Adventures of a Despatch Rider | Page 2

lead us. Up High Street
and Smith Street to Grange Road, where we mount and away from
houses and streets and the fashionable world; among the fields and
hedges, just decking themselves with Daisies and Celandines, and
every now and then, at the top of the many little hills which the road
crosses, comes a peep of the bright blue sea, from which, go where we
will, we can never get very far away in Guernsey. After a short ride,
Captain Crawford pulled up his horse, and giving it into the care of a
boy who answered his call, he walked down an avenue to a pretty
rose-covered house, which he entered, and made his way to the
drawing-room.
"Well, my little one, what have you been about all the morning?" was
his greeting as he opened the door to a delicate-looking girl who lay on
the sofa.
"Oh, Edward!" she answered, "I was just wishing for you. I feel rather
better than usual to-day, and mamma says I may take a turn in the
garden. I was only waiting for your arm. Will you ring for my bonnet?"
"Look, here is a New-year's gift for you, Ellen," said her brother, taking
the gold pencil-case out of his pocket and hanging it on her chain.
"Oh! thanks--thanks, Edward!" she said warmly, as she pulled his head
down to her, and threw her arms round his neck; "My own brother, how
good of you! this is just what I wanted."
"I never yet knew you have anything which was not just what you
wanted, Ellen. Is there anything in the world you wish for now?"
"No, I am very happy. You none of you give me an opportunity of
wishing for anything; as soon as I wish, I have it. You all spoil me."

"I know what I wish," said her brother; "and that is, that I had your
secret of finding everything so very comfortable. What is it, little one?"
He had seated himself by her side, and was stroking the hair back from
her forehead, while she lay in quiet enjoyment of his gentle touch; but
on hearing his last question she raised her large dark eyes, fixing them
earnestly on his face for one moment, but without speaking. She was
soon ready for her walk, and, leaning on her brother's arm, let him half
carry half lead her out.
"Let us go to the gate, Edward," she said, when they reached the door;
"the children will be coming out of school, and I may see some of my
little friends."
They walked very slowly, and neither spoke for a few moments, till
Ellen said, in rather a hurried tone, "I was wrong just now when I told
you I never wished for anything; there is one thing I want very much,
and which you can never give me."
"What is it?" asked her brother.
"To be able to live over again the twenty years of health which have
just passed from me, and to have again all the money I spent in that
time."
"Why, my dear Ellen," said Captain Crawford gaily, "you are the last
person in the world to say anything of the sort. I am sure the greatest
pleasure of your days of health was to take puddings and sixpences to
old women; and if that is not a satisfactory way of spending one's time
and money, I don't know what is. But really, Ellen," he said, more
seriously, as he saw her grave face, "I do not see what reason you have
to blame yourself, after such a life as yours has been. I should have
thought the recollection of it would now have been your greatest
comfort; and that, after taking care of others for so long, you might
enjoy being taken care of yourself now. But, my little one! what is the
matter?"
Ellen had stopped, and, with her head resting on his shoulder, was

sobbing violently.
"Edward, don't!" she said, as soon as she could command herself; "I
can't bear it! Think of the handsome allowance papa makes me, and
how little of it has been well spent! And then, what was given away did
not do a quarter of the good it might have done, because I did not go
and give it myself, and kind words with it, which are far more
comforting than food or money. And if you will believe me, Edward,
extravagance has become such a habit with me, that though I resolved
last quarter to be economical and save up something for the new church,
I had hardly anything left at the end of it. It is true I did teach at the
school a little, and visit a few people, but what is that compared to