n seeking,
and therefore good. The letters that came to her from Beechhurst and
Caen breathed nothing but encouragement to love and patience, and Harry
Musgrave's letters were a perpetual fount of refreshment. What
delightful letters they were! He told, her whatever he thought would
interest or amuse her or make his life palpable to her. He sent her
books, he sent her proof-sheets to be read and returned: if Bessie had
not loved him so devotedly and all that belonged to him, she might have
thought his literature a tax on her leisure. It was a wonder to all who
knew her (without knowing her secret fund of joy) what a cheerful
countenance she wore through this dreary period of her youth. Within the
house she had no support but the old servants, and little change or
variety from without. Those kind old ladies, Miss Juliana and Miss
Charlotte Smith, were very good in coming to see her, and always
indulged her in a talk of Lady Latimer and Fairfield; Miss Burleigh
visited her occasionally for a day, but Lady Angleby kept out of the
shadow on principle--she could not bear to see it lengthening. She
enjoyed life very much, and would not be reminded of death if she could
help it. Her nephew spent Christmas at Norminster, and paid more than
one visit to Abbotsmead. Miss Fairfax was as glad as ever to see him. He
came like a breath of fresh air from the living outer world, and made no
pretensions to what he knew she had not to give. The engagement between
Miss Julia Gardiner and Mr. Brotherton had fallen through, for some
reason that was never fully explained, and Miss Burleigh began to think
her dear brother would marry poor Julia after all.

Another of Bessie's pleasures was a day in Minster Court. One evening
she brought home a photograph of the three boys, and the old squire put
on his spectacles to look at it. She had ceased to urge reconciliation,
but she still hoped for it earnestly; and it came in time, but not at
all as she expected. One day--it was in the early spring--she was called
to her grandfather's room, and there she found Mr. John Short sitting in
council and looking exceedingly discontented. The table was strewn with
parchments and papers, and she was invited to take a seat in front of
the confusion. Then an abrupt question was put to her: Would she prefer
to have settled upon her the Abbey Lodge, which Colonel Stokes now
occupied as a yearly tenant, or a certain house in the suburbs of
Norminster going out tow