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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20381-8.txt b/20381-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e06f8f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/20381-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6410 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Village by the River, by H. Louisa Bedford + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Village by the River + +Author: H. Louisa Bedford + +Release Date: January 16, 2007 [EBook #20381] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VILLAGE BY THE RIVER *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: Paul . . . was holding it closely +upon the burning skirt.] + + + + + + +THE VILLAGE BY THE RIVER. + + +by + +H. LOUISA BEDFORD, + + + +AUTHOR OF + +"MRS. MERRIMAN'S GODCHILD," "RALPH RODNEY'S MOTHER," + +"MISS CHILCOTT'S LEGACY," ETC., ETC. + + + + +ILLUSTRATED BY W. S. STACEY. + + + +PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE + +GENERAL LITERATURE COMMITTEE. + + + + +LONDON: + +SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, + +NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.; + +43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. + +BRIGHTON: 129, NORTH STREET. + +NEW YORK: E. & J. B. YOUNG AND CO. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER + + I. WHAT THE VILLAGERS SAID + II. AN UNLOOKED-FOR INHERITANCE + III. FIRST IMPRESSIONS + IV. OPPOSING VIEWS + V. A QUESTION OF EDUCATION + VI. A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE + VII. A MOMENTOUS DECISION + VIII. AN OUTSTRETCHED HAND + IX. A CRISIS IN A LIFE + X. RIVAL SUITORS + XI. A FRIEND IN NEED + XII. KITTY'S CHRISTMAS TREE + XIII. THE CALL OF GOD + XIV. A CHANGE OF MIND + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Paul . . . was holding it closely +upon the burning skirt. . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +"I've come after some roses." + +Before he could regain his feet, a hand was on his collar. + + + + +THE VILLAGE BY THE RIVER. + + +CHAPTER I. + +WHAT THE VILLAGERS SAID. + +"Well, it were the grandest funeral as ever I set eyes on," said +Allison, the blacksmith, folding his brawny arms under his leather +apron, and leaning his shoulders against the open door of the smithy in +an attitude of leisurely ease. + +The group, gathered round him on their way home from work, gave an +assenting nod and waited for more. + +For convenience Allison shifted his pipe more to the corner of his +mouth, and proceeded-- + +"Not one of yer new-fangled ones, with a glass hearse for all the world +like a big window-box, and a sight of white flowers like a wedding. +Everything was as black as it should be; I never see'd finer horses, in +my life, with manes and tails reachin' a'most to the ground, and a +shinin' black hearse with a score of plumes on the top, and half a +dozen men with silk hatbands walking alongside it, right away from the +station to the churchyard yonder." And Allison threw a backward glance +over the billowy golden cornfields, which separated the village from +the church by a quarter of a mile, where the grand tower reared its +head as if keeping watch over the village like a lofty sentinel. + +"There were lots of follerers, I expect?" suggested Macdonald, gently. +He was a Scotchman, and worked on the line, and he shifted his bag of +tools from his shoulder to the ground as he spoke. "A gentleman like +him would leave a-many to miss him." + +Allison stared across at the river which ran swiftly by on the opposite +side of the road. The long village of Rudham skirted its banks +irregularly for a mile or more. The blacksmith had plenty of news to +communicate, but he was not to be hurried in the relating of it. + +"I'm tryin' to recolleck," he said, knitting his brows, "but I can't +mind more than two principal mourners. And the undertaker, when he +stopped to water his horses at the inn, told Mrs. Lake as they was the +doctor and the lawyer; but, relations or no, they did it wonderful +well! Stood with their hats off all in the burnin' sun, and went back +to look at the grave when the funeral was over." + +"The household servants was there--leastways the butler and footman," +said Tom Burney, a dark-eyed, gipsy-looking young man, who was one of +the under-gardeners at the big house on the hill, "but not him as is +coming after." + +"The question is who is a-comin' after?" said Allison, in a tone of +sarcastic argument. "Maybe you'll tell us, as you seem to know such a +lot about it?" + +Burney coloured under his dark skin, and gave an uneasy little laugh. + +"I know what I've heard, no more nor less," he said; "but it comes +first-hand from the butler of him who's gone." + +Allison gave an incredulous sniff; he was not used to playing second +fiddle, and the heads of his listeners had turned to a man in the +direction of the last speaker. + +"He hadn't no near relation, not bein' a married man," went on Burney, +enjoying his advantage; "and Mr. Smith--that's the butler--came and +walked round the garden until it was time for his train to go back to +London." + +"He don't pretend as the property's left to him, I suppose?" broke in +Allison, jocosely. + +Burney turned his shoulder slightly towards the speaker, and went on, +regardless of the interruption-- + +"Mr. Smith says as the house up there, and all the property, goes to a +young fellow not more than thirty, of the same name as the old squire; +some third cousin or other." + +"Hearsay! just hearsay!" ejaculated Allison, contemptuously. "Who's +seen him, I should like to know? Seein's believin', they say." + +"Mr. Smith has," said Burney, a ring of triumph in his voice. "He were +there when old Mr. Lessing died." + +There was silence for a moment. The evidence seemed conclusive, and +Allison's discomfiture complete; but, as the forge was the place where +the village gossips gathered every day, it was felt to be wise to keep +on good terms with the owner. + +"Seems as if it might be true," said Macdonald, casting a timid glance +at the blacksmith. + +"If it is, why wern't he here, to-day, then?" asked Allison, gruffly. + +"Not knowin', can't say," Burney answered with a laugh. + +"Maybe he'll be comin' to live here," said another. + +"He can't! I can tell you that much; there ain't a house he could live +in," asserted Allison. "His own place is let, you see, to the +Websters--whom Burney there works for,--and he can't turn 'em out, as +they have it on lease; and a good thing too. We don't want no resident +squire ridin' round and pryin' into everything. The old one kept +hisself to hisself, and, as long as the rents was paid regular, he +didn't trouble much about us; and there was always a pound for the +widows every Christmas. Trust me, it's better to have your landlord +livin' in London, and not looking about the place more than once a +year. Did Mr. Smith say what the young one looked like, Burney?" + +The question was asked a little reluctantly. + +"No; but he thinks he's a bit queer in his notions. He asked him +whether he'd be likely to want his services; and Mr. Lessing laughed +quite loud, and said, one nice old woman to cook and do for him was all +he should require now, or at any time in his life. Mr. Smith ain't +sure but what he's a Socialist." + +"I don't rightly know the meaning of it?" said Macdonald, +instinctively, turning to the blacksmith for an explanation. + +"It may be a good thing, or it mayn't," declared Allison. "I take it +that a Socialist means one as would take from those as has plenty and +give to those who has nothing. We're born ekal into the world, and +they'd keep us ekal, as far as might be. But it'd take a deal of +workin' out, more than you'd think, lookin' at it first; but I'm not +goin' to say that it wouldn't be handy to have a Socialist squire. He +might divide his land ekal among us, and there'd be no more rent to pay +for any of us. There now!" + +A general murmur of approval ran round his audience, except with old +Macdonald, who gave a quaint smile. + +"But it strikes me that such of us as have saved a tidy bit would have +to hand it out to be divided equal too. It would not be fair as the +Squire should do it all; it would run through, you see." + +"Well, I've not saved a brass farthing, so I should come in for a lot; +and I'd settle down and marry to-morrow!" cried Burney, gaily. "But, +you may depend on it, whoever's got the place will stick to it. I must +be getting on to the station. Our people are coming back from abroad +this evening, and I'm to be there to help hoist up the luggage. It +takes a carriage and pair to carry up the ladies, and an extra cart for +luggage." + +"It's not the luggage you're going to meet, I'll bet; it's the lady's +maid," said a young fellow, who had not spoken before. "If you married +next week we all know well enough whom you'd take for a wife;" and Tom +moved off amid a shout of laughter. + +It was an open secret that Tom was head-over-ears in love with pretty +Rose Lancaster, the somewhat flighty maid of Miss Webster, who, with +her mother, was returning to the Court that evening. Absence had made +his heart grow fonder, and it was beating much faster than usual as he +stood on the station platform awaiting the arrival of the train, and, +when it ran in with much splutter and fuss, not even by a turn of her +head did Miss Rose show herself aware of Tom's presence. Instead, she +was looking after her ladies, lifting out their various belongings--not +a few in number--and ordering round the porters with a pretty pertness +as she counted out the boxes from the van. It was only when she found +her own box missing that she turned appealingly to Tom. + +"Run, there's a good boy, quick to the other van!" she said, +acknowledging him with a nod. "It must have got in there, and the +train will be off in another moment." + +Tom ran as requested, pantingly rescued the box, and came back smiling +to tell her of his successful search. + +"That's right," said Rose, graciously. "Now you can help me on to the +box-seat of the carriage, if you like. I'm going to sit beside Mr. +Dixon." + +Dixon was the coachman, and a formidable rival in Tom's eyes. + +"I thought, perhaps, as you'd come along of me. I'm drivin' the cart +back for Berry, as he had a message in the village. I've not seen you +for such a time, Rose." + +"Come with you!" said Rose, with a toss of her head. "The ladies would +not like it; besides, we shall meet sure enough some day soon. I +mustn't wait a minute longer. You need not help me unless you like." + +But poor Tom, under the pretext of making some inquiry about the +luggage, managed to be near so as to hand up Rose to her seat by the +coachman, who appeared far more absorbed in the management of his +horses than in the young woman who sat by him, upon whom he did not +bestow even a glance, preserving a perfectly imperturbable countenance. + +"He's pretending! just pretending--the scamp!" said Tom, under his +breath, turning back to his horse and cart. + +A strange man stood near stroking the animal's head and keeping a light +hand on its bridle. He wore a loosely fitting brown suit, and the hand +that caressed the horse was almost as brown as his clothes. His head +was closely cropped and his face clean-shaven, showing the clear-cut, +decided mouth and chin, and the white, even teeth displayed by the +smile with which he greeted Tom. + +"You may be glad I was at hand or your cart with its cargo of luggage +would have been upset in the road," he said. "It's not a wise thing to +leave a creature like this standing alone when a train is starting off." + +A quick retort was on the tip of Tom's tongue; he had no fancy for +being called to account by a perfect stranger, but, although the words +sounded authoritative, the tone was good-humoured. + +"Thank you, I only left him for a moment; he stands quiet enough as a +rule," he said, taking the bridle into his hand. + +The stranger picked up the small portmanteau he had set down in the +road, and prepared to walk off, then turned half-hesitatingly back to +Tom. + +"Can you tell me where I can get a night or two's lodging? It does not +much matter where it is as long as it is clean and quiet." + +Tom took off his cap and rubbed his head thoughtfully. + +"Mrs. Lake's a wonderful good sort of woman." + +"And who may Mrs. Lake be?" inquired the stranger, pleasantly. + +"She keeps the Blue Dragon, but I couldn't say as it's exactly quiet of +a Saturday night. She don't allow no swearin' on her premises, but +some of the fellers gets a bit rowdy before they go home." + +"Very possibly," replied his companion, dryly. "I don't think the Blue +Dragon would suit me; but surely there is some cottager with a spare +bed and sitting-room, who might be glad of a quiet, respectable lodger +for a bit?" + +Tom threw a searching glance at the speaker; he was not quite sure +that, notwithstanding his gentle manner of talking, he was to be +altogether trusted. + +"If you'd step up beside me I'll drive you to the forge," he said, +willing to shelve his responsibility of recommendation. "It's close +here, and Allison will help you if no one else can. He knows every +one's business." + +"Just the sort of man I want," said Tom's new acquaintance, climbing +into the cart and seating himself on the cushion that had been intended +for Rose. His alert grey eyes took in his new surroundings at a glance. + +No one could call Rudham a pretty village: it was too straggling, too +bare of trees, which had been planted sparsely and attained no +luxuriance of growth; but it was not wholly unattractive this evening, +with the setting sun turning to gold the varying bends of the river +which ran through the valley, and the cottages and farmhouses dotted +here and there with a not unpleasing irregularity, and in the distance +a softly rising upland turning from blue to purple in the evening light. + +"Yonder's the Court, where my people live," said Tom, jerking his whip +to a big house more than a mile away that peeped out from among the +trees. "It belonged to the old squire who was buried to-day, you know." + +"Ah!" ejaculated his listener, not greatly interested, apparently, in +the information. + +"It's a wonderful fine place, and they say as he who's to have it won't +hold no store by it. Pity, ain't it?" + +Tom's companion broke into rather a disconcerting laugh. + +"Look here, my lad, by the time you're thirty you won't give credit to +every bit of gossip that comes to your ears; you'll wait to know that +it's true before you pass it on, at any rate. This will be the forge +you spoke of, and there's the owner, sure enough, standing at the door. +Thank you for the lift, and here's a shilling for your trouble." + +But Tom thrust away the proffered tip with a shake of his head. + +"No, thank you; you kept the horse safe at the station." + +"So, on the principle that one good turn deserves another, you'll give +me a lift for nothing. All right and thank you," said the man, +dismounting and lifting out his portmanteau. "Good night." + +"Good night," said Tom, with an answering nod. "I wonder what his +business is?" he thought, as he pursued his way. "Shouldn't be +surprised if he was the engineer who's to see to the laying down of the +new line; he's that quick, smart way with him as if he'd been about a +lot and knew a thing or two." + +"Lodgings!" echoed Allison, slowly, as the stranger reiterated his +request. "It's not a thing we are often asked for in Rudham. I'd make +no objection to taking you in myself, but Mrs. Allison's not partial to +strangers." + +"I should be sorry to inconvenience Mrs. Allison; is there no one else +you can think of?" + +"Mrs. Pink 'ud do it; but she's a baby who's teething, and fretful o' +nights." + +"And that would not suit me!" said the newcomer, with decision. + +"I have it!" cried Allison, bringing down his big hand with a +resounding slap upon his knee. "Mrs. Macdonald's the body for you! +There's not a better woman in Rudham, and I know 'em pretty well in +these parts. Her husband's only just gone up street; he were talkin' +here not five minutes ago. There's only their two selves, and the +cottage one of the best in the place." + +"It sounds as if it would suit me down to the ground. And if Mrs. +Macdonald could give me shelter, even for a few nights, it would give +me time to look about me." + +"Thinkin' of settlin' in these parts?" inquired Allison. "There's no +house as I knows on vacant." + +"I've no settled plans at present," answered the stranger. "If you'll +kindly direct me to Mrs. Macdonald's, I'll go and try my fate." + +"Eighth house from here, set back a bit from the road, with a little +orchard behind it; and you can say as I sent you," said Allison, +feeling his name a good enough recommendation for any stranger. + +The door of the eighth house set back a little from the road was +partially open as the new arrival made his way up the box-bordered +path, with beds on either side of it gay with flowers; and before he +could knock a neatly dressed middle-aged woman threw it wide and +surveyed him from head to foot. + +"And what may you be wanting, sir?" she asked, quite civilly. + +"A lodging for a night or two. And Mr. Allison at the forge seemed to +think you might be inclined to take me in." + +"I'm not sure as my John will wish it. But if you'll step inside I'll +ask him," replied Mrs. Macdonald, motioning him to a chair. + +"Unless they turn me out by force, I shall stay," he said, looking +round him with a pleased smile. + +It was not his fault, but "my John's" deafness, that caused him to hear +himself described as a "very decent man, who spoke as civil as a +gentleman; and it was awkward to find yourself in a strange place on a +Saturday night with nobody ready to put themselves about a bit to take +you in." + +"John will yield in the long run," sighed the unwilling listener. +"Mrs. MacD. rules the roost, unless I'm greatly mistaken." + +Apparently his conjecture was right, for in another minute the woman +reappeared to say that she and her husband were willing to let him have +the front bed and sitting-room if, after due inspection, they proved +good enough for him. + +"We're not used to grand folk," she said, a trifle awed by the sight of +the portmanteau. "I cooked for a plain family before I married my +John, and----" + +"Then it's certain that you can cook for me; I'm not nearly so much +trouble as a plain family," said her visitor, laughing. "I'll carry up +my things if you'll show me the way, for I shall go no further than +this to-night. I dare say you can give me some tea, and then I'll go +out and order in some food." + +"I dare say you eat hearty, sir; or we've some fine new-laid eggs," +suggested Mrs. Macdonald. + +"The very thing. You can't get such a thing in London; the youngest +new-laid egg is about a month old, I fancy. Thank you," (with a glance +round the dimity-curtained room, fragrant with lavender); "I shall be +as happy as a king." + +When her lodger was safely established at his evening meal, and Mrs. +Macdonald was satisfied that she could provide nothing more for his +comfort, she went upstairs to tidy his room, shaking her head a little +over the various things that littered the floor and table. + +"He's not so tidy as my John, but he's not got his years over his +head," she said, as she closed the portmanteau and shoved it towards +the dressing-room table. + +As she did so the name on the label caught her eye, she could not help +reading it; and then drew in her breath with a sharp exclamation of +surprise. The next instant she hurried softly but quickly down the +stairs, took her astonished helpmeet by the arm, and dragged him into +the orchard, closing the kitchen door behind her. + +"John!" she said, "who do you think has come to us? Who is it that has +come quite humble like for shelter under our roof this night?" + +In her eagerness to extract an answer she pinched the arm she held a +little. + +"It's not a riddle you're asking me?" said John, withdrawing himself a +pace. + +"No, no, man! it's the young squire himself, for sure. Paul Lessing +is on his portmanter," she said looking round, for fear she should be +overheard by a neighbour. The news must be digested. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +AN UNLOOKED-FOR INHERITANCE. + +A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a +three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of +enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation. They were +orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to +take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete +her college course at Girton. If she had to earn her own living, she +should at least have the best education that money could give; and +Sally had made the best use of her opportunity. Her name was high in +the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed +for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour. + +"It will be a good investment, Sally. You are looking pale after all +your work. We will make no definite plan; it's distance that swallows +up the money, so we'll start off for Brussels, and move on when we feel +inclined, possibly to the Rhine, and so to Heidelberg." And Sally, in +the joyousness of her mood, felt that all places would be alike +delightful in the company of her brother. + +Two days later found the brother and sister seated in the garden of the +_café_ that adjoins the park at Brussels. Even now, at eight o'clock +in the evening, it was exceedingly hot, and the boughs of the trees +overhead, through which here and there a star glimmered, were +absolutely motionless. The band which played was the best string-band +in Brussels, attracting a great throng of listeners; and every table +around them had its complement of guests; and the civil waiters who +flitted hither and thither had almost more than they could do to keep +the tables properly served. Paul was smoking and reading the paper, +but Sally needed no better amusement than to watch the various groups +about her, and to listen to the exquisite playing of the band. + +"We want something like this in England, Paul," she said, laying a hand +on his arm--"lots of places like this out-of-doors in the fresh air, +under the stars and trees, where people can go and drink their tea or +coffee, and listen to music that must refine them whilst they listen." + +Paul laid by his paper and laughed. "Yes," he said, "and when I get +into Parliament--if ever--I will do my utmost to make some of our +wealthy citizens disgorge a part of their wealth to put places such as +this within the reach of everybody. I confess there are +difficulties----" + +"What?" inquired Sally, with childish impatience. + +"Our beastly climate, to begin with," Paul answered with a little +laugh. "Want of space, and want of trees when you get the space. Then +look at our population in our big cities. Brussels is just a +pocket-town, if you come to compare it with London. Of course the +recreation of the masses is only one of the many vexed questions +concerning them that Government eventually must take in hand. If you +want people to be moral, you must give them a chance of enjoying +themselves in an innocent fashion." + +"Of course, you could do a lot if you once got into Parliament!" cried +Sally, with the enthusiasm of her twenty years. "When shall you get +in? and where shall you stand for? and may I help in the election?" + +Paul laughed louder than before. "There's a deal to be done before I +can even think of standing for any place. First, I must accumulate +enough capital to bring me in a small independent income. You know we +have not much now." + +"You can have anything and everything that belongs to me; I mean to +earn my living somehow," declared Sally, sturdily. + +"Thank you. I don't mean to start that way; and money comes in slowly +to a barrister, although I am getting on fairly well. Then I will +stand for any place that will return me, after learning my honestly +expressed political opinions. Each man has his pet hobby, and I feel +that mine is the bettering of the condition of the masses." + +"That will make you popular," said Sally. + +"And I don't care a fig for popularity. I want to help to leave the +average condition of the people better than it is at present. The +contrast between the very rich and the very poor of our land is +something too awful to contemplate." + +His talk, which he had begun half in play, had ended in deadly earnest; +and Sally laid her hand mischievously over his eyes. + +"Then don't contemplate it--at any rate just now, when I am so merry +and happy. You've not answered my last question. May I help in your +election? It would be such fun." + +"I think not, Sally," Paul said smiling again. + +"Oh, what a mass of inconsistency!--when you were saying only to-day +that you saw no just cause or impediment why women should not do +anything for which they have a special fitness. Now I feel politics +will be my speciality, and I would not canvass for any one unless I +quite understood their views." + +"Well, my Parliamentary career is in the far future," Paul interposed; +"and certainly I should not give my sanction to your undertaking any +work of that kind at present. You are much too young, and much too----" + +"Pretty, were you going to add?" broke in Sally, with a ripple of +laughter. "I'm afraid not: enthusiastic would be the more likely +adjective for you to use concerning me. Besides I don't think I am +pretty. 'My dear,' said that candid old Miss Sykes to me the other +day, 'you might have been very good-looking if all your features were +as good as your eyes.' Why do ladies of a certain age take it for +granted that they can say what they choose to the budding young woman? +It annoys me frightfully. Oh, Paul!" with a sudden lowering of her +voice, "talking of pretty, there's a perfectly lovely girl who is +seated with her mother at the third table from ours. Don't turn your +head too quickly or she will think we are talking of her; and then you +can keep your head turned in the direction of the band. Her profile +comes in between it and you." + +Paul did as he was bid. Sally was right, the girl to whom she directed +his attention was lovely beyond compare; and yet there was something in +her face that failed to satisfy him. The very perfection, too, of +everything about her, gave him a feeling of unconscious irritation. + +"Well?" asked Sally, when he turned back to her. + +"She's beautiful, certainly; but I don't like her." + +"It's just because you did not discover her first." + +Paul did not trouble to answer; there was a general stir amongst the +company. The concert was drawing to a close, and the burghers of +Brussels began to think of home and bed. The wives slipped their +knitting into their pocket; the husbands bestowed a passing nod and +guttural good night to each other as they moved away; and the twinkling +lights began to be extinguished one by one. In the crowd at the +entrance Paul and Sally found themselves close to the girl whom Sally +had so greatly admired. She was talking in low, clear tones to her +mother. + +"Ought not to have come? What nonsense, mother! It has been quite an +amusing experience to see the way these people pass their evenings; +they are quite nice and respectable. I confess now I should be glad to +see our carriage. I feel I'm getting smoke-dried like bacon--or ham, +is it?" + +It was evident that the elder of the two ladies was rather frightened +and losing her head. + +"I'll not do this again without a man of our own," she said with +nervous irritability. + +Paul stepped forward, raising his hat. "Is your carriage anywhere +about? Can I get it for you?" + +"Oh, thank you so much. It's a private one from the Hotel de Flandres, +and I told the man to stop here." + +"Unfortunately the police regulations interfere with your orders," Paul +said, with a slight smile. "He must take his place in the ranks. I +will soon find it for you if you will stay here." + +"Name, Webster," said the older lady. + +So Paul, with a nod to Sally to stay where she was, hurried off, +returning in a moment with the carriage. + +"Thanks so much," said the girl whom Sally admired, as Paul handed her +in and closed the door behind her. + +"I was quite glad of the time to consider her more closely!" cried +Sally, as they drove off. "I've never seen what I call an absolutely +perfect face before. I wonder if I shall see her again?" + +"For my part I don't wish it," Paul answered carelessly. "Beautiful +she is; but she bears the knowledge of it about with her like an +overpowering perfume, and is the very impersonation of the insolence of +riches!" + +"Why, Paul, you are not often either narrow-minded or unjust." + +"How dare she comment upon these Belgians, who nearly all possess a +smattering of English, under their very noses!" continued Paul, +angrily. "'Quite nice and respectable,' indeed! As she and her mother +were in a fix I was bound, as a man, to offer my services; but I did it +unwillingly." + +Paul's indignation was short-lived, and he and Sally walked along the +streets leisurely, on their way back to their hotel, talking on +indifferent subjects. They paused in the hall of the hotel, running +their eyes over the letters displayed outside the post-office, to see +if the evening post had brought any for them. There were none for +Sally; but two or three for Paul, that had been forwarded from his +chambers in London. + +"I'll go into the salon and read them, and then we'll go upstairs to +bed. I feel infected by the early hours of these foreigners," he said, +yawning a little. + +Sally turned over the leaves of a paper whilst her brother opened his +letters. The last of them he read and re-read several times; then rose +and laid his hand on Sally's shoulder. + +"I'm awfully sorry, Sally, but I shall have to go back to London by the +first train to-morrow." + +The long-drawn "O-o-o-h!" was powerless to express half the +disappointment his sister felt. + +"It's business, I suppose: everything nasty is always business," she +said at last. + +"Well, no, it's not business; and it certainly is not pleasure. You +remember I had an old godfather, Major Lessing? I'm sure he amply +fulfilled his godfatherly duty by the silver milk-jug he gave me at my +baptism--which I've never set eyes on for many a long year, by the +way--and the tips he shoved into the palm of my hand whenever I paid +him a visit on my way from school. I don't think I've seen him since; +and why, now that he's dying, he has a particular desire for a call, I +can't tell you. It's inconvenient, to say the least of it." + +"_Must_ you go?" asked Sally, despairingly. + +"I'm afraid so. It's the last thing one can do for him, poor old chap!" + +"He might have chosen some other time to be ill," said Sally, who, not +knowing the major, was inclined to be heartless. + +"Well, yes. But we won't lose our holiday; we'll come again later, +Sally." + +"We shan't! I'm perfectly certain we shan't!" cried Sally, turning +away her head so that Paul should not see that there were tears in her +eyes. "It was too delightful a plan to carry out." + +The next day found Paul and his sister back in London. Sally was to go +to an aunt for a few days, until Paul could settle his plans; and when +he had seen her off from the station, he turned his own steps in the +direction of the quiet square where his godfather had spent his +solitary life since the days of his retirement from active service. +His eyes turned instinctively to the windows, to see if the blinds were +drawn down; but the house wore its usual aspect of dignified reserve, +with its slightly opened casements. The imperturbable butler, who +answered Paul's ring at the bell, seemed at first inclined to question +his right to enter. + +"My master is very sadly, sir; he's not fit to see any one." + +"But he sent for me," said Paul, quietly. "Will you let him know, as +soon as possible, that Paul Lessing has come in answer to his letter?" + +At the mention of the familiar name Smith's manner altered perceptibly; +he threw open the library door and ushered Paul in. It was scarcely a +minute before he returned. + +"My master is awake and will see you at once, sir." + +"Has he been long ill?" Paul asked. + +"It's been coming on gradual for a year or more, sir. Creeping +paralysis is what the doctors call it. He's no use left in his legs, +and very little in his arms or hands; but his brain seems as active as +ever. He took a turn for the worse last week, and the end, they think, +may come at any time." + +"Thank you; I'll go upstairs now." + +He entered the sick-room so quietly that the nurse, who sat by the +bedside, did not hear him; but the grey head on the pillow turned +quickly, and the dying eyes shone with eager welcome. + +"I'm glad you've come; I thought you meant to leave it till too late," +was the abrupt greeting. + +"I was abroad, and did not get your letter at once," Paul said gently. + +"And you came back? That's more than many fellows would have done. +Nurse, draw up those blinds, and leave us, please; there are several +things I have to say. No, you need not talk about my saving my +strength. What good will it do? A few minutes more life, perhaps," he +added testily, as he saw the nurse giving Paul some admonition under +her breath. "Women are a nuisance, Paul; and at no time do they prove +it more than when you are ill and under their thumb. There! take a +seat close by me, where I can see you." + +"You wanted to see me about something particular, your lawyer told me," +said Paul, filled with pity at the sight of the perfectly helpless +figure. "It may be that I can carry out some wish of yours. I should +be glad to be of service to you." + +Major Lessing did not answer for some minutes, and Paul ascribed his +silence to exhaustion. In reality the keen eyes were scanning Paul's +face critically, as if trying to read his character. + +"I wanted to see you; and now you've come I don't know what to make of +you. It has crossed my mind more than once since I've lain here, that +I've been a rash fool to make a man I know so little of, my heir." + +Paul could not repress an exclamation of astonishment; the news gave +him anything but unmixed pleasure. + +"It was surely very rash, sir. I've no possible claim upon you. I +have scarcely even any connection with you except the name." + +"That's it," said the major. "You have the name, and that must be +carried on and a distant tie of relationship; and there's something +else, Paul. Years ago I wanted to marry your mother. You are my +godson; you might have been my real son, you see." + +Paul felt a lump in his throat; this love-story of long ago was +pathetic. His mother had died when he was still quite a child, but she +lived in his memory as beautiful and fascinating. + +"She was half Irish," he said. + +The major nodded. "So, partly from sentimental reasons, and partly +because there was no one better, I've left the property at Rudham to +you," he went on with a smile. "There would have been plenty of money +to have left with it; but I've made some very bad speculations lately, +and lost a great deal. I took to speculation from sheer want of +amusement. I was a good billiard player as long as I had the use of my +limbs; but here I've been, literally tied by the legs, for the last two +years. The only thing properly alive about me was my brain, and +speculation has interested me; but I was badly hit ten days ago. There +will be some money, but you won't be a rich man." + +"I don't care about it," interposed Paul, eagerly. + +"Then you ought to; a landlord poorly off is in a bad case in these +days; and I want things kept as they are, Paul. I've not lived at +Rudham, but I've kept my eye on it all the same; and what you call +progress, and its attendant abominations, has not hurt it much yet. I +made a mistake when I let the bishop nominate a successor to the living +when old Gregg died three years ago. Curzon's a go-ahead fellow, from +all that I hear; I don't want a go-ahead squire." + +"I'm afraid you've made another mistake, and, if there's time, you had +better undo it," said Paul, gravely. + +"Do I look like a man who can re-arrange all his matters?" asked the +Major, irritably. "After all, what I ask of you is no very hard thing +to grant; simply to accept the good the gods provide, and let well +alone." + +"But that for me is an impossible condition," said Paul. "I cannot let +things alone if I feel that I can better them. I'm in no way fitted +for a country squire; I've been brought up on different lines from you, +and arrived at very different conclusions. I am grateful to you for +your thought of me, but I want to live my own life unfettered by any +conditions." + +"And this is how you show your readiness to carry out any wish of +mine?" said the major, bitterly. + +"I'm sorry; but I promised in the dark, not knowing that my principles +would be involved." + +"I'm glad to hear you have any. May I ask what you call yourself? A +Lessing who is not a Conservative is not worthy of the name." + +"I scarcely know what I am; but my friends call me a Socialist." + +"Then in Heaven's name, I've made a bigger blunder than the last!" said +the squire, with an odd thrill in his voice. + +"It's not my fault; and there may still be time to undo it," said Paul, +rising, for the flush that crept to the major's temples warned him that +the interview had been too long and too exciting. "I would thank you, +if I could, for the thought of me, and I am sorry to have been the +cause of disappointment, but it would not have been honest to hide my +opinions." + +"No; you've been honest enough, in all conscience. If there's yet +time----" He broke off, turning away his head, and taking no notice of +Paul's departure. + +All that night Paul paced his room in deep thought. The scene he had +witnessed had stirred him more than a little; and it grieved him to his +heart that he had so seriously disturbed the last moments of a dying +man. + +"But I could not have hoodwinked him," he thought; "no honest man +could. But to-morrow I'll prove to him that I am ready to help him in +any way that I can. If he will only talk quietly, and keep his temper, +he could surely suggest some more fitting heir than I; and the business +details could be fairly quickly settled if I could take down his wishes +and see his lawyer. He must yet have several days to live, I should +think, with his extraordinary vitality of brain." + +At a very early hour the following morning, therefore, Paul presented +himself again at the house in the square, with the request that he +might have a short interview with the major. + +"Very sorry, sir," said Smith, with an added gloom of manner, "but my +master's much worse; they don't think he'll live through the day. He +was very restless last night; and nothing would satisfy him but that I +should go off in the middle of the night and fetch Mr. Morgan--the +lawyer as wrote to you, sir; but when I got him here my master had lost +his power of speech. He knew Mr. Morgan quite well, but he could not +make him understand what he wanted." + +"And now?" asked Paul, pitifully. + +"The doctor is just coming down the stairs, and will speak to you, sir." + +Paul went out into the hall to meet him. "How did you find the major?" +Paul inquired. + +"Dead," replied the doctor, drawing on his gloves. "He died as I +entered the room." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +FIRST IMPRESSIONS. + +"RUDHAM, Sunday Evening. + +"DEAR SALLY, + +"I did not, until now, believe myself a creature of impulse. That I am +one is proved by the fact that, as I dropped my last letter to you into +the post-box, I made up my mind to run down here and have a look round; +and here I am. My surroundings I will describe later. I told you I +had decided not to go to poor old Major Lessing's funeral for various +reasons. I have a horror of humbug; and to pose as sole and chief +mourner at the funeral of a man who had made me his heir by a fluke, +and if he had lived an hour longer would have altered his will, seemed +humbugging, to my mind. Also the funeral service, beautiful as it +appears to those who can believe in it, means absolutely nothing to me; +and I have scruples about appearing as if it did. Two surprises +awaited me at Rudham: first, that by the same train by which I arrived +Mrs. and Miss Webster got out upon the platform; and the beauty who +fascinated you 'all of a heap' at Brussels, turns out to be the tenant +of Rudham Court--_my_ tenant, in fact!--a judgment upon me, you will +say, for my unreasoning prejudice. Secondly, the extreme difficulty of +getting a night's lodging, unless your character and circumstances are +well known, was borne in forcibly upon my mind! An under-gardener of +Mrs. Webster's took me up in the cart which carried your charmer's +luggage. + +"Judging by the size and number of the boxes, beauty needs a great deal +of adorning, by the way! Then I was handed over to the village +blacksmith, and, under the shelter of his name, I persuaded a Mrs. +Macdonald to take me in. You would describe her as 'quite a darling!' + +"She and her husband are Scotch by birth, and still retain the soft +intonation and pretty accent. They have no children--indeed, Mrs. +Macdonald informs me that they have not long been married; and she must +be fifty, and 'my John,' as she calls him, some ten years older; but I +have never seen two people more in love with each other. If +surroundings are an index to character they must be very nice people +indeed. Let me try and describe my room, which is furnished with the +solid simplicity of a hundred years ago. A grandfather clock ticks +solemnly in the corner, two oak chairs stand on either side of the +fireplace, with down cushions in print covers on the seats--a +concession to modern luxury. In place of the cheap modern sideboard an +open oak cupboard, whereon are displayed my dinner and tea-things, +furnishes one side of the room, leaving just sufficient space for two +Windsor chairs, polished to such a dangerous brightness that to sit +upon them without sliding off requires more careful balance than to +ride a bicycle. An oak table with twisted legs, and flaps that let up +or down at will, is in the centre of the room. One almost expects +clean rushes strewed upon the floor; instead there is linoleum of a +neat design--black stars upon a white ground; and Mrs. Macdonald prides +herself not a little upon the far-sighted policy that made her decide +upon linoleum rather than carpet. + +"'It can be wiped over with a damp cloth every day, sir, and kept sweet +and clean; and if you're feet are cold, I'm not saying that I'll mind +your putting them on the rug, although I made it all myself'--which was +kind of Mrs. Macdonald! My attention being thus drawn to the +hearthrug, I discover that it's a work of art, in its way, knitted in +with rags and tags of cloth, grave or gay in colouring, but harmonious +in the general effect. You will think that I am developing a passion +for detail, but it is rather that I wish to photograph exactly my first +impressions of the place. There seems a primitive simplicity about it +that must vanish at the first touch of modern progress like a pretty +old fresco exposed to the light, and I feel myself like a traitor in +the camp. If I decide to live here I shall probably be the motive +force that will set the ball of progress rolling. Life here is almost +stagnant, I fancy, unlike the river, which runs swift and strong along +the side of the village. It separates from, rather than connects it +with the outer world, for there are dangerous currents which make it +not too safe for navigation; and to cross it you must either go to the +ferry, half a mile off, or make for the bridge at Nowell four miles +away. I found out all this by a stroll after tea, last evening, and a +gossip with my new acquaintance, the blacksmith Allison. Gradually the +talk turned to things parochial, and I discovered some characteristics +of the go-ahead parson, whose appointment to the living my godfather +gently deplored; and this was how it came about. A tall, +powerful-looking man came swinging down the road at a brisk pace, +nodding in quick, alert fashion to one and another as he passed, +recognizing me as a stranger, but bidding Allison a cheerful good night +as he passed on in the direction of the inn. By his dress I knew he +must be the parson of the place. Allison, who had acknowledged his +greeting only by a sideways nod, gave a grunt of assent when I asked +him if it were so. + +"'Curzon,' he said; 'that's his name, a meddlesome chap, if ever there +were one! Now the last rector were a real gentleman! You could please +yourself about going to church or staying at home; but he were +wonderful kind in sickness and such.' + +"'And you miss the attention, I daresay?" + +"'Well, I'm not saying that exactly. Mr. Curzon's wonderful took up +with the sick folks and children, but it's us well ones he can't leave +alone. His work's never done, as you may say. Now what do you suppose +he's after to-night?' in a tone of angry argument. + +"'I really can't guess.' + +"'No; it's not likely you would. He makes believe as he's gone for a +walk, but he'll be turning back again about such time as the men are +turning out of the public there! Then, come next week, he'll be +droppin' into one cottage or another about such time as the man comes +in from work, and it'ull be, 'So and so, I'm afraid you had a glass too +much on Saturday night. I wouldn't do it, if I was you;' and then he's +sure to put in something about coming to church on Sunday." + +"And do they?' I asked. + +"'Some on 'em. Most of 'em, if I speaks the truth, gets tired of being +told of it, I think, and goes just to pacify him, as you may, say; but +I don't hold with it myself.' + +"Apparently this faithful shepherd does succeed in driving a very large +proportion of his flock to church on Sunday. Allison and I are +distinctly in a minority. I was nearly being carried there forcibly +myself to-night; and I only escaped, I believe, because Mrs. Macdonald +has evolved, from the label on my portmanteau that I am the coming +squire, and must be allowed some liberty of opinion. + +"'You'll be going to church to-night, sir,' she said, beginning the +attack with gentle firmness. 'John and I lock up the house and hide +the key under the mat, in case you come back before we do. We have a +walk these summer evenings when church is over.' + +"'Thank you, Mrs. Macdonald, you can leave the key in the door; I have +writing to do.' + +"'But you'll be going to church, for sure; you were not there this +morning, I'm thinking, and the rector's sure to say something of him +that's gone.' + +"I had not the courage of my opinions, like Allison. How could I +grieve the kindly eyes that looked into mine? So I took refuge in weak +evasion. + +"'I've been over-worked and over-worried, Mrs. Macdonald, and my head +aches, and I need rest and quiet.' + +"'Well there, sir; you'll forgive my making so bold, but it will grieve +the good man, if he knows you've come. And there's a-many will be +disappointed not to catch a sight of you, besides.' + +"'Whom do you mean by the good man?' + +"'There now! it slipped out without thinking. But it's what my John +and I call Mr. Curzon, for we've never come across such a one as he.' + +"'And why am I to be a sort of show to the others?' I asked with some +curiosity. + +"'Ah! Because some of them begin to guess now who you are--not that +John nor I are much given to talk. But when a neighbour asks your +name, we couldn't keep it no longer--could we, sir?' + +"'Certainly not. And they will all see me sooner or later, though it +won't be at church to-night. I hope soon to know every one in the +place.' + +"So finally I've been left in charge of the cottage, and have been +writing ever since this long rigmarole to you. Mrs. Macdonald's words +have given me food for reflection, and, the more I reflect, the more +fully convinced I am how thoroughly unfitted I am to fill the place +allotted to me. Had Major Lessing left me money enough to carry out my +own wishes, I should have been inclined to put his property in the +hands of a capable, fair agent, and do with it as Major Lessing +suggested, and keep things very much as they are; but I find that I +shall have little independent income apart from the property. To keep +things in really working repair I shall probably have to raise the +rents--which are absurdly low--which, of course, will be a very +unpopular movement; and my being willing to live as simply as any of my +tenants, will not in the least soften their feeling towards me. I +shall not do anything in a hurry, but I shall first try and master my +position. After so many years of a non-resident squire of a strictly +conservative type, there must be need for improvements; but here again +comes in the question of money. I am afraid that trip abroad must be +put off for the present. How would it be for you to come here for a +bit? I will sound Mrs. Macdonald on the subject to-morrow. If I +undertake the management of things here myself, you would help me with +accounts, etc., and I could take you on as my paid secretary! However +this is looking too far ahead. I will keep this letter open and tell +you the result of my advances to-morrow." + + +"Monday Evening. + +"I approached Mrs. Macdonald with much diplomacy this morning. She +gave me the opening I sought by saying, when I ordered my dinner-- + +"'I suppose you'll be leaving to-day or to-morrow, sir.' + +"'On the contrary, you are making me so comfortable, that I was going +to ask you to take me on for a few weeks, at any rate.' + +"'But it isn't right or fitting that the likes of you should be living +in a cottage such as this. The whole place belongs to you, I'm +thinking.' + +"'I suppose it does. But if I come to live here I shall start either +in a cottage, or quite a small house, with a sister of mine who has no +home, poor child! How she would like to join me here, by the way.' + +"Mrs. Macdonald played nervously with the string of her apron. I could +see I had appealed to her motherly heart by representing you as a +motherless orphan. + +"'I suppose you haven't a second bedroom,' I suggested, following up my +advantage. + +"'It's a slip of a thing; not fit for a lady, sir.' + +"'After all, ladies are much the same as other women; and my sister +might have the bigger bedroom and I the smaller.' + +"'There's my John,' doubtfully. + +"'Doesn't he like ladies?' + +"'Not all of them, sir,' with a sudden burst of confidence. 'There's +Mrs. Webster; she called here one day to know if I'd take in some of +the washing--and he'd just come in from work,--and she marched into the +kitchen and talked very loud. Though he's deaf he don't like no notice +taken of it; and he told her it 'ud be time enough for me to work when +he was laid by, and then he'd be sorry if I had to do it.' + +"'But, of course, if Macdonald does not like us we will leave at once,' +I said, assuming that Mrs. Macdonald had agreed to have you. So you're +to come, Sally; come as quickly as you can. Don't bring much luggage, +for there is nowhere to put it; and pray remember to talk gently to our +host. I cannot see why we should not double the size of this +cottage--put in a bath-room, and get Mrs. Macdonald to do for us; but +this will entirely depend upon your manners, you see. I was preparing +to go out, when I saw a child's invalid carriage barring the entrance +to the gate, and a child's clear voice was giving very impressive +orders about the contents of a certain basket which was to be carried +up to the door. + +"'You won't spill them, Nurse. You'll be sure not to spill them; +they're so _very_ ripe they'd burst if you did.' + +"'No, darling; I'll carry them as carefully as new-laid eggs.' + +"The woman spoke like a lady; her tone was so gentle and refined. + +"I was standing at the open door of the cottage, and went down the path +to meet her, asking if I could take in the basket to Mrs. Macdonald. + +"'But they are not for her; they're for you. But I'm afraid you're +better and don't want them,' said the voice from the carriage outside. + +"'Whatever is inside that basket I'm sure to want,' I said, going out +to my odd little visitor; 'but I don't quite know why you are so kind +as to bring me things. I'm afraid there's some mistake; I shall be so +disappointed if there is.' + +"The blue eyes that looked up into mine began to smile. + +"'Shall you really? There can't be any mistake, because last night, as +Nurse wheeled me out of church, I heard daddy talking to Mrs. +Macdonald; and she said she'd got the new squire at home, but he'd a +dreadful headache and couldn't come.' + +"I could scarcely help laughing; I certainly had not intended my words +to be accepted so literally. + +"'Who are you?' I asked, 'and what's in that basket? It wouldn't be +manners to peep inside, would it?' + +"'Oh yes, it would,' with a delighted giggle. 'I'm Kitty--Kitty +Curzon,--and daddy says it's my work to look after any one who is not +well; and I'm to think what they will like, and take it to them. So, +when I heard you had such a bad headache, I got Nurse to gather my last +red gooseberries--they are _very, very_ ripe,--and I've brought them +for you; and can I have the basket, please?' + +"'Well, I can't accept them on the plea of headache: it's gone, you +see; but perhaps you will be so kind as to leave them all the same, for +if there is one thing I like more than another----" + +"'It's gooseberries,' interposed Kitty, eagerly; and I nodded assent. + +"The child shot a triumphant glance at Nurse. + +"'She said you would not want them, and I'd better ask daddy; but he +likes me to think of things by myself. And then at the end of the day +I tell him where I've been; and he'll be so surprised to-night, for he +didn't know I'd heard about you.' + +"I carried off the basket, and brought it back, presently, empty. + +"'I have not half thanked you, Kitty; but I am most grateful. How old +are you, I wonder?' + +"There was a moment's hesitation. 'I'm not young at all; I'm nine, +although you'd never think it, because I'm so small. Daddy says +running about makes you grow, and I can't run.' + +"'Her back is not strong, sir,' said Nurse, hurriedly; and as I looked +at the recumbent figure, I saw that the poor little child was deformed. +It seemed a terrible pity, for the face and head are singularly pretty. + +"'That's why daddy says I must think of all the ill ones, because Nurse +and he think so much about me.' + +"'Very well. I shall be sure and send for you directly there is +anything the matter. I fancy you would do me more good than a doctor. +And I've a sister coming, before long, and she will want companions. +You will have to come to tea.' + +"'Is she as old as I am?' + +"'A little older, I think.' + +"'I'll come if daddy will let me; but Nurse must come too.' + +"'By all means, and if you have any little brothers or sisters----' + +"'I have not any. There's only me,' interposed Kitty, shaking her head. + +"'I wonder what her name is?' + +"'My sister's, do you mean? Sally. Rather a nice name, isn't it?' + +"Evidently Kitty did not like it much, for she said she must be going; +and went on her way, kissing her hand graciously, so I took off my hat +and waved it. + +"From Mrs. Macdonald I gather that my first visitor is Mr. Curzon's +only child. He is a widower, it seems, and Kitty is the cause of his +holding a country living. By my landlady's account he is simply +wrapped up in her. I have been the round of the village to-day, making +acquaintance with one and another as occasion offered. As I +conjectured there seems plenty to be done; and it must be some months +before I can stir hand or foot, before I can get things even into my +own hands--not that the people here realize this in the very least. +Indeed they are intellectually dead; they seem to possess no ambition +of any sort. + +"I went into the parish church on my way home. It is an interesting +one, built about the end of the thirteenth century, with a magnificent +tower that one can see for miles round. I found a great many monuments +to the Lessings--a very virtuous lot, if their memorial tablets are to +be trusted. The church has been carefully restored--quite recently, I +fancy, by the look of it. Then I went into the churchyard, where a +newly-filled-in grave showed me where my poor godfather had been laid. +The sacristan, a very old, infirm man was putting it tidy; and to my +astonishment I saw a low vase of white flowers placed in the very +centre of the grave. + +"'I suppose I am not mistaken,' I said. 'This must be Major Lessing's +grave?' + +"'Yes, sir.' + +"'And who put the flowers?' + +"'Miss Kitty, the little maid at the rectory. She said she'd thought +he'd be lonely without any;' and the sacristan straightened his back +with a little smile. + +"'I hope you don't mind,' said a voice behind me. 'I've a notion your +relative did not like flowers at a funeral, but I could not upset +Kitty's conviction that he did.' + +"It was the rector who had come upon me unawares, and he did not +pretend not to know me. + +"'What can it matter now?' I answered. 'He'll know nothing of it.' + +"But I must stop, I've no time to describe the good man. Come and see +him for yourself. + +"Ever yours, + +"PAUL LESSING." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OPPOSING VIEWS. + +The man who some centuries earlier had built Rudham Court, had been +wiser than the generation in which he lived in his choice of a site. +Instead of a valley he had chosen the side of a hill, and the sloping +foreground had been levelled into a succession of terraces, giving the +impression of an almost mountainous ascent to the house from the road +which lay beneath. The house, not beautiful in itself, was softened by +the hand of time into a dull red that contrasted harmoniously with the +group of trees behind it, and the gravelled terrace in front with its +box-bordered beds was a blaze of colour in the brilliant sunshine of +the August morning. It was bordered by a low stone wall along which +two peacocks strutted with almost ridiculous self-consciousness of +their beauty. In the very centre was a flight of steps which descended +to the bowling-green beneath, where the yew hedge which grew round it +had been fantastically cut into the shape of an embattlemented parapet, +framing the distant view into a series of charming little pictures: +here a glimpse of the river, there a delightful vignette of the church. + +Across the velvety turf of the green tripped Rose Lancaster, dangling a +basket from her arm, a picture herself in her pink cambric frock and +befrilled apron, a little French cap set upon her head which enhanced +the beauty of the golden hair. Her skin was of the delicate colouring +that so often accompanies fair hair, the mouth generally wore a smile +displaying Rose's pretty dimples, and the great blue eyes were half +concealed by the long lashes. She made her way to the wicket-gate at +the far end of the green, to a winding path through a wood which led to +the rose-garden below, and gave a start of pretended surprise when Tom +Burney broke off from his task of mowing the grass paths which +separated the beds, with an exclamation of delight. + +"You here!" said Rose, who had watched the direction of his steps from +a window above. "I've come after some roses, if I can find any. +Nothing satisfies Miss Webster but roses on the mantel-shelf of her +sitting-room, and it does not matter to her whether they are in season +or out. Roses she must have. Are there any coming on, Tom?" + +[Illustration: "I've come after some roses."] + +"Bother the roses!" said Tom, impatiently. "You've been back nearly a +fortnight, and have not spoken a word to me yet." + +"That's ungrateful. I walked to church with you on Sunday evening, and +I told you lots of things I did when we were away." + +"Dixon joined us, and you let him!" said Tom, angrily. + +"How could I help it?" Rose answered, arching her pretty brows. "I +could not say I didn't want him, could I?" + +"Are you going to walk with him or me, Rose? I asked you before you +went away, and I want to know now." + +Rose meditatively clipped off a bud, crying out a little as a thorn +pricked her finger, holding out the injured member for Tom to look at; +but he looked over it at her, a flush on his handsome face. + +"It may be play to you; it isn't to me," he said, his voice shaking a +little. "Did you get the letter I wrote?" + +"I don't know; I forget. I had a lot of letters. Yes, I expect I did." + +"And you didn't trouble to answer it?" + +"It's clear you don't know what a lot a lady's maid has to do when +she's travelling," said Rose, petulantly. "It's 'Lancaster' here and +'Lancaster' there, and you've no sooner packed up than you begin +unpacking again. What time should I get for answering letters?'" + +"I wanted to know if you'd thought over what I said?" + +"You can't expect me to remember what you said six weeks ago." + +"You do remember, only you don't want to give a straight answer. +That's about it," said Tom, bitterly. + +"I like walking with you both, though not together. There!" cried +Rose, with a defiant toss of her head. "I'm young; I don't mean to be +tied!" + +"But you'll care for the one who loves you best, and that's me!" burst +out poor Tom. "Dixon may be smarter, and he's a deal better off; but +he's a glib sneak, and I know it. I'll wait three months, and then +I'll have my answer; and if it's 'No' I'll be fit to drown myself," and +Tom's voice broke off in something very like a sob. + +Rose was flattered but frightened at realizing her power over the lad. +It was like a book, that he should threaten to drown himself for love +of her; but of course he did not mean it. She was sorry for him; when +she was with him she almost believed she loved him, but at any rate she +need not decide now. Three months hence she might know her own mind. + +"Well, we'll wait three months and see what happens; and meantime I do +hope you'll be careful not to quarrel with Dixon." + +"I shall if he comes in my way," declared Tom, sturdily. "I don't +wonder he wants you himself--any man would; but he should play fair." + +"He's no quarrel with you; he said you were a decent sort of a lad, the +other day." + +Tom clenched his fist involuntarily. "That's just it!--he's always +trying to run me down in your eyes. A lad, indeed! I'm a man who +wants the same girl he does, and that's yourself, Rose." + +Rose laughed gaily; it was nice to find herself so much in request. + +"Man or boy, I can't stay talking to you all day. Pick me any roses +there are, and let me go. I believe" (in a lowered undertone) "that I +hear the ladies talking up there on the bowling-green. They've come +out to sit in the shade, I expect." + +Rose's conjecture was right, for, as she went back to the house, she +caught a glimpse of Miss Webster and her mother seated under the large +tree at the far end of the lawn. + +"How pretty she is," said May Webster, following her retreating figure +with lazy eyes. "As pretty as the roses she carries. I do hope she +won't get snapped up at once. She is a pleasant little thing to have +about one--which reminds me, mother. I saw a pretty girl of a +different type in the village yesterday, whom I believe to be Miss +Lessing. What are you going to do about her and her brother?" + +"Nothing at present, I think. One really can't leave cards on a +cottage!" + +"But you might on the people in it. We can't very well ignore the +squire of the place who is also our landlord." + +"It will be time enough to recognize him when he behaves like other +people." + +"I don't see that he's a bit more peculiar than the University men who +take to slumming. Anybody may do anything nowadays," May said with a +little laugh. + +"He doesn't even come to church," persisted Mrs. Webster. + +"A weakness shared by many men." + +"But his sister might and _ought_," replied her mother, severely. + +"Mr. Curzon seems to think it equally necessary for men and women," +said May, mischievously. + +"Oh yes. Of course he's a dear good man, and I wish we were all like +him, but we aren't," answered Mrs. Webster, resigning all hope of +anything but moral mediocrity with a gentle sigh. "He says Mr. Lessing +is a very nice fellow; but you can't quite rely on his opinion: he's a +good word for every one." + +"Which is delightful, but not amusing; and one does need amusement, +mother. Suppose we call at the cottage and follow up the call by an +invitation to dinner. We might ask the rector to meet them." + +"The worst of asking the rector is that he always wants something," +said Mrs. Webster, a little plaintively. + +"That we haven't got?" + +"Oh, May, you know quite well what I mean! It must be the heat that is +making you so argumentative. Mr. Curzon always has some pet hobby on +hand for which he wants money, and of course he ought to have it; but +really, just now, what with a trip abroad, and the London house to +paint and paper throughout, I've not so much in hand as usual." + +"Enough for the rector's last hobby, I dare say. At any rate let's +risk it. If we all air our different views we might have an exciting +evening." + +"I wish things were as they used to be. The old major was such a +thorough gentleman. It was quite a pleasure to give him a bed or +dinner when he came down." + +"Is not this man a gentleman, then?" + +"Oh, my dear, I hope so; but he has queer views, if all I hear be true. +I'm sure, if he says anything at dinner about our being all equal, I +shan't be able to hold my tongue. We never were and never can be." + +"I believe Mr. Curzon thinks we are; only he likes poor people _much_ +the best. He says the truest gentleman he ever came across is old +Macdonald." + +"Now it is wild talk like that that makes me sometimes distrust Mr. +Curzon; and he ought to know better, being of such good family +himself," said Mrs. Webster, fretfully. "Is it not at the Macdonalds +that the Lessings are lodging? As you seem to wish it, we will call +this afternoon." + +Paul Lessing was out when the smart carriage and pair drew up at the +Macdonald's cottage in the course of the afternoon; and Sally had to +receive her two visitors alone. Mrs. Webster's ample presence seemed +to fill the tiny sitting-room; but she placed herself graciously enough +in one of the cushioned elbow-chairs, whilst May subsided into the +slippery Windsor as gracefully as if it were the softest sofa. There +was something about Sally that pleased her; it may have been a certain +originality and freshness of manner, or the unconscious admiration that +shone in the dark eyes. Nothing in its way pleases a handsome woman +more than the admiration of her own sex. Be this as it may, May +Webster laid herself out to charm, and did it very successfully, and by +judicious management prevented her mother from asking any leading +questions as to Mr. Lessing's future line of conduct. Mrs. Webster's +small talk so often took the line of asking questions. + +Paul was not properly grateful when he found the cards upon the +mantelshelf. + +"It's a dreadful bore; but I'm afraid it can't be helped. You can +return the call sometime, and there will be an end of it." + +"There may be for you, but there won't be for me!" said Sally, with +some spirit. "I'm catholic in my choice of companions, and mean to +include everybody who cares to know me. Mrs. Macdonald is charming, +and Allison amuses me, and Mrs. Pink and I have made friends over the +baby; but why I should refuse a proffer of friendship from Miss +Webster, because she happens to be a beauty and dresses well, I don't +exactly see!" + +"Friendship!" echoed Paul, scornfully. "How little you know of smart +people and their ways. Friendship with them means a stepping-stone to +higher things; your means and your position must give them a leg up in +the world. Now we have neither." + +"You are shaking my faith in you, Paul. You are judging without +knowing." + +"I am not judging the Websters individually--only the class to which +they belong; of which I _do_ know something, and you nothing." + +"Well, I think I will learn for myself then!" cried Sally. "I'll start +by believing people as nice as they appear, until I find them +otherwise." + +"And are Mrs. and Miss Webster 'nice,' as you call it?" asked Paul, his +curiosity overcoming his vexation. + +"I did not like Mrs. Webster much: the room did not seem big enough to +hold her." + +"I told you so!" said Paul, triumphantly. + +"Oh, Paul! you might be a woman," replied Sally, with mocking laughter. +"But listen; Miss Webster is as nice as she looks! Can you want more?" + +"It's a good thing to be young and enthusiastic." + +"Certainly better than being old and cynical," retorted Sally, saucily. + +The next morning's post brought a crested envelope, directed in a +dashing hand, to Sally, inviting Paul and herself to dinner at the +Court on the following evening. + +"We shall be simply a family party," wrote the lady; "but, with such +near neighbours, I thought it more friendly to invite you for the first +time quite informally." + +"You don't want to go!" exclaimed Paul, who felt the meshes of the +society net closing round him. + +"Of course I do. I want to see your house, and to feel what it would +be like to live there." + +"I don't believe you have a proper frock to go in. A coat and skirt +won't do." + +"What nonsense! I've an evening dress, of a sort; and they don't +invite my frock, but me!" + +"We'll go, then, as you've set your heart upon it; but I feel as if it +were the letting out of water." + +Certainly Paul had no reason to complain of Sally's appearance when she +came down ready dressed for her dinner on the following evening. In +her simple white dress, cut away at the throat, with a soft muslin +fichu tied in front with long ends falling to the bottom other skirt, +she looked, as old Macdonald afterwards remarked to his wife, "as a +lady should:" fair, and fresh, and young. Her dusky hair waved +prettily upon her forehead, and half concealed her ears; the face it +framed was not, strictly speaking, pretty, but it was bright and +animated, and the dark eyes and eyebrows were handsome. + +"I've won one person's approval at any rate," said Sally, merrily, as +they started on their way. "I went in to bid Macdonald good night, and +Mrs. Macdonald said, as she helped me on with my cape, that 'my John' +likes ladies to wear white dresses and have pale faces. He could not +abide colour, except in flowers." + +"Then you are fulfilling your mission, Sally, and winning your way into +Macdonald's good graces. We shan't be turned out." + +"It's my first dinner-party, Paul. Do you realise the importance of +the occasion? I've had no coming-out like other girls." + +"That's why you are so much jollier than most of them," said Paul, +betrayed into a compliment. + +From the moment they entered the drive-gate, and began the ascent to +the house, Sally looked about her with eager interest, breaking into +exclamations of delight as each step revealed some fresh beauty to her +eyes. + +"It's a dangerous experiment to have brought you. You will be horribly +discontented with Macdonald's, after this." + +"I shan't. But if this place were mine, I should live here, and make +it a joy to everybody about me. I would not want to keep it to +myself," Sally said-- + +But the front door was reached, and a footman was at hand to help her +off with her cloak; and in another instant the door of the long +drawing-room was thrown wide, and Sally, with the un-self-consciousness +of simplicity, heard herself announced, and found her hand in Mrs. +Webster's, who retained it as she led her on towards a tall, handsome +man who stood talking to Miss Webster. + +"Mr. Curzon, allow me to introduce Miss Lessing. You've been away with +your little Kitty, so I don't think you've met each other yet." + +Then Sally realized that she stood face to face with the good man, and +that he was to take her in to dinner, so that she would have time to +consider him carefully. Mrs. Webster placed her hand graciously on +Paul's arm when dinner was announced, and May trailing yards of +amber-coloured silk behind her, sailed in by herself. + +The dinner-table was oval, and Sally found herself seated between the +Rector and May; on the other side sat Paul, with Mrs. Webster and May +to talk to alternately. The very perfection of her surroundings +engaged Sally's attention at first: the delicately shaded lights +shining down on the dainty flowers, and silver and glass; the dinner, +remarkable rather for elegance than profusion; the family portraits on +the wall, bewigged and befrilled, which stood at ease, and glanced down +on the company with a sort of haughty indifference; the heavy, handsome +furniture combining beauty with comfort; and last, but not least, May +herself, whose beauty in her evening dress was simply dazzling. + +Paul, reduced to commonplaces, was asking Mrs. Webster if the place +suited her. + +"A leading question, Mr. Lessing," she answered, with a sort of heavy +playfulness. "I've no doubt you would be glad to hear it did not. But +we are so fond of it, May and I; it's just the country place we want +for the summer months. We are always in London for the season. But +our lease is nearly run out, you know; and then, I'm afraid, naughty +man! you will not let us renew it." + +"Why not? I'm not likely to get better tenants," said Paul, politely. + +"But you may be wanting to live here yourself, you see." + +"Such a plan is very far from my thoughts at present. I neither wish, +nor can afford it." + +"But where else _can_ you go?" asked Mrs. Webster, as if her life +depended on the answer. + +The plea of poverty must be ignored; it was only advanced because Mr. +Lessing was her landlord! + +"I've not decided yet. Sally and I are quite happy where we are." + +"But you could not go on like that. It hardly seems right, you know." + +"I don't see where the wrong comes in." + +"Your very position as squire; you will be expected to be an employer +of labour, you see." + +"So I suppose I shall be, in time, although perhaps not about my house +and garden. There are a great many things that will have to be done in +the place when I get my affairs into order." + +"Ah yes, of course; it's wonderful how the money flies. Here's Mr. +Curzon insisting that the schools must be enlarged; I expect you are +like him, and think that everybody ought to know everything, and that +each child must have so many cubic feet! I'm sure I can't cope with it +all. I only know we, who are a little better off, have to pay for it. +He wants me to give a hundred pounds, and I tell him I really can't: +fifty is the utmost, and that is more than I can afford. I advise you +to keep clear of him to-night; he's sure to ask you to subscribe a +similar sum." + +"It's a voluntary school, I suppose?" said Paul, glancing across at the +rector. "I could not subscribe to that; I'm in favour of a board +school, you see." + +Sally, looking from one to the other scented trouble, for Mr. Curzon +broke off in the middle of a sentence, and his smiling, kindly face +grew grave as he gazed steadily back at her brother. There was a +moment of uncomfortable silence. + +"I was going to call and discuss the matter of the school with you," +said Mr. Curzon, at last; "but I did not mean to introduce the subject +to-night." + +"Of course not. We could not possibly allow it; could we, mother?" +interposed May, with an air of relief. "I feel at the present moment +we all need more cubic feet. It's so very hot; I almost think we could +sit outside." And as she spoke a general move was made for the +terrace, where seats and tables were arranged. + +As neither of the men took wine they did not stay behind; and May, who +was clever enough to see that they were both ready to show fight for +their individual opinions, engaged Paul in conversation, whilst Mr. +Curzon carried off Sally to see the bowling-green by moonlight. + +"I never saw anything so quaintly pretty," Sally said. "The yew hedge +with its succession of views suits it exactly." + +"Yes, doesn't it?" replied her companion. "This is naturally my +favourite;" and he paused at the opening where, below, the church stood +out grand and stately against the evening sky. "Is it not a grand old +tower? It stands just as a church should; it dominates the place." + +The ring of enthusiasm in his voice brought an answering thrill into +Sally's heart. + +"Are you sure that it does really?" she asked, moved by a sudden +impulse. + +"I hope so; I pray God it may be so. If not in my time then in +another's." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A QUESTION OF EDUCATION. + +"I can't think why you, or any reasonable man, should object to a board +school?" said Paul, who had been expounding his views at some length to +the rector. "The people should have a voice in the matter of their +children's education; and it can't be fair that any particular system +of religion should be forced upon them. In a place like this you would +be pretty certain to come out at the head of the poll, and, if +religious teaching seems such an essential, you would be allowed to +give it with limitations." + +"With limitations that would practically make it useless," said Mr. +Curzon. "I am prepared to make any sacrifice rather than surrender the +religious training of the children God has given to my care. It will +be a hard matter, with you against me, but I must stick fast by my +principle." + +"In a few more years there won't be a voluntary school left in the +country," said Paul. + +"Mine shall be one of the last to die," replied Mr. Curzon. + +"You are fully persuaded that you are carrying out the wishes of your +people." + +"I am sure that, as far as I know it, I shall be doing my duty by +them--and that must come first; but they shall have an opportunity of +expressing their opinion. I am going to call a meeting about the +enlarging of the school, and I shall try and persuade every one to +attend it." + +"Including myself?" inquired Paul, with a rather sceptical smile. + +"I shall wish you, of course, to be there." + +"But I can only be there in opposition to your views," Paul said. + +"A clergyman gets used to opposition," replied Mr. Curzon, quietly; +"but if the school is to be continued under the management of myself +and my churchwardens, it shall be no hole-and-corner business: it shall +be with the consent and confidence of the majority of my people." + +Paul rose to go; and there was rather a troubled look on his face as he +took Mr. Curzon's out-stretched hand. It was such a kindly, friendly +grip. + +"I'm afraid we cannot help coming across each other as we both have the +courage of our opinions; but at least you will believe that I have the +social development of the village very near at heart." + +"And there, at least, we agree," said Mr. Curzon, smiling; "but with me +their spiritual welfare is even more urgent." + +Kitty's little carriage was drawn up at the door, as she was just +returning from an outing. She greeted Paul with a beaming face, which, +as he came closer, grew clouded with anxiety. + +"I'm afraid you've got another headache, and I've got nothing to bring +now," she said. "Blackberries wouldn't do. They are rather nasty, +daddy thinks." + +"I've not got a headache, Kitty, thank you," said Paul, leaving the +question of blackberries in abeyance. "What made you think I had?" + +"You were frowning; but perhaps it was the sun in your eyes. Has your +sister bigger than me come yet?" + +"Oh yes; she has been here quite a time, and you have not been to see +her." + +"I've been away; did not you know?--away with daddy," with a proud +glance up at her father. "It was lovely; he had no one to think of but +me, and I was with him on the beach nearly all day long." + +"Ah, that's how you come to have such roses in your cheeks. Well, when +are you coming to have tea with Sally and me? You shall choose your +own day." + +"Would to-morrow do? It's Sunday; and daddy likes me to have all the +happiest things on Sunday. But I forgot; Nurse was to come, too, but +she goes out on Sunday afternoon." + +The sweet-faced woman who wheeled Kitty about gave an amused little +laugh. + +"It would be rather nice for you to go this once alone, Miss Kitty; and +I could wheel you there on my way out----" + +"And Sally and I could bring you home. Would not that do?" said Paul +to Mr. Curzon. + +"If you are sure you will not be troubled with her." + +"Oh dear, no; it has been a long-standing engagement--has it not, +Kitty?" + +"Daddy dear, lift me out, please!" said Kitty, when Paul had gone on +his way. "I like him so much, although I don't remember his name. +It's rather a funny one, but I like him; he has such kind eyes." + +Mr. Curzon tenderly lifted his little daughter out of her carriage, but +made no answer to her remark about their new neighbour. To himself he +was free to admit that the new squire's views troubled him sorely. + +"We are to have our first tea-party to-morrow, Sally. I have invited +the district visitor." + +"Who?" asked Sally, in considerable astonishment. + +"Kitty Curzon--whose loving care for my head has won my heart. The +child persists in believing that I live in a chronic state of headache, +and resorts to her own methods of cure. Ours is a friendship doomed to +be nipped in the bud, alas! Let us make the most of it while it lasts." + +"What is to kill it?" + +"The father is the difficulty; he has caught sight of my cloven hoof +this morning, and, depend upon it, he will not trust Kitty to us often. +He had to consent to her coming this morning, for she arranged it all +under his very eyes; and I saw he had not the heart to thwart her. +She's a young woman who evidently gets her own way up to a certain +point; but unless I'm greatly mistaken, the fatherly fiat will go forth +that the less she sees of us the better." + +"I would rather she did not come at all, then," said Sally, hotly. + +"I wouldn't; she has chosen this tea as her Sunday treat," Paul +answered with a humorous smile. + +By four o'clock on the morrow the little invalid carriage stopped at +the Macdonald's gate, and Paul ran down to greet his visitor. + +"Wait a moment, Kitty; Nurse and I between us can lift the whole thing +in, and then she can go on for her outing, and you shall be left to +Sally and me." + +Kitty's eyes looked beyond Paul at Sally, who stood smiling behind. + +"You did not tell me she was grown-up like everybody else," she +answered irrelevantly. + +"Oh, there's a lot of difference even between grown-up people, as I +will presently show you," said Paul. "Meanwhile, before you talk to +Sally, we'll get you into the cottage." + +"Shall you carry me, like daddy? I can walk on crutches, but it hurts +me rather," said Kitty. And Paul lifted her in his strong arms as +gently as if she were a baby, and Sally followed with the crutches, her +soul filled with pity for the child so perfectly developed as far as +the waist, but whose legs were twisted and helpless. + +Evidently poor Kitty had some affection of the spine. Sally felt her +pity almost misplaced before the afternoon was over; Kitty's enjoyment +of life in general, and her present entertainment in particular was so +genuine, and her laughter so infectious. + +By a happy inspiration Mrs. Macdonald had suggested that the tea should +be held in the orchard behind the house, and Kitty's carriage was +placed under the tree which bore the rosiest apples, one or two of +which fell with a flop at her feet. + +"Such as comes to little missy she must take home with her," said +Macdonald, smiling benignantly from his seat in the kitchen, and +bestowing a meaning glance at Paul, who, mindful of the hint, shook the +boughs as he handed Kitty her tea, bringing a shower of red fruit about +her. + +The conversation never flagged; Kitty's life seemed full of interest, +both at home and abroad, and she was fast friends, apparently, with +every soul in the place, including Allison, who had won her affection +for ever by presenting her with a Persian kitten, whom she brought down +regularly once a week to call upon its former owner. When the bells +began to chime for evening service Kitty signified her wish to depart. + +"We could take little missy," said Macdonald. "We'll be going that way +ourselves." + +"No, thank you," said Paul. "We promised to take you home--did not we, +Kitty?" + +Had he realized quite what the fulfilment of that promise involved, he +might have been inclined to accept the Macdonald's offer, for when he +and Sally had wheeled their visitor as far as the rectory, and were +going to enter, she shook her head vigorously. + +"We can't get in there--it will be all locked up--every one's gone to +church. Please take me on! my carriage goes into the belfry, and, as I +lie there, I can see all down the church." + +There was no disobeying such clear directions, so Paul, with a smile, +humbly did as he was bid. + +"Is that all you want?" he asked, when he had adjusted Kitty's carriage +to the exact angle which she liked best. + +He was in a hurry to slip out before the service began; Sally waited +for him outside. + +"Oh no; I haven't got my book and things," said Kitty. "They are in +the box in the corner; daddy had it made for me, and here's the key," +producing a key on a string from round her neck. "There's a nice red +one you can use that belongs to Nurse." + +By the time Paul had unlocked the box and found the books, Kitty's +hands were devoutly folded in prayer, and her eyes fast shut. She +opened them presently with a bright smile. + +"Thank you," she half-whispered. "Now if you bring that chair close to +me, you'll find my places for me; Nurse always does. I've not learned +to read so very long--daddy would not let me." + +Paul, feeling himself a victim of circumstance, fetched the chair and +seated himself. + +"I suppose he's forgotten to say his prayers," thought Kitty, as she +noticed that he neither knelt down nor even placed his hand over his +eyes, which were the varying methods of paying homage to God, that she +had observed the men of the congregation adopted when they came into +church. + +Paul found his position a singular one. He had not been present at a +service of any description since his college days. It would not be +true to say that he had lost his belief; he had never had any. He +might well question the necessity of religious education, for he had +had none himself. He and Sally had been baptized as babies, just +because their mother had wished it; but after her death their father, +who cared for none of these things, left their religious training to +chance. + +"Speak the truth, and behave like a gentleman," he said to Paul, when +he was sent at an early age to school; "and if ever you get into a +scrape, come to me and tell me all about it." + +It was a very simple moral code, and Paul lived by it both at school +and college; and before his college course was ended his father had +died. Christianity had not appealed to him in any way; he regarded it +as a worn-out system of religious belief that had been a moral force in +the world, but was dying now, slowly perhaps, but surely. Perhaps in a +remote village like this, where a Rector of strong personality was at +the head of affairs, it might be fanned into a flame for a time, but it +would not last. It certainly had a semblance of life to-night, Paul +admitted, as the congregation rose to its feet at the opening bars of +the voluntary, and the white-robed choir entered, followed by Mr. +Curzon. There was scarcely an empty seat, and there were as many men +present as women; and they were there, apparently, not to look on but +to worship, if hearty singing or burst of response were any criterion. +There was a scarcely a voice silent save Paul's own. + +Viewed as a picture it was a pretty one, framed as it was by the high +narrow Early English arch which opened from the belfry into the nave. +First came the bowed heads of the kneeling people, and, through the +beautiful old screen which separated chancel from nave, the altar shone +out in strong relief against its background of soft-coloured mosaic, +the rays of the western sun giving an added touch of brilliance to its +decoration of cross and flowers. + +But Kitty's hand was laid upon Paul's arm, and "Psalms, please!" +brought him back from his reverie to his duty. He did not keep her +waiting again, and he was interested by watching the sensitive, eager +little face. There was no question that the child was following the +service heart and soul; but when the sermon time came she was fairly +tired out, and, turning her head a little on one side, she was soon +fast asleep. + +"If the Lord be God, follow Him," said Mr. Curzon; and Paul glanced up +at the preacher, and noticed that every head was turned in the same +direction. And yet it was no great eloquence that held them, but a +certain manly simplicity of speech which carried conviction of the +preacher's absolute sincerity. He prefaced his sermon with a notice of +a public meeting that was to be held about the schools in the course of +the coming week, at which he begged the attendance of all interested in +the subject of education. The time had come when the schools must be +enlarged, and he put the question of whether this should be done by +private subscription, or by turning the school into a board school, +very simply before his people, telling them that a grave question was +involved in the decision--that of religious education. + +"There are those among you who will say that in this matter the parsons +want it all their own way; but, for myself, I emphatically deny the +charge. I want God's way, and it is not until after much thought and +prayer that I venture to place this matter before you to-night. It is +one that I, as shepherd of this flock, must talk to you about, for holy +hands have been laid upon my head, and the souls of all in this place +are committed solemnly to my charge; and I must claim the little ones +for the Master whom I serve, I wish to retain the right to train them +as faithful and true members of Christ and His Church. I should not be +faithful to my office unless I try to make you fully grasp the danger I +believe to lurk in education that is robbed of its crowning glory--the +knowledge of God." + +Paul listened to the simple appeal which followed with interest not +unmixed with irritation. + +"He has the whip-hand over me; he rules his people by their hearts +rather than by their heads," he said to Sally, afterwards, when he was +giving her the gist of the sermon. "Parsons have a greater chance of +propagating their views than any other set of men. Twice a day every +Sunday they can lay down the law with never a soul to gainsay them." + +"But lots of us don't go to listen," said Sally. + +Paul laughed. "Well, no; I don't think there are many country +congregations like the one I saw to-night. I'm not sorry to have been +there for once. In future we'll fix some other day than Sunday for our +visitor. I really could not hurt the child's feelings, and yet I +cannot be led along a victim at her chariot wheels." + +"I can't think why you take so much notice of her? You've never cared +for a child before." + +"She bought me with ripe gooseberries," Paul answered laughing. "I +couldn't refuse a child's friendship any more than a dog's." + +The Rector's sermon was fully discussed at the forge the following +evening. + +"Says I to Mr. Lessing to-day when we was talking together about this +eddication business, 'It's all very well sayin' as we must make the +schools so fine and grand, but what I wants to know is, who's goin' to +pay?" said Allison. "Them as has got the money, I s'pose." + +"What did he say?" asked Tom Burney. + +"'If I have my way it'll be thrown upon the rates.' But I'm not sure +I'm with him there. Once let the rates run up, and we dunno where we +are. Seems to me, with all his free-and-easy ways, and his living like +one of us, he's a bit close-fisted--not a bit like the old major. +Depend upon it, he don't want to put down his cool hundred; and that's +why he talks so brisk about the rates. There's something about it as +I've not got clear yet, for the rector comes along this morning, quite +cheery like, and sings out as he passes, 'Comin' to the school meetin' +a Friday, Allison? Room for all. I wants this school business +settled.'" + +"We couldn't settle it no better than it is at present, I'm thinking," +interposed Macdonald gently. "To hear the rector talk a Sunday night +about it were grand, that it was; and, if it's money he wants, there +isn't one of us that oughtn't to help him." + +"Rich fellers like you can talk about money!" retorted Allison, with +withering scorn; "but for me, who makes every penny I earns, he may +think hisself well off to get the five shillin's I gives him every year +for those blessed schools. I'll stick to that five, neither more nor +less, unless the squire gets his way; and then I won't give nothink but +what I'm made to." But Allison found himself without an audience. +With the mention of money the company had dispersed. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. + +"It must take it out of one dreadfully to be so terribly in earnest," +said May Webster, softly stroking the pug dog that lay curled up in her +lap. + +"As who?" asked her mother, looking up from her writing. + +"As Mr. Curzon; you might think his life depended on this school +business. I really could not follow all he said this afternoon; but, +apparently, he and Mr. Lessing have come to grief already about it. +There's another earnest one--with this difference between them: that +Mr. Curzon is earnest and agreeable, and Mr. Lessing earnest and +disagreeable." + +"He's more tiresome than disagreeable, May. I call it tiresome to live +in a cottage instead of a house, and to keep his sister from church--I +suppose that that is his doing,--and to upset us all when we are quiet +and happy. He's paying such high wages, they say, to the men he has +set at work over the drainage of some of his cottages, that I expect +all our men will be asking us to raise theirs." + +"I wonder which of them is right?" said May, returning to the subject +of the schools. + +"Mr. Curzon, of course; he's a clergyman, my dear!" + +"Then you will go to the meeting to-night." + +"You must be crazed, May, to think of such a thing. I go to a school +meeting! If there is one type of woman I dislike more than another, +it's the one to be found on platforms." + +"I had not thought of you on a platform exactly. It only occurred to +me that you would give Mr. Curzon your moral support, as your +sympathies go with him. You carry weight, you see," which was true in +more senses than one. + +Mrs. Webster put the most favourable interpretation upon the phrase. + +"Of course, if you really think it my duty, May," she said, softening +visibly, "and would come with me----" + +"Oh, I intend going anyhow," interposed May, carelessly. + +"It's such a new departure for you to take a prominent part in parish +things," exclaimed Mrs. Webster. + +"Oh, parish has nothing to do with it! I'm going as a disinterested +spectator to see the two earnest ones fight it out." + +"My dear!" remonstrated her mother in a shocked tone. + +"If I have a bias it's in favour of the rector. I don't pretend to +understand the merits of voluntary versus board schools; but, as you +say, a clergyman is always right--most probably Mr. Curzon's is the +better cause, and most certainly he is the better man." + +"Dear, dear; and we shall have to dine at seven, and keep as we are, I +suppose?" with a glance at the stately folds of her brocade dress. + +"Yes; we won't treat a school meeting like a theatre," said May, +laughing. "Will it be considered unduly flippant on my part to go in +this muslin? or ought I to wear black, as at a funeral?" + +"It cannot signify in the least; a change of dress would not alter your +flippant mind," replied her mother, with unusual smartness. "Dear Mr. +Curzon has really convinced me that it is a most important subject, so +I don't mind making a sacrifice for once in a way." + +"By dining an hour earlier than usual and not changing your dress! All +right, mother; I'll order the carriage for ten minutes to eight. We +may as well be punctual." + +The back benches of the schoolroom were crowded to overflowing when May +and her mother entered that evening. + +"It's very hot, May. I'm not sure that I can stay," said Mrs. Webster, +pausing in the doorway. + +"Oh yes, mother; we'll see it through to the bitter end," said May, in +an undertone. "There are seats in the front." + +Mrs. Webster picked her way daintily through the crowd, and Mr. +Lessing, who was seated at the end of one of the desks, stood up to let +her pass. May's skirt caught against a nail, as she followed, and Paul +bent to set it free; but as May turned smiling to thank him, it gave +her a faint shock of surprise to read the dislike that found expression +in his eyes. Her smile faded, and she passed on her way with a haughty +little bow. + +"I wonder why he hates me? I am not aware that any man has ever viewed +me with honest dislike before," she thought, as she took her seat by +her mother. + +Paul, on his side, was inspired with the same unwilling admiration and +active irritation as on the occasion of their first meeting at +Brussels. Beautiful she undoubtedly was; so beautiful that his eyes +unconsciously followed her every movement. The cordial greeting she +accorded the rector--so different from her bow to himself,--and the +poise of her head, as she turned to look at the rows of expectant faces +behind her, giving a smiling nod to Mrs. Macdonald, who, duly impressed +with the gravity of the occasion, sat by the side of her John with her +hands clasping a clean pocket-handkerchief as if she were at church. +Paul tried to define the cause of his annoyance as he looked at her. + +"It is the hard crust of indifference which society people cultivate to +such perfection; it's the assurance which beauty assumes. She has come +here most probably in search of a new sensation," he thought. + +But the rector, who sat on a platform at the end of the room, with his +two churchwardens, was already on his feet, and Paul pocketed his +annoyance and settled himself to listen. + +"My friends," he began, "we have met to-night to consider on what basis +our school shall be carried on; whether at this crisis in school +affairs, which demands an outlay of some seven or eight hundred pounds, +the voluntary system shall be continued; or whether it shall be turned +into a board school, paid for out of the rates, and managed by a +committee chosen by the votes of the people. It is not a question that +it has been necessary for us to discuss before. My people, I believe +to a man, have been content to entrust the education of their children, +the practical management of the school, to the churchwardens and +myself, supporting us by their voluntary subscriptions; but a murmur +has reached our ears that some of you are dissatisfied with this +arrangement. My churchwardens and I feel reluctant to retain the +management of the school unless fully assured that we are fulfilling +the wishes of the majority of the people. You one and all know my +views on this subject, and the principle that I believe to be involved +in your decision. Whichever scheme is followed will mean a +considerable outlay of money. It is for you to decide whether that +money shall be exacted from you by rate, or whether it shall be given +freely and liberally out of the means with which God has blessed you." + +The rector closed with a request that any one wishing to address the +meeting would come up to the platform, and, in answer to the challenge, +Paul Lessing walked up the room and took his stand before the people. +He was clever, and gifted with readiness of speech, but something in +the audience baffled him; whether it was the stolid imperturbability of +the faces in the back benches, or May Webster's half-amused, +half-scornful smile just below him, he could not decide. But he pulled +himself together, determining to state his case as shortly and clearly +as he could. + +He expressed no doubt that in times past the school had been well and +ably managed; but he reminded them that Government had seen fit to +place in their hands a power which the people in country places were +slow to recognize: that of exercising a control over the education of +their children. That all authority on a subject so important should be +vested in the hands of two or three men of the same way of thinking, +seemed to him, at the best, a one-sided arrangement; surely it was more +just that a committee of men should be chosen by the votes of the +people, and that every form of thought should find its exponent--thus +keeping the balance of opinion even. Much more he said, and said it +ably, ending with a strong appeal that each one there present, +unbiassed by any cry of party, should think out this subject for +themselves, and consider whether he was doing the best for the place in +which he lived by saying, that what had been should be and could not be +improved; or whether he would make use of that power vested in him by +Government, and should decide to let his voice, in the education of the +future generation, find expression in that great and powerful +development of modern times, a School Board. + +Allison, forgetful of his fears about rates, murmured "Ooray!" as the +squire resumed his seat; and the rector, thanking the squire for his +able expression of his views, asked if there were any one else who +would give them the benefit of his opinion. There was a long silence. +It was hoped that Allison would have something to say and one and +another gave him a friendly nudge, but the blacksmith was too wise to +commit himself; he halted between two opinions. But there was a murmur +of astonishment as Macdonald rose and, supporting his burly form +against the wall, cleared his throat, and began to speak a little +huskily. + +"No, thank you, sir," he said in answer to a nod from the rector to +come up to the platform. "I ain't scholard enough to stand up there, +but there's something I wants to say. The squire says as we should +know our own minds, and I'd like to tell you what's mine. Who should +have care of the children but the man who loves 'em like his own, who +goes reg'lar to see after 'em every day whilst we goes to work, who +teaches 'em to be good at school and to mind what their parents says at +home, and wants 'em most of all to love their God? If we voted him out +to-night we'd vote him in again to-morrow, and I'll give a pound +to-night to show as I'm ready to bide by my words. That's all, +gentlemen." + +And Macdonald sat down with a very red face, which he promptly mopped +with a redder pocket-handkerchief, whilst Mrs. Macdonald unfolded her +clean one and wiped happy tears from her eyes. She dated every event +in after life from the night when "my John" made his speech in the +schoolroom. Its effect was electric, and roused the meeting to +enthusiasm. + +A vote of confidence in the present management was proposed and carried +by an overwhelming majority, as seventy hands were counted in support +of it, and only five were raised against it. The subscription list lay +on the table, and not a few of the working-class, mindful of +Macdonald's example came up to enter their names under his. + +"I shall make my subscription a hundred pounds, May; I really shall," +said Mrs. Webster, feeling that her moral support was taking +substantial form. "Poor Mr. Curzon! I think Mr. Lessing's speech was +very uncalled-for, and that old Macdonald really surprised me. I +thought him a rude old man the only time I spoke to him, but to-night +he was simply charming. I felt almost inclined to cry. I'm going to +put down my name now. I wish Mr. Curzon to realize that I am on his +side, whatever the squire may be;" and Mrs. Webster swept towards the +platform. + +Left to herself May stood and looked down the room which was emptying +rapidly. The squire stood apart but, catching her eye, moved towards +her with a slightly satirical smile. + +"So you've lived it through, Miss Webster; you've faced the bitter +end," he said, quoting her words. + +"Yes; and I've not been bored at all," she answered, resenting his tone. + +"You came to scoff, in fact, and you remained to pray." + +"I came with an open mind, prepared to be converted by the best +speaker, and I found him in Macdonald," said May, defiantly. +"Henceforth I shall be an ardent supporter of the voluntary system." + +Paul laughed. "Will your ardent support take tangible form like old +Macdonald's?" he said. He spoke in pure jest, but May accepted his +words literally and flushed a little. "It's a question that your very +short acquaintance with me hardly justifies you in asking, does it?" + +"Not in earnest, certainly; I spoke in the merest fun. If I vexed you, +I apologize." + +"You did vex me. It is the second time to-night that you have put +yourself out of the way to say a disagreeable thing. People may think +as many disagreeable things as they like, but they have no right to +give expression to them." + +"But now you are charging me with sins which I have not committed. I +have not spoken to you for five minutes, and no other sentiment of +mine, that I know of, needs a special apology." + +"A look does! You looked cross as you stooped to unfasten my dress +from that nail when I came into the room: it bored you to render me +even that very slight service. Pray don't attempt to deny it! you +possess the merit of being strictly truthful." + +"Truthfully disagreeable apparently," said Paul, a little nettled. + +"And now," said May, restored to perfect good-humour by having spoken +out her mind, "the platform seems vacant; shall we go and consider that +subscription list, or will it hurt your feelings?" + +"Not the least. I've suffered defeat, but I was glad of the +opportunity of speaking." + +"Why?" asked May, as she mounted the platform. + +"Because I have won four to my side; I made four people think." + +"Then the people who followed Macdonald's lead, which includes myself, +are credited with not having the capacity of thinking. That is your +inference, is it not?" asked May, with a gay laugh. + +"You have a sharp tongue, Miss Webster. All I hinted at was that +country people are slow to exercise their individual judgment on any +question. They follow each other like a flock of sheep." + +"And aren't they wise to do it when they have so kind and good a +shepherd?" with a glance at the rector's handsome head, as he stood at +a little distance off, talking with a happy, radiant face to her +mother. "I wish you would tell me what possible motive you had in +trying to upset a man who lives in the hearts of his people." + +Paul was interested in spite of himself, for he saw that May had passed +from brilliant nonsense to earnestness. + +"It was not the man I wished to upset--nobody can fail to appreciate +his simple earnestness,--but it is his principle. And your very +intolerance makes me feel that I was right to state the other side of +the question." + +"We won't quarrel any more; I'm tired of it," said May, with a quick +change of mood. "Let us look at all the people who are ready to bide +by their words, as Macdonald puts it." + +The subscription list was headed by the rector with two hundred pounds. + +"He's not a rich man," said May, pointing to the sum. + +"And he can't be a poor one," retorted Paul. + +May seated herself and toyed with the pen which lay upon the table. + +"I'm in a difficulty; I want an opinion." + +"Legal?" said Paul. "If so, I might help you. + +"Moral rather." + +"Oh, then it's a case for the man who lives in the hearts of his +people. Shall I call him?" + +"You are not keeping the peace. For want of a better adviser I'll put +my difficulty before you." + +"And I will give you my opinion for what it is worth; you need not act +on it unless you like." + +"Oh no, I shan't. Should you think it right for me to put my name down +on this subscription list when I owe, I'm afraid to say how much, to my +dressmaker?" + +"At the risk of being told again that I'm truthfully disagreeable, I +answer emphatically, No! I should call it a most immoral act." + +"Well, I'm going to do it anyway, and the person who has influenced me +is yourself. You implied that I was unwilling to pay for my +convictions; and my dressmaker must wait." + +And May dipped her pen in the ink and wrote her name boldly under her +mother's. + +"Don't do it!" pleaded Paul, hurriedly. "Can't you see that the +dressmaker, who earns her money so hardly, and waits for it so long, +has the first right to yours?" + +"May!" called her mother. "Are you never coming? I can't be kept +waiting all night." + +May hesitated for a moment, and then, half ashamed of yielding to the +man whose dislike of her was fast deepening into contempt, she dashed +her pen through the name she had just written, bringing her hand, as +she did so, into contact with the lamp upon the table. With a +smothered exclamation Paul bent across her and tried to stay its fall, +but he was not in time. With a crash it fell forwards breaking the +bowl, and a trickling stream of blazing paraffin ran down May's muslin +skirt, enveloping her in flame. A piercing shriek from the other end +of the room showed that Mrs. Webster realized her daughter's peril, and +the rector dashed forward to the rescue; but Paul had already torn his +coat from his back, and was holding it closely upon the burning skirt. + +"See to the platform! she's safe enough!" he shouted as the rector ran +up; and, almost before May realized the extreme danger from which she +had been delivered, she was lifted from the platform and laid very +gently on the floor. + +"What are you putting me on the floor for? I'm not going to faint," +she said, with lips that trembled a little. "I'm all right. Don't let +mother be frightened." + +Paul could not but admire the girl's wonderful self-possession. + +"And you are not burned? You are sure you are in no way hurt?" + +"Thanks to your marvellous quickness, no," she answered. + +But Mrs. Webster, tearful but thankful, was at hand, and Paul felt he +could not do better than leave May in her mother's charge. + +The rector, meanwhile, with one or two others, was successfully +battling with the burning stream of paraffin; and in a few minutes all +serious fear of a conflagration was over. + +"Now we had better see the ladies to their carriage," he said turning +to Paul. But already they had taken their departure. "We can't be too +thankful for such a narrow escape. The platform looked all on fire +when Mrs. Webster's scream made me turn round. Can you tell me how it +happened?" + +"I think Miss Webster caught the lamp with her hand as she got up from +the table. She had been reading the subscription list." + +"Which reminds me that the list is burned to a cinder. But it does not +signify; people will remember their promises," said Mr. Curzon. + +"And nobody but myself will know that May Webster put down her name and +scratched it out at my request," thought Paul, not a little proud of +his moral victory over the haughty young woman. + +"Well, I think everything is safe here; we may be going home. I want +to get back before my little Kitty gets news of the fire, or she will +worry herself into a fever. Late as it is, though, I must run up to +the Court." + +"Why?" Paul inquired. "We know that Miss Webster is safe." + +"She might wish to see me," replied the rector, simply. "And if she +does, she shall have the chance." + +"Then I'll leave word at the rectory that you are all right, in case +Kitty is awake," said Paul, rather shortly. + +May, from her couch in her dressing-room heard the rector's cheery +voice in the hall below asking after her. + +"That's Mr. Curzon, Lancaster; run and ask him to come up and see me +for a moment," she said to her maid. + +In another moment he entered, followed by her mother. + +"Oh, my darling, you are not ill? Have you been burned and not told me +of it?" she gasped in terror. + +"Oh no, mother," said May, trying to smile; "but it's just because I'm +not burned, nor scared, nor horrible to look at, that I want Mr. +Curzon. I want--I want----" And then May's high courage gave way, and +she burst into tears. + +"Let us pray," said the rector, quietly. And he and May's mother knelt +down by the side of May's couch together. + +When he rose up from his knees May's tears had ceased. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A MOMENTOUS DECISION. + +The rector walked home through the starlight night with a thankful +heart. It was possibly his sanguine temperament, backed by his strong +faith in the Christ Who must reign until He had brought all to His +Feet, that gave him such large success in his work; and against the +background of this day two special subjects for thanksgiving stood out +in strong relief: first, that he had received positive proof that he +possessed the confidence of the majority of his parishioners; and +secondly, that an accident--a deliverance from what might have been a +horrible death--had given him an insight into the deeper side of May +Webster's character. That she had this deeper side he had been fully +assured, but hitherto he had been powerless to touch it. + +To-night, however, she had appealed to him to give expression to the +gratitude which she felt to God. For a moment the spiritual life that +was in her had touched his, and he trusted that the foundation of a +deeper, truer, more lasting friendship had been laid--a friendship that +might enable him, possibly, to give May Webster a helping hand on her +road to Heaven. + +Mr. Curzon was not one of those who believe that a clergyman's mission +is fulfilled by looking after the poor who are committed to his care. +He had seen enough of society to realize both its fascination and its +special temptations; and the well-to-do members of his flock were as +frequently included in his prayers as the poor, the afflicted, the +sick, or the unhappy. + +It was of May and her needs that his heart was full as he turned from +the drive into the road, but as he did so he stumbled against a man's +figure propped against the gate-post. The man lurched heavily forward, +and would have fallen had not Mr. Curzon caught him in his arms, +peering at the same time into his face to see who it might be. + +"Tom! Tom Burney! Poor lad," he exclaimed, with a heavy sigh, for the +mere touch of the inert body showed that Tom was not overcome by +illness but by drink. + +"Tom!" said the rector, giving him a slight shake of the shoulders, +"rouse yourself, and get home to bed. To-morrow we will talk this +over, but you are in no fit state to listen to-night." + +The familiar voice roused the muddled brain to some sense of shame, and +instinctively Tom's hand was raised to his cap. + +"Beg your pardon, sir, but I won't go home; same roof shan't cover that +beast Dixon and me!" + +The words reminded Mr. Curzon that Dixon, Burney, and several other men +employed at the Court were lodged in rooms over the coach-house and +stables; evidently Tom and Dixon had quarrelled. + +"That's sheer nonsense!" he answered sharply. "I'm not going to leave +you out here all night, for the sake of your own character. If you +won't go without me, I shall take you." + +Tom made some show of sullen resistance, but a sober man always has the +advantage over a tipsy one; and Mr. Curzon was physically so strong +that, drunk as Tom was, he knew he could enforce obedience. Once more, +therefore, the rector had to retrace his steps, and half supported, +half led, he presently landed Tom Burney in the stable-yard of the +Court. A light burning in one of the upper windows showed him that +somebody was still awake, and a whistle readily attracted the attention +of the occupant. The window was thrown wide and a head thrust out into +the night. + +"So it's you, is it?" said a voice, that the rector recognized as +Dixon's. "It would serve you right to keep you out there all night." + +"You hound! you mean hound!" hiccoughed Tom, trying to wrest himself +from the strong restraining hand laid upon his collar. "If only I can +get at you, I'll----" + +The threat was nipped in the bud by the rector. "Is that you, Dixon?" +he asked, in a low, authoritative tones. "Just come down and open the +door, please. I found Burney like this, and brought him home; and keep +out of sight, will you? I've no intention of being landed in a +quarrel." + +There was a smothered exclamation of surprise, the window was closed, +and, in another moment, the lower door was thrown wide to admit the +rector and his charge. By a rapid signal Mr. Curzon directed Dixon to +conceal himself in an angle of the staircase, whilst he gave Tom a +helping hand up the staircase to the room which Dixon indicated with a +nod. Once safely inside, he placed him on the bed and came away, +closing the door behind him. + +"He won't come out again to-night, I think," he said to Dixon, who +followed him to the door. + +"Oh no, sir; I'll see to that," replied the man, with a rather +unpleasant smile. "I'll turn the key on him, and unlock the door again +before he wakes in the morning. I'm sorry you've had all this trouble. +I tried my best to get him to come along quietly with me, but I had to +leave him to himself at last; he was so desperate quarrelsome. He's a +quick temper at any time, and he's just mad when he's drunk." + +"Which has not been very often, I think," interposed the rector. "But +in the last few months, I fear he has fallen into bad company. Good +night, Dixon." + +"We shan't hear the end of this in a hurry. What business has he +prowling about the place at this time of night, I should like to know?" +grumbled Dixon aloud, as he closed the door. "Bad company, indeed! +He'll see for himself that I'm not drunk, whatever that fool Tom may +be." + +Meanwhile the rector pursued his way home in less joyful mood than +before he had stumbled across poor Tom Burney; he was sorely troubled +about him as, for a long time, he had been one of the most promising +young fellows in the place. He let himself quietly into the rectory, +shading the light with his hand as he passed the door of Kitty's room; +but a half-stifled cry of "Daddy!" arrested his steps. He pushed open +the door and entered, crossing with swift, light tread to her bedside. +The frightened look in the child's eyes died away as she looked into +the smiling face. + +"What does my little Kitty mean by lying awake to this hour?" + +"I've been frightened, daddy. I lay awake on purpose, at first, +because you promised to come and kiss me when you came home after the +meeting." + +"Oh, I shan't promise that any more if it keeps you awake. Well!" + +"And then I heard Mr. Paul's voice down in the hall, and I thought he +said something about fire. But Nurse said I was silly, and must go to +sleep; but I couldn't till I knew you were safe." + +"What from, little one?" + +"The fire," said Kitty, with a suppressed sob. "I thought you might be +burned, and nobody would tell me." + +"Well, that was very silly, certainly," said her father, with a little +laugh that had a singularly reassuring effect upon Kitty. + +"And I tried to think of the three men with long names that the fire +did not hurt; but it did not do me a bit of good, daddy." + +"Because you forgot about the fourth one who stood by them, even in the +fire, whose form was like the Son of God," said the rector, gently. +"And He was close by you, Kitty, although you were so frightened--by +you, and me too. There! think of that and go to sleep now." + +But though Mr. Curzon spoke so cheerfully, there were tears in his eyes +as he kissed his little daughter and tucked her into bed with strong, +gentle hands. + +"Poor little soul! She's bound to suffer, with her crippled body and +over-sensitive brain," he thought. + +The next morning at breakfast he told Kitty the story of the previous +evening, quite simply, without any terrifying details. + +"I should think Mr. Paul is very brave--almost as brave as you are, +daddy," said Kitty, whose terror seemed to have vanished into thin air +with the light of day. + +"Much braver, I expect," agreed her father, good-humouredly. "But I +wonder why you think so!" + +"Oh, Sally has told me lots of things. How he killed a mad dog, and +nursed a man with smallpox, and knocked down a costermonger for kicking +his pony. That was brave, wasn't it?" said Kitty, who clearly regarded +the last item as the crowning act of bravery. + +"Well, it was speedy punishment, certainly," answered her father, +laughing. "But since you admire bravery so much, you'll have to learn +a little more about it yourself; and not lie awake every time I'm kept +out late at night. A clergyman's work is like a doctor's--never done, +you know." + +The word doctor gave Kitty an opportunity of rapidly changing the +subject. + +"What's a stroke, father? What's good for it?" + +"A 'stroke' generally means paralysis, in some form or other, which +affects people's limbs--often making them useless." + +"Like my legs?" asked Kitty, quickly. + +Her father winced palpably. "Not just like that, darling; I wonder +what you are thinking of?" + +"Mr. Allison's mother. She's very old and very deaf; and now she's had +a stroke. I heard some one tell Nurse so; and, of course, I must go +and ask about her when I go out; but I can't tell what to take her." + +"I should think beef-tea will be the kind of thing she needs. Nurse +can say we will make her some if you like," said the rector, who always +humoured Kitty's fancy for taking sick people especially under her wing. + +The day was a full one, and it was late in the afternoon before he +found himself rapping at the door of the house which adjoined the forge. + +"Thank you, sir," said Mrs. Allison, in answer to his inquiry about her +mother-in-law; "she's a bit tired to-day, though going on as well as we +could hope. She's had a visitor this afternoon," with a glance round +at the chimney-corner from which Sally Lessing's tall, girlish figure +emerged rather shyly; "and if you did not mind looking in rather +earlier to-morrow she'd be ready to see you." + +"Very good," said the rector. "If you'll name the time, I'll be here. +Miss Lessing, our way home lies in the same direction. Shall we walk +together?" + +No excuse presented itself for refusing Mr. Curzon's offer, though a +_tęte-ŕ-tęte_ with the rector was not much to her taste--especially as +her brother was a little sore about his last night's defeat. + +"How are you taking to the life down here? Do you like it?" he asked, +as they started off together. + +"I don't quite know," Sally said with a frank smile. "At first it was +delightful--a new experience,--but the novelty is wearing off. And +Paul said this morning that we were both of us fish out of water; that +he must stay here, at any rate for the present, but that I might please +myself." + +"And what particular pond do you want to swim in?" + +"London. And that's not to be described as a pond, is it? but rather a +great, strong river. You see, down here, there is literally nothing to +do." + +"Plenty, if you choose to do it," replied Mr. Curzon, quietly. + +Sally shook her head. "You would only want workers of your own way of +thinking." + +"I should prefer them, certainly; if by _my_ way of thinking you mean +the Church to which I belong--to which you belong also, I expect." + +"Only by name. I was baptized, but I've not been brought up on church +lines. I've been allowed to think for myself, and judge the truth for +myself. Paul says that that is the only truth worth believing." + +"It still leaves you finally dependent on other people's judgment, does +it not? In your case, I should say, your views unconsciously are +moulded entirely by your brother." + +"But it is so with every one more or less!" retorted Sally, quickly. +"You've got your ideas, either from the people who have influenced you +the most, or the books you have read." + +"Quite so. The books that have influenced me most largely are those +contained in the Bible; but the only person upon whose judgment and +character I find I can wholly rely, is the Lord Himself. An +old-fashioned belief, you will say, but I find it practically true." + +"But Paul says the only facts based on history in the Gospels are that +Christ lived and died a martyr to his opinions," said Sally. + +"So many men say nowadays. If so, it is curious that faith in the Name +of a Jew who died nearly two thousand years ago, is still able to work +moral miracles in hundreds and thousands of lives in the present day; +that men and women, tied and bound with the chain of their sins, +looking to Him and asking help, can rise and walk in the glorious +liberty of the sons of God. When I see that, as, thank God, I have +seen it, I feel I have a reason for the faith that is in me, that Jesus +is, as He claims to be, the Son of God; that it was no idle boast on +His part that He would give His Spirit to those that seek it." + +Sally caught her breath. There was no doubting the sincerity of the +speaker, but the very simplicity of the teaching was an argument +against accepting it. + +"Well, of course, you as a clergyman have to do with people's morals," +she said hurriedly; "but the bodily wretchedness and misery of hundreds +and thousands of people in London and other big places appeals more to +me. I feel it's not a bit of good telling them to be good in this +world, and they will be happy in the next, whilst they have bad houses +to live in, and bad food to eat, and insufficient wages, and never a +ray of brightness in their lives. To stay down here and potter about +amongst a few children and sick people seems such a small thing to do, +when one might help to set any one of these great wrongs right." + +She pulled herself up, and broke into a peal of laughter. + +"I'm talking of things that I dare say you will think I don't +understand," she said; "but Paul has interested me in them, and I had +thought, if I went on studying, I might some day work and speak about +them. Lots of women do." + +"And why not? One of the best speakers I ever heard was a woman." + +"I thought you would be sure to hate the notion." + +"Why should I, unless----" + +"Unless what?" + +"You should speak any word against the Master whom I serve," said the +rector. "On philanthropic subjects I could go with you heart and soul." + +"I would not speak on a subject of which I know nothing," said Sally, +eagerly. "I've told you that I am only a seeker after truth, picking +up a scrap here and there as I can find it." + +"And you will reach the truth after a time," said Mr. Curzon, holding +out his hand, "if you are ready to acknowledge a Power higher than +yourself, to Whom you may safely appeal to guide you to all truth. +Without that, you will grope along in the darkness." + +Before Sally could answer he had gone. Was there such a power she +wondered? What rest and comfort such a conviction would bring with it. +She made no mention of her talk to the rector to Paul when he came in; +she shrank from his glib criticism of Mr. Curzon's simple declaration +of faith. + +As Mr. Curzon walked home he caught sight of Tom Burney leaning over a +gate with his back turned towards the road. The very poise of his +head, and droop of his shoulders, showed depression of body and mind; +and with intuitive sympathy Mr. Curzon stopped and laid a kindly hand +on his shoulder. + +"The very man I was wanting!" he said cheerily. "I thought you would +be sure to come and see me to-night." + +For a moment Tom's dark, handsome eyes sought his; then dropped for +very shame. + +"No, I wasn't," he said bluntly. "But I'm glad to have the chance of +telling you that I've got the sack for what happened last night. Dixon +took good care to report me; and I'm to leave at the end of this week." + +"What is your quarrel with Dixon?" + +There was a long pause. "We're after the same girl," said Tom, a +little huskily; "and he don't care what he does as long as he can get +me out of the way. He made me drunk last night." + +"Oh no," replied Mr. Curzon, shortly; "you made yourself drunk. Tell +the truth about it, Tom." + +"Well, I'll tell you straight what happened. We were all in the public +together----" + +"You went there of your own free will, I suppose?" + +"Yes. I've been there plenty of times before, and never had a drop too +much," said Tom, rather resentfully, "and I was just going away last +night, when Dixon offered me another glass; and Allison laughed and +said, 'Don't you take it, young 'un; head ain't strong and temper too +short.' And I told him I could drink against any man if I chose, and +keep my wits about me too; and Dixon said he'd stand treat, and see +whose head would last the longest, mine or Allison's----" + +"With the result that I found you how and when I did, and you've lost +your place into the bargain. Truly the wages of sin are hard," +commented Mr. Curzon; "but I'm ready to help you, Tom, if you are +willing to help yourself, for I think, to a certain extent, you've been +hardly done by. If you are sorry for what has happened, and really +wish to turn over a new leaf, and make yourself worthy of the girl you +love, you'll take my advice and sign the pledge. If you see your way +to doing this, I know of a situation that I could offer you; if not, I +strongly advise you to go away altogether." + +"And leave the field clear for Dixon? I'll never do it!" said Tom, +fiercely. "And what would he call me but a coward if I signed the +pledge, just because I've been beastly drunk once in my life? There's +no reason why I should do it again." + +"That you will do it again is an absolute certainty; and with your hot +temper and the rivalry that exists between you and Dixon, there will be +serious mischief if you allow drink to get the upper hand. The place I +offer you is that of gardener at the rectory. Old Plumptree is +retiring on a pension; he's too old to do the work any longer. But I +tell you frankly that I dare not undertake the responsibility of +keeping you here unless I feel that you are determined, God helping +you, to make a better start. You need not decide in a hurry; you can +call to-morrow evening and let me know about it. Until then I will +keep the situation open for you." + +It was on the tip of Tom's tongue to tell the rector that he needed no +time for consideration, that he readily accepted the required +condition, and should be thankful for the situation that he offered, +when, as ill-luck would have it, Dixon passed by on a swift-trotting +horse, and turned upon Tom with a mocking smile. + +"He thinks I'm catching it," thought poor Tom; "but I'll let him know +better." + +"It's not that I'm ungrateful, sir, for your kindness last night, but +my mind's pretty well made up now. I can't face Dixon and Allison, and +all the lot of 'em calling me a fool who can't take his glass without +getting drunk; I'll show 'em different. But I'll promise you this: +it's the first time as any one of em, sneaks as they are, could tell +you that I'd been drunk, and it's the last too! You shall hear no more +of it." + +"And it's a promise that I tell you honestly you'll not keep," answered +Mr. Curzon, sadly. "But you'll think it over; you won't decide until +to-morrow." + +"Yes, sir; I've made up my mind, thank you kindly all the same," said +Tom. "It's a thing I must settle for myself." + +"Good night, then; I've nothing more to say except that at any time if +you are in trouble I shall be glad to see you. I don't wish you to +think that this difference of opinion need separate us; although, +remember, I feel sure that I am right and you wrong." + +The next morning, when Paul Lessing started for his walk, Tom Burney +stood waiting at the gate. + +"Beg your pardon, sir," he said, touching his hat; "but I want to know +if you can give me work?" + +Paul turned to the speaker with dawning recognition in his glance. + +"Why, aren't you the fellow who gave me a lift for nothing the first +evening I came into the place." + +"Yes, sir; I've often thought on it since. I shouldn't have spoke so +free if I'd known who I was talking to." + +"Why not?" said Paul, smiling pleasantly. "You sent me to the proper +person to find me a lodging, at any rate; and you certainly spoke no +harm of any one. I thought you told me you worked at the Court. + +"So I did, sir; but I'm leaving there on Saturday." + +"Of your own free will?" + +"Not exactly; I got notice because I came home drunk one night." + +"Is that your habit, may I ask? It's a bad one." + +"No, sir, it's not," said Tom, lifting fearless eyes. "It was the +first time." + +"Let it be the last, then. What kind of work can you do?" + +"I've been in the garden; but I know something about horses." + +"Well, I'm going to take the management of the home farm that lies near +the Court, into my own hands, and I think I can find you work amongst +the horses. I'll see the bailiff about it, and you can call on +Saturday night, when we will settle the question of wages." + +Tom's heart gave a joyful throb! A place on the farm close to the +Court would give him opportunities of many a stolen interview with +Rose; and if he showed himself willing and ready to do the thing that +came to his hand, he might rise to the position of bailiff before very +long, and find himself able to give his Rose as pretty a home as she +could wish for. + +"I won't forget your kindness, nor how you're ready to take me without +a character. I'll serve you honest and true," he said. + +"It is only one more example of the capriciousness of rich people," +said Paul, as he told the tale to Sally later in the day. "Here was +this poor fellow dismissed without a character for what I honestly +believe was a first offence. I'm glad to give him a helping hand." + +But Paul was judging hastily; Tom Burney had received notice from the +gardener, who had not thought it worth while to consult Mrs. Webster +about the matter. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +AN OUTSTRETCHED HAND. + +It was many weeks before Paul and May Webster met after the night of +the fire. The Court was crammed with company, and although Paul and +his sister were invited to dinner more than once, such invitations were +politely declined. + +"It's quite impossible, Sally," Paul had said, in answer to the rather +wistful look in her dark eyes. "To dine there quietly by ourselves, is +one thing; to go and meet a heap of smart people, who are my special +abomination, is another; and I should not have thought you would have +wished it either." + +"It would be so much experience; I could be in it but not of it. But I +expect I should not be smart enough, either in my dress or my talk; so +we must decline, I suppose. What shall I say?" + +"Anything you like within the limits of truth." + +"Paul won't come, and I can't because I have not a proper frock," said +Sally, merrily. "I am sorry, and he is not." + +"Don't talk nonsense, Sally," said Paul, with an answering laugh. "Any +woman can write a decent note of refusal if she chooses." + +So the decent note was written and despatched, to be followed by +another, rather differently worded, when the second invitation came +about a week later, after which they were asked no more. Sally watched +the smart carriages drive to and from the station, with their varying +loads of visitors, with a passing pang of regret. It was like gazing +into a shop-window when you are possessed of no money to buy the +tempting wares displayed there. + +Paul scarcely gave his gay neighbours a thought; his head was full of +plans for the improvement of the place, and it fretted him a little +that on every hand he found himself unable to carry out his wishes for +the want of the necessary means. + +He was not altogether popular: the poor people rather resented the +extreme simplicity of his manner of living when they discovered that it +was not accompanied by the open-handed liberality which Allison had +half led them to expect; the tenant-farmers opposed any change that +would touch their pockets; and people of his own class, few and far +between in that thinly populated neighbourhood, called once, but found +little to interest them in a man of such avowedly eccentric views on +things social and religious, and tacitly let the acquaintance drop. + +The one exception to this was May Webster, who, half-piqued, +half-amused, at the barrier which Paul had chosen to erect between +them, determined to break it down. She was coming out of the rectory +one afternoon when she met him at the gate. + +He lifted his hat, and would have opened the gate to let her pass, but +she held it fast looking at him over the top. + +"How are you? It is long since we met; never, I think, since the night +of the meeting with its exciting close. I've not thanked you properly, +by the way, for the rapid extinction of the flames." + +"Oh, any one could have done it; only I happened to be the one nearest +you," said Paul, carelessly. "It needs no special thanks." + +"Which is a civil way of saying that you could not let me burn, but +that you would rather some one else had put me out," said May, +mockingly. "Even so, I'm grateful; I've been calling on your friend +Kitty, who informed me with great triumph that daddy was out, but 'Mr. +Paul' was coming to tea with her. Questioned further, she informed me +that he often came when she was by herself, and he said he liked it." + +"So I do," Paul said. + +"So tea fetches you if dinner does not; or perhaps it is not the meal, +but the company. Frankly speaking, why do you accord your friendship +to Kitty and not to mother and me? We may be neighbours for years and +years; we may just as well be friends." + +"I'm not a man of many friends," Paul answered, fairly brought to bay. +"As for Kitty, she carried me by storm; she is the only child who has +taken to me of her own free will." + +"How very odd," said May, thoughtfully. + +"Oh yes; I admit the oddity." + +"But, if you are going to live here, are you content to be isolated +from your fellows--to have no friends?" continued May, wonderingly. + +"To have many acquaintances seems to me a dreary waste of life; and the +word friendship, in the mouth of a man, implies many things." + +"Notably what?" asked May, a little scornfully. + +"Similarity of tastes and thought." + +"And, I suppose, no one down here is clever enough for you?" + +"I hope I'm not such an intolerable prig as to have implied that. But, +frankly, I expect that you and I, for instance, would not take the same +view on any subject; and, very likely, the things that interest me +would bore you to extinction." + +"It would bore me pretty considerably if you persisted in urging that +the whole world should be reduced to one level of ugly uniformity, +which is what you are credited with believing." + +"A free interpretation of a hope, on my part, to lessen the cruel gulf +between the very rich and the very poor," replied Paul, quietly. "I +confess, the frightful extravagance of the wealthier classes makes me +sick at heart; for one section of society nothing but amusement and +pleasure, and the lavish spending of money; and for the larger half the +weary effort to make both ends meet--and for many quiet, hopeless +starvation." + +"You are talking something like the rector; only he enlists my sympathy +more by speaking less severely--and he is more just too. He does not +talk as if it were wicked to be better off than your neighbour; he only +makes you feel the responsibility of it." + +Paul gave rather a hard little laugh. + +"To speak plainly, he dresses it up a little--gives it the clerical +dash of sentiment. Besides, what is the good of stirring one here and +there to give out of his abundance something of which he will never +feel the loss, with the comfortable sense left behind that he or she +has done something very big indeed. What one would strive for, rather, +is to stir up the nation to its duties, to rouse Government to redress +some of these glaring social grievances." + +"Oh, pray keep yourself in hand! level your intellect down to mine!" +cried May, with a burst of laughter. "As far as I follow you, you wish +to lower my dress allowance by act of parliament. I sincerely trust +you will fail. By the way you may set your mind at rest about my +dressmaker; her bill is paid, and all my other outstanding accounts +too. With your rather eccentric views about property, it will annoy +you considerably to hear that I have had a fortune left me; so that I +may not be in debt again for some considerable time." + +"To her that hath," said Paul, with a glance at the elegantly clad +figure. "It really seems to me as if you could not want it, and I need +it so much." + +"You!" echoed May. "For real inconsistency commend me to yourself!" + +"I scarcely require it for my personal wants, but money is sorely +needed to carry out my wishes for this village. As landlord, I feel +myself responsible for many things that cannot be set right without it." + +"But--but--mother always told me that Major Lessing was rich; and you +are his heir." + +"I can only assure you that I am poor," said Paul, simply. "Now, I +hope, I have proved satisfactorily to you that circumstances, tastes, +and opinions differing so greatly between us, make anything like +friendship impossible. Whenever we come across each other we quarrel; +we can't help it." + +May flushed to the roots of her hair. "Thank you," she said haughtily. +"It is kind of you to put it so clearly. I simply tried to put things +on a kinder footing, as we are your tenants and your neighbours, but I +see I have made a mistake. It surprises me to find you so painfully +prejudiced. Good-bye. I've kept you too long from your one friend." + +She opened the gate and passed on her way with never a look behind; but +Paul followed with long, rapid strides. + +"Miss Webster! stay one moment, please! I believe I've been behaving +like a perfect brute," he said hurriedly. "At first I thought you were +simply playing a game with me; but, without knowing it, we drifted into +earnestness. If any word of mine has seriously vexed you, I apologize +and retract." + +"You could even believe it possible that I might feel a ray of interest +in some of the big subjects which absorb your life," said May. + +"To have made a man acknowledge himself a prig once in an afternoon is +enough," retorted Paul. "I will not do it again. You know the worst +of me: that I have an uncertain temper, which betrays me occasionally +into blurting out unpleasant truths: that I have absolutely no small +talk. I shall be at best but a rough-and-ready friend; but if in your +kindness you still care to cultivate Sally and me, we will gratefully +accept the cultivation, and be the better for it. There's my hand on +it," and Paul stretched out his hand. And May gave him her small +gloved one for an instant with a very sunny smile. + +"And you will come to dinner soon and not feel you need talk down to +us." + +"When all the smart people have gone," Paul said smiling. + +"Smart people are your pet aversion, apparently. Is that why you would +not come lately?" + +"Yes; if you wish to hear the truth," Paul admitted as he turned back +to the rectory. + +"And I have made a pretty big fool of myself this afternoon," was his +mental comment as he let the gate clang behind him. "I first lost my +temper, and then let a woman twist me round her finger simply because +she is beautiful." + +Needless to relate he made no confession of his folly to Sally when he +got home that night. He resolved simply to change his tactics about +the people at the Court, and preserve safe silence about his altered +mind. + +The following afternoon he stopped at the forge to speak to the +blacksmith about some repairs that were to be set on foot on his +premises. Allison stood at the open door of the smithy with his head +turned in the opposite direction from the squire, looking after the +rector, who had just left him, with something of the sullen +satisfaction with which a bulldog might regard a vanquished foe. +Indignation still simmered when Paul accosted him. One glance at the +purple face showed the squire that, for some reason as yet unknown, the +blacksmith was in a towering passion. + +"Confound his impudence!" he said, throwing a dark look after the +rector. "I've let him know once for all that I'll have no more of it! +I'm not answerable to him, nor any man, for what I says and does. His +business, indeed, to come and tell me, if I choose to have a bit of fun +with a young fellow in a public-house. What does it hurt him to be +drunk for once in his life? A lesson I call it! just a bit of a lesson +as will teach him that his head ain't so strong as mine, nor likely to +be till he gets seasoned a bit. I give it him straight enough, and no +humbug about it. 'Look here, sir,' I says, 'you go your way, and leave +me to go mine. I don't deny as you've been kind to my old mother, and +she'd fret sore if she didn't see you. Psalm-singing and such comes +natural-like to most women; but for my part I want nothing better than +to be letted alone.'" + +Allison came to a stop; breath rather than words had failed him. Paul, +who had been an unwilling listener to this tirade against the rector, +took advantage of the pause to turn the subject. + +"Afraid I can't attend to you this afternoon sir," said Allison, when +Paul stated the object of his call. "Reason why, my mates are out for +a holiday, and this mare here is just brought in to be shod. I said at +first I would not do her to-day; she's a savage brute to tackle alone. +I don't let any one touch her but myself when the men are here. It's +wonderful now what a difference there is in the tempers of horses; but +I ain't come across the one I couldn't master in the forge. They feel +I ain't afeared on 'em." + +Boasting of his prowess in his art was fast restoring Allison's temper, +which, though violent, was not enduring. + +"Very well; I'll come again to-morrow," said Paul. + +"And you'll thank missy for lookin' up my mother as she does," said +Allison, referring to Sally's visits to the old lady, his mother. +"She's one as it does you good to see, so pleasant and free-spoken. +Now some on 'em," with a glance in the direction of the Court, "don't +look as if they thought you good enough to black their shoes, and that +don't do for me." + +"She does not do herself justice," thought Paul, as he walked away, +unconsciously taking up the cudgels in May Webster's defence; "she can +be gracious enough when she chooses. She has insisted on our being +friends, and I'll make use of the privilege to tell her the impression +she conveys, before many weeks are passed. Allison is a shrewd fellow, +and in his blundering fashion knocks many a right nail on the head." + + * * * * * * + +The October afternoon was fading into night before Paul returned to the +cottage. The curtains of the sitting-room were still undrawn, and from +within he caught the cheerful glow of the fire, and Sally seated on the +rug before it reading by the fitful light. She sprang to her feet as +she heard his footstep, and ran to open the door; and then her merry +greeting checked itself in the utterance, for her brother's face was +grey with suppressed feeling, and his teeth chattered slightly. + +"What is it, Paul?" she asked, in a half-frightened whisper. + +"It's that poor fellow, Allison; he's dying. And I happened to pass +when the accident occurred, and gave a hand in carrying him upstairs. +It's ghastly to see a man in mortal agony." + +"What happened?" + +"A troublesome mare took to kicking as he shod her, and somehow Allison +was knocked down; and, before any one could get to the rescue, he was +so injured that the doctor does not think he can last through the +night." + +"How awful! And were you there to see it all?" Sally asked with a +shiver. + +"I had not left the forge very long. I had been talking to Allison, +and he told me the mare was a skittish one to manage; and, as I +returned, I found a group of men gathered around him, not one of whom +had even had the sense of thinking of fetching the doctor. So I first +helped them to get poor Allison to his room, and then I rushed to the +inn, got a trap, and went and brought a doctor back with me. There is +absolutely nothing to be done; but it is a satisfaction to feel that a +doctor has seen him. Taken right way, he's not half a bad sort, Sally. +He's bearing his pain like a man, and shook me by the hand to bid me +good-bye, and even sent a message to you. 'Say good-bye to missy. I'd +like to have said it myself,'" he said. + +"He shall! I'll go and see him," Sally said, with a set white face. +"If the sight of me can give him the smallest pleasure, I'll go." + +"It's rather awful, Sally; you've not had to face death yet. I would +not go if I were you." + +"We all must face it some time or other. I'll go, Paul; I shan't be +long. No! don't come with me, please; I'd rather go alone." + +"Put on a waterproof, then, and take an umbrella; it's a wild night, +and it has just come on to rain," said Paul, and, moved by an unwonted +impulse, he stooped and kissed her. + +The door of the blacksmith's house was open when Sally reached it, and, +entering softly, she removed her wet cloak and stood in the dimly +lighted parlour wondering how she should make her presence known. From +overhead came the sound of voices talking in suppressed whispers, and +once Sally shivered, for a long-drawn moan fell upon her ear. + +"I'll go and see the old mother. Perhaps I can stay with her, and set +Mrs. Allison free when I have just said good-bye to her husband," +thought Sally, as she went up the stairs. + +A near neighbour met her at the top. + +"We're just at our wits' end, miss," she said in answer to Sally's +inquiry. "The old lady's not to be told anything about it, and Mrs. +Allison, poor soul! falls out of one faint into another, and can't stay +in the room along with him who's dying." + +"May I go to him for a minute. He wanted to see me," said Sally, with +a sob. + +But, ushered into the chamber of death, Sally stood for a moment +overpowered by an awful terror: a chill which seemed as if it would +stop the beating of her heart, a terror she could not have explained. +Face to face with death! The words were familiar enough, but they had +conveyed little meaning to her. This man, who lay there, unable from +time to time to keep back a groan of agony, with the grey shadow +deepening on his face, and the drops of perspiration standing on his +forehead, would soon lie there silent and still, capable of neither +speech, nor feeling, nor hearing. He would be simply an empty shell. +It was awful!--inexpressibly awful. It all flashed through Sally's +mind in one shuddering instant; the next, she had pulled herself +together and crossed to the bedside on tip-toe, and stood looking down +at the poor, prostrate form with ineffable pity in her dark eyes. + +"Oh, Lord! I can't bear it!" broke in a sort of wail from the blue +lips. "It can't last long; an hour or so will settle it." + +The words Sally recognized as an exclamation rather than a prayer, but +they brought the rector to her remembrance. If any man could help +another in his last agony surely it would be he. + +"Mr. Allison," she said, laying her soft hand on the grimy one that +moved up and down so restlessly upon the counterpane, "I heard you +wanted to see me. Let me do something. Is there no one else you would +like to see? Shall I fetch Mr. Curzon?" + +Allison's eyes unclosed, dimmed already by the gathering haze of death. + +"Bless you, missy; this ain't no place for you, though it's good of you +to come. Good-bye. God bless you! You get home again; it will hurt +you to see me suffer." + +Once more that half-blind appeal to the Higher Power of which Mr. +Curzon had spoken, and he spoke with no uncertain sound. He seemed to +know about it. + +"Won't the rector come?" asked Sally again. + +But Allison shook his head. + +"No, no; we'd words to-day. I can't mind what about; but it don't +matter much. I told 'un not to come." + +But as he spoke a step fell on the stair, and the next moment Mr. +Curzon pushed open the door with an expression on his face so pitiful, +so strong, that in the tension of her feeling, Sally could only sob, +and, withdrawing her hand, slip quietly away to the window. + +The rector knelt down, bringing his face to a level with the dying +man's. + +"Allison, dear fellow, I only heard this minute what had happened; and +I came. Will you let me stay?" + +"You can please yourself," said Allison; "but you can't want to be +here. We quarrelled, you and I." + +"Not I," said the rector, gently. + +"I'm mortal bad! I'm dying!" gasped the blacksmith. "It can't do no +good to watch me." + +"You'll let me say a psalm or read a prayer." + +"No. Where's the use? I wouldn't say 'em living and I can't listen +now I'm dying. I ain't no worse than others, and I'm better than some; +and what's to see on the other side, I'll learn soon enough for myself. +I'm nearly there." + +"But God is here! close to you, Allison," pleaded the rector; "asking +you even now to turn to Him, to look Him in the Face!" + +Sally's breath came in fitful gasps; she looked round the room half +expecting the visible shining of that Presence. Instead, the wind +sobbed in the chimney and the rain dashed against the window-pane. +Death was here, and darkness; but no God, thought Sally. + +The rector's hands covered his face, and through his fingers Sally saw +that great tears forced themselves in the agony of his wrestling for +that soul with God. + +"You can please yourself," said Allison, opening his eyes again. "It +will do no good, but it won't do harm." And the rector, catching at +the feeble flicker of a dawning faith, said the twenty-third Psalm +slowly on his knees: "'Though I walk through the valley of the shadow +of death, I fear no evil, for Thou art with me----'" + +A movement from the dying man made him pause and look up. + +"I can't see nothing; give me a grip of your hand. Hold tight; I'm +mortal cold." + +He did not speak again. Neighbours came and went, moistening the dying +lips with brandy; but the eyes had no gleam of recognition in them. +For an hour or more the rector sat with the great hand clasped tightly +between his own, repeating gently prayer or hymn, no word of which, he +feared, could reach the numbed brain, but certain that the Great God in +Heaven was looking down upon the sheep that had wandered so far from +Him, but whom He still claimed as His own. And Sally waited, too, +until the rector rising, bent and softly closed the eyes. Then she +knew that Allison was dead, and, slipping from the room, made her way +swiftly home, unconscious of the rain that beat upon her head, filled +only with the remembrance of the scene she had just witnessed. + +"He's dead," she said, when Paul let her in; "he's dead--whatever that +may mean. It does not mean going out like a candle--I'm certain it +does not mean that,--it means going somewhere else; and, if any one can +teach me, I must find out where. I could not die like that, Paul; it's +despairing, it's quite hopeless! I'm thankful that I'm young; that I +have time to learn. If there's no hope, no light, the mere thought of +dying would be enough to drive one mad." + +"My poor child! I did wrong to let you see anything so painful," Paul +said, gathering her into his arms. "I am afraid there is no one who +can tell you about these things. Nobody knows; that is the sad part of +it." + +"Mr. Curzon can," said Sally, lifting her head from Paul's shoulder. +"He has got hold of something that you and I have missed. There is +positive conviction written on his face of the living God whom Allison +in dying was vaguely feeling after." + +"Oh, he's a fine fellow in his way, I don't deny it, and has the +courage of his opinions; but he can't know. Nobody does," said Paul, +doggedly. "And now, dear, we'll have supper. You will take a less +hysterical view of life and death in the morning." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A CRISIS IN A LIFE. + +A year had passed since poor Allison's sun set so stormily. It was +curious that his death marked the beginning of a new life for Sally; +but so it was. It had changed her attitude of mind towards things +eternal, from one of placid indifference to active inquiry. Paul's +assertion that "nobody knew" satisfied no longer, and she turned from +him to Mr. Curzon. + +"Death can't be the end of it all," she said abruptly to the rector, +when she met him a few days after Allison had passed away. + +"Oh no," he answered, following her lead with quick sympathy. "Our +Lord's death and resurrection teach us that it is but the beginning." + +"I wish I could believe it. Can you help me? can any one help me?" +Sally said. + +"I may be the signpost to show you the road, and I will tell you of the +things which have helped me on the road; but God is even now drawing +you to Himself by His Holy Spirit," said Mr. Curzon, earnestly. + +Thus, under Mr. Curzon's guidance, Sally began the course of study +which ended, before many months had passed away, in the passionate +conviction that in Christ alone could be found the Way, the Truth, and +the Life. + +Paul guessed at the fact that his sister was passing through some new +phase of thought, by the books he found left about the room, and by a +newly developed earnestness which underlay her natural gaiety of manner. + +"Poor child! Allison's death frightened her. And it is as well that +she should study both sides of the question," he thought. He did not +doubt that eventually she would accept his decision as final. + +It was November, and Paul came into lunch one day with an unusual air +of depression. His farming venture was proving a grievous failure, as +far as money was concerned. On every side he found himself hampered by +poverty. The summer had been a wet one, and, in common humanity, he +had had to make a considerable reduction in his farm rents; +improvements in his cottage property had led to an outlay for which he +well knew he could receive no adequate interest, and, as he had tramped +over the sodden land this morning, he had been occupied with the +anxious consideration how best to make both ends meet. + +The longer he lived at Rudham the less he liked it. He was deprived of +the society of men of his own way of thinking; and with the rector, who +in theory he cordially respected and liked, he found himself nearly +always in tacit opposition. Paul's friendship with Kitty was the only +connecting link between him and the rector; otherwise they would have +drifted hopelessly apart before now. Then, on this particular morning, +as he returned home he heard a rumour that May Webster was going to be +married to a baronet who had haunted the Court pretty frequently during +the last few months; and the hint had filled Paul with unreasoning +irritation. Not that it mattered to him whom she married, he assured +himself; but the Court had become the one bright spot to him in all the +place. + +Paul, having promised his friendship, had given it unstintingly, and +had been proud to discover that in many of the subjects which +interested him the most deeply, he had found May Webster a ready pupil; +and when she differed from him she held her own with such merry +defiance, that it gave her an added charm in his eyes. And now this +mindless, fox-hunting squire was to carry her off, and life at Rudham +would sink into one dead level of dulness. Thus it happened that he +came home in a captious mood. + +"What's the excitement, Sally? A wedding, I suppose, for the bells are +making row enough to wake the dead." + +"No, it's the Bishop," said Sally, flushing a little. "There is a +Confirmation here to-day." + +Paul's eyes travelled from Sally's crimsoning face to the white dress +she wore. + +"I can't see why the Bishop is to be welcomed like a bride, and you are +to dress like one of his bridesmaids," he said. "What a singularly +inappropriate garment for this dreary November day." + +"I am going to be confirmed, Paul." + +A long pause followed. It was the crowning vexation of a tiresome +morning; but Paul did not wish to say anything that he would afterwards +regret. + +"It's a decided step, Sally; I wonder if you have thought it over +enough? You will probably wake up from this religious craze to find +yourself bound down to a creed which your reason rejects." + +"It is conviction, not a craze," said Sally. "I have thought about +little else for a whole year, and my mind is quite made up." + +"Very well, then; I have nothing more to say. You are of age, and must +decide such things for yourself; but you've sprung it upon me somewhat +suddenly, Sally. I suppose it was by Mr. Curzon's advice that you kept +your change of opinion dark?" + +"Oh dear no! he wished me to tell you weeks ago. But I've been so +happy, I cared so much, I felt as if I could not discuss things with +any one who differed from me." + +"Then we won't discuss it," Paul said, drawing a long breath. "What +time does the thing come off? I'll go down and order the fly; I can't +let you walk up to church like that." + +"May is going to call for me; she is coming to the service." + +"Miss Webster!" said Paul, with a rather incredulous laugh. "I should +not have thought it was at all in her line." + +"She's glad; she thinks I'm right," said Sally, gently. + +It was on the tip of Paul's tongue to ask Sally if she had heard +anything of May's rumoured engagement to Sir Cecil Bland; but some fear +lest the answer should be in the affirmative held him back. When the +carriage from the Court drew up at the gate, he went down to put Sally +in, and was rewarded by a friendly nod and smile from May. + +"Aren't you coming, too?" she asked boldly. "It would make Sally so +happy if you did." + +Paul shook his head. "I don't understand these things; I leave them to +those that do." + +"I promise to bring her back safely, and I am coming to tea," went on +May, gliding over his refusal. "I've never seen that new wing of yours +since it was finished. Cottage, indeed! I call it quite a mansion!" +with a glance at the addition which had been lately built on to the +Macdonald's house, making it about double its original size. + +"A mansion you would not care to inhabit, I expect; but it will do +capitally for Sally and me," said Paul. + +"I'll decide that when I've seen it. Good-bye, then, till we meet +later. Tell Dixon to drive to the church, please." + +Paul gave the order, and went back to his new sitting-room, seating +himself before his office table, as he called the one which was placed +in the bow window. He opened his business ledgers, and congratulated +himself on the fact of having a long, quiet afternoon of undisturbed +work before him; but one more trivial interruption occurred before he +was entirely left to himself. Mrs. Macdonald knocked at the door and +stood before him arrayed in her Sunday best. + +"Shall you be wanting anything, sir?" + +"Nothing whatever, Mrs. Macdonald." + +"If not, I would like to go to the church to see Miss Sally and the +Bishop. I'd slip out quiet before the end, so as not to keep the +ladies waiting for their tea." + +"Go by all means," said Paul, smiling a little over the commotion +created by a Bishop and his lawn sleeves, and a flock of girls in white +dresses and caps. + +Then his thoughts reverted to Sally's face, with its sweet seriousness +of expression, as she had started for the church, and from Sally he +passed on to May; and there his mind lingered. She was +beautiful--beautiful beyond compare; and to-day there had been an added +grace of tenderness in her manner to Sally: a protecting, motherly +care, as if she would shield her from his want of sympathy. She seemed +so much older than Sally, and yet there were but four years between +them. + +He pictured the room as it would appear when she entered it, and he +settled which of the two easy-chairs he would draw nearer to the fire, +and where he would sit himself, so that he could watch the firelight +playing on her face; and then---- He covered his face with his hands +and shut out the light, the better to understand the cause of the +fierce pain that was gnawing at his heart. + +It did not take him long to discover what had happened. He, Paul +Lessing, a man who had knocked about the world and had mixed with all +sorts and conditions of men and women, whose pulses had hitherto never +quickened their beating at the touch of a woman's hand or the sound of +a voice, found himself, at thirty-one, as helplessly and ridiculously +in love as any lad of twenty. + +With a smothered exclamation, he pushed back his chair, and began a +restless walk up and down the room. Was ever a grown man guilty of +such egregious folly before? A great gulf separated him and the woman +of his dreams: a gulf that could never be bridged over. In tastes and +in circumstances they were separated far as the poles. His love was +perfectly hopeless; and yet the notion of her marrying another, and +removing herself entirely out of his reach, was intolerable to him. +But, as an effectual cure of his madness, he knew that it was the best +thing that could happen to him. The remedy was a sharp one, but it +would be complete. + +"A few days must settle it, and, until then, I need not meet her," said +Paul, aloud. "I won't stay in this afternoon; business can take me to +the farm." + +In another minute he had gone into the village street, almost deserted +this afternoon, for most of the villagers had wandered up to the +church. Paul's road lay in the same direction; and he walked along +with rapid strides, his head bent upon his breast, his heart busied +with his new discovery, and the thought how best to live it down. He +was mingling with the crowd now, that had gathered round the +church-gate waiting for the procession of clergy that was just filing +out of the church. From inside came the throb of the organ and the +sound of singing; but Paul went upon his way, neither lifting his head +nor staying his steps, when a familiar voice close at hand arrested his +attention. + +"Mr. Paul! I'm so glad you've come! I _can't_ see anything; lift me +up, please!" + +Paul started as he saw that he had nearly tumbled over his friend +Kitty, whose invalid carriage was drawn up as near to the gate as +possible. + +"Poor Kitty! And you want to look at the Bishop and his lawn sleeves, +and the girls in their caps, like all the rest of the village," he +said, bending over and lifting her high in his strong arms. + +"Yes. I suppose you've come to see the Bishop too?" said Kitty, with a +sigh of contentment. "He's very nice, indoors; but oh! he's lovely +when he's got his scarlet coat on. But daddy says I must not think +about the clothes, but about all the boys and girls whom he will bless +to-day. They'll promise to be good, you know." + +"Hush! hush!" said Paul, for the procession was upon them. And Kitty, +carried away by the thrill of the voices, steadied herself in Paul's +arms by clasping hers about his neck, and sang lustily with the rest-- + + "'Till with the vision glorious + Her longing eyes are blest, + And the great Church victorious + Shall be the Church at rest.'" + + +The last clergyman in the procession before the Bishop was the rector, +and Paul could not but be struck by the singular beauty of his look, +the joyous ring of his voice. The "vision glorious" was his at that +moment; fresh soldiers had just been sworn in to that great army, whose +Captain was Christ, and, though some might fall away, there were many +whom he prayed would die fighting. That, and more than that, was +written clearly on the rector's face. + +"Did you see him? Did you see him?" whispered Kitty, eagerly. "Isn't +he beautiful?" + +"Yes," said Paul, absently, as he put Kitty back into her carriage. +But whilst Kitty referred to the Bishop, Paul spoke of the rector. + +Then he hurried on his way, anxious not to encounter Sally or May. The +brief interval of sunshine was over, and wreaths of mist gathered along +the banks of the river, creeping gradually to the slopes above it, +dissolving into fine thick rain as the afternoon darkened into night. +And still Paul lingered about his business at the farm, until he felt +assured that all danger of coming across May was over: a conviction +justified by the fact that he met the carriage from the Court, driving +home as he returned to the village, catching a glimpse of a lady's +figure inside it. + +"How long has May been gone?" he asked, with studied carelessness, as +he let himself into he cottage and saw a girl's figure seated on the +rug before the fire. + +"She's not gone! she's here, wondering why her host was so rude as to +absent himself this afternoon. Since when, by the way, have you done +her the honour to call her by her Christian name?" And May Webster +rose from her lowly position and faced Paul with laughter in her eyes. + +Paul felt himself caught at a thorough disadvantage; he was dripping +with rain and covered with mud, and, confronted thus suddenly with the +girl of whom his heart was full, his usual readiness of speech deserted +him. + +"You! you!" he stammered. "But I saw you drive by me not a quarter of +an hour ago." + +"And thought you had timed your homecoming so as judiciously to miss +me," said May, mercilessly. "It must have been my mother; she has been +spending the day at Fairfield. I told Dixon not to come back for me as +I would walk home: a premature decision, for it has rained ever since, +and I've been waiting for it to clear up. However, I can wait no +longer; and Sally has just gone to forage out a waterproof and +umbrella." + +"I'll go up to the Court and tell them to send back the carriage," said +Paul, preparing to depart. + +"No, thank you; I will walk." + +"The village fly, then?" + +"It, or rather its horse, has had more than its proper work to-day. It +is probably now conveying the Bishop to the station." + +"I shall come with you, then; it will be quite dark before you get +home." + +"I'm not afraid of it. I believe you are; there's a queer, scared look +about you, as if you had seen a ghost; you still think I was in that +carriage. Sally," turning to the girl who had just re-entered the +room, "will you tell your brother that I don't wish him to see me home? +He's very damp and miserable now." + +"And at the risk of being a little damper, I will come; it's ridiculous +to argue the point." + +With all her boasted independence May was not sorry for Paul's escort +when she stepped out into the night. The rain was descending in a +steady down pour, the wind came sighing up the valley, and the river +swept on its way, lapping against the bark with a dreary, sobbing +sound. They walked on in silence side by side until May broke it with +an impatient laugh. + +"The dreariness of the night has infected us both. You are not often +dull. You are always either amusing or interesting. Talk, please." + +"I can't talk. I've not an idea in my head except that, if the river +gets much higher, there will be a flood, and no more Rudham! And +personally, I should not care much if it swept it away and me with it." + +"You do yourself injustice; you are very interesting. Why this fit of +the blues? You are going to be ill, I expect; you looked rather ill +when you came in just now." + +"Not a bit of it," said Paul, with a little laugh; "draggled and wet, +but not ill. Do you remember that you told me once, a year ago, that I +was isolating myself from my fellows? Then I felt as if I could defy +that isolation. To-day I have been conscious of it; Robinson Crusoe on +his desert island could not feel more utterly lonely. I have been +kicking against the pricks, wondering why I am condemned to a life and +a place which I hate." + +"You have no business to complain of a solitude which you have created +yourself." + +"Oh no; I blame no one." + +"And you have Sally----" + +"I _had_ Sally. She was my disciple and satellite; but now I shall +always be having to take care that I don't hurt her feelings. The +slippered ease of the old relationship is dead; I can't talk out to +her." + +"But you can talk out to me as much as you like. I shan't agree with +you; but my faith, such as it is, is not new-born like Sally's. I wish +it were half as strong." + +Only under cover of the dark would May have dared to say as much. + +"No, I can't even talk to you; the friendship is dead too. That was +the ghost I saw this afternoon; it would have been a short-lived joy, +any way, for I hear you are going to leave Rudham." + +"You are talking in riddles now!" cried May. "What should kill our +friendship? and where am I going to?" + +"To Fairfield; so rumour says." + +May stopped short in her walk, and Paul heard her breath coming +unevenly. When she spoke again her voice was low, but angry. + +"You outstrip the limits of friendship in daring to tell me what the +gossips here say of me." + +"I had no intention of telling you. I suppose it slipped out because I +hate to believe it true." + +"You need not believe it; I am not going to marry Sir Cecil Bland," +said May, coldly. "What has it to do with you, may I ask?" + +"Thank Heaven!" muttered Paul, under his breath. + +"What have you against him?" + +"Nothing. Except that I suppose he loves you, and I love you too, and, +although I know better than you can tell me, that my love is perfectly +hopeless, I can bear it if I may let you live in my heart a little +while, as the one woman in all the world to me, the only woman I have +ever loved or ever wished to marry. That must not have been if you +were pledged to marry some one else." + +"Oh, stop!" said May, laying an entreating hand upon his arm; "I feel +as if I had been so cruel, I would not rest until I had you for a +friend, but I never dreamed of this." + +"Nor I, until to-day," said Paul. "But when I heard that some one else +was likely to marry you I knew." + +"Put me back into the old niche. Can't we forget about to-night?" + +Paul laughed a little harshly. + +"Forget!" he echoed drearily. "How little women know the way a man can +love? With you I shall only rank as one of the many moths that have +singed their wings by flying too closely about you." + +"No, no! I shall think of you always as my one man-friend, to whom I +could say anything that was in my head. I shall miss him dreadfully." + +"And under no circumstances can you think of me in a different light?" + +"I don't know, but I think not," May said simply. "You may think it +odd, or call me heartless, but I have not yet met the man I wish to +marry. There! you see I trust you to the last. Good-bye, my friend." + +Paul bent over the hand that was put into his own and kissed it, and +went home feeling that the chill of the night had closed about his +heart. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +RIVAL SUITORS. + +"Where have you been, May? I have been frightened to death about you." + +The process was apparently a painless one, judging from the extreme +comfort of Mrs. Webster's surroundings: her easy-chair drawn close to +the fire but sheltered from it by a screen, the lamp on the table +adjusted to a nicety behind, the illustrated papers ready cut for use, +and the last new novel lying open on her lap. May seated herself +leisurely and stretched out her hands to the blaze before she answered. + +"I've been having tea at the cottage." + +"And came home in the wet and dark by yourself?" + +"No. Mr. Lessing saw me home." + +"Of course; I know now that your staying at home to-day to take Sally +to the confirmation was just an excuse. You did not want to come with +me to Fairfield." + +"No, I did not; but I honestly did want to go with Sally: she looked so +pretty, mother. I've not been at a confirmation since I was confirmed +myself." + +"I don't want to talk of that just now, May. Lady Bland is terribly +hurt at the way you have treated Cecil. He's quite ill, poor fellow!" + +"I'm sorry." + +"You are not," snapped Mrs. Webster, "or you would have been kinder to +him!" + +"Need we go over this oft-trodden ground again?" May asked rather +wearily. "I can only reiterate that I really can't and won't marry any +one I do not care for." + +"I don't believe there is the man in creation that you will care for. +It really would be wise for you to accept the one you least dislike." + +"Or not marry anybody." + +"That is a more than likely alternative. You are five-and-twenty now, +and you might have been married over and over again." + +May laughed. "I don't know why you are so keen to get rid of me. You +will be dreadfully lonely without me; not to say dull." + +"That's true enough," said Mrs. Webster, softening; "but a girl like +you ought to marry. You won't make a good old maid." + +"No," May admitted candidly. + +And this question of marriage, which was sorely perplexing the +mistress, was pressing hard also upon her maid, for pretty Rose +Lancaster, who had successfully played off her rival suitors against +each other for a year, was at last compelled to make her choice between +them. Tom Burney had that day received an offer from the squire of a +free passage to Tasmania, and a very good appointment on a farm there +with a relation of Mr. Lessing's, where, if he gave satisfaction, he +might in a few years look forward to part-ownership. + +"I only propose to part with you because agriculture does not pay, or I +have not learned the way to make it do so," the squire had said. "I +have been making up my mind to reduce my staff; and, my cousin having +lately written to me about a suitable man, it occurred to me to give +you the first offer." + +Tom coloured with pleasure. "Thank you, sir; it seems a great chance. +It would be a certainty, wouldn't it? I could take another with me." + +"Well, it would be wiser for the other fellow to get a promise of work. +I might ask if there were an opening," Paul had replied. + +"It's not a man as I was thinking of, sir. It was a wife!" + +"Oh, I beg your pardon," the squire said laughing. "But if you care +for my opinion on a subject of which I know but little, I believe quite +the wisest thing you could do would be to take out a wife with you. +She would make a home for you and keep you steady. I expect you have +some girl in your eye, Burney." + +Tom smiled rather sheepishly; it would be time enough to mention Rose +when his banns were put up. + +And that very afternoon when work was over, Tom had gone home and put +on his best clothes; then walked boldly up to the Court and demanded an +interview with Rose. She came into the servant's hall where he waited +nervously by the fire, and, giving him a careless nod, seated herself +and put her toes upon the fender. + +"What is it, Tom? I can't stop long; I'm expecting Miss Webster in +every minute." + +"It's come at last: what I've waited for," stammered Tom. "I've a +chance of giving you a home, Rose: a nice one, as far as I can make +out." + +"Where?" asked Rose, with shining eyes and parted lips, a vision of +herself as a bride, in a white frock, and handsome Tom as her +bridegroom, floating before her. + +"In Tasmania; if you love me well enough to come with me out there. +It's a wonderful offer that the squire has given me; and some day I may +bring you home almost like a lady." + +"But I don't know where it is, and I wouldn't go if I did--not with you +nor any man! What can you be thinking of to stuff me up with nonsense +like that?" Rose asked poutingly. "I'll have a home on this side of +the water, or nowhere." + +"And you shall," Tom declared passionately, "if you'll promise to wait +until I can make you one!--but I'll have your word for it. You shall +have done with Dixon and stick fast by me, or----" + +"Or what?" Rose said with rather frightened eyes. + +"Or I'll go where you won't be troubled by me any more. Look here! +you've held me on for eighteen months now, and, if you cared for me +one-half as I love you, you would be ready enough to come with me to +the other side of the world, when I can make you an honest offer of a +home. I'd follow you to the world's end; ill or well, rich or poor I'd +love you just the same; you should not have a trouble that I could keep +from you. I've told you so before, and I tell you so to-night; but +it's the last time. You can take me or leave me; but I'll know now +which it is to be. It don't matter much to me where you want to live, +except that, if I don't take this offer, we must wait a bit; but I'll +know your mind about it. It must be 'yes' or 'no' to-night!" + +Happily for Rose, Miss Webster's bell pealed a noisy summons at that +moment. + +"I can't stop, Tom! I _really_ can't! Miss Webster is not one who can +wait. I'll think it over and tell you sometime soon." + +"When?" asked Tom, catching her hands and holding them so tightly that +she gave a little cry. + +"Sunday. Sunday night after church; you can see me home if you like," +and with that promise Tom had to be content. + +"Mind what you are up to, Rose. Don't play with me too far," he said. + +And as Rose sat stitching in the housekeeper's room that night, her +mind busied itself over Tom's words, and the difficulty of making a +decision. It had never entered Rose's pretty head to lay this question +of marriage before God. Had she done so she would have been saved from +making a mistake, which was to leave its mark upon the whole of her +future life. Her heart drew her one way, and her ambition another. +Undoubtedly Tom, with his warm heart and openly expressed devotion, was +the man she loved the best of the many who had paid her attention; but +she might have to wait for him for years, whilst, if Dixon chose to +offer it, he could give her a home to-morrow that any girl in the +village might envy; but he had never spoken out as Tom had spoken +to-night. His wooing had not been so manly and so straight as poor +Tom's. Rose had almost made up her mind to tell him on Sunday that she +would wait for him, when a voice waked her from her reverie; and the +voice was Dixon's. + +"I suppose you don't happen to know if the carriage will be wanted to +take the ladies to the station to-morrow? I heard some talk about +their going out, but I haven't had any orders." + +"I'm not the one to ask! you'll find Mr. Wheeler in the pantry," said +Rose, a little sharply. + +"What's put you out to-night, I wonder?" said Dixon, coming a little +further into the room and closing the door behind him. "Had some +quarrel with that peppery lad Burney, I expect? Anyway you've been +crying about something; and ten to one it's Burney. I saw him coming +away from here, and I had the biggest mind to ask him what business he +had to be prowling round a place where he was turned off for +unsteadiness." + +"You'd best mind what you say about him!" Rose said, stitching away +with feverish rapidity. "He wants me to marry him." + +"Does he now? Banns put up on Sunday, I suppose?" said Dixon, with a +palpable sneer. + +"No; we should wait," faltered Rose. + +"I should not have thought you were of the waiting sort. Then it's +good-bye to me." + +"It will be good-bye if I promise; he'll be all or nothing. He's just +mad about me." + +"Then you've not promised yet?" asked Dixon, eagerly. "You've not been +silly enough to do that, Rose?" + +"He won't wait; I'm to tell him on Sunday night. And oh! I'm +miserable: I don't know what to do!" And Rose let her work fall in her +lap, and burst into sobbing. + +"Don't cry! don't take on! I'll tell you what to do, my dear. Promise +to marry me instead of that hot-headed fool, Burney. Settle it all +right away, and don't fash your head any more about it. There need be +no waiting--I'll go and see the vicar about the banns,--and if so be +that we can't get the rooms over the stables to ourselves, I'll ask Mr. +Lessing to give us a cottage. There! you see I'm in earnest. It would +be grand to hear your name given out in church the next Sunday as ever +is, now wouldn't it?" and Dixon pulled away Rose's hands from her face, +and smiled down on her. + +"Oh, I couldn't!" Rose said. "There's Tom." + +"That would settle Tom fast enough." + +Rose never knew quite how it happened; but half an hour later Dixon +left without any order for the carriage on the morrow, but with Rose's +promise that she would marry him as soon as he liked, and with her +consent that the banns should be published on the following Sunday. +Rose's silly little head was in such a whirl of delightful excitement +that, for the time being, Tom and his misery were forgotten. There was +the wedding to think of, and the clothes that must be made, and the +question of hat versus veil, for the wedding-day loomed large in the +foreground. She wondered how Miss Webster would look when she gave her +a month's notice that night; and whether Mrs. Webster would offer to +have the wedding breakfast at the Court. It was almost certain that as +Dixon was coachman, he would have the loan of the carriage; and she +would be driven to the church that day for all the world just like a +lady, and half the village would turn out to see her married. And then +Tom's large, reproachful eyes, with their expression of dumb pain, +stared at her out of the brilliant picture which her imagination +conjured. Poor Tom! how would he bear it? She comforted herself a +little with the thought that he would be quite certain now to accept +the offer of that situation abroad of which he had spoken, and she +would not be vexed by the sight of his unhappiness. + +"I must not let him meet me on Sunday night. I must write and tell him +that Dixon and I have settled it, and that he must not mind too much," +thought Rose. + +The letter was not an easy one to write, and Rose shelved it. She had +a way of shelving unpleasant subjects; but when Saturday night came she +could put it off no longer, so, fetching down her writing-case, she +spoiled a dozen sheets of paper in the effort to make her news fairly +palatable, finally dashing off an unsatisfactory scrawl, badly written +and lamely expressed; and, having folded and directed it, she flew out +into the yard to find a messenger to take it. The first who presented +himself was the groom. + +"It would be doing me a real favour if you would let Burney have this +note to-night," she said. "It's very particular;" and with the note +she shoved sixpence into the man's hand. + +He laughed as he pocketed the coin, and was laughing still when he went +back into the saddle-room, where Dixon sat smoking over the fire. + +"What's the joke, mate?" + +"A note from your girl to Burney--'very particular' she called it! +I'll warrant it's to tell him he'd better not come this way any more." + +"I dare say it is," replied Dixon, slowly. "Hand it over; I'm going +down to the village, and I'll leave it myself." + +The groom hesitated. "I think I'll stick to it; she gave me sixpence +to make sure he got it, and I wouldn't like to cheat her." + +"Stick to the sixpence but give me the letter. Who's a better right to +it than I, I should like to know? I'm as good as married already," +said Dixon, stretching out his hand. + +"You'll promise not to forget." + +"I'm not one as forgets," said Dixon, with an odd laugh. + +"And if there's any mistake you'll settle it?" + +"Yes; I'll settle it." + +The groom gave the note and went out whistling; he was not quite easy +in his mind about the missive. Left to himself, Dixon turned the +envelope round in his fingers, examining it back and front. The +blotted writing gave evidence of hurry, the blistered paper testified +to tears, and Dixon broke into an oath. + +"The little jade!--that's the second time she's cried about him this +week to my certain knowledge," he said aloud. "She would not dare to +chuck me now, though, even if she does love the other one; but I've +more than half a mind to put this in the fire. It may be to tell him +that she's settled things with me; but it would not be a bad joke to +let him hear it for himself in church, and her telling him nothing +about it, good or bad, would let him know she did not care much for +him." + +In another moment there was a brief blaze in the fire, and Rose's note +was reduced to ashes. + +The next morning Tom Burney rose with the feeling that he trod on air, +such a strange exhilaration of spirit possessed him. + +He had heard nothing from Rose during the week, and her very silence +filled him with hope. If she meant to refuse him, he was almost sure +that she would have put him out of his misery before this. He was not +generally a vain fellow, but to-day his toilet was a matter of moment; +his tie was re-adjusted half a dozen times, and he asked his landlady +to give him a chrysanthemum for his buttonhole. + +"Goin' courtin'?" she said, with a laugh as she pinned it in for him. +And Tom coloured rosy red, but said nothing. + +He started early for church, hoping that he might catch a glimpse of +Rose as she passed in with the other servants from the Court; but +either she had got there before him, or, for some unknown cause, she +had been detained at home. Dixon presently appeared, smart and neat, +giving Tom an affable nod as he passed up the path to the church; but +Tom's eyes were fixed straight in front of him, and he ignored the +greeting. + +"I'll not pretend to be friends when I ain't," he said to himself. + +Presently the hurrying bell warned the outside group of stragglers to +make their way into church; and Tom took his usual seat at the end of +the nave. It is to be feared that his thoughts that morning were not +occupied with devotion. Prayer and psalm passed unheeded over his +head; but when, at the end of the second lesson, there was a pause, and +the rector turned over the leaves of a book in front of him, Tom lifted +his head and waited for the banns that would follow. Before long he +might be listening to the publishing of his own. + +"I publish the banns of marriage between William Dixon, bachelor, and +Rose Lancaster, spinster, both of this parish. . . ." + +Was it some ghastly nightmare, Tom wondered, as he clutched at the seat +in front of him? But the suppressed grin on the faces near him, the +foolish smile with which the publishing of banns is so often received +in a village church, convinced him that he had heard aright. The blood +was rioting to his brain, and the beating in his throat made him put up +his hand with the vain endeavour to loosen his collar lest he should +choke there and then with the passion that could find no outlet. For +one instant he was possessed by a wild wish to stand up and forbid the +banns; but what end would be gained by making himself a greater +laughing-stock to the village than he was at present, for already he +felt the derisive finger of scorn pointed at him as the man whom Rose +had jilted. Even now he saw one or two of the lads nudge each other +and look at him with curious eyes. To be watched at such a moment was +torture, and, like an animal in pain, Tom longed for solitude. He +groped blindly under the seat for his hat, made his way to the door and +slipped out. He stumbled on like a man in delirium, looking neither to +the right nor left, but following instinctively the path across the +fields which led to the river. The turbulence of its grey waters, as +it rushed on to the sea, seemed most in keeping with the wild, wicked +thoughts that surged unchecked through his brain, and were bearing him +he knew not whither. He threw himself upon the long, rank grass on the +bank, still wet with the heavy mist of night, and, pillowing his chin +in his hands, watched with dilating eyes the swirling river as it swept +by. A giddiness dimmed his vision, a singing filled his ears. + +"If I slipped over and was carried along with it, there'd be an end of +it all," thought Tom. And the chill wind came sighing across the +water, and shook the heavy rushes at the edge, which seemed +whisperingly to echo his thought, "an end of it all." + +Then Tom half-angrily roused himself, and pressed his hands to the eyes +that burned like fire, and tried to collect his bewildered senses. +What!--slip out of life like a drowned rat and never see Rose again, +nor tell her what he knew of the man she had chosen in preference to +him. She would be glad to know he was dead, he told himself with +fierce bitterness. She had played with him like a cat with a mouse for +more than a year but in the long run the mouse died squeaking. Surely +she could not be so false-hearted as to break faith with him to-night; +she would meet him and say good-bye? She _should_ meet him, whether +she liked it or not; and if Dixon were with her so much the +better,--and Tom's fists clenched involuntarily. + +For hours and hours he wandered, following the windings of the river, +until, as the November sun paled and sank in a bank of grey cloud, he +discovered that he was some six or eight miles from Rudham, and that +his knees were knocking together with mingled emotion and fatigue. A +wayside inn seemed a haven of refuge to him in his exhausted condition. +Through the red blind of the bar a light shone cheerily, and Tom +entered the door without knocking, and, seating himself on the settle +by the fire, ordered sixpennyworth of brandy. + +"Hot water or cold? You'll have it hot, if you take my advice," said +the landlady, with a glance at the bloodshot eyes that glared so +strangely out of the deathly white face. + +"Neither, thanks," said Tom, tossing off the raw spirit at a gulp. + +It tasted to him like so much water; it did not muddle his brain, it +cleared it, it nerved him for that interview with Rose. + +"Another sixpennyworth, please," he said, laying down a shilling on the +table. + +The landlady paused, and coughed behind her hand; she had sons of her +own. + +"I wouldn't if I was you," she said, pushing him back sixpence. +"You've took as much as is good for you, and ne'er a drop of water. + +"You can serve me or leave it alone," said Tom, angrily. "I'm ill; I +need it. It tastes like so much water." + +The landlady shook her head but gave him the brandy, and Tom, having +swallowed it, bade her a civil good night and went on his way. + +The landlady hurried to the door and looked after him; he was walking +very fast but quite straight. + +"It may have gone to his head, but it's not got into his legs," she +said, a note of admiration in her voice. + +Tom meanwhile hurried on to the station, which he knew to be not more +than half a mile away. He was just in time to catch the one down-train +that ran on Sunday evening, which would land him in Rudham in time for +evening service--not that Tom meant to go to church that night. He +would walk outside and wait for Dixon and for Rose. Many a time the +two men had escorted Rose back to the Court, one on either side. This +would be the last. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A FRIEND IN NEED. + +Rose Lancaster had never looked prettier than that Sunday night, as she +tripped into church, a soft ruffle of fur setting off the delicate fair +face, a large velvet hat resting on the golden hair. Dixon, with a +proud air of possession, walked in behind her, and, seating himself at +her side, proved his proprietorship by producing her Prayer-book from +his pocket, and finding all her places for her throughout the service. +When Rose dared to lift her head and look about her, she gave a sigh of +relief to see that Tom was not present. + +"I dare say he thought I should like it best if he stayed away," she +thought. She was thankful that the question of her marriage was +decided and well decided. + +The moon had risen when the service ended. There was a group of people +collected outside the church-gate discussing the village gossip before +they dispersed to their several homes. + +Dixon pulled Rose's arm through his own, and, not allowing her to +linger for a moment, led her off. They did not either of them notice +that a man with a hat well pulled over his eyes followed them at some +little distance; and not until the village was left behind, and the +pair had turned into the road, which, with many a wind, led up to the +Court, did he attempt to lessen the space which separated them. Then, +as unconsciously Rose and Dixon walked more slowly, Tom quickened his +steps, and was alongside of them before they realized his presence. He +pushed back his hat; and Rose broke into a smothered cry of alarm as +the moonlight fell upon the haggard face and wild eyes of her rejected +lover, and she clung the tighter to Dixon's arm. + +Tom's laugh was not pleasant to listen to. "You asked for my company, +Rose, but you don't seem best pleased now I've come," he said; "but, +pleased or not, I'll walk with you to-night, and say a thing or two +it's right for you to hear before we part company for good." + +"I wrote to you," stammered Rose. "I sent it by a special messenger on +Saturday night to tell you that, after thinking things over, +I'd--I'd----" + +"She made up her mind that I should be the best husband for her," said +Dixon, putting a protecting arm round Rose's shoulder, and finishing +off the sentence she found it so difficult to frame. + +The words and the action alike maddened Tom. Was Rose to be protected +from him when, to give her pleasure and shield her from pain, had been +his one thought for the last eighteen months? + +"It's only fair that, as she's chucked me for you, she should know the +sort of man she's got hold of," he stuttered. + +"I didn't lose my place for being so drunk that it took the parson the +best part of the night to see me home, did I?" sneered Dixon. + +"No, you didn't. But Rose shall hear now who plotted to make me drunk +that night, and who informed against me next day. It was you, you sly, +sneaking scamp!--deny it if you dare? If it comes to character who's +got the better one, you or I? No man can throw a dirty, dishonest +trick at me! And you! Who squares the corn-merchant? Who cooks every +bill that goes into the Court? Don't I know it? Have I lived nearly a +year under the same roof that covered you, without finding out pretty +well how you've managed to feather your nest so as to make it fine +enough for the pretty bird you've caught; and if I'd chosen to round on +you when you got me turned out, where would you be now, I'd like to +know? You would not be coachman at the Court." + +Dixon had turned livid with rage, but kept his head. + +"You are a poor, drunken fool, and don't know what you are saying, or +I'd make you swallow your words." + +"You wouldn't! I could prove them!" went on Tom, choking with passion. +"And as you've cheated in work, you've cheated in love. You've cheated +me, and you've cheated that one as followed you sobbing and crying from +the place where you last came from, and who you'd promised faithful to +marry, and who you'd walked with for three years and more. I had the +story from the woman where I lodge. The girl spent the night there, +and she was pretty nigh broken-hearted. She'd even got her +wedding-gown." + +Dixon sprang across the road like a tiger, and gave Tom such a swinging +box on the ear that, for a moment, he reeled again. And then, all the +devil in Tom was loosed, and he leaped on his foe, gripping him by the +throat until every vein in his forehead stood out in blue knots. The +action was so unexpected and so rapid that Dixon found it impossible to +free himself. The men swayed to and fro in each other's embrace, +finally falling heavily together with a sickening thud upon the road. +Tom was uppermost, and picked himself up with a rather ghastly smile, +but Dixon lay there rigid and motionless. + +"Get up!" said Tom, poking him with the toe of his boot. "You won't be +so ready to interfere with me another time." But Dixon did not stir. + +Rose, who had tried to stop the quarrel by every artifice in her power, +knelt down by the side of her lover. And suddenly a cry so shrill, so +despairing, broke the air, that Tom's heart stood still and the blood +froze in his veins. + +"Tom! Tom!--you wicked man, you've killed him!" she shrieked. + +And Tom, sobered by the cry, and realizing in all its horror the +meaning of the words, turned like guilty Cain and fled. There was but +one place for him now: the river--the river, and the end of it all. He +was making for it straight, flying by the nearest cut across the +fields, leaping ditches, scrambling through hedges, regardless of the +brambles that scored his face and hands. Like a hare hunted by the +hounds he fled; away from his own guilty action, away from the woman he +loved, to the river which would sweep him swiftly, painlessly to rest +and forgetfulness. But would it? He had stumbled accidentally into +the path which led towards the cottage where he lodged, and turned his +head as he ran to take one last glance at the light which glimmered in +the window. He could see the river now; he was nearing the brink. +There was but one field between him and it, when he became conscious of +a pursuing step. Somebody was already on his scent. The question now +was whether he should die by his own act, or be delivered over to the +terrible hands of justice; and at that thought Tom redoubled his speed +to outstrip his pursuer. It was a desperate race, for his strength was +nearly spent. His long fast had told upon him, and the fictitious +power of the spirit he had swallowed had passed away. His breath was +coming in quick, short gasps. His foot caught in a tussock of grass, +and he fell face foremost to the ground, and, before he could regain +his feet, a hand was on his collar. + +[Illustration: Before he could regain his feet, a hand was on his +collar.] + +"Let me go! Let me go!" he cried, struggling desperately in the hands +of his capturer. "If I've killed him I'm ready to die too. You can't +do more than hang me! One more moment and I'd have been in the river. +Let me go, I say!" + +"I shall _not_ let you go; you are either mad or drunk--incapable of +taking care of yourself," said a low, clear voice; and Tom was lifted +to a standing posture by the rector's strong arms. + + * * * * * * + +When Dixon had called late on Saturday night to ask the rector to put +up his banns on the morrow, Mr. Curzon's thoughts flew straight to Tom. +So this was the end of his love-story, poor fellow! and he feared that +it would go hardly with the lad. + +"Maybe he will come to see me to-morrow. And, if not, I will see him," +he had said. + +He had noticed with satisfaction that Tom was in his accustomed place +on Sunday morning, and did not see him slip out of church after the +publishing of the banns; but on Sunday night he missed him, and, the +minute service was ended, he set off for the cottage where he lodged. +He had reached the field-path which led to it, when he heard the sound +of footsteps that stumbled in their running, and, pausing to look +round, he saw a figure, which he did not immediately recognize in the +moonlight as Tom's, dashing across the pathway in the direction of the +river. Almost before he knew what he was doing the rector gave chase, +for he felt the man meant mischief: a conviction which grew into +certainty as he gained upon the runaway, and recognized him as the man +whom he sought. + +Tom attempted no further resistance, and, from his incoherent +utterances, Mr. Curzon presently gathered what had occurred. + +"And you ran off and left Rose with her dead lover? I could not have +believed you such a coward, Tom!" he said, unable to keep back the +indignation and scorn he felt. "This is no place for you and me; we +must go back at once, and see if anything can be done." + +Nothing was said as the two hastened back to the spot where Dixon was +left lying; but, to the utter astonishment of both, when they arrived +there, Rose and Dixon had gone. + +"Either some vehicle has driven by which has conveyed Dixon to the +Court, or he was, by God's mercy, only stunned," said the rector. +"We'll go on and find out." + +Tom made no answer, but followed the rector's lead. In a kind of dumb +despair he felt he was walking to meet his fate. They made their way +first to the stables, anxious not to give the alarm at the house until +they knew the extent of the mischief. The usual orderly quiet +prevailed, and, in response to the rector's knock, the groom, who had +played such a faithless part by Rose, appeared. + +"Is Dixon in? Can I see him for a moment?" asked Mr. Curzon, guardedly. + +"He came in, sir, about a quarter of an hour since, but he's gone +straight up to bed. He'd a nasty fall--did not know quite how he'd +done it, slipped up on his heel, he said, and fell on the back of his +head. Rose Lancaster was with him, and seemed terrible cut up about +it, said he lay like a dead thing; and she would never have got him +home if it had not been that a cart drove by and gave 'em both a lift." + +"Thank you. Tell Dixon that I'll come round in the morning to see how +he is." + +"We need do nothing more to-night; your worst fear is not realized," he +said, as he and Tom turned towards home. "Now you will come back to +supper with me, and we will trace your sin to its very root, please +God. You've had a warning that I think you are not likely to forget." + +But Tom, in the sudden relief from the horrible fear that he had +inadvertently taken the life of a fellow creature, had broken into a +passion of sobs, shedding such tears as a man sheds but once in a +lifetime--scalding tears of bitter repentance and shame. + +He and Mr. Curzon sat talking far into the night, and Tom told the +story truly, keeping nothing back. + +"You've let drink and passion get the upper hand, Tom. You have put +the love of a woman before the love of God, and you've come near to +wrecking your life and hers in consequence. It would not have mended +matters if you had hurried yourself into another world to which you +have given so little thought, would it? It was a mad, wicked thought! +a thought of the devil's own suggestion; but you are saved for the +beginning of a better life, a new life in new surroundings." + +Tom glanced up quickly. "Not in Tasmania," he said. "The squire won't +send me, after this." + +"You'll tell him about it, then," replied Mr. Curzon, with a +heart-throb of thanksgiving that Tom was ready to face out the +consequences of his action. + +"Oh yes; I shall tell him. He might hear it any way, but I'd rather +tell him myself." + +"Very good. Now you had better go home to bed, and, if you have never +said a real prayer before, you will say one to-night, Tom, to the God +who has saved you from falling over a precipice of crime." + +Tom nodded; his heart was too full to speak. + +When the morning broke it found the rector in his study where Tom had +left him, still upon his knees, for here and there, in this hurrying +nineteenth century world, there is yet found a disciple who, like the +Master whom he serves, will spend whole nights in prayer. Was not the +salvation of a soul at stake? + +A fresh development of Rose Lancaster's love-affairs was brought to Mr. +Curzon's notice on Monday, for the first person he met, as he left the +rectory in the morning, was Rose herself--a crumpled dishevelled Rose, +whose toilet gave evidence of hurry, and whose eyes were red with +weeping. + +"Oh, sir, I've come because I didn't know what to do. We're all in +dreadful trouble!--Dixon's gone!" + +"Not dead!" cried the rector in horror. + +"Oh no; he's run away. And oh, it's cruel, cruel! to have used me like +this," said Rose, her sobs bursting out afresh. + +"I wonder what has made him do it? Has he left no note behind him?" + +"Not a line--nor a message for me," replied Rose. "Only a scrawl in +pencil which the groom found on the saddle-room table, to say that +nobody need try to trace him. And only to think that our banns were +put up yesterday." + +"I think you are wasting your tears over a heartless scamp!" said the +rector, a little impatiently. "Did you come with any message from the +Court?" + +"No, sir; I only came to ask you if I ought to tell?" + +"To tell what?" + +"All that happened last night. There was a dreadful quarrel between +Dixon and Tom Burney; and that's how Dixon got hurt. He was stunned, +and I thought he was dead; and Tom ran off, and, when Dixon came to +himself, his one notion was that I was not to tell any one how he came +by his fall." + +"So you promised to back him up in a lie!" said the rector, coldly. +"One can scarcely wonder that you wished to keep the thing quiet, +however. You've terribly misused God's good gift of a pretty face, +Rose. You have played with two men; and chosen the wrong one, and +driven the other half off his head with misery. Mercifully the good +God has saved you from what must have been a miserable marriage, for +there is more in Dixon's disappearance than we can see just yet." + +Rose's tears dried with her gathering indignation. It had not occurred +to her to blame herself in any way; she felt rather in the position of +the ill-used heroine of a tragedy in real life. + +"Then you think I ought to tell," she said a little sulkily. + +"I certainly think your mistress ought to know exactly what happened. +You need not tell any one else, that I know of." + +So Rose returned to the Court greatly crestfallen; and her account of +the quarrel, and Tom's vague threats about Dixon's character, put Mrs. +Webster on to the right clue as to the causes of his sudden flight. He +was found to have been guilty of repeated acts of dishonesty, so +cleverly concealed that, but for the fear that Tom would report him, he +might have gone on for years longer, respected and trusted by his +employers. As the time seemed ripe for flight, however, he had taken +with him the change of a big cheque that Mrs. Webster had given him to +cash on the Saturday, and which he had told her glibly that he could +not get cashed until the Monday. Each fresh revelation filled Rose +with misery and shame; and, behind all, was the one fact that she had +kept to herself: the memory of Tom's mention of that other girl that +Dixon had jilted--the crowning taunt which had hurried Dixon into +showing fight. + +"And it must have been true, or it would not have made him so angry," +thought Rose. + +It was a bitter pill for the vain little thing to swallow: the +conviction that she had all along occupied the second place in Dixon's +affections, and that he had cast her away, like that other girl, +without any compunction. Tom would not have done it; and at the +remembrance of him Rose's eyes filled with tears. Rose was returning +from the village, whither she had been sent on a message, and she +shivered a little as she passed the scene of the last night's disaster; +and her alarm found expression in a little cry when she saw Tom Burney +standing there, too, and yet there was nothing to terrify her in the +deprecating glance of his troubled eyes. + +"Rose," he said, stretching out his hands, "I don't wonder that you +hate the sight of me, but you can afford to speak kindly to me for this +once? God knows I'm sorry enough for what I've done, heart sorry. I +came here to look at the place again, where I nearly killed a man, just +to let it burn in so that I mayn't forget." + +"But--but--you can't have heard that he's not much hurt even? that he's +run away and taken a lot of money that does not belong to him?" + +"Oh yes," said Tom, drearily. "But that does not alter things; I can't +forget that I nearly killed him--and myself." + +"Oh, Tom, not that! not that!" cried Rose, for the first time pierced +by a pang of keen remorse. + +"Yes. I should have drowned myself if Mr. Curzon had not stopped me," +said Tom, simply. "I was mad, I think, with misery and drink." + +Then Rose understood the full meaning of the rector's words that +morning. + +"I did not mean to try and see you before I went away," went on Tom, +brokenly; "but I'm glad of the chance to ask your forgiveness for the +hurt I might have done to the man you wished to marry." + +"Oh don't! please don't talk like that!" said Rose, Tom's utter +self-abasement and humility rousing all her better nature. "Don't you +see that it's you who ought to forgive me for the cruel way I've +treated you; and if you'd died, Tom, and my wickedness had killed you, +how could I have ever lifted up my head again? I see now how wicked +I've been. I wanted to marry Dixon because he promised to give me +everything I liked: a pretty house and a little servant, and pretty +clothes and things. It was not because I loved him best." + +Tom threw back his head with a little cry. + +"Rose," he said, coming a step nearer. "Rose, my dear; it can't hurt +to tell me now. In two days I'm going away for good and all. I have +told the squire all about it, and he is going to overlook it and send +me across the seas just the same as if nothing had happened; but when +I'm gone, it would make me happy to know that you had ever loved me +just a little bit." + +"I do," said Rose. "I think I've loved you all the time." + +Tom drew a long breath, but did not attempt to come closer. + +"Thank you," he said, with an odd thrill in his voice. "I'll go away +and think of it. It will help me to be good, for I'll have a try at +that, Rose, my dear. I'll keep clear of the drink; I'm going up to the +rector to-night to tell him I'm ready to sign. He asked me to do it +before; and don't I wish I had listened to him! But now I'll do it +without the asking." + +There was some difference in Tom that Rose felt but could not define, +some influence over him that was stronger than her own. She had been +conscious before that she had but to speak and he would try his utmost +to carry out her whim; but to-day, miserable as he was, oppressed by +the weight of sin, she felt respect for a certain strength of purpose +that seemed developed in him. Mr. Curzon was right; she had chosen the +wrong man. Never had she valued Tom's love as she did now when she was +just about to lose it. + +"Then you are going directly?" she almost whispered. + +"Yes; I leave here the day after to-morrow, and I sail in about a +fortnight. The squire thought the sooner I was out of the way the +better." + +"Shall you ever come back?" + +"I don't know." + +"Nor ever write?" asked Rose, with a sob in her throat. + +"That's as may be; I'd write to one who cared." + +"I care. Write to me, please?" + +She was looking at him with pleading eyes, but he would not trust +himself to return her glance. + +"Rose," he said, "there's not the woman now that I would ask to be my +wife. I'm guilty, before God, of two black sins; but if He gives me +time to live it down and earn a clean name again----" + +"He will! He will!" said Rose. "And, Tom, it does not matter if it's +years, I'll wait." And then she put her arms round his neck and kissed +him. + +His face was ashen grey; his arms ached with the longing to return her +embrace and hold her close to his heart, but he let her go. + +"Before God, Rose, my darling, I'll live worthy of your kiss! Maybe it +won't be long before I dare return it." + +The next instant he was gone, not daring to look back at her. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +KITTY'S CHRISTMAS TREE. + +"The Websters are off to London, Paul," said Sally, about two days +after Tom's departure. + +Paul started at the sudden mention of the name. + +"I did not think they intended to go to town until after the New Year. +Mrs. Webster dilates largely upon the superiority of a Christmas in the +country versus a Christmas in London; but, I suppose, it is as sincere +as most of her statements?" + +"I think May has had more to do with it than her mother. She says Mrs. +Webster has fussed a good deal over Dixon's flight, she trusted him so +thoroughly. And May thinks it will be easier to get a good coachman in +London, and that it will take off her mother's thoughts from an +unpleasant subject. She now has visions of Dixon's return in company +with an armed body of burglars, and prophesies cheerfully that they +will all be found dead in their beds one morning, and that the house +will be ransacked." + +Paul laughed. "Under the circumstances Miss Webster is wise to remove +her forcibly to London," he said. But he privately conjectured that +May's real reason for flight lay in her desire to get away from +himself. "Has anything been heard of Dixon?" he went on. + +"Nothing. I don't think any very keen search has been made for him. +Mrs. Webster declares that she would far rather lose her money than +appear in a court of law, or have her name bandied about in the papers. +I think, Paul, that if you approve I shall be off to London, too, when +the New Year comes." + +"In what capacity?" asked Paul, resignedly. "As a sister or something?" + +"Oh dear, no; you know I've always wanted to join one of those +settlements of girls at the East End, who work under the management of +Miss Grant. She wrote a little while ago to tell me she would have a +vacancy in the settlement soon after Christmas. My work would lie +chiefly amongst factory girls, getting up statistics about their hours +of work and their housing, and my play would be recreation evenings +with them." + +"But this is what you have always talked of doing. I expected you to +take up quite different lines now: to district visit, and take classes +on Sundays, under the guidance and supervision of the rector." + +"I don't feel the least fitted for it; I know very little about it. +Mr. Curzon thinks it would be a great pity for me to abandon the work +to which I feel myself drawn. I like life in London far better than in +the country." + +"I quite agree with you," interposed Paul. + +"And I think that my change of opinion about religious things will +help, rather than hinder me in my work," continued Sally, with a slight +effort. + +"Let us hope it may," said Paul, in a tone that implied a doubt on the +subject. "Anyway, I wish you to follow your own plan of life. I think +women ought to be as free as men to choose what they will do. +But"--with a glance from the window--"Miss Kitty's carriage stops the +way. I must go and see what she wants." + +"Why, Kitty," he began, almost before he had reached the gate, "I +thought you had forgotten all about me! It is days, almost weeks, I +think, since you've paid me a call." + +"It's because it has rained nearly every day and I've not been out at +all; and there are such a lot of things I want to ask you about." + +Paul was Kitty's referee on every subject. "What is the first, I +wonder?" he said, smiling down at her. + +"Bend down, please, Mr. Paul. It's a secret." + +And Paul brought his ear to a level with Kitty's mouth. + +"Do boys like Noah's Arks?" + +Paul straightened himself with a burst of laughter. + +"I thought you would know. Nurse said you'd be sure to know," Kitty +said, much injured by his untimely mirth. + +"It's just because I don't that I am laughing," said Paul, whose +remembrance of childhood was unconnected with any scriptural game. +That he should be solemnly consulted about one seemed extremely +ludicrous. + +"Then you did not have one?" + +"No, I did not." + +"I suppose it won't do, after all," said Kitty, dejectedly. "And it's +a real beauty; it cost half a crown." + +"Really! That's a big price. I should think it might do for any one. +After all, an ark might come in handy soon, if we are going to have a +flood. Who's the happy boy?" + +"Oh, you are shouting!" cried Kitty, warningly. "And it's a secret." + +"I beg your pardon," said Paul, penitently. "Shall I look in and give +an opinion?" + +"Yes; you and Sally, too. Perhaps you would come to tea with me this +afternoon? Daddy is gone to a Congress, or he could have told me +everything." + +"Yes, we will come--Sally and I." + +"And then I can tell you all about it, for Nurse knows but has promised +not to tell." + +"We will try to be as trustworthy as Nurse," Paul said with a +reassuring nod. + +So, over tea and toast, after three false guesses on Paul and Sally's +part, Kitty divulged her tremendous secret, which turned out to be that +daddy had promised that when she was ten years old she should give a +Christmas-tree party to every child in Rudham from ten years and under, +and the whole responsibility of choosing the presents and assorting +them should devolve upon her. For months past Kitty had been making +out her list of the children she would have to invite, rather +bewildering the villagers by her feverish anxiety to discover the ages +of their offspring; but the choosing of suitable presents for her +guests was a far more difficult task. A large box of toys had arrived, +by her father's order, from a neighbouring town, from which Kitty could +make a selection; she had spent one whole day poring over them. Girls +were easy enough to please, but boys' tastes were quite a different +matter. So Nurse had finally suggested that Mr. Lessing should be +taken into confidence. Happily, by the afternoon he had grasped the +gravity of the situation, and he discussed the varying merits of tops, +marbles, horses, and carts as earnestly as even Kitty could desire. He +still felt a lurking desire to laugh when he saw the Noah's Ark, which +cost half a crown, set apart in a place by itself on Kitty's couch. +From time to time she laid a caressing hand upon it. It was still +unallotted, and Kitty gave a quivering sigh of excitement as she +glanced down her crumpled list. + +"I had meant this for Tommy Baird," she said, looking down at it +fondly. "It's quite the best thing I have--and he's the oldest +boy,--and it's very pretty, daddy thinks; but you say it won't do." + +"I!" cried Paul, aghast. "I never said anything of the kind." + +"You laughed at it! and you said something about a flood." + +"Was not the ark connected with a flood? You know better than I." + +Kitty looked from Paul to Sally with distress on her face. + +"Of course," she said, a little petulantly. "But you said there might +be another--and there can't be, daddy says." + +"Of course there can't," said Paul, a little hurriedly, feeling it +scarcely fair to make a joke to such a sensitive little girl. + +"Look here! I'm writing a ticket for Tommy Baird, and I shall tuck it +under the elephant's trunk. Do you think he will hold it fast?" + +"Then it will do, after all," said Kitty, greatly relieved. + +But when Paul and Sally were gone, and all the excitement and joy of +the tea-party, and the allotting of her presents, was over, Kitty's +mind reverted to the flood. Mr. Paul had meant something which he +would not explain to her. Whilst the perplexing thought was still in +her mind, she heard her father's latchkey turn in the lock of the front +door, and he popped his head into the room where she lay with a merry +laugh. + +"I'm home, Kitty. I'll be down in a minute, but I must get my things +off first. It is raining cats and dogs." + +The words confirmed Kitty's worst fears. That is how it must have +rained before that first great flood, when the waters crept up and up, +and the people first climbed the hills, until the waters reached them +there; and at last there was nothing to be seen anywhere but a waste of +water and one little ark that floated on the top. By the time Mr. +Curzon came and seated himself by her side, Kitty's eyes were round +with the terror of the picture that her too vivid imagination had +painted. Her father, quick to read each passing emotion on the face +that was dearest to him in the whole world, stooped down and kissed her. + +"My little Kitty is in one of her frightened moods. She must tell me +all about it." + +"It's the flood," Kitty whispered. + +"What flood, darling?" + +"Mr. Paul said we might have one." + +"Did he? He must have meant that the river might overflow its banks; +and perhaps it will after such a wet season." + +"But it would drown us all." + +"Not a bit of it. The cottages near the river might have some water in +them; but unless it were something quite unprecedented, the water would +not get to the upper floor of any house--and certainly won't come near +us or the church and schools, so you may dismiss your fear of a flood. +You ought not to have had it anyway, because God has promised that the +world shall not be flooded totally again. Shall I tell you what a very +good man wrote years ago--many hundreds of years ago--about floods? +'The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice, the +floods lift up their waves . . . but yet the Lord who dwelleth on high, +is mightier.' If he could learn that, all that long time ago, you +ought not to be afraid now, ought you?" + +"And you don't think God will let it come before my Christmas tree, do +you daddy? Because, if all the little children were obliged to stay +upstairs, to keep out of the way of the water, they could not come," +said Kitty, giving a strictly practical turn to the conversation. + +Mr. Curzon smiled and stroked Kitty's head. + +"That is more than I can say, darling. Although your Christmas tree +seems such a big thing to you, it is only a little one; and if it were +put off it would be a disappointment to you, but not a trouble, you +see." + +Kitty was silenced but not satisfied, and each night added a postscript +to her prayers that the flood, if it was to come, should not occur +before her Christmas tree. It was to be held in the school-room on +Christmas Eve. The secret had exploded now, for the invitations were +out, each one written by Kitty herself, and personally delivered in the +course of her morning rambles. Paul and Sally were to come as humble +helpers. December 23rd was a particularly wild, wet day; but a gleam +of sunshine at the close of it produced a rainbow so brilliant in hue +that Kitty regarded it as a written sign in the heavens that the flood +would be averted, certainly until after her Christmas tree. But it was +such a brief gleam of sun! All night through the rain fell, and the +wind, which had been fairly quiet the previous day, rose to a perfect +tempest, roaring in the tree-tops round the rectory, groaning in the +chimneys, and dashing the rain in sheets against poor little Kitty's +window-pane; and when in the morning Nurse drew up the blind, and burst +into an exclamation of surprise, Kitty knew that her worst fear was +realized, and that her prayer had been unavailing. The "Lord that +dwelt on high" did not seem to have listened. She tried to nerve +herself to bear the tidings which Nurse conveyed in as cheerful a tone +as she could assume. + +"Miss Kitty, my dear, what do you think has happened? The waters are +out, and the river is turned into a great big lake, and the houses are +standing out of it like little dots. It all looks so funny; shall I +lift you out to see?" + +But Kitty had buried her head under the clothes, and was sobbing +quietly to herself. No mention was made of the Christmas tree in her +prayers that morning, and the prayers themselves were very perfunctory +indeed--said more from the force of habit than because she had any +faith in their efficacy. True, the rain had ceased now, but what was +the good of that now the flood had come? And the worst of it was that +she could not talk this matter out to daddy; he would think her +dreadfully wicked. So it was a very white-faced Kitty that presented +herself at the breakfast-table, and she received her father's assurance +that her tree should not be abandoned, but only delayed, with a watery, +quivering smile. + +"And I shall be so busy all the morning," went on Mr. Curzon, +cheerfully. "You see, lots of the cottages are cut off from +communication with the outside world, and the children will be hungry +and wanting their breakfasts and dinners; so I must be off to see what +I can do with carts or boats, according to the depth of the water." + +This was rather exciting; and Kitty spent her morning with her chair +drawn close to the window, which commanded the best view of the +village, and saw carts drawn by pairs of horses splashing along to some +of the cottages. And to one cottage, standing alone in a low-lying +field, she saw a boat making its way; she was almost sure that the man +who rowed it was her friend Mr. Paul. Later in the morning he paid her +a visit, with a red colour in his face and a cheery ring in his voice. + +"I could not get up before, Kitty. We have had such a lot to do, Sally +and I, taking round supplies to the people who are flooded. Everybody +is in quite good spirits--indeed, some of the children are thinking it +first-rate fun." + +At the mention of the children Kitty broke down helplessly, and sobbed +aloud. + +"Dear me! And I have had such a lot of water all the morning, I did +not expect a shower-bath here. What time do you expect Sally and me? +How long will it take to light up that blessed tree?" + +Kitty uncovered one eye; Mr. Paul must be dreaming. + +"I can't have it, you see." + +"Who said so? Sally and I have been planning all the morning how we +shall order out all my waggons, and go round and fetch your +guests--only you must not have the tree too late, or else we might lose +our way in taking them home again." + +Kitty's joy could only find expressions in incoherent exclamations of +delight. + +"It's wonderfully kind of you," said the rector, who appeared at that +moment, and gradually gathered from Kitty what Paul proposed to do. + +"It seems a pity the thing should be put off," Paul answered a little +awkwardly. + +Perhaps no act of the squire's won such universal approbation as the +spirited manner in which he carried through Miss Kitty's tree. + +"You would not have thought as he was one to care about the little +ones," said Mrs. Macdonald to Sally. + +"And I don't think, honestly, that he is," Sally answered--"with the +exception of Kitty Curzon; his devotion to her is something quite +astonishing." + +The tree had been, happily, trimmed the day before, and nothing +therefore remained but for the guests to appear. One or two had to be +fetched in a boat, and the cottage in the field had a special voyage to +itself. There was a little child there that was a particular friend of +Kitty's. + +"It's very good of you to come, sir, but I'm not sure as I can let +Jenny go; she's been ailing all day," said the smiling mother, looking +out at Paul from an upstairs window. "She's felt the damp a bit. The +water's begun to go down already. We'll be able to get downstairs +again to-morrow; but, as I was saying to my mate, it will be the +queerest Christmas Day we've ever spent." + +"Yes, indeed," said Paul, hurriedly, anxious to cut short the +disconnected speech; "but I think you must let me have Jenny, Mrs. +Weldon. She's such a great friend of Kitty's, and we shall not have +any more rain for the present. Put on an extra shawl. It will be fine +fun for Jenny to have a ride in a boat." + +So Jenny, wrapped up so that only her eyes were visible, was handed +out; and Paul rowed her across the field that separated her from dry +land, popping her into a cart that waited on the far side. + +Sally, meanwhile, was at the school arranging the children as they +arrived, whilst Kitty's carriage was drawn up close to the tree, which +was veiled under a sheet. Jenny Weldon was the last to arrive, and, +when duly uncloaked, was given a place close to Kitty. + +Then followed the lighting of the tree; and the dancing eyes of the +children watched the process with untold delight. Joining hands they +walked round it singing a quaint old Christmas carol, led by the +rector's strong sonorous voice; and finally came the distribution of +the presents. + +Paul, as he stood quietly at the back of the room, thought the scene a +pretty one. It was a beautiful tradition, that of the Christ Child; he +could have almost wished it true. + +"It has come to an end--I think it has really come to an end," the +rector said. "But, stay, I find some little things tucked away at the +very bottom of the tree; and here upon the labels are written 'Miss +Lessing' and 'Mr. Lessing.' That is quite as it should be, for to whom +do we owe the fact of your all being here to-night but to the squire, +who planned and carried it out?" + +And as a penknife was handed to Paul, there were cheers ringing in his +ears for him and for Sally, who had a pen with her name on it. + +"It was really very jolly of you, Kitty," said Paul, making his way to +her. + +"Weren't you surprised?" said Kitty, joyfully. "Daddy said you would +be; and I told him where to hide them so that Sally should not see +them. And, oh!"--with a long-drawn sigh--"I've never been so happy in +my life. Daddy says I must thank you ever so much, dear Mr. Paul." + +Paul stooped and kissed the pretty, flushed face. "It's been great +fun, Kitty; you've nothing to thank me for. It is my first Christmas +tree, and I shall take great care of my penknife." + +It was seven o'clock before Sally and Paul regained the quietness and +peace of their lodging, for it took some time to deliver all the little +ones to their several homes. + +"It's wonderful what surroundings will do for one. I've felt as if I +were a curate to-day; but it is Kitty who drove me to it. Her despair +this morning was almost tragic," Paul said. + +How little he knew that that night Kitty was thanking God for her happy +day, and for the special help He had sent her to carry through her tree. + +"Pray bless dear Mr. Paul!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE CALL OF GOD. + +With the dawn of the New Year there was an outbreak of fever in Rudham, +the after-effect of the flood, which, although it subsided almost as +quickly as it rose, left the houses which it had invaded damp and many +of the drains blocked. Paul, as he went his rounds, condemned some of +the cottages as insanitary, and determined that another spring should +see new ones begun in higher, healthier situations--if, at least, he +could by any means raise the requisite funds. He was constantly +brought into contact with the rector, who busied himself amongst his +sick people morning, noon, and night. + +"Bless you!" said Mrs. Weldon, when Paul had been looking round her +premises, and heard with some astonishment the sound of a strong, clear +voice singing in the bedroom above, "that's only Mr. Curzon singing +hymns to my little Jenny, who's proper bad with the fever. She must +have been sickening with it that night as you fetched her to the tree. +Mr. Curzon seems like a parson, and doctor, and nurse, all in one. He +come'd here late last night, and he took her temperature ready to tell +the doctor this morning, and he's round here again now; and it's not as +though he favours mine more than another's. He's just the same to +every one who's bad." + +And what one said all said, and Paul pondered on their words. May +Webster had spoken truly when she said that this man lived in the +hearts of his people. Sally delayed her departure for London for a few +weeks when she found that she could be of great service in the village +by going and lending a helping hand when the mothers got overdone with +nursing, for it was chiefly among the children of the place that the +fever found its victims. Twenty succumbed, and then there was a day or +two when no fresh case was reported. + +Paul met the rector one morning and stayed to congratulate him on the +fact that the fever seemed to have run its course, that there had been +no death from it during the last few days, and apparently no fresh +cases. + +"Poor little Jenny Weldon passed away this morning; I was with her when +she died," said the rector. Then came a long pause, and he cleared his +throat. "My Kitty was the last case; she was pronounced to have the +fever last night." + +"Kitty!" echoed Paul, with a face almost as white as Mr. Curzon's own. +"Good Heavens! and I was the double-dyed idiot who brought that child +Jenny Weldon to the treat. Kitty probably caught it from her." + +"That is quite impossible to decide," said Mr. Curzon, with a sad +little smile; "the outbreak has been almost simultaneous. But Kitty's +life is in God's Hands." + +Paul turned away with an impatient exclamation; he had no word of +comfort to offer, for he had but little hope that a child so delicate +as Kitty would recover. + +"If Sally could help in the nursing of her, or I in fetching any +delicacy the child could fancy, you know we are ready to help," he said. + +"Thank you; you have always been good to her." + +It was a feeble fight that little Kitty made for life, and did not last +many days. She had brief intervals of consciousness when she +recognized the father, who was never absent from her bedside except +when he visited the other sick children of his flock. All day long the +rectory was besieged by anxious inquiries for Kitty, who was better +known and more loved than any other child in the place; and Paul came +each day with some offering of fruit or flowers. But before the week +was over the passing-bell rang out, and a thrill of sympathy ran +through the village, and the neighbours looked into each other's faces, +and their kind eyes filled with tears as they said-- + +"That's little Miss Kitty gone home." + +It was the phrase Mrs. Macdonald used as she brought in the breakfast +for Paul and Sally that morning, and the tears ran down her cheeks as +she said it. + +"There may be some mistake, Mrs. Macdonald," said Paul, gently. "There +are other children ill in the place besides Kitty." + +"No, sir; it's true enough. My John got up in the dark and went to ask +for her; and he saw the nurse, who told him she was dying then. She +could not last the hour." + +"And the rector?" inquired Sally, who was crying quietly. "Did she +mention him?" + +"Miss Kitty lay in his arms, poor lamb! He's never had his clothes off +since she was taken ill, and he would not let her be frightened; he'd +hold her fast until He came to fetch her," said Mrs. Macdonald, with +simple conviction that the Good Shepherd Himself would lift little +Kitty straight from her father's arms into His own. + +Late that afternoon Paul called at the rectory to leave a wreath of +white flowers from Sally and a bunch of arums from himself; and the +rector, who saw him pass the study window, opened the door to him. + +"I've only brought a few flowers from Sally and me," said Paul, +omitting the usual greeting. + +Mr. Curzon looked down at them for a moment, fingering the card +attached to Paul's spray with hands that trembled. On it was written +"For Kitty, from one who loved her." + +"Thank you," he answered with a smile that was more pathetic than +tears. "She loved you, too, very dearly. Will you give her them +yourself?" + +But Paul drew back with a shiver. + +"Oh no; her bright, living face is the memory that I would have of her." + +So it was the rector who carried up the flowers to the room where Kitty +lay, and placed the wreath at her feet; and the arums framed the sweet, +smiling face, and the card with its message of love was laid upon her +breast, with the murmured prayer that the one who loved Kitty might +learn to love Kitty's God. + +All the villagers that were able attended Kitty's funeral two days +later, drawn there by love and sympathy. Paul was there with Sally, +sitting down in the belfry, close to the spot where Kitty's carriage +had been placed upon the only other occasion when Paul had attended a +service in Rudham church. + +"If there is any meaning at all in the service, it is appropriate for +Kitty," was the reason he had assigned to Sally for accompanying her. +It seemed like a beautiful dream to him: the church nearly filled with +people, the fragrance of the flowers as the little white coffin was +carried into church headed by the rector and the choir, who sang, as +they led the way to the chancel, the words of a hymn quite unfamiliar +to Paul, and a few lines of which sounded clearly in his ears as they +passed him. + + "Death will be to slumber + In that sweet embrace, + And we shall awaken + To behold His Face." + + +Only one person followed the little coffin, and that was the nurse, who +had loved Kitty as devotedly as any mother. The door behind Paul was +gently pushed open after the service had begun, and he was vividly +conscious of the presence of the woman he loved the best in the +world--May Webster. She was dressed in black, and sank upon her knees +by Sally's side. The intense sympathy of her expression made her look +more beautiful than ever, giving the touch of softness that her +features sometimes lacked. Throughout the service the rector's brave, +strong voice never faltered, and it rose and fell with the others in +Psalm and hymn. He seemed, for the time being, borne aloft upon the +wings of faith and love; but when, the service ended, Paul made his way +back to the church to fetch his hat, which he had accidently left +behind him, he caught a glimpse of a white-robed figure prostrate +before the altar, and the frame was convulsed with sobs. Nature must +have her way; and not even the rector could at once bring his will into +perfect submission with the will of God. His darling was taken from +his sight, and his heart was aching over the dreary years that might +intervene before he could see her again. There was a lump in Paul's +throat as he noiselessly left the church. May and Sally waited for him. + +"It's heart-breaking," said May, putting her hand into his. "I was +bound to come." + +"You return to London to-night, I suppose? You will come and have tea +with us on your way, won't you?" said Sally, eagerly. + +"I will come to tea. But I am not going back at present; I told mother +I should stay down here for a little while, until all this trouble had +passed away; it cannot be right that we should be doing nothing to +help. I only wish I had come in time to see that little girl alive +again." + +Sally had moved away to help to arrange the flowers on the +newly-filled-in grave, and Paul stood a little apart by May's side. + +"I'm sorry for every one," said May. "It is almost enough to kill Mr. +Curzon. And I have thought of you too; I was sorry for the loss of +your one friend." + +"Yes," said Paul. "I've been sorry for myself; I did not believe any +child's death could affect me so deeply. Life is an unanswerable +riddle from beginning to end." + +"Unless the rector is right," said May, softly. "In which case we may +find the answer on the other side." + +Never had May appeared so beautiful or gracious as that evening when +she sat listening to the story of all that had occurred in Rudham since +she and her mother had gone to London. + +"I'm so glad to be back," she said. "Mother thinks me half-crazed for +coming, and threw a dozen obstacles in my way. But I've brought Rose +Lancaster with me, and the servants who are left in charge can manage +for us; and, as for carriages it will do me good to walk for a little +bit." + +Paul left the talk almost entirely to the two girls; it was enough for +him to sit and watch the play of May's beautiful features, and hear the +sound of her voice. What could this sudden return of hers mean, he +wondered? Was it a passing whim, or was it?---- He left even the +thought unfinished, and called himself a presumptuous fool! + +The next morning he received a note from the rector asking him to call. + +"There is a matter of extreme importance that I cannot decide until I +have seen you, so will you kindly look in this evening?" he wrote. + +Paul found him in his study, and noticed that the handsome face was +thinner, and the dark lines under the eyes betrayed the suffering +through which he had passed. + +"I wanted you to come for many reasons," he said, pushing an easy-chair +near to the fire. "To thank you, first of all, for the kindness you +have poured on my Kitty from the day of your coming until now. There +are not many men who would have taken so much trouble about a delicate +little girl." + +"You need not thank me," Paul answered with tears in his eyes. "She +was a friend I shall sorely miss." + +"And there is this letter I wish to show you," continued the rector, +not daring to talk further of Kitty. + +It was a letter from the Bishop of the diocese, suggesting that Mr. +Curzon should accept the living of Norrington, a populous town some +thirty miles away. In money value it was less than Rudham, but "the +needs of the place are great," wrote the Bishop. "You are in the +heyday of your strength, and I believe you to be the man for the place. +Unless there be any very urgent reason for your refusing to move, I +greatly wish you to undertake it." + +"Why can't the Bishop let well alone?" said Paul, as he returned the +letter. "Of course, you will not go. I don't pretend to constitute +myself a judge of a clergyman's work, but I should say that you have +this place as well in hand as any man could. To move you, will be +equal loss to yourself and Rudham." + +"I cannot decide it so quickly. I do not believe in things happening +by chance," said Mr. Curzon. "This letter came the day that Kitty +passed away, and I telegraphed to the Bishop that I could decide +nothing for a day or two; the one urgent reason that would have kept me +here is gone, you see." + +"Kitty?" questioned Paul. + +"Yes; I could not have taken her to live in the heart of a town." + +"Then you really had decided to leave us before you wrote to me." + +"Several things point to it: a less strong man than I could undertake +the work here. If it is God's voice that calls, I would not disobey +it. One thought holds me back. What will happen here? Is it +impertinent to ask? The presentation to the living is yours." + +Paul smiled involuntarily. "And you scarcely think me the man to +appoint to a cure of souls. I confess I don't myself feel I know +enough about it. I should do as my godfather did before me, hand over +the nomination of a successor to the Bishop. I believe this offer +jumps with your own inclination." + +"Only for one thing," said the rector, quietly, "that my house is 'left +unto me desolate.'" + +"And yet you call the God, who took your Kitty from you, a God of love." + +"Yes. Who, looking at her pitiful little frame, can doubt it? My +selfish heart cries out for her yet; but what could her life have been +but one of constant suffering." + +"But, I suppose, she was born like that?" said Paul, more to himself +than to the rector. + +Mr. Curzon's face twitched a little. "Oh no; she was the brightest, +healthiest little child you have ever seen; and then she was dropped. +And the girl who dropped her did not tell any one about it for months +after--not until the child's back began to grow out." + +"How did you find it out at last?" asked Paul, deeply interested. + +"The girl came of her own accord to confess it. She was pretty well +heart-broken when she discovered that Kitty was injured for life." + +"I would never have forgiven her!" said Paul, bitterly. + +"Yes, you would. You would have done much as I did, I expect; I let +her work out her repentance. She is the nurse who has devoted herself +to Kitty like a mother, and who mourns for her like one, too. We can +never be separated; where I go she will go. And now she has not Kitty +she will help me to look after some of the sick children in my parish." + +"So you have decided to go?" + +"Yes; I think I have scarcely a choice in the matter." + +The Vicar was not one to keep his people long in ignorance of a +decision which affected both him and them so largely, and, on the +following Sunday morning, he told them in a few words that he must +leave them. + +"Dear people," he said, "the decision has been sharp and sudden, and +the pain of it still lingers in my heart as I talk to you to-day; but I +dare not have it otherwise lest, in hesitating, my will should cross +the will of God, for, as soldiers must obey the command of their +captain, nor ask the reason why, so I, Christ's soldier and servant, +must be ready at His Word to pass on to where the battle is most +fierce, and where, maybe, the army needs reinforcement. Shall I be +less brave than Abraham, who, at the call of God, left home and kindred +to settle in a strange land amongst an alien people? Dear friends, as +clearly as God's message came to Abraham in those far-off days, it has +seemed to come to me, telling me to leave the home and people that I +love, and to go, work for Him in another part of His vineyard. +Therefore I obey." + +There were tears on the upturned faces that listened, and, when the +people left the church, there was an almost universal wail of +lamentation. But reticent natures like the Macdonalds could find no +relief in words; they walked silently side by side with tears in their +eyes and an untold aching in their hearts. + +"Life won't be the same again, John; we shan't get another like the +good man," said Mrs. Macdonald, as they neared home. + +"No," said John, slowly. "But if he don't make a fuss about it, no +more won't we; he's sure about the call, and he dursn't disobey. But +now we'll save for the collectin'!" + +"What collectin'?" + +"They'll make him a present. They are sure to make him a present; and +we'll be ready when they call," said John. + +But, with all his brave words, John's dinner was pushed away untouched, +and his broad back was turned resolutely to his wife so that she might +not guess that he was crying! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A CHANGE OF MIND. + +Three months later Paul Lessing stood, one morning in March, with his +hands thrust deep into his pockets, looking out of his sitting-room +window. His eyes rested on the little plot of ground before him, with +its borders of snowdrops and crocuses, and the road beyond, along which +the village children in their scarlet cloaks hurried to school: a +narrow boundary to a narrow life, he told himself--and lonely, since +Sally had left him a week or two ago. He was intolerably dull, and +Sally's letter, which lay open on the table, brimful as it was of new +energies and interests, had set him wondering whether he could continue +his present course of life much longer. There was positively no one +left in the village, at present, with whom he could interchange an idea. + +Mr. Curzon, with whom, in the last three months, he had become fairly +intimate, had gone to his new field of work, leaving a blank behind him +in every house in the place; his successor had not yet arrived. "And +we are not likely to have much in common when he does come," Paul +thought, with a smile. May Webster, after manfully fulfilling her +purpose of helping in the village until the trouble and distress, +brought by the fever, had passed away, had returned to London; and it +was little enough that Paul had seen of her whilst she had been there. +And that very day Paul had received a letter from Mrs. Webster to tell +him that at Michaelmas she wished to vacate the Court, which she now +kept on as a yearly tenant. + +"It cannot matter to me," Paul said to himself. "In many ways, of +course, it is the best thing that could happen." And yet he found +himself thinking of nothing but the utter desolation of Rudham, when +May's bright presence should be removed from it, when he could no +longer hope for a passing glimpse of her in the street. + +"I have vegetated down here until I run a risk of softening of the +brain," he said aloud. "I must have change. I'll be off to London for +a week, put up at my club, see a few of my friends, and unearth Sally +in her new quarters." + +The thought had scarcely formed itself before he began to carry it into +execution: putting together his papers, looking out a convenient train. +And, shoving his head inside the door of the Macdonald's sitting-room, +he enlisted Mrs. Macdonald's help in the matter of packing. + +"Rather sudden, sir, isn't it?" she said, as she knelt upon the floor +in the centre of the clothes which Paul had pulled out of his drawers +and littered about in hopeless confusion. "It's bad enough to lose +Miss Sally, but John and I won't know ourselves when you've gone too." + +"It won't be for very long," said Paul, good-humouredly, grateful to +discover that anybody would miss him, and careful to suppress the fact +that he was dull. + +Arrived in London the stir and bustle of the streets was as refreshing +to him as water to a thirsty man, and to find himself once more amongst +his fellows in the club, where many a man greeted him with a friendly +nod, was simply delightful, One friend asked him to dinner that night, +another made an appointment for the play on the night following; his +presence was demanded at an important political meeting, where he was +requested to speak on the labour question. And again the thought +forced itself upon him how much better he felt fitted to cope with the +masses, and work at the big social problems of the day, than to deal +with the individual lives of the people of Rudham. And the +parliamentary career for which he longed was absolutely within his +grasp, for a seat belonging to his political party was to be vacated in +the autumn, and his name was already mentioned as that of the likely +candidate; but there was no course open to him but to refuse the offer +if it came. It took more means than he had at his disposal to do his +duty by Rudham. + +He found Sally keen and happy over her work, and was satisfied that she +had discovered her proper vocation. + +The last day of his London visit had come, and, late in the afternoon, +Paul found himself walking down Park Lane; and he hesitated for a +moment, when he came to the house which he knew to be the Websters, +wondering whether he would call and answer Mrs. Webster's note in +person. That, at any rate, would be the ostensible reason for his +visit; he scarcely cared to admit that it was the longing for a sight +of May's face that made it impossible for him to pass the door. In +another minute he had mounted the steps and rung the bell, and was +handed into a room crammed with people--society people, all talking +society gossip over their tea. Many of them bestowed a passing glance +upon Paul as he made his way towards Mrs. Webster, but their interest +died down when they discovered that he was not of their set. + +"Mr. Lessing!" exclaimed Mrs. Webster. "Quite a welcome surprise! You +are not often in London, are you? So good of you to call. Have you +had any tea? Yes? Pray have some more." + +Then another visitor demanded her attention, and Paul found himself +stranded in a room full of people of whom he knew not one. May was +nowhere to be seen; but, as Paul sidled his way past chairs and tables, +making for the door, he found himself face to face with her as she led +a party of people from the conservatory back to the drawing-room. She +was talking with that brilliant, rapid fluency which had marked the +earlier stages of their acquaintance; but at sight of him she coloured +and stretched out her hand with unmistakable cordiality. + +"This is indeed an unexpected honour," she said, letting her other +guests move on, and taking up her own position by Paul. "I should not +have thought wild horses would have dragged you to a tea-fight." + +"And they would not have done," Paul answered, with a laugh, "had I +known that such a thing was in process; but, finding myself in London, +I came to call in answer to a note of your mother's." + +A professional singer at the far end of the room rose preparatory to +singing, and May gave an impatient little exclamation. + +"Come into the conservatory and talk; I'm tired of all these people. +You bring a whiff of country air with you." + +As she spoke she led the way towards two easy-chairs, placed by the +fountain in the middle of the conservatory, and, sinking into one +herself, she motioned Paul to the other. From the half-open door of +the drawing-room came the confused murmur of voices, dominated by the +tenor soloist; but to Paul that society life seemed miles distant. He +was enfolded by a sense of enchantment: for him, at that moment, there +was but two people in the world--himself and May. To speak would be to +break the brief spell of enjoyment, so he sat silent and content. + +"We are wasting the time; I brought you here to talk," said May, +turning towards him with a smile. "How do things fare at Rudham now +Mr. Curzon has gone?" + +"Badly; there is a sense of flatness. He embodied the life of the +village in a way one could not believe unless one had lived there. +I've seen a lot of him in the last few months; we were fairly driven +into each other's society." + +"How do you get on together?" + +"To know Curzon intimately goes halfway towards converting one to his +way of thinking," said Paul, slowly. + +May looked up quickly. + +"I don't mean that I am fully prepared to accept his opinions, but I +have modified my views concerning them," Paul went on. "A man like +Curzon, and his enormous power for good, cannot be ignored. His creed, +which makes him what he is, must be reckoned with as a motive-force in +the world. I said to myself at one time that, starting from opposite +poles, he and I worked for the same end--the good of the race. But +where I seem only to scratch the surface, he gets below it. Look at +Burney, for example. I believed I had made a man of him by restoring +his self-respect and giving him a fresh chance--by trusting him, in +fact. It did well enough for a time, but then he broke out worse than +ever. Then, from what Tom told me, Curzon stepped in, saved him from +suicide, and saved him from himself; and has given him, apparently, +some principle to live by that will turn him into a fine character +yet--at any rate, I get excellent accounts of him." + +"I did not know he had tried to kill himself," said May; "perhaps that +is what has sobered poor Rose Lancaster so effectually. She told me +the other day that she would marry no one but Tom. By the way, what +brought you to London?" + +"Mixed motives. Sheer dulness for one thing." + +"You once aired a theory that only stupid people could be dull." + +"Then, I suppose, I have grown stupid; I have not enough to occupy me, +for one thing. If I could carry out all my whims I could be busy +enough; but I have had to abandon that scheme for rebuilding a good +many of my cottages from want of money, and that same want stands +between me and my one ambition: a seat in Parliament. I might have had +a chance of a vacancy in the autumn. By the way, as you intend to +throw me over, I trust that amongst your numerous friends you will find +me another tenant for the Court." + +"I don't understand what you are talking of! Who is going to throw you +over?" + +"Your mother has written to say that she wishes to leave at Michaelmas. +Her letter was my excuse for calling." + +May did not answer for a minute; she was busily pondering what her +mother's reason could have been for arriving at this decision without +consulting her. It might be that the relations between themselves and +the Blands being somewhat strained, she had thought it wise to go +somewhere else, or--and here May's heart quickened its beating--it +might be that she feared a rival in Paul Lessing. + +"I hope you are sorry to lose us," she said. + +"Am I to tell the conventional falsehood or the truth?" Paul asked. + +"The truth, of course; we have not studied conventionality much, have +we?" + +"Then I am unfeignedly glad," said Paul, deliberately. + +May had turned rather white. "You don't mince matters certainly." + +"No, I don't; but I prefer solitude to living perpetually within sight +of unattainable happiness. Our friendship is destroyed, you remember; +you admitted as much once. I cannot pretend that you are an ordinary +acquaintance, and, therefore, to have you taken out of my reach is +really the best thing that could happen to me." + +"And you have left any wish I might have about it outside your +calculation," said May. + +"It cannot signify to you where you live. You will amuse yourself +wherever you are." + +"It signifies considerably; as I like Rudham, at present, better than +any place in the world." + +Paul broke into an incredulous laugh. + +"I suppose it would be an impertinence to ask your reason for this +unaccountable preference?" + +"It is a simple one: you live there," said May, with averted face. + +Paul sprang to his feet and stood before May with arms folded, and +looked down at her with eyes that literally burned. + +"May!" he said hoarsely, "if it is a joke it is a cruel one." + +"Oh, it's true that you have grown stupid!" cried May, between laughter +and tears. "It is no joke to have to tell you that I have changed my +mind. I love you better than all the world besides." + +With an incoherent cry Paul clasped her to his breast. + +"My darling! my darling!" he said, after the rapture of that first +moment, "I am not worthy, and the sacrifice on your side is too great. +I had no right ever to ask you to marry me. What will the world say of +me? I could wish that you had no fortune----" + +"Oh, nonsense! you were groaning for want of it just now. It is my +own, to do as I like with; and I shall have a lot more, some day, +unless mother disinherits me." + +"Which reminds me that I have to face her," said Paul, rather ruefully. + +"I think you had better go at once," said May, with merry decision, +"and leave mother to me. I don't pretend she will like it; but she may +consent, as she has been grievously worried by the fear that I was +going to be an old maid--and so I should have been but for you." + +Paul tried to repossess himself of her hands, but May had glided back +to the drawing-room, turning as she left to tell him to call again in +the morning. Left to himself, Paul tried to collect his thoughts, and +to realize the intense happiness that had come to him. If it were true +that May loved him, he would marry her in the face of all opposition, +for she knew well enough that he did not care for her money, but for +herself. Then he fell again to wondering whether she had sufficiently +counted the cost of uniting her life with his, for, in marrying, Paul +felt it would be impossible for him to change the whole scheme of his +life. His objects and ambitions would be the same after it as before, +and, unless May was prepared to share them, they would gradually drift +apart. He must put it all before her to-morrow, lest she should make a +lifelong mistake. + +But May had made no mistake; she knew her own mind, at last, for +absence from Paul had taught it her. She had turned with absolute +loathing from the mill-round of gaiety which was the only marked +characteristic of her life in London; and her thoughts had recurred +persistently to Rudham, until finally, in the time of distress, she had +followed the dictates of her heart and gone down there. But not until +the day of Kitty's funeral, when she stood beside Paul at her grave, +had she owned to herself that he was the man she loved: a conviction +which deepened into certainty in the weeks which followed, for, +although she saw little of him, to be in the place where he lived, and +in some way to share his work, made her happy, and gave her a sense of +repose which had not been hers since she left. + +Mrs. Webster shed some very bitter tears when, after dinner that +evening, May announced her engagement. + +"It is wicked of him to have asked you! he is as poor as a church +mouse!" + +"I can't remember, exactly, but I don't think he did ask me," said May, +knitting her pretty brows. "He did once before, but I don't think he +did to-day. But he was so very miserable that----" + +"Well!" interposed Mrs. Webster, "in my young days girls left it to the +men to speak." + +"Oh, mother, don't scold! I am so happy--happier that I have ever been +before. You know you have wished me to marry; let me marry the man I +love." + +"It is such an ill-assorted match; he has no money----" + +"And I have plenty," said May. + +"And how can I ever consent to your living in a cottage?" went on Mrs. +Webster, with a wail of despair. + +"Oh, we have not come to that yet!" May answered, unable to check a +laugh; "but I dare say he will not wish it. We could live quite simply +at the Court. I wonder if we shall run to a house-parlourmaid?" + +"It's no laughing matter; you have been used to every luxury, May." + +"I have had more than my share. I feel rather a surfeit of the +sweetest things." + +"And he does not go to church----" + +"But he is more in earnest than many of the men who do," said May. "Of +this I am sure, that he is seeking after God; if I were not sure, I do +not believe I should have the courage to marry him. A year back I +should not have cared what a man thought as long as he led a straight +life, but lately I have felt different about things. My own +convictions are stronger." + +"Well, if we discuss it from now until Doomsday I shall not like it, +May; but it is equally certain that if you have set your mind on this +man you will not give him up." + +"I have set my heart upon him," said May, an unusual softness in her +voice. "After all, mother, love is the first thing." + +Mrs. Webster sat silent, the tears dropping down her face. Love, +either of God or man, had been no important factor in her life. She +had married for money, and such love as she could give had been centred +on her one beautiful daughter; but even with her, her ambition was +stronger than her love, and it received its deathblow with May's +unaccountable choice of a husband. Further opposition she saw to be +useless, so she surrendered with as good a grace as possible. + +When May's engagement was publicly announced friends poured in to offer +congratulations that had a note of surprise behind them; but Mrs. +Webster proved fully equal to the occasion. + +"Yes," she said; "May has been a long time making her choice, and now +it seems a funny one, doesn't it? But Mr. Lessing is a very clever +man, and May became bitten with his views first, and with the +propounder of them afterwards. He is the sort of man who will make a +career for himself yet. I believe he means to stand for ---- in the +autumn." + +Perhaps no one received the news with such genuine delight as Sally, +who came flying up to Park Lane directly she heard of it. + +"I've always thought Paul the nicest man in the world, and you the most +fascinating woman; and that you should make a match of it is ideally +delightful," she said. "It really is very funny, though, when I come +to think of it, and look back at that night in Brussels." + +"What about that night at Brussels?" asked Paul, who had entered the +room unperceived by either of the girls. But Sally laughed and held +her tongue. + +"If you had stayed away a minute longer I should have wormed the truth +out of the too-truthful Sally," May said, turning upon him with a +smile. "You clearly hated me." + +"I don't think I ever hated you. I believe I struggled from the first +against a tremendous fascination that you possessed for me. I +quarrelled with your surroundings, with your money rather than with +you." + +"It is a distinct judgment that that same money will enable you to +carry out all your schemes," May said quaintly, "from the new cottages +to the seat in Parliament." + +"I shall wish you to do exactly what you like, May." + +"And what else could give me so much pleasure?" + +"Oh, May, how perfectly lovely it all sounds!" cried Sally, +enthusiastically. "And shall you have open-air evenings on the +bowling-green for the village people, with a band playing and every one +dancing? If so, ask me down with a contingent of girls." + +When Paul returned to Rudham and informed Mrs. Macdonald of his +approaching marriage, he was a little puzzled by the look of alarm with +which she received the news. + +"Come, come, Mrs. Macdonald! you have been as good as a mother to me; I +thought you would be the first to wish me good luck," Paul said. + +"It's not that, sir! it's not that at all, that I'm thinking; but plain +people like John and me could noways manage for a pretty lady like Miss +Webster," she said. + +Paul sat down and laughed. "So that's it. Well! I had not thought of +bringing my wife here to live. Happy as you have made me, it would be +a little small for her. I suppose we shall go to the Court, and I +could turn my rooms here into a workman's club, couldn't I? And we +could keep a bedroom for any of Miss Sally's girls who want a change." + +After which Mrs. Macdonald recovered her spirits, and offered her +congratulations with Scotch sincerity. + +"She's bonny, sir! she's very bonny! But my John will say that there's +not another lady in the world like our Miss Sally. His heart is set on +her, that it is! And when will be the wedding, if I may be so bold as +to ask?" + +"To-morrow, if I had _my_ way. Six weeks hence, as I have to wait Miss +Webster's pleasure; and, I believe, in the years to come, she will +rival Miss Sally in your affections." + +"Maybe, sir," replied Mrs. Macdonald, cautiously. + + * * * * * * + +More than two years had passed; and on a sunny day in June, Rose +Lancaster was once again making her way across the bowling-green at the +Court towards the rose-garden, bent upon the same quest as on the +summer morning, which seemed such a long time ago, when Tom Burney had +first declared his love for her. It was said in the village that Rose +had lost her looks, and certainly the indefinable first blush of youth +had faded; but if Rose's face had lost its delicacy of colouring, it +had gained infinitely in expression. The blue eyes were soft and +wistful, the pretty lips had lost their trick of pouting, the head was +poised less saucily; trouble had taught Rose lessons which had left a +lasting impression upon her character. She had been retained in Mrs. +Lessing's service; nor ever showed any desire to quit it, until such +time as Tom was ready to come home and fetch her. But oh! how long it +seemed to wait. He had hinted, a month or two back, at the possibility +of his being sent over to England upon his master's business; but in +the letter which followed immediately after, no mention had been made +of the subject, so Rose feared that the happy chance was not to come +yet, since which time there had been silence--the longest silence that +had occurred since Tom had left. Whether the rose-garden unconsciously +brought back her lover to her mind it is impossible to say, but as Rose +snipped the buds there were tears in her eyes with the simple longing +for news of her absent lover. She chose all white roses to-day, for +the newly-arrived baby-girl at the Court was to be baptized, and Mr. +Curzon was coming to take the service; and Rose had planned that she +would slip off quietly to the church and put a wreath of white roses +round the font. It was a business that must be carried through with +secrecy and despatch, as presently her mistress would want her to help +her to dress: she was far from strong yet. A straying bramble caught +her gown and held it fast, and with an impatient little cry she stooped +down to disentangle it, when, to her astonishment, a great brown hand +from behind closed upon hers, and a strong arm was slipped round her +waist, and a voice, that set her trembling from head to foot, +exclaimed-- + +"Rose, Rose, my beauty! what luck to find you, the first minute I've +come, like this! I was just making my way up the drive, and caught +sight of something shining through the trees; and if it wasn't your +head shining all yellow in the sun the same as when I left it! And I +crept up behind you, and caught you crying over a thorn, I do believe." + +Needless to say it was Tom Burney who was the speaker, a broader, +bigger Tom than Rose remembered: a handsome, strong fellow that any +girl might be proud of as a lover, who spoke half in jest to hide the +fact that tears were not far from his own eyes. He held her so tightly +clasped to his breast, that it was some few minutes before Rose could +either speak or get a good look at her lover. + +"Oh, Tom, you've taken the life out of me; you've given me such a +start!" she said when she could speak. "How brown and big you +are!--but you're worth the waiting for. Oh dear, how glad I am you've +come!" And then Rose began to sob helplessly, and needed a deal of +comforting, which Tom was not slow to offer. "There!" said Rose, at +last, pushing him from her, and showing him her dimples for the first +time, "you are wasting all my time; but you can come down to the +church, if you like, and help me to put the roses on the font." + +"What for?" asked Tom, unsympathetically, preferring the privacy of the +rose-garden. + +"For little Miss Kitty as is to be; that's the new baby at the Court. +And nothing will satisfy Mr. Lessing but that she shall be named after +the one that's gone. Mr. Curzon is coming to baptize her." + +"Is he?" cried Tom, eagerly. "I'll come, then, and wait all day for a +sight of him, the best friend I've ever had, Rose, my darling. Shall I +ask him to tie up you and me?" + +"Oh!" cried Rose, blushing rosy red, "I had not thought of that yet, +Tom." + +"Time you did," said Tom. "I must start back again in a month, and I'm +not going without you." + +"Oh no," said Rose. "It seems to come sudden at the last, but I've +waited so long that I'll come when you like. I've not looked at +another man since you went away." + +Tom caught her again and kissed her. "And there was plenty to look at +you, I'll bet." + +"Yes, plenty," Rose admitted, with a dash of her old coquetry. + +Then hand in hand, like two happy children, they walked down the lane +to the church; and Tom stood and handed the flowers, which Rose's deft +fingers arranged round the font. And all that miserable past seemed +blotted out, and a future of perfect happiness seemed opening out +before them. Just as their task was finished, and they stood side by +side admiring their handiwork, the church door was softly pushed open, +and Mr. Curzon entered. Real joy flashed into his face as he +recognized Tom Burney, and saw that Rose was with him; but the words of +greeting were very simple. + +"So you've come home, Tom?" he said, as he heartily grasped his hand. + +"For a bit, sir--just for a week or two." + +"And you will take out Rose with you, I expect?" with a kindly smile at +the pretty, downcast head. + +"Well, yes, sir; that is my meaning. And we were thinking, she and I, +as we would not feel rightly married unless you was kind enough to come +and marry us." + +"And that I will gladly." + +"You're the best friend as ever I had," said Tom speaking with some +effort. "And if I've kept straight and got a good name, it's you I +have to thank for it." + +"No, no," said Mr. Curzon; "God alone could do that. I may have +chanced to be the sign-post that directed you to Him. Shall we thank +Him now for bringing you back, and pray that He may bless your life +with Rose?" + +So side by side the three knelt down, and in a few simple words Mr. +Curzon commended them to God. And when he rose from his knees he laid +his hands upon their heads in blessing. + +Then Tom and Rose made their way back to the Court, sobered, but +unspeakably happy, whilst Mr. Curzon lingered awhile by Kitty's grave. + +"There's to be another little Kitty named in memory of you, my +darling," he said aloud, as he turned away from the grave with a tender +smile on his face. + +It never seemed to him that his own little Kitty was far from him, and +a prayer was in his heart that Kitty the second might be as sweet, as +good as the one who was ever present in his thoughts. + +Paul Lessing, too, thought tenderly of his first child-friend that same +afternoon, as he stood a little apart from the group gathered round the +font, and heard the familiar name of Kitty bestowed upon his own little +child. That first Kitty had been dear to him, but the baby who +whimpered in Mr. Curzon's arms was nearer still and dearer; and in the +full realization of his own fatherhood Paul knelt, and, with his face +hidden in his hands, acknowledged the Fatherhood of God. + +There was a very large party at the Court, that evening, to which every +inhabitant of Rudham had received an invitation--an invitation printed +in silver letters on a very small card. + +"Kitty Lessing requests the company of Mr. and Mrs. ----, etc." + +It had been May's particular wish that the invitations should be issued +in her daughter's name, and Paul, who considered the notion a little +fantastic, had yielded to his wife's whim. + +"It seems rather nonsense that the giver of the feast should be fast +asleep in her cradle upstairs," he said, when he found himself standing +by Mr. Curzon in the course of the evening, "but May would have it so." + +The two men stood side by side upon the terrace, looking down upon the +moving crowd of happy people that wandered hither and thither about the +beautiful grounds. From the bowling-green below there floated the +strains of a string-band specially hired for the occasion; but, above +it all, came the sound of Sally's laughter as she tried to steer some +of the village boys and girls safely through the mysteries of a new +country dance--an effort not wholly crowned with success. The shifting +scene was full of animation and happiness. + +"I think Mrs. Lessing was right," said Mr. Curzon, presently. "Kitty +is promising, by proxy, that she will carry on the work of kindliness +and good-will that you and your wife have begun in Rudham." + +"I'm glad you are on my side," said May, who had come up in time to +hear Mr. Curzon's words. "We'll have a birthday party every year as +long as Kitty lives at home. I came to find you, Paul; some of the +elderly ones are going, and I want you to be at the gate to say +good-bye." + +"No, no," Paul answered; "we'll go together to the bowling-green and +issue a yearly invitation." + +A few minutes later Paul stood bare-headed, with May by his side, upon +the band-stand; and the guests from all parts of the grounds gathered +round, feeling that the squire had something to say to them. + +"My friends," Paul began, "I am here not to make a speech, but just to +tell you, quite simply, what great pleasure it has given my wife and +myself to see you here this evening, at the birthday party of our +little girl. If she be spared to us it is our wish that every birthday +of hers should be celebrated in a similar manner. Her name, I hope, +will bring back to your memory the thought of another Kitty, who lived +long enough to make her influence felt in every cottage of our village. +That our little daughter shall also find a place in your hearts is her +mother's and my chief ambition concerning her." + +There was a moment's pause when Paul ceased speaking, a passing +hesitation lest any open manifestation of gladness over the birthday +festival of the new Kitty should make their late rector more painfully +conscious of the loss of his own little daughter; and with his quick, +intuitive sympathy Mr. Curzon understood and appreciated the momentary +silence. He sprang on to the platform and took his place by Paul's +side. + +"Give expression to your thanks in the way which our entertainers will +like the best," he said. "Three cheers for Kitty Lessing!" + +The sound of the hearty cheering reached even to the nursery, and baby +Kitty stirred for a moment, opened her dark eyes, then, turning her +head on the pillow, slept more profoundly than ever. + +In years to come she would be told the tale of her first birthday party. + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Village by the River, by H. 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Louisa Bedford + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Village by the River + +Author: H. Louisa Bedford + +Release Date: January 16, 2007 [EBook #20381] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VILLAGE BY THE RIVER *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT="Paul . . . was holding it closely upon the burning skirt." BORDER="2" WIDTH="386" HEIGHT="631"> +<H3> +Paul . . . was holding it closely upon the burning skirt. +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE VILLAGE BY THE RIVER. +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +by +</H4> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +H. LOUISA BEDFORD, +</H3> + +<BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AUTHOR OF +<BR> +"MRS. MERRIMAN'S GODCHILD," "RALPH RODNEY'S MOTHER," +<BR> +"MISS CHILCOTT'S LEGACY," ETC., ETC. +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +ILLUSTRATED BY W. S. STACEY. +</H4> + +<BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE +<BR> +GENERAL LITERATURE COMMITTEE. +</H4> + +<BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +LONDON: +<BR> +SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, +<BR> +NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.; +<BR> +43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. +<BR> +BRIGHTON: 129, NORTH STREET. +<BR> +NEW YORK: E. & J. B. YOUNG AND CO. +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS. +</H2> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> + +<TABLE WIDTH="80%"> +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAPTER</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">WHAT THE VILLAGERS SAID</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">AN UNLOOKED-FOR INHERITANCE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">FIRST IMPRESSIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">OPPOSING VIEWS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">A QUESTION OF EDUCATION</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">A MOMENTOUS DECISION</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">AN OUTSTRETCHED HAND</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">A CRISIS IN A LIFE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">RIVAL SUITORS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">A FRIEND IN NEED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">KITTY'S CHRISTMAS TREE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">THE CALL OF GOD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">A CHANGE OF MIND</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +ILLUSTRATIONS +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-front"> +Paul . . . was holding it closely +upon the burning skirt. . . . . . . <I>Frontispiece</I> +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-049"> +"I've come after some roses." +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-163"> +Before he could regain his feet, a hand was on his collar. +</A> +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE VILLAGE BY THE RIVER. +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WHAT THE VILLAGERS SAID. +</H3> + +<P> +"Well, it were the grandest funeral as ever I set eyes on," said +Allison, the blacksmith, folding his brawny arms under his leather +apron, and leaning his shoulders against the open door of the smithy in +an attitude of leisurely ease. +</P> + +<P> +The group, gathered round him on their way home from work, gave an +assenting nod and waited for more. +</P> + +<P> +For convenience Allison shifted his pipe more to the corner of his +mouth, and proceeded— +</P> + +<P> +"Not one of yer new-fangled ones, with a glass hearse for all the world +like a big window-box, and a sight of white flowers like a wedding. +Everything was as black as it should be; I never see'd finer horses, in +my life, with manes and tails reachin' a'most to the ground, and a +shinin' black hearse with a score of plumes on the top, and half a +dozen men with silk hatbands walking alongside it, right away from the +station to the churchyard yonder." And Allison threw a backward glance +over the billowy golden cornfields, which separated the village from +the church by a quarter of a mile, where the grand tower reared its +head as if keeping watch over the village like a lofty sentinel. +</P> + +<P> +"There were lots of follerers, I expect?" suggested Macdonald, gently. +He was a Scotchman, and worked on the line, and he shifted his bag of +tools from his shoulder to the ground as he spoke. "A gentleman like +him would leave a-many to miss him." +</P> + +<P> +Allison stared across at the river which ran swiftly by on the opposite +side of the road. The long village of Rudham skirted its banks +irregularly for a mile or more. The blacksmith had plenty of news to +communicate, but he was not to be hurried in the relating of it. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm tryin' to recolleck," he said, knitting his brows, "but I can't +mind more than two principal mourners. And the undertaker, when he +stopped to water his horses at the inn, told Mrs. Lake as they was the +doctor and the lawyer; but, relations or no, they did it wonderful +well! Stood with their hats off all in the burnin' sun, and went back +to look at the grave when the funeral was over." +</P> + +<P> +"The household servants was there—leastways the butler and footman," +said Tom Burney, a dark-eyed, gipsy-looking young man, who was one of +the under-gardeners at the big house on the hill, "but not him as is +coming after." +</P> + +<P> +"The question is who is a-comin' after?" said Allison, in a tone of +sarcastic argument. "Maybe you'll tell us, as you seem to know such a +lot about it?" +</P> + +<P> +Burney coloured under his dark skin, and gave an uneasy little laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"I know what I've heard, no more nor less," he said; "but it comes +first-hand from the butler of him who's gone." +</P> + +<P> +Allison gave an incredulous sniff; he was not used to playing second +fiddle, and the heads of his listeners had turned to a man in the +direction of the last speaker. +</P> + +<P> +"He hadn't no near relation, not bein' a married man," went on Burney, +enjoying his advantage; "and Mr. Smith—that's the butler—came and +walked round the garden until it was time for his train to go back to +London." +</P> + +<P> +"He don't pretend as the property's left to him, I suppose?" broke in +Allison, jocosely. +</P> + +<P> +Burney turned his shoulder slightly towards the speaker, and went on, +regardless of the interruption— +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Smith says as the house up there, and all the property, goes to a +young fellow not more than thirty, of the same name as the old squire; +some third cousin or other." +</P> + +<P> +"Hearsay! just hearsay!" ejaculated Allison, contemptuously. "Who's +seen him, I should like to know? Seein's believin', they say." +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Smith has," said Burney, a ring of triumph in his voice. "He were +there when old Mr. Lessing died." +</P> + +<P> +There was silence for a moment. The evidence seemed conclusive, and +Allison's discomfiture complete; but, as the forge was the place where +the village gossips gathered every day, it was felt to be wise to keep +on good terms with the owner. +</P> + +<P> +"Seems as if it might be true," said Macdonald, casting a timid glance +at the blacksmith. +</P> + +<P> +"If it is, why wern't he here, to-day, then?" asked Allison, gruffly. +</P> + +<P> +"Not knowin', can't say," Burney answered with a laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe he'll be comin' to live here," said another. +</P> + +<P> +"He can't! I can tell you that much; there ain't a house he could live +in," asserted Allison. "His own place is let, you see, to the +Websters—whom Burney there works for,—and he can't turn 'em out, as +they have it on lease; and a good thing too. We don't want no resident +squire ridin' round and pryin' into everything. The old one kept +hisself to hisself, and, as long as the rents was paid regular, he +didn't trouble much about us; and there was always a pound for the +widows every Christmas. Trust me, it's better to have your landlord +livin' in London, and not looking about the place more than once a +year. Did Mr. Smith say what the young one looked like, Burney?" +</P> + +<P> +The question was asked a little reluctantly. +</P> + +<P> +"No; but he thinks he's a bit queer in his notions. He asked him +whether he'd be likely to want his services; and Mr. Lessing laughed +quite loud, and said, one nice old woman to cook and do for him was all +he should require now, or at any time in his life. Mr. Smith ain't +sure but what he's a Socialist." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't rightly know the meaning of it?" said Macdonald, +instinctively, turning to the blacksmith for an explanation. +</P> + +<P> +"It may be a good thing, or it mayn't," declared Allison. "I take it +that a Socialist means one as would take from those as has plenty and +give to those who has nothing. We're born ekal into the world, and +they'd keep us ekal, as far as might be. But it'd take a deal of +workin' out, more than you'd think, lookin' at it first; but I'm not +goin' to say that it wouldn't be handy to have a Socialist squire. He +might divide his land ekal among us, and there'd be no more rent to pay +for any of us. There now!" +</P> + +<P> +A general murmur of approval ran round his audience, except with old +Macdonald, who gave a quaint smile. +</P> + +<P> +"But it strikes me that such of us as have saved a tidy bit would have +to hand it out to be divided equal too. It would not be fair as the +Squire should do it all; it would run through, you see." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I've not saved a brass farthing, so I should come in for a lot; +and I'd settle down and marry to-morrow!" cried Burney, gaily. "But, +you may depend on it, whoever's got the place will stick to it. I must +be getting on to the station. Our people are coming back from abroad +this evening, and I'm to be there to help hoist up the luggage. It +takes a carriage and pair to carry up the ladies, and an extra cart for +luggage." +</P> + +<P> +"It's not the luggage you're going to meet, I'll bet; it's the lady's +maid," said a young fellow, who had not spoken before. "If you married +next week we all know well enough whom you'd take for a wife;" and Tom +moved off amid a shout of laughter. +</P> + +<P> +It was an open secret that Tom was head-over-ears in love with pretty +Rose Lancaster, the somewhat flighty maid of Miss Webster, who, with +her mother, was returning to the Court that evening. Absence had made +his heart grow fonder, and it was beating much faster than usual as he +stood on the station platform awaiting the arrival of the train, and, +when it ran in with much splutter and fuss, not even by a turn of her +head did Miss Rose show herself aware of Tom's presence. Instead, she +was looking after her ladies, lifting out their various belongings—not +a few in number—and ordering round the porters with a pretty pertness +as she counted out the boxes from the van. It was only when she found +her own box missing that she turned appealingly to Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Run, there's a good boy, quick to the other van!" she said, +acknowledging him with a nod. "It must have got in there, and the +train will be off in another moment." +</P> + +<P> +Tom ran as requested, pantingly rescued the box, and came back smiling +to tell her of his successful search. +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," said Rose, graciously. "Now you can help me on to the +box-seat of the carriage, if you like. I'm going to sit beside Mr. +Dixon." +</P> + +<P> +Dixon was the coachman, and a formidable rival in Tom's eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought, perhaps, as you'd come along of me. I'm drivin' the cart +back for Berry, as he had a message in the village. I've not seen you +for such a time, Rose." +</P> + +<P> +"Come with you!" said Rose, with a toss of her head. "The ladies would +not like it; besides, we shall meet sure enough some day soon. I +mustn't wait a minute longer. You need not help me unless you like." +</P> + +<P> +But poor Tom, under the pretext of making some inquiry about the +luggage, managed to be near so as to hand up Rose to her seat by the +coachman, who appeared far more absorbed in the management of his +horses than in the young woman who sat by him, upon whom he did not +bestow even a glance, preserving a perfectly imperturbable countenance. +</P> + +<P> +"He's pretending! just pretending—the scamp!" said Tom, under his +breath, turning back to his horse and cart. +</P> + +<P> +A strange man stood near stroking the animal's head and keeping a light +hand on its bridle. He wore a loosely fitting brown suit, and the hand +that caressed the horse was almost as brown as his clothes. His head +was closely cropped and his face clean-shaven, showing the clear-cut, +decided mouth and chin, and the white, even teeth displayed by the +smile with which he greeted Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"You may be glad I was at hand or your cart with its cargo of luggage +would have been upset in the road," he said. "It's not a wise thing to +leave a creature like this standing alone when a train is starting off." +</P> + +<P> +A quick retort was on the tip of Tom's tongue; he had no fancy for +being called to account by a perfect stranger, but, although the words +sounded authoritative, the tone was good-humoured. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, I only left him for a moment; he stands quiet enough as a +rule," he said, taking the bridle into his hand. +</P> + +<P> +The stranger picked up the small portmanteau he had set down in the +road, and prepared to walk off, then turned half-hesitatingly back to +Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you tell me where I can get a night or two's lodging? It does not +much matter where it is as long as it is clean and quiet." +</P> + +<P> +Tom took off his cap and rubbed his head thoughtfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Mrs. Lake's a wonderful good sort of woman." +</P> + +<P> +"And who may Mrs. Lake be?" inquired the stranger, pleasantly. +</P> + +<P> +"She keeps the Blue Dragon, but I couldn't say as it's exactly quiet of +a Saturday night. She don't allow no swearin' on her premises, but +some of the fellers gets a bit rowdy before they go home." +</P> + +<P> +"Very possibly," replied his companion, dryly. "I don't think the Blue +Dragon would suit me; but surely there is some cottager with a spare +bed and sitting-room, who might be glad of a quiet, respectable lodger +for a bit?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom threw a searching glance at the speaker; he was not quite sure +that, notwithstanding his gentle manner of talking, he was to be +altogether trusted. +</P> + +<P> +"If you'd step up beside me I'll drive you to the forge," he said, +willing to shelve his responsibility of recommendation. "It's close +here, and Allison will help you if no one else can. He knows every +one's business." +</P> + +<P> +"Just the sort of man I want," said Tom's new acquaintance, climbing +into the cart and seating himself on the cushion that had been intended +for Rose. His alert grey eyes took in his new surroundings at a glance. +</P> + +<P> +No one could call Rudham a pretty village: it was too straggling, too +bare of trees, which had been planted sparsely and attained no +luxuriance of growth; but it was not wholly unattractive this evening, +with the setting sun turning to gold the varying bends of the river +which ran through the valley, and the cottages and farmhouses dotted +here and there with a not unpleasing irregularity, and in the distance +a softly rising upland turning from blue to purple in the evening light. +</P> + +<P> +"Yonder's the Court, where my people live," said Tom, jerking his whip +to a big house more than a mile away that peeped out from among the +trees. "It belonged to the old squire who was buried to-day, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah!" ejaculated his listener, not greatly interested, apparently, in +the information. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a wonderful fine place, and they say as he who's to have it won't +hold no store by it. Pity, ain't it?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom's companion broke into rather a disconcerting laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here, my lad, by the time you're thirty you won't give credit to +every bit of gossip that comes to your ears; you'll wait to know that +it's true before you pass it on, at any rate. This will be the forge +you spoke of, and there's the owner, sure enough, standing at the door. +Thank you for the lift, and here's a shilling for your trouble." +</P> + +<P> +But Tom thrust away the proffered tip with a shake of his head. +</P> + +<P> +"No, thank you; you kept the horse safe at the station." +</P> + +<P> +"So, on the principle that one good turn deserves another, you'll give +me a lift for nothing. All right and thank you," said the man, +dismounting and lifting out his portmanteau. "Good night." +</P> + +<P> +"Good night," said Tom, with an answering nod. "I wonder what his +business is?" he thought, as he pursued his way. "Shouldn't be +surprised if he was the engineer who's to see to the laying down of the +new line; he's that quick, smart way with him as if he'd been about a +lot and knew a thing or two." +</P> + +<P> +"Lodgings!" echoed Allison, slowly, as the stranger reiterated his +request. "It's not a thing we are often asked for in Rudham. I'd make +no objection to taking you in myself, but Mrs. Allison's not partial to +strangers." +</P> + +<P> +"I should be sorry to inconvenience Mrs. Allison; is there no one else +you can think of?" +</P> + +<P> +"Mrs. Pink 'ud do it; but she's a baby who's teething, and fretful o' +nights." +</P> + +<P> +"And that would not suit me!" said the newcomer, with decision. +</P> + +<P> +"I have it!" cried Allison, bringing down his big hand with a +resounding slap upon his knee. "Mrs. Macdonald's the body for you! +There's not a better woman in Rudham, and I know 'em pretty well in +these parts. Her husband's only just gone up street; he were talkin' +here not five minutes ago. There's only their two selves, and the +cottage one of the best in the place." +</P> + +<P> +"It sounds as if it would suit me down to the ground. And if Mrs. +Macdonald could give me shelter, even for a few nights, it would give +me time to look about me." +</P> + +<P> +"Thinkin' of settlin' in these parts?" inquired Allison. "There's no +house as I knows on vacant." +</P> + +<P> +"I've no settled plans at present," answered the stranger. "If you'll +kindly direct me to Mrs. Macdonald's, I'll go and try my fate." +</P> + +<P> +"Eighth house from here, set back a bit from the road, with a little +orchard behind it; and you can say as I sent you," said Allison, +feeling his name a good enough recommendation for any stranger. +</P> + +<P> +The door of the eighth house set back a little from the road was +partially open as the new arrival made his way up the box-bordered +path, with beds on either side of it gay with flowers; and before he +could knock a neatly dressed middle-aged woman threw it wide and +surveyed him from head to foot. +</P> + +<P> +"And what may you be wanting, sir?" she asked, quite civilly. +</P> + +<P> +"A lodging for a night or two. And Mr. Allison at the forge seemed to +think you might be inclined to take me in." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not sure as my John will wish it. But if you'll step inside I'll +ask him," replied Mrs. Macdonald, motioning him to a chair. +</P> + +<P> +"Unless they turn me out by force, I shall stay," he said, looking +round him with a pleased smile. +</P> + +<P> +It was not his fault, but "my John's" deafness, that caused him to hear +himself described as a "very decent man, who spoke as civil as a +gentleman; and it was awkward to find yourself in a strange place on a +Saturday night with nobody ready to put themselves about a bit to take +you in." +</P> + +<P> +"John will yield in the long run," sighed the unwilling listener. +"Mrs. MacD. rules the roost, unless I'm greatly mistaken." +</P> + +<P> +Apparently his conjecture was right, for in another minute the woman +reappeared to say that she and her husband were willing to let him have +the front bed and sitting-room if, after due inspection, they proved +good enough for him. +</P> + +<P> +"We're not used to grand folk," she said, a trifle awed by the sight of +the portmanteau. "I cooked for a plain family before I married my +John, and——" +</P> + +<P> +"Then it's certain that you can cook for me; I'm not nearly so much +trouble as a plain family," said her visitor, laughing. "I'll carry up +my things if you'll show me the way, for I shall go no further than +this to-night. I dare say you can give me some tea, and then I'll go +out and order in some food." +</P> + +<P> +"I dare say you eat hearty, sir; or we've some fine new-laid eggs," +suggested Mrs. Macdonald. +</P> + +<P> +"The very thing. You can't get such a thing in London; the youngest +new-laid egg is about a month old, I fancy. Thank you," (with a glance +round the dimity-curtained room, fragrant with lavender); "I shall be +as happy as a king." +</P> + +<P> +When her lodger was safely established at his evening meal, and Mrs. +Macdonald was satisfied that she could provide nothing more for his +comfort, she went upstairs to tidy his room, shaking her head a little +over the various things that littered the floor and table. +</P> + +<P> +"He's not so tidy as my John, but he's not got his years over his +head," she said, as she closed the portmanteau and shoved it towards +the dressing-room table. +</P> + +<P> +As she did so the name on the label caught her eye, she could not help +reading it; and then drew in her breath with a sharp exclamation of +surprise. The next instant she hurried softly but quickly down the +stairs, took her astonished helpmeet by the arm, and dragged him into +the orchard, closing the kitchen door behind her. +</P> + +<P> +"John!" she said, "who do you think has come to us? Who is it that has +come quite humble like for shelter under our roof this night?" +</P> + +<P> +In her eagerness to extract an answer she pinched the arm she held a +little. +</P> + +<P> +"It's not a riddle you're asking me?" said John, withdrawing himself a +pace. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, man! it's the young squire himself, for sure. Paul Lessing +is on his portmanter," she said looking round, for fear she should be +overheard by a neighbour. The news must be digested. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +AN UNLOOKED-FOR INHERITANCE. +</H3> + + +<P> +A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a +three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of +enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation. They were +orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to +take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete +her college course at Girton. If she had to earn her own living, she +should at least have the best education that money could give; and +Sally had made the best use of her opportunity. Her name was high in +the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed +for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour. +</P> + +<P> +"It will be a good investment, Sally. You are looking pale after all +your work. We will make no definite plan; it's distance that swallows +up the money, so we'll start off for Brussels, and move on when we feel +inclined, possibly to the Rhine, and so to Heidelberg." And Sally, in +the joyousness of her mood, felt that all places would be alike +delightful in the company of her brother. +</P> + +<P> +Two days later found the brother and sister seated in the garden of the +<I>café</I> that adjoins the park at Brussels. Even now, at eight o'clock +in the evening, it was exceedingly hot, and the boughs of the trees +overhead, through which here and there a star glimmered, were +absolutely motionless. The band which played was the best string-band +in Brussels, attracting a great throng of listeners; and every table +around them had its complement of guests; and the civil waiters who +flitted hither and thither had almost more than they could do to keep +the tables properly served. Paul was smoking and reading the paper, +but Sally needed no better amusement than to watch the various groups +about her, and to listen to the exquisite playing of the band. +</P> + +<P> +"We want something like this in England, Paul," she said, laying a hand +on his arm—"lots of places like this out-of-doors in the fresh air, +under the stars and trees, where people can go and drink their tea or +coffee, and listen to music that must refine them whilst they listen." +</P> + +<P> +Paul laid by his paper and laughed. "Yes," he said, "and when I get +into Parliament—if ever—I will do my utmost to make some of our +wealthy citizens disgorge a part of their wealth to put places such as +this within the reach of everybody. I confess there are +difficulties——" +</P> + +<P> +"What?" inquired Sally, with childish impatience. +</P> + +<P> +"Our beastly climate, to begin with," Paul answered with a little +laugh. "Want of space, and want of trees when you get the space. Then +look at our population in our big cities. Brussels is just a +pocket-town, if you come to compare it with London. Of course the +recreation of the masses is only one of the many vexed questions +concerning them that Government eventually must take in hand. If you +want people to be moral, you must give them a chance of enjoying +themselves in an innocent fashion." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, you could do a lot if you once got into Parliament!" cried +Sally, with the enthusiasm of her twenty years. "When shall you get +in? and where shall you stand for? and may I help in the election?" +</P> + +<P> +Paul laughed louder than before. "There's a deal to be done before I +can even think of standing for any place. First, I must accumulate +enough capital to bring me in a small independent income. You know we +have not much now." +</P> + +<P> +"You can have anything and everything that belongs to me; I mean to +earn my living somehow," declared Sally, sturdily. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you. I don't mean to start that way; and money comes in slowly +to a barrister, although I am getting on fairly well. Then I will +stand for any place that will return me, after learning my honestly +expressed political opinions. Each man has his pet hobby, and I feel +that mine is the bettering of the condition of the masses." +</P> + +<P> +"That will make you popular," said Sally. +</P> + +<P> +"And I don't care a fig for popularity. I want to help to leave the +average condition of the people better than it is at present. The +contrast between the very rich and the very poor of our land is +something too awful to contemplate." +</P> + +<P> +His talk, which he had begun half in play, had ended in deadly earnest; +and Sally laid her hand mischievously over his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Then don't contemplate it—at any rate just now, when I am so merry +and happy. You've not answered my last question. May I help in your +election? It would be such fun." +</P> + +<P> +"I think not, Sally," Paul said smiling again. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, what a mass of inconsistency!—when you were saying only to-day +that you saw no just cause or impediment why women should not do +anything for which they have a special fitness. Now I feel politics +will be my speciality, and I would not canvass for any one unless I +quite understood their views." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, my Parliamentary career is in the far future," Paul interposed; +"and certainly I should not give my sanction to your undertaking any +work of that kind at present. You are much too young, and much too——" +</P> + +<P> +"Pretty, were you going to add?" broke in Sally, with a ripple of +laughter. "I'm afraid not: enthusiastic would be the more likely +adjective for you to use concerning me. Besides I don't think I am +pretty. 'My dear,' said that candid old Miss Sykes to me the other +day, 'you might have been very good-looking if all your features were +as good as your eyes.' Why do ladies of a certain age take it for +granted that they can say what they choose to the budding young woman? +It annoys me frightfully. Oh, Paul!" with a sudden lowering of her +voice, "talking of pretty, there's a perfectly lovely girl who is +seated with her mother at the third table from ours. Don't turn your +head too quickly or she will think we are talking of her; and then you +can keep your head turned in the direction of the band. Her profile +comes in between it and you." +</P> + +<P> +Paul did as he was bid. Sally was right, the girl to whom she directed +his attention was lovely beyond compare; and yet there was something in +her face that failed to satisfy him. The very perfection, too, of +everything about her, gave him a feeling of unconscious irritation. +</P> + +<P> +"Well?" asked Sally, when he turned back to her. +</P> + +<P> +"She's beautiful, certainly; but I don't like her." +</P> + +<P> +"It's just because you did not discover her first." +</P> + +<P> +Paul did not trouble to answer; there was a general stir amongst the +company. The concert was drawing to a close, and the burghers of +Brussels began to think of home and bed. The wives slipped their +knitting into their pocket; the husbands bestowed a passing nod and +guttural good night to each other as they moved away; and the twinkling +lights began to be extinguished one by one. In the crowd at the +entrance Paul and Sally found themselves close to the girl whom Sally +had so greatly admired. She was talking in low, clear tones to her +mother. +</P> + +<P> +"Ought not to have come? What nonsense, mother! It has been quite an +amusing experience to see the way these people pass their evenings; +they are quite nice and respectable. I confess now I should be glad to +see our carriage. I feel I'm getting smoke-dried like bacon—or ham, +is it?" +</P> + +<P> +It was evident that the elder of the two ladies was rather frightened +and losing her head. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll not do this again without a man of our own," she said with +nervous irritability. +</P> + +<P> +Paul stepped forward, raising his hat. "Is your carriage anywhere +about? Can I get it for you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, thank you so much. It's a private one from the Hotel de Flandres, +and I told the man to stop here." +</P> + +<P> +"Unfortunately the police regulations interfere with your orders," Paul +said, with a slight smile. "He must take his place in the ranks. I +will soon find it for you if you will stay here." +</P> + +<P> +"Name, Webster," said the older lady. +</P> + +<P> +So Paul, with a nod to Sally to stay where she was, hurried off, +returning in a moment with the carriage. +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks so much," said the girl whom Sally admired, as Paul handed her +in and closed the door behind her. +</P> + +<P> +"I was quite glad of the time to consider her more closely!" cried +Sally, as they drove off. "I've never seen what I call an absolutely +perfect face before. I wonder if I shall see her again?" +</P> + +<P> +"For my part I don't wish it," Paul answered carelessly. "Beautiful +she is; but she bears the knowledge of it about with her like an +overpowering perfume, and is the very impersonation of the insolence of +riches!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Paul, you are not often either narrow-minded or unjust." +</P> + +<P> +"How dare she comment upon these Belgians, who nearly all possess a +smattering of English, under their very noses!" continued Paul, +angrily. "'Quite nice and respectable,' indeed! As she and her mother +were in a fix I was bound, as a man, to offer my services; but I did it +unwillingly." +</P> + +<P> +Paul's indignation was short-lived, and he and Sally walked along the +streets leisurely, on their way back to their hotel, talking on +indifferent subjects. They paused in the hall of the hotel, running +their eyes over the letters displayed outside the post-office, to see +if the evening post had brought any for them. There were none for +Sally; but two or three for Paul, that had been forwarded from his +chambers in London. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll go into the salon and read them, and then we'll go upstairs to +bed. I feel infected by the early hours of these foreigners," he said, +yawning a little. +</P> + +<P> +Sally turned over the leaves of a paper whilst her brother opened his +letters. The last of them he read and re-read several times; then rose +and laid his hand on Sally's shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm awfully sorry, Sally, but I shall have to go back to London by the +first train to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +The long-drawn "O-o-o-h!" was powerless to express half the +disappointment his sister felt. +</P> + +<P> +"It's business, I suppose: everything nasty is always business," she +said at last. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, no, it's not business; and it certainly is not pleasure. You +remember I had an old godfather, Major Lessing? I'm sure he amply +fulfilled his godfatherly duty by the silver milk-jug he gave me at my +baptism—which I've never set eyes on for many a long year, by the +way—and the tips he shoved into the palm of my hand whenever I paid +him a visit on my way from school. I don't think I've seen him since; +and why, now that he's dying, he has a particular desire for a call, I +can't tell you. It's inconvenient, to say the least of it." +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Must</I> you go?" asked Sally, despairingly. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid so. It's the last thing one can do for him, poor old chap!" +</P> + +<P> +"He might have chosen some other time to be ill," said Sally, who, not +knowing the major, was inclined to be heartless. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes. But we won't lose our holiday; we'll come again later, +Sally." +</P> + +<P> +"We shan't! I'm perfectly certain we shan't!" cried Sally, turning +away her head so that Paul should not see that there were tears in her +eyes. "It was too delightful a plan to carry out." +</P> + +<P> +The next day found Paul and his sister back in London. Sally was to go +to an aunt for a few days, until Paul could settle his plans; and when +he had seen her off from the station, he turned his own steps in the +direction of the quiet square where his godfather had spent his +solitary life since the days of his retirement from active service. +His eyes turned instinctively to the windows, to see if the blinds were +drawn down; but the house wore its usual aspect of dignified reserve, +with its slightly opened casements. The imperturbable butler, who +answered Paul's ring at the bell, seemed at first inclined to question +his right to enter. +</P> + +<P> +"My master is very sadly, sir; he's not fit to see any one." +</P> + +<P> +"But he sent for me," said Paul, quietly. "Will you let him know, as +soon as possible, that Paul Lessing has come in answer to his letter?" +</P> + +<P> +At the mention of the familiar name Smith's manner altered perceptibly; +he threw open the library door and ushered Paul in. It was scarcely a +minute before he returned. +</P> + +<P> +"My master is awake and will see you at once, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Has he been long ill?" Paul asked. +</P> + +<P> +"It's been coming on gradual for a year or more, sir. Creeping +paralysis is what the doctors call it. He's no use left in his legs, +and very little in his arms or hands; but his brain seems as active as +ever. He took a turn for the worse last week, and the end, they think, +may come at any time." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you; I'll go upstairs now." +</P> + +<P> +He entered the sick-room so quietly that the nurse, who sat by the +bedside, did not hear him; but the grey head on the pillow turned +quickly, and the dying eyes shone with eager welcome. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad you've come; I thought you meant to leave it till too late," +was the abrupt greeting. +</P> + +<P> +"I was abroad, and did not get your letter at once," Paul said gently. +</P> + +<P> +"And you came back? That's more than many fellows would have done. +Nurse, draw up those blinds, and leave us, please; there are several +things I have to say. No, you need not talk about my saving my +strength. What good will it do? A few minutes more life, perhaps," he +added testily, as he saw the nurse giving Paul some admonition under +her breath. "Women are a nuisance, Paul; and at no time do they prove +it more than when you are ill and under their thumb. There! take a +seat close by me, where I can see you." +</P> + +<P> +"You wanted to see me about something particular, your lawyer told me," +said Paul, filled with pity at the sight of the perfectly helpless +figure. "It may be that I can carry out some wish of yours. I should +be glad to be of service to you." +</P> + +<P> +Major Lessing did not answer for some minutes, and Paul ascribed his +silence to exhaustion. In reality the keen eyes were scanning Paul's +face critically, as if trying to read his character. +</P> + +<P> +"I wanted to see you; and now you've come I don't know what to make of +you. It has crossed my mind more than once since I've lain here, that +I've been a rash fool to make a man I know so little of, my heir." +</P> + +<P> +Paul could not repress an exclamation of astonishment; the news gave +him anything but unmixed pleasure. +</P> + +<P> +"It was surely very rash, sir. I've no possible claim upon you. I +have scarcely even any connection with you except the name." +</P> + +<P> +"That's it," said the major. "You have the name, and that must be +carried on and a distant tie of relationship; and there's something +else, Paul. Years ago I wanted to marry your mother. You are my +godson; you might have been my real son, you see." +</P> + +<P> +Paul felt a lump in his throat; this love-story of long ago was +pathetic. His mother had died when he was still quite a child, but she +lived in his memory as beautiful and fascinating. +</P> + +<P> +"She was half Irish," he said. +</P> + +<P> +The major nodded. "So, partly from sentimental reasons, and partly +because there was no one better, I've left the property at Rudham to +you," he went on with a smile. "There would have been plenty of money +to have left with it; but I've made some very bad speculations lately, +and lost a great deal. I took to speculation from sheer want of +amusement. I was a good billiard player as long as I had the use of my +limbs; but here I've been, literally tied by the legs, for the last two +years. The only thing properly alive about me was my brain, and +speculation has interested me; but I was badly hit ten days ago. There +will be some money, but you won't be a rich man." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care about it," interposed Paul, eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you ought to; a landlord poorly off is in a bad case in these +days; and I want things kept as they are, Paul. I've not lived at +Rudham, but I've kept my eye on it all the same; and what you call +progress, and its attendant abominations, has not hurt it much yet. I +made a mistake when I let the bishop nominate a successor to the living +when old Gregg died three years ago. Curzon's a go-ahead fellow, from +all that I hear; I don't want a go-ahead squire." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid you've made another mistake, and, if there's time, you had +better undo it," said Paul, gravely. +</P> + +<P> +"Do I look like a man who can re-arrange all his matters?" asked the +Major, irritably. "After all, what I ask of you is no very hard thing +to grant; simply to accept the good the gods provide, and let well +alone." +</P> + +<P> +"But that for me is an impossible condition," said Paul. "I cannot let +things alone if I feel that I can better them. I'm in no way fitted +for a country squire; I've been brought up on different lines from you, +and arrived at very different conclusions. I am grateful to you for +your thought of me, but I want to live my own life unfettered by any +conditions." +</P> + +<P> +"And this is how you show your readiness to carry out any wish of +mine?" said the major, bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry; but I promised in the dark, not knowing that my principles +would be involved." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad to hear you have any. May I ask what you call yourself? A +Lessing who is not a Conservative is not worthy of the name." +</P> + +<P> +"I scarcely know what I am; but my friends call me a Socialist." +</P> + +<P> +"Then in Heaven's name, I've made a bigger blunder than the last!" said +the squire, with an odd thrill in his voice. +</P> + +<P> +"It's not my fault; and there may still be time to undo it," said Paul, +rising, for the flush that crept to the major's temples warned him that +the interview had been too long and too exciting. "I would thank you, +if I could, for the thought of me, and I am sorry to have been the +cause of disappointment, but it would not have been honest to hide my +opinions." +</P> + +<P> +"No; you've been honest enough, in all conscience. If there's yet +time——" He broke off, turning away his head, and taking no notice of +Paul's departure. +</P> + +<P> +All that night Paul paced his room in deep thought. The scene he had +witnessed had stirred him more than a little; and it grieved him to his +heart that he had so seriously disturbed the last moments of a dying +man. +</P> + +<P> +"But I could not have hoodwinked him," he thought; "no honest man +could. But to-morrow I'll prove to him that I am ready to help him in +any way that I can. If he will only talk quietly, and keep his temper, +he could surely suggest some more fitting heir than I; and the business +details could be fairly quickly settled if I could take down his wishes +and see his lawyer. He must yet have several days to live, I should +think, with his extraordinary vitality of brain." +</P> + +<P> +At a very early hour the following morning, therefore, Paul presented +himself again at the house in the square, with the request that he +might have a short interview with the major. +</P> + +<P> +"Very sorry, sir," said Smith, with an added gloom of manner, "but my +master's much worse; they don't think he'll live through the day. He +was very restless last night; and nothing would satisfy him but that I +should go off in the middle of the night and fetch Mr. Morgan—the +lawyer as wrote to you, sir; but when I got him here my master had lost +his power of speech. He knew Mr. Morgan quite well, but he could not +make him understand what he wanted." +</P> + +<P> +"And now?" asked Paul, pitifully. +</P> + +<P> +"The doctor is just coming down the stairs, and will speak to you, sir." +</P> + +<P> +Paul went out into the hall to meet him. "How did you find the major?" +Paul inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"Dead," replied the doctor, drawing on his gloves. "He died as I +entered the room." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +FIRST IMPRESSIONS. +</H3> + + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"RUDHAM, Sunday Evening. +<BR><BR> +"DEAR SALLY, +</P> + +<P> +"I did not, until now, believe myself a creature of impulse. That I am +one is proved by the fact that, as I dropped my last letter to you into +the post-box, I made up my mind to run down here and have a look round; +and here I am. My surroundings I will describe later. I told you I +had decided not to go to poor old Major Lessing's funeral for various +reasons. I have a horror of humbug; and to pose as sole and chief +mourner at the funeral of a man who had made me his heir by a fluke, +and if he had lived an hour longer would have altered his will, seemed +humbugging, to my mind. Also the funeral service, beautiful as it +appears to those who can believe in it, means absolutely nothing to me; +and I have scruples about appearing as if it did. Two surprises +awaited me at Rudham: first, that by the same train by which I arrived +Mrs. and Miss Webster got out upon the platform; and the beauty who +fascinated you 'all of a heap' at Brussels, turns out to be the tenant +of Rudham Court—<I>my</I> tenant, in fact!—a judgment upon me, you will +say, for my unreasoning prejudice. Secondly, the extreme difficulty of +getting a night's lodging, unless your character and circumstances are +well known, was borne in forcibly upon my mind! An under-gardener of +Mrs. Webster's took me up in the cart which carried your charmer's +luggage. +</P> + +<P> +"Judging by the size and number of the boxes, beauty needs a great deal +of adorning, by the way! Then I was handed over to the village +blacksmith, and, under the shelter of his name, I persuaded a Mrs. +Macdonald to take me in. You would describe her as 'quite a darling!' +</P> + +<P> +"She and her husband are Scotch by birth, and still retain the soft +intonation and pretty accent. They have no children—indeed, Mrs. +Macdonald informs me that they have not long been married; and she must +be fifty, and 'my John,' as she calls him, some ten years older; but I +have never seen two people more in love with each other. If +surroundings are an index to character they must be very nice people +indeed. Let me try and describe my room, which is furnished with the +solid simplicity of a hundred years ago. A grandfather clock ticks +solemnly in the corner, two oak chairs stand on either side of the +fireplace, with down cushions in print covers on the seats—a +concession to modern luxury. In place of the cheap modern sideboard an +open oak cupboard, whereon are displayed my dinner and tea-things, +furnishes one side of the room, leaving just sufficient space for two +Windsor chairs, polished to such a dangerous brightness that to sit +upon them without sliding off requires more careful balance than to +ride a bicycle. An oak table with twisted legs, and flaps that let up +or down at will, is in the centre of the room. One almost expects +clean rushes strewed upon the floor; instead there is linoleum of a +neat design—black stars upon a white ground; and Mrs. Macdonald prides +herself not a little upon the far-sighted policy that made her decide +upon linoleum rather than carpet. +</P> + +<P> +"'It can be wiped over with a damp cloth every day, sir, and kept sweet +and clean; and if you're feet are cold, I'm not saying that I'll mind +your putting them on the rug, although I made it all myself'—which was +kind of Mrs. Macdonald! My attention being thus drawn to the +hearthrug, I discover that it's a work of art, in its way, knitted in +with rags and tags of cloth, grave or gay in colouring, but harmonious +in the general effect. You will think that I am developing a passion +for detail, but it is rather that I wish to photograph exactly my first +impressions of the place. There seems a primitive simplicity about it +that must vanish at the first touch of modern progress like a pretty +old fresco exposed to the light, and I feel myself like a traitor in +the camp. If I decide to live here I shall probably be the motive +force that will set the ball of progress rolling. Life here is almost +stagnant, I fancy, unlike the river, which runs swift and strong along +the side of the village. It separates from, rather than connects it +with the outer world, for there are dangerous currents which make it +not too safe for navigation; and to cross it you must either go to the +ferry, half a mile off, or make for the bridge at Nowell four miles +away. I found out all this by a stroll after tea, last evening, and a +gossip with my new acquaintance, the blacksmith Allison. Gradually the +talk turned to things parochial, and I discovered some characteristics +of the go-ahead parson, whose appointment to the living my godfather +gently deplored; and this was how it came about. A tall, +powerful-looking man came swinging down the road at a brisk pace, +nodding in quick, alert fashion to one and another as he passed, +recognizing me as a stranger, but bidding Allison a cheerful good night +as he passed on in the direction of the inn. By his dress I knew he +must be the parson of the place. Allison, who had acknowledged his +greeting only by a sideways nod, gave a grunt of assent when I asked +him if it were so. +</P> + +<P> +"'Curzon,' he said; 'that's his name, a meddlesome chap, if ever there +were one! Now the last rector were a real gentleman! You could please +yourself about going to church or staying at home; but he were +wonderful kind in sickness and such.' +</P> + +<P> +"'And you miss the attention, I daresay?" +</P> + +<P> +"'Well, I'm not saying that exactly. Mr. Curzon's wonderful took up +with the sick folks and children, but it's us well ones he can't leave +alone. His work's never done, as you may say. Now what do you suppose +he's after to-night?' in a tone of angry argument. +</P> + +<P> +"'I really can't guess.' +</P> + +<P> +"'No; it's not likely you would. He makes believe as he's gone for a +walk, but he'll be turning back again about such time as the men are +turning out of the public there! Then, come next week, he'll be +droppin' into one cottage or another about such time as the man comes +in from work, and it'ull be, 'So and so, I'm afraid you had a glass too +much on Saturday night. I wouldn't do it, if I was you;' and then he's +sure to put in something about coming to church on Sunday." +</P> + +<P> +"And do they?' I asked. +</P> + +<P> +"'Some on 'em. Most of 'em, if I speaks the truth, gets tired of being +told of it, I think, and goes just to pacify him, as you may, say; but +I don't hold with it myself.' +</P> + +<P> +"Apparently this faithful shepherd does succeed in driving a very large +proportion of his flock to church on Sunday. Allison and I are +distinctly in a minority. I was nearly being carried there forcibly +myself to-night; and I only escaped, I believe, because Mrs. Macdonald +has evolved, from the label on my portmanteau that I am the coming +squire, and must be allowed some liberty of opinion. +</P> + +<P> +"'You'll be going to church to-night, sir,' she said, beginning the +attack with gentle firmness. 'John and I lock up the house and hide +the key under the mat, in case you come back before we do. We have a +walk these summer evenings when church is over.' +</P> + +<P> +"'Thank you, Mrs. Macdonald, you can leave the key in the door; I have +writing to do.' +</P> + +<P> +"'But you'll be going to church, for sure; you were not there this +morning, I'm thinking, and the rector's sure to say something of him +that's gone.' +</P> + +<P> +"I had not the courage of my opinions, like Allison. How could I +grieve the kindly eyes that looked into mine? So I took refuge in weak +evasion. +</P> + +<P> +"'I've been over-worked and over-worried, Mrs. Macdonald, and my head +aches, and I need rest and quiet.' +</P> + +<P> +"'Well there, sir; you'll forgive my making so bold, but it will grieve +the good man, if he knows you've come. And there's a-many will be +disappointed not to catch a sight of you, besides.' +</P> + +<P> +"'Whom do you mean by the good man?' +</P> + +<P> +"'There now! it slipped out without thinking. But it's what my John +and I call Mr. Curzon, for we've never come across such a one as he.' +</P> + +<P> +"'And why am I to be a sort of show to the others?' I asked with some +curiosity. +</P> + +<P> +"'Ah! Because some of them begin to guess now who you are—not that +John nor I are much given to talk. But when a neighbour asks your +name, we couldn't keep it no longer—could we, sir?' +</P> + +<P> +"'Certainly not. And they will all see me sooner or later, though it +won't be at church to-night. I hope soon to know every one in the +place.' +</P> + +<P> +"So finally I've been left in charge of the cottage, and have been +writing ever since this long rigmarole to you. Mrs. Macdonald's words +have given me food for reflection, and, the more I reflect, the more +fully convinced I am how thoroughly unfitted I am to fill the place +allotted to me. Had Major Lessing left me money enough to carry out my +own wishes, I should have been inclined to put his property in the +hands of a capable, fair agent, and do with it as Major Lessing +suggested, and keep things very much as they are; but I find that I +shall have little independent income apart from the property. To keep +things in really working repair I shall probably have to raise the +rents—which are absurdly low—which, of course, will be a very +unpopular movement; and my being willing to live as simply as any of my +tenants, will not in the least soften their feeling towards me. I +shall not do anything in a hurry, but I shall first try and master my +position. After so many years of a non-resident squire of a strictly +conservative type, there must be need for improvements; but here again +comes in the question of money. I am afraid that trip abroad must be +put off for the present. How would it be for you to come here for a +bit? I will sound Mrs. Macdonald on the subject to-morrow. If I +undertake the management of things here myself, you would help me with +accounts, etc., and I could take you on as my paid secretary! However +this is looking too far ahead. I will keep this letter open and tell +you the result of my advances to-morrow." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"Monday Evening. +</P> + +<P> +"I approached Mrs. Macdonald with much diplomacy this morning. She +gave me the opening I sought by saying, when I ordered my dinner— +</P> + +<P> +"'I suppose you'll be leaving to-day or to-morrow, sir.' +</P> + +<P> +"'On the contrary, you are making me so comfortable, that I was going +to ask you to take me on for a few weeks, at any rate.' +</P> + +<P> +"'But it isn't right or fitting that the likes of you should be living +in a cottage such as this. The whole place belongs to you, I'm +thinking.' +</P> + +<P> +"'I suppose it does. But if I come to live here I shall start either +in a cottage, or quite a small house, with a sister of mine who has no +home, poor child! How she would like to join me here, by the way.' +</P> + +<P> +"Mrs. Macdonald played nervously with the string of her apron. I could +see I had appealed to her motherly heart by representing you as a +motherless orphan. +</P> + +<P> +"'I suppose you haven't a second bedroom,' I suggested, following up my +advantage. +</P> + +<P> +"'It's a slip of a thing; not fit for a lady, sir.' +</P> + +<P> +"'After all, ladies are much the same as other women; and my sister +might have the bigger bedroom and I the smaller.' +</P> + +<P> +"'There's my John,' doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +"'Doesn't he like ladies?' +</P> + +<P> +"'Not all of them, sir,' with a sudden burst of confidence. 'There's +Mrs. Webster; she called here one day to know if I'd take in some of +the washing—and he'd just come in from work,—and she marched into the +kitchen and talked very loud. Though he's deaf he don't like no notice +taken of it; and he told her it 'ud be time enough for me to work when +he was laid by, and then he'd be sorry if I had to do it.' +</P> + +<P> +"'But, of course, if Macdonald does not like us we will leave at once,' +I said, assuming that Mrs. Macdonald had agreed to have you. So you're +to come, Sally; come as quickly as you can. Don't bring much luggage, +for there is nowhere to put it; and pray remember to talk gently to our +host. I cannot see why we should not double the size of this +cottage—put in a bath-room, and get Mrs. Macdonald to do for us; but +this will entirely depend upon your manners, you see. I was preparing +to go out, when I saw a child's invalid carriage barring the entrance +to the gate, and a child's clear voice was giving very impressive +orders about the contents of a certain basket which was to be carried +up to the door. +</P> + +<P> +"'You won't spill them, Nurse. You'll be sure not to spill them; +they're so <I>very</I> ripe they'd burst if you did.' +</P> + +<P> +"'No, darling; I'll carry them as carefully as new-laid eggs.' +</P> + +<P> +"The woman spoke like a lady; her tone was so gentle and refined. +</P> + +<P> +"I was standing at the open door of the cottage, and went down the path +to meet her, asking if I could take in the basket to Mrs. Macdonald. +</P> + +<P> +"'But they are not for her; they're for you. But I'm afraid you're +better and don't want them,' said the voice from the carriage outside. +</P> + +<P> +"'Whatever is inside that basket I'm sure to want,' I said, going out +to my odd little visitor; 'but I don't quite know why you are so kind +as to bring me things. I'm afraid there's some mistake; I shall be so +disappointed if there is.' +</P> + +<P> +"The blue eyes that looked up into mine began to smile. +</P> + +<P> +"'Shall you really? There can't be any mistake, because last night, as +Nurse wheeled me out of church, I heard daddy talking to Mrs. +Macdonald; and she said she'd got the new squire at home, but he'd a +dreadful headache and couldn't come.' +</P> + +<P> +"I could scarcely help laughing; I certainly had not intended my words +to be accepted so literally. +</P> + +<P> +"'Who are you?' I asked, 'and what's in that basket? It wouldn't be +manners to peep inside, would it?' +</P> + +<P> +"'Oh yes, it would,' with a delighted giggle. 'I'm Kitty—Kitty +Curzon,—and daddy says it's my work to look after any one who is not +well; and I'm to think what they will like, and take it to them. So, +when I heard you had such a bad headache, I got Nurse to gather my last +red gooseberries—they are <I>very, very</I> ripe,—and I've brought them +for you; and can I have the basket, please?' +</P> + +<P> +"'Well, I can't accept them on the plea of headache: it's gone, you +see; but perhaps you will be so kind as to leave them all the same, for +if there is one thing I like more than another——" +</P> + +<P> +"'It's gooseberries,' interposed Kitty, eagerly; and I nodded assent. +</P> + +<P> +"The child shot a triumphant glance at Nurse. +</P> + +<P> +"'She said you would not want them, and I'd better ask daddy; but he +likes me to think of things by myself. And then at the end of the day +I tell him where I've been; and he'll be so surprised to-night, for he +didn't know I'd heard about you.' +</P> + +<P> +"I carried off the basket, and brought it back, presently, empty. +</P> + +<P> +"'I have not half thanked you, Kitty; but I am most grateful. How old +are you, I wonder?' +</P> + +<P> +"There was a moment's hesitation. 'I'm not young at all; I'm nine, +although you'd never think it, because I'm so small. Daddy says +running about makes you grow, and I can't run.' +</P> + +<P> +"'Her back is not strong, sir,' said Nurse, hurriedly; and as I looked +at the recumbent figure, I saw that the poor little child was deformed. +It seemed a terrible pity, for the face and head are singularly pretty. +</P> + +<P> +"'That's why daddy says I must think of all the ill ones, because Nurse +and he think so much about me.' +</P> + +<P> +"'Very well. I shall be sure and send for you directly there is +anything the matter. I fancy you would do me more good than a doctor. +And I've a sister coming, before long, and she will want companions. +You will have to come to tea.' +</P> + +<P> +"'Is she as old as I am?' +</P> + +<P> +"'A little older, I think.' +</P> + +<P> +"'I'll come if daddy will let me; but Nurse must come too.' +</P> + +<P> +"'By all means, and if you have any little brothers or sisters——' +</P> + +<P> +"'I have not any. There's only me,' interposed Kitty, shaking her head. +</P> + +<P> +"'I wonder what her name is?' +</P> + +<P> +"'My sister's, do you mean? Sally. Rather a nice name, isn't it?' +</P> + +<P> +"Evidently Kitty did not like it much, for she said she must be going; +and went on her way, kissing her hand graciously, so I took off my hat +and waved it. +</P> + +<P> +"From Mrs. Macdonald I gather that my first visitor is Mr. Curzon's +only child. He is a widower, it seems, and Kitty is the cause of his +holding a country living. By my landlady's account he is simply +wrapped up in her. I have been the round of the village to-day, making +acquaintance with one and another as occasion offered. As I +conjectured there seems plenty to be done; and it must be some months +before I can stir hand or foot, before I can get things even into my +own hands—not that the people here realize this in the very least. +Indeed they are intellectually dead; they seem to possess no ambition +of any sort. +</P> + +<P> +"I went into the parish church on my way home. It is an interesting +one, built about the end of the thirteenth century, with a magnificent +tower that one can see for miles round. I found a great many monuments +to the Lessings—a very virtuous lot, if their memorial tablets are to +be trusted. The church has been carefully restored—quite recently, I +fancy, by the look of it. Then I went into the churchyard, where a +newly-filled-in grave showed me where my poor godfather had been laid. +The sacristan, a very old, infirm man was putting it tidy; and to my +astonishment I saw a low vase of white flowers placed in the very +centre of the grave. +</P> + +<P> +"'I suppose I am not mistaken,' I said. 'This must be Major Lessing's +grave?' +</P> + +<P> +"'Yes, sir.' +</P> + +<P> +"'And who put the flowers?' +</P> + +<P> +"'Miss Kitty, the little maid at the rectory. She said she'd thought +he'd be lonely without any;' and the sacristan straightened his back +with a little smile. +</P> + +<P> +"'I hope you don't mind,' said a voice behind me. 'I've a notion your +relative did not like flowers at a funeral, but I could not upset +Kitty's conviction that he did.' +</P> + +<P> +"It was the rector who had come upon me unawares, and he did not +pretend not to know me. +</P> + +<P> +"'What can it matter now?' I answered. 'He'll know nothing of it.' +</P> + +<P> +"But I must stop, I've no time to describe the good man. Come and see +him for yourself. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"Ever yours, +<BR> +"PAUL LESSING." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +OPPOSING VIEWS. +</H3> + + +<P> +The man who some centuries earlier had built Rudham Court, had been +wiser than the generation in which he lived in his choice of a site. +Instead of a valley he had chosen the side of a hill, and the sloping +foreground had been levelled into a succession of terraces, giving the +impression of an almost mountainous ascent to the house from the road +which lay beneath. The house, not beautiful in itself, was softened by +the hand of time into a dull red that contrasted harmoniously with the +group of trees behind it, and the gravelled terrace in front with its +box-bordered beds was a blaze of colour in the brilliant sunshine of +the August morning. It was bordered by a low stone wall along which +two peacocks strutted with almost ridiculous self-consciousness of +their beauty. In the very centre was a flight of steps which descended +to the bowling-green beneath, where the yew hedge which grew round it +had been fantastically cut into the shape of an embattlemented parapet, +framing the distant view into a series of charming little pictures: +here a glimpse of the river, there a delightful vignette of the church. +</P> + +<P> +Across the velvety turf of the green tripped Rose Lancaster, dangling a +basket from her arm, a picture herself in her pink cambric frock and +befrilled apron, a little French cap set upon her head which enhanced +the beauty of the golden hair. Her skin was of the delicate colouring +that so often accompanies fair hair, the mouth generally wore a smile +displaying Rose's pretty dimples, and the great blue eyes were half +concealed by the long lashes. She made her way to the wicket-gate at +the far end of the green, to a winding path through a wood which led to +the rose-garden below, and gave a start of pretended surprise when Tom +Burney broke off from his task of mowing the grass paths which +separated the beds, with an exclamation of delight. +</P> + +<P> +"You here!" said Rose, who had watched the direction of his steps from +a window above. "I've come after some roses, if I can find any. +Nothing satisfies Miss Webster but roses on the mantel-shelf of her +sitting-room, and it does not matter to her whether they are in season +or out. Roses she must have. Are there any coming on, Tom?" +</P> + +<A NAME="img-049"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-049.jpg" ALT=""I've come after some roses."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="381" HEIGHT="614"> +<H3> +"I've come after some roses." +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +"Bother the roses!" said Tom, impatiently. "You've been back nearly a +fortnight, and have not spoken a word to me yet." +</P> + +<P> +"That's ungrateful. I walked to church with you on Sunday evening, and +I told you lots of things I did when we were away." +</P> + +<P> +"Dixon joined us, and you let him!" said Tom, angrily. +</P> + +<P> +"How could I help it?" Rose answered, arching her pretty brows. "I +could not say I didn't want him, could I?" +</P> + +<P> +"Are you going to walk with him or me, Rose? I asked you before you +went away, and I want to know now." +</P> + +<P> +Rose meditatively clipped off a bud, crying out a little as a thorn +pricked her finger, holding out the injured member for Tom to look at; +but he looked over it at her, a flush on his handsome face. +</P> + +<P> +"It may be play to you; it isn't to me," he said, his voice shaking a +little. "Did you get the letter I wrote?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know; I forget. I had a lot of letters. Yes, I expect I did." +</P> + +<P> +"And you didn't trouble to answer it?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's clear you don't know what a lot a lady's maid has to do when +she's travelling," said Rose, petulantly. "It's 'Lancaster' here and +'Lancaster' there, and you've no sooner packed up than you begin +unpacking again. What time should I get for answering letters?'" +</P> + +<P> +"I wanted to know if you'd thought over what I said?" +</P> + +<P> +"You can't expect me to remember what you said six weeks ago." +</P> + +<P> +"You do remember, only you don't want to give a straight answer. +That's about it," said Tom, bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +"I like walking with you both, though not together. There!" cried +Rose, with a defiant toss of her head. "I'm young; I don't mean to be +tied!" +</P> + +<P> +"But you'll care for the one who loves you best, and that's me!" burst +out poor Tom. "Dixon may be smarter, and he's a deal better off; but +he's a glib sneak, and I know it. I'll wait three months, and then +I'll have my answer; and if it's 'No' I'll be fit to drown myself," and +Tom's voice broke off in something very like a sob. +</P> + +<P> +Rose was flattered but frightened at realizing her power over the lad. +It was like a book, that he should threaten to drown himself for love +of her; but of course he did not mean it. She was sorry for him; when +she was with him she almost believed she loved him, but at any rate she +need not decide now. Three months hence she might know her own mind. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll wait three months and see what happens; and meantime I do +hope you'll be careful not to quarrel with Dixon." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall if he comes in my way," declared Tom, sturdily. "I don't +wonder he wants you himself—any man would; but he should play fair." +</P> + +<P> +"He's no quarrel with you; he said you were a decent sort of a lad, the +other day." +</P> + +<P> +Tom clenched his fist involuntarily. "That's just it!—he's always +trying to run me down in your eyes. A lad, indeed! I'm a man who +wants the same girl he does, and that's yourself, Rose." +</P> + +<P> +Rose laughed gaily; it was nice to find herself so much in request. +</P> + +<P> +"Man or boy, I can't stay talking to you all day. Pick me any roses +there are, and let me go. I believe" (in a lowered undertone) "that I +hear the ladies talking up there on the bowling-green. They've come +out to sit in the shade, I expect." +</P> + +<P> +Rose's conjecture was right, for, as she went back to the house, she +caught a glimpse of Miss Webster and her mother seated under the large +tree at the far end of the lawn. +</P> + +<P> +"How pretty she is," said May Webster, following her retreating figure +with lazy eyes. "As pretty as the roses she carries. I do hope she +won't get snapped up at once. She is a pleasant little thing to have +about one—which reminds me, mother. I saw a pretty girl of a +different type in the village yesterday, whom I believe to be Miss +Lessing. What are you going to do about her and her brother?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing at present, I think. One really can't leave cards on a +cottage!" +</P> + +<P> +"But you might on the people in it. We can't very well ignore the +squire of the place who is also our landlord." +</P> + +<P> +"It will be time enough to recognize him when he behaves like other +people." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see that he's a bit more peculiar than the University men who +take to slumming. Anybody may do anything nowadays," May said with a +little laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"He doesn't even come to church," persisted Mrs. Webster. +</P> + +<P> +"A weakness shared by many men." +</P> + +<P> +"But his sister might and <I>ought</I>," replied her mother, severely. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Curzon seems to think it equally necessary for men and women," +said May, mischievously. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh yes. Of course he's a dear good man, and I wish we were all like +him, but we aren't," answered Mrs. Webster, resigning all hope of +anything but moral mediocrity with a gentle sigh. "He says Mr. Lessing +is a very nice fellow; but you can't quite rely on his opinion: he's a +good word for every one." +</P> + +<P> +"Which is delightful, but not amusing; and one does need amusement, +mother. Suppose we call at the cottage and follow up the call by an +invitation to dinner. We might ask the rector to meet them." +</P> + +<P> +"The worst of asking the rector is that he always wants something," +said Mrs. Webster, a little plaintively. +</P> + +<P> +"That we haven't got?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, May, you know quite well what I mean! It must be the heat that is +making you so argumentative. Mr. Curzon always has some pet hobby on +hand for which he wants money, and of course he ought to have it; but +really, just now, what with a trip abroad, and the London house to +paint and paper throughout, I've not so much in hand as usual." +</P> + +<P> +"Enough for the rector's last hobby, I dare say. At any rate let's +risk it. If we all air our different views we might have an exciting +evening." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish things were as they used to be. The old major was such a +thorough gentleman. It was quite a pleasure to give him a bed or +dinner when he came down." +</P> + +<P> +"Is not this man a gentleman, then?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, my dear, I hope so; but he has queer views, if all I hear be true. +I'm sure, if he says anything at dinner about our being all equal, I +shan't be able to hold my tongue. We never were and never can be." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe Mr. Curzon thinks we are; only he likes poor people <I>much</I> +the best. He says the truest gentleman he ever came across is old +Macdonald." +</P> + +<P> +"Now it is wild talk like that that makes me sometimes distrust Mr. +Curzon; and he ought to know better, being of such good family +himself," said Mrs. Webster, fretfully. "Is it not at the Macdonalds +that the Lessings are lodging? As you seem to wish it, we will call +this afternoon." +</P> + +<P> +Paul Lessing was out when the smart carriage and pair drew up at the +Macdonald's cottage in the course of the afternoon; and Sally had to +receive her two visitors alone. Mrs. Webster's ample presence seemed +to fill the tiny sitting-room; but she placed herself graciously enough +in one of the cushioned elbow-chairs, whilst May subsided into the +slippery Windsor as gracefully as if it were the softest sofa. There +was something about Sally that pleased her; it may have been a certain +originality and freshness of manner, or the unconscious admiration that +shone in the dark eyes. Nothing in its way pleases a handsome woman +more than the admiration of her own sex. Be this as it may, May +Webster laid herself out to charm, and did it very successfully, and by +judicious management prevented her mother from asking any leading +questions as to Mr. Lessing's future line of conduct. Mrs. Webster's +small talk so often took the line of asking questions. +</P> + +<P> +Paul was not properly grateful when he found the cards upon the +mantelshelf. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a dreadful bore; but I'm afraid it can't be helped. You can +return the call sometime, and there will be an end of it." +</P> + +<P> +"There may be for you, but there won't be for me!" said Sally, with +some spirit. "I'm catholic in my choice of companions, and mean to +include everybody who cares to know me. Mrs. Macdonald is charming, +and Allison amuses me, and Mrs. Pink and I have made friends over the +baby; but why I should refuse a proffer of friendship from Miss +Webster, because she happens to be a beauty and dresses well, I don't +exactly see!" +</P> + +<P> +"Friendship!" echoed Paul, scornfully. "How little you know of smart +people and their ways. Friendship with them means a stepping-stone to +higher things; your means and your position must give them a leg up in +the world. Now we have neither." +</P> + +<P> +"You are shaking my faith in you, Paul. You are judging without +knowing." +</P> + +<P> +"I am not judging the Websters individually—only the class to which +they belong; of which I <I>do</I> know something, and you nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I think I will learn for myself then!" cried Sally. "I'll start +by believing people as nice as they appear, until I find them +otherwise." +</P> + +<P> +"And are Mrs. and Miss Webster 'nice,' as you call it?" asked Paul, his +curiosity overcoming his vexation. +</P> + +<P> +"I did not like Mrs. Webster much: the room did not seem big enough to +hold her." +</P> + +<P> +"I told you so!" said Paul, triumphantly. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Paul! you might be a woman," replied Sally, with mocking laughter. +"But listen; Miss Webster is as nice as she looks! Can you want more?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's a good thing to be young and enthusiastic." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly better than being old and cynical," retorted Sally, saucily. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning's post brought a crested envelope, directed in a +dashing hand, to Sally, inviting Paul and herself to dinner at the +Court on the following evening. +</P> + +<P> +"We shall be simply a family party," wrote the lady; "but, with such +near neighbours, I thought it more friendly to invite you for the first +time quite informally." +</P> + +<P> +"You don't want to go!" exclaimed Paul, who felt the meshes of the +society net closing round him. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I do. I want to see your house, and to feel what it would +be like to live there." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe you have a proper frock to go in. A coat and skirt +won't do." +</P> + +<P> +"What nonsense! I've an evening dress, of a sort; and they don't +invite my frock, but me!" +</P> + +<P> +"We'll go, then, as you've set your heart upon it; but I feel as if it +were the letting out of water." +</P> + +<P> +Certainly Paul had no reason to complain of Sally's appearance when she +came down ready dressed for her dinner on the following evening. In +her simple white dress, cut away at the throat, with a soft muslin +fichu tied in front with long ends falling to the bottom other skirt, +she looked, as old Macdonald afterwards remarked to his wife, "as a +lady should:" fair, and fresh, and young. Her dusky hair waved +prettily upon her forehead, and half concealed her ears; the face it +framed was not, strictly speaking, pretty, but it was bright and +animated, and the dark eyes and eyebrows were handsome. +</P> + +<P> +"I've won one person's approval at any rate," said Sally, merrily, as +they started on their way. "I went in to bid Macdonald good night, and +Mrs. Macdonald said, as she helped me on with my cape, that 'my John' +likes ladies to wear white dresses and have pale faces. He could not +abide colour, except in flowers." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you are fulfilling your mission, Sally, and winning your way into +Macdonald's good graces. We shan't be turned out." +</P> + +<P> +"It's my first dinner-party, Paul. Do you realise the importance of +the occasion? I've had no coming-out like other girls." +</P> + +<P> +"That's why you are so much jollier than most of them," said Paul, +betrayed into a compliment. +</P> + +<P> +From the moment they entered the drive-gate, and began the ascent to +the house, Sally looked about her with eager interest, breaking into +exclamations of delight as each step revealed some fresh beauty to her +eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a dangerous experiment to have brought you. You will be horribly +discontented with Macdonald's, after this." +</P> + +<P> +"I shan't. But if this place were mine, I should live here, and make +it a joy to everybody about me. I would not want to keep it to +myself," Sally said— +</P> + +<P> +But the front door was reached, and a footman was at hand to help her +off with her cloak; and in another instant the door of the long +drawing-room was thrown wide, and Sally, with the un-self-consciousness +of simplicity, heard herself announced, and found her hand in Mrs. +Webster's, who retained it as she led her on towards a tall, handsome +man who stood talking to Miss Webster. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Curzon, allow me to introduce Miss Lessing. You've been away with +your little Kitty, so I don't think you've met each other yet." +</P> + +<P> +Then Sally realized that she stood face to face with the good man, and +that he was to take her in to dinner, so that she would have time to +consider him carefully. Mrs. Webster placed her hand graciously on +Paul's arm when dinner was announced, and May trailing yards of +amber-coloured silk behind her, sailed in by herself. +</P> + +<P> +The dinner-table was oval, and Sally found herself seated between the +Rector and May; on the other side sat Paul, with Mrs. Webster and May +to talk to alternately. The very perfection of her surroundings +engaged Sally's attention at first: the delicately shaded lights +shining down on the dainty flowers, and silver and glass; the dinner, +remarkable rather for elegance than profusion; the family portraits on +the wall, bewigged and befrilled, which stood at ease, and glanced down +on the company with a sort of haughty indifference; the heavy, handsome +furniture combining beauty with comfort; and last, but not least, May +herself, whose beauty in her evening dress was simply dazzling. +</P> + +<P> +Paul, reduced to commonplaces, was asking Mrs. Webster if the place +suited her. +</P> + +<P> +"A leading question, Mr. Lessing," she answered, with a sort of heavy +playfulness. "I've no doubt you would be glad to hear it did not. But +we are so fond of it, May and I; it's just the country place we want +for the summer months. We are always in London for the season. But +our lease is nearly run out, you know; and then, I'm afraid, naughty +man! you will not let us renew it." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not? I'm not likely to get better tenants," said Paul, politely. +</P> + +<P> +"But you may be wanting to live here yourself, you see." +</P> + +<P> +"Such a plan is very far from my thoughts at present. I neither wish, +nor can afford it." +</P> + +<P> +"But where else <I>can</I> you go?" asked Mrs. Webster, as if her life +depended on the answer. +</P> + +<P> +The plea of poverty must be ignored; it was only advanced because Mr. +Lessing was her landlord! +</P> + +<P> +"I've not decided yet. Sally and I are quite happy where we are." +</P> + +<P> +"But you could not go on like that. It hardly seems right, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see where the wrong comes in." +</P> + +<P> +"Your very position as squire; you will be expected to be an employer +of labour, you see." +</P> + +<P> +"So I suppose I shall be, in time, although perhaps not about my house +and garden. There are a great many things that will have to be done in +the place when I get my affairs into order." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah yes, of course; it's wonderful how the money flies. Here's Mr. +Curzon insisting that the schools must be enlarged; I expect you are +like him, and think that everybody ought to know everything, and that +each child must have so many cubic feet! I'm sure I can't cope with it +all. I only know we, who are a little better off, have to pay for it. +He wants me to give a hundred pounds, and I tell him I really can't: +fifty is the utmost, and that is more than I can afford. I advise you +to keep clear of him to-night; he's sure to ask you to subscribe a +similar sum." +</P> + +<P> +"It's a voluntary school, I suppose?" said Paul, glancing across at the +rector. "I could not subscribe to that; I'm in favour of a board +school, you see." +</P> + +<P> +Sally, looking from one to the other scented trouble, for Mr. Curzon +broke off in the middle of a sentence, and his smiling, kindly face +grew grave as he gazed steadily back at her brother. There was a +moment of uncomfortable silence. +</P> + +<P> +"I was going to call and discuss the matter of the school with you," +said Mr. Curzon, at last; "but I did not mean to introduce the subject +to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course not. We could not possibly allow it; could we, mother?" +interposed May, with an air of relief. "I feel at the present moment +we all need more cubic feet. It's so very hot; I almost think we could +sit outside." And as she spoke a general move was made for the +terrace, where seats and tables were arranged. +</P> + +<P> +As neither of the men took wine they did not stay behind; and May, who +was clever enough to see that they were both ready to show fight for +their individual opinions, engaged Paul in conversation, whilst Mr. +Curzon carried off Sally to see the bowling-green by moonlight. +</P> + +<P> +"I never saw anything so quaintly pretty," Sally said. "The yew hedge +with its succession of views suits it exactly." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, doesn't it?" replied her companion. "This is naturally my +favourite;" and he paused at the opening where, below, the church stood +out grand and stately against the evening sky. "Is it not a grand old +tower? It stands just as a church should; it dominates the place." +</P> + +<P> +The ring of enthusiasm in his voice brought an answering thrill into +Sally's heart. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure that it does really?" she asked, moved by a sudden +impulse. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so; I pray God it may be so. If not in my time then in +another's." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A QUESTION OF EDUCATION. +</H3> + + +<P> +"I can't think why you, or any reasonable man, should object to a board +school?" said Paul, who had been expounding his views at some length to +the rector. "The people should have a voice in the matter of their +children's education; and it can't be fair that any particular system +of religion should be forced upon them. In a place like this you would +be pretty certain to come out at the head of the poll, and, if +religious teaching seems such an essential, you would be allowed to +give it with limitations." +</P> + +<P> +"With limitations that would practically make it useless," said Mr. +Curzon. "I am prepared to make any sacrifice rather than surrender the +religious training of the children God has given to my care. It will +be a hard matter, with you against me, but I must stick fast by my +principle." +</P> + +<P> +"In a few more years there won't be a voluntary school left in the +country," said Paul. +</P> + +<P> +"Mine shall be one of the last to die," replied Mr. Curzon. +</P> + +<P> +"You are fully persuaded that you are carrying out the wishes of your +people." +</P> + +<P> +"I am sure that, as far as I know it, I shall be doing my duty by +them—and that must come first; but they shall have an opportunity of +expressing their opinion. I am going to call a meeting about the +enlarging of the school, and I shall try and persuade every one to +attend it." +</P> + +<P> +"Including myself?" inquired Paul, with a rather sceptical smile. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall wish you, of course, to be there." +</P> + +<P> +"But I can only be there in opposition to your views," Paul said. +</P> + +<P> +"A clergyman gets used to opposition," replied Mr. Curzon, quietly; +"but if the school is to be continued under the management of myself +and my churchwardens, it shall be no hole-and-corner business: it shall +be with the consent and confidence of the majority of my people." +</P> + +<P> +Paul rose to go; and there was rather a troubled look on his face as he +took Mr. Curzon's out-stretched hand. It was such a kindly, friendly +grip. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid we cannot help coming across each other as we both have the +courage of our opinions; but at least you will believe that I have the +social development of the village very near at heart." +</P> + +<P> +"And there, at least, we agree," said Mr. Curzon, smiling; "but with me +their spiritual welfare is even more urgent." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty's little carriage was drawn up at the door, as she was just +returning from an outing. She greeted Paul with a beaming face, which, +as he came closer, grew clouded with anxiety. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid you've got another headache, and I've got nothing to bring +now," she said. "Blackberries wouldn't do. They are rather nasty, +daddy thinks." +</P> + +<P> +"I've not got a headache, Kitty, thank you," said Paul, leaving the +question of blackberries in abeyance. "What made you think I had?" +</P> + +<P> +"You were frowning; but perhaps it was the sun in your eyes. Has your +sister bigger than me come yet?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh yes; she has been here quite a time, and you have not been to see +her." +</P> + +<P> +"I've been away; did not you know?—away with daddy," with a proud +glance up at her father. "It was lovely; he had no one to think of but +me, and I was with him on the beach nearly all day long." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, that's how you come to have such roses in your cheeks. Well, when +are you coming to have tea with Sally and me? You shall choose your +own day." +</P> + +<P> +"Would to-morrow do? It's Sunday; and daddy likes me to have all the +happiest things on Sunday. But I forgot; Nurse was to come, too, but +she goes out on Sunday afternoon." +</P> + +<P> +The sweet-faced woman who wheeled Kitty about gave an amused little +laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"It would be rather nice for you to go this once alone, Miss Kitty; and +I could wheel you there on my way out——" +</P> + +<P> +"And Sally and I could bring you home. Would not that do?" said Paul +to Mr. Curzon. +</P> + +<P> +"If you are sure you will not be troubled with her." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear, no; it has been a long-standing engagement—has it not, +Kitty?" +</P> + +<P> +"Daddy dear, lift me out, please!" said Kitty, when Paul had gone on +his way. "I like him so much, although I don't remember his name. +It's rather a funny one, but I like him; he has such kind eyes." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Curzon tenderly lifted his little daughter out of her carriage, but +made no answer to her remark about their new neighbour. To himself he +was free to admit that the new squire's views troubled him sorely. +</P> + +<P> +"We are to have our first tea-party to-morrow, Sally. I have invited +the district visitor." +</P> + +<P> +"Who?" asked Sally, in considerable astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"Kitty Curzon—whose loving care for my head has won my heart. The +child persists in believing that I live in a chronic state of headache, +and resorts to her own methods of cure. Ours is a friendship doomed to +be nipped in the bud, alas! Let us make the most of it while it lasts." +</P> + +<P> +"What is to kill it?" +</P> + +<P> +"The father is the difficulty; he has caught sight of my cloven hoof +this morning, and, depend upon it, he will not trust Kitty to us often. +He had to consent to her coming this morning, for she arranged it all +under his very eyes; and I saw he had not the heart to thwart her. +She's a young woman who evidently gets her own way up to a certain +point; but unless I'm greatly mistaken, the fatherly fiat will go forth +that the less she sees of us the better." +</P> + +<P> +"I would rather she did not come at all, then," said Sally, hotly. +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't; she has chosen this tea as her Sunday treat," Paul +answered with a humorous smile. +</P> + +<P> +By four o'clock on the morrow the little invalid carriage stopped at +the Macdonald's gate, and Paul ran down to greet his visitor. +</P> + +<P> +"Wait a moment, Kitty; Nurse and I between us can lift the whole thing +in, and then she can go on for her outing, and you shall be left to +Sally and me." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty's eyes looked beyond Paul at Sally, who stood smiling behind. +</P> + +<P> +"You did not tell me she was grown-up like everybody else," she +answered irrelevantly. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, there's a lot of difference even between grown-up people, as I +will presently show you," said Paul. "Meanwhile, before you talk to +Sally, we'll get you into the cottage." +</P> + +<P> +"Shall you carry me, like daddy? I can walk on crutches, but it hurts +me rather," said Kitty. And Paul lifted her in his strong arms as +gently as if she were a baby, and Sally followed with the crutches, her +soul filled with pity for the child so perfectly developed as far as +the waist, but whose legs were twisted and helpless. +</P> + +<P> +Evidently poor Kitty had some affection of the spine. Sally felt her +pity almost misplaced before the afternoon was over; Kitty's enjoyment +of life in general, and her present entertainment in particular was so +genuine, and her laughter so infectious. +</P> + +<P> +By a happy inspiration Mrs. Macdonald had suggested that the tea should +be held in the orchard behind the house, and Kitty's carriage was +placed under the tree which bore the rosiest apples, one or two of +which fell with a flop at her feet. +</P> + +<P> +"Such as comes to little missy she must take home with her," said +Macdonald, smiling benignantly from his seat in the kitchen, and +bestowing a meaning glance at Paul, who, mindful of the hint, shook the +boughs as he handed Kitty her tea, bringing a shower of red fruit about +her. +</P> + +<P> +The conversation never flagged; Kitty's life seemed full of interest, +both at home and abroad, and she was fast friends, apparently, with +every soul in the place, including Allison, who had won her affection +for ever by presenting her with a Persian kitten, whom she brought down +regularly once a week to call upon its former owner. When the bells +began to chime for evening service Kitty signified her wish to depart. +</P> + +<P> +"We could take little missy," said Macdonald. "We'll be going that way +ourselves." +</P> + +<P> +"No, thank you," said Paul. "We promised to take you home—did not we, +Kitty?" +</P> + +<P> +Had he realized quite what the fulfilment of that promise involved, he +might have been inclined to accept the Macdonald's offer, for when he +and Sally had wheeled their visitor as far as the rectory, and were +going to enter, she shook her head vigorously. +</P> + +<P> +"We can't get in there—it will be all locked up—every one's gone to +church. Please take me on! my carriage goes into the belfry, and, as I +lie there, I can see all down the church." +</P> + +<P> +There was no disobeying such clear directions, so Paul, with a smile, +humbly did as he was bid. +</P> + +<P> +"Is that all you want?" he asked, when he had adjusted Kitty's carriage +to the exact angle which she liked best. +</P> + +<P> +He was in a hurry to slip out before the service began; Sally waited +for him outside. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no; I haven't got my book and things," said Kitty. "They are in +the box in the corner; daddy had it made for me, and here's the key," +producing a key on a string from round her neck. "There's a nice red +one you can use that belongs to Nurse." +</P> + +<P> +By the time Paul had unlocked the box and found the books, Kitty's +hands were devoutly folded in prayer, and her eyes fast shut. She +opened them presently with a bright smile. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," she half-whispered. "Now if you bring that chair close to +me, you'll find my places for me; Nurse always does. I've not learned +to read so very long—daddy would not let me." +</P> + +<P> +Paul, feeling himself a victim of circumstance, fetched the chair and +seated himself. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose he's forgotten to say his prayers," thought Kitty, as she +noticed that he neither knelt down nor even placed his hand over his +eyes, which were the varying methods of paying homage to God, that she +had observed the men of the congregation adopted when they came into +church. +</P> + +<P> +Paul found his position a singular one. He had not been present at a +service of any description since his college days. It would not be +true to say that he had lost his belief; he had never had any. He +might well question the necessity of religious education, for he had +had none himself. He and Sally had been baptized as babies, just +because their mother had wished it; but after her death their father, +who cared for none of these things, left their religious training to +chance. +</P> + +<P> +"Speak the truth, and behave like a gentleman," he said to Paul, when +he was sent at an early age to school; "and if ever you get into a +scrape, come to me and tell me all about it." +</P> + +<P> +It was a very simple moral code, and Paul lived by it both at school +and college; and before his college course was ended his father had +died. Christianity had not appealed to him in any way; he regarded it +as a worn-out system of religious belief that had been a moral force in +the world, but was dying now, slowly perhaps, but surely. Perhaps in a +remote village like this, where a Rector of strong personality was at +the head of affairs, it might be fanned into a flame for a time, but it +would not last. It certainly had a semblance of life to-night, Paul +admitted, as the congregation rose to its feet at the opening bars of +the voluntary, and the white-robed choir entered, followed by Mr. +Curzon. There was scarcely an empty seat, and there were as many men +present as women; and they were there, apparently, not to look on but +to worship, if hearty singing or burst of response were any criterion. +There was a scarcely a voice silent save Paul's own. +</P> + +<P> +Viewed as a picture it was a pretty one, framed as it was by the high +narrow Early English arch which opened from the belfry into the nave. +First came the bowed heads of the kneeling people, and, through the +beautiful old screen which separated chancel from nave, the altar shone +out in strong relief against its background of soft-coloured mosaic, +the rays of the western sun giving an added touch of brilliance to its +decoration of cross and flowers. +</P> + +<P> +But Kitty's hand was laid upon Paul's arm, and "Psalms, please!" +brought him back from his reverie to his duty. He did not keep her +waiting again, and he was interested by watching the sensitive, eager +little face. There was no question that the child was following the +service heart and soul; but when the sermon time came she was fairly +tired out, and, turning her head a little on one side, she was soon +fast asleep. +</P> + +<P> +"If the Lord be God, follow Him," said Mr. Curzon; and Paul glanced up +at the preacher, and noticed that every head was turned in the same +direction. And yet it was no great eloquence that held them, but a +certain manly simplicity of speech which carried conviction of the +preacher's absolute sincerity. He prefaced his sermon with a notice of +a public meeting that was to be held about the schools in the course of +the coming week, at which he begged the attendance of all interested in +the subject of education. The time had come when the schools must be +enlarged, and he put the question of whether this should be done by +private subscription, or by turning the school into a board school, +very simply before his people, telling them that a grave question was +involved in the decision—that of religious education. +</P> + +<P> +"There are those among you who will say that in this matter the parsons +want it all their own way; but, for myself, I emphatically deny the +charge. I want God's way, and it is not until after much thought and +prayer that I venture to place this matter before you to-night. It is +one that I, as shepherd of this flock, must talk to you about, for holy +hands have been laid upon my head, and the souls of all in this place +are committed solemnly to my charge; and I must claim the little ones +for the Master whom I serve, I wish to retain the right to train them +as faithful and true members of Christ and His Church. I should not be +faithful to my office unless I try to make you fully grasp the danger I +believe to lurk in education that is robbed of its crowning glory—the +knowledge of God." +</P> + +<P> +Paul listened to the simple appeal which followed with interest not +unmixed with irritation. +</P> + +<P> +"He has the whip-hand over me; he rules his people by their hearts +rather than by their heads," he said to Sally, afterwards, when he was +giving her the gist of the sermon. "Parsons have a greater chance of +propagating their views than any other set of men. Twice a day every +Sunday they can lay down the law with never a soul to gainsay them." +</P> + +<P> +"But lots of us don't go to listen," said Sally. +</P> + +<P> +Paul laughed. "Well, no; I don't think there are many country +congregations like the one I saw to-night. I'm not sorry to have been +there for once. In future we'll fix some other day than Sunday for our +visitor. I really could not hurt the child's feelings, and yet I +cannot be led along a victim at her chariot wheels." +</P> + +<P> +"I can't think why you take so much notice of her? You've never cared +for a child before." +</P> + +<P> +"She bought me with ripe gooseberries," Paul answered laughing. "I +couldn't refuse a child's friendship any more than a dog's." +</P> + +<P> +The Rector's sermon was fully discussed at the forge the following +evening. +</P> + +<P> +"Says I to Mr. Lessing to-day when we was talking together about this +eddication business, 'It's all very well sayin' as we must make the +schools so fine and grand, but what I wants to know is, who's goin' to +pay?" said Allison. "Them as has got the money, I s'pose." +</P> + +<P> +"What did he say?" asked Tom Burney. +</P> + +<P> +"'If I have my way it'll be thrown upon the rates.' But I'm not sure +I'm with him there. Once let the rates run up, and we dunno where we +are. Seems to me, with all his free-and-easy ways, and his living like +one of us, he's a bit close-fisted—not a bit like the old major. +Depend upon it, he don't want to put down his cool hundred; and that's +why he talks so brisk about the rates. There's something about it as +I've not got clear yet, for the rector comes along this morning, quite +cheery like, and sings out as he passes, 'Comin' to the school meetin' +a Friday, Allison? Room for all. I wants this school business +settled.'" +</P> + +<P> +"We couldn't settle it no better than it is at present, I'm thinking," +interposed Macdonald gently. "To hear the rector talk a Sunday night +about it were grand, that it was; and, if it's money he wants, there +isn't one of us that oughtn't to help him." +</P> + +<P> +"Rich fellers like you can talk about money!" retorted Allison, with +withering scorn; "but for me, who makes every penny I earns, he may +think hisself well off to get the five shillin's I gives him every year +for those blessed schools. I'll stick to that five, neither more nor +less, unless the squire gets his way; and then I won't give nothink but +what I'm made to." But Allison found himself without an audience. +With the mention of money the company had dispersed. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. +</H3> + + +<P> +"It must take it out of one dreadfully to be so terribly in earnest," +said May Webster, softly stroking the pug dog that lay curled up in her +lap. +</P> + +<P> +"As who?" asked her mother, looking up from her writing. +</P> + +<P> +"As Mr. Curzon; you might think his life depended on this school +business. I really could not follow all he said this afternoon; but, +apparently, he and Mr. Lessing have come to grief already about it. +There's another earnest one—with this difference between them: that +Mr. Curzon is earnest and agreeable, and Mr. Lessing earnest and +disagreeable." +</P> + +<P> +"He's more tiresome than disagreeable, May. I call it tiresome to live +in a cottage instead of a house, and to keep his sister from church—I +suppose that that is his doing,—and to upset us all when we are quiet +and happy. He's paying such high wages, they say, to the men he has +set at work over the drainage of some of his cottages, that I expect +all our men will be asking us to raise theirs." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder which of them is right?" said May, returning to the subject +of the schools. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Curzon, of course; he's a clergyman, my dear!" +</P> + +<P> +"Then you will go to the meeting to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"You must be crazed, May, to think of such a thing. I go to a school +meeting! If there is one type of woman I dislike more than another, +it's the one to be found on platforms." +</P> + +<P> +"I had not thought of you on a platform exactly. It only occurred to +me that you would give Mr. Curzon your moral support, as your +sympathies go with him. You carry weight, you see," which was true in +more senses than one. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Webster put the most favourable interpretation upon the phrase. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, if you really think it my duty, May," she said, softening +visibly, "and would come with me——" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I intend going anyhow," interposed May, carelessly. +</P> + +<P> +"It's such a new departure for you to take a prominent part in parish +things," exclaimed Mrs. Webster. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, parish has nothing to do with it! I'm going as a disinterested +spectator to see the two earnest ones fight it out." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear!" remonstrated her mother in a shocked tone. +</P> + +<P> +"If I have a bias it's in favour of the rector. I don't pretend to +understand the merits of voluntary versus board schools; but, as you +say, a clergyman is always right—most probably Mr. Curzon's is the +better cause, and most certainly he is the better man." +</P> + +<P> +"Dear, dear; and we shall have to dine at seven, and keep as we are, I +suppose?" with a glance at the stately folds of her brocade dress. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; we won't treat a school meeting like a theatre," said May, +laughing. "Will it be considered unduly flippant on my part to go in +this muslin? or ought I to wear black, as at a funeral?" +</P> + +<P> +"It cannot signify in the least; a change of dress would not alter your +flippant mind," replied her mother, with unusual smartness. "Dear Mr. +Curzon has really convinced me that it is a most important subject, so +I don't mind making a sacrifice for once in a way." +</P> + +<P> +"By dining an hour earlier than usual and not changing your dress! All +right, mother; I'll order the carriage for ten minutes to eight. We +may as well be punctual." +</P> + +<P> +The back benches of the schoolroom were crowded to overflowing when May +and her mother entered that evening. +</P> + +<P> +"It's very hot, May. I'm not sure that I can stay," said Mrs. Webster, +pausing in the doorway. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh yes, mother; we'll see it through to the bitter end," said May, in +an undertone. "There are seats in the front." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Webster picked her way daintily through the crowd, and Mr. +Lessing, who was seated at the end of one of the desks, stood up to let +her pass. May's skirt caught against a nail, as she followed, and Paul +bent to set it free; but as May turned smiling to thank him, it gave +her a faint shock of surprise to read the dislike that found expression +in his eyes. Her smile faded, and she passed on her way with a haughty +little bow. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder why he hates me? I am not aware that any man has ever viewed +me with honest dislike before," she thought, as she took her seat by +her mother. +</P> + +<P> +Paul, on his side, was inspired with the same unwilling admiration and +active irritation as on the occasion of their first meeting at +Brussels. Beautiful she undoubtedly was; so beautiful that his eyes +unconsciously followed her every movement. The cordial greeting she +accorded the rector—so different from her bow to himself,—and the +poise of her head, as she turned to look at the rows of expectant faces +behind her, giving a smiling nod to Mrs. Macdonald, who, duly impressed +with the gravity of the occasion, sat by the side of her John with her +hands clasping a clean pocket-handkerchief as if she were at church. +Paul tried to define the cause of his annoyance as he looked at her. +</P> + +<P> +"It is the hard crust of indifference which society people cultivate to +such perfection; it's the assurance which beauty assumes. She has come +here most probably in search of a new sensation," he thought. +</P> + +<P> +But the rector, who sat on a platform at the end of the room, with his +two churchwardens, was already on his feet, and Paul pocketed his +annoyance and settled himself to listen. +</P> + +<P> +"My friends," he began, "we have met to-night to consider on what basis +our school shall be carried on; whether at this crisis in school +affairs, which demands an outlay of some seven or eight hundred pounds, +the voluntary system shall be continued; or whether it shall be turned +into a board school, paid for out of the rates, and managed by a +committee chosen by the votes of the people. It is not a question that +it has been necessary for us to discuss before. My people, I believe +to a man, have been content to entrust the education of their children, +the practical management of the school, to the churchwardens and +myself, supporting us by their voluntary subscriptions; but a murmur +has reached our ears that some of you are dissatisfied with this +arrangement. My churchwardens and I feel reluctant to retain the +management of the school unless fully assured that we are fulfilling +the wishes of the majority of the people. You one and all know my +views on this subject, and the principle that I believe to be involved +in your decision. Whichever scheme is followed will mean a +considerable outlay of money. It is for you to decide whether that +money shall be exacted from you by rate, or whether it shall be given +freely and liberally out of the means with which God has blessed you." +</P> + +<P> +The rector closed with a request that any one wishing to address the +meeting would come up to the platform, and, in answer to the challenge, +Paul Lessing walked up the room and took his stand before the people. +He was clever, and gifted with readiness of speech, but something in +the audience baffled him; whether it was the stolid imperturbability of +the faces in the back benches, or May Webster's half-amused, +half-scornful smile just below him, he could not decide. But he pulled +himself together, determining to state his case as shortly and clearly +as he could. +</P> + +<P> +He expressed no doubt that in times past the school had been well and +ably managed; but he reminded them that Government had seen fit to +place in their hands a power which the people in country places were +slow to recognize: that of exercising a control over the education of +their children. That all authority on a subject so important should be +vested in the hands of two or three men of the same way of thinking, +seemed to him, at the best, a one-sided arrangement; surely it was more +just that a committee of men should be chosen by the votes of the +people, and that every form of thought should find its exponent—thus +keeping the balance of opinion even. Much more he said, and said it +ably, ending with a strong appeal that each one there present, +unbiassed by any cry of party, should think out this subject for +themselves, and consider whether he was doing the best for the place in +which he lived by saying, that what had been should be and could not be +improved; or whether he would make use of that power vested in him by +Government, and should decide to let his voice, in the education of the +future generation, find expression in that great and powerful +development of modern times, a School Board. +</P> + +<P> +Allison, forgetful of his fears about rates, murmured "Ooray!" as the +squire resumed his seat; and the rector, thanking the squire for his +able expression of his views, asked if there were any one else who +would give them the benefit of his opinion. There was a long silence. +It was hoped that Allison would have something to say and one and +another gave him a friendly nudge, but the blacksmith was too wise to +commit himself; he halted between two opinions. But there was a murmur +of astonishment as Macdonald rose and, supporting his burly form +against the wall, cleared his throat, and began to speak a little +huskily. +</P> + +<P> +"No, thank you, sir," he said in answer to a nod from the rector to +come up to the platform. "I ain't scholard enough to stand up there, +but there's something I wants to say. The squire says as we should +know our own minds, and I'd like to tell you what's mine. Who should +have care of the children but the man who loves 'em like his own, who +goes reg'lar to see after 'em every day whilst we goes to work, who +teaches 'em to be good at school and to mind what their parents says at +home, and wants 'em most of all to love their God? If we voted him out +to-night we'd vote him in again to-morrow, and I'll give a pound +to-night to show as I'm ready to bide by my words. That's all, +gentlemen." +</P> + +<P> +And Macdonald sat down with a very red face, which he promptly mopped +with a redder pocket-handkerchief, whilst Mrs. Macdonald unfolded her +clean one and wiped happy tears from her eyes. She dated every event +in after life from the night when "my John" made his speech in the +schoolroom. Its effect was electric, and roused the meeting to +enthusiasm. +</P> + +<P> +A vote of confidence in the present management was proposed and carried +by an overwhelming majority, as seventy hands were counted in support +of it, and only five were raised against it. The subscription list lay +on the table, and not a few of the working-class, mindful of +Macdonald's example came up to enter their names under his. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall make my subscription a hundred pounds, May; I really shall," +said Mrs. Webster, feeling that her moral support was taking +substantial form. "Poor Mr. Curzon! I think Mr. Lessing's speech was +very uncalled-for, and that old Macdonald really surprised me. I +thought him a rude old man the only time I spoke to him, but to-night +he was simply charming. I felt almost inclined to cry. I'm going to +put down my name now. I wish Mr. Curzon to realize that I am on his +side, whatever the squire may be;" and Mrs. Webster swept towards the +platform. +</P> + +<P> +Left to herself May stood and looked down the room which was emptying +rapidly. The squire stood apart but, catching her eye, moved towards +her with a slightly satirical smile. +</P> + +<P> +"So you've lived it through, Miss Webster; you've faced the bitter +end," he said, quoting her words. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; and I've not been bored at all," she answered, resenting his tone. +</P> + +<P> +"You came to scoff, in fact, and you remained to pray." +</P> + +<P> +"I came with an open mind, prepared to be converted by the best +speaker, and I found him in Macdonald," said May, defiantly. +"Henceforth I shall be an ardent supporter of the voluntary system." +</P> + +<P> +Paul laughed. "Will your ardent support take tangible form like old +Macdonald's?" he said. He spoke in pure jest, but May accepted his +words literally and flushed a little. "It's a question that your very +short acquaintance with me hardly justifies you in asking, does it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not in earnest, certainly; I spoke in the merest fun. If I vexed you, +I apologize." +</P> + +<P> +"You did vex me. It is the second time to-night that you have put +yourself out of the way to say a disagreeable thing. People may think +as many disagreeable things as they like, but they have no right to +give expression to them." +</P> + +<P> +"But now you are charging me with sins which I have not committed. I +have not spoken to you for five minutes, and no other sentiment of +mine, that I know of, needs a special apology." +</P> + +<P> +"A look does! You looked cross as you stooped to unfasten my dress +from that nail when I came into the room: it bored you to render me +even that very slight service. Pray don't attempt to deny it! you +possess the merit of being strictly truthful." +</P> + +<P> +"Truthfully disagreeable apparently," said Paul, a little nettled. +</P> + +<P> +"And now," said May, restored to perfect good-humour by having spoken +out her mind, "the platform seems vacant; shall we go and consider that +subscription list, or will it hurt your feelings?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not the least. I've suffered defeat, but I was glad of the +opportunity of speaking." +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" asked May, as she mounted the platform. +</P> + +<P> +"Because I have won four to my side; I made four people think." +</P> + +<P> +"Then the people who followed Macdonald's lead, which includes myself, +are credited with not having the capacity of thinking. That is your +inference, is it not?" asked May, with a gay laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"You have a sharp tongue, Miss Webster. All I hinted at was that +country people are slow to exercise their individual judgment on any +question. They follow each other like a flock of sheep." +</P> + +<P> +"And aren't they wise to do it when they have so kind and good a +shepherd?" with a glance at the rector's handsome head, as he stood at +a little distance off, talking with a happy, radiant face to her +mother. "I wish you would tell me what possible motive you had in +trying to upset a man who lives in the hearts of his people." +</P> + +<P> +Paul was interested in spite of himself, for he saw that May had passed +from brilliant nonsense to earnestness. +</P> + +<P> +"It was not the man I wished to upset—nobody can fail to appreciate +his simple earnestness,—but it is his principle. And your very +intolerance makes me feel that I was right to state the other side of +the question." +</P> + +<P> +"We won't quarrel any more; I'm tired of it," said May, with a quick +change of mood. "Let us look at all the people who are ready to bide +by their words, as Macdonald puts it." +</P> + +<P> +The subscription list was headed by the rector with two hundred pounds. +</P> + +<P> +"He's not a rich man," said May, pointing to the sum. +</P> + +<P> +"And he can't be a poor one," retorted Paul. +</P> + +<P> +May seated herself and toyed with the pen which lay upon the table. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm in a difficulty; I want an opinion." +</P> + +<P> +"Legal?" said Paul. "If so, I might help you. +</P> + +<P> +"Moral rather." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, then it's a case for the man who lives in the hearts of his +people. Shall I call him?" +</P> + +<P> +"You are not keeping the peace. For want of a better adviser I'll put +my difficulty before you." +</P> + +<P> +"And I will give you my opinion for what it is worth; you need not act +on it unless you like." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no, I shan't. Should you think it right for me to put my name down +on this subscription list when I owe, I'm afraid to say how much, to my +dressmaker?" +</P> + +<P> +"At the risk of being told again that I'm truthfully disagreeable, I +answer emphatically, No! I should call it a most immoral act." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm going to do it anyway, and the person who has influenced me +is yourself. You implied that I was unwilling to pay for my +convictions; and my dressmaker must wait." +</P> + +<P> +And May dipped her pen in the ink and wrote her name boldly under her +mother's. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't do it!" pleaded Paul, hurriedly. "Can't you see that the +dressmaker, who earns her money so hardly, and waits for it so long, +has the first right to yours?" +</P> + +<P> +"May!" called her mother. "Are you never coming? I can't be kept +waiting all night." +</P> + +<P> +May hesitated for a moment, and then, half ashamed of yielding to the +man whose dislike of her was fast deepening into contempt, she dashed +her pen through the name she had just written, bringing her hand, as +she did so, into contact with the lamp upon the table. With a +smothered exclamation Paul bent across her and tried to stay its fall, +but he was not in time. With a crash it fell forwards breaking the +bowl, and a trickling stream of blazing paraffin ran down May's muslin +skirt, enveloping her in flame. A piercing shriek from the other end +of the room showed that Mrs. Webster realized her daughter's peril, and +the rector dashed forward to the rescue; but Paul had already torn his +coat from his back, and was holding it closely upon the burning skirt. +</P> + +<P> +"See to the platform! she's safe enough!" he shouted as the rector ran +up; and, almost before May realized the extreme danger from which she +had been delivered, she was lifted from the platform and laid very +gently on the floor. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you putting me on the floor for? I'm not going to faint," +she said, with lips that trembled a little. "I'm all right. Don't let +mother be frightened." +</P> + +<P> +Paul could not but admire the girl's wonderful self-possession. +</P> + +<P> +"And you are not burned? You are sure you are in no way hurt?" +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks to your marvellous quickness, no," she answered. +</P> + +<P> +But Mrs. Webster, tearful but thankful, was at hand, and Paul felt he +could not do better than leave May in her mother's charge. +</P> + +<P> +The rector, meanwhile, with one or two others, was successfully +battling with the burning stream of paraffin; and in a few minutes all +serious fear of a conflagration was over. +</P> + +<P> +"Now we had better see the ladies to their carriage," he said turning +to Paul. But already they had taken their departure. "We can't be too +thankful for such a narrow escape. The platform looked all on fire +when Mrs. Webster's scream made me turn round. Can you tell me how it +happened?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think Miss Webster caught the lamp with her hand as she got up from +the table. She had been reading the subscription list." +</P> + +<P> +"Which reminds me that the list is burned to a cinder. But it does not +signify; people will remember their promises," said Mr. Curzon. +</P> + +<P> +"And nobody but myself will know that May Webster put down her name and +scratched it out at my request," thought Paul, not a little proud of +his moral victory over the haughty young woman. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I think everything is safe here; we may be going home. I want +to get back before my little Kitty gets news of the fire, or she will +worry herself into a fever. Late as it is, though, I must run up to +the Court." +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" Paul inquired. "We know that Miss Webster is safe." +</P> + +<P> +"She might wish to see me," replied the rector, simply. "And if she +does, she shall have the chance." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I'll leave word at the rectory that you are all right, in case +Kitty is awake," said Paul, rather shortly. +</P> + +<P> +May, from her couch in her dressing-room heard the rector's cheery +voice in the hall below asking after her. +</P> + +<P> +"That's Mr. Curzon, Lancaster; run and ask him to come up and see me +for a moment," she said to her maid. +</P> + +<P> +In another moment he entered, followed by her mother. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, my darling, you are not ill? Have you been burned and not told me +of it?" she gasped in terror. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no, mother," said May, trying to smile; "but it's just because I'm +not burned, nor scared, nor horrible to look at, that I want Mr. +Curzon. I want—I want——" And then May's high courage gave way, and +she burst into tears. +</P> + +<P> +"Let us pray," said the rector, quietly. And he and May's mother knelt +down by the side of May's couch together. +</P> + +<P> +When he rose up from his knees May's tears had ceased. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A MOMENTOUS DECISION. +</H3> + + +<P> +The rector walked home through the starlight night with a thankful +heart. It was possibly his sanguine temperament, backed by his strong +faith in the Christ Who must reign until He had brought all to His +Feet, that gave him such large success in his work; and against the +background of this day two special subjects for thanksgiving stood out +in strong relief: first, that he had received positive proof that he +possessed the confidence of the majority of his parishioners; and +secondly, that an accident—a deliverance from what might have been a +horrible death—had given him an insight into the deeper side of May +Webster's character. That she had this deeper side he had been fully +assured, but hitherto he had been powerless to touch it. +</P> + +<P> +To-night, however, she had appealed to him to give expression to the +gratitude which she felt to God. For a moment the spiritual life that +was in her had touched his, and he trusted that the foundation of a +deeper, truer, more lasting friendship had been laid—a friendship that +might enable him, possibly, to give May Webster a helping hand on her +road to Heaven. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Curzon was not one of those who believe that a clergyman's mission +is fulfilled by looking after the poor who are committed to his care. +He had seen enough of society to realize both its fascination and its +special temptations; and the well-to-do members of his flock were as +frequently included in his prayers as the poor, the afflicted, the +sick, or the unhappy. +</P> + +<P> +It was of May and her needs that his heart was full as he turned from +the drive into the road, but as he did so he stumbled against a man's +figure propped against the gate-post. The man lurched heavily forward, +and would have fallen had not Mr. Curzon caught him in his arms, +peering at the same time into his face to see who it might be. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom! Tom Burney! Poor lad," he exclaimed, with a heavy sigh, for the +mere touch of the inert body showed that Tom was not overcome by +illness but by drink. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom!" said the rector, giving him a slight shake of the shoulders, +"rouse yourself, and get home to bed. To-morrow we will talk this +over, but you are in no fit state to listen to-night." +</P> + +<P> +The familiar voice roused the muddled brain to some sense of shame, and +instinctively Tom's hand was raised to his cap. +</P> + +<P> +"Beg your pardon, sir, but I won't go home; same roof shan't cover that +beast Dixon and me!" +</P> + +<P> +The words reminded Mr. Curzon that Dixon, Burney, and several other men +employed at the Court were lodged in rooms over the coach-house and +stables; evidently Tom and Dixon had quarrelled. +</P> + +<P> +"That's sheer nonsense!" he answered sharply. "I'm not going to leave +you out here all night, for the sake of your own character. If you +won't go without me, I shall take you." +</P> + +<P> +Tom made some show of sullen resistance, but a sober man always has the +advantage over a tipsy one; and Mr. Curzon was physically so strong +that, drunk as Tom was, he knew he could enforce obedience. Once more, +therefore, the rector had to retrace his steps, and half supported, +half led, he presently landed Tom Burney in the stable-yard of the +Court. A light burning in one of the upper windows showed him that +somebody was still awake, and a whistle readily attracted the attention +of the occupant. The window was thrown wide and a head thrust out into +the night. +</P> + +<P> +"So it's you, is it?" said a voice, that the rector recognized as +Dixon's. "It would serve you right to keep you out there all night." +</P> + +<P> +"You hound! you mean hound!" hiccoughed Tom, trying to wrest himself +from the strong restraining hand laid upon his collar. "If only I can +get at you, I'll——" +</P> + +<P> +The threat was nipped in the bud by the rector. "Is that you, Dixon?" +he asked, in a low, authoritative tones. "Just come down and open the +door, please. I found Burney like this, and brought him home; and keep +out of sight, will you? I've no intention of being landed in a +quarrel." +</P> + +<P> +There was a smothered exclamation of surprise, the window was closed, +and, in another moment, the lower door was thrown wide to admit the +rector and his charge. By a rapid signal Mr. Curzon directed Dixon to +conceal himself in an angle of the staircase, whilst he gave Tom a +helping hand up the staircase to the room which Dixon indicated with a +nod. Once safely inside, he placed him on the bed and came away, +closing the door behind him. +</P> + +<P> +"He won't come out again to-night, I think," he said to Dixon, who +followed him to the door. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no, sir; I'll see to that," replied the man, with a rather +unpleasant smile. "I'll turn the key on him, and unlock the door again +before he wakes in the morning. I'm sorry you've had all this trouble. +I tried my best to get him to come along quietly with me, but I had to +leave him to himself at last; he was so desperate quarrelsome. He's a +quick temper at any time, and he's just mad when he's drunk." +</P> + +<P> +"Which has not been very often, I think," interposed the rector. "But +in the last few months, I fear he has fallen into bad company. Good +night, Dixon." +</P> + +<P> +"We shan't hear the end of this in a hurry. What business has he +prowling about the place at this time of night, I should like to know?" +grumbled Dixon aloud, as he closed the door. "Bad company, indeed! +He'll see for himself that I'm not drunk, whatever that fool Tom may +be." +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile the rector pursued his way home in less joyful mood than +before he had stumbled across poor Tom Burney; he was sorely troubled +about him as, for a long time, he had been one of the most promising +young fellows in the place. He let himself quietly into the rectory, +shading the light with his hand as he passed the door of Kitty's room; +but a half-stifled cry of "Daddy!" arrested his steps. He pushed open +the door and entered, crossing with swift, light tread to her bedside. +The frightened look in the child's eyes died away as she looked into +the smiling face. +</P> + +<P> +"What does my little Kitty mean by lying awake to this hour?" +</P> + +<P> +"I've been frightened, daddy. I lay awake on purpose, at first, +because you promised to come and kiss me when you came home after the +meeting." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I shan't promise that any more if it keeps you awake. Well!" +</P> + +<P> +"And then I heard Mr. Paul's voice down in the hall, and I thought he +said something about fire. But Nurse said I was silly, and must go to +sleep; but I couldn't till I knew you were safe." +</P> + +<P> +"What from, little one?" +</P> + +<P> +"The fire," said Kitty, with a suppressed sob. "I thought you might be +burned, and nobody would tell me." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that was very silly, certainly," said her father, with a little +laugh that had a singularly reassuring effect upon Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +"And I tried to think of the three men with long names that the fire +did not hurt; but it did not do me a bit of good, daddy." +</P> + +<P> +"Because you forgot about the fourth one who stood by them, even in the +fire, whose form was like the Son of God," said the rector, gently. +"And He was close by you, Kitty, although you were so frightened—by +you, and me too. There! think of that and go to sleep now." +</P> + +<P> +But though Mr. Curzon spoke so cheerfully, there were tears in his eyes +as he kissed his little daughter and tucked her into bed with strong, +gentle hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Poor little soul! She's bound to suffer, with her crippled body and +over-sensitive brain," he thought. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning at breakfast he told Kitty the story of the previous +evening, quite simply, without any terrifying details. +</P> + +<P> +"I should think Mr. Paul is very brave—almost as brave as you are, +daddy," said Kitty, whose terror seemed to have vanished into thin air +with the light of day. +</P> + +<P> +"Much braver, I expect," agreed her father, good-humouredly. "But I +wonder why you think so!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Sally has told me lots of things. How he killed a mad dog, and +nursed a man with smallpox, and knocked down a costermonger for kicking +his pony. That was brave, wasn't it?" said Kitty, who clearly regarded +the last item as the crowning act of bravery. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it was speedy punishment, certainly," answered her father, +laughing. "But since you admire bravery so much, you'll have to learn +a little more about it yourself; and not lie awake every time I'm kept +out late at night. A clergyman's work is like a doctor's—never done, +you know." +</P> + +<P> +The word doctor gave Kitty an opportunity of rapidly changing the +subject. +</P> + +<P> +"What's a stroke, father? What's good for it?" +</P> + +<P> +"A 'stroke' generally means paralysis, in some form or other, which +affects people's limbs—often making them useless." +</P> + +<P> +"Like my legs?" asked Kitty, quickly. +</P> + +<P> +Her father winced palpably. "Not just like that, darling; I wonder +what you are thinking of?" +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Allison's mother. She's very old and very deaf; and now she's had +a stroke. I heard some one tell Nurse so; and, of course, I must go +and ask about her when I go out; but I can't tell what to take her." +</P> + +<P> +"I should think beef-tea will be the kind of thing she needs. Nurse +can say we will make her some if you like," said the rector, who always +humoured Kitty's fancy for taking sick people especially under her wing. +</P> + +<P> +The day was a full one, and it was late in the afternoon before he +found himself rapping at the door of the house which adjoined the forge. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, sir," said Mrs. Allison, in answer to his inquiry about her +mother-in-law; "she's a bit tired to-day, though going on as well as we +could hope. She's had a visitor this afternoon," with a glance round +at the chimney-corner from which Sally Lessing's tall, girlish figure +emerged rather shyly; "and if you did not mind looking in rather +earlier to-morrow she'd be ready to see you." +</P> + +<P> +"Very good," said the rector. "If you'll name the time, I'll be here. +Miss Lessing, our way home lies in the same direction. Shall we walk +together?" +</P> + +<P> +No excuse presented itself for refusing Mr. Curzon's offer, though a +<I>tęte-ŕ-tęte</I> with the rector was not much to her taste—especially as +her brother was a little sore about his last night's defeat. +</P> + +<P> +"How are you taking to the life down here? Do you like it?" he asked, +as they started off together. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't quite know," Sally said with a frank smile. "At first it was +delightful—a new experience,—but the novelty is wearing off. And +Paul said this morning that we were both of us fish out of water; that +he must stay here, at any rate for the present, but that I might please +myself." +</P> + +<P> +"And what particular pond do you want to swim in?" +</P> + +<P> +"London. And that's not to be described as a pond, is it? but rather a +great, strong river. You see, down here, there is literally nothing to +do." +</P> + +<P> +"Plenty, if you choose to do it," replied Mr. Curzon, quietly. +</P> + +<P> +Sally shook her head. "You would only want workers of your own way of +thinking." +</P> + +<P> +"I should prefer them, certainly; if by <I>my</I> way of thinking you mean +the Church to which I belong—to which you belong also, I expect." +</P> + +<P> +"Only by name. I was baptized, but I've not been brought up on church +lines. I've been allowed to think for myself, and judge the truth for +myself. Paul says that that is the only truth worth believing." +</P> + +<P> +"It still leaves you finally dependent on other people's judgment, does +it not? In your case, I should say, your views unconsciously are +moulded entirely by your brother." +</P> + +<P> +"But it is so with every one more or less!" retorted Sally, quickly. +"You've got your ideas, either from the people who have influenced you +the most, or the books you have read." +</P> + +<P> +"Quite so. The books that have influenced me most largely are those +contained in the Bible; but the only person upon whose judgment and +character I find I can wholly rely, is the Lord Himself. An +old-fashioned belief, you will say, but I find it practically true." +</P> + +<P> +"But Paul says the only facts based on history in the Gospels are that +Christ lived and died a martyr to his opinions," said Sally. +</P> + +<P> +"So many men say nowadays. If so, it is curious that faith in the Name +of a Jew who died nearly two thousand years ago, is still able to work +moral miracles in hundreds and thousands of lives in the present day; +that men and women, tied and bound with the chain of their sins, +looking to Him and asking help, can rise and walk in the glorious +liberty of the sons of God. When I see that, as, thank God, I have +seen it, I feel I have a reason for the faith that is in me, that Jesus +is, as He claims to be, the Son of God; that it was no idle boast on +His part that He would give His Spirit to those that seek it." +</P> + +<P> +Sally caught her breath. There was no doubting the sincerity of the +speaker, but the very simplicity of the teaching was an argument +against accepting it. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, of course, you as a clergyman have to do with people's morals," +she said hurriedly; "but the bodily wretchedness and misery of hundreds +and thousands of people in London and other big places appeals more to +me. I feel it's not a bit of good telling them to be good in this +world, and they will be happy in the next, whilst they have bad houses +to live in, and bad food to eat, and insufficient wages, and never a +ray of brightness in their lives. To stay down here and potter about +amongst a few children and sick people seems such a small thing to do, +when one might help to set any one of these great wrongs right." +</P> + +<P> +She pulled herself up, and broke into a peal of laughter. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm talking of things that I dare say you will think I don't +understand," she said; "but Paul has interested me in them, and I had +thought, if I went on studying, I might some day work and speak about +them. Lots of women do." +</P> + +<P> +"And why not? One of the best speakers I ever heard was a woman." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought you would be sure to hate the notion." +</P> + +<P> +"Why should I, unless——" +</P> + +<P> +"Unless what?" +</P> + +<P> +"You should speak any word against the Master whom I serve," said the +rector. "On philanthropic subjects I could go with you heart and soul." +</P> + +<P> +"I would not speak on a subject of which I know nothing," said Sally, +eagerly. "I've told you that I am only a seeker after truth, picking +up a scrap here and there as I can find it." +</P> + +<P> +"And you will reach the truth after a time," said Mr. Curzon, holding +out his hand, "if you are ready to acknowledge a Power higher than +yourself, to Whom you may safely appeal to guide you to all truth. +Without that, you will grope along in the darkness." +</P> + +<P> +Before Sally could answer he had gone. Was there such a power she +wondered? What rest and comfort such a conviction would bring with it. +She made no mention of her talk to the rector to Paul when he came in; +she shrank from his glib criticism of Mr. Curzon's simple declaration +of faith. +</P> + +<P> +As Mr. Curzon walked home he caught sight of Tom Burney leaning over a +gate with his back turned towards the road. The very poise of his +head, and droop of his shoulders, showed depression of body and mind; +and with intuitive sympathy Mr. Curzon stopped and laid a kindly hand +on his shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"The very man I was wanting!" he said cheerily. "I thought you would +be sure to come and see me to-night." +</P> + +<P> +For a moment Tom's dark, handsome eyes sought his; then dropped for +very shame. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I wasn't," he said bluntly. "But I'm glad to have the chance of +telling you that I've got the sack for what happened last night. Dixon +took good care to report me; and I'm to leave at the end of this week." +</P> + +<P> +"What is your quarrel with Dixon?" +</P> + +<P> +There was a long pause. "We're after the same girl," said Tom, a +little huskily; "and he don't care what he does as long as he can get +me out of the way. He made me drunk last night." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no," replied Mr. Curzon, shortly; "you made yourself drunk. Tell +the truth about it, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll tell you straight what happened. We were all in the public +together——" +</P> + +<P> +"You went there of your own free will, I suppose?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. I've been there plenty of times before, and never had a drop too +much," said Tom, rather resentfully, "and I was just going away last +night, when Dixon offered me another glass; and Allison laughed and +said, 'Don't you take it, young 'un; head ain't strong and temper too +short.' And I told him I could drink against any man if I chose, and +keep my wits about me too; and Dixon said he'd stand treat, and see +whose head would last the longest, mine or Allison's——" +</P> + +<P> +"With the result that I found you how and when I did, and you've lost +your place into the bargain. Truly the wages of sin are hard," +commented Mr. Curzon; "but I'm ready to help you, Tom, if you are +willing to help yourself, for I think, to a certain extent, you've been +hardly done by. If you are sorry for what has happened, and really +wish to turn over a new leaf, and make yourself worthy of the girl you +love, you'll take my advice and sign the pledge. If you see your way +to doing this, I know of a situation that I could offer you; if not, I +strongly advise you to go away altogether." +</P> + +<P> +"And leave the field clear for Dixon? I'll never do it!" said Tom, +fiercely. "And what would he call me but a coward if I signed the +pledge, just because I've been beastly drunk once in my life? There's +no reason why I should do it again." +</P> + +<P> +"That you will do it again is an absolute certainty; and with your hot +temper and the rivalry that exists between you and Dixon, there will be +serious mischief if you allow drink to get the upper hand. The place I +offer you is that of gardener at the rectory. Old Plumptree is +retiring on a pension; he's too old to do the work any longer. But I +tell you frankly that I dare not undertake the responsibility of +keeping you here unless I feel that you are determined, God helping +you, to make a better start. You need not decide in a hurry; you can +call to-morrow evening and let me know about it. Until then I will +keep the situation open for you." +</P> + +<P> +It was on the tip of Tom's tongue to tell the rector that he needed no +time for consideration, that he readily accepted the required +condition, and should be thankful for the situation that he offered, +when, as ill-luck would have it, Dixon passed by on a swift-trotting +horse, and turned upon Tom with a mocking smile. +</P> + +<P> +"He thinks I'm catching it," thought poor Tom; "but I'll let him know +better." +</P> + +<P> +"It's not that I'm ungrateful, sir, for your kindness last night, but +my mind's pretty well made up now. I can't face Dixon and Allison, and +all the lot of 'em calling me a fool who can't take his glass without +getting drunk; I'll show 'em different. But I'll promise you this: +it's the first time as any one of em, sneaks as they are, could tell +you that I'd been drunk, and it's the last too! You shall hear no more +of it." +</P> + +<P> +"And it's a promise that I tell you honestly you'll not keep," answered +Mr. Curzon, sadly. "But you'll think it over; you won't decide until +to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir; I've made up my mind, thank you kindly all the same," said +Tom. "It's a thing I must settle for myself." +</P> + +<P> +"Good night, then; I've nothing more to say except that at any time if +you are in trouble I shall be glad to see you. I don't wish you to +think that this difference of opinion need separate us; although, +remember, I feel sure that I am right and you wrong." +</P> + +<P> +The next morning, when Paul Lessing started for his walk, Tom Burney +stood waiting at the gate. +</P> + +<P> +"Beg your pardon, sir," he said, touching his hat; "but I want to know +if you can give me work?" +</P> + +<P> +Paul turned to the speaker with dawning recognition in his glance. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, aren't you the fellow who gave me a lift for nothing the first +evening I came into the place." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir; I've often thought on it since. I shouldn't have spoke so +free if I'd known who I was talking to." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" said Paul, smiling pleasantly. "You sent me to the proper +person to find me a lodging, at any rate; and you certainly spoke no +harm of any one. I thought you told me you worked at the Court. +</P> + +<P> +"So I did, sir; but I'm leaving there on Saturday." +</P> + +<P> +"Of your own free will?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not exactly; I got notice because I came home drunk one night." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that your habit, may I ask? It's a bad one." +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir, it's not," said Tom, lifting fearless eyes. "It was the +first time." +</P> + +<P> +"Let it be the last, then. What kind of work can you do?" +</P> + +<P> +"I've been in the garden; but I know something about horses." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm going to take the management of the home farm that lies near +the Court, into my own hands, and I think I can find you work amongst +the horses. I'll see the bailiff about it, and you can call on +Saturday night, when we will settle the question of wages." +</P> + +<P> +Tom's heart gave a joyful throb! A place on the farm close to the +Court would give him opportunities of many a stolen interview with +Rose; and if he showed himself willing and ready to do the thing that +came to his hand, he might rise to the position of bailiff before very +long, and find himself able to give his Rose as pretty a home as she +could wish for. +</P> + +<P> +"I won't forget your kindness, nor how you're ready to take me without +a character. I'll serve you honest and true," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"It is only one more example of the capriciousness of rich people," +said Paul, as he told the tale to Sally later in the day. "Here was +this poor fellow dismissed without a character for what I honestly +believe was a first offence. I'm glad to give him a helping hand." +</P> + +<P> +But Paul was judging hastily; Tom Burney had received notice from the +gardener, who had not thought it worth while to consult Mrs. Webster +about the matter. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +AN OUTSTRETCHED HAND. +</H3> + + +<P> +It was many weeks before Paul and May Webster met after the night of +the fire. The Court was crammed with company, and although Paul and +his sister were invited to dinner more than once, such invitations were +politely declined. +</P> + +<P> +"It's quite impossible, Sally," Paul had said, in answer to the rather +wistful look in her dark eyes. "To dine there quietly by ourselves, is +one thing; to go and meet a heap of smart people, who are my special +abomination, is another; and I should not have thought you would have +wished it either." +</P> + +<P> +"It would be so much experience; I could be in it but not of it. But I +expect I should not be smart enough, either in my dress or my talk; so +we must decline, I suppose. What shall I say?" +</P> + +<P> +"Anything you like within the limits of truth." +</P> + +<P> +"Paul won't come, and I can't because I have not a proper frock," said +Sally, merrily. "I am sorry, and he is not." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't talk nonsense, Sally," said Paul, with an answering laugh. "Any +woman can write a decent note of refusal if she chooses." +</P> + +<P> +So the decent note was written and despatched, to be followed by +another, rather differently worded, when the second invitation came +about a week later, after which they were asked no more. Sally watched +the smart carriages drive to and from the station, with their varying +loads of visitors, with a passing pang of regret. It was like gazing +into a shop-window when you are possessed of no money to buy the +tempting wares displayed there. +</P> + +<P> +Paul scarcely gave his gay neighbours a thought; his head was full of +plans for the improvement of the place, and it fretted him a little +that on every hand he found himself unable to carry out his wishes for +the want of the necessary means. +</P> + +<P> +He was not altogether popular: the poor people rather resented the +extreme simplicity of his manner of living when they discovered that it +was not accompanied by the open-handed liberality which Allison had +half led them to expect; the tenant-farmers opposed any change that +would touch their pockets; and people of his own class, few and far +between in that thinly populated neighbourhood, called once, but found +little to interest them in a man of such avowedly eccentric views on +things social and religious, and tacitly let the acquaintance drop. +</P> + +<P> +The one exception to this was May Webster, who, half-piqued, +half-amused, at the barrier which Paul had chosen to erect between +them, determined to break it down. She was coming out of the rectory +one afternoon when she met him at the gate. +</P> + +<P> +He lifted his hat, and would have opened the gate to let her pass, but +she held it fast looking at him over the top. +</P> + +<P> +"How are you? It is long since we met; never, I think, since the night +of the meeting with its exciting close. I've not thanked you properly, +by the way, for the rapid extinction of the flames." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, any one could have done it; only I happened to be the one nearest +you," said Paul, carelessly. "It needs no special thanks." +</P> + +<P> +"Which is a civil way of saying that you could not let me burn, but +that you would rather some one else had put me out," said May, +mockingly. "Even so, I'm grateful; I've been calling on your friend +Kitty, who informed me with great triumph that daddy was out, but 'Mr. +Paul' was coming to tea with her. Questioned further, she informed me +that he often came when she was by herself, and he said he liked it." +</P> + +<P> +"So I do," Paul said. +</P> + +<P> +"So tea fetches you if dinner does not; or perhaps it is not the meal, +but the company. Frankly speaking, why do you accord your friendship +to Kitty and not to mother and me? We may be neighbours for years and +years; we may just as well be friends." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not a man of many friends," Paul answered, fairly brought to bay. +"As for Kitty, she carried me by storm; she is the only child who has +taken to me of her own free will." +</P> + +<P> +"How very odd," said May, thoughtfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh yes; I admit the oddity." +</P> + +<P> +"But, if you are going to live here, are you content to be isolated +from your fellows—to have no friends?" continued May, wonderingly. +</P> + +<P> +"To have many acquaintances seems to me a dreary waste of life; and the +word friendship, in the mouth of a man, implies many things." +</P> + +<P> +"Notably what?" asked May, a little scornfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Similarity of tastes and thought." +</P> + +<P> +"And, I suppose, no one down here is clever enough for you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I hope I'm not such an intolerable prig as to have implied that. But, +frankly, I expect that you and I, for instance, would not take the same +view on any subject; and, very likely, the things that interest me +would bore you to extinction." +</P> + +<P> +"It would bore me pretty considerably if you persisted in urging that +the whole world should be reduced to one level of ugly uniformity, +which is what you are credited with believing." +</P> + +<P> +"A free interpretation of a hope, on my part, to lessen the cruel gulf +between the very rich and the very poor," replied Paul, quietly. "I +confess, the frightful extravagance of the wealthier classes makes me +sick at heart; for one section of society nothing but amusement and +pleasure, and the lavish spending of money; and for the larger half the +weary effort to make both ends meet—and for many quiet, hopeless +starvation." +</P> + +<P> +"You are talking something like the rector; only he enlists my sympathy +more by speaking less severely—and he is more just too. He does not +talk as if it were wicked to be better off than your neighbour; he only +makes you feel the responsibility of it." +</P> + +<P> +Paul gave rather a hard little laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"To speak plainly, he dresses it up a little—gives it the clerical +dash of sentiment. Besides, what is the good of stirring one here and +there to give out of his abundance something of which he will never +feel the loss, with the comfortable sense left behind that he or she +has done something very big indeed. What one would strive for, rather, +is to stir up the nation to its duties, to rouse Government to redress +some of these glaring social grievances." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, pray keep yourself in hand! level your intellect down to mine!" +cried May, with a burst of laughter. "As far as I follow you, you wish +to lower my dress allowance by act of parliament. I sincerely trust +you will fail. By the way you may set your mind at rest about my +dressmaker; her bill is paid, and all my other outstanding accounts +too. With your rather eccentric views about property, it will annoy +you considerably to hear that I have had a fortune left me; so that I +may not be in debt again for some considerable time." +</P> + +<P> +"To her that hath," said Paul, with a glance at the elegantly clad +figure. "It really seems to me as if you could not want it, and I need +it so much." +</P> + +<P> +"You!" echoed May. "For real inconsistency commend me to yourself!" +</P> + +<P> +"I scarcely require it for my personal wants, but money is sorely +needed to carry out my wishes for this village. As landlord, I feel +myself responsible for many things that cannot be set right without it." +</P> + +<P> +"But—but—mother always told me that Major Lessing was rich; and you +are his heir." +</P> + +<P> +"I can only assure you that I am poor," said Paul, simply. "Now, I +hope, I have proved satisfactorily to you that circumstances, tastes, +and opinions differing so greatly between us, make anything like +friendship impossible. Whenever we come across each other we quarrel; +we can't help it." +</P> + +<P> +May flushed to the roots of her hair. "Thank you," she said haughtily. +"It is kind of you to put it so clearly. I simply tried to put things +on a kinder footing, as we are your tenants and your neighbours, but I +see I have made a mistake. It surprises me to find you so painfully +prejudiced. Good-bye. I've kept you too long from your one friend." +</P> + +<P> +She opened the gate and passed on her way with never a look behind; but +Paul followed with long, rapid strides. +</P> + +<P> +"Miss Webster! stay one moment, please! I believe I've been behaving +like a perfect brute," he said hurriedly. "At first I thought you were +simply playing a game with me; but, without knowing it, we drifted into +earnestness. If any word of mine has seriously vexed you, I apologize +and retract." +</P> + +<P> +"You could even believe it possible that I might feel a ray of interest +in some of the big subjects which absorb your life," said May. +</P> + +<P> +"To have made a man acknowledge himself a prig once in an afternoon is +enough," retorted Paul. "I will not do it again. You know the worst +of me: that I have an uncertain temper, which betrays me occasionally +into blurting out unpleasant truths: that I have absolutely no small +talk. I shall be at best but a rough-and-ready friend; but if in your +kindness you still care to cultivate Sally and me, we will gratefully +accept the cultivation, and be the better for it. There's my hand on +it," and Paul stretched out his hand. And May gave him her small +gloved one for an instant with a very sunny smile. +</P> + +<P> +"And you will come to dinner soon and not feel you need talk down to +us." +</P> + +<P> +"When all the smart people have gone," Paul said smiling. +</P> + +<P> +"Smart people are your pet aversion, apparently. Is that why you would +not come lately?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; if you wish to hear the truth," Paul admitted as he turned back +to the rectory. +</P> + +<P> +"And I have made a pretty big fool of myself this afternoon," was his +mental comment as he let the gate clang behind him. "I first lost my +temper, and then let a woman twist me round her finger simply because +she is beautiful." +</P> + +<P> +Needless to relate he made no confession of his folly to Sally when he +got home that night. He resolved simply to change his tactics about +the people at the Court, and preserve safe silence about his altered +mind. +</P> + +<P> +The following afternoon he stopped at the forge to speak to the +blacksmith about some repairs that were to be set on foot on his +premises. Allison stood at the open door of the smithy with his head +turned in the opposite direction from the squire, looking after the +rector, who had just left him, with something of the sullen +satisfaction with which a bulldog might regard a vanquished foe. +Indignation still simmered when Paul accosted him. One glance at the +purple face showed the squire that, for some reason as yet unknown, the +blacksmith was in a towering passion. +</P> + +<P> +"Confound his impudence!" he said, throwing a dark look after the +rector. "I've let him know once for all that I'll have no more of it! +I'm not answerable to him, nor any man, for what I says and does. His +business, indeed, to come and tell me, if I choose to have a bit of fun +with a young fellow in a public-house. What does it hurt him to be +drunk for once in his life? A lesson I call it! just a bit of a lesson +as will teach him that his head ain't so strong as mine, nor likely to +be till he gets seasoned a bit. I give it him straight enough, and no +humbug about it. 'Look here, sir,' I says, 'you go your way, and leave +me to go mine. I don't deny as you've been kind to my old mother, and +she'd fret sore if she didn't see you. Psalm-singing and such comes +natural-like to most women; but for my part I want nothing better than +to be letted alone.'" +</P> + +<P> +Allison came to a stop; breath rather than words had failed him. Paul, +who had been an unwilling listener to this tirade against the rector, +took advantage of the pause to turn the subject. +</P> + +<P> +"Afraid I can't attend to you this afternoon sir," said Allison, when +Paul stated the object of his call. "Reason why, my mates are out for +a holiday, and this mare here is just brought in to be shod. I said at +first I would not do her to-day; she's a savage brute to tackle alone. +I don't let any one touch her but myself when the men are here. It's +wonderful now what a difference there is in the tempers of horses; but +I ain't come across the one I couldn't master in the forge. They feel +I ain't afeared on 'em." +</P> + +<P> +Boasting of his prowess in his art was fast restoring Allison's temper, +which, though violent, was not enduring. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well; I'll come again to-morrow," said Paul. +</P> + +<P> +"And you'll thank missy for lookin' up my mother as she does," said +Allison, referring to Sally's visits to the old lady, his mother. +"She's one as it does you good to see, so pleasant and free-spoken. +Now some on 'em," with a glance in the direction of the Court, "don't +look as if they thought you good enough to black their shoes, and that +don't do for me." +</P> + +<P> +"She does not do herself justice," thought Paul, as he walked away, +unconsciously taking up the cudgels in May Webster's defence; "she can +be gracious enough when she chooses. She has insisted on our being +friends, and I'll make use of the privilege to tell her the impression +she conveys, before many weeks are passed. Allison is a shrewd fellow, +and in his blundering fashion knocks many a right nail on the head." +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="60%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +The October afternoon was fading into night before Paul returned to the +cottage. The curtains of the sitting-room were still undrawn, and from +within he caught the cheerful glow of the fire, and Sally seated on the +rug before it reading by the fitful light. She sprang to her feet as +she heard his footstep, and ran to open the door; and then her merry +greeting checked itself in the utterance, for her brother's face was +grey with suppressed feeling, and his teeth chattered slightly. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it, Paul?" she asked, in a half-frightened whisper. +</P> + +<P> +"It's that poor fellow, Allison; he's dying. And I happened to pass +when the accident occurred, and gave a hand in carrying him upstairs. +It's ghastly to see a man in mortal agony." +</P> + +<P> +"What happened?" +</P> + +<P> +"A troublesome mare took to kicking as he shod her, and somehow Allison +was knocked down; and, before any one could get to the rescue, he was +so injured that the doctor does not think he can last through the +night." +</P> + +<P> +"How awful! And were you there to see it all?" Sally asked with a +shiver. +</P> + +<P> +"I had not left the forge very long. I had been talking to Allison, +and he told me the mare was a skittish one to manage; and, as I +returned, I found a group of men gathered around him, not one of whom +had even had the sense of thinking of fetching the doctor. So I first +helped them to get poor Allison to his room, and then I rushed to the +inn, got a trap, and went and brought a doctor back with me. There is +absolutely nothing to be done; but it is a satisfaction to feel that a +doctor has seen him. Taken right way, he's not half a bad sort, Sally. +He's bearing his pain like a man, and shook me by the hand to bid me +good-bye, and even sent a message to you. 'Say good-bye to missy. I'd +like to have said it myself,'" he said. +</P> + +<P> +"He shall! I'll go and see him," Sally said, with a set white face. +"If the sight of me can give him the smallest pleasure, I'll go." +</P> + +<P> +"It's rather awful, Sally; you've not had to face death yet. I would +not go if I were you." +</P> + +<P> +"We all must face it some time or other. I'll go, Paul; I shan't be +long. No! don't come with me, please; I'd rather go alone." +</P> + +<P> +"Put on a waterproof, then, and take an umbrella; it's a wild night, +and it has just come on to rain," said Paul, and, moved by an unwonted +impulse, he stooped and kissed her. +</P> + +<P> +The door of the blacksmith's house was open when Sally reached it, and, +entering softly, she removed her wet cloak and stood in the dimly +lighted parlour wondering how she should make her presence known. From +overhead came the sound of voices talking in suppressed whispers, and +once Sally shivered, for a long-drawn moan fell upon her ear. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll go and see the old mother. Perhaps I can stay with her, and set +Mrs. Allison free when I have just said good-bye to her husband," +thought Sally, as she went up the stairs. +</P> + +<P> +A near neighbour met her at the top. +</P> + +<P> +"We're just at our wits' end, miss," she said in answer to Sally's +inquiry. "The old lady's not to be told anything about it, and Mrs. +Allison, poor soul! falls out of one faint into another, and can't stay +in the room along with him who's dying." +</P> + +<P> +"May I go to him for a minute. He wanted to see me," said Sally, with +a sob. +</P> + +<P> +But, ushered into the chamber of death, Sally stood for a moment +overpowered by an awful terror: a chill which seemed as if it would +stop the beating of her heart, a terror she could not have explained. +Face to face with death! The words were familiar enough, but they had +conveyed little meaning to her. This man, who lay there, unable from +time to time to keep back a groan of agony, with the grey shadow +deepening on his face, and the drops of perspiration standing on his +forehead, would soon lie there silent and still, capable of neither +speech, nor feeling, nor hearing. He would be simply an empty shell. +It was awful!—inexpressibly awful. It all flashed through Sally's +mind in one shuddering instant; the next, she had pulled herself +together and crossed to the bedside on tip-toe, and stood looking down +at the poor, prostrate form with ineffable pity in her dark eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Lord! I can't bear it!" broke in a sort of wail from the blue +lips. "It can't last long; an hour or so will settle it." +</P> + +<P> +The words Sally recognized as an exclamation rather than a prayer, but +they brought the rector to her remembrance. If any man could help +another in his last agony surely it would be he. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Allison," she said, laying her soft hand on the grimy one that +moved up and down so restlessly upon the counterpane, "I heard you +wanted to see me. Let me do something. Is there no one else you would +like to see? Shall I fetch Mr. Curzon?" +</P> + +<P> +Allison's eyes unclosed, dimmed already by the gathering haze of death. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless you, missy; this ain't no place for you, though it's good of you +to come. Good-bye. God bless you! You get home again; it will hurt +you to see me suffer." +</P> + +<P> +Once more that half-blind appeal to the Higher Power of which Mr. +Curzon had spoken, and he spoke with no uncertain sound. He seemed to +know about it. +</P> + +<P> +"Won't the rector come?" asked Sally again. +</P> + +<P> +But Allison shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no; we'd words to-day. I can't mind what about; but it don't +matter much. I told 'un not to come." +</P> + +<P> +But as he spoke a step fell on the stair, and the next moment Mr. +Curzon pushed open the door with an expression on his face so pitiful, +so strong, that in the tension of her feeling, Sally could only sob, +and, withdrawing her hand, slip quietly away to the window. +</P> + +<P> +The rector knelt down, bringing his face to a level with the dying +man's. +</P> + +<P> +"Allison, dear fellow, I only heard this minute what had happened; and +I came. Will you let me stay?" +</P> + +<P> +"You can please yourself," said Allison; "but you can't want to be +here. We quarrelled, you and I." +</P> + +<P> +"Not I," said the rector, gently. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm mortal bad! I'm dying!" gasped the blacksmith. "It can't do no +good to watch me." +</P> + +<P> +"You'll let me say a psalm or read a prayer." +</P> + +<P> +"No. Where's the use? I wouldn't say 'em living and I can't listen +now I'm dying. I ain't no worse than others, and I'm better than some; +and what's to see on the other side, I'll learn soon enough for myself. +I'm nearly there." +</P> + +<P> +"But God is here! close to you, Allison," pleaded the rector; "asking +you even now to turn to Him, to look Him in the Face!" +</P> + +<P> +Sally's breath came in fitful gasps; she looked round the room half +expecting the visible shining of that Presence. Instead, the wind +sobbed in the chimney and the rain dashed against the window-pane. +Death was here, and darkness; but no God, thought Sally. +</P> + +<P> +The rector's hands covered his face, and through his fingers Sally saw +that great tears forced themselves in the agony of his wrestling for +that soul with God. +</P> + +<P> +"You can please yourself," said Allison, opening his eyes again. "It +will do no good, but it won't do harm." And the rector, catching at +the feeble flicker of a dawning faith, said the twenty-third Psalm +slowly on his knees: "'Though I walk through the valley of the shadow +of death, I fear no evil, for Thou art with me——'" +</P> + +<P> +A movement from the dying man made him pause and look up. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't see nothing; give me a grip of your hand. Hold tight; I'm +mortal cold." +</P> + +<P> +He did not speak again. Neighbours came and went, moistening the dying +lips with brandy; but the eyes had no gleam of recognition in them. +For an hour or more the rector sat with the great hand clasped tightly +between his own, repeating gently prayer or hymn, no word of which, he +feared, could reach the numbed brain, but certain that the Great God in +Heaven was looking down upon the sheep that had wandered so far from +Him, but whom He still claimed as His own. And Sally waited, too, +until the rector rising, bent and softly closed the eyes. Then she +knew that Allison was dead, and, slipping from the room, made her way +swiftly home, unconscious of the rain that beat upon her head, filled +only with the remembrance of the scene she had just witnessed. +</P> + +<P> +"He's dead," she said, when Paul let her in; "he's dead—whatever that +may mean. It does not mean going out like a candle—I'm certain it +does not mean that,—it means going somewhere else; and, if any one can +teach me, I must find out where. I could not die like that, Paul; it's +despairing, it's quite hopeless! I'm thankful that I'm young; that I +have time to learn. If there's no hope, no light, the mere thought of +dying would be enough to drive one mad." +</P> + +<P> +"My poor child! I did wrong to let you see anything so painful," Paul +said, gathering her into his arms. "I am afraid there is no one who +can tell you about these things. Nobody knows; that is the sad part of +it." +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Curzon can," said Sally, lifting her head from Paul's shoulder. +"He has got hold of something that you and I have missed. There is +positive conviction written on his face of the living God whom Allison +in dying was vaguely feeling after." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he's a fine fellow in his way, I don't deny it, and has the +courage of his opinions; but he can't know. Nobody does," said Paul, +doggedly. "And now, dear, we'll have supper. You will take a less +hysterical view of life and death in the morning." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A CRISIS IN A LIFE. +</H3> + + +<P> +A year had passed since poor Allison's sun set so stormily. It was +curious that his death marked the beginning of a new life for Sally; +but so it was. It had changed her attitude of mind towards things +eternal, from one of placid indifference to active inquiry. Paul's +assertion that "nobody knew" satisfied no longer, and she turned from +him to Mr. Curzon. +</P> + +<P> +"Death can't be the end of it all," she said abruptly to the rector, +when she met him a few days after Allison had passed away. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no," he answered, following her lead with quick sympathy. "Our +Lord's death and resurrection teach us that it is but the beginning." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I could believe it. Can you help me? can any one help me?" +Sally said. +</P> + +<P> +"I may be the signpost to show you the road, and I will tell you of the +things which have helped me on the road; but God is even now drawing +you to Himself by His Holy Spirit," said Mr. Curzon, earnestly. +</P> + +<P> +Thus, under Mr. Curzon's guidance, Sally began the course of study +which ended, before many months had passed away, in the passionate +conviction that in Christ alone could be found the Way, the Truth, and +the Life. +</P> + +<P> +Paul guessed at the fact that his sister was passing through some new +phase of thought, by the books he found left about the room, and by a +newly developed earnestness which underlay her natural gaiety of manner. +</P> + +<P> +"Poor child! Allison's death frightened her. And it is as well that +she should study both sides of the question," he thought. He did not +doubt that eventually she would accept his decision as final. +</P> + +<P> +It was November, and Paul came into lunch one day with an unusual air +of depression. His farming venture was proving a grievous failure, as +far as money was concerned. On every side he found himself hampered by +poverty. The summer had been a wet one, and, in common humanity, he +had had to make a considerable reduction in his farm rents; +improvements in his cottage property had led to an outlay for which he +well knew he could receive no adequate interest, and, as he had tramped +over the sodden land this morning, he had been occupied with the +anxious consideration how best to make both ends meet. +</P> + +<P> +The longer he lived at Rudham the less he liked it. He was deprived of +the society of men of his own way of thinking; and with the rector, who +in theory he cordially respected and liked, he found himself nearly +always in tacit opposition. Paul's friendship with Kitty was the only +connecting link between him and the rector; otherwise they would have +drifted hopelessly apart before now. Then, on this particular morning, +as he returned home he heard a rumour that May Webster was going to be +married to a baronet who had haunted the Court pretty frequently during +the last few months; and the hint had filled Paul with unreasoning +irritation. Not that it mattered to him whom she married, he assured +himself; but the Court had become the one bright spot to him in all the +place. +</P> + +<P> +Paul, having promised his friendship, had given it unstintingly, and +had been proud to discover that in many of the subjects which +interested him the most deeply, he had found May Webster a ready pupil; +and when she differed from him she held her own with such merry +defiance, that it gave her an added charm in his eyes. And now this +mindless, fox-hunting squire was to carry her off, and life at Rudham +would sink into one dead level of dulness. Thus it happened that he +came home in a captious mood. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the excitement, Sally? A wedding, I suppose, for the bells are +making row enough to wake the dead." +</P> + +<P> +"No, it's the Bishop," said Sally, flushing a little. "There is a +Confirmation here to-day." +</P> + +<P> +Paul's eyes travelled from Sally's crimsoning face to the white dress +she wore. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't see why the Bishop is to be welcomed like a bride, and you are +to dress like one of his bridesmaids," he said. "What a singularly +inappropriate garment for this dreary November day." +</P> + +<P> +"I am going to be confirmed, Paul." +</P> + +<P> +A long pause followed. It was the crowning vexation of a tiresome +morning; but Paul did not wish to say anything that he would afterwards +regret. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a decided step, Sally; I wonder if you have thought it over +enough? You will probably wake up from this religious craze to find +yourself bound down to a creed which your reason rejects." +</P> + +<P> +"It is conviction, not a craze," said Sally. "I have thought about +little else for a whole year, and my mind is quite made up." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, then; I have nothing more to say. You are of age, and must +decide such things for yourself; but you've sprung it upon me somewhat +suddenly, Sally. I suppose it was by Mr. Curzon's advice that you kept +your change of opinion dark?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear no! he wished me to tell you weeks ago. But I've been so +happy, I cared so much, I felt as if I could not discuss things with +any one who differed from me." +</P> + +<P> +"Then we won't discuss it," Paul said, drawing a long breath. "What +time does the thing come off? I'll go down and order the fly; I can't +let you walk up to church like that." +</P> + +<P> +"May is going to call for me; she is coming to the service." +</P> + +<P> +"Miss Webster!" said Paul, with a rather incredulous laugh. "I should +not have thought it was at all in her line." +</P> + +<P> +"She's glad; she thinks I'm right," said Sally, gently. +</P> + +<P> +It was on the tip of Paul's tongue to ask Sally if she had heard +anything of May's rumoured engagement to Sir Cecil Bland; but some fear +lest the answer should be in the affirmative held him back. When the +carriage from the Court drew up at the gate, he went down to put Sally +in, and was rewarded by a friendly nod and smile from May. +</P> + +<P> +"Aren't you coming, too?" she asked boldly. "It would make Sally so +happy if you did." +</P> + +<P> +Paul shook his head. "I don't understand these things; I leave them to +those that do." +</P> + +<P> +"I promise to bring her back safely, and I am coming to tea," went on +May, gliding over his refusal. "I've never seen that new wing of yours +since it was finished. Cottage, indeed! I call it quite a mansion!" +with a glance at the addition which had been lately built on to the +Macdonald's house, making it about double its original size. +</P> + +<P> +"A mansion you would not care to inhabit, I expect; but it will do +capitally for Sally and me," said Paul. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll decide that when I've seen it. Good-bye, then, till we meet +later. Tell Dixon to drive to the church, please." +</P> + +<P> +Paul gave the order, and went back to his new sitting-room, seating +himself before his office table, as he called the one which was placed +in the bow window. He opened his business ledgers, and congratulated +himself on the fact of having a long, quiet afternoon of undisturbed +work before him; but one more trivial interruption occurred before he +was entirely left to himself. Mrs. Macdonald knocked at the door and +stood before him arrayed in her Sunday best. +</P> + +<P> +"Shall you be wanting anything, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing whatever, Mrs. Macdonald." +</P> + +<P> +"If not, I would like to go to the church to see Miss Sally and the +Bishop. I'd slip out quiet before the end, so as not to keep the +ladies waiting for their tea." +</P> + +<P> +"Go by all means," said Paul, smiling a little over the commotion +created by a Bishop and his lawn sleeves, and a flock of girls in white +dresses and caps. +</P> + +<P> +Then his thoughts reverted to Sally's face, with its sweet seriousness +of expression, as she had started for the church, and from Sally he +passed on to May; and there his mind lingered. She was +beautiful—beautiful beyond compare; and to-day there had been an added +grace of tenderness in her manner to Sally: a protecting, motherly +care, as if she would shield her from his want of sympathy. She seemed +so much older than Sally, and yet there were but four years between +them. +</P> + +<P> +He pictured the room as it would appear when she entered it, and he +settled which of the two easy-chairs he would draw nearer to the fire, +and where he would sit himself, so that he could watch the firelight +playing on her face; and then—— He covered his face with his hands +and shut out the light, the better to understand the cause of the +fierce pain that was gnawing at his heart. +</P> + +<P> +It did not take him long to discover what had happened. He, Paul +Lessing, a man who had knocked about the world and had mixed with all +sorts and conditions of men and women, whose pulses had hitherto never +quickened their beating at the touch of a woman's hand or the sound of +a voice, found himself, at thirty-one, as helplessly and ridiculously +in love as any lad of twenty. +</P> + +<P> +With a smothered exclamation, he pushed back his chair, and began a +restless walk up and down the room. Was ever a grown man guilty of +such egregious folly before? A great gulf separated him and the woman +of his dreams: a gulf that could never be bridged over. In tastes and +in circumstances they were separated far as the poles. His love was +perfectly hopeless; and yet the notion of her marrying another, and +removing herself entirely out of his reach, was intolerable to him. +But, as an effectual cure of his madness, he knew that it was the best +thing that could happen to him. The remedy was a sharp one, but it +would be complete. +</P> + +<P> +"A few days must settle it, and, until then, I need not meet her," said +Paul, aloud. "I won't stay in this afternoon; business can take me to +the farm." +</P> + +<P> +In another minute he had gone into the village street, almost deserted +this afternoon, for most of the villagers had wandered up to the +church. Paul's road lay in the same direction; and he walked along +with rapid strides, his head bent upon his breast, his heart busied +with his new discovery, and the thought how best to live it down. He +was mingling with the crowd now, that had gathered round the +church-gate waiting for the procession of clergy that was just filing +out of the church. From inside came the throb of the organ and the +sound of singing; but Paul went upon his way, neither lifting his head +nor staying his steps, when a familiar voice close at hand arrested his +attention. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Paul! I'm so glad you've come! I <I>can't</I> see anything; lift me +up, please!" +</P> + +<P> +Paul started as he saw that he had nearly tumbled over his friend +Kitty, whose invalid carriage was drawn up as near to the gate as +possible. +</P> + +<P> +"Poor Kitty! And you want to look at the Bishop and his lawn sleeves, +and the girls in their caps, like all the rest of the village," he +said, bending over and lifting her high in his strong arms. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. I suppose you've come to see the Bishop too?" said Kitty, with a +sigh of contentment. "He's very nice, indoors; but oh! he's lovely +when he's got his scarlet coat on. But daddy says I must not think +about the clothes, but about all the boys and girls whom he will bless +to-day. They'll promise to be good, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Hush! hush!" said Paul, for the procession was upon them. And Kitty, +carried away by the thrill of the voices, steadied herself in Paul's +arms by clasping hers about his neck, and sang lustily with the rest— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"'Till with the vision glorious<BR> +Her longing eyes are blest,<BR> +And the great Church victorious<BR> +Shall be the Church at rest.'"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The last clergyman in the procession before the Bishop was the rector, +and Paul could not but be struck by the singular beauty of his look, +the joyous ring of his voice. The "vision glorious" was his at that +moment; fresh soldiers had just been sworn in to that great army, whose +Captain was Christ, and, though some might fall away, there were many +whom he prayed would die fighting. That, and more than that, was +written clearly on the rector's face. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you see him? Did you see him?" whispered Kitty, eagerly. "Isn't +he beautiful?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Paul, absently, as he put Kitty back into her carriage. +But whilst Kitty referred to the Bishop, Paul spoke of the rector. +</P> + +<P> +Then he hurried on his way, anxious not to encounter Sally or May. The +brief interval of sunshine was over, and wreaths of mist gathered along +the banks of the river, creeping gradually to the slopes above it, +dissolving into fine thick rain as the afternoon darkened into night. +And still Paul lingered about his business at the farm, until he felt +assured that all danger of coming across May was over: a conviction +justified by the fact that he met the carriage from the Court, driving +home as he returned to the village, catching a glimpse of a lady's +figure inside it. +</P> + +<P> +"How long has May been gone?" he asked, with studied carelessness, as +he let himself into he cottage and saw a girl's figure seated on the +rug before the fire. +</P> + +<P> +"She's not gone! she's here, wondering why her host was so rude as to +absent himself this afternoon. Since when, by the way, have you done +her the honour to call her by her Christian name?" And May Webster +rose from her lowly position and faced Paul with laughter in her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +Paul felt himself caught at a thorough disadvantage; he was dripping +with rain and covered with mud, and, confronted thus suddenly with the +girl of whom his heart was full, his usual readiness of speech deserted +him. +</P> + +<P> +"You! you!" he stammered. "But I saw you drive by me not a quarter of +an hour ago." +</P> + +<P> +"And thought you had timed your homecoming so as judiciously to miss +me," said May, mercilessly. "It must have been my mother; she has been +spending the day at Fairfield. I told Dixon not to come back for me as +I would walk home: a premature decision, for it has rained ever since, +and I've been waiting for it to clear up. However, I can wait no +longer; and Sally has just gone to forage out a waterproof and +umbrella." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll go up to the Court and tell them to send back the carriage," said +Paul, preparing to depart. +</P> + +<P> +"No, thank you; I will walk." +</P> + +<P> +"The village fly, then?" +</P> + +<P> +"It, or rather its horse, has had more than its proper work to-day. It +is probably now conveying the Bishop to the station." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall come with you, then; it will be quite dark before you get +home." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not afraid of it. I believe you are; there's a queer, scared look +about you, as if you had seen a ghost; you still think I was in that +carriage. Sally," turning to the girl who had just re-entered the +room, "will you tell your brother that I don't wish him to see me home? +He's very damp and miserable now." +</P> + +<P> +"And at the risk of being a little damper, I will come; it's ridiculous +to argue the point." +</P> + +<P> +With all her boasted independence May was not sorry for Paul's escort +when she stepped out into the night. The rain was descending in a +steady down pour, the wind came sighing up the valley, and the river +swept on its way, lapping against the bark with a dreary, sobbing +sound. They walked on in silence side by side until May broke it with +an impatient laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"The dreariness of the night has infected us both. You are not often +dull. You are always either amusing or interesting. Talk, please." +</P> + +<P> +"I can't talk. I've not an idea in my head except that, if the river +gets much higher, there will be a flood, and no more Rudham! And +personally, I should not care much if it swept it away and me with it." +</P> + +<P> +"You do yourself injustice; you are very interesting. Why this fit of +the blues? You are going to be ill, I expect; you looked rather ill +when you came in just now." +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit of it," said Paul, with a little laugh; "draggled and wet, +but not ill. Do you remember that you told me once, a year ago, that I +was isolating myself from my fellows? Then I felt as if I could defy +that isolation. To-day I have been conscious of it; Robinson Crusoe on +his desert island could not feel more utterly lonely. I have been +kicking against the pricks, wondering why I am condemned to a life and +a place which I hate." +</P> + +<P> +"You have no business to complain of a solitude which you have created +yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no; I blame no one." +</P> + +<P> +"And you have Sally——" +</P> + +<P> +"I <I>had</I> Sally. She was my disciple and satellite; but now I shall +always be having to take care that I don't hurt her feelings. The +slippered ease of the old relationship is dead; I can't talk out to +her." +</P> + +<P> +"But you can talk out to me as much as you like. I shan't agree with +you; but my faith, such as it is, is not new-born like Sally's. I wish +it were half as strong." +</P> + +<P> +Only under cover of the dark would May have dared to say as much. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I can't even talk to you; the friendship is dead too. That was +the ghost I saw this afternoon; it would have been a short-lived joy, +any way, for I hear you are going to leave Rudham." +</P> + +<P> +"You are talking in riddles now!" cried May. "What should kill our +friendship? and where am I going to?" +</P> + +<P> +"To Fairfield; so rumour says." +</P> + +<P> +May stopped short in her walk, and Paul heard her breath coming +unevenly. When she spoke again her voice was low, but angry. +</P> + +<P> +"You outstrip the limits of friendship in daring to tell me what the +gossips here say of me." +</P> + +<P> +"I had no intention of telling you. I suppose it slipped out because I +hate to believe it true." +</P> + +<P> +"You need not believe it; I am not going to marry Sir Cecil Bland," +said May, coldly. "What has it to do with you, may I ask?" +</P> + +<P> +"Thank Heaven!" muttered Paul, under his breath. +</P> + +<P> +"What have you against him?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing. Except that I suppose he loves you, and I love you too, and, +although I know better than you can tell me, that my love is perfectly +hopeless, I can bear it if I may let you live in my heart a little +while, as the one woman in all the world to me, the only woman I have +ever loved or ever wished to marry. That must not have been if you +were pledged to marry some one else." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, stop!" said May, laying an entreating hand upon his arm; "I feel +as if I had been so cruel, I would not rest until I had you for a +friend, but I never dreamed of this." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor I, until to-day," said Paul. "But when I heard that some one else +was likely to marry you I knew." +</P> + +<P> +"Put me back into the old niche. Can't we forget about to-night?" +</P> + +<P> +Paul laughed a little harshly. +</P> + +<P> +"Forget!" he echoed drearily. "How little women know the way a man can +love? With you I shall only rank as one of the many moths that have +singed their wings by flying too closely about you." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no! I shall think of you always as my one man-friend, to whom I +could say anything that was in my head. I shall miss him dreadfully." +</P> + +<P> +"And under no circumstances can you think of me in a different light?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know, but I think not," May said simply. "You may think it +odd, or call me heartless, but I have not yet met the man I wish to +marry. There! you see I trust you to the last. Good-bye, my friend." +</P> + +<P> +Paul bent over the hand that was put into his own and kissed it, and +went home feeling that the chill of the night had closed about his +heart. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +RIVAL SUITORS. +</H3> + + +<P> +"Where have you been, May? I have been frightened to death about you." +</P> + +<P> +The process was apparently a painless one, judging from the extreme +comfort of Mrs. Webster's surroundings: her easy-chair drawn close to +the fire but sheltered from it by a screen, the lamp on the table +adjusted to a nicety behind, the illustrated papers ready cut for use, +and the last new novel lying open on her lap. May seated herself +leisurely and stretched out her hands to the blaze before she answered. +</P> + +<P> +"I've been having tea at the cottage." +</P> + +<P> +"And came home in the wet and dark by yourself?" +</P> + +<P> +"No. Mr. Lessing saw me home." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course; I know now that your staying at home to-day to take Sally +to the confirmation was just an excuse. You did not want to come with +me to Fairfield." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I did not; but I honestly did want to go with Sally: she looked so +pretty, mother. I've not been at a confirmation since I was confirmed +myself." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't want to talk of that just now, May. Lady Bland is terribly +hurt at the way you have treated Cecil. He's quite ill, poor fellow!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry." +</P> + +<P> +"You are not," snapped Mrs. Webster, "or you would have been kinder to +him!" +</P> + +<P> +"Need we go over this oft-trodden ground again?" May asked rather +wearily. "I can only reiterate that I really can't and won't marry any +one I do not care for." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe there is the man in creation that you will care for. +It really would be wise for you to accept the one you least dislike." +</P> + +<P> +"Or not marry anybody." +</P> + +<P> +"That is a more than likely alternative. You are five-and-twenty now, +and you might have been married over and over again." +</P> + +<P> +May laughed. "I don't know why you are so keen to get rid of me. You +will be dreadfully lonely without me; not to say dull." +</P> + +<P> +"That's true enough," said Mrs. Webster, softening; "but a girl like +you ought to marry. You won't make a good old maid." +</P> + +<P> +"No," May admitted candidly. +</P> + +<P> +And this question of marriage, which was sorely perplexing the +mistress, was pressing hard also upon her maid, for pretty Rose +Lancaster, who had successfully played off her rival suitors against +each other for a year, was at last compelled to make her choice between +them. Tom Burney had that day received an offer from the squire of a +free passage to Tasmania, and a very good appointment on a farm there +with a relation of Mr. Lessing's, where, if he gave satisfaction, he +might in a few years look forward to part-ownership. +</P> + +<P> +"I only propose to part with you because agriculture does not pay, or I +have not learned the way to make it do so," the squire had said. "I +have been making up my mind to reduce my staff; and, my cousin having +lately written to me about a suitable man, it occurred to me to give +you the first offer." +</P> + +<P> +Tom coloured with pleasure. "Thank you, sir; it seems a great chance. +It would be a certainty, wouldn't it? I could take another with me." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it would be wiser for the other fellow to get a promise of work. +I might ask if there were an opening," Paul had replied. +</P> + +<P> +"It's not a man as I was thinking of, sir. It was a wife!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I beg your pardon," the squire said laughing. "But if you care +for my opinion on a subject of which I know but little, I believe quite +the wisest thing you could do would be to take out a wife with you. +She would make a home for you and keep you steady. I expect you have +some girl in your eye, Burney." +</P> + +<P> +Tom smiled rather sheepishly; it would be time enough to mention Rose +when his banns were put up. +</P> + +<P> +And that very afternoon when work was over, Tom had gone home and put +on his best clothes; then walked boldly up to the Court and demanded an +interview with Rose. She came into the servant's hall where he waited +nervously by the fire, and, giving him a careless nod, seated herself +and put her toes upon the fender. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it, Tom? I can't stop long; I'm expecting Miss Webster in +every minute." +</P> + +<P> +"It's come at last: what I've waited for," stammered Tom. "I've a +chance of giving you a home, Rose: a nice one, as far as I can make +out." +</P> + +<P> +"Where?" asked Rose, with shining eyes and parted lips, a vision of +herself as a bride, in a white frock, and handsome Tom as her +bridegroom, floating before her. +</P> + +<P> +"In Tasmania; if you love me well enough to come with me out there. +It's a wonderful offer that the squire has given me; and some day I may +bring you home almost like a lady." +</P> + +<P> +"But I don't know where it is, and I wouldn't go if I did—not with you +nor any man! What can you be thinking of to stuff me up with nonsense +like that?" Rose asked poutingly. "I'll have a home on this side of +the water, or nowhere." +</P> + +<P> +"And you shall," Tom declared passionately, "if you'll promise to wait +until I can make you one!—but I'll have your word for it. You shall +have done with Dixon and stick fast by me, or——" +</P> + +<P> +"Or what?" Rose said with rather frightened eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Or I'll go where you won't be troubled by me any more. Look here! +you've held me on for eighteen months now, and, if you cared for me +one-half as I love you, you would be ready enough to come with me to +the other side of the world, when I can make you an honest offer of a +home. I'd follow you to the world's end; ill or well, rich or poor I'd +love you just the same; you should not have a trouble that I could keep +from you. I've told you so before, and I tell you so to-night; but +it's the last time. You can take me or leave me; but I'll know now +which it is to be. It don't matter much to me where you want to live, +except that, if I don't take this offer, we must wait a bit; but I'll +know your mind about it. It must be 'yes' or 'no' to-night!" +</P> + +<P> +Happily for Rose, Miss Webster's bell pealed a noisy summons at that +moment. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't stop, Tom! I <I>really</I> can't! Miss Webster is not one who can +wait. I'll think it over and tell you sometime soon." +</P> + +<P> +"When?" asked Tom, catching her hands and holding them so tightly that +she gave a little cry. +</P> + +<P> +"Sunday. Sunday night after church; you can see me home if you like," +and with that promise Tom had to be content. +</P> + +<P> +"Mind what you are up to, Rose. Don't play with me too far," he said. +</P> + +<P> +And as Rose sat stitching in the housekeeper's room that night, her +mind busied itself over Tom's words, and the difficulty of making a +decision. It had never entered Rose's pretty head to lay this question +of marriage before God. Had she done so she would have been saved from +making a mistake, which was to leave its mark upon the whole of her +future life. Her heart drew her one way, and her ambition another. +Undoubtedly Tom, with his warm heart and openly expressed devotion, was +the man she loved the best of the many who had paid her attention; but +she might have to wait for him for years, whilst, if Dixon chose to +offer it, he could give her a home to-morrow that any girl in the +village might envy; but he had never spoken out as Tom had spoken +to-night. His wooing had not been so manly and so straight as poor +Tom's. Rose had almost made up her mind to tell him on Sunday that she +would wait for him, when a voice waked her from her reverie; and the +voice was Dixon's. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose you don't happen to know if the carriage will be wanted to +take the ladies to the station to-morrow? I heard some talk about +their going out, but I haven't had any orders." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not the one to ask! you'll find Mr. Wheeler in the pantry," said +Rose, a little sharply. +</P> + +<P> +"What's put you out to-night, I wonder?" said Dixon, coming a little +further into the room and closing the door behind him. "Had some +quarrel with that peppery lad Burney, I expect? Anyway you've been +crying about something; and ten to one it's Burney. I saw him coming +away from here, and I had the biggest mind to ask him what business he +had to be prowling round a place where he was turned off for +unsteadiness." +</P> + +<P> +"You'd best mind what you say about him!" Rose said, stitching away +with feverish rapidity. "He wants me to marry him." +</P> + +<P> +"Does he now? Banns put up on Sunday, I suppose?" said Dixon, with a +palpable sneer. +</P> + +<P> +"No; we should wait," faltered Rose. +</P> + +<P> +"I should not have thought you were of the waiting sort. Then it's +good-bye to me." +</P> + +<P> +"It will be good-bye if I promise; he'll be all or nothing. He's just +mad about me." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you've not promised yet?" asked Dixon, eagerly. "You've not been +silly enough to do that, Rose?" +</P> + +<P> +"He won't wait; I'm to tell him on Sunday night. And oh! I'm +miserable: I don't know what to do!" And Rose let her work fall in her +lap, and burst into sobbing. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't cry! don't take on! I'll tell you what to do, my dear. Promise +to marry me instead of that hot-headed fool, Burney. Settle it all +right away, and don't fash your head any more about it. There need be +no waiting—I'll go and see the vicar about the banns,—and if so be +that we can't get the rooms over the stables to ourselves, I'll ask Mr. +Lessing to give us a cottage. There! you see I'm in earnest. It would +be grand to hear your name given out in church the next Sunday as ever +is, now wouldn't it?" and Dixon pulled away Rose's hands from her face, +and smiled down on her. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I couldn't!" Rose said. "There's Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"That would settle Tom fast enough." +</P> + +<P> +Rose never knew quite how it happened; but half an hour later Dixon +left without any order for the carriage on the morrow, but with Rose's +promise that she would marry him as soon as he liked, and with her +consent that the banns should be published on the following Sunday. +Rose's silly little head was in such a whirl of delightful excitement +that, for the time being, Tom and his misery were forgotten. There was +the wedding to think of, and the clothes that must be made, and the +question of hat versus veil, for the wedding-day loomed large in the +foreground. She wondered how Miss Webster would look when she gave her +a month's notice that night; and whether Mrs. Webster would offer to +have the wedding breakfast at the Court. It was almost certain that as +Dixon was coachman, he would have the loan of the carriage; and she +would be driven to the church that day for all the world just like a +lady, and half the village would turn out to see her married. And then +Tom's large, reproachful eyes, with their expression of dumb pain, +stared at her out of the brilliant picture which her imagination +conjured. Poor Tom! how would he bear it? She comforted herself a +little with the thought that he would be quite certain now to accept +the offer of that situation abroad of which he had spoken, and she +would not be vexed by the sight of his unhappiness. +</P> + +<P> +"I must not let him meet me on Sunday night. I must write and tell him +that Dixon and I have settled it, and that he must not mind too much," +thought Rose. +</P> + +<P> +The letter was not an easy one to write, and Rose shelved it. She had +a way of shelving unpleasant subjects; but when Saturday night came she +could put it off no longer, so, fetching down her writing-case, she +spoiled a dozen sheets of paper in the effort to make her news fairly +palatable, finally dashing off an unsatisfactory scrawl, badly written +and lamely expressed; and, having folded and directed it, she flew out +into the yard to find a messenger to take it. The first who presented +himself was the groom. +</P> + +<P> +"It would be doing me a real favour if you would let Burney have this +note to-night," she said. "It's very particular;" and with the note +she shoved sixpence into the man's hand. +</P> + +<P> +He laughed as he pocketed the coin, and was laughing still when he went +back into the saddle-room, where Dixon sat smoking over the fire. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the joke, mate?" +</P> + +<P> +"A note from your girl to Burney—'very particular' she called it! +I'll warrant it's to tell him he'd better not come this way any more." +</P> + +<P> +"I dare say it is," replied Dixon, slowly. "Hand it over; I'm going +down to the village, and I'll leave it myself." +</P> + +<P> +The groom hesitated. "I think I'll stick to it; she gave me sixpence +to make sure he got it, and I wouldn't like to cheat her." +</P> + +<P> +"Stick to the sixpence but give me the letter. Who's a better right to +it than I, I should like to know? I'm as good as married already," +said Dixon, stretching out his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll promise not to forget." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not one as forgets," said Dixon, with an odd laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"And if there's any mistake you'll settle it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I'll settle it." +</P> + +<P> +The groom gave the note and went out whistling; he was not quite easy +in his mind about the missive. Left to himself, Dixon turned the +envelope round in his fingers, examining it back and front. The +blotted writing gave evidence of hurry, the blistered paper testified +to tears, and Dixon broke into an oath. +</P> + +<P> +"The little jade!—that's the second time she's cried about him this +week to my certain knowledge," he said aloud. "She would not dare to +chuck me now, though, even if she does love the other one; but I've +more than half a mind to put this in the fire. It may be to tell him +that she's settled things with me; but it would not be a bad joke to +let him hear it for himself in church, and her telling him nothing +about it, good or bad, would let him know she did not care much for +him." +</P> + +<P> +In another moment there was a brief blaze in the fire, and Rose's note +was reduced to ashes. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning Tom Burney rose with the feeling that he trod on air, +such a strange exhilaration of spirit possessed him. +</P> + +<P> +He had heard nothing from Rose during the week, and her very silence +filled him with hope. If she meant to refuse him, he was almost sure +that she would have put him out of his misery before this. He was not +generally a vain fellow, but to-day his toilet was a matter of moment; +his tie was re-adjusted half a dozen times, and he asked his landlady +to give him a chrysanthemum for his buttonhole. +</P> + +<P> +"Goin' courtin'?" she said, with a laugh as she pinned it in for him. +And Tom coloured rosy red, but said nothing. +</P> + +<P> +He started early for church, hoping that he might catch a glimpse of +Rose as she passed in with the other servants from the Court; but +either she had got there before him, or, for some unknown cause, she +had been detained at home. Dixon presently appeared, smart and neat, +giving Tom an affable nod as he passed up the path to the church; but +Tom's eyes were fixed straight in front of him, and he ignored the +greeting. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll not pretend to be friends when I ain't," he said to himself. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the hurrying bell warned the outside group of stragglers to +make their way into church; and Tom took his usual seat at the end of +the nave. It is to be feared that his thoughts that morning were not +occupied with devotion. Prayer and psalm passed unheeded over his +head; but when, at the end of the second lesson, there was a pause, and +the rector turned over the leaves of a book in front of him, Tom lifted +his head and waited for the banns that would follow. Before long he +might be listening to the publishing of his own. +</P> + +<P> +"I publish the banns of marriage between William Dixon, bachelor, and +Rose Lancaster, spinster, both of this parish.…" +</P> + +<P> +Was it some ghastly nightmare, Tom wondered, as he clutched at the seat +in front of him? But the suppressed grin on the faces near him, the +foolish smile with which the publishing of banns is so often received +in a village church, convinced him that he had heard aright. The blood +was rioting to his brain, and the beating in his throat made him put up +his hand with the vain endeavour to loosen his collar lest he should +choke there and then with the passion that could find no outlet. For +one instant he was possessed by a wild wish to stand up and forbid the +banns; but what end would be gained by making himself a greater +laughing-stock to the village than he was at present, for already he +felt the derisive finger of scorn pointed at him as the man whom Rose +had jilted. Even now he saw one or two of the lads nudge each other +and look at him with curious eyes. To be watched at such a moment was +torture, and, like an animal in pain, Tom longed for solitude. He +groped blindly under the seat for his hat, made his way to the door and +slipped out. He stumbled on like a man in delirium, looking neither to +the right nor left, but following instinctively the path across the +fields which led to the river. The turbulence of its grey waters, as +it rushed on to the sea, seemed most in keeping with the wild, wicked +thoughts that surged unchecked through his brain, and were bearing him +he knew not whither. He threw himself upon the long, rank grass on the +bank, still wet with the heavy mist of night, and, pillowing his chin +in his hands, watched with dilating eyes the swirling river as it swept +by. A giddiness dimmed his vision, a singing filled his ears. +</P> + +<P> +"If I slipped over and was carried along with it, there'd be an end of +it all," thought Tom. And the chill wind came sighing across the +water, and shook the heavy rushes at the edge, which seemed +whisperingly to echo his thought, "an end of it all." +</P> + +<P> +Then Tom half-angrily roused himself, and pressed his hands to the eyes +that burned like fire, and tried to collect his bewildered senses. +What!—slip out of life like a drowned rat and never see Rose again, +nor tell her what he knew of the man she had chosen in preference to +him. She would be glad to know he was dead, he told himself with +fierce bitterness. She had played with him like a cat with a mouse for +more than a year but in the long run the mouse died squeaking. Surely +she could not be so false-hearted as to break faith with him to-night; +she would meet him and say good-bye? She <I>should</I> meet him, whether +she liked it or not; and if Dixon were with her so much the +better,—and Tom's fists clenched involuntarily. +</P> + +<P> +For hours and hours he wandered, following the windings of the river, +until, as the November sun paled and sank in a bank of grey cloud, he +discovered that he was some six or eight miles from Rudham, and that +his knees were knocking together with mingled emotion and fatigue. A +wayside inn seemed a haven of refuge to him in his exhausted condition. +Through the red blind of the bar a light shone cheerily, and Tom +entered the door without knocking, and, seating himself on the settle +by the fire, ordered sixpennyworth of brandy. +</P> + +<P> +"Hot water or cold? You'll have it hot, if you take my advice," said +the landlady, with a glance at the bloodshot eyes that glared so +strangely out of the deathly white face. +</P> + +<P> +"Neither, thanks," said Tom, tossing off the raw spirit at a gulp. +</P> + +<P> +It tasted to him like so much water; it did not muddle his brain, it +cleared it, it nerved him for that interview with Rose. +</P> + +<P> +"Another sixpennyworth, please," he said, laying down a shilling on the +table. +</P> + +<P> +The landlady paused, and coughed behind her hand; she had sons of her +own. +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't if I was you," she said, pushing him back sixpence. +"You've took as much as is good for you, and ne'er a drop of water. +</P> + +<P> +"You can serve me or leave it alone," said Tom, angrily. "I'm ill; I +need it. It tastes like so much water." +</P> + +<P> +The landlady shook her head but gave him the brandy, and Tom, having +swallowed it, bade her a civil good night and went on his way. +</P> + +<P> +The landlady hurried to the door and looked after him; he was walking +very fast but quite straight. +</P> + +<P> +"It may have gone to his head, but it's not got into his legs," she +said, a note of admiration in her voice. +</P> + +<P> +Tom meanwhile hurried on to the station, which he knew to be not more +than half a mile away. He was just in time to catch the one down-train +that ran on Sunday evening, which would land him in Rudham in time for +evening service—not that Tom meant to go to church that night. He +would walk outside and wait for Dixon and for Rose. Many a time the +two men had escorted Rose back to the Court, one on either side. This +would be the last. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A FRIEND IN NEED. +</H3> + + +<P> +Rose Lancaster had never looked prettier than that Sunday night, as she +tripped into church, a soft ruffle of fur setting off the delicate fair +face, a large velvet hat resting on the golden hair. Dixon, with a +proud air of possession, walked in behind her, and, seating himself at +her side, proved his proprietorship by producing her Prayer-book from +his pocket, and finding all her places for her throughout the service. +When Rose dared to lift her head and look about her, she gave a sigh of +relief to see that Tom was not present. +</P> + +<P> +"I dare say he thought I should like it best if he stayed away," she +thought. She was thankful that the question of her marriage was +decided and well decided. +</P> + +<P> +The moon had risen when the service ended. There was a group of people +collected outside the church-gate discussing the village gossip before +they dispersed to their several homes. +</P> + +<P> +Dixon pulled Rose's arm through his own, and, not allowing her to +linger for a moment, led her off. They did not either of them notice +that a man with a hat well pulled over his eyes followed them at some +little distance; and not until the village was left behind, and the +pair had turned into the road, which, with many a wind, led up to the +Court, did he attempt to lessen the space which separated them. Then, +as unconsciously Rose and Dixon walked more slowly, Tom quickened his +steps, and was alongside of them before they realized his presence. He +pushed back his hat; and Rose broke into a smothered cry of alarm as +the moonlight fell upon the haggard face and wild eyes of her rejected +lover, and she clung the tighter to Dixon's arm. +</P> + +<P> +Tom's laugh was not pleasant to listen to. "You asked for my company, +Rose, but you don't seem best pleased now I've come," he said; "but, +pleased or not, I'll walk with you to-night, and say a thing or two +it's right for you to hear before we part company for good." +</P> + +<P> +"I wrote to you," stammered Rose. "I sent it by a special messenger on +Saturday night to tell you that, after thinking things over, +I'd—I'd——" +</P> + +<P> +"She made up her mind that I should be the best husband for her," said +Dixon, putting a protecting arm round Rose's shoulder, and finishing +off the sentence she found it so difficult to frame. +</P> + +<P> +The words and the action alike maddened Tom. Was Rose to be protected +from him when, to give her pleasure and shield her from pain, had been +his one thought for the last eighteen months? +</P> + +<P> +"It's only fair that, as she's chucked me for you, she should know the +sort of man she's got hold of," he stuttered. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't lose my place for being so drunk that it took the parson the +best part of the night to see me home, did I?" sneered Dixon. +</P> + +<P> +"No, you didn't. But Rose shall hear now who plotted to make me drunk +that night, and who informed against me next day. It was you, you sly, +sneaking scamp!—deny it if you dare? If it comes to character who's +got the better one, you or I? No man can throw a dirty, dishonest +trick at me! And you! Who squares the corn-merchant? Who cooks every +bill that goes into the Court? Don't I know it? Have I lived nearly a +year under the same roof that covered you, without finding out pretty +well how you've managed to feather your nest so as to make it fine +enough for the pretty bird you've caught; and if I'd chosen to round on +you when you got me turned out, where would you be now, I'd like to +know? You would not be coachman at the Court." +</P> + +<P> +Dixon had turned livid with rage, but kept his head. +</P> + +<P> +"You are a poor, drunken fool, and don't know what you are saying, or +I'd make you swallow your words." +</P> + +<P> +"You wouldn't! I could prove them!" went on Tom, choking with passion. +"And as you've cheated in work, you've cheated in love. You've cheated +me, and you've cheated that one as followed you sobbing and crying from +the place where you last came from, and who you'd promised faithful to +marry, and who you'd walked with for three years and more. I had the +story from the woman where I lodge. The girl spent the night there, +and she was pretty nigh broken-hearted. She'd even got her +wedding-gown." +</P> + +<P> +Dixon sprang across the road like a tiger, and gave Tom such a swinging +box on the ear that, for a moment, he reeled again. And then, all the +devil in Tom was loosed, and he leaped on his foe, gripping him by the +throat until every vein in his forehead stood out in blue knots. The +action was so unexpected and so rapid that Dixon found it impossible to +free himself. The men swayed to and fro in each other's embrace, +finally falling heavily together with a sickening thud upon the road. +Tom was uppermost, and picked himself up with a rather ghastly smile, +but Dixon lay there rigid and motionless. +</P> + +<P> +"Get up!" said Tom, poking him with the toe of his boot. "You won't be +so ready to interfere with me another time." But Dixon did not stir. +</P> + +<P> +Rose, who had tried to stop the quarrel by every artifice in her power, +knelt down by the side of her lover. And suddenly a cry so shrill, so +despairing, broke the air, that Tom's heart stood still and the blood +froze in his veins. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom! Tom!—you wicked man, you've killed him!" she shrieked. +</P> + +<P> +And Tom, sobered by the cry, and realizing in all its horror the +meaning of the words, turned like guilty Cain and fled. There was but +one place for him now: the river—the river, and the end of it all. He +was making for it straight, flying by the nearest cut across the +fields, leaping ditches, scrambling through hedges, regardless of the +brambles that scored his face and hands. Like a hare hunted by the +hounds he fled; away from his own guilty action, away from the woman he +loved, to the river which would sweep him swiftly, painlessly to rest +and forgetfulness. But would it? He had stumbled accidentally into +the path which led towards the cottage where he lodged, and turned his +head as he ran to take one last glance at the light which glimmered in +the window. He could see the river now; he was nearing the brink. +There was but one field between him and it, when he became conscious of +a pursuing step. Somebody was already on his scent. The question now +was whether he should die by his own act, or be delivered over to the +terrible hands of justice; and at that thought Tom redoubled his speed +to outstrip his pursuer. It was a desperate race, for his strength was +nearly spent. His long fast had told upon him, and the fictitious +power of the spirit he had swallowed had passed away. His breath was +coming in quick, short gasps. His foot caught in a tussock of grass, +and he fell face foremost to the ground, and, before he could regain +his feet, a hand was on his collar. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-163"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-163.jpg" ALT="Before he could regain his feet, a hand was on his collar." BORDER="2" WIDTH="390" HEIGHT="626"> +<H3> +Before he could regain his feet, a hand was on his collar. +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +"Let me go! Let me go!" he cried, struggling desperately in the hands +of his capturer. "If I've killed him I'm ready to die too. You can't +do more than hang me! One more moment and I'd have been in the river. +Let me go, I say!" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall <I>not</I> let you go; you are either mad or drunk—incapable of +taking care of yourself," said a low, clear voice; and Tom was lifted +to a standing posture by the rector's strong arms. +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="60%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +When Dixon had called late on Saturday night to ask the rector to put +up his banns on the morrow, Mr. Curzon's thoughts flew straight to Tom. +So this was the end of his love-story, poor fellow! and he feared that +it would go hardly with the lad. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe he will come to see me to-morrow. And, if not, I will see him," +he had said. +</P> + +<P> +He had noticed with satisfaction that Tom was in his accustomed place +on Sunday morning, and did not see him slip out of church after the +publishing of the banns; but on Sunday night he missed him, and, the +minute service was ended, he set off for the cottage where he lodged. +He had reached the field-path which led to it, when he heard the sound +of footsteps that stumbled in their running, and, pausing to look +round, he saw a figure, which he did not immediately recognize in the +moonlight as Tom's, dashing across the pathway in the direction of the +river. Almost before he knew what he was doing the rector gave chase, +for he felt the man meant mischief: a conviction which grew into +certainty as he gained upon the runaway, and recognized him as the man +whom he sought. +</P> + +<P> +Tom attempted no further resistance, and, from his incoherent +utterances, Mr. Curzon presently gathered what had occurred. +</P> + +<P> +"And you ran off and left Rose with her dead lover? I could not have +believed you such a coward, Tom!" he said, unable to keep back the +indignation and scorn he felt. "This is no place for you and me; we +must go back at once, and see if anything can be done." +</P> + +<P> +Nothing was said as the two hastened back to the spot where Dixon was +left lying; but, to the utter astonishment of both, when they arrived +there, Rose and Dixon had gone. +</P> + +<P> +"Either some vehicle has driven by which has conveyed Dixon to the +Court, or he was, by God's mercy, only stunned," said the rector. +"We'll go on and find out." +</P> + +<P> +Tom made no answer, but followed the rector's lead. In a kind of dumb +despair he felt he was walking to meet his fate. They made their way +first to the stables, anxious not to give the alarm at the house until +they knew the extent of the mischief. The usual orderly quiet +prevailed, and, in response to the rector's knock, the groom, who had +played such a faithless part by Rose, appeared. +</P> + +<P> +"Is Dixon in? Can I see him for a moment?" asked Mr. Curzon, guardedly. +</P> + +<P> +"He came in, sir, about a quarter of an hour since, but he's gone +straight up to bed. He'd a nasty fall—did not know quite how he'd +done it, slipped up on his heel, he said, and fell on the back of his +head. Rose Lancaster was with him, and seemed terrible cut up about +it, said he lay like a dead thing; and she would never have got him +home if it had not been that a cart drove by and gave 'em both a lift." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you. Tell Dixon that I'll come round in the morning to see how +he is." +</P> + +<P> +"We need do nothing more to-night; your worst fear is not realized," he +said, as he and Tom turned towards home. "Now you will come back to +supper with me, and we will trace your sin to its very root, please +God. You've had a warning that I think you are not likely to forget." +</P> + +<P> +But Tom, in the sudden relief from the horrible fear that he had +inadvertently taken the life of a fellow creature, had broken into a +passion of sobs, shedding such tears as a man sheds but once in a +lifetime—scalding tears of bitter repentance and shame. +</P> + +<P> +He and Mr. Curzon sat talking far into the night, and Tom told the +story truly, keeping nothing back. +</P> + +<P> +"You've let drink and passion get the upper hand, Tom. You have put +the love of a woman before the love of God, and you've come near to +wrecking your life and hers in consequence. It would not have mended +matters if you had hurried yourself into another world to which you +have given so little thought, would it? It was a mad, wicked thought! +a thought of the devil's own suggestion; but you are saved for the +beginning of a better life, a new life in new surroundings." +</P> + +<P> +Tom glanced up quickly. "Not in Tasmania," he said. "The squire won't +send me, after this." +</P> + +<P> +"You'll tell him about it, then," replied Mr. Curzon, with a +heart-throb of thanksgiving that Tom was ready to face out the +consequences of his action. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh yes; I shall tell him. He might hear it any way, but I'd rather +tell him myself." +</P> + +<P> +"Very good. Now you had better go home to bed, and, if you have never +said a real prayer before, you will say one to-night, Tom, to the God +who has saved you from falling over a precipice of crime." +</P> + +<P> +Tom nodded; his heart was too full to speak. +</P> + +<P> +When the morning broke it found the rector in his study where Tom had +left him, still upon his knees, for here and there, in this hurrying +nineteenth century world, there is yet found a disciple who, like the +Master whom he serves, will spend whole nights in prayer. Was not the +salvation of a soul at stake? +</P> + +<P> +A fresh development of Rose Lancaster's love-affairs was brought to Mr. +Curzon's notice on Monday, for the first person he met, as he left the +rectory in the morning, was Rose herself—a crumpled dishevelled Rose, +whose toilet gave evidence of hurry, and whose eyes were red with +weeping. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, sir, I've come because I didn't know what to do. We're all in +dreadful trouble!—Dixon's gone!" +</P> + +<P> +"Not dead!" cried the rector in horror. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no; he's run away. And oh, it's cruel, cruel! to have used me like +this," said Rose, her sobs bursting out afresh. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what has made him do it? Has he left no note behind him?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a line—nor a message for me," replied Rose. "Only a scrawl in +pencil which the groom found on the saddle-room table, to say that +nobody need try to trace him. And only to think that our banns were +put up yesterday." +</P> + +<P> +"I think you are wasting your tears over a heartless scamp!" said the +rector, a little impatiently. "Did you come with any message from the +Court?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir; I only came to ask you if I ought to tell?" +</P> + +<P> +"To tell what?" +</P> + +<P> +"All that happened last night. There was a dreadful quarrel between +Dixon and Tom Burney; and that's how Dixon got hurt. He was stunned, +and I thought he was dead; and Tom ran off, and, when Dixon came to +himself, his one notion was that I was not to tell any one how he came +by his fall." +</P> + +<P> +"So you promised to back him up in a lie!" said the rector, coldly. +"One can scarcely wonder that you wished to keep the thing quiet, +however. You've terribly misused God's good gift of a pretty face, +Rose. You have played with two men; and chosen the wrong one, and +driven the other half off his head with misery. Mercifully the good +God has saved you from what must have been a miserable marriage, for +there is more in Dixon's disappearance than we can see just yet." +</P> + +<P> +Rose's tears dried with her gathering indignation. It had not occurred +to her to blame herself in any way; she felt rather in the position of +the ill-used heroine of a tragedy in real life. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you think I ought to tell," she said a little sulkily. +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly think your mistress ought to know exactly what happened. +You need not tell any one else, that I know of." +</P> + +<P> +So Rose returned to the Court greatly crestfallen; and her account of +the quarrel, and Tom's vague threats about Dixon's character, put Mrs. +Webster on to the right clue as to the causes of his sudden flight. He +was found to have been guilty of repeated acts of dishonesty, so +cleverly concealed that, but for the fear that Tom would report him, he +might have gone on for years longer, respected and trusted by his +employers. As the time seemed ripe for flight, however, he had taken +with him the change of a big cheque that Mrs. Webster had given him to +cash on the Saturday, and which he had told her glibly that he could +not get cashed until the Monday. Each fresh revelation filled Rose +with misery and shame; and, behind all, was the one fact that she had +kept to herself: the memory of Tom's mention of that other girl that +Dixon had jilted—the crowning taunt which had hurried Dixon into +showing fight. +</P> + +<P> +"And it must have been true, or it would not have made him so angry," +thought Rose. +</P> + +<P> +It was a bitter pill for the vain little thing to swallow: the +conviction that she had all along occupied the second place in Dixon's +affections, and that he had cast her away, like that other girl, +without any compunction. Tom would not have done it; and at the +remembrance of him Rose's eyes filled with tears. Rose was returning +from the village, whither she had been sent on a message, and she +shivered a little as she passed the scene of the last night's disaster; +and her alarm found expression in a little cry when she saw Tom Burney +standing there, too, and yet there was nothing to terrify her in the +deprecating glance of his troubled eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Rose," he said, stretching out his hands, "I don't wonder that you +hate the sight of me, but you can afford to speak kindly to me for this +once? God knows I'm sorry enough for what I've done, heart sorry. I +came here to look at the place again, where I nearly killed a man, just +to let it burn in so that I mayn't forget." +</P> + +<P> +"But—but—you can't have heard that he's not much hurt even? that he's +run away and taken a lot of money that does not belong to him?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh yes," said Tom, drearily. "But that does not alter things; I can't +forget that I nearly killed him—and myself." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Tom, not that! not that!" cried Rose, for the first time pierced +by a pang of keen remorse. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. I should have drowned myself if Mr. Curzon had not stopped me," +said Tom, simply. "I was mad, I think, with misery and drink." +</P> + +<P> +Then Rose understood the full meaning of the rector's words that +morning. +</P> + +<P> +"I did not mean to try and see you before I went away," went on Tom, +brokenly; "but I'm glad of the chance to ask your forgiveness for the +hurt I might have done to the man you wished to marry." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh don't! please don't talk like that!" said Rose, Tom's utter +self-abasement and humility rousing all her better nature. "Don't you +see that it's you who ought to forgive me for the cruel way I've +treated you; and if you'd died, Tom, and my wickedness had killed you, +how could I have ever lifted up my head again? I see now how wicked +I've been. I wanted to marry Dixon because he promised to give me +everything I liked: a pretty house and a little servant, and pretty +clothes and things. It was not because I loved him best." +</P> + +<P> +Tom threw back his head with a little cry. +</P> + +<P> +"Rose," he said, coming a step nearer. "Rose, my dear; it can't hurt +to tell me now. In two days I'm going away for good and all. I have +told the squire all about it, and he is going to overlook it and send +me across the seas just the same as if nothing had happened; but when +I'm gone, it would make me happy to know that you had ever loved me +just a little bit." +</P> + +<P> +"I do," said Rose. "I think I've loved you all the time." +</P> + +<P> +Tom drew a long breath, but did not attempt to come closer. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," he said, with an odd thrill in his voice. "I'll go away +and think of it. It will help me to be good, for I'll have a try at +that, Rose, my dear. I'll keep clear of the drink; I'm going up to the +rector to-night to tell him I'm ready to sign. He asked me to do it +before; and don't I wish I had listened to him! But now I'll do it +without the asking." +</P> + +<P> +There was some difference in Tom that Rose felt but could not define, +some influence over him that was stronger than her own. She had been +conscious before that she had but to speak and he would try his utmost +to carry out her whim; but to-day, miserable as he was, oppressed by +the weight of sin, she felt respect for a certain strength of purpose +that seemed developed in him. Mr. Curzon was right; she had chosen the +wrong man. Never had she valued Tom's love as she did now when she was +just about to lose it. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you are going directly?" she almost whispered. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I leave here the day after to-morrow, and I sail in about a +fortnight. The squire thought the sooner I was out of the way the +better." +</P> + +<P> +"Shall you ever come back?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor ever write?" asked Rose, with a sob in her throat. +</P> + +<P> +"That's as may be; I'd write to one who cared." +</P> + +<P> +"I care. Write to me, please?" +</P> + +<P> +She was looking at him with pleading eyes, but he would not trust +himself to return her glance. +</P> + +<P> +"Rose," he said, "there's not the woman now that I would ask to be my +wife. I'm guilty, before God, of two black sins; but if He gives me +time to live it down and earn a clean name again——" +</P> + +<P> +"He will! He will!" said Rose. "And, Tom, it does not matter if it's +years, I'll wait." And then she put her arms round his neck and kissed +him. +</P> + +<P> +His face was ashen grey; his arms ached with the longing to return her +embrace and hold her close to his heart, but he let her go. +</P> + +<P> +"Before God, Rose, my darling, I'll live worthy of your kiss! Maybe it +won't be long before I dare return it." +</P> + +<P> +The next instant he was gone, not daring to look back at her. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +KITTY'S CHRISTMAS TREE. +</H3> + + +<P> +"The Websters are off to London, Paul," said Sally, about two days +after Tom's departure. +</P> + +<P> +Paul started at the sudden mention of the name. +</P> + +<P> +"I did not think they intended to go to town until after the New Year. +Mrs. Webster dilates largely upon the superiority of a Christmas in the +country versus a Christmas in London; but, I suppose, it is as sincere +as most of her statements?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think May has had more to do with it than her mother. She says Mrs. +Webster has fussed a good deal over Dixon's flight, she trusted him so +thoroughly. And May thinks it will be easier to get a good coachman in +London, and that it will take off her mother's thoughts from an +unpleasant subject. She now has visions of Dixon's return in company +with an armed body of burglars, and prophesies cheerfully that they +will all be found dead in their beds one morning, and that the house +will be ransacked." +</P> + +<P> +Paul laughed. "Under the circumstances Miss Webster is wise to remove +her forcibly to London," he said. But he privately conjectured that +May's real reason for flight lay in her desire to get away from +himself. "Has anything been heard of Dixon?" he went on. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing. I don't think any very keen search has been made for him. +Mrs. Webster declares that she would far rather lose her money than +appear in a court of law, or have her name bandied about in the papers. +I think, Paul, that if you approve I shall be off to London, too, when +the New Year comes." +</P> + +<P> +"In what capacity?" asked Paul, resignedly. "As a sister or something?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear, no; you know I've always wanted to join one of those +settlements of girls at the East End, who work under the management of +Miss Grant. She wrote a little while ago to tell me she would have a +vacancy in the settlement soon after Christmas. My work would lie +chiefly amongst factory girls, getting up statistics about their hours +of work and their housing, and my play would be recreation evenings +with them." +</P> + +<P> +"But this is what you have always talked of doing. I expected you to +take up quite different lines now: to district visit, and take classes +on Sundays, under the guidance and supervision of the rector." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't feel the least fitted for it; I know very little about it. +Mr. Curzon thinks it would be a great pity for me to abandon the work +to which I feel myself drawn. I like life in London far better than in +the country." +</P> + +<P> +"I quite agree with you," interposed Paul. +</P> + +<P> +"And I think that my change of opinion about religious things will +help, rather than hinder me in my work," continued Sally, with a slight +effort. +</P> + +<P> +"Let us hope it may," said Paul, in a tone that implied a doubt on the +subject. "Anyway, I wish you to follow your own plan of life. I think +women ought to be as free as men to choose what they will do. +But"—with a glance from the window—"Miss Kitty's carriage stops the +way. I must go and see what she wants." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Kitty," he began, almost before he had reached the gate, "I +thought you had forgotten all about me! It is days, almost weeks, I +think, since you've paid me a call." +</P> + +<P> +"It's because it has rained nearly every day and I've not been out at +all; and there are such a lot of things I want to ask you about." +</P> + +<P> +Paul was Kitty's referee on every subject. "What is the first, I +wonder?" he said, smiling down at her. +</P> + +<P> +"Bend down, please, Mr. Paul. It's a secret." +</P> + +<P> +And Paul brought his ear to a level with Kitty's mouth. +</P> + +<P> +"Do boys like Noah's Arks?" +</P> + +<P> +Paul straightened himself with a burst of laughter. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought you would know. Nurse said you'd be sure to know," Kitty +said, much injured by his untimely mirth. +</P> + +<P> +"It's just because I don't that I am laughing," said Paul, whose +remembrance of childhood was unconnected with any scriptural game. +That he should be solemnly consulted about one seemed extremely +ludicrous. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you did not have one?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I did not." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose it won't do, after all," said Kitty, dejectedly. "And it's +a real beauty; it cost half a crown." +</P> + +<P> +"Really! That's a big price. I should think it might do for any one. +After all, an ark might come in handy soon, if we are going to have a +flood. Who's the happy boy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you are shouting!" cried Kitty, warningly. "And it's a secret." +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon," said Paul, penitently. "Shall I look in and give +an opinion?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; you and Sally, too. Perhaps you would come to tea with me this +afternoon? Daddy is gone to a Congress, or he could have told me +everything." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we will come—Sally and I." +</P> + +<P> +"And then I can tell you all about it, for Nurse knows but has promised +not to tell." +</P> + +<P> +"We will try to be as trustworthy as Nurse," Paul said with a +reassuring nod. +</P> + +<P> +So, over tea and toast, after three false guesses on Paul and Sally's +part, Kitty divulged her tremendous secret, which turned out to be that +daddy had promised that when she was ten years old she should give a +Christmas-tree party to every child in Rudham from ten years and under, +and the whole responsibility of choosing the presents and assorting +them should devolve upon her. For months past Kitty had been making +out her list of the children she would have to invite, rather +bewildering the villagers by her feverish anxiety to discover the ages +of their offspring; but the choosing of suitable presents for her +guests was a far more difficult task. A large box of toys had arrived, +by her father's order, from a neighbouring town, from which Kitty could +make a selection; she had spent one whole day poring over them. Girls +were easy enough to please, but boys' tastes were quite a different +matter. So Nurse had finally suggested that Mr. Lessing should be +taken into confidence. Happily, by the afternoon he had grasped the +gravity of the situation, and he discussed the varying merits of tops, +marbles, horses, and carts as earnestly as even Kitty could desire. He +still felt a lurking desire to laugh when he saw the Noah's Ark, which +cost half a crown, set apart in a place by itself on Kitty's couch. +From time to time she laid a caressing hand upon it. It was still +unallotted, and Kitty gave a quivering sigh of excitement as she +glanced down her crumpled list. +</P> + +<P> +"I had meant this for Tommy Baird," she said, looking down at it +fondly. "It's quite the best thing I have—and he's the oldest +boy,—and it's very pretty, daddy thinks; but you say it won't do." +</P> + +<P> +"I!" cried Paul, aghast. "I never said anything of the kind." +</P> + +<P> +"You laughed at it! and you said something about a flood." +</P> + +<P> +"Was not the ark connected with a flood? You know better than I." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty looked from Paul to Sally with distress on her face. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course," she said, a little petulantly. "But you said there might +be another—and there can't be, daddy says." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course there can't," said Paul, a little hurriedly, feeling it +scarcely fair to make a joke to such a sensitive little girl. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here! I'm writing a ticket for Tommy Baird, and I shall tuck it +under the elephant's trunk. Do you think he will hold it fast?" +</P> + +<P> +"Then it will do, after all," said Kitty, greatly relieved. +</P> + +<P> +But when Paul and Sally were gone, and all the excitement and joy of +the tea-party, and the allotting of her presents, was over, Kitty's +mind reverted to the flood. Mr. Paul had meant something which he +would not explain to her. Whilst the perplexing thought was still in +her mind, she heard her father's latchkey turn in the lock of the front +door, and he popped his head into the room where she lay with a merry +laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm home, Kitty. I'll be down in a minute, but I must get my things +off first. It is raining cats and dogs." +</P> + +<P> +The words confirmed Kitty's worst fears. That is how it must have +rained before that first great flood, when the waters crept up and up, +and the people first climbed the hills, until the waters reached them +there; and at last there was nothing to be seen anywhere but a waste of +water and one little ark that floated on the top. By the time Mr. +Curzon came and seated himself by her side, Kitty's eyes were round +with the terror of the picture that her too vivid imagination had +painted. Her father, quick to read each passing emotion on the face +that was dearest to him in the whole world, stooped down and kissed her. +</P> + +<P> +"My little Kitty is in one of her frightened moods. She must tell me +all about it." +</P> + +<P> +"It's the flood," Kitty whispered. +</P> + +<P> +"What flood, darling?" +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Paul said we might have one." +</P> + +<P> +"Did he? He must have meant that the river might overflow its banks; +and perhaps it will after such a wet season." +</P> + +<P> +"But it would drown us all." +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit of it. The cottages near the river might have some water in +them; but unless it were something quite unprecedented, the water would +not get to the upper floor of any house—and certainly won't come near +us or the church and schools, so you may dismiss your fear of a flood. +You ought not to have had it anyway, because God has promised that the +world shall not be flooded totally again. Shall I tell you what a very +good man wrote years ago—many hundreds of years ago—about floods? +'The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice, the +floods lift up their waves … but yet the Lord who dwelleth on high, +is mightier.' If he could learn that, all that long time ago, you +ought not to be afraid now, ought you?" +</P> + +<P> +"And you don't think God will let it come before my Christmas tree, do +you daddy? Because, if all the little children were obliged to stay +upstairs, to keep out of the way of the water, they could not come," +said Kitty, giving a strictly practical turn to the conversation. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Curzon smiled and stroked Kitty's head. +</P> + +<P> +"That is more than I can say, darling. Although your Christmas tree +seems such a big thing to you, it is only a little one; and if it were +put off it would be a disappointment to you, but not a trouble, you +see." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty was silenced but not satisfied, and each night added a postscript +to her prayers that the flood, if it was to come, should not occur +before her Christmas tree. It was to be held in the school-room on +Christmas Eve. The secret had exploded now, for the invitations were +out, each one written by Kitty herself, and personally delivered in the +course of her morning rambles. Paul and Sally were to come as humble +helpers. December 23rd was a particularly wild, wet day; but a gleam +of sunshine at the close of it produced a rainbow so brilliant in hue +that Kitty regarded it as a written sign in the heavens that the flood +would be averted, certainly until after her Christmas tree. But it was +such a brief gleam of sun! All night through the rain fell, and the +wind, which had been fairly quiet the previous day, rose to a perfect +tempest, roaring in the tree-tops round the rectory, groaning in the +chimneys, and dashing the rain in sheets against poor little Kitty's +window-pane; and when in the morning Nurse drew up the blind, and burst +into an exclamation of surprise, Kitty knew that her worst fear was +realized, and that her prayer had been unavailing. The "Lord that +dwelt on high" did not seem to have listened. She tried to nerve +herself to bear the tidings which Nurse conveyed in as cheerful a tone +as she could assume. +</P> + +<P> +"Miss Kitty, my dear, what do you think has happened? The waters are +out, and the river is turned into a great big lake, and the houses are +standing out of it like little dots. It all looks so funny; shall I +lift you out to see?" +</P> + +<P> +But Kitty had buried her head under the clothes, and was sobbing +quietly to herself. No mention was made of the Christmas tree in her +prayers that morning, and the prayers themselves were very perfunctory +indeed—said more from the force of habit than because she had any +faith in their efficacy. True, the rain had ceased now, but what was +the good of that now the flood had come? And the worst of it was that +she could not talk this matter out to daddy; he would think her +dreadfully wicked. So it was a very white-faced Kitty that presented +herself at the breakfast-table, and she received her father's assurance +that her tree should not be abandoned, but only delayed, with a watery, +quivering smile. +</P> + +<P> +"And I shall be so busy all the morning," went on Mr. Curzon, +cheerfully. "You see, lots of the cottages are cut off from +communication with the outside world, and the children will be hungry +and wanting their breakfasts and dinners; so I must be off to see what +I can do with carts or boats, according to the depth of the water." +</P> + +<P> +This was rather exciting; and Kitty spent her morning with her chair +drawn close to the window, which commanded the best view of the +village, and saw carts drawn by pairs of horses splashing along to some +of the cottages. And to one cottage, standing alone in a low-lying +field, she saw a boat making its way; she was almost sure that the man +who rowed it was her friend Mr. Paul. Later in the morning he paid her +a visit, with a red colour in his face and a cheery ring in his voice. +</P> + +<P> +"I could not get up before, Kitty. We have had such a lot to do, Sally +and I, taking round supplies to the people who are flooded. Everybody +is in quite good spirits—indeed, some of the children are thinking it +first-rate fun." +</P> + +<P> +At the mention of the children Kitty broke down helplessly, and sobbed +aloud. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear me! And I have had such a lot of water all the morning, I did +not expect a shower-bath here. What time do you expect Sally and me? +How long will it take to light up that blessed tree?" +</P> + +<P> +Kitty uncovered one eye; Mr. Paul must be dreaming. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't have it, you see." +</P> + +<P> +"Who said so? Sally and I have been planning all the morning how we +shall order out all my waggons, and go round and fetch your +guests—only you must not have the tree too late, or else we might lose +our way in taking them home again." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty's joy could only find expressions in incoherent exclamations of +delight. +</P> + +<P> +"It's wonderfully kind of you," said the rector, who appeared at that +moment, and gradually gathered from Kitty what Paul proposed to do. +</P> + +<P> +"It seems a pity the thing should be put off," Paul answered a little +awkwardly. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps no act of the squire's won such universal approbation as the +spirited manner in which he carried through Miss Kitty's tree. +</P> + +<P> +"You would not have thought as he was one to care about the little +ones," said Mrs. Macdonald to Sally. +</P> + +<P> +"And I don't think, honestly, that he is," Sally answered—"with the +exception of Kitty Curzon; his devotion to her is something quite +astonishing." +</P> + +<P> +The tree had been, happily, trimmed the day before, and nothing +therefore remained but for the guests to appear. One or two had to be +fetched in a boat, and the cottage in the field had a special voyage to +itself. There was a little child there that was a particular friend of +Kitty's. +</P> + +<P> +"It's very good of you to come, sir, but I'm not sure as I can let +Jenny go; she's been ailing all day," said the smiling mother, looking +out at Paul from an upstairs window. "She's felt the damp a bit. The +water's begun to go down already. We'll be able to get downstairs +again to-morrow; but, as I was saying to my mate, it will be the +queerest Christmas Day we've ever spent." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed," said Paul, hurriedly, anxious to cut short the +disconnected speech; "but I think you must let me have Jenny, Mrs. +Weldon. She's such a great friend of Kitty's, and we shall not have +any more rain for the present. Put on an extra shawl. It will be fine +fun for Jenny to have a ride in a boat." +</P> + +<P> +So Jenny, wrapped up so that only her eyes were visible, was handed +out; and Paul rowed her across the field that separated her from dry +land, popping her into a cart that waited on the far side. +</P> + +<P> +Sally, meanwhile, was at the school arranging the children as they +arrived, whilst Kitty's carriage was drawn up close to the tree, which +was veiled under a sheet. Jenny Weldon was the last to arrive, and, +when duly uncloaked, was given a place close to Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +Then followed the lighting of the tree; and the dancing eyes of the +children watched the process with untold delight. Joining hands they +walked round it singing a quaint old Christmas carol, led by the +rector's strong sonorous voice; and finally came the distribution of +the presents. +</P> + +<P> +Paul, as he stood quietly at the back of the room, thought the scene a +pretty one. It was a beautiful tradition, that of the Christ Child; he +could have almost wished it true. +</P> + +<P> +"It has come to an end—I think it has really come to an end," the +rector said. "But, stay, I find some little things tucked away at the +very bottom of the tree; and here upon the labels are written 'Miss +Lessing' and 'Mr. Lessing.' That is quite as it should be, for to whom +do we owe the fact of your all being here to-night but to the squire, +who planned and carried it out?" +</P> + +<P> +And as a penknife was handed to Paul, there were cheers ringing in his +ears for him and for Sally, who had a pen with her name on it. +</P> + +<P> +"It was really very jolly of you, Kitty," said Paul, making his way to +her. +</P> + +<P> +"Weren't you surprised?" said Kitty, joyfully. "Daddy said you would +be; and I told him where to hide them so that Sally should not see +them. And, oh!"—with a long-drawn sigh—"I've never been so happy in +my life. Daddy says I must thank you ever so much, dear Mr. Paul." +</P> + +<P> +Paul stooped and kissed the pretty, flushed face. "It's been great +fun, Kitty; you've nothing to thank me for. It is my first Christmas +tree, and I shall take great care of my penknife." +</P> + +<P> +It was seven o'clock before Sally and Paul regained the quietness and +peace of their lodging, for it took some time to deliver all the little +ones to their several homes. +</P> + +<P> +"It's wonderful what surroundings will do for one. I've felt as if I +were a curate to-day; but it is Kitty who drove me to it. Her despair +this morning was almost tragic," Paul said. +</P> + +<P> +How little he knew that that night Kitty was thanking God for her happy +day, and for the special help He had sent her to carry through her tree. +</P> + +<P> +"Pray bless dear Mr. Paul!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE CALL OF GOD. +</H3> + + +<P> +With the dawn of the New Year there was an outbreak of fever in Rudham, +the after-effect of the flood, which, although it subsided almost as +quickly as it rose, left the houses which it had invaded damp and many +of the drains blocked. Paul, as he went his rounds, condemned some of +the cottages as insanitary, and determined that another spring should +see new ones begun in higher, healthier situations—if, at least, he +could by any means raise the requisite funds. He was constantly +brought into contact with the rector, who busied himself amongst his +sick people morning, noon, and night. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless you!" said Mrs. Weldon, when Paul had been looking round her +premises, and heard with some astonishment the sound of a strong, clear +voice singing in the bedroom above, "that's only Mr. Curzon singing +hymns to my little Jenny, who's proper bad with the fever. She must +have been sickening with it that night as you fetched her to the tree. +Mr. Curzon seems like a parson, and doctor, and nurse, all in one. He +come'd here late last night, and he took her temperature ready to tell +the doctor this morning, and he's round here again now; and it's not as +though he favours mine more than another's. He's just the same to +every one who's bad." +</P> + +<P> +And what one said all said, and Paul pondered on their words. May +Webster had spoken truly when she said that this man lived in the +hearts of his people. Sally delayed her departure for London for a few +weeks when she found that she could be of great service in the village +by going and lending a helping hand when the mothers got overdone with +nursing, for it was chiefly among the children of the place that the +fever found its victims. Twenty succumbed, and then there was a day or +two when no fresh case was reported. +</P> + +<P> +Paul met the rector one morning and stayed to congratulate him on the +fact that the fever seemed to have run its course, that there had been +no death from it during the last few days, and apparently no fresh +cases. +</P> + +<P> +"Poor little Jenny Weldon passed away this morning; I was with her when +she died," said the rector. Then came a long pause, and he cleared his +throat. "My Kitty was the last case; she was pronounced to have the +fever last night." +</P> + +<P> +"Kitty!" echoed Paul, with a face almost as white as Mr. Curzon's own. +"Good Heavens! and I was the double-dyed idiot who brought that child +Jenny Weldon to the treat. Kitty probably caught it from her." +</P> + +<P> +"That is quite impossible to decide," said Mr. Curzon, with a sad +little smile; "the outbreak has been almost simultaneous. But Kitty's +life is in God's Hands." +</P> + +<P> +Paul turned away with an impatient exclamation; he had no word of +comfort to offer, for he had but little hope that a child so delicate +as Kitty would recover. +</P> + +<P> +"If Sally could help in the nursing of her, or I in fetching any +delicacy the child could fancy, you know we are ready to help," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you; you have always been good to her." +</P> + +<P> +It was a feeble fight that little Kitty made for life, and did not last +many days. She had brief intervals of consciousness when she +recognized the father, who was never absent from her bedside except +when he visited the other sick children of his flock. All day long the +rectory was besieged by anxious inquiries for Kitty, who was better +known and more loved than any other child in the place; and Paul came +each day with some offering of fruit or flowers. But before the week +was over the passing-bell rang out, and a thrill of sympathy ran +through the village, and the neighbours looked into each other's faces, +and their kind eyes filled with tears as they said— +</P> + +<P> +"That's little Miss Kitty gone home." +</P> + +<P> +It was the phrase Mrs. Macdonald used as she brought in the breakfast +for Paul and Sally that morning, and the tears ran down her cheeks as +she said it. +</P> + +<P> +"There may be some mistake, Mrs. Macdonald," said Paul, gently. "There +are other children ill in the place besides Kitty." +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir; it's true enough. My John got up in the dark and went to ask +for her; and he saw the nurse, who told him she was dying then. She +could not last the hour." +</P> + +<P> +"And the rector?" inquired Sally, who was crying quietly. "Did she +mention him?" +</P> + +<P> +"Miss Kitty lay in his arms, poor lamb! He's never had his clothes off +since she was taken ill, and he would not let her be frightened; he'd +hold her fast until He came to fetch her," said Mrs. Macdonald, with +simple conviction that the Good Shepherd Himself would lift little +Kitty straight from her father's arms into His own. +</P> + +<P> +Late that afternoon Paul called at the rectory to leave a wreath of +white flowers from Sally and a bunch of arums from himself; and the +rector, who saw him pass the study window, opened the door to him. +</P> + +<P> +"I've only brought a few flowers from Sally and me," said Paul, +omitting the usual greeting. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Curzon looked down at them for a moment, fingering the card +attached to Paul's spray with hands that trembled. On it was written +"For Kitty, from one who loved her." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," he answered with a smile that was more pathetic than +tears. "She loved you, too, very dearly. Will you give her them +yourself?" +</P> + +<P> +But Paul drew back with a shiver. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no; her bright, living face is the memory that I would have of her." +</P> + +<P> +So it was the rector who carried up the flowers to the room where Kitty +lay, and placed the wreath at her feet; and the arums framed the sweet, +smiling face, and the card with its message of love was laid upon her +breast, with the murmured prayer that the one who loved Kitty might +learn to love Kitty's God. +</P> + +<P> +All the villagers that were able attended Kitty's funeral two days +later, drawn there by love and sympathy. Paul was there with Sally, +sitting down in the belfry, close to the spot where Kitty's carriage +had been placed upon the only other occasion when Paul had attended a +service in Rudham church. +</P> + +<P> +"If there is any meaning at all in the service, it is appropriate for +Kitty," was the reason he had assigned to Sally for accompanying her. +It seemed like a beautiful dream to him: the church nearly filled with +people, the fragrance of the flowers as the little white coffin was +carried into church headed by the rector and the choir, who sang, as +they led the way to the chancel, the words of a hymn quite unfamiliar +to Paul, and a few lines of which sounded clearly in his ears as they +passed him. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Death will be to slumber<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">In that sweet embrace,</SPAN><BR> +And we shall awaken<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">To behold His Face."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +Only one person followed the little coffin, and that was the nurse, who +had loved Kitty as devotedly as any mother. The door behind Paul was +gently pushed open after the service had begun, and he was vividly +conscious of the presence of the woman he loved the best in the +world—May Webster. She was dressed in black, and sank upon her knees +by Sally's side. The intense sympathy of her expression made her look +more beautiful than ever, giving the touch of softness that her +features sometimes lacked. Throughout the service the rector's brave, +strong voice never faltered, and it rose and fell with the others in +Psalm and hymn. He seemed, for the time being, borne aloft upon the +wings of faith and love; but when, the service ended, Paul made his way +back to the church to fetch his hat, which he had accidently left +behind him, he caught a glimpse of a white-robed figure prostrate +before the altar, and the frame was convulsed with sobs. Nature must +have her way; and not even the rector could at once bring his will into +perfect submission with the will of God. His darling was taken from +his sight, and his heart was aching over the dreary years that might +intervene before he could see her again. There was a lump in Paul's +throat as he noiselessly left the church. May and Sally waited for him. +</P> + +<P> +"It's heart-breaking," said May, putting her hand into his. "I was +bound to come." +</P> + +<P> +"You return to London to-night, I suppose? You will come and have tea +with us on your way, won't you?" said Sally, eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"I will come to tea. But I am not going back at present; I told mother +I should stay down here for a little while, until all this trouble had +passed away; it cannot be right that we should be doing nothing to +help. I only wish I had come in time to see that little girl alive +again." +</P> + +<P> +Sally had moved away to help to arrange the flowers on the +newly-filled-in grave, and Paul stood a little apart by May's side. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry for every one," said May. "It is almost enough to kill Mr. +Curzon. And I have thought of you too; I was sorry for the loss of +your one friend." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Paul. "I've been sorry for myself; I did not believe any +child's death could affect me so deeply. Life is an unanswerable +riddle from beginning to end." +</P> + +<P> +"Unless the rector is right," said May, softly. "In which case we may +find the answer on the other side." +</P> + +<P> +Never had May appeared so beautiful or gracious as that evening when +she sat listening to the story of all that had occurred in Rudham since +she and her mother had gone to London. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm so glad to be back," she said. "Mother thinks me half-crazed for +coming, and threw a dozen obstacles in my way. But I've brought Rose +Lancaster with me, and the servants who are left in charge can manage +for us; and, as for carriages it will do me good to walk for a little +bit." +</P> + +<P> +Paul left the talk almost entirely to the two girls; it was enough for +him to sit and watch the play of May's beautiful features, and hear the +sound of her voice. What could this sudden return of hers mean, he +wondered? Was it a passing whim, or was it?—— He left even the +thought unfinished, and called himself a presumptuous fool! +</P> + +<P> +The next morning he received a note from the rector asking him to call. +</P> + +<P> +"There is a matter of extreme importance that I cannot decide until I +have seen you, so will you kindly look in this evening?" he wrote. +</P> + +<P> +Paul found him in his study, and noticed that the handsome face was +thinner, and the dark lines under the eyes betrayed the suffering +through which he had passed. +</P> + +<P> +"I wanted you to come for many reasons," he said, pushing an easy-chair +near to the fire. "To thank you, first of all, for the kindness you +have poured on my Kitty from the day of your coming until now. There +are not many men who would have taken so much trouble about a delicate +little girl." +</P> + +<P> +"You need not thank me," Paul answered with tears in his eyes. "She +was a friend I shall sorely miss." +</P> + +<P> +"And there is this letter I wish to show you," continued the rector, +not daring to talk further of Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +It was a letter from the Bishop of the diocese, suggesting that Mr. +Curzon should accept the living of Norrington, a populous town some +thirty miles away. In money value it was less than Rudham, but "the +needs of the place are great," wrote the Bishop. "You are in the +heyday of your strength, and I believe you to be the man for the place. +Unless there be any very urgent reason for your refusing to move, I +greatly wish you to undertake it." +</P> + +<P> +"Why can't the Bishop let well alone?" said Paul, as he returned the +letter. "Of course, you will not go. I don't pretend to constitute +myself a judge of a clergyman's work, but I should say that you have +this place as well in hand as any man could. To move you, will be +equal loss to yourself and Rudham." +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot decide it so quickly. I do not believe in things happening +by chance," said Mr. Curzon. "This letter came the day that Kitty +passed away, and I telegraphed to the Bishop that I could decide +nothing for a day or two; the one urgent reason that would have kept me +here is gone, you see." +</P> + +<P> +"Kitty?" questioned Paul. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I could not have taken her to live in the heart of a town." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you really had decided to leave us before you wrote to me." +</P> + +<P> +"Several things point to it: a less strong man than I could undertake +the work here. If it is God's voice that calls, I would not disobey +it. One thought holds me back. What will happen here? Is it +impertinent to ask? The presentation to the living is yours." +</P> + +<P> +Paul smiled involuntarily. "And you scarcely think me the man to +appoint to a cure of souls. I confess I don't myself feel I know +enough about it. I should do as my godfather did before me, hand over +the nomination of a successor to the Bishop. I believe this offer +jumps with your own inclination." +</P> + +<P> +"Only for one thing," said the rector, quietly, "that my house is 'left +unto me desolate.'" +</P> + +<P> +"And yet you call the God, who took your Kitty from you, a God of love." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. Who, looking at her pitiful little frame, can doubt it? My +selfish heart cries out for her yet; but what could her life have been +but one of constant suffering." +</P> + +<P> +"But, I suppose, she was born like that?" said Paul, more to himself +than to the rector. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Curzon's face twitched a little. "Oh no; she was the brightest, +healthiest little child you have ever seen; and then she was dropped. +And the girl who dropped her did not tell any one about it for months +after—not until the child's back began to grow out." +</P> + +<P> +"How did you find it out at last?" asked Paul, deeply interested. +</P> + +<P> +"The girl came of her own accord to confess it. She was pretty well +heart-broken when she discovered that Kitty was injured for life." +</P> + +<P> +"I would never have forgiven her!" said Paul, bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you would. You would have done much as I did, I expect; I let +her work out her repentance. She is the nurse who has devoted herself +to Kitty like a mother, and who mourns for her like one, too. We can +never be separated; where I go she will go. And now she has not Kitty +she will help me to look after some of the sick children in my parish." +</P> + +<P> +"So you have decided to go?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I think I have scarcely a choice in the matter." +</P> + +<P> +The Vicar was not one to keep his people long in ignorance of a +decision which affected both him and them so largely, and, on the +following Sunday morning, he told them in a few words that he must +leave them. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear people," he said, "the decision has been sharp and sudden, and +the pain of it still lingers in my heart as I talk to you to-day; but I +dare not have it otherwise lest, in hesitating, my will should cross +the will of God, for, as soldiers must obey the command of their +captain, nor ask the reason why, so I, Christ's soldier and servant, +must be ready at His Word to pass on to where the battle is most +fierce, and where, maybe, the army needs reinforcement. Shall I be +less brave than Abraham, who, at the call of God, left home and kindred +to settle in a strange land amongst an alien people? Dear friends, as +clearly as God's message came to Abraham in those far-off days, it has +seemed to come to me, telling me to leave the home and people that I +love, and to go, work for Him in another part of His vineyard. +Therefore I obey." +</P> + +<P> +There were tears on the upturned faces that listened, and, when the +people left the church, there was an almost universal wail of +lamentation. But reticent natures like the Macdonalds could find no +relief in words; they walked silently side by side with tears in their +eyes and an untold aching in their hearts. +</P> + +<P> +"Life won't be the same again, John; we shan't get another like the +good man," said Mrs. Macdonald, as they neared home. +</P> + +<P> +"No," said John, slowly. "But if he don't make a fuss about it, no +more won't we; he's sure about the call, and he dursn't disobey. But +now we'll save for the collectin'!" +</P> + +<P> +"What collectin'?" +</P> + +<P> +"They'll make him a present. They are sure to make him a present; and +we'll be ready when they call," said John. +</P> + +<P> +But, with all his brave words, John's dinner was pushed away untouched, +and his broad back was turned resolutely to his wife so that she might +not guess that he was crying! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A CHANGE OF MIND. +</H3> + + +<P> +Three months later Paul Lessing stood, one morning in March, with his +hands thrust deep into his pockets, looking out of his sitting-room +window. His eyes rested on the little plot of ground before him, with +its borders of snowdrops and crocuses, and the road beyond, along which +the village children in their scarlet cloaks hurried to school: a +narrow boundary to a narrow life, he told himself—and lonely, since +Sally had left him a week or two ago. He was intolerably dull, and +Sally's letter, which lay open on the table, brimful as it was of new +energies and interests, had set him wondering whether he could continue +his present course of life much longer. There was positively no one +left in the village, at present, with whom he could interchange an idea. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Curzon, with whom, in the last three months, he had become fairly +intimate, had gone to his new field of work, leaving a blank behind him +in every house in the place; his successor had not yet arrived. "And +we are not likely to have much in common when he does come," Paul +thought, with a smile. May Webster, after manfully fulfilling her +purpose of helping in the village until the trouble and distress, +brought by the fever, had passed away, had returned to London; and it +was little enough that Paul had seen of her whilst she had been there. +And that very day Paul had received a letter from Mrs. Webster to tell +him that at Michaelmas she wished to vacate the Court, which she now +kept on as a yearly tenant. +</P> + +<P> +"It cannot matter to me," Paul said to himself. "In many ways, of +course, it is the best thing that could happen." And yet he found +himself thinking of nothing but the utter desolation of Rudham, when +May's bright presence should be removed from it, when he could no +longer hope for a passing glimpse of her in the street. +</P> + +<P> +"I have vegetated down here until I run a risk of softening of the +brain," he said aloud. "I must have change. I'll be off to London for +a week, put up at my club, see a few of my friends, and unearth Sally +in her new quarters." +</P> + +<P> +The thought had scarcely formed itself before he began to carry it into +execution: putting together his papers, looking out a convenient train. +And, shoving his head inside the door of the Macdonald's sitting-room, +he enlisted Mrs. Macdonald's help in the matter of packing. +</P> + +<P> +"Rather sudden, sir, isn't it?" she said, as she knelt upon the floor +in the centre of the clothes which Paul had pulled out of his drawers +and littered about in hopeless confusion. "It's bad enough to lose +Miss Sally, but John and I won't know ourselves when you've gone too." +</P> + +<P> +"It won't be for very long," said Paul, good-humouredly, grateful to +discover that anybody would miss him, and careful to suppress the fact +that he was dull. +</P> + +<P> +Arrived in London the stir and bustle of the streets was as refreshing +to him as water to a thirsty man, and to find himself once more amongst +his fellows in the club, where many a man greeted him with a friendly +nod, was simply delightful, One friend asked him to dinner that night, +another made an appointment for the play on the night following; his +presence was demanded at an important political meeting, where he was +requested to speak on the labour question. And again the thought +forced itself upon him how much better he felt fitted to cope with the +masses, and work at the big social problems of the day, than to deal +with the individual lives of the people of Rudham. And the +parliamentary career for which he longed was absolutely within his +grasp, for a seat belonging to his political party was to be vacated in +the autumn, and his name was already mentioned as that of the likely +candidate; but there was no course open to him but to refuse the offer +if it came. It took more means than he had at his disposal to do his +duty by Rudham. +</P> + +<P> +He found Sally keen and happy over her work, and was satisfied that she +had discovered her proper vocation. +</P> + +<P> +The last day of his London visit had come, and, late in the afternoon, +Paul found himself walking down Park Lane; and he hesitated for a +moment, when he came to the house which he knew to be the Websters, +wondering whether he would call and answer Mrs. Webster's note in +person. That, at any rate, would be the ostensible reason for his +visit; he scarcely cared to admit that it was the longing for a sight +of May's face that made it impossible for him to pass the door. In +another minute he had mounted the steps and rung the bell, and was +handed into a room crammed with people—society people, all talking +society gossip over their tea. Many of them bestowed a passing glance +upon Paul as he made his way towards Mrs. Webster, but their interest +died down when they discovered that he was not of their set. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Lessing!" exclaimed Mrs. Webster. "Quite a welcome surprise! You +are not often in London, are you? So good of you to call. Have you +had any tea? Yes? Pray have some more." +</P> + +<P> +Then another visitor demanded her attention, and Paul found himself +stranded in a room full of people of whom he knew not one. May was +nowhere to be seen; but, as Paul sidled his way past chairs and tables, +making for the door, he found himself face to face with her as she led +a party of people from the conservatory back to the drawing-room. She +was talking with that brilliant, rapid fluency which had marked the +earlier stages of their acquaintance; but at sight of him she coloured +and stretched out her hand with unmistakable cordiality. +</P> + +<P> +"This is indeed an unexpected honour," she said, letting her other +guests move on, and taking up her own position by Paul. "I should not +have thought wild horses would have dragged you to a tea-fight." +</P> + +<P> +"And they would not have done," Paul answered, with a laugh, "had I +known that such a thing was in process; but, finding myself in London, +I came to call in answer to a note of your mother's." +</P> + +<P> +A professional singer at the far end of the room rose preparatory to +singing, and May gave an impatient little exclamation. +</P> + +<P> +"Come into the conservatory and talk; I'm tired of all these people. +You bring a whiff of country air with you." +</P> + +<P> +As she spoke she led the way towards two easy-chairs, placed by the +fountain in the middle of the conservatory, and, sinking into one +herself, she motioned Paul to the other. From the half-open door of +the drawing-room came the confused murmur of voices, dominated by the +tenor soloist; but to Paul that society life seemed miles distant. He +was enfolded by a sense of enchantment: for him, at that moment, there +was but two people in the world—himself and May. To speak would be to +break the brief spell of enjoyment, so he sat silent and content. +</P> + +<P> +"We are wasting the time; I brought you here to talk," said May, +turning towards him with a smile. "How do things fare at Rudham now +Mr. Curzon has gone?" +</P> + +<P> +"Badly; there is a sense of flatness. He embodied the life of the +village in a way one could not believe unless one had lived there. +I've seen a lot of him in the last few months; we were fairly driven +into each other's society." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you get on together?" +</P> + +<P> +"To know Curzon intimately goes halfway towards converting one to his +way of thinking," said Paul, slowly. +</P> + +<P> +May looked up quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't mean that I am fully prepared to accept his opinions, but I +have modified my views concerning them," Paul went on. "A man like +Curzon, and his enormous power for good, cannot be ignored. His creed, +which makes him what he is, must be reckoned with as a motive-force in +the world. I said to myself at one time that, starting from opposite +poles, he and I worked for the same end—the good of the race. But +where I seem only to scratch the surface, he gets below it. Look at +Burney, for example. I believed I had made a man of him by restoring +his self-respect and giving him a fresh chance—by trusting him, in +fact. It did well enough for a time, but then he broke out worse than +ever. Then, from what Tom told me, Curzon stepped in, saved him from +suicide, and saved him from himself; and has given him, apparently, +some principle to live by that will turn him into a fine character +yet—at any rate, I get excellent accounts of him." +</P> + +<P> +"I did not know he had tried to kill himself," said May; "perhaps that +is what has sobered poor Rose Lancaster so effectually. She told me +the other day that she would marry no one but Tom. By the way, what +brought you to London?" +</P> + +<P> +"Mixed motives. Sheer dulness for one thing." +</P> + +<P> +"You once aired a theory that only stupid people could be dull." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, I suppose, I have grown stupid; I have not enough to occupy me, +for one thing. If I could carry out all my whims I could be busy +enough; but I have had to abandon that scheme for rebuilding a good +many of my cottages from want of money, and that same want stands +between me and my one ambition: a seat in Parliament. I might have had +a chance of a vacancy in the autumn. By the way, as you intend to +throw me over, I trust that amongst your numerous friends you will find +me another tenant for the Court." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't understand what you are talking of! Who is going to throw you +over?" +</P> + +<P> +"Your mother has written to say that she wishes to leave at Michaelmas. +Her letter was my excuse for calling." +</P> + +<P> +May did not answer for a minute; she was busily pondering what her +mother's reason could have been for arriving at this decision without +consulting her. It might be that the relations between themselves and +the Blands being somewhat strained, she had thought it wise to go +somewhere else, or—and here May's heart quickened its beating—it +might be that she feared a rival in Paul Lessing. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope you are sorry to lose us," she said. +</P> + +<P> +"Am I to tell the conventional falsehood or the truth?" Paul asked. +</P> + +<P> +"The truth, of course; we have not studied conventionality much, have +we?" +</P> + +<P> +"Then I am unfeignedly glad," said Paul, deliberately. +</P> + +<P> +May had turned rather white. "You don't mince matters certainly." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't; but I prefer solitude to living perpetually within sight +of unattainable happiness. Our friendship is destroyed, you remember; +you admitted as much once. I cannot pretend that you are an ordinary +acquaintance, and, therefore, to have you taken out of my reach is +really the best thing that could happen to me." +</P> + +<P> +"And you have left any wish I might have about it outside your +calculation," said May. +</P> + +<P> +"It cannot signify to you where you live. You will amuse yourself +wherever you are." +</P> + +<P> +"It signifies considerably; as I like Rudham, at present, better than +any place in the world." +</P> + +<P> +Paul broke into an incredulous laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose it would be an impertinence to ask your reason for this +unaccountable preference?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is a simple one: you live there," said May, with averted face. +</P> + +<P> +Paul sprang to his feet and stood before May with arms folded, and +looked down at her with eyes that literally burned. +</P> + +<P> +"May!" he said hoarsely, "if it is a joke it is a cruel one." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it's true that you have grown stupid!" cried May, between laughter +and tears. "It is no joke to have to tell you that I have changed my +mind. I love you better than all the world besides." +</P> + +<P> +With an incoherent cry Paul clasped her to his breast. +</P> + +<P> +"My darling! my darling!" he said, after the rapture of that first +moment, "I am not worthy, and the sacrifice on your side is too great. +I had no right ever to ask you to marry me. What will the world say of +me? I could wish that you had no fortune——" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, nonsense! you were groaning for want of it just now. It is my +own, to do as I like with; and I shall have a lot more, some day, +unless mother disinherits me." +</P> + +<P> +"Which reminds me that I have to face her," said Paul, rather ruefully. +</P> + +<P> +"I think you had better go at once," said May, with merry decision, +"and leave mother to me. I don't pretend she will like it; but she may +consent, as she has been grievously worried by the fear that I was +going to be an old maid—and so I should have been but for you." +</P> + +<P> +Paul tried to repossess himself of her hands, but May had glided back +to the drawing-room, turning as she left to tell him to call again in +the morning. Left to himself, Paul tried to collect his thoughts, and +to realize the intense happiness that had come to him. If it were true +that May loved him, he would marry her in the face of all opposition, +for she knew well enough that he did not care for her money, but for +herself. Then he fell again to wondering whether she had sufficiently +counted the cost of uniting her life with his, for, in marrying, Paul +felt it would be impossible for him to change the whole scheme of his +life. His objects and ambitions would be the same after it as before, +and, unless May was prepared to share them, they would gradually drift +apart. He must put it all before her to-morrow, lest she should make a +lifelong mistake. +</P> + +<P> +But May had made no mistake; she knew her own mind, at last, for +absence from Paul had taught it her. She had turned with absolute +loathing from the mill-round of gaiety which was the only marked +characteristic of her life in London; and her thoughts had recurred +persistently to Rudham, until finally, in the time of distress, she had +followed the dictates of her heart and gone down there. But not until +the day of Kitty's funeral, when she stood beside Paul at her grave, +had she owned to herself that he was the man she loved: a conviction +which deepened into certainty in the weeks which followed, for, +although she saw little of him, to be in the place where he lived, and +in some way to share his work, made her happy, and gave her a sense of +repose which had not been hers since she left. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Webster shed some very bitter tears when, after dinner that +evening, May announced her engagement. +</P> + +<P> +"It is wicked of him to have asked you! he is as poor as a church +mouse!" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't remember, exactly, but I don't think he did ask me," said May, +knitting her pretty brows. "He did once before, but I don't think he +did to-day. But he was so very miserable that——" +</P> + +<P> +"Well!" interposed Mrs. Webster, "in my young days girls left it to the +men to speak." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, mother, don't scold! I am so happy—happier that I have ever been +before. You know you have wished me to marry; let me marry the man I +love." +</P> + +<P> +"It is such an ill-assorted match; he has no money——" +</P> + +<P> +"And I have plenty," said May. +</P> + +<P> +"And how can I ever consent to your living in a cottage?" went on Mrs. +Webster, with a wail of despair. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we have not come to that yet!" May answered, unable to check a +laugh; "but I dare say he will not wish it. We could live quite simply +at the Court. I wonder if we shall run to a house-parlourmaid?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's no laughing matter; you have been used to every luxury, May." +</P> + +<P> +"I have had more than my share. I feel rather a surfeit of the +sweetest things." +</P> + +<P> +"And he does not go to church——" +</P> + +<P> +"But he is more in earnest than many of the men who do," said May. "Of +this I am sure, that he is seeking after God; if I were not sure, I do +not believe I should have the courage to marry him. A year back I +should not have cared what a man thought as long as he led a straight +life, but lately I have felt different about things. My own +convictions are stronger." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if we discuss it from now until Doomsday I shall not like it, +May; but it is equally certain that if you have set your mind on this +man you will not give him up." +</P> + +<P> +"I have set my heart upon him," said May, an unusual softness in her +voice. "After all, mother, love is the first thing." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Webster sat silent, the tears dropping down her face. Love, +either of God or man, had been no important factor in her life. She +had married for money, and such love as she could give had been centred +on her one beautiful daughter; but even with her, her ambition was +stronger than her love, and it received its deathblow with May's +unaccountable choice of a husband. Further opposition she saw to be +useless, so she surrendered with as good a grace as possible. +</P> + +<P> +When May's engagement was publicly announced friends poured in to offer +congratulations that had a note of surprise behind them; but Mrs. +Webster proved fully equal to the occasion. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she said; "May has been a long time making her choice, and now +it seems a funny one, doesn't it? But Mr. Lessing is a very clever +man, and May became bitten with his views first, and with the +propounder of them afterwards. He is the sort of man who will make a +career for himself yet. I believe he means to stand for —— in the +autumn." +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps no one received the news with such genuine delight as Sally, +who came flying up to Park Lane directly she heard of it. +</P> + +<P> +"I've always thought Paul the nicest man in the world, and you the most +fascinating woman; and that you should make a match of it is ideally +delightful," she said. "It really is very funny, though, when I come +to think of it, and look back at that night in Brussels." +</P> + +<P> +"What about that night at Brussels?" asked Paul, who had entered the +room unperceived by either of the girls. But Sally laughed and held +her tongue. +</P> + +<P> +"If you had stayed away a minute longer I should have wormed the truth +out of the too-truthful Sally," May said, turning upon him with a +smile. "You clearly hated me." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think I ever hated you. I believe I struggled from the first +against a tremendous fascination that you possessed for me. I +quarrelled with your surroundings, with your money rather than with +you." +</P> + +<P> +"It is a distinct judgment that that same money will enable you to +carry out all your schemes," May said quaintly, "from the new cottages +to the seat in Parliament." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall wish you to do exactly what you like, May." +</P> + +<P> +"And what else could give me so much pleasure?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, May, how perfectly lovely it all sounds!" cried Sally, +enthusiastically. "And shall you have open-air evenings on the +bowling-green for the village people, with a band playing and every one +dancing? If so, ask me down with a contingent of girls." +</P> + +<P> +When Paul returned to Rudham and informed Mrs. Macdonald of his +approaching marriage, he was a little puzzled by the look of alarm with +which she received the news. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, come, Mrs. Macdonald! you have been as good as a mother to me; I +thought you would be the first to wish me good luck," Paul said. +</P> + +<P> +"It's not that, sir! it's not that at all, that I'm thinking; but plain +people like John and me could noways manage for a pretty lady like Miss +Webster," she said. +</P> + +<P> +Paul sat down and laughed. "So that's it. Well! I had not thought of +bringing my wife here to live. Happy as you have made me, it would be +a little small for her. I suppose we shall go to the Court, and I +could turn my rooms here into a workman's club, couldn't I? And we +could keep a bedroom for any of Miss Sally's girls who want a change." +</P> + +<P> +After which Mrs. Macdonald recovered her spirits, and offered her +congratulations with Scotch sincerity. +</P> + +<P> +"She's bonny, sir! she's very bonny! But my John will say that there's +not another lady in the world like our Miss Sally. His heart is set on +her, that it is! And when will be the wedding, if I may be so bold as +to ask?" +</P> + +<P> +"To-morrow, if I had <I>my</I> way. Six weeks hence, as I have to wait Miss +Webster's pleasure; and, I believe, in the years to come, she will +rival Miss Sally in your affections." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe, sir," replied Mrs. Macdonald, cautiously. +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="60%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +More than two years had passed; and on a sunny day in June, Rose +Lancaster was once again making her way across the bowling-green at the +Court towards the rose-garden, bent upon the same quest as on the +summer morning, which seemed such a long time ago, when Tom Burney had +first declared his love for her. It was said in the village that Rose +had lost her looks, and certainly the indefinable first blush of youth +had faded; but if Rose's face had lost its delicacy of colouring, it +had gained infinitely in expression. The blue eyes were soft and +wistful, the pretty lips had lost their trick of pouting, the head was +poised less saucily; trouble had taught Rose lessons which had left a +lasting impression upon her character. She had been retained in Mrs. +Lessing's service; nor ever showed any desire to quit it, until such +time as Tom was ready to come home and fetch her. But oh! how long it +seemed to wait. He had hinted, a month or two back, at the possibility +of his being sent over to England upon his master's business; but in +the letter which followed immediately after, no mention had been made +of the subject, so Rose feared that the happy chance was not to come +yet, since which time there had been silence—the longest silence that +had occurred since Tom had left. Whether the rose-garden unconsciously +brought back her lover to her mind it is impossible to say, but as Rose +snipped the buds there were tears in her eyes with the simple longing +for news of her absent lover. She chose all white roses to-day, for +the newly-arrived baby-girl at the Court was to be baptized, and Mr. +Curzon was coming to take the service; and Rose had planned that she +would slip off quietly to the church and put a wreath of white roses +round the font. It was a business that must be carried through with +secrecy and despatch, as presently her mistress would want her to help +her to dress: she was far from strong yet. A straying bramble caught +her gown and held it fast, and with an impatient little cry she stooped +down to disentangle it, when, to her astonishment, a great brown hand +from behind closed upon hers, and a strong arm was slipped round her +waist, and a voice, that set her trembling from head to foot, +exclaimed— +</P> + +<P> +"Rose, Rose, my beauty! what luck to find you, the first minute I've +come, like this! I was just making my way up the drive, and caught +sight of something shining through the trees; and if it wasn't your +head shining all yellow in the sun the same as when I left it! And I +crept up behind you, and caught you crying over a thorn, I do believe." +</P> + +<P> +Needless to say it was Tom Burney who was the speaker, a broader, +bigger Tom than Rose remembered: a handsome, strong fellow that any +girl might be proud of as a lover, who spoke half in jest to hide the +fact that tears were not far from his own eyes. He held her so tightly +clasped to his breast, that it was some few minutes before Rose could +either speak or get a good look at her lover. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Tom, you've taken the life out of me; you've given me such a +start!" she said when she could speak. "How brown and big you +are!—but you're worth the waiting for. Oh dear, how glad I am you've +come!" And then Rose began to sob helplessly, and needed a deal of +comforting, which Tom was not slow to offer. "There!" said Rose, at +last, pushing him from her, and showing him her dimples for the first +time, "you are wasting all my time; but you can come down to the +church, if you like, and help me to put the roses on the font." +</P> + +<P> +"What for?" asked Tom, unsympathetically, preferring the privacy of the +rose-garden. +</P> + +<P> +"For little Miss Kitty as is to be; that's the new baby at the Court. +And nothing will satisfy Mr. Lessing but that she shall be named after +the one that's gone. Mr. Curzon is coming to baptize her." +</P> + +<P> +"Is he?" cried Tom, eagerly. "I'll come, then, and wait all day for a +sight of him, the best friend I've ever had, Rose, my darling. Shall I +ask him to tie up you and me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh!" cried Rose, blushing rosy red, "I had not thought of that yet, +Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Time you did," said Tom. "I must start back again in a month, and I'm +not going without you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no," said Rose. "It seems to come sudden at the last, but I've +waited so long that I'll come when you like. I've not looked at +another man since you went away." +</P> + +<P> +Tom caught her again and kissed her. "And there was plenty to look at +you, I'll bet." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, plenty," Rose admitted, with a dash of her old coquetry. +</P> + +<P> +Then hand in hand, like two happy children, they walked down the lane +to the church; and Tom stood and handed the flowers, which Rose's deft +fingers arranged round the font. And all that miserable past seemed +blotted out, and a future of perfect happiness seemed opening out +before them. Just as their task was finished, and they stood side by +side admiring their handiwork, the church door was softly pushed open, +and Mr. Curzon entered. Real joy flashed into his face as he +recognized Tom Burney, and saw that Rose was with him; but the words of +greeting were very simple. +</P> + +<P> +"So you've come home, Tom?" he said, as he heartily grasped his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"For a bit, sir—just for a week or two." +</P> + +<P> +"And you will take out Rose with you, I expect?" with a kindly smile at +the pretty, downcast head. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, sir; that is my meaning. And we were thinking, she and I, +as we would not feel rightly married unless you was kind enough to come +and marry us." +</P> + +<P> +"And that I will gladly." +</P> + +<P> +"You're the best friend as ever I had," said Tom speaking with some +effort. "And if I've kept straight and got a good name, it's you I +have to thank for it." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no," said Mr. Curzon; "God alone could do that. I may have +chanced to be the sign-post that directed you to Him. Shall we thank +Him now for bringing you back, and pray that He may bless your life +with Rose?" +</P> + +<P> +So side by side the three knelt down, and in a few simple words Mr. +Curzon commended them to God. And when he rose from his knees he laid +his hands upon their heads in blessing. +</P> + +<P> +Then Tom and Rose made their way back to the Court, sobered, but +unspeakably happy, whilst Mr. Curzon lingered awhile by Kitty's grave. +</P> + +<P> +"There's to be another little Kitty named in memory of you, my +darling," he said aloud, as he turned away from the grave with a tender +smile on his face. +</P> + +<P> +It never seemed to him that his own little Kitty was far from him, and +a prayer was in his heart that Kitty the second might be as sweet, as +good as the one who was ever present in his thoughts. +</P> + +<P> +Paul Lessing, too, thought tenderly of his first child-friend that same +afternoon, as he stood a little apart from the group gathered round the +font, and heard the familiar name of Kitty bestowed upon his own little +child. That first Kitty had been dear to him, but the baby who +whimpered in Mr. Curzon's arms was nearer still and dearer; and in the +full realization of his own fatherhood Paul knelt, and, with his face +hidden in his hands, acknowledged the Fatherhood of God. +</P> + +<P> +There was a very large party at the Court, that evening, to which every +inhabitant of Rudham had received an invitation—an invitation printed +in silver letters on a very small card. +</P> + +<P> +"Kitty Lessing requests the company of Mr. and Mrs. ——, etc." +</P> + +<P> +It had been May's particular wish that the invitations should be issued +in her daughter's name, and Paul, who considered the notion a little +fantastic, had yielded to his wife's whim. +</P> + +<P> +"It seems rather nonsense that the giver of the feast should be fast +asleep in her cradle upstairs," he said, when he found himself standing +by Mr. Curzon in the course of the evening, "but May would have it so." +</P> + +<P> +The two men stood side by side upon the terrace, looking down upon the +moving crowd of happy people that wandered hither and thither about the +beautiful grounds. From the bowling-green below there floated the +strains of a string-band specially hired for the occasion; but, above +it all, came the sound of Sally's laughter as she tried to steer some +of the village boys and girls safely through the mysteries of a new +country dance—an effort not wholly crowned with success. The shifting +scene was full of animation and happiness. +</P> + +<P> +"I think Mrs. Lessing was right," said Mr. Curzon, presently. "Kitty +is promising, by proxy, that she will carry on the work of kindliness +and good-will that you and your wife have begun in Rudham." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad you are on my side," said May, who had come up in time to +hear Mr. Curzon's words. "We'll have a birthday party every year as +long as Kitty lives at home. I came to find you, Paul; some of the +elderly ones are going, and I want you to be at the gate to say +good-bye." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no," Paul answered; "we'll go together to the bowling-green and +issue a yearly invitation." +</P> + +<P> +A few minutes later Paul stood bare-headed, with May by his side, upon +the band-stand; and the guests from all parts of the grounds gathered +round, feeling that the squire had something to say to them. +</P> + +<P> +"My friends," Paul began, "I am here not to make a speech, but just to +tell you, quite simply, what great pleasure it has given my wife and +myself to see you here this evening, at the birthday party of our +little girl. If she be spared to us it is our wish that every birthday +of hers should be celebrated in a similar manner. Her name, I hope, +will bring back to your memory the thought of another Kitty, who lived +long enough to make her influence felt in every cottage of our village. +That our little daughter shall also find a place in your hearts is her +mother's and my chief ambition concerning her." +</P> + +<P> +There was a moment's pause when Paul ceased speaking, a passing +hesitation lest any open manifestation of gladness over the birthday +festival of the new Kitty should make their late rector more painfully +conscious of the loss of his own little daughter; and with his quick, +intuitive sympathy Mr. Curzon understood and appreciated the momentary +silence. He sprang on to the platform and took his place by Paul's +side. +</P> + +<P> +"Give expression to your thanks in the way which our entertainers will +like the best," he said. "Three cheers for Kitty Lessing!" +</P> + +<P> +The sound of the hearty cheering reached even to the nursery, and baby +Kitty stirred for a moment, opened her dark eyes, then, turning her +head on the pillow, slept more profoundly than ever. +</P> + +<P> +In years to come she would be told the tale of her first birthday party. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="finis"> +THE END. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Village by the River, by H. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</BODY> + +</HTML> + diff --git a/20381-h/images/img-049.jpg b/20381-h/images/img-049.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e792354 --- /dev/null +++ b/20381-h/images/img-049.jpg diff --git a/20381-h/images/img-163.jpg b/20381-h/images/img-163.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7d9fad --- /dev/null +++ b/20381-h/images/img-163.jpg diff --git a/20381-h/images/img-front.jpg b/20381-h/images/img-front.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..554da6d --- /dev/null +++ b/20381-h/images/img-front.jpg diff --git a/20381.txt b/20381.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..11bab47 --- /dev/null +++ b/20381.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6410 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Village by the River, by H. Louisa Bedford + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Village by the River + +Author: H. Louisa Bedford + +Release Date: January 16, 2007 [EBook #20381] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VILLAGE BY THE RIVER *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: Paul . . . was holding it closely +upon the burning skirt.] + + + + + + +THE VILLAGE BY THE RIVER. + + +by + +H. LOUISA BEDFORD, + + + +AUTHOR OF + +"MRS. MERRIMAN'S GODCHILD," "RALPH RODNEY'S MOTHER," + +"MISS CHILCOTT'S LEGACY," ETC., ETC. + + + + +ILLUSTRATED BY W. S. STACEY. + + + +PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE + +GENERAL LITERATURE COMMITTEE. + + + + +LONDON: + +SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, + +NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.; + +43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. + +BRIGHTON: 129, NORTH STREET. + +NEW YORK: E. & J. B. YOUNG AND CO. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER + + I. WHAT THE VILLAGERS SAID + II. AN UNLOOKED-FOR INHERITANCE + III. FIRST IMPRESSIONS + IV. OPPOSING VIEWS + V. A QUESTION OF EDUCATION + VI. A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE + VII. A MOMENTOUS DECISION + VIII. AN OUTSTRETCHED HAND + IX. A CRISIS IN A LIFE + X. RIVAL SUITORS + XI. A FRIEND IN NEED + XII. KITTY'S CHRISTMAS TREE + XIII. THE CALL OF GOD + XIV. A CHANGE OF MIND + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Paul . . . was holding it closely +upon the burning skirt. . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +"I've come after some roses." + +Before he could regain his feet, a hand was on his collar. + + + + +THE VILLAGE BY THE RIVER. + + +CHAPTER I. + +WHAT THE VILLAGERS SAID. + +"Well, it were the grandest funeral as ever I set eyes on," said +Allison, the blacksmith, folding his brawny arms under his leather +apron, and leaning his shoulders against the open door of the smithy in +an attitude of leisurely ease. + +The group, gathered round him on their way home from work, gave an +assenting nod and waited for more. + +For convenience Allison shifted his pipe more to the corner of his +mouth, and proceeded-- + +"Not one of yer new-fangled ones, with a glass hearse for all the world +like a big window-box, and a sight of white flowers like a wedding. +Everything was as black as it should be; I never see'd finer horses, in +my life, with manes and tails reachin' a'most to the ground, and a +shinin' black hearse with a score of plumes on the top, and half a +dozen men with silk hatbands walking alongside it, right away from the +station to the churchyard yonder." And Allison threw a backward glance +over the billowy golden cornfields, which separated the village from +the church by a quarter of a mile, where the grand tower reared its +head as if keeping watch over the village like a lofty sentinel. + +"There were lots of follerers, I expect?" suggested Macdonald, gently. +He was a Scotchman, and worked on the line, and he shifted his bag of +tools from his shoulder to the ground as he spoke. "A gentleman like +him would leave a-many to miss him." + +Allison stared across at the river which ran swiftly by on the opposite +side of the road. The long village of Rudham skirted its banks +irregularly for a mile or more. The blacksmith had plenty of news to +communicate, but he was not to be hurried in the relating of it. + +"I'm tryin' to recolleck," he said, knitting his brows, "but I can't +mind more than two principal mourners. And the undertaker, when he +stopped to water his horses at the inn, told Mrs. Lake as they was the +doctor and the lawyer; but, relations or no, they did it wonderful +well! Stood with their hats off all in the burnin' sun, and went back +to look at the grave when the funeral was over." + +"The household servants was there--leastways the butler and footman," +said Tom Burney, a dark-eyed, gipsy-looking young man, who was one of +the under-gardeners at the big house on the hill, "but not him as is +coming after." + +"The question is who is a-comin' after?" said Allison, in a tone of +sarcastic argument. "Maybe you'll tell us, as you seem to know such a +lot about it?" + +Burney coloured under his dark skin, and gave an uneasy little laugh. + +"I know what I've heard, no more nor less," he said; "but it comes +first-hand from the butler of him who's gone." + +Allison gave an incredulous sniff; he was not used to playing second +fiddle, and the heads of his listeners had turned to a man in the +direction of the last speaker. + +"He hadn't no near relation, not bein' a married man," went on Burney, +enjoying his advantage; "and Mr. Smith--that's the butler--came and +walked round the garden until it was time for his train to go back to +London." + +"He don't pretend as the property's left to him, I suppose?" broke in +Allison, jocosely. + +Burney turned his shoulder slightly towards the speaker, and went on, +regardless of the interruption-- + +"Mr. Smith says as the house up there, and all the property, goes to a +young fellow not more than thirty, of the same name as the old squire; +some third cousin or other." + +"Hearsay! just hearsay!" ejaculated Allison, contemptuously. "Who's +seen him, I should like to know? Seein's believin', they say." + +"Mr. Smith has," said Burney, a ring of triumph in his voice. "He were +there when old Mr. Lessing died." + +There was silence for a moment. The evidence seemed conclusive, and +Allison's discomfiture complete; but, as the forge was the place where +the village gossips gathered every day, it was felt to be wise to keep +on good terms with the owner. + +"Seems as if it might be true," said Macdonald, casting a timid glance +at the blacksmith. + +"If it is, why wern't he here, to-day, then?" asked Allison, gruffly. + +"Not knowin', can't say," Burney answered with a laugh. + +"Maybe he'll be comin' to live here," said another. + +"He can't! I can tell you that much; there ain't a house he could live +in," asserted Allison. "His own place is let, you see, to the +Websters--whom Burney there works for,--and he can't turn 'em out, as +they have it on lease; and a good thing too. We don't want no resident +squire ridin' round and pryin' into everything. The old one kept +hisself to hisself, and, as long as the rents was paid regular, he +didn't trouble much about us; and there was always a pound for the +widows every Christmas. Trust me, it's better to have your landlord +livin' in London, and not looking about the place more than once a +year. Did Mr. Smith say what the young one looked like, Burney?" + +The question was asked a little reluctantly. + +"No; but he thinks he's a bit queer in his notions. He asked him +whether he'd be likely to want his services; and Mr. Lessing laughed +quite loud, and said, one nice old woman to cook and do for him was all +he should require now, or at any time in his life. Mr. Smith ain't +sure but what he's a Socialist." + +"I don't rightly know the meaning of it?" said Macdonald, +instinctively, turning to the blacksmith for an explanation. + +"It may be a good thing, or it mayn't," declared Allison. "I take it +that a Socialist means one as would take from those as has plenty and +give to those who has nothing. We're born ekal into the world, and +they'd keep us ekal, as far as might be. But it'd take a deal of +workin' out, more than you'd think, lookin' at it first; but I'm not +goin' to say that it wouldn't be handy to have a Socialist squire. He +might divide his land ekal among us, and there'd be no more rent to pay +for any of us. There now!" + +A general murmur of approval ran round his audience, except with old +Macdonald, who gave a quaint smile. + +"But it strikes me that such of us as have saved a tidy bit would have +to hand it out to be divided equal too. It would not be fair as the +Squire should do it all; it would run through, you see." + +"Well, I've not saved a brass farthing, so I should come in for a lot; +and I'd settle down and marry to-morrow!" cried Burney, gaily. "But, +you may depend on it, whoever's got the place will stick to it. I must +be getting on to the station. Our people are coming back from abroad +this evening, and I'm to be there to help hoist up the luggage. It +takes a carriage and pair to carry up the ladies, and an extra cart for +luggage." + +"It's not the luggage you're going to meet, I'll bet; it's the lady's +maid," said a young fellow, who had not spoken before. "If you married +next week we all know well enough whom you'd take for a wife;" and Tom +moved off amid a shout of laughter. + +It was an open secret that Tom was head-over-ears in love with pretty +Rose Lancaster, the somewhat flighty maid of Miss Webster, who, with +her mother, was returning to the Court that evening. Absence had made +his heart grow fonder, and it was beating much faster than usual as he +stood on the station platform awaiting the arrival of the train, and, +when it ran in with much splutter and fuss, not even by a turn of her +head did Miss Rose show herself aware of Tom's presence. Instead, she +was looking after her ladies, lifting out their various belongings--not +a few in number--and ordering round the porters with a pretty pertness +as she counted out the boxes from the van. It was only when she found +her own box missing that she turned appealingly to Tom. + +"Run, there's a good boy, quick to the other van!" she said, +acknowledging him with a nod. "It must have got in there, and the +train will be off in another moment." + +Tom ran as requested, pantingly rescued the box, and came back smiling +to tell her of his successful search. + +"That's right," said Rose, graciously. "Now you can help me on to the +box-seat of the carriage, if you like. I'm going to sit beside Mr. +Dixon." + +Dixon was the coachman, and a formidable rival in Tom's eyes. + +"I thought, perhaps, as you'd come along of me. I'm drivin' the cart +back for Berry, as he had a message in the village. I've not seen you +for such a time, Rose." + +"Come with you!" said Rose, with a toss of her head. "The ladies would +not like it; besides, we shall meet sure enough some day soon. I +mustn't wait a minute longer. You need not help me unless you like." + +But poor Tom, under the pretext of making some inquiry about the +luggage, managed to be near so as to hand up Rose to her seat by the +coachman, who appeared far more absorbed in the management of his +horses than in the young woman who sat by him, upon whom he did not +bestow even a glance, preserving a perfectly imperturbable countenance. + +"He's pretending! just pretending--the scamp!" said Tom, under his +breath, turning back to his horse and cart. + +A strange man stood near stroking the animal's head and keeping a light +hand on its bridle. He wore a loosely fitting brown suit, and the hand +that caressed the horse was almost as brown as his clothes. His head +was closely cropped and his face clean-shaven, showing the clear-cut, +decided mouth and chin, and the white, even teeth displayed by the +smile with which he greeted Tom. + +"You may be glad I was at hand or your cart with its cargo of luggage +would have been upset in the road," he said. "It's not a wise thing to +leave a creature like this standing alone when a train is starting off." + +A quick retort was on the tip of Tom's tongue; he had no fancy for +being called to account by a perfect stranger, but, although the words +sounded authoritative, the tone was good-humoured. + +"Thank you, I only left him for a moment; he stands quiet enough as a +rule," he said, taking the bridle into his hand. + +The stranger picked up the small portmanteau he had set down in the +road, and prepared to walk off, then turned half-hesitatingly back to +Tom. + +"Can you tell me where I can get a night or two's lodging? It does not +much matter where it is as long as it is clean and quiet." + +Tom took off his cap and rubbed his head thoughtfully. + +"Mrs. Lake's a wonderful good sort of woman." + +"And who may Mrs. Lake be?" inquired the stranger, pleasantly. + +"She keeps the Blue Dragon, but I couldn't say as it's exactly quiet of +a Saturday night. She don't allow no swearin' on her premises, but +some of the fellers gets a bit rowdy before they go home." + +"Very possibly," replied his companion, dryly. "I don't think the Blue +Dragon would suit me; but surely there is some cottager with a spare +bed and sitting-room, who might be glad of a quiet, respectable lodger +for a bit?" + +Tom threw a searching glance at the speaker; he was not quite sure +that, notwithstanding his gentle manner of talking, he was to be +altogether trusted. + +"If you'd step up beside me I'll drive you to the forge," he said, +willing to shelve his responsibility of recommendation. "It's close +here, and Allison will help you if no one else can. He knows every +one's business." + +"Just the sort of man I want," said Tom's new acquaintance, climbing +into the cart and seating himself on the cushion that had been intended +for Rose. His alert grey eyes took in his new surroundings at a glance. + +No one could call Rudham a pretty village: it was too straggling, too +bare of trees, which had been planted sparsely and attained no +luxuriance of growth; but it was not wholly unattractive this evening, +with the setting sun turning to gold the varying bends of the river +which ran through the valley, and the cottages and farmhouses dotted +here and there with a not unpleasing irregularity, and in the distance +a softly rising upland turning from blue to purple in the evening light. + +"Yonder's the Court, where my people live," said Tom, jerking his whip +to a big house more than a mile away that peeped out from among the +trees. "It belonged to the old squire who was buried to-day, you know." + +"Ah!" ejaculated his listener, not greatly interested, apparently, in +the information. + +"It's a wonderful fine place, and they say as he who's to have it won't +hold no store by it. Pity, ain't it?" + +Tom's companion broke into rather a disconcerting laugh. + +"Look here, my lad, by the time you're thirty you won't give credit to +every bit of gossip that comes to your ears; you'll wait to know that +it's true before you pass it on, at any rate. This will be the forge +you spoke of, and there's the owner, sure enough, standing at the door. +Thank you for the lift, and here's a shilling for your trouble." + +But Tom thrust away the proffered tip with a shake of his head. + +"No, thank you; you kept the horse safe at the station." + +"So, on the principle that one good turn deserves another, you'll give +me a lift for nothing. All right and thank you," said the man, +dismounting and lifting out his portmanteau. "Good night." + +"Good night," said Tom, with an answering nod. "I wonder what his +business is?" he thought, as he pursued his way. "Shouldn't be +surprised if he was the engineer who's to see to the laying down of the +new line; he's that quick, smart way with him as if he'd been about a +lot and knew a thing or two." + +"Lodgings!" echoed Allison, slowly, as the stranger reiterated his +request. "It's not a thing we are often asked for in Rudham. I'd make +no objection to taking you in myself, but Mrs. Allison's not partial to +strangers." + +"I should be sorry to inconvenience Mrs. Allison; is there no one else +you can think of?" + +"Mrs. Pink 'ud do it; but she's a baby who's teething, and fretful o' +nights." + +"And that would not suit me!" said the newcomer, with decision. + +"I have it!" cried Allison, bringing down his big hand with a +resounding slap upon his knee. "Mrs. Macdonald's the body for you! +There's not a better woman in Rudham, and I know 'em pretty well in +these parts. Her husband's only just gone up street; he were talkin' +here not five minutes ago. There's only their two selves, and the +cottage one of the best in the place." + +"It sounds as if it would suit me down to the ground. And if Mrs. +Macdonald could give me shelter, even for a few nights, it would give +me time to look about me." + +"Thinkin' of settlin' in these parts?" inquired Allison. "There's no +house as I knows on vacant." + +"I've no settled plans at present," answered the stranger. "If you'll +kindly direct me to Mrs. Macdonald's, I'll go and try my fate." + +"Eighth house from here, set back a bit from the road, with a little +orchard behind it; and you can say as I sent you," said Allison, +feeling his name a good enough recommendation for any stranger. + +The door of the eighth house set back a little from the road was +partially open as the new arrival made his way up the box-bordered +path, with beds on either side of it gay with flowers; and before he +could knock a neatly dressed middle-aged woman threw it wide and +surveyed him from head to foot. + +"And what may you be wanting, sir?" she asked, quite civilly. + +"A lodging for a night or two. And Mr. Allison at the forge seemed to +think you might be inclined to take me in." + +"I'm not sure as my John will wish it. But if you'll step inside I'll +ask him," replied Mrs. Macdonald, motioning him to a chair. + +"Unless they turn me out by force, I shall stay," he said, looking +round him with a pleased smile. + +It was not his fault, but "my John's" deafness, that caused him to hear +himself described as a "very decent man, who spoke as civil as a +gentleman; and it was awkward to find yourself in a strange place on a +Saturday night with nobody ready to put themselves about a bit to take +you in." + +"John will yield in the long run," sighed the unwilling listener. +"Mrs. MacD. rules the roost, unless I'm greatly mistaken." + +Apparently his conjecture was right, for in another minute the woman +reappeared to say that she and her husband were willing to let him have +the front bed and sitting-room if, after due inspection, they proved +good enough for him. + +"We're not used to grand folk," she said, a trifle awed by the sight of +the portmanteau. "I cooked for a plain family before I married my +John, and----" + +"Then it's certain that you can cook for me; I'm not nearly so much +trouble as a plain family," said her visitor, laughing. "I'll carry up +my things if you'll show me the way, for I shall go no further than +this to-night. I dare say you can give me some tea, and then I'll go +out and order in some food." + +"I dare say you eat hearty, sir; or we've some fine new-laid eggs," +suggested Mrs. Macdonald. + +"The very thing. You can't get such a thing in London; the youngest +new-laid egg is about a month old, I fancy. Thank you," (with a glance +round the dimity-curtained room, fragrant with lavender); "I shall be +as happy as a king." + +When her lodger was safely established at his evening meal, and Mrs. +Macdonald was satisfied that she could provide nothing more for his +comfort, she went upstairs to tidy his room, shaking her head a little +over the various things that littered the floor and table. + +"He's not so tidy as my John, but he's not got his years over his +head," she said, as she closed the portmanteau and shoved it towards +the dressing-room table. + +As she did so the name on the label caught her eye, she could not help +reading it; and then drew in her breath with a sharp exclamation of +surprise. The next instant she hurried softly but quickly down the +stairs, took her astonished helpmeet by the arm, and dragged him into +the orchard, closing the kitchen door behind her. + +"John!" she said, "who do you think has come to us? Who is it that has +come quite humble like for shelter under our roof this night?" + +In her eagerness to extract an answer she pinched the arm she held a +little. + +"It's not a riddle you're asking me?" said John, withdrawing himself a +pace. + +"No, no, man! it's the young squire himself, for sure. Paul Lessing +is on his portmanter," she said looking round, for fear she should be +overheard by a neighbour. The news must be digested. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +AN UNLOOKED-FOR INHERITANCE. + +A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a +three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of +enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation. They were +orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to +take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete +her college course at Girton. If she had to earn her own living, she +should at least have the best education that money could give; and +Sally had made the best use of her opportunity. Her name was high in +the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed +for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour. + +"It will be a good investment, Sally. You are looking pale after all +your work. We will make no definite plan; it's distance that swallows +up the money, so we'll start off for Brussels, and move on when we feel +inclined, possibly to the Rhine, and so to Heidelberg." And Sally, in +the joyousness of her mood, felt that all places would be alike +delightful in the company of her brother. + +Two days later found the brother and sister seated in the garden of the +_cafe_ that adjoins the park at Brussels. Even now, at eight o'clock +in the evening, it was exceedingly hot, and the boughs of the trees +overhead, through which here and there a star glimmered, were +absolutely motionless. The band which played was the best string-band +in Brussels, attracting a great throng of listeners; and every table +around them had its complement of guests; and the civil waiters who +flitted hither and thither had almost more than they could do to keep +the tables properly served. Paul was smoking and reading the paper, +but Sally needed no better amusement than to watch the various groups +about her, and to listen to the exquisite playing of the band. + +"We want something like this in England, Paul," she said, laying a hand +on his arm--"lots of places like this out-of-doors in the fresh air, +under the stars and trees, where people can go and drink their tea or +coffee, and listen to music that must refine them whilst they listen." + +Paul laid by his paper and laughed. "Yes," he said, "and when I get +into Parliament--if ever--I will do my utmost to make some of our +wealthy citizens disgorge a part of their wealth to put places such as +this within the reach of everybody. I confess there are +difficulties----" + +"What?" inquired Sally, with childish impatience. + +"Our beastly climate, to begin with," Paul answered with a little +laugh. "Want of space, and want of trees when you get the space. Then +look at our population in our big cities. Brussels is just a +pocket-town, if you come to compare it with London. Of course the +recreation of the masses is only one of the many vexed questions +concerning them that Government eventually must take in hand. If you +want people to be moral, you must give them a chance of enjoying +themselves in an innocent fashion." + +"Of course, you could do a lot if you once got into Parliament!" cried +Sally, with the enthusiasm of her twenty years. "When shall you get +in? and where shall you stand for? and may I help in the election?" + +Paul laughed louder than before. "There's a deal to be done before I +can even think of standing for any place. First, I must accumulate +enough capital to bring me in a small independent income. You know we +have not much now." + +"You can have anything and everything that belongs to me; I mean to +earn my living somehow," declared Sally, sturdily. + +"Thank you. I don't mean to start that way; and money comes in slowly +to a barrister, although I am getting on fairly well. Then I will +stand for any place that will return me, after learning my honestly +expressed political opinions. Each man has his pet hobby, and I feel +that mine is the bettering of the condition of the masses." + +"That will make you popular," said Sally. + +"And I don't care a fig for popularity. I want to help to leave the +average condition of the people better than it is at present. The +contrast between the very rich and the very poor of our land is +something too awful to contemplate." + +His talk, which he had begun half in play, had ended in deadly earnest; +and Sally laid her hand mischievously over his eyes. + +"Then don't contemplate it--at any rate just now, when I am so merry +and happy. You've not answered my last question. May I help in your +election? It would be such fun." + +"I think not, Sally," Paul said smiling again. + +"Oh, what a mass of inconsistency!--when you were saying only to-day +that you saw no just cause or impediment why women should not do +anything for which they have a special fitness. Now I feel politics +will be my speciality, and I would not canvass for any one unless I +quite understood their views." + +"Well, my Parliamentary career is in the far future," Paul interposed; +"and certainly I should not give my sanction to your undertaking any +work of that kind at present. You are much too young, and much too----" + +"Pretty, were you going to add?" broke in Sally, with a ripple of +laughter. "I'm afraid not: enthusiastic would be the more likely +adjective for you to use concerning me. Besides I don't think I am +pretty. 'My dear,' said that candid old Miss Sykes to me the other +day, 'you might have been very good-looking if all your features were +as good as your eyes.' Why do ladies of a certain age take it for +granted that they can say what they choose to the budding young woman? +It annoys me frightfully. Oh, Paul!" with a sudden lowering of her +voice, "talking of pretty, there's a perfectly lovely girl who is +seated with her mother at the third table from ours. Don't turn your +head too quickly or she will think we are talking of her; and then you +can keep your head turned in the direction of the band. Her profile +comes in between it and you." + +Paul did as he was bid. Sally was right, the girl to whom she directed +his attention was lovely beyond compare; and yet there was something in +her face that failed to satisfy him. The very perfection, too, of +everything about her, gave him a feeling of unconscious irritation. + +"Well?" asked Sally, when he turned back to her. + +"She's beautiful, certainly; but I don't like her." + +"It's just because you did not discover her first." + +Paul did not trouble to answer; there was a general stir amongst the +company. The concert was drawing to a close, and the burghers of +Brussels began to think of home and bed. The wives slipped their +knitting into their pocket; the husbands bestowed a passing nod and +guttural good night to each other as they moved away; and the twinkling +lights began to be extinguished one by one. In the crowd at the +entrance Paul and Sally found themselves close to the girl whom Sally +had so greatly admired. She was talking in low, clear tones to her +mother. + +"Ought not to have come? What nonsense, mother! It has been quite an +amusing experience to see the way these people pass their evenings; +they are quite nice and respectable. I confess now I should be glad to +see our carriage. I feel I'm getting smoke-dried like bacon--or ham, +is it?" + +It was evident that the elder of the two ladies was rather frightened +and losing her head. + +"I'll not do this again without a man of our own," she said with +nervous irritability. + +Paul stepped forward, raising his hat. "Is your carriage anywhere +about? Can I get it for you?" + +"Oh, thank you so much. It's a private one from the Hotel de Flandres, +and I told the man to stop here." + +"Unfortunately the police regulations interfere with your orders," Paul +said, with a slight smile. "He must take his place in the ranks. I +will soon find it for you if you will stay here." + +"Name, Webster," said the older lady. + +So Paul, with a nod to Sally to stay where she was, hurried off, +returning in a moment with the carriage. + +"Thanks so much," said the girl whom Sally admired, as Paul handed her +in and closed the door behind her. + +"I was quite glad of the time to consider her more closely!" cried +Sally, as they drove off. "I've never seen what I call an absolutely +perfect face before. I wonder if I shall see her again?" + +"For my part I don't wish it," Paul answered carelessly. "Beautiful +she is; but she bears the knowledge of it about with her like an +overpowering perfume, and is the very impersonation of the insolence of +riches!" + +"Why, Paul, you are not often either narrow-minded or unjust." + +"How dare she comment upon these Belgians, who nearly all possess a +smattering of English, under their very noses!" continued Paul, +angrily. "'Quite nice and respectable,' indeed! As she and her mother +were in a fix I was bound, as a man, to offer my services; but I did it +unwillingly." + +Paul's indignation was short-lived, and he and Sally walked along the +streets leisurely, on their way back to their hotel, talking on +indifferent subjects. They paused in the hall of the hotel, running +their eyes over the letters displayed outside the post-office, to see +if the evening post had brought any for them. There were none for +Sally; but two or three for Paul, that had been forwarded from his +chambers in London. + +"I'll go into the salon and read them, and then we'll go upstairs to +bed. I feel infected by the early hours of these foreigners," he said, +yawning a little. + +Sally turned over the leaves of a paper whilst her brother opened his +letters. The last of them he read and re-read several times; then rose +and laid his hand on Sally's shoulder. + +"I'm awfully sorry, Sally, but I shall have to go back to London by the +first train to-morrow." + +The long-drawn "O-o-o-h!" was powerless to express half the +disappointment his sister felt. + +"It's business, I suppose: everything nasty is always business," she +said at last. + +"Well, no, it's not business; and it certainly is not pleasure. You +remember I had an old godfather, Major Lessing? I'm sure he amply +fulfilled his godfatherly duty by the silver milk-jug he gave me at my +baptism--which I've never set eyes on for many a long year, by the +way--and the tips he shoved into the palm of my hand whenever I paid +him a visit on my way from school. I don't think I've seen him since; +and why, now that he's dying, he has a particular desire for a call, I +can't tell you. It's inconvenient, to say the least of it." + +"_Must_ you go?" asked Sally, despairingly. + +"I'm afraid so. It's the last thing one can do for him, poor old chap!" + +"He might have chosen some other time to be ill," said Sally, who, not +knowing the major, was inclined to be heartless. + +"Well, yes. But we won't lose our holiday; we'll come again later, +Sally." + +"We shan't! I'm perfectly certain we shan't!" cried Sally, turning +away her head so that Paul should not see that there were tears in her +eyes. "It was too delightful a plan to carry out." + +The next day found Paul and his sister back in London. Sally was to go +to an aunt for a few days, until Paul could settle his plans; and when +he had seen her off from the station, he turned his own steps in the +direction of the quiet square where his godfather had spent his +solitary life since the days of his retirement from active service. +His eyes turned instinctively to the windows, to see if the blinds were +drawn down; but the house wore its usual aspect of dignified reserve, +with its slightly opened casements. The imperturbable butler, who +answered Paul's ring at the bell, seemed at first inclined to question +his right to enter. + +"My master is very sadly, sir; he's not fit to see any one." + +"But he sent for me," said Paul, quietly. "Will you let him know, as +soon as possible, that Paul Lessing has come in answer to his letter?" + +At the mention of the familiar name Smith's manner altered perceptibly; +he threw open the library door and ushered Paul in. It was scarcely a +minute before he returned. + +"My master is awake and will see you at once, sir." + +"Has he been long ill?" Paul asked. + +"It's been coming on gradual for a year or more, sir. Creeping +paralysis is what the doctors call it. He's no use left in his legs, +and very little in his arms or hands; but his brain seems as active as +ever. He took a turn for the worse last week, and the end, they think, +may come at any time." + +"Thank you; I'll go upstairs now." + +He entered the sick-room so quietly that the nurse, who sat by the +bedside, did not hear him; but the grey head on the pillow turned +quickly, and the dying eyes shone with eager welcome. + +"I'm glad you've come; I thought you meant to leave it till too late," +was the abrupt greeting. + +"I was abroad, and did not get your letter at once," Paul said gently. + +"And you came back? That's more than many fellows would have done. +Nurse, draw up those blinds, and leave us, please; there are several +things I have to say. No, you need not talk about my saving my +strength. What good will it do? A few minutes more life, perhaps," he +added testily, as he saw the nurse giving Paul some admonition under +her breath. "Women are a nuisance, Paul; and at no time do they prove +it more than when you are ill and under their thumb. There! take a +seat close by me, where I can see you." + +"You wanted to see me about something particular, your lawyer told me," +said Paul, filled with pity at the sight of the perfectly helpless +figure. "It may be that I can carry out some wish of yours. I should +be glad to be of service to you." + +Major Lessing did not answer for some minutes, and Paul ascribed his +silence to exhaustion. In reality the keen eyes were scanning Paul's +face critically, as if trying to read his character. + +"I wanted to see you; and now you've come I don't know what to make of +you. It has crossed my mind more than once since I've lain here, that +I've been a rash fool to make a man I know so little of, my heir." + +Paul could not repress an exclamation of astonishment; the news gave +him anything but unmixed pleasure. + +"It was surely very rash, sir. I've no possible claim upon you. I +have scarcely even any connection with you except the name." + +"That's it," said the major. "You have the name, and that must be +carried on and a distant tie of relationship; and there's something +else, Paul. Years ago I wanted to marry your mother. You are my +godson; you might have been my real son, you see." + +Paul felt a lump in his throat; this love-story of long ago was +pathetic. His mother had died when he was still quite a child, but she +lived in his memory as beautiful and fascinating. + +"She was half Irish," he said. + +The major nodded. "So, partly from sentimental reasons, and partly +because there was no one better, I've left the property at Rudham to +you," he went on with a smile. "There would have been plenty of money +to have left with it; but I've made some very bad speculations lately, +and lost a great deal. I took to speculation from sheer want of +amusement. I was a good billiard player as long as I had the use of my +limbs; but here I've been, literally tied by the legs, for the last two +years. The only thing properly alive about me was my brain, and +speculation has interested me; but I was badly hit ten days ago. There +will be some money, but you won't be a rich man." + +"I don't care about it," interposed Paul, eagerly. + +"Then you ought to; a landlord poorly off is in a bad case in these +days; and I want things kept as they are, Paul. I've not lived at +Rudham, but I've kept my eye on it all the same; and what you call +progress, and its attendant abominations, has not hurt it much yet. I +made a mistake when I let the bishop nominate a successor to the living +when old Gregg died three years ago. Curzon's a go-ahead fellow, from +all that I hear; I don't want a go-ahead squire." + +"I'm afraid you've made another mistake, and, if there's time, you had +better undo it," said Paul, gravely. + +"Do I look like a man who can re-arrange all his matters?" asked the +Major, irritably. "After all, what I ask of you is no very hard thing +to grant; simply to accept the good the gods provide, and let well +alone." + +"But that for me is an impossible condition," said Paul. "I cannot let +things alone if I feel that I can better them. I'm in no way fitted +for a country squire; I've been brought up on different lines from you, +and arrived at very different conclusions. I am grateful to you for +your thought of me, but I want to live my own life unfettered by any +conditions." + +"And this is how you show your readiness to carry out any wish of +mine?" said the major, bitterly. + +"I'm sorry; but I promised in the dark, not knowing that my principles +would be involved." + +"I'm glad to hear you have any. May I ask what you call yourself? A +Lessing who is not a Conservative is not worthy of the name." + +"I scarcely know what I am; but my friends call me a Socialist." + +"Then in Heaven's name, I've made a bigger blunder than the last!" said +the squire, with an odd thrill in his voice. + +"It's not my fault; and there may still be time to undo it," said Paul, +rising, for the flush that crept to the major's temples warned him that +the interview had been too long and too exciting. "I would thank you, +if I could, for the thought of me, and I am sorry to have been the +cause of disappointment, but it would not have been honest to hide my +opinions." + +"No; you've been honest enough, in all conscience. If there's yet +time----" He broke off, turning away his head, and taking no notice of +Paul's departure. + +All that night Paul paced his room in deep thought. The scene he had +witnessed had stirred him more than a little; and it grieved him to his +heart that he had so seriously disturbed the last moments of a dying +man. + +"But I could not have hoodwinked him," he thought; "no honest man +could. But to-morrow I'll prove to him that I am ready to help him in +any way that I can. If he will only talk quietly, and keep his temper, +he could surely suggest some more fitting heir than I; and the business +details could be fairly quickly settled if I could take down his wishes +and see his lawyer. He must yet have several days to live, I should +think, with his extraordinary vitality of brain." + +At a very early hour the following morning, therefore, Paul presented +himself again at the house in the square, with the request that he +might have a short interview with the major. + +"Very sorry, sir," said Smith, with an added gloom of manner, "but my +master's much worse; they don't think he'll live through the day. He +was very restless last night; and nothing would satisfy him but that I +should go off in the middle of the night and fetch Mr. Morgan--the +lawyer as wrote to you, sir; but when I got him here my master had lost +his power of speech. He knew Mr. Morgan quite well, but he could not +make him understand what he wanted." + +"And now?" asked Paul, pitifully. + +"The doctor is just coming down the stairs, and will speak to you, sir." + +Paul went out into the hall to meet him. "How did you find the major?" +Paul inquired. + +"Dead," replied the doctor, drawing on his gloves. "He died as I +entered the room." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +FIRST IMPRESSIONS. + +"RUDHAM, Sunday Evening. + +"DEAR SALLY, + +"I did not, until now, believe myself a creature of impulse. That I am +one is proved by the fact that, as I dropped my last letter to you into +the post-box, I made up my mind to run down here and have a look round; +and here I am. My surroundings I will describe later. I told you I +had decided not to go to poor old Major Lessing's funeral for various +reasons. I have a horror of humbug; and to pose as sole and chief +mourner at the funeral of a man who had made me his heir by a fluke, +and if he had lived an hour longer would have altered his will, seemed +humbugging, to my mind. Also the funeral service, beautiful as it +appears to those who can believe in it, means absolutely nothing to me; +and I have scruples about appearing as if it did. Two surprises +awaited me at Rudham: first, that by the same train by which I arrived +Mrs. and Miss Webster got out upon the platform; and the beauty who +fascinated you 'all of a heap' at Brussels, turns out to be the tenant +of Rudham Court--_my_ tenant, in fact!--a judgment upon me, you will +say, for my unreasoning prejudice. Secondly, the extreme difficulty of +getting a night's lodging, unless your character and circumstances are +well known, was borne in forcibly upon my mind! An under-gardener of +Mrs. Webster's took me up in the cart which carried your charmer's +luggage. + +"Judging by the size and number of the boxes, beauty needs a great deal +of adorning, by the way! Then I was handed over to the village +blacksmith, and, under the shelter of his name, I persuaded a Mrs. +Macdonald to take me in. You would describe her as 'quite a darling!' + +"She and her husband are Scotch by birth, and still retain the soft +intonation and pretty accent. They have no children--indeed, Mrs. +Macdonald informs me that they have not long been married; and she must +be fifty, and 'my John,' as she calls him, some ten years older; but I +have never seen two people more in love with each other. If +surroundings are an index to character they must be very nice people +indeed. Let me try and describe my room, which is furnished with the +solid simplicity of a hundred years ago. A grandfather clock ticks +solemnly in the corner, two oak chairs stand on either side of the +fireplace, with down cushions in print covers on the seats--a +concession to modern luxury. In place of the cheap modern sideboard an +open oak cupboard, whereon are displayed my dinner and tea-things, +furnishes one side of the room, leaving just sufficient space for two +Windsor chairs, polished to such a dangerous brightness that to sit +upon them without sliding off requires more careful balance than to +ride a bicycle. An oak table with twisted legs, and flaps that let up +or down at will, is in the centre of the room. One almost expects +clean rushes strewed upon the floor; instead there is linoleum of a +neat design--black stars upon a white ground; and Mrs. Macdonald prides +herself not a little upon the far-sighted policy that made her decide +upon linoleum rather than carpet. + +"'It can be wiped over with a damp cloth every day, sir, and kept sweet +and clean; and if you're feet are cold, I'm not saying that I'll mind +your putting them on the rug, although I made it all myself'--which was +kind of Mrs. Macdonald! My attention being thus drawn to the +hearthrug, I discover that it's a work of art, in its way, knitted in +with rags and tags of cloth, grave or gay in colouring, but harmonious +in the general effect. You will think that I am developing a passion +for detail, but it is rather that I wish to photograph exactly my first +impressions of the place. There seems a primitive simplicity about it +that must vanish at the first touch of modern progress like a pretty +old fresco exposed to the light, and I feel myself like a traitor in +the camp. If I decide to live here I shall probably be the motive +force that will set the ball of progress rolling. Life here is almost +stagnant, I fancy, unlike the river, which runs swift and strong along +the side of the village. It separates from, rather than connects it +with the outer world, for there are dangerous currents which make it +not too safe for navigation; and to cross it you must either go to the +ferry, half a mile off, or make for the bridge at Nowell four miles +away. I found out all this by a stroll after tea, last evening, and a +gossip with my new acquaintance, the blacksmith Allison. Gradually the +talk turned to things parochial, and I discovered some characteristics +of the go-ahead parson, whose appointment to the living my godfather +gently deplored; and this was how it came about. A tall, +powerful-looking man came swinging down the road at a brisk pace, +nodding in quick, alert fashion to one and another as he passed, +recognizing me as a stranger, but bidding Allison a cheerful good night +as he passed on in the direction of the inn. By his dress I knew he +must be the parson of the place. Allison, who had acknowledged his +greeting only by a sideways nod, gave a grunt of assent when I asked +him if it were so. + +"'Curzon,' he said; 'that's his name, a meddlesome chap, if ever there +were one! Now the last rector were a real gentleman! You could please +yourself about going to church or staying at home; but he were +wonderful kind in sickness and such.' + +"'And you miss the attention, I daresay?" + +"'Well, I'm not saying that exactly. Mr. Curzon's wonderful took up +with the sick folks and children, but it's us well ones he can't leave +alone. His work's never done, as you may say. Now what do you suppose +he's after to-night?' in a tone of angry argument. + +"'I really can't guess.' + +"'No; it's not likely you would. He makes believe as he's gone for a +walk, but he'll be turning back again about such time as the men are +turning out of the public there! Then, come next week, he'll be +droppin' into one cottage or another about such time as the man comes +in from work, and it'ull be, 'So and so, I'm afraid you had a glass too +much on Saturday night. I wouldn't do it, if I was you;' and then he's +sure to put in something about coming to church on Sunday." + +"And do they?' I asked. + +"'Some on 'em. Most of 'em, if I speaks the truth, gets tired of being +told of it, I think, and goes just to pacify him, as you may, say; but +I don't hold with it myself.' + +"Apparently this faithful shepherd does succeed in driving a very large +proportion of his flock to church on Sunday. Allison and I are +distinctly in a minority. I was nearly being carried there forcibly +myself to-night; and I only escaped, I believe, because Mrs. Macdonald +has evolved, from the label on my portmanteau that I am the coming +squire, and must be allowed some liberty of opinion. + +"'You'll be going to church to-night, sir,' she said, beginning the +attack with gentle firmness. 'John and I lock up the house and hide +the key under the mat, in case you come back before we do. We have a +walk these summer evenings when church is over.' + +"'Thank you, Mrs. Macdonald, you can leave the key in the door; I have +writing to do.' + +"'But you'll be going to church, for sure; you were not there this +morning, I'm thinking, and the rector's sure to say something of him +that's gone.' + +"I had not the courage of my opinions, like Allison. How could I +grieve the kindly eyes that looked into mine? So I took refuge in weak +evasion. + +"'I've been over-worked and over-worried, Mrs. Macdonald, and my head +aches, and I need rest and quiet.' + +"'Well there, sir; you'll forgive my making so bold, but it will grieve +the good man, if he knows you've come. And there's a-many will be +disappointed not to catch a sight of you, besides.' + +"'Whom do you mean by the good man?' + +"'There now! it slipped out without thinking. But it's what my John +and I call Mr. Curzon, for we've never come across such a one as he.' + +"'And why am I to be a sort of show to the others?' I asked with some +curiosity. + +"'Ah! Because some of them begin to guess now who you are--not that +John nor I are much given to talk. But when a neighbour asks your +name, we couldn't keep it no longer--could we, sir?' + +"'Certainly not. And they will all see me sooner or later, though it +won't be at church to-night. I hope soon to know every one in the +place.' + +"So finally I've been left in charge of the cottage, and have been +writing ever since this long rigmarole to you. Mrs. Macdonald's words +have given me food for reflection, and, the more I reflect, the more +fully convinced I am how thoroughly unfitted I am to fill the place +allotted to me. Had Major Lessing left me money enough to carry out my +own wishes, I should have been inclined to put his property in the +hands of a capable, fair agent, and do with it as Major Lessing +suggested, and keep things very much as they are; but I find that I +shall have little independent income apart from the property. To keep +things in really working repair I shall probably have to raise the +rents--which are absurdly low--which, of course, will be a very +unpopular movement; and my being willing to live as simply as any of my +tenants, will not in the least soften their feeling towards me. I +shall not do anything in a hurry, but I shall first try and master my +position. After so many years of a non-resident squire of a strictly +conservative type, there must be need for improvements; but here again +comes in the question of money. I am afraid that trip abroad must be +put off for the present. How would it be for you to come here for a +bit? I will sound Mrs. Macdonald on the subject to-morrow. If I +undertake the management of things here myself, you would help me with +accounts, etc., and I could take you on as my paid secretary! However +this is looking too far ahead. I will keep this letter open and tell +you the result of my advances to-morrow." + + +"Monday Evening. + +"I approached Mrs. Macdonald with much diplomacy this morning. She +gave me the opening I sought by saying, when I ordered my dinner-- + +"'I suppose you'll be leaving to-day or to-morrow, sir.' + +"'On the contrary, you are making me so comfortable, that I was going +to ask you to take me on for a few weeks, at any rate.' + +"'But it isn't right or fitting that the likes of you should be living +in a cottage such as this. The whole place belongs to you, I'm +thinking.' + +"'I suppose it does. But if I come to live here I shall start either +in a cottage, or quite a small house, with a sister of mine who has no +home, poor child! How she would like to join me here, by the way.' + +"Mrs. Macdonald played nervously with the string of her apron. I could +see I had appealed to her motherly heart by representing you as a +motherless orphan. + +"'I suppose you haven't a second bedroom,' I suggested, following up my +advantage. + +"'It's a slip of a thing; not fit for a lady, sir.' + +"'After all, ladies are much the same as other women; and my sister +might have the bigger bedroom and I the smaller.' + +"'There's my John,' doubtfully. + +"'Doesn't he like ladies?' + +"'Not all of them, sir,' with a sudden burst of confidence. 'There's +Mrs. Webster; she called here one day to know if I'd take in some of +the washing--and he'd just come in from work,--and she marched into the +kitchen and talked very loud. Though he's deaf he don't like no notice +taken of it; and he told her it 'ud be time enough for me to work when +he was laid by, and then he'd be sorry if I had to do it.' + +"'But, of course, if Macdonald does not like us we will leave at once,' +I said, assuming that Mrs. Macdonald had agreed to have you. So you're +to come, Sally; come as quickly as you can. Don't bring much luggage, +for there is nowhere to put it; and pray remember to talk gently to our +host. I cannot see why we should not double the size of this +cottage--put in a bath-room, and get Mrs. Macdonald to do for us; but +this will entirely depend upon your manners, you see. I was preparing +to go out, when I saw a child's invalid carriage barring the entrance +to the gate, and a child's clear voice was giving very impressive +orders about the contents of a certain basket which was to be carried +up to the door. + +"'You won't spill them, Nurse. You'll be sure not to spill them; +they're so _very_ ripe they'd burst if you did.' + +"'No, darling; I'll carry them as carefully as new-laid eggs.' + +"The woman spoke like a lady; her tone was so gentle and refined. + +"I was standing at the open door of the cottage, and went down the path +to meet her, asking if I could take in the basket to Mrs. Macdonald. + +"'But they are not for her; they're for you. But I'm afraid you're +better and don't want them,' said the voice from the carriage outside. + +"'Whatever is inside that basket I'm sure to want,' I said, going out +to my odd little visitor; 'but I don't quite know why you are so kind +as to bring me things. I'm afraid there's some mistake; I shall be so +disappointed if there is.' + +"The blue eyes that looked up into mine began to smile. + +"'Shall you really? There can't be any mistake, because last night, as +Nurse wheeled me out of church, I heard daddy talking to Mrs. +Macdonald; and she said she'd got the new squire at home, but he'd a +dreadful headache and couldn't come.' + +"I could scarcely help laughing; I certainly had not intended my words +to be accepted so literally. + +"'Who are you?' I asked, 'and what's in that basket? It wouldn't be +manners to peep inside, would it?' + +"'Oh yes, it would,' with a delighted giggle. 'I'm Kitty--Kitty +Curzon,--and daddy says it's my work to look after any one who is not +well; and I'm to think what they will like, and take it to them. So, +when I heard you had such a bad headache, I got Nurse to gather my last +red gooseberries--they are _very, very_ ripe,--and I've brought them +for you; and can I have the basket, please?' + +"'Well, I can't accept them on the plea of headache: it's gone, you +see; but perhaps you will be so kind as to leave them all the same, for +if there is one thing I like more than another----" + +"'It's gooseberries,' interposed Kitty, eagerly; and I nodded assent. + +"The child shot a triumphant glance at Nurse. + +"'She said you would not want them, and I'd better ask daddy; but he +likes me to think of things by myself. And then at the end of the day +I tell him where I've been; and he'll be so surprised to-night, for he +didn't know I'd heard about you.' + +"I carried off the basket, and brought it back, presently, empty. + +"'I have not half thanked you, Kitty; but I am most grateful. How old +are you, I wonder?' + +"There was a moment's hesitation. 'I'm not young at all; I'm nine, +although you'd never think it, because I'm so small. Daddy says +running about makes you grow, and I can't run.' + +"'Her back is not strong, sir,' said Nurse, hurriedly; and as I looked +at the recumbent figure, I saw that the poor little child was deformed. +It seemed a terrible pity, for the face and head are singularly pretty. + +"'That's why daddy says I must think of all the ill ones, because Nurse +and he think so much about me.' + +"'Very well. I shall be sure and send for you directly there is +anything the matter. I fancy you would do me more good than a doctor. +And I've a sister coming, before long, and she will want companions. +You will have to come to tea.' + +"'Is she as old as I am?' + +"'A little older, I think.' + +"'I'll come if daddy will let me; but Nurse must come too.' + +"'By all means, and if you have any little brothers or sisters----' + +"'I have not any. There's only me,' interposed Kitty, shaking her head. + +"'I wonder what her name is?' + +"'My sister's, do you mean? Sally. Rather a nice name, isn't it?' + +"Evidently Kitty did not like it much, for she said she must be going; +and went on her way, kissing her hand graciously, so I took off my hat +and waved it. + +"From Mrs. Macdonald I gather that my first visitor is Mr. Curzon's +only child. He is a widower, it seems, and Kitty is the cause of his +holding a country living. By my landlady's account he is simply +wrapped up in her. I have been the round of the village to-day, making +acquaintance with one and another as occasion offered. As I +conjectured there seems plenty to be done; and it must be some months +before I can stir hand or foot, before I can get things even into my +own hands--not that the people here realize this in the very least. +Indeed they are intellectually dead; they seem to possess no ambition +of any sort. + +"I went into the parish church on my way home. It is an interesting +one, built about the end of the thirteenth century, with a magnificent +tower that one can see for miles round. I found a great many monuments +to the Lessings--a very virtuous lot, if their memorial tablets are to +be trusted. The church has been carefully restored--quite recently, I +fancy, by the look of it. Then I went into the churchyard, where a +newly-filled-in grave showed me where my poor godfather had been laid. +The sacristan, a very old, infirm man was putting it tidy; and to my +astonishment I saw a low vase of white flowers placed in the very +centre of the grave. + +"'I suppose I am not mistaken,' I said. 'This must be Major Lessing's +grave?' + +"'Yes, sir.' + +"'And who put the flowers?' + +"'Miss Kitty, the little maid at the rectory. She said she'd thought +he'd be lonely without any;' and the sacristan straightened his back +with a little smile. + +"'I hope you don't mind,' said a voice behind me. 'I've a notion your +relative did not like flowers at a funeral, but I could not upset +Kitty's conviction that he did.' + +"It was the rector who had come upon me unawares, and he did not +pretend not to know me. + +"'What can it matter now?' I answered. 'He'll know nothing of it.' + +"But I must stop, I've no time to describe the good man. Come and see +him for yourself. + +"Ever yours, + +"PAUL LESSING." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OPPOSING VIEWS. + +The man who some centuries earlier had built Rudham Court, had been +wiser than the generation in which he lived in his choice of a site. +Instead of a valley he had chosen the side of a hill, and the sloping +foreground had been levelled into a succession of terraces, giving the +impression of an almost mountainous ascent to the house from the road +which lay beneath. The house, not beautiful in itself, was softened by +the hand of time into a dull red that contrasted harmoniously with the +group of trees behind it, and the gravelled terrace in front with its +box-bordered beds was a blaze of colour in the brilliant sunshine of +the August morning. It was bordered by a low stone wall along which +two peacocks strutted with almost ridiculous self-consciousness of +their beauty. In the very centre was a flight of steps which descended +to the bowling-green beneath, where the yew hedge which grew round it +had been fantastically cut into the shape of an embattlemented parapet, +framing the distant view into a series of charming little pictures: +here a glimpse of the river, there a delightful vignette of the church. + +Across the velvety turf of the green tripped Rose Lancaster, dangling a +basket from her arm, a picture herself in her pink cambric frock and +befrilled apron, a little French cap set upon her head which enhanced +the beauty of the golden hair. Her skin was of the delicate colouring +that so often accompanies fair hair, the mouth generally wore a smile +displaying Rose's pretty dimples, and the great blue eyes were half +concealed by the long lashes. She made her way to the wicket-gate at +the far end of the green, to a winding path through a wood which led to +the rose-garden below, and gave a start of pretended surprise when Tom +Burney broke off from his task of mowing the grass paths which +separated the beds, with an exclamation of delight. + +"You here!" said Rose, who had watched the direction of his steps from +a window above. "I've come after some roses, if I can find any. +Nothing satisfies Miss Webster but roses on the mantel-shelf of her +sitting-room, and it does not matter to her whether they are in season +or out. Roses she must have. Are there any coming on, Tom?" + +[Illustration: "I've come after some roses."] + +"Bother the roses!" said Tom, impatiently. "You've been back nearly a +fortnight, and have not spoken a word to me yet." + +"That's ungrateful. I walked to church with you on Sunday evening, and +I told you lots of things I did when we were away." + +"Dixon joined us, and you let him!" said Tom, angrily. + +"How could I help it?" Rose answered, arching her pretty brows. "I +could not say I didn't want him, could I?" + +"Are you going to walk with him or me, Rose? I asked you before you +went away, and I want to know now." + +Rose meditatively clipped off a bud, crying out a little as a thorn +pricked her finger, holding out the injured member for Tom to look at; +but he looked over it at her, a flush on his handsome face. + +"It may be play to you; it isn't to me," he said, his voice shaking a +little. "Did you get the letter I wrote?" + +"I don't know; I forget. I had a lot of letters. Yes, I expect I did." + +"And you didn't trouble to answer it?" + +"It's clear you don't know what a lot a lady's maid has to do when +she's travelling," said Rose, petulantly. "It's 'Lancaster' here and +'Lancaster' there, and you've no sooner packed up than you begin +unpacking again. What time should I get for answering letters?'" + +"I wanted to know if you'd thought over what I said?" + +"You can't expect me to remember what you said six weeks ago." + +"You do remember, only you don't want to give a straight answer. +That's about it," said Tom, bitterly. + +"I like walking with you both, though not together. There!" cried +Rose, with a defiant toss of her head. "I'm young; I don't mean to be +tied!" + +"But you'll care for the one who loves you best, and that's me!" burst +out poor Tom. "Dixon may be smarter, and he's a deal better off; but +he's a glib sneak, and I know it. I'll wait three months, and then +I'll have my answer; and if it's 'No' I'll be fit to drown myself," and +Tom's voice broke off in something very like a sob. + +Rose was flattered but frightened at realizing her power over the lad. +It was like a book, that he should threaten to drown himself for love +of her; but of course he did not mean it. She was sorry for him; when +she was with him she almost believed she loved him, but at any rate she +need not decide now. Three months hence she might know her own mind. + +"Well, we'll wait three months and see what happens; and meantime I do +hope you'll be careful not to quarrel with Dixon." + +"I shall if he comes in my way," declared Tom, sturdily. "I don't +wonder he wants you himself--any man would; but he should play fair." + +"He's no quarrel with you; he said you were a decent sort of a lad, the +other day." + +Tom clenched his fist involuntarily. "That's just it!--he's always +trying to run me down in your eyes. A lad, indeed! I'm a man who +wants the same girl he does, and that's yourself, Rose." + +Rose laughed gaily; it was nice to find herself so much in request. + +"Man or boy, I can't stay talking to you all day. Pick me any roses +there are, and let me go. I believe" (in a lowered undertone) "that I +hear the ladies talking up there on the bowling-green. They've come +out to sit in the shade, I expect." + +Rose's conjecture was right, for, as she went back to the house, she +caught a glimpse of Miss Webster and her mother seated under the large +tree at the far end of the lawn. + +"How pretty she is," said May Webster, following her retreating figure +with lazy eyes. "As pretty as the roses she carries. I do hope she +won't get snapped up at once. She is a pleasant little thing to have +about one--which reminds me, mother. I saw a pretty girl of a +different type in the village yesterday, whom I believe to be Miss +Lessing. What are you going to do about her and her brother?" + +"Nothing at present, I think. One really can't leave cards on a +cottage!" + +"But you might on the people in it. We can't very well ignore the +squire of the place who is also our landlord." + +"It will be time enough to recognize him when he behaves like other +people." + +"I don't see that he's a bit more peculiar than the University men who +take to slumming. Anybody may do anything nowadays," May said with a +little laugh. + +"He doesn't even come to church," persisted Mrs. Webster. + +"A weakness shared by many men." + +"But his sister might and _ought_," replied her mother, severely. + +"Mr. Curzon seems to think it equally necessary for men and women," +said May, mischievously. + +"Oh yes. Of course he's a dear good man, and I wish we were all like +him, but we aren't," answered Mrs. Webster, resigning all hope of +anything but moral mediocrity with a gentle sigh. "He says Mr. Lessing +is a very nice fellow; but you can't quite rely on his opinion: he's a +good word for every one." + +"Which is delightful, but not amusing; and one does need amusement, +mother. Suppose we call at the cottage and follow up the call by an +invitation to dinner. We might ask the rector to meet them." + +"The worst of asking the rector is that he always wants something," +said Mrs. Webster, a little plaintively. + +"That we haven't got?" + +"Oh, May, you know quite well what I mean! It must be the heat that is +making you so argumentative. Mr. Curzon always has some pet hobby on +hand for which he wants money, and of course he ought to have it; but +really, just now, what with a trip abroad, and the London house to +paint and paper throughout, I've not so much in hand as usual." + +"Enough for the rector's last hobby, I dare say. At any rate let's +risk it. If we all air our different views we might have an exciting +evening." + +"I wish things were as they used to be. The old major was such a +thorough gentleman. It was quite a pleasure to give him a bed or +dinner when he came down." + +"Is not this man a gentleman, then?" + +"Oh, my dear, I hope so; but he has queer views, if all I hear be true. +I'm sure, if he says anything at dinner about our being all equal, I +shan't be able to hold my tongue. We never were and never can be." + +"I believe Mr. Curzon thinks we are; only he likes poor people _much_ +the best. He says the truest gentleman he ever came across is old +Macdonald." + +"Now it is wild talk like that that makes me sometimes distrust Mr. +Curzon; and he ought to know better, being of such good family +himself," said Mrs. Webster, fretfully. "Is it not at the Macdonalds +that the Lessings are lodging? As you seem to wish it, we will call +this afternoon." + +Paul Lessing was out when the smart carriage and pair drew up at the +Macdonald's cottage in the course of the afternoon; and Sally had to +receive her two visitors alone. Mrs. Webster's ample presence seemed +to fill the tiny sitting-room; but she placed herself graciously enough +in one of the cushioned elbow-chairs, whilst May subsided into the +slippery Windsor as gracefully as if it were the softest sofa. There +was something about Sally that pleased her; it may have been a certain +originality and freshness of manner, or the unconscious admiration that +shone in the dark eyes. Nothing in its way pleases a handsome woman +more than the admiration of her own sex. Be this as it may, May +Webster laid herself out to charm, and did it very successfully, and by +judicious management prevented her mother from asking any leading +questions as to Mr. Lessing's future line of conduct. Mrs. Webster's +small talk so often took the line of asking questions. + +Paul was not properly grateful when he found the cards upon the +mantelshelf. + +"It's a dreadful bore; but I'm afraid it can't be helped. You can +return the call sometime, and there will be an end of it." + +"There may be for you, but there won't be for me!" said Sally, with +some spirit. "I'm catholic in my choice of companions, and mean to +include everybody who cares to know me. Mrs. Macdonald is charming, +and Allison amuses me, and Mrs. Pink and I have made friends over the +baby; but why I should refuse a proffer of friendship from Miss +Webster, because she happens to be a beauty and dresses well, I don't +exactly see!" + +"Friendship!" echoed Paul, scornfully. "How little you know of smart +people and their ways. Friendship with them means a stepping-stone to +higher things; your means and your position must give them a leg up in +the world. Now we have neither." + +"You are shaking my faith in you, Paul. You are judging without +knowing." + +"I am not judging the Websters individually--only the class to which +they belong; of which I _do_ know something, and you nothing." + +"Well, I think I will learn for myself then!" cried Sally. "I'll start +by believing people as nice as they appear, until I find them +otherwise." + +"And are Mrs. and Miss Webster 'nice,' as you call it?" asked Paul, his +curiosity overcoming his vexation. + +"I did not like Mrs. Webster much: the room did not seem big enough to +hold her." + +"I told you so!" said Paul, triumphantly. + +"Oh, Paul! you might be a woman," replied Sally, with mocking laughter. +"But listen; Miss Webster is as nice as she looks! Can you want more?" + +"It's a good thing to be young and enthusiastic." + +"Certainly better than being old and cynical," retorted Sally, saucily. + +The next morning's post brought a crested envelope, directed in a +dashing hand, to Sally, inviting Paul and herself to dinner at the +Court on the following evening. + +"We shall be simply a family party," wrote the lady; "but, with such +near neighbours, I thought it more friendly to invite you for the first +time quite informally." + +"You don't want to go!" exclaimed Paul, who felt the meshes of the +society net closing round him. + +"Of course I do. I want to see your house, and to feel what it would +be like to live there." + +"I don't believe you have a proper frock to go in. A coat and skirt +won't do." + +"What nonsense! I've an evening dress, of a sort; and they don't +invite my frock, but me!" + +"We'll go, then, as you've set your heart upon it; but I feel as if it +were the letting out of water." + +Certainly Paul had no reason to complain of Sally's appearance when she +came down ready dressed for her dinner on the following evening. In +her simple white dress, cut away at the throat, with a soft muslin +fichu tied in front with long ends falling to the bottom other skirt, +she looked, as old Macdonald afterwards remarked to his wife, "as a +lady should:" fair, and fresh, and young. Her dusky hair waved +prettily upon her forehead, and half concealed her ears; the face it +framed was not, strictly speaking, pretty, but it was bright and +animated, and the dark eyes and eyebrows were handsome. + +"I've won one person's approval at any rate," said Sally, merrily, as +they started on their way. "I went in to bid Macdonald good night, and +Mrs. Macdonald said, as she helped me on with my cape, that 'my John' +likes ladies to wear white dresses and have pale faces. He could not +abide colour, except in flowers." + +"Then you are fulfilling your mission, Sally, and winning your way into +Macdonald's good graces. We shan't be turned out." + +"It's my first dinner-party, Paul. Do you realise the importance of +the occasion? I've had no coming-out like other girls." + +"That's why you are so much jollier than most of them," said Paul, +betrayed into a compliment. + +From the moment they entered the drive-gate, and began the ascent to +the house, Sally looked about her with eager interest, breaking into +exclamations of delight as each step revealed some fresh beauty to her +eyes. + +"It's a dangerous experiment to have brought you. You will be horribly +discontented with Macdonald's, after this." + +"I shan't. But if this place were mine, I should live here, and make +it a joy to everybody about me. I would not want to keep it to +myself," Sally said-- + +But the front door was reached, and a footman was at hand to help her +off with her cloak; and in another instant the door of the long +drawing-room was thrown wide, and Sally, with the un-self-consciousness +of simplicity, heard herself announced, and found her hand in Mrs. +Webster's, who retained it as she led her on towards a tall, handsome +man who stood talking to Miss Webster. + +"Mr. Curzon, allow me to introduce Miss Lessing. You've been away with +your little Kitty, so I don't think you've met each other yet." + +Then Sally realized that she stood face to face with the good man, and +that he was to take her in to dinner, so that she would have time to +consider him carefully. Mrs. Webster placed her hand graciously on +Paul's arm when dinner was announced, and May trailing yards of +amber-coloured silk behind her, sailed in by herself. + +The dinner-table was oval, and Sally found herself seated between the +Rector and May; on the other side sat Paul, with Mrs. Webster and May +to talk to alternately. The very perfection of her surroundings +engaged Sally's attention at first: the delicately shaded lights +shining down on the dainty flowers, and silver and glass; the dinner, +remarkable rather for elegance than profusion; the family portraits on +the wall, bewigged and befrilled, which stood at ease, and glanced down +on the company with a sort of haughty indifference; the heavy, handsome +furniture combining beauty with comfort; and last, but not least, May +herself, whose beauty in her evening dress was simply dazzling. + +Paul, reduced to commonplaces, was asking Mrs. Webster if the place +suited her. + +"A leading question, Mr. Lessing," she answered, with a sort of heavy +playfulness. "I've no doubt you would be glad to hear it did not. But +we are so fond of it, May and I; it's just the country place we want +for the summer months. We are always in London for the season. But +our lease is nearly run out, you know; and then, I'm afraid, naughty +man! you will not let us renew it." + +"Why not? I'm not likely to get better tenants," said Paul, politely. + +"But you may be wanting to live here yourself, you see." + +"Such a plan is very far from my thoughts at present. I neither wish, +nor can afford it." + +"But where else _can_ you go?" asked Mrs. Webster, as if her life +depended on the answer. + +The plea of poverty must be ignored; it was only advanced because Mr. +Lessing was her landlord! + +"I've not decided yet. Sally and I are quite happy where we are." + +"But you could not go on like that. It hardly seems right, you know." + +"I don't see where the wrong comes in." + +"Your very position as squire; you will be expected to be an employer +of labour, you see." + +"So I suppose I shall be, in time, although perhaps not about my house +and garden. There are a great many things that will have to be done in +the place when I get my affairs into order." + +"Ah yes, of course; it's wonderful how the money flies. Here's Mr. +Curzon insisting that the schools must be enlarged; I expect you are +like him, and think that everybody ought to know everything, and that +each child must have so many cubic feet! I'm sure I can't cope with it +all. I only know we, who are a little better off, have to pay for it. +He wants me to give a hundred pounds, and I tell him I really can't: +fifty is the utmost, and that is more than I can afford. I advise you +to keep clear of him to-night; he's sure to ask you to subscribe a +similar sum." + +"It's a voluntary school, I suppose?" said Paul, glancing across at the +rector. "I could not subscribe to that; I'm in favour of a board +school, you see." + +Sally, looking from one to the other scented trouble, for Mr. Curzon +broke off in the middle of a sentence, and his smiling, kindly face +grew grave as he gazed steadily back at her brother. There was a +moment of uncomfortable silence. + +"I was going to call and discuss the matter of the school with you," +said Mr. Curzon, at last; "but I did not mean to introduce the subject +to-night." + +"Of course not. We could not possibly allow it; could we, mother?" +interposed May, with an air of relief. "I feel at the present moment +we all need more cubic feet. It's so very hot; I almost think we could +sit outside." And as she spoke a general move was made for the +terrace, where seats and tables were arranged. + +As neither of the men took wine they did not stay behind; and May, who +was clever enough to see that they were both ready to show fight for +their individual opinions, engaged Paul in conversation, whilst Mr. +Curzon carried off Sally to see the bowling-green by moonlight. + +"I never saw anything so quaintly pretty," Sally said. "The yew hedge +with its succession of views suits it exactly." + +"Yes, doesn't it?" replied her companion. "This is naturally my +favourite;" and he paused at the opening where, below, the church stood +out grand and stately against the evening sky. "Is it not a grand old +tower? It stands just as a church should; it dominates the place." + +The ring of enthusiasm in his voice brought an answering thrill into +Sally's heart. + +"Are you sure that it does really?" she asked, moved by a sudden +impulse. + +"I hope so; I pray God it may be so. If not in my time then in +another's." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A QUESTION OF EDUCATION. + +"I can't think why you, or any reasonable man, should object to a board +school?" said Paul, who had been expounding his views at some length to +the rector. "The people should have a voice in the matter of their +children's education; and it can't be fair that any particular system +of religion should be forced upon them. In a place like this you would +be pretty certain to come out at the head of the poll, and, if +religious teaching seems such an essential, you would be allowed to +give it with limitations." + +"With limitations that would practically make it useless," said Mr. +Curzon. "I am prepared to make any sacrifice rather than surrender the +religious training of the children God has given to my care. It will +be a hard matter, with you against me, but I must stick fast by my +principle." + +"In a few more years there won't be a voluntary school left in the +country," said Paul. + +"Mine shall be one of the last to die," replied Mr. Curzon. + +"You are fully persuaded that you are carrying out the wishes of your +people." + +"I am sure that, as far as I know it, I shall be doing my duty by +them--and that must come first; but they shall have an opportunity of +expressing their opinion. I am going to call a meeting about the +enlarging of the school, and I shall try and persuade every one to +attend it." + +"Including myself?" inquired Paul, with a rather sceptical smile. + +"I shall wish you, of course, to be there." + +"But I can only be there in opposition to your views," Paul said. + +"A clergyman gets used to opposition," replied Mr. Curzon, quietly; +"but if the school is to be continued under the management of myself +and my churchwardens, it shall be no hole-and-corner business: it shall +be with the consent and confidence of the majority of my people." + +Paul rose to go; and there was rather a troubled look on his face as he +took Mr. Curzon's out-stretched hand. It was such a kindly, friendly +grip. + +"I'm afraid we cannot help coming across each other as we both have the +courage of our opinions; but at least you will believe that I have the +social development of the village very near at heart." + +"And there, at least, we agree," said Mr. Curzon, smiling; "but with me +their spiritual welfare is even more urgent." + +Kitty's little carriage was drawn up at the door, as she was just +returning from an outing. She greeted Paul with a beaming face, which, +as he came closer, grew clouded with anxiety. + +"I'm afraid you've got another headache, and I've got nothing to bring +now," she said. "Blackberries wouldn't do. They are rather nasty, +daddy thinks." + +"I've not got a headache, Kitty, thank you," said Paul, leaving the +question of blackberries in abeyance. "What made you think I had?" + +"You were frowning; but perhaps it was the sun in your eyes. Has your +sister bigger than me come yet?" + +"Oh yes; she has been here quite a time, and you have not been to see +her." + +"I've been away; did not you know?--away with daddy," with a proud +glance up at her father. "It was lovely; he had no one to think of but +me, and I was with him on the beach nearly all day long." + +"Ah, that's how you come to have such roses in your cheeks. Well, when +are you coming to have tea with Sally and me? You shall choose your +own day." + +"Would to-morrow do? It's Sunday; and daddy likes me to have all the +happiest things on Sunday. But I forgot; Nurse was to come, too, but +she goes out on Sunday afternoon." + +The sweet-faced woman who wheeled Kitty about gave an amused little +laugh. + +"It would be rather nice for you to go this once alone, Miss Kitty; and +I could wheel you there on my way out----" + +"And Sally and I could bring you home. Would not that do?" said Paul +to Mr. Curzon. + +"If you are sure you will not be troubled with her." + +"Oh dear, no; it has been a long-standing engagement--has it not, +Kitty?" + +"Daddy dear, lift me out, please!" said Kitty, when Paul had gone on +his way. "I like him so much, although I don't remember his name. +It's rather a funny one, but I like him; he has such kind eyes." + +Mr. Curzon tenderly lifted his little daughter out of her carriage, but +made no answer to her remark about their new neighbour. To himself he +was free to admit that the new squire's views troubled him sorely. + +"We are to have our first tea-party to-morrow, Sally. I have invited +the district visitor." + +"Who?" asked Sally, in considerable astonishment. + +"Kitty Curzon--whose loving care for my head has won my heart. The +child persists in believing that I live in a chronic state of headache, +and resorts to her own methods of cure. Ours is a friendship doomed to +be nipped in the bud, alas! Let us make the most of it while it lasts." + +"What is to kill it?" + +"The father is the difficulty; he has caught sight of my cloven hoof +this morning, and, depend upon it, he will not trust Kitty to us often. +He had to consent to her coming this morning, for she arranged it all +under his very eyes; and I saw he had not the heart to thwart her. +She's a young woman who evidently gets her own way up to a certain +point; but unless I'm greatly mistaken, the fatherly fiat will go forth +that the less she sees of us the better." + +"I would rather she did not come at all, then," said Sally, hotly. + +"I wouldn't; she has chosen this tea as her Sunday treat," Paul +answered with a humorous smile. + +By four o'clock on the morrow the little invalid carriage stopped at +the Macdonald's gate, and Paul ran down to greet his visitor. + +"Wait a moment, Kitty; Nurse and I between us can lift the whole thing +in, and then she can go on for her outing, and you shall be left to +Sally and me." + +Kitty's eyes looked beyond Paul at Sally, who stood smiling behind. + +"You did not tell me she was grown-up like everybody else," she +answered irrelevantly. + +"Oh, there's a lot of difference even between grown-up people, as I +will presently show you," said Paul. "Meanwhile, before you talk to +Sally, we'll get you into the cottage." + +"Shall you carry me, like daddy? I can walk on crutches, but it hurts +me rather," said Kitty. And Paul lifted her in his strong arms as +gently as if she were a baby, and Sally followed with the crutches, her +soul filled with pity for the child so perfectly developed as far as +the waist, but whose legs were twisted and helpless. + +Evidently poor Kitty had some affection of the spine. Sally felt her +pity almost misplaced before the afternoon was over; Kitty's enjoyment +of life in general, and her present entertainment in particular was so +genuine, and her laughter so infectious. + +By a happy inspiration Mrs. Macdonald had suggested that the tea should +be held in the orchard behind the house, and Kitty's carriage was +placed under the tree which bore the rosiest apples, one or two of +which fell with a flop at her feet. + +"Such as comes to little missy she must take home with her," said +Macdonald, smiling benignantly from his seat in the kitchen, and +bestowing a meaning glance at Paul, who, mindful of the hint, shook the +boughs as he handed Kitty her tea, bringing a shower of red fruit about +her. + +The conversation never flagged; Kitty's life seemed full of interest, +both at home and abroad, and she was fast friends, apparently, with +every soul in the place, including Allison, who had won her affection +for ever by presenting her with a Persian kitten, whom she brought down +regularly once a week to call upon its former owner. When the bells +began to chime for evening service Kitty signified her wish to depart. + +"We could take little missy," said Macdonald. "We'll be going that way +ourselves." + +"No, thank you," said Paul. "We promised to take you home--did not we, +Kitty?" + +Had he realized quite what the fulfilment of that promise involved, he +might have been inclined to accept the Macdonald's offer, for when he +and Sally had wheeled their visitor as far as the rectory, and were +going to enter, she shook her head vigorously. + +"We can't get in there--it will be all locked up--every one's gone to +church. Please take me on! my carriage goes into the belfry, and, as I +lie there, I can see all down the church." + +There was no disobeying such clear directions, so Paul, with a smile, +humbly did as he was bid. + +"Is that all you want?" he asked, when he had adjusted Kitty's carriage +to the exact angle which she liked best. + +He was in a hurry to slip out before the service began; Sally waited +for him outside. + +"Oh no; I haven't got my book and things," said Kitty. "They are in +the box in the corner; daddy had it made for me, and here's the key," +producing a key on a string from round her neck. "There's a nice red +one you can use that belongs to Nurse." + +By the time Paul had unlocked the box and found the books, Kitty's +hands were devoutly folded in prayer, and her eyes fast shut. She +opened them presently with a bright smile. + +"Thank you," she half-whispered. "Now if you bring that chair close to +me, you'll find my places for me; Nurse always does. I've not learned +to read so very long--daddy would not let me." + +Paul, feeling himself a victim of circumstance, fetched the chair and +seated himself. + +"I suppose he's forgotten to say his prayers," thought Kitty, as she +noticed that he neither knelt down nor even placed his hand over his +eyes, which were the varying methods of paying homage to God, that she +had observed the men of the congregation adopted when they came into +church. + +Paul found his position a singular one. He had not been present at a +service of any description since his college days. It would not be +true to say that he had lost his belief; he had never had any. He +might well question the necessity of religious education, for he had +had none himself. He and Sally had been baptized as babies, just +because their mother had wished it; but after her death their father, +who cared for none of these things, left their religious training to +chance. + +"Speak the truth, and behave like a gentleman," he said to Paul, when +he was sent at an early age to school; "and if ever you get into a +scrape, come to me and tell me all about it." + +It was a very simple moral code, and Paul lived by it both at school +and college; and before his college course was ended his father had +died. Christianity had not appealed to him in any way; he regarded it +as a worn-out system of religious belief that had been a moral force in +the world, but was dying now, slowly perhaps, but surely. Perhaps in a +remote village like this, where a Rector of strong personality was at +the head of affairs, it might be fanned into a flame for a time, but it +would not last. It certainly had a semblance of life to-night, Paul +admitted, as the congregation rose to its feet at the opening bars of +the voluntary, and the white-robed choir entered, followed by Mr. +Curzon. There was scarcely an empty seat, and there were as many men +present as women; and they were there, apparently, not to look on but +to worship, if hearty singing or burst of response were any criterion. +There was a scarcely a voice silent save Paul's own. + +Viewed as a picture it was a pretty one, framed as it was by the high +narrow Early English arch which opened from the belfry into the nave. +First came the bowed heads of the kneeling people, and, through the +beautiful old screen which separated chancel from nave, the altar shone +out in strong relief against its background of soft-coloured mosaic, +the rays of the western sun giving an added touch of brilliance to its +decoration of cross and flowers. + +But Kitty's hand was laid upon Paul's arm, and "Psalms, please!" +brought him back from his reverie to his duty. He did not keep her +waiting again, and he was interested by watching the sensitive, eager +little face. There was no question that the child was following the +service heart and soul; but when the sermon time came she was fairly +tired out, and, turning her head a little on one side, she was soon +fast asleep. + +"If the Lord be God, follow Him," said Mr. Curzon; and Paul glanced up +at the preacher, and noticed that every head was turned in the same +direction. And yet it was no great eloquence that held them, but a +certain manly simplicity of speech which carried conviction of the +preacher's absolute sincerity. He prefaced his sermon with a notice of +a public meeting that was to be held about the schools in the course of +the coming week, at which he begged the attendance of all interested in +the subject of education. The time had come when the schools must be +enlarged, and he put the question of whether this should be done by +private subscription, or by turning the school into a board school, +very simply before his people, telling them that a grave question was +involved in the decision--that of religious education. + +"There are those among you who will say that in this matter the parsons +want it all their own way; but, for myself, I emphatically deny the +charge. I want God's way, and it is not until after much thought and +prayer that I venture to place this matter before you to-night. It is +one that I, as shepherd of this flock, must talk to you about, for holy +hands have been laid upon my head, and the souls of all in this place +are committed solemnly to my charge; and I must claim the little ones +for the Master whom I serve, I wish to retain the right to train them +as faithful and true members of Christ and His Church. I should not be +faithful to my office unless I try to make you fully grasp the danger I +believe to lurk in education that is robbed of its crowning glory--the +knowledge of God." + +Paul listened to the simple appeal which followed with interest not +unmixed with irritation. + +"He has the whip-hand over me; he rules his people by their hearts +rather than by their heads," he said to Sally, afterwards, when he was +giving her the gist of the sermon. "Parsons have a greater chance of +propagating their views than any other set of men. Twice a day every +Sunday they can lay down the law with never a soul to gainsay them." + +"But lots of us don't go to listen," said Sally. + +Paul laughed. "Well, no; I don't think there are many country +congregations like the one I saw to-night. I'm not sorry to have been +there for once. In future we'll fix some other day than Sunday for our +visitor. I really could not hurt the child's feelings, and yet I +cannot be led along a victim at her chariot wheels." + +"I can't think why you take so much notice of her? You've never cared +for a child before." + +"She bought me with ripe gooseberries," Paul answered laughing. "I +couldn't refuse a child's friendship any more than a dog's." + +The Rector's sermon was fully discussed at the forge the following +evening. + +"Says I to Mr. Lessing to-day when we was talking together about this +eddication business, 'It's all very well sayin' as we must make the +schools so fine and grand, but what I wants to know is, who's goin' to +pay?" said Allison. "Them as has got the money, I s'pose." + +"What did he say?" asked Tom Burney. + +"'If I have my way it'll be thrown upon the rates.' But I'm not sure +I'm with him there. Once let the rates run up, and we dunno where we +are. Seems to me, with all his free-and-easy ways, and his living like +one of us, he's a bit close-fisted--not a bit like the old major. +Depend upon it, he don't want to put down his cool hundred; and that's +why he talks so brisk about the rates. There's something about it as +I've not got clear yet, for the rector comes along this morning, quite +cheery like, and sings out as he passes, 'Comin' to the school meetin' +a Friday, Allison? Room for all. I wants this school business +settled.'" + +"We couldn't settle it no better than it is at present, I'm thinking," +interposed Macdonald gently. "To hear the rector talk a Sunday night +about it were grand, that it was; and, if it's money he wants, there +isn't one of us that oughtn't to help him." + +"Rich fellers like you can talk about money!" retorted Allison, with +withering scorn; "but for me, who makes every penny I earns, he may +think hisself well off to get the five shillin's I gives him every year +for those blessed schools. I'll stick to that five, neither more nor +less, unless the squire gets his way; and then I won't give nothink but +what I'm made to." But Allison found himself without an audience. +With the mention of money the company had dispersed. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. + +"It must take it out of one dreadfully to be so terribly in earnest," +said May Webster, softly stroking the pug dog that lay curled up in her +lap. + +"As who?" asked her mother, looking up from her writing. + +"As Mr. Curzon; you might think his life depended on this school +business. I really could not follow all he said this afternoon; but, +apparently, he and Mr. Lessing have come to grief already about it. +There's another earnest one--with this difference between them: that +Mr. Curzon is earnest and agreeable, and Mr. Lessing earnest and +disagreeable." + +"He's more tiresome than disagreeable, May. I call it tiresome to live +in a cottage instead of a house, and to keep his sister from church--I +suppose that that is his doing,--and to upset us all when we are quiet +and happy. He's paying such high wages, they say, to the men he has +set at work over the drainage of some of his cottages, that I expect +all our men will be asking us to raise theirs." + +"I wonder which of them is right?" said May, returning to the subject +of the schools. + +"Mr. Curzon, of course; he's a clergyman, my dear!" + +"Then you will go to the meeting to-night." + +"You must be crazed, May, to think of such a thing. I go to a school +meeting! If there is one type of woman I dislike more than another, +it's the one to be found on platforms." + +"I had not thought of you on a platform exactly. It only occurred to +me that you would give Mr. Curzon your moral support, as your +sympathies go with him. You carry weight, you see," which was true in +more senses than one. + +Mrs. Webster put the most favourable interpretation upon the phrase. + +"Of course, if you really think it my duty, May," she said, softening +visibly, "and would come with me----" + +"Oh, I intend going anyhow," interposed May, carelessly. + +"It's such a new departure for you to take a prominent part in parish +things," exclaimed Mrs. Webster. + +"Oh, parish has nothing to do with it! I'm going as a disinterested +spectator to see the two earnest ones fight it out." + +"My dear!" remonstrated her mother in a shocked tone. + +"If I have a bias it's in favour of the rector. I don't pretend to +understand the merits of voluntary versus board schools; but, as you +say, a clergyman is always right--most probably Mr. Curzon's is the +better cause, and most certainly he is the better man." + +"Dear, dear; and we shall have to dine at seven, and keep as we are, I +suppose?" with a glance at the stately folds of her brocade dress. + +"Yes; we won't treat a school meeting like a theatre," said May, +laughing. "Will it be considered unduly flippant on my part to go in +this muslin? or ought I to wear black, as at a funeral?" + +"It cannot signify in the least; a change of dress would not alter your +flippant mind," replied her mother, with unusual smartness. "Dear Mr. +Curzon has really convinced me that it is a most important subject, so +I don't mind making a sacrifice for once in a way." + +"By dining an hour earlier than usual and not changing your dress! All +right, mother; I'll order the carriage for ten minutes to eight. We +may as well be punctual." + +The back benches of the schoolroom were crowded to overflowing when May +and her mother entered that evening. + +"It's very hot, May. I'm not sure that I can stay," said Mrs. Webster, +pausing in the doorway. + +"Oh yes, mother; we'll see it through to the bitter end," said May, in +an undertone. "There are seats in the front." + +Mrs. Webster picked her way daintily through the crowd, and Mr. +Lessing, who was seated at the end of one of the desks, stood up to let +her pass. May's skirt caught against a nail, as she followed, and Paul +bent to set it free; but as May turned smiling to thank him, it gave +her a faint shock of surprise to read the dislike that found expression +in his eyes. Her smile faded, and she passed on her way with a haughty +little bow. + +"I wonder why he hates me? I am not aware that any man has ever viewed +me with honest dislike before," she thought, as she took her seat by +her mother. + +Paul, on his side, was inspired with the same unwilling admiration and +active irritation as on the occasion of their first meeting at +Brussels. Beautiful she undoubtedly was; so beautiful that his eyes +unconsciously followed her every movement. The cordial greeting she +accorded the rector--so different from her bow to himself,--and the +poise of her head, as she turned to look at the rows of expectant faces +behind her, giving a smiling nod to Mrs. Macdonald, who, duly impressed +with the gravity of the occasion, sat by the side of her John with her +hands clasping a clean pocket-handkerchief as if she were at church. +Paul tried to define the cause of his annoyance as he looked at her. + +"It is the hard crust of indifference which society people cultivate to +such perfection; it's the assurance which beauty assumes. She has come +here most probably in search of a new sensation," he thought. + +But the rector, who sat on a platform at the end of the room, with his +two churchwardens, was already on his feet, and Paul pocketed his +annoyance and settled himself to listen. + +"My friends," he began, "we have met to-night to consider on what basis +our school shall be carried on; whether at this crisis in school +affairs, which demands an outlay of some seven or eight hundred pounds, +the voluntary system shall be continued; or whether it shall be turned +into a board school, paid for out of the rates, and managed by a +committee chosen by the votes of the people. It is not a question that +it has been necessary for us to discuss before. My people, I believe +to a man, have been content to entrust the education of their children, +the practical management of the school, to the churchwardens and +myself, supporting us by their voluntary subscriptions; but a murmur +has reached our ears that some of you are dissatisfied with this +arrangement. My churchwardens and I feel reluctant to retain the +management of the school unless fully assured that we are fulfilling +the wishes of the majority of the people. You one and all know my +views on this subject, and the principle that I believe to be involved +in your decision. Whichever scheme is followed will mean a +considerable outlay of money. It is for you to decide whether that +money shall be exacted from you by rate, or whether it shall be given +freely and liberally out of the means with which God has blessed you." + +The rector closed with a request that any one wishing to address the +meeting would come up to the platform, and, in answer to the challenge, +Paul Lessing walked up the room and took his stand before the people. +He was clever, and gifted with readiness of speech, but something in +the audience baffled him; whether it was the stolid imperturbability of +the faces in the back benches, or May Webster's half-amused, +half-scornful smile just below him, he could not decide. But he pulled +himself together, determining to state his case as shortly and clearly +as he could. + +He expressed no doubt that in times past the school had been well and +ably managed; but he reminded them that Government had seen fit to +place in their hands a power which the people in country places were +slow to recognize: that of exercising a control over the education of +their children. That all authority on a subject so important should be +vested in the hands of two or three men of the same way of thinking, +seemed to him, at the best, a one-sided arrangement; surely it was more +just that a committee of men should be chosen by the votes of the +people, and that every form of thought should find its exponent--thus +keeping the balance of opinion even. Much more he said, and said it +ably, ending with a strong appeal that each one there present, +unbiassed by any cry of party, should think out this subject for +themselves, and consider whether he was doing the best for the place in +which he lived by saying, that what had been should be and could not be +improved; or whether he would make use of that power vested in him by +Government, and should decide to let his voice, in the education of the +future generation, find expression in that great and powerful +development of modern times, a School Board. + +Allison, forgetful of his fears about rates, murmured "Ooray!" as the +squire resumed his seat; and the rector, thanking the squire for his +able expression of his views, asked if there were any one else who +would give them the benefit of his opinion. There was a long silence. +It was hoped that Allison would have something to say and one and +another gave him a friendly nudge, but the blacksmith was too wise to +commit himself; he halted between two opinions. But there was a murmur +of astonishment as Macdonald rose and, supporting his burly form +against the wall, cleared his throat, and began to speak a little +huskily. + +"No, thank you, sir," he said in answer to a nod from the rector to +come up to the platform. "I ain't scholard enough to stand up there, +but there's something I wants to say. The squire says as we should +know our own minds, and I'd like to tell you what's mine. Who should +have care of the children but the man who loves 'em like his own, who +goes reg'lar to see after 'em every day whilst we goes to work, who +teaches 'em to be good at school and to mind what their parents says at +home, and wants 'em most of all to love their God? If we voted him out +to-night we'd vote him in again to-morrow, and I'll give a pound +to-night to show as I'm ready to bide by my words. That's all, +gentlemen." + +And Macdonald sat down with a very red face, which he promptly mopped +with a redder pocket-handkerchief, whilst Mrs. Macdonald unfolded her +clean one and wiped happy tears from her eyes. She dated every event +in after life from the night when "my John" made his speech in the +schoolroom. Its effect was electric, and roused the meeting to +enthusiasm. + +A vote of confidence in the present management was proposed and carried +by an overwhelming majority, as seventy hands were counted in support +of it, and only five were raised against it. The subscription list lay +on the table, and not a few of the working-class, mindful of +Macdonald's example came up to enter their names under his. + +"I shall make my subscription a hundred pounds, May; I really shall," +said Mrs. Webster, feeling that her moral support was taking +substantial form. "Poor Mr. Curzon! I think Mr. Lessing's speech was +very uncalled-for, and that old Macdonald really surprised me. I +thought him a rude old man the only time I spoke to him, but to-night +he was simply charming. I felt almost inclined to cry. I'm going to +put down my name now. I wish Mr. Curzon to realize that I am on his +side, whatever the squire may be;" and Mrs. Webster swept towards the +platform. + +Left to herself May stood and looked down the room which was emptying +rapidly. The squire stood apart but, catching her eye, moved towards +her with a slightly satirical smile. + +"So you've lived it through, Miss Webster; you've faced the bitter +end," he said, quoting her words. + +"Yes; and I've not been bored at all," she answered, resenting his tone. + +"You came to scoff, in fact, and you remained to pray." + +"I came with an open mind, prepared to be converted by the best +speaker, and I found him in Macdonald," said May, defiantly. +"Henceforth I shall be an ardent supporter of the voluntary system." + +Paul laughed. "Will your ardent support take tangible form like old +Macdonald's?" he said. He spoke in pure jest, but May accepted his +words literally and flushed a little. "It's a question that your very +short acquaintance with me hardly justifies you in asking, does it?" + +"Not in earnest, certainly; I spoke in the merest fun. If I vexed you, +I apologize." + +"You did vex me. It is the second time to-night that you have put +yourself out of the way to say a disagreeable thing. People may think +as many disagreeable things as they like, but they have no right to +give expression to them." + +"But now you are charging me with sins which I have not committed. I +have not spoken to you for five minutes, and no other sentiment of +mine, that I know of, needs a special apology." + +"A look does! You looked cross as you stooped to unfasten my dress +from that nail when I came into the room: it bored you to render me +even that very slight service. Pray don't attempt to deny it! you +possess the merit of being strictly truthful." + +"Truthfully disagreeable apparently," said Paul, a little nettled. + +"And now," said May, restored to perfect good-humour by having spoken +out her mind, "the platform seems vacant; shall we go and consider that +subscription list, or will it hurt your feelings?" + +"Not the least. I've suffered defeat, but I was glad of the +opportunity of speaking." + +"Why?" asked May, as she mounted the platform. + +"Because I have won four to my side; I made four people think." + +"Then the people who followed Macdonald's lead, which includes myself, +are credited with not having the capacity of thinking. That is your +inference, is it not?" asked May, with a gay laugh. + +"You have a sharp tongue, Miss Webster. All I hinted at was that +country people are slow to exercise their individual judgment on any +question. They follow each other like a flock of sheep." + +"And aren't they wise to do it when they have so kind and good a +shepherd?" with a glance at the rector's handsome head, as he stood at +a little distance off, talking with a happy, radiant face to her +mother. "I wish you would tell me what possible motive you had in +trying to upset a man who lives in the hearts of his people." + +Paul was interested in spite of himself, for he saw that May had passed +from brilliant nonsense to earnestness. + +"It was not the man I wished to upset--nobody can fail to appreciate +his simple earnestness,--but it is his principle. And your very +intolerance makes me feel that I was right to state the other side of +the question." + +"We won't quarrel any more; I'm tired of it," said May, with a quick +change of mood. "Let us look at all the people who are ready to bide +by their words, as Macdonald puts it." + +The subscription list was headed by the rector with two hundred pounds. + +"He's not a rich man," said May, pointing to the sum. + +"And he can't be a poor one," retorted Paul. + +May seated herself and toyed with the pen which lay upon the table. + +"I'm in a difficulty; I want an opinion." + +"Legal?" said Paul. "If so, I might help you. + +"Moral rather." + +"Oh, then it's a case for the man who lives in the hearts of his +people. Shall I call him?" + +"You are not keeping the peace. For want of a better adviser I'll put +my difficulty before you." + +"And I will give you my opinion for what it is worth; you need not act +on it unless you like." + +"Oh no, I shan't. Should you think it right for me to put my name down +on this subscription list when I owe, I'm afraid to say how much, to my +dressmaker?" + +"At the risk of being told again that I'm truthfully disagreeable, I +answer emphatically, No! I should call it a most immoral act." + +"Well, I'm going to do it anyway, and the person who has influenced me +is yourself. You implied that I was unwilling to pay for my +convictions; and my dressmaker must wait." + +And May dipped her pen in the ink and wrote her name boldly under her +mother's. + +"Don't do it!" pleaded Paul, hurriedly. "Can't you see that the +dressmaker, who earns her money so hardly, and waits for it so long, +has the first right to yours?" + +"May!" called her mother. "Are you never coming? I can't be kept +waiting all night." + +May hesitated for a moment, and then, half ashamed of yielding to the +man whose dislike of her was fast deepening into contempt, she dashed +her pen through the name she had just written, bringing her hand, as +she did so, into contact with the lamp upon the table. With a +smothered exclamation Paul bent across her and tried to stay its fall, +but he was not in time. With a crash it fell forwards breaking the +bowl, and a trickling stream of blazing paraffin ran down May's muslin +skirt, enveloping her in flame. A piercing shriek from the other end +of the room showed that Mrs. Webster realized her daughter's peril, and +the rector dashed forward to the rescue; but Paul had already torn his +coat from his back, and was holding it closely upon the burning skirt. + +"See to the platform! she's safe enough!" he shouted as the rector ran +up; and, almost before May realized the extreme danger from which she +had been delivered, she was lifted from the platform and laid very +gently on the floor. + +"What are you putting me on the floor for? I'm not going to faint," +she said, with lips that trembled a little. "I'm all right. Don't let +mother be frightened." + +Paul could not but admire the girl's wonderful self-possession. + +"And you are not burned? You are sure you are in no way hurt?" + +"Thanks to your marvellous quickness, no," she answered. + +But Mrs. Webster, tearful but thankful, was at hand, and Paul felt he +could not do better than leave May in her mother's charge. + +The rector, meanwhile, with one or two others, was successfully +battling with the burning stream of paraffin; and in a few minutes all +serious fear of a conflagration was over. + +"Now we had better see the ladies to their carriage," he said turning +to Paul. But already they had taken their departure. "We can't be too +thankful for such a narrow escape. The platform looked all on fire +when Mrs. Webster's scream made me turn round. Can you tell me how it +happened?" + +"I think Miss Webster caught the lamp with her hand as she got up from +the table. She had been reading the subscription list." + +"Which reminds me that the list is burned to a cinder. But it does not +signify; people will remember their promises," said Mr. Curzon. + +"And nobody but myself will know that May Webster put down her name and +scratched it out at my request," thought Paul, not a little proud of +his moral victory over the haughty young woman. + +"Well, I think everything is safe here; we may be going home. I want +to get back before my little Kitty gets news of the fire, or she will +worry herself into a fever. Late as it is, though, I must run up to +the Court." + +"Why?" Paul inquired. "We know that Miss Webster is safe." + +"She might wish to see me," replied the rector, simply. "And if she +does, she shall have the chance." + +"Then I'll leave word at the rectory that you are all right, in case +Kitty is awake," said Paul, rather shortly. + +May, from her couch in her dressing-room heard the rector's cheery +voice in the hall below asking after her. + +"That's Mr. Curzon, Lancaster; run and ask him to come up and see me +for a moment," she said to her maid. + +In another moment he entered, followed by her mother. + +"Oh, my darling, you are not ill? Have you been burned and not told me +of it?" she gasped in terror. + +"Oh no, mother," said May, trying to smile; "but it's just because I'm +not burned, nor scared, nor horrible to look at, that I want Mr. +Curzon. I want--I want----" And then May's high courage gave way, and +she burst into tears. + +"Let us pray," said the rector, quietly. And he and May's mother knelt +down by the side of May's couch together. + +When he rose up from his knees May's tears had ceased. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A MOMENTOUS DECISION. + +The rector walked home through the starlight night with a thankful +heart. It was possibly his sanguine temperament, backed by his strong +faith in the Christ Who must reign until He had brought all to His +Feet, that gave him such large success in his work; and against the +background of this day two special subjects for thanksgiving stood out +in strong relief: first, that he had received positive proof that he +possessed the confidence of the majority of his parishioners; and +secondly, that an accident--a deliverance from what might have been a +horrible death--had given him an insight into the deeper side of May +Webster's character. That she had this deeper side he had been fully +assured, but hitherto he had been powerless to touch it. + +To-night, however, she had appealed to him to give expression to the +gratitude which she felt to God. For a moment the spiritual life that +was in her had touched his, and he trusted that the foundation of a +deeper, truer, more lasting friendship had been laid--a friendship that +might enable him, possibly, to give May Webster a helping hand on her +road to Heaven. + +Mr. Curzon was not one of those who believe that a clergyman's mission +is fulfilled by looking after the poor who are committed to his care. +He had seen enough of society to realize both its fascination and its +special temptations; and the well-to-do members of his flock were as +frequently included in his prayers as the poor, the afflicted, the +sick, or the unhappy. + +It was of May and her needs that his heart was full as he turned from +the drive into the road, but as he did so he stumbled against a man's +figure propped against the gate-post. The man lurched heavily forward, +and would have fallen had not Mr. Curzon caught him in his arms, +peering at the same time into his face to see who it might be. + +"Tom! Tom Burney! Poor lad," he exclaimed, with a heavy sigh, for the +mere touch of the inert body showed that Tom was not overcome by +illness but by drink. + +"Tom!" said the rector, giving him a slight shake of the shoulders, +"rouse yourself, and get home to bed. To-morrow we will talk this +over, but you are in no fit state to listen to-night." + +The familiar voice roused the muddled brain to some sense of shame, and +instinctively Tom's hand was raised to his cap. + +"Beg your pardon, sir, but I won't go home; same roof shan't cover that +beast Dixon and me!" + +The words reminded Mr. Curzon that Dixon, Burney, and several other men +employed at the Court were lodged in rooms over the coach-house and +stables; evidently Tom and Dixon had quarrelled. + +"That's sheer nonsense!" he answered sharply. "I'm not going to leave +you out here all night, for the sake of your own character. If you +won't go without me, I shall take you." + +Tom made some show of sullen resistance, but a sober man always has the +advantage over a tipsy one; and Mr. Curzon was physically so strong +that, drunk as Tom was, he knew he could enforce obedience. Once more, +therefore, the rector had to retrace his steps, and half supported, +half led, he presently landed Tom Burney in the stable-yard of the +Court. A light burning in one of the upper windows showed him that +somebody was still awake, and a whistle readily attracted the attention +of the occupant. The window was thrown wide and a head thrust out into +the night. + +"So it's you, is it?" said a voice, that the rector recognized as +Dixon's. "It would serve you right to keep you out there all night." + +"You hound! you mean hound!" hiccoughed Tom, trying to wrest himself +from the strong restraining hand laid upon his collar. "If only I can +get at you, I'll----" + +The threat was nipped in the bud by the rector. "Is that you, Dixon?" +he asked, in a low, authoritative tones. "Just come down and open the +door, please. I found Burney like this, and brought him home; and keep +out of sight, will you? I've no intention of being landed in a +quarrel." + +There was a smothered exclamation of surprise, the window was closed, +and, in another moment, the lower door was thrown wide to admit the +rector and his charge. By a rapid signal Mr. Curzon directed Dixon to +conceal himself in an angle of the staircase, whilst he gave Tom a +helping hand up the staircase to the room which Dixon indicated with a +nod. Once safely inside, he placed him on the bed and came away, +closing the door behind him. + +"He won't come out again to-night, I think," he said to Dixon, who +followed him to the door. + +"Oh no, sir; I'll see to that," replied the man, with a rather +unpleasant smile. "I'll turn the key on him, and unlock the door again +before he wakes in the morning. I'm sorry you've had all this trouble. +I tried my best to get him to come along quietly with me, but I had to +leave him to himself at last; he was so desperate quarrelsome. He's a +quick temper at any time, and he's just mad when he's drunk." + +"Which has not been very often, I think," interposed the rector. "But +in the last few months, I fear he has fallen into bad company. Good +night, Dixon." + +"We shan't hear the end of this in a hurry. What business has he +prowling about the place at this time of night, I should like to know?" +grumbled Dixon aloud, as he closed the door. "Bad company, indeed! +He'll see for himself that I'm not drunk, whatever that fool Tom may +be." + +Meanwhile the rector pursued his way home in less joyful mood than +before he had stumbled across poor Tom Burney; he was sorely troubled +about him as, for a long time, he had been one of the most promising +young fellows in the place. He let himself quietly into the rectory, +shading the light with his hand as he passed the door of Kitty's room; +but a half-stifled cry of "Daddy!" arrested his steps. He pushed open +the door and entered, crossing with swift, light tread to her bedside. +The frightened look in the child's eyes died away as she looked into +the smiling face. + +"What does my little Kitty mean by lying awake to this hour?" + +"I've been frightened, daddy. I lay awake on purpose, at first, +because you promised to come and kiss me when you came home after the +meeting." + +"Oh, I shan't promise that any more if it keeps you awake. Well!" + +"And then I heard Mr. Paul's voice down in the hall, and I thought he +said something about fire. But Nurse said I was silly, and must go to +sleep; but I couldn't till I knew you were safe." + +"What from, little one?" + +"The fire," said Kitty, with a suppressed sob. "I thought you might be +burned, and nobody would tell me." + +"Well, that was very silly, certainly," said her father, with a little +laugh that had a singularly reassuring effect upon Kitty. + +"And I tried to think of the three men with long names that the fire +did not hurt; but it did not do me a bit of good, daddy." + +"Because you forgot about the fourth one who stood by them, even in the +fire, whose form was like the Son of God," said the rector, gently. +"And He was close by you, Kitty, although you were so frightened--by +you, and me too. There! think of that and go to sleep now." + +But though Mr. Curzon spoke so cheerfully, there were tears in his eyes +as he kissed his little daughter and tucked her into bed with strong, +gentle hands. + +"Poor little soul! She's bound to suffer, with her crippled body and +over-sensitive brain," he thought. + +The next morning at breakfast he told Kitty the story of the previous +evening, quite simply, without any terrifying details. + +"I should think Mr. Paul is very brave--almost as brave as you are, +daddy," said Kitty, whose terror seemed to have vanished into thin air +with the light of day. + +"Much braver, I expect," agreed her father, good-humouredly. "But I +wonder why you think so!" + +"Oh, Sally has told me lots of things. How he killed a mad dog, and +nursed a man with smallpox, and knocked down a costermonger for kicking +his pony. That was brave, wasn't it?" said Kitty, who clearly regarded +the last item as the crowning act of bravery. + +"Well, it was speedy punishment, certainly," answered her father, +laughing. "But since you admire bravery so much, you'll have to learn +a little more about it yourself; and not lie awake every time I'm kept +out late at night. A clergyman's work is like a doctor's--never done, +you know." + +The word doctor gave Kitty an opportunity of rapidly changing the +subject. + +"What's a stroke, father? What's good for it?" + +"A 'stroke' generally means paralysis, in some form or other, which +affects people's limbs--often making them useless." + +"Like my legs?" asked Kitty, quickly. + +Her father winced palpably. "Not just like that, darling; I wonder +what you are thinking of?" + +"Mr. Allison's mother. She's very old and very deaf; and now she's had +a stroke. I heard some one tell Nurse so; and, of course, I must go +and ask about her when I go out; but I can't tell what to take her." + +"I should think beef-tea will be the kind of thing she needs. Nurse +can say we will make her some if you like," said the rector, who always +humoured Kitty's fancy for taking sick people especially under her wing. + +The day was a full one, and it was late in the afternoon before he +found himself rapping at the door of the house which adjoined the forge. + +"Thank you, sir," said Mrs. Allison, in answer to his inquiry about her +mother-in-law; "she's a bit tired to-day, though going on as well as we +could hope. She's had a visitor this afternoon," with a glance round +at the chimney-corner from which Sally Lessing's tall, girlish figure +emerged rather shyly; "and if you did not mind looking in rather +earlier to-morrow she'd be ready to see you." + +"Very good," said the rector. "If you'll name the time, I'll be here. +Miss Lessing, our way home lies in the same direction. Shall we walk +together?" + +No excuse presented itself for refusing Mr. Curzon's offer, though a +_tete-a-tete_ with the rector was not much to her taste--especially as +her brother was a little sore about his last night's defeat. + +"How are you taking to the life down here? Do you like it?" he asked, +as they started off together. + +"I don't quite know," Sally said with a frank smile. "At first it was +delightful--a new experience,--but the novelty is wearing off. And +Paul said this morning that we were both of us fish out of water; that +he must stay here, at any rate for the present, but that I might please +myself." + +"And what particular pond do you want to swim in?" + +"London. And that's not to be described as a pond, is it? but rather a +great, strong river. You see, down here, there is literally nothing to +do." + +"Plenty, if you choose to do it," replied Mr. Curzon, quietly. + +Sally shook her head. "You would only want workers of your own way of +thinking." + +"I should prefer them, certainly; if by _my_ way of thinking you mean +the Church to which I belong--to which you belong also, I expect." + +"Only by name. I was baptized, but I've not been brought up on church +lines. I've been allowed to think for myself, and judge the truth for +myself. Paul says that that is the only truth worth believing." + +"It still leaves you finally dependent on other people's judgment, does +it not? In your case, I should say, your views unconsciously are +moulded entirely by your brother." + +"But it is so with every one more or less!" retorted Sally, quickly. +"You've got your ideas, either from the people who have influenced you +the most, or the books you have read." + +"Quite so. The books that have influenced me most largely are those +contained in the Bible; but the only person upon whose judgment and +character I find I can wholly rely, is the Lord Himself. An +old-fashioned belief, you will say, but I find it practically true." + +"But Paul says the only facts based on history in the Gospels are that +Christ lived and died a martyr to his opinions," said Sally. + +"So many men say nowadays. If so, it is curious that faith in the Name +of a Jew who died nearly two thousand years ago, is still able to work +moral miracles in hundreds and thousands of lives in the present day; +that men and women, tied and bound with the chain of their sins, +looking to Him and asking help, can rise and walk in the glorious +liberty of the sons of God. When I see that, as, thank God, I have +seen it, I feel I have a reason for the faith that is in me, that Jesus +is, as He claims to be, the Son of God; that it was no idle boast on +His part that He would give His Spirit to those that seek it." + +Sally caught her breath. There was no doubting the sincerity of the +speaker, but the very simplicity of the teaching was an argument +against accepting it. + +"Well, of course, you as a clergyman have to do with people's morals," +she said hurriedly; "but the bodily wretchedness and misery of hundreds +and thousands of people in London and other big places appeals more to +me. I feel it's not a bit of good telling them to be good in this +world, and they will be happy in the next, whilst they have bad houses +to live in, and bad food to eat, and insufficient wages, and never a +ray of brightness in their lives. To stay down here and potter about +amongst a few children and sick people seems such a small thing to do, +when one might help to set any one of these great wrongs right." + +She pulled herself up, and broke into a peal of laughter. + +"I'm talking of things that I dare say you will think I don't +understand," she said; "but Paul has interested me in them, and I had +thought, if I went on studying, I might some day work and speak about +them. Lots of women do." + +"And why not? One of the best speakers I ever heard was a woman." + +"I thought you would be sure to hate the notion." + +"Why should I, unless----" + +"Unless what?" + +"You should speak any word against the Master whom I serve," said the +rector. "On philanthropic subjects I could go with you heart and soul." + +"I would not speak on a subject of which I know nothing," said Sally, +eagerly. "I've told you that I am only a seeker after truth, picking +up a scrap here and there as I can find it." + +"And you will reach the truth after a time," said Mr. Curzon, holding +out his hand, "if you are ready to acknowledge a Power higher than +yourself, to Whom you may safely appeal to guide you to all truth. +Without that, you will grope along in the darkness." + +Before Sally could answer he had gone. Was there such a power she +wondered? What rest and comfort such a conviction would bring with it. +She made no mention of her talk to the rector to Paul when he came in; +she shrank from his glib criticism of Mr. Curzon's simple declaration +of faith. + +As Mr. Curzon walked home he caught sight of Tom Burney leaning over a +gate with his back turned towards the road. The very poise of his +head, and droop of his shoulders, showed depression of body and mind; +and with intuitive sympathy Mr. Curzon stopped and laid a kindly hand +on his shoulder. + +"The very man I was wanting!" he said cheerily. "I thought you would +be sure to come and see me to-night." + +For a moment Tom's dark, handsome eyes sought his; then dropped for +very shame. + +"No, I wasn't," he said bluntly. "But I'm glad to have the chance of +telling you that I've got the sack for what happened last night. Dixon +took good care to report me; and I'm to leave at the end of this week." + +"What is your quarrel with Dixon?" + +There was a long pause. "We're after the same girl," said Tom, a +little huskily; "and he don't care what he does as long as he can get +me out of the way. He made me drunk last night." + +"Oh no," replied Mr. Curzon, shortly; "you made yourself drunk. Tell +the truth about it, Tom." + +"Well, I'll tell you straight what happened. We were all in the public +together----" + +"You went there of your own free will, I suppose?" + +"Yes. I've been there plenty of times before, and never had a drop too +much," said Tom, rather resentfully, "and I was just going away last +night, when Dixon offered me another glass; and Allison laughed and +said, 'Don't you take it, young 'un; head ain't strong and temper too +short.' And I told him I could drink against any man if I chose, and +keep my wits about me too; and Dixon said he'd stand treat, and see +whose head would last the longest, mine or Allison's----" + +"With the result that I found you how and when I did, and you've lost +your place into the bargain. Truly the wages of sin are hard," +commented Mr. Curzon; "but I'm ready to help you, Tom, if you are +willing to help yourself, for I think, to a certain extent, you've been +hardly done by. If you are sorry for what has happened, and really +wish to turn over a new leaf, and make yourself worthy of the girl you +love, you'll take my advice and sign the pledge. If you see your way +to doing this, I know of a situation that I could offer you; if not, I +strongly advise you to go away altogether." + +"And leave the field clear for Dixon? I'll never do it!" said Tom, +fiercely. "And what would he call me but a coward if I signed the +pledge, just because I've been beastly drunk once in my life? There's +no reason why I should do it again." + +"That you will do it again is an absolute certainty; and with your hot +temper and the rivalry that exists between you and Dixon, there will be +serious mischief if you allow drink to get the upper hand. The place I +offer you is that of gardener at the rectory. Old Plumptree is +retiring on a pension; he's too old to do the work any longer. But I +tell you frankly that I dare not undertake the responsibility of +keeping you here unless I feel that you are determined, God helping +you, to make a better start. You need not decide in a hurry; you can +call to-morrow evening and let me know about it. Until then I will +keep the situation open for you." + +It was on the tip of Tom's tongue to tell the rector that he needed no +time for consideration, that he readily accepted the required +condition, and should be thankful for the situation that he offered, +when, as ill-luck would have it, Dixon passed by on a swift-trotting +horse, and turned upon Tom with a mocking smile. + +"He thinks I'm catching it," thought poor Tom; "but I'll let him know +better." + +"It's not that I'm ungrateful, sir, for your kindness last night, but +my mind's pretty well made up now. I can't face Dixon and Allison, and +all the lot of 'em calling me a fool who can't take his glass without +getting drunk; I'll show 'em different. But I'll promise you this: +it's the first time as any one of em, sneaks as they are, could tell +you that I'd been drunk, and it's the last too! You shall hear no more +of it." + +"And it's a promise that I tell you honestly you'll not keep," answered +Mr. Curzon, sadly. "But you'll think it over; you won't decide until +to-morrow." + +"Yes, sir; I've made up my mind, thank you kindly all the same," said +Tom. "It's a thing I must settle for myself." + +"Good night, then; I've nothing more to say except that at any time if +you are in trouble I shall be glad to see you. I don't wish you to +think that this difference of opinion need separate us; although, +remember, I feel sure that I am right and you wrong." + +The next morning, when Paul Lessing started for his walk, Tom Burney +stood waiting at the gate. + +"Beg your pardon, sir," he said, touching his hat; "but I want to know +if you can give me work?" + +Paul turned to the speaker with dawning recognition in his glance. + +"Why, aren't you the fellow who gave me a lift for nothing the first +evening I came into the place." + +"Yes, sir; I've often thought on it since. I shouldn't have spoke so +free if I'd known who I was talking to." + +"Why not?" said Paul, smiling pleasantly. "You sent me to the proper +person to find me a lodging, at any rate; and you certainly spoke no +harm of any one. I thought you told me you worked at the Court. + +"So I did, sir; but I'm leaving there on Saturday." + +"Of your own free will?" + +"Not exactly; I got notice because I came home drunk one night." + +"Is that your habit, may I ask? It's a bad one." + +"No, sir, it's not," said Tom, lifting fearless eyes. "It was the +first time." + +"Let it be the last, then. What kind of work can you do?" + +"I've been in the garden; but I know something about horses." + +"Well, I'm going to take the management of the home farm that lies near +the Court, into my own hands, and I think I can find you work amongst +the horses. I'll see the bailiff about it, and you can call on +Saturday night, when we will settle the question of wages." + +Tom's heart gave a joyful throb! A place on the farm close to the +Court would give him opportunities of many a stolen interview with +Rose; and if he showed himself willing and ready to do the thing that +came to his hand, he might rise to the position of bailiff before very +long, and find himself able to give his Rose as pretty a home as she +could wish for. + +"I won't forget your kindness, nor how you're ready to take me without +a character. I'll serve you honest and true," he said. + +"It is only one more example of the capriciousness of rich people," +said Paul, as he told the tale to Sally later in the day. "Here was +this poor fellow dismissed without a character for what I honestly +believe was a first offence. I'm glad to give him a helping hand." + +But Paul was judging hastily; Tom Burney had received notice from the +gardener, who had not thought it worth while to consult Mrs. Webster +about the matter. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +AN OUTSTRETCHED HAND. + +It was many weeks before Paul and May Webster met after the night of +the fire. The Court was crammed with company, and although Paul and +his sister were invited to dinner more than once, such invitations were +politely declined. + +"It's quite impossible, Sally," Paul had said, in answer to the rather +wistful look in her dark eyes. "To dine there quietly by ourselves, is +one thing; to go and meet a heap of smart people, who are my special +abomination, is another; and I should not have thought you would have +wished it either." + +"It would be so much experience; I could be in it but not of it. But I +expect I should not be smart enough, either in my dress or my talk; so +we must decline, I suppose. What shall I say?" + +"Anything you like within the limits of truth." + +"Paul won't come, and I can't because I have not a proper frock," said +Sally, merrily. "I am sorry, and he is not." + +"Don't talk nonsense, Sally," said Paul, with an answering laugh. "Any +woman can write a decent note of refusal if she chooses." + +So the decent note was written and despatched, to be followed by +another, rather differently worded, when the second invitation came +about a week later, after which they were asked no more. Sally watched +the smart carriages drive to and from the station, with their varying +loads of visitors, with a passing pang of regret. It was like gazing +into a shop-window when you are possessed of no money to buy the +tempting wares displayed there. + +Paul scarcely gave his gay neighbours a thought; his head was full of +plans for the improvement of the place, and it fretted him a little +that on every hand he found himself unable to carry out his wishes for +the want of the necessary means. + +He was not altogether popular: the poor people rather resented the +extreme simplicity of his manner of living when they discovered that it +was not accompanied by the open-handed liberality which Allison had +half led them to expect; the tenant-farmers opposed any change that +would touch their pockets; and people of his own class, few and far +between in that thinly populated neighbourhood, called once, but found +little to interest them in a man of such avowedly eccentric views on +things social and religious, and tacitly let the acquaintance drop. + +The one exception to this was May Webster, who, half-piqued, +half-amused, at the barrier which Paul had chosen to erect between +them, determined to break it down. She was coming out of the rectory +one afternoon when she met him at the gate. + +He lifted his hat, and would have opened the gate to let her pass, but +she held it fast looking at him over the top. + +"How are you? It is long since we met; never, I think, since the night +of the meeting with its exciting close. I've not thanked you properly, +by the way, for the rapid extinction of the flames." + +"Oh, any one could have done it; only I happened to be the one nearest +you," said Paul, carelessly. "It needs no special thanks." + +"Which is a civil way of saying that you could not let me burn, but +that you would rather some one else had put me out," said May, +mockingly. "Even so, I'm grateful; I've been calling on your friend +Kitty, who informed me with great triumph that daddy was out, but 'Mr. +Paul' was coming to tea with her. Questioned further, she informed me +that he often came when she was by herself, and he said he liked it." + +"So I do," Paul said. + +"So tea fetches you if dinner does not; or perhaps it is not the meal, +but the company. Frankly speaking, why do you accord your friendship +to Kitty and not to mother and me? We may be neighbours for years and +years; we may just as well be friends." + +"I'm not a man of many friends," Paul answered, fairly brought to bay. +"As for Kitty, she carried me by storm; she is the only child who has +taken to me of her own free will." + +"How very odd," said May, thoughtfully. + +"Oh yes; I admit the oddity." + +"But, if you are going to live here, are you content to be isolated +from your fellows--to have no friends?" continued May, wonderingly. + +"To have many acquaintances seems to me a dreary waste of life; and the +word friendship, in the mouth of a man, implies many things." + +"Notably what?" asked May, a little scornfully. + +"Similarity of tastes and thought." + +"And, I suppose, no one down here is clever enough for you?" + +"I hope I'm not such an intolerable prig as to have implied that. But, +frankly, I expect that you and I, for instance, would not take the same +view on any subject; and, very likely, the things that interest me +would bore you to extinction." + +"It would bore me pretty considerably if you persisted in urging that +the whole world should be reduced to one level of ugly uniformity, +which is what you are credited with believing." + +"A free interpretation of a hope, on my part, to lessen the cruel gulf +between the very rich and the very poor," replied Paul, quietly. "I +confess, the frightful extravagance of the wealthier classes makes me +sick at heart; for one section of society nothing but amusement and +pleasure, and the lavish spending of money; and for the larger half the +weary effort to make both ends meet--and for many quiet, hopeless +starvation." + +"You are talking something like the rector; only he enlists my sympathy +more by speaking less severely--and he is more just too. He does not +talk as if it were wicked to be better off than your neighbour; he only +makes you feel the responsibility of it." + +Paul gave rather a hard little laugh. + +"To speak plainly, he dresses it up a little--gives it the clerical +dash of sentiment. Besides, what is the good of stirring one here and +there to give out of his abundance something of which he will never +feel the loss, with the comfortable sense left behind that he or she +has done something very big indeed. What one would strive for, rather, +is to stir up the nation to its duties, to rouse Government to redress +some of these glaring social grievances." + +"Oh, pray keep yourself in hand! level your intellect down to mine!" +cried May, with a burst of laughter. "As far as I follow you, you wish +to lower my dress allowance by act of parliament. I sincerely trust +you will fail. By the way you may set your mind at rest about my +dressmaker; her bill is paid, and all my other outstanding accounts +too. With your rather eccentric views about property, it will annoy +you considerably to hear that I have had a fortune left me; so that I +may not be in debt again for some considerable time." + +"To her that hath," said Paul, with a glance at the elegantly clad +figure. "It really seems to me as if you could not want it, and I need +it so much." + +"You!" echoed May. "For real inconsistency commend me to yourself!" + +"I scarcely require it for my personal wants, but money is sorely +needed to carry out my wishes for this village. As landlord, I feel +myself responsible for many things that cannot be set right without it." + +"But--but--mother always told me that Major Lessing was rich; and you +are his heir." + +"I can only assure you that I am poor," said Paul, simply. "Now, I +hope, I have proved satisfactorily to you that circumstances, tastes, +and opinions differing so greatly between us, make anything like +friendship impossible. Whenever we come across each other we quarrel; +we can't help it." + +May flushed to the roots of her hair. "Thank you," she said haughtily. +"It is kind of you to put it so clearly. I simply tried to put things +on a kinder footing, as we are your tenants and your neighbours, but I +see I have made a mistake. It surprises me to find you so painfully +prejudiced. Good-bye. I've kept you too long from your one friend." + +She opened the gate and passed on her way with never a look behind; but +Paul followed with long, rapid strides. + +"Miss Webster! stay one moment, please! I believe I've been behaving +like a perfect brute," he said hurriedly. "At first I thought you were +simply playing a game with me; but, without knowing it, we drifted into +earnestness. If any word of mine has seriously vexed you, I apologize +and retract." + +"You could even believe it possible that I might feel a ray of interest +in some of the big subjects which absorb your life," said May. + +"To have made a man acknowledge himself a prig once in an afternoon is +enough," retorted Paul. "I will not do it again. You know the worst +of me: that I have an uncertain temper, which betrays me occasionally +into blurting out unpleasant truths: that I have absolutely no small +talk. I shall be at best but a rough-and-ready friend; but if in your +kindness you still care to cultivate Sally and me, we will gratefully +accept the cultivation, and be the better for it. There's my hand on +it," and Paul stretched out his hand. And May gave him her small +gloved one for an instant with a very sunny smile. + +"And you will come to dinner soon and not feel you need talk down to +us." + +"When all the smart people have gone," Paul said smiling. + +"Smart people are your pet aversion, apparently. Is that why you would +not come lately?" + +"Yes; if you wish to hear the truth," Paul admitted as he turned back +to the rectory. + +"And I have made a pretty big fool of myself this afternoon," was his +mental comment as he let the gate clang behind him. "I first lost my +temper, and then let a woman twist me round her finger simply because +she is beautiful." + +Needless to relate he made no confession of his folly to Sally when he +got home that night. He resolved simply to change his tactics about +the people at the Court, and preserve safe silence about his altered +mind. + +The following afternoon he stopped at the forge to speak to the +blacksmith about some repairs that were to be set on foot on his +premises. Allison stood at the open door of the smithy with his head +turned in the opposite direction from the squire, looking after the +rector, who had just left him, with something of the sullen +satisfaction with which a bulldog might regard a vanquished foe. +Indignation still simmered when Paul accosted him. One glance at the +purple face showed the squire that, for some reason as yet unknown, the +blacksmith was in a towering passion. + +"Confound his impudence!" he said, throwing a dark look after the +rector. "I've let him know once for all that I'll have no more of it! +I'm not answerable to him, nor any man, for what I says and does. His +business, indeed, to come and tell me, if I choose to have a bit of fun +with a young fellow in a public-house. What does it hurt him to be +drunk for once in his life? A lesson I call it! just a bit of a lesson +as will teach him that his head ain't so strong as mine, nor likely to +be till he gets seasoned a bit. I give it him straight enough, and no +humbug about it. 'Look here, sir,' I says, 'you go your way, and leave +me to go mine. I don't deny as you've been kind to my old mother, and +she'd fret sore if she didn't see you. Psalm-singing and such comes +natural-like to most women; but for my part I want nothing better than +to be letted alone.'" + +Allison came to a stop; breath rather than words had failed him. Paul, +who had been an unwilling listener to this tirade against the rector, +took advantage of the pause to turn the subject. + +"Afraid I can't attend to you this afternoon sir," said Allison, when +Paul stated the object of his call. "Reason why, my mates are out for +a holiday, and this mare here is just brought in to be shod. I said at +first I would not do her to-day; she's a savage brute to tackle alone. +I don't let any one touch her but myself when the men are here. It's +wonderful now what a difference there is in the tempers of horses; but +I ain't come across the one I couldn't master in the forge. They feel +I ain't afeared on 'em." + +Boasting of his prowess in his art was fast restoring Allison's temper, +which, though violent, was not enduring. + +"Very well; I'll come again to-morrow," said Paul. + +"And you'll thank missy for lookin' up my mother as she does," said +Allison, referring to Sally's visits to the old lady, his mother. +"She's one as it does you good to see, so pleasant and free-spoken. +Now some on 'em," with a glance in the direction of the Court, "don't +look as if they thought you good enough to black their shoes, and that +don't do for me." + +"She does not do herself justice," thought Paul, as he walked away, +unconsciously taking up the cudgels in May Webster's defence; "she can +be gracious enough when she chooses. She has insisted on our being +friends, and I'll make use of the privilege to tell her the impression +she conveys, before many weeks are passed. Allison is a shrewd fellow, +and in his blundering fashion knocks many a right nail on the head." + + * * * * * * + +The October afternoon was fading into night before Paul returned to the +cottage. The curtains of the sitting-room were still undrawn, and from +within he caught the cheerful glow of the fire, and Sally seated on the +rug before it reading by the fitful light. She sprang to her feet as +she heard his footstep, and ran to open the door; and then her merry +greeting checked itself in the utterance, for her brother's face was +grey with suppressed feeling, and his teeth chattered slightly. + +"What is it, Paul?" she asked, in a half-frightened whisper. + +"It's that poor fellow, Allison; he's dying. And I happened to pass +when the accident occurred, and gave a hand in carrying him upstairs. +It's ghastly to see a man in mortal agony." + +"What happened?" + +"A troublesome mare took to kicking as he shod her, and somehow Allison +was knocked down; and, before any one could get to the rescue, he was +so injured that the doctor does not think he can last through the +night." + +"How awful! And were you there to see it all?" Sally asked with a +shiver. + +"I had not left the forge very long. I had been talking to Allison, +and he told me the mare was a skittish one to manage; and, as I +returned, I found a group of men gathered around him, not one of whom +had even had the sense of thinking of fetching the doctor. So I first +helped them to get poor Allison to his room, and then I rushed to the +inn, got a trap, and went and brought a doctor back with me. There is +absolutely nothing to be done; but it is a satisfaction to feel that a +doctor has seen him. Taken right way, he's not half a bad sort, Sally. +He's bearing his pain like a man, and shook me by the hand to bid me +good-bye, and even sent a message to you. 'Say good-bye to missy. I'd +like to have said it myself,'" he said. + +"He shall! I'll go and see him," Sally said, with a set white face. +"If the sight of me can give him the smallest pleasure, I'll go." + +"It's rather awful, Sally; you've not had to face death yet. I would +not go if I were you." + +"We all must face it some time or other. I'll go, Paul; I shan't be +long. No! don't come with me, please; I'd rather go alone." + +"Put on a waterproof, then, and take an umbrella; it's a wild night, +and it has just come on to rain," said Paul, and, moved by an unwonted +impulse, he stooped and kissed her. + +The door of the blacksmith's house was open when Sally reached it, and, +entering softly, she removed her wet cloak and stood in the dimly +lighted parlour wondering how she should make her presence known. From +overhead came the sound of voices talking in suppressed whispers, and +once Sally shivered, for a long-drawn moan fell upon her ear. + +"I'll go and see the old mother. Perhaps I can stay with her, and set +Mrs. Allison free when I have just said good-bye to her husband," +thought Sally, as she went up the stairs. + +A near neighbour met her at the top. + +"We're just at our wits' end, miss," she said in answer to Sally's +inquiry. "The old lady's not to be told anything about it, and Mrs. +Allison, poor soul! falls out of one faint into another, and can't stay +in the room along with him who's dying." + +"May I go to him for a minute. He wanted to see me," said Sally, with +a sob. + +But, ushered into the chamber of death, Sally stood for a moment +overpowered by an awful terror: a chill which seemed as if it would +stop the beating of her heart, a terror she could not have explained. +Face to face with death! The words were familiar enough, but they had +conveyed little meaning to her. This man, who lay there, unable from +time to time to keep back a groan of agony, with the grey shadow +deepening on his face, and the drops of perspiration standing on his +forehead, would soon lie there silent and still, capable of neither +speech, nor feeling, nor hearing. He would be simply an empty shell. +It was awful!--inexpressibly awful. It all flashed through Sally's +mind in one shuddering instant; the next, she had pulled herself +together and crossed to the bedside on tip-toe, and stood looking down +at the poor, prostrate form with ineffable pity in her dark eyes. + +"Oh, Lord! I can't bear it!" broke in a sort of wail from the blue +lips. "It can't last long; an hour or so will settle it." + +The words Sally recognized as an exclamation rather than a prayer, but +they brought the rector to her remembrance. If any man could help +another in his last agony surely it would be he. + +"Mr. Allison," she said, laying her soft hand on the grimy one that +moved up and down so restlessly upon the counterpane, "I heard you +wanted to see me. Let me do something. Is there no one else you would +like to see? Shall I fetch Mr. Curzon?" + +Allison's eyes unclosed, dimmed already by the gathering haze of death. + +"Bless you, missy; this ain't no place for you, though it's good of you +to come. Good-bye. God bless you! You get home again; it will hurt +you to see me suffer." + +Once more that half-blind appeal to the Higher Power of which Mr. +Curzon had spoken, and he spoke with no uncertain sound. He seemed to +know about it. + +"Won't the rector come?" asked Sally again. + +But Allison shook his head. + +"No, no; we'd words to-day. I can't mind what about; but it don't +matter much. I told 'un not to come." + +But as he spoke a step fell on the stair, and the next moment Mr. +Curzon pushed open the door with an expression on his face so pitiful, +so strong, that in the tension of her feeling, Sally could only sob, +and, withdrawing her hand, slip quietly away to the window. + +The rector knelt down, bringing his face to a level with the dying +man's. + +"Allison, dear fellow, I only heard this minute what had happened; and +I came. Will you let me stay?" + +"You can please yourself," said Allison; "but you can't want to be +here. We quarrelled, you and I." + +"Not I," said the rector, gently. + +"I'm mortal bad! I'm dying!" gasped the blacksmith. "It can't do no +good to watch me." + +"You'll let me say a psalm or read a prayer." + +"No. Where's the use? I wouldn't say 'em living and I can't listen +now I'm dying. I ain't no worse than others, and I'm better than some; +and what's to see on the other side, I'll learn soon enough for myself. +I'm nearly there." + +"But God is here! close to you, Allison," pleaded the rector; "asking +you even now to turn to Him, to look Him in the Face!" + +Sally's breath came in fitful gasps; she looked round the room half +expecting the visible shining of that Presence. Instead, the wind +sobbed in the chimney and the rain dashed against the window-pane. +Death was here, and darkness; but no God, thought Sally. + +The rector's hands covered his face, and through his fingers Sally saw +that great tears forced themselves in the agony of his wrestling for +that soul with God. + +"You can please yourself," said Allison, opening his eyes again. "It +will do no good, but it won't do harm." And the rector, catching at +the feeble flicker of a dawning faith, said the twenty-third Psalm +slowly on his knees: "'Though I walk through the valley of the shadow +of death, I fear no evil, for Thou art with me----'" + +A movement from the dying man made him pause and look up. + +"I can't see nothing; give me a grip of your hand. Hold tight; I'm +mortal cold." + +He did not speak again. Neighbours came and went, moistening the dying +lips with brandy; but the eyes had no gleam of recognition in them. +For an hour or more the rector sat with the great hand clasped tightly +between his own, repeating gently prayer or hymn, no word of which, he +feared, could reach the numbed brain, but certain that the Great God in +Heaven was looking down upon the sheep that had wandered so far from +Him, but whom He still claimed as His own. And Sally waited, too, +until the rector rising, bent and softly closed the eyes. Then she +knew that Allison was dead, and, slipping from the room, made her way +swiftly home, unconscious of the rain that beat upon her head, filled +only with the remembrance of the scene she had just witnessed. + +"He's dead," she said, when Paul let her in; "he's dead--whatever that +may mean. It does not mean going out like a candle--I'm certain it +does not mean that,--it means going somewhere else; and, if any one can +teach me, I must find out where. I could not die like that, Paul; it's +despairing, it's quite hopeless! I'm thankful that I'm young; that I +have time to learn. If there's no hope, no light, the mere thought of +dying would be enough to drive one mad." + +"My poor child! I did wrong to let you see anything so painful," Paul +said, gathering her into his arms. "I am afraid there is no one who +can tell you about these things. Nobody knows; that is the sad part of +it." + +"Mr. Curzon can," said Sally, lifting her head from Paul's shoulder. +"He has got hold of something that you and I have missed. There is +positive conviction written on his face of the living God whom Allison +in dying was vaguely feeling after." + +"Oh, he's a fine fellow in his way, I don't deny it, and has the +courage of his opinions; but he can't know. Nobody does," said Paul, +doggedly. "And now, dear, we'll have supper. You will take a less +hysterical view of life and death in the morning." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A CRISIS IN A LIFE. + +A year had passed since poor Allison's sun set so stormily. It was +curious that his death marked the beginning of a new life for Sally; +but so it was. It had changed her attitude of mind towards things +eternal, from one of placid indifference to active inquiry. Paul's +assertion that "nobody knew" satisfied no longer, and she turned from +him to Mr. Curzon. + +"Death can't be the end of it all," she said abruptly to the rector, +when she met him a few days after Allison had passed away. + +"Oh no," he answered, following her lead with quick sympathy. "Our +Lord's death and resurrection teach us that it is but the beginning." + +"I wish I could believe it. Can you help me? can any one help me?" +Sally said. + +"I may be the signpost to show you the road, and I will tell you of the +things which have helped me on the road; but God is even now drawing +you to Himself by His Holy Spirit," said Mr. Curzon, earnestly. + +Thus, under Mr. Curzon's guidance, Sally began the course of study +which ended, before many months had passed away, in the passionate +conviction that in Christ alone could be found the Way, the Truth, and +the Life. + +Paul guessed at the fact that his sister was passing through some new +phase of thought, by the books he found left about the room, and by a +newly developed earnestness which underlay her natural gaiety of manner. + +"Poor child! Allison's death frightened her. And it is as well that +she should study both sides of the question," he thought. He did not +doubt that eventually she would accept his decision as final. + +It was November, and Paul came into lunch one day with an unusual air +of depression. His farming venture was proving a grievous failure, as +far as money was concerned. On every side he found himself hampered by +poverty. The summer had been a wet one, and, in common humanity, he +had had to make a considerable reduction in his farm rents; +improvements in his cottage property had led to an outlay for which he +well knew he could receive no adequate interest, and, as he had tramped +over the sodden land this morning, he had been occupied with the +anxious consideration how best to make both ends meet. + +The longer he lived at Rudham the less he liked it. He was deprived of +the society of men of his own way of thinking; and with the rector, who +in theory he cordially respected and liked, he found himself nearly +always in tacit opposition. Paul's friendship with Kitty was the only +connecting link between him and the rector; otherwise they would have +drifted hopelessly apart before now. Then, on this particular morning, +as he returned home he heard a rumour that May Webster was going to be +married to a baronet who had haunted the Court pretty frequently during +the last few months; and the hint had filled Paul with unreasoning +irritation. Not that it mattered to him whom she married, he assured +himself; but the Court had become the one bright spot to him in all the +place. + +Paul, having promised his friendship, had given it unstintingly, and +had been proud to discover that in many of the subjects which +interested him the most deeply, he had found May Webster a ready pupil; +and when she differed from him she held her own with such merry +defiance, that it gave her an added charm in his eyes. And now this +mindless, fox-hunting squire was to carry her off, and life at Rudham +would sink into one dead level of dulness. Thus it happened that he +came home in a captious mood. + +"What's the excitement, Sally? A wedding, I suppose, for the bells are +making row enough to wake the dead." + +"No, it's the Bishop," said Sally, flushing a little. "There is a +Confirmation here to-day." + +Paul's eyes travelled from Sally's crimsoning face to the white dress +she wore. + +"I can't see why the Bishop is to be welcomed like a bride, and you are +to dress like one of his bridesmaids," he said. "What a singularly +inappropriate garment for this dreary November day." + +"I am going to be confirmed, Paul." + +A long pause followed. It was the crowning vexation of a tiresome +morning; but Paul did not wish to say anything that he would afterwards +regret. + +"It's a decided step, Sally; I wonder if you have thought it over +enough? You will probably wake up from this religious craze to find +yourself bound down to a creed which your reason rejects." + +"It is conviction, not a craze," said Sally. "I have thought about +little else for a whole year, and my mind is quite made up." + +"Very well, then; I have nothing more to say. You are of age, and must +decide such things for yourself; but you've sprung it upon me somewhat +suddenly, Sally. I suppose it was by Mr. Curzon's advice that you kept +your change of opinion dark?" + +"Oh dear no! he wished me to tell you weeks ago. But I've been so +happy, I cared so much, I felt as if I could not discuss things with +any one who differed from me." + +"Then we won't discuss it," Paul said, drawing a long breath. "What +time does the thing come off? I'll go down and order the fly; I can't +let you walk up to church like that." + +"May is going to call for me; she is coming to the service." + +"Miss Webster!" said Paul, with a rather incredulous laugh. "I should +not have thought it was at all in her line." + +"She's glad; she thinks I'm right," said Sally, gently. + +It was on the tip of Paul's tongue to ask Sally if she had heard +anything of May's rumoured engagement to Sir Cecil Bland; but some fear +lest the answer should be in the affirmative held him back. When the +carriage from the Court drew up at the gate, he went down to put Sally +in, and was rewarded by a friendly nod and smile from May. + +"Aren't you coming, too?" she asked boldly. "It would make Sally so +happy if you did." + +Paul shook his head. "I don't understand these things; I leave them to +those that do." + +"I promise to bring her back safely, and I am coming to tea," went on +May, gliding over his refusal. "I've never seen that new wing of yours +since it was finished. Cottage, indeed! I call it quite a mansion!" +with a glance at the addition which had been lately built on to the +Macdonald's house, making it about double its original size. + +"A mansion you would not care to inhabit, I expect; but it will do +capitally for Sally and me," said Paul. + +"I'll decide that when I've seen it. Good-bye, then, till we meet +later. Tell Dixon to drive to the church, please." + +Paul gave the order, and went back to his new sitting-room, seating +himself before his office table, as he called the one which was placed +in the bow window. He opened his business ledgers, and congratulated +himself on the fact of having a long, quiet afternoon of undisturbed +work before him; but one more trivial interruption occurred before he +was entirely left to himself. Mrs. Macdonald knocked at the door and +stood before him arrayed in her Sunday best. + +"Shall you be wanting anything, sir?" + +"Nothing whatever, Mrs. Macdonald." + +"If not, I would like to go to the church to see Miss Sally and the +Bishop. I'd slip out quiet before the end, so as not to keep the +ladies waiting for their tea." + +"Go by all means," said Paul, smiling a little over the commotion +created by a Bishop and his lawn sleeves, and a flock of girls in white +dresses and caps. + +Then his thoughts reverted to Sally's face, with its sweet seriousness +of expression, as she had started for the church, and from Sally he +passed on to May; and there his mind lingered. She was +beautiful--beautiful beyond compare; and to-day there had been an added +grace of tenderness in her manner to Sally: a protecting, motherly +care, as if she would shield her from his want of sympathy. She seemed +so much older than Sally, and yet there were but four years between +them. + +He pictured the room as it would appear when she entered it, and he +settled which of the two easy-chairs he would draw nearer to the fire, +and where he would sit himself, so that he could watch the firelight +playing on her face; and then---- He covered his face with his hands +and shut out the light, the better to understand the cause of the +fierce pain that was gnawing at his heart. + +It did not take him long to discover what had happened. He, Paul +Lessing, a man who had knocked about the world and had mixed with all +sorts and conditions of men and women, whose pulses had hitherto never +quickened their beating at the touch of a woman's hand or the sound of +a voice, found himself, at thirty-one, as helplessly and ridiculously +in love as any lad of twenty. + +With a smothered exclamation, he pushed back his chair, and began a +restless walk up and down the room. Was ever a grown man guilty of +such egregious folly before? A great gulf separated him and the woman +of his dreams: a gulf that could never be bridged over. In tastes and +in circumstances they were separated far as the poles. His love was +perfectly hopeless; and yet the notion of her marrying another, and +removing herself entirely out of his reach, was intolerable to him. +But, as an effectual cure of his madness, he knew that it was the best +thing that could happen to him. The remedy was a sharp one, but it +would be complete. + +"A few days must settle it, and, until then, I need not meet her," said +Paul, aloud. "I won't stay in this afternoon; business can take me to +the farm." + +In another minute he had gone into the village street, almost deserted +this afternoon, for most of the villagers had wandered up to the +church. Paul's road lay in the same direction; and he walked along +with rapid strides, his head bent upon his breast, his heart busied +with his new discovery, and the thought how best to live it down. He +was mingling with the crowd now, that had gathered round the +church-gate waiting for the procession of clergy that was just filing +out of the church. From inside came the throb of the organ and the +sound of singing; but Paul went upon his way, neither lifting his head +nor staying his steps, when a familiar voice close at hand arrested his +attention. + +"Mr. Paul! I'm so glad you've come! I _can't_ see anything; lift me +up, please!" + +Paul started as he saw that he had nearly tumbled over his friend +Kitty, whose invalid carriage was drawn up as near to the gate as +possible. + +"Poor Kitty! And you want to look at the Bishop and his lawn sleeves, +and the girls in their caps, like all the rest of the village," he +said, bending over and lifting her high in his strong arms. + +"Yes. I suppose you've come to see the Bishop too?" said Kitty, with a +sigh of contentment. "He's very nice, indoors; but oh! he's lovely +when he's got his scarlet coat on. But daddy says I must not think +about the clothes, but about all the boys and girls whom he will bless +to-day. They'll promise to be good, you know." + +"Hush! hush!" said Paul, for the procession was upon them. And Kitty, +carried away by the thrill of the voices, steadied herself in Paul's +arms by clasping hers about his neck, and sang lustily with the rest-- + + "'Till with the vision glorious + Her longing eyes are blest, + And the great Church victorious + Shall be the Church at rest.'" + + +The last clergyman in the procession before the Bishop was the rector, +and Paul could not but be struck by the singular beauty of his look, +the joyous ring of his voice. The "vision glorious" was his at that +moment; fresh soldiers had just been sworn in to that great army, whose +Captain was Christ, and, though some might fall away, there were many +whom he prayed would die fighting. That, and more than that, was +written clearly on the rector's face. + +"Did you see him? Did you see him?" whispered Kitty, eagerly. "Isn't +he beautiful?" + +"Yes," said Paul, absently, as he put Kitty back into her carriage. +But whilst Kitty referred to the Bishop, Paul spoke of the rector. + +Then he hurried on his way, anxious not to encounter Sally or May. The +brief interval of sunshine was over, and wreaths of mist gathered along +the banks of the river, creeping gradually to the slopes above it, +dissolving into fine thick rain as the afternoon darkened into night. +And still Paul lingered about his business at the farm, until he felt +assured that all danger of coming across May was over: a conviction +justified by the fact that he met the carriage from the Court, driving +home as he returned to the village, catching a glimpse of a lady's +figure inside it. + +"How long has May been gone?" he asked, with studied carelessness, as +he let himself into he cottage and saw a girl's figure seated on the +rug before the fire. + +"She's not gone! she's here, wondering why her host was so rude as to +absent himself this afternoon. Since when, by the way, have you done +her the honour to call her by her Christian name?" And May Webster +rose from her lowly position and faced Paul with laughter in her eyes. + +Paul felt himself caught at a thorough disadvantage; he was dripping +with rain and covered with mud, and, confronted thus suddenly with the +girl of whom his heart was full, his usual readiness of speech deserted +him. + +"You! you!" he stammered. "But I saw you drive by me not a quarter of +an hour ago." + +"And thought you had timed your homecoming so as judiciously to miss +me," said May, mercilessly. "It must have been my mother; she has been +spending the day at Fairfield. I told Dixon not to come back for me as +I would walk home: a premature decision, for it has rained ever since, +and I've been waiting for it to clear up. However, I can wait no +longer; and Sally has just gone to forage out a waterproof and +umbrella." + +"I'll go up to the Court and tell them to send back the carriage," said +Paul, preparing to depart. + +"No, thank you; I will walk." + +"The village fly, then?" + +"It, or rather its horse, has had more than its proper work to-day. It +is probably now conveying the Bishop to the station." + +"I shall come with you, then; it will be quite dark before you get +home." + +"I'm not afraid of it. I believe you are; there's a queer, scared look +about you, as if you had seen a ghost; you still think I was in that +carriage. Sally," turning to the girl who had just re-entered the +room, "will you tell your brother that I don't wish him to see me home? +He's very damp and miserable now." + +"And at the risk of being a little damper, I will come; it's ridiculous +to argue the point." + +With all her boasted independence May was not sorry for Paul's escort +when she stepped out into the night. The rain was descending in a +steady down pour, the wind came sighing up the valley, and the river +swept on its way, lapping against the bark with a dreary, sobbing +sound. They walked on in silence side by side until May broke it with +an impatient laugh. + +"The dreariness of the night has infected us both. You are not often +dull. You are always either amusing or interesting. Talk, please." + +"I can't talk. I've not an idea in my head except that, if the river +gets much higher, there will be a flood, and no more Rudham! And +personally, I should not care much if it swept it away and me with it." + +"You do yourself injustice; you are very interesting. Why this fit of +the blues? You are going to be ill, I expect; you looked rather ill +when you came in just now." + +"Not a bit of it," said Paul, with a little laugh; "draggled and wet, +but not ill. Do you remember that you told me once, a year ago, that I +was isolating myself from my fellows? Then I felt as if I could defy +that isolation. To-day I have been conscious of it; Robinson Crusoe on +his desert island could not feel more utterly lonely. I have been +kicking against the pricks, wondering why I am condemned to a life and +a place which I hate." + +"You have no business to complain of a solitude which you have created +yourself." + +"Oh no; I blame no one." + +"And you have Sally----" + +"I _had_ Sally. She was my disciple and satellite; but now I shall +always be having to take care that I don't hurt her feelings. The +slippered ease of the old relationship is dead; I can't talk out to +her." + +"But you can talk out to me as much as you like. I shan't agree with +you; but my faith, such as it is, is not new-born like Sally's. I wish +it were half as strong." + +Only under cover of the dark would May have dared to say as much. + +"No, I can't even talk to you; the friendship is dead too. That was +the ghost I saw this afternoon; it would have been a short-lived joy, +any way, for I hear you are going to leave Rudham." + +"You are talking in riddles now!" cried May. "What should kill our +friendship? and where am I going to?" + +"To Fairfield; so rumour says." + +May stopped short in her walk, and Paul heard her breath coming +unevenly. When she spoke again her voice was low, but angry. + +"You outstrip the limits of friendship in daring to tell me what the +gossips here say of me." + +"I had no intention of telling you. I suppose it slipped out because I +hate to believe it true." + +"You need not believe it; I am not going to marry Sir Cecil Bland," +said May, coldly. "What has it to do with you, may I ask?" + +"Thank Heaven!" muttered Paul, under his breath. + +"What have you against him?" + +"Nothing. Except that I suppose he loves you, and I love you too, and, +although I know better than you can tell me, that my love is perfectly +hopeless, I can bear it if I may let you live in my heart a little +while, as the one woman in all the world to me, the only woman I have +ever loved or ever wished to marry. That must not have been if you +were pledged to marry some one else." + +"Oh, stop!" said May, laying an entreating hand upon his arm; "I feel +as if I had been so cruel, I would not rest until I had you for a +friend, but I never dreamed of this." + +"Nor I, until to-day," said Paul. "But when I heard that some one else +was likely to marry you I knew." + +"Put me back into the old niche. Can't we forget about to-night?" + +Paul laughed a little harshly. + +"Forget!" he echoed drearily. "How little women know the way a man can +love? With you I shall only rank as one of the many moths that have +singed their wings by flying too closely about you." + +"No, no! I shall think of you always as my one man-friend, to whom I +could say anything that was in my head. I shall miss him dreadfully." + +"And under no circumstances can you think of me in a different light?" + +"I don't know, but I think not," May said simply. "You may think it +odd, or call me heartless, but I have not yet met the man I wish to +marry. There! you see I trust you to the last. Good-bye, my friend." + +Paul bent over the hand that was put into his own and kissed it, and +went home feeling that the chill of the night had closed about his +heart. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +RIVAL SUITORS. + +"Where have you been, May? I have been frightened to death about you." + +The process was apparently a painless one, judging from the extreme +comfort of Mrs. Webster's surroundings: her easy-chair drawn close to +the fire but sheltered from it by a screen, the lamp on the table +adjusted to a nicety behind, the illustrated papers ready cut for use, +and the last new novel lying open on her lap. May seated herself +leisurely and stretched out her hands to the blaze before she answered. + +"I've been having tea at the cottage." + +"And came home in the wet and dark by yourself?" + +"No. Mr. Lessing saw me home." + +"Of course; I know now that your staying at home to-day to take Sally +to the confirmation was just an excuse. You did not want to come with +me to Fairfield." + +"No, I did not; but I honestly did want to go with Sally: she looked so +pretty, mother. I've not been at a confirmation since I was confirmed +myself." + +"I don't want to talk of that just now, May. Lady Bland is terribly +hurt at the way you have treated Cecil. He's quite ill, poor fellow!" + +"I'm sorry." + +"You are not," snapped Mrs. Webster, "or you would have been kinder to +him!" + +"Need we go over this oft-trodden ground again?" May asked rather +wearily. "I can only reiterate that I really can't and won't marry any +one I do not care for." + +"I don't believe there is the man in creation that you will care for. +It really would be wise for you to accept the one you least dislike." + +"Or not marry anybody." + +"That is a more than likely alternative. You are five-and-twenty now, +and you might have been married over and over again." + +May laughed. "I don't know why you are so keen to get rid of me. You +will be dreadfully lonely without me; not to say dull." + +"That's true enough," said Mrs. Webster, softening; "but a girl like +you ought to marry. You won't make a good old maid." + +"No," May admitted candidly. + +And this question of marriage, which was sorely perplexing the +mistress, was pressing hard also upon her maid, for pretty Rose +Lancaster, who had successfully played off her rival suitors against +each other for a year, was at last compelled to make her choice between +them. Tom Burney had that day received an offer from the squire of a +free passage to Tasmania, and a very good appointment on a farm there +with a relation of Mr. Lessing's, where, if he gave satisfaction, he +might in a few years look forward to part-ownership. + +"I only propose to part with you because agriculture does not pay, or I +have not learned the way to make it do so," the squire had said. "I +have been making up my mind to reduce my staff; and, my cousin having +lately written to me about a suitable man, it occurred to me to give +you the first offer." + +Tom coloured with pleasure. "Thank you, sir; it seems a great chance. +It would be a certainty, wouldn't it? I could take another with me." + +"Well, it would be wiser for the other fellow to get a promise of work. +I might ask if there were an opening," Paul had replied. + +"It's not a man as I was thinking of, sir. It was a wife!" + +"Oh, I beg your pardon," the squire said laughing. "But if you care +for my opinion on a subject of which I know but little, I believe quite +the wisest thing you could do would be to take out a wife with you. +She would make a home for you and keep you steady. I expect you have +some girl in your eye, Burney." + +Tom smiled rather sheepishly; it would be time enough to mention Rose +when his banns were put up. + +And that very afternoon when work was over, Tom had gone home and put +on his best clothes; then walked boldly up to the Court and demanded an +interview with Rose. She came into the servant's hall where he waited +nervously by the fire, and, giving him a careless nod, seated herself +and put her toes upon the fender. + +"What is it, Tom? I can't stop long; I'm expecting Miss Webster in +every minute." + +"It's come at last: what I've waited for," stammered Tom. "I've a +chance of giving you a home, Rose: a nice one, as far as I can make +out." + +"Where?" asked Rose, with shining eyes and parted lips, a vision of +herself as a bride, in a white frock, and handsome Tom as her +bridegroom, floating before her. + +"In Tasmania; if you love me well enough to come with me out there. +It's a wonderful offer that the squire has given me; and some day I may +bring you home almost like a lady." + +"But I don't know where it is, and I wouldn't go if I did--not with you +nor any man! What can you be thinking of to stuff me up with nonsense +like that?" Rose asked poutingly. "I'll have a home on this side of +the water, or nowhere." + +"And you shall," Tom declared passionately, "if you'll promise to wait +until I can make you one!--but I'll have your word for it. You shall +have done with Dixon and stick fast by me, or----" + +"Or what?" Rose said with rather frightened eyes. + +"Or I'll go where you won't be troubled by me any more. Look here! +you've held me on for eighteen months now, and, if you cared for me +one-half as I love you, you would be ready enough to come with me to +the other side of the world, when I can make you an honest offer of a +home. I'd follow you to the world's end; ill or well, rich or poor I'd +love you just the same; you should not have a trouble that I could keep +from you. I've told you so before, and I tell you so to-night; but +it's the last time. You can take me or leave me; but I'll know now +which it is to be. It don't matter much to me where you want to live, +except that, if I don't take this offer, we must wait a bit; but I'll +know your mind about it. It must be 'yes' or 'no' to-night!" + +Happily for Rose, Miss Webster's bell pealed a noisy summons at that +moment. + +"I can't stop, Tom! I _really_ can't! Miss Webster is not one who can +wait. I'll think it over and tell you sometime soon." + +"When?" asked Tom, catching her hands and holding them so tightly that +she gave a little cry. + +"Sunday. Sunday night after church; you can see me home if you like," +and with that promise Tom had to be content. + +"Mind what you are up to, Rose. Don't play with me too far," he said. + +And as Rose sat stitching in the housekeeper's room that night, her +mind busied itself over Tom's words, and the difficulty of making a +decision. It had never entered Rose's pretty head to lay this question +of marriage before God. Had she done so she would have been saved from +making a mistake, which was to leave its mark upon the whole of her +future life. Her heart drew her one way, and her ambition another. +Undoubtedly Tom, with his warm heart and openly expressed devotion, was +the man she loved the best of the many who had paid her attention; but +she might have to wait for him for years, whilst, if Dixon chose to +offer it, he could give her a home to-morrow that any girl in the +village might envy; but he had never spoken out as Tom had spoken +to-night. His wooing had not been so manly and so straight as poor +Tom's. Rose had almost made up her mind to tell him on Sunday that she +would wait for him, when a voice waked her from her reverie; and the +voice was Dixon's. + +"I suppose you don't happen to know if the carriage will be wanted to +take the ladies to the station to-morrow? I heard some talk about +their going out, but I haven't had any orders." + +"I'm not the one to ask! you'll find Mr. Wheeler in the pantry," said +Rose, a little sharply. + +"What's put you out to-night, I wonder?" said Dixon, coming a little +further into the room and closing the door behind him. "Had some +quarrel with that peppery lad Burney, I expect? Anyway you've been +crying about something; and ten to one it's Burney. I saw him coming +away from here, and I had the biggest mind to ask him what business he +had to be prowling round a place where he was turned off for +unsteadiness." + +"You'd best mind what you say about him!" Rose said, stitching away +with feverish rapidity. "He wants me to marry him." + +"Does he now? Banns put up on Sunday, I suppose?" said Dixon, with a +palpable sneer. + +"No; we should wait," faltered Rose. + +"I should not have thought you were of the waiting sort. Then it's +good-bye to me." + +"It will be good-bye if I promise; he'll be all or nothing. He's just +mad about me." + +"Then you've not promised yet?" asked Dixon, eagerly. "You've not been +silly enough to do that, Rose?" + +"He won't wait; I'm to tell him on Sunday night. And oh! I'm +miserable: I don't know what to do!" And Rose let her work fall in her +lap, and burst into sobbing. + +"Don't cry! don't take on! I'll tell you what to do, my dear. Promise +to marry me instead of that hot-headed fool, Burney. Settle it all +right away, and don't fash your head any more about it. There need be +no waiting--I'll go and see the vicar about the banns,--and if so be +that we can't get the rooms over the stables to ourselves, I'll ask Mr. +Lessing to give us a cottage. There! you see I'm in earnest. It would +be grand to hear your name given out in church the next Sunday as ever +is, now wouldn't it?" and Dixon pulled away Rose's hands from her face, +and smiled down on her. + +"Oh, I couldn't!" Rose said. "There's Tom." + +"That would settle Tom fast enough." + +Rose never knew quite how it happened; but half an hour later Dixon +left without any order for the carriage on the morrow, but with Rose's +promise that she would marry him as soon as he liked, and with her +consent that the banns should be published on the following Sunday. +Rose's silly little head was in such a whirl of delightful excitement +that, for the time being, Tom and his misery were forgotten. There was +the wedding to think of, and the clothes that must be made, and the +question of hat versus veil, for the wedding-day loomed large in the +foreground. She wondered how Miss Webster would look when she gave her +a month's notice that night; and whether Mrs. Webster would offer to +have the wedding breakfast at the Court. It was almost certain that as +Dixon was coachman, he would have the loan of the carriage; and she +would be driven to the church that day for all the world just like a +lady, and half the village would turn out to see her married. And then +Tom's large, reproachful eyes, with their expression of dumb pain, +stared at her out of the brilliant picture which her imagination +conjured. Poor Tom! how would he bear it? She comforted herself a +little with the thought that he would be quite certain now to accept +the offer of that situation abroad of which he had spoken, and she +would not be vexed by the sight of his unhappiness. + +"I must not let him meet me on Sunday night. I must write and tell him +that Dixon and I have settled it, and that he must not mind too much," +thought Rose. + +The letter was not an easy one to write, and Rose shelved it. She had +a way of shelving unpleasant subjects; but when Saturday night came she +could put it off no longer, so, fetching down her writing-case, she +spoiled a dozen sheets of paper in the effort to make her news fairly +palatable, finally dashing off an unsatisfactory scrawl, badly written +and lamely expressed; and, having folded and directed it, she flew out +into the yard to find a messenger to take it. The first who presented +himself was the groom. + +"It would be doing me a real favour if you would let Burney have this +note to-night," she said. "It's very particular;" and with the note +she shoved sixpence into the man's hand. + +He laughed as he pocketed the coin, and was laughing still when he went +back into the saddle-room, where Dixon sat smoking over the fire. + +"What's the joke, mate?" + +"A note from your girl to Burney--'very particular' she called it! +I'll warrant it's to tell him he'd better not come this way any more." + +"I dare say it is," replied Dixon, slowly. "Hand it over; I'm going +down to the village, and I'll leave it myself." + +The groom hesitated. "I think I'll stick to it; she gave me sixpence +to make sure he got it, and I wouldn't like to cheat her." + +"Stick to the sixpence but give me the letter. Who's a better right to +it than I, I should like to know? I'm as good as married already," +said Dixon, stretching out his hand. + +"You'll promise not to forget." + +"I'm not one as forgets," said Dixon, with an odd laugh. + +"And if there's any mistake you'll settle it?" + +"Yes; I'll settle it." + +The groom gave the note and went out whistling; he was not quite easy +in his mind about the missive. Left to himself, Dixon turned the +envelope round in his fingers, examining it back and front. The +blotted writing gave evidence of hurry, the blistered paper testified +to tears, and Dixon broke into an oath. + +"The little jade!--that's the second time she's cried about him this +week to my certain knowledge," he said aloud. "She would not dare to +chuck me now, though, even if she does love the other one; but I've +more than half a mind to put this in the fire. It may be to tell him +that she's settled things with me; but it would not be a bad joke to +let him hear it for himself in church, and her telling him nothing +about it, good or bad, would let him know she did not care much for +him." + +In another moment there was a brief blaze in the fire, and Rose's note +was reduced to ashes. + +The next morning Tom Burney rose with the feeling that he trod on air, +such a strange exhilaration of spirit possessed him. + +He had heard nothing from Rose during the week, and her very silence +filled him with hope. If she meant to refuse him, he was almost sure +that she would have put him out of his misery before this. He was not +generally a vain fellow, but to-day his toilet was a matter of moment; +his tie was re-adjusted half a dozen times, and he asked his landlady +to give him a chrysanthemum for his buttonhole. + +"Goin' courtin'?" she said, with a laugh as she pinned it in for him. +And Tom coloured rosy red, but said nothing. + +He started early for church, hoping that he might catch a glimpse of +Rose as she passed in with the other servants from the Court; but +either she had got there before him, or, for some unknown cause, she +had been detained at home. Dixon presently appeared, smart and neat, +giving Tom an affable nod as he passed up the path to the church; but +Tom's eyes were fixed straight in front of him, and he ignored the +greeting. + +"I'll not pretend to be friends when I ain't," he said to himself. + +Presently the hurrying bell warned the outside group of stragglers to +make their way into church; and Tom took his usual seat at the end of +the nave. It is to be feared that his thoughts that morning were not +occupied with devotion. Prayer and psalm passed unheeded over his +head; but when, at the end of the second lesson, there was a pause, and +the rector turned over the leaves of a book in front of him, Tom lifted +his head and waited for the banns that would follow. Before long he +might be listening to the publishing of his own. + +"I publish the banns of marriage between William Dixon, bachelor, and +Rose Lancaster, spinster, both of this parish. . . ." + +Was it some ghastly nightmare, Tom wondered, as he clutched at the seat +in front of him? But the suppressed grin on the faces near him, the +foolish smile with which the publishing of banns is so often received +in a village church, convinced him that he had heard aright. The blood +was rioting to his brain, and the beating in his throat made him put up +his hand with the vain endeavour to loosen his collar lest he should +choke there and then with the passion that could find no outlet. For +one instant he was possessed by a wild wish to stand up and forbid the +banns; but what end would be gained by making himself a greater +laughing-stock to the village than he was at present, for already he +felt the derisive finger of scorn pointed at him as the man whom Rose +had jilted. Even now he saw one or two of the lads nudge each other +and look at him with curious eyes. To be watched at such a moment was +torture, and, like an animal in pain, Tom longed for solitude. He +groped blindly under the seat for his hat, made his way to the door and +slipped out. He stumbled on like a man in delirium, looking neither to +the right nor left, but following instinctively the path across the +fields which led to the river. The turbulence of its grey waters, as +it rushed on to the sea, seemed most in keeping with the wild, wicked +thoughts that surged unchecked through his brain, and were bearing him +he knew not whither. He threw himself upon the long, rank grass on the +bank, still wet with the heavy mist of night, and, pillowing his chin +in his hands, watched with dilating eyes the swirling river as it swept +by. A giddiness dimmed his vision, a singing filled his ears. + +"If I slipped over and was carried along with it, there'd be an end of +it all," thought Tom. And the chill wind came sighing across the +water, and shook the heavy rushes at the edge, which seemed +whisperingly to echo his thought, "an end of it all." + +Then Tom half-angrily roused himself, and pressed his hands to the eyes +that burned like fire, and tried to collect his bewildered senses. +What!--slip out of life like a drowned rat and never see Rose again, +nor tell her what he knew of the man she had chosen in preference to +him. She would be glad to know he was dead, he told himself with +fierce bitterness. She had played with him like a cat with a mouse for +more than a year but in the long run the mouse died squeaking. Surely +she could not be so false-hearted as to break faith with him to-night; +she would meet him and say good-bye? She _should_ meet him, whether +she liked it or not; and if Dixon were with her so much the +better,--and Tom's fists clenched involuntarily. + +For hours and hours he wandered, following the windings of the river, +until, as the November sun paled and sank in a bank of grey cloud, he +discovered that he was some six or eight miles from Rudham, and that +his knees were knocking together with mingled emotion and fatigue. A +wayside inn seemed a haven of refuge to him in his exhausted condition. +Through the red blind of the bar a light shone cheerily, and Tom +entered the door without knocking, and, seating himself on the settle +by the fire, ordered sixpennyworth of brandy. + +"Hot water or cold? You'll have it hot, if you take my advice," said +the landlady, with a glance at the bloodshot eyes that glared so +strangely out of the deathly white face. + +"Neither, thanks," said Tom, tossing off the raw spirit at a gulp. + +It tasted to him like so much water; it did not muddle his brain, it +cleared it, it nerved him for that interview with Rose. + +"Another sixpennyworth, please," he said, laying down a shilling on the +table. + +The landlady paused, and coughed behind her hand; she had sons of her +own. + +"I wouldn't if I was you," she said, pushing him back sixpence. +"You've took as much as is good for you, and ne'er a drop of water. + +"You can serve me or leave it alone," said Tom, angrily. "I'm ill; I +need it. It tastes like so much water." + +The landlady shook her head but gave him the brandy, and Tom, having +swallowed it, bade her a civil good night and went on his way. + +The landlady hurried to the door and looked after him; he was walking +very fast but quite straight. + +"It may have gone to his head, but it's not got into his legs," she +said, a note of admiration in her voice. + +Tom meanwhile hurried on to the station, which he knew to be not more +than half a mile away. He was just in time to catch the one down-train +that ran on Sunday evening, which would land him in Rudham in time for +evening service--not that Tom meant to go to church that night. He +would walk outside and wait for Dixon and for Rose. Many a time the +two men had escorted Rose back to the Court, one on either side. This +would be the last. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A FRIEND IN NEED. + +Rose Lancaster had never looked prettier than that Sunday night, as she +tripped into church, a soft ruffle of fur setting off the delicate fair +face, a large velvet hat resting on the golden hair. Dixon, with a +proud air of possession, walked in behind her, and, seating himself at +her side, proved his proprietorship by producing her Prayer-book from +his pocket, and finding all her places for her throughout the service. +When Rose dared to lift her head and look about her, she gave a sigh of +relief to see that Tom was not present. + +"I dare say he thought I should like it best if he stayed away," she +thought. She was thankful that the question of her marriage was +decided and well decided. + +The moon had risen when the service ended. There was a group of people +collected outside the church-gate discussing the village gossip before +they dispersed to their several homes. + +Dixon pulled Rose's arm through his own, and, not allowing her to +linger for a moment, led her off. They did not either of them notice +that a man with a hat well pulled over his eyes followed them at some +little distance; and not until the village was left behind, and the +pair had turned into the road, which, with many a wind, led up to the +Court, did he attempt to lessen the space which separated them. Then, +as unconsciously Rose and Dixon walked more slowly, Tom quickened his +steps, and was alongside of them before they realized his presence. He +pushed back his hat; and Rose broke into a smothered cry of alarm as +the moonlight fell upon the haggard face and wild eyes of her rejected +lover, and she clung the tighter to Dixon's arm. + +Tom's laugh was not pleasant to listen to. "You asked for my company, +Rose, but you don't seem best pleased now I've come," he said; "but, +pleased or not, I'll walk with you to-night, and say a thing or two +it's right for you to hear before we part company for good." + +"I wrote to you," stammered Rose. "I sent it by a special messenger on +Saturday night to tell you that, after thinking things over, +I'd--I'd----" + +"She made up her mind that I should be the best husband for her," said +Dixon, putting a protecting arm round Rose's shoulder, and finishing +off the sentence she found it so difficult to frame. + +The words and the action alike maddened Tom. Was Rose to be protected +from him when, to give her pleasure and shield her from pain, had been +his one thought for the last eighteen months? + +"It's only fair that, as she's chucked me for you, she should know the +sort of man she's got hold of," he stuttered. + +"I didn't lose my place for being so drunk that it took the parson the +best part of the night to see me home, did I?" sneered Dixon. + +"No, you didn't. But Rose shall hear now who plotted to make me drunk +that night, and who informed against me next day. It was you, you sly, +sneaking scamp!--deny it if you dare? If it comes to character who's +got the better one, you or I? No man can throw a dirty, dishonest +trick at me! And you! Who squares the corn-merchant? Who cooks every +bill that goes into the Court? Don't I know it? Have I lived nearly a +year under the same roof that covered you, without finding out pretty +well how you've managed to feather your nest so as to make it fine +enough for the pretty bird you've caught; and if I'd chosen to round on +you when you got me turned out, where would you be now, I'd like to +know? You would not be coachman at the Court." + +Dixon had turned livid with rage, but kept his head. + +"You are a poor, drunken fool, and don't know what you are saying, or +I'd make you swallow your words." + +"You wouldn't! I could prove them!" went on Tom, choking with passion. +"And as you've cheated in work, you've cheated in love. You've cheated +me, and you've cheated that one as followed you sobbing and crying from +the place where you last came from, and who you'd promised faithful to +marry, and who you'd walked with for three years and more. I had the +story from the woman where I lodge. The girl spent the night there, +and she was pretty nigh broken-hearted. She'd even got her +wedding-gown." + +Dixon sprang across the road like a tiger, and gave Tom such a swinging +box on the ear that, for a moment, he reeled again. And then, all the +devil in Tom was loosed, and he leaped on his foe, gripping him by the +throat until every vein in his forehead stood out in blue knots. The +action was so unexpected and so rapid that Dixon found it impossible to +free himself. The men swayed to and fro in each other's embrace, +finally falling heavily together with a sickening thud upon the road. +Tom was uppermost, and picked himself up with a rather ghastly smile, +but Dixon lay there rigid and motionless. + +"Get up!" said Tom, poking him with the toe of his boot. "You won't be +so ready to interfere with me another time." But Dixon did not stir. + +Rose, who had tried to stop the quarrel by every artifice in her power, +knelt down by the side of her lover. And suddenly a cry so shrill, so +despairing, broke the air, that Tom's heart stood still and the blood +froze in his veins. + +"Tom! Tom!--you wicked man, you've killed him!" she shrieked. + +And Tom, sobered by the cry, and realizing in all its horror the +meaning of the words, turned like guilty Cain and fled. There was but +one place for him now: the river--the river, and the end of it all. He +was making for it straight, flying by the nearest cut across the +fields, leaping ditches, scrambling through hedges, regardless of the +brambles that scored his face and hands. Like a hare hunted by the +hounds he fled; away from his own guilty action, away from the woman he +loved, to the river which would sweep him swiftly, painlessly to rest +and forgetfulness. But would it? He had stumbled accidentally into +the path which led towards the cottage where he lodged, and turned his +head as he ran to take one last glance at the light which glimmered in +the window. He could see the river now; he was nearing the brink. +There was but one field between him and it, when he became conscious of +a pursuing step. Somebody was already on his scent. The question now +was whether he should die by his own act, or be delivered over to the +terrible hands of justice; and at that thought Tom redoubled his speed +to outstrip his pursuer. It was a desperate race, for his strength was +nearly spent. His long fast had told upon him, and the fictitious +power of the spirit he had swallowed had passed away. His breath was +coming in quick, short gasps. His foot caught in a tussock of grass, +and he fell face foremost to the ground, and, before he could regain +his feet, a hand was on his collar. + +[Illustration: Before he could regain his feet, a hand was on his +collar.] + +"Let me go! Let me go!" he cried, struggling desperately in the hands +of his capturer. "If I've killed him I'm ready to die too. You can't +do more than hang me! One more moment and I'd have been in the river. +Let me go, I say!" + +"I shall _not_ let you go; you are either mad or drunk--incapable of +taking care of yourself," said a low, clear voice; and Tom was lifted +to a standing posture by the rector's strong arms. + + * * * * * * + +When Dixon had called late on Saturday night to ask the rector to put +up his banns on the morrow, Mr. Curzon's thoughts flew straight to Tom. +So this was the end of his love-story, poor fellow! and he feared that +it would go hardly with the lad. + +"Maybe he will come to see me to-morrow. And, if not, I will see him," +he had said. + +He had noticed with satisfaction that Tom was in his accustomed place +on Sunday morning, and did not see him slip out of church after the +publishing of the banns; but on Sunday night he missed him, and, the +minute service was ended, he set off for the cottage where he lodged. +He had reached the field-path which led to it, when he heard the sound +of footsteps that stumbled in their running, and, pausing to look +round, he saw a figure, which he did not immediately recognize in the +moonlight as Tom's, dashing across the pathway in the direction of the +river. Almost before he knew what he was doing the rector gave chase, +for he felt the man meant mischief: a conviction which grew into +certainty as he gained upon the runaway, and recognized him as the man +whom he sought. + +Tom attempted no further resistance, and, from his incoherent +utterances, Mr. Curzon presently gathered what had occurred. + +"And you ran off and left Rose with her dead lover? I could not have +believed you such a coward, Tom!" he said, unable to keep back the +indignation and scorn he felt. "This is no place for you and me; we +must go back at once, and see if anything can be done." + +Nothing was said as the two hastened back to the spot where Dixon was +left lying; but, to the utter astonishment of both, when they arrived +there, Rose and Dixon had gone. + +"Either some vehicle has driven by which has conveyed Dixon to the +Court, or he was, by God's mercy, only stunned," said the rector. +"We'll go on and find out." + +Tom made no answer, but followed the rector's lead. In a kind of dumb +despair he felt he was walking to meet his fate. They made their way +first to the stables, anxious not to give the alarm at the house until +they knew the extent of the mischief. The usual orderly quiet +prevailed, and, in response to the rector's knock, the groom, who had +played such a faithless part by Rose, appeared. + +"Is Dixon in? Can I see him for a moment?" asked Mr. Curzon, guardedly. + +"He came in, sir, about a quarter of an hour since, but he's gone +straight up to bed. He'd a nasty fall--did not know quite how he'd +done it, slipped up on his heel, he said, and fell on the back of his +head. Rose Lancaster was with him, and seemed terrible cut up about +it, said he lay like a dead thing; and she would never have got him +home if it had not been that a cart drove by and gave 'em both a lift." + +"Thank you. Tell Dixon that I'll come round in the morning to see how +he is." + +"We need do nothing more to-night; your worst fear is not realized," he +said, as he and Tom turned towards home. "Now you will come back to +supper with me, and we will trace your sin to its very root, please +God. You've had a warning that I think you are not likely to forget." + +But Tom, in the sudden relief from the horrible fear that he had +inadvertently taken the life of a fellow creature, had broken into a +passion of sobs, shedding such tears as a man sheds but once in a +lifetime--scalding tears of bitter repentance and shame. + +He and Mr. Curzon sat talking far into the night, and Tom told the +story truly, keeping nothing back. + +"You've let drink and passion get the upper hand, Tom. You have put +the love of a woman before the love of God, and you've come near to +wrecking your life and hers in consequence. It would not have mended +matters if you had hurried yourself into another world to which you +have given so little thought, would it? It was a mad, wicked thought! +a thought of the devil's own suggestion; but you are saved for the +beginning of a better life, a new life in new surroundings." + +Tom glanced up quickly. "Not in Tasmania," he said. "The squire won't +send me, after this." + +"You'll tell him about it, then," replied Mr. Curzon, with a +heart-throb of thanksgiving that Tom was ready to face out the +consequences of his action. + +"Oh yes; I shall tell him. He might hear it any way, but I'd rather +tell him myself." + +"Very good. Now you had better go home to bed, and, if you have never +said a real prayer before, you will say one to-night, Tom, to the God +who has saved you from falling over a precipice of crime." + +Tom nodded; his heart was too full to speak. + +When the morning broke it found the rector in his study where Tom had +left him, still upon his knees, for here and there, in this hurrying +nineteenth century world, there is yet found a disciple who, like the +Master whom he serves, will spend whole nights in prayer. Was not the +salvation of a soul at stake? + +A fresh development of Rose Lancaster's love-affairs was brought to Mr. +Curzon's notice on Monday, for the first person he met, as he left the +rectory in the morning, was Rose herself--a crumpled dishevelled Rose, +whose toilet gave evidence of hurry, and whose eyes were red with +weeping. + +"Oh, sir, I've come because I didn't know what to do. We're all in +dreadful trouble!--Dixon's gone!" + +"Not dead!" cried the rector in horror. + +"Oh no; he's run away. And oh, it's cruel, cruel! to have used me like +this," said Rose, her sobs bursting out afresh. + +"I wonder what has made him do it? Has he left no note behind him?" + +"Not a line--nor a message for me," replied Rose. "Only a scrawl in +pencil which the groom found on the saddle-room table, to say that +nobody need try to trace him. And only to think that our banns were +put up yesterday." + +"I think you are wasting your tears over a heartless scamp!" said the +rector, a little impatiently. "Did you come with any message from the +Court?" + +"No, sir; I only came to ask you if I ought to tell?" + +"To tell what?" + +"All that happened last night. There was a dreadful quarrel between +Dixon and Tom Burney; and that's how Dixon got hurt. He was stunned, +and I thought he was dead; and Tom ran off, and, when Dixon came to +himself, his one notion was that I was not to tell any one how he came +by his fall." + +"So you promised to back him up in a lie!" said the rector, coldly. +"One can scarcely wonder that you wished to keep the thing quiet, +however. You've terribly misused God's good gift of a pretty face, +Rose. You have played with two men; and chosen the wrong one, and +driven the other half off his head with misery. Mercifully the good +God has saved you from what must have been a miserable marriage, for +there is more in Dixon's disappearance than we can see just yet." + +Rose's tears dried with her gathering indignation. It had not occurred +to her to blame herself in any way; she felt rather in the position of +the ill-used heroine of a tragedy in real life. + +"Then you think I ought to tell," she said a little sulkily. + +"I certainly think your mistress ought to know exactly what happened. +You need not tell any one else, that I know of." + +So Rose returned to the Court greatly crestfallen; and her account of +the quarrel, and Tom's vague threats about Dixon's character, put Mrs. +Webster on to the right clue as to the causes of his sudden flight. He +was found to have been guilty of repeated acts of dishonesty, so +cleverly concealed that, but for the fear that Tom would report him, he +might have gone on for years longer, respected and trusted by his +employers. As the time seemed ripe for flight, however, he had taken +with him the change of a big cheque that Mrs. Webster had given him to +cash on the Saturday, and which he had told her glibly that he could +not get cashed until the Monday. Each fresh revelation filled Rose +with misery and shame; and, behind all, was the one fact that she had +kept to herself: the memory of Tom's mention of that other girl that +Dixon had jilted--the crowning taunt which had hurried Dixon into +showing fight. + +"And it must have been true, or it would not have made him so angry," +thought Rose. + +It was a bitter pill for the vain little thing to swallow: the +conviction that she had all along occupied the second place in Dixon's +affections, and that he had cast her away, like that other girl, +without any compunction. Tom would not have done it; and at the +remembrance of him Rose's eyes filled with tears. Rose was returning +from the village, whither she had been sent on a message, and she +shivered a little as she passed the scene of the last night's disaster; +and her alarm found expression in a little cry when she saw Tom Burney +standing there, too, and yet there was nothing to terrify her in the +deprecating glance of his troubled eyes. + +"Rose," he said, stretching out his hands, "I don't wonder that you +hate the sight of me, but you can afford to speak kindly to me for this +once? God knows I'm sorry enough for what I've done, heart sorry. I +came here to look at the place again, where I nearly killed a man, just +to let it burn in so that I mayn't forget." + +"But--but--you can't have heard that he's not much hurt even? that he's +run away and taken a lot of money that does not belong to him?" + +"Oh yes," said Tom, drearily. "But that does not alter things; I can't +forget that I nearly killed him--and myself." + +"Oh, Tom, not that! not that!" cried Rose, for the first time pierced +by a pang of keen remorse. + +"Yes. I should have drowned myself if Mr. Curzon had not stopped me," +said Tom, simply. "I was mad, I think, with misery and drink." + +Then Rose understood the full meaning of the rector's words that +morning. + +"I did not mean to try and see you before I went away," went on Tom, +brokenly; "but I'm glad of the chance to ask your forgiveness for the +hurt I might have done to the man you wished to marry." + +"Oh don't! please don't talk like that!" said Rose, Tom's utter +self-abasement and humility rousing all her better nature. "Don't you +see that it's you who ought to forgive me for the cruel way I've +treated you; and if you'd died, Tom, and my wickedness had killed you, +how could I have ever lifted up my head again? I see now how wicked +I've been. I wanted to marry Dixon because he promised to give me +everything I liked: a pretty house and a little servant, and pretty +clothes and things. It was not because I loved him best." + +Tom threw back his head with a little cry. + +"Rose," he said, coming a step nearer. "Rose, my dear; it can't hurt +to tell me now. In two days I'm going away for good and all. I have +told the squire all about it, and he is going to overlook it and send +me across the seas just the same as if nothing had happened; but when +I'm gone, it would make me happy to know that you had ever loved me +just a little bit." + +"I do," said Rose. "I think I've loved you all the time." + +Tom drew a long breath, but did not attempt to come closer. + +"Thank you," he said, with an odd thrill in his voice. "I'll go away +and think of it. It will help me to be good, for I'll have a try at +that, Rose, my dear. I'll keep clear of the drink; I'm going up to the +rector to-night to tell him I'm ready to sign. He asked me to do it +before; and don't I wish I had listened to him! But now I'll do it +without the asking." + +There was some difference in Tom that Rose felt but could not define, +some influence over him that was stronger than her own. She had been +conscious before that she had but to speak and he would try his utmost +to carry out her whim; but to-day, miserable as he was, oppressed by +the weight of sin, she felt respect for a certain strength of purpose +that seemed developed in him. Mr. Curzon was right; she had chosen the +wrong man. Never had she valued Tom's love as she did now when she was +just about to lose it. + +"Then you are going directly?" she almost whispered. + +"Yes; I leave here the day after to-morrow, and I sail in about a +fortnight. The squire thought the sooner I was out of the way the +better." + +"Shall you ever come back?" + +"I don't know." + +"Nor ever write?" asked Rose, with a sob in her throat. + +"That's as may be; I'd write to one who cared." + +"I care. Write to me, please?" + +She was looking at him with pleading eyes, but he would not trust +himself to return her glance. + +"Rose," he said, "there's not the woman now that I would ask to be my +wife. I'm guilty, before God, of two black sins; but if He gives me +time to live it down and earn a clean name again----" + +"He will! He will!" said Rose. "And, Tom, it does not matter if it's +years, I'll wait." And then she put her arms round his neck and kissed +him. + +His face was ashen grey; his arms ached with the longing to return her +embrace and hold her close to his heart, but he let her go. + +"Before God, Rose, my darling, I'll live worthy of your kiss! Maybe it +won't be long before I dare return it." + +The next instant he was gone, not daring to look back at her. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +KITTY'S CHRISTMAS TREE. + +"The Websters are off to London, Paul," said Sally, about two days +after Tom's departure. + +Paul started at the sudden mention of the name. + +"I did not think they intended to go to town until after the New Year. +Mrs. Webster dilates largely upon the superiority of a Christmas in the +country versus a Christmas in London; but, I suppose, it is as sincere +as most of her statements?" + +"I think May has had more to do with it than her mother. She says Mrs. +Webster has fussed a good deal over Dixon's flight, she trusted him so +thoroughly. And May thinks it will be easier to get a good coachman in +London, and that it will take off her mother's thoughts from an +unpleasant subject. She now has visions of Dixon's return in company +with an armed body of burglars, and prophesies cheerfully that they +will all be found dead in their beds one morning, and that the house +will be ransacked." + +Paul laughed. "Under the circumstances Miss Webster is wise to remove +her forcibly to London," he said. But he privately conjectured that +May's real reason for flight lay in her desire to get away from +himself. "Has anything been heard of Dixon?" he went on. + +"Nothing. I don't think any very keen search has been made for him. +Mrs. Webster declares that she would far rather lose her money than +appear in a court of law, or have her name bandied about in the papers. +I think, Paul, that if you approve I shall be off to London, too, when +the New Year comes." + +"In what capacity?" asked Paul, resignedly. "As a sister or something?" + +"Oh dear, no; you know I've always wanted to join one of those +settlements of girls at the East End, who work under the management of +Miss Grant. She wrote a little while ago to tell me she would have a +vacancy in the settlement soon after Christmas. My work would lie +chiefly amongst factory girls, getting up statistics about their hours +of work and their housing, and my play would be recreation evenings +with them." + +"But this is what you have always talked of doing. I expected you to +take up quite different lines now: to district visit, and take classes +on Sundays, under the guidance and supervision of the rector." + +"I don't feel the least fitted for it; I know very little about it. +Mr. Curzon thinks it would be a great pity for me to abandon the work +to which I feel myself drawn. I like life in London far better than in +the country." + +"I quite agree with you," interposed Paul. + +"And I think that my change of opinion about religious things will +help, rather than hinder me in my work," continued Sally, with a slight +effort. + +"Let us hope it may," said Paul, in a tone that implied a doubt on the +subject. "Anyway, I wish you to follow your own plan of life. I think +women ought to be as free as men to choose what they will do. +But"--with a glance from the window--"Miss Kitty's carriage stops the +way. I must go and see what she wants." + +"Why, Kitty," he began, almost before he had reached the gate, "I +thought you had forgotten all about me! It is days, almost weeks, I +think, since you've paid me a call." + +"It's because it has rained nearly every day and I've not been out at +all; and there are such a lot of things I want to ask you about." + +Paul was Kitty's referee on every subject. "What is the first, I +wonder?" he said, smiling down at her. + +"Bend down, please, Mr. Paul. It's a secret." + +And Paul brought his ear to a level with Kitty's mouth. + +"Do boys like Noah's Arks?" + +Paul straightened himself with a burst of laughter. + +"I thought you would know. Nurse said you'd be sure to know," Kitty +said, much injured by his untimely mirth. + +"It's just because I don't that I am laughing," said Paul, whose +remembrance of childhood was unconnected with any scriptural game. +That he should be solemnly consulted about one seemed extremely +ludicrous. + +"Then you did not have one?" + +"No, I did not." + +"I suppose it won't do, after all," said Kitty, dejectedly. "And it's +a real beauty; it cost half a crown." + +"Really! That's a big price. I should think it might do for any one. +After all, an ark might come in handy soon, if we are going to have a +flood. Who's the happy boy?" + +"Oh, you are shouting!" cried Kitty, warningly. "And it's a secret." + +"I beg your pardon," said Paul, penitently. "Shall I look in and give +an opinion?" + +"Yes; you and Sally, too. Perhaps you would come to tea with me this +afternoon? Daddy is gone to a Congress, or he could have told me +everything." + +"Yes, we will come--Sally and I." + +"And then I can tell you all about it, for Nurse knows but has promised +not to tell." + +"We will try to be as trustworthy as Nurse," Paul said with a +reassuring nod. + +So, over tea and toast, after three false guesses on Paul and Sally's +part, Kitty divulged her tremendous secret, which turned out to be that +daddy had promised that when she was ten years old she should give a +Christmas-tree party to every child in Rudham from ten years and under, +and the whole responsibility of choosing the presents and assorting +them should devolve upon her. For months past Kitty had been making +out her list of the children she would have to invite, rather +bewildering the villagers by her feverish anxiety to discover the ages +of their offspring; but the choosing of suitable presents for her +guests was a far more difficult task. A large box of toys had arrived, +by her father's order, from a neighbouring town, from which Kitty could +make a selection; she had spent one whole day poring over them. Girls +were easy enough to please, but boys' tastes were quite a different +matter. So Nurse had finally suggested that Mr. Lessing should be +taken into confidence. Happily, by the afternoon he had grasped the +gravity of the situation, and he discussed the varying merits of tops, +marbles, horses, and carts as earnestly as even Kitty could desire. He +still felt a lurking desire to laugh when he saw the Noah's Ark, which +cost half a crown, set apart in a place by itself on Kitty's couch. +From time to time she laid a caressing hand upon it. It was still +unallotted, and Kitty gave a quivering sigh of excitement as she +glanced down her crumpled list. + +"I had meant this for Tommy Baird," she said, looking down at it +fondly. "It's quite the best thing I have--and he's the oldest +boy,--and it's very pretty, daddy thinks; but you say it won't do." + +"I!" cried Paul, aghast. "I never said anything of the kind." + +"You laughed at it! and you said something about a flood." + +"Was not the ark connected with a flood? You know better than I." + +Kitty looked from Paul to Sally with distress on her face. + +"Of course," she said, a little petulantly. "But you said there might +be another--and there can't be, daddy says." + +"Of course there can't," said Paul, a little hurriedly, feeling it +scarcely fair to make a joke to such a sensitive little girl. + +"Look here! I'm writing a ticket for Tommy Baird, and I shall tuck it +under the elephant's trunk. Do you think he will hold it fast?" + +"Then it will do, after all," said Kitty, greatly relieved. + +But when Paul and Sally were gone, and all the excitement and joy of +the tea-party, and the allotting of her presents, was over, Kitty's +mind reverted to the flood. Mr. Paul had meant something which he +would not explain to her. Whilst the perplexing thought was still in +her mind, she heard her father's latchkey turn in the lock of the front +door, and he popped his head into the room where she lay with a merry +laugh. + +"I'm home, Kitty. I'll be down in a minute, but I must get my things +off first. It is raining cats and dogs." + +The words confirmed Kitty's worst fears. That is how it must have +rained before that first great flood, when the waters crept up and up, +and the people first climbed the hills, until the waters reached them +there; and at last there was nothing to be seen anywhere but a waste of +water and one little ark that floated on the top. By the time Mr. +Curzon came and seated himself by her side, Kitty's eyes were round +with the terror of the picture that her too vivid imagination had +painted. Her father, quick to read each passing emotion on the face +that was dearest to him in the whole world, stooped down and kissed her. + +"My little Kitty is in one of her frightened moods. She must tell me +all about it." + +"It's the flood," Kitty whispered. + +"What flood, darling?" + +"Mr. Paul said we might have one." + +"Did he? He must have meant that the river might overflow its banks; +and perhaps it will after such a wet season." + +"But it would drown us all." + +"Not a bit of it. The cottages near the river might have some water in +them; but unless it were something quite unprecedented, the water would +not get to the upper floor of any house--and certainly won't come near +us or the church and schools, so you may dismiss your fear of a flood. +You ought not to have had it anyway, because God has promised that the +world shall not be flooded totally again. Shall I tell you what a very +good man wrote years ago--many hundreds of years ago--about floods? +'The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice, the +floods lift up their waves . . . but yet the Lord who dwelleth on high, +is mightier.' If he could learn that, all that long time ago, you +ought not to be afraid now, ought you?" + +"And you don't think God will let it come before my Christmas tree, do +you daddy? Because, if all the little children were obliged to stay +upstairs, to keep out of the way of the water, they could not come," +said Kitty, giving a strictly practical turn to the conversation. + +Mr. Curzon smiled and stroked Kitty's head. + +"That is more than I can say, darling. Although your Christmas tree +seems such a big thing to you, it is only a little one; and if it were +put off it would be a disappointment to you, but not a trouble, you +see." + +Kitty was silenced but not satisfied, and each night added a postscript +to her prayers that the flood, if it was to come, should not occur +before her Christmas tree. It was to be held in the school-room on +Christmas Eve. The secret had exploded now, for the invitations were +out, each one written by Kitty herself, and personally delivered in the +course of her morning rambles. Paul and Sally were to come as humble +helpers. December 23rd was a particularly wild, wet day; but a gleam +of sunshine at the close of it produced a rainbow so brilliant in hue +that Kitty regarded it as a written sign in the heavens that the flood +would be averted, certainly until after her Christmas tree. But it was +such a brief gleam of sun! All night through the rain fell, and the +wind, which had been fairly quiet the previous day, rose to a perfect +tempest, roaring in the tree-tops round the rectory, groaning in the +chimneys, and dashing the rain in sheets against poor little Kitty's +window-pane; and when in the morning Nurse drew up the blind, and burst +into an exclamation of surprise, Kitty knew that her worst fear was +realized, and that her prayer had been unavailing. The "Lord that +dwelt on high" did not seem to have listened. She tried to nerve +herself to bear the tidings which Nurse conveyed in as cheerful a tone +as she could assume. + +"Miss Kitty, my dear, what do you think has happened? The waters are +out, and the river is turned into a great big lake, and the houses are +standing out of it like little dots. It all looks so funny; shall I +lift you out to see?" + +But Kitty had buried her head under the clothes, and was sobbing +quietly to herself. No mention was made of the Christmas tree in her +prayers that morning, and the prayers themselves were very perfunctory +indeed--said more from the force of habit than because she had any +faith in their efficacy. True, the rain had ceased now, but what was +the good of that now the flood had come? And the worst of it was that +she could not talk this matter out to daddy; he would think her +dreadfully wicked. So it was a very white-faced Kitty that presented +herself at the breakfast-table, and she received her father's assurance +that her tree should not be abandoned, but only delayed, with a watery, +quivering smile. + +"And I shall be so busy all the morning," went on Mr. Curzon, +cheerfully. "You see, lots of the cottages are cut off from +communication with the outside world, and the children will be hungry +and wanting their breakfasts and dinners; so I must be off to see what +I can do with carts or boats, according to the depth of the water." + +This was rather exciting; and Kitty spent her morning with her chair +drawn close to the window, which commanded the best view of the +village, and saw carts drawn by pairs of horses splashing along to some +of the cottages. And to one cottage, standing alone in a low-lying +field, she saw a boat making its way; she was almost sure that the man +who rowed it was her friend Mr. Paul. Later in the morning he paid her +a visit, with a red colour in his face and a cheery ring in his voice. + +"I could not get up before, Kitty. We have had such a lot to do, Sally +and I, taking round supplies to the people who are flooded. Everybody +is in quite good spirits--indeed, some of the children are thinking it +first-rate fun." + +At the mention of the children Kitty broke down helplessly, and sobbed +aloud. + +"Dear me! And I have had such a lot of water all the morning, I did +not expect a shower-bath here. What time do you expect Sally and me? +How long will it take to light up that blessed tree?" + +Kitty uncovered one eye; Mr. Paul must be dreaming. + +"I can't have it, you see." + +"Who said so? Sally and I have been planning all the morning how we +shall order out all my waggons, and go round and fetch your +guests--only you must not have the tree too late, or else we might lose +our way in taking them home again." + +Kitty's joy could only find expressions in incoherent exclamations of +delight. + +"It's wonderfully kind of you," said the rector, who appeared at that +moment, and gradually gathered from Kitty what Paul proposed to do. + +"It seems a pity the thing should be put off," Paul answered a little +awkwardly. + +Perhaps no act of the squire's won such universal approbation as the +spirited manner in which he carried through Miss Kitty's tree. + +"You would not have thought as he was one to care about the little +ones," said Mrs. Macdonald to Sally. + +"And I don't think, honestly, that he is," Sally answered--"with the +exception of Kitty Curzon; his devotion to her is something quite +astonishing." + +The tree had been, happily, trimmed the day before, and nothing +therefore remained but for the guests to appear. One or two had to be +fetched in a boat, and the cottage in the field had a special voyage to +itself. There was a little child there that was a particular friend of +Kitty's. + +"It's very good of you to come, sir, but I'm not sure as I can let +Jenny go; she's been ailing all day," said the smiling mother, looking +out at Paul from an upstairs window. "She's felt the damp a bit. The +water's begun to go down already. We'll be able to get downstairs +again to-morrow; but, as I was saying to my mate, it will be the +queerest Christmas Day we've ever spent." + +"Yes, indeed," said Paul, hurriedly, anxious to cut short the +disconnected speech; "but I think you must let me have Jenny, Mrs. +Weldon. She's such a great friend of Kitty's, and we shall not have +any more rain for the present. Put on an extra shawl. It will be fine +fun for Jenny to have a ride in a boat." + +So Jenny, wrapped up so that only her eyes were visible, was handed +out; and Paul rowed her across the field that separated her from dry +land, popping her into a cart that waited on the far side. + +Sally, meanwhile, was at the school arranging the children as they +arrived, whilst Kitty's carriage was drawn up close to the tree, which +was veiled under a sheet. Jenny Weldon was the last to arrive, and, +when duly uncloaked, was given a place close to Kitty. + +Then followed the lighting of the tree; and the dancing eyes of the +children watched the process with untold delight. Joining hands they +walked round it singing a quaint old Christmas carol, led by the +rector's strong sonorous voice; and finally came the distribution of +the presents. + +Paul, as he stood quietly at the back of the room, thought the scene a +pretty one. It was a beautiful tradition, that of the Christ Child; he +could have almost wished it true. + +"It has come to an end--I think it has really come to an end," the +rector said. "But, stay, I find some little things tucked away at the +very bottom of the tree; and here upon the labels are written 'Miss +Lessing' and 'Mr. Lessing.' That is quite as it should be, for to whom +do we owe the fact of your all being here to-night but to the squire, +who planned and carried it out?" + +And as a penknife was handed to Paul, there were cheers ringing in his +ears for him and for Sally, who had a pen with her name on it. + +"It was really very jolly of you, Kitty," said Paul, making his way to +her. + +"Weren't you surprised?" said Kitty, joyfully. "Daddy said you would +be; and I told him where to hide them so that Sally should not see +them. And, oh!"--with a long-drawn sigh--"I've never been so happy in +my life. Daddy says I must thank you ever so much, dear Mr. Paul." + +Paul stooped and kissed the pretty, flushed face. "It's been great +fun, Kitty; you've nothing to thank me for. It is my first Christmas +tree, and I shall take great care of my penknife." + +It was seven o'clock before Sally and Paul regained the quietness and +peace of their lodging, for it took some time to deliver all the little +ones to their several homes. + +"It's wonderful what surroundings will do for one. I've felt as if I +were a curate to-day; but it is Kitty who drove me to it. Her despair +this morning was almost tragic," Paul said. + +How little he knew that that night Kitty was thanking God for her happy +day, and for the special help He had sent her to carry through her tree. + +"Pray bless dear Mr. Paul!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE CALL OF GOD. + +With the dawn of the New Year there was an outbreak of fever in Rudham, +the after-effect of the flood, which, although it subsided almost as +quickly as it rose, left the houses which it had invaded damp and many +of the drains blocked. Paul, as he went his rounds, condemned some of +the cottages as insanitary, and determined that another spring should +see new ones begun in higher, healthier situations--if, at least, he +could by any means raise the requisite funds. He was constantly +brought into contact with the rector, who busied himself amongst his +sick people morning, noon, and night. + +"Bless you!" said Mrs. Weldon, when Paul had been looking round her +premises, and heard with some astonishment the sound of a strong, clear +voice singing in the bedroom above, "that's only Mr. Curzon singing +hymns to my little Jenny, who's proper bad with the fever. She must +have been sickening with it that night as you fetched her to the tree. +Mr. Curzon seems like a parson, and doctor, and nurse, all in one. He +come'd here late last night, and he took her temperature ready to tell +the doctor this morning, and he's round here again now; and it's not as +though he favours mine more than another's. He's just the same to +every one who's bad." + +And what one said all said, and Paul pondered on their words. May +Webster had spoken truly when she said that this man lived in the +hearts of his people. Sally delayed her departure for London for a few +weeks when she found that she could be of great service in the village +by going and lending a helping hand when the mothers got overdone with +nursing, for it was chiefly among the children of the place that the +fever found its victims. Twenty succumbed, and then there was a day or +two when no fresh case was reported. + +Paul met the rector one morning and stayed to congratulate him on the +fact that the fever seemed to have run its course, that there had been +no death from it during the last few days, and apparently no fresh +cases. + +"Poor little Jenny Weldon passed away this morning; I was with her when +she died," said the rector. Then came a long pause, and he cleared his +throat. "My Kitty was the last case; she was pronounced to have the +fever last night." + +"Kitty!" echoed Paul, with a face almost as white as Mr. Curzon's own. +"Good Heavens! and I was the double-dyed idiot who brought that child +Jenny Weldon to the treat. Kitty probably caught it from her." + +"That is quite impossible to decide," said Mr. Curzon, with a sad +little smile; "the outbreak has been almost simultaneous. But Kitty's +life is in God's Hands." + +Paul turned away with an impatient exclamation; he had no word of +comfort to offer, for he had but little hope that a child so delicate +as Kitty would recover. + +"If Sally could help in the nursing of her, or I in fetching any +delicacy the child could fancy, you know we are ready to help," he said. + +"Thank you; you have always been good to her." + +It was a feeble fight that little Kitty made for life, and did not last +many days. She had brief intervals of consciousness when she +recognized the father, who was never absent from her bedside except +when he visited the other sick children of his flock. All day long the +rectory was besieged by anxious inquiries for Kitty, who was better +known and more loved than any other child in the place; and Paul came +each day with some offering of fruit or flowers. But before the week +was over the passing-bell rang out, and a thrill of sympathy ran +through the village, and the neighbours looked into each other's faces, +and their kind eyes filled with tears as they said-- + +"That's little Miss Kitty gone home." + +It was the phrase Mrs. Macdonald used as she brought in the breakfast +for Paul and Sally that morning, and the tears ran down her cheeks as +she said it. + +"There may be some mistake, Mrs. Macdonald," said Paul, gently. "There +are other children ill in the place besides Kitty." + +"No, sir; it's true enough. My John got up in the dark and went to ask +for her; and he saw the nurse, who told him she was dying then. She +could not last the hour." + +"And the rector?" inquired Sally, who was crying quietly. "Did she +mention him?" + +"Miss Kitty lay in his arms, poor lamb! He's never had his clothes off +since she was taken ill, and he would not let her be frightened; he'd +hold her fast until He came to fetch her," said Mrs. Macdonald, with +simple conviction that the Good Shepherd Himself would lift little +Kitty straight from her father's arms into His own. + +Late that afternoon Paul called at the rectory to leave a wreath of +white flowers from Sally and a bunch of arums from himself; and the +rector, who saw him pass the study window, opened the door to him. + +"I've only brought a few flowers from Sally and me," said Paul, +omitting the usual greeting. + +Mr. Curzon looked down at them for a moment, fingering the card +attached to Paul's spray with hands that trembled. On it was written +"For Kitty, from one who loved her." + +"Thank you," he answered with a smile that was more pathetic than +tears. "She loved you, too, very dearly. Will you give her them +yourself?" + +But Paul drew back with a shiver. + +"Oh no; her bright, living face is the memory that I would have of her." + +So it was the rector who carried up the flowers to the room where Kitty +lay, and placed the wreath at her feet; and the arums framed the sweet, +smiling face, and the card with its message of love was laid upon her +breast, with the murmured prayer that the one who loved Kitty might +learn to love Kitty's God. + +All the villagers that were able attended Kitty's funeral two days +later, drawn there by love and sympathy. Paul was there with Sally, +sitting down in the belfry, close to the spot where Kitty's carriage +had been placed upon the only other occasion when Paul had attended a +service in Rudham church. + +"If there is any meaning at all in the service, it is appropriate for +Kitty," was the reason he had assigned to Sally for accompanying her. +It seemed like a beautiful dream to him: the church nearly filled with +people, the fragrance of the flowers as the little white coffin was +carried into church headed by the rector and the choir, who sang, as +they led the way to the chancel, the words of a hymn quite unfamiliar +to Paul, and a few lines of which sounded clearly in his ears as they +passed him. + + "Death will be to slumber + In that sweet embrace, + And we shall awaken + To behold His Face." + + +Only one person followed the little coffin, and that was the nurse, who +had loved Kitty as devotedly as any mother. The door behind Paul was +gently pushed open after the service had begun, and he was vividly +conscious of the presence of the woman he loved the best in the +world--May Webster. She was dressed in black, and sank upon her knees +by Sally's side. The intense sympathy of her expression made her look +more beautiful than ever, giving the touch of softness that her +features sometimes lacked. Throughout the service the rector's brave, +strong voice never faltered, and it rose and fell with the others in +Psalm and hymn. He seemed, for the time being, borne aloft upon the +wings of faith and love; but when, the service ended, Paul made his way +back to the church to fetch his hat, which he had accidently left +behind him, he caught a glimpse of a white-robed figure prostrate +before the altar, and the frame was convulsed with sobs. Nature must +have her way; and not even the rector could at once bring his will into +perfect submission with the will of God. His darling was taken from +his sight, and his heart was aching over the dreary years that might +intervene before he could see her again. There was a lump in Paul's +throat as he noiselessly left the church. May and Sally waited for him. + +"It's heart-breaking," said May, putting her hand into his. "I was +bound to come." + +"You return to London to-night, I suppose? You will come and have tea +with us on your way, won't you?" said Sally, eagerly. + +"I will come to tea. But I am not going back at present; I told mother +I should stay down here for a little while, until all this trouble had +passed away; it cannot be right that we should be doing nothing to +help. I only wish I had come in time to see that little girl alive +again." + +Sally had moved away to help to arrange the flowers on the +newly-filled-in grave, and Paul stood a little apart by May's side. + +"I'm sorry for every one," said May. "It is almost enough to kill Mr. +Curzon. And I have thought of you too; I was sorry for the loss of +your one friend." + +"Yes," said Paul. "I've been sorry for myself; I did not believe any +child's death could affect me so deeply. Life is an unanswerable +riddle from beginning to end." + +"Unless the rector is right," said May, softly. "In which case we may +find the answer on the other side." + +Never had May appeared so beautiful or gracious as that evening when +she sat listening to the story of all that had occurred in Rudham since +she and her mother had gone to London. + +"I'm so glad to be back," she said. "Mother thinks me half-crazed for +coming, and threw a dozen obstacles in my way. But I've brought Rose +Lancaster with me, and the servants who are left in charge can manage +for us; and, as for carriages it will do me good to walk for a little +bit." + +Paul left the talk almost entirely to the two girls; it was enough for +him to sit and watch the play of May's beautiful features, and hear the +sound of her voice. What could this sudden return of hers mean, he +wondered? Was it a passing whim, or was it?---- He left even the +thought unfinished, and called himself a presumptuous fool! + +The next morning he received a note from the rector asking him to call. + +"There is a matter of extreme importance that I cannot decide until I +have seen you, so will you kindly look in this evening?" he wrote. + +Paul found him in his study, and noticed that the handsome face was +thinner, and the dark lines under the eyes betrayed the suffering +through which he had passed. + +"I wanted you to come for many reasons," he said, pushing an easy-chair +near to the fire. "To thank you, first of all, for the kindness you +have poured on my Kitty from the day of your coming until now. There +are not many men who would have taken so much trouble about a delicate +little girl." + +"You need not thank me," Paul answered with tears in his eyes. "She +was a friend I shall sorely miss." + +"And there is this letter I wish to show you," continued the rector, +not daring to talk further of Kitty. + +It was a letter from the Bishop of the diocese, suggesting that Mr. +Curzon should accept the living of Norrington, a populous town some +thirty miles away. In money value it was less than Rudham, but "the +needs of the place are great," wrote the Bishop. "You are in the +heyday of your strength, and I believe you to be the man for the place. +Unless there be any very urgent reason for your refusing to move, I +greatly wish you to undertake it." + +"Why can't the Bishop let well alone?" said Paul, as he returned the +letter. "Of course, you will not go. I don't pretend to constitute +myself a judge of a clergyman's work, but I should say that you have +this place as well in hand as any man could. To move you, will be +equal loss to yourself and Rudham." + +"I cannot decide it so quickly. I do not believe in things happening +by chance," said Mr. Curzon. "This letter came the day that Kitty +passed away, and I telegraphed to the Bishop that I could decide +nothing for a day or two; the one urgent reason that would have kept me +here is gone, you see." + +"Kitty?" questioned Paul. + +"Yes; I could not have taken her to live in the heart of a town." + +"Then you really had decided to leave us before you wrote to me." + +"Several things point to it: a less strong man than I could undertake +the work here. If it is God's voice that calls, I would not disobey +it. One thought holds me back. What will happen here? Is it +impertinent to ask? The presentation to the living is yours." + +Paul smiled involuntarily. "And you scarcely think me the man to +appoint to a cure of souls. I confess I don't myself feel I know +enough about it. I should do as my godfather did before me, hand over +the nomination of a successor to the Bishop. I believe this offer +jumps with your own inclination." + +"Only for one thing," said the rector, quietly, "that my house is 'left +unto me desolate.'" + +"And yet you call the God, who took your Kitty from you, a God of love." + +"Yes. Who, looking at her pitiful little frame, can doubt it? My +selfish heart cries out for her yet; but what could her life have been +but one of constant suffering." + +"But, I suppose, she was born like that?" said Paul, more to himself +than to the rector. + +Mr. Curzon's face twitched a little. "Oh no; she was the brightest, +healthiest little child you have ever seen; and then she was dropped. +And the girl who dropped her did not tell any one about it for months +after--not until the child's back began to grow out." + +"How did you find it out at last?" asked Paul, deeply interested. + +"The girl came of her own accord to confess it. She was pretty well +heart-broken when she discovered that Kitty was injured for life." + +"I would never have forgiven her!" said Paul, bitterly. + +"Yes, you would. You would have done much as I did, I expect; I let +her work out her repentance. She is the nurse who has devoted herself +to Kitty like a mother, and who mourns for her like one, too. We can +never be separated; where I go she will go. And now she has not Kitty +she will help me to look after some of the sick children in my parish." + +"So you have decided to go?" + +"Yes; I think I have scarcely a choice in the matter." + +The Vicar was not one to keep his people long in ignorance of a +decision which affected both him and them so largely, and, on the +following Sunday morning, he told them in a few words that he must +leave them. + +"Dear people," he said, "the decision has been sharp and sudden, and +the pain of it still lingers in my heart as I talk to you to-day; but I +dare not have it otherwise lest, in hesitating, my will should cross +the will of God, for, as soldiers must obey the command of their +captain, nor ask the reason why, so I, Christ's soldier and servant, +must be ready at His Word to pass on to where the battle is most +fierce, and where, maybe, the army needs reinforcement. Shall I be +less brave than Abraham, who, at the call of God, left home and kindred +to settle in a strange land amongst an alien people? Dear friends, as +clearly as God's message came to Abraham in those far-off days, it has +seemed to come to me, telling me to leave the home and people that I +love, and to go, work for Him in another part of His vineyard. +Therefore I obey." + +There were tears on the upturned faces that listened, and, when the +people left the church, there was an almost universal wail of +lamentation. But reticent natures like the Macdonalds could find no +relief in words; they walked silently side by side with tears in their +eyes and an untold aching in their hearts. + +"Life won't be the same again, John; we shan't get another like the +good man," said Mrs. Macdonald, as they neared home. + +"No," said John, slowly. "But if he don't make a fuss about it, no +more won't we; he's sure about the call, and he dursn't disobey. But +now we'll save for the collectin'!" + +"What collectin'?" + +"They'll make him a present. They are sure to make him a present; and +we'll be ready when they call," said John. + +But, with all his brave words, John's dinner was pushed away untouched, +and his broad back was turned resolutely to his wife so that she might +not guess that he was crying! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A CHANGE OF MIND. + +Three months later Paul Lessing stood, one morning in March, with his +hands thrust deep into his pockets, looking out of his sitting-room +window. His eyes rested on the little plot of ground before him, with +its borders of snowdrops and crocuses, and the road beyond, along which +the village children in their scarlet cloaks hurried to school: a +narrow boundary to a narrow life, he told himself--and lonely, since +Sally had left him a week or two ago. He was intolerably dull, and +Sally's letter, which lay open on the table, brimful as it was of new +energies and interests, had set him wondering whether he could continue +his present course of life much longer. There was positively no one +left in the village, at present, with whom he could interchange an idea. + +Mr. Curzon, with whom, in the last three months, he had become fairly +intimate, had gone to his new field of work, leaving a blank behind him +in every house in the place; his successor had not yet arrived. "And +we are not likely to have much in common when he does come," Paul +thought, with a smile. May Webster, after manfully fulfilling her +purpose of helping in the village until the trouble and distress, +brought by the fever, had passed away, had returned to London; and it +was little enough that Paul had seen of her whilst she had been there. +And that very day Paul had received a letter from Mrs. Webster to tell +him that at Michaelmas she wished to vacate the Court, which she now +kept on as a yearly tenant. + +"It cannot matter to me," Paul said to himself. "In many ways, of +course, it is the best thing that could happen." And yet he found +himself thinking of nothing but the utter desolation of Rudham, when +May's bright presence should be removed from it, when he could no +longer hope for a passing glimpse of her in the street. + +"I have vegetated down here until I run a risk of softening of the +brain," he said aloud. "I must have change. I'll be off to London for +a week, put up at my club, see a few of my friends, and unearth Sally +in her new quarters." + +The thought had scarcely formed itself before he began to carry it into +execution: putting together his papers, looking out a convenient train. +And, shoving his head inside the door of the Macdonald's sitting-room, +he enlisted Mrs. Macdonald's help in the matter of packing. + +"Rather sudden, sir, isn't it?" she said, as she knelt upon the floor +in the centre of the clothes which Paul had pulled out of his drawers +and littered about in hopeless confusion. "It's bad enough to lose +Miss Sally, but John and I won't know ourselves when you've gone too." + +"It won't be for very long," said Paul, good-humouredly, grateful to +discover that anybody would miss him, and careful to suppress the fact +that he was dull. + +Arrived in London the stir and bustle of the streets was as refreshing +to him as water to a thirsty man, and to find himself once more amongst +his fellows in the club, where many a man greeted him with a friendly +nod, was simply delightful, One friend asked him to dinner that night, +another made an appointment for the play on the night following; his +presence was demanded at an important political meeting, where he was +requested to speak on the labour question. And again the thought +forced itself upon him how much better he felt fitted to cope with the +masses, and work at the big social problems of the day, than to deal +with the individual lives of the people of Rudham. And the +parliamentary career for which he longed was absolutely within his +grasp, for a seat belonging to his political party was to be vacated in +the autumn, and his name was already mentioned as that of the likely +candidate; but there was no course open to him but to refuse the offer +if it came. It took more means than he had at his disposal to do his +duty by Rudham. + +He found Sally keen and happy over her work, and was satisfied that she +had discovered her proper vocation. + +The last day of his London visit had come, and, late in the afternoon, +Paul found himself walking down Park Lane; and he hesitated for a +moment, when he came to the house which he knew to be the Websters, +wondering whether he would call and answer Mrs. Webster's note in +person. That, at any rate, would be the ostensible reason for his +visit; he scarcely cared to admit that it was the longing for a sight +of May's face that made it impossible for him to pass the door. In +another minute he had mounted the steps and rung the bell, and was +handed into a room crammed with people--society people, all talking +society gossip over their tea. Many of them bestowed a passing glance +upon Paul as he made his way towards Mrs. Webster, but their interest +died down when they discovered that he was not of their set. + +"Mr. Lessing!" exclaimed Mrs. Webster. "Quite a welcome surprise! You +are not often in London, are you? So good of you to call. Have you +had any tea? Yes? Pray have some more." + +Then another visitor demanded her attention, and Paul found himself +stranded in a room full of people of whom he knew not one. May was +nowhere to be seen; but, as Paul sidled his way past chairs and tables, +making for the door, he found himself face to face with her as she led +a party of people from the conservatory back to the drawing-room. She +was talking with that brilliant, rapid fluency which had marked the +earlier stages of their acquaintance; but at sight of him she coloured +and stretched out her hand with unmistakable cordiality. + +"This is indeed an unexpected honour," she said, letting her other +guests move on, and taking up her own position by Paul. "I should not +have thought wild horses would have dragged you to a tea-fight." + +"And they would not have done," Paul answered, with a laugh, "had I +known that such a thing was in process; but, finding myself in London, +I came to call in answer to a note of your mother's." + +A professional singer at the far end of the room rose preparatory to +singing, and May gave an impatient little exclamation. + +"Come into the conservatory and talk; I'm tired of all these people. +You bring a whiff of country air with you." + +As she spoke she led the way towards two easy-chairs, placed by the +fountain in the middle of the conservatory, and, sinking into one +herself, she motioned Paul to the other. From the half-open door of +the drawing-room came the confused murmur of voices, dominated by the +tenor soloist; but to Paul that society life seemed miles distant. He +was enfolded by a sense of enchantment: for him, at that moment, there +was but two people in the world--himself and May. To speak would be to +break the brief spell of enjoyment, so he sat silent and content. + +"We are wasting the time; I brought you here to talk," said May, +turning towards him with a smile. "How do things fare at Rudham now +Mr. Curzon has gone?" + +"Badly; there is a sense of flatness. He embodied the life of the +village in a way one could not believe unless one had lived there. +I've seen a lot of him in the last few months; we were fairly driven +into each other's society." + +"How do you get on together?" + +"To know Curzon intimately goes halfway towards converting one to his +way of thinking," said Paul, slowly. + +May looked up quickly. + +"I don't mean that I am fully prepared to accept his opinions, but I +have modified my views concerning them," Paul went on. "A man like +Curzon, and his enormous power for good, cannot be ignored. His creed, +which makes him what he is, must be reckoned with as a motive-force in +the world. I said to myself at one time that, starting from opposite +poles, he and I worked for the same end--the good of the race. But +where I seem only to scratch the surface, he gets below it. Look at +Burney, for example. I believed I had made a man of him by restoring +his self-respect and giving him a fresh chance--by trusting him, in +fact. It did well enough for a time, but then he broke out worse than +ever. Then, from what Tom told me, Curzon stepped in, saved him from +suicide, and saved him from himself; and has given him, apparently, +some principle to live by that will turn him into a fine character +yet--at any rate, I get excellent accounts of him." + +"I did not know he had tried to kill himself," said May; "perhaps that +is what has sobered poor Rose Lancaster so effectually. She told me +the other day that she would marry no one but Tom. By the way, what +brought you to London?" + +"Mixed motives. Sheer dulness for one thing." + +"You once aired a theory that only stupid people could be dull." + +"Then, I suppose, I have grown stupid; I have not enough to occupy me, +for one thing. If I could carry out all my whims I could be busy +enough; but I have had to abandon that scheme for rebuilding a good +many of my cottages from want of money, and that same want stands +between me and my one ambition: a seat in Parliament. I might have had +a chance of a vacancy in the autumn. By the way, as you intend to +throw me over, I trust that amongst your numerous friends you will find +me another tenant for the Court." + +"I don't understand what you are talking of! Who is going to throw you +over?" + +"Your mother has written to say that she wishes to leave at Michaelmas. +Her letter was my excuse for calling." + +May did not answer for a minute; she was busily pondering what her +mother's reason could have been for arriving at this decision without +consulting her. It might be that the relations between themselves and +the Blands being somewhat strained, she had thought it wise to go +somewhere else, or--and here May's heart quickened its beating--it +might be that she feared a rival in Paul Lessing. + +"I hope you are sorry to lose us," she said. + +"Am I to tell the conventional falsehood or the truth?" Paul asked. + +"The truth, of course; we have not studied conventionality much, have +we?" + +"Then I am unfeignedly glad," said Paul, deliberately. + +May had turned rather white. "You don't mince matters certainly." + +"No, I don't; but I prefer solitude to living perpetually within sight +of unattainable happiness. Our friendship is destroyed, you remember; +you admitted as much once. I cannot pretend that you are an ordinary +acquaintance, and, therefore, to have you taken out of my reach is +really the best thing that could happen to me." + +"And you have left any wish I might have about it outside your +calculation," said May. + +"It cannot signify to you where you live. You will amuse yourself +wherever you are." + +"It signifies considerably; as I like Rudham, at present, better than +any place in the world." + +Paul broke into an incredulous laugh. + +"I suppose it would be an impertinence to ask your reason for this +unaccountable preference?" + +"It is a simple one: you live there," said May, with averted face. + +Paul sprang to his feet and stood before May with arms folded, and +looked down at her with eyes that literally burned. + +"May!" he said hoarsely, "if it is a joke it is a cruel one." + +"Oh, it's true that you have grown stupid!" cried May, between laughter +and tears. "It is no joke to have to tell you that I have changed my +mind. I love you better than all the world besides." + +With an incoherent cry Paul clasped her to his breast. + +"My darling! my darling!" he said, after the rapture of that first +moment, "I am not worthy, and the sacrifice on your side is too great. +I had no right ever to ask you to marry me. What will the world say of +me? I could wish that you had no fortune----" + +"Oh, nonsense! you were groaning for want of it just now. It is my +own, to do as I like with; and I shall have a lot more, some day, +unless mother disinherits me." + +"Which reminds me that I have to face her," said Paul, rather ruefully. + +"I think you had better go at once," said May, with merry decision, +"and leave mother to me. I don't pretend she will like it; but she may +consent, as she has been grievously worried by the fear that I was +going to be an old maid--and so I should have been but for you." + +Paul tried to repossess himself of her hands, but May had glided back +to the drawing-room, turning as she left to tell him to call again in +the morning. Left to himself, Paul tried to collect his thoughts, and +to realize the intense happiness that had come to him. If it were true +that May loved him, he would marry her in the face of all opposition, +for she knew well enough that he did not care for her money, but for +herself. Then he fell again to wondering whether she had sufficiently +counted the cost of uniting her life with his, for, in marrying, Paul +felt it would be impossible for him to change the whole scheme of his +life. His objects and ambitions would be the same after it as before, +and, unless May was prepared to share them, they would gradually drift +apart. He must put it all before her to-morrow, lest she should make a +lifelong mistake. + +But May had made no mistake; she knew her own mind, at last, for +absence from Paul had taught it her. She had turned with absolute +loathing from the mill-round of gaiety which was the only marked +characteristic of her life in London; and her thoughts had recurred +persistently to Rudham, until finally, in the time of distress, she had +followed the dictates of her heart and gone down there. But not until +the day of Kitty's funeral, when she stood beside Paul at her grave, +had she owned to herself that he was the man she loved: a conviction +which deepened into certainty in the weeks which followed, for, +although she saw little of him, to be in the place where he lived, and +in some way to share his work, made her happy, and gave her a sense of +repose which had not been hers since she left. + +Mrs. Webster shed some very bitter tears when, after dinner that +evening, May announced her engagement. + +"It is wicked of him to have asked you! he is as poor as a church +mouse!" + +"I can't remember, exactly, but I don't think he did ask me," said May, +knitting her pretty brows. "He did once before, but I don't think he +did to-day. But he was so very miserable that----" + +"Well!" interposed Mrs. Webster, "in my young days girls left it to the +men to speak." + +"Oh, mother, don't scold! I am so happy--happier that I have ever been +before. You know you have wished me to marry; let me marry the man I +love." + +"It is such an ill-assorted match; he has no money----" + +"And I have plenty," said May. + +"And how can I ever consent to your living in a cottage?" went on Mrs. +Webster, with a wail of despair. + +"Oh, we have not come to that yet!" May answered, unable to check a +laugh; "but I dare say he will not wish it. We could live quite simply +at the Court. I wonder if we shall run to a house-parlourmaid?" + +"It's no laughing matter; you have been used to every luxury, May." + +"I have had more than my share. I feel rather a surfeit of the +sweetest things." + +"And he does not go to church----" + +"But he is more in earnest than many of the men who do," said May. "Of +this I am sure, that he is seeking after God; if I were not sure, I do +not believe I should have the courage to marry him. A year back I +should not have cared what a man thought as long as he led a straight +life, but lately I have felt different about things. My own +convictions are stronger." + +"Well, if we discuss it from now until Doomsday I shall not like it, +May; but it is equally certain that if you have set your mind on this +man you will not give him up." + +"I have set my heart upon him," said May, an unusual softness in her +voice. "After all, mother, love is the first thing." + +Mrs. Webster sat silent, the tears dropping down her face. Love, +either of God or man, had been no important factor in her life. She +had married for money, and such love as she could give had been centred +on her one beautiful daughter; but even with her, her ambition was +stronger than her love, and it received its deathblow with May's +unaccountable choice of a husband. Further opposition she saw to be +useless, so she surrendered with as good a grace as possible. + +When May's engagement was publicly announced friends poured in to offer +congratulations that had a note of surprise behind them; but Mrs. +Webster proved fully equal to the occasion. + +"Yes," she said; "May has been a long time making her choice, and now +it seems a funny one, doesn't it? But Mr. Lessing is a very clever +man, and May became bitten with his views first, and with the +propounder of them afterwards. He is the sort of man who will make a +career for himself yet. I believe he means to stand for ---- in the +autumn." + +Perhaps no one received the news with such genuine delight as Sally, +who came flying up to Park Lane directly she heard of it. + +"I've always thought Paul the nicest man in the world, and you the most +fascinating woman; and that you should make a match of it is ideally +delightful," she said. "It really is very funny, though, when I come +to think of it, and look back at that night in Brussels." + +"What about that night at Brussels?" asked Paul, who had entered the +room unperceived by either of the girls. But Sally laughed and held +her tongue. + +"If you had stayed away a minute longer I should have wormed the truth +out of the too-truthful Sally," May said, turning upon him with a +smile. "You clearly hated me." + +"I don't think I ever hated you. I believe I struggled from the first +against a tremendous fascination that you possessed for me. I +quarrelled with your surroundings, with your money rather than with +you." + +"It is a distinct judgment that that same money will enable you to +carry out all your schemes," May said quaintly, "from the new cottages +to the seat in Parliament." + +"I shall wish you to do exactly what you like, May." + +"And what else could give me so much pleasure?" + +"Oh, May, how perfectly lovely it all sounds!" cried Sally, +enthusiastically. "And shall you have open-air evenings on the +bowling-green for the village people, with a band playing and every one +dancing? If so, ask me down with a contingent of girls." + +When Paul returned to Rudham and informed Mrs. Macdonald of his +approaching marriage, he was a little puzzled by the look of alarm with +which she received the news. + +"Come, come, Mrs. Macdonald! you have been as good as a mother to me; I +thought you would be the first to wish me good luck," Paul said. + +"It's not that, sir! it's not that at all, that I'm thinking; but plain +people like John and me could noways manage for a pretty lady like Miss +Webster," she said. + +Paul sat down and laughed. "So that's it. Well! I had not thought of +bringing my wife here to live. Happy as you have made me, it would be +a little small for her. I suppose we shall go to the Court, and I +could turn my rooms here into a workman's club, couldn't I? And we +could keep a bedroom for any of Miss Sally's girls who want a change." + +After which Mrs. Macdonald recovered her spirits, and offered her +congratulations with Scotch sincerity. + +"She's bonny, sir! she's very bonny! But my John will say that there's +not another lady in the world like our Miss Sally. His heart is set on +her, that it is! And when will be the wedding, if I may be so bold as +to ask?" + +"To-morrow, if I had _my_ way. Six weeks hence, as I have to wait Miss +Webster's pleasure; and, I believe, in the years to come, she will +rival Miss Sally in your affections." + +"Maybe, sir," replied Mrs. Macdonald, cautiously. + + * * * * * * + +More than two years had passed; and on a sunny day in June, Rose +Lancaster was once again making her way across the bowling-green at the +Court towards the rose-garden, bent upon the same quest as on the +summer morning, which seemed such a long time ago, when Tom Burney had +first declared his love for her. It was said in the village that Rose +had lost her looks, and certainly the indefinable first blush of youth +had faded; but if Rose's face had lost its delicacy of colouring, it +had gained infinitely in expression. The blue eyes were soft and +wistful, the pretty lips had lost their trick of pouting, the head was +poised less saucily; trouble had taught Rose lessons which had left a +lasting impression upon her character. She had been retained in Mrs. +Lessing's service; nor ever showed any desire to quit it, until such +time as Tom was ready to come home and fetch her. But oh! how long it +seemed to wait. He had hinted, a month or two back, at the possibility +of his being sent over to England upon his master's business; but in +the letter which followed immediately after, no mention had been made +of the subject, so Rose feared that the happy chance was not to come +yet, since which time there had been silence--the longest silence that +had occurred since Tom had left. Whether the rose-garden unconsciously +brought back her lover to her mind it is impossible to say, but as Rose +snipped the buds there were tears in her eyes with the simple longing +for news of her absent lover. She chose all white roses to-day, for +the newly-arrived baby-girl at the Court was to be baptized, and Mr. +Curzon was coming to take the service; and Rose had planned that she +would slip off quietly to the church and put a wreath of white roses +round the font. It was a business that must be carried through with +secrecy and despatch, as presently her mistress would want her to help +her to dress: she was far from strong yet. A straying bramble caught +her gown and held it fast, and with an impatient little cry she stooped +down to disentangle it, when, to her astonishment, a great brown hand +from behind closed upon hers, and a strong arm was slipped round her +waist, and a voice, that set her trembling from head to foot, +exclaimed-- + +"Rose, Rose, my beauty! what luck to find you, the first minute I've +come, like this! I was just making my way up the drive, and caught +sight of something shining through the trees; and if it wasn't your +head shining all yellow in the sun the same as when I left it! And I +crept up behind you, and caught you crying over a thorn, I do believe." + +Needless to say it was Tom Burney who was the speaker, a broader, +bigger Tom than Rose remembered: a handsome, strong fellow that any +girl might be proud of as a lover, who spoke half in jest to hide the +fact that tears were not far from his own eyes. He held her so tightly +clasped to his breast, that it was some few minutes before Rose could +either speak or get a good look at her lover. + +"Oh, Tom, you've taken the life out of me; you've given me such a +start!" she said when she could speak. "How brown and big you +are!--but you're worth the waiting for. Oh dear, how glad I am you've +come!" And then Rose began to sob helplessly, and needed a deal of +comforting, which Tom was not slow to offer. "There!" said Rose, at +last, pushing him from her, and showing him her dimples for the first +time, "you are wasting all my time; but you can come down to the +church, if you like, and help me to put the roses on the font." + +"What for?" asked Tom, unsympathetically, preferring the privacy of the +rose-garden. + +"For little Miss Kitty as is to be; that's the new baby at the Court. +And nothing will satisfy Mr. Lessing but that she shall be named after +the one that's gone. Mr. Curzon is coming to baptize her." + +"Is he?" cried Tom, eagerly. "I'll come, then, and wait all day for a +sight of him, the best friend I've ever had, Rose, my darling. Shall I +ask him to tie up you and me?" + +"Oh!" cried Rose, blushing rosy red, "I had not thought of that yet, +Tom." + +"Time you did," said Tom. "I must start back again in a month, and I'm +not going without you." + +"Oh no," said Rose. "It seems to come sudden at the last, but I've +waited so long that I'll come when you like. I've not looked at +another man since you went away." + +Tom caught her again and kissed her. "And there was plenty to look at +you, I'll bet." + +"Yes, plenty," Rose admitted, with a dash of her old coquetry. + +Then hand in hand, like two happy children, they walked down the lane +to the church; and Tom stood and handed the flowers, which Rose's deft +fingers arranged round the font. And all that miserable past seemed +blotted out, and a future of perfect happiness seemed opening out +before them. Just as their task was finished, and they stood side by +side admiring their handiwork, the church door was softly pushed open, +and Mr. Curzon entered. Real joy flashed into his face as he +recognized Tom Burney, and saw that Rose was with him; but the words of +greeting were very simple. + +"So you've come home, Tom?" he said, as he heartily grasped his hand. + +"For a bit, sir--just for a week or two." + +"And you will take out Rose with you, I expect?" with a kindly smile at +the pretty, downcast head. + +"Well, yes, sir; that is my meaning. And we were thinking, she and I, +as we would not feel rightly married unless you was kind enough to come +and marry us." + +"And that I will gladly." + +"You're the best friend as ever I had," said Tom speaking with some +effort. "And if I've kept straight and got a good name, it's you I +have to thank for it." + +"No, no," said Mr. Curzon; "God alone could do that. I may have +chanced to be the sign-post that directed you to Him. Shall we thank +Him now for bringing you back, and pray that He may bless your life +with Rose?" + +So side by side the three knelt down, and in a few simple words Mr. +Curzon commended them to God. And when he rose from his knees he laid +his hands upon their heads in blessing. + +Then Tom and Rose made their way back to the Court, sobered, but +unspeakably happy, whilst Mr. Curzon lingered awhile by Kitty's grave. + +"There's to be another little Kitty named in memory of you, my +darling," he said aloud, as he turned away from the grave with a tender +smile on his face. + +It never seemed to him that his own little Kitty was far from him, and +a prayer was in his heart that Kitty the second might be as sweet, as +good as the one who was ever present in his thoughts. + +Paul Lessing, too, thought tenderly of his first child-friend that same +afternoon, as he stood a little apart from the group gathered round the +font, and heard the familiar name of Kitty bestowed upon his own little +child. That first Kitty had been dear to him, but the baby who +whimpered in Mr. Curzon's arms was nearer still and dearer; and in the +full realization of his own fatherhood Paul knelt, and, with his face +hidden in his hands, acknowledged the Fatherhood of God. + +There was a very large party at the Court, that evening, to which every +inhabitant of Rudham had received an invitation--an invitation printed +in silver letters on a very small card. + +"Kitty Lessing requests the company of Mr. and Mrs. ----, etc." + +It had been May's particular wish that the invitations should be issued +in her daughter's name, and Paul, who considered the notion a little +fantastic, had yielded to his wife's whim. + +"It seems rather nonsense that the giver of the feast should be fast +asleep in her cradle upstairs," he said, when he found himself standing +by Mr. Curzon in the course of the evening, "but May would have it so." + +The two men stood side by side upon the terrace, looking down upon the +moving crowd of happy people that wandered hither and thither about the +beautiful grounds. From the bowling-green below there floated the +strains of a string-band specially hired for the occasion; but, above +it all, came the sound of Sally's laughter as she tried to steer some +of the village boys and girls safely through the mysteries of a new +country dance--an effort not wholly crowned with success. The shifting +scene was full of animation and happiness. + +"I think Mrs. Lessing was right," said Mr. Curzon, presently. "Kitty +is promising, by proxy, that she will carry on the work of kindliness +and good-will that you and your wife have begun in Rudham." + +"I'm glad you are on my side," said May, who had come up in time to +hear Mr. Curzon's words. "We'll have a birthday party every year as +long as Kitty lives at home. I came to find you, Paul; some of the +elderly ones are going, and I want you to be at the gate to say +good-bye." + +"No, no," Paul answered; "we'll go together to the bowling-green and +issue a yearly invitation." + +A few minutes later Paul stood bare-headed, with May by his side, upon +the band-stand; and the guests from all parts of the grounds gathered +round, feeling that the squire had something to say to them. + +"My friends," Paul began, "I am here not to make a speech, but just to +tell you, quite simply, what great pleasure it has given my wife and +myself to see you here this evening, at the birthday party of our +little girl. If she be spared to us it is our wish that every birthday +of hers should be celebrated in a similar manner. Her name, I hope, +will bring back to your memory the thought of another Kitty, who lived +long enough to make her influence felt in every cottage of our village. +That our little daughter shall also find a place in your hearts is her +mother's and my chief ambition concerning her." + +There was a moment's pause when Paul ceased speaking, a passing +hesitation lest any open manifestation of gladness over the birthday +festival of the new Kitty should make their late rector more painfully +conscious of the loss of his own little daughter; and with his quick, +intuitive sympathy Mr. Curzon understood and appreciated the momentary +silence. He sprang on to the platform and took his place by Paul's +side. + +"Give expression to your thanks in the way which our entertainers will +like the best," he said. "Three cheers for Kitty Lessing!" + +The sound of the hearty cheering reached even to the nursery, and baby +Kitty stirred for a moment, opened her dark eyes, then, turning her +head on the pillow, slept more profoundly than ever. + +In years to come she would be told the tale of her first birthday party. + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Village by the River, by H. 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