Correstone Rectory. A tale

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LI S K ADE. I''"'" ' CORESTONE RECTORY 9 CaU BY CARRIE S. MATTHEWS "Some murmur when their sky is clear And wholly bright to -view, I/one small speck of dark appear In their great heaven of blue ; And some -with thankful love\are filled If but one streak of light. One ray of God's good mercy gild The darkness of their night." Archbishop Trench (Efaelpng 8 DUKE STREET, ADELPHI, LONDON CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. Leaving Home ...... i II. New Friends ...... 14 III. Basil Brown . . . . . .21 IV. Edith's Wedding . . . . . -33 V. Mina's Hopes . . . . . -45 VI. Lady Bruce ....... 56 VII. Corner Cliff . . . . . -67 VIII. Return to Fairton . . . . -87 IX. The Day at Whyncar . . . . .100 X. Merton's Recovery . . . . .116 XI. A Glimpse of the Mantey's . . . .127 XII. Corestone again . . . . . .134 XIII.

Gathering Clouds . . . . . .149 XIV. The Boating Expedition ..... 160 XV. Joy and Sorrow . . . . . .176 XVI. Won at Last . . . . . .187 XVII. Watching the Sunset .....

Chapter I. Leaving Home

" Fair was she to behold that maiden of seventeen summers." Longfellow. In the garden of Fairton Rectory, one lovely day in early spring, a young girl was walking with slow step, evidently deep in thought. A book was in her hand, but its leaves remained unturned, and from her grave look you would imagine she was in some great trouble, and Mina Leigh's heart would have responded to your idea, for she had just heard that she was to leave home for the first time, not for a few weeks' visit, but for a far longer period, and this, her first real sorrow, seemed overwhelming. A heavy tread sounded on the path behind her, and her father's hand was placed on her shoulder as he said tenderly — " My child, for your mother's sake and mine you must bear up bravely ; and remember that you are going to very old friends of ours, who will welcome my Mina, indeed, does not Mr. Gray's letter say so?

You know, dear, A nothing but necessity would make me part with you, but such a kind offer to keep you free of all expense could not be refused, when Merton is requiring all possible help, and Katie and Horace have to be educated." " Father, you know I will try and bear it," said Mina, "and not make you unhappy by being so myself; but the dear old home, I cannot bear to leave it, and who will love me at Corestone as you all do ?" " Our Father will be with you, my child," said Mr. Leigh softly, "never forget to ask for His abiding presence, and He will ever bless and protect you ; but look, your mother is beckoning to you from the window, and I must go on to the village ;" and after a fervent embrace Mina ran indoors. The next day was the one fixed on for her journey to Corestone, a small village in Cornwall, where the Grays lived, and Mina had so much to prepare that the time seemed to fly.

Her younger brother and sister were disconsolate at the idea of losing her, for although Mina was nearly seventeen, she often shared their games and was a will ing listener to all their childish sorrows. " Come with me, Katie and Horace," said Mina, enter ing the room where her brother and sister were sitting, LEA VING HOME. 3 "and say good-bye to the Scotts; they do not yet even know that I am going to-morrow, and would never for give me if I left Yorkshire without seeing them." The three then started off for the next village, where Mr. Scott was rector, and whose two children, Anna and Claude, were Mina Leigh's greatest friends. Claude was now at college with Merton Leigh at Oxford, and Anna, left alone, fell back on Mina for companionship, and found in her a true friend. She was very grieved when she found they were to lose her so soon, and that she was going away so far ; but they agreed to send each other long letters, and with a promise from Anna to call often and see Mrs. Leigh, Mina left her.

The next day Mr. Leigh was to take Mina as far as Mayton, twelve miles from London, to stay all night at a friend's house, so as to travel down to Corestone the following morning. When- Mina rose and found all her boxes in readiness in the hall, and the time come to say good-bye to all the dear ones, her heart almost failed her ; but she tried to be brave for her mother's sake, and followed her father to the pony-carriage as cheerfully as she could, and Fairton was soon left far behind. The following day Mr. Leigh put her under the care of a kind old lady, who promised to do her best to cheer her up, and Mina was glad to find her the only occupant of the carriage, so that she could indulge in a few silent tears. The lady left her undisturbed for the first few minutes, and then seeing her countenance brighten, leaned forward and asked her where she was going, and if she was leaving home for school, and on learning from Mina that she was going to Corestone to a Mr. Gray's, she exclaimed in a tone of pleasure — " Why, my dear, I live two miles from Corestone myself, and I shall be delighted to welcome you at The Cedars.

Edith Gray often comes over with Mr. Graham." And on seeing Mina's look of perplexity, she added, "You do not know, perhaps, who Mr. Graham is ; he is Mr. Gray's curate, and engaged to Miss Edith, in fact they have just settled matters, and are to live in a house very near the Rectory. Now you will know all about things, dear. My son Basil is to meet me at King's Cross, and then you will have seen the two friends you will have very near you at Corestone." Mina was very grateful to Mrs. Brown (for this was the lady's name) for all her kindness, and was pondering it over in her mind when the train stopped at King's Cross, and a tall grave man with soldierly aspect soon LEA VING HOME. 5 presented himself at the carriage door, and was received with warm welcome by his mother, and then introduced to Mina, and made aware of her destination.

These kind people placed her in a cab with directions what to do at the Waterloo Station, and she parted with them, feeling she was not so destitute of friends after all, and continued her journey alone. Mina was very tired by the time she arrived at the station, where Mr. Gray was to meet her, and which was fully eight miles from Corestone. As she alighted from the train a kind fatherly-looking man, with grey hair and benevolent expression, came forward to welcome her, and she with her luggage was soon safely deposited inside the roomy old-fashioned car riage which Mr. Gray drove. Shades of evening were fast beginning to fall, and in the soft subdued light the wild coast scenery looked strangely weird and new to Mina. Mr. Gray, after inquiring for her parents' health, left her to herself, per ceiving she was quite overdone with her long journey.

After what seemed to Mina an interminable distance, they at length stopped at a small gatehouse, and then winding up a long carriage-drive, drew up at the door of a very old-fashioned Rectory, the darkness preventing anything but an indistinct view of its main features. The door was quickly thrown open, and a girl of about fifteen summers came bounding into Mr. Gray's arms, and then, without giving so much as a look towards Mina, quickly retreated as her mother's voice in languid accents called to her to shut the drawing-room door. Mina felt chilled with such a reception, when a tall graceful girl came gliding along the hall and said eagerly — " And this is Mina Leigh, I suppose," and kissing her affectionately, led her into a room which, though small, was fitted with every comfort, and taking off her travelling wraps, placed her in an armchair, and at once prepared some tea, which looked very tempting to the tired girl ; then with easy kindness Edith Gray began talking to her without requiring answers, telling her of how welcome she would be to them all.

Before long her sister peeped in at the door, and Edith introduced her as the "Baby" and spoiled pet of the family, at which Miss Lily pouted her lip and only seemed half inclined to be friendly with the stranger, who was engrossing all her sister's attention. " Now, Miss Leigh, come and see mamma," and Edith Gray ushered Mina into a large three-cornered room, LEA VING HOME. 7 evidently, from its appearance and style, used as the drawing-room. A quiet-looking woman of about forty years of age was resting on the sofa, and with the air of an invalid she rose languidly to greet Mina, and hoped Edith had supplied all her wants. Writing at a side-table sat a young man, whom Mina presumed to be Mr. Graham until Edith said to him, "Mr. Long, this is our friend Miss Leigh ;" and after this last intro duction, and a little chat about her journey, Edith proposed showing Mina her room, thinking she must long for some quiet rest.

Mina thought she had never seen a prettier room than the one allotted to her. A bright fire blazed on the hearth, and the carpet and curtains looked invitingly fresh and new ; a small table, with an armchair near it, was placed in a little recess near the window, from which Edith said there was a tiny peep of the sea. The girls chatted pleasantly for a few minutes, and Mina learned that Ernest Long was reading with Mr. Gray, that he had been with them three months, and was to continue at Corestone for another year. Then Edith said good-night, and left Mina to slumber peacefully in her new home. The next morning she awoke with a strange sense of isolation, but she recalled Edith's kindly manner, and felt assured she would find a friend in her. The loveliness of the scene, as she drew up the blind, delighted her.

The village of Corestone occupied the valley beneath, and a clear rippling stream bubbled along very near the house, crossed by a quaint stone bridge, and spreading along its banks were trees just budding into green, their branches hanging close to the water's edge. Then more distant were lines of cliff and little fishing villages dotted about here and there, the chimneys of an old Manor House just visible amongst the trees, and beyond the blue sea-line flooded with morning light. Mina lost all her sadness as she gazed, and fancied every one must be happy who lived in such a scene. At breakfast Mina related her meeting with Mrs. Brown, to the great surprise of the Grays, who knew she had been in town with her son, but did not expect she had travelled farther north. " And did you see her son ?

" inquired Edith. "Yes," said Mina, "he met his mother at King's Cross ; but I had no opportunity of judging what he was like, as I went off in a fly to Waterloo Station almost immediately." LEAVING HOME. 9 " He is a very grave personage, interesting only when useful," remarked Lily ; and Ernest Long seemed to agree with her verdict, as he said directly, " I never knew a man of his age so seclusive, poring all day long over fusty old books, or taking solitary walks on the cliffs or some outlandish place no one ever frequents." " You do not know Mr. Brown intimately enough yet, Long," said Mr. Gray, " to have found out the depth of tenderness which lies underneath his cold exterior, and his devotion to his mother proves it." " Yes, indeed," said Edith, " and never was mother prouder of a son.

You can see The Cedars from your window, Mina, and we must walk round that way for you to see where your new acquaintances live. Leonard is coming at twelve, and then we can all go together. Now, Lily, to your music, and we will leave Mina for an hour or two, as I am sure she will like a little time to herself this morning." Lily, with reluctant air, followed her sister to the drawing-room, and Mina, left alone, began to wonder what her duties would be. Mrs. Gray had said in a letter to her mother, she would have her time almost entirely to herself, only she would be expected to give an eye to Lily, and see that she prepared her lessons properly for her masters ; and from the glimpse she had already had of that young lady, Mina fancied it would be no Hght task. Lily Gray being the youngest, had been made so much of by all around her, that she had been thoroughly spoiled, and at fifteen was quite beyond the control of her mother, and only a grave rebuke from Mr. Gray made the slightest impression upon her.

She often managed to make every one uncomfortable by her thoughtless ways. Edith, on the contrary, was unselfish in the extreme, and very amiable. Leonard Graham had secured her affections some few weeks before Mina's arrival. They were both well suited and happy in their choice, and as a small house only a few yards from the Rectory had fallen vacant, Mr. Graham had Edith's promise, sanctioned by her parents, to their union in the summer. Edith was just twenty and Mr. Graham six years her senior. He had been her father's curate for nearly two years, and was well suited for his post ; and Edith, known and loved by the simple village folk, would make him a useful and consistent wife. Mina had put all her possessions away in her room, and strolled out into the garden to look about her, when LEAVING HOME. 11 Edith's voice called to her, and running into the dining room, she found a tall fair-haired man standing by the chimney-piece, who turned as she approached, and took her hand, and said kindly — " Edith has told me I need no introduction to Miss Leigh, you know already who I am, and that I have the good fortune to be able to call this little woman my own;" and taking Edith's hand in his, he added, "Are you prepared for a long walk, Miss Leigh ?

We were thinking of Liskade, it is nearly three miles from here, and is a small fishing hamlet under Mr. Gray's supervision ; there are one or two sick people I must look up. Ernest Long and Lily are waiting to accompany us." Mina answered that she was a good walker, and was very eager to see some of the country, and without further delay they all started for Liskade. Their path lay in the direction of The Cedars, and as they approached it Mina felt the beauty of the scenery was beyond anything she had imagined. The sea, which seemed so distant at Corestone, broke suddenly upon their view as they descended a hill to the Manor House, and it foamed and tossed upon the surrounding rocks. Mina wondered at the lovely glen, densely wooded with trees, in which the Browns' house stood, in such close proximity to so wild a scene as waves present when stirred by storm !

Indeed Mrs. Brown did sometimes long to be farther from the restless sound of the tide, her son never. To him the sea was as a friend ; he loved it in all its phases, — when the sunshine played on its heaving bosom, or kissed the little rippling waves faintly splashing on the shore ; when in dull cold grey it seemed as if nothing could break the gloomy silence of its depths, or when in storms it dashed and leaped with relentless sway on sand and rock, and crumbled the bold cliffs in its surging tide. Yes, the sea was a study to Basil Brown he was never weary of, and it calmed his own restless spirit to hold communion with the ever-flowing waves. Liskade was at the top of a hill, on the other side of The Cedars, and consisted of a few fishers' huts with tiny gardens, and a group of boats drawn up on a slip of sandy beach below, and corn-fields and pasture-lands extended beyond.

Ernest Long and the two girls walked home as far as they could by the beach, leaving Mr. Graham and Edith to visit their sick friends. All had a kindly word of encouragement from Edith, and she was universally LEAVING HOME. 13 beloved by them. She taught the ignorant little ones, and cheered their mothers' hearts by kind advice, and showed them of the love their Saviour had for them in their sorrows. Mr. Graham had a weekly service on Friday evenings in one of the cottages, and however rough the weather, Edith always accompanied him, and thus shared his work and ministry of love. Blessed work to bring weary souls to the feet of the Good Shepherd, who tenderly leads them through the deserts of this world till they bask in the full sunshine of His presence above ; and blessed indeed those whom He has called to be shepherds of His flock below, though often discouraged and cast down, after seeking the lost on the desolate waste or on the dreary hillside, yet cheered again by being able to lead them to the still waters of comfort ; and after the weariness of the charge is over and the warfare accomplished, blessed beyond measure to hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servants, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Chapter II. New Friends

" The path of sorrow, and that path alone, Leads to the land where sorrow is unknown ; No traveller ever reached that blest abode Who found not thorns and briers on the road." Anon. MlNA LEIGH was now quite established as a member of the family by the Grays, and found herself happier than she expected, so far from home and friends. Lily was her only anxiety. Mrs. Gray asked her to walk with her daily, and to accompany her to her music and French lessons twice a week at Falmouth, and Mina always dreaded any outburst from the wayward girl, if anything was proposed contrary to her wishes. Mina being so young and girlish in her manner, Lily quickly resented anything like authority displayed over her. Mrs. Gray, a quiet and at times touchy invalid, had ceased to restrain her, and would always say when appealed to, " Oh, leave Lily alone !"

NEW FRIENDS. 15 Ernest Long had to stand many a jeer from her ; she made fun of all he said and did, but being very good natured, he generally smiled and left her to take her own way. One morning, about three weeks after Mina's arrival at Corestone, she and Lily were sent to The Cedars to inquire when Mr. and Mrs. Brown were expected home. They were just approaching the gate when a gentle man was seen coming at a quick rate down the road from the village of Liskade, and Lily exclaimed — "Mr. Brown himself! how tiresome ! I am sure we did not want to see him." Before Mina could reply, Mr. Brown had joined them, and after shaking hands he opened the gate, saying — " My mother has been wishing to call on you, Miss Leigh, but I persuaded her to wait until she had lost a very bad cold taken in travelling on Tuesday; she will be pleased to see you now;" and he ushered the girls into a small sitting-room, where his mother sat reading in an old-fashioned armchair.

She looked up at Mina, and then rose to greet her. " My dear Miss Leigh, I am so glad to see you. I told you to find your way to The Cedars, and you would always have a welcome. Basil, put chairs for the girls, and ring for Reynolds to bring in lunch. And now, dear, tell me how you managed after we left you." And Mina had to recount all her journey to the kind old lady, who listened with eager interest to the recital. Then Mrs. Brown turned to Lily and inquired after her mother's health, and about Edith ; so Mina had an opportunity of surveying Mr. Brown for the first time, as she had only a momentary glimpse of him at the station. " Well," she thought, "he certainly looks grave enough, but perhaps he has had some great sorrow." Basil Brown was of a very commanding appearance, six feet in height, masses of curly brown hair clustered over a noble forehead, with dark expressive eyes and well-marked eyebrows, and a decision about the lines of the mouth marked him as a man who had known much of this world's strife.

He had been in the army, but had sold out at his father's death, who left him in charge of his widowed mother. He had one sister, who had married early in life Sir John Bruce, who had a large estate in the West Highlands of Scotland. Basil was well deserving of his mother's fervent love ; his whole life was devoted to her, and he spared no pains to fill, as far as possible, the place of the loved and lost. NEW FRIENDS. 17 "You seem to be admiring the view, Miss Leigh," said Basil after some few minutes' silence, in which Mina's eyes had dwelt lovingly on the striking sea view before her. " Yes," said Mina, " it is indeed lovely, grand beyond description. I delight in the sea, it seems to fill one with such aspiring thoughts." Basil started, here was a young girl putting into words his own ideas, and ex pressing all unconsciously his most cherished opinions.

" Often," said he, " I try to impress upon my friends, the Miss Grays, what life there is in our coast scenery ; but I only meet with shrugs of disdain from Miss Lily on the one side, whilst Miss Gray on the other longs for more peaceful inland scenery, and does not respond to my rapture over 'ocean's beauties.' Is it not so, Miss Lily?" "You are such an enthusiast about the sea, Mr. Brown, and yet so cool and unconcerned about some things. Would you believe it, Mina, he professes to despise croquet and lawn tennis ? and at Fisherley the other, day he strolled about the grounds and never joined the archery party. I suppose he is too clever to condescend to join in games." Mina thought Lily expressed herself with easy free- B dom to this grave collected man, who looked nearly forty ; but knowing Lily's natural forwardness she said nothing, and, after partaking of some luncheon, they returned to the Rectory.

When they arrived Mina found a letter awaiting her from her friend Anna Scott, which she seized with delight, and running up into her own room, speedily perused. It ran as follows : — "Chaseley Rectory. " MY DEAR MINA, — Only fancy, three weeks have passed since you left Fairton ! I know you will eagerly long for home news. Although Mrs. Leigh writes to you constantly you will like to hear of them from an outsider. I spent last Thursday at your house, Merton and Claude, as you know, arriving the day before. The latter seems to be in rather an unsettled condition ; he cannot quite decide upon taking Holy Orders or not. I trust a little quiet home life will do him good and settle his plans. " Merton is as good as ever, and quite the right hand of his father. They miss you at times sadly, dear Mina, but are greatly cheered by your letters and hearing you have already found kind friends.

Katie and Horace talk incessantly of you, and say they miss you 'fearfully.' NEW FRIENDS. 19 " It is very pleasant for you having the Browns so near. Describe Mr. Brown when you write next, for Claude fancies he has met him at Oxford. Merton has promised to bring the children over for a long day next week. I only wish you could join them ! Papa and mamma send their love to you, and with much from me, I am, dearest Mina, your loving friend, "Anna R. Scott. "P.S. — Claude says, his love being the most im portant part of the letter, must be in a P.S., so here it is, and he hopes you have not forgotten an old friend." Mina sat long pondering over her friend's letter until the tea-bell roused her from her reverie, and she ran down to undergo a cross-examination from Ernest Long and Mrs. Gray as to their reception at The Cedars.

They were all much astonished to find the Browns had returned. " No doubt it was a whim of Brown's to come back all in a hurry," said Ernest ; " he is unaccountably strange at times." " Always, I think, you should say," said Lily. " To have heard him and Mina going on about the sea was quite a joke, and he seemed truly delighted to find some one to rave with him on ' ocean's beauties.' " Mina blushed, and said quietly she had always loved the sea from childhood, but had never lived near it, and it was now such a new delight that she must " rave about it," as Lily expressed it. Edith was the only one to whom she felt she could impart any of her cherished thoughts, but she was so constantly engrossed with Mr. Graham that Mina saw little of her, and often felt a longing for a kindred spirit, but did not expect to find one at The Cedars.

Chapter III. Basil Brown

Who hath the Father and the Son May be lest, but not alone." Christian Year. SUMMER was rapidly approaching, and with it Edith Gray's wedding-day. It was fixed for the middle of July, and preparations for the great event were already being made. To Mina's great delight her brother Merton had been invited to come down for it, and to spend as much as he could of the long vacation at Corestone. Mina was standing at the library window one morn ing watching the sunshine dancing in the little brook below and the bright face of nature around her, when she saw an unmistakably tall figure coming along the road, and Mr. Brown was soon shown into the room where she and Lily generally spent their mornings. " I have come, Miss Leigh, to presume on your kindness and to ask you to spend the day with my mother.

She is far from well, and I know you will cheer her up, as I have to go to see a gentleman on business seven miles from here, and cannot be home before seven o'clock. Will you be charitable and come ? " " I shall be delighted if Mrs. Gray will allow me," said Mina, and running off directly to ask permission she soon returned saying Mrs. Gray had no objection. " Then will you come with me at once ? " said Basil, "as I leave The Cedars at twelve. I give you ten minutes to dress in," he continued, smiling. Mina flew to get ready, and, much to Mr. Brown's surprise, dressed within the time given. They walked on quickly towards The Cedars, Mr. Brown seeming even quieter than he was wont to be. Mina thought of Anna Scott's question, and, as they were nearing the gate, she looked up and said — " Do you remember meeting a gentleman of the name of Scott when you were at Oxford ?

" Basil started, but answered with perfect composure — " Yes, very well. His name was Claude, and he was at Magdalen, and I often used to meet him at the house of a mutual friend. What do you know of him ? " He is the son of the rector of the adjoining parish to my father's," replied Mina, " and in a letter to me his sister mentioned his knowing a Mr. Brown from Corn wall, and wondered if you were the identical one." Basil did not seem much inclined to continue the subject, and, as they had just entered the drive, no more was said, Mina almost agreeing with Lily that he was certainly tiresome at times. Mrs. Brown was delighted to have Mina all to herself for a day, and after seeing Basil start on his journey proposed walking to Liskade to see a friend. On their return they had an early dinner, and then went into Mina's favourite room, the study, with its long window opening into the flower-garden and its glorious sea view.

They chatted pleasantly on various subjects. Mrs. Brown was now familiar with all Mina's relatives from the vivid way in which she had described them, then Mina, in return, listened to long stories of Mrs. Brown's early life. "Was your son ever at college in Oxford?" said Mina after a pause in the conversation. " No, dear ; he went to Sandhurst at sixteen till he entered the army two years later. He was away in India for nearly eight years until his father's death, when, as you know, he came home, and ever since has been my right hand and support. He is a good noble fellow, and if I tell you more about him, Mina, you will, I am sure, agree with me." Mina looked her willingness for Mrs. Brown to say more, and she went on — " Nine years ago, when we lived in London, and entered more into society than we do now, we met with a family of the name of Leer.