CHAPTER XLI.
THE PRIDE OF LIFE.
Harvey Tremlett kept his promise not to leave the neighbourhood, untilthe result of the grievous injury done to Frank Gilham should be known.Another warrant against him might be issued for that fierce assault, andhe had made up his mind to stand a trial, whatever result might come ofit. What he feared most, and would have fled from, was a charge ofrunning contraband goods, which might have destroyed a thriving trade,and sent him and his colleagues across the seas. Rough and savage as hebecame, (when his violent temper was provoked) and scornful of home-lifeand quiet labour--these and other far from exemplary traits, were mainlythe result of his roving habits, and the coarse and lawless company intowhich he had ever fallen. And it tended little to his edification, thathe exercised lordship over them, in virtue of superior strength.
But his nature was rather wild than brutal; in its depths were sparksand flashes of manly generosity, and even warmth of true affection forthe few who had been kind to him, if they took him the right way of hisstubborn grain. He loved his only daughter Zip, although ashamed ofshowing it; and he was very proud of his lineage, and the ancient nameof Tremlett. Thus Mr. Penniloe had taken unawares the straightest roadto his good will, by adopting the waif as an inmate of his house, andtreating her, not as a servant, but a child. That Zip should be a lady,as the daughters of that Norman race had been for generations, was themain ambition of her father's life. He had seen no possibility of it;and here was almost a surety of it, unless she herself threw away thechance.
Rather a pretty scene was toward for those who are fond of humanity, atthe ruined Tremlett mill, on the morning of Saint David's day. Harveyhad taken to this retreat--and a very lonely home it was--for sundrygood reasons of his own; the most important of which was not entrustedeven to his daughter, or the revered and beloved Parson. This was toprepare a refuge, and a store house for Free-trade, more convenient,better placed, larger, and much safer than the now notorious fastness ofBlackmarsh. Here were old buildings, and mazy webs of wandering; softcliff was handy, dark wood and rushing waters, tangled lanes, furzycorners, nooks of overhanging, depths of in-and-out hood-winks ofnature, when she does not wish man to know everything about her. Thesolid firm, directed by Timber-leg'd Dick, were prepared to pay a fineprice, as for a paper mill, for this last feudal tenure of the Tremlettrace.
But the last male member of that much discounted stock (or at any ratethe last now producible in Court, without criminal procedure) hadrefused to consider the most liberal offers, even of a fine run ofFree-trade, all to himself--as still it is--for the alienation infee-simple of this last sod of hereditament. For good consideration, hewould grant a lease, which Blickson might prepare for them; but he wouldbe--something the nadir of benediction--if he didn't knock down any man,who would try to make him rob his daughter. The league of Free-traderscame into his fine feelings, and took the mills and premises, on a goodelastic lease. But the landlord must put them into suitable condition.
This he was doing now, with technical experience, endeavouring at thesame time to discharge some little of his new parental duties. JemKettel found it very hard, that though allowed to work, he was notencouraged (as he used to be) to participate in the higher moments. "Youclear out, when my darter cometh. You be no fit company for she." Jemcould not see it, for he knew how good he was.
But the big man had taken a much larger turn. He was not going to alterhis own course of life. That was quite good enough for him; and reallyin those days people heard so much of "Reform! Reform!" dinged for everin their ears, that any one at all inclined to think for himself had atendency towards backsliding. None the less, must he urge others toreform; as the manner has been of all ages.
Tremlett's present anxiety was to provide his daughter with goodadvice, and principles so exalted, that there might be no further perilof her becoming like himself. From him she was to learn the value ofproper pride and dignity, of behaving in her new position, as if she hadbeen born to it, of remembering distant forefathers, but forgetting herpresent father, at any rate as an example. To this end he made her studythe great ancestral Bible--not the Canonical books however, so much asthe covers and fly-leaves--the wholly uninspired records of the Tremlettfamily. These she perused with eager eyes, thinking more highly ofherself, and laying in large store of pride--a bitter stock to startwith--even when the course of youth is fair.
But whether for evil or for good, it was pleasant to see the rough mansitting, this first day of the Spring-time, teaching his little daughterhow sadly he and she had come down in the world. Zip had been sparedfrom her regular lessons, by way of a treat, to dine with her father,before going--as was now arranged--to the care of a lady at Exeter. JemKettel had been obliged to dine upon inferior victuals, and at the lessfashionable hour of eleven a.m.; for it was not to be known that he wasthere, lest attention should be drawn to the job they were about.Tremlett had washed himself very finely, in honour of this greatoccasion, and donned a new red woollen jacket, following every curve andchunk of his bulky chest and rugged arms. He had finished his dinner,and was in good spirits, with money enough from his wrestling prize tolast him until the next good run, and a pipe of choice tobacco (such ascould scarcely be got at Exeter), issuing soft rings of turquoise tintto the black oak beams above. The mill-wheel was gone; but the murmur ofthe brook, and the tinkle of the trickle from the shattered trough, andthe singing of birds in their love-time came, like the waving of abranch that sends the sunshine in.
The dark-haired child was in the window-seat, with her Sunday frock on,and her tresses ribboned back, and her knees wide apart to make a lapfor the Bible, upon which her great brown eyes were fixed. Puffs of theMarch wind now and then came in, where the lozenges of glass were gone,and lifted loose tussocks of her untrussed hair, and set the sunshinedancing on the worn planks of the floor. But the girl was used tobreezes, and her heart was in her lesson.
"Hunderds of 'em, more than all the Kings and Queens of England!" shesaid, with her very clear voice trembling, and her pointed fingersmaking hop-scotch in and out the lines of genealogy. "What can FayPenniloe show like that? But was any of 'em Colonels, father?"
"Maight a'been, if 'em would a' comed down to it. But there wasn't noColonels, in the old times, I've a' heered. Us was afore that sort ofthing were found out."
"To be sure. I might have knowed. But was any of 'em, Sirs, the same asSir Thomas Waldron was?"
"Scores of 'em, when they chose to come down to it. But they kept that,most ways, for the younger boys among 'em. The father of the family wasbound to be a Lord."
"Oh father! Real lords? And me to have never seed one! What hath becomeof the laws of the land? But why bain't you a real lord, the same asthey was?"
"Us never cared to keep it up;" said the last of the visible Tremletts,after pondering over this difficult point. "You see, Zip, it's only thewomen cares for that. 'Tis no more to a man, than the puff of this herepipe."
"But right is right, father. And it soundeth fine. Was any of themEarls, and Marquises, and Dukes, and whatever it is that comes overthat?"
"They was everything they cared to be. Barons, and Counts, and Dukes,spelled the same as Ducks, and Holy Empires, and Holy Sepulkers. Butdo'e, my dear, get my baccy box."
What summit of sovereignty they would have reached, if the lecture hadproceeded, no one knows; for as Zip, like a Princess, was stepping inand out among the holes of the floor, with her father's tin box, the olddoor shook with a sharp and heavy knock; and the child with her face litup by the glory of her birth, marched away to open it. This sheaccomplished with some trouble, for the timber was ponderous andrickety.
A tall young man strode in, as if the place belonged to him, and said,"I want to see Harvey Tremlett."
"Here be I. Who be you?"
The wrestler sat where he was, and did not even nod his head; for hisrule was always to take people, just as they chose to take him. But thevisitor cared little for his politeness, or his rudeness.
&
nbsp; "I am Sir Thomas Waldron's son. If I came in upon you rudely, I am sorryfor it. It is not what I often do. But just now I am not a bit likemyself."
"Sir, I could take my oath of that; for your father was a gen'leman.Zippy, dust a cheer, my dear."
"No, young lady, you shall not touch it," said the young man, with along stride, and a gentle bow to the comely child. "I am fitter to liftchairs than you are."
This pleased the father mightily; and he became quite gracious, when theyoung Sir Thomas said to him, while glancing with manifest surprise athis quick and intelligent daughter--
"Mr. Tremlett, I wish to speak to you, of a matter too sad to be talkedabout, in the presence of young ladies."
This was not said by way of flattery or conciliation; for Zip, with herproud step and steadfast gaze, was of a very different type from that ofthe common cottage lass. She was already at the door, when her fathersaid--
"Go you down to the brook, my dear, and see how many nestesses you canfind. Then come back and say good-bye to Daddy, afore go home toPassonage. Must be back afore dark, you know."
"What a beautiful child!" Young Waldron had been looking with amazementat her. "I know what the Tremletts used to be; but I had no idea theycould be like that. I never saw such eyes in all my life."
"Her be well enough," replied the father shortly. "And now, sir, what isit as I can do for you? I knows zummat of the troubles on your mind; andif I can do'e any good, I wull."
"Two things I want of you. First, your word of honour--and I know whatyou Tremletts have been in better days--that you had nothing to do withthat cursed and devilish crime in our churchyard."
"Sir," answered Tremlett, standing up for the first time in thisinterview, "I give you my oath by that book yon'ner that I knows nortabout it. We be coom low; but us bain't zunk to that yet."
He met Sir Thomas Waldron, eye to eye, and the young man took hisplastered hand, and knew that it was not a liar's.
"Next I want your good advice," said the visitor, sitting down by him;"and your help, if you will give it. I will not speak of money because Ican see what you are. But first to follow it up, there must be money.Shall I tell you what I shall be glad to do, without risk of offendingyou? Very well; I don't care a fig for money, in a matter such as this.Money won't give you back your father, or your mother, or anybody, whenthey are gone away from you. But it may help you to do your duty tothem. At present, I have no money to speak of; because I have been withmy regiment, and there it goes away, like smoke. But I can get anyquantity almost, by going to our lawyers. If you like, and will see toit, I will put a thousand pounds in your hands, for you to be able towork things up; and another thousand, if you make anything of it. Don'tbe angry with me. I don't want to bribe you. It is only for the sake ofdoing right. I have seen a great deal of the world. Can you ever getwhat is right, without paying for it?"
"No, sir, you can't. And not always, if you do. But you be the rightsort, and no mistake. Tell you what, Sir Thomas--I won't take a fardenof your money, 'cos it would be a'robbin' of you. I han't got the brainsfor gooin' under other folk, like. Generally they does that to me. But Iknow an oncommon sharp young fellow, Jemmy Kettel is his name. A chap ascan goo and come fifty taimes, a'most, while I be a toornin' roundwance; a'knoweth a'most every rogue for fifty maile around. And if youlike to goo so far as a ten-pun' note upon him, I'll zee that a'doth hisbest wi'un. But never a farden over what I said."
"I am very much obliged to you. Here it is; and another next week, if herequires it. I hate the sight of money, while this thing lasts; becauseI know that money is at the bottom of it. Tremlett, you are a noblefellow. Your opinion is worth something. Now don't you agree with me inthinking, that after all it comes to this--everything else has beenproved rubbish--the doctors are at the bottom of it?"
"Well, sir, I am afeared they be. I never knowed nort of 'em, thank theLord. But I did hear they was oncommon greedy to cut up a poor brotherof mine, as coom to trouble. I was out o' country then; or by Gosh, Iwud a' found them a job or two to do at home."
The young man closed his lips, and thought. Tremlett's opinion, althoughof little value, was all that was needed to clench his own. "I'll go andput a stop to it at once;" he muttered; and after a few more words withthe wrestler, he set his long legs going rapidly, and his foreheadfrowning, in the direction of that AEsculapian fortress, known as the_Old Barn_.
By this time Dr. Fox was in good health again, recovering his sprightlytone of mind, and magnanimous self-confidence. His gratitude to FrankGilham now was as keen and strong as could be wished; for the patient'scalmness, and fortitude, and very fine constitution had secured his warmaffection, by affording him such a field for skill, and such a signaltriumph, as seldom yet have rejoiced a heart at once medical andsurgical. Whenever Dr. Gronow came, and dwelling on the ingeniousstructure designed and wrought by Jemmy's skill, poured forth kindapproval and the precious applause of an expert, the youthful doctor'sdelight was like a young mother's pride in her baby. And it surgedwithin him all the more, because he could not--as the motherdoes--inundate all the world with it. Wiser too than that sweet parent,he had refused most stubbornly to risk the duration of his joy, orimperil the precious subject, by any ardour of excitement or flutter ofthe system.
The patient lay, like a well-set specimen in the box of a naturalist,carded, and trussed, and pinned, and fibred, bound to maintain oneimmutable plane. His mother hovered round him with perpetual presence;as a house-martin flits round her fallen nestling, circling about thatone pivot of the world, back for a twittering moment, again sweeping theair for a sip of him.
But the one he would have given all the world to have a sip of, even ina dream he must not see. Such was the stern decree of the power, evenmore ruthless than that to which it punctually despatchesus--AEsculapius, less mansuete to human tears than AEacus. To put it moreplainly, and therefore better,--Master Frank did not even know thatMiss Christie was on the premises.
Christie was sitting by the window, thrown out where the barn-door usedto be,--where the cart was backed up with the tithe-sheaves golden, butnow the gilded pills were rolled, and the only wholesome bit of metalwas the sunshine on her hair--when she saw a large figure come in at thegate (which was still of the fine agricultural sort) and a shudder randown her shapely back. With feminine speed of apprehension, she feltthat it could be one man only, the man she had heard so much of, amonster of size and ferocity, the man who had "concussed" her brother'shead, and shattered an arm of great interest to her. That she ran to thedoor, which was wide to let the Spring in, and clapped it to the post,speaks volumes for her courage.
"You can't come in here, Harvey Tremlett," she cried, with a little footset, as a forlorn hope, against the bottom of the door, which (after themanner of its kind) refused to go home, when called upon; "you have doneharm enough, and I am astonished that you should dare to imagine wewould let you in."
"But I am not Harvey Tremlett, at all. I am only Tom Waldron. And Idon't see why I should be shut out when I have done no harm."
The young lady was not to be caught with chaff. She took a little peepthrough the chink, having learned that art in a very sweet manner oflate; and then she threw open the door, and showed herself, a finefigure of blushes.
"Miss Fox, I am sure," said the visitor, smiling and lifting his hat ashe had learned to do abroad. "But I won't come in, against orders,whatever the temptation may be."
"We don't know any harm of you, and you may come in;" answered Chris,who was never long taken aback. "Your sister is a dear friend of mine. Iam sorry for being so rude to you."
Waldron sat down, and was cheerful for awhile, greatly pleased with hisyoung entertainer, and her simple account of the state of things there.But when she enquired for his mother and sister, the cloud returned, andhe meant business.
"You are likely to know more than I do," he said, "for I have not beenhome, and cannot go there yet. I will not trouble you with darkthings--but may I have a little talk with your brother?
"
Miss Fox left the room at once, and sent her brother down; and now avery strange surprise befell the sprightly doctor. Sir Thomas Waldronmet him with much cordiality and warmth, for they had always been goodfriends, though their natures were so different; and then he deliveredthis fatal shot.
"I am very sorry, my dear Jemmy, but I have had to make up my mind to doa thing you won't much like. I know you have always thought a great dealof my sister, Inez; and now I am told, though I have not seen her, thatyou are as good as engaged to her. But you must perceive that it wouldnever do. I could not wish for a better sort of fellow, and I have thehighest opinion of you. Really I think that you would have made her ashappy as the day is long, because you are so clever, and cheerful, andgood-tempered, and--and in fact I may say, good all round. But you mustboth of you get over it. I am now the head of the family; and I don'tlike saying it, but I must. I cannot allow you to have Nicie; and Ishall forbid Nicie to think any more of you."
"What, the deuce, do you mean, Tom?" asked Jemmy, scarcely believing hisears. "What's up now, in the name of goodness? What on earth have yougot into your precious noddle?"
"Jemmy, my noddle--as you call it--may not be a quarter so clever asyours; and in fact I know it is not over-bright, without having thebenefit of your opinion. But for all that, it has some common sense; andit knows its own mind pretty well; and what it says, it sticks to. Youare bound to take it in a friendly manner, because that is how I intendit; and you must see the good sense of it. I shall be happy and proudmyself to continue our friendship. Only you must pledge your word, thatyou will have nothing more to say to my sister, Inez."
"But why, Tom, why?" Fox asked again, with increasing wonder. He washalf inclined to laugh at the other's solemn and official style, but hesaw that it would be a dangerous thing, for Waldron's colour wasrising. "What objection have you discovered, or somebody else found outfor you? Surely you are dreaming, Tom!"
"No, I am not. And I shall not let you. I should almost have thoughtthat you might have known, without my having to tell you. If you thinktwice, you will see at once, that reason, and common sense, and justice,and knowledge of the world, and the feeling of a gentleman--all compelyou to--to knock off, if I may so express it. I can only say that if youcan't see it, everybody else can, at a glance."
"No doubt I am the thickest of the thick--though it may not be thegeneral opinion. But do give me ever such a little hint, Tom; somethingof a twinkle in this frightful fog."
"Well, you are a doctor, aren't you now?"
"Certainly I am, and proud of it. Only wish I was a better one."
"Very well. The doctors have dug up my father. And no doctor ever shallmarry his daughter."
The absurdity of this was of a very common kind, as the fallacy is ofthe commonest; and there was nothing very rare to laugh at. But Fox didthe worst thing he could have done--he laughed till his sides wereaching. Too late he perceived that he had been as scant of discretion,as the other was of logic.
"That's how you take it, is it, Sir?" young Waldron cried, ready toknock him down, if he could have done so without cowardice. "A luckything for you, that you are on the sick-list; or I'd soon make you laughthe other side of your mouth, you guffawing jackanapes. If you can laughat what was done to my father, it proves that you are capable of doingit. When you have done with your idiot grin, I'll just ask you onething--never let me set eyes on your sniggering, grinning, pill-box of aface again."
"That you may be quite sure you never shall do," answered Fox, who wasashy pale with anger; "until you have begged my pardon humbly, and ownedyourself a thick-headed, hot-headed fool. I am sorry that your fathershould have such a ninny of a cad to come after him. Everybodyacknowledges that the late Sir Thomas was a gentleman."
The present Sir Thomas would not trust himself near such a fellow foranother moment, but flung out of the house without his hat; while Foxproved that he was no coward, by following, and throwing it after him.And the other young man proved the like of himself, by not turning roundand smashing him.