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diff --git a/old/7nutt10.txt b/old/7nutt10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..37e2181 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/7nutt10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14028 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Nuttie's Father +by Charlotte M. Yonge +(#14 in our series by Charlotte M. Yonge) + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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There was a Modern School for the boys, and +a High School for the girls, and a School of Art, and a School of +Cookery, and National Schools, and a British School, and a Board +School, also churches of every height, chapels of every denomination, +and iron mission rooms budding out in hopes to be replaced by +churches. + +Like one of the animals which zoologists call radiated, the town was +constantly stretching out fresh arms along country roads, all living +and working, and gradually absorbing the open spaces between. One of +these arms was known as St. Ambrose's Road, in right of the church, +an incomplete structure in yellow brick, consisting of a handsome +chancel, the stump of a tower, and one aisle just weather-tight and +usable, but, by its very aspect, begging for the completion of the +beautiful design that was suspended above the alms-box. + +It was the evening of a summer day which had been very hot. The +choir practice was just over, and the boys came out trooping and +chattering; very small ones they were; for as soon as they began to +sing tolerably they were sure to try to get into the choir of the old +church, which had a foundation that fed, clothed, taught, and finally +apprenticed them. So, though the little fellows were clad in +surplices and cassocks, and sat in the chancel for correctness sake, +there was a space round the harmonium reserved for the more +trustworthy band of girls and young women who came forth next, +followed by four or five mechanics. + +Behind came the nucleus of the choir--a slim, fair-haired youth of +twenty; a neat, precise, well-trimmed man, closely shaven, with +stooping shoulders, at least fifteen years older, with a black poodle +at his heels, as well shorn as his master, newly risen from lying +outside the church door; a gentle, somewhat drooping lady in black, +not yet middle-aged and very pretty; a small eager, unformed, black- +eyed girl, who could hardly keep back her words for the outside of +the church door; a tall self-possessed handsome woman, with a fine +classical cast of features; and lastly, a brown-faced, wiry +hardworking clergyman, without an atom of superfluous flesh, but with +an air of great energy. + +'Oh! vicar, where are we to go?' was the question so eager to break +forth. + +'Not to the Crystal Palace, Nuttie. The funds won't bear it. Mr. +Dutton says we must spend as little as possible on locomotion.' + +'I'm sure I don't care for the Crystal Palace. A trumpery tinsel +place, all shams.' + +'Hush, hush, my dear, not so loud,' said the quiet lady; but Nuttie +only wriggled her shoulders, though her voice was a trifle lowered. +'If it were the British Museum now, or Westminster Abbey.' + +'Or the Alps,' chimed in a quieter voice, 'or the Ufizzi.' + +'Now, Mr. Dutton, that's not what I want. Our people aren't ready +for that, but what they have let it be real. Miss Mary, don't you +see what I mean?' + +'Rather better than Miss Egremont herself,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Well,' said the vicar, interposing in the wordy war, 'Mrs. +Greenleaf's children have scarlatina, so we can't go to Horton +Bishop. The choice seems to be between South Beach and Monks +Horton.' + +'That's no harm,' cried Nuttie; 'Mrs. Greenleaf is so patronising!' + +'And both that and South Beach are so stale,' said the youth. + +'As if the dear sea could ever be stale,' cried the young girl. + +'I thought Monks Horton was forbidden ground,' said Miss Mary. + +'So it was with the last regime', said the vicar; 'but now the new +people are come I expect great things from them. I hear they are +very friendly.' + +'I expect nothing from them,' said Nuttie so sententiously that all +her hearers laughed and asked 'her exquisite reason,' as Mr. Dutton +put it. + +'Lady Kirkaldy and a whole lot of them came into the School of Art.' + +'And didn't appreciate "Head of Antinous by Miss Ursula Egremont,"' +was the cry that interrupted her, but she went on with dignity +unruffled--'Anything so foolish and inane as their whole talk and all +their observations I never heard. "I don't like this style," one of +them said. "Such ugly useless things! I never see anything pretty +and neatly finished such as we used to do."' The girl gave it in a +tone of mimicry of the nonchalant voice, adding, with fresh +imitation, "'And another did not approve of drawing from the life-- +models might be such strange people."' + +'My ears were not equally open to their profanities,' said Miss Mary. +'I confess that I was struck by the good breeding and courtesy of the +leader of the party, who, I think, was Lady Kirkaldy herself.' + +'I saw! I thought she was patronising you, and my blood boiled!' +cried Nuttie. + +'Will boiling blood endure a picnic in the park of so much ignorance, +folly, and patronage?' asked Mr. Dutton. + +'Oh, indeed, Mr. Dutton, Nuttie never said that,' exclaimed gentle +Mrs. Egremont. + +'Whether it is fully worth the doing is the question,' said the +vicar. + +'Grass and shade do not despise,' said Miss Mary. + +'There surely must be some ecclesiastical remains,' said the young +man. + +'And there is a river,' added the vicar. + +'I shall get a stickleback for my aquarium,' cried Nuttie. 'We shall +make some discoveries for the Scientific Society. I shall note down +every individual creature I see! I say! you are sure it is not a +sham waterfall or Temple of Tivoli?' + +'It would please the choir boys and G. F. S. girls quite as much, if +not more, in that case,' said Miss Mary; 'but you need not expect +that, Nuttie. Landscape-gardening is gone by.' + +'Even with the county people?' said Nuttie. + +'By at least half a century,' said Mr. Dutton, 'with all deference to +this young lady's experience.' + +'It was out of their own mouths,' cried the girl defiantly. 'That's +all I know about county people, and so I hope it will be.' + +'Come in, my dear, you are talking very fast,' interposed Mrs. +Egremont, with some pain in the soft sweet voice, which, if it had +been a little stronger, would have been the best in the choir. + +These houses in St. Ambrose's Road were semi-detached. The pair +which the party had reached had their entrances at the angles, with a +narrow gravel path leading by a tiny grass plat to each. One, which +was covered with a rich pall of purple clematis, was the home of Mrs. +Egremont, her aunt, and Nuttie; the other, adorned with a Gloire de +Dijon rose in second bloom, was the abode of Mary Nugent, with her +mother, the widow of a naval captain. Farther on, with adjoining +gardens, was another couple of houses, in one of which lived Mr. +Dutton; in the other lodged the youth, Gerard Godfrey, together with +the partner of the principal medical man. The opposite neighbours +were a master of the Modern School and a scholar. Indeed, the saying +of the vicar, the Rev. Francis Spyers, was, and St. Ambrose's Road +was proud of it, that it was a professional place. Every one had +something to do either with schools or umbrellas, scarcely excepting +the doctor and the solicitor, for the former attended the pupils and +the latter supplied them. Mr. Dutton was a partner in the umbrella +factory, and lived, as the younger folk said, as the old bachelor of +the Road. Had he not a housekeeper, a poodle, and a cat; and was not +his house, with lovely sill boxes full of flowers in the windows, the +neatest of the neat; and did not the tiny conservatory over his +dining-room window always produce the flowers most needed for the +altar vases, and likewise bouquets for the tables of favoured ladies. +Why, the very daisies never durst lift their heads on his little +lawn, which even bore a French looking-glass globe in the centre. +Miss Nugent, or Miss Mary as every one still called her, as her elder +sister's marriage was recent, was assistant teacher at the School of +Art, and gave private drawing lessons, so as to supplement the +pension on which her mother lived. They also received girls as +boarders attending the High School. + +So did Miss Headworth, who had all her life been one of those people +who seem condemned to toil to make up for the errors or disasters of +others. First she helped to educate a brother, and soon he had died +to leave an orphan daughter to be bred up at her cost. The girl had +married from her first situation; but had almost immediately lost her +husband at sea, and on this her aunt had settled at Micklethwayte to +make a home for her and her child, at first taking pupils, but when +the High School was set up, changing these into boarders; while Mrs. +Egremont went as daily governess to the children of a family of +somewhat higher pretensions. Little Ursula, or Nuttie, as she was +called, according to the local contraction, was like the child of all +the party, and after climbing up through the High School to the last +form, hoped, after passing the Cambridge examination, to become a +teacher there in another year. + + + + + +CHAPTER II. +MONKS HORTON. + + + + +'And we will all the pleasures prove, +By shallow rivers, by whose falls +Melodious birds sing madrigals.'--Old Ballad. + + +It was holiday-time, and liberties were taken such as were not +permissible, when they might have afforded a bad precedent to the +boarders. Therefore, when two afternoons later Mary Nugent, +returning from district visiting, came out into her garden behind the +house, she was not scandalised to see a pair of little black feet +under a holland skirt resting on a laurel branch, and going a few +steps more she beheld a big shady hat, and a pair of little hands +busy with a pencil and a blank book; as Ursula sat on the low wall +between the gardens, shaded by the laburnum which facilitated the +ascent on her own side. + +'Oh Miss Mary! Delicious! Come up here! You don't know how +charming this is.' + +She moved aside so as to leave the ascent--by an inverted flower-pot +and a laurel branch--open to her friend, thus knocking down one of +the pile of books which she had taken to the top of the wall. Miss +Nugent picked it up, 'Marie Stuart! Is this your way of studying +her?' + +'Now, you know 'tis holiday time, and volunteer work; besides, she +was waiting for you, and I could not help doing this.' She held out +a hand, which was scarcely needed, and Mary sprang lightly to share +her perch upon the wall. 'Look here!' + +'Am I to guess the subject as in the game of historic outlines,' said +Miss Nugent, as the book was laid on her lap. 'It looks like a +modern--no, a mediaeval--edition of Marcus Curtius about to leap into +the capital opening for a young man, only with his dogs instead of +his horse. That hound seems very rationally to object.' + +'Now don't! Guess in earnest.' + +'A compliment to your name. The Boy of Egremont, poor fellow, just +about to bound across the strid.' + +'Exactly! I always feel sure that my father must have done something +like this.' + +'Was it so heroic?' said Miss Mary. 'You know it was for the +hundredth time, and he had no reason to expect any special danger.' + +'Oh, but his mother was waiting, and he had to go. Now, I'll tell +you how it must have been with my father. You know he sailed away in +a yacht before I was born, and poor mother never saw him again; but I +know what happened. There was a ship on fire like the Birkenhead, +and the little yacht went near to pick up the people, and my father +called out, like Sir Humphrey Gilbert-- + + + "Do not fear, Heaven is as near + By water as by land." + + +And the little yacht was so close when the great ship blew up that it +got sucked down in the whirlpool, and rescuers and all died a noble +death together!' + +'Has your mother been telling you?' asked Miss Mary. + +'Oh no! she never mentions him. She does not know. No one does; but +I am quite sure he died nobly, with no one to tell the tale, only the +angels to look on, and that makes it all the finer. Or just suppose +he was on a desert island all the time, and came back again to find +us! I sometimes think he is.' + +'What? When you are _quite sure_ of the other theory?' + +'I mean I am quite sure while I am thinking about it, or reading +Robinson Crusoe, or the Swiss Family.' + +'Oh!' + +'Miss Mary, has no one ever told you anything about my father?' + +'No one.' + +'They never tell me. Mother cries, and aunt Ursula puts on her +"there's-an-end-of-it look." Do you think there is anything they are +waiting to tell me till I am older?' + +'If there were, I am sure you had better not try to find it out +beforehand.' + +'You don't think I would do anything of _that sort?_ But I thought +you might know. Do you remember their first settling here?' + +'Scarcely. I was a very small child then.' + +Miss Nugent had a few vague recollections which she did not think it +expedient to mention. A dim remembrance rose before her of +mysterious whisperings about that beautiful young widow, and that it +had been said that the rector of the Old Church had declared himself +to know the ladies well, and had heartily recommended them. She +thought it wiser only to speak of having been one of their first +scholars, telling of the awe Miss Headworth inspired; but the +pleasure it was to bring a lesson to pretty Mrs. Egremont, who always +rewarded a good one with a kiss, 'and she was so nice to kiss--yes, +and is.' + +'Aunt Ursel and mother both were governesses,' continued the girl, +'and yet they don't want me to go out. They had rather I was a +teacher at the High School.' + +'They don't want to trust their Little Bear out in the world.' + +'I think it is more than that,' said the girl. 'I can't help +thinking that he--my father--must have been some one rather grand, +with such a beautiful name as Alwyn Piercefield Egremont. Yes; I +know it was that, for I saw my baptismal certificate when I stood for +the scholarship; it was Dieppe,--Ursula Alice, daughter of Alwyn +Piercefield and Alice Elizabeth Egremont, May 15, 1860. James +Everett--I think he was the chaplain at Dieppe.' + +Mary Nugent thought it the wisest way to laugh and say: 'You, of all +people in the world, to want to make out a connection with the +aristocracy!' + +'True love is different,' said Ursula. 'He must have been cast off +by his family for her sake, and have chosen poverty-- + + + "To make the croon a pund, my Alwyn gaed to sea, + And the croon and the pund, they were baith for me."' + + +Miss Mary did not think a yacht a likely place for the conversion of +a croon into a pound, and the utter silence of mother and aunt did +not seem to her satisfactory; but she feared either to damp the +youthful enthusiasm for the lost father, or to foster curiosity that +might lead to some painful discovery, so she took refuge in an +inarticulate sound. + +'I think Mr. Dutton knows,' proceeded Nuttie. + +'You don't mean to ask him?' + +'Catch me! I know how he would look at me.' + +'Slang! A forfeit!' + +'Oh, it's holiday time, and the boarders can't hear. There's Mr. +Dutton's door!' + +This might in one way be a relief to Miss Nugent, but she did not +like being caught upon the wall, and therefore made a rapid descent, +though not without a moment's entanglement of skirt, which delayed +her long enough to show where she had been, as Mr. Dutton was at the +same moment advancing to his own wall on the opposite side of the +Nugent garden. Perhaps he would have pretended to see nothing but +for Nuttie's cry of glee. + +'You wicked elf,' said Miss Mary, 'to inveigle people into +predicaments, and then go shouting ho! ho! ho! like Robin Goodfellow +himself.' + +'You should have kept your elevation and dignity like me,' retorted +Ursula; 'and then you would have had the pleasure of seeing Mr. +Dutton climbing his wall and coming to our feet.' + +'Mischievous elves deserve no good news,' said Mr. Dutton, who was by +no means so venerable that the crossing the wall was any effort or +compromise of dignity, and who had by this time joined Mary on her +grass plat. + +'Oh, what is it! Are we to go to Monks Horton?' cried Nuttie. + +'Here is a gracious permission from Lord Kirkaldy, the only +stipulations being that no vestiges of the meal, such as sandwich +papers or gooseberry skins, be left on the grass; and that nobody +does any mischief,' he added in an awful tone of personality. 'So if +I see anybody rooting up holly trees I shall be bound to interfere.' + +'Now, Mr. Dutton, it was only a baby holly in a chink.' + +'Only a holly tree! Just like the giant's daughter when she only +carried off waggon, peasant, oxen, and all in her pinafore.' + +'It is not longer than my finger now!' + +'Well, remember, mischief either wanton or scientific is forbidden. +You are to set an example to the choir-boys.' + +'Scientific mischief is a fatal thing to rare plants,' said Mary. + +'If I'm not to touch anything, I may as well stay at home,' pouted +Nuttie. + +'You may gather as many buttercups and daisies as the sweet child +pleases,' said Mr. Dutton; whereupon she threatened to throw her +books at his head. + +Miss Nugent asked how they were to go, and Mr. Dutton explained that +there was only a quarter of a mile's walk from the station; that +return tickets would be furnished at a tariff of fourpence a head; +and that there would be trains at 1.15 and 7.30. + +'How hungry the children will be.' + +'They will eat all the way. That's the worst of this sort of outing. +They eat to live and live to eat.' + +'At least they don't eat at church,' said Nuttie. + +'Not since the peppermint day, when Mr. Spyers suspended Dickie +Drake,' put in Mary. + +And the Spa Terrace Church people said it was incense.' + +'No. Nuttie!' + +'Indeed they did. Louisa Barnet attacked us about it at school, and +I said I wished it had been. Only they mustn't eat peppermint in the +train, for it makes mother quite ill.' + +'Do you mean that Mrs. Egremont will come?' exclaimed Mr. Dutton. + +'Oh yes, she shall. It is not too far, and it will be very good for +her. I shall make her.' + +'There's young England's filial duty!' said Mary. + +'Why, I know what is good for her, and she always does as "I wish."' + +'Beneficent despotism!' said Mr. Dutton. 'May I ask if Miss +Headworth is an equally obedient subject.' + +'Oh! Aunt Ursel is very seldom tiresome.' + +'Nuttie! Nuttie! my dear,' and a head with the snows of more than +half a century appeared on the other side of the wall, under a cap +and parasol. 'I am sorry to interrupt you, but it is cool enough for +your mother to go into the town, and I wish you to go with her.' + + + + + +CHAPTER III. +HEIR HUNTING. + + + + +'And she put on her gown of green, + And left her mother at sixteen, + To marry Peter Bell!'--WORDSWORTH. + + +In the shrubberies of Monks Horton were walking a lady somewhat past +middle age, but full of activity and vigour, with one of those bright +faces that never grow old, and with her a young man, a few years over +twenty, with a grave and almost careworn countenance. + +More and more confidential waxed the conversation, for the lady was +making fresh acquaintance with a nephew seldom seen since he had been +her pet and darling as almost a baby, and he was experiencing the +inexpressible charm of tone and manner that recalled the young mother +he had lost in early boyhood. + +'Then your mind is made up,' she said; 'you are quite right to decide +on having a profession; but how does your father take it?' + +'He is quite convinced that to repeat my uncle's life, dangling on as +heir, would be the most fatal mistake.' + +'Assuredly, and all the legal knowledge you acquire is so much in +favour of your usefulness as the squire.' + +'If I ever am the squire, of which I have my doubts.' + +'You expect Mr. Egremont to marry?' + +'Not a future marriage, but one in the past.' + +'A private marriage! Do you suspect it?' + +'I don't suspect it--I know it. I have been hoping to talk the +matter over with you. Do you remember our first governess, Miss +Headworth?' + +'My dear Mark, did I not lose at Pera the charms of your infancy?' + +'Then neither my mother nor my grandmother ever wrote to you about +her?' + +'I do remember that it struck me that immunity from governesses was a +compensation for the lack of daughters.' + +'Can you tell me no details,' said Mark anxiously. 'Have you no +letters? It was about the time when Blanche was born, when we were +living at Raxley.' + +'I am sorry to say that our roving life prevented my keeping old +letters. I have often regretted it. Let me see, there was one who +boxed May's ears.' + +'That was long after. I think it was that woman's barbarity that +made my father marry again, and a very good thing that was. It was +wretched before. Miss Headworth was in my own mother's time.' + +'I begin to remember something happening that your mother seemed +unable to write about, and your grandmother said that she had been +greatly upset by "that miserable affair," but I was never exactly +told what it had been.' + +'Miss Headworth came when I was four or five years old. Edda, as we +used to call her in May's language, was the first person who gave me +a sense of beauty. She had dark eyes and a lovely complexion. I +remember in after times being silenced for saying, "not so pretty as +my Edda." I was extremely fond of her, enough to have my small +jealousy excited when my uncle joined us in our walks, and +monopolised her, turning May and me over to play with his dog!' + +'But, Mark, Mr. Egremont is some years older than your father. He +could not have been a young man at that time.' + +'So much the worse. Most likely he seemed to her quite paternal. +The next thing I recollect was our being in the Isle of Wight, we two +children, with Miss Headworth and the German nurse, and our being +told of our new sister. Uncle Alwyn and his yacht were there, and we +went on board once or twice. Then matters became confused with me, I +recollect a confusion, papa and grandmamma suddenly arriving, +everybody seeming to us to have become very cross, our dear Miss +Headworth nowhere to be found, our attendants being changed, and our +being forbidden to speak of her again. I certainly never thought of +the matter till a month ago. You know my uncle's eyes have been much +affected by his illness, and he has made a good deal of use of me. +He has got a valet, a fellow of no particular country, more Savoyard +than anything else, I fancy. He is a legacy, like other evils, from +the old General, and seems a sort of necessity to my uncle's +existence. Gregorio they call him. He was plainly used to absolute +government, and viewed the coming down amongst us as an assertion of +liberty much against his will. We could see that he was awfully +jealous of my father and me, and would do anything to keep us out; +but providentially he can't write English decently, though he can +speak any language you please. Well, the man and I came into +collision about a scamp of a groom who was doing intolerable mischief +in the village, and whom they put it on me to get discharged. On +that occasion Mr. Gregorio grew insolent, and intimated to me that I +need not make so sure of the succession. He knew that which might +make the Chanoine and me change our note. Well, my father is always +for avoiding rows; he said it was an unmeaning threat, it was of no +use to complain of Gregorio, and we must digest his insolence. But +just after, Uncle Alwyn sent me to hunt up a paper that was missing, +and in searching a writing-case I came upon an unmistakable marriage +certificate between Alwyn Piercefield Egremont and Alice Headworth, +and then the dim recollections I told you of began to return.' + +'What did you do?' + +'I thought I had better consult my father, expecting to hear that she +was dead, and that no further notice need be taken of the matter. +But he was greatly disturbed to hear of the certificate, and would +hardly believe me. He said that some friend of my grandmother had +written her word of goings on at Freshwater between his brother and +the young governess, and that they went off at once to put a stop to +it, but found us left with the German maid, who declared that Miss +Headworth had gone off with Mr. Egremont in the yacht. No more was +heard of my uncle for six weeks, and when he came back there was a +great row with the old General, but he absolutely denied being +married. I am afraid that was all the old sinner wished, and they +went off together in the yacht to the West Indies, where it was +burnt; but they, as you know, never came to England again, going +straight off to the Mediterranean, having their headquarters at +Sorrento, and cruising about till the General's death ten years ago.' + +'Yes, I once met them at Florence, and thought them two weary +pitiable men. One looked at the General as a curious relic of the +old buck of the Regency days, and compassionated his nephew for +having had his life spoilt by dangling after the old man. It was a +warning indeed, and I am glad you have profited by it, Mark.' + +'He came back, after the old man died, to club life in London, and +seldom has been near the old place; indeed, it has been let till +recently, and he wants to let it again, but it is altogether too +dilapidated for that without repairs. So he came down to see about +it, and was taken ill there. But to return to what my father told +me. He was shocked to hear of the certificate, for he had implicitly +believed his brother's denial of the marriage, and he said Miss +Headworth was so childish and simple that she might easily have been +taken in by a sham ceremony. He said that he now saw he had done +very wrong in letting his mother-in-law take all the letters about +"that unhappy business" off his hands without looking at them, but he +was much engrossed by my mother's illness, and, as he said, it never +occurred to him as a duty to trace out what became of the poor thing, +and see that she was provided for safely. You know Mrs. Egremont +says laissez faire is our family failing, and that our first thought +is how _not_ to do it.' + +'Yes, utter repudiation of such cases was the line taken by the last +generation; and I am afraid my mother would be very severe.' + +'Another thing that actuated my father was the fear of getting his +brother into trouble with General Egremont, as he himself would have +been the one to profit by it. So I do not wonder so much at his +letting the whole drop without inquiry, and never even looking at the +letters, which there certainly were. I could not get him to begin +upon it with my uncle, but Mrs. Egremont was strongly on my side in +thinking that such a thing ought to be looked into, and as I had +found the paper it would be best that I should speak. Besides that +there was no enduring that Gregorio should be pretending to hold us +in terror by such hints.' + +'Well, and has there been a wife and family in a cottage all this +time?' + +'Aunt Margaret, he has never seen or heard of her since he left her +at Dieppe! Would you believe it, he thinks himself a victim? He +never meant more than to amuse himself with the pretty little +governess; and he took on board a Mr. and Mrs. Houghton to do +propriety, shady sort of people I imagine, but that she did not +know.' + +'I have heard of them,' said Lady Kirkaldy, significantly. + +'She must have been a kind friend to the poor girl,' said Mark. 'On +some report that Lady de Lyonnais was coming down on her, wrathful +and terrible, the poor foolish girl let herself be persuaded to be +carried off in the yacht, but there Mrs. Houghton watched over her +like a dragon. She made them put in at some little place in Jersey, +put in the banns, all unknown to my uncle, and got them married. +Each was trying to outwit the other, while Miss Headworth herself was +quite innocent and unconscious, and, I don't know whether to call it +an excuse for Uncle Alwyn or not, but to this hour he is not sure +whether it was a legal marriage, and my father believes it was not, +looking on it as a youthful indiscretion. He put her in lodgings at +Dieppe, under Mrs. Houghton's protection, while he returned home on a +peremptory summons from the General. He found the old man in such a +state of body and mind as he tries to persuade me was an excuse for +denying the whole thing, and from that time he represents himself as +bound hand and foot by the General's tyranny. He meant to have kept +the secret, given her an allowance, and run over from time to time to +see her, but he only could get there once before the voyage to the +West Indies. The whole affair was, as he said, complicated by his +debts, those debts that the estate has never paid off. The General +probably distrusted him, for he curtailed his allowance, and scarcely +let him out of sight; and he--he submitted for the sake of his +prospects, and thinking the old man much nearer his end than he +proved to be. I declare as I listened, it came near to hearing him +say he had sold his soul to Satan! From the day he sailed in the +Ninon he has never written, never attempted any communication with +the woman whose life he had wrecked, except one inquiry at Dieppe, +and that was through Gregorio.' + +'What! the valet?' + +Yes. I believe I seemed surprised at such a medium being employed, +for Uncle Alwyn explained that the man had got hold of the secret +somehow--servants always know everything--and being a foreigner he +was likely to be able to trace her out. + +'I daresay he profited by the knowledge to keep Alwyn in bondage +during the old man's lifetime.' + +'I have no doubt of it, and he expected to play the same game with +me. The fellow reminds me, whenever I look at him, of a sort of +incarnate familiar demon. When I asked my uncle whether he could +guess what had become of her, he held up his hands with a hideous +French grimace. I could have taken him by the throat.' + +'Nay, one must pity him. The morals of George IV.'s set had been +handed on to him by the General,' said Lady Kirkaldy, rejoicing in +the genuine indignation of the young face, free from all taint of +vice, if somewhat rigid. 'And what now?' + +'He assured me that he could make all secure to my father and me, as +if that were the important point; but finally he perceived that we +had no right to stand still without endeavouring to discover whether +there be a nearer heir, and my father made him consent to my making +the search, grinning at its Quixotism all the time.' + +'Have you done anything?' + +'Yes. I have been to Jersey, seen the register--July 20, 1859--and +an old French-speaking clerk, who perfectly recollected the party +coming from the yacht, and spoke of her as tres belle. I have also +ascertained that there is no doubt of the validity of the marriage. +Then, deeply mistrusting Master Gregorio, I went on to Dieppe, where +I entirely failed to find any one who knew or remembered anything +about them--there is such a shifting population of English visitors +and residents, and it was so long ago. I elicited from my uncle that +she had an aunt, he thought, of the same name as herself; but my +father cannot remember who recommended her, or anything that can be a +clue. Has any one looked over my grandmother's letters?' + +'I think not. My brother spoke of keeping them till I came to +London. That might give a chance, or the Houghtons might know about +her. I think my husband could get them hunted up. They are sure to +be at some continental resort.' + +'What's that?' as a sound of singing was heard. + +'"Auld Langsyne." The natives are picnicking in the ravine below +there. They used to be rigidly excluded, but we can't stand that; +and this is the first experiment of admitting them on condition that +they don't make themselves obnoxious.' + +'Which they can't help.' + +'We have yet to see if this is worse than an Austrian or Italian +festival. See, we can look down from behind this yew tree. It +really is a pretty sight from this distance.' + +'There's the cleric heading his little boys and their cricket, and +there are the tuneful party in the fern on the opposite side. They +have rather good voices, unless they gain by distance.' + +'And there's a girl botanising by the river.' + +'Sentimentalising over forget-me-nots, more likely.' + +'My dear Mark, for a specimen of young England, you are greatly +behindhand in perception of progress!' + +'Ah! you are used to foreigners, Aunt Margaret. You have never +fathomed English vulgarity.' + +'It would serve you right to send you to carry the invitation to go +round the gardens and houses.' + +'Do you mean it, aunt?' + +'Mean it? Don't you see your uncle advancing down the road--there-- +accosting the clergyman--what's his name--either Towers or Spires-- +something ecclesiastical I know. We only waited to reconnoitre and +see whether the numbers were unmanageable.' + +'And yet he does not want to sit for Micklethwayte?' + +'So you think no one can be neighbourly except for electioneering! +O Mark, I must take you in hand.' + +'Meantime the host is collecting. I abscond. Which is the least +showy part of the establishment?' + +'I recommend the coal cellar--'and, as he went off--'poor boy, he is +a dear good fellow, but how little he knows how to be laughed at!' + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. +A NAME. + + + + +'Sigh no more lady, lady sigh no more, + Men were deceivers ever, + One foot on sea and one on land-- + To one thing constant never.'--Old Ballad. + + +'So you have ventured out again,' said Lady Kirkaldy, as her nephew +strolled up to her afternoon tea-table under a great cedar tree: + +'The coast being clear, and only distant shouts being heard in the +ravine-- + + + '" Like an army defeated + The choir retreated; + And now doth fare well + In the valley's soft swell,"' + + +said the aunt. + +'At least you have survived; or is this the reaction,' said the +nephew, putting on a languid air. + +'There were some very nice people among them, on whom the pictures +were by no means thrown away. What would you say, Mark, if I told +you that I strongly suspect that I have seen your lost aunt?' + +'Nonsense!' cried Mark, as emphatically as disrespectfully. + +'I am not joking in the least,' said Lady Kirkaldy, looking up at +him. 'I heard the name of Egremont, and made out that it belonged to +a very lady-like pretty-looking woman in gray and white; she seemed +to be trying to check and tame a bright girl of eighteen or so, who +was in a perfect state of rapture over the Vandykes. I managed to +ask the clergyman who the lady was, and he told me she was a Mrs. +Egremont, who lives with her aunt, a Miss Headworth, who boards girls +for the High School; very worthy people, he added.' + +'Headworth?' + +'Yes.' + +'But if it were, she would have known your name.' + +'Hardly. The title had not come in those days; and if she heard of +us at all it would be as Kerrs. I ventured further to put out a +feeler by asking whether he knew what her husband had been, and he +said he believed he had been lost at sea, but he, Mr. Spyers I mean, +had only been at Micklethwayte three or four years, and had merely +known her as a widow.' + +'I suppose it is worth following up,' said Mark, rather reluctantly. +'I wish I had seen her. I think I should know Miss Headworth again, +and she would hardly know me.' + +'You see what comes of absconding.' + +'After all, it was best,' said Mark. 'Supposing her to be the real +woman, which I don't expect, it might have been awkward if she had +heard my name! How can we ascertain the history of this person +without committing ourselves?' + +Lord Kirkaldy, an able man, who had been for many years a +diplomatist, here joined the party, and the whole story was laid +before him. He was new to Micklethwayte, having succeeded a somewhat +distant kinsman, and did not know enough of the place to be able to +fix on any one to whom to apply for information; but the result of +the consultation was that Lady Kirkaldy should go alone to call on +Miss Headworth, and explain that she was come to inquire about a +young lady of the same name, who had once been governess to the +children of her sister, Lady Adelaide Egremont. Mark was rather a +study to his uncle and aunt all the evening. He was as upright and +honourable as the day, and not only acted on high principle, but had +a tender feeling to the beautiful playfellow governess, no doubt +enhanced by painful experiences of successors chosen for their utter +dissimilarity to her. Still it was evidently rather flat to find +himself probably so near the tangible goal of his romantic search; +and the existence of a first cousin had been startling to him, though +his distaste was more to the taking her from second-rate folk in a +country town than to the overthrow of his own heirship. At least so +he manifestly and honestly believed, and knowing it to be one of +those faiths that make themselves facts, the Kirkaldys did not +disturb him in it, nor commiserate him for a loss which they thought +the best thing possible for him. + +Miss Headworth was accustomed to receive visitors anent boarders, so +when Lady Kirkaldy's card was brought to her, the first impression +was that some such arrangement was to be made. She was sitting in +her pretty little drawing-room alone, for Nuttie and her mother had +gone out for a walk with Miss Nugent. + +The room, opening on the garden, and cool with blinds, had a certain +homely grace about the faded furniture. The drawings on the walls +were good, the work quaint and tasteful. There was a grand vase of +foxgloves before the empty grate, and some Marshal Nial roses in a +glass on the table. The old lady herself--with alert black eyes and +a sweet expression--rose from her chair in the window to receive her +guest. + +Lady Kirkaldy felt reassured as to the refinement of the +surroundings, and liked the gentle but self-possessed tones of the +old lady. She noticed the foxgloves. + +'Yes,' said Miss Headworth, 'they are the fruits of yesterday's +expedition. My two children, as I call them, brought them home in +triumph. I cannot tell you what pleasure Lord Kirkaldy's kindness +gave them--and many more.' + +'I am glad,' said the lady, while she said to herself, 'now for it,' +and sat forward. 'It struck me,' she said, 'on hearing your name +that you might be related to--to a young lady who lived a good while +ago in the family of my sister, Lady Adelaide Egremont.' + +A strange look came into Miss Headworth's eyes, her lips trembled, +she clutched tightly the arm of her chair, but then cast a puzzled +glance at her visitor. + +'Perhaps if you heard of me then,' said the latter, 'it was as Lady +Margaret Kerr.' + +'Yes,' said Miss Headworth, then pausing, she collected herself and +said in an anxious voice, 'Do I understand that your ladyship is +come to inquire for my niece, being aware of the circumstances.' + +'I only became aware of them yesterday,' said Lady Kirkaldy. 'I was +in Turkey at the time, and no particulars were given to me; but my +nephew, Mark Egremont, your niece's old pupil, came to consult us, +having just discovered among his uncle's papers evidence of the +marriage, of which of course he had been ignorant.' + +'Then,' exclaimed Miss Headworth, holding her hands tightly clasped, +'Shall I really see justice done at last to my poor child?' + +'It is young Mark's most earnest wish and his father--'Lady Kirkaldy +hesitated for a word, and Miss Headworth put in: + +'His father! Why would he never even acknowledge either Alice's +letters or mine? We wrote several times both to him and Lady +Adelaide, and never received any reply, except one short one, +desiring he might not be troubled on such a subject. It was cruel! +Alice said it was not in his writing. She had done very wrong, and +the family might well be offended, but a poor child like her, just +eighteen, might have been treated with some pity.' + +'My sister was in declining health. He was very much engrossed. He +left the matter to--to others,' said Lady Kirkaldy. 'He is very +sorry now that he acquiesced in what was then thought right. He did +not then know that there had been a marriage.' + +'I should have thought in that case a clergyman would have been bound +to show the more compassion.' + +Lady Kirkaldy knew that the cruel silence had been chiefly the work +of the stem Puritan pitilessness of her mother, so she passed this +over, saying, 'We are all very anxious to atone, as far as possible, +for what is past, but we know little or nothing, only what my nephew +Mark has been able to gather.' + +'Little Mark! Alice always talked of him with great affection. How +pleased she will be to hear of his remembering her.' + +'Would you object to telling me what you know of this history?' said +Lady Kirkaldy. 'I am afraid it is very painful to you, but I think +we should understand it clearly. Please speak to me as a friend, as +woman to woman.' + +'Your ladyship is very kind,' said the poor old lady. 'I have only +mentioned the subject once since we came to settle here, seventeen +years ago, but such things one cannot forget. If you will excuse me, +I have some dates that will assist my accuracy.' + +She hurried away, and came back in a few moments, having evidently +dried some tears, perhaps of thankfulness, but she paused as if +reluctant to begin. + +'I think your niece had no nearer relation than yourself,' said Lady +Kirkaldy, anxious to set her off and at ease. + +'Oh no, or she never would have been so treated. She was an orphan. +My poor brother was a curate. He married--as young men will--on +insufficient means, his strength gave way, and he died of diphtheria +when this poor child was only two years old. Indeed, two little ones +died at the same time, and the mother married again and went to +Shanghai. She did not long live there, poor thing, and little Alice +was sent home to me. I thought I did my best for her by keeping her +at a good school. I have often wished that I had given up my +situation, and become an assistant there, so as to have her more +under my own eyes; but I fancied it important to receive a salary out +of which I could save. I am wearying your ladyship, but I can't but +dwell on the excuses for my poor child.' + +'Indeed I wish to hear all the details,' was the sincere and gentle +answer. + +'I had her with me generally in the holidays, and I confess I was +absolutely alarmed to see how pretty the child was growing, knowing +how great a disadvantage it often is. She was always a good girl, +not naturally so studious as could be wished, but docile, merry, +gentle, a favourite with every one, and peculiarly innocent and +childish. I wished her to remain a few years longer as teacher, but +it so happened that Lady Adelaide Egremont, coming to consult the +head of the establishment about a nursery-governess, saw Alice, and +was so much struck with her sweet face, which was all sunshine then, +as to insist on engaging her.' + +'Ah! my dear sister, I remember her enthusiastic letter about her +pretty governess, and her boy's affection for her, an affection that +has lasted--' + +'It seemed so safe. A clergyman's family in the country, and so kind +a lady at the head, that, though Alice had been educated for a +superior governess, it appeared the best beginning she could have. +And she was very happy, and met with great kindness. Only, +unfortunately, Lady Adelaide was delicate, and for many weeks +entirely confined to the sofa. Mr. Egremont's elder brother was much +there. He seemed to my poor inexperienced child quite elderly, and +his attentions like those of--of an old uncle--she told me +afterwards--' + +'He must really have been over forty--' + +'No doubt my poor Alice was unguarded. We know what a merry, happy, +childish girl may be, but I never heard that her conduct was even +censured while she remained at Baxley, though I find that Captain +Egremont used to join them in their walks, under pretext of playing +with the children. Then she was sent to Freshwater with the two +eldest children during Lady Adelaide's confinement, and there, most +unjustifiably, Captain Egremont continually visited them from his +yacht, and offered to take them out in it. Alice knew she ought not +to go without a married lady on board, and he brought a Mr. and Mrs. +Houghton to call, who were very kind and caressing to her and the +children, so that she thought all was right. Oh! Lady Kirkaldy, I +don't mean to defend her, I daresay she was very giddy and silly, she +reproaches herself, poor dear, but I do say that a wicked advantage +was taken of her innocence and ignorance. She says that she had +begun to grow a little uneasy at the way people looked when Captain +Egremont joined them on the beach; and the nurse, a German, said +something that she could not understand. On the 1st of July--yes-- +but I have the date here--came a telegram to the hotel to have rooms +for Lady de Lyonnais and Mr. Egremont ready by the evening. The +whole place knew it, and some meddling person burst on Alice with the +news, roughly and coarsely given, that they were coming to call her +to account for her goings on. Captain Egremont found her crying in +the utmost terror, and--she really hardly knew what he said to her-- +she thinks he offered to shelter her on board the Ninon, from Lady de +Lyonnais' first wrath while he and Mrs. Houghton explained matters; +but she cannot tell, for she lost her senses with fright, only knew +that he was kind and sweet to her in her distress, and thought only +of escaping. Well, I don't excuse her. Of course it was the most +terrible and fatal thing she could have done, and--' The good old +lady was quite overcome, and Lady Kirkaldy had tears in her eyes as +she said, + +'It was frightful folly--but she was guarded.' + +'Yes, her innocence was guarded, thank God,' said Miss Headworth +fervently. 'You see she did know that Mr. and Mrs. Houghton were on +board, and Mrs. Houghton was a truly kind protector who deserved her +confidence, though, poor lady, she admitted to me that her own +conduct had not been-strictly correct.' + +'How long was it before you heard of her?' + +'There was a dreadful letter from Mr. Egremont enclosing what was due +of her salary, and then I heard no more for seven months. I went to +the Isle of Wight and made all inquiries, but the nurse and children +had gone away immediately, and I could obtain no trace of them.' + +'Then she--your niece, never wrote.' + +'She was afraid, poor dear. She had never been at her ease with me. +Her mother had taught her to think me strict and harsh, and she had +never opened to me in those days. Besides, he had forbidden her. At +last, however, in January, came a letter from this Mrs. Houghton, +telling me that my Alice was very unwell at Dieppe, that nothing had +been heard of her husband, Captain Egremont, to whom she had been +married on the 20th of July at St. Philippe, in Jersey, and that she +herself was obliged to leave the place almost immediately; but she +would, if possible, wait till my arrival, as Mrs. Egremont was not in +a condition to be left alone. My dear friends, with whom I was then +living, were as kind as possible, and set me free to go. I was there +in three days, and truly the dear, beautiful, merry girl I had parted +with only a year before was a sad piteous sight. Mrs. Houghton +seemed broken-hearted at leaving her, thinking there was little +chance of her living; but Mr. Houghton, who, I am afraid, was a +professed gambler, had got into some scrape, and was gone to Paris, +where she had to follow him. She told me all about it, and how, when +Captain Egremont fancied that a marriage in the Channel Islands was +one he could play fast and loose with, she had taken care that the +formalities should be such as to make all secure. Foolish and wrong +as poor Alice had been, she had awakened all the best side of that +poor woman's nature, and no mother could have been more careful and +tender. She gave me the certificate--here it is--and assured me that +it would hold good. I have shown it to a lawyer, and he said the +same; but when I sent a copy to Mr. Egremont, my letter was returned +unopened.' + +'Captain Egremont had denied the marriage, and they believed him,' +said Lady Kirkaldy. 'It is hard to believe that he could be so +heartless, but he was in bondage to the old General Egremont, and +dreaded losing his inheritance.' + +'So he told them in his one visit to Dieppe. He said he must keep +his marriage secret, but promised an allowance, on condition that +Alice would live quietly at Dieppe, and not communicate with any one +of her own family or his. He had left (pounds)100 with her, but that was +nearly gone, and she had never heard from him. It had preyed on her, +and she was so ill that I never expected, any more than Mrs. +Houghton, to see her recover. I stayed there with her; she could not +be moved, even if she would have consented, when she was continually +expecting him; but at last--four days after her little girl was born-- +came the news of the Ninon having been burnt, with all on board, +three months before. Do you know, strange to say, though I had +feared so much to tell her, she began to revive from that time. The +suspense and watching were over. She saw that he had not deserted +her, and believed that he had loved her to the last. She cried a +great deal, but it was in a peaceful, natural way. I wrote then, as +I had already written, to Lady Adelaide and to Mr. Egremont, but was +not answered.' + +'I can account for that,' said Lady Kirkaldy. 'My sister had been +ordered to Madeira in the autumn, and there they remained till her +death in May. All the letters were sent to my mother, and she did +not think fit to forward, or open, any bearing on the subject. In +the meantime Mr. Egremont was presented to the family living, and on +his return moved to Bridgefield Egremont. And you came here?' + +'Of course I could not part with my poor Alice again. Mr. and Mrs. +Fordyce, whose daughter I had long ago educated, had always kept up a +correspondence with me, and, knowing all the story, proposed to me to +come here. He was then rector of the old church, and by their help +and recommendation, with such capital as I had, we were able to begin +a little school; and though that has had to give way to the High +School, what with boarders, and with Alice's employment as daily +governess, we have, I am thankful to say, gone on very well and +comfortably, and my dear child has recovered her cheerfulness, though +she can never be quite what--I think she was meant to be,' said the +old lady, with a sad smile, 'though perhaps she is something better.' + +'Do you think she was absolutely convinced of his death?' + +'Do you mean that he is alive?' exclaimed Miss Headworth in dismay. +'Oh! he is a wickeder man than even I supposed, to have forsaken her +all these years. Is my poor child in his power? Must her peace, now +she has attained it, be disturbed?' + +'There is a great deal to take into consideration,' said Lady +Kirkaldy. 'I had better tell you how this visit of mine came about, +and explain some matters about the Egremont family.' + +She then told how Captain Egremont, after a brief service in the Life +Guards, had been made to retire, that the old General, whose heir he +was, might keep him in attendance on him. Already self-indulgent and +extravagant, the idleness of the life he led with the worn-out old +roue had deadened his better feelings, and habituated him to +dissipation, while his debts, his expensive habits, and his dread of +losing the inheritance, had bound him over to the General. Both had +been saved from the fire in the Ninon, whence they were picked up by +a Chilian vessel, and they had been long in communicating with home. +The General hated England, and was in broken health. He had spent +the remaining years of his life at various continental resorts, where +he could enjoy a warm climate, combined with facilities for high +play. + +When at length, he died, Captain Egremont had continued the life to +which he had become accustomed, and had of late manifested an +expectation that his nephew Mark should play the same part by him as +he had done by the General, but the youth, bred in a very different +tone, would on no account thus surrender himself to an evil bondage. +Indeed he felt all the severity of youthful virtue, and had little +toleration for his uncle's ways of thinking; though, when the old man +had come home ill, dejected, and half blind, he had allowed himself +to be made useful on business matters. And thus he had discovered +the marriage, and had taken up the cause with the ardour stimulated +by a chivalrous feeling for the beautiful vision of his childhood, +whose sudden disappearance had ended his brightest days. + +'I suppose it is right and generous of the young man,' said Miss +Headworth. 'But since the--the man is alive, I wish my poor Alice +could have been left at peace!' + +'You forget that her daughter has rights which must be taken into +consideration.' + +'Little Nuttie! Dear child! I should so far like her to be provided +for, so far as that she need not go out in the world to earn her own +livelihood. But no! better be as we are than accept anything from +that man!' + +'I quite understand and respect your feeling, Miss Headworth,' +returned the lady; 'but may I return to my question whether you think +your niece has any doubt of her husband being dead.' + +Miss Headworth considered. 'Since you ask me, I think she has kept +the possibility of the life before her. We have never mentioned the +subject, and, as I said, the belief in his death ended a great +suspense and sense of wounded affection. She began soon and +vigorously to turn her attention to the support of her child, and has +found a fair measure of happiness; but at the same time she has +shrunk from all notice and society, more than would be natural in so +very young a widow and so attractive, more than I should have +expected from her original character. And once, when she did +apprehend symptoms of admiration, she insisted that I should tell the +history, enough, as she said, to make it plain that it was +impossible. There was one night too, when she had scarlatina, and +was a little lightheaded, only four years ago, when she talked a good +deal about his coming back; but that might have been only the old +impression on her brain, of that long watching at Dieppe. He-- +Captain Egremont, does not yet know where she is?' + +'No, certainly not. But I fear he must.' + +'I suppose he ought,' sighed Miss Headworth; 'but in the meantime, +till we know what line he takes, surely she need not be unsettled by +the knowledge of his existence.' + +'By no means. You had better act as you think best about that. But +you will not object to my nephew, her old pupil, Mark, coming to see +her? I will make him promise not to enter upon the subject.' + +Miss Headworth had only time to make a sign of reluctant acquiescence +when the door opened and mother and daughter came in. Nuttie first, +eager as usual and open-mouthed, unaware that any one was there, for +Lady Kirkaldy, wishing to avoid talk and observation, had left her +carriage at the livery stables, and walked to St. Ambrose Road. The +girl, whom in a moment she classed as small, dark, and oddly like May +Egremont, stopped short at sight of a stranger; the mother would have +retreated but for Miss Headworth's nervous call 'Alice, my dear, here +is Lady Kirkaldy.' + +Very lovely was Lady Kirkaldy's impression as she saw a slender +figure in a dark gray linen dress, and a face of refined, though not +intellectual, beauty and sweetness, under a large straw hat with a +good deal of white gauziness about it, and the curtsey was full of +natural grace. + +'You do not know me,' said Lady Kirkaldy, taking her hand, 'but I am +aunt to some former pupils of yours, one of whom, Mark Egremont, is +very anxious to come and see you.' + +'Mark! My dear little Mark,' and her face lighted up. 'How very +kind of him. But he is not little Mark now.' + +'He is not a very big Mark either. Most of the Egremonts are small. +I see your daughter takes after them,' said Lady Kirkaldy, shaking +hands with Ursula, who looked at her in unmitigated amazement. + +Alice faltered something about Lady Adelaide. + +'My dear sister fell into a decline, and died while the three +children were still babies. Poor things, I believe they had a sad +time till their father married a Miss Condamine, who has been an +excellent stepmother to them. I have been to see them, but Mark was +not then at home, so he has come to me at Monks Horton. When will he +find you at home? Or may I bring him in at once. He was to meet me +at Micklethwayte.' + +'I should like very much to see him,' was the answer. And Miss +Headworth was obliged to say something about her ladyship taking a +cup of tea. Lady Kirkaldy, knowing that Mark was on the watch, set +off in search of him, and found him, as she expected, pacing the +pavement in front of the church. There was no great distance in +which to utter her explanations and cautions, warning him of her +promise that the intelligence of the husband's being alive was to be +withheld for a fitter time, but he promised dutifully, and his aunt +then took him in with her. + +The recognition of her claims was a less stunning shock to Alice +Egremont than to her aunt. Shielded by her illness, as well as by +her simplicity and ignorance, she had never been aware of her aunt's +attempted correspondence with the Egremonts, nor of their deafness to +appeals made on her behalf. Far less had it ever occurred to her +that the validity of her marriage could be denied, and the heinous +error of her elopement seemed to her quite sufficient to account for +her having been so entirely cast off by the family. The idea that as +wife or widow she had any claims on them, or that Ursula might have +rights above those of Mark, had not come into her mind, which, +indeed, at the moment was chiefly occupied by the doubt whether the +milk was come in, and by ordering in the best teacups, presented by +the boarders. + +Thus she was in the passage when Mark entered, and his exclamation +instantly was 'Oh, Edda, dear old Edda! You aren't a bit altered!' +and he put his head under her hat and kissed her, adding, as she +seemed rather startled, 'You are my aunt, you know; and where's my +cousin? You are Ursula?' + +He advanced upon Nuttie, took her by the hand and kissed her forehead +before she was aware, but she flashed at him with her black eyes, and +looked stiff and defiant. She had no notion of kisses to herself, +still less to her pretty mother whom she protected with a half proud, +half jealous fondness. How could the man presume to call her by that +foolish name? However, that single effusion had exhausted Mark's +powers of cordiality, or else Nuttie's stiffness froze him. They +were all embarrassed, and had reason to be grateful to Lady +Kirkaldy's practised powers as a diplomate's wife. She made the +most of Mrs. Egremont's shy spasmodic inquiries, and Mark's jerks of +information, such as that they were all living at Bridgefield +Egremont, now, that his sister May was very like his new cousin, that +Blanche was come out and was very like his mother, etc. etc. Every +one was more at ease when Lady Kirkaldy carried the conversation off +to yesterday's entertainment, hoping no one had been overtired, and +the like. Mrs. Egremont lighted up a little and began telling some +of the expressions of delight she had heard, and in the midst, +Nuttie, waking from her trance of stiff displeasure, came plump in +with 'Oh! and there's a water-soldier, a real Stratiotes aculeatus in +your lake. May we get it? Mr. Dutton didn't think we ought, but it +would be such a prize!' + +'Ursula means a rare water-plant,' said Mrs. Egremont gently, seeing +that Lady Kirkaldy had no notion of the treasure she possessed. 'She +and some of her friends are very eager botanists.' + +'I am sure you may,' said the lady, amused. + +'Thank you! Then, O mother! Miss Mary and I will go. And we'll +wait till after office hours, and then Gerard Godfrey can come and +fish it out for us! Oh, thank you. He wants the pattern of the +Abbot's cross for an illumination, and he can get some ferns for the +church.' + +Soon after this ebullition, Lady Kirkaldy carried off her nephew, and +his first utterance outside the door was 'A woman like that will be +the salvation of my uncle.' + +'Firstly, if you can bring them together,' said his aunt; 'and +secondly, if there is stuff enough in that pretty creature.' + + + + + +CHAPTER V. +SUSPENSE. + + + + +'Where shall the traitor rest + He, the deceiver?'--SCOTT. + + +Poor Miss Headworth's peace of mind was utterly destroyed. That the +niece whom she had nursed back to life and happiness, and brought to +love her as a mother, should be at the mercy of a man whom she looked +on as a heartless profligate, was dreadful to her beyond measure. +And it involved Ursula's young life likewise? Could it be a duty, +after these eighteen years, to return to him? What legal rights had +he to enforce the resumption of the wife he had deserted. 'I will +consult Mr. Dutton,' said the old lady to herself; 'Mr. Dutton is the +only person who knows the particulars. He will give me the best +advice.' + +And while Miss Headworth, over her evening toilette, was coming to +this resolution in one bedroom, Nuttie, in another, was standing +aghast at her mother's agitation, and receiving a confession which +filled her with astonishment. + +'I can't think why that gentleman should go and be so affectionate +all on a sudden, 'quoth Nuttie;' if he is my cousin, and so fond of +you, why couldn't he have come to see us before?' + +'Oh, Nuttie, dear, you don't understand why it is so good of him! My +dear, now this has come, I must tell you--you must hear--the sad +thing your mother did. Yes, my dear, I was their governess--and--and +I did not--In short, my dear, I eloped.' + +'You, mother! Oh what fun!' cried the girl in the utter extremity of +wonder. + +'Nuttie!' exclaimed Mrs. Egremont, in a tone of horror and +indignation--nay, of apprehension. + +'O mother--I didn't mean that! But I can't get to believe it. You, +little mother mine, you that are so timid and bashful and quiet. +That you--you should have done such a thing.' + +'Nuttie, my dear, can't you understand that such a thing would make +me quiet? I am always feeling when I see people, or they bring their +daughters here. "If they only knew--"' + +'No, no, no! They would still see you were the sweetest dear. But +tell me all about it. How very much in love you must have been!' +said Nuttie, a magnificent vision of a young sailor with curly hair +and open throat rising before her. + +'I think I was more frightened than in love,' faintly said Mrs. +Egremont. 'At least I didn't know it was love, I thought he was only +kind to me.' + +'But you liked it?' said Ursula magisterially. + +'I liked it, oh, I liked it! It gave me a feeling such as nothing +else ever did, but I never thought of its being love, he was so much +older.' + +'Older!' exclaimed Nuttie, much taken aback. 'Oh! as old as Mr. +Dutton?' + +'Mr. Dutton is thirty-six, I think. Yes, he was older than that.' + +'Mother, how could you?' For to be older than Mr: Dutton seemed to +the youthful fancy to be near decrepitude; but she added, 'I suppose +he was very noble, and had done great things.' + +'He was the grandest gentleman I ever saw, and had such, a manner,' +said the mother, passing over the latter suggestion. 'Anyway, I +never thought what it all meant--all alone with the children as I +was--till I found people looking at me, and laughing at me, and then +I heard Lady de Lyonnais and Mr. Egremont were coming down, very +angry, to send me away. I ought, I know it now, to have waited, for +they would have written to my aunt. But I was horribly frightened, +and I couldn't bear to think of never seeing him again, and he came +and comforted me, and said he would take me to Mrs. Houghton, the +kind lady who was staying in the Ninon, and they would make it all +square for me--and then--oh! it was very sweet--but I never knew that +we were sailing away to Jersey to be married! I knew it was very +dreadful without any one's leave, but it was so noble of him to take +the poor little governess and defend her, and it wasn't as if my +mother had been alive. I didn't know Aunt Ursel then as I did +afterwards. And Mrs. Houghton said there was nothing else to be +done.' + +'O don't leave off, mother. Do tell me. How long did you have him?' + +'Six weeks then--and afterwards one fortnight at Dieppe. He was not +free. He had an old uncle, General Egremont, who was sick and hot- +tempered, and he was obliged to keep everything secret from him, and +therefore from everybody else. And so I was to live at Dieppe, while +he went out to take care of his uncle, and you know--you know--' + +'Yes, I know, dear mother. But I am sure he was saving somebody +else, and it was a noble death! And I know how Aunt Ursel came to +Dieppe, and how I--your own little Frenchwoman--came to take care of +you. And haven't we been jolly without any of these fine relations +that never looked after you all this time? Besides, you know he is +very likely to be on a lonely coral island, and will come home yet. +I often think he is.' + +'My dear child, I have been happier than I deserved,' said Alice +Egremont, drying her eyes. 'But oh! Nuttie, I hope you will be a +wiser woman than your mother.' + +'Come, don't go on in that way! Why, I've such advantages! I've +Miss Mary, and Aunt Ursel, and Mr. Spyers, and Mr. Dutton, and you, +you poor little thing, had nobody! One good thing is, we shall get +the water-soldier. Mr. Dutton needn't come, for he's like a cat, and +won't soil his boots, but Gerard is dying to get another look at the +old ruin. He can't make up his mind about the cross on one of the +stone-coffin lids, so he'll be delighted to come, and he'll get it +out of the pond for us. I wonder when we can go. To-night is choir +practice, and to-morrow is cutting-out day.' + +Miss Headworth was not sorry that the small sociabilities of the +friends did not leave her alone with her niece all that evening, or +the next day, when there was a grand cutting-out for the working +party,--an operation always performed in the holidays. Miss +Headworth had of late years been excused from it, and it gave her the +opportunity she wanted of a consultation with Mr. Dutton. He was her +prime adviser in everything, from her investments (such as they were) +to the eccentricities of her timepieces; and as the cuckoo-clock had +that night cuckooed all the hours round in succession, no one thought +it wonderful that she should send a twisted note entreating him to +call as early as he could in the afternoon. Of course Nuttie's +chatter had proclaimed the extraordinary visitors, and it needed not +the old lady's dash under "on an anxious affair" to bring him to her +little drawing-room as soon as he could quit his desk. Perhaps he +hastened his work with a hope in his heart which he durst not +express, but the agitation on the usually placid face forbade him to +entertain it for an instant, and he only said, 'So our expedition has +led to unforeseen consequences, Miss Headworth.' And then she +answered under her breath, as if afraid of being overheard: 'Mr. +Dutton, my poor child does not know it yet, but the man is alive!' + +Mr. Dutton compressed his lips. It was the greater shock, for he had +actually made inquiries at the Yacht Club, but the officials there +either had not been made aware of the reappearance of the two +Egremonts, or they did not think it worth while to look beyond the +record which declared that all hands had perished, and the connection +of the uncle and nephew with the Yacht Club had not been renewed. +Presently he said, 'Then hers was a right instinct. There is reason +to be thankful.' + +Miss Headworth was too full of her own anxieties to heed his causes +for thankfulness. She told what she had heard from Lady Kirkaldy and +from Mark Egremont, and asked counsel whether it could be Alice's +duty to return to the man who had deserted her, or even to accept +anything from him. There was an impetuous and indignant spirit at +the bottom of the old lady's heart, in spite of the subdued life she +had led for so many years, and she hardly brooked the measured +considerate manner in which her adviser declared that all depended on +circumstances, and the manner in which Captain Egremont made the +first move. At present no one was acting but young Mark, and, as Mr. +Dutton observed, it was not a matter in which a man was very likely +to submit to a nephew's dictation. + +There was certainly no need for Mrs. Egremont to _force_ her presence +on him. But Mr. Dutton did think that for her own sake and her +child's there ought to be full recognition of their rights, and that +this should be proved by their maintenance. + +'I imagine that Ursula may probably be a considerable heiress, and +her lights must not be sacrificed.' + +'Poor little girl! Will it be for her happiness? I doubt it +greatly!' + +'Of that I suppose we have no right to judge,' said Mr. Dutton, +somewhat tremulously. 'Justice is what we have to look to, and to +allow Nuttie to be passed over would be permitting a slur to be cast +on her and her mother.' + +'I see that,' said Miss Headworth, with an effort. 'I suppose I am +after all a selfish, faithless old woman, and it is not in my hands +after all. But I must prepare my poor Alice for what may be coming.' + +'If any terms are offered to her, she had better put the matter into +a lawyer's hands. Dobson would be a safe man to deal with.' + +Miss Headworth was amazed that he--who had helped her in many a +little question bordering on law--should not proffer his aid now in +this greatest stress. He was a resolute, self-controlled man, and +she never guessed at the feeling that made him judge himself to be no +fitting champion for Alice Egremont against her husband. Ever since, +ten years ago, he had learnt that his beautiful neighbour did not +regard herself so certainly a widow as to venture to open her heart +to any other love, he had lived patiently on, content to serve her as +a trustworthy friend, and never betraying the secret hope so long +cherished and now entirely crushed. + +He was relieved to escape from the interview, and the poor old lady +remained a little more certain as to her duty perhaps, but with a +certainty that only made her more unhappy, and she was so restless +and nervous that, in the middle of the evening's reading of +Archbishop Trench's Lectures on History, Alice suddenly broke off in +the very middle of a sentence and exclaimed, 'Aunt Ursel! you are +keeping something from me.' + +Miss Headworth made a faint attempt by saying something about +presently, and glancing with her eyes to indicate that it was to be +reserved till after Nuttie's bedtime, but the young lady comprehended +the signs and exclaimed, 'Never mind me, Aunt Ursel,--I know all +about mother; she told me last night.' + +'It is!' broke in Mrs. Egremont, who had been watching her aunt's +face. 'You have heard of _him_.' + +'Oh, my father! You really have!' cried Nuttie. 'Then he really was +on the desert island all this time; I was quite sure of it. How +delightful!' She jumped up and looked at the door, as if she +expected to see him appear that instant, clad in skins like Robinson +Crusoe, but her aunt's nervous agitation found vent in a sharp +reproof: 'Nuttie, hold your tongue, and don't be such a foolish +child, or I shall send you out of the room this instant!' + +'But aunt?' gasped Alice, unable to bear the suspense. + +'Yes, my poor dear child. Captain Egremont with the General got off +with some of the crew in a boat when the Ninon was burnt. He spent a +good many years abroad with the old man, but he has now inherited the +family place, and is living there.' Miss Headworth felt as if she +had fired a cannon and looked to see the effect. + +'Ah, if we could have stayed at Dieppe!' said Mrs. Egremont. 'But we +did write back to say where we could be heard of.' + +'That was of no use. Mark found no traces of us when he went +thither.' + +'Did he send Mark?' + +'No. My dear Alice, I must not conceal from you that this is all Mr. +Mark Egremont's doing. He seems to have been helping his uncle with +his papers when he came on the evidence of your marriage, and, +remembering you as he does, he forced the confession of it from the +captain, and of his own accord set forth to discover what had become +of you and to see justice done to you.' + +'Dear little Mark!' said she; 'he always was such an affectionate +little boy.' + +'And now, my dear, you must consider how you will receive any +advances on his part.' + +'Oh, Aunt Ursel, don't! I can't talk now. Please let me go to bed. +Nuttie, dear, you need not come yet.' + +The desire for solitude, in which to realise what she had heard, was +overpowering, and she fled away in the summer twilight, leaving +Nuttie with wide open eyes, looking after her vanished hero and +desert island. + +'My poor Alice!' sighed the old lady. + +'Aunt Ursel!' exclaimed Nuttie, 'was--I mean--is my father a good or +a bad man?' + +'My dear, should a daughter ask such a question?' + +'Aunt Ursel, I can't help it. I think I ought to know all about it,' +said Nuttie gravely, putting away her childishness and sitting down +by her aunt. 'I did not think so much of it when mother told me they +eloped, because, though I know it was very wrong, people do do odd +things sometimes when they are very much in love (she said it in a +superior patronising tone that would have amused Miss Headworth very +much at any other time); and it has not spoilt mother for being the +dearest, sweetest, best thing in the world, and, besides, they had +neither of them any fathers or mothers to disobey. But, then, when I +found he was so old, and that he kept it a secret, and must have told +stories only for the sake of money (uttered with extreme contempt), I +didn't like it. And if he left her as Theseus left Ariadne, or Sir +Lancelot left Elaine, I--I don't think it is nice. Do you think he +only pretended to be lost in the Ninon to get rid of her, or that he +could not find her?' + +'The Ninon was really reported lost with all on board,' said Miss +Headworth. 'That was ascertained. He was saved by a Chilian ship, +and seems to have been a good while making his way back to Europe. I +had taken care that our address should be known at Dieppe, but it is +quite possible that he may not have applied to the right people, or +that they may not have preserved my letter, so that we cannot feel +sore that he was to blame.' + +'If he had been worth anything at all, he would have moved heaven and +earth to find her!' cried Nuttie; 'and you said yourself it was all +_that_ Mark's doing!' + +'He seems to be a very upright and generous young man, that Mr. Mark +Egremont,' said Miss Headworth, a whole romance as to Nuttie's future +destiny sweeping across her mind in an instant, with a mental +dispensation to first cousins in such a case. 'I think you will find +him a staunch champion even against his own interests.' + +Perceptions came across Nuttie. 'Oh, then I am a sort of lost +heiress, like people in a story! I see! But, Aunt Ursel, what do +you think will happen?' + +'My dear child, I cannot guess in the least. Perhaps the Egremont +property will not concern you, and only go to male heirs. That would +be the best thing, since in any case you must be sufficiently +provided for. Your father must do that.' + +'But about mother?' + +'A proper provision must be insisted on for her,' said Miss +Headworth. 'It is no use, however, to speculate on the future. We +cannot guess how Mr. Mark Egremont's communication will be received, +or whether any wish will be expressed for your mother's rejoining +your father. In such a case the terms must be distinctly understood, +and I have full trust both in Mr. Mark and in Lady Kirkaldy as her +champions to see that justice is done to you both.' + +'I'm sure he doesn't deserve that mother should go to him.' + +'Nor do I expect that he will wish it, or that it would be proper; +but he is bound to give her a handsome maintenance, and I think most +probably you will be asked to stay with your uncle and cousins,' said +Miss Headworth, figuring to herself a kind of Newstead Abbey or some +such scene of constant orgies at Bridgefield Egremont. + +'I shall accept nothing from the family that does not include +mother,' said Nuttie. + +'Dear child, I foresee many trials, but you must be her protector.' + +'That I will,' said Nuttie; and in the gallant purpose she went to +bed, to find her mother either asleep or feigning slumber with tears +on her cheek. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. +THE WATER-SOLDIER. + + + + +'Presumptuous maid, with looks intent, + Again she stretched, again she bent, + Nor knew the gulf between.'--GRAY. + + +It all seemed like a dream to Ursula, perhaps likewise to her mother, +when they rose to the routine of daily life with the ordinary +interests of the day before them. There was a latent unwillingness +in Mrs. Egremont's mind to discuss the subject with either aunt or +daughter; and when the post brought no letter, Ursula, after a +moment's sense of flatness, was relieved, and returned to her eager +desire to hurry after the water-soldier. It was feasible that very +afternoon. Mary Nugent came in with the intelligence. + +'And can Gerard come? or we shall only look at it.' + +'Yes, Gerard can come, and so will Mr. Dutton,' said Mary, who, +standing about half-way between Mrs. Egremont and her daughter, did +not think herself quite a sufficient chaperon. + +'He will look on like a hen at her ducklings,' said Nuttie. 'It is +cruel to take him, poor man!' + +'Meantime, Nuttie, do you like an hour of "Marie Stuart?"' + +'Oh, thank you!' But she whispered, 'Aunt Ursel, may I tell her?' + +'Ask your mother, my dear.' + +Leave was given, half reluctantly, and with a prohibition against +mentioning the subject to any one else, but both mother and aunt had +confidence in Mary Nugent's wisdom and discretion, so the two friends +sat on the wall together, and Ursula poured out her heart. Poor +little girl! she was greatly discomfited at the vanishing of her +noble vision of the heroic self-devoted father, and ready on the +other hand to believe him a villain, like Bertram Risingham, or 'the +Pirate,' being possessed by this idea on account of his West Indian +voyages. At any rate, she was determined not to be accepted or +acknowledged without her mother, and was already rehearsing +magnanimous letters of refusal. + +Miss Mary listened and wondered, feeling sometimes as if this were as +much a romance as the little yacht going down with the burning ship; +and then came back the recollection that there was a real fact that +Nuttie had a father, and that it was entirely uncertain what part he +might take, or what the girl might be called on to do. Considering +anxiously these bearings of the question, she scarcely heard what she +was required to assent to, in one of Nuttie's eager, 'Don't you think +so?' + +'My dear Nuttie,' she said, rousing herself, 'what I do think is that +it will all probably turn out exactly contrariwise to our +imaginations, so I believe it would be wisest to build up as few +fancies as possible, but only to pray that you may have a right +judgment in all things, and have strength to do what is right, +whatever you may see that to be.' + +'And of course that will be to stick by mother.' + +'There can be little doubt of that, but the how? No, dear, do not +let us devise all sorts of _hows_ when we have nothing to go upon. +That would be of no use, and only perplex you when the time comes. +It would be much better to "do the nexte thinge," and read our "Marie +Stuart."' + +Nuttie pouted a little, but submitted, though she now and then broke +into a translation with 'You know mother will never stand up for +herself,' or 'They think I shall be asked to stay with the Egremonts, +but I must work up for the exam.' + +However, the school habit of concentrating her attention prevailed, +and the study quieted Nuttie's excitement. The expedition took place +as arranged. There was a train which stopped so that the party could +go down by it, and the distance was not too great for walking back. + +Mr. Dutton met them on the platform, well armed with his neat silk +umbrella, and his black poodle, Monsieur, trotting solemnly after +him. Gerard Godfrey bore materials for an exact transcript of the +Abbot's monumental cross, his head being full of church architecture, +while Nuttie carried a long green tin case, or vasculum as she chose +to call it, with her three vowels, U A E, and the stars of the Little +Bear conspicuously painted on it in white. + +'You did not venture on that the other day,' said Mr. Dutton. 'How +much of the park do you mean to carry away in it?' + +'Let me take it,' said Gerard politely. + +'No, thank you. You'd leave it behind, while you were pottering over +the mouldings.' + +'You are much more likely to leave it behind yourself.' + +'What--with my soldier, my Stratiotes, in it? I think I see myself.' + +'Give it to me,' said Gerard. 'Of course I can't see you carrying a +great thing like that.' + +'Can't you, indeed?' + +'Gently, gently, my dear,' said Miss Mary, as the young people seemed +very near a skirmish, and the train was sweeping up. Then there was +another small scuffle, for Nuttie had set her heart on the third +class; but Mr. Dutton had taken second-class tickets, and was about +to hand them into a carriage whence there had just emerged a very +supercilious black-moustached valet, who was pulling out a leather- +covered dressing-case, while Gerard was consoling Nuttie by telling +her that Monsieur never deigned to go third class. + +'It is a smoking carriage,' said Miss Nugent, on the step. 'Pah! how +it smells,' as she jumped back. + +'Beautiful backy--a perfect nosegay,' said Gerard. + +'Trust that fellow for having the best.' + +'His master's, no doubt,' suggested Mr. Dutton. + +'You'd better go in it, to enjoy his reversion,' said Nuttie. + +'And where's my escort, then?' + +'Oh, I'm sure we don't want you.' + +'Nuttie, my dear,' expostulated Miss Nugent, dragging her into the +next carriage. + +'You may enjoy the fragrance still,' said Nuttie when seated. 'Do +you see--there's the man's master; he has stood him up against that +post, with his cigar, to wait while he gets out the luggage. I +daresay you can get a whiff if you lean out far enough.' + +'I say! that figure is a study!' said Gerard. 'What is it that he is +so like?' + +'Oh! I know,' said Nuttie. 'It is Lord Frederick Verisopht, and the +bad gentlefolks in the pictures to the old numbers of Dickens that +you have got, Miss Mary. Now, isn't he? Look! only Lord Frederick +wasn't fat.' + +Nuttie was in a state of excitement that made her peculiarly +unmanageable, and Miss Nugent was very grateful to Mr. Dutton for his +sharp though general admonition against staring, while, under pretext +of disposing of the umbrella and the vasculum, he stood up, so as to +block the window till they were starting. + +There was no one else to observe them but a demure old lady, and in +ten minutes' time they were in open space, where high spirits might +work themselves off, though the battle over the botanical case was +ended by Miss Nugent, who strongly held that ladies should carry +their own extra encumbrances, and slung it with a scarf over Nuttie's +shoulders in a knowing knapsack fashion. + +The two young people had known one another all their lives, for +Gerard was the son of a medical man who had lived next door to Miss +Headworth when the children were young. The father was dead, and the +family had left the place, but this son had remained at school, and +afterwards had been put into the office at the umbrella factory under +charge of Mr. Dutton, whose godson he was, and who treated him as a +nephew. He was a good-hearted, steady young fellow, with his whole +interest in ecclesiastical details, wearing a tie in accordance with +'the colours,' and absorbed in church music and decorations, while +his recreations were almost all in accordance therewith. + +There was plenty of merriment, as he drew and measured at the very +scanty ruins, which were little more than a few fragments of wall, +overgrown luxuriantly with ivy and clematis, but enclosing some fine +old coffin-lids with floriated crosses, interesting to those who +cared for architecture and church history, as Mr. Dutton tried to +make the children do, so that their ecclesiastical feelings might be +less narrow, and stand on a surer foundation than present interest, a +slightly aggressive feeling of contempt for all the other town +churches, and a pleasing sense of being persecuted. + +They fought over the floriations and mouldings with great zest, and +each maintained a date with youthful vigour--both being, as Mr. +Dutton by and by showed them, long before the foundation. The pond +had been left to the last with a view to the wellbeing of the water- +soldier on the return. Here the difficulties of the capture were +great, for the nearest plant flourished too far from the bank to be +reached with comfort, and besides, the sharp-pointed leaves to which +it owes its name were not to be approached with casual grasps. + +'Oh Monsieur, I wish you were a Beau,' sighed Nuttie. 'Why, are you +too stupid to go and get it?' + +'It is a proof of his superior intelligence,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'But really it is too ridiculous--too provoking--to have come all +this way and not get it,' cried the tantalised Nuttie. 'Oh, Gerard, +are you taking off your boots and stockings? You duck!' + +'Just what I wish I was,' said the youth, rolling up his trousers. + +But even the paddling in did not answer. Mr. Dutton called out +anxiously, 'Take care, Gerard, the bottom may be soft,' and came down +to the very verge just in time to hold out his hand, and prevent an +utterly disastrous fall, for Gerard, in spite of his bare feet, sank +at once into mud, and on the first attempt to take a step forward, +found his foot slipping away from under him, and would in another +instant have tumbled backwards into the slush and weeds. He +scrambled back, his hat falling off into the reeds, and splashing Mr. +Dutton all over, while Monsieur began to bark 'with astonishment at +seeing his master in such a plight,' declared the ladies, who stood +convulsed with cruel laughter. + +'Isn't it dreadful?' exclaimed Ursula. + +'Well! It might have been worse,' gravely said Mr. Dutton, wiping +off the more obnoxious of his splashes with his pocket handkerchief. + +'Oh I didn't mean you, but the water-soldier,' said Nuttie. 'To have +come five miles for it in vain!' + +'I don't know what to suggest,' added Gerard. 'Even if the ladies +were to retire--' + +'No, no,' interposed Mr. Dutton, ''tis no swimming ground, and I +forbid the expedient. You would only be entangled in the weeds.' + +'Behold!' exclaimed Mary, who had been prowling about the banks, and +now held up in triumph one of the poles with a bill-hook at the end +used for cutting weed. + +'Bravo, Miss Nugent!' cried Gerard. + +'Female wit has circumvented the water-soldier,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Don't cry out too soon,' returned Mary; 'the soldier may float off +and escape you yet.' + +However, the capture was safely accomplished, without even a dip +under water to destroy the beauty of the white flowers. With these, +and a few waterlilies secured by Gerard for the morrow's altar vases, +the party set out on their homeward walk, through plantations of +whispering firs, the low sun tingeing the trunks with ruddy light; +across heathery commons, where crimson heath abounded, and the +delicate blush-coloured wax-belled species was a prize; by cornfields +in ear hanging out their dainty stamens; along hedges full of +exquisite plumes of feathering or nodding grass, of which Nuttie made +bouquets and botanical studies, and Gerard stored for harvest +decorations. They ran and danced on together with Monsieur at their +heels, while the elders watched them with some sadness and anxiety. +Free-masonry had soon made both Mary and Mr. Dutton aware of each +other's initiation, and they had discussed the matter in all its +bearings, agreed that the man was a scoundrel, and the woman an +angel, even if she had once been weak, and that she ought to be very +resolute with him if he came to terms. And then they looked after +their young companions, and Mr. Dutton said, 'Poor children, what is +before them?' + +'It is well they are both so young,' answered Mary. + + + + + +CHAPTER VII. +THAT MAN. + + + + +'It is the last time--'tis the last!'--SCOTT. + + +Sundays were the ever-recurring centres of work and interests to the +little circle in St. Ambrose's Road. To them the church services and +the various classes and schools were the great objects and +excitements of the week. A certain measure of hopeful effort and +varying success is what gives zest to life, and the purer and higher +the aim, and the more unmixed the motives, the greater the happiness +achieved by the 'something attempted, something done.' + +Setting apart actual spiritual devotion, the altar vases, purchased +by a contribution of careful savings, and adorned with the Monks +Horton lilies, backed by ferns from the same quarter; the surplices +made by the ladies themselves, the chants they had practised, the +hymns they had taught, could not but be much more interesting to them +than if they had been mere lookers on. Every cross on the markers, +every flower on the altar cloth was the work of one or other of them; +everything in the church was an achievement, and choir boys, school +children, Bible classes, every member of the regular congregation, +had some special interest; nay, every irregular member or visitor +might be a convert in time--if not a present sympathiser, and at the +very least might swell the offertory that was destined to so many +needs of the struggling district. + +Thus it was with some curiosity mingled with self-reproach that +Nuttie, while singing her Benedictus among the tuneful shop-girls, to +whom she was bound to set an example, became aware of yesterday's +first-class traveller lounging, as far as the rows of chairs would +permit, in the aisle, and, as she thought, staring hard at her +mother. It was well that Mrs. Egremont's invariable custom was never +to lift her eyes from her book or her harmonium, or she surely must +have been disconcerted, her daughter thought, by the eyes that must +have found her out, under her little black net bonnet and veil, as +the most beautiful woman in church,--as she certainly was,--even that +fine good-for-nothing gentleman thinking so. Nuttie would add his +glances to the glories of her lovely mother! + +And she did so, with triumph in her tone of reprobation, as she +trotted off, after the early dinner, to her share of Sunday-school +work as usual under Miss Nugent's wing. It began with a children's +service, and then ensued, in rooms at the factory, lent by Mr. +Dutton, the teaching that was to supply the omissions of the Board +School; the establishment of a voluntary one being the next ambition +of St. Ambrose's. + +Coming home from their labours, in the fervent discussion of their +scholars, and exchanging remarks and greetings with the other +teachers of various calibres, the friends reached their own road, and +there, to their amazement, beheld Miss Headworth. + +'Yes, it really is!' cried Nuttie. 'We can't be too late? No-- +there's no bell! Aunt Ursel! What has brought you out? What's the +matter? Where's mother?' + +'In the house. My dear,' catching hold of her, and speaking +breathlessly, 'I came out to prepare you. He is come--your father--' + +'Where?' cried Nuttie, rather wildly. + +'He is in the drawing-room with your mother. I said I would send +you.' Poor Miss Headworth gasped with agitation. 'Oh! where's Mr. +Dutton--not that anything can be done--' + +'Is it _that man_?' asked Nuttie, and getting no answer, 'I know it +is! Oh Aunt Ursel, how could you leave her with him? I must go and +protect her. Gerard--come. No, go and fetch Mr. Dutton.' + +'Hush! hush, Nuttie,' cried her aunt, grasping her. 'You know +nothing about it. Wait here till I can tell you.' + +'Come in here, dear Miss Headworth,' said Mary, gently drawing her +arm into hers, for the poor old lady could hardly stand for +trembling, and bidding Gerard open the door of her own house with the +latch-key. + +She took them into the dining-room, so as not to disturb her mother, +sent Gerard off after Mr. Dutton in the very uttermost astonishment +and bewilderment, and set Miss Headworth down in an easy-chair, where +she recovered herself, under Mary's soothing care, enough to tell her +story in spite of Nuttie's exclamations. 'Wait! wait, Nuttie! You +mustn't burst in on them so! No, you need not be afraid. Don't be a +silly child! He won't hurt her! Oh no! They are quite delighted to +meet.' + +'Delighted to meet?' said Nuttie, as if transfixed. + +'Yes,' said her aunt. 'Oh yes, I always knew the poor child cared +for him and tried to believe in him all along. He only had to say +the word.' + +'I wouldn't,' cried the girl, her eyes flashing. 'Why didn't you ask +him how he could desert her and leave her?' + +'My dear! how can one come between husband and wife? Oh, my poor +Alice!' + +'How was it, how did they meet, dear Miss Headworth?' asked Mary, +administering the wine she had been pouring out. + +'You hadn't been gone half an hour, Alice was reading to me, and I +was just dozing, when in came Louisa. "A gentleman to see Mrs. +Egremont," she said, and there he was just behind. We rose up--she +did not know him at once, but he just said "Edda, my little Edda, +sweeter than ever, I knew you at once," or something of that sort, +and she gave one little cry of "I knew you would come," and sprang +right into his arms. I--well, I meant to make him understand how he +had treated her, but just as I began "Sir"--he came at me with his +hand outstretched--' + +'You didn't take it, aunt, I hope?' cried Nuttie. + +'My dear, when you see him, you will know how impossible it is. He +_has_ that high-bred manner it is as if he were conferring a favour. +"Miss Headworth, I conclude," said he, "a lady to whom I owe more +than I can express." Just as if I had done it for his sake.' Miss +Nugent felt this open expression dangerous on account of the +daughter, and she looked her consternation at Mr. Dutton, who had +quietly entered, ruthlessly shutting Gerard Godfrey out with only +such a word of explanation as could be given on the way. + +'Then he comes with--with favourable intentions,' said Mary, putting +as much admonition as she could into her voice. + +'Oh! no doubt of that,' said Miss Headworth, drawing herself +together. 'He spoke of the long separation,--said he had never been +able to find her, till the strange chance of his nephew stumbling on +her at Abbots Norton.' + +'That is--possib--probably true,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'It can't be,' broke in Nuttie. 'He never troubled himself about it +till his nephew found the papers. You said so, Aunt Ursel! He is a +dreadful traitor of a man, just like Marmion, or Theseus, or +Lancelot, and now he is telling lies about it! Don't look at me. +Aunt Ursel, they are lies, and I _will_ say it, and he took in poor +dear mother once, and now he is taking her in again, and I can't bear +that he should be my father!' + +It was so entirely true, yet so shocking to hear from her mouth, that +all three stood aghast, as she stood with heaving chest, crimson +cheeks, and big tears in her eyes. Miss Headworth only muttered, +'Oh, my poor child, you mustn't!' + +Mr. Dutton prevented another passionate outburst by his tone of +grave, gentle authority. 'Listen a moment, Ursula,' he said. 'It is +unhappily true that this man has acted in an unjustifiable way +towards your mother and yourself. But there are, no doubt, many more +excuses for him than you know of, and as I found a few years ago that +the people at Dieppe had lost the address that had been left with +them, he must have found no traces of your mother there. You cannot +understand the difficulties that may have been in his way. And there +is no use, quite the contrary, in making the worst of him. He has +found your mother out, and it seems that he claims her +affectionately, and she forgives and welcomes him--out of the sweet +tenderness of her heart.' + +'She may--but I can't,' murmured Nuttie. + +'That is not a fit thing for a daughter, nor a Christian, to say,' +Mr. Dutton sternly said. + +''Tis not for myself--'tis for her,--'objected Nuttie. + +'That's nonsense; a mere excuse,' he returned. 'You have nothing at +all to forgive, since he did not know you were in existence. And as +to your mother, whom you say you put first, what greater grief or +pain can you give her than by showing enmity and resentment against +her husband, when she, the really injured person, loves and +forgives?' + +'He's a bad man. If she goes back to him, I know he will make her +unhappy--' + +'You don't know any such thing, but you do know that your opposition +will make her unhappy. Remember, there's no choice in the matter. +He has legal rights over you both, and since he shows himself ready +(as I understand from Miss Headworth that he is) to give her and you +your proper position, you have nothing to do but to be thankful. I +think myself that it is a great subject of thankfulness that your +mother can return so freely without any bitterness. It is the +blessing of such as she--' + +Nuttie stood pouting, but more thoughtful and less violent, as she +said, 'How can I be thankful? I don't want position or anything. I +only want him to let my--my own mother, and aunt, and me alone.' + +'Child, you are talking of what you do not understand. You must not +waste any more time in argument. Your mother has sent for you, and +it is your duty to go and let her introduce you to your father. I +have little doubt that you will find him very unlike all your +imagination represents him, but let that be as it may, the fifth +Commandment does not say, "Honour only thy good father," but, "Honour +thy father." Come now, put on your gloves--get her hat right, if you +please, Miss Mary. There--now, come along, be a reasonable creature, +and a good girl, and do not give unnecessary pain and vexation to +your mother.' He gave her his arm, and led her away. + +'Well done, Mr. Dutton!' exclaimed Miss Nugent. + +'Poor Mr. Dutton!' All Aunt Ursel's discretion could not suppress +that sigh, but Mary prudently let it pass unnoticed, only honouring +in her heart the unselfishness and self-restraint of the man whose +long, patient, unspoken hopes had just received a death-blow. + +'Oh, Mary! I never thought it would have been like this!' cried the +poor old lady. 'I ought not to have spoken as I did before the +child, but I was so taken by surprise! Alice turned to him just as +if he had been the most faithful, loving husband in the world. She +is believing every word he says.' + +'It is very happy for her that she can,' pleaded Mary. + +'So it is, yes, but--when one knows what he is, and what she is! Oh, +Mr. Dutton, is the poor child gone in?' + +'Yes, I saw her safe into the room. She was very near running off up +the stairs,' said Mr. Dutton. 'But I daresay she is fascinated by +this time. That sort of man has great power over women.' + +'Nuttie is hardly a woman yet,' said Miss Nugent. + +'No, but there must be a strong reaction, when she sees something +unlike her compound of Marmion and Theseus.' + +'I suppose there is no question but that they must go with him!' said +Miss Headworth wistfully. + +'Assuredly. You say he--this Egremont--was affectionate,' said Mr. +Dutton quietly, but Mary saw his fingers white with his tight +clenching of the bar of the chair. + +'Oh yes, warmly affectionate, delighted to find her prettier than +ever, poor dear; I suppose he meant it. Heaven forgive me, if I am +judging him too hardly, but I verily believe he went to church to +reconnoitre, and see whether she pleased his fancy--' + +'And do you understand,' added Mr. Dutton, 'that he is prepared to do +her full justice, and introduce her to his family and friends as his +wife, on equal terms? Otherwise, even if she were unwilling to stand +up for herself, it would be the duty of her friends to make some +stipulations.' + +'I am pretty sure that he does,' said the aunt; 'I did not stay long +when I saw that I was not wanted, but I heard him say something about +his having a home for her now, and her cutting out the Redcastle +ladies.' + +'Besides, there is the nephew, Mr. Mark Egremont,' said Mary. 'He +will take care of her.' + +'Yes,' said Mr. Dutton. 'It appears to be all right. At any rate, +there can be no grounds for interference on our part.' + +Mr. Dutton took his leave with these words, wringing Miss Headworth's +hand in mute sympathy, and she, poor old lady, when he was gone, +fairly collapsed into bitter weeping over the uncertain future of +those whom she had loved as her own children, and who now must leave +her desolate. Mary did her best with comfort and sympathy, and +presently took her to share her griefs and fears with gentle old Mrs. +Nugent. + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. +THE FATHER. + + + + +'I do think this lady + To be my child.'-King Lear. + + +Nuttie, in her fresh holland Sunday dress, worked in crewels with +wild strawberries by her mother's hands, and with a white-trimmed +straw hat, was almost shoved into the little drawing-room by Mr. +Dutton, though he was himself invisible. + +Her eyes were in such a daze of tears that she hardly saw more at +first than that some one was there with her mother on the sofa. 'Ah, +there she is!' she heard her mother cry, and both rose. Her mother's +arm was round her waist, her hand was put into another, Mrs. +Egremont's voice, tremulous with exceeding delight, said, 'Our child, +our Ursula, our Nuttie! Oh, this is what I have longed for all these +years! Oh, thanks, thanks!' and her hands left her daughter to be +clasped and uplifted for a moment in fervent thanksgiving, while +Nuttie's hand was held, and a strange hairy kiss, redolent of +tobacco-smoking, was on her forehead--a masculine one, such as she +had never known, except her cousin Mark's, since the old rector died, +and she had grown too big for Mr. Dutton's embraces. It was more +strange than delightful, and yet she felt the polish of the tone that +said, 'We make acquaintance somewhat late, Ursula, but better late +than never.' + +She looked up at this new father, and understood instantly what she +had heard of his being a grand gentleman. There was a high-bred look +about him, an entire ease and perfect manner that made everything he +did or said seem like gracious condescension, and took away the power +of questioning it at the moment. He was not above the middle size, +and was becoming unwieldy; but there was something imposing and even +graceful in his deportment, and his bald narrow forehead looked +aristocratic, set off between side tufts of white hair, white +whiskers, and moustaches waxed into sharp points, Victor Emmanuel +fashion, and a round white curly beard. His eyes were dark, and +looked dull, with yellow unwholesome corners, and his skin was not of +a pleasant colour, but still, with all Nuttie's intentions of +regarding him with horror, she was subdued, partly by the grand +breeding and air of distinction, and partly by the current of +sympathy from her mother's look of perfect happiness and exultation. +She could not help feeling it a favour, almost an undeserved favour, +that so great a personage should say, 'A complete Egremont, I see. +She has altogether the family face.' + +'I am so glad you think so,' returned her mother. + +'On the whole it is well, but she might have done better to resemble +you, Edda,' he said caressingly; 'but perhaps that would have been +too much for the Earlsforth natives. William's girls will have +enough to endure without a double eclipse!' and he laughed. + +'I--I don't want--' faltered the mother. + +'You don't want, no, but you can't help it,' he said, evidently with +a proud delight in her beauty. 'Now that I have seen the child,' he +added, 'I will make my way back to the hotel.' + +'Will you--won't you stay to tea or dinner?' said his wife, beginning +with an imploring tone which hesitated as she reviewed possible chops +and her aunt's dismay. + +'Thank you, I have ordered dinner at the hotel,' he answered, 'and +Gregorio is waiting for me with a cab. No doubt you will wish to +make arrangements with Madame--the old lady--and I will not trouble +her further to-night. I will send down Gregorio to-morrow morning, +to tell you what I arrange. An afternoon train, probably, as we +shall go no farther than London. You say Lady Kirkaldy called on +you. We might return her visit before starting, but I will let you +know when I have looked at the trains. My compliments to Miss +Headworth. Good evening, sweetest.' He held his wife in a fond +embrace, kissing her brow and cheeks and letting her cling to him, +then added, 'Good evening, little one,' with a good-natured careless +gesture with which Nuttie was quite content, for she had a certain +loathing of the caresses that so charmed her mother. And yet the +command to make ready had been given with such easy authority that +the idea of resisting it had never even entered her mind, though she +stood still while her mother went out to the door with him and +watched him to the last. + +Coming back, she threw her arms round her daughter, kissed her again +and again, and, with showers of the glad tears long repressed, cried, +'Oh, my Nuttie, my child, what joy! How shall I be thankful enough! +Your father, your dear father! Now it is all right.' Little +sentences of ecstasy such as these, interspersed with caresses, all +in the incoherence of overpowering delight, full of an absolute faith +that the lost husband had loved her and been pining for her all these +years, but that he had been unable to trace her, and was as happy as +she was in the reunion. + +The girl was somewhat bewildered, but she was carried along by this +flood of exceeding joy and gladness. The Marmion and Theseus images +had been dispelled by the reality, and, with Mr. Dutton's sharp +reproof fresh upon her, she felt herself to have been doing a great +injustice to her father; believed all that her mother did, and found +herself the object of a romantic recognition--if not the beggar girl +become a princess, at any rate, the little school-teacher a county +lady! And she had never seen her mother so wildly, overpoweringly +happy with joy. That made her, too, feel that something grand and +glorious had happened. + +'What are we going to do?' she asked, as the vehemence of Mrs. +Egremont's emotion began to work itself off. + +'Home! He takes us to his home! _His_ home!' repeated her mother, +in a trance of joy, as the yearnings of her widowed heart now were +fulfilled. + +'Oh, but Aunt Ursel!' + +'Poor Aunt Ursel! Oh, Nuttie, Nuttie, I had almost forgotten! How +could I?' and there was a shower of tears of compunction. 'But he +said he owed everything to her! She will come with us! Or if she +doesn't live with us, we will make her live close by in a dear little +cottage. Where is she? When did she go? I never saw her go.' + +The sound of the front door was heard, for the visitor had been +watched away and Miss Headworth was returning to her own house to be +there received with another fervent gush of happiness, much more +trying to her, poor thing, than to Nuttie. + +There was evensong imminent, and the most needful act at the moment +was to compose the harmonium-player sufficiently for her to take her +part. Miss Headworth was really glad of the necessity, since it put +off the discussion, and made a reason for silencing Nuttie until all +should be more recovered from the first agitation. Alice Egremont +herself was glad to carry her gratitude and thankfulness to the +Throne of Grace, and in her voluntary, and all her psalms, there was +an exulting strain that no one had thought the instrument capable of +producing, and that went to the heart of more than one of her +hearers. No one who knew her could doubt that hers was simply +innocent exultation in the recovery of him whom she so entirely loved +and confided in. But there could not but be terrible doubts whether +he were worthy of that trust, and what the new page in her life would +be. + +Miss Headworth had said they would not talk till after church, but +there was no deferring the matter then. She was prepared, however, +when her niece came up to her in a tender deprecating manner, saying, +'Aunt Ursel, dear Aunt Ursel, it does seem very ungrateful, but--' + +'He is going to take you away? Yes, I saw that. And it ought to be, +my dear. You know where?' + +'Yes; to London first, to be fitted out, and then to his own home. +To Bridgefield Egremont. I shall have to see Mr. Egremont,' and her +voice sank with shame. 'But Mark will be good to me, and why should +I care when I have him.' + +'It is quite right. I am glad it should be so,' firmly said the old +lady. + +'And yet to leave you so suddenly.' + +'That can't be helped.' + +'And it will only be for a little while,' she added, 'till you can +make arrangements to come to us. My dear husband says he owes you +everything. So you must be with us, or close to us.' + +'My dear, it's very dear and good of you to think of it, but I must +be independent.' She put it in those words, unwilling again to speak +unguardedly before Nuttie. + +'Oh, dear auntie, indeed you must! Think what you are to us, and +what you have done for us. We can't go away to be happy and +prosperous and leave you behind. Can we, Nuttie? Come and help me +to get her to promise. Do--do dearest auntie,' and she began the +coaxing and caressing natural to her, but Nuttie did not join in it, +and Miss Headworth shook her head and said gravely-- + +'Don't, Alice. It is of no use. I tell you once for all that my +mind is made up.' + +Alice, knowing by long experience that, when her aunt spoke in that +tone, persuasion was useless, desisted, but looked at her in +consternation, with eyes swimming in tears. Nuttie understood her a +little better, and felt the prickings of distrust again. + +'But, aunt, dear aunt, how can we leave you? What will you do with +all the boarders,' went on Mrs. Egremont. + +'I shall see my way, my dear. Do not think about that. It is a +great thing to see you and this child receive justice.' + +'And only think, after all the hard things that have been said of +him, that we should meet first at church! He would not wait and send +letters and messages by Mark. You see he came down himself the first +moment. I always knew he would. Only I am so sorry for him, that he +should have lost all those sweet years when Nuttie was a tiny child. +She must do all she can to make up to him.' + +'Oh dear!' broke out Nuttie. 'It is so strange! It will be all so +strange!' + +'It will be a very new life,' said her aunt, rather didactically; +'but you must do your best to be a good daughter, and to fill your +new position, and I have no doubt you will enjoy it.' + +'If I could but take all with me!' said Nuttie. 'Oh dear! whatever +will you do, Aunt Ursel? Oh mother, the choir! Who will play the +harmonium? and who will lead the girls? and whatever will Mr. Spyers +do? and who will take my class? Mother, couldn't we stay a little +longer to set things going here?' + +'It is nice of you to have thought of it, my dear,' said Mrs. +Egremont, 'but your father would not like to stay on here.' + +'But mightn't I stay, just a few days, mother, to wish everybody +good-bye? Mr. Dutton, and Miss Mary, and Gerard, and all the girls?' + +There was some consolation in this plan, and the three women rested +on it that night, Mrs. Egremont recovering composure enough to write +three or four needful notes, explaining her sudden departure. The +aunt could not talk of a future she so much dreaded for her nieces, +losing in it the thought of her own loneliness; Alice kept back her +own loving, tender, undoubting joy with a curious sense that it was +hard and ungrateful towards the aunt; but it was impossible to think +of that, and Nuttie was in many moods. + +Eager anticipation of the new unseen world beyond, exultation in +finding herself somebody, sympathy with her mother's happiness, all +had their share, but they made her all the wilder, because they were +far from unmixed. The instinctive dislike of Mr. Egremont's +countenance, and doubt of his plausible story, which had vanished +before his presence, and her mother's faith, returned upon her from +time to time, caught perhaps from her aunt's tone and looks. Then +her aunt had been like a mother to her--her own mother much more like +a sister, and the quitting her was a wrench not compensated for as in +Mrs. Egremont's case by a more absorbing affection. Moreover, Nuttie +felt sure that poor Gerard Godfrey would break his heart. As the +mother and daughter for the last time lay down together in the room +that had been theirs through the seventeen years of the girl's life, +Alice fell asleep with a look of exquisite peace and content on her +face, feeling her long term of trial crowned by unlooked-for joy, +while Ursula, though respecting her slumbers too much to move, lay +with wide-open eyes, now speculating on the strange future, now +grieving over those she left--Aunt Ursel, Gerard, Mary, and all such; +the schemes from which she was snatched, and then again consoling +herself with the hope that, since she was going to be rich, she could +at once give all that was wanted--the white altar cloth, the brass +pitcher--nay, perhaps finish the church and build the school! For +had not some one said something about her position? Oh yes, she had +not thought of it before, but, since she was the elder brother's +daughter, she must be the heiress! There was no doubt a grand +beautiful story before her; she would withstand all sorts of +fascinations, wicked baronets and earls innumerable, and come back +and take Gerard by the hand, and say, 'Pride was quelled and love was +free.' Not that Gerard had ever uttered a word tending in that +direction since he had been seven years old, but that would make it +all the prettier; they would both be silently constant, till the time +came, perhaps when she was of age. Mother would like it, though +_that_ father would certainly be horrid. And how nice it would be to +give Gerard everything, and they would go all over the Continent, and +see pictures, and buy them, and see all the cathedrals and all the +mountains. But perhaps, since Mark Egremont had really been so +generous in hunting up the cousin who was displacing him, she was +bound in duty to marry him; perhaps he reckoned on her doing so. She +would be generous in her turn, give up all the wealth to him, and +return to do and be everything to Micklethwayte. How they would +admire and bless her. And oh! she was going to London to-morrow-- +London, which she so much wished to see--Westminster Abbey, British +Museum, All Saints, National Gallery, no end of new dresses. + +Half-waking, half-dreaming, she spent the night which seemed long +enough, and the light hours of the summer morning seemed still +longer, before she could call it a reasonable time for getting up. +Her splashings awoke her mother, who lay smiling for a few moments, +realising and giving thanks for her great joy, then bestirred herself +with the recollection of all that had to be done on this busy morning +before any summons from her husband could arrive. + +Combining packing and dressing, like the essentially unmethodical +little woman she was, Mrs. Egremont still had all her beautiful silky +brown hair about her shoulders when the bell of St. Ambrose's was +heard giving its thin tinkling summons to matins at half-past seven. +She was disappointed; she meant to have gone for this last time, but +there was no help for it, and Nuttie set off by herself. + +Gerard Godfrey was at his own door. He was not one of the regular +attendants at the short service, being of that modern species that +holds itself superior to 'Cranmer's prayers,' but on this morning he +hastened up to her with outstretched hand. + +'And you are going away!' he said. + +'I hope to get leave to stay a few days after mother,' she said. + +'To prolong the torment?' he said. + +'To wish everybody good-bye. It is a great piece of my life that is +come to an end, and I can't bear to break it off so short.' + +'And if you feel so, who are going to wealth and pleasure, what must +it be to those who are left behind?' + +'Oh!' said Nuttie, 'some one will be raised up. That's what they +always say. ' + +'I shall go into a brotherhood,' observed Gerard desperately. + +'Oh, don't,' began Nuttie, much gratified, but at that moment Miss +Nugent came out at her door, and Mr. Spyers, who was some way in +advance, looked round and waited for them to come up. He held out +his hands to her and said, 'Well, Nuttie, my child, you are going to +begin a new life.' + +'Oh dear! I wish I could have both!' cried Nuttie, not very +relevantly as far as the words +went. + +'Scheiden und weiden thut weh!' quoted Mary. + +'If his place was only Monks Horton. What will Aunt Ursel do?' + +'I think perhaps she may be induced to join us,' said Mary. 'We mean +to do our best to persuade her.' + +'And there's the choir! And my class, and the harmonium,' went on +Nuttie, while Gerard walked on disconsolately. + +'Micklethwayte has existed without you, Nuttie,' said Mr. Spyers, +taking her on with him alone. 'Perhaps it will be able to do so +again. My dear, you had better look on. There will be plenty for +you to learn and to do where you are going, and you will be sure to +find much to enjoy, and also something to bear. I should like to +remind you that the best means of going on well in this new world +will be to keep self down and to have the strong desire that only +love can give to be submissive, and to do what is right both to God +and your father and mother. May I give you a text to take with you? +"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right."' + +They were at the door and there was no time for an answer, but +Nuttie, as she took her place, was partly touched and partly fretted +at the admonition. + +The question as to her remaining a day or two after her mother was +soon disposed of. Mrs. Egremont sent a pretty little note to make +the request, but the elegant valet who appeared at ten o'clock +brought a verbal message that his master wished Mrs. and Miss +Egremont to be ready by two o'clock to join him in calling on Lady +Kirkaldy at Monks Horton, and that if their luggage was ready by four +o'clock, he (Gregorio) would take charge of it, as they were all to +go up to town by the 4.40 train. + +'Did he have my note?' faltered Alice, stimulated by the imploring +glances of aunt and daughter, but anticipating the answer. + +'Yes, madame, but he wishes that Miss Egremont should accompany you +immediately.' + +'Of course,' was Alice's comment, 'now that he has found his child, +he cannot bear to part with her.' + +And all through the farewells that almost rent the gentle Alice's +heart in two, she was haunted by the terror that she or her daughter +should have red eyes to vex her husband. As to Mr. Dutton, he had +only come in with Gerard in a great hurry just after breakfast, said +there was much to do to-day at the office, as they were going to take +stock, and they should neither of them have time to come home to +luncheon. He shook the hands of mother and daughter heartily, +promised to 'look after' Miss Headworth, and bore off in his train +young Gerard, looking the picture of woe, and muttering 'I believe he +has got it up on purpose;' while mother and daughter thought it very +odd, and rather unkind. + + + + + +CHAPTER IX. +NEW PLUMES. + + + + +'And ye sall walk in silk attire, + And siller hae to spare.'--Old Ballad. + + +The very best open fly and pair of horses, being the equipage most +like a private carriage possessed by the Royal Hotel, came to the +door with Mr. Egremont seated in it, at a few minutes after two +o'clock, and found Alice in her only black silk, with a rose in her +bonnet, and a tie to match on her neck, hastily procured as signs of +her wifehood. + +She had swallowed her tears, and Nuttie was not a crying person, but +was perfectly scarlet on her usually brown cheeks. Her father +muttered some civility about back seats, but it was plain that it was +only in words, and she never thought of anything but looking back, +with her last wave to her aunt and the two maids, one crying at the +gate, the other at the door. + +'There,' said Mr. Egremont, as they drove away, 'that is over!' + +'My dear aunt,' said his wife. 'Who can express her goodness to me?' + +'Cela va sans dire,' was the reply. 'But these are connections that +happily Ursula is young enough to forget and leave behind.' + +'I shall never forget!' began Nuttie, but she saw her father +composing himself in his corner without paying the slightest heed to +what she was saying, and she encountered a warning and alarmed glance +from her mother, so she was forced to content herself with uttering +silent vows of perpetual recollection as she passed each well-known +object,--the unfinished church, with Mr. Spyers at the door talking +to old Bellman; the Town Hall, whose concerts, lectures, and S. P. G. +meetings had been her chief gaiety and excitement; the School of Art, +where Lady Kirkaldy's appearance now seemed to her to have been like +that of a bird of omen; past the shops in the High Street, with a +little exultation at the thought of past desires which they had +excited. Long could she have rattled away, her hopes contradicting +her regrets, and her regrets qualifying her anticipations, but she +saw that her mother was nervous about every word and gesture, and +fairly looked dismayed when she exclaimed, 'Oh, mother, there's Etta +Smith; how surprised she will be!' bowing and smiling with all her +might. + +There was a look of bare toleration on Mr. Egremont's face, as if he +endured because it would soon be over, as Nuttie bowed several times, +and his wife, though less quick to catch people's eyes, sometimes +also made her recognition. When the streets were past and Nuttie had +aimed her last nods at the nursery parties out walking on the road, +she became aware that those cold, lack-lustre, and yet sharply +critical eyes of her father were scanning her all over. + +'She has been educated?' he presently said to his wife. + +'Oh yes,' was the eager answer. 'She is in the highest form at the +High School, and has to go up for the Senior Local Examination. Miss +Belper makes sure that she will get a first class.' + +Mr. Egremont gave a little wave of the hand, as dismissing something +superfluous, and said, 'I hope she has some accomplishments.' + +'She has done very fairly in French and German--' + +'And Latin,' put in Ursula. + +'And she has had several prizes at the School of Art.' + +'And music? That's the only thing of any value in society,' he said +impatiently, and Mrs. Egremont said more timidly, 'She has learnt +music regularly.' + +'But I don't care about it,' broke in Nuttie. 'I haven't mother's +ear nor her voice. I learnt the science in case I should have to +teach, and they make me practise. I don't mind classical music, but +I can't stand rubbish, and I think it is waste of time.' + +Mr. Egremont looked fairly amused, as at the outspoken folly of an +enfant terrible, but he only said, either to his wife or to himself, +'A little polish, and then she may be fairly presentable. ' + +'We have taken great pains with her,' answered the gentle mother, +evidently taking this as a great compliment, while the daughter was +tingling with indignation. She, bred up by mother, and aunt, and +Mary Nugent, to be barely presentable. Was not their society at +Micklethwayte equal in good manners to any, and superior, far +superior, in goodness and intelligence to these stupid fashionable +people, who undervalued all her real useful acquirements, and cared +for nothing but trumpery music. + +The carriage entered the park, and Nuttie saw lake and woods from a +fresh point of view. The owners were both at home, and Nuttie found +herself walking behind her parents into a cheerful apartment, half +library, half morning-room. Mrs. Egremont was by far the most shy +and shrinking of the party, but it was an occasion that showed her +husband's complete tact and savoir favre. He knew perfectly well +that the Kirkaldys knew all about it, and he therefore took the +initiative. 'You are surprised to see us,' he said, as he gave his +hand, 'but we could not leave the country without coming to thank +Lady Kirkaldy for her kindness in assisting in following up the clue +to Mrs. Egremont's residence.' + +'I am very happy,' said Lady Kirkaldy, while all were being seated. + +'I think it was here that my nephew Mark first met one whom, child as +he was, he could not but remember.' + +'I don't think you met him here,' said Lady Kirkaldy to Mrs. +Egremont; 'but he heard the name and was struck by it.' + +'Dear Mark!' was the response. 'He was so kind.' + +'He is a dear good boy,' chimed in my lady. + +'Yes,' said her lord, 'an excellent good fellow with plenty of +brains.' + +'As he well knows,' said Mr. Egremont. 'Oh yes; I quite agree with +all you say of him! One ought to be thankful for the possession of a +rare specimen.' + +It was in the tone in which Falstaff discussed that sober boy, Lord +John of Lancaster. Lord Kirkaldy asked if the visitors were going to +remain long in the neighbourhood. + +'We are due in London to-night,' replied Mr. Egremont. 'We shall +spend a day or two there, and then go home. Alice,' he added, though +his wife had never heard him call her so before, 'Lady Kirkaldy knows +your inexperience. Perhaps she would be good enough to give you some +addresses that might be useful.' + +'I shall be delighted,' said the lady, cordially looking at the +blushing Mrs. Egremont. + +'Dressmaker, and all the rest of it,' said Mr. Egremont. 'You know +better than she does what she will require, and a little advice will +be invaluable. Above all, if you could tell her how to pick up a +maid.' + +Lady Kirkaldy proposed to take the mother and daughter up to her +dressing-room, where she kept her book of addresses to London +tradesmen; and Mr. Egremont only begged that they would remember the +4.40 train. Then Lord Kirkaldy was left to entertain him, while the +ladies went up the broad staircase to the pleasant room, which had a +mingled look of refinement and usefulness which struck Nuttie at +once. Lady Kirkaldy, as soon as the door was shut, took her visitor +by the hand, kissed her forehead, and said, 'You must let me tell you +how glad I am.' + +The crystal veil at once spread over Alice's eyes. + +'Oh, thank you. Lady Kirkaldy! I am _so_ happy, and yet I am so +afraid. Please tell me what we shall _do_ so that we may not vex +him, so high bred and fastidious as he is?' + +'Be yourself! That's all, my dear,' said Lady Kirkaldy tenderly. +'Don't be afraid. You are quite incapable of doing anything that +could distress the most fastidious taste.' + +It was perfectly true of the mother, perhaps less so of the daughter; +but Lady Kirkaldy only thought of her as a mere girl, who could +easily be modelled by her surroundings. The kind hostess applied +herself to giving the addresses of the people she thought likely to +be most useful in the complete outfit which she saw would be +necessary, explaining to which establishments she applied with +confidence if she needed to complete her wardrobe in haste, feeling +certain that nothing would be sent her that she disliked, and giving +leave to use her name. She soon saw that the mother was a little +dazed, while Ursula's eyes grew rounder at the unlimited vista of +fine clothes, and she assented, and asked questions as to the +details. As to a maid, Lady Kirkaldy would write to a person who +would call on Mrs. Egremont at the hotel in London, and who might be +what was wanted; and in conclusion, Lady Kirkaldy, with some +diffidence, begged to be written to--'if--if,' she said, 'there +happened to be any difficulty about which you might not like to +consult Mrs. William Egremont.' Nuttie hardly knew whether to be +grateful or not, for she did not believe in any standard above that +of Micklethwayte, and she was almost angry at her mother's grateful +answer--'Oh, thank you! I should be so grateful! I am so afraid of +annoying him by what he may think small, ignorant, country-town ways! +You will understand--' + +Lady Kirkaldy did understand, and she dreaded what might be before +the sweet little yielding woman, not from want of breeding so much as +from the long-indulged selfishness of her husband; but she encouraged +her as much as possible, and promised all possible counsel, bringing +her downstairs again just in time. + +'Pretty little soul!' said Lord Kirkaldy, as the fly clattered away. +'I wonder whether Mark has done her a kindness!' + +'It is just what she is, a pretty, nay, a beautiful soul, full of +tenderness and forgiveness and affection and humility, only I doubt +whether there is any force or resolution to hold her own. You smile! +Well, perhaps the less of that she has the better she may get on with +him. Did he say anything about her?' + +'No; I think he wants to ignore that they have not spent the last +twenty years together.' + +'That may be the best way for all parties. Do you think he will +behave well to her?' + +'No man could well do otherwise to such a sweet little thing,' said +Lord Kirkaldy; 'especially as she will be his most obedient slave, +and will make herself necessary to him. It is much better luck than +he deserves; but I pity her when she comes to make her way with yon +ladies!' + +'I wish I was there! I know she will let herself be trodden on! +However, there's Mark to stand up for her, and William Egremont will +do whatever he thinks right and just. I wish I knew how his wife +will take it!' + + + + + +CHAPTER X. +BRIDGEFIELD EGREMONT. + + + + +'Let us see these handsome houses + Where the wealthy nobles dwell.'--TENNYSON. + + +'Mother, mother!' cried two young people, bursting open the door of +the pretty dining-room of Bridgefield Rectory, where the grown-up +part of the family were lingering over a late breakfast. + +'Gently, gently, children,' said the dignified lady at the head of +the table. 'Don't disturb papa.' + +'But we really have something to say, mother!' said the elder girl, +'and Fraulein said you ought to know. Uncle Alwyn is come home, and +Mrs. Egremont. And please, are we to call her Aunt Egremont, or Aunt +Alwyn, or what?' + +The desired sensation was produced. Canon Egremont put down his +newspaper. The two elder sisters looked from one to the other in +unmitigated astonishment. Mark briefly made answer to the final +question, 'Aunt Alice,' and Mrs. Egremont said gravely, 'How did you +hear this, Rosalind? You know I always forbid you to gossip.' + +'We didn't gossip, mother. We went up to the gardens to get some +mulberries for our half-holiday feast; and Ronaldson came out and +told us we must ask leave first, for the ladies were come. The +Squire came home at nine o'clock last night, and Mrs. Egremont and +all, and only sent a telegram two hours before to have the rooms got +ready.' + +'Has Uncle Alwyn gone and got himself married?' exclaimed one of the +young ladies, in utter amazement. + +'Not just now, Blanche,' said her father. 'It is an old story now. +Your uncle married this lady, who had been governess to May and Mark, +many years ago, and from--circumstances in which she was not at all +to blame, he lost sight of her while he was abroad with old General +Egremont. Mark met her about a fortnight ago, and this has led to +your uncle's going in quest of her, though he has certainly been more +sudden in his proceedings than I expected.' + +The mother here succeeded in sending Rosalind and Adela, with their +wondering eyes, off the scene, and she would much have liked to send +her two stepdaughters after them, but one-and-twenty and eighteen +could not so readily be ordered off as twelve and ten; and Mark, who +had been prohibited from uttering a word to his sisters, was eagerly +examining Margaret whether she remembered their Edda; but she had +been only three years old at the time of the adventures in the Isle +of Wight, and remembered nothing distinctly but the aspect of one of +the sailors in the yacht. + +'Well,' said Mrs. Egremont, 'this has come very suddenly upon us. It +would have been more for her own dignity if she had held out a little +before coming so easily to terms, after the way in which she has been +treated.' + +'When you see her, mother, you will understand,' said Mark. + +'Shall we have to be intimate with her?' asked May. + +'I desire that she should be treated as a relation,' said the Canon +decidedly. 'There is nothing against her character,' and, as his +wife was about to interrupt,--'nothing but an indiscretion to which +she was almost driven many years ago. She was cruelly treated, and I +for one am heartily sorry for having let myself be guided by others.' + +Mrs. William Egremont felt somewhat complacent, for she knew he meant +Lady de Lyonnais, and there certainly had been no love lost between +her and her step-children's grandmother; but she was a sensible +woman, and forbore to speak, though there was a mental reservation +that intimacy would a good deal depend upon circumstances. Blanche +cried out that it was a perfect romance, and May gravely said, 'But +is she a lady?' + +'A perfect lady,' said Mark. 'Aunt Margaret says so.' + +'One knows what a perfect lady means,' returned May. + +'Come, May,' said Mrs. Egremont, 'do not let us begin with a +prejudice. By all accounts the poor thing has conducted herself with +perfect respectability all this time. What did you tell me, Mark? +She has been living with an aunt, keeping a school at Micklethwayte.' + + Not quite,' said Mark. 'She has been acting as a daily governess. +She seemed to be on friendly terms with the clerical folk. I came +across the name at a school feast, or something of the kind, which +came off in the Kirkaldys' park.' + +'Oh, then, I know exactly the sort of person!' returned May, pursing +up her lips. + +Mark laughed and said, 'I wonder whether it is too soon to go up and +see them. I wonder what my uncle thinks of his daughter.' + +'What! You don't mean to say there is a daughter?' cried May. + +'Even so. And exactly like you too, Miss May.' + +'Then you are cut out, Mark!' + +'You are cut out, I think, May. You'll have to give her all your +Miss Egremont cards.' + +'No,' said the young lady; 'mother made me have my Christian name +printed. She said all but the daughters of the head of the family +ought to have it so. I'm glad of it.' + +'How old is she?' asked Blanche. + +'About a year younger than you.' + +'I think it is very interesting,' said Blanche. 'How wonderful it +must all be to her! I will go up with you, Mark, as soon as I can +get ready.' + +'You had better wait till later in the day, Blanche,' said the +mother. She knew the meeting was inevitable, but she preferred +having it under her own eye, if she could not reconnoitre. + +She was a just and sensible woman, who felt reparation due to the +newly-discovered sister-in-law, and that harmony, or at least the +appearance of it, must be preserved; but she was also exclusive and +fastidious by nature, and did not look forward to the needful +intercourse with much satisfaction either on her own account or that +of her family. + +She told Mark to say that she should come to see Mrs. Egremont after +luncheon, since he was determined to go at once, and moreover to drag +his father with him. Canon Egremont was a good and upright man, +according to his lights, which were rather those of a well-beneficed +clergyman of the first than of the last half of the century, +intensified perhaps that the passive voice was the strongest in him. +All the country knew that Canon Egremont could be relied on to give a +prudent, scholarly judgment, and to be kind and liberal, when once +induced to stir mind or body--but how to do that was the problem. He +had not been a young man at the time of his first marriage, and was +only a few years' junior to his brother, though he had the fresh, +wholesome look of a man who kept regular hours and lived much in the +air. + +Alice knew him at once, and thought eighteen years had made little +change, as, at Nuttie's call to her, she looked from the window and +saw the handsome, dignified, gray-haired, close-shaven rosy face, and +the clerical garb unchanged in favour of long coats and high +waistcoats. + +The mother and daughter were exploring the house together. Mr. +Egremont had made it known that he preferred having his breakfast +alone, and not being disturbed in the forenoon. So the two ladies +had breakfasted together at nine, the earliest hour at which they +could prevail on the household to give them a meal. Indeed Nuttie +had slept till nearly that time, for between excitement and noise, +her London slumbers had been broken; and her endeavour to keep +Micklethwayte hours had resulted in a long, weary, hungry time in the +sitting-room of the hotel, with nothing to do, when the gaze from the +window palled on her, but to write to her aunt and Mary Nugent. The +rest of the day had been spent in driving about in a brougham with +her mother shopping, and this she could not but enjoy exceedingly, +more than did the timid Mrs. Egremont, who could not but feel herself +weighted with responsibility; and never having had to spend at the +utmost more than ten pounds at a time, felt bewildered at the cheques +put into her hands, and then was alarmed to find them melting away +faster than she expected. + +There was a very late dinner, after which Mr. Egremont, on the first +day, made his wife play bezique with him. She enjoyed it, as a +tender reminiscence of the yachting days; but Nuttie found herself de +trop, and was reduced to the book she had contrived to purchase on +her travels. The second night Mr. Egremont had picked up two +friends, not yet gone out of town, whose talk was of horses and of +yachts, quite incomprehensible to the ladies. They were very +attentive to Mrs. Egremont, whom they evidently admired, one so +visibly as to call up a blush; but they disregarded the daughter as a +schoolgirl. Happily they appeared no more after the dinner; but +Nuttie's first exclamation of astonished disgust was silenced at once +by her mother with unusual determination, 'You must not speak so of +your father's friends.' + +'Not when--' + +'Not at all,' interrupted Mrs. Egremont. + +The only sense of promotion to greatness that Ursula had yet enjoyed +was in these fine clothes, and the maid whom Lady Kirkaldy had +recommended, a grave and severe-looking person, of whom both stood +somewhat in awe. The arrival at Bridgefield had been too late for +anything to be taken in but a general impression of space and +dreariness, and the inevitable dinner of many courses, after which +Nuttie was so tired out that her mother sent her to bed. + +Since the waking she had made some acquaintance with the house. +There was no show of domestics, no curtseying housekeeper to parade +the new mistress over the house; Mr. Egremont had told his wife that +she must fill up the establishment as she pleased, but that there was +an admirable cook downstairs, and he would not have her interfered +with--she suited his tastes as no one else did, and she must be left +to deal with the provisions and her own underlings. There was a +stable establishment, and a footman had been hired in town, but there +was besides only one untidy-looking housemaid, who began by giving +warning; and Alice and Nuttie had roamed about without meeting any +one from the big wainscotted dining-room with faded crimson curtains +and family portraits, the older grimy, the younger chalky, to the two +drawing-rooms, whose gilding and pale blue damask had been preserved +by pinafores of brown holland; the library, which looked and smelt as +if Mr. Egremont was in the habit of sitting there, and a big +billiard-room, all opening into a shivery-feeling hall, with +Scagliola columns and a few dirty statues between them; then upstairs +to a possible morning-room, looking out over a garden lawn, where +mowing was going on in haste, and suites of dreary shut-up fusty +bedrooms. Nuttie, who had notions of choosing her own bower, could +not make up her mind which looked the least inviting. It did not +seem as if girls could ever have laughed together, or children +clattered up and down the stairs. Mrs. Egremont begged her to keep +possession for the present at least of the chamber where the grim +housemaid had chosen to put her, and which had the advantage of being +aired. + +The two windows looked out over the park, and thence it was that +while Morris, the maid, was unpacking and putting away the new +purchases, and Nuttie was standing, scarcely realising that such +pretty hats and bonnets could be her very own, when her mother beheld +the Canon and Mark advancing up the drive. It was with a great start +that she called Ursula to come down directly with her, as no one +would know where to find them, hastily washing the hands that had +picked up a sense of dustiness during the exploration, and taking a +comprehensive glance in the cheval glass, which showed her some one +she felt entirely unfamiliar to her in a dainty summer costume of +pale gray silk picked out with a mysterious shade of pink. Ursula +too thought Miss Egremont's outer woman more like a Chelsea +shepherdess than Nuttie's true self, as she tripped along in her +buckled shoes and the sea green stockings that had been sent home +with her skirt. With crimson cheeks and a throbbing heart, Alice was +only just at the foot of the stairs when the newcomers had made their +way in, and the kind Canon, ignoring all that was past, held out his +hands saying, 'Well, my dear, I am glad to see you here,' kissing +Mrs. Egremont on each cheek. 'And so this is your daughter. How do +you do, my dear--Ursula? Isn't that your name?' And Ursula had +again to submit to a kiss, much more savoury and kindly than her +father's, though very stubbly. And oh! her uncle's dress was like +that of no one she had ever seen except the rector of the old church, +the object of unlimited contempt to the adherents of St. Ambrose's. + +As to Mark, he only kissed his aunt, and shook hands with her, while +his father ran on with an unusual loquacity that was a proof of +nervousness in him. + +'Mrs. Egremont--Jane, I mean--will be here after luncheon. She +thought you would like to get settled in first. How is Alwyn? Is he +down yet?' + +'I will see,' in a trembling voice. + +'Oh no, never mind, Alwyn hates to be disturbed till he has made +himself up in the morning. My call is on you, you know. Where are +you sitting?' + +'I don't quite know. In the drawing-room, I suppose.' + +The Canon, knowing the house much better than she did, opened a door +into a third drawing-room she had not yet seen, a pretty little room, +fitted up with fluted silk, like a tent, somewhat faded but not much +the worse for that, and opening into a conservatory, which seemed to +have little in it but some veteran orange trees. Nuttie, however, +exclaimed with pleasure at the nicest room she had seen, and Mark +began unfastening the glass door that led into it. Meantime Alice, +with burning cheeks and liquid eyes, nerved her voice to say, 'Oh, +sir--Mr. Egremont--please forgive me! I know now how wrong I was.' + +'Nonsense, my dear. Bygones are bygones. You were far more sinned +against than sinning, and have much to forgive me. There, my dear, +we will say no more about it, nor think of it either. I am only too +thankful that poor Alwyn should have some one to look after him.' + +Alice, who had dreaded nothing more than the meeting with her former +master, was infinitely relieved and grateful for this kindness. She +had ejaculated, 'Oh, you are so good!' in the midst, and now at the +mention of her husband, she exclaimed, 'Oh! do you think he is ill? +I can't help being afraid he is, but he will not tell me, and does +not like to be asked.' + +'Poor fellow, he has damaged his health a good deal,' was the answer. +'He had a sharp attack in the spring, but he has pretty well got over +it, and Raikes told me there was no reason for uneasiness, provided +he would be careful; and that will be a much easier matter now. I +should not wonder if we saw him with quite a renewed youth.' + +So the Canon and Mrs. Egremont were getting on pretty well together, +but there was much more stiffness and less cordiality between the two +cousins, although Mark got the window open into the conservatory, and +showed Nuttie the way into the garden, advising her to ask Ronaldson, +the gardener, to fill the conservatory with flowers. The pavilion, +as this little room was called, always seemed to have more capacities +for being lived in than any other room in the house. It had been +fitted up when such things were the fashion for the shortlived bride +of 'our great uncle.' + +'The colour must have been awful then,' said Mark, looking up at it, +'enough to set one's teeth on edge; but it has faded into something +quite orthodox--much better than could be manufactured for you.' + +Mark had evidently some ideas of art, and was besides inclined to do +the honours to the stranger; but Nuttie was not going to encourage +him or anybody else to make up to her, while she had that look of +Gerard Godfrey's in her mind's eye. So she made small answer, and he +felt rebuffed, but supposed her shy, and wondered when he could go +back to her mother, who was so much more attractive. + +Presently his father went off to storm the den of the master of the +house, and there was a pleasant quarter of an hour, during which the +three went out through the conservatory, and Mark showed the ins-and- +outs of the garden, found out Ronaldson, and congratulated him on +having some one at last to appreciate his flowers, begging him to +make the conservatory beautiful. And Mrs. Egremont's smile was so +effective that the Scot forthwith took out his knife and presented +her with the most precious of the roses within his reach. + +Moreover Mark told the names and ages of all his sisters, whole and +half. He was the only son, except a little fellow in the nursery. +And he exhorted his aunt not to be afraid of his step-mother, who was +a most excellent person, he declared, but who never liked to see any +one afraid of her. + +There was something a little alarming in this, but on the whole the +visit was very pleasant and encouraging to Mrs. Egremont; and she +began rejoicing over the kindness as soon as the Canon had summoned +his son, and they had gone away together. + +'I am sure you must be delighted with your uncle and cousin, my +dear,' she said. + +'He's not a bit my notion of a priest,' returned Nuttie. 'And I +don't believe he has any daily prayers!' + +'He is old-fashioned, my dear.' + +'One of the stodgey old clergymen in books,' observed Nuttie. 'I +didn't think there were any of that sort left.' + +'Oh, my dear, pray don't take fancies into your head! He is a very, +very good man, and has been most kind to me, far more than I deserve, +and he is your uncle, Nuttie. I do so hope you will get on well with +your cousins.' + +Here a gong, a perfectly unknown sound to Nuttie, made itself heard, +and rather astonished her by the concluding roar. The two ladies +came out into the hall as Mr. Egremont was crossing it. He made an +inclination of the head, and uttered a sort of good morning to his +daughter, but she was perfectly content to have no closer salutation. +Having a healthy noonday appetite, her chief wish was at the moment +that those beautiful little cutlets, arranged in a crown form, were +not so very tiny; or that, with two men-servants looking on, it were +possible to attain to a second help, but she had already learnt that +Gregorio would not hear her, and that any attempt to obtain more food +frightened her mother. + +'So his reverence has been to see you,' observed Mr. Egremont. +'William, if you like it better.' + +'Oh yes, and he was kindness itself!' + +'And how did Master Mark look at finding I could dispense with his +assistance?' + +'I think he is very glad.' + +Mr. Egremont laughed. 'You are a simple woman, Edda! The pose of +virtuous hero was to have been full compensation for all that it +might cost him! And no doubt he looks for the reward of virtue +likewise.' + +Wherewith he looked full at Ursula, who, to her extreme vexation, +felt herself blushing up to the ears. She fidgeted on her chair, and +began a most untrue 'I'm sure--' for, indeed, the poor girl was sure +of nothing, but that her father's manner was most uncomfortable to +her. His laugh choked whatever she might have said, which perhaps +was well, and her mother's cheeks glowed as much as hers did. + +'Did the Canoness--Jane, I mean--come up?' Mr. Egremont went on. + +'Mrs. Egremont? No; she sent word that she is coming after +luncheon.' + +'Hm! Then I shall ride out and leave you to her majesty. Now look +you, Alice, you are to be very careful with William's wife. She is a +Condamine, you know, and thinks no end of herself, and your position +among the women-folk of the county depends more on how she takes you +up than anything else. But that doesn't mean that you are to let her +give herself airs and domineer over you. Remember you are the elder +brother's wife--Mrs. Egremont of Bridgefield Egremont--and she is +nothing but a parson's wife, and I won't have her meddling in my +house. Only don't you be absurd and offend her, for she can do more +for or against you in society than any one else--more's the pity!' + +'Oh! won't you stay and help me receive her?' exclaimed the poor +lady, utterly confused by these contrary directions. + +'Not I! I can't abide the woman! nor she me!' He added, after a +moment, 'You will do better without me.' + +So he went out for his ride, and Ursula asked, 'Oh, mother! what will +you do?' + +'The best I can, my dear. They are good people, and are sure to be +kinder than I deserve.' + +Nuttie was learning that her mother would never so much as hear, far +less answer, a remark on her husband. It was beginning to make a +sore in the young heart that a barrier was thus rising, where there +once had been as perfect oneness and confidence as could exist +between two natures so dissimilar, though hitherto the unlikeness had +never made itself felt. + +Mrs, Egremont turned the conversation to the establishing themselves +in the pavilion, whither she proceeded to import some fancy-work that +she had bought in London, and sent Nuttie to Ronaldson, who was +arranging calceolarias, begonias, and geraniums in the conservatory, +to beg for some cut-flowers for a great dusty-looking vase in the +centre of the table. + +These were being arranged when Mrs. William Egremont and Miss Blanche +Egremont were ushered in, and there were the regular kindred +embraces, after which Alice and Nuttie were aware of a very handsome, +dignified-looking lady, well though simply dressed in what was +evidently her home costume, with a large shady hat and feather, her +whole air curiously fitting the imposing nickname of the Canoness. +Blanche was a slight, delicate-looking, rather pretty girl in a lawn- +tennis dress. The visitor took the part of treating the newcomers as +well-established relations. + +'We would not inundate you all at once,' she said, 'but the children +are all very eager to see their cousin. I wish you would come down +to the Rectory with me. My ponies are at the door. I would drive +you, and Ursula might walk with Blanche.' And, as Alice hesitated +for a moment, considering how this might agree with the complicated +instructions that she had received, she added, 'Never mind Alwyn. I +saw him going off just before I came up, and he told William he was +going to look at some horses at Hale's, so he is disposed of for a +good many hours.' + +Alice decided that her husband would probably wish her to comply, and +she rejoiced to turn her daughter in among the cousins, so hats, +gloves, and parasols were fetched, and the two mothers drove away +with the two sleek little toy ponies. By which it may be perceived +that Mrs. William Egremont's first impressions were favourable. + +'It is the shortest way through the gardens,' said Blanche. 'Have +you been through them yet?' + +'Mark walked about with us a little.' + +'You'll improve them ever so much. There are great capabilities. +Look, you could have four tennis courts on this one lawn. We wanted +to have a garden-party up here last year, and father said we might, +but mother thought Uncle Alwyn might think it a liberty; but now +you'll have some delicious ones? Of course you play lawn-tennis?' + +'I have seen it a very few times,' said Nuttie. + +'Oh, we must teach you! Fancy living without lawn-tennis!' said +Blanche. 'I always wonder what people did without it. Only'--with +an effort at antiquarianism--'I believe they had croquet.' + +'Aunt Ursula says there weren't garden-parties before croquet came +in.' + +'How dreadful, Ursula! Your name's Ursula, isn't it? Haven't you +some jolly little name to go by?' + +'Nuttie.' + +'Nuttie! That's scrumptious! I'll call you Nuttie, and you may call +me Pussycat.' + +'That's not so nice as Blanche.' + +'Mother won't have me called so when strangers are there, but you +aren't a stranger, you know. You must tell me all about yourself, +and how you came never to learn tennis!' + +'I had something else to do,' said Nuttie, with dignity. + +'Oh, you were in the schoolroom! I forgot. Poor little Nuts!' + +'At school,' said Ursula. + +'Ah, I remember! But you're out now, aren't you? I've been out +since this spring. Mother won't let us come out till we are +eighteen, isn't it horrid? And we were so worked there! I can tell +you a finishing governess is an awful institution! Poor little Rosie +and Adey will be in for one by and by. At present they've only got a +jolly little Fraulein that they can do anything they please with.' + +'Oh, I wonder if she would tell me of some German books!' + +'You don't mean that you want to read German!' and Blanche stood +still, and looked at her cousin in astonishment. + +'Why, what else is the use of learning it?' + +'Oh, I don't know. Every one does. If one went abroad or to court, +you know,' said Blanche vaguely; but Ursula had now a fresh subject +of interest; for, on emerging from the shrubbery, they came in sight +of a picturesque but not very architectural church, which had the +smallest proportion of wall and the largest of roof, and a pretty +oriel-windowed schoolhouse covered with clematis. Nuttie rushed into +inquiries about services and schools, and was aghast at hearing of +mere Sundays and saints' days. + +'Oh no! father isn't a bit Ritualistic. I wish he was, it would be +so much prettier; and then he always advertises for curates of +moderate views, and they are so stupid. You never saw such a stick +as we have got now, Mr. Edwards; and his wife isn't a lady, I'm +sure.' + +Then as to schools, it was an absolute amazement to Nuttie to find +that the same plans were in force as had prevailed when her uncle had +come to the living and built that pretty house--nay, were kept up at +his sole expense, because he liked old-fashioned simplicity, and did +not choose to be worried with Government inspection. + +'And,' said Blanche, 'every one says our girls work ever so much +better, and make nicer servants than those that are crammed with all +sorts of nonsense not fit for them.' + +As to the Sunday school. Mother and the curate take care of that. +I'm sure, if you like it, you can have my class, for I always have a +headache there, and very often I can't go. Only May pegs away at it, +and she won't let me have the boys, who are the only jolly ones, +because she says I spoil them. But you must be my friend--mind, +Nuttie, not May's, for we are nearer the same age. When is your +birthday? You must put it down in my book!' + +Nuttie, who had tolerable experience of making acquaintance with new +girls, was divided between a sense of Blanche's emptiness, and the +warmth excited by her friendliness, as well as of astonishment at all +she heard and saw. + +Crossing the straggling, meandering village street, the cousins +entered the grounds of the Rectory, an irregular but well-kept +building of the soft stone of the country, all the garden front of it +a deep verandah that was kept open in summer, but closed with glass +frames in the winter--flower-beds lying before it, and beyond a lawn +where the young folk were playing at the inevitable lawn-tennis. + +Margaret was not so pretty as Blanche, but had a more sensible face, +and her welcome to Ursula was civil but reserved. Rosalind and Adela +were bright little things, in quite a different style from their +half-sisters, much lighter in complexion and promising to be +handsomer women. They looked full of eagerness and curiosity at the +new cousin, whom Blanche set down on a bank, and proceeded to +instruct in the mysteries of the all-important game by comments and +criticisms on the players. + +As soon as Mark and Adela had come out conquerors, Ursula was called +on to take her first lesson. May resigned her racket, saying she had +something to do, and walked off the field, and carrying off with her +Adela, who, as Blanche said, 'had a spine,' and was ordered to lie +down for an hour every afternoon. The cheerfulness with which she +went spoke well for the training of the family. + +Nuttie was light-footed and dexterous handed, and accustomed to +active amusements, so that, under the tuition of her cousins, she +became a promising pupil, and thawed rapidly, even towards Mark. + +She was in the midst of her game when the two mothers came out, for +the drive had been extended all round the park, under pretext of +showing it to its new mistress, but really to give the Canoness an +opportunity of judging of her in a tete-a-tete. Yet that sensible +woman had asked no alarming questions on the past, still less had +offered any advice that could seem like interference. She had only +named localities, mentioned neighbours, and made little +communications about the ways of the place such as might elicit +remarks; and, as Alice's voice betrayed less and less constraint, she +ventured on speaking of their daughters, so as to draw forth some +account of how Ursula might have been educated. + +And of this, Alice was ready and eager to talk, telling how clever +and how industrious Nuttie had always been, and how great an +advantage Miss Nugent's kindness was, and how she was hoping to go up +for the Cambridge examination; then, detecting some doubt in her +companion's manner, she said, 'It would be a great disappointment to +her not to do so now. Do you think she had better not?' + +'I don't think she will find time to go on with the preparation! +And, to tell the truth, I don't think we are quite ripe for such +things in this county. We are rather backward, and Ursula, coming in +fresh upon us, might find it a disadvantage to be thought much +cleverer than other people.' + +'Ah! I was not quite sure whether her father would like it.' + +'I do not think he would. I am sure that if my little Rose were to +take it into her head, I should have hard work to get her father's +consent, though no doubt the world will have progressed by the time +she is old enough.' + +'That settles it,' said Alice. 'Thank you, Mrs. Egremont. I own,' +she added presently, 'that I do somewhat regret that it cannot be, +for I thought that a motive for keeping up her studies would be +helpful to my child;--I do not mean for the sake of the studies, but +of the--the balance in all this change and novelty.' + +'You are quite right, I have felt it myself,' said her sister-in-law. +'Perhaps something could be done by essay societies. May belongs to +one, and if Ursula is an intellectual girl, perhaps you could keep +her up to some regular employment in the morning. I succeeded in +doing so when May came out, but I can accomplish nothing regular but +music with Blanche; and an hour's steady practice a day is better +than nothing.' + +The drive was on the whole a success, and so was the tea-drinking in +the verandah, where Aunt Alice and little five-years old Basil became +fast friends and mutual admirers; the Canon strolled out and was +installed in the big, cushioned basket-chair that crackled under his +weight; Blanche recounted Nuttie's successes, and her own tennis +engagements for the week; Mark lay on a rug and teased her, and her +dachshund; Nuttie listened to the family chatter as if it were a +play, and May dispensed the cups, and looked grave and severe. + +'Well?' said the Canon anxiously, when Mark, Blanche, and little +Basil had insisted on escorting the guests home, and he and his wife +were for a few minutes tete-a-tete. + +'It might have been much worse,' said the lady. 'She is a good +little innocent thing, and has more good sense than I expected. +Governessy, that's all, but she will shake out of that.' + +'Of course she will. It's the best thing imaginable for Alwyn!' + +His wife kept back the words, 'A hundred times too good for Alwyn!' + + + + + +CHAPTER XI. +LAWN-TENNIS. + + + + +'Madam, the guests are come, supper served up, + My young lady asked for!'--Romeo and Juliet. + + +A garden-party, Mrs. William Egremont decided, would be the best mode +of testifying her approbation of her sister-in-law, and introducing +the newcomers to the neighbourhood. So the invitations were sent +forth for an early day of the coming week. + +From how many points of view was Mrs. William Egremont's garden-party +regarded, and how different! There was Basil, to whom it meant +wearing his velvet suit and eating as many ices as mother would +allow. To Blanche, it was an occasion for triumph on the tennis +ground for herself, and for hopes for her pupil; and Ursula herself +looked forward to it and practised for it like a knight for his first +encounter in the lists, her sole care being to distinguish herself +with her racket. To her mother, it was an ordeal, where she trusted +not to be a mortification to her husband and his family; while to the +hostess, it was a not unwelcome occasion of exercising honest +diplomacy and tact, not without a sense of magnanimity. To May, it +was a bore to be endured with dutiful philosophy; to her good-natured +father an occasion for hospitality, where he trusted that his brother +would appear, and appear to advantage, and was ready even to bribe +him thereto with that wonderful claret that Alwyn had always envied, +and declared to be wasted on a parson. And Mark, perhaps he viewed +the occasion with different eyes from any one else. At any rate, +even the denizens of Bridgefield mustered there with as many minds as +Scott ascribes to the combatants of Bannockburn, and there were +probably as many other circles of feeling more or less intersecting +one another among the more distant guests, most of them, however, +with the same feeling of curiosity as to what this newly-discovered +wife and daughter of Alwyn Egremont might be like. + +Externally, in her rich black silk, trimmed with point lace, and her +little straw-coloured bonnet with its tuft of feathery grass and blue +cornflower, she was so charming that her daughter danced round her, +crying, 'O mammy, mammy, if they could but see you at home'--then, at +a look: 'Well then--Aunt Ursel, and Miss Mary, and Mr. Dutton!' + +Nuttie was very much pleased with her own pretty tennis dress; but +she had no personal vanity for herself, only for her mother. The +knowledge that she was no beauty was no grievance to her youthful +spirits; but when her father surveyed them in the hall, she looked +for his verdict for her mother as if their relations were reversed. + +'Ha! Well, you certainly are a pretty creature, Edda,' he said +graciously. 'You'll pass muster! You want nothing but style. And, +hang it! you'll do just as well without it, if the Canoness will only +do you justice. Faces like that weren't given for nothing.' + +She blushed incarnadine and accepted one of his kisses with a +pleasure, at which Nuttie wondered, her motherly affection prompting +her to murmur in his ear-- + +'And Ursula?' + +'She'll not cut you out; but she is Egremont enough to do very +fairly. Going already?' + +'If you would come with us,' she said wistfully, to the horror of +Nuttie, who was burning to be at the beginning of all the matches. + +'I? oh no! I promised old Will to look in, but that won't be till +late in the day, or I shall have to go handing all the dowagers into +the dining-room to tea.' + +'Then I think we had better go on. They asked us to come early, so +as to see people arrive and know who they are.' + +_They_ was a useful pronoun to Alice, who felt it a liberty to call +her grand-looking sister-in-law, Jane--was too well-bred to term her +Mrs. William. + +The mother and daughter crossed the gardens, Nuttie chattering all +the way about the tennis tactics she had picked up from Blanche, +while her mother answered her somewhat mechanically, wondering, as +her eye fell on the square squat gray church tower, what had become +of the earnest devotion to church work and intellectual pursuits that +used to characterise the girl. True, always both mother and daughter +had hitherto kept up their church-going, and even their Sunday-school +habits, nor had any hindrance come in their way, Mr. Egremont +apparently acquiescing in what he never shared. But these things +seemed, in Ursula's mind, to have sunk out of the proportion they +held at Bridgefield, no longer to be the spirit of a life, but mere +Sunday duties and occupations. + +Was this wicked world getting a hold of the poor child? Which was +duty? which was the world? This was the thought that perplexed +Alice, too simple as yet to perceive that Ursula's former absorption +had been in the interests that surrounded her and her companions, +exactly as they were at present, and that the real being had yet to +work itself out. + +For herself, Alice did not think at all. She was rejoicing in her +restored husband, and his evident affection. Her duty towards him +was in her eyes plain. She saw, of course, that he had no religion, +but she accepted the fact like that of bad weather; she loved him, +and she loved her daughter; she said her prayers with all her heart +for them, she hoped, and she did her best, without trying to go below +the surface. + +There was the Rectory gate wide open. There was Basil rushing up to +greet his dear Aunt Alice, there were all the windows and doors of +the Rectory open, and the nearer slopes covered with chairs and seats +of all dimensions, some under trees, some umbelliferous, and glowing +Afghan rugs, or spotted skins spread for those who preferred the +ground. There was Blanche flitting about wild with excitement, and +pouncing on Nuttie to admire her outfit, and reiterate instructions; +there were the two younger girls altering the position of chairs +according to their mother's directions; there were actually two +guests--not very alarming ones, only the curate and his wife, both +rather gaunt, bony people. He was button-holing the Canon, and she +was trying to do the same by the Canoness about some parish casualty. +The Canon hoped to escape in the welcome to his sister-in-law and +niece, but he was immediately secured again, while his wife found it +requisite to hurry off else where, leaving Mrs. Edwards to tell her +story to Mrs. Egremont. In point of fact, Alice really liked the +good lady, was quite at ease with her, and felt parish concerns a +natural element, so that she gave full heed and attention to the +cruelty of Mrs. Parkins' depriving Betsy Butter (with an old father +and mother to support) of her family washing, on the ground of a +missing pocket handkerchief, the which Mrs. Edwards believed to have +been abstracted by the favourite pickle of Miss Blanche's class, if +only a confession could be elicited from him when undefended by his +furious mother. Mrs. Egremont was listening with actual interest and +sympathy to the history of Betsy Butter's struggles, and was +inquiring the way to her cottage, when she was called off to be +introduced to the arrivals who were beginning to flood the lawn. She +presently saw May, who had just come down, walking up and down with +Mrs. Edwards, evidently hearing the story of the handkerchief. She +thought it had been Nuttie for a moment. There was a general +resemblance between the cousins that made them be mistaken for one +another several times in the course of the day, since their dresses, +though not alike, were of the same make and style. + +Thus it was that as Nuttie was sitting on the grass in earnest +contemplation of Blanche's play, a hand was familiarly laid on her +shoulder, and a voice said, 'I haven't seen that horrid girl yet!' + +After so many introductions, Nuttie had little idea whom she knew, or +whom she did not know. She looked up and saw a small person in light +blue, with the delicate features, transparent skin, and blue eyes +that accompany yellow hair, with an indescribable glitter of mirth +and joyousness about the whole creature, as if she were part and +parcel of the sunbeam in which she stood, + +'What horrid girl?' said Nuttie. + +'The interloper, the newly-discovered savage, come to upset--Ah!'-- +with a little shriek--'It isn't May! I beg your pardon.' + +'I'm May's cousin,' said Nuttie, 'Ursula Egremont.' + +'Oh, oh!' and therewith the fact burst on both girls at once. They +stood still a moment in dismay, then the stranger went into a fit of +laughter. 'Oh, I beg your pardon! I can't help it! It is so +funny!' + +Nuttie was almost infected, though somewhat hurt. 'Who said I was +horrid?' she asked. + +'Nobody! Nobody but me--Annaple Ruthven--and they'll all tell you, +May and all, that I'm always putting my foot in it. And I never +meant that you were horrid--you yourself--you know--only--' + +'Only nobody wanted us here,' said Nuttie; 'but we could not help +it.' + +'Of course not. It was shocking, just my way. Please forgive me!' +and she looked most pleading. Nuttie held out her hand with +something about 'No one could mind;' and therewith Annaple cried, +'Oh, if you don't mind, we can have our laugh out!' and the rippling +laughter did set Nuttie off at once. The peal was not over when May +herself was upon them demanding what was the joke. + +'Oh, there she is! The real May! Why,' said Annaple, kissing her, +'only think here I've been and gone and thought this was you, and +inquired about--What was it?--the awful monster--the chimera dire-- +that Mark had routed up--' + +'No; you didn't say that,' said Nuttie, half provoked. + +'Never mind what I said. Don't repeat it. I only wish myself and +every one else to forget it. Now it is swept to the winds by a good +wholesome giggling. But what business have you two to be so +inconveniently alike? You are as bad as the twin Leslies!' + +'There's an old foremother on the staircase in white satin who left +her looks to us both,' said May. + +'You'll have to wear badges,' said Annaple. 'You know the Leslies +were so troublesome that one had to be shipped off to the East Indies +and the other to the West.' + +'They married, that's all,' said May, seeing Nuttie looking +mystified; and at that moment, Blanche's side coming out victorious, +Nuttie descended into the arena to congratulate and be asked to form +part of the next set. + +'Well, that was a scrape!' said Annaple; 'but she wasn't bad about +it! I must do something to make up for it somehow--get Janet to +invite her, but really Janet is in such a state of mind that I am +mildness itself compared with her. She would not have come, only +John was curious, and declared he should go whether we did or not.' + +'Ah!' said May, 'I saw him, like the rest of mankind, at madame's +feet.' + +'Oh! is she of that sort?' + +'No,' said May, 'not at all. Mother and father too both think she is +good to the backbone; but she is very pretty, with just the inane +soft sweetness that men rave about--innocent really. All accounts of +her are excellent, and she has nice parish ways, and will be as +helpful as Uncle Alwyn will let her.' + +'But she couldn't always have been nice?' + +'Well, I verily believe it was all Uncle Alwyn's and grandmamma's +fault. I know Mark thinks so.' + +'When the women of a family acquit a woman it goes for something,' +said Annaple. 'That's not original, my dear, I heard old Lady +Grosmede say so to Janet when she was deliberating over the +invitation, "For a good deal more than Mr. Mark's, at any rate.'" + +'Mark is very fond of her--the mother, I mean. He says when he was a +little fellow her loss was worse to him than even our mother's.' + +'Do you remember the catastrophe?' + +'Not a bit. Only when she is petting Basil it strikes me that I have +heard the tones before. I only remember the time of misery under the +crosspatches grandmamma got for us.' + +'Well, it was a splendid cutting of his own throat in Mark,' said +Annaple, 'so it ought to turn out well.' + +'I don't know how it is to turn out for Mark,' answered May. 'Oh, +here he comes!' + +'Will you come into this set, Annaple?' he asked. 'They want another +couple,' and, as she accepted, 'How do you get on with May's +double?' + +'I pity May for having such a double.' + +'Don't encourage her by misplaced pity.' + +'It's abominable altogether! I want to fly at somebody!' + +'Exhaust your feelings on your racket, and reflect that you see a man +released from bondage.' + +'Is that philosophy or high-faluting?' she said in a teasing tone as +the game began. + +The Ruthvens had very blue blood in their veins, but as there were +nine of the present generation, they possessed little beyond their +long pedigree; even the head of the family, Lord Ronnisglen, being +forced to live as a soldier, leaving his castle to grouse shooters. +His seven brothers had fared mostly in distant lands as they could, +and his mother had found a home, together with her youngest child, at +Lescombe, where her eldest was the wife of Sir John Delmar. Lady +Ronnisglen was an invalid, confined to the house, and Lady Delmar had +daughters fast treading on the heels of Annabella, so christened, but +always called Annaple after the old Scottish queens, her ancestors. +She had been May Egremont's chief friend ever since her importation +at twelve years old, and the intimacy had been promoted by her mother +and sister. Indeed, the neighbourhood had looked on with some +amusement at the competition ascribed to Lady Delmar and to the +wealthy parvenu, Mrs. West, for the heir-presumptive of Bridgefield +Egremont. + +Annaple's lightness and dexterity rendered her the best of the lady +tennis-players, and the less practised Ursula found herself defeated +in the match, in spite of a partner whose play was superior to +Mark's, and with whom she shyly walked off to eat ices. + +'I see,' said Annaple, 'it is a country-town edition of May. I +shan't blunder between them again.' + +'She will polish,' said Mark, 'but she is not equal to her mother.' + +'Whom I have not seen yet. Ah, there's Mr. Egremont! Why, he looks +quite renovated!' + +'Well he may be!' + +'But Mark, not to hurt your feelings, he must have behaved +atrociously.' + +'I'm not going to deny it,' said Mark. + +'I always did think he looked like it,' said Annaple. + +'When have you seen him before?' + +'Only once, but it was my admirable sagacity, you understand? I +always see all the villains in books just on his model. Oh, but +who's that? How very pretty! You don't mean it is she! Well, she +might be the heroine of anything!' + +'Isn't she lovely?' + +'And has she been keeping school like Patience on a monument all +these years? It doesn't seem to have much damaged her damask cheek!' + +'It was only daily governessing. She looks much better than when I +first saw her; and as to the damask--why, that's deepened by the +introduction to old Lady Grosmede that is impending.' + +'She is being walked up to the old Spanish duck with the red rag +round her leg to receive her fiat. What a thing it is to be a +bearded Dowager, and rule one's neighbourhood!' + +'I think she approves. She has made room for her by her side. Is +she going to catechise her?' + +Annaple made an absurd sound of mingled pity and disgust. + +'Not that she--my aunt, I mean--need be afraid. The shame is all on +the other side.' + +'And I think Lady Grosmede has too much sense to think the worse of +her for having worked for herself,' added Annaple. 'If it was not +for mother I should long to begin!' + +'You? It's a longing well known to me!--but you!' + +'Exactly! As the Irishman felt blue moulded for want of a bating, so +do I feel fagged out for want of an honest day's work.' + +'If one only knew what to turn to,' said Mark so wearily that Annaple +exclaimed, + +'We seem to be in the frozen-out state of mind, and might walk up and +down singing "I've got no work to do,"'--to which she gave the well +known intonation. + +'Too true,' said he, joining in the hum. + +'But I thought you were by way of reading law.' + +'One must see more than only "by way of" in these days to do any +good.' + +At that moment Basil ran up with a message that Lady Delmar was ready +to go home. + +They walked slowly up the terrace and Mark paused as they came near +Mrs. Egremont to say, 'Aunt Alice, here is Miss Ruthven, May's great +friend.' + +Annaple met a pleasant smile, and they shook hands, exchanging an +observation or two, while a little way off Lady Grosmede was nodding +her strong old face at Lady Delmar, and saying, 'Tell your mother +I'll soon come and see her, my dear. That's a nice little innocent +body, lady-like, and thoroughly presentable. Alwyn Egremont might +have done worse.' + +'The only wonder is he did not!' returned Lady Delmar. 'They make +the best of it here.' + +'Very good taste of them. But, now I've seen her, I don't believe +there's anything behind. Very hard upon the poor young man, though +it was all his doing, his mother says. I congratulate you that it +had not gone any farther in that quarter.' + +'Oh, dear no! Never dreamt of it. She is May's friend, that's all.' + +Nevertheless Lady Delmar made a second descent in person to hurry +Annaple away. + +'Isn't it disgusting?' said May, catching her stepmother's smile. + +'You will see a good deal more of the same kind,' said the Canoness; +'I am afraid more mortification is in store for Mark than he guesses. +I wish that girl were more like her mother.' + +'Mamma! a girl brought up among umbrella-makers! Just fancy! Why, +she has just nothing in her!' + +'Don't set Mark against her, May; he might do worse.' + +'Her head is a mere tennis ball,' said May, drawing her own higher +than ever, 'and no one would know her from a shop girl.' + +'She is young enough,' said the Canoness. 'Don't class me with Lady +Delmar, May--I only say--if--and that I don't think you realise the +change Mark will feel.' + +'Better so than sell himself,' muttered May. + + + + + +CHAPTER XII. +OUT OF WORK. + + + + +'I'm seeking the fruit that's nae growing.'--Ballad. + + +Society recognised the newcomers. Lady Grosmede's card appeared the +next day, and was followed by showers of others, and everybody asked +everybody 'Have you seen Mrs. Egremont?' + +It was well for Alice's happiness even at home that she was a +success. When Alwyn Egremont had been lashed by his nephew's +indignant integrity into tardy recognition of the wife of his youth, +it had been as if he had been forced to pick up a flower which he had +thrown away. He had considerable doubts whether it would answer. +First, he reconnoitred, intending, if he found a homely or faded +being, to pension her off; but this had been prevented by her +undeniable beauty and grace, bringing up a rush of such tender +associations as he was capable of. Yet even then, her position +depended on the impression she might make on those about him, on her +own power of self-assertion, and on her contributing to his comfort +or pleasure. + +Of self-assertion Alice had none, only a gentle dignity in her +simplicity, and she was so absolutely devoted to him that he found +his house far more pleasant and agreeable for her presence and +unfailing attention, though still his estimation of her was +influenced more than he owned to himself by that of the world in +general, and the Rectory in particular. + +And the Rectory did its part well. The Canon was not only charmed +with the gentle lady, but felt an atonement due to her; and his wife, +without ever breathing into any ears, save his, the mysterious +adjective 'governessy,' praised her right and left, confiding to all +inquirers the romance of the burnt yacht, the lost bride, and the +happy meeting under Lady Kirkaldy's auspices, with the perfect +respectability of the intermediate career, while such was the +universal esteem for, and trust in herself and the Canon, that she +was fully believed; and people only whispered that probably Alwyn +Egremont had been excused for the desertion more than he deserved. + +The subject of all this gossip troubled herself about it infinitely +less than did the good Canoness. In effect she did not know enough +of the world to think about it at all. Her cares were of a different +order, chiefly caused by tenderness of conscience, and solicitude to +keep the peace between the two beings whom she best loved. + +Two things were in her favour in this latter respect, one that they +saw very little of each other, since Mr. Egremont seldom emerged from +his own rooms till after luncheon; and the other that Ursula's brains +ran to little but lawn-tennis for the ensuing weeks. To hold a +champion's place at the tournaments, neck and neck with her cousin +Blanche, and defeat Miss Ruthven, and that veteran player, Miss +Basset, was her foremost ambition, and the two cousins would have +practised morning, noon, and night if their mothers would have let +them. There need have been no fear of Ursula's rebellion about the +Cambridge honours, she never seemed even to think of them, and would +have had no time in the more important competition of rackets. +Indeed, it was almost treated as a hardship that the pair were +forbidden to rush together before twelve o'clock, and that Ursula's +mother insisted on rational home occupation until that time, setting +the example herself by letter-writing, needlework, and sharing in the +music which was a penance to the girl, only enforced by that strong +sense of protecting affection which forbade rebellion. But Alice +could hope that their performances were pleasant to her husband in +the evening, if only to sleep by, and so she persisted in preparing +for them. + +Nuttie's rage for tennis, and apparent forgetfulness of her old life +and aspirations, might be disappointing, but it conduced to make her +mother's task easier than if she had been her original, critical, and +protesting self. In the new and brilliant surroundings she troubled +herself much less than could have been expected at the failure of her +father, his house, nay, and of the parish itself, in coming up to the +St. Ambrose standard. How much was owing to mere novelty and +intoxication, how much to a yet unanalysed disappointment, how much +to May's having thrown her upon the more frivolous Blanche, could not +be guessed. The effect was unsatisfactory to her mother, but a +certain relief, for Nuttie's aid would have been only mischievous in +the household difficulties that weighed on the anxious conscience. +Good servants would not stay at Bridgefield Hall for unexplained +causes, which their mistress believed to be connected with Gregorio, +or with the treasure of a cook-housekeeper over whom she was +forbidden to exercise any authority, and who therefore entirely +neglected all meals which the master did not share with the ladies. +Fortunately, Mr. Egremont came in one day at their luncheon and found +nothing there but semi-raw beef, upon which there was an explosion; +and being by this time convinced that his wife both would and could +minister to his comfort, her dominion was established in the female +department, though, as long as Gregorio continued paramount with his +master, and the stables remained in their former state, it was +impossible to bring matters up to the decorous standard of the +Rectory, and if ever his mistress gave an order he did not approve, +Gregorio overruled it as her ignorance. In fact, he treated both the +ladies with a contemptuous sort of civility. Meantime Mr. Egremont +was generally caressing and admiring in his ways towards his wife, +with only occasional bursts of temper when anything annoyed him. He +was proud of her, gave her a liberal allowance, and only refused to +be troubled; and she was really happy in his affection, for which she +felt a gratitude only too humble in the eyes of her daughter. + +They had parties. Blanche's ambition of tennis courts all over the +lawn was fulfilled, and sundry dinners, which were crosses to Alice, +who had neither faculty nor training for a leader and hostess, +suffered much from the menu, more from the pairing of her guests, +more again in catching her chief lady's eye after, and most of all +from her husband's scowls and subsequent growls and their +consequence, for Ursula broke out, 'It is not fair to blame my +mother. How should she have all the savoir-faire, or what you may +call it, of Aunt Jane, when she has had no practice?' + +'Perhaps, Mrs. Egremont,' he retorted with extreme suavity, 'you will +also attend to your daughter's manners.' Otherwise he took little +notice of Ursula, viewing her perhaps, as did the neighbourhood, as a +poor imitation of May, without her style, or it may be with a sense +that her tongue might become inconvenient if not repressed. When he +began to collect sporting guests of his own calibre in the shooting +season, the Canoness quietly advised her sister-in-law to regard them +as gentlemen's parties, and send Ursula down to spend the evening +with her cousins; and to this no objection was made. Mr. Egremont +wanted his beautiful wife at the head of his table, and his guests +never comported themselves unsuitably before her; but nobody wanted +the unformed girl, and she and Blanche were always happy together. + +The chief restraint was when Mark was at home, and that was not +always. He made sundry visits and expeditions, and was altogether in +an uncomfortable condition of reaction and perplexity as to his +future. He was a good and conscientious fellow, and had never been +actually idle, but had taken education and life with the easiness of +the prospective heir to a large property; and though he had acquitted +himself creditably, it was with no view of making his powers +marketable. Though he had been entered at the Temple, it was chiefly +in order to occupy himself respectably, and to have a nominal +profession, so as not to be wholly dependent on his uncle; and all +that he had acquired was the conviction that it would be half a +lifetime, if not a whole one, before the law would afford him a +maintenance. + +His father wished him to take Holy Orders with a view to the +reversion of the Rectory, but Mark's estimate of clerical duty and +vocation was just such as to make him shrink from them. He was +three-and-twenty, an awkward age for all those examinations that +stand as lions in the face of youth intended for almost any sort of +service, and seldom or never to be gagged by interest. For one +indeed, he went up and failed, and in such a manner as to convince +him that cramming had more to do than general culture with success. + +He had a certain consciousness that most people thought another way +open to him, most decidedly his gentle aunt, and perhaps even his +parents. The matter came prominently before him one day at luncheon, +when, some parochial affairs being on hand and Mr. Egremont out for +the day, Alice, whose free forenoons enabled her to take a share in +church and parish affairs, was there, as well as the curate and his +wife. + +These good people were in great commotion about a wedding about to +take place between a young farmer and his delicate first cousin, the +only survivor of a consumptive family. + +'"Proputty, proputty,"' quoted the Canon. 'James Johnson is what +they call a warm man.' + +'It is a sin and a shame,' said Mrs. Edwards. 'What can they expect? +George Johnson looks strong enough now, but they tell me his brother +undoubtedly died of decline, though they called it inflammation; but +there was tubercular disease.' + +'I am afraid it is strong in the family,' said the Canoness, 'they +all have those clear complexions; but I do believe George is heartily +in love with poor little Emily.' + +'First cousins ought to be in the table of degrees,' said Mr. +Edwards. + +'It is always a question whether the multiplying of prohibitions +without absolute necessity is expedient,' said the Canon. + +He spoke quite dispassionately, but the excellent couple were not +remarkable for tact. Mrs. Edwards gave her husband such a glance of +warning and consternation as violently inclined May to laugh, and he +obediently and hesitatingly began, 'Oh yes, sir, I beg your pardon. +Of course there may be instances,' thereby bringing an intense glow +of carnation into Alice's cheeks, while the Canon, ready for the +occasion, replied, 'And George Johnson considers himself one of them. +He will repair the old moat house, I suppose.' + +And his wife, though she would rather have beaten Mrs. Edwards, +demanded how many blankets would be wanted that winter. + +The effect of this little episode was that Mark announced to his +father that evening his strong desire to emigrate, an intention which +the Canon combated with all his might. He was apparently a hale and +hearty man, but he had had one or two attacks of illness that made +him doubt whether he would be long-lived; and not only could he not +bear to have his eldest son out of reach, but he dreaded leaving his +family to such a head as his brother. Mark scarcely thought the +reasons valid, considering the rapidity of communication with Canada, +but it was not possible to withstand the entreaties of a father with +tears in his eyes; and though he could not bring himself to consent +to preparing to be his father's curate, he promised to do nothing +that would remove him to another quarter of the world, and in two or +three days more, started for Monks Horton to see what advice his +uncle and aunt there could give him; indeed, Lord Kirkaldy's +influence was reckoned on by his family almost as a sure card in the +diplomatic line. + +The Kirkaldys were very fond of Mark, and had an odd feeling of being +accountable for the discovery which had changed his prospects. They +would have done anything for him that they could, but all Lord +Kirkaldy's interest was at the foreign office, or with his fellow- +diplomates, and here he soon found an insuperable bar. Mark's +education had stood still from the time of Miss Headworth's flight +till his father's second marriage, his energies having been solely +devoted to struggles with the grim varieties of governess purveyed by +his grandmother, and he had thus missed all chance of foundation of +foreign languages, and when once at school, he had shared in the +average English boy's contempt and aversion for the French masters +who outscreamed a whole class. + +In consequence, Lord Kirkaldy, an accurate and elegant scholar in +European tongues, besides speaking them with the cosmopolitan ease of +an ambassador's son, was horrified, not only at Mark's pronunciation, +but at his attempts at letter-writing and translation, made with all +the good will in the world, but fit for nothing but to furnish the +good stories which the kind uncle refrained from telling any one but +his wife. Unluckily, too, a Piedmontese family, some of them not +strong in their English, were on a visit at Monks Horton, and the +dialect in which the old marquis and Mark tried at times to +interchange ideas about pheasants was something fearful. And as in +the course of a week Mark showed no signs of improvement in +vernacular French or Italian, Lord Kirkaldy's conscience would let +him give no other advice than that his nephew should stick to English +law living still on the allowance his father gave him, and hoping for +one of the chance appointments open to an English barrister of good +family and fair ability. + +Of course Mark had gone at once to carry tidings of 'Aunt Alice,' as +he scrupulously called her, to old Miss Headworth, whom his aunt had +continued to visit at intervals. That good lady had given up her +boarders, having realised enough to provide for her own old age, and +she had joined forces with the Nugents, Mary being very thankful to +have her companionship for Mrs. Nugent, who was growing too blind and +feeble to be satisfactorily left alone all day. + +Mark delighted the old ladies by his visits and accounts of their +darling's success and popularity, which he could paint so brightly +that they could not help exulting, even though there might be secret +misgivings as to the endurance of these palmy days. He was a great +hero in their eyes, and they had too good taste to oppress him with +their admiration, so that he really was more at ease in their little +drawing-room than anywhere at Monks Horton, whither the Italians +could penetrate. The marchesino spoke English very well, but that +was all the worse for Mark, since it gave such a sense of +inferiority. He was an intelligent man too, bent on being acquainted +with English industries of all kinds; and thus it was that a party +was organised to see the umbrella factory. It was conducted by Mr. +Dutton, with whom Lord Kirkaldy, between charities and public +business, had become acquainted. + +To Mark's secret shame, this manufacturer spoke French perfectly, and +even got into such a lively conversation with the old marquis about +Cavour, that Lord Kirkaldy begged him to come to dinner and continue +it. They were all surprised, not only by the details of the +manufacture and the multitude of artizans, male and female, whom it +employed, but by the number of warehouse-clerks whom they found at +work, and who, it appeared, were in correspondence with agencies and +depots in London and all the principal towns in the kingdom. Gerard +Godfrey was there,--casting looks askance at the young Egremont, whom +he regarded as a kind of robber. + +The marchesino asked from what class these young men were taken, and +Mr. Dutton made reply that most of them were sons of professional +men. If they could obtain a small capital and take shares in the +business they were encouraged to do so, and rose to the headship of +the agencies, obtaining a fair income. + +'And you don't exact an examination,' said Mark. + +'Except in handwriting and book-keeping,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Poor Mark, you look for your bugbear everywhere!' sighed his aunt. + +They went over the Institute, coffee-rooms, eating-rooms, and +lodging-houses, by which the umbrella firm strove to keep their hands +respectable and contented, and were highly pleased with all, most +especially with Mr. Dutton, who, though his name did not come +prominently forward, had been the prime mover and contriver of all +these things, and might have been a wealthier man if he had not +undertaken expenses which he could not charge upon the company. + +Gerard Godfrey came in to Mrs. Nugent's that evening in the lowest +spirits. He had a sister married to a curate in the same county with +Bridgefield, and she had sent him a local paper which 'understood +that a marriage was arranged between Mark de Lyonnais Egremont, +Esquire, and Ursula, daughter of Alwyn Piercefield Egremont, Esquire, +of Bridgefield Egremont,' and he could not help coming to display it +to Miss Headworth in all its impertinence and prematurity. + +'Indeed he said nothing to me about it,' said Miss Headworth, 'and I +think he would if it had been true.' + +'No doubt he intends it, and is trying to recommend himself through +you,' said Gerard. + +'I should not think he needed that,' returned Aunt Ursel, 'though I +should be very glad, I am sure. He is an excellent young man, and it +is quite the obvious thing.' + +'People don't always do the obvious thing,' put in Mary Nugent. + +'Certainly it didn't look like it,' said Miss Headworth,' when he +told us about the great annual Hunt Ball at Redcastle that Nuttie and +his sister Blanche are to come out at; he said he did not intend to +go home for it if he could help it.' + +'Struggling against fate,' said Miss Nugent. + +'The puppy!' burst out Gerard. + +Having ascertained the particulars of this same Hunt Ball, Gerard +became possessed with a vehement desire to visit his sister, and so +earnestly solicited a few days' leave of absence that it was granted +to him. 'Poor boy, he may settle down when he has ascertained +what an ass he is,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Ah!' said Mary. 'I thought he was very bad when I saw he had not +changed the green markers for St. Luke's Day.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. +DETRIMENTALS. + + + + +'That tongue of yours at times wags more than charity allows; + And if you're strong, be merciful, great woman of three cows.' + J. O. MANGAN. + + +Nine miles was a severe distance through country lanes in November to +go to a ball; but the Redcastle Hunt Ball was the ball of the year, +uniting all the county magnates; and young ladies were hardly +reckoned as 'come out' till they had appeared there. Mrs. Egremont's +position would hardly be established till she had been presented to +the notabilities who lived beyond calling intercourse; and her +husband prepared himself to be victimised with an amount of grumbling +that was intended to impress her with the magnitude of the sacrifice, +but which only made her offer to forego the gaiety, and be told that +she would never have any common sense. + +So their carriage led the way, and was followed by the Rectory +waggonette containing the ladies and Mark, who had been decisively +summoned home, since his stepmother disliked public balls without a +gentleman in attendance, and his father was not to be detached from +his fireside. + +And in a group near the door, got up as elaborately as his powers +could accomplish, stood Gerard Godfrey. He knew nobody there except +a family in his sister's parish, who had good-naturedly given him a +seat in their fly, and having fulfilled his duty by asking the +daughter to dance, he had nothing to disturb him in watching for the +cynosure whose attraction had led him into these unknown regions, +and, as he remembered with a qualm, on the eve of St. Britius. +However, with such a purpose, one might surely grant oneself a +dispensation from the vigil of a black letter saint. + +There at length he beheld the entrance. There was the ogre himself, +high bred, almost handsome, as long as he was not too closely +scrutinised, and on his arm the well-known figure, metamorphosed by +delicately-tinted satin sheen and pearls, and still more by the +gentle blushing gladness on the fair cheeks and the soft eyes that +used to droop. Then followed a stately form in mulberry moire and +point lace, leaning on Gerard's more especial abhorrence,--'that +puppy,' who had been the author of all the mischief; and behind them +three girls, one in black, the other two in white, and, what was +provoking, he really could not decide which was Ursula. The +carefully-dressed hair and stylish evening dress and equipments had +altogether transformed the little homely schoolgirl, so that, though +he was sure that she was not the fair-haired damsel with pale blue +flowers, he did not know how to decide between the white and daisies +and the black and grasses. Indeed, he thought the two whites most +likely to be sisters, and all the more when the black lace halted to +exchange greetings with some one, and her face put on an expression +so familiar to him, that he started forward and tried to catch her +eye; but in vain, and he suffered agonies of doubt whether she had +been perverted by greatness. + +It was some comfort that, when presently a rush of waiters floated +by, she was not with her cousin; but to provoke him still more, as +the daisies neared him, he beheld for a moment in the whirl the queer +smile, half-frightened, half-exultant, which he had seen on Nuttie's +face when swinging sky-high! + +When the pause came and people walked about, the black lady stood +talking so near him that he ventured at last on a step forward and an +eager 'Miss Egremont,' but, as she turned, he found himself obliged +to say, 'I beg your pardon.' + +'Did you mean my cousin. We often get mistaken for each other,' said +May civilly. + +He brightened. 'I beg your pardon,' he said, 'I knew her at +Micklethwayte. I am here--quite by accident. Mrs. Elmore was so +good as to bring me.' + +May was rather entertained. 'There's my cousin,' she said, 'Lord +Philip Molyneux is asking her to dance,' and she left him most +unnecessarily infuriated with Lord Philip Molyneux. + +A steward introduced him to a dull-looking girl, but fortune favoured +him, for this time he did catch the real Nuttie's eye, and all +herself, as soon as the dance was over, she came up with outstretched +hands, 'Oh Gerard! to think of your being here! Come to mother!' + +And, beautiful and radiant, Mrs. Egremont was greeting him, and there +were ten minutes of delicious exchange of news. But 'pleasures are +as poppies fled,' Nuttie had no dance to spare, her card was full, +and she had not learnt fashionable effrontery enough to play tricks +with engagements, and just then Mr. Egremont descended on them--'I +wish to introduce you to the Duchess,' he said to his wife; and on +the way he demanded--'Who is that young cub?' + +'Gerard Godfrey--an old neighbour.' + +'I thought I had seen him racketing about there with Ursula. I'll +not have those umbrella fellows coming about!' + +'Does he really make umbrellas, Nuttie?' asked Blanche, catching her +hand. + +'No such thing!' said Nuttie hotly, 'he is in the office. His father +was a surgeon; his sisters married clergymen!' + +'And he came here to meet you,' said Annaple Ruthven. 'Poor fellow, +what a shame it is! Can't you give him one turn! + +'Oh dear! I'm engaged all through! To Mark this time.' + +'Give him one of the extras! Throw Mark over to me! No,' as she +looked at the faces of the two girls, 'I suppose that wouldn't do, +but I'm free this time--I'm not the fashion. Introduce me; I'll do +my best as consolation.' + +Nuttie had just performed the feat, with great shyness, when Mark +appeared, having been sent in quest of his cousin, when her father +perceived that she had hung back. + +Poor Gerard led off Miss Ruthven the more gloomily, and could not +help sighing out, 'I suppose that is an engagement!' + +'Oh! you believe that impertinent gossip in the paper,' returned +Annaple. 'I wonder they don't contradict it; but perhaps they treat +it with magnificent scorn.' + +'No doubt they know that it is only premature.' + +'If _they_ means the elders, I daresay they wish it, but we aren't in +France or Italy.' + +'Then you don't think, Miss Ruthven, that it will come off?' + +'I don't see the slightest present prospect,' said Annaple, unable to +resist the kindly impulse of giving immediate pleasure, though she +knew the prospect might be even slighter for her partner. + +However, he 'footed it' all the more lightly and joyously for the +assurance, and the good-natured maiden afterwards made him conduct +her to the tea-room, whither Mark and Nuttie were also tending, and +there all four contrived to get mixed up together; and Nuttie had +time to hear of Monsieur's new accomplishment of going home for Mr. +Dutton's luncheon and bringing it in a basket to the office, before +fate again descended; Mr. Egremont, who had been at the far end of +the room among some congeners, who preferred stronger refreshment, +suddenly heard her laugh, stepped up, and, with a look of thunder +towards her, observed in a low voice, 'Mark, you will oblige me by +taking your cousin back to her mother.' + +'The gray tyrant father,' murmured Annaple in sympathy. 'That being +the case, I may as well go back in that direction also.' + +This resulted in finding Lady Delmar and the two Mrs. Egremonts +together, comparing notes about the two different roads to Redcastle +from their several homes. + +Lady Delmar was declaring that her coachman was the most obstinate +man in existence, and that her husband believed in him to any extent. + +'Which way did you come?' she asked. + +'By Bankside Lane,' said the Canoness. + +'Over Bluepost Bridge! There, Janet,' said Annaple. + +'So much the worse. I know we shall come to grief over Bluepost +Bridge, and now there will be treble weight to break it down. I +dreamt it, I tell you, and there's second sight in the family.' + +'Yes, but you should tell what you did dream, Janet,' said her +sister. 'She thought Robinson, the coachman, was waltzing with her +over it, and they went into a hole and stuck fast, while the red-flag +traction engineman prodded her with an umbrella till she was all over +blood. Now, if it had been anything rational, I should have thought +something of her second sight! I tell her 'twas suggested by-- + + + "London Bridge is broken down, + Dance o'er my lady Lee!"' + + +'Well, I am quite certain those traction-engines will break it some +time or other,' said Lady Delmar. 'I am always trying to get John to +bring it before the magistrates, but he only laughs at me, and +nothing will induce Robinson to go the other way, because they have +just been mending the road on Lescombe Hill! Annaple, my dear, I +can't allow you another waltz; Mark must excuse you--I am going. It +is half-past two, and the carriage was ordered at two! Robinson will +be in a worse temper than ever if we keep him waiting.' + +She bore her sister off to the cloak-room, and there, nearly an hour +later, the Egremonts found them still waiting the pleasure of the +implacable Robinson; but what was that in consideration of having +kept her sister from such a detrimental as poor Mark had become? So +muttered Mr. Egremont, in the satisfaction of having himself, with +gentlemanly severity, intimated the insuperable gulf between Miss +Egremont of Bridgefield and the Man of Umbrellas. + +Moreover, his sister-in-law took care that he should hear that the +Duchess of Redcastle had pronounced his wife sweetly pretty and lady- +like, and talked of inviting them for a visit of a few nights. + +'A bore,' observed he ungratefully, ''tis as dull as ditchwater.' +But, in truth, though the Canon's family, when in residence, were +intimate with the ducal family, Alwyn Egremont had never been at the +castle since the days of his earliest youth, and he was not quite +prepared to owe his toleration there to his wife's charms, or the +Canoness's patronage of her. + +And innocent Alice only knew that everybody had been very kind to +her, and it was only a pity that her husband did not like her to +notice poor Gerard Godfrey. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. +GOING AGEE. + + + + +'Gin ye were a brig as auld as me.'--BURNS. + + +'What's the matter?' exclaimed Mrs. Egremont, waking from a doze,-- +'that bridge?' + +'Bridge! Don't be such a fool! We aren't near it yet.' + +The servant, his face looking blurred through the window, came to +explain that the delay was caused by an agricultural engine, which +had chosen this unlucky night, or morning, to travel from one farm to +another. There was a long delay, while the monster could be heard +coughing frightfully before it could be backed with its spiky +companion into a field so as to let the carriages pass by; and +meantime Mr. Egremont was betrayed into uttering ejaculations which +made poor Nuttie round her eyes in the dark as she sat by his feet on +the back seat, and Alice try to bury her ears in her hood in the +corner. + +On they went at last, for about a mile, and then came another sudden +stop--another fierce growl from Mr. Egremont, another apparition of +the servant at the window, saying, in his alert deferential manner, +'Sir, the bridge have broke under a carriage in front. Lady +Delmar's, sir. The horse is plunging terrible.' + +The door was torn open, and all three, regardless of ball costumes, +precipitated themselves out. + +The moon was up, and they saw the Rectory carriage safe on the road +before them, but on the bridge beyond was a struggling mass, dimly +illuminated by a single carriage lamp. Mr. Egremont and the groom +hurried forward where Mark and the Rectory coachman were already +rendering what help they could. May standing at the horses' heads, +and her mother trying to wrap everybody up, since stay in their +carriages they could not. Transferring the horses to Nuttie, the two +sisters hurried on towards the scene of action, but Blanche's white +satin boots did not carry her far, and she turned on meeting her +uncle. He spoke with a briskness and alacrity that made him like +another man in this emergency, as he assured the anxious ladies that +their friends were safe, but that they could not be extricated till +the carriage was lifted from the hole into which it had sunk amid +bricks, stones, and broken timbers. He sent his own coachman to +assist, as being the stronger man, and, mounting the box, turned and +drove off in quest of further help, at a wayside cottage, or from the +attendants on the engine, whose weight had probably done the +mischief, and prepared the trap for the next comer. + +As May came near, her brother made her available by putting the lamp +into her hand, bidding her hold it so as to light those who were +endeavouring to release the horse, which had cleared the portion of +the bridge before the break-down under the brougham, and now lay on +the road, its struggles quelled by a servant at its head. Nearly the +whole of the hind wheels and most of the door had disappeared on one +side, and, though more was visible on the other, it was impossible to +open the door, as a mass of rubbish lay on it. Annaple was on this +side, and her voice was heard calling to May in fits of the laughter +which is perhaps near akin to screams-- + + + '"London bridge is broken down, + Dance o'er my lady Lee!" + + +Janet will go in for second-sight ever after. Yes, she's all right, +except a scratch from the glass, and that I'm sitting on her more or +less. How are they getting on?' 'The horse is all but out. Not +hurt, they think. Here's another man come to help--a gentleman--my +dear, it is your partner, Nuttie's umbrella man.' 'Oh, making it +complete--hopes, Janet--I'm sorry, but I can't help squashing you! +I can't help subsiding on you! What is it now?' as the lamp-light +vanished. + +'They are looking for something to make levers of,' returned May; +'these wooden rails are too rotten.' + +'Can't they get us through the window?' sighed a muffled voice. + +'Not unless we could be elongated, like the Hope of the Katzekopfs.' + +'We shall manage now,' cried Mark; 'we have found some iron bars to +the hatch down there. But you must prepare for a shock or two before +you can be set free.' + +The two gentlemen and three servants strove and struggled, hoisted +and pushed, to the tune of suppressed sounds, half of sobs, half of +laughter, till at last the carriage was heaved up sufficiently to be +dragged backwards beyond the hole; but even then it would not stand, +for the wheels on the undermost side were crushed, neither could +either door be readily opened, one being smashed in, and the other +jammed fast. Annaple, however, still tried to keep up her own +spirits and her sister's, observing that she now knew how to +sympathise with Johnnie's tin soldiers in their box turned upside +down. + +Two sturdy labourers here made their appearance, having been roused +in the cottage and brought back by Mr. Egremont, and at last one door +was forced open by main force, and the ladies emerged, Annaple, +helping her sister, beginning some droll thanks, but pausing as she +perceived that Lady Delmar's dress was covered with blood. + +'My dear Janet. This is worse than I guessed. Why did you not +speak?' + +'It is not much,' said the poor lady, rather faintly. 'My neck--' + +The elder ladies came about her, and seated her on cushions, where, +by the light of May's lamp, Alice, who had been to an ambulance class +at Micklethwayte, detected the extent of the cut, extracted a +fragment of glass, and staunched the bleeding with handkerchiefs and +strips of the girls' tulle skirts, but she advised her patient to be +driven at once to a surgeon to secure that no morsel of glass +remained. Mr. Egremont, gratified to see his wife come to the front, +undertook to drive her back to Redcastle. Indeed, they must return +thither to cross by the higher bridge. 'You will go with me,' +entreated Lady Delmar, holding Alice's hand; and the one hastily +consigning Nuttie to her aunt's care, the other giving injunctions +not to alarm her mother to Annaple, who had declared her intention of +walking home, the two ladies went off under Mr. Egremont's escort. + +Just then it was discovered that the Delmar coachman, Robinson, had +all this time been lying insensible, not dead, for he moaned, but +apparently with a broken leg, if nothing worse. Indeed, the men had +known it all along, but, until the ladies had been rescued, nothing +had been possible but to put his cushion under his head and his rug +over him. The ladies were much shocked, and Mrs. William Egremont +decided that he must be laid at the bottom of the waggonette, and +that she would take him straight to the hospital. + +They were only a mile and a half from Lescombe, and it was pronounced +safe to cross on foot by the remains of the bridge, so that Annaple, +who had a pair of fur boots, had already decided on going home on +foot. The other girls wanted to accompany her, and, as May and +Nuttie both had overshoes, they were permitted to do so, and desired +to go to bed, and wait to be picked up by the waggonette, which must +return to Bridgefield by the Lescombe road. Blanche, having a +delicate throat, was sentenced to go with her stepmother. Mark +undertook to ride the horse through the river, and escort the three +girls, and Gerard Godfrey also joined them. The place where he was +staying lay a couple of miles beyond Lescombe, and when Mrs. Elmore's +fly had been met and turned back by Mr. Egremont, he had jumped off +to render assistance, and had done so effectively enough to win +Mark's gratitude. + +It was by this time about half-past five, as was ascertained by the +light of the waning moon, the carriage-lamp having burnt out. It was +a fine frosty morning, and the moon was still powerful enough to +reveal the droll figures of the girls. May had a fur cloak, with the +hood tied over her head by Mrs. Egremont's lace shawl; Nuttie had a +huge white cloud over her head, and a light blue opera cloak; Annaple +had 'rowed herself in a plaidie' like the Scotch girl she was, and +her eyes flashed out merrily from its dark folds. They all disdained +the gentlemen's self-denying offers of their ulsters, and only Nuttie +consented to have the carriage-rug added to her trappings, and +ingeniously tied on cloak-fashion with her sash by Gerard. He and +Mark piloted the three ladies over the narrow border of the hole, +which looked a very black open gulf. Annaple had thanked the men, +and bidden them come to Lescombe the next day to be paid for their +assistance. Then they all stood to watch Mark ride through the +river, at the shallowest place, indicated both by her and the +labourers. It was perfectly fordable, so Annaple's were mock heroics +when she quoted-- + + + 'Never heavier man and horse + Stemmed a midnight torrent's force.' + + +And Nuttie responded in a few seconds-- + + + 'Yet through good heart and our Ladye's grace + Full soon he gained the landing place.' + + +They were both in high spirits, admiring each other's droll +appearance, and speculating on the ghosts they might appear to any +one who chanced to look out of window. Annaple walked at the horse's +head, calling him poor old Robin Hood, and caressing him, while +Gerard and Nuttie kept together. + +May began to repent of her determination to walk; Lescombe seemed +very far off, and she had an instinct that she was an awkward fifth +wheel. Either because Robin Hood walked too fast for her weary +limbs, or because she felt it a greater duty to chaperon Nuttie than +Annaple, she fell back on the couple in the rear, and was rather +surprised at the tenor of their conversation. + +This 'umbrella man' was telling of his vicar's delight in the +beautiful chalice veil that had been sent by Mrs. Egremont, and +Nuttie was communicating, as a secret she ought not to tell, that +mother was working a set of stoles, and hoped to have the white ones +ready by the dedication anniversary; also that there was a box being +filled for the St. Ambrose Christmas tree. They were trying to get +something nice for each of the choir boys and of the old women; and +therewith, to May's surprise, this youth, whom she regarded as a sort +of shopman, fell into full narration of all the events of a highly- +worked parish,--all about the choral festival, and the guilds, and +the choir, and the temperance work. A great deal of it was a strange +language to May, but she half-disapproved of it, as entirely unlike +the 'soberness' of Bridgefield ways, and like the Redcastle vicar, +whom her father commonly called 'that madman.' Still, she had a +practical soul for parish work, and could appreciate the earnestness +that manifested itself, and the exertions made for people of the +classes whom she had always supposed too bad or else too well off to +come under clerical supervision. And her aunt and cousin and this +young man all evidently had their hearts in it! For Nuttie--though +her new world had put the old one apparently aside--had plunged into +all the old interests, and asked questions eagerly, and listened to +their answers, as if Micklethwayte news was water to the thirsty. +The two were too happy to meet, and, it must be confessed, had not +quite manners enough, to feel it needful to include in their +conversation the weary figure that plodded along at a little distance +from them, hardly attending to the details of their chatter, yet +deriving new notions from it of the former life of Ursula and her +mother, matters which she had hitherto thought beneath her attention, +except so far as to be thankful that they had emerged from it so +presentable. That it was a more actively religious, and perhaps a +more intellectual one than her own, she had thought impossible, where +everything must be second-rate. And yet, when her attention had +wandered from an account of Mr. Dutton's dealings with a refractory +choir boy bent on going to the races, she found a discussion going on +about some past lectures upon astronomy, and Nuttie vehemently +regretting the not attending two courses promised for the coming +winter upon electricity and on Italian art, and mournfully observing, +'We never go to anything sensible here.' + +May at first thought, 'Impertinent little thing,' and felt affronted, +but then owned to herself that it was all too true. Otherwise there +was hardly anything said about the contrast with Nuttie's present +life; Gerard knew already that the church atmosphere was very +different, and with the rector's daughter within earshot, he could +not utter his commiseration, nor Nuttie her regrets. + +Once there was a general start, and the whole five came together at +the sight of a spectrally black apparition, with a huge tufted head +on high, bearing down over a low hedge upon them. Nobody screamed +except Nuttie, but everybody started, though the next moment it was +plain that they were only chimney-sweepers on their way. + +'Retribution for our desire to act ghosts!' said Annaple, when the +sable forms had been warned of the broken bridge. 'Poor May, you are +awfully tired! Shouldn't you like a lift in their cart?' + +'Or I could put you up on Robin Hood,' said Mark. + +'Thank you, I don't think I could stick on. Is it much farther?' + +'Only up the hill and across the park,' said Annaple, still cheerily. + +'Take my arm, old woman,' said Mark, and then there was a pause, +before Annaple said in an odd voice, 'You may tell her, Mark.' + +'Oh, Annaple! Mark! is it so?' cried May joyously, but under her +breath; and with a glance to see how near the other couple were. + +'Yes,' said Annaple between crying and laughing. 'Poor Janet, she'll +think we have taken a frightfully mean advantage of her, but I am +sure I never dreamt of such a thing; and the queer thing is, that +Mark says she put it into his head!' + +'No, no,' said Mark; 'you know better than that--' + +'Why, you told me you only found it out when she began to trample on +the fallen--' + +'I told you I had only understood my own heart.' + +'And I said very much the same--she made me so angry you see.' + +'I can't but admire your motives!' said May, exceedingly rejoiced all +the time, and ready to have embraced them both, if it had not been +for the spectators behind. 'In fact, it was opposition you both +wanted. I wonder how long you would have gone on not finding it out, +if all had been smooth?' + +'The worst of it is,' said Annaple, 'that I'm afraid it is a very bad +thing for Mark.' + +'Not a bit of it,' retorted he. 'It is the only thing that could +have put life into my work, or made me care to find any! And find it +I will now! Must we let the whole world in to know before I have +found it, Annaple?' + +'I could not but tell my mother,' said Annaple. 'It would come out +in spite of me, even if I wished to keep it back.' + +'Oh yes! Lady Ronnisglen is a different thing,' said Mark. 'Just as +May here is--' + +'And she will say nothing, I know, till we are ready--my dear old +minnie,' said Annaple. 'Only, Mark, do pray have something definite +to hinder Janet with if there are any symptoms of hawking her +commodity about.' + +'I _will_,' said Mark. 'If we could only emigrate!' + +'Ah, if we could!' said Annaple. 'Ronald is doing so well in New +Zealand, but I don't think my mother could spare me. She could not +come out, and she must be with me, wherever I am. You know--don't +you--that I am seven years younger than Alick. I was a regular +surprise, and the old nurse at Ronnisglen said 'Depend upon it, my +Leddy, she is given to be the comfort of your old age.' And I have +always made up my mind never to leave her. I don't think she would +get on with Janet or any of them without me, so you'll have to take +her too, Mark.' + +'With all my heart,' he answered. 'And, indeed, I have promised my +father not to emigrate. I must, and will, find work at hand, and +wake a home for you both!' + +'But you will tell papa at once?' said May. 'It will hurt him if you +do not.' + +'You are right, May; I knew it when Annaple spoke of her mother, but +there is no need that it should go further.' + +The intelligence had lightened the way a good deal, and they were at +the lodge gates by this time. Gerard began rather ruefully to take +leave; but Annaple, in large-hearted happiness and gratitude, begged +him to come and rest at the house, and wait for daylight, and this he +was only too glad to do, especially as May's secession had made the +conversation a little more personal. + +Nuttie was in a certain way realising for the first time what her +mother's loyalty had checked her in expressing, even if the tumult of +novelties had given her full time to dwell on it. + +'Everybody outside is kind,' she said to Gerard; 'they are nice in a +way, and good, but oh! they are centuries behind in church matters +and feeling, just like the old rector.' + +'I gathered that; I am very sorry for you. Is there no one fit to be +a guide?' + +'I don't know,' said Nuttie. 'I didn't think--I must, somehow, +before Lent.' + +'There is Advent close at hand,' he said gravely. 'If you could only +be at our mission services, we hope to get Father Smith!' + +'Oh, if only I could! But mother never likes to talk about those +kind of things. She says our duty is to my father.' + +'Not the foremost.' + +'No, she would not say that. But oh, Gerard! if he should be making +her worldly!' + +'It must be your work to hinder it,' he said, looking at her +affectionately. + +'Oh, Gerard! but I'm afraid I'm getting so myself. I have thought a +great deal about lawn-tennis, and dress, and this ball,' said Nuttie. +'Somehow it has never quite felt real, but as if I were out on a +visit.' + +'You are in it, but not of it,' said Gerard admiringly. + +'No, I'm not so good as that! I like it all--almost all. I thought +I liked it better till you came and brought a real true breath of +Micklethwayte. Oh! if I could only see Monsieur's dear curly head +and bright eyes!' + +This had been the tenor of the talk, and these were the actual last +words before the whole five--just in the first streaks of dawn-- +coalesced before the front door, to be admitted by a sleepy servant; +Mark tied up the horse for a moment, while Annaple sent the man to +waken Sir John Delmar, and say there had been a slight accident, but +no one was much hurt; and, as they all entered the warm, dimly- +lighted hall, they were keenly sensible that they had been dancing or +walking all night. + +Rest in the chairs which stood round the big hearth and smouldering +wood-fire was so extremely comfortable, as they all dropped down, +that nobody moved or spoke, or knew how long it was before there was +a voice on the stairs--'Eh? what's this, Annaple? An accident? +Where's Janet?' and a tall burly figure, candle in hand, in a +dressing-gown and slippers, was added to the group. + +'Janet will be at home presently, I hope,' said Annaple, 'but she got +a cut with some broken glass, and we sent her round by Dr. Raymond's +to get it set to rights. Oh, John! we came to grief on Bluepost +Bridge after all, and I'm afraid Robinson has got his leg broken!' + +Sir John was a good-natured heavy man, whose clever wife thought for +him in all that did not regard horses, dogs, and game. He looked +perfectly astounded, and required to have all told him over again +before he could fully take it in. Then he uttered a suppressed +malediction on engines, insisted that all his impromptu guests should +immediately eat, drink, and sleep, and declared his intention of +going off at once to Redcastle to see about his wife. + +The two gentlemen were committed to the charge of the butler, and +Annaple took Nuttie and May to her sister's dressing-room, where she +knew she should find fire and tea, and though they protested that it +was not worth while, she made them undress and lie down in a room +prepared for them in the meantime. It was a state chamber, with a +big bed, far away from the entrance, shuttered and curtained up, and +with double doors, excluding all noise. The two cousins lay down, +Nuttie dead asleep almost before her head touched the pillow, while +May was aching all over, declaring herself far too much tired and +excited to sleep; and, besides that it was not worth while, for she +should be called for in a very short time. And she remained +conscious of a great dread of being roused, so that when she heard +her cousin moving about the room, she insisted that they had scarcely +lain down, whereupon Nuttie laughed, declared that she had heard a +great clock strike twelve before she moved, and showed daylight +coming in through the shutters. + +'We can't lie here any longer, I suppose,' said May, sitting up +wearily; 'and yet what can we put on? It makes one shiver to think +of going down to luncheon in a ball dress!' + +'Besides, mine is all torn to pieces to make bandages,' said Nuttie. +'I must put on the underskirt and my cloak again.' + +'Or Annaple might lend us something. I must get out somehow to know +how poor Lady Delmar is, and what has become of everybody. Ring, +Ursula, please, and lie down till somebody comes.' + +The bell was answered by a maid, who told them that my lady had been +brought home by Mr. and Mrs. Egremont about an hour after their +arrival. She was as well as could be expected, and there was no +cause for anxiety. Mr. and Mrs. Egremont had then gone on to +Bridgefield, leaving word that Mrs. William Egremont and Miss Blanche +were sleeping at Redcastle, having sent home for their own dresses +and the young ladies', and would call for the rest of their party on +the way. Indeed, a box for the Miss Egremonts had been deposited by +the Canon from the pony-carriage an hour ago, and was already in the +dressing-room; but Miss Ruthven would not have them disturbed. Miss +Ruthven,--oh yes, she was up, she had not been in bed at all. + + + + + +CHAPTER XV. +A CASTLE OF UMBRELLAS. + + + + +No, Annaple Ruthven could not have slept, even if she had had time. +Her first care had been to receive her sister, who had been met at +the entrance of Redcastle by her husband. There had been profuse +offers of hospitality to Mr. and Mrs. Egremont, the latter of whom +looked tired out, and offers of sending messengers to Bridgefield; +but Mr. Egremont would not hear of them, and every one suspected that +he would not incur the chance of rising without Gregorio and all his +appliances. + +By the time they were disposed of, and Lady Delmar safe in bed, it +was time to repair to her mother's room, so as to prevent her from +being alarmed. Lady Ronnisglen was English born. She was not by any +means the typical dowager. Her invalid condition was chiefly owing +to an accident, which had rendered her almost incapable of walking, +and she was also extremely susceptible of cold, and therefore hardly +ever went out; but there was so much youth and life about her at +sixty-three that she and Annaple often seemed like companion sisters, +and her shrewd, keen, managing eldest-born like their mother. + +Annaple lay down beside her on her bed in the morning twilight, and +gave her the history of the accident in playful terms indeed. +Annaple could never help that, but there was something in her voice +that made Lady Ronnisglen say, when satisfied about Janet's hurt, +'You've more to say, Nannie dear.' + +'Yes, minnie mine, I walked home with Mark Egremont.' + +'And--?' + +'Yes, minnie. He is going to work and make a home--a real, true, +homely home for you and me.' + +'My child, my child, you have not hung the old woman about the poor +boy's neck!' + +'As if I would have had him if he did not love her, and make a mother +of her!' + +'But what is he going to do, Nan? This is a very different thing +from--' + +'Very different from Janet's notions!' and they both laughed, the +mother adding to the mirth by saying-- + +'Poor Janet, congratulating herself that no harm had been done, and +that you had never taken to one another!' + +'Did she really now?' + +'Oh yes, only yesterday, and I bade her not crow too soon, for I +thought I saw symptoms--' + +'You dear darling minnie! Think of that! Before we either of us +knew it, and when he is worth ever so much than he was before! Not +but that I am enraged when people say he has acted nobly, just as if +there had been anything else for him to do!' + +'I own that I am glad he has proved himself. I was afraid he would +be dragged in the way of his uncle. Don't be furious, Nannie. Not +at all into evil, but into loitering; and I should like to know what +are his prospects now.' + +'Well, mother, I don't think he has any. But he means to have. And +not a word is to be said to anybody except you and his father and May +till he has looked over the top of the wall, and seen his way. We +need not bring Janet down on us till then.' + +'I must see him, my dear. Let me see him before he goes away. He +always has been a very dear lad, a thoroughly excellent right-minded +fellow. Only I must know what he means to do, and whether there is +any reasonable chance of employment or fixed purpose.' + +Lady Ronnisglen's maid here arrived with her matutinal cup of tea; +and Annaple, beginning to perceive that she was very stiff, went off +in hopes that her morning toilette would deceive her hardworked +little frame into believing it had had a proper night's rest. + +She was quite ready to appear at the breakfast table, though her +eldest niece, a long-haired, long-limbed girl, considerably the +bigger of the two, was only too happy to preside over the cups. All +the four young people were in the greatest state of excitement, +welcoming, as the heroes of the night, Mark and Mr. Godfrey, and +clamouring to be allowed to walk down after breakfast with their +father and the gentlemen to see the scene of the catastrophe and the +remains of the carriage and the bridge. + +Sir John made a courteous reference to the governess, but there was a +general sense that the cat was away, and presently there was a rush +upstairs to prepare for the walk. Annaple had time in the course of +all the bustle, while the colour came back to her cheeks for a +moment, to tell Mark that her mother had been all that was good, and +wanted to see him. + +He must manage to stay till after eleven o'clock; she could not be +ready before. Then he might come to her sitting-room, which, as well +as her bedroom, was on the ground floor. + +Mark had to work off his anxiety by an inspection of the scene of the +disaster and a circumstantial explanation of the details to the young +Delmars, who crowded round him and Mr. Godfrey, half awed, half +delighted, and indeed the youngest--a considerable tomboy--had nearly +given the latter the opportunity of becoming a double hero by +tumbling through the broken rail, but he caught her in time, and she +only incurred from Sir John such a scolding as a great fright will +produce from the easiest of fathers. + +Afterwards Mark put Gerard on the way to his brother-in-law's living, +asking him on the road so many questions about the umbrella business +that the youth was not quite sure how to take it, and doubted whether +the young swell supposed that he could talk of nothing else; but his +petulance was mitigated when he was asked, 'Supposing a person wished +to enter the business, to whom should he apply?' + +'Do you know any one who wishes for anything of the kind?' he asked. +'Are you making inquiries for any one?' and on a hesitating +affirmation, 'Because I know there is an opening for a man with +capital just at present. Dutton won't advertise--'tis so risky; and +he wants some knowledge of a person's antecedents, and whether he is +likely to go into it in a liberal, gentlemanly spirit, with good +principles, you see, such as would not upset all we are doing for the +hands.' + +'What amount of capital do you mean?' + +'Oh, from five hundred to a thousand! Or more would not come amiss. +If I only had it! What it would be to conduct an affair like that on +true principles! But luck is against me every way.' + +Mark was at the sitting-room door as the four quarters began to +strike in preparation for eleven, but Lady Ronnisglen had been in her +chair for nearly half-an-hour, having been rapid and nervous enough +to hurry even the imperturbable maid, whom Annaple thought incapable +of being hastened. She was a little slight woman, with delicate +features and pale complexion, such as time deals with gently, and her +once yellow hair now softened with silver was turned back in bands +beneath the simple net cap that suited her so well. There was a soft +yet sparkling look about her as she held out her hands and exclaimed, +'Ah, Master Mark, what mischief have you been doing?' + +Mark came and knelt on one knee beside her and said: 'Will you let me +work for you both, Lady Ronnisglen? I will do my best to find some.' + +'Ah! that is the point, my dear boy. I should have asked and wished +for definite work, if you had come to me before that discovery of +yours; and now it is a mere matter of necessity.' + +'Yes,' said Mark; then, with some hesitation, he added: 'Lady +Ronnisglen, do you care whether I take to what people call a +gentleman's profession? I could, of course, go on till I am called +to the bar, and then wait for something to turn up; but that would be +waiting indeed! Then in other directions I've taken things easy, you +see, till I'm too old for examinations. I failed in the only one +that was still open to me. Lord Kirkaldy tried me for foreign office +work, and was appalled at my blunders. I'm not fit for a parson.' + +'I should have thought you were.' + +'Not I,' said Mark. 'I'm not up to the mark there. I couldn't say +honestly that I was called to it. I wish I could, for it would be +the easiest way out of it; but I looked at the service, and I can't. +There--that's a nice confession to come to you with! I can't think +how I can have been so impudent.' + +'Mark, you are a dear good lad. I respect and honour you ever so +much more than before all this showed what stuff was in you! But the +question is, What's to be done? My child is verily the "penniless +lass with a high pedigree," for she has not a poor thousand to call +her own.' + +'And I have no right to anything in my father's lifetime, though I +have no doubt he would give me up my share of my mother's portion-- +about (pounds)3000. Now this is what has occurred to me: In the place where +I found my uncle's wife--Micklethwayte, close to Monks Horton-- +there's a great umbrella factory, with agencies everywhere. There +are superior people belonging to it. I've seen some of them, and +I've been talking to the young fellow who helped us last night, who +is in the office. I find that to go into the thing with such capital +as I might hope for, would bring in a much larger and speedier return +than I could hope for any other way, if only my belongings would set +aside their feelings. And you see there are the Kirkaldys close by +to secure her good society.' + +Lady Ronnisglen put out her transparent-looking, black-mittened hand, +and gave a little dainty pat to his arm. 'I like to see a man in +earnest,' said she. Her little Skye terrier was seized with jealousy +at her gesture, and came nuzzling in between with his black nose. +'Mull objects!' she said, smiling; but then, with a graver look, 'And +so will your father.' + +'At first,' said Mark; 'but I think he will give way when he has had +time to look at the matter, and sees how good you are. That will +make all the difference.' + +So Annaple, who had been banished for a little while, was allowed to +return, and mother, daughter, and lover built themselves a little +castle of umbrellas, and bestowed a little arch commiseration on poor +Lady Delmar; who, it was agreed, need know nothing until something +definite was arranged, since Annaple was clearly accountable to no +one except her mother. She would certainly think the latter part of +her dream only too well realised, and consider that an unfair +advantage had been taken of her seclusion in her own room. In spite +of all loyal efforts to the contrary, Mark, if he had been in a frame +of mind to draw conclusions, would have perceived that the prospect +of escaping from the beneficent rule of Lescombe was by no means +unpleasant to Lady Ronnisglen. The books that lay within her reach +would hardly have found a welcome anywhere else in the house. Sir +John was not brilliant, and his wife had turned her native wits to +the practical rather than the intellectual line, and had quite enough +to think of in keeping up the dignities of Lescombe with a large +family amid agricultural difficulties. + +Annaple remembered at last that she ought to go and look after her +guests, assisted therein by the pleasure of giving May a hearty kiss +and light squeeze, with a murmur that 'all was right.' + +She brought them downstairs just as the gong was sounding, and the +rush of girls descending from the schoolroom, and Lady Ronnisglen +being wheeled across the hall in her chair. Nuttie, who had expected +to see a gray, passive, silent old lady like Mrs. Nugent, was quite +amazed at the bright, lively face and voice that greeted the son-in- +law and grandchildren, May and herself, congratulating these two on +having been so well employed all the morning, and observing that she +was afraid her Nannie could not give so good an account of herself. + +'Well,' said Sir John, 'I am sure she looks as if she found plodding +along the lanes as wholesome as sleeping in her bed! Nan Apple- +cheeks, eh?' + +Whereupon Annaple's cheeks glowed all the more into resemblance of +the baby-name which she had long ceased to deserve; but May could see +the darkness under her eyes, betraying that it was only excitement +that drove away fatigue. + +Sir John had not gone far in his circumstantial description of the +injuries to his unfortunate carriage when the Canon arrived, with his +wife and Blanche. Mark would have given worlds in his impatience to +have matters settled between the two parents then and there; but Lady +Ronnisglen had already warned him that this would not be possible, +and assured him that it would be much wiser to prepare his father +beforehand. + +Then he fixed his hopes on a solitary drive with his father back in +the pony carriage, but he found himself told off to take that home, +and had to content himself with May as a companion. Nor was his +sister's mode of receiving the umbrella plan reassuring. She had +smiled too often with her stepmother over Nuttie's having been +brought up among umbrellas to be ready to accept the same lot for her +brother and her friend, and she was quite sure that her father would +never consent. 'An Egremont an umbrella-maker! how horrible! Just +fancy seeing Dutton, Egremont and Co. on the handle of one's +umbrella!' + +'Well, you need not patronise us,' said Mark. + +'But is it possible that Lady Ronnisglen did not object?' said May. + + She seemed to think it preferable to driving pigs in the Texas, like +her son Malcolm.' + +'Yes, but then that _was_ the Texas.' + +'Oh May, May, I did not think you were such a goose!' + +'I should have thought the folly was in not being patient. Stick to +your profession, and something must come in time.' + +'Ay, and how many men do you think are sticking to it in that hope? +No, May, 'tis not real patience to wear out the best years of my life +and hers in idleness, waiting for something not beneath an Egremont +to do!' + +'But is there nothing to do better than that?' + +'Find it for me, May.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. +INFRA DIG. + + + + +'Till every penny which she told, + Creative Fancy turned to gold.'--B. LLOYD. + + +The Blueposts Bridge had produced a good deal of effect. Ursula +Egremont in special seemed to herself to have been awakened from a +strange dream, and to have resumed her real nature and affections. +She felt as if she would give all her partners at the ball for one +shake of Monsieur's fringed paws; her heart yearned after Aunt Ursel +and Miss Mary; she longed after the chants of the choir; and when she +thought of the effort poor Gerard Godfrey had made to see her, she +felt him a hero, and herself a recreant heroine, who had well-nigh +been betrayed into frivolity and desertion of him, and she registered +secret resolutions of constancy. + +She burned to pour out to her mother all the Micklethwayte tidings, +and all her longings to be there; but when the Rectory party set her +down at the door, the footman, with a look of grave importance, +announced that Mr. Egremont was very unwell. 'Mr. Gregory thinks he +has taken a chill from the effect of exposure, sir, and Dr. Hamilton +has been sent for.' + +The Canon and his wife both got out on this intelligence, and Mrs. +Egremont was summoned to see them. She came, looking more frightened +than they thought the occasion demanded, for she was appalled by the +severe pain in the head and eyes; but they comforted her by assuring +her that her husband had suffered in the same manner in the spring, +and she saw how well he had recovered; and then telling Nuttie to +bring word what the doctor's report was, and then spend the evening +at the Rectory, they departed, while poor Nuttie only had one kiss, +one inquiry whether she were rested, before her mother fled back to +the patient. + +Nor did she see her again till after the doctor's visit, and then it +was only to desire her to tell her uncle that the attack was +pronounced to be a return of the illness of last spring, and that it +would be expedient to go abroad for the winter. + +Go abroad! It had always been a vision of delight to Nuttie, and she +could not be greatly concerned at the occasion of it; but she did not +find the Rectory in a condition to converse and sympathise. Blanche +was lying down with a bad headache. The Edwardses and a whole party +of semi-genteel parish visitors had come in to inquire about the +accident, and had to be entertained with afternoon tea; and May, +though helping her stepmother to do her devoir towards them, seemed +more preoccupied than ever. + +As indeed she was, for she knew that Mark was putting his fate to the +touch with his father in the study. + +The Canon heard the proposal with utter consternation and dismay at +the perverseness of the two young people, who might have been engaged +any time these two years with the full approbation of their families, +and now chose the very moment when every one was rejoicing at their +freedom. + +'When a young man has got into a pickle,' he said, 'the first thing +is to want to be married!' + +'Exactly so, sir, to give him a motive for getting out of the pickle. +' + +'Umbrellas! I should like to hear what your grandfather would have +said!' + +'These are not my grandfather's days, sir.' + +'No indeed! There was nothing to do but to give a hint to old Lord +de Lyonnais, and he could get you put into any berth you chose. +Interest was interest in those days! I don't see why Kirkaldy can't +do the same.' + +'Not unless I had foreign languages at my tongue's end.' + +Whereat the Canon groaned, and Mark had to work again through all the +difficulties in the way of the more liberal professions; and the +upshot was that his father agreed to drive over to Lescombe the next +day and see Lady Ronnisglen. He certainly had always implicitly +trusted his son's veracity, but he evidently thought that there must +have been much warping of the imagination to make the young man +believe the old Scottish peeress to have consented to her daughter's +marrying into an umbrella factory. + +Nuttie was surprised and gratified that both Mark and May put her +through an examination on the habits of Micklethwayte and the +position of Mr. Godfrey, which she thought was entirely due to the +favourable impression Gerard had produced, and she felt +proportionably proud of him when Mark pronounced him a very nice +gentlemanly young fellow. She could not think why her uncle, with +more testiness than she had ever seen in that good-natured dignitary, +ordered May not to stand chattering there, but to give them some +music. + +The Canon drove to Lescombe the next day under pretext of inquiring +after Lady Delmar, and then almost forgot to do so, after he had +ascertained that she was a prisoner to her dressing-room, and that +Sir John was out shooting. The result of his interview filled him +with astonishment. Lady Ronnisglen having had a large proportion of +sons to put out in life on very small means had learnt not to be +fastidious, and held that the gentleman might ennoble the vocation +instead of the vocation debasing the gentleman. Moreover, in her +secret soul she felt that her daughter Janet's manoeuvres were far +more truly degrading than any form of honest labour; and it was very +sore to her to have no power of preventing them, ridicule, protest, +or discouragement being all alike treated as the dear mother's old- +world unpractical romance. It galled her likewise that she could +perceive the determination that Annaple Ruthven should be disposed of +before Muriel Delmar came on the scene; and the retiring to ever so +small a home of their own had been discussed between mother and +daughter, and only put aside because of the pain it would give their +honest-hearted host and their hostess, who really loved them. + +Thus she did her best to persuade her old friend that there were few +openings for a man of his son's age, and that if the Micklethwayte +business were all that Mark imagined, it was not beneath the +attention even of a well-born gentleman in these modern days, and +would involve less delay than any other plan, except emigration, +which was equally dreaded by each parent. Delay there must be, not +only in order to ascertain the facts respecting the firm, but to +prove whether Mark had any aptitude for the business before involving +any capital in it. However, every other alternative would involve +much longer and more doubtful waiting. And altogether the Canon felt +that if a person of Lady Ronnisglen's rank did not object, he had +scarcely a right to do so. However, both alike reserved consent +until full inquiry should have been made. + +The Canon wrote to Lord Kirkaldy, and in the meantime wanted to +gather what information he could from his sister-in-law; but he found +her absolutely engrossed as her husband's nurse, and scarcely +permitted to snatch a meal outside the darkened room. He groaned and +grumbled at his brother's selfishness, and declared that her health +would be damaged, while his shrewder lady declared that nothing would +be so good for her as to let Alwyn find her indispensable to his +comfort, even beyond Gregorio. + +This absorption of her mother fell hard on Ursula, especially when +the first two days' alarm was over, and her mother was still kept an +entire prisoner, as companion rather than nurse. As before, the +rheumatic attack fastened upon the head and eyes, causing lengthened +suffering, and teaching Mr. Egremont that he had never had so gentle, +so skilful, so loving, or altogether so pleasant a slave as his wife, +the only person except Gregorio whom, in his irritable state, he +would tolerate about him. + +His brother could not be entirely kept out, but was never made +welcome, more especially when he took upon himself to remonstrate on +Alice's being deprived of air, exercise, and rest. He got no thanks; +Mr. Egremont snarled, and Alice protested that she was never tired, +and needed nothing. The Rectory party were, excepting the schoolroom +girls, engaged to make visits from home before going into residence +at Redcastle, and were to begin with Monks Horton. They offered to +escort Ursula to see her great aunt at Micklethwayte--Oh joy of +joys!--but when the Canon made the proposition in his brother's room, +Mr. Egremont cut it short with 'I'm not going to have her running +after those umbrella-mongers.' + +The Canon's heart sank within him at the tone, and he was really very +sorry for his niece, who was likely to have a fortnight or three +weeks of comparative solitude before her father was ready to set out +on the journey. + +'Can't she help you, in reading to her father--or anything?' he asked +Alice, who had come out with him into the anteroom to express her +warm thanks for the kind proposal. + +She shook her head. 'He would not like it, nor I, for her.' + +'I should think not!' exclaimed the Canon, as his eye fell on the +title of a yellow French book on the table. 'I have heard of this! +Does he make you read such as this to him, Alice?' + +'Nothing else seems to amuse him,' she said. 'Do you, think I ought +not? I don't understand much of that kind of modern French, but +Nuttie knows it better.' + +'Not _that kind_, I hope,' said the Canon hastily. No, no, my dear,' +as he saw her colour mantling, 'small blame to you. You have only to +do the best you can with him, poor fellow! Then we'll take anything +for you. We've said nothing to Nuttie, Jane said I had better ask +you first.' + +'Oh, that was kind! I am glad she is spared the disappointment.' + +Not that she was. For when she learnt her cousins' destination, she +entreated to go with them, and had to be told that the proposal had +been made and refused. + +There is no denying that she behaved very ill. It was the first real +sharp collision of wills. She had differed from, and disapproved of, +her father all along, but what had been required of her had generally +been pleasant to one side at least of her nature; but here she was +condemned to the dulness of the lonely outsider to a sick room, when +her whole soul was leaping back to the delights of her dear old home +at Micklethwayte, + +She made her mother's brief meal with her such a misery of protests +and insistences on pleadings with her father that poor Alice was fain +to rejoice when the servants' presence silenced her, and fairly fled +from her when the last dish was carried out. + +"When they met again Nuttie demanded, 'Have you spoken to my father?' + +'I told you, my dear, it would be of no use?' + +'You promised.' + +'No, Nuttie, I did not.' + +'I'm sure I understood you to say you would if you could.' + +'It was your hopes, my dear child. He is quite determined.' + +'And you leave him so. Mother, I can't understand your submitting to +show such cruel ingratitude!' + +Nuttie was very angry, though she was shocked at the burning colour +and hot tears that she beheld as, half choked, her mother said: 'Oh, +my dear, my dear, do not speak so! You know--you know it is not in +my heart, but my first duty, and yours too, is to your father.' + +'Whatever he tells us?' demanded Nuttie, still hot and angry. + +'I did not say that,' returned her mother gently, 'but you know, +Nuttie, Aunt Ursel herself would say that it is our duty to abide by +his decision here.' + +'But you could speak to him,' still argued Nuttie, 'what's the use of +his being so fond of you if he won't do anything you want?' + +'Hush! hush, Nuttie! you know that is not a right way of speaking. I +cannot worry him now he is ill. You don't know what that dreadful +pain is!' + +Happily Nuttie did refrain from saying, 'No doubt it makes him very +cross;' but she muttered, 'And so we are to be cut off for ever from +Aunt Ursel, and Miss Mary, and--and--every thing good--and nice--and +catholic?' + +'I hope not, indeed, I hope not. Only he wants us to get the good +society manners and tone--like your cousins, you know. You are young +enough for it, and a real Egremont, you know Nuttie, and when you +have learnt it, he will trust you there,' said the mother, making a +very mild version of his speech about the umbrella-mongers. + +'Yes, he wants to make me worldly, so that I should not care, but +that he never shall do, whatever you may let him do to you.' + +His bell rang sharply, and away hurried Alice, leaving her daughter +with a miserably sore and impatient heart, and the consciousness of +having harshly wounded the mother whom she had meant to protect. And +there was no hugging and kissing to make up for it possible. They +would not meet till dinner-time, and Nuttie's mood of stormy +repentance had cooled before that time into longing to be more tender +than usual towards her mother, but how was that possible during the +awful household ceremony of many courses, with three solemn men- +servants ministering to them? + +And poor Alice jumped up at the end, and ran away as if afraid of +fresh objurgations, so that all Nuttie could do was to rush headlong +after her, catch her on the landing, kiss her face all over, and +exclaim, 'Oh, mother, mother, I was dreadfully cross!' + +'There, there! I knew you would be sorry, dear, dear child, I know +it is very hard, but let me go. He wants me!' + +And a very forlorn and deplorable person was left behind, feeling as +if her father, after carrying her away from everything else that she +loved, had ended by robbing her of her mother. + +She stood on the handsome staircase, and contrasted it with the +little cosy entrance at her aunt's. She felt how she hated all these +fine surroundings, and how very good and unworldly she was for so +doing. Only, was it good to have been so violent towards her mother? + +The Rectory folks were dining out, so she could only have recourse to +Mudie's box to try to drive dull care away. + +A few days more and they were gone. Though Mr. Egremont was +gradually mending, he still required his wife to be in constant +attendance. In point of fact Alice could not, and in her loyalty +would not, tell her dignified brother-in-law, far less her daughter, +of the hint that the doctor had given her, namely, that her husband +was lapsing into the constant use of opiates, founded at first on the +needs of his malady, but growing into a perilous habit, which +accounted for his shutting himself up all the forenoon. + +While under medical treatment it was possible to allowance him, and +keep him under orders, but Dr. Hamilton warned her not to allow the +quantity to be exceeded or the drugs to be resorted to after his +recovery, speaking seriously of the consequences of indulgence. He +spoke as a duty, but as he looked at the gentle, timid woman, he saw +little hope of her doing any good! + +Poor Alice was appalled. All she could do was to betake herself to +'the little weapon called All-Prayer,' and therewith to use all +vigilance and all her arts of coaxing and cheering away weariness and +languor, beguiling sleeplessness, soothing pain by any other means. +She had just enough success to prevent her from utterly despairing, +and to keep her always on the strain, and at her own cost, for Mr. +Egremont was far more irritable when he was without the narcotic, and +the serenity it produced was an absolute relief. She soon found too +that Gregorio was a contrary power. Once, when he had suggested the +dose, and she had replied by citing the physician's commands, Mr. +Egremont had muttered an imprecation on doctors, and she had caught a +horrible grin of hatred on the man's face, which seemed to her almost +diabolical. She had prevailed then, but the next time her absence +was at all prolonged, she found that the opiate had been taken, and +her dread of quitting her post increased, though she did not by any +means always succeed. Sometimes she was good-humouredly set aside, +sometimes roughly told to mind her own business; but she could not +relinquish the struggle, and whenever she did succeed in preventing +the indulgence she felt a hopefulness that--in spite of himself and +Gregorio, she might yet save him. + +Another hint she had from both the Canon and his wife. When they +asked what place was chosen, Mr. Egremont said he had made Alice +write to inquire of the houses to be had at various resorts--Mentone, +Nice, Cannes, and the like. She was struck by the ardour with which +they both began to praise Nice, Genoa, Sorrento, any place in +preference to Mentone, which her husband seemed to know and like the +best. + +And when she went downstairs with them the Canon held her hand a +moment, and said, 'Anywhere but Mentone, my dear.' + +She looked bewildered for a moment, and the Canoness added, 'Look in +the guide-books.' + +Then she remembered Monte Carlo, and for a moment it was to her as +shocking a warning as if she had been bidden to keep her husband out +of the temptation of thieving. + +She resolved, however, to do her best, feeling immediately that again +it was a pull of her influence against Gregorio's. Fortune favoured +her so far that the villa favoured by Mr. Egremont was not to be had, +only the side of the bay he disliked, and that a pleasant villa +offered at Nice. + +Should she close with it? Well--was there great haste? Gregorio +knew a good many people at Mentone, and could ascertain in his own +way if they could get the right side of the bay by going to the hotel +and waiting. Alice, however, pressed the matter--represented the +danger of falling between two stools, pleaded personal preference, +and whereas Mr. Egremont was too lazy for resistance to any +persuasion, she obtained permission to engage the Nice villa. The +next day Gregorio announced that he had heard that the proprietor of +Villa Francaleone at Mentone was giving up hopes of his usual +tenants, and an offer might secure it. + +'Villa Eugenie at Nice is taken,' said Alice, and she received one of +those deadly black looks, which were always like a stab. + +Of all this Nuttie knew nothing. She was a good deal thrown with the +schoolroom party and with the curate's wife for companionship. Now +Mrs. Edwards did not approve of even the canonical Egremonts, having +an ideal far beyond the ritual of Bridgefield; and she was delighted +to find how entirely Miss Egremont sympathised with her. + +Nuttie described St. Ambrose's as a paradise of church observances +and parish management, everything becoming embellished and all +shortcomings forgotten in the loving mists of distance. The +harmonium was never out of tune; the choir-boys were only just +naughty enough to show how wisely Mr. Spyers dealt with them; the +surplices, one would think, never needed washing; Mr. Dutton and +Gerard Godfrey were paragons of lay helpers, and district visitors +never were troublesome. Mrs. Edwards listened with open ears, and +together they bewailed the impracticability of moving the Canon to +raising Bridgefield to anything approaching to such a standard; while +Nuttie absolutely cultivated her home sickness. + +According to promise Blanche wrote to her from Monks Horton, and told +her thus much--'We have been all over your umbrella place. It was +very curious. Then we called upon Miss Headworth, who was quite +well, and was pleased to hear of you.' + +Blanche was famous for never putting into a letter what her +correspondent wanted to hear, but her stepmother wrote a much longer +and more interesting letter to Mrs. Egremont. + +'You will be glad to hear that we found your aunt quite well. I +suppose it is not in the nature of things that you should not be +missed; but I should think your place as well supplied as could be +hoped by that very handsome and superior Miss Nugent, with whom she +lives. I had a good deal of conversation with both; for you will be +surprised to hear that the Canon has consented to Mark's making the +experiment of working for a year in Greenleaf and Dutton's office, +with a view to entering the firm in future. I was very anxious to +understand from such true ladies what the position would be socially. +I longed to talk it over with you beforehand; but Alwyn could never +spare you, and it was not a subject to be broached without ample time +for discussion. We felt that though the Kirkaldys could tell us +much, it was only from the outside, whereas Miss Headworth could +speak from within. The decision is of course a blow to his father, +and will be still more so to the De Lyonnais family, but they have +never done anything to entitle them to have a voice in the matter, +and the Kirkaldys agree with us that, though not a path of +distinction, it is one of honourable prosperity; and with this, if +Mark is content, we have no right to object, since his mind is set on +present happiness rather than ambition.' + +It was a letter gratifying to Alice in its confidential tone, as well +as in the evident approval of those surroundings which she loved so +well. She read it to her husband, as she was desired to give him a +message that the Canon had not written out of consideration for his +eyes. He laughed the laugh that always jarred on her. 'So Master +Mark has got his nose to the grindstone, has he?' was his first +exclamation, and, after some cogitation, 'The fellow wants to be +married, depend on it!' + +'Do you think so?' returned Alice wistfully. + +'Think! Why, you may see it in Jane's letter! I wonder who it is! +The little yellow Ruthven girl, most likely! The boy is fool enough +for anything! I thought he would have mended his fortunes with +Ursula, but he's too proud to stomach that, I suppose!' + +'I did wish that!' said Alice. 'It would have set everything +straight, and it would have been so nice for her.' + +'You should have cut out your daughter after your own pattern,' he +answered; 'not let her be such a raw insignificant little spitfire. +'Tis a pity. I don't want the estate to go out of the name, though I +won't leave it to an interfering prig like Mark unless he chooses to +take my daughter with it!' + +The latter part of this amiable speech was muttered and scarcely +heard or attended to by Alice in her struggle to conceal the grief +she felt at the uncompromising opinion of her child. Nuttie might +outgrow being raw, but there seemed less rather than more prospect of +a better understanding with her father. About a week later Mark made +his appearance, timing it happily when his uncle was making his +toilette, so that his aunt was taking a turn on the sunny terrace +with Nuttie when the young man came hurrying up the garden. + +'Mark! What? Are you come home?' + +'Not the others. They are at Mr. Condamine's, I came last night--by +way of Lescombe. Edda, dear, it is all right! Oh, I forgot you did +not know! There was no seeing you before we went away. Ah! by the +by, how is my uncle?' + +'Much better, except that using his eyes brings on the pain. 'What +is it, Mark? Ah! I can guess,' she said, aided no doubt by that +conjecture of her husband's. + +'Yes, yes, yes!' he answered, with a rapidity quite unlike himself. +'Why, Nuttie, how mystified you look!' + +'I'm sure I don't wonder at any one being glad to live at dear old +Micklethwayte,' said Nuttie slowly. 'But, somehow, I didn't think it +of you, Mark.' + +'My dear, that's not all!' said her mother. + +'Oh!' cried Nuttie, with a prolonged intonation. 'Is it?--Oh, Mark! +did you _do it_ that night when you led the horse home?' + +'Even so, Nuttie! And, Aunt Alice, Lady Ronnisglen is the best and +bravest of old ladies, and the wisest. Nobody objects but Lady +Delmar, and she declares she shall not consider it an engagement till +Ronnisglen has been written to in Nepaul, as if he had anything to do +with it; but that matters the less, since they all insist on our +waiting till I've had a year's trial at the office! I suppose they +could not be expected to do otherwise, but it is a pity, for I'm +afraid Lady Delmar will lead Annaple and her mother a life of it.' + +'Dear Mark, I am delighted that it is all going so well.' + +'I knew you would be! I told them I must tell _you_, though it is +not to go any farther.' + +So that hope of Mark's restoration to the inheritance faded from +Alice, and yet she could not be concerned for him. She had never +seen him in such good spirits, for the sense of failure and +disappointment had always been upon him; and the definite prospect of +occupation, gilded by his hopes of Annaple, seemed to make a new man +of him. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. +AN OLD FRIEND. + + + + +'My heart untravelled still returns to thee.'--GOLDSMITH. + + +To go abroad! Such had been the fairy castle of Nuttie's life. She +had dreamed of Swiss mountains, Italian pictures, Rheinland castles, +a perpetual panorama of delight, and here she was in one of the great +hotels of Paris, as little likely to see the lions of that city as +she had been to see those of London. + +The party were halting for two days there because the dentist, on +whom Mr. Egremont's fine show of teeth depended, practised there; but +Nuttie spent great part of the day alone in the sitting-room, and her +hand-bag and her mother's, with all their books and little comforts, +had been lost in the agony of landing. Her mother's attendance was +required all the morning, or what was worse, she expected that it +would be, and though Nuttie's persistence dragged out the staid, +silent English maid, who had never been abroad before, to walk in the +Tuilleries gardens, which they could see from their windows, both +felt half-scared the whole time. Nuttie was quite unused to finding +her own way unprotected, and Martin was frightened, cross, and +miserable about the bags, which, she averred, had been left by +Gregorio's fault. She so hated Gregorio that only a sort of +adoration which she entertained for Mrs. Egremont would have induced +her to come tete-a-tete with him, and perhaps he was visiting his +disappointment about Mentone on her. In the afternoon nothing was +achieved but a drive in the Bois de Boulogne, when it was at once +made evident that Mr. Egremont would tolerate no questions nor +exclamations. + +His mouth was in no condition for eating in public, and he therefore +decreed that his wife and daughter should dine at the table d'hote, +while he was served alone by Gregorio. This was a great boon to +Nuttie, and to her mother it recalled bridal days long past at +Dieppe; but what was their astonishment when on entering the room +they beheld the familiar face of Mr. Dutton! It was possible for him +to place himself between them, and there is no describing the sense +of rest and protection his presence imparted to them, more especially +to Nuttie. + +He had come over, as he did from time to time, on business connected +with the materials he used, and he was beguiled into telling them of +his views of Mark, whom he had put in the way of learning the +preliminaries needful to an accountant. He had a deep distrust of +the business capacities and perseverance of young gentlemen of +family, especially with a countess-aunt in the neighbourhood, and +quoted Lord Eldon's saying that to make a good lawyer of one, it was +needful for him to have spent both his own and his wife's fortune to +begin with, but he allowed that young Mr. Egremont was a very +favourable specimen, and was resolutely applying himself to his work, +and that he himself felt it due to him to give all the assistance +possible. + +Miss Headworth, he could not deny, had aged, but far less than Mrs. +Nugent in the past year, and it really was a great comfort to Miss +Mary to have the old ladies together. He told too how the mission, +now lately over, had stirred the Micklethwayte folk into strong +excitement, and how good works had been undertaken, evil habits +renounced, reconciliations effected, religious services frequented. +Would it last? Nobody, he said, had taken it up so zealously as +Gerard Godfrey, who seemed as if he would fain throw everything up, +and spend his whole life in some direct service as a home missionary +or something of the kind. 'He is a good fellow,' said Mr. Dutton, +'and it is quite genuine, but I made him wait at least a year, that +he may be sure that this is not only a passing impulse.' + +Nuttie thought that she knew what was the impulse that had actuated +him, and felt a pleasant elation and self-consciousness even while +she repressed a sigh of pity for herself and for him. Altogether the +dip into the Micklethwayte world was delightful, but when Mr. Dutton +began to ask Nuttie what she had seen, she burst out with, 'Nothing-- +nothing but just a walk and a drive in the Bois de Boulogne;' and her +mother explained that 'in Mr. Egremont's state of health,' etc. + +'I wonder,' asked Mr. Dutton, 'if I might be allowed--' + +Nuttie's eyes sparkled with ecstasy. + +It ended in her mother, who had been wondering how Mr. Egremont could +be amused all the long evening, arranging that Mr. Dutton should come +in an hour's time to call on him, on the chance of being admitted, +and that then the offer might be made when she had prepared him for +it, advising Nuttie to wait in her own room. She was beginning to +learn how to steer between her husband and her daughter, and she did +not guess that her old friend was sacrificing one of the best French +plays for the chance. + +It turned out well; Mr. Egremont was conscious of a want of variety. +He demanded whether it was the young fellow, and being satisfied on +that part, observed in almost a good-humoured tone, 'So, we are in +for umbrellas, we may as well go in for the whole firm!' caused the +lights to be lowered under pretext of his eyes--to conceal the lack +of teeth--did not absolutely refuse to let Nuttie take advantage of +the escort, and when Mr. Dutton did come to the anteroom of the +apartment, he was received with full courtesy, though Gregorio looked +unutterable contempt. Mr. Dutton was a man who could talk, and had +seen a good deal of the world at different times. Mr. Egremont could +appreciate intelligent conversation, so that they got on wonderfully +well together, over subjects that would have been a mere weariness to +Nuttie but for the exceeding satisfaction of hearing a Micklethwayte +voice. At last Mr. Dutton said something about offering his escort +to the ladies, or to Miss Egremont, who used, he said in a paternal +way, to be a little playfellow of his; Mr. Egremont really smiled, +and said, 'Ay, ay, the child is young enough to run after sights. +Well, thank you, if you are so good as to take the trouble, they will +be very grateful to you, or if her mother cannot go with her, there's +the maid.' + +Nuttie thought she had never known him so amiable, and hardly durst +believe her good fortune would not turn the wheel before morning. +And it so far did that her mother found, or thought she found, that +it would not do to be out of call, and sent the silent Martin in her +stead. But Mr. Dutton had set telegraphs to work and recovered the +bags, which Gregorio had professed to give up in despair. + +A wonderful amount of lionising was contrived by Mr. Dutton, who had +lived a few years at Paris in early youth, and had made himself +acquainted alike with what was most worth seeing, and the best ways +and means of seeing it, so that as little time as possible was wasted +on the unimportant. It was one of the white days of Nuttie's life, +wanting nothing but her mother's participation in the sight of the +St. Michael of the Louvre, of the Sainte Chapelle, of the vistas in +Notre Dame, and of poor Marie Antoinette's cell,--all that they had +longed to see together. + +She had meant to tell Mr. Dutton that it was all her father's +selfishness, but somehow she could not say so, there was something +about him that hindered all unbefitting outbreaks of vexation. + +And thus, when she mentioned her disappointment at not being allowed +to go to Micklethwayte with her uncle, he answered, 'You could not of +course be spared with your father so unwell.' + +'Oh, he never let me come near him! I wasn't of the slightest use to +him!' + +'Mrs. Egremont would have missed you.' + +'Really he never gave her time. He perfectly devours her, body and +soul. Oh dear, no! 'Twas for no good I was kept there, but just +pride and ingratitude, though mother tried to call it being afraid +for my manners and my style.' + +'In which, if you lapse into such talk, you fully justify the +precaution. I was just thinking what a young lady you had grown +into,' he answered in a tone of banter, under which, however, she +felt a rebuke; and while directing her attention to the Pantheon, he +took care to get within hearing again of Martin. + +And in looking at these things, he carried her so far below the +surface. St. Michael was not so much Raffaelle's triumph of art as +the eternal victory over sin; the Sainte Chapelle, spite of all its +modern unsanctified gaudiness, was redolent of St. Louis; and the +cell of the slaughtered queen was as a martyr's shrine, trod with +reverence. There were associations with every turn, and Nuttie might +have spent years at Paris with another companion without imbibing so +many impressions as on this December day, when she came home so full +of happy chatter that the guests at the table d'hote glanced with +amusement at the eager girl as much as with admiration at the +beautiful mother. Mr. Dutton had been invited to come and take +coffee and spend the evening with them again, but Mr. Egremont's +affairs with the dentist had been completed, and he had picked up, +or, more strictly speaking, Gregorio had hunted up for him, a couple +of French acquaintances, who appeared before long and engrossed him +entirely. + +Mr. Dutton sat between the two ladies on a stiff dark-green sofa on +the opposite side of the room, and under cover of the eager, half- +shrieking, gesticulating talk of the Frenchmen they had a quiet low- +toned conversation, like old times, Alice said. 'More than old +times,' Nuttie added, and perhaps the others both agreed with her. + +When the two Englishwomen started at some of the loud French tones, +almost imagining they were full of rage and fury, their friend smiled +and said that such had been his first notion on coming abroad. + +'You have been a great deal abroad?' Mrs. Egremont asked; 'you seem +quite at home in Paris.' + +'Oh, mamma, he showed me where the school was that he went to, and +the house where he lived! Up such an immense way!' + +Mr. Dutton was drawn on to tell more of his former life than ever had +been known to them. His father, a wine merchant, had died a bankrupt +when he was ten years old, and a relation, engaged in the same +business at Paris, had offered to give him a few years of foreign +schooling, and then make him useful in the business. + +His excellent mother had come with him, and they had lived together +on very small means, high up in a many-storied lodging-house, while +he daily attended the Lycie. His reminiscences were very happy of +those days of cheerful contrivance, of her eager desire to make the +tiny appartement a home to her boy, of their pleasant Sundays and +holidays, and the life that in this manner was peculiarly guarded by +her influence, and the sense of being all she had upon earth. He had +scarcely ever spoken of her before, and he dwelt on her now with a +tenderness that showed how she had been the guiding spirit of his +life. + +At fifteen he was taken into the office at Marseilles, and she went +thither with him, but the climate did not agree with her; she +drooped, and, moreover, he discovered that the business was not +conducted in the honourable manner he had supposed. After a few +months of weighing his obligations to his kinsman against these +instincts, the question was solved by his cousin's retiring. He +resolved to take his mother back to England at any loss, and falling +in with one of the partners of the umbrella firm in quest of French +silk, he was engaged as foreign correspondent, and brought his mother +to Micklethwayte, but not in time to restore her health, and he had +been left alone in the world just as he came of age, when a small +legacy came to him from his cousin, too late for her to profit by it. +It had been invested in the business, and he had thus gradually risen +to his present position. Mrs. Egremont was amazed to hear that his +mother had only been dead so short a time before she had herself come +to Micklethwayte; and fairly apologised for the surprise she could +not help betraying at finding how youthful he had then been, and +Nuttie exclaimed, in her original unguarded fashion: + +'Why, Mr. Dutton, I always thought you were an old bachelor!' + +'Nuttie, my dear!' said her mother in a note of warning, but Mr. +Dutton laughed and said: + +'Not so far wrong! They tell me I never was a young man.' + +'You had always to be everything to your mother,' said Mrs. Egremont +softly. + +'Yes,' he said, 'and a very blessed thing it was for me.' + +'Ah! you don't regret now all that you must have always been giving +up for her,' returned Alice. + +'No, indeed. Only that I did not give up more.' + +'That is always the way.' + +'It is indeed. One little knows the whips that a little self-will +prepares.' + +Nuttie thought he said it for her admonition, and observed, 'But she +was good,' only, however, in a mumble, that the other two thought it +inexpedient to notice, though it made both hearts ache for her, even +Alice's--with an additional pang of self-reproach that she herself +was not good enough to help her daughter better. + +Neither of them guessed at the effect that a glimpse of the lovely +young seeming widow had had on the already grave self-restrained +young man in the home lately made lonely, how she had been his secret +object for years, and how, when her history was revealed to him, he +had still hoped on for a certainty which had come at last as so fatal +a shock and overthrow to all his dreams. + +A life of self-restraint and self-conquest had rendered it safe for +him to thoroughly enjoy the brief intercourse, which had come about +by the accident of his having come to dine at the Hotel de Louvre, to +meet a friend who had failed him. + +These were two completely happy hours to all the three, and when they +said 'good-night' there was a sense of soothing and invigoration on +Alice's mind; and on Nuttie's that patience and dutifulness were the +best modes of doing justice to her Micklethwayte training, although +he had scarcely said a word of direct rebuke or counsel. + +While Mr. Dutton sped home to tell Miss Headworth that Mrs. Egremont +looked lovelier than ever, and was--yes she was--more of an angel, +that her husband had been very pleasant, much better than he +expected, and, indeed, might come to anything good under such +influence; and as to little Nuttie--she was developing fast, and had +a brave constant heart, altogether at Micklethwayte. But that +servant who was acting as courier was an insolent scoundrel, who was +evidently cheating them to the last degree. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. +A FRIEND IN NEED. + + + + +'True courage often is in frightened eyes.'-- + Thoughts and Verses. + + +All the preliminaries of the sojourn at Nice had been settled in +correspondence, and the Egremont family had nothing to do, after +arriving at the station, but to drive up to Villa Eugenie, whose +flower-wreathed balconies were like a vision of beauty. Servants had +been hired through agencies known to Mr. Egremont, and Gregorio +looked very black at his mistress keeping the reins in her hand, and +tried to make her feel herself inefficient. + +It was not an eventful or very interesting part of Ursula's life. +She was almost wild with the novelty and beauty of the South at +first, but except for what she could thus see, there was little +variety. The mould of the day was as much as possible after the +Bridgefield fashion, except that there were no cousins at the +Rectory, no parish interests, very little society, as far as the +ladies were concerned. Mr. Egremont had old acquaintance and +associates with whom he spent afternoons and evenings, after his own +fashion, but they were not people to whom he wished to introduce his +wife and daughter. + +And the superior English habitues of Nice, the families who formed +the regular society, knew Mr. Egremont's reputation sufficiently to +feel by no means disposed to be cordial to the fair wife and grown-up +daughter whom he so unexpectedly produced on the scene. It had been +different at home, where he had county standing, and the Canon and +Canoness answered for the newcomers; but here, where all sorts of +strange people came to the surface, the respectable felt it needful +to be very cautious, and though of course one or two ladies had been +asked to call through the intervention of Lady Kirkaldy or of Mrs. +William Egremont, and had been assured on their authority that it was +'all right,' their attentions were clogged by doubt, and by +reluctance to involve their mankind in intimacy with the head of the +family. Thus very little of the proverbial gaiety of Nice offered +itself to Nuttie and her mother, and, except by a clerical family who +knew Mr. Spyers, they were kept at a distance, which Mr. Egremont +perceived and resented by permitting no advances. The climate suited +him so well that, to his wife's great relief, he seemed to have +dropped his inclination for sedatives; but his eyes would not bear +much, and she felt bound to be always on the alert, able to amuse him +and hinder his feeling it dull. Gregorio highly disapproved of the +house and servants, and was always giving hints that Mentone would +agree far better with his master; but every day that Mr. Egremont +seemed sufficiently amused at Nice was so much gain, and she had this +in her favour, that he was always indolent and hard to move. +Moreover, between his master's levee and late dinner Gregorio was +hardly ever to be found. No doubt he knew the way to Monte Carlo +well enough, and perhaps preferred that the family should be farther +off, for he soon ceased to show himself discontented with their +present abode. Once when his absence was inconvenient, Mr. Egremont +abused him roundly as a good-for-nothing gambler, but when Alice +hoped that he might be called to a reckoning, the wrath had subsided +with the immediate vexation, and as usual she was told 'All those +fellows were alike.' + +The foreign servants were not to be induced to give the early-rising +ladies more than a roll and cup of coffee, and Nuttie felt ravenous +till she learned to lay in a stock of biscuits, and, with Martin's +connivance, made tea on her own account, and sustained her mother for +the morning's walk before the summons to Mr. Egremont. + +He always wanted his wife much earlier in the day, during his hours +of deshabille, and letting her write his letters and read the papers +to him. She was pleased with this advance, but it gave Nuttie a +great deal more solitude, which was sometimes judiciously spent, but +it was very hard not to be desultory in spite of learning lessons in +French, Italian, and drawing. + +Later in the day came the drive or the visit to the public gardens +when the band was playing, but this became less frequent as Mr. +Egremont observed the cold civility shown to his wife, and as he +likewise grew stronger and made more engagements of his own. Then +Nuttie had happy afternoons of driving, donkey-riding, or walking +with her mother, sketching, botanising, admiring, and laying up +stores for the long descriptive letters that delighted the party in +St. Ambrose's Road, drinking in all the charm of the scenery, and +entering into it intelligently. They spent a good many evenings +alone together likewise, and it could not but give Alice a pang to +see the gladness her daughter did not repress when this was the case, +even though to herself it meant relaxation of the perpetual vigilance +she had to exert when the father and daughter were together to avert +collisions. They were certainly not coming nearer to one another, +though Nuttie was behaving very well and submissively on the whole, +and seldom showing symptoms of rebellion. This went on through the +early part of their stay, but latterly there was a growing sense upon +the girl that she and her mother were avoided by some young ladies to +whom they had been introduced, and whom they saw regularly at the +daily services at St. Michael's Church. They were pleasant-looking +girls, with whom Nuttie longed to fraternise, and she was mortified +at never being allowed to get beyond a few frigidly civil words in +the street, more especially when she came upon sketching parties and +picnics in which she was never included. + +It was all very well for her mother to answer her murmurs and +wonderings with 'You know people are very exclusive, my dear.' +Nuttie began to guess that her father and her name were the real +reason, and her eyes were further opened later in the spring when Mr. +Egremont, who had recovered unusual health and vigour, took his +ladies to Mentone to spend a day or two in the newer beauties there. +Alice had her misgivings, but the visit was avowedly to show the +place to her, and she could not reasonably object. He was in unusual +good humour, and even tolerated their ecstasies at the scenery and +the flowers, dined at the table d'hote and found acquaintance, +enjoyed himself, and in the forenoon, while Nuttie was out wondering +and admiring, and going as far as she could drag Martin, he expressed +to his wife that she would be astonished at the gardens and the music +of Monte Carlo. + +There, however, Alice made a stand. 'Thank you, it is very kind, but +if you please, I should not like to take Ursula to Monte Carlo, or to +go there myself,' she said in an apologetic tone. + +He laughed. 'What! you are afraid of making the little one a +confirmed gambler?' + +'You know I am not, but--' + +'You think the little prig will be contaminated, eh?' + +'Well, I think it will be happier for her if she never sees anything-- +of the kind.' + +'You little foolish Edda, as if her eyes or ears need see anything +but flowers and music and good company.' + +'I know that, but I had so much rather not. It was a sweet face and +caressing voice that implored, and he still was good humoured. + +'Well, well, I don't want to drag you, old lady, against your will, +though I fancy you would be rather surprised at the real aspect of +the abode of iniquity your fancy depicts.' + +'Oh, thank you, thank you so much!' + +'What an absurd little woman it is! I wonder if you would thank me +as heartily supposing I cleared a round thousand and gave you--say a +diamond necklace?' + +'I am sure I should not!' + +'No, I don't believe you would. That restless little conscience of +yours would be up on end. After all, I don't know that you are the +worse for it, when it looks so prettily out of your brown eyes. I +wonder what you expect to see? The ruined gamester shooting himself +on every path, eh?' + +'No, no; I don't suppose I should see anything horrid or even +disagreeable. I know it is all very beautiful; but then every person +who goes for the innocent pleasures' sake only helps to keep up the +whole thing--evil and all.' + +'And what would the old women of all sorts here and at Nice do +without such a choice temple of scandal to whet their teeth upon? +Well, I suppose you and your precious daughter can take care of +yourselves. There are the gardens, or you can tell Gregorio to order +you a carriage.' + +'Then you are going?' + +'Yes, I promised Grafton. Don't be afraid, Mistress Edda, I'm not +going to stake Bridgefield and reduce you to beggary. I'm an old +hand, and was a cool one in my worst days, and whatever I get I'll +hand over to appease you.' + +That was all she could obtain, and she secretly hoped there would be +no winnings to perplex her. Thankful that she had not made him angry +by the resistance for which she had prepared herself with secret +prayer ever since the Mentone scheme had been proposed, she placed +herself at Nuttie's disposition for the rest of the day. + +They had a charming donkey-ride, and, still unsatiated with beauty, +Ursula made her mother come out again to wonder at the trees in the +public gardens. Rather tired, they were sitting on a shaded bench, +when a voice close to them exclaimed, 'It is; yes, it must be; 'tis +the voice--yes, and the face prettier than ever. Little Alice--ah! +you don't know me. Time has been kinder to you than to me.' + +'Oh! I know you now! I beg your pardon,' cried Alice, recognising +in the thin nutcracker parchment visage and shabbily-dressed figure +the remnant of the brilliant aquiline countenance and gay attire of +eighteen years ago. 'Mrs. Houghton! I am so glad to have met you, +you were so kind to me. And here she is.' + +'What! is this the child? Bless me, what a proof how time goes! +Young lady, you'll excuse my not knowing you. You were a very +inconvenient personage not quite born when I last met your mother. +What a likeness! I could have known her for Alwyn Egremont's +daughter anywhere!' + +'Yes, they all say she is a thorough Egremont.' + +'Then it is all right. I saw Alwyn Egremont, Esquire, and family +among the arrivals at Nice, but I hardly durst expect that it was +you. It seemed too good to be true, though I took care the knot +should be tied faster than my gentleman suspected.' + +'Oh, please!' cried Alice deprecatingly, at first not apprehending +the force of the words, having never known the gulf from which Mrs. +Houghton had saved her, and that lady, seeing that the girl was +listening with all her ears, thought of little pitchers and +restrained her reminiscences, asking with real warm interest, 'And +how was it? How did you meet him again?' + +'He came and found me out,' said Alice, with satisfaction in her +voice. + +'Indeed! Not at Dieppe; for he was en garcon when I nearly came +across him ten years ago at Florence.' + +'Oh no! He inquired at Dieppe, but they had lost the address my aunt +left.' + +'Indeed! I should not have thought it of old Madame Leroux, she +seemed so thoroughly interested in la pauvre petite. What did you +do? Your aunt wrote to me when your troubles were safely over, and +she thought him lost in the poor Ninon, that she meant to settle in a +place with an awfully long Yorkshire name.' + +'Micklethwayte; yes, we lived there, and got on very well. We had +boarders, and I had some dear little pupils; but last year Mark +Egremont--you remember dear little Mark--was in the neighbourhood, +and hearing my name, he told his uncle, who had been seeking us ever +since. And he came, Mr. Egremont, and took us home, and oh, the +family have been so kind!' + +'What? The parson, and that awful old she-lion of a grandmother, +whose very name scared you out of your wits?' + +'She is dead, and so is dear good Lady Adelaide. Canon Egremont is +kindness itself. It was all the old lady's doing, and he knew +nothing about it. He was gone to Madeira with Lady Adelaide and got +none of our letters, and he never knew that his brother was married +to me.' + +'Trust Alwyn for that,' Mrs. Houghton muttered. 'Well, all's well +that ends well, and I hope he feels due gratitude to me for doing him +a good turn against his will. I tried to get at him at Florence to +find out what he had done with you, but unluckily I was ill, and had +to send through poor Houghton, and he mismanaged it of course, though +I actually wrote down that barbarous address, Mickle something, on a +card. I believe he only got as far as the man instead of the +master.' + +'Ah! I wanted to ask for Captain Houghton,' said Alice, glad to lead +the conversation away from revelations of which she had an +instinctive dread. + +'Gone, my dear! two years ago. Poor fellow! it was low fever, but +quite as much want of luck, I shall always believe,' she said. + +'Oh, I am sorry! He was so kind to me!' said Alice, squeezing her +hand, and looking up with sweet tender commiseration. + +'There, there, don't, you pretty creature!' said Mrs. Houghton, +putting her hand across her eyes. 'I declare, you've almost made me +cry--which I've not done--well, hardly, since I parted with you at +Dieppe, thinking you a sweet little flower plucked and thrown away to +die, though I had done my best to bind it to him. What care I took +not to let Houghton disabuse him about Jersey marriages!' + +There is a difference between hearing and hearkening, and Alice +Egremont's loving and unsuspecting heart was so entirely closed +against evil thoughts of her husband, and so fully occupied with her +old friend's condition, that she never took in the signification of +all this, while Nuttie, being essentially of a far more shrewd and +less confiding nature, and already imbued with extreme distrust of +her father, was taking in all these revelations with an open-eyed, +silent horror of conviction that her old impressions of the likeness +to Marmion or Theseus had been perfectly correct. It was all under +her hat, however, and the elder ladies never thought of her, Alice +bringing back the conversation to Mrs. Houghton herself. 'Oh, my +dear, I drag on as I can. I've got a fragment of our old income, and +when that's run too low, I go up to Monte Carlo--I always had the +lucky hand, you know, and 'tis only restitution after all! I'm sick +of it all though, and sometimes think I'll take my good sister Anne's +offers and go home.' + +'Oh do, do!' cried Alice. + +'But,' went on the poor woman, 'humble pie goes against me, and think +what an amount would be before me--heigh ho!--after nearly five-and- +twenty years; yes, five-and-twenty years it is--since Houghton, poor +fellow, told me I was too bright and winsome for a little country +lawyer's house in a poky street. What would they think of me now?' +and she laughed with a sound that was painful to hear. 'Well, +Sycorax had done one good deed, and when I look at you, queening it +there, I feel that so have I.' + +'You were very good to me, I know; but oh, if you would go home to +your sister!' + +'My dear, you little know what you ask! Anne! Why, she is the prime +district lady, or whatever you call it, of Dockforth. Think what it +would be to her to have this battered old vaurien thrown on her +hands, to be the stock subject for all the righteous tongues. +Besides,' as she coughed, 'the English climate would make an end of +me outright. I'm in a bad way enough here, where I can sit among the +lemon trees half the days in the winter, but the English fireside in +a stuffy parlour--' and she shuddered. + +That shiver reminded all that it was getting late, too late for Mrs. +Houghton to be out of doors, and near the time when Mr. Egremont was +to meet his ladies at the hotel. Alice begged for Mrs. Houghton's +address, and it was given with a short ironical laugh at her promise +to call again if possible. 'Ay, if possible,' the poor woman +repeated. 'I understand! No, no,' as Alice was about to kiss her. +'I won't have it done.' + +'There's no one in sight.' + +'As if that made a difference! Alice, child, you are as innocent as +the little dove that flew aboard the Ninon. How have you done it? +Get along with you! No kisses to such as me! I don't know whether +it breaks my heart, or binds it up to look at the face of you. +Anyway, I can't bear it.' + +She hurried away, and made some steps from them. A terrible paroxysm +of coughing came on, and Mrs. Egremont hurried towards her, but she +waved back all help, shook her head, and insisted on going home. +Alice kept her in sight, till she dived into a small side street. + +'Mother,' said Nuttie. Then there was a pause. 'Mother, did you +know all this?' + +'Don't talk of it, Nuttie. It is not a thing to be talked about to +any one or by any one. I wish you had not been there.' + +'But, mother, this once! Did you know?' + +'I knew that I knew not what I did when I went on board that yacht, +but that God's kind providence was over me in a way that I little +deserved. That is all I care to know, and, Ursula, I will have not +another word about it. No, I will not hear it.' + +'I was only going to ask whether you would tell my father.' + +'Certainly; but not before you.' + +The tone of decision was unwonted, and Nuttie knew she must abide by +it, but the last shreds of filial respect towards Mr. Egremont were +torn away by what Mrs. Houghton had implied, and the girl dashed up +and down her bedroom muttering to herself, 'Oh, why have I such a +father? And she, she will not see it, she is wilfully blind! Why +not break with him and go home to dear Aunt Ursel and Gerard and Mr. +Dutton at once, instead of this horrid, horrid grandeur? Oh, if I +could fling all these fine things in his face, and have done with him +for ever. Some day I will, when I am of age, and Gerard has won his +way.' + +Meantime Alice, in some trepidation, but with resolution at the +bottom, had told her husband of the meeting with Mrs. Houghton, of +her widowhood, sickness, and poverty. + +He did not like the intelligence of their meeting, and hoped no one +had seen it; then, when reassured on this score, he hummed a little +and exclaimed, 'Poor old Flossy Houghton! I don't wonder! They went +the pace! Well, what do you want? Twenty pounds for her! Why, +'twill all be at Monte Carlo in three days' time.' + +'It is very good of you, but I want more than that. She is so ill +and wretched, you know. ' + +'I can't have you visiting her, if that's what you mean. Why, after +all the pains I've been at to get you on your proper level at home, +here's my Lady Louisa and all her crew, in their confounded +insolence, fighting shy of you, and you can't give them a better +colour for it than by running after a woman like that--divorced to +begin with, and known at every gambling table in Europe.' + +'I know that, Alwyn, dear Alwyn' (it was very seldom that she called +him so, and she put her clasped hands on his shoulder); 'but I am +sure she is dying, and she was so good to me, I can't bear doing +nothing for her.' + +'Well, there's twenty--fifty, if you like.' + +'Thank you, thank you, but you know I never meant to visit her--like-- +like society; only to go sometimes privately and--' + +'And how about your daughter?' + +'I would not take her on any account. What I want to do is this. +Mrs. Houghton spoke of her sister, a kind good woman in England, who +would take her home, and love her, if only she could bring herself to +go. Now, I think I could persuade her to write, or let me write to +the sister--and if only the two were together again! It is very +dreadful to think of her dying alone, in the way she is going on!' + +'What, little saint, you want to try your hand on her? I should say +she was too tough an old sinner for you.' + +'Oh, Alwyn! her heart was very near, though she tried to keep it +back. I do not want to--to do what you mean--only to get her to let +her sister come. I'm sure that would do the rest.' + +'If any sister does more than you, you little witch,' he said. + +Alice pressed him no more then, but a day or two later, when she knew +he had an engagement, she arranged to dispose of Nuttie with the +clergyman's wife, and then begged permission to go by train to +Mentone, and come back in the evening. He did not like it--no more +did she--for she was perfectly unaccustomed to travelling alone, but +there was a deep sense of sacred duty upon her, only strengthened by +her unwillingness to realise how much she owed to Mrs. Houghton. + +She telegraphed that she was coming, and found her friend more +touched than she chose to allow at the fact of her visit, declaring +that she must have wonderful power over Alwyn Egremont, if she knew +how to use it; indeed, the whole tone was of what Alice felt +flattery, intended to turn away anything more serious. Poor woman, +she was as careful of doing no injury to her young friend's +reputation as Mr. Egremont could have desired. Alice had come +resolved that she should have one good meal, but she would not hear +of eating anywhere in public where either could be recognised, and +the food was brought to a private room in the hotel. To her lodgings +she still would not take Alice, nor would she give her sister's +address. Except for a genuine shower of tears when Alice insisted on +kissing her there seemed no ground gained. + +But Alice went again on her husband's next visit to Mentone. He was, +to a certain degree, interested in her endeavours, and really wished +the poor woman to be under the charge of her relations, instead of +dying a miserable lonely death among strangers. + +This time Alice had to seek her friend in the dreary quatrieme of the +tall house with the dirty stone stairs. It was a doleful empty room, +where, with a mannish-looking dressing-gown and a torn lace scarf +tied hood-fashion over her scanty hair, Mrs. Houghton sat over a pan +of charcoal oppressive to Alice's English lungs. + +'Come again!' she cried. 'Well, I really shall begin to think that +angels and ministers of grace exist off the stage! You pretty thing! +Let me look at you. Where did you get that delicious little bonnet?' + +'Why, it is perfectly plain!' + +'So it is! 'Tis only the face that is in it. Now if some folks put +this on--sister Anne, for example, what dowdies they would be. Poor +old Anne, you must know she had a turn for finery, only she never +knew how to gratify it. To see the contortions of her crinolines was +the delight of all the grammar school. It was a regular comedy for +them to see her get into our pew edgeways, and once unconsciously she +carried off a gentleman's hat on her train.' + +So she went on talking, coughing at intervals, and generally using a +half-mocking tone, as if defying the tenderness that awoke in spite +of her, but always of her original home, and especially of her +sister. Alice ventured to ask whether they often heard from one +another. + +'Good soul, she always writes at Christmas and on my birthday. I +know as well as possible that I shall find a letter poste restante +wherever she heard of me last, and that she hasn't done--I'm ashamed +to say for how long--really, I think not since I let her know that I +couldn't stand Ivy Lodge, Dockforth, at any price, when she wrote to +Monaco on seeing poor Houghton's death in the paper.' + +There was a good deal of rambling talk of this kind, to which Alice +listened tenderly and compassionately, making no attempt at +persuasion, only doing what was possible for the poor lady's comfort. +She had procured on her way some fruit and jelly, and some good +English tea, at which Mrs. Houghton laughed, saying, 'Time was, I +called it cat-lap! Somehow it will seem the elixir of life now, +redolent, even milkless, of the days when we were young.' + +Then she revealed something of her long, suffering, almost ghastly +nights, and Alice gently told how her old friend, Mrs. Nugent, +suffered from sleeplessness, and kept a store of soothing psalms and +hymns in her memory. There was a little laugh. 'That's for you good +folk. I haven't such a thing about me! Come, Par exemple!' and +Alice repeated the first thing she could remember, the verse +beginning 'God, who madest earth and heaven.' + +'That's one of your charms, is it? Well, it would not be too much +for me if my poor old memory would hold it. Say it again.' + +Alice generally had about her a tiny prayer-book with 'Hymns, Ancient +and Modern,' attached. It had been a gift from Mary Nugent, and she +was fond of it, but the opportunity was not to be lost, and she took +it out, saying she would bring a larger one and reclaim it. And, as +she was finally taking leave, she said with a throbbing heart, 'Do +you know that you have betrayed your sister's address? I shall write +to her now.' + +'If you do--!' cried Mrs. Houghton, in a tone like threatening +deprecation, but with a little of her strange banter in it besides. +Alice's mind had been made up to do the thing, and she had not felt +it honest not to give due warning of her intentions. Even now she +was not certain of the lady's surname, but she trusted to her +husband's knowledge of Mrs. Houghton's previous history; and not in +vain. Mr. Egremont amused himself with a little ridicule at his +wife's quixotry, and demanded whether Flossy Houghton was a promising +convert; but confessed himself very glad that the poor thing should +be off their hands, declaring that it was quite time her own people +looked after her, and happily he recollected her maiden name. So the +letter was written, after numerous attempts at expressing it +suitably, explaining Mrs. Houghton's illness and the yearnings she +was too proud and ashamed to express to her sister, and was answered +at once by a few short words of earnest gratitude, and an assurance +that Miss Reade was preparing to start at once. Could Mrs. Egremont +meet her and prepare her sister? + +To Alice's disappointment this could not be. Mr. Egremont had +invited some friends to the villa, and would not spare her. She +could only send a note, assuring Miss Reade that she believed that +preparation would do more harm than good, and she waited and watched +anxiously. A card came by the post in Mrs. Houghton's scrawled +writing. 'Naughty little wretch!' was all it said, but thence she +gathered hope. + +The spring was advancing, and Mr. Egremont was in haste to be gone, +but Alice obtained one more run to Mentone, and once more climbed up +the dark and dirty stairs to the room, where the well-known voice +answered her tap, 'Come in! Ah, there she is, the wicked little +angel!' + +A substantial little roly-poly business-like little woman hurried +forward with tearful eyes and outstretched hands. 'Oh, Mrs. +Egremont! can I ever thank you enough?' + +'You can't, Anne, so don't try. It will be a relief to all parties,' +interposed Mrs. Houghton. 'Sentiment is not permitted here.' + +Nevertheless she hugged Alice almost convulsively. She was sitting +in a comfortable arm-chair, one about which Mrs. Egremont knew +something, and the whole aspect of the room had changed indescribably +for the better, as much indeed as Mrs. Houghton's own personal array, +which had no longer the desolate neglected look of old. + +A little stool was close to her chair, as if the two sisters could +not bear to be far apart, and the look of love and content in their +eyes as they turned to one another was perfect joy to Alice. She had +no longer any doubt that Anne Reade, who had found the wanderer yet a +great way off, would yet bring her back to the home, spiritually if +not outwardly. + +Mrs. Houghton spoke, of better rooms when the winter visitors had +fled, Anne spoke of her being able to return to Dockforth. Whether +that would ever be seemed entirely doubtful to Alice's eyes, +especially as the patient's inclination was evidently otherwise. +There was nothing to be done but to leave the sisters together, +obtaining Miss Reade's ready promise to write, and putting into her +hands a sum of money which could be sincerely called 'only a debt of +gratitude from my husband and me,' and which would smooth the way +either to remaining or returning to England. + +Nor was there any return. Ere many weeks had passed Mrs. Egremont +heard from Miss Reade how a fresh cold had made it impossible to +move, and summer heat had brought on low fever, which had destroyed +the feeble strength, but not till 'childhood's star' had again +arisen, and a deeply and truly repentant woman had passed away, +saved, as it seemed, through that one effort on behalf of the young +girl whose innocence she had protected. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. +THE VORTEX. + + + + +'With one black shadow at her feet.'--TENNYSON. + + +The rebuffs that society had bestowed on his wife and daughter at +Nice had rendered Mr. Egremont the more determined on producing them +in London and establishing their position. He secured a furnished +house in Westburnia before leaving Nice, and, travelling leisurely +home without visiting Bridgefield, he took possession the second week +in May. + +There had not been much correspondence with the Rectory, and on the +first forenoon, as Mrs. Egremont and Nuttie were trying to enliven +the drawing-room with the flowers sent up to meet them, they were +surprised by the entrance of Blanche, full of kisses and welcomes. + +'Oh! didn't you know? I'm with the Kirkaldys just round the corner. +Aunt Margaret has undertaken to do the part of a noble aunt by me.' + +'Then you are here for the season? And May?' + +'May wouldn't come, except just for a week to see the pictures, and +lay in a stock of talk. She's grown more parochial than ever, and we +believe it is all Hugh Condamine. Oh! I forgot you were gone before +we came home last autumn. He is mamma's nephew, you know, and was +ordained last year to the curacy of the next parish to his father's +place. If the Edwardses only would take themselves off, we would +have him at home, and then we should have flowers on the altar, and +all sorts of jolly things. Papa would stand ever so much more from +him than from the old Edwardses.' + +'But is he engaged to May, then?' + +'Well, no, not exactly. I believe he does not think it right till he +has done preparing for priest's orders. He's ever so strict, you +know, and he hasn't got much either; but he means it. Lucy, his +sister, you know, told me all about it, and that altogether the +elders had settled it was better for both that he should attend to +his preparation, and May should not bind herself, though they really +understand one another, and so she won't come to London.' + +'Oh, that's very good of her!' cried Nuttie; 'but why won't they let +them settle their minds and be engaged?' + +'People are always tiresome,' said Blanche; 'and I do believe the +living is at the bottom of it, at least Lucy thought so. I mean +everybody wants to wait--all the old ones, I mean--not Hugh or May, +of course--to know whether Mark will stick to the umbrellas, or turn +back and be a clergyman, because, then, of course, he would have the +living; and if he doesn't, they want to be certain whether Uncle +Alwyn, or you, Nuttie, would promise it to Hugh if he married May!' + +'Me!' exclaimed Nuttie. + +'My dear, I don't like to hear you talk of such things,' said Mrs. +Egremont gently. + +'Oh yes, I know--it's all very dreadful. I was only telling you what +is in the old people's heads, and what would settle it, and make it +all right with them.' + +'And how is Mark? Is Miss Ruthven in London?' asked Mrs. Egremont, +glad to turn away the conversation from the contingencies of which +Blanche spoke with the hardness of youth, as yet not realising +sorrow. + +'I daresay you know nearly as much of Mark as we do, now the +Kirkaldys are up here. All his letters go to Lescombe. Oh no, +Annaple is not in London. The Delmars can't afford it, you know, +though I believe my lady would have made a stretch if Annaple hadn't +been bespoke--but now she reserves herself for Muriel.' + +Alice looked with some discomfort at the soft fair-haired creature +who was uttering all this worldly jargon in a tone that would have +been flippant if it had not been so childish. She asked if Lord. +Ronnisglen had written. + +'Oh yes, long ago. Lady Delmar had tried to make him nasty about it, +but he wouldn't be, so that's all right; and Mark seems to get on +very well, though it must be horridly dull for him now the Kirkaldys +are away, and he can't spend all his Sundays at Monks Horton.' + +'He will get more into the spirit of the place,' said Nuttie, whereat +Blanche shrugged her shoulders a little, and exclaimed: + +'You've got out of it at any rate, Nuttie!' + +'I hope not!' + +'Well, then, the look of it! I never saw any one so improved! Isn't +she, Aunt Alice? She's grown, I declare! Yes'--measuring herself +against her cousin--'I was a leetle bit taller when you came, and now +you've got above me! and what a duck of a way of doing your hair! +You must show me! I must tell May there's no fear of your being +taken for one another now; Aunt Margaret will be quite surprised.' + +It was true that Ursula had developed a good deal during the last +year, and, under the experienced hands of Martin, had lost her +schoolgirl air, and turned into a young lady capable of becoming the +Paris outfit which her father had enjoined. Without positive beauty, +she was a pleasing, intelligent, animated girl, with the reputation +of being an heiress, with a romance in the background, and there was +nothing to prevent her from being a success. The family connections, +with Lady Kirkaldy to set the example, had determined on giving full +support to Mrs. Egremont, and, as of course every one liked to look +at so lovely a face, the way of both was smoothed in a manner that +delighted her husband when they encountered any of those who had +looked coldly on her at Nice. + +He would have had her presented, but her own reluctance and the +united counsels of Lady Kirkaldy and the Canoness prevailed on him to +drop the idea; and then there was a fight with Ursula, who declared +that she would not go to court if her mother did not; but she was +overruled at last by that mother's tears at her defiance; and let +herself be presented, together with Blanche, by Lady Kirkaldy. + +To Ursula it was altogether a strange time, full of the same kind of +reckless swing and sense of intoxication that had possessed her at +Bridgefield. Not that there was an excessive amount of actual +gaiety. Hot rooms and late hours were soon found not to agree with +Mrs. Egremont. She looked faded and languid after evening parties; +and, as her husband really cared more to have her ready to wait upon +him and amuse him than for anything else, he did not insist on her +going out more than might be needful to establish her position, or +when it suited him to show her off. The other purposes were quite as +well served by letting Ursula go out with Lady Kirkaldy, who was +warmly interested in mother and daughter, glad of a companion for +Blanche, and still more glad of a companion for herself. For she was +not slow to discover that exhibitions, which were merely fashionable +gapeseed to her niece, were to Nuttie real delights, viewed +intelligently, and eliciting comments and questions that Lady +Kirkaldy and even her husband enjoyed in their fresh interest, but +which were unendurable weariness to Blanche, unless she had some one +to chatter with. Lectures and lessons, which the aunt hoped to +render palatable by their being shared by the two cousins, only +served to show the difference between a trained and eager, and an +untrained and idle, nature. With the foreign society to be met at +Lord Kirkaldy's, Blanche was less at a loss than her brother, and +could get on by the help of nods and becks and wreathed smiles; but +Nuttie, fresh from her winter abroad, could really talk, and was +often in request as a useful person to help in entertaining. She +thus saw some of the choicest society in London, and, in addition, +had as much of the youthful gaiety as Lady Kirkaldy thought wholesome +for the two girls. Also there were those ecclesiastical delights and +privileges which had been heard of at Micklethwayte, and were within +reach, greatly enjoyed by Mrs. Egremont whenever she could share +them, though her daughter chafed at her treating all except the chief +service on Sunday as more indulgence than duty. + +Nuttie was strong, with that spring of energy which unbroken health +and a quiet life lays up, and, in her own phrase, she went in for +everything, from early services to late balls, thinking all right +because it was seldom that her day did not begin with matins or +Celebration, and because she was not taken to more than two balls a +week, and conversed at times with superior people, or looked at those +with world-famed names. Possibly the whirl was greater than if it +had been mere gaiety, for then the brain would not have participated +in it. Church functions, with the scurry to go at all, or to obtain +a seat, fine music, grand sermons, religious meetings, entertainments +for the poor, lectures, lessons, exhibitions, rides, drives, kettle- +drums, garden-parties, concerts, theatres, operas, balls, chattering, +laughing, discussing, reading up current subjects, enjoying +attention, excitement as to what should be done and how,--one thing +drove out another in perpetual succession, and the one thing she +never did or could do was to sit still and think! Rest was simply +dreamless sleep, generally under the spell of a strong will to wake +at the appointed hour for church. The short intervals of being alone +with her mother were spent in pouring out histories of her doings, +which were received with a sympathy that doubled their pleasure, +excepting when Nuttie thought proper to grumble and scold at her +mother's not coming to some Church festival at an hour when she +thought Mr. Egremont might want her. + +Of him Nuttie saw very little. He did not want her, and cared little +what she did, as long as she was under the wing of Lady Kirkaldy, +whose patronage was a triumphant refutation of all doubts. He went +his own way, and had his own club, his own associates, and, with his +wife always at his beck and call, troubled himself very little about +anything else. + +Alice spent a good deal of time alone, chiefly in waiting his +pleasure; but she had her own quiet occupations, her books, her +needlework, her housekeeping, and letter-writing, and was peacefully +happy as long as she did not displease Nuttie. There were no +collisions between father and daughter, and the household +arrangements satisfied that fastidious taste. She was proud of +Ursula's successes, but very thankful not to be dragged out to share +them, though she was much less shy, and more able on occasion to take +her place. + +One pain she had. Good old Mrs. Nugent was rapidly decaying, and she +shared with all her loving heart in the grief this was to Mary and to +Miss Headworth, and longed to help them in their nursing. She would +not grieve Nuttie by dwelling constantly on the bad accounts, and the +girl hardly attended to them in the tumult of occupations; and so at +last, when the final tidings came in the second week in July, they +were an absolute shock to Nuttie, and affected her as the first grief +sometimes does. Mrs. Nugent was really the first person of her own +intimate knowledge who had died, and in the excited state in which +she was, the idea of the contrast between her own occupations and +Mary's was so dreadful to her that she wept most bitterly, with the +sobs of childhood, such as she really did not know how to restrain. + +It was an unfortunate day, for it was one of the few on which Mr. +Egremont wanted to take out his ladies. There was to be a great +garden-party at Richmond, given by one of his former set, who had +lately whitewashed himself by marrying a very fast and fashionable +lady. Nuttie had heard strong opinions on the subject at Lord +Kirkaldy's; but her father was quite elated at being in a position to +countenance his old friends. Alice, in the midst of her sorrow, +recollected this with consternation. + +'My dear, my dear, hush! You must stop yourself! Remember we have +to go out.' + +'Go--out,' cried Nuttie, her sobs arrested by very horror. 'You +wouldn't go--!' + +'I am afraid your father would be very much vexed--' + +'Let him! It is a horrid wicked place to go to at all; and now--when +dear, dear old Mrs. Nugent is lying there--and--' + +The crying grew violent again, and in the midst in walked Mr. +Egremont with an astonished 'What is all this?' + +'We have lost one of our dear kind old friends at Micklethwayte,' +said Alice, going towards him; 'dear old Mrs. Nugent,' and she lifted +up her tear-stained face, which he caressed a little and said, 'Poor +old body;' but then, at a sob, 'Can't you stop Ursula from making +such a row and disfiguring herself? You must pick up your looks, +Edda, for I mean you to make a sensation at Jerningham's.' + +'Oh, Alwyn, if you could let us stay at home! Mrs. Nugent was so +good to us, and it does seem unkind--' The tears were in her eyes +again. + +'Nonsense!' he said impatiently. 'I promised Jerningham, and it is +absurd to have you shutting yourself up for every old woman at +Micklethwayte.' + +Thereupon Ursula wiped away her tears, and stood up wrathful before +him. 'I am not going,' she said. + +'Oh, indeed!' he returned in a tone that made her still more angry. +'Hein'! a French ejaculation which he had the habit of uttering in a +most exasperating manner. + +'No,' she said. 'It is scarcely a place to which we even ought to be +asked to go, and certainly not when--' + +'Do you hear that, Mrs. Egremont?' he asked. + +'Oh, Nuttie, Nuttie, dear!' she implored; 'don't.' + +'No, mother,' said Nuttie, with flashing eyes; 'if you care so little +for your best friends as to let yourself be dragged out among all +sorts of gay, wicked people when your dear friend is lying dead, I'm +sure I shan't go with you.' + +Her father laughed a little. 'A pretty figure you are, to make a +favour of accompanying us!' + +'Oh, go away, go away, Nuttie,' entreated her mother. 'You don't +know what you are saying. ' + +'I do know,' said Nuttie, exasperated perhaps by the contrast in the +mirror opposite between her own swelled, disfigured face, and the +soft tender one of her mother with the liquid eyes. 'I know how much +you care for the dear friends who took care of us when we +were forsaken!' + +And with this shaft she marched out of the room, while her father +again laughed, and said, 'Have they been training her for the tragic +stage? Never mind, Edda, the little vixen will come to her senses +upstairs, and be begging to go.' + + I don't think she will,' said Alice sadly; 'she is not that sort of +stuff, and she was very fond of Mrs. Nugent. Oh, Alwyn! if you could +let us off.' + +'Not after that explosion, certainly,' he said. 'Besides, I promised +Jerningham, and such an excuse would never hold water. She is not +even a relation.' + +'No, but she was very good to me.' + +'The more reason why you should not stay at home and be hipped. +Never mind that silly girl. She will be all right by and by.' + +On the contrary, she did not come down to luncheon, and when, about +an hour later, Alice, after writing a few tender loving words to the +mourners, went up to her daughter's room, it was to find a limp and +deplorable figure lying across the bed, and to be greeted with a +fresh outburst of sobs and inarticulate exclamations. + +'Oh, Nuttie, dear, this will not do! It is not right. Dear good +Mrs. Nugent herself would tell you that this is not the way any one +so good and so suffering should be grieved for. Think--' + +'Oh, I know all that!' cried Nuttie, impatiently; 'but she--she was +the dearest--and nobody cares for her but me. Not even you--' + +Again Alice tried to debate the point, and urge on her the duties of +moderation, self-control, and obedience, but the poor gentle mother +was at a great disadvantage. + +In the first place, she respected and almost envied her daughter's +resistance, and really did not know whether it was timidity or +principle that made it her instinct to act otherwise; in the next, +Ursula could always talk her down; and, in the third, she was, and +greatly she reproached herself for that same, in great dread of +setting herself off into tears that might become hysterical if she +once gave way to them. And what would be her husband's feelings if +she too collapsed and became unpresentable. + +So, having once convinced herself that even if Nuttie had been a +consenting party, no amount of cold water and eau-de-cologne would +bring those bloodshot eyes, swollen lids, and mottled cheeks to be +fit to be seen, she fled as fast as possible from the gasps of barbed +reproaches which put her own composure in peril, and dressed with the +heaviest of hearts, coupled with the utmost solicitude to look her +best. If she had not thought it absolutely wrong, she would even +have followed Martin's suggestion, and put on a soupcon of rouge; but +by the time she was summoned to the carriage the feverishness of her +effort at self-control had done the work, and her husband had paid +her the compliment of observing that she looked pretty enough for +two. + +Nuttie heard them drive off, with a burst of fresh misery of +indignation against her mother--now as a slave and a victim--now as +forgetting her old home. It was chiefly in mutterings; she had +pretty well used up her tears, for, unconsciously perhaps, she had +worked them up as a defensive weapon against being carried to the +party; and now that the danger was over, her head throbbed, her eyes +burnt, and her throat ached too much for her to wish to cry any more. +She had not felt physically like this, since the day, seven years +ago, when she and Mildred Sharpe had been found suspiciously toying +with the key of the arithmetic, and had been debarred from trying for +the prize. Then she felt debased and guilty; now she felt, or ought +to feel, like a heroine maintaining the right. + +She got up and set herself to rights as well as she could. Martin, +who had been allowed to know that she had lost an old friend, petted +and pitied her, and brought her a substantial meal with her tea, +after which she set out to evensong at the church at the end of the +square, well veiled under a shady hat, and with a conviction that +something ought to happen. + +Nothing did, however, happen; she met no one whom she knew, the +psalms were not particularly appropriate, and her attention wandered +away to the scene at home. She did not come back, as she was sure +she ought to have done, soothed, exhilarated, and refreshed, but +rather in a rasped state of mind, and a conscience making a vehement +struggle to believe itself in the right--a matter in which she +thoroughly succeeded. + +She wrote a long letter to Mary Nugent, and shed some softer tears +over it, then she built a few castles on her future escape from the +power of her father; and then she picked up Reata, and became +absorbed in it, regretting only the weakness of her eyes, and the +darkening of the summer evening. + +She was still reading when the others came home. Her mother kissed +her, but looked so languid and tired-out that Nuttie was shocked, and +Martin declared that she ought not to go down to dinner. + +A tete-a-tete dinner between father and daughter was too dreadful to +Alice's imagination to be permitted, so she dressed and went down, +looking like a ghost. Mr. Egremont scowled at Nuttie, Nuttie scowled +at him, each considering it the fault of the other, and when at last +it was over, Alice gave up the struggle, and went off to bed, leaving +a contrite message that her headache would be better to-morrow. + +'All your accursed folly and obstinacy,' observed Mr. Egremont, when +Nuttie, with a tone of monition gave him the message. + +'I should call it the consequence of being dragged out with a sore +heart,' returned Nuttie--a little speech she had prepared ever since +she had seen how knocked up her mother was. + +'Then I should recommend keeping your ideas to yourself,' he +answered, looking at her in his annihilating manner. + +She was put down. She thought afterwards of a hundred things that she +could have said to him, but she was crushed for the present, and when +he went out she could only betake herself to Reata, and forget all +about it as much as she could. + +When she went upstairs, at the end of the third volume, Martin was on +the watch, and would not let her go into the room. + +'I have been at hand, ma'am, without her guessing it, and I am happy +to say her tears has had a free course when she was in bed. Yes, +ma'am, suppressed grief is always dangerous.' + +Mrs. Egremont was still prostrate with fatigue and headache the next +day, and Nuttie had all the quiet luxuriating in reminiscences she +desired. Her father was vexed and angry, and kept out of the way, +but it must be confessed that Nuttie's spirits had so much risen by +the afternoon that it was a sore concession to consistency when she +found herself not expected at Blanche's last little afternoon dance +at Lady Kirkaldy's! + + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + + + +'If I cannot once or twice in a quarter bear out a knave against + an honest man, I have but very little credit with your Worship.' + II. King Henry IV. + + + +Another cause besides Ursula's recalcitrance and her mother's ailment +contributed to disturb Mr. Egremont, and bring him home. His agent, +by name Bulfinch, a solicitor at Redcastle, came to him with +irrefragable proofs of gross peculation on the part of the bailiff +who managed the home farm which supplied the house and stables, and +showed him that it was necessary to make a thorough investigation and +change of system. + +In point of fact, Mr. Egremont greatly preferred being moderately +cheated to exerting himself to investigate, but this was going beyond +moderation, and the explosion had been too public to be passed over. +So he came home and sat by, while his wife and Mr. Bulfinch did the +work for him, and made it evident to him that the frauds had been of +long standing, and carried on with the connivance of the coachman, of +Gregorio,--who had before Mrs. Egremont's arrival acted as house +steward,--and of the former cook. Indeed, it was the housekeeper +whom Mrs. Egremont had left in charge, whose refusal to connive had +brought about the discovery. + +Gregorio's share in all was sufficiently evident, and Alice's heart +leapt with hope. Her husband would be wholly her own if his evil +genius were once departed, but Mr. Egremont would not see it. He had +no objection to sacrifice the coachman and all his underlings, with +the bailiff and his entire family, and felt none of the pity that +Alice had for the pretty, silly, half-educated daughters; but as to +the valet--Pooh! pooh! the poor fellow had been out of the way all +this time--whatever he had done had been in the dark, ages long ago, +before Bridgefield knew its mistress; he was a foreigner, and that +was enough to prevent him from forgathering with the English. It was +all their English prejudice. + +'I can show you facts and figures, sir,' said Mr. Bulfinch. + +'I daresay, a year or more old. Why, I was an unprotected carcase +then--a mere prey--the fellow only did after his kind.' + +Alice held her tongue then, but made an effort in private. 'Indeed, +I don't think you know; I am afraid Gregorio is not altered. I found +him out in his charges about the wine, and the servants' wages at +Nice, only you wouldn't listen.' + +'His little perquisites, my dear child! Come, nonsense, these +foreign fellows don't pretend to have the morals you ascribe to the +native flunkey--generally without foundation either--they are much of +a muchness as to that; but your Frenchman or Italian does it more +neatly, and is a dozen times better servant than the other is.' + +'But--' + +'Oh, ay! I know you don't like him. But he knows his manners to +you, I hope?' said Mr. Egremont, with a suddenness that made her wish +she could truthfully say he did not. + +'Yes, he always is--is respectful, but somehow I see it is under +protest.' + +Mr. Egremont laughed. 'Rivals--yes, I see; why, you don't consider +the sore trial of having a full-grown mistress turned in upon him! +Look here, you keep the keys already, but the new fellow at the farm +and all the rest of them shall account to you for everything-- +Gregorio and all. Won't that satisfy you?' + +''Tis not only the money, but I think Gregorio is a bad--not a good-- +man.' + +'Ho, ho! she wants to advertise for a pious footman and coachman! eh? +No, I thank you, my dear Edda, I agree with--who was it who said, +"Volez moi, mais sans m'ennuyer."' + +The Rectory likewise had hoped for Gregorio's dismissal, and there +were grave looks when Alice had to confess that nothing would move +her husband against him. The Canon even lashed himself up to say, +'I tell you how it is, Alwyn, you'll never do any good with your +household, while you keep that fellow.' + +'I am not aware what description of good you expect me to do with it, +Will,' coolly answered the elder brother in a disconcerting tone. + +Poor Alice, on her side, thought of the Little Master, and then +wondered if it was uncharitable to do so. For she knew it had become +war to the knife with Gregorio! Whether his master told him, or +whether it were his own evil conscience, or the wonderful intuition +of servants, he certainly knew of the pressure for his dismissal, and +he visited it on her as much as he durst. + +Outwardly deferential, he could thwart and annoy her in a hundred +ways, from making love to the housemaids to making evil suggestions +to his master, yet never giving her any overt cause of complaint. He +could worry and sting her under the politest exterior, and he knew +very well that the most effectual form of annoyance was the +persuading his master that any discomfort or lassitude was to be +removed by some form of narcotic. This would have the further +advantage of stupefying Mr. Egremont, and making him more ready to +lapse under the old influence; while the duration and strength of the +new one was already a surprise to Gregorio. + +But there was no doubt that Mrs. Egremont had profited by her year of +training. She looked tired, and less youthful and pretty, but she +had gained in grace and importance as well as in style, and was much +more really the mistress of Bridgefield. Her shyness had passed +away, and she knew now to take her place in society, though still she +was somewhat silent. And her husband depended upon her entirely for +all his correspondence, for much of his occupation and amusement, and +even for the regulation of his affairs. In the household, Gregorio +was little more than his personal attendant, and she had the general +management, even of the other men-servants. The Canoness might well +say it had turned out better than she expected. + +And Nuttie had become more womanly, and had acquired the indefinable +polish given by a London season. She had learnt the art of +conversation, and could make herself agreeable to her uncle, or to +any one else who came in her way. Even May allowed that she had +something in her, and cultivated her more than before; but, on the +other hand, even the Rectory could perceive that there was now an +absolute alienation between her and her father, and what might before +have been fear had become dislike. If she had to refer to him, +especially if her plans for herself or her mother were crossed, there +was always a tone of bitterness or of sarcasm about her; and her +greater boldness and freedom of speech would occasionally manifest +itself towards him. This was not indeed often, since not only did +his cool contempt make her come off the worst in the encounters, but +the extreme distress they gave to her mother made her refrain +whenever her temper, or what she thought her conscience, would let +her; but still there was always a danger which kept poor Alice on +thorns whenever there was a possible difference of schemes or +opinions. + +Mrs. William Egremont was seriously considering of representing to +Ursula that her conduct was bad taste, bad policy, and, moreover, was +doing her mother's spirits and health serious harm; but it was a +delicate matter in which to meddle, and the good lady could not make +up her mind how far to surrender her brother-in-law's character and +allow a partial justification to Ursula. She was a cautious woman, +and waited and watched her opportunities. + +In the beginning of October Mr. and Mrs. Egremont were invited to a +great shooting party at Sir James Jerningham's. The invitation did +not include Ursula. Perhaps she had never dawned on their hostess's +imagination; perhaps it was that Lady Jerningham was well known to +dislike girls, or any one who might absorb young men's attention. +At any rate the omission was a cause of thankfulness to the party +concerned, and she did not neglect to worry her mother by a protest +against keeping such company as would be met at Waldicotes. + +Alice smiled a little faintly and said, 'I don't think it hurts me, +my dear; I don't understand half of what they talk about, and they +are always kind to me.' + +'I don't think you ought to go among them or countenance them.' + +'My dear child,'--and the colour rose--'I don't feel as if I had a +right to set myself above any one.' + +'Mother!' + +'People might have said just the same of me.' + +'And whose fault was that?' muttered Nuttie under her breath, but +Mrs. Egremont would not hear. She only pleaded, as perhaps mother +ought not to have done with child. + +'You know, Nuttie, it is not for my own pleasure, but your father's +eyesight makes him dislike to go anywhere without me now; and I +really should be uneasy about him.' + +'Yes; he is all you care for,' said Nuttie. 'You sacrifice +everything you used to think essential, just to his will and +pleasure.' + +'Oh, Nuttie, I hope not; I don't think I do!' + +'If I thought it was doing him any good I should not so much mind,' +went on the girl; 'but he is just the same, and I am always thinking +of "As the husband is, the wife is--"' + +'Hush! hush! You have no right to think in that way of your father. +I will not hear it. I have let you say too much already, Nuttie.' +Then after a pause she added, gently and wistfully, 'You have been +better taught, and are clearer headed than ever I was, my Nuttie, and +it is quite right that you should hate what seems evil to you. I can +only go on trying to do what seems my duty from day to day. I know,' +she added with rising tears, 'that the sin and folly of my younger +days worked a difficult position for us both; but we can only act +according to our lights, and pray God to direct us; and please-- +please bear with me, my dear one, if the same course does not always +seem right to us both.' + +Nuttie had never heard her say anything so fully showing that she +realised these difficulties, and, greatly touched, she asked pardon, +kissed and caressed her mother. There was a calm over them for the +next few days, and Nuttie actually refrained from bitter comments +when her mother was not allowed to go to evensong on Sunday, on the +plea of her being tired, but, as the girl believed, in order that she +might read the newspapers aloud. + +She knew that her silence was appreciated by the way her mother +kissed her and called her a dear, good, considerate girl. + +On Monday Mr. and Mrs. Egremont went away at what was a strangely +early hour for the former, Nuttie spending her days at the Rectory. + +On the Tuesday Blanche went with her little sister and the governess +on a shopping expedition to Redcastle, and in relating her adventures +on her return, she said, 'Oh, by the bye, I met Annaple in Park's +shop!' + +'Full of Micklethwayte news, I suppose,' said May. + +'Yes, of course. Did you know, Nuttie, that your aunt was ill?' + +'No, indeed, I did not. What was the matter?' + +'Bronchitis, I believe--brown titus, as Betty Butter calls it.' + +'Bronchitis! Oh dear! oh dear! Are you quite sure, Blanche?' + +'Oh yes! I am quite certain Annaple said Mark told her that Miss +Headworth was laid up with bronchitis.' + +'And nobody has written to us all this week!' sighed Nuttie. + +'I should think that a sign there could not be much in it,' observed +May; 'it may be only a bad cold.' + +'But Aunt Ursel had bronchitis four years ago, and was very ill +indeed,' persisted Nuttie. 'I'm sure it is bronchitis, and that she +won't let Miss Mary write to us.' + +She was in much distress about it, though May privately told her that +she ought to know Blanche's way better than to trust implicitly to +any of her reports; and her aunt said much the same thing in more +general terms, even proposing that if she did not hear the next +morning she should go over to Lescombe to ascertain what Mark had +really said. + +This pacified her a little, but on her way home the alarm grew upon +her, and, moreover, she recollected the opposition that she believed +that her father was certain to make to either her mother or herself +going to nurse her aunt. It flashed upon her that if she were to +hasten to Micklethwayte on this alarm before there could be a +prohibition, it would be no disobedience, and perfectly justifiable, +not to say noble. Her parents were to return on Thursday evening, +and she made up her mind that, unless she were fully reassured as to +Miss Headworth's state, she would go off at once to Micklethwayte +before any one could gainsay her. She had plenty of money, and she +consulted the time-table in the hall before going upstairs. It only +concerned the nearest line, but she calculated that if she caught the +express, she should reach her destination in time to write to her +mother at Waldicotes, and prevent needless shocks. Her eagerness for +the plan grew upon her, so that it seemed like liberation; she could +hardly sleep for thinking of it, and certainly was not as much +disappointed as she believed herself when the post came in--a blank. + +Martin was away with her mistress, so Nuttie explained matters to the +upper housemaid, who was very sympathetic, carried down her orders +for the carriage, procured for her both breakfast and provision for +the journey, and packed her clothes. Ursula would fain have been off +before the Rectory was aware, but the two little girls came up with a +message about the plans for the day, just as she was beginning an +explanatory note, and she entrusted to them the information that she +was so uneasy about Miss Headworth that she had decided on going to +see for herself. + +So in dashed Adela and Rosalind to their mother's room full of +excitement with the news that Cousin Nuttie was gone off by the +train, because her aunt was very ill indeed. + +'Gone, Adela? are you sure? Really gone?' + +'Oh yes, mamma! The dogcart was coming round, and she said she +wanted to catch the 10.05 train, and was very sorry she had not time +to write a note to you.' + +'Was there a letter? What had she heard?' + +'Oh, only that her aunt was so very ill! She did not tell us--did +she, Rosie?' + +'There was something about being in time to write to Aunt Alice,' +suggested Adela. + +'I am very sorry about this. I am afraid it will be a great shock to +Alice,' observed the mother, as she imparted the news at her +husband's dressing-room door. + +'Young girls are so precipitate!' said the Canon. + +'Your brother won't like it at all,' the lady continued. + +'Not he. But after all, it is just as well that he was not asked. +They do owe that poor old lady a good deal, and Alwyn's not the man +to see it. I'm not sorry the girl took the matter into her own +hands, though I couldn't have advised it.' + +'Except that it will all fall on Alice.' + +'He is very fond of Alice. She has done more with him than I ever +thought possible. Kept him respectable this whole year, and really +it grows on him. He makes ever so much more of her now than when he +first brought her home--and no wonder. No, no; he won't fall foul of +her.' + +'Perhaps not; but it is just as bad, or worse, for her if he falls +foul of her daughter. Besides, she is very much attached to her +aunt. I wish I knew what the account was, or whether she knows +anything about it.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. +URSULA'S RECEPTION. + + + + +'Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought.'--SHAKESPEARE. + + +It was at half-past seven o'clock that Ursula Egremont's cab stopped +at St. Ambrose's Road. She had missed the express train, and had to +come on by a stopping one. But here at last she was, with eyes even +by gaslight full of loving recognition, a hand full of her cab-fare, +a heart full of throbbing hope and fear, a voice full of anxiety, as +she inquired of the astonished servant, 'Louisa, Louisa, how is Aunt +Ursel!' and, without awaiting the reply, she opened the adjoining +door. There sat, with their evening meal on the table, not only Mary +Nugent, but Miss Headworth herself. + +Nuttie rushed at her, and there was an incoherency of exclamations, +the first thing that made itself clear to the senses of the traveller +being, 'Ill, my dear? No such thing! Only I had a bad cold, and +Mary here is only too careful of me.' + +'But Mark said you had bronchitis.' + +'What could have put that into his head? He did not write it, +surely?' + +'He wrote it to Annaple Ruthven, and she told Blanche.' + +'Oh!' and Mary Nugent's tone was rather nettling. + +'And then it was such a terrible time since we had heard anything,' +added Nuttie, on the defensive. + +'Did not your mother get my letter?' said Miss Headworth. 'I wrote +to her at--what's the name of that place? I hope I addressed it +right.' + +'Oh, but I was not there. I didn't go with them.' + +'Ah, yes, I remember. Then did not she send you?' + +'No, I came off this morning. I heard this yesterday evening, and I +determined that nothing should stop me if there was no news by the +post.' + +'Dear child! But will your father not be displeased?' said Miss +Headworth. + +'He hasn't any right to object,' cried Nuttie, with flashing eyes and +a look that made Miss Nugent anxious; but at the moment there could +be little thought save of welcome to the warm-hearted girl. Louisa +was already brewing fresh tea, and extemporising additions to the +meal, and Nuttie was explaining how she hoped to have arrived a +couple of hours sooner. + +'By the bye, I meant to have written to mother for her to have it to- +morrow before leaving Waldicotes. Is there time?' + +No, the pillar at hand was cleared at seven, and the regular post- +office could not be reached in time; so they satisfied themselves +with the knowledge that Mrs. Egremont must have had Aunt Ursel's +cheerful letter, and Mary recommended telegraphing to the Canon the +first thing in the morning. Then they gave themselves up to +enjoyment. + +'At any rate, I'm here,' said Nuttie, 'and I'll make the most of it.' + +And her handsome furs were laid aside, and her boots taken off, and +she resigned herself to absolute ease and luxury, while Mary poured +out the tea, and her aunt heaped her plate with eggs and rashers +'such as one doesn't get anywhere else,' said Nuttie, declaring +herself quite voracious, while her aunt fondly admired her growth and +improvement, and she inquired into the cold, not quite gone yet; and +there were speculations over what Mark could have got into his head. +Mary remembered having met him coming to call, and having told him +that she had persuaded Miss Headworth to keep her bed because her +colds were apt to be severe, and it was agreed to lay the +exaggeration at the door of the lovers and Blanche. Miss Headworth +laughed, and said she ought to be flattered that an old woman's sore +throat should be thought worthy of mention by a fine young gentleman +like Mr. Mark. 'A very good young man he is,' she added. 'You would +never have thought how kind he is in coming in here to tell me +everything he hears about your dear mother, Nuttie.' + +'He makes himself very useful while Mr. Dutton is away,' added Mary, +'taking his young men's class and all.' + +'Oh! is Mr. Dutton away?' + +'Yes; he has had to be in London a great deal of late. I am afraid +he may have to live there altogether.' + +'What a grievous pity!' + +'He won't be anywhere without doing good,' said Miss Headworth, 'but +I sometimes wish we had his cool good sense here.' + +'And how is Mr. Spyers,' asked Nuttie. She felt shy of asking for +Gerard Godfrey, or perhaps she thought she ought to be shy of his +name, and kept hoping that it would come in naturally. + +'Mr. Spyers is very well. Very busy of course, and very much +delighted with your mother's gifts to the church. All her own work, +isn't it, Nuttie?' + +'Yes; every bit. She does lots of embroidery and work of all kinds +when she is waiting for _him_ or sitting with him, and luckily it has +never occurred to him to ask what it is for.' + +The two ladies knew well what was meant by him, but they would not +pursue the subject, and proceeded to put Nuttie au courant with St. +Ambrose affairs--how last year's mission had produced apparently an +immense effect in the town, and how the improvement had been ebbing +ever since, but had left various individual gains, and stirred up +more than one good person who had hitherto thought it enough to save +one's own soul and let other people alone; how Mr. Spyers was +endeavouring to bind people together in a guild; how a violent gust +of temperance orators had come down upon the place, and altogether +fascinated and carried away Gerard Godfrey. + +There was his name at last, and Nuttie was rather gratified to feel +herself blushing as she asked, 'Ah! poor Gerard--how is he?' + +'As good and sincere as ever,' said Miss Nugent, 'but not much wiser. +He is so excitable and vehement.' + +'Yes,' said Miss Headworth. 'I don't understand the kind of thing. +In my time a steady young clerk used to be contented after hours with +playing at cricket in the summer, or learning the flute in the +winter--and a great nuisance it was sometimes, but now Gerard must +get himself made a sort of half clergyman.' + +'A reader,' suggested Mary. + +'Minor orders. Oh, how delightful!' cried Nuttie. + +'People, don't half understand it,' added Miss Headworth. 'Mrs. +Jeffreys will have it that he is no better than a Jesuit, and really +I did not know what to say, for he talked, to me by the hour about +his being an external brother to something.' + +'Not to the Jesuits, certainly,' said Nuttie. + +'Yes, I told her that; but she thinks all monks are Jesuits, you +know, and that all brothers are monks; and he does wear his cassock-- +his choir cassock, I mean--when he has his service in the iron room +at the sandpits. And now he has taken up temperance, and flies about +giving the pledge, and wanting one to wear bits of blue ribbon. I +told him I never did take, and never had taken, more than a little +hot wine and water when I had a cold, and I couldn't see what good it +would do to George Jenkins and the poor fellows at the Spread Eagle +if I took ever so many vows.' + +'There's a regular blue-ribbon fever set in,' said Miss Nugent. +'Gerard told me I was supporting the cause of intemperance yesterday +because I was so wicked as to carry the rest of your bottle of port, +Miss Headworth, to poor Anne Crake.' + +'Well! he is a dear boy, and youth wouldn't be youth if it were not +sometimes rather foolish,' said Miss Headworth, 'and it is better it +should be for good than evil.' + +'Eager in a cause and not for selfishness,' said Mary. 'Poor Gerard, +I wonder where he will be safely landed!' + +So did Nuttie, who had a secret flattering faith in being the cause +of all the poor young fellow's aberrations, and was conscious of +having begun the second volume of her life's novel. She went to bed +in the elated frame of mind proper to a heroine. There was a shade +over all in the absence of dear old Mrs. Nugent, and in Mary's deep +mourning, but there is more tenderness than poignancy in sorrow for +shocks of corn gathered in full season, and all was cheerful about +her. + +She had quite a triumph the next day, as old friends dropped in for +the chance of seeing her. The least agreeable encounter was that +with Mark, who came in on his way to the office, having just received +by the second post a letter from his father inquiring into Miss +Headworth's state. He met Nuttie in the vestibule, with her hat on, +and in a great hurry, as she wanted to walk with Mary to the School +of Art, Gerard Godfrey accompanying them as far as the office; and +she did not at all like the being called to account, and asked what +could have possessed her to take alarm. + +'Why, you wrote yourself!' + +'I!' + +'To Annaple Ruthven.' + +'What am I supposed to have written?' + +'That Aunt Ursel was very ill with bronchitis.' + +'I'll be bound that Miss Ruthven said no such thing. You don't +pretend that you heard it from herself?' + +'No; but Blanche did.' + +'Blanche! Oh, that accounts for it! Though I should have thought +you knew Blanche by this time.' + +'But what did you say?' + +'I believe I said I couldn't get a knitting pattern Miss Headworth +was to send Lady Ronnisglen because she was in bed with a cold. What +you and Blanche could contrive to make of a simple thing like that--' + +'And Annaple!' + +'Well,' but checking himself with a smile, 'we will not fight about +that. I only hope it has not brought you into an awkward scrape, +Nuttie.' + +'I can't help that,' she answered with her head rather high. + +'You have written and explained?' he said anxiously. + +'To my mother, of course.' + +'If I were you,' he said, lowering his voice, 'I should write or send +a special message to your father.' + +'I can't see why. It was a mistake.' + +'Yours was a strong measure, and he won't like it. Be advised, +Nuttie. Recollect your mother. The best way would be to go home at +once. I could get a day to take you--if you would start this +afternoon.' + +'Thank you; I'm not going back till I hear,' she said proudly. + +Time being up, Mark took his leave hastily, and as he shut the door, +Nuttie uttered half aloud the words she had scarcely repressed, 'No, +I thank you, Mr. Mark, I am not going back like a dog in a string.' + +'What, was that what he expected of you?' said Gerard Godfrey, whom +she had not intended to hear her, but who had come out of the +sitting-room on the sounds of departure. + +'He said he would take me home if I could go at once.' + +'Wouldn't he have liked it!' exclaimed Gerard. + +'It might be the best way,' said Miss Nugent, who had followed young +Godfrey. + +'Now, Miss Mary,' cried Nuttie, 'as if I could shorten my holiday now +that I have it.' + +'And I don't see what business he had to call you to account,' said +Gerard. 'A stuck-up fellow.' + +'Of course all the Egremonts are set against my being here,' said +Nuttie. + +'I thought the Canon offered to bring you last year,' said Mary +gently. + +'Oh, that was only to Monks Horton! It would have been simply +tantalising.' + +'Lady Kirkaldy is an excellent person,' said Miss Nugent. + +'Is she at home now?' asked Ursula. + +'Coming next week, they tell me,' said Gerard. + +'He--your cousin--will always be loafing up there now, giving up all +that he had undertaken, I suppose.' + +'Not very likely,' said Mary quietly. + +It is a mere Scottish anti-church influence,' said Gerard, turning +round at the swing-door of his office. 'Why else will Egremont not +take the pledge?' + +Wherewith he disappeared, blue ribbon and all, while Mary smiled, +though she was vexed; and Nuttie observed, 'Poor Gerard; but I can't +see why he should be jealous of Mark _now_.' + +Mary did not choose to understand what Nuttie implied in her +simplicity, and made answer, 'He is rather blue ribbon mad. Besides, +I am afraid the fact of being a "swell" does not conduce to your +cousin's popularity among the clerks.' + +'Surely he does not give himself airs,' said Ursula, her family +feelings awaking. + +'No; but I fancy he is rather reserved.' + +'What's this about giving up what he has undertaken? What is it?' + +'When Mr. Dutton went to London, he asked Mark to take his Sunday +afternoons with the big lads. He thought they wanted some one with +more resources and variety than there is in poor Gerard, who didn't +at all like being passed over.' + +'I never should have thought it of Mark. He never dreamt of teaching +anybody at home.' + +'Very likely not, but there is an atmosphere at St. Ambrose's.' + +'And oh, how glad I am to be in it! I wonder how long they will let +me stay! The dear little mother will try to get me a Sunday here, if +she dares. Indeed, I can't hear before Saturday, and then there +would hardly be time to get home! Oh, that's jolly! I'll go to the +nursery gardens, and get _such_ flowers for the vases!' + +Saturday brought Nuttie a letter, but not from her mother-- + + +'My Dear Ursula--I write because we are anxious to keep your mother +as quiet as possible. It was a serious shock to her to find that you +had left home, and she naturally supposed that Miss Headworth was in +great danger. Your father was greatly displeased, and she has been +much overcome, and very unwell, but we hope by keeping her perfectly +quiet that worse consequences may be prevented. Your father desires +you to remain where you are for the present, as he will not have her +disturbed again. Your mother sends her love both to you and to your +aunt, and desires me to say that she will write in a day or two, and +that she thinks you had better not come back till she is better and +your father's vexation has diminished. + +'I wish you had informed us of your intentions, as then we could have +ascertained the grounds of the report that terrified you so +strangely.--I remain your affectionate aunt, + JANE M. EGREMONT.' + + +'Poor mother! he has been sneering at us all in his dreadful cynical +way, and knocked her up into one of her awful headaches,' said +Nuttie, who felt extremely angered by the grave tone of rebuke in the +letter, and tossed it over to her aunt without absolutely reading it +all. Miss Headworth was a good deal distressed, and anxious to know +what Mrs. William Egremont meant; but Nuttie positively declared, +'Oh, it is her headaches! You know she always had them more or less, +and they have grown a great deal worse since she has taken to sitting +in that horrid, stuffy, perfumy, cigar-ry room, and doesn't take half +exercise enough.' + +And when Miss Headworth showed herself much concerned about the state +of things, Nuttie coaxed her, and declared that she should fancy +herself unwelcome, and have to go and beg a lodging somewhere instead +of enjoying her reprieve. And Aunt Ursel was far less impervious to +coaxing than she used to be when she was the responsible head of a +boarding house. She did most thoroughly enjoy the affection of her +great niece, and could not persuade herself to be angry with her, +especially when the girl looked up smiling and said, 'If the worst +came to the worst and he did disinherit me, the thing would only +right itself. I always meant to give it back to Mark.' + +No great aunt in the world could fail to admire the generous spirit +of the girl who came back from the great world of luxury, so loving +and happy in her humble surroundings. The only sighs were for poor +Alice, in the hands of a man of whom Miss Headworth knew so much +evil. If she were not wretched and a victim--and Nuttie did not +think her such--she must surely be getting spoilt and worldly. Her +daughter implied fears of this kind, yet who could read her letters +and think so? + +Nuttie was fortunately too much in awe of the Canoness to write all +the pertnesses that tingled at her fingers' ends, and she sent a +proper and fairly meek letter, intimating, however, that she was only +too happy to remain at Micklethwayte. + +It was two or three days more before she heard again. + + +'My Own Dear Child--They have let me write at last, and I can say how +much I like to think of your nestling up to dear Aunt Ursel, and how +glad I am to find that she was well enough to enjoy you. It is almost +like being there to hear of you, and the only thing that grieves me +is that your father was very much vexed at your setting off in that +sudden way, and at my being so foolish about it. His eyes have been +very bad, and he missed me sadly while I was laid up. We are neither +of us very strong, and we think--if Aunt Ursel and Mary can keep you +for a little longer--it will be better for you to stay on with them, +as it might be as dreary for you as it was last winter, especially as +the Rectory folk will soon be going into residence. I will write to +them about it and persuade them to take something for your board, so +as to make it easy for them. And then you can have a fire in your +room; you must not leave it off now you are used to it. My dear, I +wish you would write a little apology to your father. I ought not to +conceal that he is really very angry, and I think it would be well if +you expressed some regret, or if you cannot truthfully do that, asked +his pardon for your impetuosity; for you know he cannot be expected +to realise all that dear Aunt Ursel is to us. You cannot think how +kind your Aunt Jane has been to me; I did not think she could have +been so tender. This is the first letter I ever had to write to you, +my own dear child. I miss you every moment, but after all it is +better you should be away till your father has overlooked this +hurried expedition of yours. I am sure he would if you wrote him a +real nice letter, telling how you were really frightened, and that it +was not a mere excuse. Pray do, and then you can come back to your +loving little mother. + 'A. E.' + + +'As if I would or could,' quoth Nuttie to herself. 'Apologise to him +indeed, for loving the aunt who toiled for us when he deserted us. +Poor little mother, she can't really expect it of me. Indeed, I +don't think she quite knows what she wants, or whether she likes me +to be here or at Bridgefield! My belief is that he bullies her less +when I am out of the way, because she just gives way to him, and does +not assert any principle. I've tried to back her up, and it is of no +use, and I am sure I don't want such a winter as the last. So I am +much better here; and as to begging pardon, when I have done nothing +wrong, I am sure I won't, to please anybody. I shall tell her that +she ought to know me better than to expect it!' + +But Nuttie did not show the letter either to Aunt Ursel or Mary +Nugent; nor did she see that in which Alice had satisfied them that +it might be better that her daughter should pay them a long visit, +while Mr. Egremont's health required constant attendance, and the +Canon's family were at Redcastle. And as her husband was always +open-handed, she could make Ursula's stay with them advantageous to +their slender means, without hurting their feelings. + +She told them as much as she could, but there was more that no living +creature might know, namely, the advantage that Gregorio had gained +over that battlefield, his master, during her days of illness. The +first cold weather had brought on pain, and anger and anxiety, +nervous excitement and sleeplessness, which the valet had taken upon +him to calm with a narcotic under a new name that at first deceived +her till she traced its effects, and inquired of Dr. Hammond about +it. Unwillingly, on her account, he enlightened her, and showed her +that, though the last year's care had done much to loosen the bonds +of the subtle and alluring habit, yet that any resumption of it +tended to plunge its victim into the fatal condition of the confirmed +opium-eater, giving her every hope at the same time that this +propensity might be entirely shaken off, and that the improvement in +Mr. Egremont's health and habits which had set in might be confirmed, +and raise him above the inclination. + +Could she have been rid of Gregorio, she would have felt almost sure +of victory; but as it was, she believed the man absolutely meant to +baffle her, partly out of a spiteful rivalry, partly because his +master's torpid indolence could be used to his own advantage. She +was absolutely certain that his sneering tone of remark made her +husband doubly disinclined to let any religious book be near, or to +permit her to draw him to any Sunday observance. + +The battle must be fought out alone. The gentle woman could have no +earthly helper in the struggle. The Canon and Mark, the only persons +who could have given her the slightest aid, were both at a distance, +even if her loyal heart could have brooked confession to them, and +she only hoped that Nuttie would never know of it. Only aid from +above could be with her in the daily, hourly effort of cheerfulness, +patience, and all the resources of feminine affection, to avert the +temptation; and she well knew that the presence of the ardent, +unsubdued, opinionative girl would, alas! only double the +difficulties. So she acquiesced, at least for the present, in +Nuttie's grand achievement of having broken away from all the wealth +and luxury of Bridgefield to return to her simple home and good old +aunt. Mark was a good deal vexed, but Nuttie did not care about +that, attributing this displeasure to Egremont clanship; Mary Nugent +was doubtful and anxious, and thought it her duty to reconcile +herself to her father; but Miss Headworth, who, be it remembered, had +reason to have the worst impressions of Mr. Egremont, rejoiced in her +young niece having escaped from him for the time, and only sighed +over the impossibility of Alice's doing the same. And when Nuttie +described, as she constantly did, the various pleasures she had +enjoyed during the past year, the good old lady secretly viewed her +as a noble Christian heroine for resigning all this in favour of the +quiet little home at Micklethwayte, though reticent before her, and +discussed her excellence whenever she was alone with Mary. + +Nor would Miss Nugent vex her with contradictions or hints that what +Nuttie was giving up at present might be a dull house, with her +mother engrossed by an irritable semi-invalid, and the few gaieties +to be enjoyed by the help of the Canon's family at Redcastle. She +did ask the girl whether Mrs. Egremont, being avowedly not quite +well, might not need her assistance; but Nuttie vehemently disavowed +being of any possible use to her father; he never let her read to +him! oh no! he called her music schoolgirly, a mere infliction; he +never spoke to her if he could help it, and then it was always with a +sort of sneer; she believed he could not bear the sight of her, and +was ashamed of it, as well he might be! For Mrs. Houghton's +disclosures had rankled ever since within her, and had been confirmed +by her aunt. + +'But that is very sad,' said Mary. 'I am so sorry for you. Ought +you not to try hard to conquer his distaste?' + +'I--why, he cares for nothing good!' + +'Nay,' smiling. 'Not for your mother?' + +'Oh! She's pretty, you know; besides, she makes herself a regular +slave to him, and truckles to him in everything, as I could never +do.' + +'Perhaps she is overcoming evil with good.' + +'I am afraid it is more like being overcome of evil. No, no, dear +Miss Mary, don't be shocked. The dear little mother never would be +anything but good in her own sweet self, but it is her nature not to +stand up for anything, you know. She seems to me just like a +Christian woman that has been obliged to marry some Paynim knight. +And it perfectly provokes me to see her quite gratified at his +notice, and ready to sacrifice anything to him, now I know how he +treated her. If I had been in her place, I wouldn't have gone back +to him; no, not if he had been ready to crown me after I was dead, +like Ines de Castro.' + +'I don't know that you would have had much choice in that case.' + +'My very ghost would have rebelled,' said Nuttie, laughing a little. + +And Mary could believe that Mrs. Egremont, with all her love for her +daughter, might find it a relief not to have to keep the peace +between the father and child. 'Yet,' she said to herself, 'if Mr. +Dutton were here, he would have taken her back the first day.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. +DISENCHANTMENT. + + + + +'He promised to buy me a bunch of blue ribbons.' + + +St. Ambrose's road was perfectly delightful as long as there was any +expectation of a speedy recall. Every day was precious; every +meeting with an old face was joyful; each interchange of words with +Mr. Spyers or Gerard Godfrey was hailed as a boon; nothing was +regretted but the absence of Monsieur and his master, and that the +favourite choir boy's voice was cracked. + +But when there was reason to think that success had been complete, +when Miss Headworth had been persuaded by Mary that it was wiser on +all accounts not to mortify Alice by refusing the two guineas a week +offered for Miss Egremont's expenses; when a couple of boxes of +clothes and books had arrived, and Ursula found herself settled at +Micklethwayte till after Christmas, she began first to admit to +herself that somehow the place was not all that it had once been to +her. + +Her mother was absent, that was one thing. Mrs. Nugent was gone, +that was another. There was no Monsieur or Mr. Dutton to keep her in +awe of his precision, even while she laughed at it. There were no +boarders to patronise and play with, and her education at the High +School was over. If she saw a half-clothed child, it was not half so +interesting to buy an ulster in the next shop, as it was to turn over +the family rag-bag, knit, sew, and contrive! Somehow things had a +weariness in them, and the little excitements did not seem to be the +exquisite delights they used to be. After having seen Patience at +the Princess's it was not easy to avoid criticising a provincial Lady +Jane, and it was the like with other things of more importance. Even +the ritual of St. Ambrose's Church no longer struck her as the ne +plus ultra of beauty, and only incited her to describe London +churches. + +She resumed her Sunday-school classes, and though she talked at first +of their raciness and freedom, she soon longed after the cleanliness, +respectfulness, and docility of the despised little Bridgefordites, +and uttered bitter things of Micklethwayte turbulence, declaring-- +perhaps not without truth--that the children had grown much worse in +her absence. + +And as Mr. Godfrey had been superintendent during the latter half of +the time, this was a cruel stroke. He wanted to make her reverse her +opinions. And they never met without 'Now, Ursula, don't you +remember Jem Burton putting on Miss Pope's spectacles, and grinning +at all the class.' + +'Yes; and how Mr. Dutton brought him up to beg her pardon. Now, was +any notice taken when that horrid boy--I don't know his name--turned +the hymn they were saying to her into "Tommy, make room for your +uncle"?' + +'Oh, Albert Cox! It is no use doing anything to him, he would go off +at once to the Primitives.' + +'Let him!' + +'I cannot make him a schismatic.' + +'I wonder what he is now!' + +'Besides, Miss Pope perfectly provokes impertinence.' + +'Then I wouldn't give her work she can't do.' + +Such an argument as this might be very well at the moment of +provocation, but it became tedious when recurred to at every meeting. +Nuttie began to wonder when Monks Horton would be inhabited again, +and how much notice Lady Kirkaldy would take of her, and she was a +good deal disappointed when Mark told her that Lord Kirkaldy had been +begged to undertake a diplomatic mission which would keep them abroad +all the winter. + +There was a certain weariness and want of interest. It was not +exactly that there was nothing intellectual going on. There were the +lectures, but they were on chemistry, for which Nuttie cared little. +There were good solid books, and lively ones too, but they seemed +passe to one who had heard them discussed in town. Mary and Miss +Headworth read and talked them over, and perhaps their opinions were +quite as wise, and Miss Nugent's conversation was equal to that of +any of Nuttie's London friends, but it was only woman's talk after +all--the brilliancy and piquancy, the touch and go, she had enjoyed +in Lady Kirkaldy's drawing-room was lacking. + +Mr. Spyers was too much immersed in parish matters to read anything +secular, and neither he nor Gerard Godfrey seemed ever to talk of +anything but parish matters. There was not the slightest interest in +anything beyond. Foreign politics, European celebrities,--things in +which Nuttie had learnt to take warm interest when with the +Kirkaldys, were nothing to them. Even Mary wondered at her +endeavours to see the day's paper, and she never obtained either +information or sympathy unless she came across Mark. It seemed to +her that Gerard cared less for the peace or war of an empire than for +a tipsy cobbler taking the pledge. The monotony and narrowness of +the world where she had once been so happy fretted and wearied her, +though she was ashamed of herself all the time, and far too proud to +allow that she was tired of it all. Aunt Ursel at her best had +always been a little dry and grave, an authority over the two nieces; +and though softened, she was not expansive, did not invite +confidences, and home was not home without the playfellow-mother. + +And most especially was she daily tired of Gerard Godfrey! Had he +always talked of nothing but 'the colours,' chants, E. C. U., +classes, and teetotalism? Whatever she began it always came back to +one or other of these subjects, and when she impatiently declared +that she was perfectly sick of hearing of the Use of Sarum, he looked +at her as guilty of a profanity. + +Perhaps it was true that he was narrower than he had been. He was a +good, honest, religiously-minded lad, but with no great depth or +grasp of intellect; Ursula Egremont had been his companion first and +then his romance, and the atmosphere of the community in which he +lived had been studious and intelligent. His expedition to Redcastle +had convinced him that the young lady lived in a different world, +entirely beyond his reach, and in the reaction of his hopelessness, +he had thrown himself into the excitement of the mission, and it had +worked on him a zealous purpose to dedicate himself totally to a +religious life, giving up all worldly aims, and employing the small +capital he could call his own in preparing for the ministry. Mr. +Dutton had insisted that he should test his own steadfastness and +resolution by another year's work in his present situation before he +took any steps. + +He had submitted, but still viewed himself as dedicated, and so far +as business hours permitted, gave his services like a clerical pupil +to St. Ambrose's with the greatest energy, and perhaps somewhat less +judgment than if Mr. Dutton had been at hand. Being without natural +taste for intellectual pursuits, unless drawn into them by his +surroundings, he had dropped them entirely, and read nothing but the +ephemeral controversial literature of his party, and not much of +that, for he was teaching, preaching, exhorting, throughout his spare +time; while the vicar was in too great need of help to insist on +deepening the source from which his zealous assistant drew. As Miss +Nugent observed, teetotalism was to him what dissipation was to other +young men. + +On this vehemence of purpose descended suddenly Ursula Egremont once +more; and the human heart could not but be quickened with the idea, +not entirely unfounded, that it was to him that she had flown back, +and that her exile proved that she cared for him more than for all +the delights she had enjoyed as heiress of Bridgefield. The good +youth was conscientious to the back-bone, and extremely perplexed +between his self-dedication and the rights that their implied +understanding might give to her. Was she to be the crowning blessing +of his life, to be saved partly through his affection from worldly +trials and temptations, and bestowing on him a brilliant lot in which +boundless good could be effected? Or was she a syren luring him to +abandon his higher and better purposes? + +The first few days of her stay, the former belief made him feel like +treading on air, or like the hero of many a magazine story; but as +time went on this flattering supposition began to fail him, when +Nuttie showed her weariness of the subjects which, in his +exclusiveness, he deemed the only ones worthy of a Christian, or +rather of a Catholic. Both of them had outgrown the lively, aimless +chatter and little jests that had succeeded the games of childhood, +and the growth had been in different directions, so that Ursula felt +herself untrue to her old romance when she became weary of his +favourite topics, disappointed by his want of sympathy and +comprehension, fretted by his petty disapprovals, and annoyed by his +evident distaste for Mark, to whom she turned as to one of her proper +world. + +At last, after many tossings, Gerard fixed upon a test. If she +endured it she would be the veritable maiden of his imagination, and +they would stand by one another, come what would; if not, he would +believe that the past had been fancy, not love, or love that had not +withstood the attractions of fashionable life. A great temperance +meeting was coming on, and Gerard, eager at once to fill the room, +and to present a goodly roll of recruits, watched anxiously for his +moment, and came on Nuttie with his hands full of bills in huge +letters, and his pockets of badges. + +'Excellent speakers,' he cried. 'We shall have the hall crowded. +You'll come, Ursula?' + +'I don't know what Miss Mary will do. I don't think she means it.' + +'Oh, if you insist, if we both insist, she will. Look at the paper-- +we are to have some splendid experiences.' + +Nuttie made a face. 'I've heard all about those,' she said. 'That +man,' pointing to one of the names, 'regularly rants about it; he is +like a madman.' + +'He does go rather far, but it is quite necessary, as you will hear. +Oh, Nuttie, if you would only be one of us! I've brought a card! If +you would!' + +'Why, what's the use, Gerard! I don't like wine, I never do drink +it, except a little claret-cup sometimes when I can't get water.' + +'Then it would cost you nothing.' + +'Yes, it would. It would make me ridiculous.' + +'You used not to heed the sneers of the world.' + +'Not for anything worth doing--but this is not.' + +'It is the greatest cause of the day!' he cried, in an eager exalted +manner, which somewhat inclined her to laugh. 'Do away with alcohol +and you would do away with crime!' + +'Thank you for the compliment, Gerard; I never found that the +infinitesimal drop of alcohol that I suppose there is in a tumbler of +claret-cup disposed me to commit crimes.' + +'Why won't you understand me, Ursula! Can't you give up that for the +sake of saving others!' + +'I wonder whom it would save.' + +'Example saves! If you put on this'--taking out the badge--'how many +should you not lead at your home?' + +'Just nobody! Mother and I should have a bad time of it, that's +all.' + +'And if you endured, what would not your testimony effect in the +household and village?' + +'Nothing! I have nothing to do with the men-servants, and as to the +village, it is very sober. There's only one public house, and that +is kept by Uncle William's old butler, and is as orderly as can be.' + +'Ah! that's the way you all deceive yourselves. Moderate drinkers +are ten times more mischievous than regular drunkards.' + +'Thank you, Gerard! And outrageous abstainers are more mischievous +than either of them, because they make the whole thing so utterly +foolish and absurd.' She was really angry now, and so was Gerard. + +'Is that your ultimatum?' he asked, in a voice that he strove to +render calm. + +'Certainly; I'm not going to take the pledge.' + +Having quarrelled in childhood, made quarrelling now easier, and +Gerard answered bitterly: + +'Very well, I hope you will have no cause to repent it.' + +''Tis not the way to make me repent it, to see how it seems to affect +some people's common sense. It is just as if all your brains had run +to water!' said Nuttie, laughing a little; but Gerard was desperately +serious, and coloured vehemently. + +'Very well, Miss Egremont, I understand. I have had my answer,' he +said, gathering up his papers and marching out of the room. + +She stood still, offended, and not in the least inclined to run after +him and take back her words. He, poor fellow, stumbled down the +steps, and held by the garden rail to collect his senses and compose +himself. + +'What's the matter, Gerard, are you ill or giddy?' asked Miss Nugent, +coming up in the winter twilight. + +'No, oh no! Only the dream of my life is over,' he answered, scarce +knowing what he said. + +'You haven't--' cried Mary aghast. + +'Oh no,' he said, understanding the blank, 'only she won't take the +pledge!' + +'I don't see how she could or ought,' responded Mary. 'Is that all?' + +'I had made it the test,' muttered poor Gerard. 'It is right! It is +all over now. I shall know how to go on my way. It is best so--I +know it is--only I did not know whether anything was due to her.' It +was almost a sob. + +'Dear old Gerard,' said Mary, 'I see you meant to do right. It is +well your mind should be settled. I think you'll find comfort in +your good work.' + +He wrung her hand, and she went in, half amused, for she was fully +aware of the one-sidedness of the mania for temperance under which he +acted, yet honouring his high, pure motives, and rejoicing that he +had found this indirect mode of gauging Nuttie's feelings towards +him--that is, if he was right about them, and there was no revulsion. + +Far from it. Nuttie was still angry. 'Gerard had been so +ridiculous,' she said, 'teasing her to take the pledge, and quite +incapable of understanding her reasons. I can't think why Gerard has +grown so stupid.' + +'Enthusiasms carry people away,' returned Mary. + +'If Mr. Dutton had only stayed, he would have kept Gerard like +himself,' said Nuttie. + +But there was no relenting. The two young people avoided each other; +and perhaps Nuttie was secretly relieved that the romance she had +outgrown no longer entangled her. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. +A FAILURE. + + + + +'Would I had loved her more!'--Mrs. Hemans. + + +'On the 14th of January, at Bridgefield Egremont, the wife of Alwyn +Piercefield Egremont, Esquire, a son and heir.' + +Ursula had been prepared for this event for about a fortnight by a +long tender letter from her mother, mourning over the not meeting at +Christmas, and the long separation, but saying that she had wished to +spare the long anxiety, and that it had been a trying time which she +felt herself able to cope with better alone, than even with her dear +Nuttie, knowing her to be happy and safe with Aunt Ursel. Now, if +all went well, they would have a happy meeting, and begin on a new +score. 'If the will of God should be otherwise,' added Alice, 'I am +sure I need not entreat my Nuttie to do and be all that she can to +her father. My child, you do not know how sorely he needs such love +and tendance and prayer as you can give him. I know you have thought +I have set you aside--if not better things, for his sake. Indeed I +could not help it.' Then there was something tear-stained and +blotted out, and it ended with, 'He is beginning to miss your step +and voice about the house. I believe he will really be glad to see +you, when the bright spring days come, and I can kiss my own Nuttie +again.' + +Nuttie was very much delighted, but a little hurt that her aunt and +Mary should have been in the secret, and pledged to say nothing to +her till her mother should write. She found, moreover, that Miss +Headworth was extremely anxious and not altogether reassured by Mrs. +William Egremont's letter of announcement, which filled Nuttie with +delight. How happy the little mother must be to have a baby in her +arms again, and though she herself did not profess to have a strong +turn for infant humanity, it was the greatest possible relief to be +no longer an heiress, excepting that the renunciation in favour of +Mark was no longer practicable. + +The residence at Redcastle was not over, but the Canoness had come to +nurse her sister-in-law, and kept up the correspondence. The son and +heir was reported to be a perfect specimen, and his father was +greatly elated and delighted, but the letters showed anxiety about +the mother, who did not get on as she ought, and seemed to have no +power of rally about her. At length came a letter that seemed to +burn itself into Nuttie's brain-- + + +'My Dear Ursula--Your mother is longing to see you. You had better +come home directly. Your aunt saved her before. Tell her if she +will come, she shall have my deepest gratitude. I shall send to meet +the 5.11 train.--Your affectionate father, + A. P. EGREMONT.' + + +Mrs. William Egremont wrote at more length. Symptoms had set in +which filled the doctors and nurses with double anxiety. Advice had +been sent for from London, and Mr. Egremont was in an uncontrollable +state of distress. She had undertaken to summon Ursula home, and to +beg Miss Headworth to undertake the journey. She evidently did not +know that her brother-in-law had written himself, and before they +could start a telegram terrified them, but proved to contain no fresh +tidings, only a renewed summons. + +Miss Headworth forgot all her resolutions about Mr. Egremont's +hospitality--her Alice was her only thought, and all the remedies +that had been found efficacious at Dieppe. The good lady had a +certain confidence in her own nursing and experience of Alice, which +buoyed her up with hope, while Ursula seemed absolutely stunned. She +had never thought of such a frightful loss or grief, and her mental +senses were almost paralysed, so that she went through the journey in +a kind of surface trance, observing all around her much as usual, +looking out for the luggage and for the servant who had come to meet +them with the report 'No change.' She did the honours of the +carriage, and covered Miss Headworth with the fur rug. They wanted +it, for they were shivering with anxiety. + +Canon Egremont came out to the front hall to meet them, and put his +arms round Nuttie tenderly, saying, 'My poor dear child!' then as he +saw he had frightened them, 'No, no! She is alive--conscious they +say, only so very weak.' Then with something of his usual urbane +grace, he held out his hand, 'Miss Headworth, it is very good in you +to come. You have a great deal to forgive.' + +He took them into the tent-room, where tea was standing, interrupting +himself in the account he was giving to bid Nuttie let her aunt have +some. It was plain from his manner that he had given up hope, and in +another minute in hurried his brother, looking terribly haggard and +with bloodshot eyes, giving his hand to each, with, 'That's right, +Miss Headworth, thank you. Come, let me know what you think of her!' + +'Does she know they are come?' said the Canon. 'No? Then, Alwyn, +let them have some tea, and take off their things. I can tell you, +the nurses will never let them in just off a journey.' + +Miss Headworth seconded this, and Mr. Egremont submitted, allowing +that she had not asked for Nuttie since the morning, and then had +smiled and squeezed his hand when he said she was coming with her +aunt; but he walked up and down in direful restlessness, his whole +mind apparently bent on extracting from Miss Headworth that she had +been as ill or worse at Dieppe. + +Alas! when Mrs. William Egremont came down to fetch Nuttie; there was +no question that matters were much worse. The sweet face was +perfectly white and wasted, and the heavy lids of the dark eyes +scarcely lifted themselves, but the lips moved into a smile, and the +hand closed on that of the girl, who stood by her as one frozen into +numbness. There was the same recognition when her aunt was brought +to her side, the poor old lady commanding herself with difficulty, as +the loving glance quivered over the face. + +Time passed on, and she still held Nuttie's hand. Once, when a +little revived by some stimulant at her lips, she made an effort and +said, 'Stay with him! Take care of him! _Love_ him! And your +little brother, my Nuttie! Promise!' + +'I promise,' the girl answered, scarce knowing what she said. + +And the eyes closed with an air of peace and rest. + +Again when Miss Headworth was doing something to ease her position +she said, 'Thank you,' and then more vigorously, 'Thank you, dear +aunt, for all you have been to us.' + +There was little more. She asked Nuttie for 'her hymn,' the evening +hymn with which mother and daughter used nightly to go to sleep, and +which, in her strange dreamy way, the girl managed to say. + +Then a little murmur and sign passed between the elder ladies, and +Mrs. William Egremont fetched her husband. As he opened his book to +find the commendatory prayer, thinking her past all outward +consciousness, and grieved by the look of suffering, her eyes again +unclosed and her lips said, 'Failed.' + +'Don't think of that! God can make failures success.' + +There was a half smile, a look of peace. '_He_ makes up,' she said; +and those were the last audible words before it was over, and the +tender spirit was released from its strife, some time later, they +only knew when by the failure of the clasp on her husband's hand. + +Old Miss Headworth did not understand the meaning of that sad word +till the next forenoon. Then,--as she sat in the darkened tent-room, +crying over her letters,--while the stunned and bewildered Nuttie +was, under her Aunt Jane's direction, attending to the needful +arrangements, Canon Egremont wandered in upon her in the overflow of +confidence of a man with a full heart, wanting to talk it all out, +communicating the more, because she was a discreet woman, and asked +no questions. He had tried to see his brother, but Gregorio had not +admitted him. He was aware now of the whole state of things. Dr. +Hammond had told him, when first beginning to be alarmed for his +patient, that the principal cause for anxiety was the exhaustion +caused by the long strain on her spirits and strength consequent on +her efforts to wean her husband from his fatal propensity. There had +been other 'complications,' as the doctor called them, and more +immediate causes of danger, but both he and his colleague, summoned +from London, believed that she would have surmounted them if she had +had more strength to rally. But her nurses dated the decided turn +for the worse from the day when she had gazed up into Mr. Egremont's +face, and detected the look in his eyes that she had learnt too well +to understand. + +She would fain have lived, and, according to her obedient nature, had +submitted to all the silence and stillness enforced on her; but she +had told Dr. Hammond that she must see her brother-in-law before she +was too far gone. And the doctor, knowing all, took care it should +be brought about. + +And then she had spoken of her failure in the effort of these years. +'If I had begun better,' she said, 'it might not have been so with +him.' + +'My dear, indeed you have nothing to blame yourself for. You were +grievously sinned against by us all. Alwyn was no saint when he drew +you into it--and you, you have been his good angel, doing all and +more too,' said the Canon, almost breaking down. + +'I tried--but if I had been a better woman--And to leave him to that +man!' + +'Child, child, victories sometimes come this way!' he cried, scarce +knowing how it was put into his mouth, but glad to see the light in +her eye. + +'Thanks,' she replied. 'No, I ought not to have said that. I leave +him to God, and my poor Nuttie. I want you to tell her, if I can't, +what she must try to do. If I had but brought them together more! +But I tried for the best.' + +Then she begged for her last communion, saying, 'I do pray for that +poor Gregorio. Isn't that forgiving him?' And the attempt to +exchange forgiveness with the Canon for their mutual behaviour at the +time of her marriage overcame them both so much that they had to +leave it not half uttered. Indeed, in speaking of the scene, William +Egremont was utterly overwhelmed. + +'And that's the woman that I treated as a mere outcast!' he cried, +walking about the little room. 'Oh God, forgive me! I shall never +forgive myself.' + +Poor Miss Headworth! In past days she had longed for any amount of +retribution on Alice's hard-hearted employers, but it was a very +different thing to witness such grief and self reproach. He had in +truth much more developed ideas of duty, both as man and priest, than +when he had passively left a disagreeable subject to his mother-in- +law, as lying within a woman's province; and his good heart was +suffering acutely for the injustice and injury in which he had shared +towards one now invested with an almost saintly halo. + +In the gush of feeling he had certainly revealed more to Miss +Headworth, than his wife, or even he himself, in his cooler moments, +would have thought prudent, and he ended by binding her to secrecy; +and saying that he should only tell his niece what was necessary for +her to know. + +Nuttie was going about, dry-eyed and numbed, glad of any passing +occupation that would prevent the aching sense of desolation at her +heart from gaining force to overwhelm her; courting employment, and +shunning pity and condolence, but she could not escape when her uncle +took her hand, made her sit down by him, with 'I want to speak to +you, my dear;' and told her briefly and tenderly what her mother's +effort had been, and of the message and task she had bequeathed. +The poor girl's heart fainted within her. + +'Oh! but, Uncle William, how can I? How can I ever? Mother could do +things I never could! He _did_ care for her! He does not care for +me!' + +'You must teach him to do so, Nuttie.' + +'Oh!' she said, with a hopeless sound. + +The Canon did think it very hopeless in his heart, but he persevered, +as in duty bound. 'I told your dear mother that perhaps you would +succeed where she thought she had failed, though indeed she had done +much. It made her happy. So, my dear child, you are bound to do +your best.' + +'Yes;' then, after a pause--'But mother could coax him and manage +him. Mother was with him day and night; she could always get at him. +What can I do?' + +'I think you will find that he depends upon you more,' said the +Canon, 'and it may be made easier to you, if you only set your will +to it.' + +'If I ought, I'll try,' said poor Nuttie, more humbly perhaps than +she had ever spoken before, but in utter dejection, and her uncle +answered her like a child. + +'There, that's a good girl. Nobody can do more.' + +For the Canon had one hope. He had not thought it becoming to speak +to her of the counter influence, but he could not help thinking it +possible that if he and his son, backed by doctor and lawyer, made a +long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, they might induce +his brother to part with Gregorio, and this would render Ursula's +task far less impossible. + +He was confirmed in this hope by finding that Mark's arrival was not +unwelcome to Mr. Egremont, who seemed to have forgotten the +unpleasantness with which he had regarded the engagement, and only +remembered that his nephew had been Alice's champion, resuming old +customs of dependence, making him act as amanuensis, and arraigning +the destiny that had restored so lovely and charming a creature only +to snatch her away, leaving nothing but a headstrong girl and a +helpless baby. + +That poor little fellow was all that could be desired at his age, but +Nuttie felt her beautiful mother almost insulted when the elder +ladies talked of the wonderful resemblance that the Canoness declared +to have been quite startling in the earlier hours of his life. For +the convenience of one of the sponsors, he was to be christened in +the afternoon following the funeral, the others being--by his +mother's special entreaty--his sister and Mark. Egremont customs +were against the ladies going to the funeral, so that Nuttie was kept +at home, much against her will; but after the luncheon she escaped, +leaving word with her aunts that she was going to walk down to church +alone, and they were sorry enough for her to let her have her own +way, especially as her father, having been to the funeral, had shut +himself up and left all the rest to them. + +The Egremont family had a sort of enclosure or pen with iron rails +round it close to the church wall, where they rested under flat +slabs. The gate in this was open now, and the new-made grave was one +mass of white flowers,--wreaths and crosses, snowdrops, hyacinths, +camellias, and the like,--and at the feet was a flowerpot with +growing plants of the white hyacinth called in France 'lys de la +Vierge.' These, before they became frequent in England, had been +grown in Mr. Dutton's greenhouse, and having been favourites with +Mrs. Egremont, it had come to be his custom every spring to bring her +the earliest plants that bloomed. Nuttie knew them well, the careful +tying up, the neat arrangement of moss over the earth, the peculiar +trimness of the whole; and as she looked, the remembrance of the +happy times of old, the sick longing for all that was gone, did what +nothing had hitherto effected--brought an overwhelming gush of tears. + +There was no checking them now that they had come. She fled into +church on the first sounds of arrival and hid herself in the friendly +shelter of the great family pew; but she had to come out and take her +place, though she could hardly utter a word, and it was all that she +could do to keep from sobbing aloud; she could not hand the babe, and +the Canon had to take on trust the name 'Alwyn Headworth,' for he +could not hear the words that were on her trembling lips. + +It was soon over; and while the baby and his attendants, with Miss +Headworth, were being packed into the carriage, and her uncle and +aunt bowing off the grand god-father, she clutched her cousin's arm, +and said, 'Mark; where's Mr. Dutton?' + +'I--I didn't know he was coming, but now you ask, I believe I saw him +this morning.' + +'I know he is here.' + +'Do you want to see him?' said Mark kindly. + +'Oh, if I might!' + +Then, with a sudden impulse, she looked back into the church, and +recognised a black figure and slightly bald head bowed down in one of +the seats. She pointed him out. 'No doubt he is waiting for us all +to be gone,' said Mark in a low voice. 'You go into the Rectory, +Nuttie; there's a fire in the study, and I'll bring him to you there. +I'll get him to stay the night if I can.' + +'Oh, thank you!' and it was a really fervent answer. + +Mark waited, and when Mr. Dutton rose, was quite shocked at his +paleness and the worn look on his face, as of one who had struggled +hard for resignation and calm. He started, almost as if a blow had +been struck him, as Mark uttered his name in the porch, no doubt +having never meant to be perceived nor to have to speak to any one; +but in one moment his features had recovered their usual expression +of courteous readiness. He bowed his head when Mark told him that +Ursula wanted to shake hands with him, and came towards the Rectory, +but he entirely declined the invitation to sleep there, declaring +that he must return to London that night. + +Mark opened the study door, and then went away to secure that the man +whom he had learnt to esteem very highly should at least have some +refreshment before he left the house. + +Those few steps had given Mr. Dutton time to turn from a mourner to a +consoler, and when Nuttie came towards him with her hand +outstretched, and 'Oh, Mr. Dutton, Mr. Dutton!' he took it in both +his, and with a calm broken voice said, 'God has been very good to us +in letting us know one like her.' + +'But oh! what can we do without her?' + +'Ah, Nuttie! that always comes before us. But I saw your work and +your comfort just now.' + +'Poor little boy! I shall get to care about him, I know, but as yet +I can only feel how much rather I would have _her_.' + +'No doubt, but it is _her_ work that is left you.' + +'Her work? Yes! But oh, Mr. Dutton, you don't know how dreadful it +is!' + +He did not know what she meant. Whether it was simply the burthen on +any suddenly motherless girl, or any special evil on her father's +part, but he was soon enlightened, for there was something in this +old friend that drew out her confidence beyond all others, even when +he repressed her, and she could not help telling him in a few +murmured furtive words such as she knew she ought not to utter, and +he felt it almost treason to hear. 'Opiates! she was always trying +to keep my father from them! It was too much for her! My uncle says +I must try to do it, and I can't.' + +'Poor child!' said Mr. Dutton kindly, though cut to the heart at the +revelation of sweet Alice's trial; 'at least you can strive, and +there is always a blessing on resolution.' + +'Oh, if you knew! and he doesn't like me. I don't think I've ever +been nice to him, and that vexed her! I haven't got her ways.' + +'No,' said Mr. Dutton, 'but you will learn others. Look here, +Nuttie. You used to be always craving for grand and noble tasks, the +more difficult the better. I think you have got one now, more severe +than ever could have been thought of--and very noble. What are those +lines about the task "bequeathed from bleeding sire to son"? Isn't +it like that? You are bound to go on with her work, and the more +helpless you feel, and the more you throw yourself on God, the more +God will help you. He takes the will for the deed, if only you have +will enough; and, Nuttie, you can pray that you may be able to love +and honour him.' + +Teacups were brought in, followed by Mark, and interrupted them; and, +after a short interval, they parted at the park gate, and Ursula +walked home with Mark, waked from her dull numb trance, with a +crushed feeling as if she had been bruised all over, and yet with a +purpose within her. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. +FARMS OR UMBRELLAS. + + + + +'He tokin into his handis + His londis and his lode.'--CHAUCER. + + +'Mark! Mark!' A little figure stood on the gravel road leading +through Lescombe Park, and lifted up an eager face, as Mark jumped +down from his horse. 'I made sure you would come over.' + +'Yes, but I could not get away earlier. And I have so much to say to +you and your mother, Annaple; there's a great proposition to be +considered.' + +'Oh dear! and here is John bearing down upon us. Never mind. We'll +get into the mither's room and be cosy!' + +'Well, Mark,' said Sir John's hearty voice, 'I thought you would be +here. Come to luncheon? That's right! And how is poor Egremont? +I thought he looked awful at the funeral.' + +'He is fairly well, thank you; but it was a terrible shock.' + +'I should think so. To find such a pretty sweet creature just to +lose her again. Child likely to live, eh?' + +'Oh yes, he is a fine fellow, and has never had anything amiss with +him.' + +'Poor little chap! Doesn't know what he has lost! Well, Nannie,' as +they neared the house, 'do you want a tete-a-tete or to take him in +to your mother? Here, I'll take the horse.' + +'Come to her at once,' said Annaple; 'she wants to hear all, and +besides she is expecting me.' + +Mark was welcomed by Lady Ronnisglen with inquiries for all +concerned, and especially for that 'poor girl. I do pity a young +thing who has to take a woman's place too soon,' she said. 'It takes +too much out of her!' + +'I should think Ursula had plenty of spirit,' said Annaple. + +'I don't know whether spirit is what is wanted,' said Mark. 'Her +mother prevailed more without it than I am afraid she is likely to do +with it.' + +'Complements answer better than parallels sometimes, but not always,' +said Lady Ronnisglen. + +'Which are we?' asked Annaple demurely. + +'Not parallels certainly, for then we should never meet,' responded +Mark. 'But here is the proposal. My father and all the rest of us +have been doing our best to get my uncle to smooth Ursula's way by +getting rid of that valet of his.' + +'The man with the Mephistopheles face?' + +'Exactly. He is a consummate scoundrel, as we all know, and so does +my uncle himself, but he has been about him these twelve or fourteen +years, and has got a sort of hold on him--that--that-- It is no use +to talk of it, but it did not make that dear aunt of mine have an +easier life. In fact I should not be a bit surprised if he had been +a hindrance in the hunting her up. Well, the fellow thought proper +to upset some arrangements my mother had made, and then was more +insolent than I should have thought even he could have been towards +her. I suppose he had got into the habit with poor Aunt Alice. That +made a fulcrum, and my father went at my uncle with a will. I never +saw my father so roused in my life. I don't mean by the behaviour to +his wife, but at what he knew of the fellow, and all the harm he had +done and is doing. And actually my uncle gave in at last, and +consented to tell Gregorio to look out for another situation, if he +has not feathered his nest too well to need one, as I believe he +has.' + +'Oh, that will make it much easier for Ursula!' cried Annaple. + +'If he goes,' put in her mother. + +'I think he will. I really had no notion how much these two years +have improved my uncle! To be sure, it would be hard to live with +such a woman as that without being the better for it! But he really +seems to have acquired a certain notion of duty!' + +They did not smile at the simple way in which Mark spoke of this vast +advance, and Lady Ronnisglen said, 'I hope so, for the sake of his +daughter and that poor little boy.' + +'I think that has something to do with it,' said Mark. 'He feels a +responsibility, and still more, I think he was struck by having a +creature with him to whom evil was like physical pain.' + +'It will work,' said Lady Ronnisglen. + +'Then,' went on Mark, 'he took us all by surprise by making me this +proposal--to take the management of the estate, and become a kind of +private secretary to him. You know he gets rheumatism on the optic +nerve, and is almost blind at times. He would give me (pounds)300 a year, +and do up the house at the home farm, rent free. What do you say to +that, Annaple?' + +There was a silence, then Annaple said: 'Give up the umbrellas! Oh! +What do you think, Mark?' + +'My father wishes it,' said Mark. 'He would, as he had promised to +do, make over to me my share of my own mother's fortune, and that +would, I have been reckoning, bring us to just what we had thought of +starting upon this spring at Micklethwayte.' + +'The same now,' said Lady Ronnisglen, after some reckoning, 'but what +does it lead to?' + +'Well--nothing, I am afraid,' said Mark; 'as you know, this is all I +have to reckon upon. The younger children will have hardly anything +from their mother, so that my father's means must chiefly go to +them.' + +'And this agency is entirely dependent on your satisfying Mr. +Egremont?' + +'True, but that's a thing only too easily done. However, as you say, +this agency has no future, and if that came to an end, I should only +have to look out for another or take to farming.' + +'And ask poor John if that is a good speculation nowadays!' said +Annaple. + +'Fortunes are and have been made on the umbrellas,' said Mark. +'Greenleaf has a place almost equal to Monks Horton, and Dutton, +though he makes no show, has realised a considerable amount.' + +'Oh yes, let us stick to the umbrellas!' cried Annaple; 'you've made +the plunge, so it does not signify now, and we should be so much more +independent out of the way of everybody.' + +'You would lose in society,' said Mark, 'excepting, of course, as to +the Monks Horton people; but they are often away.' + +'Begging your pardon, Mark, is there much to lose in this same +neighbourhood?' laughed Annaple, 'now May will go.' + +'It is not so much a question of liking,' added her mother, 'as of +what is for the best, and where you may wish to be--say ten years +hence.' + +Looked at in this way, there could be no question but that the +umbrella company promised to make Mark a richer man in ten years' +time than did the agency at Bridgefield Egremont. He had a salary +from the office already, and if he purchased shares in the +partnership with the portion his father would resign to him, his +income would already equal what he would have at Bridgefield, and +there was every prospect of its increase, both as he became more +valuable, and as the business continued to prosper. If the descent +in life had been a grievance to the ladies, the agency would have +been an infinite boon, but having swallowed so much, as Annaple said, +they might as well do it in earnest, and to some purpose. Perhaps, +too, it might be detected that under the circumstances Annaple would +prefer the living in a small way out of reach of her sister's visible +compassion. + +So the matter was settled, but there was an undercurrent in Mark's +mind on which he had not entered, namely, that his presence at home +might make all the difference in that reformation in his uncle's +habits which Alice had inaugurated, and left in the hands of others. +With him at hand, there was much more chance of Gregorio's being +dispensed with, Ursula's authority maintained, little Alwyn well +brought up, and the estate, tenants, and household properly cared +for, and then he smiled at his notion of supposing himself of so much +importance. Had he only had himself to consider, Mark would have +thought his duty plain; but when he found Miss Ruthven and her mother +so entirely averse, he did not deem it right to sacrifice them to the +doubtful good of his uncle, nor indeed to put the question before +them as so much a matter of conscience that they should feel bound to +consider it in that light. He did indeed say, 'Well, that settles +it,' in a tone that led Annaple to exclaim: 'I do believe you want to +drop the umbrellas!' + +'No,' he answered, 'it is not that, but my father wished it, and +thought it would be good for my uncle.' + +'No doubt,' said Annaple, 'but he has got a daughter, also a son, and +a brother, and agents are plentiful, so I can't see why all the +family should dance attendance on him.' + +Lady Ronnisglen, much misdoubting Mr. Egremont's style of society, +and dreading that Mark might be dragged into it, added her word, +feeling on her side that it was desirable and just to hinder the +family from sacrificing Mark's occupation and worldly interest to a +capricious old roue, who might very possibly throw him over when it +would be almost impossible to find anything else to do. Moreover, +both she and Annaple believed that the real wish was to rescue the +name of Egremont from association with umbrellas, and they held +themselves bound to combat what they despised and thought a piece of +worldly folly. + +So Mark rode home, more glad that the decision was actually made than +at the course it had taken. His father was disappointed, but could +not but allow that it was the more prudent arrangement; and Mr. +Egremont showed all the annoyance of a man whose good offer has been +rejected. + +''Tis that little giggling Scotch girl!' he said. 'Well, we are quit +of her, anyway. 'Tis a pity that Mark entangled himself with her, +and a mother-in-law into the bargain! I was a fool to expect to get +any good out of him!' + +This was said to his daughter, with whom he was left alone; for Miss +Headworth could not bear to accept his hospitality a moment longer +than needful, and besides had been so much shaken in nerves as to +suspect that an illness was coming on, and hurried home to be nursed +by Mary Nugent. Canon Egremont was obliged to go back to Redcastle +to finish his residence, and his wife, who had been absent nearly a +month from her family, thought it really wisest to let the father and +daughter be thrown upon one another at once, so that Ursula might +have the benefit of her father's softened mood. + +There could be no doubt that he was softened, and that he had derived +some improvement from the year and a half that his wife had been with +him. It might not have lifted him up a step, but it had arrested him +in his downward course. Selfish and indolent he was as ever, but +there had been a restraint on his amusements, and a withdrawal from +his worst associates, such as the state of his health might continue, +above all if Gregorio could be dispensed with. The man himself had +become aware of the combination against him, and, though reckoning on +his master's inertness and dependence upon him, knew that a fresh +offence might complete his overthrow, and therefore took care to be +on his good behaviour. + +Thus Nuttie's task might be somewhat smoothed; but the poor girl felt +unspeakably desolate as she ate her breakfast all alone with a dull +post-bag, and still more so when, having seen the housekeeper, who, +happily for her, was a good and capable woman, and very sorry for +her, she had to bethink herself what to do in that dreary sitting- +room during the hour when she had always been most sure of her +sister-mother's dear company. How often she had grumbled at being +called on to practise duets for her father's evening lullaby! She +supposed she ought to get something up, and she proceeded to turn +over and arrange the music with a sort of sick loathing for whatever +was connected with those days of impatient murmurs, which she would +so gladly have recalled. Everything had fallen into disorder, as +Blanche and May had left it the last time they had played there; and +the overlooking it, and putting aside the pieces which she could +never use alone, occupied her till Gregorio, very meek and polite, +came with a message that Mr. Egremont would be glad if she would come +to his room. In some dread, some distaste, and yet some pity and +some honest resolution, she made her way thither. + +There he sat, in dressing-gown, smoking-cap, and blue spectacles, +with the glittering February sunshine carefully excluded. He looked +worse and more haggard than when she had seen him at dinner in the +evening, made up for company, and her compassion increased, +especially as he not only held out his hand, but seemed to expect her +to kiss him, a thing she had never done since their first +recognition. It was not pleasant in itself, but it betokened full +forgiveness, and indeed he had never spoken to her in his sneering, +exasperating voice since her mournful return home. + +'Have you seen the boy?' he asked. + +'Yes; they are walking him up and down under the south wall,' said +Nuttie, thankful that she had peeped under the many wraps as he was +carried across the hall. + +'Here! I want you to read this letter to me. A man ought to be +indicted for writing such a hand!' + +It was really distinct penmanship, though minute; but, as Nuttie +found, her father did not like to avow how little available were his +eyes. He could write better than he could read, but he kept her over +his correspondence for the rest of the morning, answering some of the +letters of condolence for him in her own name, writing those of +business, and folding and addressing what he himself contrived to +write. Her native quickness stood her in good stead, and, being +rather nervous, she took great pains, and seldom stumbled; indeed, +she only once incurred an exclamation of impatience at her stupidity +or slowness. + +She guessed rightly that this forbearance was owing to tender +persuasions of her mother, and did not guess that a certain fear of +herself was mingled with other motives. Her father had grown used to +woman's ministrations; he needed them for his precious little heir, +and he knew his daughter moreover for a severe judge, and did not +want to alienate her and lose her services; so they got on fairly +well together, and she shared his luncheon, during which a message +came up about the carriage; and as there had been an application for +some nursery needment, and moreover black-edged envelopes had run +short, there was just purpose enough for a drive to the little town. + +Then Nuttie read her father to sleep with the newspaper; rushed round +the garden in the twilight to stretch her young limbs; tried to read +a little, dressed, dined with her father; finished what he had missed +in the paper, then offered him music, and was told 'if she pleased,' +and as she played she mused whether this was to be her life. It +looked very dull and desolate, and what was the good of it all? But +there were her mother's words, 'Love him!' How fulfil them? She +could pity him now, but oh! how could she love one from whom her +whole nature recoiled, when she thought of her mother's ruined life? +Mr. Dutton too had held her new duties up to her as capable of being +ennobled. Noble! To read aloud a sporting paper she did not want to +understand, to be ready to play at cards or billiards, to take that +dawdling drive day by day, to devote herself to the selfish exactions +of burnt-out dissipation. Was this noble? Her mother had done all +this, and never even felt it a cross, because of her great love. It +must be Nuttie's cross if it was her duty; but could the love and +honour possibly come though she tried to pray in faith? + + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. +THE GIGGLING SCOTCH GIRL. + + + + +'For every Lamp that trembled here, + And faded in the night, + Behold a Star serene and clear + Smiles on me from the height.'--B. M. + + +Nuttie was not mistaken in supposing that this first day would be a +fair sample of her life, though, of course, after the first weeks of +mourning there were variations; and the return of the Rectory party +made a good deal of brightening, and relieved her from the necessity +of finding companionship and conversation for her father on more than +half her afternoons and evenings. + +He required her, however, almost every forenoon, and depended on her +increasingly, so that all her arrangements had to be made with +reference to him. It was bondage, but not as galling in the fact as +she would have expected if it had been predicted to her a few months +previously. In the first place, Mr. Egremont never demanded of her +what was actually against her conscience, except occasionally giving +up a Sunday evensong to read the paper to him, and that only when he +was more unwell than usual. He was, after all, an English gentleman, +and did not ask his young daughter to read to him the books which her +mother had loathed. Moreover, Gregorio was on his good behaviour, +perfectly aware that there was a family combination against him, and +having even received a sort of warning from his master, but by no +means intending to take it, and therefore abstaining from any kind of +offence that could furnish a fresh handle against him; and thus for +the present, Dr. Hammond's regimen was well observed, and Mr. +Egremont was his better self in consequence, for, under his wife's +guardianship, the perilous habit had sufficiently lost strength to +prevent temper and spirits from manifestly suffering from abstinence. + +The first time Nuttie found herself obliged to make any very real +sacrifice to her father's will was on the occasion of Mark's marriage +at Easter. Things had arranged themselves very conveniently for him +at Micklethwayte, though it seemed to Nuttie that she only heard of +affairs there in a sort of distant dream, while such events were +taking place as once would have been to her the greatest possible +revolutions. + +Aunt Ursel reached home safely, but her expectations of illness were +realised. She took to her bed on arriving, and though she rose from +it, there was reason to think she had had a slight stroke, for her +activity of mind and body were greatly decayed, and she was wholly +dependent on Mary Nugent for care and comfort. Mary, remembering +the consequences of the former alarm, made the best of the old lady's +condition; and Nuttie, ashamed of having once cried 'wolf,' did not +realise the true state of the case, nor indeed could she or would she +have been spared to go to Micklethwayte. + +The next news told that Gerard Godfrey, at the end of the year +required by Mr. Dutton, had resigned his situation, and at the close +of his quarter's notice was going to prepare for Holy Orders under +the training of a clergyman who would employ him in his parish, and +assist him in reading up to the requirements for admission to a +theological college. Poor dear old Gerard! It gave Nuttie a sort of +pang of self-reproach to own how good and devoted he was, and yet so +narrow and stupid that she could never have been happy with him. Was +he too good, or was he too dull for her? Had she forsaken him for +the world's sake, or was it a sound instinct that had extinguished +her fancy for him? No one could tell, least of all the parties +concerned. He might be far above her in spiritual matters, but he +was below her in intellectual ones, and though they would always feel +for one another that peculiar tenderness left by the possibilities of +a first love, no doubt the quarrel over the blue ribbon had been no +real misfortune to either. + +The next tidings were still more surprising. Mr. Dutton was leaving +the firm. Though his father had died insolvent, and he had had to +struggle for himself in early life, he was connected with wealthy +people, and change and death among these had brought him a fair share +of riches. An uncle who had emigrated to Australia at the time of +the great break up had died without other heirs, leaving him what was +the more welcome to him that Micklethwayte could never be to him what +it had been in its golden age. He had realised enough to enable him +to be bountiful, and his parting gift to St Ambrose's would complete +the church; but he himself was winding up the partnership, and +withdrawing his means from Greenleaf and Co. in order to go out to +Australia to decide what to do with his new possessions. + +Mark Egremont purchased a number of the shares, though, to gratify +the family, the shelter of the Greenleaf veiled his name under the +'Co.,' and another, already in the firm, possessed of a business-like +appellation, gave designation to the firm as Greenleaf, Goodenough, +and Co. + +Mr. Dutton's well-kept house, with the little conservatory and the +magnolia, was judged sufficient for present needs, and the lease was +taken off his hands, so that all was in order for the marriage of +Mark and Annaple immediately after Easter. + +Lady Delmar had resigned herself to the inevitable, and the wedding +was to take place at Lescombe. Nuttie, whose chief relaxation was in +hearing all the pros and cons from May and Blanche, was asked to be +one of the bridesmaids by Annaple, who had come over to the Rectory +in a droll inscrutable state of mischief, declaring that she had +exasperated Janet to the verge of insanity by declaring that she +should have little umbrellas like those in the Persian inscriptions +on her cards, and that Mark was to present all the bridesmaids with +neat parasols. If crinolines had not been gone out they could have +all been dressed appropriately. Now they must wear them closely +furled. All this banter was hardly liked by May and Blanche, whose +little sisters were laughed at again for needing the assurance that +they were really to wear white and rowan leaves and berries--the +Ronnisglen badge. Nuttie, who had drawn much nearer to May, +refrained from relating this part of the story at home, but was much +disappointed when, on telling her father of the request, she was +answered at once: + +'Hein! The 24th? You'll be in London, and a very good thing too.' + +'Are we to go so soon?' + +'Yes. Didn't I tell you to take that house in Berkshire Road from +the 20th?' + +'I did not think we were to start so soon. Is there any particular +reason?' + +'Yes. That Scotch girl ought to have known better than to ask you in +your deep mourning. I thought women made a great point of such +things.' + +'Aunt Jane did not seem to think it wrong,' said Nuttie, for she +really wished much for consent. Not only had she grown fond both of +Mark and Annaple, but she had never been a bridesmaid, and she knew +that not only the Kirkaldys but Mr. Dutton had been invited; she had +even ventured on offering to lodge some of the overflowing guests of +the Rectory. + +'Their heads are all turned by that poverty-stricken Scotch peerage,' +returned Mr. Egremont; 'or the Canoness should have more sense of +respect.' + +Nuttie's wishes were so strong that she made one more attempt, 'I +need not be a bridesmaid. They would not mind if I wore my black.' + +'I should, then!' said her father curtly. 'If they don't understand +the proprieties of life, I do. I won't have you have anything to do +with it. If you are so set upon gaiety, you'll have enough of +weddings at fitter times!' + +It was the old sneering tone. Nuttie felt partly confounded, partly +indignant, and terribly disappointed. She did care for the sight of +the wedding--her youthful spirits had rallied enough for that, but +far more now she grieved at missing the sight of Mr. Dutton, when he +was going away, she knew not where, and might perhaps come on purpose +to see her; and it also made her sore and grieved at being accused of +disregard to her mother. She was silenced, however, and presently +her father observed, in the same unpleasant tone, 'Well, if you've +digested your disappointment, perhaps you'll condescend to write to +the agent, that I expect the house to be ready on the 21st.' + +Nuttie got through her morning's work she hardly knew how, though her +father was dry and fault-finding all the time. Her eyes were so full +of tears when she was released that she hardly saw where she was +going, and nearly ran against her aunt, who had just walked into the +hall. Mrs. Egremont was too prudent a woman to let her burst out +there with her grievance, but made her come into the tent-room before +she exclaimed, 'He is going to take me away to London; he won't let +me go to the wedding.' + +'I am sorry for your disappointment,' said her aunt quietly, 'but I +am old-fashioned enough to be glad that such strong respect and +feeling should be shown for your dear mother. I wish Annaple had +spoken to me before asking you, and I would have felt the way.' + +'I'm sure it is not want of feeling,' said Nuttie, as her tears broke +forth. + +'I did not say it was,' returned her aunt, 'but different generations +have different notions of the mode of showing it; and the present +certainly errs on the side of neglect of such tokens of mourning. If +I did not think that Annaple and her mother are really uncomfortable +at Lescombe, I should have told Mark that it was better taste to wait +till the summer.' + +'If I might only have stayed at home--even if I did not go to the +wedding,' sighed Nuttie, who had only half listened to the Canoness's +wisdom. + +'Since you do not go, it is much better that you should be out of the +way,' said Mrs. Egremont. 'Is your father ready to see me?' + +So Nuttie had to submit, though she pouted to herself, feeling +grievously misjudged, first as if she had been wanting in regard to +the memory of her mother, who had been so fond of Mark, and so +rejoiced in his happiness; and then that her vexation was treated as +mere love of gaiety, whereas it really was disappointment at not +seeing Mr. Dutton, that good, grave, precise old friend, who could +not be named in the same breath with vanity. Moreover, she could not +help suspecting that respect to her mother was after all only a cloak +to resentment against Mark and his marriage. + +However, she bethought herself that her mother had often been +disappointed and had borne it cheerfully, and after having done what +Aunt Ursel would have called 'grizzling' in her room for an hour, she +wrote her note to Miss Ruthven and endeavoured to be as usual, +feeling keenly that there was no mother now to perceive and +gratefully commend one of her only too rare efforts for good humour. +On other grounds she was very sorry to leave Bridgefield. May had, +in her trouble, thawed to her, and they were becoming really +affectionate and intimate companions, by force of propinquity and +relationship, as well as of the views that May had imbibed from Hugh +Condamine. Moreover Nuttie felt her aunt's watch over the baby a +great assistance to her own ignorance. + +However the Canoness had resigned to the poor little heir the perfect +and trustworthy nurse, whom Basil had outgrown, and who consented to +the transfer on condition of having her nursery establishment +entirely apart from the rest of the household. Her reasons were +known though unspoken, namely, that the rejection of one or two +valets highly recommended had made it plain that there had been no +dislodgment of Gregorio. The strong silent objection to him of all +good female servants was one of the points that told much against +him. Martin and the housekeeper just endured him, and stayed on for +the present chiefly because their dear lady had actually begged them +not to desert her daughter if they could help it, at least not at +first. + +Nuttie bound over her cousins to give her a full account of the +wedding, and both of them wrote to her. Blanche's letter recorded +sundry scattered particulars,--as to how well the rowan-trimmed tulle +dresses looked--how every one was packed into the carriages for the +long drive--how there had been a triumphal arch erected over the +Bluepost Bridge itself, and Annaple nearly choked with laughing at +the appropriateness--how, to her delight, a shower began, and the +procession out of the church actually cried out for umbrellas--how +papa, when performing the ceremony, could not recollect that the +bride's proper name was Annabella, and would dictate it as +Anna-Maria, Sir John correcting him each time sotto voce--how Basil +and little Hilda Delmar walked together and 'looked like a couple of +ducks,' which, it was to be hoped, was to be taken metaphorically-- +how dreadfully hard the ice on the wedding-cake was, so that when +Annaple tried to cut it the knife slipped and a little white dove +flew away and hit May, which everyone said was a grand omen that she +would be the next bride, while of course Annaple was perfectly +helpless with mirth. Every one said it was the merriest wedding ever +seen, for the bride's only tears were those of laughter. What Nuttie +really cared for most came just at the end, and not much of that. +'Your Mr. Dutton is just gone. He got on famously with Hugh +Condamine, and I forgot to tell you that he has given Mark such a +jolly present, a lovely silver coffee-pot, just the one thing they +wanted, and Lady Delmar said he didn't look near so like a tradesman +as she expected. I see May is writing too, but I don't know what you +will get out of her, as Hugh Condamine came for the day.' + +Nuttie, however, had more hopes from May. Her letter certainly was +fuller of interest, if shorter. + + +'My Dear Nuttie--Blanche has no doubt told you all the externals. I +suppose there never was a brighter wedding, for as Annaple keeps her +mother with her, there was no real rending asunder of ties. Indeed I +almost wish her excitement did not always show itself in laughing, +for it prevents people from understanding how much there is in her. + + +(Plainly Hugh Condamine had been rather scandalised by the 'giggling +Scotch girl.') + + +'Dear old Lady Ronnisglen was delightful. If there were any tears, +they were hers, and Lady Delmar was very cordial and affectionate. +Of course Hugh and Mr. Dutton missed much that one would have liked +in a wedding. I drove back with them afterwards, and it was very +interesting to listen to their conversation about church matters. +Hugh is very much struck with your friend; he had heard a good deal +about Micklethwayte before, and says that such a lay worker is +perfectly invaluable. It is a great pity that he is not going on in +the firm, it would make it so much nicer for Mark, but he says he has +duties towards his new property. I think he was sorry not to find +you at home, but he plainly never thought it possible you should be +at the wedding. I don't know whether I ought to tell you this, but I +think you ought to know it. There is a lovely new wreath of Eucharis +lilies and maiden-hair at dear Aunt Alice's grave, close against the +rails at the feet, and Hugh told me that he looked out of his window +very early yesterday morning and saw Mr. Dutton standing there, +leaning on the rail, with his bare head bowed between his hands. You +can't think how it impressed Hugh. He said he felt reverent towards +him all through that day, and he was quite angry with Rosalind and +Adela for jesting because, when the shower began as we were coming +out of church, Mr. Dutton rushed up with an umbrella, being the only +person there who had one, I believe. Hugh says you may be proud of +such a friend. I wish you could have seen Hugh.--Your affectionate +cousin, + 'MARGARET EGREMONT.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. +THREE YEARS LATER. + + + + +'There's something rotten in the State.'--Hamlet. + + +On an east-windy afternoon in March Mary Nugent emerged from the +School of Art, her well-worn portfolio under her arm, thinking how +many successive generations of boys and girls she had drilled through +'free-hand,' 'perspective,' and even 'life' with an unvarying average +of failure and very moderate success, and how little talent or +originality had come to the front, though all might be the better for +knowing how to use eyes and fingers. + +On the whole her interest as well as her diligence did not flag; but +a sense of weariness and monotony would sometimes come after a +recurrence of well-known blunders of her pupils, and she missed the +sense of going home to refreshment and enjoyment which had once +invigorated her. St. Ambrose's Road had had its golden age, but the +brightness had been dimmed ever since that festival at Monks Horton. +One after another of the happy old society had dropped away. The +vicar had received promotion, and she only remained of the former +intimates, excepting old Miss Headworth, who was no longer a +companion, but whom affection forbade her to desert in feeble old +age. Had her thoughts of the old times conjured up a figure +belonging to them? There was the well-brushed hat, the natty silk +umbrella, the perfect fit of garments, the precise turn-out, nay, the +curly lion-shaven poodle, with all his fringes, leaping on her in +recognition, and there was that slightly French flourish of the hat, +before--with a bounding heart--she met the hand in an English grasp. + +'Miss Nugent!' + +'Mr. Dutton!' + +'I thought I should meet you here!' + +'When did you come?' + +'Half an hour ago. I came down with George Greenleaf, left my things +at the Royal Hotel, and came on to look for you.' + +'You will come and spend the evening with us?' + +'If you are so good as to ask me. How is Miss Headworth?' + +'Very feeble, very deaf; but she will be delighted to see you. There +is no fear of her not remembering you, though she was quite lost when +Mrs. Egremont came in yesterday.' + +'Mrs. Egremont!' he repeated with a little start. + +'Mrs. Mark. Ah! we have got used to the name--the Honourable Mrs. +Egremont, as the community insist on calling her. What a sunny +creature she is!' + +'And Miss Egremont, what do you hear of her?' + +'She writes long letters, poor child. I hope she is fairly happy. +Are you come home for good, or is this only a visit?' + +'I have no intention of returning. I have been winding up my good +cousin's affairs at Melbourne.' + +Mary's heart bounded again with a sense of joy, comfort, and +protection; but she did not long keep Mr. Dutton to herself, for +every third person they met gladly greeted him, and they were long in +getting to St. Ambrose's Road, now dominated by a tall and beautiful +spire, according to the original design. They turned and looked in +at the pillared aisles, stained glass, and handsome reredos. + +'Very different from our struggling days,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Yes,' said Mary, with half a sigh. 'There's the new vicar,' as he +passed with a civil nod. 'He has three curates, and a house of +Sisters, and works the parish excellently.' + +'You don't speak as if you were intimate.' + +'No. His womankind are rather grand--quite out of our beat; and in +parish work I am only an estimable excrescence. It is very well that +I am not wanted, for Miss Headworth requires a good deal of +attention, and it is only the old Adam that regrets the days of +importance. Ah, do you see?' + +They were passing Mr. Dutton's old home. On the tiny strip of lawn +in front was a slender black figure, with yellow hair, under a tiny +black hat, dragging about a wooden horse whereon was mounted a sturdy +boy of two, also yellow-locked and in deep mourning under his Holland +blouse. + +'Billy-boy is riding to meet his daddy!' was merrily called out both +by mother and son before they perceived the stranger. + +'Mr. Dutton,' said Mary. + +Annaple bowed, but did not put out her hand, and such a flush was on +her face that Miss Nugent said, 'I am sure that is too much for you!' + +'Oh no--' she began; but 'Allow me,' said Mr. Dutton, and before she +could refuse he was galloping round and round the little lawn, the +boy screaming with delight as Monsieur raced with them. + +'So he is come!' she said in a low doubtful voice to Mary. + +'Yes. He has met Mr. Greenleaf in London. I always think he has the +contrary to the evil eye. Whatever he takes in hand rights itself.' + +'I'll hope so. Oh, thank you! Billy-boy, say thank you! What a +ride you have had!' + +'Why are they in such deep mourning?' asked Mr. Dutton, after they +had parted. + +'Oh, did you not know? for good old Lady Ronnisglen. She had a bad +fall about two years ago, and never left her bed again; and this last +autumn she sank away.' + +'They have had a great deal of trouble, then. I saw the death of +Canon Egremont in the Times soon after I went out to Australia.' + +'Yes; he had heart disease, and died quite suddenly. The living is +given to Mr. Condamine, who married the eldest daughter, and the +widow is gone to live under the shadow of Redcastle Cathedral.' + +Therewith Miss Nugent opened her own door, and Miss Headworth was +soon made aware of the visitor. She was greatly changed, and had the +indescribable stony look that tells of paralysis; and though she knew +Mr. Dutton, and was delighted to see him, his presence made her +expect to see Alice and Nuttie come in, though she soon recollected +herself and shed a few helpless tears. Then--in another mood--she +began to display with pride and pleasure the photographs of 'Alice's +dear little boy.' She had a whole series of them, from the long- +clothed babe on his sister's knee to the bright little fellow holding +a drum--a very beautiful child, with a striking resemblance to his +mother, quite startling to Mr. Dutton, especially in the last, which +was coloured, and showed the likeness of eyes and expression. + +'Nuttie always sends me one whenever he is taken,' said the old lady. +'Dear Nuttie! It is very good for her. She is quite a little mother +to him.' + +'I was sure it would be so,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Yes,' said Mary, 'he is the great interest and delight of her life. +Her letters are full of his little sayings and doings.' + +'Is she at home now?' + +'No; at Brighton. Her father seems to have taken a dislike to +Bridgefield since his brother's death, and only goes there for a +short time in the shooting season. He has taken a lease of a house +in London, and spends most of the year there.' + +'Ah!' as she showed him the address, 'that is near the old house +where I used to stay with my grand-aunt. We thought it altogether in +the country then, but it is quite absorbed now, and I have dazzling +offers from building companies for the few acres of ground around it. +Have you seen her?' + +'Oh no; I believe she is quite necessary to her father. I only hear +of her through Lady Kirkaldy, who has been very kind to her, but, I +am sorry to say, is now gone with her Lord to the East. She says she +thinks that responsibility has been very good for Nuttie; she is +gentler and less impetuous, and a good deal softened by her affection +for the child.' + +'She was certain to develop. I only dreaded what society her father +might surround her with.' + +'Lady Kirkaldy says that all has turned out better than could have +been expected. You see, as she says, Mr. Egremont has been used to +good women in his own family, and would not like to see her in a +slangy fast set. All her own gaieties have been under Lady +Kirkaldy's wing, or that of Mrs. William Egremont's relations, and +only in a quiet moderate way. Her father gets his own old set about +him, and they have not been very choice, but they are mostly elderly +men, and gentlemen, and know how to behave themselves to her. +Indeed, her cousin Blanche, who was here in the winter, gave us to +understand that Ursula knows how to take care of herself, and gets +laughed at as rather an old maidish model of propriety, if you can +believe it of your little Nuttie.' + +'I could quite believe in her on the defensive, unprotected as she +is.' + +'What did that young lady--Miss Blanche--tell us about that +gentleman, Mary?' asked Miss Headworth, hearing and uttering what +Miss Nugent hoped had passed unnoticed. + +'Oh, I think that was all gossip!' returned Mary, 'and so I am sure +did the Mark Egremonts. She said there was one of Mr. Egremont's +friends, Mr. Clarence Fane, I think she called him, rather younger +than the others, who, she was pleased to say, seemed smitten with +Nuttie, but I have heard nothing more about it, and Mrs. Mark scouted +the idea,' she added in haste, as she saw his expression vary in +spite of himself. + +'Do you see much of your neighbours?' + +'We are both too busy to see much of one another, but we have our +little talks over the wall. What a buoyant creature she is. It +seems as if playfulness was really a sustaining power in her, helping +her to get diversion out of much that others might stumble at. You +know perhaps that when she arrived the work-people had got up a +beautiful parasol for her, white, with a deep fringe and spray of +rowan. Little Susie Gunner presented her with it, and she was very +gracious and nice about it. But then what must Mr. Goodenough do but +dub it the Annabella sunshade, and blazon it, considerably +vulgarised, in all the railway stations, and magazines.' + +'I know! I had the misfortune to see it in the station at Melbourne; +and my mind misgave me from that hour.' + +'Her husband was prepared to be very angry, but she fairly laughed +him out of it, made all sorts of fun out of the affair, declared it +her only opening to fame, and turned it into a regular joke; so that +indeed the Greenleafs, who were vexed at the matter, and tried to +apologise, were quite perplexed in their turn, and not at all sure +that the whole concern was not being turned into ridicule.' + +'I wonder it did not make him cut the connection,' said Mr. Dutton, +muttering 'I only wish it had.' + +'Mrs. Greenleaf is very funny about her, 'added Mary, 'proud of the +Honourable Mrs. Egremont, as they insist on calling her, yet not +quite pleased that she should be the junior partner's wife; and +decidedly resenting her hardly going into society at all, though I +really don't see how she could; for first there was the Canon's +death, and then just after the boy was born came Lady Ronnisglen's +accident, and for the next year and a half there was constant +attendance on her. They fitted up a room on the ground floor for +her, the one opening into your drawing-room, and there they used to +sit with her. I used to hear them reading to her and singing to her, +and they were always as merry as possible, till last autumn, when +something brought on erysipelas, and she was gone almost before they +took alarm. The good little daughter was beaten down then, really +ill for a week; but if you can understand me, the shock seemed to +tell on her chiefly bodily, and though she was half broken-hearted +when her husband in a great fright brought me up to see her, and say +whether her sister should be sent for, she still made fun of him, and +described the impossible advice they would bring on themselves. I +had to take care of her while he went away to the funeral in +Scotland, and then I learnt indeed to like her and see how much there +is in her besides laughter.' + +'Did the old lady leave them anything?' + +'I believe she had nothing to leave. Her jointure was not much, but +I am sure they miss that, for Mrs. Egremont has parted with her +nurse, and has only a little girl in her stead, driving out the +perambulator often herself, to the great scandal of the Greenleafs, +though she would have one believe it is all for want of occupation.' + +'Do you think they have taken any alarm?' + +'There's no judging from her joyous surface, but I have thought him +looking more careworn and anxious than I liked. Mr. Dutton, don't +answer if I ought not to ask, but is it true that things are going +wrong? I know you have been seeing Mr. Greenleaf, so perhaps you are +in his confidence and cannot speak.' + +'Tell me, what is known or suspected?' + +'Just this, that Mr. Goodenough has been the ruin of the concern. He +has been quite different ever since his voyage to America. You were +gone, old Mr. Greenleaf has been past attending to business ever +since he had that attack, and George Greenleaf has been playing the +country squire at Horton Bishop, and not looking after the office +work, and Mr. Egremont was inexperienced. One could see, of course, +that the whole character of the business was changed--much more +advertising, much more cheap and flashy work--to be even with the +times, it was said, but the old superior hands were in despair at the +materials supplied to them, and the scamped work expected. You +should have heard old Thorpe mourning for you, and moralising over +the wickedness of this world. His wife told me she really thought he +would go melancholy mad if he did not leave the factory, and he has +done so. They have saved enough to set up a nice little shop at +Monks Horton.' + +'I must go and see them! Good old Thorpe! I ought never to have put +those poor young things into the firm when I ceased to have any +control over it. I shall never forgive myself--' + +'Nothing could seem safer then! No one could have guessed that young +Mr. Greenleaf would be so careless without his father to keep him up +to the mark, nor that Mr. Goodenough should alter so much. Is it +very bad? Is there worse behind? Speculation, I suppose--' + +'Of course. I do not see to the bottom of it yet; poor George seemed +to reckon on me for an advance, but I am afraid this is more than a +mere temporary depression, such as may be tided over, and that all +that can be looked to is trying to save honourable names by an utter +break up, which may rid them of that--that--no, I won't call him a +scoundrel. I thought highly of him once, and no doubt he never +realised what he was doing.' + +Before the evening was far advanced Mark Egremont knocked at the +door, and courteously asked whether Mr. Dutton could be spared to him +for a little while. Mary Nugent replied that she was just going to +help Miss Headworth to bed, and that the parlour was at their service +for a private interview, but Mark answered, 'My wife is anxious to +hear. She knows all that I do, and is quite prepared to hear +whatever Mr. Dutton may not object to saying before her.' + +So they bade good-night to Mary, and went on together to the next +house, Mr. Dutton saying 'You have much to forgive me, Mr. Egremont; +I feel as if I had deserted the ship just as I had induced you to +embark in it.' + +'You did not guess how ill it would be steered without you,' returned +Mark, with a sigh. 'Do not fear to speak out before my wife, even if +we are sinking. She will hear it bravely, and smile to the last.' + +The room which Mr. Dutton entered was not like the cabin of a sinking +ship, nor, as in his own time, like the well-ordered apartment of a +bachelor of taste. Indeed, the house was a great puzzle to Monsieur, +who entered by invitation, knowing his way perfectly, thinking +himself at home after all his travels, and then missing his own +particular mat, and sniffing round at the furniture. It was of the +modified aesthetic date, but arranged more with a view to comfort +than anything else, and by the light of the shaded lamp and bright +fire was pre-eminently home-like, with the three chairs placed round +the hearth, and bright-haired Annaple rising up from the lowest with +her knitting to greet Mr. Dutton, and find a comfortable lair for +Monsieur. + +'Miss Nugent says that you set everything right that you do but look +at, Mr. Dutton,' she said; 'so we are prepared to receive you as a +good genius to help us out of our tangle.' + +Mr. Dutton was afraid that the tangle was far past unwinding, and of +course the details, so far as yet known, were discussed. There was, +in truth, nothing for which Mark could be blamed. He had diligently +attended to his office-work, which was mere routine, and, conscious +of his own inexperience, and trusting to the senior partners, he had +only become anxious at the end of the year, when he perceived +Goodenough's avoidance of a settlement of accounts, and detected +shuffling. He had not understood enough of the previous business to +be aware of the deterioration of the manner of dealing with it, +though he did think it scarcely what he expected. If he had erred, +it was in acting too much as a wheel in the machinery, keeping his +thoughts and heart in his own happy little home, and not throwing +himself into the spirit of the business, or the ways of those +concerned in it, so that he had been in no degree a controlling +power. He had allowed his quality of gentleman to keep him an +outsider, instead of using it to raise the general level of the +transactions, so that the whole had gone down in the hands of the +unscrupulous Goodenough. + +Annaple listened and knitted quietly while the affairs were explained +on either hand. Mark had had one serious talk with George Greenleaf, +and both had had a stormy scene with Goodenough. Then Mr. Dutton had +telegraphed his arrival, and Greenleaf had met him in London, with +hopes, bred of long and implicit trust, that his sagacity and perhaps +his wealth would carry the old house through the crisis. + +But Mr. Dutton, though reserving his judgment till the books should +have been thoroughly examined and the liabilities completely +understood, was evidently inclined to believe that things had gone +too far, and that the names of Greenleaf and Egremont could only be +preserved from actual dishonour by going into liquidation, dissolving +partnership, and thus getting quit of Goodenough. + +Mark listened resignedly, Annaple with an intelligence that made Mr. +Dutton think her the more clearheaded of the two, though still she +could not refrain from her little jokes. 'I'm sure I should not mind +how liquid we became if we could only run off clear of Goodenough,' +she said. + +'You know what it means?' said her husband. + +'Oh yes, I know what it means. It is the fine word for being sold +up. Well, Mark, never mind, we are young and strong, and it will not +be a bit the worse for the Billy-boy in the end to begin at the +bottom of everything.' + +'I hope--may I ask--is everything embarked in the poor old firm?' +said Mr. Dutton with some hesitation. + +'All that is mine,' said Mark, with his elbow on the table and his +chin on his hand. + +'But I've got a hundred a year, charged on poor old Ronnisglen's +estate,' said Annaple. 'All the others gave theirs up when they +married, and I wanted to do so, but my dear mother would not let me; +she said I had better try how I got on first. Think of that, Mark, a +hundred a year! Why, old Gunner or Thorpe would think themselves +rolling in riches if they only heard that they had a hundred a year!' + +'You won't find it go far!' + +'Yes, I shall, for I shall make you live on porridge, with now and +then a sheep's head for a treat! Besides, there will be something to +do. It will be working up again, you know. But seriously, Mr. +Dutton, I have some things here of my dear mother's that really +belong to Ronnisglen, and I was only keeping till he comes home. +Should not they be got out of the way?' + +'My dear, we are not come to that yet! I hope it may be averted!' +cried Mark. + +But Mr. Dutton agreed with the young wife that it would be much +better to send these things away before their going could excite +suspicion. There was only a tiny silver saucepan, valued as a gift +of 'Queen' Clementina to an ancestress, also a silver teapot and some +old point, and some not very valuable jewellery, all well able to go +into a small box, which Mr. Dutton undertook to deposit with Lord +Ronnisglen's bankers. He was struck with the scrupulous veracity +with which Annaple decided between what had become her own property +and the heirlooms, though what she claimed might probably be +sacrificed to the creditors. + +Mark could hardly endure to see what made the crisis so terribly +real. 'That I should have brought you to this!' he said to his wife, +when their visitor had at length bidden them good-night. + +'If we begin at that work,' said Annaple, 'it was I who brought you! +I have often thought since it was rather selfish not to have +consented to your helping poor Ursula with her heavy handful of a +father! It was all money grubbing and grabbing, you see, and if we +had thought more of our neighbour than ourselves we might have been +luxuriating at the Home Farm, or even if your uncle had quarrelled +with you, he would not have devoured your substance. I have thought +so often, ever since I began to see this coming.' + +'My dear child, you don't mean that you have seen this coming!' + +'My prophetic soul! Why, Mark, you have as good as inferred it over +and over again. I've felt like scratching that Badenough whenever I +met him in the street. I must indulge myself by calling him so for +once in strict privacy.' + +'You have guessed it all the time, while I only thought how +unconscious you were.' + +'Not to say stupid, considering all you told me. Besides, what would +have been the use of howling and moaning and being dismal before the +time? For my part, I could clap my hands even now at getting rid of +Goodenough, and his jaunty, gracious air! Come, Mark, it won't be so +bad after all, you'll see.' + +'Nothing can be "so bad," while you are what you are, my Nan.' + +'That's right. While we have each other and the Billy-boy, nothing +matters much. There's plenty of work in us both, and that good man +will find it for us; or if he doesn't, we'll get a yellow van, and +knit stockings, and sell them round the country. How jolly that +would be! Imagine Janet's face. There, that's right,' as her +mimicry evoked a smile, 'I should be ashamed to be unhappy about +this, when our good name is saved, and when there is a blessing on +the poor,' she added in a lower voice, tenderly kissing her husband's +weary brow. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. +THE BOY OF EGREMONT. + + + + +'And the boy that walked beside me, + He could not understand + Why, closer in mine, ah, closer, + I press'd his warm soft hand.'--LONGFELLOW. + + +The agony of a firm like Greenleaf, Goodenough, and Co. could not be +a rapid thing, and Mr. Dutton lived between London and Micklethwayte +for several weeks, having much to endure on all sides. The senior +partners thought it an almost malicious and decidedly ungrateful +thing in him not to throw in his means, or at any rate, offer his +guarantee to tide them over their difficulties. Goodenough's +tergiversations and concealments needed a practised hand and acute +head to unravel them, and often deceived Mr. Greenleaf himself; and +when, for a time, he was convinced that the whole state was so rotten +that a crash was inevitable, his wife's lamentations and complaints +of Mr. Dutton would undo the whole, and it was as if he were doing +them an injury that the pair accepted the comfortable prospect he was +able to offer them in Australia. + +He would have made the like proposal to the Egremonts, but found that +Mark held himself bound by his promise to his father not to emigrate, +and thought of some kind of office-work. Before trying to procure +this for him, however, Mr. Dutton intended to see his uncle, and try +whether the agency, once rejected, could still be obtained for him. +Learning from Miss Nugent that the Egremonts were in town, he went up +thither with the purpose of asking for an interview. + +There was a new church in the immediate neighbourhood of his house in +a state of growth and development congenial to the St. Ambrose +trained mind, and here Mr. Dutton, after old Micklethwayte custom, +was attending the early matins, when, in the alternate verses of the +psalm, he heard a fresh young voice that seemed to renew those days +gone by, and looking across the central aisle his eyes met a pair of +dark ones which gave a sudden glitter of gladness at the encounter. +That was all he saw or cared to see. He did not take in the finished +completeness of the very plain dark dress and hat, nor the womanly +air of the little figure, until they clasped hands in the porch, and +in the old tones Nuttie exclaimed: 'I've been hoping you would come +to London. How is Monsieur?' + +'In high health, thank you, the darling of the steamer both going and +coming. I hope your charges are well?' + +'My father is tolerable, just as usual, and my little Alwyn is +getting more delicious every day. He will be so delighted to see +Monsieur. I have told him so many stories about him!' + +'Do you think I may call on Mr. Egremont?' + +'Oh do! He is ready to be called on between two and three, and we +always have Wynnie downstairs then, so that you will see him too. +And you have been at Micklethwayte. I am afraid you found a great +change in Aunt Ursel.' + +'Yes; but she is very peaceful and happy.' + +'And I have to leave her altogether to dear excellent Miss Nugent. +It seems very, very wrong, but I cannot help it! And how about Mark +and Annaple?' + +'I think she is the bravest woman I ever met.' + +'Then things are really going badly with the dear old firm?' + +'I am hoping to talk to Mr. Egremont about it.' + +'Ah!' + +Nuttie paused. Towards Mr. Dutton she always had a stronger impulse +of confidence than towards any one else she had ever met; but she +felt that he might think it unbecoming to say that she had perceived +a certain dislike on her father's part towards Mark ever since the +rejection of the agency and the marriage, which perhaps was regarded +as a rejection of herself. He had a habit of dependence on Mark, +which resulted in personal liking, when in actual contact, but in +absence the distaste and offence always revived, fostered, no doubt, +by Gregorio; and Canon Egremont's death had broken the link which had +brought them together. However, for his brother's sake, and for the +sake of the name, the head of the family might be willing to do +something. It was one of Nuttie's difficulties that she never could +calculate on the way her father would take any matter. Whether for +better or for worse, he always seemed to decide in diametrical +opposition to her expectation. And, as she was certainly less +impetuous and more dutiful, she parted with Mr. Dutton at her own +door without any such hint. + +These three years had been discipline such as the tenderest, wisest +hand could not have given her, though it had been insensible. She +had been obliged to attend to her father and watch over her little +brother, and though neither task had seemed congenial to her +disposition, the honest endeavour to do them rightly had produced the +affection born of solicitude towards her father, and the strong warm +tenderness of the true mother-sister towards little Alwyn. + +Ursula Egremont was one of those natures to which responsibility is +the best training. If she had had any one to guard or restrain her, +she might have gone to the utmost limits before she yielded to the +curb. As it was, she had to take care of herself, to bear and +forbear with her father, to walk warily with her household, and to be +very guarded with the society into which she was thrown from time to +time. It was no sudden change, but one brought about by experience. +An outbreak of impatience or temper towards her father was sure to be +followed by his galling sneer, or by some mortification to her +desires; any act of mismanagement towards the servants brought its +own punishment; and if she was tempted by girlish spirits to relax +the quiet, stiff courtesy which she observed towards her father's +guests, there followed jests, or semi-patronage, or a tone of +conversation that offended her, and made her repent it. Happily, Mr. +Egremont did not wish her to be otherwise. One day, when she had +been betrayed into rattling and giggling, he spoke to her afterwards +with a cutting irony which bitterly angered her at the moment, and +which she never forgot. Each irksome duty, each privation, each +disappointment, each recurrence of the sweeping sense of desolation +and loneliness had had one effect--it had sent her to her knees. She +had no one else to go to. She turned to her Father in heaven. +Sometimes, indeed, it was in murmuring and complaint at her lot, but +still it was to Him and Him alone, and repentance sooner or later +came to aid her, while refreshments sprang up around her--little +successes, small achievements, pleasant hours, tokens that her father +was pleased or satisfied, and above all, the growing charms of little +Alwyn. + +The special grievance, Gregorio's influence, had scarcely dwelt on +her at first as it had done on her mother. The man had been very +cautious for some time, knowing that his continuance in his situation +was in the utmost jeopardy, and Mr. Egremont had, in the freshness of +his grief for his wife, abstained from relapsing into the habits from +which she had weaned him. When, however, the Canon was dead, and his +son at a distance, Gregorio began to feel more secure, and in the +restless sorrow of his master over the blow that had taken away an +only brother, he administered soothing drugs under another name, so +that Ursula, in her inexperience, did not detect what was going on, +and still fancied that the habit had been renounced. All she did +know was that it was entirely useless for her to attempt to exert any +authority over the valet, and that the only way to escape insolently +polite disobedience was to let him alone. Moreover, plans to which +her father had agreed, when broached by her, had often been +overthrown after his valet had been with him. It was a life full of +care and disappointment, yet there was a certain spring of trust that +kept Ursula's youth from being dimmed, and enabled her to get a fair +share of happiness out of it, though she was very sorry not to be +more at Bridgefield, where she could have worked with all her heart +with May Condamine. Moreover, Lady Kirkaldy's absence from London +was a great loss to her, for there was no one who was so kind or so +available in taking her into society; and Nuttie, though mistress of +her father's house, was not yet twenty-two, and strongly felt that +she must keep within careful bounds, and not attempt to be her own +chaperon. + +But the very sight of her old friend, and the knowledge that he was +in the neighbourhood, filled her heart with gladness, and seemed like +a compensation for everything. Mr. Egremont was in a gracious mood, +and readily consented to see Mr. Dutton--the friend who had been so +pleasant and helpful at Paris--and Nuttie gave her private +instructions to the footman to insure his admittance. + +His card was brought in just as the father and daughter were +finishing luncheon, and he was received in Mr. Egremont's sitting- +room, where the first civilities had hardly passed before the door +was opened, and in trotted the golden-haired boy, so beautiful a +child that it would have been impossible not to look at him with +delight, even for those to whom his dark eyes and sweet smile did not +recall those that had once been so dear. + +Mr. Egremont's voice took a fresh tone: 'Ah! here he comes, the old +fellow'--and he held out his hands; but the boy was intent on his own +purpose. + +'Where's black doggie?' he asked in a silver-bell of a little voice, +but lisping a good deal; 'Wyn got penny for him.' + +'Wynnie must be a good boy. Kiss papa first, and Mr. Dutton,' +remonstrated the sister; and Alwyn obeyed so far as to submit to his +father's embrace, and then raising those velvety eyes to the +visitor's face, he repeated: 'Where black doggie? Wyn want to see +him buy bun.' + +'There! your fame has preceded you,' said Mr. Egremont, 'or rather +your dog's.' + +'You shall see him,' said Mr. Dutton, taking the pretty boy almost +reverently on his knee, 'but he is at home now. I could not leave +him out on the street, and I did not know if I might bring him in.' + +'Oh, Mr. Dutton! as if Monsieur would not be welcome,' cried the +Nuttie of old times. 'I only wish I had stipulated for him, dear old +fellow.' + +'Wyn want to see him,' reiterated the child. + +'May I take him to see the performance?' said Mr. Dutton. 'I live +only at the corner of Berkshire Road, and there's a dairy just +opposite where Monsieur has been allowed to keep up his +accomplishment.' + +Alwyn's legs, arms, and voice, were all excitement and entreaty; and +Mr. Egremont himself proposed that they should all come and witness +the feat; so Nuttie, in great glee, climbed the stairs with her +little brother to get ready; and when she came down again, found the +gentlemen deep, not in Mark Egremont's umbrellas, but in the gas and +smoke grievances which had arisen since the lease of the house had +been taken, and in which sympathy might be expected from a fellow- +inhabitant of the district. Little Alwyn was, however, plainly the +lord of the ascendant, and unused to see anything else attended to in +his presence. He took possession of Mr. Dutton's hand, and his +tongue went fast, nor did his father or sister seem to desire any +better music. They reached an old-walled garden, with lilac and +laburnum and horse-chestnut blossoming above, and showing a mass of +greenery through the iron railing that surmounted, the low wall on +the street side, where Mr. Dutton halted and took out his key. + +'Is this yours?' exclaimed Nuttie, 'I have so often wondered whose it +could be.' + +'Yes, it was a country-house when I was of the age of this little +man, though you might not think it.' + +'The increase of London had not been on that side,' said Mr. +Egremont. 'This must be a very valuable property!' + +And Nuttie perceived that such an inheritance made Mr. Dutton much +more in his eyes than an ex-umbrella-monger; but no sooner was the +tall iron gate opened than Monsieur, beautifully shaved, with all his +curly tufts in perfection, came bounding to meet his master, and +Alwyn had his arms round the neck in a moment. Monsieur had in his +time been introduced to too many children not to understand the +situation, and respond politely; and he also recognised Ursula, and +gave unmistakable proofs of being glad to see her. + +Then the halfpenny was presented to him. He wagged his queer tail, +smiled with his intelligent brown eyes, took it between his teeth, +and trotted across the street in the most business-like way, the +others following, but detaining the boy from keeping too close. +They found the creature sitting upright, tapping the floor with his +tail, the centre of rapturous admiration to all the customers already +in the dairy shop. He received his bun, and demurely dropping on his +front legs, walked back with it to his master, and crossed the road +with it uneaten, rather to Alwyn's disappointment, but Mr. Dutton +said he would probably dispose of it in some hiding-place in the +garden until his evening appetite came on. It was well he was a dog +of moderation, for there was great temptation to repeat the +entertainment more than was wholesome for him. + +'There, Wynnie,' said Nuttie in a voice of monition, 'Monsieur +doesn't eat all his goodies at once, he keeps them for bedtime.' + +It might be perceived that the over-supply of sweets was a matter of +anxiety to the elder sister. To the nurse, who waited in readiness, +Alwyn was consigned for his walk, while his father and sister +accepted Mr. Dutton's invitation to look round his domain. It would +have been small in the country, but it was extensive for the +locality, and there was a perfect order and trimness about the shaven +lawn, the little fountain in the midst, the flower-beds gay with +pansies, forget-me-nots, and other early beauties, and the freshly- +rolled gravel paths, that made Nuttie exclaim: 'Ah! I should have +known this for yours anywhere.' + +'I have not had much to do to it,' he said. 'My old aunts had it +well kept up, even when they could only see it from their windows. +Their old gardener still lives in the cottage behind the tool-house, +though he is too infirm for anything but being wheeled about in the +sun in their Bath-chair.' + +'You keep a large amount lying idle by retaining it as it is,' said +Mr. Egremont. + +'True, but it is well to preserve an oasis here and there.' + +Nuttie knew well that it was not for himself alone, and as they +entered the little conservatory, and her eye fell on the row of white +hyacinths, the very scent carried her back to the old times, and her +eyes grew moist while Mr. Dutton was cutting a bouquet for her in +accordance with well-known tastes. + +'I shall put them in my room. It will feel like home,' she said, and +then she saw that she had said what her father did not like; for he +was always sensitive as to any reference to her early life. + +Mr. Dutton, however, took this opportunity of saying that he had been +backwards and forwards to Micklethwayte several times this spring. + +'I hope you are well out of the concern there,' said Mr. Egremont. + +'Thank you, sir; I have no share in it at present.' + +'So much the better!' + +'But I am very anxious about my friends.' + +'Ah!' But Mr. Egremont's attention was drawn off at the entrance of +the house by a new-fashioned stove of which Mr. Dutton did the +honours, conducting father and daughter into the drawing-room, where +obvious traces of the old ladies remained, and thence into his own +sitting-room, smelling pleasantly of Russia leather, and recalling +that into which Nuttie had been wont, before her schooldays, to climb +by the window, and become entranced by the illustrations of a +wonderful old edition of Telemaque, picked up at Paris. + +Mr. Dutton made them sit and rest, for this had been a good deal of +exercise for Mr. Egremont; coffee was brought in, having been ordered +on their arrival, and therewith Mr. Dutton entered on an exposition +of the affairs of Greenleaf and Goodenough, which was listened to +with a good deal of interest, though Nuttie could not quite detect +whether it were altogether friendly interests in Mark's misfortunes, +or if there were not a certain triumph in the young man having run +into trouble by rejecting his offer. + +Mr. Dutton explained that his present object was to induce the +friends of the family to prevent annoyance by preserving the +furniture and personals at a valuation; and Mr. Egremont readily +agreed to contribute to doing this, though he said the sisters and +stepmother were well able also to do their share. + +'And then to give the young people a fresh start,' added Mr. Dutton. + +'There are some men who are always wanting fresh starts,' said Mr. +Egremont, 'just as there are some vessels that are always unlucky. +And if you observe, it is just those men who are in the greatest +haste to hang an expensive wife and family round their necks.' + +'I don't think poor Annaple can be accused of being expensive, papa,' +said Nuttie. 'Only think, when Wynnie has two nurses always after +him, her Willie has only the fraction of a little maid, who does all +sorts of work besides.' + +'Yes, I never saw more resolute and cheerful exertion than Mrs. Mark +Egremont's,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'She owes him something,' said Mr. Egremont, 'for she has been the +ruin of him.' + +'Of his worldly prospects in one sense,' said Mr. Dutton quietly; +while Nuttie felt how much better and wiser an answer it was than the +indignant denial that trembled on her tongue. 'There can be no doubt +that they made a grievous mistake in their choice, and I +unfortunately was concerned in leading them into it; but no one can +see how they meet their troubles without great respect and +admiration, and I am especially bound to seek for some new opening +for them. I have little doubt that some office work might be found +for him in London, but they are essentially country people, and it +would be much better for them if he could have some agency. I +suppose the situation you offered him before, sir, is filled up? ' + +'Not really,' cried Nuttie. 'We have only a very common sort of +uneducated bailiff, who would be much better with some one over him. +You said so, papa.' + +'Did he request you to apply to me?' said Mr. Egremont sharply, +looking at Mr. Dutton. + +'Neither he nor she has the least idea of my intention; I only +thought, sir, you might be willing to consider how best to assist a +nephew, who has certainly not been wanting either in industry or +economy, and who bears your name.' + +'Well, I will think it over,' said Mr. Egremont, rising to take +leave. + +The carriage had been bidden to await them at the door for their +daily drive, and as Mr. Egremont leant back with the furs disposed +over him he observed: 'That's a man who knows how to take care of +himself. I wonder where he gets his coffee, I've not drunk any like +it since I was at Nice.' And Nuttie, though well knowing that Mr. +Dutton's love of perfection was not self-indulgence, was content to +accept this as high approbation, and a good augury for Mark and +Annaple. Indeed, with Mr. Dutton settled near, and with the prospect +of a daily walk from church with him, she felt such a complete +content and trust as she had not known since she had been uprooted +from Micklethwayte. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. +A BRAVE HEART. + + + + +'One furnace many times the good and bad may hold, + Yet what consumes the chaff will only cleanse the gold.' + Archbishop TRENCH. + + +Never was there a truer verse than that which tells us that in +seeking duty we find pleasure by the way, and in seeking pleasure we +meet pain. It might be varied to apply to our anticipations of +enjoyment or the reverse. Ursula had embraced her lot as a +necessity, and found it enlivened by a good many sunshiny hours; and +when she looked upon Mr. Dutton's neighbourhood as a continual source +of delight and satisfaction, she found that it gave rise to a +continual course of small disappointments. + +In the first place, he did not walk home from church with her every +morning. She looked for him in vain, even when she knew he was in +town. He only appeared there on Sundays, and at intervals when he +had some especial reason for speaking to her. At first she thought +he must have grown lazy or out of health to have thus dropped his old +Micklethwayte habits, but after a time she discovered by accident +that he frequented another church, open at a still earlier hour and a +little farther off, and she was forced to come to the conclusion that +he acted out of his characteristic precise scrupulosity, which would +not consider it as correct for her to walk home every day with him. +She chafed, and derided 'the dear old man' a little in her own mind, +then ended with a sigh. Was there any one who cared so much about +what was proper for her? And, after all, was he really older than +Mr. Clarence Fane, whom everybody in her father's set called +Clarence, or even Clare, and treated as the boy of the party, so that +she had taken it as quite natural that he should be paired off with +her. It was quite a discovery! + +There was another and more serious disappointment. Mr. Egremont had +not seemed disinclined to consider the giving the agency to Mark, and +Nuttie had begun to think with great satisfaction of May Condamine's +delight in welcoming him, and of the good influence that would be +brought to bear on the dependents, when suddenly there came a +coolness. She could trace the moment, and was sure that it was, when +Gregorio became aware of what was intended. He had reason to dread +Mark as an enemy, and was likely to wish to keep him at a distance; +and it had been Ursula's great hope that an absolute promise might +have been given before he heard of the plan; but Mr. Egremont was +always slow to make up his mind, except when driven by a sudden +impulse, and had never actually said that the post should be offered +to his nephew. Nuttie only detected the turn of the tide by the want +of cordiality, the hums and haws, and by and by the resumption of the +unkind ironical tone when Mark and Annaple were mentioned; and at +last, when she had been reading to him a letter from Mrs. William +Egremont full of anxiety for the young people, and yet of trust in +his kindness to them, he exclaimed, 'You've not been writing to her +about this absurd proposal?' + +'I have not mentioned any proposal at all. What do you mean?' + +'Why, this ridiculous idea about the agency. As if I was going to +put my affairs into the hands of a man who has made such a mull of +his own.' + +'But that was not Mark's fault, papa. He was junior, you know, and +had no power over that Goodenough.' + +'He ought, then! Never sail with an unlucky captain. No, no, Mark's +honourable lady would not let him take the agency when he might have +had it, and I am not going to let them live upon me now that they +have nothing of their own.' + +'Oh, papa, but you almost promised!' + +'Almost!' he repeated with his ironical tone; 'that's a word capable +of a good deal of stretching. This is what you and that umbrella +fellow have made out of my not giving him a direct refusal on the +spot. He may meddle with Mark's affairs if he chooses, but not with +mine.' + +Nuttie had learnt a certain amount of wisdom, and knew that to argue +a point only made her father more determined, so she merely answered, +'Very well;' adding in a meek voice, 'Their furniture, poor things!' + +'Oh ay. Their umbrella friend is making a collection for them. Yes, +I believe I said I would contribute.' + +Hot blood surged up within Nuttie at the contemptuous tone, and she +bit her lip to keep down the answer, for she knew Mr, Dutton intended +to call the next afternoon for her father's ultimatum before going +down to Micklethwayte, where the crisis was fast approaching, and she +had so much faith in his powers that she dreaded to forestall him by +an imprudent word. Alas, Gregorio must have been on his guard, for, +though Nuttie was sure she heard her friend's ring at the usual time, +no entrance followed. She went up to put on her habit to ride with +her father, and when she came down Mr. Egremont held out a card with +the name 'Philip Dutton,' and the pencilled request below to be +allowed to see Mr. Egremont later in the day. + +'He has been denied!' exclaimed she in consternation. + +'Hein! Before we go out, sit down and write a note for me.' And he +dictated-- + + + 'Dear Sir--I will not trouble you to call again this + afternoon, as I have decided on reflection that there + is no employment on my estate suited to my nephew, + Mark Egremont. + + 'As I understand that you are raising a family + subscription for rescuing his furniture from the + creditors, I enclose a cheque for (pounds)50 for the purpose. + --I remain--' + + +'Yours--what--papa?--' asked Ursula, with a trembling voice, full of +tears. + +'Yours, etc., of course. Quite intimate enough for an ex-umbrella- +monger. Here, give it to me, and I'll sign it while you fill up the +cheque for me.' + +That such should be the first letter that Nuttie ever addressed to +Mr. Dutton, since the round-hand one in 'which Miss Ursula wished Mr. +Duton to have the onner of a tee with me on my birthday, and I am +your affected little Nuttie'! + +She hoped to explain and lament the next morning, after church. He +would surely come to talk it over with her; but he only returned a +civil note with his receipt, and she did not see him again before his +departure. She was greatly vexed; she had wanted so much to tell him +how it was, and then came an inward consciousness that she would +probably have told him a great deal too much. + +Was it that tiresome prudence of his again that would think for her +and prevent impulsive and indignant disclosures? It made her bring +down her foot sharply on the pavement with vexation as she suspected +that he thought her so foolish, and then again her heart warmed with +the perception of self-denying care for her. She trusted to that +same prudence for no delusive hopes having been given to Mark and his +wife. + +She did so justly. Mr. Dutton had thought the matter far too +uncertain to be set before them. The Canoness's vague hopes had been +the fruit of a hint imprudently dropped by Nuttie herself in a letter +to Blanche. She had said more to Miss Nugent, but Mary was a +nonconductor. Mr. Dutton's heart sank as he looked at the houses, +and he had some thoughts of going to her first for intelligence, but +Annaple had spied him, and ran out to the gate to welcome him. + +'Oh, Mr. Dutton, I'm so glad! Mark will be delighted.' + +'Is he at home?' + +'Oh no, at the office, wading through seas of papers with Mr. +Greenleaf, but he will come home to eat in a quarter of an hour. So +come in;' then, as her boy's merry voice and a gruffer one were +heard, 'That's the bailiff. He is Willie's devoted slave.' + +'I hoped to have been in time to have saved you that.' + +'Well, I'm convinced that among the much maligned races are bailiffs. +I wonder what I could get by an article on prejudice against classes! +I was thinking how much beer I should have to lay in for this one, +and behold he is a teetotaller, and besides that amateur nurse-maid, +parlour-maid, kitchen-maid, etc. etc.--' + +'What bailiff could withstand Mrs. Egremont? Perhaps you have tamed +him?' + +'Not I. The cook did that. Indeed I believe there's a nice little +idyll going on in the kitchen, and besides he wore the blue ribbon, +and was already a devoted follower of young Mr. Godfrey!' + +'However, if the valuation is ready, I hope you may be relieved from +him, if you won't be too much concerned at the parting!' + +'Mrs. Egremont told us that our people are very good to us,' said +Annaple, 'and don't mean to send us out with nothing but a pack at +our backs. It is very kind in them and in you, Mr. Dutton, to take +the trouble of it! No, I'll not worry you with thanks. The great +point is, hope for something for Mark to do. That will keep up his +spirits best! Poor Mr. Greenleaf is so melancholy that it is all I +can do to keep him up to the mark.' + +'I have been making inquiries, and I have three possible openings, +but I hardly like to lay them before you.' + +'Oh, we are not particular about gentility! It is work we want, and +if it was anything where I could help that would be all the better! +I'm sure I only wonder there are so many as three. I think it is +somebody's doing. Ah! there's Mark,' and she flew out to meet him. +'Mark!' she said, on the little path, 'here's the good genius, with +three chances in his pocket. Keep him to luncheon. I've got plenty. +Poor old man, how hot you look! Go and cool in the drawing-room, +while I wash my son's face.' + +And she disappeared into the back regions, while Mark, the smile she +had called up vanishing from his face, came into the drawing-room, +and held out a cordial, thankful hand to his friend, whose chief +intelligence was soon communicated. 'Yes,' said Mark, when he heard +the amount entrusted by the family to Mr. Dutton, 'that will save all +my wife's poor little household gods. Not that I should call them +so, for I am sure she does not worship them. I don't know what would +become of me if she were like poor Mrs. Greenleaf, who went into +hysterics when the bailiff arrived, and has kept her room ever since. +I sometimes feel as if nothing could hurt us while Annaple remains +what she is.' + +Mr. Dutton did not wonder that he said so, when she came in leading +her little son, with his sunny hair newly brushed and shining, and +carrying a little bouquet for the guest of one La Marque rosebud and +three lilies of the valley. + +'Take it to Mr. Dutton, Billy-boy; I think he knows how the flowers +came into the garden. You shall have daddy's button-hole to take to +him next. There, Mark, it is a pansy of most smiling countenance, +such as should beam on you through your accounts. I declare, there's +that paragon of a Mr. Jones helping Bessy to bring in dinner! Isn't +it very kind to provide a man-servant for us?' + +It might be rattle, and it might be inconsequent, but it was much +pleasanter than hysterics. Billy-boy was small enough to require a +good deal of attention at dinner, especially as he was more disposed +to open big blue eyes at the stranger, than to make use of his spoon, +and Annaple seemed chiefly engrossed with him, though a quick keen +word at the right moment showed that she was aware of all that was +going on, as Mark and Mr. Dutton discussed the present situation and +future measures. + +It was quite true that a man concerned in a failure was in great +danger of being left out of the race for employment, and Mr. Dutton +did not think it needful to mention the force of the arguments he was +using to back his recommendation of Mark Egremont. The possibilities +he had heard of were a clerkship at a shipping agent's, another at a +warehouse in their own line, and a desk at an insurance office. This +sounded best, but had the smallest salary to begin with, and locality +had to be taken into account. Mr. Dutton's plan was, that as soon as +Mark was no longer necessary for what Annaple was pleased to call the +fall of the sere and withered leaf, the pair should come to stay with +him, so that Mark could see his possible employers, and Annaple +consider of the situations. They accepted this gratefully, Mark only +proposing that she should go either to his stepmother or her own +relations to avoid the final crisis. + +'As if I would!' she exclaimed. 'What sort of a little recreant +goose do you take me for?' + +'I take you for a gallant little woman, ready to stand in the +breach,' said Mark. + +'Ah, don't flatter yourself! There is a thing I have not got courage +to face--without necessity, and that's Janet's triumphant pity. Mr. +Dutton lives rather too near your uncle, but he is a man, and he +can't be so bad.' + +This of course did not pass till Mr. Dutton had gone in to greet the +ladies next door, to promise to tell them of their child at length +when the business hours of the day should be over. + +Shall it be told? There was something in his tone--perfectly +indefinable, with which he spoke of 'Miss Egremont,' that was like +the old wistfully reverential voice in which he used to mention 'Mrs. +Egremont.' It smote Mary Nugent's quiet heart with a pang. Was it +that the alteration from the old kindly fatherliness of regard to +'little Nuttie' revealed that any dim undefined hope of Mary's own +must be extinguished for ever; or was it that she grieved that he +should again be wasting his heart upon the impracticable? + +A little of both, perhaps, but Mary was as ready as ever to +sympathise, and to rejoice in hearing that the impetuous child had +grown into the forbearing dutiful woman. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. +A FRESH START. + + + + +'Did you say that Mark and his wife were come to Springfield House?' + +'They come the day after to-morrow,' answered Ursula. 'Mark could +not finish up the business sooner.' + +'Well, I suppose we must have them to dinner for once. He has made a +fool of himself, but I won't have the Canoness complaining that I +take no notice of him; and it is easier done while he is there than +when he has got into some hole in the City--that is if he ever gets +anything to do.' + +'Mr. Dutton has several situations in view for him.' + +'In view. That's a large order. Or does it mean living on Dutton +and doing something nominal? I should think Dutton too old and sharp +a hand for that, though he is quartering them on himself.' + +'I believe there is nothing Mr. Dutton would like better, if he +thought it right for them, but I am quite sure Mark and Annaple would +not consent.' + +'Ha, ha!' and Mr. Egremont laughed. 'Their nose is not brought to +the grindstone yet! Say Saturday, then, Ursula.' + +'Am I to ask Mr. Dutton?' + +'Of course; I'm not going to have a tete-a-tete with Master Mark.' + +So Ursula had the satisfaction of writing a more agreeable note to +Mr. Dutton than her last, and her invitation was accepted, but to her +vexation Mr. Egremont further guarded himself from anything +confidential by verbally asking Mr. Clarence Fane on that very day, +and as that gentleman was a baronet's son, she knew she should fall +to his lot at dinner, and though she was glad when this was the case +at their ordinary parties, it was a misfortune on the present +occasion. She had not seen Annaple since her marriage, except at the +family gathering on the Canon's death, when she was very much +absorbed by the requirements of the stricken household; and Nuttie +expected to see her in the same subdued condition. All Mr. Dutton +had said or Mary Nugent had written about her courage and +cheerfulness had given the impression of 'patience smiling at grief,' +and in a very compassionate mood she started for a forenoon call at +Springfield House; but, early as it was, nobody was at home, unless +it might be the little boy, whose voice she thought she heard while +waiting at the gate. + +She was out driving with her father afterwards in the long summer +evening, and only found Mark's card on returning just in time to +dress. It was a bright glaring day, and she was sitting by the +window, rather inattentively listening to Mr. Fane's criticism of a +new performance at one of the theatres, when she heard the bell, and +there entered the slight, bright creature who might still have been +taken for a mere girl. The refined though pronounced features, the +transparent complexion, crispy yellow hair and merry eyes, were as +sunbeam-like as at the Rectory garden-party almost five years ago, +and the black dress only marked the contrast, and made the +slenderness of the figure more evident. + +Mark looked older, and wrung his cousin's hand with a pressure of +gratitude and feeling, but Annaple's was a light little gay kiss, and +there was an entire unconsciousness about her of the role of poor +relation. She made an easy little acknowledgment of the introduction +of Mr. Fane, and, as Mr. Egremont appeared the next moment, exchanged +greetings with him in a lively ordinary fashion. + +This was just what he liked. He only wanted to forget what was +unpleasant, and, giggling Scotch girl as she was, he was relieved to +find that she could not only show well-bred interest in the surface +matters of the time, but put in bright flashes of eagerness and +originality, well seconded by Mr. Dutton. Mr. Fane was always a +professor of small talk, and Nuttie had learnt to use the current +change of society, so that though Mark was somewhat silent, the +dinner was exceedingly pleasant and lively; and, as Mr. Fane remarked +afterwards, he had been asked to enliven a doleful feast to ruined +kindred, he could only say he wished prosperity always made people so +agreeable. + +'This is all high spirit and self-respect,' thought Nuttie. 'Annaple +is talking as I am, from the teeth outwards. I shall have it out +with her when we go upstairs! At any rate my father is pleased with +her!' + +Nuttie made the signal to move as soon as she could, and as they went +upstairs, put her arm round the slim waist and gave a sympathetic +pressure, but the voice that addressed her had still the cheery ring +that she fancied had been only assumed. + +'I'm sorry I missed you, but we set out early and made a day of it; +and oh! we've been into such funny places as I never dreamt of! You +didn't see my boy?' + +'No. I thought I heard him. I must see him to-morrow.' + +'And I must see yours. May it not be a pleasure to-night? I've no +doubt you go and gloat over him at night.' + +'Well, I do generally run up after dinner; but after your day, I +can't think of dragging you up all these stairs.' + +'Oh, that's nothing! Only you see it is jollier to have my Billy-boy +in the next room.' + +They were mounting all the time, and were received in the day nursery +by the old Rectory nurse, much increased in dignity, but inclined to +be pathetic as she inquired after 'Mr. Mark,' while Annaple, like a +little insensible being, answered with provoking complacency as to +his perfect health, and begged Mrs. Poole to bring Master Alwyn to +play in the garden at Springfield with her Willie. In fact there was +a general invitation already to Alwyn to play there, but his +attendants so much preferred the society of their congeners in the +parks that they did not avail themselves of it nearly as often as +Ursula wished. + +Little Alwyn asleep was, of course, a beautiful sight, with a +precious old headless rabbit pressed tight to his cheek; Annaple's +face grew tender as she looked at the motherless creature; and she +admired him to any extent except saying that he excelled her own. +Being more than a year the elder, there could be no rivalry as to +accomplishments; but as soon as they were out of the nursery hush, +Annaple laughed her way down again with tales of Billy-boy's wonder +at his first experiences of travelling. They sat down among the +plants in the balcony, as far from the lamps as possible, and talked +themselves into intimacy over Micklethwayte. There are two Eden +homes in people's lives, one that of later childhood, the other the +first of wedded happiness, and St. Ambrose Road had the same halo to +both of these; for both had been uprooted from it against their will; +the chief difference being that Ursula could cast longing, lingering +looks behind, while Annaple held herself resolutely steeled against +sentiment, and would only turn it off by something absurd. Nothing +was absolutely settled yet; Mark had been presenting himself at +offices, and she had been seeing rooms and lodgings. + +'The insurance office sounds the best, and would be the least shock +to our belongings,' said Annaple; 'but it seems to lead to nothing. +He would not get on unless we had capital to invest, and even if we +had any, you wouldn't catch us doing that again!' + +'Does Mr. Dutton advise that?' + +'No, he only thought we should like it better; but we are quite past +caring for people's feelings in the matter. They couldn't pity us +worse than they do. I incline to Stubbs and Co. One of them was +once in the Greenleaf office, and has a regard for anything from +thence; besides Mark would have something to do besides desk work. +He would have to judge of samples, and see to the taking in and +storing of goods. He does know something about that, and I'm sure it +would agree with him better than an unmitigated high stool, with his +nose to a desk.' + +'I should like it better.' + +'That's right! Now I have got some one to say so. Besides, rising +is possible, if one gets very useful. I mean to be Mrs. Alderman, if +not my Lady Mayoress, before we have done. Then they have a great +big almost deserted set of rooms over the warehouse, where we might +live and look after the place.' + +'Oh! but should you like that?' + +'Mr. Dutton wants us to live out in some of the suburban places, +where it seems there is a perfect population of clerks' families in +semi-detached houses. He says we should save Mark's railway fare, +rent, and all in doctors' bills. But people, children and all, do +live and thrive in the City; and I think Mark's health will be better +looked after if I am there to give him his midday bite and sup, and +brush him up, than if he is left to cater for himself; and as to +exercise for the Billy-boy, 'tis not so far to the Thames Embankment. +The only things that stagger me are the blacks! I don't know whether +life is long enough to be after the blacks all day long, but perhaps +I shall get used to them!' + +'Well, I think that would be worse.' + +'Perhaps it would; and at any rate, if the blacks do beat me, we +could move. Think, no rent, nor rates, nor taxes--that is an +inducement to swallow--no--to contend with, any number of +blackamoors, isn't it? even if they settle on the tip of Billy-boy's +nose.' + +'I could come to see you better there than out in a suburb,' said +Nuttie. 'But what do these rooms look out upon?' + +'On one side into their own court, on the other into Wulstan Street-- +a quiet place on the whole--all walls and warehouses; and there's an +excellent parish church, Mr. Underwood's; so I think we might do +worse.' + +Nuttie was very sorry that the gentlemen came up, and Mr. Fane +wandered out and began asking whether they were going to the rose +show. Somehow on that evening she became conscious that Annaple +looked at her and Mr. Fane rather curiously; and when they met again +the next day, and having grown intimate over the introduction of the +two little boys, were driving out together, there were questions +about whether she saw much of him. + +'Oh, I don't know! He is the nicest, on the whole, of papa's +friends; he can talk of something besides'--Nuttie paused over her +'besides,'--'horseyness, and all that sort of thing--he is not so +like an old satyr as some of them are; and so he is a resource.' + +'I see. And you meet him elsewhere, don't you, in general society?' + +'I don't go out much now that Lady Kirkaldy is not in town; but he +always seems to turn up everywhere that one goes.' + +'Ursula, I'm very glad of that tone of yours. I was afraid--' + +'Afraid of what?' cried Nuttie in a defiant tone. + +'That you liked him, and he is not really nice, Nuttie. Mark knows +all about him; and so did I when I lived with the Delmars.' + +Nuttie laughed rather bitterly. 'Thank you, Annaple. As if I could +care for that man--or he for me, for that matter! I know but too +well,' she added gravely, 'that nobody nice is ever intimate at +home.' + +'I beg your pardon. I would not have worried you about it, only I +think you must take care, Nuttie, for Blanche mentioned it to us last +winter.' + +'Blanche is an arrant gossip! If she saw a grandfather and great +grandmother gossiping she would say they were going to be married.' + +'Yes, as Mark says, one always swallows Blanche with a +qualification.' + +'You may be quite sure, Annaple, that nothing like that will ever be +true about me! Why, what would ever become of my poor little Wyn if +I was so horrid as to want to go and marry?' + +She said it with an ineffable tone of contempt, just like the +original Nuttie, who seemed to be recalled by association with +Annaple. + +That sojourn of Mark and his wife at Springfield House was a bright +spot in that summer. If it had been only that Annaple's presence +gave the free entree to such an island of old Micklethwayte, it would +have been a great pleasure to her; but there was besides the +happiness of confidence and unrestraint in their society, a restful +enjoyment only to be appreciated by living the guarded life of +constraint that was hers. She was so seldom thrown among people whom +she could admire and look up to. Annaple told her husband of +Nuttie's vehement repudiation of any intention of marriage. 'I am +sure she meant it,' she observed, 'it was only a little too strong. +I wonder if that poor youth who came to her first ball, and helped to +pick us out of the hole in Bluepost Bridge, had anything to do with +it.' + +Annaple had an opportunity of judging. Mr. Dutton would not have +brought about a meeting which might be painful and unsettling to +both; but one afternoon, when Nuttie was 'off duty' with her father, +and had come in to share Annaple's five o'clock tea, Gerard Godfrey, +looking the curate from head to foot, made his appearance, having +come up from the far east, about some call on Mr. Dutton's purse. + +The two shook hands with pleased surprise, and a little heightening +of colour, but that was all. Nuttie had been out to luncheon, and +was dressed 'like a mere fashionable young lady' in his eyes; and +when, after the classes and clubs and schools of his district had +been discussed, he asked, 'And I suppose you are taking part in +everything here?' + +'No, that I can't!' + +'Indeed! I know Porlock, the second curate here very well, and he +tells me that his vicar has a wonderful faculty of finding +appropriate work for every one. Of course you know him?' + +'No, I don't;' said Nuttie. + +'Miss Egremont has her appropriate work,' said Mr. Dutton, and the +deacon felt himself pushed into his old position at Micklethwayte. +He knew the clergy of the district very well, and how persistently +either Mr. Egremont, or perhaps Gregorio, prevented their gaining +admittance at his house; and he guessed, but did not know, that +Nuttie could not have got into personal intercourse with them without +flat disobedience. + +Annaple threw herself into the breach, and talked of St. Wulstan's; +and the encounter ended, leaving the sense of having drifted entirely +away from one another, and being perfectly heart whole, though on the +one hand Ursula's feeling was of respect and honour; and Gerard's had +a considerable element of pity and disapprobation. + +'No!' said Annaple when they were gone, 'he will not cry like the +kloarek in the Breton ballad who wetted three great missals through +with his tears at his first mass. He is very good, I am sure, but he +is a bit of a prig!' + +'It is very hard to youth to be good without priggishness,' said Mr. +Dutton. 'Self-assertion is necessary, and it may easily be carried +too far.' + +'Buttresses are useful, but they are not beauties,' rejoined Annaple. + +The warehouse arrangement was finally adopted, and after the three +weeks necessary for the cleaning and fitting of their floor, and the +bringing in of their furniture, Mark and Annaple began what she +termed 'Life among the Blacks.' + +Nuttie had great designs of constantly seeing Annaple, sending her +supplies from the gardens and preserves at Bridgefield, taking her +out for drives, and cultivating a friendship between Alwyn and +Willie, who had taken to each other very kindly on the whole. They +could not exactly understand each other's language, and had great +fights from time to time over toys, for though there was a year +between them they were nearly equal in strength; but they cared for +each other's company more than for anything else, were always asking +to go to one another, and roared when the time of parting came; at +least Alwyn did so unreservedly, for Nuttie had begun to perceive +with compunction that Billy-boy was much the most under control, and +could try to be good at his mother's word, without other bribe than +her kiss and smile. Ah! but he had a mother! + + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. +NUTTIE'S PROSPECTS. + + + + +'Three hundred pounds and possibilities.' + Merry Wives of Windsor. + + +Again Nuttie's plans were doomed to be frustrated. It did not prove +to be half so easy to befriend Mr. and Mrs. Mark Egremont as she +expected, at the distance of half London apart, and with no special +turn for being patronised on their side. + +Her father took a fancy for almost daily drives with her in the park, +because then he could have Alwyn with him; and the little fellow's +chatter had become his chief amusement. Or if she had the carriage +to herself, there was sure to be something needful to be done which +made it impossible to go into the city to take up and set down Mrs. +Mark Egremont; and to leave her to make her way home would be no +kindness. So Nuttie only accomplished a visit once before going out +of town, and that was by her own exertions--by underground railway +and cab. Then she found all going prosperously; the blacks not half +so obnoxious as had been expected (of course not, thought Nuttie, in +the middle of the summer); the look-out over the yard very amusing to +Billy-boy; and the large old-fashioned pannelled rooms, so cool and +airy that Annaple was quite delighted with them, and contemned the +idea of needing a holiday. She had made them very pretty and +pleasant with her Micklethwayte furniture, whose only fault was being +on too small a scale for these larger spaces, but that had been +remedied by piecing, and making what had been used for two serve for +one. + +The kitchen was on the same floor, close at hand, which was well, for +Annaple did a good deal there, having only one young maid for the +rougher work. She had taken lessons in the School of Cookery, and +practised a good deal even at Micklethwayte, and she was proud of her +skill and economy. Mark came in for his mid-day refreshment, and +looked greatly brightened, as if the worst had come and was by no +means so bad as he expected. All the time he had been at Mr. +Dutton's he had been depressed and anxious, but now, with his boy on +his knee, he was merrier than Nuttie had ever known him. As to +exercise, there were delightful evening walks, sometimes early +marketings in the long summer mornings before business began--and +altogether it seemed, as Nuttie told her father afterwards, as if she +had had a glimpse into a little City Arcadia. + +'Hein!' said he, 'how long will it last?' + +And Nuttie was carried away to Cowes, where he had been persuaded to +recur to his old favourite sport of yachting. She would have rather +liked this if Clarence Fane had not been there too, and continually +haunting them. She had been distrustful of him ever since Annaple's +warning, and it became a continual worry to the motherless girl to +decide whether his civil attentions really meant anything, or whether +she were only foolish and ridiculous in not accepting them as freely +and simply as before. + +Of one thing she became sure, namely, that Gregorio was doing +whatever in him lay to bring them together. + +In this seaside temporary abode, great part of the London +establishment was left behind, and Gregorio condescended to act the +part of butler, with only a single man-servant under him, and thus he +had much more opportunity of regulating the admission of visitors +than at home; and he certainly often turned Mr. Fane in upon her, +when she had intended that gentleman to be excluded, and contrived to +turn a deaf or uncomprehending ear when she desired that there should +be no admission of visitors unless her father was absolutely ready +for them; and also there were times when he must have suggested an +invitation to dinner, or a joining in a sail. No doubt Gregorio +would have been delighted to see her married, and to be thus free +from any counter influence over his master; but as she said to +herself, 'Catch me! Even if I cared a rush for the man, I could not +do it. I don't do my poor father much good, but as to leaving poor +little Alwyn in his clutches--I must be perfectly demented with love +even to think of it.' + +There was a desire on the valet's part to coax and court little Alwyn +of which she felt somewhat jealous. The boy was naturally the pet of +every one in the household, but he was much less out of Gregorio's +reach in the present confined quarters, and she could not bear to see +him lifted up in the valet's arms, allowed to play with his watch, +held to look at distant sails on board the yacht, or even fed with +sweet biscuits or chocolate creams. + +The Rectory nursery had gone on a strict regimen and nurse was as +angry as Nuttie herself; but there was no preventing it, for his +father was not above cupboard love, and never resisted the entreaties +that were always excited by the sight of dainties, only laughing when +Nuttie remonstrated, or even saying, 'Never mind sister, Wynnie, +she's got Mrs. Teachem's cap on,' and making the child laugh by +pretending to smuggle in papers of sweets by stealth, apart from the +severe eyes of sister or nurse. + +That cut Nuttie to the heart. To speak of the evils for which self- +indulgence was a preparation would only make her father sneer at her +for a second Hannah More. It was a language he did not understand; +and as to the physical unwholesomeness, he simply did not choose to +believe it. She almost wished Alwyn would for once be sick enough to +frighten him, but that never happened, nor would he accept nurse's +statement of the boy being out of order. + +Poor little Alwyn, he was less and less of an unmixed joy to her as +he was growing out of the bounds of babyhood, and her notions of +discipline were thwarted by her father's unbounded indulgence. To +her the child was a living soul, to be trained for a responsible +position here and for the eternal world beyond; to her father he was +a delightful plaything, never to be vexed, whose very tempers were +amusing, especially when they teased the serious elder sister. + +'Oh father! do you ever think what it will come to?' Nuttie could not +help saying one day when Mr. Egremont had prevented her from carrying +him off in disgrace to the nursery for tying the rolls up in dinner +napkins to enact Punch and Judy, in spite of his own endeavours to +prevent the consequent desolation of the preparations. + +Mr. Egremont shrugged his shoulders, and only observed, 'An excuse +for a little home tyranny, eh? No, no, Wyn; we don't want tame +little muffs here.' + +Nuttie was obliged to run out of the room and--it must be confessed-- +dance and stamp out her agony of indignation and misery that her +father should be bent on ruining his child, for she could not +understand that all this was simply the instinctive self-indulgence +of a drugged brain and dulled conscience. + +She did, however, get a little support and help during a brief stay +in the shooting season at Bridgefield. The Canoness was visiting the +Condamines at the Rectory, and very soon understood all the state of +things, more perhaps from her former nurse than from Ursula. She was +witness to one of those trying scenes, when Nuttie had been +forbidding the misuse of a beautiful elaborate book of nursery +rhymes, where Alwyn thought proper to 'kill' with repeated stabs the +old woman of the shoe, when preparing to beat her progeny. + +Just as she was getting the dagger paper-knife out of his little +hand, and was diverting the pout on his swelling lip, his father +became aware of the contest, and immediately the half conquered boy +appealed to him. 'Sister naughty. Won't let Wynnie kill cross ugly +old woman, beating poor little children.' + +'A fellow feeling! eh, sister? Kill her away, boy, tear her out! +Yes, give her to sister, and tell her that's the way to serve sour +females! I declare, Ursula, she has got something of your +expression.' + +'Oh Wynnie, Wynnie!' said Nuttie, as he trotted up to her, 'is sister +cross and ugly?' and she opened her arms to him. + +'Sister, Wyn's own sister,' said the child affectionately, letting +himself be kissed as he saw her grieved. 'She shan't be ugly old +woman--ugly old woman go in fire.' + +So perilously near the flame did he run to burn the old woman that +Mr. Egremont shouted to her that in spite of all that humbug, she was +perfectly careless of the child, although if she had withheld him she +would probably have been blamed for thwarting him. + +'Are you quite fair towards Ursula?' the aunt ventured to say when +the girl had gone to dress for walking down with her to the Rectory. +'It is hard on her, and not good for the boy to upset her authority.' + +'Eh? Why, the girl is just a governess manquee, imbued with the +spirit of all those old women who bred her up. A nice life the poor +child would have of it, but for me.' + +'I am sure she is devotedly attached to him.' + +'Hein! So she thinks; but trust human nature for loving to wreak +discipline on the child who has cut her out.' + +'That is scarcely just, Alwyn. She was greatly relieved to be cut +out.' + +Mr. Egremont laughed at this, and his sister-in-law indignantly added +with all the authority of a successful parent, 'Anyway, nothing is so +bad for a child as collision between the authorities in a family. +Ursula is doing her best to act as a mother to that child, and it +will be very injurious to him to interfere with her influences.' + +'She's a good girl enough--gives very little trouble,' he allowed, +'but I'm not going to have the boy sat upon.' + +As he spoke the words, Nuttie returned, and as soon as she was out of +the house and out of hearing she exclaimed, 'Oh, Aunt Jane, you see +how it is! How am I to prevent my boy from being utterly ruined?' + +'I have been speaking to your father,' said Mrs. Egremont, 'but he +does not seem to understand. Men don't. A child's faults and +fancies seem such trifles to them that they can't see the harm of +indulging them, and, besides, they expect to be amused.' + +'And is that poor dear little fellow to grow up spoilt?' said Nuttie, +her eyes hot with unshed tears. + +'I hope not, Ursula. I have great confidence in your influence, for +I see you are a sensible girl.' This was astonishing praise from the +Canoness. 'But you will throw away your chances if you keep up a +continual opposition to what your father allows. It will be much +less hurtful if Alwyn does get too much indulgence, and does a little +unnecessary mischief, than for him to learn to think you the enemy of +his pleasures, always wanting to check and punish him. Oh yes,' as +Nuttie was going to answer, 'I know it is for his real good, but how +is that baby to understand that? Indeed, my dear, I know how it is; +I have gone through the same sort of thing with Basil.' + +'Oh, it could never have been so bad!' + +'No, of course not; but I have had to allow what I did not like for +the child rather than let him see the shadow of difference of opinion +between us, and I don't think it has done him any harm. The great +point is that you should keep that poor little fellow's affection and +respect, and make him unwilling to vex you.' + +'That he is, dear little man. He is sorry when he sees sister +grieved. He is always distressed if anything is hurt or pained. He +is really tender-hearted.' + +'Yes, but boys are boys. That feeling will fail you if you work it +too hard, and especially if you show vexation at his pleasures. Keep +that for real evils, like falsehood or cruelty.' + +'Not for disobedience?' + +'The evil of disobedience depends much more upon the authority of an +order than on the child itself. If he disobeys you under his +father's licence, you cannot make much of it. You have him a good +deal to yourself?' + +'Yes.' + +'Then make use of that time to strengthen his principles and sense of +right and wrong, as well as to secure his affections. My dear, I +never saw a girl in a more difficult position than yours, but I see +you are doing your utmost; only I am afraid the love of sedatives is +the same.' + +'Oh aunt, I did think he had given it up!' + +'You are inexperienced, my dear. I see it in his eyes. Well, I'm +afraid there is no stopping that.' + +'Mother--' and Nuttie's voice was choked. + +'She did her best, but you have not the same opportunities. It can't +be helped with a man of that age. Mark might have done something, +but he is out of the question now, poor fellow!' + +'Indeed, Aunt Jane, I think Mark and Annaple are some of the happiest +people I ever saw. I only wish my poor Alwyn were as forward as +their Billy, but I'm not even allowed to teach him his letters, +because once he cried over them.' + +'I wish they had anything to fall back upon,' said Mrs. Egremont +anxiously. 'They are so unwilling to let any one know of their +difficulties that I feel as if I never knew in what straits they may +be. You will be sure to let me know, Ursula, if there is anything +that I can do for them.' + +That conversation was a great comfort and help to Nuttie, who was +pleased to find herself treated as a real friend by her aunt, and +perceived the wisdom of her advice. But the watching over the Mark +Egremonts was a very difficult matter to accomplish, for when she +went back to London she was warned that Billy had the whooping cough, +rendering them unapproachable all the winter, so that she could only +hear of them through Mr. Dutton, whom she continued to see +occasionally whenever there was anything to communicate. Mr. +Egremont rather liked him, and on meeting him in the street, would +ask him casually in to dinner, or to make up a rubber, or play +piquet, for he excelled in these arts, and still more in chess, and +an evening with Mr. Dutton was quite a red-letter time with Nuttie. +It gave her an indefinable sense of safety and protection; but it was +not always to be had, for her friend had many engagements, being one +of the active lay church workers, and devoting two regular evenings +in each week to Gerard Godfrey's eastern district, where he kept all +the accounts, had a model court and evening class, besides hospitably +resting tired clergymen and their wives in his pleasant quiet house. + +In the spring Mr. Egremont was laid up with the worst rheumatic +attack he had yet had, in consequence of yielding to the imperious +will of his son, who had insisted on standing in a bleak corner to +see the Life Guards pass by. On this occasion Nuttie did not prove +herself the heaven-born nurse that the true heroine ought to be, but +was extremely frightened, and altogether dependent on Gregorio, who +knew all about the symptoms, and when to send for the doctor and a +garde-malade. Gregorio always talked French to Nuttie when he felt +himself in the ascendant, as he certainly was at present; but he +became much less gracious when he heard that Mrs. William Egremont +might be expected, declaring that madame would only excite his +master, and that her presence was quite unnecessary. Her coming had +been volunteered, but it was a great boon to Ursula, who was thus +helped out in many perplexities, although Mrs. Egremont was a great +deal at her step-son's, and neither lady was of much avail in the +sick-room, during the stress of the illness. It was never actually +dangerous, but there was great suffering and much excitement, and for +four or five days the distress and anxiety were considerable. After +this passed off Ursula was surprised to find her company preferred to +that of her aunt. She was a better souffre-douleur, was less of a +restraint, and was besides his regular reader and amanuensis, so that +as the force of the attack abated, he kept her a good deal in his +room during the latter part of the day, imparting scraps of +intelligence, skimming the papers for him, and reading his letters. + +There was a lease to be signed, and, as soon as might be, Mr. +Bulfinch, the Redcastle solicitor, brought it up, and had to be +entertained at luncheon. While he was waiting in the drawing-room +for Mr. Egremont to be made ready for him, he looked with deep +interest on the little heir, whom Ursula presently led off to the +other end of the room to the hoard of downstair toys; and an +elaborate camp was under construction, when by the fireside, the +Canoness inquired in a low confidential tone, 'May I ask whether you +came about a will?' + +'No, Mrs. Egremont. I wish I were. It is only about the lease of +Spinneycotes farm.' + +'Then there is none?' + +'None that I am aware of. None has ever been drawn up by us. +Indeed, I was wishing that some influence could be brought to bear +which might show the expedience of making some arrangement. Any +melancholy event is, I trust, far distant, but contingencies should +be provided for.' + +'Exactly so. He is recovering now, but these attacks always leave +effects on the heart, and at his age, with his habits, no one knows +what may happen. Of course it would not make much difference to the +boy.' + +'No, the Court of Chancery would appoint the most suitable natural +guardians.' + +'But,' said Mrs. Egremont, 'I am afraid that the personal property +when divided would not be much of a provision for her.' + +'You are right. The investments are unfortunately and +disproportionately small.' + +'She ought either to have them all, or there should be a charge on +the estate,' said the Canoness decisively. 'If possible, he must be +made to move.' + +'Oh, don't!' cried Nuttie, jumping up from the floor. 'He mustn't be +upset on any account.' + +'My dear, I had no notion that you heard us!' exclaimed her aunt. 'I +thought Alwyn was making too much noise with his soldiers.' + +'I beg your pardon,' said Nuttie, 'perhaps I should have spoken +sooner, but indeed he must not be worried and disturbed,' she added, +somewhat fiercely. + +'Don't be afraid, my dear,' said her aunt. 'Mr. Bulfinch knows that +your father is in no condition to have such matters brought before +him.' + +'Certainly,' said the old lawyer politely;' and we will trust that +Miss Egremont's prospects may soon come forward on a more auspicious +occasion.' + +Nuttie could have beaten him, but she was obliged to content herself +with such a sweeping charge of her Zulus among Alwyn's Englishmen, +that their general shrieked out in indignation against such a +variation of the accustomed programme of all their games. + +Nuttie thought she had defended her patient sufficiently, but she +found she had been mistaken, for when her aunt had left them, some +days later, her father began, 'We are well quit of her. Those +troublesome dictatorial women always get worse when they are left +widows--taking upon them to say what their dear husbands would have +said, forsooth.' + +'Aunt Jane was very kind to me,' said Ursula, not in the least +knowing what he was thinking of. + +'To you. Ay, I should think so, taking upon her to lecture me about +securing a provision for you.' + +'Oh! I hoped--' + +'What?' he broke in. 'You knew of it! You set her on, I suppose.' + +'Oh! no, no, father. She and Mr. Bulfinch began about it, not +meaning me to hear--about a will, I mean--and I told them I wasn't +going to have you worried, and I thought I had stopped it +altogether.' + +'Stop a woman bent on her duty? Hein! But you are a good girl, and +shall come to no loss when we have to make your marriage settlement.' + +'You won't have to do that, father!' + +'Hein! What do you keep that poor fellow Clarence Fane dangling in +attendance on you for? ' + +'I don't! I'm sure I don't want him. I would do anything to keep +him at a distance!' + +'How now! I thought your Grace condescended to him more than to any +one else.' + +'I don't dislike him unless he has _that_ in his head; but as to +marrying him! Oh--h--h,' such a note of horror that elicited a +little laugh. + +'So hot against him, are we? Who is it then? Not the umbrella +fellow?' + +'Father! how can you?' she cried, with a burning flush of +indignation. He--why--he! He has always been a sort of uncle, ever +since I was a little girl.' + +'Oh yes, adopted uncles are very devout when young ladies rush out to +morning prayers at unearthly hours--' + +'Father!' with her voice trembling, 'I assure you he doesn't--I mean +he always goes to St. Michael's, unless he has anything particular to +say to me.' + +'Oh yes, I understand,' and Mr. Egremont indulged in a hearty laugh, +which almost drove poor Nuttie beside herself. + +'Indeed--indeed,' she stammered, in her confusion and suppressed +wrath; 'it is nothing of that sort. He is a regular old bachelor--he +always was.' + +'At what age do men become old bachelors? For he seems to me about +the age of poor Clarry, whom you seem to view as a bugbear.' + +'I wish you would not think of such things, father; I have not the +slightest intention of leaving you and dear little Wynnie! Nothing +should tempt me!' + +'Nothing? Hein! Then you may as well be on your guard, Miss +Egremont, or we shall have pleadings that you have encouraged them-- +church and world--or both, maybe. You pious folk take your little +diversions and flirtations just like your poor sisters whom you shake +your heads at, never guessing how Gregorio and I have looked out at +you and your adopted uncle parading the street.' + +'I wish Gregorio would mind his own business, and not put such things +in your head!' burst out Nuttie. + +At which Mr. Egremont laughed longer and louder than ever. + +Poor Nuttie! It was terrible discomfiture, not only for the moment, +but a notion had been planted in her mind that seemed cruel, almost +profane, and yet which would not be dismissed, and made her heart +leap with strange bounds at the wild thought, 'Could it be true?' +then sink again with shame at her own presumptuous folly in +entertaining such a thought for a moment. + +Yet whenever she actually encountered Mr. Dutton her habitual comfort +and reliance on him revived, and dispelled all the embarrassment +which at other times she expected to feel in his presence. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. +SPES NON FRACTA. + + + + +Summer had quite set in before Mr. Egremont was able to go out for a +drive, and then he was ordered to Buxton. + +Nuttie only once saw her cousins before leaving town, for their +little boy fulfilled the nursery superstition by whooping till May; +and all intercourse was prohibited, till he had ceased for a whole +week to utter a suspicious sound. Mr. Dutton had insisted on the +family spending a fortnight at Springfield House for change of air, +and it was there that Nuttie was permitted to see them, though the +children were still forbidden to meet. + +Annaple looked very thin, but rattled as merrily as ever. 'No one +could guess,' she said, 'what a delight it was not to know what one +was to have for dinner?' + +'To do more than know, I am afraid,' said Ursula. + +'Well, next to the delight of knowing nothing at all about it--and +even that is only good for a holiday--is the delight of seeing a +pudding come out smooth and comfortable and unbroken from its basin. +"Something attempted, something done," you know. It is quite as good +a work of art as a water-coloured drawing.' + +'Only not quite so permanent.' + +'No; it is only one's first pudding that one wants to embalm in a +glass case for being so good as not to leave its better part behind +in the basin, or to collapse as soon as it is in the dish.' + +'Which my puddings always did in the happy days of old, but then I +was always hunted ignominiously out of the kitchen and told I wasted +good food,' said Nuttie. + +'Yes, and waste is fearful when Mark and Billy have to eat it all the +same, like the poor cows with spoilt hay. I wonder whether your old +experiences recall the joy of finding trustworthy eggs within your +price.' + +'Ah, I was not housekeeper. I only remember being in disgrace for +grumbling when there was no pudding, because the hens would not lay.' + +'Though I heard a woman declaring the other day that there ought to +be a machine for them. Oh, the scenes that I encounter when I am +marketing! If I only could describe them for Punch! I walked home +once with our porter's wife, carrying two most brilliant sticks of +rhubarb, all carmine stalk and gamboge leaf, and expressing a very +natural opinion that the rhubarb tree must be very showy to look at, +and curious to know in what kind of fruit the medicine grew.' + +'Oh, Annaple! do you go yourself in that way?' + +'Mark used to go with me, but, poor old fellow, he has ruinous ideas +about prices and quantities, and besides, now he is so hard worked-up +and down all day--he wants a little more of his bed in the morning.' + +'And what do you want?' + +'I never was a sleepy creature, and I get back in time to dress the +boy. I generally find him at high-jinks on his father's bed. It +uses up a little superfluous energy before the dressing.' + +'But surely you have a servant now?' + +'I've come to the conclusion that a workman's wife charing is a +better institution. No. 1, a pet of Miss Nugent's, was a nice +creature, but the London air did for her at once. No. 2, also from +Micklethwayte, instantly set up a young man, highly respectable, and +ready to marry on the spot, as they did, though their united ages +don't amount to thirty-nine. No. 3 was a Cockney, and couldn't stay +because the look-out was so dull; and No. 4 gossiped with her kind +when I thought her safe in the Temple Gardens with Billy, whereby he +caught the whooping-cough, and as she also took the liberty of +wearing my fur cloak, and was not particular as to accuracy, we +parted on short notice; and I got this woman to come in every day to +scrub, help make the bed, etc. It is much less trouble, and the only +fault I have to find with her is an absolute incapability of +discerning blacks. I believe she thinks I have a monomania against +them.' + +Still Annaple insisted that she did not work half so hard as her +nieces, Muriel and Janet, in their London season, and that her +economy was not nearly so trying and difficult as that which Lady +Delmar had been practising for years in order to afford them a summer +there; nor was her anxiety to make both ends meet by any means equal +to her sister's in keeping up appearances, and avoiding detrimentals. +The two sisters met occasionally, but Lady Delmar was so +compassionate and patronising that Annaple's spirit recoiled in off- +hand levity and rattle, and neither regretted the occupation that +prevented them from seeing much of one another. + + +A year passed by, chiefly spent by Mr. Egremont in the pursuit of +comparative health, at Buxton, Bagneres, and Biarritz, during which +his daughter could do little but attend to him and to little Alwyn. +The boy had been enough left to her and nurse during his father's +acute illness to have become more amenable. He was an affectionate +child, inheriting, with his mother's face, her sweetness and docility +of nature, and he was old enough to be a good deal impressed with the +fact that he had made poor papa so ill by teasing him to stand in the +cold. Mr. Egremont was not at rest without a sight of the child +every day, if only for a moment, and the helplessness and suffering +had awed the little fellow a good deal. It was touching to see him +pause when galloping about the house when he went past the sick-room, +and hush his merry voice of his own accord. + +And in the journeys, when his father's invalided state would have +made a fractious or wilful child a serious inconvenience, his good +temper and contentment were invaluable. He would sit for hours on +his sister's lap, listening to whispered oft-told tales, or playing +at impromptu quiet games; he could go to sleep anywhere, and the +wonderful discoveries he made at each new place were the amusement of +all his auditors. Sister was always his playfellow and companion +whenever she could be spared from her father, and she had an ever- +increasing influence over him which she did her best to raise into +principle. + +Perhaps she never had a happier moment than when she heard how he had +put his hands behind him and steadily refused when Gregorio had +offered to regale him at a stall of bonbons forming only a thin crust +to liqueurs, which unfortunately he had already been taught to like. + +'But I told him sister said I mustn't have them,' said Alwyn. 'And +then he made a face and said something in French about you. I know +'twas you, for he said "soeur." What was it?' + +'Never mind, Wynnie dear. We had much better never know. You were +sister's own dear steadfast boy, and you shall kiss mother's +picture.' + +Nuttie had a beautiful coloured photograph of her mother, finished +like a miniature, which had been taken at Nice, in the time of Alice +Egremont's most complete and matured beauty. She had taught Alwyn to +kiss and greet it every evening before his prayers, and such a kiss +was his reward when he had shown any special act of goodness, for +which, as she told him, 'mother would have been pleased with her +little son.' + +Such another boon was his one Sunday evening at Biarritz, when she +found that while she was shut up at dinner with her father he had +voluntarily gone to church with nurse instead of playing on the beach +with some other English children. 'It was all very long and +tiresome,' he said, when asked if he liked it. + +'Then why did you go, old man? There was no need to drag you there,' +said his father. + +'She didn't drag me,' said the boy; 'I walked.' + +'You need not have walked then, Master Dignity.' + +'Poor nursie couldn't go without me,' said Alwyn, 'and sister says +there's a blessing on those that go.' + +'A blessing? eh! and what idea does that little head entertain of a +blessing?' said Mr. Egremont. + +Alwyn lifted his soft brown eyes reverently and said, 'It is +something good,' speaking, as he always did, in a baby lisp +inimitable here. + +'Well?' + +'And it comes from God.' + +'Well, what is it? Can you see it?' + +'No'--he looked in perplexity towards Nuttie, who was in agony all +the time, lest there should be a scoff that might remain in the +child's mind. + +'Never mind sister. Can you feel it?' + +'Yes;' and the little face lighted with such a reality that the +incipient mockery turned into wonder on the next question. + +'And how does it feel?' + +'Oh, so nice! It makes Wynnie glad here,' and he spread his hands +over his breast; and gave a little caper like a kid for very +gladness. + +'There!' said Mr. Egremont, leaning back fairly conquered. 'Any one +might envy Wynnie! Goodnight, my boy, blessing and all. I wonder if +one felt like that when one was a little shaver,' he pursued, as +Alwyn went off to his bed. + +'I think I did sometimes,' said Nuttie, 'but I never was half as good +as Wynnie!' + +'What?' exclaimed her father. 'You! bred up among the saints.' + +'Ah! but I hadn't the same nature. I never was like--_her_.' + +'Well--'tis very pretty now, and I don't know how we could stand a +young Turk, but you mustn't make a girl of him.' + +'There's no fear of that,' said Nuttie. 'He is full of spirit. That +old bathing woman calls him "un vrai petit diable d'Anglais," he is +so venturous.' + +Which delighted Mr. Egremont as much as the concession that the boy's +faith was 'pretty' delighted Ursula. Indeed, he went a little +further, for when she came back from her few minutes at Alwyn's +bedside he proceeded to tell her of the absolute neglect in which his +mother, a belle of the Almacks days, had left her nursery. It was +the first time he had ever hinted at a shadow of perception that +anything in his own life had been amiss, and Ursula could not but +feel a dreamy, hopeful wonder whether her sweet little Alwyn could be +the destined means of doing that in which her mother had failed. It +was at least enough to quicken those prayers which had been more +dutiful than trustful. + +And then her hope sank again when she realised that her father's days +were spent between the lull of opiate, followed by a certain +serenity, then in a period of irritability, each being more or less +prolonged, according to health, weather, or entertainment, and closed +again by the sedatives in various forms. It relieved her indeed, but +she felt it a wickedness to be glad of the calm, and she was aware +that the habit was making inroads on her father's powers. Between +that and his defect of eyesight, he was often much confused, +especially about money matters, and was more and more dependent. + +Would that it had been only upon her, but she was constantly certain +that Gregorio was taking advantage of his master's helplessness, and +keeping it up by all means in his power. Yet what could be done? +For the valet was absolutely necessary to his comfort, and yet she +sometimes thought her father half in dread of him, and afraid to +expostulate about personal neglects, which became more frequent. +Things, that would have enraged him from others, were only grumbled +and fretted over, when Gregorio caused him real inconvenience by +absence or forgetfulness, and made very insufficient apology. It +seemed like a bondage; Nuttie thought of her mother's efforts, and +blamed herself in vain. + +It was during this journey that she heard of good Miss Headworth's +death. The old lady's mind had long failed, and the actual present +loss to Nuttie was not great; but it seemed to close a long account +of gratitude such as she had not thoroughly felt or understood +before; and the link with Micklethwayte was severed. + +For Mark and Annaple prevailed on Mrs. Egremont to install Miss +Nugent as governess to Rosalind and Adela. In that capacity Nuttie +hoped to see a good deal of her; but of course was again +disappointed, for her father would not hear of returning to +Bridgefield. It was draughty, and dull, and desolate, and nothing +suited him but London. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. +BLACKS IN THE ASCENDANT. + + + + +'Man's work ends with set of sun, + Woman's work is never done.'--Proverb. + + +It was far on in May when Ursula found herself again in the sitting- +room over the warehouse. Somehow it had not the dainty well-cared- +for air of erst. The pretty table ornaments were out of sight; the +glass over the clock was dim, the hands had stopped; some of +Annaple's foes, the blacks, had effected a lodgment on the Parian +figures; the chintzes showed wear and wash, almost grime; the +carpet's pattern was worn; a basket full of socks was on the sofa; +and on the table a dress, once belonging to Annaple's trousseau, was +laid out, converted into its component parts. The wails of a baby +could be heard in the distance, and the first person to appear was +Master William, sturdy and happy in spite of wofully darned knees to +his stockings. + +'Mother's coming, if baby will stop crying,' he said, 'and lie in her +cradle.' + +'Your little sister! What's her name?' + +'Jane Christian,' said the boy, with a much more distinct enunciation +than Alwyn, though a year older, had yet acquired. 'She does cry so! +She won't let mother make my new knickies out of her blue gown!' + +Thoughts of the suits that Alwyn was discarding came across Nuttie. +Could they be offered without offence? She asked, however, 'Do you +remember Alwyn--my Wynnie?' + +'Wynnie gave me my horse,' cried the boy, unstabling a steed which +had seen hard service since the presentation. 'Where's Wynnie?' + +'He is at home. You must come and see him,' said Nuttie, who had not +been allowed to bring him till secure of a clean bill of health. +'But see, just outside the door, there's something for Billy.' + +She had made her servant bring up the parcels to the passage outside, +and Billy was soon hugging a magnificent box of soldiers, wherewith +he pranced off to show them to his mother, leaving the doors open, so +that Ursula could more decidedly hear the baby's voice, not a healthy +child's lusty cry, but a poor little feeble wail, interspersed with +attempts at consolation. 'Come, won't she go to Emily? Oh, Billy- +boy, how splendid! I hope you thanked Cousin Ursula. Baby Jenny, +now can't you let any one speak but yourself? Oh! shall I never +teach you that "Balow, my babe," is not "bellow, my babe." That's +better! Now can't you let Emily have you, while I go to Cousin +Nuttie?' + +'Let me come! Mayn't I?' exclaimed Ursula, invading the room that +served as kitchen, where Annaple was trying to hush off the child and +make her over to a little twelve years old maid, who stood in +waiting, helping Willie meantime to unpack his soldiers, with +smothered exclamations of delight. + +'Oh, Nuttie, how good of you! Please to excuse the accompaniment. +There never was such a young lady for self-assertion to make up for +there being so little of her.' + +And Annaple, very thin and tired looking, held up the child, +fearfully small and pinched for four months old, to be kissed by +Nuttie. + +'Does she always go on like this?' + +''Cept when she is asleep,' said Willie. + +'Poor wee lassie,' said Annaple; 'there's great excuse for her, for +the food has not yet been invented that suits her ladyship.' + +'You must come and consult nurse.' + +'And how are you all? I'm glad you are at hand, Nuttie! Is Mr. +Egremont better?' + +'As well as ever he is--lame and altogether an invalid,--but he has +not had such bad attacks of pain lately.' + +'And his eyes?' + +'About the same. He can write, and tell one card from another, but +he can't read--or rather it hurts him to do so, and he can't bear a +strong light. But, Annaple, how are you? That child is wearing you +to a shadow.' + +'Oh! I'm quite well--perfectly. There, I think she is gone off at +last. You had better walk her about a little, Emily; she will break +out again if we try to put her in the cradle.' + +And having handed over the child with only a very low murmur, Annaple +left her combined kitchen and nursery. She flew at the flowers +Nuttie had brought like a thirsty person, crying, as she buried her +face in them, 'Now for beauty! Now Mark will be refreshed! Ah! +here's a pretty pickle for a reception room.' + +'Oh, don't put it away! I could help you; I do so like that kind of +work. It is so like old times.' + +'It must be put away, thank you, for Mark will be coming in. And the +saying about the public washing of garments is specially true of +one's own husband. Ways and means are worrying to the masculine +mind.' + +'I thought it was too early for Mark?' + +'He has an appointment to keep at Charing Cross or thereabouts, so I +made him promise to come in in time to "put a bit in his head," as +our Irish charwoman says.' + +'Then I can take him. I have the carriage, and I must be at home by +half-past twelve. I wish you would come too, Annaple. There's +plenty of room. You could show the baby to nurse, and the boys could +have a good game. I would send you back in the evening. Mark could +come on after his business is done.' + +'Thank you, Nuttie, I can't to-day--for a whole heap of domestic +reasons; but, if you can get Mark to come, do, it would be so good +for him.' + +'How is Mark?' + +'He is well, quite well,' said Annaple; 'and so good and patient. +But you see, it does take it out of a man when that doleful little +noise won't stop all night! We are both acquiring a form of +somnambulism, but when there's real out-of-door business to be done, +it is not like proper sleep.' + +'Or when there's woman's indoor business, I am afraid,' said Nuttie, +much concerned at the extreme thinness of Annaple's face and hands, +and the weary look of her large eyes. + +'Oh, one makes that up at odd times!' she answered brightly. 'One +thing is, this work suits Mark, he feels that he can do it, and he +gets on well with the men. They asked him to join in their club, and +he was so much pleased. He gets up subjects for them, and I am so +glad he has such a pleasure and interest to keep him from missing the +society he was used to.' + +'It must be very good for them too. Mr. Dutton said he really +thought Mark had kept them from going in for a strike.' + +'Besides the glory of the thing,' said Annaple drawing herself up, +'Mr. Dobbs thought so too, and raised us ten pounds; which made us +able to import that little Bridgefield lassie to hold baby--when-- +when Miss Jenny will let her. He has some law copying to do besides, +but I don't like that; it burns the candle at both ends, and he does +get bad headaches sometimes, and goes on all the same.' + +'You must both come and see my Wyn.' + +'Ah! I had never asked after him. I suppose he is as pretty as +ever,' said Annaple, who secretly thought his beauty too girlish +compared with her sturdy Billy. + +'Prettier, I think, as he gets more expression. We can't persuade +ourselves to cut his hair, and it looks so lovely on his sailor suit. +And he is so good. I could not have believed a child could be so +quiet and considerate on a journey. You should have seen him +standing by my father's knee in the railway carriage, and amusing him +with all that was to be seen, and stopping at the least hint that he +was chattering too much.' + +'Billy is wonderfully helpful. Ah--' and Annaple's eyes lighted up +as the step that had music in't came up the stair; and as Mark came +in, Nuttie thought him grown older, his hair thinner, his shoulders +rounded, and his office coat shabby, but she saw something in his +countenance there had never been before. Ever since she had known +him he had worn a certain air of depression, or perhaps more truly of +failure and perplexity, which kept before her conscious mind the +Desdichado on Ivanhoe's shield, even when he was a gentleman at ease +at the luxurious Rectory; but there was now not only the settled air +of a man who had found his vocation, but something of the self- +respect and eagerness of one who was doing it well, and feeling +himself valued. + +'Is baby--' he began. 'Oh, Nuttie! Are you there? Mr. Dutton told +me you were coming. How is my uncle?' And the voice was much +brisker than in the days of lawn-tennis. + +'Father, father, look!' cried the boy. + +'Why, Billy-boy, you are set up! Zouaves and chasseurs! I see where +they came from.' + +During the mixture of greetings and inquiries, admiration of the +flowers, and the exhibition of Billy's treasures, Annaple glided +away, and presently placed before him a tray, daintily benapkinned +and set forth with a little cup of soup. + +'Baby is really asleep, and Emily as proud as a Hielandman,' she +said. 'Now eat this, without more ado, for that good Nuttie is going +to set you down at Charing Cross.' + +'This is the way we spoil our husbands, Nuttie,' said Mark. +'Refections served up at every turn.' + +'Only bones! The immortal pot au feu,' said Annaple. 'And you are +to go on after you have interviewed your man of steel, and have tea +with Nuttie, and pay your respects to your uncle, like a dutiful +nephew.' + +'No, that I can't, Nannie; I promised Dobbs to go and see a man for +him, and I must come back as soon as I can after that.' + +He looked--as to figure and air--much more like his old self when he +had changed his coat. They fed him, almost against his will, with a +few of the forced strawberries Nuttie had brought. Billy pressed on +him wonders from a Paris bonbon box, and Annaple fastened a rose and +a pink in his button-hole, and came down to the street door with her +boy to see him off. + +'What do you think of her?' was Mark's first inquiry. + +'Think! As Mr. Dutton said long ago, never was braver lady!' + +'Never was there a truer word! I meant as to her health? As to +courage, spirits, and temper, there is no question; I never saw them +fail; but are they not almost too much for the frame?' he asked +anxiously. + +It echoed Nuttie's fear, but she tried to frame a cheerful answer. +'She is very thin, but she seems well.' + +'She never complains, but I am sure her strength is not what it was. +She cannot walk out as she did at first. Indeed, she gets no real +rest day nor night, and there's no relieving her!' + +'She says you don't get much rest either.' + +'More than my share,' said Mark. 'The poor little thing never sleeps +except in someone's arms, and if awake, is not content for a moment +except in her mother's.' + +'And that has been going on four months?' + +'Three. Ever since we brought her back from Redcastle. I have +nearly determined to move into some suburb when I get a rise at +Michaelmas, unless she improves.' + +'Nurse might suggest something.' + +'Or at any rate tell us what to think. We showed her to a doctor, +and all he could propose was some kind of food, which was no more +successful than the rest. Did you look at her, Nuttie? She is a +pretty little thing when she is quiet, but she dwindles away--at +least so it seems to me, though Annaple will not see it, and--and if +we are not permitted to keep the little one, I dread what the effect +may be on her.' + +Nuttie said something about bravery and goodness, thinking in her +heart that, if the blow fell, it would be better for all than the +perpetual suffering of the poor little sickly being. + +'Ah! you don't know what her affections are,' said Mark. 'You did +not see her when she lost her mother, and there had been no strain on +her powers then. However, I've no business to croak. Many a child +gets over troubles of this kind, and, as Annaple says, little Jenny +will be all the more to us for what we go through with her.' + +The carriage stopped, and Nuttie asked him if it would delay him too +long if she executed a commission about her father's glasses. He had +plenty of time, but she was delayed longer than she expected, and on +her return was surprised to find that he had dropped asleep. + +'Ah! that's what comes of a moment's quiet;' he said, smiling. + +'Fine quiet in the roar of Ludgate Hill!' + +'To a Cockney 'tis as the mill to the miller! I like the full stir +and tide,' he added, looking out upon it. 'I never knew what life +was before!' + +'I should have thought you never knew what hardness and hard work +were.' + +'That's just it,' he answered, smiling. 'The swing of it is +exhilaration--very different from being a cumberer of the ground.' + +'Oh, Mark, all the privations and anxiety!' + +'The privation! that's nothing. Indeed I am afraid--yes, I am +ashamed to say--it falls more on my dear wife than myself, but if we +can only wear through a year or two we shall get a further rise, and +my poor Annaple may get out of this drudgery. Please God, she and +the little one can stand it for a time, and I think she has a spring +within her that will;' then, as he saw tears in his cousin's eyes, he +added, 'Don't be unhappy about it, Nuttie; I have had it in my mind +ever so long to tell you that the finding you at Micklethwayte was +the best thing that ever happened to me!' + +Yes, so far as character went, Ursula could believe that it had been +so. He was twice the man he would have been without the incentive to +work, and the constant exercise of patience and cheerfulness; but her +heart was heavy with apprehension that the weight of the trial might +be too heavy. To her eyes the baby's life seemed extremely doubtful, +and Annaple looked so fragile that the increase of her burthens, any +saddening of the heart, might destroy her elasticity, and crush her +outright; while even Mark seemed to her to be toiling so close within +the limits of his powers that a straw might break the camel's back! + +She longed to talk to Mr. Dutton about them, but she found herself +doomed to a day that perhaps Annaple would have thought more trying +than her harrowed life. She was a little later than she had +intended, and her father had been waiting impatiently to have a note +read to him, so he growled at her impatience to run after 'that +Scotch girl.' And the note happened to be of an irritating nature; +moreover, the cutlets at luncheon were said to be akin to +indiarubber, and there was the wrong flavour in the sauce. Ursula +let that cook do what she pleased without remonstrance. + +Even Alwyn did not afford as much satisfaction as usual, for the boy +was in high spirits and wanted to blow a little trumpet, which was +more than his father could stand. He was very good when this was +silenced, but he then began to rush round the room daring his sister +to catch the wild colt as he went by. This had likewise to be +stopped, with the murmur that Ursula spoilt the child. + +She tried to compose matters by turning out the old toys in the +ottoman, but Alwyn had outgrown most of them, and did not care for +any except a certain wooden donkey, minus one ear and a leg, which +went by the name of Sambo, and had absorbed a good deal of his +affection. He had with difficulty been consoled for Sambo being left +behind, and now turned over everything with considerable clatter in +search of him. Alas! Sambo could nowhere be found in the room, and +Alwyn dashed off to inquire of all the household after him. His +father meanwhile growled at the child's noise, and went on trying the +glasses Nuttie had brought, and pronouncing each pair in turn +useless, vowing that it was no use to send her anywhere. + +Upon this, back came Alwyn, terribly distressed and indignant, for he +had extracted from the housemaid left in charge, who was as cross as +she was trustworthy, 'What! that old broken thing, Master Egremont? +I threw it on the fire! I'd never have thought a young gentleman of +your age would have cared for such rubbish as that.' + +'You are a wicked cruel woman,' returned Alwyn, with flashing eyes; +'I shall tell papa and sister of you.' + +And in he flew, sobbing with grief and wrath for the dear Sambo, +feeling as if it had been a live donkey burnt to death, and hiding +his face on his sister's breast for consolation. + +'Come, come, Wyn,' said his father, who did not brook interruption; +'here's half a sovereign to go and buy a new donkey.' + +'It won't be Sambo,' said Alwyn ruefully. + +'But you should thank papa,' said Nuttie. + +'Thank you, papa,' he said, with quivering lip, 'but I don't want a +new one. Oh Sambo, Sambo! burnt!' and he climbed on Nuttie's lap, +hid his face against her and cried, but her comfortings were broken +off by, 'How can you encourage the child in being so foolish? Have +done, Wyn; don't be such a baby! Go out with nurse and buy what you +like, but I can't have crying here.' + +He tried to stop in sheer amazement, but the ground swell of sob +could not be controlled. Nuttie was going to lead him away, and +console him with more imaginative sympathy than could be expected +from the maids, but her father sharply called her back. He wanted +her himself, and indeed there was no question which was the worse +spoilt child. He might idolise Alwyn, but not so as to clash with +his own comforts. The glasses being unsuccessful, Nuttie proposed to +drive back to Ludgate Hill for him to choose for himself, but he +would not hear of going into the heat of the City, and growled at her +for thinking of such a thing. + +They took an aimless drive instead in the park, and Nuttie was nearly +baked while the carriage was stopped for her father to have a long +talk over the prospects of the Derby day with one of his most +unpleasant associates, who stood leaning over the door on the shady +side of the carriage, no one recking how little protection she +derived from her small fringed parasol. + +She came home tired out, and thankful that her father went to rest in +his own room. She climbed to the nursery, thinking to share Alwyn's +tea and comfort him, but she found only nurse there. Nurse had a bad +foot, and dreaded hot pavement, so she had sent Master Alwyn out with +her subordinate, a country girl, to play in Mr. Dutton's garden till +it should be cool enough to go and make his purchase, and a message +had since arrived that he was going to drink tea there, and Mr. +Dutton would take him out. + +His sister envied him the green shades, and had just done her best to +cool the back drawing-room and rest herself with a book, when Mr. +Fane was announced. He talked pleasantly enough, and lingered and +lingered, no doubt intending to be asked to dinner, but she was +equally determined to do no such thing. She had heard enough of +races for one day, she thought, and at last he took his leave, only +just before she dressed for dinner. + +'I thought Fane was here,' said Mr. Egremont as he came in; no doubt +told by Gregorio. + +'He has been, but he is gone.' + +'You didn't ask him to stay and dine?' + +'I did not know you wished it.' + +'You might have known that I should have liked to see him. I suppose +you think your sweet self society enough for any man?' + +'I am sorry--' + +'I'm sick of hearing you are sorry! I believe there's nothing you +like so well as doing an ungracious thing to a friend of mine.' + +Nuttie had learnt to hold her tongue on such occasions. + +Dinner was nearly over, and her father had been grumbling again at +having no one to take a hand at cards with him, when the door opened +a little way, and Alwyn's pretty glowing face looked in. He was come +to say good-night rather later than usual, and he ran up to his +sister with a little bouquet of yellow banksia and forget-me-nots. +'Mithter Button'--so Alwyn called him--'sent you this. He said you +would like it, 'cause it came from one that grew at Mittletwait. And +oh, look, look!' + +He was hugging a little ship, which he proudly exhibited, while his +father's brow had darkened at the message. 'Did you buy that?' asked +his sister. + +'Yes, Mr. Button went with me, and we sailed it. We sailed it by the +fountain in Mr. Button's garden, And we made a storm!' + +He danced about with glee, and Mr. Egremont observed, 'A dear +purchase for ten shillings. Did it cost all that, Wyn?' + +'They gived me a big silver half-crown, and I gived that to a little +boy what came to speak to Mr. Button, and had his toes through his +boots, and he was so glad.' + +'Your money is not for beggars, Wyn.' + +'The little boy was not a beggar, papa. He came with a newspaper to +Mr. Button, and he is so good to his poor sick mother,' said Alwyn. +'See, see, sister!' turning the prow of his small vessel towards her, +and showing a word on it in pencil which he required her to spell +out. It was Ursula. + +'Oh Wynnie!' she said, duly flattered, 'did Mr. Dutton do that?' + +'He held my hand, and I did!' cried Alwyn, triumphantly, 'and he will +paint it on Saturday. Then it will dry all Sunday, and not come off, +so it will be the Ursula for ever and always.' + +Here nurse claimed her charge; and when the goodnights were over, and +a murmur recommenced, Nuttie suggested that if Mr. Dutton was at home +perhaps he would come in and make up the game, but she encountered +the old humour. 'I'll tell you what, Ursula, I'll not have that +umbrella fellow encouraged about the house, and if that child is to +be made the medium of communication, I'll put a stop to it.' + +The words were spoken just as Gregorio had entered the room with a +handkerchief of his master's. Nuttie, colouring deeply at the +insult, met his triumphant eyes, bit her lips, and deigned no word of +reply. + +An undefined but very slight odour, that told her of opium smoke, +pervaded the stairs that night. It was the only refuge from +fretfulness; but her heart ached for her father, herself, and most of +all for her little brother. And was she to be cut off from her only +counsellor? + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. +THE LOST HEIR. + + + + +'Seemed to the boy some comrade gay + Led him forth to the woods to play.'--SCOTT. + + +Though it was the Derby day, Mr. Egremont's racing days were over, +and he only took his daughter with him in quest of the spectacles he +wanted. When they came back, Nuttie mounted to the nursery, but no +little brother met her on the stairs, and she found nurse in deep +displeasure with her subordinate. + +'I sent him out with Ellen to play in the garden at Springfield, and +swim his ship, where he couldn't come to no harm,' said nurse; 'being +that my foot is that bad I can't walk the length of the street; and +what does the girl do but lets that there Gregorio take the dear +child and go--goodness knows where--without her.' + +'I'm sure, ma'am,' said the girl crying, 'I would never have done it, +but Mr. Gregory said as how 'twas his papa's wish.' + +'What was?' said Nuttie. + +'That he shouldn't never go and play at Mr. Dutton's again,' said +Ellen. + +'I told her she was to take her orders off me, and no one else,' +returned nurse, 'except, of course, you, Miss Egremont, as has the +right.' + +'Quite so; you should have told Mr. Gregorio so, Ellen.' + +'I did, ma'am, but he said those was Mr. Egremont's orders; and he +said,' cried the girl, unable to withstand the pleasure of repeating +something disagreeable, 'that Mr. Egremont wouldn't have no +messengers between you and a low tradesman fellow, as made umbrellas, +and wanted to insinuate himself in here.' + +'That's quite enough, Ellen; I don't want to hear any impertinences. +Perhaps you did not understand his foreign accent. Did he say where +he was going?' + +'I think he said he'd take him to the Serpentine to sail his ship,' +said Ellen, disposed to carry on asseverations of the correctness of +her report, but nurse ordered her off the scene, and proceeded, as a +confidential servant, 'The girl had no call to repeat it; but there's +not a doubt of it he did say something of the sort. There's not one +of us but knows he is dead against Mr. Dutton, because he tried to +get master to get to sleep without that nasty opium smoke of his.' + +There was bitter feud between nurse and valet, and Nuttie could have +exchanged with her many a lament, but she contented herself with +saying, 'I wish he would let Master Alwyn alone. It is high time +they should come in.' + +'The child will be tired to death, and all dirt! His nice new sailor +suit too! Going grubbing about at the Serpentine with no one knows +who, as isn't fit for a young gentleman,' moaned nurse. + +This, however, was the worst fear she entertained, and it was with a +certain malicious satisfaction that she heard her master's bell for +Gregorio. + +Nuttie descended to explain, and whereas the need was not very +urgent, and she looked distressed and angered at the valet, her +father received her complaint with, 'Well, the boy is getting too big +to be tied for ever to a nursery-maid. It will do him good to go +about with a man.' + +But as dressing-time came on, and still neither Gregorio nor Alwyn +appeared, Mr. Egremont became impatient, and declared that the valet +had no business to keep the child out so long; indeed, he would +sooner have taken alarm but for Nuttie's manifest agony of anxiety, +starting and rushing to listen at every ring at the bell or sound of +wheels near at hand. At last, at eight o'clock, there was a peal of +the servants' bell, and the footman who answered it turned round to +the anxious crowd: 'Mr. Gregory! He just asked if the child was come +home, and went off like lightning.' + +'The villain! He's lost him!' shrieked nurse, with a wild scream. +'Run after him, James! Catch him up!' suggested the butler at the +same moment. 'Make him tell where he saw him last!' + +James was not a genius, but the hall boy, an alert young fellow, had +already dashed down the steps in pursuit, and came up with the valet +so as to delay him till the other servants stood round, and Gregorio +turned back with them, pale, breathless, evidently terribly dismayed +and unwilling to face his master, who stood at the top of the steps, +white with alarm and wrath. + +'Sir,' cried Gregorio, with a stammering of mixed languages, 'I have +been searching everywhere! I was going to give notice to the police. +Je ferai tout! Je le trouverai.' + +'Where did you lose him?' demanded Mr. Egremont in a hoarse voice, +such as Nuttie had never heard. + +'In the Park, near the bridge over the Serpentine. I was speaking +for a few moments to a friend. Bah! Il etait parti. Mais je le +trouverai. Parker, he seeks too. Fear not, sir, I shall find him.' + +'Find him, you scoundrel, or never dare to see me again! I've borne +with your insolences long, and now you've brought them to a height. +Go, I say, find my boy!' exclaimed Mr. Egremont, with a fierce oath +and passionate gesture, and Gregorio vanished again. + +'Bring the carriage--no, call a cab;' commanded Mr. Egremont, +snatching up his hat. 'Who is this Parker?' + +The servants hesitated, but the butler said he believed the man to be +a friend of Gregorio's employed at one of the clubs. Nuttie +meanwhile begging her father not to go without her, flew upstairs to +put on her hat, and coming down at full speed found that Mr. Dutton, +passing by and seeing the open door and the terrified servants on the +steps, had turned in to ask what was the matter, and was hearing in +no measured terms from Mr. Egremont how the child had been taken away +from his nurse and lost in the Park while that scamp Gregorio was +chattering to some good-for-nothing friend. + +To Nuttie's great relief, Mr. Dutton offered to go with the father to +assist in the search, and the coachman, far too anxious and excited +to let his master go without him in a cab, contrived to bring up the +carriage. Some of the servants were ordered off to the various +police offices. Poor nurse, who was nearly distracted, started in a +hansom on her own account, persuaded that she should see and +recognise traces of her darling at the scene of his loss, and she +almost raced the carriage, which was bound for the same spot. + +Sluggish natures like Mr. Egremont's can sometimes be roused to great +violence, and then pour forth the long pent-up accumulations kept +back by indolence and indifference. His only occupation during the +rapid drive was to vituperate his valet, the curse of his life, he +said. To hear him talk, it would have seemed as if Gregorio had been +the tyrant who had kept him in bondage all these years, fully aware +of his falsehood, peculation, and other rascality, but as unable to +break the yoke as if he had been in truth the slave of anything but +his own evil habit and helpless acquiescence. + +Would it last if Gregorio made his appearance at that instant with +Alwyn in his hand? Or even, as Mr. Dutton confidently predicted, a +policeman might bring the boy home, before many hours were passed. +The chief doubt here was that Alwyn's defective pronunciation, which +had been rather foolishly encouraged, might make it difficult to +understand his mode of saying his own name, or even that of the +street, if he knew it perfectly; but the year he had been absent from +London had prevented him from acquiring the curious ready local +instinct of the true town child, and he had been so much guarded and +watched that he was likely to be utterly at a loss when left alone; +and Nuttie was wretched at the thought of his terror and loneliness, +even while Mr. Dutton told her of speedy recoveries of lost children +through kind people or the police. + +They found all the officials of the Park already aware and on the +alert, and quite certain of the impossibility of nurse's prime dread +that the boy had fallen into the water unseen by any one and been +drowned. She was even ready to look into every bush, in case he had +been frightened and hidden himself; and nothing would satisfy her but +to stay making these researches, when her master had decided on +endeavouring to find 'Parker' at the club, and to ascertain from him +particulars of time and place. + +He was found there. The dinner-hour had brought him back, he being a +man in authority there, very well dressed and deferential, declaring +himself immensely distressed at the occurrence, and at having +accosted Gregorio and attracted his attention. It was about four +o'clock, he thought, and he described the exact spot where the little +boy had been sailing his vessel fastened to a string. They might +have been talking twenty minutes or half an hour when Gregorio missed +his charge, and since that time both had been doing all in their +power to find him, until half-past seven, when he had to return to +his club, and Gregorio went to see whether the child had been taken +home. + +By this time Mr. Egremont looked so utterly exhausted, that Mr. +Dutton availed himself of the hope that the boy might be found safe +at home to take him back; but alas! nothing had been heard there. + +The poor man was in a restless, unmanageable state of excitement, +almost as terrifying to his daughter as the distress that occasioned +it. He swallowed a tumblerful of claret, but would not eat nor go to +bed; and indeed, Gregorio alone having had the personal charge of +him, latterly sleeping in his dressing-room, none of the other +servants knew what to do for him. Mr. Dutton agreed with her that it +would be better to send for his doctor, as probably he ought to have +a sedative, and neither would take the responsibility of giving it; +while he himself declared he neither would nor could rest till he had +his boy again. + +The doctor was dining out, and they had two terrible hours; while Mr. +Egremont paced to the windows; threw himself on the sofa; denounced +Gregorio; or, for a change, all the system of police which had made +no discovery; and Ursula for letting the boy be so helpless. Mr. +Dutton sometimes diverted his attention for a few minutes, and hoped +he would doze, but the least sound brought him to his feet again, and +the only congenial occupation was the composition of a description of +poor little Alwyn's person and dress, which set Nuttie crying so +uncontrollably, that she had to run out of the room. + +Dr. Brownlow came at last, and was very kind and helpful, taking the +command, and insisting that Mr. Egremont should go to bed, and take +the dose which he mixed. Broadbent, the butler, was to take +Gregorio's place, but he was a ponderous man, without much tact, and +unused to the valet's office. 'I might just as well have a +rhinoceros about me,' said Mr. Egremont, in a fit of irritation; and +it ended, Nuttie hardly knew how, in Mr. Dutton's going upstairs to +smooth matters. He came down after a time and said: 'I am not +satisfied to leave him alone or to Broadbent; I have his consent to +my sleeping in the dressing-room. I am just going home to fetch my +things. Let me find you gone when I come back. You will hear no +more to-night. Even if he is found, they will keep him till +morning.' + +'It is of no use; I can't sleep.' + +'Even if you don't, the mere restful position will make you fitter +for the morrow. Will you promise me to undress and really go to +bed?' + +'Oh yes! if you say I must,' said Nuttie drearily; following an +instinct of obedience. + +'And remember,' he said, 'though I do not say it will be so, this may +be deliverance from bondage.' + +'But what a terrible deliverance!' + +'Bonds are not burst without something terrible. No; don't be +frightened. Remember there is safekeeping for that sweet little +fellow, wherever he may be.' + +'Oh, Mr. Dutton, if I could pray for him; but the turmoil seems to +have driven away all such things! My boy, my boy, where is he now? +Who has heard him say his little prayers?' + +'His Heavenly Father has; of that we may be secure. You will feel it +in the quiet of your own room. Good-night.' + +'And I shall know you are praying, better than I can,' murmured +Nuttie, as she returned his good-night, and crept up to her chamber. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. +FETTERS RENT. + + + + +'The gods are just, and of our pleasant sins + Make whips to scourge us.'--King Lear. + + +There was no real sleep for Ursula that short summer night. She saw +the early dawn, listened to the distant roll of market-carts, and +wondered when it would be reasonable to be afoot, and ready to hear, +if aught there was to hear. At any hour after seven, surely the +finders would have mercy and bring the welcome news. And just before +seven she fell asleep, deeply, soundly, and never woke till past +eight, but that was just enough to revive the power of hope, and give +the sense of a new day. But there was nothing to hear--no news. She +found Mr. Dutton in the dining-room. He had had to administer +another draught to her father, and had left him in a sleep which +would probably last for some time. If she would go and sit in the +outer room, after her breakfast, he would go out to obtain +intelligence. + +'You must have some breakfast,' she said, ringing the bell, and +wistfully looking over the blinds; then exclaiming: 'Oh, there's +Mark! Has he heard anything?' and out she darted, opening the door +before he rang. 'Mark! have you found him?' + +'Yes,' he said gravely, looking utterly amazed as she clasped her +hands, and seemed ready to fling herself on his neck with joy. 'I +came because it will be a great shock to my uncle.' + +'Then it is so! Nurse was right,' said Nuttie, turning deadly pale, +and standing as if before a iring platoon. 'Tell me, Mark, where did +they find him?' + +'At the Faringdon Station. I was sent for to identify him.' + +'Stay,' said Mr. Dutton, as there was a wild horrified look in +Nuttie's eyes. 'Do you mean little Alwyn?' + +'Little Alwyn! No, certainly not. What of him?' + +'Gregorio managed to lose him in the park yesterday,' put in Mr. +Dutton. + +'That accounts for it, then,' said Mark. 'No, it was Gregorio +himself, poor man. He was knocked down by the engine, and killed on +the spot, just by the station, at eleven o'clock last night. Our +name was found on him, and I was sent for early this morning. There +was no doubt about it, so I came on here at once to let my uncle +know, little thinking--' + +'Oh, it is dreadful!' cried Nuttie, sinking into a chair. 'Do you +remember, my father told him never to see his face again unless he +found Alwyn?' + +Broadbent came in at the moment with the coffee-pot, and stood +suspended, as he was told what had happened, Mark adding the detail: +'He was crossing the line in front of the engine.' + +'Yes, sir,' said the butler. 'It is an awful dispensation. No doubt +he knew it was all up with him. You may not be aware, sir, of the +subject of his conversation in the park. Mr. Parker had just seen a +telegram of the result of the Derby, and he had heavy bets on Lady +Edina. I am afraid, sir, there can be no doubt that he found a +voluntary grave.' + +'We will not talk of that. We cannot judge,' said Mark, shuddering. +'I said I would send some one from here to arrange what was to be +done after the inquest.' + +Broadbent immediately undertook to go, if his master did not require +him, and this was thought advisable, as his services were certainly +not acceptable to Mr. Egremont. Mark had thought himself likely to +be detained and had provided for his absence, and the awe-stricken +trio were consulting together over the breakfast-table, eating +mechanically, from the very exhaustion of agitation, when the door +opened, and Mr. Egremont in his dressing-gown was among them, +exclaiming: 'You are keeping it from me.' He had been wakened by the +whispers and rushes of the excited maids, had rung his bell in vain, +dressed himself as best he could after so many years of dependence, +and stumbled downstairs, where, as with his daughter, it was +something like a relief to know that hope was not extinguished in +Alwyn's case. But Mr. Egremont was in a very trembling, broken +condition, and much overcome by his valet's end after so many years +of intimate association. Certainly, if either of the others had so +parted with the man, it would have been a horror in the recollection, +but he did not seem to dwell on it; and, indeed, attention was +distracted by every sound at the door, since each might bring news of +the missing child. + +One of these tantalising rings proved to be a policeman with poor +Gregorio's keys, and a demand for an investigation into any papers he +might have left which would show his state of mind. Mr. Egremont +was very much annoyed, declaring that he would have no stranger +meddle with them, and that he saw no use in such prying. What +difference could it make to any living creature? However, when he +found there was no help for it, he said he must do it himself. +Nuttie offered to help, but was sharply, strongly refused. Mark +alone might and should help. + +Then Mr. Dutton volunteered to go and explain matters to Mr. Dobbs, +so as to get freedom for Mark for at least the remainder of the day. +He would call at the police offices and see what was doing in the +search, put forward the advertisements, and obtain that the +Serpentine should be dragged, for he saw that only that measure would +remove one great terror from these anxious hearts. + +'And,' he said to Mark, 'with your permission, I will bring back Mrs. +Egremont and the children if they will do me the honour to become my +guests. She will be a comfort to Miss Egremont, and then you will be +at hand in the evening.' + +Mark could only be thankful, and presently addressed himself to the +investigation, which his uncle insisted should be made in his own +presence, though the opiate kept him for the most part dozing in an +arm-chair, only rousing up now and then by some noise at the front +door, or putting queries, the replies to which startled him more and +more, as he grew more wakeful and Mark proceeded. + +All, except a few unimportant bills and a betting-book, was locked +into a dressing-case that had once belonged to Mr. Egremont, and had +tricks of secret drawers that only he could explain. It was full of +papers, and they were a strange revelation that Mr. Egremont might +well wish to withhold from his daughter. They went very far back, +and of course did not come out in order of chronology, nor would Mark +have understood them but for exclamations and comments here and there +from his uncle. + +Everything seemed to be there,--the old passport and certificate to +Gregorio Savelli, when he left his Savoyard home to be a waiter at a +hotel; a few letters in Italian, probably from his parents, which +Mark could not read, but which soon ceased; the counter-signed +character with which he had entered General Egremont's service; and +then came a note or two signed A. P. E., which Mr. Egremont regarded +with great annoyance, though they only consisted of such phrases as +'Back on Wednesday. Find an excuse,' or in French, 'Envoyez +moi la petite boite!' 'Que la porte soit ouverte apres minuit.' + +'That was the way,' groaned Mr. Egremont. 'The scoundrel! he kept +all those to be able to show me up to the General if he chose! I was +a young man then, Mark, not the straitlaced lad you've always been. +And the General! A bad old dog he was, went far beyond what I ever +did, but for all that he had no notion of any one going any way but +his own, and wanted to rein me in as tight as if he had been an +epitome of all the virtues. And Gregorio seemed a good-natured young +fellow then, and made things easy for me, though no doubt he meant to +have me in his hands, in case I tried to shake him off.' + +Another discovery affected him far more. It was of a letter in +Alice's handwriting, addressed to Captain Egremont, in the yacht +Ninon--poste restante, Madeira. He had never seen it, never known of +its existence; Gregorio had gone to inquire for the letters, and had +suppressed it. Mr. Egremont had wondered how he had become aware of +the marriage. His knowledge had from that time been used as a means +of enforcing the need of a good understanding with the heir. Mr. +Egremont was much moved by the sight of the letter, and its date, +from Dieppe, about six months after he had left his young wife there. +He made Mark give it to him unread, handled it tenderly, struggled to +read the delicate pointed writing to himself, but soon deferred the +attempt, observing, 'There, there, I can't stand it now! But you +see, Mark,' he added after an interval, 'I was not altogether the +heartless brute you thought me.' + +Mark, as he told his wife afterwards, could not help thinking of the +old preamble to indictments, 'By the temptation of the devil.' + +And by and by, out of a pocket-book bearing the date of the General's +death, came a copy of the certificate of the baptism of Ursula Alice, +daughter of Alwyn Piercefield and Alice Egremont, together with that +address which Miss Headworth had left at Dieppe to gratify Alice's +forlorn idea of a possible rescue, and which Gregorio had asseverated +to be non-existent. + +Doubtless he infinitely preferred his master's wandering bachelor +life to the resumption of marriage ties, and thus he had contrived to +keep Mr. Egremont from meeting the Houghtons at Florence. At the +same time the uncertainty as to Alice's fate had prevented any other +marriage. Gregorio had taken care that, if Mr. Egremont had been +villain enough to make such an attempt, he should know that his +secret could be brought to light. + +Compared with all this wickedness, the proofs of fraud and dishonesty +were entirely unimportant. Gambling had evidently been a passion +with the valet, and peculation had followed, and Mark could have +traced out the full tide before the reinstatement of Mrs. Egremont in +her home, the gradual ebb during her reign, the diminished restraint +under her daughter. The other servants had formerly been implicated, +but, except a young groom and footman, Mark thought the present set +quite free from the taint, and was glad to acquit Broadbent. But the +last telegrams and the betting-book in the unhappy man's pocket +confirmed Parker's evidence that of late he had staked almost madly, +and had risked sums far beyond any means he could raise upon the +horse which had failed. The bailiff at Bridgefield had, it had long +been guessed, played into his hands, but to what an extent Mark only +now discovered. + +The result was that what he had learnt in the Park had so astounded +him that his inattention to the child had not been wonderful. He +had--as Parker testified--sought the little fellow vehemently, and +had he been successful, he might yet have made some effort, trusting +to his master's toleration; but the loss and reproach had made him an +absolutely desperate man. Was it blind flight or self-destruction? +That he had money about him, having cashed a cheque of his master's, +favoured the first idea, and no one would too curiously inquire +whether Mr. Egremont was aware of the amount. + +It was only too true that, as he had said, Gregorio Savelli had been +the curse of his life, having become one of the whips left by +pleasant vices, and the breaking of the yoke had been not only at a +terrible price, but, to a man in his half-blind and invalid +condition, the actual loss of the person on whom he had depended was +a privation. Dr. Brownlow, however, knew of a good man-servant just +set at liberty by the death of an invalid master, and promised to +send him on trial. + +It was a day of agitations and disappointments, a sample of many that +were to follow. There was not a sound of a bell that did not make +anxious hearts throb. And oh! how many were spent on vain reports, +on mere calls of sympathy by acquaintance whom the father and sister +could not see, and on notes of inquiry or condolence that Nuttie had +to answer. + +Annaple came and was a great help and support to her. Poor nurse, +oblivious of her bad foot, or perhaps, willing to wreak vengeance on +it as the cause of all the mischief, had insisted on continuing her +search in the morning under all the thorns and rhododendrons where +she thought the dear lamb might have hidden and cried himself to +sleep, and at last had been brought home in a cab quite worn out and +despairing. But the screaming baby proved to be a much better +comforter to her than any amount of reasonable argument. To soothe +it, to understand what ailed it, to find suitable food for it, was an +occupation which made the suspense less intolerable. The very +handling of an infant would have been congenial; and a sickly crying +one was only too interesting. Willie was too near her darling's age +to be a welcome sight, but he was already a prime pet with the +servants at Springfield; and Annaple, secure that her children were +in safe and experienced hands, and overflowing with motherly sympathy +for the grievous loss, was ready to devote herself to Nuttie, whether +by talk, by letter writing, or by seeing inquiring friends. She did +not expect to be of any use to Mr. Egremont, who had always held +aloof from and disliked 'the giggling Scotch girl,' but who came +drearily wandering at an unexpected time into the room where she was +sitting with his daughter, and presently was involved in their +conversation. Whether it was the absence of the poor familiar, or +that Annaple was no longer a giggling girl, but a brave, cheerful +wife and mother, it was certain that he found the same comfort and +support in her presence as did Nuttie. When fits of restless misery +and despair pressed hardest upon him, it was soon perceived that +Annaple's cheerful tact enabled her to deal with him as no one else +could do. There was the restraint of courtesy towards her, such as +had worn out towards his daughter, and besides her sanguine optimist +spirit never became so depressed as did poor Nuttie's. Mark went by +day to his work, but came back to dine at his uncle's, hear the +reports, and do what he could for him; and meantime Annaple spent the +chief part of the day in aiding Nuttie and Mr. Egremont, while her +baby really showed signs of improvement in nurse's keeping. And so +the days went on, while every endeavour was made to trace the child, +but with no result but bitter disappointment. Twice, strayed +children, younger than Alwyn--one even a girl--were brought as the +lost boy, and the advertisements bore fruit in more than one +harassing and heartless correspondence with wretches who professed to +be ready to restore the child, on promises of absolute secrecy, and +sums of money sent beforehand, with all sorts of precautions against +interference from the police. + +The first of these created great excitement, and the pursuit was +committed to Mr. Dutton. When it proved abortive, Mr. Egremont's +disappointment and anger were great, and he could not be persuaded +that all was not the fault of Mr. Dutton's suspicion and precaution +in holding back the money, nor could any one persuade him that it was +mere imposture. When another ill-written enigmatical letter arrived, +he insisted that it was from the same quarter, and made Broadbent +conduct the negotiations, with the result that after considerable +sums had been paid in circuitous fashions, the butler was directed to +a railway arch where the child would be deposited, and where he found +a drab-coloured brat of whom he disposed at the nearest police +station, after which he came home savagely disgusted. + +Nuttie was not much less so at what she felt as a slight to Mr. +Dutton as well as at the failure. 'When you are doing so much for +us. We deserve that you should do nothing more,' she said with tears +shining in her eyes. + +'Do not talk in that way,' he answered. 'You know my feeling for the +dear little fellow himself, and--' + +'Oh yes,' interrupted Nuttie, 'I do trust to that! Nobody--not the +most indifferent person, but must long to save him. Yes, I know it +was doing you a wicked injustice to fancy that you could take offence +in that way at a father in such trouble. Please forgive me, Mr. +Dutton.' + +'As if I had anything to forgive. As if there were anything on earth +that could come before the endeavour to recover him,' said Mr. +Dutton, too much moved for his usual precision of speech. + +'Yes; he is _her_ child,' said Nuttie, with a trembling tearful +smile. + +'_Her_ child! Yes, and even if he were not, he is _your_ brother,' +said Mr. Dutton; then hastily gathering himself up, as if he had said +too much, he rose to take leave, adding as their hands clasped, +'Remember, as long as I live, you may count upon me.' + + +'Oh, I know, I know! There's nobody like you, but I don't know what +I say in this awful suspense. If I had only seen him lying white and +cold and peaceful, it would have been far better than to think of him +pining and miserable among wicked people, who would try to bring him +up like themselves. Mother's own little boy!' + +'It will not be allowed, it will not be allowed,' cried Mr. Dutton. +'God's Providence is still over him.' + +'And there are prayers, I know--at our church and Mr. Godfrey's-and +all ours, but oh! it takes a great deal of faith to lean on them. I +wonder if you would, Annaple, if it were Willy?' + +'We will not ask Mrs. Egremont,' said Mr. Dutton, as Annaple made a +gesture of something like doubt. + +'It is almost as bad,' said she, coming up and putting her arm round +Nuttie. 'But indeed, Mr. Dutton, she does trust, only it is very, +very sore, for her,--as it is for us all.' + +'You are her great comfort,' said Mr. Dutton, as he shook hands with +her. + +'He could hardly help thanking me,' said Annaple to her husband +afterwards. 'Mr. Egremont may well call him an adopted uncle. I +should say he was a good deal more, poor man.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. +THE HULL OF THE URSULA. + + + + +Ten days had passed, and Mark and Annaple were thinking that they +ought to return to ordinary life, and leave the bereaved ones to +endeavour to construct their life afresh under the dreadful wearing +uncertainty of their darling's fate. Still they were detained by +urgent entreaties from father and daughter, who both dreaded their +departure as additional desolation, and as closing the door of hope. +And certainly, even this rest was good for Annaple; and her baby, for +whom nurse had discovered a better system, had really not cried more +for a whole day than 'befitted a rational child,' said the mother, as +she walked back to Springfield with her husband in the summer night, +after dinner, on the day that Broadbent's negotiations had failed. + +'Nurse will break her heart at parting with her,' said Mark. 'I wish +we could afford to have her.' + +'Afford, indeed! Her wages are about a quarter of your salary, sir! +And after all, 'tis not the nurse that guards the child, as we have +seen only too plainly.' + +'Do you think he is alive, Nan?' + +'I begin to think not. He is not so young but that he could make +himself known, and those advertise ments are so widely spread. I am +sure poor Nuttie would be more at rest if she could give up hope.' + +'I did not tell you before, Nan, but Dutton was going to-day to look +at a poor little unclaimed child's body that had been found in the +Thames. He knew him better than I, so he went.' + +'He would have come if--' said Annaple. + +'Assuredly. He meant to fetch nurse if he had any doubt, but +afterwards he was going to his court about his rents. He always does +that on Saturday evenings.' + +Mr. Dutton himself opened his door to the pair. + +'Well,' said Mark. + +'Certainly not. The poor child was evidently much younger, and had +red hair. But look here,' and he held out a battered something, +black with a white stripe. Mark understood nothing, but Annaple +exclaimed, 'Is it his ship?' + +'Yes, I could swear to it, for see,' and he pointed to some grimed, +almost effaced, but still legible capitals, which, however, scarcely +any one but himself could have read as "Ursula." 'I guided his hand +to make those the evening before he was lost,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Dear little man! And where did you find it?' + +'Where I never thought of doing so! On the bed of a little crippled +boy in the next court to mine. He is rather a friend of mine, and I +turned in to take him some strawberries. I found him hugging this.' + +'How did he get it?' + +'Our "Liz" brought it to him. Our "Liz" is a very wild specimen, who +has spent her life in eluding the school board officer till she is +too old for his clutches; but she has a soft spot in her heart for +her little brother, and I believe another for Gerard Godfrey. We +must be very cautious, and not excite any alarm, or we shall be +baffled altogether. I am not sure that I did quite prudently in +giving little Alf a fresh boat in exchange for this; but I could not +help bringing it home.' + +'You did not see the girl?' + +'No. Those girls wander long and late on these hot nights, and I do +not think I could have got anything out of her. I have been to +Gerard Godfrey, and the next step must be left to him.' + +'The next question is whether you will tell those poor things at No. +5,' said Mark. + +Mr. Dutton hesitated. 'I should have no doubt of giving Miss +Egremont the comfort of knowing that there was a possible clue, but +if her father insisted on setting on the police, there would be very +little more hope of success. I am afraid it will be more prudent to +wait till we know what Godfrey says. He hopes to see the girl to- +morrow evening at his mission class, but of course she is a very +uncertain attendant there. No, I cannot trust myself.' + +Annaple was forced to brook withholding the hope from the fainting +hearts all the ensuing Sunday, which was a specially trying day, as +Nuttie pined for her dear little companion with the pictures, +stories, and hymns that he had always enjoyed, and made pretty +childish remarks about, such as she began to treasure as memorable. + +As soon as he could, early on Monday morning, Mr. Dutton repaired to +Gerard Godfrey's lodgings, and found that the young clergyman had +succeeded in seeing the girl, and had examined her so as not to put +the wild creature on her guard, and make her use the weapons of +falsehood towards one who had never been looked on as an ally of the +police. It appeared that she had brought home the ship, or rather +its hull, from one of the lowest of lodging houses, where she had +employment as something between charwoman and errand girl. She had +found it on what passed for a bed in its present condition, one +morning, when going to make the extremely slight arrangements that +the terrible lair, which served as a common bedroom, underwent, and +had secreted it as a prize for her little brother. + +At first she had been stolid, and affected utter ignorance as to how +it got there, but Mr. Godfrey had entreated her as a friend to try to +discover; and had with all his heart made a pathetic description of +the girl (he durst not say lady) who had always been a mother to her +little brother, and now had lost him, and was in terrible uncertainty +as to his fate. That came home to Lizzie's feelings, and she let out +what she had seen or picked up in the way of gossip,--that the ship +had been left behind by its owner, whether boy or girl Liz was +uncertain, for it had long fair hair, wore a petticoat, and had been +dosed with gin and something else when carried away. They said it +had made noise enough when brought there by Funny Frank and Julia. +They were performing folk, who had come in after the Derby day to +have a spree, and to pick up another kid to do fairies and such like, +because the last they had had hurt his back and had to be left in the +workhouse. Yes, she had heard tell that they had got the child from +Mother Bet, of whom Gerard had a vague idea as one of the horrible +hags, who not only beg themselves, but provide outfits for beggars, +including infants, to excite compassion. Either she or one of her +crew had picked up the child and disposed of his clothes; and then +finding him too old and intelligent to be safely used for begging +purposes, she had sold or hired him out to these acrobatic +performers, who had gone off into that vague and unknown region, the +country. Liz had no notion what was their real name, nor where they +would go, only that they attended races and fairs; and as soon as the +actual pleasure of communicating information was over, she was seized +with a panic, implored Mr. Godfrey to make no use of her information, +and explained that the people of the house were quite capable of +killing her, if they suspected her of betraying any of their +transactions. It was impossible to bring any authorities to bear on +the quest; and Mr. Dutton held it wisest only to write a note telling +Mr. Egremont that he had obtained evidence that the child was living, +and that he was going in pursuit, but thought it safer to say no more +at present. He gave the note to Mark at his office. 'I cannot trust +myself to see your cousin,' he said. 'I might be tempted to say more +than was consistent with Godfrey's honour towards his informant.' + +'I think you are right,' said Mark. 'You had better leave me with +only indefinite knowledge, for I shall be hard pressed. Do you not +go home first?' + +'Yes, I go to pack up a few things and fetch Monsieur. A run in the +country will do him good, and he may be a valuable auxiliary. I +shall find no one at Springfield at this hour.' + +'What is your plan?' + +'I shall venture so far as to apply to the police for the names of +the usual attendants at races and fairs, and for some idea of their +ordinary rounds. I have no doubt that these are known at the chief +offices. For the rest, I must use my eyes. But tell your cousin +that, with God's blessing, I hope to bring him back to her.' + +'He will,' said Ursula, when Mark gave her the message, and from that +moment she was calmer. She did not fret Mark with questions even as +much as Annaple did, she tried to prevent her father from raging at +the scant information, and she even endeavoured to employ herself +with some of her ordinary occupations, though all the time she kept +up the ceaseless watch. 'Mr. Dutton would not have said that without +good hope,' she averred, 'and I trust to him.' + +Yet when four, five, six, eight, days had passed with no tidings, the +heart sickness grew almost more than she could bear, though she still +answered with spirit when her father again took to abusing the +umbrella-fellow for choosing to keep all in his own hands. + +Even Annaple could not help saying to her husband that a precise, +prim, old bachelor was the very last person for a hunt in slums and +the like. The very sight of him would put the people on their guard. +'And think of his fine words,' she added. 'I wish I could go! If I +started with a shawl over my head, yoked to a barrel-organ, I should +have a far better chance than he will. I declare, Mark, if he does +not succeed we'll do it. We'll hire an organ, whereon you shall +play. Ah! you shake your head. A musical education is not required, +and I know I shall do something desperate soon, if that dear little +boy is not found.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. +NUTTIE'S KNIGHT. + + + + +'The night came on and the bairnies grat, + Their minnie aneath the mools heard that.' + + +'LYNDHURST, 4th July.--Philip Dutton to Miss Egremont. Found. +Waterloo, 6.15.' + + +'I knew he would,' said Nuttie, with a strange quietness, but as she +tried to read it to her father her voice choked, and she had to hand +it to Annaple. But for the first time in her life she went up and +voluntarily kissed her father's forehead. And perhaps it was for the +first time in his life that the exclamation broke from him, 'Thank +God!' + +Perhaps it was well that the telegram had not come earlier in the +day, for Mr. Egremont was very restless, showing himself much shaken +in nerves and spirits before the time for driving to the station, +which he greatly antedated. Nuttie could hardly keep him in the +carriage, and indeed had to persuade him to return thither, when he +had once sprung out on the arrival of a wrong train. + +And after all, when the train did come, his blue spectacles were +directed to the row of doors at the other end, and Nuttie was +anxiously trying to save him from being jostled, when a voice said +'Here!' and close beside them stood Mr. Dutton, with a little boy by +his side who looked up in her face and said 'Sister!' It was said in +a dreamy, almost puzzled way, not with the ecstatic joy Nuttie had +figured to herself; and there was something passive in the mode of +his hearing his father's 'My boy, my boy!' Instinctively all turned +to the harbour of the carriage; Mr. Dutton lifted Alwyn in, and as +Nuttie received him, a pang shot across her, as she felt how light, +how bony the little frame had become in these three weeks. + +'Come in! Come back with us! Tell us all!' said Mr. Egremont, as +Mr. Dutton was about to help him in. + +'My dog,' said Mr. Dutton, while Alwyn looked up from nestling in +Nuttie's lap to say, 'Mithter Button come! And Mothu!' + +'We have room for him,' said Mr, Egremont graciously. 'Here, poor +fellow.' + +'He has the right,' said Mr. Dutton, 'for he was the real finder.' + +And Monsieur, curly and shiny, occupied with great dignity the back +seat beside his master, while Alwyn, in a silent but dreamy content, +as if he only half understood where he was, rested against his +sister's bosom with his hands in his father's. + +'Come, old chap,' said his father cheerily, 'tell us all about it.' + +But Alwyn only shuddered a little, raised his eyelids slightly, and +gave a tiny faint smile. + +'I think he is very much tired,' said Mr. Dutton. 'There was a good +deal to be done to make him presentable this morning. You must +forgive me for sacrificing his curls, there was nothing else to be +done with them.' + +'Ah!' and Nuttie looked again. The boy was in a new, rather coarse, +ready-made, sailor suit that hung loosely upon his little limbs, his +hair was short, and he was very pale, the delicate rosy flush quite +gone, and with it the round outline of the soft cheek; and there were +purple marks under the languid eyes. She bent down and kissed him, +saying, 'Was Mr. Button nurse to you, Wynnie?' + +He smiled again and murmured, 'Mr. Button made me boy again.' + +After a question and answer or two as to main facts of place and time +of the discovery, Mr. Dutton told his story. 'I did not effect much +with my inquiries after the circuses. All I heard of were of too +superior an order for kidnapping practices. However, I thought the +only way would be to haunt fairs and races, and look at their camp- +followers. At a place in Hertfordshire I saw a performance +advertised with several children as fairies, so I went to see it. I +was soon satisfied that Alwyn was not there; but it struck me that I +had known the face of the prime hero, a fine handsome supple fellow, +who was called in the programme Herr Adalbert Steinfuggen, or some +such name. Well, it seemed that he knew me, for as I struggled out +after a considerable interval, I heard myself accosted, "Mr. Dutton! +Sir, surely I have the honour of speaking to Mr. Dutton of +Micklethwayte?" I assure you he was the very pink of politeness. Do +you remember, Miss Egremont, Abel Stone?' + +'Oh, Abel Stone! He was a choir boy at Micklethwayte, I remember! He +was very handsome, and had a splendid voice; but he was a real monkey +for mischief, and nobody could manage him but mother. She was always +pleading that he should not be turned out, and at last he ran away.' + +'Yes; he went off with a circus, and there he found his vocation, +rose and throve, married the prima-donna, and is part owner. He +seems very respectable, and was so friendly and affectionate that I +ventured to consult him; when, on hearing whom I was seeking, he +became warmly interested, and gave me just the information I wanted. +He said he had little doubt that Funny Frank was a clown called Brag, +with whom he had had words some years back for misusing the children. +He said he did not hold with harshness to the little ones in teaching +them to do the feats, which certainly were wonderful. If they were +frightened, they were nervous and met with accidents; but make much +of them, and they thought it all fun, and took a pride and pleasure +in their performances. However this Brag, though a clever fellow, +could not be hindered from bullying, and at last he went off with a +girl of the troupe and set up on their own account. Stone, or +whatever he pleases to call himself, had met them several times, but +he spoke of them with great contempt as "low," and they did not +frequent the same places as he does. However, he referred to one of +his men, and found that they had been at Epsom on the Derby day, and +moreover, that there was a report of them having lately narrowly +escaped being in a scrape about a child who had been injured. There +was no scruple as to advising me where to look for them, or as to the +best means of detection. Stone was very indignant, and made me +understand that all his young people were either to the manner born, +or willingly hired out by their parents. I saw them in private life, +and they looked happy and well-fed, but that was no guarantee for +Funny Frank. Well, I followed him up without success, trying each +place Stone had set down for me, till I came last night to Lyndhurst, +a very pretty place in the New Forest, where there is to be a fair +to-morrow, beginning this afternoon. Stone advised me to look about +before the affair opened, while unpacking and arranging was going on. +Well, after all, it was very simple. I strolled out with my dog +round the field where the vans and booths were getting into order. +There was what I thought a little girl in a faded red petticoat +sitting on the steps at the bottom of a yellow van with her head on +her hands.' + +'That was me,' said Alwyn, lighting up. 'And Mothu came and kissed +Fan!' + +'Yes,' said Mr. Dutton; 'I verily believe we might have missed one +another, but Monsieur ran up to him and, as I was actually whistling +him off, I heard a little voice say, "Mothu! Mothu!" and saw they +were--well, embracing one another, and then came "Mithter Button, +Mithter Button, oh, take me home!'" + +Eager caressing hands were held out to Monsieur, who jumped off the +seat to receive the pats and laudations lavished on his curly round +pate, and had to be reduced to order before Mr. Dutton could answer +the question whether he had any further difficulty or danger. + +'I took him up in my arms, and a handsome truculent-looking woman +burst out on me, demanding what I was about with her child. To which +I answered that she knew very well he was no such thing. Her man +came swaggering up, declaring impudently that I had better be off-- +but I believe he saw that the people who came round would not take +his part, for he gave in much more easily than I expected. I +explained as loud as I could that this was a gentleman's son who had +been stolen from his nurse in the Park. The man began to protest +that they had found him deserted, and taken him with them out of +charity, requesting to be paid for his keep. So I thought it better +to give them a sovereign at once, so as to have no further trouble, +and get him away as fast as I could. The woman came after me, making +further demands, but the sight of a policeman in the distance turned +her back. I went up to him and explained. I found he knew all about +the loss and the reward, and looked regretfully at my prize. We went +back to the hotel, where I set Alwyn to rights as well as I could, +sent out for some clothes, such as the place would produce, and which +at least, as he says, made a boy of him again. I'm afraid the +process was rather trying from such unaccustomed hands, though he was +very good, and he has been asleep almost all the way home, and, his +senses all as in a dream bound up.' + +The heaviness--whether weariness or content, still continued. Alwyn +seemed to find it too much trouble to talk, and only gave little +smiles, more like his mother than himself. He clung quite +desperately to his sister when Mark offered to lift him from the +carriage, but nurse was close behind, and it was good to see the +little arms stretched out, and the head laid on her shoulder, the +hand put up to stroke her cheek, and the lips whispering 'Wyn's own +nursie.' The jubilant greeting and triumphant procession with which +he was borne upstairs seemed almost to oppress him. He appeared +almost as if he was afraid of wakening from a happy dream, and his +lively merriment seemed all gone; there were only beams of +recognition and gladness at 'Wyn's own nursery, Wyn's own pretty +cup,' touching it as if to make sure that it was real, and pleased to +see the twisted crusts, his special treat. + +But he could not eat much of them, and soon laid his head down, as +one weary, with the exhaustion of content; and nurse, who had allowed +that Mr. Dutton had, considering all things, done much for the +outward restoration of the daintiness of her recovered child, was +impatient to give him the hot bath and night's rest that was to bring +back the bright joyous Alwyn. So Nuttie only lingered for those +evening prayers she had yearned after so sorely. When she held his +mother's picture to him to be kissed, he raised his eyes to her and +said: 'Will she come to me at night now?' + +'Who, my darling?' + +'She, mother dear.' + +'Here's her picture, dear boy.' + +'Not only the picture--she came out of it, when I cried, up on the +nasty-smelling bundle in the van all in the dark.' + +'She came?' + +'Yes, she came, and made it so nice, and hushed me. I wasn't afraid +to go to by-by when she came. And she sang. Sister, can't you sing +like that?' + +'Not here, I'm afraid, dear, dear boy,' she whispered, holding him so +tight that he gave a little cry of 'It hurts.' Then came the +prayers, not a word forgotten, and the little voice joined in her +murmured thanksgiving for bringing him home. + +She was much moved and awe-stricken at these words of her little +brother; but she had to dress in haste for dinner, listening the +while to her maid's rejoinings and vituperations of the wretches who +had maltreated the child. + +When she came down she found no one in the drawing-room but Mr. +Dutton, whom her father had asked to the happiest meal that had +perhaps ever been eaten in that house. + +She went towards him with winged steps in her white dress: 'Oh! Mr. +Dutton, we have not said half enough to you, but we never, never +can.' + +He gave a curious, trembling half smile, as she held out her hands to +him, and said: 'The joy is great in itself,' speaking in a very low +voice. + +'Oh! I am so glad that you did it,' cried Ursula. 'It would not have +been half so sweet to owe it to any one else.' + +'Miss Egremont, do you know what you are saying?' he exclaimed. + +'Don't call me Miss Egremont! You never used to. Why should you?' + +'I have not dared--' he began. + +'Dared! Don't you know you always were our own Mr. Dutton--best, +wisest friend of all, and now more than ever.' + +'Stay,' he said, 'I cannot allow you in your fervour to say such +things to me, unaware of the strength of feeling you are stirring +within me.' + +'You! you! Mr. Dutton!' cried Nuttie, with a moment's recoil. 'You +don't mean that you care for _me_.' + +'I know it is preposterous--' he began. + +'Preposterous! Yes, that you should care one bit for silly, foolish, +naughty, self-willed me. Oh, Mr. Dutton, you can't mean it!' + +'Indeed, I would have kept silence, and not disturbed you with my +presumption, if--' + +'Hush!' she cried. 'Why, it makes me so glad and so proud, I don't +know what to do. I didn't think anybody was good enough for you-- +unless it was dear, dear mother--and that it should be me.' + +'It is true,' he said gravely, 'my younger days were spent in a vain +dream of that angel, then when all that was ended, I thought such +things were not for me; but the old feeling has wakened, it seems to +me in greater force than ever, though I meant to have kept it in +control--' + +'Oh, I am glad you didn't! It seems as if the world swam round with +wonder and happiness,' and she held his hand as if to steady herself, +starting however as Annaple opened the door saying, 'We've been +sending telegrams with the good news.' + +Then an arch light came into her bright eyes, but the others were +behind her, and she said no more. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. +FOUND AND TAKEN. + + + + +'The angels of the gateway + Bent softly to the child, + And stretched glad hands to take him + To the kingdom undefiled.'--B. M. + + +'Come up and see him,' said Nuttie, as the dining-room door was shut. +'I must feast my eyes on him.' + +Annaple replied by throwing an arm round her and looking into her +eyes, kissing her on each cheek, and then, as they reached the +landing in the summer twilight, waltzing round and round that narrow +space with her. + +'You ridiculous person!' said Nuttie. 'Do you mean that you saw!' + +'Of course I did; I've seen ever so long--' + +'Nonsense! That's impossible--' + +'Impossible to owls and bats perhaps, but to nothing else not to see +that there was one sole and single hero in the world to you, and that +to him there was one single being in the world; and that being the +case---' + +'But, Annaple, you can't guess what he has always been to me.' + +'Oh! don't I know?--a sort of Archbishop of Canterbury and George +Heriot rolled into one. So much the more reason, my dear, I don't +know when I've been so glad in my life than that your good times +should be coming.' + +'They are come in knowing this! It is only too wonderful,' said +Nuttie, as they stood together among the plants in the little +conservatory on the way upstairs. 'I always thought it insulting to +him when they teased me about him.' + +'They did, did they?' + +'My father, incited by poor Gregorio. Oh, Annaple! don't let any one +guess till we know how my father will take it. What is it, Ellen?' +as the nursery-maid appeared on the stairs. + +'If you please, ma'am, Mrs. Poole would be glad if you are coming up +to the nursery.' + +They both hastened up and nurse came out to meet them in the day +nursery, making a sign to Ellen to take her place by the cot, and +withholding the two ladies. She made them come as far off as +possible, and then said that she was not at all satisfied about +Master Alwyn. There had been the same drowsiness and disinclination +to speak, and when she had undressed and washed him, he had seemed +tender all over, and cried out and moaned as if her touch hurt him, +especially on one side where, she felt convinced, there was some +injury; but when she asked about it his eyes grew frightened and +bewildered, and he only cried in a feeble sort of way, as if sobs +gave him pain. + +She had soothed him, and he had gone into his own bed with the same +gentle languid gladness, but had presently begun moaning, and +imploring in his sleep, wakening with screams and entreaties, 'Oh, +I'll do it! I'll try!' and she thought him very feverish. Would it +not be better that a doctor should see him? + +Nurse was always an alarmist, and Nuttie could not help thinking that +to wake the child to see a stranger to-night would only add to his +terror and distress, while Annaple declared her entire belief that +though no doubt the poor little fellow had been cruelly knocked about +and bruised, a night's rest would probably restore his bright self, +and make all that was past only like a bad dream. There was no +judging to-night, and sleep was wonderful reparation to those little +beings. + +Then however the moans and murmurs began again, and now the awakening +cry. They started forward, and as Nuttie came to the cot-side the +child threw himself into her bosom with, 'Sister! Sister! It is +sister!' but his eyes grew round with terror at sight of Annaple, and +clinging tightly to Nuttie he gasped, 'Send her away! don't let her +touch me! Fan's not here!' + +To tell him she was Cousin Annaple, Billy's mamma, had no effect; he +did not seem able to understand, and she could only retire--nurse +being thus convinced that to let him see another stranger to-night +would only do further harm. Nuttie and nurse succeeded in reassuring +him that he was safe at home and with them, and in hushing him off +into what they hoped would be a quiet wholesome sleep in spite of the +hot sultry night, on which Annaple laid a good deal of the blame of +his restlessness and feverishness. + +Nuttie only came down for a short time before the visitors went away; +and then she wrote a note to Dr. Brownlow, which Mark promised to +leave as he went to the city in the morning, Mr. Egremont, in his +present relief, pooh-poohing all fears, and backing up Annaple's +belief in the powers of 'tired nature's soft restorer'; but Mr. +Dutton looked grave and said that he had remarked the extreme +tenderness, but had hoped that much was due to his own inexperience +in handling little children. The parting clasp of the hand had a +world of meaning in it, and Nuttie openly said that she hoped to tell +him after matins at St. Michael's how the boy was. But she could not +be there. When she went upstairs at night the half-delirious terrors +had returned, and there was another difficult soothing and comforting +before the child slept again. Nurse fancied the unwonted presence +might disturb him, and insisted on her going to her own room. + +When she returned in the morning it was to find that since daylight +he had been more quietly asleep; but there was a worn sunken look +about his face, and she could not be satisfied to leave him alone +while the nurses stirred about and breakfasted. + +He awoke smiling and happy; he looked about and said gladly, 'Wyn at +home! Wyn's own nursery,' but he did not want to get up; 'Wyn so +tired,' he said, speaking of himself in the baby form that he had for +several months discarded, but he said his pretty 'thank you,' and +took delight in breakfasting in his cot, though still in a subdued +way, and showing great reluctance to move or be touched. + +Nuttie was sent for to report of him to his father, who would not +hear for a moment of anxiety, declaring that the boy would be quite +well if they let him alone, he only wanted rest, and insisting on +following out his intention of seeing a police superintendent to +demand whether the kidnapping rascals could not be prosecuted. + +Neither by Nuttie nor nurse could much be extracted from the poor +little fellow himself about his adventures. He could not bear to +think of them, and there was a mist of confusion over his mind, +partly from weakness, partly, they also thought, from the drugged +spirits with which he had been more than once dosed. He dimly +remembered missing Gregorio in the park, and that he had tried to +find his way home alone, but some one, a big boy, he thought, had +said he would show him the way, took hold of his hand, dragged him, +he knew not where, into dreadful dirt and stench, and apparently had +silenced him with a blow before stripping him. But it was all very +indistinct, he could not tell how Mother Bet got hold of him, and the +being dressed in the rags of a girl had somehow loosed his hold of +his own identity. He did not seem at all certain that the poor +little dirty petticoated thing who had wakened in a horrible cellar, +or in a dark jolting van who had been dubbed Fan, who had been forced +by the stick to dance and twist and compelled to drink burning, +choking stuff, was the same with Alwyn in his sailor suit or in his +white cot. + +It was Dr. Brownlow who at once detected that there had been much of +this dosing, and drew forth the fact. It had probably been done +whenever it was expedient that he should be hidden, or unable to make +any appeal to outsiders. Alwyn was quite himself by day, and showed +no unreasonable fear or shyness, but he begged not to be touched, and +though he tried to be good and manly, could not keep from cries and +screams when the doctor examined him. + +Then it came out. 'It's where he kicked me.' + +'Who?' + +'That man--master, she said I must call him. He kicked poor little +Fan with his great heavy big boots--'cause Fan would say Wyn's +prayers.' + +'Who was Fan?' asked the puzzled doctor. + +'Himself,' whispered Nuttie. 'Alas! himself!' + +'Wyn was Fan,' said Alwyn. 'Fan's gone now!' + +'And did the man kick poor little Fan,' repeated the doctor--'here?' + +'Oh don't--don't! It hurts so. Master said he would have none of +that, and he kicked with his big boot. Oh! Fan couldn't dance one +bit after that.' + +He could not tell how long ago this had been. He seemed to have lost +all reckoning of days, and probably felt as if ages had past in Funny +Frank's van, but Dr. Brownlow thought the injury could not be above +two or three days old, and probably it accounted for there having +been no more obstructions put in the way of removing the child, since +he had ceased to be of use, and the discovery of the injury might +have brought the perpetrator into trouble. Indeed, as it was, Mr. +Egremont caused the police to be written to, demanding the arrest of +the man and woman Brag, but they had already decamped, and were never +traced, which was decidedly a relief to those who dreaded all that a +prosecution would have involved. + +And Dr. Brownlow became very grave over the injury. He said it was a +surgical case, and he should like to have another opinion, enjoining +that the child should be kept in bed, and as quiet as possible, till +he could bring his friend in the afternoon, which was no difficult +matter, for Alwyn seemed to have no desire for anything but rest and +the sight of his friends and his treasures, which were laid beside +him to be gently handled and stroked but not played with. Mothu and +Mithter Button were among the friends he craved for, but he showed no +desire to see Billy-boy, and it was thought best to keep that young +gentleman's rampant strength at a distance. + +The chief difficulty was with his father, who declared they were all +croaking, and that the boy would be as well as ever to-morrow. He +went and sat by the cot, and talked merrily of the pony that Alwyn +was to ride, and the yachting they would have in the summer; and the +little fellow smiled and was pleased, but went to sleep in the midst. +Then Mr. Egremont went out, taking Annaple with him, because Nuttie +would not go till the doctors' visit was over, though he declared +that they were certain not to come till long after her return from +the drive. He actually went to the dealer's, and had pony after pony +paraded before the carriage, choosing a charming toy Shetland at +last, subject to its behaviour with the coachman's little boy, while +Annaple hopefully agreed with him that Alwyn would be on its back in +another week. + +He still maintained his opinion, outwardly at least, when he was met +on his return by Nuttie with a pale, almost thunderstruck face. Dr. +Brownlow had called her from trying to soothe away the fright and +suffering of the examination, to break to her that both he and his +colleague thought very seriously of the injury and its consequences, +and deemed it very doubtful whether the poor little fellow could be +pulled through. + +Mr. Egremont was again angry, declared that she had misunderstood, +and made the worst of it; that Dr. Brownlow was a conceited young +ass; that his friend played into his hands; with other amenities of +the same kind, to which she listened with mingled irritation and pity +for his unreasonableness, and even at the sympathy which he found in +Annaple's hopeful nature. + +The young mother never dreaded nor expected what she could not bear +to think possible, such as the death-warrant of that beautiful child, +while Nuttie's nature always expected the worst, and indeed had read +the doom in the doctor's eyes and voice rather than in his words. So +Annaple backed Mr. Egremont up when he made his daughter write to +desire Dr. Brownlow to call in the first advice in London; and among +them they made so sure that this would be effective that they +actually raised Nuttie's hopes so as to buoy her through the feverish +early hours of the night when the pain was aggravated, the terrors +returned, the boy was tormented by his duality with Fan, and the past +miseries were acted over again. Even nurse and sister did not +suffice, and Mithter Button had to be fetched by Mark before he could +feel quite secure that he was Alwyn and not Fan. Indeed, in these +light-headed moments, a better notion was gained of what he must have +endured than in the day-time, when all seemed put aside or forgotten. +After a time he became capable of being soothed by hymns, though +still asking why his sister could not sing like that vision of his +mother which had comforted him in his previous miseries, and craving +for her return. Then at last he fell quietly asleep, and Nuttie was +left with a few sustaining words and a pressure from Mr. Dutton's +hand. + +Alas! the new consultation could only ratify the first opinion. The +injury need not have been necessarily fatal, though dangerous to any +young child, and here it had been aggravated by previous ill- +treatment, and by the doses of spirits that had been forced down, +besides which, Alwyn was naturally delicate, and--though the doctors +would not say so to father or sister--there were hereditary +predispositions that gave him the less chance of battling through. + +Yet Mr. Egremont concluded his purchase of the pony, and insisted +that Alwyn should be carried to the window to see it; and Alwyn's +smile was almost enough to break Nuttie's heart, but his head drooped +on nurse's shoulder, he hardly lifted his heavy eyelids, and begged +for 'by-by' again. Even Annaple burst into tears at the sight, ran +out of the room with her sobs, and never augured recovery again, +though still she strove to cheer and while away the poor father's +piteous hours by making the most of every sign that the child was +happy and not suffering much. + +That he would be viewed as a 'pale placid martyr' was his sister's +chief comfort. His replies as to the manner of the hurt, as well as +his light-headed wanderings, had made it more and more evident that +the man Brag's brutality had been excited by his persisting in +kneeling down to say his prayers aloud--the only way he knew how to +say them. Indeed there was a recurring anxiety night and morning to +kneel, which had to be reasoned away, even when he was too weak to +make the attempt, and was only appeased by 'Sister' kneeling by his +side, holding his hands, and repeating the little prayers with him. +It was of his own accord that he added: 'And forgive those people, +and make them good.' Annaple burst into tears again and almost +scolded when she heard of it. 'Oh dear! oh dear! now I know he won't +get well! I'm glad Billy isn't so horribly good! Nuttie, Nuttie, +don't! You know I don't mean it. Only I just can't bear it. He is +the sweetest little fellow in the world! And oh! the cruelty of it.' + +'Yes,' said Nuttie in her dreary calmness; 'he is too sweet and +lovely and beautiful and good to be anywhere but safe with mother.' + +For it was more apparent that they could not keep him. It did not +last long; there were a couple of piteous days of restless pain and +distress, and then came the more fatal lull and absence of suffering, +a drowsiness in which the little fellow sank gradually away, lying +with a strange calm beauty on his face, and smiling feebly when he +now and then lifted his eyes to rest them on sister or nurse. His +father could not bear the sight. It filled him more with angry +compassion than with the tender reverence and hushed awe with which +Ursula watched her darling slipping as it were from her hold. So Mr. +Egremont wandered wretchedly about the lower rooms, while Mark and +Annaple tried their best for him through the long summer evening, +darkening into night. By and by Alwyn lifted his hand, turned his +head, opened his lips, and whispered, 'Hark, sister, she is singing.' +The look of exceeding joy beamed more and more over the pinched +little face. 'She's come again,' he said; and once more, 'Come to +take Wyn to the dear Lord.' After that there were very few more long +breaths before little Alwyn Egremont's spirit was gone to that unseen +world, and only the fair little frame left with that wondrous look of +delighted recognition on the face. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. +THE UMBRELLA MAN. + + + + +Little Alwyn was laid to rest beside his mother in a beautiful summer +noontide. His father was not in a state to attend the funeral, and +was left under the care of Annaple, his own choice among those who +offered to stay and minister to him. It was his own wish that his +daughter should be to the last with her little brother. He had even +said to her that she had been a good sister, and his boy had been +very fond of her, and he would not keep her away on any account. + +And, with a man's preference for a young and kindly woman, he chose +Annaple to be with him rather than Mr. Dutton, remembering likewise +that but for him the boy would have died in some workhouse, unknown +and unclaimed, or among the wretches who had caused his death. So +Nuttie had the comfort of Mr. Dutton's going down with her, as well +as Mark, and poor broken-down nurse, but not a word referring to the +confession of that happy evening had passed between them during the +mournful fortnight which had since elapsed. + +May Condamine and her husband had made all as fair and consoling as +they could. There were white-robed children to bear the boy from the +churchyard gate, choristers sang hymns, the grave was lined with moss +and daisies, and white roses decked the little coffin and the mound. +There was as much of welcome and even of triumph as befitted the +innocent child, whose death had in it the element of testimony to the +truth. And Nuttie felt it, or would feel it by and by, when her +spirit felt less as if some precious thing had been torn up by the +roots--to be safe and waiting for her elsewhere, indeed, but that did +not solace the yearning longing for the merry loving child; nor the +aching pity for the crushed blighted creature whom she had watched +suffering and dying. It was far beyond her power as yet to acquiesce +in her aunt's consolation that it was happier for the child himself, +than if he was to grow up to temptation from without, and with an +unsound constitution, with dangerous hereditary proclivities. She +could believe it in faith, nay, she had already experienced the +difficulties her father had thrown in her way of dealing with him, +she tried to be resigned, but the good sense of the Canoness was too +much for her. + +It was a day of more haste than suited the ideal of such a time, for +Mr. Egremont could not be left for a night; so there was only time +for a luncheon, with little jerks of talk, and then for an hour spent +in short private interviews. Mrs. Egremont obtained from poor Nurse +Poole all the details, and, moreover, her opinion of Mr. Mark's baby, +in whom, it having been born under her auspices, she took a special +interest. + +Nuttie meantime was pacing the shady walk with her dear old friend +Miss Nugent, feeling it strange that her heart did not leap up at the +bare presence of one she loved so much, yet conscious of the soothing +of her sympathy. And Mary, watching her all through, had been struck +with the increased sweetness and nobleness her countenance had +acquired during these years of discipline. More of her mother's +expression had come than could have been thought possible in features +of such a different mould, formed for so much more strength and +energy. They had not met since Nuttie had been summoned home to her +mother's deathbed, and their time was chiefly spent on reminiscences +alike of the old sorrow and the new; but, when the time for parting +was nearly come, Mary said affectionately, 'And you, my dear?' + +'Oh, I am all right,' said Nuttie, and her eyes shone with a light +Mary did not at the moment understand; 'you need not be anxious for +me _now_.' + +'I suppose that unhappy valet's death makes your task easier,' said +Mary. + +'I think it will,' said Nuttie. 'Poor man! He was--I can't help +saying it--the evil genius of the house. Dear mother knew it, +struggled against him, and broke down in the struggle. It seems so +strange that what she could not do has been done in such a manner, +and at such a price! I wonder whether she knew it when she welcomed +her boy!' + +'Her influence will aid you still,' said Mary, 'and you have Mr. +Dutton to help you too. I was so glad to find he was so near you.' + +'Oh, Mr. Dutton!' exclaimed Ursula, in a strange tone that sent a +thrill through Mary, though she knew not why; but at that moment they +were interrupted, very inopportunely, by Mr. Bulfinch, who could not +go away without asking Miss Egremont whether she thought her father +could see him on business if he came up to town the next day. She +thought that such an interview would rouse her father and do him +good, advising him to call on the chance. + +Mark's tete-a-tete had been with his sister May, to whom he had much +to tell of his wife and her gallant patience and energy, and how +curious it was that now the incubus that had weighed on his uncle's +household was removed, the prejudice had melted away, and he had +grown so fond of her that, next to Ursula, she was his best +comforter. + +'I hope that will lead to more,' said May. + +'I don't see how,' said Mark. The more we rely only on a blessing on +our own exertions the better.' + +'Even when Annaple works within an inch of her life?' + +'Now that she is on a right tack about the baby, that will be easier. +Yes, May, I do feel sometimes that I have brought her down to +drudgery and narrowness and want of variety such as was never meant +for her, but she will never let me think so. She says that it is +living in realities, and that it makes her happier than toiling after +society, or rather after the world, and I do believe it is true! I'm +sure it is with me.' + +'But such work as yours, Mark.' + +'Nonsense, May; I enjoy it. I did not when I was in the Greenleaf +firm, with an undeveloped sense that Goodenough was not to be +trusted, and we were drifting to the bad, yet too green to understand +or hinder it; but this I thoroughly like. What does one want but +honest effective work, with some power of dealing with and helping +those good fellows, the hands, to see the right and help themselves?' + +May sighed. 'And yet, now that poor child is gone, I feel all the +more how hard it is that you should be put out of the rights of your +name.' + +'I never had any rights. It was the bane of my life to be supposed +to have them. Nothing but this could have made a man of me.' + +'And don't you have regrets for your boy?' + +'I don't think I have--provided we can give him an education--such as +I failed to make proper use of, or Annaple might be luxuriating at +Pera at this moment.' + +'Well!' said May, pausing as she looked up the vista of trees at the +great house; 'I can't bear it to go out of the old name.' + +'Names may be taken!' + +'You don't mean that there's any chance of--Oh! not that horrid Mr. +Fane?' + +'Certainly not.' + +'Oh!' as a trim black figure appeared walking down the open space. +'That man!' + +'I am not authorised to tell any one so, May.' + +'Yes, I understand. The wretch, he is taking stock of the place +already!' + +'For shame. May, no one has deserved so well of them.' + +'I don't care, he got you into that horrid concern.' + +'And got me out of it, and found my work for me. I tell you, May, it +is the best thing that could possibly happen to your parish, or the +estate, or my poor uncle either! And you will soon come to a better +mind. ' + +'Never, while he is to get into your place! Turn back before he +comes within hailing distance. ' + +Before Mark could do anything towards bringing his sister to a better +mind he was seized on by his stepmother to propound a scheme she had +hatched, namely that, as a mutual benefit, Nurse Poole should be +allowed the consolation of bringing her chief comforter, his little +daughter, down with her on the visit Mrs. Egremont had invited her to +pay at Redcastle. He was very grateful, though doubtful whether +Annaple would accept the offer, for she was missing her children's +company, though they were only at Springfield House, and she had been +with them part of every day. And, sad as this month had been, it had +been such a rest from sheer physical toil that she had gained almost +as much by it as the little one. + +There was a general assembly and coffee-drinking in the verandah,-- +Mr. Condamine, Blanche, and her two young sisters were all there,-- +and May had to be duly civil to Mr. Dutton, though he came back with +some water-lilies that he had fished out of the lake for Nuttie, and +she thought it taking possession. Then the Londoners set forth for +the station, and there Mark, having perhaps had a hint from his wife, +saw Nuttie and Mr. Dutton safely bestowed by Broadbent in an empty +carriage, and then discovered a desire to smoke, and left them to +themselves. + +They had not been alone together for more than a second since the +evening of Alwyn's return, and there was a great shyness between +them, which lasted till the first station was past without any +irruption of newcomers. Nothing had been said but a few comments on +the arrangements and the attendants, but probably both were trying to +begin to speak, and at last it was Ursula who crossed over so that +her face could not be seen, and said in an odd tone-- + +'Mr. Dutton--' + +'Yes,' and he turned, instantly on the alert. + +'Did you mean it--what I thought you meant that evening?' + +'Can you doubt it?' he said earnestly. 'But even then I was +surprised into the avowal, and I would have held it back if possible, +if I had guessed what was going to happen.' + +'Ah! but then I should not have had that drop of comfort through it +all,' and she laid hold of his hand, which returned the pressure +strongly, but he sedulously guarded both words and tone as he said: + +'Listen, Ursula, before you speak again. How dear you must always be +to me, I cannot tell you, but when I then spoke, it was with the +sense that on every account, I should meet with strong opposition +from your father and family. And now your position is altered, so +that the unsuitability is doubled. I am not a young man, remember, +and my thoughts must be for you above all, I want you to consider +whether, in the present state of affairs, you would not do better to +look on what then passed as unsaid, or only as the ebullition of +gratitude towards your old friend. Let me go abroad, and give you +full opportunity for--for some fresh beginning likely to be fitter +for you--' + +'Mr. Dutton, how can you say such horrid things? As if a dukedom +would make any difference.' + +'Yes,' he said, turning towards her. 'If it is only the old-friend +feeling, then it is better dropped, but if your heart is in it, +child, then we go on, come what may. It is due to you.' + +She raised her face towards him now, and he gave a grave kiss to her +forehead. She drew a long breath, and said after a little pause, +'And now I have something to say. One does think of such things even +in these sad times, and you can help me. I am so glad it is you, +because I know you will, and be rejoiced to do so. You know when +Mark found us out first, dear mother and I always felt that it was a +great pity he should not have the estate he had been brought up to +expect. I believe dear mother thought it would have been the right +thing for me to marry him, but I always did mean to give it back to +him, even when I didn't like him. Well, then, you know it all seemed +settled otherwise, but now, it is so lucky you spoke to me while that +dear little fellow was with us, because now you will help me to +persuade my father that it is the only satisfactory thing to do to +let it go in the male line to Mark and his Willy.' + +'I see! I see!' said Mr. Dutton eagerly. 'It would be an infinite +relief if it could be carried out.' + +'I believe my father would like it,' said Nuttie. 'He cares for the +name; and now no one prevents it; he is fond of Mark, and still more +of Annaple! And you! Oh, Mr. Dutton, if he will only take it in the +right way, I think you will make me able to do what it grieved dear +mother never to have brought about for my poor father.' + +'My whole self is yours to aid you,' he said. 'You know of course +that I could not ask you to detach yourself from one to whom you are +so necessary. If he will permit us, we will watch over him together +as doing her work.' + +'Thank you,' was all Nuttie's lips could utter, though her hand said +much more. + +And before they reached London they had arranged something of a plan +of action for propitiating Mr. Egremont, and bringing the future +prospects to be available so as to save Annaple from being worked to +death in the meantime. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. +ANNAPLE'S AMBITION FALLEN. + + + + +'Well, how did you get on, Annaple?' + +'Oh! very well, poor old man, on the whole, though it made one pity +him doubly that he chose to make as if he forgot everything, and you +were all gone on a picnic, taking me out for a long drive in the +afternoon--where we were least likely to meet any one--that I will +say for him.' + +'Forgetting is not the best for him.' + +'As if he could forget! But he was very nice and friendly, and put +on his best, most courteous self. I think he looks on me rather as a +protector from the solemn Mr. Edsall.' + +'Surely Edsall treats him well. He was excellently recommended. You +know I saw his master's daughter.' + +'Oh! only _too_ well. He takes the management of him as if he were +three years old, or a lunatic. He simply _will_ not be offended any +more than if he had to do with a baby.' + +'What should offend him?' + +'That Mr. Egremont greatly resents being allowed nothing but by what +Edsall calls medical sanction. He is too blind, you know, to venture +to pour out anything for himself, and besides, Edsall has all the +drugs under lock and key, and is coolness itself about any amount of +objurgations, such as I fancy go on sometimes.' + +'Do you think he will stand it?' + +'Who? Your uncle? Yes, I think he will. This man really makes him +more comfortable than poor Gregorio did.' + +'Yes; Nuttie said she was sure that there was neglect, if not +bullying latterly. But he must miss Gregorio terribly. They had +been together for at least five-and-twenty or thirty years, and had +plenty of gossip together.' + +'Whereas the present paternal despotism and appalling dignity and +gravity will keep him more dependent on his right congeners.' + +'If they are of the right sort, that's all.' + +'He has been making me read him a whole heap of letters; indeed, as +you know, I have been doing that all along, when he could not get +Nuttie. There were some from Mr. Bulfinch. Do you know that bailiff +of his must be next door to a swindler?' + +'Bulfinch is coming up to see him to-morrow.' + +'And, Mark, do you know, he has been putting out feelers as if to +discover whether we would do--what he asked us to do five years ago.' + +'Would you?' + +'If it were not for the children, and--and sometimes the extreme +pinch, I should say it was more like _life_ to work yourself up as a +City man,' said Annaple. 'If you were the Squire, with all his +opportunities, it would be a different thing, but there's no outlet +there, and I have often admired the wisdom of the Apocryphal saying, +"Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man."' + +'Well, it is lucky you think so, Nannie, for though Dutton is +certainly not a foolish man, he will not want an underling. And what +do you say to my mother's proposal of having poor Poole to stay at +Redcastle, and borrowing baby to comfort her till she goes out again. + +'I hate it,' said Annaple energetically. 'It is very horrid, but it +is awfully good of the Canoness; and I suppose we shall have to let +it come to pass, and miss all that most charming time of babyhood +which is coming. But most likely it will quite set the little woman +up, and be a real kindness to poor Poole.' + +'If we could only keep her for good.' + +'Yes, and then our children would not be half so much our own. I do +want to be away with them in our own quarters. I wonder when Nuttie +can spare us, but I should like to see her through the great crisis +with her father.' + +That crisis was to involve more than Annaple in the least expected. +Nuttie found that the momentous confession could not possibly take +place before the interview with Mr. Bulfinch, at which her presence +was needed to help her father with his papers. The principal concern +was to show the full enormity of the bailiff, and decide upon the +steps to be taken, the solicitor being anxious for a prosecution, +while a certain tenderness for poor Gregorio's memory, or perhaps for +the exposure of his own carelessness, made Mr. Egremont reluctant. +There was also a proposal, brought forward with much diffidence from +Mr. Condamine's mother, to rent Bridgefield House, but on this, as +well as respecting a successor to the bailiff, Mr. Egremont was to +give his answer the next day, when Mr. Bulfinch would call again. + +Nuttie was thankful for the business that had filled up the hour +after luncheon, when Alwyn used to play in the drawing-room and +delight his father; but she was feeling desperate to have the crisis +over, and resolved to speak when she went out driving with him. It +was he, however, who began. 'I sounded Mark's wife yesterday, +Ursula. She is a nice little thing enough, and a good wife in her +way.' + +'A very good wife.' + +'Except when she persuaded him to turn up his nose at the agency. +D'ye think he would take it now, since he has tasted the sweets of +his umbrella business?' then, as Nuttie paused, taken by surprise; +'Five hundred a year and the Home Farm would be better than, what is +it, a hundred and fifty and a floor over a warehouse! I don't like +to see old Will's son wearing himself out there, and the lad is a +good honest lad, with business habits, who would do justice to you +after I am gone.' + +'Father,' said Nuttie, trembling with the effort, 'I want you to do +something better than that. I want you to let Mark take the agency +with a view to himself--not me. Let him be as he would have been if +he had never hunted us up at Micklethwayte, and put me in his place.' + +'Eh!' said Mr. Egremont. 'It is not entailed--worse luck; if it had +been, I should not have been bound to dance attendance at the heels +of such an old sinner as the General.' + +'No, but it ought to go to the heir male, and keep in the old name. +Think--there have been Egremonts at Bridgefield for four hundred +years!' + +'Very pretty talk, but how will it be with you, Miss. We shall have +Fane, and I don't know how many more, coming after the scent of +Bridgefield now,' he said with a heavy sigh, ending with a bitter +'Hang them all!' + +'And welcome,' said Nuttie, answering the thought rather than the +words. 'Father, I wanted to tell you--' + +'You don't mean that any one has been after you at such a time as +this!' he cried. + +'It was before--I mean it was the evening when we were all so glad, +before we began to be afraid.' + +'The umbrella man! By Jove!' + +'And now,' went on Nuttie, in spite of the explosion, 'he would +hardly have ventured to go on with it but for this--I mean,' as her +father gave a little laugh of his unpleasant sort, 'he said it would +be the greatest possible relief, and make it all right for the +property to go to the heir male.' + +'Hein! You think so, do you? See how it will be when I come to talk +to him! A shrewd fellow like that who got out of the Micklethwayte +concern just in time. Catch him giving up a place like that, though +he may humbug you.' + +'Then you will see him, father?' + +'If you turn him in on me, I can't help it. Bless me! umbrellas +everywhere! And here you mean to turn me over to the mercies of that +solemn idiot, Edsall. I should have been better off with poor +Gregorio.' + +'No, father; Mr. Dutton would not take me from you. We would both +try all we could to make you comfortable.' + +'Convert the old reprobate? Is that his dodge?' + +'Don't, father,' for the sneering tone returned. + +'Come now,' he added in a much more fatherly manner, for her voice +had struck him. 'You don't mean that a well-looking girl like you, +who could have her pick of all the swells in town, can really be +smitten with a priggish old retired umbrella-monger like that. Why, +he might be your father.' + +'He has been getting younger ever since I knew him,' said Nuttie. + +'Well. He plays as good a game of whist as any man in England,' +muttered Mr. Egremont, leaving his daughter in actual doubt whether +he meant this as a recommendation, or as expressing a distrust of +him, as one likely to play his cards to the best advantage. She had +to remain in doubt, for they overtook Clarence Fane, who came and +spoke to them in a very friendly and solicitous manner, and showed +himself willing to accept a lift in the carriage. Mr. Egremont, +willing to escape from perplexities as well as to endeavour to drive +away if possible the oppression of his grief, invited him in, and he +had some gossip to impart, which at first seemed to amuse the hearer +after this time of seclusion, but the sick and sore heart soon +wearied of it, and long before the drive was over, Mr. Egremont was +as much bored as his daughter had been from the first. + +When Mr. Fane got out, he paused a moment to hold Ursula's hand in a +tender manner, while he told her that he had not ventured to intrude +(he had left a card of inquiry every day), but that if ever he could +be of the least use in amusing Mr. Egremont, he was at her service, +and would give up any engagement. + +'Hein! my fine fellow! No doubt you would!' said Mr. Egremont, when +his daughter had uttered her cold thanks, and they had driven on. 'I +see your little game, but it is soon to begin it. We may as well let +them know that she is booked before the running begins.' + +It was a remarkable intimation of his acceptance of her engagement, +but Ursula was contented to take it as such, and be thankful. + +Mr. Dutton had his interview as soon as Mr. Egremont had rested after +his drive, and the result was satisfactory. + +No doubt much was due to the Egremont indolence and want of energy, +which always preferred to let things take their course. And now that +Gregorio was no longer present to amuse, and take all trouble off his +hands, Mr. Egremont could hardly have borne to part with his +daughter; and, despite of umbrellas and religion, was not sorry to +have a perfectly trustworthy son-in-law in the house, able to play at +cards with him, manage his household, and obviate all trouble about +suitors for the heiress. Moreover, his better feelings were stirred +by gratitude on his poor little son's account, and he knew very well +that a more brilliant match for his daughter would not have secured +for his old age the care and attention he could rely upon here. He +was obliged likewise to believe in the disinterestedness, which +disclaimed all desire for the estate, as involving cares and duties +for which there had been no training; and he was actually glad to +keep the property in the direct line. The old liking for Mark, and +sense of the hardship of his exclusion, revived, strengthened now by +regard for Annaple; together with the present relief from care +obtained by making him manager of the estate. + +When once brought to a point, Mr. Egremont was always sudden and +impetuous, chiefly for the sake of having it over and being +unmolested and at rest again. So that very evening, while Nuttie +only ventured on sharing with Annaple the glad tidings that Mr. +Dutton was accepted, and in his marvellous goodness, undertook to +make his home with her father. Mark was almost stunned by the news, +confirmed to him by Mr. Dutton as well as his uncle, that he was to +be acknowledged as heir of Bridgefield Egremont, and in the meantime +manage the estate with an income suitable to an oldest son. + +Presently he came upstairs by himself, and beckoned to Nuttie, rather +to the alarm of his wife. + +'Ursula,' he said, and took both her hands, 'I cannot have you do +this for me.' + +'Can't you, Mark? You can't prevent it, you see. And don't you know +it is the beginning of all my happiness?' + +'But indeed, I cannot feel it right. It is a strained sense of +justice. Come and tell her so, Nannie.' + +'What?' said Annaple coming forward. + +They both paused a moment, then Nuttie said, 'Only that the estate +ought to go in the male line.' + +'Oh, is that all?' said Annaple, 'I was afraid Mr. Egremont had a +fit!' + +'Ah! Don't you see what it means,' said Mark. 'They want it to be +as if there were an entail--to begin treating me as an eldest son at +once. It is Ursula's doing, putting herself out of the succession.' + +'I always hated being an heiress,' said Nuttie. + +'It would be more dreadful than ever now. Annaple, do be sensible! +Don't you see it is the only right thing to do?' + +'Billy!' was the one word Annaple said. + +'Yes, Billy and Jenny and all,' said Nuttie, 'before you've all died +of your horrid place--Oh! you haven't heard that part of it. Of +course Mark will have to go down to Bridgefield and look after the +place, and live like a gentleman.' + +'Eight hundred a year,' murmured Mark, 'and the house at the Home +Farm.' + +'Oh! dear,' gasped Annaple, 'I wanted you to be Lord Mayor, and now +you'll only be a stupid old country squire. No, no, Nuttie, it's-- +it's--it's the sort of thing that one only laughs at because +otherwise one would have to do the other thing!' + +And she gripped Nuttie tight round the waist, and laid her head on +her shoulder, shaking with a few little sobs, which might be one +thing or the other. + +'It will save her youth, perhaps her life,' whispered Mark, lifting +Nuttie's hand to his lips for a moment, and then vanishing, while +Annaple recovered enough to say, 'I'm tougher than that, sir. But +little Jenny! Oh, Nuttie, I believe it has come in time. I've known +all along that one straw more might break the camel's back. We've +been very happy, but I am glad it is over before Mark got worn down +before his time. Grinding is very wholesome, but one may have too +much; and I haven't Mark's scruples, Nuttie dear, for I do think the +place is more in his line than yours or Mr. Dutton's.' + +'Yes,' said Ursula, 'you see he was always happy there, and I never +was.' + +The next thing was for Mr. Dutton and Ursula to keep Mr. Egremont up +to the point of making his long deferred will; nor did they find this +so difficult as they expected, for having once made up his mind, he +wished to have the matter concluded, and he gave his instructions to +Bulfinch the next day. Of course Mark had to give full notice to his +employers; but the allowance was to begin at once, so that Annaple +only went back to the warehouse to pack up, since she was to occupy +No. 5, while Mr. Egremont and his daughter were going under Mr. +Dutton's escort to the baths in Dauphine, an entirely new resort, +free from the associations he dreaded, for he could not yet bear the +sight of little Willy--the rival 'boy of Egremont.' But the will was +safely signed before he went, to the great relief of Nuttie, who, +according to the experience of fiction, could hardly believe his life +safe till what she called justice had been done. + +After all Mr. Egremont became so dependent on Mr. Dutton, during this +journey, that he did not like the separation at its close, and +pressed on the marriage even sooner than either of the lovers felt +quite reverent towards the recent sorrow. He insisted on Bulfinch +having the settlements ready for them on their return, and only let +them wait long enough to keep their residence, before there was a +very quiet wedding in their parish church, with the cousins for +bridesmaids. Then Mark and Annaple took care of Mr. Egremont for the +fortnight while Mr. Dutton showed his wife his old haunts in France, +returning to Springfield House, where there was plenty of room for +Mr. Egremont to make his home with them. + +Said Annaple to Miss Nugent, 'I never saw Nuttie so youthful and +bright. She is more like a girl than I ever saw her since the +first.' + +'Yes,' said Mary, 'she has some one to rest on now.' + +Mr. Egremont lived between three and four years, more contented and +peaceful than he had ever been, though frequently suffering, and +sometimes giving way to temper and impatience. But Mr. Dutton +understood how to manage on these occasions, and without giving up +his own extensive usefulness, could give him such care, attention, +and amusement as beguiled his discomforts, and made his daughter's +task an easier one. + +How far the sluggish enfeebled nature was capable of a touch of +better things, or whether his low spirits were repentance, no one +could judge. At any rate sneers had ended, and when he was laid +beside his wife and boy at Bridgefield, Ursula stood by the grave +with a far more tender and hopeful feeling than she could have +thought possible when he had rent her away from her old home. +She looked up at her husband and said, 'Is not her work done?' + +THE END. + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Nuttie's Father +by Charlotte M. 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There was a Modern School for the boys, and +a High School for the girls, and a School of Art, and a School of +Cookery, and National Schools, and a British School, and a Board +School, also churches of every height, chapels of every denomination, +and iron mission rooms budding out in hopes to be replaced by +churches. + +Like one of the animals which zoologists call radiated, the town was +constantly stretching out fresh arms along country roads, all living +and working, and gradually absorbing the open spaces between. One of +these arms was known as St. Ambrose's Road, in right of the church, +an incomplete structure in yellow brick, consisting of a handsome +chancel, the stump of a tower, and one aisle just weather-tight and +usable, but, by its very aspect, begging for the completion of the +beautiful design that was suspended above the alms-box. + +It was the evening of a summer day which had been very hot. The +choir practice was just over, and the boys came out trooping and +chattering; very small ones they were; for as soon as they began to +sing tolerably they were sure to try to get into the choir of the old +church, which had a foundation that fed, clothed, taught, and finally +apprenticed them. So, though the little fellows were clad in +surplices and cassocks, and sat in the chancel for correctness sake, +there was a space round the harmonium reserved for the more +trustworthy band of girls and young women who came forth next, +followed by four or five mechanics. + +Behind came the nucleus of the choir--a slim, fair-haired youth of +twenty; a neat, precise, well-trimmed man, closely shaven, with +stooping shoulders, at least fifteen years older, with a black poodle +at his heels, as well shorn as his master, newly risen from lying +outside the church door; a gentle, somewhat drooping lady in black, +not yet middle-aged and very pretty; a small eager, unformed, black- +eyed girl, who could hardly keep back her words for the outside of +the church door; a tall self-possessed handsome woman, with a fine +classical cast of features; and lastly, a brown-faced, wiry +hardworking clergyman, without an atom of superfluous flesh, but with +an air of great energy. + +'Oh! vicar, where are we to go?' was the question so eager to break +forth. + +'Not to the Crystal Palace, Nuttie. The funds won't bear it. Mr. +Dutton says we must spend as little as possible on locomotion.' + +'I'm sure I don't care for the Crystal Palace. A trumpery tinsel +place, all shams.' + +'Hush, hush, my dear, not so loud,' said the quiet lady; but Nuttie +only wriggled her shoulders, though her voice was a trifle lowered. +'If it were the British Museum now, or Westminster Abbey.' + +'Or the Alps,' chimed in a quieter voice, 'or the Ufizzi.' + +'Now, Mr. Dutton, that's not what I want. Our people aren't ready +for that, but what they have let it be real. Miss Mary, don't you +see what I mean?' + +'Rather better than Miss Egremont herself,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Well,' said the vicar, interposing in the wordy war, 'Mrs. +Greenleaf's children have scarlatina, so we can't go to Horton +Bishop. The choice seems to be between South Beach and Monks +Horton.' + +'That's no harm,' cried Nuttie; 'Mrs. Greenleaf is so patronising!' + +'And both that and South Beach are so stale,' said the youth. + +'As if the dear sea could ever be stale,' cried the young girl. + +'I thought Monks Horton was forbidden ground,' said Miss Mary. + +'So it was with the last regime', said the vicar; 'but now the new +people are come I expect great things from them. I hear they are +very friendly.' + +'I expect nothing from them,' said Nuttie so sententiously that all +her hearers laughed and asked 'her exquisite reason,' as Mr. Dutton +put it. + +'Lady Kirkaldy and a whole lot of them came into the School of Art.' + +'And didn't appreciate "Head of Antinous by Miss Ursula Egremont,"' +was the cry that interrupted her, but she went on with dignity +unruffled--'Anything so foolish and inane as their whole talk and all +their observations I never heard. "I don't like this style," one of +them said. "Such ugly useless things! I never see anything pretty +and neatly finished such as we used to do."' The girl gave it in a +tone of mimicry of the nonchalant voice, adding, with fresh +imitation, "'And another did not approve of drawing from the life-- +models might be such strange people."' + +'My ears were not equally open to their profanities,' said Miss Mary. +'I confess that I was struck by the good breeding and courtesy of the +leader of the party, who, I think, was Lady Kirkaldy herself.' + +'I saw! I thought she was patronising you, and my blood boiled!' +cried Nuttie. + +'Will boiling blood endure a picnic in the park of so much ignorance, +folly, and patronage?' asked Mr. Dutton. + +'Oh, indeed, Mr. Dutton, Nuttie never said that,' exclaimed gentle +Mrs. Egremont. + +'Whether it is fully worth the doing is the question,' said the +vicar. + +'Grass and shade do not despise,' said Miss Mary. + +'There surely must be some ecclesiastical remains,' said the young +man. + +'And there is a river,' added the vicar. + +'I shall get a stickleback for my aquarium,' cried Nuttie. 'We shall +make some discoveries for the Scientific Society. I shall note down +every individual creature I see! I say! you are sure it is not a +sham waterfall or Temple of Tivoli?' + +'It would please the choir boys and G. F. S. girls quite as much, if +not more, in that case,' said Miss Mary; 'but you need not expect +that, Nuttie. Landscape-gardening is gone by.' + +'Even with the county people?' said Nuttie. + +'By at least half a century,' said Mr. Dutton, 'with all deference to +this young lady's experience.' + +'It was out of their own mouths,' cried the girl defiantly. 'That's +all I know about county people, and so I hope it will be.' + +'Come in, my dear, you are talking very fast,' interposed Mrs. +Egremont, with some pain in the soft sweet voice, which, if it had +been a little stronger, would have been the best in the choir. + +These houses in St. Ambrose's Road were semi-detached. The pair +which the party had reached had their entrances at the angles, with a +narrow gravel path leading by a tiny grass plat to each. One, which +was covered with a rich pall of purple clematis, was the home of Mrs. +Egremont, her aunt, and Nuttie; the other, adorned with a Gloire de +Dijon rose in second bloom, was the abode of Mary Nugent, with her +mother, the widow of a naval captain. Farther on, with adjoining +gardens, was another couple of houses, in one of which lived Mr. +Dutton; in the other lodged the youth, Gerard Godfrey, together with +the partner of the principal medical man. The opposite neighbours +were a master of the Modern School and a scholar. Indeed, the saying +of the vicar, the Rev. Francis Spyers, was, and St. Ambrose's Road +was proud of it, that it was a professional place. Every one had +something to do either with schools or umbrellas, scarcely excepting +the doctor and the solicitor, for the former attended the pupils and +the latter supplied them. Mr. Dutton was a partner in the umbrella +factory, and lived, as the younger folk said, as the old bachelor of +the Road. Had he not a housekeeper, a poodle, and a cat; and was not +his house, with lovely sill boxes full of flowers in the windows, the +neatest of the neat; and did not the tiny conservatory over his +dining-room window always produce the flowers most needed for the +altar vases, and likewise bouquets for the tables of favoured ladies. +Why, the very daisies never durst lift their heads on his little +lawn, which even bore a French looking-glass globe in the centre. +Miss Nugent, or Miss Mary as every one still called her, as her elder +sister's marriage was recent, was assistant teacher at the School of +Art, and gave private drawing lessons, so as to supplement the +pension on which her mother lived. They also received girls as +boarders attending the High School. + +So did Miss Headworth, who had all her life been one of those people +who seem condemned to toil to make up for the errors or disasters of +others. First she helped to educate a brother, and soon he had died +to leave an orphan daughter to be bred up at her cost. The girl had +married from her first situation; but had almost immediately lost her +husband at sea, and on this her aunt had settled at Micklethwayte to +make a home for her and her child, at first taking pupils, but when +the High School was set up, changing these into boarders; while Mrs. +Egremont went as daily governess to the children of a family of +somewhat higher pretensions. Little Ursula, or Nuttie, as she was +called, according to the local contraction, was like the child of all +the party, and after climbing up through the High School to the last +form, hoped, after passing the Cambridge examination, to become a +teacher there in another year. + + + + + +CHAPTER II. +MONKS HORTON. + + + + +'And we will all the pleasures prove, +By shallow rivers, by whose falls +Melodious birds sing madrigals.'--Old Ballad. + + +It was holiday-time, and liberties were taken such as were not +permissible, when they might have afforded a bad precedent to the +boarders. Therefore, when two afternoons later Mary Nugent, +returning from district visiting, came out into her garden behind the +house, she was not scandalised to see a pair of little black feet +under a holland skirt resting on a laurel branch, and going a few +steps more she beheld a big shady hat, and a pair of little hands +busy with a pencil and a blank book; as Ursula sat on the low wall +between the gardens, shaded by the laburnum which facilitated the +ascent on her own side. + +'Oh Miss Mary! Delicious! Come up here! You don't know how +charming this is.' + +She moved aside so as to leave the ascent--by an inverted flower-pot +and a laurel branch--open to her friend, thus knocking down one of +the pile of books which she had taken to the top of the wall. Miss +Nugent picked it up, 'Marie Stuart! Is this your way of studying +her?' + +'Now, you know 'tis holiday time, and volunteer work; besides, she +was waiting for you, and I could not help doing this.' She held out +a hand, which was scarcely needed, and Mary sprang lightly to share +her perch upon the wall. 'Look here!' + +'Am I to guess the subject as in the game of historic outlines,' said +Miss Nugent, as the book was laid on her lap. 'It looks like a +modern--no, a mediaeval--edition of Marcus Curtius about to leap into +the capital opening for a young man, only with his dogs instead of +his horse. That hound seems very rationally to object.' + +'Now don't! Guess in earnest.' + +'A compliment to your name. The Boy of Egremont, poor fellow, just +about to bound across the strid.' + +'Exactly! I always feel sure that my father must have done something +like this.' + +'Was it so heroic?' said Miss Mary. 'You know it was for the +hundredth time, and he had no reason to expect any special danger.' + +'Oh, but his mother was waiting, and he had to go. Now, I'll tell +you how it must have been with my father. You know he sailed away in +a yacht before I was born, and poor mother never saw him again; but I +know what happened. There was a ship on fire like the Birkenhead, +and the little yacht went near to pick up the people, and my father +called out, like Sir Humphrey Gilbert-- + + + "Do not fear, Heaven is as near + By water as by land." + + +And the little yacht was so close when the great ship blew up that it +got sucked down in the whirlpool, and rescuers and all died a noble +death together!' + +'Has your mother been telling you?' asked Miss Mary. + +'Oh no! she never mentions him. She does not know. No one does; but +I am quite sure he died nobly, with no one to tell the tale, only the +angels to look on, and that makes it all the finer. Or just suppose +he was on a desert island all the time, and came back again to find +us! I sometimes think he is.' + +'What? When you are _quite sure_ of the other theory?' + +'I mean I am quite sure while I am thinking about it, or reading +Robinson Crusoe, or the Swiss Family.' + +'Oh!' + +'Miss Mary, has no one ever told you anything about my father?' + +'No one.' + +'They never tell me. Mother cries, and aunt Ursula puts on her +"there's-an-end-of-it look." Do you think there is anything they are +waiting to tell me till I am older?' + +'If there were, I am sure you had better not try to find it out +beforehand.' + +'You don't think I would do anything of _that sort?_ But I thought +you might know. Do you remember their first settling here?' + +'Scarcely. I was a very small child then.' + +Miss Nugent had a few vague recollections which she did not think it +expedient to mention. A dim remembrance rose before her of +mysterious whisperings about that beautiful young widow, and that it +had been said that the rector of the Old Church had declared himself +to know the ladies well, and had heartily recommended them. She +thought it wiser only to speak of having been one of their first +scholars, telling of the awe Miss Headworth inspired; but the +pleasure it was to bring a lesson to pretty Mrs. Egremont, who always +rewarded a good one with a kiss, 'and she was so nice to kiss--yes, +and is.' + +'Aunt Ursel and mother both were governesses,' continued the girl, +'and yet they don't want me to go out. They had rather I was a +teacher at the High School.' + +'They don't want to trust their Little Bear out in the world.' + +'I think it is more than that,' said the girl. 'I can't help +thinking that he--my father--must have been some one rather grand, +with such a beautiful name as Alwyn Piercefield Egremont. Yes; I +know it was that, for I saw my baptismal certificate when I stood for +the scholarship; it was Dieppe,--Ursula Alice, daughter of Alwyn +Piercefield and Alice Elizabeth Egremont, May 15, 1860. James +Everett--I think he was the chaplain at Dieppe.' + +Mary Nugent thought it the wisest way to laugh and say: 'You, of all +people in the world, to want to make out a connection with the +aristocracy!' + +'True love is different,' said Ursula. 'He must have been cast off +by his family for her sake, and have chosen poverty-- + + + "To make the croon a pund, my Alwyn gaed to sea, + And the croon and the pund, they were baith for me."' + + +Miss Mary did not think a yacht a likely place for the conversion of +a croon into a pound, and the utter silence of mother and aunt did +not seem to her satisfactory; but she feared either to damp the +youthful enthusiasm for the lost father, or to foster curiosity that +might lead to some painful discovery, so she took refuge in an +inarticulate sound. + +'I think Mr. Dutton knows,' proceeded Nuttie. + +'You don't mean to ask him?' + +'Catch me! I know how he would look at me.' + +'Slang! A forfeit!' + +'Oh, it's holiday time, and the boarders can't hear. There's Mr. +Dutton's door!' + +This might in one way be a relief to Miss Nugent, but she did not +like being caught upon the wall, and therefore made a rapid descent, +though not without a moment's entanglement of skirt, which delayed +her long enough to show where she had been, as Mr. Dutton was at the +same moment advancing to his own wall on the opposite side of the +Nugent garden. Perhaps he would have pretended to see nothing but +for Nuttie's cry of glee. + +'You wicked elf,' said Miss Mary, 'to inveigle people into +predicaments, and then go shouting ho! ho! ho! like Robin Goodfellow +himself.' + +'You should have kept your elevation and dignity like me,' retorted +Ursula; 'and then you would have had the pleasure of seeing Mr. +Dutton climbing his wall and coming to our feet.' + +'Mischievous elves deserve no good news,' said Mr. Dutton, who was by +no means so venerable that the crossing the wall was any effort or +compromise of dignity, and who had by this time joined Mary on her +grass plat. + +'Oh, what is it! Are we to go to Monks Horton?' cried Nuttie. + +'Here is a gracious permission from Lord Kirkaldy, the only +stipulations being that no vestiges of the meal, such as sandwich +papers or gooseberry skins, be left on the grass; and that nobody +does any mischief,' he added in an awful tone of personality. 'So if +I see anybody rooting up holly trees I shall be bound to interfere.' + +'Now, Mr. Dutton, it was only a baby holly in a chink.' + +'Only a holly tree! Just like the giant's daughter when she only +carried off waggon, peasant, oxen, and all in her pinafore.' + +'It is not longer than my finger now!' + +'Well, remember, mischief either wanton or scientific is forbidden. +You are to set an example to the choir-boys.' + +'Scientific mischief is a fatal thing to rare plants,' said Mary. + +'If I'm not to touch anything, I may as well stay at home,' pouted +Nuttie. + +'You may gather as many buttercups and daisies as the sweet child +pleases,' said Mr. Dutton; whereupon she threatened to throw her +books at his head. + +Miss Nugent asked how they were to go, and Mr. Dutton explained that +there was only a quarter of a mile's walk from the station; that +return tickets would be furnished at a tariff of fourpence a head; +and that there would be trains at 1.15 and 7.30. + +'How hungry the children will be.' + +'They will eat all the way. That's the worst of this sort of outing. +They eat to live and live to eat.' + +'At least they don't eat at church,' said Nuttie. + +'Not since the peppermint day, when Mr. Spyers suspended Dickie +Drake,' put in Mary. + +And the Spa Terrace Church people said it was incense.' + +'No. Nuttie!' + +'Indeed they did. Louisa Barnet attacked us about it at school, and +I said I wished it had been. Only they mustn't eat peppermint in the +train, for it makes mother quite ill.' + +'Do you mean that Mrs. Egremont will come?' exclaimed Mr. Dutton. + +'Oh yes, she shall. It is not too far, and it will be very good for +her. I shall make her.' + +'There's young England's filial duty!' said Mary. + +'Why, I know what is good for her, and she always does as "I wish."' + +'Beneficent despotism!' said Mr. Dutton. 'May I ask if Miss +Headworth is an equally obedient subject.' + +'Oh! Aunt Ursel is very seldom tiresome.' + +'Nuttie! Nuttie! my dear,' and a head with the snows of more than +half a century appeared on the other side of the wall, under a cap +and parasol. 'I am sorry to interrupt you, but it is cool enough for +your mother to go into the town, and I wish you to go with her.' + + + + + +CHAPTER III. +HEIR HUNTING. + + + + +'And she put on her gown of green, + And left her mother at sixteen, + To marry Peter Bell!'--WORDSWORTH. + + +In the shrubberies of Monks Horton were walking a lady somewhat past +middle age, but full of activity and vigour, with one of those bright +faces that never grow old, and with her a young man, a few years over +twenty, with a grave and almost careworn countenance. + +More and more confidential waxed the conversation, for the lady was +making fresh acquaintance with a nephew seldom seen since he had been +her pet and darling as almost a baby, and he was experiencing the +inexpressible charm of tone and manner that recalled the young mother +he had lost in early boyhood. + +'Then your mind is made up,' she said; 'you are quite right to decide +on having a profession; but how does your father take it?' + +'He is quite convinced that to repeat my uncle's life, dangling on as +heir, would be the most fatal mistake.' + +'Assuredly, and all the legal knowledge you acquire is so much in +favour of your usefulness as the squire.' + +'If I ever am the squire, of which I have my doubts.' + +'You expect Mr. Egremont to marry?' + +'Not a future marriage, but one in the past.' + +'A private marriage! Do you suspect it?' + +'I don't suspect it--I know it. I have been hoping to talk the +matter over with you. Do you remember our first governess, Miss +Headworth?' + +'My dear Mark, did I not lose at Pera the charms of your infancy?' + +'Then neither my mother nor my grandmother ever wrote to you about +her?' + +'I do remember that it struck me that immunity from governesses was a +compensation for the lack of daughters.' + +'Can you tell me no details,' said Mark anxiously. 'Have you no +letters? It was about the time when Blanche was born, when we were +living at Raxley.' + +'I am sorry to say that our roving life prevented my keeping old +letters. I have often regretted it. Let me see, there was one who +boxed May's ears.' + +'That was long after. I think it was that woman's barbarity that +made my father marry again, and a very good thing that was. It was +wretched before. Miss Headworth was in my own mother's time.' + +'I begin to remember something happening that your mother seemed +unable to write about, and your grandmother said that she had been +greatly upset by "that miserable affair," but I was never exactly +told what it had been.' + +'Miss Headworth came when I was four or five years old. Edda, as we +used to call her in May's language, was the first person who gave me +a sense of beauty. She had dark eyes and a lovely complexion. I +remember in after times being silenced for saying, "not so pretty as +my Edda." I was extremely fond of her, enough to have my small +jealousy excited when my uncle joined us in our walks, and +monopolised her, turning May and me over to play with his dog!' + +'But, Mark, Mr. Egremont is some years older than your father. He +could not have been a young man at that time.' + +'So much the worse. Most likely he seemed to her quite paternal. +The next thing I recollect was our being in the Isle of Wight, we two +children, with Miss Headworth and the German nurse, and our being +told of our new sister. Uncle Alwyn and his yacht were there, and we +went on board once or twice. Then matters became confused with me, I +recollect a confusion, papa and grandmamma suddenly arriving, +everybody seeming to us to have become very cross, our dear Miss +Headworth nowhere to be found, our attendants being changed, and our +being forbidden to speak of her again. I certainly never thought of +the matter till a month ago. You know my uncle's eyes have been much +affected by his illness, and he has made a good deal of use of me. +He has got a valet, a fellow of no particular country, more Savoyard +than anything else, I fancy. He is a legacy, like other evils, from +the old General, and seems a sort of necessity to my uncle's +existence. Gregorio they call him. He was plainly used to absolute +government, and viewed the coming down amongst us as an assertion of +liberty much against his will. We could see that he was awfully +jealous of my father and me, and would do anything to keep us out; +but providentially he can't write English decently, though he can +speak any language you please. Well, the man and I came into +collision about a scamp of a groom who was doing intolerable mischief +in the village, and whom they put it on me to get discharged. On +that occasion Mr. Gregorio grew insolent, and intimated to me that I +need not make so sure of the succession. He knew that which might +make the Chanoine and me change our note. Well, my father is always +for avoiding rows; he said it was an unmeaning threat, it was of no +use to complain of Gregorio, and we must digest his insolence. But +just after, Uncle Alwyn sent me to hunt up a paper that was missing, +and in searching a writing-case I came upon an unmistakable marriage +certificate between Alwyn Piercefield Egremont and Alice Headworth, +and then the dim recollections I told you of began to return.' + +'What did you do?' + +'I thought I had better consult my father, expecting to hear that she +was dead, and that no further notice need be taken of the matter. +But he was greatly disturbed to hear of the certificate, and would +hardly believe me. He said that some friend of my grandmother had +written her word of goings on at Freshwater between his brother and +the young governess, and that they went off at once to put a stop to +it, but found us left with the German maid, who declared that Miss +Headworth had gone off with Mr. Egremont in the yacht. No more was +heard of my uncle for six weeks, and when he came back there was a +great row with the old General, but he absolutely denied being +married. I am afraid that was all the old sinner wished, and they +went off together in the yacht to the West Indies, where it was +burnt; but they, as you know, never came to England again, going +straight off to the Mediterranean, having their headquarters at +Sorrento, and cruising about till the General's death ten years ago.' + +'Yes, I once met them at Florence, and thought them two weary +pitiable men. One looked at the General as a curious relic of the +old buck of the Regency days, and compassionated his nephew for +having had his life spoilt by dangling after the old man. It was a +warning indeed, and I am glad you have profited by it, Mark.' + +'He came back, after the old man died, to club life in London, and +seldom has been near the old place; indeed, it has been let till +recently, and he wants to let it again, but it is altogether too +dilapidated for that without repairs. So he came down to see about +it, and was taken ill there. But to return to what my father told +me. He was shocked to hear of the certificate, for he had implicitly +believed his brother's denial of the marriage, and he said Miss +Headworth was so childish and simple that she might easily have been +taken in by a sham ceremony. He said that he now saw he had done +very wrong in letting his mother-in-law take all the letters about +"that unhappy business" off his hands without looking at them, but he +was much engrossed by my mother's illness, and, as he said, it never +occurred to him as a duty to trace out what became of the poor thing, +and see that she was provided for safely. You know Mrs. Egremont +says laissez faire is our family failing, and that our first thought +is how _not_ to do it.' + +'Yes, utter repudiation of such cases was the line taken by the last +generation; and I am afraid my mother would be very severe.' + +'Another thing that actuated my father was the fear of getting his +brother into trouble with General Egremont, as he himself would have +been the one to profit by it. So I do not wonder so much at his +letting the whole drop without inquiry, and never even looking at the +letters, which there certainly were. I could not get him to begin +upon it with my uncle, but Mrs. Egremont was strongly on my side in +thinking that such a thing ought to be looked into, and as I had +found the paper it would be best that I should speak. Besides that +there was no enduring that Gregorio should be pretending to hold us +in terror by such hints.' + +'Well, and has there been a wife and family in a cottage all this +time?' + +'Aunt Margaret, he has never seen or heard of her since he left her +at Dieppe! Would you believe it, he thinks himself a victim? He +never meant more than to amuse himself with the pretty little +governess; and he took on board a Mr. and Mrs. Houghton to do +propriety, shady sort of people I imagine, but that she did not +know.' + +'I have heard of them,' said Lady Kirkaldy, significantly. + +'She must have been a kind friend to the poor girl,' said Mark. 'On +some report that Lady de Lyonnais was coming down on her, wrathful +and terrible, the poor foolish girl let herself be persuaded to be +carried off in the yacht, but there Mrs. Houghton watched over her +like a dragon. She made them put in at some little place in Jersey, +put in the banns, all unknown to my uncle, and got them married. +Each was trying to outwit the other, while Miss Headworth herself was +quite innocent and unconscious, and, I don't know whether to call it +an excuse for Uncle Alwyn or not, but to this hour he is not sure +whether it was a legal marriage, and my father believes it was not, +looking on it as a youthful indiscretion. He put her in lodgings at +Dieppe, under Mrs. Houghton's protection, while he returned home on a +peremptory summons from the General. He found the old man in such a +state of body and mind as he tries to persuade me was an excuse for +denying the whole thing, and from that time he represents himself as +bound hand and foot by the General's tyranny. He meant to have kept +the secret, given her an allowance, and run over from time to time to +see her, but he only could get there once before the voyage to the +West Indies. The whole affair was, as he said, complicated by his +debts, those debts that the estate has never paid off. The General +probably distrusted him, for he curtailed his allowance, and scarcely +let him out of sight; and he--he submitted for the sake of his +prospects, and thinking the old man much nearer his end than he +proved to be. I declare as I listened, it came near to hearing him +say he had sold his soul to Satan! From the day he sailed in the +Ninon he has never written, never attempted any communication with +the woman whose life he had wrecked, except one inquiry at Dieppe, +and that was through Gregorio.' + +'What! the valet?' + +Yes. I believe I seemed surprised at such a medium being employed, +for Uncle Alwyn explained that the man had got hold of the secret +somehow--servants always know everything--and being a foreigner he +was likely to be able to trace her out. + +'I daresay he profited by the knowledge to keep Alwyn in bondage +during the old man's lifetime.' + +'I have no doubt of it, and he expected to play the same game with +me. The fellow reminds me, whenever I look at him, of a sort of +incarnate familiar demon. When I asked my uncle whether he could +guess what had become of her, he held up his hands with a hideous +French grimace. I could have taken him by the throat.' + +'Nay, one must pity him. The morals of George IV.'s set had been +handed on to him by the General,' said Lady Kirkaldy, rejoicing in +the genuine indignation of the young face, free from all taint of +vice, if somewhat rigid. 'And what now?' + +'He assured me that he could make all secure to my father and me, as +if that were the important point; but finally he perceived that we +had no right to stand still without endeavouring to discover whether +there be a nearer heir, and my father made him consent to my making +the search, grinning at its Quixotism all the time.' + +'Have you done anything?' + +'Yes. I have been to Jersey, seen the register--July 20, 1859--and +an old French-speaking clerk, who perfectly recollected the party +coming from the yacht, and spoke of her as tres belle. I have also +ascertained that there is no doubt of the validity of the marriage. +Then, deeply mistrusting Master Gregorio, I went on to Dieppe, where +I entirely failed to find any one who knew or remembered anything +about them--there is such a shifting population of English visitors +and residents, and it was so long ago. I elicited from my uncle that +she had an aunt, he thought, of the same name as herself; but my +father cannot remember who recommended her, or anything that can be a +clue. Has any one looked over my grandmother's letters?' + +'I think not. My brother spoke of keeping them till I came to +London. That might give a chance, or the Houghtons might know about +her. I think my husband could get them hunted up. They are sure to +be at some continental resort.' + +'What's that?' as a sound of singing was heard. + +'"Auld Langsyne." The natives are picnicking in the ravine below +there. They used to be rigidly excluded, but we can't stand that; +and this is the first experiment of admitting them on condition that +they don't make themselves obnoxious.' + +'Which they can't help.' + +'We have yet to see if this is worse than an Austrian or Italian +festival. See, we can look down from behind this yew tree. It +really is a pretty sight from this distance.' + +'There's the cleric heading his little boys and their cricket, and +there are the tuneful party in the fern on the opposite side. They +have rather good voices, unless they gain by distance.' + +'And there's a girl botanising by the river.' + +'Sentimentalising over forget-me-nots, more likely.' + +'My dear Mark, for a specimen of young England, you are greatly +behindhand in perception of progress!' + +'Ah! you are used to foreigners, Aunt Margaret. You have never +fathomed English vulgarity.' + +'It would serve you right to send you to carry the invitation to go +round the gardens and houses.' + +'Do you mean it, aunt?' + +'Mean it? Don't you see your uncle advancing down the road--there-- +accosting the clergyman--what's his name--either Towers or Spires-- +something ecclesiastical I know. We only waited to reconnoitre and +see whether the numbers were unmanageable.' + +'And yet he does not want to sit for Micklethwayte?' + +'So you think no one can be neighbourly except for electioneering! +O Mark, I must take you in hand.' + +'Meantime the host is collecting. I abscond. Which is the least +showy part of the establishment?' + +'I recommend the coal cellar--'and, as he went off--'poor boy, he is +a dear good fellow, but how little he knows how to be laughed at!' + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. +A NAME. + + + + +'Sigh no more lady, lady sigh no more, + Men were deceivers ever, + One foot on sea and one on land-- + To one thing constant never.'--Old Ballad. + + +'So you have ventured out again,' said Lady Kirkaldy, as her nephew +strolled up to her afternoon tea-table under a great cedar tree: + +'The coast being clear, and only distant shouts being heard in the +ravine-- + + + '" Like an army defeated + The choir retreated; + And now doth fare well + In the valley's soft swell,"' + + +said the aunt. + +'At least you have survived; or is this the reaction,' said the +nephew, putting on a languid air. + +'There were some very nice people among them, on whom the pictures +were by no means thrown away. What would you say, Mark, if I told +you that I strongly suspect that I have seen your lost aunt?' + +'Nonsense!' cried Mark, as emphatically as disrespectfully. + +'I am not joking in the least,' said Lady Kirkaldy, looking up at +him. 'I heard the name of Egremont, and made out that it belonged to +a very lady-like pretty-looking woman in gray and white; she seemed +to be trying to check and tame a bright girl of eighteen or so, who +was in a perfect state of rapture over the Vandykes. I managed to +ask the clergyman who the lady was, and he told me she was a Mrs. +Egremont, who lives with her aunt, a Miss Headworth, who boards girls +for the High School; very worthy people, he added.' + +'Headworth?' + +'Yes.' + +'But if it were, she would have known your name.' + +'Hardly. The title had not come in those days; and if she heard of +us at all it would be as Kerrs. I ventured further to put out a +feeler by asking whether he knew what her husband had been, and he +said he believed he had been lost at sea, but he, Mr. Spyers I mean, +had only been at Micklethwayte three or four years, and had merely +known her as a widow.' + +'I suppose it is worth following up,' said Mark, rather reluctantly. +'I wish I had seen her. I think I should know Miss Headworth again, +and she would hardly know me.' + +'You see what comes of absconding.' + +'After all, it was best,' said Mark. 'Supposing her to be the real +woman, which I don't expect, it might have been awkward if she had +heard my name! How can we ascertain the history of this person +without committing ourselves?' + +Lord Kirkaldy, an able man, who had been for many years a +diplomatist, here joined the party, and the whole story was laid +before him. He was new to Micklethwayte, having succeeded a somewhat +distant kinsman, and did not know enough of the place to be able to +fix on any one to whom to apply for information; but the result of +the consultation was that Lady Kirkaldy should go alone to call on +Miss Headworth, and explain that she was come to inquire about a +young lady of the same name, who had once been governess to the +children of her sister, Lady Adelaide Egremont. Mark was rather a +study to his uncle and aunt all the evening. He was as upright and +honourable as the day, and not only acted on high principle, but had +a tender feeling to the beautiful playfellow governess, no doubt +enhanced by painful experiences of successors chosen for their utter +dissimilarity to her. Still it was evidently rather flat to find +himself probably so near the tangible goal of his romantic search; +and the existence of a first cousin had been startling to him, though +his distaste was more to the taking her from second-rate folk in a +country town than to the overthrow of his own heirship. At least so +he manifestly and honestly believed, and knowing it to be one of +those faiths that make themselves facts, the Kirkaldys did not +disturb him in it, nor commiserate him for a loss which they thought +the best thing possible for him. + +Miss Headworth was accustomed to receive visitors anent boarders, so +when Lady Kirkaldy's card was brought to her, the first impression +was that some such arrangement was to be made. She was sitting in +her pretty little drawing-room alone, for Nuttie and her mother had +gone out for a walk with Miss Nugent. + +The room, opening on the garden, and cool with blinds, had a certain +homely grace about the faded furniture. The drawings on the walls +were good, the work quaint and tasteful. There was a grand vase of +foxgloves before the empty grate, and some Marshal Nial roses in a +glass on the table. The old lady herself--with alert black eyes and +a sweet expression--rose from her chair in the window to receive her +guest. + +Lady Kirkaldy felt reassured as to the refinement of the +surroundings, and liked the gentle but self-possessed tones of the +old lady. She noticed the foxgloves. + +'Yes,' said Miss Headworth, 'they are the fruits of yesterday's +expedition. My two children, as I call them, brought them home in +triumph. I cannot tell you what pleasure Lord Kirkaldy's kindness +gave them--and many more.' + +'I am glad,' said the lady, while she said to herself, 'now for it,' +and sat forward. 'It struck me,' she said, 'on hearing your name +that you might be related to--to a young lady who lived a good while +ago in the family of my sister, Lady Adelaide Egremont.' + +A strange look came into Miss Headworth's eyes, her lips trembled, +she clutched tightly the arm of her chair, but then cast a puzzled +glance at her visitor. + +'Perhaps if you heard of me then,' said the latter, 'it was as Lady +Margaret Kerr.' + +'Yes,' said Miss Headworth, then pausing, she collected herself and +said in an anxious voice, 'Do I understand that your ladyship is +come to inquire for my niece, being aware of the circumstances.' + +'I only became aware of them yesterday,' said Lady Kirkaldy. 'I was +in Turkey at the time, and no particulars were given to me; but my +nephew, Mark Egremont, your niece's old pupil, came to consult us, +having just discovered among his uncle's papers evidence of the +marriage, of which of course he had been ignorant.' + +'Then,' exclaimed Miss Headworth, holding her hands tightly clasped, +'Shall I really see justice done at last to my poor child?' + +'It is young Mark's most earnest wish and his father--'Lady Kirkaldy +hesitated for a word, and Miss Headworth put in: + +'His father! Why would he never even acknowledge either Alice's +letters or mine? We wrote several times both to him and Lady +Adelaide, and never received any reply, except one short one, +desiring he might not be troubled on such a subject. It was cruel! +Alice said it was not in his writing. She had done very wrong, and +the family might well be offended, but a poor child like her, just +eighteen, might have been treated with some pity.' + +'My sister was in declining health. He was very much engrossed. He +left the matter to--to others,' said Lady Kirkaldy. 'He is very +sorry now that he acquiesced in what was then thought right. He did +not then know that there had been a marriage.' + +'I should have thought in that case a clergyman would have been bound +to show the more compassion.' + +Lady Kirkaldy knew that the cruel silence had been chiefly the work +of the stem Puritan pitilessness of her mother, so she passed this +over, saying, 'We are all very anxious to atone, as far as possible, +for what is past, but we know little or nothing, only what my nephew +Mark has been able to gather.' + +'Little Mark! Alice always talked of him with great affection. How +pleased she will be to hear of his remembering her.' + +'Would you object to telling me what you know of this history?' said +Lady Kirkaldy. 'I am afraid it is very painful to you, but I think +we should understand it clearly. Please speak to me as a friend, as +woman to woman.' + +'Your ladyship is very kind,' said the poor old lady. 'I have only +mentioned the subject once since we came to settle here, seventeen +years ago, but such things one cannot forget. If you will excuse me, +I have some dates that will assist my accuracy.' + +She hurried away, and came back in a few moments, having evidently +dried some tears, perhaps of thankfulness, but she paused as if +reluctant to begin. + +'I think your niece had no nearer relation than yourself,' said Lady +Kirkaldy, anxious to set her off and at ease. + +'Oh no, or she never would have been so treated. She was an orphan. +My poor brother was a curate. He married--as young men will--on +insufficient means, his strength gave way, and he died of diphtheria +when this poor child was only two years old. Indeed, two little ones +died at the same time, and the mother married again and went to +Shanghai. She did not long live there, poor thing, and little Alice +was sent home to me. I thought I did my best for her by keeping her +at a good school. I have often wished that I had given up my +situation, and become an assistant there, so as to have her more +under my own eyes; but I fancied it important to receive a salary out +of which I could save. I am wearying your ladyship, but I can't but +dwell on the excuses for my poor child.' + +'Indeed I wish to hear all the details,' was the sincere and gentle +answer. + +'I had her with me generally in the holidays, and I confess I was +absolutely alarmed to see how pretty the child was growing, knowing +how great a disadvantage it often is. She was always a good girl, +not naturally so studious as could be wished, but docile, merry, +gentle, a favourite with every one, and peculiarly innocent and +childish. I wished her to remain a few years longer as teacher, but +it so happened that Lady Adelaide Egremont, coming to consult the +head of the establishment about a nursery-governess, saw Alice, and +was so much struck with her sweet face, which was all sunshine then, +as to insist on engaging her.' + +'Ah! my dear sister, I remember her enthusiastic letter about her +pretty governess, and her boy's affection for her, an affection that +has lasted--' + +'It seemed so safe. A clergyman's family in the country, and so kind +a lady at the head, that, though Alice had been educated for a +superior governess, it appeared the best beginning she could have. +And she was very happy, and met with great kindness. Only, +unfortunately, Lady Adelaide was delicate, and for many weeks +entirely confined to the sofa. Mr. Egremont's elder brother was much +there. He seemed to my poor inexperienced child quite elderly, and +his attentions like those of--of an old uncle--she told me +afterwards--' + +'He must really have been over forty--' + +'No doubt my poor Alice was unguarded. We know what a merry, happy, +childish girl may be, but I never heard that her conduct was even +censured while she remained at Baxley, though I find that Captain +Egremont used to join them in their walks, under pretext of playing +with the children. Then she was sent to Freshwater with the two +eldest children during Lady Adelaide's confinement, and there, most +unjustifiably, Captain Egremont continually visited them from his +yacht, and offered to take them out in it. Alice knew she ought not +to go without a married lady on board, and he brought a Mr. and Mrs. +Houghton to call, who were very kind and caressing to her and the +children, so that she thought all was right. Oh! Lady Kirkaldy, I +don't mean to defend her, I daresay she was very giddy and silly, she +reproaches herself, poor dear, but I do say that a wicked advantage +was taken of her innocence and ignorance. She says that she had +begun to grow a little uneasy at the way people looked when Captain +Egremont joined them on the beach; and the nurse, a German, said +something that she could not understand. On the 1st of July--yes-- +but I have the date here--came a telegram to the hotel to have rooms +for Lady de Lyonnais and Mr. Egremont ready by the evening. The +whole place knew it, and some meddling person burst on Alice with the +news, roughly and coarsely given, that they were coming to call her +to account for her goings on. Captain Egremont found her crying in +the utmost terror, and--she really hardly knew what he said to her-- +she thinks he offered to shelter her on board the Ninon, from Lady de +Lyonnais' first wrath while he and Mrs. Houghton explained matters; +but she cannot tell, for she lost her senses with fright, only knew +that he was kind and sweet to her in her distress, and thought only +of escaping. Well, I don't excuse her. Of course it was the most +terrible and fatal thing she could have done, and--' The good old +lady was quite overcome, and Lady Kirkaldy had tears in her eyes as +she said, + +'It was frightful folly--but she was guarded.' + +'Yes, her innocence was guarded, thank God,' said Miss Headworth +fervently. 'You see she did know that Mr. and Mrs. Houghton were on +board, and Mrs. Houghton was a truly kind protector who deserved her +confidence, though, poor lady, she admitted to me that her own +conduct had not been-strictly correct.' + +'How long was it before you heard of her?' + +'There was a dreadful letter from Mr. Egremont enclosing what was due +of her salary, and then I heard no more for seven months. I went to +the Isle of Wight and made all inquiries, but the nurse and children +had gone away immediately, and I could obtain no trace of them.' + +'Then she--your niece, never wrote.' + +'She was afraid, poor dear. She had never been at her ease with me. +Her mother had taught her to think me strict and harsh, and she had +never opened to me in those days. Besides, he had forbidden her. At +last, however, in January, came a letter from this Mrs. Houghton, +telling me that my Alice was very unwell at Dieppe, that nothing had +been heard of her husband, Captain Egremont, to whom she had been +married on the 20th of July at St. Philippe, in Jersey, and that she +herself was obliged to leave the place almost immediately; but she +would, if possible, wait till my arrival, as Mrs. Egremont was not in +a condition to be left alone. My dear friends, with whom I was then +living, were as kind as possible, and set me free to go. I was there +in three days, and truly the dear, beautiful, merry girl I had parted +with only a year before was a sad piteous sight. Mrs. Houghton +seemed broken-hearted at leaving her, thinking there was little +chance of her living; but Mr. Houghton, who, I am afraid, was a +professed gambler, had got into some scrape, and was gone to Paris, +where she had to follow him. She told me all about it, and how, when +Captain Egremont fancied that a marriage in the Channel Islands was +one he could play fast and loose with, she had taken care that the +formalities should be such as to make all secure. Foolish and wrong +as poor Alice had been, she had awakened all the best side of that +poor woman's nature, and no mother could have been more careful and +tender. She gave me the certificate--here it is--and assured me that +it would hold good. I have shown it to a lawyer, and he said the +same; but when I sent a copy to Mr. Egremont, my letter was returned +unopened.' + +'Captain Egremont had denied the marriage, and they believed him,' +said Lady Kirkaldy. 'It is hard to believe that he could be so +heartless, but he was in bondage to the old General Egremont, and +dreaded losing his inheritance.' + +'So he told them in his one visit to Dieppe. He said he must keep +his marriage secret, but promised an allowance, on condition that +Alice would live quietly at Dieppe, and not communicate with any one +of her own family or his. He had left £100 with her, but that was +nearly gone, and she had never heard from him. It had preyed on her, +and she was so ill that I never expected, any more than Mrs. +Houghton, to see her recover. I stayed there with her; she could not +be moved, even if she would have consented, when she was continually +expecting him; but at last--four days after her little girl was born-- +came the news of the Ninon having been burnt, with all on board, +three months before. Do you know, strange to say, though I had +feared so much to tell her, she began to revive from that time. The +suspense and watching were over. She saw that he had not deserted +her, and believed that he had loved her to the last. She cried a +great deal, but it was in a peaceful, natural way. I wrote then, as +I had already written, to Lady Adelaide and to Mr. Egremont, but was +not answered.' + +'I can account for that,' said Lady Kirkaldy. 'My sister had been +ordered to Madeira in the autumn, and there they remained till her +death in May. All the letters were sent to my mother, and she did +not think fit to forward, or open, any bearing on the subject. In +the meantime Mr. Egremont was presented to the family living, and on +his return moved to Bridgefield Egremont. And you came here?' + +'Of course I could not part with my poor Alice again. Mr. and Mrs. +Fordyce, whose daughter I had long ago educated, had always kept up a +correspondence with me, and, knowing all the story, proposed to me to +come here. He was then rector of the old church, and by their help +and recommendation, with such capital as I had, we were able to begin +a little school; and though that has had to give way to the High +School, what with boarders, and with Alice's employment as daily +governess, we have, I am thankful to say, gone on very well and +comfortably, and my dear child has recovered her cheerfulness, though +she can never be quite what--I think she was meant to be,' said the +old lady, with a sad smile, 'though perhaps she is something better.' + +'Do you think she was absolutely convinced of his death?' + +'Do you mean that he is alive?' exclaimed Miss Headworth in dismay. +'Oh! he is a wickeder man than even I supposed, to have forsaken her +all these years. Is my poor child in his power? Must her peace, now +she has attained it, be disturbed?' + +'There is a great deal to take into consideration,' said Lady +Kirkaldy. 'I had better tell you how this visit of mine came about, +and explain some matters about the Egremont family.' + +She then told how Captain Egremont, after a brief service in the Life +Guards, had been made to retire, that the old General, whose heir he +was, might keep him in attendance on him. Already self-indulgent and +extravagant, the idleness of the life he led with the worn-out old +roue had deadened his better feelings, and habituated him to +dissipation, while his debts, his expensive habits, and his dread of +losing the inheritance, had bound him over to the General. Both had +been saved from the fire in the Ninon, whence they were picked up by +a Chilian vessel, and they had been long in communicating with home. +The General hated England, and was in broken health. He had spent +the remaining years of his life at various continental resorts, where +he could enjoy a warm climate, combined with facilities for high +play. + +When at length, he died, Captain Egremont had continued the life to +which he had become accustomed, and had of late manifested an +expectation that his nephew Mark should play the same part by him as +he had done by the General, but the youth, bred in a very different +tone, would on no account thus surrender himself to an evil bondage. +Indeed he felt all the severity of youthful virtue, and had little +toleration for his uncle's ways of thinking; though, when the old man +had come home ill, dejected, and half blind, he had allowed himself +to be made useful on business matters. And thus he had discovered +the marriage, and had taken up the cause with the ardour stimulated +by a chivalrous feeling for the beautiful vision of his childhood, +whose sudden disappearance had ended his brightest days. + +'I suppose it is right and generous of the young man,' said Miss +Headworth. 'But since the--the man is alive, I wish my poor Alice +could have been left at peace!' + +'You forget that her daughter has rights which must be taken into +consideration.' + +'Little Nuttie! Dear child! I should so far like her to be provided +for, so far as that she need not go out in the world to earn her own +livelihood. But no! better be as we are than accept anything from +that man!' + +'I quite understand and respect your feeling, Miss Headworth,' +returned the lady; 'but may I return to my question whether you think +your niece has any doubt of her husband being dead.' + +Miss Headworth considered. 'Since you ask me, I think she has kept +the possibility of the life before her. We have never mentioned the +subject, and, as I said, the belief in his death ended a great +suspense and sense of wounded affection. She began soon and +vigorously to turn her attention to the support of her child, and has +found a fair measure of happiness; but at the same time she has +shrunk from all notice and society, more than would be natural in so +very young a widow and so attractive, more than I should have +expected from her original character. And once, when she did +apprehend symptoms of admiration, she insisted that I should tell the +history, enough, as she said, to make it plain that it was +impossible. There was one night too, when she had scarlatina, and +was a little lightheaded, only four years ago, when she talked a good +deal about his coming back; but that might have been only the old +impression on her brain, of that long watching at Dieppe. He-- +Captain Egremont, does not yet know where she is?' + +'No, certainly not. But I fear he must.' + +'I suppose he ought,' sighed Miss Headworth; 'but in the meantime, +till we know what line he takes, surely she need not be unsettled by +the knowledge of his existence.' + +'By no means. You had better act as you think best about that. But +you will not object to my nephew, her old pupil, Mark, coming to see +her? I will make him promise not to enter upon the subject.' + +Miss Headworth had only time to make a sign of reluctant acquiescence +when the door opened and mother and daughter came in. Nuttie first, +eager as usual and open-mouthed, unaware that any one was there, for +Lady Kirkaldy, wishing to avoid talk and observation, had left her +carriage at the livery stables, and walked to St. Ambrose Road. The +girl, whom in a moment she classed as small, dark, and oddly like May +Egremont, stopped short at sight of a stranger; the mother would have +retreated but for Miss Headworth's nervous call 'Alice, my dear, here +is Lady Kirkaldy.' + +Very lovely was Lady Kirkaldy's impression as she saw a slender +figure in a dark gray linen dress, and a face of refined, though not +intellectual, beauty and sweetness, under a large straw hat with a +good deal of white gauziness about it, and the curtsey was full of +natural grace. + +'You do not know me,' said Lady Kirkaldy, taking her hand, 'but I am +aunt to some former pupils of yours, one of whom, Mark Egremont, is +very anxious to come and see you.' + +'Mark! My dear little Mark,' and her face lighted up. 'How very +kind of him. But he is not little Mark now.' + +'He is not a very big Mark either. Most of the Egremonts are small. +I see your daughter takes after them,' said Lady Kirkaldy, shaking +hands with Ursula, who looked at her in unmitigated amazement. + +Alice faltered something about Lady Adelaide. + +'My dear sister fell into a decline, and died while the three +children were still babies. Poor things, I believe they had a sad +time till their father married a Miss Condamine, who has been an +excellent stepmother to them. I have been to see them, but Mark was +not then at home, so he has come to me at Monks Horton. When will he +find you at home? Or may I bring him in at once. He was to meet me +at Micklethwayte.' + +'I should like very much to see him,' was the answer. And Miss +Headworth was obliged to say something about her ladyship taking a +cup of tea. Lady Kirkaldy, knowing that Mark was on the watch, set +off in search of him, and found him, as she expected, pacing the +pavement in front of the church. There was no great distance in +which to utter her explanations and cautions, warning him of her +promise that the intelligence of the husband's being alive was to be +withheld for a fitter time, but he promised dutifully, and his aunt +then took him in with her. + +The recognition of her claims was a less stunning shock to Alice +Egremont than to her aunt. Shielded by her illness, as well as by +her simplicity and ignorance, she had never been aware of her aunt's +attempted correspondence with the Egremonts, nor of their deafness to +appeals made on her behalf. Far less had it ever occurred to her +that the validity of her marriage could be denied, and the heinous +error of her elopement seemed to her quite sufficient to account for +her having been so entirely cast off by the family. The idea that as +wife or widow she had any claims on them, or that Ursula might have +rights above those of Mark, had not come into her mind, which, +indeed, at the moment was chiefly occupied by the doubt whether the +milk was come in, and by ordering in the best teacups, presented by +the boarders. + +Thus she was in the passage when Mark entered, and his exclamation +instantly was 'Oh, Edda, dear old Edda! You aren't a bit altered!' +and he put his head under her hat and kissed her, adding, as she +seemed rather startled, 'You are my aunt, you know; and where's my +cousin? You are Ursula?' + +He advanced upon Nuttie, took her by the hand and kissed her forehead +before she was aware, but she flashed at him with her black eyes, and +looked stiff and defiant. She had no notion of kisses to herself, +still less to her pretty mother whom she protected with a half proud, +half jealous fondness. How could the man presume to call her by that +foolish name? However, that single effusion had exhausted Mark's +powers of cordiality, or else Nuttie's stiffness froze him. They +were all embarrassed, and had reason to be grateful to Lady +Kirkaldy's practised powers as a diplomate's wife. She made the +most of Mrs. Egremont's shy spasmodic inquiries, and Mark's jerks of +information, such as that they were all living at Bridgefield +Egremont, now, that his sister May was very like his new cousin, that +Blanche was come out and was very like his mother, etc. etc. Every +one was more at ease when Lady Kirkaldy carried the conversation off +to yesterday's entertainment, hoping no one had been overtired, and +the like. Mrs. Egremont lighted up a little and began telling some +of the expressions of delight she had heard, and in the midst, +Nuttie, waking from her trance of stiff displeasure, came plump in +with 'Oh! and there's a water-soldier, a real Stratiotes aculeatus in +your lake. May we get it? Mr. Dutton didn't think we ought, but it +would be such a prize!' + +'Ursula means a rare water-plant,' said Mrs. Egremont gently, seeing +that Lady Kirkaldy had no notion of the treasure she possessed. 'She +and some of her friends are very eager botanists.' + +'I am sure you may,' said the lady, amused. + +'Thank you! Then, O mother! Miss Mary and I will go. And we'll +wait till after office hours, and then Gerard Godfrey can come and +fish it out for us! Oh, thank you. He wants the pattern of the +Abbot's cross for an illumination, and he can get some ferns for the +church.' + +Soon after this ebullition, Lady Kirkaldy carried off her nephew, and +his first utterance outside the door was 'A woman like that will be +the salvation of my uncle.' + +'Firstly, if you can bring them together,' said his aunt; 'and +secondly, if there is stuff enough in that pretty creature.' + + + + + +CHAPTER V. +SUSPENSE. + + + + +'Where shall the traitor rest + He, the deceiver?'--SCOTT. + + +Poor Miss Headworth's peace of mind was utterly destroyed. That the +niece whom she had nursed back to life and happiness, and brought to +love her as a mother, should be at the mercy of a man whom she looked +on as a heartless profligate, was dreadful to her beyond measure. +And it involved Ursula's young life likewise? Could it be a duty, +after these eighteen years, to return to him? What legal rights had +he to enforce the resumption of the wife he had deserted. 'I will +consult Mr. Dutton,' said the old lady to herself; 'Mr. Dutton is the +only person who knows the particulars. He will give me the best +advice.' + +And while Miss Headworth, over her evening toilette, was coming to +this resolution in one bedroom, Nuttie, in another, was standing +aghast at her mother's agitation, and receiving a confession which +filled her with astonishment. + +'I can't think why that gentleman should go and be so affectionate +all on a sudden, 'quoth Nuttie;' if he is my cousin, and so fond of +you, why couldn't he have come to see us before?' + +'Oh, Nuttie, dear, you don't understand why it is so good of him! My +dear, now this has come, I must tell you--you must hear--the sad +thing your mother did. Yes, my dear, I was their governess--and--and +I did not--In short, my dear, I eloped.' + +'You, mother! Oh what fun!' cried the girl in the utter extremity of +wonder. + +'Nuttie!' exclaimed Mrs. Egremont, in a tone of horror and +indignation--nay, of apprehension. + +'O mother--I didn't mean that! But I can't get to believe it. You, +little mother mine, you that are so timid and bashful and quiet. +That you--you should have done such a thing.' + +'Nuttie, my dear, can't you understand that such a thing would make +me quiet? I am always feeling when I see people, or they bring their +daughters here. "If they only knew--"' + +'No, no, no! They would still see you were the sweetest dear. But +tell me all about it. How very much in love you must have been!' +said Nuttie, a magnificent vision of a young sailor with curly hair +and open throat rising before her. + +'I think I was more frightened than in love,' faintly said Mrs. +Egremont. 'At least I didn't know it was love, I thought he was only +kind to me.' + +'But you liked it?' said Ursula magisterially. + +'I liked it, oh, I liked it! It gave me a feeling such as nothing +else ever did, but I never thought of its being love, he was so much +older.' + +'Older!' exclaimed Nuttie, much taken aback. 'Oh! as old as Mr. +Dutton?' + +'Mr. Dutton is thirty-six, I think. Yes, he was older than that.' + +'Mother, how could you?' For to be older than Mr: Dutton seemed to +the youthful fancy to be near decrepitude; but she added, 'I suppose +he was very noble, and had done great things.' + +'He was the grandest gentleman I ever saw, and had such, a manner,' +said the mother, passing over the latter suggestion. 'Anyway, I +never thought what it all meant--all alone with the children as I +was--till I found people looking at me, and laughing at me, and then +I heard Lady de Lyonnais and Mr. Egremont were coming down, very +angry, to send me away. I ought, I know it now, to have waited, for +they would have written to my aunt. But I was horribly frightened, +and I couldn't bear to think of never seeing him again, and he came +and comforted me, and said he would take me to Mrs. Houghton, the +kind lady who was staying in the Ninon, and they would make it all +square for me--and then--oh! it was very sweet--but I never knew that +we were sailing away to Jersey to be married! I knew it was very +dreadful without any one's leave, but it was so noble of him to take +the poor little governess and defend her, and it wasn't as if my +mother had been alive. I didn't know Aunt Ursel then as I did +afterwards. And Mrs. Houghton said there was nothing else to be +done.' + +'O don't leave off, mother. Do tell me. How long did you have him?' + +'Six weeks then--and afterwards one fortnight at Dieppe. He was not +free. He had an old uncle, General Egremont, who was sick and hot- +tempered, and he was obliged to keep everything secret from him, and +therefore from everybody else. And so I was to live at Dieppe, while +he went out to take care of his uncle, and you know--you know--' + +'Yes, I know, dear mother. But I am sure he was saving somebody +else, and it was a noble death! And I know how Aunt Ursel came to +Dieppe, and how I--your own little Frenchwoman--came to take care of +you. And haven't we been jolly without any of these fine relations +that never looked after you all this time? Besides, you know he is +very likely to be on a lonely coral island, and will come home yet. +I often think he is.' + +'My dear child, I have been happier than I deserved,' said Alice +Egremont, drying her eyes. 'But oh! Nuttie, I hope you will be a +wiser woman than your mother.' + +'Come, don't go on in that way! Why, I've such advantages! I've +Miss Mary, and Aunt Ursel, and Mr. Spyers, and Mr. Dutton, and you, +you poor little thing, had nobody! One good thing is, we shall get +the water-soldier. Mr. Dutton needn't come, for he's like a cat, and +won't soil his boots, but Gerard is dying to get another look at the +old ruin. He can't make up his mind about the cross on one of the +stone-coffin lids, so he'll be delighted to come, and he'll get it +out of the pond for us. I wonder when we can go. To-night is choir +practice, and to-morrow is cutting-out day.' + +Miss Headworth was not sorry that the small sociabilities of the +friends did not leave her alone with her niece all that evening, or +the next day, when there was a grand cutting-out for the working +party,--an operation always performed in the holidays. Miss +Headworth had of late years been excused from it, and it gave her the +opportunity she wanted of a consultation with Mr. Dutton. He was her +prime adviser in everything, from her investments (such as they were) +to the eccentricities of her timepieces; and as the cuckoo-clock had +that night cuckooed all the hours round in succession, no one thought +it wonderful that she should send a twisted note entreating him to +call as early as he could in the afternoon. Of course Nuttie's +chatter had proclaimed the extraordinary visitors, and it needed not +the old lady's dash under "on an anxious affair" to bring him to her +little drawing-room as soon as he could quit his desk. Perhaps he +hastened his work with a hope in his heart which he durst not +express, but the agitation on the usually placid face forbade him to +entertain it for an instant, and he only said, 'So our expedition has +led to unforeseen consequences, Miss Headworth.' And then she +answered under her breath, as if afraid of being overheard: 'Mr. +Dutton, my poor child does not know it yet, but the man is alive!' + +Mr. Dutton compressed his lips. It was the greater shock, for he had +actually made inquiries at the Yacht Club, but the officials there +either had not been made aware of the reappearance of the two +Egremonts, or they did not think it worth while to look beyond the +record which declared that all hands had perished, and the connection +of the uncle and nephew with the Yacht Club had not been renewed. +Presently he said, 'Then hers was a right instinct. There is reason +to be thankful.' + +Miss Headworth was too full of her own anxieties to heed his causes +for thankfulness. She told what she had heard from Lady Kirkaldy and +from Mark Egremont, and asked counsel whether it could be Alice's +duty to return to the man who had deserted her, or even to accept +anything from him. There was an impetuous and indignant spirit at +the bottom of the old lady's heart, in spite of the subdued life she +had led for so many years, and she hardly brooked the measured +considerate manner in which her adviser declared that all depended on +circumstances, and the manner in which Captain Egremont made the +first move. At present no one was acting but young Mark, and, as Mr. +Dutton observed, it was not a matter in which a man was very likely +to submit to a nephew's dictation. + +There was certainly no need for Mrs. Egremont to _force_ her presence +on him. But Mr. Dutton did think that for her own sake and her +child's there ought to be full recognition of their rights, and that +this should be proved by their maintenance. + +'I imagine that Ursula may probably be a considerable heiress, and +her lights must not be sacrificed.' + +'Poor little girl! Will it be for her happiness? I doubt it +greatly!' + +'Of that I suppose we have no right to judge,' said Mr. Dutton, +somewhat tremulously. 'Justice is what we have to look to, and to +allow Nuttie to be passed over would be permitting a slur to be cast +on her and her mother.' + +'I see that,' said Miss Headworth, with an effort. 'I suppose I am +after all a selfish, faithless old woman, and it is not in my hands +after all. But I must prepare my poor Alice for what may be coming.' + +'If any terms are offered to her, she had better put the matter into +a lawyer's hands. Dobson would be a safe man to deal with.' + +Miss Headworth was amazed that he--who had helped her in many a +little question bordering on law--should not proffer his aid now in +this greatest stress. He was a resolute, self-controlled man, and +she never guessed at the feeling that made him judge himself to be no +fitting champion for Alice Egremont against her husband. Ever since, +ten years ago, he had learnt that his beautiful neighbour did not +regard herself so certainly a widow as to venture to open her heart +to any other love, he had lived patiently on, content to serve her as +a trustworthy friend, and never betraying the secret hope so long +cherished and now entirely crushed. + +He was relieved to escape from the interview, and the poor old lady +remained a little more certain as to her duty perhaps, but with a +certainty that only made her more unhappy, and she was so restless +and nervous that, in the middle of the evening's reading of +Archbishop Trench's Lectures on History, Alice suddenly broke off in +the very middle of a sentence and exclaimed, 'Aunt Ursel! you are +keeping something from me.' + +Miss Headworth made a faint attempt by saying something about +presently, and glancing with her eyes to indicate that it was to be +reserved till after Nuttie's bedtime, but the young lady comprehended +the signs and exclaimed, 'Never mind me, Aunt Ursel,--I know all +about mother; she told me last night.' + +'It is!' broke in Mrs. Egremont, who had been watching her aunt's +face. 'You have heard of _him_.' + +'Oh, my father! You really have!' cried Nuttie. 'Then he really was +on the desert island all this time; I was quite sure of it. How +delightful!' She jumped up and looked at the door, as if she +expected to see him appear that instant, clad in skins like Robinson +Crusoe, but her aunt's nervous agitation found vent in a sharp +reproof: 'Nuttie, hold your tongue, and don't be such a foolish +child, or I shall send you out of the room this instant!' + +'But aunt?' gasped Alice, unable to bear the suspense. + +'Yes, my poor dear child. Captain Egremont with the General got off +with some of the crew in a boat when the Ninon was burnt. He spent a +good many years abroad with the old man, but he has now inherited the +family place, and is living there.' Miss Headworth felt as if she +had fired a cannon and looked to see the effect. + +'Ah, if we could have stayed at Dieppe!' said Mrs. Egremont. 'But we +did write back to say where we could be heard of.' + +'That was of no use. Mark found no traces of us when he went +thither.' + +'Did he send Mark?' + +'No. My dear Alice, I must not conceal from you that this is all Mr. +Mark Egremont's doing. He seems to have been helping his uncle with +his papers when he came on the evidence of your marriage, and, +remembering you as he does, he forced the confession of it from the +captain, and of his own accord set forth to discover what had become +of you and to see justice done to you.' + +'Dear little Mark!' said she; 'he always was such an affectionate +little boy.' + +'And now, my dear, you must consider how you will receive any +advances on his part.' + +'Oh, Aunt Ursel, don't! I can't talk now. Please let me go to bed. +Nuttie, dear, you need not come yet.' + +The desire for solitude, in which to realise what she had heard, was +overpowering, and she fled away in the summer twilight, leaving +Nuttie with wide open eyes, looking after her vanished hero and +desert island. + +'My poor Alice!' sighed the old lady. + +'Aunt Ursel!' exclaimed Nuttie, 'was--I mean--is my father a good or +a bad man?' + +'My dear, should a daughter ask such a question?' + +'Aunt Ursel, I can't help it. I think I ought to know all about it,' +said Nuttie gravely, putting away her childishness and sitting down +by her aunt. 'I did not think so much of it when mother told me they +eloped, because, though I know it was very wrong, people do do odd +things sometimes when they are very much in love (she said it in a +superior patronising tone that would have amused Miss Headworth very +much at any other time); and it has not spoilt mother for being the +dearest, sweetest, best thing in the world, and, besides, they had +neither of them any fathers or mothers to disobey. But, then, when I +found he was so old, and that he kept it a secret, and must have told +stories only for the sake of money (uttered with extreme contempt), I +didn't like it. And if he left her as Theseus left Ariadne, or Sir +Lancelot left Elaine, I--I don't think it is nice. Do you think he +only pretended to be lost in the Ninon to get rid of her, or that he +could not find her?' + +'The Ninon was really reported lost with all on board,' said Miss +Headworth. 'That was ascertained. He was saved by a Chilian ship, +and seems to have been a good while making his way back to Europe. I +had taken care that our address should be known at Dieppe, but it is +quite possible that he may not have applied to the right people, or +that they may not have preserved my letter, so that we cannot feel +sore that he was to blame.' + +'If he had been worth anything at all, he would have moved heaven and +earth to find her!' cried Nuttie; 'and you said yourself it was all +_that_ Mark's doing!' + +'He seems to be a very upright and generous young man, that Mr. Mark +Egremont,' said Miss Headworth, a whole romance as to Nuttie's future +destiny sweeping across her mind in an instant, with a mental +dispensation to first cousins in such a case. 'I think you will find +him a staunch champion even against his own interests.' + +Perceptions came across Nuttie. 'Oh, then I am a sort of lost +heiress, like people in a story! I see! But, Aunt Ursel, what do +you think will happen?' + +'My dear child, I cannot guess in the least. Perhaps the Egremont +property will not concern you, and only go to male heirs. That would +be the best thing, since in any case you must be sufficiently +provided for. Your father must do that.' + +'But about mother?' + +'A proper provision must be insisted on for her,' said Miss +Headworth. 'It is no use, however, to speculate on the future. We +cannot guess how Mr. Mark Egremont's communication will be received, +or whether any wish will be expressed for your mother's rejoining +your father. In such a case the terms must be distinctly understood, +and I have full trust both in Mr. Mark and in Lady Kirkaldy as her +champions to see that justice is done to you both.' + +'I'm sure he doesn't deserve that mother should go to him.' + +'Nor do I expect that he will wish it, or that it would be proper; +but he is bound to give her a handsome maintenance, and I think most +probably you will be asked to stay with your uncle and cousins,' said +Miss Headworth, figuring to herself a kind of Newstead Abbey or some +such scene of constant orgies at Bridgefield Egremont. + +'I shall accept nothing from the family that does not include +mother,' said Nuttie. + +'Dear child, I foresee many trials, but you must be her protector.' + +'That I will,' said Nuttie; and in the gallant purpose she went to +bed, to find her mother either asleep or feigning slumber with tears +on her cheek. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. +THE WATER-SOLDIER. + + + + +'Presumptuous maid, with looks intent, + Again she stretched, again she bent, + Nor knew the gulf between.'--GRAY. + + +It all seemed like a dream to Ursula, perhaps likewise to her mother, +when they rose to the routine of daily life with the ordinary +interests of the day before them. There was a latent unwillingness +in Mrs. Egremont's mind to discuss the subject with either aunt or +daughter; and when the post brought no letter, Ursula, after a +moment's sense of flatness, was relieved, and returned to her eager +desire to hurry after the water-soldier. It was feasible that very +afternoon. Mary Nugent came in with the intelligence. + +'And can Gerard come? or we shall only look at it.' + +'Yes, Gerard can come, and so will Mr. Dutton,' said Mary, who, +standing about half-way between Mrs. Egremont and her daughter, did +not think herself quite a sufficient chaperon. + +'He will look on like a hen at her ducklings,' said Nuttie. 'It is +cruel to take him, poor man!' + +'Meantime, Nuttie, do you like an hour of "Marie Stuart?"' + +'Oh, thank you!' But she whispered, 'Aunt Ursel, may I tell her?' + +'Ask your mother, my dear.' + +Leave was given, half reluctantly, and with a prohibition against +mentioning the subject to any one else, but both mother and aunt had +confidence in Mary Nugent's wisdom and discretion, so the two friends +sat on the wall together, and Ursula poured out her heart. Poor +little girl! she was greatly discomfited at the vanishing of her +noble vision of the heroic self-devoted father, and ready on the +other hand to believe him a villain, like Bertram Risingham, or 'the +Pirate,' being possessed by this idea on account of his West Indian +voyages. At any rate, she was determined not to be accepted or +acknowledged without her mother, and was already rehearsing +magnanimous letters of refusal. + +Miss Mary listened and wondered, feeling sometimes as if this were as +much a romance as the little yacht going down with the burning ship; +and then came back the recollection that there was a real fact that +Nuttie had a father, and that it was entirely uncertain what part he +might take, or what the girl might be called on to do. Considering +anxiously these bearings of the question, she scarcely heard what she +was required to assent to, in one of Nuttie's eager, 'Don't you think +so?' + +'My dear Nuttie,' she said, rousing herself, 'what I do think is that +it will all probably turn out exactly contrariwise to our +imaginations, so I believe it would be wisest to build up as few +fancies as possible, but only to pray that you may have a right +judgment in all things, and have strength to do what is right, +whatever you may see that to be.' + +'And of course that will be to stick by mother.' + +'There can be little doubt of that, but the how? No, dear, do not +let us devise all sorts of _hows_ when we have nothing to go upon. +That would be of no use, and only perplex you when the time comes. +It would be much better to "do the nexte thinge," and read our "Marie +Stuart."' + +Nuttie pouted a little, but submitted, though she now and then broke +into a translation with 'You know mother will never stand up for +herself,' or 'They think I shall be asked to stay with the Egremonts, +but I must work up for the exam.' + +However, the school habit of concentrating her attention prevailed, +and the study quieted Nuttie's excitement. The expedition took place +as arranged. There was a train which stopped so that the party could +go down by it, and the distance was not too great for walking back. + +Mr. Dutton met them on the platform, well armed with his neat silk +umbrella, and his black poodle, Monsieur, trotting solemnly after +him. Gerard Godfrey bore materials for an exact transcript of the +Abbot's monumental cross, his head being full of church architecture, +while Nuttie carried a long green tin case, or vasculum as she chose +to call it, with her three vowels, U A E, and the stars of the Little +Bear conspicuously painted on it in white. + +'You did not venture on that the other day,' said Mr. Dutton. 'How +much of the park do you mean to carry away in it?' + +'Let me take it,' said Gerard politely. + +'No, thank you. You'd leave it behind, while you were pottering over +the mouldings.' + +'You are much more likely to leave it behind yourself.' + +'What--with my soldier, my Stratiotes, in it? I think I see myself.' + +'Give it to me,' said Gerard. 'Of course I can't see you carrying a +great thing like that.' + +'Can't you, indeed?' + +'Gently, gently, my dear,' said Miss Mary, as the young people seemed +very near a skirmish, and the train was sweeping up. Then there was +another small scuffle, for Nuttie had set her heart on the third +class; but Mr. Dutton had taken second-class tickets, and was about +to hand them into a carriage whence there had just emerged a very +supercilious black-moustached valet, who was pulling out a leather- +covered dressing-case, while Gerard was consoling Nuttie by telling +her that Monsieur never deigned to go third class. + +'It is a smoking carriage,' said Miss Nugent, on the step. 'Pah! how +it smells,' as she jumped back. + +'Beautiful backy--a perfect nosegay,' said Gerard. + +'Trust that fellow for having the best.' + +'His master's, no doubt,' suggested Mr. Dutton. + +'You'd better go in it, to enjoy his reversion,' said Nuttie. + +'And where's my escort, then?' + +'Oh, I'm sure we don't want you.' + +'Nuttie, my dear,' expostulated Miss Nugent, dragging her into the +next carriage. + +'You may enjoy the fragrance still,' said Nuttie when seated. 'Do +you see--there's the man's master; he has stood him up against that +post, with his cigar, to wait while he gets out the luggage. I +daresay you can get a whiff if you lean out far enough.' + +'I say! that figure is a study!' said Gerard. 'What is it that he is +so like?' + +'Oh! I know,' said Nuttie. 'It is Lord Frederick Verisopht, and the +bad gentlefolks in the pictures to the old numbers of Dickens that +you have got, Miss Mary. Now, isn't he? Look! only Lord Frederick +wasn't fat.' + +Nuttie was in a state of excitement that made her peculiarly +unmanageable, and Miss Nugent was very grateful to Mr. Dutton for his +sharp though general admonition against staring, while, under pretext +of disposing of the umbrella and the vasculum, he stood up, so as to +block the window till they were starting. + +There was no one else to observe them but a demure old lady, and in +ten minutes' time they were in open space, where high spirits might +work themselves off, though the battle over the botanical case was +ended by Miss Nugent, who strongly held that ladies should carry +their own extra encumbrances, and slung it with a scarf over Nuttie's +shoulders in a knowing knapsack fashion. + +The two young people had known one another all their lives, for +Gerard was the son of a medical man who had lived next door to Miss +Headworth when the children were young. The father was dead, and the +family had left the place, but this son had remained at school, and +afterwards had been put into the office at the umbrella factory under +charge of Mr. Dutton, whose godson he was, and who treated him as a +nephew. He was a good-hearted, steady young fellow, with his whole +interest in ecclesiastical details, wearing a tie in accordance with +'the colours,' and absorbed in church music and decorations, while +his recreations were almost all in accordance therewith. + +There was plenty of merriment, as he drew and measured at the very +scanty ruins, which were little more than a few fragments of wall, +overgrown luxuriantly with ivy and clematis, but enclosing some fine +old coffin-lids with floriated crosses, interesting to those who +cared for architecture and church history, as Mr. Dutton tried to +make the children do, so that their ecclesiastical feelings might be +less narrow, and stand on a surer foundation than present interest, a +slightly aggressive feeling of contempt for all the other town +churches, and a pleasing sense of being persecuted. + +They fought over the floriations and mouldings with great zest, and +each maintained a date with youthful vigour--both being, as Mr. +Dutton by and by showed them, long before the foundation. The pond +had been left to the last with a view to the wellbeing of the water- +soldier on the return. Here the difficulties of the capture were +great, for the nearest plant flourished too far from the bank to be +reached with comfort, and besides, the sharp-pointed leaves to which +it owes its name were not to be approached with casual grasps. + +'Oh Monsieur, I wish you were a Beau,' sighed Nuttie. 'Why, are you +too stupid to go and get it?' + +'It is a proof of his superior intelligence,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'But really it is too ridiculous--too provoking--to have come all +this way and not get it,' cried the tantalised Nuttie. 'Oh, Gerard, +are you taking off your boots and stockings? You duck!' + +'Just what I wish I was,' said the youth, rolling up his trousers. + +But even the paddling in did not answer. Mr. Dutton called out +anxiously, 'Take care, Gerard, the bottom may be soft,' and came down +to the very verge just in time to hold out his hand, and prevent an +utterly disastrous fall, for Gerard, in spite of his bare feet, sank +at once into mud, and on the first attempt to take a step forward, +found his foot slipping away from under him, and would in another +instant have tumbled backwards into the slush and weeds. He +scrambled back, his hat falling off into the reeds, and splashing Mr. +Dutton all over, while Monsieur began to bark 'with astonishment at +seeing his master in such a plight,' declared the ladies, who stood +convulsed with cruel laughter. + +'Isn't it dreadful?' exclaimed Ursula. + +'Well! It might have been worse,' gravely said Mr. Dutton, wiping +off the more obnoxious of his splashes with his pocket handkerchief. + +'Oh I didn't mean you, but the water-soldier,' said Nuttie. 'To have +come five miles for it in vain!' + +'I don't know what to suggest,' added Gerard. 'Even if the ladies +were to retire--' + +'No, no,' interposed Mr. Dutton, ''tis no swimming ground, and I +forbid the expedient. You would only be entangled in the weeds.' + +'Behold!' exclaimed Mary, who had been prowling about the banks, and +now held up in triumph one of the poles with a bill-hook at the end +used for cutting weed. + +'Bravo, Miss Nugent!' cried Gerard. + +'Female wit has circumvented the water-soldier,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Don't cry out too soon,' returned Mary; 'the soldier may float off +and escape you yet.' + +However, the capture was safely accomplished, without even a dip +under water to destroy the beauty of the white flowers. With these, +and a few waterlilies secured by Gerard for the morrow's altar vases, +the party set out on their homeward walk, through plantations of +whispering firs, the low sun tingeing the trunks with ruddy light; +across heathery commons, where crimson heath abounded, and the +delicate blush-coloured wax-belled species was a prize; by cornfields +in ear hanging out their dainty stamens; along hedges full of +exquisite plumes of feathering or nodding grass, of which Nuttie made +bouquets and botanical studies, and Gerard stored for harvest +decorations. They ran and danced on together with Monsieur at their +heels, while the elders watched them with some sadness and anxiety. +Free-masonry had soon made both Mary and Mr. Dutton aware of each +other's initiation, and they had discussed the matter in all its +bearings, agreed that the man was a scoundrel, and the woman an +angel, even if she had once been weak, and that she ought to be very +resolute with him if he came to terms. And then they looked after +their young companions, and Mr. Dutton said, 'Poor children, what is +before them?' + +'It is well they are both so young,' answered Mary. + + + + + +CHAPTER VII. +THAT MAN. + + + + +'It is the last time--'tis the last!'--SCOTT. + + +Sundays were the ever-recurring centres of work and interests to the +little circle in St. Ambrose's Road. To them the church services and +the various classes and schools were the great objects and +excitements of the week. A certain measure of hopeful effort and +varying success is what gives zest to life, and the purer and higher +the aim, and the more unmixed the motives, the greater the happiness +achieved by the 'something attempted, something done.' + +Setting apart actual spiritual devotion, the altar vases, purchased +by a contribution of careful savings, and adorned with the Monks +Horton lilies, backed by ferns from the same quarter; the surplices +made by the ladies themselves, the chants they had practised, the +hymns they had taught, could not but be much more interesting to them +than if they had been mere lookers on. Every cross on the markers, +every flower on the altar cloth was the work of one or other of them; +everything in the church was an achievement, and choir boys, school +children, Bible classes, every member of the regular congregation, +had some special interest; nay, every irregular member or visitor +might be a convert in time--if not a present sympathiser, and at the +very least might swell the offertory that was destined to so many +needs of the struggling district. + +Thus it was with some curiosity mingled with self-reproach that +Nuttie, while singing her Benedictus among the tuneful shop-girls, to +whom she was bound to set an example, became aware of yesterday's +first-class traveller lounging, as far as the rows of chairs would +permit, in the aisle, and, as she thought, staring hard at her +mother. It was well that Mrs. Egremont's invariable custom was never +to lift her eyes from her book or her harmonium, or she surely must +have been disconcerted, her daughter thought, by the eyes that must +have found her out, under her little black net bonnet and veil, as +the most beautiful woman in church,--as she certainly was,--even that +fine good-for-nothing gentleman thinking so. Nuttie would add his +glances to the glories of her lovely mother! + +And she did so, with triumph in her tone of reprobation, as she +trotted off, after the early dinner, to her share of Sunday-school +work as usual under Miss Nugent's wing. It began with a children's +service, and then ensued, in rooms at the factory, lent by Mr. +Dutton, the teaching that was to supply the omissions of the Board +School; the establishment of a voluntary one being the next ambition +of St. Ambrose's. + +Coming home from their labours, in the fervent discussion of their +scholars, and exchanging remarks and greetings with the other +teachers of various calibres, the friends reached their own road, and +there, to their amazement, beheld Miss Headworth. + +'Yes, it really is!' cried Nuttie. 'We can't be too late? No-- +there's no bell! Aunt Ursel! What has brought you out? What's the +matter? Where's mother?' + +'In the house. My dear,' catching hold of her, and speaking +breathlessly, 'I came out to prepare you. He is come--your father--' + +'Where?' cried Nuttie, rather wildly. + +'He is in the drawing-room with your mother. I said I would send +you.' Poor Miss Headworth gasped with agitation. 'Oh! where's Mr. +Dutton--not that anything can be done--' + +'Is it _that man_?' asked Nuttie, and getting no answer, 'I know it +is! Oh Aunt Ursel, how could you leave her with him? I must go and +protect her. Gerard--come. No, go and fetch Mr. Dutton.' + +'Hush! hush, Nuttie,' cried her aunt, grasping her. 'You know +nothing about it. Wait here till I can tell you.' + +'Come in here, dear Miss Headworth,' said Mary, gently drawing her +arm into hers, for the poor old lady could hardly stand for +trembling, and bidding Gerard open the door of her own house with the +latch-key. + +She took them into the dining-room, so as not to disturb her mother, +sent Gerard off after Mr. Dutton in the very uttermost astonishment +and bewilderment, and set Miss Headworth down in an easy-chair, where +she recovered herself, under Mary's soothing care, enough to tell her +story in spite of Nuttie's exclamations. 'Wait! wait, Nuttie! You +mustn't burst in on them so! No, you need not be afraid. Don't be a +silly child! He won't hurt her! Oh no! They are quite delighted to +meet.' + +'Delighted to meet?' said Nuttie, as if transfixed. + +'Yes,' said her aunt. 'Oh yes, I always knew the poor child cared +for him and tried to believe in him all along. He only had to say +the word.' + +'I wouldn't,' cried the girl, her eyes flashing. 'Why didn't you ask +him how he could desert her and leave her?' + +'My dear! how can one come between husband and wife? Oh, my poor +Alice!' + +'How was it, how did they meet, dear Miss Headworth?' asked Mary, +administering the wine she had been pouring out. + +'You hadn't been gone half an hour, Alice was reading to me, and I +was just dozing, when in came Louisa. "A gentleman to see Mrs. +Egremont," she said, and there he was just behind. We rose up--she +did not know him at once, but he just said "Edda, my little Edda, +sweeter than ever, I knew you at once," or something of that sort, +and she gave one little cry of "I knew you would come," and sprang +right into his arms. I--well, I meant to make him understand how he +had treated her, but just as I began "Sir"--he came at me with his +hand outstretched--' + +'You didn't take it, aunt, I hope?' cried Nuttie. + +'My dear, when you see him, you will know how impossible it is. He +_has_ that high-bred manner it is as if he were conferring a favour. +"Miss Headworth, I conclude," said he, "a lady to whom I owe more +than I can express." Just as if I had done it for his sake.' Miss +Nugent felt this open expression dangerous on account of the +daughter, and she looked her consternation at Mr. Dutton, who had +quietly entered, ruthlessly shutting Gerard Godfrey out with only +such a word of explanation as could be given on the way. + +'Then he comes with--with favourable intentions,' said Mary, putting +as much admonition as she could into her voice. + +'Oh! no doubt of that,' said Miss Headworth, drawing herself +together. 'He spoke of the long separation,--said he had never been +able to find her, till the strange chance of his nephew stumbling on +her at Abbots Norton.' + +'That is--possib--probably true,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'It can't be,' broke in Nuttie. 'He never troubled himself about it +till his nephew found the papers. You said so, Aunt Ursel! He is a +dreadful traitor of a man, just like Marmion, or Theseus, or +Lancelot, and now he is telling lies about it! Don't look at me. +Aunt Ursel, they are lies, and I _will_ say it, and he took in poor +dear mother once, and now he is taking her in again, and I can't bear +that he should be my father!' + +It was so entirely true, yet so shocking to hear from her mouth, that +all three stood aghast, as she stood with heaving chest, crimson +cheeks, and big tears in her eyes. Miss Headworth only muttered, +'Oh, my poor child, you mustn't!' + +Mr. Dutton prevented another passionate outburst by his tone of +grave, gentle authority. 'Listen a moment, Ursula,' he said. 'It is +unhappily true that this man has acted in an unjustifiable way +towards your mother and yourself. But there are, no doubt, many more +excuses for him than you know of, and as I found a few years ago that +the people at Dieppe had lost the address that had been left with +them, he must have found no traces of your mother there. You cannot +understand the difficulties that may have been in his way. And there +is no use, quite the contrary, in making the worst of him. He has +found your mother out, and it seems that he claims her +affectionately, and she forgives and welcomes him--out of the sweet +tenderness of her heart.' + +'She may--but I can't,' murmured Nuttie. + +'That is not a fit thing for a daughter, nor a Christian, to say,' +Mr. Dutton sternly said. + +''Tis not for myself--'tis for her,--'objected Nuttie. + +'That's nonsense; a mere excuse,' he returned. 'You have nothing at +all to forgive, since he did not know you were in existence. And as +to your mother, whom you say you put first, what greater grief or +pain can you give her than by showing enmity and resentment against +her husband, when she, the really injured person, loves and +forgives?' + +'He's a bad man. If she goes back to him, I know he will make her +unhappy--' + +'You don't know any such thing, but you do know that your opposition +will make her unhappy. Remember, there's no choice in the matter. +He has legal rights over you both, and since he shows himself ready +(as I understand from Miss Headworth that he is) to give her and you +your proper position, you have nothing to do but to be thankful. I +think myself that it is a great subject of thankfulness that your +mother can return so freely without any bitterness. It is the +blessing of such as she--' + +Nuttie stood pouting, but more thoughtful and less violent, as she +said, 'How can I be thankful? I don't want position or anything. I +only want him to let my--my own mother, and aunt, and me alone.' + +'Child, you are talking of what you do not understand. You must not +waste any more time in argument. Your mother has sent for you, and +it is your duty to go and let her introduce you to your father. I +have little doubt that you will find him very unlike all your +imagination represents him, but let that be as it may, the fifth +Commandment does not say, "Honour only thy good father," but, "Honour +thy father." Come now, put on your gloves--get her hat right, if you +please, Miss Mary. There--now, come along, be a reasonable creature, +and a good girl, and do not give unnecessary pain and vexation to +your mother.' He gave her his arm, and led her away. + +'Well done, Mr. Dutton!' exclaimed Miss Nugent. + +'Poor Mr. Dutton!' All Aunt Ursel's discretion could not suppress +that sigh, but Mary prudently let it pass unnoticed, only honouring +in her heart the unselfishness and self-restraint of the man whose +long, patient, unspoken hopes had just received a death-blow. + +'Oh, Mary! I never thought it would have been like this!' cried the +poor old lady. 'I ought not to have spoken as I did before the +child, but I was so taken by surprise! Alice turned to him just as +if he had been the most faithful, loving husband in the world. She +is believing every word he says.' + +'It is very happy for her that she can,' pleaded Mary. + +'So it is, yes, but--when one knows what he is, and what she is! Oh, +Mr. Dutton, is the poor child gone in?' + +'Yes, I saw her safe into the room. She was very near running off up +the stairs,' said Mr. Dutton. 'But I daresay she is fascinated by +this time. That sort of man has great power over women.' + +'Nuttie is hardly a woman yet,' said Miss Nugent. + +'No, but there must be a strong reaction, when she sees something +unlike her compound of Marmion and Theseus.' + +'I suppose there is no question but that they must go with him!' said +Miss Headworth wistfully. + +'Assuredly. You say he--this Egremont--was affectionate,' said Mr. +Dutton quietly, but Mary saw his fingers white with his tight +clenching of the bar of the chair. + +'Oh yes, warmly affectionate, delighted to find her prettier than +ever, poor dear; I suppose he meant it. Heaven forgive me, if I am +judging him too hardly, but I verily believe he went to church to +reconnoitre, and see whether she pleased his fancy--' + +'And do you understand,' added Mr. Dutton, 'that he is prepared to do +her full justice, and introduce her to his family and friends as his +wife, on equal terms? Otherwise, even if she were unwilling to stand +up for herself, it would be the duty of her friends to make some +stipulations.' + +'I am pretty sure that he does,' said the aunt; 'I did not stay long +when I saw that I was not wanted, but I heard him say something about +his having a home for her now, and her cutting out the Redcastle +ladies.' + +'Besides, there is the nephew, Mr. Mark Egremont,' said Mary. 'He +will take care of her.' + +'Yes,' said Mr. Dutton. 'It appears to be all right. At any rate, +there can be no grounds for interference on our part.' + +Mr. Dutton took his leave with these words, wringing Miss Headworth's +hand in mute sympathy, and she, poor old lady, when he was gone, +fairly collapsed into bitter weeping over the uncertain future of +those whom she had loved as her own children, and who now must leave +her desolate. Mary did her best with comfort and sympathy, and +presently took her to share her griefs and fears with gentle old Mrs. +Nugent. + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. +THE FATHER. + + + + +'I do think this lady + To be my child.'-King Lear. + + +Nuttie, in her fresh holland Sunday dress, worked in crewels with +wild strawberries by her mother's hands, and with a white-trimmed +straw hat, was almost shoved into the little drawing-room by Mr. +Dutton, though he was himself invisible. + +Her eyes were in such a daze of tears that she hardly saw more at +first than that some one was there with her mother on the sofa. 'Ah, +there she is!' she heard her mother cry, and both rose. Her mother's +arm was round her waist, her hand was put into another, Mrs. +Egremont's voice, tremulous with exceeding delight, said, 'Our child, +our Ursula, our Nuttie! Oh, this is what I have longed for all these +years! Oh, thanks, thanks!' and her hands left her daughter to be +clasped and uplifted for a moment in fervent thanksgiving, while +Nuttie's hand was held, and a strange hairy kiss, redolent of +tobacco-smoking, was on her forehead--a masculine one, such as she +had never known, except her cousin Mark's, since the old rector died, +and she had grown too big for Mr. Dutton's embraces. It was more +strange than delightful, and yet she felt the polish of the tone that +said, 'We make acquaintance somewhat late, Ursula, but better late +than never.' + +She looked up at this new father, and understood instantly what she +had heard of his being a grand gentleman. There was a high-bred look +about him, an entire ease and perfect manner that made everything he +did or said seem like gracious condescension, and took away the power +of questioning it at the moment. He was not above the middle size, +and was becoming unwieldy; but there was something imposing and even +graceful in his deportment, and his bald narrow forehead looked +aristocratic, set off between side tufts of white hair, white +whiskers, and moustaches waxed into sharp points, Victor Emmanuel +fashion, and a round white curly beard. His eyes were dark, and +looked dull, with yellow unwholesome corners, and his skin was not of +a pleasant colour, but still, with all Nuttie's intentions of +regarding him with horror, she was subdued, partly by the grand +breeding and air of distinction, and partly by the current of +sympathy from her mother's look of perfect happiness and exultation. +She could not help feeling it a favour, almost an undeserved favour, +that so great a personage should say, 'A complete Egremont, I see. +She has altogether the family face.' + +'I am so glad you think so,' returned her mother. + +'On the whole it is well, but she might have done better to resemble +you, Edda,' he said caressingly; 'but perhaps that would have been +too much for the Earlsforth natives. William's girls will have +enough to endure without a double eclipse!' and he laughed. + +'I--I don't want--' faltered the mother. + +'You don't want, no, but you can't help it,' he said, evidently with +a proud delight in her beauty. 'Now that I have seen the child,' he +added, 'I will make my way back to the hotel.' + +'Will you--won't you stay to tea or dinner?' said his wife, beginning +with an imploring tone which hesitated as she reviewed possible chops +and her aunt's dismay. + +'Thank you, I have ordered dinner at the hotel,' he answered, 'and +Gregorio is waiting for me with a cab. No doubt you will wish to +make arrangements with Madame--the old lady--and I will not trouble +her further to-night. I will send down Gregorio to-morrow morning, +to tell you what I arrange. An afternoon train, probably, as we +shall go no farther than London. You say Lady Kirkaldy called on +you. We might return her visit before starting, but I will let you +know when I have looked at the trains. My compliments to Miss +Headworth. Good evening, sweetest.' He held his wife in a fond +embrace, kissing her brow and cheeks and letting her cling to him, +then added, 'Good evening, little one,' with a good-natured careless +gesture with which Nuttie was quite content, for she had a certain +loathing of the caresses that so charmed her mother. And yet the +command to make ready had been given with such easy authority that +the idea of resisting it had never even entered her mind, though she +stood still while her mother went out to the door with him and +watched him to the last. + +Coming back, she threw her arms round her daughter, kissed her again +and again, and, with showers of the glad tears long repressed, cried, +'Oh, my Nuttie, my child, what joy! How shall I be thankful enough! +Your father, your dear father! Now it is all right.' Little +sentences of ecstasy such as these, interspersed with caresses, all +in the incoherence of overpowering delight, full of an absolute faith +that the lost husband had loved her and been pining for her all these +years, but that he had been unable to trace her, and was as happy as +she was in the reunion. + +The girl was somewhat bewildered, but she was carried along by this +flood of exceeding joy and gladness. The Marmion and Theseus images +had been dispelled by the reality, and, with Mr. Dutton's sharp +reproof fresh upon her, she felt herself to have been doing a great +injustice to her father; believed all that her mother did, and found +herself the object of a romantic recognition--if not the beggar girl +become a princess, at any rate, the little school-teacher a county +lady! And she had never seen her mother so wildly, overpoweringly +happy with joy. That made her, too, feel that something grand and +glorious had happened. + +'What are we going to do?' she asked, as the vehemence of Mrs. +Egremont's emotion began to work itself off. + +'Home! He takes us to his home! _His_ home!' repeated her mother, +in a trance of joy, as the yearnings of her widowed heart now were +fulfilled. + +'Oh, but Aunt Ursel!' + +'Poor Aunt Ursel! Oh, Nuttie, Nuttie, I had almost forgotten! How +could I?' and there was a shower of tears of compunction. 'But he +said he owed everything to her! She will come with us! Or if she +doesn't live with us, we will make her live close by in a dear little +cottage. Where is she? When did she go? I never saw her go.' + +The sound of the front door was heard, for the visitor had been +watched away and Miss Headworth was returning to her own house to be +there received with another fervent gush of happiness, much more +trying to her, poor thing, than to Nuttie. + +There was evensong imminent, and the most needful act at the moment +was to compose the harmonium-player sufficiently for her to take her +part. Miss Headworth was really glad of the necessity, since it put +off the discussion, and made a reason for silencing Nuttie until all +should be more recovered from the first agitation. Alice Egremont +herself was glad to carry her gratitude and thankfulness to the +Throne of Grace, and in her voluntary, and all her psalms, there was +an exulting strain that no one had thought the instrument capable of +producing, and that went to the heart of more than one of her +hearers. No one who knew her could doubt that hers was simply +innocent exultation in the recovery of him whom she so entirely loved +and confided in. But there could not but be terrible doubts whether +he were worthy of that trust, and what the new page in her life would +be. + +Miss Headworth had said they would not talk till after church, but +there was no deferring the matter then. She was prepared, however, +when her niece came up to her in a tender deprecating manner, saying, +'Aunt Ursel, dear Aunt Ursel, it does seem very ungrateful, but--' + +'He is going to take you away? Yes, I saw that. And it ought to be, +my dear. You know where?' + +'Yes; to London first, to be fitted out, and then to his own home. +To Bridgefield Egremont. I shall have to see Mr. Egremont,' and her +voice sank with shame. 'But Mark will be good to me, and why should +I care when I have him.' + +'It is quite right. I am glad it should be so,' firmly said the old +lady. + +'And yet to leave you so suddenly.' + +'That can't be helped.' + +'And it will only be for a little while,' she added, 'till you can +make arrangements to come to us. My dear husband says he owes you +everything. So you must be with us, or close to us.' + +'My dear, it's very dear and good of you to think of it, but I must +be independent.' She put it in those words, unwilling again to speak +unguardedly before Nuttie. + +'Oh, dear auntie, indeed you must! Think what you are to us, and +what you have done for us. We can't go away to be happy and +prosperous and leave you behind. Can we, Nuttie? Come and help me +to get her to promise. Do--do dearest auntie,' and she began the +coaxing and caressing natural to her, but Nuttie did not join in it, +and Miss Headworth shook her head and said gravely-- + +'Don't, Alice. It is of no use. I tell you once for all that my +mind is made up.' + +Alice, knowing by long experience that, when her aunt spoke in that +tone, persuasion was useless, desisted, but looked at her in +consternation, with eyes swimming in tears. Nuttie understood her a +little better, and felt the prickings of distrust again. + +'But, aunt, dear aunt, how can we leave you? What will you do with +all the boarders,' went on Mrs. Egremont. + +'I shall see my way, my dear. Do not think about that. It is a +great thing to see you and this child receive justice.' + +'And only think, after all the hard things that have been said of +him, that we should meet first at church! He would not wait and send +letters and messages by Mark. You see he came down himself the first +moment. I always knew he would. Only I am so sorry for him, that he +should have lost all those sweet years when Nuttie was a tiny child. +She must do all she can to make up to him.' + +'Oh dear!' broke out Nuttie. 'It is so strange! It will be all so +strange!' + +'It will be a very new life,' said her aunt, rather didactically; +'but you must do your best to be a good daughter, and to fill your +new position, and I have no doubt you will enjoy it.' + +'If I could but take all with me!' said Nuttie. 'Oh dear! whatever +will you do, Aunt Ursel? Oh mother, the choir! Who will play the +harmonium? and who will lead the girls? and whatever will Mr. Spyers +do? and who will take my class? Mother, couldn't we stay a little +longer to set things going here?' + +'It is nice of you to have thought of it, my dear,' said Mrs. +Egremont, 'but your father would not like to stay on here.' + +'But mightn't I stay, just a few days, mother, to wish everybody +good-bye? Mr. Dutton, and Miss Mary, and Gerard, and all the girls?' + +There was some consolation in this plan, and the three women rested +on it that night, Mrs. Egremont recovering composure enough to write +three or four needful notes, explaining her sudden departure. The +aunt could not talk of a future she so much dreaded for her nieces, +losing in it the thought of her own loneliness; Alice kept back her +own loving, tender, undoubting joy with a curious sense that it was +hard and ungrateful towards the aunt; but it was impossible to think +of that, and Nuttie was in many moods. + +Eager anticipation of the new unseen world beyond, exultation in +finding herself somebody, sympathy with her mother's happiness, all +had their share, but they made her all the wilder, because they were +far from unmixed. The instinctive dislike of Mr. Egremont's +countenance, and doubt of his plausible story, which had vanished +before his presence, and her mother's faith, returned upon her from +time to time, caught perhaps from her aunt's tone and looks. Then +her aunt had been like a mother to her--her own mother much more like +a sister, and the quitting her was a wrench not compensated for as in +Mrs. Egremont's case by a more absorbing affection. Moreover, Nuttie +felt sure that poor Gerard Godfrey would break his heart. As the +mother and daughter for the last time lay down together in the room +that had been theirs through the seventeen years of the girl's life, +Alice fell asleep with a look of exquisite peace and content on her +face, feeling her long term of trial crowned by unlooked-for joy, +while Ursula, though respecting her slumbers too much to move, lay +with wide-open eyes, now speculating on the strange future, now +grieving over those she left--Aunt Ursel, Gerard, Mary, and all such; +the schemes from which she was snatched, and then again consoling +herself with the hope that, since she was going to be rich, she could +at once give all that was wanted--the white altar cloth, the brass +pitcher--nay, perhaps finish the church and build the school! For +had not some one said something about her position? Oh yes, she had +not thought of it before, but, since she was the elder brother's +daughter, she must be the heiress! There was no doubt a grand +beautiful story before her; she would withstand all sorts of +fascinations, wicked baronets and earls innumerable, and come back +and take Gerard by the hand, and say, 'Pride was quelled and love was +free.' Not that Gerard had ever uttered a word tending in that +direction since he had been seven years old, but that would make it +all the prettier; they would both be silently constant, till the time +came, perhaps when she was of age. Mother would like it, though +_that_ father would certainly be horrid. And how nice it would be to +give Gerard everything, and they would go all over the Continent, and +see pictures, and buy them, and see all the cathedrals and all the +mountains. But perhaps, since Mark Egremont had really been so +generous in hunting up the cousin who was displacing him, she was +bound in duty to marry him; perhaps he reckoned on her doing so. She +would be generous in her turn, give up all the wealth to him, and +return to do and be everything to Micklethwayte. How they would +admire and bless her. And oh! she was going to London to-morrow-- +London, which she so much wished to see--Westminster Abbey, British +Museum, All Saints, National Gallery, no end of new dresses. + +Half-waking, half-dreaming, she spent the night which seemed long +enough, and the light hours of the summer morning seemed still +longer, before she could call it a reasonable time for getting up. +Her splashings awoke her mother, who lay smiling for a few moments, +realising and giving thanks for her great joy, then bestirred herself +with the recollection of all that had to be done on this busy morning +before any summons from her husband could arrive. + +Combining packing and dressing, like the essentially unmethodical +little woman she was, Mrs. Egremont still had all her beautiful silky +brown hair about her shoulders when the bell of St. Ambrose's was +heard giving its thin tinkling summons to matins at half-past seven. +She was disappointed; she meant to have gone for this last time, but +there was no help for it, and Nuttie set off by herself. + +Gerard Godfrey was at his own door. He was not one of the regular +attendants at the short service, being of that modern species that +holds itself superior to 'Cranmer's prayers,' but on this morning he +hastened up to her with outstretched hand. + +'And you are going away!' he said. + +'I hope to get leave to stay a few days after mother,' she said. + +'To prolong the torment?' he said. + +'To wish everybody good-bye. It is a great piece of my life that is +come to an end, and I can't bear to break it off so short.' + +'And if you feel so, who are going to wealth and pleasure, what must +it be to those who are left behind?' + +'Oh!' said Nuttie, 'some one will be raised up. That's what they +always say. ' + +'I shall go into a brotherhood,' observed Gerard desperately. + +'Oh, don't,' began Nuttie, much gratified, but at that moment Miss +Nugent came out at her door, and Mr. Spyers, who was some way in +advance, looked round and waited for them to come up. He held out +his hands to her and said, 'Well, Nuttie, my child, you are going to +begin a new life.' + +'Oh dear! I wish I could have both!' cried Nuttie, not very +relevantly as far as the words +went. + +'Scheiden und weiden thut weh!' quoted Mary. + +'If his place was only Monks Horton. What will Aunt Ursel do?' + +'I think perhaps she may be induced to join us,' said Mary. 'We mean +to do our best to persuade her.' + +'And there's the choir! And my class, and the harmonium,' went on +Nuttie, while Gerard walked on disconsolately. + +'Micklethwayte has existed without you, Nuttie,' said Mr. Spyers, +taking her on with him alone. 'Perhaps it will be able to do so +again. My dear, you had better look on. There will be plenty for +you to learn and to do where you are going, and you will be sure to +find much to enjoy, and also something to bear. I should like to +remind you that the best means of going on well in this new world +will be to keep self down and to have the strong desire that only +love can give to be submissive, and to do what is right both to God +and your father and mother. May I give you a text to take with you? +"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right."' + +They were at the door and there was no time for an answer, but +Nuttie, as she took her place, was partly touched and partly fretted +at the admonition. + +The question as to her remaining a day or two after her mother was +soon disposed of. Mrs. Egremont sent a pretty little note to make +the request, but the elegant valet who appeared at ten o'clock +brought a verbal message that his master wished Mrs. and Miss +Egremont to be ready by two o'clock to join him in calling on Lady +Kirkaldy at Monks Horton, and that if their luggage was ready by four +o'clock, he (Gregorio) would take charge of it, as they were all to +go up to town by the 4.40 train. + +'Did he have my note?' faltered Alice, stimulated by the imploring +glances of aunt and daughter, but anticipating the answer. + +'Yes, madame, but he wishes that Miss Egremont should accompany you +immediately.' + +'Of course,' was Alice's comment, 'now that he has found his child, +he cannot bear to part with her.' + +And all through the farewells that almost rent the gentle Alice's +heart in two, she was haunted by the terror that she or her daughter +should have red eyes to vex her husband. As to Mr. Dutton, he had +only come in with Gerard in a great hurry just after breakfast, said +there was much to do to-day at the office, as they were going to take +stock, and they should neither of them have time to come home to +luncheon. He shook the hands of mother and daughter heartily, +promised to 'look after' Miss Headworth, and bore off in his train +young Gerard, looking the picture of woe, and muttering 'I believe he +has got it up on purpose;' while mother and daughter thought it very +odd, and rather unkind. + + + + + +CHAPTER IX. +NEW PLUMES. + + + + +'And ye sall walk in silk attire, + And siller hae to spare.'--Old Ballad. + + +The very best open fly and pair of horses, being the equipage most +like a private carriage possessed by the Royal Hotel, came to the +door with Mr. Egremont seated in it, at a few minutes after two +o'clock, and found Alice in her only black silk, with a rose in her +bonnet, and a tie to match on her neck, hastily procured as signs of +her wifehood. + +She had swallowed her tears, and Nuttie was not a crying person, but +was perfectly scarlet on her usually brown cheeks. Her father +muttered some civility about back seats, but it was plain that it was +only in words, and she never thought of anything but looking back, +with her last wave to her aunt and the two maids, one crying at the +gate, the other at the door. + +'There,' said Mr. Egremont, as they drove away, 'that is over!' + +'My dear aunt,' said his wife. 'Who can express her goodness to me?' + +'Cela va sans dire,' was the reply. 'But these are connections that +happily Ursula is young enough to forget and leave behind.' + +'I shall never forget!' began Nuttie, but she saw her father +composing himself in his corner without paying the slightest heed to +what she was saying, and she encountered a warning and alarmed glance +from her mother, so she was forced to content herself with uttering +silent vows of perpetual recollection as she passed each well-known +object,--the unfinished church, with Mr. Spyers at the door talking +to old Bellman; the Town Hall, whose concerts, lectures, and S. P. G. +meetings had been her chief gaiety and excitement; the School of Art, +where Lady Kirkaldy's appearance now seemed to her to have been like +that of a bird of omen; past the shops in the High Street, with a +little exultation at the thought of past desires which they had +excited. Long could she have rattled away, her hopes contradicting +her regrets, and her regrets qualifying her anticipations, but she +saw that her mother was nervous about every word and gesture, and +fairly looked dismayed when she exclaimed, 'Oh, mother, there's Etta +Smith; how surprised she will be!' bowing and smiling with all her +might. + +There was a look of bare toleration on Mr. Egremont's face, as if he +endured because it would soon be over, as Nuttie bowed several times, +and his wife, though less quick to catch people's eyes, sometimes +also made her recognition. When the streets were past and Nuttie had +aimed her last nods at the nursery parties out walking on the road, +she became aware that those cold, lack-lustre, and yet sharply +critical eyes of her father were scanning her all over. + +'She has been educated?' he presently said to his wife. + +'Oh yes,' was the eager answer. 'She is in the highest form at the +High School, and has to go up for the Senior Local Examination. Miss +Belper makes sure that she will get a first class.' + +Mr. Egremont gave a little wave of the hand, as dismissing something +superfluous, and said, 'I hope she has some accomplishments.' + +'She has done very fairly in French and German--' + +'And Latin,' put in Ursula. + +'And she has had several prizes at the School of Art.' + +'And music? That's the only thing of any value in society,' he said +impatiently, and Mrs. Egremont said more timidly, 'She has learnt +music regularly.' + +'But I don't care about it,' broke in Nuttie. 'I haven't mother's +ear nor her voice. I learnt the science in case I should have to +teach, and they make me practise. I don't mind classical music, but +I can't stand rubbish, and I think it is waste of time.' + +Mr. Egremont looked fairly amused, as at the outspoken folly of an +enfant terrible, but he only said, either to his wife or to himself, +'A little polish, and then she may be fairly presentable. ' + +'We have taken great pains with her,' answered the gentle mother, +evidently taking this as a great compliment, while the daughter was +tingling with indignation. She, bred up by mother, and aunt, and +Mary Nugent, to be barely presentable. Was not their society at +Micklethwayte equal in good manners to any, and superior, far +superior, in goodness and intelligence to these stupid fashionable +people, who undervalued all her real useful acquirements, and cared +for nothing but trumpery music. + +The carriage entered the park, and Nuttie saw lake and woods from a +fresh point of view. The owners were both at home, and Nuttie found +herself walking behind her parents into a cheerful apartment, half +library, half morning-room. Mrs. Egremont was by far the most shy +and shrinking of the party, but it was an occasion that showed her +husband's complete tact and savoir favre. He knew perfectly well +that the Kirkaldys knew all about it, and he therefore took the +initiative. 'You are surprised to see us,' he said, as he gave his +hand, 'but we could not leave the country without coming to thank +Lady Kirkaldy for her kindness in assisting in following up the clue +to Mrs. Egremont's residence.' + +'I am very happy,' said Lady Kirkaldy, while all were being seated. + +'I think it was here that my nephew Mark first met one whom, child as +he was, he could not but remember.' + +'I don't think you met him here,' said Lady Kirkaldy to Mrs. +Egremont; 'but he heard the name and was struck by it.' + +'Dear Mark!' was the response. 'He was so kind.' + +'He is a dear good boy,' chimed in my lady. + +'Yes,' said her lord, 'an excellent good fellow with plenty of +brains.' + +'As he well knows,' said Mr. Egremont. 'Oh yes; I quite agree with +all you say of him! One ought to be thankful for the possession of a +rare specimen.' + +It was in the tone in which Falstaff discussed that sober boy, Lord +John of Lancaster. Lord Kirkaldy asked if the visitors were going to +remain long in the neighbourhood. + +'We are due in London to-night,' replied Mr. Egremont. 'We shall +spend a day or two there, and then go home. Alice,' he added, though +his wife had never heard him call her so before, 'Lady Kirkaldy knows +your inexperience. Perhaps she would be good enough to give you some +addresses that might be useful.' + +'I shall be delighted,' said the lady, cordially looking at the +blushing Mrs. Egremont. + +'Dressmaker, and all the rest of it,' said Mr. Egremont. 'You know +better than she does what she will require, and a little advice will +be invaluable. Above all, if you could tell her how to pick up a +maid.' + +Lady Kirkaldy proposed to take the mother and daughter up to her +dressing-room, where she kept her book of addresses to London +tradesmen; and Mr. Egremont only begged that they would remember the +4.40 train. Then Lord Kirkaldy was left to entertain him, while the +ladies went up the broad staircase to the pleasant room, which had a +mingled look of refinement and usefulness which struck Nuttie at +once. Lady Kirkaldy, as soon as the door was shut, took her visitor +by the hand, kissed her forehead, and said, 'You must let me tell you +how glad I am.' + +The crystal veil at once spread over Alice's eyes. + +'Oh, thank you. Lady Kirkaldy! I am _so_ happy, and yet I am so +afraid. Please tell me what we shall _do_ so that we may not vex +him, so high bred and fastidious as he is?' + +'Be yourself! That's all, my dear,' said Lady Kirkaldy tenderly. +'Don't be afraid. You are quite incapable of doing anything that +could distress the most fastidious taste.' + +It was perfectly true of the mother, perhaps less so of the daughter; +but Lady Kirkaldy only thought of her as a mere girl, who could +easily be modelled by her surroundings. The kind hostess applied +herself to giving the addresses of the people she thought likely to +be most useful in the complete outfit which she saw would be +necessary, explaining to which establishments she applied with +confidence if she needed to complete her wardrobe in haste, feeling +certain that nothing would be sent her that she disliked, and giving +leave to use her name. She soon saw that the mother was a little +dazed, while Ursula's eyes grew rounder at the unlimited vista of +fine clothes, and she assented, and asked questions as to the +details. As to a maid, Lady Kirkaldy would write to a person who +would call on Mrs. Egremont at the hotel in London, and who might be +what was wanted; and in conclusion, Lady Kirkaldy, with some +diffidence, begged to be written to--'if--if,' she said, 'there +happened to be any difficulty about which you might not like to +consult Mrs. William Egremont.' Nuttie hardly knew whether to be +grateful or not, for she did not believe in any standard above that +of Micklethwayte, and she was almost angry at her mother's grateful +answer--'Oh, thank you! I should be so grateful! I am so afraid of +annoying him by what he may think small, ignorant, country-town ways! +You will understand--' + +Lady Kirkaldy did understand, and she dreaded what might be before +the sweet little yielding woman, not from want of breeding so much as +from the long-indulged selfishness of her husband; but she encouraged +her as much as possible, and promised all possible counsel, bringing +her downstairs again just in time. + +'Pretty little soul!' said Lord Kirkaldy, as the fly clattered away. +'I wonder whether Mark has done her a kindness!' + +'It is just what she is, a pretty, nay, a beautiful soul, full of +tenderness and forgiveness and affection and humility, only I doubt +whether there is any force or resolution to hold her own. You smile! +Well, perhaps the less of that she has the better she may get on with +him. Did he say anything about her?' + +'No; I think he wants to ignore that they have not spent the last +twenty years together.' + +'That may be the best way for all parties. Do you think he will +behave well to her?' + +'No man could well do otherwise to such a sweet little thing,' said +Lord Kirkaldy; 'especially as she will be his most obedient slave, +and will make herself necessary to him. It is much better luck than +he deserves; but I pity her when she comes to make her way with yon +ladies!' + +'I wish I was there! I know she will let herself be trodden on! +However, there's Mark to stand up for her, and William Egremont will +do whatever he thinks right and just. I wish I knew how his wife +will take it!' + + + + + +CHAPTER X. +BRIDGEFIELD EGREMONT. + + + + +'Let us see these handsome houses + Where the wealthy nobles dwell.'--TENNYSON. + + +'Mother, mother!' cried two young people, bursting open the door of +the pretty dining-room of Bridgefield Rectory, where the grown-up +part of the family were lingering over a late breakfast. + +'Gently, gently, children,' said the dignified lady at the head of +the table. 'Don't disturb papa.' + +'But we really have something to say, mother!' said the elder girl, +'and Fraulein said you ought to know. Uncle Alwyn is come home, and +Mrs. Egremont. And please, are we to call her Aunt Egremont, or Aunt +Alwyn, or what?' + +The desired sensation was produced. Canon Egremont put down his +newspaper. The two elder sisters looked from one to the other in +unmitigated astonishment. Mark briefly made answer to the final +question, 'Aunt Alice,' and Mrs. Egremont said gravely, 'How did you +hear this, Rosalind? You know I always forbid you to gossip.' + +'We didn't gossip, mother. We went up to the gardens to get some +mulberries for our half-holiday feast; and Ronaldson came out and +told us we must ask leave first, for the ladies were come. The +Squire came home at nine o'clock last night, and Mrs. Egremont and +all, and only sent a telegram two hours before to have the rooms got +ready.' + +'Has Uncle Alwyn gone and got himself married?' exclaimed one of the +young ladies, in utter amazement. + +'Not just now, Blanche,' said her father. 'It is an old story now. +Your uncle married this lady, who had been governess to May and Mark, +many years ago, and from--circumstances in which she was not at all +to blame, he lost sight of her while he was abroad with old General +Egremont. Mark met her about a fortnight ago, and this has led to +your uncle's going in quest of her, though he has certainly been more +sudden in his proceedings than I expected.' + +The mother here succeeded in sending Rosalind and Adela, with their +wondering eyes, off the scene, and she would much have liked to send +her two stepdaughters after them, but one-and-twenty and eighteen +could not so readily be ordered off as twelve and ten; and Mark, who +had been prohibited from uttering a word to his sisters, was eagerly +examining Margaret whether she remembered their Edda; but she had +been only three years old at the time of the adventures in the Isle +of Wight, and remembered nothing distinctly but the aspect of one of +the sailors in the yacht. + +'Well,' said Mrs. Egremont, 'this has come very suddenly upon us. It +would have been more for her own dignity if she had held out a little +before coming so easily to terms, after the way in which she has been +treated.' + +'When you see her, mother, you will understand,' said Mark. + +'Shall we have to be intimate with her?' asked May. + +'I desire that she should be treated as a relation,' said the Canon +decidedly. 'There is nothing against her character,' and, as his +wife was about to interrupt,--'nothing but an indiscretion to which +she was almost driven many years ago. She was cruelly treated, and I +for one am heartily sorry for having let myself be guided by others.' + +Mrs. William Egremont felt somewhat complacent, for she knew he meant +Lady de Lyonnais, and there certainly had been no love lost between +her and her step-children's grandmother; but she was a sensible +woman, and forbore to speak, though there was a mental reservation +that intimacy would a good deal depend upon circumstances. Blanche +cried out that it was a perfect romance, and May gravely said, 'But +is she a lady?' + +'A perfect lady,' said Mark. 'Aunt Margaret says so.' + +'One knows what a perfect lady means,' returned May. + +'Come, May,' said Mrs. Egremont, 'do not let us begin with a +prejudice. By all accounts the poor thing has conducted herself with +perfect respectability all this time. What did you tell me, Mark? +She has been living with an aunt, keeping a school at Micklethwayte.' + + Not quite,' said Mark. 'She has been acting as a daily governess. +She seemed to be on friendly terms with the clerical folk. I came +across the name at a school feast, or something of the kind, which +came off in the Kirkaldys' park.' + +'Oh, then, I know exactly the sort of person!' returned May, pursing +up her lips. + +Mark laughed and said, 'I wonder whether it is too soon to go up and +see them. I wonder what my uncle thinks of his daughter.' + +'What! You don't mean to say there is a daughter?' cried May. + +'Even so. And exactly like you too, Miss May.' + +'Then you are cut out, Mark!' + +'You are cut out, I think, May. You'll have to give her all your +Miss Egremont cards.' + +'No,' said the young lady; 'mother made me have my Christian name +printed. She said all but the daughters of the head of the family +ought to have it so. I'm glad of it.' + +'How old is she?' asked Blanche. + +'About a year younger than you.' + +'I think it is very interesting,' said Blanche. 'How wonderful it +must all be to her! I will go up with you, Mark, as soon as I can +get ready.' + +'You had better wait till later in the day, Blanche,' said the +mother. She knew the meeting was inevitable, but she preferred +having it under her own eye, if she could not reconnoitre. + +She was a just and sensible woman, who felt reparation due to the +newly-discovered sister-in-law, and that harmony, or at least the +appearance of it, must be preserved; but she was also exclusive and +fastidious by nature, and did not look forward to the needful +intercourse with much satisfaction either on her own account or that +of her family. + +She told Mark to say that she should come to see Mrs. Egremont after +luncheon, since he was determined to go at once, and moreover to drag +his father with him. Canon Egremont was a good and upright man, +according to his lights, which were rather those of a well-beneficed +clergyman of the first than of the last half of the century, +intensified perhaps that the passive voice was the strongest in him. +All the country knew that Canon Egremont could be relied on to give a +prudent, scholarly judgment, and to be kind and liberal, when once +induced to stir mind or body--but how to do that was the problem. He +had not been a young man at the time of his first marriage, and was +only a few years' junior to his brother, though he had the fresh, +wholesome look of a man who kept regular hours and lived much in the +air. + +Alice knew him at once, and thought eighteen years had made little +change, as, at Nuttie's call to her, she looked from the window and +saw the handsome, dignified, gray-haired, close-shaven rosy face, and +the clerical garb unchanged in favour of long coats and high +waistcoats. + +The mother and daughter were exploring the house together. Mr. +Egremont had made it known that he preferred having his breakfast +alone, and not being disturbed in the forenoon. So the two ladies +had breakfasted together at nine, the earliest hour at which they +could prevail on the household to give them a meal. Indeed Nuttie +had slept till nearly that time, for between excitement and noise, +her London slumbers had been broken; and her endeavour to keep +Micklethwayte hours had resulted in a long, weary, hungry time in the +sitting-room of the hotel, with nothing to do, when the gaze from the +window palled on her, but to write to her aunt and Mary Nugent. The +rest of the day had been spent in driving about in a brougham with +her mother shopping, and this she could not but enjoy exceedingly, +more than did the timid Mrs. Egremont, who could not but feel herself +weighted with responsibility; and never having had to spend at the +utmost more than ten pounds at a time, felt bewildered at the cheques +put into her hands, and then was alarmed to find them melting away +faster than she expected. + +There was a very late dinner, after which Mr. Egremont, on the first +day, made his wife play bezique with him. She enjoyed it, as a +tender reminiscence of the yachting days; but Nuttie found herself de +trop, and was reduced to the book she had contrived to purchase on +her travels. The second night Mr. Egremont had picked up two +friends, not yet gone out of town, whose talk was of horses and of +yachts, quite incomprehensible to the ladies. They were very +attentive to Mrs. Egremont, whom they evidently admired, one so +visibly as to call up a blush; but they disregarded the daughter as a +schoolgirl. Happily they appeared no more after the dinner; but +Nuttie's first exclamation of astonished disgust was silenced at once +by her mother with unusual determination, 'You must not speak so of +your father's friends.' + +'Not when--' + +'Not at all,' interrupted Mrs. Egremont. + +The only sense of promotion to greatness that Ursula had yet enjoyed +was in these fine clothes, and the maid whom Lady Kirkaldy had +recommended, a grave and severe-looking person, of whom both stood +somewhat in awe. The arrival at Bridgefield had been too late for +anything to be taken in but a general impression of space and +dreariness, and the inevitable dinner of many courses, after which +Nuttie was so tired out that her mother sent her to bed. + +Since the waking she had made some acquaintance with the house. +There was no show of domestics, no curtseying housekeeper to parade +the new mistress over the house; Mr. Egremont had told his wife that +she must fill up the establishment as she pleased, but that there was +an admirable cook downstairs, and he would not have her interfered +with--she suited his tastes as no one else did, and she must be left +to deal with the provisions and her own underlings. There was a +stable establishment, and a footman had been hired in town, but there +was besides only one untidy-looking housemaid, who began by giving +warning; and Alice and Nuttie had roamed about without meeting any +one from the big wainscotted dining-room with faded crimson curtains +and family portraits, the older grimy, the younger chalky, to the two +drawing-rooms, whose gilding and pale blue damask had been preserved +by pinafores of brown holland; the library, which looked and smelt as +if Mr. Egremont was in the habit of sitting there, and a big +billiard-room, all opening into a shivery-feeling hall, with +Scagliola columns and a few dirty statues between them; then upstairs +to a possible morning-room, looking out over a garden lawn, where +mowing was going on in haste, and suites of dreary shut-up fusty +bedrooms. Nuttie, who had notions of choosing her own bower, could +not make up her mind which looked the least inviting. It did not +seem as if girls could ever have laughed together, or children +clattered up and down the stairs. Mrs. Egremont begged her to keep +possession for the present at least of the chamber where the grim +housemaid had chosen to put her, and which had the advantage of being +aired. + +The two windows looked out over the park, and thence it was that +while Morris, the maid, was unpacking and putting away the new +purchases, and Nuttie was standing, scarcely realising that such +pretty hats and bonnets could be her very own, when her mother beheld +the Canon and Mark advancing up the drive. It was with a great start +that she called Ursula to come down directly with her, as no one +would know where to find them, hastily washing the hands that had +picked up a sense of dustiness during the exploration, and taking a +comprehensive glance in the cheval glass, which showed her some one +she felt entirely unfamiliar to her in a dainty summer costume of +pale gray silk picked out with a mysterious shade of pink. Ursula +too thought Miss Egremont's outer woman more like a Chelsea +shepherdess than Nuttie's true self, as she tripped along in her +buckled shoes and the sea green stockings that had been sent home +with her skirt. With crimson cheeks and a throbbing heart, Alice was +only just at the foot of the stairs when the newcomers had made their +way in, and the kind Canon, ignoring all that was past, held out his +hands saying, 'Well, my dear, I am glad to see you here,' kissing +Mrs. Egremont on each cheek. 'And so this is your daughter. How do +you do, my dear--Ursula? Isn't that your name?' And Ursula had +again to submit to a kiss, much more savoury and kindly than her +father's, though very stubbly. And oh! her uncle's dress was like +that of no one she had ever seen except the rector of the old church, +the object of unlimited contempt to the adherents of St. Ambrose's. + +As to Mark, he only kissed his aunt, and shook hands with her, while +his father ran on with an unusual loquacity that was a proof of +nervousness in him. + +'Mrs. Egremont--Jane, I mean--will be here after luncheon. She +thought you would like to get settled in first. How is Alwyn? Is he +down yet?' + +'I will see,' in a trembling voice. + +'Oh no, never mind, Alwyn hates to be disturbed till he has made +himself up in the morning. My call is on you, you know. Where are +you sitting?' + +'I don't quite know. In the drawing-room, I suppose.' + +The Canon, knowing the house much better than she did, opened a door +into a third drawing-room she had not yet seen, a pretty little room, +fitted up with fluted silk, like a tent, somewhat faded but not much +the worse for that, and opening into a conservatory, which seemed to +have little in it but some veteran orange trees. Nuttie, however, +exclaimed with pleasure at the nicest room she had seen, and Mark +began unfastening the glass door that led into it. Meantime Alice, +with burning cheeks and liquid eyes, nerved her voice to say, 'Oh, +sir--Mr. Egremont--please forgive me! I know now how wrong I was.' + +'Nonsense, my dear. Bygones are bygones. You were far more sinned +against than sinning, and have much to forgive me. There, my dear, +we will say no more about it, nor think of it either. I am only too +thankful that poor Alwyn should have some one to look after him.' + +Alice, who had dreaded nothing more than the meeting with her former +master, was infinitely relieved and grateful for this kindness. She +had ejaculated, 'Oh, you are so good!' in the midst, and now at the +mention of her husband, she exclaimed, 'Oh! do you think he is ill? +I can't help being afraid he is, but he will not tell me, and does +not like to be asked.' + +'Poor fellow, he has damaged his health a good deal,' was the answer. +'He had a sharp attack in the spring, but he has pretty well got over +it, and Raikes told me there was no reason for uneasiness, provided +he would be careful; and that will be a much easier matter now. I +should not wonder if we saw him with quite a renewed youth.' + +So the Canon and Mrs. Egremont were getting on pretty well together, +but there was much more stiffness and less cordiality between the two +cousins, although Mark got the window open into the conservatory, and +showed Nuttie the way into the garden, advising her to ask Ronaldson, +the gardener, to fill the conservatory with flowers. The pavilion, +as this little room was called, always seemed to have more capacities +for being lived in than any other room in the house. It had been +fitted up when such things were the fashion for the shortlived bride +of 'our great uncle.' + +'The colour must have been awful then,' said Mark, looking up at it, +'enough to set one's teeth on edge; but it has faded into something +quite orthodox--much better than could be manufactured for you.' + +Mark had evidently some ideas of art, and was besides inclined to do +the honours to the stranger; but Nuttie was not going to encourage +him or anybody else to make up to her, while she had that look of +Gerard Godfrey's in her mind's eye. So she made small answer, and he +felt rebuffed, but supposed her shy, and wondered when he could go +back to her mother, who was so much more attractive. + +Presently his father went off to storm the den of the master of the +house, and there was a pleasant quarter of an hour, during which the +three went out through the conservatory, and Mark showed the ins-and- +outs of the garden, found out Ronaldson, and congratulated him on +having some one at last to appreciate his flowers, begging him to +make the conservatory beautiful. And Mrs. Egremont's smile was so +effective that the Scot forthwith took out his knife and presented +her with the most precious of the roses within his reach. + +Moreover Mark told the names and ages of all his sisters, whole and +half. He was the only son, except a little fellow in the nursery. +And he exhorted his aunt not to be afraid of his step-mother, who was +a most excellent person, he declared, but who never liked to see any +one afraid of her. + +There was something a little alarming in this, but on the whole the +visit was very pleasant and encouraging to Mrs. Egremont; and she +began rejoicing over the kindness as soon as the Canon had summoned +his son, and they had gone away together. + +'I am sure you must be delighted with your uncle and cousin, my +dear,' she said. + +'He's not a bit my notion of a priest,' returned Nuttie. 'And I +don't believe he has any daily prayers!' + +'He is old-fashioned, my dear.' + +'One of the stodgey old clergymen in books,' observed Nuttie. 'I +didn't think there were any of that sort left.' + +'Oh, my dear, pray don't take fancies into your head! He is a very, +very good man, and has been most kind to me, far more than I deserve, +and he is your uncle, Nuttie. I do so hope you will get on well with +your cousins.' + +Here a gong, a perfectly unknown sound to Nuttie, made itself heard, +and rather astonished her by the concluding roar. The two ladies +came out into the hall as Mr. Egremont was crossing it. He made an +inclination of the head, and uttered a sort of good morning to his +daughter, but she was perfectly content to have no closer salutation. +Having a healthy noonday appetite, her chief wish was at the moment +that those beautiful little cutlets, arranged in a crown form, were +not so very tiny; or that, with two men-servants looking on, it were +possible to attain to a second help, but she had already learnt that +Gregorio would not hear her, and that any attempt to obtain more food +frightened her mother. + +'So his reverence has been to see you,' observed Mr. Egremont. +'William, if you like it better.' + +'Oh yes, and he was kindness itself!' + +'And how did Master Mark look at finding I could dispense with his +assistance?' + +'I think he is very glad.' + +Mr. Egremont laughed. 'You are a simple woman, Edda! The pose of +virtuous hero was to have been full compensation for all that it +might cost him! And no doubt he looks for the reward of virtue +likewise.' + +Wherewith he looked full at Ursula, who, to her extreme vexation, +felt herself blushing up to the ears. She fidgeted on her chair, and +began a most untrue 'I'm sure--' for, indeed, the poor girl was sure +of nothing, but that her father's manner was most uncomfortable to +her. His laugh choked whatever she might have said, which perhaps +was well, and her mother's cheeks glowed as much as hers did. + +'Did the Canoness--Jane, I mean--come up?' Mr. Egremont went on. + +'Mrs. Egremont? No; she sent word that she is coming after +luncheon.' + +'Hm! Then I shall ride out and leave you to her majesty. Now look +you, Alice, you are to be very careful with William's wife. She is a +Condamine, you know, and thinks no end of herself, and your position +among the women-folk of the county depends more on how she takes you +up than anything else. But that doesn't mean that you are to let her +give herself airs and domineer over you. Remember you are the elder +brother's wife--Mrs. Egremont of Bridgefield Egremont--and she is +nothing but a parson's wife, and I won't have her meddling in my +house. Only don't you be absurd and offend her, for she can do more +for or against you in society than any one else--more's the pity!' + +'Oh! won't you stay and help me receive her?' exclaimed the poor +lady, utterly confused by these contrary directions. + +'Not I! I can't abide the woman! nor she me!' He added, after a +moment, 'You will do better without me.' + +So he went out for his ride, and Ursula asked, 'Oh, mother! what will +you do?' + +'The best I can, my dear. They are good people, and are sure to be +kinder than I deserve.' + +Nuttie was learning that her mother would never so much as hear, far +less answer, a remark on her husband. It was beginning to make a +sore in the young heart that a barrier was thus rising, where there +once had been as perfect oneness and confidence as could exist +between two natures so dissimilar, though hitherto the unlikeness had +never made itself felt. + +Mrs, Egremont turned the conversation to the establishing themselves +in the pavilion, whither she proceeded to import some fancy-work that +she had bought in London, and sent Nuttie to Ronaldson, who was +arranging calceolarias, begonias, and geraniums in the conservatory, +to beg for some cut-flowers for a great dusty-looking vase in the +centre of the table. + +These were being arranged when Mrs. William Egremont and Miss Blanche +Egremont were ushered in, and there were the regular kindred +embraces, after which Alice and Nuttie were aware of a very handsome, +dignified-looking lady, well though simply dressed in what was +evidently her home costume, with a large shady hat and feather, her +whole air curiously fitting the imposing nickname of the Canoness. +Blanche was a slight, delicate-looking, rather pretty girl in a lawn- +tennis dress. The visitor took the part of treating the newcomers as +well-established relations. + +'We would not inundate you all at once,' she said, 'but the children +are all very eager to see their cousin. I wish you would come down +to the Rectory with me. My ponies are at the door. I would drive +you, and Ursula might walk with Blanche.' And, as Alice hesitated +for a moment, considering how this might agree with the complicated +instructions that she had received, she added, 'Never mind Alwyn. I +saw him going off just before I came up, and he told William he was +going to look at some horses at Hale's, so he is disposed of for a +good many hours.' + +Alice decided that her husband would probably wish her to comply, and +she rejoiced to turn her daughter in among the cousins, so hats, +gloves, and parasols were fetched, and the two mothers drove away +with the two sleek little toy ponies. By which it may be perceived +that Mrs. William Egremont's first impressions were favourable. + +'It is the shortest way through the gardens,' said Blanche. 'Have +you been through them yet?' + +'Mark walked about with us a little.' + +'You'll improve them ever so much. There are great capabilities. +Look, you could have four tennis courts on this one lawn. We wanted +to have a garden-party up here last year, and father said we might, +but mother thought Uncle Alwyn might think it a liberty; but now +you'll have some delicious ones? Of course you play lawn-tennis?' + +'I have seen it a very few times,' said Nuttie. + +'Oh, we must teach you! Fancy living without lawn-tennis!' said +Blanche. 'I always wonder what people did without it. Only'--with +an effort at antiquarianism--'I believe they had croquet.' + +'Aunt Ursula says there weren't garden-parties before croquet came +in.' + +'How dreadful, Ursula! Your name's Ursula, isn't it? Haven't you +some jolly little name to go by?' + +'Nuttie.' + +'Nuttie! That's scrumptious! I'll call you Nuttie, and you may call +me Pussycat.' + +'That's not so nice as Blanche.' + +'Mother won't have me called so when strangers are there, but you +aren't a stranger, you know. You must tell me all about yourself, +and how you came never to learn tennis!' + +'I had something else to do,' said Nuttie, with dignity. + +'Oh, you were in the schoolroom! I forgot. Poor little Nuts!' + +'At school,' said Ursula. + +'Ah, I remember! But you're out now, aren't you? I've been out +since this spring. Mother won't let us come out till we are +eighteen, isn't it horrid? And we were so worked there! I can tell +you a finishing governess is an awful institution! Poor little Rosie +and Adey will be in for one by and by. At present they've only got a +jolly little Fraulein that they can do anything they please with.' + +'Oh, I wonder if she would tell me of some German books!' + +'You don't mean that you want to read German!' and Blanche stood +still, and looked at her cousin in astonishment. + +'Why, what else is the use of learning it?' + +'Oh, I don't know. Every one does. If one went abroad or to court, +you know,' said Blanche vaguely; but Ursula had now a fresh subject +of interest; for, on emerging from the shrubbery, they came in sight +of a picturesque but not very architectural church, which had the +smallest proportion of wall and the largest of roof, and a pretty +oriel-windowed schoolhouse covered with clematis. Nuttie rushed into +inquiries about services and schools, and was aghast at hearing of +mere Sundays and saints' days. + +'Oh no! father isn't a bit Ritualistic. I wish he was, it would be +so much prettier; and then he always advertises for curates of +moderate views, and they are so stupid. You never saw such a stick +as we have got now, Mr. Edwards; and his wife isn't a lady, I'm +sure.' + +Then as to schools, it was an absolute amazement to Nuttie to find +that the same plans were in force as had prevailed when her uncle had +come to the living and built that pretty house--nay, were kept up at +his sole expense, because he liked old-fashioned simplicity, and did +not choose to be worried with Government inspection. + +'And,' said Blanche, 'every one says our girls work ever so much +better, and make nicer servants than those that are crammed with all +sorts of nonsense not fit for them.' + +As to the Sunday school. Mother and the curate take care of that. +I'm sure, if you like it, you can have my class, for I always have a +headache there, and very often I can't go. Only May pegs away at it, +and she won't let me have the boys, who are the only jolly ones, +because she says I spoil them. But you must be my friend--mind, +Nuttie, not May's, for we are nearer the same age. When is your +birthday? You must put it down in my book!' + +Nuttie, who had tolerable experience of making acquaintance with new +girls, was divided between a sense of Blanche's emptiness, and the +warmth excited by her friendliness, as well as of astonishment at all +she heard and saw. + +Crossing the straggling, meandering village street, the cousins +entered the grounds of the Rectory, an irregular but well-kept +building of the soft stone of the country, all the garden front of it +a deep verandah that was kept open in summer, but closed with glass +frames in the winter--flower-beds lying before it, and beyond a lawn +where the young folk were playing at the inevitable lawn-tennis. + +Margaret was not so pretty as Blanche, but had a more sensible face, +and her welcome to Ursula was civil but reserved. Rosalind and Adela +were bright little things, in quite a different style from their +half-sisters, much lighter in complexion and promising to be +handsomer women. They looked full of eagerness and curiosity at the +new cousin, whom Blanche set down on a bank, and proceeded to +instruct in the mysteries of the all-important game by comments and +criticisms on the players. + +As soon as Mark and Adela had come out conquerors, Ursula was called +on to take her first lesson. May resigned her racket, saying she had +something to do, and walked off the field, and carrying off with her +Adela, who, as Blanche said, 'had a spine,' and was ordered to lie +down for an hour every afternoon. The cheerfulness with which she +went spoke well for the training of the family. + +Nuttie was light-footed and dexterous handed, and accustomed to +active amusements, so that, under the tuition of her cousins, she +became a promising pupil, and thawed rapidly, even towards Mark. + +She was in the midst of her game when the two mothers came out, for +the drive had been extended all round the park, under pretext of +showing it to its new mistress, but really to give the Canoness an +opportunity of judging of her in a tete-a-tete. Yet that sensible +woman had asked no alarming questions on the past, still less had +offered any advice that could seem like interference. She had only +named localities, mentioned neighbours, and made little +communications about the ways of the place such as might elicit +remarks; and, as Alice's voice betrayed less and less constraint, she +ventured on speaking of their daughters, so as to draw forth some +account of how Ursula might have been educated. + +And of this, Alice was ready and eager to talk, telling how clever +and how industrious Nuttie had always been, and how great an +advantage Miss Nugent's kindness was, and how she was hoping to go up +for the Cambridge examination; then, detecting some doubt in her +companion's manner, she said, 'It would be a great disappointment to +her not to do so now. Do you think she had better not?' + +'I don't think she will find time to go on with the preparation! +And, to tell the truth, I don't think we are quite ripe for such +things in this county. We are rather backward, and Ursula, coming in +fresh upon us, might find it a disadvantage to be thought much +cleverer than other people.' + +'Ah! I was not quite sure whether her father would like it.' + +'I do not think he would. I am sure that if my little Rose were to +take it into her head, I should have hard work to get her father's +consent, though no doubt the world will have progressed by the time +she is old enough.' + +'That settles it,' said Alice. 'Thank you, Mrs. Egremont. I own,' +she added presently, 'that I do somewhat regret that it cannot be, +for I thought that a motive for keeping up her studies would be +helpful to my child;--I do not mean for the sake of the studies, but +of the--the balance in all this change and novelty.' + +'You are quite right, I have felt it myself,' said her sister-in-law. +'Perhaps something could be done by essay societies. May belongs to +one, and if Ursula is an intellectual girl, perhaps you could keep +her up to some regular employment in the morning. I succeeded in +doing so when May came out, but I can accomplish nothing regular but +music with Blanche; and an hour's steady practice a day is better +than nothing.' + +The drive was on the whole a success, and so was the tea-drinking in +the verandah, where Aunt Alice and little five-years old Basil became +fast friends and mutual admirers; the Canon strolled out and was +installed in the big, cushioned basket-chair that crackled under his +weight; Blanche recounted Nuttie's successes, and her own tennis +engagements for the week; Mark lay on a rug and teased her, and her +dachshund; Nuttie listened to the family chatter as if it were a +play, and May dispensed the cups, and looked grave and severe. + +'Well?' said the Canon anxiously, when Mark, Blanche, and little +Basil had insisted on escorting the guests home, and he and his wife +were for a few minutes tete-a-tete. + +'It might have been much worse,' said the lady. 'She is a good +little innocent thing, and has more good sense than I expected. +Governessy, that's all, but she will shake out of that.' + +'Of course she will. It's the best thing imaginable for Alwyn!' + +His wife kept back the words, 'A hundred times too good for Alwyn!' + + + + + +CHAPTER XI. +LAWN-TENNIS. + + + + +'Madam, the guests are come, supper served up, + My young lady asked for!'--Romeo and Juliet. + + +A garden-party, Mrs. William Egremont decided, would be the best mode +of testifying her approbation of her sister-in-law, and introducing +the newcomers to the neighbourhood. So the invitations were sent +forth for an early day of the coming week. + +From how many points of view was Mrs. William Egremont's garden-party +regarded, and how different! There was Basil, to whom it meant +wearing his velvet suit and eating as many ices as mother would +allow. To Blanche, it was an occasion for triumph on the tennis +ground for herself, and for hopes for her pupil; and Ursula herself +looked forward to it and practised for it like a knight for his first +encounter in the lists, her sole care being to distinguish herself +with her racket. To her mother, it was an ordeal, where she trusted +not to be a mortification to her husband and his family; while to the +hostess, it was a not unwelcome occasion of exercising honest +diplomacy and tact, not without a sense of magnanimity. To May, it +was a bore to be endured with dutiful philosophy; to her good-natured +father an occasion for hospitality, where he trusted that his brother +would appear, and appear to advantage, and was ready even to bribe +him thereto with that wonderful claret that Alwyn had always envied, +and declared to be wasted on a parson. And Mark, perhaps he viewed +the occasion with different eyes from any one else. At any rate, +even the denizens of Bridgefield mustered there with as many minds as +Scott ascribes to the combatants of Bannockburn, and there were +probably as many other circles of feeling more or less intersecting +one another among the more distant guests, most of them, however, +with the same feeling of curiosity as to what this newly-discovered +wife and daughter of Alwyn Egremont might be like. + +Externally, in her rich black silk, trimmed with point lace, and her +little straw-coloured bonnet with its tuft of feathery grass and blue +cornflower, she was so charming that her daughter danced round her, +crying, 'O mammy, mammy, if they could but see you at home'--then, at +a look: 'Well then--Aunt Ursel, and Miss Mary, and Mr. Dutton!' + +Nuttie was very much pleased with her own pretty tennis dress; but +she had no personal vanity for herself, only for her mother. The +knowledge that she was no beauty was no grievance to her youthful +spirits; but when her father surveyed them in the hall, she looked +for his verdict for her mother as if their relations were reversed. + +'Ha! Well, you certainly are a pretty creature, Edda,' he said +graciously. 'You'll pass muster! You want nothing but style. And, +hang it! you'll do just as well without it, if the Canoness will only +do you justice. Faces like that weren't given for nothing.' + +She blushed incarnadine and accepted one of his kisses with a +pleasure, at which Nuttie wondered, her motherly affection prompting +her to murmur in his ear-- + +'And Ursula?' + +'She'll not cut you out; but she is Egremont enough to do very +fairly. Going already?' + +'If you would come with us,' she said wistfully, to the horror of +Nuttie, who was burning to be at the beginning of all the matches. + +'I? oh no! I promised old Will to look in, but that won't be till +late in the day, or I shall have to go handing all the dowagers into +the dining-room to tea.' + +'Then I think we had better go on. They asked us to come early, so +as to see people arrive and know who they are.' + +_They_ was a useful pronoun to Alice, who felt it a liberty to call +her grand-looking sister-in-law, Jane--was too well-bred to term her +Mrs. William. + +The mother and daughter crossed the gardens, Nuttie chattering all +the way about the tennis tactics she had picked up from Blanche, +while her mother answered her somewhat mechanically, wondering, as +her eye fell on the square squat gray church tower, what had become +of the earnest devotion to church work and intellectual pursuits that +used to characterise the girl. True, always both mother and daughter +had hitherto kept up their church-going, and even their Sunday-school +habits, nor had any hindrance come in their way, Mr. Egremont +apparently acquiescing in what he never shared. But these things +seemed, in Ursula's mind, to have sunk out of the proportion they +held at Bridgefield, no longer to be the spirit of a life, but mere +Sunday duties and occupations. + +Was this wicked world getting a hold of the poor child? Which was +duty? which was the world? This was the thought that perplexed +Alice, too simple as yet to perceive that Ursula's former absorption +had been in the interests that surrounded her and her companions, +exactly as they were at present, and that the real being had yet to +work itself out. + +For herself, Alice did not think at all. She was rejoicing in her +restored husband, and his evident affection. Her duty towards him +was in her eyes plain. She saw, of course, that he had no religion, +but she accepted the fact like that of bad weather; she loved him, +and she loved her daughter; she said her prayers with all her heart +for them, she hoped, and she did her best, without trying to go below +the surface. + +There was the Rectory gate wide open. There was Basil rushing up to +greet his dear Aunt Alice, there were all the windows and doors of +the Rectory open, and the nearer slopes covered with chairs and seats +of all dimensions, some under trees, some umbelliferous, and glowing +Afghan rugs, or spotted skins spread for those who preferred the +ground. There was Blanche flitting about wild with excitement, and +pouncing on Nuttie to admire her outfit, and reiterate instructions; +there were the two younger girls altering the position of chairs +according to their mother's directions; there were actually two +guests--not very alarming ones, only the curate and his wife, both +rather gaunt, bony people. He was button-holing the Canon, and she +was trying to do the same by the Canoness about some parish casualty. +The Canon hoped to escape in the welcome to his sister-in-law and +niece, but he was immediately secured again, while his wife found it +requisite to hurry off else where, leaving Mrs. Edwards to tell her +story to Mrs. Egremont. In point of fact, Alice really liked the +good lady, was quite at ease with her, and felt parish concerns a +natural element, so that she gave full heed and attention to the +cruelty of Mrs. Parkins' depriving Betsy Butter (with an old father +and mother to support) of her family washing, on the ground of a +missing pocket handkerchief, the which Mrs. Edwards believed to have +been abstracted by the favourite pickle of Miss Blanche's class, if +only a confession could be elicited from him when undefended by his +furious mother. Mrs. Egremont was listening with actual interest and +sympathy to the history of Betsy Butter's struggles, and was +inquiring the way to her cottage, when she was called off to be +introduced to the arrivals who were beginning to flood the lawn. She +presently saw May, who had just come down, walking up and down with +Mrs. Edwards, evidently hearing the story of the handkerchief. She +thought it had been Nuttie for a moment. There was a general +resemblance between the cousins that made them be mistaken for one +another several times in the course of the day, since their dresses, +though not alike, were of the same make and style. + +Thus it was that as Nuttie was sitting on the grass in earnest +contemplation of Blanche's play, a hand was familiarly laid on her +shoulder, and a voice said, 'I haven't seen that horrid girl yet!' + +After so many introductions, Nuttie had little idea whom she knew, or +whom she did not know. She looked up and saw a small person in light +blue, with the delicate features, transparent skin, and blue eyes +that accompany yellow hair, with an indescribable glitter of mirth +and joyousness about the whole creature, as if she were part and +parcel of the sunbeam in which she stood, + +'What horrid girl?' said Nuttie. + +'The interloper, the newly-discovered savage, come to upset--Ah!'-- +with a little shriek--'It isn't May! I beg your pardon.' + +'I'm May's cousin,' said Nuttie, 'Ursula Egremont.' + +'Oh, oh!' and therewith the fact burst on both girls at once. They +stood still a moment in dismay, then the stranger went into a fit of +laughter. 'Oh, I beg your pardon! I can't help it! It is so +funny!' + +Nuttie was almost infected, though somewhat hurt. 'Who said I was +horrid?' she asked. + +'Nobody! Nobody but me--Annaple Ruthven--and they'll all tell you, +May and all, that I'm always putting my foot in it. And I never +meant that you were horrid--you yourself--you know--only--' + +'Only nobody wanted us here,' said Nuttie; 'but we could not help +it.' + +'Of course not. It was shocking, just my way. Please forgive me!' +and she looked most pleading. Nuttie held out her hand with +something about 'No one could mind;' and therewith Annaple cried, +'Oh, if you don't mind, we can have our laugh out!' and the rippling +laughter did set Nuttie off at once. The peal was not over when May +herself was upon them demanding what was the joke. + +'Oh, there she is! The real May! Why,' said Annaple, kissing her, +'only think here I've been and gone and thought this was you, and +inquired about--What was it?--the awful monster--the chimera dire-- +that Mark had routed up--' + +'No; you didn't say that,' said Nuttie, half provoked. + +'Never mind what I said. Don't repeat it. I only wish myself and +every one else to forget it. Now it is swept to the winds by a good +wholesome giggling. But what business have you two to be so +inconveniently alike? You are as bad as the twin Leslies!' + +'There's an old foremother on the staircase in white satin who left +her looks to us both,' said May. + +'You'll have to wear badges,' said Annaple. 'You know the Leslies +were so troublesome that one had to be shipped off to the East Indies +and the other to the West.' + +'They married, that's all,' said May, seeing Nuttie looking +mystified; and at that moment, Blanche's side coming out victorious, +Nuttie descended into the arena to congratulate and be asked to form +part of the next set. + +'Well, that was a scrape!' said Annaple; 'but she wasn't bad about +it! I must do something to make up for it somehow--get Janet to +invite her, but really Janet is in such a state of mind that I am +mildness itself compared with her. She would not have come, only +John was curious, and declared he should go whether we did or not.' + +'Ah!' said May, 'I saw him, like the rest of mankind, at madame's +feet.' + +'Oh! is she of that sort?' + +'No,' said May, 'not at all. Mother and father too both think she is +good to the backbone; but she is very pretty, with just the inane +soft sweetness that men rave about--innocent really. All accounts of +her are excellent, and she has nice parish ways, and will be as +helpful as Uncle Alwyn will let her.' + +'But she couldn't always have been nice?' + +'Well, I verily believe it was all Uncle Alwyn's and grandmamma's +fault. I know Mark thinks so.' + +'When the women of a family acquit a woman it goes for something,' +said Annaple. 'That's not original, my dear, I heard old Lady +Grosmede say so to Janet when she was deliberating over the +invitation, "For a good deal more than Mr. Mark's, at any rate.'" + +'Mark is very fond of her--the mother, I mean. He says when he was a +little fellow her loss was worse to him than even our mother's.' + +'Do you remember the catastrophe?' + +'Not a bit. Only when she is petting Basil it strikes me that I have +heard the tones before. I only remember the time of misery under the +crosspatches grandmamma got for us.' + +'Well, it was a splendid cutting of his own throat in Mark,' said +Annaple, 'so it ought to turn out well.' + +'I don't know how it is to turn out for Mark,' answered May. 'Oh, +here he comes!' + +'Will you come into this set, Annaple?' he asked. 'They want another +couple,' and, as she accepted, 'How do you get on with May's +double?' + +'I pity May for having such a double.' + +'Don't encourage her by misplaced pity.' + +'It's abominable altogether! I want to fly at somebody!' + +'Exhaust your feelings on your racket, and reflect that you see a man +released from bondage.' + +'Is that philosophy or high-faluting?' she said in a teasing tone as +the game began. + +The Ruthvens had very blue blood in their veins, but as there were +nine of the present generation, they possessed little beyond their +long pedigree; even the head of the family, Lord Ronnisglen, being +forced to live as a soldier, leaving his castle to grouse shooters. +His seven brothers had fared mostly in distant lands as they could, +and his mother had found a home, together with her youngest child, at +Lescombe, where her eldest was the wife of Sir John Delmar. Lady +Ronnisglen was an invalid, confined to the house, and Lady Delmar had +daughters fast treading on the heels of Annabella, so christened, but +always called Annaple after the old Scottish queens, her ancestors. +She had been May Egremont's chief friend ever since her importation +at twelve years old, and the intimacy had been promoted by her mother +and sister. Indeed, the neighbourhood had looked on with some +amusement at the competition ascribed to Lady Delmar and to the +wealthy parvenu, Mrs. West, for the heir-presumptive of Bridgefield +Egremont. + +Annaple's lightness and dexterity rendered her the best of the lady +tennis-players, and the less practised Ursula found herself defeated +in the match, in spite of a partner whose play was superior to +Mark's, and with whom she shyly walked off to eat ices. + +'I see,' said Annaple, 'it is a country-town edition of May. I +shan't blunder between them again.' + +'She will polish,' said Mark, 'but she is not equal to her mother.' + +'Whom I have not seen yet. Ah, there's Mr. Egremont! Why, he looks +quite renovated!' + +'Well he may be!' + +'But Mark, not to hurt your feelings, he must have behaved +atrociously.' + +'I'm not going to deny it,' said Mark. + +'I always did think he looked like it,' said Annaple. + +'When have you seen him before?' + +'Only once, but it was my admirable sagacity, you understand? I +always see all the villains in books just on his model. Oh, but +who's that? How very pretty! You don't mean it is she! Well, she +might be the heroine of anything!' + +'Isn't she lovely?' + +'And has she been keeping school like Patience on a monument all +these years? It doesn't seem to have much damaged her damask cheek!' + +'It was only daily governessing. She looks much better than when I +first saw her; and as to the damask--why, that's deepened by the +introduction to old Lady Grosmede that is impending.' + +'She is being walked up to the old Spanish duck with the red rag +round her leg to receive her fiat. What a thing it is to be a +bearded Dowager, and rule one's neighbourhood!' + +'I think she approves. She has made room for her by her side. Is +she going to catechise her?' + +Annaple made an absurd sound of mingled pity and disgust. + +'Not that she--my aunt, I mean--need be afraid. The shame is all on +the other side.' + +'And I think Lady Grosmede has too much sense to think the worse of +her for having worked for herself,' added Annaple. 'If it was not +for mother I should long to begin!' + +'You? It's a longing well known to me!--but you!' + +'Exactly! As the Irishman felt blue moulded for want of a bating, so +do I feel fagged out for want of an honest day's work.' + +'If one only knew what to turn to,' said Mark so wearily that Annaple +exclaimed, + +'We seem to be in the frozen-out state of mind, and might walk up and +down singing "I've got no work to do,"'--to which she gave the well +known intonation. + +'Too true,' said he, joining in the hum. + +'But I thought you were by way of reading law.' + +'One must see more than only "by way of" in these days to do any +good.' + +At that moment Basil ran up with a message that Lady Delmar was ready +to go home. + +They walked slowly up the terrace and Mark paused as they came near +Mrs. Egremont to say, 'Aunt Alice, here is Miss Ruthven, May's great +friend.' + +Annaple met a pleasant smile, and they shook hands, exchanging an +observation or two, while a little way off Lady Grosmede was nodding +her strong old face at Lady Delmar, and saying, 'Tell your mother +I'll soon come and see her, my dear. That's a nice little innocent +body, lady-like, and thoroughly presentable. Alwyn Egremont might +have done worse.' + +'The only wonder is he did not!' returned Lady Delmar. 'They make +the best of it here.' + +'Very good taste of them. But, now I've seen her, I don't believe +there's anything behind. Very hard upon the poor young man, though +it was all his doing, his mother says. I congratulate you that it +had not gone any farther in that quarter.' + +'Oh, dear no! Never dreamt of it. She is May's friend, that's all.' + +Nevertheless Lady Delmar made a second descent in person to hurry +Annaple away. + +'Isn't it disgusting?' said May, catching her stepmother's smile. + +'You will see a good deal more of the same kind,' said the Canoness; +'I am afraid more mortification is in store for Mark than he guesses. +I wish that girl were more like her mother.' + +'Mamma! a girl brought up among umbrella-makers! Just fancy! Why, +she has just nothing in her!' + +'Don't set Mark against her, May; he might do worse.' + +'Her head is a mere tennis ball,' said May, drawing her own higher +than ever, 'and no one would know her from a shop girl.' + +'She is young enough,' said the Canoness. 'Don't class me with Lady +Delmar, May--I only say--if--and that I don't think you realise the +change Mark will feel.' + +'Better so than sell himself,' muttered May. + + + + + +CHAPTER XII. +OUT OF WORK. + + + + +'I'm seeking the fruit that's nae growing.'--Ballad. + + +Society recognised the newcomers. Lady Grosmede's card appeared the +next day, and was followed by showers of others, and everybody asked +everybody 'Have you seen Mrs. Egremont?' + +It was well for Alice's happiness even at home that she was a +success. When Alwyn Egremont had been lashed by his nephew's +indignant integrity into tardy recognition of the wife of his youth, +it had been as if he had been forced to pick up a flower which he had +thrown away. He had considerable doubts whether it would answer. +First, he reconnoitred, intending, if he found a homely or faded +being, to pension her off; but this had been prevented by her +undeniable beauty and grace, bringing up a rush of such tender +associations as he was capable of. Yet even then, her position +depended on the impression she might make on those about him, on her +own power of self-assertion, and on her contributing to his comfort +or pleasure. + +Of self-assertion Alice had none, only a gentle dignity in her +simplicity, and she was so absolutely devoted to him that he found +his house far more pleasant and agreeable for her presence and +unfailing attention, though still his estimation of her was +influenced more than he owned to himself by that of the world in +general, and the Rectory in particular. + +And the Rectory did its part well. The Canon was not only charmed +with the gentle lady, but felt an atonement due to her; and his wife, +without ever breathing into any ears, save his, the mysterious +adjective 'governessy,' praised her right and left, confiding to all +inquirers the romance of the burnt yacht, the lost bride, and the +happy meeting under Lady Kirkaldy's auspices, with the perfect +respectability of the intermediate career, while such was the +universal esteem for, and trust in herself and the Canon, that she +was fully believed; and people only whispered that probably Alwyn +Egremont had been excused for the desertion more than he deserved. + +The subject of all this gossip troubled herself about it infinitely +less than did the good Canoness. In effect she did not know enough +of the world to think about it at all. Her cares were of a different +order, chiefly caused by tenderness of conscience, and solicitude to +keep the peace between the two beings whom she best loved. + +Two things were in her favour in this latter respect, one that they +saw very little of each other, since Mr. Egremont seldom emerged from +his own rooms till after luncheon; and the other that Ursula's brains +ran to little but lawn-tennis for the ensuing weeks. To hold a +champion's place at the tournaments, neck and neck with her cousin +Blanche, and defeat Miss Ruthven, and that veteran player, Miss +Basset, was her foremost ambition, and the two cousins would have +practised morning, noon, and night if their mothers would have let +them. There need have been no fear of Ursula's rebellion about the +Cambridge honours, she never seemed even to think of them, and would +have had no time in the more important competition of rackets. +Indeed, it was almost treated as a hardship that the pair were +forbidden to rush together before twelve o'clock, and that Ursula's +mother insisted on rational home occupation until that time, setting +the example herself by letter-writing, needlework, and sharing in the +music which was a penance to the girl, only enforced by that strong +sense of protecting affection which forbade rebellion. But Alice +could hope that their performances were pleasant to her husband in +the evening, if only to sleep by, and so she persisted in preparing +for them. + +Nuttie's rage for tennis, and apparent forgetfulness of her old life +and aspirations, might be disappointing, but it conduced to make her +mother's task easier than if she had been her original, critical, and +protesting self. In the new and brilliant surroundings she troubled +herself much less than could have been expected at the failure of her +father, his house, nay, and of the parish itself, in coming up to the +St. Ambrose standard. How much was owing to mere novelty and +intoxication, how much to a yet unanalysed disappointment, how much +to May's having thrown her upon the more frivolous Blanche, could not +be guessed. The effect was unsatisfactory to her mother, but a +certain relief, for Nuttie's aid would have been only mischievous in +the household difficulties that weighed on the anxious conscience. +Good servants would not stay at Bridgefield Hall for unexplained +causes, which their mistress believed to be connected with Gregorio, +or with the treasure of a cook-housekeeper over whom she was +forbidden to exercise any authority, and who therefore entirely +neglected all meals which the master did not share with the ladies. +Fortunately, Mr. Egremont came in one day at their luncheon and found +nothing there but semi-raw beef, upon which there was an explosion; +and being by this time convinced that his wife both would and could +minister to his comfort, her dominion was established in the female +department, though, as long as Gregorio continued paramount with his +master, and the stables remained in their former state, it was +impossible to bring matters up to the decorous standard of the +Rectory, and if ever his mistress gave an order he did not approve, +Gregorio overruled it as her ignorance. In fact, he treated both the +ladies with a contemptuous sort of civility. Meantime Mr. Egremont +was generally caressing and admiring in his ways towards his wife, +with only occasional bursts of temper when anything annoyed him. He +was proud of her, gave her a liberal allowance, and only refused to +be troubled; and she was really happy in his affection, for which she +felt a gratitude only too humble in the eyes of her daughter. + +They had parties. Blanche's ambition of tennis courts all over the +lawn was fulfilled, and sundry dinners, which were crosses to Alice, +who had neither faculty nor training for a leader and hostess, +suffered much from the menu, more from the pairing of her guests, +more again in catching her chief lady's eye after, and most of all +from her husband's scowls and subsequent growls and their +consequence, for Ursula broke out, 'It is not fair to blame my +mother. How should she have all the savoir-faire, or what you may +call it, of Aunt Jane, when she has had no practice?' + +'Perhaps, Mrs. Egremont,' he retorted with extreme suavity, 'you will +also attend to your daughter's manners.' Otherwise he took little +notice of Ursula, viewing her perhaps, as did the neighbourhood, as a +poor imitation of May, without her style, or it may be with a sense +that her tongue might become inconvenient if not repressed. When he +began to collect sporting guests of his own calibre in the shooting +season, the Canoness quietly advised her sister-in-law to regard them +as gentlemen's parties, and send Ursula down to spend the evening +with her cousins; and to this no objection was made. Mr. Egremont +wanted his beautiful wife at the head of his table, and his guests +never comported themselves unsuitably before her; but nobody wanted +the unformed girl, and she and Blanche were always happy together. + +The chief restraint was when Mark was at home, and that was not +always. He made sundry visits and expeditions, and was altogether in +an uncomfortable condition of reaction and perplexity as to his +future. He was a good and conscientious fellow, and had never been +actually idle, but had taken education and life with the easiness of +the prospective heir to a large property; and though he had acquitted +himself creditably, it was with no view of making his powers +marketable. Though he had been entered at the Temple, it was chiefly +in order to occupy himself respectably, and to have a nominal +profession, so as not to be wholly dependent on his uncle; and all +that he had acquired was the conviction that it would be half a +lifetime, if not a whole one, before the law would afford him a +maintenance. + +His father wished him to take Holy Orders with a view to the +reversion of the Rectory, but Mark's estimate of clerical duty and +vocation was just such as to make him shrink from them. He was +three-and-twenty, an awkward age for all those examinations that +stand as lions in the face of youth intended for almost any sort of +service, and seldom or never to be gagged by interest. For one +indeed, he went up and failed, and in such a manner as to convince +him that cramming had more to do than general culture with success. + +He had a certain consciousness that most people thought another way +open to him, most decidedly his gentle aunt, and perhaps even his +parents. The matter came prominently before him one day at luncheon, +when, some parochial affairs being on hand and Mr. Egremont out for +the day, Alice, whose free forenoons enabled her to take a share in +church and parish affairs, was there, as well as the curate and his +wife. + +These good people were in great commotion about a wedding about to +take place between a young farmer and his delicate first cousin, the +only survivor of a consumptive family. + +'"Proputty, proputty,"' quoted the Canon. 'James Johnson is what +they call a warm man.' + +'It is a sin and a shame,' said Mrs. Edwards. 'What can they expect? +George Johnson looks strong enough now, but they tell me his brother +undoubtedly died of decline, though they called it inflammation; but +there was tubercular disease.' + +'I am afraid it is strong in the family,' said the Canoness, 'they +all have those clear complexions; but I do believe George is heartily +in love with poor little Emily.' + +'First cousins ought to be in the table of degrees,' said Mr. +Edwards. + +'It is always a question whether the multiplying of prohibitions +without absolute necessity is expedient,' said the Canon. + +He spoke quite dispassionately, but the excellent couple were not +remarkable for tact. Mrs. Edwards gave her husband such a glance of +warning and consternation as violently inclined May to laugh, and he +obediently and hesitatingly began, 'Oh yes, sir, I beg your pardon. +Of course there may be instances,' thereby bringing an intense glow +of carnation into Alice's cheeks, while the Canon, ready for the +occasion, replied, 'And George Johnson considers himself one of them. +He will repair the old moat house, I suppose.' + +And his wife, though she would rather have beaten Mrs. Edwards, +demanded how many blankets would be wanted that winter. + +The effect of this little episode was that Mark announced to his +father that evening his strong desire to emigrate, an intention which +the Canon combated with all his might. He was apparently a hale and +hearty man, but he had had one or two attacks of illness that made +him doubt whether he would be long-lived; and not only could he not +bear to have his eldest son out of reach, but he dreaded leaving his +family to such a head as his brother. Mark scarcely thought the +reasons valid, considering the rapidity of communication with Canada, +but it was not possible to withstand the entreaties of a father with +tears in his eyes; and though he could not bring himself to consent +to preparing to be his father's curate, he promised to do nothing +that would remove him to another quarter of the world, and in two or +three days more, started for Monks Horton to see what advice his +uncle and aunt there could give him; indeed, Lord Kirkaldy's +influence was reckoned on by his family almost as a sure card in the +diplomatic line. + +The Kirkaldys were very fond of Mark, and had an odd feeling of being +accountable for the discovery which had changed his prospects. They +would have done anything for him that they could, but all Lord +Kirkaldy's interest was at the foreign office, or with his fellow- +diplomates, and here he soon found an insuperable bar. Mark's +education had stood still from the time of Miss Headworth's flight +till his father's second marriage, his energies having been solely +devoted to struggles with the grim varieties of governess purveyed by +his grandmother, and he had thus missed all chance of foundation of +foreign languages, and when once at school, he had shared in the +average English boy's contempt and aversion for the French masters +who outscreamed a whole class. + +In consequence, Lord Kirkaldy, an accurate and elegant scholar in +European tongues, besides speaking them with the cosmopolitan ease of +an ambassador's son, was horrified, not only at Mark's pronunciation, +but at his attempts at letter-writing and translation, made with all +the good will in the world, but fit for nothing but to furnish the +good stories which the kind uncle refrained from telling any one but +his wife. Unluckily, too, a Piedmontese family, some of them not +strong in their English, were on a visit at Monks Horton, and the +dialect in which the old marquis and Mark tried at times to +interchange ideas about pheasants was something fearful. And as in +the course of a week Mark showed no signs of improvement in +vernacular French or Italian, Lord Kirkaldy's conscience would let +him give no other advice than that his nephew should stick to English +law living still on the allowance his father gave him, and hoping for +one of the chance appointments open to an English barrister of good +family and fair ability. + +Of course Mark had gone at once to carry tidings of 'Aunt Alice,' as +he scrupulously called her, to old Miss Headworth, whom his aunt had +continued to visit at intervals. That good lady had given up her +boarders, having realised enough to provide for her own old age, and +she had joined forces with the Nugents, Mary being very thankful to +have her companionship for Mrs. Nugent, who was growing too blind and +feeble to be satisfactorily left alone all day. + +Mark delighted the old ladies by his visits and accounts of their +darling's success and popularity, which he could paint so brightly +that they could not help exulting, even though there might be secret +misgivings as to the endurance of these palmy days. He was a great +hero in their eyes, and they had too good taste to oppress him with +their admiration, so that he really was more at ease in their little +drawing-room than anywhere at Monks Horton, whither the Italians +could penetrate. The marchesino spoke English very well, but that +was all the worse for Mark, since it gave such a sense of +inferiority. He was an intelligent man too, bent on being acquainted +with English industries of all kinds; and thus it was that a party +was organised to see the umbrella factory. It was conducted by Mr. +Dutton, with whom Lord Kirkaldy, between charities and public +business, had become acquainted. + +To Mark's secret shame, this manufacturer spoke French perfectly, and +even got into such a lively conversation with the old marquis about +Cavour, that Lord Kirkaldy begged him to come to dinner and continue +it. They were all surprised, not only by the details of the +manufacture and the multitude of artizans, male and female, whom it +employed, but by the number of warehouse-clerks whom they found at +work, and who, it appeared, were in correspondence with agencies and +depots in London and all the principal towns in the kingdom. Gerard +Godfrey was there,--casting looks askance at the young Egremont, whom +he regarded as a kind of robber. + +The marchesino asked from what class these young men were taken, and +Mr. Dutton made reply that most of them were sons of professional +men. If they could obtain a small capital and take shares in the +business they were encouraged to do so, and rose to the headship of +the agencies, obtaining a fair income. + +'And you don't exact an examination,' said Mark. + +'Except in handwriting and book-keeping,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Poor Mark, you look for your bugbear everywhere!' sighed his aunt. + +They went over the Institute, coffee-rooms, eating-rooms, and +lodging-houses, by which the umbrella firm strove to keep their hands +respectable and contented, and were highly pleased with all, most +especially with Mr. Dutton, who, though his name did not come +prominently forward, had been the prime mover and contriver of all +these things, and might have been a wealthier man if he had not +undertaken expenses which he could not charge upon the company. + +Gerard Godfrey came in to Mrs. Nugent's that evening in the lowest +spirits. He had a sister married to a curate in the same county with +Bridgefield, and she had sent him a local paper which 'understood +that a marriage was arranged between Mark de Lyonnais Egremont, +Esquire, and Ursula, daughter of Alwyn Piercefield Egremont, Esquire, +of Bridgefield Egremont,' and he could not help coming to display it +to Miss Headworth in all its impertinence and prematurity. + +'Indeed he said nothing to me about it,' said Miss Headworth, 'and I +think he would if it had been true.' + +'No doubt he intends it, and is trying to recommend himself through +you,' said Gerard. + +'I should not think he needed that,' returned Aunt Ursel, 'though I +should be very glad, I am sure. He is an excellent young man, and it +is quite the obvious thing.' + +'People don't always do the obvious thing,' put in Mary Nugent. + +'Certainly it didn't look like it,' said Miss Headworth,' when he +told us about the great annual Hunt Ball at Redcastle that Nuttie and +his sister Blanche are to come out at; he said he did not intend to +go home for it if he could help it.' + +'Struggling against fate,' said Miss Nugent. + +'The puppy!' burst out Gerard. + +Having ascertained the particulars of this same Hunt Ball, Gerard +became possessed with a vehement desire to visit his sister, and so +earnestly solicited a few days' leave of absence that it was granted +to him. 'Poor boy, he may settle down when he has ascertained +what an ass he is,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Ah!' said Mary. 'I thought he was very bad when I saw he had not +changed the green markers for St. Luke's Day.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. +DETRIMENTALS. + + + + +'That tongue of yours at times wags more than charity allows; + And if you're strong, be merciful, great woman of three cows.' + J. O. MANGAN. + + +Nine miles was a severe distance through country lanes in November to +go to a ball; but the Redcastle Hunt Ball was the ball of the year, +uniting all the county magnates; and young ladies were hardly +reckoned as 'come out' till they had appeared there. Mrs. Egremont's +position would hardly be established till she had been presented to +the notabilities who lived beyond calling intercourse; and her +husband prepared himself to be victimised with an amount of grumbling +that was intended to impress her with the magnitude of the sacrifice, +but which only made her offer to forego the gaiety, and be told that +she would never have any common sense. + +So their carriage led the way, and was followed by the Rectory +waggonette containing the ladies and Mark, who had been decisively +summoned home, since his stepmother disliked public balls without a +gentleman in attendance, and his father was not to be detached from +his fireside. + +And in a group near the door, got up as elaborately as his powers +could accomplish, stood Gerard Godfrey. He knew nobody there except +a family in his sister's parish, who had good-naturedly given him a +seat in their fly, and having fulfilled his duty by asking the +daughter to dance, he had nothing to disturb him in watching for the +cynosure whose attraction had led him into these unknown regions, +and, as he remembered with a qualm, on the eve of St. Britius. +However, with such a purpose, one might surely grant oneself a +dispensation from the vigil of a black letter saint. + +There at length he beheld the entrance. There was the ogre himself, +high bred, almost handsome, as long as he was not too closely +scrutinised, and on his arm the well-known figure, metamorphosed by +delicately-tinted satin sheen and pearls, and still more by the +gentle blushing gladness on the fair cheeks and the soft eyes that +used to droop. Then followed a stately form in mulberry moire and +point lace, leaning on Gerard's more especial abhorrence,--'that +puppy,' who had been the author of all the mischief; and behind them +three girls, one in black, the other two in white, and, what was +provoking, he really could not decide which was Ursula. The +carefully-dressed hair and stylish evening dress and equipments had +altogether transformed the little homely schoolgirl, so that, though +he was sure that she was not the fair-haired damsel with pale blue +flowers, he did not know how to decide between the white and daisies +and the black and grasses. Indeed, he thought the two whites most +likely to be sisters, and all the more when the black lace halted to +exchange greetings with some one, and her face put on an expression +so familiar to him, that he started forward and tried to catch her +eye; but in vain, and he suffered agonies of doubt whether she had +been perverted by greatness. + +It was some comfort that, when presently a rush of waiters floated +by, she was not with her cousin; but to provoke him still more, as +the daisies neared him, he beheld for a moment in the whirl the queer +smile, half-frightened, half-exultant, which he had seen on Nuttie's +face when swinging sky-high! + +When the pause came and people walked about, the black lady stood +talking so near him that he ventured at last on a step forward and an +eager 'Miss Egremont,' but, as she turned, he found himself obliged +to say, 'I beg your pardon.' + +'Did you mean my cousin. We often get mistaken for each other,' said +May civilly. + +He brightened. 'I beg your pardon,' he said, 'I knew her at +Micklethwayte. I am here--quite by accident. Mrs. Elmore was so +good as to bring me.' + +May was rather entertained. 'There's my cousin,' she said, 'Lord +Philip Molyneux is asking her to dance,' and she left him most +unnecessarily infuriated with Lord Philip Molyneux. + +A steward introduced him to a dull-looking girl, but fortune favoured +him, for this time he did catch the real Nuttie's eye, and all +herself, as soon as the dance was over, she came up with outstretched +hands, 'Oh Gerard! to think of your being here! Come to mother!' + +And, beautiful and radiant, Mrs. Egremont was greeting him, and there +were ten minutes of delicious exchange of news. But 'pleasures are +as poppies fled,' Nuttie had no dance to spare, her card was full, +and she had not learnt fashionable effrontery enough to play tricks +with engagements, and just then Mr. Egremont descended on them--'I +wish to introduce you to the Duchess,' he said to his wife; and on +the way he demanded--'Who is that young cub?' + +'Gerard Godfrey--an old neighbour.' + +'I thought I had seen him racketing about there with Ursula. I'll +not have those umbrella fellows coming about!' + +'Does he really make umbrellas, Nuttie?' asked Blanche, catching her +hand. + +'No such thing!' said Nuttie hotly, 'he is in the office. His father +was a surgeon; his sisters married clergymen!' + +'And he came here to meet you,' said Annaple Ruthven. 'Poor fellow, +what a shame it is! Can't you give him one turn! + +'Oh dear! I'm engaged all through! To Mark this time.' + +'Give him one of the extras! Throw Mark over to me! No,' as she +looked at the faces of the two girls, 'I suppose that wouldn't do, +but I'm free this time--I'm not the fashion. Introduce me; I'll do +my best as consolation.' + +Nuttie had just performed the feat, with great shyness, when Mark +appeared, having been sent in quest of his cousin, when her father +perceived that she had hung back. + +Poor Gerard led off Miss Ruthven the more gloomily, and could not +help sighing out, 'I suppose that is an engagement!' + +'Oh! you believe that impertinent gossip in the paper,' returned +Annaple. 'I wonder they don't contradict it; but perhaps they treat +it with magnificent scorn.' + +'No doubt they know that it is only premature.' + +'If _they_ means the elders, I daresay they wish it, but we aren't in +France or Italy.' + +'Then you don't think, Miss Ruthven, that it will come off?' + +'I don't see the slightest present prospect,' said Annaple, unable to +resist the kindly impulse of giving immediate pleasure, though she +knew the prospect might be even slighter for her partner. + +However, he 'footed it' all the more lightly and joyously for the +assurance, and the good-natured maiden afterwards made him conduct +her to the tea-room, whither Mark and Nuttie were also tending, and +there all four contrived to get mixed up together; and Nuttie had +time to hear of Monsieur's new accomplishment of going home for Mr. +Dutton's luncheon and bringing it in a basket to the office, before +fate again descended; Mr. Egremont, who had been at the far end of +the room among some congeners, who preferred stronger refreshment, +suddenly heard her laugh, stepped up, and, with a look of thunder +towards her, observed in a low voice, 'Mark, you will oblige me by +taking your cousin back to her mother.' + +'The gray tyrant father,' murmured Annaple in sympathy. 'That being +the case, I may as well go back in that direction also.' + +This resulted in finding Lady Delmar and the two Mrs. Egremonts +together, comparing notes about the two different roads to Redcastle +from their several homes. + +Lady Delmar was declaring that her coachman was the most obstinate +man in existence, and that her husband believed in him to any extent. + +'Which way did you come?' she asked. + +'By Bankside Lane,' said the Canoness. + +'Over Bluepost Bridge! There, Janet,' said Annaple. + +'So much the worse. I know we shall come to grief over Bluepost +Bridge, and now there will be treble weight to break it down. I +dreamt it, I tell you, and there's second sight in the family.' + +'Yes, but you should tell what you did dream, Janet,' said her +sister. 'She thought Robinson, the coachman, was waltzing with her +over it, and they went into a hole and stuck fast, while the red-flag +traction engineman prodded her with an umbrella till she was all over +blood. Now, if it had been anything rational, I should have thought +something of her second sight! I tell her 'twas suggested by-- + + + "London Bridge is broken down, + Dance o'er my lady Lee!"' + + +'Well, I am quite certain those traction-engines will break it some +time or other,' said Lady Delmar. 'I am always trying to get John to +bring it before the magistrates, but he only laughs at me, and +nothing will induce Robinson to go the other way, because they have +just been mending the road on Lescombe Hill! Annaple, my dear, I +can't allow you another waltz; Mark must excuse you--I am going. It +is half-past two, and the carriage was ordered at two! Robinson will +be in a worse temper than ever if we keep him waiting.' + +She bore her sister off to the cloak-room, and there, nearly an hour +later, the Egremonts found them still waiting the pleasure of the +implacable Robinson; but what was that in consideration of having +kept her sister from such a detrimental as poor Mark had become? So +muttered Mr. Egremont, in the satisfaction of having himself, with +gentlemanly severity, intimated the insuperable gulf between Miss +Egremont of Bridgefield and the Man of Umbrellas. + +Moreover, his sister-in-law took care that he should hear that the +Duchess of Redcastle had pronounced his wife sweetly pretty and lady- +like, and talked of inviting them for a visit of a few nights. + +'A bore,' observed he ungratefully, ''tis as dull as ditchwater.' +But, in truth, though the Canon's family, when in residence, were +intimate with the ducal family, Alwyn Egremont had never been at the +castle since the days of his earliest youth, and he was not quite +prepared to owe his toleration there to his wife's charms, or the +Canoness's patronage of her. + +And innocent Alice only knew that everybody had been very kind to +her, and it was only a pity that her husband did not like her to +notice poor Gerard Godfrey. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. +GOING AGEE. + + + + +'Gin ye were a brig as auld as me.'--BURNS. + + +'What's the matter?' exclaimed Mrs. Egremont, waking from a doze,-- +'that bridge?' + +'Bridge! Don't be such a fool! We aren't near it yet.' + +The servant, his face looking blurred through the window, came to +explain that the delay was caused by an agricultural engine, which +had chosen this unlucky night, or morning, to travel from one farm to +another. There was a long delay, while the monster could be heard +coughing frightfully before it could be backed with its spiky +companion into a field so as to let the carriages pass by; and +meantime Mr. Egremont was betrayed into uttering ejaculations which +made poor Nuttie round her eyes in the dark as she sat by his feet on +the back seat, and Alice try to bury her ears in her hood in the +corner. + +On they went at last, for about a mile, and then came another sudden +stop--another fierce growl from Mr. Egremont, another apparition of +the servant at the window, saying, in his alert deferential manner, +'Sir, the bridge have broke under a carriage in front. Lady +Delmar's, sir. The horse is plunging terrible.' + +The door was torn open, and all three, regardless of ball costumes, +precipitated themselves out. + +The moon was up, and they saw the Rectory carriage safe on the road +before them, but on the bridge beyond was a struggling mass, dimly +illuminated by a single carriage lamp. Mr. Egremont and the groom +hurried forward where Mark and the Rectory coachman were already +rendering what help they could. May standing at the horses' heads, +and her mother trying to wrap everybody up, since stay in their +carriages they could not. Transferring the horses to Nuttie, the two +sisters hurried on towards the scene of action, but Blanche's white +satin boots did not carry her far, and she turned on meeting her +uncle. He spoke with a briskness and alacrity that made him like +another man in this emergency, as he assured the anxious ladies that +their friends were safe, but that they could not be extricated till +the carriage was lifted from the hole into which it had sunk amid +bricks, stones, and broken timbers. He sent his own coachman to +assist, as being the stronger man, and, mounting the box, turned and +drove off in quest of further help, at a wayside cottage, or from the +attendants on the engine, whose weight had probably done the +mischief, and prepared the trap for the next comer. + +As May came near, her brother made her available by putting the lamp +into her hand, bidding her hold it so as to light those who were +endeavouring to release the horse, which had cleared the portion of +the bridge before the break-down under the brougham, and now lay on +the road, its struggles quelled by a servant at its head. Nearly the +whole of the hind wheels and most of the door had disappeared on one +side, and, though more was visible on the other, it was impossible to +open the door, as a mass of rubbish lay on it. Annaple was on this +side, and her voice was heard calling to May in fits of the laughter +which is perhaps near akin to screams-- + + + '"London bridge is broken down, + Dance o'er my lady Lee!" + + +Janet will go in for second-sight ever after. Yes, she's all right, +except a scratch from the glass, and that I'm sitting on her more or +less. How are they getting on?' 'The horse is all but out. Not +hurt, they think. Here's another man come to help--a gentleman--my +dear, it is your partner, Nuttie's umbrella man.' 'Oh, making it +complete--hopes, Janet--I'm sorry, but I can't help squashing you! +I can't help subsiding on you! What is it now?' as the lamp-light +vanished. + +'They are looking for something to make levers of,' returned May; +'these wooden rails are too rotten.' + +'Can't they get us through the window?' sighed a muffled voice. + +'Not unless we could be elongated, like the Hope of the Katzekopfs.' + +'We shall manage now,' cried Mark; 'we have found some iron bars to +the hatch down there. But you must prepare for a shock or two before +you can be set free.' + +The two gentlemen and three servants strove and struggled, hoisted +and pushed, to the tune of suppressed sounds, half of sobs, half of +laughter, till at last the carriage was heaved up sufficiently to be +dragged backwards beyond the hole; but even then it would not stand, +for the wheels on the undermost side were crushed, neither could +either door be readily opened, one being smashed in, and the other +jammed fast. Annaple, however, still tried to keep up her own +spirits and her sister's, observing that she now knew how to +sympathise with Johnnie's tin soldiers in their box turned upside +down. + +Two sturdy labourers here made their appearance, having been roused +in the cottage and brought back by Mr. Egremont, and at last one door +was forced open by main force, and the ladies emerged, Annaple, +helping her sister, beginning some droll thanks, but pausing as she +perceived that Lady Delmar's dress was covered with blood. + +'My dear Janet. This is worse than I guessed. Why did you not +speak?' + +'It is not much,' said the poor lady, rather faintly. 'My neck--' + +The elder ladies came about her, and seated her on cushions, where, +by the light of May's lamp, Alice, who had been to an ambulance class +at Micklethwayte, detected the extent of the cut, extracted a +fragment of glass, and staunched the bleeding with handkerchiefs and +strips of the girls' tulle skirts, but she advised her patient to be +driven at once to a surgeon to secure that no morsel of glass +remained. Mr. Egremont, gratified to see his wife come to the front, +undertook to drive her back to Redcastle. Indeed, they must return +thither to cross by the higher bridge. 'You will go with me,' +entreated Lady Delmar, holding Alice's hand; and the one hastily +consigning Nuttie to her aunt's care, the other giving injunctions +not to alarm her mother to Annaple, who had declared her intention of +walking home, the two ladies went off under Mr. Egremont's escort. + +Just then it was discovered that the Delmar coachman, Robinson, had +all this time been lying insensible, not dead, for he moaned, but +apparently with a broken leg, if nothing worse. Indeed, the men had +known it all along, but, until the ladies had been rescued, nothing +had been possible but to put his cushion under his head and his rug +over him. The ladies were much shocked, and Mrs. William Egremont +decided that he must be laid at the bottom of the waggonette, and +that she would take him straight to the hospital. + +They were only a mile and a half from Lescombe, and it was pronounced +safe to cross on foot by the remains of the bridge, so that Annaple, +who had a pair of fur boots, had already decided on going home on +foot. The other girls wanted to accompany her, and, as May and +Nuttie both had overshoes, they were permitted to do so, and desired +to go to bed, and wait to be picked up by the waggonette, which must +return to Bridgefield by the Lescombe road. Blanche, having a +delicate throat, was sentenced to go with her stepmother. Mark +undertook to ride the horse through the river, and escort the three +girls, and Gerard Godfrey also joined them. The place where he was +staying lay a couple of miles beyond Lescombe, and when Mrs. Elmore's +fly had been met and turned back by Mr. Egremont, he had jumped off +to render assistance, and had done so effectively enough to win +Mark's gratitude. + +It was by this time about half-past five, as was ascertained by the +light of the waning moon, the carriage-lamp having burnt out. It was +a fine frosty morning, and the moon was still powerful enough to +reveal the droll figures of the girls. May had a fur cloak, with the +hood tied over her head by Mrs. Egremont's lace shawl; Nuttie had a +huge white cloud over her head, and a light blue opera cloak; Annaple +had 'rowed herself in a plaidie' like the Scotch girl she was, and +her eyes flashed out merrily from its dark folds. They all disdained +the gentlemen's self-denying offers of their ulsters, and only Nuttie +consented to have the carriage-rug added to her trappings, and +ingeniously tied on cloak-fashion with her sash by Gerard. He and +Mark piloted the three ladies over the narrow border of the hole, +which looked a very black open gulf. Annaple had thanked the men, +and bidden them come to Lescombe the next day to be paid for their +assistance. Then they all stood to watch Mark ride through the +river, at the shallowest place, indicated both by her and the +labourers. It was perfectly fordable, so Annaple's were mock heroics +when she quoted-- + + + 'Never heavier man and horse + Stemmed a midnight torrent's force.' + + +And Nuttie responded in a few seconds-- + + + 'Yet through good heart and our Ladye's grace + Full soon he gained the landing place.' + + +They were both in high spirits, admiring each other's droll +appearance, and speculating on the ghosts they might appear to any +one who chanced to look out of window. Annaple walked at the horse's +head, calling him poor old Robin Hood, and caressing him, while +Gerard and Nuttie kept together. + +May began to repent of her determination to walk; Lescombe seemed +very far off, and she had an instinct that she was an awkward fifth +wheel. Either because Robin Hood walked too fast for her weary +limbs, or because she felt it a greater duty to chaperon Nuttie than +Annaple, she fell back on the couple in the rear, and was rather +surprised at the tenor of their conversation. + +This 'umbrella man' was telling of his vicar's delight in the +beautiful chalice veil that had been sent by Mrs. Egremont, and +Nuttie was communicating, as a secret she ought not to tell, that +mother was working a set of stoles, and hoped to have the white ones +ready by the dedication anniversary; also that there was a box being +filled for the St. Ambrose Christmas tree. They were trying to get +something nice for each of the choir boys and of the old women; and +therewith, to May's surprise, this youth, whom she regarded as a sort +of shopman, fell into full narration of all the events of a highly- +worked parish,--all about the choral festival, and the guilds, and +the choir, and the temperance work. A great deal of it was a strange +language to May, but she half-disapproved of it, as entirely unlike +the 'soberness' of Bridgefield ways, and like the Redcastle vicar, +whom her father commonly called 'that madman.' Still, she had a +practical soul for parish work, and could appreciate the earnestness +that manifested itself, and the exertions made for people of the +classes whom she had always supposed too bad or else too well off to +come under clerical supervision. And her aunt and cousin and this +young man all evidently had their hearts in it! For Nuttie--though +her new world had put the old one apparently aside--had plunged into +all the old interests, and asked questions eagerly, and listened to +their answers, as if Micklethwayte news was water to the thirsty. +The two were too happy to meet, and, it must be confessed, had not +quite manners enough, to feel it needful to include in their +conversation the weary figure that plodded along at a little distance +from them, hardly attending to the details of their chatter, yet +deriving new notions from it of the former life of Ursula and her +mother, matters which she had hitherto thought beneath her attention, +except so far as to be thankful that they had emerged from it so +presentable. That it was a more actively religious, and perhaps a +more intellectual one than her own, she had thought impossible, where +everything must be second-rate. And yet, when her attention had +wandered from an account of Mr. Dutton's dealings with a refractory +choir boy bent on going to the races, she found a discussion going on +about some past lectures upon astronomy, and Nuttie vehemently +regretting the not attending two courses promised for the coming +winter upon electricity and on Italian art, and mournfully observing, +'We never go to anything sensible here.' + +May at first thought, 'Impertinent little thing,' and felt affronted, +but then owned to herself that it was all too true. Otherwise there +was hardly anything said about the contrast with Nuttie's present +life; Gerard knew already that the church atmosphere was very +different, and with the rector's daughter within earshot, he could +not utter his commiseration, nor Nuttie her regrets. + +Once there was a general start, and the whole five came together at +the sight of a spectrally black apparition, with a huge tufted head +on high, bearing down over a low hedge upon them. Nobody screamed +except Nuttie, but everybody started, though the next moment it was +plain that they were only chimney-sweepers on their way. + +'Retribution for our desire to act ghosts!' said Annaple, when the +sable forms had been warned of the broken bridge. 'Poor May, you are +awfully tired! Shouldn't you like a lift in their cart?' + +'Or I could put you up on Robin Hood,' said Mark. + +'Thank you, I don't think I could stick on. Is it much farther?' + +'Only up the hill and across the park,' said Annaple, still cheerily. + +'Take my arm, old woman,' said Mark, and then there was a pause, +before Annaple said in an odd voice, 'You may tell her, Mark.' + +'Oh, Annaple! Mark! is it so?' cried May joyously, but under her +breath; and with a glance to see how near the other couple were. + +'Yes,' said Annaple between crying and laughing. 'Poor Janet, she'll +think we have taken a frightfully mean advantage of her, but I am +sure I never dreamt of such a thing; and the queer thing is, that +Mark says she put it into his head!' + +'No, no,' said Mark; 'you know better than that--' + +'Why, you told me you only found it out when she began to trample on +the fallen--' + +'I told you I had only understood my own heart.' + +'And I said very much the same--she made me so angry you see.' + +'I can't but admire your motives!' said May, exceedingly rejoiced all +the time, and ready to have embraced them both, if it had not been +for the spectators behind. 'In fact, it was opposition you both +wanted. I wonder how long you would have gone on not finding it out, +if all had been smooth?' + +'The worst of it is,' said Annaple, 'that I'm afraid it is a very bad +thing for Mark.' + +'Not a bit of it,' retorted he. 'It is the only thing that could +have put life into my work, or made me care to find any! And find it +I will now! Must we let the whole world in to know before I have +found it, Annaple?' + +'I could not but tell my mother,' said Annaple. 'It would come out +in spite of me, even if I wished to keep it back.' + +'Oh yes! Lady Ronnisglen is a different thing,' said Mark. 'Just as +May here is--' + +'And she will say nothing, I know, till we are ready--my dear old +minnie,' said Annaple. 'Only, Mark, do pray have something definite +to hinder Janet with if there are any symptoms of hawking her +commodity about.' + +'I _will_,' said Mark. 'If we could only emigrate!' + +'Ah, if we could!' said Annaple. 'Ronald is doing so well in New +Zealand, but I don't think my mother could spare me. She could not +come out, and she must be with me, wherever I am. You know--don't +you--that I am seven years younger than Alick. I was a regular +surprise, and the old nurse at Ronnisglen said 'Depend upon it, my +Leddy, she is given to be the comfort of your old age.' And I have +always made up my mind never to leave her. I don't think she would +get on with Janet or any of them without me, so you'll have to take +her too, Mark.' + +'With all my heart,' he answered. 'And, indeed, I have promised my +father not to emigrate. I must, and will, find work at hand, and +wake a home for you both!' + +'But you will tell papa at once?' said May. 'It will hurt him if you +do not.' + +'You are right, May; I knew it when Annaple spoke of her mother, but +there is no need that it should go further.' + +The intelligence had lightened the way a good deal, and they were at +the lodge gates by this time. Gerard began rather ruefully to take +leave; but Annaple, in large-hearted happiness and gratitude, begged +him to come and rest at the house, and wait for daylight, and this he +was only too glad to do, especially as May's secession had made the +conversation a little more personal. + +Nuttie was in a certain way realising for the first time what her +mother's loyalty had checked her in expressing, even if the tumult of +novelties had given her full time to dwell on it. + +'Everybody outside is kind,' she said to Gerard; 'they are nice in a +way, and good, but oh! they are centuries behind in church matters +and feeling, just like the old rector.' + +'I gathered that; I am very sorry for you. Is there no one fit to be +a guide?' + +'I don't know,' said Nuttie. 'I didn't think--I must, somehow, +before Lent.' + +'There is Advent close at hand,' he said gravely. 'If you could only +be at our mission services, we hope to get Father Smith!' + +'Oh, if only I could! But mother never likes to talk about those +kind of things. She says our duty is to my father.' + +'Not the foremost.' + +'No, she would not say that. But oh, Gerard! if he should be making +her worldly!' + +'It must be your work to hinder it,' he said, looking at her +affectionately. + +'Oh, Gerard! but I'm afraid I'm getting so myself. I have thought a +great deal about lawn-tennis, and dress, and this ball,' said Nuttie. +'Somehow it has never quite felt real, but as if I were out on a +visit.' + +'You are in it, but not of it,' said Gerard admiringly. + +'No, I'm not so good as that! I like it all--almost all. I thought +I liked it better till you came and brought a real true breath of +Micklethwayte. Oh! if I could only see Monsieur's dear curly head +and bright eyes!' + +This had been the tenor of the talk, and these were the actual last +words before the whole five--just in the first streaks of dawn-- +coalesced before the front door, to be admitted by a sleepy servant; +Mark tied up the horse for a moment, while Annaple sent the man to +waken Sir John Delmar, and say there had been a slight accident, but +no one was much hurt; and, as they all entered the warm, dimly- +lighted hall, they were keenly sensible that they had been dancing or +walking all night. + +Rest in the chairs which stood round the big hearth and smouldering +wood-fire was so extremely comfortable, as they all dropped down, +that nobody moved or spoke, or knew how long it was before there was +a voice on the stairs--'Eh? what's this, Annaple? An accident? +Where's Janet?' and a tall burly figure, candle in hand, in a +dressing-gown and slippers, was added to the group. + +'Janet will be at home presently, I hope,' said Annaple, 'but she got +a cut with some broken glass, and we sent her round by Dr. Raymond's +to get it set to rights. Oh, John! we came to grief on Bluepost +Bridge after all, and I'm afraid Robinson has got his leg broken!' + +Sir John was a good-natured heavy man, whose clever wife thought for +him in all that did not regard horses, dogs, and game. He looked +perfectly astounded, and required to have all told him over again +before he could fully take it in. Then he uttered a suppressed +malediction on engines, insisted that all his impromptu guests should +immediately eat, drink, and sleep, and declared his intention of +going off at once to Redcastle to see about his wife. + +The two gentlemen were committed to the charge of the butler, and +Annaple took Nuttie and May to her sister's dressing-room, where she +knew she should find fire and tea, and though they protested that it +was not worth while, she made them undress and lie down in a room +prepared for them in the meantime. It was a state chamber, with a +big bed, far away from the entrance, shuttered and curtained up, and +with double doors, excluding all noise. The two cousins lay down, +Nuttie dead asleep almost before her head touched the pillow, while +May was aching all over, declaring herself far too much tired and +excited to sleep; and, besides that it was not worth while, for she +should be called for in a very short time. And she remained +conscious of a great dread of being roused, so that when she heard +her cousin moving about the room, she insisted that they had scarcely +lain down, whereupon Nuttie laughed, declared that she had heard a +great clock strike twelve before she moved, and showed daylight +coming in through the shutters. + +'We can't lie here any longer, I suppose,' said May, sitting up +wearily; 'and yet what can we put on? It makes one shiver to think +of going down to luncheon in a ball dress!' + +'Besides, mine is all torn to pieces to make bandages,' said Nuttie. +'I must put on the underskirt and my cloak again.' + +'Or Annaple might lend us something. I must get out somehow to know +how poor Lady Delmar is, and what has become of everybody. Ring, +Ursula, please, and lie down till somebody comes.' + +The bell was answered by a maid, who told them that my lady had been +brought home by Mr. and Mrs. Egremont about an hour after their +arrival. She was as well as could be expected, and there was no +cause for anxiety. Mr. and Mrs. Egremont had then gone on to +Bridgefield, leaving word that Mrs. William Egremont and Miss Blanche +were sleeping at Redcastle, having sent home for their own dresses +and the young ladies', and would call for the rest of their party on +the way. Indeed, a box for the Miss Egremonts had been deposited by +the Canon from the pony-carriage an hour ago, and was already in the +dressing-room; but Miss Ruthven would not have them disturbed. Miss +Ruthven,--oh yes, she was up, she had not been in bed at all. + + + + + +CHAPTER XV. +A CASTLE OF UMBRELLAS. + + + + +No, Annaple Ruthven could not have slept, even if she had had time. +Her first care had been to receive her sister, who had been met at +the entrance of Redcastle by her husband. There had been profuse +offers of hospitality to Mr. and Mrs. Egremont, the latter of whom +looked tired out, and offers of sending messengers to Bridgefield; +but Mr. Egremont would not hear of them, and every one suspected that +he would not incur the chance of rising without Gregorio and all his +appliances. + +By the time they were disposed of, and Lady Delmar safe in bed, it +was time to repair to her mother's room, so as to prevent her from +being alarmed. Lady Ronnisglen was English born. She was not by any +means the typical dowager. Her invalid condition was chiefly owing +to an accident, which had rendered her almost incapable of walking, +and she was also extremely susceptible of cold, and therefore hardly +ever went out; but there was so much youth and life about her at +sixty-three that she and Annaple often seemed like companion sisters, +and her shrewd, keen, managing eldest-born like their mother. + +Annaple lay down beside her on her bed in the morning twilight, and +gave her the history of the accident in playful terms indeed. +Annaple could never help that, but there was something in her voice +that made Lady Ronnisglen say, when satisfied about Janet's hurt, +'You've more to say, Nannie dear.' + +'Yes, minnie mine, I walked home with Mark Egremont.' + +'And--?' + +'Yes, minnie. He is going to work and make a home--a real, true, +homely home for you and me.' + +'My child, my child, you have not hung the old woman about the poor +boy's neck!' + +'As if I would have had him if he did not love her, and make a mother +of her!' + +'But what is he going to do, Nan? This is a very different thing +from--' + +'Very different from Janet's notions!' and they both laughed, the +mother adding to the mirth by saying-- + +'Poor Janet, congratulating herself that no harm had been done, and +that you had never taken to one another!' + +'Did she really now?' + +'Oh yes, only yesterday, and I bade her not crow too soon, for I +thought I saw symptoms--' + +'You dear darling minnie! Think of that! Before we either of us +knew it, and when he is worth ever so much than he was before! Not +but that I am enraged when people say he has acted nobly, just as if +there had been anything else for him to do!' + +'I own that I am glad he has proved himself. I was afraid he would +be dragged in the way of his uncle. Don't be furious, Nannie. Not +at all into evil, but into loitering; and I should like to know what +are his prospects now.' + +'Well, mother, I don't think he has any. But he means to have. And +not a word is to be said to anybody except you and his father and May +till he has looked over the top of the wall, and seen his way. We +need not bring Janet down on us till then.' + +'I must see him, my dear. Let me see him before he goes away. He +always has been a very dear lad, a thoroughly excellent right-minded +fellow. Only I must know what he means to do, and whether there is +any reasonable chance of employment or fixed purpose.' + +Lady Ronnisglen's maid here arrived with her matutinal cup of tea; +and Annaple, beginning to perceive that she was very stiff, went off +in hopes that her morning toilette would deceive her hardworked +little frame into believing it had had a proper night's rest. + +She was quite ready to appear at the breakfast table, though her +eldest niece, a long-haired, long-limbed girl, considerably the +bigger of the two, was only too happy to preside over the cups. All +the four young people were in the greatest state of excitement, +welcoming, as the heroes of the night, Mark and Mr. Godfrey, and +clamouring to be allowed to walk down after breakfast with their +father and the gentlemen to see the scene of the catastrophe and the +remains of the carriage and the bridge. + +Sir John made a courteous reference to the governess, but there was a +general sense that the cat was away, and presently there was a rush +upstairs to prepare for the walk. Annaple had time in the course of +all the bustle, while the colour came back to her cheeks for a +moment, to tell Mark that her mother had been all that was good, and +wanted to see him. + +He must manage to stay till after eleven o'clock; she could not be +ready before. Then he might come to her sitting-room, which, as well +as her bedroom, was on the ground floor. + +Mark had to work off his anxiety by an inspection of the scene of the +disaster and a circumstantial explanation of the details to the young +Delmars, who crowded round him and Mr. Godfrey, half awed, half +delighted, and indeed the youngest--a considerable tomboy--had nearly +given the latter the opportunity of becoming a double hero by +tumbling through the broken rail, but he caught her in time, and she +only incurred from Sir John such a scolding as a great fright will +produce from the easiest of fathers. + +Afterwards Mark put Gerard on the way to his brother-in-law's living, +asking him on the road so many questions about the umbrella business +that the youth was not quite sure how to take it, and doubted whether +the young swell supposed that he could talk of nothing else; but his +petulance was mitigated when he was asked, 'Supposing a person wished +to enter the business, to whom should he apply?' + +'Do you know any one who wishes for anything of the kind?' he asked. +'Are you making inquiries for any one?' and on a hesitating +affirmation, 'Because I know there is an opening for a man with +capital just at present. Dutton won't advertise--'tis so risky; and +he wants some knowledge of a person's antecedents, and whether he is +likely to go into it in a liberal, gentlemanly spirit, with good +principles, you see, such as would not upset all we are doing for the +hands.' + +'What amount of capital do you mean?' + +'Oh, from five hundred to a thousand! Or more would not come amiss. +If I only had it! What it would be to conduct an affair like that on +true principles! But luck is against me every way.' + +Mark was at the sitting-room door as the four quarters began to +strike in preparation for eleven, but Lady Ronnisglen had been in her +chair for nearly half-an-hour, having been rapid and nervous enough +to hurry even the imperturbable maid, whom Annaple thought incapable +of being hastened. She was a little slight woman, with delicate +features and pale complexion, such as time deals with gently, and her +once yellow hair now softened with silver was turned back in bands +beneath the simple net cap that suited her so well. There was a soft +yet sparkling look about her as she held out her hands and exclaimed, +'Ah, Master Mark, what mischief have you been doing?' + +Mark came and knelt on one knee beside her and said: 'Will you let me +work for you both, Lady Ronnisglen? I will do my best to find some.' + +'Ah! that is the point, my dear boy. I should have asked and wished +for definite work, if you had come to me before that discovery of +yours; and now it is a mere matter of necessity.' + +'Yes,' said Mark; then, with some hesitation, he added: 'Lady +Ronnisglen, do you care whether I take to what people call a +gentleman's profession? I could, of course, go on till I am called +to the bar, and then wait for something to turn up; but that would be +waiting indeed! Then in other directions I've taken things easy, you +see, till I'm too old for examinations. I failed in the only one +that was still open to me. Lord Kirkaldy tried me for foreign office +work, and was appalled at my blunders. I'm not fit for a parson.' + +'I should have thought you were.' + +'Not I,' said Mark. 'I'm not up to the mark there. I couldn't say +honestly that I was called to it. I wish I could, for it would be +the easiest way out of it; but I looked at the service, and I can't. +There--that's a nice confession to come to you with! I can't think +how I can have been so impudent.' + +'Mark, you are a dear good lad. I respect and honour you ever so +much more than before all this showed what stuff was in you! But the +question is, What's to be done? My child is verily the "penniless +lass with a high pedigree," for she has not a poor thousand to call +her own.' + +'And I have no right to anything in my father's lifetime, though I +have no doubt he would give me up my share of my mother's portion-- +about £3000. Now this is what has occurred to me: In the place where +I found my uncle's wife--Micklethwayte, close to Monks Horton-- +there's a great umbrella factory, with agencies everywhere. There +are superior people belonging to it. I've seen some of them, and +I've been talking to the young fellow who helped us last night, who +is in the office. I find that to go into the thing with such capital +as I might hope for, would bring in a much larger and speedier return +than I could hope for any other way, if only my belongings would set +aside their feelings. And you see there are the Kirkaldys close by +to secure her good society.' + +Lady Ronnisglen put out her transparent-looking, black-mittened hand, +and gave a little dainty pat to his arm. 'I like to see a man in +earnest,' said she. Her little Skye terrier was seized with jealousy +at her gesture, and came nuzzling in between with his black nose. +'Mull objects!' she said, smiling; but then, with a graver look, 'And +so will your father.' + +'At first,' said Mark; 'but I think he will give way when he has had +time to look at the matter, and sees how good you are. That will +make all the difference.' + +So Annaple, who had been banished for a little while, was allowed to +return, and mother, daughter, and lover built themselves a little +castle of umbrellas, and bestowed a little arch commiseration on poor +Lady Delmar; who, it was agreed, need know nothing until something +definite was arranged, since Annaple was clearly accountable to no +one except her mother. She would certainly think the latter part of +her dream only too well realised, and consider that an unfair +advantage had been taken of her seclusion in her own room. In spite +of all loyal efforts to the contrary, Mark, if he had been in a frame +of mind to draw conclusions, would have perceived that the prospect +of escaping from the beneficent rule of Lescombe was by no means +unpleasant to Lady Ronnisglen. The books that lay within her reach +would hardly have found a welcome anywhere else in the house. Sir +John was not brilliant, and his wife had turned her native wits to +the practical rather than the intellectual line, and had quite enough +to think of in keeping up the dignities of Lescombe with a large +family amid agricultural difficulties. + +Annaple remembered at last that she ought to go and look after her +guests, assisted therein by the pleasure of giving May a hearty kiss +and light squeeze, with a murmur that 'all was right.' + +She brought them downstairs just as the gong was sounding, and the +rush of girls descending from the schoolroom, and Lady Ronnisglen +being wheeled across the hall in her chair. Nuttie, who had expected +to see a gray, passive, silent old lady like Mrs. Nugent, was quite +amazed at the bright, lively face and voice that greeted the son-in- +law and grandchildren, May and herself, congratulating these two on +having been so well employed all the morning, and observing that she +was afraid her Nannie could not give so good an account of herself. + +'Well,' said Sir John, 'I am sure she looks as if she found plodding +along the lanes as wholesome as sleeping in her bed! Nan Apple- +cheeks, eh?' + +Whereupon Annaple's cheeks glowed all the more into resemblance of +the baby-name which she had long ceased to deserve; but May could see +the darkness under her eyes, betraying that it was only excitement +that drove away fatigue. + +Sir John had not gone far in his circumstantial description of the +injuries to his unfortunate carriage when the Canon arrived, with his +wife and Blanche. Mark would have given worlds in his impatience to +have matters settled between the two parents then and there; but Lady +Ronnisglen had already warned him that this would not be possible, +and assured him that it would be much wiser to prepare his father +beforehand. + +Then he fixed his hopes on a solitary drive with his father back in +the pony carriage, but he found himself told off to take that home, +and had to content himself with May as a companion. Nor was his +sister's mode of receiving the umbrella plan reassuring. She had +smiled too often with her stepmother over Nuttie's having been +brought up among umbrellas to be ready to accept the same lot for her +brother and her friend, and she was quite sure that her father would +never consent. 'An Egremont an umbrella-maker! how horrible! Just +fancy seeing Dutton, Egremont and Co. on the handle of one's +umbrella!' + +'Well, you need not patronise us,' said Mark. + +'But is it possible that Lady Ronnisglen did not object?' said May. + + She seemed to think it preferable to driving pigs in the Texas, like +her son Malcolm.' + +'Yes, but then that _was_ the Texas.' + +'Oh May, May, I did not think you were such a goose!' + +'I should have thought the folly was in not being patient. Stick to +your profession, and something must come in time.' + +'Ay, and how many men do you think are sticking to it in that hope? +No, May, 'tis not real patience to wear out the best years of my life +and hers in idleness, waiting for something not beneath an Egremont +to do!' + +'But is there nothing to do better than that?' + +'Find it for me, May.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. +INFRA DIG. + + + + +'Till every penny which she told, + Creative Fancy turned to gold.'--B. LLOYD. + + +The Blueposts Bridge had produced a good deal of effect. Ursula +Egremont in special seemed to herself to have been awakened from a +strange dream, and to have resumed her real nature and affections. +She felt as if she would give all her partners at the ball for one +shake of Monsieur's fringed paws; her heart yearned after Aunt Ursel +and Miss Mary; she longed after the chants of the choir; and when she +thought of the effort poor Gerard Godfrey had made to see her, she +felt him a hero, and herself a recreant heroine, who had well-nigh +been betrayed into frivolity and desertion of him, and she registered +secret resolutions of constancy. + +She burned to pour out to her mother all the Micklethwayte tidings, +and all her longings to be there; but when the Rectory party set her +down at the door, the footman, with a look of grave importance, +announced that Mr. Egremont was very unwell. 'Mr. Gregory thinks he +has taken a chill from the effect of exposure, sir, and Dr. Hamilton +has been sent for.' + +The Canon and his wife both got out on this intelligence, and Mrs. +Egremont was summoned to see them. She came, looking more frightened +than they thought the occasion demanded, for she was appalled by the +severe pain in the head and eyes; but they comforted her by assuring +her that her husband had suffered in the same manner in the spring, +and she saw how well he had recovered; and then telling Nuttie to +bring word what the doctor's report was, and then spend the evening +at the Rectory, they departed, while poor Nuttie only had one kiss, +one inquiry whether she were rested, before her mother fled back to +the patient. + +Nor did she see her again till after the doctor's visit, and then it +was only to desire her to tell her uncle that the attack was +pronounced to be a return of the illness of last spring, and that it +would be expedient to go abroad for the winter. + +Go abroad! It had always been a vision of delight to Nuttie, and she +could not be greatly concerned at the occasion of it; but she did not +find the Rectory in a condition to converse and sympathise. Blanche +was lying down with a bad headache. The Edwardses and a whole party +of semi-genteel parish visitors had come in to inquire about the +accident, and had to be entertained with afternoon tea; and May, +though helping her stepmother to do her devoir towards them, seemed +more preoccupied than ever. + +As indeed she was, for she knew that Mark was putting his fate to the +touch with his father in the study. + +The Canon heard the proposal with utter consternation and dismay at +the perverseness of the two young people, who might have been engaged +any time these two years with the full approbation of their families, +and now chose the very moment when every one was rejoicing at their +freedom. + +'When a young man has got into a pickle,' he said, 'the first thing +is to want to be married!' + +'Exactly so, sir, to give him a motive for getting out of the pickle. +' + +'Umbrellas! I should like to hear what your grandfather would have +said!' + +'These are not my grandfather's days, sir.' + +'No indeed! There was nothing to do but to give a hint to old Lord +de Lyonnais, and he could get you put into any berth you chose. +Interest was interest in those days! I don't see why Kirkaldy can't +do the same.' + +'Not unless I had foreign languages at my tongue's end.' + +Whereat the Canon groaned, and Mark had to work again through all the +difficulties in the way of the more liberal professions; and the +upshot was that his father agreed to drive over to Lescombe the next +day and see Lady Ronnisglen. He certainly had always implicitly +trusted his son's veracity, but he evidently thought that there must +have been much warping of the imagination to make the young man +believe the old Scottish peeress to have consented to her daughter's +marrying into an umbrella factory. + +Nuttie was surprised and gratified that both Mark and May put her +through an examination on the habits of Micklethwayte and the +position of Mr. Godfrey, which she thought was entirely due to the +favourable impression Gerard had produced, and she felt +proportionably proud of him when Mark pronounced him a very nice +gentlemanly young fellow. She could not think why her uncle, with +more testiness than she had ever seen in that good-natured dignitary, +ordered May not to stand chattering there, but to give them some +music. + +The Canon drove to Lescombe the next day under pretext of inquiring +after Lady Delmar, and then almost forgot to do so, after he had +ascertained that she was a prisoner to her dressing-room, and that +Sir John was out shooting. The result of his interview filled him +with astonishment. Lady Ronnisglen having had a large proportion of +sons to put out in life on very small means had learnt not to be +fastidious, and held that the gentleman might ennoble the vocation +instead of the vocation debasing the gentleman. Moreover, in her +secret soul she felt that her daughter Janet's manoeuvres were far +more truly degrading than any form of honest labour; and it was very +sore to her to have no power of preventing them, ridicule, protest, +or discouragement being all alike treated as the dear mother's old- +world unpractical romance. It galled her likewise that she could +perceive the determination that Annaple Ruthven should be disposed of +before Muriel Delmar came on the scene; and the retiring to ever so +small a home of their own had been discussed between mother and +daughter, and only put aside because of the pain it would give their +honest-hearted host and their hostess, who really loved them. + +Thus she did her best to persuade her old friend that there were few +openings for a man of his son's age, and that if the Micklethwayte +business were all that Mark imagined, it was not beneath the +attention even of a well-born gentleman in these modern days, and +would involve less delay than any other plan, except emigration, +which was equally dreaded by each parent. Delay there must be, not +only in order to ascertain the facts respecting the firm, but to +prove whether Mark had any aptitude for the business before involving +any capital in it. However, every other alternative would involve +much longer and more doubtful waiting. And altogether the Canon felt +that if a person of Lady Ronnisglen's rank did not object, he had +scarcely a right to do so. However, both alike reserved consent +until full inquiry should have been made. + +The Canon wrote to Lord Kirkaldy, and in the meantime wanted to +gather what information he could from his sister-in-law; but he found +her absolutely engrossed as her husband's nurse, and scarcely +permitted to snatch a meal outside the darkened room. He groaned and +grumbled at his brother's selfishness, and declared that her health +would be damaged, while his shrewder lady declared that nothing would +be so good for her as to let Alwyn find her indispensable to his +comfort, even beyond Gregorio. + +This absorption of her mother fell hard on Ursula, especially when +the first two days' alarm was over, and her mother was still kept an +entire prisoner, as companion rather than nurse. As before, the +rheumatic attack fastened upon the head and eyes, causing lengthened +suffering, and teaching Mr. Egremont that he had never had so gentle, +so skilful, so loving, or altogether so pleasant a slave as his wife, +the only person except Gregorio whom, in his irritable state, he +would tolerate about him. + +His brother could not be entirely kept out, but was never made +welcome, more especially when he took upon himself to remonstrate on +Alice's being deprived of air, exercise, and rest. He got no thanks; +Mr. Egremont snarled, and Alice protested that she was never tired, +and needed nothing. The Rectory party were, excepting the schoolroom +girls, engaged to make visits from home before going into residence +at Redcastle, and were to begin with Monks Horton. They offered to +escort Ursula to see her great aunt at Micklethwayte--Oh joy of +joys!--but when the Canon made the proposition in his brother's room, +Mr. Egremont cut it short with 'I'm not going to have her running +after those umbrella-mongers.' + +The Canon's heart sank within him at the tone, and he was really very +sorry for his niece, who was likely to have a fortnight or three +weeks of comparative solitude before her father was ready to set out +on the journey. + +'Can't she help you, in reading to her father--or anything?' he asked +Alice, who had come out with him into the anteroom to express her +warm thanks for the kind proposal. + +She shook her head. 'He would not like it, nor I, for her.' + +'I should think not!' exclaimed the Canon, as his eye fell on the +title of a yellow French book on the table. 'I have heard of this! +Does he make you read such as this to him, Alice?' + +'Nothing else seems to amuse him,' she said. 'Do you, think I ought +not? I don't understand much of that kind of modern French, but +Nuttie knows it better.' + +'Not _that kind_, I hope,' said the Canon hastily. No, no, my dear,' +as he saw her colour mantling, 'small blame to you. You have only to +do the best you can with him, poor fellow! Then we'll take anything +for you. We've said nothing to Nuttie, Jane said I had better ask +you first.' + +'Oh, that was kind! I am glad she is spared the disappointment.' + +Not that she was. For when she learnt her cousins' destination, she +entreated to go with them, and had to be told that the proposal had +been made and refused. + +There is no denying that she behaved very ill. It was the first real +sharp collision of wills. She had differed from, and disapproved of, +her father all along, but what had been required of her had generally +been pleasant to one side at least of her nature; but here she was +condemned to the dulness of the lonely outsider to a sick room, when +her whole soul was leaping back to the delights of her dear old home +at Micklethwayte, + +She made her mother's brief meal with her such a misery of protests +and insistences on pleadings with her father that poor Alice was fain +to rejoice when the servants' presence silenced her, and fairly fled +from her when the last dish was carried out. + +"When they met again Nuttie demanded, 'Have you spoken to my father?' + +'I told you, my dear, it would be of no use?' + +'You promised.' + +'No, Nuttie, I did not.' + +'I'm sure I understood you to say you would if you could.' + +'It was your hopes, my dear child. He is quite determined.' + +'And you leave him so. Mother, I can't understand your submitting to +show such cruel ingratitude!' + +Nuttie was very angry, though she was shocked at the burning colour +and hot tears that she beheld as, half choked, her mother said: 'Oh, +my dear, my dear, do not speak so! You know--you know it is not in +my heart, but my first duty, and yours too, is to your father.' + +'Whatever he tells us?' demanded Nuttie, still hot and angry. + +'I did not say that,' returned her mother gently, 'but you know, +Nuttie, Aunt Ursel herself would say that it is our duty to abide by +his decision here.' + +'But you could speak to him,' still argued Nuttie, 'what's the use of +his being so fond of you if he won't do anything you want?' + +'Hush! hush, Nuttie! you know that is not a right way of speaking. I +cannot worry him now he is ill. You don't know what that dreadful +pain is!' + +Happily Nuttie did refrain from saying, 'No doubt it makes him very +cross;' but she muttered, 'And so we are to be cut off for ever from +Aunt Ursel, and Miss Mary, and--and--every thing good--and nice--and +catholic?' + +'I hope not, indeed, I hope not. Only he wants us to get the good +society manners and tone--like your cousins, you know. You are young +enough for it, and a real Egremont, you know Nuttie, and when you +have learnt it, he will trust you there,' said the mother, making a +very mild version of his speech about the umbrella-mongers. + +'Yes, he wants to make me worldly, so that I should not care, but +that he never shall do, whatever you may let him do to you.' + +His bell rang sharply, and away hurried Alice, leaving her daughter +with a miserably sore and impatient heart, and the consciousness of +having harshly wounded the mother whom she had meant to protect. And +there was no hugging and kissing to make up for it possible. They +would not meet till dinner-time, and Nuttie's mood of stormy +repentance had cooled before that time into longing to be more tender +than usual towards her mother, but how was that possible during the +awful household ceremony of many courses, with three solemn men- +servants ministering to them? + +And poor Alice jumped up at the end, and ran away as if afraid of +fresh objurgations, so that all Nuttie could do was to rush headlong +after her, catch her on the landing, kiss her face all over, and +exclaim, 'Oh, mother, mother, I was dreadfully cross!' + +'There, there! I knew you would be sorry, dear, dear child, I know +it is very hard, but let me go. He wants me!' + +And a very forlorn and deplorable person was left behind, feeling as +if her father, after carrying her away from everything else that she +loved, had ended by robbing her of her mother. + +She stood on the handsome staircase, and contrasted it with the +little cosy entrance at her aunt's. She felt how she hated all these +fine surroundings, and how very good and unworldly she was for so +doing. Only, was it good to have been so violent towards her mother? + +The Rectory folks were dining out, so she could only have recourse to +Mudie's box to try to drive dull care away. + +A few days more and they were gone. Though Mr. Egremont was +gradually mending, he still required his wife to be in constant +attendance. In point of fact Alice could not, and in her loyalty +would not, tell her dignified brother-in-law, far less her daughter, +of the hint that the doctor had given her, namely, that her husband +was lapsing into the constant use of opiates, founded at first on the +needs of his malady, but growing into a perilous habit, which +accounted for his shutting himself up all the forenoon. + +While under medical treatment it was possible to allowance him, and +keep him under orders, but Dr. Hamilton warned her not to allow the +quantity to be exceeded or the drugs to be resorted to after his +recovery, speaking seriously of the consequences of indulgence. He +spoke as a duty, but as he looked at the gentle, timid woman, he saw +little hope of her doing any good! + +Poor Alice was appalled. All she could do was to betake herself to +'the little weapon called All-Prayer,' and therewith to use all +vigilance and all her arts of coaxing and cheering away weariness and +languor, beguiling sleeplessness, soothing pain by any other means. +She had just enough success to prevent her from utterly despairing, +and to keep her always on the strain, and at her own cost, for Mr. +Egremont was far more irritable when he was without the narcotic, and +the serenity it produced was an absolute relief. She soon found too +that Gregorio was a contrary power. Once, when he had suggested the +dose, and she had replied by citing the physician's commands, Mr. +Egremont had muttered an imprecation on doctors, and she had caught a +horrible grin of hatred on the man's face, which seemed to her almost +diabolical. She had prevailed then, but the next time her absence +was at all prolonged, she found that the opiate had been taken, and +her dread of quitting her post increased, though she did not by any +means always succeed. Sometimes she was good-humouredly set aside, +sometimes roughly told to mind her own business; but she could not +relinquish the struggle, and whenever she did succeed in preventing +the indulgence she felt a hopefulness that--in spite of himself and +Gregorio, she might yet save him. + +Another hint she had from both the Canon and his wife. When they +asked what place was chosen, Mr. Egremont said he had made Alice +write to inquire of the houses to be had at various resorts--Mentone, +Nice, Cannes, and the like. She was struck by the ardour with which +they both began to praise Nice, Genoa, Sorrento, any place in +preference to Mentone, which her husband seemed to know and like the +best. + +And when she went downstairs with them the Canon held her hand a +moment, and said, 'Anywhere but Mentone, my dear.' + +She looked bewildered for a moment, and the Canoness added, 'Look in +the guide-books.' + +Then she remembered Monte Carlo, and for a moment it was to her as +shocking a warning as if she had been bidden to keep her husband out +of the temptation of thieving. + +She resolved, however, to do her best, feeling immediately that again +it was a pull of her influence against Gregorio's. Fortune favoured +her so far that the villa favoured by Mr. Egremont was not to be had, +only the side of the bay he disliked, and that a pleasant villa +offered at Nice. + +Should she close with it? Well--was there great haste? Gregorio +knew a good many people at Mentone, and could ascertain in his own +way if they could get the right side of the bay by going to the hotel +and waiting. Alice, however, pressed the matter--represented the +danger of falling between two stools, pleaded personal preference, +and whereas Mr. Egremont was too lazy for resistance to any +persuasion, she obtained permission to engage the Nice villa. The +next day Gregorio announced that he had heard that the proprietor of +Villa Francaleone at Mentone was giving up hopes of his usual +tenants, and an offer might secure it. + +'Villa Eugenie at Nice is taken,' said Alice, and she received one of +those deadly black looks, which were always like a stab. + +Of all this Nuttie knew nothing. She was a good deal thrown with the +schoolroom party and with the curate's wife for companionship. Now +Mrs. Edwards did not approve of even the canonical Egremonts, having +an ideal far beyond the ritual of Bridgefield; and she was delighted +to find how entirely Miss Egremont sympathised with her. + +Nuttie described St. Ambrose's as a paradise of church observances +and parish management, everything becoming embellished and all +shortcomings forgotten in the loving mists of distance. The +harmonium was never out of tune; the choir-boys were only just +naughty enough to show how wisely Mr. Spyers dealt with them; the +surplices, one would think, never needed washing; Mr. Dutton and +Gerard Godfrey were paragons of lay helpers, and district visitors +never were troublesome. Mrs. Edwards listened with open ears, and +together they bewailed the impracticability of moving the Canon to +raising Bridgefield to anything approaching to such a standard; while +Nuttie absolutely cultivated her home sickness. + +According to promise Blanche wrote to her from Monks Horton, and told +her thus much--'We have been all over your umbrella place. It was +very curious. Then we called upon Miss Headworth, who was quite +well, and was pleased to hear of you.' + +Blanche was famous for never putting into a letter what her +correspondent wanted to hear, but her stepmother wrote a much longer +and more interesting letter to Mrs. Egremont. + +'You will be glad to hear that we found your aunt quite well. I +suppose it is not in the nature of things that you should not be +missed; but I should think your place as well supplied as could be +hoped by that very handsome and superior Miss Nugent, with whom she +lives. I had a good deal of conversation with both; for you will be +surprised to hear that the Canon has consented to Mark's making the +experiment of working for a year in Greenleaf and Dutton's office, +with a view to entering the firm in future. I was very anxious to +understand from such true ladies what the position would be socially. +I longed to talk it over with you beforehand; but Alwyn could never +spare you, and it was not a subject to be broached without ample time +for discussion. We felt that though the Kirkaldys could tell us +much, it was only from the outside, whereas Miss Headworth could +speak from within. The decision is of course a blow to his father, +and will be still more so to the De Lyonnais family, but they have +never done anything to entitle them to have a voice in the matter, +and the Kirkaldys agree with us that, though not a path of +distinction, it is one of honourable prosperity; and with this, if +Mark is content, we have no right to object, since his mind is set on +present happiness rather than ambition.' + +It was a letter gratifying to Alice in its confidential tone, as well +as in the evident approval of those surroundings which she loved so +well. She read it to her husband, as she was desired to give him a +message that the Canon had not written out of consideration for his +eyes. He laughed the laugh that always jarred on her. 'So Master +Mark has got his nose to the grindstone, has he?' was his first +exclamation, and, after some cogitation, 'The fellow wants to be +married, depend on it!' + +'Do you think so?' returned Alice wistfully. + +'Think! Why, you may see it in Jane's letter! I wonder who it is! +The little yellow Ruthven girl, most likely! The boy is fool enough +for anything! I thought he would have mended his fortunes with +Ursula, but he's too proud to stomach that, I suppose!' + +'I did wish that!' said Alice. 'It would have set everything +straight, and it would have been so nice for her.' + +'You should have cut out your daughter after your own pattern,' he +answered; 'not let her be such a raw insignificant little spitfire. +'Tis a pity. I don't want the estate to go out of the name, though I +won't leave it to an interfering prig like Mark unless he chooses to +take my daughter with it!' + +The latter part of this amiable speech was muttered and scarcely +heard or attended to by Alice in her struggle to conceal the grief +she felt at the uncompromising opinion of her child. Nuttie might +outgrow being raw, but there seemed less rather than more prospect of +a better understanding with her father. About a week later Mark made +his appearance, timing it happily when his uncle was making his +toilette, so that his aunt was taking a turn on the sunny terrace +with Nuttie when the young man came hurrying up the garden. + +'Mark! What? Are you come home?' + +'Not the others. They are at Mr. Condamine's, I came last night--by +way of Lescombe. Edda, dear, it is all right! Oh, I forgot you did +not know! There was no seeing you before we went away. Ah! by the +by, how is my uncle?' + +'Much better, except that using his eyes brings on the pain. 'What +is it, Mark? Ah! I can guess,' she said, aided no doubt by that +conjecture of her husband's. + +'Yes, yes, yes!' he answered, with a rapidity quite unlike himself. +'Why, Nuttie, how mystified you look!' + +'I'm sure I don't wonder at any one being glad to live at dear old +Micklethwayte,' said Nuttie slowly. 'But, somehow, I didn't think it +of you, Mark.' + +'My dear, that's not all!' said her mother. + +'Oh!' cried Nuttie, with a prolonged intonation. 'Is it?--Oh, Mark! +did you _do it_ that night when you led the horse home?' + +'Even so, Nuttie! And, Aunt Alice, Lady Ronnisglen is the best and +bravest of old ladies, and the wisest. Nobody objects but Lady +Delmar, and she declares she shall not consider it an engagement till +Ronnisglen has been written to in Nepaul, as if he had anything to do +with it; but that matters the less, since they all insist on our +waiting till I've had a year's trial at the office! I suppose they +could not be expected to do otherwise, but it is a pity, for I'm +afraid Lady Delmar will lead Annaple and her mother a life of it.' + +'Dear Mark, I am delighted that it is all going so well.' + +'I knew you would be! I told them I must tell _you_, though it is +not to go any farther.' + +So that hope of Mark's restoration to the inheritance faded from +Alice, and yet she could not be concerned for him. She had never +seen him in such good spirits, for the sense of failure and +disappointment had always been upon him; and the definite prospect of +occupation, gilded by his hopes of Annaple, seemed to make a new man +of him. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. +AN OLD FRIEND. + + + + +'My heart untravelled still returns to thee.'--GOLDSMITH. + + +To go abroad! Such had been the fairy castle of Nuttie's life. She +had dreamed of Swiss mountains, Italian pictures, Rheinland castles, +a perpetual panorama of delight, and here she was in one of the great +hotels of Paris, as little likely to see the lions of that city as +she had been to see those of London. + +The party were halting for two days there because the dentist, on +whom Mr. Egremont's fine show of teeth depended, practised there; but +Nuttie spent great part of the day alone in the sitting-room, and her +hand-bag and her mother's, with all their books and little comforts, +had been lost in the agony of landing. Her mother's attendance was +required all the morning, or what was worse, she expected that it +would be, and though Nuttie's persistence dragged out the staid, +silent English maid, who had never been abroad before, to walk in the +Tuilleries gardens, which they could see from their windows, both +felt half-scared the whole time. Nuttie was quite unused to finding +her own way unprotected, and Martin was frightened, cross, and +miserable about the bags, which, she averred, had been left by +Gregorio's fault. She so hated Gregorio that only a sort of +adoration which she entertained for Mrs. Egremont would have induced +her to come tete-a-tete with him, and perhaps he was visiting his +disappointment about Mentone on her. In the afternoon nothing was +achieved but a drive in the Bois de Boulogne, when it was at once +made evident that Mr. Egremont would tolerate no questions nor +exclamations. + +His mouth was in no condition for eating in public, and he therefore +decreed that his wife and daughter should dine at the table d'hote, +while he was served alone by Gregorio. This was a great boon to +Nuttie, and to her mother it recalled bridal days long past at +Dieppe; but what was their astonishment when on entering the room +they beheld the familiar face of Mr. Dutton! It was possible for him +to place himself between them, and there is no describing the sense +of rest and protection his presence imparted to them, more especially +to Nuttie. + +He had come over, as he did from time to time, on business connected +with the materials he used, and he was beguiled into telling them of +his views of Mark, whom he had put in the way of learning the +preliminaries needful to an accountant. He had a deep distrust of +the business capacities and perseverance of young gentlemen of +family, especially with a countess-aunt in the neighbourhood, and +quoted Lord Eldon's saying that to make a good lawyer of one, it was +needful for him to have spent both his own and his wife's fortune to +begin with, but he allowed that young Mr. Egremont was a very +favourable specimen, and was resolutely applying himself to his work, +and that he himself felt it due to him to give all the assistance +possible. + +Miss Headworth, he could not deny, had aged, but far less than Mrs. +Nugent in the past year, and it really was a great comfort to Miss +Mary to have the old ladies together. He told too how the mission, +now lately over, had stirred the Micklethwayte folk into strong +excitement, and how good works had been undertaken, evil habits +renounced, reconciliations effected, religious services frequented. +Would it last? Nobody, he said, had taken it up so zealously as +Gerard Godfrey, who seemed as if he would fain throw everything up, +and spend his whole life in some direct service as a home missionary +or something of the kind. 'He is a good fellow,' said Mr. Dutton, +'and it is quite genuine, but I made him wait at least a year, that +he may be sure that this is not only a passing impulse.' + +Nuttie thought that she knew what was the impulse that had actuated +him, and felt a pleasant elation and self-consciousness even while +she repressed a sigh of pity for herself and for him. Altogether the +dip into the Micklethwayte world was delightful, but when Mr. Dutton +began to ask Nuttie what she had seen, she burst out with, 'Nothing-- +nothing but just a walk and a drive in the Bois de Boulogne;' and her +mother explained that 'in Mr. Egremont's state of health,' etc. + +'I wonder,' asked Mr. Dutton, 'if I might be allowed--' + +Nuttie's eyes sparkled with ecstasy. + +It ended in her mother, who had been wondering how Mr. Egremont could +be amused all the long evening, arranging that Mr. Dutton should come +in an hour's time to call on him, on the chance of being admitted, +and that then the offer might be made when she had prepared him for +it, advising Nuttie to wait in her own room. She was beginning to +learn how to steer between her husband and her daughter, and she did +not guess that her old friend was sacrificing one of the best French +plays for the chance. + +It turned out well; Mr. Egremont was conscious of a want of variety. +He demanded whether it was the young fellow, and being satisfied on +that part, observed in almost a good-humoured tone, 'So, we are in +for umbrellas, we may as well go in for the whole firm!' caused the +lights to be lowered under pretext of his eyes--to conceal the lack +of teeth--did not absolutely refuse to let Nuttie take advantage of +the escort, and when Mr. Dutton did come to the anteroom of the +apartment, he was received with full courtesy, though Gregorio looked +unutterable contempt. Mr. Dutton was a man who could talk, and had +seen a good deal of the world at different times. Mr. Egremont could +appreciate intelligent conversation, so that they got on wonderfully +well together, over subjects that would have been a mere weariness to +Nuttie but for the exceeding satisfaction of hearing a Micklethwayte +voice. At last Mr. Dutton said something about offering his escort +to the ladies, or to Miss Egremont, who used, he said in a paternal +way, to be a little playfellow of his; Mr. Egremont really smiled, +and said, 'Ay, ay, the child is young enough to run after sights. +Well, thank you, if you are so good as to take the trouble, they will +be very grateful to you, or if her mother cannot go with her, there's +the maid.' + +Nuttie thought she had never known him so amiable, and hardly durst +believe her good fortune would not turn the wheel before morning. +And it so far did that her mother found, or thought she found, that +it would not do to be out of call, and sent the silent Martin in her +stead. But Mr. Dutton had set telegraphs to work and recovered the +bags, which Gregorio had professed to give up in despair. + +A wonderful amount of lionising was contrived by Mr. Dutton, who had +lived a few years at Paris in early youth, and had made himself +acquainted alike with what was most worth seeing, and the best ways +and means of seeing it, so that as little time as possible was wasted +on the unimportant. It was one of the white days of Nuttie's life, +wanting nothing but her mother's participation in the sight of the +St. Michael of the Louvre, of the Sainte Chapelle, of the vistas in +Notre Dame, and of poor Marie Antoinette's cell,--all that they had +longed to see together. + +She had meant to tell Mr. Dutton that it was all her father's +selfishness, but somehow she could not say so, there was something +about him that hindered all unbefitting outbreaks of vexation. + +And thus, when she mentioned her disappointment at not being allowed +to go to Micklethwayte with her uncle, he answered, 'You could not of +course be spared with your father so unwell.' + +'Oh, he never let me come near him! I wasn't of the slightest use to +him!' + +'Mrs. Egremont would have missed you.' + +'Really he never gave her time. He perfectly devours her, body and +soul. Oh dear, no! 'Twas for no good I was kept there, but just +pride and ingratitude, though mother tried to call it being afraid +for my manners and my style.' + +'In which, if you lapse into such talk, you fully justify the +precaution. I was just thinking what a young lady you had grown +into,' he answered in a tone of banter, under which, however, she +felt a rebuke; and while directing her attention to the Pantheon, he +took care to get within hearing again of Martin. + +And in looking at these things, he carried her so far below the +surface. St. Michael was not so much Raffaelle's triumph of art as +the eternal victory over sin; the Sainte Chapelle, spite of all its +modern unsanctified gaudiness, was redolent of St. Louis; and the +cell of the slaughtered queen was as a martyr's shrine, trod with +reverence. There were associations with every turn, and Nuttie might +have spent years at Paris with another companion without imbibing so +many impressions as on this December day, when she came home so full +of happy chatter that the guests at the table d'hote glanced with +amusement at the eager girl as much as with admiration at the +beautiful mother. Mr. Dutton had been invited to come and take +coffee and spend the evening with them again, but Mr. Egremont's +affairs with the dentist had been completed, and he had picked up, +or, more strictly speaking, Gregorio had hunted up for him, a couple +of French acquaintances, who appeared before long and engrossed him +entirely. + +Mr. Dutton sat between the two ladies on a stiff dark-green sofa on +the opposite side of the room, and under cover of the eager, half- +shrieking, gesticulating talk of the Frenchmen they had a quiet low- +toned conversation, like old times, Alice said. 'More than old +times,' Nuttie added, and perhaps the others both agreed with her. + +When the two Englishwomen started at some of the loud French tones, +almost imagining they were full of rage and fury, their friend smiled +and said that such had been his first notion on coming abroad. + +'You have been a great deal abroad?' Mrs. Egremont asked; 'you seem +quite at home in Paris.' + +'Oh, mamma, he showed me where the school was that he went to, and +the house where he lived! Up such an immense way!' + +Mr. Dutton was drawn on to tell more of his former life than ever had +been known to them. His father, a wine merchant, had died a bankrupt +when he was ten years old, and a relation, engaged in the same +business at Paris, had offered to give him a few years of foreign +schooling, and then make him useful in the business. + +His excellent mother had come with him, and they had lived together +on very small means, high up in a many-storied lodging-house, while +he daily attended the Lycie. His reminiscences were very happy of +those days of cheerful contrivance, of her eager desire to make the +tiny appartement a home to her boy, of their pleasant Sundays and +holidays, and the life that in this manner was peculiarly guarded by +her influence, and the sense of being all she had upon earth. He had +scarcely ever spoken of her before, and he dwelt on her now with a +tenderness that showed how she had been the guiding spirit of his +life. + +At fifteen he was taken into the office at Marseilles, and she went +thither with him, but the climate did not agree with her; she +drooped, and, moreover, he discovered that the business was not +conducted in the honourable manner he had supposed. After a few +months of weighing his obligations to his kinsman against these +instincts, the question was solved by his cousin's retiring. He +resolved to take his mother back to England at any loss, and falling +in with one of the partners of the umbrella firm in quest of French +silk, he was engaged as foreign correspondent, and brought his mother +to Micklethwayte, but not in time to restore her health, and he had +been left alone in the world just as he came of age, when a small +legacy came to him from his cousin, too late for her to profit by it. +It had been invested in the business, and he had thus gradually risen +to his present position. Mrs. Egremont was amazed to hear that his +mother had only been dead so short a time before she had herself come +to Micklethwayte; and fairly apologised for the surprise she could +not help betraying at finding how youthful he had then been, and +Nuttie exclaimed, in her original unguarded fashion: + +'Why, Mr. Dutton, I always thought you were an old bachelor!' + +'Nuttie, my dear!' said her mother in a note of warning, but Mr. +Dutton laughed and said: + +'Not so far wrong! They tell me I never was a young man.' + +'You had always to be everything to your mother,' said Mrs. Egremont +softly. + +'Yes,' he said, 'and a very blessed thing it was for me.' + +'Ah! you don't regret now all that you must have always been giving +up for her,' returned Alice. + +'No, indeed. Only that I did not give up more.' + +'That is always the way.' + +'It is indeed. One little knows the whips that a little self-will +prepares.' + +Nuttie thought he said it for her admonition, and observed, 'But she +was good,' only, however, in a mumble, that the other two thought it +inexpedient to notice, though it made both hearts ache for her, even +Alice's--with an additional pang of self-reproach that she herself +was not good enough to help her daughter better. + +Neither of them guessed at the effect that a glimpse of the lovely +young seeming widow had had on the already grave self-restrained +young man in the home lately made lonely, how she had been his secret +object for years, and how, when her history was revealed to him, he +had still hoped on for a certainty which had come at last as so fatal +a shock and overthrow to all his dreams. + +A life of self-restraint and self-conquest had rendered it safe for +him to thoroughly enjoy the brief intercourse, which had come about +by the accident of his having come to dine at the Hotel de Louvre, to +meet a friend who had failed him. + +These were two completely happy hours to all the three, and when they +said 'good-night' there was a sense of soothing and invigoration on +Alice's mind; and on Nuttie's that patience and dutifulness were the +best modes of doing justice to her Micklethwayte training, although +he had scarcely said a word of direct rebuke or counsel. + +While Mr. Dutton sped home to tell Miss Headworth that Mrs. Egremont +looked lovelier than ever, and was--yes she was--more of an angel, +that her husband had been very pleasant, much better than he +expected, and, indeed, might come to anything good under such +influence; and as to little Nuttie--she was developing fast, and had +a brave constant heart, altogether at Micklethwayte. But that +servant who was acting as courier was an insolent scoundrel, who was +evidently cheating them to the last degree. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. +A FRIEND IN NEED. + + + + +'True courage often is in frightened eyes.'-- + Thoughts and Verses. + + +All the preliminaries of the sojourn at Nice had been settled in +correspondence, and the Egremont family had nothing to do, after +arriving at the station, but to drive up to Villa Eugenie, whose +flower-wreathed balconies were like a vision of beauty. Servants had +been hired through agencies known to Mr. Egremont, and Gregorio +looked very black at his mistress keeping the reins in her hand, and +tried to make her feel herself inefficient. + +It was not an eventful or very interesting part of Ursula's life. +She was almost wild with the novelty and beauty of the South at +first, but except for what she could thus see, there was little +variety. The mould of the day was as much as possible after the +Bridgefield fashion, except that there were no cousins at the +Rectory, no parish interests, very little society, as far as the +ladies were concerned. Mr. Egremont had old acquaintance and +associates with whom he spent afternoons and evenings, after his own +fashion, but they were not people to whom he wished to introduce his +wife and daughter. + +And the superior English habitues of Nice, the families who formed +the regular society, knew Mr. Egremont's reputation sufficiently to +feel by no means disposed to be cordial to the fair wife and grown-up +daughter whom he so unexpectedly produced on the scene. It had been +different at home, where he had county standing, and the Canon and +Canoness answered for the newcomers; but here, where all sorts of +strange people came to the surface, the respectable felt it needful +to be very cautious, and though of course one or two ladies had been +asked to call through the intervention of Lady Kirkaldy or of Mrs. +William Egremont, and had been assured on their authority that it was +'all right,' their attentions were clogged by doubt, and by +reluctance to involve their mankind in intimacy with the head of the +family. Thus very little of the proverbial gaiety of Nice offered +itself to Nuttie and her mother, and, except by a clerical family who +knew Mr. Spyers, they were kept at a distance, which Mr. Egremont +perceived and resented by permitting no advances. The climate suited +him so well that, to his wife's great relief, he seemed to have +dropped his inclination for sedatives; but his eyes would not bear +much, and she felt bound to be always on the alert, able to amuse him +and hinder his feeling it dull. Gregorio highly disapproved of the +house and servants, and was always giving hints that Mentone would +agree far better with his master; but every day that Mr. Egremont +seemed sufficiently amused at Nice was so much gain, and she had this +in her favour, that he was always indolent and hard to move. +Moreover, between his master's levee and late dinner Gregorio was +hardly ever to be found. No doubt he knew the way to Monte Carlo +well enough, and perhaps preferred that the family should be farther +off, for he soon ceased to show himself discontented with their +present abode. Once when his absence was inconvenient, Mr. Egremont +abused him roundly as a good-for-nothing gambler, but when Alice +hoped that he might be called to a reckoning, the wrath had subsided +with the immediate vexation, and as usual she was told 'All those +fellows were alike.' + +The foreign servants were not to be induced to give the early-rising +ladies more than a roll and cup of coffee, and Nuttie felt ravenous +till she learned to lay in a stock of biscuits, and, with Martin's +connivance, made tea on her own account, and sustained her mother for +the morning's walk before the summons to Mr. Egremont. + +He always wanted his wife much earlier in the day, during his hours +of deshabille, and letting her write his letters and read the papers +to him. She was pleased with this advance, but it gave Nuttie a +great deal more solitude, which was sometimes judiciously spent, but +it was very hard not to be desultory in spite of learning lessons in +French, Italian, and drawing. + +Later in the day came the drive or the visit to the public gardens +when the band was playing, but this became less frequent as Mr. +Egremont observed the cold civility shown to his wife, and as he +likewise grew stronger and made more engagements of his own. Then +Nuttie had happy afternoons of driving, donkey-riding, or walking +with her mother, sketching, botanising, admiring, and laying up +stores for the long descriptive letters that delighted the party in +St. Ambrose's Road, drinking in all the charm of the scenery, and +entering into it intelligently. They spent a good many evenings +alone together likewise, and it could not but give Alice a pang to +see the gladness her daughter did not repress when this was the case, +even though to herself it meant relaxation of the perpetual vigilance +she had to exert when the father and daughter were together to avert +collisions. They were certainly not coming nearer to one another, +though Nuttie was behaving very well and submissively on the whole, +and seldom showing symptoms of rebellion. This went on through the +early part of their stay, but latterly there was a growing sense upon +the girl that she and her mother were avoided by some young ladies to +whom they had been introduced, and whom they saw regularly at the +daily services at St. Michael's Church. They were pleasant-looking +girls, with whom Nuttie longed to fraternise, and she was mortified +at never being allowed to get beyond a few frigidly civil words in +the street, more especially when she came upon sketching parties and +picnics in which she was never included. + +It was all very well for her mother to answer her murmurs and +wonderings with 'You know people are very exclusive, my dear.' +Nuttie began to guess that her father and her name were the real +reason, and her eyes were further opened later in the spring when Mr. +Egremont, who had recovered unusual health and vigour, took his +ladies to Mentone to spend a day or two in the newer beauties there. +Alice had her misgivings, but the visit was avowedly to show the +place to her, and she could not reasonably object. He was in unusual +good humour, and even tolerated their ecstasies at the scenery and +the flowers, dined at the table d'hote and found acquaintance, +enjoyed himself, and in the forenoon, while Nuttie was out wondering +and admiring, and going as far as she could drag Martin, he expressed +to his wife that she would be astonished at the gardens and the music +of Monte Carlo. + +There, however, Alice made a stand. 'Thank you, it is very kind, but +if you please, I should not like to take Ursula to Monte Carlo, or to +go there myself,' she said in an apologetic tone. + +He laughed. 'What! you are afraid of making the little one a +confirmed gambler?' + +'You know I am not, but--' + +'You think the little prig will be contaminated, eh?' + +'Well, I think it will be happier for her if she never sees anything-- +of the kind.' + +'You little foolish Edda, as if her eyes or ears need see anything +but flowers and music and good company.' + +'I know that, but I had so much rather not. It was a sweet face and +caressing voice that implored, and he still was good humoured. + +'Well, well, I don't want to drag you, old lady, against your will, +though I fancy you would be rather surprised at the real aspect of +the abode of iniquity your fancy depicts.' + +'Oh, thank you, thank you so much!' + +'What an absurd little woman it is! I wonder if you would thank me +as heartily supposing I cleared a round thousand and gave you--say a +diamond necklace?' + +'I am sure I should not!' + +'No, I don't believe you would. That restless little conscience of +yours would be up on end. After all, I don't know that you are the +worse for it, when it looks so prettily out of your brown eyes. I +wonder what you expect to see? The ruined gamester shooting himself +on every path, eh?' + +'No, no; I don't suppose I should see anything horrid or even +disagreeable. I know it is all very beautiful; but then every person +who goes for the innocent pleasures' sake only helps to keep up the +whole thing--evil and all.' + +'And what would the old women of all sorts here and at Nice do +without such a choice temple of scandal to whet their teeth upon? +Well, I suppose you and your precious daughter can take care of +yourselves. There are the gardens, or you can tell Gregorio to order +you a carriage.' + +'Then you are going?' + +'Yes, I promised Grafton. Don't be afraid, Mistress Edda, I'm not +going to stake Bridgefield and reduce you to beggary. I'm an old +hand, and was a cool one in my worst days, and whatever I get I'll +hand over to appease you.' + +That was all she could obtain, and she secretly hoped there would be +no winnings to perplex her. Thankful that she had not made him angry +by the resistance for which she had prepared herself with secret +prayer ever since the Mentone scheme had been proposed, she placed +herself at Nuttie's disposition for the rest of the day. + +They had a charming donkey-ride, and, still unsatiated with beauty, +Ursula made her mother come out again to wonder at the trees in the +public gardens. Rather tired, they were sitting on a shaded bench, +when a voice close to them exclaimed, 'It is; yes, it must be; 'tis +the voice--yes, and the face prettier than ever. Little Alice--ah! +you don't know me. Time has been kinder to you than to me.' + +'Oh! I know you now! I beg your pardon,' cried Alice, recognising +in the thin nutcracker parchment visage and shabbily-dressed figure +the remnant of the brilliant aquiline countenance and gay attire of +eighteen years ago. 'Mrs. Houghton! I am so glad to have met you, +you were so kind to me. And here she is.' + +'What! is this the child? Bless me, what a proof how time goes! +Young lady, you'll excuse my not knowing you. You were a very +inconvenient personage not quite born when I last met your mother. +What a likeness! I could have known her for Alwyn Egremont's +daughter anywhere!' + +'Yes, they all say she is a thorough Egremont.' + +'Then it is all right. I saw Alwyn Egremont, Esquire, and family +among the arrivals at Nice, but I hardly durst expect that it was +you. It seemed too good to be true, though I took care the knot +should be tied faster than my gentleman suspected.' + +'Oh, please!' cried Alice deprecatingly, at first not apprehending +the force of the words, having never known the gulf from which Mrs. +Houghton had saved her, and that lady, seeing that the girl was +listening with all her ears, thought of little pitchers and +restrained her reminiscences, asking with real warm interest, 'And +how was it? How did you meet him again?' + +'He came and found me out,' said Alice, with satisfaction in her +voice. + +'Indeed! Not at Dieppe; for he was en garcon when I nearly came +across him ten years ago at Florence.' + +'Oh no! He inquired at Dieppe, but they had lost the address my aunt +left.' + +'Indeed! I should not have thought it of old Madame Leroux, she +seemed so thoroughly interested in la pauvre petite. What did you +do? Your aunt wrote to me when your troubles were safely over, and +she thought him lost in the poor Ninon, that she meant to settle in a +place with an awfully long Yorkshire name.' + +'Micklethwayte; yes, we lived there, and got on very well. We had +boarders, and I had some dear little pupils; but last year Mark +Egremont--you remember dear little Mark--was in the neighbourhood, +and hearing my name, he told his uncle, who had been seeking us ever +since. And he came, Mr. Egremont, and took us home, and oh, the +family have been so kind!' + +'What? The parson, and that awful old she-lion of a grandmother, +whose very name scared you out of your wits?' + +'She is dead, and so is dear good Lady Adelaide. Canon Egremont is +kindness itself. It was all the old lady's doing, and he knew +nothing about it. He was gone to Madeira with Lady Adelaide and got +none of our letters, and he never knew that his brother was married +to me.' + +'Trust Alwyn for that,' Mrs. Houghton muttered. 'Well, all's well +that ends well, and I hope he feels due gratitude to me for doing him +a good turn against his will. I tried to get at him at Florence to +find out what he had done with you, but unluckily I was ill, and had +to send through poor Houghton, and he mismanaged it of course, though +I actually wrote down that barbarous address, Mickle something, on a +card. I believe he only got as far as the man instead of the +master.' + +'Ah! I wanted to ask for Captain Houghton,' said Alice, glad to lead +the conversation away from revelations of which she had an +instinctive dread. + +'Gone, my dear! two years ago. Poor fellow! it was low fever, but +quite as much want of luck, I shall always believe,' she said. + +'Oh, I am sorry! He was so kind to me!' said Alice, squeezing her +hand, and looking up with sweet tender commiseration. + +'There, there, don't, you pretty creature!' said Mrs. Houghton, +putting her hand across her eyes. 'I declare, you've almost made me +cry--which I've not done--well, hardly, since I parted with you at +Dieppe, thinking you a sweet little flower plucked and thrown away to +die, though I had done my best to bind it to him. What care I took +not to let Houghton disabuse him about Jersey marriages!' + +There is a difference between hearing and hearkening, and Alice +Egremont's loving and unsuspecting heart was so entirely closed +against evil thoughts of her husband, and so fully occupied with her +old friend's condition, that she never took in the signification of +all this, while Nuttie, being essentially of a far more shrewd and +less confiding nature, and already imbued with extreme distrust of +her father, was taking in all these revelations with an open-eyed, +silent horror of conviction that her old impressions of the likeness +to Marmion or Theseus had been perfectly correct. It was all under +her hat, however, and the elder ladies never thought of her, Alice +bringing back the conversation to Mrs. Houghton herself. 'Oh, my +dear, I drag on as I can. I've got a fragment of our old income, and +when that's run too low, I go up to Monte Carlo--I always had the +lucky hand, you know, and 'tis only restitution after all! I'm sick +of it all though, and sometimes think I'll take my good sister Anne's +offers and go home.' + +'Oh do, do!' cried Alice. + +'But,' went on the poor woman, 'humble pie goes against me, and think +what an amount would be before me--heigh ho!--after nearly five-and- +twenty years; yes, five-and-twenty years it is--since Houghton, poor +fellow, told me I was too bright and winsome for a little country +lawyer's house in a poky street. What would they think of me now?' +and she laughed with a sound that was painful to hear. 'Well, +Sycorax had done one good deed, and when I look at you, queening it +there, I feel that so have I.' + +'You were very good to me, I know; but oh, if you would go home to +your sister!' + +'My dear, you little know what you ask! Anne! Why, she is the prime +district lady, or whatever you call it, of Dockforth. Think what it +would be to her to have this battered old vaurien thrown on her +hands, to be the stock subject for all the righteous tongues. +Besides,' as she coughed, 'the English climate would make an end of +me outright. I'm in a bad way enough here, where I can sit among the +lemon trees half the days in the winter, but the English fireside in +a stuffy parlour--' and she shuddered. + +That shiver reminded all that it was getting late, too late for Mrs. +Houghton to be out of doors, and near the time when Mr. Egremont was +to meet his ladies at the hotel. Alice begged for Mrs. Houghton's +address, and it was given with a short ironical laugh at her promise +to call again if possible. 'Ay, if possible,' the poor woman +repeated. 'I understand! No, no,' as Alice was about to kiss her. +'I won't have it done.' + +'There's no one in sight.' + +'As if that made a difference! Alice, child, you are as innocent as +the little dove that flew aboard the Ninon. How have you done it? +Get along with you! No kisses to such as me! I don't know whether +it breaks my heart, or binds it up to look at the face of you. +Anyway, I can't bear it.' + +She hurried away, and made some steps from them. A terrible paroxysm +of coughing came on, and Mrs. Egremont hurried towards her, but she +waved back all help, shook her head, and insisted on going home. +Alice kept her in sight, till she dived into a small side street. + +'Mother,' said Nuttie. Then there was a pause. 'Mother, did you +know all this?' + +'Don't talk of it, Nuttie. It is not a thing to be talked about to +any one or by any one. I wish you had not been there.' + +'But, mother, this once! Did you know?' + +'I knew that I knew not what I did when I went on board that yacht, +but that God's kind providence was over me in a way that I little +deserved. That is all I care to know, and, Ursula, I will have not +another word about it. No, I will not hear it.' + +'I was only going to ask whether you would tell my father.' + +'Certainly; but not before you.' + +The tone of decision was unwonted, and Nuttie knew she must abide by +it, but the last shreds of filial respect towards Mr. Egremont were +torn away by what Mrs. Houghton had implied, and the girl dashed up +and down her bedroom muttering to herself, 'Oh, why have I such a +father? And she, she will not see it, she is wilfully blind! Why +not break with him and go home to dear Aunt Ursel and Gerard and Mr. +Dutton at once, instead of this horrid, horrid grandeur? Oh, if I +could fling all these fine things in his face, and have done with him +for ever. Some day I will, when I am of age, and Gerard has won his +way.' + +Meantime Alice, in some trepidation, but with resolution at the +bottom, had told her husband of the meeting with Mrs. Houghton, of +her widowhood, sickness, and poverty. + +He did not like the intelligence of their meeting, and hoped no one +had seen it; then, when reassured on this score, he hummed a little +and exclaimed, 'Poor old Flossy Houghton! I don't wonder! They went +the pace! Well, what do you want? Twenty pounds for her! Why, +'twill all be at Monte Carlo in three days' time.' + +'It is very good of you, but I want more than that. She is so ill +and wretched, you know. ' + +'I can't have you visiting her, if that's what you mean. Why, after +all the pains I've been at to get you on your proper level at home, +here's my Lady Louisa and all her crew, in their confounded +insolence, fighting shy of you, and you can't give them a better +colour for it than by running after a woman like that--divorced to +begin with, and known at every gambling table in Europe.' + +'I know that, Alwyn, dear Alwyn' (it was very seldom that she called +him so, and she put her clasped hands on his shoulder); 'but I am +sure she is dying, and she was so good to me, I can't bear doing +nothing for her.' + +'Well, there's twenty--fifty, if you like.' + +'Thank you, thank you, but you know I never meant to visit her--like-- +like society; only to go sometimes privately and--' + +'And how about your daughter?' + +'I would not take her on any account. What I want to do is this. +Mrs. Houghton spoke of her sister, a kind good woman in England, who +would take her home, and love her, if only she could bring herself to +go. Now, I think I could persuade her to write, or let me write to +the sister--and if only the two were together again! It is very +dreadful to think of her dying alone, in the way she is going on!' + +'What, little saint, you want to try your hand on her? I should say +she was too tough an old sinner for you.' + +'Oh, Alwyn! her heart was very near, though she tried to keep it +back. I do not want to--to do what you mean--only to get her to let +her sister come. I'm sure that would do the rest.' + +'If any sister does more than you, you little witch,' he said. + +Alice pressed him no more then, but a day or two later, when she knew +he had an engagement, she arranged to dispose of Nuttie with the +clergyman's wife, and then begged permission to go by train to +Mentone, and come back in the evening. He did not like it--no more +did she--for she was perfectly unaccustomed to travelling alone, but +there was a deep sense of sacred duty upon her, only strengthened by +her unwillingness to realise how much she owed to Mrs. Houghton. + +She telegraphed that she was coming, and found her friend more +touched than she chose to allow at the fact of her visit, declaring +that she must have wonderful power over Alwyn Egremont, if she knew +how to use it; indeed, the whole tone was of what Alice felt +flattery, intended to turn away anything more serious. Poor woman, +she was as careful of doing no injury to her young friend's +reputation as Mr. Egremont could have desired. Alice had come +resolved that she should have one good meal, but she would not hear +of eating anywhere in public where either could be recognised, and +the food was brought to a private room in the hotel. To her lodgings +she still would not take Alice, nor would she give her sister's +address. Except for a genuine shower of tears when Alice insisted on +kissing her there seemed no ground gained. + +But Alice went again on her husband's next visit to Mentone. He was, +to a certain degree, interested in her endeavours, and really wished +the poor woman to be under the charge of her relations, instead of +dying a miserable lonely death among strangers. + +This time Alice had to seek her friend in the dreary quatrieme of the +tall house with the dirty stone stairs. It was a doleful empty room, +where, with a mannish-looking dressing-gown and a torn lace scarf +tied hood-fashion over her scanty hair, Mrs. Houghton sat over a pan +of charcoal oppressive to Alice's English lungs. + +'Come again!' she cried. 'Well, I really shall begin to think that +angels and ministers of grace exist off the stage! You pretty thing! +Let me look at you. Where did you get that delicious little bonnet?' + +'Why, it is perfectly plain!' + +'So it is! 'Tis only the face that is in it. Now if some folks put +this on--sister Anne, for example, what dowdies they would be. Poor +old Anne, you must know she had a turn for finery, only she never +knew how to gratify it. To see the contortions of her crinolines was +the delight of all the grammar school. It was a regular comedy for +them to see her get into our pew edgeways, and once unconsciously she +carried off a gentleman's hat on her train.' + +So she went on talking, coughing at intervals, and generally using a +half-mocking tone, as if defying the tenderness that awoke in spite +of her, but always of her original home, and especially of her +sister. Alice ventured to ask whether they often heard from one +another. + +'Good soul, she always writes at Christmas and on my birthday. I +know as well as possible that I shall find a letter poste restante +wherever she heard of me last, and that she hasn't done--I'm ashamed +to say for how long--really, I think not since I let her know that I +couldn't stand Ivy Lodge, Dockforth, at any price, when she wrote to +Monaco on seeing poor Houghton's death in the paper.' + +There was a good deal of rambling talk of this kind, to which Alice +listened tenderly and compassionately, making no attempt at +persuasion, only doing what was possible for the poor lady's comfort. +She had procured on her way some fruit and jelly, and some good +English tea, at which Mrs. Houghton laughed, saying, 'Time was, I +called it cat-lap! Somehow it will seem the elixir of life now, +redolent, even milkless, of the days when we were young.' + +Then she revealed something of her long, suffering, almost ghastly +nights, and Alice gently told how her old friend, Mrs. Nugent, +suffered from sleeplessness, and kept a store of soothing psalms and +hymns in her memory. There was a little laugh. 'That's for you good +folk. I haven't such a thing about me! Come, Par exemple!' and +Alice repeated the first thing she could remember, the verse +beginning 'God, who madest earth and heaven.' + +'That's one of your charms, is it? Well, it would not be too much +for me if my poor old memory would hold it. Say it again.' + +Alice generally had about her a tiny prayer-book with 'Hymns, Ancient +and Modern,' attached. It had been a gift from Mary Nugent, and she +was fond of it, but the opportunity was not to be lost, and she took +it out, saying she would bring a larger one and reclaim it. And, as +she was finally taking leave, she said with a throbbing heart, 'Do +you know that you have betrayed your sister's address? I shall write +to her now.' + +'If you do--!' cried Mrs. Houghton, in a tone like threatening +deprecation, but with a little of her strange banter in it besides. +Alice's mind had been made up to do the thing, and she had not felt +it honest not to give due warning of her intentions. Even now she +was not certain of the lady's surname, but she trusted to her +husband's knowledge of Mrs. Houghton's previous history; and not in +vain. Mr. Egremont amused himself with a little ridicule at his +wife's quixotry, and demanded whether Flossy Houghton was a promising +convert; but confessed himself very glad that the poor thing should +be off their hands, declaring that it was quite time her own people +looked after her, and happily he recollected her maiden name. So the +letter was written, after numerous attempts at expressing it +suitably, explaining Mrs. Houghton's illness and the yearnings she +was too proud and ashamed to express to her sister, and was answered +at once by a few short words of earnest gratitude, and an assurance +that Miss Reade was preparing to start at once. Could Mrs. Egremont +meet her and prepare her sister? + +To Alice's disappointment this could not be. Mr. Egremont had +invited some friends to the villa, and would not spare her. She +could only send a note, assuring Miss Reade that she believed that +preparation would do more harm than good, and she waited and watched +anxiously. A card came by the post in Mrs. Houghton's scrawled +writing. 'Naughty little wretch!' was all it said, but thence she +gathered hope. + +The spring was advancing, and Mr. Egremont was in haste to be gone, +but Alice obtained one more run to Mentone, and once more climbed up +the dark and dirty stairs to the room, where the well-known voice +answered her tap, 'Come in! Ah, there she is, the wicked little +angel!' + +A substantial little roly-poly business-like little woman hurried +forward with tearful eyes and outstretched hands. 'Oh, Mrs. +Egremont! can I ever thank you enough?' + +'You can't, Anne, so don't try. It will be a relief to all parties,' +interposed Mrs. Houghton. 'Sentiment is not permitted here.' + +Nevertheless she hugged Alice almost convulsively. She was sitting +in a comfortable arm-chair, one about which Mrs. Egremont knew +something, and the whole aspect of the room had changed indescribably +for the better, as much indeed as Mrs. Houghton's own personal array, +which had no longer the desolate neglected look of old. + +A little stool was close to her chair, as if the two sisters could +not bear to be far apart, and the look of love and content in their +eyes as they turned to one another was perfect joy to Alice. She had +no longer any doubt that Anne Reade, who had found the wanderer yet a +great way off, would yet bring her back to the home, spiritually if +not outwardly. + +Mrs. Houghton spoke, of better rooms when the winter visitors had +fled, Anne spoke of her being able to return to Dockforth. Whether +that would ever be seemed entirely doubtful to Alice's eyes, +especially as the patient's inclination was evidently otherwise. +There was nothing to be done but to leave the sisters together, +obtaining Miss Reade's ready promise to write, and putting into her +hands a sum of money which could be sincerely called 'only a debt of +gratitude from my husband and me,' and which would smooth the way +either to remaining or returning to England. + +Nor was there any return. Ere many weeks had passed Mrs. Egremont +heard from Miss Reade how a fresh cold had made it impossible to +move, and summer heat had brought on low fever, which had destroyed +the feeble strength, but not till 'childhood's star' had again +arisen, and a deeply and truly repentant woman had passed away, +saved, as it seemed, through that one effort on behalf of the young +girl whose innocence she had protected. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. +THE VORTEX. + + + + +'With one black shadow at her feet.'--TENNYSON. + + +The rebuffs that society had bestowed on his wife and daughter at +Nice had rendered Mr. Egremont the more determined on producing them +in London and establishing their position. He secured a furnished +house in Westburnia before leaving Nice, and, travelling leisurely +home without visiting Bridgefield, he took possession the second week +in May. + +There had not been much correspondence with the Rectory, and on the +first forenoon, as Mrs. Egremont and Nuttie were trying to enliven +the drawing-room with the flowers sent up to meet them, they were +surprised by the entrance of Blanche, full of kisses and welcomes. + +'Oh! didn't you know? I'm with the Kirkaldys just round the corner. +Aunt Margaret has undertaken to do the part of a noble aunt by me.' + +'Then you are here for the season? And May?' + +'May wouldn't come, except just for a week to see the pictures, and +lay in a stock of talk. She's grown more parochial than ever, and we +believe it is all Hugh Condamine. Oh! I forgot you were gone before +we came home last autumn. He is mamma's nephew, you know, and was +ordained last year to the curacy of the next parish to his father's +place. If the Edwardses only would take themselves off, we would +have him at home, and then we should have flowers on the altar, and +all sorts of jolly things. Papa would stand ever so much more from +him than from the old Edwardses.' + +'But is he engaged to May, then?' + +'Well, no, not exactly. I believe he does not think it right till he +has done preparing for priest's orders. He's ever so strict, you +know, and he hasn't got much either; but he means it. Lucy, his +sister, you know, told me all about it, and that altogether the +elders had settled it was better for both that he should attend to +his preparation, and May should not bind herself, though they really +understand one another, and so she won't come to London.' + +'Oh, that's very good of her!' cried Nuttie; 'but why won't they let +them settle their minds and be engaged?' + +'People are always tiresome,' said Blanche; 'and I do believe the +living is at the bottom of it, at least Lucy thought so. I mean +everybody wants to wait--all the old ones, I mean--not Hugh or May, +of course--to know whether Mark will stick to the umbrellas, or turn +back and be a clergyman, because, then, of course, he would have the +living; and if he doesn't, they want to be certain whether Uncle +Alwyn, or you, Nuttie, would promise it to Hugh if he married May!' + +'Me!' exclaimed Nuttie. + +'My dear, I don't like to hear you talk of such things,' said Mrs. +Egremont gently. + +'Oh yes, I know--it's all very dreadful. I was only telling you what +is in the old people's heads, and what would settle it, and make it +all right with them.' + +'And how is Mark? Is Miss Ruthven in London?' asked Mrs. Egremont, +glad to turn away the conversation from the contingencies of which +Blanche spoke with the hardness of youth, as yet not realising +sorrow. + +'I daresay you know nearly as much of Mark as we do, now the +Kirkaldys are up here. All his letters go to Lescombe. Oh no, +Annaple is not in London. The Delmars can't afford it, you know, +though I believe my lady would have made a stretch if Annaple hadn't +been bespoke--but now she reserves herself for Muriel.' + +Alice looked with some discomfort at the soft fair-haired creature +who was uttering all this worldly jargon in a tone that would have +been flippant if it had not been so childish. She asked if Lord. +Ronnisglen had written. + +'Oh yes, long ago. Lady Delmar had tried to make him nasty about it, +but he wouldn't be, so that's all right; and Mark seems to get on +very well, though it must be horridly dull for him now the Kirkaldys +are away, and he can't spend all his Sundays at Monks Horton.' + +'He will get more into the spirit of the place,' said Nuttie, whereat +Blanche shrugged her shoulders a little, and exclaimed: + +'You've got out of it at any rate, Nuttie!' + +'I hope not!' + +'Well, then, the look of it! I never saw any one so improved! Isn't +she, Aunt Alice? She's grown, I declare! Yes'--measuring herself +against her cousin--'I was a leetle bit taller when you came, and now +you've got above me! and what a duck of a way of doing your hair! +You must show me! I must tell May there's no fear of your being +taken for one another now; Aunt Margaret will be quite surprised.' + +It was true that Ursula had developed a good deal during the last +year, and, under the experienced hands of Martin, had lost her +schoolgirl air, and turned into a young lady capable of becoming the +Paris outfit which her father had enjoined. Without positive beauty, +she was a pleasing, intelligent, animated girl, with the reputation +of being an heiress, with a romance in the background, and there was +nothing to prevent her from being a success. The family connections, +with Lady Kirkaldy to set the example, had determined on giving full +support to Mrs. Egremont, and, as of course every one liked to look +at so lovely a face, the way of both was smoothed in a manner that +delighted her husband when they encountered any of those who had +looked coldly on her at Nice. + +He would have had her presented, but her own reluctance and the +united counsels of Lady Kirkaldy and the Canoness prevailed on him to +drop the idea; and then there was a fight with Ursula, who declared +that she would not go to court if her mother did not; but she was +overruled at last by that mother's tears at her defiance; and let +herself be presented, together with Blanche, by Lady Kirkaldy. + +To Ursula it was altogether a strange time, full of the same kind of +reckless swing and sense of intoxication that had possessed her at +Bridgefield. Not that there was an excessive amount of actual +gaiety. Hot rooms and late hours were soon found not to agree with +Mrs. Egremont. She looked faded and languid after evening parties; +and, as her husband really cared more to have her ready to wait upon +him and amuse him than for anything else, he did not insist on her +going out more than might be needful to establish her position, or +when it suited him to show her off. The other purposes were quite as +well served by letting Ursula go out with Lady Kirkaldy, who was +warmly interested in mother and daughter, glad of a companion for +Blanche, and still more glad of a companion for herself. For she was +not slow to discover that exhibitions, which were merely fashionable +gapeseed to her niece, were to Nuttie real delights, viewed +intelligently, and eliciting comments and questions that Lady +Kirkaldy and even her husband enjoyed in their fresh interest, but +which were unendurable weariness to Blanche, unless she had some one +to chatter with. Lectures and lessons, which the aunt hoped to +render palatable by their being shared by the two cousins, only +served to show the difference between a trained and eager, and an +untrained and idle, nature. With the foreign society to be met at +Lord Kirkaldy's, Blanche was less at a loss than her brother, and +could get on by the help of nods and becks and wreathed smiles; but +Nuttie, fresh from her winter abroad, could really talk, and was +often in request as a useful person to help in entertaining. She +thus saw some of the choicest society in London, and, in addition, +had as much of the youthful gaiety as Lady Kirkaldy thought wholesome +for the two girls. Also there were those ecclesiastical delights and +privileges which had been heard of at Micklethwayte, and were within +reach, greatly enjoyed by Mrs. Egremont whenever she could share +them, though her daughter chafed at her treating all except the chief +service on Sunday as more indulgence than duty. + +Nuttie was strong, with that spring of energy which unbroken health +and a quiet life lays up, and, in her own phrase, she went in for +everything, from early services to late balls, thinking all right +because it was seldom that her day did not begin with matins or +Celebration, and because she was not taken to more than two balls a +week, and conversed at times with superior people, or looked at those +with world-famed names. Possibly the whirl was greater than if it +had been mere gaiety, for then the brain would not have participated +in it. Church functions, with the scurry to go at all, or to obtain +a seat, fine music, grand sermons, religious meetings, entertainments +for the poor, lectures, lessons, exhibitions, rides, drives, kettle- +drums, garden-parties, concerts, theatres, operas, balls, chattering, +laughing, discussing, reading up current subjects, enjoying +attention, excitement as to what should be done and how,--one thing +drove out another in perpetual succession, and the one thing she +never did or could do was to sit still and think! Rest was simply +dreamless sleep, generally under the spell of a strong will to wake +at the appointed hour for church. The short intervals of being alone +with her mother were spent in pouring out histories of her doings, +which were received with a sympathy that doubled their pleasure, +excepting when Nuttie thought proper to grumble and scold at her +mother's not coming to some Church festival at an hour when she +thought Mr. Egremont might want her. + +Of him Nuttie saw very little. He did not want her, and cared little +what she did, as long as she was under the wing of Lady Kirkaldy, +whose patronage was a triumphant refutation of all doubts. He went +his own way, and had his own club, his own associates, and, with his +wife always at his beck and call, troubled himself very little about +anything else. + +Alice spent a good deal of time alone, chiefly in waiting his +pleasure; but she had her own quiet occupations, her books, her +needlework, her housekeeping, and letter-writing, and was peacefully +happy as long as she did not displease Nuttie. There were no +collisions between father and daughter, and the household +arrangements satisfied that fastidious taste. She was proud of +Ursula's successes, but very thankful not to be dragged out to share +them, though she was much less shy, and more able on occasion to take +her place. + +One pain she had. Good old Mrs. Nugent was rapidly decaying, and she +shared with all her loving heart in the grief this was to Mary and to +Miss Headworth, and longed to help them in their nursing. She would +not grieve Nuttie by dwelling constantly on the bad accounts, and the +girl hardly attended to them in the tumult of occupations; and so at +last, when the final tidings came in the second week in July, they +were an absolute shock to Nuttie, and affected her as the first grief +sometimes does. Mrs. Nugent was really the first person of her own +intimate knowledge who had died, and in the excited state in which +she was, the idea of the contrast between her own occupations and +Mary's was so dreadful to her that she wept most bitterly, with the +sobs of childhood, such as she really did not know how to restrain. + +It was an unfortunate day, for it was one of the few on which Mr. +Egremont wanted to take out his ladies. There was to be a great +garden-party at Richmond, given by one of his former set, who had +lately whitewashed himself by marrying a very fast and fashionable +lady. Nuttie had heard strong opinions on the subject at Lord +Kirkaldy's; but her father was quite elated at being in a position to +countenance his old friends. Alice, in the midst of her sorrow, +recollected this with consternation. + +'My dear, my dear, hush! You must stop yourself! Remember we have +to go out.' + +'Go--out,' cried Nuttie, her sobs arrested by very horror. 'You +wouldn't go--!' + +'I am afraid your father would be very much vexed--' + +'Let him! It is a horrid wicked place to go to at all; and now--when +dear, dear old Mrs. Nugent is lying there--and--' + +The crying grew violent again, and in the midst in walked Mr. +Egremont with an astonished 'What is all this?' + +'We have lost one of our dear kind old friends at Micklethwayte,' +said Alice, going towards him; 'dear old Mrs. Nugent,' and she lifted +up her tear-stained face, which he caressed a little and said, 'Poor +old body;' but then, at a sob, 'Can't you stop Ursula from making +such a row and disfiguring herself? You must pick up your looks, +Edda, for I mean you to make a sensation at Jerningham's.' + +'Oh, Alwyn, if you could let us stay at home! Mrs. Nugent was so +good to us, and it does seem unkind--' The tears were in her eyes +again. + +'Nonsense!' he said impatiently. 'I promised Jerningham, and it is +absurd to have you shutting yourself up for every old woman at +Micklethwayte.' + +Thereupon Ursula wiped away her tears, and stood up wrathful before +him. 'I am not going,' she said. + +'Oh, indeed!' he returned in a tone that made her still more angry. +'Hein'! a French ejaculation which he had the habit of uttering in a +most exasperating manner. + +'No,' she said. 'It is scarcely a place to which we even ought to be +asked to go, and certainly not when--' + +'Do you hear that, Mrs. Egremont?' he asked. + +'Oh, Nuttie, Nuttie, dear!' she implored; 'don't.' + +'No, mother,' said Nuttie, with flashing eyes; 'if you care so little +for your best friends as to let yourself be dragged out among all +sorts of gay, wicked people when your dear friend is lying dead, I'm +sure I shan't go with you.' + +Her father laughed a little. 'A pretty figure you are, to make a +favour of accompanying us!' + +'Oh, go away, go away, Nuttie,' entreated her mother. 'You don't +know what you are saying. ' + +'I do know,' said Nuttie, exasperated perhaps by the contrast in the +mirror opposite between her own swelled, disfigured face, and the +soft tender one of her mother with the liquid eyes. 'I know how much +you care for the dear friends who took care of us when we +were forsaken!' + +And with this shaft she marched out of the room, while her father +again laughed, and said, 'Have they been training her for the tragic +stage? Never mind, Edda, the little vixen will come to her senses +upstairs, and be begging to go.' + + I don't think she will,' said Alice sadly; 'she is not that sort of +stuff, and she was very fond of Mrs. Nugent. Oh, Alwyn! if you could +let us off.' + +'Not after that explosion, certainly,' he said. 'Besides, I promised +Jerningham, and such an excuse would never hold water. She is not +even a relation.' + +'No, but she was very good to me.' + +'The more reason why you should not stay at home and be hipped. +Never mind that silly girl. She will be all right by and by.' + +On the contrary, she did not come down to luncheon, and when, about +an hour later, Alice, after writing a few tender loving words to the +mourners, went up to her daughter's room, it was to find a limp and +deplorable figure lying across the bed, and to be greeted with a +fresh outburst of sobs and inarticulate exclamations. + +'Oh, Nuttie, dear, this will not do! It is not right. Dear good +Mrs. Nugent herself would tell you that this is not the way any one +so good and so suffering should be grieved for. Think--' + +'Oh, I know all that!' cried Nuttie, impatiently; 'but she--she was +the dearest--and nobody cares for her but me. Not even you--' + +Again Alice tried to debate the point, and urge on her the duties of +moderation, self-control, and obedience, but the poor gentle mother +was at a great disadvantage. + +In the first place, she respected and almost envied her daughter's +resistance, and really did not know whether it was timidity or +principle that made it her instinct to act otherwise; in the next, +Ursula could always talk her down; and, in the third, she was, and +greatly she reproached herself for that same, in great dread of +setting herself off into tears that might become hysterical if she +once gave way to them. And what would be her husband's feelings if +she too collapsed and became unpresentable. + +So, having once convinced herself that even if Nuttie had been a +consenting party, no amount of cold water and eau-de-cologne would +bring those bloodshot eyes, swollen lids, and mottled cheeks to be +fit to be seen, she fled as fast as possible from the gasps of barbed +reproaches which put her own composure in peril, and dressed with the +heaviest of hearts, coupled with the utmost solicitude to look her +best. If she had not thought it absolutely wrong, she would even +have followed Martin's suggestion, and put on a soupcon of rouge; but +by the time she was summoned to the carriage the feverishness of her +effort at self-control had done the work, and her husband had paid +her the compliment of observing that she looked pretty enough for +two. + +Nuttie heard them drive off, with a burst of fresh misery of +indignation against her mother--now as a slave and a victim--now as +forgetting her old home. It was chiefly in mutterings; she had +pretty well used up her tears, for, unconsciously perhaps, she had +worked them up as a defensive weapon against being carried to the +party; and now that the danger was over, her head throbbed, her eyes +burnt, and her throat ached too much for her to wish to cry any more. +She had not felt physically like this, since the day, seven years +ago, when she and Mildred Sharpe had been found suspiciously toying +with the key of the arithmetic, and had been debarred from trying for +the prize. Then she felt debased and guilty; now she felt, or ought +to feel, like a heroine maintaining the right. + +She got up and set herself to rights as well as she could. Martin, +who had been allowed to know that she had lost an old friend, petted +and pitied her, and brought her a substantial meal with her tea, +after which she set out to evensong at the church at the end of the +square, well veiled under a shady hat, and with a conviction that +something ought to happen. + +Nothing did, however, happen; she met no one whom she knew, the +psalms were not particularly appropriate, and her attention wandered +away to the scene at home. She did not come back, as she was sure +she ought to have done, soothed, exhilarated, and refreshed, but +rather in a rasped state of mind, and a conscience making a vehement +struggle to believe itself in the right--a matter in which she +thoroughly succeeded. + +She wrote a long letter to Mary Nugent, and shed some softer tears +over it, then she built a few castles on her future escape from the +power of her father; and then she picked up Reata, and became +absorbed in it, regretting only the weakness of her eyes, and the +darkening of the summer evening. + +She was still reading when the others came home. Her mother kissed +her, but looked so languid and tired-out that Nuttie was shocked, and +Martin declared that she ought not to go down to dinner. + +A tete-a-tete dinner between father and daughter was too dreadful to +Alice's imagination to be permitted, so she dressed and went down, +looking like a ghost. Mr. Egremont scowled at Nuttie, Nuttie scowled +at him, each considering it the fault of the other, and when at last +it was over, Alice gave up the struggle, and went off to bed, leaving +a contrite message that her headache would be better to-morrow. + +'All your accursed folly and obstinacy,' observed Mr. Egremont, when +Nuttie, with a tone of monition gave him the message. + +'I should call it the consequence of being dragged out with a sore +heart,' returned Nuttie--a little speech she had prepared ever since +she had seen how knocked up her mother was. + +'Then I should recommend keeping your ideas to yourself,' he +answered, looking at her in his annihilating manner. + +She was put down. She thought afterwards of a hundred things that she +could have said to him, but she was crushed for the present, and when +he went out she could only betake herself to Reata, and forget all +about it as much as she could. + +When she went upstairs, at the end of the third volume, Martin was on +the watch, and would not let her go into the room. + +'I have been at hand, ma'am, without her guessing it, and I am happy +to say her tears has had a free course when she was in bed. Yes, +ma'am, suppressed grief is always dangerous.' + +Mrs. Egremont was still prostrate with fatigue and headache the next +day, and Nuttie had all the quiet luxuriating in reminiscences she +desired. Her father was vexed and angry, and kept out of the way, +but it must be confessed that Nuttie's spirits had so much risen by +the afternoon that it was a sore concession to consistency when she +found herself not expected at Blanche's last little afternoon dance +at Lady Kirkaldy's! + + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + + + +'If I cannot once or twice in a quarter bear out a knave against + an honest man, I have but very little credit with your Worship.' + II. King Henry IV. + + + +Another cause besides Ursula's recalcitrance and her mother's ailment +contributed to disturb Mr. Egremont, and bring him home. His agent, +by name Bulfinch, a solicitor at Redcastle, came to him with +irrefragable proofs of gross peculation on the part of the bailiff +who managed the home farm which supplied the house and stables, and +showed him that it was necessary to make a thorough investigation and +change of system. + +In point of fact, Mr. Egremont greatly preferred being moderately +cheated to exerting himself to investigate, but this was going beyond +moderation, and the explosion had been too public to be passed over. +So he came home and sat by, while his wife and Mr. Bulfinch did the +work for him, and made it evident to him that the frauds had been of +long standing, and carried on with the connivance of the coachman, of +Gregorio,--who had before Mrs. Egremont's arrival acted as house +steward,--and of the former cook. Indeed, it was the housekeeper +whom Mrs. Egremont had left in charge, whose refusal to connive had +brought about the discovery. + +Gregorio's share in all was sufficiently evident, and Alice's heart +leapt with hope. Her husband would be wholly her own if his evil +genius were once departed, but Mr. Egremont would not see it. He had +no objection to sacrifice the coachman and all his underlings, with +the bailiff and his entire family, and felt none of the pity that +Alice had for the pretty, silly, half-educated daughters; but as to +the valet--Pooh! pooh! the poor fellow had been out of the way all +this time--whatever he had done had been in the dark, ages long ago, +before Bridgefield knew its mistress; he was a foreigner, and that +was enough to prevent him from forgathering with the English. It was +all their English prejudice. + +'I can show you facts and figures, sir,' said Mr. Bulfinch. + +'I daresay, a year or more old. Why, I was an unprotected carcase +then--a mere prey--the fellow only did after his kind.' + +Alice held her tongue then, but made an effort in private. 'Indeed, +I don't think you know; I am afraid Gregorio is not altered. I found +him out in his charges about the wine, and the servants' wages at +Nice, only you wouldn't listen.' + +'His little perquisites, my dear child! Come, nonsense, these +foreign fellows don't pretend to have the morals you ascribe to the +native flunkey--generally without foundation either--they are much of +a muchness as to that; but your Frenchman or Italian does it more +neatly, and is a dozen times better servant than the other is.' + +'But--' + +'Oh, ay! I know you don't like him. But he knows his manners to +you, I hope?' said Mr. Egremont, with a suddenness that made her wish +she could truthfully say he did not. + +'Yes, he always is--is respectful, but somehow I see it is under +protest.' + +Mr. Egremont laughed. 'Rivals--yes, I see; why, you don't consider +the sore trial of having a full-grown mistress turned in upon him! +Look here, you keep the keys already, but the new fellow at the farm +and all the rest of them shall account to you for everything-- +Gregorio and all. Won't that satisfy you?' + +''Tis not only the money, but I think Gregorio is a bad--not a good-- +man.' + +'Ho, ho! she wants to advertise for a pious footman and coachman! eh? +No, I thank you, my dear Edda, I agree with--who was it who said, +"Volez moi, mais sans m'ennuyer."' + +The Rectory likewise had hoped for Gregorio's dismissal, and there +were grave looks when Alice had to confess that nothing would move +her husband against him. The Canon even lashed himself up to say, +'I tell you how it is, Alwyn, you'll never do any good with your +household, while you keep that fellow.' + +'I am not aware what description of good you expect me to do with it, +Will,' coolly answered the elder brother in a disconcerting tone. + +Poor Alice, on her side, thought of the Little Master, and then +wondered if it was uncharitable to do so. For she knew it had become +war to the knife with Gregorio! Whether his master told him, or +whether it were his own evil conscience, or the wonderful intuition +of servants, he certainly knew of the pressure for his dismissal, and +he visited it on her as much as he durst. + +Outwardly deferential, he could thwart and annoy her in a hundred +ways, from making love to the housemaids to making evil suggestions +to his master, yet never giving her any overt cause of complaint. He +could worry and sting her under the politest exterior, and he knew +very well that the most effectual form of annoyance was the +persuading his master that any discomfort or lassitude was to be +removed by some form of narcotic. This would have the further +advantage of stupefying Mr. Egremont, and making him more ready to +lapse under the old influence; while the duration and strength of the +new one was already a surprise to Gregorio. + +But there was no doubt that Mrs. Egremont had profited by her year of +training. She looked tired, and less youthful and pretty, but she +had gained in grace and importance as well as in style, and was much +more really the mistress of Bridgefield. Her shyness had passed +away, and she knew now to take her place in society, though still she +was somewhat silent. And her husband depended upon her entirely for +all his correspondence, for much of his occupation and amusement, and +even for the regulation of his affairs. In the household, Gregorio +was little more than his personal attendant, and she had the general +management, even of the other men-servants. The Canoness might well +say it had turned out better than she expected. + +And Nuttie had become more womanly, and had acquired the indefinable +polish given by a London season. She had learnt the art of +conversation, and could make herself agreeable to her uncle, or to +any one else who came in her way. Even May allowed that she had +something in her, and cultivated her more than before; but, on the +other hand, even the Rectory could perceive that there was now an +absolute alienation between her and her father, and what might before +have been fear had become dislike. If she had to refer to him, +especially if her plans for herself or her mother were crossed, there +was always a tone of bitterness or of sarcasm about her; and her +greater boldness and freedom of speech would occasionally manifest +itself towards him. This was not indeed often, since not only did +his cool contempt make her come off the worst in the encounters, but +the extreme distress they gave to her mother made her refrain +whenever her temper, or what she thought her conscience, would let +her; but still there was always a danger which kept poor Alice on +thorns whenever there was a possible difference of schemes or +opinions. + +Mrs. William Egremont was seriously considering of representing to +Ursula that her conduct was bad taste, bad policy, and, moreover, was +doing her mother's spirits and health serious harm; but it was a +delicate matter in which to meddle, and the good lady could not make +up her mind how far to surrender her brother-in-law's character and +allow a partial justification to Ursula. She was a cautious woman, +and waited and watched her opportunities. + +In the beginning of October Mr. and Mrs. Egremont were invited to a +great shooting party at Sir James Jerningham's. The invitation did +not include Ursula. Perhaps she had never dawned on their hostess's +imagination; perhaps it was that Lady Jerningham was well known to +dislike girls, or any one who might absorb young men's attention. +At any rate the omission was a cause of thankfulness to the party +concerned, and she did not neglect to worry her mother by a protest +against keeping such company as would be met at Waldicotes. + +Alice smiled a little faintly and said, 'I don't think it hurts me, +my dear; I don't understand half of what they talk about, and they +are always kind to me.' + +'I don't think you ought to go among them or countenance them.' + +'My dear child,'--and the colour rose--'I don't feel as if I had a +right to set myself above any one.' + +'Mother!' + +'People might have said just the same of me.' + +'And whose fault was that?' muttered Nuttie under her breath, but +Mrs. Egremont would not hear. She only pleaded, as perhaps mother +ought not to have done with child. + +'You know, Nuttie, it is not for my own pleasure, but your father's +eyesight makes him dislike to go anywhere without me now; and I +really should be uneasy about him.' + +'Yes; he is all you care for,' said Nuttie. 'You sacrifice +everything you used to think essential, just to his will and +pleasure.' + +'Oh, Nuttie, I hope not; I don't think I do!' + +'If I thought it was doing him any good I should not so much mind,' +went on the girl; 'but he is just the same, and I am always thinking +of "As the husband is, the wife is--"' + +'Hush! hush! You have no right to think in that way of your father. +I will not hear it. I have let you say too much already, Nuttie.' +Then after a pause she added, gently and wistfully, 'You have been +better taught, and are clearer headed than ever I was, my Nuttie, and +it is quite right that you should hate what seems evil to you. I can +only go on trying to do what seems my duty from day to day. I know,' +she added with rising tears, 'that the sin and folly of my younger +days worked a difficult position for us both; but we can only act +according to our lights, and pray God to direct us; and please-- +please bear with me, my dear one, if the same course does not always +seem right to us both.' + +Nuttie had never heard her say anything so fully showing that she +realised these difficulties, and, greatly touched, she asked pardon, +kissed and caressed her mother. There was a calm over them for the +next few days, and Nuttie actually refrained from bitter comments +when her mother was not allowed to go to evensong on Sunday, on the +plea of her being tired, but, as the girl believed, in order that she +might read the newspapers aloud. + +She knew that her silence was appreciated by the way her mother +kissed her and called her a dear, good, considerate girl. + +On Monday Mr. and Mrs. Egremont went away at what was a strangely +early hour for the former, Nuttie spending her days at the Rectory. + +On the Tuesday Blanche went with her little sister and the governess +on a shopping expedition to Redcastle, and in relating her adventures +on her return, she said, 'Oh, by the bye, I met Annaple in Park's +shop!' + +'Full of Micklethwayte news, I suppose,' said May. + +'Yes, of course. Did you know, Nuttie, that your aunt was ill?' + +'No, indeed, I did not. What was the matter?' + +'Bronchitis, I believe--brown titus, as Betty Butter calls it.' + +'Bronchitis! Oh dear! oh dear! Are you quite sure, Blanche?' + +'Oh yes! I am quite certain Annaple said Mark told her that Miss +Headworth was laid up with bronchitis.' + +'And nobody has written to us all this week!' sighed Nuttie. + +'I should think that a sign there could not be much in it,' observed +May; 'it may be only a bad cold.' + +'But Aunt Ursel had bronchitis four years ago, and was very ill +indeed,' persisted Nuttie. 'I'm sure it is bronchitis, and that she +won't let Miss Mary write to us.' + +She was in much distress about it, though May privately told her that +she ought to know Blanche's way better than to trust implicitly to +any of her reports; and her aunt said much the same thing in more +general terms, even proposing that if she did not hear the next +morning she should go over to Lescombe to ascertain what Mark had +really said. + +This pacified her a little, but on her way home the alarm grew upon +her, and, moreover, she recollected the opposition that she believed +that her father was certain to make to either her mother or herself +going to nurse her aunt. It flashed upon her that if she were to +hasten to Micklethwayte on this alarm before there could be a +prohibition, it would be no disobedience, and perfectly justifiable, +not to say noble. Her parents were to return on Thursday evening, +and she made up her mind that, unless she were fully reassured as to +Miss Headworth's state, she would go off at once to Micklethwayte +before any one could gainsay her. She had plenty of money, and she +consulted the time-table in the hall before going upstairs. It only +concerned the nearest line, but she calculated that if she caught the +express, she should reach her destination in time to write to her +mother at Waldicotes, and prevent needless shocks. Her eagerness for +the plan grew upon her, so that it seemed like liberation; she could +hardly sleep for thinking of it, and certainly was not as much +disappointed as she believed herself when the post came in--a blank. + +Martin was away with her mistress, so Nuttie explained matters to the +upper housemaid, who was very sympathetic, carried down her orders +for the carriage, procured for her both breakfast and provision for +the journey, and packed her clothes. Ursula would fain have been off +before the Rectory was aware, but the two little girls came up with a +message about the plans for the day, just as she was beginning an +explanatory note, and she entrusted to them the information that she +was so uneasy about Miss Headworth that she had decided on going to +see for herself. + +So in dashed Adela and Rosalind to their mother's room full of +excitement with the news that Cousin Nuttie was gone off by the +train, because her aunt was very ill indeed. + +'Gone, Adela? are you sure? Really gone?' + +'Oh yes, mamma! The dogcart was coming round, and she said she +wanted to catch the 10.05 train, and was very sorry she had not time +to write a note to you.' + +'Was there a letter? What had she heard?' + +'Oh, only that her aunt was so very ill! She did not tell us--did +she, Rosie?' + +'There was something about being in time to write to Aunt Alice,' +suggested Adela. + +'I am very sorry about this. I am afraid it will be a great shock to +Alice,' observed the mother, as she imparted the news at her +husband's dressing-room door. + +'Young girls are so precipitate!' said the Canon. + +'Your brother won't like it at all,' the lady continued. + +'Not he. But after all, it is just as well that he was not asked. +They do owe that poor old lady a good deal, and Alwyn's not the man +to see it. I'm not sorry the girl took the matter into her own +hands, though I couldn't have advised it.' + +'Except that it will all fall on Alice.' + +'He is very fond of Alice. She has done more with him than I ever +thought possible. Kept him respectable this whole year, and really +it grows on him. He makes ever so much more of her now than when he +first brought her home--and no wonder. No, no; he won't fall foul of +her.' + +'Perhaps not; but it is just as bad, or worse, for her if he falls +foul of her daughter. Besides, she is very much attached to her +aunt. I wish I knew what the account was, or whether she knows +anything about it.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. +URSULA'S RECEPTION. + + + + +'Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought.'--SHAKESPEARE. + + +It was at half-past seven o'clock that Ursula Egremont's cab stopped +at St. Ambrose's Road. She had missed the express train, and had to +come on by a stopping one. But here at last she was, with eyes even +by gaslight full of loving recognition, a hand full of her cab-fare, +a heart full of throbbing hope and fear, a voice full of anxiety, as +she inquired of the astonished servant, 'Louisa, Louisa, how is Aunt +Ursel!' and, without awaiting the reply, she opened the adjoining +door. There sat, with their evening meal on the table, not only Mary +Nugent, but Miss Headworth herself. + +Nuttie rushed at her, and there was an incoherency of exclamations, +the first thing that made itself clear to the senses of the traveller +being, 'Ill, my dear? No such thing! Only I had a bad cold, and +Mary here is only too careful of me.' + +'But Mark said you had bronchitis.' + +'What could have put that into his head? He did not write it, +surely?' + +'He wrote it to Annaple Ruthven, and she told Blanche.' + +'Oh!' and Mary Nugent's tone was rather nettling. + +'And then it was such a terrible time since we had heard anything,' +added Nuttie, on the defensive. + +'Did not your mother get my letter?' said Miss Headworth. 'I wrote +to her at--what's the name of that place? I hope I addressed it +right.' + +'Oh, but I was not there. I didn't go with them.' + +'Ah, yes, I remember. Then did not she send you?' + +'No, I came off this morning. I heard this yesterday evening, and I +determined that nothing should stop me if there was no news by the +post.' + +'Dear child! But will your father not be displeased?' said Miss +Headworth. + +'He hasn't any right to object,' cried Nuttie, with flashing eyes and +a look that made Miss Nugent anxious; but at the moment there could +be little thought save of welcome to the warm-hearted girl. Louisa +was already brewing fresh tea, and extemporising additions to the +meal, and Nuttie was explaining how she hoped to have arrived a +couple of hours sooner. + +'By the bye, I meant to have written to mother for her to have it to- +morrow before leaving Waldicotes. Is there time?' + +No, the pillar at hand was cleared at seven, and the regular post- +office could not be reached in time; so they satisfied themselves +with the knowledge that Mrs. Egremont must have had Aunt Ursel's +cheerful letter, and Mary recommended telegraphing to the Canon the +first thing in the morning. Then they gave themselves up to +enjoyment. + +'At any rate, I'm here,' said Nuttie, 'and I'll make the most of it.' + +And her handsome furs were laid aside, and her boots taken off, and +she resigned herself to absolute ease and luxury, while Mary poured +out the tea, and her aunt heaped her plate with eggs and rashers +'such as one doesn't get anywhere else,' said Nuttie, declaring +herself quite voracious, while her aunt fondly admired her growth and +improvement, and she inquired into the cold, not quite gone yet; and +there were speculations over what Mark could have got into his head. +Mary remembered having met him coming to call, and having told him +that she had persuaded Miss Headworth to keep her bed because her +colds were apt to be severe, and it was agreed to lay the +exaggeration at the door of the lovers and Blanche. Miss Headworth +laughed, and said she ought to be flattered that an old woman's sore +throat should be thought worthy of mention by a fine young gentleman +like Mr. Mark. 'A very good young man he is,' she added. 'You would +never have thought how kind he is in coming in here to tell me +everything he hears about your dear mother, Nuttie.' + +'He makes himself very useful while Mr. Dutton is away,' added Mary, +'taking his young men's class and all.' + +'Oh! is Mr. Dutton away?' + +'Yes; he has had to be in London a great deal of late. I am afraid +he may have to live there altogether.' + +'What a grievous pity!' + +'He won't be anywhere without doing good,' said Miss Headworth, 'but +I sometimes wish we had his cool good sense here.' + +'And how is Mr. Spyers,' asked Nuttie. She felt shy of asking for +Gerard Godfrey, or perhaps she thought she ought to be shy of his +name, and kept hoping that it would come in naturally. + +'Mr. Spyers is very well. Very busy of course, and very much +delighted with your mother's gifts to the church. All her own work, +isn't it, Nuttie?' + +'Yes; every bit. She does lots of embroidery and work of all kinds +when she is waiting for _him_ or sitting with him, and luckily it has +never occurred to him to ask what it is for.' + +The two ladies knew well what was meant by him, but they would not +pursue the subject, and proceeded to put Nuttie au courant with St. +Ambrose affairs--how last year's mission had produced apparently an +immense effect in the town, and how the improvement had been ebbing +ever since, but had left various individual gains, and stirred up +more than one good person who had hitherto thought it enough to save +one's own soul and let other people alone; how Mr. Spyers was +endeavouring to bind people together in a guild; how a violent gust +of temperance orators had come down upon the place, and altogether +fascinated and carried away Gerard Godfrey. + +There was his name at last, and Nuttie was rather gratified to feel +herself blushing as she asked, 'Ah! poor Gerard--how is he?' + +'As good and sincere as ever,' said Miss Nugent, 'but not much wiser. +He is so excitable and vehement.' + +'Yes,' said Miss Headworth. 'I don't understand the kind of thing. +In my time a steady young clerk used to be contented after hours with +playing at cricket in the summer, or learning the flute in the +winter--and a great nuisance it was sometimes, but now Gerard must +get himself made a sort of half clergyman.' + +'A reader,' suggested Mary. + +'Minor orders. Oh, how delightful!' cried Nuttie. + +'People, don't half understand it,' added Miss Headworth. 'Mrs. +Jeffreys will have it that he is no better than a Jesuit, and really +I did not know what to say, for he talked, to me by the hour about +his being an external brother to something.' + +'Not to the Jesuits, certainly,' said Nuttie. + +'Yes, I told her that; but she thinks all monks are Jesuits, you +know, and that all brothers are monks; and he does wear his cassock-- +his choir cassock, I mean--when he has his service in the iron room +at the sandpits. And now he has taken up temperance, and flies about +giving the pledge, and wanting one to wear bits of blue ribbon. I +told him I never did take, and never had taken, more than a little +hot wine and water when I had a cold, and I couldn't see what good it +would do to George Jenkins and the poor fellows at the Spread Eagle +if I took ever so many vows.' + +'There's a regular blue-ribbon fever set in,' said Miss Nugent. +'Gerard told me I was supporting the cause of intemperance yesterday +because I was so wicked as to carry the rest of your bottle of port, +Miss Headworth, to poor Anne Crake.' + +'Well! he is a dear boy, and youth wouldn't be youth if it were not +sometimes rather foolish,' said Miss Headworth, 'and it is better it +should be for good than evil.' + +'Eager in a cause and not for selfishness,' said Mary. 'Poor Gerard, +I wonder where he will be safely landed!' + +So did Nuttie, who had a secret flattering faith in being the cause +of all the poor young fellow's aberrations, and was conscious of +having begun the second volume of her life's novel. She went to bed +in the elated frame of mind proper to a heroine. There was a shade +over all in the absence of dear old Mrs. Nugent, and in Mary's deep +mourning, but there is more tenderness than poignancy in sorrow for +shocks of corn gathered in full season, and all was cheerful about +her. + +She had quite a triumph the next day, as old friends dropped in for +the chance of seeing her. The least agreeable encounter was that +with Mark, who came in on his way to the office, having just received +by the second post a letter from his father inquiring into Miss +Headworth's state. He met Nuttie in the vestibule, with her hat on, +and in a great hurry, as she wanted to walk with Mary to the School +of Art, Gerard Godfrey accompanying them as far as the office; and +she did not at all like the being called to account, and asked what +could have possessed her to take alarm. + +'Why, you wrote yourself!' + +'I!' + +'To Annaple Ruthven.' + +'What am I supposed to have written?' + +'That Aunt Ursel was very ill with bronchitis.' + +'I'll be bound that Miss Ruthven said no such thing. You don't +pretend that you heard it from herself?' + +'No; but Blanche did.' + +'Blanche! Oh, that accounts for it! Though I should have thought +you knew Blanche by this time.' + +'But what did you say?' + +'I believe I said I couldn't get a knitting pattern Miss Headworth +was to send Lady Ronnisglen because she was in bed with a cold. What +you and Blanche could contrive to make of a simple thing like that--' + +'And Annaple!' + +'Well,' but checking himself with a smile, 'we will not fight about +that. I only hope it has not brought you into an awkward scrape, +Nuttie.' + +'I can't help that,' she answered with her head rather high. + +'You have written and explained?' he said anxiously. + +'To my mother, of course.' + +'If I were you,' he said, lowering his voice, 'I should write or send +a special message to your father.' + +'I can't see why. It was a mistake.' + +'Yours was a strong measure, and he won't like it. Be advised, +Nuttie. Recollect your mother. The best way would be to go home at +once. I could get a day to take you--if you would start this +afternoon.' + +'Thank you; I'm not going back till I hear,' she said proudly. + +Time being up, Mark took his leave hastily, and as he shut the door, +Nuttie uttered half aloud the words she had scarcely repressed, 'No, +I thank you, Mr. Mark, I am not going back like a dog in a string.' + +'What, was that what he expected of you?' said Gerard Godfrey, whom +she had not intended to hear her, but who had come out of the +sitting-room on the sounds of departure. + +'He said he would take me home if I could go at once.' + +'Wouldn't he have liked it!' exclaimed Gerard. + +'It might be the best way,' said Miss Nugent, who had followed young +Godfrey. + +'Now, Miss Mary,' cried Nuttie, 'as if I could shorten my holiday now +that I have it.' + +'And I don't see what business he had to call you to account,' said +Gerard. 'A stuck-up fellow.' + +'Of course all the Egremonts are set against my being here,' said +Nuttie. + +'I thought the Canon offered to bring you last year,' said Mary +gently. + +'Oh, that was only to Monks Horton! It would have been simply +tantalising.' + +'Lady Kirkaldy is an excellent person,' said Miss Nugent. + +'Is she at home now?' asked Ursula. + +'Coming next week, they tell me,' said Gerard. + +'He--your cousin--will always be loafing up there now, giving up all +that he had undertaken, I suppose.' + +'Not very likely,' said Mary quietly. + +It is a mere Scottish anti-church influence,' said Gerard, turning +round at the swing-door of his office. 'Why else will Egremont not +take the pledge?' + +Wherewith he disappeared, blue ribbon and all, while Mary smiled, +though she was vexed; and Nuttie observed, 'Poor Gerard; but I can't +see why he should be jealous of Mark _now_.' + +Mary did not choose to understand what Nuttie implied in her +simplicity, and made answer, 'He is rather blue ribbon mad. Besides, +I am afraid the fact of being a "swell" does not conduce to your +cousin's popularity among the clerks.' + +'Surely he does not give himself airs,' said Ursula, her family +feelings awaking. + +'No; but I fancy he is rather reserved.' + +'What's this about giving up what he has undertaken? What is it?' + +'When Mr. Dutton went to London, he asked Mark to take his Sunday +afternoons with the big lads. He thought they wanted some one with +more resources and variety than there is in poor Gerard, who didn't +at all like being passed over.' + +'I never should have thought it of Mark. He never dreamt of teaching +anybody at home.' + +'Very likely not, but there is an atmosphere at St. Ambrose's.' + +'And oh, how glad I am to be in it! I wonder how long they will let +me stay! The dear little mother will try to get me a Sunday here, if +she dares. Indeed, I can't hear before Saturday, and then there +would hardly be time to get home! Oh, that's jolly! I'll go to the +nursery gardens, and get _such_ flowers for the vases!' + +Saturday brought Nuttie a letter, but not from her mother-- + + +'My Dear Ursula--I write because we are anxious to keep your mother +as quiet as possible. It was a serious shock to her to find that you +had left home, and she naturally supposed that Miss Headworth was in +great danger. Your father was greatly displeased, and she has been +much overcome, and very unwell, but we hope by keeping her perfectly +quiet that worse consequences may be prevented. Your father desires +you to remain where you are for the present, as he will not have her +disturbed again. Your mother sends her love both to you and to your +aunt, and desires me to say that she will write in a day or two, and +that she thinks you had better not come back till she is better and +your father's vexation has diminished. + +'I wish you had informed us of your intentions, as then we could have +ascertained the grounds of the report that terrified you so +strangely.--I remain your affectionate aunt, + JANE M. EGREMONT.' + + +'Poor mother! he has been sneering at us all in his dreadful cynical +way, and knocked her up into one of her awful headaches,' said +Nuttie, who felt extremely angered by the grave tone of rebuke in the +letter, and tossed it over to her aunt without absolutely reading it +all. Miss Headworth was a good deal distressed, and anxious to know +what Mrs. William Egremont meant; but Nuttie positively declared, +'Oh, it is her headaches! You know she always had them more or less, +and they have grown a great deal worse since she has taken to sitting +in that horrid, stuffy, perfumy, cigar-ry room, and doesn't take half +exercise enough.' + +And when Miss Headworth showed herself much concerned about the state +of things, Nuttie coaxed her, and declared that she should fancy +herself unwelcome, and have to go and beg a lodging somewhere instead +of enjoying her reprieve. And Aunt Ursel was far less impervious to +coaxing than she used to be when she was the responsible head of a +boarding house. She did most thoroughly enjoy the affection of her +great niece, and could not persuade herself to be angry with her, +especially when the girl looked up smiling and said, 'If the worst +came to the worst and he did disinherit me, the thing would only +right itself. I always meant to give it back to Mark.' + +No great aunt in the world could fail to admire the generous spirit +of the girl who came back from the great world of luxury, so loving +and happy in her humble surroundings. The only sighs were for poor +Alice, in the hands of a man of whom Miss Headworth knew so much +evil. If she were not wretched and a victim--and Nuttie did not +think her such--she must surely be getting spoilt and worldly. Her +daughter implied fears of this kind, yet who could read her letters +and think so? + +Nuttie was fortunately too much in awe of the Canoness to write all +the pertnesses that tingled at her fingers' ends, and she sent a +proper and fairly meek letter, intimating, however, that she was only +too happy to remain at Micklethwayte. + +It was two or three days more before she heard again. + + +'My Own Dear Child--They have let me write at last, and I can say how +much I like to think of your nestling up to dear Aunt Ursel, and how +glad I am to find that she was well enough to enjoy you. It is almost +like being there to hear of you, and the only thing that grieves me +is that your father was very much vexed at your setting off in that +sudden way, and at my being so foolish about it. His eyes have been +very bad, and he missed me sadly while I was laid up. We are neither +of us very strong, and we think--if Aunt Ursel and Mary can keep you +for a little longer--it will be better for you to stay on with them, +as it might be as dreary for you as it was last winter, especially as +the Rectory folk will soon be going into residence. I will write to +them about it and persuade them to take something for your board, so +as to make it easy for them. And then you can have a fire in your +room; you must not leave it off now you are used to it. My dear, I +wish you would write a little apology to your father. I ought not to +conceal that he is really very angry, and I think it would be well if +you expressed some regret, or if you cannot truthfully do that, asked +his pardon for your impetuosity; for you know he cannot be expected +to realise all that dear Aunt Ursel is to us. You cannot think how +kind your Aunt Jane has been to me; I did not think she could have +been so tender. This is the first letter I ever had to write to you, +my own dear child. I miss you every moment, but after all it is +better you should be away till your father has overlooked this +hurried expedition of yours. I am sure he would if you wrote him a +real nice letter, telling how you were really frightened, and that it +was not a mere excuse. Pray do, and then you can come back to your +loving little mother. + 'A. E.' + + +'As if I would or could,' quoth Nuttie to herself. 'Apologise to him +indeed, for loving the aunt who toiled for us when he deserted us. +Poor little mother, she can't really expect it of me. Indeed, I +don't think she quite knows what she wants, or whether she likes me +to be here or at Bridgefield! My belief is that he bullies her less +when I am out of the way, because she just gives way to him, and does +not assert any principle. I've tried to back her up, and it is of no +use, and I am sure I don't want such a winter as the last. So I am +much better here; and as to begging pardon, when I have done nothing +wrong, I am sure I won't, to please anybody. I shall tell her that +she ought to know me better than to expect it!' + +But Nuttie did not show the letter either to Aunt Ursel or Mary +Nugent; nor did she see that in which Alice had satisfied them that +it might be better that her daughter should pay them a long visit, +while Mr. Egremont's health required constant attendance, and the +Canon's family were at Redcastle. And as her husband was always +open-handed, she could make Ursula's stay with them advantageous to +their slender means, without hurting their feelings. + +She told them as much as she could, but there was more that no living +creature might know, namely, the advantage that Gregorio had gained +over that battlefield, his master, during her days of illness. The +first cold weather had brought on pain, and anger and anxiety, +nervous excitement and sleeplessness, which the valet had taken upon +him to calm with a narcotic under a new name that at first deceived +her till she traced its effects, and inquired of Dr. Hammond about +it. Unwillingly, on her account, he enlightened her, and showed her +that, though the last year's care had done much to loosen the bonds +of the subtle and alluring habit, yet that any resumption of it +tended to plunge its victim into the fatal condition of the confirmed +opium-eater, giving her every hope at the same time that this +propensity might be entirely shaken off, and that the improvement in +Mr. Egremont's health and habits which had set in might be confirmed, +and raise him above the inclination. + +Could she have been rid of Gregorio, she would have felt almost sure +of victory; but as it was, she believed the man absolutely meant to +baffle her, partly out of a spiteful rivalry, partly because his +master's torpid indolence could be used to his own advantage. She +was absolutely certain that his sneering tone of remark made her +husband doubly disinclined to let any religious book be near, or to +permit her to draw him to any Sunday observance. + +The battle must be fought out alone. The gentle woman could have no +earthly helper in the struggle. The Canon and Mark, the only persons +who could have given her the slightest aid, were both at a distance, +even if her loyal heart could have brooked confession to them, and +she only hoped that Nuttie would never know of it. Only aid from +above could be with her in the daily, hourly effort of cheerfulness, +patience, and all the resources of feminine affection, to avert the +temptation; and she well knew that the presence of the ardent, +unsubdued, opinionative girl would, alas! only double the +difficulties. So she acquiesced, at least for the present, in +Nuttie's grand achievement of having broken away from all the wealth +and luxury of Bridgefield to return to her simple home and good old +aunt. Mark was a good deal vexed, but Nuttie did not care about +that, attributing this displeasure to Egremont clanship; Mary Nugent +was doubtful and anxious, and thought it her duty to reconcile +herself to her father; but Miss Headworth, who, be it remembered, had +reason to have the worst impressions of Mr. Egremont, rejoiced in her +young niece having escaped from him for the time, and only sighed +over the impossibility of Alice's doing the same. And when Nuttie +described, as she constantly did, the various pleasures she had +enjoyed during the past year, the good old lady secretly viewed her +as a noble Christian heroine for resigning all this in favour of the +quiet little home at Micklethwayte, though reticent before her, and +discussed her excellence whenever she was alone with Mary. + +Nor would Miss Nugent vex her with contradictions or hints that what +Nuttie was giving up at present might be a dull house, with her +mother engrossed by an irritable semi-invalid, and the few gaieties +to be enjoyed by the help of the Canon's family at Redcastle. She +did ask the girl whether Mrs. Egremont, being avowedly not quite +well, might not need her assistance; but Nuttie vehemently disavowed +being of any possible use to her father; he never let her read to +him! oh no! he called her music schoolgirly, a mere infliction; he +never spoke to her if he could help it, and then it was always with a +sort of sneer; she believed he could not bear the sight of her, and +was ashamed of it, as well he might be! For Mrs. Houghton's +disclosures had rankled ever since within her, and had been confirmed +by her aunt. + +'But that is very sad,' said Mary. 'I am so sorry for you. Ought +you not to try hard to conquer his distaste?' + +'I--why, he cares for nothing good!' + +'Nay,' smiling. 'Not for your mother?' + +'Oh! She's pretty, you know; besides, she makes herself a regular +slave to him, and truckles to him in everything, as I could never +do.' + +'Perhaps she is overcoming evil with good.' + +'I am afraid it is more like being overcome of evil. No, no, dear +Miss Mary, don't be shocked. The dear little mother never would be +anything but good in her own sweet self, but it is her nature not to +stand up for anything, you know. She seems to me just like a +Christian woman that has been obliged to marry some Paynim knight. +And it perfectly provokes me to see her quite gratified at his +notice, and ready to sacrifice anything to him, now I know how he +treated her. If I had been in her place, I wouldn't have gone back +to him; no, not if he had been ready to crown me after I was dead, +like Ines de Castro.' + +'I don't know that you would have had much choice in that case.' + +'My very ghost would have rebelled,' said Nuttie, laughing a little. + +And Mary could believe that Mrs. Egremont, with all her love for her +daughter, might find it a relief not to have to keep the peace +between the father and child. 'Yet,' she said to herself, 'if Mr. +Dutton were here, he would have taken her back the first day.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. +DISENCHANTMENT. + + + + +'He promised to buy me a bunch of blue ribbons.' + + +St. Ambrose's road was perfectly delightful as long as there was any +expectation of a speedy recall. Every day was precious; every +meeting with an old face was joyful; each interchange of words with +Mr. Spyers or Gerard Godfrey was hailed as a boon; nothing was +regretted but the absence of Monsieur and his master, and that the +favourite choir boy's voice was cracked. + +But when there was reason to think that success had been complete, +when Miss Headworth had been persuaded by Mary that it was wiser on +all accounts not to mortify Alice by refusing the two guineas a week +offered for Miss Egremont's expenses; when a couple of boxes of +clothes and books had arrived, and Ursula found herself settled at +Micklethwayte till after Christmas, she began first to admit to +herself that somehow the place was not all that it had once been to +her. + +Her mother was absent, that was one thing. Mrs. Nugent was gone, +that was another. There was no Monsieur or Mr. Dutton to keep her in +awe of his precision, even while she laughed at it. There were no +boarders to patronise and play with, and her education at the High +School was over. If she saw a half-clothed child, it was not half so +interesting to buy an ulster in the next shop, as it was to turn over +the family rag-bag, knit, sew, and contrive! Somehow things had a +weariness in them, and the little excitements did not seem to be the +exquisite delights they used to be. After having seen Patience at +the Princess's it was not easy to avoid criticising a provincial Lady +Jane, and it was the like with other things of more importance. Even +the ritual of St. Ambrose's Church no longer struck her as the ne +plus ultra of beauty, and only incited her to describe London +churches. + +She resumed her Sunday-school classes, and though she talked at first +of their raciness and freedom, she soon longed after the cleanliness, +respectfulness, and docility of the despised little Bridgefordites, +and uttered bitter things of Micklethwayte turbulence, declaring-- +perhaps not without truth--that the children had grown much worse in +her absence. + +And as Mr. Godfrey had been superintendent during the latter half of +the time, this was a cruel stroke. He wanted to make her reverse her +opinions. And they never met without 'Now, Ursula, don't you +remember Jem Burton putting on Miss Pope's spectacles, and grinning +at all the class.' + +'Yes; and how Mr. Dutton brought him up to beg her pardon. Now, was +any notice taken when that horrid boy--I don't know his name--turned +the hymn they were saying to her into "Tommy, make room for your +uncle"?' + +'Oh, Albert Cox! It is no use doing anything to him, he would go off +at once to the Primitives.' + +'Let him!' + +'I cannot make him a schismatic.' + +'I wonder what he is now!' + +'Besides, Miss Pope perfectly provokes impertinence.' + +'Then I wouldn't give her work she can't do.' + +Such an argument as this might be very well at the moment of +provocation, but it became tedious when recurred to at every meeting. +Nuttie began to wonder when Monks Horton would be inhabited again, +and how much notice Lady Kirkaldy would take of her, and she was a +good deal disappointed when Mark told her that Lord Kirkaldy had been +begged to undertake a diplomatic mission which would keep them abroad +all the winter. + +There was a certain weariness and want of interest. It was not +exactly that there was nothing intellectual going on. There were the +lectures, but they were on chemistry, for which Nuttie cared little. +There were good solid books, and lively ones too, but they seemed +passe to one who had heard them discussed in town. Mary and Miss +Headworth read and talked them over, and perhaps their opinions were +quite as wise, and Miss Nugent's conversation was equal to that of +any of Nuttie's London friends, but it was only woman's talk after +all--the brilliancy and piquancy, the touch and go, she had enjoyed +in Lady Kirkaldy's drawing-room was lacking. + +Mr. Spyers was too much immersed in parish matters to read anything +secular, and neither he nor Gerard Godfrey seemed ever to talk of +anything but parish matters. There was not the slightest interest in +anything beyond. Foreign politics, European celebrities,--things in +which Nuttie had learnt to take warm interest when with the +Kirkaldys, were nothing to them. Even Mary wondered at her +endeavours to see the day's paper, and she never obtained either +information or sympathy unless she came across Mark. It seemed to +her that Gerard cared less for the peace or war of an empire than for +a tipsy cobbler taking the pledge. The monotony and narrowness of +the world where she had once been so happy fretted and wearied her, +though she was ashamed of herself all the time, and far too proud to +allow that she was tired of it all. Aunt Ursel at her best had +always been a little dry and grave, an authority over the two nieces; +and though softened, she was not expansive, did not invite +confidences, and home was not home without the playfellow-mother. + +And most especially was she daily tired of Gerard Godfrey! Had he +always talked of nothing but 'the colours,' chants, E. C. U., +classes, and teetotalism? Whatever she began it always came back to +one or other of these subjects, and when she impatiently declared +that she was perfectly sick of hearing of the Use of Sarum, he looked +at her as guilty of a profanity. + +Perhaps it was true that he was narrower than he had been. He was a +good, honest, religiously-minded lad, but with no great depth or +grasp of intellect; Ursula Egremont had been his companion first and +then his romance, and the atmosphere of the community in which he +lived had been studious and intelligent. His expedition to Redcastle +had convinced him that the young lady lived in a different world, +entirely beyond his reach, and in the reaction of his hopelessness, +he had thrown himself into the excitement of the mission, and it had +worked on him a zealous purpose to dedicate himself totally to a +religious life, giving up all worldly aims, and employing the small +capital he could call his own in preparing for the ministry. Mr. +Dutton had insisted that he should test his own steadfastness and +resolution by another year's work in his present situation before he +took any steps. + +He had submitted, but still viewed himself as dedicated, and so far +as business hours permitted, gave his services like a clerical pupil +to St. Ambrose's with the greatest energy, and perhaps somewhat less +judgment than if Mr. Dutton had been at hand. Being without natural +taste for intellectual pursuits, unless drawn into them by his +surroundings, he had dropped them entirely, and read nothing but the +ephemeral controversial literature of his party, and not much of +that, for he was teaching, preaching, exhorting, throughout his spare +time; while the vicar was in too great need of help to insist on +deepening the source from which his zealous assistant drew. As Miss +Nugent observed, teetotalism was to him what dissipation was to other +young men. + +On this vehemence of purpose descended suddenly Ursula Egremont once +more; and the human heart could not but be quickened with the idea, +not entirely unfounded, that it was to him that she had flown back, +and that her exile proved that she cared for him more than for all +the delights she had enjoyed as heiress of Bridgefield. The good +youth was conscientious to the back-bone, and extremely perplexed +between his self-dedication and the rights that their implied +understanding might give to her. Was she to be the crowning blessing +of his life, to be saved partly through his affection from worldly +trials and temptations, and bestowing on him a brilliant lot in which +boundless good could be effected? Or was she a syren luring him to +abandon his higher and better purposes? + +The first few days of her stay, the former belief made him feel like +treading on air, or like the hero of many a magazine story; but as +time went on this flattering supposition began to fail him, when +Nuttie showed her weariness of the subjects which, in his +exclusiveness, he deemed the only ones worthy of a Christian, or +rather of a Catholic. Both of them had outgrown the lively, aimless +chatter and little jests that had succeeded the games of childhood, +and the growth had been in different directions, so that Ursula felt +herself untrue to her old romance when she became weary of his +favourite topics, disappointed by his want of sympathy and +comprehension, fretted by his petty disapprovals, and annoyed by his +evident distaste for Mark, to whom she turned as to one of her proper +world. + +At last, after many tossings, Gerard fixed upon a test. If she +endured it she would be the veritable maiden of his imagination, and +they would stand by one another, come what would; if not, he would +believe that the past had been fancy, not love, or love that had not +withstood the attractions of fashionable life. A great temperance +meeting was coming on, and Gerard, eager at once to fill the room, +and to present a goodly roll of recruits, watched anxiously for his +moment, and came on Nuttie with his hands full of bills in huge +letters, and his pockets of badges. + +'Excellent speakers,' he cried. 'We shall have the hall crowded. +You'll come, Ursula?' + +'I don't know what Miss Mary will do. I don't think she means it.' + +'Oh, if you insist, if we both insist, she will. Look at the paper-- +we are to have some splendid experiences.' + +Nuttie made a face. 'I've heard all about those,' she said. 'That +man,' pointing to one of the names, 'regularly rants about it; he is +like a madman.' + +'He does go rather far, but it is quite necessary, as you will hear. +Oh, Nuttie, if you would only be one of us! I've brought a card! If +you would!' + +'Why, what's the use, Gerard! I don't like wine, I never do drink +it, except a little claret-cup sometimes when I can't get water.' + +'Then it would cost you nothing.' + +'Yes, it would. It would make me ridiculous.' + +'You used not to heed the sneers of the world.' + +'Not for anything worth doing--but this is not.' + +'It is the greatest cause of the day!' he cried, in an eager exalted +manner, which somewhat inclined her to laugh. 'Do away with alcohol +and you would do away with crime!' + +'Thank you for the compliment, Gerard; I never found that the +infinitesimal drop of alcohol that I suppose there is in a tumbler of +claret-cup disposed me to commit crimes.' + +'Why won't you understand me, Ursula! Can't you give up that for the +sake of saving others!' + +'I wonder whom it would save.' + +'Example saves! If you put on this'--taking out the badge--'how many +should you not lead at your home?' + +'Just nobody! Mother and I should have a bad time of it, that's +all.' + +'And if you endured, what would not your testimony effect in the +household and village?' + +'Nothing! I have nothing to do with the men-servants, and as to the +village, it is very sober. There's only one public house, and that +is kept by Uncle William's old butler, and is as orderly as can be.' + +'Ah! that's the way you all deceive yourselves. Moderate drinkers +are ten times more mischievous than regular drunkards.' + +'Thank you, Gerard! And outrageous abstainers are more mischievous +than either of them, because they make the whole thing so utterly +foolish and absurd.' She was really angry now, and so was Gerard. + +'Is that your ultimatum?' he asked, in a voice that he strove to +render calm. + +'Certainly; I'm not going to take the pledge.' + +Having quarrelled in childhood, made quarrelling now easier, and +Gerard answered bitterly: + +'Very well, I hope you will have no cause to repent it.' + +''Tis not the way to make me repent it, to see how it seems to affect +some people's common sense. It is just as if all your brains had run +to water!' said Nuttie, laughing a little; but Gerard was desperately +serious, and coloured vehemently. + +'Very well, Miss Egremont, I understand. I have had my answer,' he +said, gathering up his papers and marching out of the room. + +She stood still, offended, and not in the least inclined to run after +him and take back her words. He, poor fellow, stumbled down the +steps, and held by the garden rail to collect his senses and compose +himself. + +'What's the matter, Gerard, are you ill or giddy?' asked Miss Nugent, +coming up in the winter twilight. + +'No, oh no! Only the dream of my life is over,' he answered, scarce +knowing what he said. + +'You haven't--' cried Mary aghast. + +'Oh no,' he said, understanding the blank, 'only she won't take the +pledge!' + +'I don't see how she could or ought,' responded Mary. 'Is that all?' + +'I had made it the test,' muttered poor Gerard. 'It is right! It is +all over now. I shall know how to go on my way. It is best so--I +know it is--only I did not know whether anything was due to her.' It +was almost a sob. + +'Dear old Gerard,' said Mary, 'I see you meant to do right. It is +well your mind should be settled. I think you'll find comfort in +your good work.' + +He wrung her hand, and she went in, half amused, for she was fully +aware of the one-sidedness of the mania for temperance under which he +acted, yet honouring his high, pure motives, and rejoicing that he +had found this indirect mode of gauging Nuttie's feelings towards +him--that is, if he was right about them, and there was no revulsion. + +Far from it. Nuttie was still angry. 'Gerard had been so +ridiculous,' she said, 'teasing her to take the pledge, and quite +incapable of understanding her reasons. I can't think why Gerard has +grown so stupid.' + +'Enthusiasms carry people away,' returned Mary. + +'If Mr. Dutton had only stayed, he would have kept Gerard like +himself,' said Nuttie. + +But there was no relenting. The two young people avoided each other; +and perhaps Nuttie was secretly relieved that the romance she had +outgrown no longer entangled her. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. +A FAILURE. + + + + +'Would I had loved her more!'--Mrs. Hemans. + + +'On the 14th of January, at Bridgefield Egremont, the wife of Alwyn +Piercefield Egremont, Esquire, a son and heir.' + +Ursula had been prepared for this event for about a fortnight by a +long tender letter from her mother, mourning over the not meeting at +Christmas, and the long separation, but saying that she had wished to +spare the long anxiety, and that it had been a trying time which she +felt herself able to cope with better alone, than even with her dear +Nuttie, knowing her to be happy and safe with Aunt Ursel. Now, if +all went well, they would have a happy meeting, and begin on a new +score. 'If the will of God should be otherwise,' added Alice, 'I am +sure I need not entreat my Nuttie to do and be all that she can to +her father. My child, you do not know how sorely he needs such love +and tendance and prayer as you can give him. I know you have thought +I have set you aside--if not better things, for his sake. Indeed I +could not help it.' Then there was something tear-stained and +blotted out, and it ended with, 'He is beginning to miss your step +and voice about the house. I believe he will really be glad to see +you, when the bright spring days come, and I can kiss my own Nuttie +again.' + +Nuttie was very much delighted, but a little hurt that her aunt and +Mary should have been in the secret, and pledged to say nothing to +her till her mother should write. She found, moreover, that Miss +Headworth was extremely anxious and not altogether reassured by Mrs. +William Egremont's letter of announcement, which filled Nuttie with +delight. How happy the little mother must be to have a baby in her +arms again, and though she herself did not profess to have a strong +turn for infant humanity, it was the greatest possible relief to be +no longer an heiress, excepting that the renunciation in favour of +Mark was no longer practicable. + +The residence at Redcastle was not over, but the Canoness had come to +nurse her sister-in-law, and kept up the correspondence. The son and +heir was reported to be a perfect specimen, and his father was +greatly elated and delighted, but the letters showed anxiety about +the mother, who did not get on as she ought, and seemed to have no +power of rally about her. At length came a letter that seemed to +burn itself into Nuttie's brain-- + + +'My Dear Ursula--Your mother is longing to see you. You had better +come home directly. Your aunt saved her before. Tell her if she +will come, she shall have my deepest gratitude. I shall send to meet +the 5.11 train.--Your affectionate father, + A. P. EGREMONT.' + + +Mrs. William Egremont wrote at more length. Symptoms had set in +which filled the doctors and nurses with double anxiety. Advice had +been sent for from London, and Mr. Egremont was in an uncontrollable +state of distress. She had undertaken to summon Ursula home, and to +beg Miss Headworth to undertake the journey. She evidently did not +know that her brother-in-law had written himself, and before they +could start a telegram terrified them, but proved to contain no fresh +tidings, only a renewed summons. + +Miss Headworth forgot all her resolutions about Mr. Egremont's +hospitality--her Alice was her only thought, and all the remedies +that had been found efficacious at Dieppe. The good lady had a +certain confidence in her own nursing and experience of Alice, which +buoyed her up with hope, while Ursula seemed absolutely stunned. She +had never thought of such a frightful loss or grief, and her mental +senses were almost paralysed, so that she went through the journey in +a kind of surface trance, observing all around her much as usual, +looking out for the luggage and for the servant who had come to meet +them with the report 'No change.' She did the honours of the +carriage, and covered Miss Headworth with the fur rug. They wanted +it, for they were shivering with anxiety. + +Canon Egremont came out to the front hall to meet them, and put his +arms round Nuttie tenderly, saying, 'My poor dear child!' then as he +saw he had frightened them, 'No, no! She is alive--conscious they +say, only so very weak.' Then with something of his usual urbane +grace, he held out his hand, 'Miss Headworth, it is very good in you +to come. You have a great deal to forgive.' + +He took them into the tent-room, where tea was standing, interrupting +himself in the account he was giving to bid Nuttie let her aunt have +some. It was plain from his manner that he had given up hope, and in +another minute in hurried his brother, looking terribly haggard and +with bloodshot eyes, giving his hand to each, with, 'That's right, +Miss Headworth, thank you. Come, let me know what you think of her!' + +'Does she know they are come?' said the Canon. 'No? Then, Alwyn, +let them have some tea, and take off their things. I can tell you, +the nurses will never let them in just off a journey.' + +Miss Headworth seconded this, and Mr. Egremont submitted, allowing +that she had not asked for Nuttie since the morning, and then had +smiled and squeezed his hand when he said she was coming with her +aunt; but he walked up and down in direful restlessness, his whole +mind apparently bent on extracting from Miss Headworth that she had +been as ill or worse at Dieppe. + +Alas! when Mrs. William Egremont came down to fetch Nuttie; there was +no question that matters were much worse. The sweet face was +perfectly white and wasted, and the heavy lids of the dark eyes +scarcely lifted themselves, but the lips moved into a smile, and the +hand closed on that of the girl, who stood by her as one frozen into +numbness. There was the same recognition when her aunt was brought +to her side, the poor old lady commanding herself with difficulty, as +the loving glance quivered over the face. + +Time passed on, and she still held Nuttie's hand. Once, when a +little revived by some stimulant at her lips, she made an effort and +said, 'Stay with him! Take care of him! _Love_ him! And your +little brother, my Nuttie! Promise!' + +'I promise,' the girl answered, scarce knowing what she said. + +And the eyes closed with an air of peace and rest. + +Again when Miss Headworth was doing something to ease her position +she said, 'Thank you,' and then more vigorously, 'Thank you, dear +aunt, for all you have been to us.' + +There was little more. She asked Nuttie for 'her hymn,' the evening +hymn with which mother and daughter used nightly to go to sleep, and +which, in her strange dreamy way, the girl managed to say. + +Then a little murmur and sign passed between the elder ladies, and +Mrs. William Egremont fetched her husband. As he opened his book to +find the commendatory prayer, thinking her past all outward +consciousness, and grieved by the look of suffering, her eyes again +unclosed and her lips said, 'Failed.' + +'Don't think of that! God can make failures success.' + +There was a half smile, a look of peace. '_He_ makes up,' she said; +and those were the last audible words before it was over, and the +tender spirit was released from its strife, some time later, they +only knew when by the failure of the clasp on her husband's hand. + +Old Miss Headworth did not understand the meaning of that sad word +till the next forenoon. Then,--as she sat in the darkened tent-room, +crying over her letters,--while the stunned and bewildered Nuttie +was, under her Aunt Jane's direction, attending to the needful +arrangements, Canon Egremont wandered in upon her in the overflow of +confidence of a man with a full heart, wanting to talk it all out, +communicating the more, because she was a discreet woman, and asked +no questions. He had tried to see his brother, but Gregorio had not +admitted him. He was aware now of the whole state of things. Dr. +Hammond had told him, when first beginning to be alarmed for his +patient, that the principal cause for anxiety was the exhaustion +caused by the long strain on her spirits and strength consequent on +her efforts to wean her husband from his fatal propensity. There had +been other 'complications,' as the doctor called them, and more +immediate causes of danger, but both he and his colleague, summoned +from London, believed that she would have surmounted them if she had +had more strength to rally. But her nurses dated the decided turn +for the worse from the day when she had gazed up into Mr. Egremont's +face, and detected the look in his eyes that she had learnt too well +to understand. + +She would fain have lived, and, according to her obedient nature, had +submitted to all the silence and stillness enforced on her; but she +had told Dr. Hammond that she must see her brother-in-law before she +was too far gone. And the doctor, knowing all, took care it should +be brought about. + +And then she had spoken of her failure in the effort of these years. +'If I had begun better,' she said, 'it might not have been so with +him.' + +'My dear, indeed you have nothing to blame yourself for. You were +grievously sinned against by us all. Alwyn was no saint when he drew +you into it--and you, you have been his good angel, doing all and +more too,' said the Canon, almost breaking down. + +'I tried--but if I had been a better woman--And to leave him to that +man!' + +'Child, child, victories sometimes come this way!' he cried, scarce +knowing how it was put into his mouth, but glad to see the light in +her eye. + +'Thanks,' she replied. 'No, I ought not to have said that. I leave +him to God, and my poor Nuttie. I want you to tell her, if I can't, +what she must try to do. If I had but brought them together more! +But I tried for the best.' + +Then she begged for her last communion, saying, 'I do pray for that +poor Gregorio. Isn't that forgiving him?' And the attempt to +exchange forgiveness with the Canon for their mutual behaviour at the +time of her marriage overcame them both so much that they had to +leave it not half uttered. Indeed, in speaking of the scene, William +Egremont was utterly overwhelmed. + +'And that's the woman that I treated as a mere outcast!' he cried, +walking about the little room. 'Oh God, forgive me! I shall never +forgive myself.' + +Poor Miss Headworth! In past days she had longed for any amount of +retribution on Alice's hard-hearted employers, but it was a very +different thing to witness such grief and self reproach. He had in +truth much more developed ideas of duty, both as man and priest, than +when he had passively left a disagreeable subject to his mother-in- +law, as lying within a woman's province; and his good heart was +suffering acutely for the injustice and injury in which he had shared +towards one now invested with an almost saintly halo. + +In the gush of feeling he had certainly revealed more to Miss +Headworth, than his wife, or even he himself, in his cooler moments, +would have thought prudent, and he ended by binding her to secrecy; +and saying that he should only tell his niece what was necessary for +her to know. + +Nuttie was going about, dry-eyed and numbed, glad of any passing +occupation that would prevent the aching sense of desolation at her +heart from gaining force to overwhelm her; courting employment, and +shunning pity and condolence, but she could not escape when her uncle +took her hand, made her sit down by him, with 'I want to speak to +you, my dear;' and told her briefly and tenderly what her mother's +effort had been, and of the message and task she had bequeathed. +The poor girl's heart fainted within her. + +'Oh! but, Uncle William, how can I? How can I ever? Mother could do +things I never could! He _did_ care for her! He does not care for +me!' + +'You must teach him to do so, Nuttie.' + +'Oh!' she said, with a hopeless sound. + +The Canon did think it very hopeless in his heart, but he persevered, +as in duty bound. 'I told your dear mother that perhaps you would +succeed where she thought she had failed, though indeed she had done +much. It made her happy. So, my dear child, you are bound to do +your best.' + +'Yes;' then, after a pause--'But mother could coax him and manage +him. Mother was with him day and night; she could always get at him. +What can I do?' + +'I think you will find that he depends upon you more,' said the +Canon, 'and it may be made easier to you, if you only set your will +to it.' + +'If I ought, I'll try,' said poor Nuttie, more humbly perhaps than +she had ever spoken before, but in utter dejection, and her uncle +answered her like a child. + +'There, that's a good girl. Nobody can do more.' + +For the Canon had one hope. He had not thought it becoming to speak +to her of the counter influence, but he could not help thinking it +possible that if he and his son, backed by doctor and lawyer, made a +long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, they might induce +his brother to part with Gregorio, and this would render Ursula's +task far less impossible. + +He was confirmed in this hope by finding that Mark's arrival was not +unwelcome to Mr. Egremont, who seemed to have forgotten the +unpleasantness with which he had regarded the engagement, and only +remembered that his nephew had been Alice's champion, resuming old +customs of dependence, making him act as amanuensis, and arraigning +the destiny that had restored so lovely and charming a creature only +to snatch her away, leaving nothing but a headstrong girl and a +helpless baby. + +That poor little fellow was all that could be desired at his age, but +Nuttie felt her beautiful mother almost insulted when the elder +ladies talked of the wonderful resemblance that the Canoness declared +to have been quite startling in the earlier hours of his life. For +the convenience of one of the sponsors, he was to be christened in +the afternoon following the funeral, the others being--by his +mother's special entreaty--his sister and Mark. Egremont customs +were against the ladies going to the funeral, so that Nuttie was kept +at home, much against her will; but after the luncheon she escaped, +leaving word with her aunts that she was going to walk down to church +alone, and they were sorry enough for her to let her have her own +way, especially as her father, having been to the funeral, had shut +himself up and left all the rest to them. + +The Egremont family had a sort of enclosure or pen with iron rails +round it close to the church wall, where they rested under flat +slabs. The gate in this was open now, and the new-made grave was one +mass of white flowers,--wreaths and crosses, snowdrops, hyacinths, +camellias, and the like,--and at the feet was a flowerpot with +growing plants of the white hyacinth called in France 'lys de la +Vierge.' These, before they became frequent in England, had been +grown in Mr. Dutton's greenhouse, and having been favourites with +Mrs. Egremont, it had come to be his custom every spring to bring her +the earliest plants that bloomed. Nuttie knew them well, the careful +tying up, the neat arrangement of moss over the earth, the peculiar +trimness of the whole; and as she looked, the remembrance of the +happy times of old, the sick longing for all that was gone, did what +nothing had hitherto effected--brought an overwhelming gush of tears. + +There was no checking them now that they had come. She fled into +church on the first sounds of arrival and hid herself in the friendly +shelter of the great family pew; but she had to come out and take her +place, though she could hardly utter a word, and it was all that she +could do to keep from sobbing aloud; she could not hand the babe, and +the Canon had to take on trust the name 'Alwyn Headworth,' for he +could not hear the words that were on her trembling lips. + +It was soon over; and while the baby and his attendants, with Miss +Headworth, were being packed into the carriage, and her uncle and +aunt bowing off the grand god-father, she clutched her cousin's arm, +and said, 'Mark; where's Mr. Dutton?' + +'I--I didn't know he was coming, but now you ask, I believe I saw him +this morning.' + +'I know he is here.' + +'Do you want to see him?' said Mark kindly. + +'Oh, if I might!' + +Then, with a sudden impulse, she looked back into the church, and +recognised a black figure and slightly bald head bowed down in one of +the seats. She pointed him out. 'No doubt he is waiting for us all +to be gone,' said Mark in a low voice. 'You go into the Rectory, +Nuttie; there's a fire in the study, and I'll bring him to you there. +I'll get him to stay the night if I can.' + +'Oh, thank you!' and it was a really fervent answer. + +Mark waited, and when Mr. Dutton rose, was quite shocked at his +paleness and the worn look on his face, as of one who had struggled +hard for resignation and calm. He started, almost as if a blow had +been struck him, as Mark uttered his name in the porch, no doubt +having never meant to be perceived nor to have to speak to any one; +but in one moment his features had recovered their usual expression +of courteous readiness. He bowed his head when Mark told him that +Ursula wanted to shake hands with him, and came towards the Rectory, +but he entirely declined the invitation to sleep there, declaring +that he must return to London that night. + +Mark opened the study door, and then went away to secure that the man +whom he had learnt to esteem very highly should at least have some +refreshment before he left the house. + +Those few steps had given Mr. Dutton time to turn from a mourner to a +consoler, and when Nuttie came towards him with her hand +outstretched, and 'Oh, Mr. Dutton, Mr. Dutton!' he took it in both +his, and with a calm broken voice said, 'God has been very good to us +in letting us know one like her.' + +'But oh! what can we do without her?' + +'Ah, Nuttie! that always comes before us. But I saw your work and +your comfort just now.' + +'Poor little boy! I shall get to care about him, I know, but as yet +I can only feel how much rather I would have _her_.' + +'No doubt, but it is _her_ work that is left you.' + +'Her work? Yes! But oh, Mr. Dutton, you don't know how dreadful it +is!' + +He did not know what she meant. Whether it was simply the burthen on +any suddenly motherless girl, or any special evil on her father's +part, but he was soon enlightened, for there was something in this +old friend that drew out her confidence beyond all others, even when +he repressed her, and she could not help telling him in a few +murmured furtive words such as she knew she ought not to utter, and +he felt it almost treason to hear. 'Opiates! she was always trying +to keep my father from them! It was too much for her! My uncle says +I must try to do it, and I can't.' + +'Poor child!' said Mr. Dutton kindly, though cut to the heart at the +revelation of sweet Alice's trial; 'at least you can strive, and +there is always a blessing on resolution.' + +'Oh, if you knew! and he doesn't like me. I don't think I've ever +been nice to him, and that vexed her! I haven't got her ways.' + +'No,' said Mr. Dutton, 'but you will learn others. Look here, +Nuttie. You used to be always craving for grand and noble tasks, the +more difficult the better. I think you have got one now, more severe +than ever could have been thought of--and very noble. What are those +lines about the task "bequeathed from bleeding sire to son"? Isn't +it like that? You are bound to go on with her work, and the more +helpless you feel, and the more you throw yourself on God, the more +God will help you. He takes the will for the deed, if only you have +will enough; and, Nuttie, you can pray that you may be able to love +and honour him.' + +Teacups were brought in, followed by Mark, and interrupted them; and, +after a short interval, they parted at the park gate, and Ursula +walked home with Mark, waked from her dull numb trance, with a +crushed feeling as if she had been bruised all over, and yet with a +purpose within her. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. +FARMS OR UMBRELLAS. + + + + +'He tokin into his handis + His londis and his lode.'--CHAUCER. + + +'Mark! Mark!' A little figure stood on the gravel road leading +through Lescombe Park, and lifted up an eager face, as Mark jumped +down from his horse. 'I made sure you would come over.' + +'Yes, but I could not get away earlier. And I have so much to say to +you and your mother, Annaple; there's a great proposition to be +considered.' + +'Oh dear! and here is John bearing down upon us. Never mind. We'll +get into the mither's room and be cosy!' + +'Well, Mark,' said Sir John's hearty voice, 'I thought you would be +here. Come to luncheon? That's right! And how is poor Egremont? +I thought he looked awful at the funeral.' + +'He is fairly well, thank you; but it was a terrible shock.' + +'I should think so. To find such a pretty sweet creature just to +lose her again. Child likely to live, eh?' + +'Oh yes, he is a fine fellow, and has never had anything amiss with +him.' + +'Poor little chap! Doesn't know what he has lost! Well, Nannie,' as +they neared the house, 'do you want a tete-a-tete or to take him in +to your mother? Here, I'll take the horse.' + +'Come to her at once,' said Annaple; 'she wants to hear all, and +besides she is expecting me.' + +Mark was welcomed by Lady Ronnisglen with inquiries for all +concerned, and especially for that 'poor girl. I do pity a young +thing who has to take a woman's place too soon,' she said. 'It takes +too much out of her!' + +'I should think Ursula had plenty of spirit,' said Annaple. + +'I don't know whether spirit is what is wanted,' said Mark. 'Her +mother prevailed more without it than I am afraid she is likely to do +with it.' + +'Complements answer better than parallels sometimes, but not always,' +said Lady Ronnisglen. + +'Which are we?' asked Annaple demurely. + +'Not parallels certainly, for then we should never meet,' responded +Mark. 'But here is the proposal. My father and all the rest of us +have been doing our best to get my uncle to smooth Ursula's way by +getting rid of that valet of his.' + +'The man with the Mephistopheles face?' + +'Exactly. He is a consummate scoundrel, as we all know, and so does +my uncle himself, but he has been about him these twelve or fourteen +years, and has got a sort of hold on him--that--that-- It is no use +to talk of it, but it did not make that dear aunt of mine have an +easier life. In fact I should not be a bit surprised if he had been +a hindrance in the hunting her up. Well, the fellow thought proper +to upset some arrangements my mother had made, and then was more +insolent than I should have thought even he could have been towards +her. I suppose he had got into the habit with poor Aunt Alice. That +made a fulcrum, and my father went at my uncle with a will. I never +saw my father so roused in my life. I don't mean by the behaviour to +his wife, but at what he knew of the fellow, and all the harm he had +done and is doing. And actually my uncle gave in at last, and +consented to tell Gregorio to look out for another situation, if he +has not feathered his nest too well to need one, as I believe he +has.' + +'Oh, that will make it much easier for Ursula!' cried Annaple. + +'If he goes,' put in her mother. + +'I think he will. I really had no notion how much these two years +have improved my uncle! To be sure, it would be hard to live with +such a woman as that without being the better for it! But he really +seems to have acquired a certain notion of duty!' + +They did not smile at the simple way in which Mark spoke of this vast +advance, and Lady Ronnisglen said, 'I hope so, for the sake of his +daughter and that poor little boy.' + +'I think that has something to do with it,' said Mark. 'He feels a +responsibility, and still more, I think he was struck by having a +creature with him to whom evil was like physical pain.' + +'It will work,' said Lady Ronnisglen. + +'Then,' went on Mark, 'he took us all by surprise by making me this +proposal--to take the management of the estate, and become a kind of +private secretary to him. You know he gets rheumatism on the optic +nerve, and is almost blind at times. He would give me £300 a year, +and do up the house at the home farm, rent free. What do you say to +that, Annaple?' + +There was a silence, then Annaple said: 'Give up the umbrellas! Oh! +What do you think, Mark?' + +'My father wishes it,' said Mark. 'He would, as he had promised to +do, make over to me my share of my own mother's fortune, and that +would, I have been reckoning, bring us to just what we had thought of +starting upon this spring at Micklethwayte.' + +'The same now,' said Lady Ronnisglen, after some reckoning, 'but what +does it lead to?' + +'Well--nothing, I am afraid,' said Mark; 'as you know, this is all I +have to reckon upon. The younger children will have hardly anything +from their mother, so that my father's means must chiefly go to +them.' + +'And this agency is entirely dependent on your satisfying Mr. +Egremont?' + +'True, but that's a thing only too easily done. However, as you say, +this agency has no future, and if that came to an end, I should only +have to look out for another or take to farming.' + +'And ask poor John if that is a good speculation nowadays!' said +Annaple. + +'Fortunes are and have been made on the umbrellas,' said Mark. +'Greenleaf has a place almost equal to Monks Horton, and Dutton, +though he makes no show, has realised a considerable amount.' + +'Oh yes, let us stick to the umbrellas!' cried Annaple; 'you've made +the plunge, so it does not signify now, and we should be so much more +independent out of the way of everybody.' + +'You would lose in society,' said Mark, 'excepting, of course, as to +the Monks Horton people; but they are often away.' + +'Begging your pardon, Mark, is there much to lose in this same +neighbourhood?' laughed Annaple, 'now May will go.' + +'It is not so much a question of liking,' added her mother, 'as of +what is for the best, and where you may wish to be--say ten years +hence.' + +Looked at in this way, there could be no question but that the +umbrella company promised to make Mark a richer man in ten years' +time than did the agency at Bridgefield Egremont. He had a salary +from the office already, and if he purchased shares in the +partnership with the portion his father would resign to him, his +income would already equal what he would have at Bridgefield, and +there was every prospect of its increase, both as he became more +valuable, and as the business continued to prosper. If the descent +in life had been a grievance to the ladies, the agency would have +been an infinite boon, but having swallowed so much, as Annaple said, +they might as well do it in earnest, and to some purpose. Perhaps, +too, it might be detected that under the circumstances Annaple would +prefer the living in a small way out of reach of her sister's visible +compassion. + +So the matter was settled, but there was an undercurrent in Mark's +mind on which he had not entered, namely, that his presence at home +might make all the difference in that reformation in his uncle's +habits which Alice had inaugurated, and left in the hands of others. +With him at hand, there was much more chance of Gregorio's being +dispensed with, Ursula's authority maintained, little Alwyn well +brought up, and the estate, tenants, and household properly cared +for, and then he smiled at his notion of supposing himself of so much +importance. Had he only had himself to consider, Mark would have +thought his duty plain; but when he found Miss Ruthven and her mother +so entirely averse, he did not deem it right to sacrifice them to the +doubtful good of his uncle, nor indeed to put the question before +them as so much a matter of conscience that they should feel bound to +consider it in that light. He did indeed say, 'Well, that settles +it,' in a tone that led Annaple to exclaim: 'I do believe you want to +drop the umbrellas!' + +'No,' he answered, 'it is not that, but my father wished it, and +thought it would be good for my uncle.' + +'No doubt,' said Annaple, 'but he has got a daughter, also a son, and +a brother, and agents are plentiful, so I can't see why all the +family should dance attendance on him.' + +Lady Ronnisglen, much misdoubting Mr. Egremont's style of society, +and dreading that Mark might be dragged into it, added her word, +feeling on her side that it was desirable and just to hinder the +family from sacrificing Mark's occupation and worldly interest to a +capricious old roue, who might very possibly throw him over when it +would be almost impossible to find anything else to do. Moreover, +both she and Annaple believed that the real wish was to rescue the +name of Egremont from association with umbrellas, and they held +themselves bound to combat what they despised and thought a piece of +worldly folly. + +So Mark rode home, more glad that the decision was actually made than +at the course it had taken. His father was disappointed, but could +not but allow that it was the more prudent arrangement; and Mr. +Egremont showed all the annoyance of a man whose good offer has been +rejected. + +''Tis that little giggling Scotch girl!' he said. 'Well, we are quit +of her, anyway. 'Tis a pity that Mark entangled himself with her, +and a mother-in-law into the bargain! I was a fool to expect to get +any good out of him!' + +This was said to his daughter, with whom he was left alone; for Miss +Headworth could not bear to accept his hospitality a moment longer +than needful, and besides had been so much shaken in nerves as to +suspect that an illness was coming on, and hurried home to be nursed +by Mary Nugent. Canon Egremont was obliged to go back to Redcastle +to finish his residence, and his wife, who had been absent nearly a +month from her family, thought it really wisest to let the father and +daughter be thrown upon one another at once, so that Ursula might +have the benefit of her father's softened mood. + +There could be no doubt that he was softened, and that he had derived +some improvement from the year and a half that his wife had been with +him. It might not have lifted him up a step, but it had arrested him +in his downward course. Selfish and indolent he was as ever, but +there had been a restraint on his amusements, and a withdrawal from +his worst associates, such as the state of his health might continue, +above all if Gregorio could be dispensed with. The man himself had +become aware of the combination against him, and, though reckoning on +his master's inertness and dependence upon him, knew that a fresh +offence might complete his overthrow, and therefore took care to be +on his good behaviour. + +Thus Nuttie's task might be somewhat smoothed; but the poor girl felt +unspeakably desolate as she ate her breakfast all alone with a dull +post-bag, and still more so when, having seen the housekeeper, who, +happily for her, was a good and capable woman, and very sorry for +her, she had to bethink herself what to do in that dreary sitting- +room during the hour when she had always been most sure of her +sister-mother's dear company. How often she had grumbled at being +called on to practise duets for her father's evening lullaby! She +supposed she ought to get something up, and she proceeded to turn +over and arrange the music with a sort of sick loathing for whatever +was connected with those days of impatient murmurs, which she would +so gladly have recalled. Everything had fallen into disorder, as +Blanche and May had left it the last time they had played there; and +the overlooking it, and putting aside the pieces which she could +never use alone, occupied her till Gregorio, very meek and polite, +came with a message that Mr. Egremont would be glad if she would come +to his room. In some dread, some distaste, and yet some pity and +some honest resolution, she made her way thither. + +There he sat, in dressing-gown, smoking-cap, and blue spectacles, +with the glittering February sunshine carefully excluded. He looked +worse and more haggard than when she had seen him at dinner in the +evening, made up for company, and her compassion increased, +especially as he not only held out his hand, but seemed to expect her +to kiss him, a thing she had never done since their first +recognition. It was not pleasant in itself, but it betokened full +forgiveness, and indeed he had never spoken to her in his sneering, +exasperating voice since her mournful return home. + +'Have you seen the boy?' he asked. + +'Yes; they are walking him up and down under the south wall,' said +Nuttie, thankful that she had peeped under the many wraps as he was +carried across the hall. + +'Here! I want you to read this letter to me. A man ought to be +indicted for writing such a hand!' + +It was really distinct penmanship, though minute; but, as Nuttie +found, her father did not like to avow how little available were his +eyes. He could write better than he could read, but he kept her over +his correspondence for the rest of the morning, answering some of the +letters of condolence for him in her own name, writing those of +business, and folding and addressing what he himself contrived to +write. Her native quickness stood her in good stead, and, being +rather nervous, she took great pains, and seldom stumbled; indeed, +she only once incurred an exclamation of impatience at her stupidity +or slowness. + +She guessed rightly that this forbearance was owing to tender +persuasions of her mother, and did not guess that a certain fear of +herself was mingled with other motives. Her father had grown used to +woman's ministrations; he needed them for his precious little heir, +and he knew his daughter moreover for a severe judge, and did not +want to alienate her and lose her services; so they got on fairly +well together, and she shared his luncheon, during which a message +came up about the carriage; and as there had been an application for +some nursery needment, and moreover black-edged envelopes had run +short, there was just purpose enough for a drive to the little town. + +Then Nuttie read her father to sleep with the newspaper; rushed round +the garden in the twilight to stretch her young limbs; tried to read +a little, dressed, dined with her father; finished what he had missed +in the paper, then offered him music, and was told 'if she pleased,' +and as she played she mused whether this was to be her life. It +looked very dull and desolate, and what was the good of it all? But +there were her mother's words, 'Love him!' How fulfil them? She +could pity him now, but oh! how could she love one from whom her +whole nature recoiled, when she thought of her mother's ruined life? +Mr. Dutton too had held her new duties up to her as capable of being +ennobled. Noble! To read aloud a sporting paper she did not want to +understand, to be ready to play at cards or billiards, to take that +dawdling drive day by day, to devote herself to the selfish exactions +of burnt-out dissipation. Was this noble? Her mother had done all +this, and never even felt it a cross, because of her great love. It +must be Nuttie's cross if it was her duty; but could the love and +honour possibly come though she tried to pray in faith? + + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. +THE GIGGLING SCOTCH GIRL. + + + + +'For every Lamp that trembled here, + And faded in the night, + Behold a Star serene and clear + Smiles on me from the height.'--B. M. + + +Nuttie was not mistaken in supposing that this first day would be a +fair sample of her life, though, of course, after the first weeks of +mourning there were variations; and the return of the Rectory party +made a good deal of brightening, and relieved her from the necessity +of finding companionship and conversation for her father on more than +half her afternoons and evenings. + +He required her, however, almost every forenoon, and depended on her +increasingly, so that all her arrangements had to be made with +reference to him. It was bondage, but not as galling in the fact as +she would have expected if it had been predicted to her a few months +previously. In the first place, Mr. Egremont never demanded of her +what was actually against her conscience, except occasionally giving +up a Sunday evensong to read the paper to him, and that only when he +was more unwell than usual. He was, after all, an English gentleman, +and did not ask his young daughter to read to him the books which her +mother had loathed. Moreover, Gregorio was on his good behaviour, +perfectly aware that there was a family combination against him, and +having even received a sort of warning from his master, but by no +means intending to take it, and therefore abstaining from any kind of +offence that could furnish a fresh handle against him; and thus for +the present, Dr. Hammond's regimen was well observed, and Mr. +Egremont was his better self in consequence, for, under his wife's +guardianship, the perilous habit had sufficiently lost strength to +prevent temper and spirits from manifestly suffering from abstinence. + +The first time Nuttie found herself obliged to make any very real +sacrifice to her father's will was on the occasion of Mark's marriage +at Easter. Things had arranged themselves very conveniently for him +at Micklethwayte, though it seemed to Nuttie that she only heard of +affairs there in a sort of distant dream, while such events were +taking place as once would have been to her the greatest possible +revolutions. + +Aunt Ursel reached home safely, but her expectations of illness were +realised. She took to her bed on arriving, and though she rose from +it, there was reason to think she had had a slight stroke, for her +activity of mind and body were greatly decayed, and she was wholly +dependent on Mary Nugent for care and comfort. Mary, remembering +the consequences of the former alarm, made the best of the old lady's +condition; and Nuttie, ashamed of having once cried 'wolf,' did not +realise the true state of the case, nor indeed could she or would she +have been spared to go to Micklethwayte. + +The next news told that Gerard Godfrey, at the end of the year +required by Mr. Dutton, had resigned his situation, and at the close +of his quarter's notice was going to prepare for Holy Orders under +the training of a clergyman who would employ him in his parish, and +assist him in reading up to the requirements for admission to a +theological college. Poor dear old Gerard! It gave Nuttie a sort of +pang of self-reproach to own how good and devoted he was, and yet so +narrow and stupid that she could never have been happy with him. Was +he too good, or was he too dull for her? Had she forsaken him for +the world's sake, or was it a sound instinct that had extinguished +her fancy for him? No one could tell, least of all the parties +concerned. He might be far above her in spiritual matters, but he +was below her in intellectual ones, and though they would always feel +for one another that peculiar tenderness left by the possibilities of +a first love, no doubt the quarrel over the blue ribbon had been no +real misfortune to either. + +The next tidings were still more surprising. Mr. Dutton was leaving +the firm. Though his father had died insolvent, and he had had to +struggle for himself in early life, he was connected with wealthy +people, and change and death among these had brought him a fair share +of riches. An uncle who had emigrated to Australia at the time of +the great break up had died without other heirs, leaving him what was +the more welcome to him that Micklethwayte could never be to him what +it had been in its golden age. He had realised enough to enable him +to be bountiful, and his parting gift to St Ambrose's would complete +the church; but he himself was winding up the partnership, and +withdrawing his means from Greenleaf and Co. in order to go out to +Australia to decide what to do with his new possessions. + +Mark Egremont purchased a number of the shares, though, to gratify +the family, the shelter of the Greenleaf veiled his name under the +'Co.,' and another, already in the firm, possessed of a business-like +appellation, gave designation to the firm as Greenleaf, Goodenough, +and Co. + +Mr. Dutton's well-kept house, with the little conservatory and the +magnolia, was judged sufficient for present needs, and the lease was +taken off his hands, so that all was in order for the marriage of +Mark and Annaple immediately after Easter. + +Lady Delmar had resigned herself to the inevitable, and the wedding +was to take place at Lescombe. Nuttie, whose chief relaxation was in +hearing all the pros and cons from May and Blanche, was asked to be +one of the bridesmaids by Annaple, who had come over to the Rectory +in a droll inscrutable state of mischief, declaring that she had +exasperated Janet to the verge of insanity by declaring that she +should have little umbrellas like those in the Persian inscriptions +on her cards, and that Mark was to present all the bridesmaids with +neat parasols. If crinolines had not been gone out they could have +all been dressed appropriately. Now they must wear them closely +furled. All this banter was hardly liked by May and Blanche, whose +little sisters were laughed at again for needing the assurance that +they were really to wear white and rowan leaves and berries--the +Ronnisglen badge. Nuttie, who had drawn much nearer to May, +refrained from relating this part of the story at home, but was much +disappointed when, on telling her father of the request, she was +answered at once: + +'Hein! The 24th? You'll be in London, and a very good thing too.' + +'Are we to go so soon?' + +'Yes. Didn't I tell you to take that house in Berkshire Road from +the 20th?' + +'I did not think we were to start so soon. Is there any particular +reason?' + +'Yes. That Scotch girl ought to have known better than to ask you in +your deep mourning. I thought women made a great point of such +things.' + +'Aunt Jane did not seem to think it wrong,' said Nuttie, for she +really wished much for consent. Not only had she grown fond both of +Mark and Annaple, but she had never been a bridesmaid, and she knew +that not only the Kirkaldys but Mr. Dutton had been invited; she had +even ventured on offering to lodge some of the overflowing guests of +the Rectory. + +'Their heads are all turned by that poverty-stricken Scotch peerage,' +returned Mr. Egremont; 'or the Canoness should have more sense of +respect.' + +Nuttie's wishes were so strong that she made one more attempt, 'I +need not be a bridesmaid. They would not mind if I wore my black.' + +'I should, then!' said her father curtly. 'If they don't understand +the proprieties of life, I do. I won't have you have anything to do +with it. If you are so set upon gaiety, you'll have enough of +weddings at fitter times!' + +It was the old sneering tone. Nuttie felt partly confounded, partly +indignant, and terribly disappointed. She did care for the sight of +the wedding--her youthful spirits had rallied enough for that, but +far more now she grieved at missing the sight of Mr. Dutton, when he +was going away, she knew not where, and might perhaps come on purpose +to see her; and it also made her sore and grieved at being accused of +disregard to her mother. She was silenced, however, and presently +her father observed, in the same unpleasant tone, 'Well, if you've +digested your disappointment, perhaps you'll condescend to write to +the agent, that I expect the house to be ready on the 21st.' + +Nuttie got through her morning's work she hardly knew how, though her +father was dry and fault-finding all the time. Her eyes were so full +of tears when she was released that she hardly saw where she was +going, and nearly ran against her aunt, who had just walked into the +hall. Mrs. Egremont was too prudent a woman to let her burst out +there with her grievance, but made her come into the tent-room before +she exclaimed, 'He is going to take me away to London; he won't let +me go to the wedding.' + +'I am sorry for your disappointment,' said her aunt quietly, 'but I +am old-fashioned enough to be glad that such strong respect and +feeling should be shown for your dear mother. I wish Annaple had +spoken to me before asking you, and I would have felt the way.' + +'I'm sure it is not want of feeling,' said Nuttie, as her tears broke +forth. + +'I did not say it was,' returned her aunt, 'but different generations +have different notions of the mode of showing it; and the present +certainly errs on the side of neglect of such tokens of mourning. If +I did not think that Annaple and her mother are really uncomfortable +at Lescombe, I should have told Mark that it was better taste to wait +till the summer.' + +'If I might only have stayed at home--even if I did not go to the +wedding,' sighed Nuttie, who had only half listened to the Canoness's +wisdom. + +'Since you do not go, it is much better that you should be out of the +way,' said Mrs. Egremont. 'Is your father ready to see me?' + +So Nuttie had to submit, though she pouted to herself, feeling +grievously misjudged, first as if she had been wanting in regard to +the memory of her mother, who had been so fond of Mark, and so +rejoiced in his happiness; and then that her vexation was treated as +mere love of gaiety, whereas it really was disappointment at not +seeing Mr. Dutton, that good, grave, precise old friend, who could +not be named in the same breath with vanity. Moreover, she could not +help suspecting that respect to her mother was after all only a cloak +to resentment against Mark and his marriage. + +However, she bethought herself that her mother had often been +disappointed and had borne it cheerfully, and after having done what +Aunt Ursel would have called 'grizzling' in her room for an hour, she +wrote her note to Miss Ruthven and endeavoured to be as usual, +feeling keenly that there was no mother now to perceive and +gratefully commend one of her only too rare efforts for good humour. +On other grounds she was very sorry to leave Bridgefield. May had, +in her trouble, thawed to her, and they were becoming really +affectionate and intimate companions, by force of propinquity and +relationship, as well as of the views that May had imbibed from Hugh +Condamine. Moreover Nuttie felt her aunt's watch over the baby a +great assistance to her own ignorance. + +However the Canoness had resigned to the poor little heir the perfect +and trustworthy nurse, whom Basil had outgrown, and who consented to +the transfer on condition of having her nursery establishment +entirely apart from the rest of the household. Her reasons were +known though unspoken, namely, that the rejection of one or two +valets highly recommended had made it plain that there had been no +dislodgment of Gregorio. The strong silent objection to him of all +good female servants was one of the points that told much against +him. Martin and the housekeeper just endured him, and stayed on for +the present chiefly because their dear lady had actually begged them +not to desert her daughter if they could help it, at least not at +first. + +Nuttie bound over her cousins to give her a full account of the +wedding, and both of them wrote to her. Blanche's letter recorded +sundry scattered particulars,--as to how well the rowan-trimmed tulle +dresses looked--how every one was packed into the carriages for the +long drive--how there had been a triumphal arch erected over the +Bluepost Bridge itself, and Annaple nearly choked with laughing at +the appropriateness--how, to her delight, a shower began, and the +procession out of the church actually cried out for umbrellas--how +papa, when performing the ceremony, could not recollect that the +bride's proper name was Annabella, and would dictate it as +Anna-Maria, Sir John correcting him each time sotto voce--how Basil +and little Hilda Delmar walked together and 'looked like a couple of +ducks,' which, it was to be hoped, was to be taken metaphorically-- +how dreadfully hard the ice on the wedding-cake was, so that when +Annaple tried to cut it the knife slipped and a little white dove +flew away and hit May, which everyone said was a grand omen that she +would be the next bride, while of course Annaple was perfectly +helpless with mirth. Every one said it was the merriest wedding ever +seen, for the bride's only tears were those of laughter. What Nuttie +really cared for most came just at the end, and not much of that. +'Your Mr. Dutton is just gone. He got on famously with Hugh +Condamine, and I forgot to tell you that he has given Mark such a +jolly present, a lovely silver coffee-pot, just the one thing they +wanted, and Lady Delmar said he didn't look near so like a tradesman +as she expected. I see May is writing too, but I don't know what you +will get out of her, as Hugh Condamine came for the day.' + +Nuttie, however, had more hopes from May. Her letter certainly was +fuller of interest, if shorter. + + +'My Dear Nuttie--Blanche has no doubt told you all the externals. I +suppose there never was a brighter wedding, for as Annaple keeps her +mother with her, there was no real rending asunder of ties. Indeed I +almost wish her excitement did not always show itself in laughing, +for it prevents people from understanding how much there is in her. + + +(Plainly Hugh Condamine had been rather scandalised by the 'giggling +Scotch girl.') + + +'Dear old Lady Ronnisglen was delightful. If there were any tears, +they were hers, and Lady Delmar was very cordial and affectionate. +Of course Hugh and Mr. Dutton missed much that one would have liked +in a wedding. I drove back with them afterwards, and it was very +interesting to listen to their conversation about church matters. +Hugh is very much struck with your friend; he had heard a good deal +about Micklethwayte before, and says that such a lay worker is +perfectly invaluable. It is a great pity that he is not going on in +the firm, it would make it so much nicer for Mark, but he says he has +duties towards his new property. I think he was sorry not to find +you at home, but he plainly never thought it possible you should be +at the wedding. I don't know whether I ought to tell you this, but I +think you ought to know it. There is a lovely new wreath of Eucharis +lilies and maiden-hair at dear Aunt Alice's grave, close against the +rails at the feet, and Hugh told me that he looked out of his window +very early yesterday morning and saw Mr. Dutton standing there, +leaning on the rail, with his bare head bowed between his hands. You +can't think how it impressed Hugh. He said he felt reverent towards +him all through that day, and he was quite angry with Rosalind and +Adela for jesting because, when the shower began as we were coming +out of church, Mr. Dutton rushed up with an umbrella, being the only +person there who had one, I believe. Hugh says you may be proud of +such a friend. I wish you could have seen Hugh.--Your affectionate +cousin, + 'MARGARET EGREMONT.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. +THREE YEARS LATER. + + + + +'There's something rotten in the State.'--Hamlet. + + +On an east-windy afternoon in March Mary Nugent emerged from the +School of Art, her well-worn portfolio under her arm, thinking how +many successive generations of boys and girls she had drilled through +'free-hand,' 'perspective,' and even 'life' with an unvarying average +of failure and very moderate success, and how little talent or +originality had come to the front, though all might be the better for +knowing how to use eyes and fingers. + +On the whole her interest as well as her diligence did not flag; but +a sense of weariness and monotony would sometimes come after a +recurrence of well-known blunders of her pupils, and she missed the +sense of going home to refreshment and enjoyment which had once +invigorated her. St. Ambrose's Road had had its golden age, but the +brightness had been dimmed ever since that festival at Monks Horton. +One after another of the happy old society had dropped away. The +vicar had received promotion, and she only remained of the former +intimates, excepting old Miss Headworth, who was no longer a +companion, but whom affection forbade her to desert in feeble old +age. Had her thoughts of the old times conjured up a figure +belonging to them? There was the well-brushed hat, the natty silk +umbrella, the perfect fit of garments, the precise turn-out, nay, the +curly lion-shaven poodle, with all his fringes, leaping on her in +recognition, and there was that slightly French flourish of the hat, +before--with a bounding heart--she met the hand in an English grasp. + +'Miss Nugent!' + +'Mr. Dutton!' + +'I thought I should meet you here!' + +'When did you come?' + +'Half an hour ago. I came down with George Greenleaf, left my things +at the Royal Hotel, and came on to look for you.' + +'You will come and spend the evening with us?' + +'If you are so good as to ask me. How is Miss Headworth?' + +'Very feeble, very deaf; but she will be delighted to see you. There +is no fear of her not remembering you, though she was quite lost when +Mrs. Egremont came in yesterday.' + +'Mrs. Egremont!' he repeated with a little start. + +'Mrs. Mark. Ah! we have got used to the name--the Honourable Mrs. +Egremont, as the community insist on calling her. What a sunny +creature she is!' + +'And Miss Egremont, what do you hear of her?' + +'She writes long letters, poor child. I hope she is fairly happy. +Are you come home for good, or is this only a visit?' + +'I have no intention of returning. I have been winding up my good +cousin's affairs at Melbourne.' + +Mary's heart bounded again with a sense of joy, comfort, and +protection; but she did not long keep Mr. Dutton to herself, for +every third person they met gladly greeted him, and they were long in +getting to St. Ambrose's Road, now dominated by a tall and beautiful +spire, according to the original design. They turned and looked in +at the pillared aisles, stained glass, and handsome reredos. + +'Very different from our struggling days,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Yes,' said Mary, with half a sigh. 'There's the new vicar,' as he +passed with a civil nod. 'He has three curates, and a house of +Sisters, and works the parish excellently.' + +'You don't speak as if you were intimate.' + +'No. His womankind are rather grand--quite out of our beat; and in +parish work I am only an estimable excrescence. It is very well that +I am not wanted, for Miss Headworth requires a good deal of +attention, and it is only the old Adam that regrets the days of +importance. Ah, do you see?' + +They were passing Mr. Dutton's old home. On the tiny strip of lawn +in front was a slender black figure, with yellow hair, under a tiny +black hat, dragging about a wooden horse whereon was mounted a sturdy +boy of two, also yellow-locked and in deep mourning under his Holland +blouse. + +'Billy-boy is riding to meet his daddy!' was merrily called out both +by mother and son before they perceived the stranger. + +'Mr. Dutton,' said Mary. + +Annaple bowed, but did not put out her hand, and such a flush was on +her face that Miss Nugent said, 'I am sure that is too much for you!' + +'Oh no--' she began; but 'Allow me,' said Mr. Dutton, and before she +could refuse he was galloping round and round the little lawn, the +boy screaming with delight as Monsieur raced with them. + +'So he is come!' she said in a low doubtful voice to Mary. + +'Yes. He has met Mr. Greenleaf in London. I always think he has the +contrary to the evil eye. Whatever he takes in hand rights itself.' + +'I'll hope so. Oh, thank you! Billy-boy, say thank you! What a +ride you have had!' + +'Why are they in such deep mourning?' asked Mr. Dutton, after they +had parted. + +'Oh, did you not know? for good old Lady Ronnisglen. She had a bad +fall about two years ago, and never left her bed again; and this last +autumn she sank away.' + +'They have had a great deal of trouble, then. I saw the death of +Canon Egremont in the Times soon after I went out to Australia.' + +'Yes; he had heart disease, and died quite suddenly. The living is +given to Mr. Condamine, who married the eldest daughter, and the +widow is gone to live under the shadow of Redcastle Cathedral.' + +Therewith Miss Nugent opened her own door, and Miss Headworth was +soon made aware of the visitor. She was greatly changed, and had the +indescribable stony look that tells of paralysis; and though she knew +Mr. Dutton, and was delighted to see him, his presence made her +expect to see Alice and Nuttie come in, though she soon recollected +herself and shed a few helpless tears. Then--in another mood--she +began to display with pride and pleasure the photographs of 'Alice's +dear little boy.' She had a whole series of them, from the long- +clothed babe on his sister's knee to the bright little fellow holding +a drum--a very beautiful child, with a striking resemblance to his +mother, quite startling to Mr. Dutton, especially in the last, which +was coloured, and showed the likeness of eyes and expression. + +'Nuttie always sends me one whenever he is taken,' said the old lady. +'Dear Nuttie! It is very good for her. She is quite a little mother +to him.' + +'I was sure it would be so,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Yes,' said Mary, 'he is the great interest and delight of her life. +Her letters are full of his little sayings and doings.' + +'Is she at home now?' + +'No; at Brighton. Her father seems to have taken a dislike to +Bridgefield since his brother's death, and only goes there for a +short time in the shooting season. He has taken a lease of a house +in London, and spends most of the year there.' + +'Ah!' as she showed him the address, 'that is near the old house +where I used to stay with my grand-aunt. We thought it altogether in +the country then, but it is quite absorbed now, and I have dazzling +offers from building companies for the few acres of ground around it. +Have you seen her?' + +'Oh no; I believe she is quite necessary to her father. I only hear +of her through Lady Kirkaldy, who has been very kind to her, but, I +am sorry to say, is now gone with her Lord to the East. She says she +thinks that responsibility has been very good for Nuttie; she is +gentler and less impetuous, and a good deal softened by her affection +for the child.' + +'She was certain to develop. I only dreaded what society her father +might surround her with.' + +'Lady Kirkaldy says that all has turned out better than could have +been expected. You see, as she says, Mr. Egremont has been used to +good women in his own family, and would not like to see her in a +slangy fast set. All her own gaieties have been under Lady +Kirkaldy's wing, or that of Mrs. William Egremont's relations, and +only in a quiet moderate way. Her father gets his own old set about +him, and they have not been very choice, but they are mostly elderly +men, and gentlemen, and know how to behave themselves to her. +Indeed, her cousin Blanche, who was here in the winter, gave us to +understand that Ursula knows how to take care of herself, and gets +laughed at as rather an old maidish model of propriety, if you can +believe it of your little Nuttie.' + +'I could quite believe in her on the defensive, unprotected as she +is.' + +'What did that young lady--Miss Blanche--tell us about that +gentleman, Mary?' asked Miss Headworth, hearing and uttering what +Miss Nugent hoped had passed unnoticed. + +'Oh, I think that was all gossip!' returned Mary, 'and so I am sure +did the Mark Egremonts. She said there was one of Mr. Egremont's +friends, Mr. Clarence Fane, I think she called him, rather younger +than the others, who, she was pleased to say, seemed smitten with +Nuttie, but I have heard nothing more about it, and Mrs. Mark scouted +the idea,' she added in haste, as she saw his expression vary in +spite of himself. + +'Do you see much of your neighbours?' + +'We are both too busy to see much of one another, but we have our +little talks over the wall. What a buoyant creature she is. It +seems as if playfulness was really a sustaining power in her, helping +her to get diversion out of much that others might stumble at. You +know perhaps that when she arrived the work-people had got up a +beautiful parasol for her, white, with a deep fringe and spray of +rowan. Little Susie Gunner presented her with it, and she was very +gracious and nice about it. But then what must Mr. Goodenough do but +dub it the Annabella sunshade, and blazon it, considerably +vulgarised, in all the railway stations, and magazines.' + +'I know! I had the misfortune to see it in the station at Melbourne; +and my mind misgave me from that hour.' + +'Her husband was prepared to be very angry, but she fairly laughed +him out of it, made all sorts of fun out of the affair, declared it +her only opening to fame, and turned it into a regular joke; so that +indeed the Greenleafs, who were vexed at the matter, and tried to +apologise, were quite perplexed in their turn, and not at all sure +that the whole concern was not being turned into ridicule.' + +'I wonder it did not make him cut the connection,' said Mr. Dutton, +muttering 'I only wish it had.' + +'Mrs. Greenleaf is very funny about her, 'added Mary, 'proud of the +Honourable Mrs. Egremont, as they insist on calling her, yet not +quite pleased that she should be the junior partner's wife; and +decidedly resenting her hardly going into society at all, though I +really don't see how she could; for first there was the Canon's +death, and then just after the boy was born came Lady Ronnisglen's +accident, and for the next year and a half there was constant +attendance on her. They fitted up a room on the ground floor for +her, the one opening into your drawing-room, and there they used to +sit with her. I used to hear them reading to her and singing to her, +and they were always as merry as possible, till last autumn, when +something brought on erysipelas, and she was gone almost before they +took alarm. The good little daughter was beaten down then, really +ill for a week; but if you can understand me, the shock seemed to +tell on her chiefly bodily, and though she was half broken-hearted +when her husband in a great fright brought me up to see her, and say +whether her sister should be sent for, she still made fun of him, and +described the impossible advice they would bring on themselves. I +had to take care of her while he went away to the funeral in +Scotland, and then I learnt indeed to like her and see how much there +is in her besides laughter.' + +'Did the old lady leave them anything?' + +'I believe she had nothing to leave. Her jointure was not much, but +I am sure they miss that, for Mrs. Egremont has parted with her +nurse, and has only a little girl in her stead, driving out the +perambulator often herself, to the great scandal of the Greenleafs, +though she would have one believe it is all for want of occupation.' + +'Do you think they have taken any alarm?' + +'There's no judging from her joyous surface, but I have thought him +looking more careworn and anxious than I liked. Mr. Dutton, don't +answer if I ought not to ask, but is it true that things are going +wrong? I know you have been seeing Mr. Greenleaf, so perhaps you are +in his confidence and cannot speak.' + +'Tell me, what is known or suspected?' + +'Just this, that Mr. Goodenough has been the ruin of the concern. He +has been quite different ever since his voyage to America. You were +gone, old Mr. Greenleaf has been past attending to business ever +since he had that attack, and George Greenleaf has been playing the +country squire at Horton Bishop, and not looking after the office +work, and Mr. Egremont was inexperienced. One could see, of course, +that the whole character of the business was changed--much more +advertising, much more cheap and flashy work--to be even with the +times, it was said, but the old superior hands were in despair at the +materials supplied to them, and the scamped work expected. You +should have heard old Thorpe mourning for you, and moralising over +the wickedness of this world. His wife told me she really thought he +would go melancholy mad if he did not leave the factory, and he has +done so. They have saved enough to set up a nice little shop at +Monks Horton.' + +'I must go and see them! Good old Thorpe! I ought never to have put +those poor young things into the firm when I ceased to have any +control over it. I shall never forgive myself--' + +'Nothing could seem safer then! No one could have guessed that young +Mr. Greenleaf would be so careless without his father to keep him up +to the mark, nor that Mr. Goodenough should alter so much. Is it +very bad? Is there worse behind? Speculation, I suppose--' + +'Of course. I do not see to the bottom of it yet; poor George seemed +to reckon on me for an advance, but I am afraid this is more than a +mere temporary depression, such as may be tided over, and that all +that can be looked to is trying to save honourable names by an utter +break up, which may rid them of that--that--no, I won't call him a +scoundrel. I thought highly of him once, and no doubt he never +realised what he was doing.' + +Before the evening was far advanced Mark Egremont knocked at the +door, and courteously asked whether Mr. Dutton could be spared to him +for a little while. Mary Nugent replied that she was just going to +help Miss Headworth to bed, and that the parlour was at their service +for a private interview, but Mark answered, 'My wife is anxious to +hear. She knows all that I do, and is quite prepared to hear +whatever Mr. Dutton may not object to saying before her.' + +So they bade good-night to Mary, and went on together to the next +house, Mr. Dutton saying 'You have much to forgive me, Mr. Egremont; +I feel as if I had deserted the ship just as I had induced you to +embark in it.' + +'You did not guess how ill it would be steered without you,' returned +Mark, with a sigh. 'Do not fear to speak out before my wife, even if +we are sinking. She will hear it bravely, and smile to the last.' + +The room which Mr. Dutton entered was not like the cabin of a sinking +ship, nor, as in his own time, like the well-ordered apartment of a +bachelor of taste. Indeed, the house was a great puzzle to Monsieur, +who entered by invitation, knowing his way perfectly, thinking +himself at home after all his travels, and then missing his own +particular mat, and sniffing round at the furniture. It was of the +modified aesthetic date, but arranged more with a view to comfort +than anything else, and by the light of the shaded lamp and bright +fire was pre-eminently home-like, with the three chairs placed round +the hearth, and bright-haired Annaple rising up from the lowest with +her knitting to greet Mr. Dutton, and find a comfortable lair for +Monsieur. + +'Miss Nugent says that you set everything right that you do but look +at, Mr. Dutton,' she said; 'so we are prepared to receive you as a +good genius to help us out of our tangle.' + +Mr. Dutton was afraid that the tangle was far past unwinding, and of +course the details, so far as yet known, were discussed. There was, +in truth, nothing for which Mark could be blamed. He had diligently +attended to his office-work, which was mere routine, and, conscious +of his own inexperience, and trusting to the senior partners, he had +only become anxious at the end of the year, when he perceived +Goodenough's avoidance of a settlement of accounts, and detected +shuffling. He had not understood enough of the previous business to +be aware of the deterioration of the manner of dealing with it, +though he did think it scarcely what he expected. If he had erred, +it was in acting too much as a wheel in the machinery, keeping his +thoughts and heart in his own happy little home, and not throwing +himself into the spirit of the business, or the ways of those +concerned in it, so that he had been in no degree a controlling +power. He had allowed his quality of gentleman to keep him an +outsider, instead of using it to raise the general level of the +transactions, so that the whole had gone down in the hands of the +unscrupulous Goodenough. + +Annaple listened and knitted quietly while the affairs were explained +on either hand. Mark had had one serious talk with George Greenleaf, +and both had had a stormy scene with Goodenough. Then Mr. Dutton had +telegraphed his arrival, and Greenleaf had met him in London, with +hopes, bred of long and implicit trust, that his sagacity and perhaps +his wealth would carry the old house through the crisis. + +But Mr. Dutton, though reserving his judgment till the books should +have been thoroughly examined and the liabilities completely +understood, was evidently inclined to believe that things had gone +too far, and that the names of Greenleaf and Egremont could only be +preserved from actual dishonour by going into liquidation, dissolving +partnership, and thus getting quit of Goodenough. + +Mark listened resignedly, Annaple with an intelligence that made Mr. +Dutton think her the more clearheaded of the two, though still she +could not refrain from her little jokes. 'I'm sure I should not mind +how liquid we became if we could only run off clear of Goodenough,' +she said. + +'You know what it means?' said her husband. + +'Oh yes, I know what it means. It is the fine word for being sold +up. Well, Mark, never mind, we are young and strong, and it will not +be a bit the worse for the Billy-boy in the end to begin at the +bottom of everything.' + +'I hope--may I ask--is everything embarked in the poor old firm?' +said Mr. Dutton with some hesitation. + +'All that is mine,' said Mark, with his elbow on the table and his +chin on his hand. + +'But I've got a hundred a year, charged on poor old Ronnisglen's +estate,' said Annaple. 'All the others gave theirs up when they +married, and I wanted to do so, but my dear mother would not let me; +she said I had better try how I got on first. Think of that, Mark, a +hundred a year! Why, old Gunner or Thorpe would think themselves +rolling in riches if they only heard that they had a hundred a year!' + +'You won't find it go far!' + +'Yes, I shall, for I shall make you live on porridge, with now and +then a sheep's head for a treat! Besides, there will be something to +do. It will be working up again, you know. But seriously, Mr. +Dutton, I have some things here of my dear mother's that really +belong to Ronnisglen, and I was only keeping till he comes home. +Should not they be got out of the way?' + +'My dear, we are not come to that yet! I hope it may be averted!' +cried Mark. + +But Mr. Dutton agreed with the young wife that it would be much +better to send these things away before their going could excite +suspicion. There was only a tiny silver saucepan, valued as a gift +of 'Queen' Clementina to an ancestress, also a silver teapot and some +old point, and some not very valuable jewellery, all well able to go +into a small box, which Mr. Dutton undertook to deposit with Lord +Ronnisglen's bankers. He was struck with the scrupulous veracity +with which Annaple decided between what had become her own property +and the heirlooms, though what she claimed might probably be +sacrificed to the creditors. + +Mark could hardly endure to see what made the crisis so terribly +real. 'That I should have brought you to this!' he said to his wife, +when their visitor had at length bidden them good-night. + +'If we begin at that work,' said Annaple, 'it was I who brought you! +I have often thought since it was rather selfish not to have +consented to your helping poor Ursula with her heavy handful of a +father! It was all money grubbing and grabbing, you see, and if we +had thought more of our neighbour than ourselves we might have been +luxuriating at the Home Farm, or even if your uncle had quarrelled +with you, he would not have devoured your substance. I have thought +so often, ever since I began to see this coming.' + +'My dear child, you don't mean that you have seen this coming!' + +'My prophetic soul! Why, Mark, you have as good as inferred it over +and over again. I've felt like scratching that Badenough whenever I +met him in the street. I must indulge myself by calling him so for +once in strict privacy.' + +'You have guessed it all the time, while I only thought how +unconscious you were.' + +'Not to say stupid, considering all you told me. Besides, what would +have been the use of howling and moaning and being dismal before the +time? For my part, I could clap my hands even now at getting rid of +Goodenough, and his jaunty, gracious air! Come, Mark, it won't be so +bad after all, you'll see.' + +'Nothing can be "so bad," while you are what you are, my Nan.' + +'That's right. While we have each other and the Billy-boy, nothing +matters much. There's plenty of work in us both, and that good man +will find it for us; or if he doesn't, we'll get a yellow van, and +knit stockings, and sell them round the country. How jolly that +would be! Imagine Janet's face. There, that's right,' as her +mimicry evoked a smile, 'I should be ashamed to be unhappy about +this, when our good name is saved, and when there is a blessing on +the poor,' she added in a lower voice, tenderly kissing her husband's +weary brow. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. +THE BOY OF EGREMONT. + + + + +'And the boy that walked beside me, + He could not understand + Why, closer in mine, ah, closer, + I press'd his warm soft hand.'--LONGFELLOW. + + +The agony of a firm like Greenleaf, Goodenough, and Co. could not be +a rapid thing, and Mr. Dutton lived between London and Micklethwayte +for several weeks, having much to endure on all sides. The senior +partners thought it an almost malicious and decidedly ungrateful +thing in him not to throw in his means, or at any rate, offer his +guarantee to tide them over their difficulties. Goodenough's +tergiversations and concealments needed a practised hand and acute +head to unravel them, and often deceived Mr. Greenleaf himself; and +when, for a time, he was convinced that the whole state was so rotten +that a crash was inevitable, his wife's lamentations and complaints +of Mr. Dutton would undo the whole, and it was as if he were doing +them an injury that the pair accepted the comfortable prospect he was +able to offer them in Australia. + +He would have made the like proposal to the Egremonts, but found that +Mark held himself bound by his promise to his father not to emigrate, +and thought of some kind of office-work. Before trying to procure +this for him, however, Mr. Dutton intended to see his uncle, and try +whether the agency, once rejected, could still be obtained for him. +Learning from Miss Nugent that the Egremonts were in town, he went up +thither with the purpose of asking for an interview. + +There was a new church in the immediate neighbourhood of his house in +a state of growth and development congenial to the St. Ambrose +trained mind, and here Mr. Dutton, after old Micklethwayte custom, +was attending the early matins, when, in the alternate verses of the +psalm, he heard a fresh young voice that seemed to renew those days +gone by, and looking across the central aisle his eyes met a pair of +dark ones which gave a sudden glitter of gladness at the encounter. +That was all he saw or cared to see. He did not take in the finished +completeness of the very plain dark dress and hat, nor the womanly +air of the little figure, until they clasped hands in the porch, and +in the old tones Nuttie exclaimed: 'I've been hoping you would come +to London. How is Monsieur?' + +'In high health, thank you, the darling of the steamer both going and +coming. I hope your charges are well?' + +'My father is tolerable, just as usual, and my little Alwyn is +getting more delicious every day. He will be so delighted to see +Monsieur. I have told him so many stories about him!' + +'Do you think I may call on Mr. Egremont?' + +'Oh do! He is ready to be called on between two and three, and we +always have Wynnie downstairs then, so that you will see him too. +And you have been at Micklethwayte. I am afraid you found a great +change in Aunt Ursel.' + +'Yes; but she is very peaceful and happy.' + +'And I have to leave her altogether to dear excellent Miss Nugent. +It seems very, very wrong, but I cannot help it! And how about Mark +and Annaple?' + +'I think she is the bravest woman I ever met.' + +'Then things are really going badly with the dear old firm?' + +'I am hoping to talk to Mr. Egremont about it.' + +'Ah!' + +Nuttie paused. Towards Mr. Dutton she always had a stronger impulse +of confidence than towards any one else she had ever met; but she +felt that he might think it unbecoming to say that she had perceived +a certain dislike on her father's part towards Mark ever since the +rejection of the agency and the marriage, which perhaps was regarded +as a rejection of herself. He had a habit of dependence on Mark, +which resulted in personal liking, when in actual contact, but in +absence the distaste and offence always revived, fostered, no doubt, +by Gregorio; and Canon Egremont's death had broken the link which had +brought them together. However, for his brother's sake, and for the +sake of the name, the head of the family might be willing to do +something. It was one of Nuttie's difficulties that she never could +calculate on the way her father would take any matter. Whether for +better or for worse, he always seemed to decide in diametrical +opposition to her expectation. And, as she was certainly less +impetuous and more dutiful, she parted with Mr. Dutton at her own +door without any such hint. + +These three years had been discipline such as the tenderest, wisest +hand could not have given her, though it had been insensible. She +had been obliged to attend to her father and watch over her little +brother, and though neither task had seemed congenial to her +disposition, the honest endeavour to do them rightly had produced the +affection born of solicitude towards her father, and the strong warm +tenderness of the true mother-sister towards little Alwyn. + +Ursula Egremont was one of those natures to which responsibility is +the best training. If she had had any one to guard or restrain her, +she might have gone to the utmost limits before she yielded to the +curb. As it was, she had to take care of herself, to bear and +forbear with her father, to walk warily with her household, and to be +very guarded with the society into which she was thrown from time to +time. It was no sudden change, but one brought about by experience. +An outbreak of impatience or temper towards her father was sure to be +followed by his galling sneer, or by some mortification to her +desires; any act of mismanagement towards the servants brought its +own punishment; and if she was tempted by girlish spirits to relax +the quiet, stiff courtesy which she observed towards her father's +guests, there followed jests, or semi-patronage, or a tone of +conversation that offended her, and made her repent it. Happily, Mr. +Egremont did not wish her to be otherwise. One day, when she had +been betrayed into rattling and giggling, he spoke to her afterwards +with a cutting irony which bitterly angered her at the moment, and +which she never forgot. Each irksome duty, each privation, each +disappointment, each recurrence of the sweeping sense of desolation +and loneliness had had one effect--it had sent her to her knees. She +had no one else to go to. She turned to her Father in heaven. +Sometimes, indeed, it was in murmuring and complaint at her lot, but +still it was to Him and Him alone, and repentance sooner or later +came to aid her, while refreshments sprang up around her--little +successes, small achievements, pleasant hours, tokens that her father +was pleased or satisfied, and above all, the growing charms of little +Alwyn. + +The special grievance, Gregorio's influence, had scarcely dwelt on +her at first as it had done on her mother. The man had been very +cautious for some time, knowing that his continuance in his situation +was in the utmost jeopardy, and Mr. Egremont had, in the freshness of +his grief for his wife, abstained from relapsing into the habits from +which she had weaned him. When, however, the Canon was dead, and his +son at a distance, Gregorio began to feel more secure, and in the +restless sorrow of his master over the blow that had taken away an +only brother, he administered soothing drugs under another name, so +that Ursula, in her inexperience, did not detect what was going on, +and still fancied that the habit had been renounced. All she did +know was that it was entirely useless for her to attempt to exert any +authority over the valet, and that the only way to escape insolently +polite disobedience was to let him alone. Moreover, plans to which +her father had agreed, when broached by her, had often been +overthrown after his valet had been with him. It was a life full of +care and disappointment, yet there was a certain spring of trust that +kept Ursula's youth from being dimmed, and enabled her to get a fair +share of happiness out of it, though she was very sorry not to be +more at Bridgefield, where she could have worked with all her heart +with May Condamine. Moreover, Lady Kirkaldy's absence from London +was a great loss to her, for there was no one who was so kind or so +available in taking her into society; and Nuttie, though mistress of +her father's house, was not yet twenty-two, and strongly felt that +she must keep within careful bounds, and not attempt to be her own +chaperon. + +But the very sight of her old friend, and the knowledge that he was +in the neighbourhood, filled her heart with gladness, and seemed like +a compensation for everything. Mr. Egremont was in a gracious mood, +and readily consented to see Mr. Dutton--the friend who had been so +pleasant and helpful at Paris--and Nuttie gave her private +instructions to the footman to insure his admittance. + +His card was brought in just as the father and daughter were +finishing luncheon, and he was received in Mr. Egremont's sitting- +room, where the first civilities had hardly passed before the door +was opened, and in trotted the golden-haired boy, so beautiful a +child that it would have been impossible not to look at him with +delight, even for those to whom his dark eyes and sweet smile did not +recall those that had once been so dear. + +Mr. Egremont's voice took a fresh tone: 'Ah! here he comes, the old +fellow'--and he held out his hands; but the boy was intent on his own +purpose. + +'Where's black doggie?' he asked in a silver-bell of a little voice, +but lisping a good deal; 'Wyn got penny for him.' + +'Wynnie must be a good boy. Kiss papa first, and Mr. Dutton,' +remonstrated the sister; and Alwyn obeyed so far as to submit to his +father's embrace, and then raising those velvety eyes to the +visitor's face, he repeated: 'Where black doggie? Wyn want to see +him buy bun.' + +'There! your fame has preceded you,' said Mr. Egremont, 'or rather +your dog's.' + +'You shall see him,' said Mr. Dutton, taking the pretty boy almost +reverently on his knee, 'but he is at home now. I could not leave +him out on the street, and I did not know if I might bring him in.' + +'Oh, Mr. Dutton! as if Monsieur would not be welcome,' cried the +Nuttie of old times. 'I only wish I had stipulated for him, dear old +fellow.' + +'Wyn want to see him,' reiterated the child. + +'May I take him to see the performance?' said Mr. Dutton. 'I live +only at the corner of Berkshire Road, and there's a dairy just +opposite where Monsieur has been allowed to keep up his +accomplishment.' + +Alwyn's legs, arms, and voice, were all excitement and entreaty; and +Mr. Egremont himself proposed that they should all come and witness +the feat; so Nuttie, in great glee, climbed the stairs with her +little brother to get ready; and when she came down again, found the +gentlemen deep, not in Mark Egremont's umbrellas, but in the gas and +smoke grievances which had arisen since the lease of the house had +been taken, and in which sympathy might be expected from a fellow- +inhabitant of the district. Little Alwyn was, however, plainly the +lord of the ascendant, and unused to see anything else attended to in +his presence. He took possession of Mr. Dutton's hand, and his +tongue went fast, nor did his father or sister seem to desire any +better music. They reached an old-walled garden, with lilac and +laburnum and horse-chestnut blossoming above, and showing a mass of +greenery through the iron railing that surmounted, the low wall on +the street side, where Mr. Dutton halted and took out his key. + +'Is this yours?' exclaimed Nuttie, 'I have so often wondered whose it +could be.' + +'Yes, it was a country-house when I was of the age of this little +man, though you might not think it.' + +'The increase of London had not been on that side,' said Mr. +Egremont. 'This must be a very valuable property!' + +And Nuttie perceived that such an inheritance made Mr. Dutton much +more in his eyes than an ex-umbrella-monger; but no sooner was the +tall iron gate opened than Monsieur, beautifully shaved, with all his +curly tufts in perfection, came bounding to meet his master, and +Alwyn had his arms round the neck in a moment. Monsieur had in his +time been introduced to too many children not to understand the +situation, and respond politely; and he also recognised Ursula, and +gave unmistakable proofs of being glad to see her. + +Then the halfpenny was presented to him. He wagged his queer tail, +smiled with his intelligent brown eyes, took it between his teeth, +and trotted across the street in the most business-like way, the +others following, but detaining the boy from keeping too close. +They found the creature sitting upright, tapping the floor with his +tail, the centre of rapturous admiration to all the customers already +in the dairy shop. He received his bun, and demurely dropping on his +front legs, walked back with it to his master, and crossed the road +with it uneaten, rather to Alwyn's disappointment, but Mr. Dutton +said he would probably dispose of it in some hiding-place in the +garden until his evening appetite came on. It was well he was a dog +of moderation, for there was great temptation to repeat the +entertainment more than was wholesome for him. + +'There, Wynnie,' said Nuttie in a voice of monition, 'Monsieur +doesn't eat all his goodies at once, he keeps them for bedtime.' + +It might be perceived that the over-supply of sweets was a matter of +anxiety to the elder sister. To the nurse, who waited in readiness, +Alwyn was consigned for his walk, while his father and sister +accepted Mr. Dutton's invitation to look round his domain. It would +have been small in the country, but it was extensive for the +locality, and there was a perfect order and trimness about the shaven +lawn, the little fountain in the midst, the flower-beds gay with +pansies, forget-me-nots, and other early beauties, and the freshly- +rolled gravel paths, that made Nuttie exclaim: 'Ah! I should have +known this for yours anywhere.' + +'I have not had much to do to it,' he said. 'My old aunts had it +well kept up, even when they could only see it from their windows. +Their old gardener still lives in the cottage behind the tool-house, +though he is too infirm for anything but being wheeled about in the +sun in their Bath-chair.' + +'You keep a large amount lying idle by retaining it as it is,' said +Mr. Egremont. + +'True, but it is well to preserve an oasis here and there.' + +Nuttie knew well that it was not for himself alone, and as they +entered the little conservatory, and her eye fell on the row of white +hyacinths, the very scent carried her back to the old times, and her +eyes grew moist while Mr. Dutton was cutting a bouquet for her in +accordance with well-known tastes. + +'I shall put them in my room. It will feel like home,' she said, and +then she saw that she had said what her father did not like; for he +was always sensitive as to any reference to her early life. + +Mr. Dutton, however, took this opportunity of saying that he had been +backwards and forwards to Micklethwayte several times this spring. + +'I hope you are well out of the concern there,' said Mr. Egremont. + +'Thank you, sir; I have no share in it at present.' + +'So much the better!' + +'But I am very anxious about my friends.' + +'Ah!' But Mr. Egremont's attention was drawn off at the entrance of +the house by a new-fashioned stove of which Mr. Dutton did the +honours, conducting father and daughter into the drawing-room, where +obvious traces of the old ladies remained, and thence into his own +sitting-room, smelling pleasantly of Russia leather, and recalling +that into which Nuttie had been wont, before her schooldays, to climb +by the window, and become entranced by the illustrations of a +wonderful old edition of Telemaque, picked up at Paris. + +Mr. Dutton made them sit and rest, for this had been a good deal of +exercise for Mr. Egremont; coffee was brought in, having been ordered +on their arrival, and therewith Mr. Dutton entered on an exposition +of the affairs of Greenleaf and Goodenough, which was listened to +with a good deal of interest, though Nuttie could not quite detect +whether it were altogether friendly interests in Mark's misfortunes, +or if there were not a certain triumph in the young man having run +into trouble by rejecting his offer. + +Mr. Dutton explained that his present object was to induce the +friends of the family to prevent annoyance by preserving the +furniture and personals at a valuation; and Mr. Egremont readily +agreed to contribute to doing this, though he said the sisters and +stepmother were well able also to do their share. + +'And then to give the young people a fresh start,' added Mr. Dutton. + +'There are some men who are always wanting fresh starts,' said Mr. +Egremont, 'just as there are some vessels that are always unlucky. +And if you observe, it is just those men who are in the greatest +haste to hang an expensive wife and family round their necks.' + +'I don't think poor Annaple can be accused of being expensive, papa,' +said Nuttie. 'Only think, when Wynnie has two nurses always after +him, her Willie has only the fraction of a little maid, who does all +sorts of work besides.' + +'Yes, I never saw more resolute and cheerful exertion than Mrs. Mark +Egremont's,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'She owes him something,' said Mr. Egremont, 'for she has been the +ruin of him.' + +'Of his worldly prospects in one sense,' said Mr. Dutton quietly; +while Nuttie felt how much better and wiser an answer it was than the +indignant denial that trembled on her tongue. 'There can be no doubt +that they made a grievous mistake in their choice, and I +unfortunately was concerned in leading them into it; but no one can +see how they meet their troubles without great respect and +admiration, and I am especially bound to seek for some new opening +for them. I have little doubt that some office work might be found +for him in London, but they are essentially country people, and it +would be much better for them if he could have some agency. I +suppose the situation you offered him before, sir, is filled up? ' + +'Not really,' cried Nuttie. 'We have only a very common sort of +uneducated bailiff, who would be much better with some one over him. +You said so, papa.' + +'Did he request you to apply to me?' said Mr. Egremont sharply, +looking at Mr. Dutton. + +'Neither he nor she has the least idea of my intention; I only +thought, sir, you might be willing to consider how best to assist a +nephew, who has certainly not been wanting either in industry or +economy, and who bears your name.' + +'Well, I will think it over,' said Mr. Egremont, rising to take +leave. + +The carriage had been bidden to await them at the door for their +daily drive, and as Mr. Egremont leant back with the furs disposed +over him he observed: 'That's a man who knows how to take care of +himself. I wonder where he gets his coffee, I've not drunk any like +it since I was at Nice.' And Nuttie, though well knowing that Mr. +Dutton's love of perfection was not self-indulgence, was content to +accept this as high approbation, and a good augury for Mark and +Annaple. Indeed, with Mr. Dutton settled near, and with the prospect +of a daily walk from church with him, she felt such a complete +content and trust as she had not known since she had been uprooted +from Micklethwayte. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. +A BRAVE HEART. + + + + +'One furnace many times the good and bad may hold, + Yet what consumes the chaff will only cleanse the gold.' + Archbishop TRENCH. + + +Never was there a truer verse than that which tells us that in +seeking duty we find pleasure by the way, and in seeking pleasure we +meet pain. It might be varied to apply to our anticipations of +enjoyment or the reverse. Ursula had embraced her lot as a +necessity, and found it enlivened by a good many sunshiny hours; and +when she looked upon Mr. Dutton's neighbourhood as a continual source +of delight and satisfaction, she found that it gave rise to a +continual course of small disappointments. + +In the first place, he did not walk home from church with her every +morning. She looked for him in vain, even when she knew he was in +town. He only appeared there on Sundays, and at intervals when he +had some especial reason for speaking to her. At first she thought +he must have grown lazy or out of health to have thus dropped his old +Micklethwayte habits, but after a time she discovered by accident +that he frequented another church, open at a still earlier hour and a +little farther off, and she was forced to come to the conclusion that +he acted out of his characteristic precise scrupulosity, which would +not consider it as correct for her to walk home every day with him. +She chafed, and derided 'the dear old man' a little in her own mind, +then ended with a sigh. Was there any one who cared so much about +what was proper for her? And, after all, was he really older than +Mr. Clarence Fane, whom everybody in her father's set called +Clarence, or even Clare, and treated as the boy of the party, so that +she had taken it as quite natural that he should be paired off with +her. It was quite a discovery! + +There was another and more serious disappointment. Mr. Egremont had +not seemed disinclined to consider the giving the agency to Mark, and +Nuttie had begun to think with great satisfaction of May Condamine's +delight in welcoming him, and of the good influence that would be +brought to bear on the dependents, when suddenly there came a +coolness. She could trace the moment, and was sure that it was, when +Gregorio became aware of what was intended. He had reason to dread +Mark as an enemy, and was likely to wish to keep him at a distance; +and it had been Ursula's great hope that an absolute promise might +have been given before he heard of the plan; but Mr. Egremont was +always slow to make up his mind, except when driven by a sudden +impulse, and had never actually said that the post should be offered +to his nephew. Nuttie only detected the turn of the tide by the want +of cordiality, the hums and haws, and by and by the resumption of the +unkind ironical tone when Mark and Annaple were mentioned; and at +last, when she had been reading to him a letter from Mrs. William +Egremont full of anxiety for the young people, and yet of trust in +his kindness to them, he exclaimed, 'You've not been writing to her +about this absurd proposal?' + +'I have not mentioned any proposal at all. What do you mean?' + +'Why, this ridiculous idea about the agency. As if I was going to +put my affairs into the hands of a man who has made such a mull of +his own.' + +'But that was not Mark's fault, papa. He was junior, you know, and +had no power over that Goodenough.' + +'He ought, then! Never sail with an unlucky captain. No, no, Mark's +honourable lady would not let him take the agency when he might have +had it, and I am not going to let them live upon me now that they +have nothing of their own.' + +'Oh, papa, but you almost promised!' + +'Almost!' he repeated with his ironical tone; 'that's a word capable +of a good deal of stretching. This is what you and that umbrella +fellow have made out of my not giving him a direct refusal on the +spot. He may meddle with Mark's affairs if he chooses, but not with +mine.' + +Nuttie had learnt a certain amount of wisdom, and knew that to argue +a point only made her father more determined, so she merely answered, +'Very well;' adding in a meek voice, 'Their furniture, poor things!' + +'Oh ay. Their umbrella friend is making a collection for them. Yes, +I believe I said I would contribute.' + +Hot blood surged up within Nuttie at the contemptuous tone, and she +bit her lip to keep down the answer, for she knew Mr, Dutton intended +to call the next afternoon for her father's ultimatum before going +down to Micklethwayte, where the crisis was fast approaching, and she +had so much faith in his powers that she dreaded to forestall him by +an imprudent word. Alas, Gregorio must have been on his guard, for, +though Nuttie was sure she heard her friend's ring at the usual time, +no entrance followed. She went up to put on her habit to ride with +her father, and when she came down Mr. Egremont held out a card with +the name 'Philip Dutton,' and the pencilled request below to be +allowed to see Mr. Egremont later in the day. + +'He has been denied!' exclaimed she in consternation. + +'Hein! Before we go out, sit down and write a note for me.' And he +dictated-- + + + 'Dear Sir--I will not trouble you to call again this + afternoon, as I have decided on reflection that there + is no employment on my estate suited to my nephew, + Mark Egremont. + + 'As I understand that you are raising a family + subscription for rescuing his furniture from the + creditors, I enclose a cheque for £50 for the purpose. + --I remain--' + + +'Yours--what--papa?--' asked Ursula, with a trembling voice, full of +tears. + +'Yours, etc., of course. Quite intimate enough for an ex-umbrella- +monger. Here, give it to me, and I'll sign it while you fill up the +cheque for me.' + +That such should be the first letter that Nuttie ever addressed to +Mr. Dutton, since the round-hand one in 'which Miss Ursula wished Mr. +Duton to have the onner of a tee with me on my birthday, and I am +your affected little Nuttie'! + +She hoped to explain and lament the next morning, after church. He +would surely come to talk it over with her; but he only returned a +civil note with his receipt, and she did not see him again before his +departure. She was greatly vexed; she had wanted so much to tell him +how it was, and then came an inward consciousness that she would +probably have told him a great deal too much. + +Was it that tiresome prudence of his again that would think for her +and prevent impulsive and indignant disclosures? It made her bring +down her foot sharply on the pavement with vexation as she suspected +that he thought her so foolish, and then again her heart warmed with +the perception of self-denying care for her. She trusted to that +same prudence for no delusive hopes having been given to Mark and his +wife. + +She did so justly. Mr. Dutton had thought the matter far too +uncertain to be set before them. The Canoness's vague hopes had been +the fruit of a hint imprudently dropped by Nuttie herself in a letter +to Blanche. She had said more to Miss Nugent, but Mary was a +nonconductor. Mr. Dutton's heart sank as he looked at the houses, +and he had some thoughts of going to her first for intelligence, but +Annaple had spied him, and ran out to the gate to welcome him. + +'Oh, Mr. Dutton, I'm so glad! Mark will be delighted.' + +'Is he at home?' + +'Oh no, at the office, wading through seas of papers with Mr. +Greenleaf, but he will come home to eat in a quarter of an hour. So +come in;' then, as her boy's merry voice and a gruffer one were +heard, 'That's the bailiff. He is Willie's devoted slave.' + +'I hoped to have been in time to have saved you that.' + +'Well, I'm convinced that among the much maligned races are bailiffs. +I wonder what I could get by an article on prejudice against classes! +I was thinking how much beer I should have to lay in for this one, +and behold he is a teetotaller, and besides that amateur nurse-maid, +parlour-maid, kitchen-maid, etc. etc.--' + +'What bailiff could withstand Mrs. Egremont? Perhaps you have tamed +him?' + +'Not I. The cook did that. Indeed I believe there's a nice little +idyll going on in the kitchen, and besides he wore the blue ribbon, +and was already a devoted follower of young Mr. Godfrey!' + +'However, if the valuation is ready, I hope you may be relieved from +him, if you won't be too much concerned at the parting!' + +'Mrs. Egremont told us that our people are very good to us,' said +Annaple, 'and don't mean to send us out with nothing but a pack at +our backs. It is very kind in them and in you, Mr. Dutton, to take +the trouble of it! No, I'll not worry you with thanks. The great +point is, hope for something for Mark to do. That will keep up his +spirits best! Poor Mr. Greenleaf is so melancholy that it is all I +can do to keep him up to the mark.' + +'I have been making inquiries, and I have three possible openings, +but I hardly like to lay them before you.' + +'Oh, we are not particular about gentility! It is work we want, and +if it was anything where I could help that would be all the better! +I'm sure I only wonder there are so many as three. I think it is +somebody's doing. Ah! there's Mark,' and she flew out to meet him. +'Mark!' she said, on the little path, 'here's the good genius, with +three chances in his pocket. Keep him to luncheon. I've got plenty. +Poor old man, how hot you look! Go and cool in the drawing-room, +while I wash my son's face.' + +And she disappeared into the back regions, while Mark, the smile she +had called up vanishing from his face, came into the drawing-room, +and held out a cordial, thankful hand to his friend, whose chief +intelligence was soon communicated. 'Yes,' said Mark, when he heard +the amount entrusted by the family to Mr. Dutton, 'that will save all +my wife's poor little household gods. Not that I should call them +so, for I am sure she does not worship them. I don't know what would +become of me if she were like poor Mrs. Greenleaf, who went into +hysterics when the bailiff arrived, and has kept her room ever since. +I sometimes feel as if nothing could hurt us while Annaple remains +what she is.' + +Mr. Dutton did not wonder that he said so, when she came in leading +her little son, with his sunny hair newly brushed and shining, and +carrying a little bouquet for the guest of one La Marque rosebud and +three lilies of the valley. + +'Take it to Mr. Dutton, Billy-boy; I think he knows how the flowers +came into the garden. You shall have daddy's button-hole to take to +him next. There, Mark, it is a pansy of most smiling countenance, +such as should beam on you through your accounts. I declare, there's +that paragon of a Mr. Jones helping Bessy to bring in dinner! Isn't +it very kind to provide a man-servant for us?' + +It might be rattle, and it might be inconsequent, but it was much +pleasanter than hysterics. Billy-boy was small enough to require a +good deal of attention at dinner, especially as he was more disposed +to open big blue eyes at the stranger, than to make use of his spoon, +and Annaple seemed chiefly engrossed with him, though a quick keen +word at the right moment showed that she was aware of all that was +going on, as Mark and Mr. Dutton discussed the present situation and +future measures. + +It was quite true that a man concerned in a failure was in great +danger of being left out of the race for employment, and Mr. Dutton +did not think it needful to mention the force of the arguments he was +using to back his recommendation of Mark Egremont. The possibilities +he had heard of were a clerkship at a shipping agent's, another at a +warehouse in their own line, and a desk at an insurance office. This +sounded best, but had the smallest salary to begin with, and locality +had to be taken into account. Mr. Dutton's plan was, that as soon as +Mark was no longer necessary for what Annaple was pleased to call the +fall of the sere and withered leaf, the pair should come to stay with +him, so that Mark could see his possible employers, and Annaple +consider of the situations. They accepted this gratefully, Mark only +proposing that she should go either to his stepmother or her own +relations to avoid the final crisis. + +'As if I would!' she exclaimed. 'What sort of a little recreant +goose do you take me for?' + +'I take you for a gallant little woman, ready to stand in the +breach,' said Mark. + +'Ah, don't flatter yourself! There is a thing I have not got courage +to face--without necessity, and that's Janet's triumphant pity. Mr. +Dutton lives rather too near your uncle, but he is a man, and he +can't be so bad.' + +This of course did not pass till Mr. Dutton had gone in to greet the +ladies next door, to promise to tell them of their child at length +when the business hours of the day should be over. + +Shall it be told? There was something in his tone--perfectly +indefinable, with which he spoke of 'Miss Egremont,' that was like +the old wistfully reverential voice in which he used to mention 'Mrs. +Egremont.' It smote Mary Nugent's quiet heart with a pang. Was it +that the alteration from the old kindly fatherliness of regard to +'little Nuttie' revealed that any dim undefined hope of Mary's own +must be extinguished for ever; or was it that she grieved that he +should again be wasting his heart upon the impracticable? + +A little of both, perhaps, but Mary was as ready as ever to +sympathise, and to rejoice in hearing that the impetuous child had +grown into the forbearing dutiful woman. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. +A FRESH START. + + + + +'Did you say that Mark and his wife were come to Springfield House?' + +'They come the day after to-morrow,' answered Ursula. 'Mark could +not finish up the business sooner.' + +'Well, I suppose we must have them to dinner for once. He has made a +fool of himself, but I won't have the Canoness complaining that I +take no notice of him; and it is easier done while he is there than +when he has got into some hole in the City--that is if he ever gets +anything to do.' + +'Mr. Dutton has several situations in view for him.' + +'In view. That's a large order. Or does it mean living on Dutton +and doing something nominal? I should think Dutton too old and sharp +a hand for that, though he is quartering them on himself.' + +'I believe there is nothing Mr. Dutton would like better, if he +thought it right for them, but I am quite sure Mark and Annaple would +not consent.' + +'Ha, ha!' and Mr. Egremont laughed. 'Their nose is not brought to +the grindstone yet! Say Saturday, then, Ursula.' + +'Am I to ask Mr. Dutton?' + +'Of course; I'm not going to have a tete-a-tete with Master Mark.' + +So Ursula had the satisfaction of writing a more agreeable note to +Mr. Dutton than her last, and her invitation was accepted, but to her +vexation Mr. Egremont further guarded himself from anything +confidential by verbally asking Mr. Clarence Fane on that very day, +and as that gentleman was a baronet's son, she knew she should fall +to his lot at dinner, and though she was glad when this was the case +at their ordinary parties, it was a misfortune on the present +occasion. She had not seen Annaple since her marriage, except at the +family gathering on the Canon's death, when she was very much +absorbed by the requirements of the stricken household; and Nuttie +expected to see her in the same subdued condition. All Mr. Dutton +had said or Mary Nugent had written about her courage and +cheerfulness had given the impression of 'patience smiling at grief,' +and in a very compassionate mood she started for a forenoon call at +Springfield House; but, early as it was, nobody was at home, unless +it might be the little boy, whose voice she thought she heard while +waiting at the gate. + +She was out driving with her father afterwards in the long summer +evening, and only found Mark's card on returning just in time to +dress. It was a bright glaring day, and she was sitting by the +window, rather inattentively listening to Mr. Fane's criticism of a +new performance at one of the theatres, when she heard the bell, and +there entered the slight, bright creature who might still have been +taken for a mere girl. The refined though pronounced features, the +transparent complexion, crispy yellow hair and merry eyes, were as +sunbeam-like as at the Rectory garden-party almost five years ago, +and the black dress only marked the contrast, and made the +slenderness of the figure more evident. + +Mark looked older, and wrung his cousin's hand with a pressure of +gratitude and feeling, but Annaple's was a light little gay kiss, and +there was an entire unconsciousness about her of the role of poor +relation. She made an easy little acknowledgment of the introduction +of Mr. Fane, and, as Mr. Egremont appeared the next moment, exchanged +greetings with him in a lively ordinary fashion. + +This was just what he liked. He only wanted to forget what was +unpleasant, and, giggling Scotch girl as she was, he was relieved to +find that she could not only show well-bred interest in the surface +matters of the time, but put in bright flashes of eagerness and +originality, well seconded by Mr. Dutton. Mr. Fane was always a +professor of small talk, and Nuttie had learnt to use the current +change of society, so that though Mark was somewhat silent, the +dinner was exceedingly pleasant and lively; and, as Mr. Fane remarked +afterwards, he had been asked to enliven a doleful feast to ruined +kindred, he could only say he wished prosperity always made people so +agreeable. + +'This is all high spirit and self-respect,' thought Nuttie. 'Annaple +is talking as I am, from the teeth outwards. I shall have it out +with her when we go upstairs! At any rate my father is pleased with +her!' + +Nuttie made the signal to move as soon as she could, and as they went +upstairs, put her arm round the slim waist and gave a sympathetic +pressure, but the voice that addressed her had still the cheery ring +that she fancied had been only assumed. + +'I'm sorry I missed you, but we set out early and made a day of it; +and oh! we've been into such funny places as I never dreamt of! You +didn't see my boy?' + +'No. I thought I heard him. I must see him to-morrow.' + +'And I must see yours. May it not be a pleasure to-night? I've no +doubt you go and gloat over him at night.' + +'Well, I do generally run up after dinner; but after your day, I +can't think of dragging you up all these stairs.' + +'Oh, that's nothing! Only you see it is jollier to have my Billy-boy +in the next room.' + +They were mounting all the time, and were received in the day nursery +by the old Rectory nurse, much increased in dignity, but inclined to +be pathetic as she inquired after 'Mr. Mark,' while Annaple, like a +little insensible being, answered with provoking complacency as to +his perfect health, and begged Mrs. Poole to bring Master Alwyn to +play in the garden at Springfield with her Willie. In fact there was +a general invitation already to Alwyn to play there, but his +attendants so much preferred the society of their congeners in the +parks that they did not avail themselves of it nearly as often as +Ursula wished. + +Little Alwyn asleep was, of course, a beautiful sight, with a +precious old headless rabbit pressed tight to his cheek; Annaple's +face grew tender as she looked at the motherless creature; and she +admired him to any extent except saying that he excelled her own. +Being more than a year the elder, there could be no rivalry as to +accomplishments; but as soon as they were out of the nursery hush, +Annaple laughed her way down again with tales of Billy-boy's wonder +at his first experiences of travelling. They sat down among the +plants in the balcony, as far from the lamps as possible, and talked +themselves into intimacy over Micklethwayte. There are two Eden +homes in people's lives, one that of later childhood, the other the +first of wedded happiness, and St. Ambrose Road had the same halo to +both of these; for both had been uprooted from it against their will; +the chief difference being that Ursula could cast longing, lingering +looks behind, while Annaple held herself resolutely steeled against +sentiment, and would only turn it off by something absurd. Nothing +was absolutely settled yet; Mark had been presenting himself at +offices, and she had been seeing rooms and lodgings. + +'The insurance office sounds the best, and would be the least shock +to our belongings,' said Annaple; 'but it seems to lead to nothing. +He would not get on unless we had capital to invest, and even if we +had any, you wouldn't catch us doing that again!' + +'Does Mr. Dutton advise that?' + +'No, he only thought we should like it better; but we are quite past +caring for people's feelings in the matter. They couldn't pity us +worse than they do. I incline to Stubbs and Co. One of them was +once in the Greenleaf office, and has a regard for anything from +thence; besides Mark would have something to do besides desk work. +He would have to judge of samples, and see to the taking in and +storing of goods. He does know something about that, and I'm sure it +would agree with him better than an unmitigated high stool, with his +nose to a desk.' + +'I should like it better.' + +'That's right! Now I have got some one to say so. Besides, rising +is possible, if one gets very useful. I mean to be Mrs. Alderman, if +not my Lady Mayoress, before we have done. Then they have a great +big almost deserted set of rooms over the warehouse, where we might +live and look after the place.' + +'Oh! but should you like that?' + +'Mr. Dutton wants us to live out in some of the suburban places, +where it seems there is a perfect population of clerks' families in +semi-detached houses. He says we should save Mark's railway fare, +rent, and all in doctors' bills. But people, children and all, do +live and thrive in the City; and I think Mark's health will be better +looked after if I am there to give him his midday bite and sup, and +brush him up, than if he is left to cater for himself; and as to +exercise for the Billy-boy, 'tis not so far to the Thames Embankment. +The only things that stagger me are the blacks! I don't know whether +life is long enough to be after the blacks all day long, but perhaps +I shall get used to them!' + +'Well, I think that would be worse.' + +'Perhaps it would; and at any rate, if the blacks do beat me, we +could move. Think, no rent, nor rates, nor taxes--that is an +inducement to swallow--no--to contend with, any number of +blackamoors, isn't it? even if they settle on the tip of Billy-boy's +nose.' + +'I could come to see you better there than out in a suburb,' said +Nuttie. 'But what do these rooms look out upon?' + +'On one side into their own court, on the other into Wulstan Street-- +a quiet place on the whole--all walls and warehouses; and there's an +excellent parish church, Mr. Underwood's; so I think we might do +worse.' + +Nuttie was very sorry that the gentlemen came up, and Mr. Fane +wandered out and began asking whether they were going to the rose +show. Somehow on that evening she became conscious that Annaple +looked at her and Mr. Fane rather curiously; and when they met again +the next day, and having grown intimate over the introduction of the +two little boys, were driving out together, there were questions +about whether she saw much of him. + +'Oh, I don't know! He is the nicest, on the whole, of papa's +friends; he can talk of something besides'--Nuttie paused over her +'besides,'--'horseyness, and all that sort of thing--he is not so +like an old satyr as some of them are; and so he is a resource.' + +'I see. And you meet him elsewhere, don't you, in general society?' + +'I don't go out much now that Lady Kirkaldy is not in town; but he +always seems to turn up everywhere that one goes.' + +'Ursula, I'm very glad of that tone of yours. I was afraid--' + +'Afraid of what?' cried Nuttie in a defiant tone. + +'That you liked him, and he is not really nice, Nuttie. Mark knows +all about him; and so did I when I lived with the Delmars.' + +Nuttie laughed rather bitterly. 'Thank you, Annaple. As if I could +care for that man--or he for me, for that matter! I know but too +well,' she added gravely, 'that nobody nice is ever intimate at +home.' + +'I beg your pardon. I would not have worried you about it, only I +think you must take care, Nuttie, for Blanche mentioned it to us last +winter.' + +'Blanche is an arrant gossip! If she saw a grandfather and great +grandmother gossiping she would say they were going to be married.' + +'Yes, as Mark says, one always swallows Blanche with a +qualification.' + +'You may be quite sure, Annaple, that nothing like that will ever be +true about me! Why, what would ever become of my poor little Wyn if +I was so horrid as to want to go and marry?' + +She said it with an ineffable tone of contempt, just like the +original Nuttie, who seemed to be recalled by association with +Annaple. + +That sojourn of Mark and his wife at Springfield House was a bright +spot in that summer. If it had been only that Annaple's presence +gave the free entree to such an island of old Micklethwayte, it would +have been a great pleasure to her; but there was besides the +happiness of confidence and unrestraint in their society, a restful +enjoyment only to be appreciated by living the guarded life of +constraint that was hers. She was so seldom thrown among people whom +she could admire and look up to. Annaple told her husband of +Nuttie's vehement repudiation of any intention of marriage. 'I am +sure she meant it,' she observed, 'it was only a little too strong. +I wonder if that poor youth who came to her first ball, and helped to +pick us out of the hole in Bluepost Bridge, had anything to do with +it.' + +Annaple had an opportunity of judging. Mr. Dutton would not have +brought about a meeting which might be painful and unsettling to +both; but one afternoon, when Nuttie was 'off duty' with her father, +and had come in to share Annaple's five o'clock tea, Gerard Godfrey, +looking the curate from head to foot, made his appearance, having +come up from the far east, about some call on Mr. Dutton's purse. + +The two shook hands with pleased surprise, and a little heightening +of colour, but that was all. Nuttie had been out to luncheon, and +was dressed 'like a mere fashionable young lady' in his eyes; and +when, after the classes and clubs and schools of his district had +been discussed, he asked, 'And I suppose you are taking part in +everything here?' + +'No, that I can't!' + +'Indeed! I know Porlock, the second curate here very well, and he +tells me that his vicar has a wonderful faculty of finding +appropriate work for every one. Of course you know him?' + +'No, I don't;' said Nuttie. + +'Miss Egremont has her appropriate work,' said Mr. Dutton, and the +deacon felt himself pushed into his old position at Micklethwayte. +He knew the clergy of the district very well, and how persistently +either Mr. Egremont, or perhaps Gregorio, prevented their gaining +admittance at his house; and he guessed, but did not know, that +Nuttie could not have got into personal intercourse with them without +flat disobedience. + +Annaple threw herself into the breach, and talked of St. Wulstan's; +and the encounter ended, leaving the sense of having drifted entirely +away from one another, and being perfectly heart whole, though on the +one hand Ursula's feeling was of respect and honour; and Gerard's had +a considerable element of pity and disapprobation. + +'No!' said Annaple when they were gone, 'he will not cry like the +kloarek in the Breton ballad who wetted three great missals through +with his tears at his first mass. He is very good, I am sure, but he +is a bit of a prig!' + +'It is very hard to youth to be good without priggishness,' said Mr. +Dutton. 'Self-assertion is necessary, and it may easily be carried +too far.' + +'Buttresses are useful, but they are not beauties,' rejoined Annaple. + +The warehouse arrangement was finally adopted, and after the three +weeks necessary for the cleaning and fitting of their floor, and the +bringing in of their furniture, Mark and Annaple began what she +termed 'Life among the Blacks.' + +Nuttie had great designs of constantly seeing Annaple, sending her +supplies from the gardens and preserves at Bridgefield, taking her +out for drives, and cultivating a friendship between Alwyn and +Willie, who had taken to each other very kindly on the whole. They +could not exactly understand each other's language, and had great +fights from time to time over toys, for though there was a year +between them they were nearly equal in strength; but they cared for +each other's company more than for anything else, were always asking +to go to one another, and roared when the time of parting came; at +least Alwyn did so unreservedly, for Nuttie had begun to perceive +with compunction that Billy-boy was much the most under control, and +could try to be good at his mother's word, without other bribe than +her kiss and smile. Ah! but he had a mother! + + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. +NUTTIE'S PROSPECTS. + + + + +'Three hundred pounds and possibilities.' + Merry Wives of Windsor. + + +Again Nuttie's plans were doomed to be frustrated. It did not prove +to be half so easy to befriend Mr. and Mrs. Mark Egremont as she +expected, at the distance of half London apart, and with no special +turn for being patronised on their side. + +Her father took a fancy for almost daily drives with her in the park, +because then he could have Alwyn with him; and the little fellow's +chatter had become his chief amusement. Or if she had the carriage +to herself, there was sure to be something needful to be done which +made it impossible to go into the city to take up and set down Mrs. +Mark Egremont; and to leave her to make her way home would be no +kindness. So Nuttie only accomplished a visit once before going out +of town, and that was by her own exertions--by underground railway +and cab. Then she found all going prosperously; the blacks not half +so obnoxious as had been expected (of course not, thought Nuttie, in +the middle of the summer); the look-out over the yard very amusing to +Billy-boy; and the large old-fashioned pannelled rooms, so cool and +airy that Annaple was quite delighted with them, and contemned the +idea of needing a holiday. She had made them very pretty and +pleasant with her Micklethwayte furniture, whose only fault was being +on too small a scale for these larger spaces, but that had been +remedied by piecing, and making what had been used for two serve for +one. + +The kitchen was on the same floor, close at hand, which was well, for +Annaple did a good deal there, having only one young maid for the +rougher work. She had taken lessons in the School of Cookery, and +practised a good deal even at Micklethwayte, and she was proud of her +skill and economy. Mark came in for his mid-day refreshment, and +looked greatly brightened, as if the worst had come and was by no +means so bad as he expected. All the time he had been at Mr. +Dutton's he had been depressed and anxious, but now, with his boy on +his knee, he was merrier than Nuttie had ever known him. As to +exercise, there were delightful evening walks, sometimes early +marketings in the long summer mornings before business began--and +altogether it seemed, as Nuttie told her father afterwards, as if she +had had a glimpse into a little City Arcadia. + +'Hein!' said he, 'how long will it last?' + +And Nuttie was carried away to Cowes, where he had been persuaded to +recur to his old favourite sport of yachting. She would have rather +liked this if Clarence Fane had not been there too, and continually +haunting them. She had been distrustful of him ever since Annaple's +warning, and it became a continual worry to the motherless girl to +decide whether his civil attentions really meant anything, or whether +she were only foolish and ridiculous in not accepting them as freely +and simply as before. + +Of one thing she became sure, namely, that Gregorio was doing +whatever in him lay to bring them together. + +In this seaside temporary abode, great part of the London +establishment was left behind, and Gregorio condescended to act the +part of butler, with only a single man-servant under him, and thus he +had much more opportunity of regulating the admission of visitors +than at home; and he certainly often turned Mr. Fane in upon her, +when she had intended that gentleman to be excluded, and contrived to +turn a deaf or uncomprehending ear when she desired that there should +be no admission of visitors unless her father was absolutely ready +for them; and also there were times when he must have suggested an +invitation to dinner, or a joining in a sail. No doubt Gregorio +would have been delighted to see her married, and to be thus free +from any counter influence over his master; but as she said to +herself, 'Catch me! Even if I cared a rush for the man, I could not +do it. I don't do my poor father much good, but as to leaving poor +little Alwyn in his clutches--I must be perfectly demented with love +even to think of it.' + +There was a desire on the valet's part to coax and court little Alwyn +of which she felt somewhat jealous. The boy was naturally the pet of +every one in the household, but he was much less out of Gregorio's +reach in the present confined quarters, and she could not bear to see +him lifted up in the valet's arms, allowed to play with his watch, +held to look at distant sails on board the yacht, or even fed with +sweet biscuits or chocolate creams. + +The Rectory nursery had gone on a strict regimen and nurse was as +angry as Nuttie herself; but there was no preventing it, for his +father was not above cupboard love, and never resisted the entreaties +that were always excited by the sight of dainties, only laughing when +Nuttie remonstrated, or even saying, 'Never mind sister, Wynnie, +she's got Mrs. Teachem's cap on,' and making the child laugh by +pretending to smuggle in papers of sweets by stealth, apart from the +severe eyes of sister or nurse. + +That cut Nuttie to the heart. To speak of the evils for which self- +indulgence was a preparation would only make her father sneer at her +for a second Hannah More. It was a language he did not understand; +and as to the physical unwholesomeness, he simply did not choose to +believe it. She almost wished Alwyn would for once be sick enough to +frighten him, but that never happened, nor would he accept nurse's +statement of the boy being out of order. + +Poor little Alwyn, he was less and less of an unmixed joy to her as +he was growing out of the bounds of babyhood, and her notions of +discipline were thwarted by her father's unbounded indulgence. To +her the child was a living soul, to be trained for a responsible +position here and for the eternal world beyond; to her father he was +a delightful plaything, never to be vexed, whose very tempers were +amusing, especially when they teased the serious elder sister. + +'Oh father! do you ever think what it will come to?' Nuttie could not +help saying one day when Mr. Egremont had prevented her from carrying +him off in disgrace to the nursery for tying the rolls up in dinner +napkins to enact Punch and Judy, in spite of his own endeavours to +prevent the consequent desolation of the preparations. + +Mr. Egremont shrugged his shoulders, and only observed, 'An excuse +for a little home tyranny, eh? No, no, Wyn; we don't want tame +little muffs here.' + +Nuttie was obliged to run out of the room and--it must be confessed-- +dance and stamp out her agony of indignation and misery that her +father should be bent on ruining his child, for she could not +understand that all this was simply the instinctive self-indulgence +of a drugged brain and dulled conscience. + +She did, however, get a little support and help during a brief stay +in the shooting season at Bridgefield. The Canoness was visiting the +Condamines at the Rectory, and very soon understood all the state of +things, more perhaps from her former nurse than from Ursula. She was +witness to one of those trying scenes, when Nuttie had been +forbidding the misuse of a beautiful elaborate book of nursery +rhymes, where Alwyn thought proper to 'kill' with repeated stabs the +old woman of the shoe, when preparing to beat her progeny. + +Just as she was getting the dagger paper-knife out of his little +hand, and was diverting the pout on his swelling lip, his father +became aware of the contest, and immediately the half conquered boy +appealed to him. 'Sister naughty. Won't let Wynnie kill cross ugly +old woman, beating poor little children.' + +'A fellow feeling! eh, sister? Kill her away, boy, tear her out! +Yes, give her to sister, and tell her that's the way to serve sour +females! I declare, Ursula, she has got something of your +expression.' + +'Oh Wynnie, Wynnie!' said Nuttie, as he trotted up to her, 'is sister +cross and ugly?' and she opened her arms to him. + +'Sister, Wyn's own sister,' said the child affectionately, letting +himself be kissed as he saw her grieved. 'She shan't be ugly old +woman--ugly old woman go in fire.' + +So perilously near the flame did he run to burn the old woman that +Mr. Egremont shouted to her that in spite of all that humbug, she was +perfectly careless of the child, although if she had withheld him she +would probably have been blamed for thwarting him. + +'Are you quite fair towards Ursula?' the aunt ventured to say when +the girl had gone to dress for walking down with her to the Rectory. +'It is hard on her, and not good for the boy to upset her authority.' + +'Eh? Why, the girl is just a governess manquee, imbued with the +spirit of all those old women who bred her up. A nice life the poor +child would have of it, but for me.' + +'I am sure she is devotedly attached to him.' + +'Hein! So she thinks; but trust human nature for loving to wreak +discipline on the child who has cut her out.' + +'That is scarcely just, Alwyn. She was greatly relieved to be cut +out.' + +Mr. Egremont laughed at this, and his sister-in-law indignantly added +with all the authority of a successful parent, 'Anyway, nothing is so +bad for a child as collision between the authorities in a family. +Ursula is doing her best to act as a mother to that child, and it +will be very injurious to him to interfere with her influences.' + +'She's a good girl enough--gives very little trouble,' he allowed, +'but I'm not going to have the boy sat upon.' + +As he spoke the words, Nuttie returned, and as soon as she was out of +the house and out of hearing she exclaimed, 'Oh, Aunt Jane, you see +how it is! How am I to prevent my boy from being utterly ruined?' + +'I have been speaking to your father,' said Mrs. Egremont, 'but he +does not seem to understand. Men don't. A child's faults and +fancies seem such trifles to them that they can't see the harm of +indulging them, and, besides, they expect to be amused.' + +'And is that poor dear little fellow to grow up spoilt?' said Nuttie, +her eyes hot with unshed tears. + +'I hope not, Ursula. I have great confidence in your influence, for +I see you are a sensible girl.' This was astonishing praise from the +Canoness. 'But you will throw away your chances if you keep up a +continual opposition to what your father allows. It will be much +less hurtful if Alwyn does get too much indulgence, and does a little +unnecessary mischief, than for him to learn to think you the enemy of +his pleasures, always wanting to check and punish him. Oh yes,' as +Nuttie was going to answer, 'I know it is for his real good, but how +is that baby to understand that? Indeed, my dear, I know how it is; +I have gone through the same sort of thing with Basil.' + +'Oh, it could never have been so bad!' + +'No, of course not; but I have had to allow what I did not like for +the child rather than let him see the shadow of difference of opinion +between us, and I don't think it has done him any harm. The great +point is that you should keep that poor little fellow's affection and +respect, and make him unwilling to vex you.' + +'That he is, dear little man. He is sorry when he sees sister +grieved. He is always distressed if anything is hurt or pained. He +is really tender-hearted.' + +'Yes, but boys are boys. That feeling will fail you if you work it +too hard, and especially if you show vexation at his pleasures. Keep +that for real evils, like falsehood or cruelty.' + +'Not for disobedience?' + +'The evil of disobedience depends much more upon the authority of an +order than on the child itself. If he disobeys you under his +father's licence, you cannot make much of it. You have him a good +deal to yourself?' + +'Yes.' + +'Then make use of that time to strengthen his principles and sense of +right and wrong, as well as to secure his affections. My dear, I +never saw a girl in a more difficult position than yours, but I see +you are doing your utmost; only I am afraid the love of sedatives is +the same.' + +'Oh aunt, I did think he had given it up!' + +'You are inexperienced, my dear. I see it in his eyes. Well, I'm +afraid there is no stopping that.' + +'Mother--' and Nuttie's voice was choked. + +'She did her best, but you have not the same opportunities. It can't +be helped with a man of that age. Mark might have done something, +but he is out of the question now, poor fellow!' + +'Indeed, Aunt Jane, I think Mark and Annaple are some of the happiest +people I ever saw. I only wish my poor Alwyn were as forward as +their Billy, but I'm not even allowed to teach him his letters, +because once he cried over them.' + +'I wish they had anything to fall back upon,' said Mrs. Egremont +anxiously. 'They are so unwilling to let any one know of their +difficulties that I feel as if I never knew in what straits they may +be. You will be sure to let me know, Ursula, if there is anything +that I can do for them.' + +That conversation was a great comfort and help to Nuttie, who was +pleased to find herself treated as a real friend by her aunt, and +perceived the wisdom of her advice. But the watching over the Mark +Egremonts was a very difficult matter to accomplish, for when she +went back to London she was warned that Billy had the whooping cough, +rendering them unapproachable all the winter, so that she could only +hear of them through Mr. Dutton, whom she continued to see +occasionally whenever there was anything to communicate. Mr. +Egremont rather liked him, and on meeting him in the street, would +ask him casually in to dinner, or to make up a rubber, or play +piquet, for he excelled in these arts, and still more in chess, and +an evening with Mr. Dutton was quite a red-letter time with Nuttie. +It gave her an indefinable sense of safety and protection; but it was +not always to be had, for her friend had many engagements, being one +of the active lay church workers, and devoting two regular evenings +in each week to Gerard Godfrey's eastern district, where he kept all +the accounts, had a model court and evening class, besides hospitably +resting tired clergymen and their wives in his pleasant quiet house. + +In the spring Mr. Egremont was laid up with the worst rheumatic +attack he had yet had, in consequence of yielding to the imperious +will of his son, who had insisted on standing in a bleak corner to +see the Life Guards pass by. On this occasion Nuttie did not prove +herself the heaven-born nurse that the true heroine ought to be, but +was extremely frightened, and altogether dependent on Gregorio, who +knew all about the symptoms, and when to send for the doctor and a +garde-malade. Gregorio always talked French to Nuttie when he felt +himself in the ascendant, as he certainly was at present; but he +became much less gracious when he heard that Mrs. William Egremont +might be expected, declaring that madame would only excite his +master, and that her presence was quite unnecessary. Her coming had +been volunteered, but it was a great boon to Ursula, who was thus +helped out in many perplexities, although Mrs. Egremont was a great +deal at her step-son's, and neither lady was of much avail in the +sick-room, during the stress of the illness. It was never actually +dangerous, but there was great suffering and much excitement, and for +four or five days the distress and anxiety were considerable. After +this passed off Ursula was surprised to find her company preferred to +that of her aunt. She was a better souffre-douleur, was less of a +restraint, and was besides his regular reader and amanuensis, so that +as the force of the attack abated, he kept her a good deal in his +room during the latter part of the day, imparting scraps of +intelligence, skimming the papers for him, and reading his letters. + +There was a lease to be signed, and, as soon as might be, Mr. +Bulfinch, the Redcastle solicitor, brought it up, and had to be +entertained at luncheon. While he was waiting in the drawing-room +for Mr. Egremont to be made ready for him, he looked with deep +interest on the little heir, whom Ursula presently led off to the +other end of the room to the hoard of downstair toys; and an +elaborate camp was under construction, when by the fireside, the +Canoness inquired in a low confidential tone, 'May I ask whether you +came about a will?' + +'No, Mrs. Egremont. I wish I were. It is only about the lease of +Spinneycotes farm.' + +'Then there is none?' + +'None that I am aware of. None has ever been drawn up by us. +Indeed, I was wishing that some influence could be brought to bear +which might show the expedience of making some arrangement. Any +melancholy event is, I trust, far distant, but contingencies should +be provided for.' + +'Exactly so. He is recovering now, but these attacks always leave +effects on the heart, and at his age, with his habits, no one knows +what may happen. Of course it would not make much difference to the +boy.' + +'No, the Court of Chancery would appoint the most suitable natural +guardians.' + +'But,' said Mrs. Egremont, 'I am afraid that the personal property +when divided would not be much of a provision for her.' + +'You are right. The investments are unfortunately and +disproportionately small.' + +'She ought either to have them all, or there should be a charge on +the estate,' said the Canoness decisively. 'If possible, he must be +made to move.' + +'Oh, don't!' cried Nuttie, jumping up from the floor. 'He mustn't be +upset on any account.' + +'My dear, I had no notion that you heard us!' exclaimed her aunt. 'I +thought Alwyn was making too much noise with his soldiers.' + +'I beg your pardon,' said Nuttie, 'perhaps I should have spoken +sooner, but indeed he must not be worried and disturbed,' she added, +somewhat fiercely. + +'Don't be afraid, my dear,' said her aunt. 'Mr. Bulfinch knows that +your father is in no condition to have such matters brought before +him.' + +'Certainly,' said the old lawyer politely;' and we will trust that +Miss Egremont's prospects may soon come forward on a more auspicious +occasion.' + +Nuttie could have beaten him, but she was obliged to content herself +with such a sweeping charge of her Zulus among Alwyn's Englishmen, +that their general shrieked out in indignation against such a +variation of the accustomed programme of all their games. + +Nuttie thought she had defended her patient sufficiently, but she +found she had been mistaken, for when her aunt had left them, some +days later, her father began, 'We are well quit of her. Those +troublesome dictatorial women always get worse when they are left +widows--taking upon them to say what their dear husbands would have +said, forsooth.' + +'Aunt Jane was very kind to me,' said Ursula, not in the least +knowing what he was thinking of. + +'To you. Ay, I should think so, taking upon her to lecture me about +securing a provision for you.' + +'Oh! I hoped--' + +'What?' he broke in. 'You knew of it! You set her on, I suppose.' + +'Oh! no, no, father. She and Mr. Bulfinch began about it, not +meaning me to hear--about a will, I mean--and I told them I wasn't +going to have you worried, and I thought I had stopped it +altogether.' + +'Stop a woman bent on her duty? Hein! But you are a good girl, and +shall come to no loss when we have to make your marriage settlement.' + +'You won't have to do that, father!' + +'Hein! What do you keep that poor fellow Clarence Fane dangling in +attendance on you for? ' + +'I don't! I'm sure I don't want him. I would do anything to keep +him at a distance!' + +'How now! I thought your Grace condescended to him more than to any +one else.' + +'I don't dislike him unless he has _that_ in his head; but as to +marrying him! Oh--h--h,' such a note of horror that elicited a +little laugh. + +'So hot against him, are we? Who is it then? Not the umbrella +fellow?' + +'Father! how can you?' she cried, with a burning flush of +indignation. He--why--he! He has always been a sort of uncle, ever +since I was a little girl.' + +'Oh yes, adopted uncles are very devout when young ladies rush out to +morning prayers at unearthly hours--' + +'Father!' with her voice trembling, 'I assure you he doesn't--I mean +he always goes to St. Michael's, unless he has anything particular to +say to me.' + +'Oh yes, I understand,' and Mr. Egremont indulged in a hearty laugh, +which almost drove poor Nuttie beside herself. + +'Indeed--indeed,' she stammered, in her confusion and suppressed +wrath; 'it is nothing of that sort. He is a regular old bachelor--he +always was.' + +'At what age do men become old bachelors? For he seems to me about +the age of poor Clarry, whom you seem to view as a bugbear.' + +'I wish you would not think of such things, father; I have not the +slightest intention of leaving you and dear little Wynnie! Nothing +should tempt me!' + +'Nothing? Hein! Then you may as well be on your guard, Miss +Egremont, or we shall have pleadings that you have encouraged them-- +church and world--or both, maybe. You pious folk take your little +diversions and flirtations just like your poor sisters whom you shake +your heads at, never guessing how Gregorio and I have looked out at +you and your adopted uncle parading the street.' + +'I wish Gregorio would mind his own business, and not put such things +in your head!' burst out Nuttie. + +At which Mr. Egremont laughed longer and louder than ever. + +Poor Nuttie! It was terrible discomfiture, not only for the moment, +but a notion had been planted in her mind that seemed cruel, almost +profane, and yet which would not be dismissed, and made her heart +leap with strange bounds at the wild thought, 'Could it be true?' +then sink again with shame at her own presumptuous folly in +entertaining such a thought for a moment. + +Yet whenever she actually encountered Mr. Dutton her habitual comfort +and reliance on him revived, and dispelled all the embarrassment +which at other times she expected to feel in his presence. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. +SPES NON FRACTA. + + + + +Summer had quite set in before Mr. Egremont was able to go out for a +drive, and then he was ordered to Buxton. + +Nuttie only once saw her cousins before leaving town, for their +little boy fulfilled the nursery superstition by whooping till May; +and all intercourse was prohibited, till he had ceased for a whole +week to utter a suspicious sound. Mr. Dutton had insisted on the +family spending a fortnight at Springfield House for change of air, +and it was there that Nuttie was permitted to see them, though the +children were still forbidden to meet. + +Annaple looked very thin, but rattled as merrily as ever. 'No one +could guess,' she said, 'what a delight it was not to know what one +was to have for dinner?' + +'To do more than know, I am afraid,' said Ursula. + +'Well, next to the delight of knowing nothing at all about it--and +even that is only good for a holiday--is the delight of seeing a +pudding come out smooth and comfortable and unbroken from its basin. +"Something attempted, something done," you know. It is quite as good +a work of art as a water-coloured drawing.' + +'Only not quite so permanent.' + +'No; it is only one's first pudding that one wants to embalm in a +glass case for being so good as not to leave its better part behind +in the basin, or to collapse as soon as it is in the dish.' + +'Which my puddings always did in the happy days of old, but then I +was always hunted ignominiously out of the kitchen and told I wasted +good food,' said Nuttie. + +'Yes, and waste is fearful when Mark and Billy have to eat it all the +same, like the poor cows with spoilt hay. I wonder whether your old +experiences recall the joy of finding trustworthy eggs within your +price.' + +'Ah, I was not housekeeper. I only remember being in disgrace for +grumbling when there was no pudding, because the hens would not lay.' + +'Though I heard a woman declaring the other day that there ought to +be a machine for them. Oh, the scenes that I encounter when I am +marketing! If I only could describe them for Punch! I walked home +once with our porter's wife, carrying two most brilliant sticks of +rhubarb, all carmine stalk and gamboge leaf, and expressing a very +natural opinion that the rhubarb tree must be very showy to look at, +and curious to know in what kind of fruit the medicine grew.' + +'Oh, Annaple! do you go yourself in that way?' + +'Mark used to go with me, but, poor old fellow, he has ruinous ideas +about prices and quantities, and besides, now he is so hard worked-up +and down all day--he wants a little more of his bed in the morning.' + +'And what do you want?' + +'I never was a sleepy creature, and I get back in time to dress the +boy. I generally find him at high-jinks on his father's bed. It +uses up a little superfluous energy before the dressing.' + +'But surely you have a servant now?' + +'I've come to the conclusion that a workman's wife charing is a +better institution. No. 1, a pet of Miss Nugent's, was a nice +creature, but the London air did for her at once. No. 2, also from +Micklethwayte, instantly set up a young man, highly respectable, and +ready to marry on the spot, as they did, though their united ages +don't amount to thirty-nine. No. 3 was a Cockney, and couldn't stay +because the look-out was so dull; and No. 4 gossiped with her kind +when I thought her safe in the Temple Gardens with Billy, whereby he +caught the whooping-cough, and as she also took the liberty of +wearing my fur cloak, and was not particular as to accuracy, we +parted on short notice; and I got this woman to come in every day to +scrub, help make the bed, etc. It is much less trouble, and the only +fault I have to find with her is an absolute incapability of +discerning blacks. I believe she thinks I have a monomania against +them.' + +Still Annaple insisted that she did not work half so hard as her +nieces, Muriel and Janet, in their London season, and that her +economy was not nearly so trying and difficult as that which Lady +Delmar had been practising for years in order to afford them a summer +there; nor was her anxiety to make both ends meet by any means equal +to her sister's in keeping up appearances, and avoiding detrimentals. +The two sisters met occasionally, but Lady Delmar was so +compassionate and patronising that Annaple's spirit recoiled in off- +hand levity and rattle, and neither regretted the occupation that +prevented them from seeing much of one another. + + +A year passed by, chiefly spent by Mr. Egremont in the pursuit of +comparative health, at Buxton, Bagneres, and Biarritz, during which +his daughter could do little but attend to him and to little Alwyn. +The boy had been enough left to her and nurse during his father's +acute illness to have become more amenable. He was an affectionate +child, inheriting, with his mother's face, her sweetness and docility +of nature, and he was old enough to be a good deal impressed with the +fact that he had made poor papa so ill by teasing him to stand in the +cold. Mr. Egremont was not at rest without a sight of the child +every day, if only for a moment, and the helplessness and suffering +had awed the little fellow a good deal. It was touching to see him +pause when galloping about the house when he went past the sick-room, +and hush his merry voice of his own accord. + +And in the journeys, when his father's invalided state would have +made a fractious or wilful child a serious inconvenience, his good +temper and contentment were invaluable. He would sit for hours on +his sister's lap, listening to whispered oft-told tales, or playing +at impromptu quiet games; he could go to sleep anywhere, and the +wonderful discoveries he made at each new place were the amusement of +all his auditors. Sister was always his playfellow and companion +whenever she could be spared from her father, and she had an ever- +increasing influence over him which she did her best to raise into +principle. + +Perhaps she never had a happier moment than when she heard how he had +put his hands behind him and steadily refused when Gregorio had +offered to regale him at a stall of bonbons forming only a thin crust +to liqueurs, which unfortunately he had already been taught to like. + +'But I told him sister said I mustn't have them,' said Alwyn. 'And +then he made a face and said something in French about you. I know +'twas you, for he said "soeur." What was it?' + +'Never mind, Wynnie dear. We had much better never know. You were +sister's own dear steadfast boy, and you shall kiss mother's +picture.' + +Nuttie had a beautiful coloured photograph of her mother, finished +like a miniature, which had been taken at Nice, in the time of Alice +Egremont's most complete and matured beauty. She had taught Alwyn to +kiss and greet it every evening before his prayers, and such a kiss +was his reward when he had shown any special act of goodness, for +which, as she told him, 'mother would have been pleased with her +little son.' + +Such another boon was his one Sunday evening at Biarritz, when she +found that while she was shut up at dinner with her father he had +voluntarily gone to church with nurse instead of playing on the beach +with some other English children. 'It was all very long and +tiresome,' he said, when asked if he liked it. + +'Then why did you go, old man? There was no need to drag you there,' +said his father. + +'She didn't drag me,' said the boy; 'I walked.' + +'You need not have walked then, Master Dignity.' + +'Poor nursie couldn't go without me,' said Alwyn, 'and sister says +there's a blessing on those that go.' + +'A blessing? eh! and what idea does that little head entertain of a +blessing?' said Mr. Egremont. + +Alwyn lifted his soft brown eyes reverently and said, 'It is +something good,' speaking, as he always did, in a baby lisp +inimitable here. + +'Well?' + +'And it comes from God.' + +'Well, what is it? Can you see it?' + +'No'--he looked in perplexity towards Nuttie, who was in agony all +the time, lest there should be a scoff that might remain in the +child's mind. + +'Never mind sister. Can you feel it?' + +'Yes;' and the little face lighted with such a reality that the +incipient mockery turned into wonder on the next question. + +'And how does it feel?' + +'Oh, so nice! It makes Wynnie glad here,' and he spread his hands +over his breast; and gave a little caper like a kid for very +gladness. + +'There!' said Mr. Egremont, leaning back fairly conquered. 'Any one +might envy Wynnie! Goodnight, my boy, blessing and all. I wonder if +one felt like that when one was a little shaver,' he pursued, as +Alwyn went off to his bed. + +'I think I did sometimes,' said Nuttie, 'but I never was half as good +as Wynnie!' + +'What?' exclaimed her father. 'You! bred up among the saints.' + +'Ah! but I hadn't the same nature. I never was like--_her_.' + +'Well--'tis very pretty now, and I don't know how we could stand a +young Turk, but you mustn't make a girl of him.' + +'There's no fear of that,' said Nuttie. 'He is full of spirit. That +old bathing woman calls him "un vrai petit diable d'Anglais," he is +so venturous.' + +Which delighted Mr. Egremont as much as the concession that the boy's +faith was 'pretty' delighted Ursula. Indeed, he went a little +further, for when she came back from her few minutes at Alwyn's +bedside he proceeded to tell her of the absolute neglect in which his +mother, a belle of the Almacks days, had left her nursery. It was +the first time he had ever hinted at a shadow of perception that +anything in his own life had been amiss, and Ursula could not but +feel a dreamy, hopeful wonder whether her sweet little Alwyn could be +the destined means of doing that in which her mother had failed. It +was at least enough to quicken those prayers which had been more +dutiful than trustful. + +And then her hope sank again when she realised that her father's days +were spent between the lull of opiate, followed by a certain +serenity, then in a period of irritability, each being more or less +prolonged, according to health, weather, or entertainment, and closed +again by the sedatives in various forms. It relieved her indeed, but +she felt it a wickedness to be glad of the calm, and she was aware +that the habit was making inroads on her father's powers. Between +that and his defect of eyesight, he was often much confused, +especially about money matters, and was more and more dependent. + +Would that it had been only upon her, but she was constantly certain +that Gregorio was taking advantage of his master's helplessness, and +keeping it up by all means in his power. Yet what could be done? +For the valet was absolutely necessary to his comfort, and yet she +sometimes thought her father half in dread of him, and afraid to +expostulate about personal neglects, which became more frequent. +Things, that would have enraged him from others, were only grumbled +and fretted over, when Gregorio caused him real inconvenience by +absence or forgetfulness, and made very insufficient apology. It +seemed like a bondage; Nuttie thought of her mother's efforts, and +blamed herself in vain. + +It was during this journey that she heard of good Miss Headworth's +death. The old lady's mind had long failed, and the actual present +loss to Nuttie was not great; but it seemed to close a long account +of gratitude such as she had not thoroughly felt or understood +before; and the link with Micklethwayte was severed. + +For Mark and Annaple prevailed on Mrs. Egremont to install Miss +Nugent as governess to Rosalind and Adela. In that capacity Nuttie +hoped to see a good deal of her; but of course was again +disappointed, for her father would not hear of returning to +Bridgefield. It was draughty, and dull, and desolate, and nothing +suited him but London. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. +BLACKS IN THE ASCENDANT. + + + + +'Man's work ends with set of sun, + Woman's work is never done.'--Proverb. + + +It was far on in May when Ursula found herself again in the sitting- +room over the warehouse. Somehow it had not the dainty well-cared- +for air of erst. The pretty table ornaments were out of sight; the +glass over the clock was dim, the hands had stopped; some of +Annaple's foes, the blacks, had effected a lodgment on the Parian +figures; the chintzes showed wear and wash, almost grime; the +carpet's pattern was worn; a basket full of socks was on the sofa; +and on the table a dress, once belonging to Annaple's trousseau, was +laid out, converted into its component parts. The wails of a baby +could be heard in the distance, and the first person to appear was +Master William, sturdy and happy in spite of wofully darned knees to +his stockings. + +'Mother's coming, if baby will stop crying,' he said, 'and lie in her +cradle.' + +'Your little sister! What's her name?' + +'Jane Christian,' said the boy, with a much more distinct enunciation +than Alwyn, though a year older, had yet acquired. 'She does cry so! +She won't let mother make my new knickies out of her blue gown!' + +Thoughts of the suits that Alwyn was discarding came across Nuttie. +Could they be offered without offence? She asked, however, 'Do you +remember Alwyn--my Wynnie?' + +'Wynnie gave me my horse,' cried the boy, unstabling a steed which +had seen hard service since the presentation. 'Where's Wynnie?' + +'He is at home. You must come and see him,' said Nuttie, who had not +been allowed to bring him till secure of a clean bill of health. +'But see, just outside the door, there's something for Billy.' + +She had made her servant bring up the parcels to the passage outside, +and Billy was soon hugging a magnificent box of soldiers, wherewith +he pranced off to show them to his mother, leaving the doors open, so +that Ursula could more decidedly hear the baby's voice, not a healthy +child's lusty cry, but a poor little feeble wail, interspersed with +attempts at consolation. 'Come, won't she go to Emily? Oh, Billy- +boy, how splendid! I hope you thanked Cousin Ursula. Baby Jenny, +now can't you let any one speak but yourself? Oh! shall I never +teach you that "Balow, my babe," is not "bellow, my babe." That's +better! Now can't you let Emily have you, while I go to Cousin +Nuttie?' + +'Let me come! Mayn't I?' exclaimed Ursula, invading the room that +served as kitchen, where Annaple was trying to hush off the child and +make her over to a little twelve years old maid, who stood in +waiting, helping Willie meantime to unpack his soldiers, with +smothered exclamations of delight. + +'Oh, Nuttie, how good of you! Please to excuse the accompaniment. +There never was such a young lady for self-assertion to make up for +there being so little of her.' + +And Annaple, very thin and tired looking, held up the child, +fearfully small and pinched for four months old, to be kissed by +Nuttie. + +'Does she always go on like this?' + +''Cept when she is asleep,' said Willie. + +'Poor wee lassie,' said Annaple; 'there's great excuse for her, for +the food has not yet been invented that suits her ladyship.' + +'You must come and consult nurse.' + +'And how are you all? I'm glad you are at hand, Nuttie! Is Mr. +Egremont better?' + +'As well as ever he is--lame and altogether an invalid,--but he has +not had such bad attacks of pain lately.' + +'And his eyes?' + +'About the same. He can write, and tell one card from another, but +he can't read--or rather it hurts him to do so, and he can't bear a +strong light. But, Annaple, how are you? That child is wearing you +to a shadow.' + +'Oh! I'm quite well--perfectly. There, I think she is gone off at +last. You had better walk her about a little, Emily; she will break +out again if we try to put her in the cradle.' + +And having handed over the child with only a very low murmur, Annaple +left her combined kitchen and nursery. She flew at the flowers +Nuttie had brought like a thirsty person, crying, as she buried her +face in them, 'Now for beauty! Now Mark will be refreshed! Ah! +here's a pretty pickle for a reception room.' + +'Oh, don't put it away! I could help you; I do so like that kind of +work. It is so like old times.' + +'It must be put away, thank you, for Mark will be coming in. And the +saying about the public washing of garments is specially true of +one's own husband. Ways and means are worrying to the masculine +mind.' + +'I thought it was too early for Mark?' + +'He has an appointment to keep at Charing Cross or thereabouts, so I +made him promise to come in in time to "put a bit in his head," as +our Irish charwoman says.' + +'Then I can take him. I have the carriage, and I must be at home by +half-past twelve. I wish you would come too, Annaple. There's +plenty of room. You could show the baby to nurse, and the boys could +have a good game. I would send you back in the evening. Mark could +come on after his business is done.' + +'Thank you, Nuttie, I can't to-day--for a whole heap of domestic +reasons; but, if you can get Mark to come, do, it would be so good +for him.' + +'How is Mark?' + +'He is well, quite well,' said Annaple; 'and so good and patient. +But you see, it does take it out of a man when that doleful little +noise won't stop all night! We are both acquiring a form of +somnambulism, but when there's real out-of-door business to be done, +it is not like proper sleep.' + +'Or when there's woman's indoor business, I am afraid,' said Nuttie, +much concerned at the extreme thinness of Annaple's face and hands, +and the weary look of her large eyes. + +'Oh, one makes that up at odd times!' she answered brightly. 'One +thing is, this work suits Mark, he feels that he can do it, and he +gets on well with the men. They asked him to join in their club, and +he was so much pleased. He gets up subjects for them, and I am so +glad he has such a pleasure and interest to keep him from missing the +society he was used to.' + +'It must be very good for them too. Mr. Dutton said he really +thought Mark had kept them from going in for a strike.' + +'Besides the glory of the thing,' said Annaple drawing herself up, +'Mr. Dobbs thought so too, and raised us ten pounds; which made us +able to import that little Bridgefield lassie to hold baby--when-- +when Miss Jenny will let her. He has some law copying to do besides, +but I don't like that; it burns the candle at both ends, and he does +get bad headaches sometimes, and goes on all the same.' + +'You must both come and see my Wyn.' + +'Ah! I had never asked after him. I suppose he is as pretty as +ever,' said Annaple, who secretly thought his beauty too girlish +compared with her sturdy Billy. + +'Prettier, I think, as he gets more expression. We can't persuade +ourselves to cut his hair, and it looks so lovely on his sailor suit. +And he is so good. I could not have believed a child could be so +quiet and considerate on a journey. You should have seen him +standing by my father's knee in the railway carriage, and amusing him +with all that was to be seen, and stopping at the least hint that he +was chattering too much.' + +'Billy is wonderfully helpful. Ah--' and Annaple's eyes lighted up +as the step that had music in't came up the stair; and as Mark came +in, Nuttie thought him grown older, his hair thinner, his shoulders +rounded, and his office coat shabby, but she saw something in his +countenance there had never been before. Ever since she had known +him he had worn a certain air of depression, or perhaps more truly of +failure and perplexity, which kept before her conscious mind the +Desdichado on Ivanhoe's shield, even when he was a gentleman at ease +at the luxurious Rectory; but there was now not only the settled air +of a man who had found his vocation, but something of the self- +respect and eagerness of one who was doing it well, and feeling +himself valued. + +'Is baby--' he began. 'Oh, Nuttie! Are you there? Mr. Dutton told +me you were coming. How is my uncle?' And the voice was much +brisker than in the days of lawn-tennis. + +'Father, father, look!' cried the boy. + +'Why, Billy-boy, you are set up! Zouaves and chasseurs! I see where +they came from.' + +During the mixture of greetings and inquiries, admiration of the +flowers, and the exhibition of Billy's treasures, Annaple glided +away, and presently placed before him a tray, daintily benapkinned +and set forth with a little cup of soup. + +'Baby is really asleep, and Emily as proud as a Hielandman,' she +said. 'Now eat this, without more ado, for that good Nuttie is going +to set you down at Charing Cross.' + +'This is the way we spoil our husbands, Nuttie,' said Mark. +'Refections served up at every turn.' + +'Only bones! The immortal pot au feu,' said Annaple. 'And you are +to go on after you have interviewed your man of steel, and have tea +with Nuttie, and pay your respects to your uncle, like a dutiful +nephew.' + +'No, that I can't, Nannie; I promised Dobbs to go and see a man for +him, and I must come back as soon as I can after that.' + +He looked--as to figure and air--much more like his old self when he +had changed his coat. They fed him, almost against his will, with a +few of the forced strawberries Nuttie had brought. Billy pressed on +him wonders from a Paris bonbon box, and Annaple fastened a rose and +a pink in his button-hole, and came down to the street door with her +boy to see him off. + +'What do you think of her?' was Mark's first inquiry. + +'Think! As Mr. Dutton said long ago, never was braver lady!' + +'Never was there a truer word! I meant as to her health? As to +courage, spirits, and temper, there is no question; I never saw them +fail; but are they not almost too much for the frame?' he asked +anxiously. + +It echoed Nuttie's fear, but she tried to frame a cheerful answer. +'She is very thin, but she seems well.' + +'She never complains, but I am sure her strength is not what it was. +She cannot walk out as she did at first. Indeed, she gets no real +rest day nor night, and there's no relieving her!' + +'She says you don't get much rest either.' + +'More than my share,' said Mark. 'The poor little thing never sleeps +except in someone's arms, and if awake, is not content for a moment +except in her mother's.' + +'And that has been going on four months?' + +'Three. Ever since we brought her back from Redcastle. I have +nearly determined to move into some suburb when I get a rise at +Michaelmas, unless she improves.' + +'Nurse might suggest something.' + +'Or at any rate tell us what to think. We showed her to a doctor, +and all he could propose was some kind of food, which was no more +successful than the rest. Did you look at her, Nuttie? She is a +pretty little thing when she is quiet, but she dwindles away--at +least so it seems to me, though Annaple will not see it, and--and if +we are not permitted to keep the little one, I dread what the effect +may be on her.' + +Nuttie said something about bravery and goodness, thinking in her +heart that, if the blow fell, it would be better for all than the +perpetual suffering of the poor little sickly being. + +'Ah! you don't know what her affections are,' said Mark. 'You did +not see her when she lost her mother, and there had been no strain on +her powers then. However, I've no business to croak. Many a child +gets over troubles of this kind, and, as Annaple says, little Jenny +will be all the more to us for what we go through with her.' + +The carriage stopped, and Nuttie asked him if it would delay him too +long if she executed a commission about her father's glasses. He had +plenty of time, but she was delayed longer than she expected, and on +her return was surprised to find that he had dropped asleep. + +'Ah! that's what comes of a moment's quiet;' he said, smiling. + +'Fine quiet in the roar of Ludgate Hill!' + +'To a Cockney 'tis as the mill to the miller! I like the full stir +and tide,' he added, looking out upon it. 'I never knew what life +was before!' + +'I should have thought you never knew what hardness and hard work +were.' + +'That's just it,' he answered, smiling. 'The swing of it is +exhilaration--very different from being a cumberer of the ground.' + +'Oh, Mark, all the privations and anxiety!' + +'The privation! that's nothing. Indeed I am afraid--yes, I am +ashamed to say--it falls more on my dear wife than myself, but if we +can only wear through a year or two we shall get a further rise, and +my poor Annaple may get out of this drudgery. Please God, she and +the little one can stand it for a time, and I think she has a spring +within her that will;' then, as he saw tears in his cousin's eyes, he +added, 'Don't be unhappy about it, Nuttie; I have had it in my mind +ever so long to tell you that the finding you at Micklethwayte was +the best thing that ever happened to me!' + +Yes, so far as character went, Ursula could believe that it had been +so. He was twice the man he would have been without the incentive to +work, and the constant exercise of patience and cheerfulness; but her +heart was heavy with apprehension that the weight of the trial might +be too heavy. To her eyes the baby's life seemed extremely doubtful, +and Annaple looked so fragile that the increase of her burthens, any +saddening of the heart, might destroy her elasticity, and crush her +outright; while even Mark seemed to her to be toiling so close within +the limits of his powers that a straw might break the camel's back! + +She longed to talk to Mr. Dutton about them, but she found herself +doomed to a day that perhaps Annaple would have thought more trying +than her harrowed life. She was a little later than she had +intended, and her father had been waiting impatiently to have a note +read to him, so he growled at her impatience to run after 'that +Scotch girl.' And the note happened to be of an irritating nature; +moreover, the cutlets at luncheon were said to be akin to +indiarubber, and there was the wrong flavour in the sauce. Ursula +let that cook do what she pleased without remonstrance. + +Even Alwyn did not afford as much satisfaction as usual, for the boy +was in high spirits and wanted to blow a little trumpet, which was +more than his father could stand. He was very good when this was +silenced, but he then began to rush round the room daring his sister +to catch the wild colt as he went by. This had likewise to be +stopped, with the murmur that Ursula spoilt the child. + +She tried to compose matters by turning out the old toys in the +ottoman, but Alwyn had outgrown most of them, and did not care for +any except a certain wooden donkey, minus one ear and a leg, which +went by the name of Sambo, and had absorbed a good deal of his +affection. He had with difficulty been consoled for Sambo being left +behind, and now turned over everything with considerable clatter in +search of him. Alas! Sambo could nowhere be found in the room, and +Alwyn dashed off to inquire of all the household after him. His +father meanwhile growled at the child's noise, and went on trying the +glasses Nuttie had brought, and pronouncing each pair in turn +useless, vowing that it was no use to send her anywhere. + +Upon this, back came Alwyn, terribly distressed and indignant, for he +had extracted from the housemaid left in charge, who was as cross as +she was trustworthy, 'What! that old broken thing, Master Egremont? +I threw it on the fire! I'd never have thought a young gentleman of +your age would have cared for such rubbish as that.' + +'You are a wicked cruel woman,' returned Alwyn, with flashing eyes; +'I shall tell papa and sister of you.' + +And in he flew, sobbing with grief and wrath for the dear Sambo, +feeling as if it had been a live donkey burnt to death, and hiding +his face on his sister's breast for consolation. + +'Come, come, Wyn,' said his father, who did not brook interruption; +'here's half a sovereign to go and buy a new donkey.' + +'It won't be Sambo,' said Alwyn ruefully. + +'But you should thank papa,' said Nuttie. + +'Thank you, papa,' he said, with quivering lip, 'but I don't want a +new one. Oh Sambo, Sambo! burnt!' and he climbed on Nuttie's lap, +hid his face against her and cried, but her comfortings were broken +off by, 'How can you encourage the child in being so foolish? Have +done, Wyn; don't be such a baby! Go out with nurse and buy what you +like, but I can't have crying here.' + +He tried to stop in sheer amazement, but the ground swell of sob +could not be controlled. Nuttie was going to lead him away, and +console him with more imaginative sympathy than could be expected +from the maids, but her father sharply called her back. He wanted +her himself, and indeed there was no question which was the worse +spoilt child. He might idolise Alwyn, but not so as to clash with +his own comforts. The glasses being unsuccessful, Nuttie proposed to +drive back to Ludgate Hill for him to choose for himself, but he +would not hear of going into the heat of the City, and growled at her +for thinking of such a thing. + +They took an aimless drive instead in the park, and Nuttie was nearly +baked while the carriage was stopped for her father to have a long +talk over the prospects of the Derby day with one of his most +unpleasant associates, who stood leaning over the door on the shady +side of the carriage, no one recking how little protection she +derived from her small fringed parasol. + +She came home tired out, and thankful that her father went to rest in +his own room. She climbed to the nursery, thinking to share Alwyn's +tea and comfort him, but she found only nurse there. Nurse had a bad +foot, and dreaded hot pavement, so she had sent Master Alwyn out with +her subordinate, a country girl, to play in Mr. Dutton's garden till +it should be cool enough to go and make his purchase, and a message +had since arrived that he was going to drink tea there, and Mr. +Dutton would take him out. + +His sister envied him the green shades, and had just done her best to +cool the back drawing-room and rest herself with a book, when Mr. +Fane was announced. He talked pleasantly enough, and lingered and +lingered, no doubt intending to be asked to dinner, but she was +equally determined to do no such thing. She had heard enough of +races for one day, she thought, and at last he took his leave, only +just before she dressed for dinner. + +'I thought Fane was here,' said Mr. Egremont as he came in; no doubt +told by Gregorio. + +'He has been, but he is gone.' + +'You didn't ask him to stay and dine?' + +'I did not know you wished it.' + +'You might have known that I should have liked to see him. I suppose +you think your sweet self society enough for any man?' + +'I am sorry--' + +'I'm sick of hearing you are sorry! I believe there's nothing you +like so well as doing an ungracious thing to a friend of mine.' + +Nuttie had learnt to hold her tongue on such occasions. + +Dinner was nearly over, and her father had been grumbling again at +having no one to take a hand at cards with him, when the door opened +a little way, and Alwyn's pretty glowing face looked in. He was come +to say good-night rather later than usual, and he ran up to his +sister with a little bouquet of yellow banksia and forget-me-nots. +'Mithter Button'--so Alwyn called him--'sent you this. He said you +would like it, 'cause it came from one that grew at Mittletwait. And +oh, look, look!' + +He was hugging a little ship, which he proudly exhibited, while his +father's brow had darkened at the message. 'Did you buy that?' asked +his sister. + +'Yes, Mr. Button went with me, and we sailed it. We sailed it by the +fountain in Mr. Button's garden, And we made a storm!' + +He danced about with glee, and Mr. Egremont observed, 'A dear +purchase for ten shillings. Did it cost all that, Wyn?' + +'They gived me a big silver half-crown, and I gived that to a little +boy what came to speak to Mr. Button, and had his toes through his +boots, and he was so glad.' + +'Your money is not for beggars, Wyn.' + +'The little boy was not a beggar, papa. He came with a newspaper to +Mr. Button, and he is so good to his poor sick mother,' said Alwyn. +'See, see, sister!' turning the prow of his small vessel towards her, +and showing a word on it in pencil which he required her to spell +out. It was Ursula. + +'Oh Wynnie!' she said, duly flattered, 'did Mr. Dutton do that?' + +'He held my hand, and I did!' cried Alwyn, triumphantly, 'and he will +paint it on Saturday. Then it will dry all Sunday, and not come off, +so it will be the Ursula for ever and always.' + +Here nurse claimed her charge; and when the goodnights were over, and +a murmur recommenced, Nuttie suggested that if Mr. Dutton was at home +perhaps he would come in and make up the game, but she encountered +the old humour. 'I'll tell you what, Ursula, I'll not have that +umbrella fellow encouraged about the house, and if that child is to +be made the medium of communication, I'll put a stop to it.' + +The words were spoken just as Gregorio had entered the room with a +handkerchief of his master's. Nuttie, colouring deeply at the +insult, met his triumphant eyes, bit her lips, and deigned no word of +reply. + +An undefined but very slight odour, that told her of opium smoke, +pervaded the stairs that night. It was the only refuge from +fretfulness; but her heart ached for her father, herself, and most of +all for her little brother. And was she to be cut off from her only +counsellor? + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. +THE LOST HEIR. + + + + +'Seemed to the boy some comrade gay + Led him forth to the woods to play.'--SCOTT. + + +Though it was the Derby day, Mr. Egremont's racing days were over, +and he only took his daughter with him in quest of the spectacles he +wanted. When they came back, Nuttie mounted to the nursery, but no +little brother met her on the stairs, and she found nurse in deep +displeasure with her subordinate. + +'I sent him out with Ellen to play in the garden at Springfield, and +swim his ship, where he couldn't come to no harm,' said nurse; 'being +that my foot is that bad I can't walk the length of the street; and +what does the girl do but lets that there Gregorio take the dear +child and go--goodness knows where--without her.' + +'I'm sure, ma'am,' said the girl crying, 'I would never have done it, +but Mr. Gregory said as how 'twas his papa's wish.' + +'What was?' said Nuttie. + +'That he shouldn't never go and play at Mr. Dutton's again,' said +Ellen. + +'I told her she was to take her orders off me, and no one else,' +returned nurse, 'except, of course, you, Miss Egremont, as has the +right.' + +'Quite so; you should have told Mr. Gregorio so, Ellen.' + +'I did, ma'am, but he said those was Mr. Egremont's orders; and he +said,' cried the girl, unable to withstand the pleasure of repeating +something disagreeable, 'that Mr. Egremont wouldn't have no +messengers between you and a low tradesman fellow, as made umbrellas, +and wanted to insinuate himself in here.' + +'That's quite enough, Ellen; I don't want to hear any impertinences. +Perhaps you did not understand his foreign accent. Did he say where +he was going?' + +'I think he said he'd take him to the Serpentine to sail his ship,' +said Ellen, disposed to carry on asseverations of the correctness of +her report, but nurse ordered her off the scene, and proceeded, as a +confidential servant, 'The girl had no call to repeat it; but there's +not a doubt of it he did say something of the sort. There's not one +of us but knows he is dead against Mr. Dutton, because he tried to +get master to get to sleep without that nasty opium smoke of his.' + +There was bitter feud between nurse and valet, and Nuttie could have +exchanged with her many a lament, but she contented herself with +saying, 'I wish he would let Master Alwyn alone. It is high time +they should come in.' + +'The child will be tired to death, and all dirt! His nice new sailor +suit too! Going grubbing about at the Serpentine with no one knows +who, as isn't fit for a young gentleman,' moaned nurse. + +This, however, was the worst fear she entertained, and it was with a +certain malicious satisfaction that she heard her master's bell for +Gregorio. + +Nuttie descended to explain, and whereas the need was not very +urgent, and she looked distressed and angered at the valet, her +father received her complaint with, 'Well, the boy is getting too big +to be tied for ever to a nursery-maid. It will do him good to go +about with a man.' + +But as dressing-time came on, and still neither Gregorio nor Alwyn +appeared, Mr. Egremont became impatient, and declared that the valet +had no business to keep the child out so long; indeed, he would +sooner have taken alarm but for Nuttie's manifest agony of anxiety, +starting and rushing to listen at every ring at the bell or sound of +wheels near at hand. At last, at eight o'clock, there was a peal of +the servants' bell, and the footman who answered it turned round to +the anxious crowd: 'Mr. Gregory! He just asked if the child was come +home, and went off like lightning.' + +'The villain! He's lost him!' shrieked nurse, with a wild scream. +'Run after him, James! Catch him up!' suggested the butler at the +same moment. 'Make him tell where he saw him last!' + +James was not a genius, but the hall boy, an alert young fellow, had +already dashed down the steps in pursuit, and came up with the valet +so as to delay him till the other servants stood round, and Gregorio +turned back with them, pale, breathless, evidently terribly dismayed +and unwilling to face his master, who stood at the top of the steps, +white with alarm and wrath. + +'Sir,' cried Gregorio, with a stammering of mixed languages, 'I have +been searching everywhere! I was going to give notice to the police. +Je ferai tout! Je le trouverai.' + +'Where did you lose him?' demanded Mr. Egremont in a hoarse voice, +such as Nuttie had never heard. + +'In the Park, near the bridge over the Serpentine. I was speaking +for a few moments to a friend. Bah! Il etait parti. Mais je le +trouverai. Parker, he seeks too. Fear not, sir, I shall find him.' + +'Find him, you scoundrel, or never dare to see me again! I've borne +with your insolences long, and now you've brought them to a height. +Go, I say, find my boy!' exclaimed Mr. Egremont, with a fierce oath +and passionate gesture, and Gregorio vanished again. + +'Bring the carriage--no, call a cab;' commanded Mr. Egremont, +snatching up his hat. 'Who is this Parker?' + +The servants hesitated, but the butler said he believed the man to be +a friend of Gregorio's employed at one of the clubs. Nuttie +meanwhile begging her father not to go without her, flew upstairs to +put on her hat, and coming down at full speed found that Mr. Dutton, +passing by and seeing the open door and the terrified servants on the +steps, had turned in to ask what was the matter, and was hearing in +no measured terms from Mr. Egremont how the child had been taken away +from his nurse and lost in the Park while that scamp Gregorio was +chattering to some good-for-nothing friend. + +To Nuttie's great relief, Mr. Dutton offered to go with the father to +assist in the search, and the coachman, far too anxious and excited +to let his master go without him in a cab, contrived to bring up the +carriage. Some of the servants were ordered off to the various +police offices. Poor nurse, who was nearly distracted, started in a +hansom on her own account, persuaded that she should see and +recognise traces of her darling at the scene of his loss, and she +almost raced the carriage, which was bound for the same spot. + +Sluggish natures like Mr. Egremont's can sometimes be roused to great +violence, and then pour forth the long pent-up accumulations kept +back by indolence and indifference. His only occupation during the +rapid drive was to vituperate his valet, the curse of his life, he +said. To hear him talk, it would have seemed as if Gregorio had been +the tyrant who had kept him in bondage all these years, fully aware +of his falsehood, peculation, and other rascality, but as unable to +break the yoke as if he had been in truth the slave of anything but +his own evil habit and helpless acquiescence. + +Would it last if Gregorio made his appearance at that instant with +Alwyn in his hand? Or even, as Mr. Dutton confidently predicted, a +policeman might bring the boy home, before many hours were passed. +The chief doubt here was that Alwyn's defective pronunciation, which +had been rather foolishly encouraged, might make it difficult to +understand his mode of saying his own name, or even that of the +street, if he knew it perfectly; but the year he had been absent from +London had prevented him from acquiring the curious ready local +instinct of the true town child, and he had been so much guarded and +watched that he was likely to be utterly at a loss when left alone; +and Nuttie was wretched at the thought of his terror and loneliness, +even while Mr. Dutton told her of speedy recoveries of lost children +through kind people or the police. + +They found all the officials of the Park already aware and on the +alert, and quite certain of the impossibility of nurse's prime dread +that the boy had fallen into the water unseen by any one and been +drowned. She was even ready to look into every bush, in case he had +been frightened and hidden himself; and nothing would satisfy her but +to stay making these researches, when her master had decided on +endeavouring to find 'Parker' at the club, and to ascertain from him +particulars of time and place. + +He was found there. The dinner-hour had brought him back, he being a +man in authority there, very well dressed and deferential, declaring +himself immensely distressed at the occurrence, and at having +accosted Gregorio and attracted his attention. It was about four +o'clock, he thought, and he described the exact spot where the little +boy had been sailing his vessel fastened to a string. They might +have been talking twenty minutes or half an hour when Gregorio missed +his charge, and since that time both had been doing all in their +power to find him, until half-past seven, when he had to return to +his club, and Gregorio went to see whether the child had been taken +home. + +By this time Mr. Egremont looked so utterly exhausted, that Mr. +Dutton availed himself of the hope that the boy might be found safe +at home to take him back; but alas! nothing had been heard there. + +The poor man was in a restless, unmanageable state of excitement, +almost as terrifying to his daughter as the distress that occasioned +it. He swallowed a tumblerful of claret, but would not eat nor go to +bed; and indeed, Gregorio alone having had the personal charge of +him, latterly sleeping in his dressing-room, none of the other +servants knew what to do for him. Mr. Dutton agreed with her that it +would be better to send for his doctor, as probably he ought to have +a sedative, and neither would take the responsibility of giving it; +while he himself declared he neither would nor could rest till he had +his boy again. + +The doctor was dining out, and they had two terrible hours; while Mr. +Egremont paced to the windows; threw himself on the sofa; denounced +Gregorio; or, for a change, all the system of police which had made +no discovery; and Ursula for letting the boy be so helpless. Mr. +Dutton sometimes diverted his attention for a few minutes, and hoped +he would doze, but the least sound brought him to his feet again, and +the only congenial occupation was the composition of a description of +poor little Alwyn's person and dress, which set Nuttie crying so +uncontrollably, that she had to run out of the room. + +Dr. Brownlow came at last, and was very kind and helpful, taking the +command, and insisting that Mr. Egremont should go to bed, and take +the dose which he mixed. Broadbent, the butler, was to take +Gregorio's place, but he was a ponderous man, without much tact, and +unused to the valet's office. 'I might just as well have a +rhinoceros about me,' said Mr. Egremont, in a fit of irritation; and +it ended, Nuttie hardly knew how, in Mr. Dutton's going upstairs to +smooth matters. He came down after a time and said: 'I am not +satisfied to leave him alone or to Broadbent; I have his consent to +my sleeping in the dressing-room. I am just going home to fetch my +things. Let me find you gone when I come back. You will hear no +more to-night. Even if he is found, they will keep him till +morning.' + +'It is of no use; I can't sleep.' + +'Even if you don't, the mere restful position will make you fitter +for the morrow. Will you promise me to undress and really go to +bed?' + +'Oh yes! if you say I must,' said Nuttie drearily; following an +instinct of obedience. + +'And remember,' he said, 'though I do not say it will be so, this may +be deliverance from bondage.' + +'But what a terrible deliverance!' + +'Bonds are not burst without something terrible. No; don't be +frightened. Remember there is safekeeping for that sweet little +fellow, wherever he may be.' + +'Oh, Mr. Dutton, if I could pray for him; but the turmoil seems to +have driven away all such things! My boy, my boy, where is he now? +Who has heard him say his little prayers?' + +'His Heavenly Father has; of that we may be secure. You will feel it +in the quiet of your own room. Good-night.' + +'And I shall know you are praying, better than I can,' murmured +Nuttie, as she returned his good-night, and crept up to her chamber. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. +FETTERS RENT. + + + + +'The gods are just, and of our pleasant sins + Make whips to scourge us.'--King Lear. + + +There was no real sleep for Ursula that short summer night. She saw +the early dawn, listened to the distant roll of market-carts, and +wondered when it would be reasonable to be afoot, and ready to hear, +if aught there was to hear. At any hour after seven, surely the +finders would have mercy and bring the welcome news. And just before +seven she fell asleep, deeply, soundly, and never woke till past +eight, but that was just enough to revive the power of hope, and give +the sense of a new day. But there was nothing to hear--no news. She +found Mr. Dutton in the dining-room. He had had to administer +another draught to her father, and had left him in a sleep which +would probably last for some time. If she would go and sit in the +outer room, after her breakfast, he would go out to obtain +intelligence. + +'You must have some breakfast,' she said, ringing the bell, and +wistfully looking over the blinds; then exclaiming: 'Oh, there's +Mark! Has he heard anything?' and out she darted, opening the door +before he rang. 'Mark! have you found him?' + +'Yes,' he said gravely, looking utterly amazed as she clasped her +hands, and seemed ready to fling herself on his neck with joy. 'I +came because it will be a great shock to my uncle.' + +'Then it is so! Nurse was right,' said Nuttie, turning deadly pale, +and standing as if before a iring platoon. 'Tell me, Mark, where did +they find him?' + +'At the Faringdon Station. I was sent for to identify him.' + +'Stay,' said Mr. Dutton, as there was a wild horrified look in +Nuttie's eyes. 'Do you mean little Alwyn?' + +'Little Alwyn! No, certainly not. What of him?' + +'Gregorio managed to lose him in the park yesterday,' put in Mr. +Dutton. + +'That accounts for it, then,' said Mark. 'No, it was Gregorio +himself, poor man. He was knocked down by the engine, and killed on +the spot, just by the station, at eleven o'clock last night. Our +name was found on him, and I was sent for early this morning. There +was no doubt about it, so I came on here at once to let my uncle +know, little thinking--' + +'Oh, it is dreadful!' cried Nuttie, sinking into a chair. 'Do you +remember, my father told him never to see his face again unless he +found Alwyn?' + +Broadbent came in at the moment with the coffee-pot, and stood +suspended, as he was told what had happened, Mark adding the detail: +'He was crossing the line in front of the engine.' + +'Yes, sir,' said the butler. 'It is an awful dispensation. No doubt +he knew it was all up with him. You may not be aware, sir, of the +subject of his conversation in the park. Mr. Parker had just seen a +telegram of the result of the Derby, and he had heavy bets on Lady +Edina. I am afraid, sir, there can be no doubt that he found a +voluntary grave.' + +'We will not talk of that. We cannot judge,' said Mark, shuddering. +'I said I would send some one from here to arrange what was to be +done after the inquest.' + +Broadbent immediately undertook to go, if his master did not require +him, and this was thought advisable, as his services were certainly +not acceptable to Mr. Egremont. Mark had thought himself likely to +be detained and had provided for his absence, and the awe-stricken +trio were consulting together over the breakfast-table, eating +mechanically, from the very exhaustion of agitation, when the door +opened, and Mr. Egremont in his dressing-gown was among them, +exclaiming: 'You are keeping it from me.' He had been wakened by the +whispers and rushes of the excited maids, had rung his bell in vain, +dressed himself as best he could after so many years of dependence, +and stumbled downstairs, where, as with his daughter, it was +something like a relief to know that hope was not extinguished in +Alwyn's case. But Mr. Egremont was in a very trembling, broken +condition, and much overcome by his valet's end after so many years +of intimate association. Certainly, if either of the others had so +parted with the man, it would have been a horror in the recollection, +but he did not seem to dwell on it; and, indeed, attention was +distracted by every sound at the door, since each might bring news of +the missing child. + +One of these tantalising rings proved to be a policeman with poor +Gregorio's keys, and a demand for an investigation into any papers he +might have left which would show his state of mind. Mr. Egremont +was very much annoyed, declaring that he would have no stranger +meddle with them, and that he saw no use in such prying. What +difference could it make to any living creature? However, when he +found there was no help for it, he said he must do it himself. +Nuttie offered to help, but was sharply, strongly refused. Mark +alone might and should help. + +Then Mr. Dutton volunteered to go and explain matters to Mr. Dobbs, +so as to get freedom for Mark for at least the remainder of the day. +He would call at the police offices and see what was doing in the +search, put forward the advertisements, and obtain that the +Serpentine should be dragged, for he saw that only that measure would +remove one great terror from these anxious hearts. + +'And,' he said to Mark, 'with your permission, I will bring back Mrs. +Egremont and the children if they will do me the honour to become my +guests. She will be a comfort to Miss Egremont, and then you will be +at hand in the evening.' + +Mark could only be thankful, and presently addressed himself to the +investigation, which his uncle insisted should be made in his own +presence, though the opiate kept him for the most part dozing in an +arm-chair, only rousing up now and then by some noise at the front +door, or putting queries, the replies to which startled him more and +more, as he grew more wakeful and Mark proceeded. + +All, except a few unimportant bills and a betting-book, was locked +into a dressing-case that had once belonged to Mr. Egremont, and had +tricks of secret drawers that only he could explain. It was full of +papers, and they were a strange revelation that Mr. Egremont might +well wish to withhold from his daughter. They went very far back, +and of course did not come out in order of chronology, nor would Mark +have understood them but for exclamations and comments here and there +from his uncle. + +Everything seemed to be there,--the old passport and certificate to +Gregorio Savelli, when he left his Savoyard home to be a waiter at a +hotel; a few letters in Italian, probably from his parents, which +Mark could not read, but which soon ceased; the counter-signed +character with which he had entered General Egremont's service; and +then came a note or two signed A. P. E., which Mr. Egremont regarded +with great annoyance, though they only consisted of such phrases as +'Back on Wednesday. Find an excuse,' or in French, 'Envoyez +moi la petite boite!' 'Que la porte soit ouverte apres minuit.' + +'That was the way,' groaned Mr. Egremont. 'The scoundrel! he kept +all those to be able to show me up to the General if he chose! I was +a young man then, Mark, not the straitlaced lad you've always been. +And the General! A bad old dog he was, went far beyond what I ever +did, but for all that he had no notion of any one going any way but +his own, and wanted to rein me in as tight as if he had been an +epitome of all the virtues. And Gregorio seemed a good-natured young +fellow then, and made things easy for me, though no doubt he meant to +have me in his hands, in case I tried to shake him off.' + +Another discovery affected him far more. It was of a letter in +Alice's handwriting, addressed to Captain Egremont, in the yacht +Ninon--poste restante, Madeira. He had never seen it, never known of +its existence; Gregorio had gone to inquire for the letters, and had +suppressed it. Mr. Egremont had wondered how he had become aware of +the marriage. His knowledge had from that time been used as a means +of enforcing the need of a good understanding with the heir. Mr. +Egremont was much moved by the sight of the letter, and its date, +from Dieppe, about six months after he had left his young wife there. +He made Mark give it to him unread, handled it tenderly, struggled to +read the delicate pointed writing to himself, but soon deferred the +attempt, observing, 'There, there, I can't stand it now! But you +see, Mark,' he added after an interval, 'I was not altogether the +heartless brute you thought me.' + +Mark, as he told his wife afterwards, could not help thinking of the +old preamble to indictments, 'By the temptation of the devil.' + +And by and by, out of a pocket-book bearing the date of the General's +death, came a copy of the certificate of the baptism of Ursula Alice, +daughter of Alwyn Piercefield and Alice Egremont, together with that +address which Miss Headworth had left at Dieppe to gratify Alice's +forlorn idea of a possible rescue, and which Gregorio had asseverated +to be non-existent. + +Doubtless he infinitely preferred his master's wandering bachelor +life to the resumption of marriage ties, and thus he had contrived to +keep Mr. Egremont from meeting the Houghtons at Florence. At the +same time the uncertainty as to Alice's fate had prevented any other +marriage. Gregorio had taken care that, if Mr. Egremont had been +villain enough to make such an attempt, he should know that his +secret could be brought to light. + +Compared with all this wickedness, the proofs of fraud and dishonesty +were entirely unimportant. Gambling had evidently been a passion +with the valet, and peculation had followed, and Mark could have +traced out the full tide before the reinstatement of Mrs. Egremont in +her home, the gradual ebb during her reign, the diminished restraint +under her daughter. The other servants had formerly been implicated, +but, except a young groom and footman, Mark thought the present set +quite free from the taint, and was glad to acquit Broadbent. But the +last telegrams and the betting-book in the unhappy man's pocket +confirmed Parker's evidence that of late he had staked almost madly, +and had risked sums far beyond any means he could raise upon the +horse which had failed. The bailiff at Bridgefield had, it had long +been guessed, played into his hands, but to what an extent Mark only +now discovered. + +The result was that what he had learnt in the Park had so astounded +him that his inattention to the child had not been wonderful. He +had--as Parker testified--sought the little fellow vehemently, and +had he been successful, he might yet have made some effort, trusting +to his master's toleration; but the loss and reproach had made him an +absolutely desperate man. Was it blind flight or self-destruction? +That he had money about him, having cashed a cheque of his master's, +favoured the first idea, and no one would too curiously inquire +whether Mr. Egremont was aware of the amount. + +It was only too true that, as he had said, Gregorio Savelli had been +the curse of his life, having become one of the whips left by +pleasant vices, and the breaking of the yoke had been not only at a +terrible price, but, to a man in his half-blind and invalid +condition, the actual loss of the person on whom he had depended was +a privation. Dr. Brownlow, however, knew of a good man-servant just +set at liberty by the death of an invalid master, and promised to +send him on trial. + +It was a day of agitations and disappointments, a sample of many that +were to follow. There was not a sound of a bell that did not make +anxious hearts throb. And oh! how many were spent on vain reports, +on mere calls of sympathy by acquaintance whom the father and sister +could not see, and on notes of inquiry or condolence that Nuttie had +to answer. + +Annaple came and was a great help and support to her. Poor nurse, +oblivious of her bad foot, or perhaps, willing to wreak vengeance on +it as the cause of all the mischief, had insisted on continuing her +search in the morning under all the thorns and rhododendrons where +she thought the dear lamb might have hidden and cried himself to +sleep, and at last had been brought home in a cab quite worn out and +despairing. But the screaming baby proved to be a much better +comforter to her than any amount of reasonable argument. To soothe +it, to understand what ailed it, to find suitable food for it, was an +occupation which made the suspense less intolerable. The very +handling of an infant would have been congenial; and a sickly crying +one was only too interesting. Willie was too near her darling's age +to be a welcome sight, but he was already a prime pet with the +servants at Springfield; and Annaple, secure that her children were +in safe and experienced hands, and overflowing with motherly sympathy +for the grievous loss, was ready to devote herself to Nuttie, whether +by talk, by letter writing, or by seeing inquiring friends. She did +not expect to be of any use to Mr. Egremont, who had always held +aloof from and disliked 'the giggling Scotch girl,' but who came +drearily wandering at an unexpected time into the room where she was +sitting with his daughter, and presently was involved in their +conversation. Whether it was the absence of the poor familiar, or +that Annaple was no longer a giggling girl, but a brave, cheerful +wife and mother, it was certain that he found the same comfort and +support in her presence as did Nuttie. When fits of restless misery +and despair pressed hardest upon him, it was soon perceived that +Annaple's cheerful tact enabled her to deal with him as no one else +could do. There was the restraint of courtesy towards her, such as +had worn out towards his daughter, and besides her sanguine optimist +spirit never became so depressed as did poor Nuttie's. Mark went by +day to his work, but came back to dine at his uncle's, hear the +reports, and do what he could for him; and meantime Annaple spent the +chief part of the day in aiding Nuttie and Mr. Egremont, while her +baby really showed signs of improvement in nurse's keeping. And so +the days went on, while every endeavour was made to trace the child, +but with no result but bitter disappointment. Twice, strayed +children, younger than Alwyn--one even a girl--were brought as the +lost boy, and the advertisements bore fruit in more than one +harassing and heartless correspondence with wretches who professed to +be ready to restore the child, on promises of absolute secrecy, and +sums of money sent beforehand, with all sorts of precautions against +interference from the police. + +The first of these created great excitement, and the pursuit was +committed to Mr. Dutton. When it proved abortive, Mr. Egremont's +disappointment and anger were great, and he could not be persuaded +that all was not the fault of Mr. Dutton's suspicion and precaution +in holding back the money, nor could any one persuade him that it was +mere imposture. When another ill-written enigmatical letter arrived, +he insisted that it was from the same quarter, and made Broadbent +conduct the negotiations, with the result that after considerable +sums had been paid in circuitous fashions, the butler was directed to +a railway arch where the child would be deposited, and where he found +a drab-coloured brat of whom he disposed at the nearest police +station, after which he came home savagely disgusted. + +Nuttie was not much less so at what she felt as a slight to Mr. +Dutton as well as at the failure. 'When you are doing so much for +us. We deserve that you should do nothing more,' she said with tears +shining in her eyes. + +'Do not talk in that way,' he answered. 'You know my feeling for the +dear little fellow himself, and--' + +'Oh yes,' interrupted Nuttie, 'I do trust to that! Nobody--not the +most indifferent person, but must long to save him. Yes, I know it +was doing you a wicked injustice to fancy that you could take offence +in that way at a father in such trouble. Please forgive me, Mr. +Dutton.' + +'As if I had anything to forgive. As if there were anything on earth +that could come before the endeavour to recover him,' said Mr. +Dutton, too much moved for his usual precision of speech. + +'Yes; he is _her_ child,' said Nuttie, with a trembling tearful +smile. + +'_Her_ child! Yes, and even if he were not, he is _your_ brother,' +said Mr. Dutton; then hastily gathering himself up, as if he had said +too much, he rose to take leave, adding as their hands clasped, +'Remember, as long as I live, you may count upon me.' + + +'Oh, I know, I know! There's nobody like you, but I don't know what +I say in this awful suspense. If I had only seen him lying white and +cold and peaceful, it would have been far better than to think of him +pining and miserable among wicked people, who would try to bring him +up like themselves. Mother's own little boy!' + +'It will not be allowed, it will not be allowed,' cried Mr. Dutton. +'God's Providence is still over him.' + +'And there are prayers, I know--at our church and Mr. Godfrey's-and +all ours, but oh! it takes a great deal of faith to lean on them. I +wonder if you would, Annaple, if it were Willy?' + +'We will not ask Mrs. Egremont,' said Mr. Dutton, as Annaple made a +gesture of something like doubt. + +'It is almost as bad,' said she, coming up and putting her arm round +Nuttie. 'But indeed, Mr. Dutton, she does trust, only it is very, +very sore, for her,--as it is for us all.' + +'You are her great comfort,' said Mr. Dutton, as he shook hands with +her. + +'He could hardly help thanking me,' said Annaple to her husband +afterwards. 'Mr. Egremont may well call him an adopted uncle. I +should say he was a good deal more, poor man.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. +THE HULL OF THE URSULA. + + + + +Ten days had passed, and Mark and Annaple were thinking that they +ought to return to ordinary life, and leave the bereaved ones to +endeavour to construct their life afresh under the dreadful wearing +uncertainty of their darling's fate. Still they were detained by +urgent entreaties from father and daughter, who both dreaded their +departure as additional desolation, and as closing the door of hope. +And certainly, even this rest was good for Annaple; and her baby, for +whom nurse had discovered a better system, had really not cried more +for a whole day than 'befitted a rational child,' said the mother, as +she walked back to Springfield with her husband in the summer night, +after dinner, on the day that Broadbent's negotiations had failed. + +'Nurse will break her heart at parting with her,' said Mark. 'I wish +we could afford to have her.' + +'Afford, indeed! Her wages are about a quarter of your salary, sir! +And after all, 'tis not the nurse that guards the child, as we have +seen only too plainly.' + +'Do you think he is alive, Nan?' + +'I begin to think not. He is not so young but that he could make +himself known, and those advertise ments are so widely spread. I am +sure poor Nuttie would be more at rest if she could give up hope.' + +'I did not tell you before, Nan, but Dutton was going to-day to look +at a poor little unclaimed child's body that had been found in the +Thames. He knew him better than I, so he went.' + +'He would have come if--' said Annaple. + +'Assuredly. He meant to fetch nurse if he had any doubt, but +afterwards he was going to his court about his rents. He always does +that on Saturday evenings.' + +Mr. Dutton himself opened his door to the pair. + +'Well,' said Mark. + +'Certainly not. The poor child was evidently much younger, and had +red hair. But look here,' and he held out a battered something, +black with a white stripe. Mark understood nothing, but Annaple +exclaimed, 'Is it his ship?' + +'Yes, I could swear to it, for see,' and he pointed to some grimed, +almost effaced, but still legible capitals, which, however, scarcely +any one but himself could have read as "Ursula." 'I guided his hand +to make those the evening before he was lost,' said Mr. Dutton. + +'Dear little man! And where did you find it?' + +'Where I never thought of doing so! On the bed of a little crippled +boy in the next court to mine. He is rather a friend of mine, and I +turned in to take him some strawberries. I found him hugging this.' + +'How did he get it?' + +'Our "Liz" brought it to him. Our "Liz" is a very wild specimen, who +has spent her life in eluding the school board officer till she is +too old for his clutches; but she has a soft spot in her heart for +her little brother, and I believe another for Gerard Godfrey. We +must be very cautious, and not excite any alarm, or we shall be +baffled altogether. I am not sure that I did quite prudently in +giving little Alf a fresh boat in exchange for this; but I could not +help bringing it home.' + +'You did not see the girl?' + +'No. Those girls wander long and late on these hot nights, and I do +not think I could have got anything out of her. I have been to +Gerard Godfrey, and the next step must be left to him.' + +'The next question is whether you will tell those poor things at No. +5,' said Mark. + +Mr. Dutton hesitated. 'I should have no doubt of giving Miss +Egremont the comfort of knowing that there was a possible clue, but +if her father insisted on setting on the police, there would be very +little more hope of success. I am afraid it will be more prudent to +wait till we know what Godfrey says. He hopes to see the girl to- +morrow evening at his mission class, but of course she is a very +uncertain attendant there. No, I cannot trust myself.' + +Annaple was forced to brook withholding the hope from the fainting +hearts all the ensuing Sunday, which was a specially trying day, as +Nuttie pined for her dear little companion with the pictures, +stories, and hymns that he had always enjoyed, and made pretty +childish remarks about, such as she began to treasure as memorable. + +As soon as he could, early on Monday morning, Mr. Dutton repaired to +Gerard Godfrey's lodgings, and found that the young clergyman had +succeeded in seeing the girl, and had examined her so as not to put +the wild creature on her guard, and make her use the weapons of +falsehood towards one who had never been looked on as an ally of the +police. It appeared that she had brought home the ship, or rather +its hull, from one of the lowest of lodging houses, where she had +employment as something between charwoman and errand girl. She had +found it on what passed for a bed in its present condition, one +morning, when going to make the extremely slight arrangements that +the terrible lair, which served as a common bedroom, underwent, and +had secreted it as a prize for her little brother. + +At first she had been stolid, and affected utter ignorance as to how +it got there, but Mr. Godfrey had entreated her as a friend to try to +discover; and had with all his heart made a pathetic description of +the girl (he durst not say lady) who had always been a mother to her +little brother, and now had lost him, and was in terrible uncertainty +as to his fate. That came home to Lizzie's feelings, and she let out +what she had seen or picked up in the way of gossip,--that the ship +had been left behind by its owner, whether boy or girl Liz was +uncertain, for it had long fair hair, wore a petticoat, and had been +dosed with gin and something else when carried away. They said it +had made noise enough when brought there by Funny Frank and Julia. +They were performing folk, who had come in after the Derby day to +have a spree, and to pick up another kid to do fairies and such like, +because the last they had had hurt his back and had to be left in the +workhouse. Yes, she had heard tell that they had got the child from +Mother Bet, of whom Gerard had a vague idea as one of the horrible +hags, who not only beg themselves, but provide outfits for beggars, +including infants, to excite compassion. Either she or one of her +crew had picked up the child and disposed of his clothes; and then +finding him too old and intelligent to be safely used for begging +purposes, she had sold or hired him out to these acrobatic +performers, who had gone off into that vague and unknown region, the +country. Liz had no notion what was their real name, nor where they +would go, only that they attended races and fairs; and as soon as the +actual pleasure of communicating information was over, she was seized +with a panic, implored Mr. Godfrey to make no use of her information, +and explained that the people of the house were quite capable of +killing her, if they suspected her of betraying any of their +transactions. It was impossible to bring any authorities to bear on +the quest; and Mr. Dutton held it wisest only to write a note telling +Mr. Egremont that he had obtained evidence that the child was living, +and that he was going in pursuit, but thought it safer to say no more +at present. He gave the note to Mark at his office. 'I cannot trust +myself to see your cousin,' he said. 'I might be tempted to say more +than was consistent with Godfrey's honour towards his informant.' + +'I think you are right,' said Mark. 'You had better leave me with +only indefinite knowledge, for I shall be hard pressed. Do you not +go home first?' + +'Yes, I go to pack up a few things and fetch Monsieur. A run in the +country will do him good, and he may be a valuable auxiliary. I +shall find no one at Springfield at this hour.' + +'What is your plan?' + +'I shall venture so far as to apply to the police for the names of +the usual attendants at races and fairs, and for some idea of their +ordinary rounds. I have no doubt that these are known at the chief +offices. For the rest, I must use my eyes. But tell your cousin +that, with God's blessing, I hope to bring him back to her.' + +'He will,' said Ursula, when Mark gave her the message, and from that +moment she was calmer. She did not fret Mark with questions even as +much as Annaple did, she tried to prevent her father from raging at +the scant information, and she even endeavoured to employ herself +with some of her ordinary occupations, though all the time she kept +up the ceaseless watch. 'Mr. Dutton would not have said that without +good hope,' she averred, 'and I trust to him.' + +Yet when four, five, six, eight, days had passed with no tidings, the +heart sickness grew almost more than she could bear, though she still +answered with spirit when her father again took to abusing the +umbrella-fellow for choosing to keep all in his own hands. + +Even Annaple could not help saying to her husband that a precise, +prim, old bachelor was the very last person for a hunt in slums and +the like. The very sight of him would put the people on their guard. +'And think of his fine words,' she added. 'I wish I could go! If I +started with a shawl over my head, yoked to a barrel-organ, I should +have a far better chance than he will. I declare, Mark, if he does +not succeed we'll do it. We'll hire an organ, whereon you shall +play. Ah! you shake your head. A musical education is not required, +and I know I shall do something desperate soon, if that dear little +boy is not found.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. +NUTTIE'S KNIGHT. + + + + +'The night came on and the bairnies grat, + Their minnie aneath the mools heard that.' + + +'LYNDHURST, 4th July.--Philip Dutton to Miss Egremont. Found. +Waterloo, 6.15.' + + +'I knew he would,' said Nuttie, with a strange quietness, but as she +tried to read it to her father her voice choked, and she had to hand +it to Annaple. But for the first time in her life she went up and +voluntarily kissed her father's forehead. And perhaps it was for the +first time in his life that the exclamation broke from him, 'Thank +God!' + +Perhaps it was well that the telegram had not come earlier in the +day, for Mr. Egremont was very restless, showing himself much shaken +in nerves and spirits before the time for driving to the station, +which he greatly antedated. Nuttie could hardly keep him in the +carriage, and indeed had to persuade him to return thither, when he +had once sprung out on the arrival of a wrong train. + +And after all, when the train did come, his blue spectacles were +directed to the row of doors at the other end, and Nuttie was +anxiously trying to save him from being jostled, when a voice said +'Here!' and close beside them stood Mr. Dutton, with a little boy by +his side who looked up in her face and said 'Sister!' It was said in +a dreamy, almost puzzled way, not with the ecstatic joy Nuttie had +figured to herself; and there was something passive in the mode of +his hearing his father's 'My boy, my boy!' Instinctively all turned +to the harbour of the carriage; Mr. Dutton lifted Alwyn in, and as +Nuttie received him, a pang shot across her, as she felt how light, +how bony the little frame had become in these three weeks. + +'Come in! Come back with us! Tell us all!' said Mr. Egremont, as +Mr. Dutton was about to help him in. + +'My dog,' said Mr. Dutton, while Alwyn looked up from nestling in +Nuttie's lap to say, 'Mithter Button come! And Mothu!' + +'We have room for him,' said Mr, Egremont graciously. 'Here, poor +fellow.' + +'He has the right,' said Mr. Dutton, 'for he was the real finder.' + +And Monsieur, curly and shiny, occupied with great dignity the back +seat beside his master, while Alwyn, in a silent but dreamy content, +as if he only half understood where he was, rested against his +sister's bosom with his hands in his father's. + +'Come, old chap,' said his father cheerily, 'tell us all about it.' + +But Alwyn only shuddered a little, raised his eyelids slightly, and +gave a tiny faint smile. + +'I think he is very much tired,' said Mr. Dutton. 'There was a good +deal to be done to make him presentable this morning. You must +forgive me for sacrificing his curls, there was nothing else to be +done with them.' + +'Ah!' and Nuttie looked again. The boy was in a new, rather coarse, +ready-made, sailor suit that hung loosely upon his little limbs, his +hair was short, and he was very pale, the delicate rosy flush quite +gone, and with it the round outline of the soft cheek; and there were +purple marks under the languid eyes. She bent down and kissed him, +saying, 'Was Mr. Button nurse to you, Wynnie?' + +He smiled again and murmured, 'Mr. Button made me boy again.' + +After a question and answer or two as to main facts of place and time +of the discovery, Mr. Dutton told his story. 'I did not effect much +with my inquiries after the circuses. All I heard of were of too +superior an order for kidnapping practices. However, I thought the +only way would be to haunt fairs and races, and look at their camp- +followers. At a place in Hertfordshire I saw a performance +advertised with several children as fairies, so I went to see it. I +was soon satisfied that Alwyn was not there; but it struck me that I +had known the face of the prime hero, a fine handsome supple fellow, +who was called in the programme Herr Adalbert Steinfuggen, or some +such name. Well, it seemed that he knew me, for as I struggled out +after a considerable interval, I heard myself accosted, "Mr. Dutton! +Sir, surely I have the honour of speaking to Mr. Dutton of +Micklethwayte?" I assure you he was the very pink of politeness. Do +you remember, Miss Egremont, Abel Stone?' + +'Oh, Abel Stone! He was a choir boy at Micklethwayte, I remember! He +was very handsome, and had a splendid voice; but he was a real monkey +for mischief, and nobody could manage him but mother. She was always +pleading that he should not be turned out, and at last he ran away.' + +'Yes; he went off with a circus, and there he found his vocation, +rose and throve, married the prima-donna, and is part owner. He +seems very respectable, and was so friendly and affectionate that I +ventured to consult him; when, on hearing whom I was seeking, he +became warmly interested, and gave me just the information I wanted. +He said he had little doubt that Funny Frank was a clown called Brag, +with whom he had had words some years back for misusing the children. +He said he did not hold with harshness to the little ones in teaching +them to do the feats, which certainly were wonderful. If they were +frightened, they were nervous and met with accidents; but make much +of them, and they thought it all fun, and took a pride and pleasure +in their performances. However this Brag, though a clever fellow, +could not be hindered from bullying, and at last he went off with a +girl of the troupe and set up on their own account. Stone, or +whatever he pleases to call himself, had met them several times, but +he spoke of them with great contempt as "low," and they did not +frequent the same places as he does. However, he referred to one of +his men, and found that they had been at Epsom on the Derby day, and +moreover, that there was a report of them having lately narrowly +escaped being in a scrape about a child who had been injured. There +was no scruple as to advising me where to look for them, or as to the +best means of detection. Stone was very indignant, and made me +understand that all his young people were either to the manner born, +or willingly hired out by their parents. I saw them in private life, +and they looked happy and well-fed, but that was no guarantee for +Funny Frank. Well, I followed him up without success, trying each +place Stone had set down for me, till I came last night to Lyndhurst, +a very pretty place in the New Forest, where there is to be a fair +to-morrow, beginning this afternoon. Stone advised me to look about +before the affair opened, while unpacking and arranging was going on. +Well, after all, it was very simple. I strolled out with my dog +round the field where the vans and booths were getting into order. +There was what I thought a little girl in a faded red petticoat +sitting on the steps at the bottom of a yellow van with her head on +her hands.' + +'That was me,' said Alwyn, lighting up. 'And Mothu came and kissed +Fan!' + +'Yes,' said Mr. Dutton; 'I verily believe we might have missed one +another, but Monsieur ran up to him and, as I was actually whistling +him off, I heard a little voice say, "Mothu! Mothu!" and saw they +were--well, embracing one another, and then came "Mithter Button, +Mithter Button, oh, take me home!'" + +Eager caressing hands were held out to Monsieur, who jumped off the +seat to receive the pats and laudations lavished on his curly round +pate, and had to be reduced to order before Mr. Dutton could answer +the question whether he had any further difficulty or danger. + +'I took him up in my arms, and a handsome truculent-looking woman +burst out on me, demanding what I was about with her child. To which +I answered that she knew very well he was no such thing. Her man +came swaggering up, declaring impudently that I had better be off-- +but I believe he saw that the people who came round would not take +his part, for he gave in much more easily than I expected. I +explained as loud as I could that this was a gentleman's son who had +been stolen from his nurse in the Park. The man began to protest +that they had found him deserted, and taken him with them out of +charity, requesting to be paid for his keep. So I thought it better +to give them a sovereign at once, so as to have no further trouble, +and get him away as fast as I could. The woman came after me, making +further demands, but the sight of a policeman in the distance turned +her back. I went up to him and explained. I found he knew all about +the loss and the reward, and looked regretfully at my prize. We went +back to the hotel, where I set Alwyn to rights as well as I could, +sent out for some clothes, such as the place would produce, and which +at least, as he says, made a boy of him again. I'm afraid the +process was rather trying from such unaccustomed hands, though he was +very good, and he has been asleep almost all the way home, and, his +senses all as in a dream bound up.' + +The heaviness--whether weariness or content, still continued. Alwyn +seemed to find it too much trouble to talk, and only gave little +smiles, more like his mother than himself. He clung quite +desperately to his sister when Mark offered to lift him from the +carriage, but nurse was close behind, and it was good to see the +little arms stretched out, and the head laid on her shoulder, the +hand put up to stroke her cheek, and the lips whispering 'Wyn's own +nursie.' The jubilant greeting and triumphant procession with which +he was borne upstairs seemed almost to oppress him. He appeared +almost as if he was afraid of wakening from a happy dream, and his +lively merriment seemed all gone; there were only beams of +recognition and gladness at 'Wyn's own nursery, Wyn's own pretty +cup,' touching it as if to make sure that it was real, and pleased to +see the twisted crusts, his special treat. + +But he could not eat much of them, and soon laid his head down, as +one weary, with the exhaustion of content; and nurse, who had allowed +that Mr. Dutton had, considering all things, done much for the +outward restoration of the daintiness of her recovered child, was +impatient to give him the hot bath and night's rest that was to bring +back the bright joyous Alwyn. So Nuttie only lingered for those +evening prayers she had yearned after so sorely. When she held his +mother's picture to him to be kissed, he raised his eyes to her and +said: 'Will she come to me at night now?' + +'Who, my darling?' + +'She, mother dear.' + +'Here's her picture, dear boy.' + +'Not only the picture--she came out of it, when I cried, up on the +nasty-smelling bundle in the van all in the dark.' + +'She came?' + +'Yes, she came, and made it so nice, and hushed me. I wasn't afraid +to go to by-by when she came. And she sang. Sister, can't you sing +like that?' + +'Not here, I'm afraid, dear, dear boy,' she whispered, holding him so +tight that he gave a little cry of 'It hurts.' Then came the +prayers, not a word forgotten, and the little voice joined in her +murmured thanksgiving for bringing him home. + +She was much moved and awe-stricken at these words of her little +brother; but she had to dress in haste for dinner, listening the +while to her maid's rejoinings and vituperations of the wretches who +had maltreated the child. + +When she came down she found no one in the drawing-room but Mr. +Dutton, whom her father had asked to the happiest meal that had +perhaps ever been eaten in that house. + +She went towards him with winged steps in her white dress: 'Oh! Mr. +Dutton, we have not said half enough to you, but we never, never +can.' + +He gave a curious, trembling half smile, as she held out her hands to +him, and said: 'The joy is great in itself,' speaking in a very low +voice. + +'Oh! I am so glad that you did it,' cried Ursula. 'It would not have +been half so sweet to owe it to any one else.' + +'Miss Egremont, do you know what you are saying?' he exclaimed. + +'Don't call me Miss Egremont! You never used to. Why should you?' + +'I have not dared--' he began. + +'Dared! Don't you know you always were our own Mr. Dutton--best, +wisest friend of all, and now more than ever.' + +'Stay,' he said, 'I cannot allow you in your fervour to say such +things to me, unaware of the strength of feeling you are stirring +within me.' + +'You! you! Mr. Dutton!' cried Nuttie, with a moment's recoil. 'You +don't mean that you care for _me_.' + +'I know it is preposterous--' he began. + +'Preposterous! Yes, that you should care one bit for silly, foolish, +naughty, self-willed me. Oh, Mr. Dutton, you can't mean it!' + +'Indeed, I would have kept silence, and not disturbed you with my +presumption, if--' + +'Hush!' she cried. 'Why, it makes me so glad and so proud, I don't +know what to do. I didn't think anybody was good enough for you-- +unless it was dear, dear mother--and that it should be me.' + +'It is true,' he said gravely, 'my younger days were spent in a vain +dream of that angel, then when all that was ended, I thought such +things were not for me; but the old feeling has wakened, it seems to +me in greater force than ever, though I meant to have kept it in +control--' + +'Oh, I am glad you didn't! It seems as if the world swam round with +wonder and happiness,' and she held his hand as if to steady herself, +starting however as Annaple opened the door saying, 'We've been +sending telegrams with the good news.' + +Then an arch light came into her bright eyes, but the others were +behind her, and she said no more. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. +FOUND AND TAKEN. + + + + +'The angels of the gateway + Bent softly to the child, + And stretched glad hands to take him + To the kingdom undefiled.'--B. M. + + +'Come up and see him,' said Nuttie, as the dining-room door was shut. +'I must feast my eyes on him.' + +Annaple replied by throwing an arm round her and looking into her +eyes, kissing her on each cheek, and then, as they reached the +landing in the summer twilight, waltzing round and round that narrow +space with her. + +'You ridiculous person!' said Nuttie. 'Do you mean that you saw!' + +'Of course I did; I've seen ever so long--' + +'Nonsense! That's impossible--' + +'Impossible to owls and bats perhaps, but to nothing else not to see +that there was one sole and single hero in the world to you, and that +to him there was one single being in the world; and that being the +case---' + +'But, Annaple, you can't guess what he has always been to me.' + +'Oh! don't I know?--a sort of Archbishop of Canterbury and George +Heriot rolled into one. So much the more reason, my dear, I don't +know when I've been so glad in my life than that your good times +should be coming.' + +'They are come in knowing this! It is only too wonderful,' said +Nuttie, as they stood together among the plants in the little +conservatory on the way upstairs. 'I always thought it insulting to +him when they teased me about him.' + +'They did, did they?' + +'My father, incited by poor Gregorio. Oh, Annaple! don't let any one +guess till we know how my father will take it. What is it, Ellen?' +as the nursery-maid appeared on the stairs. + +'If you please, ma'am, Mrs. Poole would be glad if you are coming up +to the nursery.' + +They both hastened up and nurse came out to meet them in the day +nursery, making a sign to Ellen to take her place by the cot, and +withholding the two ladies. She made them come as far off as +possible, and then said that she was not at all satisfied about +Master Alwyn. There had been the same drowsiness and disinclination +to speak, and when she had undressed and washed him, he had seemed +tender all over, and cried out and moaned as if her touch hurt him, +especially on one side where, she felt convinced, there was some +injury; but when she asked about it his eyes grew frightened and +bewildered, and he only cried in a feeble sort of way, as if sobs +gave him pain. + +She had soothed him, and he had gone into his own bed with the same +gentle languid gladness, but had presently begun moaning, and +imploring in his sleep, wakening with screams and entreaties, 'Oh, +I'll do it! I'll try!' and she thought him very feverish. Would it +not be better that a doctor should see him? + +Nurse was always an alarmist, and Nuttie could not help thinking that +to wake the child to see a stranger to-night would only add to his +terror and distress, while Annaple declared her entire belief that +though no doubt the poor little fellow had been cruelly knocked about +and bruised, a night's rest would probably restore his bright self, +and make all that was past only like a bad dream. There was no +judging to-night, and sleep was wonderful reparation to those little +beings. + +Then however the moans and murmurs began again, and now the awakening +cry. They started forward, and as Nuttie came to the cot-side the +child threw himself into her bosom with, 'Sister! Sister! It is +sister!' but his eyes grew round with terror at sight of Annaple, and +clinging tightly to Nuttie he gasped, 'Send her away! don't let her +touch me! Fan's not here!' + +To tell him she was Cousin Annaple, Billy's mamma, had no effect; he +did not seem able to understand, and she could only retire--nurse +being thus convinced that to let him see another stranger to-night +would only do further harm. Nuttie and nurse succeeded in reassuring +him that he was safe at home and with them, and in hushing him off +into what they hoped would be a quiet wholesome sleep in spite of the +hot sultry night, on which Annaple laid a good deal of the blame of +his restlessness and feverishness. + +Nuttie only came down for a short time before the visitors went away; +and then she wrote a note to Dr. Brownlow, which Mark promised to +leave as he went to the city in the morning, Mr. Egremont, in his +present relief, pooh-poohing all fears, and backing up Annaple's +belief in the powers of 'tired nature's soft restorer'; but Mr. +Dutton looked grave and said that he had remarked the extreme +tenderness, but had hoped that much was due to his own inexperience +in handling little children. The parting clasp of the hand had a +world of meaning in it, and Nuttie openly said that she hoped to tell +him after matins at St. Michael's how the boy was. But she could not +be there. When she went upstairs at night the half-delirious terrors +had returned, and there was another difficult soothing and comforting +before the child slept again. Nurse fancied the unwonted presence +might disturb him, and insisted on her going to her own room. + +When she returned in the morning it was to find that since daylight +he had been more quietly asleep; but there was a worn sunken look +about his face, and she could not be satisfied to leave him alone +while the nurses stirred about and breakfasted. + +He awoke smiling and happy; he looked about and said gladly, 'Wyn at +home! Wyn's own nursery,' but he did not want to get up; 'Wyn so +tired,' he said, speaking of himself in the baby form that he had for +several months discarded, but he said his pretty 'thank you,' and +took delight in breakfasting in his cot, though still in a subdued +way, and showing great reluctance to move or be touched. + +Nuttie was sent for to report of him to his father, who would not +hear for a moment of anxiety, declaring that the boy would be quite +well if they let him alone, he only wanted rest, and insisting on +following out his intention of seeing a police superintendent to +demand whether the kidnapping rascals could not be prosecuted. + +Neither by Nuttie nor nurse could much be extracted from the poor +little fellow himself about his adventures. He could not bear to +think of them, and there was a mist of confusion over his mind, +partly from weakness, partly, they also thought, from the drugged +spirits with which he had been more than once dosed. He dimly +remembered missing Gregorio in the park, and that he had tried to +find his way home alone, but some one, a big boy, he thought, had +said he would show him the way, took hold of his hand, dragged him, +he knew not where, into dreadful dirt and stench, and apparently had +silenced him with a blow before stripping him. But it was all very +indistinct, he could not tell how Mother Bet got hold of him, and the +being dressed in the rags of a girl had somehow loosed his hold of +his own identity. He did not seem at all certain that the poor +little dirty petticoated thing who had wakened in a horrible cellar, +or in a dark jolting van who had been dubbed Fan, who had been forced +by the stick to dance and twist and compelled to drink burning, +choking stuff, was the same with Alwyn in his sailor suit or in his +white cot. + +It was Dr. Brownlow who at once detected that there had been much of +this dosing, and drew forth the fact. It had probably been done +whenever it was expedient that he should be hidden, or unable to make +any appeal to outsiders. Alwyn was quite himself by day, and showed +no unreasonable fear or shyness, but he begged not to be touched, and +though he tried to be good and manly, could not keep from cries and +screams when the doctor examined him. + +Then it came out. 'It's where he kicked me.' + +'Who?' + +'That man--master, she said I must call him. He kicked poor little +Fan with his great heavy big boots--'cause Fan would say Wyn's +prayers.' + +'Who was Fan?' asked the puzzled doctor. + +'Himself,' whispered Nuttie. 'Alas! himself!' + +'Wyn was Fan,' said Alwyn. 'Fan's gone now!' + +'And did the man kick poor little Fan,' repeated the doctor--'here?' + +'Oh don't--don't! It hurts so. Master said he would have none of +that, and he kicked with his big boot. Oh! Fan couldn't dance one +bit after that.' + +He could not tell how long ago this had been. He seemed to have lost +all reckoning of days, and probably felt as if ages had past in Funny +Frank's van, but Dr. Brownlow thought the injury could not be above +two or three days old, and probably it accounted for there having +been no more obstructions put in the way of removing the child, since +he had ceased to be of use, and the discovery of the injury might +have brought the perpetrator into trouble. Indeed, as it was, Mr. +Egremont caused the police to be written to, demanding the arrest of +the man and woman Brag, but they had already decamped, and were never +traced, which was decidedly a relief to those who dreaded all that a +prosecution would have involved. + +And Dr. Brownlow became very grave over the injury. He said it was a +surgical case, and he should like to have another opinion, enjoining +that the child should be kept in bed, and as quiet as possible, till +he could bring his friend in the afternoon, which was no difficult +matter, for Alwyn seemed to have no desire for anything but rest and +the sight of his friends and his treasures, which were laid beside +him to be gently handled and stroked but not played with. Mothu and +Mithter Button were among the friends he craved for, but he showed no +desire to see Billy-boy, and it was thought best to keep that young +gentleman's rampant strength at a distance. + +The chief difficulty was with his father, who declared they were all +croaking, and that the boy would be as well as ever to-morrow. He +went and sat by the cot, and talked merrily of the pony that Alwyn +was to ride, and the yachting they would have in the summer; and the +little fellow smiled and was pleased, but went to sleep in the midst. +Then Mr. Egremont went out, taking Annaple with him, because Nuttie +would not go till the doctors' visit was over, though he declared +that they were certain not to come till long after her return from +the drive. He actually went to the dealer's, and had pony after pony +paraded before the carriage, choosing a charming toy Shetland at +last, subject to its behaviour with the coachman's little boy, while +Annaple hopefully agreed with him that Alwyn would be on its back in +another week. + +He still maintained his opinion, outwardly at least, when he was met +on his return by Nuttie with a pale, almost thunderstruck face. Dr. +Brownlow had called her from trying to soothe away the fright and +suffering of the examination, to break to her that both he and his +colleague thought very seriously of the injury and its consequences, +and deemed it very doubtful whether the poor little fellow could be +pulled through. + +Mr. Egremont was again angry, declared that she had misunderstood, +and made the worst of it; that Dr. Brownlow was a conceited young +ass; that his friend played into his hands; with other amenities of +the same kind, to which she listened with mingled irritation and pity +for his unreasonableness, and even at the sympathy which he found in +Annaple's hopeful nature. + +The young mother never dreaded nor expected what she could not bear +to think possible, such as the death-warrant of that beautiful child, +while Nuttie's nature always expected the worst, and indeed had read +the doom in the doctor's eyes and voice rather than in his words. So +Annaple backed Mr. Egremont up when he made his daughter write to +desire Dr. Brownlow to call in the first advice in London; and among +them they made so sure that this would be effective that they +actually raised Nuttie's hopes so as to buoy her through the feverish +early hours of the night when the pain was aggravated, the terrors +returned, the boy was tormented by his duality with Fan, and the past +miseries were acted over again. Even nurse and sister did not +suffice, and Mithter Button had to be fetched by Mark before he could +feel quite secure that he was Alwyn and not Fan. Indeed, in these +light-headed moments, a better notion was gained of what he must have +endured than in the day-time, when all seemed put aside or forgotten. +After a time he became capable of being soothed by hymns, though +still asking why his sister could not sing like that vision of his +mother which had comforted him in his previous miseries, and craving +for her return. Then at last he fell quietly asleep, and Nuttie was +left with a few sustaining words and a pressure from Mr. Dutton's +hand. + +Alas! the new consultation could only ratify the first opinion. The +injury need not have been necessarily fatal, though dangerous to any +young child, and here it had been aggravated by previous ill- +treatment, and by the doses of spirits that had been forced down, +besides which, Alwyn was naturally delicate, and--though the doctors +would not say so to father or sister--there were hereditary +predispositions that gave him the less chance of battling through. + +Yet Mr. Egremont concluded his purchase of the pony, and insisted +that Alwyn should be carried to the window to see it; and Alwyn's +smile was almost enough to break Nuttie's heart, but his head drooped +on nurse's shoulder, he hardly lifted his heavy eyelids, and begged +for 'by-by' again. Even Annaple burst into tears at the sight, ran +out of the room with her sobs, and never augured recovery again, +though still she strove to cheer and while away the poor father's +piteous hours by making the most of every sign that the child was +happy and not suffering much. + +That he would be viewed as a 'pale placid martyr' was his sister's +chief comfort. His replies as to the manner of the hurt, as well as +his light-headed wanderings, had made it more and more evident that +the man Brag's brutality had been excited by his persisting in +kneeling down to say his prayers aloud--the only way he knew how to +say them. Indeed there was a recurring anxiety night and morning to +kneel, which had to be reasoned away, even when he was too weak to +make the attempt, and was only appeased by 'Sister' kneeling by his +side, holding his hands, and repeating the little prayers with him. +It was of his own accord that he added: 'And forgive those people, +and make them good.' Annaple burst into tears again and almost +scolded when she heard of it. 'Oh dear! oh dear! now I know he won't +get well! I'm glad Billy isn't so horribly good! Nuttie, Nuttie, +don't! You know I don't mean it. Only I just can't bear it. He is +the sweetest little fellow in the world! And oh! the cruelty of it.' + +'Yes,' said Nuttie in her dreary calmness; 'he is too sweet and +lovely and beautiful and good to be anywhere but safe with mother.' + +For it was more apparent that they could not keep him. It did not +last long; there were a couple of piteous days of restless pain and +distress, and then came the more fatal lull and absence of suffering, +a drowsiness in which the little fellow sank gradually away, lying +with a strange calm beauty on his face, and smiling feebly when he +now and then lifted his eyes to rest them on sister or nurse. His +father could not bear the sight. It filled him more with angry +compassion than with the tender reverence and hushed awe with which +Ursula watched her darling slipping as it were from her hold. So Mr. +Egremont wandered wretchedly about the lower rooms, while Mark and +Annaple tried their best for him through the long summer evening, +darkening into night. By and by Alwyn lifted his hand, turned his +head, opened his lips, and whispered, 'Hark, sister, she is singing.' +The look of exceeding joy beamed more and more over the pinched +little face. 'She's come again,' he said; and once more, 'Come to +take Wyn to the dear Lord.' After that there were very few more long +breaths before little Alwyn Egremont's spirit was gone to that unseen +world, and only the fair little frame left with that wondrous look of +delighted recognition on the face. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. +THE UMBRELLA MAN. + + + + +Little Alwyn was laid to rest beside his mother in a beautiful summer +noontide. His father was not in a state to attend the funeral, and +was left under the care of Annaple, his own choice among those who +offered to stay and minister to him. It was his own wish that his +daughter should be to the last with her little brother. He had even +said to her that she had been a good sister, and his boy had been +very fond of her, and he would not keep her away on any account. + +And, with a man's preference for a young and kindly woman, he chose +Annaple to be with him rather than Mr. Dutton, remembering likewise +that but for him the boy would have died in some workhouse, unknown +and unclaimed, or among the wretches who had caused his death. So +Nuttie had the comfort of Mr. Dutton's going down with her, as well +as Mark, and poor broken-down nurse, but not a word referring to the +confession of that happy evening had passed between them during the +mournful fortnight which had since elapsed. + +May Condamine and her husband had made all as fair and consoling as +they could. There were white-robed children to bear the boy from the +churchyard gate, choristers sang hymns, the grave was lined with moss +and daisies, and white roses decked the little coffin and the mound. +There was as much of welcome and even of triumph as befitted the +innocent child, whose death had in it the element of testimony to the +truth. And Nuttie felt it, or would feel it by and by, when her +spirit felt less as if some precious thing had been torn up by the +roots--to be safe and waiting for her elsewhere, indeed, but that did +not solace the yearning longing for the merry loving child; nor the +aching pity for the crushed blighted creature whom she had watched +suffering and dying. It was far beyond her power as yet to acquiesce +in her aunt's consolation that it was happier for the child himself, +than if he was to grow up to temptation from without, and with an +unsound constitution, with dangerous hereditary proclivities. She +could believe it in faith, nay, she had already experienced the +difficulties her father had thrown in her way of dealing with him, +she tried to be resigned, but the good sense of the Canoness was too +much for her. + +It was a day of more haste than suited the ideal of such a time, for +Mr. Egremont could not be left for a night; so there was only time +for a luncheon, with little jerks of talk, and then for an hour spent +in short private interviews. Mrs. Egremont obtained from poor Nurse +Poole all the details, and, moreover, her opinion of Mr. Mark's baby, +in whom, it having been born under her auspices, she took a special +interest. + +Nuttie meantime was pacing the shady walk with her dear old friend +Miss Nugent, feeling it strange that her heart did not leap up at the +bare presence of one she loved so much, yet conscious of the soothing +of her sympathy. And Mary, watching her all through, had been struck +with the increased sweetness and nobleness her countenance had +acquired during these years of discipline. More of her mother's +expression had come than could have been thought possible in features +of such a different mould, formed for so much more strength and +energy. They had not met since Nuttie had been summoned home to her +mother's deathbed, and their time was chiefly spent on reminiscences +alike of the old sorrow and the new; but, when the time for parting +was nearly come, Mary said affectionately, 'And you, my dear?' + +'Oh, I am all right,' said Nuttie, and her eyes shone with a light +Mary did not at the moment understand; 'you need not be anxious for +me _now_.' + +'I suppose that unhappy valet's death makes your task easier,' said +Mary. + +'I think it will,' said Nuttie. 'Poor man! He was--I can't help +saying it--the evil genius of the house. Dear mother knew it, +struggled against him, and broke down in the struggle. It seems so +strange that what she could not do has been done in such a manner, +and at such a price! I wonder whether she knew it when she welcomed +her boy!' + +'Her influence will aid you still,' said Mary, 'and you have Mr. +Dutton to help you too. I was so glad to find he was so near you.' + +'Oh, Mr. Dutton!' exclaimed Ursula, in a strange tone that sent a +thrill through Mary, though she knew not why; but at that moment they +were interrupted, very inopportunely, by Mr. Bulfinch, who could not +go away without asking Miss Egremont whether she thought her father +could see him on business if he came up to town the next day. She +thought that such an interview would rouse her father and do him +good, advising him to call on the chance. + +Mark's tete-a-tete had been with his sister May, to whom he had much +to tell of his wife and her gallant patience and energy, and how +curious it was that now the incubus that had weighed on his uncle's +household was removed, the prejudice had melted away, and he had +grown so fond of her that, next to Ursula, she was his best +comforter. + +'I hope that will lead to more,' said May. + +'I don't see how,' said Mark. The more we rely only on a blessing on +our own exertions the better.' + +'Even when Annaple works within an inch of her life?' + +'Now that she is on a right tack about the baby, that will be easier. +Yes, May, I do feel sometimes that I have brought her down to +drudgery and narrowness and want of variety such as was never meant +for her, but she will never let me think so. She says that it is +living in realities, and that it makes her happier than toiling after +society, or rather after the world, and I do believe it is true! I'm +sure it is with me.' + +'But such work as yours, Mark.' + +'Nonsense, May; I enjoy it. I did not when I was in the Greenleaf +firm, with an undeveloped sense that Goodenough was not to be +trusted, and we were drifting to the bad, yet too green to understand +or hinder it; but this I thoroughly like. What does one want but +honest effective work, with some power of dealing with and helping +those good fellows, the hands, to see the right and help themselves?' + +May sighed. 'And yet, now that poor child is gone, I feel all the +more how hard it is that you should be put out of the rights of your +name.' + +'I never had any rights. It was the bane of my life to be supposed +to have them. Nothing but this could have made a man of me.' + +'And don't you have regrets for your boy?' + +'I don't think I have--provided we can give him an education--such as +I failed to make proper use of, or Annaple might be luxuriating at +Pera at this moment.' + +'Well!' said May, pausing as she looked up the vista of trees at the +great house; 'I can't bear it to go out of the old name.' + +'Names may be taken!' + +'You don't mean that there's any chance of--Oh! not that horrid Mr. +Fane?' + +'Certainly not.' + +'Oh!' as a trim black figure appeared walking down the open space. +'That man!' + +'I am not authorised to tell any one so, May.' + +'Yes, I understand. The wretch, he is taking stock of the place +already!' + +'For shame. May, no one has deserved so well of them.' + +'I don't care, he got you into that horrid concern.' + +'And got me out of it, and found my work for me. I tell you, May, it +is the best thing that could possibly happen to your parish, or the +estate, or my poor uncle either! And you will soon come to a better +mind. ' + +'Never, while he is to get into your place! Turn back before he +comes within hailing distance. ' + +Before Mark could do anything towards bringing his sister to a better +mind he was seized on by his stepmother to propound a scheme she had +hatched, namely that, as a mutual benefit, Nurse Poole should be +allowed the consolation of bringing her chief comforter, his little +daughter, down with her on the visit Mrs. Egremont had invited her to +pay at Redcastle. He was very grateful, though doubtful whether +Annaple would accept the offer, for she was missing her children's +company, though they were only at Springfield House, and she had been +with them part of every day. And, sad as this month had been, it had +been such a rest from sheer physical toil that she had gained almost +as much by it as the little one. + +There was a general assembly and coffee-drinking in the verandah,-- +Mr. Condamine, Blanche, and her two young sisters were all there,-- +and May had to be duly civil to Mr. Dutton, though he came back with +some water-lilies that he had fished out of the lake for Nuttie, and +she thought it taking possession. Then the Londoners set forth for +the station, and there Mark, having perhaps had a hint from his wife, +saw Nuttie and Mr. Dutton safely bestowed by Broadbent in an empty +carriage, and then discovered a desire to smoke, and left them to +themselves. + +They had not been alone together for more than a second since the +evening of Alwyn's return, and there was a great shyness between +them, which lasted till the first station was past without any +irruption of newcomers. Nothing had been said but a few comments on +the arrangements and the attendants, but probably both were trying to +begin to speak, and at last it was Ursula who crossed over so that +her face could not be seen, and said in an odd tone-- + +'Mr. Dutton--' + +'Yes,' and he turned, instantly on the alert. + +'Did you mean it--what I thought you meant that evening?' + +'Can you doubt it?' he said earnestly. 'But even then I was +surprised into the avowal, and I would have held it back if possible, +if I had guessed what was going to happen.' + +'Ah! but then I should not have had that drop of comfort through it +all,' and she laid hold of his hand, which returned the pressure +strongly, but he sedulously guarded both words and tone as he said: + +'Listen, Ursula, before you speak again. How dear you must always be +to me, I cannot tell you, but when I then spoke, it was with the +sense that on every account, I should meet with strong opposition +from your father and family. And now your position is altered, so +that the unsuitability is doubled. I am not a young man, remember, +and my thoughts must be for you above all, I want you to consider +whether, in the present state of affairs, you would not do better to +look on what then passed as unsaid, or only as the ebullition of +gratitude towards your old friend. Let me go abroad, and give you +full opportunity for--for some fresh beginning likely to be fitter +for you--' + +'Mr. Dutton, how can you say such horrid things? As if a dukedom +would make any difference.' + +'Yes,' he said, turning towards her. 'If it is only the old-friend +feeling, then it is better dropped, but if your heart is in it, +child, then we go on, come what may. It is due to you.' + +She raised her face towards him now, and he gave a grave kiss to her +forehead. She drew a long breath, and said after a little pause, +'And now I have something to say. One does think of such things even +in these sad times, and you can help me. I am so glad it is you, +because I know you will, and be rejoiced to do so. You know when +Mark found us out first, dear mother and I always felt that it was a +great pity he should not have the estate he had been brought up to +expect. I believe dear mother thought it would have been the right +thing for me to marry him, but I always did mean to give it back to +him, even when I didn't like him. Well, then, you know it all seemed +settled otherwise, but now, it is so lucky you spoke to me while that +dear little fellow was with us, because now you will help me to +persuade my father that it is the only satisfactory thing to do to +let it go in the male line to Mark and his Willy.' + +'I see! I see!' said Mr. Dutton eagerly. 'It would be an infinite +relief if it could be carried out.' + +'I believe my father would like it,' said Nuttie. 'He cares for the +name; and now no one prevents it; he is fond of Mark, and still more +of Annaple! And you! Oh, Mr. Dutton, if he will only take it in the +right way, I think you will make me able to do what it grieved dear +mother never to have brought about for my poor father.' + +'My whole self is yours to aid you,' he said. 'You know of course +that I could not ask you to detach yourself from one to whom you are +so necessary. If he will permit us, we will watch over him together +as doing her work.' + +'Thank you,' was all Nuttie's lips could utter, though her hand said +much more. + +And before they reached London they had arranged something of a plan +of action for propitiating Mr. Egremont, and bringing the future +prospects to be available so as to save Annaple from being worked to +death in the meantime. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. +ANNAPLE'S AMBITION FALLEN. + + + + +'Well, how did you get on, Annaple?' + +'Oh! very well, poor old man, on the whole, though it made one pity +him doubly that he chose to make as if he forgot everything, and you +were all gone on a picnic, taking me out for a long drive in the +afternoon--where we were least likely to meet any one--that I will +say for him.' + +'Forgetting is not the best for him.' + +'As if he could forget! But he was very nice and friendly, and put +on his best, most courteous self. I think he looks on me rather as a +protector from the solemn Mr. Edsall.' + +'Surely Edsall treats him well. He was excellently recommended. You +know I saw his master's daughter.' + +'Oh! only _too_ well. He takes the management of him as if he were +three years old, or a lunatic. He simply _will_ not be offended any +more than if he had to do with a baby.' + +'What should offend him?' + +'That Mr. Egremont greatly resents being allowed nothing but by what +Edsall calls medical sanction. He is too blind, you know, to venture +to pour out anything for himself, and besides, Edsall has all the +drugs under lock and key, and is coolness itself about any amount of +objurgations, such as I fancy go on sometimes.' + +'Do you think he will stand it?' + +'Who? Your uncle? Yes, I think he will. This man really makes him +more comfortable than poor Gregorio did.' + +'Yes; Nuttie said she was sure that there was neglect, if not +bullying latterly. But he must miss Gregorio terribly. They had +been together for at least five-and-twenty or thirty years, and had +plenty of gossip together.' + +'Whereas the present paternal despotism and appalling dignity and +gravity will keep him more dependent on his right congeners.' + +'If they are of the right sort, that's all.' + +'He has been making me read him a whole heap of letters; indeed, as +you know, I have been doing that all along, when he could not get +Nuttie. There were some from Mr. Bulfinch. Do you know that bailiff +of his must be next door to a swindler?' + +'Bulfinch is coming up to see him to-morrow.' + +'And, Mark, do you know, he has been putting out feelers as if to +discover whether we would do--what he asked us to do five years ago.' + +'Would you?' + +'If it were not for the children, and--and sometimes the extreme +pinch, I should say it was more like _life_ to work yourself up as a +City man,' said Annaple. 'If you were the Squire, with all his +opportunities, it would be a different thing, but there's no outlet +there, and I have often admired the wisdom of the Apocryphal saying, +"Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man."' + +'Well, it is lucky you think so, Nannie, for though Dutton is +certainly not a foolish man, he will not want an underling. And what +do you say to my mother's proposal of having poor Poole to stay at +Redcastle, and borrowing baby to comfort her till she goes out again. + +'I hate it,' said Annaple energetically. 'It is very horrid, but it +is awfully good of the Canoness; and I suppose we shall have to let +it come to pass, and miss all that most charming time of babyhood +which is coming. But most likely it will quite set the little woman +up, and be a real kindness to poor Poole.' + +'If we could only keep her for good.' + +'Yes, and then our children would not be half so much our own. I do +want to be away with them in our own quarters. I wonder when Nuttie +can spare us, but I should like to see her through the great crisis +with her father.' + +That crisis was to involve more than Annaple in the least expected. +Nuttie found that the momentous confession could not possibly take +place before the interview with Mr. Bulfinch, at which her presence +was needed to help her father with his papers. The principal concern +was to show the full enormity of the bailiff, and decide upon the +steps to be taken, the solicitor being anxious for a prosecution, +while a certain tenderness for poor Gregorio's memory, or perhaps for +the exposure of his own carelessness, made Mr. Egremont reluctant. +There was also a proposal, brought forward with much diffidence from +Mr. Condamine's mother, to rent Bridgefield House, but on this, as +well as respecting a successor to the bailiff, Mr. Egremont was to +give his answer the next day, when Mr. Bulfinch would call again. + +Nuttie was thankful for the business that had filled up the hour +after luncheon, when Alwyn used to play in the drawing-room and +delight his father; but she was feeling desperate to have the crisis +over, and resolved to speak when she went out driving with him. It +was he, however, who began. 'I sounded Mark's wife yesterday, +Ursula. She is a nice little thing enough, and a good wife in her +way.' + +'A very good wife.' + +'Except when she persuaded him to turn up his nose at the agency. +D'ye think he would take it now, since he has tasted the sweets of +his umbrella business?' then, as Nuttie paused, taken by surprise; +'Five hundred a year and the Home Farm would be better than, what is +it, a hundred and fifty and a floor over a warehouse! I don't like +to see old Will's son wearing himself out there, and the lad is a +good honest lad, with business habits, who would do justice to you +after I am gone.' + +'Father,' said Nuttie, trembling with the effort, 'I want you to do +something better than that. I want you to let Mark take the agency +with a view to himself--not me. Let him be as he would have been if +he had never hunted us up at Micklethwayte, and put me in his place.' + +'Eh!' said Mr. Egremont. 'It is not entailed--worse luck; if it had +been, I should not have been bound to dance attendance at the heels +of such an old sinner as the General.' + +'No, but it ought to go to the heir male, and keep in the old name. +Think--there have been Egremonts at Bridgefield for four hundred +years!' + +'Very pretty talk, but how will it be with you, Miss. We shall have +Fane, and I don't know how many more, coming after the scent of +Bridgefield now,' he said with a heavy sigh, ending with a bitter +'Hang them all!' + +'And welcome,' said Nuttie, answering the thought rather than the +words. 'Father, I wanted to tell you--' + +'You don't mean that any one has been after you at such a time as +this!' he cried. + +'It was before--I mean it was the evening when we were all so glad, +before we began to be afraid.' + +'The umbrella man! By Jove!' + +'And now,' went on Nuttie, in spite of the explosion, 'he would +hardly have ventured to go on with it but for this--I mean,' as her +father gave a little laugh of his unpleasant sort, 'he said it would +be the greatest possible relief, and make it all right for the +property to go to the heir male.' + +'Hein! You think so, do you? See how it will be when I come to talk +to him! A shrewd fellow like that who got out of the Micklethwayte +concern just in time. Catch him giving up a place like that, though +he may humbug you.' + +'Then you will see him, father?' + +'If you turn him in on me, I can't help it. Bless me! umbrellas +everywhere! And here you mean to turn me over to the mercies of that +solemn idiot, Edsall. I should have been better off with poor +Gregorio.' + +'No, father; Mr. Dutton would not take me from you. We would both +try all we could to make you comfortable.' + +'Convert the old reprobate? Is that his dodge?' + +'Don't, father,' for the sneering tone returned. + +'Come now,' he added in a much more fatherly manner, for her voice +had struck him. 'You don't mean that a well-looking girl like you, +who could have her pick of all the swells in town, can really be +smitten with a priggish old retired umbrella-monger like that. Why, +he might be your father.' + +'He has been getting younger ever since I knew him,' said Nuttie. + +'Well. He plays as good a game of whist as any man in England,' +muttered Mr. Egremont, leaving his daughter in actual doubt whether +he meant this as a recommendation, or as expressing a distrust of +him, as one likely to play his cards to the best advantage. She had +to remain in doubt, for they overtook Clarence Fane, who came and +spoke to them in a very friendly and solicitous manner, and showed +himself willing to accept a lift in the carriage. Mr. Egremont, +willing to escape from perplexities as well as to endeavour to drive +away if possible the oppression of his grief, invited him in, and he +had some gossip to impart, which at first seemed to amuse the hearer +after this time of seclusion, but the sick and sore heart soon +wearied of it, and long before the drive was over, Mr. Egremont was +as much bored as his daughter had been from the first. + +When Mr. Fane got out, he paused a moment to hold Ursula's hand in a +tender manner, while he told her that he had not ventured to intrude +(he had left a card of inquiry every day), but that if ever he could +be of the least use in amusing Mr. Egremont, he was at her service, +and would give up any engagement. + +'Hein! my fine fellow! No doubt you would!' said Mr. Egremont, when +his daughter had uttered her cold thanks, and they had driven on. 'I +see your little game, but it is soon to begin it. We may as well let +them know that she is booked before the running begins.' + +It was a remarkable intimation of his acceptance of her engagement, +but Ursula was contented to take it as such, and be thankful. + +Mr. Dutton had his interview as soon as Mr. Egremont had rested after +his drive, and the result was satisfactory. + +No doubt much was due to the Egremont indolence and want of energy, +which always preferred to let things take their course. And now that +Gregorio was no longer present to amuse, and take all trouble off his +hands, Mr. Egremont could hardly have borne to part with his +daughter; and, despite of umbrellas and religion, was not sorry to +have a perfectly trustworthy son-in-law in the house, able to play at +cards with him, manage his household, and obviate all trouble about +suitors for the heiress. Moreover, his better feelings were stirred +by gratitude on his poor little son's account, and he knew very well +that a more brilliant match for his daughter would not have secured +for his old age the care and attention he could rely upon here. He +was obliged likewise to believe in the disinterestedness, which +disclaimed all desire for the estate, as involving cares and duties +for which there had been no training; and he was actually glad to +keep the property in the direct line. The old liking for Mark, and +sense of the hardship of his exclusion, revived, strengthened now by +regard for Annaple; together with the present relief from care +obtained by making him manager of the estate. + +When once brought to a point, Mr. Egremont was always sudden and +impetuous, chiefly for the sake of having it over and being +unmolested and at rest again. So that very evening, while Nuttie +only ventured on sharing with Annaple the glad tidings that Mr. +Dutton was accepted, and in his marvellous goodness, undertook to +make his home with her father. Mark was almost stunned by the news, +confirmed to him by Mr. Dutton as well as his uncle, that he was to +be acknowledged as heir of Bridgefield Egremont, and in the meantime +manage the estate with an income suitable to an oldest son. + +Presently he came upstairs by himself, and beckoned to Nuttie, rather +to the alarm of his wife. + +'Ursula,' he said, and took both her hands, 'I cannot have you do +this for me.' + +'Can't you, Mark? You can't prevent it, you see. And don't you know +it is the beginning of all my happiness?' + +'But indeed, I cannot feel it right. It is a strained sense of +justice. Come and tell her so, Nannie.' + +'What?' said Annaple coming forward. + +They both paused a moment, then Nuttie said, 'Only that the estate +ought to go in the male line.' + +'Oh, is that all?' said Annaple, 'I was afraid Mr. Egremont had a +fit!' + +'Ah! Don't you see what it means,' said Mark. 'They want it to be +as if there were an entail--to begin treating me as an eldest son at +once. It is Ursula's doing, putting herself out of the succession.' + +'I always hated being an heiress,' said Nuttie. + +'It would be more dreadful than ever now. Annaple, do be sensible! +Don't you see it is the only right thing to do?' + +'Billy!' was the one word Annaple said. + +'Yes, Billy and Jenny and all,' said Nuttie, 'before you've all died +of your horrid place--Oh! you haven't heard that part of it. Of +course Mark will have to go down to Bridgefield and look after the +place, and live like a gentleman.' + +'Eight hundred a year,' murmured Mark, 'and the house at the Home +Farm.' + +'Oh! dear,' gasped Annaple, 'I wanted you to be Lord Mayor, and now +you'll only be a stupid old country squire. No, no, Nuttie, it's-- +it's--it's the sort of thing that one only laughs at because +otherwise one would have to do the other thing!' + +And she gripped Nuttie tight round the waist, and laid her head on +her shoulder, shaking with a few little sobs, which might be one +thing or the other. + +'It will save her youth, perhaps her life,' whispered Mark, lifting +Nuttie's hand to his lips for a moment, and then vanishing, while +Annaple recovered enough to say, 'I'm tougher than that, sir. But +little Jenny! Oh, Nuttie, I believe it has come in time. I've known +all along that one straw more might break the camel's back. We've +been very happy, but I am glad it is over before Mark got worn down +before his time. Grinding is very wholesome, but one may have too +much; and I haven't Mark's scruples, Nuttie dear, for I do think the +place is more in his line than yours or Mr. Dutton's.' + +'Yes,' said Ursula, 'you see he was always happy there, and I never +was.' + +The next thing was for Mr. Dutton and Ursula to keep Mr. Egremont up +to the point of making his long deferred will; nor did they find this +so difficult as they expected, for having once made up his mind, he +wished to have the matter concluded, and he gave his instructions to +Bulfinch the next day. Of course Mark had to give full notice to his +employers; but the allowance was to begin at once, so that Annaple +only went back to the warehouse to pack up, since she was to occupy +No. 5, while Mr. Egremont and his daughter were going under Mr. +Dutton's escort to the baths in Dauphine, an entirely new resort, +free from the associations he dreaded, for he could not yet bear the +sight of little Willy--the rival 'boy of Egremont.' But the will was +safely signed before he went, to the great relief of Nuttie, who, +according to the experience of fiction, could hardly believe his life +safe till what she called justice had been done. + +After all Mr. Egremont became so dependent on Mr. Dutton, during this +journey, that he did not like the separation at its close, and +pressed on the marriage even sooner than either of the lovers felt +quite reverent towards the recent sorrow. He insisted on Bulfinch +having the settlements ready for them on their return, and only let +them wait long enough to keep their residence, before there was a +very quiet wedding in their parish church, with the cousins for +bridesmaids. Then Mark and Annaple took care of Mr. Egremont for the +fortnight while Mr. Dutton showed his wife his old haunts in France, +returning to Springfield House, where there was plenty of room for +Mr. Egremont to make his home with them. + +Said Annaple to Miss Nugent, 'I never saw Nuttie so youthful and +bright. She is more like a girl than I ever saw her since the +first.' + +'Yes,' said Mary, 'she has some one to rest on now.' + +Mr. Egremont lived between three and four years, more contented and +peaceful than he had ever been, though frequently suffering, and +sometimes giving way to temper and impatience. But Mr. Dutton +understood how to manage on these occasions, and without giving up +his own extensive usefulness, could give him such care, attention, +and amusement as beguiled his discomforts, and made his daughter's +task an easier one. + +How far the sluggish enfeebled nature was capable of a touch of +better things, or whether his low spirits were repentance, no one +could judge. At any rate sneers had ended, and when he was laid +beside his wife and boy at Bridgefield, Ursula stood by the grave +with a far more tender and hopeful feeling than she could have +thought possible when he had rent her away from her old home. +She looked up at her husband and said, 'Is not her work done?' + +THE END. + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Nuttie's Father +by Charlotte M. Yonge + + diff --git a/old/8nutt10.zip b/old/8nutt10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ae1be07 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8nutt10.zip |