'A tulip to a jessamine,' muttered Griff as she drove off, and he
looked up at his Ellen's sweet refined face.
The unfortunate Colonel Brereton put an end to himself when the
court-martial was half over. How Clarence was shocked and how
ardent was his pity! But Griffith received the thanks of the
Corporation of Bristol for his gallant conduct, when the special
assize was held in January. Mrs. Fordyce was almost as proud of him
as we were, and there was much less attempt at restraining the terms
on which he stood with Ellen--though still the formal engagement was
not permitted.
CHAPTER XXIII--QUICKSANDS
'Whither shall I go?
Where shall I hide my forehead and my eyes?'
TENNYSON.
It was in the May of the ensuing year, 1832, that Clarence was sent
down to Bristol for a few weeks to take the place of one of the
clerks in the office where the cargoes of the incoming vessels of
the firm were received and overhauled.
This was a good-natured arrangement of Mr. Castleford's in order to
give him change of work and a sight of home, where, by the help of
the coach, he could spend his Sundays. That first spring day on his
way down was a great delight and even surprise to him, who had never
seen our profusion of primroses, cowslips, and bluebells, nor our
splendid blossom of trees--apple, lilac, laburnum--all vieing in
beauty with one another.
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