With other wrestlings in spirit, far more eager and real than these mere fancies derived from myths, it is not within the province of the present writer to deal; they are not for the house-tops or the market-places. But it may be said that in all directions the gloomy influences of that past time pursued her; wherever she went she was haunted by a morbid fear that all her resolute will could not shake off. Where, for example, could she go for sweeter consolation, for more cheering solace than to the simple and reassuring services of the church? But before she entered, eager to hear words of hope and strengthening, there was the graveyard to pass through, with the misery of generations recorded on its melancholy stones. CHAPTER XLV. "OH, GENTLE WIND THAT BLOWETH SOUTH." But if this girl, partly through her great yearning love, and partly through the overshadowing of her past sufferings, was haunted by a mysterious dread, that was not the prevailing feeling within this small household which was now pulling itself together for a flight to the south. Even she caught something of the brisk and cheerful spirit awakened by all the bustle of departure; and when her father, who had come to London Bridge station to see the whole of them off, noticed the businesslike fashion in which she ordered everybody about, so that the invalid should have his smallest comforts attended to, he could not help saying, with a laugh-- "Well, Violet, this is better than starting for America all by yourself, isn't it? But I don't think you would have been much put out by that either." A smart young man came up, and was for entering the carriage. "I beg your pardon," said she, respectfully but firmly. "This carriage is reserved." The young man looked at both windows. "I don't see that it is," he retorted coolly. He took hold of the handle of the door, when she immediately rose and stood before him, an awful politeness and decorum on her face, but the fire of Brünhilde the warrior maiden in her eyes. "You will please call the guard before coming in here. The carriage is reserved." At this moment her father came forward--not a little inclined to laugh. "I beg your pardon, sir, but the carriage is really reserved. There was a written paper put up--it has fallen down, I suppose--there it is." So the smart young man went away; but was it fair, after this notable victory, that they should all begin to make fun of her fierce and majestic bearing, and that the very person for whose sake she had confronted the enemy should begin to make ridiculous rhymes about her, such as these: "Then out spake Violet Northimus-- Of Euston Square was she-- 'Lo, I will stand at thy right hand, And guard the door with thee!'" Violet Northimus did not reply. She wore the modesty of a victor. She was ready at any moment to meet six hundred such as he; and she was not to be put out, after the discomfiture of her enemy, by a joke.