Shirley

what they have: but I will see for myself.«
    She moved off.
    »All will be right soon: she will get over it in an hour,« whispered Caroline to Mrs. Pryor. »Go up-stairs, dear madam,« she added, affectionately, »and try to be as calm and easy as you can. The truth is, Shirley will blame herself more than you before the day is over.«
    By dint of a few more gentle assurances and persuasions, Miss Helstone contrived to soothe the agitated lady. Having accompanied her to her apartment, and promised to rejoin her there when things were settled, Caroline left her to see, as she said, »if she could be useful.« She presently found that she could be very useful; for the retinue of servants at Fieldhead was by no means numerous, and just now their mistress found plenty of occupation for all the hands at her command, and for her own also. The delicate good-nature and dexterous activity which Caroline brought to the aid of the housekeeper and maids, – all somewhat scared by their lady's unwonted mood – did a world of good at once: it helped the assistants and appeased the directress. A chance glance and smile from Caroline moved Shirley to an answering smile directly. The former was carrying a heavy basket up the cellar-stairs.
    »This is a shame!« cried Shirley, running to her. »It will strain your arm.«
    She took it from her, and herself bore it out into the yard. The cloud of temper was dispelled when she came back; the flash in her eye was melted; the shade on her forehead vanished: she resumed her usual cheerful and cordial manner to those about her, tempering her revived spirits with a little of the softness of shame at her previous unjust anger.
    She was still superintending the lading of the cart, when a gentleman entered the yard and approached her ere she was aware of his presence.
    »I hope I see Miss Keeldar well this morning?« he said, examining with rather significant scrutiny her still flushed face.
    She gave him a look, and then again bent to her employment, without reply. A pleasant enough smile played on her lips, but she hid it. The gentleman repeated his salutation, stooping, that it might reach her ear with more facility.
    »Well enough, if she be good enough,« was the answer; »and so is Mr. Moore too, I dare say. To speak truth, I am not anxious about him; some slight mischance would be only his just due: his conduct has been – we will say
strange,
just now, till we have time to characterize it by a more exact epithet. Meantime, may I ask what brings him here?«
    »Mr. Helstone and I have just received your message, that everything at Fieldhead was at our service. We judged, by the unlimited wording of the gracious intimation, that you would be giving yourself too much trouble: I perceive, our conjecture was correct. We are not a regiment, remember: only about half a dozen soldiers, and as many civilians. Allow me to retrench something from these too abundant supplies.«
    Miss Keeldar blushed, while she laughed at her own over-eager generosity, and most disproportionate calculations. Moore laughed too – very quietly, though; and as quietly, he ordered basket after basket to be taken from the cart, and remanded vessel after vessel to the cellar.
    »The Rector must hear of this,« he said: »he will make a good story of it. What an excellent army contractor Miss Keeldar would have been!« again he laughed, adding – »It is precisely as I conjectured.«
    »You ought to be thankful,« said Shirley, »and not mock me. What could I do? How could I gauge your appetites, or number your band? For aught I knew, there might have been fifty of you at least to victual. You told me nothing; and then, an application to provision soldiers naturally suggests large ideas.«
    »It appears so,« remarked Moore, levelling another of his keen, quiet glances at the discomfited Shirley. »Now,« he continued, addressing the carter, »I think you may take what remains to the Hollow. Your load will be somewhat lighter than the one Miss Keeldar destined you to carry.«
    As the vehicle rumbled out of the yard, Shirley, rallying her spirits, demanded what had become of the wounded.
    »There was not a single man hurt on our side,« was the answer.
    »You were hurt yourself, on the temples,« interposed a quick, low voice – that of Caroline, who, having withdrawn within the shade of the door, and behind the large person of Mrs. Gill, had till now escaped Moore's notice: when she spoke, his eye searched the