Still, she thought it right to explain to her that London life might have many difficulties, that; for the present at least, her wages could not be raised, and the family might at first be in even more straitened circumstances than they were at Stowbury.

“Only at first, though, for I hope to find plenty of pupils, and by-and-by our nephew will get into practice.”

“Is it on account of him you’re going, Miss Hilary?”

“Chiefly.”

Elizabeth gave a grunt which said as plainly as words could say, “I thought so;” and relapsed into what she, no doubt, believed to be virtuous indignation, but which, as it was testified against the wrong parties, was open to the less favorable interpretation of ill humor—­a small injustice not uncommon with us all.

I do not pretend to paint this young woman as a perfect character.  She had her fierce dislikes as well as her strong fidelities; her faults within and without, which had to be struggled with, as all of us have to struggle to the very end of our days.  Oftentimes not till the battle is high over—­sometimes not till it is quite over—­does God give us the victory.

Without more discussion on either side, it was agreed that Elizabeth should accompany her mistresses.  Even Mrs. Hand seemed to be pleased thereat, her only doubt being lest her daughter should meet and be led astray by that bad woman, Mrs. Cliffe, Tommy Cliffe’s mother, who was reported to have gone to London.  But Miss Hilary explained that this meeting was about as probable as the rencontre of two needles in a hay-rick; and besides, Elizabeth was not the sort of girl to be easily “led astray” by any body.

“No, no; her’s a good wench, though I says it,” replied the mother, who was too hard worked to have much sentiment to spare.  “I wish the little ’uns may take pattern by our Elizabeth.  You’ll send her home, may be, in two or three years’ time, to let us have a look at her?”

Miss Hilary promised, and then took her way back through the familiar old town—­so soon to be familiar no more—­thinking anxiously, in spite of herself, upon those two or three years, and what they might bring.

It happened to be a notable day—­that sunshiny 28th of June—­when the little, round-cheeked damsel, who is a grandmother now, had the crown of three kingdoms first set upon her youthful head; and Stowbury, like every other town in the land, was a perfect bower of green arches, garlands, banners; white covered tables were spread in the open air down almost every street, where poor men dined, or poor women drank tea; and every body was out and abroad, looking at or sharing in the holiday’ making, wild with merriment, and brimming over with passionate loyalty to the Maiden Queen.

That day is now twenty-four years ago; but all those who remember it must own there never has been a day like it, when, all over the country, every man’s heart throbbed with chivalrous devotion, every woman’s with womanly tenderness, toward this one royal girl, who, God bless her! has lived to retain and deserve it all.