CHAPTER V
A Quiet Sunday
'O day most calm, most bright, The fruit of this, the next world's bud. * * * * The week were dark, but for thy light, Thy torch doth show the way.'--_G. Herbert._
The sisters, accompanied by Captain Knox, made quite a sensation in thelittle village church when they entered it on that Sunday morning. Theold sexton fussed about as if all the seats were occupied; buteventually they were shown into one just beside the pulpit stairs.Miss Miller glared at them through her green spectacles, and Elfie feltmiserably conscious that she had recognised them. There were a fewother gentle-people in the church besides themselves, and a very fairsprinkling of farmers and villagers. The service was simple andhearty; the village schoolmaster played the organ, and Mr. Miller, afine-looking, grey-headed man, delighted Agatha at least, by hisearnest, faithful preaching. Coming out into the churchyard, Agathawas stopped by Miss Miller hastening up to her. She was dressed inblack silk; but her bonnet, a wonderful erection of lace and ribbon,was quite awry, and she seemed agitated. She spoke jerkily, and Agathahad difficulty in preserving her usual equanimity of mind.
'Excuse me, but I believe you have taken Mr. Tom Lester's house--a mostunsatisfactory parishioner he is, and not at all what he should be. Iam hoping to call on you this week. Who is the gentleman? yourbrother? No? A great pity, then, for a houseful of women is only ahot-bed for scandal and gossip. We have too many women by far in thisneighbourhood--a bachelor parson always draws them. Have you anyacquaintances in the neighbourhood? Ah, so much the better. There isservice at half-past six this evening; I hope you will be regularattendants. You live in a godless house; take care that the atmospheredoes not affect you. Mr. Tom Lester never entered the House of Godafter I spoke to him about the irreverence of his yawns during thesermon! Good-bye, and I hope you will prove pleasant neighbours. Thatremains to be seen!'
She darted away as quickly as she came; and Elfie, who was walking withAgatha, gave one of her merry, rippling laughs.
'Isn't she an odd character? We shall have a good deal of fun out ofher, I am sure! I am thankful she did not recognise me, or at leasthad the good taste not to appear as if she did.'
'I wonder,' said Agatha thoughtfully, 'if that old man who sat behindMiss Miller was our landlord's brother.'
'Oh, he was much too nice-looking; I imagine the other Mr. Lester is anawful old curmudgeon. He has got his property unjustly, Iconsider--the eldest son ought to have it.'
'Cousin James is not an old curmudgeon,' put in Gwen, stepping back tojoin in the conversation; 'supplanters and usurpers generally carry allthe world before them, "like green bay trees," as the Psalmist says. Iam sure our Jacob is most prepossessing in manner and appearance, likehis namesake. History repeats itself!'
'Don't be bitter after church,' said Agatha, in her quiet voice.
Gwen laughed. 'I'm not bitter. I feel I can snap my fingers at himnow! Hugh says he saw him in town the other day, and he said with hispleasant smile, "When we are quite settled at Dane Hall my wife willask the girls down. They will be glad of the change, I expect, aftertheir seclusion in the country!" Wasn't it truly kind and considerateof him?'
That first Sunday in the country was a very pleasant one to thesisters, Clare went off for a long walk with Hugh in the afternoon;Agatha settled herself in a wicker chair with her books in the sunnyverandah overlooking the meadows and distant pine woods; and Gwen andElfie wandered off across the fields, enjoying the sweet spring air,and noting all the spring flowers peeping out of the hedgerows.
'Yes, I'm thankful we are out of town,' said Gwen emphatically,standing up and drawing in long breaths of content and satisfaction.'If I were starving, I would rather be in the country, because one canbe clean. It's the oppression in the atmosphere that is so sickeningin London, and never being able to get away from people!'
'This is an ideal Sunday,' said Elfie, turning her radiant face upwardsand watching a lark soaring out of sight; 'I don't think I shall missthe concerts in town, with such music as this around one!'
Then after a pause she said, 'I suppose becoming lazy andself-indulgent is a danger in the country.'
'We are not rich enough for that,' responded Gwen with a short laugh;'at least, I know I have my work cut out for me.'
'I wasn't meaning actual daily duties, but our responsibilitiesregarding others,' said Elfie, a little shyly.
Gwen shrugged her shoulders. 'I suppose you feel you ought to be inSunday school this afternoon, is that it? I dare say Miss Miller willgive you some parish work, if you ask her. Are you going to follow inAgatha's steps? I saw her from my bedroom window this morning stop acarter going by from the farm, and hand him some tracts.'
Elfie laughed. 'She's a good old thing; she never says anything abouther good deeds, but I know she will soon be fast friends with all thefarm labourers who pass up and down. You see if next week she doesn'tknow all their names and family histories!'
They were crossing a fresh meadow now, and as they came up to a stile,they saw in the next field a most picturesque little cottage standingin the midst of a mass of apple blossom. It was a low white-washedbuilding, with thatched roof and latticed windows, green shuttersopening back upon the wall.
The girls went up, and leaning against the gate, looked at itadmiringly; then started at the sight of two oldish women sittingopposite one another in the old-fashioned porch. They were dressedexactly alike, two lilac sun-bonnets hiding their faces; their figureswere thin and angular, and each had a book in her lap. Their dark-blueserge gowns, white aprons, and little red worsted shawls over theirshoulders, were duplicates one of the other.
'It's like a book,' whispered Elfie. 'Do let us speak to them. We canask them where the footpath leads to!'
Gwen opened the gate, and accordingly put the question.
Both women started to their feet, and one came forward.
'Where does this footpath lead to? Why, to our cottage, and nofurther, miss.'
She spoke respectfully, though rather shortly.
'I am afraid we have trespassed,' said Elfie, in her sweet, brighttone; 'but we are strangers here, and are trying to find our way about.What a lovely little cottage you have!'
'It's a tidy little place,' the woman responded, with an approving nod.'Perhaps you'd like to come in and sit for a bit. Patty and me don'tcare for Sunday visitin', but you'll be the ladies from JasmineCottage, I reckon?'
'Yes,' said Gwen, 'we will come in for a minute before we go back.'
They followed her into a spotlessly clean and tidy kitchen. Patty drewforward two chairs, and began to speak rather breathlessly. 'My sisterand me saw you in church to-day. We said you were the new family; andDeb is very good at upholsterin' and alterin' carpets, and doin' plainneedlework, and we thought maybe you'd be wantin' help that way, forDeb goes to work by the day at most of the big houses round!'
'Tis the Lord's Day,' said Deb, giving her sister a sharp nudge withher elbow; 'we'll not be talking business now. Sit down, ladies.'
Gwen and Elfie exchanged amused glances. Then Gwen said,--
'Well, we won't transact business now; but we want a workwoman badly,and if you will come to the cottage tomorrow my sister will show youany amount of carpets that need refitting. But if I had a cottage likethis, away from all sound and sight of any human beings, I think Iwouldn't trouble to go out carpet-making!'
'You would if you wanted to keep your cottage,' said Deb brusquely.Then, taking off her sun-bonnet and smoothing down her grey hair, shesat down on an old oak settle beside the little cheery blazing fire,and grasping her angular knees with each hand, she looked at Given alittle defiantly.
'Eight and forty year come next Christmas have Patty and I livedtogether here, and never a year have we been behind our rent sincefather died; but it have been done by downright hard labour. And ifyou and your people want new-laid eggs, or fresh spring chickens, orhoney from the comb, why, 'tis Patty that w
ill supply you, as also milkand butter from an Alderney cow.'
''Tis Sunday!' ejaculated Patty, as she stood by the fire with armsakimbo; and at this retort Gwen and Elfie laughed outright.
'And do you ever go away from home?' asked Gwen curiously, after aslight pause, in which Deb looked very discomposed.
'We are continually away,' said Deb, looking up and speaking veryshortly. 'I know every gentry's house in the neighbourhood, not tospeak of Brambleton, where Patty goes reg'lar once a week to market.But as to sleepin' away, that we never mean to do till we be taken toour last restin'-place!'
'And are you great readers? I am afraid we disturbed you from yourbooks when we came in.'
Patty took up her book, which was on the window-ledge. ''Tis Bunyan'sbook, _The Pilgrim's Progress_. Father give Deb and me a copy eachwhen we were fifteen years old, and we have read it every Sundayafternoon since. We don't always get very far, for 'tis a sleepy timein the afternoon, but a page or two is always edifyin' and improvin' tothe soul!'
'It's a lovely book!' said Elfie enthusiastically; 'you must know itnearly by heart.'
The sisters smiled at each other.
'We do that,' said Deb.
'I suppose you have visitors from the village here occasionally?' askedGwen.
Deb frowned grimly, then looked her questioner straight in the face,with hard-set lines about her mouth, as she replied,--
'We keeps ourselves to ourselves, miss. You are both young ladies, andhaven't lived long enough to have it cast up in your teeth that you'renot wed; but there be those who scorn us for choosin' to keep by eachother, and not do as most young maids do. Patty and me have had ourchances, but Patty's lad couldn't take us both, and 'twas the same withmy lad, and neither of us could bear to be away from the other. We'vealways grown together, Patty and me--we came into the world together,and we pray the Lord He'll take us out in the same manner; and we knoweach other's ways, and when we don't agree, there's no one else tointerfere.'
'Do you ever disagree?' asked Elfie, smiling.
Patty nodded her head solemnly.
'Ay, we ain't quite the same make through and through,' she said, inher little breathless way, 'and words run high at times. I keep to myopinions, and Deb keeps to hers; and if we have an extra hard disputeon, we know how to settle it!'
'How? with fists?' asked Gwen, looking from one hard-featured woman tothe other with the greatest interest.
Deb looked up grimly, and said, as she raised her hand in emphasis,--
'Patty have never had a blow from me since we were children, nor I fromher. When our tongues run away with us, one locks the t'other out, andwhen we get cool again the door is opened!'
'I would rather be inside than outside on a winter's day,' said Gwen,laughing heartily. 'Now come, Elfie, we must be off. I shall pay youanother visit before long, to learn about bee-keeping. I see yourhives are just like ours, and we know nothing about such things!'
'And I'll be very glad to tell you,' said Patty eagerly, 'for I'vetended bees since I were a child, and know all their tricks, and as totheir swarmings.'
''Tis the Lord's Day,' put in Deb grimly, and Gwen and Elfie promptlytook their leave.
'Aren't they old dears?' said Elfie enthusiastically; 'they seem tolive in quite another world. Imagine reading _The Pilgrim's Progress_all your life, and no other book beside the Bible! Do they ever see anewspaper, I wonder?'
'It isn't often one meets such a couple; we shall get a good deal ofentertainment out of them, I expect. What an awful existence! Is itwhat we shall come to years hence, I wonder? And yet I, for one, amquite certain that will not be my lot.'
'What?' inquired Elfie, 'the old maid's existence, do you mean, or thelittle secluded country cottage?'
'Neither. I have my plans and purposes; and not all Jacob'smachinations and schemings will frustrate them.'
'What are they?' inquired Elfie.
'Ah, well, I had best not say. I mean to see you all thoroughlycomfortable and settled here, and then break them to you. I haveplenty of resources and interests to take up my time, so am in nohurry.'
'You always were a wonderful one for plans! Let me guess. You aregoing to start a magazine, and be the editor of it!'
'No, thank you. Magazines are as plentiful as pins just now; theyappear and disappear like sky-rockets!'
'Is it a way of earning money?'
'No, of spending it; but I am not going to tell you. I generally findI can carry out my plans successfully, if I don't take too many peopleinto my confidence!'
Elfie was silent for a few minutes; then she said, with a little sigh,'I wonder how old Nannie is getting on?'
'What has put her into your head?'
'The verses she gave us. Don't you remember?'
'I'm sure I forget what mine was.'
'"Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bringit to pass,"' said Elfie softly.
'Nannie never could stand my independence. I believe she thought weought not to have taken this cottage without first having prayer aboutit!'
'Agatha did pray about it,' said Elfie very quietly.
'Well, I didn't, and I was the one to find it, and it has turned outquite a success. I never can understand such narrow views of life asAgatha takes. Prayer is all very well in church, or in great crises,but in everyday life I think it is perfectly unnatural and unnecessary!'
Elfie did not answer. She felt too inexperienced to argue the matterout with Gwen, though she totally disagreed with her.
They reached home, and found Clare and Captain Knox before them.Afternoon tea was had in the drawing-room, and afterwards, beforeevening church, Elfie brought her violin out, and Agatha went to thepiano, whilst the others gathered round and sang some hymns with them.The evening closed quietly and peacefully; and as Captain Knox saidgood-night to his betrothed, he added, 'I am so glad I have seen youall here. I shall picture your quiet Sundays when I am in the wilds ofAfrica, and it will do me good!'