Beechcroft at Rockstone

by Шарлотта Мэри Йондж

  'You know something about it already,' he said.

  'Yes; when I was quite a little girl one of the officers in the Royal Wardours brought some photographs to Malta, and told me about them.'

  'But,' he said, recalling himself, that is not my object now. Your brother says he does not feel competent to decide without you.' And he laid before her two or three prospectuses of grammar schools. 'It is time to apply,' he added, 'if that little fellow-Peter, you call him, don't you?-is to begin next term.'

  'Petros! Oh, sir, this is kindness!'

  'I desired that the children's education should be attended to,' said Mr. White. 'I did not intend their being sent to an ordinary National school.'

  'Indeed,' said Kalliope; 'I do not think much time has been lost, for they have learnt a good deal there; but I am particularly glad that Petros should go to a superior school just now that he has been left alone, for he is more lively and sociable than Theodore, and it might be less easy for him to keep from bad companions.'

  The pros and cons of the several schools were discussed, and Hurstpierpoint finally fixed on.

  'Never mind about his outfit,' added Mr. White. 'I'll give that fellow down in Bellevue an order to rig him out. He is a sharp little sturdy fellow, who will make his way in the world.'

  'Indeed, I trust so, now that his education is secured. It is another load off my mind,' said Kalliope, with a smile of exceeding sweetness and gratitude, her hands clasped, and her eyes raised for a moment in higher thankfulness,-a look that so enhanced her beauty that Mr. White gazed for a moment in wonder. The next moment, however, the dark eyes turned on him with a little anxiety, and she said-

  'One thing more, sir. Perhaps you will be so kind as to relieve my mind again. That notice of dismissal at the quarter's end. Was it not in some degree from a mistake?'

  'An utter mistake, my dear,' he said hastily. 'Never trouble your head about it.'

  'Then it does not hold?'

  'Certainly not.'

  'And I may go back to my office as soon as I am well enough?'

  'Is that your wish?'

  'Yes, sir. I love my work and my assistants, and I think I could do better if a little more scope could be allowed me.'

  'Very well, we will see about that-you have to get well first of all.'

  'I am so much better that I ought to go home. Mr. Lee is quite ready for me.'

  Nonsense! You must be much stronger before Dagger would hear of your going.'

  After this Mr. White came to sit with Kalliope for a time in the course of each day, bringing with him something that would interest her, and seeming gratified by her responsiveness, quiet as it was, for she was still very feeble, and exertion caused a failure of breath and fluttering of heart that were so distressing that ten days more passed before she was brought downstairs and drawn out in the garden in a chair, where she could sit on the sheltered terrace enjoying the delicious spring air and soft sea-breezes, sometimes alone, sometimes with the company of one friend or another. Gillian and Aunt Jane had, with the full connivance of Mr. White, arranged a temporary entrance from one garden to the other for the convenience of attending to Kalliope, and here one afternoon Miss Mohun was coming in when she heard through the laurels two voices speaking to the girl. As she moved forward she saw they were the elder and younger Stebbings, and that Kalliope had risen to her feet, and was leaning on the back of her chair. While she was considering whether to advance Kalliope heard her, and called in a breathless voice, 'Miss Mohun! oh, Miss Mohun, come!'

  'Miss Mohun! You will do us the justice-' began Mr. Stebbing, speaking more to her indignant face and gesture than to any words.

  'Miss White is not well,' she said. 'You had better leave her to me.'

  And as they withdrew through the house, Kalliope sank back in her chair in one of those alarming attacks of deadly faintness that had been averted for many days past. Happily an electric bell was always at hand, and the housekeeper knew what remedies to bring. Kalliope did not attempt a word for many long minutes, though the colour came back gradually to her lips. Her first words were,

  'Thank you! Oh, I did hope that persecution was over!'

  'My poor child! Don't tell me unless you like! Only-it wasn't about your work?'

  'Oh no, the old story! But he brought his father-to say he consented-and wished it-now.'

  There was no letting her say any more at that time, but it was all plain enough. This had been one more attempt of the Stebbing family to recover their former power; Kalliope was assumed to be Mr. White's favoured niece; Frank could make capital of having loved her when poor and neglected, and his parents were ready to back his suit. The father and son had used their familiarity with the house to obtain admittance to the garden without announcement or preparation, and had pressed the siege, with a confidence that could only be inspired by their own self-opinion. Kalliope had been kept up by her native dignity and resolution, and had at first gently, then firmly, declined the arguments, persuasions, promises, and final reproaches with which they beset her-even threatening to disclose what they called encouragement, and assuring her that she need not reckon on Mr. White, for the general voice declared him likely to marry again, and then where would she be?'

  'I don't know what would have become of me, if you had not come,' she said.

  And when she had rested long enough, and crept into the house, and Alexis had come home to carry her upstairs, it was plain that she had been seriously thrown back, and she was not able to leave her room for two or three days.

  Mr. White was necessarily told what had been the cause of the mischief. He smiled grimly. 'Ay! ay! Master Frank thought he would come round the old man, did he? He will find himself out. Ha, ha! a girl like that in the house is like a honey-pot near a wasps' nest, and the little sister will be as bad. Didn't I see the young lord, smart little prig as he looks, holding an umbrella over her with a smile on his face, as much as to say, "I know who is a pretty girl! No one to look after them either!" But maybe they will all find themselves mistaken,' and his grim smile relaxed into a highly amiable one.

  Miss Mohun was not at all uneasy as to the young lord. An Eton boy's admiration of a pretty face did not amount to much, even if Ivinghoe had not understood 'Noblesse oblige' too well to leave a young girl unsheltered. Besides, he and all the rest were going away the next day. But what did that final hint mean?

  CHAPTER XXII. THE MAIDEN ALL FORLORN

  One secret was soon out, even before the cruel parting of Fly and Mysie, which it greatly mitigated.

  Clipston was to be repaired and put in order, to be rented by the Merrifields. It was really a fine old substantial squire's house, though neglected and consigned to farmers for four generations. It had great capabilities-a hall up to the roof, wainscoted rooms-at present happy hunting-grounds to boys and terriers-a choked fountain, numerous windows, walled up in the days of the 'tax on light,' and never reopened, and, moreover, a big stone barn, with a cross on the gable, and evident traces of having once been a chapel.

  The place was actually in Rockstone Parish, and had a hamlet of six or seven houses, for which cottage services were held once a week, but the restoration of the chapel would provide a place for these, and it would become a province for Lady Merrifield's care, while Sir Jasper was absolutely entreated, both by Lord Rotherwood and the rector of Rockstone, to become the valuable layman of the parish, nor was he at all unwilling thus to bestow his enforced leisure.

  It was a beautiful place. The valley of daffodils already visited narrowed into a ravine, where the rivulet rushed down from moorlands, through a ravine charmingly wooded, and interspersed with rock. It would give country delights to the children, and remove them from the gossip of the watering-place society, and yet not be too far off for those reading-room opportunities beloved of gentlemen.

  The young people were in ecstasies, only mourning that they could not live there during the repairs, and that those experienced in the nature of workmen hesitated to promise tha
t Clipston would be habitable by the summer vacation. In the meantime, most of the movables from Silverfold were transported thither, and there was a great deal of walking and driving to and fro, planning for the future, and revelling in the spring outburst of flowers.

  Schoolroom work had begun again, and Lady Merrifield was hearing Mysie read the Geruasalemme Liberata, while Miss Vincent superintended Primrose's copies, and Gillian's chalks were striving to portray a bust of Sophocles, when the distant sounds of the piano in the drawing-room stopped, and Valetta came in with words always ominous-

  'Aunt Jane wants to speak to you, mamma.'

  Lady Merrifield gathered up her work and departed, while Valetta, addressing the public, said, 'Something's up.'

  'Oh!' cried Primrose, 'Sofi hasn't run away again?'

  'I hope Kalliope isn't worse,' said Mysie anxiously.

  'I guess,' said Valetta, 'somebody said something the other day!'

  'Something proving us the hotbeds of gossip,' muttered Gillian.

  'You had better get your German exercise, Valetta,' said Miss Vincent. 'Mysie, you have not finished your sums.'

  And a sigh went round; but Valetta added one after-clap.

  'Aunt Jane looked-I don't know how!'

  Whereat Gillian nodded her head, and looked up at Miss Vincent, who was as curious as the rest, but restrained the manifestation manfully.

  Meantime Lady Merrifield found her sister standing at the window, and, without turning round, the words were uttered-

  'Jasper was right, Lily.'

  'You don't mean it?'

  'Yes; he is after her!'-with a long breath.

  'Mr. White!'

  'Yes'-then sitting down. 'I did not think much of it before. They always are after Ada more or less-and she likes it; but it never has come to anything.'

  'Why should it now?'

  'It has! At least, it has gone further than ever anything did before, except Charlie Scott, that ridiculous boy at Beechcroft that William was so angry with, and who married somebody else.'

  'You don't say that he has proposed to her?'

  'Yes, he has-the man! By a letter this morning, and I could see she expected it-not that that's any wonder!'

  'But, my dear, she can't possibly be thinking of it.'

  'Well, I should have said it was impossible; but I see she has not made up her mind. Poor dear Ada! It is too bad to laugh; but she does like the having a real offer at last, and a great Italian castle laid at her feet.'

  'But he isn't a gentleman! I don't mean only his birth-and I know he is a good man really-but Jasper said he could feel he was not a gentleman by the way he fell on Richard White before his sister.'

  'I know! I know! I wonder if it would be for her happiness?'

  'Then she has not answered him?'

  'No; or, rather, I left her going to write. She won't accept him certainly now; but I believe she is telling him that she must have time to consider and consult her family.'

  'She must know pretty well what her family will say. Fancy William! Fancy Emily! Fancy Reginald!'

  'Yes, oh yes! But Ada-I must say it-she does like to prolong the situation.'

  'It is not fair on the poor man.'

  'Well, she will act as she chooses; but I think she really does want to see what amount of opposition- No, not that, but of estrangement it would cause.'

  'Did you see the letter?'

  'Yes; no doubt you will too. I told her I should come to you, and she did not object. I think she was glad to be saved broaching the subject, for she is half ashamed.'

  'I should have thought she would have been as deeply offended at the presumption as poor Gillian was with the valentine.'

  'Lily, my dear, forty-two is not all one with seventeen, especially when there's an estate with an Italian countship attached to it! Though I'm sure I'd rather marry Alexis than this man. He is a gentleman in grain!'

  'Oh, Jenny, you are very severe!'

  'I'm afraid it is bitterness, Lily; so I rushed down to have it all out with you, and make up my mind what part to take.'

  'It is very hard on you, my dear, after you have nursed and waited on her all these years.'

  'It is the little titillation of vanity-exactly like the Ada of sixteen, nay, of six, that worries me, and makes me naughty,' said Jane, dashing off a tear. 'Oh, Lily! how could I have borne it if you had not come home!'

  'But what do you mean about the part to take?'

  'Well, you see, Lily, I really do not know what I ought to do. I want to clear my mind by talking to you.'

  'I am afraid it would make a great difference to you in the matter of means.'

  'I don't mean about that; but I am not sure whether I ought to stand up for her. You see the man is really good at heart, and religious, and he is taking out this chaplain. The climate, mountains, and sea might really suit her health, and she could have all kinds of comforts and luxuries; and if she can get over his birth, and the want of fine edge of his manners, I don't know that we have any right to set ourselves against it.'

  'I should have thought those objections would have weighed most of all with her.'

  'And I do believe that if the whole family are unanimous in scouting the very idea, she will give it up. She is proud of Mohun blood, and the Rotherwood connection and all, and if there were a desperate opposition-well, she would be rather flattered, and give in; but I am not sure that she would not always regret it, and pine after what she might have had.'

  'Rotherwood likes the man.'

  'Like-but that's not liking him to marry his cousin.'

  'Rotherwood will not be the person most shocked.'

  'No. We shall have a terrible time, however it ends. Oh. I wish it was all over!'

  'Do you think she really cares for the man-loves him, in fact?'

  'My dear Lily, if Ada ever was in love with anybody, it was with Harry May, and that was all pure mistake. I never told anybody, but I believe it was that which upset her health. But they are both too old to concern themselves about such trifles. He does not expect it!'

  'I have seen good strong love in a woman over forty.'

  'Yes; but this is quite another thing. A lady of the house wanted! That's the motive. I should not wonder if he came home as much to look for a lady-wife as to set the Stebbings to rights; or, if not, he is driven to it by having the Whites on his hands.'

  'I don't quite see that. I was going to ask you how it would affect them.'

  'Well, you see, though she is perfectly willing and anxious to begin again, poor dear Kally really can't. She did try to arrange a design that had been running in her head for a long time, and she was so bad after it that Dr. Dagger said she must not attempt it. Then, though she is discreet enough for anything, Mr. White is not really her uncle, and could not take her about with him alone or even with Maura; so I gather from some expressions in his letter that he would like to take her out with them, spend the summer at Rocca Marina, and let her have a winter's study at Florence. Then, I suppose she might come back and superintend on quite a different footing.

  'So he wants Ada as a chaperon for Kalliope?'

  'That is an element in the affair, and not a bad one, and I don't think Ada will object. She won't be left entirely to his companionship.'

  'My dear Jane! Then I'm sure she ought not to marry him!' cried Lady Merrifield indignantly. 'Here comes Jasper. May I tell him?'

  'You will, whether you may or not.'

  And what Sir Jasper said was-

  '"Who married the maiden all forlorn-"'

  At which both sisters, though rather angry, could not help laughing, and Lady Merrifield explained that they had always said the events had gone on in a concatenation, like the house that Jack built, from Gillian's peep through the rails. However, he was of opinion that it was better not to make a strenuous opposition.

  'Adeline is quite old enough to judge for herself whether the incongruities will interfere with her happiness,' he said; 'and this is really a worthy man who ough
t not to be contemned. Violent contradiction might leave memories that would make it difficult to be on affectionate terms afterwards.'

  'Yes,' said Jane; 'that is what I feel. Thank you, Jasper. Now I must go to my district. Happily those things run on all the same for the present.'

  But when she was gone Sir Jasper told his wife that he thought it ought to be seriously put before Adeline that Jane ought to be considered. She had devoted herself to the care of her sister for many years, and the division of their means would tell seriously upon her comfort.

  'If it were a matter of affection, there would be nothing to say,' he observed; 'but nobody pretends that it is so, and surely Jane deserves consideration.

  'I should think her a much more comfortable companion than Mr. White,' said Lady Merrifield. 'I can't believe it will come to anything. Whatever the riches or the castle at Rocca Marina may be, Ada would, in a worldly point of view, give up a position of some consideration here, and I think that will weigh with her.'

  As soon as possible, Lady Merrifield went up to see her sister, and found her writing letters in a great flutter of importance. It was quite plain that the affair was not to be quashed at once, and that, whether the suit were granted or not, all the family were to be aware that Adeline had had her choice. Warned by her husband, Lady Merrifield guarded the form of her remonstrances.

  'Oh yes, dear Lily, I know! It is a sacrifice in many points of view, but think what a field is open to me! There are all those English workmen and their wives and families living out there, and Mr. White does so need a lady to influence them.'

  'You have not done much work of that kind. Besides, I thought this chaplain was married.'

  'Yes, but the moral support of a lady at the head must be needful,' said Ada. 'It is quite a work.'

  'Perhaps so,' said her sister, who had scarcely been in the habit of looking on Ada as a great moral influence. 'But have you thought what this will be to Jane?'

  'Really, Lily, it is a good deal for Jane's sake. She will be so much more free without being bound to poor me!'-and Ada's head went on one side. 'You know she would never have lived here but for me; and now she will be able to do what she pleases.'