CHAPTER XXI.
A KETTLE OF FISH.
'Our Pursuivant at arms will show Both why we came and when we go.' _Scott._
The place of the pic-nic was a good way off, being the point of thepromontory that shut in the mouth of the river, a great crag, witha long reef of rocks running out into the sea, playfully called theKitten's Tail; though the antiquarians always deposed that the headhad nothing to do with cats or kits, but with the disposition to erectchapels to St. Christopher on the points of land where they might firstgreet the mariners' eyes. Beneath this crag, sheltered by the firstand larger joints of the Kitten's Tail, was a delightful sandy nook,where appeared a multitude of smart hats, male and female, a great manystrangers even to Captain Audley, who would fain have recognised noneof them. In a strong access of his almost morbid silence, he devotedhimself to Felix, and kept aloof from almost every one. Even at thedinner, spread on a very sloping bit of beach, pic-nic exigenciesenabled him to be nearly _tete-a-tete_ with Felix, who found himselfalmost back to back to a lady in a brilliant foreign pheasant's plume,with glass dew-drops at the points.
In a pause of their own conversation, they heard the inquiry, 'Do youknow who that boy is--that fair delicate-looking lad just opposite,with the white muslin round his hat?'
'Oh--that!' answered the pheasant lady; 'that is young Lord Somerville,son to the Marquess of Liddesdale. He and his brother, Lord Francis,have been out yachting with Captain Audley.'
The Captain smiled as he looked at the boys. 'Ay,' he observed, with aflash of his bright dark eyes,' he has the advantage over Sum.'
For Lance had resumed his lark-like air, and it was perhaps the morestriking from the fragility and transparency that remained about hislooks; and he was full of animation, as he, with a reinforcement ofboys, clustered round a merry sunny-faced girl, full of joyous drollery.
'Very queer and eccentric--quite a bear,' was the next thing theyheard; whereat Captain Audley nodded and smiled to Felix. After thegeneral turmoil caused by the change of courses had subsided, thatpenetrating voice was heard again. 'Yes, we came home sooner than wehad intended. The fact was, we found that old Mr. Underwood was beingbeset by some of those relations. You remember? Oh, yes; they have sunkvery low--got into trade, absolutely got into trade! One of them a merecommon singing-boy. Mr. Underwood is getting aged--quite past--and wedid not know what advantage might be taken of him.'
'Your turn now,' murmured Captain Audley, with a look of diversioncalculated to allay the wounded flush on his neighbour's cheek.
'Do you mean Mr. Edward Underwood's sons?' said a voice on the otherside. 'I always understood them to be very respectable and wellconducted.'
'Oh, very likely! Only I do happen to know that one of them has beena great trouble and vexation to Tom Underwood; and we didn't want thesame over again with the poor old Squire.'
'Did I understand you that any of them were here?' added the othervoice; 'for I had just been struck by the likeness of that boyopposite, talking to my sister, to poor Mr. Edward Underwood, as Iremember him.'
'Oh no, Mrs. Rivers; I assure you that's young Lord Somerville!'
Captain Audley made an effort, rather difficult in his Turkishposition, to crane his head beyond the interposing figures, recognisedand bowed to the speaker, who greeted him by name, and thus diminishedthe flow of Mrs. Fulbert Underwood's conversation by her awe of thehigh and mighty bear whom she scarcely knew by sight. He had no tastefor scenes, and did not put either her or Felix to pain by mentioninghis name; but when the last act of the meal was over, and people beganto move, he made his way in the direction of the inquiring voice. 'Mrs.Rivers, let me introduce Mr. Felix Underwood.'
'I am very happy--' and there was a cordial smile and a hand held out.'Are you here for long? My father would be so much pleased to see you.'
It was a rather worn pale face; but the ease and sweetness of manner,and the perfect fitness of the dress, made a whole that gave Felix asense of the most perfect lady he had met with, except his mother andSister Constance.
'I am at Ewmouth, with one of my brothers who has been ill.'
'Lord Somerville?' and all three burst out laughing. 'My sister hasfound him out, I see. She and your little boy are old friends, CaptainAudley.'
'Yes, you have been very kind to him. But I am as much surprised to seeyou here as you can be to see my friend. Are you from home?'
'We go back this evening. We slept at the Crewes' last night. Myhusband had business there; and when they asked us to this pic-nic,it was a good opportunity for Gertrude to learn the beauties of hercounty.'
'Which she seems to be doing under full escort,' laughed CaptainAudley, as the young lady and the young boy flock were seen descendingto the rocks.
'She has a strong taste for little boys,' said the elder sister. 'Youhave the Somerville boys here, haven't you, though?'
'Yes; there had been scarlatina or something or other in their school,and their mother was afraid of them among their sisters, till I hadpurified them by a sea voyage.'
Probably Mrs. Fulbert never found out her mistake; for Lord Somervillereported that he had never been so pitched into in his life as by anold girl in a 'stunning tile,' who found him washing out an emptypie-dish for the benefit of some maritime monsters that he wanted tocarry home to his sisters; but that when Lance came up, she was as meekas a mouse. Certainly, the two boys were little sturdy fellows, burntlobster-like up to the roots of their bleached and rough hair; andtheir costumes were more adapted to the deck of the Kittiwake in allweathers, than to genteel society. Their sisters were in an aquariumfever, and their sport all through their expedition had been researchesfor what they had learnt in Scotland to call 'beasts;' and now thecollection was to be completed from the mouth of the Ewe, and thescrambling and tumbling it involved were enchanting.
Kate Staples, who usually considered Lance her charge, was not sorryto see a croquet player disposed of among his own congeners; for thegame seemed such a necessary of life, that it was actually prepared foron the sands, to the extreme contempt of the anemone hunters. 'Play atcroquet, forsooth, when rocks aren't to be had to scramble on everyday!' And scramble ecstatically they did, up and over slippery stoneand rock festooned with olive weed, peeping into pools of crystalclearness, and admiring rosy fans of weed, and jewel-like actiniasembellished by the magic beauty of intense clear brightness. The boystook off shoes and stockings, turned up trousers, and scrambled andpaddled like creatures to the manner born.
'O dear! I wish I might!' sighed the young lady.
'Why don't you?' said Charlie Audley. 'Kate and Em and Annie alwaysdo--don't they, Frank?'
'Of course they do, or how would they ever get on!'
'Come along then, Miss Gertrude,' said Charlie. 'You can't think howjolly it is!'
And soon another pair of little white feet were dancing on the rocks.'Oh dear! what a blunder of civilisation it is to wear shoes at all!How delicious a hold one gets!'
'I can't think why people do wear them! They never are anything but abother,' said Lance.
'To play at foot-ball with,' suggested Somerville from the top of arock.
'But women don't,' said Gertrude.
'_I_ think women do it, and make us, that they may have something toworrit about,' said Frank. 'Damp stockings are the bother of creationtill one goes to school; and then, isn't it jolly!'
'Except the chilblains,' called out Charlie.
'I believe,' said Lance, 'chilblains come of shoes.'
'No, they can't,' argued Charlie, 'for one has them on one's hands.'
'Well,' said Gertrude, 'let's form ourselves into a society for thesuppression of shoes and stockings!'
'Hurrah!' cried Lance. 'I know one person at least that it would be ablessing to.'
The question was, how the five bold reformers were to begin. Franksuggested drowning all the present stock, and pretended to be about tobegin, but was of course prevented by a scream.
&n
bsp; 'Public opinion must be prepared first,' said Lance.
'And that,' said Gertrude, 'we'd better do by a great example! Here,we'll show what can be done. Why shouldn't we get out to the end of theKitten's Tail?'
'One can't to the end,' said Charlie; 'there's a place big enough for agig to go through, half way out.'
'And about the tide?' said Lance.
'Tide,' said Charlie, looking at his watch--'tide wouldn't think ofplaying us such a dirty trick as turning for an hour and a half.'
'And the jolliest beasts of all always live in places like that,' addedSomerville. 'Come on, President of the Society for the Suppression ofShoeses--to the front!'
On moved the august Society, now scrambling to a dry flat, nowthreading a _mauvais pas_, clinging to festoons of sea-weed; the threelittle boys climbed like monkeys or sailors; but Lance, agile as hewas, had not had the same amount of training, and felt besides that itwas requisite to be ready to give a helping hand to Miss Gertrude. Shegot on very well, being full of lightness and springiness, only she wasa little inclined to be adventurous, and to chatter at critical moments.
'We must have got out a quarter of a mile.'
'Oh no, not that!'
'No? I'm sure it is! How small they look on the beach! I wonder if theycan see us! Hark! they're singing--'
'"Drink to me only with thine eyes;" that's Felix's crack glee,' saidLance; 'what fun for him!'
'This is much better fun!' cried the general voice. 'They'll never seeus if we wave now!'
'No, no; don't let's wave now! Wait till we get to the farthest point.'
'And there we'll plant our ensign!'
'What shall we do for a flag? We haven't got the Britisher here!'
'No; it must be the flag of the SSSS's.'
'That ought to be a bit of bare skin.'
'No, no--a pair of feet--motto, "Off, vile lendings!"'
'I say, I don't think you can get any farther,' interposed Somerville.'I've been on four rocks farther, and I'm sure you will never get backagain if you go on.'
'Oh, that's base! I'm sure this one isn't so hard.'
She was creeping along a ledge, holding the sea-weed with one hand andLance by the other.
'I really don't think it passable,' he said; 'there's scarcely thewidth of one's foot beyond.'
'Hurrah!' shouted Frank. 'Here's the father of all the Daisianas!'
'Oh! oh! he's my cousin. I must see him!' cried Gertrude, with ascramble and a laugh, which ended in a sudden slip--luckily, not intothe open sea, but into a very steep-sided bath-like pool; and Lance,whom of course she gripped hard, was pulled after her, both over headand ears; and though they scrambled on their feet in a moment, therethey stood up to their shoulders in water.
'Get the Daisiana now you are there!' shouted Frank.
'How are we ever to get out?' said Gertrude, looking up the walls, sixfeet at least on the lowest side.
'If we had a rope,' said Charlie.
'Make signals--call,' said Somerville, all suiting the action to theword. 'No, they don't hear! they are all singing away. You, Franky,you're too little to be any good, make the best of your way to callsomebody.'
'The tide will come in!' said Frank. 'Mamma and Aunt Emmie were onceshut in by the tide, and Uncle Edwin. And there was a fellow who wasquite drowned--dead--and that was why I was named Francis.'
'That's what you may call a cheering reminiscence at a happy moment,'said Lance, recollecting that he was far more nearly a man than any onepresent, and instinctively feeling the need of brightening all intocheerful activity, for the girl looked thoroughly frightened. 'Yes,Lord Frank, the best thing you can do is to go for somebody; but we'llbe out long first. Can't we make a rope? Have you a sash or anything,Miss Gertrude? Don't fear, we'll soon be out.'
Happily she had both a sash and a broad ribbon round her hat; and Lancetore off his puggery.
'I can do it best,' called Charlie. 'I know all the sailors' knots.'
'It will never bear,' said Gertrude.
'Oh yes, it will. You'll not trust your whole weight to it. Is it done?'
'Besides, how can they draw me up?'
'We'd best get behind that rock, Sum,' suggested Charlie, 'then shewon't pull us in.'
Charlie's sailor experience was very useful; and he shouted advice toLance, who was tying the extemporary rope round Gertrude, not veryeasily, owing to the material, and to its being done under water.
'Now, then, you do your best at climbing--here,' he said. 'They'll pullyou; and look! There, first my knee--yes--now my shoulder--now--' Andstanding for a moment on his shoulder, Gertrude was really able with adesperate grapple to surmount the wall of her prison, and scramble outbeside the two cousins, whose pulls had been very helpful.
Lance's clambering was a harder matter, for he did not venture to trustmuch to the rope, though the girl's strength was added to that of thetwo boys; and it was a severe climb up the scarcely indented, slippery,moist, slimy rock, where his hands and feet could hardly find any hold;and when at length he reached the top, he was so panting and dizzy,that Somerville at first held him to hinder his slipping backward intothe sea. No one could get at King or Queen Daisiana, so it was leftin its glory; while the young people struggled back over rocks thatseemed much steeper, and pools far deeper, than in their advance; Lancestill trying to be helpful, but with a mazed sense of the same sort ofdesperate effort with which he had run back with Bill's verses; for notonly had his small strength been overtaxed, but the immersion in waterwas affecting his head.
Lord Francis had made much quicker progress; and boy as he was,showed his breeding by not rushing open-mouthed on the party with hisintelligence, but seeking the Captain, who was smoking the pipe ofsolitude upon a rock apart. He at once sent Frank to the servants, whowere enjoying the relics of the feast, to fetch some wine, and tellthe boat's crew to make ready at once, and then went off himself toseek Mrs. Rivers. Felix, who had spied the little messenger speedingup to the Captain, was already on his way to the rocks, and reachedthe party in good time; for draggled, drenched, and with clinginggarments, they were so slow in getting on, that it was no delusionthat the water was higher, and the rocks lower; and even Gertrude hadneither breath nor spirits to gabble when that grave anxious face mether, and a strong careful hand lifted and helped, first her, thenLance, up and down every difficulty; and when she perceived how thenew-comer avoided point-blank looking at the bare ankles that hadsometimes to make long stretches, a burning red came up into her face,half of shame, half of indignation at being made ashamed. And afterall, when the place where her hose and shoon had been left was reached,the niched shelf in the rock turned out to have been surrounded by thetide, so that they were quite unattainable either by herself or thelittle boys; and Felix, putting the arm by which Lance had held byhim over Somerville's shoulder told them to go on before, and himselfmade two long strides and a scramble before he could reach the bootsand stockings, and give them to the young lady, unable to help lookingnearly as grave and vexed as if it had been Angela herself; indeed, hewas vexed, for he had an ideal of the young ladyhood of his mother'sold native region, and did not like it to be disturbed. He moved awayfar enough for her to think he had left her to her fate, till she wason her feet and coming on, and then there he was again, in a momentthe attentive squire. Revived by her short rest, and on less perilousground, she glanced at his face in readiness to disperse her discomfortwith something saucy, but somehow it would not do; and she was tamelyconducted to terra firma, where her sister saluted her with 'O Daisy!what a child you are to have charge of!'
That restored her enough to answer, 'I'm quite delighted somethingshould have happened under your keeping! No harm done. Salt water nevergives cold.'
'I don't mind it for you,' said the elder sister; 'you have not beenill.--But indeed, Mr. Underwood, I am very sorry,' she added. 'Whatwill be best for your brother?'
'Here!' said Captain Audley, taking from Frank a flask of sherry, andover-ruling the objection made by th
e brothers that stimulants wereforbidden. He further insisted on taking Lance at once to his own berthon board the yacht while Mrs. Rivers meant to conduct her sister to thepreventive house.
'So,' said Lance, rather ruefully, as he shook hands, 'there ends theSSSS.'
'Not at all! Its use is proved. We should have been cooked by this timein the Daisiana cauldron, if we had had great cumbrous boots on.'
It was a valiant effort, and she cast a glance out of the corner ofher eye at the elder brother, but it had not relaxed a muscle of hisgrave anxious face, which was in truth chiefly bent on watching Lance'sinvoluntary shiverings; and she again turned crimson, perhaps from hershare of the chill, and was dragged off, muttering, 'What intolerablefolks guardian brothers are! Henry Ward was a mild specimen compared tothis one!'
About noon on the following day, Mrs. Pettigrew's little girl abruptlyopened the parlour door, and with 'Please, ye're wanted,' turned in atall, thin, grey-haired, spectacled gentleman, who, as Lance started upfrom the sofa, exclaimed, 'Don't disturb yourself; I came to thank you,and inquire after you after the adventure my mad-cap daughter led youinto.'
'I hope she is all right,' said Lance, solicitously.
'As right as Daisiana himself; more so than I fear you are. Let me seeyou comfortable. Lie down again, pray.'
'Oh, I don't care about lying down, thank you, Sir; I only sleep forwant of something to do;' but though he did not put his feet up, he wasfeeling far too languid not to relax his bolt-upright attitude, andlean back on his pillows.
'That will do. Bad head-ache?'
'It is nearly gone off now, thank you, Sir; it was bad all night, butit is much better since I have been asleep.'
'Let me see,' laying his left hand on the wrist that hung over the edgeof the sofa. 'Ay, I hope that wicked little siren has done no greatdamage. Pulled you below, true mermaid fashion--eh?'
'I meant to have pulled her out.'
'Instead of which she made a lad into a ladder to climb out on.' Whichbad pun served the purpose of making the boy laugh enough to be athis ease. 'She is much indebted, and so am I. I like to meet an oldfriend's son. Are you alone?'
'My brother is only gone to the post-office. He will be in before long;but it saves a post to take the letters before twelve, and he ought tobe out as much as he can.'
'Is he here on his own account, or yours?'
'He came down first, before I was ill. It was bother and overwork anda cough. Everything always does come to worry him, whenever he oughtto have rest or pleasure.' And Lance, who was thoroughly weary anddispirited, was nearly ready to cry.
'Even when he goes out for a pic-nic, young ladies must needs drownthemselves!'
This made Lance smile; but he added, with a quivering lip, 'He wouldnot go to bed till I could go to sleep last night, and that was nottill past two, and he looks quite done up this morning.'
'Is any one attending you?'
'Dr. Manby did at Minsterham--nobody here.'
'What's been amiss with you--fever?'
'Plenty of fever, but it was from sun-stroke.'
'Ah! you boys have thinner skulls than we used to have! How long ago?'
'Seven weeks yesterday,' said Lance, wearily.
'And you are sadly weary of weakness?'
'I don't mind that so much;' and the kindness of face, voice, andgesture, made the poor boy's eyes overflow; 'but I'm no good, and Ican't tell whether I ever shall be again!'
'It is a great deal too soon to trouble yourself about that.'
'That's what they all tell me!' cried Lance, impatiently, and the tearsrushed forth again. 'Manby only laughs, and tells me I shall be a Solonyet if I don't vex myself; and how can I tell whether he means it?'
'Well, dear boy, have it all out; I promise to mean whatever I say.'
'You are a doctor then, Sir?'
'What! the boy doesn't know me, as sure as my name's Dick May!'
'Oh!' cried Lance, 'that was what I heard Felix saying to CaptainAudley--that he did so wish Dr. May could look at me!'
'That's all right, then. Come, then, what is weighing on you--weakness?'
'Just not weakness,' said Lance. 'I didn't care so much when I couldscarcely get about; but now I can walk any distance, and still I havenot a bit more sense!'
'Is your memory gone?'
'I don't think so; only, if I fix my mind to recollect, and it doesn'tcome by chance, I'm all abroad, and perfectly senseless and idiotic!'
'And it brings on pain?'
'Yes, if I try five minutes together.'
'You don't try to read or write?'
'I can't--and--' then came the tears again--'music is just like red-hothammers to me.' There was a great fight with sobs, rather puzzling toone who did not know what music was to the chorister. 'And what is tobe the end of it?'
'That rest and patience will make you as well as ever.'
'Do you really think so? But, Sir, I have a little brother seven and ahalf years old, with no understanding at all--not able to speak; and ifthere were two of us on Felix's hands like _that!_ If I could only beput away somewhere, so that Felix should not have the burthen of me!'
'My poor little fellow! Is this what is preying on you all this time?'
'Not always--only when I am doing nothing, and that is most times,' hesaid, dejectedly; but the Doctor smiled.
'Then you may take the very anxiety as a proof that your brain isrecovering. You cannot expect to shake off the effects quickly; but ifyou are only patient with yourself, you will do perfectly well. Are youa son of the clergy?'
'No, I am a chorister at Minsterham. I have another year there, when Ican go back, if ever--'
'Don't say _if_ ever! You will, if you only will keep from fretting andhurrying, and will accept that beautiful motto of the Underwoods.'
Lance smiled responsively, and said more cheerfully, 'You are quitesure, Sir?'
'As sure as any man can be, that there is no reason to anticipate whatyou dread. It is quite possible that you may be more or less liableto bad head-aches, and find it needful to avoid exposure to summersunshine; but I should think you as likely to do your work in the worldas any one I ever saw.'
The light on Lance's face did not wholly spring from this reply. With'There's Felix!' he had bounded out of the room the next moment, andhis incautious voice could be heard through the window--'Fee, Fee,here's her father! that brick of a Miss Gertrude's, I mean. He'sas jolly as he ought to be, and knew all our people. But just--Isay--how's Cherry?'
'All well; here's a note from the dear little thing herself,' saidFelix; and in another moment, with his bag strapped over his shoulder,he had brought the bright sedateness of his face into the littleparlour. 'Dr. May! how very kind in you!'
'Not kindness, but common propriety, to come and see how much mischiefmy naughty child had done.'
'I don't think there's any real mischief,' said the elder brother,looking at the much-refreshed face.
'I think not, and so am free to be glad of the catastrophe that hasbrought me in the way of an old friend. Yes, I may say so, for I musthave known you!'
'Yes,' said Felix, 'we used to watch for you when you came to my uncle.You always had some fun with us.'
'I remember a pair of twins, who were an irresistible attraction. Ihope they have grown up accordingly. You look as if you ought to havepretty sisters.'
Felix laughed, and said the twins were reckoned as very pretty.
'How many of you are there--was it not thirteen? Did not those boys getthe clergy-orphan?'
'One did, thank you. He is on a farm in Australia now, and I amthinking whether to try for little Bernard; but I am afraid his casewould be a stale one, being of seven years' standing.'
'If you want it done, my daughter, Mrs. Rivers, is a dragon ofdiplomacy in canvassing; but why not send him to Stoneborough? Cheviottakes a selection of cleric's sons at L30, and we would have an eye tohim.'
'Thank you, if we can only manage it; but I must see what my sistersays--our fi
nancier.'
'One of those little apple-blossom twins? Let me look at you. Do youmean to tell me that this fellow has been the whole stand-by of thatlong family these seven years?' he added, turning to Lance.
'To be sure he has!' cried Lance, eagerly.
'Lance!' said Felix, rather indignantly. 'You forget Wilmet. And ThomasUnderwood entirely educated two of us.'
'And,' said the Doctor, looking oddly but searchingly from one to theother, 'you've been the bundle of sticks in the fable. Never gonetogether by the ears? Ah!' as both brothers burst out laughing at thequestion, 'I'd not have asked if I had not seen how you could answer.I've seen what makes me so afraid of brothers in authority that it doesme good to look at you two.'
Felix looked up. The Stoneborough murder case was about two years old,and of course he had to study and condense the details, and had come onthe names of Dr. May and his son in the evidence.
The further words met his sudden conjecture. 'Ay, boys, you little knowwhat you may be spared by home peace and confidence! Well, and what mayyou be doing, Felix? Your bag looks as if you had turned postman to thedistrict.'
'There's my chief business, Sir, coupled with bookselling andstationery,' said Felix, as he pushed across a copy of the Pursuivantthat lay on the table. 'I have been well paid from the first, and am inpartnership now, so we have got along very well.'
'Ay, ay! Very good trade, I should think? You must send me your paper,Felix; I want one I can trust to lie about the house.'
'You will find it very stupid and local, Sir.'
It was curious how what from Mr. Staples was answered with an effort,seemed from Dr. May to draw out confidence. One point was, that Mr.Staples never seemed sure how to treat him, and often betrayed a fearof hurting his feelings; while with Dr. May he was himself and nothingelse. The Doctor stayed to share their dinner, such as it was inconsideration of their being lodgers as didn't give trouble--_i.e._some plain boiled fish, fresh indeed, but of queer name and quality,and without sauce, and some steak not distantly related to an old shoe;but both seemed to think so little about it, that the Doctor, who wasalways mourning over the daintiness of the present day, approved themall the more.
Just as they had finished, Captain Audley came in with his boys, ontheir way to start off the Somervilles by the train, and it was agreedthat when he took his son back to school at Stoneborough, Felix andLance should come with him and spend the day.
And a pleasant day it was, as pleasant as the unsettled wanderings ofa long day in a strange place could be, and memorable for one curiousfact--namely, that for the first time in her life Gertrude May was shy!
Not with Lance. She had a good deal of pastime with him in the coolgarden, while Felix was being walked over the school-yards in thesun; and they were excellent friends, though Ethel certainly had acertain repugnance to the discovery of how big a boy it was with whomGertrude had danced bare-footed on the rocks. Of course Ethel was thekindly mistress of the house as usual, but she was worn and strainedin spirits just then, and disinclined to exert herself beyond theneedful welcome to her father's guests. So she let them all go out,and went on with her own occupations, thinking that it was well thatDaisy should take her part in entertaining guests, since 'that boy' wasevidently a thorough little gentleman; and then shrinking a little asshe heard their voices over Aubrey's museum, including the Coombe Holecuriosities.
No, it was not towards Lance that Daisy was shy; but when all satround the dinner-table, she was unusually silent, and listened tothe conversation far more than was her wont, though it was chieflypolitical. When Felix spoke to her, she absolutely coloured rosy redand faltered, unable to conquer the shamefacedness that their encounterhad left her; and when the party had taken leave, and she was standingin the twilight, Ethel, to her great surprise, found the child quietlycrying.
'Nothing!' she said, angry at being detected.
'It can't be nothing.'
'Yes, it is. Only I do so hate--hate myself for being a tom-boy!'
'One often does go on with that a little too long; and then comes thehorrible feel.'
'And that it should have happened with him of all people in the world!'
'Ah, Daisy, I wish I had come out with you!'
'Fudge, Ethel! Not to-day. Do you think I care about that boy? I shouldthink not! But--but--I wanted to think him a nasty prig, but I can't!'
'Who?'
'Why, that eldest brother. When he found me scrambling about withmy stockings off, he didn't speak, but he looked, as Richard might,surprised and sorry. I thought it was impertinent--at least I wantedto, but-- And now he'll always think me--nasty!'
'My dear, if one must have a lesson of that kind, it is as well itshould be from some one that one is never likely to see or hear ofagain.'
'Oh! but not from the very best and noblest of people one ever willhear of. Yes, Ethel, I'm not gone mad! That boy has been telling meall about his brother; and indeed I never did hear or know about anyone who was a real hero in a quiet way! No; whenever I hear of a hero,I shall think of Mr. Underwood. And, oh dear, that I should have madesuch a goose of myself!'
It was quite unaffected--a spark of real reverence had lighted at laston Gertrude's mind. 'To turn tradesman for the sake of one's brothersand sisters, that I do call heroic!' she said; and maintained hiscause, even to putting down F.U. as her 'favourite hero' in lists oflikes and dislikes.
But there was no great chance of Gertrude again encountering her hero;for the morning after their day at Stoneborough, Lance was beginningto experiment on his powers by skimming newspapers, especially thePursuivant, because he knew it before, all but the last local items,that could only be added at the moment of going to press. Suddenly hebroke out, 'Holloa! you never told me this! Mowbray Smith _has_ put hisfoot in it this time.'
'What?' said Felix, pausing in the act of opening an envelope from Mr.Froggatt.
'Pocketing the coal and school money--ay, and the alms.'
'Eh? Impossible! Let me look.'
'There. A letter signed "Scrutator." There's a great deal more thanI can read, all about under-paid curates and sycophants. My Lady iscatching it, I should say! It must be true, or Froggy would not haveput it in.'
'He never admitted that!' said Felix, tearing open his letter. 'He isin utter dismay, asks whether I could have seen the thing, tells me totelegraph yes or no, that he may know whether to speak to Redstone.What's this about tribute to my father?'
'Here! "Once it was deemed well that the ecclesiastical staff should beby birth and character, if not by pecuniary fortune, above suspicion;but the universal application of the general screw system has warnedoff all who had a predilection for an unfettered tongue, and we allknow what hands accompany one in chains."'
'Libellous!' cried Felix, running his eye over the article. 'It looksas if it had strayed out of the Dearport Hermes. I'd not have had thishappen for ten thousand pounds! Clap-trap about fat rectors and starvedcurates! Jackman's writing, I'd lay any wager!'
'You don't think he did it?'
'Smith? Muddled his accounts! Nothing more likely; charges like thisare not got up without some grounds of some sort; but as to intentionalfraud, that's utter nonsense. Well, I'm off to the station, and I hopein half an hour's time Master Redstone will be quaking.'
Ten days of the holiday still remained; and Captain Audley, with boatand yacht, greatly added to its pleasures, which both brothers wereable thoroughly to enjoy, living almost entirely out of doors, andvaluing each hour as they became fewer.
This matter, however, made Felix very uneasy. He wrote to the curate,offering all the amends in his power, and undertaking that if Mr. Smithwould send him an explanatory letter, he would back it up with a strongleading-article; and he waited anxiously for further intelligence.
Mr. Froggatt's letter came first. Redstone, fond of dabbling ineditorship, had taken reproof in great dudgeon, affecting greatsurprise at being blamed for inserting a letter from a respectablegentleman without submitting it to Mr. Fro
ggatt, who had entirelydropped the editorship, or delaying it to another issue by sendingit to Ewmouth. The respectable gentleman was young Jackman, who wasno doubt delighted to have such a firebrand to cast. It was a greatgrief and annoyance to Mr. Froggatt, who had always steered clear ofpersonalities, and been inoffensive if sometimes dull; and both assaultand defence were distressing to him--_i.e._ if defence were possible,for he seemed doubtful whether silence would not lead to the leastscandal. Even Wilmet wrote: 'Every one seems to think Mr. Smith is toblame; and he is so huffy, that it looks only too much as if he wereafraid of inquiry.'
This was too true a character of his replies. That intended for thepaper had not a line of real defence, but was a mere tirade on thedignity of his office, and the impudence of the charges. Felix dashedit away, enraged at its useless folly; nor was the private one moresatisfactory. It was but a half acceptance of Felix's total disclaimer;and the resentful wording made it difficult to discern whether theimputation were _bona fide_, regarded as not worth refuting, or whetherindignation were made an excuse for denial instead of proof. A separatesheet seemed to have been added. 'The whole is to be subjected tothe scrutiny of a parish meeting on Tuesday, when, though the minuteaccuracy of a professional accountant is not to be expected of onewhose province is not to serve tables, it will be evident that onlymalignity to the Church could have devised the attack to which yourpaper has given currency.'
'Well,' broke out Lance, as Felix with a voice of ineffable disgustread the final sentence, 'if that is not being a knave, it is very likea long-eared animal!'
'I'll tell you what, Lance, they'll take him between their teeth, andworry him till there's not an inch left whole of him. Jackman and hispack will tear him down; and even Bruce and Jones, and our own good oldFroggy, will give him up when they see his books won't balance.'
'Serve him right!' cried Lance. 'What fun to see his airs taken down,when he's served with the sauce he's so fond of for other people! Ionly wish they'd got my Lady too!'
'I must go home, that's all,' said Felix. 'If I got there on Wednesday,I might see if I could not get his accounts into presentable order.'
'What?'
'If I don't, I am afraid no one else will.'
'He will not let you.'
'I think I can make him.'
'But such a cur as he has always been to you!'
'I don't think he will object now. I know he can't do the thinghimself; and if little Bisset could, depend upon it his mother wouldnot let him stir a finger for fear of being implicated. Now I do knowthe ways of those accounts. I've done them with my father and with Mr.Audley. Any way, I must be at home for the meeting. Imagine Redstonereporting it! But you can stay out the week, and come home in theyacht.'
For Captain Audley had promised to take the brothers round to Dearport;but Lance could not bear to be left behind; and it ended in theirwalking up to the Tudor cottage to make their excuses, when thegood-natured captain declared that he could put to sea that very nightand land them at Dearport in good time.
So after a hurried grateful farewell to the Staples family, the holidayclosed with a voyage that both were able to enjoy to the utmost beforethey sailed into the harbour at Dearport, and walked up to St. Faith's.Captain Audley, who had not seen Sister Constance since her husband'sdeath, had an access of shyness and would not encounter the 'LadyAbbess,' as he called her; but his last words to Felix were a promisethat if Bernard went to Stoneborough, he would have him out now andthen for a holiday with his own boy.
There had been time to send notice to Geraldine, and her brothers hadhoped to have taken her home with them; but though she looked clear andbright, she was not out of the doctor's hands, and was under orders tostay another week. The sight of her brothers made her very homesick,in spite of being the spoilt child of the Sisterhood, in the pleasantmatted room, with its sea view, its prints, and photographs; but thenshe wanted to have her way prepared with Wilmet. Her vision had beento walk in imposingly, and take them all by surprise; but that notionhad vanished as the time drew nearer, and she found that her new artrequired practice, while the dread of making a sensation grew upon her.She was ashamed of having even thought of compensating for Wilmet'sabsence, and entreated Felix to communicate the fact, without a word ofthe presumption that had nerved her courage.
The three looked over one another, as if each had undergone much sincethe last meeting; but the sight of Felix greatly relieved Cherry. Hewas sunburnt and vigorous, and his voice had resumed its depth of quietcontent, instead of having that unconsciously weary sound of patienceand exertion that had often gone to her heart. Lance, whom she had notseen since Easter, had assumed a look of rapid growth; his features hadlost their childish form, and were disproportionate; and his complexionstill had the fitful colouring of convalescence; but his eyes weredancing, and his talk ecstatic as to Vale Leston and the Kittiwake,where he was ready, at that moment, to become a cabin-boy.
'O Cherry! Cherry! you never dreamt of anything so delicious as thatnight's fishing!'
'That, I will answer for, she never did,' said Felix. 'When I saw theexquisite delight it afforded, not only to this Lance but to CaptainAudley, to fill the boat with slimy, flapping, uncomfortable, dyingfishes, I felt that I was never made for a gentleman.'
'Do you mean that you didn't like it?' exclaimed Lance, turning roundaghast.
'I should have been much happier balancing the books.'
'And he wasn't even sick!' said Lance, holding up his hands.
'He hadn't that excuse,' laughed Cherry. 'However, midnight fishing isnot indispensable! I should like to have seen how he looked at ValeLeston.'
Lance was in great hopes that Felix would betray the possibilities, andmayhap but for his presence, prudence might have evaporated beneath thewarm breath of Cherry's sympathy; but the answer was only a discreetlaugh and reply, 'Like a man who wanted his sister! I wish I could justfill your eyes with the loveliness of it, Cherry;' and in the midst ofhis description, in came Sister Constance, bringing with her SisterEmmeline (sister in blood as well as religion,) wanting to hear aboutthe nephews, and the Kitten's Tail adventure, and amused to find Lancea little shy about it--certainly not disposed to dwell on it with hisusual unceremonious drollery of narrative. They would not let Felixgo without an inspection by Dr. Lee, which was perfectly satisfactoryas to the rally of the constitution from the depression that hadthreatened disease, though it was impressed both on him and on Cherrythat he must be careful next winter, and never neglect a cold; and withthis promise the brothers took the train, and in half an hour wereat home--rather an empty home, for the schools were all in operationagain, and Wilmet was not at liberty for some little time after theirarrival.
When she did come in, she was disappointed not to find Geraldine, andthat Felix had become so absorbed in the business that had broughthim home, that he only sent in word that he was obliged to go intothe town, and tea must not wait for him. Lance remained, but theburthen of two secrets rendered him uncommunicative, when Wilmet triedto understand the cause of Cherry's delay at St. Faith's; and Aldawas curious about Vale Leston and Mrs. Fulbert, whom she had seen atKensington Palace Gardens. It did not take much acumen to exclaim,'Still no children! Then there must be a chance for us!'
'That is not likely,' said Wilmet: 'it must be all in their own power;and the Vicar must be quite a young man. Is he not, Lance?'
'How should I know?'
'Didn't you see him?'
'I saw his wife, and that was enough.'
'About five-and-thirty,' said Alda. 'Of course it will all go to UncleTom. Money always goes to money.'
'How flushed you are, Lance!' said Wilmet. 'Are you tired?'
'Rather. I am going out into the garden.'
There, however, he was pursued by Bernard with a war-whoop, and byTheodore with his concertina; and Stella presently reported that he wasgone up to bed.
'And I am afraid his room is very hot and noisy,' sighed Wilmet.
'He is only tired and cross afte
r his two nights at sea,' said Alda.
'Lance cross!'
'My dear Wilmet, it is very bad taste in families always to maintaineach other's impeccability!'
Alda was still the only person capable of defeating Wilmet, and shemanaged to render her very uncomfortable before the end of the evening,when hours passed and still Felix did not come in; and Alda suggested,in the intervals of yawning, that Wilmet would soon learn how green itwas to sit up, now that Felix had got out of leading-strings, and setup bachelor habits.
At first, Wilmet was highly indignant; but when Alda persisted thatshe was rather glad to see Felix like other young men, and that Wilmetwould know better when she was married, and then yawned herself off tobed, there was a sense of great discomfort to accompany the solitaryvigil, which not only involved fancies of possible accidents, but washarassed by this assault on faith in the virtue and sincerity of man.Could it really be the part of a wise woman to wink at being deceivedas an inferior creature, with impossible expectations of truth andpurity? Yet Alda knew the world!
How much heart-sickness was darned into Lance's impossible heel beforethe clock chimed two! A step, and not a policeman's, came along thepavement and paused at the door, as, while the bell was cautiouslypulled, down she flew!
'My dear Mettie, I am so sorry, so ashamed, of not having sent hometo tell you; but if I had made the least move, it might have upseteverything!'
'What _have_ you been about?'
'Going over Mowbray Smith's accounts.'
'Oh!'
'I am very sorry! How tired you must be! I was vexed not to be able togive you notice, but you know what poor Smith is.'
'I don't know why you had to do it all, and at this time of night,'said Wilmet, still a little hurt.
'It is the only chance for him to-morrow at the meeting to have hisaccounts clear; so I called under the plea of seeing about the letterin Pur, and with much ado got him to realise a little more of hisposition, and let me look at the books. That was at five.'
'And you have been at it ever since? O Felix!' as he stretched his armsand gave a vast yawn.
'Ay! If I had shown any consciousness of the time, he would have shutup at once; and he would not let me take them home to do to-morrowmorning.'
'It _is_ to-morrow morning!'
'So it is! I must make haste, for I must try to see Mr. Ryder and Jonesbefore the meeting. Good-night, dear old W. W. I meant to have hadother talk.'
'But oh! you must have some supper!'
'I've had it--sumptuous! Stilton cheese!'
So Wilmet's faith in masculine nature rebounded as high as Alda hadstriven to sink it!
Patience was a good deal needed the next day; for Felix had to rushaway from breakfast, and never appeared at all at dinner. He had tobe present at the very stormy meeting, though only to take notes, andthus had the annoyance of seeing Mr. Smith destroying his own causeby his incapacity to understand the statement so carefully drawn up,until Mr. Ryder (on whom the enemy had reckoned as a champion) tookthe papers out of the helpless hand, comprehended Felix's figures at aglance, and set them lucidly forth, such as they were; but even thenthere were blots which there were plenty of persons ready to hit. Thetruth was, that between Lady Price's economies, and the unwillingnessto call vestry-meetings, moneys intended for one purpose had been usedfor another, and articles not within the denomination of charities hadbeen charged on funds raised for that exclusive object.
The assembly comprised the usual variety: the malicious foes ofreligion, headed by Jackman; the more numerous enemies, not of whatthey supposed religion, but of the Church; the adversaries, not ofthe Church, but of the Curate; and the few loyally unwilling tocondemn a clergyman, but disgusted at the affair, and staggered by hismanagement. Perhaps the rabid and ribald violence of the hostile partydid Mr. Smith good with the respectable; and there were many, too,whose dictum was--'Felix Underwood says it is all right!' At any rate,though the Bishop was memorialized, it was in a much better spirit thanhad been likely at first; and it was not to be done without notice tothe Rector. And when this was over, every one, as usual, went to theirrendezvous at 'Froggatt's,' either to discuss or inquire; and therelease of both partners on that summer evening was later than ever ithad been before.
But then what a welcome upstairs! what a clamour of happy tongues!what an ecstatic humming of The Hardy Norseman! what a clinging toand climbing on him! If he had the cares, he had much of the joys, ofthe goodman of the house! But presently he missed the voice usuallyblithest of all, and asked for Lance.
'He was here a little while ago,' said Wilmet, 'drinking his tea. Hemust have gone up to bed.'
'No,' said Bernard; 'I've just been up to the barrack, and he isn'tthere.'
'You've not let him sleep in the attic!' exclaimed Felix. 'Why, underthe leads it is like an oven!'
'I am very sorry,' said Wilmet, 'but I could not see how to help it.Your room is worse, with the glare of the setting sun; and so isCherry's at this time of the evening.'
'Then he must have Mr. Froggatt's.'
'I thought,' said Alda, 'that you never took liberties with Mr.Froggatt?'
'Nonsense!' said Felix. 'There are only two bedrooms in this house fitfor that boy in his present state--yours and Mr. Froggatt's. Whichshall we have, Wilmet?'
'Mr. Froggatt's,' she answered at once. 'If you will not have anothercup, I'll get it ready for him at once.'
'I've just done. I'll come and help you. But where can the boy be? Inthe garden?'
'No,' said Wilmet, taking a survey from the window.
'I have hardly seen him all day,' added Alda. 'I suppose he haspursuits of his own.'
'Pursuits!' said Felix, looking really anxious; 'poor little chap, hecan't do without constant care and quiet!'
Wilmet made no answer, but rose and left the room; Alda mutteredsomething about his looking quite well, which Felix did not stay tohear, following his sister out with a word about looking for him. Atthe same moment a little soft hand was thrust into his, and Stella, assoon as the door was shut, said, 'Please, I know where Lance is, butit's a secret.'
'Not from me, I hope?' said Felix, catching her up in his arms.
'I _think_ not,' said Stella meditatively. 'He only told me not to letBear and Tedo know, because they make a row. He is only up over theback warehouse, where he used to play the fiddle to us last Easter.'
'The only cool quiet place he could find!' said Felix, with more of alook of reproach than he had ever given Wilmet.
It went to her heart. 'I did not know what to do,' she said meekly. 'Iwanted very much to go into the barrack ourselves, but Alda said itwould kill her; and you know it has always been a sore subject that wewould not let her have Mr. Froggatt's room. I ought not to have givenway.'
'Alda's selfishness is a great power,' muttered Felix; and Wilmet wastoo much ashamed to contradict him, except by 'She is vexed because shehas not heard from Ferdinand,' as they hastily made their way to thewarehouse, which, being on the north side of higher buildings, neverdid get scorched through.
Felix went up a step-ladder, Wilmet following; and there, sure enough,was Lance, lying in a nest of paper shavings, with head on hisair-pillow. 'Oh, you've unearthed me, have you? I wish you'd let mestay here all night!' he said, with some weary fretfulness; but thenext moment burst into a peal of laughter, as Wilmet's head appearedabove the floor. 'Pallas Athene ascends! Oh! what a place it would beto act a play--only then all the fry would find it out! I hope theyhaven't! I told the Star not to tell!'
'My poor dear Lance, is this the only quiet place you could find? andyou let us all neglect you, and never complained!' exclaimed Wilmet,kissing his hot forehead.
'Why, it's only my stupidity,' said Lance, wearily but gratefully; 'andyou can't make places quiet or cool! If you would just let me sleephere!'
'No; but you shall have Mr. Froggatt's room. He will not want it now.Come along, Lance, we'll bring your things down. The barrack is a greatdeal too hot for you to go into!'
'Ferdinand always goes to the Fortinbras Arms,' answered Wilmet, withadmirable composure.
'Oh! that's a precedent,' said Lance, ostentatiously winking at Felix,who was very glad the ice was broken. 'When is he coming, Mettie?'
'I think Alda hoped he might have run down to-night, on hearing of yourreturn.'
There they paused while entering the house and going upstairs; but nosooner were they in the barrack, which was certainly insufferably hot,than Lance returned to the charge.
'But when is _he_ coming? Not Fernan--he's an old story!'
'Yes,' said Felix, walking up to Wilmet to fold together the cornersof the sheets they were stripping from Lance's bed, and looking intoher eyes so archly as to bring up an incarnadine blush, 'I wantparticularly to improve my acquaintance, if you don't.--What shall wedo, Lance?'
'Advertise in Pur,' suggested Lance. 'The editor returned. Young menmay apply!'
'Don't, boys!' exclaimed Wilmet, in tones belonging to bygone days,when neither she nor Felix had been too serious to tease or be teased.'He is much better than you,' she added, with a pretty confusedpetulance, when Felix put on a pleading inquisitive face. 'When hefound we didn't like it, he went away to visit his uncle.'
'Better than we! There, Lance!' said Felix, in a gratified provokingtone of discovery.
'In one sense,' said Wilmet, walking down before him.
'I am very glad you have found it out,' added Felix, as they enteredMr. Froggatt's cool well-blinded bedroom, the only well-furnished onein the house.
'It is no laughing matter,' said Wilmet seriously.
'That's well,' was the dry answer.
But there Felix perceived that she was on the verge of tears, and hekindly and quietly helped her to despatch her arrangements for Lancebefore any more was said; only as they turned to bid the tired boygood-night, he said, 'Where does the uncle live? I shall telegraphto-morrow, you cruel person!'
'Hush! silly boy--good-night,' said Wilmet, with a quivering voice;then, as she shut the door, 'Please don't go on this way, Felix--Iwouldn't have had it happen for any consideration.'
'I suppose not,' said Felix, as they returned to the twilight garden;'but as it has--Why, my Mettie, dear!' as she pressed close to him, andhid her face on his shoulder, with a strong craving for the help andsympathy from which the motherless girl had hitherto been debarred.
'O Felix! I wish he would not be so good and kind! I wish you would nottry to make me give in!'
'My dear girl!' said Felix, with his arm round her. 'You know I wouldnot if I did not see that you had given in!'
'No, I haven't!' she cried. 'Why should you want to persuade me? Isn'tit very cruel and hard to let him give all himself to one that can'tcome to him? He will have to go out and live all dreary and lonelyfor years and years, and come home to find nothing but a stupid oldworn-out drudge, with all these pretty looks gone off! Felix, bereasonable, _please!_ Can't you see that I ought not to let things gothat way?'
'Do you mean,' said Felix, 'that you would be quite content to put anend to all this--let Harewood go away believing you indifferent, andnever see him again?'
'Felix, why do you--?' with tears in her eyes.
'Because I am quite sure that the consideration you want to show himwould be no kindness. The pain of having his affection thrown over'(he spoke with a spasm in the throat) 'would be greater than you would_like_ to inflict, if you were forced by truth to own you did not carefor him; and if he be what I think, the carrying away security of yourfeeling for him will be gladness enough. And as for the looks, I havea better opinion of yours than to think they won't wear! Any way,dearest, it seems to me that you have won the heart of a good man,and that if you like him, it is your duty to give him the comfort ofknowing it without thinking about to-morrows.'
'But I know so much more would come if I did just allow that much! AndI might get to wish to leave you all,' she said in an appalled voice.'And there seems to me not the slightest chance. You see Alda andCherry never will get on together; and Cherry seems glad of an excuseto stay from home. I thought she would have cared to come back when youdid.'
'Poor Cherry!' said Felix, hesitating, with a little of her own nervousawe of broaching the subject.
'You don't mean that there is anything seriously amiss?' she cried,startled.
'Wilmet, do you remember what Rugg said would be the very best thingfor that poor child?'
She stood still, dismayed and angered. 'They aren't tormenting the poorlittle thing about that?'
'It is not their doing.'
'It can't have become necessary! Sister Constance would have told me!Felix say she is not worse!'
'No, much better. But, Wilmet, what we could not bear to think of, shethought of for herself, and begged to have it done.'
'Then I must go to her.'
'There is no occasion. She knew you could not be spared. It was doneon the 10th, and she will soon walk better than she has done all theseyears.'
'Done! without our knowledge?'
'She wished to spare us all, but that was not allowed. I was writtento, and told that her strong desire was such a favourable condition,that I had better consent, so as not to protract the strain of spirits.She made a point of no one else knowing except Clement.'
'Ah!' Wilmet spoke as if under a weight, 'that was the day Clement wentdown to Dearport, and came home so late! How could Sister Constanceconsent not to tell me?'
'You must forgive her, for it was the little one's desire. Of course weshould have been fetched if anything had gone wrong; but she has doneperfectly well; and there she is, very happy, and so full of fun, thatthe Sisters say she keeps them all alive.'
'Done? I cannot fancy it!' said Wilmet. 'Do you know, I believe it hasbeen my bugbear for years past to think I might have to persuade her tothis?'
'To tell you the truth, so it has to me.'
'Little nervous timid thing, I can't even understand her thinking ofit!'
'She wanted me not to tell you, but I would not promise. She could notrest without trying not to be an obstacle to--'
Wilmet interrupted with a cry of pain.
'Isn't it a noble little thing?'
'But it is so silly!' broke out Wilmet, not choosing her words amid hertears.
'So she thinks now, poor child: she is quite ashamed of thepresumptuous notion that _did_ brace and carry her through.'
'I don't like her to be disappointed,' said Wilmet; 'but it is quiteridiculous.'
'Only comfort her a little, Mettie dear, for she is very much afraidyou will think she has taken a great liberty with your property.'
'I only wish I could kiss her this moment!'
'Well, run down by the train to-morrow. They would all be delighted.'
'No, no, Felix, impossible. Think of the cost!'
'Half a crown! Sinful waste!' said Felix, in a tone of alarming levity.
'Felix, if you only knew what the housekeeping mounted up in thatunhappy month that I was away! I did not like to tell you before, but--'
'Well!' at the dreadful pause.
'I had to get fifteen pounds from Mr. Froggatt's; and Alda finds, afterall, that she cannot advance the money for Lance's journey.'
'So you are pinching it out by pence, my poor W. W.!'
'Nothing extra must be done till this is made up.'
'Yet it seems needful that Bernard should go to school. I wrote about--'
'No,' she resolutely interrupted. 'Bernard must wait over this year.Thirty pounds. Utterly out of the question!'
Her tone gave Felix an unusual sense of chill penury, and brought ValeLeston before his eyes. He laughed rather bitterly, saying, 'Perhapssome day neither thirty pence nor thirty pounds may have so direful asound!'
'I never mean
to learn to waste.'
'You may have to learn to spend.'
'That's enough to set me against it!' she exclaimed, with a good dealof pain; and he found how nearly he had broken his resolution, and howher application of his words to herself had saved him. He followed thelead.
'Nay; you were glad of Alda's prosperity?'
'Oh yes; but poor Alda has been hindered from being like one of us,'she said. 'We have fought it out together. And I should not mind somuch if _he_ were poor, like us, and had to wait on his own account.'
'I appreciate that,' said Felix; 'but at least you will let the poorfellow come and judge for himself?'
'If--if only, Felix, you will promise not to try to tempt me intodeserting you all, when I know it would be wrong.'
'If I will promise you not to cut my own throat, eh? Come, W. W., putout of your head "what it may lead to," confess that you are afraid ofgetting connected with such a mad harum-scarum set!'
'It isn't,' broke out Wilmet. 'I never saw any one so thoughtful andconsiderate. They are all so kind and warm-hearted, that I grew quiteashamed of my own fidgetiness; and he--he always knew the right thingat the right time. You can't think how his look seemed to hold me up,when poor Lance was moaning and talking nonsense!'
Having thus let herself out as she had never dared, nor indeed beentempted to do, since the first dawn of the courtship, Wilmet at lastrelieved herself of some of the vast sense of emotion that she had beenforcing back for the last month. Hitherto the mistress of the househad seemed older than the master; but now the elder brother took theplace of both parents--ay, and of sister--as, all her fencing over,she poured out her heart, and let him sympathize, cheer, soothe, andencourage, more by kind tones than actual words. The harvest-moonshone over the house-tops, as a month before she had shone by theriver-side; and the Pillars of the House walked up and down till Aldagrew desperate, and sallied out to tell them that it was past eleven.
It was only such snatches of time that Felix could give to homeaffairs, for his hands were full of arrears of business, and theexcitement respecting Mr. Smith necessarily occupied him. Pending thearrival of letters from the Rector, every tongue was in commotion, andthe reading-room was a focus of debate and centre of intelligence.So many letters, either in assault or defence, were addressed to theeditor of the Pursuivant, that only a supplement as big as the _Times_could have contained them. Every poor person who had not had everydemand supplied from the charities was running about, adding to thegrievance at every encounter with tender-hearted lady or justice-lovinggentleman, whose blood boiled over into a letter for the Pursuivant,which, when sifted and refused, was transferred to the Dearport Hermes,or Erms, as most of its supporters termed it.
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