My father was much amused at being successor to this
family feud, and said that when he had time he would
look up the documents.
Mrs. Sophia was a sight when Mr. Fordyce and his son
and daughter-in-law were announced; she was so comically
stiff between her deference to her hosts and her
allegiance to her poor dear uncle; but her coldness
melted before the charms of old Mr. Fordyce, who
was one of the most delightful people in the world.
She even was his partner at whist, and won the game,
and that she did like.
Parson Frank, as we naughty young ones called him,
was all good-nature and geniality—a thorough
clergyman after the ideas of the time, and a thorough
farmer too; and in each capacity, as well as in politics,
he suited my father or Mr. Henderson. His lady,
in a blonde cap, exactly like the last equipment
my mother had provided herself with in London, and
a black satin dress, had much more style than the
more gaily-dressed country dames, and far more conversation.
Mr. Stafford, who had dreaded the party, pronounced
her a sensible, agreeable woman, and she was particularly
kind and pleasant to me, coming and talking over
the botany of the country, and then speaking of my
brother’s kindness to poor Amos Bell, who was
nearly recovered, but was a weakly child, for whom
she dreaded the toil of a ploughboy in thick clay
with heavy shoes.
I was sorry when, after Emily’s well-studied
performance on the piano, Mrs. Fordyce was summoned
away from me to sing, but her music and her voice
were both of a very different order from ordinary
drawing-room music; and when our evening was over,
we congratulated ourselves upon our neighbours, and
agreed that the Fordyces were the gems of the party.
Only Mrs. Sophia sighed at us as degenerate Winslows,
and Emily reserved to herself the right of believing
that the daughter was ’a horrid girl.’
‘Though bound with weakness’ heavy chain
We in the dust of earth remain;
Not all remorseful be our tears,
No agony of shame or fears,
Need pierce its passion’s bitter tide.’
Verses and Sonnets.
Perhaps it was of set purpose that our dinner. party
had been given before Clarence’s return.
Griffith had been expected in time for it, but he
had preferred going by way of London to attend a ball
given by the daughter of a barrister friend of my
father’s. Selina Clarkson was a fine
showy girl, with the sort of beauty to inspire boyish
admiration, and Griff’s had been a standing family
joke, even my father condescending to tease him when
the young lady married Sir Henry Peacock, a fat vulgar
old man who had made his fortune in the commissariat,
and purchased a baronetcy. He was allowing his
young wife her full swing of fashion and enjoyment.
My mother did not think it a desirable acquaintance,
and was restless until both the brothers came home
