My Scrapes and Escapes, Or The Adventures of a Student

with Caroline. And it was an understood thing now, all over the courty, that anybody else, except Alfred, daring to aspire to her, would be warned away in like manner. Aunt had it all her own way, unfortunately, until Lina should be of age, and as yet she was only nineteen.

Lina came running down the steps when I leaped cut of the chaise. They had tried hard to prop her up with a little of their own form and stateliness, but it would not do. The tears stood in her large blue eyes as I kissed her cheek, fair and pure as ever. Aunt and Caroline had remained in the drawing-room; the former could not, and the latter would not, have leaped down the house-steps for the world. Mrs. Dashingly was very cordial; to make amends, probably, for former grievances: she actually gave me what she called a kiss-a slight click of the lips about a foot off my face. Caroline was exceedingly gracious and dignified in right of her exalted position as bride-elect.

"Were you surprised at my summons?" demanded Mrs. Dashingly, when I returned to the drawing-room, after taking off my boots and some of the travelling dust.

"A little, aunt. I am not yet acquainted with the cause of it, you know. May I not inquire?"

"Ahem!" cried aunt, her turban standing on end with the dignity of the announcement she had in store for me, whilst Caroline's pink train rustled out like a vain peacock's. "The event of a marriage in the family does not occur every day. I am about to part with my only daughter, and I thought that the pleasure of being at the ceremony, with a week's holiday from your dreary college, would be very gratifying to you."

Very gratifying, indeed. When, some months ago, I had been dying for her myself, and was still, for all aunt knew.

"And so I am to congratulate Caroline upon becoming Mrs.-what is the bridegroom's name?"

Captain Fitzhenry, of the Forty-seventh," bridled aunt; "of good family and immense fortune. He is passionately fond of Caroline." "And when are they to be tied up?"

"For shame! don't use such expressions," rebuked Mrs. Dashingly; "just as if you were speaking of hanging. The marriage is fixed for Tuesday next. Lina's to be bridesmaid."

And when will it be your turn, Lina, darling?" I said, bending over her; at which she blushed so very deeply, that, egad! I thought it could not be far off.

"There's no hurry about Lina," interrupted the old lady, shortly, "Let us get Caroline's wedding over first, and then it will be time to think of her."

Now, Lina, how does it all go on with you?" I inquired, drawing her into my room for an instant, upon an excuse to aunt that I had some letters to show her. "And what mean these tears?" I exclaimed, as she sat herself down on the bed, and fairly broke out into impassioned sobs. "Lina, Lina, my sister," I indignantly uttered, "I can see they have been making you wretched!"

"Yes," she said, scarcely able to speak, "ever since I came, now twelve months ago. I have been fearful-I declare to you, brother, I have been actually fearful that my aunt would marry me to Alfred by main force; and I am sure, if we lived in less enlightened times, when such things were not unheard of, it would have been done."

"Where's Alfred now?"

"Oh, he has been away some months. He got angry and cross with me, for I held out against their plans-I would and I did, though my courage was near failing me. Not that the scheme is abandoned-ho and my aunt both say that they never will give it up. And the worst of it is," she indignantly continued, "that he as good as told me one day, when he was in one of his passions, that he did not care for me, only my fortune was necessary to repair his extravagance. I wish, brother, the money had never been left to me! I wish I had it in my power to make it over to you! I should at least have escaped persecution, not only from that quarter, but from another."

Any one else been persecuting?" I asked, as I kissed her tearful cheek.

They persecute me about becoming a Catholic, persecute me always -my aunt and Father Ignatius-the father more especially. If I were but poor! He would leave me alone fast enough then. My benighted soul, that he is everlastingly descanting upon, might get to heaven in its own way."

"He may have your good at heart," said I, trying to soothe her.

"And his own interest. Any way, he gains. If I had married Alfred, two thousand pounds would have gone to his church on the weddingday."

"Two thousand pounds! what for?"

"I don't know. A sop in the pan for them, I suppose, because I am not a Roman Catholic. Before they were aware I should decline to marry Alfred, they never ceased talking to me about their tolerance in suffering him to wed a Protestant. That the arrangement was made between my aunt and the priest, I can assure you, though it came to my knowledge by accident."

Very generous of them to give away your money!"

"My aunt, as you may believe, is terribly angry with me for my obstinacy, and it has been arranged," she whispered, clasping my arm with her trembling hands, "that I am to have one more chance given me. Alfred comes home on Monday, and my consent is to be again formally demanded. If I still decline, they have agreed to shut me up in the Convent of Mercy-you know it-some ten miles from here."

"Stuff and nonsense, Lina!" I uttered, bursting out into a laugh, when the full meaning of her words came upon me; "such things are not heard of now-a-days. They have no more power to shut you up in a . convent than they have me."

"Brother, reflect," she said, gravely. "My aunt has the power of appointing my residence until I am of age; if she chooses to place me in a religious house, who is to interfere with her? I don't mean, recollect,

that I am to be placed in one of its dungeons or cells, but to go as a boarder. Father Ignatius is in ecstasies, calls me his lamb and his dove, and all sorts of saintly names. But he knows that those convents are much easier to get in at, than to get out of: and again, I ask you, who has the power to interfere with Mrs. Dashingly? I am not a ward in Chancery, remember," she continued, smiling.

Lina, come hither," cried my aunt, putting in her head; "I want you. And, nephew, it is upon the stroke of the dinner hour."

So, Carry," I whispered, leaning over her chair when I got back to the drawing-room, where she sat alone, “I thought you were to remain true to me for ever and a day!"

Caroline tried to get up a blush. She had promised the like to a few score of admirers.

"Ah! you took yourself off so suddenly. Who was going to remain faithful to a runaway lover?"

"Took myself off! I think the boot was on the other leg."

"And you never wrote, or anything," pouted Carry, willing to attempt

an excuse.

It would have been all the same if I had, when the gallant captain made his appearance—eh, Carry ?”

"Get away, sir!"

He is very handsome, I suppose?" "Mamma and Lina think so.'

"In the Mars style or the Adonis ?"

"You can decide that point for yourself when you see him."

"A large fortune now, I understand, and a barony in prospective?" "Just so."

Well, cousin mine, you are a happy woman.

away?"

"You, indeed!

love to Lina."

Am I to give you

Alfred's coming home, partly for that, partly to make

"But Lina does not like him," I answered, anxiously.

"Oh, I don't know. Those quiet, say-nothing girls, such as Lina, seldom know what they do like. Alfred will make her as good a husband as anybody else would. He has been extravagant lately, but he is looking for some place under government. I suppose he will get straight after a bit, and your sister has plenty."

"What is this whisper that I hear, of a convent being Lina's alternative if she rejects him?"

"Who told you about that?-Lina?”

"What if she did?"

"She need not have brought up the subject now, when the house is occupied with more agreeable matter."

"But how comes it that a

"Selfish as ever, Carry!" I muttered. Roman Catholic convent will admit her, a member of the Established Church, within its walls, or that its governing priests will sanction her entrance?"

"They graciously waive the objection in Lina's case, in consideration

of her near relationship to mamma. And from her residence in our family, and constant intercourse with Father Ignatius, I dare say they look upon her as half a Catholic."

"Now, Caroline, you cannot suppose that in this enlightened year of our Lord, 1851, a young lady is going to be immured in a convent against her consent, and she a Protestant! The very land would cry shame upon it-queen, nobles, and people."

"Well, if you have anything to say about it, for or against, just say it to mamma, without teazing me," was Carry's answer. "I believe the affair is decided on, and for my own part I don't see any objection to it; but I have never interfered in the matter, even by a single word-I have had other things to think of. Nor if a word would place Lina in the convent, would I utter it, so indifferent is the whole business to me." Nor yet speak the word that would keep her out, Carry?"

"She can keep herself out, by marrying Alfred."

"What end do they propose by her residence there?"

"Her ultimate conversion, I believe, Father Ignatius dwells on most." "Conversion of herself, or her money-or both?"

"Don't be absurd. I am very sure of one thing, that if she knew half the comfort of the Roman Catholic religion, she would turn to it of her own accord. I am surprised anybody can remain of a different per

suasion."

Comforting, is it?"

Very," repeated Caroline.

"You may lapse into no end of little sins, that in your religion would be called crimes, and might lie heavily on the conscience; but in ours we get absolution for them all, as often as we like to go to confession."

"What a consoling faith that would be to some of us blades of the town! We have perpetually, or deserve to have, some peccadillo weighing down our consciences."

"Then why in the world don't you all become Roman Catholics?" rejoined Caroline, earnestly. "You might do anything you liked then." "And so clear the arrears of sin periodically, as with a feather. I will think of it, Caroline."

"Here they come, mamma and Lina. Don't get bothering now, cousin, about the convent; keep peace until the wedding is over."

"And you gone, Caroline? Perhaps I may."

Dinner, ma'am,” cried the stiff old butler, appearing at the drawingroom door.

Aunt's face and her turban glowed together at these words. I knew the signs well enough-a storm was brewing.

"Who told them to serve the dinner? How could you think of such a thing? Captain Fitzhenry is not come in."

"The captain does not dine here, ma'am. He said he had business at the railway-station, and should not be back."

Aunt flounced to the dining-room, and down we sat at least, we should have sat down, but aunt remained standing, with her eyes fixed on an opposite door; so of course we did the same.

"Can she be waiting for Fitzhenry?" I mentally exclaimed; when the entrance of Father Ignatius solved my query. I was beginning to forget the routine of Dashingly House, or I might have remembered that the holy father dined there, on an average, five days out of the seven. I knew Father Ignatius of old; and a perfect model of a father he was towards Mrs. Dashingly and all her household. He chanted an elaborate grace all Latin-the footmen removed the covers, and down we sat.

Sixteen courses of fish; five of eggs, omelets, and the like; a few of butter; seven of sweets and pastry; the richest of wines; coffee and liqueurs. The repast brought to my notice that it was Friday.

"Nephew," said my aunt, "I never permit a sinful dish of flesh to appear at my table on these days of abstinence, whoever may be seated at it. Captain Fitzhenry has good-humoredly accommodated himself to my customs; need I request you to do the same to-day, and hold it as

a fast?"

Certainly she needed not: and when I thought of my usual dinner, a solitary chop and a pint of porter, and compared it with the rich board before me, I wondered whether it did not, of the two, better deserve the name of fast.

"These periodical fast-days, my son," cried the priest to me, are wholesome for the soul."

"Perhaps more so than they would be for the body, holy father, if it attacked but half of the fast before us."

"Highly good," repeated the priest, "these days of mortification."

"Is Fitzhenry not a Catholic, Carry ?" I whispered, in reference to Mrs. Dashingly's late remark.

There never were such quick ears as that priest's, I do believe! Caroline sat beside me, and my question was a whispered one; but he had caught it, and was answering before Carry could speak.

"A docile young man!—a worthy gentleman, is he of whom you speak, my son. I have sought and held frequent converse with him, and his deference to my opinions is remarkable. Reared though he has been in the tenets of an opposite creed, he is perfectly willing to listen to reason; and I think I have succeeded in confuting, to his own satisfaction, some of the more heretical of his doctrines. Had we found him otherwise, I might have held it my duty to warn my good daughter here against entrusting the welfare of that lamb to his keeping."

The priest bowed to Mrs. Dashingly, and waved his finger at Caroline, lest the company present should not understand that they were the daughter and the lamb spoken of.

"I should have stopped his pretensions in the bud, and refused him altogether," cried aunt, who in the present advanced stage of the affair could afford to talk largely. And, indeed, I do not know that I should not deem it right to do so, even now, were it not for the promise he has made."

"A tractable young man-a teachable spirit !" apostrophised the priest par parenthèse, burying his face in a whole boatful of rich melted butter. "What promise?" I asked, looking at aunt.

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