord,
Go forth and conquer now.

Wait not till foes in serried line,
And burnish'd armor flash and shine,
To tempt thee to the fray;
Thine enemies are all around,
And every spot is battle-ground,
Where thou canst "watch and pray."

In little things of common life,
There lies the Christian's noblest strife;
When he does conscience make
Of every thought and throb within;
And words and works, of self and sin
Crushes for Jesus' sake;

THE LADY MERLE.

CHAPTER XV.

EVIL WORDS.

- then she

CLARA AMEDROZ had received her two letters together, that, namely, from the attorney, and that from Captain Aylmer, -and the result of those letters is already known. She accepted her lover's renewed offer of marriage, acknowledging the force of his logic, and putting faith in the strength of his assurances. This she did without seeking advice from any one. Who was there from whom she could seek advice on such a matter as that?-who, at least, was there at Belton? That her father would, as a matter of course, bid her accept Captain Aylmer, was, she thought, certain; and she knew well that Mrs. Askerton would do the same. She asked no counsel from any one, but taking the two letters up to her own room, sat down to consider them. That which referred to her aunt's money, together with the postscript in Captain Aylmer's letter on the same subject, would be of the least possible moment, if she could bring herself to give a favourable answer to the other proposition. But should she not be able to do this, should she hesitate as to doing so at once, must write to the lawyer in very strong terms, refusing altogether to have anything to do with the money. And in such a case as this, not a word could she say to her father either on one subject or on the other. But why should she not accept the offer made to her? Captain Aylmer declared that he had determined to ask her to be his wife before he had made any promise to Mrs. Winterfield. If this were in truth so, then the very ground on which she had separated herself from him would be removed. Why should she hesitate in acknowledging to herself that she loved the man and believed him to be true? So she sat herself down and answered both the letters, writing to the lawyer first. To him she said that nothing need be done about the money or the interest till he should see or hear from Captain Aylmer again. Then to Captain Aylmer she wrote very shortly, but very openly, with the same ill-judged candour which her spoken words to him had displayed. Of course she would be his; his without hesitation, now that she knew that he expressed his own wishes, and not merely those of his aunt. "As to the money," she said, "it would be simply nonsense now for us to have any talk of money. It is yours in any way, and you had better manage about it as you please. I have written an ambiguous letter to Mr. Green, THIRD SERIES.

which will simply plague him, and which you may go and see if you like." Then she added her postscript, in which she said that she should now at once tell her father, as the news would remove from his mind all solicitude as to her future position. That Captain Aylmer did go to Mr. Green we already know, and we know also that he told Mr. Green of his intended marriage.

Nothing was said by Captain Aylmer as to any proposed period for their marriage; but that was only natural. It was not probable that any man would name a day till he knew whether or not he was accepted. Indeed, Clara, on thinking over the whole affair, was now disposed to find fault rather with herself than with her lover, and forgetting his coldness and formality at Perivale, remembered only the fact of his offer to her, and his assurance now received that he had intended to make it before the scene which had taken place between him and his aunt. She did find fault with herself, telling herself that she had quarrelled with him without sufficient cause; and the eager, loving candour of her letter to him was attributable to those self-accusations.

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Papa," she said, after the postman had gone away from Belton, so that there might be no possibility of any recall of her letter, "I have something to tell you, which I hope will give you pleasure."

"It isn't often that I hear anything of that kind," said he.

"But I think this will give you pleasure. I do indeed. I am going to be married." Going to what?"

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"Going to be married, papa. That is, if I have your leave. Of course, any offer of that kind that I have accepted is subject to your approval.”

"And I have been told nothing about it?" "It began at Perivale, and I could not tell you then. You do not ask me who is to be my husband."

"It is not Will Belton?"

"Poor Will! No; it is not Will. It is Frederic Aylmer. I think you would prefer him as a son-in-law even to my cousin Will.”

"No I shouldn't. Why should I prefer a man whom I don't even know, who lives in London, and who will take you away, so that I shall never see you again?"

"Dear papa; — don't speak of it in that way. I thought you would be glad to know that I was to be so-so-so happy!"

"But why is it to be done in this way, of a sudden? Why didn't he come to me? Will came to me the very first thing."

"Will came here."

"Oh, papa, don't make difficulties. Of course that was different. He was here when he first thought of it. And even then he didn't think very much about it." "He did all that he could, I suppose." "Well;-yes. I don't know how that might be." And Clara almost laughed as she felt the difficulties into which she was creeping. "Dear Will. He is much better as a cousin than as a husband."

"I don't see that at all. Captain Aylmer will not have the Belton estate, or Plaistow Hall."

Surely he is well enough off to take care of a wife. He will have the whole of the Perivale estate, you know."

"I don't know anything about it. According to my ideas of what is proper he should have spoken to me first. If he could not come, he might have written. No doubt my ideas may be old-fashioned, and I'm told that Captain Aylmer is a fashionable young man.'

"Indeed he is not, papa. He is a hardworking member of Parliament."

"I don't know that he is any the better for that. People seem to think that if a man is a member of Parliament he may do what he pleases. There is Thompson, the member for Minehead, who has bought some sort of place out by the moors. I never saw so vulgar, pig-headed a fellow in my life. Being in Parliament used to be something when I was young, but it won't make a man a gentleman now-a-days. It seems to me that none but brewers, and tallow-chandlers, and lawyers go into Parliament now. Will Belton could go into Parliament if he pleased, but he knows better than that. He won't make himself such a fool."

This was not comfortable to Clara; but she knew her father, and allowed him to go on with his grumbling. He would come round by degrees, and he would appreciate, if he could not be induced to acknowledge, the wisdom of the step she was about to take.

"When is it to be?" he asked. "Nothing of that kind has ever been mentioned, papa."

"It had better be soon, if I am to have anything to do with it."

Now it was certainly the case that the old man was very ill. He had not been out of the house since Clara had returned home; and, though he was always grumbling about

anything when the morsels for which he expressed a wish were got for him.

"Of course you will be consulted, papa, before anything is settled."

"I don't want to be in anybody's way, my dear."

"And may I tell Frederic that you have given your consent?

"What's the use of my consenting or not consenting? If you had been anxious to oblige me you would have taken your cousin Will."

"Oh, papa, how could I accept a man I didn't love?"

"You seemed to be very fond of him at first; and I must say, I thought he was illtreated."

"Papa, papa; do not say such things as that to me!"

"What am I to do?

You tell me, and I can't altogether hold my tongue." Then there was a pause. 66 Well, my dear, as for my consent, of course you may have it, if it's worth anything. I don't know that I ever heard anything bad about Captain Aylmer.

He had heard nothing bad about Captain Aylmer! Clara, as she left her father, felt that this was very grievous. Whatever cause she might have had for discontent with her lover, she could not but be aware that he was a man whom any father might be proud to welcome as a suitor for his daughter. He was a man as to whom no ill tales had ever been told;-who had never been known to do anything wrong or imprudent; who had always been more than respectable, and as to whose worldly position no exception could be taken. She had been entitled to expect her father's warmest congratulations, and her tidings had been received as though she had proposed to give her hand to one whose character and position only just made it not imperative on the father to withhold his consent! All this was hard, and feeling it to be so, she went upstairs, all alone, and cried bitterly as she thought of it.

On the next day she went down to the cottage and saw Mrs. Askerton. She went there with the express purpose of telling her friend of her engagement, desirous of obtaining in that quarter the sympathy which her father declined to give her. Had her communication to him been accepted in a different spirit, she might probably have kept her secret from Mrs. Asker ton till something further had been fixed about her marriage; but she was in want of a few kind words, and pined for some of

If you have any question to ask me I will answer it. But what right can he have to be asking questions among strangers?"

"The day after to-morrow." "And he is in London now?" "He may be. I dare say he is. But I don't know anything about it."

"I can tell you then that he is. Colonel Askerton has heard of his being there." "You seem to speak of it as though there were some offence in it. Is there any reason why he should not be in London if he pleases?"

"None in the least. I would much rather that he should be there than here." "Why so? Will his coming hurt you ?" "I don't like him. I don't like him at all; and now you know the truth. You believe in him; -I don't. You think him to be a fine fellow and a gentleman, whereas I don't think him to be either."

"Mrs. Askerton!"

"This is strong language, I know."

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Very strong language."

"Yes, my dear; but the truth is, Clara, that you and I, living together here this sort of hermet's life, each seeing so much of the other and seeing nothing of anybody else, must either be real friends, telling each other what we think, or we must be nothing. We can't go on with the ordinary make-believes of society, saying little civil speeches and not going beyond them. Therefore I have made up my mind to tell you in plain language that I don't like your cousin, and I don't believe in him." "I don't know what you mean by believing in a man."

I believe in you. Sometimes I have thought that you believe in me, and sometimes I have feared that you do not. I think that you are good, and honest, and true; and therefore I like to see your face and hear your voice, though it is not often that you say very pleasant things to me."

"Do I say unpleasant things?"

"I am not going to quarrel with you, not if I can help it. What business has Mr. Belton to go about London making inquiries as to me? What have I done to him, that he should honour me so far?"

"Has he made inquiries?"

"Yes; he has. If you have been con

Clara had no question to ask, and yet she could not say that she was satisfied. She would have been better satisfied to have known more of Mrs. Askerton, but yet she had never condescended to make inquiries about her friend. But her curiosity was now greatly raised; and, indeed, Mrs. Askerton's manner was so strange, her vehemence so unusual, and her eagerness to rush into dangerous subjects so unlike her usual tranquillity in conversation, that Clara did not know how to answer her. "I know nothing of any questioning," she said.

"I am sure you don't. Had I thought you did, much as I love you, valuable as your society is to me down in this desert, -I would never speak to you again. But remember, if you want to ask any questions, and will ask them of me, of me, I will answer them, and will not be angry.' "But I don't want to ask any questions." "You may some day; and then you can remember what I say."

-

"And am I to understand that you are determined to quarrel with my cousin Will?" "Quarrel with him! I don't suppose that I shall see him. After what I have said it is not probable that you will bring him here, and the servant will have orders to say that I am not at home if he should call. Luckily he and Colonel Askerton did not meet when he was here before."

"This is the most strange thing I ever heard in my life."

"You will understand it better, my dear, when he makes his communication to you."

"What communication ?"

"You'll find that he'll have a communication to make. He has been so diligent and so sharp that he'll have a great deal to tell, I do not doubt. Only, remember, Clara, that if anything that he tells you makes any difference in your feelings towards me, I shall expect you to come to me and say so openly. If he makes his statement, let me make mine. I have a right to ask for that, after what I have promised."

"You may be sure that I will." "I want nothing more. I have no distrust in you, none in the least. I tell you that I believe in you. If you will do that, and will keep Mr. William Belton out of my way during his visit to these parts, I shall be satisfied." For some time past Mrs

Askerton had been walking about the room, but, as she now finished speaking, she sat herself down as though the subject was fully discussed and completed. For a minute or two she made an effort to resume her usual tranquillity of manner, and in doing so attempted to smile as though ridiculing her own energy. "I knew I should make a fool of myself when you came," she said; "and now I have done it."

"I don't think you have been a fool at all, but you may have been mistaken."

"Very well, my dear, we shall see. It's very odd what a dislike I took to that man the first time I saw him."

"And I am so fond of him!"

"Yes; he has cozened you as he has your father. I am only glad that he did not succeed in cozening you farther than he did. But I ought to have known you better than to suppose you could give your heart of hearts to one who is".

"Do not abuse him any more." "Who is so very unlike the sort of people with whom you have lived. I may, at any rate, say that."

"I don't know that. I haven't lived much

with any one yet, except papa, and my aunt, and you.'

"But you know a gentleman when you see him."

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Come, Mrs. Askerton, I will not stand this. I thought you had done with the subject, and now you begin again. I had come here on purpose to tell you something of real importance, that is, to me; but I must go away without telling you, unless you will give over abusing my cousin."

"I will not say a word more about him, - not at present."

"I feel so sure that you are mistaken, you know."

"Very well; and I feel sure that you are mistaken. We will leave it so, and go to this matter of importance." But Clara felt it to be very difficult to tell her tidings after such a conversation as that which had just occurred. When she had entered the room her mind had been tuned to the subject, and she could have found fitting words without much difficulty to herself; but now her thoughts had been scattered and her feelings hurt, and she did not know how to bring herself back to the subject of her engagement. She paused, therefore, and sat with a doubtful, hesitating look, meditating some mode of escape. "I am all ears," said Mrs. Askerton; and Clara thought that she discovered something of ridicule, or of sarcasm, in the tone of her friend's voice.

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"I believe I'll put it off till another day, she said.

"Why so? You don't think that anything really important to you will not be important to me also?"

"I am sure of that, but somehow "— "You mean to say that I have ruffled you?"

"Well;-perhaps; a little."

"Then be unruffled again, like my own dear, honest Clara. I have been ruffled too, but I'll be as tranquil now as a drawing-room cat." Then Mrs. Askerton got up from her chair, and seated herself by Clara's side on the sofa. "Come; you can't go till you've told me; and if you hesitate, I shall think that you mean to quarrel with me."

"I'll come to you to-morrow."

"No, no; you shall tell me to-day. All to-morrow you'll be preparing for your cousin."

"Of course I've heard of him." "But you've never seen him?" "You know I never have."

"I told you that he was at Perivale when Mrs. Winterfield died."

"And now he has proposed, and you are going to accept him? That will indeed be important. Is it so?-say? But don't I know it is so? Why don't you speak?

"If you know it, why need I speak?" "But it is so? Oh, Clara, I am so glad. I congratulate you with all my heart, with all my heart. My dearest, dearest Clara! What a happy arrangement! What a success! It is just as it should be. Dear, good man! to come forward in that sensible way; and put an end to all the little family difficulties!"

"I don't know so much about success. Who is it that is successful?" "You, to be sure."

"Then by the same measurement he must be unsuccessful."

"Don't be a fool, Clara."

"Of course I have been successful if I've got a man that I can love as my husband."

"Now, my dear, don't be a fool. Of course all that is between you and him, and I don't in the least doubt that it is all as it should be. If Captain Aylmer had been the elder brother instead of the younger, and had all