The Lonely Stronghold

by Mrs. Baillie Reynolds

  CHAPTER XVIII

  VISITORS

  During a whole fortnight nothing particular happened, but many thingstook place; the first of which was the passing of the snow. By the endof January it was all gone, the trees in the ravine were black insteadof white, and the roads, while the thaw lasted, almost impassable.

  Madam speedily recovered her usual health, and Dr. Balmayne paid onlyone more visit, on which occasion Miss Innes was out, so he did not seeher.

  The state of the weather made farming impossible. Ninian went huntingonce or twice, but was for a great part of the time short of occupation,and Olwen and he were much in each other's company.

  Reading aloud became a recognised amusement. This took place usually inthe interval between tea and supper. The rearrangement of thebanqueting-hall, and the comfort of the new couch, had apparentlyreconciled Madam to the renewed use of the one stately apartment whichshe possessed. She reclined beside the fire, with her knitting, whileNinian sprawled upon the settle, smoking and netting a new tennis-netfor next season. Olwen, between them, had a little reading-lamp all toherself.

  Madam, like her son, was a creature of moods. She puzzled Olwen. Attimes it seemed as though she were on the eve of a burst of confidence.Sometimes, but very rarely, she permitted herself a spiteful sneer atNinian's expense, as on the occasion of her first coming downstairs; butfor far the greater part of the time, one would have said that shetried, persistently, and at times quite openly, to throw her son and hercompanion into each other's society.

  As for Ninian, his temper varied. Sometimes, for a whole day together,he would be perfectly delightful, saying and doing nothing whichjarred--making fun, teasing, preserving the demeanour of a big,indulgent brother, who took increasing pleasure in the society of asmall sister. After such a day, Olwen would drift upstairs to hernight's rest, in a happy dream. She attempted no self analysis in thesetimes. She was content with life as it was. Then would come a day whenMr. Guyse hardly spoke, when his brow lowered, and he either avoided heror seemed anxious to pick a quarrel. This did not often happen, and whenit did it disturbed her a good deal. One morning she received a letterand a parcel, both from Ben Holroyd. His firm had just beenexperimenting with a new substance as an equivalent for silk, and as aresult they were putting on the market some particularly charming sportscoats in all shades. Ben said that he had given two of these daintygarments to Gracie, and that she had begged that Olwen might have thelike. This gave him courage to venture upon sending them. "You areGracie's friend--her almost sister," he wrote, "and you have no brother.You may find it impossible to be my wife, but don't be unkind enough tosay I may not be your friend."

  Olwen felt it would be ungracious to refuse the gift thus offered; intruth, it was very welcome, since one needed warm clothing at the Pelewhile the weather continued so severe. Grace's hand was clearlydiscernible in the choice, since both the coats sent harmonized withskirts in Olwen's possession. One was a dark, cold blue, not in theleast what is known as "navy," but something like a starlit sky insummer. With a lawn collar, and a skirt to match, this looked extremelynice, and she went down to breakfast wearing it in high good humour.

  It was damping to find Ninian plunged in a fit of the sulks, of whichshe could not trace the origin.

  By next morning he had more or less got over it, but Olwen did not feelprepared to go back at once to the old footing. She was a little stiff,and he went off after breakfast in something of a huff, and did not asusual return to lunch.

  Madam and her companion, now on most amicable terms, ate together. Thenthe lady was tucked up comfortably on her couch for her daily nap, andOlwen went upstairs to write letters. She was thus occupied--Ben'sletter open before her, her own reply nearly complete--when Sunia camein, a little breathless and very eager.

  "My Missee change her frock quick," said she; "people come a-calling."

  "Why, Sunia, how marvellous! How unheard-of! I feel all of a tremble,"laughed Olwen as she rose. "No wonder you're excited! Things like thismustn't happen too often, or they will upset my nerves!"

  Sunia was swiftly taking from its drawer Olwen's prettiest frock, andone that she had never hitherto worn at the Pele, for want of a suitableoccasion. The ayah admired it greatly--it had been purchased for afriend's wedding the preceding summer--and now she dressed her missee init with great satisfaction, though in feverish haste.

  "Missee go down quick; poor Madam not like having folks allylone."

  "Well, I would have gone down at once, if you hadn't insisted upondressing me up, you silly old thing," laughed the girl. "Who are thevisitors?"

  "Kendall folk," said Sunia in a slighting voice. "You never seen 'em,they never see you." She gave a little chuckle as if at some thoughtwhich pleased her. "They see you this day, certinly. Miss Rose Kendallshe see you quite well. There now, here, my Missee, clean hanshif--runaway, I must go and bring tea."

  Olwen took the "hanshif," one of her best, and as she scuttleddownstairs she inhaled its faint, exquisite perfume, described by Ninianas "subtle yet perceptible." She never gave a thought to the openletters on her blotter.

  With Madam she found three strangers--an elderly lady and gentleman anda girl of about her own age. The gentleman was fierce and military, thelady nondescript and uncertain, the girl struck her rather unpleasantly.She was of the chinless type, with a salient nose, giving to her profilethe look of a bird of prey. Her brown eyes were goggling, but sheapparently considered herself a beauty, for she was extravagantlyarrayed in ermine and velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at hercollar.

  Mrs. Guyse looked relieved when Olwen entered. "Ah, here is MissInnes," she said; "let me introduce her--Miss Innes, General and Mrs.Kendall, Miss Kendall."

  The attitude of all these three persons, when presented to Madam'scompanion, was stiff to the point of rudeness, but Olwen set to workbravely to do her duty and entertain them as well as she could. Mrs.Kendall turned her back, addressing herself pointedly to Madam, and theGeneral followed her example; so Olwen gave her attention to the younglady.

  "I expect you came in a car," said she; "it is the only way to get aboutin these parts. As we have not one, we are almost confined to thehouse, except when the snow is deep and hard enough for sleighing. Howfar have you come?"

  "About ten miles," said the heiress frigidly.

  "Mrs. Guyse took cold sleighing," went on Miss Innes, unperturbed; "shewas laid up for several days, and it was all that Dr. Balmayne could doto get to us. This place seems like the world's end, does it not?"

  Miss Kendall stared forbiddingly. "It is one of the sights of thecountry," said she. "It is mentioned in Domesday Book."

  "I was not criticising, but merely commenting," replied Olwen, amused."As a matter of fact, I like the solitude, though I am surprised atmyself for saying so. I came from Bramforth."

  "Indeed!" was all the reply vouchsafed; and the speaker looked out aboveher furs, so curiously like a parrot that Olwen nearly laughed.

  "Won't you take off your stole? This room is so warm; we are obliged tokeep up the temperature for Madam."

  "I am not too warm," replied Miss Kendall, with an indescribable archingof her skinny throat.

  "No, it's not a parrot that she is like--it's a vulture," thought Olwen."I can fancy her hopping sideways after a bit of carrion! I should liketo see Nin deal with her!" Aloud she made one more effort.

  "Do you live in the Caryngston direction?"

  "No," replied the vulture, and made no further conversational attempt.

  Olwen felt greatly inclined to say, "Oh, very well, sulk if you wantto!" but at this painful instant the door opened and the master of thehouse walked in. She was so pleased to see him that she actually gavehim what he would have called the "glad eye"--receiving in return aflash of green light which gave her a queer sensation of pleasure. Theyhad had a tiff, and to both this exchange of looks seemed to say thatall was right once
more between them.

  The looker-on thought she detected some embarrassment orself-consciousness in the cordiality of the greeting the young manreceived from the General and his wife; but Miss Kendall became adifferent creature at once. With much play of eyes and tossing of fursshe made way for him upon the settle at her side. Olwen had risen atonce upon his entrance, and the appearance of Sunia with the tea gaveher occupation at some little distance, so that she could not hear whatNin was saying, only that he was making Miss Kendall laugh. Her hightitter resounded through the lofty chamber. But when Olwen rose andbegan to hand round cups, he instantly rose also, took possession of thecake-stand, and did his duty as host in a manner which pleased Olwenenormously.

  "Your ayah is wonderful," said Rose, accepting her cup. "I always thinkshe is immortal, like 'She' in Rider Haggard's story. She never seemsto grow any older, and she lends such a _bizarre_ touch! The contrastof the feudal fortress and the Oriental servant!"

  "What's _bizarre_, teacher?" asked Ninian of Olwen, with a wicked look.

  "_Bizarre_ is the word which describes the effect of Sunia in the Pele,as Miss Kendall has just told you," replied Olwen, rather saucily,perhaps, but she had been a little nettled by Miss Kendall'sill-breeding.

  "Sunia is so devoted in her attendance on your mother that I shouldhardly have thought you required anybody else," went on Rose, her eyesfixed disparagingly upon Olwen.

  "Oh, it isn't Miss Innes's job to wait on my mother," said Ninianquietly. It was curious that Olwen knew his voice inflections wellenough to be aware that he was angry. "Sunia is all very well in herway, but she has her little tempers. She was getting a bit unbearablewhen Miss Innes arrived, but she has somehow contrived to tame herentirely. Ayah is perfectly devoted--waits on you hand and foot,doesn't she?" He spoke standing up, with his cup in his hand, close toOlwen, determined that she should be included in the conversation. Shehad never liked him so well. His mother chimed in.

  "Yes, as I hear Ninian telling your daughter, it is a most remarkablething the way my ayah has taken to Miss Innes. It was almostinstantaneous. She positively worships her. Miss Innes, tell GeneralKendall about the table."

  Olwen smiled as she related how she had wished to have a writing-tablein her room, and how, owing to the impossibility of carrying furnitureupstairs, Sunia made Baxter take off the legs of an unused table andtransport it to the top of the house, where it was put together again.

  Rose Kendall made no comment, but after an insolent stare at Olwen,turned her shoulder to her and said to Mr. Guyse, "How strange that itnever occurred to me to wonder how the things were got into the rooms!This fine billiard-table, for example."

  "My father never went without anything he really meant to have," repliedNinian. "This place had been more or less uninhabited for a century,except by a farm-hind, when he determined to use it as a shooting-box.He took out all the mullions of that great window, and the table washauled up with ropes and pulleys."

  "How glorious to own such a place!" said Miss Kendall fervently. "How Ishould like to live in a historic tower!"

  Ninian's grin over her head at Olwen showed that he thought this attempttoo clumsy even for Miss Kendall. "Nicer to think about than to put inpractice," he replied. "Ask my mother."

  "Oh, the Pele is a bit trying if you have to live in it in winter, butit has its good points," said Madam. Her voice had wholly lost the edgeof bitterness with which she had spoken of her home to Olwen as "thisaccursed spot."

  "Miss Innes became acclimatised very quickly," went on Ninian to theyoung lady.

  She acknowledged the remark with a smile that was almost a grimace, andchanged the subject forthwith. "What news of your brother? He waslooking so well when I saw him last."

  "Oh, he's all right, but we haven't heard very lately. This is just thebusy time for him, Parliament opening and so on." He sat down besidethe visitor, and spoke with his eyes full upon her and an especiallydemon-like smile. "By the way, I heard a bit of news this morning. Camehome hot-foot to tell Madam. What do you think, Mother? Noel Guyse isgoing to be married to Miss Leverett, of Leverett's Wash-WhiteSlick-Soap!"

  "Never, Nin!" cried Madam, with a little laugh. "His lordship has nevergiven permission!"

  "If he didn't, he'd be a raving lunatic. She's got money enough to buythe whole county. Now they'll have another try to get me to sell thePele! See if they don't!"

  "But you won't!" cried Miss Kendall in terrified accents, clasping herjewelled hands and gazing at him intensely. Certainly he lookedwonderfully handsome as he sat there, so completely at his ease, withthe impish smile flickering over his face.

  "Depends on how much they offer," he said, with another glance at Olwen.For some reason which she could not fathom, he was evidently enjoyingthis conversation. "I suppose you had already heard of the engagement?"he went on, addressing the General point-blank.

  The old gentleman cleared his throat, and admitted, a trifle nervously,that he had heard something of it. "Met his lordship on the bench onMonday."

  "Did he seem pleased?" Ninian inquired.

  "Oh, ah, yes, certainly. Very pleased.... Charming girl, so he said.Case of love at first sight on both sides."

  "No doubt," said Madam, with her little nervous laugh. "Love of money onhis side, love of a title on hers."

  "Ha! ha! Good, my dear lady, good!" laughed the General. His daughteradded:

  "I've seen Amanda Leverett, she was at Danley Races last autumn, but Iforget what she's like. Her clothes were all right. They were thething you remembered about her."

  "Well, no doubt Caryngston can do with the money. None of our family arewhat Nin would call coiny," said Madam.

  "Ah, but you don't need it, you have something worth far more!" criedRose, with a glance which she meant to be very expressive. Ninianacknowledged the compliment with a merry bow.

  Mrs. Kendall rose. She had been looking decidedly ill at ease while thelatest topic was discussed. "The days are so short," she murmured, "wemust really say good-bye. Charmed to find you at home and looking sowell, dear Mrs. Guyse. Now, I suppose it would be of no use to ask youto let Mr. Guyse bring you to lunch with us one day next week?" Shebent over Madam's couch coaxingly.

  "Oh, no thank you. I shall not go out until the weather turns reallyfine," was the quick response. "Miss Innes will have to do my socialduties for me."

  Mrs. Kendall ignored the hint entirely. "Mr. Guyse, you will have totake pity on us and come alone," said she playfully. "Shall we sayMonday? Or would Tuesday suit you better? What with our having beenabroad the two last winters, and in London during the season, we haveseen nothing of you lately."

  "Must be three years since I was at Copley, isn't it?"

  "Oh, I can't believe that it is as long as that! How time flies! Butdo be--er--forgiving, and come over for an hour or two. The General islonging for a chat with you."

  "Can't be done, thanks all the same. We're short-handed on the farm,and next week is going to be very busy. The long snow has made us allbehindhand. You must realise that I'm a mere British workman, not fitto lunch with the quality."

  Rose approached, laying her cheek down on her big white muff, andlooking wistfully at him. He stuck to his refusal, however, in spite ofentreaties. The discussion seemed to amuse Madam. She lay listeningwith one of her queer looks--looks which enabled one to glimpse apassing likeness between her and the son who was so unlike her.

  The young man accompanied his guests downstairs, and as the sound oftheir footsteps and voices died away, his mother turned to Olwen.

  "Dear! How funny!" said she.

  "What in particular was funny?" inquired the girl, coming to relieve herof her empty cup.

  "The Kendalls! Ha! ha! I can't altogether explain how funny it is, butI can tell you part. They tried hard, three years ago, to marry Rose toNinian. She's got a nice little fortune, it wouldn't have done badly.Then suddenly something made them think that they might get hold of NoelGuyse,
Caryngston's boy, and, of course, they thought that would be muchbetter. They haven't been near us for ages, and when they walked inthis afternoon, all gush, I couldn't make out what brought them. But,you see, Ninian knew! They had got wind of Noel's engagement, and hopedwe shouldn't have heard about it! Hoped they wouldn't be seen through!But Nin wasn't going to let them off! Did you see the General's facewhen Nin made him own that he knew? Dear me, I haven't been so amusedfor a long time!"

  Nin was soon back again, and came into the room laughing. "Well," hesaid, "aren't those people just about the limit? Like their cheek,turning up here and coming the long-lost brother over me, when they'veboycotted me for three years!"

  "Oh, well, I think you scored," said his mother with relish.

  "What d'you think of 'em, eh, Teacher?" he continued, dropping into achair by her tea-table and stretching out his long limbs.

  "Sit down and have a proper tea," said she, instead of replying. "Youwere behaving so beautifully that you had not time to eat."

  "Yes, wasn't he?" said Madam unexpectedly. "Your manners are improving,Nin, did you know?"

  The expression which crept into Nin's face touched Olwen with a quickthrill of pity. His eye gathered light, his lips curved, the colourmustered in his dark face. Evidently his mother's praise was delightfulto him.

  Of course, however, he replied flippantly. "Ought to be improving bynow. Been living in a reformatory for weeks."

  "Oh," said the girl quickly, "has it been as bad as that?"

  He gave her a sidelong glance, watching the effect of his words. "It'sbeen very painful." He sighed. "But all is forgiven if the resultseems to be worth the sacrifice. You haven't answered the previousquestion, Teacher. What do you think of the resident gentry, asexemplified in the Kendall family?"

  "Oh ... I expect they improve on acquaintance, like--like some otherfolks I know."

  "Now what have I done for you to be nasty?"

  "Said you'd been living in a reformatory," she snapped.

  "Ah, but this one is run on the new lines--cure by kindness. I likebeing here so much that I'm going to stay as long as they let me havethe same teacher."

  "Doesn't he want shaking?" said Olwen to Madam,

  "My dear, I think you _have_ shaken him--pretty thoroughly!"