“But is there not a summer land fairer than
that we see now; and which we do see, as in a dream,
best when we take subjects of talk from the graveyard?”
Without waiting for a reply, Lily went on. “I
planted these flowers: Mr. Emlyn was angry with
me; he said it was ‘Popish.’ But
he had not the heart to have them taken up; I come
here very often to see to them. Do you think
it wrong? Poor little Nell! she was so fond
of flowers. And the Eleanor in the great tomb,
she too perhaps knew some one who called her Nell;
but there are no flowers round her tomb. Poor
Eleanor!”
She took the nosegay she wore on her bosom, and as
she repassed the tomb laid it on the mouldering stone.
THEY quitted the burial-ground, taking their way to
Grasmere. Kenelm walked by Lily’s side;
not a word passed between them till they came in sight
of the cottage.
Then Lily stopped abruptly, and lifting towards him
her charming face, said,—
“I told you I would think over what you said
to me last night. I have done so, and feel I
can thank you honestly. You were very kind:
I never before thought that I had a bad temper; no
one ever told me so. But I see now what you mean;
sometimes I feel very quickly, and then I show it.
But how did I show it to you, Mr. Chillingly?”
“Did you not turn your back to me when I seated
myself next you in Mrs. Braefield’s garden,
vouchsafing me no reply when I asked if I had offended?”
Lily’s face became bathed in blushes, and her
voice faltered, as she answered,—
“I was not offended; I was not in a bad temper
then: it was worse than that.”
“Worse? what could it possibly be?”
“I am afraid it was envy.”
“Envy of what? of whom?”
“I don’t know how to explain; after all,
I fear aunty is right, and the fairy tales put very
silly, very naughty thoughts into one’s head.
When Cinderella’s sisters went to the king’s
ball, and Cinderella was left alone, did not she long
to go too? Did not she envy her sisters?”
“Ah! I understand now: Sir Charles
spoke of the Court Ball.”
“And you were there talking with handsome ladies—and—oh!
I was so foolish and felt sore.”
“You, who when we first met wondered how people
who could live in the country preferred to live in
towns, do then sometimes contradict yourself, and
sigh for the great world that lies beyond these quiet
water banks. You feel that you have youth and
beauty, and wish to be admired!”
“It is not that exactly,” said Lily, with
a perplexed look in her ingenuous countenance, “and
in my better moments, when the ’bettermost self’
comes forth, I know that I am not made for the great
world you speak of. But you see—”
Here she paused again, and as they had now entered
the garden, dropped wearily on a bench beside the path.
Kenelm seated himself there too, waiting for her to
finish her broken sentence.
