The Trial [241]
with her account of the marriage, in the sitting-room at Massissauga, and of Tom's being so unprepared for the brevity of the American form, that he never knew where he was in the Service, and completed it with a puzzled 'Is that all?' Averil had, according to Ella, been infinitely more calm and composed. 'She does nothing but watch his eyes,' said Ella; 'and ever since we parted from Cora, I have had no one to speak to! In the cabin he never stirred from sitting by her; and if she could speak at all, it was so low that I could not hear. School will be quite lively.' 'Are you going to school?' 'Oh yes! where Ave was. That is quite fixed; and I have had enough of playing third person,' said Ella, with her precocious Western manner. 'You know I have all my own property, so I shall be on no one's hands! Oh, and Cora made her father buy all Ave's Massissauga shares--at a dead loss to us of course.' 'Well,' said Gertrude, 'I am sorry Tom is not an American share- holder. It was such fun!' 'He wanted to have made them all over to Henry; but Cora was determined; and her father is making heaps of money as a commissary, so I am sure he could afford it. Some day, when the rebellion is subdued, I mean to go and see Cora and Henry and his wife,' added Ella, whose tinge of Americanism formed an amusing contrast with Dickie's colonial ease--especially when she began to detail the discomforts of Massissauga, and he made practical suggestions for the remedies of each--describing how mamma and he himself managed. The younger ones had all gone to bed, Richard had returned home, and Ethel was waiting to let her father in, when Leonard came back with the new arrivals. 'I did not think you would be allowed to stay so late,' said Ethel. 'We did not talk much. I was playing chants most of the time; and after she went to bed, I stayed with Tom.' 'What do you think of her?' 'I cannot think. I can only feel a sort of awe. End as it may, it will have been a blessed thing to have had her among us like this.' 'Yes, it ought to do us all good. And I think she is full of enjoyment.' 'Perfect enjoyment!' repeated Leonard. 'Thank God for that!' After some pause, during which he turned over his pocket-book, as if seeking for something, he came to her, and said, 'Miss May, Averil has assented to a purpose that has long been growing up within me-- and that I had rather consult you about than any one, because you first inspired it.' 'I think I know the purpose you mean,' said Ethel, her heart beating high. 'The first best purpose of my boyhood,' he said. 'If only it may be given back to me! Will you be kind enough to look over this rough copy?' It was the draught of a letter to the Missionary Bishop, Mr. Seaford's diocesan, briefly setting forth Leonard's early history, his conviction, and his pardon, referring to Archdeacon May as a witness to the truth of his narrative. 'After this statement,' he proceeded, 'it appears to me little short of effrontery to offer myself for any share of the sacred labour in which your Lordship is engaged; and though it had been the wish of the best days of my youth, I should not have ventured on the thought but for the encouragement I received from Mr. Seaford, your Lordship's chaplain. I have a small income of my own, so that I should not be a burthen on the mission, and understanding that mechanical arts are found useful, I will mention that I learnt shoemaking at Milbank, and carpentry at Portland, and I would gladly undertake any manual occupation needed in a mission. Latterly I was employed in the schoolmaster's department; and I have some knowledge of music. My education is of course, imperfect, but I am endeavouring to improve myself. My age is twenty-one; I have good health, and I believe I can bring power of endurance and willingness to be employed in any manner that may be serviceable, whether as artisan or catechist.' 'I don't think they will make a shoemaker of you,' said Ethel, with her heart full. 'Will they have me at all? There will always be a sort of ticket-of- leave flavour about me,' said