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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/34628-8.txt b/34628-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d313f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/34628-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9687 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of I, Thou, and the Other One, by +Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr + +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: I, Thou, and the Other One + A Love Story + +Author: Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr + +Release Date: December 12, 2010 [EBook #34628] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK I, THOU, AND THE OTHER ONE *** + + + + +Produced by Katherine Ward, Darleen Dove and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + +I, THOU, AND THE OTHER ONE + + + + +[Illustration:] + + + + + I, THOU, AND THE OTHER ONE + + A Love Story + + BY + AMELIA E. BARR + + NEW YORK + DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY + 1898 + + + + + + _Copyright, 1898_, + BY DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY. + + University Press: + JOHN WILSON AND SON, JOHN WILSON AND SON, U.S.A. + + + + + +CONTENTS + + Chapter Page + I THE ATHELINGS 1 + II CECIL AND EDGAR 23 + III THE LORD OF EXHAM 42 + IV THE DAWN OF LOVE 66 + V ANNABEL VYNER 81 + VI THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT STRUGGLE 103 + VII THE LOST RING 121 + VIII WILL SHE CHOOSE EVIL OR GOOD? 150 + IX A FOOLISH VIRGIN 169 + X TROUBLE COMES UNSUMMONED 193 + XI LIFE COMES AND GOES THE OLD, OLD WAY 213 + XII THE SHADOW OF SORROW STRETCHED OUT 235 + XIII NOT YET 263 + XIV AT THE WORST 288 + XV LADY OF EXHAM HALL AT LAST 315 + XVI AFTER TWENTY GOLDEN YEARS 341 + + + + +I, Thou, and the Other One + + + + +CHAPTER FIRST + +THE ATHELINGS + + + "_The Land is a Land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the +rain of heaven._" + +Beyond Thirsk and Northallerton, through the Cleveland Hills to the sea +eastward, and by Roseberry Topping, northward, there is a lovely, lonely +district, very little known even at the present day. The winds stream +through its hills, as cool and fresh as living water; and whatever beauty +there is of mountain, valley, or moorland, Farndale and Westerdale +can show it; while no part of England is so rich in those picturesque +manor-houses which have been the homes of the same families for twenty +generations. + +The inhabitants of this region are the incarnation of its health, +strength, and beauty,--a tall, comely race; bold, steadfast, and +thrifty, with very positive opinions on all subjects. There are no +Laodiceans among the men and women of the North-Riding; they are one +thing or another--Episcopalians or Calvinists; Conservatives or Radicals; +friends or enemies. For friendship they have a capacity closer than +brotherhood. Once friends, they are friends forever, and can be relied on +in any emergency to "aid, comfort, and abet," legally or otherwise, +with perhaps a special zest to give assistance, if it just smacks of +the "otherwise." + +Of such elements, John Atheling, lord of the manors of Atheling and +Belward, was "kindly mixed," a man of towering form and great mental +vigour, blunt of speech, single of purpose, leading, with great natural +dignity, a sincere, unsophisticated life. He began this story one evening +in the May of 1830; though when he left Atheling manor-house, he had +no idea anything out of the customary order of events would happen. It is +however just these mysterious conditions of everyday life that give it +such gravity and interest; for what an hour will bring forth, no man +can say; and when Squire Atheling rode up to the crowd on the village +green, he had no presentiment that he was going to open a new chapter in +his life. + +He smiled pleasantly when he saw its occasion. It was a wrestling match; +and the combatants were his own chief shepherd and a stranger. In a +few moments the shepherd was handsomely "thrown" and nobody knew +exactly how it had been done. But there was hearty applause, led by +the Squire, who, nodding at his big ploughman, cried out, "Now then, +Adam Sedbergh, stand up for Atheling!" Adam flung off his vest and +stepped confidently forward; but though a famous wrestler among his +fellows, he got as speedy and as fair a fall as the shepherd had received +before him. The cheers were not quite as hearty at this result, but the +Squire said peremptorily,-- + +"It is all right. Hold my horse, Jarum. I'll have to cap this match +myself. And stand back a bit, men, I want room enough to turn in." He +was taking off his fine broadcloth coat and vest as he spoke, and the lad +he was to match, stood looking at him with his hands on his hips, and a +smile on his handsome face. Perhaps the attitude and the smile nettled +the Squire, for he added with some pride and authority,-- + +"I would like you to know that I am Squire Atheling; and I am not going +to have a better wrestler than myself in Atheling Manor, young man, not +if I can help it." + +"I know that you are Squire Atheling," answered the stranger. "I have +been living with your son Edgar for a year, why wouldn't I know you? And +if I prove myself the better man, then you shall stop and listen to me +for half-an-hour, and you may stop a whole hour, if you want to; and I +think you will." + +"I know nothing about Edgar Atheling, and I am not standing here +either to talk to thee, or to listen to thee, but to give thee a fair +'throw' if I can manage it." He stretched out his left hand as he +spoke, and the young man grasped it with his right hand. This result +was anticipated; there was a swift twist outward, and a lift upward, and +before anyone realised what would happen, a pair of shapely young legs +were flying over the Squire's shoulder. Then there rose from twenty +Yorkshire throats a roar of triumph, and the Squire put his hands on his +hips, and looked complacently at the stranger flicking the Atheling +dust from his trousers. He took his defeat as cheerily as his triumph. +"It was a clever throw, Squire," he said. + +"Try it again, lad." + +"Nay, I have had enough." + +"I thought so. Now then, don't brag of thy wrestling till thou +understandest a bit of 'In-play.' But I'll warrant thou canst talk, +so I'll give myself a few minutes to listen to thee. I should say, I +am twice as old as thou art, but I notice that it is the babes and +sucklings that know everything, these days." + +As the Squire was speaking, the youth leaped into an empty cart which +someone pushed forward, and he was ready with his answer,-- + +"Squire," he said, "it will take not babes, but men like you and these +I see around me, for the wrestling match before us all. What we have to +tackle is the British Government and the two Houses of Parliament." + +The Squire laughed scornfully. "They will 'throw' thee into the +strongest jail in England, my lad; they will sink thee four feet under +ground, if thou art bound for any of that nonsense." + +"They will have enough to do to take care of themselves soon." + +"Thou art saying more than thou knowest. Wouldst thou have the horrors +of 1792 acted over again, in England? My lad, I was a youngster then, +but I saw the red flag, dripping with blood, go round the Champ-de-Mars." + +"None of us want to carry the red flag, Squire. It is the tri-colour +of Liberty we want; and that flag--in spite of all tyrants can do--will +be carried round the world in glory! When I was in America--" + +"Wilt thou be quiet about them foreign countries? We have bother enough +at home, without going to the world's end for more. And I will have no +such talk in my manor. If thou dost not stop it, I shall have to make +thee." + +"King William, and all his Lords and Commons, cannot stop such talk. +It is on every honest tongue, and at every decent table. It is in the +air, Squire, and the winds of heaven carry it wherever they go." + +"If thou saidst _William Cobbett_, thou mightst happen hit the truth. +The winds of heaven have better work to do. What art thou after anyway?" + +"Such a Parliamentary Reform as will give every honest man a voice in +the Government." + +"Just so! Thou wouldst make the door of the House of Commons big enough +for any rubbish to go through." + +"The plan has been tried, Squire, in America; and + + As the Liberty Lads over the sea, + Bought their freedom--and cheaply--with blood; + So we, boys, we + Will die fighting; or live free, + And down with--" + +"Stop there!" roared the Squire. "Nonsense in poetry is a bit worse +than any other kind of nonsense. Speak in plain words, or be done with +it! Do you know what you want?" + +"That we do. We want the big towns, where working men are the many, and +rich men, the few, to be represented. We want all sham boroughs thrown +out. What do you think of Old Sarum sending a member to Parliament, +when there isn't any Old Sarum? There used to be, in the days of King +Edward the First, but there is now no more left of it than there is of +the Tower of Babel. What do you think of the Member for Ludgershall +being not only the Member, but the _whole constituency_ of Ludgershall? +What do you think of Gatton having just seven voters, and sending +_two_ members to Parliament?"--then leaning forward, and with burning +looks drinking the wind of his own passionate speech--"What do you +think of _Leeds! Manchester! Birmingham! Sheffield!_ being _without +any representation_!" + +"My lad," cried the Squire, "have not Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, +Sheffield, done very well without representation?" + +"Squire, a child may grow to a man without love and without care; but +he is a robbed and a wronged child, for all that." + +"The Government knows better than thee what to do with big towns full of +unruly men and women." + +"That is just the question. They are not represented, because they +are made up of the working population of England. But the working man +has not only his general rights, he has also rights peculiar to his +condition; and it is high time these rights were attended to. Yet these +great cities, full of woollen and cotton weavers, and of fine workers +in all kinds of metals, have not a man in Parliament to say a word for +them." + +"What is there to say? What do they want Parliament to know?" asked the +Squire, scornfully. + +"They want Parliament to know that they are being forced to work twelve +hours a day, for thirty pennies a week; and that they have to pay ten +pennies for every four-pound loaf of bread. And they expect that when +Parliament knows these two facts, something will be done to help them in +their poverty and misery. They believe that the people of England will +_compel_ Parliament to do something." + +"There are Members in both Houses that know these things, why do they +not speak?--if it was reasonable to do so." + +"Squire, they dare not. They have not the power, even if they had the +will. The Peers and the great Landlords own two-thirds of the House of +Commons. They _own_ their boroughs and members, just as they _own_ their +parks and cattle. One duke returns eleven members; another duke returns +nine members; and such a city as Manchester cannot return one! If this +state of things does not need reforming, I do not know what does." + +So far his words had rushed rattling on one another, like the ring of +iron on iron in a day of old-world battle; but at this point, the Squire +managed again to interrupt them. From his saddle he had something of an +advantage, as he called out in an angry voice,-- + +"And pray now, what are _you_ to make by this business? Is it a bit of +brass--or land--or power that you look forward to?" + +"None of them. I have set my heart on the goal, and not on the prize. +Let the men who come after me reap; I am glad enough if I may but plough +and sow. The Americans--" + +"_Chaff_, on the Americans! We are North-Riding men. We are Englishmen. +We are sound-hearted, upstanding fellows who do our day's work, enjoy +our meat and drinking, pay our debts, and die in our beds; and we +want none of thy Reform talk! It is all scandalous rubbish! Bouncing, +swaggering, new-fashioned trumpery! We don't hold with Reformers, nor +with any of their ways! I will listen to thee no longer. Thou mayst talk +to my men, if they will be bothered with thee. I'm not afraid of +anything thou canst say to them." + +"I think they will be bothered with me, Squire. They do not look like +fools." + +"At any rate, there isn't one Reform fool among them; but I'll tell +thee something--go to a looking-glass, and thou mayst shake thy fist in +the face of one of the biggest fools in England,"--and to the laughter +this sally provoked the Squire galloped away. + +For a short distance, horse and rider kept up the pace of enthusiasm; +but when the village was left behind, the Squire's mood fell below its +level; and a sudden depression assailed him. He had "thrown" his man; +he had "threeped" him down in argument; but he had denied his son, +and he brought a hungry heart from his victory. The bright face of his +banished boy haunted the evening shadows; he grew sorrowfully impatient +at the memories of the past; and when he could bear them no longer, he +struck the horse a smart blow, and said angrily,-- + +"Dal it all! Sons and daughters indeed! A bitter, bitter pleasure!" + +At this exclamation, a turn in the road brought him in sight of two +horsemen. "_Whew!_ I am having a night of it!" he muttered. For he +recognised immediately the portly figure of the great Duke of Richmoor, +and he did not doubt that the slighter man at his side was his son, +Lord Exham. The recognition was mutual; and on the Duke's side very +satisfactory. He quickened his horse's speed, and cried out as he +neared the Squire,-- + +"Well met, Atheling! You are the very man I wished to see! Do you +remember Exham?" + +There was a little complimentary speaking, and then the Duke said +earnestly: "Squire, if there is one thing above another that at this +time the landed interest ought to do, it is to stand together. The +country is going to the devil; it is on the verge of revolution. We +must have a majority in the next Parliament; and we want you for the +borough of Asketh. Exham has come back from Italy purposely to take +Gaythorne. What do you say?" + +It was the great ambition of the Squire to go to Parliament, and the +little dispute he had just had with the stranger on the green had whetted +this desire to a point which made the Duke's question a very interesting +one to him; but he was too shrewd to make this satisfaction apparent. +"There are younger men, Duke," he answered slowly; "and they who go +to the next Parliament will have a trying time of it. I hear queer +tales, too, of Parliament men; and the House keeps late hours; and late +hours never did suit my constitution." + +"Come, Atheling, that is poor talk at a crisis like this. There will be +a meeting at the Castle on Friday--a very important meeting--and I shall +expect you to take the chair. We are in for such a fight as England has +not had since the days of Oliver Cromwell; and it would not be like John +Atheling to keep out of it." + +"It wouldn't. If there is anything worth fighting for, John Atheling +will be thereabouts, I'll warrant him." + +"Then we may depend upon you--Friday, and two in the afternoon, is the +day and the hour. You will not fail us?" + +"Duke, you may depend upon me." And so the men parted; the Squire, in +the unexpected proposal just made him, hardly comprehending the messages +of friendly courtesy which Lord Exham charged him to deliver to Mrs. and +Miss Atheling. + +"My word! My word!" he exclaimed, as soon as the Duke and he were far +enough back to back. "Won't Maude be set up? Won't little Kitty +plume her wings?" and in this vague, purposeless sense of wonder and +elation he reached his home. The gates to the large, sweet garden stood +open, but after a moment's thought, he passed them, and went round to +the farm court at the back of the house. The stables occupied one +side of this court, and he left his horse there, and proceeded to +the kitchen. The girls were starting the fires under the coppers for +the quarterly brewing; they said "the Missis was in the houseplace," +and the Squire opened the door between the two rooms, and went into +the houseplace. But the large room was empty, though the lattices were +open, and a sudden great waft of honeysuckle fragrance saluted him as +he passed them. He noticed it, and he noticed also the full moonlight +on the rows of shining pewter plates and flagons, though he was not +conscious at the time that these things had made any impression upon him. + +Two or three steps at the west end of this room led to a door which +opened into Mrs. Atheling's parlour; and the Squire passed it +impatiently. The news of the night had become too much for him; he wanted +to tell his wife. But Mrs. Atheling was not in her parlour. A few ash +logs were burning brightly on the hearth, and there was a round table +spread for supper, and the candles were lit, and showed him the +mistress's little basket containing her keys and her knitting, but +neither wife nor daughter were to be seen. + +"It is always the way," he muttered. "It is enough to vex any man. +Women are sure to be out of the road when they are wanted; and in the +road when nobody cares to see them. Wherever has Maude taken herself?" +Then he opened a door and called "Maude! Maude!" in no gentle voice. + +[Illustration:] + +In a few minutes the call was answered. Mrs. Atheling came hurriedly +into the room. There was a pleasant smile on her large, handsome face, +and she carried in her hands a bowl of cream and a loaf of white bread. +"Why, John!" she exclaimed, "whatever is to do? I was getting a bit +of supper for you. You are late home to-night, aren't you?" + +"I should think I was--all of an hour-and-a-half late." + +"But you are not ill, John? There is nothing wrong, I hope?" + +"If things go a bit out of the common way, women always ask if they have +gone wrong. I should think, they might as well go right." + +"So they might. Here is some fresh cream, John. I saw after it myself; +and the haver-cake is toasted, and--" + +"Nay, but I'll have my drinking to-night, Maude. I have been flustered +more than a little, I can tell thee that." + +"Then you shall have your drinking. We tapped a fresh barrel of old ale +an hour ago. It is that strong and fine as never was; by the time you +get to your third pint, you will be ready to make faces at Goliath." + +"Well, Maude, if making faces means making fight, there will be enough +of that in every county of England soon,--if Dukes and Radical orators +are to be believed." + +"Have you seen the Duke to-night?" + +"I have. He has offered me a seat in the next Parliament. He thinks +there is a big fight before us." + +"Parliament! And the Duke of Richmoor to seat you! Why, John, I am +astonished!" + +"I felt like I was dreaming. Now then, where is Kate? I want to tell +the little maid about it. It will be a grand thing for Kate. She will +have some chances in London, and I'll warrant she is Yorkshire enough to +take the best of them." + +"Kate was at Dashwood's all the afternoon; and they were riding races; +and she came home tired to death. I tucked her up in her bed an hour +ago." + +"I am a bit disappointed; but things are mostly ordered that way. There +is something else to tell you, Maude. I saw a stranger on the green throw +Bill Verity and Adam Sedbergh; and I could not stand such nonsense as +that, so I off with my coat and settled him." + +"You promised me that you would not 'stand up' any more, John. Some +of them youngsters will give you a 'throw' that you won't get easy +over. And you out of practice too." + +"Out of practice! Nothing of the sort. What do you think I do with +myself on wet afternoons? What could I do with myself, but go to the +granary and have an hour or two's play with Verity and Sedbergh, or any +other of the lads that care to feel my grip? I have something else to +tell you, Maude. I had a talk with this strange lad. He began some Reform +nonsense; and I settled him very cleverly." + +"Poor lad!" She spoke sadly and absently, and it nettled the Squire. +"I know what you are thinking, Mistress," he said; "but the time has +come when we are bound to stick to our own side." + +"The poor are suffering terribly, John. They are starved and driven to +the last pinch. There never was anything like it before." + +"Women are a soft lot; it would not do to give up to their notions." + +"If you mean that women have soft hearts, it is a good thing for men +that women are that way made." + +"I have not done with my wonders yet. Who do you think was with the +Duke?" + +"I don't know, and I can't say that I care." + +"Yes, but you do. It was Lord Exham. He said this and that about you, +but I did not take much notice of his fine words." Then he rose and +pushed his chair aside, and as he left the room added,-- + +"That stranger lad I had the tussle with to-night says he knows your +son Edgar--that they have lived and worked together for a year,--a very +unlikely thing." + +"Stop a minute, Squire. Are you not ashamed of yourself to keep this +news for a tag-end? Why it is the best thing I have heard to-night; and +I'll be bound you let it go past you like a waft of wind. What did you +ask the stranger about _my_ son?" + +"Nothing. Not a word." + +"It was like your stubborn heart. _My son_ indeed! If ever you had a +son, it is Edgar. You were just like him when I married you--not as +handsome--but very near; and you are as like as two garden peas in your +pride, and self-will, and foolish anger. Don't talk to me of Dukes, and +Lords, and Parliaments, and wrestling matches. I want to hear about +_my_ son. If you have nothing to say about Edgar, I care little for +your other news." + +"Why, Maude! Whatever is the matter with you? I have lived with you +thirty years, and it seems that I have never known you yet." + +"But I know you, John Atheling. And I am ashamed of myself for having +made nothing better out of you in thirty years. I thought I had you +better shaped than you appear to be." + +"I shall need nothing but my shroud, when thou, or any other mortal, +shapest me." + +"Fiddlesticks! Go away with your pride! I have shaped everything for +you,--your house, and your eating; your clothes, and your religion; and +if I had ever thought you would have fallen into Duke Richmoor's hands, +I would have shaped your politics before this time of day." + +"Now, Maude, thou canst easily go further than thou canst come back, +if thou dost not take care. Thou must remember that I am thy lord and +husband." + +"To be sure, thou hast that name. But thou hast always found it best +to do as thy lady and mistress told thee to do; and if ever thou didst +take thy own way, sorry enough thou hast been for it. Talk of clay in the +hands of the potter! Clay is free and independent to what a man is in the +hands of his wife. Now, John, go to bed. I won't speak to thee again +till I find out something about _my_ son Edgar." + +"Very well, Madame." + +"I have been thy guardian angel for thirty years"--and Mrs. Atheling +put her head in her hands, and began to cry a little. The Squire could +not bear that argument; he turned backward a few steps, and said in a +more conciliatory voice,-- + +"Come now, Maude. Thou hast been my master for thirty years; for that +is what thou meanest by 'guardian angel.' But there is nothing worth +crying about. I thought I had brought news that would set thee up a bit; +but women are never satisfied. What dost thou want more?" + +"I want thee to go in the morning and find out all about Edgar. I want +thee to bring his friend up here. I would like to question him myself." + +"I will not do it." + +"Then thou oughtest to be ashamed of thyself for as cruel, and stubborn, +and ill-conditioned a father as I know of. John, dear John, I am very +unhappy about the lad. He went away without a rag of his best clothes. +There's the twelve fine linen shirts Kitty made him, backstitched +and everything, lying in his drawers yet, and his top-coat hanging on +the peg in his room, and his hat and cane so natural like; and he never +was a lad to take care of his health; and so--" + +"Now, Maude, I have humbled a bit to thee many a time; and I don't +mind it at all; for thou art only a woman--and a woman and a wife can +blackguard a man as no other body has either the right or the power to +do--but I will not humble to Edgar Atheling. No, I won't! He is about as +bad a prodigal son as any father could have." + +"Well, I never! Putting thy own son down with harlots and swine, and +such like!" + +"I do nothing of the sort, Maude. There's all kinds of prodigals. +Has not Edgar left his home and gone away with Radicals and Reformers, +and poor, discontented beggars of all makes and kinds? Happen, I could +have forgiven him easier if it had been a bit of pleasuring,--wine and +a bonny lass, or a race-horse or two. But mechanics' meetings, and +pandering to ranting Radicals--I call it scandalous!" + +"Edgar has a good heart." + +"A good heart! A cat and a fiddle! And that friend of his thou wantest +me to run after, he is nothing but a bouncing, swaggering puppy! Body of +me, Maude! I will not have this subject named again. If thou thinkest I +will ever humble to Edgar Atheling, thou art off thy horse; for I will +not--_never_!" + +"Well, John, as none of thy family were ever out of their senses before, +I do hope thou wilt come round; I do indeed!" + +"Make thyself easy on that score. Lord! What did the Almighty make women +of? It confounds me." + +"To be sure it does. Didst thou expect the Almighty to tell thee? He +has so ordered things that men get wed, and then try and find the secret +out. Thou hadst better go to bed, John Atheling. I see plainly there +is neither sense nor reason in thee to-night. I fancy thou art a bit +set up with the thought of being sent to Parliament by Duke Richmoor. I +wouldn't if I was thee, for thou wilt have to do just what he tells +thee to do." + +"What an aggravating woman thou art!" and with the words he passed +through the door, clashing it after him in a way that made Mistress +Atheling smile and nod her handsome head understandingly. She stood +waiting until she heard a door clash sympathetically up-stairs, and +then she said softly,-- + +"He did not manage to 'throw' or 'threep' me; if he was cock of +the walk down on the green--what fools men are!--I see clear through +him--stubborn though--takes after his mother--and there never was a woman +more stubborn than Dame Joan Atheling." + +During this soliloquy she was locking up the cupboards in the parlour +and houseplace. Then she opened the kitchen door and sharply gave the +two women watching the malt mash her last orders; after which she took +off her slippers at the foot of the stairs, and went very quietly up +them. She had no light, but without any hesitation she turned towards +a certain corridor, and gently pushed open a door. It let her into a +large, low room; and the moonlight showed in the centre of it a high +canopied bedstead, piled with snowy pillows and drapery, and among them, +lying with closed eyes, her daughter Kate. + +"Kate! Kitty darling! Are you awake?" she whispered. + +"Mother! Yes, dear Mother, I am wide awake." + +"Your father has been in one of his tantrums again--fretting and fuming +like everything." + +"Poor father! What angered him?" + +"Well, child, I angered him. Why wouldn't I? He saw a man in the +village who has been living with Edgar for a year, and he never asked +him whether your poor brother was alive or dead. What do you think of +that?" + +"It was too bad. Never mind, Mother. I will go to the village in the +morning, and I will find the man, and hear all about Edgar. If there is +any chance, and you want to see him, I will bring him here." + +"I would like him to come here, Kitty; for you know he might take Edgar +his best clothes. The poor lad must be in rags by this time." + +"Don't fret, Mother. I'll manage it." + +"I knew you would. Your father is going to Parliament, Kate. The Duke +offers to seat him, and you will get up to London. What do you think of +that?" + +"I am very glad to hear it. Father ought to be in Parliament. He is such +a straight-forward man." + +"Well, I don't know whether that kind of man is wanted there, Kate; but +he will do right, and speak plain, I have no doubt. I thought I would +tell you at once. It is something to look forward to. Now go to sleep and +dream of what may come out of it,--for one thing, you shall have plenty +of fine new dresses--good-night, my dear child." + +"Good-night, Mother. You may go sweetly to sleep, for I will find out +all about Edgar. You shall be at rest before dinner-time to-morrow." +Then the mother stooped and tucked in the bedclothing, not because it +needed it, but because it was a natural and instinctive way to express +her care and tenderness. Very softly she stepped to the door, but +ere she reached it, turned back to the bed, and laying her hand upon +Kitty's head whispered, "Lord Exham is home again. He is coming here +to-morrow." + +And Kate neither spoke nor moved; but when she knew that she was quite +alone, a sweet smile gathered round her lips, and with a gentle sigh she +went quickly away to the Land of Happy Dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER SECOND + +CECIL AND EDGAR + + +Early the next morning the Squire was in the parlour standing at the +open lattices, and whistling to a robin on a branch of the cherry-tree +above them. The robin sang, and the Squire whistled, scattering crumbs +as he did so, and it was this kindly picture which met Kate's eyes as +she opened the door of the room. To watch and to listen was natural; +and she stood on the threshold doing so until the Squire came to the +last bars of his melody. Then in a gay voice she took it up, and sang to +his whistling: + + "_York! York! for my money!_"[1] + +------ +[Footnote 1: "York! York for my monie + Of all the places I ever did see + This is the place for good companie + Except the city of London."] + +"Hello, Kate!" he cried in his delight as he turned to her; and as +joyously as the birds sing "Spring!" she called, "Good-morning, +Father!" + +"God bless thee, Kate!" and for a moment he let his eyes rest on the +vision of her girlish beauty. For there was none like Kate Atheling in +all the North-Riding; from her sandalled feet to her shining hair, she +was the fairest, sweetest maid that ever Yorkshire bred,--an adorable +creature of exquisite form and superb colouring; merry as a bird, with a +fine spirit and a most affectionate heart. As he gazed at her she came +close to him, put her fingers on his big shoulders, and stood on tiptoes +to give him his morning greeting. He lifted her bodily and kissed her +several times; and she said with a laugh,-- + +"One kiss for my duty, and one for my pleasure, and all the rest are +stolen. Put me down, Father; and what will you do for me to-day?" + +"What wouldst thou like me to do?" + +"May I ride with you?" + +"Nay; I can't take thee with me to-day. I am going to Squire Ayton's, +and from there to Rudby's, and very like as far as Ormesby and +Pickering." + +"Then you will not be home to dinner?" + +"Not I. I shall get my dinner somewhere." + +"Can I come and meet you?" + +"Thou hadst better not." + +At this moment Mrs. Atheling entered, and Kate, turning to her, +said, "Mother, I am not to ride with father to-day. He is going a +visiting,--going to get his dinner 'somewhere,' and he thinks I +had better not come to meet him." + +"Father is right. Father knows he is not to trust to when he goes +'somewhere' for his dinner. For he will call for Ayton, and they two +will get Rudby, and then it will be Ormesby, and so by dinner-time they +may draw rein at Pickering, and Pickering will start 'Corn Laws' and +'Protection for the Farmers,' and midnight will be talked away. Is not +that about right, John?" but she asked the question with a smile that +proved Maude Atheling was once more the wise and loving "guardian +angel" of her husband. + +"Thou knowest all about it, Maude." + +"I know enough, any way, to advise thee to stand by thy own heart, +and to say and do what it counsels thee. Pickering is made after the +meanest model of a Yorkshireman; and when a Yorkshireman turns out to +be a failure, he is a ruin, and no mistake." + +"What by that? I can't quarrel with Pickering. You may kick up a dust +with your neighbour, but, sooner or later, it will settle on your own +door-stone. It is years and years since I learned that lesson. And as for +Pickering's ideas, many a good squire holds the same." + +"I don't doubt it. Whatever the Ass says, the asses believe; thou wilt +find that out when thou goest to Parliament." + +"Are you really going to Parliament, Father?" + +"Wouldst thou like me to go, Kate?" + +"Yes, if I may go to London with you." + +"It isn't likely I would go without thee. Did thy mother tell thee, +Lord Exham has come back from Italy to sit for Gaythorne." + +"A long way to come for so little," she answered. "Why, Father! there +are only a few hovels in Gaythorne, and all the men worth anything have +gone to Leeds to comb wool. Poor fellows!" + +"Why dost thou say 'poor fellows'?" + +"Because, when a man has been brought up to do his day's work in fields +and barns, among grass, and wheat, and cattle, it is a big change to sit +twelve hours a day in 'the Devil's Hole,' for Martha Coates told me +that is what the wool-combing room is called." + +"There is no sense in such a name." + +"It is a very good name, I think, for rooms so hot and crowded, and so +sickening with the smells of soap, and wool, and oil, and steam. Martha +says her lads have turned Radicals and Methodists, and she doesn't +wonder. Neither do I." + +"Ay; it is as natural as can be. To do his duty by the land used to +be religion enough for any Yorkshire lad; but when they go to big towns, +they get into bad company; and there couldn't be worse company than +those weaving chaps of all kinds. No wonder the Government doesn't +want to hear from the big towns; they are full of a ranting crowd of +Non-contents." + +"Well, Father, if I was in their place, and the question of Content, or +Non-content, was put to me, I should very quickly say, 'Non-content.'" + +"Nobody is going to put the question to thee. Thy mother has not managed +to bring up a daughter any better than herself, I see that. Kate, my +little maid, Lord Exham will be here to-day; see that thou art civil +enough to him; it may make a lot of difference both to thee and me." + +"John Atheling!" cried his wife, "what a blunderer thou art! Why +can't thou let women and their ways alone?" + +When they rose from the breakfast-table, the Squire called for his horse, +and his favourite dogs, and bustled about until he had Mrs. Atheling +and half-a-dozen men and women waiting upon him. But there was much good +temper in all his authoritative brusqueness, and he went away in a little +flurry of éclat, his wife and daughter, his men and maid-servants, all +watching him down the avenue with a loving and proud allegiance. He was +so physically the expression of his place and surroundings that not a +soul in Atheling ever doubted that the Squire was in the exact place to +which God Almighty had called him. + +On this morning he was dressed in a riding suit of dark blue broadcloth +trimmed with gilt buttons; his vest was white, his cravat white, and his +hat of black beaver. As he galloped away, he swept it from his brow to +his stirrups in an adieu to his wife and daughter; but the men and +women-servants took their share in the courtesy, and it was easy to +feel the cheer of admiration, only expressed by their broad smiles +and sympathetic glances. As soon as "the Master" was out of sight, +they turned away, each to his or her daily task; and Kate looked at +her mother inquiringly. There was an instant understanding, and very +few words were needed. + +"Thou hadst better lose no time. He might get away early." + +"He will not leave until he sees us, Mother. That is what he came to +Atheling for,--I'll warrant it,--and if I don't go to the village, he +will come here; I know he will." + +"Kitty, I can't, I can't trust to that--and you promised." + +"I am going to keep my promise, Mother. Have my mare at the door in ten +minutes, and I will be ready." + +Mrs. Atheling had attended to this necessity before breakfast, and +the mare was immediately waiting. She was a creature worthy of the +Beauty she had to carry,--dark chestnut in colour, with wide haunches +and deep oblique shoulders. Her mane was fine, her ears tremulous, her +nostrils thin as parchment, her eyes human in intelligence, her skin +like tissue-paper, showing the warm blood pressing against it, and the +veins standing clearly out. Waiting fretted her, and she pawed the +garden gravel impatiently with her round, dark, shining hoofs until +Kate appeared. Then she uttered a low whinny of pleasure, and bent +her head for the girl to lay her face against it. + +[Illustration:] + +A light leap from the groom's hand put Kate in her seat, and a lovelier +woman never gathered reins in hand. In those days also, the riding +dress of women did not disfigure them; it was a garb that gave to Kate +Atheling's loveliness grace and dignity, an air of discreet freedom, +and of sweet supremacy,--a close-fitting habit of fine cloth, falling +far below her feet in graceful folds, and a low beaver hat, crowned +with drooping plumes, shadowing her smiling face. One word to the mare +was sufficient; she needed no whip, and Kate would not have insulted +her friend and companion by carrying one. + +For a little while they went swiftly, then Kate bent and patted the +mare's neck, and she instantly obeyed the signal for a slower pace. For +Kate had seen before them a young man sitting on a stile, and teaching +two dogs to leap over the whip which he held in his hand. She felt +sure this was the person she had to interview; yet she passed him without +a look, and went forward towards the village. After riding half-a-mile +she took herself to task for her cowardice, and turned back again. +The stranger was still sitting on the stile, and as she approached +him she heard a hearty laugh, evoked doubtless by some antic or mistake +of the dogs he was playing with. She now walked her mare toward him, and +the young man instantly rose, uncovered his head, and, pushing the dogs +away, bowed--not ungracefully--to her. Yet he did not immediately speak, +and Kate felt that she must open the conversation. + +"Do you--do you want to find any place?" she asked. "I think you are +a stranger--and I am at home here." + +He smiled brightly and answered, "Thank you. I want to find Atheling +Manor-house. I have a message for Mrs. and Miss Atheling." + +"I am Miss Atheling; and I am now returning to the house. I suppose that +you are the Wrestler and Orator of last night. My father told us about +the contest. Mother wishes to talk with you--we have heard that you know +my brother Edgar--we are very unhappy about Edgar. Do you know anything +of him? Will you come and see mother--_now_--she is very anxious?" + +These questions and remarks fell stumblingly from her lips, one after +the other; she was excited and trembling at her own temerity, and yet +all the time conscious she was Squire Atheling's daughter and in her +father's Manor, having a kind of right to assume a little authority and +ask questions. The stranger listened gravely till Kate ceased speaking, +then he said,-- + +"My name is Cecil North. I know Edgar Atheling very well. I am ready to +do now whatever you wish." + +"Then, Mr. North, I wish you would come with me. It is but a short walk +to the house; Candace will take little steps, and I will show you the +way." + +"Thank you." + +He said only these two words, but they broke up his face as if there +was music in them; for he smiled with his lips and his eyes at the same +time. Kate glanced down at him as he walked by her side. She saw that +he was tall, finely formed, and had a handsome face; that he was well +dressed, and had an air of distinction; and yet she divined in some +occult way that this animal young beauty was only the husk of his being. +After a few moments' silence, he began that commonplace chat about +horses which in Yorkshire takes the place that weather does in other +localities. He praised the beauty and docility of Candace, and Kate hoped +she was walking slowly enough; and then Cecil North admired her feet +and her step, and asked if she ever stumbled or tripped. This question +brought forth an eager denial of any such fault, and an opinion that +the rider was to blame when such an accident happened. + +"In a general way, you are right, Miss Atheling," answered North. "If +the rider sits just and upright, then any sudden jerk forward throws the +shoulders backward; and in that case, if a horse thinks proper to fall, +_he_ will be the sufferer. He may cut his forehead, or hurt his nose, or +bark his knees, but he will be a buffer to his rider." + +"Candace has never tripped with me. I have had her four years. I will +never part with her." + +"That is right. Don't keep a horse you dislike, and don't part with +one that suits you." + +"Do you love horses?" + +"Yes. A few years ago I was all for horses. I could sit anything. I +could jump everything, right and left. I had a horse then that was made +to measure, and foaled to order. No one borrowed him twice. He had a +way of coming home without a rider. But I have something better than +horses to care for now; and all I need is a good roadster." + +"My father likes an Irish cob for that purpose." + +"Nothing better. I have one in the village that beats all. He can trot +fourteen miles an hour, and take a six-foot wall at the end of it." + +"Do you ride much?" + +"I ride all over England." + +She looked curiously at him, but asked no questions; and North continued +the conversation by pointing out to her the several points which made +Candace so valuable. "In the first place," he said, "her colour is +good,--that dark chestnut shaded with black usually denotes speed. She +has all the signs of a thoroughbred; do you know them?" + +"No; but I should like to." + +"They are three things long,--long ears, long neck, and long forelegs. +Three things short,--short dock, short back, and short hindlegs. Three +things broad,--broad forehead, broad chest, and broad croup. Three +things clean,--clean skin, clean eyes, and clean hoofs. Then the nostrils +must be quite black. If there had been any white in the nostrils of +Candace, I would have ranked her only 'middling.'" + +Kate laughed pleasantly, and said over several times the long, short, +broad, and clean points that went to the making of a thoroughbred; +and, by the time the lesson was learned, they were at the door of the +Manor-house. Mrs. Atheling stood just within it, and when Kate said,-- + +"Mother, this is Edgar's friend, Mr. Cecil North," she gave him her +hand and answered: + +"Come in! Come in! Indeed I am fain and glad to see you!" and all the +way through the great hall, and into her parlour, she was beaming and +uttering welcomes. "First of all, you must have a bit of eating and +drinking," she said, "and then you will tell me about my boy." + +"Thank you. I will take a glass of ale, if it will please you." + +"It will please me beyond everything. You shall have it from the +Squire's special tap: ale smooth as oil, sweet as milk, clear as +amber, fourteen years old next twenty-ninth of March. And so you know +my son Edgar?" + +"I know him, and I love him with all my heart. He is as good as gold, +and as true as steel." + +"To be sure, he is. I'm his mother, and I ought to know him; and that +is what I say. How did you come together?" + +"We met first at Cambridge; but we were not in the same college or set, +so that I only knew him slightly there. Fortune had appointed a nobler +introduction for us. I was in Glasgow nearly a year ago, and I wandered +down to the Green, and was soon aware that the crowd was streaming to one +point. Edgar was talking to this crowd. Have you ever heard him talk to +a crowd?" + +The mother shook her head, and Kate said softly: "We have never heard +him." She had taken off her hat, and her face was full of interest and +happy expectation. + +"Well," continued North, "he was standing on a platform of rough +boards that had been hastily put together, and I remembered instantly +his tall, strong, graceful figure, and his bright, purposeful face. +He was tanned to the temples, his cheeks were flushed, the wind was in +his hair, the sunlight in his eyes; and, with fiery precipitance of +assailing words, he was explaining to men mad with hunger and injustice +the source of all their woes and the remedy to be applied. I became +a man as I listened to him. That hour I put self behind me and vowed +my life, and all I have, to the cause of Reform; because he showed me +plainly that Parliamentary Reform included the righting of every social +wrong and cruelty." + +"Do you really think so?" asked Kate. + +"Indeed, I am sure of it. A Parliament that represented the great middle +and working classes of England would quickly do away with both black +and white slavery,--would repeal those infamous Corn Laws which have +starved the working-man to make rich the farmer; would open our ports +freely to the trade of all the world; would educate the poor; give much +shorter hours of labour, and wages that a man could live on. Can I ever +forget that hour? Never! I was born again in it!" + +"That was the kind of talk that he angered his father with," said Mrs. +Atheling, between tears and smiles. "You see it was all against the land +and the land-owners; and Edgar would not be quiet, no matter what I said +to him." + +"He _could not_ be quiet. He had _no right_ to be quiet. Why! he sent +every man and woman home that night with hope in their hearts and a +purpose in their wretched lives. Oh, if you could have seen those sad, +cold faces light and brighten as they listened to him." + +"Was there no one there that didn't think as he did?" + +"I heard only one dissenting voice. It came from a Minister. He called +out, 'Lads and lasses, take no heed of what this fellow says to you. +He is nothing but a Dreamer.' Instantly Edgar took up the word. 'A +Dreamer!' he cried joyfully. 'So be it! What says the old Hebrew +prophet? Look to your Bible, sir. Let him that hath a dream tell it. +Dreamers have been the creators, the leaders, the saviours of the world. +And we will go on dreaming until our dream comes true!' The crowd +answered him with a sob and a shout--and, oh, I wish you had been there!" + +Kate uttered involuntarily a low, sympathetic cry that she could not +control, and Mrs. Atheling wept and smiled; and when North added, in a +lower voice full of feeling, "There is no one like Edgar, and I love +him as Jonathan loved David!" she went straight to the speaker, took +both his hands in hers, and kissed him. + +"Thou art the same as a son to me," she said, "and thou mayst count on +my love as long as ever thou livest." And in this cry from her heart +she forgot her company pronoun, and fell naturally into the familiar and +affectionate "thou." + +Fortunately at this point of intense emotion a servant entered with a +flagon of the famous ale, and some bread and cheese; and the little +interruption enabled all to bring themselves to a normal state of +feeling. Then the mother thought of Edgar's clothing, and asked North +if he could take it to him. North smiled. "He is a little of a dandy +already," he answered. "I saw him last week at Lady Durham's, and he +was the best dressed man in her saloon." + +"Now then!" said Mrs. Atheling, "thou art joking a bit. Whatever would +Edgar be doing at Lady Durham's?" + +"He had every right there, as he is one of Lord Durham's confidential +secretaries." + +"Art thou telling me some romance?" + +"I am telling you the simple truth." + +"Then thou must tell me how such a thing came about." + +"Very naturally. I told Lord Grey and his son-in-law, Lord Durham, +about Edgar--and I persuaded Edgar to come and speak to the spur and +saddle-makers at Ripon Cross; and the two lords heard him with delight, +and took him, there and then, to Studley Royal, where they were +staying; and it was in those glorious gardens, and among the ruins of +Fountains Abbey, they planned together the Reform Campaign for the next +Parliament." + +"The Squire thinks little of Lord Grey," said Mrs. Atheling. + +"That is not to be wondered at," answered North. "Lord Grey is the +head and heart of Reform. When he was Mr. Charles Grey, and the pupil +of Fox, he presented to Parliament the famous Prayer, from the Society of +Friends, for Reform. That was thirty-seven years ago, but he has never +since lost sight of his object. By the side of such leaders as Burke, +and Fox, and Sheridan, his lofty eloquence has charmed the House until +the morning sun shone on its ancient tapestries. He and his son-in-law, +Lord Durham, have the confidence of every honest man in England. And +he is brave as he is true. More than once he has had the courage to tell +the King to his face what it was his duty to do." + +"And what of Lord Durham?" asked Kate. + +"He is a masterful man,--a bolder Radical than most Radicals. All over +the country he is known as Radical Jack. He has a strong, resolute will, +but during the last half-year he has leaned in all executive matters upon +'Mr. Atheling.' Indeed, there was enthusiastic talk last week at Lady +Durham's of sending 'Mr. Atheling' to the next Parliament." + +"My word! But that would never do!" exclaimed Mr. Atheling's mother. +"His father is going there for the landed interest; and if Edgar goes +for the people, there will be trouble between them. They will get to +talking back at each other, and the Squire will pontify and lay down +the law, even if the King and the Law-makers are all present. He will +indeed!" + +"It would be an argument worth hearing, for Edgar would neither lose +his temper nor his cause. Oh, I tell you there will be great doings in +London next winter! The Duke of Wellington and Mr. Peel will have to go +out; and Earl Grey will surely form a new Government." + +"The Squire says Earl Grey and Reform will bring us into civil war." + +"On the contrary, only Reform can prevent civil war. Hitherto, the +question has been, 'What will the Lords do?' Now it is, 'What must +be done with the Lords?' For once, all England is in dead earnest; +and the cry everywhere is, 'The Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing +but The Bill!' And if we win, as win we must, we shall remember how +Edgar Atheling has championed the cause. George the Fourth is on his +death-bed," he added in a lower voice. "He will leave his kingdom in +a worse plight than any king before him. I, who have been through the +land, may declare so much." + +"The poor are very poor indeed," said Mrs. Atheling. "Kate and I do +what we can, but the most is little." + +"The whole story of the poor is--slow starvation. The best silk weavers +in England are not able to make more than eight or nine shillings a +week. Thousands of men in the large towns are working for two-pence +half-penny a day; and thousands have no work at all." + +"What do they do?" whispered Kate. + +"They die. But I did not come here to talk on these subjects--only when +the heart is full, the mouth must speak. I have brought a letter and a +remembrance from Edgar," and he took from his pocket a letter and two +gold rings, and gave the letter and one ring to Mrs. Atheling, and the +other ring to Kate. "He bid me tell you," said North, "that some day +he will set the gold round with diamonds; but now every penny goes for +Reform." + +"And you tell Edgar, sir, that his mother is prouder of the gold thread +than of diamonds. Tell him, she holds her Reform ring next to her wedding +ring,"--and with the words Mrs. Atheling drew off her "guard" of +rubies, and put the slender thread of gold her son had sent her next her +wedding ring. At the same moment Kate slipped upon her "heart finger" +the golden token. Her face shone, her voice was like music: "Tell +Edgar, Mr. North," she said, "that my love for him is like this ring: +I do not know its beginning; but I do know it can have no end." + +Then North rose to go, and would not be detained; and the women walked +with him to the very gates, and there they said "good-bye." And all +the way through the garden Mrs. Atheling was sending tender messages to +her boy, though at the last she urged North to warn him against saying +anything "beyond bearing" to his father, if they should meet on the +battle-ground of the House of Commons. "It is so easy to quarrel on +politics," she said with all the pathos of reminiscent disputes. + +"It has always been an easy quarrel, I think," answered North. "Don't +you remember when Joseph wanted to pick a quarrel with his brethren, he +pretended to think they were a special commission sent to Egypt to spy +out the nakedness of the land?" + +"To be sure! And that is a long time ago. Good-bye! and God bless thee! +I shall never forget thy visit!" + +"And we wish 'The Cause' success!" added Kate. + +"Thank you. Success will come. They who _care_ and _dare_ can do +anything." With these words he passed through the gates, and Mrs. +Atheling and Kate went slowly back to the house, both of them turning +the new ring on their fingers. It was dinner-time, but little dinner +was eaten. Edgar's letter was to read; Mr. North to speculate about; and +if either of the women remembered Lord Exham's expected call, no remark +was made about it. + +Yet Kate was neither forgetful of the visit, nor indifferent to it. A +sweet trouble of heart, half-fear and half-hope, flushed her cheeks +and sent a tender light into her star-like eyes. In the very depths of +her being there existed a feeling she did not understand, and did not +investigate. Was it Memory? Was it Hope? Was it Love? She asked none of +these questions. But she dressed like a girl in a dream; and just as she +was sliding the silver buckle on her belt, a sudden trick of memory +brought back to her the rhyme of her childhood. And though she blushed +to the remembrance, and would not for anything repeat the words, her +heart sang softly to itself,-- + + "It may so happen, it may so fall, + That I shall be Lady of Exham Hall." + + + + +CHAPTER THIRD + +THE LORD OF EXHAM + + +On the very edge of the deep, tumbling becks which feed the Esk stands +Exham Hall. It is a stately, irregular building of gray stone; and when +the sunshine is on its many windows, and the flag of Richmoor flying from +its central tower, it looks gaily down into the hearts of many valleys, +where + + "The oak, and the ash, and the bonny ivy-tree, + Flourish at home in the North Countree." + +Otherwise, it has, at a distance, a stern and forbidding aspect. For +it is in a great solitude, and the babble of the beck, and the cawing +of the rooks, are the only sounds that usually break the silence. The +north part was built in A. D. 1320; and the most modern part in the reign +of James the First; and yet so well has it stood the wear and tear of +elemental and human life in this secluded Yorkshire vale that it does +not appear to be above a century old. + +It was usually tenanted either by the dowager of the family, or the +heir of the dukedom; and it had been opened at this time to receive its +young lord on his return from Italy. So it happened that at the very +hour when Mrs. and Miss Atheling were talking with Cecil North, Piers +Exham was sitting in a parlour of Exham Hall, thinking of Kate, and +recalling the events of their acquaintanceship. It had begun when he was +seventeen years old, and Kate Atheling exactly twelve. Indeed, because it +was her birthday, she was permitted to accompany an old servant going to +Exham Hall to visit the housekeeper, who was her cousin. + +This event made a powerful impression on Kate's imagination. It was +like a visit to some enchanted castle. She felt all its glamour and +mystery as soon as her small feet trod the vast entrance hall with +its hangings of Arras tapestry, and its flags and weapons from every +English battlefield. Her fingers touched lightly standards from Crecy, +and Agincourt, and the walls of Jerusalem; and her heart throbbed to the +touch. And as she climbed the prodigiously wide staircase of carved +and polished oak, she thought of the generations of knights, and lords +and ladies, who had gone up and down it, and wondered where they were. +And oh, the marvellous old rooms with their shadowy portraits, and +their treasures from countries far away!--shells, and carved ivories, +and sandalwood boxes; strange perfumes, and old idols, melancholy, +fantastic, odd; musky-smelling things from Asia; and ornaments and +pottery from Africa, their gloomy, primitive simplicity, mingling with +pretty French trifles, and Italian bronzes, and costly bits of china. + +It was all like an Arabian Night's adventure, and hardly needed the +touches of romance and superstition the housekeeper quite incidentally +threw in: thus, as they passed a very, very tall old clock with a silver +dial on a golden face, she said: "Happen, you would not believe it, +but on every tenth of June, a cold queer light travels all round that +dial. It begins an hour past midnight, and stops at an hour past noon. +I've seen it myself a score of times." And again, in going through +a state bed-room, she pointed out a cross and a candlestick, and said, +"They are made from bits of a famous ship that was blown up with an +Exham, fighting on the Spanish Main. I've heard tell that candles +were once lighted in that stick on his birthday; but there's been no +candle-lighting for a century, anyway." And Kate thought it was a +shame, and wished she knew his birthday, and might light candles again in +honour of the hero. + +With such sights and tales, her childish head and heart were filled; +and the mazy gardens, with their monkish fish-ponds and hedges, their old +sun-dials and terraces, their ripening berries and gorgeous flower-beds, +completed her fascination. She went back to Atheling ravished and +spellbound; too wrapt and charmed to talk much of what she had seen, and +glad when she could escape into the Atheling garden to think it all over +again. She went straight to her swing. It was hung between two large +ash-trees, and there were high laurel hedges on each side. In this +solitude she sat down to remember, and, as she did so, began to swing +gently to-and-fro, and to sing to her movement,-- + + "It may so happen, it may so fall, + That I shall be Lady of Exham Hall." + +And as she sung these lines over and over--being much pleased with their +unexpected rhyming--the young Lord of Exham Hall came through Atheling +garden. He heard his own name, and stood still to listen; then he softly +parted the laurel bushes, and watched the little maid, and heard her +sing her couplet, and merrily laugh to herself as she did so. And he +saw how beautiful she was, and there came into his heart a singular +warmth and pleasure; but, without discovering himself to the girl, he +delivered his message to Squire Atheling, and rode away. + +The next morning, however, he managed to carry his fishing-rod to the +same beck where Edgar Atheling was casting his line, and to so charm the +warm-hearted youth that meeting after meeting grew out of it. Nor was it +long until the friendship of the youths included that of the girl; so +that it was a very ordinary thing for Kate to go with her brother and +Piers Exham to the hill-streams for trout. As the summer grew they tossed +the hay together, and rode after the harvest wagons, and danced at the +Ingathering Feast, and dressed the ancient church at Christmastide, and +so, with ever-increasing kindness and interest, shared each other's joy +and sorrows for nearly two years. + +Then there was a break in the happy routine. Kate put on long dresses; +she was going to a fine ladies' school in York to be "finished," and +Edgar also was entered at Cambridge. Piers was to go to Oxford. He +begged to go to Cambridge with his friend; but the Duke approved the +Tory principles of his own University, and equally disapproved of +those of Cambridge, which he declared were deeply tainted with Whig +and even Radical ideas. Perhaps also he was inclined to break up the +close friendship between the Athelings and his heir. "No one can be +insensible to the beauty of Kate Atheling," he said to the Duchess; +"and Piers' constant association with such a lovely girl may not +be without danger." The Duchess smiled at the supposition. A royal +princess, in her estimation, was not above her son's deserts and +expectations; and the Squire's little home-bred girl was beneath +either her fears or her suppositions. This also was the tone in which +she received all her son's conversation about the Athelings. "Very nice +people, I dare say, Piers," she would remark; "and I am glad you have +such thoroughly respectable companions; but you will, of course, forget +them when you go to College, and begin your independent life." And +there was such an air of finality in these assertions that it was only +rarely Piers had the spirit to answer, "Indeed, I shall never forget +them!" + +So it happened that the last few weeks of their friendship missed much +of the easy familiarity and sweet confidence that had hitherto marked +its every change. Kate, with the new consciousness of dawning womanhood, +was shy, less frank, and less intimate. Strangers began to call her +"Miss" Atheling; and there were hours when the little beauty's airs +of maidenly pride and reserve made Piers feel that any other address +would be impertinent. And this change had come, no one knew how, only it +was there, and not to be gainsaid; and every day's events added some +trifling look, or word, or act which widened the space between them, +though the space itself was full of sweet and kindly hours. + +Then there came a day in autumn when Kate was to leave her home for the +York school. Edgar was already in Cambridge. Piers was to enter Oxford +the following week. This chapter of life was finished; and the three +happy souls that had made it, were to separate. Piers, who had a poetic +nature, and was really in love--though he suspected it not--was most +impressed with the passing away. He could not keep from Atheling, and +though he had bid Kate "good-bye" in the afternoon, he was not +satisfied with the parting. She had then been full of business: the +Squire was addressing her trunks; Mrs. Atheling crimping the lace +frill of her muslin tippets; and Kate herself bringing, one by one, +some extra trifle that at the last moment impressed her with its +necessity. It was in this hurry of household love and care that he had +said "good-bye," and he felt that it had been a mere form. + +Perhaps Kate felt it also; for when he rode up to Atheling gates in the +gloaming, he saw her sauntering up the avenue. He thought there was +both melancholy and expectation in her attitude and air. He tied his +horse outside, and joined her. She met him with a smile. He took her +hand, and she permitted him to retain it. He said, "Kate!" and she +answered the word with a glance that made him joyous, ardent, hopeful. +He was too happy to speak; he feared to break the heavenly peace between +them by a word. Oh, this is the way of Love! But neither knew the ways +of Love. They were after all but children, and the sweet thoughts in +their hearts had not come to speech. They wandered about the garden +until the gloaming became moonlight, and they heard Mrs. Atheling calling +her daughter. Then their eyes met, and, swift as the firing of a gun, +their pupils dilated and flashed with tender feeling; over their faces +rushed the crimson blood; and Piers said sorrowfully, "Kate! Sweet +Kate! I shall never forget you!" He raised the hand he held to his +lips, kissed it, and went hurriedly away from her. + +Kate was not able to say a word, but she felt the kiss on her hand +through all her sleep and dreams that night. Indeed five years of +change and absence had not chilled its warm remembrance; there were +hours when it was still a real expression, when the hand itself was +conscious of the experience, and willingly cherished it. All through +Cecil North's visit, she had been aware of a sense of expectancy. +Interested as she was in Edgar, the thought of Lord Exham would not be +put down. For a short time it was held in abeyance; but when the early +dinner was over, and she was in the solitude of her own room, Piers put +Edgar out of consideration. As she sat brushing and dressing her long +brown hair, she recalled little incidents concerning Piers,--how once +in the harvest-field her hair had tumbled down, and Piers praised its +tangled beauty; how he had liked this and the other dress; how he had +praised her dancing, and vowed she was the best rider in the county. +He had given her a little gold brooch for a Christmas present, and she +took it from its box, and said to herself she would wear it, and see if +it evoked its own memory in Exham's heart. + +It had been her intention to put on a white gown, but the day darkened +and chilled; and then she had a certain shyness about betraying, even +to her mother, her anxiety to look beautiful. Perhaps Piers might not now +think her beautiful in any garb. Perhaps he had forgotten--everything. +So, impelled by a kind of perverse indifference, she wore only the gray +woollen gown that was her usual afternoon attire. But the fashion of +the day left her lovely arms uncovered, and only veiled her shoulders +in a shadowing tippet of lace. She fastened this tippet with the +little gold brooch, just where the folds crossed the bosom. She had +hastened rather than delayed her dressing; and when Mrs. Atheling came +downstairs in her afternoon black silk dress, she found Kate already in +the parlour. She had taken from her work-box a piece of fine cambric, +and was stitching it industriously; and Mrs. Atheling lifted her own +work, and began to talk of Edgar, and Edgar's great fortune, and what +his father would say about it. This subject soon absorbed her; she +forgot everything in it; but Kate heard through all the radical +turmoil of the conversation the gallop of a strange horse on the +gravelled avenue, and the echo of strange footsteps on the flagged halls +of the house. + +[Illustration:] + +In the middle of some grand prophecy for Edgar's future, the parlour +door was opened, and Lord Exham entered. He came forward with something +of his boyhood's enthusiasm, and took Mrs. Atheling's hands, and said +a few words of pleasant greeting, indistinctly heard in the fluttering +gladness of Mrs. Atheling's reception. Then he turned to Kate. She had +risen, but she held her work in her left hand. He took it from her, +and laid it on her work-box, and then clasped both her hands in his. The +firm, lingering pressure had its own eloquence. In matters of love, +they who are to understand, _do_ understand; and no interpreter is needed. + +The conversation then became general and full of interest; but from +Oxford, and France, and Italy, it quickly drifted--as all conversation +did in those days--to Reform. And Mrs. Atheling could not keep the +news that had come to her that day. She magnified Edgar with a sweet +motherly vanity that was delightful, and to which Piers listened with +pleasure; for the listening gave him opportunity to watch Kate's +eloquent face, and to flash his sympathy into it. He thought her +marvellously beautiful. Her shining hair, her rich colouring, and her +large gray eyes were admirably emphasised by the homely sweetness of +her dress. After the lavish proportions, and gaily attired women of +Italy, nothing could have been more enchanting to Piers Exham than +Kate's subdued, gray-eyed loveliness, clad in gray garments. The +charming background of her picturesque home added to this effect; and +this background he saw and realised; but she had also a moral background +of purity and absolute sincerity which he did not see, but which he +undoubtedly felt. + +While Piers was experiencing this revelation of womanhood, it was not +likely Kate was without impressions. In his early youth, Exham had a +slight resemblance to Lord Byron; and he had been vain of the likeness, +and accentuated it by adopting the open collar, loose tie, and other +peculiarities of the poetic nobleman. Kate was glad to see this servile +imitation had been discarded. Exham was now emphatically individual. He +was not above medium height; but his figure was good, and his manner +gentle and courteous, as the manner of all superior men is. Grave and +high-bred, he had also much of the melancholy, mythical air of an +English nobleman, conscious of long antecedents, and dwelling in the +seclusion of shaded parks, and great houses steeped in the human aura +of centuries. His hair was very black, and worn rather long, and his +complexion, a pale bronze; but this lack of red colouring added to +the fascination of his dark eyes, which were remarkable for that deep +glow always meaning mental or moral power of some kind. They were +often half shut--and then--who could tell what was passing behind them? +And yet, when all this had been observed by Kate, she was sure that +something--perhaps the most essential part--had escaped her. + +This latter estimate was the correct one. No one as yet had learned +the heart or mind of Piers Exham. It is doubtful if he understood his own +peculiarities; for he had few traits of distinctive pre-eminence, his +character being very like an opal, where all colours are fused and +veiled in a radiant dimness. So that, after all, this meeting was a +first meeting; and Kate did not feel that the past offered her any +intelligible solution of the present man. + +The conversation having drifted to Edgar and Reform, stayed there. +Lord Exham spoke with a polite, but stubborn emphasis in favour of his +own caste, as the governing caste, and thought that the honour and +welfare of England might still be left "to those great Houses which +represented the collective wisdom of the nation." Nor was he disturbed +when Mrs. Atheling, with some scorn and temper, said "they represented +mostly the collective folly of the nation." He bowed and smiled at +the dictum, but Kate understood the smile; it was of that peculiarly +sweet kind which is equivalent to having the last word. He admitted +that some things wanted changing, but he said, "Changes could not be +manufactured; they must grow." "True," replied Kate, "but Reform +has been growing for sixty years." "That is as it should be," he +continued. "You cannot write Reforms on human beings, as you write it on +paper. Two or three generations are not enough." In all that was +said--and Mrs. Atheling said some very strong things--he took a polite +interest; but he made no surrender. Even if his words were conciliatory, +Kate saw in his eyes--languid but obstinately masterful--the stubborn, +headstrong will of a man who had inherited his prejudices, and who had +considered them in the light of his interest, and did not choose to bring +them to the light of reason. + +Still the conversation was a satisfactory and delightful vehicle of human +revelation. The two women paled and flushed, and grew sad or happy in +its possibilities, with a charming frankness. No social subject could +have revealed them so completely; and Exham enjoyed the disclosures of +feeling which this passionate interest evoked,--enjoyed it so much that +he forgot the lapse of time, and stayed till tea was ready, and then was +delighted to stay and take it with them. Mrs. Atheling was usually +relieved of the duty of making it by Kate; and Piers could not keep his +glowing eyes off the girl as her hands moved about the exquisite Derby +teacups, and handed him the sweet, refreshing drink. She remembered +that he loved sugar; that he did not love cream; that he preferred his +toast not buttered; that he liked apricot jelly; and he was charmed and +astonished at these proofs of remembrance, so much so indeed that he +permitted Mrs. Atheling to appropriate the whole argument. For this sweet +hour he resigned his heart to be pleased and happy. Too wise in some +things, not wise enough in others, Piers Exham had at least one great +compensating quality--the courage to be happy. + +He let all other feelings and purposes lapse for this one. He gave +himself up to charm, and to be charmed; he flattered Mrs. Atheling into +absolute complaisance; he persuaded Kate to walk through the garden +and orchard with him, and then, with caressing voice and a gentle +pressure of the hand, reminded her of days and events they had shared +together. Smiles flashed from face to face. Her simple sweetness, her +ready sympathy, her ingenuous girlish expressions, carried him back to +his boyhood. Kate shone on his heart like sunshine; and he did not +know that it had become dark until he had left Atheling behind, and found +himself Exham-way, riding rapidly to the joyful whirl and hurry of his +thoughts. + +Now happiness, as well as sorrow, is selfish. Kate was happy and not +disposed to talk about her happiness. Her mother's insistent questions +about Lord Exham troubled her. She desired to go into solitude with the +new emotions this wonderful day had produced; but the force of those +lovely habits of respect and obedience, which had become by constant +practice a second nature, kept her at her mother's side, listening with +sweet credulousness to all her opinions, and answering her hopes with +her own assurances. The reward of such dutiful deference was not long +in coming. In a short time Mrs. Atheling said,-- + +"It has been such a day as never was, Kate; and you must be tired. Now +then, go to bed, my girl, and sleep; for goodness knows when your father +will get home!" + +So Kate kissed her mother--kissed her twice--as if she was dimly +conscious of unfairly keeping back some pleasure, and would thus atone +for her selfishness. And Mrs. Atheling sat down in the chimney-corner +with the gray stocking she was knitting, and pondered her son's good +fortune for a while. Then she rose and sent the maids to bed, putting +the clock an hour forward ere she did so, and excusing the act by saying, +"If I don't set it fast, we shall soon be on the wrong side of +everything." + +Another hour she sat calmly knitting, while in the dead silence of the +house the clock's regular "_tick! tick!_" was like breathing. It +seemed to live, and to watch with her. As the Squire came noisily into +the room it struck eleven. "My word, Maude!" he said with great good +humour, "I am sorry to keep you waiting; but there has been some good +work done to-night, so you won't mind it, I'll warrant." + +"Well now, John, if you and your friends have been at Pickering's, and +have done any 'good' work there, I will be astonished! You may warrant +_that_ with every guinea you have." + +"We were at Rudby's. There were as many as nine landed men of us +together; and for once there was one mind in nine men." + +"That is, you were all for yourselves." + +"No! Dal it, we were all for old England and the Constitution! The +Constitution, just as it is, and no tinkering with it." + +"I wonder which of the nine was the biggest fool among you?" + +"Thou shouldst not talk in that way, Maude. The country is in real +danger with this Reform nonsense. Every Reformer ought to be hung, and I +wish they were hung." + +"I would be ashamed to say such words, John. Thou knowest well that thy +own son is a Reformer." + +"More shame to him, and to me, and to thee! I would have brought up a +better lad, or else I would hold my tongue about him. It was thy fault he +went to Cambridge. I spent good money then to spoil a fine fellow." + +"Now, John Atheling, I won't have one word said against Edgar in this +house." + +"It is my house." + +"Nay, but it isn't. Thou only hast the life rent of it. It is Edgar's +as much as thine. He will be here, like enough, when I and thou have gone +the way we shall never come back." + +"Maybe he will--and maybe he will not. I can break the entail if it +suits me." + +"Thou canst not. For, with all thy faults, thou art an upright man, +and thy conscience wouldn't let thee do anything as mean and spiteful +as that. How could we rest in our graves if there was any one but an +Atheling in Atheling?" + +"He is a disgrace to the name." + +"He is nothing of that kind. He will bring the old name new honour. See +if he does not! And as for the Constitution of England, it is about as +great a ruin as thy constitution was when thou hadst rheumatic fever, and +couldn't turn thyself, nor help thyself, nor put a morsel of bread +into thy mouth. But thou hadst a good doctor, and he set thee up; and a +good House of Commons--Reforming Commons--will happen do as much for +the country; though when every artisan and every farm labourer is hungry +and naked, it will be hard to spread the plaster as far as the sore. It +would make thy heart ache to hear what they suffer." + +"Don't bother thy head about weavers, and cutlers, and artisans. If +the Agriculture of the country is taken care of--" + +"Now, John, do be quiet. There is not an idiot in the land who won't +talk of Agriculture." + +"We have got to stick by the land, Maude." + +"The land will take care of itself. If thou wouldst only send for thy +son, and have a little talk with him, he might let some light and wisdom +into thee." + +"I have nothing to say on such subjects to Edgar Atheling--not a word." + +"If thou goest to Parliament, thou mayst have to 'say' to him, no +matter whether thou wantest to or not; that is, unless thou art willing +to let Edgar have both sides of the argument." + +"What tom-foolery art thou talking?" + +"I am only telling thee that Edgar is as like to go to Parliament as +thou art." + +"To be sure--when beggars are kings." + +"Earl Grey will seat him--or Lord Durham; and I would advise thee to +study up things a bit. There are new ideas about, John; and thou wouldst +look foolish if thy own son had to put any of thy mistakes right for +thee." + +"I suppose, Maude, thou still hast a bit of faith left in the Bible. +And I'll warrant thou knowest every word it says about children obeying +their parents, and honouring their parents, and so on. And I can +remember thee telling Edgar, when he was a little lad, about Absalom +going against his father, and what came of it; now then, is the Bible, as +well as the Constitution, a ruin? Is it good for nothing but to be +pitched into limbo, or to be 'reformed'? I'm astonished at thee!" + +"The Bible has nothing to do with politics, John. I wish it had! +Happen then we would have a few wise-like, honest politicians. The +Bible divides men into good men and bad men; but thou dividest all men +into Tories and Radicals; and the Bible has nothing to do with either +of them. I can tell thee that. Nay, but I'm wrong; it does say a deal +about doing justice, and loving mercy, and treating your neighbour +and poor working-folk as you would like to be treated yourself. Radicals +can get a good deal out of the New Testament." + +"I don't believe a word of what thou art saying." + +"I don't wonder at that. Thou readest nothing but the newspapers; if +thou didst happen to read a few words out of Christ's own mouth, thou +wouldst say, 'Thou never heardest the like,' and thou wouldst think +the man who quoted them wrote them out of his own head, and call him a +Radical. Get off to thy bed, John. I can always tell when thou hast +been drinking Rudby's port-wine. It is too heavy and heady for thee. +As soon as thou art thyself again, I will tell thee what a grand son +thou art the father of. My word! If the Duke gives thee a seat at his +mahogany two or three times a year, thou art as proud as a peacock; now +then, thy son Edgar is hob-nobbing with earls and lords every day of +his life, and they are proud of his company." + +The Squire laughed boisterously. "It is time, Maude," he said, "I went +to my bed; and it is high time for thee to wake up and get thy head on a +feather pillow; then, perhaps, thou will not dream such raving nonsense." + +With these scornful words he left the room, and Mrs. Atheling rose +and put away her knitting. She was satisfied with herself. She expected +her mysterious words to keep the Squire awake with curiosity; and in +such case, she was resolved to make another effort to reconcile her +husband to his son. But the Squire gave her no opportunity; he slept +with an indifferent continuity that it was useless to interrupt. Perhaps +there was intention in this heavy sleep, for when he came downstairs +in the morning he went at once to seek Kate. He soon saw her in the +herb garden; for she had on a white dimity gown, and was standing +upright, shading her eyes with her hands to watch his approach. A good +breeze of wind from the wolds fluttered her snowy skirts, and tossed +the penetrating scents of thyme and marjoram, mint and pennyroyal +upward, and she drew them through her parted lips and distended nostrils. + +"They are so heavenly sweet!" she said with a smile of sensuous +pleasure. "They smell like Paradise, Father." + +"Ay, herbs are good and healthy. The smell of them makes me hungry. I +didn't see thee last night, Kitty; and I wanted to see thee." + +"I was so tired, Father. It was a day to tire any one. Was it not?" + +"I should say it was," he replied with conscious diplomacy. "Now what +part of it pleased thee best?" + +"Well, Mr. North's visit was of course wonderful; and Lord Exham's +visit was very pleasant. I enjoyed both; but Mr. North's news was so +very surprising." + +"To be sure. What dost thou think of it?" + +"Of course, Edgar is on the other side, Father. In some respects that +is a pity." + +"It is a shame! It is a great shame!" + +"Nay, nay, Father! We won't have 'shame' mixed up with Edgar. He +is in dead earnest, and he has taken luck with him. Just think of our +Edgar being one of Lord Durham's favourites, of him speaking all over +England and Scotland for Reform. Mr. North says there is no one like +him in the drawing-rooms of the Reform ladies; and no one like him on +the Reform platforms; and he was made a member of the new Reform Club in +London by acclamation. And Earl Grey will get him a seat in Parliament +next election." + +"Who is this Mr. North?" + +"Why, Father! You heard him speak, and you 'threw' him down on the +Green, you know." + +"_Oh! Him!_ Dost thou believe all this palaver on the word of a +travelling mountebank?" + +"He is not a travelling mountebank. I am sure he is a gentleman. You +shouldn't call a man names that you have 'thrown' fairly. You know +better than that." + +"I know nothing about the lad. And he does not seem to have told thee +anything about himself. As for thy mother--" and then he hesitated, and +looked at Kate meaningly and inquiringly. + +"Mother liked him. She liked him very much indeed. He brought both +mother and me a ring from Edgar," and she put out her hand and showed +the Squire the little gold circle. + +"Trumpery rubbish!" he said scornfully. "It didn't cost half a crown. +Give it to me, and I will get thee a ring worth wearing,--sapphires or +rubies." + +"I would not part with it for loops and hoops of sapphires and rubies. +Edgar sent it as a love-token; he wants his money for nobler things than +rubies--but, dear me! you can't buy love for any money. Oh, Father! +I do wish you would be friends with Edgar." + +"My little lass, I cannot be friends with any one if he goes against +the land, and the King, and the Constitution. I am loyal straight +through; up and down to-day, and to-morrow, and every day; and I can't +bear traitors,--men that would sell their country for a bit of mob +power or mob glory. All of Edgar's friends and neighbours are for the +King and the Laws; and it shames me and pains me beyond everything to +have a rascal and a Radical in my family. The Duke and his son are +finger and thumb, buckle and belt; and Edgar and I ought to be the +same. And it stands to reason that a father knows more than his own +lad of twenty-six years old. What dost thou think of Lord Exham?" + +The question was asked at a venture; but Kate had no suspicion, and +she answered frankly, "I think very well of him. He talked mostly of +politics; but every one does that. It was pleasant to see him at our +tea-table again." + +"To be sure. So he stayed to tea?" + +"Yes; did not mother tell you?" + +"Nay, we were talking of other things. What does he look like?" + +"I think he is much improved." + +"Well, he ought to be. He must have learned a little, and he has seen +a lot since we saw him. Come, let us go and find out what kind of a +breakfast mother can give us. I am hungry enough for two." + +So Kate lifted the herbs which she had cut into her garden apron, and +cruddling close to her father's side, they went in together, with the +smell of the thyme and marjoram all about them. Mrs. Atheling drew it in +as they entered the parlour, and then turned to them with a smile. The +Squire went to her side, and promptly kissed her. It was one of his ways +to ignore their little tiffs; and this morning Mrs. Atheling was also +agreeable. She looked into his eyes, and said: + +"Why, John! are you really awake. You lay like the Seven Sleepers when I +got up, and I said to myself, 'John will sleep the clock round,' so +Kate and I will have our breakfasts." + +"Nay, I have too much to look after, Maude." Then he turned the +conversation to the farms, and talked of the draining to be done, and +the meadows to be left for grass; but he eschewed politics altogether, +and, greatly to Mrs. Atheling's wonder, never alluded to the information +she had given him about their son Edgar. Did he really think she had +been telling him a made-up story? She could not otherwise understand +this self-control in her curious lord. However, sometime during the +morning, Kate told her about the conversation in the herb garden; then +she was content. She knew just where she had her husband; and the little +laugh with which she terminated the conversation was her expression of +conscious power over him, and of a retaliation quite within her reach. + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTH + +THE DAWN OF LOVE + + +There is always in every life some little part which even those dearer +than life to us cannot enter. Kate had become conscious of this fact. She +hoped her mother would not talk of Lord Exham; for she did not as yet +understand anything about the feelings his return had evoked. She would +have needed the uncertain, enigmatical language which comes in dreams +to explain the "yes" and the "no" of the vague, trembling memories, +prepossessions, and hopes which fluttered in her breast. + +Fortunately Mrs. Atheling had some dim perception of this condition, and +without analysing her reasons, she was aware "it was best not to +meddle" between two lives so surrounded by contradictious circumstances +as were those of her daughter and Lord Exham. Besides, as she said to +her husband, "It was no time for love-making, with the King dying, +and the country on the quaking edge of revolution, and starvation and +misery all over the land." And the Squire answered: "Exham has not one +thought of love-making. He is far too much in with a lot of men who +have the country and their own estates to save. He won't bother himself +with women-folk now, whatever he may do in idle times." + +They had both forgotten, or their own love affair had been of such +Arcadian straightness and simplicity that they had never learned Love's +ability to domineer all circumstances that can stir this mortal frame. +Exham had indeed enlisted himself with passionate earnestness in the +cause of his class, which he called the cause of his country--but as the +drop of + + "lucent sirup tinct with cinnamon" + +is forever flavoured and perfumed by the spice, so Exham's life was +coloured and prepossessed by the thought of the sweet girl who had been +blended with so many of his purest and happiest hours. + +It was then of Kate he thought as he wandered about the stately rooms and +beautiful gardens of Exham Hall. He was not oblivious of his engagements +with the Duke and the tenants; but he was considering how best to keep +these engagements, and yet not miss a visit to her. The dying King, +the riotous land, were accidentals of his life and condition; his love +for Kate Atheling was at the root of his existence; it was a fundamental +of the past and of the future. For five years of constant change and +movement, it had lain in abeyance; but old love is a dangerous thing +to awaken; and Piers Exham found in doing this thing that every event +of the past strengthened the influence of the present, and fixed his +heart more passionately on the girl he had first found fair; the + + --"rosebud set with little, wilful thorns, + And sweet as English airs could make her," + +that had sung and swung herself into his affection when she was only +twelve years old. + +He was however quite aware that any proposal to marry Kate Atheling +would meet with prompt opposition from his family; indeed the Duke had +already mentioned a very different alliance; and in that case, he did +not doubt but that Squire Atheling would be equally resolved never to +allow his daughter to enter a home where she would be regarded by any +member of it as an intruder. But he put all such considerations for +the present behind him. He said to himself, "The first thing to do, is +to win Kate's love; with that sweet consciousness, I shall be ready for +all opposition." For his heart kept assuring him that every trouble +and obstacle has an hour in which it may be conquered,--an hour when +Fate and Will become One, and are then as irresistible as a great force +of Nature. He was sure the hour for this conflict had not yet come. +It was the day for a different fight. His home, his estate, his title, +and all the privileges of his nobility were in danger. When they were +placed beyond peril, then he would fight for the wife he wanted, and +win her against all opposition. And who could tell in what way the +first conflict would bring forth circumstances to insure victory to the +last? + +He was deeply in love; he was full of hope; he was at Atheling some part +of every day. If he came in the afternoon, Kate's pony was saddled, and +they rode far and away, to where the shadows and sunshine elbowed +one another on the moors. The golden gorse shed its perfume over their +heads; the linnets sang to them of love; they talked, and laughed, and +rode swiftly until their pace brought them among the mountains that +looked like a Titanic staircase going up to the skies. There, they always +drew rein, and went slower, and spoke softer, and indeed often became +quite silent, and knew such silence to be the sweetest eloquence. Then +after a little interval Piers would say one word, "_Kate!_" and +Kate only answer with a blush, and a smile, and an upturned face. For +Love can put a volume in four letters; and souls say in a glance what +a thousand words would only blunder about. Then there was the gallop +home, and the merry cup of tea, and the saunter in the garden, and the +long tender "good-bye" at the threshold where the damask roses made +the air heavy with their sweetness. + +So Lord Exham did not find his politics hard to bear with such delicious +experiences between whiles. And Kate? What were Kate's experiences? +Oh, any woman who has once loved, any pure girl who longs to love, may +divine them! For Love is always the same. The tale he told Kate on the +Atheling moors and under the damask roses was the very same tale he +told high in Paradise by the four rivers where the first roses blew. + +As the summer advanced, startling notes from the outside world forced +themselves into this heavenly solitude. On the twenty-sixth of June, +King George died; and this death proved to be the first of a series of +great events. Piers felt it to be a warning bell. It said to him, "The +charming overture of Love, with its restless pleasure, its delicate +hopes and fears, is nearly at an end." He had been with Kate for +three divine hours. They had sat among the brackens at the foot of the +mountains, and been twenty times on the very point of saying audibly +the word "Love!" and twenty times had felt the delicious uncertainty +of non-confession to be too sweet for surrender. Nay, they did not +reason about it; they simply obeyed that wise, natural self-restraint +which knew its own hour, and would not hurry it. + +[Illustration:] + +With a sigh of rapture, they rose as the sun began to wester, and rode +slowly back to Atheling. No one was at the door to receive them, and +Kate wondered a little; but when they entered the hall, the omission +was at once understood. There was a large open fireplace at the +northern extremity, and over it the Atheling arms, with their motto, +"_Feare God! Honour the Kinge! Laus Deo!_" Squire Atheling was +draping this panel with crape; and Mrs. Atheling stood near him with +some streamers of the gloomy fabric in her hands. She pointed to the +King's picture--which already wore the emblem of mourning--and said, +"The King is dead." + +"The King lives! God save the King!" replied the Squire, instantly. +"God save King William the Fourth!" + +Then all the clocks in the house were stopped, and draped, and when this +ceremony was over, they had tea together. And as it is a Yorkshire +custom to make funeral feasts, Mrs. Atheling gave to the meal an air +of special entertainment. The royal Derby china added its splendour +to the fine old silver and delicate damask. There were delicious +cheese-cakes, and Queen's-cakes, and savoury potted meats, and fresh +crumpets; and the ripe red strawberries filled the room with their +ethereal scent. No one was at all depressed by the news. If King George +was dead, King William was alive; and the Squire thought, "Everything +might be hoped from 'The Sailor King.' Why!" he said, "he is that +good-natured he won't say a bad word about the Reformers; though, God +knows, they are a disgrace to themselves, and to all that back them up." + +"There will now be a general election," said Exham positively. + +"To be sure," answered the Squire. "And it is to be hoped we may get +together a few men that will take the Bull of Reform by the horns, and +put a stop to that nonsense forever in England." + +"Before they do that," said Mrs. Atheling, "they will have to consider +the swarms of people they have brought up in dirt, and rags, and misery. +For if they don't, they will bring ruin to the nation that owns them." + +"King William is a fighter. He will back the Law with bayonets, if he +thinks it right," said the Squire. + +Mrs. Atheling looked at him indignantly. Then, putting her cup down +with unmistakable emphasis, she exclaimed, "The Lord forgive thee, +John Atheling! I'll say one thing, and I'll say it now, and forever, +it isn't law backed with bayonets that has saved England so far; it is +the bit of religion in every man's heart, and his trust that somehow +God will see him righted. If it wasn't for that it would have been all +up with our set long ago." + +"That is just the way women talk politics," said the Squire, with some +contempt. "If there was nothing else in this Reform business to make a +man sick, the way they have given in to women, and got them to form clubs +and make speeches, is enough to set any sensible person against Reform; +and if there is no way of talking people into doing what is right--then +they must be _made_ to do right; and that's all there is about it." + +"Very well, John; but there are two sides to play at making other +people do right. I'll tell you one thing, the Government will have to +take a lot of things into consideration before they put their trust in +backing law with bayonets. It won't work! Let them start doing it, and +we shall all find ourselves in a wrong box." + +"I think there is much good sense in what Mrs. Atheling believes," said +Lord Exham. + +"And as for the Reformers getting round the women of the country," +she continued, "that is as it should be. Men have done all the governing +for six thousand years; and, in the main, they have made a very bad job +of it. Happen, a few kind-hearted women would help things forwarder. +There is going to be some alterations, you may depend upon it, John." + +"Father," said Kate, "you had better not argue with mother. She knows +a deal more about the country than you think she does; and mother is +always right." + +"To be sure, Kate. To hear mother talk, she knows a lot; but if she +would take my advice, she would forget a lot, and try and learn +something better." Then touching his wife's hand, he continued, +"Maude, I always did believe thou wert in favour of the land, and +the law, and the King." + +"I don't know that I ever said such a thing, John; but thou mayst have +believed it. What I _thought_, was another matter. And I am beginning +to think aloud now, that makes all the difference." + +Such divided opinions were in every household; and yet, upon the +whole, the death of the selfish, intolerant George was a hopeful +event. When people are desperate, any change is a promise; and William +had a reputation not only for good nature, but also for that love of +fair play which is the first article of an Englishman's personal +creed. He came to the throne on the twenty-sixth of June; and on the +twenty-ninth Parliament resumed its sittings. Mr. Brougham led the +opposition, and violent debates and unmeasured language distinguished +the short session. The Duke of Wellington, representing the Government, +was prominently bitter against Reform of every kind; and Mr. Brougham +boldly declared that any Minister now hoping to rule either by royal +favour or military power would be overwhelmed. In less than a month +the King prorogued Parliament in person, and in so doing, congratulated +his country on the tranquillity of Europe. Forty-eight hours afterwards, +France was insurgent, and Paris in arms. Three days of most determined +fighting followed; and then Charles the Tenth was driven from his +throne, and the white flag of the Bourbon tyranny gave place to the +Tri-colour of Liberty. + +Now if there had been a direct electric or magnetic current between +England and the Continent, the effect could not have been more +sympathetically startling; and these three memorable "Days of +July" in Paris impelled forward, with an irresistible impetus, the +cause of freedom in England. The nobility and the landed gentry were +gravely aware of this effect; and the great middle class, and the +working men in every county, were stirred to more hopeful and united +action. Far and wide the people began anew to express, in various +ways, their determination to have the Tory Ministers dismissed, and a +Liberal Government in favour of Reform inaugurated. + +For the first time the Squire was anxious. For the first time he saw +and felt positive symptoms of insubordination among his own people. +Pickering's barns were burnt one night; and a few nights afterwards, +Rudby's hay-ricks. Squire Atheling was a man of prompt action; one +well disposed to do in his own manor what he expected the Government +to do in the country,--take the Reform bull by the horns. He sent for +all his labourers to meet him in the farm court at Atheling; and when +they were gathered there, he stood up on the stone wall which enclosed +one side of it and said in his strong, resonant voice,-- + +"Now, men of Atheling manor and village, you have been sulky and ugly +for two or three weeks. You aren't sulky and ugly without knowing _why_ +you are so. If you are Yorkshiremen worth your bread and bacon, you will +out with your grievance--whatever it is. Tom Gisburn, what is it?" + +"We can't starve any longer, Squire. We want two shillings a week more +wages. Me and mine would hev been in t' churchyard if thy Missis hed +been as hard-hearted as thysen." + +"I will give you all one shilling a week more." + +"Nay, but a shilling won't do. Thy Missis is good, and Miss Kate is +good; but we want our rights; and we hev made up our minds that two +shillings a week more wage will nobbut barely cover them. We are varry +poor, Squire! Varry poor indeed!" + +The man spoke sadly and respectfully; and the Squire looked at him, +and at the stolid, anxious faces around with an angry pity. "I'll tell +you what, men," he continued; "everything in England is going to the +devil. Englishmen are getting as ill to do with as a lot of grumbling, +contrary, bombastic Frenchers. If you'll promise me to stand by the +King, and the land, and the laws, and give these trouble-making Reformers +a dip in the horse-pond if any of them come to Atheling again--why, then, +I will give you all--every one of you--two shillings a week more wage." + +"Nay, Squire, we'll not sell oursens for two shillings a week; not one +of us--eh, men?" and Gisburn looked at his fellows interrogatively. + +"Sell oursens!" replied the Squire's blacksmith, a big, hungry-looking +fellow in a leather apron; "no! no, Squire! Thou oughtest to know us +better. Sell oursens! Not for all the gold guineas in Yorkshire! We'll +sell thee our labour for two shilling a week more wage, and thankful; +but our will, and our good-will, thou can't buy for any money." + +There was a subdued cheer at these words from the men, and the Squire's +face suddenly lightened. His best self put his lower self behind him. +"Sawley," he answered, "thou art well nicknamed 'Straight-up!' and I +don't know but what I'm very proud of such an independent, honourable +lot of men. Such as you won't let the land suffer. Remember, you were +all born on it, and you'll like enough be buried in it. Stand by the +land then; and if two shillings a week more wage will make you happy, you +shall have it,--if I sell the gold buttons off my coat to pay it. Are +we friends now?" + +A hearty shout answered the question, and the Squire continued, "Then go +into the barn, and eat and drink your fill. You'll find a barrel of old +ale, and some roast beef, and wheat bread there." + +In this way he turned the popular discontent from Atheling, and doubtless +saved his barns and hay-ricks; but he went into his house angry at the +men, and angry at his wife and daughter. They had evidently been aiding +and succouring these discontents and their families; and--as he took +care to point out to Kate--evil and not good had been the result. "I +have to give now as a right," he said, "what thee and thy mother have +been giving as a kindness!" And his temper was not improved by hearing +from the barn the noisy "huzzas" with which the name of "the young +Squire" was received, and his health drank. + +"Wife, and son, and daughter! all of them against me! I wonder what +I have done to be served in such a way?" he exclaimed sorrowfully. +And then Kate forgot everything about politics. She said all kinds of +consoling words without any regard for the Reform Bill, and, with the +sweetest kisses, promised her father whatever she thought would make him +happy. It is an unreasonable, delightful way that belongs to loving +women; and God help both men and women when they are too wise for such +sweet deceptions! + +Yet the Squire carried a hot, restless heart to the Duke's meeting that +night; and he was not pleased to find that the tactics he had used with +his labourers met with general and great disapproval. Those men who had +already suffered loss, and those who knew that they had gone beyond a +conciliating policy, said some ugly words about "knuckling down," +and it required all the Duke's wisdom and influence to represent it as +"a wise temporary concession, to be recalled as soon as the election +was over, and the Tory Government safely reinstalled." + +Upon the whole, then, Squire Atheling had not much satisfaction in his +position; and every day brought some new tale of thrilling interest. All +England was living a romance; and people got so used to continual +excitement that they set the homeliest experiences of life to great +historical events. During the six weeks following the death of King +George the Fourth occurred the new King's coronation, the dissolution +of Parliament, the "Three Days of July," and the landing of the +exiled French King in England; all of these things being accompanied +by agrarian outrages in the farming districts, the destruction of +machinery in the manufacturing towns, and constant political tumults +wherever men congregated. + +The next six weeks were even more restless and excited. The French +King was a constant subject of interest to the Reformers; for was he +not a stupendous example of the triumph of Liberal principles? He was +reported first at Lulworth Castle in Devonshire. Then he went to Holyrood +Palace in Edinburgh. The Scotch Reformers resented his presence, and +perpetually insulted him, until Sir Walter Scott made a manly appeal for +the fallen tyrant. And while the Bourbon sat in Holyrood, a sign and +a text for all lovers of Freedom, England was in the direst storm and +stress of a general election. The men of the Fen Country were rising. +The Universities were arming their students. There was rioting in this +city and that city. The Tories were gaining. The Reformers were gaining. +Both sides were calling passionately on the women of the country to come +to their help, without it seeming to occur to either that if women had +political influence, they had also political rights. + +But the end was just what all these events predicated. When the election +was over, the Tory Government had lost fifty votes in the House of +Commons; but Piers Exham was Member of Parliament for the borough of +Gaythorne, and Squire Atheling was the Representative of the Twenty-two +Tory citizens of the village of Asketh. + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTH + +ANNABEL VYNER + + +The first chapter of Kate's and Piers' love-story was told to these +stirring events. They were like a _trumpet obligato_ in the distance +thrilling their hearts with a keener zest and a wider sympathy. True, +the sympathy was not always in unison, for Piers was an inflexible +partisan of his own order, yet in some directions Kate's feelings +were in perfect accord. For instance, at Exham Hall and at Atheling +Manor-house, there was the same terror of the mob's firebrand, and +the same constant watch for its prevention. These buildings were not +only the cherished homes of families; they were houses of national pride +and record. Yet many such had perished in the unreasoning anger of +multitudes mad with suffering and a sense of wrong; and the Squire +and the Lord alike kept an unceasing watch over their habitations. On +this subject, all were unanimous; and the fears, and frights, and +suspicions relating to it drew the families into much closer sympathy. + +After the election was over, there was a rapid subsidence of public +feeling; the people had taken the first step triumphantly; and they +were willing to wait for its results. Then the Richmoor family began +to consider an immediate removal to London, and, as a preparatory +courtesy, gave a large dinner party at the Castle. As Kate was not +yet in society, she had no invitation; but the Squire and Mrs. Atheling +were specially honoured guests. + +"The Squire has been of immense service to me," said Richmoor to +his Duchess. "A man so sincere and candid I have seldom met. He has +spoken well for us, simply and to the point, and I wish you to pay +marked attention to Mrs. Atheling." + +"Of course, if you desire it, I will do so. Who was Mrs. Atheling? Is +she likely to be detrimental in town or troublesome?" + +"She is the daughter of the late Thomas Hardwicke, of Hardwicke--as you +know, a very ancient county family. She had a good fortune; in fact, she +brought the Squire the Manor of Belward." + +"In appearance, is she presentable?" + +"She was very handsome some years ago. I have not seen her for a long +time." + +"I dare say she has grown stout and red; and she will probably wear blue +satin in honour of her husband's Tory principles. These county dames +always think it necessary to wear their party colours. I counted eleven +blue satin dresses at our last election dinner." + +"Even if she does wear blue satin, I should like you to be exceedingly +civil to her." + +"I suppose you know that Piers has been at Atheling a great deal. I +heard in some way that--in fact, Duke, that Piers and Miss Atheling were +generally considered lovers." + +The Duke laughed. "I think I understand Piers," he said. "These +incendiary terrors have drawn people together; and there has also been +the election business as well. Many perfectly necessary natural causes +have taken Piers to Atheling." + +"Miss Atheling, for instance!" + +"Oh, perhaps so! Why not? When I was a young man, I thought it both +necessary and natural to have a pretty girl to ride and walk with. But +riding and walking with a lovely girl is one thing; marrying her is +another. Piers knows that he is expected to marry Annabel Vyner; he +knows that for many reasons it will be well for him to do so. And above +all other considerations, Piers puts his family and his caste." + +The Duke's absolute confidence in his son satisfied the Duchess. She +looked upon her husband as a man of wonderful penetration and invincible +wisdom. If he was not uneasy about Piers and Miss Atheling, there was +no necessity for her to carry an anxious thought on the subject; and she +was glad to be fully released from it. Yet she had more than a passing +curiosity about Kate's mother. The Squire she had frequently seen, +both in the pink of the hunting-field and in the quieter dress of the +dinner-table. But it so happened that she had never met Mrs. Atheling; +and, on entering the great drawing-room, her eyes sought the only lady +present who was a stranger to her. + +Mrs. Atheling was standing at the Duke's side; and she went directly +to her, taking note, as she did so, of the beauty, style, and physical +grace that distinguished the lady. She saw that she wore a gown--not of +blue--but of heavy black satin, that it fell away from her fine throat +and shoulders, and showed her arms in all their exquisite form and +colour. She saw also that her dark hair was dressed well on the top of +the head in _bouillonés_ curls, and that the only ornament she wore +was among them,--a comb of wrought gold set with diamonds,--and that +otherwise neither brooch nor bracelet, pendant nor ruffle of lace broke +the noble lines of her figure or the rich folds of her gown. And the +Duchess was both astonished and pleased with a toilet so distinguished; +she assured herself in this passing investigation that Mrs. Atheling +was quite "presentable," and also probably desirable. + +The favourable impression was strengthened in that hour after dinner +when ladies left to their own devices either become disagreeable or +confidential. The Duchess and Mrs. Atheling fell into the latter mood, +and their early removal to London was the first topic of conversation. + +"We have no house in town," said Mrs. Atheling; "but the Squire has +rented one that belonged to the late General Vyner. It is in very good +condition, I hear, though we may have to stay a few days at '_The +Clarendon_.'" + +"How strange! I mean that it is strange you should have rented the +General's house. Did you make the arrangement with the Duke?" + +"No, indeed; with a Mr. Pownell who is a large house agent." + +"Mr. Pownell attends to the Duke's London property. I am sure he will +be delighted to know his old friend's home is in such good hands. I +wonder if you have heard that the Duke is General Vyner's executor and +the guardian of his daughter?" + +Mrs. Atheling made a motion indicative of her ignorance and her +astonishment, and the Duchess continued, "It is quite a charge +everyway; but there was a life-long friendship between the two men, +and Annabel will come to us almost like a daughter." + +"A great charge though," answered Mrs. Atheling, "especially if she +is yet to educate." + +"Her education is finished. She is twenty-two years of age. It is her +wealth which will make my position an anxious one. It is not an easy +thing to chaperon a great heiress." + +"And if she is beautiful, that will add to the difficulty," said Mrs. +Atheling. + +"I have never seen Miss Vyner. I cannot tell you whether she is +beautiful or not so. She joins us in London, and my first duty will be to +present her at the next drawing-room." + +A little sensitive pause followed this statement,--a pause so sensitive +that the Duchess divined the desire in Mrs. Atheling's heart; and Mrs. +Atheling felt the hesitancy and wavering inclination weighing her wish +in the thoughts of the Duchess. A sudden, straight glance from Mrs. +Atheling's eyes decided the question. + +"I should like to present Miss Atheling at the same time, if you have +no objection," she added. And Mrs. Atheling's pleasure was so great, +and her thanks so candid and positive, that the Duchess accepted the +situation she had placed herself in with apparent satisfaction. Yet +she wondered _why_ she had made the offer. She felt as if the favour +had been obtained against her will. She was half afraid in the very +moment of the proposal that she was doing an imprudent thing. But when +she had done it, she never thought of withdrawing from a position she +must have taken voluntarily. On the contrary, she affected a great +interest in the event, and talked of "the ceremonies Miss Atheling +must make herself familiar with," of the probable date at which the +function would take place, and of the dress and ornaments fitting for +the occasion. "And the young people must meet each other as soon as +possible," she continued. + +Then the gentlemen entered the drawing-room, and the groups scattered. +The Duchess left Mrs. Atheling; and Lord Exham took the chair she +vacated. And the happy mother was far too simple, and too single-hearted +to keep her pleasure to herself. She told Exham of the honour intended +Kate, and was a little dashed by the manner in which he heard the +news. He was ashamed of it himself; but he could not at once conquer +the feeling of jealousy which assailed him. It was the first time +that the image of Kate had been presented to him in company with any but +Piers Exham; and it gave him real suffering to associate it with the +attention and admiration her beauty was sure to challenge from all +and sundry who would be present at a court drawing-room. However, he made +the necessary assurances of pleasure, and Mrs. Atheling was not a woman +who went motive hunting. She took a friend's words at their face value. + +Of course Kate was delighted, and the Squire perhaps more so; for +though he pretended to think it "all a bit of nonsense," he opened +his purse-strings wide, and told his wife and daughter to "help +themselves." So the last few days at Atheling were set to the dreams, +and hopes, and expectations of that gay social life which always has +a charm for youth. The clash of party warfare, the wailing of want, the +insistent claims of justice,--all these voices were temporarily hushed. +They had become monotonous and, to Kate, suddenly uninteresting. What +was the passing of a Reform Bill to a girl of nineteen, when there was +such a thing as a court drawing-room in expectation? + +It made her restless and anxious during the two weeks occupied by their +removal from Atheling, and their settlement in London. And though the +great city was full of wonder and interest, and the new splendours of +the Vyner mansion very satisfactory, yet she could not enjoy these +things until there was some token that the Duchess remembered, and +intended to fulfil her promise. If only Piers had been in London! But +Piers had been detained in Yorkshire, and was not expected until the +formal opening of Parliament, so that Kate could only speculate, and +wish, and fear, and in so doing discount her present, and forestall +her future pleasures. So prodigal is youth of happiness and feeling! + +However, at the end of October, Mrs. Atheling received a letter from +the Duchess. It reminded her of the drawing-room, and asked Miss +Atheling's presence that evening in order to meet Miss Vyner, and +consult with her about the dresses to be worn. The visit was to be +perfectly informal; but even an informal visit to Richmoor House was a +great event to Kate. And how pretty she was when she came into her +father's and mother's presence, dressed for the occasion! Mrs. +Atheling looked at her with a smile of satisfaction, and the Squire +instantly rose, and took her on his arm to the waiting carriage. This +carriage was the Squire's pet extravagance, and there was not a more +splendidly-appointed equipage in London. Its horses were of the finest +that Yorkshire breeds; the servant's liveries irreproachable in taste; +and when he saw his daughter's white figure against its rich, blue +linings he was satisfied with his outlay. + +Richmoor House was soon reached, and Kate looked with wonder at its +noble frontage, and its stone colonnades. How much greater was her +wonder when she stepped into its interior vestibule! This vestibule was +eighty-two feet long, by more than twelve feet wide; it was ornamented +with Doric columns and fine carvings, and at each end there was a +colossal staircase. Up one of these stately ways Kate was conducted +into a gallery full of fine paintings, and forming the corridor on +which the one hundred and fifty rooms appropriated to the use of the +family opened. Here, one servant after another escorted her, until she +was left with a woman-in-waiting, who led her into a tiring-room and then +assisted Kate's own maid to remove her mistress's wrap and hood, and +tie in pretty bows her white satin sandals. The simple girl felt as if +she was in a dream, and she accepted all this attention with the calm +composure of a dream-maiden. It was just like one of the old fairy tales +she used to live in. She was an enchanted princess in an enchanted +castle, and all she had to do, was to be passive in the hands of her +destiny. Transient and illogical as this feeling was, it gave to her +manner a singular air of serene confidence, and the Duchess noticed and +approved it. She was relieved at once from any apprehension of anything +_malapropos_ in The Presence. + +She went forward to meet Kate, and was both astonished and pleased at +her _protegée's_ appearance. The white llama in which she was gowned, +its simple trimming of white satin, and its pretty accessories of +white slippers and gloves satisfied both the pride and the taste of +the Duchess. Any less attention to costume she would have felt as a +want of respect towards herself; any more extravagant display would +have indicated vulgar display and a due want of subordination to her +own rank and age. But Kate offended no feeling, and she took her by +the hand and led her down the long room. At its extremity there was a +group of girls: one was standing; the others were sitting on a sofa +before her. The eyes of all were fastened on Kate as she approached; +but she was not disturbed by this scrutiny. She had all the strength and +assurance which comes from a proper and moderate toilet; and she was even +competent to do her own share of observation. + +[Illustration:] + +The three girls sitting on the sofa offered no points of remark or +speculation. They were the three Ladies Anne, Mary, and Charlotte +Warwick; and all alike had the beauty of youth, the grace of noble +nurture, and the pretty garments indicative of their station. But the +young lady standing was of a different character. Her personality +pervaded the space in which she stood; she domineered with a look; and +Kate knew instinctively that this girl was Annabel Vyner. The knowledge +came with a little shock, a sudden failing of heart, a presentiment. She +had given her hand with a pleasant impulse, and without consideration, +to the Ladies Warwick; she did not offer it to Annabel; and yet she was +not aware of the omission. All of these girls were intending to make a +Court _début_, and at that moment were discussing its necessities. Kate +at first took little part in this discussion. Mrs. Atheling had already +decided on the costume she thought most suitable for her daughter; +and Kate was quite satisfied with her choice. Miss Vyner was however +dictating to Lady Charlotte Warwick what she ought to wear; and Kate +watched with a curious wonder this girlish oracle, laying down laws +for others her equal in age, and far more than her equal in rank and +social position. + +Miss Vyner was not beautiful; but she possessed an irresistible +fascination. She was large, and rather heavy. She reminded one of a +roughhewn granite statue of old Egypt; and she was just as magnificently +imposing. Her hair was long, and strong, and wavy; her eyes very black +and intrepid, but capable of liquid, languishing expressions, full of +enchantment. Her nose, though thick and square at the end, had wide, +sensitive nostrils; and her fine, red lips showed white and dazzling +teeth. But it was the sense of power and plenitude of life which she +possessed which gave her that natural authority, whose influence all +felt, and few analysed or disputed. + +She was quite aware that standing was a becoming posture, and that it +gave to her a certain power over the girlish figures who seemed to sit +at her feet. It was not long, however, before Kate felt an instinctive +rebellion against the position assigned her; she knew that it put her +in an unfair subordination; and she rose from her chair, and stood +leaning against the Broadwood piano at her side. The action arrested Miss +Vyner's attention. She stopped speaking in the middle of a sentence, +and, looking steadily at Kate, said suavely, as she pushed the chair +slightly,-- + +"Do sit down, Miss Atheling." + +"No, thank you," answered Kate. "I have been sitting all day. I am +tired of sitting." + +Then Annabel gave her a still more searching look, and something came +into Kate's eyes which she understood; for she smiled as she went on +with her little dictation; but the thought in her heart was, "So you +have thrown down the glove, Miss Atheling!" + +Nothing however of this incipient defiance was noticeable; and Annabel's +attention was almost immediately afterwards diverted from her companions. +For in the middle of one of her fine descriptions of an Indian court, she +observed a sudden loss of interest, and a simultaneous direction of +every glance towards the upper end of the room. The Duchess was +approaching, and with her, a young man in dinner costume. A crimson +flush rushed over Kate's neck and face; she dropped her eyes, but +could not restrain the faint smile that came and went like a flash +of light. + +"It is Lord Exham," she said in a low voice to Anne Warwick; and +the Ladies nodded slightly, and continued a desultory conversation, +they hardly knew what about. But Annabel stood erect and silent. She +glanced once at Kate, and then turned the full blaze of her dazzling +eyes upon the advancing nobleman. For once, their magnetic rays were +ineffectual. The Duchess, on her son's arrival, had notified him of +the ladies present; and Kate Atheling was the lodestar which drew his +first attention. He had in the button-hole of his coat a few Michaelmas +daisies, and after speaking to the other ladies, he put them into Kate's +hand, saying, "I gathered them in Atheling garden. Do you remember the +bush by the swing in the laurel walk? I thought you would like to have +them." And Kate said "thank you" in the way that Piers perfectly +understood and appreciated, though it seemed to be of the most formal +kind. + +The dinner was a family dinner, but far from being tiresome or dull. The +Duke and Lord Exham had both adventures to tell. The latter in passing +through a little market-town had seen the hungry people take the wheat +from the grain-market by force, and said he had been delayed a little +by the circumstance. + +"But why?" asked the Duchess. + +"There were some arrests made; and after all, one cannot see hungry +men and women punished for taking food." There was silence after +this remark, and Kate glanced at Exham, whose veiled eyes, cast upon +the glass of wine he held in his hand, betrayed nothing. But when he +lifted them, they caught something from Kate's eyes, and an almost +imperceptible smile passed from face to face. No one asked Exham for +further particulars; and the Duke hurriedly changed the subject. +"Where do you think I took lunch to-day?" he asked. + +"At Stephen's," answered the Duchess. + +"Not likely," he replied. "I am neither a fashionable officer, nor +a dandy about town. If I had asked for lunch there, the waiters would +have stared solemnly, and told me there was no table vacant." + +"As you want horses, perhaps you went to Limmers," said Exham. + +"No. I met a party of gentlemen and ladies going to Whitbread's +Brewery, and I went with them. We had a steak done on a hot malt shovel, +and plenty of stout to wash it down. There were quite a number of +visitors there; it has become one of the sights of London. Then I rode as +far as the Philosophical Society, and heard a lecture on a new chemical +force." + +"The Archbishop does not approve of your devotion to Science," said +the Duchess, reprovingly. + +"I know it," he answered. "All our clergy regard Science as a new kind +of sin. I saw the Archbishop later, at a very interesting ceremony,--the +deposition in Whitehall Chapel of twelve Standards taken in Andalusia +by the personal bravery of our soldiers." + +"I wish I had seen that ceremony," said Kate. + +"And I wish I had myself been one of the heroes carrying the Standard +I had won," added Annabel. + +The Duke smiled at the pretty volunteers, and continued, "It was a +very interesting sight. Three royal Dukes, many Generals and foreign +Ambassadors, and the finest troops in London were present. We had some +good music, and a short religious service, and then the Archbishop +deposited the flags on each side of the Altar." + +"I like these military ceremonies," said the Duchess. "I shall not +forget the Proclamation of Peace after Waterloo. What a procession of +mediæval splendour it was!" + +"I remember it, though I was only a little boy," said Exham. "The +Proclamation was read three times,--at Temple Bar, at Charing Cross, +and at The Royal Exchange. The blast of trumpets before and after each +reading!--I can hear it yet!" + +"And the Thanksgiving at St. Paul's after the procession was just as +impressive," continued the Duchess. "The Prince Regent and the Duke of +Wellington walked together, and Wellington carried the Sword of State. It +was a gorgeous festival set to trumpets and drums, and the roll of organ +music, and the seraphic singing of '_Lo! the conquering hero comes_.' +The Duke could have asked England for anything he desired that day." + +"Yet he is very unpopular now," said Kate, timidly. "Even my father +thinks he carries everything with too high a hand." + +"His military training must be considered, Miss Atheling," said the +Duke. "And the country needs a tight rein now." + +"He may hold it too tight," said Exham, in a low voice. + +Then the conversation was turned to the theatres, and while they were +talking, Squire Atheling was introduced. He had called to escort his +daughter home; and after a short delay, Kate was ready to accompany +him. The Duke and the Squire--who were deep in some item of political +news--went to the entrance hall together; and Lord Exham took Kate's +hand, and led her down the great stairway. It was now lighted with a +profusion of wax candles in silver candelabra. They were too happy to +speak, and there was no need of speech. Like two notes of music made +for each other, though dissimilar, they were one; and the melody in +the heart of Piers was the melody in the heart of Kate. The unison was +perfect; why then should it be explained? Very slowly they came down +the low broad steps, hardly feeling their feet upon them; for spirit +mingled with spirit, and gave them the sense of ethereal motion. + +When they reached the vestibule, Kate's maid advanced and threw round +her a wrap of pink silk, trimmed with minever; and as Piers watched the +shrouding of her rose-like face in the pretty hood, a sudden depression +came like a cloud over him. Oh, yes! True love has these moments of +deep gloom, in which intense feeling suspends both movement and speech. +He could only look into the warm, secret foldings of silk and fur which +hid Kate's beauty; he had not even the common words of courtesy at +his command; but Kate divined the much warmer "good-night" that was +masked by the formal bow and uncovered head. + +After the departure of the Athelings, father and son walked silently up +the stairs together; but at the top of them, the Duke paused and said, +"Piers, the King opens Parliament on the Second of November. We have +only three days' truce. Then for the fight." + +"We have foemen worthy of our steel. Grey--Durham--Brougham--Russel and +Graham. They will not easily be put down." + +"We shall win." + +"Perhaps. The House of Lords is very near of one mind. Will you come to +my smoking-room and have a pipe of Turkish?" + +"I must see the ladies again; afterwards I may do so." + +With these words they parted, and Piers went dreamily along the state +corridor. In its dim, soft light, he suddenly saw Miss Vyner approaching +him. He was thinking of Kate; but he had no wish to escape Annabel. He +was even interested in watching her splendid figure in motion. Only from +some Indian loom had come that marvellous tissue of vivid scarlet with +its embroidery of golden butterflies. It made her look like some superb +flower. She smiled as she reached Piers, and said,-- + +"I only am left to wish you a 'good-night and happy dreams.'The Ladies +Warwick were sleepy, the Duchess longing to be rid of such a lot of +tiresome girls, and I--" + +"What of 'I'?" he asked with a sudden, unaccountable interest. + +"I am going to the Land where I always go in sleep. I shut my eyes, and +I am there." + +"Then, 'Good-night.'" + +"Good-night." She put her little, warm, brown hand, flashing with gems, +into his; and then with one long, unwinking gaze--in which she caught +Piers' gaze--she strangely troubled the young man. His blood grew hot as +fire; his heart bounded; his face was like a flame; and he clasped her +hand with an unconscious fervour. She laughed lightly, drew it away, +and passed on. But as she did so, the Indian scarf she had over her +arm trailed across his feet, and thrilled him like some living thing. +He had a sense of intoxication, and he hurried forward to his own room, +and threw himself into a chair. + +"It is that strange perfume that clings around her," he said in a +voice of controlled excitement. "I perceived it as soon as I met her. +It makes me drowsy. It makes me feverish--and yet how delicious it is!" +He threw his head backward, and lay with closed eyes, moving neither +hand nor foot for some minutes. Then he rose, and began to walk about +the room, lifting and putting down books, and papers, and odd trifles, +as they came in the way of his restless fingers. And when at last he +found speech, it was to reproach himself--his real self--the man within +him. + +"You, poor, weak, false-hearted lover!" he muttered bitterly. "Piers +Exham! You hardly needed temptation. I am ashamed of you! Ashamed of +you, Piers! Oh, Kate! I have been false to you. It was only a passing +thought, Kate; but you would not have given to another even a passing +thought. Forgive me. _O Thou Dear One!_" + +"Thou Dear One!" These three words had a meaning of inexpressible +tenderness to him. For one night,--when as yet their Love was but +learning to speak,--one warm, sweet July night, as they stood under the +damask roses, he said to Kate,-- + +"How beautiful are the words and tones which your mother uses to the +Squire. She does not speak thus to every one." + +"No," replied Kate. "To strangers mother always says '_you_.' To +those she loves, she says '_thou_.'" + +And Piers answered, "Dear--if only--" and then he let the silence speak +for him. But Kate understood, and she whispered softly,-- + +"_Thou Dear One!_" + +It seemed to Piers as if no words to be spoken in time or in eternity +could ever make those three words less sweet. They came to his memory +always like a sigh of soft music on a breath of roses. And so it was at +this hour. They filled his heart, they filled his room with soft delight. +He stood still to realise their melody and their fragrance, the music +of their sweet inflections, the perfume of their pure and perfect love. + +"_Thou Dear One!_" He said these words again and again. "It has always +been Kate and Piers! Always _I_ and _Thou_--and as for _the Other One_--" + +This mental query, utterly unthought of and uncalled for, very much +annoyed him. Who or What was it that suggested "The Other One"? Not +himself; he was sure of that. He went to his father, and they talked +of the King, and the Ministers, and the great Mr. Brougham, whom both +King and Ministers feared--but all the time, and far below the tide of +this restless conversation, Piers heard this very different one,-- + +"_I_ and _Thou_!" + +"And _the Other One_." + +"There is no 'Other One.'" + +"Annabel." + +"No." + +"If Annabel were Destiny?" + +"Will is stronger than Destiny." + +"If Annabel should be Will." + +"Love is stronger than Will." + +"It is Kate and Piers." + +"And the Other One." + +He grew impatient at this persistence of an idea that he had not evoked, +that he had, in fact, denied. But he could not exorcise it. His very +dreams were made and mingled of the two girls,--Kate, whom he loved, +Annabel, who came like a splendid destiny to trouble love. In the +pageant of sleep, he lost that will-power which controlled his life; +he was tossed to-and-fro between blending shadows: Kate was Annabel; +Annabel was Kate; and the fretful, unreasonable drama went on through +restless hours, always to the same tantalising refrain,-- + +"_I, Thou, and the Other One!_" + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTH + +THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT STRUGGLE + + +There is no eternity for nations. Individuals may be punished hereafter; +nations are punished here. In the first years of the Nineteenth Century, +Englishmen were mad on war; and though wise men warned them of the ruin +that stalks after war, no one believed their report. The treasure that +would have now fed the starving population of England, had been spent +in killing Frenchmen. Bad harvests followed the war years, taxation +was increased, wages were lowered and lowered, credit was gone, trade +languished, hunger or scrimping carefulness was in every household. +For the iniquitous Corn Laws of 1815, forbidding the importation of +foreign grain, had raised English wheat to eighty shillings a quarter. +And how were working men to buy bread at such a price? No wonder, +they clamoured for a House of Commons that should represent their +case, and repeal Acts that could only benefit one class, and inflict +ruin and misery on all others. + +A feeling therefore of intense anxiety pervaded the country on the +Second of November,--the day on which the King was to open Parliament. +No one could work; every one was waiting for the King's speech. He was +as yet very popular; it was his first message to his people; and they +openly begged him for some word of hope--some expression of sympathy for +Reform. He went in great state to Westminster, and was cheered by the +city as he went. "Will Your Majesty say a word for the poor? God bless +Your Majesty! Stand by Reform!" Such expressions assailed him on every +hand; they were the prayers of a people wronged and suffering, yet +disposed to be patient and loyal, and to seek Reform only to spare +themselves and the country the ruth and ruin of Revolution. + +Richmoor House was on the way of the royal procession, and Kate was there +to watch it. A little later, a great company began to assemble in its +rooms; for the Duke had promised to bring, or to send, the earliest news +of the event. There was however an intense restlessness among these +splendidly attired men and women. They could not separate Reform from +Revolution; and the French Revolution was yet red and bloody in their +memories. They still heard the thunder of those famous "Three Days of +July," and there was constantly before their eyes, the heir of forty +kings finding in a British palace an ignominious shelter. Not only was +this the case, but French noblemen, in poverty and exile, were earning +precarious livings all around; and English noblemen and ladies looked +forward with terror to a similar fate, if the Reformers obtained their +desire. Indeed, Sir Robert Inglis had boldly prophesied, "Reform would +sweep the House of Lords clear in ten years." + +No wonder then the company waiting in Richmoor House were restless and +anxious. Kate did not permit herself to speak, and Mrs. Atheling had +very prudently remained in her own home. She had told the Squire she +"must say what she thought, if she died for it!" and the Squire had +answered, "To be sure, Maude. That is thy right; only, for goodness' +sake, say it in thy own house!" But though Kate knew she would follow +her mother's example, if she was brought to catechism on the subject, +she did not have much fear of such a result; there were too many older +ladies present, all of them desirous to express the hatreds and hopes +of their class. + +Yet it was these emotional, expressional women that Annabel Vyner +naturally joined. She stood among them like a splendid incarnation of +its spirit. She hoped vehemently that "Earl Grey and Lord John Russell +would be beheaded as traitors;" she declared she would "go with +delight to Tower Hill and see the axe fall." She flashed into contempt, +when she spoke of Mr. Brougham. "Botany Bay and hard labour might do +for him; and as for the waiting crowds in the streets, the proper thing +was to shoot them down, like rabid animals." She wondered "the Duke +of Wellington did not do so." These sentiments were vivified by the +passion that blazed in her black eyes and flushed her brown face crimson, +and by the gown of bright yellow Chinese crape which she wore; for it +fluttered and waved with her impetuous movements, and made a kind of +luminous atmosphere around her. + +"What a superb creature!" exclaimed Mr. Disraeli to the Hon. Mrs. +Norton. And Mrs. Norton put up her glass and looked at Annabel critically. + +"Superb indeed--to look at. Would you like to live with her?" + +"It would be exciting." + +"More so than your 'Vivian Grey,' which I have just read. It is the +book of the year." + +"No, that honour belongs to a little volume of poems by a young man +called Tennyson. Get it; you will read every word it contains." + +"I am wedded to my idols,--Byron and Scott and Keble. I am much +interested at present in those 'Imaginary Conversations' which that +queer Mr. Landor has given us. They are worth reading, I assure you." + +"But why read them? Listen to the 'Conversations' around us! They are +of Revolution, Civil War, Exile, and the Headsman. Could anything be more +'Imaginary'?" + +"Who can tell? Here comes Richmoor. He may be able to prognosticate. +What a murmur of voices! What invisible movement! Can you divine the news +from the messenger's face?" + +"He thinks that he brings good news. He may be fatally wrong." + +The Duke certainly thought that he brought good news. He was much +excited. He came forward with his hands extended, palms upward. + +"The King stands by us!" he cried. "God save the King!" + +Twenty voices called out at once, "What did he say?" + +"He said plainly that in spite of the public opinion expressed so +loudly in recent elections, Reform would have no sanction from the +Government. I only stayed until the end of the royal speech. Yet in +some way rumours of its purport must have reached the street. In the +neighbourhood, there was much agitation, and even anger." + +Then Kate slipped away from the excited throng. Piers had evidently +remained for the discussion on the King's speech; and it might be +midnight when the House adjourned. The winter day was fast darkening; +she ordered her chairmen, and the pretty sedan was brought into the +vestibule for her. She had no fear, though the very gloom and silence of +the waiting crowd was more indicative of danger than noise or threats +would have been. When she reached Hyde Park corner, however, angry faces +pressed around a little too close, and she was alarmed. Then she threw +back her hood and looked out calmly at the crowd, and immediately a +clear voice cried out, "It is Edgar Atheling's sister! Take good care +of her!" And there was a cheer and a cry, and about twenty men closed +round the chair, and saw it safely to its destination. + +Then Cecil North stepped to the door and opened it. "I knew it was you, +Mr. North!" cried Kate. "I knew your voice. How kind of you to come +all the way with me! How glad mother will be to see you!" + +"I cannot wait a moment, Miss Atheling. Can you give me any news?" + +"Yes. The King says the Government will not sanction Reform." + +"Who told you this?" + +"The Duke of Richmoor--not an hour ago." + +"Then 'good-night.' I am afraid there will be trouble." + +Mrs. Atheling and Kate were afraid also. The murmur of the crowd grew +louder and louder as the tenor of the King's speech became known; and +many a time they wished themselves in the safety and solitude of their +Yorkshire home. So they talked, and watched, and listened until the +night was far advanced. Then they heard the firm, strong step of the +Squire on the pavement; and his imperative voice in denial of something +said by a group of men whom he passed. In a few minutes he entered the +drawing-room with an angry light in his eyes, and the manner of a man +exasperated by opposition. + +"Whatever is it, John? Is there trouble already?" asked Mrs. Atheling. + +[Illustration:] + +"Plenty of it, and like to be more. The King has spoken like a fool." + +"John Atheling! His Majesty!" + +"His Imbecility! I tell you what, Maude, there has been enough said +to-day, and to-night, to set all the dogs of civil war loose. Give me a +bit of eating, and I will tell thee and Kitty what a lot of idiots are +met together in Westminster." + +The Squire always wanted a deal of waiting upon; and in a few minutes +his valet was bringing him easy slippers and a loose coat, and two +handmaidens serving a tray, bearing game pastry, and fruit tarts, and +clotted cream. But he would take neither wine, nor strong ale,-- + +"Water is all a man wants that gets himself stirred up in the House of +Commons," he said. "And if I had been in the Lords' House, I would +have needed nothing but a strait-jacket." + +He had hardly sat down to eat, when Piers Exham came in. No one could +have been more welcome, and the young man's troubled face brightened +in the sunshine of Kate's smile, and in the honest kindness of the +Squire's greeting. "I was just going to tell Mrs. Atheling all I knew +about to-night's blundering," he said; "but now we will have your +report first, for you have seen the Duke, I'll warrant." + +"Indeed, Squire, the Duke is not dissatisfied--though the general +opinion is, that the Duke of Wellington has committed an egregious +mistake." + +"I shouldn't wonder. Wellington does not know the difference between +a field-marshal and a Cabinet Minister. What did he say?" + +"He said that as long as he held any office in the Government, he would +resist Reform. He said there was no need of Reform; that we had the best +government in the world. The Duke of Devonshire, whom I have just seen, +told me that this statement produced a feeling of the utmost dismay, even +in the calm atmosphere of the House of Lords." + +"Calm!" interrupted the Squire. "You had better say, Incurable +prosiness." + +"Wellington noticed the suppressed excitement, the murmur, and the +movement, and asked Devonshire in a whisper, 'What can I have said to +cause such great disturbance?' And Devonshire shrugged his shoulders +and answered candidly, 'You have announced the fall of your government, +that is all.'" + +"Wellington considers the nation as a mutinous regiment," answered the +Squire. "He thinks the arguments for Reformers ought to be cannon balls; +but Englishmen will not endure a military government." + +"It would be better than a mob government, Squire. Remember France." + +"Englishmen are not Frenchmen," said Kate. "You ought to remember +_that_, Piers. Englishmen are the most fair, just, reasonable, brave, +loyal, honourable people on the face of the earth!" + +"Well done, Kitty!" cried the Squire. "It takes a little lass like +thee to find adjectives plenty enough, and good enough, for thy own. My +word! I wish thou couldst tell the Duke of Wellington what thou thinkest +of his fellow-citizens. He would happen trust them more, and treat them +better." + +"There is Mr. Peel too," she continued. "Both he and the Duke of +Wellington are always down on the people. And yet the Duke has led these +same people from one victory to another; and Mr. Peel is one of the +people. His father was a day-labourer, and he ought to be proud of it; +William Cobbett is, and William Cobbett is a greater man than Robert +Peel." + +"Now then, Kitty, that is far enough; for thou art wrong already. +Cobbett isn't a greater man than Peel; he isn't a great man at all, +he is only a clever man. But the man for my money is Henry Brougham. He +drives the world before him. He is a multitude. He had just one idea +to-day,--Reform and again Reform. He played that tune finely to the +House, and they danced to it like a miracle. Much good it will do them!" + +"He was scarcely decent," said Piers. "He gave notice, as you must +have heard, in the most aggressive manner that he should bring 'Reform' +to an immediate issue." + +"Yes," answered the Squire. "There is doubtless a big battle before +us. But, mark my words, it will not be with Wellington and Peel. They +signed their own resignation this afternoon." + +"That is what my father thinks," said Piers. + +"If Wellington could only have held his tongue!" said the Squire, +bitterly. + +"And if Daniel O'Connell would only cease making fun of the +Government." + +"That man! He is nobody!" + +"You mistake, Squire. His buffoonery is fatal to our party. I tell +you that Ridicule is the lightning that kills. Has not Aristophanes +tossed his enemies for the scorn and laughter of a thousand cities for a +thousand years? I fear O'Connell's satire and joking, far more than +I fear Grey's statesmanship, or Durham's popularity." + +Then Piers turned to Kate, and asked if she had seen the royal +procession. And she told him about her visit, and about Mr. North's +interference for her safety, and his escort of her home. Piers was +much annoyed at this incident. He begged her not to venture into the +streets until public feeling had abated, or was controlled, and +asked with singular petulance, "Who is this Mr. North? He plays the +mysterious Knight very well. He interferes too much." + +"I was grateful for his interference." + +"Why did you not remain at Richmoor until I returned? I expected it, +Kate." + +"I was afraid; and I knew my mother would be anxious--and I felt so +sad among strangers. You know, Piers, I have always lived among my own +people--among those who loved me." + +This little bit of conversation had taken place while the tray was +being removed, and the Squire and Mrs. Atheling were talking about +the engagements for the next day, so that definite orders might be +given concerning the carriage and horses. The movements of the servants +had enabled Piers and Kate, quite naturally, to withdraw a little +from the fireside group; and when Kate made her tender assertion, +about living with those who loved her, Piers's heart was full to +overflowing. This girl of sweet nature, with her innocent beauty and +ingenuous expressions, possessed his noblest feelings. He clasped her +hands in his, and said,-- + +"Oh, Kate! I loved you when you were only twelve years old; I love you +now beyond all measure of words. And you love me? Speak, Dear One!" + +"I love none but thee!" + +The next moment she was standing before her father and mother. Piers held +her hand. He was talking to them in low but eager tones, yet she did not +realise a word, until he said,-- + +"Give her to me, my friends. We have loved each other for many years. +We shall love each other for ever. She is the wife of my soul. Without +her, I can only half live." Then bending to Kate, he asked her fondly, +"Do you love me, Kate? Do you love me? Ask your heart about it. Tell us +truly, do you love me?" + +Then she lifted her sweet eyes to her lover, her father, and her mother, +and answered, "I love Piers with all my heart." + +The Squire was much troubled and affected. "This is taking a bit of +advantage, Piers," he said. "There is a time for everything, and this +is not my time for giving my little girl away." + +"Speak for us, Mrs. Atheling," said Piers. + +"Nay, I think the Squire is quite right," she replied. "Love isn't +worth much if Duty does not stand with it." + +"And there is far more, Piers," continued the Squire, "in such a +marriage as you propose than a girl's and a lover's 'yes.' When +the country has settled a bit, we will talk about love and wedding. I +can't say more for my life, can I, Mother?" + +"It is enough," answered Mrs. Atheling. "Why, we might have a civil +war, and what not! To choose a proper mate is good enough; but it is +quite as important to choose a proper time for mating. Now then, this is +not a proper time, when everything is at ups-and-downs, and this way and +that way, and great public events, that no one can foretell, crowding +one on the neck of the other. Let things be as they are, children. If +you only knew it, you are in the Maytime of your lives. I wouldn't +hurry it over, if I was you. It won't come back again." + +Then Kate kissed her father, and her mother, and her lover; and Piers +kissed Kate, and Mrs. Atheling, and put his hand into the Squire's +hand; and the solemn joy of betrothal was there, though it was not openly +admitted. + +In truth the Squire was much troubled at events coming to any climax. +He would not suffer his daughter to enter into an engagement not openly +acknowledged and approved by both families; and yet he was aware that +at the present time the Duke would consider any subject--not public or +political--as an interruption, perhaps as an intrusion. Besides which, +the Squire's own sense of honour and personal pride made him averse +to force an affair so manifestly to the preferment of his daughter. +It looked like taking advantage of circumstances--of presuming upon a +kindness; in fact, the more Squire Atheling thought of the alliance, the +less he was disposed to sanction it. Under no circumstances, could he +give Kate such a fortune as the heir of a great Dukedom had a right to +expect. She must enter the Richmoor family at a disadvantage--perhaps +even on sufferance. + +"No! by the Lord Harry, no!" he exclaimed. "I'll have none of the +Duke's toleration on any matter. I am sorry I took his seat. I wish +Edgar was here--he ought to be here, looking after his mother and +sister, instead of setting up rogues on Glasgow Green against their +King and Country! Of course, there is Love to reckon with, and Love does +wonders--but it is money that makes marriage." + +With such reflections, and many others growing out of them, the Squire +hardened his heart, and strengthened his personal sense of dignity, until +he almost taught himself to believe the Duke had already wounded it. In +this temper he was quite inclined to severely blame his wife for not +"putting a stop to the nonsense when it first began." + +"John," she answered, "we are both of a piece in that respect." + +"On my honour, Mother." + +"Don't say it, John. You used to laugh at the little lass going off +with Edgar and Piers fishing. You used to tease her about the gold brooch +Piers gave her. Many a time you have called her to me, 'the little +Duchess.'" + +"Wilt thou be quiet?" + +"I am only reminding thee." + +"Thou needest not. I wish thou wouldst remind thy son that he has a +sister that he might look after a bit." + +"I can look after Kate without his help. He is doing far better business +than hanging around Dukes." + +"If thou wantest a quarrel this morning, Maude, I'm willing to give +thee one. I say, Edgar ought to be here." + +"What for? He is doing work that we will all be proud enough of some +day. Thou oughtest to be helping him, instead of abusing him. I want thee +to open this morning's _Times_, and read the speech he made in Glasgow +City Hall. Thou couldst not have made such a speech to save thy life." + +"Say, I _would not_ have made it, and then thou wilt say the very +truth." + +"Read it." + +"Not I." + +"Thou darest not. Thou knowest it would make thee turn round and vote +with the Reformers." + +"Roast the Reformers! I wish I could! I would not have believed thou +couldst have said such a thing, Maude. How darest thou even think of thy +husband as a turncoat? Why, in politics, it is the unpardonable sin." + +"It is nothing of the kind. Not it! It is far worse to stick to a sin, +than to turn from it. If I was the biggest of living Tories, and I found +out I was wrong, I would stand up before all England and turn my coat in +the sight of everybody. I would that. When I read thy name against Mr. +Brougham bringing up Reform, I'll swear I could have cried for it!" + +"I wouldn't wonder. All the fools are not dead yet. But I hear Kitty +and her lover coming. I wonder what they are talking and laughing about?" + +"Thou hadst better not ask them. I'll warrant, Piers is telling her +the same sort of nonsense, thou usedst to tell me; and they will both +of them, believe it, no doubt." + +At these words Piers and Kate entered the room together. They were +going for a gallop in the Park; and they looked so handsome, and so +happy, that neither the Squire nor Mrs. Atheling could say a word to +dash their pleasure. The Squire, indeed, reminded Piers that the House +met at two o'clock; and Piers asked blankly, like a man who neither +knew, nor cared anything about the House, "Does it?" With the words on +his lips, he turned to Kate, and smiling said, "Let us make haste, my +dear. The morning is too fine to lose." And hand in hand, they said +a hasty, joyful "good-bye" and disappeared. The father and mother +watched them down the street until they were out of sight. As they +turned away from the window, their eyes met, and Mrs. Atheling smiled. +The Squire looked abashed and disconcerted. + +"Why didst not thou put a stop to such nonsense, John?" she asked. + +Fortunately at this moment a servant entered to tell the Squire his horse +was waiting, and this interruption, and a rather effusive parting, let +him handsomely out of an embarrassing answer. + +Then Mrs. Atheling wrote a long letter to her son, and looked after the +ways of her household, and knit a few rounds on her husband's hunting +stocking, and as she did so thought of Kate's future, and got tired +of trying to settle it, and so left it, as a scholar leaves a difficult +problem, for the Master to solve. And when she had reached this point +Kate came into the room. She had removed her habit, and the joyous look +which had been so remarkable two hours before was all gone. The girl +was dashed and weary, and her mother asked her anxiously, "If she was +sick?" + +"No," she answered; "but I have been annoyed, and my heart is heavy, +and I am tired." + +"Who or what annoyed you, child?" + +"I will tell you. Piers and I had a glorious ride, and were coming +slowly home, when suddenly the Richmoor liveries came in sight. I saw +the instant change on Piers's face, and I saw Annabel slightly push the +Duchess and say something. And the Duchess drew her brows together as +we passed each other, and though she bowed, I could see that she was +angry and astonished. As for Annabel, she laughed a little, scornful +laugh, and threw me a few words which I could not catch. It was a most +unpleasant meeting; after it Piers was very silent. I felt as if I had +done something wrong, and yet I was indignant at myself for the feeling." + +"What did Piers say?" + +"He said nothing that pleased me. He fastened his eyes on Annabel,--who +was marvellously dressed in rose-coloured velvet and minever,--and she +clapped her small hands together and nodded to him in a familiar way, +and, bending slightly forward, passed on. And after that he did not talk +much. All his love-making was over, and I thought he was glad when we +reached home. I think Annabel will certainly take my lover from me." + +"You mean that she has made up her mind to be Duchess of Richmoor?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, my dear Kate, a beautiful woman is strong, and money is stronger; +but _True Love conquers all_." + + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTH + +THE LOST RING + + +"To-morrow some new light may come, and you will see things another way, +Kitty." This was Mrs. Atheling's final opinion, and Kitty was inclined +to take all the comfort there was in it. She was sitting then in her +mother's room, watching her dress for dinner, and admiring, as good +daughters will always do, everything she could find to admire about the +yet handsome woman. + +"You have such beautiful hair, Mother. I wouldn't wear a cap if I was +you," she said. + +"Your father likes a bit of lace on my head, Kitty. He says it makes me +look more motherly." + +She was laying the "bit of lace" on her brown hair as she spoke. Then +she took from her open jewel case, two gold pins set with turquoise, and +fastened the arrangement securely. Kitty watched her with loving smiles, +and finally changed the whole fashion of the bit of lace, declaring that +by so doing she had made her mother twenty years younger. And somehow +in this little toilet ceremony, all Kitty's sorrow passed away, and +she said, "I wonder where my fears are gone to, Mother; for it does not +now seem hard to hope that all is just as it was." + +"To be sure, Kitty, I never worry much about fears. Fears are mostly +made of nothing; and in the long run they are often a blessing. Without +fears, we couldn't have hopes; now could we?" + +"Oh, you dear, sweet, good Mother! I wish I was just like you!" + +"Time enough, Kitty." Then a look of love flashed from face to face, +and struck straight from heart to heart; and there was a little silence +that needed no words. Kitty lifted a ring and slipped it on her finger. +It was a hoop of fine, dark blue sapphires, set in fretted gold, and +clasped with a tiny padlock, shaped like a heart. + +"What a lovely ring!" she cried. "Why do you not wear it, Mother?" + +"Because it is a good bit too small now, Kitty." + +"Miss Vyner's hands are always covered with rings, and she says every +one of them has a romance." + +"I've heard, or read, something like that. There was a woman in the +story-book, was there not, who kept a tally of her lovers on a string of +rings they had given her? I don't think it was anything to her credit. +I shouldn't wonder if that is a bit ill-natured. I ought not to say such +a thing, so don't mind it, Kitty." + +"Is this sapphire band yours, Mother?" + +"To be sure it is." + +[Illustration:] + +"May I wear it?" + +"Well, Kitty, I think a deal of that ring. You must take great care of +it." + +"So then, Mother, one of your rings has a story too, has it?" And there +was a little laugh for answer, and Kitty slipped the coveted trinket on +her finger, and held up her hand to admire the gleam of the jewels, as +she said, musingly, "I wonder what Piers is doing?" + +"I wouldn't 'wonder,' dearie. Little troubles are often worrited into +big troubles. If things are let alone, they work themselves right. I'll +warrant Piers is unhappy enough." + +But Mrs. Atheling's warrant was hardly justified. Piers should have +gone to the House; but he went instead to his room, threw himself among +the cushions of a divan, and with a motion of his head indicated to +his servant that he wanted his Turkish pipe. The strange inertia and +indifference that had so suddenly assailed, still dominated him, and +he had no desire to combat it. He was neither sick nor weary; yet he +seemed to have lost all control over his feelings. Had the man within +the man "gone off guard"? Have we not all--yes, we have all of us +succumbed to just such intervals of supreme, inexpressible listlessness +and insensibility? We are "not all there," but _where_ has our inner +self gone to? And what is it doing? It gives us no account of such lapses. + +Piers asked no questions of himself. He was like a man dreaming; for if +his Will was not asleep, it was at least quiescent. He made no effort +to control his thoughts, which drifted from Annabel to Kate, and from +Kate to Annabel, in the vagrant, inconsequent manner which acknowledges +neither the guidance of Reason or Will. And as the Levantine vapour +lulled his brain, he felt a pleasure in this surrender of his noblest +attributes. He thought of Annabel as he had seen her the previous +evening, dressed in a shaded satin of blue and green, trimmed with the +tips of peacock feathers. The same resplendent ornaments were in her +strong, wavy, black hair, and round her throat was a necklace of +emeralds and amethysts. "What a Duchess of Richmoor she would make!" +he thought. "How stately and proud! How well she would wear the coronet +and the gold strawberry leaves, and the crimson robe and ermine of her +state dress! Yes, Annabel would be a proper Duchess; but--but--" and +then he was sitting with Kate among the tall brackens, where the +Yorkshire hills threw miles of shadow. She was in her riding dress; but +her little velvet cap was in her hand, and the fresh wind was blowing +her brown hair into bewitching tendrils about her lovely face. How well +he knew the sweet seriousness of her downcast eyes, the rich bloom of +her cheeks and lips, the tender smile with which she always answered his +"_Kate! Sweet Kate!_" + +Even through all his listlessness, this vision moved him, and he heard +his heart say, "Oh, Kate, wife of my soul! Oh, Beloved! Love of my life, +who can part us? Thou and I, Kate! Thou and I--" + +"And the Other One." + +From _whom_ or from _where_ came the words? Piers heard them with his +spiritual sense plainly, and their suggestion annoyed him. Now if we +stir under a nightmare, it is gone; and this faint rebellion broke the +chain of that mental inertia which had held him at least three hours +under its spell. He moved irritably, and in so-doing threw down the lid +of the tobacco jar, and then rose to his feet. In a moment, he was "all +there." + +"I ought to be in the House," he muttered, and he touched the bell +for his valet, and dressed with less deliberation than was his wont. +And during the toilet he was aware of a certain mental anger that longed +to expend itself: "If Mr. Brougham is as insufferably dictatorial as +he was last night, if Mr. O'Connell only plays the buffoon again, we +shall meet in a narrow path--and one of us will fare ill," he muttered. + +The hour generally comes when we are ready for it; and Piers found +both gentlemen in the tempers he detested. He gladly accepted his own +challenge, and the Squire was so interested in the wordy fight that he +did not return home to dinner. Mrs. Atheling neither worried nor waited. +She knew that the Squire's vote might be wanted at any inconvenient +hour; and, besides, the night had set stormily in, and she said +cheerfully to Kate, "It wouldn't do for father to get a wetting and +then be hours in damp clothes. He is far better sitting to-day's +business out while he is there." + +But the evening dragged wearily, in spite of the efforts of both women +to make little pleasantries. Kate's whole being was in her sense of +hearing. She was listening for a step that did not come. On other nights +there had been visitors; she heard the roll of carriages and the clash +of the heavy front door; but this dreary night no roll of wheels broke +the stillness of the aristocratic Square; and she listened for the +sound of the closing door until she was ready to cry out against the +strain and the suspense. However, the longest, saddest day wears to +its end; and though it does not appear likely that a loving girl's +anxiety about a coolness in her lover should teach us how far deeper, +even than mother-love, is our trust in God's love, yet little Kitty's +behaviour on this sorrowful evening did show forth this sublime fact. + +For the girl left undone none of her usual duties, left unsaid none of +the pleasant words she knew her mother expected from her; she even +followed her--as she always did when the Squire was late--to her bedroom, +and helped her lay away her laces and jewels ere she bid her a last +"good-night." But as soon as she had closed the door of her own room, +she felt she might give herself some release. If she did not read the +whole of the Evening Service, _God would understand_. She could trust +His love to excuse, to pity, to release her from all ceremonies. She +knelt down, she bowed her head, and said only the two or three words +which opened her heart and let the rain of tears wash all her anxieties +away. + +And though sorrow may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning; +and this is specially true in youth. When Kate awoke, the sun was +shining, and the care and ache was gone from her heart. "He giveth His +Beloved sleep," and thus some angel had certainly comforted her, +though she knew it not. With a cheerful heart she dressed and went +into the breakfast-room, and there she saw her father standing on the +hearthrug, with _The Times_ open in his hand. He looked at her over +its pages with beaming eyes, and she ran to him and took the paper +away, and nestling to his heart, said, "she would have no rival, first +thing in the morning." + +And the proud father stroked her hair, and kissed her lips, and answered +her, "Rival was not born yet, and never would be born; and that he was +only seeing if them newspaper fellows had told lies about Piers." + +"Piers!" cried Mrs. Atheling, entering the room at the moment, "what +about Piers?" + +"Well, Mother, the lad had his say last night; but, Dal it! Mr. Brougham +went at the Government and the Electors as if they were all of them +wearing the devil's livery. I call it scandalous! It was nothing else. +He let on to be preaching for Reform, but he was just preaching for +Henry Brougham." + +"What was Mr. Brougham talking about, Father?" + +"Mr. Brougham can talk about nothing but Reform, Kitty, the right of +every man to vote as seems good in his own eyes. He said peers and +landowners influenced and prejudiced votes in a way that was outrageous +and not to be borne, and a lot more words of the same kind; for Henry +Brougham would lose his speech if he had anything pleasant to say. I was +going to get up and give him a bit of my mind, when Piers rose; and the +cool way in which he fixed his eye-glass, and looked Mr. Brougham up and +down, and straight in the face, set us all by the ears. He was every +inch of him, then and there, the future Duke of Richmoor; and he told +Brougham, in a very sarcastic way, that his opinions were silly, and +would neither bear the test of reason nor of candid examination." + +"But, Father, I thought Mr. Brougham was the great man of the Commons, +and held in much honour." + +"Well, my little maid, he may be; but I'll warrant it is only by people +who have their own reasons for worshipping the devil." + +"Come, come, John! If I was thee, I would be silent until I could be +just." + +"Not thou, Maude! Right or wrong, thou wouldst say thy say. I think I +ought to know thee by this time." + +"Never mind me, John. We want to hear what Piers said." + +"Brougham's words had come rattling off in full gallop. Piers, +after looking at him a minute, began in that contemptuous drawl of +his,--you've heard it I've no doubt,--'Mr. Brougham affords an +example of radical opinions degrading a statesman into a politician. +He cannot but know that it is the positive, visible duty of every +landowner to influence and prejudice votes. It is the business and the +function of education and responsibility to enlighten ignorance, and to +influence the misguided and the misled. If it is the business and the +function of the clergy to influence and prejudice people in favour +of a good life; if it is the business and function of a teacher to +influence and prejudice scholars in favour of knowledge,--it is just as +certainly the business and function of the landowner to influence +his tenants in favour of law and order, and to prejudice them against +men who would shatter to pieces the noblest political Constitution in +the world.'" + +The Squire read this period aloud with great emphasis, and added, "Well, +Maude, you never heard such a tumult as followed. Cries of '_Here! +Here!_' and '_Order! Order!_' filled the House; and the Speaker had +work enough to make silence. Piers stood quite still, watching Brougham, +and as soon as all was quiet, he went on,-- + +"'If you take the peers, the gentry, the scholars, the men of +enterprise and wealth, from our population, what kind of a government +should we get from the remainder? Would they be fit to select and +elect?' Then there was another uproar, and Piers sat down, and +O'Connell jumped up. He put his witty tongue in his laughing cheek, +and, buttoning his coat round him, held up his right hand. And the +Reform members cheered, and the Tory members shrugged their shoulders, +and waited for what he would say." + +"I don't want to hear a word from _him_," answered Mrs. Atheling. +"Come and get your coffee, John. A cup of good coffee costs a deal now, +and it's a shame to let it get cold and sloppy over Dan O'Connell's +blackguarding." + +"Tell us what he said, Father," urged Kate, who really desired to know +more about Piers's efforts. "You can drink your coffee to his words. I +don't suppose they will poison it." + +"I wouldn't be sure of that," said Mrs. Atheling, with a dubious shake +of her head; while the Squire lifted his cup, and emptied it at a draught. + +"What did he say, Father? Did he attack Piers?" + +"To be sure he did. He took the word 'Remainder,' and said Piers had +called the great, substantial working men of England, Scotland, and +Ireland _Remainders_. He said these '_Remainders_' might only be +farmers, and bakers, and builders, and traders; but they were the +backbone of the nation; and the honourable gentleman from Richmoor +Palace had called them 'Remainders.' And then he gave Piers a few +of such stinging, abusive names as he always keeps on hand,--and he keeps +a good many kinds of them on hand,--and Piers was like a man that +neither heard nor saw him. He looked clean through the member for +Kilkenny as if he wasn't there at all. And then Mr. Scarlett got +up, and asked the Speaker if such unparliamentary conduct was to be +permitted? And Mr. Dickson called upon the House to protect itself +from the browbeating, bullying ruffianism of the member for Kilkenny; +and Dan O'Connell sat laughing, with his hat on one side of his head, +till Dickson sat down; then he said, he 'considered Mr. Dickson's +words complimentary;' and the shouts became louder and louder, and +the Speaker had hard work to get things quieted down." + +"Why, John! I never heard tell of such carryings on." + +"Then, Maude, I thought _I_ would say a word or two; and I got the +Speaker's eye, and he said peremptorily, 'The member for Asketh!' +and I rose in my place and said I thought the honourable member for +Kilkenny--" + +"John! I wouldn't have called him 'honourable.'" + +"I know thou wouldst not, Maude. Well, I said honourable, and I went +on to say that Mr. O'Connell had mistaken the meaning Lord Exham +attached to the word 'Remainder.' I said it wasn't a disrespectful +word at all, and that there were plenty of 'remainders,' we all of us +thought a good deal of; but, I said, I would come to an instance which +every man could understand,--the remainder of a glass of fine, old +October ale. The rich, creamy, bubbling froth might stand for the +landowners; but it was part of the whole; and the remainder was all the +better for the froth, and the more froth, and the richer the froth, +the better the ale below it. And I went on to say that Lord Exham, and +every man of us, knew right well, that the great body of the English +nation wasn't made up of knaves, and scoundrels, and fools, but of +good men and women. And then our benches cheered me, up and down, +till I felt it was a good thing to be a Representative of the Remainder, +and I said so." + +Then Mrs. Atheling and Kitty cheered the Squire more than a little, with +smiles, and kisses, and proud words; and he went on with increased +animation, "In a minute O'Connell was on his feet again, and he +called me a lot of names I needn't repeat here; until he said, 'My +example of a glass of ale was exactly what anybody might expect from +such a John Bull as the member for Asketh.' And, Maude and Kitty, I +could not stand that. The House was shouting, 'Order! Order!' and +I cried, 'Mr. Speaker!' and the Speaker said, 'Order, the member for +Kilkenny is speaking!' 'But, Mr. Speaker,' I said, 'I only want to +say to the member for Kilkenny that I would rather be a John Bull, than +a bully.' And that was the end. There was no 'Order' after it. Our +side cheered and roared, and, Maude, what dost thou think?--the one to +cheer loudest was thy son Edgar. He must have got in by the Speaker's +favour; but there he was, and when I came through the lobby, with Piers +and Lord Althorp, and a crowd after me, he was standing with that +young fellow I threw on Atheling Green; and he looked at me so pleased, +and eager, and happy, that I thought for a moment he was going to shake +hands; but I kept my hands in my pockets--yet I'll say this,--he has +thy fine eyes, Maude,--I most felt as if thou wert looking at me." + +"John! John! How couldst thou keep thy hands in thy pockets? How couldst +thou do such an unfatherly thing? I'm ashamed of thee! I am." + +"Give me a slice of ham, and don't ask questions. I want my breakfast +now. I can't live on talk, as if I was a woman." + +Fortunately at this moment a servant entered with the morning's mail. +He gave Mrs. Atheling a letter, and Kate two letters; and then offered +the large salver full of matter to the Squire. He looked at the pile with +indignation. "Put it out of my sight, Dobson," he said angrily. "Do +you think I want letters and papers to my breakfast? I'm astonished at +you!" He was breaking his egg-shell impatiently as he spoke, and he +looked up with affected anger at his companions. Kitty met his glance +with a smile. She could afford to do so, for both her letters lay +untouched at her side. She tapped the upper one and said, "It is from +Miss Vyner, Father; it can easily wait." + +"And the other, Kitty? Who is it from?" + +"From Piers, I don't want to read it yet." + +"To be sure." Then he looked at Mrs. Atheling, and was surprised. Her +face was really shining with pleasure, her eyes misty with happy tears. +She held her letter with a certain pride and tenderness that her whole +attitude also expressed; and the Squire had an instant premonition as to +the writer of it. + +"Well, Maude," he said, "I would drink my coffee, if I was thee. A +cup of coffee costs a deal now; and it's a shame to let it get cold and +sloppy over a bit of a letter--nobody knows who from." + +"It is from Edgar," said Mrs. Atheling, far too proud and pleased to +keep her happiness to herself. "And, John, I am going to have a little +lunch-party to-day at two o'clock; and I do wish thou wouldst make it +in thy way to be present." + +"I won't. And I would like to know who is coming here. I won't +have all kinds and sorts sitting at my board, and eating my bread and +salt--and I never heard tell of a good wife asking people to do that +without even mentioning their names to her husband--and--" + +"I am quite ready to name everybody I ask to thy board, John. There +will be thy own son Edgar Atheling, and Mr. Cecil North, and thy wife +Maude Atheling, and thy daughter Kitty. Maybe, also, Lord Exham and Miss +Vyner. Kitty says she has a letter from her." + +"I told thee once and for all, I had forbid Edgar Atheling to come to +my house again until I asked him to do so." + +"This isn't thy house, John. It is only a rented roof. Thou mayst be +sure Edgar will never come near Atheling till God visits thee and gives +thee a heart like His own to love thy son. Thou hast never told Edgar to +keep away from the Vyner mansion, and thou hadst better never try to do +so; for I tell thee plainly if thou dost--" + +"Keep threats behind thy teeth, Maude. It isn't like thee, and I won't +be threatened either by man or woman. If thou thinkest it right to set +Edgar before me, and to teach him _not_ to 'Honour his father'--" + +"Didn't he 'honour' thee last night! Wasn't he proud of thee? And +he wanted to tell thee so, if thou wouldst have let him. Poor Edgar!" +And Edgar's mother covered her face, and began to cry softly to herself. + +"Nay, Maude, if thou takest to crying I must run away. It isn't +fair at all. What can a man say to tears? I wish I could have a bit of +breakfast in peace; I do that!"--and he pushed his chair away in a +little passion, and lifted his mail, and was going noisily out of the +room, when he found Kitty's arms round his neck. Then he said peevishly, +"Thou art spilling my letters, Kitty. Let me alone, dearie! Thou +never hast a word to say on thy father's side. It's too bad!" + +"I am all for you, father,--you and you first of all. There is nobody +like you; nobody before you; nobody that can ever take your place." Then +she kissed him, and whispered some of those loving, senseless little +words that go right to the heart, if Love sends them there. And the +Squire was comforted by them, and whispered back to her, "God love +thee, my little maid! I'll do anything I can to give thee pleasure." + +"Then just think about Edgar as you saw him last night, think of him +with mother's eyes watching you, listening to you, full of pride and +loving you so much--oh, yes, Father! loving you so much." + +"Well, well,--let me go now, Kitty. I have all these bothering letters +and papers to look at; they are enough to make any man cross." + +"Let me help you." + +"Go to thy mother. Listen, Kitty," and he spoke very low, "tell her, +thou art sure and certain thy father does not object to her seeing her +son, if it makes her happy--thou knowest my bark is a deal worse than +my bite--say--thou believest I would like to see Edgar myself--nay, +thou needest not say that--but say a few words just to please her; thou +knowest what they should be better than I do,"--then, with a rather +gruff "good-morning," he went out of the room; and Kitty turned to +her mother. + +Mrs. Atheling was smiling, though there were indeed some remaining +evidences of tears. "He went without bidding me 'good-morning,' +Kitty. What did he say? Is he very angry?" + +"Not at all angry. All put on, Mother. He loves Edgar quite as much as +you do." + +"He can't do that, Kitty. There is nothing like a mother's love." + +"Except a father's love. Don't you remember, that God takes a +father's love to express His own great care for us? And when the +Prodigal Son came home, Christ makes his father, not his mother, go to +meet him." + +"That was because Christ knew children were sure and certain of their +mother's love and forgiveness. He wasn't so sure of the fathers. So he +gave the lesson to them; he knew that mothers did not need it. Mothers +are always ready to forgive, Kitty; but there is nothing to forgive in +Edgar." + +"Is he really coming to-day?" + +"Listen to what he says, Kitty. 'Darling Mother, I cannot live +another day without seeing you. Let me come to-morrow at two o'clock, +and put my arms round you, and kiss you, and talk to you for an hour. +Ask father to let me come. London is not Atheling. If he counts his +passionate words as forever binding between him and me, surely they are +not binding between you and me. Let me see you anyway, Mother. Sweet, +dear Mother! When father forgives the rest, he will forgive this also. +Your loving son, Edgar.' Now, Kitty, if Edgar was your son, what would +you say?" + +"I would say, Come at once, Edgar, and dearly welcome!" + +"To be sure you would. So shall I. What is Miss Vyner writing about?" + +Then Kitty lifted the squarely folded letter with its great splash of +white wax stamped with the Vyner crest, and after a rapid glance at its +contents said, "There is likely to be a great House to-night; and the +Duchess has three seats in the Ladies Gallery. One is for Annabel, the +other for me; and she asks you to take her place. Do go, Mother." + +"I'll think about it." + +"Don't say that." + +"It is all I will say just yet. Did you have a letter from Piers?" + +"Yes." + +"I knew you would. Go and read it, and tell Dobson to send the cook to +me. We want the best lunch that can be made; and put on a pretty dress, +Kitty. Edgar must feel that nothing is too good for him." + +In accordance with this intent, Mrs. Atheling took particular pains +with her own dress; and Kitty thought she had never seen her mother so +handsome. Soft brown satin, and gold ornaments, and the bit of lace +on her head set off her large, blonde, stately beauty to perfection; +while the look of love and anxiety, as the clock moved on to two, gave to +her countenance that "something more" without which beauty is only +flesh and blood. + +She had said to herself that Edgar might be detained, that he might not +be able to keep his time, and that she would not feel disappointed if he +was a bit behind two o'clock. But fully ten minutes before the hour, +she heard his quick, firm knock; and as she stood trembling with joy in +the middle of the room, he took her in his arms, and, between laughing +and crying, they knew not, either of them, what they said. And then +Kitty ran into the room, all a flutter with pale-blue ribbons, and it +was a good five minutes before the two women found time to see, and +to speak to Cecil North, who stood watching the scene with his kind +heart in his face. + +Evidently the meeting had bespoke a fortunate hour. The weather, though +it was November, was sunny; the lunch was perfection, and they were +in the midst of the merriest possible meal when Annabel Vyner and +Piers Exham joined them. Annabel had expected nothing better from +this visit than an opportunity to show off her familiar relations with +Lord Exham, and torment Kitty, as far as she thought it prudent to do +so; but Fate had prepared motives more personal and delightful for +her,--two handsome young men, whom she at once determined to conquer. +Cecil North made no resistance; he went over heart and head in love +with her. Her splendid vitality, her manner,--so demanding and so +caressing,--her daring dress, and dazzling jewelry, her altogether +unconventional air charmed and vanquished him, and he devoted himself to +pleasing her. + +During the lunch hour the conversation was general, and very animated. +Annabel excelled herself in her peculiar way of saying things which +appeared singularly brilliant, but which really derived all their +point from her looks, and shrugs, and flashing movements. The good mother +was in an earthly heaven, watching, and listening, and attending to +every one's wants, actual and possible. Laughter and repartee and +merry jests mingled with bits of social and parliamentary gossip, though +politics were instinctively avoided. Piers knew well the opinions of +the two men with whom he was sitting; and he was quite capable of +respecting them. Besides, he had an old friendship for Edgar Atheling; +and he loved his sister, and was well aware that she had much sympathy +with her brother's views. So all Annabel's attempts to make a division +were futile; no one took up the little challenges she flung into their +midst, and the parliamentary talk drifted no nearer dangerous ground +than the Ladies Gallery. Piers knew of the invitation given to the +Athelings, and he proposed to meet the ladies in the courtyard near +the entrance to the exclusive precinct. + +"Too exclusive by far," said Annabel. "Why do English ladies submit +to that grating? It is a relic of the barbarous ages. I intend to move +in the matter. Let us get up a petition, or an act, or an agitation of +some kind for its removal. I think we should succeed. What do you say, +Lord Exham?" + +"I think you would _not_ succeed," answered Piers. "I have heard the +Duke say that the proposition is frequently made in the House; that it is +always enthusiastically cheered; but that every time the question comes +practically up, there is a dexterous count out." + +"Well, then, I will propose that the front Treasury Bench be taken away, +and twenty-four ladies' seats put in its place. Do you see, Mr. North, +what I intend by that?" + +"I am sure it is something wise and good, Miss Vyner." + +"My idea is, that twenty-four ladies should sit there as representatives +of the women of England. Twenty-four bishops in lovely lawn sit as +representatives of the clergy of England; why should not English women +have their representation? I hope while Reformers are correcting the +abuses of Representation, they will consider this abuse. Mr. Atheling, +what do you say?" + +"I am at your service, Miss Vyner." + +"Indeed, sir, just at present you are hand and heart in the service of +Mrs. Atheling. I must turn to Mr. North." + +Then Mrs. Atheling perceived that in her interesting conversation with +Edgar, she was keeping her guests at table; and she rose with an apology, +and led the way into the parlour. There was a large conservatory opening +out of this room, and Kate and Piers, on some pretext of rosebuds, +went into it. + +"My dear Kate, I have been so unhappy!" he said, taking her hand. + +"But why, Piers?" + +"We parted so strangely yesterday. I do not know how it happened." + +"We were both tired, I think. I was as much in fault as you. Is not +this an exquisite flower?" That was the end of the trouble. He drew +her to his side, and kissed the hand that touched the flower; and so +all explanations were over; and they took up their love-story where +the shadow of yesterday had broken it off. And as their hands wandered +among the shrubs, it was natural for Piers to notice the ring on Kate's +finger. "It is a very singular jewel," he said; "I never saw one +like it." + +"It is my mother's," answered Kate. "She told me this morning it was +her betrothal ring and that father bought it in Venice." + +"Kate dear, I wish to get you a ring just like it. Let us ask Mrs. +Atheling if I may show it to my jeweller, and have one made for you." + +"I am sure mother will be willing," and she slipped the shining circle +from her finger, and gave it to Piers; and he whispered fondly, as he +placed it on his own hand, "Will you take it from me, Kate, as a love +gage?--never to leave your finger until I put the wife's gold ring +above it?" + +And what she said need not be told. Many happy words grew from her +answer; and they forgot the rosebuds they had come to gather, and the +company they had left, and the flight of time, until Edgar came into +the conservatory to bid his sister "good-bye." There had been a slight +formality between Piers and Edgar at their first meeting; but with +Kate standing between them, all the good days on the Yorkshire hills +and moors came into their memories, and they clasped hands with their +old boyish fervour, and it was "Piers" and "Edgar" again. So the +parting was the real meeting; and they went back to the parlour in an +unmistakable enthusiasm of good fellowship. + +Annabel was then quite ready to leave, and the question of the Ladies +Gallery came up for settlement. Mrs. Atheling declared she was too +weary to go out; and Kate preferred her own happy thoughts to the +tumult of a political quarrel. Annabel was equally indifferent. She +had discovered that Mr. North was a son of the Earl of Westover, and +might with propriety be asked to the Richmoor opera-box, that there was +even an acquaintance strong enough between the families to enable her +new lover to pay his respects to the Duchess in the interludes, and, in +fact, an understanding to that effect had been made for that very +night, if the offer of the seats in the Ladies Gallery was not accepted. +So their refusal caused no regret; for when politics come in competition +with youth and love, they have scarcely a hearing. But during the +slight discussion, Piers found time to speak to Mrs. Atheling about the +ring; and the direction of three pair of eyes to the trinket caught +Annabel's attention. Her face flamed when she saw that it had passed +from Kate's hand to the hand of Exham; and for the first time, she +had a feeling of active dislike against Kate. Her sweet, calm, innocent +beauty, her happy eyes and ingenuous girlish expression, offended her, +and set all the worst forces of her soul in revolt. + +She did not dare to trust herself with Piers. In her present mood, she +knew she would be sure to say something that would hamper her future +actions. She declared she would only accept Mr. North's escort to +Richmoor House; for she was sure the Duke was expecting Piers to be +in his place in the Commons when the vote was taken. + +Piers had a similar conviction, and he looked at his watch almost +guiltily, and went hurriedly away. Then the little party was soon +dispersed; but Mrs. Atheling and Kate were both far too happy to need +outside aids. They talked of Edgar and Cecil North, and Annabel's +witcheries, and Piers's great and good qualities, and the promised ring, +and the excellent lunch, and the general success of the impromptu +little feast. Everything had been pleasant, and the Squire's absence +was not thought worth worrying about. + +"He will come round, bit by bit," said the happy mother. "I know +John Atheling. The first thing Edgar does to please him, will put all +straight; and Edgar is on the very road to please him most of all." + +"What road is that, Mother?" + +"Nay, I can't tell you, Kitty; for just yet it is a secret between +Edgar and me. He was glad to meet Piers again; and, if I am any judge, +they will be better friends than ever before." + +Thus the two women talked the evening away, and were by no means sorry +to be at their own fireside. "We could have done no good by going to the +House," said Kate. "If we were men, it would be different. They like +it. Father says the House is the best club in London." + +"It gives men a lot of excuses," said Mrs. Atheling, with a sigh. "I +dare say your father won't get home till late. You had better go to bed, +Kitty." + +"Perhaps Piers may come with him." + +"I don't think he will. He looked tired when he left here; he will +be worse tired when he gets away from the Commons. He said he was going +to speak again, if he got the opportunity,--that is, if he could find +anything to contradict in Mr. Brougham's speech. Piers likes saying, +'No, sir!' his spurs are always in fighting trim. Go to bed, Kitty. +Piers won't be back to-night, and I can say to father whatever I think +proper." + +Mrs. Atheling judged correctly. Piers sat a long time before his +opportunity came, and then he did not get the best of it. Brougham's +followers overflowed the Opposition benches, the Government side, +and the gangway, and Piers exhausted himself vainly in an endeavour +to get a hearing. It was late when he returned to Richmoor House, but the +Duke was still absent, and the Duchess and Annabel at the opera. He +went to the Duke's private parlour, for there were some things he felt +he must discuss before another day's sitting; and the warmth and +stillness, added to his own mental and physical weariness, soon overcame +all the resistance he could make. The couch on which he had thrown +himself was also a drowsy place; it seemed to sink softly down, and +down, until Piers was far below the tide of thought, or even dreams. + +It was then that Annabel returned. She came slowly and rather +thoughtfully along the silent corridor. She had exhausted for the time +being her fine spirits, her wit, almost her good looks. She hoped she +would _not_ meet Piers, and was glad in passing the door of his +apartments to see no man in attendance, nor any sign of wakeful life. A +little further on she noticed a band of light from the Duke's private +parlour; the door was a trifle open, left purposely so by Piers in +order that his father might not be tempted to pass it. Tired as she was, +she could not resist the opportunity it offered. She liked to show +herself in her fineries to her guardian, for he always had a compliment +for her beauty; and although she had listened for hours to compliments +her vanity was still unsatiated. With a coquettish smile she pushed +wider the door and saw Lord Exham. There could be no doubt of his +profound insensibility; his face, his attitude, his breathing, all +expressed the deep sleep of a thoroughly-exhausted man. + +For one moment she looked at him curiously, then, at the instigation +of the Evil One, her eyes saw the ring upon his hand, and her heart +instantly desired it; for what reason she did not ask. At the moment +she perhaps had no reason, except the wicked hope that its loss might +make trouble between Kitty and her lover. With the swift, noiseless step +that Nature gives to women who have the treachery and cruelty of the +feline family, she reached Piers's side. But rapid as her movement had +been, her thought had been more rapid. "If I am caught, I will say I +won a pair of gloves, and took the ring as the gage of my victory." + +She stooped to the dropped hand, but never touched it. The ring was +large, and it was only necessary for her to place her finger and thumb +on each side of it. It slipped off without pressing against the flesh, +and in a moment it was in her palm. She waited to see if the movement +had been felt. There was no evidence of it, and she passed rapidly out +of the room. Outside the door, she again waited for a movement, but +none came, and she walked leisurely, and with a certain air of weariness, +to her own apartments. Once there all was safe; she dropped it into +the receptacle in which she kept the key of her jewel-case, and went +smiling to bed. + +Not ten minutes after her theft the Duke entered the room. He did not +scruple to awaken his son, and to discuss with him the tactics of a +warfare which was every day becoming more bitter and violent. Piers +was full of interest, and eager to take his part in the fray. Suddenly +he became aware of his loss. Then he forgot every other thing. He +insisted, then and there, on calling his valet and searching every inch +of carpet in the room. The Duke was disgusted with this radical change +of interest. He went pettishly away in the middle of the search, saying,-- + +"The Reformers might well carry all before them, when peers who had +everything to lose or gain thought more of a lost ring than a lost +cause." + +And Piers could not answer a word. He was confounded by the circumstance. +That the ring was on his hand when he entered the room was certain. +He searched all his pockets with frantic fear, his purse, the couch on +which he had slept. There was no part of the room not examined, no piece +of furniture that was not moved; and the day began to dawn when the +useless search was over. He went to his room, sleepless and troubled +beyond belief. Government might be defeated, Ministers might resign, +Reform might spell Revolution, the estates and titles of nobles might +be in jeopardy,--but Kitty's ring was lost, and that was the first, +and the last, and the only thought Piers Exham could entertain. + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTH + +WILL SHE CHOOSE EVIL OR GOOD? + + +Annabel had a very good night. Her conscience was an indulgent one, +and she easily satisfied its complaining. "It was after all only a +joke," she said. "In the morning I can restore the ring. The Duke +will have a good laugh at his son's discomfiture, and will praise my +cleverness. The Duchess will either knit her brows, or else take it +merrily; and Piers will owe me a forfeit, and that will be the end of +the affair. What is there to make a fuss over?" Annabel's conscience +thought, in such case, there was nothing to fuss about; and it let her +sleep comfortably on the prevaricating promise. + +She considered the matter over as she was dressing. She had slept +well, was refreshed and full of life, and therefore full of selfish +wilfulness:-- + +"I will restore the ring to Piers." She said this to please one side +of her nature. + +"I will not restore the ring." She said this to please the other +side. "As a thing of worth, it is by no means costly. I will give Kate +Atheling a ring of twice its value. As a thing of power it is mine, +the spoil of my will and my skill; and I will not part with it." Still +she kept the first decision in reserve; she promised herself to be +influenced by the circumstances which the affair induced. + +But the way out of temptation is always very difficult, and circumstances +are rarely favourable to it. They were not in this case. Before +Annabel was dressed she received a message that overthrew all her +intentions. The Duchess was going to breakfast in her own parlour, and +she desired Annabel's company at the meal. The desires of the Duchess +were commands, and the young lady reluctantly obeyed them; for she +anticipated the reproof that came, as soon as they were alone, regarding +her attitude towards Cecil North. + +"It will not do, Annabel," said the Duchess, severely. "The Norths +are a fine family, but poor, even in the elder branches. This young man +can look forward to nothing better than some diplomatic or military +appointment, and that in an Indian Presidency." + +"What could be better?" asked Annabel, with an affectation of delight. +"An Indian Court is a court. It has the splendour, the ceremony, the +very air of royalty." + +"But with your fortune--" + +"I assure you, Duchess, any man who marries me will need all my fortune. +He will in fact deserve it. You know that I am _not_ amiable, and that I +_am_ extravagant and luxurious." + +"But you may avoid such a foolish, unwomanly thing as flirtation, even +if you are not amiable. It seems to me the world has forgotten how to be +amiable. This morning, the Duke is touchy and disagreeable; and Piers +has not come to ask after my health, though it is his usual custom when I +remain in my room. He angered the Duke also last night." + +"Did you see him last night?" asked Annabel, with an air of +indifference. + +"The Duke did. Piers seems to have behaved in an absurd way about a +ring he has lost. The Duke says, he turned his room topsy-turvy, and +went on as if he had lost his whole estate." + +"Was it the ring with the ducal arms that he always wears?" + +"No, indeed! Only a simple band of sapphires, or some other stone. The +Duke thinks it must have been the gift of some woman. Were you the donor, +Annabel?" + +"I! I should think not! I do not give rings away. I prefer to receive +them. He wore no sapphire band yesterday when he and I went to the +Athelings--" and she looked the rest of the query, over her coffee-cup, +straight into the eyes of the Duchess. + +"What is it you mean to ask, Annabel?" + +"Do you think that Miss Atheling--" + +[Illustration:] + +"Miss Atheling! That girl! What an absurd idea! Why should she give Lord +Exham a ring?" + +"_Why!_ There are so many '_whys_' that nobody can answer." And +with this remark, Annabel felt that her opportunity for confession +had quite lapsed. For if the Duchess had thought it right to reprove +her for such freedom as she had shown towards Cecil North, what would +she say about an act so daring, so really improper in a social sense, as +the removal of a ring from her son's hand? Annabel had no mind to +bring on herself the disagreeable looks and words she merited. She gave +the conversation the political turn that answered all purposes, by +asking the Duchess if she was not afraid Piers's principles might be +influenced by his friendship with young Atheling. "They were David +and Jonathan yesterday," she said; "and as for Cecil North, he is a +Radical of the first water." + +"Lord Exham is not so easily persuaded," answered the Duchess, loftily. +"He could as readily change his nose as his principles. But I am +seriously annoyed at this intercourse with a family distinctly out of our +own caste. The Duke has been very foolish to encourage it." + +"You have also encouraged Miss Atheling." + +"I have been too good-natured. I admit that. But as I have promised to +present her, I must honourably keep my word; that is, if any opportunity +offers. It now appears as if there would be no court functions. The King +declined the Lord Mayor's feast,--a most unprecedented thing,--and +it is said the Queen is averse to receive while the Reform agitation +continues. When it will end, nobody knows." + +"It will end when it succeeds, not before," said Annabel. "I am only +a woman, but I see that conclusion very clearly." It gave her pleasure +to make this statement. It was her way of returning to the Duchess the +disagreeable words she had been obliged to take from her; and she was +not at all dismayed by the look of anger she provoked. + +"I am astonished at you, Annabel. Are you also in danger of changing +your opinions?" + +"I am astonished at myself, Duchess. My opinions are movable; but I have +not yet changed them. Truth, however, belongs to all sides, and I cannot +avoid seeing things as they are." + +"That is, as young Atheling and Cecil North show them to you." + +"Lord Exham has still more frequent opportunities of showing me the +course of events. I have 'influences' on both sides, you see, Duchess; +but, after all, I form my own opinions." + +"Reform will never be accomplished. The people must follow the nobles, +as surely as the thread follows the needle." + +"I have ceased to prophesy. Anything can happen in a long enough time; +and I often heard my father say that, 'They who _care_ and _dare_ +may do as they like.' I think the Reform party both '_care_' and +'_dare_.'" + +"Have you fallen in love with Cecil North, or with Mr. Atheling?" + +"I am in love with Annabel Vyner. I worship none of the idols that have +been set up, either by Tories or Reformers. Men who talk politics are +immensely stupid. I shall marry a man who is a good fighter. Mere talkers +are like barking dogs. Why don't these Reformers stop whimpering, and +fly like a bull dog at the throat of their wrongs? Then I should go +with them, heart and soul and purse." + +"You are talking now for talking's sake, Annabel. You are actually +advocating civil war." + +"Am I really? Well, war is man's natural condition. It takes churches, +and priests, and standing armies, and constables always on hand, to +keep peace in any sort of fashion. We are all barbarians under our +clothes,--just civilised on the top." + +"Such assertions are odious, and you cannot prove them." + +"I can. The other evening I was reading to Lord Tatham a most exquisite +poem by that young man Tennyson; and he seemed to be enjoying it, +until Algernon Sydney showed him his watch, and said something about +'the Black Boy.' Then his face fairly glowed, and he went off with a +compliment that meant nothing. The next morning I found out 'the +Black Boy' was a famous pugilist. We are all of us, in some way or +other, in this mixed condition." + +"I think you are particularly disagreeable this morning, Miss." + +"Pardon, Duchess. We have fallen on a disagreeable subject. Let us +change it. Are we to drive to Richmond to-day?" + +"If Piers will accompany us. Ay! that is his knock." She turned a +radiant face to meet her son, but received a sudden chill. Piers was +pale and sombre-looking; he said he had not slept, and politely declined +the Richmond excursion. Annabel was sure he would. "He will have an +explanation at the Athelings instead," she thought; and she waited +curiously for some remark which might open the way for her confession--or +else close it. But Lord Exham did not allude to his loss, and the +Duchess either attached no importance to the subject, or else thought it +too important to bring forward. The tone of the room was not brightened +by the young lord's advent, and Annabel quickly excused herself from +further attendance. + +"He will tell his mother when I am not there; and I shall get his +opinions, with commentaries from her," she thought, as she hurried +to her own rooms. Once there, she dismissed her maid, and sat down +to realise herself. She doubled her little hands, and beat her knees +softly with them. It was her way of summoning her mental forces, and of +collecting vagrant and undecided thought. + +"I am just here," she said to her own consciousness. "I have taken a +ring from Lord Exham's finger. What for? Mischief or a joke? Which? +Probably mischief. I wanted to turn it into a joke, and my opportunity is +gone. Not my fault. If the Duchess had been in a good humour, I should +have told her all about it. If Exham's manner had not frozen everything +but the commonplaces of propriety, I would have teased him a little, +and then given up the ring. It is their own fault. If people are cross +at breakfast, they deserve a disagreeable day. I am not sorry to give +them their deserts." + +Then she rose and went to her jewel-case, and took the ring out and +put it on her finger. "It is a poor little thing after all," she +said as she turned it round and round. "The stones are not very +fine; I have sapphires of far finer colour. If I give Kate Atheling my +diamond locket, she will have reason to be grateful,--the setting is, +however, really beautiful; that is the point, I suppose. I would like +to have a ring set in the same way; but it would be dangerous--" and +she laughed as if she enjoyed the thought of the danger. She took off +the ring at this point, and looked at it more critically. "What must I +do with the troublesome thing?" she asked herself. "Justine is a +curious, suspicious creature, and when she hears the talk in the +servants' hall, if she got but a glimpse of it, she would put two and +two together." A momentary resolve to throw it into the fire-place of +the Duke's parlour came into her mind. "If it is found there," +she argued, "the only supposition will be that Piers dropped it on the +hearth. If it is not found, there will be no suppositions at all." + +This resolve, however, received no real encouragement. There is a +perverse disposition in human nature to keep with special care things +that incriminate, or which might become sources of suspicion or trouble; +and the ring exercised over the girl this fatal fascination. She closed +her jewel-case deliberately, holding the lid a trifle open for a moment +or two of last consideration; then she dropped it with decision, and +took from her pocket a small purse, made of gold as flexible as leather +or satin. There were a few sovereigns in one compartment, and a Hindoo +charm in another. She put the ring with the charm, and closed the purse +with a smile of satisfaction. For the time being, at any rate, it was +out of her way; and there were yet possibilities of turning the whole +matter into a pleasantry. + +"I may even take it to Kate Atheling and tell her to claim my forfeit." +This very improbable solution satisfied Annabel's conscience; she was +at peace after it, and able to consider more personal affairs. + +In order to do this under the most favourable conditions, she placed +herself comfortably on her lounge. Her fine, tall form lay at length, +supine and indolent, the feet, in their crimson sandals, crossed at the +ankles. Her dark, powerful head, with its masses of strong, black hair, +looked almost handsome on the pale amber cushions, with the hands and +arms--jewelled though it was only morning--clasped above it. She was +going to examine herself, and she was not one to shirk even the innermost +chamber of her heart. + +"First," she thought, "there is Lord Exham. Do I really want to +marry him? Let me be sure of this, and then there is nothing for him +to do, but make out the settlements. He cannot resist my influence +when I choose to exert it. As yet I have not troubled him much; but I +can trouble him--and I will, if I want to. Do I? Be honest, Annabel. +There is no use lying to yourself. Well, then, I want to be Duchess of +Richmoor; but I do _not_ want to be Exham's wife. And if I marry +him, the present Duke may live ten, twenty, even thirty years. I would +not wait for the crown of England thirty years, with a husband I rather +despised; only--only what? I do not want that Atheling girl to marry +him. Jane Warwick, or Helen Percy, or Margaret Gower, I would not +mind--but Kate Atheling! No! Why? I cannot tell." Nor could she. It was +one of those apparently unreasonable dislikes we bring into the world +with us, and which, probably, are the most reasonable dislikes of +all. "Very well, then," she continued, "I will not marry Piers, nor +shall Kate Atheling marry him. That is fair enough. If I manage to +make her give him up, I give him up myself also. I am only doing to +her as I do to myself. + +"Now there is Wynn, and Sidmouth, and Russell--and others. Every one of +them have appraised my value, and made inquiries about my wealth. No +one has told me this, but I know it. I know it with that invincible +certainty with which women know things they are never told. Cecil North? +Yes, I like Cecil North. He really fell in love with me,--with _me_, +_myself_. A woman knows; she is never deceived about that unless she +wants to be deceived. He is poor,--the Westovers are all poor,--I do +not care if he is as poor as Job. I am tired to death of rich people. +If Cecil North would get a military commission in India, I could be +his wife. I could follow the drum, or live in quarters with him, and I +should be a better and a happier woman than I am here. This life is +too small for me." + +She was right in this estimation of herself. Her nature was one fitted +to respond to great emergencies. She was a woman for frontiers and +forts, for strife with men or elements, for days of danger in the shadow +of suffering or death; and she was living in a society so artificial +that any real cry of nature and needless familiarity, any sign of +genuine passion was startling and distasteful to it. The soldierly +temper inherited from her father demanded an adventurous life, because +people made for overcoming obstacles cannot be morally healthy without +obstacles to overcome. And, therefore, it was a poor life for Annabel +Vyner that offered her no difficulty to surmount but the claims of Kate +Atheling. She was quite aware of this, and the ring in her purse was +no real triumph. It was rather one of those irreparable facts, the +very thought of which gives pain. + +If she had been morally stronger, she would have dominated her +environment, and defied the circumstances that so easily prevented +her from doing the right thing. She would have been obedient to Duty; +and that grand, immutable principle would have given her strength to +resist temptation, or, having fallen into it, to make the obvious +reparation; for + + "So nigh is grandeur to our dust, + So near is God to man, + When Duty whispers low, '_Thou Must_,' + The Soul replies, '_I Can_.'" + +This morning, though she was far from diagnosing her feelings correctly, +Annabel soon began to suffer from that nervous and even that physical +fatigue which is bred of moral indifference. For nothing is more certain +than that moral strength is the very _Life_ of life. She yawned; she +felt the hours too long to be endured, while she pictured to herself +the scene in the Atheling parlour, when Piers would confess the loss of +the ring, and Kate lovingly excuse it. Finally, she became nervously +angry at the persistence of the vision. In every possible way she tried +to banish it, but though she fetched memories from farthest India, the +exasperating phantasm would not be driven away. + +In reality the affair produced very little apparent effect. Piers made +his confession to Mrs. and Miss Atheling with so much genuine emotion +that they could not but make light of the loss while he was present. Yet +it troubled both women very much. Mrs. Atheling cried over it when she +was alone; and Kate took it as a sign of some untoward event in the +course of love between Piers and herself. No one is able to put aside +such inferences and presentiments; and, quite unconsciously, it worked +towards the end Kate feared. Piers began to fancy--perhaps unjustly--that +he never entered Kate's or Mrs. Atheling's presence without seeing in +their first glance an unspoken inquiry after the lost ring. In some +measure he was to blame, if this was so. He had employed detectives to +watch such servants of the Richmoor household as could have had access +to the Duke's parlour on that unhappy night; and as the ladies were +aware of this movement, it was only natural they should desire to know +if any result came from it. + +Of course there was no result; and the real culprit remained absolutely +unsuspected. As the days wore away, her conscience grew accustomed to +the situation; it made no troublesome demands; and Annabel even began to +feel a certain pleasurable excitement in holding in her hands what might +prove to be a power for great good, or great evil,--for she was not yet +ready to admit an entirely evil intention; she chose rather to regard it +as a practical jest which she might undo, or explain, in some future, +favourable hour. + +She kept the jewel always in her purse; she went frequently to the +Athelings; and once or twice she had a transitory impulse to tell Kate +the whole circumstance, and be guided by her advice in the matter. But +the Evil One, who had prompted her in the first instance to take it, +always met these intents or impulses with some plausible excuse; and +every good impulse which does not crystallise into a good action, only +tends towards the strengthening of the evil one. Then outside events +made delay more easy. On the fifteenth of November, there was a short, +decided argument in the House of Commons on the Civil List; a division +was promptly taken, and the Government was found to be in a minority +of twenty-nine. The Squire and Lord Exham returned home together, both +very much annoyed at this result. + +"All this election business will be to go over again," the Squire +said, wearily. "Wellington and Peel are sure to take this opportunity +to resign." + +"Why should they resign, John?" asked Mrs. Atheling. + +"Well, Maude," he answered, "they are bound to resign sooner or +later; and I should think, if they have any sense left, they will go +out as champions of the royal prerogative, rather than be driven out by +a Reform division, which is sure to come. They will go out, my word +for it, Maude!" + +"And what then, John?" + +"Well, then, we shall have all the bother of another election; and +Earl Grey will form a new Ministry, and Lord Brougham will bully the +new Ministry, as he has done the old one, about this Reform Bill. He +intended to have begun that business this very night; but there wasn't +any Ministers, nor any Administration to arraign, and so he said, in +his domineering way, that he would put the question of Reform off until +the twenty-fifth of this month, and not a day longer, no matter what +circumstances prevailed, nor who were His Majesty's Ministers. I can +tell you the city was in a pretty commotion as we came home. We shall +have a Reform Government now, with Earl Grey at the head, and the real +fight will then begin." + +"Earl Grey!" said Mrs. Atheling; "that is Edgar's friend." + +"Well, I wouldn't brag about it, Mother, if I was thee. I shall have +to go back to Yorkshire, and so will Exham; and there will be no end of +bother, and a Reform Ministry at the end of it. It is too bad! What they +will do with Mr. Brougham, I am sure I don't know. No Ministry can live +without him; and it will be hard work for any Ministry to live with him; +for if he drew up a bill himself, he would find faults in it, and never +rest until he had torn it to pieces." + +Piers was sitting in the embrasure of a window, holding Kate's hands, +and talking to her in those low, sweet tones that women love; and at this +remark he rose, and, coming towards the Squire, said with a grave smile, +"For such dilemmas, Squire, there are remedies made and provided. If +it is a clever clergyman who arraigns the church, or his superiors, he +is made a bishop; and thereafter, he sees no faults. If it is a clever +Commoner who arraigns the Government, the Government makes him a peer; +and in the House of Lords, he finds the grace of silence. Earl Grey will +have Mr. Brougham made Lord High Chancellor, and then _Lord_ Brougham +will only have the power to put the question." + +Exham's prophecy proved to be correct. Brougham had declared that +under any circumstances he would bring up Reform on the twenty-fifth of +November; but, on the twenty-second of November, he took his seat as +Chancellor in the House of Lords. It was said the Great Seal had been +forced upon him; but the Squire wondered what pressure, never before +known, had been discovered to make Henry Brougham do anything, or take +anything, he did not want to do or take. + +However the feat was an accomplished one; and with Earl Gray, Lord +Durham, Sir James Graham, Viscounts Melbourne and Palmerston, and other +great leaders, Brougham kissed the King's hand on his appointment +just three days before his threatened demonstration for Reform. Soon +after Parliament adjourned for the re-election of Members in the Lower +House; and the Duke, with Lord Exham and Squire Atheling, went down +into Yorkshire. + +Edgar and Cecil North also disappeared. "They have gone into the +country on business, and I'll tell you what it is, Kitty," said Mrs. +Atheling, with a little happy importance. "A friend of Earl Grey has a +close borough, and Edgar is to have it. I am sure I don't know what +will happen, if he should clash with father in the House. Father cannot +bear contradicting." + +"Nothing wrong will happen, Mother." + +"To be sure, the floor of the House of Commons is a bit different from +his own hearthstone. When Edgar is a Parliament man, father will give +him his place." + +"And Edgar will never forget to give father his place, I am sure of +that." + +"I wouldn't stand a minute with him if he did. What a father and son +say to each other in their homestead, is home talk; but Edgar must not +threep his father before strangers. No, indeed!" + +"I wouldn't wonder if father comes round a little to Edgar's views. +He listened very patiently to Cecil North, the last time they talked on +politics." + +"He _has_ to listen in Parliament, and so he is getting used to +listening. He never listened patiently at home--not even to me. But we +can hope for the best anyhow, Kitty." + +"To be sure, Mother. Hoping for the best is far better than looking for +the worst." + +"I should think it was. Do you believe Piers will be in London at +Christmas?" + +"I fear not. Mother, he is going to send us each a ring at Christmas; +then we will forget the other ring--shall we not?" + +"I don't know, Kitty. I think a deal of that other ring. No new one +can make up for it. Why, my dear, your father gave it to me the night I +promised to marry him. We were standing under the big white hawthorn at +Belward. I'll never forget that hour." + +"It is so long ago, Mother--you cannot care very much now about it." + +"Now, Kitty, if you think only young people can be in love, get that +idea out of your mind at once. You don't know anything about love yet. +After twenty-five years bearing, and forbearing, and childbearing, you +will smile at your gentle-shepherding of to-day. Your love is only a +fancy now, it will be a fact then that has its foundations in your very +life. You do not love Piers Exham, child, as I love your father. You +can't. It isn't to be expected. And it is a good thing, love is so +ordered; for if it did not grow stronger, instead of weaker, marrying +would be a poor way of living." + +"That weary ring! I am so sorry that I ever put it on." + +"I did not ask you to put it on, Kitty. I did not want you to put it +on." + +"Mother, please don't be cross." + +"Kitty, don't be unjust; it is not like you." + +Then Kitty laid her cheek against her mother's cheek, and said sadly, +"I fear, somehow, that ring will make trouble between Piers and me." + +"Nonsense, dearie! The ring is lost and gone. It can't make trouble +now." + +"Its loss was a bad omen, Mother." + +"There is no omen against true love, Kitty. Love counts every sign a +good sign." + +"The Duke was very formal with me at my last visit. The Duchess dislikes +me; and Miss Vyner has so many opportunities; it seems nearly impossible +that Piers should ever marry me." + +"If Piers loves you, there is no impossibility. Love works miracles. +You cannot say 'impossible' to Love. Love will find out a way." + + + + +CHAPTER NINTH + +A FOOLISH VIRGIN + + +Parliament was adjourned on the twenty-third of December, and did +not re-assemble until the third of February. The interval was one of +great public excitement and of great private anxiety. The country had +been assured of a Government pledged to Reform; and, in the main, +were waiting as patiently as men, hungry and naked, and burning with a +sense of injury and injustice, could wait. But no one knew what hour a +spark might be cast into such inflammable material,--that would mean +Revolution instead of Reform. + +Consequently life was depressed, and not disposed to any exhibition of +wealth or festivity; the most heartless and reckless feeling that it +would not be endured by men and women on the very verge of starvation. +The Queen also was unpopular, and the great social leaders were, as a +general thing, bitter political partisans; in theatres and ball-rooms and +even on the streets, the Whig and Tory ladies, when they met, looked +at one another as Guelphs and Ghibellines, instead of christened English +gentlewomen. + +Both the Duchess of Richmoor and Miss Vyner were women of strong and +irrepressible prejudices; and, before Parliament adjourned, they had made +for themselves an environment of active, political enemies. And women +carry their politics into their domestic and social life; the Duchess +had wounded many of her oldest friends; and Annabel, with the haughty +intolerance of youth and wealth, had succeeded in making herself a person +whom all the ladies of the Reform party delighted either to positively +offend, or to scornfully ignore. + +These circumstances, with all her audacity and advantages, she was unable +to control. Her brilliant beauty, her clever tongue, her ostentatious +dress and display were as nothing against the united disposition of a +score of other women to make her understand that they neither desired +her friendship nor felt her influence; and she had at least the sense +to retire from a conflict "whose weapons," she said contemptuously, +"were not in her armory." This condition of affairs naturally threw +her very much upon the Athelings for society. While the Duchess sat with +a few old ladies of her own caste and political persuasion, talking +fearfully of the state of English society and of the horrors Reform would +inaugurate for the nobility, Annabel spent her time with Mrs. and +Miss Atheling, and learned to look hopefully into a future in which, +perhaps, there would be neither dukes nor lords. Besides, Cecil North +had a habit of visiting the Athelings also; and, without expressed +arrangement, both Cecil and Annabel looked forward to those charming +lunches which Mrs. Atheling dispensed with so little ceremony and so +much good nature. It had been Cecil's intention to go with Edgar into +the country; but when the hour for departure arrived, he had not been +able to leave Annabel's vicinity, and, in some of those mysterious ways +known to Love, she understood, and was pleased with this evidence of +her power. + +Cecil's mother had been particularly prominent in that social +ostracism the Reform ladies had meted out to her; and it gave to the +real liking which she had for Cecil a piquant relish to parade the young +man as her devoted servant in all places where his noble mother +would be likely to see or hear tell of her son's "infatuation." But +Cecil North's affection, and the favour it received, did not much +influence Kate. With the perversity of a woman in love, she believed +Annabel to be only amusing herself during Lord Exham's absence; and she +accepted, without a doubt, all the little innuendoes, and half-truths, +and half-admissions which Annabel suffered herself, as it were, without +intent, to make. + +Thus the dreary winter days passed slowly away. In January Edgar +returned. His election had been a mere walk over the ground. The patron +of the borough of Shereham had spoken the word, and Edgar Atheling was +its lawful representative. It was a poor little place, but it gave +Edgar a vote on the right side; and Earl Grey also hoped much from his +power as a natural orator. He might take Brougham's place, and be far +more amenable to directions than Brougham had ever been. Mrs. Atheling +considered none of these things. She took in only the grand fact that +her son was in Parliament, and that he must have won his place there +by some transcendent personal merit. True, she had some little qualms of +fear as to how Edgar's father would treat the new representative of +Englishmen; but her invincible habit of hoping and her cheerful way of +looking into the future did not suffer these passing doubts to seriously +mar her glory and pride in her son's dignity. + +In fact, even in Annabel's eyes, Edgar Atheling was now an important +person. Women do not consider causes, they look at results; and in +Edgar Atheling's case the result was satisfactory. On the day the new +member for Shereham returned home, she was lunching with the Athelings, +eating her salad and playing with Cecil North's heart, when Edgar +entered the room. His honour sat well on him; he neither paraded, nor +yet affectedly ignored it. His mother's pride, his sister's pleasure, +and the congratulations of his friends made him happy, and he showed it. +The lunch that was nearly finished was delayed for another hour. No +one liked to break up the delightful meal and conversation; and when +Annabel got back to Richmoor House the short day was over, and the +Duchess had sent an escort to hurry her return. + +"You are exceedingly imprudent, Annabel," she said, when the girl +entered her presence; "and I do think it high time you stopped visiting +so much at one house." + +"Duchess, will you say what other house equally charming is open to +me? You know how little of a favourite I am. To-day I was delayed by an +event,--the return of young Atheling after his election. He is now an +M. P.,--a great honour for so young a man, I think." + +"Honour, indeed! Grey or Durham, or some of those renegades to their +own caste, have given him a seat. Grey would give a seat to a puppy if +it could bark 'aye' for him." + +"Well, I should not think Atheling will be a dumb dog; he has a ready +tongue. Mr. North says he will take Brougham's place." + +"He will do nothing of the kind. Young Atheling is a fine talker +when he has to face a mob of grumbling men on a Yorkshire moor or a +city common. It is a different thing, Annabel, to stand up before the +gentlemen of England. As for Mr. North, I have told you before that both +the Duke and myself seriously object to that entanglement." + +Annabel laughed. "There is no entanglement, Duchess,--that is, on my +part." + +"Then why throw yourself continually in the young man's way?" + +"You are scarcely polite. He throws himself in my way." + +"Pardon. I meant nothing disrespectful." + +"And I have reasons." + +"May I know them?" + +"Yes. Mr. North's mother was particularly insulting to me at the last +Morning Concert I attended. I heard also that she had spoken of me as +'an Indian girl of doubtful parentage.' She is particularly fond of +Cecil, who is her youngest child, and she is trying to make a marriage +between him and that enormously rich Miss Curzon. I am going to defeat +her plans." + +Then the Duchess laughed. "I never interfere with any woman's +retributions," she said. "But do not burn yourself at the fire you +kindle for others." + +"I am fire-proof." + +"I must think so, or surely Piers would have influenced you." + +"Lord Exham never tried to 'influence' me; and only one woman in the +world can 'influence' him." + +"You mean Miss Atheling, of course; and I have already told you that +there is not even a supposition in that case. Miss Atheling is out of the +question. The Duke would never consent to such a marriage; and I would +never forgive it. Never! I should prefer to lose my son altogether." + +"Then you ought to let Miss Atheling know how you feel. She is a very +honourable, yes, a very proud girl. She would not force herself into your +family, no matter how much she loved your son. Now, I would. If I had +thought you did _not_ want me to marry Lord Exham, I should probably +have been his wife to-day." + +The Duchess glanced at the speaker a little scornfully, and said, +"Perhaps you over-estimate your abilities. However, Annabel, your +suggestion about Miss Atheling has much likelihood. I shall make an +opportunity to speak to her. Will you go out to-night? There will be +the usual crush at Lady Paget's." + +"Excuse me, I do not wish to go." The statement was correct. She had +begun to weary of a routine of visiting that lacked decisive personal +interest. She had many lovers; but even love-making grows tiresome +unless it is reciprocal, or has some spice of jealousy, or some element +of the chase in it. Cecil North did interest her, and Piers Exham did +stimulate her desire for conquest; but Cecil was most pleasantly met at +the Athelings, and Lord Exham was in Yorkshire. + +So, after dining alone with the Duchess, she went to a little +drawing-room that was her favourite resort. The great ash logs burned +brightly on the white marble hearth, and threw shifting lights on the +white-and-gold furnishings, on the pictured walls, on the ferns and +flowers, and on the lovely marble forms of two wood nymphs among them. +She placed herself comfortably in a large easy-chair, with her back +to the argand lamp, and stretched out her sandalled feet before the +blaze, and nestled her head among the soft white cushions. The delicious +drowsy atmosphere was a physical satisfaction of the highest order to +her, quite as much so as it was to the splendid Persian cat that +grumblingly resigned, at her order, the pleasantest end of the +snow-white rug. + +"Now I can think," she said with lazy satisfaction, as she closed her +restless eyes and began the operation. "In the first place, I have set a +ball rolling that I may not be able to manage. It is in the hand of +the Duchess, and she will have no scruples--she never has, if she is +fighting for her own side. Perhaps I ought not to have given her such a +'leader,' for Kate Atheling has always been kind to me--thoughtful +about Cecil, ready at making excuses to let us have a little solitude, +arranging shopping excursions in his presence, so that he would know +where he could 'accidentally' meet us--and so on. No, it was not +exactly kind; but then, in love and war, all things are fair--and I +dare say Miss Kate's motives were probably selfish enough. She would +give me Cecil to make her own way clear to Piers; and, also, Cecil +is a favourite with the Athelings and young Atheling's friend; and they +know that he is poor, and doubtless wish to help him to a rich wife. +Every one works out their own plan, why should not I do the same? But I +must find out something about that ring, and, as the straight way is the +best way, I will ask Kate the necessary questions. She will be sure to +betray herself." + +Then she opened her purse, took out the ring, and placed it upon her +finger, holding up her hand to the blaze to catch its reflections. "It +is a pretty little thing, but I have bought it two or three times +over with my diamond locket. I wonder why Kate never wears that locket! +Is it too fine? Or has she some feeling against me? I gave her it at +Christmas, and I have only seen it once on her neck--that is strange! +I never thought of it before--it really is not much of a ring--I have +twenty finer ones--and I dare say I shall give it back some day: yes, +of course I shall give it back--but at present--" and she stopped +thinking of the demands of the present, and taking the ring off her +finger laid it in the palm of her hand, and softly tossed it and the +Hindoo charm up and down together ere she replaced them in their +receptacle. + +Evidently she had arranged things comfortably with herself, for, after +closing the purse, she began to swing it by its golden chain before +the cat's eyes, until the creature became thoroughly annoyed, and +tried to catch the gleaming, tantalising worry with its claws. The +play delighted her; she gave herself up to its tormenting charm, and +for once lost, in the momentary amusement, all consciousness of herself +and her appearance. It was then the great white door swung noiselessly +open, and Lord Exham stood within it. The sensuous little drama, so +full of colour and life, instantly arrested him; and he stood motionless +to watch it. The girl's strong, vivid face, her black hair, her dress +of bright scarlet, her arms and hands flashing with gems, were thrown +into dazzling prominence by the chair of white brocade in which she +sat, and the white rug at her feet, and the lamp shining behind her. She +waved the golden purse before the cat's eyes, and let it almost fall +into the eager paws, and then drew it backward with a little laugh, +and was not aware that she was, in the act, an absolutely bewitching +type of mere physical beauty. + +But Piers was aware of it. He forgot everything but delight in the +moving picture; and, as he advanced, he cried, in a voice full of +pleasure, "_Annabel! Annabel!_" And the girl answered her name with +an instantaneous movement towards him. Her radiant face looked into +his face, and ere they were aware they had met in each other's arms +and Piers had kissed her. + +She was silent and smiling, and he instantly recovered himself. "I ask +your pardon," he said, releasing her and bowing gravely; "but you are +one of the family, you know, and I have been long away, and am so glad +to get home again that some liberty must be excused me." + +"Oh, indeed!" she answered, with a pretty pout, "I think the apology +is the worst part of the business," and she looked into his eyes with +that steady, unwinking gaze which none withstand. Then he drew her +closer, and said softly, "You are simply bewildering to-night, Annabel. +How have you made yourself so beautiful?" As he spoke he led her to her +seat, and drew a chair close to her side; and the cat leaped to his knee +and began to loudly purr her satisfaction in her master's return. + +"Are you alone to-night?" he asked. "Or perhaps you are expecting +company?" + +"I am alone. I expected no company; but Destiny loves surprises, and +to-night she has surpassed herself. The Duchess has gone to Lady +Paget's. I could not sacrifice myself so far. You know what her +political nights are. And if it is not Relief Bills, and Reform Bills, +then it is Mr. Clarkson and Anti-Slavery; and we are solemnly told to +make little petticoats for the negro children if we desire to go to +heaven." She laughed, and dropped her eyes, and was silent; and the +silence grew dangerous. Fortunately, she herself broke the spell by +asking Piers if he had seen Squire Atheling in Yorkshire. + +"We came from Yorkshire together," he said. Then he began to talk about +the election, and in a few minutes a butler announced his dinner, and +Annabel's hour was over. + +She was not disappointed. "We went far enough," she thought. "I am not +yet ready to put my hand out further than I can draw it back. I cannot +give up Cecil now; he is the only private pleasure I have. Every other +thing I share with the Duchess, or somebody else. And Piers I should +have to share with her and the Duke. As heir to the dukedom, they will +always retain a right in his time and interests. No, Lord Exham, not +yet--not yet." + +She rose with the words, and went to the piano and dashed off in splendid +style that famous old military fantasia, "The Battle of Prague." And +the drift of her uncontrolled thoughts during it may be guessed by the +first query she made of her intelligence when the noisy music ceased:-- + +"I wonder what the Athelings are doing? Piers says the Squire is at +home. I suppose Mrs. Atheling and Kate are coddling, and petting, and +feeding him." + +In some respects Annabel judged fairly well. The Squire reached his home +about the same time that Lord Exham arrived at Richmoor House, and found +Mrs. Atheling waiting to receive him. He made no secret of his joy in +seeing her again. "I was afraid thou mightst be gadding about somewhere, +Maude," he said. "It is pleasant to find thee at home." + +"John Atheling!" + +"Well, it is too bad to say such a thing, Maude. I knew well I would +find thee at home when there was either chance or likelihood of my +getting back there. But where is little Kitty? It isn't right without +Kitty." + +"Well, John, Squire Pickering's family came to London a few days ago, +and Kitty has gone to the theatre with them." + +"I'll tell thee a good joke about Squire Pickering, Maude," said +the Squire, laughing heartily as he spoke. "He was feared young Sam +Pickering was going to vote for Reform, and he served a writ on him +for a trespass, or something of that sort, and got him put safely in +jail till voting time was over. Then he quashed the writ and let the +lad out. But, my word! young Sam is fighting furious, and he has treated +his father nearly as bad as Edgar treated me." + +"Edgar is going to Parliament now. I told thee he would. John, for +goodness' sake, don't quarrel with him before all England!" + +"Maude Atheling! I never quarrelled with Edgar. Never! He quarrelled +with me. If he had done his duty by his father, we would have been finger +and thumb, buckle and strap, yesterday, and to-day, and to-morrow, and +every other day. The Duke says my anger at Edgar is quite reasonable +and justifiable." + +"_The Duke!_ So then thou art framing thy opinions to what _he_ says. +Dear me! I wouldn't have believed such a thing could ever come to pass." + +"Wait till it _does_ come to pass. Why, Richmoor and I very near came +to quarrelling point because I would _not_ frame my opinions by his +say-so. I have been looking into things a bit, Maude, more than I ever +did before, and I have learned what I am not going to deny for anybody. +I met Philip Brotherton of Knaseborough, and he asked me to go home +with him for two or three days--You know Philip and I have been friends +ever since we were lads, and our fathers before us." + +"I know that." + +"So I went with him, and he showed me how working men live and labour +in such towns as Leeds and Manchester; and I am not going to say less +than it is a sin and a shame to keep human beings alive on such terms. I +do not believe any Reform Bill is going to help them; but they ought to +be helped; and they must be helped; or else government is nothing but +blunderment, and legislating nothing but folly. And I said as much +to Richmoor, and he asked me if my son had been lecturing me; and I +told him I had been using my own eyes, and my own ears, and my own +conscience." + +"What did he say to that?" + +"He said, 'Squire, I do not like your associating with Philip +Brotherton. The man has radical ideas, though he does not profess +them.' And I said, 'I like Philip Brotherton, and I shall associate +with him whenever I can make it convenient to do so; and as for his +ideas, if they are radical, then Christianity is radical; and as for +professing them, Philip Brotherton does better than that, he lives +them;' and I went on to say that I thought it would be a right and +righteous thing if both landlords and loomlords would do the same." + +"My word, John! Thou didst speak up! I'll warrant Richmoor was angry +enough." + +The Squire laughed a little as he answered, "Well, Maude, he got as red +in the face as a turkey-cock, and he asked me if I was really going to +be Philip Brotherton's fool. And I answered, 'No, I am like you, +Duke, I do my own business in that line.' And he said, '_Squire +Atheling!_' and turned on his heel and walked one way; and I said, +'_Duke Richmoor!_' and turned on my heel and walked the other way. Now +then, Maude, dost thou think he orders my opinions for me?" + +And Mrs. Atheling smiled understandingly in her lord's face, and cut +him a double portion from the best part of the haunch of venison she was +carving. + +A few days after this event Annabel called one morning at the Athelings. +She expected Cecil North to be there, and he was not there; she waited +for him to come, and he did not come; she tried in many devious ways +to get Kate to express an opinion about his absence, and Kate seemed +entirely unconscious of it. It provoked her into an ill-natured anger; +and, casting about in her mind for something disagreeable to say, she +remembered her resolve to find out how the sapphire ring came to be in +Lord Exham's possession. Even if "the straight way had not been the +best way," she was by nature inclined to direct inquiries; and she +had just proven in her mental manoeuvring about Cecil North that +indirect methods were not satisfactory. So she said bluntly:-- + +"Kate, did you ever hear about Lord Exham losing a ring he valued very +much?" + +"Yes," answered Kate, without the slightest embarrassment; "it was +my mother's ring." + +"Your mother's ring?" + +"Yes." + +"But Lord Exham had it on his finger." + +"My mother loaned it to him. He admired it very much, and wished to have +one made like it." + +"The Duchess was sure that some lady had given it to him as a love gage. +Do you know that he has fretted himself sick about its loss?" + +[Illustration:] + +"Oh, no! I am sure he is not sick. My mother made light of the loss to +him, though she really was very much attached to that particular ring." + +"Have I ever seen her wear it?" + +"No. It was too small for her." + +"Then it was a simple souvenir?" + +"It was more than that; it was her betrothal ring. Father bought it in +Venice." + +"Oh!" + +"But she had a slim little hand, then--like mine is now--" said Kate, +laughing, and spreading out her hand for Annabel to observe. + +"Then you must have been talking of rings, and shown it to him." + +"I was wearing it. I had it on during the lunch hour, and you were +present. It is a wonder you did not notice it, for you are so curious +about finger-rings." + +"Yes, I am quite a ring collector." + +"It was rather a singular ring." + +"Will you describe it to me?" + +Kate did so, and Annabel listened with apparent curiosity. "I wonder +what Exham could want with such a queer ring," she said in answer. + +"Perhaps he is also a ring collector." + +"Perhaps!" But the one word by no means explained the thoughts forming +in her mind. She rose, and, lifting her bonnet, went to a mirror and +carefully tied the satin ribbons under her chin, in the big bows then +considered vastly becoming. Kate tried to arrest her hands. "Stay +and take lunch with us," she urged. "Edgar is sure to be here; and +I should like him to see you in that pretty cloth pelisse." + +"Mr. Atheling never notices me; then why should he notice my pelisse? +I heard Lady Inglis say that he is very much in Miss Curzon's society. +If so, he will clash with his friend Mr. North, who is also her devoted +slave." + +"Now, Annabel! You know that Cecil North loves no one but you." + +"How can you be so wise about his love-affairs?" + +"No great wisdom is needed to see what he cannot hide." + +"Was he here yesterday?" + +"He was here last night. He called to tell us he was going to Westover +on some business for his father. I suppose he wanted you to know." + +"But you never thought of telling me. How selfish girls in love are! +They cannot think a thought beyond their own lover. I declare I was going +without giving you my news,--the Duchess has a large dinner party on +the first of March. The Tory ladies will wait in her rooms the reading +of this famous Reform Bill that Lord John Russell is concocting, and +there will be a great crowd. Kate, if I was you, I would wear your court +dress. It is very unlikely that the Queen will receive at all this +season." + +"Perhaps we shall not be invited to the dinner." + +"You certainly will be invited. I heard the list read, and as your name +begins with 'A' it was almost the first. If Mr. Atheling does come to +lunch, give him my respects and describe my pelisse to him." + +She went away with this mocking message, and was driven first to a famous +jeweller's, where she bought a sapphire band sufficiently like the +one Lord Exham had lost to pass for it, if the view was cursory and at a +distance. Kate's confidence had made one course exceedingly plain to +Annabel. She said to herself as she drove through the city streets, +"My best plan is evidently to arouse Squire Atheling's suspicions. +I will let him see the ring on my hand. I will lead him to think Piers +gave it to me. He will of course make inquiries, and I wonder what Mrs. +Atheling and Kate will say. It is a pretty piece of confusion--and, +if the matter goes too far, I reserve the power to play the good fairy +and put all right. This is a complication I shall enjoy thoroughly, +and I am sure, with nothing on earth but Reform and Revolution in my +ears, I deserve some little private amusement. All I have to do is to +be constantly ready for opportunities." + +Opportunities, however, with Squire Atheling, were few and far between. +It was not until the day before the first of March she found one. On +that afternoon she called at the Athelings, and found Mrs. and Miss +Atheling out. The Squire was walking from the fire-place to the window, +and from the window to the fire-place, and grumbling at their absence. +Miss Vyner's entrance diverted him for a few minutes; and as they +were talking a servant brought in a small package. The Squire took it up, +and laid it down, and then took it up again, and was evidently either +anxious or curious concerning its contents. + +"Why do you not open your package, Squire?" asked Annabel. + +"Well, young lady, I am not going to act as if your presence was not +entertainment enough and to spare." + +"Nonsense! Please do not stand on ceremony with me. It may contain +important papers--something relating to Church or State. I am only a +young woman. Open it, Squire." + +"Well, then, if you say so, I will open it," and he began fumbling at +the well-tied string. Annabel saw her opportunity. In a moment she had +slipped on to the forefinger of her right hand the lost ring, and the +next moment she had gently pushed aside the Squire's hands, and was +saying, "Let me unfasten the knots. I am cleverer at that work than +you." + +"To be sure you are. There is work little fingers do better than big +ones, and this is that kind of a job. But I will get my knife and cut +the knots; that is the best and quickest way." + +He began to hunt in his pockets for his knife, but could not find it. +"Dobson never does put things where they ought to be," he said +fretfully; and then he pulled the bell-rope for Dobson with a force +that fully indicated his annoyance. In the mean time, Annabel was +quietly untying the string, and the Squire naturally watched her +efforts. He was complaining and scolding his servant and his womenkind, +and Annabel did not heed him; but when he suddenly stopped speaking, +in the middle of a sentence, she looked into his face. It expressed the +blankest wonder and curiosity. His eyes were fixed upon her hands, and +he would probably have asked her some inconvenient question if Dobson +had not entered at the moment. Then Annabel retired. Dobson had taken +the parcel in charge, and she excused herself from further delay. + +"I have several things to do," she said, "and I shall only be in the +way of the parcel and its contents. Tell Mrs. Atheling and Kate that I +called, will you, Squire?" + +"To be sure! To be sure, Miss Vyner," he answered; but his eyes were on +the papers Dobson was unfolding, and his mind was vaguely wandering to +the ring he had seen on her finger. When he had satisfied his curiosity +concerning the papers, his thoughts returned with persistent wonder to +it. "I'll wager my best hunter, yes, I'll wager _Flying Selma_ that +was the ring I bought in Venice and gave to Maude. How did that girl +get it? Maude would never sell it or give it away. Never! _Dal it!_ there +is something queer in her having it. I must find out how it comes to +pass." + +When he arrived at this decision Mrs. Atheling came into the room. She +was rosy and smiling, and put aside with sweet good nature the Squire's +complaints about both her and Kitty being out of the house when he was +in it. "Not a soul to say a word to me, or to see that I had a bit of +comfortable eating," he said in a tone of injury. + +"Never mind, John!" + +"Oh, but I do mind! I mind a great deal, Maude." + +"You see, it was Kitty wanted me. She had to have a new clasp to the +pearl necklace your mother left her; and she was sure you would like me +to choose it, so I went with her. I thought we should certainly be home +before you got back." + +"Well, never mind, then. Nothing suits me so much as to see Kitty +suited. I hope you bought a clasp good enough for the necklace." + +"I did not forget that she was going with you to-morrow night." + +"But you are going too, Maude?" + +"Nay, I am not. When I can shut my ears as easy as my eyes, I can afford +to be less particular about the company I keep. I know beforehand what +the women in that crowd will say about their own danger, and about the +murmuring poor who won't starve in peace, and I know that I would be +sure to answer them with a little bit of plain truth." + +"And the truth is not always pleasant, eh, Maude?" + +"In this case I'm sure it wouldn't be pleasant. So, then, the outside +of Richmoor House is the best side for me." + +"I must say I'm getting a bit tired myself of the Duke's masterful +way, and of his everlasting talk about the 'noble memories of the +past.'" + +"Then tell him, John, that the noble hopes of the future are something +better than the noble memories of the past. The country is in a bad +condition as ever was. Something must be done, and done quickly." + +"I'm saying nothing to the contrary, Maude. But even if Reform was +right, it cannot be carried. We must drive the nail that will go. That +is only good common-sense, Maude." + +"Mark my words, John. Reform will _have_ to come, and better now than +later. That which fools do in the end, wise men do in the beginning. I +know, I know." + +"On this subject thou knowest nothing whatever, Maude. Now, then, I +am going to have a bit of sleep. But I will say thus far--as soon as +ever I am sure that I am on a wrong road I won't go a step further. +John Atheling is not the man to carry a candle for the devil." + +With these words he threw his bandana handkerchief over his head, +adding, "He hoped now he had a 'right' to a bit of sleep." Then Mrs. +Atheling went softly out of the room. There was a tolerant smile on her +face, for she was not deceived by the Squire's habit of dignifying his +self-assertions and his self-indulgences with the name of "rights." + + + + +CHAPTER TENTH + +TROUBLE COMES UNSUMMONED + + +Never had the ducal palace of Richmoor been more splendidly prepared +for festivity than on the night of the first of March, 1831. And yet +every guest present knew that it was not a festival, but a gathering +of men and women moved by the gravest fears for the future. The long +suites of parlours, brilliantly lighted, were crowded with peers and +noble ladies, wearing, indeed, the smiles of conventional pleasure; but +all of them eager to discuss the portentous circumstances by which they +were environed. + +Annabel stood at the right hand of the Duchess, but was strangely +distrait and silent. Everything had gone wrong with her. It had been a +day of calamity. She began it with a fret and a scold, and her maid +Justine had been from that moment in a temper calculated to provoke to +extremities her impatient mistress. Then her costume did not arrive till +some hours after it was due; and when examined, it was found to be very +unbecoming. She had been persuaded to select a pale blue satin, simply +because she had tired of every other colour; and she was disgusted +with the effect of its cold beauty against her olive-tinted skin. She +wore out Justine's temper with the variety of her suggestions, and her +angry impatience with every effort. The girl became sulkily silent, +then defiantly silent, then, after a most unreasonable burst of anger, +actively impertinent, so much so that she left Annabel only one way of +retaliation--an instant dismissal. She lifted her purse passionately, +counted out the money due, and, pushing it contemptuously towards the +girl, told her "to leave the house instantly." + +To her utter amazement, Justine pushed back the money. "I will not take +it," she said. "I have no intention of leaving the house until I see +the ring in your possession--the ring in your purse, Miss--returned to +the owner of it." + +If Annabel had been struck to the ground, she could not have been more +confounded and bewildered; and Justine saw and pushed her advantage. +"Miss knows," she continued, "that police detectives are watching +night and day the innocent men whose duties are on this corridor. +Any hour some little thing may cause one of them to be suspected and +arrested; and then who but I could save him from the gallows? No, +Miss, I shall not leave till you give up the ring--till the real th--the +real taker of it is known." + +These words terrified Annabel. She felt her heart stop beating; a strange +sickness overwhelmed her; she sunk speechless into a chair, and closed +her eyes. With an attention utterly devoid of sympathy, Justine put +between her lips a tea-spoonful of aniseed cordial which she brought +from her own apartment. + +In a few minutes Annabel recovered herself physically; but her +prostration, and the hysterical mood which followed it, were admissions +she could not by any future word, or act, contradict. She had been taken +by surprise, and surrendered. If she had had but ten minutes to survey +the situation, she would have defied it; but such an emergency had +never occurred to her. Over and over again she had supposed every other +likelihood of discovery; this one, never! She was at the mercy of her +maid; but for the time being the maid was not inclined to extremities. +She only insisted that Annabel should use her influence to place the men +under suspicion out of the danger of arrest; and when Annabel had +explained, with a wretched little laugh, that the ring had been +taken "as a means of forwarding her love-affair with Lord Exham," +the maid assured her "she was on her side in that matter." Then she +pocketed the sovereigns Annabel offered as a peace gift, and "hoped +Miss would think no more of what she had said." + +But Annabel could not dismiss the subject. Under her magnificent but +singularly unbecoming gown, she carried a heart heavy with apprehension. +The shadow of the gallows, which Justine had evoked for the suspected +culprit, fell upon her own consciousness. In those days, the most +trifling theft was punished with death; and Annabel had a terror of that +mysterious Law of which she was so profoundly ignorant. How it would +regard her position, she could not imagine. Would even her confession +and restoration exonerate her? In this respect, she suffered from +fright, as an ignorant child suffers. Besides which, when the subject +of "confession" came close to her, she felt that it was impossible. +Constantly she had flattered her conscience with this promise; but if it +was to come to actuality, she thought she would rather die. + +So it was with a wretched heart she took the place the Duchess had +assigned her at her own right hand. This position associated her +intimately with Lord Exham, and it was for this very reason the Duchess +had decided upon it. She knew the value of the popular voice; she wished +the popular voice to unite Lord Exham and her rich and beautiful ward; +and she felt sure that their association at her right hand would give +all the certainty necessary to such a belief. Heart-sick with her +strange, new terror, Annabel stood in that brilliant throng. Just +before the dinner hour, she saw Squire Atheling and Kate approaching +to pay their respects to the Duchess. She saw also the quick, joyful +lifting of Exham's eyelids, the bright flush of pleasure that gave +sudden life to his pale cheeks, and the irrepressible gladness that +made his voice musical, as he said softly, "How beautiful she is!" + +"Miss Atheling?" + +"Yes." + +Then Annabel considered her rival's approach. Her eyes fell first on +the Squire, whose splendid physique arrested every one's attention. He +wore a coat of dark-blue broadcloth, trimmed with gold buttons, a long, +white satin vest, and exquisitely fine linen, rather ostentatiously +ruffled. On his arm Kate's hand just rested. Her gown of rich white +silk was soft as lawn, and resplendent as moonbeams; and around her +throat lay one string of Oriental pearls. Her bright, brown hair was +dressed high, without any ornament; but there were silver buckles, set +with pearls, on the front of her white satin sandals. A pause, a murmur +of admiration was perceptible; for conversation ceased a moment as a +creature so fresh, so pure, so exquisite, and so suitably protected, +moved among them. Lord Exham, forgetting all ceremonies, went eagerly +forward to meet these favoured guests; and the Duchess also had a +momentary pleasure in Kate's well-gowned loveliness. She was very +friendly to the Squire; and she took his daughter under her own +protection. + +After dinner--which was specially early for that night--the majority +of the gentlemen went to the House. The Reform Bill, about which all +England was in agonising suspense, was to be read for the first time. +Never, within the memory of Englishmen, had there been so great a crowd +eager to get into the House. Every inch of space on the floor was filled; +and troops of eager politicians, from all parts of the country, were +waiting at the doors of the various galleries. When they were opened, +the clamour, the struggle, and the confusion was so indescribable that +the Speaker threatened to have all the galleries cleared. Even among the +members, there was great confusion and complaining; for their seats, +though marked with their cards, had in many instances been taken by +others. + +Outside, the streets were packed with men wrought up to feverish +excitement and anxiety; and in all the great centres of society, and in +every club in London, there were restless crowds waiting for news from +Westminster. The Duchess of Richmoor's parlours were the central point +of Tory interest. Not one of the company there present but believed with +Sir Robert Inglis--an orator of their party--that "Reform would sweep +the House of Lords clear in ten years." This night was, to them, their +salvation or their ruin. Below their jewelled bodices, their hearts +trembled with anxious terror. After the departure of the members for +the House, they gathered in little knots, wondering, and fearing, and +listening to the noises in the crowded streets, with an agitation not +quite devoid of pleasurable stimulation. For they were not without +comforters and encouragers. The Duke of Wellington went from group to +group, assuring them that Lord Grey's Ministry must go down, and that +no Reform Bill which could injure the nobility would be permitted to pass +the House of Lords. + +Annabel was almost glad to see every one so unhappy. She had a perverse +desire to say contradictious things. Her heart was heavy with fear, and +it was burning with envy and jealousy. Kate's beauty, and Lord Exham's +undisguised admiration, made her realise all the bitterness of failure. +She wandered about making evil prophecies, or saying irritating truths, +and watching Kate the while, till she was ready to cry out with mental +pain and mortification. For the great Duke--never insensible to female +loveliness--had given Kate his arm, and was walking about the parlours +with her. Why had such honour not fallen to her lot? Never had she +been so desirous to lead, to be admired, to enforce her eminent fitness +to wear the Richmoor coronet. Never had she so signally failed. Even +her wit had deserted her; she said _malapropos_ clever things, and got +snubbed for them. In her anger, and fear, and disappointment, she +wished Reform _might_ make a clean sweep of such a selfish crowd of +so-called nobility. She had arrived at that point when her misery +demanded company. + +About ten o'clock, the Duke and Lord Exham returned. The large lofty +rooms, with their moving throngs of splendidly attired men and women, +were yet crowded; but their atmosphere was charged with an electric +tension, generated by the unusual pitch to which every one's thoughts, +and feelings, and words were set. Many were almost hysterical; some had +subsided into mere waiting, conscious of requiring all their strength +for simple endurance of the suspense; others, more hopeful, were restless +and watching,--but all alike became instantly and breathlessly silent +as the two men appeared. For a moment no one spoke; then the Duke of +Wellington asked, with an assumption of cheerfulness, "What news? Has +the Bill been read?" + +"It has been read," answered Richmoor. "Lord John Russell introduced +it in a speech lasting more than two hours." + +"And pray what are its provisions." + +"This infamous Bill proposes that every borough of less than two +thousand inhabitants shall lose the right to send a member to +Parliament." + +"What a scandalous robbery of our privileges!" ejaculated some one of +the listeners. + +"It is nothing else!" answered the Duke. "It robs me of the gift of +seven boroughs." + +"What excuse did he make for such an act?" + +"He supposed the case of a stranger, coming to England to investigate +our method of representation, being taken to a green mound, and told +that green mound sent two members to Parliament; or to a stone wall +with three niches in it, and told that those three niches sent two +members to Parliament; or to a green park with no signs of human +habitation, and told that green park sent two members to Parliament; +and then pictured the amazement of the stranger at this condition of +things. 'But,' he cried, 'how much greater would be his amazement if +he were then taken to large and populous cities, full of industry, +enterprise, and intelligence, and containing vast magazines of every +kind of manufactures, and was then told that these cities did not send +a single man to represent their rights and their necessities in the +great national council.' It was really a very effective passage." + +"We have heard that argument before; it is stale and unprofitable," +said the Duchess. + +"Listen! This Bill proposes to give every man paying taxes for houses +of the yearly value of ten pounds and upward--_a vote_." + +"What an absurdity!" + +"It proposes to give Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, and +three other large towns, each two members, and London eight additional +members." + +"Infamous! It will give us a mob government." + +"This so-called Reform Bill gives the franchise to one hundred and +ten thousand people in the counties of England who never had it before; +in the provincial towns, it gives it to fifty thousand; in London, it +gives it to ninety-five thousand; in Scotland, to fifty thousand; and +in Ireland, to forty thousand: in all, half a million of persons are to +be added to the constituency of the House of Commons." + +At this information the tendency of the whole company was to laughter. +Indeed the Duke's face, and voice, and manner was that of a man telling +an utterly absurd story. Such sweeping alterations were not conceivable; +their very excess doomed them to ridicule and failure, in the opinion of +the privileged class; but the Duke of Wellington's face expressed an +anxiety not consonant with this feeling; and he asked gloomily: + +"Did Lord John Russell _dare_ to read the names of the boroughs he +intends to disfranchise, with their members present?" + +"He read them with the greatest emphasis and deliberation." + +"And the result? What was the result? How did they take being robbed of +their seats in this summary way?" + +"The excitement in the House was incredible. He was derisively +interrupted by shouts of laughter, and by cries of 'Hear! Hear!' and +by constant questions across the table from the members of those +boroughs. The wisest statesmen in the House were aghast at proposals so +sweeping and so revolutionary." + +"What did Peel say?" + +"Nothing. He sat rigid as a statue, his face working with emotion, +his brow wrinkled and sombre. His supporters, who were gathered round +him, burst again and again into uncontrollable laughter. Peel tried +to make them behave like gentlemen, and could not. Every one is sure such +a measure predicts a speedy downfall of Grey's Ministry." + +"Of course it does," said the Duchess, with a contemptuous laugh. +The laugh was contagious, and the majority of the company burst into +merriment and ridicule. + +"It is really a good joke," said an aged Marquis who had the idea that +England was the birthright of her nobles. + +"A good joke!" answered the Duke of Wellington, sternly. "I can tell +you it is no joke. You will find it no laughing matter." + +"I am weary of it all," whispered Annabel to Kate; "let us go into +the conservatory." Kate was willing also, and as they entered the sweet, +green place, with its tender lights and restful peace, she sighed with +pleasure and said, "I wonder, Annabel, if the roses and camellias think +themselves better than the violets and daisies." + +"I dare say they do. Let us sit down here. I have had such a wretched +day, and I am worn out;" and for a moment, as she looked in Kate's +gentle face, she had a mind to tell her the whole truth about the +unfortunate ring. But while she hesitated, there was a footstep; and +in a moment, Piers pushed aside the fronds of the gigantic ferns and +joined them. + +"It is allowable," said Annabel, "provided you do do not mention +Reform." + +"There is no necessity here," he answered gallantly. "How could +perfection be reformed?" Gradually the conversation fell into a more +serious mood, and they began to speak of Yorkshire, and to long after its +breezy wolds and lovely dales; and Annabel listened and said, "She +would be delighted when they went down there." Kate also acknowledged +that she was impatient to return to Atheling; and Piers watched her +every movement,--the smile parting her lips, the light coming and going +on her cheeks from dropped or lifted eyes, the graceful movements of +her hands, the noble poise of her head,--all these things were fresh +enchantments to him. What was the noisy, dusty Senate chamber to this +green spot filled with the charming presence of the woman he adored? + +Very quickly Annabel perceived that she was the one person _not_ +necessary; and she was too depressed to resent this position. With a +whisper to Kate, she went away, promising to return in ten minutes. +She did not return; but in half an hour--which had seemed as five +minutes--the Duchess came in her stead, and said blandly, "Annabel has +a headache, and has gone to sleep it away. I have sent the Squire +home, Miss Atheling; I told him I should keep you here to-night. +Indeed he was glad for you to remain; the streets are not in a very +pleasant condition. London has lost its senses. It has gone mad; in the +morning it may be saner." + +So the sweet interval was over; but one secret glance between the lovers +showed how delicious it had been. Kate went away with the Duchess; and +waiting women led her to a splendid sleeping apartment. There, all +night long, she kept the sense of Piers holding her hand in his; and, +faintly smiling with this interior bliss, she dreamed away the hours +until late in the morning. + +Her first thought on awakening was, "What shall I wear? I cannot go to +breakfast in a white silk gown." Then, as she rose, she saw a street +costume laid ready for her use. "Mrs. Atheling sent it very early this +morning," said the maid; and Kate thought with a blessing of the good +mother who never forgot her smallest necessities. At breakfast, the +Duchess was particularly gracious to her; she affected an entire oblivion +of Piers's evident devotion, and talked incessantly of the stupidity of +the Grey Ministry; but as she rose from the table, she said,-- + +"My dear Miss Atheling, will you do me the favour to come to my private +parlour before you leave?" + +Kate stood up, curtsied slightly, and made the required promise. But +she did not at once attend the Duchess, as that lady certainly expected. +She had promised Piers to walk with him in the conservatory, and finish +their interrupted conversation of the previous night; and a gentle +pressure of her hand reminded her of this previous engagement. So it +was near the noon hour when she went to the room which the Duchess had +selected for their interview. + +She entered it without a suspicion of the sorrow waiting there for her, +though the first glance at the cold, haughty face that greeted her made +her a little indignant. "I expected you an hour ago, Miss Atheling," +said the Duchess. + +"I am sorry if I have detained you, Duchess. I did not think my +interview with you could be of much importance." + +"Perhaps not as important to you as the interview you put before it--and +yet, perhaps, far more so. For I must tell you that such entirely +personal companionship with Lord Exham, must cease from this very hour." + +Kate had taken the seat the Duchess indicated on her entering the room; +she now rose to her feet, and answered, "If so, Duchess, it is proper +for me to leave your home at once. My mother is waiting to see me. She +will tell me what it is right for me to do." + +"In this case, I am a better adviser than your mother. I believe you to +be a girl of noble principles, so I tell you frankly that Lord Exham +is bound, by every honourable tie, to marry Miss Vyner. When you are +not present, he is quite happy in her society; when you are present, +you seem to exert some unaccountable influence over him. Miss Vyner has +often complained of this. I thought it was simple jealousy on her part, +until I observed you with Lord Exham last night. I am now compelled, +by my duty to my son and his affianced wife, to tell you how impossible +a marriage between you and Lord Exham is and must be. I believe this +information to be all that is necessary to a girl of your birth and +breeding." + +"What information, Duchess?" She asked the question with a dignity that +irritated a woman who thought her word, without her reasons, was quite +sufficient. + +"If you persist in having the truth, I must give it to you. Remember, +I would gladly have spared you and myself this humiliation. Know, +then, that many years ago the late General Vyner rendered the Duke a +great service. When Annabel was born, the Duke offered himself as +her godfather and guardian, and his son as her husband. It is not +necessary to go into details; the facts ought to be sufficient for you. +There are circumstances which make the fulfilment of this promise +imperative; and, if you do not interfere, my son will very willingly +perform his part of it. Pardon me if I also remind you that your +birth and fortune make any hopes you may entertain of being the future +Duchess of Richmoor very presumptuous hopes. I assure you that I have +spoken reluctantly, and with sincere kindness; and I do not desire this +conversation to interfere with our future intercourse. If you will give +me your promise, I know that I may trust you absolutely." + +"What do you wish me to promise?" + +"That you will allow no love-making between Lord Exham and yourself; +that you will not in any way interfere between Lord Exham and Miss +Vyner,--in fact, promise me, in a word, that you will never marry +Lord Exham. I assure you, such a marriage would be most improper and +unfortunate." + +Kate stood for a moment still and white as a marble statue; and when she +spoke, her words dropped slowly and with an evident effort. And yet her +self-control and dignity of manner was remarkable, as she answered,-- + +"Duchess, I have always done exactly what my dear wise father and mother +have told me to do. I shall ask their advice on this matter before I make +any promise. If they tell me to do as you wish me to do, I shall know +that they are right, and obey them. I do not recognise any other human +authority than theirs." + +She was leaving the room after these words; but the Duchess cried +angrily, "Your father must not at present be asked to interfere. There +are interests--grave, political interests--between him and the Duke +that cannot be imperilled for some love-nonsense between you and Lord +Exham." + +"There are no grave political interests between my mother and the Duke; +and I shall, at all events, take my mother's counsel." + +She had stood with the door open in her hand; she now passed outside. So +far she had kept herself from any exhibition of feeling; but, oh, how +wronged and unhappy and offended she felt! She went down and down the +splendid stairway, erect as a reed; but her heart was like a wounded +bird: it fluttered wildly in her bosom, and would not be comforted until +she reached that nest of all nests,--her mother's breast. + +There she poured out all her grief and indignation; and Mrs. Atheling +never interrupted the relation by a single word. She clasped the weeping +girl to her heart, and stroked her hands, and soothed her in those tender +little ways that are closer and sweeter than any words can be. But when +Kate had wept her passionate sense of wrong and affront away, the good +mother withdrew herself a little, and began to question her child. + +"Let me understand plainly, Kitty dear," she said. "Her Grace--Grace +indeed!--wishes you to promise her that you will give up Piers to +Annabel." + +"Yes, Mother." + +"And that you will never marry Piers under any circumstances?" + +"Yes, Mother." + +"And she thinks you 'presumptuous' in hoping to marry her son?" + +"Yes, dear Mother. She said 'presumptuous.' Am I; ought I to do as +she wishes me? Oh, I cannot give up Piers! Only this morning he told me +that he would never marry any woman but me." + +"Have I or your good father told you to give up Piers?" + +"No, Mother." + +"When we do, you will of course know we have good reasons for such +an order, and you will give him up. But as yet, father hasn't said +such a word; and I haven't. Kitty darling, the Fifth Commandment only +asks you to obey your own father and mother. Let the Duchess put the +'giving up' where it ought to be. Let her tell her son to give you +up--that is quite as far as her authority extends. She has nothing to +say to Kate Atheling; nor has my little Kitty any obligation to obey +her. She must give such orders to Piers Exham. It is the duty of his +heart and conscience to decide whether he will obey or not." + +"Then I can go on loving him, Mother, without wronging myself or +others?" + +"Go on loving him, dearie." + +"He said he was coming to ride with me at three o'clock." + +"Ride with him, and be happy while you can, dear child. Let mother kiss +such foolish tears away. I can tell you father was proud of your beauty +last night. He said you were the loveliest woman in London." + +"The Duke of Wellington told me I was a beautiful girl; and he said +many wise and kind things to me, Mother. What did father think about +the Reform Bill?" + +"It troubled him, Kitty; it troubled him very much. He said, 'It meant +civil war;' but I said, 'Nonsense, John Atheling, it will prevent civil +war.' And so it will, dearie. The people will have it, or else they +will have far more. Your father said all London was shouting till +daybreak, 'The Bill! The whole Bill! Nothing but the Bill!' Now +then, run away and wash your eyes bright, and put on your habit. I'll +warrant Piers outruns the clock." + +"Have you seen Edgar this morning?" + +"For a few minutes just before you came. Cecil was with him. They had +been up all night; but Cecil would have stayed if Annabel had been here. +How he does love that girl!" + +"I think she loves him. She looked ill last night, and I did not see +her this morning. What a tangle it is! Annabel loves Cecil--Piers loves +me--and the Duchess--" + +"Never mind the Duchess, nor the tangle either, Kitty. To-day is yours; +to-morrow is not born; and you are not told to unravel any tangle. +There are _them_ whose business it is; and they know all the knots and +snarls, and will wind the ball all right in the end." + +"Oh, Mother, how I love you!" + +"Oh, Kitty, how I love you!" + +"Piers loves me too, Mother." + +"I'll warrant he does. Who could help loving thee, Kitty? But men's +love isn't mother's love; it is a good bit more selfish. God Almighty +made thy father, John Atheling, of the best of human elements; but John +Atheling has his shabby moments. Piers Exham won't be different; so +don't expect it." Then the two women looked at each other and smiled. + +They understood. + + + + +CHAPTER ELEVENTH + +"LIFE COMES AND GOES THE OLD, OLD WAY!" + + +Annabel had purposely kept out of Kitty's way. She had more than a +suspicion of the probable interview between the Duchess and Kitty; and +she wished to avoid any unpleasantness with the Athelings. They gave +her the most reliable opportunities with Cecil North; and besides, she +was so little of a general favourite as to have no other acquaintances as +intimate. She was also really sick and unhappy; and the first occurrence +of the day did not tend to make her less so. She wished to see the Duke +about some matter relating to her finances; and, as soon as she left her +room, she went to the apartment in which she was most likely to find him. + +The Duke was not there, but Squire Atheling was waiting for him. He +said he "had an appointment at two o'clock," and then, looking at the +time-piece on the mantel, added, "I always give myself ten minutes or so +to come and go on." Annabel knew this peculiarity of the Squire, and +made her little joke on the matter; and then the conversation turned a +moment on Kitty, and her probable return home. Annabel assured the Squire +she had already gone home, and then, offering her hand in adieu, was +about to leave the room. The little brown-gemmed hand roused a sudden +memory and anxiety in his heart. He detained it, as he said, "Miss +Vyner, I have a question to ask you. Do you remember untying a parcel +for me the other day?" + +"I should think so," she replied with a laugh. "A more impatient man +to do anything for I never saw." + +"I am a bit impatient. But that is not what I am thinking of. You wore +a ring that day--a sapphire ring with a little sapphire padlock--and that +ring interests me very much. Will you tell me where you got it?" + +"No, sir. Even if I knew, I might have excellent reasons for not telling +you. Why, Squire, I am astonished at your asking such a question! Rings +have mostly a story--a love-story too; you might be asking for secrets!" + +"I beg pardon. To be sure I might. But you see a ring exactly like the +one you wore, holds a secret of my own." + +"Perhaps you are mistaken about the ring. So many rings look alike." + +"I could not be mistaken. I do wish you would tell me--I am afraid you +think me rude and inquisitive--" + +"Indeed I do, sir! And, if you please, we will forget this conversation. +It is too personal to be pleasant." + +With these words she bowed and withdrew, and the Squire got up and +walked about the room until the Duke entered it. By that time, he had +worried himself into an impatient, suspicious temper, and was touchy +as tinder when his political chief asked him to sit down and discuss +the situation with him. + +"Exham has gone to see a number of our party; but I thought I would +outline to you personally the course we intend to pursue with regard to +this infamous Bill." The Squire bowed but said not a word; and the Duke +proceeded, "We have resolved to worry and delay it to the death. In +the Commons, the Opposition will go over and over the same arguments, +and ask again, and again, and again, the same questions. This course +will be continued week after week--month after month if necessary. +Obstruction, Squire, obstruction, that is the word!" + +"What do you mean exactly by 'obstruction'?" + +"I will explain. Lord Exham will move, 'That the Speaker do now +leave the Chair.' When this motion is lost, some other member of the +Opposition will move, 'That the debate be now adjourned.' That being +lost, some other member will again move, 'That the Speaker do now leave +the Chair,' and so, with alternations of these motions, the whole +night can be passed--and night after night--and day after day. It is +quite a legitimate parliamentary proceeding." + +"It may be," answered the Squire; "but I am astonished at your asking +John Atheling to take any part in such ways. I will fight as well as any +man, on the square and the open; if I cannot do this, I will not fight +at all. I would as soon worry a vixen fox, as run a doubling race of that +kind. No, Duke, I will not worry, and nag, and tease, and obstruct. +Such tactics are fitter for old women than for reasoning men, sure of a +good cause, and working to win it." + +"I did not expect this obstruction from you, Squire; and, I must say, I +am disappointed--very much disappointed." + +"I don't know, Duke Richmoor, that I have ever given you cause to think +I would fight in any other way than in a square, stand-up, face-to-face +manner. Wasting time is not fighting, and it is not reasoning. It is just +tormenting an angry and impatient nation; it is playing with fire; it +is a dangerous, deceitful, cowardly bit of business, and I will have +nothing to do with it." + +"You remember that I gave you your seat?" + +"You can have it back and welcome. I took my seat from you; but when +it comes to right and wrong, I take orders only from my own conscience." + +"Advice, Squire, advice; I did not think of giving you orders." + +"Well, Duke, I am perhaps a little hasty; but I do not understand +obstructing warfare. I am ready to attack the Bill, tooth and nail. +I am ready to vote against it; but I do not think what you call +'obstructing' is fair and manly." + +"All things are fair in love and war, Squire; and this is a war to the +knife-hilt for our own caste and privileges." + +Here there was a light tap at the door, and, in answer to the Duke's +"enter," Annabel came in. She said a few words to him in a low voice, +gave him a paper, and disappeared. But, short as the interview was, +it put the Duke in a good temper. He looked after her with pride and +affection, and said pleasantly,-- + +"Fight in your own way, Squire Atheling; it is sure to be a good, +straight-forward fight. But the other way will be the tactics of our +party, and you need not interfere with them. By-the-bye, Miss Vyner is a +good deal at your house, I think." + +"She is always welcome. My daughter likes her company. We all do. She is +both witty and pretty." + +"She is a great beauty--a particularly noble-looking beauty. She will +make a fine Duchess, and my son is most fortunate in such an alliance; +for she has money,--plenty of money,--and a dukedom is not kept up +on nothing a year. Perhaps, however, this Reform Bill will eventually +get rid of dukedoms and dukes, as it proposes to do with boroughs and +members." + +The Squire did not immediately answer. He wanted a definite assertion +about Lord Exham and Miss Vyner, and could not decide on words which +would unsuspiciously bring it. Finally, he blurted out an inquiry as to +the date of a marriage between them; and the Duke answered carelessly,-- + +"It may occur soon or late. We have not yet fixed the time. Probably +as soon as this dreadful Reform question is settled. But as the ceremony +will surely take place at the Castle, Atheling Manor will be an important +factor in the event." + +He was shifting and folding up papers as he spoke, and the Squire _felt_, +more than understood, that the interview had better be closed. Ostensibly +they parted friends; but the Squire kept his right hand across his back +as he said "good-morning," and the Duke understood the meaning of +this action, though he thought it best to take no notice of it. + +"What a fractious, testy, touchy fellow this is!" he said irritably +to himself, when he was alone. "A perfect John Bull, absolutely sure +of his own infallibility; sure that he knows everything about everything; +that he is always right, and always must be right, and that any one who +doubts his always being right is either a knave or a fool. _Tush!_ I am +glad I gave him that thrust about Piers and Annabel. It hurt. I could +see it hurt, though he kept his hand to cover the wound." + +The Duke was quite right. Squire Atheling was hurt. He went straight +home. In any trouble, his first medicine was his wife; for though he +pretended to think little of her advice, he always took it--or regretted +that he had not taken it. He found her half-asleep in the chair by the +window which she had taken in order to watch Lord Exham and Kitty ride +down the street together. She was at rest and happy; but the Squire's +entrance, at an hour not very usual, interested her. "Why, John!" +she asked, "what has happened? I thought you went to the House at three +o'clock." + +"I have some questions to ask in my own house, first," he answered. +"Maude, I am sure you remember the ring I gave you one night at +Belward,--the ring you promised to marry me on, the sapphire ring with +the little padlock?" + +"To be sure I remember it, John." + +"You used to wear it night and day. I have not seen it on your hand for +a long time." + +"It became too small for me. I had to take it off. Whatever has brought +it into your thoughts at this time?" + +"I saw one just like it. Where did you put your ring?" + +"In my jewel-case." + +"Is it there now." + +She hesitated a moment, but a life-time of truth is not easily turned +aside. "John," she answered, "it is not there. It is gone." + +"I thought so. Did you sell it for Edgar, some time when he wanted +money?" + +"Edgar never asked me for a shilling. I never gave him a shilling +unknown to you. And I did not sell the ring at all. I would never have +done such a thing." + +"But I have seen the ring on a lady's hand." + +"Do you know the lady?" + +"I think I could find her." + +"I will tell you about it, John. I loaned it to Kitty, and Piers saw it +and wanted one made like it for Kitty, and so he took it away to show +it to his jeweller, and lost it that very night. He has moved heaven and +earth to find it, but got neither word nor sight of it. You ought to +tell him where you saw it." + +"Not yet, Maude." + +"Tell me then." + +"To be sure! I saw it on Miss Vyner's hand." + +"Impossible!" + +"Sure!" + +"But how?" + +"Thou mayst well ask 'how.' Piers gave it to her." + +"I wouldn't believe such a thing, not on a seven-fold oath." + +"Thou knowest little about men. There are times when they would give +their souls away. Thou knowest nothing about such women as Miss Vyner. +They have a power that while it lasts is omnipotent. Antony lost a world +for Cleopatra, and Herod would have given half, yes, the whole of his +kingdom to a dancing woman, if she had asked him for it." + +"Those men were pagans, John, and lived in foreign countries. Christian +men in England--" + +"Christian men in England, in proportion to their power, do things just +as reckless and wicked. Piers Exham has never learned any control; he +has always given himself, or had given him, whatever he wanted. And I can +tell thee, there is a perfect witchery about Miss Vyner in some hours. +She has met Exham in a favourable time, and begged the ring from him." + +"I cannot believe it. Why should she do such a thing? She must have had +a reason." + +"Certainly she had a reason. It might be pure mischief, for she is +mischievous as a cat. It might be superstition; she is as superstitious +as an Hindoo fakir. She has charms and signs for everything. She orders +her very life by the stars of heaven. I have watched her, and listened to +her, and never trusted her about Kitty--not a moment. Now this is a +secret between thee and me. I asked her to-day about the ring, and she +would say neither this nor that; yet somehow she gave me to understand +it was a love token." + +"She is a liar, if she means that Piers gave it to her as a love token. +I saw the young man half an hour ago. If ever a man loved a maid, he +loves our Kitty." + +"Yet he is going to marry Miss Vyner." + +"He is not. I am sure he is not. He will marry Kate Atheling." + +"The Duke told me this afternoon that Lord Exham would marry Miss Vyner +as soon as this Reform question is settled. He said the marriage would +take place at the Castle." + +"The Duke has been talking false to you for some purpose of his own." + +"Not he. Richmoor has faults--more than enough of them; but he treads +his shoes straight. A truthful man, no one can say different." + +"I wouldn't notice a thing he said for all that. Pass it by. Leave +Kitty to manage her own affairs." + +"No, I will not! Thou must tell Kitty to give the man up. He is going to +marry another woman." + +"I don't believe a word of it." + +"His father said so. What would you have?" + +"Fathers don't know everything." + +"Now, Maude Atheling, my girl shall not marry where she is not wanted. +I would rather see her in her death shroud than in her wedding gown, if +things were in that way." + +"John, I have always been open as the day with you, and I will not +change now. The Duchess said something like it to Kitty this morning, +so you see there has been a plan between the Duke and Duchess to make +trouble about Piers. Kitty came home very troubled." + +"And you let her go out with the man! I am astonished at you!" + +"She asked me what she ought to do, and I told the dear girl to be happy +until _you_ told her to be miserable. If you think it is right to do so, +tell her when she comes home never to see Piers again." + +"You had better tell her. I cannot." + +"I cannot, and I will not, for the life of me." "Don't you believe +what I say?" + +"Yes--with a grain of salt. Piers is to hear from yet." + +"Well, you must speak to her, Mother. My heart is too soft. It is _your_ +place to do it." + +"My heart is as soft as yours, John. I say, let things alone. We are +going to Atheling soon--we cannot go too soon now. If it must be told +her, Kate will hear it, and bear it best in her own home; and, besides, +he will not be within calling distance. John, this thing cannot be done +in a hurry. God help the dear girl--to find Piers false--to give him +up--it will break her heart, Father!" + +"Kitty's heart is made of better stuff. When she finds out that Piers +has been false to her, she will despise him." + +"She will make excuses for him." + +"No good woman will care about an unworthy man." + +"Then, God help the men, John! If that were so, there would be lots of +them without any good woman to care for them." + +"Show Kitty that Piers is unworthy of her love, and I tell you she will +put him out of her heart very quickly. I think I know Kitty." + +"Women do not love according to deserts, John. If a woman has a bad +son or daughter, does she take it for comfort when they go away from +her? No, indeed! She never once says, 'They were nothing but a sorrow +and an expense, and I am glad to be rid of them.' She weeps, and she +prays all the more for them, just because they were bad. And one kind of +love is like another; so I will not speak ill of Piers to Kate; besides, +I do not think ill of him. If she has to give him up, it will not be +his fault; and I could not tell her 'he is no loss, Kate,'--and such +nonsense as that,--for it would be nonsense." + +"What will you say then?" + +"I shall help her to remember everything pleasant about him, and to make +excuses for him. Even if you put comfort on the lowest ground possible, +no woman likes to think she has been fooled and deceived, and given her +heart for worse than nothing. Nine hundred and ninety-nine women out +of a thousand would rather blame Fate or father or Fortune, or some +other man or woman, than their own lover." + +"Women are queer. A man in such a case whistles or sings his heartache +away with the thought,-- + + "'If she be not fair for me, + What care I how fair she be?'" + +"You are slandering good men, John. Plenty of men would not give +heart-room to such selfish love. They can live for the woman they +love, and yet live apart from her. My advice is that we go back to +Atheling at once. My heart is there already. Kitty and I were talking +yesterday of the garden. The trees will soon be in blossom, and the +birds busy building in them. Oh, John,-- + + "'The Spring's delight, + In the cowslip bright, + As she laughs to the warbling linnet! + And a whistling thrush, + On a white May bush, + And his mate on the nest within it!'" + +And both caught the joy of the spring in the words, and the Squire, +smiling, stooped and kissed his wife; and she knew then that she had +permission to carry her daughter out of the way of immediate sorrow. As +for the future, Mrs. Atheling never went into an enemy's country in +search of trouble. She thought it time enough to meet misfortune when +it came to her. + +Kate was not averse to the change. Her conversation with the Duchess +naturally affected her feeling towards Annabel. She could not imagine +her quite ignorant of it; and it was, therefore, a trial to have the +girl intruding daily into her life. Yet self-respect forbade her to make +any change in their relationship to each other. Annabel, indeed, appeared +wishful to nullify all the Duchess had said by her behaviour to Cecil +North. Never had she been so familiar and so affectionate towards him, +and she evidently desired Mrs. Atheling and Kate to understand that she +was sincerely in love, and had every intention of marrying for love. + +But yet she was unable to disguise her pleasure when she was suddenly +told of their proposed return to the country. A vivid wave of crimson +rushed over her face and throat; and though she said she "was sorry," +there was an uncontrollable note of satisfaction in her voice. She was +really sorry in one respect; but she had become afraid of the Squire. He +asked such point-blank questions. His suspicions were wide awake and +veering to the truth. He was another danger in her situation, and she +felt Justine to be all she could manage. Mrs. Atheling and Kate being +gone, her visits to the Vyner house could naturally cease; and, as +the winter was nearly over, she could arrange some other place for +her meetings with Cecil North. Indeed, he had already joined her in a +few early morning gallops; and, besides which, she reflected, "Love +always finds out a way." Cecil was a quite manageable factor. + +[Illustration:] + +About the middle of March, one fine spring evening, Mrs. Atheling and +Kate came once more near to their own home. The road was a beautiful +one, bordered with plantations of feathery firs on each side; and the +pure resinous odour was to these two northern women sweeter than a +rose garden. And, oh, what a home-like air the long, rambling old Manor +House had, and how bright and comfortable were its low-ceiled rooms! +When Kate went to her own chamber, a robin on a spray of sweet-briar +was singing at her window. She took it for her welcome back to the +happy place. To be sure, the polished oak floor with its strips of +bright carpet, the little tent-bed with its white dimity curtains, and +the low, latticed windows, full of rosemary pots and monthly roses, were +but simple surroundings; yet Kate threw herself with joyful abandon into +her white chair before the blazing logs, and thought, without regret, +of the splendid rooms of the Vyner mansion, and the tumult of men and +horses in the thousand-streeted city outside it. + +Certainly Piers was in the city, and she had no hope of his speedy +return to the country. But, equally, she had no doubts of his true +affection; and the passing days and weeks brought her no reasons for +doubting. She had frequent letters from him, and many rich tokens of +his constant remembrance. And, as the spring advanced, the joy of her +heart kept pace with it. Never before had she taken such delight in the +sylvan life around her. The cool sweetness of the dairy; the satiny +sides of the milking-pails; the trig beauty of the dairymaids, waiting +for the cows, coming slowly out of the stable,--the beautiful cows, with +their indolent gait and majestic tramp, their noble, solemn faces, and +their peaceful breathing,--why had she never noticed these things +before? Was it because we must lose good things--though but for a +time--in order to find them? And very soon the bare, brown garden was +aflame with gold and purple crocus buds, and the delicious woody perfume +of wallflowers, and the springtide scent of the sweet-briar filled all +its box-lined paths. The trees became misty with buds and plumes and +tufts and tassels; and in the deep, green meadow-grass the primroses +were nestling, and the anemones met her with their wistful looks. + +And far and wide the ear was as satisfied as the eye with the tones of +waterfalls, the inland sounds of caves and woods, the birds twittering +secrets in the tree-tops, and the running waters that were the tongue +of life in many a silent place. Oh, how beautiful, and peaceful, and +happy were these things! Often the mother and daughter wondered to each +other how they could ever have been pleased to exchange them for the +gilt and gewgaws and the social smut of the great city. Thus they fell +naturally into the habit of pitying the Squire, and Edgar, and Piers, +and wishing they were all back at Atheling to share the joy of the +spring-time with them. + +One night towards the close of April, Kate was very restless. "I cannot +tell what is the matter, Mother," she said. "My feet go of their own +will to the garden gates. It is as if my soul knew there was somebody +coming. Can it be father?" + +"I think not, Kitty. Father's last letter gave no promise of any let-up +in the Reform quarrel. You know the Bill was read for the second time as +we left London; and Earl Grey's Ministry had then only a majority of +one. Your father said the Duke was triumphant about it. He was sure that +a Bill which passed its second reading by only a majority of one, could +be easily mutilated in Committee until it would be harmless. The Lords +mean to kill it, bit by bit,--that will take time." + +"But what then, Mother?" + +"God knows, child! I do not believe the country will ever settle to work +again until it gets what it wants." + +"Then will the House sit all summer?" + +"I think it will." + +At these words a long, cheerful "_hallo!_"--the Squire's own call in +the hunting-field--was heard; and Kate, crying, "I told you so!" ran +rapidly into the garden. The Squire was just entering the gates at a +gallop. He drew rein, threw himself off his horse, and took his daughter +in his arms. + +"I am so glad, Father!" she cried. "So happy, Father! I knew you were +coming! I knew you were coming! I did that!" + +"Nay, not thou! I told nobody." + +"Your heart told my heart. Ask mother. Here she comes." + +Then, late as it was, the quiet house suddenly became full of noise +and bustle; and the hubbub that usually followed the Squire's advent +was everywhere apparent. For he wanted all at once,--his meat and his +drink, his easy coat and his slippers, his pipe and his dogs, and his +serving men and women. He wanted to hear about the ploughing, and the +sowing, and the gardening; about the horses, and the cattle, and the +markets; the farm hands, and the tenants of the Atheling cottages. He +wanted his wife's report, and his steward's report, and his daughter's +petting and opinions. The night wore on to midnight before he would +speak of London, or the House, or the Bill. + +"I may surely have a little bit of peace, Maude," he said +reproachfully, when she ventured to introduce the subject; "it has +been the Bill, and the Bill, and the Bill, till my ears ache with the +sound of the words." + +"Just tell us if it has passed, John." + +"No, it has _not_ passed; and Parliament is dissolved again; and the +country has taken the bit in its teeth, and the very mischief of hell +is let loose. I told the Duke what his 'obstructing' ways would do. +Englishmen like obstructions. They would put them there, if they were +absent, for the very pleasure of getting over them. Many a man that was +against the Bill is now against the 'obstructions' and bound to get +over them." + +"Did Piers come down with you, Father?" asked Kate. She had waited long +and patiently, and the Squire had not named him; and she felt a little +wounded by the neglect. + +"No. He did not come down with me, Kitty. But I dare say he is at the +Castle. The Duke spoke of returning to Yorkshire at once." + +"He might have come with you, I think." + +"I think not. A man's father and mother cannot always be put aside +for his sweetheart. Lovers think they can run the world to their own +whim-whams. 'Twould be a God's pity if they could!" + +"What are you cross about, Father? Has Piers vexed you?" + +"Am I cross, Kitty? I did not know it. Go to bed, child. England stands +where she did, and Piers is yet Lord of Exham Hall. I dare say he will +be here to-morrow. I came at my own pace. He would have to keep the pace +of two fine ladies. And I'll be bound he fretted like a race-horse yoked +in a plough." + +And Kitty was wise enough to know that she had heard all she was likely +to hear that night; nor was she ill-pleased to be alone with her hopes. +Piers was at hand. To-morrow she might see him, and hear him speak, and +feel the tenderness of his clasp, and meet the love in his eyes. So +she sat at the open casement, breathing the sweetness and peace of the +night, and shaping things for the future that made her heart beat quick +with many thoughts not to be revealed. The faint smile of the loving, +dreaming of the loved one, was on her lips; and if a doubt came to her, +she put it far away. In fear she would not dwell, and, besides, her +heart had given her that insight which changes faith into knowledge. +She _knew_ that Piers loved her. + +The Squire had no such clear confidence. When Kitty had gone away, he +said plainly, "I am not pleased with Piers. I do not like his ways; I +do not like them at all. After Kate left London, he was seen everywhere, +and constantly, with Miss Vyner." + +"Why not? She is one of his own household." + +"They were very confidential together. I noticed them often for Kitty's +sake." + +"I do wish, Squire, that you would leave Kitty's love-affairs alone." + +"_That_ I will not, Maude. If I have any business now, it is to pay +attention to them. I have taken your 'let-alone' plan, far too long. +My girl shall not be courted in any such underhand, mouse-in-the-corner +way. Her engagement to Lord Exham must be publicly acknowledged, or else +broken entirely off." + +"The man loves Kate. He will do right to her." + +"Loves Kate! Very good. But what of the Other One? He cannot do right to +both." + +"Yes, he can. Their claims are different. You may depend on that. Kate +is the love of his soul; the Other One is like a sister." + +"I do not trust either Piers or the Other One--and I wish she would give +me my ring." + +"You do not certainly know that she has your ring." + +"I will ask her to let me see it." + +"Now, John Atheling, you will meddle with things that concern you, and +let other things alone. It may be your duty to interfere about your +daughter. You may insist on having her recognised as the future Duchess +of Richmoor,--it will be a feather in your own cap; you may say to the +Duke, you must accept my daughter, or I will--" + +"Maude! You are just trying to stand me upon my pride. You cannot do +that any longer. If you are willing to let Kate 'drift,' I am not. It +is my duty to insist on her proper recognition." + +"Then do your duty. But it is _not_ your duty to catechise Miss Vyner +about _my_ ring. When that inquiry is to be made, I will make it myself. +If Piers has to give up Kate, it will be to him a knock-down blow; it +will be a shot in the backbone; you need not sting him at the same time." + +"I will speak to him to-morrow, and see the Duke afterwards. I owe my +little Kate that much." + +"And the Duke and yourself will be the upper and the nether millstones, +and your little Kate between them. I know! I know!" + +"I will do what is right, Maude, and I will be as kind as I can in doing +it. Who loves Kitty as I do? There is a deal said about mother love; +but, I tell thee, a father's love is bottomless. I would lay my life +down for my little girl, this minute." + +"But not thy pride." + +"Not my honour--which is her honour also. Honour must stand with love, +or else--nay, I will not give thee any more reasons. I know my decision +is right; but it is thy way to make out that all my reasons are wrong. I +wish thou wouldst prepare her a bit for what may come." + +"There is no preparation for sorrow, John. When it comes it smites." + +Then the Squire lit his pipe, and the mother went softly upstairs to look +at her little girl. And, as she did so, Kate's arms enfolded her, and +she whispered, "Piers is coming to-morrow. Are you glad, Mother?" + +Then, so strange and contrary is human nature, the mother felt a +moment's angry annoyance. "Can you think of no one but Piers, Kate?" +she asked. And the girl was suddenly aware of her selfish happiness, +and ashamed of it. She ran after her mother, and brought her back to +her bedside, and said sorrowfully, "I know, Mother, that about Piers +I am a little sinner." And then Mrs. Atheling kissed her again, and +answered, "Never mind, Kitty. I have often seen sinners that were +more angel-like than saints--" and the shadow was over. Oh, how good it +is when human nature reaches down to the perennial! + +[Illustration:] + + + + +CHAPTER TWELFTH + +THE SHADOW OF SORROW STRETCHED OUT + + +When the Squire entered the breakfast parlour, Kate was just coming in +from the garden. The dew of the morning was on her cheeks, the scent +of the sweet-briar and the daffodils in her hair, the songs of the thrush +and the linnet in her heart. She was beautiful as Hebe, and fresh as +Aurora. He clasped her face between his large hands, and she lifted the +bunch of daffodils to his face, and asked, "Are they not beautiful? Do +you know what Mr. Wordsworth says about them, Father?" + +"Not I! I never read his foolishness." + +"His 'foolishness' is music; I can tell you that. Listen sir,-- + + "'A smile of last year's sun strayed down the hills, + And lost its way within yon windy wood; + Lost through the months of snow--but not for good: + I found it in a clump of daffodils.' + +Are they not lovely lines?" + +"They sound like most uncommon nonsense, Kitty. Come and sit beside me, +I have something far more sensible and important to tell you." + +"About the Bill, Father?" + +"Partly about the Bill and partly about Edgar. Which news will you have +first?" + +"Mother will say 'Edgar,' and I go with mother." + +"I do not think you can tell me any news about Edgar, John." + +"Go on, Father, mother is only talking. She is so anxious she cannot +pour the coffee straight. What about Edgar?" + +"I must tell you that I made a speech two days before the House closed; +and the papers said it was a very great speech, and I think it _was_ a +tone or two above the average. Did you read it?" + +"You never sent us a paper, Father." + +"You wouldn't have read it if I had sent it. I knew Philip Brotherton +would read every word, so it went to him. I was a little astonished at +myself, for I did not know that I could bring out the very truth the +way I did; but I saw Edgar watching me, and I saw no one else; and I +just talked to him, as I used to do,--good, plain, household words, +with a bit of Yorkshire now and then to give them pith and power. I +was cheered to the echo, and if Edgar, when I used to talk to him for his +good, had only cheered me on my hearthstone as he cheered me in the +Commons, there wouldn't have been any ill blood between us. Afterwards, +in the crush of the lobby, I saw Edgar a little before me; and Mr. +O'Connell walked up to him, and said, 'Atheling, you ought to take +lessons from your father, he strikes every nail on the head. In your +case, the old cock crows, but the young one has not learnt his lesson.' +I was just behind, and I heard every word, and I was ready to answer; +but Edgar did my work finely.' + +'He should not have noticed him,' said Mrs. Atheling. + +'Ah, but he did! He said, "Mr. O'Connell, I will trouble you to speak +of Squire Atheling respectfully. He is not old; he is in the prime of +life; and, in all that makes youth desirable, he is twenty-five years +younger than you are. I think you have felt his spurs once, and I would +advise you to beware of them." And what O'Connell answered I cannot +tell, but it would be up to mark, I can warrant that! I slipped away +before I was noticed, and I am not ashamed to say I was pleased with +what I had heard. "Not as old as O'Connell by twenty-five years!" I +laughed to myself all the way home; and, in the dark of the night, I +could not help thinking of Edgar's angry face, and the way he stood +up for me. I do think, Maude, that somehow it must have been thy fault +we had that quarrel--I mean to say, that if thou hadst stood firm by +me,--that is, if thou hadst--' + +'John, go on and do not bother thyself to make excuses. Was that the end +of it?' + +'In a way. The next afternoon I was sitting by the fireside having a +quiet smoke, and thinking of the fine speech I had made, and if it +would be safe to try again, when Dobson came in and said, "Squire, Mr. +Edgar wishes to see you," and I said, "Very well, bring Mr. Edgar +upstairs." I had thrown off my coat; but I had on one of my fine ruffled +shirts and my best blue waistcoat, and so I didn't feel so very out +of the way when Edgar came in with the loveliest young woman on his +arm--except Kitty--that I ever set eyes on; and I was dumfounded when +he brought her to me and said, "My dear Father, Annie Curzon, who +has promised to be my wife, wants to know you and to love you." And +the little thing--for she is but a sprite of a woman--laid her hand on +my arm and looked at me; and what in heaven's name was I to do?' + +'What did you do?' + +'I just lifted her up and kissed her bonny face, and said I had room +enough in my heart and home for her; and that she was gladly welcome, +and would be much made of, and I don't know what else--plenty of things +of the same sort. My word! Edgar was set up.' + +'He may well be set up,' answered Mrs. Atheling; 'she is the richest +and sweetest girl in England; and she thinks the sun rises and sets in +Edgar Atheling. He ought to be set up with a wife like that.' + +'He was, with her and me together. I don't know which of us seemed +to please him most. Maude, they are coming down to Lord Ashley's on a +visit, and I asked them _here_. I could not do any different, could I?' + +'If you had you would have been a poor kind of a father. What did you +say?' + +'I said, when you are at Ashley Place come over to Atheling, and I +gave Edgar my hand and looked at him; and he looked at me and clasped +it tight, and said, "We will come.'" + +"That was right." + +"I am glad I have done right for once, Maude. Do you know that Ashley +is one of the worst Radicals in the lot of them?" + +"Never mind, John. I have noticed that, as a general thing, the worse +Radical, the better man; but a Tory cannot be trusted to give a Radical a +character. The Tories are very like the poor cat who said, 'If she only +had wings, she would gladly extirpate the whole race of those troublesome +sparrows.'" + +"There are to be no more Tories now, we have got a new name. Lord John +Russell called us 'Conservatives,' and we took to the word, and it is +as like as not to stick to us. It will be Conservatives and Reformers +in the future." + +"But you said the Reform Bill was lost." + +"I said it had not passed. What of that? The rascals have only been +downed for this round; they will be up to time, when time is called June +the twenty-first; and they will fight harder than ever." + +"How was the Bill lost? By obstructions?" + +"Yes; when it was ready to go into Committee, General Gascoigne moved +that, 'The number of members returned to Parliament ought not to be +diminished;' and when the House divided on this motion, Gascoigne's +resolution had a majority of eight." + +"Then Grey's Ministry have retired?" said Mrs. Atheling, in alarm. + +"No, they have not; they should have done so by all decent precedents; +but, instead of behaving like gentlemen, they resolved to appeal to the +country. We sat all night quarrelling on this subject; but at five +in the morning I was worn out with the stifling, roaring House, and sick +with the smell of dying candles, and the reek and steam of quarrelling +human beings, so I stepped out and took a few turns on Westminster +Bridge. It was a dead-calm, lovely morning, and the sun was just rising +over the trees of the Abbey and the Speaker's house, and I had a bit +of heart-longing for Atheling." + +"Why did you not run away to Atheling, Father?" + +"I could not have done a thing like that, Kitty, not for the life of me. +I went back to the House; and for three days we fought like dogs, tooth +and nail, over the dissolution. Then Lord Grey and Lord Brougham did such +a thing as never was: they went to the King and told him, plump and +plain, he must dissolve Parliament or they would resign, and he must +be answerable for consequences; and the King did not want to dissolve +Parliament; he knew a new House would be still fuller of Reform members; +and he made all kinds of excuses. He said, 'The Crown and Robes were +not ready, and the Guards and troops had not been notified;' and +then, to his amazement and anger, Lord Brougham told him that the +officers of State had been summoned, that the Crown and Robes were +ready, and the Guards and troops waiting." + +"My word, John! That was a daring thing to do." + +"If William the Fourth had been Henry the Eighth, Lord Brougham's head +wouldn't have been worth a shilling; as it was, William flew into a +great passion, and cried out, 'You! You, my Lord Chancellor! You ought +to know that such an act is treason, is high treason, my lord!' And +Brougham said, humbly, that he did know it was high treason, and that +nothing but his solemn belief that the safety of the State depended on +the act would have made him bold enough to venture on so improper a +proceeding. Then the King cooled down; and Brougham took from his pocket +the speech which the King was to read; and the King took it with words; +that were partly menace, and partly joke at his Minister's audacity, +and so dismissed them." + +"I never heard of such carryings on. Why didn't Brougham put the Crown +on his own head, and be done with it?" + +"I do not like Brougham; but in this matter, he acted very wisely. If +the King had refused to dissolve a Parliament that had proved itself +unable to carry Reform, I do think, Maude, London would have been in +flames, and the whole country in rebellion, before another day broke." + +"Were you present at the dissolution, John?" + +"I was sitting beside Piers, when the Usher of the Black Rod knocked +at the door of the Commons. It had to be a very loud knock, for the House +was in a state of turbulence and confusion far beyond the Speaker's +control; while Sir Robert Peel was denouncing the Ministry in the +hardest words he could pick out, and being interrupted in much the +same manner. I can tell you that a good many of us were glad enough +to hear the guns announcing the King's approach. The Duke told me +afterwards that the Lords were in still greater commotion. Brougham was +speaking, when there were cries of 'The King! The King!' And Lord +Londonderry rose in a fury and said, 'He would not submit to--' +Nobody heard what he would not submit to; for Brougham snatched up the +Seals and rushed out of the House. Then there was terrible confusion, +and Lord Mansfield rose and was making a passionate oration against the +Reform Bill, when the King entered and cut it short. Well, London +went mad for a few hours. Nearly every house was illuminated; and the +Duke of Wellington, and the Duke of Richmoor, and other great Tories had +their windows broken, as a warning not to obstruct the next Parliament. +I really don't know what to make of it all, Maude!" + +"Well, John, I think statesmen ought to know what to make of it." + +"I rode down from London on my own nag; and in many a town and village I +saw things that made my heart ache. Why, my dears, there has been sixty +thousand pounds put into--not bread and meat--but peas and meal to +feed the starving women and children; the Government has given away +forty thousand garments to clothe the naked; and the Bank of England--a +very close concern--is lending money, yes, as much as ten thousand +pounds, to some private individuals, in order to keep their factories +going. Something is far wrong, when good English workmen are paupers. +But I don't see how Parliamentary Reform is going to help them to +bread and meat and decent work." + +"John, these hungry, naked men know what they want. Edgar says a Reform +Parliament will open all the ports to free trade, and tear to pieces the +infamous Corn Laws, and make hours of work shorter, and wages higher +and--" + +"Give the whole country to the working men. I see! I see! Now, Maude, +men are not going to run factories for fun, nor yet for charity; and +farmers are not going to till their fields just to see how little they +can get for their wheat." + +"Father, what part did Piers take in all this trouble?" + +"He voted with his party. He was very regular in his place." + +"I will go now and put on my habit. Piers sent me word that he would be +here soon after eleven o'clock;" and Kate, with a smile, went quickly +out of the room. The Squire was nonplussed by the suddenness of her +movement, and did not know whether to detain her or not. Mrs. Atheling +saw his irresolution, and said,-- + +"Let her go this time, John. Let her have one last happy memory to keep +through the time of trouble you seem bound to give her." + +"Can I help it?" + +"I don't know." + +"You speak as if it was a pleasure to me." + +"What for are you so set on interfering just at this time?" + +"Because it is the right time." + +"Who told you it was the right time?" + +"My own heart, and my own knowledge of what is right and wrong." + +"You are never liable to make a mistake, I suppose, John?" + +"Not on this subject. I never saw such an unreasonable woman! Never! It +is enough to discourage any man;" and as Mrs. Atheling rose and began to +put away her silver without answering him a word, he grew angry at her +want of approval, and put on his hat and went towards the stables. + +He had no special intention of watching for Lord Exham, and indeed had +for the moment forgotten his existence, when the young man leaped his +horse over the wall of the Atheling plantation. The act annoyed the +Squire; he was proud of his plantation, and did not like trespassing +through it. Such a little thing often decides a great thing; and this +trifling offence made it easy for the Squire to say,-- + +"Good-morning, Piers, I wish you would dismount. I have a few words to +speak to you;" and there was in his voice that shivery half-tone which +is neither one thing nor the other: and Exham recognised it without +applying the change to himself. He was a little annoyed at the delay; +but he leaped to the ground, put the bridle over his arm, and stood +beside the Squire, who then said,-- + +"Piers, I have come to the decision not to sanction any longer your +attentions to Kate--unless your father also sanctions them. It is high +time your engagement was either publicly acknowledged or else put an +end to." + +"You are right, Squire; what do you wish me to do? I will make Kate my +wife at any time you propose. I desire nothing more earnestly than this." + +"Easy, Piers, easy. You must obtain the Duke's consent first." + +"I could hardly select a worse time to ask him for it. I am of full age. +I am my own master. I will marry Kate in the face of all opposition." + +"I say you will not. My daughter is not for you, if there is any +opposition. The Duke and Duchess are at the head of your house; and +Kate cannot enter a house in which she would be unwelcome." + +"Kate will reside at Exham." + +"And be a divider between you and your father and mother. No! In the +end she would get the worst of it; and, even if she got the best of it, +I am not willing she should begin a life of quarrelling and hatred. You +can see the Duke at your convenience, and let me know what he says." + +"I will see him to-day," he had taken out his watch and was looking +at it as he spoke. "Will you excuse me now, Squire?" he asked. "I sent +Kate a message early this morning promising to call for her about eleven. +I am already late." + +"You may turn back. I will make an excuse for you. You cannot ride with +Kate to-day." + +"Squire, I made the offer and the promise. Permit me to honour my word." + +"I will honour it for you. There has been enough, and too much, riding +and walking, unless you are to ride and walk all your lives together. +Good-morning!" + +"Squire, give me one hour?" + +"I will not." + +"A few minutes to explain." + +"I have told you that I would explain." + +"I never knew you unkind before. Have I offended you? Have I done +anything which you do not approve?" + +"That is not the question. I will see you again--when you have seen your +father." + +"You are very unkind, very unkind indeed, sir." + +"Maybe I am; but when the surgeon's knife is to use, there is no use +pottering with drugs and fine speeches. It is the knife between you +and Kate--or it is the ring;" and the word reminded him of the lost +love gage, and made his face hard and stern. Then he turned from the +young man, and had a momentary pleasure in the sound of his furious +galloping in the other direction; for he was in a state of great turmoil. +He had suddenly done a thing he had been wishing to do for a long +time; and he was not satisfied. In short, passionate ejaculations, he +tried to relieve himself of something wrong, and did not succeed. "He +deserves it; he was all the time with that Other One,--day by day in +the parks, night after night in the House and the opera; he gave her +that ring--I'll swear he did; how else should she have it? My Kate is +not going to be second-best--not if I can help it; what do I care for +their dukedom?--confound the whole business! A man with a daughter to +watch has a heart full of sorrow--and it is all her mother's fault!" + +Setting his steps to such aggravating opinions, he reached the Manor +House and went into the parlour. Kate stood at the window in her riding +dress. She had lost her usual fine composure, and was nervously tapping +the wooden sill with the handle of her whip. On her father's entrance, +she turned an anxious face to him, and asked, "Did you see anything +of Piers, Father?" + +"I did. I have been having a bit of a talk with him." + +"Then he is at the door? I am so glad! I thought something was wrong!" + +"Stop, Kitty. He is not at the door. He has gone home. I sent him home. +Now don't interrupt me. I made up my mind in London that he should not +see you again until your engagement was recognised by his father and +mother." + +"Should not see me again! Father!" + +"That is right." + +"But I must see him! I must see him! Where is mother?" + +"Mother thinks as I do, Kate." + +"Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?" + +"Go upstairs, and take off your habit, and think over things. You know +quite well that such underhand courting--" + +"Piers is not underhand. He is as straight-forward as you are, Father." + +"There now! Don't cry. I won't have any crying about what is only +right. Come here, Kitty. Thou knowest thy father loves every hair of +thy head. Will he wrong thee? Will he give thee a moment's pain he can +help? Kitty, I heard talk in London that fired me--I saw things that have +to be explained." + +"Father, you will break my heart!" + +"Well, Kitty, I have had a good many heartaches all winter about my +girl. And I have made up my mind, if I die for it, that there shall +be no more whispering and wondering about your relationship to Piers +Exham. Now don't fret till you know you have a reason. Piers has a deal +of power over the Duke. He will win his way--if he wants to win it. +Then I will have a business talk with both men, and your engagement and +marriage will be square and above-board, and no nodding and winking +and shrugging about it. You are Kate Atheling, and I will not have you +sought in any by-way. Before God, I will not! Cry, if you must. But +I think better of you." + +"Oh, Mother! Mother! Mother!" + +"Yes! you and your mother have brought all this on, with your 'let +things alone, be happy to-day, and to-morrow will take care of itself' +ways. If you were a milk-maid, that plan might do; but a girl with your +lineage has to look behind and before; she can't live for herself and +herself only." + +"I wish I was a milk-maid!" + +"To be sure. Let me have the lover I want, and my father, and my +mother, and my brother, and my home, and all that are behind me, and all +that are to come after, and all honour, and all gratitude, and all +decent affection can go to the devil!" and with these words, the Squire +lifted his hat, and went passionately out of the room. + +Though he had given Kate the hope that Piers would influence his +father, he had no such expectation. There was a very strained political +feeling between the Duke and himself; and, apart from that, the Squire +had failed to win any social liking from the Richmoors. He was so +independent; he thought so much of the Athelings, and was so indifferent +to the glory of the Richmoors. He had also strong opinions of all +kinds, and did not scruple to express them; and private opinions are +just the one thing _not_ wanted and not endurable in society. In fact, +the Duke and Duchess had both been subject to serious relentings for +having any alliance, either political or social, with their opinionated, +domineering neighbour. + +And Piers, driven by the anguish of his unexpected calamity, went into +his father's presence without any regard to favourable circumstances. +Previously he had considered them too much; now he gave them no +consideration at all. The Duke had premonitory symptoms of an attack +of gout; and the Duchess had just told him that her brother Lord +Francis Gower was going to Germany, and that she had decided to +accompany his party. "Annabel looks ill," she added; "the season has +been too much for a girl so emotional; and as for myself, I am thoroughly +worn out." + +"I do not like separating Piers and Annabel," answered the Duke. "They +have just become confidential and familiar; and in the country too, +where Miss Atheling will have everything in her favour!" + +"Annabel is resolved to go abroad. She says she detests England. You had +better make the best of the inevitable, Duke. I shall want one thousand +pounds." + +"I cannot spare a thousand pounds. My expenses have been very great this +past winter." + +"Still, I shall require a thousand pounds." + +The Duchess had just left her husband with this question to consider. +He did not want to part with a thousand pounds, and he did not want +to part with Annabel. She was the brightest element in his life. She had +become dear to him, and the thought of her fortune made his financial +difficulties easier to bear. For the encumbrances which the times forced +him to lay on his estate need not embarrass Piers; Annabel's money +would easily remove them. + +He was under the influence of these conflicting emotions, when Piers +entered the room, with a brusque hurry quite at variance with his natural +placid manner. The Duke started at the clash of the door. It gave him a +twinge of pain; it dissipated his reveries; and he asked petulantly, +"What brings you here so early, and so noisily, Piers?" + +"I am in great trouble, sir. Squire Atheling--" + +"Squire Atheling again! I am weary of the man!" + +"He has forbidden me to see Miss Atheling." + +"He has done quite right. I did not expect so much propriety from him." + +"Until you give your consent to our marriage." + +"Why, then, you will see her no more, Piers. I will never give it. +Never! We need not multiply words. You will marry Annabel." + +"Suppose Annabel will not marry me?" + +"The supposition is impossible, therefore unnecessary." + +"If I cannot marry Miss Atheling, I will remain unmarried." + +"That threat is as old as the world; it amounts to nothing." + +"On all public and social questions, I am your obedient son and +successor. I claim the right to choose my wife." + +"A man in your position, Piers, has not this privilege. I had not. If +I had followed my youthful desires, I should have married an Italian +woman. I married, not to please myself, but for the good of Richmoor; +and I am glad to-day that I did so. Your duty to Richmoor is first; to +yourself, secondary." + +"Have you anything against Miss Atheling?" + +"I object to her family--though they are undoubtedly in direct descent +from the royal Saxon family of Atheling; I object to her poverty; I +object to her taking the place of a young lady who has every desirable +qualification for your wife." + +"Is there no way to meet these objections, sir?" + +"No way whatever." At these words the Duke stood painfully up, and +said, with angry emphasis, "I will not have this subject mentioned to me +again. It is dead. I forbid you to speak of it." Then he rang the bell +for his Secretary, and gave him some orders. Lord Exham leaned against +the mantelpiece, lost in sorrowful thought, until the Duke turned to +him and said,-- + +"I am going to ride; will you go with me? There are letters from +Wetherell and Lyndhurst to talk over." + +"I cannot think of politics at present. I should be no help to you." + +"Your mother and Annabel are thinking of going to Germany. I wish you +would persuade them to stop at home. Is Annabel sick? I am told she is." + +"I do not know, sir." + +"You might trouble yourself to inquire." + +"Father, I have never at any time disobeyed you. Permit me to marry the +woman I love. In all else, I follow where you lead." + +"Piers, my dear son, if my wisdom is sufficient for 'all else,' +can you not trust it in this matter? Miss Atheling is an +impossibility,--mind, I say an impossibility,--now, and to-morrow, and +in all the future. That is enough about Miss Atheling. Good-afternoon! I +feel far from well, and I will try what a gallop may do for me." + +Piers bowed; he could not speak. His heart beat at his lips; he was +choking with emotion. The very attitude of the Duke filled him with +despair. It permitted of no argument; it would allow of no hope. He +knew the Squire's mood was just as inexorable as his father's. Mrs. +Atheling had defined the position very well, when she called the two +men, "upper and nether millstones." Kate and he were now between them. +And there was only one way out of the situation supposable. If Kate +was willing, they could marry without permission. The Rector of Belward +would not be difficult to manage; for the Duke had nothing to do with +Belward; it was in the gift of Mrs. Atheling. On some appointed morning +Kate could meet him before the little altar. Love has ways and means +and messengers; and his face flushed, and a kind of angry hope came +into his heart as this idea entered it. Just then, he did not consider +how far Kate would fall below his best thoughts if it were possible +to persuade her to such clandestine disobedience. + +The Duke was pleased with himself. He felt that he had settled the +disagreeable question promptly and kindly; and he was cantering +cheerfully across Belward Bents, when he came suddenly face to face +with Squire Atheling. The surprise was not pleasant; but he instantly +resolved to turn it to service. + +"Squire," he said, with a forced heartiness, "well met! I thank you +for your co-operation. In forbidding Lord Exham your daughter's society, +you have done precisely what I wished you to do." + +"There is no 'co-operation' in the question, Duke. I considered only +Miss Atheling's rights and happiness. And what I have done, was not +done for any wish of yours, but to satisfy myself. Lord Exham is your +business, not mine." + +"I have just told him that a marriage with Miss Atheling is out of +all consideration; that both you and I are of this opinion; and, I may +add, that my plans for Lord Exham's future would be utterly ruined +by a _mésalliance_ at this time." + +"You will retract the word '_mésalliance_,' Duke. You know Miss +Atheling's lineage, and that a duke of the reigning family would make +no '_mésalliance_' in marrying her. I say retract the word!" and +the Squire involuntarily gave emphasis to the order by the passionate +tightening of his hand on his riding-whip. + +"I certainly retract any word that gives you offence, Squire. I meant +no reflection on Miss Atheling, who is a most charming young lady--" + +"There is no more necessity for compliments than for--the other thing. I +have told Miss Atheling to see Lord Exham no more. I will make my order +still more positive to her." + +"Yet, Squire, lovers will often outwit the wisest fathers." + +"My daughter will give me her word, and she would not be an Atheling +if she broke it. I shall make her understand that I will never forgive +her if she allies herself with the house of Richmoor." + +"Come, come, Squire! You need not speak so contemptuously of the house +of Richmoor. The noblest women in England would gladly ally themselves +with my house." + +"I cannot prevent them doing so; but I can keep my own daughter's +honour, and I will. Good-afternoon, Duke! I hope this is our last word +on a subject so unpleasant." + +"I hope so. Squire, there are some important letters from Lyndhurst and +Wetherell; can you come to the Castle to-morrow and talk them over with +me." + +"I cannot, Duke." + +Then the Duke bowed haughtily, and gave his horse both rein and whip; +and the angry thoughts in his heart were, "What a proud, perverse +unmanageable creature! He was as ready to strike as to speak. If I had +been equally uncivilised, we should have come to blows as easily as +words. I am sorry I have had any dealings with the fellow. Julia warned +me--a man ought to take his wife's advice wherever women are factors +in a question. Confound the whole race of country squires!--they make +all the trouble that is made." + +Squire Atheling had not any more pleasant thoughts about dukes; but they +were an undercurrent, his daughter dominated them. He dreaded his next +interview with her, but was not inclined to put it off, even when he +found her, on his return home, with Mrs. Atheling. She had been weeping; +she hardly dried her tears on his approach. Her lovely face was flushed +and feverish; she had the look of a rose blown by a stormy wind. He +pushed his chair to her side, and gently drew her on to his knees, and +put his arm around her, as he said,-- + +"My little girl, I am sorry! I am sorry! But it has to be, Kitty. There +is no hope, and I will not fool thee with false promises. I have just +had a talk with Richmoor. He was very rude, very rude indeed, to thy +father." She did not speak or lift her eyes; and the Squire continued, +"He used a word about a marriage with thee that I would not permit. +I had to bring him to his senses." + +"Oh, Father!" + +"Would you have me sit quiet and hear the Athelings made little of." + +"No, Father." + +"I thought not." + +"After what the Duke has said to me, there can be no thought of marriage +between Piers and thee. Give him up, now and forever." + +"I cannot." + +"But thou must." + +"It will kill me." + +"Not if thou art the good, brave girl I think thee. Piers is only one +little bit of the happy life thy good God has given thee. Thou wilt still +have thy mother, and thy brother, and thy sweet home, and all the honour +and blessings of thy lot in life--_and thy father, too_, Kitty. Is thy +father nobody?" + +Then she laid her head on his breast and sobbed bitterly; and the Squire +could not speak. He wept with her. And sitting a little apart, but +watching them, Mrs. Atheling wept a little also. Yet, in spite of his +emotion, the Squire was inexorable; and he continued, with stern and +steady emphasis, "Thou art not to see him. Thou art not to write to +him. Thou art not even to look at him. Get him out of thy life, root +and branch. It is the only way. Come now, give me thy promise." + +"Let me see him once more." + +"I will not. What for? To pity one another, and abuse every other +person, right or wrong. The Richmoors don't want thee among them at +any price; and if I was thee I would stay where I was wanted." + +"Piers wants me." + +"Now then, if you must have the whole bitter truth, take it. I don't +believe Piers will have any heartache wanting thee. He was here, there, +and everywhere with Miss Vyner, after thou hadst left London; and I saw +the ring thou loanedst him on her finger." + +Then Kate looked quickly up. Once, when Annabel had removed her glove, +and instantly replaced it, a vague suspicion of this fact had given her +a shock that she had named to no one. It seemed so incredible she could +not tell her mother. And now her father's words brought back that moment +of sick suspicion, and confirmed it. + +"Are you sure of what you say, Father?" + +"I will wage my word and honour on it." + +There was a moment's intense silence. Kate glanced at her mother, who +sat with dropped eyes, unconsciously knitting; but there was not a +shadow of doubt or denial on her face. Then she looked at her father. His +large countenance, usually so red and beaming, was white and drawn +with feeling, and his troubled, aching soul looked at her pathetically +from the misty depths of his tearful eyes. Her mother she might have +argued and pleaded with; but the love and anguish supplicating her +from that bending face was not to be denied. She lifted her own to it. +She kissed the pale cheeks and trembling lips, and said, clearly,-- + +"I promise what you wish, Father. I will not speak to Piers, nor write +to him, nor even look at him again--until you say I may," and with the +words she put her hand in his for surety. + +He rose to his feet then and put her in his chair; but he could not +speak a word. Tremblingly, he lifted his hat and stick and went out +of the room; and Mrs. Atheling threw down her knitting, and followed +him to the door, and watched him going slowly through the long, flagged +passageway. Her face was troubled when she returned to Kate. She lifted +her knitting and threw it with some temper into her work-basket, and +then flung wide open the casement and let the fresh air into the room. +Kate did not speak; her whole air and manner was that of injury and +woe-begone extremity. + +"Kate," said her mother at last, "Kate, my dear! This is your first +lesson in this world's sorrow. Don't be a coward under it. Lift up your +heart to Him who is always sufficient." + +"Oh, Mother! I think I shall die." + +"I would be ashamed to say such words. Piers was good and lovesome, and +I do not blame you for loving him as long as it was right to do so. But +when your father's word is against it, you may be very sure it is _not_ +right. Father would not give you a moment's pain, if he could help it." + +"It is too cruel! I cannot bear it!" + +"Are you asked to bear anything but what women in all ages, and in all +countries, have had to bear? To give up what you love is always hard. I +have had to give up three fine sons, and your dear little sister Edith. I +have had to give up father, and mother, and brothers, and sisters; but +I never once thought of dying. Whatever happens, happens with God's +will, or with God's permission; so if you can't give up cheerfully to +your father's will, do try and say to God, as pleasantly as you can, +_Thy_ Will be my will." + +"I thought you would pity me, Mother." + +"I do, Kate, with all my heart. But life has more loves and duties +than one. If, in order to have Piers, you had to relinquish every one +else, would you do so? No, you would not. Kate, I love you, and I pity +you in your great trial; and I will help you to bear it as well as I +can. But you must bear it cheerfully. I will not have father killed for +Piers Exham. He looked very queerly when he went out. Be a brave girl, +and if you are going to keep your promise, do it cheerfully--or it is not +worth while." + +"How can I be cheerful, Mother?" + +"As easy as not, if you have a good, unselfish heart. You will say +to yourself, 'What right have I to make every one in the house +miserable, because I am miserable?' Troubles must come to all, +Kitty, but troubles need not be wicked; and _it is wicked to be a +destroyer of happiness_. I think God himself may find it hard to forgive +those who selfishly destroy the happiness of others, just because +they are not satisfied, or have not the one thing they specially +want. When you are going to be cross and unhappy, say to yourself, "I +will not be cross! I will not be unhappy! I will not make my good father +wretched, and fill his pleasant home with a tearful drizzle, because I +want to cry about my own loss.' And, depend upon it, Kitty, you +will find content and happiness in making others happy. Good comes to +hearts prepared for good; but it cannot come to hearts full of worry, and +fear, and selfish regrets." + +"You are setting me a hard lesson, Mother." + +"I know it is hard, Kate. Life is all a task; yet we may as well sing, +as we fulfil it. Eh, dear?" + +Kate did not answer. She lifted her habit over her arm, and went slowly +upstairs. Sorrow filled her to the ears and eyes; but her mother heard +her close and then turn the key in her door. + +"That is well," she thought. "Now her good angel will find her alone +with God." + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEENTH + +NOT YET + + +"Mothering" is a grand old word for a quality God can teach man as +well as woman; and the Squire really "mothered" his daughter in +the first days of her great sorrow. He was always at her side. He was +constantly needing her help or her company; and Kate was quite sensible +of the great love with which he encompassed her. At first she was +inexpressibly desolate. She had been suddenly dislodged from that life +in the heart of Piers which she had so long enjoyed, and she felt +homeless and forsaken. But Kate had a sweet and beautiful soul, nothing +in it could turn to bitterness; and so it was not long before she was +able to carry her misfortune as she had carried her good fortune, with +cheerfulness and moderation. + +For her confidence in Piers was unbroken. Not even her father's +assertion about the lost ring could affect it. On reflection, she was +sure there was a satisfactory explanation; if not, it was a momentary +infidelity which she was ready to forgive. And in her determination +to be faithful to her lover, Mrs. Atheling encouraged her. "Time +brings us our own, Kitty dear," she said; "you have a true title to +Piers's love; so, then, you have a true title to his hand. I have not a +doubt that you will be his wife." + +"I think that, Mother; but why should we be separated now, and both made +to suffer?" + +"That is earth's great mystery, my dear,--the prevalence of pain +and suffering; no one is free from it. But then, in the midst of this +mystery, is set that Heavenly Love which helps us to bear everything. I +know, Kitty, I know!" + +"Father is very hard." + +"He is not. When Piers's father and mother say they will not have +you in their house, do you want to slip into it on the sly, or even +in defiance of them? Wait, and your hour will come." + +"There is only one way that it can possibly come; and that way I dare +not for a moment think of." + +"No, indeed! Who would wish to enter the house of marriage by the gates +of death? If such a thought comes to you, send it away with a prayer +for the Duke's life. God can give you Piers without killing his father. +He would be a poor God if He could not. Whatever happens in your life +that you cannot change, that is the Will of God; and to will what God +wills is sure to bring you peace, Kitty. You have your Prayer-Book; go to +the Blessed Collects in it. You will be sure to find among them just the +prayer you need. They never once failed me,--never once!" + +"If I could have seen him just for an hour, Mother." + +"Far better not. Your last meeting with him in London was a very happy, +joyous one. That is a good memory to keep. If you met him now, it would +only be to weep and lament; and I'll tell you what, Kitty, no crying +woman leaves a pleasant impression. I want Piers to remember you as he +saw you last,--clothed in white, with flowers in your hair and hands, +and your face beaming with love and happiness." + +Many such conversations as this one held up the girl's heart, and +enabled her, through a pure and steadfast faith in her lover, to enter-- + + "----that finer atmosphere, + Where footfalls of appointed things, + Reverberant of days to be, + Are heard in forecast echoings; + Like wave-beats from a viewless sea." + +The first week of her trouble was the worst; but it was made tolerable +by a long letter from Piers on the second day. It came in the Squire's +mail-bag, and he could easily have retained it. But such a course would +have been absolutely contradictious to his whole nature. He held the +thick missive a moment in his hand, and glanced at the large red seal, +lifting up so prominently the Richmoor arms, and then said,-- + +"Here is a letter for you, Kitty. It is from Piers. What am I to do with +it?" + +"Please, Father, give it to me." + +"Give it to her, Father," said Mrs. Atheling; and Kate's eager face +pleaded still more strongly. Rather reluctantly, he pushed the letter +towards Kate, saying, "I would as leave not give it to thee, but I can +trust to thy honour." + +"You may trust me, Father," she answered. And the Squire was satisfied +with his relenting, when she came to him a few hours later, and said, +"Thank you for giving me my letter, Father. It has made my trouble a +great deal lighter. Now, Father, will you do me one more favour?" + +"Well, dear, what is it?" + +"See Piers for me, and tell him of the promise I made to you. Say I +cannot break it, but that I send, by you, my thanks for his letter, and +my love forever more." + +"I can't tell him about 'love forever more,' Kitty. That won't do +at all." + +"Tell him, then, that all he says to me I say to him. Dear Father, make +that much clear to him." + +"John, do what Kitty asks thee. It isn't much." + +"A man can't have his way in this house with two women to coax or bully +him out of it. What am I to do?" + +"Just what Kitty asks you to do." + +[Illustration:] + +"Please, Father!" And the two words were sent straight to the father's +heart with a kiss and a caress that were irresistible. Three days +afterwards the Squire came home from a ride, very much depressed. He +was cross with the servant who unbuttoned his gaiters, and he looked +resentfully at Mrs. Atheling as she entered the room. + +"A nice message I was sent," he said to her as soon as they were +alone. "That young man has given me a heart-ache. He has made me think +right is wrong. He has made me feel as if I was the wickedest father +in Yorkshire. And I know, in my soul, that I am doing right; and that +there isn't a better father in the three kingdoms." + +"Whatever did he say?" + +"He said I was to tell Kate that from the East to the West, and from +the North to the South, he would love her. That from that moment to the +moment of death, and throughout all eternity, he would love her. And +I stopped him there and then, and said I would carry no message that +went beyond the grave. And he said I was to tell her that neither for +father nor mother, nor for the interests of the dukedom, nor for the +command of the King, would he marry any woman but her. And I was fool +enough to be sorry for him, and to promise I would give him Kate, with +my blessing, when his father and mother asked me to do so." + +"I don't think that was promising very much, John." + +"Thou knowest nothing of how I feel, Maude. But he is a good man, and +true; I think so, at any rate." + +"Tell Kitty what he said." + +"Nay, you must tell her if you want her to know. I would rather not +speak of Piers at all. Tell her, also, that the Duchess and Miss Vyner +are going to Germany, and that Piers goes with them as far as London. I +am very glad of this move, for we can ride about, then, without fear +of meeting them." + +All the comfort to be got from this conversation and intelligence was +given at once to Kate; and perhaps Mrs. Atheling unavoidably made it +more emphatic than the Squire's manner warranted. She did not overstep +the truth, however, for Piers had spoken from his very heart, and with +the most passionate love and confidence. Indeed, the Squire's transcript +had been but a bald and lame translation of the young man's fervent +expressions of devotion and constancy. + +Kate understood this, and she was comforted. Invincible Hope was at +the bottom of all her sorrow, and she soon began to look on the +circumstances as merely transitory. Yet she had moments of great trial. +One evening, while walking with her mother a little on the outskirts of +Atheling, the Duke's carriage, with its splendid outriders, suddenly +turned into the little lane. There was no escape, and they looked at +each other bravely, and stood still upon the turf bordering the +road. Then the Duchess gave an order to the coachman. There was +difficulty in getting the horses to the precise spot which was best +for conversation; but Mrs. Atheling would not take a step forward or +backward to relieve it. She stood with her hand on Kate's arm, +Kate's hands being full of the blue-bells which she had been gathering. + +The carriage contained only the Duchess and Annabel. There had been no +overt unpleasantness between the ladies of the two families, and Mrs. +Atheling would not take the initiative, especially when the question was +one referring to the most delicate circumstances of her daughter's +life. She talked with the Duchess of her German trip, and Kate gave +Annabel the flowers, and hoped she would enjoy her new experience. +In five minutes the interview was over; nothing but courteous words had +been said, and yet Mrs. Atheling and Kate had, somehow, a sense of +intense humiliation. The Duchess's manner had been politely patronising, +Annabel's languid and indifferent; and, in some mysterious way, the +servants echoed this covert atmosphere of disdain. Little things are so +momentous; and the very attitude of the two parties was against the +Athelings. From their superb carriage, as from a throne, the Duchess +and her companion looked down on the two simply-dressed ladies who had +been gathering wild flowers on the roadside. + +"How provoking!" was Kate's first utterance. "Mother, I will not walk +outside the garden again until they go away; I will not!" + +"I am ashamed of you!" answered Mrs. Atheling, angrily. "Will you +make yourself a prisoner for these two women? _Tush!_ Who are they? Be +yourself, and who is better than you?" + +"It is easy talking, Mother. You are as much annoyed as I am. How did +they manage to snub us so politely?" + +"Position is everything, Kate. A woman in a Duke's carriage, with +outriders in scarlet, and coachmen and footmen in silver-laced liveries, +would snub the Virgin Mary if she met her in a country lane, dressed in +pink dimity, and gathering blue-bells. Try and forget the affair." + +"Annabel looked ill." + +"It was her white dress. A woman with her skin ought to know better than +to wear white." + +"Oh, Mother! if Piers had been with them, what should I have done?" + +"I wish he had been there! You were never more lovely. I saw you for +a moment, standing at the side of the carriage; with your brown hair +blowing, and your cheeks blushing, and your hands full of flowers, and I +thought how beautiful you were; and I wish Piers had been there." + +"They go away on Saturday. I shall be glad when Saturday is over. I +do not think I could bear to see Piers. I should make a little fool of +myself." + +"Not you! Not you! But it is just as well to keep out of danger." + +Certainly neither the Squire nor Kate had any idea of meeting Piers on +the following Saturday night when they rode along Atheling lane together. +Both of them believed Piers to be far on the way to London. They had +been to the village, and were returning slowly homeward in the gloaming. +A light like that of dreamland was lying over all the scene; and the +silence of the far-receding hills was intensified by the murmur of the +streams, and the sleepy piping of a solitary bird. The subtle, fugitive, +indescribable fragrance of lilies-of-the-valley was in the air; and a +sense of brooding power, of mystical communion between man and nature, +had made both the Squire and Kate sympathetically silent. + +Suddenly there was the sound of horse's feet coming towards them; and +the figure of its rider loomed large and spectral in the gray, uncertain +light. Kate knew instantly who it was. In a moment or two they must needs +pass each other. She looked quickly into her father's face, and he said +huskily, "Be brave, Kate, be brave!" + +The words had barely been spoken, when Piers slowly passed them. He +removed his hat, and the Squire did the same; but Kate sat with dropped +eyes, white as marble. From her nerveless hands the reins had fallen; she +swayed in her saddle, and the Squire leaned towards her with encouraging +touch and words. But she could hear nothing but the hurrying flight of +her lover, and the despairing cry which the wind brought sadly back +as he rode rapidly up the little lane,-- + +"_Kate! Kate! Kate!_" + +Fortunately, news of Miss Curzon's and Edgar's arrival at Ashley Hall +came to Atheling that very hour; and the Squire and Mrs. Atheling were +much excited at their proposal to lunch at Atheling Manor the next day. +Kate had to put aside her own feelings, and unite in the family joy of +reunion. There was a happy stir of preparation, and the Squire dressed +himself with particular care to meet his son and his new daughter. As +soon as he heard of their approach, he went to the open door to meet them. + +To Edgar he gave his right hand, with a look which cancelled every hard +word; and then he lifted little Annie Curzon from her horse, and kissed +her on the doorstep with fatherly affection. And between Kate and Annie a +warm friendship grew apace; and the girls were continually together, +and thus, insensibly, Kate's sorrow was lightened by mutual confidence +and affection. + +Early in June the Squire and Edgar were to return to London, for +Parliament re-opened on the fourteenth; and a few days before their +departure Mrs. Atheling asked her husband one afternoon to take a +drive with her. "To be sure I will, Maude," he answered. "It isn't +twice in a twelvemonth thou makest me such an offer." She was in her +own little phaeton, and the Squire settled himself comfortably at her +side, and took the reins from her hands. "Which way are we to go?" he +asked. + +"We will go first to Gisbourne Gates, and maybe as far as Belward." + +The Squire wondered a little at her direction, for she knew Gisbourne was +rather a sore subject with him. As they approached the big iron portals, +rusty on all their hinges from long neglect, he could not avoid saying,-- + +"It is a shame beyond everything that I have not yet been able to buy +Gisbourne. The place has been wanting a master for fifteen years; and +it lays between Atheling and Belward as the middle finger lays between +the first and the third. I thought I might manage it next year; but this +Parliament business has put me a good bit back." + +"Many things have put you back, John. There was Edgar's college +expenses, and the hard times, and what not beside. Look, John! the gates +are open. Let us drive in. It is twenty years since I saw Gisbourne +Towers." + +"The gates are open. What does that mean, Maude?" + +"I suppose somebody has bought the place." + +"I'm afraid so." + +"Never mind, John." + +"But I do mind. The kind of neighbour we are to have is a very important +thing. They will live right between Atheling and Belward. The Gisbournes +were a fine Tory family. Atheling and Gisbourne were always friends. My +father and Sir Antony went to the hunt and the hustings together. They +were finger and thumb in all county matters. It will be hard to get as +good a master of Gisbourne as Sir Antony was." + +"John, I have a bit of right good news for thee. Edgar is going to take +Sir Antony's place. Will Edgar do for a neighbour?" + +"Whatever art thou saying, Maude?" + +"The very truth. Miss Curzon has bought Gisbourne. Lord Ashley advised +her to do so; and she has brought down a big company of builders and +such people, and the grand old house is to be made the finest home in +the neighbourhood. She showed me the plans yesterday, and I promised +her to bring thee over to Gisbourne this afternoon to meet her architect +and Lord Ashley and Edgar. See, they are waiting on the terrace for thee; +for they want thy advice and thy ideas." + +It was, indeed, a wonderful afternoon. The gentlemen went into +consultation with the architect, and a great many of the Squire's +suggestions were received with enthusiastic approval. Mrs. Atheling, +Kate, and Annie went through the long-deserted rooms, and talked of +what should be done to give them modern convenience and comfort, without +detracting from their air of antique splendour. Then at five o'clock +the whole party met in the faded drawing-room and had tea, with sundry +additions of cold game and pasties, and discussed, together, the +proposed plans. At sunset the parties separated at Gisbourne Gates, +Kate going with Miss Curzon to Ashley, and the Squire and Mrs. +Atheling returning to their own home. The Squire was far too much excited +to be long quiet. + +"They were very glad of my advice, Maude," he said, as soon as the last +good-bye had been spoken. "Ashley seconded nearly all I proposed. He is +a fine fellow. I wish I had known him long ago." + +"Well, John, nobody can give better advice than you can." + +"And you see I know Gisbourne, and what can be done with it. Bless +your soul! I used to be able to tell every kind of bird that built in +Gisbourne Chase, and where to find their nests--though I never robbed a +nest; I can say that much for myself. Well, Edgar _has_ done a grand +thing for Atheling, and no mistake." + +"I told you Edgar--" + +"Now, Maude, Edgar and me have washed the slate between us clean. It +is not thy place to be itemising now. I say Edgar has done well for +Atheling, and I don't care who says different. I haven't had such a day +since my wedding day. Edgar in Gisbourne! An Atheling in Gisbourne! My +word! Who would have thought of such a thing? I couldn't hardly have +asked it." + +"I should think not. There are very few of us, John, would have the face +to _ask_ for half of the good things the good God gives us without a +'please' or a 'thank you.'" + +"Belward! Gisbourne! Atheling! It will be all Atheling when I am gone." + +"Not it! I do not want Belward to be sunk in that way. Belward is as old +as Atheling." + +"In a way, Maude, in a way. It was once a part of Atheling; so was +Gisbourne. As for sinking the name, thou sunkest thy name in Atheling; +why not sink the land's name, eh, Maude?" + +And until the Squire and Edgar left for London, such conversations were +his delight; indeed, he rather regretted his Parliamentary obligations, +and envied his wife and daughter the delightful interest that had come +into their lives. For they really found it delightful; and all through +the long, sweet, summer days it never palled, because it was always a +fresh wing, or a fresh gallery, cabinet-work in one parlour, upholstery +work in another, the freshly laid-out gardens, the cleared chase, the +new stables and kennels. Even the gates were a subject of interesting +debate as to whether the fine old ones should be restored or there +should be still finer new ones. + +Thus between Atheling, Ashley, and Gisbourne, week after week passed +happily. Kate did not forget, did not cease to love and to hope; she +just bided her time, waiting, in patience, for Fortune to bring in the +ship that longed for the harbour but could not make it. And with so +much to fill her hours joyfully, how ungrateful she would have been +to fret over the one thing denied her! The return of the Squire and +Edgar was very uncertain. Both of them, in their letters, complained +bitterly of the obstructive policy which the Tories still unwaveringly +carried out. It was not until the twelfth of July that the Bill got +into Committee; and there it was harassed and delayed night after night +by debates on every one of its clauses. This plan of obstructing it +occupied thirty-nine sittings, so that it did not reach the House of +Lords until the twenty-second of September. The Squire's letter at +this point was short and despondent:-- + + DEAR WIFE,--The Bill has gone to the Lords. I expect they will + send it to the devil. I am fairly tired out; and, with all my + heart, I wish myself at Atheling. It may be Christmas before I + get there. Do as well as you can till I come. Tell Kitty, I + would give a sovereign for a sight of her. + + Your affectionate Husband, + + JOHN ATHELING. + +About a couple of weeks after this letter, one evening in October, +Mrs. Atheling, Kate, and Annie were returning to Atheling House from +Gisbourne, where they had been happily busy all the afternoon. They were +easy-hearted, but rather quiet; each in that mood of careless stillness +which broods on its own joy or sorrow. The melancholy of the autumn +night influenced them,--calm, pallid, and a little sad, with a dull, +soft murmur among the firs,--so they did not hurry, and it was nearly +dark when they came in sight of the house. Then Mrs. Atheling roused +herself. "How good a cup of tea will taste," she said; "and I dare +say it is waiting, for Ann has lighted the room, I see." Laughing and +echoing her remark, they reached the parlour. On opening the door, Mrs. +Atheling uttered a joyful cry. + +"Why, John! Why, Edgar!" + +"To be sure, Maude," answered the Squire, leaping up and taking her +in his arms. "I wonder how thou feelest to have thy husband come home +and find thee out of the house, and not a bit of eating ready for him." + +Then Mrs. Atheling pointed to the table, and said, "I do not think there +is any need for complaint, John." + +"No; we managed, Edgar and me, by good words and bad words, to get +something for ourselves--" and he waved his hand complacently over +the table, loaded with all kinds of eatables,--a baron of cold beef, +cold Yorkshire pudding, a gypsy pie, Indian preserves, raspberry +tarts, clotted cream, roast apples, cheese celery, fine old ale, strong +gunpowder tea, and a variety of condiments. + +"What do you call this meal, John?" + +"I call it a decent kind of a tea, and I want thee to try and learn +something from its example." Then he kissed her again, and looked +anxiously round for Kitty. + +"Come here, my little girl," he cried; and Kitty, who had been feeling +a trifle neglected, forgot everything but the warmth and gladness of +her father's love and welcome. Edgar had found Annie a seat beside his +own, and the Squire managed to get his place between his wife and his +daughter. Then the "cup of tea" Mrs. Atheling had longed for became a +protracted home festival. But they could not keep politics out of its +atmosphere; they were, indeed, so blended with the life of that time +that their separation from household matters was impossible, and the +Squire was no more anxious to hear about his hunters and his harvest, +than Mrs. Atheling was to know the fate of the Reform Bill. + +"It has passed at last, I suppose, John," she said, with an air of +satisfied certainty. + +"Thou supposest very far wrong, then. It has been rejected again." + +"Never! Never! Never! Oh, John, John! It is not possible!" + +"The Lords did, as I told thee they would,--that is, the Lords and the +bishops together." + +"The bishops ought to be unfrocked," cried Edgar, with considerable +temper. "Only one in all their number voted for Reform." + +"I'll never go to church again," said Mrs. Atheling, in her +unreasonable anger. + +"Tell us about it, Father," urged Kate. + +"Well, you see, Mr. Peel and Mr. Croker led our party against the Bill; +and Croker _is_ clever, there is no doubt of that." + +"Not to be compared to Lord Althorp, our leader,--so calm, so +courageous, so upright," said Edgar. + +"Nobody denies it; but Croker's practical, vigorous views--" + +"You mean his 'sanguine despondency,' his delight in describing +England as bankrupt and ruined by Reform." + +"I mean nothing of the kind, Edgar; but--" + +"Did the Bill pass the Commons, Father?" asked Kate. + +"It did; although in fifteen days Peel spoke forty-eight times against +it, and Croker fifty-seven times, and Wetherell fifty-eight times. But +all they could say was just so many lost words." + +"Think of such men disputing the right of Manchester, Leeds, and +Birmingham to be represented in the House of Commons! What do you say to +that, Mother?" + +"I only hope father wasn't in such a stupid bit of business, Edgar." +And the Squire drank a glass of ale, and pretended not to hear. + +"But," continued Edgar, "we never lost heart; for all over the +country, and in every quarter of London, they were holding meetings +urging us not to give way,--not to give way an inch. We were fighting for +all England; and, as Lord Althorp said, we were ready to keep Parliament +sitting till next December, or even to next December twelvemonth." + +"I'll warrant you!" interrupted the Squire. "Well, Edgar, you +passed your Bill in a fine uproar of triumph; all London in the street, +shouting thanks to Althorp and the others--Edgar Atheling among them." +Then the Squire paused and looked at his son, and Mrs. Atheling asked, +impatiently,-- + +"What then, John?" + +"Why, then, Lord John Russell and Lord Althorp carried the Bill to the +House of Lords. It was a great scene. The Duke told me about it. He +said nearly every peer was in his seat; and a large number of peeresses +had been admitted at the bar, and every inch of space in the House was +crowded. The Lord Chancellor took his seat at the Woolsack; and the +Deputy Usher of the Black Rod threw open the doors, crying, 'A Message +from the Commons.' Then Lord John Russell and Lord Althorp, at the head +of one hundred Members of the House of Commons, entered, and delivered +the Bill to the Lord Chancellor." + +"Oh, how I should have liked to have been present!" said Kate. + +"Well, some day thou--" and then the Squire suddenly stopped; but +the unfinished thought was flashed to every one present,--"some day +thou mayst be Duchess of Richmoor, and have the right to be present;" +and Kate was pleased, and felt her heart warm to conscious hope. She +caught her mother watching her, and smiled; and Mrs. Atheling, instantly +sensitive to the unspoken feeling, avoided comment by her eager inquiry,-- + +"Whatever did they say, John?" + +"They said the usual words; but the Duke told me there was a breathless +silence, and that Lord John Russell said them with the most unusual +and impressive emphasis: 'My Lords, the House of Commons have passed +an Act to Amend the Representation of England and Wales, to which they +desire your Lordships' Concurrence.' Lord Grey opened the debate. I +dare say Edgar knows all about it. I believe Grey is his leader." + +"Yes," answered Edgar, "and very proud I am of my leader. He is in +his sixty-eighth year, and he stood there that night to advocate the +measure he proposed forty years before, in the House of Commons. Althorp +told me he spoke with a strange calmness and solemnity, '_for the just +claims of the people_;' but as soon as he sat down Lord Wharncliffe +moved that the Bill be rejected altogether." + +"That was like Wharncliffe," said the Squire. "No half measures for +him." + +"Wellington followed, and wanted to know, 'How the King's government +was to be carried on by the will of a turbulent democracy?'" + +"Wellington would govern with a sword instead of a sceptre. He would +try every cause round a drum-head. I am not with Wellington." + +"Lord Dudley followed in an elegant, classical speech, also against the +Bill." + +The Squire laughed. "I heard about that speech. Did not Brougham call +it, 'An essay or exercise of the highest merit, on democracies--_but +not on this Bill_.'" + +"Yes. Brougham can say very polite and very disagreeable things. He +spoke on the fifth and last night of the debate. Earl Grey said a more +splendid declamation was never made. All London is now quoting one +passage which he addressed to the Lords: 'Justice deferred,' he said, +'enhances the price at which you will purchase your own safety; nor can +you expect to gather any other crop than they did who went before you, if +you persevere in their utterly abominable husbandry of sowing injustice +and reaping rebellion.'" + +"Fine words, Edgar, fine words; just like Brougham,--catch-words, to +take the common people." + +"They did not, however, alarm or take the Lords. My leader closed +the debate, and in a magnificent speech implored the archbishops and +bishops not to vote against the Bill, and thus stand before the people +of England as the enemies of a just and moderate scheme of Reform." + +"And yet they voted against it!" said Mrs. Atheling. "I am downright +ashamed of them. The very date ought to be put up against them forever." + +"It was the seventh of October. All night long, until the dawning +of the eighth, the debate was continued; and until three hours after +midnight, Palace Yard, and the streets about Westminster, were crowded +with anxious watchers, though the weather was cold and miserably wet. +Towards morning their patience was exhausted; and when the carriages of +the peers and bishops rolled out in broad daylight there was no one +there to greet them with the execrations and hisses they deserved. +The whole of our work this session in the Commons has been done in +vain. But we shall win next time, even if we compel the King to create +as many new Reform peers as will pass the Bill in spite of the old +Lords." + +"Edgar, you are talking nonsense--if not treason." + +"Pardon me, Father. I am only giving you the ultimatum of Reform. +The Bill _must_ pass the Lords next session, or you may call Reform +Revolution. The people are particularly angry at the bishops. They +dare not appear on the streets; curses follow them, and their carriages +have been repeatedly stoned." + +"There is a verse beginning, 'Inasmuch as ye did it not,' etc.,--I +wonder if they will ever dare to repeat it again. They will do the church +a deal of harm." + +"Oh, no," said Edgar. "The church does not stand on the bishops." + +"Be easy with the bishops," added the Squire. "They have to scheme +a bit in order to get the most out of both worlds. They scorn to answer +the people according to their idols. They are politically right." + +"No, sir," said Edgar. "Whatever is morally wrong cannot be +politically right. The church is well represented by the clergy; they +have generally sympathised with the people. One of them, indeed, called +Smith--Sydney Smith--made a speech at Taunton, three days after our +defeat, that has gone like wild-fire throughout the length and breadth +of England;" and Edgar took a paper out of his pocket, and read, +with infinite delight and appreciation, the pungent wit which made +"Mrs. Partington" famous throughout Christendom:-- + + "As for the possibility of the House of Lords preventing a + reform of Parliament, I hold it to be the most absurd notion + that ever entered into human imagination. I do not mean to + be disrespectful, but the attempt of the Lords to stop the + progress of Reform reminds me very forcibly of the great + storm at Sidmouth, and of the conduct of the excellent + Mrs. Partington on that occasion. In the winter of 1824, + there set in a great flood upon that town; the waves rushed + in upon the houses; and everything was threatened with + destruction. In the midst of this sublime and terrible storm, + Dame Partington--who lived upon the beach--was seen at the + door of her house, with mop and pattens, trundling her mop, + squeezing out the sea-water, and vigorously pushing away the + Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic was roused. Mrs. Partington's + spirit was up; but I need not tell you, the contest was + unequal. The Atlantic Ocean beat Mrs. Partington. She was + excellent at a slop or a puddle; but she should not have + meddled with a tempest. Gentlemen, be at your ease, be quiet + and steady. You will beat Mrs. Partington."[2] + +------ +[Footnote 2: Speech at Taunton by Sydney Smith, October 12, 1831.] + +"It was not respectful to liken the Lords of England to an old woman, +now was it, Mother?" asked the Squire. + +But Mrs. Atheling only laughed the more, and the conversation drifted so +completely into politics that Kitty and Annie grew weary of it, and said +they wished to go to their rooms. And as they left the parlour together, +Edgar suddenly stayed Kitty a moment, and said, "I had nearly forgotten +to tell you something. Miss Vyner is to be married, on the second of +December, to Cecil North. I am going to London in time for the wedding." + +And Kitty said, "I am glad to hear it, Edgar," and quickly closed the +door. But she lay long awake, wondering what influence this event would +have upon Piers and his future, until, finally, the wonder passed into +a little verse which they had learned together; and with it singing in +her heart, she fell asleep:-- + + "Thou art mine! I am thine! + Thou art locked in this heart of mine; + Whereof is lost the little key: + So there, forever, thou must be!" + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEENTH + +AT THE WORST + + +In the first joy of their return home, Squire Atheling and his son +had not chosen to alarm the women of the family; yet the condition of +the country was such as filled with terror every thoughtful mind. The +passionate emotion evoked by the second rejection of the Reform Bill did +not abate. Tumultuous meetings were held in every town and village as +the news reached them; houses were draped in black; shops were closed; +and the bells of the churches tolled backward. In London the populace +was quite uncontrollable. Vast crowds filled the streets, cheering the +Reform leaders, and denouncing with furious execrations the members of +either House who had opposed the Bill. The Duke of Newcastle, the +Marquis of Londonderry, and many other peers were not saved from the +anger of the people without struggle and danger. Nottingham Castle, +the seat of the Duke of Newcastle, was burnt to the ground; and Belvoir +Castle, the seat of the Duke of Rutland, was barely saved. Bristol saw +a series of riots, and during them suffered greatly from fire, and the +Bishop's palace was reduced to ashes. + +Everywhere the popular fury settled with special bitterness and hatred +upon the bishops; because, as teachers of the doctrines of Jesus of +Nazareth, the "common people" expected sympathy from them. A cry +arose, from one end of England to the other, for their expulsion from +the Upper Chamber; and proposals even for the abolition of the House +of Lords were constant and very popular. For such extreme measures no +speaker was so eloquent and so powerful as Mr. O'Connell. In addressing +a great meeting at Charing Cross one day, he pointed in the direction of +Whitehall Palace, and reminded his hearers that, "A King had lost his +head there. Why," he asked, "did this doom come on him? It was," he +cried, "because he refused to listen to his Commons and his people, and +obeyed the dictation of a foreign wife." And this allusion to the +Queen's bad influence over William the Fourth was taken up by the +crowd with vehement cheering. + +While Bristol was burning, the cholera appeared in England; and its +terrors, new and awful and apparently beyond human help or skill, added +the last element of supernatural fear to the excited and hopeless +people. It is hard to realise at this day, and with our knowledge of the +disease, the frantic and abject despair which seized all classes. The +churches were kept open, supplications ascended night and day from the +altars; and on the sixth of November, at one hour, from every place of +worship in England, hundreds of thousands knelt to utter aloud a form +of prayer which was constantly broken by sobs of anguish:-- + + "Lord, have pity on thy people! Withdraw thy heavy hand from + those who are suffering under thy judgments; and turn away from + us that grievous calamity against which our only security is + Thy Compassion." + +In the presence of this scourge, Mrs. Atheling found it impossible to +persuade the Squire to let his family go up with him and Edgar to London. +About the cholera, the Squire had the common fatalistic ideas. + +"You may escape through God's mercy," he said; "but if you are to +die of this fearsome, outlandish sickness, then it is best to face death +in your own home." + +"But if you should take it in London, and me not near even to bid you +'good-bye,' John! I should die of grief." + +"I do hope thou wouldst have more sense, Maude." + +"I would follow thee beyond the grave, very quickly, John." + +"No, no! Stay where thou art. Thou knowest what Yorkshire is," and +though he spoke gruffly, his eyes were dim with unshed tears for the +dreadful possibility he thought it right to face. + +Kate was specially averse to return to London. It was full of memories +she did not wish to revive. Piers was there; and how could she bear +to meet him, and neither speak to nor even look at her lover? There was +Annabel's marriage also to consider. If she did not attend it, how +many unpleasant inquiries and suppositions there would be? If she did +accept the formal invitation sent her, how was she to conduct herself +towards Piers in the presence of those who knew them both intimately? + +The marriage was to take place shortly before the opening of Parliament; +and, owing to the wretched condition of the country, it was thought best +to give it only a private character. The management of the social +arrangements were in Piers's hands, and during these last days a very +brotherly and confidential affection sprang up in his heart for the +brilliant girl who was so soon to leave them forever. One morning he +returned to Richmoor House with some valuable jewels for Annabel. He +sent a servant to tell her that he was in the small east parlour and +desired her company. Then, knowing her usual indifference to time, +he sat down and patiently awaited her coming. She responded almost +immediately. But her entrance startled and troubled him. She came in +hastily, and shut the door with a perceptible nervous tremour. Her face +was flushed with anger; she looked desperate and defiant, and met his +curious glance with one of mingled fear and entreaty and reckless +passion. He led her to a seat, and taking her hands said,-- + +"My dear Bella, what has grieved you?" + +"Oh, Piers! Piers!" she sobbed. "If you have one bit of pity in your +heart, give it to me. I am the most miserable woman in the world." + +"Bella, if you do not love Cecil--if you want to break off this +marriage--" + +"Love Cecil? I love him better than my life! My love for Cecil is the +best thing about me. It is not Cecil." + +"Who is it then?" + +"I will tell you, though you may hate me for my words. Piers, I took +the ring you lost. I meant no harm in the first moment; mischief and +jealousy were then so mixed, I don't know which of them led me. I saw +you asleep. I slipped the ring off your finger. I told myself I would +give it to you in the morning, and claim my forfeit. In the morning, +the Duchess was cross; and you were cross; and the constables were in +the house; and I was afraid. And I put it off and off, and every day my +fear of trouble--and perhaps my hope of doing mischief with it--grew +stronger. I had then hours of believing that I should like to be your +wife, and I hated and envied Kate Atheling. I hesitated until I lost +the desire to explain things; and then one day my maid Justine flew in +a passion at me, and accused me of stealing the ring. She said it was +in my purse--_and it was_. She threatened to call in the whole household +to see me found out; and it was the night of the great dinner; and I +bought her off." + +"Oh, Bella! Bella! that was very foolish." + +"I know. She has tortured and robbed me ever since. I have wasted +away under her threats. Look at my arms, Piers, and my hands. I have +a constant fever. Last week she promised me, if I would give her two +hundred pounds, she would go away, and I should never see or hear of +her again. I gave her the money. Now she says she has made up her mind to +go to India with me. That I cannot endure. She has kept me on the rack +with threats to tell Cecil. He is the soul of Honour; he would certainly +cease to love me; and if I was his wife, how terrible that would be! +What am I to do? What am I to do? Oh, Piers, help me!" + +"Where is the woman now?" + +"In my apartments." + +"Can I go with you to your parlour?" + +"Yes--but, Piers, why?" + +"Where is the ring, Bella dear?" + +"In her possession. She was afraid I would give it to you." + +"Why did you not tell me all this before? Come, I will soon settle the +affair." + +When they reached the room, Annabel sank almost lifeless on a sofa; and +Piers touched a hand-bell. Justine called from an inner room: + +"I will answer at my leisure, Miss." + +Piers walked to the dividing door, and threw it open. "You will answer +_now_, at my command. Come here, and come quickly." + +"My lord--I did not mean--" + +"Stand there, and answer truly the questions I shall ask; or I promise +you a few years on the treadmill, if not a worse punishment. Do you know +that you are guilty of black-mailing, and of obtaining money on false +pretences?--both crimes to be expiated on the gallows." + +"My lord, it is a true pretence. Miss Vyner stole your ring. She knows +she did." + +"She could not steal anything I have; she is welcome to whatever of mine +she desires. How much money have you taken from Miss Vyner?" + +"I have not taken one half-penny," answered Justine, sulkily. "She +gave me the money; she dare not say different. Speak, Miss, you know +you gave it to me." But Annabel had recovered something of her old +audacity. She felt she was safe, and she was not disposed to mercy. +She only smiled scornfully, and re-arranged the satin cushions under her +head more comfortably. + +"Quick! How much money have you taken?" + +Justine refused to answer; and Piers said, "I give you two minutes. Then +I shall send for a constable." + +"And Miss Vyner's wedding will be put off." + +"For your crime? Oh, no! Miss Vyner's wedding is far beyond your +interference. She will have nothing to do with this affair. _I_ shall +prosecute you. You have my ring. Will you give it to me, or to a +constable?" + +"I did not take the ring." + +"It is in your possession. I will send now for an officer." He rose +to touch the bell-rope, keeping his eyes on the woman all the time; and +she darted forward and arrested his hand. + +"I will do what you wish," she said. + +"How much money have you taken from Miss Vyner?" + +"Eight hundred and ninety pounds." + +"Where is it?" + +"In my room." + +"Go and get it--stay, I will go with you." + +In a few minutes Justine returned with her ill-gotten treasure; and then +she condescended to explain, and entreat,-- + +"Oh, my lord," she said, "don't be hard on me. I wanted the money for +my poor old mother who is in Marylebone Workhouse. I did, indeed I did! +It was to make her old age comfortable. She is sick and very poor, and +I wanted it for her." + +"We shall see about that. If your story is true, you shall give the +money to your poor old sick mother. If it is not true, you shall give my +ring and the money to a constable, and sleep in prison this very night." + +With impetuous passion he ordered a carriage, and Justine was driven to +the Marylebone Workhouse. By the time they reached that institution, +she was thoroughly humbled and afraid; her fear being confirmed by the +subservience of the Master to the rank and commands of Lord Exham. For +a moment she had an idea of denying her own statement; but the futility +of the lie was too evident to be doubted; and, very reluctantly, she +admitted her mother's name to be Margaret Oddy. In a few minutes--during +which Lord Exham ordered Justine to count out the money in her bag to the +Master--Margaret appeared. She was not an old woman in years, being but +little over forty; but starvation, sorrow, and hard work had made her +prematurely aged. When she entered the room, she looked around anxiously; +but as soon as she saw Justine, she covered her face with her thin hands, +and began to weep. + +"Is this your daughter?" asked the Master, pointing to Justine. + +"I am her mother, sure enough, sir; but she have cast me off long ago. +Oh, Justine girl, speak a word to me! You are my girl, for all that's +past and gone." + +"Justine has come to make you some amends for her previous neglect, +Mother," said Lord Exham. "She has brought you eight hundred and ninety +pounds for your old age. To-morrow my lawyer will call here, and give +you advice concerning its care and its use. Until then, the Master will +take it in charge." + +"Let me see it! Let me touch it with my hands! No more hunger! No more +cold! No more hard work! It can't be true! It can't be true! Is it +true, Justine? Kiss me with the money, girl, for the sake of the happy +days we have had together!" With these words she went to her daughter, +and tried to take her hands, and draw her to her breast. But Justine +would not respond. She stood sullen and silent, with eyes cast on the +ground. + +"Why, then," said Margaret, with just anger, "why, then, keep the +money, Justine. I would rather eat peas and porridge, and sleep on straw, +than take a shilling with such ill-will from you, girl." Then, turning +to Piers, she added, "Thank you, good gentleman, but I'll stay where +I am. Let Justine keep her gold. I don't want such an ill-will gift." + +"Mother," answered Piers. "You may take the money from my hands, +then. It is yours. Justine's good or ill-will has now nothing to do +with it. I give it to you from the noble young lady whom your daughter +has wronged so greatly that the gallows would be her just desert. She +gives up this money--which she has no right to--as some atonement for +her crime. Is not this the truth, Justine?" he asked sternly; and the +woman answered, "Yes." Then turning to the Master, he added, "To +this fact, and to Justine's admission of it, you are witness." + +The Master said, "I am." Then addressing Margaret, he told her to +go back to her place, and think over the good fortune that had so +unexpectedly come to her; what she wished to do with her money; and where +she wished to make her future home. And the mother curtsied feebly and +again turned to her child,-- + +"If I go back to the old cottage in Downham--the old cottage with the +vines, and the bee skeps, and the long garden, will you come with me, +and we will share all together?" + +"No." + +"Let her alone, Mother," said Exham. "She is going to the furthest +American colony she can reach. Only in some such place, will she be safe +from the punishment of her wrong-doing." + +"Justine, then, my girl, good-bye!" + +No answer. + +"Justine, good-bye!" + +No answer. + +"Why, then, my girl, God be with you, and God forgive you!" + +Then Justine turned to Lord Exham, "I have done what you demanded. May I +now go my own way?" + +"Not just yet. You will return with me." + +He gave his card to the Master, and followed the woman, keeping her +constantly under his hand and eye until they returned to Annabel's +parlour. Annabel was in a dead sleep; but their entrance awakened her, +and it pained Piers to see the look of fear that came into her face when +she saw her cruel tormentor. She was speedily relieved, however; for +the first words she heard, was an order from Piers, bidding her to be +ready to leave the house in twenty minutes. He took out his watch as he +gave the order, and then added, "First of all, return to me my ring." + +"I did not take your ring, my lord." + +"You have it in your possession. Return it at once." + +"Miss Vyner stole it--" + +"Give it to me! You know the consequences of _one_ more refusal." + +Then Justine took from her purse the long missing ring. She threw it on +the table, and, with tears of rage, said,-- + +"May ill-luck and false love go with it, and follow all who own it!" + +"The bad wishes of the wicked fall on themselves, Justine," said Lord +Exham, as he lifted the trinket. "How much money does your mistress owe +you?" + +"I have no 'mistress.' Miss Vyner owes me a quarter's wage, and a +quarter's notice, that is eight pounds." + +"Is that correct, Annabel?" + +"The woman says so. Pay her what she wants--only get her out of my +sight." + +"Oh, Miss, I can tell you--" + +"Go. Pack your trunk, and be back here in fifteen minutes. And, mind +what I say, leave England at once--the sooner the better." + +Before the time was past, the woman was outside the gates of Richmoor +House, and Piers returned to Annabel. "That trouble is all over and +gone forever," he said to her; "now, dear Bella, lift up your heart to +its full measure of love and joy! Let Cecil see you to-night in your +old beauty. He is fretting about your health; show him the marvellously +bright Annabel that captured his heart with a glance." + +"I will! I will, Piers! This very night you shall see that Annabel is +herself again." + +"And in three days you are to be Cecil's wife!" + +"In three days," she echoed joyfully. "Leave me now, Piers. I want to +think over your goodness to me. I shall never forget it." + +Smiling, they parted; and then Annabel opened all the doors of her +rooms, and looked carefully around them, and assured herself that her +tyrant was really gone. "In three days!" she said, "in three days I am +going away from all this splendour and luxury,--going to dangers of +all kinds; to a wild life in camps and quarters; perhaps to deprivations +in lonely places--and I am happy! Happy! transcendently happy! Oh, +Love! Wonderful, Invincible, Omnipotent Love! Cecil's love! It will +be sufficient for all things." + +Certainly she was permeated with this idea. It radiated from her +countenance; it spoke in her eyes; it made itself visible in the +glory of her bridal attire. The wedding morning was one of the darkest +and dreariest of London's winter days. A black pouring rain fell +incessantly; the atmosphere was heavy, and loaded with exhalations; +and the cholera terror was on every face. For at this time it was +really "a destruction walking at noon-day" and leaving its ghastly sign +of possession on many a house in the streets along which the bridal +party passed. + +It came into the gloomy church like a splendid dream: officers in +gay uniforms, ladies in beautiful gowns and nodding plumes, and at the +altar,--shining like some celestial being,--the radiant bride in +glistening white satin, and sparkling gems. And Cecil, in his new +military uniform, tall, handsome, soldierly, happy, made her a fitting +companion. The church was filled with a dismal vapour; the rain plashed +on the flagged enclosure; the wind whistled round the ancient tower: +there was only gloom, and misery, and sudden death outside; but over +all these accidents of time and place, the joy of the bride and the +bridegroom was triumphant. And later in the day, when the Duke and +Piers went with them to the great three-decked Indiaman waiting for +their embarkation, they were still wondrously exalted and blissful. +Dressed in fine dark-blue broadcloth, and wrapped in costly furs, +Annabel watched from the deck the departure of her friends, and then +put her hand in Cecil's with a smile. + +"For weal or woe, Bella, my dear one," he said. + +"For weal or woe, for life or death, Cecil beloved," she answered, +having no idea then of what that promise was to bring her in the future; +though she kept it nobly when the time of its redemption came. + +Three days after this event, Mrs. Atheling received by special messenger +from Lord Exham a letter, and with it the ring which had caused so +much suspicion and sorrow. But though the letter was affectionate and +confidential, and full of tender messages which he "trusted in her to +deliver for him," nothing was said as to the manner of its recovery, +or the personality of the one who had purloined it. + +"Your father has been right, no doubt, Kate," she said. "In some weak +moment Annabel has got the ring from him, and on her marriage has given +it back. That is clear to me." + +"Not to me, Mother. I am sure Piers did not give Annabel--did not give +any one the ring. I will tell you what I think. Annabel got it while he +was asleep, or he inadvertently dropped it, and she picked it up--and +kept it, hoping to make mischief." + +"You may be wrong, Kitty." + +"I may--but I _know_ I am right." + +_No Diviner like Love!_ + +On this same day, with the cholera raging all around, Parliament was +re-opened; and Lord John Russell again brought in the Reform Bill. There +was something pathetic in this persistence of a people, hungry and +naked, and overshadowed by an unknown pestilence, swift and malignant +as a Fate. It was evident, immediately, that the same course of +"obstruction" which had proved fatal to the two previous Bills was to +be pursued against the third attempt. Yet the temper of the House of +Commons, sullenly, doggedly determined, might even thus early have +warned its opposers. All the unfairness and pertinacity of Peel and his +associates was of no avail against the inflexible steadiness of Lord +Althorp and the cold impassibility of Lord John Russell. + +Week after week passed in debating, while the press and people waited +in alternating fits of passionate threats and still more alarming +silence,--a silence, Lord Grey declared to be, "Most ominous of trouble, +and of the most vital importance to the obstructing force." The Squire +was weary to death. He found it impossible to take a dutiful interest +in the proceedings. The tactics of the fight did not appeal to his +nature. He thought they were neither fair nor straightforward; and, +unconsciously, his own opinions had been much leavened by his late +familiar intercourse with Lord Ashley and his son. + +In these days his chief comfort came from the friendship of Piers Exham. +The young man frequently sought his company; and it became almost a +custom for them to dine together at the Tory Club. And at such times +words were dropped that neither would have uttered, or even thought +of, at the beginning of the contest. Thus one night Piers said, in his +musing way, as he fingered his glass, rather than drank the wine in it,-- + +"I have been wondering, Squire, whether the wish of a whole nation, +gradually growing in intensity for sixty years, until it has become, +to-day, a command and a threat, is not something more than a wish?" + +"I should say it was, Piers," answered the Squire. "Very likely the +wish has grown to--a right." + +"Perhaps." + +Then both men were silent; and the next topic discussed was the new +sickness, and Piers anxiously asked if "it had reached Atheling." + +"No, it has not, thank the Almighty!" replied the Squire. "There has +not been a case of it. My family are all well." + +Allusions to Kate were seldom more definite than this one; but Piers +found inexpressible comfort in the few words. Such intercourse might not +seem conducive to much kind feeling; but it really was. The frequent +silences; the short, pertinent sentences; the familiar, kindly touch +of the young man's hand, when it was time to return to the House; the +little courteous attentions which it pleased Piers to render, rather +than let the Squire be indebted to a servant for them,--these, and other +things quite as trivial, made a bond between the two men that every day +strengthened. + +[Illustration:] + +It was nearly the end of March when the Bill once more got through +the Commons; and hitherto the nation had waited as men wait the +preliminaries of a battle. But they were like hounds held by a leash +when the great question as to whether the Lords would now give way, or +not, was to be determined. The Squire was an exceedingly sensitive man; +for he was exceedingly affectionate, and he was troubled continually by +the hungry, wretched, anxious crowds through which he often picked +his way to Westminster, the more so, as his genial, bluff, thoroughly +English appearance seemed to please and encourage these non-contents. At +every step he was urged to vote on the right side. "God bless you, +Squire!" was a common address. "Pity the poor! Vote for the right! +Go for Reform, Squire! Before God, Squire, we must win this time, or +die for it!" And the Squire, distressed, and half-convinced of the +justice of their case, would lift his hat at such words, and pass a +sovereign into the hand of some lean, white-faced man, and answer, +"God defend the Right, friends!" He could not tell them, as he had +done in his first session, to "go home and mind their business." He +could not say, as he did then, a downright "No;" could not bid them, +"Reform themselves, and let the Government alone," or ask, "If +they were bereft of their senses?" If he answered at all now, it was in +the motto so familiar to them, "God and my Right;" or, if much urged, +"I give my word to do my best." Or he would bow courteously, and +say, "God grant us all good days without end." Before the Bill +passed the Commons, at the end of March, it had, at any rate, come to +this,--he was not only averse to vote against the Bill, he was also +averse to tell these waiting sufferers that he intended to vote +against it. + +On the night of the thirteenth of April, when the Bill was before the +Lords, the Squire was too excited to go to bed, though prevented from +occupying his seat in the Commons by a smart attack of rheumatism. He sat +in his club, waiting for intelligence, and watching the passing crowds +to try and glean from their behaviour the progress of events. Piers had +promised to bring him word as soon as the vote was taken. He did not +arrive until eight o'clock the next morning. The Squire was drinking +his coffee, and making up his mind to return to Atheling, "whatever +happened," when Piers, white and exhausted, drew his chair to the table. + +"The Bill has passed this reading by nine votes," he said wearily; +"and Parliament has adjourned for the Easter recess; that is, until +the seventh of May. Three weeks of suspense! I do not know how it is +to be endured." + +"I am going to Atheling. Edgar will very likely go to Ashley, and I +think you had better go with us. Three weeks of Exham winds will make a +new man of you." + +At this point Edgar joined them, and, greatly to his father's annoyance, +declared both Atheling and Ashley out of the question. "This three +weeks," he said, "will decide the fate of England. I have promised +my leader to visit Warwick, Worcester, Stafford, and Birmingham. At +the latter place there will be the greatest political meeting ever held +in this world." + +"And what will Annie say?" asked the Squire. + +"Annie thinks I am doing right. Annie does not put me before the hundred +of thousands to whom the success of Reform will bring happiness." + +"It beats all and everything," said the Squire. "I wouldn't like +my wife to put me back of hundreds and thousands. Have you been up all +night--you and Piers?" + +"All night," answered Edgar. "We were among the three hundred members +from the Commons who filled the space around the throne, and stood in +a row three deep below the bar. I was in the second row; but I heard +all that passed very well. Earl Grey did not begin to speak until five +o'clock this morning, and he spoke for an hour and a half. It was an +astonishing argument." + +"It was a most interesting scene, altogether," said Piers. "I shall +never forget it. The crowded house, its still and solemn demeanour, and +the broad daylight coming in at the high windows while Grey was speaking. +Its blue beams mixed with the red of the flaring candles, and the two +lights made strange and startling effects on the crimson draperies and +the dusky tapestries on the walls. I felt as if I was in a vision. I kept +thinking of Cromwell and old forgotten things; and it was like waking out +of a dream when the House began to dissolve. I was not quite myself until +I had drunk a cup of coffee." + +"It was very exciting," said the more practical Edgar; "and the small +majority is only to keep the people quiet. At the next reading the Bill +will be so mutilated as to be practically rejected, unless we are ready +to meet such an emergency." + +Piers rose at these words. He foresaw a discussion he had no mind +for; and he said, with a touching pathos in his voice, as he laid his +hand on the Squire's shoulder, "Give my remembrance to the ladies at +Atheling,--my heart's love, if you will take it." + +"I will take all I may, Piers. Good-bye! You have been a great comfort +to me. I am sure I don't know what I should have done without you; for +Edgar, you see, is too busy for anything." + +"Never too busy to be with you, if you need me, Father. But you are such +a host in yourself, and I never imagined you required help of any kind." + +"Only a bit of company now and then. You were about graver business. +It suited Piers and me to sit idle and say a word or two about Atheling. +Come down to Exham, Piers, _do_; it will be good for you." + +"No, I should be heart-sick for Atheling. I am better away." + +The Squire nodded gravely, and was silent; and Piers passed quietly out +of the room. His listless serenity, and rather drawling speech, always +irritated the alert Edgar; and he sighed with relief when he was rid of +the restraining influence of a nature so opposite to his own. + +"So you are going to Atheling, Father?" he said. "How?" + +"As quick and quiet as I can. I shall take the mail-coach to York, or +further; and then trot home on as good a nag as I can hire." + +In this way he reached Atheling the third day afterwards, but without any +of the usual _éclat_ and bustle of his arrival. Kate had gone to bed; +Mrs. Atheling was about to lock the big front door, when he opened it. +She let the candlestick in her hand fall when she saw him enter, crying,-- + +"John! Dear John! How you did frighten me! I _am_ glad to see you." + +"I'll believe it, Maude, without burning the house for an illumination. +My word! I am tired. I have trotted a hack horse near forty miles +to-day." + +Then she forgot everything but the Squire's refreshment and comfort; +and the house was roused, and Kitty came downstairs again, and for an +hour there was at least the semblance of rejoicing. But Mrs. Atheling +was not deceived. She saw her lord was depressed and anxious; and she +was sure the Reform Bill had finally passed; and after a little while +she ventured to say so. + +"No, it has not passed," answered the Squire; "it has got to its worst +bit, that's all. After Easter the Lords will muster in all their power, +and either throw it out, or change and cripple it so much that it will be +harmless." + +"Now, then, John, what do you think, _really_?" + +"I think, really, that we land-owners are all of us between the devil +and the deep sea. If the Bill passes, away go the Corn Laws; and then how +are we to make our money out of the land? If it does not pass, we are in +for a civil war and a Commonwealth, and no Cromwell to lead and guide +it. It is a bad look-out." + +"But it might be worse. We haven't had any cholera here. We must trust +in God, John." + +"It is easy to trust in God when you don't see the doings of the devil. +You wouldn't be so cheerful, Maude, if you had lived in the sight of his +handiwork, as I have for months. I think surely God has given England +into his power, as he did the good man of Uz." + +"Well, then, it was only for a season, and a seven-fold blessing after +it. It is wonderful how well your men have behaved; they haven't taken +a bit of advantage of your absence. That is another good thing." + +"I am glad to hear that. I will see them, man by man, before I go back +to London." + +The villagers, however, sent a deputation as soon as they heard of +the Squire's arrival, asking him to come down to Atheling Green, and +tell them something about Reform. And he was pleased at the request, +and went down, and found they had made a temporary platform out of two +horse-blocks for him; and there he stood, his fine, imposing, sturdy +figure thrown clearly into relief by the sunny spring atmosphere. And +it was good to listen to his strong, sympathetic voice, for it had the +ring of truth in all its inflections, as he said,-- + +"Men! Englishmen! Citizens of no mean country! you have asked me to +explain to you what this Reform business means. You know well I will tell +you no lies. It will give lots of working-men votes that never hoped for +a vote; and so it is like enough working-men will be able to send to +Parliament members who will fight for their interests. Maybe that is +in your favour. It will open all our ports to foreign wheat and corn. +You will get American wheat, and Russian wheat, and French wheat--" + +"We won't eat French wheat," said Adam Sedbergh. + +"And then, wheat will be so cheap that it will not pay English +land-owners to sow it. Will that help you any?" + +"We would rather grow our own wheat." + +"To be sure. Reform will, happen, give you shorter hours of work." + +"That would be good, Master," said the blacksmith. + +"It will depend on what you do with the extra hours of leisure." + +"We can play skittles, and cricket, and have a bit of wrestling." + +"Or sit in the public house, and drink more beer. I don't think +your wives will like that. Besides, if you work less time won't you +get less wage? Do you think I am going to pay for twelve hours' work +and get ten? Would you? Will the mill-owners run factories for the fun +of running them? Would you? And they say they hardly pay with twelve +hours' work. Men, I tell you truly, I know no more than the babe +unborn what Reform will bring us. It may be better times; it may be +ruin. But I can say one thing, sure and certain, you will get more +trouble than you bargain for if you take to rioting about it. Your +grandfathers and your fathers fought this question; and they left it +to you to quarrel over. Very well, as long as you keep your quarrel +in the Parliament Houses, I want you to have fair play. But if ever +you should forget that there is the great Common Law behind all of us, +rich and poor, and think to right yourselves with fire and blood, then +I--your true friend--would be the first to answer you with cannon, +and turn my scythes and shares into swords against you. Wait patiently a +bit longer. In a few more weeks I do verily believe you will have +Reform, and then I hope, in my soul, you will be pleased with your +bargain. I don't think, as far as I am concerned, Reform will change me +or my ways one particle." + +"We don't want you changed, Squire; you are good enough as you are." + +"I'm glad you think so, very glad. Now here is Atheling and Belward +meadows and corn-fields. We can raise our wheat and cattle and wool, and +carry on our farms--you and I together, for I could not do without you; +and if I do right by you is there any reason to want better than right? +And if I do not do right, then shout 'Reform,' and come and tell me +what you want, and we will pass our own Reform Bill. Will that suit you?" + +And they answered him with cheers, and he sent them into the Atheling +Arms for a good dinner, and then rode slowly home. But a great sadness +came over him, and he said to himself: + +"It is not capital; it is not labour; it is not land: it is a bit of +human kindness and human relations that lie at the root of all Reform. +Maude says true enough, that we don't know the people, and don't feel +for them, and don't care for them. A word of reason, a word of truth +and trust and of mutual good-will, and how pleased them poor fellows +were! Reform has nothing on earth to do with Toryism or Whigism. God +bless my soul! what kind of a head must the man have that could think +so? _I begin to see_--_I begin to see!_" + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEENTH + +LADY OF EXHAM HALL AT LAST + + +The three weeks' recess was full of grave anxiety; and the Squire had +many fears they were to be the last weeks of peace and home before civil +war called him to fulfil the promise he had made to his working-men. The +Birmingham Political Union declared that if there was any further +delay after Easter, two hundred thousand men would go forth from their +shops and forges, and encamp in the London squares, till they knew the +reason why the Reform Bill was not passed. The Scots Greys, who were +quartered at Birmingham, had been employed the previous Sabbath in +grinding their swords; and it was asserted that the Duke of Wellington +stood pledged to the Government to quiet the country in ten days. These +facts sufficiently indicated to the Squire the temper of the people; and +he set himself, as far as he could, to take all the sweetness out of his +home life possible. The memory of it might have to comfort him for many +days. + +With his daughter always by his side, he rode up and down the lands +he loved; unconsciously giving directions that might be serviceable +if he had to go to a stormier field than the House of Commons. To +Mrs. Atheling he hardly suggested the possibility; for if he did, +she always answered cheerfully, "Nonsense, John! The Bill _will_ pass; +and if it does not pass, Englishmen have more sense than they had in +the days of Cromwell. They aren't going to kill one another for an Act +of Parliament." + +But to Kate, as they rode and walked, he could worry and grumble +comfortably. She was always ready to sympathise with his fears, and to +encourage and suggest any possible hope of peace and better days. To see +her bright face answering his every thought filled the father's heart +with a joy that was complete. + +"Bless thy dear soul!" he would frequently say to her. "God's best +gift to a man is a daughter like thee. Sons are well enough to carry on +the name and the land, and bring honour to the family; but the man God +loves isn't left without a daughter to sweeten his days and keep his +heart fresh and tender. Kitty! Kitty, how I do love thee!" And Kitty +knew how to answer such true and noble affection; for,-- + + "Down the gulf of his condoled necessities, + She cast her best: she flung herself." + +Oh, sweet domestic love! Surely _it is_ the spiritual world, the abiding +kingdom of heaven, not far from any one of us. + +With a heavy heart the Squire went back to London. Mrs. Atheling took +his gloom for a good sign. "Your father is always what the Scotch call +'fay' before trouble," she said to Kate. "The day your sister Edith +died his ways made me angry. You would have thought some great joy had +come to Atheling. He said he was sure Edith was going to live; and I +knew she was going to die. I am glad he has gone to London sighing and +shaking his head; it is a deal better sign than if he had gone laughing +and shaking his bridle. He will meet Edgar in London, and Edgar won't +let him look forward to trouble." + +But the Squire found Edgar was not in London when he arrived there; and +Piers was as silent and as gloomy a companion as a worrying man could +desire. He came to dine with his friend, and he listened to all his +doleful prognostications; but his interest was forced and languid. For he +also had lost the convictions that made the contest possible to him, +and there was at the bottom of all his reasoning that little doubt as to +the justice of his cause which likewise infected the Squire's more +pronounced opinions. + +They were sitting one evening, after dinner, almost silent, the Squire +smoking, Piers apparently reading the _Times_, when Edgar, with an almost +boyish demonstrativeness, entered the room. He drew a chair between +them, and sat down, saying, "I have just returned from the great Newhall +Hill meeting. Father, think of two hundred thousand men gathered there +for one united purpose." + +"I hope I have a few better thoughts to keep me busy, Edgar." + +Piers looked up with interest. "It must have been an exciting hour or +two," he said. + +"I hardly knew whether I was in the body or out of the body," answered +Edgar. "For a little while, at least, I was not conscious of the flesh. +I had a taste of how the work of eternity may be done with the soul." + +"The _Times_ admits the two hundred thousand," said Piers, "and also +that it was a remarkably orderly meeting. Who opened it? Was it Mr. +O'Connell?" + +"The meeting was opened by the singing of a hymn. There were nine +stanzas in it, and every one was sung with the most enthusiastic feeling. +I remember only the opening lines: + + "'Over mountain, over plain, + Echoing wide from sea to sea, + Peals--and shall not peal in vain-- + The trumpet call of Liberty!' + +But can you imagine what a majestic volume of sonorous melody came from +those two hundred thousand hearts? It was heard for miles. The majority +of the singers believed, with all their souls, that it was heard in +heaven." + +"Well, I never before heard of singing a hymn to open a political +meeting," said the Squire. "It does not seem natural." + +"But, Father, you are used to political meetings opened by prayer, for +the House has its chaplain. The Rev. Hugh Hutton prayed after the hymn." + +"I never heard of the Rev. Hugh Hutton." + +"I dare say not, Father. He is an Unitarian minister; for it is only +the Unitarians that will pray with, or pray for, Radicals. I should +not quite say that. There is a Roman Catholic priest who is a member +of the Birmingham Union,--a splendid-looking man, a fine orator, and +full of the noblest public spirit; but a Birmingham meeting would never +think of asking him to pray. They would not believe a Catholic could +get a blessing down from heaven if he tried."[3] + +------ +[Footnote 3: This intolerance, general and common in the England of that +day, is now happily much mitigated.] + +"What of O'Connell?" said the Squire; "he interests me most." + +"O'Connell outdid himself. About four hundred women in one body had +been allowed to stand near the platform, and the moment his eyes +rested on them his quick instinct decided the opening sentence of his +address. He bowed to them, and said, 'Surrounded as I am by the fair, +the good, and the gentle.' They cheered at these words; and then the +men behind them cheered, and the crowds behind cheered, because the +crowds before cheered; and then he launched into such an arraignment +of the English Government as human words never before compassed. And +in it he was guilty of one delightful bull. It was in this way. Among +other grave charges, he referred to the fact that births had decreased +in Dublin five thousand every year for the last four years, and then +passionately exclaimed, 'I charge the British Government with the +murder of those twenty thousand infants!' and really, for a few +moments, the audience did not see the delightful absurdity." + +"Twenty thousand infants who were never born," laughed the Squire. +"That is worthy of O'Connell. It is worthy of Ireland." + +"And did he really manage that immense crowd?" asked Piers. "I see +the _Times_ gives him this credit." + +"Sir Bulwer Lytton in a few lines has painted him for all generations at +this meeting. Listen!" and Edgar took out of his pocket a slip of paper, +and read them:-- + + "'Once to my sight the giant thus was given-- + Walled by wide air, and roofed by boundless heaven; + Methought, no clarion could have sent its sound + Even to the centre of the hosts around. + And as I thought, rose the sonorous swell + As from some church tower swings the silver bell. + Aloft and clear, from airy tide to tide, + It glided easy as a bird may glide, + To the last verge of that vast audience.'" + +"After O'Connell, who would try to manage such a crowd?" asked Piers. + +"They behaved splendidly whoever spoke; and finally Mr. Salt stood +forward, and, uncovering his head, bid them all uncover, and raise their +right hands to heaven while they repeated, after him, the comprehensive +obligation which had been given in printed form to all of them: + + "'_With unbroken faith, through every peril, through every + privation, we here devote ourselves, and our children, to our + country's cause!_' + +And while those two hundred thousand men were taking that oath together, +I find the House of Lords was going into Committee on the Reform Bill. +This time it _must_ pass." + +"It will _not_ pass," said Piers, "without the most extreme measures +are resorted to." + +"You mean that the King will be compelled to create as many new peers as +will carry it through the House of Lords." + +"Yes; but can the King be 'compelled'?" + +"He will find that out." + +"Now, Edgar, that is as far as I am going to listen." + +Then Piers put down his paper, and said, "The House was in session, and +would the Squire go down to it?" And the Squire said, "No. If there +is to be any 'compelling' of His Majesty, I will keep out of it." + +The stress of this compulsion came the very next day. Lord Lyndhurst +began the usual policy by proposing important clauses of the Bill +should be postponed; and the Cabinet at once decided to ask the King +to create more peers. Sydney Smith had written to Lady Grey that he +was, "For forty, in order to make sure;" but the number was not +stipulated. The King promptly refused. The Reform Ministry tendered +their resignation, and it was accepted. For a whole week the nation +was left to its fears, its anger, and its despair. It was, however, +almost insanely active. In Manchester twenty-five thousand people, in +the space of three hours, signed a petition to the King, telling him in +it that "the whole North of England was in a state of indignation +impossible to be described." Meanwhile, the Duke of Wellington had +failed to form a Cabinet, and Peel had refused; and the King was +compelled to recall Lord Grey to power, and to consent to any measures +necessary to pass the Reform Bill. It was evident, even to royalty, +that it had at length become--The Bill or The Crown. For His Majesty was +now aware that he was denounced from one end of England to the other; +and several painful experiences convinced him that his carriage could +not appear in London without being surrounded by an indignant, hooting, +shrieking crowd. + +Yet it was in a very wrathful mood he sent for Grey and Brougham, so +wrathful that he kept them standing during the whole audience, although +this attitude was contrary to usage. "My people are gone mad," he +said, "and must be humoured like mad people. They will have Reform. +Very well. I give you my royal assent to create a sufficient number of +new peers to carry Reform through the House of Lords. It is an insult to +my loyal and sensible peers; but they will excuse the circumstances +that force me to such a measure." His manner was extremely sullen, +and became indignantly so when Lord Brougham requested this permission +to be given them in the King's handwriting. The request was, however, +necessary, and was reluctantly granted. + +With the King's concession, the great struggle virtually ended. For +the creation of new peers was not necessary. A private message from the +King to the House of Lords effected what the long-continued protestations +and entreaties of the whole nation had failed to effect. Led by the +Duke of Wellington, those Lords who were determined _not_ to vote for +Reform left the House until the Bill was passed; and thus a decided +majority for its success was assured. They felt it to be better for +their order to retire to their castles, than to suffer the "swamping +of the House of Lords" by a force of new peers pledged to Reform, +and sure to control all their future deliberations. Consequently, in +about two weeks, the famous Bill was triumphantly carried by a majority +of eighty-four; and three days afterwards it received the royal assent. + +The long struggle was over; and the tremendous strain on the feelings +of the nation relieved itself by an universal and unbounded rejoicing. +All night long, the church bells answered one another from city to city, +and from hamlet to hamlet. It was said to be impossible to escape, from +one end of the country to the other, the _tin_-_tan_-_tabula_ of their +jubilation. Illuminations must have made the Island at night a blaze of +light; the people went about singing and congratulating each other; and +for a few hours the tie of humanity was a tie of brotherhood, even when +men and women were perfect strangers. + +The Duke of Richmoor retired with the majority of his peers, and shut +himself up in his Yorkshire Castle, a victim to the most absurd but +yet the most sincere despondency. The Squire applied for the Chiltern +Hundreds, and returned to Atheling as soon as possible. Edgar remained +in the House until its dissolution in August. As for Piers, he had +taken the turn of affairs with a composure that had produced decided +differences between the Duke and himself; and he lingered in London +until he heard of the Squire's departure for the North. Then he sought +him with a definite purpose. "Squire," he said, "may I go back to +Exham in your company?" + +"I'll be glad if you do, Piers," was the answer. + +The young man laid his hand on the Squire's hand, and looked at him +steadily and entreatingly. "Squire, I am going away from England. Let me +see Kate before I go." + +"You are asking me to break my word, Piers." + +"The law of kindness may sometimes be greater than the law of truth; +the greatest of these is charity--is love. I love her so! I love her so +that I am only half alive without her. I do entreat you to have pity on +me--on us both! She loves me!" and Piers pleaded until the Squire's +eyes were full of tears. He could not resist words so hot from a true +and loving heart; and he finally said,-- + +"It may be that my word, and my pride in my word, are of less +consequence than the trouble of two suffering human hearts; Piers, +right or wrong, you may see Kitty. I am not sure I am doing right, but +I will risk the uncertainty--this time." + +However, if the Squire had any qualms of conscience on the subject, +they were driven away by Kitty's gratitude and delight. He arrived at +Atheling about the noon hour, and Kitty was the first to see and to +welcome him. She had been gathering cherries, and was coming through the +garden with her basket full of the crimson drupes, when he entered the +gates. She set the fruit on the ground, and ran to meet him, and took +him proudly in to her mother, and fussed over his many little comforts to +his heart's content and delight. + +Nothing was said about Piers until after dinner, which was hurried +forward at the Squire's request; but afterwards, when he sat at the open +casement smoking, he called Kate to him. He took her on his knee and +whispered, "Kate, there is somebody coming this afternoon." + +"Yes," she said, "we have sent word to Annie. She will be here." + +"I was not thinking of Annie. I was thinking of thee, my little maid. +There is somebody coming to see _thee_." + +"You can't mean Piers? Oh, Father, do you mean Piers?" + +"I do." + +Then she laid her cheek against his cheek. She kissed him over and over, +answering in low, soft speech, "Oh, my good Father! Oh, my dear Father! +Oh, Father, how I love you!" + +"Well, Kitty," he answered, "thou dost not throw thy love away. I love +thee, God knows it. Now run upstairs and don thy prettiest frock." + +"White or blue, Father?" + +"Well, Kitty," he answered, with a thoughtful smile, "I should +say white, and a red rose or two to match thy cheeks, and a few +forget-me-nots to match thy eyes. Bless my heart, Kitty! thou art lovely +enough any way. Stay with me." + +"No, Father, I will go away and come again still lovelier;" and she +sped like a bird upstairs. "It may be all wrong," muttered the Squire; +"but if it is, then I must say, wrong can make itself very agreeable." + +[Illustration] + +"_Piers is coming!_" That was the song in Kitty's heart, the refrain +to which her hands and feet kept busy until she stood before her glass +lovelier than words can paint, her exquisite form robed in white lawn, +her cheeks as fresh and blooming as the roses at her girdle, her eyes +as blue as the forget-me-nots in her hair, her whole heart in every +movement, glance, and word, thrilling with the delight of expectation, +and shining with the joy of loving. + +So Piers found her in the garden watching for his approach. And on +this happy afternoon, Nature was in a charming mood; she had made the +garden a Paradise for their meeting. The birds sang softly in the green +trees above them; the flowers perfumed the warm air they breathed; and +an atmosphere of inexpressible serenity encompassed them. After such +long absence, oh, how heavenly was this interview without fear, or +secrecy, or self-reproach, or suspicion of wrong-doing! How heavenly was +the long, sweet afternoon, and the social pleasure of the tea hour, +and the soft starlight night under the drooping gold of the laburnums +and the fragrant clusters of the damask roses! Even parting under such +circumstances was robbed of its sting; it was only "such sweet sorrow." +It was glorified by its trust and hope, and was without the shadow of +tears. + +Kitty came to her father when it was over; and her eyes were shining, +and there was a little sob in her heart; but she said only happy words. +With her arms around his neck she whispered, "Thank you, dear!" And +he answered, "Thou art gladly welcome! Right or wrong, thou art welcome, +Kitty. My dear little Kitty! He will come back; I know he will. A girl +that puts honour and duty before love, crowns them with love in the +end--always so, dear. That _is sure_. When will he be back?" + +"When the Duke and Duchess want him more than they want their own way. +He says disputing will do harm, and not good; but that if a difference +is left to the heart, the heart in the long run will get the best of +the argument. I am sure he is right. Father, he is going to send you +and mother long letters, and so I shall know where he is; and with the +joy of this meeting to keep in my memory, I am not going to fret and be +miserable." + +"That is right. That is the way to take a disappointment. Good things +are worth waiting for, eh, Kitty?" + +"And we shall have so much to interest us, Father. There is Edgar's +marriage coming; and it would not do to have two weddings in one year, +would it? Father, you like Piers? I am sure you do." + +"I would not have let him put a foot in Atheling to-day if I had not +liked him. He has been very good company for me in London, very good +company indeed--thoughtful and respectful. Yes, I like Piers." + +"Because--now listen, Father--because, much as I love Piers, I would +not be his wife for all England if you and mother did not like him." + +"Bless my heart, Kitty! Is not that saying a deal?" + +"No. It would be no more than justice. If you should force on me a +husband whom I despised or disliked, would I not think it very wicked +and cruel? Then would it not be just as wicked and cruel if I should +force on you a son-in-law whom you despised and disliked? There is not +one law of kindness for the parents, and another law, less kind, for +the daughter, is there?" + +"Thou art quite right, Kitty. The laws of the Home and the Family are +_equal_ laws. God bless thee for a good child." + +And, oh, how sweet were Kitty's slumbers that night! It is out of +earth's delightful things we form our visions of the world to come; and +Kate understood, because of her own pure, true, hopeful love, how "God +is love," and how, therefore, He would deny her any good thing. + +So the summer went its way, peacefully and happily. In the last days of +August, Edgar was married with great pomp and splendour; and afterwards +the gates of Gisbourne stood wide-open, and there were many signs and +promises of wonderful improvements and innovations. For the young +man was a born leader and organiser. He loved to control, and soon +devised means to secure what was so necessary to his happiness. The +Curzons had made their money in manufactures; and Annie approved of +such use of money. So very soon, at the upper end of Gisbourne, a great +mill, and a fine new village of cottages for its hands, arose as if by +magic,--a village that was to example and carry out all the ideas of +Reform. + +"Edgar is making a lot of trouble ready for himself," said the Squire +to his wife; "but Edgar can't live without a fight on hand. I'll +warrant that he gets more fighting than he bargains for; a few hundreds +of those Lancashire and Yorkshire operatives aren't as easy to manage +as he seems to think. They have 'reformed' their lawgivers; and they +are bound to 'reform' their masters next." + +The Squire had said little about this new influx into his peaceful +neighbourhood, but it had grieved his very soul; and his wife wondered at +his reticence, and one day she told him so. + +"Well, Maude," he answered, "when Edgar was one of my household, I had +the right to say this and that about his words and ways; but Edgar is now +Squire, and married man, and Member of Parliament. He is a Reformer too, +and bound to carry out his ideas; and, I dare say, his wife keeps the +bit in his mouth hard enough, without me pulling on it too. I have taken +notice, Maude, that these sweet little women are often very masterful." + +"I am sure his grandfather Belward would never have suffered that mill +chimney in his sight for any money." + +"Perhaps he could not have helped it." + +"Thou knowest different. My father always made everything go as he +wanted it. The Belwards know no other road but their own way." + +"I should think thou needest not tell me that. I have been learning it +for a quarter of a century." + +"Now, John! When I changed my name, I changed my way also. I have been +Atheling, and gone Atheling, ever since I was thy wife." + +"Pretty nearly, Maude. But Edgar's little, innocent-faced, gentle wife +will lead Edgar, Curzon way. She has done it already. Fancy an Atheling, +land lords for a thousand years, turning into a loom lord. Maude, it +hurts me; but then, it is a bit of Reform, I suppose." + +For all this interior dissatisfaction, the Squire and his son were good +friends and neighbours; and, in a kind of a way, the father approved +the changes made around him. They came gradually, and he did not have +to swallow the whole dose at once. Besides he had his daughter. And +Kitty never put him behind Gisbourne or any other cause. They were +constant companions. They threw their lines in the trout streams together +through the summer mornings; and in the winter, she was with him in +every hunting field. About the house, he heard her light foot and her +happy voice; and in the evenings, she read the papers to him, and helped +forward his grumble at Peel, or his anger at Cobbett. + +At not very long intervals there came letters to the Squire, or to +Mrs. Atheling, which made sunshine in the house for many days +afterwards,--letters from Boston, New York, Baltimore, Washington, +New Orleans, and finally from an outlandish place called Texas. Here +Piers seemed to have found the life he had been unconsciously +longing for. "The people were fighting," he said, "for Liberty: a +handful of Americans against the whole power of Mexico; fighting, not +in words--he was weary to death of words--but with the clang of iron on +iron, and the clash of steel against steel, as in the old world +battles." And he filled pages with glowing encomiums of General +Houston, and Colonels Bowie and Crockett, and their wonderful courage and +deeds. "And, oh, what a Paradise the land was! What sunshine! What +moonshine! What wealth of every good thing necessary for human +existence!" + +When such letters as these arrived, it was holiday at Atheling; it +was holiday in every heart there; and they were read, and re-read, and +discussed, till their far-away, wild life became part and parcel of +the calm, homely existence of this insular English manor. So the years +went by; and Kate grew to a glorious womanhood. All the promise of her +beauteous girlhood was amply redeemed. She was the pride of her county, +and the joy of all the hearts that knew her. And if she had hours of +restlessness and doubt, or any fears for Piers's safety, no one was +made unhappy by them. She never spoke of Piers but with hope, and with +the certainty of his return. She declared she was "glad that he should +have the experience of such a glorious warfare, one in which he had +made noble friends, and done valiant deeds. Her lover was growing in +such a struggle to his full stature." And, undoubtedly, the habit of +talking hopefully induces the habit of feeling hopefully; so there were +no signs of the love-lorn maiden about Kate Atheling, nor any fears +for her final happiness in Atheling Manor House. + +The fears and doubts and wretchedness were all in the gloomy castle of +Richmoor, where the Duke and Duchess lived only to bewail the dangers +of the country, and their deprivation of their son's society,--a +calamity they attributed also to Reform. Else, why would Piers have +gone straight to a wild land where outlawed men were also fighting +against legitimate authority. + +One evening, nearly four years after Piers had left England, the Duke +was crossing Belward Bents, and he met the Squire and his daughter, +leisurely riding together in the summer gloaming. He touched his hat, and +said, "Good-evening, Miss Atheling! Good-evening, Squire!" And the +Squire responded cheerfully, and Kate gave him a ravishing smile,--for +he was the father of Piers, accordingly she already loved him. There +was nothing further said, but each was affected by the interview; the +Duke especially so. When he reached his castle he found the Duchess +walking softly up and down the dim drawing-room, and she was weeping. His +heart ached for her. He said tenderly, as he took her hand,-- + +"Is it Piers, Julia?" + +"I am dying to see him," she answered, "to hear him speak, to have +him come in and out as he used to do. I want to feel the clasp of his +hand, and the touch of his lips. Oh, Richard, Richard, bring back my boy! +A word from you will do it." + +"My dear Julia, I have just met Squire Atheling and his daughter. +The girl has grown to a wonder of beauty. She is marvellous; I simply +never saw such a face. Last week I watched her in the hunting field +at Ashley. She rode like an Amazon; she was peerless among all the +beauties there. I begin to understand that Piers, having loved her, could +love no other woman; and I think we might learn to love her for Piers's +sake. What do you say, my dear? The house is terribly lonely. I miss +my son in business matters continually; and if he does not marry, the +children of my brother Henry come after him. He is in constant danger; he +is in a land where he must go armed day and night. Think of our son +living in a place like that! And his last letters have had such a tone +of home-sickness in them. Shall I see Squire Atheling, and ask him for +his daughter?" + +"Let him come and see you." + +"He will never do it." + +"Then see him, Richard. Anything, anything, that will give Piers back +to me." + +The next day the Duke was at Atheling, and what took place at that +interview, the Squire never quite divulged, even to his wife. "It was +very humbling to him," he said, "and I am not the man to brag about +it." To Kate nothing whatever was said. "Who knows just where Piers +is? and who can tell what might happen before he learns of the change +that has taken place?" asked the Squire. "Why should we toss Kitty's +mind hither and thither till Piers is here to quiet it?" + +In fact the Squire's idea was far truer than he had any conception +of. Piers was actually in London when the Duke's fatherly letter sent +to recall his self-banished son left for Texas. Indeed he was on his way +to Richmoor the very day that the letter was written. He came to it one +afternoon just before dinner. The Duchess was dressed and waiting for +the Duke and the daily ceremony of the hour. She stood at the window, +looking into the dripping garden, but really seeing nothing, not even +the plashed roses before her eyes. Her thoughts were in a country far +off; and she was wondering how long it would take Piers to answer their +loving letter. The door opened softly. She supposed it was the Duke, and +said, fretfully, "This climate is detestable, Duke. It has rained for +a week." + +"_Mother! Mother! Oh, my dear Mother!_" + +Then, with a cry of joy that rung through the lofty room, she turned, +and was immediately folded in the arms she longed for. And before her +rapture had time to express itself, the Duke came in and shared it. +They were not an emotional family; and high culture had relegated any +expression of feeling far below the tide of their daily life; but, for +once, Nature had her way with the usually undemonstrative woman. She +wept, and laughed, and talked, and exclaimed as no one had ever seen +or heard her since the days of her early girlhood. + +In the happy privacy of the evening hours, Piers told them over again +the wild, exciting story he had been living; and the Duke acknowledged +that to have aided in any measure such an heroic struggle was an event to +dignify life. "But now, Piers," he said, "now you will remain in your +own home. If you still wish to marry Miss Atheling, your mother and I +are pleased that you should do so. We will express this pleasure as +soon as you desire us. I wrote you to this effect; but you cannot +have received my letter, since it only left for Texas yesterday." + +"I am glad I have not received it," answered Piers. "I came home at +the call of my mother. It is true. I was sitting one night thinking +of many things. It was long past midnight, but the moonlight was so +clear I had been reading by it, and the mocking birds were thrilling +the air, far and wide, with melody. But far clearer, far sweeter, far +more pervading, I heard my mother's voice calling me. And I immediately +answered, 'I am coming, Mother!' Here I am. What must I do, now and +forever, to please you?" + +And she said, "Stay near me. Marry Miss Atheling, if you wish. I will +love her for your sake." + +And Piers kissed his answer on her lips, and then put his hand in his +father's hand. It was but a simple act; but it promised all that +fatherly affection could ask, and all that filial affection could give. + +Who that has seen in England a sunny morning after a long rain-storm +can ever forget the ineffable sweetness and freshness of the woods and +hills and fields? The world seemed as if it was just made over when Piers +left Richmoor for Atheling. A thousand vagrant perfumes from the spruce +and fir woods, from the moors and fields and gardens, wandered over the +earth. A gentle west wind was blowing; the sense of rejoicing was in +every living thing. The Squire and Kate had been early abroad. They +had had a long gallop, and were coming slowly through Atheling lane, +talking of Piers, though both of them believed Piers to be thousands of +miles away. They were just at the spot where he had passed them that +miserable night when his cry of "_Kate! Kate! Kate!_" had nearly +broken the girl's heart for awhile. She never saw the place without +remembering her lover, and sending her thoughts to find him out, wherever +he might be. And thus, at this place, there was always a little silence; +and the Squire comprehended, and respected the circumstance. + +This morning the silence, usually so perfect, was broken by the sound +of an approaching horseman; but neither the Squire nor Kate turned. They +simply withdrew to their side of the road, and went leisurely forward. + +"_Kate! Kate! Kate!_" + +The same words, but how different! They were full of impatient joy, of +triumphant hope and love. Both father and daughter faced round in the +moment, and then they saw Piers coming like the wind towards them. It was +a miracle. It was such a moment as could not come twice in any life-time. +It was such a meeting as defies the power of words; because our diviner +part has emotions that we have not yet got the speech and language to +declare. + +Imagine the joy in Atheling Manor House that night! The Squire had to +go apart for a little while; and tears of delight were in the good +mother's eyes as she took out her beautiful Derby china for the +welcoming feast. As for Kate and Piers, they were at last in earth's +Paradise. Their lives had suddenly come to flower; and there was no +canker in any of the blossoms. They had waited their full hour. And if +the angels in heaven rejoice over a sinner repenting, how much more +must they rejoice in our happiness, and sympathise in our innocent love! +Surely the guardian angels of Piers and Kate were satisfied. Their +dear charges had shown a noble restraint, and were now reaping the +joy of it. Do angels talk in heaven of what happens among the sons and +daughters of men whom they are sent to minister unto, to guide, and to +guard? If so, they must have talked of these lovers, so dutiful and +so true, and rejoiced in the joy of their renewed espousals. + +Their marriage quickly followed. In a few weeks Piers had made Exham +Hall a palace of splendour and beauty for his bride, and Kate's wedding +garments were all ready. And far and wide there was a most unusual +interest taken in these lovers, so that all the great county families +desired and sought for invitations to the marriage ceremony, and the +little church of Atheling could hardly contain the guests. Even to this +day it is remembered that nearly one hundred gentlemen of the North +Riding escorted the bride from Atheling to Exham. + +But at last every social duty had been fulfilled, and they sat alone in +the gloaming, with their great love, and their great joy. And as they +spoke of the days when this love first began, Kate reminded Piers of the +swing in the laurel walk, and her girlish rhyming,-- + + "It may so happen, it may so fall, + That I shall be Lady of Exham Hall." + +And Piers drew her beautiful head closer to his own, and added,-- + + "Weary wishing, and waiting past, + _Lady of Exham Hall_ at last!" + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEENTH + +AFTER TWENTY GOLDEN YEARS + + +After twenty years have passed away, it is safe to ask if events have +been all that they promised to be; and one morning in August of 1857, +it was twenty years since Kate Atheling became Lady Exham. She was +sitting at a table writing letters to her two eldest sons, who were with +their tutor in the then little known Hebrides. Lord Exham was busy +with his mail. They were in a splendid room, opening upon a lawn, soft +and green beyond description; and the August sunshine and the August +lilies filled it with warmth and fragrance. Lady Exham was even more +beautiful than on her wedding day. Time had matured without as yet +touching her wonderful loveliness, and motherhood had crowned it with +a tender and bewitching nobility. She had on a gown of lawn and lace, +white as the flowers that hung in clusters from the Worcester vase at +her side. Now and then Piers lifted his head and watched her for a +moment; and then, with the faint, happy smile of a heart full and at +ease, he opened another letter or paper. Suddenly he became a little +excited. "Why, Kate," he said, "here is my speech on the blessings +which Reform has brought to England. I did not expect such a thing." + +"Read it to me, Piers." + +"It is entirely too long; although I only reviewed some of the notable +works that followed Reform." + +"Such as--" + +"Well, the abolition of both black and white slavery; the breaking +up of the gigantic monopoly of the East India Company, and the throwing +open of our ports to the merchants of the world; the inauguration of +a system of national education; the reform of our cruel criminal code; +the abolition of the press gang, and of chimney sweeping by little +children, and such brutalities; the postal reform; and the spread of +such good, cheap literature as the _Penny Magazine_ and _Chambers's +Magazine_. My dear Kate, it would require a book to tell all that the +Reform Bill has done for England. Think of the misery of that last two +years' struggle, and look at our happy country to-day." + +"Prosperous, but not happy, Piers. How can we be happy when, all over +the land, mothers are weeping because their children are not. If this +awful Sepoy rebellion was only over; then!" + +"Yes," answered Piers; "if it was only over! Surely there never was +a war so full of strange, unnatural cruelties. I wonder where Cecil and +Annabel are." + +"Wherever they are, I am sure both of them will be in the way of honour +and duty." + +There was a pause, and then Piers asked, "To whom are you writing, dear +Kate?" + +"To Dick and John. They do not want to return to their studies this +winter; they wish to travel in Italy." + +"Nonsense! They must go through college before they travel. Tell them +so." + +The Duke had entered as Piers was speaking, and he listened to his +remark. Then, even as he stooped to kiss Kate, he contradicted it. "I +don't think so, Piers," he said decisively. "Let the boys go. Give +them their own way a little. I do not like to see such spirited youths +snubbed for a trifle." + +"But this is not a trifle, Father." + +"Yes, it is." + +"You insisted on my following the usual plan of college first, and +travel afterwards." + +"That was before the days of Reform. The boys are my grandsons. I think +I ought to decide on a question of this kind. What do you say, my dear?" +and he turned his kindly face, with its crown of snowy hair, to Kate. + +"It is to be as you say, Father," she answered. "Is there any Indian +news?" + +"Alas! Alas!" he answered, becoming suddenly very sorrowful, "there +is calamitous news,--the fort in which Colonel North was shut up, has +fallen; and Cecil and Annabel are dead." + +"Oh, not massacred! Do not tell us _that_!" cried Kate, covering her +ears with her hands. + +"Not quite as bad. A Sepoy who was Cecil's orderly, and much attached +to him, has been permitted to bring us the terrible news, with some +valuable gems and papers which Annabel confided to him. He told me +that Cecil held out wonderfully; but it was impossible to send him help. +Their food and ammunition were gone; and the troops, who were mainly +Sepoys, were ready to open the gates to the first band of rebels that +approached. One morning, just at daybreak, Cecil knew the hour had +come. Annabel was asleep; but he awakened her. She had been expecting the +call for many days; and, when Cecil spoke, she knew it was death. But +she rose smiling, and answered, 'I am ready, Love.' He held her close +to his breast, and they comforted and strengthened one another until +the tramp of the brutes entering the court was heard. Then Annabel +closed her eyes, and Cecil sent a merciful bullet through the brave +heart that had shared with him, for twenty-five years, every trial and +danger. Her last words were, 'Come quickly, Cecil,' and he followed +her in an instant. The man says he hid their bodies, and they were not +mutilated. But the fort was blown up and burned; and, in this case, the +fiery solution was the best." + +"And her children?" whispered Kate. + +"The boys are at Rugby. The little girl died some weeks ago." + +The Duke was much affected. He had loved Annabel truly, and her tragic +death powerfully moved him. "The Duchess," he said, "had wept herself +ill; and he had promised her to return quickly." But as he went away, +he turned to charge Piers and Kate not to disappoint his grandsons. +"They are such good boys," he added; "and it is not a great matter +to let them go to Italy, if they want to--only send Stanhope with them." + +No further objection was then made. Kate had learned that it is folly +to oppose things yet far away, and which are subject to a thousand +unforeseen influences. When the time for decision came, Dick and John +might have changed their wishes. So she only smiled a present assent, +and then let her thoughts fly to the lonely fort where Cecil and Annabel +had suffered and conquered the last great enemy. For a few minutes, +Piers was occupied in the same manner; and when he spoke, it was in the +soft, reminiscent voice which memory--especially sad memory--uses. + +"It is strange, Kate," he said, "but I remember Annabel predicting +this end for herself. We were sitting in the white-and-gold parlour +in the London House, where I had found her playing with the cat in a +very merry mood. Suddenly she imagined the cat had scratched her, and +she spread out her little brown hand, and looked for the wound. There +was none visible; but she pointed to a certain spot at the base of her +finger, and said, '>Look, Piers. There is the sign of my doom,--my +death-token. I shall perish in fire and blood.' Then she laughed and +quickly changed the subject, and I did not think it worth pursuing. +Yet it was in her mind, for a few minutes afterwards, she opened her +hand again, held it to the light, and added, 'An old Hindoo priest +told me this. He said our death-warrant was written on our palms, and we +brought it into life with us.'" + +"You should have contradicted that, Piers." + +"I did. I told her, our death-warrant was in the Hand of Him with whom +alone are the issues of life and death." + +"She was haunted by the prophecy," said Kate. "She often spoke of it. +Oh, Piers, how merciful is the veil that hides our days to come!" + +"I feel wretched. Let us go to Atheling; it will do us good." + +"It is very warm yet, Piers." + +"Never mind, I want to see the children. The house is too still. They +have been at Atheling for three days." + +"We promised them a week. Harold will expect the week; and Edith and +Maude will rebel at any shorter time." + +"At any rate let us go and see them." + +"Shall we ride there?" + +"Let us rather take a carriage. One of the three may possibly be willing +to come back with us." + +Near the gates of Atheling they met the Squire and his grandson Harold. +They had been fishing. "The dew was on the grass when we went away; +and Harold has been into the water after the trout. We are both a bit +wet," said the Squire; "but our baskets are full." And then Harold +leaped into the carriage beside his father and mother, and proudly +exhibited his speckled beauties. + +Mrs. Atheling had heard their approach, and she was at the open door +to meet them. Very little change had taken place in her. Her face was +a trifle older, but it was finer and tenderer; and her smile was as +sweet and ready, and her manner as gracious--though perhaps a shade +quieter than in the days when we first met her. Her granddaughter Edith, +a girl of eight years, stood at her side; and Maude, a charming babe of +four, clung to her black-silk apron, and half-hid her pretty face in its +sombre folds. To her mother, Kate was still Kate; and to Kate, mother was +still mother. They went into the house together, little Maude making +a link between them, and Edith holding her mother's hand. But, in the +slight confusion following their arrival, the children all disappeared. + +"They were helping Bradley to make tarts," said Mrs. Atheling, "when +I called them, and they have gone back to their pastry and jam. Let them +alone. Dear me! I remember how proud I was when I first cut pastry +round the patty pans with my thumb," and Mrs. Atheling looked at Kate, +who smiled and nodded at her own similar memory. + +They were soon seated in the large parlour, where all the windows were +open, and a faint little breeze stirring the cherry leaves round them. +Then the Squire began to talk of the Indian news; and Piers told, with +a pitiful pathos, the last tragic act in Cecil's and Annabel's love +and life. And when he had finished the narration, greatly to every +one's amazement, the Squire rose to his feet, and, lifting his eyes +heavenward, said solemnly,-- + +"I give hearty thanks for their death, so noble and so worthy of their +faith and their race. I give hearty thanks because God, knowing their +hearts and their love, committed unto them the dismissing of their own +souls from the wanton cruelty of incarnate devils. I give hearty thanks +for Love triumphant over Death, and for that faith in our immortality +which could command an immediate re-union, 'Come quickly, Cecil!' + +"There is nothing to cry about," he added, as he resumed his seat. +"Death must come to all of us. It came mercifully to these two. It did +not separate them; they went together. Somewhere in God's Universe they +are now, without doubt, doing His Will together. Let us give thanks for +them." + +After a little while, Kate and her mother went away. They had many things +to talk over about which masculine opinions were not necessary, nor +even desirable. And the Squire and Piers had, in a certain way, a similar +confidence. Indeed the Squire told Piers many things he would not have +told any one else,--little wrongs and worries not worth complaining +about to his wife, and perhaps about which he was not very certain of +her sympathy. But with Piers, these crept into his conversation, and were +talked away, or at least considerably lessened, by his son-in-law's +patient interest. + +This morning their conversation had an unconscious tone of gratified +prophecy in it. "Edgar is in a lot of trouble," he said; "but then +he seems to enjoy it. His hands gathered in the mill-yard yesterday +and gave him what they call, 'a bit of their mind.' And their 'mind' +isn't what you and I would call a civil one. Luke Staley, a big dyer +from Oldham, got beyond bearing, and told Edgar, if he didn't do +thus and so, he would be made to. And Edgar can be very provoking. He +didn't tell me what he said; but I have no doubt it was a few of the +strongest words he could pick out. And Luke Staley, not having quite such +a big private stock as Edgar, doubled his fist, to make the shortage +good, almost in Edgar's face; and there would have, maybe, been a few +blows, if Edgar had not taken very strong measures at once,--that is, +Piers, he knocked the fellow down as flat as a pancake. And then all +was so still that, Edgar said, the very leaves rustling seemed noisy; and +he told them in his masterful way, they could have five minutes to get +back to their looms. And if they were not back in five minutes, he +promised them he would dump the fires and lock the gates, and they +could go about their business." + +"And they went to their looms, of course?" + +"To be sure they did. More than that, Luke Staley picked himself up, +and went civilly to Edgar and said, 'That was a good knock-down. I'm +beat this time, Master;' and he offered his hand, blue and black with +dyes, and Edgar took it. My word! how his grandfather Belward would have +enjoyed that scene. I am sorry he is not alive this day. He missed a +deal by dying before Reform. Edgar and he together could keep a thousand +men at their looms--and set the price, too." + +"What did the men want?" + +"A bit of Reform, of course,--more wage and less work. I am not much +put out of the way now, Piers, with the mill. I get a lot of pleasure +out of it, one road or another. Did I ever tell you about the Excursion +Edgar gave them last week?" + +"I have not heard anything about it." + +"Well, you see, Edgar sent all his hands and their wives and sweethearts +to the seaside, and gave them a good dinner; and they had a band of +music to play for them, and a little steamer to give them a sail; and +they came home at midnight, singing and in high good humour. Edgar +thought he had pleased them. Not a bit of it! Two nights after they +held a meeting in that Mechanics Hall Mrs. Atheling built for them. What +for? To talk over the jaunt, and try and find out, '_What Master +Atheling was up to_.' You see they were sure he had a selfish motive of +some kind." + +"I don't believe he had a single selfish motive; he is not a selfish +man," said Piers. + +"I wouldn't swear to his motives, Piers. Between you and me, he wants +to go to Parliament again." + +"He ought to be there; it is his native heath, in a manner." + +"Well, as I said, one way or another, I get a lot of pleasure out of +these men. There is a truce on now between them and Edgar; but, in the +main, it is a lively truce." + +"Edgar seems to enjoy the conditions, also, Father." + +"Well, he ought to have a bit of something that pleases him. He has a +deal of contrary things to fight. There is his eldest son." + +"Augustus?" + +"Yes, Augustus." + +"What has Augustus done?" + +"He will paint pictures and make little figures, and waste his time +about such things as no Atheling in this world ever bothered his head +about,--unless he wanted his likeness painted. The lad does wonders +with his colours and brushes, and I'll allow that. He brought me a +bit of canvas with that corner by the fir woods on it, and you would +have thought you could pull the grass and drink the water. But I did not +think it right to praise him much. I said, 'Very good, Augustus, but +what will you make by this?'" + +"Well?" + +"Well, Piers, the lad talked about his ideals, and said Art was its +own reward, and a lot of rubbishy nonsense. But I never expected much +from a boy called Augustus. That was his mother's whim; no Atheling +was ever called such a name before. He wants to go to Italy, and his +father wants him in the mill. Edgar is finding a few things out now he +didn't believe in when he was twenty years old. The point of view is +everything, Piers. Edgar looks at things as a father looks at them now; +then, he had an idea that fathers knew next to nothing. Augustus is no +worse than he was. Maybe, he will come to looms yet; he is just like +the Curzons, and they were loom lovers. Now Cecil, his second boy, has +far better notions. He likes a rod, and a horse, and a gun; and he +thinks a gamekeeper has the best position in the world." + +"Mrs. Atheling sets us all an example. She is always doing something +for the people." + +"They don't thank her for it. She brings lecturers, and expects them +to go and hear them; and the men would rather be in the cricket field. +She has classes of all kinds for the women and girls; and they don't +want her interfering in their ways and their houses. I'll tell you +what it is, Piers, you cannot write Reform upon flesh and blood as +easy as you can write it upon paper. It will take a few generations +to erase the old marks, and put the new marks on." + +"Still Reform has been a great blessing. You know that, Father." + +"Publicly, I know it, Piers. Privately, I keep my own ideas. But there +is Kate calling us, and I see the carriage is waiting. Thank God, Reform +has nothing to do with homes. Wives and children are always the same. +We don't want them changed, even for the better." + +"You do not mean that?" + +"Yes, I do," said the Squire, positively. "My wife's faults are very +dear to me. Do you think I would like to miss her bits of tempers, and +her unreasonableness? Even when she tries to get the better of me, I like +it. I wouldn't have her perfect, not if I could." + +Then Piers called for his son; but Harold could not be found. The Squire +laughed. "He has run away," he said. "The boy wants a holiday. I'll +take good care of him. He isn't doing nothing; he is learning to catch a +trout. Many a very clever man can't catch a trout." Then Piers asked +his little daughters to come home with him; and Edith hid herself behind +the ample skirts of her grandfather's coat, and Maude lifted her arms +to her grandmother, and snuggled herself into her bosom. + +[Illustration:] + +"Come, Piers, we shall have to go home alone," Kate said. + +"You have Katherine at home," said the Squire. + +And then Kate laughed. "Why, Father," she said, "you speak as if +Katherine was more than we ought to expect. Surely we may have one of +our six children. The Duke thinks he has whole and sole right in Dick +and John; and you have Harold and Edith and Maude." + +"And you have Katherine," reiterated the Squire. + +When they got back to Exham Hall, the little Lady Katherine was in +the drawing-room to meet them. She was the eldest daughter of the +house, a fair girl of fifteen with her father's refined face and rather +melancholy manner. Piers delighted in her; and there was a sympathy +between them that needed no words. She had a singular love for music, +though from what ancestor it had come no one could tell; and it was +her usual custom after dinner to open the door a little between the +drawing-room and music-room, and play her various studies, while her +father and mother mused, and talked, and listened. + +This evening Piers lit his cigar, and Kate and he walked in the garden. +It was warm, and still, and full of moonshine; and the music rose and +fell to their soft reminiscent talk of the many interests that had +filled their lives for the past twenty golden years. And when they were +wearied a little, they came back to the drawing-room and were quiet. For +Katherine was striking the first notes of a little melody that always +charmed them; and as they listened, her girlish voice lifted the song, +and the tender words floated in to them, and sunk into their hearts, and +became a prayer of thanksgiving. + + "We have lived and loved together, + Through many changing years; + We have shared each other's gladness, + And wept each other's tears." + +And while Kate's face illuminated the words, Piers leaned forward, and +took both her hands in his, and whispered with far tenderer, truer love +than in the old days of his first wooing. + +And if any thought of The Other One entered his mind at this hour, it +came with a thanksgiving for a life nobly redeemed by a pure, unselfish +love, and a death which was at once sacrificial and sacramental. + + + Transcriber's Note: + + Spelling and punctuation inaccuracies were silently corrected. + Archaic and variable spelling is preserved. + Author's punctuation style is preserved. + Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). + The Table of Contents lists Chapter Sixteenth starting on Page 341. + The physical page is actually Page 340. It has been left as printed. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of I, Thou, and the Other One, by +Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK I, THOU, AND THE OTHER ONE *** + +***** This file should be named 34628-8.txt or 34628-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/6/2/34628/ + +Produced by Katherine Ward, Darleen Dove and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: I, Thou, and the Other One + A Love Story + +Author: Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr + +Release Date: December 12, 2010 [EBook #34628] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK I, THOU, AND THE OTHER ONE *** + + + + +Produced by Katherine Ward, Darleen Dove and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>I, THOU, AND THE OTHER ONE</h1> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i1'></a><img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='titlepage'> +<p class='fs18 mb20'>I, THOU, AND THE OTHER ONE</p> + +<p class='fs14 mb60'>A Love Story</p> + +<p class='fs10'>BY</p> +<p class='fs14 mb60'>AMELIA E. BARR</p> + +<p class='fs12'>NEW YORK<br /> +DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY<br /> +1898</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c fs10 mb60'><i>Copyright, 1898</i>,<br /> +<span class='sc'>By Dodd, Mead and Company</span>.</p> + +<p class='c fs10'>University Press:<br /> +<span class='sc'>John Wilson and Son, Cambridge</span>, U.S.A.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='toc'> +<table summary='TOC'> +<tr><td colspan='3' class='center fs12'>CONTENTS</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='3' class='center fs12'></td></tr> +<tr><td class='fs08'>CHAPTER</td><td colspan='2' class='tar fs08'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>I</td><td class='tcol2'>The Athelings</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_1'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>II</td><td class='tcol2'>Cecil and Edgar</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_2'>23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>III</td><td class='tcol2'>The Lord of Exham</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_3'>42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>IV</td><td class='tcol2'>The Dawn of Love</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_4'>66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>V</td><td class='tcol2'>Annabel Vyner</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_5'>81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>VI</td><td class='tcol2'>The Beginning of the Great Struggle</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_6'>103</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>VII</td><td class='tcol2'>The Lost Ring</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_7'>121</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>VIII</td><td class='tcol2'>Will she choose Evil or Good?</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_8'>150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>IX</td><td class='tcol2'>A Foolish Virgin</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_9'>169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>X</td><td class='tcol2'>Trouble comes Unsummoned</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_10'>193</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XI</td><td class='tcol2'>Life comes and goes the Old, Old Way</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_11'>213</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XII</td><td class='tcol2'>The Shadow of Sorrow stretched out</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_12'>235</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XIII</td><td class='tcol2'>Not Yet</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_13'>263</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XIV</td><td class='tcol2'>At the Worst</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_14'>288</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XV</td><td class='tcol2'>Lady of Exham Hall at Last</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_15'>315</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XVI</td><td class='tcol2'>After Twenty Golden Years</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_16'>341</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<h1>I, Thou, and the Other One</h1> + +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1'></a>1</span><a id='link_1'></a>CHAPTER FIRST<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE ATHELINGS</span></h2> + +<div class='center'> +<p>“<i>The Land is a Land of hills and valleys, and drinketh<br /> +water of the rain of heaven.</i>”</p> +</div> <!-- centered --> + +<p>Beyond Thirsk and Northallerton, through the +Cleveland Hills to the sea eastward, and by Roseberry +Topping, northward, there is a lovely, lonely +district, very little known even at the present day. +The winds stream through its hills, as cool and +fresh as living water; and whatever beauty there +is of mountain, valley, or moorland, Farndale and +Westerdale can show it; while no part of England +is so rich in those picturesque manor-houses +which have been the homes of the same families +for twenty generations.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of this region are the incarnation +of its health, strength, and beauty,–a tall, +comely race; bold, steadfast, and thrifty, with +very positive opinions on all subjects. There are +no Laodiceans among the men and women of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2'></a>2</span> +North-Riding; they are one thing or another–Episcopalians +or Calvinists; Conservatives or +Radicals; friends or enemies. For friendship +they have a capacity closer than brotherhood. +Once friends, they are friends forever, and can +be relied on in any emergency to “aid, comfort, +and abet,” legally or otherwise, with perhaps a +special zest to give assistance, if it just smacks of +the “otherwise.”</p> + +<p>Of such elements, John Atheling, lord of the +manors of Atheling and Belward, was “kindly +mixed,” a man of towering form and great mental +vigour, blunt of speech, single of purpose, leading, +with great natural dignity, a sincere, unsophisticated +life. He began this story one evening in +the May of 1830; though when he left Atheling +manor-house, he had no idea anything out of the +customary order of events would happen. It is +however just these mysterious conditions of everyday +life that give it such gravity and interest; +for what an hour will bring forth, no man can +say; and when Squire Atheling rode up to the +crowd on the village green, he had no presentiment +that he was going to open a new chapter +in his life.</p> + +<p>He smiled pleasantly when he saw its occasion. +It was a wrestling match; and the combatants +were his own chief shepherd and a stranger. In +a few moments the shepherd was handsomely +“thrown” and nobody knew exactly how it had +been done. But there was hearty applause, led +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3'></a>3</span> +by the Squire, who, nodding at his big ploughman, +cried out, “Now then, Adam Sedbergh, stand +up for Atheling!” Adam flung off his vest and +stepped confidently forward; but though a famous +wrestler among his fellows, he got as speedy and +as fair a fall as the shepherd had received before +him. The cheers were not quite as hearty at +this result, but the Squire said peremptorily,–</p> + +<p>“It is all right. Hold my horse, Jarum. I’ll +have to cap this match myself. And stand back +a bit, men, I want room enough to turn in.” He +was taking off his fine broadcloth coat and vest as +he spoke, and the lad he was to match, stood looking +at him with his hands on his hips, and a smile +on his handsome face. Perhaps the attitude and +the smile nettled the Squire, for he added with +some pride and authority,–</p> + +<p>“I would like you to know that I am Squire +Atheling; and I am not going to have a better +wrestler than myself in Atheling Manor, young +man, not if I can help it.”</p> + +<p>“I know that you are Squire Atheling,” answered +the stranger. “I have been living with +your son Edgar for a year, why wouldn’t I know +you? And if I prove myself the better man, then +you shall stop and listen to me for half-an-hour, +and you may stop a whole hour, if you want to; +and I think you will.”</p> + +<p>“I know nothing about Edgar Atheling, and I +am not standing here either to talk to thee, or to +listen to thee, but to give thee a fair ‘throw’ if I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4'></a>4</span> +can manage it.” He stretched out his left hand +as he spoke, and the young man grasped it with +his right hand. This result was anticipated; +there was a swift twist outward, and a lift upward, +and before anyone realised what would happen, +a pair of shapely young legs were flying over the +Squire’s shoulder. Then there rose from twenty +Yorkshire throats a roar of triumph, and the +Squire put his hands on his hips, and looked +complacently at the stranger flicking the Atheling +dust from his trousers. He took his defeat as +cheerily as his triumph. “It was a clever throw, +Squire,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Try it again, lad.”</p> + +<p>“Nay, I have had enough.”</p> + +<p>“I thought so. Now then, don’t brag of thy +wrestling till thou understandest a bit of ‘In-play.’ +But I’ll warrant thou canst talk, so I’ll +give myself a few minutes to listen to thee. I +should say, I am twice as old as thou art, but +I notice that it is the babes and sucklings that +know everything, these days.”</p> + +<p>As the Squire was speaking, the youth leaped +into an empty cart which someone pushed forward, +and he was ready with his answer,–</p> + +<p>“Squire,” he said, “it will take not babes, but +men like you and these I see around me, for the +wrestling match before us all. What we have to +tackle is the British Government and the two +Houses of Parliament.”</p> + +<p>The Squire laughed scornfully. “They will +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5'></a>5</span> +‘throw’ thee into the strongest jail in England, +my lad; they will sink thee four feet under +ground, if thou art bound for any of that nonsense.”</p> + +<p>“They will have enough to do to take care of +themselves soon.”</p> + +<p>“Thou art saying more than thou knowest. +Wouldst thou have the horrors of 1792 acted over +again, in England? My lad, I was a youngster +then, but I saw the red flag, dripping with blood, +go round the Champ-de-Mars.”</p> + +<p>“None of us want to carry the red flag, Squire. +It is the tri-colour of Liberty we want; and that +flag–in spite of all tyrants can do–will be +carried round the world in glory! When I was +in America–”</p> + +<p>“Wilt thou be quiet about them foreign countries? +We have bother enough at home, without +going to the world’s end for more. And I will +have no such talk in my manor. If thou dost +not stop it, I shall have to make thee.”</p> + +<p>“King William, and all his Lords and Commons, +cannot stop such talk. It is on every +honest tongue, and at every decent table. It is +in the air, Squire, and the winds of heaven carry +it wherever they go.”</p> + +<p>“If thou saidst <i>William Cobbett</i>, thou mightst +happen hit the truth. The winds of heaven have +better work to do. What art thou after anyway?”</p> + +<p>“Such a Parliamentary Reform as will give +every honest man a voice in the Government.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6'></a>6</span>“Just so! Thou wouldst make the door of the +House of Commons big enough for any rubbish +to go through.”</p> + +<p>“The plan has been tried, Squire, in America; +and</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>As the Liberty Lads over the sea,</p> +<p>Bought their freedom–and cheaply–with blood;</p> +<p> So we, boys, we</p> +<p>Will die fighting; or live free,</p> +<p>And down with–”</p> +</div> + +<p>“Stop there!” roared the Squire. “Nonsense +in poetry is a bit worse than any other kind of +nonsense. Speak in plain words, or be done with +it! Do you know what you want?”</p> + +<p>“That we do. We want the big towns, where +working men are the many, and rich men, the +few, to be represented. We want all sham boroughs +thrown out. What do you think of Old +Sarum sending a member to Parliament, when +there isn’t any Old Sarum? There used to be, +in the days of King Edward the First, but there +is now no more left of it than there is of the +Tower of Babel. What do you think of the +Member for Ludgershall being not only the +Member, but the <i>whole constituency</i> of Ludgershall? +What do you think of Gatton having just +seven voters, and sending <i>two</i> members to Parliament?”–then +leaning forward, and with burning +looks drinking the wind of his own passionate +speech–“What do you think of <i>Leeds! Manchester! +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7'></a>7</span> +Birmingham! Sheffield!</i> being <i>without +any representation</i>!”</p> + +<p>“My lad,” cried the Squire, “have not Leeds, +Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, done very +well without representation?”</p> + +<p>“Squire, a child may grow to a man without +love and without care; but he is a robbed and a +wronged child, for all that.”</p> + +<p>“The Government knows better than thee +what to do with big towns full of unruly men and +women.”</p> + +<p>“That is just the question. They are not represented, +because they are made up of the working +population of England. But the working man +has not only his general rights, he has also rights +peculiar to his condition; and it is high time +these rights were attended to. Yet these great +cities, full of woollen and cotton weavers, and of +fine workers in all kinds of metals, have not a man +in Parliament to say a word for them.”</p> + +<p>“What is there to say? What do they want +Parliament to know?” asked the Squire, scornfully.</p> + +<p>“They want Parliament to know that they are +being forced to work twelve hours a day, for thirty +pennies a week; and that they have to pay ten +pennies for every four-pound loaf of bread. And +they expect that when Parliament knows these +two facts, something will be done to help them in +their poverty and misery. They believe that the +people of England will <i>compel</i> Parliament to do +something.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8'></a>8</span>“There are Members in both Houses that know +these things, why do they not speak?–if it was +reasonable to do so.”</p> + +<p>“Squire, they dare not. They have not the +power, even if they had the will. The Peers and +the great Landlords own two-thirds of the House +of Commons. They <i>own</i> their boroughs and +members, just as they <i>own</i> their parks and cattle. +One duke returns eleven members; another +duke returns nine members; and such a city as +Manchester cannot return one! If this state of +things does not need reforming, I do not know +what does.”</p> + +<p>So far his words had rushed rattling on one +another, like the ring of iron on iron in a day of +old-world battle; but at this point, the Squire +managed again to interrupt them. From his +saddle he had something of an advantage, as he +called out in an angry voice,–</p> + +<p>“And pray now, what are <i>you</i> to make by this +business? Is it a bit of brass–or land–or +power that you look forward to?”</p> + +<p>“None of them. I have set my heart on the +goal, and not on the prize. Let the men who +come after me reap; I am glad enough if I may +but plough and sow. The Americans–”</p> + +<p>“<i>Chaff</i>, on the Americans! We are North-Riding +men. We are Englishmen. We are +sound-hearted, upstanding fellows who do our +day’s work, enjoy our meat and drinking, pay our +debts, and die in our beds; and we want none of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9'></a>9</span> +thy Reform talk! It is all scandalous rubbish! +Bouncing, swaggering, new-fashioned trumpery! +We don’t hold with Reformers, nor with any of +their ways! I will listen to thee no longer. Thou +mayst talk to my men, if they will be bothered +with thee. I’m not afraid of anything thou canst +say to them.”</p> + +<p>“I think they will be bothered with me, Squire. +They do not look like fools.”</p> + +<p>“At any rate, there isn’t one Reform fool +among them; but I’ll tell thee something–go to +a looking-glass, and thou mayst shake thy fist in +the face of one of the biggest fools in England,”–and +to the laughter this sally provoked the +Squire galloped away.</p> + +<p>For a short distance, horse and rider kept up +the pace of enthusiasm; but when the village was +left behind, the Squire’s mood fell below its +level; and a sudden depression assailed him. +He had “thrown” his man; he had “threeped” +him down in argument; but he had denied his +son, and he brought a hungry heart from his +victory. The bright face of his banished boy +haunted the evening shadows; he grew sorrowfully +impatient at the memories of the past; and +when he could bear them no longer, he struck +the horse a smart blow, and said angrily,–</p> + +<p>“Dal it all! Sons and daughters indeed! A +bitter, bitter pleasure!”</p> + +<p>At this exclamation, a turn in the road brought +him in sight of two horsemen. “<i>Whew!</i> I am +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10'></a>10</span> +having a night of it!” he muttered. For he recognised +immediately the portly figure of the great +Duke of Richmoor, and he did not doubt that the +slighter man at his side was his son, Lord Exham. +The recognition was mutual; and on the Duke’s +side very satisfactory. He quickened his horse’s +speed, and cried out as he neared the Squire,–</p> + +<p>“Well met, Atheling! You are the very man +I wished to see! Do you remember Exham?”</p> + +<p>There was a little complimentary speaking, and +then the Duke said earnestly: “Squire, if there +is one thing above another that at this time the +landed interest ought to do, it is to stand together. +The country is going to the devil; it is +on the verge of revolution. We must have a +majority in the next Parliament; and we want +you for the borough of Asketh. Exham has +come back from Italy purposely to take Gaythorne. +What do you say?”</p> + +<p>It was the great ambition of the Squire to go to +Parliament, and the little dispute he had just had +with the stranger on the green had whetted this +desire to a point which made the Duke’s question +a very interesting one to him; but he was +too shrewd to make this satisfaction apparent. +“There are younger men, Duke,” he answered +slowly; “and they who go to the next Parliament +will have a trying time of it. I hear queer tales, +too, of Parliament men; and the House keeps +late hours; and late hours never did suit my +constitution.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span>“Come, Atheling, that is poor talk at a crisis +like this. There will be a meeting at the Castle +on Friday–a very important meeting–and I +shall expect you to take the chair. We are in +for such a fight as England has not had since the +days of Oliver Cromwell; and it would not be +like John Atheling to keep out of it.”</p> + +<p>“It wouldn’t. If there is anything worth fighting +for, John Atheling will be thereabouts, I’ll +warrant him.”</p> + +<p>“Then we may depend upon you–Friday, +and two in the afternoon, is the day and the hour. +You will not fail us?”</p> + +<p>“Duke, you may depend upon me.” And so +the men parted; the Squire, in the unexpected +proposal just made him, hardly comprehending +the messages of friendly courtesy which Lord +Exham charged him to deliver to Mrs. and Miss +Atheling.</p> + +<p>“My word! My word!” he exclaimed, as +soon as the Duke and he were far enough back +to back. “Won’t Maude be set up? Won’t little +Kitty plume her wings?” and in this vague, purposeless +sense of wonder and elation he reached +his home. The gates to the large, sweet garden +stood open, but after a moment’s thought, he +passed them, and went round to the farm court at +the back of the house. The stables occupied one +side of this court, and he left his horse there, and +proceeded to the kitchen. The girls were starting +the fires under the coppers for the quarterly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12'></a>12</span> +brewing; they said “the Missis was in the houseplace,” +and the Squire opened the door between +the two rooms, and went into the houseplace. +But the large room was empty, though the lattices +were open, and a sudden great waft of honeysuckle +fragrance saluted him as he passed them. +He noticed it, and he noticed also the full moonlight +on the rows of shining pewter plates and +flagons, though he was not conscious at the +time that these things had made any impression +upon him.</p> + +<p>Two or three steps at the west end of this +room led to a door which opened into Mrs. +Atheling’s parlour; and the Squire passed it impatiently. +The news of the night had become +too much for him; he wanted to tell his wife. +But Mrs. Atheling was not in her parlour. A few +ash logs were burning brightly on the hearth, and +there was a round table spread for supper, and +the candles were lit, and showed him the mistress’s +little basket containing her keys and her +knitting, but neither wife nor daughter were to be +seen.</p> + +<p>“It is always the way,” he muttered. “It is +enough to vex any man. Women are sure to be +out of the road when they are wanted; and in +the road when nobody cares to see them. +Wherever has Maude taken herself?” Then he +opened a door and called “Maude! Maude!” in +no gentle voice.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i2'></a><img src='images/illus-013.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span>In a few minutes the call was answered. Mrs. +Atheling came hurriedly into the room. There +was a pleasant smile on her large, handsome face, +and she carried in her hands a bowl of cream and +a loaf of white bread. “Why, John!” she exclaimed, +“whatever is to do? I was getting a +bit of supper for you. You are late home to-night, +aren’t you?”</p> + +<p>“I should think I was–all of an hour-and-a-half +late.”</p> + +<p>“But you are not ill, John? There is nothing +wrong, I hope?”</p> + +<p>“If things go a bit out of the common way, +women always ask if they have gone wrong. I +should think, they might as well go right.”</p> + +<p>“So they might. Here is some fresh cream, +John. I saw after it myself; and the haver-cake +is toasted, and–”</p> + +<p>“Nay, but I’ll have my drinking to-night, +Maude. I have been flustered more than a little, +I can tell thee that.”</p> + +<p>“Then you shall have your drinking. We +tapped a fresh barrel of old ale an hour ago. It +is that strong and fine as never was; by the time +you get to your third pint, you will be ready to +make faces at Goliath.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Maude, if making faces means making +fight, there will be enough of that in every +county of England soon,–if Dukes and Radical +orators are to be believed.”</p> + +<p>“Have you seen the Duke to-night?”</p> + +<p>“I have. He has offered me a seat in the next +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span> +Parliament. He thinks there is a big fight before +us.”</p> + +<p>“Parliament! And the Duke of Richmoor to +seat you! Why, John, I am astonished!”</p> + +<p>“I felt like I was dreaming. Now then, where +is Kate? I want to tell the little maid about it. +It will be a grand thing for Kate. She will have +some chances in London, and I’ll warrant she is +Yorkshire enough to take the best of them.”</p> + +<p>“Kate was at Dashwood’s all the afternoon; and +they were riding races; and she came home tired +to death. I tucked her up in her bed an hour ago.”</p> + +<p>“I am a bit disappointed; but things are +mostly ordered that way. There is something +else to tell you, Maude. I saw a stranger on the +green throw Bill Verity and Adam Sedbergh; +and I could not stand such nonsense as that, so +I off with my coat and settled him.”</p> + +<p>“You promised me that you would not ‘stand +up’ any more, John. Some of them youngsters +will give you a ‘throw’ that you won’t get easy +over. And you out of practice too.”</p> + +<p>“Out of practice! Nothing of the sort. What +do you think I do with myself on wet afternoons? +What could I do with myself, but go to the granary +and have an hour or two’s play with Verity +and Sedbergh, or any other of the lads that care +to feel my grip? I have something else to tell +you, Maude. I had a talk with this strange lad. +He began some Reform nonsense; and I settled +him very cleverly.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15'></a>15</span>“Poor lad!” She spoke sadly and absently, +and it nettled the Squire. “I know what you +are thinking, Mistress,” he said; “but the time +has come when we are bound to stick to our +own side.”</p> + +<p>“The poor are suffering terribly, John. They +are starved and driven to the last pinch. There +never was anything like it before.”</p> + +<p>“Women are a soft lot; it would not do to +give up to their notions.”</p> + +<p>“If you mean that women have soft hearts, it +is a good thing for men that women are that +way made.”</p> + +<p>“I have not done with my wonders yet. Who +do you think was with the Duke?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, and I can’t say that I care.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but you do. It was Lord Exham. He +said this and that about you, but I did not take +much notice of his fine words.” Then he rose +and pushed his chair aside, and as he left the +room added,–</p> + +<p>“That stranger lad I had the tussle with to-night +says he knows your son Edgar–that +they have lived and worked together for a year,–a +very unlikely thing.”</p> + +<p>“Stop a minute, Squire. Are you not ashamed +of yourself to keep this news for a tag-end? +Why it is the best thing I have heard to-night; +and I’ll be bound you let it go past you like +a waft of wind. What did you ask the stranger +about <i>my</i> son?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span>“Nothing. Not a word.”</p> + +<p>“It was like your stubborn heart. <i>My son</i> +indeed! If ever you had a son, it is Edgar. +You were just like him when I married you–not +as handsome–but very near; and you are +as like as two garden peas in your pride, and +self-will, and foolish anger. Don’t talk to me of +Dukes, and Lords, and Parliaments, and wrestling +matches. I want to hear about <i>my</i> son. If you +have nothing to say about Edgar, I care little +for your other news.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Maude! Whatever is the matter with +you? I have lived with you thirty years, and it +seems that I have never known you yet.”</p> + +<p>“But I know you, John Atheling. And I am +ashamed of myself for having made nothing +better out of you in thirty years. I thought I +had you better shaped than you appear to be.”</p> + +<p>“I shall need nothing but my shroud, when +thou, or any other mortal, shapest me.”</p> + +<p>“Fiddlesticks! Go away with your pride! I +have shaped everything for you,–your house, +and your eating; your clothes, and your religion; +and if I had ever thought you would +have fallen into Duke Richmoor’s hands, I would +have shaped your politics before this time of +day.”</p> + +<p>“Now, Maude, thou canst easily go further than +thou canst come back, if thou dost not take care. +Thou must remember that I am thy lord and +husband.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span>“To be sure, thou hast that name. But thou +hast always found it best to do as thy lady and +mistress told thee to do; and if ever thou didst +take thy own way, sorry enough thou hast been +for it. Talk of clay in the hands of the potter! +Clay is free and independent to what a man is in +the hands of his wife. Now, John, go to bed. I +won’t speak to thee again till I find out something +about <i>my</i> son Edgar.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, Madame.”</p> + +<p>“I have been thy guardian angel for thirty +years”–and Mrs. Atheling put her head in her +hands, and began to cry a little. The Squire +could not bear that argument; he turned backward +a few steps, and said in a more conciliatory +voice,–</p> + +<p>“Come now, Maude. Thou hast been my +master for thirty years; for that is what thou +meanest by ‘guardian angel.’ But there is nothing +worth crying about. I thought I had brought +news that would set thee up a bit; but women +are never satisfied. What dost thou want +more?”</p> + +<p>“I want thee to go in the morning and find +out all about Edgar. I want thee to bring his +friend up here. I would like to question him +myself.”</p> + +<p>“I will not do it.”</p> + +<p>“Then thou oughtest to be ashamed of thyself +for as cruel, and stubborn, and ill-conditioned a +father as I know of. John, dear John, I am very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> +unhappy about the lad. He went away without +a rag of his best clothes. There’s the twelve +fine linen shirts Kitty made him, backstitched +and everything, lying in his drawers yet, and +his top-coat hanging on the peg in his room, +and his hat and cane so natural like; and he +never was a lad to take care of his health; and +so–”</p> + +<p>“Now, Maude, I have humbled a bit to thee +many a time; and I don’t mind it at all; for +thou art only a woman–and a woman and a +wife can blackguard a man as no other body +has either the right or the power to do–but I +will not humble to Edgar Atheling. No, I won’t! +He is about as bad a prodigal son as any father +could have.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I never! Putting thy own son down +with harlots and swine, and such like!”</p> + +<p>“I do nothing of the sort, Maude. There’s +all kinds of prodigals. Has not Edgar left his +home and gone away with Radicals and Reformers, +and poor, discontented beggars of all +makes and kinds? Happen, I could have forgiven +him easier if it had been a bit of pleasuring,–wine +and a bonny lass, or a race-horse or +two. But mechanics’ meetings, and pandering to +ranting Radicals–I call it scandalous!”</p> + +<p>“Edgar has a good heart.”</p> + +<p>“A good heart! A cat and a fiddle! And +that friend of his thou wantest me to run after, he +is nothing but a bouncing, swaggering puppy! +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19'></a>19</span> +Body of me, Maude! I will not have this subject +named again. If thou thinkest I will ever humble +to Edgar Atheling, thou art off thy horse; for I +will not–<i>never</i>!”</p> + +<p>“Well, John, as none of thy family were ever +out of their senses before, I do hope thou wilt +come round; I do indeed!”</p> + +<p>“Make thyself easy on that score. Lord! +What did the Almighty make women of? It +confounds me.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure it does. Didst thou expect the +Almighty to tell thee? He has so ordered things +that men get wed, and then try and find the +secret out. Thou hadst better go to bed, John +Atheling. I see plainly there is neither sense +nor reason in thee to-night. I fancy thou art a +bit set up with the thought of being sent to +Parliament by Duke Richmoor. I wouldn’t if +I was thee, for thou wilt have to do just what +he tells thee to do.”</p> + +<p>“What an aggravating woman thou art!” and +with the words he passed through the door, +clashing it after him in a way that made Mistress +Atheling smile and nod her handsome head +understandingly. She stood waiting until she +heard a door clash sympathetically up-stairs, and +then she said softly,–</p> + +<p>“He did not manage to ‘throw’ or ‘threep’ +me; if he was cock of the walk down on the +green–what fools men are!–I see clear +through him–stubborn though–takes after +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span> +his mother–and there never was a woman more +stubborn than Dame Joan Atheling.”</p> + +<p>During this soliloquy she was locking up the +cupboards in the parlour and houseplace. Then +she opened the kitchen door and sharply gave +the two women watching the malt mash her last +orders; after which she took off her slippers at +the foot of the stairs, and went very quietly up +them. She had no light, but without any hesitation +she turned towards a certain corridor, and +gently pushed open a door. It let her into a +large, low room; and the moonlight showed in +the centre of it a high canopied bedstead, piled +with snowy pillows and drapery, and among +them, lying with closed eyes, her daughter +Kate.</p> + +<p>“Kate! Kitty darling! Are you awake?” she +whispered.</p> + +<p>“Mother! Yes, dear Mother, I am wide +awake.”</p> + +<p>“Your father has been in one of his tantrums +again–fretting and fuming like everything.”</p> + +<p>“Poor father! What angered him?”</p> + +<p>“Well, child, I angered him. Why wouldn’t +I? He saw a man in the village who has been +living with Edgar for a year, and he never asked +him whether your poor brother was alive or +dead. What do you think of that?”</p> + +<p>“It was too bad. Never mind, Mother. I +will go to the village in the morning, and I will +find the man, and hear all about Edgar. If +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> +there is any chance, and you want to see him, I +will bring him here.”</p> + +<p>“I would like him to come here, Kitty; for +you know he might take Edgar his best clothes. +The poor lad must be in rags by this time.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t fret, Mother. I’ll manage it.”</p> + +<p>“I knew you would. Your father is going to +Parliament, Kate. The Duke offers to seat him, +and you will get up to London. What do you +think of that?”</p> + +<p>“I am very glad to hear it. Father ought to be +in Parliament. He is such a straight-forward man.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t know whether that kind of man +is wanted there, Kate; but he will do right, and +speak plain, I have no doubt. I thought I would +tell you at once. It is something to look forward +to. Now go to sleep and dream of what +may come out of it,–for one thing, you shall +have plenty of fine new dresses–good-night, +my dear child.”</p> + +<p>“Good-night, Mother. You may go sweetly +to sleep, for I will find out all about Edgar. +You shall be at rest before dinner-time to-morrow.” +Then the mother stooped and tucked +in the bedclothing, not because it needed it, +but because it was a natural and instinctive way +to express her care and tenderness. Very softly +she stepped to the door, but ere she reached it, +turned back to the bed, and laying her hand +upon Kitty’s head whispered, “Lord Exham is +home again. He is coming here to-morrow.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span>And Kate neither spoke nor moved; but +when she knew that she was quite alone, a sweet +smile gathered round her lips, and with a gentle +sigh she went quickly away to the Land of +Happy Dreams.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span><a id='link_2'></a>CHAPTER SECOND<br /><span class='h2fs'>CECIL AND EDGAR</span></h2> + +<p>Early the next morning the Squire was in +the parlour standing at the open lattices, and +whistling to a robin on a branch of the cherry-tree +above them. The robin sang, and the +Squire whistled, scattering crumbs as he did +so, and it was this kindly picture which met +Kate’s eyes as she opened the door of the room. +To watch and to listen was natural; and she +stood on the threshold doing so until the Squire +came to the last bars of his melody. Then in a +gay voice she took it up, and sang to his whistling:</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“<i>York! York! for my money!</i>”<a id='FNanchor_1'></a><a href='#Footnote_1' class='fnanchor'><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> +</div> + +<hr class='footnote_sep' /> + +<div class='footnote'><a id='Footnote_1'></a><a href='#FNanchor_1'><span class='label'>[1]</span></a> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;'>“York! York for my monie<br /> +Of all the places I ever did see<br /> +This is the place for good companie<br /> +    Except the city of London.”</p> +</div> <!-- footnote --> + +<p>“Hello, Kate!” he cried in his delight as he +turned to her; and as joyously as the birds sing +“Spring!” she called, “Good-morning, Father!”</p> + +<p>“God bless thee, Kate!” and for a moment +he let his eyes rest on the vision of her girlish +beauty. For there was none like Kate Atheling +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24'></a>24</span> +in all the North-Riding; from her sandalled feet +to her shining hair, she was the fairest, sweetest +maid that ever Yorkshire bred,–an adorable +creature of exquisite form and superb colouring; +merry as a bird, with a fine spirit and a most +affectionate heart. As he gazed at her she came +close to him, put her fingers on his big shoulders, +and stood on tiptoes to give him his morning +greeting. He lifted her bodily and kissed her +several times; and she said with a laugh,–</p> + +<p>“One kiss for my duty, and one for my pleasure, +and all the rest are stolen. Put me down, +Father; and what will you do for me to-day?”</p> + +<p>“What wouldst thou like me to do?”</p> + +<p>“May I ride with you?”</p> + +<p>“Nay; I can’t take thee with me to-day. I +am going to Squire Ayton’s, and from there to +Rudby’s, and very like as far as Ormesby and +Pickering.”</p> + +<p>“Then you will not be home to dinner?”</p> + +<p>“Not I. I shall get my dinner somewhere.”</p> + +<p>“Can I come and meet you?”</p> + +<p>“Thou hadst better not.”</p> + +<p>At this moment Mrs. Atheling entered, and +Kate, turning to her, said, “Mother, I am not to +ride with father to-day. He is going a visiting,–going +to get his dinner ‘somewhere,’ and he +thinks I had better not come to meet him.”</p> + +<p>“Father is right. Father knows he is not to +trust to when he goes ‘somewhere’ for his +dinner. For he will call for Ayton, and they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25'></a>25</span> +two will get Rudby, and then it will be Ormesby, +and so by dinner-time they may draw rein at +Pickering, and Pickering will start ‘Corn Laws’ +and ‘Protection for the Farmers,’ and midnight +will be talked away. Is not that about right, +John?” but she asked the question with a +smile that proved Maude Atheling was once +more the wise and loving “guardian angel” of +her husband.</p> + +<p>“Thou knowest all about it, Maude.”</p> + +<p>“I know enough, any way, to advise thee to +stand by thy own heart, and to say and do what +it counsels thee. Pickering is made after the +meanest model of a Yorkshireman; and when +a Yorkshireman turns out to be a failure, he is +a ruin, and no mistake.”</p> + +<p>“What by that? I can’t quarrel with Pickering. +You may kick up a dust with your neighbour, but, +sooner or later, it will settle on your own door-stone. +It is years and years since I learned that +lesson. And as for Pickering’s ideas, many a +good squire holds the same.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t doubt it. Whatever the Ass says, the +asses believe; thou wilt find that out when thou +goest to Parliament.”</p> + +<p>“Are you really going to Parliament, Father?”</p> + +<p>“Wouldst thou like me to go, Kate?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, if I may go to London with you.”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t likely I would go without thee. Did +thy mother tell thee, Lord Exham has come back +from Italy to sit for Gaythorne.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26'></a>26</span>“A long way to come for so little,” she answered. +“Why, Father! there are only a few +hovels in Gaythorne, and all the men worth anything +have gone to Leeds to comb wool. Poor +fellows!”</p> + +<p>“Why dost thou say ‘poor fellows’?”</p> + +<p>“Because, when a man has been brought up +to do his day’s work in fields and barns, among +grass, and wheat, and cattle, it is a big change to +sit twelve hours a day in ‘the Devil's Hole,’ for +Martha Coates told me that is what the wool-combing +room is called.”</p> + +<p>“There is no sense in such a name.”</p> + +<p>“It is a very good name, I think, for rooms so +hot and crowded, and so sickening with the smells +of soap, and wool, and oil, and steam. Martha +says her lads have turned Radicals and Methodists, +and she doesn’t wonder. Neither do I.”</p> + +<p>“Ay; it is as natural as can be. To do his +duty by the land used to be religion enough for +any Yorkshire lad; but when they go to big +towns, they get into bad company; and there +couldn’t be worse company than those weaving +chaps of all kinds. No wonder the Government +doesn’t want to hear from the big towns; they +are full of a ranting crowd of Non-contents.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Father, if I was in their place, and the +question of Content, or Non-content, was put to +me, I should very quickly say, ‘Non-content.’”</p> + +<p>“Nobody is going to put the question to thee. +Thy mother has not managed to bring up a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27'></a>27</span> +daughter any better than herself, I see that. +Kate, my little maid, Lord Exham will be here +to-day; see that thou art civil enough to him; +it may make a lot of difference both to thee +and me.”</p> + +<p>“John Atheling!” cried his wife, “what a blunderer +thou art! Why can’t thou let women and +their ways alone?”</p> + +<p>When they rose from the breakfast-table, the +Squire called for his horse, and his favourite dogs, +and bustled about until he had Mrs. Atheling and +half-a-dozen men and women waiting upon him. +But there was much good temper in all his +authoritative brusqueness, and he went away in a +little flurry of éclat, his wife and daughter, his men +and maid-servants, all watching him down the avenue +with a loving and proud allegiance. He was +so physically the expression of his place and +surroundings that not a soul in Atheling ever +doubted that the Squire was in the exact place +to which God Almighty had called him.</p> + +<p>On this morning he was dressed in a riding +suit of dark blue broadcloth trimmed with gilt +buttons; his vest was white, his cravat white, and +his hat of black beaver. As he galloped away, +he swept it from his brow to his stirrups in an +adieu to his wife and daughter; but the men and +women-servants took their share in the courtesy, +and it was easy to feel the cheer of admiration, +only expressed by their broad smiles and sympathetic +glances. As soon as “the Master” was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28'></a>28</span> +out of sight, they turned away, each to his or her +daily task; and Kate looked at her mother inquiringly. +There was an instant understanding, +and very few words were needed.</p> + +<p>“Thou hadst better lose no time. He might get +away early.”</p> + +<p>“He will not leave until he sees us, Mother. +That is what he came to Atheling for,–I’ll warrant +it,–and if I don’t go to the village, he will +come here; I know he will.”</p> + +<p>“Kitty, I can’t, I can’t trust to that–and you +promised.”</p> + +<p>“I am going to keep my promise, Mother. +Have my mare at the door in ten minutes, and I +will be ready.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Atheling had attended to this necessity before +breakfast, and the mare was immediately waiting. +She was a creature worthy of the Beauty +she had to carry,–dark chestnut in colour, +with wide haunches and deep oblique shoulders. +Her mane was fine, her ears tremulous, her nostrils +thin as parchment, her eyes human in intelligence, +her skin like tissue-paper, showing the +warm blood pressing against it, and the veins +standing clearly out. Waiting fretted her, and +she pawed the garden gravel impatiently with her +round, dark, shining hoofs until Kate appeared. +Then she uttered a low whinny of pleasure, and +bent her head for the girl to lay her face against +it.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i3'></a><img src='images/illus-029.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29'></a>29</span>A light leap from the groom’s hand put Kate +in her seat, and a lovelier woman never gathered +reins in hand. In those days also, the riding +dress of women did not disfigure them; it was a +garb that gave to Kate Atheling’s loveliness +grace and dignity, an air of discreet freedom, +and of sweet supremacy,–a close-fitting habit of +fine cloth, falling far below her feet in graceful +folds, and a low beaver hat, crowned with drooping +plumes, shadowing her smiling face. One +word to the mare was sufficient; she needed no +whip, and Kate would not have insulted her +friend and companion by carrying one.</p> + +<p>For a little while they went swiftly, then Kate +bent and patted the mare’s neck, and she instantly +obeyed the signal for a slower pace. For +Kate had seen before them a young man sitting +on a stile, and teaching two dogs to leap over the +whip which he held in his hand. She felt sure +this was the person she had to interview; yet +she passed him without a look, and went forward +towards the village. After riding half-a-mile she +took herself to task for her cowardice, and turned +back again. The stranger was still sitting on the +stile, and as she approached him she heard a +hearty laugh, evoked doubtless by some antic or +mistake of the dogs he was playing with. She +now walked her mare toward him, and the young +man instantly rose, uncovered his head, and, pushing +the dogs away, bowed–not ungracefully–to +her. Yet he did not immediately speak, and +Kate felt that she must open the conversation.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30'></a>30</span>“Do you–do you want to find any place?” +she asked. “I think you are a stranger–and I +am at home here.”</p> + +<p>He smiled brightly and answered, “Thank +you. I want to find Atheling Manor-house. I +have a message for Mrs. and Miss Atheling.”</p> + +<p>“I am Miss Atheling; and I am now returning +to the house. I suppose that you are the Wrestler +and Orator of last night. My father told us +about the contest. Mother wishes to talk with +you–we have heard that you know my brother +Edgar–we are very unhappy about Edgar. Do +you know anything of him? Will you come and +see mother–<i>now</i>–she is very anxious?”</p> + +<p>These questions and remarks fell stumblingly +from her lips, one after the other; she was excited +and trembling at her own temerity, and yet all the +time conscious she was Squire Atheling’s daughter +and in her father’s Manor, having a kind of +right to assume a little authority and ask questions. +The stranger listened gravely till Kate +ceased speaking, then he said,–</p> + +<p>“My name is Cecil North. I know Edgar +Atheling very well. I am ready to do now whatever +you wish.”</p> + +<p>“Then, Mr. North, I wish you would come +with me. It is but a short walk to the house; +Candace will take little steps, and I will show you +the way.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you.”</p> + +<p>He said only these two words, but they broke +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span> +up his face as if there was music in them; for he +smiled with his lips and his eyes at the same +time. Kate glanced down at him as he walked +by her side. She saw that he was tall, finely +formed, and had a handsome face; that he was +well dressed, and had an air of distinction; and +yet she divined in some occult way that this +animal young beauty was only the husk of his +being. After a few moments’ silence, he began +that commonplace chat about horses which in +Yorkshire takes the place that weather does in +other localities. He praised the beauty and +docility of Candace, and Kate hoped she was +walking slowly enough; and then Cecil North +admired her feet and her step, and asked if she +ever stumbled or tripped. This question brought +forth an eager denial of any such fault, and an +opinion that the rider was to blame when such +an accident happened.</p> + +<p>“In a general way, you are right, Miss Atheling,” +answered North. “If the rider sits just +and upright, then any sudden jerk forward +throws the shoulders backward; and in that case, +if a horse thinks proper to fall, <i>he</i> will be the sufferer. +He may cut his forehead, or hurt his nose, +or bark his knees, but he will be a buffer to his +rider.”</p> + +<p>“Candace has never tripped with me. I have +had her four years. I will never part with her.”</p> + +<p>“That is right. Don’t keep a horse you dislike, +and don’t part with one that suits you.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32'></a>32</span>“Do you love horses?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. A few years ago I was all for horses. +I could sit anything. I could jump everything, +right and left. I had a horse then that was made +to measure, and foaled to order. No one borrowed +him twice. He had a way of coming +home without a rider. But I have something +better than horses to care for now; and all I need +is a good roadster.”</p> + +<p>“My father likes an Irish cob for that +purpose.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing better. I have one in the village +that beats all. He can trot fourteen miles an +hour, and take a six-foot wall at the end of it.”</p> + +<p>“Do you ride much?”</p> + +<p>“I ride all over England.”</p> + +<p>She looked curiously at him, but asked no +questions; and North continued the conversation +by pointing out to her the several points which +made Candace so valuable. “In the first place,” +he said, “her colour is good,–that dark chestnut +shaded with black usually denotes speed. She +has all the signs of a thoroughbred; do you +know them?”</p> + +<p>“No; but I should like to.”</p> + +<p>“They are three things long,–long ears, long +neck, and long forelegs. Three things short,–short +dock, short back, and short hindlegs. Three +things broad,–broad forehead, broad chest, and +broad croup. Three things clean,–clean skin, +clean eyes, and clean hoofs. Then the nostrils +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span> +must be quite black. If there had been any +white in the nostrils of Candace, I would have +ranked her only ‘middling.’”</p> + +<p>Kate laughed pleasantly, and said over several +times the long, short, broad, and clean points +that went to the making of a thoroughbred; and, +by the time the lesson was learned, they were +at the door of the Manor-house. Mrs. Atheling +stood just within it, and when Kate said,–</p> + +<p>“Mother, this is Edgar’s friend, Mr. Cecil +North,” she gave him her hand and answered:</p> + +<p>“Come in! Come in! Indeed I am fain and +glad to see you!” and all the way through the +great hall, and into her parlour, she was beaming +and uttering welcomes. “First of all, you must +have a bit of eating and drinking,” she said, “and +then you will tell me about my boy.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you. I will take a glass of ale, if it +will please you.”</p> + +<p>“It will please me beyond everything. You +shall have it from the Squire’s special tap: +ale smooth as oil, sweet as milk, clear as amber, +fourteen years old next twenty-ninth of March. +And so you know my son Edgar?”</p> + +<p>“I know him, and I love him with all my heart. +He is as good as gold, and as true as steel.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure, he is. I’m his mother, and I +ought to know him; and that is what I say. +How did you come together?”</p> + +<p>“We met first at Cambridge; but we were not +in the same college or set, so that I only knew +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span> +him slightly there. Fortune had appointed a +nobler introduction for us. I was in Glasgow +nearly a year ago, and I wandered down to the +Green, and was soon aware that the crowd was +streaming to one point. Edgar was talking to +this crowd. Have you ever heard him talk to a +crowd?”</p> + +<p>The mother shook her head, and Kate said +softly: “We have never heard him.” She had +taken off her hat, and her face was full of interest +and happy expectation.</p> + +<p>“Well,” continued North, “he was standing on +a platform of rough boards that had been hastily +put together, and I remembered instantly his +tall, strong, graceful figure, and his bright, purposeful +face. He was tanned to the temples, his +cheeks were flushed, the wind was in his hair, +the sunlight in his eyes; and, with fiery precipitance +of assailing words, he was explaining to +men mad with hunger and injustice the source +of all their woes and the remedy to be applied. +I became a man as I listened to him. That hour +I put self behind me and vowed my life, and all +I have, to the cause of Reform; because he +showed me plainly that Parliamentary Reform +included the righting of every social wrong and +cruelty.”</p> + +<p>“Do you really think so?” asked Kate.</p> + +<p>“Indeed, I am sure of it. A Parliament that +represented the great middle and working classes +of England would quickly do away with both +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span> +black and white slavery,–would repeal those infamous +Corn Laws which have starved the working-man +to make rich the farmer; would open our +ports freely to the trade of all the world; would +educate the poor; give much shorter hours of +labour, and wages that a man could live on. Can +I ever forget that hour? Never! I was born +again in it!”</p> + +<p>“That was the kind of talk that he angered +his father with,” said Mrs. Atheling, between +tears and smiles. “You see it was all against +the land and the land-owners; and Edgar would +not be quiet, no matter what I said to him.”</p> + +<p>“He <i>could not</i> be quiet. He had <i>no right</i> to +be quiet. Why! he sent every man and woman +home that night with hope in their hearts and a +purpose in their wretched lives. Oh, if you +could have seen those sad, cold faces light and +brighten as they listened to him.”</p> + +<p>“Was there no one there that didn’t think as +he did?”</p> + +<p>“I heard only one dissenting voice. It came +from a Minister. He called out, ‘Lads and lasses, +take no heed of what this fellow says to you. He +is nothing but a Dreamer.’ Instantly Edgar took +up the word. ‘A Dreamer!’ he cried joyfully. ‘So +be it! What says the old Hebrew prophet? +Look to your Bible, sir. Let him that hath a +dream tell it. Dreamers have been the creators, +the leaders, the saviours of the world. And we +will go on dreaming until our dream comes true!’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36'></a>36</span> +The crowd answered him with a sob and a shout–and, +oh, I wish you had been there!”</p> + +<p>Kate uttered involuntarily a low, sympathetic +cry that she could not control, and Mrs. Atheling +wept and smiled; and when North added, in a +lower voice full of feeling, “There is no one like +Edgar, and I love him as Jonathan loved David!” +she went straight to the speaker, took both his +hands in hers, and kissed him.</p> + +<p>“Thou art the same as a son to me,” she said, +“and thou mayst count on my love as long as +ever thou livest.” And in this cry from her heart +she forgot her company pronoun, and fell naturally +into the familiar and affectionate “thou.”</p> + +<p>Fortunately at this point of intense emotion a +servant entered with a flagon of the famous ale, +and some bread and cheese; and the little interruption +enabled all to bring themselves to a normal +state of feeling. Then the mother thought +of Edgar’s clothing, and asked North if he could +take it to him. North smiled. “He is a little of +a dandy already,” he answered. “I saw him last +week at Lady Durham’s, and he was the best +dressed man in her saloon.”</p> + +<p>“Now then!” said Mrs. Atheling, “thou art +joking a bit. Whatever would Edgar be doing at +Lady Durham’s?”</p> + +<p>“He had every right there, as he is one of +Lord Durham’s confidential secretaries.”</p> + +<p>“Art thou telling me some romance?”</p> + +<p>“I am telling you the simple truth.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span>“Then thou must tell me how such a thing +came about.”</p> + +<p>“Very naturally. I told Lord Grey and his +son-in-law, Lord Durham, about Edgar–and I +persuaded Edgar to come and speak to the spur +and saddle-makers at Ripon Cross; and the two +lords heard him with delight, and took him, there +and then, to Studley Royal, where they were staying; +and it was in those glorious gardens, and +among the ruins of Fountains Abbey, they planned +together the Reform Campaign for the next +Parliament.”</p> + +<p>“The Squire thinks little of Lord Grey,” said +Mrs. Atheling.</p> + +<p>“That is not to be wondered at,” answered +North. “Lord Grey is the head and heart of +Reform. When he was Mr. Charles Grey, and the +pupil of Fox, he presented to Parliament the +famous Prayer, from the Society of Friends, for Reform. +That was thirty-seven years ago, but he has +never since lost sight of his object. By the side of +such leaders as Burke, and Fox, and Sheridan, his +lofty eloquence has charmed the House until +the morning sun shone on its ancient tapestries. +He and his son-in-law, Lord Durham, have the +confidence of every honest man in England. And +he is brave as he is true. More than once he +has had the courage to tell the King to his face +what it was his duty to do.”</p> + +<p>“And what of Lord Durham?” asked Kate.</p> + +<p>“He is a masterful man,–a bolder Radical than +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span> +most Radicals. All over the country he is known +as Radical Jack. He has a strong, resolute will, +but during the last half-year he has leaned in all +executive matters upon ‘Mr. Atheling.’ Indeed, +there was enthusiastic talk last week at Lady +Durham’s of sending ‘Mr. Atheling’ to the next +Parliament.”</p> + +<p>“My word! But that would never do!” exclaimed +Mr. Atheling’s mother. “His father is +going there for the landed interest; and if Edgar +goes for the people, there will be trouble between +them. They will get to talking back at each other, +and the Squire will pontify and lay down the law, +even if the King and the Law-makers are all +present. He will indeed!”</p> + +<p>“It would be an argument worth hearing, for +Edgar would neither lose his temper nor his +cause. Oh, I tell you there will be great doings +in London next winter! The Duke of Wellington +and Mr. Peel will have to go out; and Earl +Grey will surely form a new Government.”</p> + +<p>“The Squire says Earl Grey and Reform will +bring us into civil war.”</p> + +<p>“On the contrary, only Reform can prevent +civil war. Hitherto, the question has been, ‘What +will the Lords do?’ Now it is, ‘What must be +done with the Lords?’ For once, all England is +in dead earnest; and the cry everywhere is, ‘The +Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing but The Bill!’ +And if we win, as win we must, we shall remember +how Edgar Atheling has championed the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span> +cause. George the Fourth is on his death-bed,” +he added in a lower voice. “He will leave his +kingdom in a worse plight than any king before +him. I, who have been through the land, may +declare so much.”</p> + +<p>“The poor are very poor indeed,” said Mrs. +Atheling. “Kate and I do what we can, but the +most is little.”</p> + +<p>“The whole story of the poor is–slow starvation. +The best silk weavers in England are not +able to make more than eight or nine shillings a +week. Thousands of men in the large towns are +working for two-pence half-penny a day; and +thousands have no work at all.”</p> + +<p>“What do they do?” whispered Kate.</p> + +<p>“They die. But I did not come here to talk +on these subjects–only when the heart is full, +the mouth must speak. I have brought a letter +and a remembrance from Edgar,” and he took +from his pocket a letter and two gold rings, and +gave the letter and one ring to Mrs. Atheling, +and the other ring to Kate. “He bid me tell +you,” said North, “that some day he will set the +gold round with diamonds; but now every penny +goes for Reform.”</p> + +<p>“And you tell Edgar, sir, that his mother is +prouder of the gold thread than of diamonds. +Tell him, she holds her Reform ring next to +her wedding ring,”–and with the words Mrs. +Atheling drew off her “guard” of rubies, and put +the slender thread of gold her son had sent her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span> +next her wedding ring. At the same moment +Kate slipped upon her “heart finger” the golden +token. Her face shone, her voice was like music: +“Tell Edgar, Mr. North,” she said, “that my +love for him is like this ring: I do not know its +beginning; but I do know it can have no end.”</p> + +<p>Then North rose to go, and would not be detained; +and the women walked with him to the +very gates, and there they said “good-bye.” And +all the way through the garden Mrs. Atheling +was sending tender messages to her boy, though +at the last she urged North to warn him against +saying anything “beyond bearing” to his father, +if they should meet on the battle-ground of the +House of Commons. “It is so easy to quarrel +on politics,” she said with all the pathos of reminiscent +disputes.</p> + +<p>“It has always been an easy quarrel, I think,” +answered North. “Don’t you remember when +Joseph wanted to pick a quarrel with his brethren, +he pretended to think they were a special +commission sent to Egypt to spy out the nakedness +of the land?”</p> + +<p>“To be sure! And that is a long time ago. +Good-bye! and God bless thee! I shall never +forget thy visit!”</p> + +<p>“And we wish ‘The Cause’ success!” added +Kate.</p> + +<p>“Thank you. Success will come. They who +<i>care</i> and <i>dare</i> can do anything.” With these +words he passed through the gates, and Mrs. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span> +Atheling and Kate went slowly back to the +house, both of them turning the new ring on +their fingers. It was dinner-time, but little dinner +was eaten. Edgar’s letter was to read; Mr. +North to speculate about; and if either of the +women remembered Lord Exham’s expected call, +no remark was made about it.</p> + +<p>Yet Kate was neither forgetful of the visit, nor +indifferent to it. A sweet trouble of heart, half-fear +and half-hope, flushed her cheeks and sent a +tender light into her star-like eyes. In the very +depths of her being there existed a feeling she +did not understand, and did not investigate. +Was it Memory? Was it Hope? Was it Love? +She asked none of these questions. But she +dressed like a girl in a dream; and just as she +was sliding the silver buckle on her belt, a sudden +trick of memory brought back to her the +rhyme of her childhood. And though she +blushed to the remembrance, and would not for +anything repeat the words, her heart sang softly +to itself,–</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“It may so happen, it may so fall,</p> +<p>That I shall be Lady of Exham Hall.”</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42'></a>42</span><a id='link_3'></a>CHAPTER THIRD<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE LORD OF EXHAM</span></h2> + +<p>On the very edge of the deep, tumbling becks +which feed the Esk stands Exham Hall. It is a +stately, irregular building of gray stone; and +when the sunshine is on its many windows, and +the flag of Richmoor flying from its central +tower, it looks gaily down into the hearts of +many valleys, where</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“The oak, and the ash, and the bonny ivy-tree,</p> +<p>Flourish at home in the North Countree.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Otherwise, it has, at a distance, a stern and forbidding +aspect. For it is in a great solitude, and the +babble of the beck, and the cawing of the rooks, +are the only sounds that usually break the +silence. The north part was built in <span class='sc'>A. D.</span> 1320; +and the most modern part in the reign of James +the First; and yet so well has it stood the wear +and tear of elemental and human life in this +secluded Yorkshire vale that it does not appear +to be above a century old.</p> + +<p>It was usually tenanted either by the dowager +of the family, or the heir of the dukedom; and +it had been opened at this time to receive its +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> +young lord on his return from Italy. So it happened +that at the very hour when Mrs. and Miss +Atheling were talking with Cecil North, Piers +Exham was sitting in a parlour of Exham Hall, +thinking of Kate, and recalling the events of +their acquaintanceship. It had begun when he +was seventeen years old, and Kate Atheling +exactly twelve. Indeed, because it was her birthday, +she was permitted to accompany an old +servant going to Exham Hall to visit the housekeeper, +who was her cousin.</p> + +<p>This event made a powerful impression on +Kate’s imagination. It was like a visit to some +enchanted castle. She felt all its glamour and +mystery as soon as her small feet trod the vast +entrance hall with its hangings of Arras tapestry, +and its flags and weapons from every English +battlefield. Her fingers touched lightly standards +from Crecy, and Agincourt, and the walls of +Jerusalem; and her heart throbbed to the touch. +And as she climbed the prodigiously wide staircase +of carved and polished oak, she thought of +the generations of knights, and lords and ladies, +who had gone up and down it, and wondered +where they were. And oh, the marvellous old +rooms with their shadowy portraits, and their +treasures from countries far away!–shells, and +carved ivories, and sandalwood boxes; strange +perfumes, and old idols, melancholy, fantastic, +odd; musky-smelling things from Asia; and ornaments +and pottery from Africa, their gloomy, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span> +primitive simplicity, mingling with pretty French +trifles, and Italian bronzes, and costly bits of +china.</p> + +<p>It was all like an Arabian Night’s adventure, +and hardly needed the touches of romance and +superstition the housekeeper quite incidentally +threw in: thus, as they passed a very, very tall +old clock with a silver dial on a golden face, she +said: “Happen, you would not believe it, but on +every tenth of June, a cold queer light travels all +round that dial. It begins an hour past midnight, +and stops at an hour past noon. I’ve seen +it myself a score of times.” And again, in going +through a state bed-room, she pointed out a +cross and a candlestick, and said, “They are +made from bits of a famous ship that was blown +up with an Exham, fighting on the Spanish +Main. I’ve heard tell that candles were once +lighted in that stick on his birthday; but there’s +been no candle-lighting for a century, anyway.” +And Kate thought it was a shame, and wished she +knew his birthday, and might light candles again +in honour of the hero.</p> + +<p>With such sights and tales, her childish head +and heart were filled; and the mazy gardens, +with their monkish fish-ponds and hedges, their +old sun-dials and terraces, their ripening berries +and gorgeous flower-beds, completed her fascination. +She went back to Atheling ravished and +spellbound; too wrapt and charmed to talk +much of what she had seen, and glad when she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span> +could escape into the Atheling garden to think it +all over again. She went straight to her swing. +It was hung between two large ash-trees, and +there were high laurel hedges on each side. In +this solitude she sat down to remember, and, as +she did so, began to swing gently to-and-fro, and +to sing to her movement,–</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“It may so happen, it may so fall,</p> +<p>That I shall be Lady of Exham Hall.”</p> +</div> + +<p>And as she sung these lines over and over–being +much pleased with their unexpected rhyming–the +young Lord of Exham Hall came +through Atheling garden. He heard his own +name, and stood still to listen; then he softly +parted the laurel bushes, and watched the little +maid, and heard her sing her couplet, and merrily +laugh to herself as she did so. And he saw +how beautiful she was, and there came into his +heart a singular warmth and pleasure; but, without +discovering himself to the girl, he delivered +his message to Squire Atheling, and rode away.</p> + +<p>The next morning, however, he managed to +carry his fishing-rod to the same beck where +Edgar Atheling was casting his line, and to +so charm the warm-hearted youth that meeting +after meeting grew out of it. Nor was it long +until the friendship of the youths included that +of the girl; so that it was a very ordinary thing +for Kate to go with her brother and Piers Exham +to the hill-streams for trout. As the summer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span> +grew they tossed the hay together, and rode after +the harvest wagons, and danced at the Ingathering +Feast, and dressed the ancient church at +Christmastide, and so, with ever-increasing kindness +and interest, shared each other’s joy and +sorrows for nearly two years.</p> + +<p>Then there was a break in the happy routine. +Kate put on long dresses; she was going to a +fine ladies’ school in York to be “finished,” and +Edgar also was entered at Cambridge. Piers was +to go to Oxford. He begged to go to Cambridge +with his friend; but the Duke approved the Tory +principles of his own University, and equally +disapproved of those of Cambridge, which he +declared were deeply tainted with Whig and +even Radical ideas. Perhaps also he was inclined +to break up the close friendship between the +Athelings and his heir. “No one can be insensible +to the beauty of Kate Atheling,” he said +to the Duchess; “and Piers’ constant association +with such a lovely girl may not be without +danger.” The Duchess smiled at the supposition. +A royal princess, in her estimation, was +not above her son’s deserts and expectations; +and the Squire’s little home-bred girl was beneath +either her fears or her suppositions. This +also was the tone in which she received all her +son’s conversation about the Athelings. “Very +nice people, I dare say, Piers,” she would remark; +“and I am glad you have such thoroughly respectable +companions; but you will, of course, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span> +forget them when you go to College, and begin +your independent life.” And there was such an +air of finality in these assertions that it was only +rarely Piers had the spirit to answer, “Indeed, I +shall never forget them!”</p> + +<p>So it happened that the last few weeks of their +friendship missed much of the easy familiarity +and sweet confidence that had hitherto marked +its every change. Kate, with the new consciousness +of dawning womanhood, was shy, less frank, +and less intimate. Strangers began to call her +“Miss” Atheling; and there were hours when +the little beauty’s airs of maidenly pride and +reserve made Piers feel that any other address +would be impertinent. And this change had +come, no one knew how, only it was there, and +not to be gainsaid; and every day’s events +added some trifling look, or word, or act which +widened the space between them, though the +space itself was full of sweet and kindly hours.</p> + +<p>Then there came a day in autumn when Kate +was to leave her home for the York school. +Edgar was already in Cambridge. Piers was to +enter Oxford the following week. This chapter +of life was finished; and the three happy souls +that had made it, were to separate. Piers, who +had a poetic nature, and was really in love–though +he suspected it not–was most impressed +with the passing away. He could not +keep from Atheling, and though he had bid +Kate “good-bye” in the afternoon, he was not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48'></a>48</span> +satisfied with the parting. She had then been +full of business: the Squire was addressing her +trunks; Mrs. Atheling crimping the lace frill of +her muslin tippets; and Kate herself bringing, +one by one, some extra trifle that at the last +moment impressed her with its necessity. It +was in this hurry of household love and care +that he had said “good-bye,” and he felt that it +had been a mere form.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Kate felt it also; for when he rode +up to Atheling gates in the gloaming, he saw +her sauntering up the avenue. He thought +there was both melancholy and expectation in +her attitude and air. He tied his horse outside, +and joined her. She met him with a smile. He +took her hand, and she permitted him to retain +it. He said, “Kate!” and she answered the +word with a glance that made him joyous, +ardent, hopeful. He was too happy to speak; +he feared to break the heavenly peace between +them by a word. Oh, this is the way of Love! +But neither knew the ways of Love. They were +after all but children, and the sweet thoughts in +their hearts had not come to speech. They +wandered about the garden until the gloaming +became moonlight, and they heard Mrs. Atheling +calling her daughter. Then their eyes met, and, +swift as the firing of a gun, their pupils dilated +and flashed with tender feeling; over their +faces rushed the crimson blood; and Piers said +sorrowfully, “Kate! Sweet Kate! I shall never +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span> +forget you!” He raised the hand he held to +his lips, kissed it, and went hurriedly away +from her.</p> + +<p>Kate was not able to say a word, but she +felt the kiss on her hand through all her sleep +and dreams that night. Indeed five years of +change and absence had not chilled its warm +remembrance; there were hours when it was +still a real expression, when the hand itself was +conscious of the experience, and willingly cherished +it. All through Cecil North’s visit, she +had been aware of a sense of expectancy. Interested +as she was in Edgar, the thought of +Lord Exham would not be put down. For a +short time it was held in abeyance; but when +the early dinner was over, and she was in the +solitude of her own room, Piers put Edgar out +of consideration. As she sat brushing and +dressing her long brown hair, she recalled little +incidents concerning Piers,–how once in the +harvest-field her hair had tumbled down, and +Piers praised its tangled beauty; how he had +liked this and the other dress; how he had +praised her dancing, and vowed she was the +best rider in the county. He had given her a +little gold brooch for a Christmas present, and +she took it from its box, and said to herself she +would wear it, and see if it evoked its own +memory in Exham’s heart.</p> + +<p>It had been her intention to put on a white +gown, but the day darkened and chilled; and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span> +then she had a certain shyness about betraying, +even to her mother, her anxiety to look beautiful. +Perhaps Piers might not now think her +beautiful in any garb. Perhaps he had forgotten–everything. +So, impelled by a kind of perverse +indifference, she wore only the gray woollen +gown that was her usual afternoon attire. But +the fashion of the day left her lovely arms uncovered, +and only veiled her shoulders in a +shadowing tippet of lace. She fastened this +tippet with the little gold brooch, just where the +folds crossed the bosom. She had hastened +rather than delayed her dressing; and when +Mrs. Atheling came downstairs in her afternoon +black silk dress, she found Kate already in the +parlour. She had taken from her work-box a +piece of fine cambric, and was stitching it industriously; +and Mrs. Atheling lifted her own work, +and began to talk of Edgar, and Edgar’s great +fortune, and what his father would say about it. +This subject soon absorbed her; she forgot +everything in it; but Kate heard through all +the radical turmoil of the conversation the +gallop of a strange horse on the gravelled +avenue, and the echo of strange footsteps on +the flagged halls of the house.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i4'></a><img src='images/illus-051.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span>In the middle of some grand prophecy for +Edgar’s future, the parlour door was opened, and +Lord Exham entered. He came forward with +something of his boyhood’s enthusiasm, and +took Mrs. Atheling’s hands, and said a few +words of pleasant greeting, indistinctly heard +in the fluttering gladness of Mrs. Atheling’s +reception. Then he turned to Kate. She had +risen, but she held her work in her left hand. +He took it from her, and laid it on her work-box, +and then clasped both her hands in his. +The firm, lingering pressure had its own eloquence. +In matters of love, they who are to +understand, <i>do</i> understand; and no interpreter +is needed.</p> + +<p>The conversation then became general and +full of interest; but from Oxford, and France, +and Italy, it quickly drifted–as all conversation +did in those days–to Reform. And Mrs. Atheling +could not keep the news that had come to +her that day. She magnified Edgar with a sweet +motherly vanity that was delightful, and to +which Piers listened with pleasure; for the +listening gave him opportunity to watch Kate’s +eloquent face, and to flash his sympathy into it. +He thought her marvellously beautiful. Her +shining hair, her rich colouring, and her large +gray eyes were admirably emphasised by the +homely sweetness of her dress. After the lavish +proportions, and gaily attired women of Italy, +nothing could have been more enchanting to +Piers Exham than Kate’s subdued, gray-eyed +loveliness, clad in gray garments. The charming +background of her picturesque home added +to this effect; and this background he saw and +realised; but she had also a moral background +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> +of purity and absolute sincerity which he did +not see, but which he undoubtedly felt.</p> + +<p>While Piers was experiencing this revelation of +womanhood, it was not likely Kate was without +impressions. In his early youth, Exham had a +slight resemblance to Lord Byron; and he had +been vain of the likeness, and accentuated it by +adopting the open collar, loose tie, and other +peculiarities of the poetic nobleman. Kate was +glad to see this servile imitation had been discarded. +Exham was now emphatically individual. +He was not above medium height; but his +figure was good, and his manner gentle and +courteous, as the manner of all superior men is. +Grave and high-bred, he had also much of the +melancholy, mythical air of an English nobleman, +conscious of long antecedents, and dwelling in +the seclusion of shaded parks, and great houses +steeped in the human aura of centuries. His +hair was very black, and worn rather long, and +his complexion, a pale bronze; but this lack of +red colouring added to the fascination of his dark +eyes, which were remarkable for that deep glow +always meaning mental or moral power of some +kind. They were often half shut–and then–who +could tell what was passing behind them? +And yet, when all this had been observed by +Kate, she was sure that something–perhaps the +most essential part–had escaped her.</p> + +<p>This latter estimate was the correct one. No +one as yet had learned the heart or mind of Piers +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span> +Exham. It is doubtful if he understood his own +peculiarities; for he had few traits of distinctive +pre-eminence, his character being very like an +opal, where all colours are fused and veiled in a +radiant dimness. So that, after all, this meeting +was a first meeting; and Kate did not feel that +the past offered her any intelligible solution of +the present man.</p> + +<p>The conversation having drifted to Edgar and +Reform, stayed there. Lord Exham spoke with a +polite, but stubborn emphasis in favour of his own +caste, as the governing caste, and thought that +the honour and welfare of England might still +be left “to those great Houses which represented +the collective wisdom of the nation.” Nor was +he disturbed when Mrs. Atheling, with some +scorn and temper, said “they represented mostly +the collective folly of the nation.” He bowed +and smiled at the dictum, but Kate understood +the smile; it was of that peculiarly sweet kind +which is equivalent to having the last word. He +admitted that some things wanted changing, but +he said, “Changes could not be manufactured; +they must grow.” “True,” replied Kate, “but +Reform has been growing for sixty years.” “That +is as it should be,” he continued. “You cannot +write Reforms on human beings, as you write it +on paper. Two or three generations are not +enough.” In all that was said–and Mrs. Atheling +said some very strong things–he took a +polite interest; but he made no surrender. Even +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54'></a>54</span> +if his words were conciliatory, Kate saw in his +eyes–languid but obstinately masterful–the +stubborn, headstrong will of a man who had inherited +his prejudices, and who had considered +them in the light of his interest, and did not +choose to bring them to the light of reason.</p> + +<p>Still the conversation was a satisfactory and +delightful vehicle of human revelation. The two +women paled and flushed, and grew sad or happy +in its possibilities, with a charming frankness. +No social subject could have revealed them so +completely; and Exham enjoyed the disclosures +of feeling which this passionate interest evoked,–enjoyed +it so much that he forgot the lapse of +time, and stayed till tea was ready, and then was +delighted to stay and take it with them. Mrs. +Atheling was usually relieved of the duty of making +it by Kate; and Piers could not keep his +glowing eyes off the girl as her hands moved +about the exquisite Derby teacups, and handed +him the sweet, refreshing drink. She remembered +that he loved sugar; that he did not love cream; +that he preferred his toast not buttered; that he +liked apricot jelly; and he was charmed and +astonished at these proofs of remembrance, so +much so indeed that he permitted Mrs. Atheling to +appropriate the whole argument. For this sweet +hour he resigned his heart to be pleased and +happy. Too wise in some things, not wise enough +in others, Piers Exham had at least one great +compensating quality–the courage to be happy.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span>He let all other feelings and purposes lapse for +this one. He gave himself up to charm, and to +be charmed; he flattered Mrs. Atheling into +absolute complaisance; he persuaded Kate to +walk through the garden and orchard with him, +and then, with caressing voice and a gentle pressure +of the hand, reminded her of days and events +they had shared together. Smiles flashed from +face to face. Her simple sweetness, her ready +sympathy, her ingenuous girlish expressions, +carried him back to his boyhood. Kate shone +on his heart like sunshine; and he did not know +that it had become dark until he had left Atheling +behind, and found himself Exham-way, riding +rapidly to the joyful whirl and hurry of his +thoughts.</p> + +<p>Now happiness, as well as sorrow, is selfish. +Kate was happy and not disposed to talk about +her happiness. Her mother’s insistent questions +about Lord Exham troubled her. She desired +to go into solitude with the new emotions this +wonderful day had produced; but the force of +those lovely habits of respect and obedience, +which had become by constant practice a second +nature, kept her at her mother’s side, listening +with sweet credulousness to all her opinions, and +answering her hopes with her own assurances. +The reward of such dutiful deference was not +long in coming. In a short time Mrs. Atheling +said,–</p> + +<p>“It has been such a day as never was, Kate; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> +and you must be tired. Now then, go to bed, +my girl, and sleep; for goodness knows when +your father will get home!”</p> + +<p>So Kate kissed her mother–kissed her twice–as +if she was dimly conscious of unfairly keeping +back some pleasure, and would thus atone +for her selfishness. And Mrs. Atheling sat down +in the chimney-corner with the gray stocking +she was knitting, and pondered her son’s good +fortune for a while. Then she rose and sent the +maids to bed, putting the clock an hour forward +ere she did so, and excusing the act by saying, +“If I don’t set it fast, we shall soon be on the +wrong side of everything.”</p> + +<p>Another hour she sat calmly knitting, while in +the dead silence of the house the clock’s regular +“<i>tick! tick!</i>” was like breathing. It seemed to +live, and to watch with her. As the Squire came +noisily into the room it struck eleven. “My +word, Maude!” he said with great good humour, +“I am sorry to keep you waiting; but there has +been some good work done to-night, so you +won’t mind it, I’ll warrant.”</p> + +<p>“Well now, John, if you and your friends +have been at Pickering’s, and have done any +‘good’ work there, I will be astonished! You +may warrant <i>that</i> with every guinea you have.”</p> + +<p>“We were at Rudby’s. There were as many +as nine landed men of us together; and for once +there was one mind in nine men.”</p> + +<p>“That is, you were all for yourselves.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57'></a>57</span>“No! Dal it, we were all for old England and +the Constitution! The Constitution, just as it is, +and no tinkering with it.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder which of the nine was the biggest +fool among you?”</p> + +<p>“Thou shouldst not talk in that way, Maude. +The country is in real danger with this Reform +nonsense. Every Reformer ought to be hung, +and I wish they were hung.”</p> + +<p>“I would be ashamed to say such words, +John. Thou knowest well that thy own son is a +Reformer.”</p> + +<p>“More shame to him, and to me, and to thee! +I would have brought up a better lad, or else +I would hold my tongue about him. It was thy +fault he went to Cambridge. I spent good money +then to spoil a fine fellow.”</p> + +<p>“Now, John Atheling, I won’t have one word +said against Edgar in this house.”</p> + +<p>“It is my house.”</p> + +<p>“Nay, but it isn’t. Thou only hast the life +rent of it. It is Edgar’s as much as thine. He +will be here, like enough, when I and thou have +gone the way we shall never come back.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe he will–and maybe he will not. I +can break the entail if it suits me.”</p> + +<p>“Thou canst not. For, with all thy faults, thou +art an upright man, and thy conscience wouldn’t +let thee do anything as mean and spiteful as that. +How could we rest in our graves if there was +any one but an Atheling in Atheling?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span>“He is a disgrace to the name.”</p> + +<p>“He is nothing of that kind. He will bring +the old name new honour. See if he does not! +And as for the Constitution of England, it is +about as great a ruin as thy constitution was +when thou hadst rheumatic fever, and couldn’t +turn thyself, nor help thyself, nor put a morsel +of bread into thy mouth. But thou hadst a good +doctor, and he set thee up; and a good House +of Commons–Reforming Commons–will happen +do as much for the country; though when +every artisan and every farm labourer is hungry +and naked, it will be hard to spread the plaster +as far as the sore. It would make thy heart ache +to hear what they suffer.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t bother thy head about weavers, and +cutlers, and artisans. If the Agriculture of the +country is taken care of–”</p> + +<p>“Now, John, do be quiet. There is not an +idiot in the land who won’t talk of Agriculture.”</p> + +<p>“We have got to stick by the land, Maude.”</p> + +<p>“The land will take care of itself. If thou +wouldst only send for thy son, and have a little +talk with him, he might let some light and +wisdom into thee.”</p> + +<p>“I have nothing to say on such subjects to +Edgar Atheling–not a word.”</p> + +<p>“If thou goest to Parliament, thou mayst have to +‘say’ to him, no matter whether thou wantest to +or not; that is, unless thou art willing to let Edgar +have both sides of the argument.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span>“What tom-foolery art thou talking?”</p> + +<p>“I am only telling thee that Edgar is as like +to go to Parliament as thou art.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure–when beggars are kings.”</p> + +<p>“Earl Grey will seat him–or Lord Durham; +and I would advise thee to study up things a bit. +There are new ideas about, John; and thou +wouldst look foolish if thy own son had to put any +of thy mistakes right for thee.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose, Maude, thou still hast a bit of faith +left in the Bible. And I’ll warrant thou knowest +every word it says about children obeying their +parents, and honouring their parents, and so on. +And I can remember thee telling Edgar, when he +was a little lad, about Absalom going against his +father, and what came of it; now then, is the +Bible, as well as the Constitution, a ruin? Is it +good for nothing but to be pitched into limbo, +or to be ‘reformed’? I’m astonished at thee!”</p> + +<p>“The Bible has nothing to do with politics, +John. I wish it had! Happen then we would +have a few wise-like, honest politicians. The +Bible divides men into good men and bad men; +but thou dividest all men into Tories and Radicals; +and the Bible has nothing to do with either +of them. I can tell thee that. Nay, but I’m +wrong; it does say a deal about doing justice, +and loving mercy, and treating your neighbour +and poor working-folk as you would like to be +treated yourself. Radicals can get a good deal +out of the New Testament.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span>“I don’t believe a word of what thou art +saying.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t wonder at that. Thou readest nothing +but the newspapers; if thou didst happen to read a +few words out of Christ’s own mouth, thou wouldst +say, ‘Thou never heardest the like,’ and thou +wouldst think the man who quoted them wrote +them out of his own head, and call him a Radical. +Get off to thy bed, John. I can always tell when +thou hast been drinking Rudby’s port-wine. It is +too heavy and heady for thee. As soon as thou +art thyself again, I will tell thee what a grand son +thou art the father of. My word! If the Duke +gives thee a seat at his mahogany two or three +times a year, thou art as proud as a peacock; +now then, thy son Edgar is hob-nobbing with +earls and lords every day of his life, and they +are proud of his company.”</p> + +<p>The Squire laughed boisterously. “It is time, +Maude,” he said, “I went to my bed; and it is +high time for thee to wake up and get thy head +on a feather pillow; then, perhaps, thou will not +dream such raving nonsense.”</p> + +<p>With these scornful words he left the room, +and Mrs. Atheling rose and put away her knitting. +She was satisfied with herself. She expected +her mysterious words to keep the Squire +awake with curiosity; and in such case, she was +resolved to make another effort to reconcile her +husband to his son. But the Squire gave her no +opportunity; he slept with an indifferent continuity +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span> +that it was useless to interrupt. Perhaps +there was intention in this heavy sleep, for when +he came downstairs in the morning he went at +once to seek Kate. He soon saw her in the herb +garden; for she had on a white dimity gown, and +was standing upright, shading her eyes with her +hands to watch his approach. A good breeze +of wind from the wolds fluttered her snowy +skirts, and tossed the penetrating scents of +thyme and marjoram, mint and pennyroyal upward, +and she drew them through her parted +lips and distended nostrils.</p> + +<p>“They are so heavenly sweet!” she said with +a smile of sensuous pleasure. “They smell like +Paradise, Father.”</p> + +<p>“Ay, herbs are good and healthy. The smell +of them makes me hungry. I didn’t see thee +last night, Kitty; and I wanted to see thee.”</p> + +<p>“I was so tired, Father. It was a day to tire +any one. Was it not?”</p> + +<p>“I should say it was,” he replied with conscious +diplomacy. “Now what part of it pleased +thee best?”</p> + +<p>“Well, Mr. North’s visit was of course wonderful; +and Lord Exham’s visit was very pleasant. +I enjoyed both; but Mr. North’s news was so +very surprising.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure. What dost thou think of it?”</p> + +<p>“Of course, Edgar is on the other side, Father. +In some respects that is a pity.”</p> + +<p>“It is a shame! It is a great shame!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62'></a>62</span>“Nay, nay, Father! We won’t have ‘shame’ +mixed up with Edgar. He is in dead earnest, +and he has taken luck with him. Just think of +our Edgar being one of Lord Durham’s favourites, +of him speaking all over England and Scotland +for Reform. Mr. North says there is no one +like him in the drawing-rooms of the Reform +ladies; and no one like him on the Reform platforms; +and he was made a member of the new +Reform Club in London by acclamation. And +Earl Grey will get him a seat in Parliament next +election.”</p> + +<p>“Who is this Mr. North?”</p> + +<p>“Why, Father! You heard him speak, and +you ‘threw’ him down on the Green, you know.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Oh! Him!</i> Dost thou believe all this palaver +on the word of a travelling mountebank?”</p> + +<p>“He is not a travelling mountebank. I am +sure he is a gentleman. You shouldn’t call a +man names that you have ‘thrown’ fairly. You +know better than that.”</p> + +<p>“I know nothing about the lad. And he +does not seem to have told thee anything about +himself. As for thy mother–” and then he +hesitated, and looked at Kate meaningly and +inquiringly.</p> + +<p>“Mother liked him. She liked him very much +indeed. He brought both mother and me a ring +from Edgar,” and she put out her hand and +showed the Squire the little gold circle.</p> + +<p>“Trumpery rubbish!” he said scornfully. “It +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span> +didn’t cost half a crown. Give it to me, and I +will get thee a ring worth wearing,–sapphires +or rubies.”</p> + +<p>“I would not part with it for loops and hoops +of sapphires and rubies. Edgar sent it as a love-token; +he wants his money for nobler things +than rubies–but, dear me! you can’t buy love +for any money. Oh, Father! I do wish you +would be friends with Edgar.”</p> + +<p>“My little lass, I cannot be friends with any +one if he goes against the land, and the King, and +the Constitution. I am loyal straight through; +up and down to-day, and to-morrow, and every +day; and I can’t bear traitors,–men that would +sell their country for a bit of mob power or mob +glory. All of Edgar’s friends and neighbours are +for the King and the Laws; and it shames me +and pains me beyond everything to have a +rascal and a Radical in my family. The Duke +and his son are finger and thumb, buckle and +belt; and Edgar and I ought to be the same. +And it stands to reason that a father knows more +than his own lad of twenty-six years old. What +dost thou think of Lord Exham?”</p> + +<p>The question was asked at a venture; but Kate +had no suspicion, and she answered frankly, “I +think very well of him. He talked mostly of politics; +but every one does that. It was pleasant to +see him at our tea-table again.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure. So he stayed to tea?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; did not mother tell you?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span>“Nay, we were talking of other things. What +does he look like?”</p> + +<p>“I think he is much improved.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he ought to be. He must have learned +a little, and he has seen a lot since we saw him. +Come, let us go and find out what kind of a +breakfast mother can give us. I am hungry +enough for two.”</p> + +<p>So Kate lifted the herbs which she had cut +into her garden apron, and cruddling close to her +father’s side, they went in together, with the smell +of the thyme and marjoram all about them. Mrs. +Atheling drew it in as they entered the parlour, +and then turned to them with a smile. The +Squire went to her side, and promptly kissed +her. It was one of his ways to ignore their little +tiffs; and this morning Mrs. Atheling was also +agreeable. She looked into his eyes, and said:</p> + +<p>“Why, John! are you really awake. You lay +like the Seven Sleepers when I got up, and I +said to myself, ‘John will sleep the clock round,’ +so Kate and I will have our breakfasts.”</p> + +<p>“Nay, I have too much to look after, Maude.” +Then he turned the conversation to the farms, +and talked of the draining to be done, and the +meadows to be left for grass; but he eschewed +politics altogether, and, greatly to Mrs. Atheling’s +wonder, never alluded to the information she had +given him about their son Edgar. Did he really +think she had been telling him a made-up story? +She could not otherwise understand this self-control +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span> +in her curious lord. However, sometime +during the morning, Kate told her about the conversation +in the herb garden; then she was content. +She knew just where she had her husband; +and the little laugh with which she terminated the +conversation was her expression of conscious +power over him, and of a retaliation quite within +her reach.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span><a id='link_4'></a>CHAPTER FOURTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE DAWN OF LOVE</span></h2> + +<p>There is always in every life some little part +which even those dearer than life to us cannot +enter. Kate had become conscious of this fact. +She hoped her mother would not talk of Lord +Exham; for she did not as yet understand anything +about the feelings his return had evoked. +She would have needed the uncertain, enigmatical +language which comes in dreams to explain +the “yes” and the “no” of the vague, trembling +memories, prepossessions, and hopes which fluttered +in her breast.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Mrs. Atheling had some dim perception +of this condition, and without analysing +her reasons, she was aware “it was best not to +meddle” between two lives so surrounded by contradictious +circumstances as were those of her +daughter and Lord Exham. Besides, as she +said to her husband, “It was no time for love-making, +with the King dying, and the country +on the quaking edge of revolution, and starvation +and misery all over the land.” And the Squire +answered: “Exham has not one thought of +love-making. He is far too much in with a lot +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span> +of men who have the country and their own +estates to save. He won’t bother himself with +women-folk now, whatever he may do in idle +times.”</p> + +<p>They had both forgotten, or their own love +affair had been of such Arcadian straightness and +simplicity that they had never learned Love’s +ability to domineer all circumstances that can +stir this mortal frame. Exham had indeed enlisted +himself with passionate earnestness in the +cause of his class, which he called the cause of +his country–but as the drop of</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“lucent sirup tinct with cinnamon”</p> +</div> + +<p>is forever flavoured and perfumed by the spice, so +Exham’s life was coloured and prepossessed by +the thought of the sweet girl who had been +blended with so many of his purest and happiest +hours.</p> + +<p>It was then of Kate he thought as he wandered +about the stately rooms and beautiful gardens +of Exham Hall. He was not oblivious of +his engagements with the Duke and the tenants; +but he was considering how best to keep these +engagements, and yet not miss a visit to her. +The dying King, the riotous land, were accidentals +of his life and condition; his love for Kate +Atheling was at the root of his existence; it was +a fundamental of the past and of the future. +For five years of constant change and movement, +it had lain in abeyance; but old love is a dangerous +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span> +thing to awaken; and Piers Exham found in +doing this thing that every event of the past +strengthened the influence of the present, and +fixed his heart more passionately on the girl he +had first found fair; the</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>–“rosebud set with little, wilful thorns,</p> +<p>And sweet as English airs could make her,”</p> +</div> + +<p>that had sung and swung herself into his affection +when she was only twelve years old.</p> + +<p>He was however quite aware that any proposal +to marry Kate Atheling would meet with +prompt opposition from his family; indeed the +Duke had already mentioned a very different +alliance; and in that case, he did not doubt but +that Squire Atheling would be equally resolved +never to allow his daughter to enter a home +where she would be regarded by any member +of it as an intruder. But he put all such considerations +for the present behind him. He said +to himself, “The first thing to do, is to win +Kate’s love; with that sweet consciousness, I +shall be ready for all opposition.” For his heart +kept assuring him that every trouble and obstacle +has an hour in which it may be conquered,–an +hour when Fate and Will become One, and are +then as irresistible as a great force of Nature. +He was sure the hour for this conflict had not +yet come. It was the day for a different fight. +His home, his estate, his title, and all the privileges +of his nobility were in danger. When +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> +they were placed beyond peril, then he would +fight for the wife he wanted, and win her against +all opposition. And who could tell in what way +the first conflict would bring forth circumstances +to insure victory to the last?</p> + +<p>He was deeply in love; he was full of hope; he +was at Atheling some part of every day. If he +came in the afternoon, Kate’s pony was saddled, +and they rode far and away, to where the shadows +and sunshine elbowed one another on the +moors. The golden gorse shed its perfume over +their heads; the linnets sang to them of love; +they talked, and laughed, and rode swiftly until +their pace brought them among the mountains +that looked like a Titanic staircase going up to +the skies. There, they always drew rein, and +went slower, and spoke softer, and indeed often became +quite silent, and knew such silence to be the +sweetest eloquence. Then after a little interval +Piers would say one word, “<i>Kate!</i>” and Kate +only answer with a blush, and a smile, and an +upturned face. For Love can put a volume +in four letters; and souls say in a glance +what a thousand words would only blunder about. +Then there was the gallop home, and the merry +cup of tea, and the saunter in the garden, and +the long tender “good-bye” at the threshold +where the damask roses made the air heavy with +their sweetness.</p> + +<p>So Lord Exham did not find his politics hard +to bear with such delicious experiences between +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span> +whiles. And Kate? What were Kate’s experiences? +Oh, any woman who has once loved, any +pure girl who longs to love, may divine them! +For Love is always the same. The tale he told +Kate on the Atheling moors and under the +damask roses was the very same tale he told +high in Paradise by the four rivers where the +first roses blew.</p> + +<p>As the summer advanced, startling notes from +the outside world forced themselves into this +heavenly solitude. On the twenty-sixth of June, +King George died; and this death proved to be +the first of a series of great events. Piers felt +it to be a warning bell. It said to him, “The +charming overture of Love, with its restless pleasure, +its delicate hopes and fears, is nearly at an +end.” He had been with Kate for three divine +hours. They had sat among the brackens at the +foot of the mountains, and been twenty times on +the very point of saying audibly the word +“Love!” and twenty times had felt the delicious +uncertainty of non-confession to be too sweet for +surrender. Nay, they did not reason about it; +they simply obeyed that wise, natural self-restraint +which knew its own hour, and would +not hurry it.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i5'></a><img src='images/illus-071.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span>With a sigh of rapture, they rose as the sun began +to wester, and rode slowly back to Atheling. +No one was at the door to receive them, and Kate +wondered a little; but when they entered the hall, +the omission was at once understood. There was +a large open fireplace at the northern extremity, +and over it the Atheling arms, with their motto, +“<i>Feare God! Honour the Kinge! Laus Deo!</i>” +Squire Atheling was draping this panel with +crape; and Mrs. Atheling stood near him with +some streamers of the gloomy fabric in her +hands. She pointed to the King’s picture–which +already wore the emblem of mourning–and +said, “The King is dead.”</p> + +<p>“The King lives! God save the King!” replied +the Squire, instantly. “God save King William +the Fourth!”</p> + +<p>Then all the clocks in the house were stopped, +and draped, and when this ceremony was over, +they had tea together. And as it is a Yorkshire +custom to make funeral feasts, Mrs. Atheling +gave to the meal an air of special entertainment. +The royal Derby china added its splendour to the +fine old silver and delicate damask. There were +delicious cheese-cakes, and Queen’s-cakes, and +savoury potted meats, and fresh crumpets; and +the ripe red strawberries filled the room with +their ethereal scent. No one was at all depressed +by the news. If King George was dead, King +William was alive; and the Squire thought, +“Everything might be hoped from ‘The Sailor +King.’ Why!” he said, “he is that good-natured +he won’t say a bad word about the +Reformers; though, God knows, they are a disgrace +to themselves, and to all that back them +up.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span>“There will now be a general election,” said +Exham positively.</p> + +<p>“To be sure,” answered the Squire. “And it +is to be hoped we may get together a few men +that will take the Bull of Reform by the horns, +and put a stop to that nonsense forever in England.”</p> + +<p>“Before they do that,” said Mrs. Atheling, +“they will have to consider the swarms of people +they have brought up in dirt, and rags, and misery. +For if they don’t, they will bring ruin to the +nation that owns them.”</p> + +<p>“King William is a fighter. He will back the +Law with bayonets, if he thinks it right,” said +the Squire.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Atheling looked at him indignantly. +Then, putting her cup down with unmistakable +emphasis, she exclaimed, “The Lord forgive thee, +John Atheling! I’ll say one thing, and I’ll say it +now, and forever, it isn’t law backed with bayonets +that has saved England so far; it is the bit +of religion in every man’s heart, and his trust that +somehow God will see him righted. If it wasn’t +for that it would have been all up with our set +long ago.”</p> + +<p>“That is just the way women talk politics,” +said the Squire, with some contempt. “If +there was nothing else in this Reform business to +make a man sick, the way they have given in to +women, and got them to form clubs and make +speeches, is enough to set any sensible person +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span> +against Reform; and if there is no way of talking +people into doing what is right–then they must +be <i>made</i> to do right; and that’s all there is +about it.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, John; but there are two sides to +play at making other people do right. I’ll tell +you one thing, the Government will have to take +a lot of things into consideration before they put +their trust in backing law with bayonets. It won’t +work! Let them start doing it, and we shall all +find ourselves in a wrong box.”</p> + +<p>“I think there is much good sense in what +Mrs. Atheling believes,” said Lord Exham.</p> + +<p>“And as for the Reformers getting round the +women of the country,” she continued, “that is +as it should be. Men have done all the governing +for six thousand years; and, in the main, they +have made a very bad job of it. Happen, a few +kind-hearted women would help things forwarder. +There is going to be some alterations, you may +depend upon it, John.”</p> + +<p>“Father,” said Kate, “you had better not +argue with mother. She knows a deal more about +the country than you think she does; and mother +is always right.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure, Kate. To hear mother talk, she +knows a lot; but if she would take my advice, +she would forget a lot, and try and learn something +better.” Then touching his wife’s hand, he +continued, “Maude, I always did believe thou wert +in favour of the land, and the law, and the King.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74'></a>74</span>“I don’t know that I ever said such a thing, +John; but thou mayst have believed it. What I +<i>thought</i>, was another matter. And I am beginning +to think aloud now, that makes all the +difference.”</p> + +<p>Such divided opinions were in every household; +and yet, upon the whole, the death of the selfish, +intolerant George was a hopeful event. When +people are desperate, any change is a promise; +and William had a reputation not only for good +nature, but also for that love of fair play which +is the first article of an Englishman’s personal +creed. He came to the throne on the twenty-sixth +of June; and on the twenty-ninth Parliament +resumed its sittings. Mr. Brougham led the +opposition, and violent debates and unmeasured +language distinguished the short session. The +Duke of Wellington, representing the Government, +was prominently bitter against Reform of every +kind; and Mr. Brougham boldly declared that +any Minister now hoping to rule either by royal +favour or military power would be overwhelmed. +In less than a month the King prorogued Parliament +in person, and in so doing, congratulated +his country on the tranquillity of Europe. Forty-eight +hours afterwards, France was insurgent, and +Paris in arms. Three days of most determined +fighting followed; and then Charles the Tenth +was driven from his throne, and the white flag of +the Bourbon tyranny gave place to the Tri-colour +of Liberty.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span>Now if there had been a direct electric or +magnetic current between England and the Continent, +the effect could not have been more sympathetically +startling; and these three memorable +“Days of July” in Paris impelled forward, with an +irresistible impetus, the cause of freedom in +England. The nobility and the landed gentry +were gravely aware of this effect; and the great +middle class, and the working men in every +county, were stirred to more hopeful and united +action. Far and wide the people began anew to +express, in various ways, their determination to +have the Tory Ministers dismissed, and a Liberal +Government in favour of Reform inaugurated.</p> + +<p>For the first time the Squire was anxious. For +the first time he saw and felt positive symptoms +of insubordination among his own people. Pickering’s +barns were burnt one night; and a few +nights afterwards, Rudby’s hay-ricks. Squire +Atheling was a man of prompt action; one well +disposed to do in his own manor what he +expected the Government to do in the country,–take +the Reform bull by the horns. He sent for +all his labourers to meet him in the farm court at +Atheling; and when they were gathered there, +he stood up on the stone wall which enclosed +one side of it and said in his strong, resonant +voice,–</p> + +<p>“Now, men of Atheling manor and village, you +have been sulky and ugly for two or three +weeks. You aren’t sulky and ugly without +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span> +knowing <i>why</i> you are so. If you are Yorkshiremen +worth your bread and bacon, you will out +with your grievance–whatever it is. Tom Gisburn, +what is it?”</p> + +<p>“We can’t starve any longer, Squire. We +want two shillings a week more wages. Me and +mine would hev been in t’ churchyard if thy +Missis hed been as hard-hearted as thysen.”</p> + +<p>“I will give you all one shilling a week more.”</p> + +<p>“Nay, but a shilling won’t do. Thy Missis is +good, and Miss Kate is good; but we want our +rights; and we hev made up our minds that two +shillings a week more wage will nobbut barely +cover them. We are varry poor, Squire! Varry +poor indeed!”</p> + +<p>The man spoke sadly and respectfully; and the +Squire looked at him, and at the stolid, anxious +faces around with an angry pity. “I’ll tell you +what, men,” he continued; “everything in England +is going to the devil. Englishmen are getting +as ill to do with as a lot of grumbling, +contrary, bombastic Frenchers. If you’ll promise +me to stand by the King, and the land, and the +laws, and give these trouble-making Reformers a +dip in the horse-pond if any of them come to +Atheling again–why, then, I will give you all–every +one of you–two shillings a week more +wage.”</p> + +<p>“Nay, Squire, we’ll not sell oursens for two +shillings a week; not one of us–eh, men?” and +Gisburn looked at his fellows interrogatively.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span>“Sell oursens!” replied the Squire’s blacksmith, +a big, hungry-looking fellow in a leather +apron; “no! no, Squire! Thou oughtest to know +us better. Sell oursens! Not for all the gold +guineas in Yorkshire! We’ll sell thee our +labour for two shilling a week more wage, and +thankful; but our will, and our good-will, thou +can’t buy for any money.”</p> + +<p>There was a subdued cheer at these words from +the men, and the Squire’s face suddenly lightened. +His best self put his lower self behind him. +“Sawley,” he answered, “thou art well nicknamed +‘Straight-up!’ and I don’t know but what +I’m very proud of such an independent, honourable +lot of men. Such as you won’t let the land +suffer. Remember, you were all born on it, and +you’ll like enough be buried in it. Stand by +the land then; and if two shillings a week more +wage will make you happy, you shall have it,–if +I sell the gold buttons off my coat to pay it. +Are we friends now?”</p> + +<p>A hearty shout answered the question, and the +Squire continued, “Then go into the barn, and +eat and drink your fill. You’ll find a barrel of old +ale, and some roast beef, and wheat bread there.”</p> + +<p>In this way he turned the popular discontent +from Atheling, and doubtless saved his barns +and hay-ricks; but he went into his house angry +at the men, and angry at his wife and daughter. +They had evidently been aiding and succouring +these discontents and their families; and–as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78'></a>78</span> +he took care to point out to Kate–evil and +not good had been the result. “I have to give +now as a right,” he said, “what thee and thy +mother have been giving as a kindness!” And +his temper was not improved by hearing from +the barn the noisy “huzzas” with which the name +of “the young Squire” was received, and his +health drank.</p> + +<p>“Wife, and son, and daughter! all of them +against me! I wonder what I have done to be +served in such a way?” he exclaimed sorrowfully. +And then Kate forgot everything about politics. +She said all kinds of consoling words without +any regard for the Reform Bill, and, with the +sweetest kisses, promised her father whatever she +thought would make him happy. It is an unreasonable, +delightful way that belongs to loving +women; and God help both men and women when +they are too wise for such sweet deceptions!</p> + +<p>Yet the Squire carried a hot, restless heart to +the Duke’s meeting that night; and he was not +pleased to find that the tactics he had used with +his labourers met with general and great disapproval. +Those men who had already suffered +loss, and those who knew that they had gone +beyond a conciliating policy, said some ugly +words about “knuckling down,” and it required +all the Duke’s wisdom and influence to represent +it as “a wise temporary concession, to be recalled +as soon as the election was over, and the +Tory Government safely reinstalled.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span>Upon the whole, then, Squire Atheling had not +much satisfaction in his position; and every day +brought some new tale of thrilling interest. All +England was living a romance; and people got +so used to continual excitement that they set the +homeliest experiences of life to great historical +events. During the six weeks following the death +of King George the Fourth occurred the new +King’s coronation, the dissolution of Parliament, +the “Three Days of July,” and the landing of the +exiled French King in England; all of these +things being accompanied by agrarian outrages +in the farming districts, the destruction of machinery +in the manufacturing towns, and constant +political tumults wherever men congregated.</p> + +<p>The next six weeks were even more restless +and excited. The French King was a constant +subject of interest to the Reformers; for was he +not a stupendous example of the triumph of +Liberal principles? He was reported first at +Lulworth Castle in Devonshire. Then he went +to Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. The Scotch +Reformers resented his presence, and perpetually +insulted him, until Sir Walter Scott made a +manly appeal for the fallen tyrant. And while +the Bourbon sat in Holyrood, a sign and a +text for all lovers of Freedom, England was in +the direst storm and stress of a general election. +The men of the Fen Country were rising. The +Universities were arming their students. There +was rioting in this city and that city. The Tories +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80'></a>80</span> +were gaining. The Reformers were gaining. Both +sides were calling passionately on the women of +the country to come to their help, without it +seeming to occur to either that if women had +political influence, they had also political rights.</p> + +<p>But the end was just what all these events +predicated. When the election was over, the +Tory Government had lost fifty votes in the +House of Commons; but Piers Exham was Member +of Parliament for the borough of Gaythorne, +and Squire Atheling was the Representative of +the Twenty-two Tory citizens of the village of +Asketh.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span><a id='link_5'></a>CHAPTER FIFTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>ANNABEL VYNER</span></h2> + +<p>The first chapter of Kate’s and Piers’ love-story +was told to these stirring events. They +were like a <i>trumpet obligato</i> in the distance thrilling +their hearts with a keener zest and a wider +sympathy. True, the sympathy was not always +in unison, for Piers was an inflexible partisan of +his own order, yet in some directions Kate’s +feelings were in perfect accord. For instance, at +Exham Hall and at Atheling Manor-house, there +was the same terror of the mob’s firebrand, and +the same constant watch for its prevention. +These buildings were not only the cherished +homes of families; they were houses of national +pride and record. Yet many such had perished +in the unreasoning anger of multitudes mad with +suffering and a sense of wrong; and the Squire +and the Lord alike kept an unceasing watch +over their habitations. On this subject, all were +unanimous; and the fears, and frights, and suspicions +relating to it drew the families into much +closer sympathy.</p> + +<p>After the election was over, there was a rapid +subsidence of public feeling; the people had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> +taken the first step triumphantly; and they were +willing to wait for its results. Then the Richmoor +family began to consider an immediate +removal to London, and, as a preparatory courtesy, +gave a large dinner party at the Castle. +As Kate was not yet in society, she had no invitation; +but the Squire and Mrs. Atheling were +specially honoured guests.</p> + +<p>“The Squire has been of immense service to +me,” said Richmoor to his Duchess. “A man so +sincere and candid I have seldom met. He has +spoken well for us, simply and to the point, +and I wish you to pay marked attention to Mrs. +Atheling.”</p> + +<p>“Of course, if you desire it, I will do so. Who +was Mrs. Atheling? Is she likely to be detrimental +in town or troublesome?”</p> + +<p>“She is the daughter of the late Thomas +Hardwicke, of Hardwicke–as you know, a very +ancient county family. She had a good fortune; +in fact, she brought the Squire the Manor of +Belward.”</p> + +<p>“In appearance, is she presentable?”</p> + +<p>“She was very handsome some years ago. I +have not seen her for a long time.”</p> + +<p>“I dare say she has grown stout and red; +and she will probably wear blue satin in honour +of her husband’s Tory principles. These county +dames always think it necessary to wear their +party colours. I counted eleven blue satin dresses +at our last election dinner.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span>“Even if she does wear blue satin, I should +like you to be exceedingly civil to her.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose you know that Piers has been at +Atheling a great deal. I heard in some way that–in +fact, Duke, that Piers and Miss Atheling +were generally considered lovers.”</p> + +<p>The Duke laughed. “I think I understand +Piers,” he said. “These incendiary terrors have +drawn people together; and there has also been +the election business as well. Many perfectly +necessary natural causes have taken Piers to +Atheling.”</p> + +<p>“Miss Atheling, for instance!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, perhaps so! Why not? When I was a +young man, I thought it both necessary and +natural to have a pretty girl to ride and walk +with. But riding and walking with a lovely girl +is one thing; marrying her is another. Piers +knows that he is expected to marry Annabel +Vyner; he knows that for many reasons it will be +well for him to do so. And above all other considerations, +Piers puts his family and his caste.”</p> + +<p>The Duke’s absolute confidence in his son +satisfied the Duchess. She looked upon her +husband as a man of wonderful penetration and +invincible wisdom. If he was not uneasy about +Piers and Miss Atheling, there was no necessity +for her to carry an anxious thought on the +subject; and she was glad to be fully released +from it. Yet she had more than a passing curiosity +about Kate’s mother. The Squire she had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84'></a>84</span> +frequently seen, both in the pink of the hunting-field +and in the quieter dress of the dinner-table. +But it so happened that she had never met Mrs. +Atheling; and, on entering the great drawing-room, +her eyes sought the only lady present +who was a stranger to her.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Atheling was standing at the Duke’s side; +and she went directly to her, taking note, as she +did so, of the beauty, style, and physical grace +that distinguished the lady. She saw that she +wore a gown–not of blue–but of heavy black +satin, that it fell away from her fine throat and +shoulders, and showed her arms in all their +exquisite form and colour. She saw also that her +dark hair was dressed well on the top of the head +in <i>bouillonés</i> curls, and that the only ornament +she wore was among them,–a comb of wrought +gold set with diamonds,–and that otherwise +neither brooch nor bracelet, pendant nor ruffle +of lace broke the noble lines of her figure or +the rich folds of her gown. And the Duchess +was both astonished and pleased with a toilet so +distinguished; she assured herself in this passing +investigation that Mrs. Atheling was quite “presentable,” +and also probably desirable.</p> + +<p>The favourable impression was strengthened in +that hour after dinner when ladies left to their +own devices either become disagreeable or confidential. +The Duchess and Mrs. Atheling fell +into the latter mood, and their early removal to +London was the first topic of conversation.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span>“We have no house in town,” said Mrs. Atheling; +“but the Squire has rented one that belonged +to the late General Vyner. It is in very good +condition, I hear, though we may have to stay a +few days at ‘<i>The Clarendon</i>.’”</p> + +<p>“How strange! I mean that it is strange you +should have rented the General’s house. Did +you make the arrangement with the Duke?”</p> + +<p>“No, indeed; with a Mr. Pownell who is a +large house agent.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Pownell attends to the Duke’s London +property. I am sure he will be delighted to +know his old friend’s home is in such good +hands. I wonder if you have heard that the +Duke is General Vyner’s executor and the guardian +of his daughter?”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Atheling made a motion indicative of her +ignorance and her astonishment, and the Duchess +continued, “It is quite a charge everyway; but +there was a life-long friendship between the two +men, and Annabel will come to us almost like a +daughter.”</p> + +<p>“A great charge though,” answered Mrs. +Atheling, “especially if she is yet to educate.”</p> + +<p>“Her education is finished. She is twenty-two +years of age. It is her wealth which will make +my position an anxious one. It is not an easy +thing to chaperon a great heiress.”</p> + +<p>“And if she is beautiful, that will add to the +difficulty,” said Mrs. Atheling.</p> + +<p>“I have never seen Miss Vyner. I cannot tell +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span> +you whether she is beautiful or not so. She +joins us in London, and my first duty will be to +present her at the next drawing-room.”</p> + +<p>A little sensitive pause followed this statement,–a +pause so sensitive that the Duchess divined +the desire in Mrs. Atheling’s heart; and Mrs. +Atheling felt the hesitancy and wavering inclination +weighing her wish in the thoughts of the +Duchess. A sudden, straight glance from Mrs. +Atheling’s eyes decided the question.</p> + +<p>“I should like to present Miss Atheling at the +same time, if you have no objection,” she added. +And Mrs. Atheling’s pleasure was so great, and +her thanks so candid and positive, that the Duchess +accepted the situation she had placed herself +in with apparent satisfaction. Yet she wondered +<i>why</i> she had made the offer. She felt as if the +favour had been obtained against her will. She +was half afraid in the very moment of the proposal +that she was doing an imprudent thing. +But when she had done it, she never thought of +withdrawing from a position she must have taken +voluntarily. On the contrary, she affected a +great interest in the event, and talked of “the +ceremonies Miss Atheling must make herself +familiar with,” of the probable date at which +the function would take place, and of the dress +and ornaments fitting for the occasion. “And +the young people must meet each other as soon +as possible,” she continued.</p> + +<p>Then the gentlemen entered the drawing-room, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87'></a>87</span> +and the groups scattered. The Duchess left Mrs. +Atheling; and Lord Exham took the chair she +vacated. And the happy mother was far too +simple, and too single-hearted to keep her pleasure +to herself. She told Exham of the honour +intended Kate, and was a little dashed by the +manner in which he heard the news. He was +ashamed of it himself; but he could not at once +conquer the feeling of jealousy which assailed +him. It was the first time that the image of +Kate had been presented to him in company with +any but Piers Exham; and it gave him real suffering +to associate it with the attention and +admiration her beauty was sure to challenge +from all and sundry who would be present at +a court drawing-room. However, he made the +necessary assurances of pleasure, and Mrs. +Atheling was not a woman who went motive +hunting. She took a friend’s words at their face +value.</p> + +<p>Of course Kate was delighted, and the Squire +perhaps more so; for though he pretended to think +it “all a bit of nonsense,” he opened his purse-strings +wide, and told his wife and daughter to +“help themselves.” So the last few days at +Atheling were set to the dreams, and hopes, +and expectations of that gay social life which +always has a charm for youth. The clash of +party warfare, the wailing of want, the insistent +claims of justice,–all these voices were temporarily +hushed. They had become monotonous +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88'></a>88</span> +and, to Kate, suddenly uninteresting. What was +the passing of a Reform Bill to a girl of nineteen, +when there was such a thing as a court drawing-room +in expectation?</p> + +<p>It made her restless and anxious during the +two weeks occupied by their removal from +Atheling, and their settlement in London. And +though the great city was full of wonder and +interest, and the new splendours of the Vyner +mansion very satisfactory, yet she could not +enjoy these things until there was some token +that the Duchess remembered, and intended to +fulfil her promise. If only Piers had been in +London! But Piers had been detained in Yorkshire, +and was not expected until the formal +opening of Parliament, so that Kate could only +speculate, and wish, and fear, and in so doing +discount her present, and forestall her future +pleasures. So prodigal is youth of happiness +and feeling!</p> + +<p>However, at the end of October, Mrs. Atheling +received a letter from the Duchess. It reminded +her of the drawing-room, and asked Miss Atheling’s +presence that evening in order to meet Miss +Vyner, and consult with her about the dresses to +be worn. The visit was to be perfectly informal; +but even an informal visit to Richmoor House +was a great event to Kate. And how pretty she +was when she came into her father’s and mother’s +presence, dressed for the occasion! Mrs. Atheling +looked at her with a smile of satisfaction, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span> +the Squire instantly rose, and took her on his +arm to the waiting carriage. This carriage was +the Squire’s pet extravagance, and there was +not a more splendidly-appointed equipage in +London. Its horses were of the finest that Yorkshire +breeds; the servant’s liveries irreproachable +in taste; and when he saw his daughter’s white +figure against its rich, blue linings he was satisfied +with his outlay.</p> + +<p>Richmoor House was soon reached, and Kate +looked with wonder at its noble frontage, and its +stone colonnades. How much greater was her +wonder when she stepped into its interior vestibule! +This vestibule was eighty-two feet long, +by more than twelve feet wide; it was ornamented +with Doric columns and fine carvings, +and at each end there was a colossal staircase. +Up one of these stately ways Kate was conducted +into a gallery full of fine paintings, and +forming the corridor on which the one hundred +and fifty rooms appropriated to the use of the +family opened. Here, one servant after another +escorted her, until she was left with a woman-in-waiting, +who led her into a tiring-room and then +assisted Kate’s own maid to remove her mistress’s +wrap and hood, and tie in pretty bows +her white satin sandals. The simple girl felt as +if she was in a dream, and she accepted all this +attention with the calm composure of a dream-maiden. +It was just like one of the old fairy +tales she used to live in. She was an enchanted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90'></a>90</span> +princess in an enchanted castle, and all she had to +do, was to be passive in the hands of her destiny. +Transient and illogical as this feeling was, it gave +to her manner a singular air of serene confidence, +and the Duchess noticed and approved it. She +was relieved at once from any apprehension of +anything <i>malapropos</i> in The Presence.</p> + +<p>She went forward to meet Kate, and was both +astonished and pleased at her <i>protegée’s</i> appearance. +The white llama in which she was +gowned, its simple trimming of white satin, and +its pretty accessories of white slippers and gloves +satisfied both the pride and the taste of the +Duchess. Any less attention to costume she +would have felt as a want of respect towards herself; +any more extravagant display would have +indicated vulgar display and a due want of subordination +to her own rank and age. But Kate +offended no feeling, and she took her by the hand +and led her down the long room. At its extremity +there was a group of girls: one was standing; +the others were sitting on a sofa before her. The +eyes of all were fastened on Kate as she approached; +but she was not disturbed by this +scrutiny. She had all the strength and assurance +which comes from a proper and moderate toilet; +and she was even competent to do her own share +of observation.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i6'></a><img src='images/illus-091.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span>The three girls sitting on the sofa offered no +points of remark or speculation. They were the +three Ladies Anne, Mary, and Charlotte Warwick; +and all alike had the beauty of youth, the grace +of noble nurture, and the pretty garments indicative +of their station. But the young lady standing +was of a different character. Her personality +pervaded the space in which she stood; she +domineered with a look; and Kate knew instinctively +that this girl was Annabel Vyner. The +knowledge came with a little shock, a sudden +failing of heart, a presentiment. She had given +her hand with a pleasant impulse, and without +consideration, to the Ladies Warwick; she did +not offer it to Annabel; and yet she was not +aware of the omission. All of these girls were +intending to make a Court <i>début</i>, and at that +moment were discussing its necessities. Kate +at first took little part in this discussion. Mrs. +Atheling had already decided on the costume +she thought most suitable for her daughter; and +Kate was quite satisfied with her choice. Miss +Vyner was however dictating to Lady Charlotte +Warwick what she ought to wear; and Kate +watched with a curious wonder this girlish oracle, +laying down laws for others her equal in age, +and far more than her equal in rank and social +position.</p> + +<p>Miss Vyner was not beautiful; but she possessed +an irresistible fascination. She was large, +and rather heavy. She reminded one of a roughhewn +granite statue of old Egypt; and she was +just as magnificently imposing. Her hair was +long, and strong, and wavy; her eyes very black +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span> +and intrepid, but capable of liquid, languishing +expressions, full of enchantment. Her nose, +though thick and square at the end, had wide, +sensitive nostrils; and her fine, red lips showed +white and dazzling teeth. But it was the sense +of power and plenitude of life which she possessed +which gave her that natural authority, +whose influence all felt, and few analysed or +disputed.</p> + +<p>She was quite aware that standing was a becoming +posture, and that it gave to her a certain +power over the girlish figures who seemed to +sit at her feet. It was not long, however, before +Kate felt an instinctive rebellion against the +position assigned her; she knew that it put her +in an unfair subordination; and she rose from +her chair, and stood leaning against the Broadwood +piano at her side. The action arrested +Miss Vyner’s attention. She stopped speaking +in the middle of a sentence, and, looking steadily +at Kate, said suavely, as she pushed the chair +slightly,–</p> + +<p>“Do sit down, Miss Atheling.”</p> + +<p>“No, thank you,” answered Kate. “I have +been sitting all day. I am tired of sitting.”</p> + +<p>Then Annabel gave her a still more searching +look, and something came into Kate’s eyes which +she understood; for she smiled as she went on +with her little dictation; but the thought in her +heart was, “So you have thrown down the glove, +Miss Atheling!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span>Nothing however of this incipient defiance was +noticeable; and Annabel’s attention was almost +immediately afterwards diverted from her companions. +For in the middle of one of her fine +descriptions of an Indian court, she observed a +sudden loss of interest, and a simultaneous direction +of every glance towards the upper end of +the room. The Duchess was approaching, and +with her, a young man in dinner costume. A +crimson flush rushed over Kate’s neck and face; +she dropped her eyes, but could not restrain the +faint smile that came and went like a flash of +light.</p> + +<p>“It is Lord Exham,” she said in a low voice +to Anne Warwick; and the Ladies nodded +slightly, and continued a desultory conversation, +they hardly knew what about. But Annabel +stood erect and silent. She glanced once at +Kate, and then turned the full blaze of her dazzling +eyes upon the advancing nobleman. For +once, their magnetic rays were ineffectual. The +Duchess, on her son’s arrival, had notified him of +the ladies present; and Kate Atheling was the +lodestar which drew his first attention. He had +in the button-hole of his coat a few Michaelmas +daisies, and after speaking to the other ladies, +he put them into Kate’s hand, saying, “I gathered +them in Atheling garden. Do you remember +the bush by the swing in the laurel walk? I +thought you would like to have them.” And +Kate said “thank you” in the way that Piers +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span> +perfectly understood and appreciated, though it +seemed to be of the most formal kind.</p> + +<p>The dinner was a family dinner, but far from +being tiresome or dull. The Duke and Lord +Exham had both adventures to tell. The latter +in passing through a little market-town had seen +the hungry people take the wheat from the +grain-market by force, and said he had been delayed +a little by the circumstance.</p> + +<p>“But why?” asked the Duchess.</p> + +<p>“There were some arrests made; and after all, +one cannot see hungry men and women punished +for taking food.” There was silence after this +remark, and Kate glanced at Exham, whose +veiled eyes, cast upon the glass of wine he held +in his hand, betrayed nothing. But when he +lifted them, they caught something from Kate’s +eyes, and an almost imperceptible smile passed +from face to face. No one asked Exham for further +particulars; and the Duke hurriedly changed +the subject. “Where do you think I took lunch +to-day?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“At Stephen’s,” answered the Duchess.</p> + +<p>“Not likely,” he replied. “I am neither a +fashionable officer, nor a dandy about town. If +I had asked for lunch there, the waiters would +have stared solemnly, and told me there was no +table vacant.”</p> + +<p>“As you want horses, perhaps you went to +Limmers,” said Exham.</p> + +<p>“No. I met a party of gentlemen and ladies +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span> +going to Whitbread’s Brewery, and I went with +them. We had a steak done on a hot malt +shovel, and plenty of stout to wash it down. +There were quite a number of visitors there; it +has become one of the sights of London. Then +I rode as far as the Philosophical Society, and +heard a lecture on a new chemical force.”</p> + +<p>“The Archbishop does not approve of your devotion +to Science,” said the Duchess, reprovingly.</p> + +<p>“I know it,” he answered. “All our clergy +regard Science as a new kind of sin. I saw the +Archbishop later, at a very interesting ceremony,–the +deposition in Whitehall Chapel of twelve +Standards taken in Andalusia by the personal +bravery of our soldiers.”</p> + +<p>“I wish I had seen that ceremony,” said +Kate.</p> + +<p>“And I wish I had myself been one of the +heroes carrying the Standard I had won,” added +Annabel.</p> + +<p>The Duke smiled at the pretty volunteers, and +continued, “It was a very interesting sight. +Three royal Dukes, many Generals and foreign +Ambassadors, and the finest troops in London +were present. We had some good music, and a +short religious service, and then the Archbishop +deposited the flags on each side of the Altar.”</p> + +<p>“I like these military ceremonies,” said the +Duchess. “I shall not forget the Proclamation +of Peace after Waterloo. What a procession of +mediæval splendour it was!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span>“I remember it, though I was only a little +boy,” said Exham. “The Proclamation was +read three times,–at Temple Bar, at Charing +Cross, and at The Royal Exchange. The blast +of trumpets before and after each reading!–I can +hear it yet!”</p> + +<p>“And the Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s after the +procession was just as impressive,” continued +the Duchess. “The Prince Regent and the +Duke of Wellington walked together, and Wellington +carried the Sword of State. It was a +gorgeous festival set to trumpets and drums, and +the roll of organ music, and the seraphic singing +of ‘<i>Lo! the conquering hero comes</i>.’ The +Duke could have asked England for anything +he desired that day.”</p> + +<p>“Yet he is very unpopular now,” said Kate, +timidly. “Even my father thinks he carries +everything with too high a hand.”</p> + +<p>“His military training must be considered, +Miss Atheling,” said the Duke. “And the +country needs a tight rein now.”</p> + +<p>“He may hold it too tight,” said Exham, in a +low voice.</p> + +<p>Then the conversation was turned to the theatres, +and while they were talking, Squire Atheling +was introduced. He had called to escort +his daughter home; and after a short delay, Kate +was ready to accompany him. The Duke and +the Squire–who were deep in some item of +political news–went to the entrance hall together; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span> +and Lord Exham took Kate’s hand, and +led her down the great stairway. It was now +lighted with a profusion of wax candles in silver +candelabra. They were too happy to speak, +and there was no need of speech. Like two +notes of music made for each other, though dissimilar, +they were one; and the melody in the +heart of Piers was the melody in the heart of +Kate. The unison was perfect; why then should +it be explained? Very slowly they came down +the low broad steps, hardly feeling their feet +upon them; for spirit mingled with spirit, and +gave them the sense of ethereal motion.</p> + +<p>When they reached the vestibule, Kate’s maid +advanced and threw round her a wrap of pink +silk, trimmed with minever; and as Piers watched +the shrouding of her rose-like face in the pretty +hood, a sudden depression came like a cloud over +him. Oh, yes! True love has these moments of +deep gloom, in which intense feeling suspends +both movement and speech. He could only +look into the warm, secret foldings of silk and +fur which hid Kate’s beauty; he had not even +the common words of courtesy at his command; +but Kate divined the much warmer “good-night” +that was masked by the formal bow and uncovered +head.</p> + +<p>After the departure of the Athelings, father +and son walked silently up the stairs together; +but at the top of them, the Duke paused and said, +“Piers, the King opens Parliament on the Second +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span> +of November. We have only three days’ truce. +Then for the fight.”</p> + +<p>“We have foemen worthy of our steel. Grey–Durham–Brougham–Russel +and Graham. +They will not easily be put down.”</p> + +<p>“We shall win.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps. The House of Lords is very near +of one mind. Will you come to my smoking-room +and have a pipe of Turkish?”</p> + +<p>“I must see the ladies again; afterwards I may +do so.”</p> + +<p>With these words they parted, and Piers went +dreamily along the state corridor. In its dim, +soft light, he suddenly saw Miss Vyner approaching +him. He was thinking of Kate; but he had +no wish to escape Annabel. He was even interested +in watching her splendid figure in motion. +Only from some Indian loom had come that marvellous +tissue of vivid scarlet with its embroidery +of golden butterflies. It made her look like +some superb flower. She smiled as she reached +Piers, and said,–</p> + +<p>“I only am left to wish you a ‘good-night +and happy dreams.’The Ladies Warwick were +sleepy, the Duchess longing to be rid of such a +lot of tiresome girls, and I–”</p> + +<p>“What of ‘I’?” he asked with a sudden, unaccountable +interest.</p> + +<p>“I am going to the Land where I always go +in sleep. I shut my eyes, and I am there.”</p> + +<p>“Then, ‘Good-night.’”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span>“Good-night.” She put her little, warm, +brown hand, flashing with gems, into his; and +then with one long, unwinking gaze–in which +she caught Piers’ gaze–she strangely troubled +the young man. His blood grew hot as fire; his +heart bounded; his face was like a flame; and he +clasped her hand with an unconscious fervour. +She laughed lightly, drew it away, and passed on. +But as she did so, the Indian scarf she had over +her arm trailed across his feet, and thrilled him +like some living thing. He had a sense of intoxication, +and he hurried forward to his own room, +and threw himself into a chair.</p> + +<p>“It is that strange perfume that clings around +her,” he said in a voice of controlled excitement. +“I perceived it as soon as I met her. It makes +me drowsy. It makes me feverish–and yet +how delicious it is!” He threw his head backward, +and lay with closed eyes, moving neither +hand nor foot for some minutes. Then he rose, +and began to walk about the room, lifting and +putting down books, and papers, and odd trifles, +as they came in the way of his restless fingers. +And when at last he found speech, it was to reproach +himself–his real self–the man within +him.</p> + +<p>“You, poor, weak, false-hearted lover!” he +muttered bitterly. “Piers Exham! You hardly +needed temptation. I am ashamed of you! +Ashamed of you, Piers! Oh, Kate! I have been +false to you. It was only a passing thought, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100'></a>100</span> +Kate; but you would not have given to another +even a passing thought. Forgive me. <i>O Thou +Dear One!</i>”</p> + +<p>“Thou Dear One!” These three words had +a meaning of inexpressible tenderness to him. +For one night,–when as yet their Love was but +learning to speak,–one warm, sweet July night, +as they stood under the damask roses, he said to +Kate,–</p> + +<p>“How beautiful are the words and tones which +your mother uses to the Squire. She does not +speak thus to every one.”</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Kate. “To strangers mother +always says ‘<i>you</i>.’ To those she loves, she says +‘<i>thou</i>.’”</p> + +<p>And Piers answered, “Dear–if only–” and +then he let the silence speak for him. But Kate +understood, and she whispered softly,–</p> + +<p>“<i>Thou Dear One!</i>”</p> + +<p>It seemed to Piers as if no words to be spoken +in time or in eternity could ever make those +three words less sweet. They came to his memory +always like a sigh of soft music on a breath +of roses. And so it was at this hour. They +filled his heart, they filled his room with soft delight. +He stood still to realise their melody and +their fragrance, the music of their sweet inflections, +the perfume of their pure and perfect +love.</p> + +<p>“<i>Thou Dear One!</i>” He said these words +again and again. “It has always been Kate and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101'></a>101</span> +Piers! Always <i>I</i> and <i>Thou</i>–and as for <i>the +Other One</i>–”</p> + +<p>This mental query, utterly unthought of and +uncalled for, very much annoyed him. Who +or What was it that suggested “The Other +One”? Not himself; he was sure of that. He +went to his father, and they talked of the King, +and the Ministers, and the great Mr. Brougham, +whom both King and Ministers feared–but all +the time, and far below the tide of this restless +conversation, Piers heard this very different +one,–</p> + +<p>“<i>I</i> and <i>Thou</i>!”</p> + +<p>“And <i>the Other One</i>.”</p> + +<p>“There is no ‘Other One.’”</p> + +<p>“Annabel.”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“If Annabel were Destiny?”</p> + +<p>“Will is stronger than Destiny.”</p> + +<p>“If Annabel should be Will.”</p> + +<p>“Love is stronger than Will.”</p> + +<p>“It is Kate and Piers.”</p> + +<p>“And the Other One.”</p> + +<p>He grew impatient at this persistence of an +idea that he had not evoked, that he had, in fact, +denied. But he could not exorcise it. His very +dreams were made and mingled of the two girls,–Kate, +whom he loved, Annabel, who came +like a splendid destiny to trouble love. In the +pageant of sleep, he lost that will-power which +controlled his life; he was tossed to-and-fro between +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span> +blending shadows: Kate was Annabel; +Annabel was Kate; and the fretful, unreasonable +drama went on through restless hours, always +to the same tantalising refrain,–</p> + +<p>“<i>I, Thou, and the Other One!</i>”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span><a id='link_6'></a>CHAPTER SIXTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT STRUGGLE</span></h2> + +<p>There is no eternity for nations. Individuals +may be punished hereafter; nations are punished +here. In the first years of the Nineteenth Century, +Englishmen were mad on war; and though wise +men warned them of the ruin that stalks after war, +no one believed their report. The treasure that +would have now fed the starving population of +England, had been spent in killing Frenchmen. +Bad harvests followed the war years, taxation +was increased, wages were lowered and lowered, +credit was gone, trade languished, hunger or +scrimping carefulness was in every household. +For the iniquitous Corn Laws of 1815, forbidding +the importation of foreign grain, had raised English +wheat to eighty shillings a quarter. And +how were working men to buy bread at such a +price? No wonder, they clamoured for a House +of Commons that should represent their case, +and repeal Acts that could only benefit one class, +and inflict ruin and misery on all others.</p> + +<p>A feeling therefore of intense anxiety pervaded +the country on the Second of November,–the +day on which the King was to open Parliament. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> +No one could work; every one was waiting for +the King’s speech. He was as yet very popular; +it was his first message to his people; and they +openly begged him for some word of hope–some +expression of sympathy for Reform. He +went in great state to Westminster, and was +cheered by the city as he went. “Will Your +Majesty say a word for the poor? God bless +Your Majesty! Stand by Reform!” Such expressions +assailed him on every hand; they were +the prayers of a people wronged and suffering, +yet disposed to be patient and loyal, and to seek +Reform only to spare themselves and the country +the ruth and ruin of Revolution.</p> + +<p>Richmoor House was on the way of the royal +procession, and Kate was there to watch it. A +little later, a great company began to assemble +in its rooms; for the Duke had promised to bring, +or to send, the earliest news of the event. There +was however an intense restlessness among these +splendidly attired men and women. They could +not separate Reform from Revolution; and the +French Revolution was yet red and bloody in +their memories. They still heard the thunder of +those famous “Three Days of July,” and there +was constantly before their eyes, the heir of forty +kings finding in a British palace an ignominious +shelter. Not only was this the case, but French +noblemen, in poverty and exile, were earning precarious +livings all around; and English noblemen +and ladies looked forward with terror to a similar +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> +fate, if the Reformers obtained their desire. Indeed, +Sir Robert Inglis had boldly prophesied, +“Reform would sweep the House of Lords clear +in ten years.”</p> + +<p>No wonder then the company waiting in Richmoor +House were restless and anxious. Kate did +not permit herself to speak, and Mrs. Atheling +had very prudently remained in her own home. +She had told the Squire she “must say what +she thought, if she died for it!” and the Squire +had answered, “To be sure, Maude. That is +thy right; only, for goodness’ sake, say it in thy +own house!” But though Kate knew she would +follow her mother’s example, if she was brought +to catechism on the subject, she did not have +much fear of such a result; there were too many +older ladies present, all of them desirous to +express the hatreds and hopes of their class.</p> + +<p>Yet it was these emotional, expressional women +that Annabel Vyner naturally joined. She stood +among them like a splendid incarnation of its +spirit. She hoped vehemently that “Earl Grey +and Lord John Russell would be beheaded as traitors;” +she declared she would “go with delight +to Tower Hill and see the axe fall.” She flashed +into contempt, when she spoke of Mr. Brougham. +“Botany Bay and hard labour might do for him; +and as for the waiting crowds in the streets, the +proper thing was to shoot them down, like rabid +animals.” She wondered “the Duke of Wellington +did not do so.” These sentiments were vivified +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106'></a>106</span> +by the passion that blazed in her black eyes and +flushed her brown face crimson, and by the gown +of bright yellow Chinese crape which she wore; +for it fluttered and waved with her impetuous +movements, and made a kind of luminous atmosphere +around her.</p> + +<p>“What a superb creature!” exclaimed Mr. +Disraeli to the Hon. Mrs. Norton. And Mrs. +Norton put up her glass and looked at Annabel +critically.</p> + +<p>“Superb indeed–to look at. Would you like +to live with her?”</p> + +<p>“It would be exciting.”</p> + +<p>“More so than your ‘Vivian Grey,’ which I +have just read. It is the book of the year.”</p> + +<p>“No, that honour belongs to a little volume of +poems by a young man called Tennyson. Get +it; you will read every word it contains.”</p> + +<p>“I am wedded to my idols,–Byron and Scott +and Keble. I am much interested at present +in those ‘Imaginary Conversations’ which that +queer Mr. Landor has given us. They are worth +reading, I assure you.”</p> + +<p>“But why read them? Listen to the ‘Conversations’ +around us! They are of Revolution, +Civil War, Exile, and the Headsman. Could anything +be more ‘Imaginary’?”</p> + +<p>“Who can tell? Here comes Richmoor. He +may be able to prognosticate. What a murmur +of voices! What invisible movement! Can you +divine the news from the messenger’s face?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span>“He thinks that he brings good news. He +may be fatally wrong.”</p> + +<p>The Duke certainly thought that he brought +good news. He was much excited. He came +forward with his hands extended, palms upward.</p> + +<p>“The King stands by us!” he cried. “God +save the King!”</p> + +<p>Twenty voices called out at once, “What did +he say?”</p> + +<p>“He said plainly that in spite of the public +opinion expressed so loudly in recent elections, +Reform would have no sanction from the Government. +I only stayed until the end of the royal +speech. Yet in some way rumours of its purport +must have reached the street. In the neighbourhood, +there was much agitation, and even anger.”</p> + +<p>Then Kate slipped away from the excited +throng. Piers had evidently remained for the +discussion on the King’s speech; and it might +be midnight when the House adjourned. The +winter day was fast darkening; she ordered her +chairmen, and the pretty sedan was brought into +the vestibule for her. She had no fear, though +the very gloom and silence of the waiting crowd +was more indicative of danger than noise or +threats would have been. When she reached +Hyde Park corner, however, angry faces pressed +around a little too close, and she was alarmed. +Then she threw back her hood and looked out +calmly at the crowd, and immediately a clear +voice cried out, “It is Edgar Atheling’s sister! +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span> +Take good care of her!” And there was a cheer +and a cry, and about twenty men closed round +the chair, and saw it safely to its destination.</p> + +<p>Then Cecil North stepped to the door and +opened it. “I knew it was you, Mr. North!” +cried Kate. “I knew your voice. How kind of +you to come all the way with me! How glad +mother will be to see you!”</p> + +<p>“I cannot wait a moment, Miss Atheling. Can +you give me any news?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. The King says the Government will +not sanction Reform.”</p> + +<p>“Who told you this?”</p> + +<p>“The Duke of Richmoor–not an hour ago.”</p> + +<p>“Then ‘good-night.’ I am afraid there will be +trouble.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Atheling and Kate were afraid also. The +murmur of the crowd grew louder and louder as +the tenor of the King’s speech became known; +and many a time they wished themselves in the +safety and solitude of their Yorkshire home. So +they talked, and watched, and listened until the +night was far advanced. Then they heard the +firm, strong step of the Squire on the pavement; +and his imperative voice in denial of something +said by a group of men whom he passed. In a +few minutes he entered the drawing-room with +an angry light in his eyes, and the manner of a +man exasperated by opposition.</p> + +<p>“Whatever is it, John? Is there trouble +already?” asked Mrs. Atheling.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i7'></a><img src='images/illus-109.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span>“Plenty of it, and like to be more. The King +has spoken like a fool.”</p> + +<p>“John Atheling! His Majesty!”</p> + +<p>“His Imbecility! I tell you what, Maude, +there has been enough said to-day, and to-night, +to set all the dogs of civil war loose. Give me +a bit of eating, and I will tell thee and Kitty +what a lot of idiots are met together in +Westminster.”</p> + +<p>The Squire always wanted a deal of waiting +upon; and in a few minutes his valet was bringing +him easy slippers and a loose coat, and two +handmaidens serving a tray, bearing game pastry, +and fruit tarts, and clotted cream. But he would +take neither wine, nor strong ale,–</p> + +<p>“Water is all a man wants that gets himself +stirred up in the House of Commons,” he said. +“And if I had been in the Lords’ House, I would +have needed nothing but a strait-jacket.”</p> + +<p>He had hardly sat down to eat, when Piers +Exham came in. No one could have been more +welcome, and the young man’s troubled face +brightened in the sunshine of Kate’s smile, and +in the honest kindness of the Squire’s greeting. +“I was just going to tell Mrs. Atheling all I +knew about to-night’s blundering,” he said; +“but now we will have your report first, for +you have seen the Duke, I’ll warrant.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, Squire, the Duke is not dissatisfied–though +the general opinion is, that the Duke of +Wellington has committed an egregious mistake.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110'></a>110</span>“I shouldn’t wonder. Wellington does not +know the difference between a field-marshal and +a Cabinet Minister. What did he say?”</p> + +<p>“He said that as long as he held any office in +the Government, he would resist Reform. He +said there was no need of Reform; that we had +the best government in the world. The Duke of +Devonshire, whom I have just seen, told me that +this statement produced a feeling of the utmost +dismay, even in the calm atmosphere of the +House of Lords.”</p> + +<p>“Calm!” interrupted the Squire. “You had +better say, Incurable prosiness.”</p> + +<p>“Wellington noticed the suppressed excitement, +the murmur, and the movement, and asked +Devonshire in a whisper, ‘What can I have said +to cause such great disturbance?’ And Devonshire +shrugged his shoulders and answered candidly, +‘You have announced the fall of your +government, that is all.’”</p> + +<p>“Wellington considers the nation as a mutinous +regiment,” answered the Squire. “He +thinks the arguments for Reformers ought to +be cannon balls; but Englishmen will not endure +a military government.”</p> + +<p>“It would be better than a mob government, +Squire. Remember France.”</p> + +<p>“Englishmen are not Frenchmen,” said Kate. +“You ought to remember <i>that</i>, Piers. Englishmen +are the most fair, just, reasonable, brave, +loyal, honourable people on the face of the earth!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span>“Well done, Kitty!” cried the Squire. “It +takes a little lass like thee to find adjectives +plenty enough, and good enough, for thy own. +My word! I wish thou couldst tell the Duke of +Wellington what thou thinkest of his fellow-citizens. +He would happen trust them more, and +treat them better.”</p> + +<p>“There is Mr. Peel too,” she continued. +“Both he and the Duke of Wellington are +always down on the people. And yet the Duke +has led these same people from one victory to +another; and Mr. Peel is one of the people. +His father was a day-labourer, and he ought to +be proud of it; William Cobbett is, and William +Cobbett is a greater man than Robert Peel.”</p> + +<p>“Now then, Kitty, that is far enough; for +thou art wrong already. Cobbett isn’t a greater +man than Peel; he isn’t a great man at all, he +is only a clever man. But the man for my +money is Henry Brougham. He drives the +world before him. He is a multitude. He had +just one idea to-day,–Reform and again Reform. +He played that tune finely to the House, and +they danced to it like a miracle. Much good it +will do them!”</p> + +<p>“He was scarcely decent,” said Piers. “He +gave notice, as you must have heard, in the most +aggressive manner that he should bring ‘Reform’ +to an immediate issue.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered the Squire. “There is +doubtless a big battle before us. But, mark my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> +words, it will not be with Wellington and Peel. +They signed their own resignation this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“That is what my father thinks,” said Piers.</p> + +<p>“If Wellington could only have held his +tongue!” said the Squire, bitterly.</p> + +<p>“And if Daniel O’Connell would only cease +making fun of the Government.”</p> + +<p>“That man! He is nobody!”</p> + +<p>“You mistake, Squire. His buffoonery is fatal +to our party. I tell you that Ridicule is the +lightning that kills. Has not Aristophanes tossed +his enemies for the scorn and laughter of a +thousand cities for a thousand years? I fear +O’Connell’s satire and joking, far more than +I fear Grey’s statesmanship, or Durham’s popularity.”</p> + +<p>Then Piers turned to Kate, and asked if she +had seen the royal procession. And she told +him about her visit, and about Mr. North’s interference +for her safety, and his escort of her home. +Piers was much annoyed at this incident. He +begged her not to venture into the streets until +public feeling had abated, or was controlled, and +asked with singular petulance, “Who is this Mr. +North? He plays the mysterious Knight very +well. He interferes too much.”</p> + +<p>“I was grateful for his interference.”</p> + +<p>“Why did you not remain at Richmoor until I +returned? I expected it, Kate.”</p> + +<p>“I was afraid; and I knew my mother would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span> +be anxious–and I felt so sad among strangers. +You know, Piers, I have always lived among my +own people–among those who loved me.”</p> + +<p>This little bit of conversation had taken place +while the tray was being removed, and the +Squire and Mrs. Atheling were talking about the +engagements for the next day, so that definite +orders might be given concerning the carriage +and horses. The movements of the servants had +enabled Piers and Kate, quite naturally, to withdraw +a little from the fireside group; and when +Kate made her tender assertion, about living with +those who loved her, Piers’s heart was full to overflowing. +This girl of sweet nature, with her innocent +beauty and ingenuous expressions, possessed +his noblest feelings. He clasped her +hands in his, and said,–</p> + +<p>“Oh, Kate! I loved you when you were only +twelve years old; I love you now beyond all +measure of words. And you love me? Speak, +Dear One!”</p> + +<p>“I love none but thee!”</p> + +<p>The next moment she was standing before +her father and mother. Piers held her hand. +He was talking to them in low but eager tones, +yet she did not realise a word, until he said,–</p> + +<p>“Give her to me, my friends. We have loved +each other for many years. We shall love each +other for ever. She is the wife of my soul. Without +her, I can only half live.” Then bending to +Kate, he asked her fondly, “Do you love me, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span> +Kate? Do you love me? Ask your heart about +it. Tell us truly, do you love me?”</p> + +<p>Then she lifted her sweet eyes to her lover, her +father, and her mother, and answered, “I love +Piers with all my heart.”</p> + +<p>The Squire was much troubled and affected. +“This is taking a bit of advantage, Piers,” he said. +“There is a time for everything, and this is not +my time for giving my little girl away.”</p> + +<p>“Speak for us, Mrs. Atheling,” said Piers.</p> + +<p>“Nay, I think the Squire is quite right,” she +replied. “Love isn’t worth much if Duty does +not stand with it.”</p> + +<p>“And there is far more, Piers,” continued the +Squire, “in such a marriage as you propose than +a girl’s and a lover’s ‘yes.’ When the country +has settled a bit, we will talk about love and +wedding. I can’t say more for my life, can I, +Mother?”</p> + +<p>“It is enough,” answered Mrs. Atheling. +“Why, we might have a civil war, and what not! +To choose a proper mate is good enough; but it +is quite as important to choose a proper time for +mating. Now then, this is not a proper time, +when everything is at ups-and-downs, and this +way and that way, and great public events, that +no one can foretell, crowding one on the neck of +the other. Let things be as they are, children. +If you only knew it, you are in the Maytime of +your lives. I wouldn’t hurry it over, if I was +you. It won’t come back again.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span>Then Kate kissed her father, and her mother, +and her lover; and Piers kissed Kate, and Mrs. +Atheling, and put his hand into the Squire’s +hand; and the solemn joy of betrothal was +there, though it was not openly admitted.</p> + +<p>In truth the Squire was much troubled at +events coming to any climax. He would not +suffer his daughter to enter into an engagement +not openly acknowledged and approved by both +families; and yet he was aware that at the present +time the Duke would consider any subject–not +public or political–as an interruption, perhaps +as an intrusion. Besides which, the Squire’s own +sense of honour and personal pride made him +averse to force an affair so manifestly to the preferment +of his daughter. It looked like taking +advantage of circumstances–of presuming upon +a kindness; in fact, the more Squire Atheling +thought of the alliance, the less he was disposed +to sanction it. Under no circumstances, could he +give Kate such a fortune as the heir of a great +Dukedom had a right to expect. She must enter +the Richmoor family at a disadvantage–perhaps +even on sufferance.</p> + +<p>“No! by the Lord Harry, no!” he exclaimed. +“I’ll have none of the Duke’s toleration on any +matter. I am sorry I took his seat. I wish +Edgar was here–he ought to be here, looking +after his mother and sister, instead of setting up +rogues on Glasgow Green against their King and +Country! Of course, there is Love to reckon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span> +with, and Love does wonders–but it is money +that makes marriage.”</p> + +<p>With such reflections, and many others growing +out of them, the Squire hardened his heart, and +strengthened his personal sense of dignity, until he +almost taught himself to believe the Duke had already +wounded it. In this temper he was quite +inclined to severely blame his wife for not “putting +a stop to the nonsense when it first began.”</p> + +<p>“John,” she answered, “we are both of a +piece in that respect.”</p> + +<p>“On my honour, Mother.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t say it, John. You used to laugh at the +little lass going off with Edgar and Piers fishing. +You used to tease her about the gold brooch +Piers gave her. Many a time you have called +her to me, ‘the little Duchess.’”</p> + +<p>“Wilt thou be quiet?”</p> + +<p>“I am only reminding thee.”</p> + +<p>“Thou needest not. I wish thou wouldst remind +thy son that he has a sister that he might +look after a bit.”</p> + +<p>“I can look after Kate without his help. He +is doing far better business than hanging around +Dukes.”</p> + +<p>“If thou wantest a quarrel this morning, Maude, +I’m willing to give thee one. I say, Edgar ought +to be here.”</p> + +<p>“What for? He is doing work that we will all +be proud enough of some day. Thou oughtest to +be helping him, instead of abusing him. I want +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span> +thee to open this morning’s <i>Times</i>, and read the +speech he made in Glasgow City Hall. Thou +couldst not have made such a speech to save thy +life.”</p> + +<p>“Say, I <i>would not</i> have made it, and then +thou wilt say the very truth.”</p> + +<p>“Read it.”</p> + +<p>“Not I.”</p> + +<p>“Thou darest not. Thou knowest it would make +thee turn round and vote with the Reformers.”</p> + +<p>“Roast the Reformers! I wish I could! I +would not have believed thou couldst have said +such a thing, Maude. How darest thou even think +of thy husband as a turncoat? Why, in politics, +it is the unpardonable sin.”</p> + +<p>“It is nothing of the kind. Not it! It is far +worse to stick to a sin, than to turn from it. If I +was the biggest of living Tories, and I found out +I was wrong, I would stand up before all England +and turn my coat in the sight of everybody. I +would that. When I read thy name against Mr. +Brougham bringing up Reform, I’ll swear I +could have cried for it!”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t wonder. All the fools are not +dead yet. But I hear Kitty and her lover coming. +I wonder what they are talking and laughing +about?”</p> + +<p>“Thou hadst better not ask them. I’ll warrant, +Piers is telling her the same sort of nonsense, +thou usedst to tell me; and they will both of them, +believe it, no doubt.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118'></a>118</span>At these words Piers and Kate entered the +room together. They were going for a gallop in +the Park; and they looked so handsome, and so +happy, that neither the Squire nor Mrs. Atheling +could say a word to dash their pleasure. The +Squire, indeed, reminded Piers that the House +met at two o’clock; and Piers asked blankly, like +a man who neither knew, nor cared anything +about the House, “Does it?” With the words on +his lips, he turned to Kate, and smiling said, “Let +us make haste, my dear. The morning is too fine +to lose.” And hand in hand, they said a hasty, +joyful “good-bye” and disappeared. The father +and mother watched them down the street until +they were out of sight. As they turned away +from the window, their eyes met, and Mrs. +Atheling smiled. The Squire looked abashed +and disconcerted.</p> + +<p>“Why didst not thou put a stop to such nonsense, +John?” she asked.</p> + +<p>Fortunately at this moment a servant entered +to tell the Squire his horse was waiting, and this +interruption, and a rather effusive parting, let him +handsomely out of an embarrassing answer.</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Atheling wrote a long letter to her +son, and looked after the ways of her household, +and knit a few rounds on her husband’s hunting +stocking, and as she did so thought of Kate’s +future, and got tired of trying to settle it, and +so left it, as a scholar leaves a difficult problem, +for the Master to solve. And when she had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span> +reached this point Kate came into the room. +She had removed her habit, and the joyous look +which had been so remarkable two hours before +was all gone. The girl was dashed and weary, +and her mother asked her anxiously, “If she +was sick?”</p> + +<p>“No,” she answered; “but I have been annoyed, +and my heart is heavy, and I am tired.”</p> + +<p>“Who or what annoyed you, child?”</p> + +<p>“I will tell you. Piers and I had a glorious +ride, and were coming slowly home, when suddenly +the Richmoor liveries came in sight. I +saw the instant change on Piers’s face, and I +saw Annabel slightly push the Duchess and say +something. And the Duchess drew her brows +together as we passed each other, and though +she bowed, I could see that she was angry and +astonished. As for Annabel, she laughed a little, +scornful laugh, and threw me a few words which +I could not catch. It was a most unpleasant +meeting; after it Piers was very silent. I felt as +if I had done something wrong, and yet I was +indignant at myself for the feeling.”</p> + +<p>“What did Piers say?”</p> + +<p>“He said nothing that pleased me. He fastened +his eyes on Annabel,–who was marvellously +dressed in rose-coloured velvet and +minever,–and she clapped her small hands +together and nodded to him in a familiar way, +and, bending slightly forward, passed on. And +after that he did not talk much. All his love-making +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span> +was over, and I thought he was glad +when we reached home. I think Annabel will +certainly take my lover from me.”</p> + +<p>“You mean that she has made up her mind to +be Duchess of Richmoor?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Well, my dear Kate, a beautiful woman is +strong, and money is stronger; but <i>True Love +conquers all</i>.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span><a id='link_7'></a>CHAPTER SEVENTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE LOST RING</span></h2> + +<p>“To-morrow some new light may come, and +you will see things another way, Kitty.” This +was Mrs. Atheling’s final opinion, and Kitty was +inclined to take all the comfort there was in it. +She was sitting then in her mother’s room, watching +her dress for dinner, and admiring, as good +daughters will always do, everything she could +find to admire about the yet handsome woman.</p> + +<p>“You have such beautiful hair, Mother. I +wouldn’t wear a cap if I was you,” she said.</p> + +<p>“Your father likes a bit of lace on my head, +Kitty. He says it makes me look more motherly.”</p> + +<p>She was laying the “bit of lace” on her brown +hair as she spoke. Then she took from her open +jewel case, two gold pins set with turquoise, and +fastened the arrangement securely. Kitty watched +her with loving smiles, and finally changed the +whole fashion of the bit of lace, declaring that by +so doing she had made her mother twenty years +younger. And somehow in this little toilet ceremony, +all Kitty’s sorrow passed away, and she +said, “I wonder where my fears are gone to, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122'></a>122</span> +Mother; for it does not now seem hard to hope +that all is just as it was.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure, Kitty, I never worry much about +fears. Fears are mostly made of nothing; and +in the long run they are often a blessing. Without +fears, we couldn’t have hopes; now could +we?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you dear, sweet, good Mother! I wish I +was just like you!”</p> + +<p>“Time enough, Kitty.” Then a look of love +flashed from face to face, and struck straight from +heart to heart; and there was a little silence that +needed no words. Kitty lifted a ring and slipped +it on her finger. It was a hoop of fine, dark blue +sapphires, set in fretted gold, and clasped with a +tiny padlock, shaped like a heart.</p> + +<p>“What a lovely ring!” she cried. “Why do +you not wear it, Mother?”</p> + +<p>“Because it is a good bit too small now, Kitty.”</p> + +<p>“Miss Vyner’s hands are always covered with +rings, and she says every one of them has a +romance.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve heard, or read, something like that. +There was a woman in the story-book, was +there not, who kept a tally of her lovers on a +string of rings they had given her? I don’t +think it was anything to her credit. I shouldn’t +wonder if that is a bit ill-natured. I ought not to +say such a thing, so don’t mind it, Kitty.”</p> + +<p>“Is this sapphire band yours, Mother?”</p> + +<p>“To be sure it is.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i8'></a><img src='images/illus-123.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span>“May I wear it?”</p> + +<p>“Well, Kitty, I think a deal of that ring. You +must take great care of it.”</p> + +<p>“So then, Mother, one of your rings has a +story too, has it?” And there was a little laugh +for answer, and Kitty slipped the coveted trinket +on her finger, and held up her hand to admire +the gleam of the jewels, as she said, musingly, “I +wonder what Piers is doing?”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t ‘wonder,’ dearie. Little troubles +are often worrited into big troubles. If things +are let alone, they work themselves right. I’ll +warrant Piers is unhappy enough.”</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Atheling’s warrant was hardly justified. +Piers should have gone to the House; but +he went instead to his room, threw himself among +the cushions of a divan, and with a motion of his +head indicated to his servant that he wanted his +Turkish pipe. The strange inertia and indifference +that had so suddenly assailed, still dominated +him, and he had no desire to combat it. +He was neither sick nor weary; yet he seemed +to have lost all control over his feelings. Had +the man within the man “gone off guard”? +Have we not all–yes, we have all of us succumbed +to just such intervals of supreme, inexpressible +listlessness and insensibility? We are +“not all there,” but <i>where</i> has our inner self +gone to? And what is it doing? It gives us no +account of such lapses.</p> + +<p>Piers asked no questions of himself. He was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span> +like a man dreaming; for if his Will was not +asleep, it was at least quiescent. He made no +effort to control his thoughts, which drifted from +Annabel to Kate, and from Kate to Annabel, in +the vagrant, inconsequent manner which acknowledges +neither the guidance of Reason or Will. +And as the Levantine vapour lulled his brain, he +felt a pleasure in this surrender of his noblest +attributes. He thought of Annabel as he had +seen her the previous evening, dressed in a +shaded satin of blue and green, trimmed with +the tips of peacock feathers. The same resplendent +ornaments were in her strong, wavy, black +hair, and round her throat was a necklace of +emeralds and amethysts. “What a Duchess of +Richmoor she would make!” he thought. “How +stately and proud! How well she would wear +the coronet and the gold strawberry leaves, and +the crimson robe and ermine of her state dress! +Yes, Annabel would be a proper Duchess; but–but–” and +then he was sitting with Kate +among the tall brackens, where the Yorkshire +hills threw miles of shadow. She was in her +riding dress; but her little velvet cap was in +her hand, and the fresh wind was blowing her +brown hair into bewitching tendrils about her +lovely face. How well he knew the sweet seriousness +of her downcast eyes, the rich bloom of her +cheeks and lips, the tender smile with which she +always answered his “<i>Kate!</i> <i>Sweet Kate!</i>”</p> + +<p>Even through all his listlessness, this vision +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span> +moved him, and he heard his heart say, “Oh, +Kate, wife of my soul! Oh, Beloved! Love of +my life, who can part us? Thou and I, Kate! +Thou and I–”</p> + +<p>“And the Other One.”</p> + +<p>From <i>whom</i> or from <i>where</i> came the words? +Piers heard them with his spiritual sense plainly, +and their suggestion annoyed him. Now if we +stir under a nightmare, it is gone; and this faint +rebellion broke the chain of that mental inertia +which had held him at least three hours under +its spell. He moved irritably, and in so-doing +threw down the lid of the tobacco jar, and then +rose to his feet. In a moment, he was “all +there.”</p> + +<p>“I ought to be in the House,” he muttered, +and he touched the bell for his valet, and dressed +with less deliberation than was his wont. And +during the toilet he was aware of a certain mental +anger that longed to expend itself: “If Mr. +Brougham is as insufferably dictatorial as he was +last night, if Mr. O’Connell only plays the +buffoon again, we shall meet in a narrow path–and +one of us will fare ill,” he muttered.</p> + +<p>The hour generally comes when we are ready +for it; and Piers found both gentlemen in the +tempers he detested. He gladly accepted his +own challenge, and the Squire was so interested +in the wordy fight that he did not return home +to dinner. Mrs. Atheling neither worried nor +waited. She knew that the Squire’s vote might +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span> +be wanted at any inconvenient hour; and, besides, +the night had set stormily in, and she said +cheerfully to Kate, “It wouldn’t do for father +to get a wetting and then be hours in damp +clothes. He is far better sitting to-day’s business +out while he is there.”</p> + +<p>But the evening dragged wearily, in spite of +the efforts of both women to make little pleasantries. +Kate’s whole being was in her sense of +hearing. She was listening for a step that did +not come. On other nights there had been visitors; +she heard the roll of carriages and the +clash of the heavy front door; but this dreary +night no roll of wheels broke the stillness of the +aristocratic Square; and she listened for the +sound of the closing door until she was ready to +cry out against the strain and the suspense. +However, the longest, saddest day wears to its +end; and though it does not appear likely that +a loving girl’s anxiety about a coolness in her +lover should teach us how far deeper, even than +mother-love, is our trust in God’s love, yet little +Kitty’s behaviour on this sorrowful evening did +show forth this sublime fact.</p> + +<p>For the girl left undone none of her usual +duties, left unsaid none of the pleasant words +she knew her mother expected from her; she +even followed her–as she always did when the +Squire was late–to her bedroom, and helped +her lay away her laces and jewels ere she bid +her a last “good-night.” But as soon as she had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span> +closed the door of her own room, she felt she +might give herself some release. If she did not +read the whole of the Evening Service, <i>God +would understand</i>. She could trust His love to +excuse, to pity, to release her from all ceremonies. +She knelt down, she bowed her head, and +said only the two or three words which opened +her heart and let the rain of tears wash all her +anxieties away.</p> + +<p>And though sorrow may endure for a night, +joy comes in the morning; and this is specially +true in youth. When Kate awoke, the sun was +shining, and the care and ache was gone from +her heart. “He giveth His Beloved sleep,” and +thus some angel had certainly comforted her, +though she knew it not. With a cheerful heart +she dressed and went into the breakfast-room, +and there she saw her father standing on the +hearthrug, with <i>The Times</i> open in his hand. He +looked at her over its pages with beaming eyes, +and she ran to him and took the paper away, +and nestling to his heart, said, “she would have +no rival, first thing in the morning.”</p> + +<p>And the proud father stroked her hair, and +kissed her lips, and answered her, “Rival was not +born yet, and never would be born; and that he +was only seeing if them newspaper fellows had +told lies about Piers.”</p> + +<p>“Piers!” cried Mrs. Atheling, entering the +room at the moment, “what about Piers?”</p> + +<p>“Well, Mother, the lad had his say last night; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span> +but, Dal it! Mr. Brougham went at the Government +and the Electors as if they were all of +them wearing the devil’s livery. I call it scandalous! +It was nothing else. He let on to be +preaching for Reform, but he was just preaching +for Henry Brougham.”</p> + +<p>“What was Mr. Brougham talking about, +Father?”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Brougham can talk about nothing but +Reform, Kitty, the right of every man to vote +as seems good in his own eyes. He said peers +and landowners influenced and prejudiced votes +in a way that was outrageous and not to be +borne, and a lot more words of the same kind; +for Henry Brougham would lose his speech if +he had anything pleasant to say. I was going +to get up and give him a bit of my mind, when +Piers rose; and the cool way in which he fixed +his eye-glass, and looked Mr. Brougham up and +down, and straight in the face, set us all by the +ears. He was every inch of him, then and there, +the future Duke of Richmoor; and he told +Brougham, in a very sarcastic way, that his +opinions were silly, and would neither bear the +test of reason nor of candid examination.”</p> + +<p>“But, Father, I thought Mr. Brougham was the +great man of the Commons, and held in much +honour.”</p> + +<p>“Well, my little maid, he may be; but I’ll +warrant it is only by people who have their own +reasons for worshipping the devil.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span>“Come, come, John! If I was thee, I would +be silent until I could be just.”</p> + +<p>“Not thou, Maude! Right or wrong, thou +wouldst say thy say. I think I ought to know +thee by this time.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind me, John. We want to hear +what Piers said.”</p> + +<p>“Brougham’s words had come rattling off in +full gallop. Piers, after looking at him a minute, +began in that contemptuous drawl of his,–you’ve +heard it I’ve no doubt,–‘Mr. Brougham +affords an example of radical opinions degrading +a statesman into a politician. He cannot but +know that it is the positive, visible duty of +every landowner to influence and prejudice +votes. It is the business and the function of +education and responsibility to enlighten ignorance, +and to influence the misguided and the +misled. If it is the business and the function of +the clergy to influence and prejudice people in +favour of a good life; if it is the business and +function of a teacher to influence and prejudice +scholars in favour of knowledge,–it is just as +certainly the business and function of the landowner +to influence his tenants in favour of law +and order, and to prejudice them against men +who would shatter to pieces the noblest political +Constitution in the world.’”</p> + +<p>The Squire read this period aloud with great +emphasis, and added, “Well, Maude, you never +heard such a tumult as followed. Cries of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span> +‘<i>Here! Here!</i>’ and ‘<i>Order! Order!</i>’ filled the +House; and the Speaker had work enough to +make silence. Piers stood quite still, watching +Brougham, and as soon as all was quiet, he went +on,–</p> + +<p>“‘If you take the peers, the gentry, the scholars, +the men of enterprise and wealth, from our +population, what kind of a government should +we get from the remainder? Would they be +fit to select and elect?’ Then there was another +uproar, and Piers sat down, and O’Connell +jumped up. He put his witty tongue in his +laughing cheek, and, buttoning his coat round +him, held up his right hand. And the Reform +members cheered, and the Tory members +shrugged their shoulders, and waited for what +he would say.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to hear a word from <i>him</i>,” +answered Mrs. Atheling. “Come and get your +coffee, John. A cup of good coffee costs a deal +now, and it’s a shame to let it get cold and sloppy +over Dan O’Connell’s blackguarding.”</p> + +<p>“Tell us what he said, Father,” urged Kate, +who really desired to know more about Piers’s +efforts. “You can drink your coffee to his +words. I don’t suppose they will poison it.”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t be sure of that,” said Mrs. +Atheling, with a dubious shake of her head; +while the Squire lifted his cup, and emptied it +at a draught.</p> + +<p>“What did he say, Father? Did he attack +Piers?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131'></a>131</span>“To be sure he did. He took the word ‘Remainder,’ +and said Piers had called the great, +substantial working men of England, Scotland, +and Ireland <i>Remainders</i>. He said these ‘<i>Remainders</i>’ +might only be farmers, and bakers, +and builders, and traders; but they were the +backbone of the nation; and the honourable +gentleman from Richmoor Palace had called +them ‘Remainders.’ And then he gave Piers a +few of such stinging, abusive names as he always +keeps on hand,–and he keeps a good many +kinds of them on hand,–and Piers was like a +man that neither heard nor saw him. He looked +clean through the member for Kilkenny as if he +wasn’t there at all. And then Mr. Scarlett got +up, and asked the Speaker if such unparliamentary +conduct was to be permitted? And Mr. +Dickson called upon the House to protect itself +from the browbeating, bullying ruffianism of the +member for Kilkenny; and Dan O’Connell sat +laughing, with his hat on one side of his head, till +Dickson sat down; then he said, he ‘considered +Mr. Dickson’s words complimentary;’ and the +shouts became louder and louder, and the +Speaker had hard work to get things quieted +down.”</p> + +<p>“Why, John! I never heard tell of such +carryings on.”</p> + +<p>“Then, Maude, I thought <i>I</i> would say a word +or two; and I got the Speaker’s eye, and he said +peremptorily, ‘The member for Asketh!’ and I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> +rose in my place and said I thought the honourable +member for Kilkenny–”</p> + +<p>“John! I wouldn’t have called him ‘honourable.’”</p> + +<p>“I know thou wouldst not, Maude. Well, I +said honourable, and I went on to say that Mr. +O’Connell had mistaken the meaning Lord +Exham attached to the word ‘Remainder.’ I +said it wasn’t a disrespectful word at all, and +that there were plenty of ‘remainders,’ we all +of us thought a good deal of; but, I said, I +would come to an instance which every man +could understand,–the remainder of a glass of +fine, old October ale. The rich, creamy, bubbling +froth might stand for the landowners; but +it was part of the whole; and the remainder was +all the better for the froth, and the more froth, +and the richer the froth, the better the ale +below it. And I went on to say that Lord +Exham, and every man of us, knew right well, +that the great body of the English nation wasn’t +made up of knaves, and scoundrels, and fools, +but of good men and women. And then our +benches cheered me, up and down, till I felt it +was a good thing to be a Representative of the +Remainder, and I said so.”</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Atheling and Kitty cheered the +Squire more than a little, with smiles, and kisses, +and proud words; and he went on with increased +animation, “In a minute O’Connell was on his +feet again, and he called me a lot of names I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span> +needn’t repeat here; until he said, ‘My example +of a glass of ale was exactly what anybody might +expect from such a John Bull as the member +for Asketh.’ And, Maude and Kitty, I could not +stand that. The House was shouting, ‘Order! +Order!’ and I cried, ‘Mr. Speaker!’ and the +Speaker said, ‘Order, the member for Kilkenny +is speaking!’ ‘But, Mr. Speaker,’ I said, ‘I only +want to say to the member for Kilkenny that I +would rather be a John Bull, than a bully.’ And +that was the end. There was no ‘Order’ after it. +Our side cheered and roared, and, Maude, what +dost thou think?–the one to cheer loudest was +thy son Edgar. He must have got in by the +Speaker’s favour; but there he was, and when I +came through the lobby, with Piers and Lord Althorp, +and a crowd after me, he was standing with +that young fellow I threw on Atheling Green; +and he looked at me so pleased, and eager, and +happy, that I thought for a moment he was +going to shake hands; but I kept my hands in +my pockets–yet I’ll say this,–he has thy fine +eyes, Maude,–I most felt as if thou wert looking +at me.”</p> + +<p>“John! John! How couldst thou keep thy +hands in thy pockets? How couldst thou do such +an unfatherly thing? I’m ashamed of thee! I +am.”</p> + +<p>“Give me a slice of ham, and don’t ask questions. +I want my breakfast now. I can’t live on +talk, as if I was a woman.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span>Fortunately at this moment a servant entered +with the morning’s mail. He gave Mrs. Atheling +a letter, and Kate two letters; and then +offered the large salver full of matter to the +Squire. He looked at the pile with indignation. +“Put it out of my sight, Dobson,” he said angrily. +“Do you think I want letters and papers to +my breakfast? I’m astonished at you!” He was +breaking his egg-shell impatiently as he spoke, +and he looked up with affected anger at his companions. +Kitty met his glance with a smile. She +could afford to do so, for both her letters lay +untouched at her side. She tapped the upper +one and said, “It is from Miss Vyner, Father; +it can easily wait.”</p> + +<p>“And the other, Kitty? Who is it from?”</p> + +<p>“From Piers, I don’t want to read it yet.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure.” Then he looked at Mrs. Atheling, +and was surprised. Her face was really shining +with pleasure, her eyes misty with happy +tears. She held her letter with a certain pride +and tenderness that her whole attitude also expressed; +and the Squire had an instant premonition +as to the writer of it.</p> + +<p>“Well, Maude,” he said, “I would drink my +coffee, if I was thee. A cup of coffee costs a +deal now; and it’s a shame to let it get cold and +sloppy over a bit of a letter–nobody knows +who from.”</p> + +<p>“It is from Edgar,” said Mrs. Atheling, far +too proud and pleased to keep her happiness to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span> +herself. “And, John, I am going to have a little +lunch-party to-day at two o’clock; and I do +wish thou wouldst make it in thy way to be +present.”</p> + +<p>“I won’t. And I would like to know who is +coming here. I won’t have all kinds and sorts +sitting at my board, and eating my bread and +salt–and I never heard tell of a good wife asking +people to do that without even mentioning +their names to her husband–and–”</p> + +<p>“I am quite ready to name everybody I ask to +thy board, John. There will be thy own son +Edgar Atheling, and Mr. Cecil North, and thy +wife Maude Atheling, and thy daughter Kitty. +Maybe, also, Lord Exham and Miss Vyner. Kitty +says she has a letter from her.”</p> + +<p>“I told thee once and for all, I had forbid +Edgar Atheling to come to my house again until +I asked him to do so.”</p> + +<p>“This isn’t thy house, John. It is only a rented +roof. Thou mayst be sure Edgar will never +come near Atheling till God visits thee and gives +thee a heart like His own to love thy son. Thou +hast never told Edgar to keep away from the Vyner +mansion, and thou hadst better never try to do +so; for I tell thee plainly if thou dost–”</p> + +<p>“Keep threats behind thy teeth, Maude. It +isn’t like thee, and I won’t be threatened either +by man or woman. If thou thinkest it right to +set Edgar before me, and to teach him <i>not</i> to +‘Honour his father’–”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span>“Didn’t he ‘honour’ thee last night! Wasn’t +he proud of thee? And he wanted to tell thee +so, if thou wouldst have let him. Poor Edgar!” +And Edgar’s mother covered her face, and began +to cry softly to herself.</p> + +<p>“Nay, Maude, if thou takest to crying I must +run away. It isn’t fair at all. What can a man +say to tears? I wish I could have a bit of breakfast +in peace; I do that!”–and he pushed his +chair away in a little passion, and lifted his mail, +and was going noisily out of the room, when he +found Kitty’s arms round his neck. Then he said +peevishly, “Thou art spilling my letters, Kitty. +Let me alone, dearie! Thou never hast a word +to say on thy father’s side. It’s too bad!”</p> + +<p>“I am all for you, father,–you and you +first of all. There is nobody like you; nobody +before you; nobody that can ever take your +place.” Then she kissed him, and whispered +some of those loving, senseless little words that +go right to the heart, if Love sends them there. +And the Squire was comforted by them, and +whispered back to her, “God love thee, my little +maid! I’ll do anything I can to give thee +pleasure.”</p> + +<p>“Then just think about Edgar as you saw +him last night, think of him with mother’s eyes +watching you, listening to you, full of pride and +loving you so much–oh, yes, Father! loving +you so much.”</p> + +<p>“Well, well,–let me go now, Kitty. I have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span> +all these bothering letters and papers to look +at; they are enough to make any man cross.”</p> + +<p>“Let me help you.”</p> + +<p>“Go to thy mother. Listen, Kitty,” and he +spoke very low, “tell her, thou art sure and +certain thy father does not object to her seeing +her son, if it makes her happy–thou knowest +my bark is a deal worse than my bite–say–thou +believest I would like to see Edgar myself–nay, +thou needest not say that–but say a few +words just to please her; thou knowest what they +should be better than I do,”–then, with a rather +gruff “good-morning,” he went out of the room; +and Kitty turned to her mother.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Atheling was smiling, though there were +indeed some remaining evidences of tears. “He +went without bidding me ‘good-morning,’ Kitty. +What did he say? Is he very angry?”</p> + +<p>“Not at all angry. All put on, Mother. He +loves Edgar quite as much as you do.”</p> + +<p>“He can’t do that, Kitty. There is nothing +like a mother’s love.”</p> + +<p>“Except a father’s love. Don’t you remember, +that God takes a father’s love to express +His own great care for us? And when the Prodigal +Son came home, Christ makes his father, not +his mother, go to meet him.”</p> + +<p>“That was because Christ knew children were +sure and certain of their mother’s love and forgiveness. +He wasn’t so sure of the fathers. So +he gave the lesson to them; he knew that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138'></a>138</span> +mothers did not need it. Mothers are always +ready to forgive, Kitty; but there is nothing to +forgive in Edgar.”</p> + +<p>“Is he really coming to-day?”</p> + +<p>“Listen to what he says, Kitty. ‘Darling +Mother, I cannot live another day without seeing +you. Let me come to-morrow at two o’clock, +and put my arms round you, and kiss you, and +talk to you for an hour. Ask father to let me +come. London is not Atheling. If he counts +his passionate words as forever binding between +him and me, surely they are not binding between +you and me. Let me see you anyway, Mother. +Sweet, dear Mother! When father forgives the +rest, he will forgive this also. Your loving son, +Edgar.’ Now, Kitty, if Edgar was your son, what +would you say?”</p> + +<p>“I would say, Come at once, Edgar, and +dearly welcome!”</p> + +<p>“To be sure you would. So shall I. What is +Miss Vyner writing about?”</p> + +<p>Then Kitty lifted the squarely folded letter +with its great splash of white wax stamped with +the Vyner crest, and after a rapid glance at its +contents said, “There is likely to be a great +House to-night; and the Duchess has three seats +in the Ladies Gallery. One is for Annabel, the +other for me; and she asks you to take her place. +Do go, Mother.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll think about it.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t say that.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span>“It is all I will say just yet. Did you have a +letter from Piers?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I knew you would. Go and read it, and tell +Dobson to send the cook to me. We want the +best lunch that can be made; and put on a pretty +dress, Kitty. Edgar must feel that nothing is too +good for him.”</p> + +<p>In accordance with this intent, Mrs. Atheling +took particular pains with her own dress; and +Kitty thought she had never seen her mother so +handsome. Soft brown satin, and gold ornaments, +and the bit of lace on her head set off +her large, blonde, stately beauty to perfection; +while the look of love and anxiety, as the clock +moved on to two, gave to her countenance that +“something more” without which beauty is only +flesh and blood.</p> + +<p>She had said to herself that Edgar might be +detained, that he might not be able to keep his +time, and that she would not feel disappointed +if he was a bit behind two o’clock. But fully ten +minutes before the hour, she heard his quick, +firm knock; and as she stood trembling with joy +in the middle of the room, he took her in his +arms, and, between laughing and crying, they +knew not, either of them, what they said. And +then Kitty ran into the room, all a flutter with +pale-blue ribbons, and it was a good five +minutes before the two women found time to +see, and to speak to Cecil North, who stood +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140'></a>140</span> +watching the scene with his kind heart in his +face.</p> + +<p>Evidently the meeting had bespoke a fortunate +hour. The weather, though it was November, +was sunny; the lunch was perfection, and they +were in the midst of the merriest possible meal +when Annabel Vyner and Piers Exham joined +them. Annabel had expected nothing better +from this visit than an opportunity to show off +her familiar relations with Lord Exham, and +torment Kitty, as far as she thought it prudent to +do so; but Fate had prepared motives more personal +and delightful for her,–two handsome +young men, whom she at once determined to +conquer. Cecil North made no resistance; he +went over heart and head in love with her. Her +splendid vitality, her manner,–so demanding +and so caressing,–her daring dress, and dazzling +jewelry, her altogether unconventional air +charmed and vanquished him, and he devoted +himself to pleasing her.</p> + +<p>During the lunch hour the conversation was +general, and very animated. Annabel excelled +herself in her peculiar way of saying things which +appeared singularly brilliant, but which really +derived all their point from her looks, and shrugs, +and flashing movements. The good mother was +in an earthly heaven, watching, and listening, and +attending to every one’s wants, actual and possible. +Laughter and repartee and merry jests +mingled with bits of social and parliamentary +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141'></a>141</span> +gossip, though politics were instinctively avoided. +Piers knew well the opinions of the two men with +whom he was sitting; and he was quite capable +of respecting them. Besides, he had an old +friendship for Edgar Atheling; and he loved his +sister, and was well aware that she had much +sympathy with her brother’s views. So all Annabel’s +attempts to make a division were futile; +no one took up the little challenges she flung into +their midst, and the parliamentary talk drifted no +nearer dangerous ground than the Ladies Gallery. +Piers knew of the invitation given to the Athelings, +and he proposed to meet the ladies in the courtyard +near the entrance to the exclusive precinct.</p> + +<p>“Too exclusive by far,” said Annabel. “Why +do English ladies submit to that grating? It is a +relic of the barbarous ages. I intend to move in +the matter. Let us get up a petition, or an act, +or an agitation of some kind for its removal. I +think we should succeed. What do you say, +Lord Exham?”</p> + +<p>“I think you would <i>not</i> succeed,” answered +Piers. “I have heard the Duke say that the +proposition is frequently made in the House; +that it is always enthusiastically cheered; but +that every time the question comes practically +up, there is a dexterous count out.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, I will propose that the front +Treasury Bench be taken away, and twenty-four +ladies’ seats put in its place. Do you see, Mr. +North, what I intend by that?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span>“I am sure it is something wise and good, Miss +Vyner.”</p> + +<p>“My idea is, that twenty-four ladies should sit +there as representatives of the women of England. +Twenty-four bishops in lovely lawn sit as representatives +of the clergy of England; why should +not English women have their representation? I +hope while Reformers are correcting the abuses +of Representation, they will consider this abuse. +Mr. Atheling, what do you say?”</p> + +<p>“I am at your service, Miss Vyner.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, sir, just at present you are hand and +heart in the service of Mrs. Atheling. I must +turn to Mr. North.”</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Atheling perceived that in her interesting +conversation with Edgar, she was keeping +her guests at table; and she rose with an apology, +and led the way into the parlour. There +was a large conservatory opening out of this +room, and Kate and Piers, on some pretext of +rosebuds, went into it.</p> + +<p>“My dear Kate, I have been so unhappy!” +he said, taking her hand.</p> + +<p>“But why, Piers?”</p> + +<p>“We parted so strangely yesterday. I do not +know how it happened.”</p> + +<p>“We were both tired, I think. I was as much +in fault as you. Is not this an exquisite flower?” +That was the end of the trouble. He drew her +to his side, and kissed the hand that touched the +flower; and so all explanations were over; and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143'></a>143</span> +they took up their love-story where the shadow +of yesterday had broken it off. And as their +hands wandered among the shrubs, it was natural +for Piers to notice the ring on Kate’s finger. “It +is a very singular jewel,” he said; “I never saw +one like it.”</p> + +<p>“It is my mother’s,” answered Kate. “She +told me this morning it was her betrothal ring +and that father bought it in Venice.”</p> + +<p>“Kate dear, I wish to get you a ring just like +it. Let us ask Mrs. Atheling if I may show it to +my jeweller, and have one made for you.”</p> + +<p>“I am sure mother will be willing,” and she +slipped the shining circle from her finger, and +gave it to Piers; and he whispered fondly, as he +placed it on his own hand, “Will you take it from +me, Kate, as a love gage?–never to leave your +finger until I put the wife’s gold ring above it?”</p> + +<p>And what she said need not be told. Many +happy words grew from her answer; and they +forgot the rosebuds they had come to gather, and +the company they had left, and the flight of time, +until Edgar came into the conservatory to bid his +sister “good-bye.” There had been a slight formality +between Piers and Edgar at their first +meeting; but with Kate standing between them, +all the good days on the Yorkshire hills and +moors came into their memories, and they +clasped hands with their old boyish fervour, and +it was “Piers” and “Edgar” again. So the +parting was the real meeting; and they went +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144'></a>144</span> +back to the parlour in an unmistakable enthusiasm +of good fellowship.</p> + +<p>Annabel was then quite ready to leave, and the +question of the Ladies Gallery came up for settlement. +Mrs. Atheling declared she was too +weary to go out; and Kate preferred her own +happy thoughts to the tumult of a political quarrel. +Annabel was equally indifferent. She had +discovered that Mr. North was a son of the Earl +of Westover, and might with propriety be asked +to the Richmoor opera-box, that there was even +an acquaintance strong enough between the +families to enable her new lover to pay his +respects to the Duchess in the interludes, and, in +fact, an understanding to that effect had been +made for that very night, if the offer of the seats +in the Ladies Gallery was not accepted. So +their refusal caused no regret; for when politics +come in competition with youth and love, they +have scarcely a hearing. But during the slight +discussion, Piers found time to speak to Mrs. +Atheling about the ring; and the direction of +three pair of eyes to the trinket caught Annabel’s +attention. Her face flamed when she saw +that it had passed from Kate’s hand to the hand +of Exham; and for the first time, she had a feeling +of active dislike against Kate. Her sweet, +calm, innocent beauty, her happy eyes and ingenuous +girlish expression, offended her, and set +all the worst forces of her soul in revolt.</p> + +<p>She did not dare to trust herself with Piers. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145'></a>145</span> +In her present mood, she knew she would be +sure to say something that would hamper her +future actions. She declared she would only +accept Mr. North’s escort to Richmoor House; +for she was sure the Duke was expecting Piers to +be in his place in the Commons when the vote +was taken.</p> + +<p>Piers had a similar conviction, and he looked +at his watch almost guiltily, and went hurriedly +away. Then the little party was soon dispersed; +but Mrs. Atheling and Kate were both far too +happy to need outside aids. They talked of +Edgar and Cecil North, and Annabel’s witcheries, +and Piers’s great and good qualities, and the +promised ring, and the excellent lunch, and the +general success of the impromptu little feast. +Everything had been pleasant, and the Squire’s +absence was not thought worth worrying about.</p> + +<p>“He will come round, bit by bit,” said the +happy mother. “I know John Atheling. The +first thing Edgar does to please him, will put all +straight; and Edgar is on the very road to please +him most of all.”</p> + +<p>“What road is that, Mother?”</p> + +<p>“Nay, I can’t tell you, Kitty; for just yet it is +a secret between Edgar and me. He was glad to +meet Piers again; and, if I am any judge, they +will be better friends than ever before.”</p> + +<p>Thus the two women talked the evening away, +and were by no means sorry to be at their own +fireside. “We could have done no good by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146'></a>146</span> +going to the House,” said Kate. “If we were +men, it would be different. They like it. Father +says the House is the best club in London.”</p> + +<p>“It gives men a lot of excuses,” said Mrs. +Atheling, with a sigh. “I dare say your father +won’t get home till late. You had better go to +bed, Kitty.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps Piers may come with him.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think he will. He looked tired when +he left here; he will be worse tired when he gets +away from the Commons. He said he was going +to speak again, if he got the opportunity,–that +is, if he could find anything to contradict in Mr. +Brougham’s speech. Piers likes saying, ‘No, sir!’ +his spurs are always in fighting trim. Go to bed, +Kitty. Piers won’t be back to-night, and I can +say to father whatever I think proper.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Atheling judged correctly. Piers sat a +long time before his opportunity came, and then +he did not get the best of it. Brougham’s followers +overflowed the Opposition benches, the +Government side, and the gangway, and Piers +exhausted himself vainly in an endeavour to get +a hearing. It was late when he returned to Richmoor +House, but the Duke was still absent, and +the Duchess and Annabel at the opera. He +went to the Duke’s private parlour, for there +were some things he felt he must discuss before +another day’s sitting; and the warmth and stillness, +added to his own mental and physical +weariness, soon overcame all the resistance he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147'></a>147</span> +could make. The couch on which he had +thrown himself was also a drowsy place; it +seemed to sink softly down, and down, until +Piers was far below the tide of thought, or even +dreams.</p> + +<p>It was then that Annabel returned. She came +slowly and rather thoughtfully along the silent +corridor. She had exhausted for the time being +her fine spirits, her wit, almost her good looks. +She hoped she would <i>not</i> meet Piers, and was +glad in passing the door of his apartments to +see no man in attendance, nor any sign of wakeful +life. A little further on she noticed a band +of light from the Duke’s private parlour; the +door was a trifle open, left purposely so by Piers +in order that his father might not be tempted to +pass it. Tired as she was, she could not resist +the opportunity it offered. She liked to show +herself in her fineries to her guardian, for he +always had a compliment for her beauty; and +although she had listened for hours to compliments +her vanity was still unsatiated. With a +coquettish smile she pushed wider the door and +saw Lord Exham. There could be no doubt of +his profound insensibility; his face, his attitude, +his breathing, all expressed the deep sleep of a +thoroughly-exhausted man.</p> + +<p>For one moment she looked at him curiously, +then, at the instigation of the Evil One, her eyes +saw the ring upon his hand, and her heart instantly +desired it; for what reason she did not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span> +ask. At the moment she perhaps had no reason, +except the wicked hope that its loss might make +trouble between Kitty and her lover. With the +swift, noiseless step that Nature gives to women +who have the treachery and cruelty of the feline +family, she reached Piers’s side. But rapid as her +movement had been, her thought had been more +rapid. “If I am caught, I will say I won a pair +of gloves, and took the ring as the gage of my +victory.”</p> + +<p>She stooped to the dropped hand, but never +touched it. The ring was large, and it was only +necessary for her to place her finger and thumb +on each side of it. It slipped off without pressing +against the flesh, and in a moment it was in +her palm. She waited to see if the movement +had been felt. There was no evidence of it, and +she passed rapidly out of the room. Outside the +door, she again waited for a movement, but none +came, and she walked leisurely, and with a certain +air of weariness, to her own apartments. +Once there all was safe; she dropped it into +the receptacle in which she kept the key of her +jewel-case, and went smiling to bed.</p> + +<p>Not ten minutes after her theft the Duke entered +the room. He did not scruple to awaken +his son, and to discuss with him the tactics of a +warfare which was every day becoming more +bitter and violent. Piers was full of interest, and +eager to take his part in the fray. Suddenly he +became aware of his loss. Then he forgot every +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span> +other thing. He insisted, then and there, on calling +his valet and searching every inch of carpet +in the room. The Duke was disgusted with this +radical change of interest. He went pettishly +away in the middle of the search, saying,–</p> + +<p>“The Reformers might well carry all before +them, when peers who had everything to lose +or gain thought more of a lost ring than a lost +cause.”</p> + +<p>And Piers could not answer a word. He was +confounded by the circumstance. That the ring +was on his hand when he entered the room was +certain. He searched all his pockets with frantic +fear, his purse, the couch on which he had slept. +There was no part of the room not examined, +no piece of furniture that was not moved; and +the day began to dawn when the useless search +was over. He went to his room, sleepless and +troubled beyond belief. Government might be +defeated, Ministers might resign, Reform might +spell Revolution, the estates and titles of nobles +might be in jeopardy,–but Kitty’s ring was lost, +and that was the first, and the last, and the only +thought Piers Exham could entertain.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span><a id='link_8'></a>CHAPTER EIGHTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>WILL SHE CHOOSE EVIL OR GOOD?</span></h2> + +<p>Annabel had a very good night. Her conscience +was an indulgent one, and she easily +satisfied its complaining. “It was after all only +a joke,” she said. “In the morning I can restore +the ring. The Duke will have a good laugh at +his son’s discomfiture, and will praise my cleverness. +The Duchess will either knit her brows, or +else take it merrily; and Piers will owe me a forfeit, +and that will be the end of the affair. What +is there to make a fuss over?” Annabel’s conscience +thought, in such case, there was nothing +to fuss about; and it let her sleep comfortably on +the prevaricating promise.</p> + +<p>She considered the matter over as she was +dressing. She had slept well, was refreshed +and full of life, and therefore full of selfish +wilfulness:–</p> + +<p>“I will restore the ring to Piers.” She said +this to please one side of her nature.</p> + +<p>“I will not restore the ring.” She said this to +please the other side. “As a thing of worth, it is +by no means costly. I will give Kate Atheling a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span> +ring of twice its value. As a thing of power it is +mine, the spoil of my will and my skill; and I +will not part with it.” Still she kept the first decision +in reserve; she promised herself to be +influenced by the circumstances which the affair +induced.</p> + +<p>But the way out of temptation is always very +difficult, and circumstances are rarely favourable +to it. They were not in this case. Before Annabel +was dressed she received a message that +overthrew all her intentions. The Duchess was +going to breakfast in her own parlour, and she +desired Annabel’s company at the meal. The +desires of the Duchess were commands, and the +young lady reluctantly obeyed them; for she +anticipated the reproof that came, as soon as they +were alone, regarding her attitude towards Cecil +North.</p> + +<p>“It will not do, Annabel,” said the Duchess, +severely. “The Norths are a fine family, but +poor, even in the elder branches. This young +man can look forward to nothing better than +some diplomatic or military appointment, and +that in an Indian Presidency.”</p> + +<p>“What could be better?” asked Annabel, with +an affectation of delight. “An Indian Court is +a court. It has the splendour, the ceremony, +the very air of royalty.”</p> + +<p>“But with your fortune–”</p> + +<p>“I assure you, Duchess, any man who marries +me will need all my fortune. He will in fact +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152'></a>152</span> +deserve it. You know that I am <i>not</i> amiable, +and that I <i>am</i> extravagant and luxurious.”</p> + +<p>“But you may avoid such a foolish, unwomanly +thing as flirtation, even if you are not amiable. +It seems to me the world has forgotten how to be +amiable. This morning, the Duke is touchy and +disagreeable; and Piers has not come to ask after +my health, though it is his usual custom when I +remain in my room. He angered the Duke also +last night.”</p> + +<p>“Did you see him last night?” asked Annabel, +with an air of indifference.</p> + +<p>“The Duke did. Piers seems to have behaved +in an absurd way about a ring he has lost. The +Duke says, he turned his room topsy-turvy, and +went on as if he had lost his whole estate.”</p> + +<p>“Was it the ring with the ducal arms that he +always wears?”</p> + +<p>“No, indeed! Only a simple band of sapphires, +or some other stone. The Duke thinks it +must have been the gift of some woman. Were +you the donor, Annabel?”</p> + +<p>“I! I should think not! I do not give rings +away. I prefer to receive them. He wore no +sapphire band yesterday when he and I went to +the Athelings–” and she looked the rest of the +query, over her coffee-cup, straight into the eyes +of the Duchess.</p> + +<p>“What is it you mean to ask, Annabel?”</p> + +<p>“Do you think that Miss Atheling–”</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i9'></a><img src='images/illus-153.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153'></a>153</span>“Miss Atheling! That girl! What an absurd +idea! Why should she give Lord Exham a +ring?”</p> + +<p>“<i>Why!</i> There are so many ‘<i>whys</i>’ that nobody +can answer.” And with this remark, Annabel +felt that her opportunity for confession had +quite lapsed. For if the Duchess had thought it +right to reprove her for such freedom as she had +shown towards Cecil North, what would she say +about an act so daring, so really improper in a +social sense, as the removal of a ring from her +son’s hand? Annabel had no mind to bring on +herself the disagreeable looks and words she +merited. She gave the conversation the political +turn that answered all purposes, by asking the +Duchess if she was not afraid Piers’s principles +might be influenced by his friendship with young +Atheling. “They were David and Jonathan yesterday,” +she said; “and as for Cecil North, he is +a Radical of the first water.”</p> + +<p>“Lord Exham is not so easily persuaded,” +answered the Duchess, loftily. “He could as +readily change his nose as his principles. But I +am seriously annoyed at this intercourse with a +family distinctly out of our own caste. The +Duke has been very foolish to encourage it.”</p> + +<p>“You have also encouraged Miss Atheling.”</p> + +<p>“I have been too good-natured. I admit that. +But as I have promised to present her, I must +honourably keep my word; that is, if any opportunity +offers. It now appears as if there would +be no court functions. The King declined the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154'></a>154</span> +Lord Mayor’s feast,–a most unprecedented +thing,–and it is said the Queen is averse to +receive while the Reform agitation continues. +When it will end, nobody knows.”</p> + +<p>“It will end when it succeeds, not before,” said +Annabel. “I am only a woman, but I see that +conclusion very clearly.” It gave her pleasure +to make this statement. It was her way of returning +to the Duchess the disagreeable words +she had been obliged to take from her; and she +was not at all dismayed by the look of anger she +provoked.</p> + +<p>“I am astonished at you, Annabel. Are you +also in danger of changing your opinions?”</p> + +<p>“I am astonished at myself, Duchess. My +opinions are movable; but I have not yet +changed them. Truth, however, belongs to all +sides, and I cannot avoid seeing things as they +are.”</p> + +<p>“That is, as young Atheling and Cecil North +show them to you.”</p> + +<p>“Lord Exham has still more frequent opportunities +of showing me the course of events. I +have ‘influences’ on both sides, you see, Duchess; +but, after all, I form my own opinions.”</p> + +<p>“Reform will never be accomplished. The +people must follow the nobles, as surely as the +thread follows the needle.”</p> + +<p>“I have ceased to prophesy. Anything can +happen in a long enough time; and I often heard +my father say that, ‘They who <i>care</i> and <i>dare</i> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span> +may do as they like.’ I think the Reform party +both ‘<i>care</i>’ and ‘<i>dare</i>.’”</p> + +<p>“Have you fallen in love with Cecil North, or +with Mr. Atheling?”</p> + +<p>“I am in love with Annabel Vyner. I worship +none of the idols that have been set up, either by +Tories or Reformers. Men who talk politics are +immensely stupid. I shall marry a man who is a +good fighter. Mere talkers are like barking dogs. +Why don’t these Reformers stop whimpering, +and fly like a bull dog at the throat of their +wrongs? Then I should go with them, heart and +soul and purse.”</p> + +<p>“You are talking now for talking’s sake, +Annabel. You are actually advocating civil +war.”</p> + +<p>“Am I really? Well, war is man’s natural +condition. It takes churches, and priests, and +standing armies, and constables always on hand, +to keep peace in any sort of fashion. We are all +barbarians under our clothes,–just civilised on +the top.”</p> + +<p>“Such assertions are odious, and you cannot +prove them.”</p> + +<p>“I can. The other evening I was reading to +Lord Tatham a most exquisite poem by that +young man Tennyson; and he seemed to be enjoying +it, until Algernon Sydney showed him his +watch, and said something about ‘the Black Boy.’ +Then his face fairly glowed, and he went off with +a compliment that meant nothing. The next +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span> +morning I found out ‘the Black Boy’ was a +famous pugilist. We are all of us, in some way +or other, in this mixed condition.”</p> + +<p>“I think you are particularly disagreeable this +morning, Miss.”</p> + +<p>“Pardon, Duchess. We have fallen on a disagreeable +subject. Let us change it. Are we to +drive to Richmond to-day?”</p> + +<p>“If Piers will accompany us. Ay! that is his +knock.” She turned a radiant face to meet her +son, but received a sudden chill. Piers was pale +and sombre-looking; he said he had not slept, +and politely declined the Richmond excursion. +Annabel was sure he would. “He will have an +explanation at the Athelings instead,” she +thought; and she waited curiously for some remark +which might open the way for her confession–or +else close it. But Lord Exham did +not allude to his loss, and the Duchess either +attached no importance to the subject, or else +thought it too important to bring forward. The +tone of the room was not brightened by the +young lord’s advent, and Annabel quickly excused +herself from further attendance.</p> + +<p>“He will tell his mother when I am not there; +and I shall get his opinions, with commentaries +from her,” she thought, as she hurried to her +own rooms. Once there, she dismissed her maid, +and sat down to realise herself. She doubled +her little hands, and beat her knees softly with +them. It was her way of summoning her mental +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span> +forces, and of collecting vagrant and undecided +thought.</p> + +<p>“I am just here,” she said to her own consciousness. +“I have taken a ring from Lord +Exham’s finger. What for? Mischief or a +joke? Which? Probably mischief. I wanted +to turn it into a joke, and my opportunity is gone. +Not my fault. If the Duchess had been in a good +humour, I should have told her all about it. If +Exham’s manner had not frozen everything but +the commonplaces of propriety, I would have +teased him a little, and then given up the ring. +It is their own fault. If people are cross at +breakfast, they deserve a disagreeable day. I am +not sorry to give them their deserts.”</p> + +<p>Then she rose and went to her jewel-case, and +took the ring out and put it on her finger. “It +is a poor little thing after all,” she said as she +turned it round and round. “The stones are not +very fine; I have sapphires of far finer colour. +If I give Kate Atheling my diamond locket, she +will have reason to be grateful,–the setting is, +however, really beautiful; that is the point, I +suppose. I would like to have a ring set in the +same way; but it would be dangerous–” and +she laughed as if she enjoyed the thought of the +danger. She took off the ring at this point, and +looked at it more critically. “What must I do +with the troublesome thing?” she asked herself. +“Justine is a curious, suspicious creature, and +when she hears the talk in the servants’ hall, if +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span> +she got but a glimpse of it, she would put two +and two together.” A momentary resolve to +throw it into the fire-place of the Duke’s parlour +came into her mind. “If it is found there,” +she argued, “the only supposition will be that +Piers dropped it on the hearth. If it is not +found, there will be no suppositions at all.”</p> + +<p>This resolve, however, received no real encouragement. +There is a perverse disposition in +human nature to keep with special care things +that incriminate, or which might become sources +of suspicion or trouble; and the ring exercised +over the girl this fatal fascination. She closed her +jewel-case deliberately, holding the lid a trifle open +for a moment or two of last consideration; then +she dropped it with decision, and took from her +pocket a small purse, made of gold as flexible as +leather or satin. There were a few sovereigns in +one compartment, and a Hindoo charm in another. +She put the ring with the charm, and +closed the purse with a smile of satisfaction. +For the time being, at any rate, it was out of +her way; and there were yet possibilities of +turning the whole matter into a pleasantry.</p> + +<p>“I may even take it to Kate Atheling and tell +her to claim my forfeit.” This very improbable +solution satisfied Annabel’s conscience; she was +at peace after it, and able to consider more +personal affairs.</p> + +<p>In order to do this under the most favourable +conditions, she placed herself comfortably on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span> +her lounge. Her fine, tall form lay at length, +supine and indolent, the feet, in their crimson +sandals, crossed at the ankles. Her dark, powerful +head, with its masses of strong, black hair, +looked almost handsome on the pale amber +cushions, with the hands and arms–jewelled +though it was only morning–clasped above it. +She was going to examine herself, and she was +not one to shirk even the innermost chamber of +her heart.</p> + +<p>“First,” she thought, “there is Lord Exham. +Do I really want to marry him? Let me be +sure of this, and then there is nothing for him +to do, but make out the settlements. He cannot +resist my influence when I choose to exert it. +As yet I have not troubled him much; but I +can trouble him–and I will, if I want to. Do +I? Be honest, Annabel. There is no use lying +to yourself. Well, then, I want to be Duchess of +Richmoor; but I do <i>not</i> want to be Exham’s +wife. And if I marry him, the present Duke +may live ten, twenty, even thirty years. I would +not wait for the crown of England thirty years, +with a husband I rather despised; only–only +what? I do not want that Atheling girl to marry +him. Jane Warwick, or Helen Percy, or Margaret +Gower, I would not mind–but Kate +Atheling! No! Why? I cannot tell.” Nor +could she. It was one of those apparently unreasonable +dislikes we bring into the world with +us, and which, probably, are the most reasonable +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> +dislikes of all. “Very well, then,” she continued, +“I will not marry Piers, nor shall Kate +Atheling marry him. That is fair enough. If I +manage to make her give him up, I give him up +myself also. I am only doing to her as I do to +myself.</p> + +<p>“Now there is Wynn, and Sidmouth, and +Russell–and others. Every one of them have +appraised my value, and made inquiries about +my wealth. No one has told me this, but I +know it. I know it with that invincible certainty +with which women know things they are +never told. Cecil North? Yes, I like Cecil +North. He really fell in love with me,–with +<i>me</i>, <i>myself</i>. A woman knows; she is never +deceived about that unless she wants to be +deceived. He is poor,–the Westovers are all +poor,–I do not care if he is as poor as Job. +I am tired to death of rich people. If Cecil +North would get a military commission in India, +I could be his wife. I could follow the drum, +or live in quarters with him, and I should be a +better and a happier woman than I am here. This +life is too small for me.”</p> + +<p>She was right in this estimation of herself. +Her nature was one fitted to respond to great +emergencies. She was a woman for frontiers +and forts, for strife with men or elements, for +days of danger in the shadow of suffering or +death; and she was living in a society so artificial +that any real cry of nature and needless +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span> +familiarity, any sign of genuine passion was +startling and distasteful to it. The soldierly +temper inherited from her father demanded an +adventurous life, because people made for overcoming +obstacles cannot be morally healthy +without obstacles to overcome. And, therefore, +it was a poor life for Annabel Vyner that offered +her no difficulty to surmount but the claims of +Kate Atheling. She was quite aware of this, +and the ring in her purse was no real triumph. +It was rather one of those irreparable facts, the +very thought of which gives pain.</p> + +<p>If she had been morally stronger, she would +have dominated her environment, and defied the +circumstances that so easily prevented her from +doing the right thing. She would have been +obedient to Duty; and that grand, immutable +principle would have given her strength to resist +temptation, or, having fallen into it, to make the +obvious reparation; for</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“So nigh is grandeur to our dust,</p> +<p> So near is God to man,</p> +<p>When Duty whispers low, ‘<i>Thou Must</i>,’</p> +<p> The Soul replies, ‘<i>I Can</i>.’”</p> +</div> + +<p>This morning, though she was far from diagnosing +her feelings correctly, Annabel soon began +to suffer from that nervous and even that physical +fatigue which is bred of moral indifference. +For nothing is more certain than that moral +strength is the very <i>Life</i> of life. She yawned; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> +she felt the hours too long to be endured, while +she pictured to herself the scene in the Atheling +parlour, when Piers would confess the loss of the +ring, and Kate lovingly excuse it. Finally, she +became nervously angry at the persistence of the +vision. In every possible way she tried to banish +it, but though she fetched memories from farthest +India, the exasperating phantasm would not be +driven away.</p> + +<p>In reality the affair produced very little apparent +effect. Piers made his confession to Mrs. +and Miss Atheling with so much genuine emotion +that they could not but make light of the +loss while he was present. Yet it troubled both +women very much. Mrs. Atheling cried over it +when she was alone; and Kate took it as a sign +of some untoward event in the course of love between +Piers and herself. No one is able to put +aside such inferences and presentiments; and, +quite unconsciously, it worked towards the end +Kate feared. Piers began to fancy–perhaps +unjustly–that he never entered Kate’s or Mrs. +Atheling’s presence without seeing in their first +glance an unspoken inquiry after the lost ring. +In some measure he was to blame, if this was so. +He had employed detectives to watch such servants +of the Richmoor household as could have +had access to the Duke’s parlour on that unhappy +night; and as the ladies were aware of this movement, +it was only natural they should desire to +know if any result came from it.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span>Of course there was no result; and the real +culprit remained absolutely unsuspected. As the +days wore away, her conscience grew accustomed +to the situation; it made no troublesome +demands; and Annabel even began to feel a certain +pleasurable excitement in holding in her +hands what might prove to be a power for great +good, or great evil,–for she was not yet ready to +admit an entirely evil intention; she chose rather +to regard it as a practical jest which she might +undo, or explain, in some future, favourable hour.</p> + +<p>She kept the jewel always in her purse; she +went frequently to the Athelings; and once or +twice she had a transitory impulse to tell Kate +the whole circumstance, and be guided by her +advice in the matter. But the Evil One, who had +prompted her in the first instance to take it, +always met these intents or impulses with some +plausible excuse; and every good impulse which +does not crystallise into a good action, only tends +towards the strengthening of the evil one. Then +outside events made delay more easy. On the +fifteenth of November, there was a short, decided +argument in the House of Commons on the Civil +List; a division was promptly taken, and the +Government was found to be in a minority of +twenty-nine. The Squire and Lord Exham returned +home together, both very much annoyed +at this result.</p> + +<p>“All this election business will be to go over +again,” the Squire said, wearily. “Wellington +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span> +and Peel are sure to take this opportunity to +resign.”</p> + +<p>“Why should they resign, John?” asked Mrs. +Atheling.</p> + +<p>“Well, Maude,” he answered, “they are bound +to resign sooner or later; and I should think, if +they have any sense left, they will go out as +champions of the royal prerogative, rather than be +driven out by a Reform division, which is sure +to come. They will go out, my word for it, +Maude!”</p> + +<p>“And what then, John?”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, we shall have all the bother of another +election; and Earl Grey will form a new +Ministry, and Lord Brougham will bully the new +Ministry, as he has done the old one, about this +Reform Bill. He intended to have begun that +business this very night; but there wasn’t any +Ministers, nor any Administration to arraign, and +so he said, in his domineering way, that he would +put the question of Reform off until the twenty-fifth +of this month, and not a day longer, no matter +what circumstances prevailed, nor who were His +Majesty’s Ministers. I can tell you the city was in +a pretty commotion as we came home. We shall +have a Reform Government now, with Earl Grey +at the head, and the real fight will then begin.”</p> + +<p>“Earl Grey!” said Mrs. Atheling; “that is +Edgar’s friend.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I wouldn’t brag about it, Mother, if I +was thee. I shall have to go back to Yorkshire, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165'></a>165</span> +and so will Exham; and there will be no end of +bother, and a Reform Ministry at the end of it. +It is too bad! What they will do with Mr. +Brougham, I am sure I don’t know. No Ministry +can live without him; and it will be hard +work for any Ministry to live with him; for if he +drew up a bill himself, he would find faults in it, +and never rest until he had torn it to pieces.”</p> + +<p>Piers was sitting in the embrasure of a window, +holding Kate’s hands, and talking to her in those +low, sweet tones that women love; and at this +remark he rose, and, coming towards the Squire, +said with a grave smile, “For such dilemmas, +Squire, there are remedies made and provided. +If it is a clever clergyman who arraigns the +church, or his superiors, he is made a bishop; +and thereafter, he sees no faults. If it is a clever +Commoner who arraigns the Government, the +Government makes him a peer; and in the +House of Lords, he finds the grace of silence. +Earl Grey will have Mr. Brougham made Lord +High Chancellor, and then <i>Lord</i> Brougham will +only have the power to put the question.”</p> + +<p>Exham’s prophecy proved to be correct. +Brougham had declared that under any circumstances +he would bring up Reform on the +twenty-fifth of November; but, on the twenty-second +of November, he took his seat as Chancellor +in the House of Lords. It was said the +Great Seal had been forced upon him; but the +Squire wondered what pressure, never before +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166'></a>166</span> +known, had been discovered to make Henry +Brougham do anything, or take anything, he did +not want to do or take.</p> + +<p>However the feat was an accomplished one; +and with Earl Gray, Lord Durham, Sir James +Graham, Viscounts Melbourne and Palmerston, +and other great leaders, Brougham kissed the +King’s hand on his appointment just three days +before his threatened demonstration for Reform. +Soon after Parliament adjourned for the re-election +of Members in the Lower House; and the +Duke, with Lord Exham and Squire Atheling, +went down into Yorkshire.</p> + +<p>Edgar and Cecil North also disappeared. +“They have gone into the country on business, +and I’ll tell you what it is, Kitty,” said Mrs. +Atheling, with a little happy importance. “A +friend of Earl Grey has a close borough, and +Edgar is to have it. I am sure I don’t know +what will happen, if he should clash with +father in the House. Father cannot bear contradicting.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing wrong will happen, Mother.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure, the floor of the House of Commons +is a bit different from his own hearthstone. +When Edgar is a Parliament man, father will give +him his place.”</p> + +<p>“And Edgar will never forget to give father his +place, I am sure of that.”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t stand a minute with him if he did. +What a father and son say to each other in their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167'></a>167</span> +homestead, is home talk; but Edgar must not +threep his father before strangers. No, indeed!”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t wonder if father comes round a +little to Edgar’s views. He listened very patiently +to Cecil North, the last time they talked +on politics.”</p> + +<p>“He <i>has</i> to listen in Parliament, and so he is +getting used to listening. He never listened +patiently at home–not even to me. But we +can hope for the best anyhow, Kitty.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure, Mother. Hoping for the best is +far better than looking for the worst.”</p> + +<p>“I should think it was. Do you believe Piers +will be in London at Christmas?”</p> + +<p>“I fear not. Mother, he is going to send us +each a ring at Christmas; then we will forget the +other ring–shall we not?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, Kitty. I think a deal of that +other ring. No new one can make up for it. +Why, my dear, your father gave it to me the +night I promised to marry him. We were standing +under the big white hawthorn at Belward. +I’ll never forget that hour.”</p> + +<p>“It is so long ago, Mother–you cannot care +very much now about it.”</p> + +<p>“Now, Kitty, if you think only young people +can be in love, get that idea out of your mind at +once. You don’t know anything about love yet. +After twenty-five years bearing, and forbearing, +and childbearing, you will smile at your gentle-shepherding +of to-day. Your love is only a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168'></a>168</span> +fancy now, it will be a fact then that has its +foundations in your very life. You do not love +Piers Exham, child, as I love your father. You +can’t. It isn’t to be expected. And it is a good +thing, love is so ordered; for if it did not grow +stronger, instead of weaker, marrying would be a +poor way of living.”</p> + +<p>“That weary ring! I am so sorry that I ever +put it on.”</p> + +<p>“I did not ask you to put it on, Kitty. I did +not want you to put it on.”</p> + +<p>“Mother, please don’t be cross.”</p> + +<p>“Kitty, don’t be unjust; it is not like you.”</p> + +<p>Then Kitty laid her cheek against her +mother’s cheek, and said sadly, “I fear, somehow, +that ring will make trouble between Piers +and me.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense, dearie! The ring is lost and +gone. It can’t make trouble now.”</p> + +<p>“Its loss was a bad omen, Mother.”</p> + +<p>“There is no omen against true love, Kitty. +Love counts every sign a good sign.”</p> + +<p>“The Duke was very formal with me at my +last visit. The Duchess dislikes me; and Miss +Vyner has so many opportunities; it seems nearly +impossible that Piers should ever marry me.”</p> + +<p>“If Piers loves you, there is no impossibility. +Love works miracles. You cannot say ‘impossible’ +to Love. Love will find out a way.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169'></a>169</span><a id='link_9'></a>CHAPTER NINTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>A FOOLISH VIRGIN</span></h2> + +<p>Parliament was adjourned on the twenty-third +of December, and did not re-assemble +until the third of February. The interval was +one of great public excitement and of great +private anxiety. The country had been assured +of a Government pledged to Reform; and, in the +main, were waiting as patiently as men, hungry +and naked, and burning with a sense of injury +and injustice, could wait. But no one knew +what hour a spark might be cast into such inflammable +material,–that would mean Revolution +instead of Reform.</p> + +<p>Consequently life was depressed, and not disposed +to any exhibition of wealth or festivity; +the most heartless and reckless feeling that it +would not be endured by men and women on +the very verge of starvation. The Queen also +was unpopular, and the great social leaders +were, as a general thing, bitter political partisans; +in theatres and ball-rooms and even on +the streets, the Whig and Tory ladies, when +they met, looked at one another as Guelphs +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170'></a>170</span> +and Ghibellines, instead of christened English +gentlewomen.</p> + +<p>Both the Duchess of Richmoor and Miss +Vyner were women of strong and irrepressible +prejudices; and, before Parliament adjourned, +they had made for themselves an environment of +active, political enemies. And women carry +their politics into their domestic and social life; +the Duchess had wounded many of her oldest +friends; and Annabel, with the haughty intolerance +of youth and wealth, had succeeded in +making herself a person whom all the ladies of +the Reform party delighted either to positively +offend, or to scornfully ignore.</p> + +<p>These circumstances, with all her audacity and +advantages, she was unable to control. Her +brilliant beauty, her clever tongue, her ostentatious +dress and display were as nothing against +the united disposition of a score of other women +to make her understand that they neither desired +her friendship nor felt her influence; and +she had at least the sense to retire from a conflict +“whose weapons,” she said contemptuously, +“were not in her armory.” This condition +of affairs naturally threw her very much +upon the Athelings for society. While the +Duchess sat with a few old ladies of her own +caste and political persuasion, talking fearfully +of the state of English society and of the horrors +Reform would inaugurate for the nobility, +Annabel spent her time with Mrs. and Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171'></a>171</span> +Atheling, and learned to look hopefully into a +future in which, perhaps, there would be neither +dukes nor lords. Besides, Cecil North had a +habit of visiting the Athelings also; and, without +expressed arrangement, both Cecil and +Annabel looked forward to those charming +lunches which Mrs. Atheling dispensed with so +little ceremony and so much good nature. It +had been Cecil’s intention to go with Edgar +into the country; but when the hour for departure +arrived, he had not been able to leave +Annabel’s vicinity, and, in some of those mysterious +ways known to Love, she understood, +and was pleased with this evidence of her power.</p> + +<p>Cecil’s mother had been particularly prominent +in that social ostracism the Reform ladies +had meted out to her; and it gave to the real +liking which she had for Cecil a piquant relish +to parade the young man as her devoted servant +in all places where his noble mother would be +likely to see or hear tell of her son’s “infatuation.” +But Cecil North’s affection, and the +favour it received, did not much influence Kate. +With the perversity of a woman in love, she +believed Annabel to be only amusing herself +during Lord Exham’s absence; and she accepted, +without a doubt, all the little innuendoes, +and half-truths, and half-admissions +which Annabel suffered herself, as it were, without +intent, to make.</p> + +<p>Thus the dreary winter days passed slowly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172'></a>172</span> +away. In January Edgar returned. His election +had been a mere walk over the ground. +The patron of the borough of Shereham had +spoken the word, and Edgar Atheling was its +lawful representative. It was a poor little +place, but it gave Edgar a vote on the right side; +and Earl Grey also hoped much from his power +as a natural orator. He might take Brougham’s +place, and be far more amenable to directions +than Brougham had ever been. Mrs. Atheling +considered none of these things. She took in +only the grand fact that her son was in Parliament, +and that he must have won his place there +by some transcendent personal merit. True, +she had some little qualms of fear as to how +Edgar’s father would treat the new representative +of Englishmen; but her invincible habit of +hoping and her cheerful way of looking into the +future did not suffer these passing doubts to +seriously mar her glory and pride in her son’s +dignity.</p> + +<p>In fact, even in Annabel’s eyes, Edgar Atheling +was now an important person. Women do +not consider causes, they look at results; and +in Edgar Atheling’s case the result was satisfactory. +On the day the new member for Shereham +returned home, she was lunching with the Athelings, +eating her salad and playing with Cecil +North’s heart, when Edgar entered the room. +His honour sat well on him; he neither paraded, +nor yet affectedly ignored it. His mother’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173'></a>173</span> +pride, his sister’s pleasure, and the congratulations +of his friends made him happy, and he +showed it. The lunch that was nearly finished +was delayed for another hour. No one liked to +break up the delightful meal and conversation; +and when Annabel got back to Richmoor House +the short day was over, and the Duchess had +sent an escort to hurry her return.</p> + +<p>“You are exceedingly imprudent, Annabel,” +she said, when the girl entered her presence; +“and I do think it high time you stopped visiting +so much at one house.”</p> + +<p>“Duchess, will you say what other house +equally charming is open to me? You know +how little of a favourite I am. To-day I was +delayed by an event,–the return of young Atheling +after his election. He is now an M. P.,–a +great honour for so young a man, I think.”</p> + +<p>“Honour, indeed! Grey or Durham, or some +of those renegades to their own caste, have given +him a seat. Grey would give a seat to a puppy +if it could bark ‘aye’ for him.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I should not think Atheling will be a +dumb dog; he has a ready tongue. Mr. North +says he will take Brougham’s place.”</p> + +<p>“He will do nothing of the kind. Young +Atheling is a fine talker when he has to face a +mob of grumbling men on a Yorkshire moor or +a city common. It is a different thing, Annabel, +to stand up before the gentlemen of England. +As for Mr. North, I have told you before +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span> +that both the Duke and myself seriously object +to that entanglement.”</p> + +<p>Annabel laughed. “There is no entanglement, +Duchess,–that is, on my part.”</p> + +<p>“Then why throw yourself continually in the +young man’s way?”</p> + +<p>“You are scarcely polite. He throws himself +in my way.”</p> + +<p>“Pardon. I meant nothing disrespectful.”</p> + +<p>“And I have reasons.”</p> + +<p>“May I know them?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Mr. North’s mother was particularly +insulting to me at the last Morning Concert I +attended. I heard also that she had spoken of +me as ‘an Indian girl of doubtful parentage.’ +She is particularly fond of Cecil, who is her +youngest child, and she is trying to make a marriage +between him and that enormously rich +Miss Curzon. I am going to defeat her plans.”</p> + +<p>Then the Duchess laughed. “I never interfere +with any woman’s retributions,” she said. +“But do not burn yourself at the fire you kindle +for others.”</p> + +<p>“I am fire-proof.”</p> + +<p>“I must think so, or surely Piers would have +influenced you.”</p> + +<p>“Lord Exham never tried to ‘influence’ me; +and only one woman in the world can ‘influence’ +him.”</p> + +<p>“You mean Miss Atheling, of course; and I +have already told you that there is not even a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span> +supposition in that case. Miss Atheling is out +of the question. The Duke would never consent +to such a marriage; and I would never forgive +it. Never! I should prefer to lose my son +altogether.”</p> + +<p>“Then you ought to let Miss Atheling know +how you feel. She is a very honourable, yes, +a very proud girl. She would not force herself +into your family, no matter how much she loved +your son. Now, I would. If I had thought +you did <i>not</i> want me to marry Lord Exham, I +should probably have been his wife to-day.”</p> + +<p>The Duchess glanced at the speaker a little +scornfully, and said, “Perhaps you over-estimate +your abilities. However, Annabel, your suggestion +about Miss Atheling has much likelihood. +I shall make an opportunity to speak to +her. Will you go out to-night? There will be +the usual crush at Lady Paget’s.”</p> + +<p>“Excuse me, I do not wish to go.” The +statement was correct. She had begun to +weary of a routine of visiting that lacked decisive +personal interest. She had many lovers; +but even love-making grows tiresome unless it +is reciprocal, or has some spice of jealousy, or +some element of the chase in it. Cecil North +did interest her, and Piers Exham did stimulate +her desire for conquest; but Cecil was most +pleasantly met at the Athelings, and Lord +Exham was in Yorkshire.</p> + +<p>So, after dining alone with the Duchess, she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176'></a>176</span> +went to a little drawing-room that was her +favourite resort. The great ash logs burned +brightly on the white marble hearth, and threw +shifting lights on the white-and-gold furnishings, +on the pictured walls, on the ferns and +flowers, and on the lovely marble forms of two +wood nymphs among them. She placed herself +comfortably in a large easy-chair, with her +back to the argand lamp, and stretched out her +sandalled feet before the blaze, and nestled her +head among the soft white cushions. The delicious +drowsy atmosphere was a physical satisfaction +of the highest order to her, quite as much +so as it was to the splendid Persian cat that +grumblingly resigned, at her order, the pleasantest +end of the snow-white rug.</p> + +<p>“Now I can think,” she said with lazy satisfaction, +as she closed her restless eyes and +began the operation. “In the first place, I +have set a ball rolling that I may not be able to +manage. It is in the hand of the Duchess, and +she will have no scruples–she never has, if she +is fighting for her own side. Perhaps I ought +not to have given her such a ‘leader,’ for Kate +Atheling has always been kind to me–thoughtful +about Cecil, ready at making excuses to let +us have a little solitude, arranging shopping +excursions in his presence, so that he would +know where he could ‘accidentally’ meet us–and +so on. No, it was not exactly kind; but +then, in love and war, all things are fair–and I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177'></a>177</span> +dare say Miss Kate’s motives were probably +selfish enough. She would give me Cecil to +make her own way clear to Piers; and, also, +Cecil is a favourite with the Athelings and +young Atheling’s friend; and they know that +he is poor, and doubtless wish to help him to a +rich wife. Every one works out their own plan, +why should not I do the same? But I must +find out something about that ring, and, as the +straight way is the best way, I will ask Kate the +necessary questions. She will be sure to betray +herself.”</p> + +<p>Then she opened her purse, took out the ring, +and placed it upon her finger, holding up her +hand to the blaze to catch its reflections. “It is +a pretty little thing, but I have bought it two or +three times over with my diamond locket. I +wonder why Kate never wears that locket! Is +it too fine? Or has she some feeling against +me? I gave her it at Christmas, and I have +only seen it once on her neck–that is strange! +I never thought of it before–it really is not +much of a ring–I have twenty finer ones–and +I dare say I shall give it back some day: yes, of +course I shall give it back–but at present–” and +she stopped thinking of the demands of +the present, and taking the ring off her finger +laid it in the palm of her hand, and softly tossed +it and the Hindoo charm up and down together +ere she replaced them in their receptacle.</p> + +<p>Evidently she had arranged things comfortably +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178'></a>178</span> +with herself, for, after closing the purse, she +began to swing it by its golden chain before the +cat’s eyes, until the creature became thoroughly +annoyed, and tried to catch the gleaming, tantalising +worry with its claws. The play delighted +her; she gave herself up to its tormenting +charm, and for once lost, in the momentary +amusement, all consciousness of herself and her +appearance. It was then the great white door +swung noiselessly open, and Lord Exham stood +within it. The sensuous little drama, so full of +colour and life, instantly arrested him; and he +stood motionless to watch it. The girl’s strong, +vivid face, her black hair, her dress of bright +scarlet, her arms and hands flashing with gems, +were thrown into dazzling prominence by the +chair of white brocade in which she sat, and the +white rug at her feet, and the lamp shining +behind her. She waved the golden purse before +the cat’s eyes, and let it almost fall into the +eager paws, and then drew it backward with a +little laugh, and was not aware that she was, in +the act, an absolutely bewitching type of mere +physical beauty.</p> + +<p>But Piers was aware of it. He forgot everything +but delight in the moving picture; and, +as he advanced, he cried, in a voice full of +pleasure, “<i>Annabel! Annabel!</i>” And the girl +answered her name with an instantaneous movement +towards him. Her radiant face looked +into his face, and ere they were aware they had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179'></a>179</span> +met in each other’s arms and Piers had kissed +her.</p> + +<p>She was silent and smiling, and he instantly +recovered himself. “I ask your pardon,” he +said, releasing her and bowing gravely; “but +you are one of the family, you know, and I have +been long away, and am so glad to get home +again that some liberty must be excused me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, indeed!” she answered, with a pretty +pout, “I think the apology is the worst part of +the business,” and she looked into his eyes with +that steady, unwinking gaze which none withstand. +Then he drew her closer, and said +softly, “You are simply bewildering to-night, +Annabel. How have you made yourself so +beautiful?” As he spoke he led her to her seat, +and drew a chair close to her side; and the cat +leaped to his knee and began to loudly purr her +satisfaction in her master’s return.</p> + +<p>“Are you alone to-night?” he asked. “Or +perhaps you are expecting company?”</p> + +<p>“I am alone. I expected no company; but +Destiny loves surprises, and to-night she has +surpassed herself. The Duchess has gone to +Lady Paget’s. I could not sacrifice myself so +far. You know what her political nights are. +And if it is not Relief Bills, and Reform Bills, +then it is Mr. Clarkson and Anti-Slavery; and +we are solemnly told to make little petticoats +for the negro children if we desire to go to +heaven.” She laughed, and dropped her eyes, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180'></a>180</span> +and was silent; and the silence grew dangerous. +Fortunately, she herself broke the spell by asking +Piers if he had seen Squire Atheling in +Yorkshire.</p> + +<p>“We came from Yorkshire together,” he said. +Then he began to talk about the election, and +in a few minutes a butler announced his dinner, +and Annabel’s hour was over.</p> + +<p>She was not disappointed. “We went far +enough,” she thought. “I am not yet ready to +put my hand out further than I can draw it back. +I cannot give up Cecil now; he is the only private +pleasure I have. Every other thing I share +with the Duchess, or somebody else. And +Piers I should have to share with her and the +Duke. As heir to the dukedom, they will +always retain a right in his time and interests. +No, Lord Exham, not yet–not yet.”</p> + +<p>She rose with the words, and went to the +piano and dashed off in splendid style that +famous old military fantasia, “The Battle of +Prague.” And the drift of her uncontrolled +thoughts during it may be guessed by the first +query she made of her intelligence when the +noisy music ceased:–</p> + +<p>“I wonder what the Athelings are doing? +Piers says the Squire is at home. I suppose +Mrs. Atheling and Kate are coddling, and petting, +and feeding him.”</p> + +<p>In some respects Annabel judged fairly well. +The Squire reached his home about the same +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181'></a>181</span> +time that Lord Exham arrived at Richmoor +House, and found Mrs. Atheling waiting to +receive him. He made no secret of his joy in +seeing her again. “I was afraid thou mightst be +gadding about somewhere, Maude,” he said. +“It is pleasant to find thee at home.”</p> + +<p>“John Atheling!”</p> + +<p>“Well, it is too bad to say such a thing, +Maude. I knew well I would find thee at home +when there was either chance or likelihood of my +getting back there. But where is little Kitty? +It isn’t right without Kitty.”</p> + +<p>“Well, John, Squire Pickering’s family came +to London a few days ago, and Kitty has gone +to the theatre with them.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell thee a good joke about Squire +Pickering, Maude,” said the Squire, laughing +heartily as he spoke. “He was feared young +Sam Pickering was going to vote for Reform, +and he served a writ on him for a trespass, or +something of that sort, and got him put safely in +jail till voting time was over. Then he quashed +the writ and let the lad out. But, my word! +young Sam is fighting furious, and he has +treated his father nearly as bad as Edgar treated +me.”</p> + +<p>“Edgar is going to Parliament now. I told +thee he would. John, for goodness’ sake, don’t +quarrel with him before all England!”</p> + +<p>“Maude Atheling! I never quarrelled with +Edgar. Never! He quarrelled with me. If +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182'></a>182</span> +he had done his duty by his father, we would +have been finger and thumb, buckle and strap, +yesterday, and to-day, and to-morrow, and every +other day. The Duke says my anger at Edgar +is quite reasonable and justifiable.”</p> + +<p>“<i>The Duke!</i> So then thou art framing thy +opinions to what <i>he</i> says. Dear me! I wouldn’t +have believed such a thing could ever come to +pass.”</p> + +<p>“Wait till it <i>does</i> come to pass. Why, Richmoor +and I very near came to quarrelling point +because I would <i>not</i> frame my opinions by his +say-so. I have been looking into things a bit, +Maude, more than I ever did before, and I have +learned what I am not going to deny for anybody. +I met Philip Brotherton of Knaseborough, +and he asked me to go home with him for two +or three days–You know Philip and I have +been friends ever since we were lads, and our +fathers before us.”</p> + +<p>“I know that.”</p> + +<p>“So I went with him, and he showed me how +working men live and labour in such towns as +Leeds and Manchester; and I am not going to +say less than it is a sin and a shame to keep +human beings alive on such terms. I do not +believe any Reform Bill is going to help them; +but they ought to be helped; and they must be +helped; or else government is nothing but +blunderment, and legislating nothing but folly. +And I said as much to Richmoor, and he asked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183'></a>183</span> +me if my son had been lecturing me; and I told +him I had been using my own eyes, and my own +ears, and my own conscience.”</p> + +<p>“What did he say to that?”</p> + +<p>“He said, ‘Squire, I do not like your associating +with Philip Brotherton. The man has +radical ideas, though he does not profess them.’ +And I said, ‘I like Philip Brotherton, and I +shall associate with him whenever I can make +it convenient to do so; and as for his ideas, if +they are radical, then Christianity is radical; +and as for professing them, Philip Brotherton +does better than that, he lives them;’ and I +went on to say that I thought it would be a +right and righteous thing if both landlords and +loomlords would do the same.”</p> + +<p>“My word, John! Thou didst speak up! I’ll +warrant Richmoor was angry enough.”</p> + +<p>The Squire laughed a little as he answered, +“Well, Maude, he got as red in the face as a +turkey-cock, and he asked me if I was really +going to be Philip Brotherton’s fool. And I +answered, ‘No, I am like you, Duke, I do my +own business in that line.’ And he said, ‘<i>Squire +Atheling!</i>’ and turned on his heel and walked +one way; and I said, ‘<i>Duke Richmoor!</i>’ and +turned on my heel and walked the other way. +Now then, Maude, dost thou think he orders my +opinions for me?”</p> + +<p>And Mrs. Atheling smiled understandingly +in her lord’s face, and cut him a double portion +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184'></a>184</span> +from the best part of the haunch of venison she +was carving.</p> + +<p>A few days after this event Annabel called +one morning at the Athelings. She expected +Cecil North to be there, and he was not there; +she waited for him to come, and he did not +come; she tried in many devious ways to get +Kate to express an opinion about his absence, +and Kate seemed entirely unconscious of it. It +provoked her into an ill-natured anger; and, +casting about in her mind for something disagreeable +to say, she remembered her resolve to +find out how the sapphire ring came to be in +Lord Exham’s possession. Even if “the straight +way had not been the best way,” she was by +nature inclined to direct inquiries; and she had +just proven in her mental manœuvring about +Cecil North that indirect methods were not satisfactory. +So she said bluntly:–</p> + +<p>“Kate, did you ever hear about Lord Exham +losing a ring he valued very much?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered Kate, without the slightest +embarrassment; “it was my mother’s ring.”</p> + +<p>“Your mother’s ring?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“But Lord Exham had it on his finger.”</p> + +<p>“My mother loaned it to him. He admired +it very much, and wished to have one made +like it.”</p> + +<p>“The Duchess was sure that some lady had +given it to him as a love gage. Do you know +that he has fretted himself sick about its +loss?”</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i10'></a><img src='images/illus-185.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185'></a>185</span>“Oh, no! I am sure he is not sick. My +mother made light of the loss to him, though she +really was very much attached to that particular +ring.”</p> + +<p>“Have I ever seen her wear it?”</p> + +<p>“No. It was too small for her.”</p> + +<p>“Then it was a simple souvenir?”</p> + +<p>“It was more than that; it was her betrothal +ring. Father bought it in Venice.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!”</p> + +<p>“But she had a slim little hand, then–like +mine is now–” said Kate, laughing, and spreading +out her hand for Annabel to observe.</p> + +<p>“Then you must have been talking of rings, +and shown it to him.”</p> + +<p>“I was wearing it. I had it on during the +lunch hour, and you were present. It is a +wonder you did not notice it, for you are so +curious about finger-rings.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am quite a ring collector.”</p> + +<p>“It was rather a singular ring.”</p> + +<p>“Will you describe it to me?”</p> + +<p>Kate did so, and Annabel listened with apparent +curiosity. “I wonder what Exham could +want with such a queer ring,” she said in +answer.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps he is also a ring collector.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps!” But the one word by no means +explained the thoughts forming in her mind. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186'></a>186</span> +She rose, and, lifting her bonnet, went to a +mirror and carefully tied the satin ribbons under +her chin, in the big bows then considered vastly +becoming. Kate tried to arrest her hands. +“Stay and take lunch with us,” she urged. +“Edgar is sure to be here; and I should like +him to see you in that pretty cloth pelisse.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Atheling never notices me; then why +should he notice my pelisse? I heard Lady +Inglis say that he is very much in Miss Curzon’s +society. If so, he will clash with his friend Mr. +North, who is also her devoted slave.”</p> + +<p>“Now, Annabel! You know that Cecil +North loves no one but you.”</p> + +<p>“How can you be so wise about his love-affairs?”</p> + +<p>“No great wisdom is needed to see what he +cannot hide.”</p> + +<p>“Was he here yesterday?”</p> + +<p>“He was here last night. He called to tell +us he was going to Westover on some business +for his father. I suppose he wanted you to +know.”</p> + +<p>“But you never thought of telling me. How +selfish girls in love are! They cannot think a +thought beyond their own lover. I declare I +was going without giving you my news,–the +Duchess has a large dinner party on the first of +March. The Tory ladies will wait in her rooms +the reading of this famous Reform Bill that +Lord John Russell is concocting, and there will +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187'></a>187</span> +be a great crowd. Kate, if I was you, I would +wear your court dress. It is very unlikely that +the Queen will receive at all this season.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps we shall not be invited to the +dinner.”</p> + +<p>“You certainly will be invited. I heard the +list read, and as your name begins with ‘A’ it +was almost the first. If Mr. Atheling does +come to lunch, give him my respects and describe +my pelisse to him.”</p> + +<p>She went away with this mocking message, +and was driven first to a famous jeweller’s, where +she bought a sapphire band sufficiently like the +one Lord Exham had lost to pass for it, if the +view was cursory and at a distance. Kate’s +confidence had made one course exceedingly +plain to Annabel. She said to herself as she +drove through the city streets, “My best plan is +evidently to arouse Squire Atheling’s suspicions. +I will let him see the ring on my hand. I will +lead him to think Piers gave it to me. He will +of course make inquiries, and I wonder what +Mrs. Atheling and Kate will say. It is a +pretty piece of confusion–and, if the matter +goes too far, I reserve the power to play the good +fairy and put all right. This is a complication +I shall enjoy thoroughly, and I am sure, with +nothing on earth but Reform and Revolution in +my ears, I deserve some little private amusement. +All I have to do is to be constantly ready +for opportunities.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188'></a>188</span>Opportunities, however, with Squire Atheling, +were few and far between. It was not until the +day before the first of March she found one. +On that afternoon she called at the Athelings, +and found Mrs. and Miss Atheling out. The +Squire was walking from the fire-place to the +window, and from the window to the fire-place, +and grumbling at their absence. Miss Vyner’s +entrance diverted him for a few minutes; and +as they were talking a servant brought in a small +package. The Squire took it up, and laid it +down, and then took it up again, and was evidently +either anxious or curious concerning its +contents.</p> + +<p>“Why do you not open your package, Squire?” +asked Annabel.</p> + +<p>“Well, young lady, I am not going to act as +if your presence was not entertainment enough +and to spare.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense! Please do not stand on ceremony +with me. It may contain important papers–something +relating to Church or State. I am +only a young woman. Open it, Squire.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, if you say so, I will open it,” +and he began fumbling at the well-tied string. +Annabel saw her opportunity. In a moment +she had slipped on to the forefinger of her right +hand the lost ring, and the next moment she had +gently pushed aside the Squire’s hands, and +was saying, “Let me unfasten the knots. I am +cleverer at that work than you.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189'></a>189</span>“To be sure you are. There is work little +fingers do better than big ones, and this is that +kind of a job. But I will get my knife and cut +the knots; that is the best and quickest way.”</p> + +<p>He began to hunt in his pockets for his knife, +but could not find it. “Dobson never does put +things where they ought to be,” he said fretfully; +and then he pulled the bell-rope for Dobson with +a force that fully indicated his annoyance. In +the mean time, Annabel was quietly untying the +string, and the Squire naturally watched her +efforts. He was complaining and scolding his +servant and his womenkind, and Annabel did +not heed him; but when he suddenly stopped +speaking, in the middle of a sentence, she looked +into his face. It expressed the blankest wonder +and curiosity. His eyes were fixed upon her +hands, and he would probably have asked her +some inconvenient question if Dobson had not +entered at the moment. Then Annabel retired. +Dobson had taken the parcel in charge, and she +excused herself from further delay.</p> + +<p>“I have several things to do,” she said, “and +I shall only be in the way of the parcel and its +contents. Tell Mrs. Atheling and Kate that I +called, will you, Squire?”</p> + +<p>“To be sure! To be sure, Miss Vyner,” he +answered; but his eyes were on the papers Dobson +was unfolding, and his mind was vaguely +wandering to the ring he had seen on her finger. +When he had satisfied his curiosity concerning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190'></a>190</span> +the papers, his thoughts returned with persistent +wonder to it. “I’ll wager my best hunter, +yes, I’ll wager <i>Flying Selma</i> that was the ring I +bought in Venice and gave to Maude. How +did that girl get it? Maude would never sell it +or give it away. Never! <i>Dal it!</i> there is something +queer in her having it. I must find out +how it comes to pass.”</p> + +<p>When he arrived at this decision Mrs. Atheling +came into the room. She was rosy and +smiling, and put aside with sweet good nature +the Squire’s complaints about both her and Kitty +being out of the house when he was in it. +“Not a soul to say a word to me, or to see that I +had a bit of comfortable eating,” he said in a +tone of injury.</p> + +<p>“Never mind, John!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, but I do mind! I mind a great deal, +Maude.”</p> + +<p>“You see, it was Kitty wanted me. She had +to have a new clasp to the pearl necklace your +mother left her; and she was sure you would +like me to choose it, so I went with her. I +thought we should certainly be home before you +got back.”</p> + +<p>“Well, never mind, then. Nothing suits me +so much as to see Kitty suited. I hope you +bought a clasp good enough for the necklace.”</p> + +<p>“I did not forget that she was going with you +to-morrow night.”</p> + +<p>“But you are going too, Maude?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191'></a>191</span>“Nay, I am not. When I can shut my ears as +easy as my eyes, I can afford to be less particular +about the company I keep. I know beforehand +what the women in that crowd will say about +their own danger, and about the murmuring poor +who won’t starve in peace, and I know that I +would be sure to answer them with a little bit +of plain truth.”</p> + +<p>“And the truth is not always pleasant, eh, +Maude?”</p> + +<p>“In this case I’m sure it wouldn’t be pleasant. +So, then, the outside of Richmoor House +is the best side for me.”</p> + +<p>“I must say I’m getting a bit tired myself +of the Duke’s masterful way, and of his everlasting +talk about the ‘noble memories of the +past.’”</p> + +<p>“Then tell him, John, that the noble hopes of +the future are something better than the noble +memories of the past. The country is in a bad +condition as ever was. Something must be done, +and done quickly.”</p> + +<p>“I’m saying nothing to the contrary, Maude. +But even if Reform was right, it cannot be carried. +We must drive the nail that will go. +That is only good common-sense, Maude.”</p> + +<p>“Mark my words, John. Reform will <i>have</i> to +come, and better now than later. That which +fools do in the end, wise men do in the beginning. +I know, I know.”</p> + +<p>“On this subject thou knowest nothing whatever, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192'></a>192</span> +Maude. Now, then, I am going to have a +bit of sleep. But I will say thus far–as soon +as ever I am sure that I am on a wrong road I +won’t go a step further. John Atheling is not +the man to carry a candle for the devil.”</p> + +<p>With these words he threw his bandana +handkerchief over his head, adding, “He hoped +now he had a ‘right’ to a bit of sleep.” Then +Mrs. Atheling went softly out of the room. +There was a tolerant smile on her face, for she +was not deceived by the Squire’s habit of dignifying +his self-assertions and his self-indulgences +with the name of “rights.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193'></a>193</span><a id='link_10'></a>CHAPTER TENTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>TROUBLE COMES UNSUMMONED</span></h2> + +<p>Never had the ducal palace of Richmoor been +more splendidly prepared for festivity than on the +night of the first of March, 1831. And yet every +guest present knew that it was not a festival, but a +gathering of men and women moved by the +gravest fears for the future. The long suites of +parlours, brilliantly lighted, were crowded with +peers and noble ladies, wearing, indeed, the smiles +of conventional pleasure; but all of them eager to +discuss the portentous circumstances by which +they were environed.</p> + +<p>Annabel stood at the right hand of the Duchess, +but was strangely distrait and silent. Everything +had gone wrong with her. It had been a day of +calamity. She began it with a fret and a scold, +and her maid Justine had been from that moment +in a temper calculated to provoke to extremities +her impatient mistress. Then her costume did +not arrive till some hours after it was due; and +when examined, it was found to be very unbecoming. +She had been persuaded to select a pale blue +satin, simply because she had tired of every +other colour; and she was disgusted with the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194'></a>194</span> +effect of its cold beauty against her olive-tinted +skin. She wore out Justine’s temper with the +variety of her suggestions, and her angry impatience +with every effort. The girl became sulkily +silent, then defiantly silent, then, after a most +unreasonable burst of anger, actively impertinent, +so much so that she left Annabel only one way +of retaliation–an instant dismissal. She lifted +her purse passionately, counted out the money +due, and, pushing it contemptuously towards the +girl, told her “to leave the house instantly.”</p> + +<p>To her utter amazement, Justine pushed back +the money. “I will not take it,” she said. “I +have no intention of leaving the house until I see +the ring in your possession–the ring in your +purse, Miss–returned to the owner of it.”</p> + +<p>If Annabel had been struck to the ground, she +could not have been more confounded and bewildered; +and Justine saw and pushed her advantage. +“Miss knows,” she continued, “that police +detectives are watching night and day the innocent +men whose duties are on this corridor. +Any hour some little thing may cause one of +them to be suspected and arrested; and then +who but I could save him from the gallows? +No, Miss, I shall not leave till you give up the +ring–till the real th–the real taker of it is +known.”</p> + +<p>These words terrified Annabel. She felt her +heart stop beating; a strange sickness overwhelmed +her; she sunk speechless into a chair, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195'></a>195</span> +and closed her eyes. With an attention utterly +devoid of sympathy, Justine put between her lips +a tea-spoonful of aniseed cordial which she +brought from her own apartment.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Annabel recovered herself +physically; but her prostration, and the hysterical +mood which followed it, were admissions she +could not by any future word, or act, contradict. +She had been taken by surprise, and surrendered. +If she had had but ten minutes to survey the +situation, she would have defied it; but such an +emergency had never occurred to her. Over +and over again she had supposed every other +likelihood of discovery; this one, never! She was +at the mercy of her maid; but for the time being +the maid was not inclined to extremities. She +only insisted that Annabel should use her influence +to place the men under suspicion out of +the danger of arrest; and when Annabel had +explained, with a wretched little laugh, that the +ring had been taken “as a means of forwarding her +love-affair with Lord Exham,” the maid assured +her “she was on her side in that matter.” Then +she pocketed the sovereigns Annabel offered as +a peace gift, and “hoped Miss would think no +more of what she had said.”</p> + +<p>But Annabel could not dismiss the subject. +Under her magnificent but singularly unbecoming +gown, she carried a heart heavy with apprehension. +The shadow of the gallows, which +Justine had evoked for the suspected culprit, fell +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196'></a>196</span> +upon her own consciousness. In those days, +the most trifling theft was punished with death; +and Annabel had a terror of that mysterious Law +of which she was so profoundly ignorant. How +it would regard her position, she could not imagine. +Would even her confession and restoration +exonerate her? In this respect, she suffered +from fright, as an ignorant child suffers. Besides +which, when the subject of “confession” came +close to her, she felt that it was impossible. +Constantly she had flattered her conscience with +this promise; but if it was to come to actuality, +she thought she would rather die.</p> + +<p>So it was with a wretched heart she took the +place the Duchess had assigned her at her own +right hand. This position associated her intimately +with Lord Exham, and it was for this +very reason the Duchess had decided upon it. +She knew the value of the popular voice; she +wished the popular voice to unite Lord Exham +and her rich and beautiful ward; and she felt +sure that their association at her right hand +would give all the certainty necessary to such a +belief. Heart-sick with her strange, new terror, +Annabel stood in that brilliant throng. Just +before the dinner hour, she saw Squire Atheling +and Kate approaching to pay their respects to +the Duchess. She saw also the quick, joyful +lifting of Exham’s eyelids, the bright flush of +pleasure that gave sudden life to his pale cheeks, +and the irrepressible gladness that made his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197'></a>197</span> +voice musical, as he said softly, “How beautiful +she is!”</p> + +<p>“Miss Atheling?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>Then Annabel considered her rival’s approach. +Her eyes fell first on the Squire, whose splendid +physique arrested every one’s attention. He +wore a coat of dark-blue broadcloth, trimmed +with gold buttons, a long, white satin vest, and +exquisitely fine linen, rather ostentatiously ruffled. +On his arm Kate’s hand just rested. Her gown +of rich white silk was soft as lawn, and resplendent +as moonbeams; and around her throat lay +one string of Oriental pearls. Her bright, brown +hair was dressed high, without any ornament; +but there were silver buckles, set with pearls, on +the front of her white satin sandals. A pause, a +murmur of admiration was perceptible; for conversation +ceased a moment as a creature so fresh, +so pure, so exquisite, and so suitably protected, +moved among them. Lord Exham, forgetting +all ceremonies, went eagerly forward to meet +these favoured guests; and the Duchess also had +a momentary pleasure in Kate’s well-gowned +loveliness. She was very friendly to the Squire; +and she took his daughter under her own protection.</p> + +<p>After dinner–which was specially early for +that night–the majority of the gentlemen went +to the House. The Reform Bill, about which all +England was in agonising suspense, was to be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198'></a>198</span> +read for the first time. Never, within the memory +of Englishmen, had there been so great a +crowd eager to get into the House. Every inch +of space on the floor was filled; and troops of +eager politicians, from all parts of the country, +were waiting at the doors of the various galleries. +When they were opened, the clamour, the +struggle, and the confusion was so indescribable +that the Speaker threatened to have all the galleries +cleared. Even among the members, there +was great confusion and complaining; for their +seats, though marked with their cards, had in +many instances been taken by others.</p> + +<p>Outside, the streets were packed with men +wrought up to feverish excitement and anxiety; +and in all the great centres of society, and in +every club in London, there were restless crowds +waiting for news from Westminster. The Duchess +of Richmoor’s parlours were the central point of +Tory interest. Not one of the company there +present but believed with Sir Robert Inglis–an +orator of their party–that “Reform would +sweep the House of Lords clear in ten years.” +This night was, to them, their salvation or their +ruin. Below their jewelled bodices, their hearts +trembled with anxious terror. After the departure +of the members for the House, they gathered +in little knots, wondering, and fearing, and listening +to the noises in the crowded streets, with an +agitation not quite devoid of pleasurable stimulation. +For they were not without comforters and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199'></a>199</span> +encouragers. The Duke of Wellington went +from group to group, assuring them that Lord +Grey’s Ministry must go down, and that no +Reform Bill which could injure the nobility would +be permitted to pass the House of Lords.</p> + +<p>Annabel was almost glad to see every one so +unhappy. She had a perverse desire to say contradictious +things. Her heart was heavy with +fear, and it was burning with envy and jealousy. +Kate’s beauty, and Lord Exham’s undisguised +admiration, made her realise all the bitterness of +failure. She wandered about making evil prophecies, +or saying irritating truths, and watching +Kate the while, till she was ready to cry out with +mental pain and mortification. For the great +Duke–never insensible to female loveliness–had +given Kate his arm, and was walking about +the parlours with her. Why had such honour +not fallen to her lot? Never had she been so +desirous to lead, to be admired, to enforce her +eminent fitness to wear the Richmoor coronet. +Never had she so signally failed. Even her wit +had deserted her; she said <i>malapropos</i> clever +things, and got snubbed for them. In her anger, +and fear, and disappointment, she wished Reform +<i>might</i> make a clean sweep of such a selfish crowd +of so-called nobility. She had arrived at that +point when her misery demanded company.</p> + +<p>About ten o’clock, the Duke and Lord Exham +returned. The large lofty rooms, with their +moving throngs of splendidly attired men and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200'></a>200</span> +women, were yet crowded; but their atmosphere +was charged with an electric tension, generated by +the unusual pitch to which every one’s thoughts, +and feelings, and words were set. Many were almost +hysterical; some had subsided into mere +waiting, conscious of requiring all their strength +for simple endurance of the suspense; others, +more hopeful, were restless and watching,–but +all alike became instantly and breathlessly silent +as the two men appeared. For a moment no one +spoke; then the Duke of Wellington asked, with +an assumption of cheerfulness, “What news? Has +the Bill been read?”</p> + +<p>“It has been read,” answered Richmoor. +“Lord John Russell introduced it in a speech +lasting more than two hours.”</p> + +<p>“And pray what are its provisions.”</p> + +<p>“This infamous Bill proposes that every borough +of less than two thousand inhabitants shall +lose the right to send a member to Parliament.”</p> + +<p>“What a scandalous robbery of our privileges!” +ejaculated some one of the listeners.</p> + +<p>“It is nothing else!” answered the Duke. “It +robs me of the gift of seven boroughs.”</p> + +<p>“What excuse did he make for such an act?”</p> + +<p>“He supposed the case of a stranger, coming +to England to investigate our method of representation, +being taken to a green mound, and +told that green mound sent two members to +Parliament; or to a stone wall with three niches +in it, and told that those three niches sent two +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201'></a>201</span> +members to Parliament; or to a green park with +no signs of human habitation, and told that green +park sent two members to Parliament; and then +pictured the amazement of the stranger at this +condition of things. ‘But,’ he cried, ‘how much +greater would be his amazement if he were then +taken to large and populous cities, full of industry, +enterprise, and intelligence, and containing +vast magazines of every kind of manufactures, +and was then told that these cities did not send +a single man to represent their rights and their +necessities in the great national council.’ It was +really a very effective passage.”</p> + +<p>“We have heard that argument before; it is +stale and unprofitable,” said the Duchess.</p> + +<p>“Listen! This Bill proposes to give every +man paying taxes for houses of the yearly value +of ten pounds and upward–<i>a vote</i>.”</p> + +<p>“What an absurdity!”</p> + +<p>“It proposes to give Manchester, Birmingham, +Leeds, Sheffield, and three other large towns, +each two members, and London eight additional +members.”</p> + +<p>“Infamous! It will give us a mob government.”</p> + +<p>“This so-called Reform Bill gives the franchise +to one hundred and ten thousand people +in the counties of England who never had it +before; in the provincial towns, it gives it to fifty +thousand; in London, it gives it to ninety-five +thousand; in Scotland, to fifty thousand; and in +Ireland, to forty thousand: in all, half a million +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202'></a>202</span> +of persons are to be added to the constituency +of the House of Commons.”</p> + +<p>At this information the tendency of the whole +company was to laughter. Indeed the Duke’s +face, and voice, and manner was that of a man +telling an utterly absurd story. Such sweeping +alterations were not conceivable; their very excess +doomed them to ridicule and failure, in the +opinion of the privileged class; but the Duke +of Wellington’s face expressed an anxiety not consonant +with this feeling; and he asked gloomily:</p> + +<p>“Did Lord John Russell <i>dare</i> to read the names +of the boroughs he intends to disfranchise, with +their members present?”</p> + +<p>“He read them with the greatest emphasis and +deliberation.”</p> + +<p>“And the result? What was the result? How +did they take being robbed of their seats in this +summary way?”</p> + +<p>“The excitement in the House was incredible. +He was derisively interrupted by shouts of +laughter, and by cries of ‘Hear! Hear!’ and by +constant questions across the table from the +members of those boroughs. The wisest statesmen +in the House were aghast at proposals so +sweeping and so revolutionary.”</p> + +<p>“What did Peel say?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing. He sat rigid as a statue, his face +working with emotion, his brow wrinkled and +sombre. His supporters, who were gathered +round him, burst again and again into uncontrollable +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203'></a>203</span> +laughter. Peel tried to make them +behave like gentlemen, and could not. Every +one is sure such a measure predicts a speedy +downfall of Grey’s Ministry.”</p> + +<p>“Of course it does,” said the Duchess, with a +contemptuous laugh. The laugh was contagious, +and the majority of the company burst into +merriment and ridicule.</p> + +<p>“It is really a good joke,” said an aged Marquis +who had the idea that England was the +birthright of her nobles.</p> + +<p>“A good joke!” answered the Duke of Wellington, +sternly. “I can tell you it is no joke. +You will find it no laughing matter.”</p> + +<p>“I am weary of it all,” whispered Annabel to +Kate; “let us go into the conservatory.” Kate +was willing also, and as they entered the sweet, +green place, with its tender lights and restful +peace, she sighed with pleasure and said, “I +wonder, Annabel, if the roses and camellias think +themselves better than the violets and daisies.”</p> + +<p>“I dare say they do. Let us sit down here. +I have had such a wretched day, and I am worn +out;” and for a moment, as she looked in Kate’s +gentle face, she had a mind to tell her the whole +truth about the unfortunate ring. But while she +hesitated, there was a footstep; and in a moment, +Piers pushed aside the fronds of the gigantic +ferns and joined them.</p> + +<p>“It is allowable,” said Annabel, “provided +you do do not mention Reform.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204'></a>204</span>“There is no necessity here,” he answered +gallantly. “How could perfection be reformed?” +Gradually the conversation fell into a more +serious mood, and they began to speak of Yorkshire, +and to long after its breezy wolds and +lovely dales; and Annabel listened and said, “She +would be delighted when they went down there.” +Kate also acknowledged that she was impatient +to return to Atheling; and Piers watched her +every movement,–the smile parting her lips, +the light coming and going on her cheeks from +dropped or lifted eyes, the graceful movements of +her hands, the noble poise of her head,–all +these things were fresh enchantments to him. +What was the noisy, dusty Senate chamber to +this green spot filled with the charming presence +of the woman he adored?</p> + +<p>Very quickly Annabel perceived that she was +the one person <i>not</i> necessary; and she was too +depressed to resent this position. With a whisper +to Kate, she went away, promising to return +in ten minutes. She did not return; but in half +an hour–which had seemed as five minutes–the +Duchess came in her stead, and said blandly, +“Annabel has a headache, and has gone to sleep +it away. I have sent the Squire home, Miss +Atheling; I told him I should keep you here +to-night. Indeed he was glad for you to remain; +the streets are not in a very pleasant condition. +London has lost its senses. It has gone mad; +in the morning it may be saner.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205'></a>205</span>So the sweet interval was over; but one secret +glance between the lovers showed how delicious +it had been. Kate went away with the Duchess; +and waiting women led her to a splendid sleeping +apartment. There, all night long, she kept +the sense of Piers holding her hand in his; and, +faintly smiling with this interior bliss, she +dreamed away the hours until late in the +morning.</p> + +<p>Her first thought on awakening was, “What +shall I wear? I cannot go to breakfast in a white +silk gown.” Then, as she rose, she saw a street +costume laid ready for her use. “Mrs. Atheling +sent it very early this morning,” said the maid; +and Kate thought with a blessing of the good +mother who never forgot her smallest necessities. +At breakfast, the Duchess was particularly gracious +to her; she affected an entire oblivion of +Piers’s evident devotion, and talked incessantly of +the stupidity of the Grey Ministry; but as she +rose from the table, she said,–</p> + +<p>“My dear Miss Atheling, will you do me the +favour to come to my private parlour before you +leave?”</p> + +<p>Kate stood up, curtsied slightly, and made the +required promise. But she did not at once +attend the Duchess, as that lady certainly expected. +She had promised Piers to walk with +him in the conservatory, and finish their interrupted +conversation of the previous night; and +a gentle pressure of her hand reminded her of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206'></a>206</span> +this previous engagement. So it was near the +noon hour when she went to the room which +the Duchess had selected for their interview.</p> + +<p>She entered it without a suspicion of the sorrow +waiting there for her, though the first glance +at the cold, haughty face that greeted her made +her a little indignant. “I expected you an hour +ago, Miss Atheling,” said the Duchess.</p> + +<p>“I am sorry if I have detained you, Duchess. +I did not think my interview with you could be +of much importance.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps not as important to you as the +interview you put before it–and yet, perhaps, +far more so. For I must tell you that such entirely +personal companionship with Lord Exham, +must cease from this very hour.”</p> + +<p>Kate had taken the seat the Duchess indicated +on her entering the room; she now rose to her +feet, and answered, “If so, Duchess, it is proper +for me to leave your home at once. My mother +is waiting to see me. She will tell me what it +is right for me to do.”</p> + +<p>“In this case, I am a better adviser than your +mother. I believe you to be a girl of noble +principles, so I tell you frankly that Lord Exham +is bound, by every honourable tie, to marry Miss +Vyner. When you are not present, he is quite +happy in her society; when you are present, you +seem to exert some unaccountable influence over +him. Miss Vyner has often complained of this. +I thought it was simple jealousy on her part, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207'></a>207</span> +until I observed you with Lord Exham last night. +I am now compelled, by my duty to my son and +his affianced wife, to tell you how impossible a marriage +between you and Lord Exham is and must +be. I believe this information to be all that is +necessary to a girl of your birth and breeding.”</p> + +<p>“What information, Duchess?” She asked the +question with a dignity that irritated a woman +who thought her word, without her reasons, was +quite sufficient.</p> + +<p>“If you persist in having the truth, I must give +it to you. Remember, I would gladly have +spared you and myself this humiliation. Know, +then, that many years ago the late General +Vyner rendered the Duke a great service. When +Annabel was born, the Duke offered himself as +her godfather and guardian, and his son as her +husband. It is not necessary to go into details; +the facts ought to be sufficient for you. There +are circumstances which make the fulfilment of +this promise imperative; and, if you do not interfere, +my son will very willingly perform his part +of it. Pardon me if I also remind you that your +birth and fortune make any hopes you may entertain +of being the future Duchess of Richmoor +very presumptuous hopes. I assure you that I +have spoken reluctantly, and with sincere kindness; +and I do not desire this conversation to interfere +with our future intercourse. If you will +give me your promise, I know that I may trust +you absolutely.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208'></a>208</span>“What do you wish me to promise?”</p> + +<p>“That you will allow no love-making between +Lord Exham and yourself; that you will not in +any way interfere between Lord Exham and Miss +Vyner,–in fact, promise me, in a word, that you +will never marry Lord Exham. I assure you, +such a marriage would be most improper and +unfortunate.”</p> + +<p>Kate stood for a moment still and white as a +marble statue; and when she spoke, her words +dropped slowly and with an evident effort. And +yet her self-control and dignity of manner was remarkable, +as she answered,–</p> + +<p>“Duchess, I have always done exactly what +my dear wise father and mother have told me to +do. I shall ask their advice on this matter before +I make any promise. If they tell me to do as +you wish me to do, I shall know that they are +right, and obey them. I do not recognise any +other human authority than theirs.”</p> + +<p>She was leaving the room after these words; +but the Duchess cried angrily, “Your father must +not at present be asked to interfere. There are +interests–grave, political interests–between +him and the Duke that cannot be imperilled +for some love-nonsense between you and Lord +Exham.”</p> + +<p>“There are no grave political interests between +my mother and the Duke; and I shall, at all +events, take my mother’s counsel.”</p> + +<p>She had stood with the door open in her hand; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209'></a>209</span> +she now passed outside. So far she had kept +herself from any exhibition of feeling; but, oh, +how wronged and unhappy and offended she felt! +She went down and down the splendid stairway, +erect as a reed; but her heart was like a wounded +bird: it fluttered wildly in her bosom, and would +not be comforted until she reached that nest of +all nests,–her mother’s breast.</p> + +<p>There she poured out all her grief and indignation; +and Mrs. Atheling never interrupted the +relation by a single word. She clasped the weeping +girl to her heart, and stroked her hands, and +soothed her in those tender little ways that are +closer and sweeter than any words can be. But +when Kate had wept her passionate sense of +wrong and affront away, the good mother withdrew +herself a little, and began to question her +child.</p> + +<p>“Let me understand plainly, Kitty dear,” she +said. “Her Grace–Grace indeed!–wishes +you to promise her that you will give up Piers +to Annabel.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Mother.”</p> + +<p>“And that you will never marry Piers under +any circumstances?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Mother.”</p> + +<p>“And she thinks you ‘presumptuous’ in hoping +to marry her son?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, dear Mother. She said ‘presumptuous.’ +Am I; ought I to do as she wishes me? Oh, I +cannot give up Piers! Only this morning he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210'></a>210</span> +told me that he would never marry any woman +but me.”</p> + +<p>“Have I or your good father told you to give +up Piers?”</p> + +<p>“No, Mother.”</p> + +<p>“When we do, you will of course know we +have good reasons for such an order, and you +will give him up. But as yet, father hasn’t said +such a word; and I haven’t. Kitty darling, the +Fifth Commandment only asks you to obey your +own father and mother. Let the Duchess put the +‘giving up’ where it ought to be. Let her tell +her son to give you up–that is quite as far as +her authority extends. She has nothing to say +to Kate Atheling; nor has my little Kitty any +obligation to obey her. She must give such +orders to Piers Exham. It is the duty of his +heart and conscience to decide whether he will +obey or not.”</p> + +<p>“Then I can go on loving him, Mother, without +wronging myself or others?”</p> + +<p>“Go on loving him, dearie.”</p> + +<p>“He said he was coming to ride with me at +three o’clock.”</p> + +<p>“Ride with him, and be happy while you can, +dear child. Let mother kiss such foolish tears +away. I can tell you father was proud of your +beauty last night. He said you were the loveliest +woman in London.”</p> + +<p>“The Duke of Wellington told me I was a +beautiful girl; and he said many wise and kind +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211'></a>211</span> +things to me, Mother. What did father think +about the Reform Bill?”</p> + +<p>“It troubled him, Kitty; it troubled him very +much. He said, ‘It meant civil war;’ but I said, +‘Nonsense, John Atheling, it will prevent civil +war.’ And so it will, dearie. The people will +have it, or else they will have far more. Your +father said all London was shouting till daybreak, +‘The Bill! The whole Bill! Nothing but +the Bill!’ Now then, run away and wash your +eyes bright, and put on your habit. I’ll warrant +Piers outruns the clock.”</p> + +<p>“Have you seen Edgar this morning?”</p> + +<p>“For a few minutes just before you came. +Cecil was with him. They had been up all night; +but Cecil would have stayed if Annabel had been +here. How he does love that girl!”</p> + +<p>“I think she loves him. She looked ill last +night, and I did not see her this morning. What +a tangle it is! Annabel loves Cecil–Piers loves +me–and the Duchess–”</p> + +<p>“Never mind the Duchess, nor the tangle +either, Kitty. To-day is yours; to-morrow is not +born; and you are not told to unravel any tangle. +There are <i>them</i> whose business it is; and they +know all the knots and snarls, and will wind the +ball all right in the end.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mother, how I love you!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Kitty, how I love you!”</p> + +<p>“Piers loves me too, Mother.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll warrant he does. Who could help loving +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212'></a>212</span> +thee, Kitty? But men’s love isn’t mother’s love; +it is a good bit more selfish. God Almighty +made thy father, John Atheling, of the best of human +elements; but John Atheling has his shabby +moments. Piers Exham won’t be different; so +don’t expect it.” Then the two women looked +at each other and smiled.</p> + +<p>They understood.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213'></a>213</span><a id='link_11'></a>CHAPTER ELEVENTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>“LIFE COMES AND GOES THE OLD, OLD WAY!”</span></h2> + +<p>Annabel had purposely kept out of Kitty’s +way. She had more than a suspicion of the +probable interview between the Duchess and +Kitty; and she wished to avoid any unpleasantness +with the Athelings. They gave her the +most reliable opportunities with Cecil North; and +besides, she was so little of a general favourite +as to have no other acquaintances as intimate. +She was also really sick and unhappy; and the +first occurrence of the day did not tend to make +her less so. She wished to see the Duke about +some matter relating to her finances; and, as +soon as she left her room, she went to the apartment +in which she was most likely to find him.</p> + +<p>The Duke was not there, but Squire Atheling +was waiting for him. He said he “had an +appointment at two o’clock,” and then, looking +at the time-piece on the mantel, added, “I always +give myself ten minutes or so to come and go +on.” Annabel knew this peculiarity of the Squire, +and made her little joke on the matter; and then +the conversation turned a moment on Kitty, and +her probable return home. Annabel assured the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214'></a>214</span> +Squire she had already gone home, and then, +offering her hand in adieu, was about to leave +the room. The little brown-gemmed hand roused +a sudden memory and anxiety in his heart. He +detained it, as he said, “Miss Vyner, I have a +question to ask you. Do you remember untying +a parcel for me the other day?”</p> + +<p>“I should think so,” she replied with a laugh. +“A more impatient man to do anything for I +never saw.”</p> + +<p>“I am a bit impatient. But that is not what +I am thinking of. You wore a ring that day–a +sapphire ring with a little sapphire padlock–and +that ring interests me very much. Will you +tell me where you got it?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir. Even if I knew, I might have excellent +reasons for not telling you. Why, Squire, I +am astonished at your asking such a question! +Rings have mostly a story–a love-story too; +you might be asking for secrets!”</p> + +<p>“I beg pardon. To be sure I might. But you +see a ring exactly like the one you wore, holds +a secret of my own.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you are mistaken about the ring. +So many rings look alike.”</p> + +<p>“I could not be mistaken. I do wish you +would tell me–I am afraid you think me rude +and inquisitive–”</p> + +<p>“Indeed I do, sir! And, if you please, we +will forget this conversation. It is too personal +to be pleasant.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215'></a>215</span>With these words she bowed and withdrew, +and the Squire got up and walked about the +room until the Duke entered it. By that time, he +had worried himself into an impatient, suspicious +temper, and was touchy as tinder when his +political chief asked him to sit down and discuss +the situation with him.</p> + +<p>“Exham has gone to see a number of our +party; but I thought I would outline to you +personally the course we intend to pursue with +regard to this infamous Bill.” The Squire bowed +but said not a word; and the Duke proceeded, +“We have resolved to worry and delay it to the +death. In the Commons, the Opposition will go +over and over the same arguments, and ask +again, and again, and again, the same questions. +This course will be continued week after week–month +after month if necessary. Obstruction, +Squire, obstruction, that is the word!”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean exactly by ‘obstruction’?”</p> + +<p>“I will explain. Lord Exham will move, ‘That +the Speaker do now leave the Chair.’ When this +motion is lost, some other member of the Opposition +will move, ‘That the debate be now adjourned.’ +That being lost, some other member +will again move, ‘That the Speaker do now leave +the Chair,’ and so, with alternations of these +motions, the whole night can be passed–and +night after night–and day after day. It is +quite a legitimate parliamentary proceeding.”</p> + +<p>“It may be,” answered the Squire; “but I am +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216'></a>216</span> +astonished at your asking John Atheling to take +any part in such ways. I will fight as well as +any man, on the square and the open; if I +cannot do this, I will not fight at all. I would +as soon worry a vixen fox, as run a doubling +race of that kind. No, Duke, I will not worry, +and nag, and tease, and obstruct. Such tactics +are fitter for old women than for reasoning men, +sure of a good cause, and working to win it.”</p> + +<p>“I did not expect this obstruction from you, +Squire; and, I must say, I am disappointed–very +much disappointed.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, Duke Richmoor, that I have +ever given you cause to think I would fight in +any other way than in a square, stand-up, face-to-face +manner. Wasting time is not fighting, +and it is not reasoning. It is just tormenting an +angry and impatient nation; it is playing with +fire; it is a dangerous, deceitful, cowardly bit of +business, and I will have nothing to do with it.”</p> + +<p>“You remember that I gave you your seat?”</p> + +<p>“You can have it back and welcome. I took +my seat from you; but when it comes to right and +wrong, I take orders only from my own conscience.”</p> + +<p>“Advice, Squire, advice; I did not think of +giving you orders.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Duke, I am perhaps a little hasty; but +I do not understand obstructing warfare. I am +ready to attack the Bill, tooth and nail. I am +ready to vote against it; but I do not think what +you call ‘obstructing’ is fair and manly.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217'></a>217</span>“All things are fair in love and war, Squire; +and this is a war to the knife-hilt for our own +caste and privileges.”</p> + +<p>Here there was a light tap at the door, and, in +answer to the Duke’s “enter,” Annabel came in. +She said a few words to him in a low voice, gave +him a paper, and disappeared. But, short as the +interview was, it put the Duke in a good temper. +He looked after her with pride and affection, and +said pleasantly,–</p> + +<p>“Fight in your own way, Squire Atheling; +it is sure to be a good, straight-forward fight. +But the other way will be the tactics of our party, +and you need not interfere with them. By-the-bye, +Miss Vyner is a good deal at your house, I +think.”</p> + +<p>“She is always welcome. My daughter likes +her company. We all do. She is both witty and +pretty.”</p> + +<p>“She is a great beauty–a particularly noble-looking +beauty. She will make a fine Duchess, +and my son is most fortunate in such an alliance; +for she has money,–plenty of money,–and a +dukedom is not kept up on nothing a year. Perhaps, +however, this Reform Bill will eventually get +rid of dukedoms and dukes, as it proposes to do +with boroughs and members.”</p> + +<p>The Squire did not immediately answer. He +wanted a definite assertion about Lord Exham +and Miss Vyner, and could not decide on words +which would unsuspiciously bring it. Finally, he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218'></a>218</span> +blurted out an inquiry as to the date of a marriage +between them; and the Duke answered +carelessly,–</p> + +<p>“It may occur soon or late. We have not +yet fixed the time. Probably as soon as this +dreadful Reform question is settled. But as the +ceremony will surely take place at the Castle, +Atheling Manor will be an important factor in +the event.”</p> + +<p>He was shifting and folding up papers as he +spoke, and the Squire <i>felt</i>, more than understood, +that the interview had better be closed. Ostensibly +they parted friends; but the Squire kept +his right hand across his back as he said “good-morning,” +and the Duke understood the meaning +of this action, though he thought it best to take +no notice of it.</p> + +<p>“What a fractious, testy, touchy fellow this +is!” he said irritably to himself, when he was +alone. “A perfect John Bull, absolutely sure of +his own infallibility; sure that he knows everything +about everything; that he is always right, and +always must be right, and that any one who doubts +his always being right is either a knave or a fool. +<i>Tush!</i> I am glad I gave him that thrust about +Piers and Annabel. It hurt. I could see it hurt, +though he kept his hand to cover the wound.”</p> + +<p>The Duke was quite right. Squire Atheling +was hurt. He went straight home. In any trouble, +his first medicine was his wife; for though +he pretended to think little of her advice, he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219'></a>219</span> +always took it–or regretted that he had not +taken it. He found her half-asleep in the chair +by the window which she had taken in order to +watch Lord Exham and Kitty ride down the +street together. She was at rest and happy; but +the Squire’s entrance, at an hour not very usual, +interested her. “Why, John!” she asked, “what +has happened? I thought you went to the +House at three o’clock.”</p> + +<p>“I have some questions to ask in my own +house, first,” he answered. “Maude, I am sure +you remember the ring I gave you one night at +Belward,–the ring you promised to marry me +on, the sapphire ring with the little padlock?”</p> + +<p>“To be sure I remember it, John.”</p> + +<p>“You used to wear it night and day. I have +not seen it on your hand for a long time.”</p> + +<p>“It became too small for me. I had to take it +off. Whatever has brought it into your thoughts +at this time?”</p> + +<p>“I saw one just like it. Where did you put +your ring?”</p> + +<p>“In my jewel-case.”</p> + +<p>“Is it there now.”</p> + +<p>She hesitated a moment, but a life-time of +truth is not easily turned aside. “John,” she answered, +“it is not there. It is gone.”</p> + +<p>“I thought so. Did you sell it for Edgar, +some time when he wanted money?”</p> + +<p>“Edgar never asked me for a shilling. I never +gave him a shilling unknown to you. And I did +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220'></a>220</span> +not sell the ring at all. I would never have done +such a thing.”</p> + +<p>“But I have seen the ring on a lady’s hand.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know the lady?”</p> + +<p>“I think I could find her.”</p> + +<p>“I will tell you about it, John. I loaned it to +Kitty, and Piers saw it and wanted one made like +it for Kitty, and so he took it away to show it to +his jeweller, and lost it that very night. He has +moved heaven and earth to find it, but got +neither word nor sight of it. You ought to tell +him where you saw it.”</p> + +<p>“Not yet, Maude.”</p> + +<p>“Tell me then.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure! I saw it on Miss Vyner’s +hand.”</p> + +<p>“Impossible!”</p> + +<p>“Sure!”</p> + +<p>“But how?”</p> + +<p>“Thou mayst well ask ‘how.’ Piers gave it +to her.”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t believe such a thing, not on a +seven-fold oath.”</p> + +<p>“Thou knowest little about men. There are +times when they would give their souls away. +Thou knowest nothing about such women as +Miss Vyner. They have a power that while it +lasts is omnipotent. Antony lost a world for +Cleopatra, and Herod would have given half, +yes, the whole of his kingdom to a dancing +woman, if she had asked him for it.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221'></a>221</span>“Those men were pagans, John, and lived in +foreign countries. Christian men in England–”</p> + +<p>“Christian men in England, in proportion to +their power, do things just as reckless and wicked. +Piers Exham has never learned any control; +he has always given himself, or had given him, +whatever he wanted. And I can tell thee, there +is a perfect witchery about Miss Vyner in some +hours. She has met Exham in a favourable +time, and begged the ring from him.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot believe it. Why should she do such +a thing? She must have had a reason.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly she had a reason. It might be +pure mischief, for she is mischievous as a cat. +It might be superstition; she is as superstitious +as an Hindoo fakir. She has charms and signs +for everything. She orders her very life by the +stars of heaven. I have watched her, and listened +to her, and never trusted her about Kitty–not a +moment. Now this is a secret between thee and +me. I asked her to-day about the ring, and she +would say neither this nor that; yet somehow +she gave me to understand it was a love token.”</p> + +<p>“She is a liar, if she means that Piers gave it +to her as a love token. I saw the young man +half an hour ago. If ever a man loved a maid, +he loves our Kitty.”</p> + +<p>“Yet he is going to marry Miss Vyner.”</p> + +<p>“He is not. I am sure he is not. He will +marry Kate Atheling.”</p> + +<p>“The Duke told me this afternoon that Lord +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222'></a>222</span> +Exham would marry Miss Vyner as soon as this +Reform question is settled. He said the marriage +would take place at the Castle.”</p> + +<p>“The Duke has been talking false to you for +some purpose of his own.”</p> + +<p>“Not he. Richmoor has faults–more than +enough of them; but he treads his shoes straight. +A truthful man, no one can say different.”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t notice a thing he said for all that. +Pass it by. Leave Kitty to manage her own +affairs.”</p> + +<p>“No, I will not! Thou must tell Kitty to give +the man up. He is going to marry another +woman.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe a word of it.”</p> + +<p>“His father said so. What would you have?”</p> + +<p>“Fathers don’t know everything.”</p> + +<p>“Now, Maude Atheling, my girl shall not +marry where she is not wanted. I would rather +see her in her death shroud than in her wedding +gown, if things were in that way.”</p> + +<p>“John, I have always been open as the day +with you, and I will not change now. The +Duchess said something like it to Kitty this morning, +so you see there has been a plan between +the Duke and Duchess to make trouble about +Piers. Kitty came home very troubled.”</p> + +<p>“And you let her go out with the man! I am +astonished at you!”</p> + +<p>“She asked me what she ought to do, and I +told the dear girl to be happy until <i>you</i> told her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223'></a>223</span> +to be miserable. If you think it is right to do +so, tell her when she comes home never to see +Piers again.”</p> + +<p>“You had better tell her. I cannot.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot, and I will not, for the life of me.” +“Don’t you believe what I say?”</p> + +<p>“Yes–with a grain of salt. Piers is to hear +from yet.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you must speak to her, Mother. My +heart is too soft. It is <i>your</i> place to do it.”</p> + +<p>“My heart is as soft as yours, John. I say, +let things alone. We are going to Atheling +soon–we cannot go too soon now. If it must +be told her, Kate will hear it, and bear it best in +her own home; and, besides, he will not be within +calling distance. John, this thing cannot be +done in a hurry. God help the dear girl–to +find Piers false–to give him up–it will break +her heart, Father!”</p> + +<p>“Kitty’s heart is made of better stuff. When +she finds out that Piers has been false to her, she +will despise him.”</p> + +<p>“She will make excuses for him.”</p> + +<p>“No good woman will care about an unworthy +man.”</p> + +<p>“Then, God help the men, John! If that were +so, there would be lots of them without any good +woman to care for them.”</p> + +<p>“Show Kitty that Piers is unworthy of her +love, and I tell you she will put him out of her +heart very quickly. I think I know Kitty.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224'></a>224</span>“Women do not love according to deserts, +John. If a woman has a bad son or daughter, +does she take it for comfort when they go away +from her? No, indeed! She never once says, +‘They were nothing but a sorrow and an expense, +and I am glad to be rid of them.’ She weeps, +and she prays all the more for them, just because +they were bad. And one kind of love is like +another; so I will not speak ill of Piers to Kate; +besides, I do not think ill of him. If she has to +give him up, it will not be his fault; and I could +not tell her ‘he is no loss, Kate,’–and such +nonsense as that,–for it would be nonsense.”</p> + +<p>“What will you say then?”</p> + +<p>“I shall help her to remember everything +pleasant about him, and to make excuses for +him. Even if you put comfort on the lowest +ground possible, no woman likes to think she +has been fooled and deceived, and given her +heart for worse than nothing. Nine hundred +and ninety-nine women out of a thousand would +rather blame Fate or father or Fortune, or some +other man or woman, than their own lover.”</p> + +<p>“Women are queer. A man in such a case +whistles or sings his heartache away with the +thought,–</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“‘If she be not fair for me,</p> +<p>What care I how fair she be?’”</p> +</div> + +<p>“You are slandering good men, John. Plenty +of men would not give heart-room to such selfish +love. They can live for the woman they love, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225'></a>225</span> +and yet live apart from her. My advice is that +we go back to Atheling at once. My heart is +there already. Kitty and I were talking yesterday +of the garden. The trees will soon be in +blossom, and the birds busy building in them. +Oh, John,–</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p> “‘The Spring’s delight,</p> +<p> In the cowslip bright,</p> +<p>As she laughs to the warbling linnet!</p> +<p> And a whistling thrush,</p> +<p> On a white May bush,</p> +<p>And his mate on the nest within it!’”</p> +</div> + +<p>And both caught the joy of the spring in the +words, and the Squire, smiling, stooped and kissed +his wife; and she knew then that she had permission +to carry her daughter out of the way +of immediate sorrow. As for the future, Mrs. +Atheling never went into an enemy’s country +in search of trouble. She thought it time enough +to meet misfortune when it came to her.</p> + +<p>Kate was not averse to the change. Her conversation +with the Duchess naturally affected her +feeling towards Annabel. She could not imagine +her quite ignorant of it; and it was, therefore, a +trial to have the girl intruding daily into her life. +Yet self-respect forbade her to make any change +in their relationship to each other. Annabel, +indeed, appeared wishful to nullify all the +Duchess had said by her behaviour to Cecil +North. Never had she been so familiar and so +affectionate towards him, and she evidently desired +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226'></a>226</span> +Mrs. Atheling and Kate to understand that +she was sincerely in love, and had every intention +of marrying for love.</p> + +<p>But yet she was unable to disguise her pleasure +when she was suddenly told of their proposed +return to the country. A vivid wave of +crimson rushed over her face and throat; and +though she said she “was sorry,” there was an +uncontrollable note of satisfaction in her voice. +She was really sorry in one respect; but she +had become afraid of the Squire. He asked such +point-blank questions. His suspicions were wide +awake and veering to the truth. He was another +danger in her situation, and she felt Justine to be +all she could manage. Mrs. Atheling and Kate +being gone, her visits to the Vyner house could +naturally cease; and, as the winter was nearly +over, she could arrange some other place for +her meetings with Cecil North. Indeed, he had +already joined her in a few early morning gallops; +and, besides which, she reflected, “Love +always finds out a way.” Cecil was a quite +manageable factor.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i11'></a><img src='images/illus-227.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227'></a>227</span>About the middle of March, one fine spring +evening, Mrs. Atheling and Kate came once more +near to their own home. The road was a beautiful +one, bordered with plantations of feathery +firs on each side; and the pure resinous odour +was to these two northern women sweeter than +a rose garden. And, oh, what a home-like air the +long, rambling old Manor House had, and how +bright and comfortable were its low-ceiled rooms! +When Kate went to her own chamber, a robin +on a spray of sweet-briar was singing at her +window. She took it for her welcome back to +the happy place. To be sure, the polished oak +floor with its strips of bright carpet, the little +tent-bed with its white dimity curtains, and the +low, latticed windows, full of rosemary pots and +monthly roses, were but simple surroundings; +yet Kate threw herself with joyful abandon into +her white chair before the blazing logs, and +thought, without regret, of the splendid rooms +of the Vyner mansion, and the tumult of men +and horses in the thousand-streeted city outside +it.</p> + +<p>Certainly Piers was in the city, and she had no +hope of his speedy return to the country. But, +equally, she had no doubts of his true affection; +and the passing days and weeks brought her no +reasons for doubting. She had frequent letters +from him, and many rich tokens of his constant +remembrance. And, as the spring advanced, the +joy of her heart kept pace with it. Never before +had she taken such delight in the sylvan life +around her. The cool sweetness of the dairy; +the satiny sides of the milking-pails; the trig +beauty of the dairymaids, waiting for the cows, +coming slowly out of the stable,–the beautiful +cows, with their indolent gait and majestic tramp, +their noble, solemn faces, and their peaceful +breathing,–why had she never noticed these +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228'></a>228</span> +things before? Was it because we must lose +good things–though but for a time–in order +to find them? And very soon the bare, brown +garden was aflame with gold and purple crocus +buds, and the delicious woody perfume of wallflowers, +and the springtide scent of the sweet-briar +filled all its box-lined paths. The trees +became misty with buds and plumes and tufts +and tassels; and in the deep, green meadow-grass +the primroses were nestling, and the +anemones met her with their wistful looks.</p> + +<p>And far and wide the ear was as satisfied as +the eye with the tones of waterfalls, the inland +sounds of caves and woods, the birds twittering +secrets in the tree-tops, and the running waters +that were the tongue of life in many a silent +place. Oh, how beautiful, and peaceful, and happy +were these things! Often the mother and daughter +wondered to each other how they could ever +have been pleased to exchange them for the gilt +and gewgaws and the social smut of the great +city. Thus they fell naturally into the habit of +pitying the Squire, and Edgar, and Piers, and +wishing they were all back at Atheling to share +the joy of the spring-time with them.</p> + +<p>One night towards the close of April, Kate +was very restless. “I cannot tell what is the +matter, Mother,” she said. “My feet go of their +own will to the garden gates. It is as if my +soul knew there was somebody coming. Can it +be father?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229'></a>229</span>“I think not, Kitty. Father’s last letter gave +no promise of any let-up in the Reform quarrel. +You know the Bill was read for the second time +as we left London; and Earl Grey’s Ministry +had then only a majority of one. Your father +said the Duke was triumphant about it. He was +sure that a Bill which passed its second reading +by only a majority of one, could be easily mutilated +in Committee until it would be harmless. +The Lords mean to kill it, bit by bit,–that will +take time.”</p> + +<p>“But what then, Mother?”</p> + +<p>“God knows, child! I do not believe the +country will ever settle to work again until it +gets what it wants.”</p> + +<p>“Then will the House sit all summer?”</p> + +<p>“I think it will.”</p> + +<p>At these words a long, cheerful “<i>hallo!</i>”–the +Squire’s own call in the hunting-field–was +heard; and Kate, crying, “I told you so!” ran +rapidly into the garden. The Squire was just +entering the gates at a gallop. He drew rein, +threw himself off his horse, and took his daughter +in his arms.</p> + +<p>“I am so glad, Father!” she cried. “So happy, +Father! I knew you were coming! I knew you +were coming! I did that!”</p> + +<p>“Nay, not thou! I told nobody.”</p> + +<p>“Your heart told my heart. Ask mother. +Here she comes.”</p> + +<p>Then, late as it was, the quiet house suddenly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230'></a>230</span> +became full of noise and bustle; and the hubbub +that usually followed the Squire’s advent was +everywhere apparent. For he wanted all at once,–his +meat and his drink, his easy coat and his +slippers, his pipe and his dogs, and his serving +men and women. He wanted to hear about the +ploughing, and the sowing, and the gardening; +about the horses, and the cattle, and the markets; +the farm hands, and the tenants of the Atheling +cottages. He wanted his wife’s report, and his +steward’s report, and his daughter’s petting and +opinions. The night wore on to midnight before +he would speak of London, or the House, or the +Bill.</p> + +<p>“I may surely have a little bit of peace, Maude,” +he said reproachfully, when she ventured to introduce +the subject; “it has been the Bill, and +the Bill, and the Bill, till my ears ache with the +sound of the words.”</p> + +<p>“Just tell us if it has passed, John.”</p> + +<p>“No, it has <i>not</i> passed; and Parliament is dissolved +again; and the country has taken the bit +in its teeth, and the very mischief of hell is let +loose. I told the Duke what his ‘obstructing’ +ways would do. Englishmen like obstructions. +They would put them there, if they were absent, +for the very pleasure of getting over them. Many +a man that was against the Bill is now against the +‘obstructions’ and bound to get over them.”</p> + +<p>“Did Piers come down with you, Father?” +asked Kate. She had waited long and patiently, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231'></a>231</span> +and the Squire had not named him; and she felt +a little wounded by the neglect.</p> + +<p>“No. He did not come down with me, Kitty. +But I dare say he is at the Castle. The Duke +spoke of returning to Yorkshire at once.”</p> + +<p>“He might have come with you, I think.”</p> + +<p>“I think not. A man’s father and mother +cannot always be put aside for his sweetheart. +Lovers think they can run the world to their own +whim-whams. ’Twould be a God’s pity if they +could!”</p> + +<p>“What are you cross about, Father? Has +Piers vexed you?”</p> + +<p>“Am I cross, Kitty? I did not know it. Go to +bed, child. England stands where she did, and +Piers is yet Lord of Exham Hall. I dare say he +will be here to-morrow. I came at my own pace. +He would have to keep the pace of two fine +ladies. And I’ll be bound he fretted like a race-horse +yoked in a plough.”</p> + +<p>And Kitty was wise enough to know that she +had heard all she was likely to hear that night; +nor was she ill-pleased to be alone with her hopes. +Piers was at hand. To-morrow she might see +him, and hear him speak, and feel the tenderness +of his clasp, and meet the love in his eyes. So +she sat at the open casement, breathing the sweetness +and peace of the night, and shaping things +for the future that made her heart beat quick +with many thoughts not to be revealed. The +faint smile of the loving, dreaming of the loved +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232'></a>232</span> +one, was on her lips; and if a doubt came to her, +she put it far away. In fear she would not dwell, +and, besides, her heart had given her that insight +which changes faith into knowledge. She <i>knew</i> +that Piers loved her.</p> + +<p>The Squire had no such clear confidence. +When Kitty had gone away, he said plainly, “I +am not pleased with Piers. I do not like his +ways; I do not like them at all. After Kate left +London, he was seen everywhere, and constantly, +with Miss Vyner.”</p> + +<p>“Why not? She is one of his own household.”</p> + +<p>“They were very confidential together. I +noticed them often for Kitty’s sake.”</p> + +<p>“I do wish, Squire, that you would leave Kitty’s +love-affairs alone.”</p> + +<p>“<i>That</i> I will not, Maude. If I have any business +now, it is to pay attention to them. I have +taken your ‘let-alone’ plan, far too long. My +girl shall not be courted in any such underhand, +mouse-in-the-corner way. Her engagement to +Lord Exham must be publicly acknowledged, or +else broken entirely off.”</p> + +<p>“The man loves Kate. He will do right to her.”</p> + +<p>“Loves Kate! Very good. But what of the +Other One? He cannot do right to both.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he can. Their claims are different. +You may depend on that. Kate is the love of +his soul; the Other One is like a sister.”</p> + +<p>“I do not trust either Piers or the Other One–and +I wish she would give me my ring.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233'></a>233</span>“You do not certainly know that she has your +ring.”</p> + +<p>“I will ask her to let me see it.”</p> + +<p>“Now, John Atheling, you will meddle with +things that concern you, and let other things +alone. It may be your duty to interfere about +your daughter. You may insist on having her +recognised as the future Duchess of Richmoor,–it +will be a feather in your own cap; you may +say to the Duke, you must accept my daughter, +or I will–”</p> + +<p>“Maude! You are just trying to stand me +upon my pride. You cannot do that any longer. +If you are willing to let Kate ‘drift,’ I am not. It +is my duty to insist on her proper recognition.”</p> + +<p>“Then do your duty. But it is <i>not</i> your duty +to catechise Miss Vyner about <i>my</i> ring. When +that inquiry is to be made, I will make it myself. +If Piers has to give up Kate, it will be to him a +knock-down blow; it will be a shot in the backbone; +you need not sting him at the same time.”</p> + +<p>“I will speak to him to-morrow, and see the +Duke afterwards. I owe my little Kate that +much.”</p> + +<p>“And the Duke and yourself will be the +upper and the nether millstones, and your little +Kate between them. I know! I know!”</p> + +<p>“I will do what is right, Maude, and I will be +as kind as I can in doing it. Who loves Kitty as +I do? There is a deal said about mother love; +but, I tell thee, a father’s love is bottomless. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234'></a>234</span> +would lay my life down for my little girl, this +minute.”</p> + +<p>“But not thy pride.”</p> + +<p>“Not my honour–which is her honour also. +Honour must stand with love, or else–nay, I +will not give thee any more reasons. I know my +decision is right; but it is thy way to make out +that all my reasons are wrong. I wish thou +wouldst prepare her a bit for what may come.”</p> + +<p>“There is no preparation for sorrow, John. +When it comes it smites.”</p> + +<p>Then the Squire lit his pipe, and the mother +went softly upstairs to look at her little girl. +And, as she did so, Kate’s arms enfolded her, and +she whispered, “Piers is coming to-morrow. Are +you glad, Mother?”</p> + +<p>Then, so strange and contrary is human nature, +the mother felt a moment’s angry annoyance. +“Can you think of no one but Piers, Kate?” she +asked. And the girl was suddenly aware of her +selfish happiness, and ashamed of it. She ran +after her mother, and brought her back to her +bedside, and said sorrowfully, “I know, Mother, +that about Piers I am a little sinner.” And then +Mrs. Atheling kissed her again, and answered, +“Never mind, Kitty. I have often seen sinners +that were more angel-like than saints–” and +the shadow was over. Oh, how good it is when +human nature reaches down to the perennial!</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i12'></a><img src='images/illus-235.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235'></a>235</span><a id='link_12'></a>CHAPTER TWELFTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE SHADOW OF SORROW STRETCHED OUT</span></h2> + +<p>When the Squire entered the breakfast parlour, +Kate was just coming in from the garden. The +dew of the morning was on her cheeks, the +scent of the sweet-briar and the daffodils in her +hair, the songs of the thrush and the linnet in +her heart. She was beautiful as Hebe, and fresh +as Aurora. He clasped her face between his +large hands, and she lifted the bunch of daffodils +to his face, and asked, “Are they not beautiful? +Do you know what Mr. Wordsworth says about +them, Father?”</p> + +<p>“Not I! I never read his foolishness.”</p> + +<p>“His ‘foolishness’ is music; I can tell you +that. Listen sir,–</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“‘A smile of last year’s sun strayed down the hills,</p> +<p> And lost its way within yon windy wood;</p> +<p>Lost through the months of snow–but not for good:</p> +<p> I found it in a clump of daffodils.’</p> +</div> + +<p>Are they not lovely lines?”</p> + +<p>“They sound like most uncommon nonsense, +Kitty. Come and sit beside me, I have something +far more sensible and important to tell you.”</p> + +<p>“About the Bill, Father?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236'></a>236</span>“Partly about the Bill and partly about Edgar. +Which news will you have first?”</p> + +<p>“Mother will say ‘Edgar,’ and I go with +mother.”</p> + +<p>“I do not think you can tell me any news +about Edgar, John.”</p> + +<p>“Go on, Father, mother is only talking. She +is so anxious she cannot pour the coffee straight. +What about Edgar?”</p> + +<p>“I must tell you that I made a speech two +days before the House closed; and the papers +said it was a very great speech, and I think it +<i>was</i> a tone or two above the average. Did you +read it?”</p> + +<p>“You never sent us a paper, Father.”</p> + +<p>“You wouldn’t have read it if I had sent it. +I knew Philip Brotherton would read every word, +so it went to him. I was a little astonished at +myself, for I did not know that I could bring out +the very truth the way I did; but I saw Edgar +watching me, and I saw no one else; and I just +talked to him, as I used to do,–good, plain, +household words, with a bit of Yorkshire now +and then to give them pith and power. I was +cheered to the echo, and if Edgar, when I used +to talk to him for his good, had only cheered me +on my hearthstone as he cheered me in the +Commons, there wouldn’t have been any ill +blood between us. Afterwards, in the crush of +the lobby, I saw Edgar a little before me; and +Mr. O’Connell walked up to him, and said, ‘Atheling, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237'></a>237</span> +you ought to take lessons from your father, +he strikes every nail on the head. In your case, +the old cock crows, but the young one has not +learnt his lesson.’ I was just behind, and I heard +every word, and I was ready to answer; but +Edgar did my work finely.’</p> + +<p>‘He should not have noticed him,’ said Mrs. +Atheling.</p> + +<p>‘Ah, but he did! He said, “Mr. O’Connell, I +will trouble you to speak of Squire Atheling respectfully. +He is not old; he is in the prime of +life; and, in all that makes youth desirable, he is +twenty-five years younger than you are. I think +you have felt his spurs once, and I would advise +you to beware of them.” And what O’Connell +answered I cannot tell, but it would be up to +mark, I can warrant that! I slipped away before +I was noticed, and I am not ashamed to say I +was pleased with what I had heard. “Not as old +as O’Connell by twenty-five years!” I laughed +to myself all the way home; and, in the dark of +the night, I could not help thinking of Edgar’s +angry face, and the way he stood up for me. I +do think, Maude, that somehow it must have been +thy fault we had that quarrel–I mean to say, +that if thou hadst stood firm by me,–that is, if +thou hadst–’</p> + +<p>‘John, go on and do not bother thyself to +make excuses. Was that the end of it?’</p> + +<p>‘In a way. The next afternoon I was sitting +by the fireside having a quiet smoke, and thinking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238'></a>238</span> +of the fine speech I had made, and if it would +be safe to try again, when Dobson came in and +said, “Squire, Mr. Edgar wishes to see you,” and +I said, “Very well, bring Mr. Edgar upstairs.” I +had thrown off my coat; but I had on one of my +fine ruffled shirts and my best blue waistcoat, and +so I didn’t feel so very out of the way when +Edgar came in with the loveliest young woman +on his arm–except Kitty–that I ever set eyes +on; and I was dumfounded when he brought +her to me and said, “My dear Father, Annie +Curzon, who has promised to be my wife, wants +to know you and to love you.” And the little +thing–for she is but a sprite of a woman–laid +her hand on my arm and looked at me; and +what in heaven’s name was I to do?’</p> + +<p>‘What did you do?’</p> + +<p>‘I just lifted her up and kissed her bonny +face, and said I had room enough in my heart +and home for her; and that she was gladly welcome, +and would be much made of, and I don’t +know what else–plenty of things of the same +sort. My word! Edgar was set up.’</p> + +<p>‘He may well be set up,’ answered Mrs. Atheling; +‘she is the richest and sweetest girl in +England; and she thinks the sun rises and sets +in Edgar Atheling. He ought to be set up with +a wife like that.’</p> + +<p>‘He was, with her and me together. I don’t +know which of us seemed to please him most. +Maude, they are coming down to Lord Ashley’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239'></a>239</span> +on a visit, and I asked them <i>here</i>. I could not +do any different, could I?’</p> + +<p>‘If you had you would have been a poor kind +of a father. What did you say?’</p> + +<p>‘I said, when you are at Ashley Place come +over to Atheling, and I gave Edgar my hand and +looked at him; and he looked at me and clasped +it tight, and said, “We will come.’”</p> + +<p>“That was right.”</p> + +<p>“I am glad I have done right for once, Maude. +Do you know that Ashley is one of the worst +Radicals in the lot of them?”</p> + +<p>“Never mind, John. I have noticed that, as a +general thing, the worse Radical, the better man; +but a Tory cannot be trusted to give a Radical a +character. The Tories are very like the poor cat +who said, ‘If she only had wings, she would +gladly extirpate the whole race of those troublesome +sparrows.’”</p> + +<p>“There are to be no more Tories now, we have +got a new name. Lord John Russell called us +‘Conservatives,’ and we took to the word, and it +is as like as not to stick to us. It will be Conservatives +and Reformers in the future.”</p> + +<p>“But you said the Reform Bill was lost.”</p> + +<p>“I said it had not passed. What of that? The +rascals have only been downed for this round; +they will be up to time, when time is called June +the twenty-first; and they will fight harder than +ever.”</p> + +<p>“How was the Bill lost? By obstructions?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240'></a>240</span>“Yes; when it was ready to go into Committee, +General Gascoigne moved that, ‘The number of +members returned to Parliament ought not to be +diminished;’ and when the House divided on this +motion, Gascoigne’s resolution had a majority of +eight.”</p> + +<p>“Then Grey’s Ministry have retired?” said +Mrs. Atheling, in alarm.</p> + +<p>“No, they have not; they should have done +so by all decent precedents; but, instead of behaving +like gentlemen, they resolved to appeal +to the country. We sat all night quarrelling on +this subject; but at five in the morning I was +worn out with the stifling, roaring House, and +sick with the smell of dying candles, and the reek +and steam of quarrelling human beings, so I +stepped out and took a few turns on Westminster +Bridge. It was a dead-calm, lovely morning, and +the sun was just rising over the trees of the Abbey +and the Speaker’s house, and I had a bit of +heart-longing for Atheling.”</p> + +<p>“Why did you not run away to Atheling, +Father?”</p> + +<p>“I could not have done a thing like that, Kitty, +not for the life of me. I went back to the House; +and for three days we fought like dogs, tooth and +nail, over the dissolution. Then Lord Grey and +Lord Brougham did such a thing as never was: +they went to the King and told him, plump and +plain, he must dissolve Parliament or they would +resign, and he must be answerable for consequences; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241'></a>241</span> +and the King did not want to dissolve +Parliament; he knew a new House would be still +fuller of Reform members; and he made all kinds +of excuses. He said, ‘The Crown and Robes +were not ready, and the Guards and troops had +not been notified;’ and then, to his amazement +and anger, Lord Brougham told him that the +officers of State had been summoned, that the +Crown and Robes were ready, and the Guards +and troops waiting.”</p> + +<p>“My word, John! That was a daring thing to +do.”</p> + +<p>“If William the Fourth had been Henry the +Eighth, Lord Brougham’s head wouldn’t have +been worth a shilling; as it was, William flew +into a great passion, and cried out, ‘You! You, +my Lord Chancellor! You ought to know that +such an act is treason, is high treason, my lord!’ +And Brougham said, humbly, that he did know it +was high treason, and that nothing but his solemn +belief that the safety of the State depended +on the act would have made him bold enough to +venture on so improper a proceeding. Then the +King cooled down; and Brougham took from his +pocket the speech which the King was to read; +and the King took it with words; that were partly +menace, and partly joke at his Minister’s audacity, +and so dismissed them.”</p> + +<p>“I never heard of such carryings on. Why +didn’t Brougham put the Crown on his own +head, and be done with it?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242'></a>242</span>“I do not like Brougham; but in this matter, +he acted very wisely. If the King had refused +to dissolve a Parliament that had proved itself +unable to carry Reform, I do think, Maude, London +would have been in flames, and the whole +country in rebellion, before another day broke.”</p> + +<p>“Were you present at the dissolution, John?”</p> + +<p>“I was sitting beside Piers, when the Usher +of the Black Rod knocked at the door of the +Commons. It had to be a very loud knock, for +the House was in a state of turbulence and confusion +far beyond the Speaker’s control; while +Sir Robert Peel was denouncing the Ministry +in the hardest words he could pick out, and +being interrupted in much the same manner. I +can tell you that a good many of us were glad +enough to hear the guns announcing the King’s +approach. The Duke told me afterwards that +the Lords were in still greater commotion. +Brougham was speaking, when there were cries +of ‘The King! The King!’ And Lord Londonderry +rose in a fury and said, ‘He would not +submit to–’ Nobody heard what he would not +submit to; for Brougham snatched up the Seals +and rushed out of the House. Then there was +terrible confusion, and Lord Mansfield rose and +was making a passionate oration against the +Reform Bill, when the King entered and cut it +short. Well, London went mad for a few hours. +Nearly every house was illuminated; and the +Duke of Wellington, and the Duke of Richmoor, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243'></a>243</span> +and other great Tories had their windows +broken, as a warning not to obstruct the next +Parliament. I really don’t know what to make +of it all, Maude!”</p> + +<p>“Well, John, I think statesmen ought to know +what to make of it.”</p> + +<p>“I rode down from London on my own nag; +and in many a town and village I saw things that +made my heart ache. Why, my dears, there +has been sixty thousand pounds put into–not +bread and meat–but peas and meal to feed +the starving women and children; the Government +has given away forty thousand garments +to clothe the naked; and the Bank of England–a +very close concern–is lending money, yes, +as much as ten thousand pounds, to some private +individuals, in order to keep their factories +going. Something is far wrong, when good +English workmen are paupers. But I don’t see +how Parliamentary Reform is going to help them +to bread and meat and decent work.”</p> + +<p>“John, these hungry, naked men know what +they want. Edgar says a Reform Parliament +will open all the ports to free trade, and tear to +pieces the infamous Corn Laws, and make hours +of work shorter, and wages higher and–”</p> + +<p>“Give the whole country to the working men. +I see! I see! Now, Maude, men are not going +to run factories for fun, nor yet for charity; +and farmers are not going to till their fields +just to see how little they can get for their +wheat.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244'></a>244</span>“Father, what part did Piers take in all this +trouble?”</p> + +<p>“He voted with his party. He was very +regular in his place.”</p> + +<p>“I will go now and put on my habit. Piers +sent me word that he would be here soon after +eleven o’clock;” and Kate, with a smile, went +quickly out of the room. The Squire was nonplussed +by the suddenness of her movement, +and did not know whether to detain her or not. +Mrs. Atheling saw his irresolution, and said,–</p> + +<p>“Let her go this time, John. Let her have +one last happy memory to keep through the +time of trouble you seem bound to give her.”</p> + +<p>“Can I help it?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> + +<p>“You speak as if it was a pleasure to me.”</p> + +<p>“What for are you so set on interfering just +at this time?”</p> + +<p>“Because it is the right time.”</p> + +<p>“Who told you it was the right time?”</p> + +<p>“My own heart, and my own knowledge of +what is right and wrong.”</p> + +<p>“You are never liable to make a mistake, I +suppose, John?”</p> + +<p>“Not on this subject. I never saw such an +unreasonable woman! Never! It is enough to +discourage any man;” and as Mrs. Atheling +rose and began to put away her silver without +answering him a word, he grew angry at her +want of approval, and put on his hat and went +towards the stables.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245'></a>245</span>He had no special intention of watching for +Lord Exham, and indeed had for the moment +forgotten his existence, when the young man +leaped his horse over the wall of the Atheling +plantation. The act annoyed the Squire; he +was proud of his plantation, and did not like trespassing +through it. Such a little thing often +decides a great thing; and this trifling offence +made it easy for the Squire to say,–</p> + +<p>“Good-morning, Piers, I wish you would dismount. +I have a few words to speak to you;” +and there was in his voice that shivery half-tone +which is neither one thing nor the other: +and Exham recognised it without applying the +change to himself. He was a little annoyed at +the delay; but he leaped to the ground, put the +bridle over his arm, and stood beside the Squire, +who then said,–</p> + +<p>“Piers, I have come to the decision not to +sanction any longer your attentions to Kate–unless +your father also sanctions them. It is +high time your engagement was either publicly +acknowledged or else put an end to.”</p> + +<p>“You are right, Squire; what do you wish me +to do? I will make Kate my wife at any time +you propose. I desire nothing more earnestly +than this.”</p> + +<p>“Easy, Piers, easy. You must obtain the +Duke’s consent first.”</p> + +<p>“I could hardly select a worse time to ask +him for it. I am of full age. I am my own +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246'></a>246</span> +master. I will marry Kate in the face of all +opposition.”</p> + +<p>“I say you will not. My daughter is not for +you, if there is any opposition. The Duke and +Duchess are at the head of your house; and +Kate cannot enter a house in which she would be +unwelcome.”</p> + +<p>“Kate will reside at Exham.”</p> + +<p>“And be a divider between you and your +father and mother. No! In the end she would +get the worst of it; and, even if she got the best +of it, I am not willing she should begin a life of +quarrelling and hatred. You can see the Duke +at your convenience, and let me know what he +says.”</p> + +<p>“I will see him to-day,” he had taken out his +watch and was looking at it as he spoke. “Will +you excuse me now, Squire?” he asked. “I +sent Kate a message early this morning promising +to call for her about eleven. I am already +late.”</p> + +<p>“You may turn back. I will make an excuse +for you. You cannot ride with Kate to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Squire, I made the offer and the promise. +Permit me to honour my word.”</p> + +<p>“I will honour it for you. There has been +enough, and too much, riding and walking, unless +you are to ride and walk all your lives together. +Good-morning!”</p> + +<p>“Squire, give me one hour?”</p> + +<p>“I will not.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247'></a>247</span>“A few minutes to explain.”</p> + +<p>“I have told you that I would explain.”</p> + +<p>“I never knew you unkind before. Have I +offended you? Have I done anything which +you do not approve?”</p> + +<p>“That is not the question. I will see you +again–when you have seen your father.”</p> + +<p>“You are very unkind, very unkind indeed, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe I am; but when the surgeon’s knife is +to use, there is no use pottering with drugs and +fine speeches. It is the knife between you and +Kate–or it is the ring;” and the word reminded +him of the lost love gage, and made his +face hard and stern. Then he turned from the +young man, and had a momentary pleasure in +the sound of his furious galloping in the other +direction; for he was in a state of great turmoil. +He had suddenly done a thing he had +been wishing to do for a long time; and he was +not satisfied. In short, passionate ejaculations, +he tried to relieve himself of something wrong, +and did not succeed. “He deserves it; he was +all the time with that Other One,–day by day +in the parks, night after night in the House and +the opera; he gave her that ring–I’ll swear +he did; how else should she have it? My Kate +is not going to be second-best–not if I can help +it; what do I care for their dukedom?–confound +the whole business! A man with a daughter +to watch has a heart full of sorrow–and it +is all her mother’s fault!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248'></a>248</span>Setting his steps to such aggravating opinions, +he reached the Manor House and went into the +parlour. Kate stood at the window in her riding +dress. She had lost her usual fine composure, +and was nervously tapping the wooden sill with +the handle of her whip. On her father’s entrance, +she turned an anxious face to him, and asked, +“Did you see anything of Piers, Father?”</p> + +<p>“I did. I have been having a bit of a talk with +him.”</p> + +<p>“Then he is at the door? I am so glad! I +thought something was wrong!”</p> + +<p>“Stop, Kitty. He is not at the door. He has +gone home. I sent him home. Now don’t interrupt +me. I made up my mind in London that +he should not see you again until your engagement +was recognised by his father and mother.”</p> + +<p>“Should not see me again! Father!”</p> + +<p>“That is right.”</p> + +<p>“But I must see him! I must see him! +Where is mother?”</p> + +<p>“Mother thinks as I do, Kate.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?”</p> + +<p>“Go upstairs, and take off your habit, and +think over things. You know quite well that +such underhand courting–”</p> + +<p>“Piers is not underhand. He is as straight-forward +as you are, Father.”</p> + +<p>“There now! Don’t cry. I won’t have any +crying about what is only right. Come here, +Kitty. Thou knowest thy father loves every hair +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249'></a>249</span> +of thy head. Will he wrong thee? Will he give +thee a moment’s pain he can help? Kitty, I +heard talk in London that fired me–I saw +things that have to be explained.”</p> + +<p>“Father, you will break my heart!”</p> + +<p>“Well, Kitty, I have had a good many heartaches +all winter about my girl. And I have made +up my mind, if I die for it, that there shall be no +more whispering and wondering about your relationship +to Piers Exham. Now don’t fret till you +know you have a reason. Piers has a deal of power +over the Duke. He will win his way–if he +wants to win it. Then I will have a business +talk with both men, and your engagement and +marriage will be square and above-board, and +no nodding and winking and shrugging about it. +You are Kate Atheling, and I will not have you +sought in any by-way. Before God, I will not! +Cry, if you must. But I think better of you.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mother! Mother! Mother!”</p> + +<p>“Yes! you and your mother have brought all +this on, with your ‘let things alone, be happy +to-day, and to-morrow will take care of itself’ +ways. If you were a milk-maid, that plan might +do; but a girl with your lineage has to look behind +and before; she can’t live for herself and +herself only.”</p> + +<p>“I wish I was a milk-maid!”</p> + +<p>“To be sure. Let me have the lover I want, +and my father, and my mother, and my brother, +and my home, and all that are behind me, and all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250'></a>250</span> +that are to come after, and all honour, and all +gratitude, and all decent affection can go to the +devil!” and with these words, the Squire lifted +his hat, and went passionately out of the room.</p> + +<p>Though he had given Kate the hope that Piers +would influence his father, he had no such expectation. +There was a very strained political feeling +between the Duke and himself; and, apart +from that, the Squire had failed to win any social +liking from the Richmoors. He was so independent; +he thought so much of the Athelings, +and was so indifferent to the glory of the Richmoors. +He had also strong opinions of all kinds, +and did not scruple to express them; and private +opinions are just the one thing <i>not</i> wanted and +not endurable in society. In fact, the Duke and +Duchess had both been subject to serious relentings +for having any alliance, either political +or social, with their opinionated, domineering +neighbour.</p> + +<p>And Piers, driven by the anguish of his unexpected +calamity, went into his father’s presence +without any regard to favourable circumstances. +Previously he had considered them too much; +now he gave them no consideration at all. The +Duke had premonitory symptoms of an attack of +gout; and the Duchess had just told him that +her brother Lord Francis Gower was going to +Germany, and that she had decided to accompany +his party. “Annabel looks ill,” she added; +“the season has been too much for a girl so emotional; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251'></a>251</span> +and as for myself, I am thoroughly worn +out.”</p> + +<p>“I do not like separating Piers and Annabel,” +answered the Duke. “They have just become +confidential and familiar; and in the country too, +where Miss Atheling will have everything in her +favour!”</p> + +<p>“Annabel is resolved to go abroad. She says +she detests England. You had better make the +best of the inevitable, Duke. I shall want one +thousand pounds.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot spare a thousand pounds. My expenses +have been very great this past winter.”</p> + +<p>“Still, I shall require a thousand pounds.”</p> + +<p>The Duchess had just left her husband with +this question to consider. He did not want to +part with a thousand pounds, and he did not want +to part with Annabel. She was the brightest element +in his life. She had become dear to him, +and the thought of her fortune made his financial +difficulties easier to bear. For the encumbrances +which the times forced him to lay on his estate +need not embarrass Piers; Annabel’s money would +easily remove them.</p> + +<p>He was under the influence of these conflicting +emotions, when Piers entered the room, with a +brusque hurry quite at variance with his natural +placid manner. The Duke started at the clash of +the door. It gave him a twinge of pain; it dissipated +his reveries; and he asked petulantly, “What +brings you here so early, and so noisily, Piers?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252'></a>252</span>“I am in great trouble, sir. Squire Atheling–”</p> + +<p>“Squire Atheling again! I am weary of the +man!”</p> + +<p>“He has forbidden me to see Miss Atheling.”</p> + +<p>“He has done quite right. I did not expect +so much propriety from him.”</p> + +<p>“Until you give your consent to our marriage.”</p> + +<p>“Why, then, you will see her no more, Piers. +I will never give it. Never! We need not multiply +words. You will marry Annabel.”</p> + +<p>“Suppose Annabel will not marry me?”</p> + +<p>“The supposition is impossible, therefore +unnecessary.”</p> + +<p>“If I cannot marry Miss Atheling, I will remain +unmarried.”</p> + +<p>“That threat is as old as the world; it +amounts to nothing.”</p> + +<p>“On all public and social questions, I am your +obedient son and successor. I claim the right to +choose my wife.”</p> + +<p>“A man in your position, Piers, has not this +privilege. I had not. If I had followed my +youthful desires, I should have married an +Italian woman. I married, not to please myself, +but for the good of Richmoor; and I am glad to-day +that I did so. Your duty to Richmoor is +first; to yourself, secondary.”</p> + +<p>“Have you anything against Miss Atheling?”</p> + +<p>“I object to her family–though they are undoubtedly +in direct descent from the royal Saxon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253'></a>253</span> +family of Atheling; I object to her poverty; I +object to her taking the place of a young lady +who has every desirable qualification for your +wife.”</p> + +<p>“Is there no way to meet these objections, +sir?”</p> + +<p>“No way whatever.” At these words the +Duke stood painfully up, and said, with angry +emphasis, “I will not have this subject mentioned +to me again. It is dead. I forbid you to speak +of it.” Then he rang the bell for his Secretary, +and gave him some orders. Lord Exham leaned +against the mantelpiece, lost in sorrowful thought, +until the Duke turned to him and said,–</p> + +<p>“I am going to ride; will you go with me? +There are letters from Wetherell and Lyndhurst +to talk over.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot think of politics at present. I +should be no help to you.”</p> + +<p>“Your mother and Annabel are thinking of +going to Germany. I wish you would persuade +them to stop at home. Is Annabel sick? I am +told she is.”</p> + +<p>“I do not know, sir.”</p> + +<p>“You might trouble yourself to inquire.”</p> + +<p>“Father, I have never at any time disobeyed +you. Permit me to marry the woman I love. In +all else, I follow where you lead.”</p> + +<p>“Piers, my dear son, if my wisdom is sufficient +for ‘all else,’ can you not trust it in this matter? +Miss Atheling is an impossibility,–mind, I say +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254'></a>254</span> +an impossibility,–now, and to-morrow, and in +all the future. That is enough about Miss Atheling. +Good-afternoon! I feel far from well, and I +will try what a gallop may do for me.”</p> + +<p>Piers bowed; he could not speak. His heart +beat at his lips; he was choking with emotion. +The very attitude of the Duke filled him with +despair. It permitted of no argument; it would +allow of no hope. He knew the Squire’s mood +was just as inexorable as his father’s. Mrs. +Atheling had defined the position very well, when +she called the two men, “upper and nether millstones.” +Kate and he were now between them. +And there was only one way out of the situation +supposable. If Kate was willing, they could +marry without permission. The Rector of Belward +would not be difficult to manage; for the +Duke had nothing to do with Belward; it was in +the gift of Mrs. Atheling. On some appointed +morning Kate could meet him before the little +altar. Love has ways and means and messengers; +and his face flushed, and a kind of angry +hope came into his heart as this idea entered +it. Just then, he did not consider how far Kate +would fall below his best thoughts if it were +possible to persuade her to such clandestine +disobedience.</p> + +<p>The Duke was pleased with himself. He felt +that he had settled the disagreeable question +promptly and kindly; and he was cantering +cheerfully across Belward Bents, when he came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255'></a>255</span> +suddenly face to face with Squire Atheling. The +surprise was not pleasant; but he instantly +resolved to turn it to service.</p> + +<p>“Squire,” he said, with a forced heartiness, +“well met! I thank you for your co-operation. +In forbidding Lord Exham your daughter’s society, +you have done precisely what I wished you +to do.”</p> + +<p>“There is no ‘co-operation’ in the question, +Duke. I considered only Miss Atheling’s rights +and happiness. And what I have done, was not +done for any wish of yours, but to satisfy myself. +Lord Exham is your business, not mine.”</p> + +<p>“I have just told him that a marriage with +Miss Atheling is out of all consideration; that +both you and I are of this opinion; and, I may +add, that my plans for Lord Exham’s future +would be utterly ruined by a <i>mésalliance</i> at this +time.”</p> + +<p>“You will retract the word ‘<i>mésalliance</i>,’ +Duke. You know Miss Atheling’s lineage, and +that a duke of the reigning family would make +no ‘<i>mésalliance</i>’ in marrying her. I say retract +the word!” and the Squire involuntarily gave +emphasis to the order by the passionate tightening +of his hand on his riding-whip.</p> + +<p>“I certainly retract any word that gives you +offence, Squire. I meant no reflection on Miss +Atheling, who is a most charming young +lady–”</p> + +<p>“There is no more necessity for compliments +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256'></a>256</span> +than for–the other thing. I have told Miss +Atheling to see Lord Exham no more. I will +make my order still more positive to her.”</p> + +<p>“Yet, Squire, lovers will often outwit the +wisest fathers.”</p> + +<p>“My daughter will give me her word, and +she would not be an Atheling if she broke it. +I shall make her understand that I will never forgive +her if she allies herself with the house of +Richmoor.”</p> + +<p>“Come, come, Squire! You need not speak +so contemptuously of the house of Richmoor. +The noblest women in England would gladly ally +themselves with my house.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot prevent them doing so; but I can +keep my own daughter’s honour, and I will. Good-afternoon, +Duke! I hope this is our last word +on a subject so unpleasant.”</p> + +<p>“I hope so. Squire, there are some important +letters from Lyndhurst and Wetherell; can you +come to the Castle to-morrow and talk them over +with me.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot, Duke.”</p> + +<p>Then the Duke bowed haughtily, and gave his +horse both rein and whip; and the angry thoughts +in his heart were, “What a proud, perverse unmanageable +creature! He was as ready to strike +as to speak. If I had been equally uncivilised, +we should have come to blows as easily as +words. I am sorry I have had any dealings with +the fellow. Julia warned me–a man ought to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257'></a>257</span> +take his wife’s advice wherever women are factors +in a question. Confound the whole race of +country squires!–they make all the trouble that +is made.”</p> + +<p>Squire Atheling had not any more pleasant +thoughts about dukes; but they were an undercurrent, +his daughter dominated them. He +dreaded his next interview with her, but was not +inclined to put it off, even when he found her, on +his return home, with Mrs. Atheling. She had +been weeping; she hardly dried her tears on his +approach. Her lovely face was flushed and +feverish; she had the look of a rose blown by a +stormy wind. He pushed his chair to her side, +and gently drew her on to his knees, and put his +arm around her, as he said,–</p> + +<p>“My little girl, I am sorry! I am sorry! But +it has to be, Kitty. There is no hope, and I will +not fool thee with false promises. I have just +had a talk with Richmoor. He was very rude, +very rude indeed, to thy father.” She did not +speak or lift her eyes; and the Squire continued, +“He used a word about a marriage with thee that +I would not permit. I had to bring him to his +senses.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Father!”</p> + +<p>“Would you have me sit quiet and hear the +Athelings made little of.”</p> + +<p>“No, Father.”</p> + +<p>“I thought not.”</p> + +<p>“After what the Duke has said to me, there +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258'></a>258</span> +can be no thought of marriage between Piers and +thee. Give him up, now and forever.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot.”</p> + +<p>“But thou must.”</p> + +<p>“It will kill me.”</p> + +<p>“Not if thou art the good, brave girl I think +thee. Piers is only one little bit of the happy +life thy good God has given thee. Thou wilt +still have thy mother, and thy brother, and thy +sweet home, and all the honour and blessings of +thy lot in life–<i>and thy father, too</i>, Kitty. Is +thy father nobody?”</p> + +<p>Then she laid her head on his breast and +sobbed bitterly; and the Squire could not speak. +He wept with her. And sitting a little apart, but +watching them, Mrs. Atheling wept a little also. +Yet, in spite of his emotion, the Squire was inexorable; +and he continued, with stern and steady +emphasis, “Thou art not to see him. Thou art +not to write to him. Thou art not even to look +at him. Get him out of thy life, root and branch. +It is the only way. Come now, give me thy +promise.”</p> + +<p>“Let me see him once more.”</p> + +<p>“I will not. What for? To pity one another, +and abuse every other person, right or wrong. +The Richmoors don’t want thee among them at +any price; and if I was thee I would stay where +I was wanted.”</p> + +<p>“Piers wants me.”</p> + +<p>“Now then, if you must have the whole bitter +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259'></a>259</span> +truth, take it. I don’t believe Piers will have any +heartache wanting thee. He was here, there, and +everywhere with Miss Vyner, after thou hadst left +London; and I saw the ring thou loanedst him +on her finger.”</p> + +<p>Then Kate looked quickly up. Once, when +Annabel had removed her glove, and instantly +replaced it, a vague suspicion of this fact had +given her a shock that she had named to no one. +It seemed so incredible she could not tell her +mother. And now her father’s words brought +back that moment of sick suspicion, and confirmed +it.</p> + +<p>“Are you sure of what you say, Father?”</p> + +<p>“I will wage my word and honour on it.”</p> + +<p>There was a moment’s intense silence. Kate +glanced at her mother, who sat with dropped +eyes, unconsciously knitting; but there was not +a shadow of doubt or denial on her face. Then +she looked at her father. His large countenance, +usually so red and beaming, was white and drawn +with feeling, and his troubled, aching soul looked +at her pathetically from the misty depths of his +tearful eyes. Her mother she might have argued +and pleaded with; but the love and anguish supplicating +her from that bending face was not to +be denied. She lifted her own to it. She kissed +the pale cheeks and trembling lips, and said, +clearly,–</p> + +<p>“I promise what you wish, Father. I will not +speak to Piers, nor write to him, nor even look at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260'></a>260</span> +him again–until you say I may,” and with the +words she put her hand in his for surety.</p> + +<p>He rose to his feet then and put her in his +chair; but he could not speak a word. Tremblingly, +he lifted his hat and stick and went out +of the room; and Mrs. Atheling threw down her +knitting, and followed him to the door, and +watched him going slowly through the long, +flagged passageway. Her face was troubled +when she returned to Kate. She lifted her knitting +and threw it with some temper into her work-basket, +and then flung wide open the casement +and let the fresh air into the room. Kate did +not speak; her whole air and manner was that +of injury and woe-begone extremity.</p> + +<p>“Kate,” said her mother at last, “Kate, my +dear! This is your first lesson in this world’s +sorrow. Don’t be a coward under it. Lift up +your heart to Him who is always sufficient.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mother! I think I shall die.”</p> + +<p>“I would be ashamed to say such words. +Piers was good and lovesome, and I do not +blame you for loving him as long as it was +right to do so. But when your father’s word +is against it, you may be very sure it is <i>not</i> right. +Father would not give you a moment’s pain, if +he could help it.”</p> + +<p>“It is too cruel! I cannot bear it!”</p> + +<p>“Are you asked to bear anything but what +women in all ages, and in all countries, have had +to bear? To give up what you love is always +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261'></a>261</span> +hard. I have had to give up three fine sons, and +your dear little sister Edith. I have had to give +up father, and mother, and brothers, and sisters; +but I never once thought of dying. Whatever +happens, happens with God’s will, or with God’s +permission; so if you can’t give up cheerfully to +your father’s will, do try and say to God, as +pleasantly as you can, <i>Thy</i> Will be my will.”</p> + +<p>“I thought you would pity me, Mother.”</p> + +<p>“I do, Kate, with all my heart. But life has +more loves and duties than one. If, in order to +have Piers, you had to relinquish every one else, +would you do so? No, you would not. Kate, I +love you, and I pity you in your great trial; and +I will help you to bear it as well as I can. But you +must bear it cheerfully. I will not have father +killed for Piers Exham. He looked very queerly +when he went out. Be a brave girl, and if you are +going to keep your promise, do it cheerfully–or +it is not worth while.”</p> + +<p>“How can I be cheerful, Mother?”</p> + +<p>“As easy as not, if you have a good, unselfish +heart. You will say to yourself, ‘What right have +I to make every one in the house miserable, because +I am miserable?’ Troubles must come to +all, Kitty, but troubles need not be wicked; and +<i>it is wicked to be a destroyer of happiness</i>. I think +God himself may find it hard to forgive those +who selfishly destroy the happiness of others, +just because they are not satisfied, or have not +the one thing they specially want. When you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262'></a>262</span> +are going to be cross and unhappy, say to yourself, +”I will not be cross! I will not be unhappy! +I will not make my good father wretched, and fill +his pleasant home with a tearful drizzle, because +I want to cry about my own loss.’ And, depend +upon it, Kitty, you will find content and happiness +in making others happy. Good comes to +hearts prepared for good; but it cannot come +to hearts full of worry, and fear, and selfish +regrets.”</p> + +<p>“You are setting me a hard lesson, Mother.”</p> + +<p>“I know it is hard, Kate. Life is all a task; +yet we may as well sing, as we fulfil it. Eh, +dear?”</p> + +<p>Kate did not answer. She lifted her habit over +her arm, and went slowly upstairs. Sorrow filled +her to the ears and eyes; but her mother heard +her close and then turn the key in her door.</p> + +<p>“That is well,” she thought. “Now her good +angel will find her alone with God.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263'></a>263</span><a id='link_13'></a>CHAPTER THIRTEENTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>NOT YET</span></h2> + +<p>“Mothering” is a grand old word for a quality +God can teach man as well as woman; and the +Squire really “mothered” his daughter in the +first days of her great sorrow. He was always +at her side. He was constantly needing her +help or her company; and Kate was quite sensible +of the great love with which he encompassed +her. At first she was inexpressibly desolate. +She had been suddenly dislodged from that +life in the heart of Piers which she had so long +enjoyed, and she felt homeless and forsaken. +But Kate had a sweet and beautiful soul, nothing +in it could turn to bitterness; and so it was +not long before she was able to carry her misfortune +as she had carried her good fortune, +with cheerfulness and moderation.</p> + +<p>For her confidence in Piers was unbroken. +Not even her father’s assertion about the lost +ring could affect it. On reflection, she was sure +there was a satisfactory explanation; if not, it +was a momentary infidelity which she was ready +to forgive. And in her determination to be +faithful to her lover, Mrs. Atheling encouraged +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264'></a>264</span> +her. “Time brings us our own, Kitty dear,” +she said; “you have a true title to Piers’s love; +so, then, you have a true title to his hand. I +have not a doubt that you will be his wife.”</p> + +<p>“I think that, Mother; but why should we be +separated now, and both made to suffer?”</p> + +<p>“That is earth’s great mystery, my dear,–the +prevalence of pain and suffering; no one is +free from it. But then, in the midst of this +mystery, is set that Heavenly Love which helps +us to bear everything. I know, Kitty, I +know!”</p> + +<p>“Father is very hard.”</p> + +<p>“He is not. When Piers’s father and mother +say they will not have you in their house, do you +want to slip into it on the sly, or even in defiance +of them? Wait, and your hour will come.”</p> + +<p>“There is only one way that it can possibly +come; and that way I dare not for a moment +think of.”</p> + +<p>“No, indeed! Who would wish to enter the +house of marriage by the gates of death? If +such a thought comes to you, send it away with +a prayer for the Duke’s life. God can give you +Piers without killing his father. He would be +a poor God if He could not. Whatever happens +in your life that you cannot change, that is the +Will of God; and to will what God wills is sure +to bring you peace, Kitty. You have your +Prayer-Book; go to the Blessed Collects in it. +You will be sure to find among them just the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265'></a>265</span> +prayer you need. They never once failed me,–never +once!”</p> + +<p>“If I could have seen him just for an hour, +Mother.”</p> + +<p>“Far better not. Your last meeting with him +in London was a very happy, joyous one. That +is a good memory to keep. If you met him now, +it would only be to weep and lament; and I’ll +tell you what, Kitty, no crying woman leaves a +pleasant impression. I want Piers to remember +you as he saw you last,–clothed in white, with +flowers in your hair and hands, and your face +beaming with love and happiness.”</p> + +<p>Many such conversations as this one held up +the girl’s heart, and enabled her, through a pure +and steadfast faith in her lover, to enter–</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p> “<span style='white-space: nowrap'>––</span>that finer atmosphere,</p> +<p>Where footfalls of appointed things,</p> +<p> Reverberant of days to be,</p> +<p>Are heard in forecast echoings;</p> +<p> Like wave-beats from a viewless sea.”</p> +</div> + +<p>The first week of her trouble was the worst; +but it was made tolerable by a long letter from +Piers on the second day. It came in the +Squire’s mail-bag, and he could easily have retained +it. But such a course would have been +absolutely contradictious to his whole nature. +He held the thick missive a moment in his +hand, and glanced at the large red seal, lifting +up so prominently the Richmoor arms, and then +said,–</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_266'></a>266</span>“Here is a letter for you, Kitty. It is from +Piers. What am I to do with it?”</p> + +<p>“Please, Father, give it to me.”</p> + +<p>“Give it to her, Father,” said Mrs. Atheling; +and Kate’s eager face pleaded still more strongly. +Rather reluctantly, he pushed the letter towards +Kate, saying, “I would as leave not give it to +thee, but I can trust to thy honour.”</p> + +<p>“You may trust me, Father,” she answered. +And the Squire was satisfied with his relenting, +when she came to him a few hours later, and +said, “Thank you for giving me my letter, +Father. It has made my trouble a great deal +lighter. Now, Father, will you do me one more +favour?”</p> + +<p>“Well, dear, what is it?”</p> + +<p>“See Piers for me, and tell him of the promise +I made to you. Say I cannot break it, but that +I send, by you, my thanks for his letter, and my +love forever more.”</p> + +<p>“I can’t tell him about ‘love forever more,’ +Kitty. That won’t do at all.”</p> + +<p>“Tell him, then, that all he says to me I say +to him. Dear Father, make that much clear to +him.”</p> + +<p>“John, do what Kitty asks thee. It isn’t +much.”</p> + +<p>“A man can’t have his way in this house with +two women to coax or bully him out of it. +What am I to do?”</p> + +<p>“Just what Kitty asks you to do.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i13'></a><img src='images/illus-267.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267'></a>267</span>“Please, Father!” And the two words were +sent straight to the father’s heart with a kiss +and a caress that were irresistible. Three days +afterwards the Squire came home from a ride, +very much depressed. He was cross with the +servant who unbuttoned his gaiters, and he +looked resentfully at Mrs. Atheling as she +entered the room.</p> + +<p>“A nice message I was sent,” he said to her +as soon as they were alone. “That young man +has given me a heart-ache. He has made me +think right is wrong. He has made me feel +as if I was the wickedest father in Yorkshire. +And I know, in my soul, that I am doing right; +and that there isn’t a better father in the three +kingdoms.”</p> + +<p>“Whatever did he say?”</p> + +<p>“He said I was to tell Kate that from the +East to the West, and from the North to the +South, he would love her. That from that +moment to the moment of death, and throughout +all eternity, he would love her. And I stopped +him there and then, and said I would carry no +message that went beyond the grave. And he +said I was to tell her that neither for father nor +mother, nor for the interests of the dukedom, +nor for the command of the King, would he +marry any woman but her. And I was fool +enough to be sorry for him, and to promise I +would give him Kate, with my blessing, when +his father and mother asked me to do so.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_268'></a>268</span>“I don’t think that was promising very much, +John.”</p> + +<p>“Thou knowest nothing of how I feel, Maude. +But he is a good man, and true; I think so, at +any rate.”</p> + +<p>“Tell Kitty what he said.”</p> + +<p>“Nay, you must tell her if you want her to +know. I would rather not speak of Piers at all. +Tell her, also, that the Duchess and Miss Vyner +are going to Germany, and that Piers goes with +them as far as London. I am very glad of this +move, for we can ride about, then, without fear +of meeting them.”</p> + +<p>All the comfort to be got from this conversation +and intelligence was given at once to Kate; +and perhaps Mrs. Atheling unavoidably made it +more emphatic than the Squire’s manner warranted. +She did not overstep the truth, however, +for Piers had spoken from his very heart, +and with the most passionate love and confidence. +Indeed, the Squire’s transcript had been +but a bald and lame translation of the young +man’s fervent expressions of devotion and +constancy.</p> + +<p>Kate understood this, and she was comforted. +Invincible Hope was at the bottom of all her +sorrow, and she soon began to look on the circumstances +as merely transitory. Yet she had +moments of great trial. One evening, while +walking with her mother a little on the outskirts +of Atheling, the Duke’s carriage, with its splendid +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_269'></a>269</span> +outriders, suddenly turned into the little +lane. There was no escape, and they looked at +each other bravely, and stood still upon the turf +bordering the road. Then the Duchess gave an +order to the coachman. There was difficulty in +getting the horses to the precise spot which was +best for conversation; but Mrs. Atheling would +not take a step forward or backward to relieve +it. She stood with her hand on Kate’s arm, +Kate’s hands being full of the blue-bells which +she had been gathering.</p> + +<p>The carriage contained only the Duchess and +Annabel. There had been no overt unpleasantness +between the ladies of the two families, and +Mrs. Atheling would not take the initiative, +especially when the question was one referring to +the most delicate circumstances of her daughter’s +life. She talked with the Duchess of her +German trip, and Kate gave Annabel the flowers, +and hoped she would enjoy her new experience. +In five minutes the interview was over; nothing +but courteous words had been said, and yet Mrs. +Atheling and Kate had, somehow, a sense of +intense humiliation. The Duchess’s manner had +been politely patronising, Annabel’s languid +and indifferent; and, in some mysterious way, +the servants echoed this covert atmosphere of +disdain. Little things are so momentous; and +the very attitude of the two parties was against +the Athelings. From their superb carriage, as +from a throne, the Duchess and her companion +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_270'></a>270</span> +looked down on the two simply-dressed ladies +who had been gathering wild flowers on the +roadside.</p> + +<p>“How provoking!” was Kate’s first utterance. +“Mother, I will not walk outside the garden +again until they go away; I will not!”</p> + +<p>“I am ashamed of you!” answered Mrs. Atheling, +angrily. “Will you make yourself a prisoner +for these two women? <i>Tush!</i> Who are they? +Be yourself, and who is better than you?”</p> + +<p>“It is easy talking, Mother. You are as +much annoyed as I am. How did they manage +to snub us so politely?”</p> + +<p>“Position is everything, Kate. A woman in +a Duke’s carriage, with outriders in scarlet, and +coachmen and footmen in silver-laced liveries, +would snub the Virgin Mary if she met her in a +country lane, dressed in pink dimity, and gathering +blue-bells. Try and forget the affair.”</p> + +<p>“Annabel looked ill.”</p> + +<p>“It was her white dress. A woman with her +skin ought to know better than to wear white.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mother! if Piers had been with them, +what should I have done?”</p> + +<p>“I wish he had been there! You were never +more lovely. I saw you for a moment, standing +at the side of the carriage; with your brown hair +blowing, and your cheeks blushing, and your +hands full of flowers, and I thought how beautiful +you were; and I wish Piers had been there.”</p> + +<p>“They go away on Saturday. I shall be glad +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_271'></a>271</span> +when Saturday is over. I do not think I could +bear to see Piers. I should make a little fool of +myself.”</p> + +<p>“Not you! Not you! But it is just as well +to keep out of danger.”</p> + +<p>Certainly neither the Squire nor Kate had any +idea of meeting Piers on the following Saturday +night when they rode along Atheling lane +together. Both of them believed Piers to be +far on the way to London. They had been to +the village, and were returning slowly homeward +in the gloaming. A light like that of +dreamland was lying over all the scene; and the +silence of the far-receding hills was intensified +by the murmur of the streams, and the sleepy +piping of a solitary bird. The subtle, fugitive, +indescribable fragrance of lilies-of-the-valley +was in the air; and a sense of brooding power, +of mystical communion between man and nature, +had made both the Squire and Kate sympathetically +silent.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was the sound of horse’s feet +coming towards them; and the figure of its rider +loomed large and spectral in the gray, uncertain +light. Kate knew instantly who it was. In a +moment or two they must needs pass each other. +She looked quickly into her father’s face, and +he said huskily, “Be brave, Kate, be brave!”</p> + +<p>The words had barely been spoken, when +Piers slowly passed them. He removed his +hat, and the Squire did the same; but Kate sat +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_272'></a>272</span> +with dropped eyes, white as marble. From her +nerveless hands the reins had fallen; she swayed +in her saddle, and the Squire leaned towards her +with encouraging touch and words. But she +could hear nothing but the hurrying flight of her +lover, and the despairing cry which the wind +brought sadly back as he rode rapidly up the +little lane,–</p> + +<p>“<i>Kate! Kate! Kate!</i>”</p> + +<p>Fortunately, news of Miss Curzon’s and +Edgar’s arrival at Ashley Hall came to Atheling +that very hour; and the Squire and Mrs. +Atheling were much excited at their proposal to +lunch at Atheling Manor the next day. Kate +had to put aside her own feelings, and unite in +the family joy of reunion. There was a happy +stir of preparation, and the Squire dressed himself +with particular care to meet his son and his +new daughter. As soon as he heard of their +approach, he went to the open door to meet +them.</p> + +<p>To Edgar he gave his right hand, with a look +which cancelled every hard word; and then he +lifted little Annie Curzon from her horse, and +kissed her on the doorstep with fatherly affection. +And between Kate and Annie a warm +friendship grew apace; and the girls were continually +together, and thus, insensibly, Kate’s +sorrow was lightened by mutual confidence and +affection.</p> + +<p>Early in June the Squire and Edgar were to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_273'></a>273</span> +return to London, for Parliament re-opened on +the fourteenth; and a few days before their +departure Mrs. Atheling asked her husband one +afternoon to take a drive with her. “To be +sure I will, Maude,” he answered. “It isn’t +twice in a twelvemonth thou makest me such an +offer.” She was in her own little phaeton, and +the Squire settled himself comfortably at her +side, and took the reins from her hands. “Which +way are we to go?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“We will go first to Gisbourne Gates, and +maybe as far as Belward.”</p> + +<p>The Squire wondered a little at her direction, +for she knew Gisbourne was rather a sore +subject with him. As they approached the big +iron portals, rusty on all their hinges from long +neglect, he could not avoid saying,–</p> + +<p>“It is a shame beyond everything that I have +not yet been able to buy Gisbourne. The place +has been wanting a master for fifteen years; and it +lays between Atheling and Belward as the middle +finger lays between the first and the third. I +thought I might manage it next year; but this +Parliament business has put me a good bit back.”</p> + +<p>“Many things have put you back, John. +There was Edgar’s college expenses, and the +hard times, and what not beside. Look, John! +the gates are open. Let us drive in. It is +twenty years since I saw Gisbourne Towers.”</p> + +<p>“The gates are open. What does that mean, +Maude?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_274'></a>274</span>“I suppose somebody has bought the place.”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid so.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind, John.”</p> + +<p>“But I do mind. The kind of neighbour we +are to have is a very important thing. They +will live right between Atheling and Belward. +The Gisbournes were a fine Tory family. Atheling +and Gisbourne were always friends. My +father and Sir Antony went to the hunt and the +hustings together. They were finger and thumb +in all county matters. It will be hard to get as +good a master of Gisbourne as Sir Antony was.”</p> + +<p>“John, I have a bit of right good news for +thee. Edgar is going to take Sir Antony’s +place. Will Edgar do for a neighbour?”</p> + +<p>“Whatever art thou saying, Maude?”</p> + +<p>“The very truth. Miss Curzon has bought +Gisbourne. Lord Ashley advised her to do so; +and she has brought down a big company of +builders and such people, and the grand old +house is to be made the finest home in the +neighbourhood. She showed me the plans yesterday, +and I promised her to bring thee over to +Gisbourne this afternoon to meet her architect +and Lord Ashley and Edgar. See, they are +waiting on the terrace for thee; for they want +thy advice and thy ideas.”</p> + +<p>It was, indeed, a wonderful afternoon. The +gentlemen went into consultation with the architect, +and a great many of the Squire’s suggestions +were received with enthusiastic approval. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_275'></a>275</span> +Mrs. Atheling, Kate, and Annie went through +the long-deserted rooms, and talked of what +should be done to give them modern convenience +and comfort, without detracting from their air of +antique splendour. Then at five o’clock the +whole party met in the faded drawing-room and +had tea, with sundry additions of cold game and +pasties, and discussed, together, the proposed +plans. At sunset the parties separated at Gisbourne +Gates, Kate going with Miss Curzon to +Ashley, and the Squire and Mrs. Atheling returning +to their own home. The Squire was far +too much excited to be long quiet.</p> + +<p>“They were very glad of my advice, Maude,” +he said, as soon as the last good-bye had been +spoken. “Ashley seconded nearly all I proposed. +He is a fine fellow. I wish I had known +him long ago.”</p> + +<p>“Well, John, nobody can give better advice +than you can.”</p> + +<p>“And you see I know Gisbourne, and what +can be done with it. Bless your soul! I used +to be able to tell every kind of bird that built +in Gisbourne Chase, and where to find their +nests–though I never robbed a nest; I can say +that much for myself. Well, Edgar <i>has</i> done +a grand thing for Atheling, and no mistake.”</p> + +<p>“I told you Edgar–”</p> + +<p>“Now, Maude, Edgar and me have washed the +slate between us clean. It is not thy place to +be itemising now. I say Edgar has done well for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_276'></a>276</span> +Atheling, and I don’t care who says different. I +haven’t had such a day since my wedding day. +Edgar in Gisbourne! An Atheling in Gisbourne! +My word! Who would have thought of such a +thing? I couldn’t hardly have asked it.”</p> + +<p>“I should think not. There are very few of +us, John, would have the face to <i>ask</i> for half of +the good things the good God gives us without +a ‘please’ or a ‘thank you.’”</p> + +<p>“Belward! Gisbourne! Atheling! It will +be all Atheling when I am gone.”</p> + +<p>“Not it! I do not want Belward to be sunk +in that way. Belward is as old as Atheling.”</p> + +<p>“In a way, Maude, in a way. It was once +a part of Atheling; so was Gisbourne. As for +sinking the name, thou sunkest thy name in +Atheling; why not sink the land’s name, eh, +Maude?”</p> + +<p>And until the Squire and Edgar left for London, +such conversations were his delight; indeed, +he rather regretted his Parliamentary +obligations, and envied his wife and daughter +the delightful interest that had come into their +lives. For they really found it delightful; and +all through the long, sweet, summer days it +never palled, because it was always a fresh wing, +or a fresh gallery, cabinet-work in one parlour, +upholstery work in another, the freshly laid-out +gardens, the cleared chase, the new stables and +kennels. Even the gates were a subject of interesting +debate as to whether the fine old ones +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_277'></a>277</span> +should be restored or there should be still finer +new ones.</p> + +<p>Thus between Atheling, Ashley, and Gisbourne, +week after week passed happily. Kate +did not forget, did not cease to love and to +hope; she just bided her time, waiting, in +patience, for Fortune to bring in the ship that +longed for the harbour but could not make it. +And with so much to fill her hours joyfully, +how ungrateful she would have been to fret over +the one thing denied her! The return of the +Squire and Edgar was very uncertain. Both of +them, in their letters, complained bitterly of +the obstructive policy which the Tories still +unwaveringly carried out. It was not until the +twelfth of July that the Bill got into Committee; +and there it was harassed and delayed +night after night by debates on every one of its +clauses. This plan of obstructing it occupied +thirty-nine sittings, so that it did not reach the +House of Lords until the twenty-second of September. +The Squire’s letter at this point was +short and despondent:–</p> + +<div class='bquote'> +<p><span class='sc'>Dear Wife,</span>–The Bill has gone to the Lords. I +expect they will send it to the devil. I am fairly tired +out; and, with all my heart, I wish myself at Atheling. +It may be Christmas before I get there. Do as well +as you can till I come. Tell Kitty, I would give a +sovereign for a sight of her.</p> + +<p>Your affectionate Husband,</p> + +<p><span class='sc'>John Atheling.</span></p> +</div> <!-- block quote --> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_278'></a>278</span>About a couple of weeks after this letter, one +evening in October, Mrs. Atheling, Kate, and +Annie were returning to Atheling House from +Gisbourne, where they had been happily busy +all the afternoon. They were easy-hearted, but +rather quiet; each in that mood of careless +stillness which broods on its own joy or sorrow. +The melancholy of the autumn night influenced +them,–calm, pallid, and a little sad, with a dull, +soft murmur among the firs,–so they did not +hurry, and it was nearly dark when they came +in sight of the house. Then Mrs. Atheling +roused herself. “How good a cup of tea will +taste,” she said; “and I dare say it is waiting, +for Ann has lighted the room, I see.” Laughing +and echoing her remark, they reached the +parlour. On opening the door, Mrs. Atheling +uttered a joyful cry.</p> + +<p>“Why, John! Why, Edgar!”</p> + +<p>“To be sure, Maude,” answered the Squire, +leaping up and taking her in his arms. “I +wonder how thou feelest to have thy husband +come home and find thee out of the house, and +not a bit of eating ready for him.”</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Atheling pointed to the table, and +said, “I do not think there is any need for complaint, +John.”</p> + +<p>“No; we managed, Edgar and me, by good +words and bad words, to get something for ourselves–” +and he waved his hand complacently +over the table, loaded with all kinds of eatables,–a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_279'></a>279</span> +baron of cold beef, cold Yorkshire pudding, +a gypsy pie, Indian preserves, raspberry tarts, +clotted cream, roast apples, cheese celery, fine +old ale, strong gunpowder tea, and a variety of +condiments.</p> + +<p>“What do you call this meal, John?”</p> + +<p>“I call it a decent kind of a tea, and I want +thee to try and learn something from its example.” +Then he kissed her again, and looked +anxiously round for Kitty.</p> + +<p>“Come here, my little girl,” he cried; and +Kitty, who had been feeling a trifle neglected, +forgot everything but the warmth and gladness of +her father’s love and welcome. Edgar had found +Annie a seat beside his own, and the Squire managed +to get his place between his wife and his +daughter. Then the “cup of tea” Mrs. Atheling +had longed for became a protracted home festival. +But they could not keep politics out of its +atmosphere; they were, indeed, so blended with +the life of that time that their separation from +household matters was impossible, and the Squire +was no more anxious to hear about his hunters +and his harvest, than Mrs. Atheling was to know +the fate of the Reform Bill.</p> + +<p>“It has passed at last, I suppose, John,” she +said, with an air of satisfied certainty.</p> + +<p>“Thou supposest very far wrong, then. It +has been rejected again.”</p> + +<p>“Never! Never! Never! Oh, John, John! +It is not possible!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_280'></a>280</span>“The Lords did, as I told thee they would,–that +is, the Lords and the bishops together.”</p> + +<p>“The bishops ought to be unfrocked,” cried +Edgar, with considerable temper. “Only one +in all their number voted for Reform.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll never go to church again,” said Mrs. +Atheling, in her unreasonable anger.</p> + +<p>“Tell us about it, Father,” urged Kate.</p> + +<p>“Well, you see, Mr. Peel and Mr. Croker led +our party against the Bill; and Croker <i>is</i> clever, +there is no doubt of that.”</p> + +<p>“Not to be compared to Lord Althorp, our +leader,–so calm, so courageous, so upright,” +said Edgar.</p> + +<p>“Nobody denies it; but Croker’s practical, +vigorous views–”</p> + +<p>“You mean his ‘sanguine despondency,’ his +delight in describing England as bankrupt and +ruined by Reform.”</p> + +<p>“I mean nothing of the kind, Edgar; but–”</p> + +<p>“Did the Bill pass the Commons, Father?” +asked Kate.</p> + +<p>“It did; although in fifteen days Peel spoke +forty-eight times against it, and Croker fifty-seven +times, and Wetherell fifty-eight times. +But all they could say was just so many lost +words.”</p> + +<p>“Think of such men disputing the right of +Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham to be represented +in the House of Commons! What do you +say to that, Mother?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_281'></a>281</span>“I only hope father wasn’t in such a stupid bit +of business, Edgar.” And the Squire drank a +glass of ale, and pretended not to hear.</p> + +<p>“But,” continued Edgar, “we never lost heart; +for all over the country, and in every quarter of +London, they were holding meetings urging us +not to give way,–not to give way an inch. We +were fighting for all England; and, as Lord +Althorp said, we were ready to keep Parliament +sitting till next December, or even to next +December twelvemonth.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll warrant you!” interrupted the Squire. +“Well, Edgar, you passed your Bill in a fine +uproar of triumph; all London in the street, +shouting thanks to Althorp and the others–Edgar +Atheling among them.” Then the Squire +paused and looked at his son, and Mrs. Atheling +asked, impatiently,–</p> + +<p>“What then, John?”</p> + +<p>“Why, then, Lord John Russell and Lord +Althorp carried the Bill to the House of Lords. +It was a great scene. The Duke told me about +it. He said nearly every peer was in his seat; +and a large number of peeresses had been admitted +at the bar, and every inch of space in the +House was crowded. The Lord Chancellor took +his seat at the Woolsack; and the Deputy +Usher of the Black Rod threw open the doors, +crying, ‘A Message from the Commons.’ Then +Lord John Russell and Lord Althorp, at the +head of one hundred Members of the House of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_282'></a>282</span> +Commons, entered, and delivered the Bill to the +Lord Chancellor.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, how I should have liked to have been +present!” said Kate.</p> + +<p>“Well, some day thou–” and then the Squire +suddenly stopped; but the unfinished thought +was flashed to every one present,–“some day +thou mayst be Duchess of Richmoor, and have +the right to be present;” and Kate was pleased, +and felt her heart warm to conscious hope. She +caught her mother watching her, and smiled; +and Mrs. Atheling, instantly sensitive to the +unspoken feeling, avoided comment by her eager +inquiry,–</p> + +<p>“Whatever did they say, John?”</p> + +<p>“They said the usual words; but the Duke told +me there was a breathless silence, and that Lord +John Russell said them with the most unusual +and impressive emphasis: ‘My Lords, the House +of Commons have passed an Act to Amend the +Representation of England and Wales, to which +they desire your Lordships’ Concurrence.’ +Lord Grey opened the debate. I dare say Edgar +knows all about it. I believe Grey is his +leader.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered Edgar, “and very proud I +am of my leader. He is in his sixty-eighth +year, and he stood there that night to advocate +the measure he proposed forty years before, in +the House of Commons. Althorp told me he +spoke with a strange calmness and solemnity, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_283'></a>283</span> +‘<i>for the just claims of the people</i>;’ but as soon +as he sat down Lord Wharncliffe moved that the +Bill be rejected altogether.”</p> + +<p>“That was like Wharncliffe,” said the Squire. +“No half measures for him.”</p> + +<p>“Wellington followed, and wanted to know, +‘How the King’s government was to be carried +on by the will of a turbulent democracy?’”</p> + +<p>“Wellington would govern with a sword instead +of a sceptre. He would try every cause +round a drum-head. I am not with Wellington.”</p> + +<p>“Lord Dudley followed in an elegant, classical +speech, also against the Bill.”</p> + +<p>The Squire laughed. “I heard about that +speech. Did not Brougham call it, ‘An essay or +exercise of the highest merit, on democracies–<i>but +not on this Bill</i>.’”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Brougham can say very polite and very +disagreeable things. He spoke on the fifth and +last night of the debate. Earl Grey said a more +splendid declamation was never made. All +London is now quoting one passage which he +addressed to the Lords: ‘Justice deferred,’ he +said, ‘enhances the price at which you will purchase +your own safety; nor can you expect to +gather any other crop than they did who went +before you, if you persevere in their utterly +abominable husbandry of sowing injustice and +reaping rebellion.’”</p> + +<p>“Fine words, Edgar, fine words; just like +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_284'></a>284</span> +Brougham,–catch-words, to take the common +people.”</p> + +<p>“They did not, however, alarm or take the +Lords. My leader closed the debate, and in a +magnificent speech implored the archbishops and +bishops not to vote against the Bill, and thus +stand before the people of England as the enemies +of a just and moderate scheme of Reform.”</p> + +<p>“And yet they voted against it!” said Mrs. +Atheling. “I am downright ashamed of them. +The very date ought to be put up against them +forever.”</p> + +<p>“It was the seventh of October. All night +long, until the dawning of the eighth, the debate +was continued; and until three hours after +midnight, Palace Yard, and the streets about +Westminster, were crowded with anxious watchers, +though the weather was cold and miserably +wet. Towards morning their patience was exhausted; +and when the carriages of the peers and +bishops rolled out in broad daylight there was +no one there to greet them with the execrations +and hisses they deserved. The whole of our +work this session in the Commons has been done +in vain. But we shall win next time, even if we +compel the King to create as many new Reform +peers as will pass the Bill in spite of the old +Lords.”</p> + +<p>“Edgar, you are talking nonsense–if not +treason.”</p> + +<p>“Pardon me, Father. I am only giving you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_285'></a>285</span> +the ultimatum of Reform. The Bill <i>must</i> pass +the Lords next session, or you may call Reform +Revolution. The people are particularly angry +at the bishops. They dare not appear on the +streets; curses follow them, and their carriages +have been repeatedly stoned.”</p> + +<p>“There is a verse beginning, ‘Inasmuch as ye +did it not,’ etc.,–I wonder if they will ever +dare to repeat it again. They will do the church +a deal of harm.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” said Edgar. “The church does not +stand on the bishops.”</p> + +<p>“Be easy with the bishops,” added the Squire. +“They have to scheme a bit in order to get the +most out of both worlds. They scorn to answer +the people according to their idols. They are +politically right.”</p> + +<p>“No, sir,” said Edgar. “Whatever is morally +wrong cannot be politically right. The church +is well represented by the clergy; they have +generally sympathised with the people. One of +them, indeed, called Smith–Sydney Smith–made +a speech at Taunton, three days after our +defeat, that has gone like wild-fire throughout +the length and breadth of England;” and Edgar +took a paper out of his pocket, and read, with +infinite delight and appreciation, the pungent +wit which made “Mrs. Partington” famous +throughout Christendom:–</p> + +<div class='bquote'> +<p>“As for the possibility of the House of Lords preventing +a reform of Parliament, I hold it to be the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_286'></a>286</span>most absurd notion that ever entered into human +imagination. I do not mean to be disrespectful, but +the attempt of the Lords to stop the progress of +Reform reminds me very forcibly of the great storm at +Sidmouth, and of the conduct of the excellent Mrs. +Partington on that occasion. In the winter of 1824, +there set in a great flood upon that town; the waves +rushed in upon the houses; and everything was threatened +with destruction. In the midst of this sublime +and terrible storm, Dame Partington–who lived +upon the beach–was seen at the door of her house, +with mop and pattens, trundling her mop, squeezing +out the sea-water, and vigorously pushing away the +Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic was roused. Mrs. +Partington’s spirit was up; but I need not tell you, the +contest was unequal. The Atlantic Ocean beat Mrs. +Partington. She was excellent at a slop or a puddle; +but she should not have meddled with a tempest. +Gentlemen, be at your ease, be quiet and steady. +You will beat Mrs. Partington.”<a id='FNanchor_2'></a><a href='#Footnote_2' class='fnanchor'><sup>[2]</sup></a></p> +</div> <!-- block quote --> + +<hr class='footnote_sep' /> + +<div class='footnote'><a id='Footnote_2'></a><a href='#FNanchor_2'><span class='label'>[2]</span></a> +<p>Speech at Taunton by Sydney Smith, October 12, 1831.</p> +</div> <!-- footnote --> + +<p>“It was not respectful to liken the Lords of +England to an old woman, now was it, Mother?” +asked the Squire.</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Atheling only laughed the more, and +the conversation drifted so completely into politics +that Kitty and Annie grew weary of it, and +said they wished to go to their rooms. And as +they left the parlour together, Edgar suddenly +stayed Kitty a moment, and said, “I had nearly +forgotten to tell you something. Miss Vyner +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_287'></a>287</span> +is to be married, on the second of December, to +Cecil North. I am going to London in time for +the wedding.”</p> + +<p>And Kitty said, “I am glad to hear it, Edgar,” +and quickly closed the door. But she lay long +awake, wondering what influence this event +would have upon Piers and his future, until, +finally, the wonder passed into a little verse +which they had learned together; and with it +singing in her heart, she fell asleep:–</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“Thou art mine! I am thine!</p> +<p>Thou art locked in this heart of mine;</p> +<p>Whereof is lost the little key:</p> +<p>So there, forever, thou must be!”</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_288'></a>288</span><a id='link_14'></a>CHAPTER FOURTEENTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>AT THE WORST</span></h2> + +<p>In the first joy of their return home, Squire +Atheling and his son had not chosen to alarm +the women of the family; yet the condition of +the country was such as filled with terror every +thoughtful mind. The passionate emotion evoked +by the second rejection of the Reform Bill did +not abate. Tumultuous meetings were held in +every town and village as the news reached them; +houses were draped in black; shops were closed; +and the bells of the churches tolled backward. +In London the populace was quite uncontrollable. +Vast crowds filled the streets, cheering the +Reform leaders, and denouncing with furious +execrations the members of either House who +had opposed the Bill. The Duke of Newcastle, +the Marquis of Londonderry, and many other +peers were not saved from the anger of the +people without struggle and danger. Nottingham +Castle, the seat of the Duke of Newcastle, +was burnt to the ground; and Belvoir Castle, the +seat of the Duke of Rutland, was barely saved. +Bristol saw a series of riots, and during them +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_289'></a>289</span> +suffered greatly from fire, and the Bishop’s palace +was reduced to ashes.</p> + +<p>Everywhere the popular fury settled with special +bitterness and hatred upon the bishops; because, +as teachers of the doctrines of Jesus of Nazareth, +the “common people” expected sympathy from +them. A cry arose, from one end of England to +the other, for their expulsion from the Upper +Chamber; and proposals even for the abolition +of the House of Lords were constant and very +popular. For such extreme measures no speaker +was so eloquent and so powerful as Mr. O’Connell. +In addressing a great meeting at Charing Cross +one day, he pointed in the direction of Whitehall +Palace, and reminded his hearers that, “A King +had lost his head there. Why,” he asked, “did +this doom come on him? It was,” he cried, +“because he refused to listen to his Commons +and his people, and obeyed the dictation of a +foreign wife.” And this allusion to the Queen’s +bad influence over William the Fourth was taken +up by the crowd with vehement cheering.</p> + +<p>While Bristol was burning, the cholera appeared +in England; and its terrors, new and awful and +apparently beyond human help or skill, added +the last element of supernatural fear to the +excited and hopeless people. It is hard to +realise at this day, and with our knowledge of +the disease, the frantic and abject despair which +seized all classes. The churches were kept open, +supplications ascended night and day from the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_290'></a>290</span> +altars; and on the sixth of November, at one +hour, from every place of worship in England, +hundreds of thousands knelt to utter aloud a +form of prayer which was constantly broken by +sobs of anguish:–</p> + +<div class='bquote'> +<p>“Lord, have pity on thy people! Withdraw thy +heavy hand from those who are suffering under thy +judgments; and turn away from us that grievous +calamity against which our only security is Thy +Compassion.”</p> +</div> <!-- block quote --> + +<p>In the presence of this scourge, Mrs. Atheling +found it impossible to persuade the Squire to let +his family go up with him and Edgar to London. +About the cholera, the Squire had the common +fatalistic ideas.</p> + +<p>“You may escape through God’s mercy,” he +said; “but if you are to die of this fearsome, +outlandish sickness, then it is best to face death +in your own home.”</p> + +<p>“But if you should take it in London, and me +not near even to bid you ‘good-bye,’ John! I +should die of grief.”</p> + +<p>“I do hope thou wouldst have more sense, +Maude.”</p> + +<p>“I would follow thee beyond the grave, very +quickly, John.”</p> + +<p>“No, no! Stay where thou art. Thou knowest +what Yorkshire is,” and though he spoke gruffly, +his eyes were dim with unshed tears for the +dreadful possibility he thought it right to face.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_291'></a>291</span>Kate was specially averse to return to London. +It was full of memories she did not wish to +revive. Piers was there; and how could she bear +to meet him, and neither speak to nor even look +at her lover? There was Annabel’s marriage also +to consider. If she did not attend it, how many +unpleasant inquiries and suppositions there would +be? If she did accept the formal invitation sent +her, how was she to conduct herself towards +Piers in the presence of those who knew them +both intimately?</p> + +<p>The marriage was to take place shortly before +the opening of Parliament; and, owing to the +wretched condition of the country, it was thought +best to give it only a private character. The +management of the social arrangements were in +Piers’s hands, and during these last days a very +brotherly and confidential affection sprang up in +his heart for the brilliant girl who was so soon to +leave them forever. One morning he returned +to Richmoor House with some valuable jewels +for Annabel. He sent a servant to tell her that +he was in the small east parlour and desired her +company. Then, knowing her usual indifference +to time, he sat down and patiently awaited her +coming. She responded almost immediately. +But her entrance startled and troubled him. She +came in hastily, and shut the door with a perceptible +nervous tremour. Her face was flushed +with anger; she looked desperate and defiant, +and met his curious glance with one of mingled +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_292'></a>292</span> +fear and entreaty and reckless passion. He led +her to a seat, and taking her hands said,–</p> + +<p>“My dear Bella, what has grieved you?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Piers! Piers!” she sobbed. “If you have +one bit of pity in your heart, give it to me. I am +the most miserable woman in the world.”</p> + +<p>“Bella, if you do not love Cecil–if you want +to break off this marriage–”</p> + +<p>“Love Cecil? I love him better than my life! +My love for Cecil is the best thing about me. +It is not Cecil.”</p> + +<p>“Who is it then?”</p> + +<p>“I will tell you, though you may hate me for my +words. Piers, I took the ring you lost. I meant +no harm in the first moment; mischief and jealousy +were then so mixed, I don’t know which of +them led me. I saw you asleep. I slipped the +ring off your finger. I told myself I would give +it to you in the morning, and claim my forfeit. +In the morning, the Duchess was cross; and you +were cross; and the constables were in the house; +and I was afraid. And I put it off and off, and +every day my fear of trouble–and perhaps my +hope of doing mischief with it–grew stronger. +I had then hours of believing that I should like to +be your wife, and I hated and envied Kate Atheling. +I hesitated until I lost the desire to explain +things; and then one day my maid Justine flew in +a passion at me, and accused me of stealing the +ring. She said it was in my purse–<i>and it was</i>. +She threatened to call in the whole household to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_293'></a>293</span> +see me found out; and it was the night of the +great dinner; and I bought her off.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Bella! Bella! that was very foolish.”</p> + +<p>“I know. She has tortured and robbed me +ever since. I have wasted away under her +threats. Look at my arms, Piers, and my +hands. I have a constant fever. Last week she +promised me, if I would give her two hundred +pounds, she would go away, and I should never +see or hear of her again. I gave her the money. +Now she says she has made up her mind to go +to India with me. That I cannot endure. She +has kept me on the rack with threats to tell Cecil. +He is the soul of Honour; he would certainly +cease to love me; and if I was his wife, how terrible +that would be! What am I to do? What +am I to do? Oh, Piers, help me!”</p> + +<p>“Where is the woman now?”</p> + +<p>“In my apartments.”</p> + +<p>“Can I go with you to your parlour?”</p> + +<p>“Yes–but, Piers, why?”</p> + +<p>“Where is the ring, Bella dear?”</p> + +<p>“In her possession. She was afraid I would +give it to you.”</p> + +<p>“Why did you not tell me all this before? +Come, I will soon settle the affair.”</p> + +<p>When they reached the room, Annabel sank +almost lifeless on a sofa; and Piers touched a +hand-bell. Justine called from an inner room:</p> + +<p>“I will answer at my leisure, Miss.”</p> + +<p>Piers walked to the dividing door, and threw it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_294'></a>294</span> +open. “You will answer <i>now</i>, at my command. +Come here, and come quickly.”</p> + +<p>“My lord–I did not mean–”</p> + +<p>“Stand there, and answer truly the questions I +shall ask; or I promise you a few years on the +treadmill, if not a worse punishment. Do you +know that you are guilty of black-mailing, and +of obtaining money on false pretences?–both +crimes to be expiated on the gallows.”</p> + +<p>“My lord, it is a true pretence. Miss Vyner +stole your ring. She knows she did.”</p> + +<p>“She could not steal anything I have; she is +welcome to whatever of mine she desires. How +much money have you taken from Miss Vyner?”</p> + +<p>“I have not taken one half-penny,” answered +Justine, sulkily. “She gave me the money; she +dare not say different. Speak, Miss, you know +you gave it to me.” But Annabel had recovered +something of her old audacity. She felt she was +safe, and she was not disposed to mercy. She +only smiled scornfully, and re-arranged the satin +cushions under her head more comfortably.</p> + +<p>“Quick! How much money have you taken?”</p> + +<p>Justine refused to answer; and Piers said, “I +give you two minutes. Then I shall send for a +constable.”</p> + +<p>“And Miss Vyner’s wedding will be put +off.”</p> + +<p>“For your crime? Oh, no! Miss Vyner’s +wedding is far beyond your interference. She +will have nothing to do with this affair. <i>I</i> shall +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_295'></a>295</span> +prosecute you. You have my ring. Will you +give it to me, or to a constable?”</p> + +<p>“I did not take the ring.”</p> + +<p>“It is in your possession. I will send now for +an officer.” He rose to touch the bell-rope, +keeping his eyes on the woman all the time; and +she darted forward and arrested his hand.</p> + +<p>“I will do what you wish,” she said.</p> + +<p>“How much money have you taken from Miss +Vyner?”</p> + +<p>“Eight hundred and ninety pounds.”</p> + +<p>“Where is it?”</p> + +<p>“In my room.”</p> + +<p>“Go and get it–stay, I will go with you.”</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Justine returned with her ill-gotten +treasure; and then she condescended to +explain, and entreat,–</p> + +<p>“Oh, my lord,” she said, “don’t be hard on +me. I wanted the money for my poor old mother +who is in Marylebone Workhouse. I did, indeed +I did! It was to make her old age comfortable. +She is sick and very poor, and I wanted it for +her.”</p> + +<p>“We shall see about that. If your story is +true, you shall give the money to your poor old +sick mother. If it is not true, you shall give my +ring and the money to a constable, and sleep in +prison this very night.”</p> + +<p>With impetuous passion he ordered a carriage, +and Justine was driven to the Marylebone Workhouse. +By the time they reached that institution, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_296'></a>296</span> +she was thoroughly humbled and afraid; her fear +being confirmed by the subservience of the +Master to the rank and commands of Lord +Exham. For a moment she had an idea of +denying her own statement; but the futility of +the lie was too evident to be doubted; and, very +reluctantly, she admitted her mother’s name to +be Margaret Oddy. In a few minutes–during +which Lord Exham ordered Justine to count out +the money in her bag to the Master–Margaret +appeared. She was not an old woman in years, +being but little over forty; but starvation, sorrow, +and hard work had made her prematurely +aged. When she entered the room, she looked +around anxiously; but as soon as she saw Justine, +she covered her face with her thin hands, and +began to weep.</p> + +<p>“Is this your daughter?” asked the Master, +pointing to Justine.</p> + +<p>“I am her mother, sure enough, sir; but +she have cast me off long ago. Oh, Justine girl, +speak a word to me! You are my girl, for all +that’s past and gone.”</p> + +<p>“Justine has come to make you some amends +for her previous neglect, Mother,” said Lord Exham. +“She has brought you eight hundred and +ninety pounds for your old age. To-morrow my +lawyer will call here, and give you advice concerning +its care and its use. Until then, the +Master will take it in charge.”</p> + +<p>“Let me see it! Let me touch it with my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_297'></a>297</span> +hands! No more hunger! No more cold! No +more hard work! It can’t be true! It can’t be +true! Is it true, Justine? Kiss me with the +money, girl, for the sake of the happy days we +have had together!” With these words she +went to her daughter, and tried to take her hands, +and draw her to her breast. But Justine would +not respond. She stood sullen and silent, with +eyes cast on the ground.</p> + +<p>“Why, then,” said Margaret, with just anger, +“why, then, keep the money, Justine. I would +rather eat peas and porridge, and sleep on +straw, than take a shilling with such ill-will from +you, girl.” Then, turning to Piers, she added, +“Thank you, good gentleman, but I’ll stay where +I am. Let Justine keep her gold. I don’t want +such an ill-will gift.”</p> + +<p>“Mother,” answered Piers. “You may take +the money from my hands, then. It is yours. +Justine’s good or ill-will has now nothing to do +with it. I give it to you from the noble young +lady whom your daughter has wronged so +greatly that the gallows would be her just desert. +She gives up this money–which she has no +right to–as some atonement for her crime. Is +not this the truth, Justine?” he asked sternly; +and the woman answered, “Yes.” Then turning +to the Master, he added, “To this fact, and to Justine’s +admission of it, you are witness.”</p> + +<p>The Master said, “I am.” Then addressing +Margaret, he told her to go back to her place, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_298'></a>298</span> +think over the good fortune that had so unexpectedly +come to her; what she wished to do +with her money; and where she wished to make +her future home. And the mother curtsied +feebly and again turned to her child,–</p> + +<p>“If I go back to the old cottage in Downham–the +old cottage with the vines, and the bee +skeps, and the long garden, will you come with +me, and we will share all together?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Let her alone, Mother,” said Exham. “She +is going to the furthest American colony she can +reach. Only in some such place, will she be safe +from the punishment of her wrong-doing.”</p> + +<p>“Justine, then, my girl, good-bye!”</p> + +<p>No answer.</p> + +<p>“Justine, good-bye!”</p> + +<p>No answer.</p> + +<p>“Why, then, my girl, God be with you, and God +forgive you!”</p> + +<p>Then Justine turned to Lord Exham, “I +have done what you demanded. May I now go +my own way?”</p> + +<p>“Not just yet. You will return with me.”</p> + +<p>He gave his card to the Master, and followed +the woman, keeping her constantly under his +hand and eye until they returned to Annabel’s +parlour. Annabel was in a dead sleep; but their +entrance awakened her, and it pained Piers to see +the look of fear that came into her face when she +saw her cruel tormentor. She was speedily relieved, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_299'></a>299</span> +however; for the first words she heard, was +an order from Piers, bidding her to be ready to +leave the house in twenty minutes. He took out +his watch as he gave the order, and then added, +“First of all, return to me my ring.”</p> + +<p>“I did not take your ring, my lord.”</p> + +<p>“You have it in your possession. Return it at +once.”</p> + +<p>“Miss Vyner stole it–”</p> + +<p>“Give it to me! You know the consequences +of <i>one</i> more refusal.”</p> + +<p>Then Justine took from her purse the long +missing ring. She threw it on the table, and, +with tears of rage, said,–</p> + +<p>“May ill-luck and false love go with it, and +follow all who own it!”</p> + +<p>“The bad wishes of the wicked fall on themselves, +Justine,” said Lord Exham, as he lifted the +trinket. “How much money does your mistress +owe you?”</p> + +<p>“I have no ‘mistress.’ Miss Vyner owes me +a quarter’s wage, and a quarter’s notice, that is +eight pounds.”</p> + +<p>“Is that correct, Annabel?”</p> + +<p>“The woman says so. Pay her what she wants–only +get her out of my sight.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Miss, I can tell you–”</p> + +<p>“Go. Pack your trunk, and be back here in +fifteen minutes. And, mind what I say, leave +England at once–the sooner the better.”</p> + +<p>Before the time was past, the woman was outside +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_300'></a>300</span> +the gates of Richmoor House, and Piers returned +to Annabel. “That trouble is all over +and gone forever,” he said to her; “now, dear +Bella, lift up your heart to its full measure of love +and joy! Let Cecil see you to-night in your old +beauty. He is fretting about your health; show +him the marvellously bright Annabel that captured +his heart with a glance.”</p> + +<p>“I will! I will, Piers! This very night you +shall see that Annabel is herself again.”</p> + +<p>“And in three days you are to be Cecil’s +wife!”</p> + +<p>“In three days,” she echoed joyfully. “Leave +me now, Piers. I want to think over your goodness +to me. I shall never forget it.”</p> + +<p>Smiling, they parted; and then Annabel opened +all the doors of her rooms, and looked carefully +around them, and assured herself that her tyrant +was really gone. “In three days!” she said, +“in three days I am going away from all this +splendour and luxury,–going to dangers of all +kinds; to a wild life in camps and quarters; +perhaps to deprivations in lonely places–and I +am happy! Happy! transcendently happy! Oh, +Love! Wonderful, Invincible, Omnipotent Love! +Cecil’s love! It will be sufficient for all things.”</p> + +<p>Certainly she was permeated with this idea. It +radiated from her countenance; it spoke in her +eyes; it made itself visible in the glory of her +bridal attire. The wedding morning was one of +the darkest and dreariest of London’s winter +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_301'></a>301</span> +days. A black pouring rain fell incessantly; the +atmosphere was heavy, and loaded with exhalations; +and the cholera terror was on every face. +For at this time it was really “a destruction walking +at noon-day” and leaving its ghastly sign of +possession on many a house in the streets along +which the bridal party passed.</p> + +<p>It came into the gloomy church like a splendid +dream: officers in gay uniforms, ladies in beautiful +gowns and nodding plumes, and at the +altar,–shining like some celestial being,–the +radiant bride in glistening white satin, and sparkling +gems. And Cecil, in his new military +uniform, tall, handsome, soldierly, happy, made +her a fitting companion. The church was filled +with a dismal vapour; the rain plashed on the +flagged enclosure; the wind whistled round the +ancient tower: there was only gloom, and misery, +and sudden death outside; but over all these +accidents of time and place, the joy of the bride +and the bridegroom was triumphant. And later +in the day, when the Duke and Piers went with +them to the great three-decked Indiaman waiting +for their embarkation, they were still wondrously +exalted and blissful. Dressed in fine +dark-blue broadcloth, and wrapped in costly furs, +Annabel watched from the deck the departure of +her friends, and then put her hand in Cecil’s with +a smile.</p> + +<p>“For weal or woe, Bella, my dear one,” he +said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_302'></a>302</span>“For weal or woe, for life or death, Cecil beloved,” +she answered, having no idea then of +what that promise was to bring her in the future; +though she kept it nobly when the time of its +redemption came.</p> + +<p>Three days after this event, Mrs. Atheling +received by special messenger from Lord Exham +a letter, and with it the ring which had caused so +much suspicion and sorrow. But though the +letter was affectionate and confidential, and full +of tender messages which he “trusted in her to +deliver for him,” nothing was said as to the manner +of its recovery, or the personality of the one +who had purloined it.</p> + +<p>“Your father has been right, no doubt, Kate,” +she said. “In some weak moment Annabel has +got the ring from him, and on her marriage has +given it back. That is clear to me.”</p> + +<p>“Not to me, Mother. I am sure Piers did +not give Annabel–did not give any one the +ring. I will tell you what I think. Annabel +got it while he was asleep, or he inadvertently +dropped it, and she picked it up–and kept it, +hoping to make mischief.”</p> + +<p>“You may be wrong, Kitty.”</p> + +<p>“I may–but I <i>know</i> I am right.”</p> + +<p><i>No Diviner like Love!</i></p> + +<p>On this same day, with the cholera raging all +around, Parliament was re-opened; and Lord +John Russell again brought in the Reform Bill. +There was something pathetic in this persistence +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_303'></a>303</span> +of a people, hungry and naked, and overshadowed +by an unknown pestilence, swift and +malignant as a Fate. It was evident, immediately, +that the same course of “obstruction” +which had proved fatal to the two previous Bills +was to be pursued against the third attempt. +Yet the temper of the House of Commons, sullenly, +doggedly determined, might even thus +early have warned its opposers. All the unfairness +and pertinacity of Peel and his associates +was of no avail against the inflexible steadiness +of Lord Althorp and the cold impassibility of +Lord John Russell.</p> + +<p>Week after week passed in debating, while +the press and people waited in alternating fits +of passionate threats and still more alarming +silence,–a silence, Lord Grey declared to be, +“Most ominous of trouble, and of the most vital +importance to the obstructing force.” The +Squire was weary to death. He found it impossible +to take a dutiful interest in the proceedings. +The tactics of the fight did not appeal to +his nature. He thought they were neither fair +nor straightforward; and, unconsciously, his +own opinions had been much leavened by his +late familiar intercourse with Lord Ashley and +his son.</p> + +<p>In these days his chief comfort came from the +friendship of Piers Exham. The young man +frequently sought his company; and it became +almost a custom for them to dine together at the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_304'></a>304</span> +Tory Club. And at such times words were +dropped that neither would have uttered, or +even thought of, at the beginning of the contest. +Thus one night Piers said, in his musing way, as +he fingered his glass, rather than drank the wine +in it,–</p> + +<p>“I have been wondering, Squire, whether the +wish of a whole nation, gradually growing in +intensity for sixty years, until it has become, to-day, +a command and a threat, is not something +more than a wish?”</p> + +<p>“I should say it was, Piers,” answered the +Squire. “Very likely the wish has grown to–a +right.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps.”</p> + +<p>Then both men were silent; and the next +topic discussed was the new sickness, and Piers +anxiously asked if “it had reached Atheling.”</p> + +<p>“No, it has not, thank the Almighty!” replied +the Squire. “There has not been a case of it. +My family are all well.”</p> + +<p>Allusions to Kate were seldom more definite +than this one; but Piers found inexpressible +comfort in the few words. Such intercourse +might not seem conducive to much kind feeling; +but it really was. The frequent silences; the +short, pertinent sentences; the familiar, kindly +touch of the young man’s hand, when it was time +to return to the House; the little courteous +attentions which it pleased Piers to render, +rather than let the Squire be indebted to a servant +for them,–these, and other things quite as +trivial, made a bond between the two men that +every day strengthened.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i14'></a><img src='images/illus-305.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_305'></a>305</span>It was nearly the end of March when the Bill +once more got through the Commons; and hitherto +the nation had waited as men wait the +preliminaries of a battle. But they were like +hounds held by a leash when the great question +as to whether the Lords would now give way, or +not, was to be determined. The Squire was an +exceedingly sensitive man; for he was exceedingly +affectionate, and he was troubled continually +by the hungry, wretched, anxious crowds +through which he often picked his way to Westminster, +the more so, as his genial, bluff, thoroughly +English appearance seemed to please and +encourage these non-contents. At every step +he was urged to vote on the right side. “God +bless you, Squire!” was a common address. +“Pity the poor! Vote for the right! Go for +Reform, Squire! Before God, Squire, we must +win this time, or die for it!” And the Squire, +distressed, and half-convinced of the justice of +their case, would lift his hat at such words, and +pass a sovereign into the hand of some lean, +white-faced man, and answer, “God defend the +Right, friends!” He could not tell them, as he +had done in his first session, to “go home and +mind their business.” He could not say, as he +did then, a downright “No;” could not bid +them, “Reform themselves, and let the Government +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_306'></a>306</span> +alone,” or ask, “If they were bereft of +their senses?” If he answered at all now, it +was in the motto so familiar to them, “God and +my Right;” or, if much urged, “I give my word +to do my best.” Or he would bow courteously, +and say, “God grant us all good days without +end.” Before the Bill passed the Commons, at +the end of March, it had, at any rate, come to +this,–he was not only averse to vote against +the Bill, he was also averse to tell these waiting +sufferers that he intended to vote against it.</p> + +<p>On the night of the thirteenth of April, when +the Bill was before the Lords, the Squire was +too excited to go to bed, though prevented from +occupying his seat in the Commons by a smart +attack of rheumatism. He sat in his club, waiting +for intelligence, and watching the passing +crowds to try and glean from their behaviour the +progress of events. Piers had promised to bring +him word as soon as the vote was taken. He +did not arrive until eight o’clock the next +morning. The Squire was drinking his coffee, +and making up his mind to return to Atheling, +“whatever happened,” when Piers, white and +exhausted, drew his chair to the table.</p> + +<p>“The Bill has passed this reading by nine +votes,” he said wearily; “and Parliament has +adjourned for the Easter recess; that is, until +the seventh of May. Three weeks of suspense! +I do not know how it is to be endured.”</p> + +<p>“I am going to Atheling. Edgar will very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_307'></a>307</span> +likely go to Ashley, and I think you had better +go with us. Three weeks of Exham winds will +make a new man of you.”</p> + +<p>At this point Edgar joined them, and, greatly +to his father’s annoyance, declared both Atheling +and Ashley out of the question. “This +three weeks,” he said, “will decide the fate of +England. I have promised my leader to visit +Warwick, Worcester, Stafford, and Birmingham. +At the latter place there will be the greatest +political meeting ever held in this world.”</p> + +<p>“And what will Annie say?” asked the +Squire.</p> + +<p>“Annie thinks I am doing right. Annie does +not put me before the hundred of thousands to +whom the success of Reform will bring happiness.”</p> + +<p>“It beats all and everything,” said the +Squire. “I wouldn’t like my wife to put me +back of hundreds and thousands. Have you been +up all night–you and Piers?”</p> + +<p>“All night,” answered Edgar. “We were +among the three hundred members from the +Commons who filled the space around the throne, +and stood in a row three deep below the bar. I +was in the second row; but I heard all that +passed very well. Earl Grey did not begin to +speak until five o’clock this morning, and he +spoke for an hour and a half. It was an astonishing +argument.”</p> + +<p>“It was a most interesting scene, altogether,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_308'></a>308</span> +said Piers. “I shall never forget it. The +crowded house, its still and solemn demeanour, +and the broad daylight coming in at the high +windows while Grey was speaking. Its blue +beams mixed with the red of the flaring candles, +and the two lights made strange and startling +effects on the crimson draperies and the dusky +tapestries on the walls. I felt as if I was in a +vision. I kept thinking of Cromwell and old +forgotten things; and it was like waking out of +a dream when the House began to dissolve. I +was not quite myself until I had drunk a cup of +coffee.”</p> + +<p>“It was very exciting,” said the more practical +Edgar; “and the small majority is only to +keep the people quiet. At the next reading the +Bill will be so mutilated as to be practically +rejected, unless we are ready to meet such an +emergency.”</p> + +<p>Piers rose at these words. He foresaw a discussion +he had no mind for; and he said, with a +touching pathos in his voice, as he laid his hand +on the Squire’s shoulder, “Give my remembrance +to the ladies at Atheling,–my heart’s +love, if you will take it.”</p> + +<p>“I will take all I may, Piers. Good-bye! +You have been a great comfort to me. I am +sure I don’t know what I should have done without +you; for Edgar, you see, is too busy for +anything.”</p> + +<p>“Never too busy to be with you, if you need +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_309'></a>309</span> +me, Father. But you are such a host in yourself, +and I never imagined you required help of +any kind.”</p> + +<p>“Only a bit of company now and then. You +were about graver business. It suited Piers and +me to sit idle and say a word or two about +Atheling. Come down to Exham, Piers, <i>do</i>; it +will be good for you.”</p> + +<p>“No, I should be heart-sick for Atheling. I +am better away.”</p> + +<p>The Squire nodded gravely, and was silent; +and Piers passed quietly out of the room. His +listless serenity, and rather drawling speech, +always irritated the alert Edgar; and he sighed +with relief when he was rid of the restraining +influence of a nature so opposite to his own.</p> + +<p>“So you are going to Atheling, Father?” he +said. “How?”</p> + +<p>“As quick and quiet as I can. I shall take +the mail-coach to York, or further; and then +trot home on as good a nag as I can hire.”</p> + +<p>In this way he reached Atheling the third day +afterwards, but without any of the usual <i>éclat</i> +and bustle of his arrival. Kate had gone to bed; +Mrs. Atheling was about to lock the big front +door, when he opened it. She let the candlestick +in her hand fall when she saw him enter, +crying,–</p> + +<p>“John! Dear John! How you did frighten +me! I <i>am</i> glad to see you.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll believe it, Maude, without burning the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_310'></a>310</span> +house for an illumination. My word! I am +tired. I have trotted a hack horse near forty +miles to-day.”</p> + +<p>Then she forgot everything but the Squire’s +refreshment and comfort; and the house was +roused, and Kitty came downstairs again, and +for an hour there was at least the semblance of +rejoicing. But Mrs. Atheling was not deceived. +She saw her lord was depressed and anxious; +and she was sure the Reform Bill had finally +passed; and after a little while she ventured to +say so.</p> + +<p>“No, it has not passed,” answered the Squire; +“it has got to its worst bit, that’s all. After +Easter the Lords will muster in all their power, +and either throw it out, or change and cripple it +so much that it will be harmless.”</p> + +<p>“Now, then, John, what do you think, <i>really</i>?”</p> + +<p>“I think, really, that we land-owners are all +of us between the devil and the deep sea. If the +Bill passes, away go the Corn Laws; and then +how are we to make our money out of the land? +If it does not pass, we are in for a civil war and +a Commonwealth, and no Cromwell to lead and +guide it. It is a bad look-out.”</p> + +<p>“But it might be worse. We haven’t had +any cholera here. We must trust in God, +John.”</p> + +<p>“It is easy to trust in God when you don’t see +the doings of the devil. You wouldn’t be so +cheerful, Maude, if you had lived in the sight +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_311'></a>311</span> +of his handiwork, as I have for months. I +think surely God has given England into his +power, as he did the good man of Uz.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, it was only for a season, and a +seven-fold blessing after it. It is wonderful how +well your men have behaved; they haven’t +taken a bit of advantage of your absence. That +is another good thing.”</p> + +<p>“I am glad to hear that. I will see them, +man by man, before I go back to London.”</p> + +<p>The villagers, however, sent a deputation as +soon as they heard of the Squire’s arrival, asking +him to come down to Atheling Green, and tell +them something about Reform. And he was +pleased at the request, and went down, and +found they had made a temporary platform out +of two horse-blocks for him; and there he stood, +his fine, imposing, sturdy figure thrown clearly +into relief by the sunny spring atmosphere. +And it was good to listen to his strong, sympathetic +voice, for it had the ring of truth in all its +inflections, as he said,–</p> + +<p>“Men! Englishmen! Citizens of no mean +country! you have asked me to explain to you +what this Reform business means. You know +well I will tell you no lies. It will give lots of +working-men votes that never hoped for a vote; +and so it is like enough working-men will be +able to send to Parliament members who will +fight for their interests. Maybe that is in your +favour. It will open all our ports to foreign +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_312'></a>312</span> +wheat and corn. You will get American wheat, +and Russian wheat, and French wheat–”</p> + +<p>“We won’t eat French wheat,” said Adam +Sedbergh.</p> + +<p>“And then, wheat will be so cheap that it will +not pay English land-owners to sow it. Will +that help you any?”</p> + +<p>“We would rather grow our own wheat.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure. Reform will, happen, give you +shorter hours of work.”</p> + +<p>“That would be good, Master,” said the blacksmith.</p> + +<p>“It will depend on what you do with the extra +hours of leisure.”</p> + +<p>“We can play skittles, and cricket, and have a +bit of wrestling.”</p> + +<p>“Or sit in the public house, and drink more +beer. I don’t think your wives will like that. +Besides, if you work less time won’t you get +less wage? Do you think I am going to pay for +twelve hours’ work and get ten? Would you? +Will the mill-owners run factories for the fun +of running them? Would you? And they say +they hardly pay with twelve hours’ work. Men, +I tell you truly, I know no more than the babe +unborn what Reform will bring us. It may be +better times; it may be ruin. But I can say +one thing, sure and certain, you will get more +trouble than you bargain for if you take to +rioting about it. Your grandfathers and your +fathers fought this question; and they left it to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_313'></a>313</span> +you to quarrel over. Very well, as long as you +keep your quarrel in the Parliament Houses, I +want you to have fair play. But if ever you +should forget that there is the great Common +Law behind all of us, rich and poor, and think +to right yourselves with fire and blood, then I–your +true friend–would be the first to answer +you with cannon, and turn my scythes and shares +into swords against you. Wait patiently a bit +longer. In a few more weeks I do verily believe +you will have Reform, and then I hope, in my +soul, you will be pleased with your bargain. I +don’t think, as far as I am concerned, Reform +will change me or my ways one particle.”</p> + +<p>“We don’t want you changed, Squire; you are +good enough as you are.”</p> + +<p>“I’m glad you think so, very glad. Now +here is Atheling and Belward meadows and +corn-fields. We can raise our wheat and cattle +and wool, and carry on our farms–you and I +together, for I could not do without you; and +if I do right by you is there any reason to want +better than right? And if I do not do right, +then shout ‘Reform,’ and come and tell me +what you want, and we will pass our own Reform +Bill. Will that suit you?”</p> + +<p>And they answered him with cheers, and he +sent them into the Atheling Arms for a good +dinner, and then rode slowly home. But a great +sadness came over him, and he said to himself:</p> + +<p>“It is not capital; it is not labour; it is not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_314'></a>314</span> +land: it is a bit of human kindness and human +relations that lie at the root of all Reform. +Maude says true enough, that we don’t know the +people, and don’t feel for them, and don’t care +for them. A word of reason, a word of truth and +trust and of mutual good-will, and how pleased +them poor fellows were! Reform has nothing on +earth to do with Toryism or Whigism. God +bless my soul! what kind of a head must the +man have that could think so? <i>I begin to +see</i>–<i>I begin to see!</i>”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_315'></a>315</span><a id='link_15'></a>CHAPTER FIFTEENTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>LADY OF EXHAM HALL AT LAST</span></h2> + +<p>The three weeks’ recess was full of grave anxiety; +and the Squire had many fears they were +to be the last weeks of peace and home before +civil war called him to fulfil the promise he had +made to his working-men. The Birmingham +Political Union declared that if there was any +further delay after Easter, two hundred thousand +men would go forth from their shops and forges, +and encamp in the London squares, till they +knew the reason why the Reform Bill was not +passed. The Scots Greys, who were quartered +at Birmingham, had been employed the previous +Sabbath in grinding their swords; and it was +asserted that the Duke of Wellington stood +pledged to the Government to quiet the country +in ten days. These facts sufficiently indicated +to the Squire the temper of the people; and he +set himself, as far as he could, to take all the +sweetness out of his home life possible. The +memory of it might have to comfort him for +many days.</p> + +<p>With his daughter always by his side, he +rode up and down the lands he loved; unconsciously +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_316'></a>316</span> +giving directions that might be serviceable +if he had to go to a stormier field than the +House of Commons. To Mrs. Atheling he +hardly suggested the possibility; for if he did, +she always answered cheerfully, “Nonsense, +John! The Bill <i>will</i> pass; and if it does not +pass, Englishmen have more sense than they had +in the days of Cromwell. They aren’t going to +kill one another for an Act of Parliament.”</p> + +<p>But to Kate, as they rode and walked, he +could worry and grumble comfortably. She was +always ready to sympathise with his fears, and +to encourage and suggest any possible hope of +peace and better days. To see her bright face +answering his every thought filled the father’s +heart with a joy that was complete.</p> + +<p>“Bless thy dear soul!” he would frequently +say to her. “God’s best gift to a man is a +daughter like thee. Sons are well enough to +carry on the name and the land, and bring +honour to the family; but the man God loves +isn’t left without a daughter to sweeten his days +and keep his heart fresh and tender. Kitty! +Kitty, how I do love thee!” And Kitty knew +how to answer such true and noble affection; +for,–</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“Down the gulf of his condoled necessities,</p> +<p>She cast her best: she flung herself.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Oh, sweet domestic love! Surely <i>it is</i> the spiritual +world, the abiding kingdom of heaven, not +far from any one of us.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_317'></a>317</span>With a heavy heart the Squire went back to +London. Mrs. Atheling took his gloom for a +good sign. “Your father is always what the +Scotch call ‘fay’ before trouble,” she said to +Kate. “The day your sister Edith died his +ways made me angry. You would have thought +some great joy had come to Atheling. He said +he was sure Edith was going to live; and I knew +she was going to die. I am glad he has gone to +London sighing and shaking his head; it is a +deal better sign than if he had gone laughing +and shaking his bridle. He will meet Edgar in +London, and Edgar won’t let him look forward +to trouble.”</p> + +<p>But the Squire found Edgar was not in London +when he arrived there; and Piers was as +silent and as gloomy a companion as a worrying +man could desire. He came to dine with his +friend, and he listened to all his doleful prognostications; +but his interest was forced and +languid. For he also had lost the convictions +that made the contest possible to him, and there +was at the bottom of all his reasoning that little +doubt as to the justice of his cause which likewise +infected the Squire’s more pronounced +opinions.</p> + +<p>They were sitting one evening, after dinner, +almost silent, the Squire smoking, Piers apparently +reading the <i>Times</i>, when Edgar, with an +almost boyish demonstrativeness, entered the +room. He drew a chair between them, and sat +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_318'></a>318</span> +down, saying, “I have just returned from the +great Newhall Hill meeting. Father, think of +two hundred thousand men gathered there for +one united purpose.”</p> + +<p>“I hope I have a few better thoughts to keep +me busy, Edgar.”</p> + +<p>Piers looked up with interest. “It must have +been an exciting hour or two,” he said.</p> + +<p>“I hardly knew whether I was in the body or +out of the body,” answered Edgar. “For a +little while, at least, I was not conscious of the +flesh. I had a taste of how the work of eternity +may be done with the soul.”</p> + +<p>“The <i>Times</i> admits the two hundred thousand,” +said Piers, “and also that it was a remarkably +orderly meeting. Who opened it? Was it +Mr. O’Connell?”</p> + +<p>“The meeting was opened by the singing of +a hymn. There were nine stanzas in it, and +every one was sung with the most enthusiastic +feeling. I remember only the opening lines:</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“‘Over mountain, over plain,</p> +<p> Echoing wide from sea to sea,</p> +<p>Peals–and shall not peal in vain–</p> +<p> The trumpet call of Liberty!’</p> +</div> + +<p>But can you imagine what a majestic volume of +sonorous melody came from those two hundred +thousand hearts? It was heard for miles. The +majority of the singers believed, with all their +souls, that it was heard in heaven.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_319'></a>319</span>“Well, I never before heard of singing a +hymn to open a political meeting,” said the +Squire. “It does not seem natural.”</p> + +<p>“But, Father, you are used to political meetings +opened by prayer, for the House has its +chaplain. The Rev. Hugh Hutton prayed after +the hymn.”</p> + +<p>“I never heard of the Rev. Hugh Hutton.”</p> + +<p>“I dare say not, Father. He is an Unitarian +minister; for it is only the Unitarians that will +pray with, or pray for, Radicals. I should not +quite say that. There is a Roman Catholic +priest who is a member of the Birmingham +Union,–a splendid-looking man, a fine orator, +and full of the noblest public spirit; but a Birmingham +meeting would never think of asking +him to pray. They would not believe a Catholic +could get a blessing down from heaven if he +tried.”<a id='FNanchor_3'></a><a href='#Footnote_3' class='fnanchor'><sup>[3]</sup></a></p> + +<hr class='footnote_sep' /> + +<div class='footnote'><a id='Footnote_3'></a><a href='#FNanchor_3'><span class='label'>[3]</span></a> +<p>This intolerance, general and common in the England of +that day, is now happily much mitigated.</p> +</div> <!-- footnote --> + +<p>“What of O’Connell?” said the Squire; “he +interests me most.”</p> + +<p>“O’Connell outdid himself. About four hundred +women in one body had been allowed to +stand near the platform, and the moment his +eyes rested on them his quick instinct decided +the opening sentence of his address. He bowed +to them, and said, ‘Surrounded as I am by the +fair, the good, and the gentle.’ They cheered +at these words; and then the men behind them +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_320'></a>320</span> +cheered, and the crowds behind cheered, because +the crowds before cheered; and then he +launched into such an arraignment of the English +Government as human words never before +compassed. And in it he was guilty of one +delightful bull. It was in this way. Among +other grave charges, he referred to the fact that +births had decreased in Dublin five thousand +every year for the last four years, and then passionately +exclaimed, ‘I charge the British Government +with the murder of those twenty thousand +infants!’ and really, for a few moments, the +audience did not see the delightful absurdity.”</p> + +<p>“Twenty thousand infants who were never +born,” laughed the Squire. “That is worthy of +O’Connell. It is worthy of Ireland.”</p> + +<p>“And did he really manage that immense +crowd?” asked Piers. “I see the <i>Times</i> gives +him this credit.”</p> + +<p>“Sir Bulwer Lytton in a few lines has painted +him for all generations at this meeting. Listen!” +and Edgar took out of his pocket a slip of +paper, and read them:–</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“‘Once to my sight the giant thus was given–</p> +<p>Walled by wide air, and roofed by boundless heaven;</p> +<p>Methought, no clarion could have sent its sound</p> +<p>Even to the centre of the hosts around.</p> +<p>And as I thought, rose the sonorous swell</p> +<p>As from some church tower swings the silver bell.</p> +<p>Aloft and clear, from airy tide to tide,</p> +<p>It glided easy as a bird may glide,</p> +<p>To the last verge of that vast audience.’”</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_321'></a>321</span>“After O’Connell, who would try to manage +such a crowd?” asked Piers.</p> + +<p>“They behaved splendidly whoever spoke; +and finally Mr. Salt stood forward, and, uncovering +his head, bid them all uncover, and raise +their right hands to heaven while they repeated, +after him, the comprehensive obligation which +had been given in printed form to all of them:</p> + +<div class='bquote'> +<p>“‘<i>With unbroken faith, through every peril, through +every privation, we here devote ourselves, and our children, +to our country’s cause!</i>’</p> +</div> <!-- block quote --> + +<p>And while those two hundred thousand men +were taking that oath together, I find the House +of Lords was going into Committee on the Reform +Bill. This time it <i>must</i> pass.”</p> + +<p>“It will <i>not</i> pass,” said Piers, “without the +most extreme measures are resorted to.”</p> + +<p>“You mean that the King will be compelled +to create as many new peers as will carry it +through the House of Lords.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; but can the King be ‘compelled’?”</p> + +<p>“He will find that out.”</p> + +<p>“Now, Edgar, that is as far as I am going to +listen.”</p> + +<p>Then Piers put down his paper, and said, +“The House was in session, and would the +Squire go down to it?” And the Squire said, +“No. If there is to be any ‘compelling’ of His +Majesty, I will keep out of it.”</p> + +<p>The stress of this compulsion came the very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_322'></a>322</span> +next day. Lord Lyndhurst began the usual +policy by proposing important clauses of the +Bill should be postponed; and the Cabinet at +once decided to ask the King to create more +peers. Sydney Smith had written to Lady +Grey that he was, “For forty, in order to make +sure;” but the number was not stipulated. The +King promptly refused. The Reform Ministry +tendered their resignation, and it was accepted. +For a whole week the nation was left to its fears, +its anger, and its despair. It was, however, +almost insanely active. In Manchester twenty-five +thousand people, in the space of three hours, +signed a petition to the King, telling him in it +that “the whole North of England was in a state +of indignation impossible to be described.” +Meanwhile, the Duke of Wellington had failed +to form a Cabinet, and Peel had refused; and the +King was compelled to recall Lord Grey to +power, and to consent to any measures necessary +to pass the Reform Bill. It was evident, even +to royalty, that it had at length become–The +Bill or The Crown. For His Majesty was now +aware that he was denounced from one end of +England to the other; and several painful experiences +convinced him that his carriage could +not appear in London without being surrounded +by an indignant, hooting, shrieking crowd.</p> + +<p>Yet it was in a very wrathful mood he sent for +Grey and Brougham, so wrathful that he kept +them standing during the whole audience, although +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_323'></a>323</span> +this attitude was contrary to usage. “My +people are gone mad,” he said, “and must be +humoured like mad people. They will have +Reform. Very well. I give you my royal assent +to create a sufficient number of new peers to +carry Reform through the House of Lords. It is +an insult to my loyal and sensible peers; but they +will excuse the circumstances that force me to +such a measure.” His manner was extremely +sullen, and became indignantly so when Lord +Brougham requested this permission to be given +them in the King’s handwriting. The request was, +however, necessary, and was reluctantly granted.</p> + +<p>With the King’s concession, the great struggle +virtually ended. For the creation of new peers was +not necessary. A private message from the King +to the House of Lords effected what the long-continued +protestations and entreaties of the whole +nation had failed to effect. Led by the Duke of +Wellington, those Lords who were determined <i>not</i> +to vote for Reform left the House until the Bill +was passed; and thus a decided majority for its +success was assured. They felt it to be better for +their order to retire to their castles, than to suffer +the “swamping of the House of Lords” by a force +of new peers pledged to Reform, and sure to control +all their future deliberations. Consequently, +in about two weeks, the famous Bill was triumphantly +carried by a majority of eighty-four; and +three days afterwards it received the royal assent.</p> + +<p>The long struggle was over; and the tremendous +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_324'></a>324</span> +strain on the feelings of the nation relieved +itself by an universal and unbounded rejoicing. +All night long, the church bells answered one another +from city to city, and from hamlet to hamlet. +It was said to be impossible to escape, from one +end of the country to the other, the <i>tin</i>-<i>tan</i>-<i>tabula</i> +of their jubilation. Illuminations must have made +the Island at night a blaze of light; the people +went about singing and congratulating each +other; and for a few hours the tie of humanity +was a tie of brotherhood, even when men and +women were perfect strangers.</p> + +<p>The Duke of Richmoor retired with the majority +of his peers, and shut himself up in his Yorkshire +Castle, a victim to the most absurd but +yet the most sincere despondency. The Squire +applied for the Chiltern Hundreds, and returned +to Atheling as soon as possible. Edgar remained +in the House until its dissolution in August. As +for Piers, he had taken the turn of affairs with a +composure that had produced decided differences +between the Duke and himself; and he lingered +in London until he heard of the Squire’s departure +for the North. Then he sought him with a +definite purpose. “Squire,” he said, “may I go +back to Exham in your company?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll be glad if you do, Piers,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>The young man laid his hand on the Squire’s +hand, and looked at him steadily and entreatingly. +“Squire, I am going away from England. Let +me see Kate before I go.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_325'></a>325</span>“You are asking me to break my word, +Piers.”</p> + +<p>“The law of kindness may sometimes be +greater than the law of truth; the greatest of +these is charity–is love. I love her so! I love +her so that I am only half alive without her. I +do entreat you to have pity on me–on us both! +She loves me!” and Piers pleaded until the +Squire’s eyes were full of tears. He could not +resist words so hot from a true and loving heart; +and he finally said,–</p> + +<p>“It may be that my word, and my pride in my +word, are of less consequence than the trouble of +two suffering human hearts; Piers, right or +wrong, you may see Kitty. I am not sure I am +doing right, but I will risk the uncertainty–this +time.”</p> + +<p>However, if the Squire had any qualms of conscience +on the subject, they were driven away by +Kitty’s gratitude and delight. He arrived at +Atheling about the noon hour, and Kitty was the +first to see and to welcome him. She had been +gathering cherries, and was coming through the +garden with her basket full of the crimson drupes, +when he entered the gates. She set the fruit on +the ground, and ran to meet him, and took him +proudly in to her mother, and fussed over his +many little comforts to his heart’s content and +delight.</p> + +<p>Nothing was said about Piers until after dinner, +which was hurried forward at the Squire’s request; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_326'></a>326</span> +but afterwards, when he sat at the open +casement smoking, he called Kate to him. He +took her on his knee and whispered, “Kate, there +is somebody coming this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” she said, “we have sent word to Annie. +She will be here.”</p> + +<p>“I was not thinking of Annie. I was thinking +of thee, my little maid. There is somebody coming +to see <i>thee</i>.”</p> + +<p>“You can’t mean Piers? Oh, Father, do you +mean Piers?”</p> + +<p>“I do.”</p> + +<p>Then she laid her cheek against his cheek. +She kissed him over and over, answering in low, +soft speech, “Oh, my good Father! Oh, my dear +Father! Oh, Father, how I love you!”</p> + +<p>“Well, Kitty,” he answered, “thou dost not +throw thy love away. I love thee, God knows +it. Now run upstairs and don thy prettiest +frock.”</p> + +<p>“White or blue, Father?”</p> + +<p>“Well, Kitty,” he answered, with a thoughtful +smile, “I should say white, and a red rose or +two to match thy cheeks, and a few forget-me-nots +to match thy eyes. Bless my heart, Kitty! +thou art lovely enough any way. Stay with me.”</p> + +<p>“No, Father, I will go away and come again +still lovelier;” and she sped like a bird upstairs. +“It may be all wrong,” muttered the Squire; +“but if it is, then I must say, wrong can make +itself very agreeable.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i15'></a><img src='images/illus-327.jpg' alt='' /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_327'></a>327</span>“<i>Piers is coming!</i>” That was the song in +Kitty’s heart, the refrain to which her hands +and feet kept busy until she stood before her +glass lovelier than words can paint, her exquisite +form robed in white lawn, her cheeks as fresh +and blooming as the roses at her girdle, her eyes +as blue as the forget-me-nots in her hair, her +whole heart in every movement, glance, and word, +thrilling with the delight of expectation, and +shining with the joy of loving.</p> + +<p>So Piers found her in the garden watching for +his approach. And on this happy afternoon, +Nature was in a charming mood; she had made +the garden a Paradise for their meeting. The +birds sang softly in the green trees above them; +the flowers perfumed the warm air they breathed; +and an atmosphere of inexpressible serenity encompassed +them. After such long absence, oh, +how heavenly was this interview without fear, or +secrecy, or self-reproach, or suspicion of wrong-doing! +How heavenly was the long, sweet afternoon, +and the social pleasure of the tea hour, +and the soft starlight night under the drooping +gold of the laburnums and the fragrant clusters of +the damask roses! Even parting under such circumstances +was robbed of its sting; it was only +“such sweet sorrow.” It was glorified by its trust +and hope, and was without the shadow of tears.</p> + +<p>Kitty came to her father when it was over; and +her eyes were shining, and there was a little sob +in her heart; but she said only happy words. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_328'></a>328</span> +With her arms around his neck she whispered, +“Thank you, dear!” And he answered, “Thou +art gladly welcome! Right or wrong, thou art +welcome, Kitty. My dear little Kitty! He will +come back; I know he will. A girl that puts +honour and duty before love, crowns them with +love in the end–always so, dear. That <i>is sure</i>. +When will he be back?”</p> + +<p>“When the Duke and Duchess want him more +than they want their own way. He says disputing +will do harm, and not good; but that if a +difference is left to the heart, the heart in the +long run will get the best of the argument. I am +sure he is right. Father, he is going to send you +and mother long letters, and so I shall know +where he is; and with the joy of this meeting to +keep in my memory, I am not going to fret and +be miserable.”</p> + +<p>“That is right. That is the way to take a +disappointment. Good things are worth waiting +for, eh, Kitty?”</p> + +<p>“And we shall have so much to interest us, +Father. There is Edgar’s marriage coming; and +it would not do to have two weddings in one +year, would it? Father, you like Piers? I am +sure you do.”</p> + +<p>“I would not have let him put a foot in Atheling +to-day if I had not liked him. He has been +very good company for me in London, very +good company indeed–thoughtful and respectful. +Yes, I like Piers.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_329'></a>329</span>“Because–now listen, Father–because, much +as I love Piers, I would not be his wife for all +England if you and mother did not like him.”</p> + +<p>“Bless my heart, Kitty! Is not that saying a +deal?”</p> + +<p>“No. It would be no more than justice. If +you should force on me a husband whom I +despised or disliked, would I not think it very +wicked and cruel? Then would it not be just as +wicked and cruel if I should force on you a son-in-law +whom you despised and disliked? There +is not one law of kindness for the parents, and +another law, less kind, for the daughter, is +there?”</p> + +<p>“Thou art quite right, Kitty. The laws of the +Home and the Family are <i>equal</i> laws. God +bless thee for a good child.”</p> + +<p>And, oh, how sweet were Kitty’s slumbers that +night! It is out of earth’s delightful things we +form our visions of the world to come; and Kate +understood, because of her own pure, true, hopeful +love, how “God is love,” and how, therefore, +He would deny her any good thing.</p> + +<p>So the summer went its way, peacefully and +happily. In the last days of August, Edgar was +married with great pomp and splendour; and +afterwards the gates of Gisbourne stood wide-open, +and there were many signs and promises +of wonderful improvements and innovations. +For the young man was a born leader and organiser. +He loved to control, and soon devised +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_330'></a>330</span> +means to secure what was so necessary to his +happiness. The Curzons had made their money +in manufactures; and Annie approved of such +use of money. So very soon, at the upper end +of Gisbourne, a great mill, and a fine new village +of cottages for its hands, arose as if by magic,–a +village that was to example and carry out all +the ideas of Reform.</p> + +<p>“Edgar is making a lot of trouble ready for +himself,” said the Squire to his wife; “but +Edgar can’t live without a fight on hand. I’ll +warrant that he gets more fighting than he bargains +for; a few hundreds of those Lancashire +and Yorkshire operatives aren’t as easy to manage +as he seems to think. They have ‘reformed’ +their lawgivers; and they are bound to ‘reform’ +their masters next.”</p> + +<p>The Squire had said little about this new influx +into his peaceful neighbourhood, but it had +grieved his very soul; and his wife wondered at +his reticence, and one day she told him so.</p> + +<p>“Well, Maude,” he answered, “when Edgar +was one of my household, I had the right to say +this and that about his words and ways; but +Edgar is now Squire, and married man, and +Member of Parliament. He is a Reformer too, +and bound to carry out his ideas; and, I dare say, +his wife keeps the bit in his mouth hard enough, +without me pulling on it too. I have taken +notice, Maude, that these sweet little women +are often very masterful.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_331'></a>331</span>“I am sure his grandfather Belward would +never have suffered that mill chimney in his +sight for any money.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps he could not have helped it.”</p> + +<p>“Thou knowest different. My father always +made everything go as he wanted it. The Belwards +know no other road but their own way.”</p> + +<p>“I should think thou needest not tell me that. +I have been learning it for a quarter of a century.”</p> + +<p>“Now, John! When I changed my name, I +changed my way also. I have been Atheling, +and gone Atheling, ever since I was thy wife.”</p> + +<p>“Pretty nearly, Maude. But Edgar’s little, +innocent-faced, gentle wife will lead Edgar, Curzon +way. She has done it already. Fancy an +Atheling, land lords for a thousand years, turning +into a loom lord. Maude, it hurts me; but then, +it is a bit of Reform, I suppose.”</p> + +<p>For all this interior dissatisfaction, the Squire +and his son were good friends and neighbours; +and, in a kind of a way, the father approved the +changes made around him. They came gradually, +and he did not have to swallow the whole +dose at once. Besides he had his daughter. +And Kitty never put him behind Gisbourne or +any other cause. They were constant companions. +They threw their lines in the trout streams +together through the summer mornings; and in +the winter, she was with him in every hunting +field. About the house, he heard her light foot +and her happy voice; and in the evenings, she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_332'></a>332</span> +read the papers to him, and helped forward his +grumble at Peel, or his anger at Cobbett.</p> + +<p>At not very long intervals there came letters +to the Squire, or to Mrs. Atheling, which made +sunshine in the house for many days afterwards,–letters +from Boston, New York, Baltimore, +Washington, New Orleans, and finally from an +outlandish place called Texas. Here Piers +seemed to have found the life he had been +unconsciously longing for. “The people were +fighting,” he said, “for Liberty: a handful of +Americans against the whole power of Mexico; +fighting, not in words–he was weary to death +of words–but with the clang of iron on iron, +and the clash of steel against steel, as in the old +world battles.” And he filled pages with glowing +encomiums of General Houston, and Colonels +Bowie and Crockett, and their wonderful courage +and deeds. “And, oh, what a Paradise the land +was! What sunshine! What moonshine! What +wealth of every good thing necessary for human +existence!”</p> + +<p>When such letters as these arrived, it was holiday +at Atheling; it was holiday in every heart +there; and they were read, and re-read, and discussed, +till their far-away, wild life became part +and parcel of the calm, homely existence of this +insular English manor. So the years went by; +and Kate grew to a glorious womanhood. All +the promise of her beauteous girlhood was amply +redeemed. She was the pride of her county, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_333'></a>333</span> +and the joy of all the hearts that knew her. And +if she had hours of restlessness and doubt, or +any fears for Piers’s safety, no one was made +unhappy by them. She never spoke of Piers but +with hope, and with the certainty of his return. +She declared she was “glad that he should have +the experience of such a glorious warfare, one +in which he had made noble friends, and done +valiant deeds. Her lover was growing in such +a struggle to his full stature.” And, undoubtedly, +the habit of talking hopefully induces the habit of +feeling hopefully; so there were no signs of the +love-lorn maiden about Kate Atheling, nor any fears +for her final happiness in Atheling Manor House.</p> + +<p>The fears and doubts and wretchedness were +all in the gloomy castle of Richmoor, where the +Duke and Duchess lived only to bewail the dangers +of the country, and their deprivation of their +son’s society,–a calamity they attributed also +to Reform. Else, why would Piers have gone +straight to a wild land where outlawed men +were also fighting against legitimate authority.</p> + +<p>One evening, nearly four years after Piers had +left England, the Duke was crossing Belward +Bents, and he met the Squire and his daughter, +leisurely riding together in the summer gloaming. +He touched his hat, and said, “Good-evening, +Miss Atheling! Good-evening, Squire!” And +the Squire responded cheerfully, and Kate gave +him a ravishing smile,–for he was the father of +Piers, accordingly she already loved him. There +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_334'></a>334</span> +was nothing further said, but each was affected +by the interview; the Duke especially so. When +he reached his castle he found the Duchess walking +softly up and down the dim drawing-room, +and she was weeping. His heart ached for her. +He said tenderly, as he took her hand,–</p> + +<p>“Is it Piers, Julia?”</p> + +<p>“I am dying to see him,” she answered, “to +hear him speak, to have him come in and out +as he used to do. I want to feel the clasp of his +hand, and the touch of his lips. Oh, Richard, +Richard, bring back my boy! A word from you +will do it.”</p> + +<p>“My dear Julia, I have just met Squire Atheling +and his daughter. The girl has grown to a +wonder of beauty. She is marvellous; I simply +never saw such a face. Last week I watched her +in the hunting field at Ashley. She rode like an +Amazon; she was peerless among all the beauties +there. I begin to understand that Piers, having +loved her, could love no other woman; and I +think we might learn to love her for Piers’s sake. +What do you say, my dear? The house is terribly +lonely. I miss my son in business matters continually; +and if he does not marry, the children of +my brother Henry come after him. He is in constant +danger; he is in a land where he must go +armed day and night. Think of our son living in +a place like that! And his last letters have had +such a tone of home-sickness in them. Shall I see +Squire Atheling, and ask him for his daughter?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_335'></a>335</span>“Let him come and see you.”</p> + +<p>“He will never do it.”</p> + +<p>“Then see him, Richard. Anything, anything, +that will give Piers back to me.”</p> + +<p>The next day the Duke was at Atheling, and +what took place at that interview, the Squire +never quite divulged, even to his wife. “It was +very humbling to him,” he said, “and I am not +the man to brag about it.” To Kate nothing whatever +was said. “Who knows just where Piers is? +and who can tell what might happen before he +learns of the change that has taken place?” asked +the Squire. “Why should we toss Kitty’s mind +hither and thither till Piers is here to quiet it?”</p> + +<p>In fact the Squire’s idea was far truer than he +had any conception of. Piers was actually in +London when the Duke’s fatherly letter sent to +recall his self-banished son left for Texas. Indeed +he was on his way to Richmoor the very +day that the letter was written. He came to it +one afternoon just before dinner. The Duchess +was dressed and waiting for the Duke and the +daily ceremony of the hour. She stood at the +window, looking into the dripping garden, but +really seeing nothing, not even the plashed roses +before her eyes. Her thoughts were in a country +far off; and she was wondering how long it would +take Piers to answer their loving letter. The door +opened softly. She supposed it was the Duke, +and said, fretfully, “This climate is detestable, +Duke. It has rained for a week.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_336'></a>336</span>“<i>Mother! Mother! Oh, my dear Mother!</i>”</p> + +<p>Then, with a cry of joy that rung through the +lofty room, she turned, and was immediately folded +in the arms she longed for. And before her rapture +had time to express itself, the Duke came in +and shared it. They were not an emotional family; +and high culture had relegated any expression +of feeling far below the tide of their daily life; but, +for once, Nature had her way with the usually undemonstrative +woman. She wept, and laughed, +and talked, and exclaimed as no one had ever seen +or heard her since the days of her early girlhood.</p> + +<p>In the happy privacy of the evening hours, +Piers told them over again the wild, exciting +story he had been living; and the Duke acknowledged +that to have aided in any measure such +an heroic struggle was an event to dignify life. +“But now, Piers,” he said, “now you will remain +in your own home. If you still wish to marry +Miss Atheling, your mother and I are pleased +that you should do so. We will express this +pleasure as soon as you desire us. I wrote you +to this effect; but you cannot have received my +letter, since it only left for Texas yesterday.”</p> + +<p>“I am glad I have not received it,” answered +Piers. “I came home at the call of my mother. +It is true. I was sitting one night thinking of +many things. It was long past midnight, but +the moonlight was so clear I had been reading +by it, and the mocking birds were thrilling the +air, far and wide, with melody. But far clearer, far +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_337'></a>337</span> +sweeter, far more pervading, I heard my mother’s +voice calling me. And I immediately answered, +‘I am coming, Mother!’ Here I am. What must +I do, now and forever, to please you?”</p> + +<p>And she said, “Stay near me. Marry Miss Atheling, +if you wish. I will love her for your sake.”</p> + +<p>And Piers kissed his answer on her lips, and then +put his hand in his father’s hand. It was but a simple +act; but it promised all that fatherly affection +could ask, and all that filial affection could give.</p> + +<p>Who that has seen in England a sunny morning +after a long rain-storm can ever forget the +ineffable sweetness and freshness of the woods +and hills and fields? The world seemed as if it +was just made over when Piers left Richmoor for +Atheling. A thousand vagrant perfumes from +the spruce and fir woods, from the moors and +fields and gardens, wandered over the earth. +A gentle west wind was blowing; the sense of +rejoicing was in every living thing. The Squire +and Kate had been early abroad. They had had +a long gallop, and were coming slowly through +Atheling lane, talking of Piers, though both of +them believed Piers to be thousands of miles +away. They were just at the spot where he had +passed them that miserable night when his cry +of “<i>Kate! Kate! Kate!</i>” had nearly broken the +girl’s heart for awhile. She never saw the place +without remembering her lover, and sending her +thoughts to find him out, wherever he might be. +And thus, at this place, there was always a little +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_338'></a>338</span> +silence; and the Squire comprehended, and respected +the circumstance.</p> + +<p>This morning the silence, usually so perfect, +was broken by the sound of an approaching +horseman; but neither the Squire nor Kate +turned. They simply withdrew to their side of +the road, and went leisurely forward.</p> + +<p>“<i>Kate! Kate! Kate!</i>”</p> + +<p>The same words, but how different! They +were full of impatient joy, of triumphant hope +and love. Both father and daughter faced round +in the moment, and then they saw Piers coming +like the wind towards them. It was a miracle. +It was such a moment as could not come twice +in any life-time. It was such a meeting as defies +the power of words; because our diviner part +has emotions that we have not yet got the +speech and language to declare.</p> + +<p>Imagine the joy in Atheling Manor House that +night! The Squire had to go apart for a little +while; and tears of delight were in the good +mother’s eyes as she took out her beautiful +Derby china for the welcoming feast. As for +Kate and Piers, they were at last in earth’s +Paradise. Their lives had suddenly come to +flower; and there was no canker in any of the +blossoms. They had waited their full hour. +And if the angels in heaven rejoice over a sinner +repenting, how much more must they rejoice in +our happiness, and sympathise in our innocent +love! Surely the guardian angels of Piers and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_339'></a>339</span> +Kate were satisfied. Their dear charges had +shown a noble restraint, and were now reaping +the joy of it. Do angels talk in heaven of what +happens among the sons and daughters of men +whom they are sent to minister unto, to guide, +and to guard? If so, they must have talked of +these lovers, so dutiful and so true, and rejoiced +in the joy of their renewed espousals.</p> + +<p>Their marriage quickly followed. In a few weeks +Piers had made Exham Hall a palace of splendour +and beauty for his bride, and Kate’s wedding +garments were all ready. And far and wide there +was a most unusual interest taken in these lovers, +so that all the great county families desired and +sought for invitations to the marriage ceremony, +and the little church of Atheling could hardly contain +the guests. Even to this day it is remembered +that nearly one hundred gentlemen of the North +Riding escorted the bride from Atheling to Exham.</p> + +<p>But at last every social duty had been fulfilled, +and they sat alone in the gloaming, with their +great love, and their great joy. And as they +spoke of the days when this love first began, +Kate reminded Piers of the swing in the laurel +walk, and her girlish rhyming,–</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“It may so happen, it may so fall,</p> +<p>That I shall be Lady of Exham Hall.”</p> +</div> + +<p>And Piers drew her beautiful head closer to his +own, and added,–</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“Weary wishing, and waiting past,</p> +<p><i>Lady of Exham Hall</i> at last!”</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_340'></a>340</span><a id='link_16'></a>CHAPTER SIXTEENTH<br /><span class='h2fs'>AFTER TWENTY GOLDEN YEARS</span></h2> + +<p>After twenty years have passed away, it is +safe to ask if events have been all that they +promised to be; and one morning in August of +1857, it was twenty years since Kate Atheling +became Lady Exham. She was sitting at a table +writing letters to her two eldest sons, who were +with their tutor in the then little known Hebrides. +Lord Exham was busy with his mail. They were +in a splendid room, opening upon a lawn, soft +and green beyond description; and the August +sunshine and the August lilies filled it with +warmth and fragrance. Lady Exham was even +more beautiful than on her wedding day. Time +had matured without as yet touching her wonderful +loveliness, and motherhood had crowned it +with a tender and bewitching nobility. She had +on a gown of lawn and lace, white as the flowers +that hung in clusters from the Worcester vase at +her side. Now and then Piers lifted his head and +watched her for a moment; and then, with the +faint, happy smile of a heart full and at ease, he +opened another letter or paper. Suddenly he +became a little excited. “Why, Kate,” he said, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_341'></a>341</span> +“here is my speech on the blessings which +Reform has brought to England. I did not +expect such a thing.”</p> + +<p>“Read it to me, Piers.”</p> + +<p>“It is entirely too long; although I only +reviewed some of the notable works that followed +Reform.”</p> + +<p>“Such as–”</p> + +<p>“Well, the abolition of both black and white +slavery; the breaking up of the gigantic monopoly +of the East India Company, and the throwing +open of our ports to the merchants of the world; +the inauguration of a system of national education; +the reform of our cruel criminal code; +the abolition of the press gang, and of chimney +sweeping by little children, and such brutalities; +the postal reform; and the spread of such good, +cheap literature as the <i>Penny Magazine</i> and +<i>Chambers’s Magazine</i>. My dear Kate, it would +require a book to tell all that the Reform Bill +has done for England. Think of the misery of +that last two years’ struggle, and look at our +happy country to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Prosperous, but not happy, Piers. How can +we be happy when, all over the land, mothers are +weeping because their children are not. If this +awful Sepoy rebellion was only over; then!”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered Piers; “if it was only over! +Surely there never was a war so full of strange, +unnatural cruelties. I wonder where Cecil and +Annabel are.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_342'></a>342</span>“Wherever they are, I am sure both of them +will be in the way of honour and duty.”</p> + +<p>There was a pause, and then Piers asked, “To +whom are you writing, dear Kate?”</p> + +<p>“To Dick and John. They do not want to +return to their studies this winter; they wish to +travel in Italy.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense! They must go through college +before they travel. Tell them so.”</p> + +<p>The Duke had entered as Piers was speaking, +and he listened to his remark. Then, even as he +stooped to kiss Kate, he contradicted it. “I +don’t think so, Piers,” he said decisively. “Let +the boys go. Give them their own way a little. +I do not like to see such spirited youths snubbed +for a trifle.”</p> + +<p>“But this is not a trifle, Father.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is.”</p> + +<p>“You insisted on my following the usual plan +of college first, and travel afterwards.”</p> + +<p>“That was before the days of Reform. The +boys are my grandsons. I think I ought to +decide on a question of this kind. What do you +say, my dear?” and he turned his kindly face, +with its crown of snowy hair, to Kate.</p> + +<p>“It is to be as you say, Father,” she answered. +“Is there any Indian news?”</p> + +<p>“Alas! Alas!” he answered, becoming suddenly +very sorrowful, “there is calamitous news,–the +fort in which Colonel North was shut up, +has fallen; and Cecil and Annabel are dead.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_343'></a>343</span>“Oh, not massacred! Do not tell us <i>that</i>!” +cried Kate, covering her ears with her hands.</p> + +<p>“Not quite as bad. A Sepoy who was Cecil’s +orderly, and much attached to him, has been +permitted to bring us the terrible news, with +some valuable gems and papers which Annabel +confided to him. He told me that Cecil held out +wonderfully; but it was impossible to send him +help. Their food and ammunition were gone; +and the troops, who were mainly Sepoys, were +ready to open the gates to the first band of rebels +that approached. One morning, just at daybreak, +Cecil knew the hour had come. Annabel was +asleep; but he awakened her. She had been +expecting the call for many days; and, when Cecil +spoke, she knew it was death. But she rose smiling, +and answered, ‘I am ready, Love.’ He held +her close to his breast, and they comforted and +strengthened one another until the tramp of the +brutes entering the court was heard. Then +Annabel closed her eyes, and Cecil sent a merciful +bullet through the brave heart that had shared +with him, for twenty-five years, every trial and +danger. Her last words were, ‘Come quickly, +Cecil,’ and he followed her in an instant. The +man says he hid their bodies, and they were not +mutilated. But the fort was blown up and burned; +and, in this case, the fiery solution was the best.”</p> + +<p>“And her children?” whispered Kate.</p> + +<p>“The boys are at Rugby. The little girl died +some weeks ago.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_344'></a>344</span>The Duke was much affected. He had loved +Annabel truly, and her tragic death powerfully +moved him. “The Duchess,” he said, “had +wept herself ill; and he had promised her to +return quickly.” But as he went away, he turned +to charge Piers and Kate not to disappoint his +grandsons. “They are such good boys,” he +added; “and it is not a great matter to let them +go to Italy, if they want to–only send Stanhope +with them.”</p> + +<p>No further objection was then made. Kate +had learned that it is folly to oppose things yet +far away, and which are subject to a thousand +unforeseen influences. When the time for decision +came, Dick and John might have changed their +wishes. So she only smiled a present assent, and +then let her thoughts fly to the lonely fort where +Cecil and Annabel had suffered and conquered +the last great enemy. For a few minutes, Piers +was occupied in the same manner; and when he +spoke, it was in the soft, reminiscent voice which +memory–especially sad memory–uses.</p> + +<p>“It is strange, Kate,” he said, “but I remember +Annabel predicting this end for herself. We were +sitting in the white-and-gold parlour in the +London House, where I had found her playing +with the cat in a very merry mood. Suddenly +she imagined the cat had scratched her, and she +spread out her little brown hand, and looked for +the wound. There was none visible; but she +pointed to a certain spot at the base of her finger, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_345'></a>345</span> +and said, ‘>Look, Piers. There is the sign of my +doom,–my death-token. I shall perish in fire +and blood.’ Then she laughed and quickly +changed the subject, and I did not think it worth +pursuing. Yet it was in her mind, for a few +minutes afterwards, she opened her hand again, +held it to the light, and added, ‘An old Hindoo +priest told me this. He said our death-warrant +was written on our palms, and we brought it into +life with us.’”</p> + +<p>“You should have contradicted that, Piers.”</p> + +<p>“I did. I told her, our death-warrant was in +the Hand of Him with whom alone are the issues +of life and death.”</p> + +<p>“She was haunted by the prophecy,” said Kate. +“She often spoke of it. Oh, Piers, how merciful +is the veil that hides our days to come!”</p> + +<p>“I feel wretched. Let us go to Atheling; it +will do us good.”</p> + +<p>“It is very warm yet, Piers.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind, I want to see the children. +The house is too still. They have been at +Atheling for three days.”</p> + +<p>“We promised them a week. Harold will +expect the week; and Edith and Maude will +rebel at any shorter time.”</p> + +<p>“At any rate let us go and see them.”</p> + +<p>“Shall we ride there?”</p> + +<p>“Let us rather take a carriage. One of the +three may possibly be willing to come back with +us.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_346'></a>346</span>Near the gates of Atheling they met the Squire +and his grandson Harold. They had been fishing. +“The dew was on the grass when we went +away; and Harold has been into the water after +the trout. We are both a bit wet,” said the +Squire; “but our baskets are full.” And then +Harold leaped into the carriage beside his father +and mother, and proudly exhibited his speckled +beauties.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Atheling had heard their approach, and +she was at the open door to meet them. Very +little change had taken place in her. Her face +was a trifle older, but it was finer and tenderer; +and her smile was as sweet and ready, and her +manner as gracious–though perhaps a shade +quieter than in the days when we first met her. +Her granddaughter Edith, a girl of eight years, +stood at her side; and Maude, a charming babe +of four, clung to her black-silk apron, and half-hid +her pretty face in its sombre folds. To her +mother, Kate was still Kate; and to Kate, mother +was still mother. They went into the house together, +little Maude making a link between them, +and Edith holding her mother’s hand. But, in the +slight confusion following their arrival, the children +all disappeared.</p> + +<p>“They were helping Bradley to make tarts,” +said Mrs. Atheling, “when I called them, and +they have gone back to their pastry and jam. +Let them alone. Dear me! I remember how +proud I was when I first cut pastry round the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_347'></a>347</span> +patty pans with my thumb,” and Mrs. Atheling +looked at Kate, who smiled and nodded at her +own similar memory.</p> + +<p>They were soon seated in the large parlour, +where all the windows were open, and a faint +little breeze stirring the cherry leaves round +them. Then the Squire began to talk of the +Indian news; and Piers told, with a pitiful pathos, +the last tragic act in Cecil’s and Annabel’s love +and life. And when he had finished the narration, +greatly to every one’s amazement, the Squire +rose to his feet, and, lifting his eyes heavenward, +said solemnly,–</p> + +<p>“I give hearty thanks for their death, so noble +and so worthy of their faith and their race. I +give hearty thanks because God, knowing their +hearts and their love, committed unto them the +dismissing of their own souls from the wanton +cruelty of incarnate devils. I give hearty thanks +for Love triumphant over Death, and for that +faith in our immortality which could command +an immediate re-union, ‘Come quickly, Cecil!’</p> + +<p>“There is nothing to cry about,” he added, as +he resumed his seat. “Death must come to all +of us. It came mercifully to these two. It did +not separate them; they went together. Somewhere +in God’s Universe they are now, without +doubt, doing His Will together. Let us give +thanks for them.”</p> + +<p>After a little while, Kate and her mother went +away. They had many things to talk over about +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_348'></a>348</span> +which masculine opinions were not necessary, nor +even desirable. And the Squire and Piers had, +in a certain way, a similar confidence. Indeed +the Squire told Piers many things he would not +have told any one else,–little wrongs and worries +not worth complaining about to his wife, and +perhaps about which he was not very certain of +her sympathy. But with Piers, these crept into +his conversation, and were talked away, or at +least considerably lessened, by his son-in-law’s +patient interest.</p> + +<p>This morning their conversation had an unconscious +tone of gratified prophecy in it. “Edgar +is in a lot of trouble,” he said; “but then he seems +to enjoy it. His hands gathered in the mill-yard +yesterday and gave him what they call, ‘a bit of +their mind.’ And their ‘mind’ isn’t what you +and I would call a civil one. Luke Staley, a big +dyer from Oldham, got beyond bearing, and +told Edgar, if he didn’t do thus and so, he would +be made to. And Edgar can be very provoking. +He didn’t tell me what he said; but I have no +doubt it was a few of the strongest words he +could pick out. And Luke Staley, not having +quite such a big private stock as Edgar, doubled +his fist, to make the shortage good, almost in +Edgar’s face; and there would have, maybe, +been a few blows, if Edgar had not taken very +strong measures at once,–that is, Piers, he +knocked the fellow down as flat as a pancake. +And then all was so still that, Edgar said, the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_349'></a>349</span> +very leaves rustling seemed noisy; and he told +them in his masterful way, they could have five +minutes to get back to their looms. And if they +were not back in five minutes, he promised them +he would dump the fires and lock the gates, and +they could go about their business.”</p> + +<p>“And they went to their looms, of course?”</p> + +<p>“To be sure they did. More than that, Luke +Staley picked himself up, and went civilly to +Edgar and said, ‘That was a good knock-down. +I’m beat this time, Master;’ and he offered his +hand, blue and black with dyes, and Edgar took +it. My word! how his grandfather Belward +would have enjoyed that scene. I am sorry he +is not alive this day. He missed a deal by dying +before Reform. Edgar and he together could +keep a thousand men at their looms–and set +the price, too.”</p> + +<p>“What did the men want?”</p> + +<p>“A bit of Reform, of course,–more wage and +less work. I am not much put out of the way +now, Piers, with the mill. I get a lot of pleasure +out of it, one road or another. Did I ever tell +you about the Excursion Edgar gave them last +week?”</p> + +<p>“I have not heard anything about it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you see, Edgar sent all his hands and +their wives and sweethearts to the seaside, and +gave them a good dinner; and they had a band +of music to play for them, and a little steamer to +give them a sail; and they came home at midnight, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_350'></a>350</span> +singing and in high good humour. Edgar +thought he had pleased them. Not a bit of it! +Two nights after they held a meeting in that +Mechanics Hall Mrs. Atheling built for them. +What for? To talk over the jaunt, and try and +find out, ‘<i>What Master Atheling was up to</i>.’ You +see they were sure he had a selfish motive of +some kind.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe he had a single selfish motive; +he is not a selfish man,” said Piers.</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t swear to his motives, Piers. Between +you and me, he wants to go to Parliament +again.”</p> + +<p>“He ought to be there; it is his native heath, +in a manner.”</p> + +<p>“Well, as I said, one way or another, I get a +lot of pleasure out of these men. There is a +truce on now between them and Edgar; but, in +the main, it is a lively truce.”</p> + +<p>“Edgar seems to enjoy the conditions, also, +Father.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he ought to have a bit of something +that pleases him. He has a deal of contrary +things to fight. There is his eldest son.”</p> + +<p>“Augustus?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Augustus.”</p> + +<p>“What has Augustus done?”</p> + +<p>“He will paint pictures and make little figures, +and waste his time about such things as no +Atheling in this world ever bothered his head +about,–unless he wanted his likeness painted. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_351'></a>351</span> +The lad does wonders with his colours and +brushes, and I’ll allow that. He brought me a +bit of canvas with that corner by the fir woods +on it, and you would have thought you could +pull the grass and drink the water. But I did +not think it right to praise him much. I said, +‘Very good, Augustus, but what will you make +by this?’”</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“Well, Piers, the lad talked about his ideals, +and said Art was its own reward, and a lot of +rubbishy nonsense. But I never expected much +from a boy called Augustus. That was his +mother’s whim; no Atheling was ever called +such a name before. He wants to go to Italy, +and his father wants him in the mill. Edgar is +finding a few things out now he didn’t believe +in when he was twenty years old. The point of +view is everything, Piers. Edgar looks at things +as a father looks at them now; then, he had an +idea that fathers knew next to nothing. Augustus +is no worse than he was. Maybe, he will +come to looms yet; he is just like the Curzons, +and they were loom lovers. Now Cecil, his +second boy, has far better notions. He likes a +rod, and a horse, and a gun; and he thinks a +gamekeeper has the best position in the world.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Atheling sets us all an example. She is +always doing something for the people.”</p> + +<p>“They don’t thank her for it. She brings +lecturers, and expects them to go and hear them; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_352'></a>352</span> +and the men would rather be in the cricket field. +She has classes of all kinds for the women and +girls; and they don’t want her interfering in their +ways and their houses. I’ll tell you what it is, +Piers, you cannot write Reform upon flesh and +blood as easy as you can write it upon paper. +It will take a few generations to erase the old +marks, and put the new marks on.”</p> + +<p>“Still Reform has been a great blessing. You +know that, Father.”</p> + +<p>“Publicly, I know it, Piers. Privately, I keep +my own ideas. But there is Kate calling us, and +I see the carriage is waiting. Thank God, Reform +has nothing to do with homes. Wives and +children are always the same. We don’t want +them changed, even for the better.”</p> + +<p>“You do not mean that?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do,” said the Squire, positively. “My +wife’s faults are very dear to me. Do you think +I would like to miss her bits of tempers, and her +unreasonableness? Even when she tries to get +the better of me, I like it. I wouldn’t have her +perfect, not if I could.”</p> + +<p>Then Piers called for his son; but Harold could +not be found. The Squire laughed. “He has +run away,” he said. “The boy wants a holiday. +I’ll take good care of him. He isn’t doing nothing; +he is learning to catch a trout. Many a +very clever man can’t catch a trout.” Then Piers +asked his little daughters to come home with +him; and Edith hid herself behind the ample +skirts of her grandfather’s coat, and Maude lifted +her arms to her grandmother, and snuggled herself +into her bosom.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i16'></a><img src='images/illus-353.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> + +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_353'></a>353</span>“Come, Piers, we shall have to go home alone,” +Kate said.</p> + +<p>“You have Katherine at home,” said the +Squire.</p> + +<p>And then Kate laughed. “Why, Father,” +she said, “you speak as if Katherine was more +than we ought to expect. Surely we may have +one of our six children. The Duke thinks he +has whole and sole right in Dick and John; and +you have Harold and Edith and Maude.”</p> + +<p>“And you have Katherine,” reiterated the +Squire.</p> + +<p>When they got back to Exham Hall, the little +Lady Katherine was in the drawing-room to meet +them. She was the eldest daughter of the house, +a fair girl of fifteen with her father’s refined face +and rather melancholy manner. Piers delighted +in her; and there was a sympathy between them +that needed no words. She had a singular love +for music, though from what ancestor it had +come no one could tell; and it was her usual +custom after dinner to open the door a little between +the drawing-room and music-room, and +play her various studies, while her father and +mother mused, and talked, and listened.</p> + +<p>This evening Piers lit his cigar, and Kate and +he walked in the garden. It was warm, and still, +and full of moonshine; and the music rose and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_354'></a>354</span> +fell to their soft reminiscent talk of the many interests +that had filled their lives for the past +twenty golden years. And when they were +wearied a little, they came back to the drawing-room +and were quiet. For Katherine was striking +the first notes of a little melody that always +charmed them; and as they listened, her girlish +voice lifted the song, and the tender words +floated in to them, and sunk into their hearts, and +became a prayer of thanksgiving.</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>“We have lived and loved together,</p> +<p> Through many changing years;</p> +<p>We have shared each other’s gladness,</p> +<p> And wept each other’s tears.”</p> +</div> + +<p>And while Kate’s face illuminated the words, +Piers leaned forward, and took both her hands in +his, and whispered with far tenderer, truer love +than in the old days of his first wooing.</p> + +<p>And if any thought of The Other One entered +his mind at this hour, it came with a thanksgiving +for a life nobly redeemed by a pure, unselfish +love, and a death which was at once sacrificial +and sacramental.</p> + +<div class="trnote"> +<p><b>Transcriber’s Note:</b></p> +<p>Spelling and punctuation inaccuracies were silently corrected.</p> +<p>Archaic and variable spelling is preserved.</p> +<p>Author’s punctuation style is preserved.</p> +<p>The Table of Contents lists Chapter Sixteenth starting on Page 341. The physical page is actually Page 340. It has been left as printed.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of I, Thou, and the Other One, by +Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK I, THOU, AND THE OTHER ONE *** + +***** This file should be named 34628-h.htm or 34628-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/6/2/34628/ + +Produced by Katherine Ward, Darleen Dove and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: I, Thou, and the Other One + A Love Story + +Author: Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr + +Release Date: December 12, 2010 [EBook #34628] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK I, THOU, AND THE OTHER ONE *** + + + + +Produced by Katherine Ward, Darleen Dove and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + +I, THOU, AND THE OTHER ONE + + + + +[Illustration:] + + + + + I, THOU, AND THE OTHER ONE + + A Love Story + + BY + AMELIA E. BARR + + NEW YORK + DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY + 1898 + + + + + + _Copyright, 1898_, + BY DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY. + + University Press: + JOHN WILSON AND SON, JOHN WILSON AND SON, U.S.A. + + + + + +CONTENTS + + Chapter Page + I THE ATHELINGS 1 + II CECIL AND EDGAR 23 + III THE LORD OF EXHAM 42 + IV THE DAWN OF LOVE 66 + V ANNABEL VYNER 81 + VI THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT STRUGGLE 103 + VII THE LOST RING 121 + VIII WILL SHE CHOOSE EVIL OR GOOD? 150 + IX A FOOLISH VIRGIN 169 + X TROUBLE COMES UNSUMMONED 193 + XI LIFE COMES AND GOES THE OLD, OLD WAY 213 + XII THE SHADOW OF SORROW STRETCHED OUT 235 + XIII NOT YET 263 + XIV AT THE WORST 288 + XV LADY OF EXHAM HALL AT LAST 315 + XVI AFTER TWENTY GOLDEN YEARS 341 + + + + +I, Thou, and the Other One + + + + +CHAPTER FIRST + +THE ATHELINGS + + + "_The Land is a Land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the +rain of heaven._" + +Beyond Thirsk and Northallerton, through the Cleveland Hills to the sea +eastward, and by Roseberry Topping, northward, there is a lovely, lonely +district, very little known even at the present day. The winds stream +through its hills, as cool and fresh as living water; and whatever beauty +there is of mountain, valley, or moorland, Farndale and Westerdale +can show it; while no part of England is so rich in those picturesque +manor-houses which have been the homes of the same families for twenty +generations. + +The inhabitants of this region are the incarnation of its health, +strength, and beauty,--a tall, comely race; bold, steadfast, and +thrifty, with very positive opinions on all subjects. There are no +Laodiceans among the men and women of the North-Riding; they are one +thing or another--Episcopalians or Calvinists; Conservatives or Radicals; +friends or enemies. For friendship they have a capacity closer than +brotherhood. Once friends, they are friends forever, and can be relied on +in any emergency to "aid, comfort, and abet," legally or otherwise, +with perhaps a special zest to give assistance, if it just smacks of +the "otherwise." + +Of such elements, John Atheling, lord of the manors of Atheling and +Belward, was "kindly mixed," a man of towering form and great mental +vigour, blunt of speech, single of purpose, leading, with great natural +dignity, a sincere, unsophisticated life. He began this story one evening +in the May of 1830; though when he left Atheling manor-house, he had +no idea anything out of the customary order of events would happen. It is +however just these mysterious conditions of everyday life that give it +such gravity and interest; for what an hour will bring forth, no man +can say; and when Squire Atheling rode up to the crowd on the village +green, he had no presentiment that he was going to open a new chapter in +his life. + +He smiled pleasantly when he saw its occasion. It was a wrestling match; +and the combatants were his own chief shepherd and a stranger. In a +few moments the shepherd was handsomely "thrown" and nobody knew +exactly how it had been done. But there was hearty applause, led by +the Squire, who, nodding at his big ploughman, cried out, "Now then, +Adam Sedbergh, stand up for Atheling!" Adam flung off his vest and +stepped confidently forward; but though a famous wrestler among his +fellows, he got as speedy and as fair a fall as the shepherd had received +before him. The cheers were not quite as hearty at this result, but the +Squire said peremptorily,-- + +"It is all right. Hold my horse, Jarum. I'll have to cap this match +myself. And stand back a bit, men, I want room enough to turn in." He +was taking off his fine broadcloth coat and vest as he spoke, and the lad +he was to match, stood looking at him with his hands on his hips, and a +smile on his handsome face. Perhaps the attitude and the smile nettled +the Squire, for he added with some pride and authority,-- + +"I would like you to know that I am Squire Atheling; and I am not going +to have a better wrestler than myself in Atheling Manor, young man, not +if I can help it." + +"I know that you are Squire Atheling," answered the stranger. "I have +been living with your son Edgar for a year, why wouldn't I know you? And +if I prove myself the better man, then you shall stop and listen to me +for half-an-hour, and you may stop a whole hour, if you want to; and I +think you will." + +"I know nothing about Edgar Atheling, and I am not standing here +either to talk to thee, or to listen to thee, but to give thee a fair +'throw' if I can manage it." He stretched out his left hand as he +spoke, and the young man grasped it with his right hand. This result +was anticipated; there was a swift twist outward, and a lift upward, and +before anyone realised what would happen, a pair of shapely young legs +were flying over the Squire's shoulder. Then there rose from twenty +Yorkshire throats a roar of triumph, and the Squire put his hands on his +hips, and looked complacently at the stranger flicking the Atheling +dust from his trousers. He took his defeat as cheerily as his triumph. +"It was a clever throw, Squire," he said. + +"Try it again, lad." + +"Nay, I have had enough." + +"I thought so. Now then, don't brag of thy wrestling till thou +understandest a bit of 'In-play.' But I'll warrant thou canst talk, +so I'll give myself a few minutes to listen to thee. I should say, I +am twice as old as thou art, but I notice that it is the babes and +sucklings that know everything, these days." + +As the Squire was speaking, the youth leaped into an empty cart which +someone pushed forward, and he was ready with his answer,-- + +"Squire," he said, "it will take not babes, but men like you and these +I see around me, for the wrestling match before us all. What we have to +tackle is the British Government and the two Houses of Parliament." + +The Squire laughed scornfully. "They will 'throw' thee into the +strongest jail in England, my lad; they will sink thee four feet under +ground, if thou art bound for any of that nonsense." + +"They will have enough to do to take care of themselves soon." + +"Thou art saying more than thou knowest. Wouldst thou have the horrors +of 1792 acted over again, in England? My lad, I was a youngster then, +but I saw the red flag, dripping with blood, go round the Champ-de-Mars." + +"None of us want to carry the red flag, Squire. It is the tri-colour +of Liberty we want; and that flag--in spite of all tyrants can do--will +be carried round the world in glory! When I was in America--" + +"Wilt thou be quiet about them foreign countries? We have bother enough +at home, without going to the world's end for more. And I will have no +such talk in my manor. If thou dost not stop it, I shall have to make +thee." + +"King William, and all his Lords and Commons, cannot stop such talk. +It is on every honest tongue, and at every decent table. It is in the +air, Squire, and the winds of heaven carry it wherever they go." + +"If thou saidst _William Cobbett_, thou mightst happen hit the truth. +The winds of heaven have better work to do. What art thou after anyway?" + +"Such a Parliamentary Reform as will give every honest man a voice in +the Government." + +"Just so! Thou wouldst make the door of the House of Commons big enough +for any rubbish to go through." + +"The plan has been tried, Squire, in America; and + + As the Liberty Lads over the sea, + Bought their freedom--and cheaply--with blood; + So we, boys, we + Will die fighting; or live free, + And down with--" + +"Stop there!" roared the Squire. "Nonsense in poetry is a bit worse +than any other kind of nonsense. Speak in plain words, or be done with +it! Do you know what you want?" + +"That we do. We want the big towns, where working men are the many, and +rich men, the few, to be represented. We want all sham boroughs thrown +out. What do you think of Old Sarum sending a member to Parliament, +when there isn't any Old Sarum? There used to be, in the days of King +Edward the First, but there is now no more left of it than there is of +the Tower of Babel. What do you think of the Member for Ludgershall +being not only the Member, but the _whole constituency_ of Ludgershall? +What do you think of Gatton having just seven voters, and sending +_two_ members to Parliament?"--then leaning forward, and with burning +looks drinking the wind of his own passionate speech--"What do you +think of _Leeds! Manchester! Birmingham! Sheffield!_ being _without +any representation_!" + +"My lad," cried the Squire, "have not Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, +Sheffield, done very well without representation?" + +"Squire, a child may grow to a man without love and without care; but +he is a robbed and a wronged child, for all that." + +"The Government knows better than thee what to do with big towns full of +unruly men and women." + +"That is just the question. They are not represented, because they +are made up of the working population of England. But the working man +has not only his general rights, he has also rights peculiar to his +condition; and it is high time these rights were attended to. Yet these +great cities, full of woollen and cotton weavers, and of fine workers +in all kinds of metals, have not a man in Parliament to say a word for +them." + +"What is there to say? What do they want Parliament to know?" asked the +Squire, scornfully. + +"They want Parliament to know that they are being forced to work twelve +hours a day, for thirty pennies a week; and that they have to pay ten +pennies for every four-pound loaf of bread. And they expect that when +Parliament knows these two facts, something will be done to help them in +their poverty and misery. They believe that the people of England will +_compel_ Parliament to do something." + +"There are Members in both Houses that know these things, why do they +not speak?--if it was reasonable to do so." + +"Squire, they dare not. They have not the power, even if they had the +will. The Peers and the great Landlords own two-thirds of the House of +Commons. They _own_ their boroughs and members, just as they _own_ their +parks and cattle. One duke returns eleven members; another duke returns +nine members; and such a city as Manchester cannot return one! If this +state of things does not need reforming, I do not know what does." + +So far his words had rushed rattling on one another, like the ring of +iron on iron in a day of old-world battle; but at this point, the Squire +managed again to interrupt them. From his saddle he had something of an +advantage, as he called out in an angry voice,-- + +"And pray now, what are _you_ to make by this business? Is it a bit of +brass--or land--or power that you look forward to?" + +"None of them. I have set my heart on the goal, and not on the prize. +Let the men who come after me reap; I am glad enough if I may but plough +and sow. The Americans--" + +"_Chaff_, on the Americans! We are North-Riding men. We are Englishmen. +We are sound-hearted, upstanding fellows who do our day's work, enjoy +our meat and drinking, pay our debts, and die in our beds; and we +want none of thy Reform talk! It is all scandalous rubbish! Bouncing, +swaggering, new-fashioned trumpery! We don't hold with Reformers, nor +with any of their ways! I will listen to thee no longer. Thou mayst talk +to my men, if they will be bothered with thee. I'm not afraid of +anything thou canst say to them." + +"I think they will be bothered with me, Squire. They do not look like +fools." + +"At any rate, there isn't one Reform fool among them; but I'll tell +thee something--go to a looking-glass, and thou mayst shake thy fist in +the face of one of the biggest fools in England,"--and to the laughter +this sally provoked the Squire galloped away. + +For a short distance, horse and rider kept up the pace of enthusiasm; +but when the village was left behind, the Squire's mood fell below its +level; and a sudden depression assailed him. He had "thrown" his man; +he had "threeped" him down in argument; but he had denied his son, +and he brought a hungry heart from his victory. The bright face of his +banished boy haunted the evening shadows; he grew sorrowfully impatient +at the memories of the past; and when he could bear them no longer, he +struck the horse a smart blow, and said angrily,-- + +"Dal it all! Sons and daughters indeed! A bitter, bitter pleasure!" + +At this exclamation, a turn in the road brought him in sight of two +horsemen. "_Whew!_ I am having a night of it!" he muttered. For he +recognised immediately the portly figure of the great Duke of Richmoor, +and he did not doubt that the slighter man at his side was his son, +Lord Exham. The recognition was mutual; and on the Duke's side very +satisfactory. He quickened his horse's speed, and cried out as he +neared the Squire,-- + +"Well met, Atheling! You are the very man I wished to see! Do you +remember Exham?" + +There was a little complimentary speaking, and then the Duke said +earnestly: "Squire, if there is one thing above another that at this +time the landed interest ought to do, it is to stand together. The +country is going to the devil; it is on the verge of revolution. We +must have a majority in the next Parliament; and we want you for the +borough of Asketh. Exham has come back from Italy purposely to take +Gaythorne. What do you say?" + +It was the great ambition of the Squire to go to Parliament, and the +little dispute he had just had with the stranger on the green had whetted +this desire to a point which made the Duke's question a very interesting +one to him; but he was too shrewd to make this satisfaction apparent. +"There are younger men, Duke," he answered slowly; "and they who go +to the next Parliament will have a trying time of it. I hear queer +tales, too, of Parliament men; and the House keeps late hours; and late +hours never did suit my constitution." + +"Come, Atheling, that is poor talk at a crisis like this. There will be +a meeting at the Castle on Friday--a very important meeting--and I shall +expect you to take the chair. We are in for such a fight as England has +not had since the days of Oliver Cromwell; and it would not be like John +Atheling to keep out of it." + +"It wouldn't. If there is anything worth fighting for, John Atheling +will be thereabouts, I'll warrant him." + +"Then we may depend upon you--Friday, and two in the afternoon, is the +day and the hour. You will not fail us?" + +"Duke, you may depend upon me." And so the men parted; the Squire, in +the unexpected proposal just made him, hardly comprehending the messages +of friendly courtesy which Lord Exham charged him to deliver to Mrs. and +Miss Atheling. + +"My word! My word!" he exclaimed, as soon as the Duke and he were far +enough back to back. "Won't Maude be set up? Won't little Kitty +plume her wings?" and in this vague, purposeless sense of wonder and +elation he reached his home. The gates to the large, sweet garden stood +open, but after a moment's thought, he passed them, and went round to +the farm court at the back of the house. The stables occupied one +side of this court, and he left his horse there, and proceeded to +the kitchen. The girls were starting the fires under the coppers for +the quarterly brewing; they said "the Missis was in the houseplace," +and the Squire opened the door between the two rooms, and went into +the houseplace. But the large room was empty, though the lattices were +open, and a sudden great waft of honeysuckle fragrance saluted him as +he passed them. He noticed it, and he noticed also the full moonlight +on the rows of shining pewter plates and flagons, though he was not +conscious at the time that these things had made any impression upon him. + +Two or three steps at the west end of this room led to a door which +opened into Mrs. Atheling's parlour; and the Squire passed it +impatiently. The news of the night had become too much for him; he wanted +to tell his wife. But Mrs. Atheling was not in her parlour. A few ash +logs were burning brightly on the hearth, and there was a round table +spread for supper, and the candles were lit, and showed him the +mistress's little basket containing her keys and her knitting, but +neither wife nor daughter were to be seen. + +"It is always the way," he muttered. "It is enough to vex any man. +Women are sure to be out of the road when they are wanted; and in the +road when nobody cares to see them. Wherever has Maude taken herself?" +Then he opened a door and called "Maude! Maude!" in no gentle voice. + +[Illustration:] + +In a few minutes the call was answered. Mrs. Atheling came hurriedly +into the room. There was a pleasant smile on her large, handsome face, +and she carried in her hands a bowl of cream and a loaf of white bread. +"Why, John!" she exclaimed, "whatever is to do? I was getting a bit +of supper for you. You are late home to-night, aren't you?" + +"I should think I was--all of an hour-and-a-half late." + +"But you are not ill, John? There is nothing wrong, I hope?" + +"If things go a bit out of the common way, women always ask if they have +gone wrong. I should think, they might as well go right." + +"So they might. Here is some fresh cream, John. I saw after it myself; +and the haver-cake is toasted, and--" + +"Nay, but I'll have my drinking to-night, Maude. I have been flustered +more than a little, I can tell thee that." + +"Then you shall have your drinking. We tapped a fresh barrel of old ale +an hour ago. It is that strong and fine as never was; by the time you +get to your third pint, you will be ready to make faces at Goliath." + +"Well, Maude, if making faces means making fight, there will be enough +of that in every county of England soon,--if Dukes and Radical orators +are to be believed." + +"Have you seen the Duke to-night?" + +"I have. He has offered me a seat in the next Parliament. He thinks +there is a big fight before us." + +"Parliament! And the Duke of Richmoor to seat you! Why, John, I am +astonished!" + +"I felt like I was dreaming. Now then, where is Kate? I want to tell +the little maid about it. It will be a grand thing for Kate. She will +have some chances in London, and I'll warrant she is Yorkshire enough to +take the best of them." + +"Kate was at Dashwood's all the afternoon; and they were riding races; +and she came home tired to death. I tucked her up in her bed an hour +ago." + +"I am a bit disappointed; but things are mostly ordered that way. There +is something else to tell you, Maude. I saw a stranger on the green throw +Bill Verity and Adam Sedbergh; and I could not stand such nonsense as +that, so I off with my coat and settled him." + +"You promised me that you would not 'stand up' any more, John. Some +of them youngsters will give you a 'throw' that you won't get easy +over. And you out of practice too." + +"Out of practice! Nothing of the sort. What do you think I do with +myself on wet afternoons? What could I do with myself, but go to the +granary and have an hour or two's play with Verity and Sedbergh, or any +other of the lads that care to feel my grip? I have something else to +tell you, Maude. I had a talk with this strange lad. He began some Reform +nonsense; and I settled him very cleverly." + +"Poor lad!" She spoke sadly and absently, and it nettled the Squire. +"I know what you are thinking, Mistress," he said; "but the time has +come when we are bound to stick to our own side." + +"The poor are suffering terribly, John. They are starved and driven to +the last pinch. There never was anything like it before." + +"Women are a soft lot; it would not do to give up to their notions." + +"If you mean that women have soft hearts, it is a good thing for men +that women are that way made." + +"I have not done with my wonders yet. Who do you think was with the +Duke?" + +"I don't know, and I can't say that I care." + +"Yes, but you do. It was Lord Exham. He said this and that about you, +but I did not take much notice of his fine words." Then he rose and +pushed his chair aside, and as he left the room added,-- + +"That stranger lad I had the tussle with to-night says he knows your +son Edgar--that they have lived and worked together for a year,--a very +unlikely thing." + +"Stop a minute, Squire. Are you not ashamed of yourself to keep this +news for a tag-end? Why it is the best thing I have heard to-night; and +I'll be bound you let it go past you like a waft of wind. What did you +ask the stranger about _my_ son?" + +"Nothing. Not a word." + +"It was like your stubborn heart. _My son_ indeed! If ever you had a +son, it is Edgar. You were just like him when I married you--not as +handsome--but very near; and you are as like as two garden peas in your +pride, and self-will, and foolish anger. Don't talk to me of Dukes, and +Lords, and Parliaments, and wrestling matches. I want to hear about +_my_ son. If you have nothing to say about Edgar, I care little for +your other news." + +"Why, Maude! Whatever is the matter with you? I have lived with you +thirty years, and it seems that I have never known you yet." + +"But I know you, John Atheling. And I am ashamed of myself for having +made nothing better out of you in thirty years. I thought I had you +better shaped than you appear to be." + +"I shall need nothing but my shroud, when thou, or any other mortal, +shapest me." + +"Fiddlesticks! Go away with your pride! I have shaped everything for +you,--your house, and your eating; your clothes, and your religion; and +if I had ever thought you would have fallen into Duke Richmoor's hands, +I would have shaped your politics before this time of day." + +"Now, Maude, thou canst easily go further than thou canst come back, +if thou dost not take care. Thou must remember that I am thy lord and +husband." + +"To be sure, thou hast that name. But thou hast always found it best +to do as thy lady and mistress told thee to do; and if ever thou didst +take thy own way, sorry enough thou hast been for it. Talk of clay in the +hands of the potter! Clay is free and independent to what a man is in the +hands of his wife. Now, John, go to bed. I won't speak to thee again +till I find out something about _my_ son Edgar." + +"Very well, Madame." + +"I have been thy guardian angel for thirty years"--and Mrs. Atheling +put her head in her hands, and began to cry a little. The Squire could +not bear that argument; he turned backward a few steps, and said in a +more conciliatory voice,-- + +"Come now, Maude. Thou hast been my master for thirty years; for that +is what thou meanest by 'guardian angel.' But there is nothing worth +crying about. I thought I had brought news that would set thee up a bit; +but women are never satisfied. What dost thou want more?" + +"I want thee to go in the morning and find out all about Edgar. I want +thee to bring his friend up here. I would like to question him myself." + +"I will not do it." + +"Then thou oughtest to be ashamed of thyself for as cruel, and stubborn, +and ill-conditioned a father as I know of. John, dear John, I am very +unhappy about the lad. He went away without a rag of his best clothes. +There's the twelve fine linen shirts Kitty made him, backstitched +and everything, lying in his drawers yet, and his top-coat hanging on +the peg in his room, and his hat and cane so natural like; and he never +was a lad to take care of his health; and so--" + +"Now, Maude, I have humbled a bit to thee many a time; and I don't +mind it at all; for thou art only a woman--and a woman and a wife can +blackguard a man as no other body has either the right or the power to +do--but I will not humble to Edgar Atheling. No, I won't! He is about as +bad a prodigal son as any father could have." + +"Well, I never! Putting thy own son down with harlots and swine, and +such like!" + +"I do nothing of the sort, Maude. There's all kinds of prodigals. +Has not Edgar left his home and gone away with Radicals and Reformers, +and poor, discontented beggars of all makes and kinds? Happen, I could +have forgiven him easier if it had been a bit of pleasuring,--wine and +a bonny lass, or a race-horse or two. But mechanics' meetings, and +pandering to ranting Radicals--I call it scandalous!" + +"Edgar has a good heart." + +"A good heart! A cat and a fiddle! And that friend of his thou wantest +me to run after, he is nothing but a bouncing, swaggering puppy! Body of +me, Maude! I will not have this subject named again. If thou thinkest I +will ever humble to Edgar Atheling, thou art off thy horse; for I will +not--_never_!" + +"Well, John, as none of thy family were ever out of their senses before, +I do hope thou wilt come round; I do indeed!" + +"Make thyself easy on that score. Lord! What did the Almighty make women +of? It confounds me." + +"To be sure it does. Didst thou expect the Almighty to tell thee? He +has so ordered things that men get wed, and then try and find the secret +out. Thou hadst better go to bed, John Atheling. I see plainly there +is neither sense nor reason in thee to-night. I fancy thou art a bit +set up with the thought of being sent to Parliament by Duke Richmoor. I +wouldn't if I was thee, for thou wilt have to do just what he tells +thee to do." + +"What an aggravating woman thou art!" and with the words he passed +through the door, clashing it after him in a way that made Mistress +Atheling smile and nod her handsome head understandingly. She stood +waiting until she heard a door clash sympathetically up-stairs, and +then she said softly,-- + +"He did not manage to 'throw' or 'threep' me; if he was cock of +the walk down on the green--what fools men are!--I see clear through +him--stubborn though--takes after his mother--and there never was a woman +more stubborn than Dame Joan Atheling." + +During this soliloquy she was locking up the cupboards in the parlour +and houseplace. Then she opened the kitchen door and sharply gave the +two women watching the malt mash her last orders; after which she took +off her slippers at the foot of the stairs, and went very quietly up +them. She had no light, but without any hesitation she turned towards +a certain corridor, and gently pushed open a door. It let her into a +large, low room; and the moonlight showed in the centre of it a high +canopied bedstead, piled with snowy pillows and drapery, and among them, +lying with closed eyes, her daughter Kate. + +"Kate! Kitty darling! Are you awake?" she whispered. + +"Mother! Yes, dear Mother, I am wide awake." + +"Your father has been in one of his tantrums again--fretting and fuming +like everything." + +"Poor father! What angered him?" + +"Well, child, I angered him. Why wouldn't I? He saw a man in the +village who has been living with Edgar for a year, and he never asked +him whether your poor brother was alive or dead. What do you think of +that?" + +"It was too bad. Never mind, Mother. I will go to the village in the +morning, and I will find the man, and hear all about Edgar. If there is +any chance, and you want to see him, I will bring him here." + +"I would like him to come here, Kitty; for you know he might take Edgar +his best clothes. The poor lad must be in rags by this time." + +"Don't fret, Mother. I'll manage it." + +"I knew you would. Your father is going to Parliament, Kate. The Duke +offers to seat him, and you will get up to London. What do you think of +that?" + +"I am very glad to hear it. Father ought to be in Parliament. He is such +a straight-forward man." + +"Well, I don't know whether that kind of man is wanted there, Kate; but +he will do right, and speak plain, I have no doubt. I thought I would +tell you at once. It is something to look forward to. Now go to sleep and +dream of what may come out of it,--for one thing, you shall have plenty +of fine new dresses--good-night, my dear child." + +"Good-night, Mother. You may go sweetly to sleep, for I will find out +all about Edgar. You shall be at rest before dinner-time to-morrow." +Then the mother stooped and tucked in the bedclothing, not because it +needed it, but because it was a natural and instinctive way to express +her care and tenderness. Very softly she stepped to the door, but +ere she reached it, turned back to the bed, and laying her hand upon +Kitty's head whispered, "Lord Exham is home again. He is coming here +to-morrow." + +And Kate neither spoke nor moved; but when she knew that she was quite +alone, a sweet smile gathered round her lips, and with a gentle sigh she +went quickly away to the Land of Happy Dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER SECOND + +CECIL AND EDGAR + + +Early the next morning the Squire was in the parlour standing at the +open lattices, and whistling to a robin on a branch of the cherry-tree +above them. The robin sang, and the Squire whistled, scattering crumbs +as he did so, and it was this kindly picture which met Kate's eyes as +she opened the door of the room. To watch and to listen was natural; +and she stood on the threshold doing so until the Squire came to the +last bars of his melody. Then in a gay voice she took it up, and sang to +his whistling: + + "_York! York! for my money!_"[1] + +------ +[Footnote 1: "York! York for my monie + Of all the places I ever did see + This is the place for good companie + Except the city of London."] + +"Hello, Kate!" he cried in his delight as he turned to her; and as +joyously as the birds sing "Spring!" she called, "Good-morning, +Father!" + +"God bless thee, Kate!" and for a moment he let his eyes rest on the +vision of her girlish beauty. For there was none like Kate Atheling in +all the North-Riding; from her sandalled feet to her shining hair, she +was the fairest, sweetest maid that ever Yorkshire bred,--an adorable +creature of exquisite form and superb colouring; merry as a bird, with a +fine spirit and a most affectionate heart. As he gazed at her she came +close to him, put her fingers on his big shoulders, and stood on tiptoes +to give him his morning greeting. He lifted her bodily and kissed her +several times; and she said with a laugh,-- + +"One kiss for my duty, and one for my pleasure, and all the rest are +stolen. Put me down, Father; and what will you do for me to-day?" + +"What wouldst thou like me to do?" + +"May I ride with you?" + +"Nay; I can't take thee with me to-day. I am going to Squire Ayton's, +and from there to Rudby's, and very like as far as Ormesby and +Pickering." + +"Then you will not be home to dinner?" + +"Not I. I shall get my dinner somewhere." + +"Can I come and meet you?" + +"Thou hadst better not." + +At this moment Mrs. Atheling entered, and Kate, turning to her, +said, "Mother, I am not to ride with father to-day. He is going a +visiting,--going to get his dinner 'somewhere,' and he thinks I +had better not come to meet him." + +"Father is right. Father knows he is not to trust to when he goes +'somewhere' for his dinner. For he will call for Ayton, and they two +will get Rudby, and then it will be Ormesby, and so by dinner-time they +may draw rein at Pickering, and Pickering will start 'Corn Laws' and +'Protection for the Farmers,' and midnight will be talked away. Is not +that about right, John?" but she asked the question with a smile that +proved Maude Atheling was once more the wise and loving "guardian +angel" of her husband. + +"Thou knowest all about it, Maude." + +"I know enough, any way, to advise thee to stand by thy own heart, +and to say and do what it counsels thee. Pickering is made after the +meanest model of a Yorkshireman; and when a Yorkshireman turns out to +be a failure, he is a ruin, and no mistake." + +"What by that? I can't quarrel with Pickering. You may kick up a dust +with your neighbour, but, sooner or later, it will settle on your own +door-stone. It is years and years since I learned that lesson. And as for +Pickering's ideas, many a good squire holds the same." + +"I don't doubt it. Whatever the Ass says, the asses believe; thou wilt +find that out when thou goest to Parliament." + +"Are you really going to Parliament, Father?" + +"Wouldst thou like me to go, Kate?" + +"Yes, if I may go to London with you." + +"It isn't likely I would go without thee. Did thy mother tell thee, +Lord Exham has come back from Italy to sit for Gaythorne." + +"A long way to come for so little," she answered. "Why, Father! there +are only a few hovels in Gaythorne, and all the men worth anything have +gone to Leeds to comb wool. Poor fellows!" + +"Why dost thou say 'poor fellows'?" + +"Because, when a man has been brought up to do his day's work in fields +and barns, among grass, and wheat, and cattle, it is a big change to sit +twelve hours a day in 'the Devil's Hole,' for Martha Coates told me +that is what the wool-combing room is called." + +"There is no sense in such a name." + +"It is a very good name, I think, for rooms so hot and crowded, and so +sickening with the smells of soap, and wool, and oil, and steam. Martha +says her lads have turned Radicals and Methodists, and she doesn't +wonder. Neither do I." + +"Ay; it is as natural as can be. To do his duty by the land used to +be religion enough for any Yorkshire lad; but when they go to big towns, +they get into bad company; and there couldn't be worse company than +those weaving chaps of all kinds. No wonder the Government doesn't +want to hear from the big towns; they are full of a ranting crowd of +Non-contents." + +"Well, Father, if I was in their place, and the question of Content, or +Non-content, was put to me, I should very quickly say, 'Non-content.'" + +"Nobody is going to put the question to thee. Thy mother has not managed +to bring up a daughter any better than herself, I see that. Kate, my +little maid, Lord Exham will be here to-day; see that thou art civil +enough to him; it may make a lot of difference both to thee and me." + +"John Atheling!" cried his wife, "what a blunderer thou art! Why +can't thou let women and their ways alone?" + +When they rose from the breakfast-table, the Squire called for his horse, +and his favourite dogs, and bustled about until he had Mrs. Atheling +and half-a-dozen men and women waiting upon him. But there was much good +temper in all his authoritative brusqueness, and he went away in a little +flurry of eclat, his wife and daughter, his men and maid-servants, all +watching him down the avenue with a loving and proud allegiance. He was +so physically the expression of his place and surroundings that not a +soul in Atheling ever doubted that the Squire was in the exact place to +which God Almighty had called him. + +On this morning he was dressed in a riding suit of dark blue broadcloth +trimmed with gilt buttons; his vest was white, his cravat white, and his +hat of black beaver. As he galloped away, he swept it from his brow to +his stirrups in an adieu to his wife and daughter; but the men and +women-servants took their share in the courtesy, and it was easy to +feel the cheer of admiration, only expressed by their broad smiles +and sympathetic glances. As soon as "the Master" was out of sight, +they turned away, each to his or her daily task; and Kate looked at +her mother inquiringly. There was an instant understanding, and very +few words were needed. + +"Thou hadst better lose no time. He might get away early." + +"He will not leave until he sees us, Mother. That is what he came to +Atheling for,--I'll warrant it,--and if I don't go to the village, he +will come here; I know he will." + +"Kitty, I can't, I can't trust to that--and you promised." + +"I am going to keep my promise, Mother. Have my mare at the door in ten +minutes, and I will be ready." + +Mrs. Atheling had attended to this necessity before breakfast, and +the mare was immediately waiting. She was a creature worthy of the +Beauty she had to carry,--dark chestnut in colour, with wide haunches +and deep oblique shoulders. Her mane was fine, her ears tremulous, her +nostrils thin as parchment, her eyes human in intelligence, her skin +like tissue-paper, showing the warm blood pressing against it, and the +veins standing clearly out. Waiting fretted her, and she pawed the +garden gravel impatiently with her round, dark, shining hoofs until +Kate appeared. Then she uttered a low whinny of pleasure, and bent +her head for the girl to lay her face against it. + +[Illustration:] + +A light leap from the groom's hand put Kate in her seat, and a lovelier +woman never gathered reins in hand. In those days also, the riding +dress of women did not disfigure them; it was a garb that gave to Kate +Atheling's loveliness grace and dignity, an air of discreet freedom, +and of sweet supremacy,--a close-fitting habit of fine cloth, falling +far below her feet in graceful folds, and a low beaver hat, crowned +with drooping plumes, shadowing her smiling face. One word to the mare +was sufficient; she needed no whip, and Kate would not have insulted +her friend and companion by carrying one. + +For a little while they went swiftly, then Kate bent and patted the +mare's neck, and she instantly obeyed the signal for a slower pace. For +Kate had seen before them a young man sitting on a stile, and teaching +two dogs to leap over the whip which he held in his hand. She felt +sure this was the person she had to interview; yet she passed him without +a look, and went forward towards the village. After riding half-a-mile +she took herself to task for her cowardice, and turned back again. +The stranger was still sitting on the stile, and as she approached +him she heard a hearty laugh, evoked doubtless by some antic or mistake +of the dogs he was playing with. She now walked her mare toward him, and +the young man instantly rose, uncovered his head, and, pushing the dogs +away, bowed--not ungracefully--to her. Yet he did not immediately speak, +and Kate felt that she must open the conversation. + +"Do you--do you want to find any place?" she asked. "I think you are +a stranger--and I am at home here." + +He smiled brightly and answered, "Thank you. I want to find Atheling +Manor-house. I have a message for Mrs. and Miss Atheling." + +"I am Miss Atheling; and I am now returning to the house. I suppose that +you are the Wrestler and Orator of last night. My father told us about +the contest. Mother wishes to talk with you--we have heard that you know +my brother Edgar--we are very unhappy about Edgar. Do you know anything +of him? Will you come and see mother--_now_--she is very anxious?" + +These questions and remarks fell stumblingly from her lips, one after +the other; she was excited and trembling at her own temerity, and yet +all the time conscious she was Squire Atheling's daughter and in her +father's Manor, having a kind of right to assume a little authority and +ask questions. The stranger listened gravely till Kate ceased speaking, +then he said,-- + +"My name is Cecil North. I know Edgar Atheling very well. I am ready to +do now whatever you wish." + +"Then, Mr. North, I wish you would come with me. It is but a short walk +to the house; Candace will take little steps, and I will show you the +way." + +"Thank you." + +He said only these two words, but they broke up his face as if there +was music in them; for he smiled with his lips and his eyes at the same +time. Kate glanced down at him as he walked by her side. She saw that +he was tall, finely formed, and had a handsome face; that he was well +dressed, and had an air of distinction; and yet she divined in some +occult way that this animal young beauty was only the husk of his being. +After a few moments' silence, he began that commonplace chat about +horses which in Yorkshire takes the place that weather does in other +localities. He praised the beauty and docility of Candace, and Kate hoped +she was walking slowly enough; and then Cecil North admired her feet +and her step, and asked if she ever stumbled or tripped. This question +brought forth an eager denial of any such fault, and an opinion that +the rider was to blame when such an accident happened. + +"In a general way, you are right, Miss Atheling," answered North. "If +the rider sits just and upright, then any sudden jerk forward throws the +shoulders backward; and in that case, if a horse thinks proper to fall, +_he_ will be the sufferer. He may cut his forehead, or hurt his nose, or +bark his knees, but he will be a buffer to his rider." + +"Candace has never tripped with me. I have had her four years. I will +never part with her." + +"That is right. Don't keep a horse you dislike, and don't part with +one that suits you." + +"Do you love horses?" + +"Yes. A few years ago I was all for horses. I could sit anything. I +could jump everything, right and left. I had a horse then that was made +to measure, and foaled to order. No one borrowed him twice. He had a +way of coming home without a rider. But I have something better than +horses to care for now; and all I need is a good roadster." + +"My father likes an Irish cob for that purpose." + +"Nothing better. I have one in the village that beats all. He can trot +fourteen miles an hour, and take a six-foot wall at the end of it." + +"Do you ride much?" + +"I ride all over England." + +She looked curiously at him, but asked no questions; and North continued +the conversation by pointing out to her the several points which made +Candace so valuable. "In the first place," he said, "her colour is +good,--that dark chestnut shaded with black usually denotes speed. She +has all the signs of a thoroughbred; do you know them?" + +"No; but I should like to." + +"They are three things long,--long ears, long neck, and long forelegs. +Three things short,--short dock, short back, and short hindlegs. Three +things broad,--broad forehead, broad chest, and broad croup. Three +things clean,--clean skin, clean eyes, and clean hoofs. Then the nostrils +must be quite black. If there had been any white in the nostrils of +Candace, I would have ranked her only 'middling.'" + +Kate laughed pleasantly, and said over several times the long, short, +broad, and clean points that went to the making of a thoroughbred; +and, by the time the lesson was learned, they were at the door of the +Manor-house. Mrs. Atheling stood just within it, and when Kate said,-- + +"Mother, this is Edgar's friend, Mr. Cecil North," she gave him her +hand and answered: + +"Come in! Come in! Indeed I am fain and glad to see you!" and all the +way through the great hall, and into her parlour, she was beaming and +uttering welcomes. "First of all, you must have a bit of eating and +drinking," she said, "and then you will tell me about my boy." + +"Thank you. I will take a glass of ale, if it will please you." + +"It will please me beyond everything. You shall have it from the +Squire's special tap: ale smooth as oil, sweet as milk, clear as +amber, fourteen years old next twenty-ninth of March. And so you know +my son Edgar?" + +"I know him, and I love him with all my heart. He is as good as gold, +and as true as steel." + +"To be sure, he is. I'm his mother, and I ought to know him; and that +is what I say. How did you come together?" + +"We met first at Cambridge; but we were not in the same college or set, +so that I only knew him slightly there. Fortune had appointed a nobler +introduction for us. I was in Glasgow nearly a year ago, and I wandered +down to the Green, and was soon aware that the crowd was streaming to one +point. Edgar was talking to this crowd. Have you ever heard him talk to +a crowd?" + +The mother shook her head, and Kate said softly: "We have never heard +him." She had taken off her hat, and her face was full of interest and +happy expectation. + +"Well," continued North, "he was standing on a platform of rough +boards that had been hastily put together, and I remembered instantly +his tall, strong, graceful figure, and his bright, purposeful face. +He was tanned to the temples, his cheeks were flushed, the wind was in +his hair, the sunlight in his eyes; and, with fiery precipitance of +assailing words, he was explaining to men mad with hunger and injustice +the source of all their woes and the remedy to be applied. I became +a man as I listened to him. That hour I put self behind me and vowed +my life, and all I have, to the cause of Reform; because he showed me +plainly that Parliamentary Reform included the righting of every social +wrong and cruelty." + +"Do you really think so?" asked Kate. + +"Indeed, I am sure of it. A Parliament that represented the great middle +and working classes of England would quickly do away with both black +and white slavery,--would repeal those infamous Corn Laws which have +starved the working-man to make rich the farmer; would open our ports +freely to the trade of all the world; would educate the poor; give much +shorter hours of labour, and wages that a man could live on. Can I ever +forget that hour? Never! I was born again in it!" + +"That was the kind of talk that he angered his father with," said Mrs. +Atheling, between tears and smiles. "You see it was all against the land +and the land-owners; and Edgar would not be quiet, no matter what I said +to him." + +"He _could not_ be quiet. He had _no right_ to be quiet. Why! he sent +every man and woman home that night with hope in their hearts and a +purpose in their wretched lives. Oh, if you could have seen those sad, +cold faces light and brighten as they listened to him." + +"Was there no one there that didn't think as he did?" + +"I heard only one dissenting voice. It came from a Minister. He called +out, 'Lads and lasses, take no heed of what this fellow says to you. +He is nothing but a Dreamer.' Instantly Edgar took up the word. 'A +Dreamer!' he cried joyfully. 'So be it! What says the old Hebrew +prophet? Look to your Bible, sir. Let him that hath a dream tell it. +Dreamers have been the creators, the leaders, the saviours of the world. +And we will go on dreaming until our dream comes true!' The crowd +answered him with a sob and a shout--and, oh, I wish you had been there!" + +Kate uttered involuntarily a low, sympathetic cry that she could not +control, and Mrs. Atheling wept and smiled; and when North added, in a +lower voice full of feeling, "There is no one like Edgar, and I love +him as Jonathan loved David!" she went straight to the speaker, took +both his hands in hers, and kissed him. + +"Thou art the same as a son to me," she said, "and thou mayst count on +my love as long as ever thou livest." And in this cry from her heart +she forgot her company pronoun, and fell naturally into the familiar and +affectionate "thou." + +Fortunately at this point of intense emotion a servant entered with a +flagon of the famous ale, and some bread and cheese; and the little +interruption enabled all to bring themselves to a normal state of +feeling. Then the mother thought of Edgar's clothing, and asked North +if he could take it to him. North smiled. "He is a little of a dandy +already," he answered. "I saw him last week at Lady Durham's, and he +was the best dressed man in her saloon." + +"Now then!" said Mrs. Atheling, "thou art joking a bit. Whatever would +Edgar be doing at Lady Durham's?" + +"He had every right there, as he is one of Lord Durham's confidential +secretaries." + +"Art thou telling me some romance?" + +"I am telling you the simple truth." + +"Then thou must tell me how such a thing came about." + +"Very naturally. I told Lord Grey and his son-in-law, Lord Durham, +about Edgar--and I persuaded Edgar to come and speak to the spur and +saddle-makers at Ripon Cross; and the two lords heard him with delight, +and took him, there and then, to Studley Royal, where they were +staying; and it was in those glorious gardens, and among the ruins of +Fountains Abbey, they planned together the Reform Campaign for the next +Parliament." + +"The Squire thinks little of Lord Grey," said Mrs. Atheling. + +"That is not to be wondered at," answered North. "Lord Grey is the +head and heart of Reform. When he was Mr. Charles Grey, and the pupil +of Fox, he presented to Parliament the famous Prayer, from the Society of +Friends, for Reform. That was thirty-seven years ago, but he has never +since lost sight of his object. By the side of such leaders as Burke, +and Fox, and Sheridan, his lofty eloquence has charmed the House until +the morning sun shone on its ancient tapestries. He and his son-in-law, +Lord Durham, have the confidence of every honest man in England. And +he is brave as he is true. More than once he has had the courage to tell +the King to his face what it was his duty to do." + +"And what of Lord Durham?" asked Kate. + +"He is a masterful man,--a bolder Radical than most Radicals. All over +the country he is known as Radical Jack. He has a strong, resolute will, +but during the last half-year he has leaned in all executive matters upon +'Mr. Atheling.' Indeed, there was enthusiastic talk last week at Lady +Durham's of sending 'Mr. Atheling' to the next Parliament." + +"My word! But that would never do!" exclaimed Mr. Atheling's mother. +"His father is going there for the landed interest; and if Edgar goes +for the people, there will be trouble between them. They will get to +talking back at each other, and the Squire will pontify and lay down +the law, even if the King and the Law-makers are all present. He will +indeed!" + +"It would be an argument worth hearing, for Edgar would neither lose +his temper nor his cause. Oh, I tell you there will be great doings in +London next winter! The Duke of Wellington and Mr. Peel will have to go +out; and Earl Grey will surely form a new Government." + +"The Squire says Earl Grey and Reform will bring us into civil war." + +"On the contrary, only Reform can prevent civil war. Hitherto, the +question has been, 'What will the Lords do?' Now it is, 'What must +be done with the Lords?' For once, all England is in dead earnest; +and the cry everywhere is, 'The Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing +but The Bill!' And if we win, as win we must, we shall remember how +Edgar Atheling has championed the cause. George the Fourth is on his +death-bed," he added in a lower voice. "He will leave his kingdom in +a worse plight than any king before him. I, who have been through the +land, may declare so much." + +"The poor are very poor indeed," said Mrs. Atheling. "Kate and I do +what we can, but the most is little." + +"The whole story of the poor is--slow starvation. The best silk weavers +in England are not able to make more than eight or nine shillings a +week. Thousands of men in the large towns are working for two-pence +half-penny a day; and thousands have no work at all." + +"What do they do?" whispered Kate. + +"They die. But I did not come here to talk on these subjects--only when +the heart is full, the mouth must speak. I have brought a letter and a +remembrance from Edgar," and he took from his pocket a letter and two +gold rings, and gave the letter and one ring to Mrs. Atheling, and the +other ring to Kate. "He bid me tell you," said North, "that some day +he will set the gold round with diamonds; but now every penny goes for +Reform." + +"And you tell Edgar, sir, that his mother is prouder of the gold thread +than of diamonds. Tell him, she holds her Reform ring next to her wedding +ring,"--and with the words Mrs. Atheling drew off her "guard" of +rubies, and put the slender thread of gold her son had sent her next her +wedding ring. At the same moment Kate slipped upon her "heart finger" +the golden token. Her face shone, her voice was like music: "Tell +Edgar, Mr. North," she said, "that my love for him is like this ring: +I do not know its beginning; but I do know it can have no end." + +Then North rose to go, and would not be detained; and the women walked +with him to the very gates, and there they said "good-bye." And all +the way through the garden Mrs. Atheling was sending tender messages to +her boy, though at the last she urged North to warn him against saying +anything "beyond bearing" to his father, if they should meet on the +battle-ground of the House of Commons. "It is so easy to quarrel on +politics," she said with all the pathos of reminiscent disputes. + +"It has always been an easy quarrel, I think," answered North. "Don't +you remember when Joseph wanted to pick a quarrel with his brethren, he +pretended to think they were a special commission sent to Egypt to spy +out the nakedness of the land?" + +"To be sure! And that is a long time ago. Good-bye! and God bless thee! +I shall never forget thy visit!" + +"And we wish 'The Cause' success!" added Kate. + +"Thank you. Success will come. They who _care_ and _dare_ can do +anything." With these words he passed through the gates, and Mrs. +Atheling and Kate went slowly back to the house, both of them turning +the new ring on their fingers. It was dinner-time, but little dinner +was eaten. Edgar's letter was to read; Mr. North to speculate about; and +if either of the women remembered Lord Exham's expected call, no remark +was made about it. + +Yet Kate was neither forgetful of the visit, nor indifferent to it. A +sweet trouble of heart, half-fear and half-hope, flushed her cheeks +and sent a tender light into her star-like eyes. In the very depths of +her being there existed a feeling she did not understand, and did not +investigate. Was it Memory? Was it Hope? Was it Love? She asked none of +these questions. But she dressed like a girl in a dream; and just as she +was sliding the silver buckle on her belt, a sudden trick of memory +brought back to her the rhyme of her childhood. And though she blushed +to the remembrance, and would not for anything repeat the words, her +heart sang softly to itself,-- + + "It may so happen, it may so fall, + That I shall be Lady of Exham Hall." + + + + +CHAPTER THIRD + +THE LORD OF EXHAM + + +On the very edge of the deep, tumbling becks which feed the Esk stands +Exham Hall. It is a stately, irregular building of gray stone; and when +the sunshine is on its many windows, and the flag of Richmoor flying from +its central tower, it looks gaily down into the hearts of many valleys, +where + + "The oak, and the ash, and the bonny ivy-tree, + Flourish at home in the North Countree." + +Otherwise, it has, at a distance, a stern and forbidding aspect. For +it is in a great solitude, and the babble of the beck, and the cawing +of the rooks, are the only sounds that usually break the silence. The +north part was built in A. D. 1320; and the most modern part in the reign +of James the First; and yet so well has it stood the wear and tear of +elemental and human life in this secluded Yorkshire vale that it does +not appear to be above a century old. + +It was usually tenanted either by the dowager of the family, or the +heir of the dukedom; and it had been opened at this time to receive its +young lord on his return from Italy. So it happened that at the very +hour when Mrs. and Miss Atheling were talking with Cecil North, Piers +Exham was sitting in a parlour of Exham Hall, thinking of Kate, and +recalling the events of their acquaintanceship. It had begun when he was +seventeen years old, and Kate Atheling exactly twelve. Indeed, because it +was her birthday, she was permitted to accompany an old servant going to +Exham Hall to visit the housekeeper, who was her cousin. + +This event made a powerful impression on Kate's imagination. It was +like a visit to some enchanted castle. She felt all its glamour and +mystery as soon as her small feet trod the vast entrance hall with +its hangings of Arras tapestry, and its flags and weapons from every +English battlefield. Her fingers touched lightly standards from Crecy, +and Agincourt, and the walls of Jerusalem; and her heart throbbed to the +touch. And as she climbed the prodigiously wide staircase of carved +and polished oak, she thought of the generations of knights, and lords +and ladies, who had gone up and down it, and wondered where they were. +And oh, the marvellous old rooms with their shadowy portraits, and +their treasures from countries far away!--shells, and carved ivories, +and sandalwood boxes; strange perfumes, and old idols, melancholy, +fantastic, odd; musky-smelling things from Asia; and ornaments and +pottery from Africa, their gloomy, primitive simplicity, mingling with +pretty French trifles, and Italian bronzes, and costly bits of china. + +It was all like an Arabian Night's adventure, and hardly needed the +touches of romance and superstition the housekeeper quite incidentally +threw in: thus, as they passed a very, very tall old clock with a silver +dial on a golden face, she said: "Happen, you would not believe it, +but on every tenth of June, a cold queer light travels all round that +dial. It begins an hour past midnight, and stops at an hour past noon. +I've seen it myself a score of times." And again, in going through +a state bed-room, she pointed out a cross and a candlestick, and said, +"They are made from bits of a famous ship that was blown up with an +Exham, fighting on the Spanish Main. I've heard tell that candles +were once lighted in that stick on his birthday; but there's been no +candle-lighting for a century, anyway." And Kate thought it was a +shame, and wished she knew his birthday, and might light candles again in +honour of the hero. + +With such sights and tales, her childish head and heart were filled; +and the mazy gardens, with their monkish fish-ponds and hedges, their old +sun-dials and terraces, their ripening berries and gorgeous flower-beds, +completed her fascination. She went back to Atheling ravished and +spellbound; too wrapt and charmed to talk much of what she had seen, and +glad when she could escape into the Atheling garden to think it all over +again. She went straight to her swing. It was hung between two large +ash-trees, and there were high laurel hedges on each side. In this +solitude she sat down to remember, and, as she did so, began to swing +gently to-and-fro, and to sing to her movement,-- + + "It may so happen, it may so fall, + That I shall be Lady of Exham Hall." + +And as she sung these lines over and over--being much pleased with their +unexpected rhyming--the young Lord of Exham Hall came through Atheling +garden. He heard his own name, and stood still to listen; then he softly +parted the laurel bushes, and watched the little maid, and heard her +sing her couplet, and merrily laugh to herself as she did so. And he +saw how beautiful she was, and there came into his heart a singular +warmth and pleasure; but, without discovering himself to the girl, he +delivered his message to Squire Atheling, and rode away. + +The next morning, however, he managed to carry his fishing-rod to the +same beck where Edgar Atheling was casting his line, and to so charm the +warm-hearted youth that meeting after meeting grew out of it. Nor was it +long until the friendship of the youths included that of the girl; so +that it was a very ordinary thing for Kate to go with her brother and +Piers Exham to the hill-streams for trout. As the summer grew they tossed +the hay together, and rode after the harvest wagons, and danced at the +Ingathering Feast, and dressed the ancient church at Christmastide, and +so, with ever-increasing kindness and interest, shared each other's joy +and sorrows for nearly two years. + +Then there was a break in the happy routine. Kate put on long dresses; +she was going to a fine ladies' school in York to be "finished," and +Edgar also was entered at Cambridge. Piers was to go to Oxford. He +begged to go to Cambridge with his friend; but the Duke approved the +Tory principles of his own University, and equally disapproved of +those of Cambridge, which he declared were deeply tainted with Whig +and even Radical ideas. Perhaps also he was inclined to break up the +close friendship between the Athelings and his heir. "No one can be +insensible to the beauty of Kate Atheling," he said to the Duchess; +"and Piers' constant association with such a lovely girl may not +be without danger." The Duchess smiled at the supposition. A royal +princess, in her estimation, was not above her son's deserts and +expectations; and the Squire's little home-bred girl was beneath +either her fears or her suppositions. This also was the tone in which +she received all her son's conversation about the Athelings. "Very nice +people, I dare say, Piers," she would remark; "and I am glad you have +such thoroughly respectable companions; but you will, of course, forget +them when you go to College, and begin your independent life." And +there was such an air of finality in these assertions that it was only +rarely Piers had the spirit to answer, "Indeed, I shall never forget +them!" + +So it happened that the last few weeks of their friendship missed much +of the easy familiarity and sweet confidence that had hitherto marked +its every change. Kate, with the new consciousness of dawning womanhood, +was shy, less frank, and less intimate. Strangers began to call her +"Miss" Atheling; and there were hours when the little beauty's airs +of maidenly pride and reserve made Piers feel that any other address +would be impertinent. And this change had come, no one knew how, only it +was there, and not to be gainsaid; and every day's events added some +trifling look, or word, or act which widened the space between them, +though the space itself was full of sweet and kindly hours. + +Then there came a day in autumn when Kate was to leave her home for the +York school. Edgar was already in Cambridge. Piers was to enter Oxford +the following week. This chapter of life was finished; and the three +happy souls that had made it, were to separate. Piers, who had a poetic +nature, and was really in love--though he suspected it not--was most +impressed with the passing away. He could not keep from Atheling, and +though he had bid Kate "good-bye" in the afternoon, he was not +satisfied with the parting. She had then been full of business: the +Squire was addressing her trunks; Mrs. Atheling crimping the lace +frill of her muslin tippets; and Kate herself bringing, one by one, +some extra trifle that at the last moment impressed her with its +necessity. It was in this hurry of household love and care that he had +said "good-bye," and he felt that it had been a mere form. + +Perhaps Kate felt it also; for when he rode up to Atheling gates in the +gloaming, he saw her sauntering up the avenue. He thought there was +both melancholy and expectation in her attitude and air. He tied his +horse outside, and joined her. She met him with a smile. He took her +hand, and she permitted him to retain it. He said, "Kate!" and she +answered the word with a glance that made him joyous, ardent, hopeful. +He was too happy to speak; he feared to break the heavenly peace between +them by a word. Oh, this is the way of Love! But neither knew the ways +of Love. They were after all but children, and the sweet thoughts in +their hearts had not come to speech. They wandered about the garden +until the gloaming became moonlight, and they heard Mrs. Atheling calling +her daughter. Then their eyes met, and, swift as the firing of a gun, +their pupils dilated and flashed with tender feeling; over their faces +rushed the crimson blood; and Piers said sorrowfully, "Kate! Sweet +Kate! I shall never forget you!" He raised the hand he held to his +lips, kissed it, and went hurriedly away from her. + +Kate was not able to say a word, but she felt the kiss on her hand +through all her sleep and dreams that night. Indeed five years of +change and absence had not chilled its warm remembrance; there were +hours when it was still a real expression, when the hand itself was +conscious of the experience, and willingly cherished it. All through +Cecil North's visit, she had been aware of a sense of expectancy. +Interested as she was in Edgar, the thought of Lord Exham would not be +put down. For a short time it was held in abeyance; but when the early +dinner was over, and she was in the solitude of her own room, Piers put +Edgar out of consideration. As she sat brushing and dressing her long +brown hair, she recalled little incidents concerning Piers,--how once +in the harvest-field her hair had tumbled down, and Piers praised its +tangled beauty; how he had liked this and the other dress; how he had +praised her dancing, and vowed she was the best rider in the county. +He had given her a little gold brooch for a Christmas present, and she +took it from its box, and said to herself she would wear it, and see if +it evoked its own memory in Exham's heart. + +It had been her intention to put on a white gown, but the day darkened +and chilled; and then she had a certain shyness about betraying, even +to her mother, her anxiety to look beautiful. Perhaps Piers might not now +think her beautiful in any garb. Perhaps he had forgotten--everything. +So, impelled by a kind of perverse indifference, she wore only the gray +woollen gown that was her usual afternoon attire. But the fashion of +the day left her lovely arms uncovered, and only veiled her shoulders +in a shadowing tippet of lace. She fastened this tippet with the +little gold brooch, just where the folds crossed the bosom. She had +hastened rather than delayed her dressing; and when Mrs. Atheling came +downstairs in her afternoon black silk dress, she found Kate already in +the parlour. She had taken from her work-box a piece of fine cambric, +and was stitching it industriously; and Mrs. Atheling lifted her own +work, and began to talk of Edgar, and Edgar's great fortune, and what +his father would say about it. This subject soon absorbed her; she +forgot everything in it; but Kate heard through all the radical +turmoil of the conversation the gallop of a strange horse on the +gravelled avenue, and the echo of strange footsteps on the flagged halls +of the house. + +[Illustration:] + +In the middle of some grand prophecy for Edgar's future, the parlour +door was opened, and Lord Exham entered. He came forward with something +of his boyhood's enthusiasm, and took Mrs. Atheling's hands, and said +a few words of pleasant greeting, indistinctly heard in the fluttering +gladness of Mrs. Atheling's reception. Then he turned to Kate. She had +risen, but she held her work in her left hand. He took it from her, +and laid it on her work-box, and then clasped both her hands in his. The +firm, lingering pressure had its own eloquence. In matters of love, +they who are to understand, _do_ understand; and no interpreter is needed. + +The conversation then became general and full of interest; but from +Oxford, and France, and Italy, it quickly drifted--as all conversation +did in those days--to Reform. And Mrs. Atheling could not keep the +news that had come to her that day. She magnified Edgar with a sweet +motherly vanity that was delightful, and to which Piers listened with +pleasure; for the listening gave him opportunity to watch Kate's +eloquent face, and to flash his sympathy into it. He thought her +marvellously beautiful. Her shining hair, her rich colouring, and her +large gray eyes were admirably emphasised by the homely sweetness of +her dress. After the lavish proportions, and gaily attired women of +Italy, nothing could have been more enchanting to Piers Exham than +Kate's subdued, gray-eyed loveliness, clad in gray garments. The +charming background of her picturesque home added to this effect; and +this background he saw and realised; but she had also a moral background +of purity and absolute sincerity which he did not see, but which he +undoubtedly felt. + +While Piers was experiencing this revelation of womanhood, it was not +likely Kate was without impressions. In his early youth, Exham had a +slight resemblance to Lord Byron; and he had been vain of the likeness, +and accentuated it by adopting the open collar, loose tie, and other +peculiarities of the poetic nobleman. Kate was glad to see this servile +imitation had been discarded. Exham was now emphatically individual. He +was not above medium height; but his figure was good, and his manner +gentle and courteous, as the manner of all superior men is. Grave and +high-bred, he had also much of the melancholy, mythical air of an +English nobleman, conscious of long antecedents, and dwelling in the +seclusion of shaded parks, and great houses steeped in the human aura +of centuries. His hair was very black, and worn rather long, and his +complexion, a pale bronze; but this lack of red colouring added to +the fascination of his dark eyes, which were remarkable for that deep +glow always meaning mental or moral power of some kind. They were +often half shut--and then--who could tell what was passing behind them? +And yet, when all this had been observed by Kate, she was sure that +something--perhaps the most essential part--had escaped her. + +This latter estimate was the correct one. No one as yet had learned +the heart or mind of Piers Exham. It is doubtful if he understood his own +peculiarities; for he had few traits of distinctive pre-eminence, his +character being very like an opal, where all colours are fused and +veiled in a radiant dimness. So that, after all, this meeting was a +first meeting; and Kate did not feel that the past offered her any +intelligible solution of the present man. + +The conversation having drifted to Edgar and Reform, stayed there. +Lord Exham spoke with a polite, but stubborn emphasis in favour of his +own caste, as the governing caste, and thought that the honour and +welfare of England might still be left "to those great Houses which +represented the collective wisdom of the nation." Nor was he disturbed +when Mrs. Atheling, with some scorn and temper, said "they represented +mostly the collective folly of the nation." He bowed and smiled at +the dictum, but Kate understood the smile; it was of that peculiarly +sweet kind which is equivalent to having the last word. He admitted +that some things wanted changing, but he said, "Changes could not be +manufactured; they must grow." "True," replied Kate, "but Reform +has been growing for sixty years." "That is as it should be," he +continued. "You cannot write Reforms on human beings, as you write it on +paper. Two or three generations are not enough." In all that was +said--and Mrs. Atheling said some very strong things--he took a polite +interest; but he made no surrender. Even if his words were conciliatory, +Kate saw in his eyes--languid but obstinately masterful--the stubborn, +headstrong will of a man who had inherited his prejudices, and who had +considered them in the light of his interest, and did not choose to bring +them to the light of reason. + +Still the conversation was a satisfactory and delightful vehicle of human +revelation. The two women paled and flushed, and grew sad or happy in +its possibilities, with a charming frankness. No social subject could +have revealed them so completely; and Exham enjoyed the disclosures of +feeling which this passionate interest evoked,--enjoyed it so much that +he forgot the lapse of time, and stayed till tea was ready, and then was +delighted to stay and take it with them. Mrs. Atheling was usually +relieved of the duty of making it by Kate; and Piers could not keep his +glowing eyes off the girl as her hands moved about the exquisite Derby +teacups, and handed him the sweet, refreshing drink. She remembered +that he loved sugar; that he did not love cream; that he preferred his +toast not buttered; that he liked apricot jelly; and he was charmed and +astonished at these proofs of remembrance, so much so indeed that he +permitted Mrs. Atheling to appropriate the whole argument. For this sweet +hour he resigned his heart to be pleased and happy. Too wise in some +things, not wise enough in others, Piers Exham had at least one great +compensating quality--the courage to be happy. + +He let all other feelings and purposes lapse for this one. He gave +himself up to charm, and to be charmed; he flattered Mrs. Atheling into +absolute complaisance; he persuaded Kate to walk through the garden +and orchard with him, and then, with caressing voice and a gentle +pressure of the hand, reminded her of days and events they had shared +together. Smiles flashed from face to face. Her simple sweetness, her +ready sympathy, her ingenuous girlish expressions, carried him back to +his boyhood. Kate shone on his heart like sunshine; and he did not +know that it had become dark until he had left Atheling behind, and found +himself Exham-way, riding rapidly to the joyful whirl and hurry of his +thoughts. + +Now happiness, as well as sorrow, is selfish. Kate was happy and not +disposed to talk about her happiness. Her mother's insistent questions +about Lord Exham troubled her. She desired to go into solitude with the +new emotions this wonderful day had produced; but the force of those +lovely habits of respect and obedience, which had become by constant +practice a second nature, kept her at her mother's side, listening with +sweet credulousness to all her opinions, and answering her hopes with +her own assurances. The reward of such dutiful deference was not long +in coming. In a short time Mrs. Atheling said,-- + +"It has been such a day as never was, Kate; and you must be tired. Now +then, go to bed, my girl, and sleep; for goodness knows when your father +will get home!" + +So Kate kissed her mother--kissed her twice--as if she was dimly +conscious of unfairly keeping back some pleasure, and would thus atone +for her selfishness. And Mrs. Atheling sat down in the chimney-corner +with the gray stocking she was knitting, and pondered her son's good +fortune for a while. Then she rose and sent the maids to bed, putting +the clock an hour forward ere she did so, and excusing the act by saying, +"If I don't set it fast, we shall soon be on the wrong side of +everything." + +Another hour she sat calmly knitting, while in the dead silence of the +house the clock's regular "_tick! tick!_" was like breathing. It +seemed to live, and to watch with her. As the Squire came noisily into +the room it struck eleven. "My word, Maude!" he said with great good +humour, "I am sorry to keep you waiting; but there has been some good +work done to-night, so you won't mind it, I'll warrant." + +"Well now, John, if you and your friends have been at Pickering's, and +have done any 'good' work there, I will be astonished! You may warrant +_that_ with every guinea you have." + +"We were at Rudby's. There were as many as nine landed men of us +together; and for once there was one mind in nine men." + +"That is, you were all for yourselves." + +"No! Dal it, we were all for old England and the Constitution! The +Constitution, just as it is, and no tinkering with it." + +"I wonder which of the nine was the biggest fool among you?" + +"Thou shouldst not talk in that way, Maude. The country is in real +danger with this Reform nonsense. Every Reformer ought to be hung, and I +wish they were hung." + +"I would be ashamed to say such words, John. Thou knowest well that thy +own son is a Reformer." + +"More shame to him, and to me, and to thee! I would have brought up a +better lad, or else I would hold my tongue about him. It was thy fault he +went to Cambridge. I spent good money then to spoil a fine fellow." + +"Now, John Atheling, I won't have one word said against Edgar in this +house." + +"It is my house." + +"Nay, but it isn't. Thou only hast the life rent of it. It is Edgar's +as much as thine. He will be here, like enough, when I and thou have gone +the way we shall never come back." + +"Maybe he will--and maybe he will not. I can break the entail if it +suits me." + +"Thou canst not. For, with all thy faults, thou art an upright man, +and thy conscience wouldn't let thee do anything as mean and spiteful +as that. How could we rest in our graves if there was any one but an +Atheling in Atheling?" + +"He is a disgrace to the name." + +"He is nothing of that kind. He will bring the old name new honour. See +if he does not! And as for the Constitution of England, it is about as +great a ruin as thy constitution was when thou hadst rheumatic fever, and +couldn't turn thyself, nor help thyself, nor put a morsel of bread +into thy mouth. But thou hadst a good doctor, and he set thee up; and a +good House of Commons--Reforming Commons--will happen do as much for +the country; though when every artisan and every farm labourer is hungry +and naked, it will be hard to spread the plaster as far as the sore. It +would make thy heart ache to hear what they suffer." + +"Don't bother thy head about weavers, and cutlers, and artisans. If +the Agriculture of the country is taken care of--" + +"Now, John, do be quiet. There is not an idiot in the land who won't +talk of Agriculture." + +"We have got to stick by the land, Maude." + +"The land will take care of itself. If thou wouldst only send for thy +son, and have a little talk with him, he might let some light and wisdom +into thee." + +"I have nothing to say on such subjects to Edgar Atheling--not a word." + +"If thou goest to Parliament, thou mayst have to 'say' to him, no +matter whether thou wantest to or not; that is, unless thou art willing +to let Edgar have both sides of the argument." + +"What tom-foolery art thou talking?" + +"I am only telling thee that Edgar is as like to go to Parliament as +thou art." + +"To be sure--when beggars are kings." + +"Earl Grey will seat him--or Lord Durham; and I would advise thee to +study up things a bit. There are new ideas about, John; and thou wouldst +look foolish if thy own son had to put any of thy mistakes right for +thee." + +"I suppose, Maude, thou still hast a bit of faith left in the Bible. +And I'll warrant thou knowest every word it says about children obeying +their parents, and honouring their parents, and so on. And I can +remember thee telling Edgar, when he was a little lad, about Absalom +going against his father, and what came of it; now then, is the Bible, as +well as the Constitution, a ruin? Is it good for nothing but to be +pitched into limbo, or to be 'reformed'? I'm astonished at thee!" + +"The Bible has nothing to do with politics, John. I wish it had! +Happen then we would have a few wise-like, honest politicians. The +Bible divides men into good men and bad men; but thou dividest all men +into Tories and Radicals; and the Bible has nothing to do with either +of them. I can tell thee that. Nay, but I'm wrong; it does say a deal +about doing justice, and loving mercy, and treating your neighbour +and poor working-folk as you would like to be treated yourself. Radicals +can get a good deal out of the New Testament." + +"I don't believe a word of what thou art saying." + +"I don't wonder at that. Thou readest nothing but the newspapers; if +thou didst happen to read a few words out of Christ's own mouth, thou +wouldst say, 'Thou never heardest the like,' and thou wouldst think +the man who quoted them wrote them out of his own head, and call him a +Radical. Get off to thy bed, John. I can always tell when thou hast +been drinking Rudby's port-wine. It is too heavy and heady for thee. +As soon as thou art thyself again, I will tell thee what a grand son +thou art the father of. My word! If the Duke gives thee a seat at his +mahogany two or three times a year, thou art as proud as a peacock; now +then, thy son Edgar is hob-nobbing with earls and lords every day of +his life, and they are proud of his company." + +The Squire laughed boisterously. "It is time, Maude," he said, "I went +to my bed; and it is high time for thee to wake up and get thy head on a +feather pillow; then, perhaps, thou will not dream such raving nonsense." + +With these scornful words he left the room, and Mrs. Atheling rose +and put away her knitting. She was satisfied with herself. She expected +her mysterious words to keep the Squire awake with curiosity; and in +such case, she was resolved to make another effort to reconcile her +husband to his son. But the Squire gave her no opportunity; he slept +with an indifferent continuity that it was useless to interrupt. Perhaps +there was intention in this heavy sleep, for when he came downstairs +in the morning he went at once to seek Kate. He soon saw her in the +herb garden; for she had on a white dimity gown, and was standing +upright, shading her eyes with her hands to watch his approach. A good +breeze of wind from the wolds fluttered her snowy skirts, and tossed +the penetrating scents of thyme and marjoram, mint and pennyroyal +upward, and she drew them through her parted lips and distended nostrils. + +"They are so heavenly sweet!" she said with a smile of sensuous +pleasure. "They smell like Paradise, Father." + +"Ay, herbs are good and healthy. The smell of them makes me hungry. I +didn't see thee last night, Kitty; and I wanted to see thee." + +"I was so tired, Father. It was a day to tire any one. Was it not?" + +"I should say it was," he replied with conscious diplomacy. "Now what +part of it pleased thee best?" + +"Well, Mr. North's visit was of course wonderful; and Lord Exham's +visit was very pleasant. I enjoyed both; but Mr. North's news was so +very surprising." + +"To be sure. What dost thou think of it?" + +"Of course, Edgar is on the other side, Father. In some respects that +is a pity." + +"It is a shame! It is a great shame!" + +"Nay, nay, Father! We won't have 'shame' mixed up with Edgar. He +is in dead earnest, and he has taken luck with him. Just think of our +Edgar being one of Lord Durham's favourites, of him speaking all over +England and Scotland for Reform. Mr. North says there is no one like +him in the drawing-rooms of the Reform ladies; and no one like him on +the Reform platforms; and he was made a member of the new Reform Club in +London by acclamation. And Earl Grey will get him a seat in Parliament +next election." + +"Who is this Mr. North?" + +"Why, Father! You heard him speak, and you 'threw' him down on the +Green, you know." + +"_Oh! Him!_ Dost thou believe all this palaver on the word of a +travelling mountebank?" + +"He is not a travelling mountebank. I am sure he is a gentleman. You +shouldn't call a man names that you have 'thrown' fairly. You know +better than that." + +"I know nothing about the lad. And he does not seem to have told thee +anything about himself. As for thy mother--" and then he hesitated, and +looked at Kate meaningly and inquiringly. + +"Mother liked him. She liked him very much indeed. He brought both +mother and me a ring from Edgar," and she put out her hand and showed +the Squire the little gold circle. + +"Trumpery rubbish!" he said scornfully. "It didn't cost half a crown. +Give it to me, and I will get thee a ring worth wearing,--sapphires or +rubies." + +"I would not part with it for loops and hoops of sapphires and rubies. +Edgar sent it as a love-token; he wants his money for nobler things than +rubies--but, dear me! you can't buy love for any money. Oh, Father! +I do wish you would be friends with Edgar." + +"My little lass, I cannot be friends with any one if he goes against +the land, and the King, and the Constitution. I am loyal straight +through; up and down to-day, and to-morrow, and every day; and I can't +bear traitors,--men that would sell their country for a bit of mob +power or mob glory. All of Edgar's friends and neighbours are for the +King and the Laws; and it shames me and pains me beyond everything to +have a rascal and a Radical in my family. The Duke and his son are +finger and thumb, buckle and belt; and Edgar and I ought to be the +same. And it stands to reason that a father knows more than his own +lad of twenty-six years old. What dost thou think of Lord Exham?" + +The question was asked at a venture; but Kate had no suspicion, and +she answered frankly, "I think very well of him. He talked mostly of +politics; but every one does that. It was pleasant to see him at our +tea-table again." + +"To be sure. So he stayed to tea?" + +"Yes; did not mother tell you?" + +"Nay, we were talking of other things. What does he look like?" + +"I think he is much improved." + +"Well, he ought to be. He must have learned a little, and he has seen +a lot since we saw him. Come, let us go and find out what kind of a +breakfast mother can give us. I am hungry enough for two." + +So Kate lifted the herbs which she had cut into her garden apron, and +cruddling close to her father's side, they went in together, with the +smell of the thyme and marjoram all about them. Mrs. Atheling drew it in +as they entered the parlour, and then turned to them with a smile. The +Squire went to her side, and promptly kissed her. It was one of his ways +to ignore their little tiffs; and this morning Mrs. Atheling was also +agreeable. She looked into his eyes, and said: + +"Why, John! are you really awake. You lay like the Seven Sleepers when I +got up, and I said to myself, 'John will sleep the clock round,' so +Kate and I will have our breakfasts." + +"Nay, I have too much to look after, Maude." Then he turned the +conversation to the farms, and talked of the draining to be done, and +the meadows to be left for grass; but he eschewed politics altogether, +and, greatly to Mrs. Atheling's wonder, never alluded to the information +she had given him about their son Edgar. Did he really think she had +been telling him a made-up story? She could not otherwise understand +this self-control in her curious lord. However, sometime during the +morning, Kate told her about the conversation in the herb garden; then +she was content. She knew just where she had her husband; and the little +laugh with which she terminated the conversation was her expression of +conscious power over him, and of a retaliation quite within her reach. + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTH + +THE DAWN OF LOVE + + +There is always in every life some little part which even those dearer +than life to us cannot enter. Kate had become conscious of this fact. She +hoped her mother would not talk of Lord Exham; for she did not as yet +understand anything about the feelings his return had evoked. She would +have needed the uncertain, enigmatical language which comes in dreams +to explain the "yes" and the "no" of the vague, trembling memories, +prepossessions, and hopes which fluttered in her breast. + +Fortunately Mrs. Atheling had some dim perception of this condition, and +without analysing her reasons, she was aware "it was best not to +meddle" between two lives so surrounded by contradictious circumstances +as were those of her daughter and Lord Exham. Besides, as she said to +her husband, "It was no time for love-making, with the King dying, +and the country on the quaking edge of revolution, and starvation and +misery all over the land." And the Squire answered: "Exham has not one +thought of love-making. He is far too much in with a lot of men who +have the country and their own estates to save. He won't bother himself +with women-folk now, whatever he may do in idle times." + +They had both forgotten, or their own love affair had been of such +Arcadian straightness and simplicity that they had never learned Love's +ability to domineer all circumstances that can stir this mortal frame. +Exham had indeed enlisted himself with passionate earnestness in the +cause of his class, which he called the cause of his country--but as the +drop of + + "lucent sirup tinct with cinnamon" + +is forever flavoured and perfumed by the spice, so Exham's life was +coloured and prepossessed by the thought of the sweet girl who had been +blended with so many of his purest and happiest hours. + +It was then of Kate he thought as he wandered about the stately rooms and +beautiful gardens of Exham Hall. He was not oblivious of his engagements +with the Duke and the tenants; but he was considering how best to keep +these engagements, and yet not miss a visit to her. The dying King, +the riotous land, were accidentals of his life and condition; his love +for Kate Atheling was at the root of his existence; it was a fundamental +of the past and of the future. For five years of constant change and +movement, it had lain in abeyance; but old love is a dangerous thing +to awaken; and Piers Exham found in doing this thing that every event +of the past strengthened the influence of the present, and fixed his +heart more passionately on the girl he had first found fair; the + + --"rosebud set with little, wilful thorns, + And sweet as English airs could make her," + +that had sung and swung herself into his affection when she was only +twelve years old. + +He was however quite aware that any proposal to marry Kate Atheling +would meet with prompt opposition from his family; indeed the Duke had +already mentioned a very different alliance; and in that case, he did +not doubt but that Squire Atheling would be equally resolved never to +allow his daughter to enter a home where she would be regarded by any +member of it as an intruder. But he put all such considerations for +the present behind him. He said to himself, "The first thing to do, is +to win Kate's love; with that sweet consciousness, I shall be ready for +all opposition." For his heart kept assuring him that every trouble +and obstacle has an hour in which it may be conquered,--an hour when +Fate and Will become One, and are then as irresistible as a great force +of Nature. He was sure the hour for this conflict had not yet come. +It was the day for a different fight. His home, his estate, his title, +and all the privileges of his nobility were in danger. When they were +placed beyond peril, then he would fight for the wife he wanted, and +win her against all opposition. And who could tell in what way the +first conflict would bring forth circumstances to insure victory to the +last? + +He was deeply in love; he was full of hope; he was at Atheling some part +of every day. If he came in the afternoon, Kate's pony was saddled, and +they rode far and away, to where the shadows and sunshine elbowed +one another on the moors. The golden gorse shed its perfume over their +heads; the linnets sang to them of love; they talked, and laughed, and +rode swiftly until their pace brought them among the mountains that +looked like a Titanic staircase going up to the skies. There, they always +drew rein, and went slower, and spoke softer, and indeed often became +quite silent, and knew such silence to be the sweetest eloquence. Then +after a little interval Piers would say one word, "_Kate!_" and +Kate only answer with a blush, and a smile, and an upturned face. For +Love can put a volume in four letters; and souls say in a glance what +a thousand words would only blunder about. Then there was the gallop +home, and the merry cup of tea, and the saunter in the garden, and the +long tender "good-bye" at the threshold where the damask roses made +the air heavy with their sweetness. + +So Lord Exham did not find his politics hard to bear with such delicious +experiences between whiles. And Kate? What were Kate's experiences? +Oh, any woman who has once loved, any pure girl who longs to love, may +divine them! For Love is always the same. The tale he told Kate on the +Atheling moors and under the damask roses was the very same tale he +told high in Paradise by the four rivers where the first roses blew. + +As the summer advanced, startling notes from the outside world forced +themselves into this heavenly solitude. On the twenty-sixth of June, +King George died; and this death proved to be the first of a series of +great events. Piers felt it to be a warning bell. It said to him, "The +charming overture of Love, with its restless pleasure, its delicate +hopes and fears, is nearly at an end." He had been with Kate for +three divine hours. They had sat among the brackens at the foot of the +mountains, and been twenty times on the very point of saying audibly +the word "Love!" and twenty times had felt the delicious uncertainty +of non-confession to be too sweet for surrender. Nay, they did not +reason about it; they simply obeyed that wise, natural self-restraint +which knew its own hour, and would not hurry it. + +[Illustration:] + +With a sigh of rapture, they rose as the sun began to wester, and rode +slowly back to Atheling. No one was at the door to receive them, and +Kate wondered a little; but when they entered the hall, the omission +was at once understood. There was a large open fireplace at the +northern extremity, and over it the Atheling arms, with their motto, +"_Feare God! Honour the Kinge! Laus Deo!_" Squire Atheling was +draping this panel with crape; and Mrs. Atheling stood near him with +some streamers of the gloomy fabric in her hands. She pointed to the +King's picture--which already wore the emblem of mourning--and said, +"The King is dead." + +"The King lives! God save the King!" replied the Squire, instantly. +"God save King William the Fourth!" + +Then all the clocks in the house were stopped, and draped, and when this +ceremony was over, they had tea together. And as it is a Yorkshire +custom to make funeral feasts, Mrs. Atheling gave to the meal an air +of special entertainment. The royal Derby china added its splendour +to the fine old silver and delicate damask. There were delicious +cheese-cakes, and Queen's-cakes, and savoury potted meats, and fresh +crumpets; and the ripe red strawberries filled the room with their +ethereal scent. No one was at all depressed by the news. If King George +was dead, King William was alive; and the Squire thought, "Everything +might be hoped from 'The Sailor King.' Why!" he said, "he is that +good-natured he won't say a bad word about the Reformers; though, God +knows, they are a disgrace to themselves, and to all that back them up." + +"There will now be a general election," said Exham positively. + +"To be sure," answered the Squire. "And it is to be hoped we may get +together a few men that will take the Bull of Reform by the horns, and +put a stop to that nonsense forever in England." + +"Before they do that," said Mrs. Atheling, "they will have to consider +the swarms of people they have brought up in dirt, and rags, and misery. +For if they don't, they will bring ruin to the nation that owns them." + +"King William is a fighter. He will back the Law with bayonets, if he +thinks it right," said the Squire. + +Mrs. Atheling looked at him indignantly. Then, putting her cup down +with unmistakable emphasis, she exclaimed, "The Lord forgive thee, +John Atheling! I'll say one thing, and I'll say it now, and forever, +it isn't law backed with bayonets that has saved England so far; it is +the bit of religion in every man's heart, and his trust that somehow +God will see him righted. If it wasn't for that it would have been all +up with our set long ago." + +"That is just the way women talk politics," said the Squire, with some +contempt. "If there was nothing else in this Reform business to make a +man sick, the way they have given in to women, and got them to form clubs +and make speeches, is enough to set any sensible person against Reform; +and if there is no way of talking people into doing what is right--then +they must be _made_ to do right; and that's all there is about it." + +"Very well, John; but there are two sides to play at making other +people do right. I'll tell you one thing, the Government will have to +take a lot of things into consideration before they put their trust in +backing law with bayonets. It won't work! Let them start doing it, and +we shall all find ourselves in a wrong box." + +"I think there is much good sense in what Mrs. Atheling believes," said +Lord Exham. + +"And as for the Reformers getting round the women of the country," +she continued, "that is as it should be. Men have done all the governing +for six thousand years; and, in the main, they have made a very bad job +of it. Happen, a few kind-hearted women would help things forwarder. +There is going to be some alterations, you may depend upon it, John." + +"Father," said Kate, "you had better not argue with mother. She knows +a deal more about the country than you think she does; and mother is +always right." + +"To be sure, Kate. To hear mother talk, she knows a lot; but if she +would take my advice, she would forget a lot, and try and learn +something better." Then touching his wife's hand, he continued, +"Maude, I always did believe thou wert in favour of the land, and +the law, and the King." + +"I don't know that I ever said such a thing, John; but thou mayst have +believed it. What I _thought_, was another matter. And I am beginning +to think aloud now, that makes all the difference." + +Such divided opinions were in every household; and yet, upon the +whole, the death of the selfish, intolerant George was a hopeful +event. When people are desperate, any change is a promise; and William +had a reputation not only for good nature, but also for that love of +fair play which is the first article of an Englishman's personal +creed. He came to the throne on the twenty-sixth of June; and on the +twenty-ninth Parliament resumed its sittings. Mr. Brougham led the +opposition, and violent debates and unmeasured language distinguished +the short session. The Duke of Wellington, representing the Government, +was prominently bitter against Reform of every kind; and Mr. Brougham +boldly declared that any Minister now hoping to rule either by royal +favour or military power would be overwhelmed. In less than a month +the King prorogued Parliament in person, and in so doing, congratulated +his country on the tranquillity of Europe. Forty-eight hours afterwards, +France was insurgent, and Paris in arms. Three days of most determined +fighting followed; and then Charles the Tenth was driven from his +throne, and the white flag of the Bourbon tyranny gave place to the +Tri-colour of Liberty. + +Now if there had been a direct electric or magnetic current between +England and the Continent, the effect could not have been more +sympathetically startling; and these three memorable "Days of +July" in Paris impelled forward, with an irresistible impetus, the +cause of freedom in England. The nobility and the landed gentry were +gravely aware of this effect; and the great middle class, and the +working men in every county, were stirred to more hopeful and united +action. Far and wide the people began anew to express, in various +ways, their determination to have the Tory Ministers dismissed, and a +Liberal Government in favour of Reform inaugurated. + +For the first time the Squire was anxious. For the first time he saw +and felt positive symptoms of insubordination among his own people. +Pickering's barns were burnt one night; and a few nights afterwards, +Rudby's hay-ricks. Squire Atheling was a man of prompt action; one +well disposed to do in his own manor what he expected the Government +to do in the country,--take the Reform bull by the horns. He sent for +all his labourers to meet him in the farm court at Atheling; and when +they were gathered there, he stood up on the stone wall which enclosed +one side of it and said in his strong, resonant voice,-- + +"Now, men of Atheling manor and village, you have been sulky and ugly +for two or three weeks. You aren't sulky and ugly without knowing _why_ +you are so. If you are Yorkshiremen worth your bread and bacon, you will +out with your grievance--whatever it is. Tom Gisburn, what is it?" + +"We can't starve any longer, Squire. We want two shillings a week more +wages. Me and mine would hev been in t' churchyard if thy Missis hed +been as hard-hearted as thysen." + +"I will give you all one shilling a week more." + +"Nay, but a shilling won't do. Thy Missis is good, and Miss Kate is +good; but we want our rights; and we hev made up our minds that two +shillings a week more wage will nobbut barely cover them. We are varry +poor, Squire! Varry poor indeed!" + +The man spoke sadly and respectfully; and the Squire looked at him, +and at the stolid, anxious faces around with an angry pity. "I'll tell +you what, men," he continued; "everything in England is going to the +devil. Englishmen are getting as ill to do with as a lot of grumbling, +contrary, bombastic Frenchers. If you'll promise me to stand by the +King, and the land, and the laws, and give these trouble-making Reformers +a dip in the horse-pond if any of them come to Atheling again--why, then, +I will give you all--every one of you--two shillings a week more wage." + +"Nay, Squire, we'll not sell oursens for two shillings a week; not one +of us--eh, men?" and Gisburn looked at his fellows interrogatively. + +"Sell oursens!" replied the Squire's blacksmith, a big, hungry-looking +fellow in a leather apron; "no! no, Squire! Thou oughtest to know us +better. Sell oursens! Not for all the gold guineas in Yorkshire! We'll +sell thee our labour for two shilling a week more wage, and thankful; +but our will, and our good-will, thou can't buy for any money." + +There was a subdued cheer at these words from the men, and the Squire's +face suddenly lightened. His best self put his lower self behind him. +"Sawley," he answered, "thou art well nicknamed 'Straight-up!' and I +don't know but what I'm very proud of such an independent, honourable +lot of men. Such as you won't let the land suffer. Remember, you were +all born on it, and you'll like enough be buried in it. Stand by the +land then; and if two shillings a week more wage will make you happy, you +shall have it,--if I sell the gold buttons off my coat to pay it. Are +we friends now?" + +A hearty shout answered the question, and the Squire continued, "Then go +into the barn, and eat and drink your fill. You'll find a barrel of old +ale, and some roast beef, and wheat bread there." + +In this way he turned the popular discontent from Atheling, and doubtless +saved his barns and hay-ricks; but he went into his house angry at the +men, and angry at his wife and daughter. They had evidently been aiding +and succouring these discontents and their families; and--as he took +care to point out to Kate--evil and not good had been the result. "I +have to give now as a right," he said, "what thee and thy mother have +been giving as a kindness!" And his temper was not improved by hearing +from the barn the noisy "huzzas" with which the name of "the young +Squire" was received, and his health drank. + +"Wife, and son, and daughter! all of them against me! I wonder what +I have done to be served in such a way?" he exclaimed sorrowfully. +And then Kate forgot everything about politics. She said all kinds of +consoling words without any regard for the Reform Bill, and, with the +sweetest kisses, promised her father whatever she thought would make him +happy. It is an unreasonable, delightful way that belongs to loving +women; and God help both men and women when they are too wise for such +sweet deceptions! + +Yet the Squire carried a hot, restless heart to the Duke's meeting that +night; and he was not pleased to find that the tactics he had used with +his labourers met with general and great disapproval. Those men who had +already suffered loss, and those who knew that they had gone beyond a +conciliating policy, said some ugly words about "knuckling down," +and it required all the Duke's wisdom and influence to represent it as +"a wise temporary concession, to be recalled as soon as the election +was over, and the Tory Government safely reinstalled." + +Upon the whole, then, Squire Atheling had not much satisfaction in his +position; and every day brought some new tale of thrilling interest. All +England was living a romance; and people got so used to continual +excitement that they set the homeliest experiences of life to great +historical events. During the six weeks following the death of King +George the Fourth occurred the new King's coronation, the dissolution +of Parliament, the "Three Days of July," and the landing of the +exiled French King in England; all of these things being accompanied +by agrarian outrages in the farming districts, the destruction of +machinery in the manufacturing towns, and constant political tumults +wherever men congregated. + +The next six weeks were even more restless and excited. The French +King was a constant subject of interest to the Reformers; for was he +not a stupendous example of the triumph of Liberal principles? He was +reported first at Lulworth Castle in Devonshire. Then he went to Holyrood +Palace in Edinburgh. The Scotch Reformers resented his presence, and +perpetually insulted him, until Sir Walter Scott made a manly appeal for +the fallen tyrant. And while the Bourbon sat in Holyrood, a sign and +a text for all lovers of Freedom, England was in the direst storm and +stress of a general election. The men of the Fen Country were rising. +The Universities were arming their students. There was rioting in this +city and that city. The Tories were gaining. The Reformers were gaining. +Both sides were calling passionately on the women of the country to come +to their help, without it seeming to occur to either that if women had +political influence, they had also political rights. + +But the end was just what all these events predicated. When the election +was over, the Tory Government had lost fifty votes in the House of +Commons; but Piers Exham was Member of Parliament for the borough of +Gaythorne, and Squire Atheling was the Representative of the Twenty-two +Tory citizens of the village of Asketh. + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTH + +ANNABEL VYNER + + +The first chapter of Kate's and Piers' love-story was told to these +stirring events. They were like a _trumpet obligato_ in the distance +thrilling their hearts with a keener zest and a wider sympathy. True, +the sympathy was not always in unison, for Piers was an inflexible +partisan of his own order, yet in some directions Kate's feelings +were in perfect accord. For instance, at Exham Hall and at Atheling +Manor-house, there was the same terror of the mob's firebrand, and +the same constant watch for its prevention. These buildings were not +only the cherished homes of families; they were houses of national pride +and record. Yet many such had perished in the unreasoning anger of +multitudes mad with suffering and a sense of wrong; and the Squire +and the Lord alike kept an unceasing watch over their habitations. On +this subject, all were unanimous; and the fears, and frights, and +suspicions relating to it drew the families into much closer sympathy. + +After the election was over, there was a rapid subsidence of public +feeling; the people had taken the first step triumphantly; and they +were willing to wait for its results. Then the Richmoor family began +to consider an immediate removal to London, and, as a preparatory +courtesy, gave a large dinner party at the Castle. As Kate was not +yet in society, she had no invitation; but the Squire and Mrs. Atheling +were specially honoured guests. + +"The Squire has been of immense service to me," said Richmoor to +his Duchess. "A man so sincere and candid I have seldom met. He has +spoken well for us, simply and to the point, and I wish you to pay +marked attention to Mrs. Atheling." + +"Of course, if you desire it, I will do so. Who was Mrs. Atheling? Is +she likely to be detrimental in town or troublesome?" + +"She is the daughter of the late Thomas Hardwicke, of Hardwicke--as you +know, a very ancient county family. She had a good fortune; in fact, she +brought the Squire the Manor of Belward." + +"In appearance, is she presentable?" + +"She was very handsome some years ago. I have not seen her for a long +time." + +"I dare say she has grown stout and red; and she will probably wear blue +satin in honour of her husband's Tory principles. These county dames +always think it necessary to wear their party colours. I counted eleven +blue satin dresses at our last election dinner." + +"Even if she does wear blue satin, I should like you to be exceedingly +civil to her." + +"I suppose you know that Piers has been at Atheling a great deal. I +heard in some way that--in fact, Duke, that Piers and Miss Atheling were +generally considered lovers." + +The Duke laughed. "I think I understand Piers," he said. "These +incendiary terrors have drawn people together; and there has also been +the election business as well. Many perfectly necessary natural causes +have taken Piers to Atheling." + +"Miss Atheling, for instance!" + +"Oh, perhaps so! Why not? When I was a young man, I thought it both +necessary and natural to have a pretty girl to ride and walk with. But +riding and walking with a lovely girl is one thing; marrying her is +another. Piers knows that he is expected to marry Annabel Vyner; he +knows that for many reasons it will be well for him to do so. And above +all other considerations, Piers puts his family and his caste." + +The Duke's absolute confidence in his son satisfied the Duchess. She +looked upon her husband as a man of wonderful penetration and invincible +wisdom. If he was not uneasy about Piers and Miss Atheling, there was +no necessity for her to carry an anxious thought on the subject; and she +was glad to be fully released from it. Yet she had more than a passing +curiosity about Kate's mother. The Squire she had frequently seen, +both in the pink of the hunting-field and in the quieter dress of the +dinner-table. But it so happened that she had never met Mrs. Atheling; +and, on entering the great drawing-room, her eyes sought the only lady +present who was a stranger to her. + +Mrs. Atheling was standing at the Duke's side; and she went directly +to her, taking note, as she did so, of the beauty, style, and physical +grace that distinguished the lady. She saw that she wore a gown--not of +blue--but of heavy black satin, that it fell away from her fine throat +and shoulders, and showed her arms in all their exquisite form and +colour. She saw also that her dark hair was dressed well on the top of +the head in _bouillones_ curls, and that the only ornament she wore +was among them,--a comb of wrought gold set with diamonds,--and that +otherwise neither brooch nor bracelet, pendant nor ruffle of lace broke +the noble lines of her figure or the rich folds of her gown. And the +Duchess was both astonished and pleased with a toilet so distinguished; +she assured herself in this passing investigation that Mrs. Atheling +was quite "presentable," and also probably desirable. + +The favourable impression was strengthened in that hour after dinner +when ladies left to their own devices either become disagreeable or +confidential. The Duchess and Mrs. Atheling fell into the latter mood, +and their early removal to London was the first topic of conversation. + +"We have no house in town," said Mrs. Atheling; "but the Squire has +rented one that belonged to the late General Vyner. It is in very good +condition, I hear, though we may have to stay a few days at '_The +Clarendon_.'" + +"How strange! I mean that it is strange you should have rented the +General's house. Did you make the arrangement with the Duke?" + +"No, indeed; with a Mr. Pownell who is a large house agent." + +"Mr. Pownell attends to the Duke's London property. I am sure he will +be delighted to know his old friend's home is in such good hands. I +wonder if you have heard that the Duke is General Vyner's executor and +the guardian of his daughter?" + +Mrs. Atheling made a motion indicative of her ignorance and her +astonishment, and the Duchess continued, "It is quite a charge +everyway; but there was a life-long friendship between the two men, +and Annabel will come to us almost like a daughter." + +"A great charge though," answered Mrs. Atheling, "especially if she +is yet to educate." + +"Her education is finished. She is twenty-two years of age. It is her +wealth which will make my position an anxious one. It is not an easy +thing to chaperon a great heiress." + +"And if she is beautiful, that will add to the difficulty," said Mrs. +Atheling. + +"I have never seen Miss Vyner. I cannot tell you whether she is +beautiful or not so. She joins us in London, and my first duty will be to +present her at the next drawing-room." + +A little sensitive pause followed this statement,--a pause so sensitive +that the Duchess divined the desire in Mrs. Atheling's heart; and Mrs. +Atheling felt the hesitancy and wavering inclination weighing her wish +in the thoughts of the Duchess. A sudden, straight glance from Mrs. +Atheling's eyes decided the question. + +"I should like to present Miss Atheling at the same time, if you have +no objection," she added. And Mrs. Atheling's pleasure was so great, +and her thanks so candid and positive, that the Duchess accepted the +situation she had placed herself in with apparent satisfaction. Yet +she wondered _why_ she had made the offer. She felt as if the favour +had been obtained against her will. She was half afraid in the very +moment of the proposal that she was doing an imprudent thing. But when +she had done it, she never thought of withdrawing from a position she +must have taken voluntarily. On the contrary, she affected a great +interest in the event, and talked of "the ceremonies Miss Atheling +must make herself familiar with," of the probable date at which the +function would take place, and of the dress and ornaments fitting for +the occasion. "And the young people must meet each other as soon as +possible," she continued. + +Then the gentlemen entered the drawing-room, and the groups scattered. +The Duchess left Mrs. Atheling; and Lord Exham took the chair she +vacated. And the happy mother was far too simple, and too single-hearted +to keep her pleasure to herself. She told Exham of the honour intended +Kate, and was a little dashed by the manner in which he heard the +news. He was ashamed of it himself; but he could not at once conquer +the feeling of jealousy which assailed him. It was the first time +that the image of Kate had been presented to him in company with any but +Piers Exham; and it gave him real suffering to associate it with the +attention and admiration her beauty was sure to challenge from all +and sundry who would be present at a court drawing-room. However, he made +the necessary assurances of pleasure, and Mrs. Atheling was not a woman +who went motive hunting. She took a friend's words at their face value. + +Of course Kate was delighted, and the Squire perhaps more so; for +though he pretended to think it "all a bit of nonsense," he opened +his purse-strings wide, and told his wife and daughter to "help +themselves." So the last few days at Atheling were set to the dreams, +and hopes, and expectations of that gay social life which always has +a charm for youth. The clash of party warfare, the wailing of want, the +insistent claims of justice,--all these voices were temporarily hushed. +They had become monotonous and, to Kate, suddenly uninteresting. What +was the passing of a Reform Bill to a girl of nineteen, when there was +such a thing as a court drawing-room in expectation? + +It made her restless and anxious during the two weeks occupied by their +removal from Atheling, and their settlement in London. And though the +great city was full of wonder and interest, and the new splendours of +the Vyner mansion very satisfactory, yet she could not enjoy these +things until there was some token that the Duchess remembered, and +intended to fulfil her promise. If only Piers had been in London! But +Piers had been detained in Yorkshire, and was not expected until the +formal opening of Parliament, so that Kate could only speculate, and +wish, and fear, and in so doing discount her present, and forestall +her future pleasures. So prodigal is youth of happiness and feeling! + +However, at the end of October, Mrs. Atheling received a letter from +the Duchess. It reminded her of the drawing-room, and asked Miss +Atheling's presence that evening in order to meet Miss Vyner, and +consult with her about the dresses to be worn. The visit was to be +perfectly informal; but even an informal visit to Richmoor House was a +great event to Kate. And how pretty she was when she came into her +father's and mother's presence, dressed for the occasion! Mrs. +Atheling looked at her with a smile of satisfaction, and the Squire +instantly rose, and took her on his arm to the waiting carriage. This +carriage was the Squire's pet extravagance, and there was not a more +splendidly-appointed equipage in London. Its horses were of the finest +that Yorkshire breeds; the servant's liveries irreproachable in taste; +and when he saw his daughter's white figure against its rich, blue +linings he was satisfied with his outlay. + +Richmoor House was soon reached, and Kate looked with wonder at its +noble frontage, and its stone colonnades. How much greater was her +wonder when she stepped into its interior vestibule! This vestibule was +eighty-two feet long, by more than twelve feet wide; it was ornamented +with Doric columns and fine carvings, and at each end there was a +colossal staircase. Up one of these stately ways Kate was conducted +into a gallery full of fine paintings, and forming the corridor on +which the one hundred and fifty rooms appropriated to the use of the +family opened. Here, one servant after another escorted her, until she +was left with a woman-in-waiting, who led her into a tiring-room and then +assisted Kate's own maid to remove her mistress's wrap and hood, and +tie in pretty bows her white satin sandals. The simple girl felt as if +she was in a dream, and she accepted all this attention with the calm +composure of a dream-maiden. It was just like one of the old fairy tales +she used to live in. She was an enchanted princess in an enchanted +castle, and all she had to do, was to be passive in the hands of her +destiny. Transient and illogical as this feeling was, it gave to her +manner a singular air of serene confidence, and the Duchess noticed and +approved it. She was relieved at once from any apprehension of anything +_malapropos_ in The Presence. + +She went forward to meet Kate, and was both astonished and pleased at +her _protegee's_ appearance. The white llama in which she was gowned, +its simple trimming of white satin, and its pretty accessories of +white slippers and gloves satisfied both the pride and the taste of +the Duchess. Any less attention to costume she would have felt as a +want of respect towards herself; any more extravagant display would +have indicated vulgar display and a due want of subordination to her +own rank and age. But Kate offended no feeling, and she took her by +the hand and led her down the long room. At its extremity there was a +group of girls: one was standing; the others were sitting on a sofa +before her. The eyes of all were fastened on Kate as she approached; +but she was not disturbed by this scrutiny. She had all the strength and +assurance which comes from a proper and moderate toilet; and she was even +competent to do her own share of observation. + +[Illustration:] + +The three girls sitting on the sofa offered no points of remark or +speculation. They were the three Ladies Anne, Mary, and Charlotte +Warwick; and all alike had the beauty of youth, the grace of noble +nurture, and the pretty garments indicative of their station. But the +young lady standing was of a different character. Her personality +pervaded the space in which she stood; she domineered with a look; and +Kate knew instinctively that this girl was Annabel Vyner. The knowledge +came with a little shock, a sudden failing of heart, a presentiment. She +had given her hand with a pleasant impulse, and without consideration, +to the Ladies Warwick; she did not offer it to Annabel; and yet she was +not aware of the omission. All of these girls were intending to make a +Court _debut_, and at that moment were discussing its necessities. Kate +at first took little part in this discussion. Mrs. Atheling had already +decided on the costume she thought most suitable for her daughter; +and Kate was quite satisfied with her choice. Miss Vyner was however +dictating to Lady Charlotte Warwick what she ought to wear; and Kate +watched with a curious wonder this girlish oracle, laying down laws +for others her equal in age, and far more than her equal in rank and +social position. + +Miss Vyner was not beautiful; but she possessed an irresistible +fascination. She was large, and rather heavy. She reminded one of a +roughhewn granite statue of old Egypt; and she was just as magnificently +imposing. Her hair was long, and strong, and wavy; her eyes very black +and intrepid, but capable of liquid, languishing expressions, full of +enchantment. Her nose, though thick and square at the end, had wide, +sensitive nostrils; and her fine, red lips showed white and dazzling +teeth. But it was the sense of power and plenitude of life which she +possessed which gave her that natural authority, whose influence all +felt, and few analysed or disputed. + +She was quite aware that standing was a becoming posture, and that it +gave to her a certain power over the girlish figures who seemed to sit +at her feet. It was not long, however, before Kate felt an instinctive +rebellion against the position assigned her; she knew that it put her +in an unfair subordination; and she rose from her chair, and stood +leaning against the Broadwood piano at her side. The action arrested Miss +Vyner's attention. She stopped speaking in the middle of a sentence, +and, looking steadily at Kate, said suavely, as she pushed the chair +slightly,-- + +"Do sit down, Miss Atheling." + +"No, thank you," answered Kate. "I have been sitting all day. I am +tired of sitting." + +Then Annabel gave her a still more searching look, and something came +into Kate's eyes which she understood; for she smiled as she went on +with her little dictation; but the thought in her heart was, "So you +have thrown down the glove, Miss Atheling!" + +Nothing however of this incipient defiance was noticeable; and Annabel's +attention was almost immediately afterwards diverted from her companions. +For in the middle of one of her fine descriptions of an Indian court, she +observed a sudden loss of interest, and a simultaneous direction of +every glance towards the upper end of the room. The Duchess was +approaching, and with her, a young man in dinner costume. A crimson +flush rushed over Kate's neck and face; she dropped her eyes, but +could not restrain the faint smile that came and went like a flash +of light. + +"It is Lord Exham," she said in a low voice to Anne Warwick; and +the Ladies nodded slightly, and continued a desultory conversation, +they hardly knew what about. But Annabel stood erect and silent. She +glanced once at Kate, and then turned the full blaze of her dazzling +eyes upon the advancing nobleman. For once, their magnetic rays were +ineffectual. The Duchess, on her son's arrival, had notified him of +the ladies present; and Kate Atheling was the lodestar which drew his +first attention. He had in the button-hole of his coat a few Michaelmas +daisies, and after speaking to the other ladies, he put them into Kate's +hand, saying, "I gathered them in Atheling garden. Do you remember the +bush by the swing in the laurel walk? I thought you would like to have +them." And Kate said "thank you" in the way that Piers perfectly +understood and appreciated, though it seemed to be of the most formal +kind. + +The dinner was a family dinner, but far from being tiresome or dull. The +Duke and Lord Exham had both adventures to tell. The latter in passing +through a little market-town had seen the hungry people take the wheat +from the grain-market by force, and said he had been delayed a little +by the circumstance. + +"But why?" asked the Duchess. + +"There were some arrests made; and after all, one cannot see hungry +men and women punished for taking food." There was silence after +this remark, and Kate glanced at Exham, whose veiled eyes, cast upon +the glass of wine he held in his hand, betrayed nothing. But when he +lifted them, they caught something from Kate's eyes, and an almost +imperceptible smile passed from face to face. No one asked Exham for +further particulars; and the Duke hurriedly changed the subject. +"Where do you think I took lunch to-day?" he asked. + +"At Stephen's," answered the Duchess. + +"Not likely," he replied. "I am neither a fashionable officer, nor +a dandy about town. If I had asked for lunch there, the waiters would +have stared solemnly, and told me there was no table vacant." + +"As you want horses, perhaps you went to Limmers," said Exham. + +"No. I met a party of gentlemen and ladies going to Whitbread's +Brewery, and I went with them. We had a steak done on a hot malt shovel, +and plenty of stout to wash it down. There were quite a number of +visitors there; it has become one of the sights of London. Then I rode as +far as the Philosophical Society, and heard a lecture on a new chemical +force." + +"The Archbishop does not approve of your devotion to Science," said +the Duchess, reprovingly. + +"I know it," he answered. "All our clergy regard Science as a new kind +of sin. I saw the Archbishop later, at a very interesting ceremony,--the +deposition in Whitehall Chapel of twelve Standards taken in Andalusia +by the personal bravery of our soldiers." + +"I wish I had seen that ceremony," said Kate. + +"And I wish I had myself been one of the heroes carrying the Standard +I had won," added Annabel. + +The Duke smiled at the pretty volunteers, and continued, "It was a +very interesting sight. Three royal Dukes, many Generals and foreign +Ambassadors, and the finest troops in London were present. We had some +good music, and a short religious service, and then the Archbishop +deposited the flags on each side of the Altar." + +"I like these military ceremonies," said the Duchess. "I shall not +forget the Proclamation of Peace after Waterloo. What a procession of +mediaeval splendour it was!" + +"I remember it, though I was only a little boy," said Exham. "The +Proclamation was read three times,--at Temple Bar, at Charing Cross, +and at The Royal Exchange. The blast of trumpets before and after each +reading!--I can hear it yet!" + +"And the Thanksgiving at St. Paul's after the procession was just as +impressive," continued the Duchess. "The Prince Regent and the Duke of +Wellington walked together, and Wellington carried the Sword of State. It +was a gorgeous festival set to trumpets and drums, and the roll of organ +music, and the seraphic singing of '_Lo! the conquering hero comes_.' +The Duke could have asked England for anything he desired that day." + +"Yet he is very unpopular now," said Kate, timidly. "Even my father +thinks he carries everything with too high a hand." + +"His military training must be considered, Miss Atheling," said the +Duke. "And the country needs a tight rein now." + +"He may hold it too tight," said Exham, in a low voice. + +Then the conversation was turned to the theatres, and while they were +talking, Squire Atheling was introduced. He had called to escort his +daughter home; and after a short delay, Kate was ready to accompany +him. The Duke and the Squire--who were deep in some item of political +news--went to the entrance hall together; and Lord Exham took Kate's +hand, and led her down the great stairway. It was now lighted with a +profusion of wax candles in silver candelabra. They were too happy to +speak, and there was no need of speech. Like two notes of music made +for each other, though dissimilar, they were one; and the melody in +the heart of Piers was the melody in the heart of Kate. The unison was +perfect; why then should it be explained? Very slowly they came down +the low broad steps, hardly feeling their feet upon them; for spirit +mingled with spirit, and gave them the sense of ethereal motion. + +When they reached the vestibule, Kate's maid advanced and threw round +her a wrap of pink silk, trimmed with minever; and as Piers watched the +shrouding of her rose-like face in the pretty hood, a sudden depression +came like a cloud over him. Oh, yes! True love has these moments of +deep gloom, in which intense feeling suspends both movement and speech. +He could only look into the warm, secret foldings of silk and fur which +hid Kate's beauty; he had not even the common words of courtesy at +his command; but Kate divined the much warmer "good-night" that was +masked by the formal bow and uncovered head. + +After the departure of the Athelings, father and son walked silently up +the stairs together; but at the top of them, the Duke paused and said, +"Piers, the King opens Parliament on the Second of November. We have +only three days' truce. Then for the fight." + +"We have foemen worthy of our steel. Grey--Durham--Brougham--Russel and +Graham. They will not easily be put down." + +"We shall win." + +"Perhaps. The House of Lords is very near of one mind. Will you come to +my smoking-room and have a pipe of Turkish?" + +"I must see the ladies again; afterwards I may do so." + +With these words they parted, and Piers went dreamily along the state +corridor. In its dim, soft light, he suddenly saw Miss Vyner approaching +him. He was thinking of Kate; but he had no wish to escape Annabel. He +was even interested in watching her splendid figure in motion. Only from +some Indian loom had come that marvellous tissue of vivid scarlet with +its embroidery of golden butterflies. It made her look like some superb +flower. She smiled as she reached Piers, and said,-- + +"I only am left to wish you a 'good-night and happy dreams.'The Ladies +Warwick were sleepy, the Duchess longing to be rid of such a lot of +tiresome girls, and I--" + +"What of 'I'?" he asked with a sudden, unaccountable interest. + +"I am going to the Land where I always go in sleep. I shut my eyes, and +I am there." + +"Then, 'Good-night.'" + +"Good-night." She put her little, warm, brown hand, flashing with gems, +into his; and then with one long, unwinking gaze--in which she caught +Piers' gaze--she strangely troubled the young man. His blood grew hot as +fire; his heart bounded; his face was like a flame; and he clasped her +hand with an unconscious fervour. She laughed lightly, drew it away, +and passed on. But as she did so, the Indian scarf she had over her +arm trailed across his feet, and thrilled him like some living thing. +He had a sense of intoxication, and he hurried forward to his own room, +and threw himself into a chair. + +"It is that strange perfume that clings around her," he said in a +voice of controlled excitement. "I perceived it as soon as I met her. +It makes me drowsy. It makes me feverish--and yet how delicious it is!" +He threw his head backward, and lay with closed eyes, moving neither +hand nor foot for some minutes. Then he rose, and began to walk about +the room, lifting and putting down books, and papers, and odd trifles, +as they came in the way of his restless fingers. And when at last he +found speech, it was to reproach himself--his real self--the man within +him. + +"You, poor, weak, false-hearted lover!" he muttered bitterly. "Piers +Exham! You hardly needed temptation. I am ashamed of you! Ashamed of +you, Piers! Oh, Kate! I have been false to you. It was only a passing +thought, Kate; but you would not have given to another even a passing +thought. Forgive me. _O Thou Dear One!_" + +"Thou Dear One!" These three words had a meaning of inexpressible +tenderness to him. For one night,--when as yet their Love was but +learning to speak,--one warm, sweet July night, as they stood under the +damask roses, he said to Kate,-- + +"How beautiful are the words and tones which your mother uses to the +Squire. She does not speak thus to every one." + +"No," replied Kate. "To strangers mother always says '_you_.' To +those she loves, she says '_thou_.'" + +And Piers answered, "Dear--if only--" and then he let the silence speak +for him. But Kate understood, and she whispered softly,-- + +"_Thou Dear One!_" + +It seemed to Piers as if no words to be spoken in time or in eternity +could ever make those three words less sweet. They came to his memory +always like a sigh of soft music on a breath of roses. And so it was at +this hour. They filled his heart, they filled his room with soft delight. +He stood still to realise their melody and their fragrance, the music +of their sweet inflections, the perfume of their pure and perfect love. + +"_Thou Dear One!_" He said these words again and again. "It has always +been Kate and Piers! Always _I_ and _Thou_--and as for _the Other One_--" + +This mental query, utterly unthought of and uncalled for, very much +annoyed him. Who or What was it that suggested "The Other One"? Not +himself; he was sure of that. He went to his father, and they talked +of the King, and the Ministers, and the great Mr. Brougham, whom both +King and Ministers feared--but all the time, and far below the tide of +this restless conversation, Piers heard this very different one,-- + +"_I_ and _Thou_!" + +"And _the Other One_." + +"There is no 'Other One.'" + +"Annabel." + +"No." + +"If Annabel were Destiny?" + +"Will is stronger than Destiny." + +"If Annabel should be Will." + +"Love is stronger than Will." + +"It is Kate and Piers." + +"And the Other One." + +He grew impatient at this persistence of an idea that he had not evoked, +that he had, in fact, denied. But he could not exorcise it. His very +dreams were made and mingled of the two girls,--Kate, whom he loved, +Annabel, who came like a splendid destiny to trouble love. In the +pageant of sleep, he lost that will-power which controlled his life; +he was tossed to-and-fro between blending shadows: Kate was Annabel; +Annabel was Kate; and the fretful, unreasonable drama went on through +restless hours, always to the same tantalising refrain,-- + +"_I, Thou, and the Other One!_" + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTH + +THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT STRUGGLE + + +There is no eternity for nations. Individuals may be punished hereafter; +nations are punished here. In the first years of the Nineteenth Century, +Englishmen were mad on war; and though wise men warned them of the ruin +that stalks after war, no one believed their report. The treasure that +would have now fed the starving population of England, had been spent +in killing Frenchmen. Bad harvests followed the war years, taxation +was increased, wages were lowered and lowered, credit was gone, trade +languished, hunger or scrimping carefulness was in every household. +For the iniquitous Corn Laws of 1815, forbidding the importation of +foreign grain, had raised English wheat to eighty shillings a quarter. +And how were working men to buy bread at such a price? No wonder, +they clamoured for a House of Commons that should represent their +case, and repeal Acts that could only benefit one class, and inflict +ruin and misery on all others. + +A feeling therefore of intense anxiety pervaded the country on the +Second of November,--the day on which the King was to open Parliament. +No one could work; every one was waiting for the King's speech. He was +as yet very popular; it was his first message to his people; and they +openly begged him for some word of hope--some expression of sympathy for +Reform. He went in great state to Westminster, and was cheered by the +city as he went. "Will Your Majesty say a word for the poor? God bless +Your Majesty! Stand by Reform!" Such expressions assailed him on every +hand; they were the prayers of a people wronged and suffering, yet +disposed to be patient and loyal, and to seek Reform only to spare +themselves and the country the ruth and ruin of Revolution. + +Richmoor House was on the way of the royal procession, and Kate was there +to watch it. A little later, a great company began to assemble in its +rooms; for the Duke had promised to bring, or to send, the earliest news +of the event. There was however an intense restlessness among these +splendidly attired men and women. They could not separate Reform from +Revolution; and the French Revolution was yet red and bloody in their +memories. They still heard the thunder of those famous "Three Days of +July," and there was constantly before their eyes, the heir of forty +kings finding in a British palace an ignominious shelter. Not only was +this the case, but French noblemen, in poverty and exile, were earning +precarious livings all around; and English noblemen and ladies looked +forward with terror to a similar fate, if the Reformers obtained their +desire. Indeed, Sir Robert Inglis had boldly prophesied, "Reform would +sweep the House of Lords clear in ten years." + +No wonder then the company waiting in Richmoor House were restless and +anxious. Kate did not permit herself to speak, and Mrs. Atheling had +very prudently remained in her own home. She had told the Squire she +"must say what she thought, if she died for it!" and the Squire had +answered, "To be sure, Maude. That is thy right; only, for goodness' +sake, say it in thy own house!" But though Kate knew she would follow +her mother's example, if she was brought to catechism on the subject, +she did not have much fear of such a result; there were too many older +ladies present, all of them desirous to express the hatreds and hopes +of their class. + +Yet it was these emotional, expressional women that Annabel Vyner +naturally joined. She stood among them like a splendid incarnation of +its spirit. She hoped vehemently that "Earl Grey and Lord John Russell +would be beheaded as traitors;" she declared she would "go with +delight to Tower Hill and see the axe fall." She flashed into contempt, +when she spoke of Mr. Brougham. "Botany Bay and hard labour might do +for him; and as for the waiting crowds in the streets, the proper thing +was to shoot them down, like rabid animals." She wondered "the Duke +of Wellington did not do so." These sentiments were vivified by the +passion that blazed in her black eyes and flushed her brown face crimson, +and by the gown of bright yellow Chinese crape which she wore; for it +fluttered and waved with her impetuous movements, and made a kind of +luminous atmosphere around her. + +"What a superb creature!" exclaimed Mr. Disraeli to the Hon. Mrs. +Norton. And Mrs. Norton put up her glass and looked at Annabel critically. + +"Superb indeed--to look at. Would you like to live with her?" + +"It would be exciting." + +"More so than your 'Vivian Grey,' which I have just read. It is the +book of the year." + +"No, that honour belongs to a little volume of poems by a young man +called Tennyson. Get it; you will read every word it contains." + +"I am wedded to my idols,--Byron and Scott and Keble. I am much +interested at present in those 'Imaginary Conversations' which that +queer Mr. Landor has given us. They are worth reading, I assure you." + +"But why read them? Listen to the 'Conversations' around us! They are +of Revolution, Civil War, Exile, and the Headsman. Could anything be more +'Imaginary'?" + +"Who can tell? Here comes Richmoor. He may be able to prognosticate. +What a murmur of voices! What invisible movement! Can you divine the news +from the messenger's face?" + +"He thinks that he brings good news. He may be fatally wrong." + +The Duke certainly thought that he brought good news. He was much +excited. He came forward with his hands extended, palms upward. + +"The King stands by us!" he cried. "God save the King!" + +Twenty voices called out at once, "What did he say?" + +"He said plainly that in spite of the public opinion expressed so +loudly in recent elections, Reform would have no sanction from the +Government. I only stayed until the end of the royal speech. Yet in +some way rumours of its purport must have reached the street. In the +neighbourhood, there was much agitation, and even anger." + +Then Kate slipped away from the excited throng. Piers had evidently +remained for the discussion on the King's speech; and it might be +midnight when the House adjourned. The winter day was fast darkening; +she ordered her chairmen, and the pretty sedan was brought into the +vestibule for her. She had no fear, though the very gloom and silence of +the waiting crowd was more indicative of danger than noise or threats +would have been. When she reached Hyde Park corner, however, angry faces +pressed around a little too close, and she was alarmed. Then she threw +back her hood and looked out calmly at the crowd, and immediately a +clear voice cried out, "It is Edgar Atheling's sister! Take good care +of her!" And there was a cheer and a cry, and about twenty men closed +round the chair, and saw it safely to its destination. + +Then Cecil North stepped to the door and opened it. "I knew it was you, +Mr. North!" cried Kate. "I knew your voice. How kind of you to come +all the way with me! How glad mother will be to see you!" + +"I cannot wait a moment, Miss Atheling. Can you give me any news?" + +"Yes. The King says the Government will not sanction Reform." + +"Who told you this?" + +"The Duke of Richmoor--not an hour ago." + +"Then 'good-night.' I am afraid there will be trouble." + +Mrs. Atheling and Kate were afraid also. The murmur of the crowd grew +louder and louder as the tenor of the King's speech became known; and +many a time they wished themselves in the safety and solitude of their +Yorkshire home. So they talked, and watched, and listened until the +night was far advanced. Then they heard the firm, strong step of the +Squire on the pavement; and his imperative voice in denial of something +said by a group of men whom he passed. In a few minutes he entered the +drawing-room with an angry light in his eyes, and the manner of a man +exasperated by opposition. + +"Whatever is it, John? Is there trouble already?" asked Mrs. Atheling. + +[Illustration:] + +"Plenty of it, and like to be more. The King has spoken like a fool." + +"John Atheling! His Majesty!" + +"His Imbecility! I tell you what, Maude, there has been enough said +to-day, and to-night, to set all the dogs of civil war loose. Give me a +bit of eating, and I will tell thee and Kitty what a lot of idiots are +met together in Westminster." + +The Squire always wanted a deal of waiting upon; and in a few minutes +his valet was bringing him easy slippers and a loose coat, and two +handmaidens serving a tray, bearing game pastry, and fruit tarts, and +clotted cream. But he would take neither wine, nor strong ale,-- + +"Water is all a man wants that gets himself stirred up in the House of +Commons," he said. "And if I had been in the Lords' House, I would +have needed nothing but a strait-jacket." + +He had hardly sat down to eat, when Piers Exham came in. No one could +have been more welcome, and the young man's troubled face brightened +in the sunshine of Kate's smile, and in the honest kindness of the +Squire's greeting. "I was just going to tell Mrs. Atheling all I knew +about to-night's blundering," he said; "but now we will have your +report first, for you have seen the Duke, I'll warrant." + +"Indeed, Squire, the Duke is not dissatisfied--though the general +opinion is, that the Duke of Wellington has committed an egregious +mistake." + +"I shouldn't wonder. Wellington does not know the difference between +a field-marshal and a Cabinet Minister. What did he say?" + +"He said that as long as he held any office in the Government, he would +resist Reform. He said there was no need of Reform; that we had the best +government in the world. The Duke of Devonshire, whom I have just seen, +told me that this statement produced a feeling of the utmost dismay, even +in the calm atmosphere of the House of Lords." + +"Calm!" interrupted the Squire. "You had better say, Incurable +prosiness." + +"Wellington noticed the suppressed excitement, the murmur, and the +movement, and asked Devonshire in a whisper, 'What can I have said to +cause such great disturbance?' And Devonshire shrugged his shoulders +and answered candidly, 'You have announced the fall of your government, +that is all.'" + +"Wellington considers the nation as a mutinous regiment," answered the +Squire. "He thinks the arguments for Reformers ought to be cannon balls; +but Englishmen will not endure a military government." + +"It would be better than a mob government, Squire. Remember France." + +"Englishmen are not Frenchmen," said Kate. "You ought to remember +_that_, Piers. Englishmen are the most fair, just, reasonable, brave, +loyal, honourable people on the face of the earth!" + +"Well done, Kitty!" cried the Squire. "It takes a little lass like +thee to find adjectives plenty enough, and good enough, for thy own. My +word! I wish thou couldst tell the Duke of Wellington what thou thinkest +of his fellow-citizens. He would happen trust them more, and treat them +better." + +"There is Mr. Peel too," she continued. "Both he and the Duke of +Wellington are always down on the people. And yet the Duke has led these +same people from one victory to another; and Mr. Peel is one of the +people. His father was a day-labourer, and he ought to be proud of it; +William Cobbett is, and William Cobbett is a greater man than Robert +Peel." + +"Now then, Kitty, that is far enough; for thou art wrong already. +Cobbett isn't a greater man than Peel; he isn't a great man at all, +he is only a clever man. But the man for my money is Henry Brougham. He +drives the world before him. He is a multitude. He had just one idea +to-day,--Reform and again Reform. He played that tune finely to the +House, and they danced to it like a miracle. Much good it will do them!" + +"He was scarcely decent," said Piers. "He gave notice, as you must +have heard, in the most aggressive manner that he should bring 'Reform' +to an immediate issue." + +"Yes," answered the Squire. "There is doubtless a big battle before +us. But, mark my words, it will not be with Wellington and Peel. They +signed their own resignation this afternoon." + +"That is what my father thinks," said Piers. + +"If Wellington could only have held his tongue!" said the Squire, +bitterly. + +"And if Daniel O'Connell would only cease making fun of the +Government." + +"That man! He is nobody!" + +"You mistake, Squire. His buffoonery is fatal to our party. I tell +you that Ridicule is the lightning that kills. Has not Aristophanes +tossed his enemies for the scorn and laughter of a thousand cities for a +thousand years? I fear O'Connell's satire and joking, far more than +I fear Grey's statesmanship, or Durham's popularity." + +Then Piers turned to Kate, and asked if she had seen the royal +procession. And she told him about her visit, and about Mr. North's +interference for her safety, and his escort of her home. Piers was +much annoyed at this incident. He begged her not to venture into the +streets until public feeling had abated, or was controlled, and +asked with singular petulance, "Who is this Mr. North? He plays the +mysterious Knight very well. He interferes too much." + +"I was grateful for his interference." + +"Why did you not remain at Richmoor until I returned? I expected it, +Kate." + +"I was afraid; and I knew my mother would be anxious--and I felt so +sad among strangers. You know, Piers, I have always lived among my own +people--among those who loved me." + +This little bit of conversation had taken place while the tray was +being removed, and the Squire and Mrs. Atheling were talking about +the engagements for the next day, so that definite orders might be +given concerning the carriage and horses. The movements of the servants +had enabled Piers and Kate, quite naturally, to withdraw a little +from the fireside group; and when Kate made her tender assertion, +about living with those who loved her, Piers's heart was full to +overflowing. This girl of sweet nature, with her innocent beauty and +ingenuous expressions, possessed his noblest feelings. He clasped her +hands in his, and said,-- + +"Oh, Kate! I loved you when you were only twelve years old; I love you +now beyond all measure of words. And you love me? Speak, Dear One!" + +"I love none but thee!" + +The next moment she was standing before her father and mother. Piers held +her hand. He was talking to them in low but eager tones, yet she did not +realise a word, until he said,-- + +"Give her to me, my friends. We have loved each other for many years. +We shall love each other for ever. She is the wife of my soul. Without +her, I can only half live." Then bending to Kate, he asked her fondly, +"Do you love me, Kate? Do you love me? Ask your heart about it. Tell us +truly, do you love me?" + +Then she lifted her sweet eyes to her lover, her father, and her mother, +and answered, "I love Piers with all my heart." + +The Squire was much troubled and affected. "This is taking a bit of +advantage, Piers," he said. "There is a time for everything, and this +is not my time for giving my little girl away." + +"Speak for us, Mrs. Atheling," said Piers. + +"Nay, I think the Squire is quite right," she replied. "Love isn't +worth much if Duty does not stand with it." + +"And there is far more, Piers," continued the Squire, "in such a +marriage as you propose than a girl's and a lover's 'yes.' When +the country has settled a bit, we will talk about love and wedding. I +can't say more for my life, can I, Mother?" + +"It is enough," answered Mrs. Atheling. "Why, we might have a civil +war, and what not! To choose a proper mate is good enough; but it is +quite as important to choose a proper time for mating. Now then, this is +not a proper time, when everything is at ups-and-downs, and this way and +that way, and great public events, that no one can foretell, crowding +one on the neck of the other. Let things be as they are, children. If +you only knew it, you are in the Maytime of your lives. I wouldn't +hurry it over, if I was you. It won't come back again." + +Then Kate kissed her father, and her mother, and her lover; and Piers +kissed Kate, and Mrs. Atheling, and put his hand into the Squire's +hand; and the solemn joy of betrothal was there, though it was not openly +admitted. + +In truth the Squire was much troubled at events coming to any climax. +He would not suffer his daughter to enter into an engagement not openly +acknowledged and approved by both families; and yet he was aware that +at the present time the Duke would consider any subject--not public or +political--as an interruption, perhaps as an intrusion. Besides which, +the Squire's own sense of honour and personal pride made him averse +to force an affair so manifestly to the preferment of his daughter. +It looked like taking advantage of circumstances--of presuming upon a +kindness; in fact, the more Squire Atheling thought of the alliance, the +less he was disposed to sanction it. Under no circumstances, could he +give Kate such a fortune as the heir of a great Dukedom had a right to +expect. She must enter the Richmoor family at a disadvantage--perhaps +even on sufferance. + +"No! by the Lord Harry, no!" he exclaimed. "I'll have none of the +Duke's toleration on any matter. I am sorry I took his seat. I wish +Edgar was here--he ought to be here, looking after his mother and +sister, instead of setting up rogues on Glasgow Green against their +King and Country! Of course, there is Love to reckon with, and Love does +wonders--but it is money that makes marriage." + +With such reflections, and many others growing out of them, the Squire +hardened his heart, and strengthened his personal sense of dignity, until +he almost taught himself to believe the Duke had already wounded it. In +this temper he was quite inclined to severely blame his wife for not +"putting a stop to the nonsense when it first began." + +"John," she answered, "we are both of a piece in that respect." + +"On my honour, Mother." + +"Don't say it, John. You used to laugh at the little lass going off +with Edgar and Piers fishing. You used to tease her about the gold brooch +Piers gave her. Many a time you have called her to me, 'the little +Duchess.'" + +"Wilt thou be quiet?" + +"I am only reminding thee." + +"Thou needest not. I wish thou wouldst remind thy son that he has a +sister that he might look after a bit." + +"I can look after Kate without his help. He is doing far better business +than hanging around Dukes." + +"If thou wantest a quarrel this morning, Maude, I'm willing to give +thee one. I say, Edgar ought to be here." + +"What for? He is doing work that we will all be proud enough of some +day. Thou oughtest to be helping him, instead of abusing him. I want thee +to open this morning's _Times_, and read the speech he made in Glasgow +City Hall. Thou couldst not have made such a speech to save thy life." + +"Say, I _would not_ have made it, and then thou wilt say the very +truth." + +"Read it." + +"Not I." + +"Thou darest not. Thou knowest it would make thee turn round and vote +with the Reformers." + +"Roast the Reformers! I wish I could! I would not have believed thou +couldst have said such a thing, Maude. How darest thou even think of thy +husband as a turncoat? Why, in politics, it is the unpardonable sin." + +"It is nothing of the kind. Not it! It is far worse to stick to a sin, +than to turn from it. If I was the biggest of living Tories, and I found +out I was wrong, I would stand up before all England and turn my coat in +the sight of everybody. I would that. When I read thy name against Mr. +Brougham bringing up Reform, I'll swear I could have cried for it!" + +"I wouldn't wonder. All the fools are not dead yet. But I hear Kitty +and her lover coming. I wonder what they are talking and laughing about?" + +"Thou hadst better not ask them. I'll warrant, Piers is telling her +the same sort of nonsense, thou usedst to tell me; and they will both +of them, believe it, no doubt." + +At these words Piers and Kate entered the room together. They were +going for a gallop in the Park; and they looked so handsome, and so +happy, that neither the Squire nor Mrs. Atheling could say a word to +dash their pleasure. The Squire, indeed, reminded Piers that the House +met at two o'clock; and Piers asked blankly, like a man who neither +knew, nor cared anything about the House, "Does it?" With the words on +his lips, he turned to Kate, and smiling said, "Let us make haste, my +dear. The morning is too fine to lose." And hand in hand, they said +a hasty, joyful "good-bye" and disappeared. The father and mother +watched them down the street until they were out of sight. As they +turned away from the window, their eyes met, and Mrs. Atheling smiled. +The Squire looked abashed and disconcerted. + +"Why didst not thou put a stop to such nonsense, John?" she asked. + +Fortunately at this moment a servant entered to tell the Squire his horse +was waiting, and this interruption, and a rather effusive parting, let +him handsomely out of an embarrassing answer. + +Then Mrs. Atheling wrote a long letter to her son, and looked after the +ways of her household, and knit a few rounds on her husband's hunting +stocking, and as she did so thought of Kate's future, and got tired +of trying to settle it, and so left it, as a scholar leaves a difficult +problem, for the Master to solve. And when she had reached this point +Kate came into the room. She had removed her habit, and the joyous look +which had been so remarkable two hours before was all gone. The girl +was dashed and weary, and her mother asked her anxiously, "If she was +sick?" + +"No," she answered; "but I have been annoyed, and my heart is heavy, +and I am tired." + +"Who or what annoyed you, child?" + +"I will tell you. Piers and I had a glorious ride, and were coming +slowly home, when suddenly the Richmoor liveries came in sight. I saw +the instant change on Piers's face, and I saw Annabel slightly push the +Duchess and say something. And the Duchess drew her brows together as +we passed each other, and though she bowed, I could see that she was +angry and astonished. As for Annabel, she laughed a little, scornful +laugh, and threw me a few words which I could not catch. It was a most +unpleasant meeting; after it Piers was very silent. I felt as if I had +done something wrong, and yet I was indignant at myself for the feeling." + +"What did Piers say?" + +"He said nothing that pleased me. He fastened his eyes on Annabel,--who +was marvellously dressed in rose-coloured velvet and minever,--and she +clapped her small hands together and nodded to him in a familiar way, +and, bending slightly forward, passed on. And after that he did not talk +much. All his love-making was over, and I thought he was glad when we +reached home. I think Annabel will certainly take my lover from me." + +"You mean that she has made up her mind to be Duchess of Richmoor?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, my dear Kate, a beautiful woman is strong, and money is stronger; +but _True Love conquers all_." + + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTH + +THE LOST RING + + +"To-morrow some new light may come, and you will see things another way, +Kitty." This was Mrs. Atheling's final opinion, and Kitty was inclined +to take all the comfort there was in it. She was sitting then in her +mother's room, watching her dress for dinner, and admiring, as good +daughters will always do, everything she could find to admire about the +yet handsome woman. + +"You have such beautiful hair, Mother. I wouldn't wear a cap if I was +you," she said. + +"Your father likes a bit of lace on my head, Kitty. He says it makes me +look more motherly." + +She was laying the "bit of lace" on her brown hair as she spoke. Then +she took from her open jewel case, two gold pins set with turquoise, and +fastened the arrangement securely. Kitty watched her with loving smiles, +and finally changed the whole fashion of the bit of lace, declaring that +by so doing she had made her mother twenty years younger. And somehow +in this little toilet ceremony, all Kitty's sorrow passed away, and +she said, "I wonder where my fears are gone to, Mother; for it does not +now seem hard to hope that all is just as it was." + +"To be sure, Kitty, I never worry much about fears. Fears are mostly +made of nothing; and in the long run they are often a blessing. Without +fears, we couldn't have hopes; now could we?" + +"Oh, you dear, sweet, good Mother! I wish I was just like you!" + +"Time enough, Kitty." Then a look of love flashed from face to face, +and struck straight from heart to heart; and there was a little silence +that needed no words. Kitty lifted a ring and slipped it on her finger. +It was a hoop of fine, dark blue sapphires, set in fretted gold, and +clasped with a tiny padlock, shaped like a heart. + +"What a lovely ring!" she cried. "Why do you not wear it, Mother?" + +"Because it is a good bit too small now, Kitty." + +"Miss Vyner's hands are always covered with rings, and she says every +one of them has a romance." + +"I've heard, or read, something like that. There was a woman in the +story-book, was there not, who kept a tally of her lovers on a string of +rings they had given her? I don't think it was anything to her credit. +I shouldn't wonder if that is a bit ill-natured. I ought not to say such +a thing, so don't mind it, Kitty." + +"Is this sapphire band yours, Mother?" + +"To be sure it is." + +[Illustration:] + +"May I wear it?" + +"Well, Kitty, I think a deal of that ring. You must take great care of +it." + +"So then, Mother, one of your rings has a story too, has it?" And there +was a little laugh for answer, and Kitty slipped the coveted trinket on +her finger, and held up her hand to admire the gleam of the jewels, as +she said, musingly, "I wonder what Piers is doing?" + +"I wouldn't 'wonder,' dearie. Little troubles are often worrited into +big troubles. If things are let alone, they work themselves right. I'll +warrant Piers is unhappy enough." + +But Mrs. Atheling's warrant was hardly justified. Piers should have +gone to the House; but he went instead to his room, threw himself among +the cushions of a divan, and with a motion of his head indicated to +his servant that he wanted his Turkish pipe. The strange inertia and +indifference that had so suddenly assailed, still dominated him, and +he had no desire to combat it. He was neither sick nor weary; yet he +seemed to have lost all control over his feelings. Had the man within +the man "gone off guard"? Have we not all--yes, we have all of us +succumbed to just such intervals of supreme, inexpressible listlessness +and insensibility? We are "not all there," but _where_ has our inner +self gone to? And what is it doing? It gives us no account of such lapses. + +Piers asked no questions of himself. He was like a man dreaming; for if +his Will was not asleep, it was at least quiescent. He made no effort +to control his thoughts, which drifted from Annabel to Kate, and from +Kate to Annabel, in the vagrant, inconsequent manner which acknowledges +neither the guidance of Reason or Will. And as the Levantine vapour +lulled his brain, he felt a pleasure in this surrender of his noblest +attributes. He thought of Annabel as he had seen her the previous +evening, dressed in a shaded satin of blue and green, trimmed with the +tips of peacock feathers. The same resplendent ornaments were in her +strong, wavy, black hair, and round her throat was a necklace of +emeralds and amethysts. "What a Duchess of Richmoor she would make!" +he thought. "How stately and proud! How well she would wear the coronet +and the gold strawberry leaves, and the crimson robe and ermine of her +state dress! Yes, Annabel would be a proper Duchess; but--but--" and +then he was sitting with Kate among the tall brackens, where the +Yorkshire hills threw miles of shadow. She was in her riding dress; but +her little velvet cap was in her hand, and the fresh wind was blowing +her brown hair into bewitching tendrils about her lovely face. How well +he knew the sweet seriousness of her downcast eyes, the rich bloom of +her cheeks and lips, the tender smile with which she always answered his +"_Kate! Sweet Kate!_" + +Even through all his listlessness, this vision moved him, and he heard +his heart say, "Oh, Kate, wife of my soul! Oh, Beloved! Love of my life, +who can part us? Thou and I, Kate! Thou and I--" + +"And the Other One." + +From _whom_ or from _where_ came the words? Piers heard them with his +spiritual sense plainly, and their suggestion annoyed him. Now if we +stir under a nightmare, it is gone; and this faint rebellion broke the +chain of that mental inertia which had held him at least three hours +under its spell. He moved irritably, and in so-doing threw down the lid +of the tobacco jar, and then rose to his feet. In a moment, he was "all +there." + +"I ought to be in the House," he muttered, and he touched the bell +for his valet, and dressed with less deliberation than was his wont. +And during the toilet he was aware of a certain mental anger that longed +to expend itself: "If Mr. Brougham is as insufferably dictatorial as +he was last night, if Mr. O'Connell only plays the buffoon again, we +shall meet in a narrow path--and one of us will fare ill," he muttered. + +The hour generally comes when we are ready for it; and Piers found +both gentlemen in the tempers he detested. He gladly accepted his own +challenge, and the Squire was so interested in the wordy fight that he +did not return home to dinner. Mrs. Atheling neither worried nor waited. +She knew that the Squire's vote might be wanted at any inconvenient +hour; and, besides, the night had set stormily in, and she said +cheerfully to Kate, "It wouldn't do for father to get a wetting and +then be hours in damp clothes. He is far better sitting to-day's +business out while he is there." + +But the evening dragged wearily, in spite of the efforts of both women +to make little pleasantries. Kate's whole being was in her sense of +hearing. She was listening for a step that did not come. On other nights +there had been visitors; she heard the roll of carriages and the clash +of the heavy front door; but this dreary night no roll of wheels broke +the stillness of the aristocratic Square; and she listened for the +sound of the closing door until she was ready to cry out against the +strain and the suspense. However, the longest, saddest day wears to +its end; and though it does not appear likely that a loving girl's +anxiety about a coolness in her lover should teach us how far deeper, +even than mother-love, is our trust in God's love, yet little Kitty's +behaviour on this sorrowful evening did show forth this sublime fact. + +For the girl left undone none of her usual duties, left unsaid none of +the pleasant words she knew her mother expected from her; she even +followed her--as she always did when the Squire was late--to her bedroom, +and helped her lay away her laces and jewels ere she bid her a last +"good-night." But as soon as she had closed the door of her own room, +she felt she might give herself some release. If she did not read the +whole of the Evening Service, _God would understand_. She could trust +His love to excuse, to pity, to release her from all ceremonies. She +knelt down, she bowed her head, and said only the two or three words +which opened her heart and let the rain of tears wash all her anxieties +away. + +And though sorrow may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning; +and this is specially true in youth. When Kate awoke, the sun was +shining, and the care and ache was gone from her heart. "He giveth His +Beloved sleep," and thus some angel had certainly comforted her, +though she knew it not. With a cheerful heart she dressed and went +into the breakfast-room, and there she saw her father standing on the +hearthrug, with _The Times_ open in his hand. He looked at her over +its pages with beaming eyes, and she ran to him and took the paper +away, and nestling to his heart, said, "she would have no rival, first +thing in the morning." + +And the proud father stroked her hair, and kissed her lips, and answered +her, "Rival was not born yet, and never would be born; and that he was +only seeing if them newspaper fellows had told lies about Piers." + +"Piers!" cried Mrs. Atheling, entering the room at the moment, "what +about Piers?" + +"Well, Mother, the lad had his say last night; but, Dal it! Mr. Brougham +went at the Government and the Electors as if they were all of them +wearing the devil's livery. I call it scandalous! It was nothing else. +He let on to be preaching for Reform, but he was just preaching for +Henry Brougham." + +"What was Mr. Brougham talking about, Father?" + +"Mr. Brougham can talk about nothing but Reform, Kitty, the right of +every man to vote as seems good in his own eyes. He said peers and +landowners influenced and prejudiced votes in a way that was outrageous +and not to be borne, and a lot more words of the same kind; for Henry +Brougham would lose his speech if he had anything pleasant to say. I was +going to get up and give him a bit of my mind, when Piers rose; and the +cool way in which he fixed his eye-glass, and looked Mr. Brougham up and +down, and straight in the face, set us all by the ears. He was every +inch of him, then and there, the future Duke of Richmoor; and he told +Brougham, in a very sarcastic way, that his opinions were silly, and +would neither bear the test of reason nor of candid examination." + +"But, Father, I thought Mr. Brougham was the great man of the Commons, +and held in much honour." + +"Well, my little maid, he may be; but I'll warrant it is only by people +who have their own reasons for worshipping the devil." + +"Come, come, John! If I was thee, I would be silent until I could be +just." + +"Not thou, Maude! Right or wrong, thou wouldst say thy say. I think I +ought to know thee by this time." + +"Never mind me, John. We want to hear what Piers said." + +"Brougham's words had come rattling off in full gallop. Piers, +after looking at him a minute, began in that contemptuous drawl of +his,--you've heard it I've no doubt,--'Mr. Brougham affords an +example of radical opinions degrading a statesman into a politician. +He cannot but know that it is the positive, visible duty of every +landowner to influence and prejudice votes. It is the business and the +function of education and responsibility to enlighten ignorance, and to +influence the misguided and the misled. If it is the business and the +function of the clergy to influence and prejudice people in favour +of a good life; if it is the business and function of a teacher to +influence and prejudice scholars in favour of knowledge,--it is just as +certainly the business and function of the landowner to influence +his tenants in favour of law and order, and to prejudice them against +men who would shatter to pieces the noblest political Constitution in +the world.'" + +The Squire read this period aloud with great emphasis, and added, "Well, +Maude, you never heard such a tumult as followed. Cries of '_Here! +Here!_' and '_Order! Order!_' filled the House; and the Speaker had +work enough to make silence. Piers stood quite still, watching Brougham, +and as soon as all was quiet, he went on,-- + +"'If you take the peers, the gentry, the scholars, the men of +enterprise and wealth, from our population, what kind of a government +should we get from the remainder? Would they be fit to select and +elect?' Then there was another uproar, and Piers sat down, and +O'Connell jumped up. He put his witty tongue in his laughing cheek, +and, buttoning his coat round him, held up his right hand. And the +Reform members cheered, and the Tory members shrugged their shoulders, +and waited for what he would say." + +"I don't want to hear a word from _him_," answered Mrs. Atheling. +"Come and get your coffee, John. A cup of good coffee costs a deal now, +and it's a shame to let it get cold and sloppy over Dan O'Connell's +blackguarding." + +"Tell us what he said, Father," urged Kate, who really desired to know +more about Piers's efforts. "You can drink your coffee to his words. I +don't suppose they will poison it." + +"I wouldn't be sure of that," said Mrs. Atheling, with a dubious shake +of her head; while the Squire lifted his cup, and emptied it at a draught. + +"What did he say, Father? Did he attack Piers?" + +"To be sure he did. He took the word 'Remainder,' and said Piers had +called the great, substantial working men of England, Scotland, and +Ireland _Remainders_. He said these '_Remainders_' might only be +farmers, and bakers, and builders, and traders; but they were the +backbone of the nation; and the honourable gentleman from Richmoor +Palace had called them 'Remainders.' And then he gave Piers a few +of such stinging, abusive names as he always keeps on hand,--and he keeps +a good many kinds of them on hand,--and Piers was like a man that +neither heard nor saw him. He looked clean through the member for +Kilkenny as if he wasn't there at all. And then Mr. Scarlett got +up, and asked the Speaker if such unparliamentary conduct was to be +permitted? And Mr. Dickson called upon the House to protect itself +from the browbeating, bullying ruffianism of the member for Kilkenny; +and Dan O'Connell sat laughing, with his hat on one side of his head, +till Dickson sat down; then he said, he 'considered Mr. Dickson's +words complimentary;' and the shouts became louder and louder, and +the Speaker had hard work to get things quieted down." + +"Why, John! I never heard tell of such carryings on." + +"Then, Maude, I thought _I_ would say a word or two; and I got the +Speaker's eye, and he said peremptorily, 'The member for Asketh!' +and I rose in my place and said I thought the honourable member for +Kilkenny--" + +"John! I wouldn't have called him 'honourable.'" + +"I know thou wouldst not, Maude. Well, I said honourable, and I went +on to say that Mr. O'Connell had mistaken the meaning Lord Exham +attached to the word 'Remainder.' I said it wasn't a disrespectful +word at all, and that there were plenty of 'remainders,' we all of us +thought a good deal of; but, I said, I would come to an instance which +every man could understand,--the remainder of a glass of fine, old +October ale. The rich, creamy, bubbling froth might stand for the +landowners; but it was part of the whole; and the remainder was all the +better for the froth, and the more froth, and the richer the froth, +the better the ale below it. And I went on to say that Lord Exham, and +every man of us, knew right well, that the great body of the English +nation wasn't made up of knaves, and scoundrels, and fools, but of +good men and women. And then our benches cheered me, up and down, +till I felt it was a good thing to be a Representative of the Remainder, +and I said so." + +Then Mrs. Atheling and Kitty cheered the Squire more than a little, with +smiles, and kisses, and proud words; and he went on with increased +animation, "In a minute O'Connell was on his feet again, and he +called me a lot of names I needn't repeat here; until he said, 'My +example of a glass of ale was exactly what anybody might expect from +such a John Bull as the member for Asketh.' And, Maude and Kitty, I +could not stand that. The House was shouting, 'Order! Order!' and +I cried, 'Mr. Speaker!' and the Speaker said, 'Order, the member for +Kilkenny is speaking!' 'But, Mr. Speaker,' I said, 'I only want to +say to the member for Kilkenny that I would rather be a John Bull, than +a bully.' And that was the end. There was no 'Order' after it. Our +side cheered and roared, and, Maude, what dost thou think?--the one to +cheer loudest was thy son Edgar. He must have got in by the Speaker's +favour; but there he was, and when I came through the lobby, with Piers +and Lord Althorp, and a crowd after me, he was standing with that +young fellow I threw on Atheling Green; and he looked at me so pleased, +and eager, and happy, that I thought for a moment he was going to shake +hands; but I kept my hands in my pockets--yet I'll say this,--he has +thy fine eyes, Maude,--I most felt as if thou wert looking at me." + +"John! John! How couldst thou keep thy hands in thy pockets? How couldst +thou do such an unfatherly thing? I'm ashamed of thee! I am." + +"Give me a slice of ham, and don't ask questions. I want my breakfast +now. I can't live on talk, as if I was a woman." + +Fortunately at this moment a servant entered with the morning's mail. +He gave Mrs. Atheling a letter, and Kate two letters; and then offered +the large salver full of matter to the Squire. He looked at the pile with +indignation. "Put it out of my sight, Dobson," he said angrily. "Do +you think I want letters and papers to my breakfast? I'm astonished at +you!" He was breaking his egg-shell impatiently as he spoke, and he +looked up with affected anger at his companions. Kitty met his glance +with a smile. She could afford to do so, for both her letters lay +untouched at her side. She tapped the upper one and said, "It is from +Miss Vyner, Father; it can easily wait." + +"And the other, Kitty? Who is it from?" + +"From Piers, I don't want to read it yet." + +"To be sure." Then he looked at Mrs. Atheling, and was surprised. Her +face was really shining with pleasure, her eyes misty with happy tears. +She held her letter with a certain pride and tenderness that her whole +attitude also expressed; and the Squire had an instant premonition as to +the writer of it. + +"Well, Maude," he said, "I would drink my coffee, if I was thee. A +cup of coffee costs a deal now; and it's a shame to let it get cold and +sloppy over a bit of a letter--nobody knows who from." + +"It is from Edgar," said Mrs. Atheling, far too proud and pleased to +keep her happiness to herself. "And, John, I am going to have a little +lunch-party to-day at two o'clock; and I do wish thou wouldst make it +in thy way to be present." + +"I won't. And I would like to know who is coming here. I won't +have all kinds and sorts sitting at my board, and eating my bread and +salt--and I never heard tell of a good wife asking people to do that +without even mentioning their names to her husband--and--" + +"I am quite ready to name everybody I ask to thy board, John. There +will be thy own son Edgar Atheling, and Mr. Cecil North, and thy wife +Maude Atheling, and thy daughter Kitty. Maybe, also, Lord Exham and Miss +Vyner. Kitty says she has a letter from her." + +"I told thee once and for all, I had forbid Edgar Atheling to come to +my house again until I asked him to do so." + +"This isn't thy house, John. It is only a rented roof. Thou mayst be +sure Edgar will never come near Atheling till God visits thee and gives +thee a heart like His own to love thy son. Thou hast never told Edgar to +keep away from the Vyner mansion, and thou hadst better never try to do +so; for I tell thee plainly if thou dost--" + +"Keep threats behind thy teeth, Maude. It isn't like thee, and I won't +be threatened either by man or woman. If thou thinkest it right to set +Edgar before me, and to teach him _not_ to 'Honour his father'--" + +"Didn't he 'honour' thee last night! Wasn't he proud of thee? And +he wanted to tell thee so, if thou wouldst have let him. Poor Edgar!" +And Edgar's mother covered her face, and began to cry softly to herself. + +"Nay, Maude, if thou takest to crying I must run away. It isn't +fair at all. What can a man say to tears? I wish I could have a bit of +breakfast in peace; I do that!"--and he pushed his chair away in a +little passion, and lifted his mail, and was going noisily out of the +room, when he found Kitty's arms round his neck. Then he said peevishly, +"Thou art spilling my letters, Kitty. Let me alone, dearie! Thou +never hast a word to say on thy father's side. It's too bad!" + +"I am all for you, father,--you and you first of all. There is nobody +like you; nobody before you; nobody that can ever take your place." Then +she kissed him, and whispered some of those loving, senseless little +words that go right to the heart, if Love sends them there. And the +Squire was comforted by them, and whispered back to her, "God love +thee, my little maid! I'll do anything I can to give thee pleasure." + +"Then just think about Edgar as you saw him last night, think of him +with mother's eyes watching you, listening to you, full of pride and +loving you so much--oh, yes, Father! loving you so much." + +"Well, well,--let me go now, Kitty. I have all these bothering letters +and papers to look at; they are enough to make any man cross." + +"Let me help you." + +"Go to thy mother. Listen, Kitty," and he spoke very low, "tell her, +thou art sure and certain thy father does not object to her seeing her +son, if it makes her happy--thou knowest my bark is a deal worse than +my bite--say--thou believest I would like to see Edgar myself--nay, +thou needest not say that--but say a few words just to please her; thou +knowest what they should be better than I do,"--then, with a rather +gruff "good-morning," he went out of the room; and Kitty turned to +her mother. + +Mrs. Atheling was smiling, though there were indeed some remaining +evidences of tears. "He went without bidding me 'good-morning,' +Kitty. What did he say? Is he very angry?" + +"Not at all angry. All put on, Mother. He loves Edgar quite as much as +you do." + +"He can't do that, Kitty. There is nothing like a mother's love." + +"Except a father's love. Don't you remember, that God takes a +father's love to express His own great care for us? And when the +Prodigal Son came home, Christ makes his father, not his mother, go to +meet him." + +"That was because Christ knew children were sure and certain of their +mother's love and forgiveness. He wasn't so sure of the fathers. So he +gave the lesson to them; he knew that mothers did not need it. Mothers +are always ready to forgive, Kitty; but there is nothing to forgive in +Edgar." + +"Is he really coming to-day?" + +"Listen to what he says, Kitty. 'Darling Mother, I cannot live +another day without seeing you. Let me come to-morrow at two o'clock, +and put my arms round you, and kiss you, and talk to you for an hour. +Ask father to let me come. London is not Atheling. If he counts his +passionate words as forever binding between him and me, surely they are +not binding between you and me. Let me see you anyway, Mother. Sweet, +dear Mother! When father forgives the rest, he will forgive this also. +Your loving son, Edgar.' Now, Kitty, if Edgar was your son, what would +you say?" + +"I would say, Come at once, Edgar, and dearly welcome!" + +"To be sure you would. So shall I. What is Miss Vyner writing about?" + +Then Kitty lifted the squarely folded letter with its great splash of +white wax stamped with the Vyner crest, and after a rapid glance at its +contents said, "There is likely to be a great House to-night; and the +Duchess has three seats in the Ladies Gallery. One is for Annabel, the +other for me; and she asks you to take her place. Do go, Mother." + +"I'll think about it." + +"Don't say that." + +"It is all I will say just yet. Did you have a letter from Piers?" + +"Yes." + +"I knew you would. Go and read it, and tell Dobson to send the cook to +me. We want the best lunch that can be made; and put on a pretty dress, +Kitty. Edgar must feel that nothing is too good for him." + +In accordance with this intent, Mrs. Atheling took particular pains +with her own dress; and Kitty thought she had never seen her mother so +handsome. Soft brown satin, and gold ornaments, and the bit of lace +on her head set off her large, blonde, stately beauty to perfection; +while the look of love and anxiety, as the clock moved on to two, gave to +her countenance that "something more" without which beauty is only +flesh and blood. + +She had said to herself that Edgar might be detained, that he might not +be able to keep his time, and that she would not feel disappointed if he +was a bit behind two o'clock. But fully ten minutes before the hour, +she heard his quick, firm knock; and as she stood trembling with joy in +the middle of the room, he took her in his arms, and, between laughing +and crying, they knew not, either of them, what they said. And then +Kitty ran into the room, all a flutter with pale-blue ribbons, and it +was a good five minutes before the two women found time to see, and +to speak to Cecil North, who stood watching the scene with his kind +heart in his face. + +Evidently the meeting had bespoke a fortunate hour. The weather, though +it was November, was sunny; the lunch was perfection, and they were +in the midst of the merriest possible meal when Annabel Vyner and +Piers Exham joined them. Annabel had expected nothing better from +this visit than an opportunity to show off her familiar relations with +Lord Exham, and torment Kitty, as far as she thought it prudent to do +so; but Fate had prepared motives more personal and delightful for +her,--two handsome young men, whom she at once determined to conquer. +Cecil North made no resistance; he went over heart and head in love +with her. Her splendid vitality, her manner,--so demanding and so +caressing,--her daring dress, and dazzling jewelry, her altogether +unconventional air charmed and vanquished him, and he devoted himself to +pleasing her. + +During the lunch hour the conversation was general, and very animated. +Annabel excelled herself in her peculiar way of saying things which +appeared singularly brilliant, but which really derived all their +point from her looks, and shrugs, and flashing movements. The good mother +was in an earthly heaven, watching, and listening, and attending to +every one's wants, actual and possible. Laughter and repartee and +merry jests mingled with bits of social and parliamentary gossip, though +politics were instinctively avoided. Piers knew well the opinions of +the two men with whom he was sitting; and he was quite capable of +respecting them. Besides, he had an old friendship for Edgar Atheling; +and he loved his sister, and was well aware that she had much sympathy +with her brother's views. So all Annabel's attempts to make a division +were futile; no one took up the little challenges she flung into their +midst, and the parliamentary talk drifted no nearer dangerous ground +than the Ladies Gallery. Piers knew of the invitation given to the +Athelings, and he proposed to meet the ladies in the courtyard near +the entrance to the exclusive precinct. + +"Too exclusive by far," said Annabel. "Why do English ladies submit +to that grating? It is a relic of the barbarous ages. I intend to move +in the matter. Let us get up a petition, or an act, or an agitation of +some kind for its removal. I think we should succeed. What do you say, +Lord Exham?" + +"I think you would _not_ succeed," answered Piers. "I have heard the +Duke say that the proposition is frequently made in the House; that it is +always enthusiastically cheered; but that every time the question comes +practically up, there is a dexterous count out." + +"Well, then, I will propose that the front Treasury Bench be taken away, +and twenty-four ladies' seats put in its place. Do you see, Mr. North, +what I intend by that?" + +"I am sure it is something wise and good, Miss Vyner." + +"My idea is, that twenty-four ladies should sit there as representatives +of the women of England. Twenty-four bishops in lovely lawn sit as +representatives of the clergy of England; why should not English women +have their representation? I hope while Reformers are correcting the +abuses of Representation, they will consider this abuse. Mr. Atheling, +what do you say?" + +"I am at your service, Miss Vyner." + +"Indeed, sir, just at present you are hand and heart in the service of +Mrs. Atheling. I must turn to Mr. North." + +Then Mrs. Atheling perceived that in her interesting conversation with +Edgar, she was keeping her guests at table; and she rose with an apology, +and led the way into the parlour. There was a large conservatory opening +out of this room, and Kate and Piers, on some pretext of rosebuds, +went into it. + +"My dear Kate, I have been so unhappy!" he said, taking her hand. + +"But why, Piers?" + +"We parted so strangely yesterday. I do not know how it happened." + +"We were both tired, I think. I was as much in fault as you. Is not +this an exquisite flower?" That was the end of the trouble. He drew +her to his side, and kissed the hand that touched the flower; and so +all explanations were over; and they took up their love-story where +the shadow of yesterday had broken it off. And as their hands wandered +among the shrubs, it was natural for Piers to notice the ring on Kate's +finger. "It is a very singular jewel," he said; "I never saw one +like it." + +"It is my mother's," answered Kate. "She told me this morning it was +her betrothal ring and that father bought it in Venice." + +"Kate dear, I wish to get you a ring just like it. Let us ask Mrs. +Atheling if I may show it to my jeweller, and have one made for you." + +"I am sure mother will be willing," and she slipped the shining circle +from her finger, and gave it to Piers; and he whispered fondly, as he +placed it on his own hand, "Will you take it from me, Kate, as a love +gage?--never to leave your finger until I put the wife's gold ring +above it?" + +And what she said need not be told. Many happy words grew from her +answer; and they forgot the rosebuds they had come to gather, and the +company they had left, and the flight of time, until Edgar came into +the conservatory to bid his sister "good-bye." There had been a slight +formality between Piers and Edgar at their first meeting; but with +Kate standing between them, all the good days on the Yorkshire hills +and moors came into their memories, and they clasped hands with their +old boyish fervour, and it was "Piers" and "Edgar" again. So the +parting was the real meeting; and they went back to the parlour in an +unmistakable enthusiasm of good fellowship. + +Annabel was then quite ready to leave, and the question of the Ladies +Gallery came up for settlement. Mrs. Atheling declared she was too +weary to go out; and Kate preferred her own happy thoughts to the +tumult of a political quarrel. Annabel was equally indifferent. She +had discovered that Mr. North was a son of the Earl of Westover, and +might with propriety be asked to the Richmoor opera-box, that there was +even an acquaintance strong enough between the families to enable her +new lover to pay his respects to the Duchess in the interludes, and, in +fact, an understanding to that effect had been made for that very +night, if the offer of the seats in the Ladies Gallery was not accepted. +So their refusal caused no regret; for when politics come in competition +with youth and love, they have scarcely a hearing. But during the +slight discussion, Piers found time to speak to Mrs. Atheling about the +ring; and the direction of three pair of eyes to the trinket caught +Annabel's attention. Her face flamed when she saw that it had passed +from Kate's hand to the hand of Exham; and for the first time, she +had a feeling of active dislike against Kate. Her sweet, calm, innocent +beauty, her happy eyes and ingenuous girlish expression, offended her, +and set all the worst forces of her soul in revolt. + +She did not dare to trust herself with Piers. In her present mood, she +knew she would be sure to say something that would hamper her future +actions. She declared she would only accept Mr. North's escort to +Richmoor House; for she was sure the Duke was expecting Piers to be +in his place in the Commons when the vote was taken. + +Piers had a similar conviction, and he looked at his watch almost +guiltily, and went hurriedly away. Then the little party was soon +dispersed; but Mrs. Atheling and Kate were both far too happy to need +outside aids. They talked of Edgar and Cecil North, and Annabel's +witcheries, and Piers's great and good qualities, and the promised ring, +and the excellent lunch, and the general success of the impromptu +little feast. Everything had been pleasant, and the Squire's absence +was not thought worth worrying about. + +"He will come round, bit by bit," said the happy mother. "I know +John Atheling. The first thing Edgar does to please him, will put all +straight; and Edgar is on the very road to please him most of all." + +"What road is that, Mother?" + +"Nay, I can't tell you, Kitty; for just yet it is a secret between +Edgar and me. He was glad to meet Piers again; and, if I am any judge, +they will be better friends than ever before." + +Thus the two women talked the evening away, and were by no means sorry +to be at their own fireside. "We could have done no good by going to the +House," said Kate. "If we were men, it would be different. They like +it. Father says the House is the best club in London." + +"It gives men a lot of excuses," said Mrs. Atheling, with a sigh. "I +dare say your father won't get home till late. You had better go to bed, +Kitty." + +"Perhaps Piers may come with him." + +"I don't think he will. He looked tired when he left here; he will +be worse tired when he gets away from the Commons. He said he was going +to speak again, if he got the opportunity,--that is, if he could find +anything to contradict in Mr. Brougham's speech. Piers likes saying, +'No, sir!' his spurs are always in fighting trim. Go to bed, Kitty. +Piers won't be back to-night, and I can say to father whatever I think +proper." + +Mrs. Atheling judged correctly. Piers sat a long time before his +opportunity came, and then he did not get the best of it. Brougham's +followers overflowed the Opposition benches, the Government side, +and the gangway, and Piers exhausted himself vainly in an endeavour +to get a hearing. It was late when he returned to Richmoor House, but the +Duke was still absent, and the Duchess and Annabel at the opera. He +went to the Duke's private parlour, for there were some things he felt +he must discuss before another day's sitting; and the warmth and +stillness, added to his own mental and physical weariness, soon overcame +all the resistance he could make. The couch on which he had thrown +himself was also a drowsy place; it seemed to sink softly down, and +down, until Piers was far below the tide of thought, or even dreams. + +It was then that Annabel returned. She came slowly and rather +thoughtfully along the silent corridor. She had exhausted for the time +being her fine spirits, her wit, almost her good looks. She hoped she +would _not_ meet Piers, and was glad in passing the door of his +apartments to see no man in attendance, nor any sign of wakeful life. A +little further on she noticed a band of light from the Duke's private +parlour; the door was a trifle open, left purposely so by Piers in +order that his father might not be tempted to pass it. Tired as she was, +she could not resist the opportunity it offered. She liked to show +herself in her fineries to her guardian, for he always had a compliment +for her beauty; and although she had listened for hours to compliments +her vanity was still unsatiated. With a coquettish smile she pushed +wider the door and saw Lord Exham. There could be no doubt of his +profound insensibility; his face, his attitude, his breathing, all +expressed the deep sleep of a thoroughly-exhausted man. + +For one moment she looked at him curiously, then, at the instigation +of the Evil One, her eyes saw the ring upon his hand, and her heart +instantly desired it; for what reason she did not ask. At the moment +she perhaps had no reason, except the wicked hope that its loss might +make trouble between Kitty and her lover. With the swift, noiseless step +that Nature gives to women who have the treachery and cruelty of the +feline family, she reached Piers's side. But rapid as her movement had +been, her thought had been more rapid. "If I am caught, I will say I +won a pair of gloves, and took the ring as the gage of my victory." + +She stooped to the dropped hand, but never touched it. The ring was +large, and it was only necessary for her to place her finger and thumb +on each side of it. It slipped off without pressing against the flesh, +and in a moment it was in her palm. She waited to see if the movement +had been felt. There was no evidence of it, and she passed rapidly out +of the room. Outside the door, she again waited for a movement, but +none came, and she walked leisurely, and with a certain air of weariness, +to her own apartments. Once there all was safe; she dropped it into +the receptacle in which she kept the key of her jewel-case, and went +smiling to bed. + +Not ten minutes after her theft the Duke entered the room. He did not +scruple to awaken his son, and to discuss with him the tactics of a +warfare which was every day becoming more bitter and violent. Piers +was full of interest, and eager to take his part in the fray. Suddenly +he became aware of his loss. Then he forgot every other thing. He +insisted, then and there, on calling his valet and searching every inch +of carpet in the room. The Duke was disgusted with this radical change +of interest. He went pettishly away in the middle of the search, saying,-- + +"The Reformers might well carry all before them, when peers who had +everything to lose or gain thought more of a lost ring than a lost +cause." + +And Piers could not answer a word. He was confounded by the circumstance. +That the ring was on his hand when he entered the room was certain. +He searched all his pockets with frantic fear, his purse, the couch on +which he had slept. There was no part of the room not examined, no piece +of furniture that was not moved; and the day began to dawn when the +useless search was over. He went to his room, sleepless and troubled +beyond belief. Government might be defeated, Ministers might resign, +Reform might spell Revolution, the estates and titles of nobles might +be in jeopardy,--but Kitty's ring was lost, and that was the first, +and the last, and the only thought Piers Exham could entertain. + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTH + +WILL SHE CHOOSE EVIL OR GOOD? + + +Annabel had a very good night. Her conscience was an indulgent one, +and she easily satisfied its complaining. "It was after all only a +joke," she said. "In the morning I can restore the ring. The Duke +will have a good laugh at his son's discomfiture, and will praise my +cleverness. The Duchess will either knit her brows, or else take it +merrily; and Piers will owe me a forfeit, and that will be the end of +the affair. What is there to make a fuss over?" Annabel's conscience +thought, in such case, there was nothing to fuss about; and it let her +sleep comfortably on the prevaricating promise. + +She considered the matter over as she was dressing. She had slept +well, was refreshed and full of life, and therefore full of selfish +wilfulness:-- + +"I will restore the ring to Piers." She said this to please one side +of her nature. + +"I will not restore the ring." She said this to please the other +side. "As a thing of worth, it is by no means costly. I will give Kate +Atheling a ring of twice its value. As a thing of power it is mine, +the spoil of my will and my skill; and I will not part with it." Still +she kept the first decision in reserve; she promised herself to be +influenced by the circumstances which the affair induced. + +But the way out of temptation is always very difficult, and circumstances +are rarely favourable to it. They were not in this case. Before +Annabel was dressed she received a message that overthrew all her +intentions. The Duchess was going to breakfast in her own parlour, and +she desired Annabel's company at the meal. The desires of the Duchess +were commands, and the young lady reluctantly obeyed them; for she +anticipated the reproof that came, as soon as they were alone, regarding +her attitude towards Cecil North. + +"It will not do, Annabel," said the Duchess, severely. "The Norths +are a fine family, but poor, even in the elder branches. This young man +can look forward to nothing better than some diplomatic or military +appointment, and that in an Indian Presidency." + +"What could be better?" asked Annabel, with an affectation of delight. +"An Indian Court is a court. It has the splendour, the ceremony, the +very air of royalty." + +"But with your fortune--" + +"I assure you, Duchess, any man who marries me will need all my fortune. +He will in fact deserve it. You know that I am _not_ amiable, and that I +_am_ extravagant and luxurious." + +"But you may avoid such a foolish, unwomanly thing as flirtation, even +if you are not amiable. It seems to me the world has forgotten how to be +amiable. This morning, the Duke is touchy and disagreeable; and Piers +has not come to ask after my health, though it is his usual custom when I +remain in my room. He angered the Duke also last night." + +"Did you see him last night?" asked Annabel, with an air of +indifference. + +"The Duke did. Piers seems to have behaved in an absurd way about a +ring he has lost. The Duke says, he turned his room topsy-turvy, and +went on as if he had lost his whole estate." + +"Was it the ring with the ducal arms that he always wears?" + +"No, indeed! Only a simple band of sapphires, or some other stone. The +Duke thinks it must have been the gift of some woman. Were you the donor, +Annabel?" + +"I! I should think not! I do not give rings away. I prefer to receive +them. He wore no sapphire band yesterday when he and I went to the +Athelings--" and she looked the rest of the query, over her coffee-cup, +straight into the eyes of the Duchess. + +"What is it you mean to ask, Annabel?" + +"Do you think that Miss Atheling--" + +[Illustration:] + +"Miss Atheling! That girl! What an absurd idea! Why should she give Lord +Exham a ring?" + +"_Why!_ There are so many '_whys_' that nobody can answer." And +with this remark, Annabel felt that her opportunity for confession +had quite lapsed. For if the Duchess had thought it right to reprove +her for such freedom as she had shown towards Cecil North, what would +she say about an act so daring, so really improper in a social sense, as +the removal of a ring from her son's hand? Annabel had no mind to +bring on herself the disagreeable looks and words she merited. She gave +the conversation the political turn that answered all purposes, by +asking the Duchess if she was not afraid Piers's principles might be +influenced by his friendship with young Atheling. "They were David +and Jonathan yesterday," she said; "and as for Cecil North, he is a +Radical of the first water." + +"Lord Exham is not so easily persuaded," answered the Duchess, loftily. +"He could as readily change his nose as his principles. But I am +seriously annoyed at this intercourse with a family distinctly out of our +own caste. The Duke has been very foolish to encourage it." + +"You have also encouraged Miss Atheling." + +"I have been too good-natured. I admit that. But as I have promised to +present her, I must honourably keep my word; that is, if any opportunity +offers. It now appears as if there would be no court functions. The King +declined the Lord Mayor's feast,--a most unprecedented thing,--and +it is said the Queen is averse to receive while the Reform agitation +continues. When it will end, nobody knows." + +"It will end when it succeeds, not before," said Annabel. "I am only +a woman, but I see that conclusion very clearly." It gave her pleasure +to make this statement. It was her way of returning to the Duchess the +disagreeable words she had been obliged to take from her; and she was +not at all dismayed by the look of anger she provoked. + +"I am astonished at you, Annabel. Are you also in danger of changing +your opinions?" + +"I am astonished at myself, Duchess. My opinions are movable; but I have +not yet changed them. Truth, however, belongs to all sides, and I cannot +avoid seeing things as they are." + +"That is, as young Atheling and Cecil North show them to you." + +"Lord Exham has still more frequent opportunities of showing me the +course of events. I have 'influences' on both sides, you see, Duchess; +but, after all, I form my own opinions." + +"Reform will never be accomplished. The people must follow the nobles, +as surely as the thread follows the needle." + +"I have ceased to prophesy. Anything can happen in a long enough time; +and I often heard my father say that, 'They who _care_ and _dare_ +may do as they like.' I think the Reform party both '_care_' and +'_dare_.'" + +"Have you fallen in love with Cecil North, or with Mr. Atheling?" + +"I am in love with Annabel Vyner. I worship none of the idols that have +been set up, either by Tories or Reformers. Men who talk politics are +immensely stupid. I shall marry a man who is a good fighter. Mere talkers +are like barking dogs. Why don't these Reformers stop whimpering, and +fly like a bull dog at the throat of their wrongs? Then I should go +with them, heart and soul and purse." + +"You are talking now for talking's sake, Annabel. You are actually +advocating civil war." + +"Am I really? Well, war is man's natural condition. It takes churches, +and priests, and standing armies, and constables always on hand, to +keep peace in any sort of fashion. We are all barbarians under our +clothes,--just civilised on the top." + +"Such assertions are odious, and you cannot prove them." + +"I can. The other evening I was reading to Lord Tatham a most exquisite +poem by that young man Tennyson; and he seemed to be enjoying it, +until Algernon Sydney showed him his watch, and said something about +'the Black Boy.' Then his face fairly glowed, and he went off with a +compliment that meant nothing. The next morning I found out 'the +Black Boy' was a famous pugilist. We are all of us, in some way or +other, in this mixed condition." + +"I think you are particularly disagreeable this morning, Miss." + +"Pardon, Duchess. We have fallen on a disagreeable subject. Let us +change it. Are we to drive to Richmond to-day?" + +"If Piers will accompany us. Ay! that is his knock." She turned a +radiant face to meet her son, but received a sudden chill. Piers was +pale and sombre-looking; he said he had not slept, and politely declined +the Richmond excursion. Annabel was sure he would. "He will have an +explanation at the Athelings instead," she thought; and she waited +curiously for some remark which might open the way for her confession--or +else close it. But Lord Exham did not allude to his loss, and the +Duchess either attached no importance to the subject, or else thought it +too important to bring forward. The tone of the room was not brightened +by the young lord's advent, and Annabel quickly excused herself from +further attendance. + +"He will tell his mother when I am not there; and I shall get his +opinions, with commentaries from her," she thought, as she hurried +to her own rooms. Once there, she dismissed her maid, and sat down +to realise herself. She doubled her little hands, and beat her knees +softly with them. It was her way of summoning her mental forces, and of +collecting vagrant and undecided thought. + +"I am just here," she said to her own consciousness. "I have taken a +ring from Lord Exham's finger. What for? Mischief or a joke? Which? +Probably mischief. I wanted to turn it into a joke, and my opportunity is +gone. Not my fault. If the Duchess had been in a good humour, I should +have told her all about it. If Exham's manner had not frozen everything +but the commonplaces of propriety, I would have teased him a little, +and then given up the ring. It is their own fault. If people are cross +at breakfast, they deserve a disagreeable day. I am not sorry to give +them their deserts." + +Then she rose and went to her jewel-case, and took the ring out and +put it on her finger. "It is a poor little thing after all," she +said as she turned it round and round. "The stones are not very +fine; I have sapphires of far finer colour. If I give Kate Atheling my +diamond locket, she will have reason to be grateful,--the setting is, +however, really beautiful; that is the point, I suppose. I would like +to have a ring set in the same way; but it would be dangerous--" and +she laughed as if she enjoyed the thought of the danger. She took off +the ring at this point, and looked at it more critically. "What must I +do with the troublesome thing?" she asked herself. "Justine is a +curious, suspicious creature, and when she hears the talk in the +servants' hall, if she got but a glimpse of it, she would put two and +two together." A momentary resolve to throw it into the fire-place of +the Duke's parlour came into her mind. "If it is found there," +she argued, "the only supposition will be that Piers dropped it on the +hearth. If it is not found, there will be no suppositions at all." + +This resolve, however, received no real encouragement. There is a +perverse disposition in human nature to keep with special care things +that incriminate, or which might become sources of suspicion or trouble; +and the ring exercised over the girl this fatal fascination. She closed +her jewel-case deliberately, holding the lid a trifle open for a moment +or two of last consideration; then she dropped it with decision, and +took from her pocket a small purse, made of gold as flexible as leather +or satin. There were a few sovereigns in one compartment, and a Hindoo +charm in another. She put the ring with the charm, and closed the purse +with a smile of satisfaction. For the time being, at any rate, it was +out of her way; and there were yet possibilities of turning the whole +matter into a pleasantry. + +"I may even take it to Kate Atheling and tell her to claim my forfeit." +This very improbable solution satisfied Annabel's conscience; she was +at peace after it, and able to consider more personal affairs. + +In order to do this under the most favourable conditions, she placed +herself comfortably on her lounge. Her fine, tall form lay at length, +supine and indolent, the feet, in their crimson sandals, crossed at the +ankles. Her dark, powerful head, with its masses of strong, black hair, +looked almost handsome on the pale amber cushions, with the hands and +arms--jewelled though it was only morning--clasped above it. She was +going to examine herself, and she was not one to shirk even the innermost +chamber of her heart. + +"First," she thought, "there is Lord Exham. Do I really want to +marry him? Let me be sure of this, and then there is nothing for him +to do, but make out the settlements. He cannot resist my influence +when I choose to exert it. As yet I have not troubled him much; but I +can trouble him--and I will, if I want to. Do I? Be honest, Annabel. +There is no use lying to yourself. Well, then, I want to be Duchess of +Richmoor; but I do _not_ want to be Exham's wife. And if I marry +him, the present Duke may live ten, twenty, even thirty years. I would +not wait for the crown of England thirty years, with a husband I rather +despised; only--only what? I do not want that Atheling girl to marry +him. Jane Warwick, or Helen Percy, or Margaret Gower, I would not +mind--but Kate Atheling! No! Why? I cannot tell." Nor could she. It was +one of those apparently unreasonable dislikes we bring into the world +with us, and which, probably, are the most reasonable dislikes of +all. "Very well, then," she continued, "I will not marry Piers, nor +shall Kate Atheling marry him. That is fair enough. If I manage to +make her give him up, I give him up myself also. I am only doing to +her as I do to myself. + +"Now there is Wynn, and Sidmouth, and Russell--and others. Every one of +them have appraised my value, and made inquiries about my wealth. No +one has told me this, but I know it. I know it with that invincible +certainty with which women know things they are never told. Cecil North? +Yes, I like Cecil North. He really fell in love with me,--with _me_, +_myself_. A woman knows; she is never deceived about that unless she +wants to be deceived. He is poor,--the Westovers are all poor,--I do +not care if he is as poor as Job. I am tired to death of rich people. +If Cecil North would get a military commission in India, I could be +his wife. I could follow the drum, or live in quarters with him, and I +should be a better and a happier woman than I am here. This life is +too small for me." + +She was right in this estimation of herself. Her nature was one fitted +to respond to great emergencies. She was a woman for frontiers and +forts, for strife with men or elements, for days of danger in the shadow +of suffering or death; and she was living in a society so artificial +that any real cry of nature and needless familiarity, any sign of +genuine passion was startling and distasteful to it. The soldierly +temper inherited from her father demanded an adventurous life, because +people made for overcoming obstacles cannot be morally healthy without +obstacles to overcome. And, therefore, it was a poor life for Annabel +Vyner that offered her no difficulty to surmount but the claims of Kate +Atheling. She was quite aware of this, and the ring in her purse was +no real triumph. It was rather one of those irreparable facts, the +very thought of which gives pain. + +If she had been morally stronger, she would have dominated her +environment, and defied the circumstances that so easily prevented +her from doing the right thing. She would have been obedient to Duty; +and that grand, immutable principle would have given her strength to +resist temptation, or, having fallen into it, to make the obvious +reparation; for + + "So nigh is grandeur to our dust, + So near is God to man, + When Duty whispers low, '_Thou Must_,' + The Soul replies, '_I Can_.'" + +This morning, though she was far from diagnosing her feelings correctly, +Annabel soon began to suffer from that nervous and even that physical +fatigue which is bred of moral indifference. For nothing is more certain +than that moral strength is the very _Life_ of life. She yawned; she +felt the hours too long to be endured, while she pictured to herself +the scene in the Atheling parlour, when Piers would confess the loss of +the ring, and Kate lovingly excuse it. Finally, she became nervously +angry at the persistence of the vision. In every possible way she tried +to banish it, but though she fetched memories from farthest India, the +exasperating phantasm would not be driven away. + +In reality the affair produced very little apparent effect. Piers made +his confession to Mrs. and Miss Atheling with so much genuine emotion +that they could not but make light of the loss while he was present. Yet +it troubled both women very much. Mrs. Atheling cried over it when she +was alone; and Kate took it as a sign of some untoward event in the +course of love between Piers and herself. No one is able to put aside +such inferences and presentiments; and, quite unconsciously, it worked +towards the end Kate feared. Piers began to fancy--perhaps unjustly--that +he never entered Kate's or Mrs. Atheling's presence without seeing in +their first glance an unspoken inquiry after the lost ring. In some +measure he was to blame, if this was so. He had employed detectives to +watch such servants of the Richmoor household as could have had access +to the Duke's parlour on that unhappy night; and as the ladies were +aware of this movement, it was only natural they should desire to know +if any result came from it. + +Of course there was no result; and the real culprit remained absolutely +unsuspected. As the days wore away, her conscience grew accustomed to +the situation; it made no troublesome demands; and Annabel even began to +feel a certain pleasurable excitement in holding in her hands what might +prove to be a power for great good, or great evil,--for she was not yet +ready to admit an entirely evil intention; she chose rather to regard it +as a practical jest which she might undo, or explain, in some future, +favourable hour. + +She kept the jewel always in her purse; she went frequently to the +Athelings; and once or twice she had a transitory impulse to tell Kate +the whole circumstance, and be guided by her advice in the matter. But +the Evil One, who had prompted her in the first instance to take it, +always met these intents or impulses with some plausible excuse; and +every good impulse which does not crystallise into a good action, only +tends towards the strengthening of the evil one. Then outside events +made delay more easy. On the fifteenth of November, there was a short, +decided argument in the House of Commons on the Civil List; a division +was promptly taken, and the Government was found to be in a minority +of twenty-nine. The Squire and Lord Exham returned home together, both +very much annoyed at this result. + +"All this election business will be to go over again," the Squire +said, wearily. "Wellington and Peel are sure to take this opportunity +to resign." + +"Why should they resign, John?" asked Mrs. Atheling. + +"Well, Maude," he answered, "they are bound to resign sooner or +later; and I should think, if they have any sense left, they will go +out as champions of the royal prerogative, rather than be driven out by +a Reform division, which is sure to come. They will go out, my word +for it, Maude!" + +"And what then, John?" + +"Well, then, we shall have all the bother of another election; and +Earl Grey will form a new Ministry, and Lord Brougham will bully the +new Ministry, as he has done the old one, about this Reform Bill. He +intended to have begun that business this very night; but there wasn't +any Ministers, nor any Administration to arraign, and so he said, in +his domineering way, that he would put the question of Reform off until +the twenty-fifth of this month, and not a day longer, no matter what +circumstances prevailed, nor who were His Majesty's Ministers. I can +tell you the city was in a pretty commotion as we came home. We shall +have a Reform Government now, with Earl Grey at the head, and the real +fight will then begin." + +"Earl Grey!" said Mrs. Atheling; "that is Edgar's friend." + +"Well, I wouldn't brag about it, Mother, if I was thee. I shall have +to go back to Yorkshire, and so will Exham; and there will be no end of +bother, and a Reform Ministry at the end of it. It is too bad! What they +will do with Mr. Brougham, I am sure I don't know. No Ministry can live +without him; and it will be hard work for any Ministry to live with him; +for if he drew up a bill himself, he would find faults in it, and never +rest until he had torn it to pieces." + +Piers was sitting in the embrasure of a window, holding Kate's hands, +and talking to her in those low, sweet tones that women love; and at this +remark he rose, and, coming towards the Squire, said with a grave smile, +"For such dilemmas, Squire, there are remedies made and provided. If +it is a clever clergyman who arraigns the church, or his superiors, he +is made a bishop; and thereafter, he sees no faults. If it is a clever +Commoner who arraigns the Government, the Government makes him a peer; +and in the House of Lords, he finds the grace of silence. Earl Grey will +have Mr. Brougham made Lord High Chancellor, and then _Lord_ Brougham +will only have the power to put the question." + +Exham's prophecy proved to be correct. Brougham had declared that +under any circumstances he would bring up Reform on the twenty-fifth of +November; but, on the twenty-second of November, he took his seat as +Chancellor in the House of Lords. It was said the Great Seal had been +forced upon him; but the Squire wondered what pressure, never before +known, had been discovered to make Henry Brougham do anything, or take +anything, he did not want to do or take. + +However the feat was an accomplished one; and with Earl Gray, Lord +Durham, Sir James Graham, Viscounts Melbourne and Palmerston, and other +great leaders, Brougham kissed the King's hand on his appointment +just three days before his threatened demonstration for Reform. Soon +after Parliament adjourned for the re-election of Members in the Lower +House; and the Duke, with Lord Exham and Squire Atheling, went down +into Yorkshire. + +Edgar and Cecil North also disappeared. "They have gone into the +country on business, and I'll tell you what it is, Kitty," said Mrs. +Atheling, with a little happy importance. "A friend of Earl Grey has a +close borough, and Edgar is to have it. I am sure I don't know what +will happen, if he should clash with father in the House. Father cannot +bear contradicting." + +"Nothing wrong will happen, Mother." + +"To be sure, the floor of the House of Commons is a bit different from +his own hearthstone. When Edgar is a Parliament man, father will give +him his place." + +"And Edgar will never forget to give father his place, I am sure of +that." + +"I wouldn't stand a minute with him if he did. What a father and son +say to each other in their homestead, is home talk; but Edgar must not +threep his father before strangers. No, indeed!" + +"I wouldn't wonder if father comes round a little to Edgar's views. +He listened very patiently to Cecil North, the last time they talked on +politics." + +"He _has_ to listen in Parliament, and so he is getting used to +listening. He never listened patiently at home--not even to me. But we +can hope for the best anyhow, Kitty." + +"To be sure, Mother. Hoping for the best is far better than looking for +the worst." + +"I should think it was. Do you believe Piers will be in London at +Christmas?" + +"I fear not. Mother, he is going to send us each a ring at Christmas; +then we will forget the other ring--shall we not?" + +"I don't know, Kitty. I think a deal of that other ring. No new one +can make up for it. Why, my dear, your father gave it to me the night I +promised to marry him. We were standing under the big white hawthorn at +Belward. I'll never forget that hour." + +"It is so long ago, Mother--you cannot care very much now about it." + +"Now, Kitty, if you think only young people can be in love, get that +idea out of your mind at once. You don't know anything about love yet. +After twenty-five years bearing, and forbearing, and childbearing, you +will smile at your gentle-shepherding of to-day. Your love is only a +fancy now, it will be a fact then that has its foundations in your very +life. You do not love Piers Exham, child, as I love your father. You +can't. It isn't to be expected. And it is a good thing, love is so +ordered; for if it did not grow stronger, instead of weaker, marrying +would be a poor way of living." + +"That weary ring! I am so sorry that I ever put it on." + +"I did not ask you to put it on, Kitty. I did not want you to put it +on." + +"Mother, please don't be cross." + +"Kitty, don't be unjust; it is not like you." + +Then Kitty laid her cheek against her mother's cheek, and said sadly, +"I fear, somehow, that ring will make trouble between Piers and me." + +"Nonsense, dearie! The ring is lost and gone. It can't make trouble +now." + +"Its loss was a bad omen, Mother." + +"There is no omen against true love, Kitty. Love counts every sign a +good sign." + +"The Duke was very formal with me at my last visit. The Duchess dislikes +me; and Miss Vyner has so many opportunities; it seems nearly impossible +that Piers should ever marry me." + +"If Piers loves you, there is no impossibility. Love works miracles. +You cannot say 'impossible' to Love. Love will find out a way." + + + + +CHAPTER NINTH + +A FOOLISH VIRGIN + + +Parliament was adjourned on the twenty-third of December, and did +not re-assemble until the third of February. The interval was one of +great public excitement and of great private anxiety. The country had +been assured of a Government pledged to Reform; and, in the main, +were waiting as patiently as men, hungry and naked, and burning with a +sense of injury and injustice, could wait. But no one knew what hour a +spark might be cast into such inflammable material,--that would mean +Revolution instead of Reform. + +Consequently life was depressed, and not disposed to any exhibition of +wealth or festivity; the most heartless and reckless feeling that it +would not be endured by men and women on the very verge of starvation. +The Queen also was unpopular, and the great social leaders were, as a +general thing, bitter political partisans; in theatres and ball-rooms and +even on the streets, the Whig and Tory ladies, when they met, looked +at one another as Guelphs and Ghibellines, instead of christened English +gentlewomen. + +Both the Duchess of Richmoor and Miss Vyner were women of strong and +irrepressible prejudices; and, before Parliament adjourned, they had made +for themselves an environment of active, political enemies. And women +carry their politics into their domestic and social life; the Duchess +had wounded many of her oldest friends; and Annabel, with the haughty +intolerance of youth and wealth, had succeeded in making herself a person +whom all the ladies of the Reform party delighted either to positively +offend, or to scornfully ignore. + +These circumstances, with all her audacity and advantages, she was unable +to control. Her brilliant beauty, her clever tongue, her ostentatious +dress and display were as nothing against the united disposition of a +score of other women to make her understand that they neither desired +her friendship nor felt her influence; and she had at least the sense +to retire from a conflict "whose weapons," she said contemptuously, +"were not in her armory." This condition of affairs naturally threw +her very much upon the Athelings for society. While the Duchess sat with +a few old ladies of her own caste and political persuasion, talking +fearfully of the state of English society and of the horrors Reform would +inaugurate for the nobility, Annabel spent her time with Mrs. and +Miss Atheling, and learned to look hopefully into a future in which, +perhaps, there would be neither dukes nor lords. Besides, Cecil North +had a habit of visiting the Athelings also; and, without expressed +arrangement, both Cecil and Annabel looked forward to those charming +lunches which Mrs. Atheling dispensed with so little ceremony and so +much good nature. It had been Cecil's intention to go with Edgar into +the country; but when the hour for departure arrived, he had not been +able to leave Annabel's vicinity, and, in some of those mysterious ways +known to Love, she understood, and was pleased with this evidence of +her power. + +Cecil's mother had been particularly prominent in that social +ostracism the Reform ladies had meted out to her; and it gave to the +real liking which she had for Cecil a piquant relish to parade the young +man as her devoted servant in all places where his noble mother +would be likely to see or hear tell of her son's "infatuation." But +Cecil North's affection, and the favour it received, did not much +influence Kate. With the perversity of a woman in love, she believed +Annabel to be only amusing herself during Lord Exham's absence; and she +accepted, without a doubt, all the little innuendoes, and half-truths, +and half-admissions which Annabel suffered herself, as it were, without +intent, to make. + +Thus the dreary winter days passed slowly away. In January Edgar +returned. His election had been a mere walk over the ground. The patron +of the borough of Shereham had spoken the word, and Edgar Atheling was +its lawful representative. It was a poor little place, but it gave +Edgar a vote on the right side; and Earl Grey also hoped much from his +power as a natural orator. He might take Brougham's place, and be far +more amenable to directions than Brougham had ever been. Mrs. Atheling +considered none of these things. She took in only the grand fact that +her son was in Parliament, and that he must have won his place there +by some transcendent personal merit. True, she had some little qualms of +fear as to how Edgar's father would treat the new representative of +Englishmen; but her invincible habit of hoping and her cheerful way of +looking into the future did not suffer these passing doubts to seriously +mar her glory and pride in her son's dignity. + +In fact, even in Annabel's eyes, Edgar Atheling was now an important +person. Women do not consider causes, they look at results; and in +Edgar Atheling's case the result was satisfactory. On the day the new +member for Shereham returned home, she was lunching with the Athelings, +eating her salad and playing with Cecil North's heart, when Edgar +entered the room. His honour sat well on him; he neither paraded, nor +yet affectedly ignored it. His mother's pride, his sister's pleasure, +and the congratulations of his friends made him happy, and he showed it. +The lunch that was nearly finished was delayed for another hour. No +one liked to break up the delightful meal and conversation; and when +Annabel got back to Richmoor House the short day was over, and the +Duchess had sent an escort to hurry her return. + +"You are exceedingly imprudent, Annabel," she said, when the girl +entered her presence; "and I do think it high time you stopped visiting +so much at one house." + +"Duchess, will you say what other house equally charming is open to +me? You know how little of a favourite I am. To-day I was delayed by an +event,--the return of young Atheling after his election. He is now an +M. P.,--a great honour for so young a man, I think." + +"Honour, indeed! Grey or Durham, or some of those renegades to their +own caste, have given him a seat. Grey would give a seat to a puppy if +it could bark 'aye' for him." + +"Well, I should not think Atheling will be a dumb dog; he has a ready +tongue. Mr. North says he will take Brougham's place." + +"He will do nothing of the kind. Young Atheling is a fine talker +when he has to face a mob of grumbling men on a Yorkshire moor or a +city common. It is a different thing, Annabel, to stand up before the +gentlemen of England. As for Mr. North, I have told you before that both +the Duke and myself seriously object to that entanglement." + +Annabel laughed. "There is no entanglement, Duchess,--that is, on my +part." + +"Then why throw yourself continually in the young man's way?" + +"You are scarcely polite. He throws himself in my way." + +"Pardon. I meant nothing disrespectful." + +"And I have reasons." + +"May I know them?" + +"Yes. Mr. North's mother was particularly insulting to me at the last +Morning Concert I attended. I heard also that she had spoken of me as +'an Indian girl of doubtful parentage.' She is particularly fond of +Cecil, who is her youngest child, and she is trying to make a marriage +between him and that enormously rich Miss Curzon. I am going to defeat +her plans." + +Then the Duchess laughed. "I never interfere with any woman's +retributions," she said. "But do not burn yourself at the fire you +kindle for others." + +"I am fire-proof." + +"I must think so, or surely Piers would have influenced you." + +"Lord Exham never tried to 'influence' me; and only one woman in the +world can 'influence' him." + +"You mean Miss Atheling, of course; and I have already told you that +there is not even a supposition in that case. Miss Atheling is out of the +question. The Duke would never consent to such a marriage; and I would +never forgive it. Never! I should prefer to lose my son altogether." + +"Then you ought to let Miss Atheling know how you feel. She is a very +honourable, yes, a very proud girl. She would not force herself into your +family, no matter how much she loved your son. Now, I would. If I had +thought you did _not_ want me to marry Lord Exham, I should probably +have been his wife to-day." + +The Duchess glanced at the speaker a little scornfully, and said, +"Perhaps you over-estimate your abilities. However, Annabel, your +suggestion about Miss Atheling has much likelihood. I shall make an +opportunity to speak to her. Will you go out to-night? There will be +the usual crush at Lady Paget's." + +"Excuse me, I do not wish to go." The statement was correct. She had +begun to weary of a routine of visiting that lacked decisive personal +interest. She had many lovers; but even love-making grows tiresome +unless it is reciprocal, or has some spice of jealousy, or some element +of the chase in it. Cecil North did interest her, and Piers Exham did +stimulate her desire for conquest; but Cecil was most pleasantly met at +the Athelings, and Lord Exham was in Yorkshire. + +So, after dining alone with the Duchess, she went to a little +drawing-room that was her favourite resort. The great ash logs burned +brightly on the white marble hearth, and threw shifting lights on the +white-and-gold furnishings, on the pictured walls, on the ferns and +flowers, and on the lovely marble forms of two wood nymphs among them. +She placed herself comfortably in a large easy-chair, with her back +to the argand lamp, and stretched out her sandalled feet before the +blaze, and nestled her head among the soft white cushions. The delicious +drowsy atmosphere was a physical satisfaction of the highest order to +her, quite as much so as it was to the splendid Persian cat that +grumblingly resigned, at her order, the pleasantest end of the +snow-white rug. + +"Now I can think," she said with lazy satisfaction, as she closed her +restless eyes and began the operation. "In the first place, I have set a +ball rolling that I may not be able to manage. It is in the hand of +the Duchess, and she will have no scruples--she never has, if she is +fighting for her own side. Perhaps I ought not to have given her such a +'leader,' for Kate Atheling has always been kind to me--thoughtful +about Cecil, ready at making excuses to let us have a little solitude, +arranging shopping excursions in his presence, so that he would know +where he could 'accidentally' meet us--and so on. No, it was not +exactly kind; but then, in love and war, all things are fair--and I +dare say Miss Kate's motives were probably selfish enough. She would +give me Cecil to make her own way clear to Piers; and, also, Cecil +is a favourite with the Athelings and young Atheling's friend; and they +know that he is poor, and doubtless wish to help him to a rich wife. +Every one works out their own plan, why should not I do the same? But I +must find out something about that ring, and, as the straight way is the +best way, I will ask Kate the necessary questions. She will be sure to +betray herself." + +Then she opened her purse, took out the ring, and placed it upon her +finger, holding up her hand to the blaze to catch its reflections. "It +is a pretty little thing, but I have bought it two or three times +over with my diamond locket. I wonder why Kate never wears that locket! +Is it too fine? Or has she some feeling against me? I gave her it at +Christmas, and I have only seen it once on her neck--that is strange! +I never thought of it before--it really is not much of a ring--I have +twenty finer ones--and I dare say I shall give it back some day: yes, +of course I shall give it back--but at present--" and she stopped +thinking of the demands of the present, and taking the ring off her +finger laid it in the palm of her hand, and softly tossed it and the +Hindoo charm up and down together ere she replaced them in their +receptacle. + +Evidently she had arranged things comfortably with herself, for, after +closing the purse, she began to swing it by its golden chain before +the cat's eyes, until the creature became thoroughly annoyed, and +tried to catch the gleaming, tantalising worry with its claws. The +play delighted her; she gave herself up to its tormenting charm, and +for once lost, in the momentary amusement, all consciousness of herself +and her appearance. It was then the great white door swung noiselessly +open, and Lord Exham stood within it. The sensuous little drama, so +full of colour and life, instantly arrested him; and he stood motionless +to watch it. The girl's strong, vivid face, her black hair, her dress +of bright scarlet, her arms and hands flashing with gems, were thrown +into dazzling prominence by the chair of white brocade in which she +sat, and the white rug at her feet, and the lamp shining behind her. She +waved the golden purse before the cat's eyes, and let it almost fall +into the eager paws, and then drew it backward with a little laugh, +and was not aware that she was, in the act, an absolutely bewitching +type of mere physical beauty. + +But Piers was aware of it. He forgot everything but delight in the +moving picture; and, as he advanced, he cried, in a voice full of +pleasure, "_Annabel! Annabel!_" And the girl answered her name with +an instantaneous movement towards him. Her radiant face looked into +his face, and ere they were aware they had met in each other's arms +and Piers had kissed her. + +She was silent and smiling, and he instantly recovered himself. "I ask +your pardon," he said, releasing her and bowing gravely; "but you are +one of the family, you know, and I have been long away, and am so glad +to get home again that some liberty must be excused me." + +"Oh, indeed!" she answered, with a pretty pout, "I think the apology +is the worst part of the business," and she looked into his eyes with +that steady, unwinking gaze which none withstand. Then he drew her +closer, and said softly, "You are simply bewildering to-night, Annabel. +How have you made yourself so beautiful?" As he spoke he led her to her +seat, and drew a chair close to her side; and the cat leaped to his knee +and began to loudly purr her satisfaction in her master's return. + +"Are you alone to-night?" he asked. "Or perhaps you are expecting +company?" + +"I am alone. I expected no company; but Destiny loves surprises, and +to-night she has surpassed herself. The Duchess has gone to Lady +Paget's. I could not sacrifice myself so far. You know what her +political nights are. And if it is not Relief Bills, and Reform Bills, +then it is Mr. Clarkson and Anti-Slavery; and we are solemnly told to +make little petticoats for the negro children if we desire to go to +heaven." She laughed, and dropped her eyes, and was silent; and the +silence grew dangerous. Fortunately, she herself broke the spell by +asking Piers if he had seen Squire Atheling in Yorkshire. + +"We came from Yorkshire together," he said. Then he began to talk about +the election, and in a few minutes a butler announced his dinner, and +Annabel's hour was over. + +She was not disappointed. "We went far enough," she thought. "I am not +yet ready to put my hand out further than I can draw it back. I cannot +give up Cecil now; he is the only private pleasure I have. Every other +thing I share with the Duchess, or somebody else. And Piers I should +have to share with her and the Duke. As heir to the dukedom, they will +always retain a right in his time and interests. No, Lord Exham, not +yet--not yet." + +She rose with the words, and went to the piano and dashed off in splendid +style that famous old military fantasia, "The Battle of Prague." And +the drift of her uncontrolled thoughts during it may be guessed by the +first query she made of her intelligence when the noisy music ceased:-- + +"I wonder what the Athelings are doing? Piers says the Squire is at +home. I suppose Mrs. Atheling and Kate are coddling, and petting, and +feeding him." + +In some respects Annabel judged fairly well. The Squire reached his home +about the same time that Lord Exham arrived at Richmoor House, and found +Mrs. Atheling waiting to receive him. He made no secret of his joy in +seeing her again. "I was afraid thou mightst be gadding about somewhere, +Maude," he said. "It is pleasant to find thee at home." + +"John Atheling!" + +"Well, it is too bad to say such a thing, Maude. I knew well I would +find thee at home when there was either chance or likelihood of my +getting back there. But where is little Kitty? It isn't right without +Kitty." + +"Well, John, Squire Pickering's family came to London a few days ago, +and Kitty has gone to the theatre with them." + +"I'll tell thee a good joke about Squire Pickering, Maude," said +the Squire, laughing heartily as he spoke. "He was feared young Sam +Pickering was going to vote for Reform, and he served a writ on him +for a trespass, or something of that sort, and got him put safely in +jail till voting time was over. Then he quashed the writ and let the +lad out. But, my word! young Sam is fighting furious, and he has treated +his father nearly as bad as Edgar treated me." + +"Edgar is going to Parliament now. I told thee he would. John, for +goodness' sake, don't quarrel with him before all England!" + +"Maude Atheling! I never quarrelled with Edgar. Never! He quarrelled +with me. If he had done his duty by his father, we would have been finger +and thumb, buckle and strap, yesterday, and to-day, and to-morrow, and +every other day. The Duke says my anger at Edgar is quite reasonable +and justifiable." + +"_The Duke!_ So then thou art framing thy opinions to what _he_ says. +Dear me! I wouldn't have believed such a thing could ever come to pass." + +"Wait till it _does_ come to pass. Why, Richmoor and I very near came +to quarrelling point because I would _not_ frame my opinions by his +say-so. I have been looking into things a bit, Maude, more than I ever +did before, and I have learned what I am not going to deny for anybody. +I met Philip Brotherton of Knaseborough, and he asked me to go home +with him for two or three days--You know Philip and I have been friends +ever since we were lads, and our fathers before us." + +"I know that." + +"So I went with him, and he showed me how working men live and labour +in such towns as Leeds and Manchester; and I am not going to say less +than it is a sin and a shame to keep human beings alive on such terms. I +do not believe any Reform Bill is going to help them; but they ought to +be helped; and they must be helped; or else government is nothing but +blunderment, and legislating nothing but folly. And I said as much +to Richmoor, and he asked me if my son had been lecturing me; and I +told him I had been using my own eyes, and my own ears, and my own +conscience." + +"What did he say to that?" + +"He said, 'Squire, I do not like your associating with Philip +Brotherton. The man has radical ideas, though he does not profess +them.' And I said, 'I like Philip Brotherton, and I shall associate +with him whenever I can make it convenient to do so; and as for his +ideas, if they are radical, then Christianity is radical; and as for +professing them, Philip Brotherton does better than that, he lives +them;' and I went on to say that I thought it would be a right and +righteous thing if both landlords and loomlords would do the same." + +"My word, John! Thou didst speak up! I'll warrant Richmoor was angry +enough." + +The Squire laughed a little as he answered, "Well, Maude, he got as red +in the face as a turkey-cock, and he asked me if I was really going to +be Philip Brotherton's fool. And I answered, 'No, I am like you, +Duke, I do my own business in that line.' And he said, '_Squire +Atheling!_' and turned on his heel and walked one way; and I said, +'_Duke Richmoor!_' and turned on my heel and walked the other way. Now +then, Maude, dost thou think he orders my opinions for me?" + +And Mrs. Atheling smiled understandingly in her lord's face, and cut +him a double portion from the best part of the haunch of venison she was +carving. + +A few days after this event Annabel called one morning at the Athelings. +She expected Cecil North to be there, and he was not there; she waited +for him to come, and he did not come; she tried in many devious ways +to get Kate to express an opinion about his absence, and Kate seemed +entirely unconscious of it. It provoked her into an ill-natured anger; +and, casting about in her mind for something disagreeable to say, she +remembered her resolve to find out how the sapphire ring came to be in +Lord Exham's possession. Even if "the straight way had not been the +best way," she was by nature inclined to direct inquiries; and she +had just proven in her mental manoeuvring about Cecil North that +indirect methods were not satisfactory. So she said bluntly:-- + +"Kate, did you ever hear about Lord Exham losing a ring he valued very +much?" + +"Yes," answered Kate, without the slightest embarrassment; "it was +my mother's ring." + +"Your mother's ring?" + +"Yes." + +"But Lord Exham had it on his finger." + +"My mother loaned it to him. He admired it very much, and wished to have +one made like it." + +"The Duchess was sure that some lady had given it to him as a love gage. +Do you know that he has fretted himself sick about its loss?" + +[Illustration:] + +"Oh, no! I am sure he is not sick. My mother made light of the loss to +him, though she really was very much attached to that particular ring." + +"Have I ever seen her wear it?" + +"No. It was too small for her." + +"Then it was a simple souvenir?" + +"It was more than that; it was her betrothal ring. Father bought it in +Venice." + +"Oh!" + +"But she had a slim little hand, then--like mine is now--" said Kate, +laughing, and spreading out her hand for Annabel to observe. + +"Then you must have been talking of rings, and shown it to him." + +"I was wearing it. I had it on during the lunch hour, and you were +present. It is a wonder you did not notice it, for you are so curious +about finger-rings." + +"Yes, I am quite a ring collector." + +"It was rather a singular ring." + +"Will you describe it to me?" + +Kate did so, and Annabel listened with apparent curiosity. "I wonder +what Exham could want with such a queer ring," she said in answer. + +"Perhaps he is also a ring collector." + +"Perhaps!" But the one word by no means explained the thoughts forming +in her mind. She rose, and, lifting her bonnet, went to a mirror and +carefully tied the satin ribbons under her chin, in the big bows then +considered vastly becoming. Kate tried to arrest her hands. "Stay +and take lunch with us," she urged. "Edgar is sure to be here; and +I should like him to see you in that pretty cloth pelisse." + +"Mr. Atheling never notices me; then why should he notice my pelisse? +I heard Lady Inglis say that he is very much in Miss Curzon's society. +If so, he will clash with his friend Mr. North, who is also her devoted +slave." + +"Now, Annabel! You know that Cecil North loves no one but you." + +"How can you be so wise about his love-affairs?" + +"No great wisdom is needed to see what he cannot hide." + +"Was he here yesterday?" + +"He was here last night. He called to tell us he was going to Westover +on some business for his father. I suppose he wanted you to know." + +"But you never thought of telling me. How selfish girls in love are! +They cannot think a thought beyond their own lover. I declare I was going +without giving you my news,--the Duchess has a large dinner party on +the first of March. The Tory ladies will wait in her rooms the reading +of this famous Reform Bill that Lord John Russell is concocting, and +there will be a great crowd. Kate, if I was you, I would wear your court +dress. It is very unlikely that the Queen will receive at all this +season." + +"Perhaps we shall not be invited to the dinner." + +"You certainly will be invited. I heard the list read, and as your name +begins with 'A' it was almost the first. If Mr. Atheling does come to +lunch, give him my respects and describe my pelisse to him." + +She went away with this mocking message, and was driven first to a famous +jeweller's, where she bought a sapphire band sufficiently like the +one Lord Exham had lost to pass for it, if the view was cursory and at a +distance. Kate's confidence had made one course exceedingly plain to +Annabel. She said to herself as she drove through the city streets, +"My best plan is evidently to arouse Squire Atheling's suspicions. +I will let him see the ring on my hand. I will lead him to think Piers +gave it to me. He will of course make inquiries, and I wonder what Mrs. +Atheling and Kate will say. It is a pretty piece of confusion--and, +if the matter goes too far, I reserve the power to play the good fairy +and put all right. This is a complication I shall enjoy thoroughly, +and I am sure, with nothing on earth but Reform and Revolution in my +ears, I deserve some little private amusement. All I have to do is to +be constantly ready for opportunities." + +Opportunities, however, with Squire Atheling, were few and far between. +It was not until the day before the first of March she found one. On +that afternoon she called at the Athelings, and found Mrs. and Miss +Atheling out. The Squire was walking from the fire-place to the window, +and from the window to the fire-place, and grumbling at their absence. +Miss Vyner's entrance diverted him for a few minutes; and as they +were talking a servant brought in a small package. The Squire took it up, +and laid it down, and then took it up again, and was evidently either +anxious or curious concerning its contents. + +"Why do you not open your package, Squire?" asked Annabel. + +"Well, young lady, I am not going to act as if your presence was not +entertainment enough and to spare." + +"Nonsense! Please do not stand on ceremony with me. It may contain +important papers--something relating to Church or State. I am only a +young woman. Open it, Squire." + +"Well, then, if you say so, I will open it," and he began fumbling at +the well-tied string. Annabel saw her opportunity. In a moment she had +slipped on to the forefinger of her right hand the lost ring, and the +next moment she had gently pushed aside the Squire's hands, and was +saying, "Let me unfasten the knots. I am cleverer at that work than +you." + +"To be sure you are. There is work little fingers do better than big +ones, and this is that kind of a job. But I will get my knife and cut +the knots; that is the best and quickest way." + +He began to hunt in his pockets for his knife, but could not find it. +"Dobson never does put things where they ought to be," he said +fretfully; and then he pulled the bell-rope for Dobson with a force +that fully indicated his annoyance. In the mean time, Annabel was +quietly untying the string, and the Squire naturally watched her +efforts. He was complaining and scolding his servant and his womenkind, +and Annabel did not heed him; but when he suddenly stopped speaking, +in the middle of a sentence, she looked into his face. It expressed the +blankest wonder and curiosity. His eyes were fixed upon her hands, and +he would probably have asked her some inconvenient question if Dobson +had not entered at the moment. Then Annabel retired. Dobson had taken +the parcel in charge, and she excused herself from further delay. + +"I have several things to do," she said, "and I shall only be in the +way of the parcel and its contents. Tell Mrs. Atheling and Kate that I +called, will you, Squire?" + +"To be sure! To be sure, Miss Vyner," he answered; but his eyes were on +the papers Dobson was unfolding, and his mind was vaguely wandering to +the ring he had seen on her finger. When he had satisfied his curiosity +concerning the papers, his thoughts returned with persistent wonder to +it. "I'll wager my best hunter, yes, I'll wager _Flying Selma_ that +was the ring I bought in Venice and gave to Maude. How did that girl +get it? Maude would never sell it or give it away. Never! _Dal it!_ there +is something queer in her having it. I must find out how it comes to +pass." + +When he arrived at this decision Mrs. Atheling came into the room. She +was rosy and smiling, and put aside with sweet good nature the Squire's +complaints about both her and Kitty being out of the house when he was +in it. "Not a soul to say a word to me, or to see that I had a bit of +comfortable eating," he said in a tone of injury. + +"Never mind, John!" + +"Oh, but I do mind! I mind a great deal, Maude." + +"You see, it was Kitty wanted me. She had to have a new clasp to the +pearl necklace your mother left her; and she was sure you would like me +to choose it, so I went with her. I thought we should certainly be home +before you got back." + +"Well, never mind, then. Nothing suits me so much as to see Kitty +suited. I hope you bought a clasp good enough for the necklace." + +"I did not forget that she was going with you to-morrow night." + +"But you are going too, Maude?" + +"Nay, I am not. When I can shut my ears as easy as my eyes, I can afford +to be less particular about the company I keep. I know beforehand what +the women in that crowd will say about their own danger, and about the +murmuring poor who won't starve in peace, and I know that I would be +sure to answer them with a little bit of plain truth." + +"And the truth is not always pleasant, eh, Maude?" + +"In this case I'm sure it wouldn't be pleasant. So, then, the outside +of Richmoor House is the best side for me." + +"I must say I'm getting a bit tired myself of the Duke's masterful +way, and of his everlasting talk about the 'noble memories of the +past.'" + +"Then tell him, John, that the noble hopes of the future are something +better than the noble memories of the past. The country is in a bad +condition as ever was. Something must be done, and done quickly." + +"I'm saying nothing to the contrary, Maude. But even if Reform was +right, it cannot be carried. We must drive the nail that will go. That +is only good common-sense, Maude." + +"Mark my words, John. Reform will _have_ to come, and better now than +later. That which fools do in the end, wise men do in the beginning. I +know, I know." + +"On this subject thou knowest nothing whatever, Maude. Now, then, I +am going to have a bit of sleep. But I will say thus far--as soon as +ever I am sure that I am on a wrong road I won't go a step further. +John Atheling is not the man to carry a candle for the devil." + +With these words he threw his bandana handkerchief over his head, +adding, "He hoped now he had a 'right' to a bit of sleep." Then Mrs. +Atheling went softly out of the room. There was a tolerant smile on her +face, for she was not deceived by the Squire's habit of dignifying his +self-assertions and his self-indulgences with the name of "rights." + + + + +CHAPTER TENTH + +TROUBLE COMES UNSUMMONED + + +Never had the ducal palace of Richmoor been more splendidly prepared +for festivity than on the night of the first of March, 1831. And yet +every guest present knew that it was not a festival, but a gathering +of men and women moved by the gravest fears for the future. The long +suites of parlours, brilliantly lighted, were crowded with peers and +noble ladies, wearing, indeed, the smiles of conventional pleasure; but +all of them eager to discuss the portentous circumstances by which they +were environed. + +Annabel stood at the right hand of the Duchess, but was strangely +distrait and silent. Everything had gone wrong with her. It had been a +day of calamity. She began it with a fret and a scold, and her maid +Justine had been from that moment in a temper calculated to provoke to +extremities her impatient mistress. Then her costume did not arrive till +some hours after it was due; and when examined, it was found to be very +unbecoming. She had been persuaded to select a pale blue satin, simply +because she had tired of every other colour; and she was disgusted +with the effect of its cold beauty against her olive-tinted skin. She +wore out Justine's temper with the variety of her suggestions, and her +angry impatience with every effort. The girl became sulkily silent, +then defiantly silent, then, after a most unreasonable burst of anger, +actively impertinent, so much so that she left Annabel only one way of +retaliation--an instant dismissal. She lifted her purse passionately, +counted out the money due, and, pushing it contemptuously towards the +girl, told her "to leave the house instantly." + +To her utter amazement, Justine pushed back the money. "I will not take +it," she said. "I have no intention of leaving the house until I see +the ring in your possession--the ring in your purse, Miss--returned to +the owner of it." + +If Annabel had been struck to the ground, she could not have been more +confounded and bewildered; and Justine saw and pushed her advantage. +"Miss knows," she continued, "that police detectives are watching +night and day the innocent men whose duties are on this corridor. +Any hour some little thing may cause one of them to be suspected and +arrested; and then who but I could save him from the gallows? No, +Miss, I shall not leave till you give up the ring--till the real th--the +real taker of it is known." + +These words terrified Annabel. She felt her heart stop beating; a strange +sickness overwhelmed her; she sunk speechless into a chair, and closed +her eyes. With an attention utterly devoid of sympathy, Justine put +between her lips a tea-spoonful of aniseed cordial which she brought +from her own apartment. + +In a few minutes Annabel recovered herself physically; but her +prostration, and the hysterical mood which followed it, were admissions +she could not by any future word, or act, contradict. She had been taken +by surprise, and surrendered. If she had had but ten minutes to survey +the situation, she would have defied it; but such an emergency had +never occurred to her. Over and over again she had supposed every other +likelihood of discovery; this one, never! She was at the mercy of her +maid; but for the time being the maid was not inclined to extremities. +She only insisted that Annabel should use her influence to place the men +under suspicion out of the danger of arrest; and when Annabel had +explained, with a wretched little laugh, that the ring had been +taken "as a means of forwarding her love-affair with Lord Exham," +the maid assured her "she was on her side in that matter." Then she +pocketed the sovereigns Annabel offered as a peace gift, and "hoped +Miss would think no more of what she had said." + +But Annabel could not dismiss the subject. Under her magnificent but +singularly unbecoming gown, she carried a heart heavy with apprehension. +The shadow of the gallows, which Justine had evoked for the suspected +culprit, fell upon her own consciousness. In those days, the most +trifling theft was punished with death; and Annabel had a terror of that +mysterious Law of which she was so profoundly ignorant. How it would +regard her position, she could not imagine. Would even her confession +and restoration exonerate her? In this respect, she suffered from +fright, as an ignorant child suffers. Besides which, when the subject +of "confession" came close to her, she felt that it was impossible. +Constantly she had flattered her conscience with this promise; but if it +was to come to actuality, she thought she would rather die. + +So it was with a wretched heart she took the place the Duchess had +assigned her at her own right hand. This position associated her +intimately with Lord Exham, and it was for this very reason the Duchess +had decided upon it. She knew the value of the popular voice; she wished +the popular voice to unite Lord Exham and her rich and beautiful ward; +and she felt sure that their association at her right hand would give +all the certainty necessary to such a belief. Heart-sick with her +strange, new terror, Annabel stood in that brilliant throng. Just +before the dinner hour, she saw Squire Atheling and Kate approaching +to pay their respects to the Duchess. She saw also the quick, joyful +lifting of Exham's eyelids, the bright flush of pleasure that gave +sudden life to his pale cheeks, and the irrepressible gladness that +made his voice musical, as he said softly, "How beautiful she is!" + +"Miss Atheling?" + +"Yes." + +Then Annabel considered her rival's approach. Her eyes fell first on +the Squire, whose splendid physique arrested every one's attention. He +wore a coat of dark-blue broadcloth, trimmed with gold buttons, a long, +white satin vest, and exquisitely fine linen, rather ostentatiously +ruffled. On his arm Kate's hand just rested. Her gown of rich white +silk was soft as lawn, and resplendent as moonbeams; and around her +throat lay one string of Oriental pearls. Her bright, brown hair was +dressed high, without any ornament; but there were silver buckles, set +with pearls, on the front of her white satin sandals. A pause, a murmur +of admiration was perceptible; for conversation ceased a moment as a +creature so fresh, so pure, so exquisite, and so suitably protected, +moved among them. Lord Exham, forgetting all ceremonies, went eagerly +forward to meet these favoured guests; and the Duchess also had a +momentary pleasure in Kate's well-gowned loveliness. She was very +friendly to the Squire; and she took his daughter under her own +protection. + +After dinner--which was specially early for that night--the majority +of the gentlemen went to the House. The Reform Bill, about which all +England was in agonising suspense, was to be read for the first time. +Never, within the memory of Englishmen, had there been so great a crowd +eager to get into the House. Every inch of space on the floor was filled; +and troops of eager politicians, from all parts of the country, were +waiting at the doors of the various galleries. When they were opened, +the clamour, the struggle, and the confusion was so indescribable that +the Speaker threatened to have all the galleries cleared. Even among the +members, there was great confusion and complaining; for their seats, +though marked with their cards, had in many instances been taken by +others. + +Outside, the streets were packed with men wrought up to feverish +excitement and anxiety; and in all the great centres of society, and in +every club in London, there were restless crowds waiting for news from +Westminster. The Duchess of Richmoor's parlours were the central point +of Tory interest. Not one of the company there present but believed with +Sir Robert Inglis--an orator of their party--that "Reform would sweep +the House of Lords clear in ten years." This night was, to them, their +salvation or their ruin. Below their jewelled bodices, their hearts +trembled with anxious terror. After the departure of the members for +the House, they gathered in little knots, wondering, and fearing, and +listening to the noises in the crowded streets, with an agitation not +quite devoid of pleasurable stimulation. For they were not without +comforters and encouragers. The Duke of Wellington went from group to +group, assuring them that Lord Grey's Ministry must go down, and that +no Reform Bill which could injure the nobility would be permitted to pass +the House of Lords. + +Annabel was almost glad to see every one so unhappy. She had a perverse +desire to say contradictious things. Her heart was heavy with fear, and +it was burning with envy and jealousy. Kate's beauty, and Lord Exham's +undisguised admiration, made her realise all the bitterness of failure. +She wandered about making evil prophecies, or saying irritating truths, +and watching Kate the while, till she was ready to cry out with mental +pain and mortification. For the great Duke--never insensible to female +loveliness--had given Kate his arm, and was walking about the parlours +with her. Why had such honour not fallen to her lot? Never had she +been so desirous to lead, to be admired, to enforce her eminent fitness +to wear the Richmoor coronet. Never had she so signally failed. Even +her wit had deserted her; she said _malapropos_ clever things, and got +snubbed for them. In her anger, and fear, and disappointment, she +wished Reform _might_ make a clean sweep of such a selfish crowd of +so-called nobility. She had arrived at that point when her misery +demanded company. + +About ten o'clock, the Duke and Lord Exham returned. The large lofty +rooms, with their moving throngs of splendidly attired men and women, +were yet crowded; but their atmosphere was charged with an electric +tension, generated by the unusual pitch to which every one's thoughts, +and feelings, and words were set. Many were almost hysterical; some had +subsided into mere waiting, conscious of requiring all their strength +for simple endurance of the suspense; others, more hopeful, were restless +and watching,--but all alike became instantly and breathlessly silent +as the two men appeared. For a moment no one spoke; then the Duke of +Wellington asked, with an assumption of cheerfulness, "What news? Has +the Bill been read?" + +"It has been read," answered Richmoor. "Lord John Russell introduced +it in a speech lasting more than two hours." + +"And pray what are its provisions." + +"This infamous Bill proposes that every borough of less than two +thousand inhabitants shall lose the right to send a member to +Parliament." + +"What a scandalous robbery of our privileges!" ejaculated some one of +the listeners. + +"It is nothing else!" answered the Duke. "It robs me of the gift of +seven boroughs." + +"What excuse did he make for such an act?" + +"He supposed the case of a stranger, coming to England to investigate +our method of representation, being taken to a green mound, and told +that green mound sent two members to Parliament; or to a stone wall +with three niches in it, and told that those three niches sent two +members to Parliament; or to a green park with no signs of human +habitation, and told that green park sent two members to Parliament; +and then pictured the amazement of the stranger at this condition of +things. 'But,' he cried, 'how much greater would be his amazement if +he were then taken to large and populous cities, full of industry, +enterprise, and intelligence, and containing vast magazines of every +kind of manufactures, and was then told that these cities did not send +a single man to represent their rights and their necessities in the +great national council.' It was really a very effective passage." + +"We have heard that argument before; it is stale and unprofitable," +said the Duchess. + +"Listen! This Bill proposes to give every man paying taxes for houses +of the yearly value of ten pounds and upward--_a vote_." + +"What an absurdity!" + +"It proposes to give Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, and +three other large towns, each two members, and London eight additional +members." + +"Infamous! It will give us a mob government." + +"This so-called Reform Bill gives the franchise to one hundred and +ten thousand people in the counties of England who never had it before; +in the provincial towns, it gives it to fifty thousand; in London, it +gives it to ninety-five thousand; in Scotland, to fifty thousand; and +in Ireland, to forty thousand: in all, half a million of persons are to +be added to the constituency of the House of Commons." + +At this information the tendency of the whole company was to laughter. +Indeed the Duke's face, and voice, and manner was that of a man telling +an utterly absurd story. Such sweeping alterations were not conceivable; +their very excess doomed them to ridicule and failure, in the opinion of +the privileged class; but the Duke of Wellington's face expressed an +anxiety not consonant with this feeling; and he asked gloomily: + +"Did Lord John Russell _dare_ to read the names of the boroughs he +intends to disfranchise, with their members present?" + +"He read them with the greatest emphasis and deliberation." + +"And the result? What was the result? How did they take being robbed of +their seats in this summary way?" + +"The excitement in the House was incredible. He was derisively +interrupted by shouts of laughter, and by cries of 'Hear! Hear!' and +by constant questions across the table from the members of those +boroughs. The wisest statesmen in the House were aghast at proposals so +sweeping and so revolutionary." + +"What did Peel say?" + +"Nothing. He sat rigid as a statue, his face working with emotion, +his brow wrinkled and sombre. His supporters, who were gathered round +him, burst again and again into uncontrollable laughter. Peel tried +to make them behave like gentlemen, and could not. Every one is sure such +a measure predicts a speedy downfall of Grey's Ministry." + +"Of course it does," said the Duchess, with a contemptuous laugh. +The laugh was contagious, and the majority of the company burst into +merriment and ridicule. + +"It is really a good joke," said an aged Marquis who had the idea that +England was the birthright of her nobles. + +"A good joke!" answered the Duke of Wellington, sternly. "I can tell +you it is no joke. You will find it no laughing matter." + +"I am weary of it all," whispered Annabel to Kate; "let us go into +the conservatory." Kate was willing also, and as they entered the sweet, +green place, with its tender lights and restful peace, she sighed with +pleasure and said, "I wonder, Annabel, if the roses and camellias think +themselves better than the violets and daisies." + +"I dare say they do. Let us sit down here. I have had such a wretched +day, and I am worn out;" and for a moment, as she looked in Kate's +gentle face, she had a mind to tell her the whole truth about the +unfortunate ring. But while she hesitated, there was a footstep; and +in a moment, Piers pushed aside the fronds of the gigantic ferns and +joined them. + +"It is allowable," said Annabel, "provided you do do not mention +Reform." + +"There is no necessity here," he answered gallantly. "How could +perfection be reformed?" Gradually the conversation fell into a more +serious mood, and they began to speak of Yorkshire, and to long after its +breezy wolds and lovely dales; and Annabel listened and said, "She +would be delighted when they went down there." Kate also acknowledged +that she was impatient to return to Atheling; and Piers watched her +every movement,--the smile parting her lips, the light coming and going +on her cheeks from dropped or lifted eyes, the graceful movements of +her hands, the noble poise of her head,--all these things were fresh +enchantments to him. What was the noisy, dusty Senate chamber to this +green spot filled with the charming presence of the woman he adored? + +Very quickly Annabel perceived that she was the one person _not_ +necessary; and she was too depressed to resent this position. With a +whisper to Kate, she went away, promising to return in ten minutes. +She did not return; but in half an hour--which had seemed as five +minutes--the Duchess came in her stead, and said blandly, "Annabel has +a headache, and has gone to sleep it away. I have sent the Squire +home, Miss Atheling; I told him I should keep you here to-night. +Indeed he was glad for you to remain; the streets are not in a very +pleasant condition. London has lost its senses. It has gone mad; in the +morning it may be saner." + +So the sweet interval was over; but one secret glance between the lovers +showed how delicious it had been. Kate went away with the Duchess; and +waiting women led her to a splendid sleeping apartment. There, all +night long, she kept the sense of Piers holding her hand in his; and, +faintly smiling with this interior bliss, she dreamed away the hours +until late in the morning. + +Her first thought on awakening was, "What shall I wear? I cannot go to +breakfast in a white silk gown." Then, as she rose, she saw a street +costume laid ready for her use. "Mrs. Atheling sent it very early this +morning," said the maid; and Kate thought with a blessing of the good +mother who never forgot her smallest necessities. At breakfast, the +Duchess was particularly gracious to her; she affected an entire oblivion +of Piers's evident devotion, and talked incessantly of the stupidity of +the Grey Ministry; but as she rose from the table, she said,-- + +"My dear Miss Atheling, will you do me the favour to come to my private +parlour before you leave?" + +Kate stood up, curtsied slightly, and made the required promise. But +she did not at once attend the Duchess, as that lady certainly expected. +She had promised Piers to walk with him in the conservatory, and finish +their interrupted conversation of the previous night; and a gentle +pressure of her hand reminded her of this previous engagement. So it +was near the noon hour when she went to the room which the Duchess had +selected for their interview. + +She entered it without a suspicion of the sorrow waiting there for her, +though the first glance at the cold, haughty face that greeted her made +her a little indignant. "I expected you an hour ago, Miss Atheling," +said the Duchess. + +"I am sorry if I have detained you, Duchess. I did not think my +interview with you could be of much importance." + +"Perhaps not as important to you as the interview you put before it--and +yet, perhaps, far more so. For I must tell you that such entirely +personal companionship with Lord Exham, must cease from this very hour." + +Kate had taken the seat the Duchess indicated on her entering the room; +she now rose to her feet, and answered, "If so, Duchess, it is proper +for me to leave your home at once. My mother is waiting to see me. She +will tell me what it is right for me to do." + +"In this case, I am a better adviser than your mother. I believe you to +be a girl of noble principles, so I tell you frankly that Lord Exham +is bound, by every honourable tie, to marry Miss Vyner. When you are +not present, he is quite happy in her society; when you are present, +you seem to exert some unaccountable influence over him. Miss Vyner has +often complained of this. I thought it was simple jealousy on her part, +until I observed you with Lord Exham last night. I am now compelled, +by my duty to my son and his affianced wife, to tell you how impossible +a marriage between you and Lord Exham is and must be. I believe this +information to be all that is necessary to a girl of your birth and +breeding." + +"What information, Duchess?" She asked the question with a dignity that +irritated a woman who thought her word, without her reasons, was quite +sufficient. + +"If you persist in having the truth, I must give it to you. Remember, +I would gladly have spared you and myself this humiliation. Know, +then, that many years ago the late General Vyner rendered the Duke a +great service. When Annabel was born, the Duke offered himself as +her godfather and guardian, and his son as her husband. It is not +necessary to go into details; the facts ought to be sufficient for you. +There are circumstances which make the fulfilment of this promise +imperative; and, if you do not interfere, my son will very willingly +perform his part of it. Pardon me if I also remind you that your +birth and fortune make any hopes you may entertain of being the future +Duchess of Richmoor very presumptuous hopes. I assure you that I have +spoken reluctantly, and with sincere kindness; and I do not desire this +conversation to interfere with our future intercourse. If you will give +me your promise, I know that I may trust you absolutely." + +"What do you wish me to promise?" + +"That you will allow no love-making between Lord Exham and yourself; +that you will not in any way interfere between Lord Exham and Miss +Vyner,--in fact, promise me, in a word, that you will never marry +Lord Exham. I assure you, such a marriage would be most improper and +unfortunate." + +Kate stood for a moment still and white as a marble statue; and when she +spoke, her words dropped slowly and with an evident effort. And yet her +self-control and dignity of manner was remarkable, as she answered,-- + +"Duchess, I have always done exactly what my dear wise father and mother +have told me to do. I shall ask their advice on this matter before I make +any promise. If they tell me to do as you wish me to do, I shall know +that they are right, and obey them. I do not recognise any other human +authority than theirs." + +She was leaving the room after these words; but the Duchess cried +angrily, "Your father must not at present be asked to interfere. There +are interests--grave, political interests--between him and the Duke +that cannot be imperilled for some love-nonsense between you and Lord +Exham." + +"There are no grave political interests between my mother and the Duke; +and I shall, at all events, take my mother's counsel." + +She had stood with the door open in her hand; she now passed outside. So +far she had kept herself from any exhibition of feeling; but, oh, how +wronged and unhappy and offended she felt! She went down and down the +splendid stairway, erect as a reed; but her heart was like a wounded +bird: it fluttered wildly in her bosom, and would not be comforted until +she reached that nest of all nests,--her mother's breast. + +There she poured out all her grief and indignation; and Mrs. Atheling +never interrupted the relation by a single word. She clasped the weeping +girl to her heart, and stroked her hands, and soothed her in those tender +little ways that are closer and sweeter than any words can be. But when +Kate had wept her passionate sense of wrong and affront away, the good +mother withdrew herself a little, and began to question her child. + +"Let me understand plainly, Kitty dear," she said. "Her Grace--Grace +indeed!--wishes you to promise her that you will give up Piers to +Annabel." + +"Yes, Mother." + +"And that you will never marry Piers under any circumstances?" + +"Yes, Mother." + +"And she thinks you 'presumptuous' in hoping to marry her son?" + +"Yes, dear Mother. She said 'presumptuous.' Am I; ought I to do as +she wishes me? Oh, I cannot give up Piers! Only this morning he told me +that he would never marry any woman but me." + +"Have I or your good father told you to give up Piers?" + +"No, Mother." + +"When we do, you will of course know we have good reasons for such +an order, and you will give him up. But as yet, father hasn't said +such a word; and I haven't. Kitty darling, the Fifth Commandment only +asks you to obey your own father and mother. Let the Duchess put the +'giving up' where it ought to be. Let her tell her son to give you +up--that is quite as far as her authority extends. She has nothing to +say to Kate Atheling; nor has my little Kitty any obligation to obey +her. She must give such orders to Piers Exham. It is the duty of his +heart and conscience to decide whether he will obey or not." + +"Then I can go on loving him, Mother, without wronging myself or +others?" + +"Go on loving him, dearie." + +"He said he was coming to ride with me at three o'clock." + +"Ride with him, and be happy while you can, dear child. Let mother kiss +such foolish tears away. I can tell you father was proud of your beauty +last night. He said you were the loveliest woman in London." + +"The Duke of Wellington told me I was a beautiful girl; and he said +many wise and kind things to me, Mother. What did father think about +the Reform Bill?" + +"It troubled him, Kitty; it troubled him very much. He said, 'It meant +civil war;' but I said, 'Nonsense, John Atheling, it will prevent civil +war.' And so it will, dearie. The people will have it, or else they +will have far more. Your father said all London was shouting till +daybreak, 'The Bill! The whole Bill! Nothing but the Bill!' Now +then, run away and wash your eyes bright, and put on your habit. I'll +warrant Piers outruns the clock." + +"Have you seen Edgar this morning?" + +"For a few minutes just before you came. Cecil was with him. They had +been up all night; but Cecil would have stayed if Annabel had been here. +How he does love that girl!" + +"I think she loves him. She looked ill last night, and I did not see +her this morning. What a tangle it is! Annabel loves Cecil--Piers loves +me--and the Duchess--" + +"Never mind the Duchess, nor the tangle either, Kitty. To-day is yours; +to-morrow is not born; and you are not told to unravel any tangle. +There are _them_ whose business it is; and they know all the knots and +snarls, and will wind the ball all right in the end." + +"Oh, Mother, how I love you!" + +"Oh, Kitty, how I love you!" + +"Piers loves me too, Mother." + +"I'll warrant he does. Who could help loving thee, Kitty? But men's +love isn't mother's love; it is a good bit more selfish. God Almighty +made thy father, John Atheling, of the best of human elements; but John +Atheling has his shabby moments. Piers Exham won't be different; so +don't expect it." Then the two women looked at each other and smiled. + +They understood. + + + + +CHAPTER ELEVENTH + +"LIFE COMES AND GOES THE OLD, OLD WAY!" + + +Annabel had purposely kept out of Kitty's way. She had more than a +suspicion of the probable interview between the Duchess and Kitty; and +she wished to avoid any unpleasantness with the Athelings. They gave +her the most reliable opportunities with Cecil North; and besides, she +was so little of a general favourite as to have no other acquaintances as +intimate. She was also really sick and unhappy; and the first occurrence +of the day did not tend to make her less so. She wished to see the Duke +about some matter relating to her finances; and, as soon as she left her +room, she went to the apartment in which she was most likely to find him. + +The Duke was not there, but Squire Atheling was waiting for him. He +said he "had an appointment at two o'clock," and then, looking at the +time-piece on the mantel, added, "I always give myself ten minutes or so +to come and go on." Annabel knew this peculiarity of the Squire, and +made her little joke on the matter; and then the conversation turned a +moment on Kitty, and her probable return home. Annabel assured the Squire +she had already gone home, and then, offering her hand in adieu, was +about to leave the room. The little brown-gemmed hand roused a sudden +memory and anxiety in his heart. He detained it, as he said, "Miss +Vyner, I have a question to ask you. Do you remember untying a parcel +for me the other day?" + +"I should think so," she replied with a laugh. "A more impatient man +to do anything for I never saw." + +"I am a bit impatient. But that is not what I am thinking of. You wore +a ring that day--a sapphire ring with a little sapphire padlock--and that +ring interests me very much. Will you tell me where you got it?" + +"No, sir. Even if I knew, I might have excellent reasons for not telling +you. Why, Squire, I am astonished at your asking such a question! Rings +have mostly a story--a love-story too; you might be asking for secrets!" + +"I beg pardon. To be sure I might. But you see a ring exactly like the +one you wore, holds a secret of my own." + +"Perhaps you are mistaken about the ring. So many rings look alike." + +"I could not be mistaken. I do wish you would tell me--I am afraid you +think me rude and inquisitive--" + +"Indeed I do, sir! And, if you please, we will forget this conversation. +It is too personal to be pleasant." + +With these words she bowed and withdrew, and the Squire got up and +walked about the room until the Duke entered it. By that time, he had +worried himself into an impatient, suspicious temper, and was touchy +as tinder when his political chief asked him to sit down and discuss +the situation with him. + +"Exham has gone to see a number of our party; but I thought I would +outline to you personally the course we intend to pursue with regard to +this infamous Bill." The Squire bowed but said not a word; and the Duke +proceeded, "We have resolved to worry and delay it to the death. In +the Commons, the Opposition will go over and over the same arguments, +and ask again, and again, and again, the same questions. This course +will be continued week after week--month after month if necessary. +Obstruction, Squire, obstruction, that is the word!" + +"What do you mean exactly by 'obstruction'?" + +"I will explain. Lord Exham will move, 'That the Speaker do now +leave the Chair.' When this motion is lost, some other member of the +Opposition will move, 'That the debate be now adjourned.' That being +lost, some other member will again move, 'That the Speaker do now leave +the Chair,' and so, with alternations of these motions, the whole +night can be passed--and night after night--and day after day. It is +quite a legitimate parliamentary proceeding." + +"It may be," answered the Squire; "but I am astonished at your asking +John Atheling to take any part in such ways. I will fight as well as any +man, on the square and the open; if I cannot do this, I will not fight +at all. I would as soon worry a vixen fox, as run a doubling race of that +kind. No, Duke, I will not worry, and nag, and tease, and obstruct. +Such tactics are fitter for old women than for reasoning men, sure of a +good cause, and working to win it." + +"I did not expect this obstruction from you, Squire; and, I must say, I +am disappointed--very much disappointed." + +"I don't know, Duke Richmoor, that I have ever given you cause to think +I would fight in any other way than in a square, stand-up, face-to-face +manner. Wasting time is not fighting, and it is not reasoning. It is just +tormenting an angry and impatient nation; it is playing with fire; it +is a dangerous, deceitful, cowardly bit of business, and I will have +nothing to do with it." + +"You remember that I gave you your seat?" + +"You can have it back and welcome. I took my seat from you; but when +it comes to right and wrong, I take orders only from my own conscience." + +"Advice, Squire, advice; I did not think of giving you orders." + +"Well, Duke, I am perhaps a little hasty; but I do not understand +obstructing warfare. I am ready to attack the Bill, tooth and nail. +I am ready to vote against it; but I do not think what you call +'obstructing' is fair and manly." + +"All things are fair in love and war, Squire; and this is a war to the +knife-hilt for our own caste and privileges." + +Here there was a light tap at the door, and, in answer to the Duke's +"enter," Annabel came in. She said a few words to him in a low voice, +gave him a paper, and disappeared. But, short as the interview was, +it put the Duke in a good temper. He looked after her with pride and +affection, and said pleasantly,-- + +"Fight in your own way, Squire Atheling; it is sure to be a good, +straight-forward fight. But the other way will be the tactics of our +party, and you need not interfere with them. By-the-bye, Miss Vyner is a +good deal at your house, I think." + +"She is always welcome. My daughter likes her company. We all do. She is +both witty and pretty." + +"She is a great beauty--a particularly noble-looking beauty. She will +make a fine Duchess, and my son is most fortunate in such an alliance; +for she has money,--plenty of money,--and a dukedom is not kept up +on nothing a year. Perhaps, however, this Reform Bill will eventually +get rid of dukedoms and dukes, as it proposes to do with boroughs and +members." + +The Squire did not immediately answer. He wanted a definite assertion +about Lord Exham and Miss Vyner, and could not decide on words which +would unsuspiciously bring it. Finally, he blurted out an inquiry as to +the date of a marriage between them; and the Duke answered carelessly,-- + +"It may occur soon or late. We have not yet fixed the time. Probably +as soon as this dreadful Reform question is settled. But as the ceremony +will surely take place at the Castle, Atheling Manor will be an important +factor in the event." + +He was shifting and folding up papers as he spoke, and the Squire _felt_, +more than understood, that the interview had better be closed. Ostensibly +they parted friends; but the Squire kept his right hand across his back +as he said "good-morning," and the Duke understood the meaning of +this action, though he thought it best to take no notice of it. + +"What a fractious, testy, touchy fellow this is!" he said irritably +to himself, when he was alone. "A perfect John Bull, absolutely sure +of his own infallibility; sure that he knows everything about everything; +that he is always right, and always must be right, and that any one who +doubts his always being right is either a knave or a fool. _Tush!_ I am +glad I gave him that thrust about Piers and Annabel. It hurt. I could +see it hurt, though he kept his hand to cover the wound." + +The Duke was quite right. Squire Atheling was hurt. He went straight +home. In any trouble, his first medicine was his wife; for though he +pretended to think little of her advice, he always took it--or regretted +that he had not taken it. He found her half-asleep in the chair by the +window which she had taken in order to watch Lord Exham and Kitty ride +down the street together. She was at rest and happy; but the Squire's +entrance, at an hour not very usual, interested her. "Why, John!" +she asked, "what has happened? I thought you went to the House at three +o'clock." + +"I have some questions to ask in my own house, first," he answered. +"Maude, I am sure you remember the ring I gave you one night at +Belward,--the ring you promised to marry me on, the sapphire ring with +the little padlock?" + +"To be sure I remember it, John." + +"You used to wear it night and day. I have not seen it on your hand for +a long time." + +"It became too small for me. I had to take it off. Whatever has brought +it into your thoughts at this time?" + +"I saw one just like it. Where did you put your ring?" + +"In my jewel-case." + +"Is it there now." + +She hesitated a moment, but a life-time of truth is not easily turned +aside. "John," she answered, "it is not there. It is gone." + +"I thought so. Did you sell it for Edgar, some time when he wanted +money?" + +"Edgar never asked me for a shilling. I never gave him a shilling +unknown to you. And I did not sell the ring at all. I would never have +done such a thing." + +"But I have seen the ring on a lady's hand." + +"Do you know the lady?" + +"I think I could find her." + +"I will tell you about it, John. I loaned it to Kitty, and Piers saw it +and wanted one made like it for Kitty, and so he took it away to show +it to his jeweller, and lost it that very night. He has moved heaven and +earth to find it, but got neither word nor sight of it. You ought to +tell him where you saw it." + +"Not yet, Maude." + +"Tell me then." + +"To be sure! I saw it on Miss Vyner's hand." + +"Impossible!" + +"Sure!" + +"But how?" + +"Thou mayst well ask 'how.' Piers gave it to her." + +"I wouldn't believe such a thing, not on a seven-fold oath." + +"Thou knowest little about men. There are times when they would give +their souls away. Thou knowest nothing about such women as Miss Vyner. +They have a power that while it lasts is omnipotent. Antony lost a world +for Cleopatra, and Herod would have given half, yes, the whole of his +kingdom to a dancing woman, if she had asked him for it." + +"Those men were pagans, John, and lived in foreign countries. Christian +men in England--" + +"Christian men in England, in proportion to their power, do things just +as reckless and wicked. Piers Exham has never learned any control; he +has always given himself, or had given him, whatever he wanted. And I can +tell thee, there is a perfect witchery about Miss Vyner in some hours. +She has met Exham in a favourable time, and begged the ring from him." + +"I cannot believe it. Why should she do such a thing? She must have had +a reason." + +"Certainly she had a reason. It might be pure mischief, for she is +mischievous as a cat. It might be superstition; she is as superstitious +as an Hindoo fakir. She has charms and signs for everything. She orders +her very life by the stars of heaven. I have watched her, and listened to +her, and never trusted her about Kitty--not a moment. Now this is a +secret between thee and me. I asked her to-day about the ring, and she +would say neither this nor that; yet somehow she gave me to understand +it was a love token." + +"She is a liar, if she means that Piers gave it to her as a love token. +I saw the young man half an hour ago. If ever a man loved a maid, he +loves our Kitty." + +"Yet he is going to marry Miss Vyner." + +"He is not. I am sure he is not. He will marry Kate Atheling." + +"The Duke told me this afternoon that Lord Exham would marry Miss Vyner +as soon as this Reform question is settled. He said the marriage would +take place at the Castle." + +"The Duke has been talking false to you for some purpose of his own." + +"Not he. Richmoor has faults--more than enough of them; but he treads +his shoes straight. A truthful man, no one can say different." + +"I wouldn't notice a thing he said for all that. Pass it by. Leave +Kitty to manage her own affairs." + +"No, I will not! Thou must tell Kitty to give the man up. He is going to +marry another woman." + +"I don't believe a word of it." + +"His father said so. What would you have?" + +"Fathers don't know everything." + +"Now, Maude Atheling, my girl shall not marry where she is not wanted. +I would rather see her in her death shroud than in her wedding gown, if +things were in that way." + +"John, I have always been open as the day with you, and I will not +change now. The Duchess said something like it to Kitty this morning, +so you see there has been a plan between the Duke and Duchess to make +trouble about Piers. Kitty came home very troubled." + +"And you let her go out with the man! I am astonished at you!" + +"She asked me what she ought to do, and I told the dear girl to be happy +until _you_ told her to be miserable. If you think it is right to do so, +tell her when she comes home never to see Piers again." + +"You had better tell her. I cannot." + +"I cannot, and I will not, for the life of me." "Don't you believe +what I say?" + +"Yes--with a grain of salt. Piers is to hear from yet." + +"Well, you must speak to her, Mother. My heart is too soft. It is _your_ +place to do it." + +"My heart is as soft as yours, John. I say, let things alone. We are +going to Atheling soon--we cannot go too soon now. If it must be told +her, Kate will hear it, and bear it best in her own home; and, besides, +he will not be within calling distance. John, this thing cannot be done +in a hurry. God help the dear girl--to find Piers false--to give him +up--it will break her heart, Father!" + +"Kitty's heart is made of better stuff. When she finds out that Piers +has been false to her, she will despise him." + +"She will make excuses for him." + +"No good woman will care about an unworthy man." + +"Then, God help the men, John! If that were so, there would be lots of +them without any good woman to care for them." + +"Show Kitty that Piers is unworthy of her love, and I tell you she will +put him out of her heart very quickly. I think I know Kitty." + +"Women do not love according to deserts, John. If a woman has a bad +son or daughter, does she take it for comfort when they go away from +her? No, indeed! She never once says, 'They were nothing but a sorrow +and an expense, and I am glad to be rid of them.' She weeps, and she +prays all the more for them, just because they were bad. And one kind of +love is like another; so I will not speak ill of Piers to Kate; besides, +I do not think ill of him. If she has to give him up, it will not be +his fault; and I could not tell her 'he is no loss, Kate,'--and such +nonsense as that,--for it would be nonsense." + +"What will you say then?" + +"I shall help her to remember everything pleasant about him, and to make +excuses for him. Even if you put comfort on the lowest ground possible, +no woman likes to think she has been fooled and deceived, and given her +heart for worse than nothing. Nine hundred and ninety-nine women out +of a thousand would rather blame Fate or father or Fortune, or some +other man or woman, than their own lover." + +"Women are queer. A man in such a case whistles or sings his heartache +away with the thought,-- + + "'If she be not fair for me, + What care I how fair she be?'" + +"You are slandering good men, John. Plenty of men would not give +heart-room to such selfish love. They can live for the woman they +love, and yet live apart from her. My advice is that we go back to +Atheling at once. My heart is there already. Kitty and I were talking +yesterday of the garden. The trees will soon be in blossom, and the +birds busy building in them. Oh, John,-- + + "'The Spring's delight, + In the cowslip bright, + As she laughs to the warbling linnet! + And a whistling thrush, + On a white May bush, + And his mate on the nest within it!'" + +And both caught the joy of the spring in the words, and the Squire, +smiling, stooped and kissed his wife; and she knew then that she had +permission to carry her daughter out of the way of immediate sorrow. As +for the future, Mrs. Atheling never went into an enemy's country in +search of trouble. She thought it time enough to meet misfortune when +it came to her. + +Kate was not averse to the change. Her conversation with the Duchess +naturally affected her feeling towards Annabel. She could not imagine +her quite ignorant of it; and it was, therefore, a trial to have the +girl intruding daily into her life. Yet self-respect forbade her to make +any change in their relationship to each other. Annabel, indeed, appeared +wishful to nullify all the Duchess had said by her behaviour to Cecil +North. Never had she been so familiar and so affectionate towards him, +and she evidently desired Mrs. Atheling and Kate to understand that she +was sincerely in love, and had every intention of marrying for love. + +But yet she was unable to disguise her pleasure when she was suddenly +told of their proposed return to the country. A vivid wave of crimson +rushed over her face and throat; and though she said she "was sorry," +there was an uncontrollable note of satisfaction in her voice. She was +really sorry in one respect; but she had become afraid of the Squire. He +asked such point-blank questions. His suspicions were wide awake and +veering to the truth. He was another danger in her situation, and she +felt Justine to be all she could manage. Mrs. Atheling and Kate being +gone, her visits to the Vyner house could naturally cease; and, as +the winter was nearly over, she could arrange some other place for +her meetings with Cecil North. Indeed, he had already joined her in a +few early morning gallops; and, besides which, she reflected, "Love +always finds out a way." Cecil was a quite manageable factor. + +[Illustration:] + +About the middle of March, one fine spring evening, Mrs. Atheling and +Kate came once more near to their own home. The road was a beautiful +one, bordered with plantations of feathery firs on each side; and the +pure resinous odour was to these two northern women sweeter than a +rose garden. And, oh, what a home-like air the long, rambling old Manor +House had, and how bright and comfortable were its low-ceiled rooms! +When Kate went to her own chamber, a robin on a spray of sweet-briar +was singing at her window. She took it for her welcome back to the +happy place. To be sure, the polished oak floor with its strips of +bright carpet, the little tent-bed with its white dimity curtains, and +the low, latticed windows, full of rosemary pots and monthly roses, were +but simple surroundings; yet Kate threw herself with joyful abandon into +her white chair before the blazing logs, and thought, without regret, +of the splendid rooms of the Vyner mansion, and the tumult of men and +horses in the thousand-streeted city outside it. + +Certainly Piers was in the city, and she had no hope of his speedy +return to the country. But, equally, she had no doubts of his true +affection; and the passing days and weeks brought her no reasons for +doubting. She had frequent letters from him, and many rich tokens of +his constant remembrance. And, as the spring advanced, the joy of her +heart kept pace with it. Never before had she taken such delight in the +sylvan life around her. The cool sweetness of the dairy; the satiny +sides of the milking-pails; the trig beauty of the dairymaids, waiting +for the cows, coming slowly out of the stable,--the beautiful cows, with +their indolent gait and majestic tramp, their noble, solemn faces, and +their peaceful breathing,--why had she never noticed these things +before? Was it because we must lose good things--though but for a +time--in order to find them? And very soon the bare, brown garden was +aflame with gold and purple crocus buds, and the delicious woody perfume +of wallflowers, and the springtide scent of the sweet-briar filled all +its box-lined paths. The trees became misty with buds and plumes and +tufts and tassels; and in the deep, green meadow-grass the primroses +were nestling, and the anemones met her with their wistful looks. + +And far and wide the ear was as satisfied as the eye with the tones of +waterfalls, the inland sounds of caves and woods, the birds twittering +secrets in the tree-tops, and the running waters that were the tongue +of life in many a silent place. Oh, how beautiful, and peaceful, and +happy were these things! Often the mother and daughter wondered to each +other how they could ever have been pleased to exchange them for the +gilt and gewgaws and the social smut of the great city. Thus they fell +naturally into the habit of pitying the Squire, and Edgar, and Piers, +and wishing they were all back at Atheling to share the joy of the +spring-time with them. + +One night towards the close of April, Kate was very restless. "I cannot +tell what is the matter, Mother," she said. "My feet go of their own +will to the garden gates. It is as if my soul knew there was somebody +coming. Can it be father?" + +"I think not, Kitty. Father's last letter gave no promise of any let-up +in the Reform quarrel. You know the Bill was read for the second time as +we left London; and Earl Grey's Ministry had then only a majority of +one. Your father said the Duke was triumphant about it. He was sure that +a Bill which passed its second reading by only a majority of one, could +be easily mutilated in Committee until it would be harmless. The Lords +mean to kill it, bit by bit,--that will take time." + +"But what then, Mother?" + +"God knows, child! I do not believe the country will ever settle to work +again until it gets what it wants." + +"Then will the House sit all summer?" + +"I think it will." + +At these words a long, cheerful "_hallo!_"--the Squire's own call in +the hunting-field--was heard; and Kate, crying, "I told you so!" ran +rapidly into the garden. The Squire was just entering the gates at a +gallop. He drew rein, threw himself off his horse, and took his daughter +in his arms. + +"I am so glad, Father!" she cried. "So happy, Father! I knew you were +coming! I knew you were coming! I did that!" + +"Nay, not thou! I told nobody." + +"Your heart told my heart. Ask mother. Here she comes." + +Then, late as it was, the quiet house suddenly became full of noise +and bustle; and the hubbub that usually followed the Squire's advent +was everywhere apparent. For he wanted all at once,--his meat and his +drink, his easy coat and his slippers, his pipe and his dogs, and his +serving men and women. He wanted to hear about the ploughing, and the +sowing, and the gardening; about the horses, and the cattle, and the +markets; the farm hands, and the tenants of the Atheling cottages. He +wanted his wife's report, and his steward's report, and his daughter's +petting and opinions. The night wore on to midnight before he would +speak of London, or the House, or the Bill. + +"I may surely have a little bit of peace, Maude," he said +reproachfully, when she ventured to introduce the subject; "it has +been the Bill, and the Bill, and the Bill, till my ears ache with the +sound of the words." + +"Just tell us if it has passed, John." + +"No, it has _not_ passed; and Parliament is dissolved again; and the +country has taken the bit in its teeth, and the very mischief of hell +is let loose. I told the Duke what his 'obstructing' ways would do. +Englishmen like obstructions. They would put them there, if they were +absent, for the very pleasure of getting over them. Many a man that was +against the Bill is now against the 'obstructions' and bound to get +over them." + +"Did Piers come down with you, Father?" asked Kate. She had waited long +and patiently, and the Squire had not named him; and she felt a little +wounded by the neglect. + +"No. He did not come down with me, Kitty. But I dare say he is at the +Castle. The Duke spoke of returning to Yorkshire at once." + +"He might have come with you, I think." + +"I think not. A man's father and mother cannot always be put aside +for his sweetheart. Lovers think they can run the world to their own +whim-whams. 'Twould be a God's pity if they could!" + +"What are you cross about, Father? Has Piers vexed you?" + +"Am I cross, Kitty? I did not know it. Go to bed, child. England stands +where she did, and Piers is yet Lord of Exham Hall. I dare say he will +be here to-morrow. I came at my own pace. He would have to keep the pace +of two fine ladies. And I'll be bound he fretted like a race-horse yoked +in a plough." + +And Kitty was wise enough to know that she had heard all she was likely +to hear that night; nor was she ill-pleased to be alone with her hopes. +Piers was at hand. To-morrow she might see him, and hear him speak, and +feel the tenderness of his clasp, and meet the love in his eyes. So +she sat at the open casement, breathing the sweetness and peace of the +night, and shaping things for the future that made her heart beat quick +with many thoughts not to be revealed. The faint smile of the loving, +dreaming of the loved one, was on her lips; and if a doubt came to her, +she put it far away. In fear she would not dwell, and, besides, her +heart had given her that insight which changes faith into knowledge. +She _knew_ that Piers loved her. + +The Squire had no such clear confidence. When Kitty had gone away, he +said plainly, "I am not pleased with Piers. I do not like his ways; I +do not like them at all. After Kate left London, he was seen everywhere, +and constantly, with Miss Vyner." + +"Why not? She is one of his own household." + +"They were very confidential together. I noticed them often for Kitty's +sake." + +"I do wish, Squire, that you would leave Kitty's love-affairs alone." + +"_That_ I will not, Maude. If I have any business now, it is to pay +attention to them. I have taken your 'let-alone' plan, far too long. +My girl shall not be courted in any such underhand, mouse-in-the-corner +way. Her engagement to Lord Exham must be publicly acknowledged, or else +broken entirely off." + +"The man loves Kate. He will do right to her." + +"Loves Kate! Very good. But what of the Other One? He cannot do right to +both." + +"Yes, he can. Their claims are different. You may depend on that. Kate +is the love of his soul; the Other One is like a sister." + +"I do not trust either Piers or the Other One--and I wish she would give +me my ring." + +"You do not certainly know that she has your ring." + +"I will ask her to let me see it." + +"Now, John Atheling, you will meddle with things that concern you, and +let other things alone. It may be your duty to interfere about your +daughter. You may insist on having her recognised as the future Duchess +of Richmoor,--it will be a feather in your own cap; you may say to the +Duke, you must accept my daughter, or I will--" + +"Maude! You are just trying to stand me upon my pride. You cannot do +that any longer. If you are willing to let Kate 'drift,' I am not. It +is my duty to insist on her proper recognition." + +"Then do your duty. But it is _not_ your duty to catechise Miss Vyner +about _my_ ring. When that inquiry is to be made, I will make it myself. +If Piers has to give up Kate, it will be to him a knock-down blow; it +will be a shot in the backbone; you need not sting him at the same time." + +"I will speak to him to-morrow, and see the Duke afterwards. I owe my +little Kate that much." + +"And the Duke and yourself will be the upper and the nether millstones, +and your little Kate between them. I know! I know!" + +"I will do what is right, Maude, and I will be as kind as I can in doing +it. Who loves Kitty as I do? There is a deal said about mother love; +but, I tell thee, a father's love is bottomless. I would lay my life +down for my little girl, this minute." + +"But not thy pride." + +"Not my honour--which is her honour also. Honour must stand with love, +or else--nay, I will not give thee any more reasons. I know my decision +is right; but it is thy way to make out that all my reasons are wrong. I +wish thou wouldst prepare her a bit for what may come." + +"There is no preparation for sorrow, John. When it comes it smites." + +Then the Squire lit his pipe, and the mother went softly upstairs to look +at her little girl. And, as she did so, Kate's arms enfolded her, and +she whispered, "Piers is coming to-morrow. Are you glad, Mother?" + +Then, so strange and contrary is human nature, the mother felt a +moment's angry annoyance. "Can you think of no one but Piers, Kate?" +she asked. And the girl was suddenly aware of her selfish happiness, +and ashamed of it. She ran after her mother, and brought her back to +her bedside, and said sorrowfully, "I know, Mother, that about Piers +I am a little sinner." And then Mrs. Atheling kissed her again, and +answered, "Never mind, Kitty. I have often seen sinners that were +more angel-like than saints--" and the shadow was over. Oh, how good it +is when human nature reaches down to the perennial! + +[Illustration:] + + + + +CHAPTER TWELFTH + +THE SHADOW OF SORROW STRETCHED OUT + + +When the Squire entered the breakfast parlour, Kate was just coming in +from the garden. The dew of the morning was on her cheeks, the scent +of the sweet-briar and the daffodils in her hair, the songs of the thrush +and the linnet in her heart. She was beautiful as Hebe, and fresh as +Aurora. He clasped her face between his large hands, and she lifted the +bunch of daffodils to his face, and asked, "Are they not beautiful? Do +you know what Mr. Wordsworth says about them, Father?" + +"Not I! I never read his foolishness." + +"His 'foolishness' is music; I can tell you that. Listen sir,-- + + "'A smile of last year's sun strayed down the hills, + And lost its way within yon windy wood; + Lost through the months of snow--but not for good: + I found it in a clump of daffodils.' + +Are they not lovely lines?" + +"They sound like most uncommon nonsense, Kitty. Come and sit beside me, +I have something far more sensible and important to tell you." + +"About the Bill, Father?" + +"Partly about the Bill and partly about Edgar. Which news will you have +first?" + +"Mother will say 'Edgar,' and I go with mother." + +"I do not think you can tell me any news about Edgar, John." + +"Go on, Father, mother is only talking. She is so anxious she cannot +pour the coffee straight. What about Edgar?" + +"I must tell you that I made a speech two days before the House closed; +and the papers said it was a very great speech, and I think it _was_ a +tone or two above the average. Did you read it?" + +"You never sent us a paper, Father." + +"You wouldn't have read it if I had sent it. I knew Philip Brotherton +would read every word, so it went to him. I was a little astonished at +myself, for I did not know that I could bring out the very truth the +way I did; but I saw Edgar watching me, and I saw no one else; and I +just talked to him, as I used to do,--good, plain, household words, +with a bit of Yorkshire now and then to give them pith and power. I +was cheered to the echo, and if Edgar, when I used to talk to him for his +good, had only cheered me on my hearthstone as he cheered me in the +Commons, there wouldn't have been any ill blood between us. Afterwards, +in the crush of the lobby, I saw Edgar a little before me; and Mr. +O'Connell walked up to him, and said, 'Atheling, you ought to take +lessons from your father, he strikes every nail on the head. In your +case, the old cock crows, but the young one has not learnt his lesson.' +I was just behind, and I heard every word, and I was ready to answer; +but Edgar did my work finely.' + +'He should not have noticed him,' said Mrs. Atheling. + +'Ah, but he did! He said, "Mr. O'Connell, I will trouble you to speak +of Squire Atheling respectfully. He is not old; he is in the prime of +life; and, in all that makes youth desirable, he is twenty-five years +younger than you are. I think you have felt his spurs once, and I would +advise you to beware of them." And what O'Connell answered I cannot +tell, but it would be up to mark, I can warrant that! I slipped away +before I was noticed, and I am not ashamed to say I was pleased with +what I had heard. "Not as old as O'Connell by twenty-five years!" I +laughed to myself all the way home; and, in the dark of the night, I +could not help thinking of Edgar's angry face, and the way he stood +up for me. I do think, Maude, that somehow it must have been thy fault +we had that quarrel--I mean to say, that if thou hadst stood firm by +me,--that is, if thou hadst--' + +'John, go on and do not bother thyself to make excuses. Was that the end +of it?' + +'In a way. The next afternoon I was sitting by the fireside having a +quiet smoke, and thinking of the fine speech I had made, and if it +would be safe to try again, when Dobson came in and said, "Squire, Mr. +Edgar wishes to see you," and I said, "Very well, bring Mr. Edgar +upstairs." I had thrown off my coat; but I had on one of my fine ruffled +shirts and my best blue waistcoat, and so I didn't feel so very out +of the way when Edgar came in with the loveliest young woman on his +arm--except Kitty--that I ever set eyes on; and I was dumfounded when +he brought her to me and said, "My dear Father, Annie Curzon, who +has promised to be my wife, wants to know you and to love you." And +the little thing--for she is but a sprite of a woman--laid her hand on +my arm and looked at me; and what in heaven's name was I to do?' + +'What did you do?' + +'I just lifted her up and kissed her bonny face, and said I had room +enough in my heart and home for her; and that she was gladly welcome, +and would be much made of, and I don't know what else--plenty of things +of the same sort. My word! Edgar was set up.' + +'He may well be set up,' answered Mrs. Atheling; 'she is the richest +and sweetest girl in England; and she thinks the sun rises and sets in +Edgar Atheling. He ought to be set up with a wife like that.' + +'He was, with her and me together. I don't know which of us seemed +to please him most. Maude, they are coming down to Lord Ashley's on a +visit, and I asked them _here_. I could not do any different, could I?' + +'If you had you would have been a poor kind of a father. What did you +say?' + +'I said, when you are at Ashley Place come over to Atheling, and I +gave Edgar my hand and looked at him; and he looked at me and clasped +it tight, and said, "We will come.'" + +"That was right." + +"I am glad I have done right for once, Maude. Do you know that Ashley +is one of the worst Radicals in the lot of them?" + +"Never mind, John. I have noticed that, as a general thing, the worse +Radical, the better man; but a Tory cannot be trusted to give a Radical a +character. The Tories are very like the poor cat who said, 'If she only +had wings, she would gladly extirpate the whole race of those troublesome +sparrows.'" + +"There are to be no more Tories now, we have got a new name. Lord John +Russell called us 'Conservatives,' and we took to the word, and it is +as like as not to stick to us. It will be Conservatives and Reformers +in the future." + +"But you said the Reform Bill was lost." + +"I said it had not passed. What of that? The rascals have only been +downed for this round; they will be up to time, when time is called June +the twenty-first; and they will fight harder than ever." + +"How was the Bill lost? By obstructions?" + +"Yes; when it was ready to go into Committee, General Gascoigne moved +that, 'The number of members returned to Parliament ought not to be +diminished;' and when the House divided on this motion, Gascoigne's +resolution had a majority of eight." + +"Then Grey's Ministry have retired?" said Mrs. Atheling, in alarm. + +"No, they have not; they should have done so by all decent precedents; +but, instead of behaving like gentlemen, they resolved to appeal to the +country. We sat all night quarrelling on this subject; but at five +in the morning I was worn out with the stifling, roaring House, and sick +with the smell of dying candles, and the reek and steam of quarrelling +human beings, so I stepped out and took a few turns on Westminster +Bridge. It was a dead-calm, lovely morning, and the sun was just rising +over the trees of the Abbey and the Speaker's house, and I had a bit +of heart-longing for Atheling." + +"Why did you not run away to Atheling, Father?" + +"I could not have done a thing like that, Kitty, not for the life of me. +I went back to the House; and for three days we fought like dogs, tooth +and nail, over the dissolution. Then Lord Grey and Lord Brougham did such +a thing as never was: they went to the King and told him, plump and +plain, he must dissolve Parliament or they would resign, and he must +be answerable for consequences; and the King did not want to dissolve +Parliament; he knew a new House would be still fuller of Reform members; +and he made all kinds of excuses. He said, 'The Crown and Robes were +not ready, and the Guards and troops had not been notified;' and +then, to his amazement and anger, Lord Brougham told him that the +officers of State had been summoned, that the Crown and Robes were +ready, and the Guards and troops waiting." + +"My word, John! That was a daring thing to do." + +"If William the Fourth had been Henry the Eighth, Lord Brougham's head +wouldn't have been worth a shilling; as it was, William flew into a +great passion, and cried out, 'You! You, my Lord Chancellor! You ought +to know that such an act is treason, is high treason, my lord!' And +Brougham said, humbly, that he did know it was high treason, and that +nothing but his solemn belief that the safety of the State depended on +the act would have made him bold enough to venture on so improper a +proceeding. Then the King cooled down; and Brougham took from his pocket +the speech which the King was to read; and the King took it with words; +that were partly menace, and partly joke at his Minister's audacity, +and so dismissed them." + +"I never heard of such carryings on. Why didn't Brougham put the Crown +on his own head, and be done with it?" + +"I do not like Brougham; but in this matter, he acted very wisely. If +the King had refused to dissolve a Parliament that had proved itself +unable to carry Reform, I do think, Maude, London would have been in +flames, and the whole country in rebellion, before another day broke." + +"Were you present at the dissolution, John?" + +"I was sitting beside Piers, when the Usher of the Black Rod knocked +at the door of the Commons. It had to be a very loud knock, for the House +was in a state of turbulence and confusion far beyond the Speaker's +control; while Sir Robert Peel was denouncing the Ministry in the +hardest words he could pick out, and being interrupted in much the +same manner. I can tell you that a good many of us were glad enough +to hear the guns announcing the King's approach. The Duke told me +afterwards that the Lords were in still greater commotion. Brougham was +speaking, when there were cries of 'The King! The King!' And Lord +Londonderry rose in a fury and said, 'He would not submit to--' +Nobody heard what he would not submit to; for Brougham snatched up the +Seals and rushed out of the House. Then there was terrible confusion, +and Lord Mansfield rose and was making a passionate oration against the +Reform Bill, when the King entered and cut it short. Well, London +went mad for a few hours. Nearly every house was illuminated; and the +Duke of Wellington, and the Duke of Richmoor, and other great Tories had +their windows broken, as a warning not to obstruct the next Parliament. +I really don't know what to make of it all, Maude!" + +"Well, John, I think statesmen ought to know what to make of it." + +"I rode down from London on my own nag; and in many a town and village I +saw things that made my heart ache. Why, my dears, there has been sixty +thousand pounds put into--not bread and meat--but peas and meal to +feed the starving women and children; the Government has given away +forty thousand garments to clothe the naked; and the Bank of England--a +very close concern--is lending money, yes, as much as ten thousand +pounds, to some private individuals, in order to keep their factories +going. Something is far wrong, when good English workmen are paupers. +But I don't see how Parliamentary Reform is going to help them to +bread and meat and decent work." + +"John, these hungry, naked men know what they want. Edgar says a Reform +Parliament will open all the ports to free trade, and tear to pieces the +infamous Corn Laws, and make hours of work shorter, and wages higher +and--" + +"Give the whole country to the working men. I see! I see! Now, Maude, +men are not going to run factories for fun, nor yet for charity; and +farmers are not going to till their fields just to see how little they +can get for their wheat." + +"Father, what part did Piers take in all this trouble?" + +"He voted with his party. He was very regular in his place." + +"I will go now and put on my habit. Piers sent me word that he would be +here soon after eleven o'clock;" and Kate, with a smile, went quickly +out of the room. The Squire was nonplussed by the suddenness of her +movement, and did not know whether to detain her or not. Mrs. Atheling +saw his irresolution, and said,-- + +"Let her go this time, John. Let her have one last happy memory to keep +through the time of trouble you seem bound to give her." + +"Can I help it?" + +"I don't know." + +"You speak as if it was a pleasure to me." + +"What for are you so set on interfering just at this time?" + +"Because it is the right time." + +"Who told you it was the right time?" + +"My own heart, and my own knowledge of what is right and wrong." + +"You are never liable to make a mistake, I suppose, John?" + +"Not on this subject. I never saw such an unreasonable woman! Never! It +is enough to discourage any man;" and as Mrs. Atheling rose and began to +put away her silver without answering him a word, he grew angry at her +want of approval, and put on his hat and went towards the stables. + +He had no special intention of watching for Lord Exham, and indeed had +for the moment forgotten his existence, when the young man leaped his +horse over the wall of the Atheling plantation. The act annoyed the +Squire; he was proud of his plantation, and did not like trespassing +through it. Such a little thing often decides a great thing; and this +trifling offence made it easy for the Squire to say,-- + +"Good-morning, Piers, I wish you would dismount. I have a few words to +speak to you;" and there was in his voice that shivery half-tone which +is neither one thing nor the other: and Exham recognised it without +applying the change to himself. He was a little annoyed at the delay; +but he leaped to the ground, put the bridle over his arm, and stood +beside the Squire, who then said,-- + +"Piers, I have come to the decision not to sanction any longer your +attentions to Kate--unless your father also sanctions them. It is high +time your engagement was either publicly acknowledged or else put an +end to." + +"You are right, Squire; what do you wish me to do? I will make Kate my +wife at any time you propose. I desire nothing more earnestly than this." + +"Easy, Piers, easy. You must obtain the Duke's consent first." + +"I could hardly select a worse time to ask him for it. I am of full age. +I am my own master. I will marry Kate in the face of all opposition." + +"I say you will not. My daughter is not for you, if there is any +opposition. The Duke and Duchess are at the head of your house; and +Kate cannot enter a house in which she would be unwelcome." + +"Kate will reside at Exham." + +"And be a divider between you and your father and mother. No! In the +end she would get the worst of it; and, even if she got the best of it, +I am not willing she should begin a life of quarrelling and hatred. You +can see the Duke at your convenience, and let me know what he says." + +"I will see him to-day," he had taken out his watch and was looking +at it as he spoke. "Will you excuse me now, Squire?" he asked. "I sent +Kate a message early this morning promising to call for her about eleven. +I am already late." + +"You may turn back. I will make an excuse for you. You cannot ride with +Kate to-day." + +"Squire, I made the offer and the promise. Permit me to honour my word." + +"I will honour it for you. There has been enough, and too much, riding +and walking, unless you are to ride and walk all your lives together. +Good-morning!" + +"Squire, give me one hour?" + +"I will not." + +"A few minutes to explain." + +"I have told you that I would explain." + +"I never knew you unkind before. Have I offended you? Have I done +anything which you do not approve?" + +"That is not the question. I will see you again--when you have seen your +father." + +"You are very unkind, very unkind indeed, sir." + +"Maybe I am; but when the surgeon's knife is to use, there is no use +pottering with drugs and fine speeches. It is the knife between you +and Kate--or it is the ring;" and the word reminded him of the lost +love gage, and made his face hard and stern. Then he turned from the +young man, and had a momentary pleasure in the sound of his furious +galloping in the other direction; for he was in a state of great turmoil. +He had suddenly done a thing he had been wishing to do for a long +time; and he was not satisfied. In short, passionate ejaculations, he +tried to relieve himself of something wrong, and did not succeed. "He +deserves it; he was all the time with that Other One,--day by day in +the parks, night after night in the House and the opera; he gave her +that ring--I'll swear he did; how else should she have it? My Kate is +not going to be second-best--not if I can help it; what do I care for +their dukedom?--confound the whole business! A man with a daughter to +watch has a heart full of sorrow--and it is all her mother's fault!" + +Setting his steps to such aggravating opinions, he reached the Manor +House and went into the parlour. Kate stood at the window in her riding +dress. She had lost her usual fine composure, and was nervously tapping +the wooden sill with the handle of her whip. On her father's entrance, +she turned an anxious face to him, and asked, "Did you see anything +of Piers, Father?" + +"I did. I have been having a bit of a talk with him." + +"Then he is at the door? I am so glad! I thought something was wrong!" + +"Stop, Kitty. He is not at the door. He has gone home. I sent him home. +Now don't interrupt me. I made up my mind in London that he should not +see you again until your engagement was recognised by his father and +mother." + +"Should not see me again! Father!" + +"That is right." + +"But I must see him! I must see him! Where is mother?" + +"Mother thinks as I do, Kate." + +"Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?" + +"Go upstairs, and take off your habit, and think over things. You know +quite well that such underhand courting--" + +"Piers is not underhand. He is as straight-forward as you are, Father." + +"There now! Don't cry. I won't have any crying about what is only +right. Come here, Kitty. Thou knowest thy father loves every hair of +thy head. Will he wrong thee? Will he give thee a moment's pain he can +help? Kitty, I heard talk in London that fired me--I saw things that have +to be explained." + +"Father, you will break my heart!" + +"Well, Kitty, I have had a good many heartaches all winter about my +girl. And I have made up my mind, if I die for it, that there shall +be no more whispering and wondering about your relationship to Piers +Exham. Now don't fret till you know you have a reason. Piers has a deal +of power over the Duke. He will win his way--if he wants to win it. +Then I will have a business talk with both men, and your engagement and +marriage will be square and above-board, and no nodding and winking +and shrugging about it. You are Kate Atheling, and I will not have you +sought in any by-way. Before God, I will not! Cry, if you must. But +I think better of you." + +"Oh, Mother! Mother! Mother!" + +"Yes! you and your mother have brought all this on, with your 'let +things alone, be happy to-day, and to-morrow will take care of itself' +ways. If you were a milk-maid, that plan might do; but a girl with your +lineage has to look behind and before; she can't live for herself and +herself only." + +"I wish I was a milk-maid!" + +"To be sure. Let me have the lover I want, and my father, and my +mother, and my brother, and my home, and all that are behind me, and all +that are to come after, and all honour, and all gratitude, and all +decent affection can go to the devil!" and with these words, the Squire +lifted his hat, and went passionately out of the room. + +Though he had given Kate the hope that Piers would influence his +father, he had no such expectation. There was a very strained political +feeling between the Duke and himself; and, apart from that, the Squire +had failed to win any social liking from the Richmoors. He was so +independent; he thought so much of the Athelings, and was so indifferent +to the glory of the Richmoors. He had also strong opinions of all +kinds, and did not scruple to express them; and private opinions are +just the one thing _not_ wanted and not endurable in society. In fact, +the Duke and Duchess had both been subject to serious relentings for +having any alliance, either political or social, with their opinionated, +domineering neighbour. + +And Piers, driven by the anguish of his unexpected calamity, went into +his father's presence without any regard to favourable circumstances. +Previously he had considered them too much; now he gave them no +consideration at all. The Duke had premonitory symptoms of an attack +of gout; and the Duchess had just told him that her brother Lord +Francis Gower was going to Germany, and that she had decided to +accompany his party. "Annabel looks ill," she added; "the season has +been too much for a girl so emotional; and as for myself, I am thoroughly +worn out." + +"I do not like separating Piers and Annabel," answered the Duke. "They +have just become confidential and familiar; and in the country too, +where Miss Atheling will have everything in her favour!" + +"Annabel is resolved to go abroad. She says she detests England. You had +better make the best of the inevitable, Duke. I shall want one thousand +pounds." + +"I cannot spare a thousand pounds. My expenses have been very great this +past winter." + +"Still, I shall require a thousand pounds." + +The Duchess had just left her husband with this question to consider. +He did not want to part with a thousand pounds, and he did not want +to part with Annabel. She was the brightest element in his life. She had +become dear to him, and the thought of her fortune made his financial +difficulties easier to bear. For the encumbrances which the times forced +him to lay on his estate need not embarrass Piers; Annabel's money +would easily remove them. + +He was under the influence of these conflicting emotions, when Piers +entered the room, with a brusque hurry quite at variance with his natural +placid manner. The Duke started at the clash of the door. It gave him a +twinge of pain; it dissipated his reveries; and he asked petulantly, +"What brings you here so early, and so noisily, Piers?" + +"I am in great trouble, sir. Squire Atheling--" + +"Squire Atheling again! I am weary of the man!" + +"He has forbidden me to see Miss Atheling." + +"He has done quite right. I did not expect so much propriety from him." + +"Until you give your consent to our marriage." + +"Why, then, you will see her no more, Piers. I will never give it. +Never! We need not multiply words. You will marry Annabel." + +"Suppose Annabel will not marry me?" + +"The supposition is impossible, therefore unnecessary." + +"If I cannot marry Miss Atheling, I will remain unmarried." + +"That threat is as old as the world; it amounts to nothing." + +"On all public and social questions, I am your obedient son and +successor. I claim the right to choose my wife." + +"A man in your position, Piers, has not this privilege. I had not. If +I had followed my youthful desires, I should have married an Italian +woman. I married, not to please myself, but for the good of Richmoor; +and I am glad to-day that I did so. Your duty to Richmoor is first; to +yourself, secondary." + +"Have you anything against Miss Atheling?" + +"I object to her family--though they are undoubtedly in direct descent +from the royal Saxon family of Atheling; I object to her poverty; I +object to her taking the place of a young lady who has every desirable +qualification for your wife." + +"Is there no way to meet these objections, sir?" + +"No way whatever." At these words the Duke stood painfully up, and +said, with angry emphasis, "I will not have this subject mentioned to me +again. It is dead. I forbid you to speak of it." Then he rang the bell +for his Secretary, and gave him some orders. Lord Exham leaned against +the mantelpiece, lost in sorrowful thought, until the Duke turned to +him and said,-- + +"I am going to ride; will you go with me? There are letters from +Wetherell and Lyndhurst to talk over." + +"I cannot think of politics at present. I should be no help to you." + +"Your mother and Annabel are thinking of going to Germany. I wish you +would persuade them to stop at home. Is Annabel sick? I am told she is." + +"I do not know, sir." + +"You might trouble yourself to inquire." + +"Father, I have never at any time disobeyed you. Permit me to marry the +woman I love. In all else, I follow where you lead." + +"Piers, my dear son, if my wisdom is sufficient for 'all else,' +can you not trust it in this matter? Miss Atheling is an +impossibility,--mind, I say an impossibility,--now, and to-morrow, and +in all the future. That is enough about Miss Atheling. Good-afternoon! I +feel far from well, and I will try what a gallop may do for me." + +Piers bowed; he could not speak. His heart beat at his lips; he was +choking with emotion. The very attitude of the Duke filled him with +despair. It permitted of no argument; it would allow of no hope. He +knew the Squire's mood was just as inexorable as his father's. Mrs. +Atheling had defined the position very well, when she called the two +men, "upper and nether millstones." Kate and he were now between them. +And there was only one way out of the situation supposable. If Kate +was willing, they could marry without permission. The Rector of Belward +would not be difficult to manage; for the Duke had nothing to do with +Belward; it was in the gift of Mrs. Atheling. On some appointed morning +Kate could meet him before the little altar. Love has ways and means +and messengers; and his face flushed, and a kind of angry hope came +into his heart as this idea entered it. Just then, he did not consider +how far Kate would fall below his best thoughts if it were possible +to persuade her to such clandestine disobedience. + +The Duke was pleased with himself. He felt that he had settled the +disagreeable question promptly and kindly; and he was cantering +cheerfully across Belward Bents, when he came suddenly face to face +with Squire Atheling. The surprise was not pleasant; but he instantly +resolved to turn it to service. + +"Squire," he said, with a forced heartiness, "well met! I thank you +for your co-operation. In forbidding Lord Exham your daughter's society, +you have done precisely what I wished you to do." + +"There is no 'co-operation' in the question, Duke. I considered only +Miss Atheling's rights and happiness. And what I have done, was not +done for any wish of yours, but to satisfy myself. Lord Exham is your +business, not mine." + +"I have just told him that a marriage with Miss Atheling is out of +all consideration; that both you and I are of this opinion; and, I may +add, that my plans for Lord Exham's future would be utterly ruined +by a _mesalliance_ at this time." + +"You will retract the word '_mesalliance_,' Duke. You know Miss +Atheling's lineage, and that a duke of the reigning family would make +no '_mesalliance_' in marrying her. I say retract the word!" and +the Squire involuntarily gave emphasis to the order by the passionate +tightening of his hand on his riding-whip. + +"I certainly retract any word that gives you offence, Squire. I meant +no reflection on Miss Atheling, who is a most charming young lady--" + +"There is no more necessity for compliments than for--the other thing. I +have told Miss Atheling to see Lord Exham no more. I will make my order +still more positive to her." + +"Yet, Squire, lovers will often outwit the wisest fathers." + +"My daughter will give me her word, and she would not be an Atheling +if she broke it. I shall make her understand that I will never forgive +her if she allies herself with the house of Richmoor." + +"Come, come, Squire! You need not speak so contemptuously of the house +of Richmoor. The noblest women in England would gladly ally themselves +with my house." + +"I cannot prevent them doing so; but I can keep my own daughter's +honour, and I will. Good-afternoon, Duke! I hope this is our last word +on a subject so unpleasant." + +"I hope so. Squire, there are some important letters from Lyndhurst and +Wetherell; can you come to the Castle to-morrow and talk them over with +me." + +"I cannot, Duke." + +Then the Duke bowed haughtily, and gave his horse both rein and whip; +and the angry thoughts in his heart were, "What a proud, perverse +unmanageable creature! He was as ready to strike as to speak. If I had +been equally uncivilised, we should have come to blows as easily as +words. I am sorry I have had any dealings with the fellow. Julia warned +me--a man ought to take his wife's advice wherever women are factors +in a question. Confound the whole race of country squires!--they make +all the trouble that is made." + +Squire Atheling had not any more pleasant thoughts about dukes; but they +were an undercurrent, his daughter dominated them. He dreaded his next +interview with her, but was not inclined to put it off, even when he +found her, on his return home, with Mrs. Atheling. She had been weeping; +she hardly dried her tears on his approach. Her lovely face was flushed +and feverish; she had the look of a rose blown by a stormy wind. He +pushed his chair to her side, and gently drew her on to his knees, and +put his arm around her, as he said,-- + +"My little girl, I am sorry! I am sorry! But it has to be, Kitty. There +is no hope, and I will not fool thee with false promises. I have just +had a talk with Richmoor. He was very rude, very rude indeed, to thy +father." She did not speak or lift her eyes; and the Squire continued, +"He used a word about a marriage with thee that I would not permit. +I had to bring him to his senses." + +"Oh, Father!" + +"Would you have me sit quiet and hear the Athelings made little of." + +"No, Father." + +"I thought not." + +"After what the Duke has said to me, there can be no thought of marriage +between Piers and thee. Give him up, now and forever." + +"I cannot." + +"But thou must." + +"It will kill me." + +"Not if thou art the good, brave girl I think thee. Piers is only one +little bit of the happy life thy good God has given thee. Thou wilt still +have thy mother, and thy brother, and thy sweet home, and all the honour +and blessings of thy lot in life--_and thy father, too_, Kitty. Is thy +father nobody?" + +Then she laid her head on his breast and sobbed bitterly; and the Squire +could not speak. He wept with her. And sitting a little apart, but +watching them, Mrs. Atheling wept a little also. Yet, in spite of his +emotion, the Squire was inexorable; and he continued, with stern and +steady emphasis, "Thou art not to see him. Thou art not to write to +him. Thou art not even to look at him. Get him out of thy life, root +and branch. It is the only way. Come now, give me thy promise." + +"Let me see him once more." + +"I will not. What for? To pity one another, and abuse every other +person, right or wrong. The Richmoors don't want thee among them at +any price; and if I was thee I would stay where I was wanted." + +"Piers wants me." + +"Now then, if you must have the whole bitter truth, take it. I don't +believe Piers will have any heartache wanting thee. He was here, there, +and everywhere with Miss Vyner, after thou hadst left London; and I saw +the ring thou loanedst him on her finger." + +Then Kate looked quickly up. Once, when Annabel had removed her glove, +and instantly replaced it, a vague suspicion of this fact had given her +a shock that she had named to no one. It seemed so incredible she could +not tell her mother. And now her father's words brought back that moment +of sick suspicion, and confirmed it. + +"Are you sure of what you say, Father?" + +"I will wage my word and honour on it." + +There was a moment's intense silence. Kate glanced at her mother, who +sat with dropped eyes, unconsciously knitting; but there was not a +shadow of doubt or denial on her face. Then she looked at her father. His +large countenance, usually so red and beaming, was white and drawn +with feeling, and his troubled, aching soul looked at her pathetically +from the misty depths of his tearful eyes. Her mother she might have +argued and pleaded with; but the love and anguish supplicating her +from that bending face was not to be denied. She lifted her own to it. +She kissed the pale cheeks and trembling lips, and said, clearly,-- + +"I promise what you wish, Father. I will not speak to Piers, nor write +to him, nor even look at him again--until you say I may," and with the +words she put her hand in his for surety. + +He rose to his feet then and put her in his chair; but he could not +speak a word. Tremblingly, he lifted his hat and stick and went out +of the room; and Mrs. Atheling threw down her knitting, and followed +him to the door, and watched him going slowly through the long, flagged +passageway. Her face was troubled when she returned to Kate. She lifted +her knitting and threw it with some temper into her work-basket, and +then flung wide open the casement and let the fresh air into the room. +Kate did not speak; her whole air and manner was that of injury and +woe-begone extremity. + +"Kate," said her mother at last, "Kate, my dear! This is your first +lesson in this world's sorrow. Don't be a coward under it. Lift up your +heart to Him who is always sufficient." + +"Oh, Mother! I think I shall die." + +"I would be ashamed to say such words. Piers was good and lovesome, and +I do not blame you for loving him as long as it was right to do so. But +when your father's word is against it, you may be very sure it is _not_ +right. Father would not give you a moment's pain, if he could help it." + +"It is too cruel! I cannot bear it!" + +"Are you asked to bear anything but what women in all ages, and in all +countries, have had to bear? To give up what you love is always hard. I +have had to give up three fine sons, and your dear little sister Edith. I +have had to give up father, and mother, and brothers, and sisters; but +I never once thought of dying. Whatever happens, happens with God's +will, or with God's permission; so if you can't give up cheerfully to +your father's will, do try and say to God, as pleasantly as you can, +_Thy_ Will be my will." + +"I thought you would pity me, Mother." + +"I do, Kate, with all my heart. But life has more loves and duties +than one. If, in order to have Piers, you had to relinquish every one +else, would you do so? No, you would not. Kate, I love you, and I pity +you in your great trial; and I will help you to bear it as well as I +can. But you must bear it cheerfully. I will not have father killed for +Piers Exham. He looked very queerly when he went out. Be a brave girl, +and if you are going to keep your promise, do it cheerfully--or it is not +worth while." + +"How can I be cheerful, Mother?" + +"As easy as not, if you have a good, unselfish heart. You will say +to yourself, 'What right have I to make every one in the house +miserable, because I am miserable?' Troubles must come to all, +Kitty, but troubles need not be wicked; and _it is wicked to be a +destroyer of happiness_. I think God himself may find it hard to forgive +those who selfishly destroy the happiness of others, just because +they are not satisfied, or have not the one thing they specially +want. When you are going to be cross and unhappy, say to yourself, "I +will not be cross! I will not be unhappy! I will not make my good father +wretched, and fill his pleasant home with a tearful drizzle, because I +want to cry about my own loss.' And, depend upon it, Kitty, you +will find content and happiness in making others happy. Good comes to +hearts prepared for good; but it cannot come to hearts full of worry, and +fear, and selfish regrets." + +"You are setting me a hard lesson, Mother." + +"I know it is hard, Kate. Life is all a task; yet we may as well sing, +as we fulfil it. Eh, dear?" + +Kate did not answer. She lifted her habit over her arm, and went slowly +upstairs. Sorrow filled her to the ears and eyes; but her mother heard +her close and then turn the key in her door. + +"That is well," she thought. "Now her good angel will find her alone +with God." + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEENTH + +NOT YET + + +"Mothering" is a grand old word for a quality God can teach man as +well as woman; and the Squire really "mothered" his daughter in +the first days of her great sorrow. He was always at her side. He was +constantly needing her help or her company; and Kate was quite sensible +of the great love with which he encompassed her. At first she was +inexpressibly desolate. She had been suddenly dislodged from that life +in the heart of Piers which she had so long enjoyed, and she felt +homeless and forsaken. But Kate had a sweet and beautiful soul, nothing +in it could turn to bitterness; and so it was not long before she was +able to carry her misfortune as she had carried her good fortune, with +cheerfulness and moderation. + +For her confidence in Piers was unbroken. Not even her father's +assertion about the lost ring could affect it. On reflection, she was +sure there was a satisfactory explanation; if not, it was a momentary +infidelity which she was ready to forgive. And in her determination +to be faithful to her lover, Mrs. Atheling encouraged her. "Time +brings us our own, Kitty dear," she said; "you have a true title to +Piers's love; so, then, you have a true title to his hand. I have not a +doubt that you will be his wife." + +"I think that, Mother; but why should we be separated now, and both made +to suffer?" + +"That is earth's great mystery, my dear,--the prevalence of pain +and suffering; no one is free from it. But then, in the midst of this +mystery, is set that Heavenly Love which helps us to bear everything. I +know, Kitty, I know!" + +"Father is very hard." + +"He is not. When Piers's father and mother say they will not have +you in their house, do you want to slip into it on the sly, or even +in defiance of them? Wait, and your hour will come." + +"There is only one way that it can possibly come; and that way I dare +not for a moment think of." + +"No, indeed! Who would wish to enter the house of marriage by the gates +of death? If such a thought comes to you, send it away with a prayer +for the Duke's life. God can give you Piers without killing his father. +He would be a poor God if He could not. Whatever happens in your life +that you cannot change, that is the Will of God; and to will what God +wills is sure to bring you peace, Kitty. You have your Prayer-Book; go to +the Blessed Collects in it. You will be sure to find among them just the +prayer you need. They never once failed me,--never once!" + +"If I could have seen him just for an hour, Mother." + +"Far better not. Your last meeting with him in London was a very happy, +joyous one. That is a good memory to keep. If you met him now, it would +only be to weep and lament; and I'll tell you what, Kitty, no crying +woman leaves a pleasant impression. I want Piers to remember you as he +saw you last,--clothed in white, with flowers in your hair and hands, +and your face beaming with love and happiness." + +Many such conversations as this one held up the girl's heart, and +enabled her, through a pure and steadfast faith in her lover, to enter-- + + "----that finer atmosphere, + Where footfalls of appointed things, + Reverberant of days to be, + Are heard in forecast echoings; + Like wave-beats from a viewless sea." + +The first week of her trouble was the worst; but it was made tolerable +by a long letter from Piers on the second day. It came in the Squire's +mail-bag, and he could easily have retained it. But such a course would +have been absolutely contradictious to his whole nature. He held the +thick missive a moment in his hand, and glanced at the large red seal, +lifting up so prominently the Richmoor arms, and then said,-- + +"Here is a letter for you, Kitty. It is from Piers. What am I to do with +it?" + +"Please, Father, give it to me." + +"Give it to her, Father," said Mrs. Atheling; and Kate's eager face +pleaded still more strongly. Rather reluctantly, he pushed the letter +towards Kate, saying, "I would as leave not give it to thee, but I can +trust to thy honour." + +"You may trust me, Father," she answered. And the Squire was satisfied +with his relenting, when she came to him a few hours later, and said, +"Thank you for giving me my letter, Father. It has made my trouble a +great deal lighter. Now, Father, will you do me one more favour?" + +"Well, dear, what is it?" + +"See Piers for me, and tell him of the promise I made to you. Say I +cannot break it, but that I send, by you, my thanks for his letter, and +my love forever more." + +"I can't tell him about 'love forever more,' Kitty. That won't do +at all." + +"Tell him, then, that all he says to me I say to him. Dear Father, make +that much clear to him." + +"John, do what Kitty asks thee. It isn't much." + +"A man can't have his way in this house with two women to coax or bully +him out of it. What am I to do?" + +"Just what Kitty asks you to do." + +[Illustration:] + +"Please, Father!" And the two words were sent straight to the father's +heart with a kiss and a caress that were irresistible. Three days +afterwards the Squire came home from a ride, very much depressed. He +was cross with the servant who unbuttoned his gaiters, and he looked +resentfully at Mrs. Atheling as she entered the room. + +"A nice message I was sent," he said to her as soon as they were +alone. "That young man has given me a heart-ache. He has made me think +right is wrong. He has made me feel as if I was the wickedest father +in Yorkshire. And I know, in my soul, that I am doing right; and that +there isn't a better father in the three kingdoms." + +"Whatever did he say?" + +"He said I was to tell Kate that from the East to the West, and from +the North to the South, he would love her. That from that moment to the +moment of death, and throughout all eternity, he would love her. And +I stopped him there and then, and said I would carry no message that +went beyond the grave. And he said I was to tell her that neither for +father nor mother, nor for the interests of the dukedom, nor for the +command of the King, would he marry any woman but her. And I was fool +enough to be sorry for him, and to promise I would give him Kate, with +my blessing, when his father and mother asked me to do so." + +"I don't think that was promising very much, John." + +"Thou knowest nothing of how I feel, Maude. But he is a good man, and +true; I think so, at any rate." + +"Tell Kitty what he said." + +"Nay, you must tell her if you want her to know. I would rather not +speak of Piers at all. Tell her, also, that the Duchess and Miss Vyner +are going to Germany, and that Piers goes with them as far as London. I +am very glad of this move, for we can ride about, then, without fear +of meeting them." + +All the comfort to be got from this conversation and intelligence was +given at once to Kate; and perhaps Mrs. Atheling unavoidably made it +more emphatic than the Squire's manner warranted. She did not overstep +the truth, however, for Piers had spoken from his very heart, and with +the most passionate love and confidence. Indeed, the Squire's transcript +had been but a bald and lame translation of the young man's fervent +expressions of devotion and constancy. + +Kate understood this, and she was comforted. Invincible Hope was at +the bottom of all her sorrow, and she soon began to look on the +circumstances as merely transitory. Yet she had moments of great trial. +One evening, while walking with her mother a little on the outskirts of +Atheling, the Duke's carriage, with its splendid outriders, suddenly +turned into the little lane. There was no escape, and they looked at +each other bravely, and stood still upon the turf bordering the +road. Then the Duchess gave an order to the coachman. There was +difficulty in getting the horses to the precise spot which was best +for conversation; but Mrs. Atheling would not take a step forward or +backward to relieve it. She stood with her hand on Kate's arm, +Kate's hands being full of the blue-bells which she had been gathering. + +The carriage contained only the Duchess and Annabel. There had been no +overt unpleasantness between the ladies of the two families, and Mrs. +Atheling would not take the initiative, especially when the question was +one referring to the most delicate circumstances of her daughter's +life. She talked with the Duchess of her German trip, and Kate gave +Annabel the flowers, and hoped she would enjoy her new experience. +In five minutes the interview was over; nothing but courteous words had +been said, and yet Mrs. Atheling and Kate had, somehow, a sense of +intense humiliation. The Duchess's manner had been politely patronising, +Annabel's languid and indifferent; and, in some mysterious way, the +servants echoed this covert atmosphere of disdain. Little things are so +momentous; and the very attitude of the two parties was against the +Athelings. From their superb carriage, as from a throne, the Duchess +and her companion looked down on the two simply-dressed ladies who had +been gathering wild flowers on the roadside. + +"How provoking!" was Kate's first utterance. "Mother, I will not walk +outside the garden again until they go away; I will not!" + +"I am ashamed of you!" answered Mrs. Atheling, angrily. "Will you +make yourself a prisoner for these two women? _Tush!_ Who are they? Be +yourself, and who is better than you?" + +"It is easy talking, Mother. You are as much annoyed as I am. How did +they manage to snub us so politely?" + +"Position is everything, Kate. A woman in a Duke's carriage, with +outriders in scarlet, and coachmen and footmen in silver-laced liveries, +would snub the Virgin Mary if she met her in a country lane, dressed in +pink dimity, and gathering blue-bells. Try and forget the affair." + +"Annabel looked ill." + +"It was her white dress. A woman with her skin ought to know better than +to wear white." + +"Oh, Mother! if Piers had been with them, what should I have done?" + +"I wish he had been there! You were never more lovely. I saw you for +a moment, standing at the side of the carriage; with your brown hair +blowing, and your cheeks blushing, and your hands full of flowers, and I +thought how beautiful you were; and I wish Piers had been there." + +"They go away on Saturday. I shall be glad when Saturday is over. I +do not think I could bear to see Piers. I should make a little fool of +myself." + +"Not you! Not you! But it is just as well to keep out of danger." + +Certainly neither the Squire nor Kate had any idea of meeting Piers on +the following Saturday night when they rode along Atheling lane together. +Both of them believed Piers to be far on the way to London. They had +been to the village, and were returning slowly homeward in the gloaming. +A light like that of dreamland was lying over all the scene; and the +silence of the far-receding hills was intensified by the murmur of the +streams, and the sleepy piping of a solitary bird. The subtle, fugitive, +indescribable fragrance of lilies-of-the-valley was in the air; and a +sense of brooding power, of mystical communion between man and nature, +had made both the Squire and Kate sympathetically silent. + +Suddenly there was the sound of horse's feet coming towards them; and +the figure of its rider loomed large and spectral in the gray, uncertain +light. Kate knew instantly who it was. In a moment or two they must needs +pass each other. She looked quickly into her father's face, and he said +huskily, "Be brave, Kate, be brave!" + +The words had barely been spoken, when Piers slowly passed them. He +removed his hat, and the Squire did the same; but Kate sat with dropped +eyes, white as marble. From her nerveless hands the reins had fallen; she +swayed in her saddle, and the Squire leaned towards her with encouraging +touch and words. But she could hear nothing but the hurrying flight of +her lover, and the despairing cry which the wind brought sadly back +as he rode rapidly up the little lane,-- + +"_Kate! Kate! Kate!_" + +Fortunately, news of Miss Curzon's and Edgar's arrival at Ashley Hall +came to Atheling that very hour; and the Squire and Mrs. Atheling were +much excited at their proposal to lunch at Atheling Manor the next day. +Kate had to put aside her own feelings, and unite in the family joy of +reunion. There was a happy stir of preparation, and the Squire dressed +himself with particular care to meet his son and his new daughter. As +soon as he heard of their approach, he went to the open door to meet them. + +To Edgar he gave his right hand, with a look which cancelled every hard +word; and then he lifted little Annie Curzon from her horse, and kissed +her on the doorstep with fatherly affection. And between Kate and Annie a +warm friendship grew apace; and the girls were continually together, +and thus, insensibly, Kate's sorrow was lightened by mutual confidence +and affection. + +Early in June the Squire and Edgar were to return to London, for +Parliament re-opened on the fourteenth; and a few days before their +departure Mrs. Atheling asked her husband one afternoon to take a +drive with her. "To be sure I will, Maude," he answered. "It isn't +twice in a twelvemonth thou makest me such an offer." She was in her +own little phaeton, and the Squire settled himself comfortably at her +side, and took the reins from her hands. "Which way are we to go?" he +asked. + +"We will go first to Gisbourne Gates, and maybe as far as Belward." + +The Squire wondered a little at her direction, for she knew Gisbourne was +rather a sore subject with him. As they approached the big iron portals, +rusty on all their hinges from long neglect, he could not avoid saying,-- + +"It is a shame beyond everything that I have not yet been able to buy +Gisbourne. The place has been wanting a master for fifteen years; and +it lays between Atheling and Belward as the middle finger lays between +the first and the third. I thought I might manage it next year; but this +Parliament business has put me a good bit back." + +"Many things have put you back, John. There was Edgar's college +expenses, and the hard times, and what not beside. Look, John! the gates +are open. Let us drive in. It is twenty years since I saw Gisbourne +Towers." + +"The gates are open. What does that mean, Maude?" + +"I suppose somebody has bought the place." + +"I'm afraid so." + +"Never mind, John." + +"But I do mind. The kind of neighbour we are to have is a very important +thing. They will live right between Atheling and Belward. The Gisbournes +were a fine Tory family. Atheling and Gisbourne were always friends. My +father and Sir Antony went to the hunt and the hustings together. They +were finger and thumb in all county matters. It will be hard to get as +good a master of Gisbourne as Sir Antony was." + +"John, I have a bit of right good news for thee. Edgar is going to take +Sir Antony's place. Will Edgar do for a neighbour?" + +"Whatever art thou saying, Maude?" + +"The very truth. Miss Curzon has bought Gisbourne. Lord Ashley advised +her to do so; and she has brought down a big company of builders and +such people, and the grand old house is to be made the finest home in +the neighbourhood. She showed me the plans yesterday, and I promised +her to bring thee over to Gisbourne this afternoon to meet her architect +and Lord Ashley and Edgar. See, they are waiting on the terrace for thee; +for they want thy advice and thy ideas." + +It was, indeed, a wonderful afternoon. The gentlemen went into +consultation with the architect, and a great many of the Squire's +suggestions were received with enthusiastic approval. Mrs. Atheling, +Kate, and Annie went through the long-deserted rooms, and talked of +what should be done to give them modern convenience and comfort, without +detracting from their air of antique splendour. Then at five o'clock +the whole party met in the faded drawing-room and had tea, with sundry +additions of cold game and pasties, and discussed, together, the +proposed plans. At sunset the parties separated at Gisbourne Gates, +Kate going with Miss Curzon to Ashley, and the Squire and Mrs. +Atheling returning to their own home. The Squire was far too much excited +to be long quiet. + +"They were very glad of my advice, Maude," he said, as soon as the last +good-bye had been spoken. "Ashley seconded nearly all I proposed. He is +a fine fellow. I wish I had known him long ago." + +"Well, John, nobody can give better advice than you can." + +"And you see I know Gisbourne, and what can be done with it. Bless +your soul! I used to be able to tell every kind of bird that built in +Gisbourne Chase, and where to find their nests--though I never robbed a +nest; I can say that much for myself. Well, Edgar _has_ done a grand +thing for Atheling, and no mistake." + +"I told you Edgar--" + +"Now, Maude, Edgar and me have washed the slate between us clean. It +is not thy place to be itemising now. I say Edgar has done well for +Atheling, and I don't care who says different. I haven't had such a day +since my wedding day. Edgar in Gisbourne! An Atheling in Gisbourne! My +word! Who would have thought of such a thing? I couldn't hardly have +asked it." + +"I should think not. There are very few of us, John, would have the face +to _ask_ for half of the good things the good God gives us without a +'please' or a 'thank you.'" + +"Belward! Gisbourne! Atheling! It will be all Atheling when I am gone." + +"Not it! I do not want Belward to be sunk in that way. Belward is as old +as Atheling." + +"In a way, Maude, in a way. It was once a part of Atheling; so was +Gisbourne. As for sinking the name, thou sunkest thy name in Atheling; +why not sink the land's name, eh, Maude?" + +And until the Squire and Edgar left for London, such conversations were +his delight; indeed, he rather regretted his Parliamentary obligations, +and envied his wife and daughter the delightful interest that had come +into their lives. For they really found it delightful; and all through +the long, sweet, summer days it never palled, because it was always a +fresh wing, or a fresh gallery, cabinet-work in one parlour, upholstery +work in another, the freshly laid-out gardens, the cleared chase, the +new stables and kennels. Even the gates were a subject of interesting +debate as to whether the fine old ones should be restored or there +should be still finer new ones. + +Thus between Atheling, Ashley, and Gisbourne, week after week passed +happily. Kate did not forget, did not cease to love and to hope; she +just bided her time, waiting, in patience, for Fortune to bring in the +ship that longed for the harbour but could not make it. And with so +much to fill her hours joyfully, how ungrateful she would have been +to fret over the one thing denied her! The return of the Squire and +Edgar was very uncertain. Both of them, in their letters, complained +bitterly of the obstructive policy which the Tories still unwaveringly +carried out. It was not until the twelfth of July that the Bill got +into Committee; and there it was harassed and delayed night after night +by debates on every one of its clauses. This plan of obstructing it +occupied thirty-nine sittings, so that it did not reach the House of +Lords until the twenty-second of September. The Squire's letter at +this point was short and despondent:-- + + DEAR WIFE,--The Bill has gone to the Lords. I expect they will + send it to the devil. I am fairly tired out; and, with all my + heart, I wish myself at Atheling. It may be Christmas before I + get there. Do as well as you can till I come. Tell Kitty, I + would give a sovereign for a sight of her. + + Your affectionate Husband, + + JOHN ATHELING. + +About a couple of weeks after this letter, one evening in October, +Mrs. Atheling, Kate, and Annie were returning to Atheling House from +Gisbourne, where they had been happily busy all the afternoon. They were +easy-hearted, but rather quiet; each in that mood of careless stillness +which broods on its own joy or sorrow. The melancholy of the autumn +night influenced them,--calm, pallid, and a little sad, with a dull, +soft murmur among the firs,--so they did not hurry, and it was nearly +dark when they came in sight of the house. Then Mrs. Atheling roused +herself. "How good a cup of tea will taste," she said; "and I dare +say it is waiting, for Ann has lighted the room, I see." Laughing and +echoing her remark, they reached the parlour. On opening the door, Mrs. +Atheling uttered a joyful cry. + +"Why, John! Why, Edgar!" + +"To be sure, Maude," answered the Squire, leaping up and taking her +in his arms. "I wonder how thou feelest to have thy husband come home +and find thee out of the house, and not a bit of eating ready for him." + +Then Mrs. Atheling pointed to the table, and said, "I do not think there +is any need for complaint, John." + +"No; we managed, Edgar and me, by good words and bad words, to get +something for ourselves--" and he waved his hand complacently over +the table, loaded with all kinds of eatables,--a baron of cold beef, +cold Yorkshire pudding, a gypsy pie, Indian preserves, raspberry +tarts, clotted cream, roast apples, cheese celery, fine old ale, strong +gunpowder tea, and a variety of condiments. + +"What do you call this meal, John?" + +"I call it a decent kind of a tea, and I want thee to try and learn +something from its example." Then he kissed her again, and looked +anxiously round for Kitty. + +"Come here, my little girl," he cried; and Kitty, who had been feeling +a trifle neglected, forgot everything but the warmth and gladness of +her father's love and welcome. Edgar had found Annie a seat beside his +own, and the Squire managed to get his place between his wife and his +daughter. Then the "cup of tea" Mrs. Atheling had longed for became a +protracted home festival. But they could not keep politics out of its +atmosphere; they were, indeed, so blended with the life of that time +that their separation from household matters was impossible, and the +Squire was no more anxious to hear about his hunters and his harvest, +than Mrs. Atheling was to know the fate of the Reform Bill. + +"It has passed at last, I suppose, John," she said, with an air of +satisfied certainty. + +"Thou supposest very far wrong, then. It has been rejected again." + +"Never! Never! Never! Oh, John, John! It is not possible!" + +"The Lords did, as I told thee they would,--that is, the Lords and the +bishops together." + +"The bishops ought to be unfrocked," cried Edgar, with considerable +temper. "Only one in all their number voted for Reform." + +"I'll never go to church again," said Mrs. Atheling, in her +unreasonable anger. + +"Tell us about it, Father," urged Kate. + +"Well, you see, Mr. Peel and Mr. Croker led our party against the Bill; +and Croker _is_ clever, there is no doubt of that." + +"Not to be compared to Lord Althorp, our leader,--so calm, so +courageous, so upright," said Edgar. + +"Nobody denies it; but Croker's practical, vigorous views--" + +"You mean his 'sanguine despondency,' his delight in describing +England as bankrupt and ruined by Reform." + +"I mean nothing of the kind, Edgar; but--" + +"Did the Bill pass the Commons, Father?" asked Kate. + +"It did; although in fifteen days Peel spoke forty-eight times against +it, and Croker fifty-seven times, and Wetherell fifty-eight times. But +all they could say was just so many lost words." + +"Think of such men disputing the right of Manchester, Leeds, and +Birmingham to be represented in the House of Commons! What do you say to +that, Mother?" + +"I only hope father wasn't in such a stupid bit of business, Edgar." +And the Squire drank a glass of ale, and pretended not to hear. + +"But," continued Edgar, "we never lost heart; for all over the +country, and in every quarter of London, they were holding meetings +urging us not to give way,--not to give way an inch. We were fighting for +all England; and, as Lord Althorp said, we were ready to keep Parliament +sitting till next December, or even to next December twelvemonth." + +"I'll warrant you!" interrupted the Squire. "Well, Edgar, you +passed your Bill in a fine uproar of triumph; all London in the street, +shouting thanks to Althorp and the others--Edgar Atheling among them." +Then the Squire paused and looked at his son, and Mrs. Atheling asked, +impatiently,-- + +"What then, John?" + +"Why, then, Lord John Russell and Lord Althorp carried the Bill to the +House of Lords. It was a great scene. The Duke told me about it. He +said nearly every peer was in his seat; and a large number of peeresses +had been admitted at the bar, and every inch of space in the House was +crowded. The Lord Chancellor took his seat at the Woolsack; and the +Deputy Usher of the Black Rod threw open the doors, crying, 'A Message +from the Commons.' Then Lord John Russell and Lord Althorp, at the head +of one hundred Members of the House of Commons, entered, and delivered +the Bill to the Lord Chancellor." + +"Oh, how I should have liked to have been present!" said Kate. + +"Well, some day thou--" and then the Squire suddenly stopped; but +the unfinished thought was flashed to every one present,--"some day +thou mayst be Duchess of Richmoor, and have the right to be present;" +and Kate was pleased, and felt her heart warm to conscious hope. She +caught her mother watching her, and smiled; and Mrs. Atheling, instantly +sensitive to the unspoken feeling, avoided comment by her eager inquiry,-- + +"Whatever did they say, John?" + +"They said the usual words; but the Duke told me there was a breathless +silence, and that Lord John Russell said them with the most unusual +and impressive emphasis: 'My Lords, the House of Commons have passed +an Act to Amend the Representation of England and Wales, to which they +desire your Lordships' Concurrence.' Lord Grey opened the debate. I +dare say Edgar knows all about it. I believe Grey is his leader." + +"Yes," answered Edgar, "and very proud I am of my leader. He is in +his sixty-eighth year, and he stood there that night to advocate the +measure he proposed forty years before, in the House of Commons. Althorp +told me he spoke with a strange calmness and solemnity, '_for the just +claims of the people_;' but as soon as he sat down Lord Wharncliffe +moved that the Bill be rejected altogether." + +"That was like Wharncliffe," said the Squire. "No half measures for +him." + +"Wellington followed, and wanted to know, 'How the King's government +was to be carried on by the will of a turbulent democracy?'" + +"Wellington would govern with a sword instead of a sceptre. He would +try every cause round a drum-head. I am not with Wellington." + +"Lord Dudley followed in an elegant, classical speech, also against the +Bill." + +The Squire laughed. "I heard about that speech. Did not Brougham call +it, 'An essay or exercise of the highest merit, on democracies--_but +not on this Bill_.'" + +"Yes. Brougham can say very polite and very disagreeable things. He +spoke on the fifth and last night of the debate. Earl Grey said a more +splendid declamation was never made. All London is now quoting one +passage which he addressed to the Lords: 'Justice deferred,' he said, +'enhances the price at which you will purchase your own safety; nor can +you expect to gather any other crop than they did who went before you, if +you persevere in their utterly abominable husbandry of sowing injustice +and reaping rebellion.'" + +"Fine words, Edgar, fine words; just like Brougham,--catch-words, to +take the common people." + +"They did not, however, alarm or take the Lords. My leader closed +the debate, and in a magnificent speech implored the archbishops and +bishops not to vote against the Bill, and thus stand before the people +of England as the enemies of a just and moderate scheme of Reform." + +"And yet they voted against it!" said Mrs. Atheling. "I am downright +ashamed of them. The very date ought to be put up against them forever." + +"It was the seventh of October. All night long, until the dawning +of the eighth, the debate was continued; and until three hours after +midnight, Palace Yard, and the streets about Westminster, were crowded +with anxious watchers, though the weather was cold and miserably wet. +Towards morning their patience was exhausted; and when the carriages of +the peers and bishops rolled out in broad daylight there was no one +there to greet them with the execrations and hisses they deserved. +The whole of our work this session in the Commons has been done in +vain. But we shall win next time, even if we compel the King to create +as many new Reform peers as will pass the Bill in spite of the old +Lords." + +"Edgar, you are talking nonsense--if not treason." + +"Pardon me, Father. I am only giving you the ultimatum of Reform. +The Bill _must_ pass the Lords next session, or you may call Reform +Revolution. The people are particularly angry at the bishops. They +dare not appear on the streets; curses follow them, and their carriages +have been repeatedly stoned." + +"There is a verse beginning, 'Inasmuch as ye did it not,' etc.,--I +wonder if they will ever dare to repeat it again. They will do the church +a deal of harm." + +"Oh, no," said Edgar. "The church does not stand on the bishops." + +"Be easy with the bishops," added the Squire. "They have to scheme +a bit in order to get the most out of both worlds. They scorn to answer +the people according to their idols. They are politically right." + +"No, sir," said Edgar. "Whatever is morally wrong cannot be +politically right. The church is well represented by the clergy; they +have generally sympathised with the people. One of them, indeed, called +Smith--Sydney Smith--made a speech at Taunton, three days after our +defeat, that has gone like wild-fire throughout the length and breadth +of England;" and Edgar took a paper out of his pocket, and read, +with infinite delight and appreciation, the pungent wit which made +"Mrs. Partington" famous throughout Christendom:-- + + "As for the possibility of the House of Lords preventing a + reform of Parliament, I hold it to be the most absurd notion + that ever entered into human imagination. I do not mean to + be disrespectful, but the attempt of the Lords to stop the + progress of Reform reminds me very forcibly of the great + storm at Sidmouth, and of the conduct of the excellent + Mrs. Partington on that occasion. In the winter of 1824, + there set in a great flood upon that town; the waves rushed + in upon the houses; and everything was threatened with + destruction. In the midst of this sublime and terrible storm, + Dame Partington--who lived upon the beach--was seen at the + door of her house, with mop and pattens, trundling her mop, + squeezing out the sea-water, and vigorously pushing away the + Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic was roused. Mrs. Partington's + spirit was up; but I need not tell you, the contest was + unequal. The Atlantic Ocean beat Mrs. Partington. She was + excellent at a slop or a puddle; but she should not have + meddled with a tempest. Gentlemen, be at your ease, be quiet + and steady. You will beat Mrs. Partington."[2] + +------ +[Footnote 2: Speech at Taunton by Sydney Smith, October 12, 1831.] + +"It was not respectful to liken the Lords of England to an old woman, +now was it, Mother?" asked the Squire. + +But Mrs. Atheling only laughed the more, and the conversation drifted so +completely into politics that Kitty and Annie grew weary of it, and said +they wished to go to their rooms. And as they left the parlour together, +Edgar suddenly stayed Kitty a moment, and said, "I had nearly forgotten +to tell you something. Miss Vyner is to be married, on the second of +December, to Cecil North. I am going to London in time for the wedding." + +And Kitty said, "I am glad to hear it, Edgar," and quickly closed the +door. But she lay long awake, wondering what influence this event would +have upon Piers and his future, until, finally, the wonder passed into +a little verse which they had learned together; and with it singing in +her heart, she fell asleep:-- + + "Thou art mine! I am thine! + Thou art locked in this heart of mine; + Whereof is lost the little key: + So there, forever, thou must be!" + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEENTH + +AT THE WORST + + +In the first joy of their return home, Squire Atheling and his son +had not chosen to alarm the women of the family; yet the condition of +the country was such as filled with terror every thoughtful mind. The +passionate emotion evoked by the second rejection of the Reform Bill did +not abate. Tumultuous meetings were held in every town and village as +the news reached them; houses were draped in black; shops were closed; +and the bells of the churches tolled backward. In London the populace +was quite uncontrollable. Vast crowds filled the streets, cheering the +Reform leaders, and denouncing with furious execrations the members of +either House who had opposed the Bill. The Duke of Newcastle, the +Marquis of Londonderry, and many other peers were not saved from the +anger of the people without struggle and danger. Nottingham Castle, +the seat of the Duke of Newcastle, was burnt to the ground; and Belvoir +Castle, the seat of the Duke of Rutland, was barely saved. Bristol saw +a series of riots, and during them suffered greatly from fire, and the +Bishop's palace was reduced to ashes. + +Everywhere the popular fury settled with special bitterness and hatred +upon the bishops; because, as teachers of the doctrines of Jesus of +Nazareth, the "common people" expected sympathy from them. A cry +arose, from one end of England to the other, for their expulsion from +the Upper Chamber; and proposals even for the abolition of the House +of Lords were constant and very popular. For such extreme measures no +speaker was so eloquent and so powerful as Mr. O'Connell. In addressing +a great meeting at Charing Cross one day, he pointed in the direction of +Whitehall Palace, and reminded his hearers that, "A King had lost his +head there. Why," he asked, "did this doom come on him? It was," he +cried, "because he refused to listen to his Commons and his people, and +obeyed the dictation of a foreign wife." And this allusion to the +Queen's bad influence over William the Fourth was taken up by the +crowd with vehement cheering. + +While Bristol was burning, the cholera appeared in England; and its +terrors, new and awful and apparently beyond human help or skill, added +the last element of supernatural fear to the excited and hopeless +people. It is hard to realise at this day, and with our knowledge of the +disease, the frantic and abject despair which seized all classes. The +churches were kept open, supplications ascended night and day from the +altars; and on the sixth of November, at one hour, from every place of +worship in England, hundreds of thousands knelt to utter aloud a form +of prayer which was constantly broken by sobs of anguish:-- + + "Lord, have pity on thy people! Withdraw thy heavy hand from + those who are suffering under thy judgments; and turn away from + us that grievous calamity against which our only security is + Thy Compassion." + +In the presence of this scourge, Mrs. Atheling found it impossible to +persuade the Squire to let his family go up with him and Edgar to London. +About the cholera, the Squire had the common fatalistic ideas. + +"You may escape through God's mercy," he said; "but if you are to +die of this fearsome, outlandish sickness, then it is best to face death +in your own home." + +"But if you should take it in London, and me not near even to bid you +'good-bye,' John! I should die of grief." + +"I do hope thou wouldst have more sense, Maude." + +"I would follow thee beyond the grave, very quickly, John." + +"No, no! Stay where thou art. Thou knowest what Yorkshire is," and +though he spoke gruffly, his eyes were dim with unshed tears for the +dreadful possibility he thought it right to face. + +Kate was specially averse to return to London. It was full of memories +she did not wish to revive. Piers was there; and how could she bear +to meet him, and neither speak to nor even look at her lover? There was +Annabel's marriage also to consider. If she did not attend it, how +many unpleasant inquiries and suppositions there would be? If she did +accept the formal invitation sent her, how was she to conduct herself +towards Piers in the presence of those who knew them both intimately? + +The marriage was to take place shortly before the opening of Parliament; +and, owing to the wretched condition of the country, it was thought best +to give it only a private character. The management of the social +arrangements were in Piers's hands, and during these last days a very +brotherly and confidential affection sprang up in his heart for the +brilliant girl who was so soon to leave them forever. One morning he +returned to Richmoor House with some valuable jewels for Annabel. He +sent a servant to tell her that he was in the small east parlour and +desired her company. Then, knowing her usual indifference to time, +he sat down and patiently awaited her coming. She responded almost +immediately. But her entrance startled and troubled him. She came in +hastily, and shut the door with a perceptible nervous tremour. Her face +was flushed with anger; she looked desperate and defiant, and met his +curious glance with one of mingled fear and entreaty and reckless +passion. He led her to a seat, and taking her hands said,-- + +"My dear Bella, what has grieved you?" + +"Oh, Piers! Piers!" she sobbed. "If you have one bit of pity in your +heart, give it to me. I am the most miserable woman in the world." + +"Bella, if you do not love Cecil--if you want to break off this +marriage--" + +"Love Cecil? I love him better than my life! My love for Cecil is the +best thing about me. It is not Cecil." + +"Who is it then?" + +"I will tell you, though you may hate me for my words. Piers, I took +the ring you lost. I meant no harm in the first moment; mischief and +jealousy were then so mixed, I don't know which of them led me. I saw +you asleep. I slipped the ring off your finger. I told myself I would +give it to you in the morning, and claim my forfeit. In the morning, +the Duchess was cross; and you were cross; and the constables were in +the house; and I was afraid. And I put it off and off, and every day my +fear of trouble--and perhaps my hope of doing mischief with it--grew +stronger. I had then hours of believing that I should like to be your +wife, and I hated and envied Kate Atheling. I hesitated until I lost +the desire to explain things; and then one day my maid Justine flew in +a passion at me, and accused me of stealing the ring. She said it was +in my purse--_and it was_. She threatened to call in the whole household +to see me found out; and it was the night of the great dinner; and I +bought her off." + +"Oh, Bella! Bella! that was very foolish." + +"I know. She has tortured and robbed me ever since. I have wasted +away under her threats. Look at my arms, Piers, and my hands. I have +a constant fever. Last week she promised me, if I would give her two +hundred pounds, she would go away, and I should never see or hear of +her again. I gave her the money. Now she says she has made up her mind to +go to India with me. That I cannot endure. She has kept me on the rack +with threats to tell Cecil. He is the soul of Honour; he would certainly +cease to love me; and if I was his wife, how terrible that would be! +What am I to do? What am I to do? Oh, Piers, help me!" + +"Where is the woman now?" + +"In my apartments." + +"Can I go with you to your parlour?" + +"Yes--but, Piers, why?" + +"Where is the ring, Bella dear?" + +"In her possession. She was afraid I would give it to you." + +"Why did you not tell me all this before? Come, I will soon settle the +affair." + +When they reached the room, Annabel sank almost lifeless on a sofa; and +Piers touched a hand-bell. Justine called from an inner room: + +"I will answer at my leisure, Miss." + +Piers walked to the dividing door, and threw it open. "You will answer +_now_, at my command. Come here, and come quickly." + +"My lord--I did not mean--" + +"Stand there, and answer truly the questions I shall ask; or I promise +you a few years on the treadmill, if not a worse punishment. Do you know +that you are guilty of black-mailing, and of obtaining money on false +pretences?--both crimes to be expiated on the gallows." + +"My lord, it is a true pretence. Miss Vyner stole your ring. She knows +she did." + +"She could not steal anything I have; she is welcome to whatever of mine +she desires. How much money have you taken from Miss Vyner?" + +"I have not taken one half-penny," answered Justine, sulkily. "She +gave me the money; she dare not say different. Speak, Miss, you know +you gave it to me." But Annabel had recovered something of her old +audacity. She felt she was safe, and she was not disposed to mercy. +She only smiled scornfully, and re-arranged the satin cushions under her +head more comfortably. + +"Quick! How much money have you taken?" + +Justine refused to answer; and Piers said, "I give you two minutes. Then +I shall send for a constable." + +"And Miss Vyner's wedding will be put off." + +"For your crime? Oh, no! Miss Vyner's wedding is far beyond your +interference. She will have nothing to do with this affair. _I_ shall +prosecute you. You have my ring. Will you give it to me, or to a +constable?" + +"I did not take the ring." + +"It is in your possession. I will send now for an officer." He rose +to touch the bell-rope, keeping his eyes on the woman all the time; and +she darted forward and arrested his hand. + +"I will do what you wish," she said. + +"How much money have you taken from Miss Vyner?" + +"Eight hundred and ninety pounds." + +"Where is it?" + +"In my room." + +"Go and get it--stay, I will go with you." + +In a few minutes Justine returned with her ill-gotten treasure; and then +she condescended to explain, and entreat,-- + +"Oh, my lord," she said, "don't be hard on me. I wanted the money for +my poor old mother who is in Marylebone Workhouse. I did, indeed I did! +It was to make her old age comfortable. She is sick and very poor, and +I wanted it for her." + +"We shall see about that. If your story is true, you shall give the +money to your poor old sick mother. If it is not true, you shall give my +ring and the money to a constable, and sleep in prison this very night." + +With impetuous passion he ordered a carriage, and Justine was driven to +the Marylebone Workhouse. By the time they reached that institution, +she was thoroughly humbled and afraid; her fear being confirmed by the +subservience of the Master to the rank and commands of Lord Exham. For +a moment she had an idea of denying her own statement; but the futility +of the lie was too evident to be doubted; and, very reluctantly, she +admitted her mother's name to be Margaret Oddy. In a few minutes--during +which Lord Exham ordered Justine to count out the money in her bag to the +Master--Margaret appeared. She was not an old woman in years, being but +little over forty; but starvation, sorrow, and hard work had made her +prematurely aged. When she entered the room, she looked around anxiously; +but as soon as she saw Justine, she covered her face with her thin hands, +and began to weep. + +"Is this your daughter?" asked the Master, pointing to Justine. + +"I am her mother, sure enough, sir; but she have cast me off long ago. +Oh, Justine girl, speak a word to me! You are my girl, for all that's +past and gone." + +"Justine has come to make you some amends for her previous neglect, +Mother," said Lord Exham. "She has brought you eight hundred and ninety +pounds for your old age. To-morrow my lawyer will call here, and give +you advice concerning its care and its use. Until then, the Master will +take it in charge." + +"Let me see it! Let me touch it with my hands! No more hunger! No more +cold! No more hard work! It can't be true! It can't be true! Is it +true, Justine? Kiss me with the money, girl, for the sake of the happy +days we have had together!" With these words she went to her daughter, +and tried to take her hands, and draw her to her breast. But Justine +would not respond. She stood sullen and silent, with eyes cast on the +ground. + +"Why, then," said Margaret, with just anger, "why, then, keep the +money, Justine. I would rather eat peas and porridge, and sleep on straw, +than take a shilling with such ill-will from you, girl." Then, turning +to Piers, she added, "Thank you, good gentleman, but I'll stay where +I am. Let Justine keep her gold. I don't want such an ill-will gift." + +"Mother," answered Piers. "You may take the money from my hands, +then. It is yours. Justine's good or ill-will has now nothing to do +with it. I give it to you from the noble young lady whom your daughter +has wronged so greatly that the gallows would be her just desert. She +gives up this money--which she has no right to--as some atonement for +her crime. Is not this the truth, Justine?" he asked sternly; and the +woman answered, "Yes." Then turning to the Master, he added, "To +this fact, and to Justine's admission of it, you are witness." + +The Master said, "I am." Then addressing Margaret, he told her to +go back to her place, and think over the good fortune that had so +unexpectedly come to her; what she wished to do with her money; and where +she wished to make her future home. And the mother curtsied feebly and +again turned to her child,-- + +"If I go back to the old cottage in Downham--the old cottage with the +vines, and the bee skeps, and the long garden, will you come with me, +and we will share all together?" + +"No." + +"Let her alone, Mother," said Exham. "She is going to the furthest +American colony she can reach. Only in some such place, will she be safe +from the punishment of her wrong-doing." + +"Justine, then, my girl, good-bye!" + +No answer. + +"Justine, good-bye!" + +No answer. + +"Why, then, my girl, God be with you, and God forgive you!" + +Then Justine turned to Lord Exham, "I have done what you demanded. May I +now go my own way?" + +"Not just yet. You will return with me." + +He gave his card to the Master, and followed the woman, keeping her +constantly under his hand and eye until they returned to Annabel's +parlour. Annabel was in a dead sleep; but their entrance awakened her, +and it pained Piers to see the look of fear that came into her face when +she saw her cruel tormentor. She was speedily relieved, however; for +the first words she heard, was an order from Piers, bidding her to be +ready to leave the house in twenty minutes. He took out his watch as he +gave the order, and then added, "First of all, return to me my ring." + +"I did not take your ring, my lord." + +"You have it in your possession. Return it at once." + +"Miss Vyner stole it--" + +"Give it to me! You know the consequences of _one_ more refusal." + +Then Justine took from her purse the long missing ring. She threw it on +the table, and, with tears of rage, said,-- + +"May ill-luck and false love go with it, and follow all who own it!" + +"The bad wishes of the wicked fall on themselves, Justine," said Lord +Exham, as he lifted the trinket. "How much money does your mistress owe +you?" + +"I have no 'mistress.' Miss Vyner owes me a quarter's wage, and a +quarter's notice, that is eight pounds." + +"Is that correct, Annabel?" + +"The woman says so. Pay her what she wants--only get her out of my +sight." + +"Oh, Miss, I can tell you--" + +"Go. Pack your trunk, and be back here in fifteen minutes. And, mind +what I say, leave England at once--the sooner the better." + +Before the time was past, the woman was outside the gates of Richmoor +House, and Piers returned to Annabel. "That trouble is all over and +gone forever," he said to her; "now, dear Bella, lift up your heart to +its full measure of love and joy! Let Cecil see you to-night in your +old beauty. He is fretting about your health; show him the marvellously +bright Annabel that captured his heart with a glance." + +"I will! I will, Piers! This very night you shall see that Annabel is +herself again." + +"And in three days you are to be Cecil's wife!" + +"In three days," she echoed joyfully. "Leave me now, Piers. I want to +think over your goodness to me. I shall never forget it." + +Smiling, they parted; and then Annabel opened all the doors of her +rooms, and looked carefully around them, and assured herself that her +tyrant was really gone. "In three days!" she said, "in three days I am +going away from all this splendour and luxury,--going to dangers of +all kinds; to a wild life in camps and quarters; perhaps to deprivations +in lonely places--and I am happy! Happy! transcendently happy! Oh, +Love! Wonderful, Invincible, Omnipotent Love! Cecil's love! It will +be sufficient for all things." + +Certainly she was permeated with this idea. It radiated from her +countenance; it spoke in her eyes; it made itself visible in the +glory of her bridal attire. The wedding morning was one of the darkest +and dreariest of London's winter days. A black pouring rain fell +incessantly; the atmosphere was heavy, and loaded with exhalations; +and the cholera terror was on every face. For at this time it was +really "a destruction walking at noon-day" and leaving its ghastly sign +of possession on many a house in the streets along which the bridal +party passed. + +It came into the gloomy church like a splendid dream: officers in +gay uniforms, ladies in beautiful gowns and nodding plumes, and at the +altar,--shining like some celestial being,--the radiant bride in +glistening white satin, and sparkling gems. And Cecil, in his new +military uniform, tall, handsome, soldierly, happy, made her a fitting +companion. The church was filled with a dismal vapour; the rain plashed +on the flagged enclosure; the wind whistled round the ancient tower: +there was only gloom, and misery, and sudden death outside; but over +all these accidents of time and place, the joy of the bride and the +bridegroom was triumphant. And later in the day, when the Duke and +Piers went with them to the great three-decked Indiaman waiting for +their embarkation, they were still wondrously exalted and blissful. +Dressed in fine dark-blue broadcloth, and wrapped in costly furs, +Annabel watched from the deck the departure of her friends, and then +put her hand in Cecil's with a smile. + +"For weal or woe, Bella, my dear one," he said. + +"For weal or woe, for life or death, Cecil beloved," she answered, +having no idea then of what that promise was to bring her in the future; +though she kept it nobly when the time of its redemption came. + +Three days after this event, Mrs. Atheling received by special messenger +from Lord Exham a letter, and with it the ring which had caused so +much suspicion and sorrow. But though the letter was affectionate and +confidential, and full of tender messages which he "trusted in her to +deliver for him," nothing was said as to the manner of its recovery, +or the personality of the one who had purloined it. + +"Your father has been right, no doubt, Kate," she said. "In some weak +moment Annabel has got the ring from him, and on her marriage has given +it back. That is clear to me." + +"Not to me, Mother. I am sure Piers did not give Annabel--did not give +any one the ring. I will tell you what I think. Annabel got it while he +was asleep, or he inadvertently dropped it, and she picked it up--and +kept it, hoping to make mischief." + +"You may be wrong, Kitty." + +"I may--but I _know_ I am right." + +_No Diviner like Love!_ + +On this same day, with the cholera raging all around, Parliament was +re-opened; and Lord John Russell again brought in the Reform Bill. There +was something pathetic in this persistence of a people, hungry and +naked, and overshadowed by an unknown pestilence, swift and malignant +as a Fate. It was evident, immediately, that the same course of +"obstruction" which had proved fatal to the two previous Bills was to +be pursued against the third attempt. Yet the temper of the House of +Commons, sullenly, doggedly determined, might even thus early have +warned its opposers. All the unfairness and pertinacity of Peel and his +associates was of no avail against the inflexible steadiness of Lord +Althorp and the cold impassibility of Lord John Russell. + +Week after week passed in debating, while the press and people waited +in alternating fits of passionate threats and still more alarming +silence,--a silence, Lord Grey declared to be, "Most ominous of trouble, +and of the most vital importance to the obstructing force." The Squire +was weary to death. He found it impossible to take a dutiful interest +in the proceedings. The tactics of the fight did not appeal to his +nature. He thought they were neither fair nor straightforward; and, +unconsciously, his own opinions had been much leavened by his late +familiar intercourse with Lord Ashley and his son. + +In these days his chief comfort came from the friendship of Piers Exham. +The young man frequently sought his company; and it became almost a +custom for them to dine together at the Tory Club. And at such times +words were dropped that neither would have uttered, or even thought +of, at the beginning of the contest. Thus one night Piers said, in his +musing way, as he fingered his glass, rather than drank the wine in it,-- + +"I have been wondering, Squire, whether the wish of a whole nation, +gradually growing in intensity for sixty years, until it has become, +to-day, a command and a threat, is not something more than a wish?" + +"I should say it was, Piers," answered the Squire. "Very likely the +wish has grown to--a right." + +"Perhaps." + +Then both men were silent; and the next topic discussed was the new +sickness, and Piers anxiously asked if "it had reached Atheling." + +"No, it has not, thank the Almighty!" replied the Squire. "There has +not been a case of it. My family are all well." + +Allusions to Kate were seldom more definite than this one; but Piers +found inexpressible comfort in the few words. Such intercourse might not +seem conducive to much kind feeling; but it really was. The frequent +silences; the short, pertinent sentences; the familiar, kindly touch +of the young man's hand, when it was time to return to the House; the +little courteous attentions which it pleased Piers to render, rather +than let the Squire be indebted to a servant for them,--these, and other +things quite as trivial, made a bond between the two men that every day +strengthened. + +[Illustration:] + +It was nearly the end of March when the Bill once more got through +the Commons; and hitherto the nation had waited as men wait the +preliminaries of a battle. But they were like hounds held by a leash +when the great question as to whether the Lords would now give way, or +not, was to be determined. The Squire was an exceedingly sensitive man; +for he was exceedingly affectionate, and he was troubled continually by +the hungry, wretched, anxious crowds through which he often picked +his way to Westminster, the more so, as his genial, bluff, thoroughly +English appearance seemed to please and encourage these non-contents. At +every step he was urged to vote on the right side. "God bless you, +Squire!" was a common address. "Pity the poor! Vote for the right! +Go for Reform, Squire! Before God, Squire, we must win this time, or +die for it!" And the Squire, distressed, and half-convinced of the +justice of their case, would lift his hat at such words, and pass a +sovereign into the hand of some lean, white-faced man, and answer, +"God defend the Right, friends!" He could not tell them, as he had +done in his first session, to "go home and mind their business." He +could not say, as he did then, a downright "No;" could not bid them, +"Reform themselves, and let the Government alone," or ask, "If +they were bereft of their senses?" If he answered at all now, it was in +the motto so familiar to them, "God and my Right;" or, if much urged, +"I give my word to do my best." Or he would bow courteously, and +say, "God grant us all good days without end." Before the Bill +passed the Commons, at the end of March, it had, at any rate, come to +this,--he was not only averse to vote against the Bill, he was also +averse to tell these waiting sufferers that he intended to vote +against it. + +On the night of the thirteenth of April, when the Bill was before the +Lords, the Squire was too excited to go to bed, though prevented from +occupying his seat in the Commons by a smart attack of rheumatism. He sat +in his club, waiting for intelligence, and watching the passing crowds +to try and glean from their behaviour the progress of events. Piers had +promised to bring him word as soon as the vote was taken. He did not +arrive until eight o'clock the next morning. The Squire was drinking +his coffee, and making up his mind to return to Atheling, "whatever +happened," when Piers, white and exhausted, drew his chair to the table. + +"The Bill has passed this reading by nine votes," he said wearily; +"and Parliament has adjourned for the Easter recess; that is, until +the seventh of May. Three weeks of suspense! I do not know how it is +to be endured." + +"I am going to Atheling. Edgar will very likely go to Ashley, and I +think you had better go with us. Three weeks of Exham winds will make a +new man of you." + +At this point Edgar joined them, and, greatly to his father's annoyance, +declared both Atheling and Ashley out of the question. "This three +weeks," he said, "will decide the fate of England. I have promised +my leader to visit Warwick, Worcester, Stafford, and Birmingham. At +the latter place there will be the greatest political meeting ever held +in this world." + +"And what will Annie say?" asked the Squire. + +"Annie thinks I am doing right. Annie does not put me before the hundred +of thousands to whom the success of Reform will bring happiness." + +"It beats all and everything," said the Squire. "I wouldn't like +my wife to put me back of hundreds and thousands. Have you been up all +night--you and Piers?" + +"All night," answered Edgar. "We were among the three hundred members +from the Commons who filled the space around the throne, and stood in +a row three deep below the bar. I was in the second row; but I heard +all that passed very well. Earl Grey did not begin to speak until five +o'clock this morning, and he spoke for an hour and a half. It was an +astonishing argument." + +"It was a most interesting scene, altogether," said Piers. "I shall +never forget it. The crowded house, its still and solemn demeanour, and +the broad daylight coming in at the high windows while Grey was speaking. +Its blue beams mixed with the red of the flaring candles, and the two +lights made strange and startling effects on the crimson draperies and +the dusky tapestries on the walls. I felt as if I was in a vision. I kept +thinking of Cromwell and old forgotten things; and it was like waking out +of a dream when the House began to dissolve. I was not quite myself until +I had drunk a cup of coffee." + +"It was very exciting," said the more practical Edgar; "and the small +majority is only to keep the people quiet. At the next reading the Bill +will be so mutilated as to be practically rejected, unless we are ready +to meet such an emergency." + +Piers rose at these words. He foresaw a discussion he had no mind +for; and he said, with a touching pathos in his voice, as he laid his +hand on the Squire's shoulder, "Give my remembrance to the ladies at +Atheling,--my heart's love, if you will take it." + +"I will take all I may, Piers. Good-bye! You have been a great comfort +to me. I am sure I don't know what I should have done without you; for +Edgar, you see, is too busy for anything." + +"Never too busy to be with you, if you need me, Father. But you are such +a host in yourself, and I never imagined you required help of any kind." + +"Only a bit of company now and then. You were about graver business. +It suited Piers and me to sit idle and say a word or two about Atheling. +Come down to Exham, Piers, _do_; it will be good for you." + +"No, I should be heart-sick for Atheling. I am better away." + +The Squire nodded gravely, and was silent; and Piers passed quietly out +of the room. His listless serenity, and rather drawling speech, always +irritated the alert Edgar; and he sighed with relief when he was rid of +the restraining influence of a nature so opposite to his own. + +"So you are going to Atheling, Father?" he said. "How?" + +"As quick and quiet as I can. I shall take the mail-coach to York, or +further; and then trot home on as good a nag as I can hire." + +In this way he reached Atheling the third day afterwards, but without any +of the usual _eclat_ and bustle of his arrival. Kate had gone to bed; +Mrs. Atheling was about to lock the big front door, when he opened it. +She let the candlestick in her hand fall when she saw him enter, crying,-- + +"John! Dear John! How you did frighten me! I _am_ glad to see you." + +"I'll believe it, Maude, without burning the house for an illumination. +My word! I am tired. I have trotted a hack horse near forty miles +to-day." + +Then she forgot everything but the Squire's refreshment and comfort; +and the house was roused, and Kitty came downstairs again, and for an +hour there was at least the semblance of rejoicing. But Mrs. Atheling +was not deceived. She saw her lord was depressed and anxious; and she +was sure the Reform Bill had finally passed; and after a little while +she ventured to say so. + +"No, it has not passed," answered the Squire; "it has got to its worst +bit, that's all. After Easter the Lords will muster in all their power, +and either throw it out, or change and cripple it so much that it will be +harmless." + +"Now, then, John, what do you think, _really_?" + +"I think, really, that we land-owners are all of us between the devil +and the deep sea. If the Bill passes, away go the Corn Laws; and then how +are we to make our money out of the land? If it does not pass, we are in +for a civil war and a Commonwealth, and no Cromwell to lead and guide +it. It is a bad look-out." + +"But it might be worse. We haven't had any cholera here. We must trust +in God, John." + +"It is easy to trust in God when you don't see the doings of the devil. +You wouldn't be so cheerful, Maude, if you had lived in the sight of his +handiwork, as I have for months. I think surely God has given England +into his power, as he did the good man of Uz." + +"Well, then, it was only for a season, and a seven-fold blessing after +it. It is wonderful how well your men have behaved; they haven't taken +a bit of advantage of your absence. That is another good thing." + +"I am glad to hear that. I will see them, man by man, before I go back +to London." + +The villagers, however, sent a deputation as soon as they heard of +the Squire's arrival, asking him to come down to Atheling Green, and +tell them something about Reform. And he was pleased at the request, +and went down, and found they had made a temporary platform out of two +horse-blocks for him; and there he stood, his fine, imposing, sturdy +figure thrown clearly into relief by the sunny spring atmosphere. And +it was good to listen to his strong, sympathetic voice, for it had the +ring of truth in all its inflections, as he said,-- + +"Men! Englishmen! Citizens of no mean country! you have asked me to +explain to you what this Reform business means. You know well I will tell +you no lies. It will give lots of working-men votes that never hoped for +a vote; and so it is like enough working-men will be able to send to +Parliament members who will fight for their interests. Maybe that is +in your favour. It will open all our ports to foreign wheat and corn. +You will get American wheat, and Russian wheat, and French wheat--" + +"We won't eat French wheat," said Adam Sedbergh. + +"And then, wheat will be so cheap that it will not pay English +land-owners to sow it. Will that help you any?" + +"We would rather grow our own wheat." + +"To be sure. Reform will, happen, give you shorter hours of work." + +"That would be good, Master," said the blacksmith. + +"It will depend on what you do with the extra hours of leisure." + +"We can play skittles, and cricket, and have a bit of wrestling." + +"Or sit in the public house, and drink more beer. I don't think +your wives will like that. Besides, if you work less time won't you +get less wage? Do you think I am going to pay for twelve hours' work +and get ten? Would you? Will the mill-owners run factories for the fun +of running them? Would you? And they say they hardly pay with twelve +hours' work. Men, I tell you truly, I know no more than the babe +unborn what Reform will bring us. It may be better times; it may be +ruin. But I can say one thing, sure and certain, you will get more +trouble than you bargain for if you take to rioting about it. Your +grandfathers and your fathers fought this question; and they left it +to you to quarrel over. Very well, as long as you keep your quarrel +in the Parliament Houses, I want you to have fair play. But if ever +you should forget that there is the great Common Law behind all of us, +rich and poor, and think to right yourselves with fire and blood, then +I--your true friend--would be the first to answer you with cannon, +and turn my scythes and shares into swords against you. Wait patiently a +bit longer. In a few more weeks I do verily believe you will have +Reform, and then I hope, in my soul, you will be pleased with your +bargain. I don't think, as far as I am concerned, Reform will change me +or my ways one particle." + +"We don't want you changed, Squire; you are good enough as you are." + +"I'm glad you think so, very glad. Now here is Atheling and Belward +meadows and corn-fields. We can raise our wheat and cattle and wool, and +carry on our farms--you and I together, for I could not do without you; +and if I do right by you is there any reason to want better than right? +And if I do not do right, then shout 'Reform,' and come and tell me +what you want, and we will pass our own Reform Bill. Will that suit you?" + +And they answered him with cheers, and he sent them into the Atheling +Arms for a good dinner, and then rode slowly home. But a great sadness +came over him, and he said to himself: + +"It is not capital; it is not labour; it is not land: it is a bit of +human kindness and human relations that lie at the root of all Reform. +Maude says true enough, that we don't know the people, and don't feel +for them, and don't care for them. A word of reason, a word of truth +and trust and of mutual good-will, and how pleased them poor fellows +were! Reform has nothing on earth to do with Toryism or Whigism. God +bless my soul! what kind of a head must the man have that could think +so? _I begin to see_--_I begin to see!_" + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEENTH + +LADY OF EXHAM HALL AT LAST + + +The three weeks' recess was full of grave anxiety; and the Squire had +many fears they were to be the last weeks of peace and home before civil +war called him to fulfil the promise he had made to his working-men. The +Birmingham Political Union declared that if there was any further +delay after Easter, two hundred thousand men would go forth from their +shops and forges, and encamp in the London squares, till they knew the +reason why the Reform Bill was not passed. The Scots Greys, who were +quartered at Birmingham, had been employed the previous Sabbath in +grinding their swords; and it was asserted that the Duke of Wellington +stood pledged to the Government to quiet the country in ten days. These +facts sufficiently indicated to the Squire the temper of the people; and +he set himself, as far as he could, to take all the sweetness out of his +home life possible. The memory of it might have to comfort him for many +days. + +With his daughter always by his side, he rode up and down the lands +he loved; unconsciously giving directions that might be serviceable +if he had to go to a stormier field than the House of Commons. To +Mrs. Atheling he hardly suggested the possibility; for if he did, +she always answered cheerfully, "Nonsense, John! The Bill _will_ pass; +and if it does not pass, Englishmen have more sense than they had in +the days of Cromwell. They aren't going to kill one another for an Act +of Parliament." + +But to Kate, as they rode and walked, he could worry and grumble +comfortably. She was always ready to sympathise with his fears, and to +encourage and suggest any possible hope of peace and better days. To see +her bright face answering his every thought filled the father's heart +with a joy that was complete. + +"Bless thy dear soul!" he would frequently say to her. "God's best +gift to a man is a daughter like thee. Sons are well enough to carry on +the name and the land, and bring honour to the family; but the man God +loves isn't left without a daughter to sweeten his days and keep his +heart fresh and tender. Kitty! Kitty, how I do love thee!" And Kitty +knew how to answer such true and noble affection; for,-- + + "Down the gulf of his condoled necessities, + She cast her best: she flung herself." + +Oh, sweet domestic love! Surely _it is_ the spiritual world, the abiding +kingdom of heaven, not far from any one of us. + +With a heavy heart the Squire went back to London. Mrs. Atheling took +his gloom for a good sign. "Your father is always what the Scotch call +'fay' before trouble," she said to Kate. "The day your sister Edith +died his ways made me angry. You would have thought some great joy had +come to Atheling. He said he was sure Edith was going to live; and I +knew she was going to die. I am glad he has gone to London sighing and +shaking his head; it is a deal better sign than if he had gone laughing +and shaking his bridle. He will meet Edgar in London, and Edgar won't +let him look forward to trouble." + +But the Squire found Edgar was not in London when he arrived there; and +Piers was as silent and as gloomy a companion as a worrying man could +desire. He came to dine with his friend, and he listened to all his +doleful prognostications; but his interest was forced and languid. For he +also had lost the convictions that made the contest possible to him, +and there was at the bottom of all his reasoning that little doubt as to +the justice of his cause which likewise infected the Squire's more +pronounced opinions. + +They were sitting one evening, after dinner, almost silent, the Squire +smoking, Piers apparently reading the _Times_, when Edgar, with an almost +boyish demonstrativeness, entered the room. He drew a chair between +them, and sat down, saying, "I have just returned from the great Newhall +Hill meeting. Father, think of two hundred thousand men gathered there +for one united purpose." + +"I hope I have a few better thoughts to keep me busy, Edgar." + +Piers looked up with interest. "It must have been an exciting hour or +two," he said. + +"I hardly knew whether I was in the body or out of the body," answered +Edgar. "For a little while, at least, I was not conscious of the flesh. +I had a taste of how the work of eternity may be done with the soul." + +"The _Times_ admits the two hundred thousand," said Piers, "and also +that it was a remarkably orderly meeting. Who opened it? Was it Mr. +O'Connell?" + +"The meeting was opened by the singing of a hymn. There were nine +stanzas in it, and every one was sung with the most enthusiastic feeling. +I remember only the opening lines: + + "'Over mountain, over plain, + Echoing wide from sea to sea, + Peals--and shall not peal in vain-- + The trumpet call of Liberty!' + +But can you imagine what a majestic volume of sonorous melody came from +those two hundred thousand hearts? It was heard for miles. The majority +of the singers believed, with all their souls, that it was heard in +heaven." + +"Well, I never before heard of singing a hymn to open a political +meeting," said the Squire. "It does not seem natural." + +"But, Father, you are used to political meetings opened by prayer, for +the House has its chaplain. The Rev. Hugh Hutton prayed after the hymn." + +"I never heard of the Rev. Hugh Hutton." + +"I dare say not, Father. He is an Unitarian minister; for it is only +the Unitarians that will pray with, or pray for, Radicals. I should +not quite say that. There is a Roman Catholic priest who is a member +of the Birmingham Union,--a splendid-looking man, a fine orator, and +full of the noblest public spirit; but a Birmingham meeting would never +think of asking him to pray. They would not believe a Catholic could +get a blessing down from heaven if he tried."[3] + +------ +[Footnote 3: This intolerance, general and common in the England of that +day, is now happily much mitigated.] + +"What of O'Connell?" said the Squire; "he interests me most." + +"O'Connell outdid himself. About four hundred women in one body had +been allowed to stand near the platform, and the moment his eyes +rested on them his quick instinct decided the opening sentence of his +address. He bowed to them, and said, 'Surrounded as I am by the fair, +the good, and the gentle.' They cheered at these words; and then the +men behind them cheered, and the crowds behind cheered, because the +crowds before cheered; and then he launched into such an arraignment +of the English Government as human words never before compassed. And +in it he was guilty of one delightful bull. It was in this way. Among +other grave charges, he referred to the fact that births had decreased +in Dublin five thousand every year for the last four years, and then +passionately exclaimed, 'I charge the British Government with the +murder of those twenty thousand infants!' and really, for a few +moments, the audience did not see the delightful absurdity." + +"Twenty thousand infants who were never born," laughed the Squire. +"That is worthy of O'Connell. It is worthy of Ireland." + +"And did he really manage that immense crowd?" asked Piers. "I see +the _Times_ gives him this credit." + +"Sir Bulwer Lytton in a few lines has painted him for all generations at +this meeting. Listen!" and Edgar took out of his pocket a slip of paper, +and read them:-- + + "'Once to my sight the giant thus was given-- + Walled by wide air, and roofed by boundless heaven; + Methought, no clarion could have sent its sound + Even to the centre of the hosts around. + And as I thought, rose the sonorous swell + As from some church tower swings the silver bell. + Aloft and clear, from airy tide to tide, + It glided easy as a bird may glide, + To the last verge of that vast audience.'" + +"After O'Connell, who would try to manage such a crowd?" asked Piers. + +"They behaved splendidly whoever spoke; and finally Mr. Salt stood +forward, and, uncovering his head, bid them all uncover, and raise their +right hands to heaven while they repeated, after him, the comprehensive +obligation which had been given in printed form to all of them: + + "'_With unbroken faith, through every peril, through every + privation, we here devote ourselves, and our children, to our + country's cause!_' + +And while those two hundred thousand men were taking that oath together, +I find the House of Lords was going into Committee on the Reform Bill. +This time it _must_ pass." + +"It will _not_ pass," said Piers, "without the most extreme measures +are resorted to." + +"You mean that the King will be compelled to create as many new peers as +will carry it through the House of Lords." + +"Yes; but can the King be 'compelled'?" + +"He will find that out." + +"Now, Edgar, that is as far as I am going to listen." + +Then Piers put down his paper, and said, "The House was in session, and +would the Squire go down to it?" And the Squire said, "No. If there +is to be any 'compelling' of His Majesty, I will keep out of it." + +The stress of this compulsion came the very next day. Lord Lyndhurst +began the usual policy by proposing important clauses of the Bill +should be postponed; and the Cabinet at once decided to ask the King +to create more peers. Sydney Smith had written to Lady Grey that he +was, "For forty, in order to make sure;" but the number was not +stipulated. The King promptly refused. The Reform Ministry tendered +their resignation, and it was accepted. For a whole week the nation +was left to its fears, its anger, and its despair. It was, however, +almost insanely active. In Manchester twenty-five thousand people, in +the space of three hours, signed a petition to the King, telling him in +it that "the whole North of England was in a state of indignation +impossible to be described." Meanwhile, the Duke of Wellington had +failed to form a Cabinet, and Peel had refused; and the King was +compelled to recall Lord Grey to power, and to consent to any measures +necessary to pass the Reform Bill. It was evident, even to royalty, +that it had at length become--The Bill or The Crown. For His Majesty was +now aware that he was denounced from one end of England to the other; +and several painful experiences convinced him that his carriage could +not appear in London without being surrounded by an indignant, hooting, +shrieking crowd. + +Yet it was in a very wrathful mood he sent for Grey and Brougham, so +wrathful that he kept them standing during the whole audience, although +this attitude was contrary to usage. "My people are gone mad," he +said, "and must be humoured like mad people. They will have Reform. +Very well. I give you my royal assent to create a sufficient number of +new peers to carry Reform through the House of Lords. It is an insult to +my loyal and sensible peers; but they will excuse the circumstances +that force me to such a measure." His manner was extremely sullen, +and became indignantly so when Lord Brougham requested this permission +to be given them in the King's handwriting. The request was, however, +necessary, and was reluctantly granted. + +With the King's concession, the great struggle virtually ended. For +the creation of new peers was not necessary. A private message from the +King to the House of Lords effected what the long-continued protestations +and entreaties of the whole nation had failed to effect. Led by the +Duke of Wellington, those Lords who were determined _not_ to vote for +Reform left the House until the Bill was passed; and thus a decided +majority for its success was assured. They felt it to be better for +their order to retire to their castles, than to suffer the "swamping +of the House of Lords" by a force of new peers pledged to Reform, +and sure to control all their future deliberations. Consequently, in +about two weeks, the famous Bill was triumphantly carried by a majority +of eighty-four; and three days afterwards it received the royal assent. + +The long struggle was over; and the tremendous strain on the feelings +of the nation relieved itself by an universal and unbounded rejoicing. +All night long, the church bells answered one another from city to city, +and from hamlet to hamlet. It was said to be impossible to escape, from +one end of the country to the other, the _tin_-_tan_-_tabula_ of their +jubilation. Illuminations must have made the Island at night a blaze of +light; the people went about singing and congratulating each other; and +for a few hours the tie of humanity was a tie of brotherhood, even when +men and women were perfect strangers. + +The Duke of Richmoor retired with the majority of his peers, and shut +himself up in his Yorkshire Castle, a victim to the most absurd but +yet the most sincere despondency. The Squire applied for the Chiltern +Hundreds, and returned to Atheling as soon as possible. Edgar remained +in the House until its dissolution in August. As for Piers, he had +taken the turn of affairs with a composure that had produced decided +differences between the Duke and himself; and he lingered in London +until he heard of the Squire's departure for the North. Then he sought +him with a definite purpose. "Squire," he said, "may I go back to +Exham in your company?" + +"I'll be glad if you do, Piers," was the answer. + +The young man laid his hand on the Squire's hand, and looked at him +steadily and entreatingly. "Squire, I am going away from England. Let me +see Kate before I go." + +"You are asking me to break my word, Piers." + +"The law of kindness may sometimes be greater than the law of truth; +the greatest of these is charity--is love. I love her so! I love her so +that I am only half alive without her. I do entreat you to have pity on +me--on us both! She loves me!" and Piers pleaded until the Squire's +eyes were full of tears. He could not resist words so hot from a true +and loving heart; and he finally said,-- + +"It may be that my word, and my pride in my word, are of less +consequence than the trouble of two suffering human hearts; Piers, +right or wrong, you may see Kitty. I am not sure I am doing right, but +I will risk the uncertainty--this time." + +However, if the Squire had any qualms of conscience on the subject, +they were driven away by Kitty's gratitude and delight. He arrived at +Atheling about the noon hour, and Kitty was the first to see and to +welcome him. She had been gathering cherries, and was coming through the +garden with her basket full of the crimson drupes, when he entered the +gates. She set the fruit on the ground, and ran to meet him, and took +him proudly in to her mother, and fussed over his many little comforts to +his heart's content and delight. + +Nothing was said about Piers until after dinner, which was hurried +forward at the Squire's request; but afterwards, when he sat at the open +casement smoking, he called Kate to him. He took her on his knee and +whispered, "Kate, there is somebody coming this afternoon." + +"Yes," she said, "we have sent word to Annie. She will be here." + +"I was not thinking of Annie. I was thinking of thee, my little maid. +There is somebody coming to see _thee_." + +"You can't mean Piers? Oh, Father, do you mean Piers?" + +"I do." + +Then she laid her cheek against his cheek. She kissed him over and over, +answering in low, soft speech, "Oh, my good Father! Oh, my dear Father! +Oh, Father, how I love you!" + +"Well, Kitty," he answered, "thou dost not throw thy love away. I love +thee, God knows it. Now run upstairs and don thy prettiest frock." + +"White or blue, Father?" + +"Well, Kitty," he answered, with a thoughtful smile, "I should +say white, and a red rose or two to match thy cheeks, and a few +forget-me-nots to match thy eyes. Bless my heart, Kitty! thou art lovely +enough any way. Stay with me." + +"No, Father, I will go away and come again still lovelier;" and she +sped like a bird upstairs. "It may be all wrong," muttered the Squire; +"but if it is, then I must say, wrong can make itself very agreeable." + +[Illustration] + +"_Piers is coming!_" That was the song in Kitty's heart, the refrain +to which her hands and feet kept busy until she stood before her glass +lovelier than words can paint, her exquisite form robed in white lawn, +her cheeks as fresh and blooming as the roses at her girdle, her eyes +as blue as the forget-me-nots in her hair, her whole heart in every +movement, glance, and word, thrilling with the delight of expectation, +and shining with the joy of loving. + +So Piers found her in the garden watching for his approach. And on +this happy afternoon, Nature was in a charming mood; she had made the +garden a Paradise for their meeting. The birds sang softly in the green +trees above them; the flowers perfumed the warm air they breathed; and +an atmosphere of inexpressible serenity encompassed them. After such +long absence, oh, how heavenly was this interview without fear, or +secrecy, or self-reproach, or suspicion of wrong-doing! How heavenly was +the long, sweet afternoon, and the social pleasure of the tea hour, +and the soft starlight night under the drooping gold of the laburnums +and the fragrant clusters of the damask roses! Even parting under such +circumstances was robbed of its sting; it was only "such sweet sorrow." +It was glorified by its trust and hope, and was without the shadow of +tears. + +Kitty came to her father when it was over; and her eyes were shining, +and there was a little sob in her heart; but she said only happy words. +With her arms around his neck she whispered, "Thank you, dear!" And +he answered, "Thou art gladly welcome! Right or wrong, thou art welcome, +Kitty. My dear little Kitty! He will come back; I know he will. A girl +that puts honour and duty before love, crowns them with love in the +end--always so, dear. That _is sure_. When will he be back?" + +"When the Duke and Duchess want him more than they want their own way. +He says disputing will do harm, and not good; but that if a difference +is left to the heart, the heart in the long run will get the best of +the argument. I am sure he is right. Father, he is going to send you +and mother long letters, and so I shall know where he is; and with the +joy of this meeting to keep in my memory, I am not going to fret and be +miserable." + +"That is right. That is the way to take a disappointment. Good things +are worth waiting for, eh, Kitty?" + +"And we shall have so much to interest us, Father. There is Edgar's +marriage coming; and it would not do to have two weddings in one year, +would it? Father, you like Piers? I am sure you do." + +"I would not have let him put a foot in Atheling to-day if I had not +liked him. He has been very good company for me in London, very good +company indeed--thoughtful and respectful. Yes, I like Piers." + +"Because--now listen, Father--because, much as I love Piers, I would +not be his wife for all England if you and mother did not like him." + +"Bless my heart, Kitty! Is not that saying a deal?" + +"No. It would be no more than justice. If you should force on me a +husband whom I despised or disliked, would I not think it very wicked +and cruel? Then would it not be just as wicked and cruel if I should +force on you a son-in-law whom you despised and disliked? There is not +one law of kindness for the parents, and another law, less kind, for +the daughter, is there?" + +"Thou art quite right, Kitty. The laws of the Home and the Family are +_equal_ laws. God bless thee for a good child." + +And, oh, how sweet were Kitty's slumbers that night! It is out of +earth's delightful things we form our visions of the world to come; and +Kate understood, because of her own pure, true, hopeful love, how "God +is love," and how, therefore, He would deny her any good thing. + +So the summer went its way, peacefully and happily. In the last days of +August, Edgar was married with great pomp and splendour; and afterwards +the gates of Gisbourne stood wide-open, and there were many signs and +promises of wonderful improvements and innovations. For the young +man was a born leader and organiser. He loved to control, and soon +devised means to secure what was so necessary to his happiness. The +Curzons had made their money in manufactures; and Annie approved of +such use of money. So very soon, at the upper end of Gisbourne, a great +mill, and a fine new village of cottages for its hands, arose as if by +magic,--a village that was to example and carry out all the ideas of +Reform. + +"Edgar is making a lot of trouble ready for himself," said the Squire +to his wife; "but Edgar can't live without a fight on hand. I'll +warrant that he gets more fighting than he bargains for; a few hundreds +of those Lancashire and Yorkshire operatives aren't as easy to manage +as he seems to think. They have 'reformed' their lawgivers; and they +are bound to 'reform' their masters next." + +The Squire had said little about this new influx into his peaceful +neighbourhood, but it had grieved his very soul; and his wife wondered at +his reticence, and one day she told him so. + +"Well, Maude," he answered, "when Edgar was one of my household, I had +the right to say this and that about his words and ways; but Edgar is now +Squire, and married man, and Member of Parliament. He is a Reformer too, +and bound to carry out his ideas; and, I dare say, his wife keeps the +bit in his mouth hard enough, without me pulling on it too. I have taken +notice, Maude, that these sweet little women are often very masterful." + +"I am sure his grandfather Belward would never have suffered that mill +chimney in his sight for any money." + +"Perhaps he could not have helped it." + +"Thou knowest different. My father always made everything go as he +wanted it. The Belwards know no other road but their own way." + +"I should think thou needest not tell me that. I have been learning it +for a quarter of a century." + +"Now, John! When I changed my name, I changed my way also. I have been +Atheling, and gone Atheling, ever since I was thy wife." + +"Pretty nearly, Maude. But Edgar's little, innocent-faced, gentle wife +will lead Edgar, Curzon way. She has done it already. Fancy an Atheling, +land lords for a thousand years, turning into a loom lord. Maude, it +hurts me; but then, it is a bit of Reform, I suppose." + +For all this interior dissatisfaction, the Squire and his son were good +friends and neighbours; and, in a kind of a way, the father approved +the changes made around him. They came gradually, and he did not have +to swallow the whole dose at once. Besides he had his daughter. And +Kitty never put him behind Gisbourne or any other cause. They were +constant companions. They threw their lines in the trout streams together +through the summer mornings; and in the winter, she was with him in +every hunting field. About the house, he heard her light foot and her +happy voice; and in the evenings, she read the papers to him, and helped +forward his grumble at Peel, or his anger at Cobbett. + +At not very long intervals there came letters to the Squire, or to +Mrs. Atheling, which made sunshine in the house for many days +afterwards,--letters from Boston, New York, Baltimore, Washington, +New Orleans, and finally from an outlandish place called Texas. Here +Piers seemed to have found the life he had been unconsciously +longing for. "The people were fighting," he said, "for Liberty: a +handful of Americans against the whole power of Mexico; fighting, not +in words--he was weary to death of words--but with the clang of iron on +iron, and the clash of steel against steel, as in the old world +battles." And he filled pages with glowing encomiums of General +Houston, and Colonels Bowie and Crockett, and their wonderful courage and +deeds. "And, oh, what a Paradise the land was! What sunshine! What +moonshine! What wealth of every good thing necessary for human +existence!" + +When such letters as these arrived, it was holiday at Atheling; it +was holiday in every heart there; and they were read, and re-read, and +discussed, till their far-away, wild life became part and parcel of +the calm, homely existence of this insular English manor. So the years +went by; and Kate grew to a glorious womanhood. All the promise of her +beauteous girlhood was amply redeemed. She was the pride of her county, +and the joy of all the hearts that knew her. And if she had hours of +restlessness and doubt, or any fears for Piers's safety, no one was +made unhappy by them. She never spoke of Piers but with hope, and with +the certainty of his return. She declared she was "glad that he should +have the experience of such a glorious warfare, one in which he had +made noble friends, and done valiant deeds. Her lover was growing in +such a struggle to his full stature." And, undoubtedly, the habit of +talking hopefully induces the habit of feeling hopefully; so there were +no signs of the love-lorn maiden about Kate Atheling, nor any fears +for her final happiness in Atheling Manor House. + +The fears and doubts and wretchedness were all in the gloomy castle of +Richmoor, where the Duke and Duchess lived only to bewail the dangers +of the country, and their deprivation of their son's society,--a +calamity they attributed also to Reform. Else, why would Piers have +gone straight to a wild land where outlawed men were also fighting +against legitimate authority. + +One evening, nearly four years after Piers had left England, the Duke +was crossing Belward Bents, and he met the Squire and his daughter, +leisurely riding together in the summer gloaming. He touched his hat, and +said, "Good-evening, Miss Atheling! Good-evening, Squire!" And the +Squire responded cheerfully, and Kate gave him a ravishing smile,--for +he was the father of Piers, accordingly she already loved him. There +was nothing further said, but each was affected by the interview; the +Duke especially so. When he reached his castle he found the Duchess +walking softly up and down the dim drawing-room, and she was weeping. His +heart ached for her. He said tenderly, as he took her hand,-- + +"Is it Piers, Julia?" + +"I am dying to see him," she answered, "to hear him speak, to have +him come in and out as he used to do. I want to feel the clasp of his +hand, and the touch of his lips. Oh, Richard, Richard, bring back my boy! +A word from you will do it." + +"My dear Julia, I have just met Squire Atheling and his daughter. +The girl has grown to a wonder of beauty. She is marvellous; I simply +never saw such a face. Last week I watched her in the hunting field +at Ashley. She rode like an Amazon; she was peerless among all the +beauties there. I begin to understand that Piers, having loved her, could +love no other woman; and I think we might learn to love her for Piers's +sake. What do you say, my dear? The house is terribly lonely. I miss +my son in business matters continually; and if he does not marry, the +children of my brother Henry come after him. He is in constant danger; he +is in a land where he must go armed day and night. Think of our son +living in a place like that! And his last letters have had such a tone +of home-sickness in them. Shall I see Squire Atheling, and ask him for +his daughter?" + +"Let him come and see you." + +"He will never do it." + +"Then see him, Richard. Anything, anything, that will give Piers back +to me." + +The next day the Duke was at Atheling, and what took place at that +interview, the Squire never quite divulged, even to his wife. "It was +very humbling to him," he said, "and I am not the man to brag about +it." To Kate nothing whatever was said. "Who knows just where Piers +is? and who can tell what might happen before he learns of the change +that has taken place?" asked the Squire. "Why should we toss Kitty's +mind hither and thither till Piers is here to quiet it?" + +In fact the Squire's idea was far truer than he had any conception +of. Piers was actually in London when the Duke's fatherly letter sent +to recall his self-banished son left for Texas. Indeed he was on his way +to Richmoor the very day that the letter was written. He came to it one +afternoon just before dinner. The Duchess was dressed and waiting for +the Duke and the daily ceremony of the hour. She stood at the window, +looking into the dripping garden, but really seeing nothing, not even +the plashed roses before her eyes. Her thoughts were in a country far +off; and she was wondering how long it would take Piers to answer their +loving letter. The door opened softly. She supposed it was the Duke, and +said, fretfully, "This climate is detestable, Duke. It has rained for +a week." + +"_Mother! Mother! Oh, my dear Mother!_" + +Then, with a cry of joy that rung through the lofty room, she turned, +and was immediately folded in the arms she longed for. And before her +rapture had time to express itself, the Duke came in and shared it. +They were not an emotional family; and high culture had relegated any +expression of feeling far below the tide of their daily life; but, for +once, Nature had her way with the usually undemonstrative woman. She +wept, and laughed, and talked, and exclaimed as no one had ever seen +or heard her since the days of her early girlhood. + +In the happy privacy of the evening hours, Piers told them over again +the wild, exciting story he had been living; and the Duke acknowledged +that to have aided in any measure such an heroic struggle was an event to +dignify life. "But now, Piers," he said, "now you will remain in your +own home. If you still wish to marry Miss Atheling, your mother and I +are pleased that you should do so. We will express this pleasure as +soon as you desire us. I wrote you to this effect; but you cannot +have received my letter, since it only left for Texas yesterday." + +"I am glad I have not received it," answered Piers. "I came home at +the call of my mother. It is true. I was sitting one night thinking +of many things. It was long past midnight, but the moonlight was so +clear I had been reading by it, and the mocking birds were thrilling +the air, far and wide, with melody. But far clearer, far sweeter, far +more pervading, I heard my mother's voice calling me. And I immediately +answered, 'I am coming, Mother!' Here I am. What must I do, now and +forever, to please you?" + +And she said, "Stay near me. Marry Miss Atheling, if you wish. I will +love her for your sake." + +And Piers kissed his answer on her lips, and then put his hand in his +father's hand. It was but a simple act; but it promised all that +fatherly affection could ask, and all that filial affection could give. + +Who that has seen in England a sunny morning after a long rain-storm +can ever forget the ineffable sweetness and freshness of the woods and +hills and fields? The world seemed as if it was just made over when Piers +left Richmoor for Atheling. A thousand vagrant perfumes from the spruce +and fir woods, from the moors and fields and gardens, wandered over the +earth. A gentle west wind was blowing; the sense of rejoicing was in +every living thing. The Squire and Kate had been early abroad. They +had had a long gallop, and were coming slowly through Atheling lane, +talking of Piers, though both of them believed Piers to be thousands of +miles away. They were just at the spot where he had passed them that +miserable night when his cry of "_Kate! Kate! Kate!_" had nearly +broken the girl's heart for awhile. She never saw the place without +remembering her lover, and sending her thoughts to find him out, wherever +he might be. And thus, at this place, there was always a little silence; +and the Squire comprehended, and respected the circumstance. + +This morning the silence, usually so perfect, was broken by the sound +of an approaching horseman; but neither the Squire nor Kate turned. They +simply withdrew to their side of the road, and went leisurely forward. + +"_Kate! Kate! Kate!_" + +The same words, but how different! They were full of impatient joy, of +triumphant hope and love. Both father and daughter faced round in the +moment, and then they saw Piers coming like the wind towards them. It was +a miracle. It was such a moment as could not come twice in any life-time. +It was such a meeting as defies the power of words; because our diviner +part has emotions that we have not yet got the speech and language to +declare. + +Imagine the joy in Atheling Manor House that night! The Squire had to +go apart for a little while; and tears of delight were in the good +mother's eyes as she took out her beautiful Derby china for the +welcoming feast. As for Kate and Piers, they were at last in earth's +Paradise. Their lives had suddenly come to flower; and there was no +canker in any of the blossoms. They had waited their full hour. And if +the angels in heaven rejoice over a sinner repenting, how much more +must they rejoice in our happiness, and sympathise in our innocent love! +Surely the guardian angels of Piers and Kate were satisfied. Their +dear charges had shown a noble restraint, and were now reaping the +joy of it. Do angels talk in heaven of what happens among the sons and +daughters of men whom they are sent to minister unto, to guide, and to +guard? If so, they must have talked of these lovers, so dutiful and +so true, and rejoiced in the joy of their renewed espousals. + +Their marriage quickly followed. In a few weeks Piers had made Exham +Hall a palace of splendour and beauty for his bride, and Kate's wedding +garments were all ready. And far and wide there was a most unusual +interest taken in these lovers, so that all the great county families +desired and sought for invitations to the marriage ceremony, and the +little church of Atheling could hardly contain the guests. Even to this +day it is remembered that nearly one hundred gentlemen of the North +Riding escorted the bride from Atheling to Exham. + +But at last every social duty had been fulfilled, and they sat alone in +the gloaming, with their great love, and their great joy. And as they +spoke of the days when this love first began, Kate reminded Piers of the +swing in the laurel walk, and her girlish rhyming,-- + + "It may so happen, it may so fall, + That I shall be Lady of Exham Hall." + +And Piers drew her beautiful head closer to his own, and added,-- + + "Weary wishing, and waiting past, + _Lady of Exham Hall_ at last!" + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEENTH + +AFTER TWENTY GOLDEN YEARS + + +After twenty years have passed away, it is safe to ask if events have +been all that they promised to be; and one morning in August of 1857, +it was twenty years since Kate Atheling became Lady Exham. She was +sitting at a table writing letters to her two eldest sons, who were with +their tutor in the then little known Hebrides. Lord Exham was busy +with his mail. They were in a splendid room, opening upon a lawn, soft +and green beyond description; and the August sunshine and the August +lilies filled it with warmth and fragrance. Lady Exham was even more +beautiful than on her wedding day. Time had matured without as yet +touching her wonderful loveliness, and motherhood had crowned it with +a tender and bewitching nobility. She had on a gown of lawn and lace, +white as the flowers that hung in clusters from the Worcester vase at +her side. Now and then Piers lifted his head and watched her for a +moment; and then, with the faint, happy smile of a heart full and at +ease, he opened another letter or paper. Suddenly he became a little +excited. "Why, Kate," he said, "here is my speech on the blessings +which Reform has brought to England. I did not expect such a thing." + +"Read it to me, Piers." + +"It is entirely too long; although I only reviewed some of the notable +works that followed Reform." + +"Such as--" + +"Well, the abolition of both black and white slavery; the breaking +up of the gigantic monopoly of the East India Company, and the throwing +open of our ports to the merchants of the world; the inauguration of +a system of national education; the reform of our cruel criminal code; +the abolition of the press gang, and of chimney sweeping by little +children, and such brutalities; the postal reform; and the spread of +such good, cheap literature as the _Penny Magazine_ and _Chambers's +Magazine_. My dear Kate, it would require a book to tell all that the +Reform Bill has done for England. Think of the misery of that last two +years' struggle, and look at our happy country to-day." + +"Prosperous, but not happy, Piers. How can we be happy when, all over +the land, mothers are weeping because their children are not. If this +awful Sepoy rebellion was only over; then!" + +"Yes," answered Piers; "if it was only over! Surely there never was +a war so full of strange, unnatural cruelties. I wonder where Cecil and +Annabel are." + +"Wherever they are, I am sure both of them will be in the way of honour +and duty." + +There was a pause, and then Piers asked, "To whom are you writing, dear +Kate?" + +"To Dick and John. They do not want to return to their studies this +winter; they wish to travel in Italy." + +"Nonsense! They must go through college before they travel. Tell them +so." + +The Duke had entered as Piers was speaking, and he listened to his +remark. Then, even as he stooped to kiss Kate, he contradicted it. "I +don't think so, Piers," he said decisively. "Let the boys go. Give +them their own way a little. I do not like to see such spirited youths +snubbed for a trifle." + +"But this is not a trifle, Father." + +"Yes, it is." + +"You insisted on my following the usual plan of college first, and +travel afterwards." + +"That was before the days of Reform. The boys are my grandsons. I think +I ought to decide on a question of this kind. What do you say, my dear?" +and he turned his kindly face, with its crown of snowy hair, to Kate. + +"It is to be as you say, Father," she answered. "Is there any Indian +news?" + +"Alas! Alas!" he answered, becoming suddenly very sorrowful, "there +is calamitous news,--the fort in which Colonel North was shut up, has +fallen; and Cecil and Annabel are dead." + +"Oh, not massacred! Do not tell us _that_!" cried Kate, covering her +ears with her hands. + +"Not quite as bad. A Sepoy who was Cecil's orderly, and much attached +to him, has been permitted to bring us the terrible news, with some +valuable gems and papers which Annabel confided to him. He told me +that Cecil held out wonderfully; but it was impossible to send him help. +Their food and ammunition were gone; and the troops, who were mainly +Sepoys, were ready to open the gates to the first band of rebels that +approached. One morning, just at daybreak, Cecil knew the hour had +come. Annabel was asleep; but he awakened her. She had been expecting the +call for many days; and, when Cecil spoke, she knew it was death. But +she rose smiling, and answered, 'I am ready, Love.' He held her close +to his breast, and they comforted and strengthened one another until +the tramp of the brutes entering the court was heard. Then Annabel +closed her eyes, and Cecil sent a merciful bullet through the brave +heart that had shared with him, for twenty-five years, every trial and +danger. Her last words were, 'Come quickly, Cecil,' and he followed +her in an instant. The man says he hid their bodies, and they were not +mutilated. But the fort was blown up and burned; and, in this case, the +fiery solution was the best." + +"And her children?" whispered Kate. + +"The boys are at Rugby. The little girl died some weeks ago." + +The Duke was much affected. He had loved Annabel truly, and her tragic +death powerfully moved him. "The Duchess," he said, "had wept herself +ill; and he had promised her to return quickly." But as he went away, +he turned to charge Piers and Kate not to disappoint his grandsons. +"They are such good boys," he added; "and it is not a great matter +to let them go to Italy, if they want to--only send Stanhope with them." + +No further objection was then made. Kate had learned that it is folly +to oppose things yet far away, and which are subject to a thousand +unforeseen influences. When the time for decision came, Dick and John +might have changed their wishes. So she only smiled a present assent, +and then let her thoughts fly to the lonely fort where Cecil and Annabel +had suffered and conquered the last great enemy. For a few minutes, +Piers was occupied in the same manner; and when he spoke, it was in the +soft, reminiscent voice which memory--especially sad memory--uses. + +"It is strange, Kate," he said, "but I remember Annabel predicting +this end for herself. We were sitting in the white-and-gold parlour +in the London House, where I had found her playing with the cat in a +very merry mood. Suddenly she imagined the cat had scratched her, and +she spread out her little brown hand, and looked for the wound. There +was none visible; but she pointed to a certain spot at the base of her +finger, and said, '>Look, Piers. There is the sign of my doom,--my +death-token. I shall perish in fire and blood.' Then she laughed and +quickly changed the subject, and I did not think it worth pursuing. +Yet it was in her mind, for a few minutes afterwards, she opened her +hand again, held it to the light, and added, 'An old Hindoo priest +told me this. He said our death-warrant was written on our palms, and we +brought it into life with us.'" + +"You should have contradicted that, Piers." + +"I did. I told her, our death-warrant was in the Hand of Him with whom +alone are the issues of life and death." + +"She was haunted by the prophecy," said Kate. "She often spoke of it. +Oh, Piers, how merciful is the veil that hides our days to come!" + +"I feel wretched. Let us go to Atheling; it will do us good." + +"It is very warm yet, Piers." + +"Never mind, I want to see the children. The house is too still. They +have been at Atheling for three days." + +"We promised them a week. Harold will expect the week; and Edith and +Maude will rebel at any shorter time." + +"At any rate let us go and see them." + +"Shall we ride there?" + +"Let us rather take a carriage. One of the three may possibly be willing +to come back with us." + +Near the gates of Atheling they met the Squire and his grandson Harold. +They had been fishing. "The dew was on the grass when we went away; +and Harold has been into the water after the trout. We are both a bit +wet," said the Squire; "but our baskets are full." And then Harold +leaped into the carriage beside his father and mother, and proudly +exhibited his speckled beauties. + +Mrs. Atheling had heard their approach, and she was at the open door +to meet them. Very little change had taken place in her. Her face was +a trifle older, but it was finer and tenderer; and her smile was as +sweet and ready, and her manner as gracious--though perhaps a shade +quieter than in the days when we first met her. Her granddaughter Edith, +a girl of eight years, stood at her side; and Maude, a charming babe of +four, clung to her black-silk apron, and half-hid her pretty face in its +sombre folds. To her mother, Kate was still Kate; and to Kate, mother was +still mother. They went into the house together, little Maude making +a link between them, and Edith holding her mother's hand. But, in the +slight confusion following their arrival, the children all disappeared. + +"They were helping Bradley to make tarts," said Mrs. Atheling, "when +I called them, and they have gone back to their pastry and jam. Let them +alone. Dear me! I remember how proud I was when I first cut pastry +round the patty pans with my thumb," and Mrs. Atheling looked at Kate, +who smiled and nodded at her own similar memory. + +They were soon seated in the large parlour, where all the windows were +open, and a faint little breeze stirring the cherry leaves round them. +Then the Squire began to talk of the Indian news; and Piers told, with +a pitiful pathos, the last tragic act in Cecil's and Annabel's love +and life. And when he had finished the narration, greatly to every +one's amazement, the Squire rose to his feet, and, lifting his eyes +heavenward, said solemnly,-- + +"I give hearty thanks for their death, so noble and so worthy of their +faith and their race. I give hearty thanks because God, knowing their +hearts and their love, committed unto them the dismissing of their own +souls from the wanton cruelty of incarnate devils. I give hearty thanks +for Love triumphant over Death, and for that faith in our immortality +which could command an immediate re-union, 'Come quickly, Cecil!' + +"There is nothing to cry about," he added, as he resumed his seat. +"Death must come to all of us. It came mercifully to these two. It did +not separate them; they went together. Somewhere in God's Universe they +are now, without doubt, doing His Will together. Let us give thanks for +them." + +After a little while, Kate and her mother went away. They had many things +to talk over about which masculine opinions were not necessary, nor +even desirable. And the Squire and Piers had, in a certain way, a similar +confidence. Indeed the Squire told Piers many things he would not have +told any one else,--little wrongs and worries not worth complaining +about to his wife, and perhaps about which he was not very certain of +her sympathy. But with Piers, these crept into his conversation, and were +talked away, or at least considerably lessened, by his son-in-law's +patient interest. + +This morning their conversation had an unconscious tone of gratified +prophecy in it. "Edgar is in a lot of trouble," he said; "but then +he seems to enjoy it. His hands gathered in the mill-yard yesterday +and gave him what they call, 'a bit of their mind.' And their 'mind' +isn't what you and I would call a civil one. Luke Staley, a big dyer +from Oldham, got beyond bearing, and told Edgar, if he didn't do +thus and so, he would be made to. And Edgar can be very provoking. He +didn't tell me what he said; but I have no doubt it was a few of the +strongest words he could pick out. And Luke Staley, not having quite such +a big private stock as Edgar, doubled his fist, to make the shortage +good, almost in Edgar's face; and there would have, maybe, been a few +blows, if Edgar had not taken very strong measures at once,--that is, +Piers, he knocked the fellow down as flat as a pancake. And then all +was so still that, Edgar said, the very leaves rustling seemed noisy; and +he told them in his masterful way, they could have five minutes to get +back to their looms. And if they were not back in five minutes, he +promised them he would dump the fires and lock the gates, and they +could go about their business." + +"And they went to their looms, of course?" + +"To be sure they did. More than that, Luke Staley picked himself up, +and went civilly to Edgar and said, 'That was a good knock-down. I'm +beat this time, Master;' and he offered his hand, blue and black with +dyes, and Edgar took it. My word! how his grandfather Belward would have +enjoyed that scene. I am sorry he is not alive this day. He missed a +deal by dying before Reform. Edgar and he together could keep a thousand +men at their looms--and set the price, too." + +"What did the men want?" + +"A bit of Reform, of course,--more wage and less work. I am not much +put out of the way now, Piers, with the mill. I get a lot of pleasure +out of it, one road or another. Did I ever tell you about the Excursion +Edgar gave them last week?" + +"I have not heard anything about it." + +"Well, you see, Edgar sent all his hands and their wives and sweethearts +to the seaside, and gave them a good dinner; and they had a band of +music to play for them, and a little steamer to give them a sail; and +they came home at midnight, singing and in high good humour. Edgar +thought he had pleased them. Not a bit of it! Two nights after they +held a meeting in that Mechanics Hall Mrs. Atheling built for them. What +for? To talk over the jaunt, and try and find out, '_What Master +Atheling was up to_.' You see they were sure he had a selfish motive of +some kind." + +"I don't believe he had a single selfish motive; he is not a selfish +man," said Piers. + +"I wouldn't swear to his motives, Piers. Between you and me, he wants +to go to Parliament again." + +"He ought to be there; it is his native heath, in a manner." + +"Well, as I said, one way or another, I get a lot of pleasure out of +these men. There is a truce on now between them and Edgar; but, in the +main, it is a lively truce." + +"Edgar seems to enjoy the conditions, also, Father." + +"Well, he ought to have a bit of something that pleases him. He has a +deal of contrary things to fight. There is his eldest son." + +"Augustus?" + +"Yes, Augustus." + +"What has Augustus done?" + +"He will paint pictures and make little figures, and waste his time +about such things as no Atheling in this world ever bothered his head +about,--unless he wanted his likeness painted. The lad does wonders +with his colours and brushes, and I'll allow that. He brought me a +bit of canvas with that corner by the fir woods on it, and you would +have thought you could pull the grass and drink the water. But I did not +think it right to praise him much. I said, 'Very good, Augustus, but +what will you make by this?'" + +"Well?" + +"Well, Piers, the lad talked about his ideals, and said Art was its +own reward, and a lot of rubbishy nonsense. But I never expected much +from a boy called Augustus. That was his mother's whim; no Atheling +was ever called such a name before. He wants to go to Italy, and his +father wants him in the mill. Edgar is finding a few things out now he +didn't believe in when he was twenty years old. The point of view is +everything, Piers. Edgar looks at things as a father looks at them now; +then, he had an idea that fathers knew next to nothing. Augustus is no +worse than he was. Maybe, he will come to looms yet; he is just like +the Curzons, and they were loom lovers. Now Cecil, his second boy, has +far better notions. He likes a rod, and a horse, and a gun; and he +thinks a gamekeeper has the best position in the world." + +"Mrs. Atheling sets us all an example. She is always doing something +for the people." + +"They don't thank her for it. She brings lecturers, and expects them +to go and hear them; and the men would rather be in the cricket field. +She has classes of all kinds for the women and girls; and they don't +want her interfering in their ways and their houses. I'll tell you +what it is, Piers, you cannot write Reform upon flesh and blood as +easy as you can write it upon paper. It will take a few generations +to erase the old marks, and put the new marks on." + +"Still Reform has been a great blessing. You know that, Father." + +"Publicly, I know it, Piers. Privately, I keep my own ideas. But there +is Kate calling us, and I see the carriage is waiting. Thank God, Reform +has nothing to do with homes. Wives and children are always the same. +We don't want them changed, even for the better." + +"You do not mean that?" + +"Yes, I do," said the Squire, positively. "My wife's faults are very +dear to me. Do you think I would like to miss her bits of tempers, and +her unreasonableness? Even when she tries to get the better of me, I like +it. I wouldn't have her perfect, not if I could." + +Then Piers called for his son; but Harold could not be found. The Squire +laughed. "He has run away," he said. "The boy wants a holiday. I'll +take good care of him. He isn't doing nothing; he is learning to catch a +trout. Many a very clever man can't catch a trout." Then Piers asked +his little daughters to come home with him; and Edith hid herself behind +the ample skirts of her grandfather's coat, and Maude lifted her arms +to her grandmother, and snuggled herself into her bosom. + +[Illustration:] + +"Come, Piers, we shall have to go home alone," Kate said. + +"You have Katherine at home," said the Squire. + +And then Kate laughed. "Why, Father," she said, "you speak as if +Katherine was more than we ought to expect. Surely we may have one of +our six children. The Duke thinks he has whole and sole right in Dick +and John; and you have Harold and Edith and Maude." + +"And you have Katherine," reiterated the Squire. + +When they got back to Exham Hall, the little Lady Katherine was in +the drawing-room to meet them. She was the eldest daughter of the +house, a fair girl of fifteen with her father's refined face and rather +melancholy manner. Piers delighted in her; and there was a sympathy +between them that needed no words. She had a singular love for music, +though from what ancestor it had come no one could tell; and it was +her usual custom after dinner to open the door a little between the +drawing-room and music-room, and play her various studies, while her +father and mother mused, and talked, and listened. + +This evening Piers lit his cigar, and Kate and he walked in the garden. +It was warm, and still, and full of moonshine; and the music rose and +fell to their soft reminiscent talk of the many interests that had +filled their lives for the past twenty golden years. And when they were +wearied a little, they came back to the drawing-room and were quiet. For +Katherine was striking the first notes of a little melody that always +charmed them; and as they listened, her girlish voice lifted the song, +and the tender words floated in to them, and sunk into their hearts, and +became a prayer of thanksgiving. + + "We have lived and loved together, + Through many changing years; + We have shared each other's gladness, + And wept each other's tears." + +And while Kate's face illuminated the words, Piers leaned forward, and +took both her hands in his, and whispered with far tenderer, truer love +than in the old days of his first wooing. + +And if any thought of The Other One entered his mind at this hour, it +came with a thanksgiving for a life nobly redeemed by a pure, unselfish +love, and a death which was at once sacrificial and sacramental. + + + Transcriber's Note: + + Spelling and punctuation inaccuracies were silently corrected. + Archaic and variable spelling is preserved. + Author's punctuation style is preserved. + Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). + The Table of Contents lists Chapter Sixteenth starting on Page 341. + The physical page is actually Page 340. It has been left as printed. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of I, Thou, and the Other One, by +Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK I, THOU, AND THE OTHER ONE *** + +***** This file should be named 34628.txt or 34628.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/6/2/34628/ + +Produced by Katherine Ward, Darleen Dove and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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