CHAPTER XXIX
THE DUTIFUL WIFE
"Well, my dearie, this is the biggest treat I've had for I don't knowhow long. Sit you down and tell me all your news! Is it true, what myTom tells me, as you've come into a pot of money? Well, there now, I ampleased! Put your feet on the fender, my dear! There's a cruel windblowing to-day. We'll have some hot buttered toast for tea."
"I hope you're not busy, Mrs. Wright." Maud clasped the round, dumpyform very closely for a minute.
"Lor' no, my dear; not a bit. It's early closing to-day. Fancy yourthinking of that now! And fancy your coming to see me of all people!Why, I feel just as if a princess had stepped out of a fairy-tale."
"I don't feel a bit like a princess," Maud said.
She sat down before the cheery little fire in Mrs. Wright's back parlourand stretched out her hands to the blaze.
The old woman hovered over her tenderly. "You look like one, my dear,"she said. "I think it's just wonderful that you should condescend to befriendly with the likes of me."
"Oh, Mrs. Wright, don't--please--put it like that!" Maud leaned quicklyback, turning up a face of flushed protest. "I don't like that aspectof myself at all," she said. "I don't think I am that sort of personindeed."
"I always think of you as Jake's princess, dear," Mrs. Wrightmaintained. "I don't see why it should distress you. I like to thinkof you so."
Maud laughed a little. "I wish you wouldn't. And I wish Jake wouldn'teither. Perhaps once I was foolish and proud, but really I have gotover that now. I am very humble, nowadays."
"Are you happy, dearie? That's the great thing," said Mrs. Wright.
Maud stooped again over the fire. "I'm--trying to be," she said. "Idon't succeed perhaps all the time. But--" She stopped. "Don't let ustalk about my affairs till I have heard all yours!" she said. "How isTom? When is he going to be married?"
It was the signal for Mrs. Wright to plunge into personal gossip, andshe did so with zest. But she kept a motherly eye upon her visitornotwithstanding, missing no detail of her appearance and generaldemeanour. There was plenty to be said, Mrs. Wright was always voluble,but she was not a selfish talker. She did not monopolize theconversation, and she never lost sight of her listener.
Maud's sympathy was quite unfeigned. She liked to hear about Mrs.Wright's various interests, and there was a genial warmth in theatmosphere that did her good.
"Let me come into the kitchen with you and help you make the toast!" shebegged at length.
And after a brief demur, Mrs. Wright consented. Tom was out and therewould be no one to disturb them. She would not have dreamed ofpermitting Tom to sit down in the kitchen with Jake's princess.
So to the kitchen they went, and finding it cosier than the parlour,decided to remain there to partake of the meal they had prepared, Mrs.Wright, albeit sorely against her will occupying the wooden armchair ofstate, while Maud sat close to her knees on the fender.
"You're looking very thin, dear," Mrs. Wright checked her chatter toobserve, as she put down her final cup of tea.
"It's my nature to be thin," Maud said.
Mrs. Wright permitted herself a more critical survey. "I wonder whatJake thinks," she said. "I shouldn't feel happy about you if I wereJake."
Maud smiled faintly into the fire and said nothing.
Mrs. Wright's plump hand stole down to her shoulder. "I hope as he'sbeing good to you, dearie," she murmured.
Maud leaned back against her knee. "He is trying to be," she said."You know that the Stud has been sold?"
"It really has?" said Mrs. Wright.
"Yes, it really has. The animals were to have been sent toTattersall's, but a man we know--an American--came at the very beginningof the year and made an offer on behalf of a friend of his that LordSaltash's agent thought too good to refuse. He has gone back to Americanow, and no doubt his principal will make his appearance soon. The ideais to build new Stables nearer to Graydown. Jake is negotiating aboutsome land there. It's such a pretty part, and there will have to be ahouse for him too. We shall probably be allowed to stay on at theBurchester Stables till it is all ready. Jake is hoping that it may allbe done in a year, I think," she smiled again with a hint ofwistfulness. "I think Jake is going to enjoy himself."
"And you, dearie?" whispered Mrs. Wright, tenderly persistent.
Maud reached up a hand to clasp hers. "I have been lost in the desertfor a long, long time, dear Mrs. Wright," she said. "But I am justbeginning to find myself."
Mrs. Wright stooped impulsively and carried the soft hand to her lips."May it please the dear Lord to guide you, dear!" she said.
"He is guiding me," Maud said with simplicity. "But I've some way totravel yet before I reach my goal. And--it's very sandy travellingsometimes, Mother Wright." She lifted her face with its sweet quiveringsmile. "And there are stones too, sometimes," she said. "But--I'd likeyou to know that I've passed the worst. I've left off yearningfor--for--the mirage. It doesn't draw me any more--at all. I've leftit all behind me,--like an evil dream and I can never, never, never bedeceived by it again."
"My darling!" murmured Mrs. Wright very tenderly. "My darling!"
Maud suddenly clung to her closely. "I'm beginning to find out," shewhispered tremulously, "that the thing I took for a rank weed growingbeside my path is the one flower I have always wanted in my garden.I've tried for ever so long to uproot it, but now--but now--I'm tryingto make it grow. I want it--but this is a secret!--more than anythingelse on earth."
Mrs. Wright's own eyes were full of tears. "I am sure you will have it,darling," she said. "I am sure--quite sure--your want will besatisfied."
She kissed the quivering face on her bosom and fondled the soft darkhair. They remained so for a space not speaking; then very gently Maudwithdrew herself.
"Did I tell you that Bunny is allowed to play hockey this term? It ishorribly dangerous--I went up to watch it last Saturday--but he enjoysit tremendously; and they say it will do him good. He is growing fast,getting quite a man."
"I am very pleased to hear it," Mrs. Wright said warmly. "Dearie me,just to think of the poor little weakly thing he was a year ago! Do youremember that day I first looked in on you, and how you gave me themviolets? I've never forgotten it."
Maud flushed a little. "You were so good to me, and I had been soungracious. I wonder you ever forgave me."
"What rubbish, dear! What rubbish!" softly interpolated Mrs. Wright."I loved you from the first moment I set eyes on you that night at GilesSheppard's. And that reminds me. How is your mother doing now?"
"She is living in London," Maud said. "I believe Giles Sheppard went toCanada. She doesn't seem to trouble about him, but has settled downquite happily in a boarding-house in Bayswater. I invested some ofUncle Edward's money in an annuity for her. It seemed the best plan."
"I am so glad you have got that money, dear," said Mrs. Wright simply.
"Thank you," Maud said. "But--you know--I could have been quite happywithout it. At least I think I could. We should have had to emigrate.And I--" she smiled momentarily, "I suppose I should have been acow-puncher's wife in earnest."
"You wouldn't have liked that," said Mrs. Wright with conviction.
"Shouldn't I? I wonder. I am beginning to think that externalcircumstances haven't much to do with happiness." Maud spokethoughtfully. "Still--now I am used to the idea--I am glad to have themoney. Uncle Edward left all his affairs in such perfect order thatthey will probably be wound up very soon now. Mr. Craven, thesolicitor, said it was one of the simplest matters he had ever had todeal with, which is all the better for me. He is in a position to raisealmost any amount for me even now." Maud was smiling again, that faint,half-wistful smile that had become hers. "It will be useful when itcomes to furnishing the new house, won't it?" she said.
"My dear, you will just love that," said Mrs. Wright. "And what doesJake say to it all?
Isn't he pleased to know as you and little SirBernard are provided for as befits your rank and station?"
Maud's smile became a laugh. "Dear Mother Wright, you areincorrigible!" she declared. "No, Jake is not over and above pleased.I think he has a lurking fear that I want to take him away from hishorses and make him lead a life of elegant idleness. He doesn't guesshow thankful I was to know that he would not have to give them up afterall. For he loves his animals as he loves nothing else on earth."
"Oh, tut, tut, dearie!" remonstrated Mrs. Wright. "And it really issettled for him to keep on in his present position?"
"Practically settled. He says he must wait and see his boss before heregards it as a sure thing. Meantime, he is carrying out Mr. Rafford'sinstructions as far as possible. He has gone over to Graydown to-dayabout the building-site for the new stables. I hope he will secure it.It is on a southern slope. It would be splendid for the animals."
"Why, you are getting quite enthusiastic!" said Mrs. Wright, with achuckle.
"I believe I am," Maud admitted. "I never thought so much of them tillit seemed that we were going to lose them. I think it would almost havebroken Jake's heart."
"He don't keep his heart in the stables," said Mrs. Wright wisely, "noryet in the training-field. What, my dear, you're not thinking of goingyet? Why, it's quite early!"
"Yes, I ought to be going," Maud said. "I like to be in first, to givehim his tea and so on. He is much too polite to say so, but I fancy helikes it."
"Of course he likes it, dear. And I think he's a very, very lucky man."Mrs. Wright spoke with great emphasis.
Maud was on her feet. She looked down at her half-laughing. "Oh, doyou? I wonder why."
"To have such a dutiful wife, dear," said Mrs. Wright. "I hope you'renot going to spoil him, now. It would be a pity to do that."
Maud uttered a funny little sigh. "Oh no, I shan't spoil him. He ismost careful not to take anything for granted. In fact, I sometimeswonder--" She paused.
"What, darling?" Mrs. Wright looked up at her with loving admiration.
Maud's face was flushed. "Oh, nothing very much. I was only going tosay that I sometimes wonder if he has any real use for the dutiful wifeafter all. I try to please him, but all he seems really to want me todo is to please myself."
Mrs. Wright rose up in her own resilient fashion. "Oh, there now! Howlike a man!" she said. "They're as cussed as mules, my dear. But neveryou mind! You'll catch him off his guard one of these days if you keepon. And then'll be your time. You step in and take possession beforehe can turn round and stop you. It's only a question of patience, dear.It'll come. It'll come."
Maud smiled again as she bent to kiss her. "You're such a good friendto me," she said. "I'll be sure to take your advice--if I can."
"God bless you, my darling!" said Mrs. Wright, with great fervour.