by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER VIII.
NOBODY ELSE LOOKED THE LEAST LIKE THE BERTRAMS.
It was the fashion to be punctual at Northbury, and when Catherine,Mabel and Loftus Bertram arrived about ten minutes past seven at theGray House they found the pleasant old drawing-room already full ofeager and expectant guests.
Beatrice would have preferred meeting her new friends without anyceremony in the garden, but Mrs. Meadowsweet was nothing if she was notmistress of her own house, and she decided that it would be morebecoming and _comme il faut_ to wait in the drawing-room for theyoung visitors.
Accordingly Mrs. Meadowsweet sat in her chair of state. She wore arose-colored silk dress, and a quantity of puffed white lace round herneck and wrists; and a cap which was tall and stiff, and had littletufts of yellow ribbon and little rosettes of Maltese lace adorning it,surmounted her large, full-blown face. That face was all beams andkindliness and good-temper, and had somehow the effect of making peopleforget whether Mrs. Meadowsweet was vulgar or not.
She sat in her chair of state facing the garden, and her visitors, allon the tip-toe of expectation, stationed themselves round her. The Bellshad taken possession of the Chesterfield sofa. By sitting rather widelyapart they managed to fill it; they always looked alike. To-night theyso exactly resembled peas in a pod that one had a sense of ache andalmost fatigue in watching them. This fatigue and irritation rose todesperation when they spoke. The Bells were poor, and their dresses boredecided signs of stint and poverty. They wore white muslin jackets, andpale green skirts of a shining substance known as mohair. Their motherfondly imagined that the shine and glitter of this fabric could not beknown from silk. It was harsh, however, and did not lie in gracefulfolds, and besides, the poor little skirts lacked quantity.
The Bells had thin hair, and no knack whatever with regard to itsarrangement. They looked unprepossessing girls, but no matter. Beatricethought well of them. Mrs. Meadowsweet bestowed one or two broad glancesof approval upon the inseparable little trio, and their own small heartswere dancing with expectation.
Would Bee, their darling, delightful, beautiful Bee, introduce them toCaptain Bertram? Would he speak to them and smile upon them? Would hetell them stories of some of his gallant exploits? The Bells' roundfaces seemed to grow plumper, and their saucer eyes fuller, as theycontemplated this contingency. What supreme bliss would be theirs ifCaptain Bertram singled them out for attention? Already they were inlove with his name, and were quite ready to fall down in a phalanx ofthree, and worship the hero of many imaginary fights.
Standing by the open window, and with no shyness or stiffness whateverabout them, Daisy and Polly Jenkins were to be seen. Daisy was afull-blown girl with a rather loud voice, and a manner which was by someconsidered very fascinating; for it had the effect of instantly takingyou, as it were, behind the scenes, and into her innermost confidence.
Daisy was rather good-looking, and was the adored of Albert Bell, thelittle round-faced girls' brother. She was dressed in voluminous muslindraperies, and was a decidedly large and comfortable-looking youngwoman.
Polly was a second edition of her sister, only not so good-looking. Shehad made up her mind to marry Mr. Jones, the curate, who for his partwas deeply in love with Beatrice.
"They are frightfully late, aren't they?" exclaimed Daisy Jenkins,giving a slight yawn, and looking longingly out at the tennis courts asshe spoke. "I suppose it's the way with fashionable folk. For my part, Icall it rude. Mrs. Meadowsweet, may I run across the garden, and pick apiece of sweet brier to put in the front of my dress? Somehow I pine forit."
"I'll get it for you," said Albert Bell, blushing crimson as he spoke.
He was a very awkward young man, but his heart was as warm as hismanners were uncouth.
"I'll get it for you, Daisy," he said. His dull eyes had not the powerof shining or looking eloquent. He stepped from behind the sofa wherehis sisters sat, and stumbled over Mrs. Meadowsweet's footstool.
"I think, my dears, we'll just wait for our guests," said the old lady."We'll all just be present, please, when they come. It's myold-fashioned ideas, my loves, just for us all to be ready to give thema right-down, good welcome."
"Bother!" exclaimed Miss Daisy. She flounced her full skirts, cast awithering glance at young Bell, and once more looked out of the openwindow.
"Come here, Beatrice," exclaimed Polly.
Mr. Jones was talking to Beatrice, and Polly hoped they would bothapproach the window together.
"Come and tell us about that Adonis you went rowing with to-day," calledthe girl in her shrill, half-jealous voice.
It was just at that moment that the door was flung open by Jane, and theBertrams made their appearance.
Catherine and Mabel wore the simplest white washing-dresses. Theirgirlish waists were encircled by sashes of pale gold. Catherine's thickdark hair was coiled tightly round her head--Mabel's more frizzy andpaler locks fell in wavy curls round her forehead and on her shoulders.Nobody else looked the least like the Bertrams. Their dresses were ascheap as any other girl's dresses in the room. Daisy and Polly Jenkinshad really much handsomer and finer hair, but somehow the effectproduced by the Bertrams was altogether different.
Mrs. Meadowsweet addressed them in a deferential tone as "Miss," and itwent like an electric flash through the minds of all the other visitorsthat the old lady was quite right when she thought it her duty toreceive them in state.
Bertram was in flannels, and these were cut not exactly after thepattern of those worn by young Bell, who looked with a sort of despairat his true love, Daisy, whose eyes, in company with the three pairs ofeyes of the Bells, were directed full upon the aristocratic face ofCaptain Bertram.
"Come into the garden," said Beatrice, stepping forward in her usualbright way, forgetting herself completely, and in consequence puttingevery one else at their ease. "We are very punctual people atNorthbury," she continued, "and we are all wild to begin our gameCaptain Bertram, these are my friends, the Bells. May I introduce you?This is Miss Matty, and this is Miss Alice, and this is Miss Sophy.Matty, I put Captain Bertram into your charge. Albert," she continued,looking at young Bell, "will you and Daisy arrange a set for tennis?"
How Albert Bell did bless Beatrice! In a moment or two all the visitorswere perambulating about the garden. Mr. Jones was escorted on one sideby Polly Jenkins, on the other, he, in his turn, tried to escort MabelBertram, who did not talk a great deal and seemed somewhat out of herelement. Catherine and Beatrice walked together, and Mrs. Meadowsweet,still sitting in her arm-chair, smiled as she saw them.
"That's a nice girl, and a fine looking girl," she murmured, "and verygood company for my Bee. Very good company for her. Yes, the Bertramsare stylish but not of our set. My word, not a bit of our set. Bee, ofcourse, might talk to anybody, but the rest of us--no, no, I'm the firstto see the fitness of things, and the Bertrams don't belong to us nor weto them. Bee takes after her father, poor man, but the rest of us, wehave no right to know the Bertrams. Now, do look at that young captain.Why, he's making the little Bells laugh themselves into fits. Dear me,I'd better go out. These girls don't know manners, and their heads willbe turned by that fine young spark. They are certain to believe anyrubbish he talks to them."
Mrs. Meadowsweet rose with difficulty, stepped out of the open window,and sailed in her rose-colored satin across the grass.
"Now, what's up?" she said. "Fie, fie, Matty, your laugh is for all theworld like a hen cackling."
"He, he!" exclaimed the younger girls.
"Now, there you are off again, and all three of you this time!"
"It's Captain Bertram, ma'am," began Matty.
"Captain Bertram!" echoed Alice.
"Bertram," sighed Sophy.
"He says," continued Matty, "that we are all alike, and he doesn't knowone from the other, and we are trying to puzzle him. It is suchdelicious fun."
"Delicious fun!" said Alice.
"Fun!" gasped Sophy, through her peals of mirth.
"Now,"
continued Alice, "he shall begin again. He shall go through hiscatechism. Here we three stand in a row. Which is Matty, which is Alice,which is Sophy?"
Captain Bertram pulled his mustache, swept his dark eyes over the littleeager palpitating group, and in a languid tone pronounced the wrong oneto be Matty.
The cackling rose to a shriek.
"You shall pay a forfeit, you bad man," said the real Matty. She shookher little fat finger at him. "Oh, yes, Mrs. Meadowsweet, he reallyshall--he _must_. This really is too sweetly delicious,--fancy hisnot knowing me from Alice--I call it ungallant. Now what shall theforfeit be, Alice and Sophy. Let's put our fingers on our lips andthink."
"He shall tell us," exclaims Alice, "he shall describe at full lengthhis--"
She looked at her sisters.
"His first battle," prompted Matty.
"No, no, better than that, better than that--" came from Sophy's girlishlips. "Captain Bertram shall tell us about his--his first love."
It may have been rude, but at this remark Captain Bertram not onlychanged color but turned in a very marked way from the Misses Bell, anddevoted himself to his hostess.
He was attacked by a complaint somewhat in vogue in high life--he had asudden fit of convenient deafness. He said a few words in a cold voiceto Mrs. Meadowsweet, crushed the little Bells by his icy manner, andtook the first opportunity of finding more congenial society.
An eager game of tennis was going on, and Beatrice, who did not play,stood by to watch. Northbury was accustomed to Beatrice, and did nottherefore observe, what was very patent to Captain Bertram, that thisgirl was as perfectly well-bred as his own sisters. She wore a long,gray cashmere dress, slightly open at her throat, with ruffles of soft,real lace.
As she watched the game, her sensitive and speaking face showedinterest, sympathy, keen appreciation. She heard Captain Bertram's step,and turned to welcome him with a smile.
"Would not you like to play?"
"Will you be my partner?"
"When they make up a fresh set I will, with pleasure; although," sheadded, looking down at her long dress, "I did not expect to playto-night, and did not dress for it."
"Thank goodness. I hate tennis dresses. All girls should wear trains."
Beatrice raised her bright eyes to his face. Their open expression saidplainly, "It is a matter of indifference to me what you think about mydress." Aloud she said:
"What have you done with my friends, the Bells?"
"I am afraid, Miss Meadowsweet, that long intercourse with those youngladies would be too severe a strain on my intellect."
"Captain Bertram, you don't mean what you are saying."
"I do, on my honor. They are too intellectual for me."
"They are not! You are laughing at them."
Beatrice stepped back a pace, and looked at him with a heightened colorcoming into her face.
Captain Bertram began to explain. Before he could get in a word shesaid, abruptly:
"Pardon me," and flew from his side.
Her movement was so fleet and sudden that he had not realized herdeparture before the impulsive girl was standing by the despised Matty,talking to her in a cheery and affectionate voice, and making fresharrangements for the pleasure and satisfaction of all three.
"By Jove, she's a fine creature!" thought the captain. "I don't mind howmuch I see of her--but as to the rest of this motley herd, my mother isquite right in not letting the girls have anything to do with them. Isuppose I put my foot in it bringing them here to-night. Well, thatcan't be helped now. I hope Miss Beatrice will soon come back. Her eyesflashed when I said even a word against those terrible little friends ofhers. I should like her eyes to flash at me again. I suppose she'll soonreturn. She promised to be my partner in the next set at tennis. Thatgirl doesn't care a bit for fine speeches. She won't take a complimenteven when it is offered to her--won't stretch out her hand for it ortouch it. Cool? I should think she is cool. Might have been through twoor three London seasons. What a queer lot surround her! And how unlikethem she is. There's the old mother--I had better go and talk to her.She's quite as vulgar as the rest, but somehow she doesn't jar on aman's nerves like those charming Miss Bells. Positively, I should have afever if I talked much longer to them. My first love, too! I'm to tellthem about _her_. Oh, yes, that's so likely."
Again the angry flame mounted to Captain Bertram's thin cheek. Hestrolled across the grass, and joined his hostess.
"Now I call this a shame!" exclaimed the good lady, "you don't tell methat you are all by yourself, captain, and no one trying to makethemselves agreeable to you! Oh, fie! this will never do--and you, so tospeak, the lion of the party."
"Pray don't say that, Mrs. Meadowsweet, I hate being a lion."
"But you can't help it, my good young sir. You, who represent ourGracious Sovereign Lady's Army. Now, where's that girl of mine?Beatrice! Trixie! Bee!"
Captain Bertram was amazed at the shrill and far-sounding quality ofMrs. Meadowsweet's voice. It distressed him, for anything not ultrarefined jarred upon this sensitive young officer's nerves; but hetrusted that the result would be satisfactory, and that Beatrice, whosemotions he began to liken to a poem, would put in a speedy appearance.
She was talking to Mr. Jones, however, and when her mother called her,she and the curate approached together.
"Beatrice, this poor young man--Captain Bertram, the hero of theevening, is all alone. Not a soul to amuse him or entertain him."
"Mother, you mistake," answered Beatrice, "Captain Bertram is beingentertained by you."
"Hoots, child! What should an old lady have to say to a gay young lad?"
"Plenty, I assure you. I am being delightfully amused," replied thecaptain.
He gave Beatrice an angry look which she would not see.
"I want to talk to Jane about the supper," said the young lady in a calmvoice. "Captain Bertram, may I introduce you to Mr. Jones?"
Again she flew lightly away, and the captain owned to himself that thetennis party at the Gray House was a very dull affair.
Supper, however, made amends for much. The incongruous elements were notso apparent. Everybody was hungry, and even the most fastidious had toacknowledge the fare of the best. Captain Bertram quite retrieved hischaracter in Beatrice Meadowsweet's eyes, so well did he help her inserving her guests. Matty, Alice and Sophy Bell forgave him for hisabrupt departure earlier in the evening from the charms of theirsociety, when he helped them each twice to lobster salad.
Captain Bertram was not at all averse to the charms of a smallflirtation. He was forced to remain for a few days in the remote littleworld-forgotten town of Northbury, and it occurred to him as he helpedthe Bells to lobster salad, and filled up Miss Matty's glass more thanonce with red currant wine, that Beatrice could solace him a good dealduring his exile from a gayer life. He was absolutely certain at thepresent moment that the best way to restore himself to her good graceswas once again to endure the intellectual strain of the Bells' society.Accordingly when supper was over, and people with one consent, and all,as it were, moved by a sudden impulse, joined first in a country dance,then formed into sets for quadrilles, and finally waltzed away to theold-fashioned sound of Mrs. Meadowsweet's piano, played with vigor bythe good lady herself, Captain Bertram, with a beseeching anddeprecatory glance at Beatrice, who took care not to see it, led outMiss Matty Bell as his partner.
How much that young lady giggled! How badly she danced--with whatrapture she threw up her round eyes at her partner's dark face, thischronicle need not record; so _naive_ was she, into such ecstasiesdid every word spoken by the captain throw her, that he quite feared forthe result.
"It is awful when a girl falls in love in five minutes!" he mentallysoliloquized. "I wonder if I have satisfied Miss Meadowsweet now? I dohonestly think I have done my duty by Miss Matty Bell."
So he conveyed the gushing young person back to her sisters, and soughtfor Beatrice who was once more frank and friendly, but gave himexcellent reasons for not dancing wi
th him.
At this moment Catherine came up and touched her brother. Her cheeks hada bright color in them, she looked animated and happy.
"Loftus, it is close on twelve o'clock. We must go home. Look at Mabel,"she added, seeing her brother hesitate, "she is frightfully sleepy.Mother never allows her to be up so late. We have had a happy evening,"continued Catherine, looking full into Miss Meadowsweet's face, "and weare very much obliged to you. Now I must go and say good-night to yourmother."
She tripped away, and Beatrice looked after her with affectionate eyes.
"It is unkind of you not to give me one dance," said the captain.
She had forgotten his presence.
"It is not unkind," she said. "The dancing is altogether an impromptuaffair, and I had to attend to my guests. I was talking to your sister,Catherine, who did not care to dance."
"Very ungenerous to me," pursued the captain. "A poor return for all myefforts to please you."
"Your efforts--pray, what efforts?"
"Did you not observe me with your friend, Miss Matty Bell? I assure youshe and I are now excellent friends."
"I do not suppose in my mother's house you would be anything else,Captain Bertram."
Her tone irritated the captain. His manner changed.
"Do you think I _wanted_ to dance with her?"
"I don't think about it. Here is your sister. I will help you to findyour wraps, Catherine."
She linked her hand through Catherine Bertram's arm, and went with herinto the hall. A few moments later the brother and sisters were walkingquickly home.
"So you have come to Christian names already, Catherine," said Loftus.
"Yes," replied Catherine. "She is the very dearest girl. Have we not hada delightful evening?"
"Delightful, truly. How did you enjoy yourself, Mab?"
"Middling," replied Mabel. "I was with Mr. Jones, and he talked aboutvestments, and deplored the Rector's decision against High Churchpractices. He thought we were kindred souls, but we weren't, and I toldhim so. Then he turned crusty. I waltzed twice with Mr. Bell, and hekicked my ankle, and hurt me very much. I don't think I cared much forthe party, Catherine, the people were so queer."
"Were they?" answered Catherine. "I didn't notice anything the matterwith them. I talked for a short time with Mrs. Meadowsweet, and foundher most interesting. She told me a lot about Beatrice. She thinksBeatrice the noblest creature in the world. As I very nearly agreed withher we got on capitally."
"What a romantic puss you are, Kate," said her brother.
She was leaning on him, and he gave her arm a playful pinch.
"You met Miss Meadowsweet on Tuesday, wasn't it? This is Friday, and sheis the 'very dearest girl in the world,' and already you are Catherineand Beatrice to one another. Upon my word, hearts move rapidly towardseach other in certain quarters."
"In more quarters than one," replied Kate, with an arch smile. "How youdid flatter that poor little Miss Bell, Loftie. Her cheeks were likepeonies while you talked to her. You certainly had an air of greattenderness, and I expect you have turned the poor little thing's head."
"Yes, Loftus," interrupted Mabel. "I remarked you, too, with Miss Bell.What a little fright she is--I never could have supposed she was in yourstyle."
"Good gracious," began Loftus, "you didn't think--"
But Catherine in her sedate voice interrupted him.
"Beatrice and I were watching you. I laughed when I saw that expressionof tenderness filling your glorious dark eyes, but I think Bee wasvexed."
"Vexed? No, Kate, surely not vexed?"
"I think so, Loftus. She said to me--'I hope your brother is notlaughing at my little friend, Matty Bell.' Then she added, 'I know Mattyis not beautiful nor specially attractive, but she has the kindestheart.' I said perhaps you were flirting, and that I knew you couldflirt. She did not make any answer, only she looked grave, and turnedaway when you and Miss Bell came near us."
"That accounts," began Loftus. He did not explain himself further andby-and-by the little party reached the Manor.
There was an old tumble-down lodge at the gates. It was inhabited by avery poor man, who, for the sake of getting a shelter over his head, nowand then undertook to clean up and do odd jobs in the Rosendale gardens.Mrs. Bertram thought it well to have some one in the lodge, and she waspleased with the economical arrangement she had made with David Tester.
One of his duties was to lock the old gates at night. There was a smalland a large gate leading into the avenue, and it was one of Mrs.Bertram's special whims that both should be locked at night. Old Testerthought his mistress foolishly particular on this point, and wondered atso close a lady going to the expense of new locks, which were sent downfrom London, and were particularly good and expensive.
The small gate was furnished with a latch-lock as well. This arrangementwas made for Tester's convenience, so that if Mrs. Bertram and herdaughters chose to be absent from home a little later than usual, hecould still close the gate and go to bed.
When the girls and their brother left home that evening Catherine hadnot forgotten the latch-key.
"We may be late," she said, "so I will put it in my pocket."
They were late, and as they approached the old gates Catherine gave thekey to Mabel, who hastened to fit it into the lock of the side gate.
To her surprise it opened at a touch.
"Kate!" exclaimed the young girl, "Tester has been very careless; he hasnever closed the side gate."
"I will call him up and speak to him now," said Catherine, who had acertain touch of her mother's imperious nature. "He shall do it now.Mother is always most particular about the gates, and she ought not tobe disobeyed in her absence."
Catherine was running across the avenue to wake old Tester when Loftuslaid his hand on her arm.
"You really are too absurd, Kitty," he said. "I simply won't allow thatpoor, infirm, old man to be got out of his bed for such a ridiculousreason. Who cares whether the gates are locked, or not locked?"
"Mother cares," said Catherine, her eyes flashing.
"Now, Kate, you must use your common-sense. That fad about locking thegates is a pure and simple whim on the mother's part. Of course we'llhumor it, but not to the extent of waking up old Tester. Come, Kitty,you shall give the old man any amount of blowing up in the morning, onlynow you really must leave him alone."
"I'm going on," said Mabel; "I can scarcely keep my eyes open. Willyou come with me, Loftie? If Kate likes to stay by herself with thedark trees and the ghosts, why, let her. I'm off to bed."
She ran laughing and singing up the old avenue.
Loftus turned to resume his argument with Catherine, Mabel's gay voiceechoed more faintly as she ran on. Suddenly it stopped. Patter, patter,came back the swift feet, and, trembling and shivering, she threwherself into Loftus's arms.
"I heard something--there's something in the avenue!"
The moon was shining, and showed Mabel's face as white as a sheet.
"You silly child," said Loftus, "you heard a rabbit scuttling home.Here, take my arm, and let us all get home as fast as we can. Why, youare trembling from head to foot. You are tired out, that's it. Take herother arm, will you, Kate?"
"They say Rosendale is haunted," panted Mabel.
"Folly! Don't listen to such rubbish. Your rabbit was hurrying to bed,and was as much afraid of you as you of it."
"It--it wasn't a rabbit," said Mabel. "Rabbits don't sigh."
"Oh--sighs only belong to ghosts?"
"I don't know. Don't laugh at me, Loftie. I heard a real sigh and arustle, and something white flashed."
"Then you flashed back to us. Never talk of being a brave girl again,May."
"Let us walk very quickly," said Mabel. "It was just there I saw it.Just by that great clump of Lauristinus. Don't let us speak. There,that's better. I own I'm frightened, Loftie. You needn't laugh at me."
Loftus Bertram had many faults, but he was not ill-natured. He tookMabel's little cold hand, a
nd pressed it between his warm fingers, andceased to laugh at her, and walked quickly, and was even silent at herbidding. By degrees, Mabel leaned all her weight on Loftus, and took nonotice of Kate, who, for her part, held herself erect, and walked up theavenue with a half-aggrieved, half-scornful look on her face, and withsome anxiety in her heart.
