CHAPTER XXXVI.
POSSESSION.
'And while the wings of fancy still are free, And I can view this mimic show of thee, Time has but half succeeded in his theft-- Thyself removed, thy power to soothe me left.' _Cowper._
Though Felix had gone to town both in going to Vale Leston and comingfrom it, a much shorter way was feasible, only necessitating a coupleof hours' delay at a junction.
This was not so entirely inconvenient, on Felix's twenty-ninthbirthday, which had been fixed for the general migration to the newhome, since Robina was to meet the others there from a country houseof Lord de la Poer's, seven or eight miles off, and Major and Mrs.Harewood, and their two sons, would be in the down-train that wasto pick the party up. Not only were they to assist in the takingpossession, but they had secured lodgings for three months at the GlebeFarm. 'It will be such a good thing,' had Wilmet said, 'to settle themall in, and put Cherry and her housekeeping on the right tack.'
'My dear Wilmet, I am perfectly sensible of the admirable monarchicalconstitution Kit and I live under; but my principles are againstannexation, and if you extend it to Cherry's house, I shall carry youoff at once to Buckinghamshire, or to the Hebrides!'
'I only meant to help,' said Wilmet, with a little dignity; thenchanging her tone as she saw a smile twitch his moustache, 'and youshall be judge what is help!'
Clement was already at Vale Leston; and Bernard, declaring that noone should catch him again at that filthy hole, Bexley, had repairedthither as soon as his holidays began. Martha, Amelia Lightfoot, and asuperior housemaid of Wilmet's selection, were gone on to make ready;also a young gardener, whose face had pleased Felix when he came toadvertise: and half the Underwood family were at the station, togetherwith Willie Harewood, Sibby, and Scamp--the latter chiefly in theservice of Theodore. Sibby was useful in other ways; but she was, asever, to have the chief charge of the boy by day, be his refuge fromstrangers, and attend to his meals, it being one of his peculiaritiesthat he never could or would eat at the family table. And Scamp, thoughLance's property, was so much Theodore's delight, that separation wouldhave been cruelty; and Lance had resigned him with free good nature,and not without hopes of Scamp's brother as an inmate, for Dick Graemehimself had been articled to a surveyor, and was to live and boardwith Lance, his mother declaring her conviction that this was the bestsecurity both for his moral, and his rather fragile physical, health.One of the 'everlasting Lightfoots,' as Angela called them, had marrieda nice young wife, and was to occupy the lower rooms, and _do_ for them.
So there were nine individuals seeking what pastime the junctionafforded. The Squire--Felix's present nickname--was, to every one'samusement, seated at the table in the waiting-room, writing a leaderwith the rapidity and abstraction peculiar to himself. A leather couchwas occupied by everybody's hand-bags, umbrellas, and parasols; a cageof doves, a basket of the more precious flower-roots, and another witha kitten, under Geraldine's protection; while she endeavoured to keepTheodore happy and not troublesome by a judicious dole of biscuitsto be shared with Scamp, whom he held in a string--until, at Lance'sstep on the platform, the dog rushed out after him, dragging Theodoreafter him--Cherry limped after Theodore, Felix hurried after them all,and Lance took Theodore by the hand, and led boy and dog wherever itpleased them to go, and they could go safely, while Stella rushed tosatisfy herself of the welfare of her kitten and birds.
Except for such interruptions, the public was mostly concerned to finda place whence to behold Robina's arrival. 'What will she come in!'said Stella. 'A carriage like the Centry one?'
'Rattling up in an old fly,' said Will, gruffly.
'Will is jealous of the swells that have proved so attractive!' saidAngela. 'Aren't you burning with curiosity to see them?'
'Not in the least! I know quite enough of them.'
'Know them?'
'A couple of tufts at Christ Church. Not a bad oar--but a regularstuck-up fellow!'
'Which? or is the description collective?'
'Look, Angel!' cried Stella, as an open waggonette, drawn by twohandsome black horses and full of a merry party of young people, camedashing up; a cockaded servant opened the door, and a youth in summercostume sprang out.
'That's him!' quoth Will.
'Lord Ernest!' responded Angela.
Then the well-known figure of their own Robin was handed out by him,and lastly one of the other damsels, whom Angel identified as LadyGrace.
'They are not coming in here!' exclaimed Bill, grimly.
Nevertheless they were; the waggonette drove off amid nods and smiles,and Robin and her two companions were the next moment in presence, andWill was forced to shake hands with Lord Ernest, while Lady Grace wentthrough the same ceremony with Felix and Angela, indeed with every one.'I know you all, already,' she said; 'I'm so glad to have seen you, ifonly to warn you not to keep _her_.'
'Are you going our way?' asked Cherry, feeling the bright charm ofmanner.
'No; we only came to see her safe into your hands. Come, Ernest!' Buthe was enthusiastically admiring Scamp, and inquiring how to procurethe like; and it was some minutes before he shook hands with Robina,saying, 'Then you'll let Gracie know whether one is to be had for loveor money?'
'I thought you were to have one of the brown setters?'
'Well, why not?'
'One can't have more than one dog of one's heart,' said Angela.
'They must compete for that honour, then. Dogs, as well as otherbeings, must earn their place by their qualities. Eh, Gracie?'
'You foolish boy!' was his sister's reply. 'Come along. Good-bye,my dear little Copsey. If I don't get a letter every day I shall beconvinced that your sisters are putting onions in their eyes.'
'What bright creatures!' exclaimed Cherry.
'What did she call you?' said Will
'Copsey. Oh, Copse, Underwood--the children all call me so. It is mypet name.'
'Insufferable impudence!' muttered Will. 'And what were you thinkingof, Lance, to talk of getting him a dog of that breed, when you knowGraeme would as soon sell his children?'
'Was not he very proud of the Richborough keeper coming over afterthem?'
'Those weren't sold.'
'I beg your pardon. Dick told me what he got for them.'
'One may do a thing for a neighbour, that one wouldn't for a chancestranger at a station.'
'You Red Republican!' said Angela.
'It is enough to make one a republican in earnest.'
'In _earnest_, indeed!' mischievously echoed Angela.
'To see a shallow young tuft expecting to get whatever he chooses toask for, and every one else encouraging him in it--even those whoshould have more sense!'
'Meaning me!' said Lance, putting an arm in his and walking him off tothe end of the ticket-taker's little platform; but they had no soonerturned back than he exclaimed, 'There's that fellow again!'
There indeed he was, with 'Here's your parasol, Miss Underwood. Ofcourse you know the guilty person?'
'Mine was almost exactly like Lady Caergwent's, thank you!' saidRobina, comparing the plain blue sun-shade with the one she held.
'Except that hers is minus the tassel,' said Lord Ernest. 'You plainlydon't understand the principle of barter and exchange.'
'What? Always to take the least scratchy slate, and longest slatepencil!' said Angel.
'That's an essentially school illustration that _I_ should not havedared to make,' said Lord Ernest.
'Nor I,' said Angela, 'but for the blissful fact that I'm no longer aschoolgirl.'
'I envy you,' he said, with something like a sigh. 'Your wings aregrown!'
But there Robina uneasily said, 'You are keeping Lady Caergwent allthis time without her parasol.'
'There, you see!' he returned, in a half pathetic tone of appeal,which made Angela laugh excessively. 'But, indeed, there's no fear;she and my sisters are in Long's shop, and will spend the next twohours in debating whethe
r print in spots or stripes best conduces tothe morality of their old women. That's the next stage after leavingschool is it not?' turning to Angela; 'the first use to be made of yourliberty!'
'To wear stars and stripes?' she asked, with a little wilful gloss.
And so with desultory nonsense they went on; Robina more than onceinterfering, and trying to send Lord Ernest off, but always hoveringabout them, in a certain ill-at-ease condition. Felix, having postedhis leader, and taken his tickets, came out on the platform, andwatched the group with a shade of perplexity.
There stood Angela, the bloom of seventeen brightening her palecolouring, and her play of feature and beautiful mischievous darkgrey eyes making her face full of attraction. A knowing little blackTyrolese hat, with a single peacock's feather, was tipped over herforehead; her mass of flaxen hair was in huge loops, tied with crispstreamers; and her tall figure, in the same silver-grey as all thesisters had agreed on, looked dashing, where Robina's--with theadjuncts of a shady hat and a good deal of falling black lace--wasquietness itself. Robina's face, still round, honest, and rosy, hadgrown more womanly, and had a distressed uneasy aspect, as she stooda little aloof, not quite mingling in the conversation, but yet notseparating herself from it. The youth who was talking to Angela wasdark haired, with rather aquiline features, but with that peculiarwhiteness of complexion which is one of the characteristics of oldnobility, and though not exactly handsome, with a very pleasingcountenance, and an air of birth and breeding, a decided contrast tothe figure who regarded them from a little distance. William Harewoodhad developed into a much bigger man than his brother, but he had notthe advantage of John's neatness of figure and soldierly bearing.He had his mother's odd looseness of make, as if his limbs had gottogether by accident, and his clothes ditto. John's hair was of thepale sandy hue; but his, including long whiskers, was of the darker,more fiery tint, which Lance, at his politest, termed cinnamon. Tobe sure, he had a huge massive forehead, under which his yellowgreen-flecked eyes could twinkle and sparkle; and his wide mouth, whengrinning from ear to ear, was an engine of fascinating drollery, whilea few deep thoughts or words instantly gave majesty to the whole face,and extinguished all sense of its grotesqueness; but at present, ashe leant against one of the posts of the platform, a heavy ill-humourhad settled upon his countenance, which made his whole look and airmore befitting a surly navvy than a first-class prizeman, tutor of adistinguished college, and able to get more aristocratic pupils than hewanted for his intended reading-party on the hills of the upper Ewe.
Felix had stood for some moments, looking on, wondering what it allmeant, when the bell rang, the train swept up, the doors flew open, andJohn Harewood sprang out among them.
'A crowded train!' he said. 'There's only room for three in there,with Wilmet; Krishnu and the nurse have been keeping the places. Here,Cherry!--Here, Robin!--What, Stella! all this live-stock?'
'Oh, yes, please, _please_, Robina, take the doves; I can't trust themor my pussy with any one else.'
And past various self-concentrated people, intensely aggravated atexchanging the companionship of one baby for that of two doves and akitten, the sisters were bundled, to find Wilmet watching for them,with her elder boy asleep on her knee, a great serene good-temperedfellow, with her features and clear skin, and though with true Harewoodhair, a Kit to be proud of.
'But where's Angela?'
'There--running after Lance.'
'In that hat! Angel? I saw her as the train came up, and never thoughtof her belonging to us. How could you let her make such a figure ofherself?'
'Nature is partly accountable,' said Cherry, in an odd sort of voice.'And--Well, she brought home the hat, and it does become her. She canbe very picturesque!'
'I'm no artist,' said Wilmet, remembering her husband's caution, andabstaining; then, as the train began to move, 'Ah! Willie will be leftbehind! No; he made a rush! How foolish! What's the matter with him? Heseemed in a brown study.'
'He is out of sorts,' said Cherry. 'I believe he is very much put outwith Lance for not going to Oxford.'
Robina looked up eagerly. 'He must have wished it very much!' she said,catching gladly at this explanation of his ill-humour.
'Yes,' said Cherry; 'nothing would have so relieved him from thesense that Lance blighted his prospects in his service. He came downpersuaded, I believe, that he and his big head could shove Lancethrough all the passes, just as he could put him over a gap.'
'Everything comes so easy to him, that he has no notion how hard it isto Lance,' said Robina. 'John says Lance is right, but I am sorry--'
'So Felix wrote,' said Wilmet, 'and one can only acquiesce. Oh, andbefore this good little traveller wakes, tell me all about the dinner.'
'There's more that you have not heard about,' said Cherry, triumphantly.
'The inkstand!' said Stella. 'O sister! they have given him the mostsplendid inkstand!'
'Who? The Bexley people?'
'Yes,' said Cherry, 'a regular testimonial. They kept it a greatsecret; only Mr. Lamb came blushing in one day and borrowed one of theold books with the coat-of-arms in it, so that I thought something wasbrewing. Half the town subscribed--all Felix's young men's class, andquantities of his old scholars; and there's a little silver knight onthe top, with a frosty silver pennon with the Rood upon it.'
'The Pursuivant himself?' said Robin.
'Yes, standing on a pedestal--a match-box, I believe, with such aninscription on it that Felix is ashamed of it; and we have had such afight about its standing in the drawing-room or being suppressed in hisstudy, that Felix said at last that we were like Joseph's brothers inprosperity, and wanted the warning, "See that ye fall not out by theway."'
But the quarrel had not been a serious one, to judge by her happy face.
'It is very nice, very nice,' said Wilmet, 'and I am not at allsurprised. I thought they must do something of the kind. Was it givenat the dinner?'
'Yes; it was brought in when Mr. Postlethwayte began his speech. Heis Mayor this year, and he was so kind--he came and asked us whetherwe should _object_ to go with Mrs. Froggatt, to sit in the gallery._Object_, indeed! I wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world;and we were just above our dear old fellow's head, where he could notsee us, which was all the better for him.'
'Was he nervous?'
'No; he said there was a reality of kindness about it all that madehim feel it as friend to friend. So the Minsterham reporter said too.Felix brought him in to tea, because we are to have his report for Pur.He said he had never seen such genuine feeling on all sides. He wantedto call it an ovation. And Felix puzzled him so by declaring thatinapplicable, unless it had all been mutton.'
'And Mr. Bolton did send ever so much venison,' put in Stella; 'and aletter besides, because he could not come himself. Mr. Postlethwaytebegan by reading it.'
'Yes; that was all the right and proper thing,' said Cherry; 'allcivility about his valuable supporter. As well might he say, for hasn'tPur fought for him through thick and thin--and suffered too! But it wasMr. Postlethwayte who had his heart in it. There, Stella, you can sayit all off by heart like a little live page of Pur. Tell Wilmet what hesaid about example.'
'He said,' rehearsed Stella, 'that Felix had set a noble example ofconsidering no means of independence derogatory, and only manifestinghis birth in the high sense of honour which, in the name of hisfellow-citizens, he confessed to have been no slight stimulus.'
'Well done! That was much for Mr. Postlethwayte to say.'
'Oh! everybody said everything!' answered Cherry. 'Mr. Bruce went onabout the paper. Poor dear old Pur, he never had so much good said ofhim before, and every word true; but the real beauty of the thing wasthe Frogs.'
'I am so glad Mr. Froggatt could go.'
'He said he would not have missed if he had had one foot in the grave.I really was afraid, once or twice, Mrs. Froggatt would have embracedus then and there in the gallery, before all the people. How she didcry, dear old lady!'
'She was thi
nking of her own sons, poor dear!'
'Partly; but I do think half was pride and pleasure, and that sort offeeling that grows up of unanimity. I can't describe, but it is like aspirit mastering all. You will read in the report; but it does not givea notion of the kind of glow, and the ecstasy of the cheer, when Mr.Underwood of Vale Leston was given out--the looks of all the faces! Oh!I can't describe it--one seemed obliged to sob for gratitude! And then,in the lull at last came his voice, so clear and sweet and strong, andtaking them all by surprise. Now, Stella, go on!'
'Felix stood up,' said Stella, with a pretty little tone ofenthusiastic imitation in her low sweet voice, 'and said perhaps itwas not regular to criticise the manner of such an honour as they haddone him, but he must say that he had rather they had proposed him asUnderwood of 14 High Street. For if his good friends thought they weredisposing of him with a long farewell, he must tell them they would notbe rid of him so soon. For he said that for the means of fulfillinghis new duties he must look in great measure to his old sphere, andtheir unvarying friendliness. What a noise they did make then! and whenhe went on to thank them for their kindness in treating him as one ofthemselves, though without any claim of long standing. And then wasn'tit nice when he went on about Mr. Froggatt!'
'Can't you see, Wilmet,' continued Geraldine, 'how being altogethermoved and excited, all sorts of things came out that he never couldhave said in cold blood? About the gentleman he said it was all owingto--his accepting him when he was a raw friendless lad, giving him anopening for exertion--patience--kindness. You'll read it, but if youcould only have seen and heard when he said he should always esteem theconnecting of their names among the dearest honours of his life, as ithad certainly been the proudest. He told us afterwards that he saw aface looking as if it sounded like humbug; so he added louder, "Yes,as much the proudest and dearest, as what one may hope is personalis better than what comes by the accident of birth." And he couldnot believe that any honour could bestow on him the pleasure he hadfelt when he first saw the names of Froggatt and Underwood together.Whatever he had done or hoped to do, he felt to be due not only tothe first start, but to the long thorough training in diligent habitsof business. As Mr. Bevan said afterwards, it was the most beautifuloutpouring of gratitude without false shame. And Mr. Froggatt, whohad not the least expected it, was quite past speaking. "Gentlemen,my feelings--" he said, and broke down, and every one cheered, and hetried again, but only got as far as "Gentlemen, my feelings--" andput his hand on Mr. Ryder's arm, and begged him to say it for him,something about "a thousandfold repaid." Mr. Ryder made a set speechof it, all very true and good, really the best of all, looking so inthe Pursuivant, but nothing to "Gentlemen, my feelings--" and the greatsob.'
'Dear old gentleman! is he more reconciled to the losing you all?'
'Yes, he is so much pleased to keep Lance, and that Felix does notthrow it all up. Indeed, if we could have given up Bexley it would havebeen a great difficulty, for Felix feels that he took the duties of ason upon him.'
'It does to a certain degree qualify one's regret,' said Wilmet. 'AsJohn says, one would not take the responsibility of saying a word ofremonstrance; he is no fanciful lad, but a man well used to practicalquestions; but I still am sorry he should so cripple himself by actingon scruples Papa never entertained.'
'We can hardly be sure of that,' said Cherry. 'That old letter to Mr.Staples looked as if he were doubtful. When I told Sister Constance--Icould not help it, though Felix had not given me leave--she seemedquite overcome, and then she pointed out how right it had all come, forin the ordinary course of things most likely this restitution wouldnot have been possible. If he had been brought up as an eldest son,and we had all had an expensive education like other people, not onlyshould we all have grown into acquiescence in an unavoidable sort ofabuse, but there would have been none of the power of independence thatenables him to do this; and there would have been settlements and allmanner of things to tie it up. Remember, too, that dear Papa was alwaysthankful that he did not have the trial of unmixed prosperity.'
Those were the last words before there was a slackening of speed;Wilmet resumed the one Kit, Stella the other, Robina wielded the doves,and gathered the parcels, a tall fair head under a big black hatnodded and smiled welcome, and the little station seemed to flash withgreeting, as in another moment the halt was made, Clement wrenched openthe door, swung out Stella, holding fast by the basket, and set herdown with a kiss, next putting forth a long tender pair of arms to liftCherry down, and then receiving his nephew and holding him while Wilmetand Robina extracted the other impedimenta, and the other two-thirds ofthe party hurried up, amid touching of hats and services of porters,Bernard and Angela flying upon one another, and luggage pouring out ofthe van.
'I hope there's room,' said Clement, surveying the numbers. 'I broughteverything on wheels that I could get beasts for.'
And making Kit over to his father's hand, he conveyed Cherry to acorner of the big barouche with post-horses, and then hurried backto pack in Wilmet and her boy. He would have put in Robina and MajorHarewood, but they both cried out that this was the place for Squirehimself. Clement and John dragged him from some selection of boxes in arecusant but passive state, and deposited him opposite to Geraldine, asshe merrily called him 'to enjoy the novel sensation of riding in one'sown coach.'
'Theodore!' he remonstrated; but Wilmet's eyes grew uneasy, and Clementsaid, 'Better let Lance and me take him. You'll have a noisy welcome,and he had better not have the first brunt. Here, Tedo, jump up byLance; see my big horse! Ha! I see Angel and Bear have climbed to thebox. Now then, Robin, in with you! Can you make room for Stella?'
So having packed the barouche, Clement sent it off with a dash, takingJohn and Will Harewood as well as his two brothers in that dog-cartthat fitted him so oddly, while Sibby, Krishnu, the nurse and baby,and the luggage, were disposed of in a sort of break which would holdeverything, and came soberly behind with a farm-horse.
It had been well done of the brothers to relieve Felix from the chargeof keeping the peace between Theodore and Kit, and leave him free toenjoy the arrival with his sisters, and to be happy in having Wilmetwith him, the sharer in all his earlier exertions, and the best able toenter into his recollections, though at first she failed to recognisethe old landmarks he pointed out, and Cherry sat dreamily smiling,owning that she recollected nothing in particular, but all was lovelyand delicious, and not like a strange place, but as if she belonged toit.
Then came the summit of the hill, the church tower, and the river, andthe rich valley stretched before them; and as there was a halt to puton the drag, up came on the breeze a clash and peal. 'The bells! thebells!' cried Stella; and Wilmet held up the finger to her boy, 'Thebells, Kit, the bells for Uncle Felix! Listen!'
'Don't you ever forget,' cried Cherry, bending to kiss the wonderingchild; and grasping Felix's hand in irrepressible agitation, 'Oh! howoften I have wondered whether we should live to see this day!'
'Thank Heaven that you share it, Sweetheart,' fervently whisperedFelix; while Bernard and Angela turned round, and screamed to them tolook.
And there was a big arch all across the road, all greenery, bigwhite and orange lilies, and 'Welcome' and 'F.C.U.'s, and a flagon the church tower, and a tremendous onset of drums and trumpets,obstreperously hailing the conquering hero, who had to take off hishat and bow to the mounted array of some dozen tenants and theirsons, all the cavalry of the estate turned out to meet him. 'MasterKistopher' was hardened enough to military bands not to mind this atall; but it was well that Theodore was a little behind, for the lungsof all Vale Leston Abbas, and more too, united in the cheer as thearch was reached. 'Oh! I hope they won't take out the horses!' criedCherry, more than half frightened, while Bernard and Angel danced upand down with ecstatic cries of 'Jolly! jolly! Here's the whole placeturned out! They'll draw us up to the house! Hurrah! hurrah!' bowing sograciously, that Cherry, in a counter paroxysm of diversion, called tothem that they would be taken for the man and
maid if they appropriatedall the enthusiasm.
Happily no one was venturesome enough to meddle with the horses, butthe whole population attended the carriage up to the house, making somuch discordant uproar, that the reception was a very questionablepleasure to the nervous; Cherry was between laughter and sobs, andWilmet had to spend much pains in persuading her boy that it was allexcellent fun.
At last, upon the stone steps stood Felix, with Cherry on his arm,Theodore in his hand, nine altogether out of his twelve brothersand sisters round him, on this the threshold of the home of hisforefathers. There he stood, bare-headed, moist-eyed, thanks to Heavenswelling his heart, thanks to man fluttering on his lip, as he heardthe fresh shout of welcome, and the old men's 'There he is! God blesshim!'
'Well may they say so!' whispered John Harewood to his wife. 'Here, attwenty-nine, he stands a stainless knight, with a stainless shield, asthough he had not had to fight his way, and bear up all these aroundhim!'
Felix meantime, withstanding Theodore's terrified tugs at his hand, puthim into Sibby's care, to be taken as far as possible from the humangreeting, and to enjoy that of the bells; Clement, with a previsionof the welcome, had provided a supply of cider, wherewith he and theother gentlemen proceeded to administer draughts to the health of thenew master, who was allowed to do nothing but stand on the step tomake a tableau, as Bill said, with his sisters, and return by look andgesture the tokens of welcome and the cheer, which Clement, gatheringhis choir, contrived to render considerably less inharmonious.
Then Felix, feeling that some words were due, and trained a little bytown-council exigencies, spoke forth. 'Thanks, thanks with all ourhearts, my good friends and neighbours. We did not expect so hearty awelcome, and I am sure we shall never forget it. As far as an earnestwish and purpose to do my best will carry me, I will try to deserveit; but you must bear with me if I often unavoidably disappoint you,and do not come up to the old golden age of this house. Any way, letus do our best, one and all, to live here to the glory of God, and infriendliness to one another. Then it will go hard if we are not veryhappy together.'
The bright smile and joyous hope in his face awoke a shout of 'Yes,yes!' and another cheer, followed by a farmer's voice proposing thehealth of the ladies, with the homely addition from another quarter,'Bless their sweet faces!' and an observation which the Major delightedto overhear--'That there tall one, with the child by her side, was aright-down comely one, just such as our ladies up here did used to was.'
Health to 'Mr. Eddard' followed, surprising the new comers who had notlearnt to accept the Vicar's parish name. It drained his provision ofliquor, and gave him the opportunity of saying, 'Thank you sincerely,dear friends. We are old friends, you know, and I need say no more,only that now we have seen the good time coming, you had better wishthe travellers good-night, and let my sisters rest. You will all bebetter acquainted soon.'
'Well managed, Mr. Edward,' said Felix, smiling, as Clement, for thefirst time able to speak to him after dismissing his flock, ran up thesteps looking heated and radiant.
'There's another thing I've done, Felix,' he said, rather breathlessly.'I've got a supper for the ringers in the long room. Martha is muchdispleased about it, but it is the only chance of breaking the neck ofthe drinking at the Rood without making you unpopular.'
'All right, Clem, thank you. Well! you look better than when I saw youlast!'
'I'm quite jolly, thank you;' and indeed, the fagged air of depressionhad changed to hope and sunshine; he had grown quite sunburnt, and asCherry followed up the compliment, had turned into a vigorous countryparson instead of a white town-bred one. He was acting as a sort ofhost. 'This way, Wilmet. You must settle about the rooms, Cherry. Itwas all guess-work between Martha and me. There's some tea in thedrawing-room by this time.'
He led them quickly through a large hall, paved with black and whitelozenges, into a sort of conservatory passage, glazed on one side,and containing old orange-trees in tubs, and more recent fuchsias andgeraniums, a great curtain of lilac Bougainvillia drooping at oneend--making the girls shriek with ecstasy, and reproach Felix withnever having told them of it.
'I am afraid I had forgotten it,' said he. 'I never went into this partof the house on my last two visits.'
'It was Jane's territory (Mrs. Fulbert),' said Clement, 'and I amafraid she has dismantled the room a good deal. The one hundred poundsyou allowed her to choose as her own furniture came chiefly out ofthat, and the valuable things poor Fulbert had in his smoking-room.It was an odd choice, but I thought you would not mind that, and thevaluation man looked sharp after her. I kept out of the way of thesquabble.'
'I know where I am now,' said Wilmet. 'There's the garden-door at theend. And here is the drawing-room door. Ah! it does look empty.'
'Oh, never mind tables and chairs. The window!' cried Angela, flyingforward to the eastern one, a deep bay, cushioned round, and lookingout on the sloping lawn, gay with flower-beds, in pleasant eveningshadow, the river sparkling beyond, and with a sidelong view of thebridge on the one hand and the church on the other. Two other windowslooked to the south, also into the garden.
'At least she has left the piano,' said Lance.
'It was valued at eighty pounds, which would have made too large ahole,' said Clement. 'Also she has left a chair for you to sit on,Cherry. Are you tired?'
'I haven't time! I can't grasp it! Home! So exquisite, and all ours.Oh! the pictures! That lady, with the bent head over the rose, and thearch pensive eyes! She can't choose but be a Sir Joshua.'
'Right, Cherry,' said Lance, mounting a chair and turning to the back;'"Lady Geraldine Underwood, 1770. J. Reynolds."'
'The Irishwoman that gave you eyes and mischief. Your bestpossessions,' said Will.
He looked at Angela. Did he forget that neither Irish eyes nor mischiefwere Robina's portion?
At that moment Stella, who had gone up to the hearth, exclaimed,'Edgar!' then checked herself, at the sound of the seldom uttered name;but Felix and Wilmet had both sprung to look.
'I remember,' said the latter.
'Is it my father?' whispered Stella.
It was one of a pair of the largest size of miniatures in Ross'smost exquisite style of finish, thirty years back, just before themarriage of Edward and Mary Underwood. He, still a layman, was in ashooting-coat, with a dog by his side, and with the look of life andlight, youth and sunshine, that had never left him--indeed, none butthe little ones who had never really seen him could have hesitated fora moment; but it was different with the fellow-portrait. If Felix andWilmet had not remembered 'Mamma's picture,' they would hardly haveconnected the bright soft smiling rose-tinted girl with the toil-wornfaded image on their memories. Wilmet's tears gathered; and Felixmurmured to Cherry, 'One feels that the life was killed out of her! Shelooks as if one would have died to save her a breath of care! Oh! tohave brought her back!'
And with a wistful sigh he looked at Stella, the most like theportrait, though none of the sisters really reproduced it; indeed,the peculiar caressing and relying expression could hardly have beenbrought out, except by a petted shielded life, free from all care orhardness. Wilmet was on a more majestic and commanding scale; somethingof the darling child expression was in Geraldine, but intellect andillness had changed both the mould and colouring of the features.Robina was of the round-faced, round-eyed type, only refined; Angelalike no one but Clement; and even Stella was not only too small, buttoo thoughtful, to recall that flower-like careless loveliness of MaryUnderwood's maiden bloom.
'It was hard on you not to have had these,' said John.
'I suppose,' said Felix, 'that they were done for my uncle, and that myfather thought them too valuable to take away.'
'Better so,' said Cherry, quietly.
'Yes,' said Lance; 'to have had these before one's eyes would have madeone ready to fly at that man's throat,' glancing at the old squire inuniform.
'And now,' said Cherry, 'they are smiling their greeting to us.'
'You'll turn o
ut the Squire, won't you, Felix?' added Lance. 'You won'tkeep him here, gloating on his victims?'
'Certainly not, if he suggests such ideas,' said Felix. 'It is Cherry'sdomain, though, and she must decide whether to banish him.'
'Oh! oh!' screamed Angela, who had meanwhile followed Bernard out ofthe room. 'Come here, all of you! Felix, we must have a ball! Natureand fate decree it.'
Felix laughed, gave Cherry his arm, and the procession moved on. 'Trippsays this conservatory was glazed for a surprise to my mother whileshe was on her wedding tour,' said Clement. 'You know this wing is therecent part of the house, built by my old great-uncle, when people hadcome to have large notions as to drawing and dining rooms. Here's thedining-room, but we shall go in there for severe tea presently. Thisis the middle period, the Stewart style part,' as they came back intothe wainscotted hall, rising to the top of the house, with a staircaseopposite to the front-door, and a handsome balustraded gallery runninground the first floor.
But Angela's discovery was a great arched doorway, mantled only by acurtain, and leading into the only really ancient part of the building(except one turret). It was a very long room, with dark oak floor, sixarched and cusped windows looking into as many arches of the cloisterthat ran along it, and black wainscot panelled walls, and oak beams,painted with coats-of-arms. So long was it, that the billiard table atone end, and at the other Clement's table laid out for the ringers'supper, made little show in it; and Angela, pouncing on Will Harewood,waltzed wildly with him up and down the shining floor, while Bernardlearnedly expounded to Stella the games at billiards he had enjoyedwith Mr. Somers there, and Lance went straight to the organ at thefarther end.
'Ah! if you can do any good with that!' said Clement. 'I have beentrying, but have only driven it and myself distracted!'
'How well I know the place!' cried Wilmet. 'Oh, if Alda could see it!I remember your driving us all in a team here, Fee!--Yes, Kit, trot,trot, all along. It is as if I saw you, Cherry, taking your first runalone there.'
'Better than now, I fear,' said Felix. 'Why, Cherry, woman, we must laydown bridges of matting for you,' as he felt her clutch his arm.
'Are all the floors so dreadful?' she sighed, as Clement next openedfrom the hall door into the library, with only a bit of carpet as anisland in the middle. The library ranged with the drawing and diningrooms, though older. It had a window and a door into the cloister, andtwo windows to the east, and was surrounded with caged book-shelves.Here stood an harmonium, and the table and deep window-seats were piledwith the miscellaneous parish appurtenances of the nineteenth-centurypastor.
'You had better have this room, Felix,' said Clement; 'there was somuch to do that I could not get my traps moved after Somers went.'
To which Felix replied by insisting that Clement should retain it. Thedoor into the cloister, communicating with the church and churchyard,made it particularly eligible for the Vicar; and the study, on theopposite side of the hall, the Squire's favourite sitting-room, withthe two south windows, would suit him and Pur,--the better that theadjoining room, where old Fulbert had slept in his infirm days, wouldserve as a housekeeper's room for Sibby and a retreat and home forTheodore. It opened into a passage leading to the offices.
'Never mind them now,' said Clement. 'Let Martha recover before we faceher. I don't know which she resents most, the supper, or my sendingin Kerenhappuch to help her. You all will be glad to find your nests,ladies,' he added, as poor Cherry surmounted each slippery shallowstep, clinging hard to Felix's arm, while Angela and Stella had flownall round the upper story, and were helping Bill to laugh at theround-eyed range of ancestors in the corridor.
'Here I put you, our grand company, Mettie,' said Clement, opening thedoor of the handsome bedroom of the drawing-room wing; 'the nursery isup over, as I daresay you remember.'
'As if I did not!'
And up to it with one accord they all went, Cherry and all--for thestairs were close by, and of deal. At the moment of entrance, Felix,Wilmet, and Cherry, broke into a simultaneous shout of delight, as theybeheld, staring at them in open-nostrilled pride, the rocking-horse oftheir youth. In one moment Cherry's arms were round its neck, Wilmethad her boy on the saddle, Felix was gently moving it, and patting itsdappled sides with the tenderness of ancient love.
'This at least is unprofaned! I suppose no child has mounted it sincewe five hung rocking on it altogether that last morning!'
'I should like a ride now, dear old Gee-gee,' said Cherry, halfsentimentally, as Kit insisted on being taken down to go to his Emmaand his tea; and to her surprise and fright, her brothers snatched herup, and deposited her on its back, between screaming and laughing; andhardly was she lifted down, before Wilmet was on her knees, as Lancesaid, worshipping the doll's house over which she and Alda had brokentheir hearts, and setting all the the chairs and tables on their legsagain.
The very cribs in the inner nursery were all in their old places; andto the great amusement of the rest, the four who had the honour ofbeing natives, each sat down upon his or her own; and Felix and Wilmethad quite a little quarrel which owned the favoured cane-sided one,where one could poke one's fingers through.
'One's fingers--or rather two's fingers--are rather too big to decidethat question now,' said Felix. 'However, you can take possession bydeputy, Mettie, and some day Alda shall fill them all.'
'Ah! to meet her here!'
But there was one more sadly missed--the King Oberon of the nursery,whose star of cracked glass still marked one of the panes. Kit wasthe first to see it, trot up to point, and say 'Naughty!' but no oneanswered him, and Felix struggled back to a cheerful tone to say,'After all, cane crib and all, I was not here to the last; I slept inPapa's dressing-room after Clem came to the fore.'
'Mamma's room was the one over the library,' said Cherry, as theydescended.
'Here it is!' with transomed windows, trailed over with vine andVirginia creeper, one towards the river, and two towards the church,and Cherry's own particular boxes were in it. 'Oh! my dear LordChamberlain,' she cried, 'this is the place the master ought to have!'
'I had rather be on the other side, Cherry,' said Felix. 'It is betterfor Theodore that Clem and I should have rooms opening into oneanother, as he will look to him when I sleep out.'
'And I thought the dressing-room would serve for Stella,' addedClement. 'Why, she is quite pink!'
'Have I really a room to myself?'
'There are enough in the house for that, my little Star,' said Felix.'I suppose you will hardly make a further progress now, Whiteheart?'
'Only let me show her the Prior's room,' said Clement, taking her tothe floor above the billiard-room. It had been a smoking-room in thelast reign; the windows were hung with heavy curtains; there was botha stove and a cheerful grate in it, a thick carpet and cushions in thewindows, and a high screen, to cut off the draught from the littlewindow into the south transept, where the Prior of old used to hearMass, if indisposed.
'I have been purifying this room, literally and metaphorically,' saidClement, thinking of the pictures he had removed, and the air he hadlet in. 'It will make Cherry a capital painting-room.'
'Oh! but it is too much! You must not give me all the best rooms in thehouse.'
'Who should have them but our lady of the house?' cried both brothers.
'And after all, there are conveniences in not painting in thedrawing-room,' said Cherry. 'May I tell, Lance?' as they both fell intoa transport of laughter. 'You must know, Willie there insisted that Ishould do Cleomenes after the battle, when he would not go into hisdeserted house. He used so much moral compulsion, that though I knewthat a Greek warrior was as much beyond me as an archangel, I onlyfeebly objected the want of a model; and Lance, in a spirit of classicfriendship, said he would sit. So one afternoon--there he stood, withhis trousers turned up to his knees, and his shirt-sleeves up to hisshoulders, no shoes or stockings--the table-cover gracefully disposedwith a big shawl-brooch on one shoulder for a chlamys--leaning onSibby's long broom-st
ick by way of a spear, endeavouring to compose hisface as if his wife were dead, and his children in captivity, and hejust beaten horse and foot, and going after them.'
Vale Leston house floor plans]
Vale Leston area map]
'Cleomenes is no laughing matter,' sternly interposed Bill.
'Cleomenes was not, but Lance was. Well, I was just making a study ofhis foot, never dreaming of anybody getting in but by the street-door,when of all things in the world, up comes Miss Pearson herself--MissPearson, senior! and three girls! They had met a mad ox in the street,or some trifle of that sort, had bolted into the shop nearly in fits,and this unthinking Felix had popped them through the office to bestill more scandalized upstairs.'
'Poor Miss Pearson!' said Lance; 'I shall never forget her gentle "DoI intrude?" going off into the wildest scream. And I couldn't escapeby the other door, for Cherry had her easel up against it. She couldonly shriek "He's sitting!" technically, you see, like an old hen, or aschoolmaster, for I wasn't sitting at all.'
'Well, you need have no such catastrophes here,' said Felix, when thelaughter began to subside; 'but your progress has been long enough; nowwe have landed you. You younger fry, you must shake into your rooms asyou choose.'
'I secure the octagon turret-room at the end of the corridor,' criedAngela.
'And I shall hold to my room with the rum ceiling,' said Bernard. 'Itis as good as the barrack at home! Come and see, Lance.'
'I ordered tea at seven,' said Clement, 'that Felix might be ready tospeak to the ringers after it. You must take us in hand, now, Cherry;that is my last domestic order.'
So Cherry was left with her little sister. There was a little bustleof unpacking at first; but by the time Cherry was ready, she missed allsounds of Stella, and looking into her room, saw the child standingby the window, gazing intently out in a kind of dream, which endedin her running up to Cherry with a gasp of ecstasy, and hiding herface against her. 'O Cherry!' she said, 'I did not know it could beso--so--so exquisite!' and her bosom heaved with the struggle of newemotion--she who had seen nothing but Bexley suburbs in her little life.
'It does seem almost impossible to believe we are really always to livewith these lovely sights,' said Cherry. 'It is like getting into thePromised Land! Why, my Star, it quite overcomes you!'
'Oh! if Tedo could--could--' It was a sort of moan that burst fromStella, followed by a shower of tears.
'Ah! Stella, sweet! We all of us miss somebody. It is not the PromisedLand yet, for there you know there will be Ephphatha indeed!' andCherry strangled her own sob, as her supplication went up that allmight be as well there with her heart's grief as with Stella's.'Besides,' she added, cheerfully, 'Theodore will be happier here; hewill have more liberty and more pets.'
'And he likes the bells,' said Stella; but there was a wistful yearninglook on the sweet face, as if the excess of pleasure increased thelonging for companionship in her twin.
Cherry took her hand to encounter the dread waste of slipperinessbefore her; but in further proof who was the lady and the darling ofthe house, no sooner did her door open, than Felix hastened across fromhis room, Clement strode up from the library, John Harewood's heademerged from his dressing-room door; but Lance was beforehand with all,for he was close by, helping Golightly the gardener to carry the boxesas near as possible to their destinations.
He bore her off in triumph, with so much laughter, that the consequencewas a slip, and a shout of warning displeasure from the elder brothers.
'No fault of his,' cried back Cherry, holding tight to him. 'Only iffour brothers at once will make me so proud, I can but have a fall.'
'Aren't you prouder now?' said Lance, as they trooped into thedining-room. 'There's a table to sit down at the head of!'
What a glittering array it was of glass and silver andbrightly-coloured china; and the profusion of country fare--roast fowl,green pease, yellow butter in ice, virgin combs of transparent liquidgolden honey, mountains of strawberries, great jugs of milk and cream.There was no formality indeed in the Amen that responded to theirchaplain's grace.
'Good creatures verily,' ejaculated Felix, as he took up carving-knifeand fork.
'Is it a feast for his birthday?' whispered Stella, 'or is it to bealways like this?'
'You see,' said Cherry to her neighbour, the Major, 'we remember whenwe used to have a quart of blue milk, and save for the babies.'
'I say, Felix,' cried Angela, 'have we got a farm, with cows, andturkey-cocks, and turnips, and all sorts of jolly things?'
'Stunning!' said Bernard; 'and an old bull with a ring in his nose,that would toss you as soon as look at you!'
'That home farm is a difficulty,' said Felix. 'I believe I ought to getrid of it, for I know nothing of farming, and have no time to learn.'
'Oh, let me manage it, if that's all!' said Angel. 'I'll get asmock-frock and big shoes, and a long whip, and get up at four in themorning.'
'Seriously, I hope you can keep it in your own hands,' said Clement.'There's no getting milk otherwise. You might as well ask the farmers'wives for their hearts' blood. There's a child that I baptized soonafter I came; the mother is sickly, and had lost two before. I foundher feeding it with some mess of pounded acorns, and recommended milk,but found I might as well have talked of melted gold. Even when Ioffered to pay, it could not be done--would break up the cheese-making.I thought of buying a cow and some hay, and putting her in theVicarage; but when I saw a great jug of hot milk come in with my coffeeevery morning, I ended by getting a mug and carrying it down every day;and really the child has lived.'
'But, Clem,' said Angel, with a sort of affectation of solemnity,'wasn't that a difficult case of conscience? Weren't you stealing Mr.Underwood's milk?'
'No; for our old _regime_--not to say St. Matthew's--had taught him togo without,' said Felix, smiling, for he had seen the mug in force.
'Till the new Squire came, and I could unblushingly prey on him,'rejoined Clement.
'Whereby I propose,' said Major Harewood, 'that we drink the health ofthe said new Squire--with all birthday wishes--and long may he reign!'
'All birthday wishes, Felix,' responded Wilmet, who, like some of theothers, had begun tea with a glass of claret. 'Do you remember this daythirteen years, when Robin did not know what a cold chicken was?'
'I remember it well,' said Felix, gravely. 'It seems to me to havebeen the last day that I was a boy. Thank you,' as each bright facenodded at him. 'Haven't I made speeches enough? Well, then, Ladies andGentlemen, many thanks to you for coming here to-day. It's little goodthis place would be to me without you. And--' from the playfulness asudden emotion came over and thrilled his voice--'may God grant we maystill be all as happy together as we have been these thirteen years!'
'I would not have missed this for anything!' was John's very warmaside; but a little afraid of emotion, he added, 'Yes, you are worthlooking at. You certainly are a right goodly family.'
'Seen in the light of prosperity,' said Cherry.
'He need not be accused of that,' said Wilmet. 'He never saw so many ofus together before.'
'Except the first time,' said John, 'when I thought you would neverhave done coming into the room.'
'Poor John!' said Felix, 'I pity your blushes. I wonder you were notfrightened away at once!'
'And it was not Robin's fault,' said Cherry. 'Do you remember, Bobbie,the agony you were in, till you grew desperate, and stopped Clem and meby speaking out?'
'Robin could have had nothing to speak about,' said Wilmet, with aresumption of her old manner that tickled the others exceedingly.
'_In_deed!' quoth Lance. 'Bill remembers his confidences by the river.'
'Moonshine!' growled Bill, but scarce heeded, for John had turned tohis wife with a droll injured air of condolence, saying, 'Ah! my dear,these little secrets will come out; but we must make the best of it!'
'And talking of rivers and moonshine,' cried Angela, 'we'll have a turnin the boat. Hurrah for the boat! Come, Bear--
come, Bill--I want myfirst lesson in rowing.'
'Stay,' said Felix; 'that eddy where the Leston comes down makesthe river not safe when you do not know it. Now, girls, all of you,remember once for all that I desire you will never go in the boatwithout some one who can swim, nor take Theodore without me.'
He seldom gave a direct command, but there was enforcement in his tone;and John added, 'Quite right. I see it is a stream not to be trusted.'
'It is just a device to hinder our going at all,' pouted Angela.
'And swimming is a mere hindrance to drowning aisy, if you are to bedrownded,' added Bill.
'Do you know,' added Clement, 'that
"To Leston and Ewe Underwood pays due,"
in every generation?'
'Where did you pick up that adage?' asked Felix.
'A prophecy, a prophecy!' cried Angela. 'What fun! I shall hold up myhead more than ever, now we have a saw of our own! What fun!'
'Where did you hear it?' repeated Cherry, who as well as Stella lookeddiscomfited.
'I did not hear it,' said Clement, 'the people were far too polite totell me; but it was administered to Somers by way of warning, aftersome eccentric proceedings in the boat with Bear. They say an Underwoodis drowned in every generation--I suppose since the sacrilege.'
'Prove the fact,' said Felix.
'Somers and I did try to make out,' said Clement, 'between registersand monuments. We found one Lancelot in 1750, with a note"Drowned" attached to his name, and a conglomeration of urns andwater-nymphs--Leston and Ewe, I presume--scrambling about his monumentin the south transept; and the old Squire had told me that the crayonyoung lady in a cap in the library was our old great-uncle's intended,but was drowned in crossing the ferry at Ewmouth, before the bridge wasbuilt. She is not very pretty; and I was going to have put a photographin her place, but it seemed to me profane, when she had hung there somany years for the poor old faithful lover to look at.'
'The Ewe seems to have been in overhaste to claim its due, before shewas an Underwood,' said Angela.
'Quite enough for an adage,' said John; 'one real Underwood, and oneintended.'
'However, as I do not mean the rivers to get their due through anyfool-hardiness,' said Felix, 'you must attend to my rule.'
'And I think it renders boating reasonably safe,' added Clement. 'Thereare no holes, and the only danger is when there has been a good dealof rain to make the currents strong; otherwise it is quite safe for atolerable swimmer. I learnt at Cambridge, and Bear is a perfect cork;but I did not know you could swim, Fee.'
'I improved my opportunities at Ewmouth five years ago, when unluckilyLance could not.'
'I should try again if I were to be much here,' said Lance; but thegeneral voice dissuaded him; and at the same time Tripp knocked at thedoor--the summons to the Vicar and Squire to visit the ringers at theirbanquet.
'You had better go to bed, Cherry,' said Felix, as he rose; 'you looklike a white rag.'
'Triumphs are tiring processes, to say nothing of making tea,' saidCherry; 'but I don't want to disturb Sibby just yet.'
'I'll put you to bed, if you like,' said Wilmet 'I want to send Emmadown, and keep within hearing of the children.'
'Oh, that will be most delicious of all! So like old times!' And thetwo sisters went off, to be happy together, and coo a little delightin their Squire and his beautiful home, mingled with a domesticconsultation how the bared drawing-room could be inexpensively rendereda pleasant family gathering place.
'A little chintz will do a great deal,' said Wilmet; 'we will see aboutit.'
Which assurance set Cherry's mind at rest on that score, for her beliefin Wilmet's notable abilities was boundless. 'But what is the matterwith Robina?' she added after a few minutes, recalling the events ofthe day. 'She is so silent, and has a distressed anxious look I neversaw about her before. I wonder whether she regrets the not coming homefor good.'
'I am not sure,' said Wilmet; 'I am inclined to think she is sorry tobe away from Repworth Towers.'
'O Wilmet! impossible, unnatural!'
'I never do quite understand Robin,' said Wilmet. 'She seems thesimplest, soberest girl in the world; and yet I suppose that folly ofAlice's put things into her head, for she has a strange propensity tothink people are paying her attention. Even at Bareges I saw symptomsof it, which I put a stop to at once.'
'I can't think it of any one so honest and sensible as the Robin.'
'I know it, unfortunately; and it is the more curious that she has onlymoderate good looks, and no other tokens of vanity. It is particularlyunlucky in her position.'
'You don't imagine there's anything going on!'
'I hope not.'
'I have a great deal too much confidence in the Robin to suspect her.'
'Not of consciously doing wrong, but of having been flattered, and nowperhaps in a difficulty. However, I shall say nothing till we have seenmore. She may be only tired.'
Felix--with all that was on his hands--had likewise noted the absenceof the Robin's chirp, and looked for her when he came back from theringers' supper, to which Clement and Lance had followed him. They thenwent off to Clement's library for a consultation about some music; andFelix, repairing to the drawing-room, found nothing there but a lonelycockchafer, knocking his head against a lonely lamp on the lonely roundtable in the centre--not an enlivening spectacle; but hearing steps onthe gravel, he went out, and found John pacing under the wall with acigar, and Bernard emulously following in his wake.
'Where are all the others?' he asked; 'it is not far from ten.'
'Wilmet went up to the babies,' said John; 'the others are aboutsomewhere.'
'Larking about,' added Bernard, with superior wisdom. 'Well, John, youwere saying--'
Felix was too thankful to have Bernard doing anything so sensible as totalk to John to interrupt them further, and turned away. He stood for afew minutes to enjoy the strange repose of the exquisite loveliness ofthe scene--the summer sunset, not yet entirely died away, but tingeingthe northern sky with pure light, while the great moon, still low,silvered the river, and defined the grand outline of the church.
And this, not only a scene to be gazed at, but the home he had reachedat last--the home so long withheld!
'Entering into rest,' he said to himself, for the repose of mind wasgreat. 'And yet--
"Your rest must be no rest below."
No, home duties--higher duties, still more--forbid me to make this morethan a resting-place--not rest. "There remaineth yet a rest for thepeople of God"--yet a home, but its shadow here is very sweet. Let itnot beguile me!'
Just then Angela's laugh, a very musical and yet a very giddy one, likea rapid peal of silver bells, caught his ear; and in the moonlight inthe churchyard he saw her tall light figure, and what could be noneother than Will beside her. He was vexed. She was bare-headed, and thechurchyard was open to the village on the other side, and had a publicpathway through it. He walked quickly towards them, and called as soonas he could do so in a low voice, 'Come in directly, Angela. You knowthis is not private ground.'
'O Felix, we have found such a delicious ghost! Don't you see its whitewings?'
'Angel thinks it is her own kin, a fossil cherub,' said Will. 'Whyaren't you all out? 'tis not a scene to be wasted, especially withAngels and Ministers of Grace to defend us.'
'Minister of _Grace_--that's Robin,' laughed Angela.
'Hush, Angela! come in,' said Felix, severely; 'this is no place fornonsense--especially unkind nonsense,' he added in a lower voice.
She did not answer, but the church clock began its chimes--sweet,mysterious, tender--given by some musical Underwood long ago, andsounding in the dark quite unearthly, while the long deep tones of theten o'clock that followed came with awe upon the ear. Will was heardto give a long sigh, but no one spoke as they all came back to thedrawing-room, which was full enough by this time--four gentlemen, hotlydiscussing a cricket-match by the chimney-piece; Wilmet knitting on astiff chair in the
corner; and Robina, under the lamp, hard at work onsome point-lace on a green roll.
'Putting out your eyes, Bob,' said Felix, feeling the need of sayingsomething kind to her. 'What are you doing that for?'
'Lady de la Poer has some point de Venise that she can't use becauseone ruffle is wanting,' said Robina, 'and I have made out the pattern.I want to take it back with me and surprise her.'
'It is all willing sacrifice when one puts out one's eyes in amarchioness's service,' said Will's voice from the window.
Robina looked up resolutely. 'Very willing when one is grateful for agreat deal of motherly kindness,' she said, steadily, and yet with acertain sadness in her voice.
'Oh yes! a handle to one's name makes a little civility go a great way.'
'You know nothing about it.' The voice was steady but indignant, andthere was a flush of deep colour on the cheeks.
'It is quite true, Robina,' said John. 'It is one of the trials oflife, that when we live in two different worlds, the inhabitants of theone are apt to resent and misunderstand our feelings for the other.'
They were all grateful for this generalization; and Felix now spoke ofthe household prayers. 'I had not begun them,' said Clement; 'I thoughtthe real master of the house should take the initiative.'
'Set up the domestic halter, as Mrs. Shapcote says,' added Lance.
'We might make that organ available,' said Felix, 'and screen off theend part of the long room where it stands, for a permanency.'
'Yes, there's rather a nice window down there with our Rood init--nothing incongruous,' said Clement, 'if Lance can only cure theorgan.'
'Meantime, I suppose we had better have the servants in here, and usethe piano.'
'They will be all dispersed, and not like to come in,' said Wilmet.
'Possibly,' said Felix, 'but I shall go and see. I have a feelingagainst beginning our first night in our new home without somecollective commendation of ourselves.'
'If we had but an authorized form for dedicating a new home, like theRussian Church,' said Clement.
'You have not thought of anything in especial. Well, see.' And hepointed to some marks in the prayer-book he left in Clement's hand,while he left the room for a word or two, which he thought would betterprepare the household than a peremptory bell.
Clement was struck, as indeed they all were, with his selection. Therewas the Psalm, 'Except the Lord build the house;' a short lesson (thereading of which Felix reserved to himself), namely, the words fromDeuteronomy, against the presumption of prosperity; and the Collects,'Prevent us O Lord in all our doings,' 'Charity,' 'the sundry andmanifold changes of the world,' and 'things temporal and thingseternal;' and then came the hymn--it was, 'Lead Thou me on.' Felixbelieved he had heard its echoes in his little bed that last Sundaynight, and therefore wished for it, though it seemed a strange choicefor the new house. How Edward and Mary must have felt that 'one stepenough for me,' when they went forth with their little ones into themoor and fen! But in this hour of restoration, was it still to be alooking forth into mist and fog, led only by the kindly Light,
'Till through the dawn the Angel faces smile.'
Some who looked at those pictures felt as if they had had a foretasteof those angel faces.
'And,' said Kerenhappuch to her father, 'to see Miss Mary's sons, thosedear young gentlemen, all a standing singing together like so manylambs--it was just a picture like the three chorister boys. I says tomyself, "Keren, this 'ill be a blessed place. If this isn't the angelscome down after all!"'