CHAPTER XXXIX.
FOUR YEARS.
'Yet there are some resting-places, Life's untroubled interludes; Times when neither past nor future On the soul's deep calm intrudes.' _Jean Ingelow._
That Penbeacon pic-nic became an institution, and was one of thepleasantest annual events in what were on the whole very happy years.
Care, exertion, and self-denial, were indeed still needful; but the twolatter were perhaps ingredients of happiness, and care would not havebeen avoided if the Underwood view of duty had been the world's viewsof what became Vale Leston Priory. A strenuous endeavour to keep upappearances, and compete with grand neighbours on an uncertain threethousand a year, would probably have been more wearing than livingon twelve hundred--partly earned by honest labour--and improving thecottages, planting a school-chapel at Blackstone Gulley, hiring a housefor the purpose at East Ewmouth, and restoring the church by degrees.
As for exertion, to be an Underwood of the late type would have beenharder work to Felix than his hours of Pursuivant or days at theoffice, though in truth the labour was sometimes considerable. It wasnot immediately that the two young men at Bexley could get on withoutconstant aid and superintendence in the business: he was always theworking editor; besides which, he was already important at Bexley,and soon was found too good a man of business not to have a good dealof county administration devolved upon him. Trade and public affairsdid so far clash as to be a strain, but not more than was compensatedby sense of usefulness and consideration, and giving zest to thedelightful snatches of leisure in his lovely and cheerful home.
Self-denial? Felix and Geraldine would have disputed that. Theyhad grown up to a style that made simple plenty and moderate easeluxurious, and superfluities never even suggested themselves as needs.Perhaps the lack they were most concerned about was inability to 'keepup the place' in the trim and dainty order it seemed to call for. Thesmoothness of the grass in the park was dependent on the convenienceof John Harewood's dairy farm; and though the garden between the houseand river was always in beautiful order, in the shrubberies there wasa fine struggle of natural selection; the kitchen-gardens were made topay their way, and the ranges of conservatories were cold and empty,except one necessary refuge for tenderer plants, and one maintainedat Clement's expense for Church-decorating flowers. Golightly wasgreatly distressed at having no underlings but one old woman, onesmall boy, and half the man who looked after the horse and pony, orsometimes--what was worse than none--some subject to whom the Vicar wasapplying the labour-test. The worthy gardener truly represented thatthree men was the minimum for such grounds, and gave warning when hefound that justice could not be done them; but after Felix had foundhim a much superior place, he declined; he could not find it in hisheart to leave the place to an untrained labourer, who would not evenknow how to help devastating it. This sense of what was the garden'sdue caused him to bestow an immense amount of personal toil on it; forindeed it was observable that whoever worked for Felix always did sowith a will, stimulated no doubt by the master's example, as well asby his hearty appreciation and acknowledgment of good service. In thisthere was much real economy.
The farm did well in the hands of Major Harewood, who had adapted theagent's house to his own needs. It was just on the other side of theriver and road; and a boat, commonly called 'Lord Ullin's Daughter,'brought it within five minutes' reach, going round by the bridge takingabout three times that interval. The land was chiefly rich pasture; andJohn was growing learned in short-horns, and Wilmet upon butter andcheese, while Clement's wish was realized by a parish cow.
The calculations as to the scale of living were justified by theresult. Lighter household tasks were natural to the young ladies. Theykept their own rooms in order, dusted the books and ornaments, tookcare of the household linen, and performed delicate cookeries, so as tokeep down the number of needful servants; and the occasions were fewand far between when their hospitality extended beyond the additionof a few guests at their ordinary meals, or a garden-party, with itspretty and inexpensive refections.
People who restored their church and built schools, without beggingfor subscriptions either directly or through a bazaar, but continuedin trade, and cut off superfluous luxuries--servants, horses, anddinner-parties--were a fertile subject for wonder and gossip in theneighbourhood. Society growled, contemned, and remonstrated, by themouth of Mrs. Fulbert Underwood, and the defence of her misguidedfamily was a heavy charge to Wilmet for the first year; but no oneworth caring about really took umbrage, and after a time peopleaccepted them on their own terms. A beautiful lawn, full of sprightlyyouth, of looks, spirits, and talents, above the average, could notfail to be popular, and an old county name went for something.
Cherry was proof against dinner-parties. Health was no longer anobjection, for either Vale Leston had the virtues of native air, or theBexley potteries had merited Alda's vituperation, for Cherry's ailmentswere more rare, and she had much advanced in strength and vigour. Felixdeclared she was growing quite handsome; and he, though not exactly theideal squire, had acquired much more of the robustness of manhood, andhad lost the appearance of fragility he had shown in earlier years,though he retained the fair youthful complexion which sometimes madepeople hardly credit that his tens were three. He sometimes dined outalone; but Cherry considered dress and reciprocity to settle thequestion of abstinence for her. Angela was, however, so wild aboutEwmouth balls, that John victimized himself and his wife rather thancreate a grievance, but even his tolerance was sorely taxed.
Was the blame to be laid on prosperity for the difficulty of dealingwith the two standing anxieties--Angela and Bernard? They had notbeen the most docile subjects in the days of comparative poverty, andtheir heads were certainly turned now. Bernard could not be convincedthat expensiveness was not the proof of being a gentleman, and inthree years at Harrow cost his brother more than Clement, Fulbert,and Lancelot, all put together, in their whole nonage, had ever done,besides the scrapes that Lance helped him out of. He had no sympathywith Felix's purpose in economy; not that he had reflection enough fora sceptical habit of mind like Edgar's, but he considered it a hardshipthat the whole family should be stinted and impoverished for what hewas pleased to term Tina's maggots; nor could anything persuade himthat he himself was no richer than before, and equally dependent on hisbrother's bounty. There was no positive harm in him, but as genius andtaste alike lay in the line of cricket, he cared not for distinctionof other kinds, but was content to scrape through the school withoutdisgrace. His farther destiny was a moot point, while he scorned cheapcolleges and halls, and Felix insisted that a distinguished one wasonly to be attained through a scholarship.
Angela was a greater puzzle. She was still much what she had been inchildhood, alternating between the fast and the devotional. She wasClement's right hand in the parish, in the schools, Sunday, day, ornight, and with even more than Wilmet's nursing instinct, the primedoctress of the village, and enjoying the cure of a broken chilblain asmuch as a waltz. To take a medical degree had become her ambition inturns with the dukedom, the opera, and the Sisterhood. Therewith shewas the most saucy and idle of creatures. With less regular good looksthan most of the family, she was more sought after. Figure did much,the hop-pole had become lithe and graceful, and her dress was alwaysbecoming, as well it might be, for her bills were never within bounds.She said she could not help it, and certainly her adventurous natureand rapid movements occasioned numerous catastrophes to her wardrobe,though not enough to account for the discrepancy between her accountsand her sisters'. Her charm lay in droll dash and audacity, and theirresistible glance of her eyes. Even Christopher and his littlebrother Edward preferred her to all their other aunts--the night-schoolwas gathered by her as to a magnet, and better than all the Vicar'sarguments and the Squire's influence had her coaxing prevailed to getthe choir into surplices. She was by far the most formidable as well asthe most unscrupulous adversary of the poor Miss Hepburns, who viewed
her with pious pity and horror as the natural outcome of the systemthey deprecated. Indeed, whether she were Clement's greatest help orhindrance was doubtful. He could not have a friend to stay with him, orobtain the assistance of a curate, without furnishing prey for Angela.Fred Somers, after a six weeks' visit, went back to St Matthew's withhis peace upset, and an understanding that the two friends must nevermeet again in the haunts of that dangerous siren. A few more suchexperiments convinced the Vicar that unless he wished the village girlsto remark that 'Miss Angel was carrying on with another young man,'he must do all the work himself; and his present amount of services,Sunday and weekly, at the parish church, and Blackstone Gulley, werequite up to the mark of any one man's powers, besides his attempts atEast Ewmouth. Here Felix had no property, and therefore could not checkthe eruption of small tenements, which broke forth on some fresh fieldevery spring, containing independent, often surly inhabitants, alwayschanging, and rapidly outrunning the powers of the undaunted youngVicar. The two parishes were so entangled that the difficulties as toterritory were endless, and the endeavour at a week-day service wasnot encouraged or assisted by the incumbent of the nearest district,who feared Clement's 'views,' and had been staggered by Angela'sostentation of them.
Angela was the greater heartache to Clement, because she had beentrained in the same system with himself, and was inclined to carry itto lengths that even he thought extravagant. There might have beensome disadvantage in his inexperience when she came into his handsfor direction only at the end of his first year of priesthood, and hewould fain have kept her in Mr. Fulmort's keeping; but difficultieshad prevented his insistence, and this he increasingly regretted. Forin spite of all his efforts, his relations with her were lapsing intowhat he had always scouted as the popular notion of confession. Itwas technical, as far as he could see devoid of repentance. Angelacontrived to separate the brother and the priest; she would go throughany formula, accept any discipline, but mechanically; but she would notendure exhortation, and if he ever attempted to check her boisterousspirits, she scouted him as Tina. Sometimes he wondered whether shesought him only because the practice belonged to what she called an'out-and-outer,' and Felix retained doubts of its universal expediency.
Did Angela suppress Stella? Never were sisters less alike. PrincessFair Star, as the brothers called her, was still very small, with alovely little face, tinted like fine porcelain, and hair and eyes moredeeply coloured than those of most of the family; hair still snoodedand in shining curls, and pensive eyes shining with a lustre of theirown. She was the help and handmaid of the whole house, especially ofGeraldine, with whom she still did regular lessons; and she was verydiligent in all her doings, turning out her handiwork with delicatefinish; but she was not enterprising, the very pains she took renderingher slow to undertake, though she spent much time in finishing Angela'sodds and ends. She still continued the family lexicon, for even ifshe could not answer a query off-hand, she could always hunt it down,and the reply was generally ready in the soft low musical voice. Herlaugh was noiseless and not frequent, for though never fretful nordepressed, she was only gently merry, pensively gay; and though nowand then a quaint remark would drop into the whirl of family fun--andshe was no inconsiderable element in games--she was always as happy,if not happier, in the garden or the woods with Theodore, their petsand flowers. She was devoted to the garden, its trimness was in greatpart owing to her; and as Golightly said, 'The bookets for the 'ousewas Miss Stella's province, and them for the church Miss Hangela's;'and of live-stock the twins tended a curious variety--rabbits, doves,cats, dogs, canaries, dormice, and owls, besides wounded creatures,rescued, cured, and released. Stella's quietness was a great ingredientin taming them; John Harewood called her the only feminine creaturedevoid of propensity for making a noise, and Felix, their silent Star
'Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.'
Sometimes she would talk freely to Geraldine on any unusual excitement,but if she conversed with any one else, it was with Theodore. Noone who watched the pair could doubt that they had more mutualunderstanding than the boy had with any other person--even Felix, forwhom his love was like a dog's devotion to his master. The out-of-doorlife and country air had been beneficial both to mind and body, andTheodore was much healthier and stronger, made progress in the littlethat he could be taught; could utter a few words, comprehended morethan he could pronounce, and improved in self-control. His consciencewas developing in some degree, and his delight in the Church servicesand music less unintelligent.
Perhaps Stella was content to be the longer a child because eachadvance into life was further away from Theodore; and she had neveryet shed such sorrowful tears as when Clement decided againstpresenting him for Confirmation, in the inability to trace whether thecomprehension that Stella maintained, and Felix believed, were not anillusion of their loving imagination.
Yet strangely enough, Theodore was confirmed after all. He was as usualamong the choir-boys, walking in procession with them, and materiallyaiding them by his perfectly true though wordless chant. His nearestcompanions were candidates, and he moved instinctively with them tothe step; nor had either brother the heart to interfere as they sawhim kneeling--for though he could not renew the vow, why might he notreceive the Seal? The tickets had been previously taken, so there wasno obstacle; and when explanation and apology were afterwards made,they were met with encouragement not to debar the innocent from hisChristian privileges because of his lack of power of expression.
Indeed, the Bishop, who had been dismayed at the institution to thefamily living of another Underwood, and he such a young one, was nota little gratified and surprised at the changes he found going on inVale Leston--no longer one of the dark hopeless spots of his diocese,though of course the work, both moral and material, was gradual. Felixhad done nothing in advance of the means that the great tithes broughtinto his hands, and had begun with the needful repairs of the cottageson the Rectory property, and the crying needs of Blackstone Gulley; butthe Church restoration was gradually going on--the Vicar, Marilda, andJohn Harewood, all claimed a right to assist, and another year or twoof the great tithes would accomplish the full detail of the plan ofrestoration he had set out with.
Meantime he had made many real friends. The one whom he had reckonedhad, however, been disappointing. Captain Audley had exerted himself toleave his cards, but when he had reason to believe no one at home. Hewas friendly when he encountered Felix, and sometimes on the spur ofthe moment asked him to dinner; but the ladies he ignored, except thatonce when Cherry and Angel were driving past his house in a shower, herushed out and offered an umbrella.
His son, however, soon haunted the Priory, as affording all that homelacked. He was a nice lively lad, dark and brisk, and not the lesswelcome because there was much to recall the Charles Audley who wasstriving to bring light to the 'black fellows' of Carrigaboola. He wasavowedly Bernard's friend, but he was regularly tame about the house,walking in at all times during his vacations, in a way that could notbe grudged to one whose home was so dull. Certainly it was a pleasanthouse to young men; Wilmet sometimes murmured a little when all WillHarewood's pupils appeared there at luncheon every Sunday of the stayat Penbeacon; and the old ones invariably turned up again, especiallyLord Ernest, who had taken a second class and got into a governmentoffice, and yet always managed to appear at each Penbeacon pic-nic.
The first shadow which came upon Vale Leston was good Mr. Froggatt'sdeath, a grief really deep to those who owed so much to his kindness.It was a touching thing to see the four fine young men, who looked onhim like a kinsman, gathered round his grave. Felix and Lance werefar more to the widow than her own nephews; and when married nieceswanted to take her home, and single ones to live with her, she--notwithout misgivings as to the nature of the attraction--declined all,preferring to face her solitude at Marshlands, in the security thatdear Mr. Lancelot would walk out to see her once or twice a week, andthat still dearer Mr. Underwood would come out whenever he could
.
It ended in Lance doing more than this. He had been a partner eversince he had come to years of discretion, and now found himself thelegatee of all Mr. Froggatt's remaining interest in Pursuivant orbusiness. Ernest Lamb had lately lost his father, and having come intopossession of a slender capital, was in condition to become one ofthe house, as indeed he was excellent in whatever regarded the trade,though incapable of more than the most mechanical newspaper work.
The new arrangement of Underwood and Co. had hardly been made than theworld was electrified by the announcement of Mr. Lamb's engagement.That Madame Tanneguy had been adored by him ever since her arrivalwas known to all; but hitherto she had only vouchsafed a distractingsmile at long intervals, and had laughed at him with her intimates.Her opportunities were not extensive, but she was as pretty as ever;and she turned the heads of one or two brothers of her pupils, hadat one time a promising little flirtation with a sentimental youngpartner of Mr. Rugg's, and never ceased to dream of an invitation toVale Leston, which she was quite sure Geraldine alone withheld poor Mr.Underwood from giving. But Gustavus and Achilles were growing ratherbig for inmates of a young ladies' school, Madame Tanneguy was weary ofthe drudgery, and no such positive release as Ernest Lamb offered hadcome in her way. His mother's opposition could be set aside, betweencoaxing and unwillingness to quarrel; and though he was some yearsthe younger, he did not look it, nor could there be any doubt that hewould be the best of husbands, and a kind and conscientious father tothe boys; and the aunts, though drawing up their necks a little whenthey spoke of it in private, could not deny that it was a subject ofthankfulness--making their future retirement come within the bounds ofpossibility.
'Guess the proposal I have had,' quoth Felix, when next he returnedfrom Bexley, and Cherry drove to meet him at the station with thepony she had named Master Ratton, in that sort of tender defiance ofpainful association found in those who own an exile.
'Eh! You don't look humbly cock-a-hoop, so I gather it was _not_ tostand for the borough.'
'Why don't you say the county at once? No, it was of a less publicnature.'
'Oh, then, I know! To give up the house to the happy pair. What? Youdon't mean that it really was? That beats everything!'
'Well--it is undeniable that those are large quarters for Lance, hiscat, and his fiddle.'
'I do believe you have been and gone and consented! Well?' with a sigh,as if she did not know what might come next.
'As it was purely out of consideration for Lance, I referred it to him.'
'Oh! it was all for Lance's sake--was it?'
'Entirely!'
There was a dryness in the last two replies, that pacified Cherry alittle.
'How Serious Mutton must be translated, to have the face--'
'He hadn't!'
'What? Alice did?'
'Yes. I believe that he had refused; but, you see, when Lance's comfortwas at stake, she was not to be withholden by a scruple or two.'
'Come--tell me how she managed it. Did she write?'
'No; she chose her time. Lance was gone to that Minsterham affair,reporting--Lamb out of the way--when I heard a playful sort of littletap at the office door, and there she stood, smiling and blushing.'
'Blushing!!!'
'I'll not insist, but so it appeared to me. I assure you she did thething to perfection--smiled and hesitated, and said she thought it wasa pity to let _mauvaise honte_ stand in the way of what would be somuch better for Lance and all of us.'
'What, she wanted to have the house and _do_ for him?'
'As one of the family!' then, taking no notice of Cherry's 'Faugh!'he went on, 'It was curious to look at her as she sat there, andthink of the difference she was able to make; yet in many ways she issuperior to what she was then, and certainly prettier; but I own thatmy feelings for her _then_ seem an unaccountable infatuation.'
'Accountable only because you never spoke to anyone else, and did notrave about the customers, like Lance. I am glad you were in triplebrass, though--and I can't help enjoying her having come to sue for theshop that she used to despise.'
'Fie, Cherry!'
'I declare! I believe you have gone and consented, after all thatbravado!'
'I left it to Lance. Don't be furious, Cherry; the boy has had moreloneliness than is good for him since Dick Graeme has been in London,and as he has his own notions about companionship, I was not sure thathe might not catch at it.'
'I have a better opinion of Lance.'
'And justly. But what he wants to do is to leave the old houseto Madame, and betake himself to Mrs. Froggatt. He says--trulyenough--that every evening he has free of his choir-practice, pennyreadings, and all the rest of it, he should go out to look her up, andthat this would simplify the matter, and nothing would do the poor oldlady so much good as seeing him.'
'That's true; but to be going out there at all times, and in allweathers!'
'That is nuts to him! Don't you know he has got a velocipede fever? Hehas set up a thing that he calls Plato.'
'Un play toe, I should have thought.'
'It is Plato, because Mrs. Harewood announced that he and Bill had comeall the way to Minsterham, each upon his own philosopher.'
'I declare they make up things for that poor woman.'
'Or she makes them on purpose for their diversion; but at any rate,Plato is lord of the ascendant just now, and demands exercise as if hewere flesh and blood. I own I was glad to see the boy in a craze again.'
'And letting Pur alone. It was very droll that the passion for makingthat diurnal instead of weekly, set in with him just at the same agethat it did with you.'
'Yes. I am much obliged to Alda for nipping my plans in the bud.'
'The dignified weekly purr is not to change into a little petulantdaily mew!'
'No. It was a manifestation of restlessness, like his wanting newstops for his organ, or being annoyed when there is a murmur againstover-elaborate music. I am afraid the fact is that he has outgrown thewhole concern, Cherry!'
'You never did!'
'That's nothing to the purpose. He has done all he can do with hispresent means, and no doubt he is thrown away down there.'
'He never says so. And it is quite hard to get him here.'
'I wish I had not consented to leaving him there. That boyish coolnessand audacity that used to rush into all kinds of society are quitegone, and there is no persuading him that he is not in a false positionamong our neighbours.'
'He gets more into society at Bexley than ever you did.'
'Oh yes, he has quite made his place there; but there's no denyingthat he has been left behind; and though he says not a word, there'sno doubt that since he went up to Oxford he has felt it a good dealmore. Well, in a couple of years at latest, the Rectory affair will besettled; and if I can get Blackstone Gulley into my own hands, I may beable to set him free.'
Lance had been to take a musical degree, and had spent a week withWilliam Harewood at Christ Church; and it might be true that thevague spirit of enterprise for which Bexley afforded so little scopehad become remarkable since that time. However, no more was heardof it during the preparations for installing the bride in the newhome. Robina came for the first fortnight of her holidays to take herleave of the old rooms, and help in the removal of his belongings toMarshlands, where the arrangement was as great a pleasure as poor Mrs.Froggatt was capable of receiving. Moreover, Robina assisted in anothergreat change. Miss Pearson had--by Felix's management in conjunctionwith some others interested in middle-class education--been enabled toretire; the house and good-will of the establishment being made over tothe governing body of Miss Fulmort's school. Two ladies were providedfrom thence, who undertook to make a home both for young teachers anddaily governesses, and were likely to raise the standard in Bexley.They were old friends of Robina, and she did much to settle them in,and pave their way. After this Robina went to Minsterham for one of thebrief visits that were never satisfactory, for Grace Harewood had madea foolish marriage in the town
, and Lucy did not improve, but becamelouder and more daring, her native cleverness only making her moreunrefined and less simple than her mother. The Librarian never wonderedthat his son soon escaped to his pupils at Penbeacon, and the ValeLeston neighbourhood.
Before Robina had been many days at home, one Saturday forenoon whenshe was undergoing Cherry's third attempt to satisfy unreasonable Willwith her portrait, while assisting Stella's German, Angela rushedin--'One to make ready, two to prepare--one, two, three, if not fourswells--not away, but here--Hammonds, et cetera.'
'Here? Not imminent? Lady Hammond always sends notice.'
'Imminent? They are prancing up the drive! Only I cut across in "MissUllin" to give warning. Shall I administer any orders to the dinner,Cherry, before I make myself scarce?'
'No, thank you, there is quite enough. Just take my painting-apron,that's all,' said Cherry, as coolly as Lady de la Poer would have heardtidings of such an inroad; but when Amelia announced, 'Sir Vesey andLady Hammond in the drawing-room--and two more ladies, Ma'am--shallI lay the table for them?' she quietly answered, 'Yes, I supposeso.--Stella my dear, will you see if there is fruit enough in?' AndStella stayed behind, while Cherry descended, aided by Robina's arm.
Felix was already in presence, and the moment the two sisters appeared,a slight, brown, hazel-eyed girl in mourning exclaimed, 'O MissUnderwood, this is just what I hoped!' and eagerly kissed her, whileLady Hammond introduced 'Lady Caergwent' and 'Mrs. Umfraville,' thelatter a peculiarly sweet-looking elderly lady in widow's dress. Therewere apologies for this sudden descent, telling that, on hearing hownear Vale Leston was, Lady Caergwent had been so eager to see thePriory, that she had wrought with Sir Vesey, and prevailed.
Yet she did not seem to be profiting by the opportunity, for shemerely sat by Robina, looking, thought Cherry, neither like aCountess nor a woman of twenty-three, but much more like a girl ofeighteen--petrified, all save her great eyes, by shyness; and Felixregarded her precedence as not only unnatural but unlucky, with sounconversible a subject, when he had to give her his arm, and seat herat his right hand for the mid-day meal. Be it observed, that the vealstewed with asparagus, and the pie that was to be cold for the morrow,as fully justified Cherry's calmness, as did the pile of strawberriesand glasses of preserves her trust in Stella's handiwork.
Clement came in late and astonished, and with a very hazy idea who thestrangers were, just as Sir Vesey was saying, 'Now, Lady Caergwent, Mr.Underwood will be able to answer your question.'
She coloured a little, and rather hastily asked whether there were anytradition of French architects having been employed in the church, forshe had been struck with the foreign air of the tracery of the southwindow. Not a little surprised, Felix soon found himself in the midstof an architectural discussion, which taxed all his knowledge on thematter, and stirred Clement on the other side into the ecclesiasticalaspect of the question; and all three fell into an eager talk, whensuddenly there was a general lull, and the young lady's voice was heardsaying, 'There is no heart or beauty in what is not symboli--' andthere she came to a full stop, and looked at Mrs. Umfraville with astart of embarrassment, requited.
Appreciation of their church was no slight merit with any of theUnderwoods; and in the lionizing that ensued, the guest had eyes andtongue full of architecture, romance, and history, even spying andidentifying a heraldic badge that supplied a missing link in thehistory of the building. Angela thought it flagrant pedantry; butClement was so struck with her keen interest in all his arrangements,and her real reverence, that he unlocked the grille of the chancel,offered her to try the tone of his organ, and in spite of her totalignorance on that head, he asked if 'Miss Umfraville' would notlike to see the choice needlework from St. Faith's in the chest inhis vestry. There she had no lack of ideas; she examined and askedquestions evidently with practical views, and could be hardly gotaway to continue the tour, when she again satisfied him (and more) byindignation on behalf of the monks--not sentimental, but evidentlystraight out of Dean Hook's version of the dissolution of the abbeys;and yet there was a quaintness and originality in the way she put it,that amused Felix greatly.
In the painting-room an entreaty was preferred to see Miss Underwood'sdrawings, which were indeed more worth looking at than when Lord deVigny had stirred her up. She always had at least one real work inhand, and a good many studies. She was finishing a water-colour of thescene in The Lord of the Isles, when Ronald's betrothal ring falls atthe feet of Isabel Bruce in the convent.
Lady Caergwent stood before this as if it touched some responsivechord; but her aunt was busy with the portraits. Geraldine's emulationhad been fired by the cluster of miniatures in the drawing-room, andshe had undertaken to commemorate the present family in the samestyle. She had produced very fair likenesses of Felix and of Wilmet,besides her half-finished crayon of Robina, and a still better one ofMr. Froggatt, which she was copying for his widow. Mrs. Umfraville wasdelighted with these, and wished she could get anything as good of herKate, whom photography always represented as a fury, and portraiture asa doll; but by this time Lady Caergwent had got Robina in the recess ofa window, asking, 'Are you still at Repworth?'
'Oh yes.'
'And how are they all?'
'Quite well, except that Lady Susan does not get over the remains ofmeasles.'
'Poor little Susie! What a monkey she was! but oh, I want to hear aboutGracie, and if she is more eager than ever.'
'She is very much sobered and subdued by reality.'
'And what's he? I always thought Grace would marry a great block, andripple and splash round him.'
'No, he is a little brisk satirical man, who laughs at her when shegushes.'
'What chance is there for them?'
'Not till he gets preferment.'
'How tiresome! Ah! I forgot! Is not Mr. Harewood here?'
'At Penbeacon, but he comes here every Sunday. He knows Mr. Pembertonvery well.'
'Poor Gracie! Lady de la Poer wrote to Aunt Emily that she thought itwell that her steadiness should be tested; but it must have been hardto see Addie go off with flying colours. How does Addie get on as achieftainess?'
'I had a letter from Gracie this morning. Do you like to see it?'
'Is she there? Do tell me how to say the name. I see there must be ahideous roll in the bottom of one's throat.'
Robina gurgled. 'That was allowed to pass for it when we had a lessonin pronunciation on pain of not being allowed to be bridesmaids.'
'Not a creature have I seen to tell me about the wedding.'
'Kate, my dear,' said Lady Hammond. 'No, you need not look so blank;that is, if Robina will kindly let us take her home with us. Herbrother and sister are so good as to come to dine and sleep on Monday.'
For so it had been settled during the colloquy in the window, Sir Veseyand his lady being no doubt very glad to find a play-fellow for hisyounger visitor.
Colonel Umfraville had died after a long illness, rather more thana year previously, and this was the first time his widow and niecehad come from home. The Hammonds were very old friends, but Mrs.Umfraville still shrank from general society; so that when Felix andCherry arrived they found themselves the only other guests besides theHarewoods, who had come earlier in the day.
No sooner had Cherry been conducted to the room, which, as usual, sheshared with her sister, than Robina said, 'You are going to be asked totake Lady Caergwent's likeness.'
'My dear, I am not the sun, to do it in a minute!'
'And make a Brigand's Bride of her. No, you are to have her at thePriory.'
'Are you gone crazy, Bobbie?'
'Be conformable, and you shall hear.'
'I'll hear, but I don't promise conformity.'
'Now listen. Nobody can do her fit to be seen; and Mrs. Umfravillewants a nice water-colour like Mrs. Welsh's, which was exhibited. Isaid I did not see how it could be managed; and then she asked if shemight not come to us for it; and Mrs. Umfraville let me know that shewould be very glad, for she has to
go on into Wales to some old maids,who would be horribly fussed if she brought Kate.'
'Well, we are old maids and old bachelors to boot. Why should not we behorribly fussed by a live Countess running about the house?'
'Because she would be tame; and because you have common sense.'
'Oh, I thought you would say, because you were used to act keeper tothe species! In herself she may be inoffensive; but what sort of a taildoes she bring after her?'
'Six running footmen, eh?'
'Don't be saucy, Cock-robin. One grand maid would be bad enough,scaring Theodore, and upsetting Sibby. No, no, Rob! leave countesses tothose who can live as sich.'
'You need alter nothing. You may do as Bear says you do--eat boiledpork and greens every day at one o'clock--and she'll like it! She andher aunt always do dine early; and as to her maid, she is a littleRepworth thing, just promoted from waiting on us in the school-room.I'll answer for her. The very attraction is, that you'll leave her inpeace, and not beset her with dinner-parties.'
'She doesn't keep a duenna, then?'
'Duenna!'
'Well, heiresses in books always do. And in this case it seems to methat the article would be desirable.'
'Oh, we settled all that! Wilmet is equal to as many duennas as youlike. She will come and do all the chaperoning.'
'Do you mean that she has undertaken it? Then I can only submit,provided the Squire does.'
The Squire made a few wry faces, but consented, with all a man'ssuperior philosophy towards domestic disorganizations of which hedoes not feel the brunt. Besides, both he and Wilmet were proud ofCherry's talent, and the esteem in which Robina was held; and Mrs.Umfraville had been confidential with Wilmet, saying how glad she wasto see her child willing to go among youth and brightness. The girlhad, she said, never made young friends except the De la Poers, and herWardour cousins, who had married, and gone out of reach. She had nosuitable neighbours, and 'circumstances' had hindered her being much inLondon; and loss of her father-like uncle had not so much taken awayher spirits--for she was always bright--as given her a distaste tosociety. She hated entertaining people or seeing strangers; cared fornothing but her aunt, her books, her walks, and her poor; was oppressedwith the business of her property, and was altogether so studious andindefatigable at three-and-twenty, and so averse to gaieties, that heraunt feared she would never act up to her position, unless her habitsof seclusion were broken, and had therefore forced herself to comeon this journey with her. But there had been no real thaw till sheheard of Vale Leston and met Robina. Wilmet was not a little gratifiedby hearing, at second-hand, Lady de la Poer's praise of the younggoverness as a valued friend; and it was plainly to her charge that theprecious niece was committed.
When the visit took place, the Countess was soon forgotten in thecompanion. At first, Felix was a little ceremonious, and she a littleshy, watching the family party as if they were acting a play; but asthe strangeness wore off, she began by being diverted, though silentfrom long disuse of family chatter, and soon plunged in, with as drolland eager a tongue as ever wagged.
Then Cherry found her face quite unlike her first reading of it, andhad to begin all over again. It was altogether, as Bernard said, ajolly time. That young gentleman was, for the first time, smitten.His devotion to himself and cricket had never before been disturbed;and he had reached his eighteenth year without regarding woman asintended for any purpose but to wait upon him. But bright eyes, merrysmiles, genuine fun, and mayhap the rank that gratified his vanity,began to avenge the wrongs of the sex; and Bernard was enslaved enoughto amuse and edify his brothers and sisters--all the more, that thesimple-hearted Countess was perfectly unconscious, thought herselfimmeasurably older than the great, handsome, idle fellow--half an inchtaller than the Vicar, by-the-by--stood on no conventionalities withhim, and when released by her task-mistress, would run down-stairsto call him, nothing loth, to give her a row on the river, to blowaway the fumes of the painting-room. Quite unawares, she effected avictory for Felix; for when she assumed that since he was going toOxford it must be to Keble College, and he found that she regarded itas very stupid to do anything else, he entirely forgot all his formerobjections, and was only too happy to gratify her.
Even Clement expanded more than usual, for he had never met a morecongenial spirit. Lady Caergwent's enthusiasm went much deeper thanexternals, for she was well read in Church history, and a practicalworker in the present, being at Caergwent, that teacher, registeroffice, manager, letter-writer, &c., which the lady-of-all-work to aparish must become, whether clerical or otherwise. 'There's Tina boringher with shop!' would Bernard mutter, in a paroxysm of jealousy.
'Quite the reverse,' said Angela. 'She is the most thorough Goody Iever came across, not excepting Clan Hepburn!'
It was not with any design of captivating sympathy, but because LadyCaergwent had an unusual number of interests, and was intensely eagerabout each in turn. Landlord cares were discussed with Felix, as Churchmatters were with his brother. She was too headlong and unguarded notoften to say ridiculous things, but nobody more enjoyed having themcaught up and laughed at; and when Felix had made gentle fun of someof her impetuous political economy, she looked up to him like an elderbrother. With the sisters she was soon as much at ease as in the Dela Poer schoolroom, making Robina her friend _par excellence_, butapparently observing Angela, who, having no one to flirt with, was ather best, and was drawn out by the 'Goody' sympathies.
'Robina,' said Lady Caergwent, entering her friend's room at thatconfidential moment, near 11.0 p.m., 'you know all about everything!'
To which monstrous assertion Robina assented.
The next question was equally abrupt. 'Do you know that Angela wants togo into a Sisterhood?'
'Oh! I thought that had gone off.'
'No, indeed! It is to be a very strict nursing one;' and as Robinasmiled a little, 'I cannot but believe I know the cause.'
'It always used to come on when she was going to be particularlynaughty.'
'Robina, I can't understand it in you; you do not seem like an eldersister to pooh-pooh all higher aspirations in a younger one, or to haveno sympathy with deeper feelings.'
'You will only think the worse of me for not believing in the deeperfeelings,' said Robina; 'but indeed, I think I know Angela.'
'How odd it is! Then it is true that elder sisters never can do youngerones justice!' said Lady Caergwent, looking at Robin in a meditativekind of philosophical way, which made her laugh, and say, 'There, it isno use to say anything!'
'I would not, but that I am going away; and I want you to promise thatif--if you see that any scruples hinder her happiness, you would tellher how entire all _that_ is at an end.'
'If I do,' said Robina, much pitying, but much diverted at the romancethat could ascribe either forbearance or self-sacrifice to Angela.
'_He_ comes here, doesn't he?'
'He came down last summer, but I saw no symptoms of anything--tosignify,' added her conscience; 'in fact, I think he prefers Cherry.'
'I hope,' said poor Lady Caergwent musingly, 'that some day or other,when we are all old women; Gracie, Addie, and I, may meet and smile atall that is gone and past. I can laugh now, even while I am sorry, torecollect my absurd presumption. I had the influence, delusion on mybrain, and believed mine the only right way, and dragooned every oneabout wasting time. I am glad he asserted himself! What he has donesince showed how nonsensical I was. Does he like his work? no one tellsme.'
'You know what his chief said.'
'Oh! what?'
'To Mr. Welsh, the member for Ewmouth, so it is quite impartial--thathe never had a better fellow to stick to his work, or moreclear-headed. Yes! and we all think--here, I mean, as well as atRepworth--that he is so much more of a man. Felix really talks inearnest to him now, and so does his father. His nonsense is gone.'
'Oh, that's a pity.'
'I don't mean sensible nonsense, but you know his old absurd way.'
'Yes, of course that unluc
ky state of things was as bad as possiblefor him. He would have been the poorest stick in creation not to havebroken loose. I have had a life-long lesson, and I hope it will saveme from getting hard and narrowly resolute, as authority makes singlewomen.'
'You could hardly do that with Mrs. Umfraville before you.'
'Hardly! dear Aunt Emily!' cheered and cheering all the while; 'as longas I have her, nothing can go _very_ wrong with me. I never thought Icould have enjoyed myself again away from her, as I have done here.'
'I am so glad, dear Kate!'
'If I could get any of you to Caergwent! But people are always going tobe married.'
On the Sunday, William Harewood, now a deacon, descended fromPenbeacon to church and dinner, with a train of five pupils, bringingintelligence that the senior, who had been at the original pic-nic, andwas at Penbeacon for the last time, must leave it at the end of theweek, and entreated that he might not miss the entertainment.
There was a general acclamation. Lady Caergwent was wound up toenterprise pitch, and, as an ardent botanist, was delighted with theflora she was told to expect there; and Cherry only bargained for timeto make the pies and send for Lance. It was the only home-gaiety hewould willingly partake, because they always kept it to themselvesinstead of making it serve as civility to the neighbourhood.
Lady Caergwent, after having much appreciated the Sunday-school in theloose boxes, looked on, rather bewildered, at Angela's 'carrying on'with four pupils at once, chattering, laughing, defying, and beingdefied, in a manner, which, if it dissembled grief, was wonderfullysuccessful. To these was added young Charles Audley, coming up theriver in his skiff, for Evensong.
'Ha, Charlie, you're in luck! Hurrah for Penbeacon!'
'Are you going? Then the Kittiwake sha'n't sail! I've missed yourspread every time through that everlasting tub, and the Skipper shallhear reason!'
'Oh, I thought nobody asked you!'
'As if your sighs had not been wafted on the breeze!'
'Puffs to swell the sails and transport bad rubbish!'
'What day is it to be?'
'Wednesday; but you've got no ticket. We are desperately select.'
'By-the-by, you've got a regular tip-topper, haven't you? Old Patakakeinvited me under his breath to gaze at the Countess of Caergwent in Mr.Underwood's carriage.'
'Ay! but we are bound by awful pledges not to regale the countrybumpkins with the sight of a real countess at feeding-time.'
'Then I shall repair to Harewood for an invite. Isn't this the girlthat was booked for young De la Poer?'
'Most ineffable bosh! It went the round of the papers, and my brothersent it to Robin, who contradicted it flat. She'll never marry anybody,and he'll never marry her!'
'Indeed! Why so?'
'He was wanted to. Isn't that enough?'
'He _was_ wanted to?'
'Yes, poor wretch! till he cut and ran for dear life, and never thoughthimself safe till he had got to the top of Penbeacon. That's the wayyou swells _doos_ it.'
'I'm no swell, thank goodness!' said Charlie, chucking a stone into theriver.
'No swell! A swell_ing_ at least! I always regarded you as a sacredpersonage, condemned to _noblesse oblige_, and all that!'
'Catch it obliging me to what I don't choose!'
Such was the conversation, whose sounds would have amazed LadyCaergwent, even more than did the sight: not that there was intentionalhypocrisy in Angela--she never acted a part, but showed herself exactlyas she felt at the moment, 'only more so,' and the moments were solittle in harmony.
Another person who was scandalized was Wilmet, who, in her capacity ofchaperon, was spending the evening at the Priory; and when she foundthat this addition to the party was viewed as a matter of course,sought Felix out, and declared that she would have nothing to do withthe affair unless it were made quite clear that Captain Audley wasaware of the extent of the intimacy.
Felix himself had once or twice doubted whether some steps ought not tobe taken, for the eldest brother having died and left only daughters,Charlie was heir to the baronetcy, and old Sir Robert and his wifehad a reputation for haughtiness and exclusiveness. Their grandsonnever went near them if he could help it, only enduring a duty-visitby the help of shooting; and their son was even more slack, having,in fact, never entirely forgiven their coldness to his young andpassionately-loved wife. If there should be anything more than funand froth in all the quips and cranks, jokes and pranks, among theyoung people, there would assuredly be an explosion, and silence onhis part might justly be deemed unfair encouragement. Maybe, his wasan over-scrupulous mind, for he was already uneasy enough to make thestrength of Wilmet's remonstrance unnecessary. The fact of another eyethan his own having remarked it, was enough for him; and although hegave Mrs. Harewood little satisfaction at the moment, the next forenoonhe jumped off his horse at her door, interrupting her unprosperousattempts at making her eldest son remember six times four--
'Five minutes, Mettie!--Yes, Kester, you shall ride round to thestables if you be off now.--I've asked Captain Audley to Penbeacon.'
'You don't mean that he will come?'
'Far from it; but it was the easiest way of suggesting that I wishedhim to see for himself.'
'With what effect?'
'That of being civilly shown that I was a fool for my pains.'
'Do you mean that he does not care?'
'Not a straw. I can't make out whether he thinks the Somerville-Audleyblood beyond precaution, or whether it is all indolence, and dislike tohinder the boy's amusement.'
'Did you speak plain enough for him to understand?'
'Oh yes, he understood--very nearly laughed at me, and changed thesubject. So now I must leave it; I can't forbid the young fellow thehouse, and a warning to Angel would only precipitate it.'
'It is hard that one's sisters should be sacrificed.'
'My dear, everybody is not as much _au grand serieux_ at that age aswe used to be. The Skipper, as Charlie respectfully calls him, may beright, and there may be nothing in it; or if there should be, thatAngel of ours has quite strength and spirit enough for a struggle,and maybe a disappointment. The truth is,' coming nearer, and lookingmysterious, 'we know nothing at all about it, and had best let italone.'
Wilmet's face of expectation melted into pardon for being teased; butKester, shouting, 'Uncle Felix, come!' put an end to the conference,rather an odd one to be taking place at the moment when the Countesswas beguiling the constraint of sitting, by dreaming over Isabel Bruce,and the magnanimity of rescuing the intended recluse by--Alas! she hadnever had a ring to throw at her feet--only that whisper which Robinaseemed unwilling to convey.