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Updated: September 29, 2025
Next day was the one fixed for the trial of the new steam-engine; which trial being successful, we were to start at once in a post-chaise for Longfield; for the mother longed to be at home, and so did we all. There was rather a dolorous good-bye, and much lamenting from good Mrs. Tod, who, her own bairns grown up, thought there were no children worthy to compare with our children.
"We will not open that subject again," said the mother, uneasily. "I thought we had all made up our minds that little Longfield was a thousand times pleasanter than Beechwood, grand as it is. But John thinks he never can do enough for his people at Enderley." "Not that alone, love. Other reasons combined.
Longfield! happy Longfield! little nest of love, and joy, and peace where the children grew up, and we grew old where season after season brought some new change ripening in us and around us where summer and winter, day and night, the hand of God's providence was over our roof, blessing our goings out and our comings in, our basket and our store; crowning us with the richest blessing of all, that we were made a household where "brethren dwelt together in unity."
"It is the third time I have heard it," he said: "once in the woods behind Longfield, and once just before the little village with the steepled church." The sound had ceased again. "It is some one who has come nearly all the way from Greenhithe behind us. Perhaps they are not following but again " "They?" she said; "there is only one."
Who should I see, but almost the last person I expected who had not been beheld, hardly spoken of, in our household these ten years Lady Caroline Brithwood, in her travelling-habit of green cloth, her velvet riding-hat, with its Prince of Wales' feathers, gayer than ever though her pretty face was withering under the paint, and her lively manner growing coarse and bold. "Is this Longfield?
Beloved Longfield! my heart, slow pulsing as befits one near the grave, thrills warm and young as I remember thee! Yet how shall I describe it the familiar spot; so familiar that it seems to need no description at all. It was but a small place when we first came there.
"You'll be a capital nurse in a month or two, my pretty!" said Mrs. Tod. Muriel only smiled. "How fat she is! and look, how fast her fingers take hold! And her head is so round, and her hair feels so soft as soft as my dove's neck at Longfield. What colour is it? Like mine?" It was; nearly the same shade. Maud bore, the mother declared, the strongest likeness to Muriel. "I am so glad.
Then he came and leaned beside me over the wicket-gate, looking fixedly up into the moon-light blue. "I wonder if she knows we are leaving Longfield?" "Who?" said I; for a moment forgetting. "The child." It was early little past eight o'clock; but we kept Longfield hours and Longfield ways still. And besides, this was a grand day the day of Guy's coming of age.
Longfield, has the old Walholm registers in his possession.
"We must go back again to Enderley," she said decidedly. So, giving Muriel into her father's arms, she led the way, and, a melancholy procession, we again ascended the hill to Rose Cottage door. Without any discussion, our plans were tacitly changed no more was said about going home to dear Longfield. Every one felt, though no one trusted it to words, that the journey was impossible.
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