The old man rose, and, supported by two young farmers, lifted-up a face full of light and confidence.
"They tell me that you are ninety-eight years old, and that this is the seventy-first time that you will renew your covenant with the eternal Father. Bear witness this day of him."
"His word is sure as t" everlasting hills! I hev been young, and now I"m old, and I hev hed a deal to do wi" him, and he hes hed a deal to do for me; and he nivver hes deceived me, and he hes nivver failed me, and he has nivver turned t" cold shoulder to me; ay, and he hes stuck up to his promises, when I was none ready to keep mine. There"s many good masters, but he is t" best Master of a"! There"s many true friends, but he is the truest of a"! Many a kind father, but no father so kind as him! I _know_ whom I hev believed, and I can trust him even unto death!"
"Brothers and sisters, this is the Master, the Friend, the Father, whom I ask you to enter into covenant with to-day--a holy solemn covenant, which you shall kneel down and make upon your knees, and stand up and ratify in the sight of angels and of men."
Not ignorantly did Phyllis enter into this covenant with her Maker.
She had read it carefully over, and considered well its awful solemnity. Slowly the grand abnegation, the solemn engagement, was formed; every sentence recited without haste, and with full consciousness of all its obligations. Then Mr. North, after a short pause for mental examination, said:
"Remember now that you are in the actual presence of the Almighty G.o.d.
He is nearer to you than breathing, closer than hands and feet. He besets you before and behind. He lays his hand upon you. Therefore let all who, by standing up, give their soul"s a.s.sent to this consecration, remember well to whom they promise."
Slowly, one by one, the congregation arose; and so they remained standing, until every face was lifted. Then the silence was broken by the joyful singing of Doddridge"s fine hymn,
"O happy day that fixed my choice,"
and the service closed with the administration of the Holy Communion.
"Thou looks very happy, Phyllis," said the squire to her, as they both sat by the fire that night.
"I am very happy, uncle."
"Thou beats me! I told t" rector where ta had gone to-day, and he said it were a varry singular thing that thou should take such an obligation on thee. He said t" terms of it would do for t" varry strictest o"
Roman Catholic orders."
"Do you not think, uncle, that Protestants should be as strict regarding personal holiness as Catholics?"
"Nay, I know nowt about it, dearie. I wish women were a" like thee, though. They"d be a deal better to live wi". I like religion in a woman, it"s a varry reliable thing. I wish Antony hed hed his senses about him, and got thee to wed him. Eh! but I would have been a happy father!"
"Uncle, dear--you see--I love somebody else."
"Well I nivver! Thee! Why thou"s too young! When did ta begin to think o" loving any body?"
"When I was a little girl John Millard and I loved each other. I don"t know when I began to love him, I always loved him."
"What is ta talking about? Such nonsense!"
"Love is not nonsense, uncle. You remember the old English song you like so much:
""O "tis love, "tis love, "tis love That makes the world go round""
"Now be quiet wi" thee. It"s nowt o" t" sort. Songs and real life are varry different things. If ta comes o real life, it"s money, and not love; t" world would varry soon stick without a bit o" money."
About the middle of January Richard returned to Hallam. The Bishop was with friends in Liverpool, but he wished to sail immediately, and Richard thought it best to sail with him. Phyllis was willing to go.
She had had a charming visit, but she had many duties and friends on the other side, and her heart, also, was there. As for danger or discomfort in a winter pa.s.sage, she did not think it worth consideration. Some discomfort there must be; and if storm, or even death came, she was as near to heaven by sea as by land.
The squire had not written to Richard about his plans for the succession of Hallam. He had felt more uncertainty on the subject than he would admit even to his own heart. He thought he would prefer to explain matters to him in person. So, one morning, as they were together, he said "Look "ee here, Richard!" and he led him to the portrait of Colonel Alfred Hallam. "Thou can see where ta comes from.
Thou is t" varry marrow o" that Hallam!"
Richard was much pleased at the incident, and he traced with pleasure the resemblances between them.
"Richard, I am going to leave Hallam to thee."
It was not in the squire"s nature to "introduce" a subject. He could never half say a thing. His bald statement made Richard look curiously at him. He never for a moment believed him to mean what the words implied. So he only smiled and bowed.
"Nay, thou needn"t laugh! It"s no laughing matter. I"ll tell thee all about it."
In the squire"s way of telling, the tale was a very short one. The facts were stated in a few sentences, without comment. They amazed Richard, and left him for a moment speechless.
"Well, what does ta say?"
"I will be as frank as you have been, uncle. I cannot possibly accept your offer."
"Thou"lt hev a reason?"
"More than one. First, I would not change my name. I should feel as if I had slandered the Fontaines. My father was a brave soldier; my grandfather was a missionary, whose praise is in all our churches.
I need go no farther back. If I had been born "Hallam" I would have stood by the name just as firmly."
"Then, thou wilt hev to give up Elizabeth. Succession must go in her children and in her name."
"Miss Hallam and you accepted me as Richard Fontaine. Have I not the right to expect that both she and you will keep your word with me?"
"Thou forgets, Richard. Her duty to her father and to her ancestors stands before thee. If thy duty to thine will not let thee give up thy name, hers may well be due to home and lands that hold her by a tenure o" a thousand years. But neither Miss Hallam nor Hallam Hall need go a-begging, lad. I ask thy pardon for offering thee owt so worthless."
"Dear uncle, do not be angry with me."
"Ay, ay; it"s "dear uncle," and "dear father," but it"s also, "I"ll tak" my own way", wi" both Antony and thee. I"m a varry unhappy old man. I am that!"
He walked angrily off, leaving Richard standing before the picture which so much resembled him. He turned quickly, and went in search of Elizabeth. She was sitting with Phyllis in the breakfast parlor.
Phyllis, who was often inclined to a dreamy thoughtfulness, was so inclined at that hour, and she was answering Elizabeth"s remarks, far more curious of some mental vision than of the calm-browed woman, sitting opposite to her, sewing so industriously. Richard came in like a small tempest, and for once Elizabeth"s quiet, inquiring regard seemed to irritate him.
"Elizabeth;" and he took her work from her hand, and laid it on the table. "My dear love! does Phyllis know?"
"What, Richard?"
"About Antony and the Hallam estate?"
"No; I thought it best to let you tell her."
"Because you were sure I would refuse it?--Phyllis!"
"Yes, Richard."
"Your uncle is going to disinherit Antony; and he wishes me to become his heir and take his name."
"But that is impossible. You could not take Antony"s place. You could not give up your name--not for a kingdom."