CHAPTER TEN.
INTRODUCTIONS.
In the drawing-room, after dinner, Mrs Thornton made herself agreeableto the two girls, and was evidently full of interest and curiosity.
"Having the Court open again will make a great deal of difference to thevillage in general, and to ourselves in particular," she said, smiling."Mr Farrell has been so invalided of late years that we have seennothing of him, and it is quite an excitement to dine here again. DrBraithey told us whom we were to meet, and that, of course, addedgreatly to the pleasure. I hope you will like the neighbourhood, andenjoy your visit. You must let me help you in any way that is in mypower. I hope you will, for I love being with young people and makingthem happy."
One glance at the kindly face of the speaker proved the truth of herassertion, and both girls assented gladly. A few hours' acquaintancehad proved Mrs Wolff to be a mere figurehead of a chaperon, and Ruthshrewdly suspected that her very weakness had been the attraction in MrFarrell's eyes, since, in consequence, she would be less likely tohinder that display of character and self-will which it was his objectto study. Failing Mrs Wolff, then, it was a comfort to meet thisbrisk, motherly woman, who might be depended on as a helpful confidante.
Mollie glanced at the heaped-up fire, and, with a sudden impulse offriendliness, pulled forward an armchair, saying eagerly--
"Do sit down! Let us all sit down and be cosy till the men come; andwill you tell us about the neighbourhood and the people we shall know?We are to be here for three months, and uncle says we can entertain asmuch as we like. He wants us to entertain, but of course we must knowthe people first. Do you suppose we shall have many callers?"
Mrs Thornton laughed merrily.
"There's no doubt about that, my dear. Everybody who is anybody withina radius of a dozen miles will think of nothing, and speak of nothing,and dream of nothing else but you and your cousins until they have madeyour acquaintance. We have not much to excite us in the country, and tohave the Court open again, with four young people to act as hosts, is asensation of the first water. There will be a stream of callers afteryou have appeared in church on Sunday. You will have a busy timedriving over the country returning their calls, and after theseformalities are over the invitations will begin. I don't think you willfind any lack of hospitality."
The girls looked at each other with tragic glances which said "One blackdress!" so plainly to their own understanding that it seemed as ifeveryone else must interpret the meaning. Ruth flushed, and askedhurriedly--
"Are there many girls like ourselves living pretty near?"
"Oh dear, yes; girls are never at a discount in a country place. Let mesee, now, how shall I describe them! In the village itself there isDora Braithey, the doctor's daughter, a very good, useful worker in theparish; and Lettice Baldwin, who lives with her widowed mother; and thethree Robsons, who are what they call good sportsmen, and go in forgames; and further afield there is Honor Edgecombe of Mount Edgecombe, acharming girl, and very musical; and Grace and Schilla Trevor; and theBlounts at the Moat have a London niece, Lady Margot Blount, who paysthem a long visit every year. She is staying there now, and is sure tocall. She is very elegant and distinguished-looking, and we all admireher immensely. My husband thinks her a model of everything that a girlshould be."
Ruth and Mollie, staring fixedly into the fire, were naughtily consciousof a dislike towards the immaculate Margot, who had suddenly loomed ontheir horizon as a formidable rival in the favour of the neighbourhood,while Mrs Thornton unconsciously proceeded cheerily with her recital--
"Of course there are many more, but I am mentioning the most attractive.We have a few young men, too, and most of the big houses have constantvisitors for shooting or fishing, so that you can manage to get partnersif you want a little hop now and then. And then, as you would suppose,I hope you will find time to take an interest in the parish. I don'task you to take up any active work, for, of course, as visitors yourtime will not be your own, but I should like to tell you of our variousclubs and enterprises."
"I hope you will not only tell us of them, but show them to us as well.Uncle Bernard wishes us to do exactly as we choose, so our time is ourown, and I should like to do some work. I should feel so idle doingnothing but enjoying myself," cried Ruth eagerly.
Mrs Thornton's smile of approval had a somewhat wistful expression.
As her husband had done before her, she looked at these two young girls,and wondered if the time to come would see one of them acting the roleof the squire and patron, and as such holding almost unlimited powerover the parish. They seemed kindly, natural creatures, who would bewell disposed towards the vicar and his family; and a woman had moreunderstanding of little things than any mere man.
In the flash of an eye Mrs Thornton's mind reviewed the damp patch onher drawing-room wall, the ill-fitting windows which let in a constantdraught; the hopeless ruin of the tiny conservatory, wherein she rearedher precious "bedding-outs."
She could not but remember that other squires not only kept theirvicar's house in order, but assisted in sending sons to college,daughters to finishing schools, and expressed their interest in thefamily in a hundred helpful ways; but Mr Farrell had seemed unconsciousof the very existence of her precious olive branches, and had never gonebeyond the bare duties of his position.
Mrs Thornton was no vulgar schemer for her own benefit, but just amother of a large family, struggling to make the most of a small income;and a quick repentance for the selfishness of her dreams prompted thedesire to help these two young things who were suddenly called upon tofill a difficult position.
"Remember, I am always to be found at home or somewhere about thevillage. You will soon get to know my haunts, so that you can run me toearth if you need my services. Just come in and out as you like; theoftener you come the better I shall be pleased, for I am so anxious tohelp you, if you will allow me."
"We will, we will! it is lovely of you to offer; and do please help usnow!" cried Mollie eagerly, as the sound of an opening door was heard inthe distance, and footsteps crossed the hall towards the drawing-room."Talk, talk; do talk! I tried before dinner, and got snubbed for mypains; and we are such strangers that it is difficult to know what tosay next."
Mrs Thornton laughed.
"I'll do what I can," she promised good-naturedly. "Someone may suggestto Mr Farrell a game of whist. He used to be a crack player, so Idon't think he can resist the temptation, and that would leave you youngfolks free to make each other's acquaintance."
As she spoke the gentlemen entered the room and approached the group bythe fireside. Judging from their appearance, the last half-hour had notbeen particularly lively, for the vicar looked tired and worried, andthe young men unmistakably bored. Mr Farrell's set face showed fewchanges of expression, but a faint gleam of pleasure manifested itselfat the mention of his favourite game, and presently the four elders ofthe party were occupied, while the younger members stood together in asomewhat embarrassed silence.
Left entirely to their own resources, no one knew what to say or what todo; each girl looked first at her partner of the dinner-table, and thenshyly across at the other stranger who was to be a daily companionduring the next three months. Ruth met no answering glance, for JackMelland was frowningly regarding the carpet; but for the first timeMollie had a direct view of the eyes which were habitually hidden behindVictor Druce's thick eyelashes, and was surprised to find how bright andfriendly was their expression.
"Shall we investigate the conservatory?" he said at once, as ifanswering an unspoken appeal. "They won't want us to stay here andinterrupt the game. I think we had better make a move."
"But may we? Would Uncle Bernard like it?"
"May we! Are we not told to amuse ourselves in any way we choose? Ofcourse we may," he replied laughingly, leading the way forward, whilethe others followed, nothing loth.
The conservatory opened out of the drawing-room by means of a long glassdoor, which, being shut, ma
de it into a separate room. A room it was,rather than the ordinary glass passage, for it had a wide, open floor,broken only by spreading palms standing in wooden boxes, and in themidst an old-fashioned pink camellia-tree. Stands of flowers encircledthree sides, and a lamp stood out from the walls in a bracket. Given afew rugs and accessories, it would have made an ideal lounge. As itwas, there was no provision for visitors, and it was evident that no onebut the gardener took the trouble to enter. Mr Druce looked roundrapidly, spied a wooden box under one stand, a stool under another, andbrought them forward one after another, flicking off the dust with hishandkerchief.
"You must have something to sit on. Can you manage with these, or shallI bring chairs from the drawing-room? I don't want to make a noise if Ican help it."
"No, no; please don't! These will do perfectly. But what will you do,and Mr Melland? You must not stand all the time."
"Oh, don't trouble about us! We can look after ourselves," respondedJack Melland, pushing the flower-pots nearer together on the staging,and lightly swinging himself into the vacant space. Victor followed hisexample, and thrust his hands into his pockets.
For the next few minutes silence reigned while the young men took in andquite obviously admired the charming picture made by the two girlishfigures against the background of flowering plants.
Ruth's stool had been placed against the camellia-tree, and the pinkblooms matched the soft flush in her cheeks, and relieved the sombrenessof her black attire. Thus placed she looked charmingly pretty, and heldherself with an air of dignity, which was a new accomplishment.
Ruth was an adaptive creature, tremendously influenced by thesurroundings of the moment. At home her little head was wont to droopwith despondency, and the consciousness that she was poor and unknownand shabbily dressed. At the Court she was intensely, delightfullyassured of being Miss Farrell--of possessing the family features, and ofbeing, so far, the recipient of her uncle's greatest favour. And soRuth now leant back with an air of languid elegance, smiling sweetly ather companions.
Mollie's bright head peeped from beneath the shadow of a palm. She heldin her hand a spray of heliotrope, which she had picked in passing, andfrom time to time bent to smell the fragrance, with little murmurs ofdelight.
But Mollie was obviously longing to say something, and when the timecame that she met Jack Melland's eye she suddenly plucked up courage toput it into words.
"Don't you think we ought to introduce ourselves properly?" she criedeagerly. "We have been told each other's names, and talked politely atdinner, but that's not really being introduced. We ought to knowsomething about each other, if we are to be companions here. I don'tknow if you two know each other; but we did not know of your existenceuntil to-day. My mother used to stay at the Court when she was a bride,and she loved Aunt Edna, and has often talked to us about her; but sheknew very little of her relations, and for the last twenty years or moreshe has never seen Uncle Bernard until he suddenly descended upon uslast week.
"We live in the North--in Liverpool. People in the South seem to thinkit is a dreadful place; but it isn't at all. The river is splendid, andout in the suburbs, where we live, it's very pretty, near a beautifulbig park. The people are nice, too. We are rather conceited aboutourselves in comparison with the people in the towns round about. Youhave heard the saying, `Manchester man, Liverpool gentleman,' and we areproud of our county, too. `What Lancashire thinks to-day, Englandthinks to-morrow.' I really must boast a little bit, because South-country people are so proud and superior, and seem to think that no onebut themselves knows how to speak or behave. Someone said to me once,`You live in Liverpool, then why haven't you a Lancashire accent?' Iwas so cross. What should she have thought of me if I had said, `Youlive in London, why don't you speak like a Cockney?' We are not at allashamed, but very proud indeed, of coming from the North-countree."
"`Oh, the oak and the ash, And the bonnie ivy tree,'"
chanted Victor, in a pleasant baritone voice, at the sound of whichMollie flushed with delight, and cried eagerly--
"Ah, you are musical! That's nice. We must have some grand singingmatches, but you mustn't sing that ballad. It's Ruth's specialproperty. She sings it with such feeling!
"`And the lad that marries me, Must carry me home to my North-coun-tree!'"
"Mollie!" Ruth's tone was eloquent of reproof, but Mollie only laughed,and said easily--
"Oh well, of course, if you inherit the Court you will have to changeyour plans. I wish I could lift it up bodily and put it down among thedear Westmorland mountains; but I'm afraid that's impossible. I thinkthat is all the history we have. No two girls could possibly have led aless eventful life. We have had no money to travel and see the world,and we are not in the least bit accomplished, but we have had a happytime all the same, and we mean to be happy, whatever happens; don't we,Ruth?"
Ruth did not answer, but sat with downcast eyes, staring at the ground.She more than half disapproved of Mollie's candour, despising herselfthe while for so doing, so she preserved a dead silence, until JackMelland nobly stepped into the breach.
"Well, if you are North-country, Miss Mollie, I suppose I am Colonial.I was born in India, where my father's regiment was stationed. He diedwhen I was a youngster, and my poor little mother had a hard struggle tokeep herself and me. If a fortune had come to us in those days it wouldhave been a godsend, and she would probably be with me now; but she diedeight years ago, and I am alone in the world, with no one to think ofbut myself. I have dingy diggings and a garrulous landlady, but, likeyou, I manage to have a very good time. I am interested in my work--I'minterested in life generally. I mean to make something out of it beforeI am done."
He threw back his head with a proud, self-confident gesture. Young,strong, high-spirited, he felt at that moment that the world lay at hisfeet. All things seemed possible to his unaided powers, and the thoughtof help was repugnant rather than welcome. The two girls looked at himwith the involuntary admiration which women pay to a strong man, whileVictor Druce smiled his slow, inscrutable smile.
"A good thing for you that you are not in my profession, Melland! Abarrister can't push; he must sit still and wait his turn. I have beenwaiting a long time, and I can't say that I seem much nearer theWoolsack. Still, one can amuse oneself in London, and I have my home inthe country to which I can retire whenever I need a rest. My oldparents are alive, and one sister--an invalid. Altogether, I havenothing to complain of in the past, and the future looks pleasant justnow. Three months in this charming place--in such society!"
Victor Druce made a graceful little bow, which took in both the girls,and his glance lingered on Mollie bending forward, the spray ofheliotrope still raised to her face.
"Stealing already, Miss Mollie! You will get into trouble with theauthorities. How do you know that plant was not being speciallypreserved for exhibition at a show?"
"I hope it wasn't; but it's no use telling me to do as I like, and thento object if I pick a flower. I shall pick them every day--severaltimes a day. I shall always be picking them! I think I shall take thecare of this house altogether, and do the watering and snip off the deadleaves. I love snipping! And I shall arrange the flowers on the table,too; they are very badly done--so stiff. Just like a man's taste!"
The two men smiled at each other, while Ruth protested quickly--
"No, you can't, Mollie. I'm the eldest, and I've `barleyed' it already.You can arrange the vases in the drawing-room, if you like."
"Thank you, ma'am!" said Mollie calmly. "Just as you like."
Judging from the fervour with which she had stated her intentions amoment earlier, the listeners expected that she would dispute hersister's mandate and hardly knew how to account for her unruffledcomposure. But, in truth, Mollie was already reflecting that flowerstook a long time to arrange satisfactorily, and that it would be a boreto saddle herself with a regular duty. Much more fun to let Ruth do it,and criticise the results! She sniffe
d daintily at the heliotrope,turning her head from side to side to examine the possibilities of theconservatory.
"Well, anyway, I shall take this place in hand! It will make a lovelylittle snuggery, with rugs on the floor and basket-chairs everywhereabout, and an odd table or two to hold books and work, and tea when welike to have it here. I'll have a blind to the door, too, so that weshan't be surprised if visitors are shown into the drawing-room. Isthere a door of escape, by the way? I hate to be penned up where Ican't run away to a place of safety." She peered inquiringly round thetrunk of the palm, whereupon Victor Druce slid down from his perch, andwalked to the further end of the floor.
"Yes, there's a door here. If you see anyone coming for whom you have aspecial aversion you can get out, and hide in the shrubbery. I promisenot to tell. Perhaps I may come with you. I am not fond of afternooncalls."
"Don't encourage her, please, Mr Druce," said Ruth quickly. "Mollietalks a lot of nonsense which she doesn't mean; but if people are kindenough to come here to see us, she must not be so rude as to refuse tosee them. I am sure Uncle Bernard would be very angry if we did notreceive them properly."
But Mollie was obstinate this time, and refused to be put down.
"How do you know?" she asked rebelliously. "He might be very pleasedwith me for sharing his own retiring tastes! He said himself that heapproved of what other people would consider a fault. Perhaps he likesunsociability. There's as much chance of that as anything else!"
Victor Druce came back from his tour of investigation, but instead oftaking his former seat, leant up against the stem of a huge palm-tree,whose topmost leaves touched the glass roof, folded his arms and lookeddown at the two girls with an intent, curious scrutiny.
"It's an odd position," he said slowly, "a very odd position for us allto be plunged in at a moment's notice! None of us have any knowledge ofMr Farrell's tastes, so any attempts to please him must be entirelyexperimental. If we please him we may thank our good fortune; if weoffend, we can, at least, feel innocent of any bad intentions. It'srather a disagreeable position, but I expect the poor old fellow shirksbeing left to himself any longer, though he would die rather thanacknowledge it. It's dull work being left alone when one is ill.Personally, it is extremely inconvenient for me to be away from home forthree months, but I shall manage it somehow. One can't refuse a requestfrom a man in his condition, and it would be a pleasure to cheer thepoor old fellow a bit, even at the cost of one's own comfort."
There was silence for a moment after he had ceased speaking. JackMelland stared at the ground, and swung his feet gently to and fro.Ruth knitted her black brows, and Mollie looked puzzled and thoughtful.It was a kind speech. She would have liked to admire it thoroughly,but--did it ring quite true? Was there not something unnatural in theavoidance of any reference by the speaker to his own possible gain?
"I'm afraid I didn't think much of Uncle Bernard; I was too busythinking of myself. I want to have a good time!" she said bluntly."It's a lovely, lovely house, and the grounds are lovely, and the springflowers are coming up, and we can live out of doors, and be as happy asthe day is long. I am not going to worry my head about the money, oranything else. I'll be nice to Uncle Bernard in my own way, as nice ashe will let me; but he said that we could enjoy ourselves, and I amgoing to take him at his word, and do every single thing I like. It'san opportunity which may never occur again, as the shop people say intheir circulars, and it would be foolish not to make the most of it."
"I want the money!" said Ruth clearly. The pretty flush had faded fromher cheeks, and she looked suddenly wan and white. The hands which wereresting on her knee trembled visibly. She had evidently strung herselfup to what she considered a necessary confession, and her eyes turned toone after another of her companions in wistful apology.
"I want it dreadfully! I have been poor all my life, and have longed tobe rich, and I would rather live here, in this house, than anywhere elsein the world. If we are going to live together and be friends we oughtto be honest with each other from the beginning. It's selfish, but it'strue! I want the money, and I mean to do every single thing in my powerto get it."
"Bravo!" cried a man's voice suddenly. Mollie was frowning and bitingher lips in obvious discomfort; Victor Druce's drooping lids once morehid his eyes from sight as he stood with folded arms leaning against thepalm. It was Jack Melland who had spoken--Jack Melland, roused for onceto display unqualified approval and enthusiasm. He bent forward on hisseat, hands in his pockets, his tall, lithe figure swaying gently to andfro as he faced Ruth with his bright blue eyes.
"Bravo, Miss Farrell! I admire your honesty, and wish you good luck.You are perfectly justified in doing all you can to gain your point, andI sincerely hope you may be successful. It is only right that a Farrellshould inherit the Court, and if you were the old man's grand-daughter,you could not possibly be more like him."
Ruth flushed, but did not reply. Victor Druce's measured voice cut likea sword across the silence.
"You are unselfish, Melland! Are you quite sure that you share thehonesty which you admire so much in Miss Farrell? Have you forgottenhow the question affects yourself?"
Jack Melland jumped lightly to the ground and straightened his longback.
"Unselfish or not, it's the truth. The question does not affect me atall. I am not going to stay!"