BmBBIHBmI
-LI B RAHY
OF THE U N IVLRSITY OF ILLI NOIS
THE FAT OF THE LAND
A NOVEL
BY
M A E Y L E S T E E
(MARIA. SOLTERA)
AUTHOR OF ' A LADY'S RIDE ACROSS SPANISH HONDURAS '
IN THREE VOLUMES VOL. II.
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
MDCCCLXXXVIII
8 £3
CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
CHAP. PAGE
i. l'homme pkopose, ...... 1
II. A HEARTY COUNTRY WELCOME, .... 24
III. THE SIMPLICITY OF TRUTH, . . . . 45
IV. PERCIVAL WAVERS, ...... 64
V. SCIENCE AND CUPID, ..... 88
VI. A COUNTRY WEDDING, . . . . .109
VII. THE FAIR WOODS OF BARKHOLME, . . .130
VIII. AN AFTERNOON WITH A HARMONIUM, . .153
IX. THE ANGEL OF DEATH, . . . . .180
X. A FOE'S GIFT IS NO GIFT, AND BRINGS NO PROFIT, 204
XI. DOMESTIC ECONOMY, ..... 226
XII. IT IS THE UNEXPECTED THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS, 245
XIII. BRYDONE, ....... 274
THE FAT OF THE LAND.
CHAPTEE I.
LHOMME PEOPOSE.
" How did you manage to get into this field ? " was Mrs Fanshawe's first exclamation to her new visitor, as Sikes, loudly protesting, and croaking like a bird- fiend, scuttled away in the direction of his harem. " Miss Clavering — Mr La Touche ; I believe you have not met before. You have really had a rough re- ception. Did none of them warn you about the gander ? "
" The fault is entirely my own," the young lady replied. " I espied some blossoms of the cuckoo-pint flower close to the hedge on the other side, and so stayed behind the rest to gather them. I found that the flowers were farther off than I had thought, so I went into the meadow itself, never, of course, expecting any attack. As I stooped the creature rushed upon
VOL. II. A
2 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
me, inflicting a stab in my foot, and at the same time tearing my dress very savagely. As he raised his head to make a second onslaught, I seized him by the neck, twisted him round, and made him march on the extreme tip of his toes as you saw."
" I wonder you managed to retain your grasp," said Mrs Fanshawe. " Sikes is a very powerful bird."
" It was hard on my hand and arm, I assure you, and he very nearly wriggled away, but the sight of you encouraged me to hold on. Thanks for your aid," Miss Clavering added, turning to Stephen ; " like the Prussians at Waterloo, you helped materi- ally to secure the victory."
" You caught your enemy at a disadvantage," said Stephen, gallantly ignoring his own share in the achievement. " Were you, may I ask, carrying out a special code of tactics in gander training, or was the method you employed with such signal success the work of inspiration solely ? "
" The work of inspiration solely, if you will put it in that light," Miss Clavering answered with a gentle laugh ; " the motive power within always prompts me to grasp my nettle. There is nothing like facing a difficulty at the outset ; promptitude is more than half the battle."
" I, for my part, am very much obliged to you," said Mrs Fanshawe, — " that is, if Sikes does not pick himself up presently, and rush at the next comer with renewed malignity."
L HOMME PROPOSE. 3
"He seems pretty well cowed now," said Mr La Touche, surveying that part of the field whereon the gander lay sprawling, and evidently quite exhausted, for the time being at any rate. Meanwhile the females of Sikes's flock gabbled and wobbled, and revelled and exulted at the prostrate condition of their tyrant: it was an ungracious thought, but Stephen could not help likening the geese to a party of women over the reputation of a fallen sister. Here, however, the victim was masculine, and so the parallel was not exact. In the like situation, as affecting human beings, those who rejoice in the downfall of the man who is erring are certainly geese — though, as a matter of fact, he rarely obtains unqualified femi- nine reprobation.
Wisely keeping his thoughts to himself, Stephen turned to the younger lady with the remark, " I think you have acted like Earey the horse-tamer : in future, there will be no more trouble with Master Sikes."
" Sikes ! what a name for a gander ; " and thereupon Miss Clavering was supplied with all information respecting the antecedents of this bird, together with the reasons why the Fanshawe family had put up with him so patiently. " I believe the rector is quite proud of him," said Mrs Fanshawe in continuation, " so we must hope that his spirit is subdued but not utterly quenched."
" The reputation he has by all accounts acquired will stand in good stead," said Miss Clavering; "still, I
4 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
should be sorry to put Mr Fanshawe out of conceit with his friend. I have been quite close enough to him to discover that Sikes is a magnificent specimen of his kind."
Here the sweet jocund laughter of early youth broke on the air, — the boyish shout, and the ripple of young girls' voices, now rising, now falling, and anon flooding the calm evening with spring's own melody, — freshness and flowering life, ever changeful music, but all its notes in tune.
They call, they whistle, and the sweet carillons of united happy voices bring smiles of sympathy to those whom these sounds are intended to summon. Then some one among them looking through a hedge espies the ramblers, and the lost Miss Clavering is proclaimed to be safely walking with the Mater and Touchy. " Now for it. — who is to ask first ? " says Harold Fanshawe.
" Not I, — it is your place ; no, no, you go on," say the boys the one to the other : then at length a bold spirit suggests, " Let Mary Leppell ask — she's more grown up ; besides, she's a beauty."
So Mary is pushed to the front, stimulated by the moral support of "brick," "trump," "duck," and "dear," which terms are liberally applied to that young lady on all sides ; and it turns out, as she proclaims her " mission," that a game before high tea is in contem- plation, which game means a run down the terrace- walk bank, and a trial as to who will reach the bottom of that all but perpendicular declivity without fall or
L HOMME PROPOSE. 5
foot-trip. It appears that majestic -looking Willina Clavering, regarding whom some doubts had been ex- pressed, would enjoy the fun as much as the youngest of them, and off they all go to test their prowess. Mrs Fanshawe, meanwhile, is glad of the opportunity, and improves it, to return to the house for the purpose of seeing that a noble ham, roast-fowls, milk-puddings, sweet fresh bread and cake, and good pure ale are all to the fore, to be presently served by the handmaidens in the noble old hall, which is used as a dining-room when the party is large. It is all very country and very simple, but Mr and Mrs Fanshawe are not of those who entertain grandly for a month in the year, and starve and pinch themselves and family for the other eleven to make up for the one month's feasting.
A part of the old Court had to be shut up for want of means to maintain the large establishment which the mansion in its entirety would demand, and Mr Fanshawe had determined, like a wise man, that if he was to reside in the house of his ancestors, he must do so by cutting off every luxury, together with the outward style in which these were wont to live.
" Their friends," the rector had said to his wife and children, " must accept the best they could give, and if they did not like it, the other course was available, and that was to go their ways and leave Pinnacles Court behind them."
The game begins, and the player who can run up and down three times faultlessly is adjudged to be
I
6 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
king or queen of the following day, and to order all the sports and occupations, if it so please him, of his playfellows for the space of twelve hours. A recusant may get off by paying twopence to the parish poor-box ; or the victor not taking his or her privi- leges, which in this case are doubtful, contributes threepence to the same laudable object.
The rules being settled and proclaimed, they begin, but Stephen La Touche is requested to stand on the lawn in the capacity of umpire, it being ascertained that he is likely to achieve victory without trouble.
Francis Clavering of course insists upon giving his hand to assist Miss Leppell, but he is repulsed by that damsel and informed that his overtures are mean, and that he had better mind his own running, for the per- formance is not so easy as he seems to think. The boys Fanshawe scream with exultation, as, after a movement betwixt a skate and a scuttle, Mr Clavering comes down a " whopper," sprawls on his back, and objurgates. Two boys have flown like arrows from summit to base, but having put on too much steam at the outset, they arrive on the lawn head over heels, and gasp, " Well I never ! there goes one to the bad," as they rise disgusted. Sweet little Clarice, who is already established as " Touchy's " pet, walks carefully sideways, for the grass is slippery as an eel or as glass : she pauses, goes back again, tries zigzag, and finally gives it up, calling to Stephen to come and take her, for she is " deffel frighted." The two friends of Harold both take to the sitting position and slide, using their
L'HOMME propose. 7
hands as oars ; but this device comes to nought, and they are hooted back to the point from whence they started.
Etta Fanshawe manages fairly well, but she does not run quite straight, and betrays symptoms of a clutch at the grass here and there to steady herself in the descent ; still she passes muster. Now comes Miss Clavering's turn : holding her body slightly backwards, she swims rather than walks, and has arrived on the lawn without change of poise in a single graceful and firm movement. Evidently the young lady is acquaint- ed with the secret of descending an abrupt elevation ; and as many of her sex fail most signally in perform- ing this feat, and generally look to the worst advantage whenever they attempt it, a hint may as well be given here as to the mode of progression which is necessary to achieve success. It is this simply : keep the feet well together, the one foot almost within the other, and as close to the ground as possible ; walk in short steps in the third position, the body being at the same time a little thrown backwards ; above all, move in regular time.
Miss Clavering finds it more difficult to ascend, but she manages well, using this time a striding motion in zigzag direction. Mary Leppell and Etta degenerate into a scramble ; and Mr Clavering, trying " scientific dodges," as the boys declare, is nowhere. Harold falls prone on his face in one ascent, and it is popularly opined that he will never do for the Alpine Club. So they come and go, and this with remarks compliment-
8 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
ary or the reverse, and the peals of laughter, make a joyous and innocent scene.
At last comes Stephen, and he performs his task both up and down in accurate style. " He is best, and Miss Clavering is next best," was the general verdict, the rigour of the game not admitting of any palliation on the score of sex. So the young people assert to Stephen that he is king, and ask him what he means to do with himself and with them.
"Place aux dames," replied that gentleman, ex- plaining at the same time that this was French for ladies first ; " the honours of royalty belong to Miss Clavering."
Then of course there was a pleasant little alterca- tion as to whom these honours did legally belong to. Miss Clavering solved the difficulty.
" They are yours, Mr La Touche, by all manner of right," she said ; " is not your first name Stephen — that noble Christian name which means a crown ? "
" What a beautiful meaning ! " said Mary Leppell ; "till now I have thought the name of Stephen — well, not pretty; now I shall always like it, — Stephen, a crown."
"You remember the first martyr who wore the crown ? " said Willina. " I like the name, — it is associ- ated with so much that is noble. Stephen Langton helped greatly to give us Magna Charta ; King Stephen of Hungary was a crown of goodness ; and our own King Stephen was renowned for manly beauty. St Stephen also gives his name to many beautiful chapels
L HOMME PROPOSE. 9
and gates all the world over ; I could multiply many instances besides."
"Here is a Stephen, who, though unworthy to be named with the majority of those whom you have men- tioned, still aspires to be your knight, Miss Clavering," said young La Touche, his handsome face lighted up with a smile which only needed the fire of the " refiner's gold " to be declared ethereal, for as yet the physical beauty of all the family of La Touche was of the earth earthy. " Let me be your knight, and I shall indeed reckon myself no longer Stephen, but a crowned king indeed ! "
" Then Crown La Touche, come along," said Francis Clavering ; " there's a warning bell, and we are hungry. Come, my heavenly Moll," said he, as he handed fair Mary towards the steps which led down from the garden to a side entrance into the Court. It oc- curred to Stephen that Mr Clavering emphasised " my heavenly Moll," in a jealous misgiving that he might claim the honours of Beauty for "Willina ; but he was magnanimous enough to consider that it is but seldom brothers can discern the attractions of their own sisters, however expert they may be in this particular with regard to the sisters of other people.
"You are prepared to pay that threepence to the poor-box ? " called out Harold Fanshawe, who it appears was responsible for the collection of the tribute.
" I pay thankfully," said Stephen, handing the lad a shilling "to get rid at once of the dangerous privilege of regulating such a party as this, even for half an hour."
10 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
" Here is my contribution," said Willina, as she pre- sented the like sum ; " now I think our consciences are clear."
" Well, girls are a blessing sometimes ! " exclaimed the eldest hope of the Fanshawes ; " if it had not been for you, we should only have got twopence out of Mr La Touche, and not a fraction more. Yes or no," continued the young gentleman, appealing to Stephen.
However, Mr La Touche seemed disinclined to an- swer this question, and Miss Clavering drew herself up, the colour of her cheek at the same moment rivalling the scarlet curve of her beautiful lips. "Have I said too much, or gone too far," thought she. The thought pained her, for upwards of twenty years ago a Frenchman could not have written of the English race that the female courts the male ; it is owing to the "progress" at which the year of grace eighteen hundred and eighty-eight has arrived, that a popular author makes this assertion, and lays it down as an axiom which neither admits of chal- lenge nor question.
Meanwhile the conscience of Master Fanshawe smote him as having taken a liberty in speaking of Miss Clavering as a girl ; the youth felt that she was one of nature's queens, and on this conviction he got himself out of the way with all convenient speed.
Then, after making a slight evening toilette, the whole party flock into the old hall and stand in rev- erence as the rector asks a blessing on the good gifts
l'homme propose. 11
bestowed upon them by the Father who careth for us all. Now the hospitality and courtesy and all the bright flowers of social intercourse burst forth in the full tide of happiness, and a red-letter day is after- wards chronicled in the modern records of Pinnacles Court.
And Lillian, the unloved daughter of this house, how fares she ? Do her thoughts wander, or even willingly turn in speculation as to what may be going on in a home which, in its usual course, is cer- tainly somewhat dull and uninteresting ? Does she wonder if this infusion of new blood will widen her mother's heart, or strengthen her father to show out- wardly those marks of regard which only in private he ventures to display towards her ? Will the at- tention which she feels sure will be paid by the grown men, and even by the boys, to the girls of all ages then at Pinnacles, modify the undefined yet subtle jealousy with which Mrs Fanshawe ever seemed to entertain any distinguishing marks of attention shown to herself by strangers male or female ?
Has she hope that any but Mary Leppell will feel her absence, or wonder if she would like to be among them ?
No, certainly no, must be answered to all these queries. Mrs Fanshawe is thankful that Lillian is out of the way, because her pretty second daughter quite pales before the calm beauty and high-bred manners of the elder born.
12 THE FAT OF THE LAMD.
Etta is good - pretty, to coin a word ; but the astute mother knows that this kind of attraction requires much propinquity, and the stimulus of money present or in prospect, to prompt the gen- erality of men to make an alliance with a family wherein daughters abound, and where the strain of making clerical sobriety march with the ways of the world is felt in full force. In the present mould of society, the daughters of the dignified clergy, at least, should be well dowered.
Truth to say, also, Mr Fanshawe recognises freedom in his elder daughter's absence, for his wife is invari- ably sharper and more unkind to Lillian in the pres- ence of strangers than at any other time. The rector feels that he cannot take part with the child without coming to an open rupture with her mother ; and the boys, following suit with their elders, are persistently troublesome to their eldest sister, safe in the convic- tion that no word of reproof will fall upon them for their turpitude, — they were privileged, as it were, by Mrs Fanshawe's habitual injustice towards their sister Lillian. Lillian, on her part, is also well satisfied with the present state of things. At Hunter's Lodge she sees Francis Clavering with more satisfaction, pro- bably, than she would have done had they been living beneath the same roof. He comes and goes easily enough, for there are only eleven miles of train service betwixt Yarne and Pinnacles, and the young man is naturally very anxious about Lady Asher on Mary's account, and makes it his business to run over
l'homme propose. 13
to Blythe to inquire for the old lady pretty fre- quently.
The health of Lady Asher at this time neither ad- vances nor retrogrades, and she may continue in this state for months j Mr Clavering inwardly hopes that she may, though he benevolently wishes the old lady no harm. The present time is a halycon time for him, and he makes good use of it, never heeding nor look- ing to the future.
His cousin, Mr Glascott, also enjoys a walk to Hun- ter's Lodge, and becomes wonderfully interested in the young lady who so strikingly resembles what Mrs Leppell was in her palmy days ; and he lavishes at- tentions upon Miss Fanshawe which, in a younger man, would have promptly led to the opinion that he aspired to a nearer connection than that of a friend.
The presence of Miss Fanshawe also served to miti- gate any awkwardness which Mrs Leppell might pro- bably have felt had she been obliged to receive Mr Glascott alone. Clara was not yet introduced, and no- body belonging to Hunter's Lodge could be found for drawing-room purposes when they were wanting; so the visitor paved the way for the elderly gentleman to drop in whenever he liked. Nothing loth, Mr Glascott came in the morning hours, stayed to luncheon, played with the babies, and fell, con aniore, into the privileged attitude of old friend of the family, — the intervening past being summarily bridged over by the magic touch of the genius of oblivion.
Lady Asher was really unconsciously contributing
14 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
an active share to this pleasant state of things, and it must be further allowed that the absence of the mas- ter of the house was borne with fortitude. As there was no reason to hurry home, Colonel Leppell had concluded to prolong his stay in London, whereat the adjutant of the Yarneshire Militia, who acted as Ralph's locum tenens, was also well pleased.
Though the cares of a sick-room were the ostensible reason of Miss Fanshawe's visit to Hunter's Lodge, it more the help that Mrs Leppell obtained from the young girl's forethought, and her general adaptation to all departments of household management, that made her presence so agreeable to her hostess, and thus left time to the latter to avail herself of the opportunity to take the rest which she so much needed. Adelaide, no doubt, was nearly worn out ; she felt it a blessing to have one near her who knew all her trials, and who, without ever appearing to invite confidence, met it half-way, and who, besides, possessed the rare tact of
t appearing to know the things which were not supposed to be known, — and further, that were not intended to be known.
Miss Fanshawe was supremely happy in the know- ledge that she was appreciated, and that she was al- lowed to be of use : her coldness of manner relaxed, ami she spoke the truth when she said that she was always happy at Hunter's Lodge.
Francis Clavering now brought his science and laid it at her feet ; and Mr Glascott was ever bestowing those tender courtesies which men of his age and of
L'HOMME PEOPOSE. 15
the old school were wont to render to youth and beauty, because to them youth and beauty were sacred things, and were ever accounted as pure in their sight, unless the possessor betrayed the trust.
The modern worship of wealth and contempt for simple competence, together with the yearning for the vulgarities of soft living and glitter, is daily wrecking this high chivalrous creed ; youth, alas ! has its market price, and beauty sells itself openly at the highest rate at the gates of Mammon. Legal prostitution bids fair to become the vice of the age, and the world's whole litany to lie in the axiom, " Gardez les conven- ances, et puis, Dieu vous gardera." Miserere Domine.
Meanwhile the days passed by, and all went merrily as the proverbial marriage - bell at Pinnacles Court. The elder Fanshawes were satisfied with everything ; the weather, too, was wonderfully fine for the time of year — so much so, that an archery party was projected, and it was with great difficulty that the rector had his say concerning east wind and the varieties presented by the English climate. The party were, however, pressed to prolong their visit, much to the satisfaction of Mr Stephen La Touche, who had discovered some- how that his aunt's affairs required more of his super- vision than he had at first imagined.
Mrs Kemble, with the pertinacity which often char- acterises persons similarly afflicted, became much at- tached to the kindly handsome girl whom the house of Fanshawe was then delighting to honour as Mary Leppell's future sister. The poor lady felt that in
16 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
consequence of the attention paid to her by Willina, the inmates of Pinnacles no longer regarded her as a dangerous person, but held her to be what she really was, — a sweet nervous soul, tormented to frenzy often by the stupidity of her own kind, and to whom human sympathy, properly directed, must, like the touch of an angel's wing, bring reason as well as healing by the contact. Thus it fell out that, from having been on the whole very miserable at Pinnacles, Mrs Kemble became loth to leave it, because it had given her Ste- phen back, and brought Willina Clavering to her heart.
Gladly then did she hail the news that her stay was to be prolonged for a week at least ; these two dear young people, she said, were to her strength and the happiness of life.
This pleasant state of things was not, on the whole, quite satisfactory to Mr Percival La Touche. The prolonged absence of his brother seemed strange to him, as he did not believe for a moment that the alleviation of their aunt's condition could be the sole motive for Stephen's visit to the county of Yarne. Both he and Marcia were totally unaware that Lillian was at the time a guest at Hunter's Lodge ; and jump- ing together at the same conclusion, they convinced themselves that this young lady was in reality the magnet which drew this particular loadstone from its sphere, and that the time was come which required some elucidation of the proceeding on their part.
A little contretemps also in the Brighton manage had somewhat upset Percival's convictions with regard to
L HOMME PEOPOSE. 17
the " liberty " said to be enjoyed by those who look upon marriage as a superfluous ceremony ; his head, in lieu of his mouth, had become acquainted with the contents of a soda-water bottle, and he had been at the same time frankly informed, in the most literal rendering of the English tongue, that he was lower than the beasts, and that his future " habitat " would be a fiery one.
A fear that his personal safety might be threat- ened, or even endangered, was, to a moral coward like Percival, a most serious apprehension, and in his terror and excitement he poured all his woes, without reserva- tion, into Aunt Marcia's ear. A remedy by what she was pleased to term a " safe marriage " was quickly proposed by that lady, who, foreseeing the inevitable, determined, if possible, to manage the inevitable in her own way.
" Why not marry Lillian Fanshawe ? " she asked, as if impelled by a sudden inspiration ; " she has every- thing but money, and you don't want that, happily. You need not add to your expenses for a year or two ; you could live here, for Laurence is going to pay a round of visits, and then he'll be off to India. Be- sides, if you do not want to be cut out by Stephen, you must act promptly, my dear. Stephen admires Miss Fanshawe, and down in the country he has nothing else to do but stump about green lanes and make love ! His letter of this morning is full of the delightful time he is having; you had better go to Pinnacles at once."
VOL. II. B
18 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
"But T can't present myself there without some pretext for so doing," said Percival, ruefully ; " all Aunt Arabella's affairs are now in Stephen's hands, con- found him ! "
" You can invent some business matter to account for your being in the neighbourhood : it would be a compliment to say that you wished to call and see Aunt Kemble and the Pinnacles people before the for- mer finally leaves that part of the country. Why not take a case of wine for Mr Fanshawe as an acknow- ledgment of the interest he has taken in Arabella ? He really behaved very handsomely in taking the old rectory off your father's hands without the customary notice — in a moment as it were ; very few people would have done that, you know."
Percival stroked his chin, and without heeding the last part of his aunt's exordium, inquired who was going to pay for the case of wine.
" You and your father between you," replied Marcia, undauntedly ; "lam sure my brother would not object. But I think, coming from you, it would be a nice way of opening negotiations, and it would be an attention to Mr Fanshawe "
" And a nice little surprise for him," interrupted Percival, with his horrid leer and grin.
" Well, that is all arranged," said Marcia, thinking she was following up an advantage; "and you can say that little Anna is still in such an unsatisfactory state that we are obliged to have her home, so that it will be impossible for me to go to Pinnacles and accom-
l'homme propose. 19
pany Aunt Kemble to her new abode. You could say that you have offered to represent me, — this will be doing the thing in the best style, and fits everything in the most natural manner possible."
Percival agreed that it was a very feasible plan, and submitted, without demur, to his aunt's advice ; and as the natural amenity of his disposition always caused him to gloat over the annoyances of other people, he in perspective enjoyed the confusion with which he imagined Stephen, and certainly Miss Fanshawe, would be overwhelmed when his descent upon Pinnacles should take place.
His former misgivings and hesitation as to the ad- visability of the Fanshawe connection having vanished under the "pressure of his uncomfortable " domestic relations," Percival now worked himself up into the conviction that he was desperately enamoured of Miss Fanshawe, and that it was imperative that he should go down to the country and bring matters to a decided understanding, and that without loss of time. His brother Stephen to be poaching on his preserves ! Perish the thought !
So Mr La Touche promptly managed a business excuse, opened his heart, moreover, to procure the case of wine and pay for it on his own account, and set off for the county of Yarne, full of triumphant ex- pectation, and expedited by the good wishes of Aunt Marcia.
These last were genuine and sincere. Although it might, in some respects, be advantageous to the family
20 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
to keep Peivival among them, Marcia, with the fear before her eyes that the Brighton manage might event- ually, through her nephew's means, acquire a legiti- mate head, had of late contrived to have always one nice girl or another domiciled as a visitor at Hinton Square. Pleasant, good-looking women were also Frequent casual guests at their quiet dinners, and the " small and early " evening parties. Nothing had hitherto come of this diplomacy, for Percival's inordinate vanity led him to regard himself as irresistible, and it was his pleasure to pit (as he flat- tered himself) one lady against another in his good graces. The consequence of this was, that the nice girls, and the eligibles, and the fascinating women, : t ed to the camps of the younger brothers, and were quite au micux with these young gentlemen, who, on their side, were content to be the objects of pass- ing and innocent flirtation.
Marcia then tried " girls with money," but none of these would even look at Percival ; and the handsome Stephen, having given out that he would not be bought ii] > by any woman, was at the time a very forlorn hope in Aunt Marcia's sight.
It was in the midst of these difficulties that Lillian Fanshawe paid her first visit to Hinton Square, and the general admiration which she commanded drew Percival's attention to her for the first time. Till then he had merely regarded her as one of the quiver- ful of the Bector of Pinnacles, and had perhaps won- dered how she and her numerous sisters would be
l'homme propose. 21
disposed of in matrimony, — arranging in his own mind that Miss Lillian would eventually marry her father's curate, and that the Fanshawe interest would ulti- mately secure a living for the provision of the pair.
The visit that Miss Fanshawe paid to Hinton Square very soon dispossessed Percival of this idea. The quiet self-possession of the young lady, her cool tact, and the easy manner in which she fell into the style of London society, with its ways and habits, at first excited the amazement of Mr La Touche, and ended by securing his admiration.
He delighted to inform his friends that the dis- tinguished-looking girl with whom he had been seen at the Botanical fetes, or at the Eose Show at the Horticultural, was the guest of his family, and was leaving them to pay a visit to her aunt Lady Hautenbas.
Judging from some of Percival's remarks, Miss Fanshawe drew the inference that both he and his family looked, if not with actual contempt, still with depreciation upon persons of all grades who live entirely in the country ; and it was rather in a spirit of defiance that Miss Fanshawe played the town lady with much greater aplomb in Hinton Square than she was wont to do when in the mansion of Lady Hautenbas.
When Percival La Touche showed himself especially purse-proud and insolent, Miss Fanshawe had a quiet retaliative way of alluding to the wonderful manner in which persons of all degrees made their fortunes
oo THE FAT OF THE LAND.
in trade. She spoke of some as " mere mercJucnticles ; " and marly sent Marcia into a fit one day by assuming bo believe that Percival had begun life as a com- mercial traveller.
"Do you not know," exclaimed Miss La Touche, •that Percival is sole heir to Mr Squash, his grand- uncle! and when the old man dies my nephew will have at least seven thousand a-year, independent of his share in the business ? "
•• Yes, I have heard that often enough," the girl replied, looking as unruffled as a snowflake, and with a voice quite as icy ; " but you know heirs as well as other folks must subsist and possess the wherewithal to live. I meant no offence ; indeed I think it very honourable to your nephew that he should have earned his living with such expectations as his."
" But he never was a commercial traveller, never," insisted Marcia, with great emphasis.
" I don't suppose it much signifies," returned the visitor. "Why, Mr Dyson, a man of good, poor family, weighed out tea for years in an apron and white sleeves in a warehouse in St Paul's Churchyard. He was never thought the worse of for so doing. A fine handsome man, who is now rich through his own common-sense, and who is proud of his antecedents in commerce. We have all a high respect for Mr Dyson."
Not knowing how to carry on this incipient war- fare, Marcia remained silent. She, however, reported
L HOMME PROPOSE. 23
the conversation to Percival, with the intimation that it would not do for him to play grand with Miss Fanshawe, — " it may do very well with the Dowager of Cauldkail and the Slocombes, and even with those poor rags of nobility the Ladies Varnishe. The girl has an opinion of her own, and can, or thinks she can, pick and choose," insisted Marcia.
A very few months after Miss Fanshawe's visit, Percival came into his fortune ; and as London and Brighton life had at that time especial charms for him, and his father's house was both comfortable and convenient, he elected to reside there still, and to let the principal part of his property for a term of years.
His aunt's proposition that he should still make Hinton Square his headquarters in the event of his marrying, had acted as a powerful stimulant in Mr La Touche's intentions towards Miss Fanshawe. An undercurrent of jealousy of his brother Stephen also became a very decided motive power, and caused him to depart for Yarneshire with all convenient speed. The possibility that his proposals might be rejected by the lady in question or her father, never crossed his mind. His wardrobe was packed, the case of wine was on the carriage-seat, and Percival went his way, Marcia wishing him good speed. Vce victis !
24
CHAPTEE II.
A HEARTY COUNTRY WELCOME.
The whole of the party at Pinnacles were under the cherry-trees, then in full bloom, — for it was one of those delightful phases of the English spring, when the afternoon sun is genially warm and sheds his radiance for a short spell, as if to give an earnest of the fair summer which is in his wake, — and a grand dis- cussion was going on as to the advisability of there and then setting up targets for archery practice.
Mrs Kemble had been induced to leave her house, and to come and sit on the lawn in a cushioned old- fashioned chair, which Miss Claverins had drasfsred out for the afflicted lady's especial benefit. And there she sat, quiet and happy, at times nodding her head and smiling at the young people who passed to and fro discussing their projects, and severally trying to bring the rector round to the opinion that it was just the weather for an archery party, and that it was so delighful to gather people together in out-door amusements, and the like.
A HEARTY COUNTRY WELCOME. 25
The rector, however, presented a stubborn and opposing element to the machinations of his young friends. His Mte noire through life had been east wind ; and as he got a good deal of this ingredient, both in his physical and domestic relations, he had come to air it as his own particular grievance, and to drag it forward as an invincible argument against garden- parties and fetes of every kind. The very word fSte had a light zephyr-like sound which was repulsive to his British ears : it brought with it a flavour of sunny, warm, and dulcet airs, in which, in the common order- ing of things, no Briton had a right to indulge ; it smacked of French frivolity and Italian sloth, and the enjoyable dolce far niente was a relaxation which he never permitted even to the over-worked of brain or the sorrowful of heart. Now he must have his say about the proposed archery party.
"You think because it is rather warm for an hour now," said Mr Fanshawe to Miss Leppell, " that we are beginning a course of fine genial weather. It will snow to-morrow, most likely, and perhaps rain the day after. Yes, the cherry-trees look splendid now, but every blossom will be cut off in a week. I don't believe we will have a cherry this year, and I am sure the wind will bear round to the east as soon as the sun goes down."
Mary, who from long experience knew the value of the rector's weather-forecasts, returned no remark concerning the elements, but asked humbly if they might be allowed to have an inspection in the barn on
2G THE FAT OF THE LAND.
the morrow. " You have got a lot of targets there, Mr Fanshawe," she said, " and the boys might dust them and mend them up. We have always to do a good deal of this kind of thing at Hunter's Lodge before the targets are ready for company ; might we not just look through the — the stock, and see what materials are available? You are so well off for stands and other things that, I think, you could well set up targets for three sets of archers without any expense. I can mend and paint and stuff a target with any one."
The rector was on the brink of refusal. But who can resist the pleadings of a sweet young face, and that accompanied by the courteous deference of the young girl to the elderly man ? Had Mary been end with the sharp "bounce" of the girl of the
period, which is so fatal to beauty, and so offensive in itself, not an arrow would have been shot for months on Pinnacles lawn.
" Well, yes, there's no harm in looking through the archery gear," the rector replied ; " and you Leppell girls seem to know how to do all work that's not needle and thread. I've seen you stuff a target, Miss Moll. You shall have the key of the barn to-morrow ; there are some good arrows, never used, somewhere — I'll rout them out — but we won't talk of an archery-party till we see it ; — too early in the season, — east wind."
" Oh yes ; and we will want to practise a little for a few days," returned this young diplomatist; "and I must teach Mr Clavering a little : he has no notion of these out-of-door sports — not even cricket."
A HEARTY COUNTRY WELCOME. 27
"A mistake, my dear Moll, — every Englishman should play cricket ; " and then the rector walked away and invited Mrs Kemble to pace up and down in the sun. " Sitting in that chair would only cramp her limbs," he said ; and offering her his arm, they went here and there, and Mrs Kemble was so happy, and discussed so easily, that the good man became con- vinced that another mistake had been committed of a far graver import. Mrs Kemble had been allowed to remain too much alone, and had not been treated with sufficient kindness. This was the truth concerning the whole matter.
There was just the sharp dart through the air and an occasional uprising of the wind as the afternoon fell into evening, which confirmed Mr Eanshawe's prog- nostications, and during the next half-hour complaints of " chill " were unwillingly extorted from the most juvenile lips — so transient is the early spring-time in mid England.
Presently a pile of home-made cake and flagons of good mulled elder wine (prepared in the orthodox silver saucepan of our ancestresses) made its appear- ance on the lawn, and inspired no doubt by its in- fluence, a game of " Bank," as this pastime was now called, was universally proposed wherewith to con- clude the pleasures of the out-of-door day.
Just as all had been arranged for a start, the deep -toned bell of the hall -door rung a fretful, nervous peal, which seemed to tell of itself that the visitor was either of an irritable temperament, or
28 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
that time was pressing and demanded immediate attention.
" I hope it is no one come to call," exclaimed Mrs Fanshawe, with the hospitable candour of the British matron when she is unwilling to be disturbed in her avocations.
"It's the Wigginses," volunteered Master Horace. " They have heard we have got visitors, and wish to give us an opportunity of asking them to join us."
"Hold your tongue, sir," said the rector; "what business have you to speak of any parishioner in that manner ? Go round and see who it is. Don't show yourself. It may be Mr Sproggles on business, — I rather expect him."
Harold hied away, and from some invisible coign of vantage he espied a small gentleman clanging at the front door, — " at least I think he is small," this ob- server remarked, on his return to report what he had seen ; " but I could only make out his left leg, and half of one of his shoulders, for lie turns to the thirty- two points of the compass in a moment, I do believe : any way, lie fidgets as if he had an early bee about him."
" Show whoever the visitor is into the drawing- room, and be sure and say that the family are all out in the garden," said Miss Etta, who had pelted after the parlour-maid as the latter was well on her way to answer the summons of the bell. This caused her young mistress some difficulty in getting out of sight before the visitor was admitted within the house.
A HEARTY COUNTRY WELCOME. 29
There was some little bustle as a portmanteau and a large wooden case were brought in from the vehicle and deposited in the porch. " The case will remain here, and the portmanteau can be sent down to ' Esperanza ' presently, — I shall sleep there," declared a voice which Etta fancied she recognised, though at the moment she could not recall to whom it belonged. " I hope the family are all well."
"Please to walk in, sir," replied the maid, who, recognising Percival, and flurried by the way in which he had installed his baggage, neglected to answer Mr La Touche's inquiry most completely. Ushering him into the drawing-room, she closed the door of that apartment with a bang in order to apprise Etta that she might issue forth in safety.
Dismay was legibly depicted on the face of the domestic as, after securing the new arrival, she con- fronted that damsel. " Mr Percival La Touche, Miss," said she in a stage whisper ; " what can have brought him here ? and his Haunt setting in the garden, so sensible like ! I had not better tell your Mar before Mrs Kemble," continued the girl wisely ; " the old lady can't abear Mr Percival, and it might frighten her, his coming so promiscuous like."
" You are right," said Etta ; " go to Mr Fanshawe and tell him that a gentleman is in the drawing-room who wishes to see him, but don't say anything to Mr Stephen, unless he is quite out of Mrs Kemble's hearing. If Mr Stephen is quite away from his aunt, tell him that his brother is here."
30 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
.Air Fanshawe had deposited Mrs Kemble in her chair after their little promenade, and persuaded her to take a -lass of the mulled elder wine ; after present- ing this beverage he turned to walk into the house.
To him the waiting -maid, who announced that a gentleman on business was waiting to see him in the drawing-room. " Ah, as I thought, Mr Sproggles; " and the rector, without waiting to hear the visitor's name, went into the house at a rapid rate. Ehoda, seeing that Stephen was standing before his aunt, went no further, but followed her master into the hall with the vain intention of communicating the visitor's name. The door of the room closed on Mr Fanshawe before he could be caught, and it was therefore with much sur] ' hat the rector had the honour of receiving Mr Percival La Touche.
" I have some business at Bath/' Percival said, in explanation of his sudden visit ; " and as I have a little time to spare, I have devoted it to calling here, and also to take leave of my aunt before she finally leaves this part of the world. Although my brother is staying with her, I dare say I can be accommodated for one night at * Esperanza.' "
The rector's answer was to invite Mr La Touche into the garden, wherein, he told his visitor, all his family and some guests then were, including Mrs Kemble, who, Mr Fanshawe said, seemed not only more composed, but also much more cheerful and talkative than formerly. This improvement he at- tributed to Mr Stephen's visit.
A HEAETY COUNTRY WELCOME. 31
" No doubt — very likely/' returned Percival, with a sarcastic intonation of voice ; " he's been away for some time, and variety is charming. My brother Stephen quite serves to illustrate this axiom."
The rector did not know why, but he did not rel- ish the tone in which Percival spoke : whether the " variety " mentioned consisted in the visit to Pin- nacles, or to the enjoyment of Mrs Kemble's society solely, on Stephen's part, he could not quite under- stand, and therefore he took the discreet way of solving a difficulty by answering with the neutral, " Hum, haw ; we all like a change."
Though of a quiet and undemonstrative tempera- ment, Mr Panshawe was by no means so devoid of penetration as many persons elected to believe. He had ever regarded the elder Mr La Touche as a kindly selfish old humbug, who made the best of both worlds, and Marcia as a thorough worldling, whose backslidings were in a great measure redeemed by her warmth of heart, and the undoubted sincerity with which she de- voted herself to her brother's family. Mr Fanshawe also entertained a shrewd suspicion that the world in general had Marcia to thank for the many whims and absurdities which distinguished the eldest scion of the house of La Touche. She had uniformly pam- pered his appetite to keep him in good humour, and had set him up on a pinnacle and glorified him mightily, in deference at first to his expectations, and more lately in deference to his position and actual possessions, and often at the expense of his own
32 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
kith and kin. All this Mr Fanshawe had noted on the occasions whereon Mrs Kemble's business had brought him in contact with the La Touche family ; and now that the young people were interchanging visits, the rector convinced himself that his early im- pressions of Mrs Kemble's relatives were thoroughly correct.
Though of a mean higglety nature, which he certain- ly did not inherit from his parents, Percival was not altogether a person to be overlooked, much less to be lightly esteemed. He was well educated, and he also took much interest in many of the scientific enter- prises of the day ; and when he could divest himself of the notion that the man entertained some design upon \n> anmercial influence, and that the woman held snares for entrapping him into matrimony, no one could be more agreeable or diverting than Percival La Touche. He added to a certain graphic method of imparting information, a vein of sarcasm which was amusing in its way, although it never attained to the confines of wit.
The misfortune was that, in common with many underbred persons, Percival never knew where to stop ; and his utter want of sympathy for others often led him to indulge in personalities which always gave great offence, and very often gave great pain. He imagined, in his presumption, that to indulge in personalities was a sure evidence of his own insight into the character of those with whom he chanced to come in contact.
A HEARTY COUNTRY WELCOME. 33
Here it was, if the expression may be permitted, that Mr La Touche broke down. What sense was there in especially alluding to courts-martial when in conversation with an officer who, at one time of his career, had suffered the annoyance of being cen- sured by one of these tribunals ? Why remind Mr Gravey that his mother had been Dr Gravey's cook ? What object was served by informing the Protestant bishop of Soapisande that Eoman Catholicism was steadily on the increase, when he knew full well that the prelate's only daughter and her husband had joined the Catholic Church, and attributed this step to the teaching and preaching of the right reverend ecclesiastic then dining at the same table ?
These and the like solecisms Percival frequently and knowingly committed ; and as they were in some cases indulgently passed over from the firm belief of the affronted ones that the man was " cracked," and in the greater majority from the latitude which the world, in its worship of wealth, ever allows to the possessor of its honours and its gold, this glaring offender escaped scot-free in situations wherein an impecunious man would have encountered a withering glance, if not a sharp rebuke. He certainly could steal society's horse when another man dared not venture to look over the hedge at that animal.
Mr Fanshawe had delayed some moments in con- ducting Percival into the garden, — for the latter, with a mysterious sign, had beckoned his host towards the hall porch as they left the room. Drawing himself
VOL. II. c
34 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
up before the case of wine, he said, " It's the very best I could get — real Marsala ; and I have put in a couple of bottles of brandy and four of whisky, all good brands — drop of comfort, you know ; cold nights now and then, even "
" You had better place this at the discretion of Dr Williams," Mr Fanshawe said, mistaking the destina- tion of the case. " It's very good of you, and very right to add to Mrs Kemble's comforts ; but I fancy, at present at least, that the rules of the asylum would not allow such items as wine and spirits to be entirely at the command of the patient."
" Oh ! it's not for Mrs Kemble," replied Percival, hastily ; " such luxuries must come out of the board she'll have to pay. It's for you, Mr Fanshawe — little remembrance — gratitude for taking the house off our hands "
" Very kind of your father," said the rector ; " will you "
" But it's not from the governor," interrupted Percival, with a triumphant cackle ; " it's from me. You see I know how to do the handsome thing. No thanks — I take those as said; all I want you to do is to be particular about returning the case. Send it as a ' returned empty,' and the carriage will be but a trifle ; be sure and address it to me. It is a private package, with which the firm has nothing to do."
Mr Fanshawe felt inclined to kick the case into space, and the donor of its contents for company ; but he swallowed his indignation in the conviction that
A HEARTY COUNTRY WELCOME. 35
Percival meant well by the offering, and that he really knew no better how to present it. So he accepted the wine very much in the manner of a chief who receives tribute in kind, and undertook to return the " empty " according to directions. " Now come into the garden," he urged, as he was beginning to feel that he had enough of Percival; "the young people are at high jinks, and you may like to join them. As your brother has not come into the house, he very probably expects you on the lawn."
Percival seized his umbrella; this article was as necessary to him as a broomstick to a witch. His brothers declared that he slept with it; and there was another legend current in Hinton Square that a Frenchman in Vienna, discerning Percival as a spot upon the far horizon, had unhesitatingly pronounced his nationality : " Ah, voila ! c'est un veritable An- glais ; il n'a pas oublie son parapluie."
Arming himself therewith, Mr La Touche followed his host through the hall, and up the flight of low broad steps which led out upon the lawn and terrace walk, and so into the open air.
The disposition of the group had somewhat altered, as twilight had begun to sober the sky, and the game of " bank " could be put off no longer. The young people were, therefore, collected at the foot of the terrace walk, and Mrs Fanshawe had vanished to superintend some domestic arrangements. A few of the nursery children were running here and there, but Mrs Kemble was alone, looking with great interest
36 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
from her cushioned chair upon the game which was going on directly in front of her seat.
So absorbed was she that she did not perceive Mr Fanshawe and his companion until they were within a few feet of her. The kindly smile on the rector's face literally froze there, as Mrs Kemble, upon recognising them, rushed with a bound upon Percival, threatening him with instant death, and, in addition, using such language as is popularly supposed to be the sole property of the lowest order of people. This was interspersed with cries and shrieks, and naturally these last more particularly attracted the players from their game.
" You wretch ! you villain ! " called out Mrs Kemble, as, after exhausting her strong appellatives, she fell back upon a milder vernacular ; "just as I am getting happy and sane — quite sane — you come back to tor- ment me. But you can't frighten me any more ; you can't shake your fists and make me say what you please — oh, no ! Heigh cock-a-lorum ! Stephen is going to protect me, and somebody else — ah, a pretty girl ! Dr Williams is going to marry me — his mother does not know he is out; but I must wring your neck, my dear, before that.
" ' Froggy would a-wooing go, Heigho ! says Rowley.'
But I must have a clutch at Froggy " — and she again darted towards her nephew, with the evident deter- mination to inflict some injury upon that gentleman.
A HEARTY COUNTRY WELCOME. 37
He meanwhile, pale as death, stood his ground, using the umbrella as a weapon of defence, — now twirling it round with great rapidity, and again pointing it in full front of his relative, thus keeping her at bay, whilst she danced round him in a wild maze which was truly horrifying. It certainly was marvellous how Percival managed to foil his assail- ant at all points, with the intervention solely of so slight a defence ; and it is probable that the steadi- ness with which he fixed his eyes upon Mrs Kemble's face, and maintained his gaze without swerve or shrink, was the means whereby she was at length reduced to exhaustion, if not to quietude, in three minutes of time.
It was a sad scene : the rector writhed under the knowledge of an open scandal committed in his very presence. Stephen could have knocked his brother down for his wanton intrusion : he would rather have cut off his right hand than Miss Clavering should have witnessed such an exposure. It must be patent to all that the affliction of his aunt was somewhat more than an indisposition that is passed off as a " nervous " or " peculiar " affection. The girls fled in all directions ; it was only Emma Fanshawe who preserved a stolid bearing, and stood open-mouthed, witnessing the gyrations of the umbrella in a mix- ture of wonder and interest, which on a less trying occasion would have been ludicrous in the extreme.
A sensation of relief was experienced by all when the poor lady, exhausted by her exertions, came to
38 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
a sudden stand-still, and exclaimed, " I am tired out ; but I will catch that villain another time, when I am in the vicinity of a poker, my dears— nice handy weapon ! No more Heigh cock-a-lorum to-day ; I am tired out now. Oh where, where is Miss Cla- vering? I know she won't desert me. Do come, Miss Clavering ! "
The last words were spoken in a tone which was almost inaudible, and Willina was just in time to support Mrs Kemble as she stumbled forward, faint and rigid, into her strong young arms. Delicacy, rather than fear, had kept Willina somewhat aloof: her time for action was now come, and she com- menced operations by warning Percival off the prem- ises.
" You had better keep out of sight, had you not ? " she said in a suggestive tone to this young gentleman ; " it would be so dreadful if Mrs Kemble were to re- cognise you when she comes round. Pray, keep out of sight ; and Emma, like a good girl, run and get some wine and water."
Percival mechanically did as he was requested, feel- ing somehow a strange pleasure in obeying the behest of this fair stranger. As he moved aside, he could not help looking with admiration upon the graceful form and earnest speaking eyes of the girl, — eyes which by their expression seemed to appeal to his common-sense, and at the same time to exonerate him from the im- putation that he might be responsible for this sudden outbreak. There was too, he thought, something of
A HEARTY COUNTRY WELCOME. 39
compassion in her glance. Certainly a more embar- rassing situation could scarcely be imagined, and it was a consolation in its way to perceive that there was one person among the number present who un- derstood the position, and who could, moreover, sym- pathise with the annoyance with which it was fraught.
The rector had vanished : his mission was to find his wife, and consult with her what was best to be done. The outcome of the consultation was the appearance of an old bath-chair in which invalids at Pinnacles were wont to be dragged short distances when their locomotive powers were out of order, or temporarily suspended through illness or some of the accidents to which our earthly tabernacle is heir.
" Don't let her into the house," Mrs Fanshawe had insisted rather than implored — " you never know where these attacks may end. As it is, our party is very much disturbed. Mary Leppell is frightened out of her senses, and Mr Clavering must needs take to swearing by way of relieving his feelings : you see it would never do. Besides, Mrs Kemble has got her two nephews."
" There's the difficulty," answered Mr Fanshawe ; " it will never do to let Percival La Touche sleep at the old rectory as he proposed and intended, nor even to go near it — she'd murder the fellow ; and all our rooms are full. But I don't like sending the poor soul back to her house without some lady to look after her ; indeed we ought to have her within, if only to lie down on the sofa in my study."
40 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
" There's the bath-chair," answered the lady ; " when she is better Stephen can get her into that, and Horace can push at the back. I suppose I must go and see her into bed," continued Mrs Fanshawe, ungraciously ; " Etta and Emma are both too nervous ; besides, we have no right to frighten young girls. Well, get out the bath-chair, and I will see what can be done ; perhaps Stokes is clean, — if so, I'll send her."
Now Stokes was the girl in the kitchen, not a kitchen-maid proper, and had fate sent Stokes in attendance upon Mrs Kemble, the chances were that, betwixt ignorance and fear, Mrs Fanshawe might have had the management of two " peculiars " on her hands that night.
" T wish Lillian were here," suggested the rector, with some slight misgiving as to how the remark would be received ; " at any rate she would have ac- companied Mrs Kemble at once, and smoothed all difficulties with the guests."
" Mrs Kemble doesn't like her," said the rector's wife shortly ; " will you go and get the bath-chair ? I suppose I had better go out and see how matters are going on : dear, dear, it's very inconvenient having people subject to attacks ! Of course the nephews will communicate with Dr Williams at once ; as to Percival, I can put him up in the spare attic."
The rector sped his way to the coach-house wherein the vehicle was laid up, if not in lavender, yet dry and serviceable amid straw and hay. Mrs Fanshawe
A HEARTY COUNTRY WELCOME. 41
appeared on the lawn, and, summoning Stephen, laid out the plan of action that was to be pursued.
" Your brother must stay here," said she, " and must on no account be seen near the old rectory. It would be advisable to persuade Mrs Kemble to keep within doors, or at least not to go beyond her garden till she leaves the place. The bath-chair will be here directly. Put her into it, Horace will help you to propel it, and I will come with you to see your aunt safely into the house, and into her bed. You had better stay with her till she goes to sleep ; then the woman at the house can look to her, and you can come here as fast as you can. Mr Percival will ex- cuse an upper chamber here for to-night under the circumstances.
" Here is the bath-chair, — put the cushion into it, Horace. Are you better ? don't you think you would like to go home, and get into bed ? " continued Mrs Fanshawe, turning round suddenly, and addressing herself to the patient.
" Yes, oh, I'm very well — rather tired, perhaps, but thank you for a very pleasant afternoon," Mrs Kemble answered feebly. " Stephen will take me home. I am to go in that thing, am I ?" she continued, looking doubtfully at the vehicle. " Miss Clavering, you are there ; give me your arm, my dear. That little villain has gone, has he ? "
" Quite gone," replied poor Stephen, who, good fellow as he was, felt rather rueful at the part Mrs Fan- shawe had assigned to him. He, however, accepted
42 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
his responsibility without remark ; but he made a mental determination, and that was, that the woman at the house should attend to his aunt, and that he would return to the Court as quickly as he decently could. He was not going to allow Percival to make all the running, which, as Miss Fanshawe was absent, he felt his brother would attempt to do in the direction of Miss Clavering. He was not blind, and he thought he had perceived some very furtive and enamoured glances already cast by that relative in the direction of the lady.
Considering the circumstances, and the shortness of time, it must be confessed that both the La Touche brothers had improved their opportunities wi1 celerity which was quite electric • in its
working.
Mrs Kemble was with some little difficulty inveigled into the bath-chair ; a misgiving had seized her poor weak brain that this was a prison on a small scale in which she was to be for ever shut up : it was only on the promise that Miss Clavering would stay with her, and hold her hand till she should be disgorged from the vehicle, that she could be persuaded to enter it. The presence of Mrs Fanshawe was in conse- quence an absolute necessity, and it looked well for her humanity as well as for her sense of propriety that she accompanied the cortege, and remained with Mrs Kemble until she could be safely left to the attendant's care. As a supplementary precaution, the gardener's boy was enjoined to remain in the house,
A HEARTY COUNTRY WELCOME. 43
to be ready to run up to the Court, should the neces- sity for further help arise. This would be hardly necessary, for Mrs Kemble, as soon as she was laid in her bed, fell into the heavy sleep of utter ex- haustion.
The convoy returned to the Court, together with the bath-chair, into which the young gentlemen in- sisted on placing Mrs Fanshawe. Everything was necessarily late, owing to the contretemps of the afternoon. The supplementary dishes of the evening meal were spoiled, and the rector, if he did not actu- ally refuse conversation, was snappish and out of sorts. Xobody would play or sing; in fact, everything ap- peared jangled and out of tune. Percival seemed to be the only person who was thoroughly unconcerned and at ease ; and his brother, who knew him well, felt con- vinced that he was privately exulting over the embar- rassment which his unwelcome advent had occasioned, and that he would make a fine story of the affair, even though it told against himself, when he should return to Hinton Square. Mrs Fanshawe, for once in her life, wished that her elder daughter had been at home ; for Etta was too shy to cope with Mr La Touche, and Mr Clavering seemed to take care that Mary Leppell should have nothing to do with that gentleman. In consequence, Miss Clavering exerted herself to alleviate the annoyance which she felt sure Mr La Touche must feel, in spite of his apparent indifference ; and this provoked Stephen into abandon- ing the young lady to her decided preference, as he
44 THE FAT OF THE LAND
was pleased in his own mind to regard her well- meaning offices.
It was therefore with the most cordial sincerity that the members of this party, at ten o'clock, wished the one the other " Good night."
45
CHAPTER III.
THE SIMPLICITY OF TRUTH.
The apartment which had been assigned to the use of Mr La Touche was veritably an upper chamber, lighted by a large dormer-window, and of the shape of a highly irregular triangle, the apex of which dashed laterally into a corner, and terminated in a commodious dres-
sing-room.
This room was formed partly by the stone-work of the outer wall, but the inner partition was of wood. It was evident that a similar construction existed on the other side, and that this was the junction of one of the corners of the slanting roof.
Percival, true to his habits of caution and precaution, engendered perhaps by his experience of insular and Continental travel, bolted the door; and then, taking up the candlestick, he surveyed the apartment with rather more of scrutiny than is usually employed in a private house.
His horror of catching cold always prompted him to examine the bedding provided for his use, wherever
46 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
he might be. He would have done so even in Buckingham Palace. So he thumped the mattresses and smelt at the sheets, and snuffed for damp with all the apprehension of a valetudinarian of ninety years.
This inspection being concluded, he proceeded to the dressing-room and took a look around therein. It presented the usual appearance of a boarded-off compartment, made serviceable for a second person who might chance to share the sleeping accommoda- tion of the principal room. A chair, a full toilet apparatus of homely kind, and some hanging-hooks, composed the furniture of this sanctum, from which Percival withdrew in haste, feeling as he imagined a cold draught : he, however, left the door partially unclosed in his retreat.
The inspection proving satisfactory, the visitor set down the light and plunged into the depths of one of those easy-chairs with high circular back and stuffed \l elbow-rests, covered with white dimity and generously flounced below, which are yet to be found in the bed- rooms of old-fashioned houses.
How comfortable, how homely these are ! Percival was right in his assumption that this piece of furni- ture had formerly been the house-mother's haven of refuge in the early days of her weakness, subsequent to the advent of the several scions of the house of Fanshawe.
It had fulfilled its duty in that state of life into which it had been at first called, and was now destined
THE SIMPLICITY OF TRUTH. 47
to end its career in the higher regions of the house, and impart an air of respectability and finish to the room which was dedicated to male chance visitors from without, and to casual invalids of that sex from within.
Percival, from this coign of vantage, now mentally surveyed his position ; and as he had arrived at his destination with the full intention of proposing for one lady, and had in her absence become desperately enamoured of another, his mind was naturally in rather a perplexed condition.
The possibility of his being rejected by either of these ladies never crossed his imagination : his present dilemma was how he could best attract and secure Miss Clavering's regard, and yet not appear to desert Miss Fanshawe.
The absence of the latter appeared to be a most fortuitous circumstance, as things turned out; but this did not prevent his coming to Pinnacles being rather a marked thing to do, for which anxiety con- cerning Mrs Kemble's removal was hardly a sufficient pretence. All authority on that affair had been dele- gated to Stephen, and the Eanshawes collectively must be fully aware of the fact.
True, he had alleged, with his usual habit of self- defence, that business in a neighbouring county was the cause of his making a detour in the direction of Yarneshire, added to his desire to take leave of the family at Pinnacles. Now that Mrs Kemble was to be finally removed, it was a chance, said Percival to
48 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
Mr Fanshawe, whether he should visit that part of the country for some time to come.
Mr Fanshawe probably believed all this. His wife had her doubts, possibly also her fears ; but Percival felt sure that his brother attached very little credence to this assertion.
There was one thing, however, of which Percival was positively certain, and that was, that metal more attractive than poor Aunt Arabella induced Stephen to prolong his stay in Yarneshire ; and with the ela- tion of a little mind, he grinned and exulted at what he considered to be his own astuteness in at once discovering his brother's secret.
Percival further reflected that, as he had brought himself into its neighbourhood, he must call at Hunter's Lodge. This he had certainly intended to do, as a visit of congratulation on the part of himself and his family on the approaching marriage of Miss Leppell.
This projected event had been formally announced to Marcia, so all was plain sailing in that direction.
Further, to give a fair colour to his previous asser- tions, this diplomatist had informed Mary Leppell that he contemplated doing himself the honour of calling upon her parents, either immediately or upon his return from his business tour.
The young lady, thinking to do Lillian a good turn, and with an excellent opinion of her own powers of manoeuvring, enjoined Mr La Touche to go to Hunter's Lodge forthwith.
THE SIMPLICITY OF TRUTH. 49
" Papa is in London," she said, simply, " and he hates visitors ; so you had better take an early train and sjo over and lunch there to-morrow. Mamma and Clara will be glad to see you ; and, you know, Lillian is filling my place at home, now that grand- mamma is so ill. Would you mind taking a note and a tiny parcel for me if you go ? "
Percival undertook the commission ; and as no in- vitation to prolong his stay over the night had been tendered by Mrs Fanshawe, and the antagonistic atti- tude of Mrs Kemble rendering it unsafe for him to take even refreshment at the old rectory, he decided to depart on the morrow, stay at the Ked Lion at Yarne for the next night, and so proceed on his tour.
All this was very nicely arranged for getting rid of Miss Fanshawe; but on reviewing his programme, Percival became aware that it in nowise furthered his prospects of improving his acquaintance with Miss Clavering.
The idea that his brother might prove a serious obstacle to the success of his plans, Percival rejected almost as soon as it occurred to him ; but he was in difficulty as to how Miss Clavering was to be culti- vated. He solved the enigma in this way : Mr Glas- cott and Miss Clavering were coming to London on their journey to Brydone. He would make Marcia call upon the lady, and invite her to stay a few days in Hinton Square.
Then he fell to thinking how advantageous from all points of view a match with Miss Clavering would be
VOL. II. D
50 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
for himself. No sisters ; no herd of unmarried females for him to entertain or chaperon about — an only brother, and that brother affianced to a lady who, if not a fortune, possessed that high connection which commands many of the advantages which fortune brings. Again, Miss Clavering had a little of her own, and it was but fair to assume that she would be handsomely dowered by her relative and guardian whenever she might marry.
So, putting aside the personal attractions of the lady, Percival found out at last that there was one woman in the world who was thoroughly eligible to occupy the position of his wife. But what of Lillian Fanshawe ?
Well, she might be disappointed, but that need not matter: he had never committed himself in that direction. A few petite soins here and there were all the latitude he had ever allowed himself, and these petite soins meant nothing, as all the world knew.
Lillian, Mr La Touche assured himself — and rightly — was not of the stuff to cry or mourn over spilt milk. Her good looks would always ensure her a mate if she cared to marry ; and, after all, Marcia might ferret up some city man with money who might like the Fanshawe connection, and thus matters would square themselves and no harm be done.
The course of these ruminations was arrested by a shimmer of light which Percival descried upon the floor of the dressing-room, through the half-open door.
Presently he heard voices, and it soon became evi-
THE SIMPLICITY OF TRUTH. 51
dent that two of the young ladies of the house were denizens of the opposite gable, and that one of them was then speaking from her dressing - closet to her companion in the room into which it opened.
At first, what was said wTas conveyed in broken and indistinct sounds, which, however, made Percival aware that the girls had come up-stairs from some household duty which had been required of them in preparation for the morrow. Then the voices became louder, and on approaching nearer, Percival had the satisfaction of hearing Miss Etta and Miss Emma dis- cussing him, their guest, and that freely.
" Tiresome little man ! " exclaimed the occupant of the dressing-room, giving her hair-brush a rattle as if she were shaking him. " It seems he can't eat mutton- chops, and he won't eat cold beef, and veal-cutlets don't agree with him ; so I have had to cut up all that nice boiled fowl that was left at tea, in order to have it ready to curry for his breakfast. Mind you don't take any, Emma, for there is only just enough for the visitors."
" I suppose there will be some devilled kidneys," returned the sister. " Papa and the young La Touche like them."
" Yes ; but this old one won't touch them unless they are cooked as splendidly as he gets them done at home."
Percival winced at the estimation of his age : at the moment he forgot that the speaker numbered but sixteen years.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY
52 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
" Marcia, the aunt, has a dreadful time of it, especi- ally when Mr La Touche gives a state dinner. The cook has been there eighteen years, and takes things more easily."
" Ah ! you see," said Etta, sagaciously, " she does not hear the fault-finding and grumbling : all that comes upon the lady of the house. I heard old Mr Chivers say, the other day, that nine-tenths of the men dare not speak to their cooks in the way they speak to their wives or female relations about the dinners. Bless you ! the cooks don't lie awake all night thinking over the dishes, and trying to remem- ber about the right sauces and all that."
"They are supposed to understand all particulars of cookery," said Emma ; " it is part of their busi- ness."
" I know ; but if they do make mistakes, it never troubles or upsets them. Lillian has often made me laugh at the cool way in which the La Touche cook ignores all Percival's messages. Sometimes she sends the dish complained of in another form to table; and Percival never finds out that the same kidneys he raved against in the morning form part of a savoury pie at dinner, of which he partakes with great gusto."
" What fun ! " exclaimed the other girl.
" I'll pitch into Marcia," vowed Percival, as he lis- tened to these revelations. He never thought, how- ever, of tackling the cook, who really was the sinner ; for Miss La Touche was thoroughly ignorant of more
THE SIMPLICITY OF TRUTH. 53
than half the metamorphoses which went on in the kitchen to save appearances and avoid a row.
" Suppose he does not like the curry," suggested Miss Emma, after a pause.
" That contingency has been provided for," answered Etta : " we are going to have a nice little piece of rump-steak, nicely grilled, and surrounded with a ring of mushrooms. It seems Percival is very fond of mushrooms, and they are always sent up from Wheatley in the season for his private eating."
'c Little glutton ! " exclaimed the sister. " Private eating, indeed ! he deserves to live on bread and water ! "
" Fortunately," Etta went on, " there are a few very young mushrooms to be found in one of the meadows, and some of the boys will have to turn out and find them to-morrow morning. The season is rather early, and there will be scarcely enough to put round the dish : mind you don't attempt to eat any of it, — it's a visitor's plat, — not for country maidens like our- selves."
"Plat — that's French," said Emma; "why don't you speak plain English ? "
"Plat is the correct term for a little rechercM dish. Lillian says that Percival is a gourmet — that means a person who is more particular about the quality than the quantity of the food ; what you call a glutton is a gourmand."
"And so this little man is to have the best of everything," said Miss Emma. " Pray, what will
54 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
happen if the plat goes wrong, or is not cooked to his fancy ? "
" If he can't put up with the dressed dishes of the country, he will have to fill up with eggs," returned Etta, sententiously. " You know we should not take so much trouble, only Lillian has been visiting at Hinton Square, and mamma thinks we ought to set before Percival what he likes best. Well, we have done our best ; and, as I said before, he can fill up with eggs."
Here the girls laughed loudly, and Percival, on the other side of the boarding, grinned for sympathy : they had entirely forgotten the proximity of a neighbour, and were again in full swing in their conversation.
" Miss Clavering seems a nice girl," called out Miss Etta, from the bedroom.
" Yes ; and her eyes are just like two stars : do you know, she says that we are all too hard upon little Mr La Touche, and that he is very agreeable and well informed. Fancy that ! "
"You young monkey!" muttered Percival, under his breath ; " how I hate bread-and-butter damsels."
" So Lillian says — that is, when he chooses to waste his sweetness on the desert air. You know he is dreadfully afraid of people wanting to marry him ; and to prevent this, he affected to be very rude and disagreeable when he was young. Now that he has got his fortune, I suppose he can't help himself ; and the being disagreeable is now the nature of the beast."
THE SIMPLICITY OF TRUTH. 55
Percival's face was now a " study " ; but he kept perfectly still, as the girls were talking again.
" I should not like to live in Jersey, if I were Miss Clavering," said Emma ; " she will find it very dull — worse than this, because there is the sea to cross."
" Yes ; but they will often be in London. I think Mr Glascott has a small house somewhere in that neighbourhood ; it has been let until lately. I think they are going to it for a month, whilst they buy new furniture for the Jersey place."
" Brydone ? "
" Yes ; Brydone. If Lady Asher gets better, Miss Clavering is to return to Hunter's Lodge with Mary, and pay them a visit ; then I suppose the time of Mary's wedding will be fixed. I hope Lady Asher won't die ; it would really be very inconvenient," re- marked Miss Emma, with the utmost coolness.
" She'll do now," said Etta, with an air of superior wisdom; "but I don't mind her being rather ill, if that keeps Lillian away and Mary here. It is not that I do not care for Lillian ; but it is so uncomfor- table to be with her and mamma together, and now that our sister is from home, mamma is so much nicer in all ways. I wonder how it is that these two have never got on ? "
" I believe Lillian was intended to be a boy," said Emma ; " but as she isn't, I wish she would marry. Do you know, I fancy Stephen La Touche comes here more on her account than for his aunt. I would like him for a brother-in-law ; he is handsome, and quite
56 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
a gentleman. Now there is a dash of the snob in the old man ; and this Percival, in spite of his money, looks like a bad style of commercial traveller."
Here the individual in question objurgated Miss Emma as an impertinent little beast, without, how- ever, naming the genus.
"You don't mean to infer that Lillian would look at the old man ! " exclaimed Etta, aghast.
" Oh dear no — I was thinking of the family style, and how different Stephen is. I do wish," continued the girl, with great enthusiasm in her voice and man- ner,— " I do wish that Stephen and Lillian Fanshawe would make a match of it."
" That will never be — never ! " answered Etta. Have you no eyes ? don't you see that Stephen La Touche is over head and ears in love with Willina Clavering ? I don't know much of these matters, but I am not wrong in my conviction of this : how- ever, don't make any remark to any one else."
" Oh no ; what is said up here between you and me is sacred," said Emma ; " it is the only place where we are safe. But I fancied that Stephen La Touche was very much disappointed, the day he arrived, to find that Lillian diad gone to the other side of the county."
" Yes ; that is true enough. You see, he hardly knows the rest of us, and Lillian having stayed in his father's house, they seemed to be more like old friends ; but when Miss Clavering came, he brightened up considerably, and he always manages to get near
THE SIMPLICITY OF TRUTH. 57
her. Besides this, Percival is supposed to be rather an admirer of Lillian."
" He has lots of money," said the elder girl slowly.
" But what would Lillian say ? " demanded Miss Emma ; " what does she think of him ? "
Percival here screwed himself close to the parti- tion ; he was strangely interested in the answer that was to come.
" Who can tell what Lillian thinks of anybody ? She is as mute as an oyster, — one of those who, like the goose, says little but thinks the more," replied Etta. " Of course she would only take Percival for his money. He is not so very old — twenty-nine, I think — but papa says he has got the ways of a man of fifty."
"Very much obliged to Mr Fanshawe, very," thought Percival. " I wonder if the family have been discussing me in the privacy of their domestic life. However, the money seems to smooth all objec- tions, even with these unsophisticated country inno- cents." He suspended his mental comments, for the girls were speaking again.
" You see there is a drawback to the La Touches, and one that papa would never get over," said Etta ; " they are all — well — cracked."
" Oh, not all," returned the sister. " Stephen is right enough, and the old man and the aunt are weak, perhaps, — at least papa says so."
" Yes ; but I have heard mamma say that if the com- plaint were to attack Percival, it would be something dreadful : she says he has got it in his eye " — here Mr
58 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
La Touche opened and shut his visual organs with great rapidity — "got it in the look of his eye, I should say ; and it would be something more than weak- ness or peculiarity with him — it would be raging- madness."
" How dreadful ! " replied Emma, her visions of a brother-in-law becoming toned down by this asser- tion. " But then," she added, " if he went very bad suddenly, he could be put in an asylum at once, out of harm's way, and he is rich enough to be a first- class patient."
(t Yes, that is all very fine ; but suppose Mr La Touche murdered Lillian (if she got him) first," said Miss Etta, with the maturer reasoning of an elder sister : " you never know what lunatics will be at."
" But he is not a lunatic yet." said Emma ; " and if he were to marry Lillian, it would keep him sane, I am sure it would ; and as to violence, just look how Mrs Kemble, quiet as she is, broke out upon him when papa brought the poor little man out on the lawn. That was raging madness, if you like, — if Aunt Arabella could only have got at him then, we should have had to pick up some of the pieces of the eldest hope of the house of La Touche," and the girl laughed merrily at this vision.
"What I admired in Percival," volunteered Etta, " was the cool and scientific way in which he received Mrs Kemble's onslaught. Miss Clavering quite agreed with me that he showed great presence of mind."
Percival brightened up at this, and breathed more
THE SIMPLICITY OF TEUTH. 59
freely : it was comforting to find that Miss Clavering had remarked him with approbation.
" I don't see what there was particularly to admire," said Emma. " He turned very pale, and then he made passes at the poor old lady with his umbrella."
" It was not that," the sister said ; " it was the beau- tiful play he made with the umbrella. Pointing at all the four cardinal points of the compass, and working in a circle with the accuracy of a teetotum, he never touched his aunt, and yet he managed to keep her at bay until Stephen came up. She danced round him like a dervish the whole time, yet he never gave her the slightest advantage."
" Self-preservation," returned Miss Emma, decisively : " he's an awful little coward. Now you see, when the other brother came up she became quiet directly, and only said that she was afraid of Percival, and that he was always unkind to her."
" I am afraid he has been that," said Etta slowly ; " but then, you know, people of unsound mind take odd likes and dislikes. We must not judge, but I wish this had not happened, for of course all our friends will have their own opinion of the matter."
" So mamma thinks, — she says the sooner Mrs Kemble is off, the better. Stephen was dreadfully annoyed and put out ; but the elder brother rattled away and made himself so agreeable to Miss Clavering that she is very much inclined to take his part. I heard her say to papa that she thought we were too ready to blame him."
GO THE FAT OF THE LAND.
" She only sees one side of his character," returned the elder girl. " "Well, for my part, Lillian is welcome to Mr La Touche, if she can put up with him — and, of course, it would be a good thing for the eldest of all of us to settle comfortably, or uncomfortably, as the case might turn out. The man has got money, and he is fairly well connected. The 'peculiarity5 and lunatic tendencies don't come out now, if he have them, and papa has no right to object to what may never happen. Lillian is just the balance for him ; in her hands he would never kick the beam."
" I would rather marry an Indian nabob or a Pata^onian chief than Percival La Touche ! " said Emma, with emphasis. " One would know what the undertaking would be with either of these, and their cruelty would be all on the surface; but as to this luxurious, patronising little snob, — I would rather remain single all my life — I would."
" Oh, if it comes to one of us — I mean, the question of our marrying Percival La Touche," said Etta — " I quite agree with you. He would not do for me, for I should want more sympathy and more money for my poor people than he would let me have. Besides, I don't care for London people "
" I don't like his style," interrupted Miss Emma ; " he thinks a great deal too much of himself."
" And he winked, yes, winked, at the parlour-maid this evening, — so ungentlemanly in a clergyman's house," continued Miss Etta ; " and that little grin of his is most offensive."
THE SIMPLICITY OF TRUTH. 61
"And his rubbing his hands together, as if he had got a ball of sand-soap within them, gives me the fidgets," said Emma.
"Altogether, he is out of the question for you or me," returned the elder sister. " Lillian is a different affair altogether; but I do think, if there were not another man in the world, nothing would induce me to marry Percival La Touche."
" Nor I either," returned Emma ; " never, as you say, if there were not another man in the whole creation, would I marry Mr La Touche."
. . . There was a sliding sound against the wall, as if something had rubbed heavily against its whole length, and a voice in a deep loud tone called out: " Wait, — wait till you are ashed, young ladies."
Then the dressing- door of the neighbouring room banged heavily, and Etta, as she rushed into bed beside her sister, clung convulsively to that damsel, saying, " Oh, what shall we do ? we forgot all about him, — he has heard every word of what we have been saying. I don't care so much for his knowing what we think of him, but it may spoil Lillian's chance."
" And what is worse, mamma's hopes of getting rid of her by a rich marriage ; that is the worst part of the business."
" Not quite the worst," said Etta ; " how on earth am I to face him in the morning ? you'll be in the school- room, and so get out of it, — it will be so terribly awk- ward."
"Never mind," said Emma, who was of a tougher
62 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
nature than her elder sister — " never mind ; it will be quite as uncomfortable for Mr La Touche. We must all agree that we have had the nightmare. Depend upon it, he'll say nothing, — horrid little wretch ! "
This was perhaps the best light in which to view the matter. Percival, although he adjudged himself to have retreated with flying colours and all the honours of wTar, was still in a most perplexed condition of mind when he laid his head upon his pillow.
He now saw, or thought he saw, through Mrs Fanshawe's wiles. The sharp manner which she evinced towards him in the presence of Lillian was merely a blind to lull him into security after all ; and, in spite of appearances to the contrary, she was artfully endeavouring to entrap him into a marriage with her eldest daughter — that was evident. The motive, too, was to him so disgraceful. The money was a sine qua non ; but it was more for the sake of getting rid of an incubus than for even the ostensible pride of establishing Miss Fanshawe, that her mother, and possibly the family collectively, — with the exception of the rector perhaps, and Percival would not vouch for him, in spite of Mrs Kemble's outburst, — would do all in their power to further so desirable an event. The conversation of the young girls convinced Mr La Touche that the subject had been ventilated amongst them, and that without the remotest appreciation of the honour which he firmly believed would accrue to the family by such a stroke
THE SIMPLICITY OF TRUTH. 63
of fortune as an alliance with himself would be. And yet he had gone out of his way to seek Miss Fan- shawe ; and it was only by a wonderful accident of chance that he was not at that very moment congratu- lating himself upon being the affianced husband of this — he would admit it — distinguished London-look- ing girl.
The counsel which, it is said, comes with night, now warned him to retreat while it was yet time ; but a stronger and more potent reason brought Per- cival to believe that Providence had at this issue interfered in his behalf in bringing Willina Claver- ing within his ken.
Those impudent hussies ! — he thus apostrophised them — his next-door neighbours, had unwittingly let fall this crumb of consolation in his cup. Miss Clavering had espoused his cause, and had, with in- tuitive and delicate perception, discovered how well informed and how agreeable in conversation he was.
o
This circumstance, he opined, was letting in the thin end of the wedge in the most satisfactory style. Then tossing his ruminations backwards and forwards, with the refrain of to be or not to be, Mr La Touche fell asleep, and dreamt of well-turned heads, intelligent eyes, and lunatics, in one confused mass, till the early hours found him awakening with a start, and the name of " Willina " on his lips.
64
CHAPTEE IV.
PERCIVAL WAVERS.
Emma Fanshawe was right. Mr La Touche entered
lo
the breakfast-room on the following morning with an air of the blandest tranquillity, stated that he had slept most comfortably, and neither by word nor sign did he evince the slightest consciousness of his ex- periences of the previous night.
His position seemed to be a remarkably happy one ; for Stephen always took his breakfast at the old rec- tory, and in consequence of the absence of his incipi- ent rival, the elder brother seized the opportunity to appropriate Miss Clavering and pay her the most marked attention. This, as it happened, exactly suited Miss Etta, who was thankful for any person or thing that would divert Percival's recollection from her- self, for she was in momentary terror that some sar- castic observation should be let fall from that gentleman which might bear upon the conversation in which she and her hardened younger sister had so lately indulged.
Mr La Touche was, however, either politic or merci-
PEKCIVAL WAVERS. 65
ful — perhaps he was leavened with a mixture of both these attributes — and so the young lady, after a few moments of qualm, continued to preside at the break- fast-table with her wonted peace of mind.
One thing only caused Percival a tinge of regret ; it was that he had announced his intention of proceeding on his business tour on the day following his arrival at Pinnacles, and his wish to call at Hunter's Lodge either before or after his departure into a neighbouring county. Mary Leppell had fixed the time for his visit to Ely the ; and it was not, as we have seen, till after these arrangements had been made, that he discovered that Miss Fanshawe had left home, and was then a guest of Mrs Leppell. Thus the precaution that he, in his astuteness, thought he had taken to avert suspicion as to the motives which prompted him to call at Pinnacles, now served as a strong barrier to prevent him remaining even a few hours longer in that abode.
Mrs Fanshawe and Mary Leppell both discerned the finger of Providence in directing Mr La Touche to offer his congratulations at Hunter's Lodge at so auspicious a season ; and though neither of these ladies gave expression to. their hopes or opinion on this head, they both augured the most satisfactory results from this happy combination of events.
Strangely enough, the rector, who was supposed to be no authority on matters flirtatory — to coin a word — perceived Mr La Touche's attention to Miss Clavering, and further, he bestowed a few moments' consideration upon this matter. The outcome of his reflections im-
VOL. II. E
QQ THE FAT OF THE LAND.
pelled him to take his wife aside immediately after breakfast, and enjoin her by no means to invite Percival to extend his visit, or to encourage him to remain at Pinnacles. "He cannot," Mr Fanshawe added, — " he dare not go to the old rectory, even for a meal, and I won't have him philandering here : in fact, I shall be very glad to be quit of the whole La Touche family, with the exception of Stephen, — he's the best of the lot."
"Mr La Touche has not the slightest intention of remaining here," said Mrs Fanshawe, in a mollifying tone ; " he is going to Yarne by the twelve o'clock train."
" I am glad to hear it," growled Mr Fanshawe ; "this man is really dreadful, and now he is actually making love to Miss Clavering. I should like to know what Mr Glascott would think of such a thing ! "
Poor Mr Fanshawe ! in his solicitude for the stranger within his gates, he was totally ignorant of the fact that there were those of his household who were at that moment rejoicing in the knowledge that this ob- noxious visitor would ere long be in company with his own daughter, and that many of his friends were beginning to regard Mr La Touche as a possible suitor for that lady's hand : his wife, too, was ready to ex- pedite Percival's departure with something very like a " God-speed." " Where ignorance is bliss," &c, &c.
Stephen La Touche came up from the old rectory, but merely in time to go through the form of convers- ing a little with his brother. He also privately con-
PERCIVAL WAVERS. 67
curred in the opinion that Miss Fanshawe was the attraction which led Percival to be so scrupulously polite in the matter of offering his congratulations at Hunter's Lodge ; and if his suspicions were correct, it would be as well, that gentleman thought, to look upon the gallantry Percival had displayed towards Miss Clavering as merely an atonement for his disap- pointment in not finding Miss Fanshawe at home. So he talked with Percival in the manner that was usual with him — carefully, however, impressing upon him the impossibility of his being even seen in the vicinity of the old rectory. It was no longer " Esperanza " for Mr La Touche, for if he ventured within its portals, he would certainly have to leave all hope behind him, Mrs Kemble's intentions being of an avowedly sangui- nary nature, and it being reported, moreover, that she was on the watch to execute them.
" I shall write to Dr Williams to-day," Stephen said, continuing the subject of poor Mrs Kemble, " and if he can receive Aunt Arabella on the day after to- morrow, I shall take her to his place at once : the attendant, of course, will go with us."
" And after that duty is accomplished," said Perci- val, with a nonchalant air, " I suppose you will return to London. You will, I should think, have some ac- cumulation of business to attend to."
" I hope so," replied Stephen, cheerily, and with a lamb-like innocence. " You may as well tell Marcia to expect me in four or five days from this time. I sup- pose your business will be concluded before I return,
68 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
as I am to finish my visit here as soon as I have placed our aunt with Dr Williams."
Percival could not say. His business might detain him longer than three days : he would, however, ad- vise his brother not to waste any more time in the country. " After you have given up the old rectory, and settled everything with our friend here " — alluding to Mr Fanshawe, with a backward jerk of his thumb — " you will be home at once. Marcia wants you, for we are going to have one or two dinner-parties. One of them is rather of the shop : some French fellows from Bordeaux, to whom the firm must do the civil. Ta-ta," he continued, with an airy flourish of the redoubtable umbrella, as he wended his way towards J "hall door,' — "I have faltered my adieux to Mrs Fanshawe and the ladies already : ta-ta, and don't forget to come home as soon as possible. Think of Marcia and the dinner-parties."
His last words were almost lost in the depths of the one-horse fly which was to convey Mr La Touche to the station. Stephen looked after him for a moment, and then burst into a laugh. " Master Percival thinks himself very clever, no doubt," he said to himself, " but I fancy I am a match for him. Still, I hope his present errand may be successful ; I can afford to wish him good-luck in that quarter."
Some hours afterwards, Stephen found himself in Mr La Touche's study, making the final arrangements for giving up the old rectory, and providing for his aunt's ultimate removal. The rector had declared,
PERCIVAL WAVERS. G9
and with good reason, that it was positively dangerous to allow Mrs Kemble to remain longer where she was without some restraint ; and it was agreed that it would be as well to despatch a telegram and summon Dr Williams without delay. " Mrs Kemble has seen the doctor, and likes him," Mrs Fanshawe said, "and I think she would bear her removal better if that gentle- man were to come for her himself : it would take off the appearance of everything being strange."
As the business proceeded, Mr Fanshawe could not help admiring the humanity and generosity displayed by the younger man ; and it was with the utmost sin- cerity that he expressed a hope that the removal of the patient would not terminate the acquaintance which this short visit had so pleasantly matured into a friendship betwixt him and the family at Pinnacles. Stephen was given to understand, with more warmth of manner than the rector was usually wont to dis- play, that whenever he should want a few days' change, or should at any time come into Yarneshire on Mrs Kemble's affairs, there would be always a place and a welcome for him at Pinnacles Court.
Fortunately, Mrs Kemble had sunk into an apathetic state when the day arrived for her removal from the old rectory house. We all of us feel somewhat of regret when leaving a locality wherein we have passed a good portion of our time, even if the surroundings and the experience of life therein have not always been of the happiest kind ; but for this poor soul there was little of remembrance and less of regret.
70 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
She was going, she said, where Stephen wished her to go, and she felt sure that what he wished was the right thing. This confidence caused her to accept all that was proposed for her comfort in a spirit of placid resignation, which, while it materially simpli- fied the necessary business consequent on removal, had, besides, something in its expression peculiarly touching. To the last it was evident that she had no opinion of the attentions which the several members of the Pinnacles household now bestowed upon her. " It was all very well," she remarked to her nephew, as they sat together on the last evening of her ten- ancy ; " but why are these women so wonderfully friendly all of a sudden, and just as I am going away ? Miss Clavering has been kind from the very first moment I saw her, and I am very, very sorry to wish her good-bye.
" It is only for a time, I know," the old lady con- tinued, after a short pause ; " and I won't make any fuss when I leave, for the Pinnacles women might think I am sorry to part with them, and that would never do, for I am not sorry — not a whit, my dear."
Early on the day of her departure, Mrs Kemble was particularly mysterious, and somewhat difficult both to understand and to manage. She nodded her head, shook that member at her nephew, shrugged her shoulders, winked satanically, and went through so many other minor gymnastics, that Stephen feared these must be the precursory symptoms of another outbreak, and so stood upon his guard.
PERCIVAL WAVERS. 71
However, when the men who had been employed in packing such of the furniture as belonged to Mr La Touche, previous to its removal to London, had departed, the real meaning of these signals became apparent. " Come here, Stephen," Aunt Arabella said ; " I want you to take this, and put it in a safe place. I have been so alarmed lest some one should get it from me when I was not — not — well. But I have managed to keep it out of sight ; here it is ! " So saying, she pulled a folded paper out of the depths of the lining of her wadded foot- warmer, and desired Stephen to read it forthwith.
Her nephew, on looking through this document, found it to be no less than Mrs Kemble's will, pro- perly written and executed some eight years back. Her own small fortune of three thousand pounds, standing in the consols, was left absolutely and en- tirely to him, as also everything she might inherit or become possessed of at the time of her death.
The young man remained silent, just pressing his aunt's hand in token of his recognition and gratitude. He was greatly touched, not only at this evidence of her strong affection, but also at the tenacity with which his relative had, in his interests, preserved this will. No one, he felt sure, suspected its existence.
" I knew you would come — in all my queerness I felt you would come and see me. I have never for- gotten your visit to us at Heidelberg, and how you defended me, boy as you were, from Kemble — never. Now you see the will is quite regular — made out by
72 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
a first-rate lawyer. Mr Sever ne, who always took my part, managed all the business for me. I want you to observe that this will was made before I became nervous and queer ; and to be assured that I have never made any other, and I never intend to make another, so you are quite safe, my dear."
" But, aunt, I can't keep this will in my own possession : it is very generous of you, but "
" I understand — I know something of business. Let Dr Williams and old Fanshawe, if you like, be witnesses that I have made this will over to you. They may, I should think, advise you to hand it to some respectable solicitor. Mind, my dear, I had the power reserved to me under my settlement to make a will. I have good cause to remember that, — my hus- band never forgave it ; indeed I owe much of the ill- treatment I received to this cause. But my father was so fearful lest even sixpence should go out of the family. Money and greed — the La Touches have always tried for the good things of the land, and what has come of it ? Lunacy, quarrelling, and every evil work. 0 Stephen ! whatever you do, never marry a near relation, — it's not natural, and never was intended."
" Three thousand pounds was hardly a sum large enough to demand a clause reserving you the right of making a will," returned Stephen. " Had you, may I ask, any other prospects ? "
" That's just it : our uncle, Mr Squash, was alive when I married, and my father always believed that
PERCIVAL WAVERS. 73
he would leave his large fortune to be divided between my brothers and sisters and myself. As it happens, Mr Squash chose to make that horrid Percival his heir, and he lived much longer than his friends intended that he should live. Has he got the money ? " inquired Mrs Kemble, turning round sharply. Every- thing that alluded to Mr La Touche, even in the most remote manner, always irritated her.
" Oh yes," replied Stephen ; " perhaps it were better so than that the property should be cut up into small portions. Don't let us grudge Percival — he will be none the better nor the happier for it."
" That's a blessing," returned Aunt Arabella warmly. " Percival won't spend it, and perhaps he may die, and then his money can be cut up and go among the rest of the family. You see I have no other prospects, and my small jointure will of course go to Mr Kemble's relations at my death. They pray for that event regularly every night, my dear. Here's Miss Clavering ; now, do you go away — I want to talk to her alone."
Dr Williams arrived in clue course, and after some consultation, it was decided that the will in question should be confided to the care of a firm of solicitors whom he named. Shortly afterwards, Mrs Kemble, with her attendant and Stephen, set out for her new home ; and it is satisfactory to know that the poor lady arrived safely at her destination, and took at once pleasantly to all about her. She parted tenderly from her nephew, but very quietly also ; assuring him that
7-t THE FAT OF THE LAND.
he had done all for the best, expressing her conviction that she was going to be very happy, and that in a short time she would be perfectly well. So, for a season, Aunt Kemble would probably cease to be a source of anxiety to her relatives, and the family at Pinnacles were well pleased that she had taken her departure in peace.
It was with a light heart that Stephen returned to pay the last part of his visit, which the ruthless demands of business limited to three days. Now that he had leisure to review his position, his spirit was exercised more strongly than ever as to his brother's real reason for appearing in the county, and it was with great sincerity that he hoped Miss Fan- shawe was the veritable magnet which had attracted Percival from his own immediate sphere at this time. If his suppositions were really correct, he would benefi- cently wish the latter the most unbounded good-luck, and was even willing to accord him an unqualified and fraternal benediction.
In despite, however, of this magnanimity, a mis- giving would often crop up in Stephen's mind con- cerning Mr La Touche's ulterior motives. He could not forget how thoroughly this usually cautious and wary individual had thrown off all reserve, and given himself up, so to speak, to an unqualified admiration of Miss Clavering, and that too from the first hour of his acquaintance with the lady. Percival's evident anxiety to get him to return home was also a subject of wonder to the younger brother : it was all very
PERCIVAL WAVERS. 75
well to cite Marcia's dinner-parties as a raison d'etre, but then, up to this time, Percival had generally been indifferent as to whether his brethren were pres- ent or not at the family state - feeds. There had been occasions, indeed, on which, preferring candour to compliment, Mr La Touche had averred that the absence of Stephen from the festive board was a matter of congratulation to himself and the company ; but it must be conceded that this sentiment was expressed at a season when Stephen emphatically declined to take in to dinner the lady whom Marcia had ordained that he should take in, and when this recalcitrant action was stated to militate decidedly against the order of procession.
Thus, after turning the matter over in his mind, and failing to arrive at any conclusion, Stephen was fain to trust to time, and resolved, like a sensible man, to enjoy as fully as possible the few days that remained to him of his visit to Pinnacles Court.
Percival, meanwhile, sped on his way, and soon stood before the gate of Hunter's Lodge. It struck him as he passed up the drive that the house and all surrounding it appeared to be unusually quiet, — no sounds of whoop and holloa, no signs of boys or babies, and the door-step in front of the principal entrance shining at the same time uncommonly clean.
The lawn was dotted here and there with hearth- rugs and mats of every size and description, and a frousy sotcpgon of the dust which had been recently shaken out of these still pervaded the immediate
76 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
atmosphere. Almost every window in the house was wide open, and the casements were utterly innocent of either curtain or blind.
A tight-rope apparatus stretched out in the field beyond the lawn seemed at first sight to indicate a preparation for some acrobatic performance ; but just as Mr La Touche was wondering what this might por- tend, a huge substance was thrown across the rope, and two men, furnished with bean-sticks, proceeded to belabour the material until rolls and volumes of dust concealed them from the naked eye.
Then it dawned upon Percival that this performance of carpet-beating was one of the phases of a process at that moment going on in full activity at Hunter's Lodge. It was that feminine vernal saturnalia known in the civilised world as the spring clean — a rite from which all bipeds of the masculine gen- der usually fly in terror and dismay as from a dan- gerous epidemic, whilst wives and daughters and female servants bear the brunt of the attending dis- comforts, and revel and exult (it has been said) in finding themselves in full possession of the field, and in the utter exemption from molestation or interfer- ence of any kind whatever.
Percival winced as, on approaching the house, he distinctly recognised the clink of an iron pail-hanclle, and a dim sound which announced an under-current of scrubbing. " How unfortunate ! " he said to himself ; " there will be only a scrap-luncheon — boiled-beef and bread, or some horror of the kind. I think I'll turn
PEKCIVAL WAVERS. 77
back ; or no, better not — I may be seen from the mea- dow there. I need not stay long : most likely, too, Mrs Leppell will not be at home. Good gracious ! what is that looking out at the window ? "
It was only Mrs Dabber the charwoman, who, arrayed in the inevitable coal-scuttle bonnet of the profession, and a canvas apron which enveloped her from head to heel, hearing footsteps, had almost thrown herself out at the hall window in order to intercept or turn back any intruder who might seek admission. A long boiled arm protruded itself at the same time, and the soaked hand at its extremity waved the insignia of the scrubber's calling within a foot of Percival's hat.
" What do ye please to want ? " said this apparition, as the visitor, recovering his astonishment, fell back some paces, and replied with the query, " Is Mrs Lep- pell at home ? "
" It's the spring clean, sir, and Mrs Leppell have sent all the children out for a picnic, sir ; they have been gone this two hours."
" Is Mrs Leppell at home ? " demanded Percival, loftily ignoring the previous information.
" No, sir," returned the scrubber firmly, but menda- ciously, nevertheless ; " she have gone to the picnic with the last lot of 'em."
Percival hesitated a moment, but true to the spirit of contradiction, which was a component part of his existence, he determined to enter the house, solely be- cause he thought he perceived a strong determination
78 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
on the part of Mrs Dabber to deny him admittance. He therefore replied, " That is very strange, and Lady Asher so ill ; surely she is not left alone ! "
" Lady Asher is better, and she ain't alone, she have got her maid," responded the scrubber, rising to the emergency. " We are very busy, 'cause the Colonel he have writ to say as how he'll be home to-morrow night."
" I've just come from Pinnacles Court," said Per- cival, " so I had better see Mrs Prothero, as I have a letter and a parcel from Miss Mary "
" Oh, if 'e come from Miss Mary, that's different altogether. I was told not to let in any callers on no account. Wait a bit please, sir, and I'll open the front door; it is kep' shut by reason of them dogs. Most of 'em has gone to the picnic ; but Boxer, lies about, and when a gets in, it's next to impossible to drive un out again, sure."
Mrs Dabber sped to the hall door with some alac- rity, for it was quickly opened, and Percival entered. After indicating a roll of matting as a convenient place whereon he might sit, Mrs Dabber left the visitor in possession, and set off on the ostensible errand of seeking Mrs Prothero.
She could not have reached Lady Asher's room, for the quick ears with which nature had supplied Mr La Touche made him aware that to some person in close proximity, although unseen, he was being reported as " a young man with a note from Miss Mary, — a would come in," was added in a deprecatory tone.
PERCIVAL WAVERS. 79
" What's he like ? " inquired a voice, which Percival immediately recognised ; " it can't be Mr Clavering ? besides, you know him."
" Oh, laws, no, 'em — he ain't Mr Clavering ; but a tidy little gent too — a says a comes from Pinnacles."
There was a slight rustle, and in another moment Miss Fanshawe was shaking hands with Mr La Touche.
" You are rather an unexpected Mercury," said the young lady, her face flushed a little with surprise, and perhaps, it may be added, with some disappointment ; for it was usual for Mr Clavering to call after this manner when Lady Asher's illness demanded fre- quent inquiry. " We did not know you were in Yarneshire."
" I only arrived yesterday on my way to Bath, and, having a few hours to spare, I went up to Pinnacles to see my aunt before she leaves your neighbourhood," said Mr La Touche, with solemn assurance. " Your parents have a large party in the house, and they were kind enough to invite me to join them and stay all night. Here are my credentials," and he handed the note and a little parcel wrapped in silver-paper to Lillian.
" Thanks ; this is a fan which Mary walked off with the other day. Won't you come in here till I see if Lady Asher's sitting-room is in order ? it is our only harbour of refuge during this turmoil." So saying, she opened the door of the drawing-room and ushered Mr La Touche into that apartment, which was just recovering from an elaborate scrubbing, and redo-
80 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
lent of Bristol soap, furniture-polish, and all the other olfactory concomitants inevitable to a spring clean. A pronounced feeling of dampness and discomfort made itself apparent and suitable to the occasion — so much so, that Percival shrank together, and expressed a fear that he should catch cold.
" I won't be long," said Miss Fanshawe ; " I will just speak to Mrs Leppell — she was with her mother a few minutes ago : you had better stand in the verandah," and off she went before Mr La Touche could get in a single word.
Mrs Leppell was rather pleased than otherwise when she was told who the visitor was; and in the belief that the visit of Mr La Touche was rendered more on her young friend's account than on her own, she at once decided to receive that gentleman. She also opined that this was a most excellent opportunity to bring these young people together ; and though she did not much admire the man, she, like the rest of the world, held his fortune in much esteem. Besides, it must be remembered Lilian was the eldest of a tribe of daughters, and it was her duty to marry a rich man if she could get him, and her (Mrs Leppell's) duty to render her aid in the quest. So with an earnest and sincere desire to forward this event, Mrs Leppell went by way of the garden to the drawing-room verandah, and received Mr La Touche with a cordial smile of welcome.
" You find us in a most uncomfortable state," she said, as she extended her hand to her visitor. " Come
PERCIVAL WAVERS. 81
into Lady Asher's room, and we can offer you some lunch, such as it is."
Percival replied that he was delighted, and that Colonel Leppell had no doubt evaded the horrors of house-cleaning, adding that it was the first time in his life that he had come in contact with the opera- tion, and that really it was not so bad as he had been led to think.
This was intended for a compliment evidently, and so the ladies bowed in recognition. " It is really Colonel Leppell's fault that we have been obliged to carry the operation through in so uncompromising a manner," continued the lady of the house ; " we did not expect my husband home for nearly a week yet, and now he has written to say that he will be at home late to-morrow night."
"And of course he expects everything to be in perfect order and comfort," added Miss Fanshawe, with a laugh.
There was something very taking and graceful about this girl when she allowed her usually cold manner to relax, and perhaps she never appeared to greater advantage than when she was at Hunter's Lodge. The position of being understood and appreciated has, more or less, a beautifying effect on most young people, and it was due to this that Miss Fanshawe always seemed more animated and cheerful when with the Leppells than at any other time.
We can never fully understand the mysterious phases of fate and chance, any more than we can ex-
VOL. II. f
82 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
plain the great injustices which are hourly occurring in the world ; but it is probable that if Lillian Fan- shawe had been the wife of Francis Clavering, she would have been a bright and happy woman to the end of her days, because she knew, and felt that he would have known, that she was thoroughly suited to him, and that in intellect and opinion and thought they were as one.
Now this chance — the union of what Miss Fan- shawe believed to be two kindred souls — had passed away for ever ; and in the face of an uncongenial if not an unhappy home, the young lady set herself deliberately to win Percival La Touche, or rather, perhaps, to accept him as the Charybdis into which she must cast herself from the Scylla of her un- requited preference for Mr Clavering.
Little dreamed he that at the best he was nothing more than a pis aller in this girl's sight, but a pis aller to which she must resort because she held no place in her mother's heart, and was virtually without hearth or home.
So, following the lead of her friend, Lillian was unusually charming in her manner towards Mr La Touche, and looked so cool and fresh withal, and bantered with him in such easy graceful style, that, with the strange inconsistency of the human mind, Percival found himself hesitating as to whether or no it would be as well that he should dedicate his alle^i- ance at once to Miss Fanshawe, and forego all further attempts to bewitch Miss Clavering. Everything
PERCIVAL WAVERS. 83
seemed just then to foster this idea : the luncheon was so good that it wellnigh worked the charm of reaching the man's heart through his stomach ; the kindly un- affected manner in which he had been admitted into the privacy of this household ; the absence of all gSne, without descending to the borders even of familiarity, — all combined to press upon Percival the desirability of improving his opportunities without loss of time.
He was further induced to this consideration by the invitation which Mrs Leppell (in the interests of her young friend) had given him to attend her daughter's wedding when that event should take place. " She would send Miss La Touche," Mrs Leppell said, " a proper invitation when matters were arranged, and she hoped that Mr Stephen would be also induced to give them the pleasure of his company on that occa- sion. Should she write ? or would Mr La Touche undertake to bring his brother ? At any rate, Mary and Mr Clavering, being with him at Pinnacles, would very probably secure Mr Stephen themselves."
Percival inwardly resolved to put a spoke in this wheel, but merely replied that he was quite sure they would all be most happy to wait on Mrs Leppell ; and then, luncheon being over, they strolled into Lady Asher's little garden till the room should be arranged.
They had been there scarcely ten minutes when Mrs Leppell found it convenient to fancy that she heard Prothero's voice calling to her from within, and, without waiting to satisfy herself, she turned and went rapidly into the house. " I'll be back directly,"
84 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
she said, looking over her shoulder to Lillian ; " per- haps you could show Mr La Touche Dick's game- fowls : they are really beautiful birds, and are well worth seeing."
To the fowl-yard they sped ; and with her nose dug into the netting, Miss Fanshawe searched minutely for Raleigh, reputed to be the gamest of game birds in the whole county.
Mr La Touche approached a little nearer the lady, with the view of being directed where to look for this redoubtable warrior, and had got the length of u Dear Miss Fanshawe," when a tread on the gravel arrested his speech, and he just managed to add as he looked round, " here he is," when an elderly gentleman appeared in sight.
Miss Fanshawe never exactly knew whether the lame conclusion of Percival's opening address applied to the game-fowl or to Mr Glascott, for they both appeared on the scene at the same moment : however, as the latter was outside the netted inclosure, he might, perhaps, be considered as having the advantage, he not being in a state of semi-captivity.
Whatever Percival had intended to disclose was certainly effectually quenched by the advent of the human third party, who, after saluting Miss Fanshawe with the graceful, old-fashioned courtesy, began to an- nounce his errand, as he took her hand.
" Allow me to introduce you," said that lady with the most enviable composure ; " Mr Glascott, Mr La Touche." A bow, and a very ill-used-looking visage on
PERCIVAL WAVERS. 85
the part of Percival : this was entirely lost upon Mr Glascott, who innocently regarded, his new acquaint- ance as a young man possessing a most unfortunate expression of face, and thought how good it was of Miss Fanshawe to entertain him.
So it was rather with the opinion that he was do- ing a fellow-creature a good turn that Mr Glascott said : " It has occurred to me that you would like a ride this fine afternoon ; suppose we go and meet the picnic-party. We might take a canter round Firely Hill, and then escort the youngsters home in a troop. I have just spoken to Mrs Leppell, and she thinks the idea a good one, should you approve."
Miss Fanshawe agreed, remarking, notwithstanding, that she was supposed to be helping Mrs Leppell in the house, and that it would be rather selfish on her part to ride away and leave her.
. Mr Glascott combated this assertion by averring that Mrs Leppell, whom he had just left, aided and strongly promoted this suggestion.
" Would you like to accompany us ? " asked Miss Fanshawe, turning to Mr La Touche with a genial smile.
" Oh dear, no," replied Percival ; " very happy to accompany you, of course, but horse exercise "
" Oh, you don't ride, — I forgot," replied the lady ; " it's very unfortunate. Shall we find you here on our return ? "
Percival understood from this that Miss Fanshawe intended to take the ride, and excused her in his mind
86 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
upon the plea that she could not very well do other- wise. At the same time, it having dawned upon his perception that the late comer was Miss Clavering's guardian, his manner suddenly softened, and he replied —
" My business matters are urgent, and only left me time to come out here to offer my congratulations to Mrs Leppell on her daughter's approaching marriage. From what I have seen of Mr Clavering, Miss Leppell seems to have been most happy in her choice."
Here Mr Glascott bowed, and relaxed his uncompli- mentary opinion concerning the personal appearance of Mr La Touche ; and after a few desultory remarks, they returned to the house. Percival took his leave ; and Miss Fanshawe and her escort immediately set off for a long afternoon's ride.
Colonel Leppell returned home, according to his announcement, and Mary and Miss Clavering ended their visit at Pinnacles Court. Miss Fanshawe re- mained at Hunter's Lodge for the ostensible purpose of cultivating a further acquaintance with the latter, and she was present when a messenger from the firm of Dupont brought the diamonds, arranged and set, which were Mr Glascott's wedding-present to Mary Leppell.
They were universally admired ; so much so, that Mr Glascott, through the Colonel, sent the same num- ber of stones to be set in precisely similar form to Mr Dupont, intending that parure to be a present to Willina Clavering.
PERCIVAL WAVERS. 87
Francis Clavering was very much taken with Mary's set ; at the same time, he remarked that the colour of the stones did not appear to him to be quite so clear as that of the unset gems.
" The mounting may make a difference/' said Miss Fanshawe, who was examining them at the same time.
" Ah, yes, to be sure ; you put us all right," said the young man, turning towards Lillian with a smile of genuine approbation.
88
CHAPTER V.
SCIENCE AND CUPID.
At length all was satisfactorily settled : Colonel Lep- pell and Mr Glascott had each dined in company at the abode of the other, and Mr Clavering was now a visitor at Hunter's Lodge, the acknowledged and ac- cepted suitor of Miss Leppell.
The usual amount of astonishment, expressed and understood, went the round of the family acquaintance as a matter of course. " ' Heavenly Moll ' to put up with a simple gentleman, after all Ealph's bluster ! " was the ejaculation of old Lord Hieover, after he had twice perused the document which conveyed the in- telligence, in curt but respectful terms, to the lady's grandfather. "Balph is coming to his senses," re- marked the Colonel's brother Alick, as he digested the news ; " rich noblemen are not so plenty, and the poor ones look out for money. They have shown more sense, the whole lot of them, than I imagined them to possess."
" The whole lot" meant the family at Hunter's Lodge,
SCIENCE AND CUPID. 89
severally and collectively, in the summary of this relative. As to the Clavering connection, if that were satisfied, it was well ; and if it were not, that was no affair of the Honourable Alexander Leppell, who averred, for his part, that he was truly thankful to learn that a comfortable provision would be secured to his niece by this contemplated marriage. Being thus in a contented frame of mind, this affectionate uncle at once penned a congratulatory epistle to Mary, in which he wished her all manner of life's blessings and good-luck. This being done, he mourned over the fact that he would have to give the girl a decent wedding-present, and eventually turned to smoke for compensation and consolation.
Miss Fanshawe was now the only person to whom this engagement did not give complete satisfaction. True, she had promoted it to the best of her power ; but her influence with Mary Leppell had only been exerted after she had discovered that her own chances of securing Mr Clavering's affections were utterly hope- less. The result of this influence had convinced Miss Leppell that she did possess sufficient regard for Mr Clavering to warrant her accepting that gentleman as her suitor. "Wise in her generation, and far-seeing beyond her years, Lillian soon discovered that the best method for retaining for herself influence and interest with both these young people, was to act at once en honne princesse, and so earn the gratitude of, at least, one of the benefited parties. That she did not (at that time at least) seriously mean to displace Mary Leppell
90 THE FAT OF THE LAXD.
in Mr Clavering's affections, is certain ; and had such an idea been presented to Miss Fanshawe in a tangible shape, no one would have more indignantly disclaimed such an imputation. True, she was aware, and fully aware (through that wonderful intuition which seems to be a sixth sense in the feminine composition), that whilst Clavering loved Mary with more of the meed of affection, perhaps, than the ordinary run of men be- stow upon the betrothed, who, they know, will become their wives in the conventional style of matrimony, it was to her that he turned for companionship in in- tellect ; it was to her alone that his conversation was directed, whenever his favourite science and its later discoveries was the theme.
There came, too, with this, a perceptible softening of manner and an unexpressed confidence in her sym- pathy, which increased so steadily that it became at length impossible for her not to be cognisant of the fact that, had she met Mr Clavering before his intro- duction to the Leppells, her good offices in urging her friend to accept that gentleman's suit would have been superfluous. " It is a great pity," she had once gone so far as to admit to herself ; " he and I are just suited. It can't be helped now. Let me enjoy his society for a short time ; and when Mary is married, I will take the first man that asks me. At any rate, her home will be another place of refuge from Pin- nacles." So ran the current of Miss Fanshawe's most secret thoughts at this time.
Those of Francis Clavering, if put into words, might
SCIENCE AND CUPID. 91
probably evolve thus : " Mary is no doubt lovely, and my wife will be the most admired woman of the next London season — Lord Hieover must take us to town — but I do wish Moll had more in her, — more educa- tion, more love of science. Perhaps it will come. As it is, she reminds me forcibly of Undine before her soul came to her. Lillian Fanshawe, now, possesses both beauty of mind and person, and is in all things thoroughly practical. Why, why can't a man marry two wives at once ? "
Here he stopped. Was not the breath of such an idea rank treason to Mary ? Besides, had she not been won with a wealth of affection and hard money down ? Had he not, by unwavering persistence, for love of her brought about a reconciliation between two lifelong foes ? Was she not the olive-branch, the tender white dove, the peace-offering and gift given out of the hand of her father, and accepted by his benefactor, who had forgotten insult and wrong to place her honourably in his arms ? Was there not something clue to Everard Glascott, the noble old man who had done more for him in this matter than had done, or would do, ten thousand of fathers for their own sons ? " Stay — Lillian Fanshawe is the friend of the Leppell side of the house, the especial friend of Mary, the school - companion whom she desires that I should admire and cultivate. Let it be so : here is a case where a Platonic friend- ship is perfectly admissible. Lillian is strong and proud, and a woman is all the firmer friend
92 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
when one never has been, nor never can be, her lover."
So thinking, Mr Clavering corrected a part of the manuscript of his intended lecture, which, owing to these reflections, was not distinguished for strict geo- logical reasoning. The importance of his subject at this juncture impressed itself on his mind, and for some hours he turned to work with that application which alone can command satisfactory results.
When his task was completed, he carried it to Lillian and requested her opinion on its merits. The young lady was alone in the little drawing-room, seated at the piano ; not playing exactly, but with her ri^ht hand striking out strange minor harmonies, more mournful than soothing, and looking over a newspaper which she held in her left.
" What ! doin^ two things at the same time ! " ex- claimed Frank as he entered. " This is not the opportunity to enlist your sympathy, I fear, for I came to inflict a third occupation upon you," and he held out his manuscript as he spoke.
"Don't be too certain of that," replied Miss Fan- shawe. " Look ; I was reading the review of your pamphlet on the mosaic pavement found at Druni- chester. I should much like to see the pamphlet itself ; but as that is not within reach, I will take your manuscript, and so run two occupations into one."
" It is within reach," replied Mr Clavering decidedly. " I sent Mary a copy of it three weeks ago. Haven't you seen it ? "
SCIENCE AND CUPID. 93
"No. Besides, no one in this house cares for science, so you must expect that Mary will find all matters appertaining to it a little dry. I daresay the pamphlet can be found — unless, indeed, it has been absorbed into Colonel Leppell's den. In that
case "
" It will have made itself useful for lighting cigars or rubbing the gums of a bull-terrier pup," replied Francis, rushing to conclusions. " I'll go and ask Mary about it at once. Do you know where she is ? " " Just out on the lawn there, mending targets and shooting with the children."
Mr Clavering stepped out through the French win- dow, and looked towards the centre of the lawn. This was bounded by a wire-fence which enclosed the meadow which lay beyond.
A beautiful summer meadow, knee-deep in rich grass, daisies, buttercups, quaking-grass, the rounded crimson clover-flower, the tall bugle full in bloom, powdered by the falling blossoms of the fading haw- thorn, showing still fair as it covered the floating feather-grass, — all sweet things, soon to perish be- neath the mower's scythe, and leave only their subtle perfume to tell that they once had been.
An enormous elm-tree flourished on the lawn, round the trunk of which a seat had been fixed. Mary Leppell sat like a May-queen beneath the branches superintending the manufacture of a target, which was at the bulging-out period of its formation. Dick sat at her feet, a moving mass of twine, straw, paper,
94 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
paint, feathers, and all manner of rubbish. The youngest infant was sleeping on a cushion, with the drawing-room's best couvrette spread over its face. Its nurse, trusting to Providence, was away flirting with a groom in the stable-yard enclosure ; and the penulti- mate baby was busy trying to stick some honeysuckle into the bull-terrier's ears, — all as happy as happy could be.
"Mary — Moll — here; I want you a moment. I can't come out, I am so busy," called out Mr Claver- ing, quite in the tone of " the man in possession."
Away went the target, bull-terrier and child were cleared at a bound, Dick was thrown prone to the earth, as this gladsome, winsome thing flew past, and only stopped to throw her arms round her lover's neck. " It was so nice of you to call me like that, Frank," said she. " I like it so much better than if you had thought it proper to come to me. What do you want, dear ? What can I do ? "
It was seldom that Mary had been so demonstrative. A kind of sweet timidity, combined with the feeling that she was not clever enough for companionship with Mr Clavering, had often caused her to remain within her delicate shell. In these days it frequently occurs that young ladies of all ranks are too ready to come out of their delicate shells to seek admirers — going the whole pace, not meeting admirers half-way even. Herein is the embryo from which the " girl of the period " springs.
" I hope you won't think me troublesome," Frank
SCIENCE AND CUPID. 95
said, as he drew the young girl close to him, "but I want that pamphlet about the mosaic pavement I sent you the other day. Can you put your hand upon it ? "
" "No, that I can't," replied Mary. " I just looked it over after cutting the leaves, and saw it was some- thing about the Eomans and their camps. You must not mind — it's my ignorance ; but I really could not read ten lines of it together, and I hoped you would not ask anything about it."
"Very well, that's natural, you golden locks," an- swered he, mollified by the honesty of this speech ; " but tell me, where did you put the pamphlet ? "
" Let me think : the last time I saw it, it was on the mantel-shelf in the nursery ; it may be there still, as there are no fires to light now. But can't you get another copy ? "
" Yes ; but I wish, dear, you would try and interest yourself in my writings just a little more. However, I will go back to Miss Fanshawe now. I left her reading my last effusions, and she must be tired of them by this time."
They passed through the French window into the room wherein Miss Fanshawe still retained the same place and position. Instead of touching the piano, her fingers were now busily employed in marking, here and there, with various signs, portions of the manuscript concerning which she would presently have her say.
" Oh, here you are ! " exclaimed Mary, coming close
96 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
to her friend. " Frank has shown his sense in giving you his performances to look over. Is this easier than the pamphlet ? " inquired she, as she looked towards Mr Clavering.
" It is quite a different thing," replied that gentle- man. "Never mind about the pamphlet — I can do without it."
He had not deemed it necessary to state that this emanation of his brain was required solely for Miss Fanshawe's delectation, and, in order to check further remark or inquiry, he plunged into the subject of his article. Lillian saw, at a glance, that the pamphlet was not forthcoming, and maintained a silence which, to Clavering, was as intelligible as uttered speech. She looked straight into his eyes, and all was said. " You need not have troubled yourself, — I could have told you that the book was either in the fire or in the dust-hole. Depend upon it, you throw away your glory in this direction." All this the mute intelli- gence of Miss Fanshawe's eyes conveyed to the sense of Francis Clavering.
Mary went back to her brothers, rather thankful to leave these two to their own devices ; and these two talked and read, and comported themselves generally, as if some secret understanding existed between them, the nature of which they neither wished nor cared to analyse. So sped on the after- noon of this summer day till evening fell.
And Mary, " heavenly Moll," fresh, true, and inno- cent, without an arri&re penste in the world concerning
SCIENCE AND CUPID. 97
anybody or anything, — was her spirit disturbed, or did any apprehension agitate her breast, as she saw daily the intercourse between her lover and her friend assuming a more exclusive character, and found also that the nature of their conversation was often such as to preclude her from taking any part in it ? Not in the least. Loving Clavering as she did, with calm, honest affection, and reverencing his talents as if he were almost a deity to be worshipped' — above all, un- conscious of evil, it was almost impossible that the demon of jealousy could invade a heart crystallised in its own purity, and at the same time too proud, perhaps, to entertain a single envious thought.
To have secured the affection of this brilliant man was a special blessing in this young girl's eyes, and the position of becoming his wife was, in a great measure, not only a source of self-congratulation, but somewhat also of wonder and astonishment.
The advanced arts were little known and less appre- ciated in Miss Leppell's immediate family, and thus it was to her as if one of the wise men of Greece, or Solomon himself, had alighted at her feet when Claver- ing made his marriage proposals for her to Colonel Leppell. This man, with whose name all the scientific world was ringing, who lectured here and lectured there, whose presence frequent telegrams from all parts of Great Britain were constantly soliciting, and upon whose opinion many members of the scientific world based their conclusions,— this man was indeed unto her the personification of one who had eaten of the
VOL. II. G
98 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
apple of Eden, and thus held the knowledge of good and evil — and lived.
No wonder, then, that, cherishing such opinions, Miss Leppell found much satisfaction in the fact that Frank could meet with a congenial mind in the society of her friend, Lillian Fanshawe, and so enjoy a literary symposium which her own humble intellect could neither grasp nor fathom. Had Mary Leppell at that time been capable of feeling and evincing an alarmed jealousy, strange to say, many bitter pangs in after-life would have been spared her. Concerning what she believed to be friendship, arising from love of herself, on the part of Francis and Lil- lian, no suspicion nor anxious thought ever entered.
There was one person, however, who viewed the march and exclusiveness of this friendship with a surprise which soon turned to apprehension, if not to positive alarm. What can escape a mother's eye ? Mrs Leppell had, on more than one occasion, fancied that the deference which Mr Clavering paid to her daughter's friend was rather more tender than is customary in the case of a man who is affianced to a lovely girl — so lovely that she might command any number of admirers, and those, too, of the highest " status " in society. Mrs Leppell, to do her justice, bravely put back her suspicions at the outset, and communed from a common-sense point of view with her perplexed spirit.
" Is this girl not Mary's early friend ? " argued she ; " and was not Mary so anxious that Lillian should be
SCIENCE AND CUPID. 99
invited to remain here during Mr Clavering's stay in the neighbourhood ? Above all, did not Lillian urge the match when my daughter was wavering, and even reluctant ? "
Thus the good woman reasoned her fears away. One problem, however, persistently haunted her, nor could she find any clue towards its solution. If Miss Fanshawe were not so attractive in person as well as learned in mind, would Francis Clavering be at so much trouble in fetching and carrying little lumps of granite, and goodness knows what other lumps besides these, and weighting the pockets of his shooting-coat with knobs of stone, and little ham- mers wherewith to smash them up, and all for Lillian Fanshawe's opinion thereon ? He apparently, also, felt no qualms whatever in striding about the country with a faded green-baize ba^ over his shoulder, in which Dick Leppell (Clavering's boy-friend in the family) averred that he kept all kinds of wonder- ments.
One fine morning Mrs Leppell watched the pair, as, with this green bag on the floor, a lump of gneiss and a work on geology in their hands, they sat at a small table in the deep recess of a window, and expatiated upon something unusual or peculiar in the conformation of the specimen which lay before them.
Mrs Leppell was occupied in dusting and arranging the remains of some very valuable and much-cracked and much-mended old china, — a remnant that had
100 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
survived the successive tornadoes in the Leppell drawing-room, when the Colonel had thought fit to expedite the departure of children or dogs by hurling anything that came to hand in the air, and hurling it regardless of direction. (It was only a year before that old Lady Asher had escaped being brained by throwing herself flat on the hearth-rug, and thus allowing a good-sized musical-box, aimed at Fritz, to pass over her head and crash into an Indian bowl.) Some jars, a few good plates, and a pilgrim's bottle, were now the only sound representatives of what had originally been a fair collection of china.
But it was the cracked little cups, and the muti- lated little monsters, and the egg-china of Japan, to which the soul of Mrs Leppell clung. A niche mounted with shelves, and lined with blue velvet, was now the sacred tomb of these relics; and it was with a sort of tremor lest in these she should find evidence of a recent spill, or of coming to pieces in the hand, for which no one but the cat could or would be accountable, that Mrs Leppell proceeded to inspect these relics.
Standing at this shrine, Mrs Leppell thus came in for the full benefit of the geological discussion ; and further, for convincing herself that no shadow of suspicion nor anxiety had entered her daughter's mind, for Mary was now in the room, and was mak- ing merry at the expense of the two students anent their devotion to geology.
" Oh, that is the little hammer, is it, with which you
SCIENCE AND CUPID. 101
go about the country smashing up the stones and breaking rocks to smithereens ? " said Miss Leppell, trying to speak with sarcasm. "You might set up for an auctioneer, Frank, and so successfully combine two businesses. What is this ? and this ? " inquired she, as she dived into the green-baize bag and brought out two or three specimens. " Do enlighten my ignor- ance. Which is pudding-stone ? "
"Not a specimen of it here, dear," replied Frank. " Here is a pretty bit, and the name of it is not diffi- cult— mica."
The mother watched from the plate she was hold- ing up to the light. " Lillian looks as if she did not like the interruption," thought she. " I don't know ; she is making room for Mary to be seated. I am wrong after all."
She was right and she was wrong, both at the same moment. Miss Fanshawe had perceived Mrs Leppell's eyes looking over the plate, and she thereupon ex- ecuted the piece of generalship which had discomfited her hostess. No electric light could have flashed intelligence more thoroughly. Miss Fanshawe, sweet and calm, read as from an open book the meaning of Mrs Leppell's presence there, and very much also what was passing in the mind of that lady. So she put into force that sleight of action which is vulgarly called " throwing dust into people's eyes."
" Now that we have got Mary captive, let us give her a first lesson in geology, Mr Clavering," said she ; " or better, do you teach us both. I am only in the
102 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
primer myself, as you know, and at the stage wherein a return to first principles would be a step in the right direction. You should try and learn a little about the matter, dear," continued Miss Fanshawe, with the air of a matron of forty, "for you will in time, I daresay, have to copy out Mr Clavering's lectures for him ; and it would be so much easier for you if you understood a little of the subject. Don't you agree with me ? "
" I would get through any quantity of writing or copying or anything else for Frank that I can do," was the reply ; " but these stones, and their names, and where they come from, I really do not care about, nor never shall. I prefer things which grow on the earth, you know, and something that has life, — flowers and fruit, and something that can return one's regard ; the pony — my dear doggie, — they are far nicer than a pack of stones."
Francis looked very significantly at Lillian during this peroration. If the look may be interpreted, it meant to say, " Do you hear that ? flowers and the dog preferred to my objects of study and interest ; only listen to the crass frivolity which these remarks exhibit." The mother caught the look, and from sheer nervousness rattled her plate against the head of a shaky little bonze. Her feeling, this time, was that of indignation against Miss Fanshawe, because she remained as impervious to this look as did the wall behind her. Not a sign made she that she had even observed Mr Clavering, and Frank on his part felt
SCIENCE AND CUPID. 103
sure that his significant expression had fallen un- heeded into space.
Such telegraphic intimations are seldom repeated, and Mr Clavering turned without remark to the first pages of the work before him and began to point out the illustrations which adorned it, and to pronounce distinctly the names of the substances to which the drawings referred.
Mrs Leppell was further aggravated when Lillian, after looking at the lovers for a moment with an air of approbation, rose from her chair with the utmost deliberation, and walking straight towards the niche, inquired in a sweet cool manner if she could assist her hostess in arranging or dusting the precious china.
Mrs Leppell for a moment felt inclined to refuse the proffered aid, and that somewhat sharply, but a glance at the recess mollified her as she beheld Mary in her legitimate place, leaning on Clavering's shoulder, whilst he twisted a strand of her long bright hair round a piece of malachite stone, and thus held the young lady fast.
So the mother waxed gracious and replied, " I have nearly finished now ; but I would be glad if you can suggest any plan for mending this crack before it becomes a fissure. I am tired of diamond cement, for, to say the truth, I have never been able to make it serviceable."
""When a thing becomes thoroughly cracked and tarnished, I give it up for good," replied Miss Fan- shawe ; " but I am no authority on these matters, as
104 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
I infinitely prefer the beautiful china of modern manufacture. After this confession, will you trust this cup to me when I go to town ? There is a shop in Eegent Street where they mend these things in a professional manner."
Mrs Leppell replied that "of course she would," and her late apprehensions were further quenched as she heard Mary call out, " Come back, Lillian ; this wicked fellow, this scientific deceiver, is teaching me all wrong. He is trying to make me call this lump ' Nice ' (gneiss), as if I did not know that Nice was in France."
"It ought to be pronounced ms" returned Miss Fanshawe, with decision, "as you would pronounce the German word mein."
Francis admitted that she was right. " He wanted," he said, " to bring Mary nearer the pronunciation by naming a town which must be familiar to her. At any rate, Miss Leppell had the satisfaction of seeing him discomfited by her friend, and now we will go to work in earnest." He added, " Take this gneiss ; here is the illustration, here is the specimen. I want you to learn a little, Mary," he said impressively; "for 'heavenly Moll' will have to grow older, just as other earthly angels have done before her, and I wish my little girl to be a highly educated as well as a pretty woman."
There was just a tinge of reproach in Mr Clavering's tone of voice which exasperated Mrs Leppell. " He is bitten with this education craze for women," thought
SCIENCE AND CUPID. 105
she ; much good may it do him. Again Lillian threw soothing oil over the changeful chopping waves of Mrs Leppell's soul, as she declared that the very look of scientific names, especially those of geology, were enough to scare the strongest -minded female from approaching that study. "You learned folks," con- tinued Miss Fanshawe, turning towards Mr Clavering, " always expect too much from the mere outsiders of science ; ordinary mortals cannot attain knowledge by intuition. I shall horrify you dreadfully by- and-by, and then Mary will have the laugh at me."
" Let us hasten the fulfilment of that prophecy by all means," returned Mr Clavering. "Just now, I should be more than obliged if you will classify these specimens according to this list, and affix the proper labels upon them. I want them to be ready for my lecture at the School of Science at Birmingham."
" Will you have to go soon ? " inquired Mary. " I do hope you will not be away on Tuesday, for Fritz and I have been planning out a riding picnic to a place which is ' rich in geological formations,' as your scientific books have it, and where you can hammer at the places to your heart's content, as I have it."
" Much obliged ; my lecture is set down for Thurs- day in next week. I follow Professor Deepdene, who reads a paper on the Pleistocene formation. I shan't leave to hear him, for I don't agree with his views altogether," continued the young man, sententiously, "so it is not likely that Deepdene will add to my
106 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
knowledge very much, as he is obstinately wedded to his own opinion."
" Professor Deepdene ! " exclaimed Mary. " Why, Frank, I have often heard him spoken of as being one of the most scientific men of the age. Yes; he was clown here a year ago to speak at a meeting of the Margarine Society, and he stayed with those fussy gossiping Braintrees. I was so sorry for the old gen- tleman, because that impudent Sarah Braintree never rested till she dragged him all the way up the Cathe- dral tower stairs, to enjoy the view at five in the morn- ing. How I abhor that girl ! and I daresay the Professor did too ; but perhaps we do not refer to the same man."
"Yes, we do," returned Clavering, coolly. "Deep- dene is just the man to be victimised by an awful girl, because he has not the savoir /aire to evade unwelcome feminine attentions. I heard of his having been down here when I was in Etriiria, and also that he played Triton amongst the minnows with great success ; still he does not progress with the age."
" Progress with the age ! do the stones and the gneiss and the malachite progress with the age ? Ah ! " cried Mary, " it would be good for large families if the pudding-stone were to evolve into good solid pastry, apples and all. How the house- keepers would reverence pudding - stone then ! Eh, mother ? "
Mrs Leppell was approaching the trio, and Frank, in consequence, restrained an expression of impatience
SCIENCE AND CUPID. 107
which was hovering on his lips. He was silent for another reason also : it was astonishment to find that Mary was capable of apt and ready repartee.
" You are all apparently going to be busy for this lecture, I see," Mrs Leppell said ; " I only come to warn you that if any of you want a horse for the afternoon, you had better secure it now. Colonel Leppell, for some unknown reason, has lent the best horses in all directions ; but Mysie, Dick says, has been left, and one of the ponies, which either of you young ladies might ride. What do you say, Mr Clavering ? "
" Secure and ride Mysie, by all means. This will be a splendid afternoon in which to go over to Dilke's Folly. "What do you say, Moll ? I want to examine the crags there, only I am afraid it will bore you. It will be hard on you, so much ' dry work ' in one day, so name your own road."
" You never bore me," the girl answered simply ; " but I won't pretend to take an interest in what does not please me for its own sake. I won't ride this afternoon, for mother requires my help, and Dilke's Folly is newer to Lillian, and a ride is such a treat to her. Another time I will take you a ride of my own choosing, and in that direction when the gipsies camp there again, and you can have the benefit of having your fortune told into the bargain. I should like to hear a gipsy prophesying smooth things to you, Frank, out of the stones," and she rocked his shoulder gently as she spoke.
" If you were a stone, you would evolve at once into
108 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
an angel were a fairy to touch you," replied Francis, as he turned back his head and looked at this charming creature. "We will go gipsying some day, with a vengeance. Now, I would really be glad to examine these crags scientifically, so much will turn on that Birmingham lecture ; and as Miss Fanshawe is really interested in the science, I should be grateful for a fel- low-worker. • Will you honour me, Miss Fanshawe ? "
" Certainly," replied that lady, in a matter-of-fact tone ; " and you make it the more complimentary by accepting me as a substitute for Mary."
" I begin to feel as if I were a rose between two thorns," replied Mr Clavering, laughingly.
" Well, don't prick yourself any longer," exclaimed Miss Leppell ; " hear a little domestic fact. Papa and the cook had a difference of opinion this morning, and papa is on the war-path and on the other side of the county by this time, I daresay; so you will be two dear people if you will take yourselves out of the way. Mother and Clara and I must do some domestic work, for, as ill-luck will have it, the Eose Prims are coming to dinner. Mother did not like to mention this ; now, do you understand ? "
109
CHAPTEE VI.
A COUNTRY WEDDING.
" I understand that the cook has caused a revolu- tion in the establishment," Mr Clavering replied, in answer to the query which Miss Leppell had put, in so searching a manner that he felt his powers of in- tuition to be decidedly challenged ; " but which else is the matter ? "
" The Colonel, of course," replied that gentleman's daughter; " he is always 'the matter' in this household. He tramped through the kitchen this morning when the maids were at breakfast without knocking at the door, and desired cook to get some blue-stone for one of the horse's backs, and to look sharp and find it, in his usual peremptory manner, I daresay."
" ISTo doubt of that, I should imagine," remarked Colonel Leppell's intended relative with a laugh.
" Cook," went on Miss Leppell, " stuck to her seat, and informed the Colonel that she was not a black slave, and furthermore, that she was not accustomed to allow people to come into her kitchen wearing
110 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
muddy boots and spurs, and without their first knock- ing at the door for permission to enter ; whereupon papa swore at her "
" I'll be bound he did," interrupted Mr Clavering.
" Well, cook immediately gave notice of instant de- parture, adding (and this was the sting in the bee), ' In future, Colonel, I intend to live where my soul is attended to.' "
" That, after family prayers and your father's ex- poundings, was really too bad," Frank made reply. He had attended one or two of these matutinal assemblages by especial request, and had gone near to quarrel with Colonel Leppell because he held different views from that officer concerning the length of the Mosaical day. As this opinion had furnished a pretext for the Colonel to preach on the first chapter of Genesis, Mr Clavering had, as the effect of that exposition, elected to think and to speak sarcasti- cally of his future father-in-law's theology ; so he said —
"I suppose cook has never had the good fortune to be made the object of any special preachment, as I have been, consequently she may think that her soul was lost sight of entirely. But, seriously, cannot you put off the Eose Prims ? "
" Why, no," answered Mrs Leppell; "they have only lately become our tenants, and Mr Eose Prim is will- ing to allow some of that stuff which is good for horses to be sown in the fields on the little farm down near the river. This, of course, is a convenience to
A COUNTEY WEDDING. Ill
us ; but I don't think, socially, that they will be any acquisition."
"Mr Prim grunts when he speaks, and the wife makes one's back ache to look at her," quoth Mary.
" Mrs Eose Prim is an uncomfortably good woman," said Mrs Leppell. " She means well, but she has offended my children by calling this place ' Scamp Covert,' and still more deeply, by forbidding her son to play with our boys."
" That precious young Measley ! " exclaimed Dick, who had entered the room unperceived and in time to supply some valuable information.
" What about Measley ? " said Frank. " Is he a 1 prim ' in the uncomfortable sense of the word ? "
" Worse," replied Dick ; " he is a cowardly little beast. However, I got hold of him last week down at the Swallow's ford, and collared him tight."
" Did you choke the little wretch ? " asked Mary.
"No ; but I held his head close to a stone just under water till he kicked again. When he had had enough I whacked him, and made him swear by the bones of our old Ponto that we are the best-behaved family on the face of the earth, and that it is balm in Gilead to hear the governor vociferate in the hunt."
" Dick, for shame ! " exclaimed his mother ; " had I known that, I should have been very angry with you."
" But you see you didn't, ma ; and, besides, there was nobody there but our two selves. I frightened Measley properly, but I did not really hurt him ; and
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I was "ood enough to tell him that when we asked him to play with us again, he could refuse. The little beggar has been very civil ever since."
" What brings you in here at this time, Dick ? " in- quired Mary.
" Only to know about Mysie," the lad replied. " It is a whole holiday to-day, so I have nothing parti- cular to do. If any of you want Mysie, I will groom her and take her down to the laundry."
" Take her down to the laundry," repeated Mr Clavering, looking up from his specimens ; " what on earth for ? "
" Why, you see," exclaimed Master Dick, " the governor may pop back, and he may not. If he returns, the first thing he'll do will be to go at once to the stables : then if his eye falls on a decent-look- ing beast, he is safe to want it."
" What has that to do with the laundry ? " asked Frank.
" The laundry is a sort of old cottage among the laurels there, and it has a coal-place into which a moderate-sized horse will just fit. When we want to secure a beast for ourselves we take it down there, and pop a large clothes-rack full of sheets in front of the opening. Fritz knocked in a ring to tie a crea- ture to ; but a vicious mare ate up a lot of washing things one day — didn't she, ma ? "
" Yes ; and a fine state of annoyance the laundry- maid was in. I am sure the servants are very good- natured, for they put up with so much from you boys,
A COUNTRY WEDDING. 113
and never complain of you to your father," said Mrs Leppell.
" Oh, they like to be teased — at least the maids do," quoth Dick. " I wish the Colonel had not offended the cook, though, for though she did flare up at times, she always had a bit of tart or something nice to give us : but we will never keep a decent servant as long as the governor lives."
" Will you go and see after Mysie at once ? " said Mrs Leppell, with the view of cutting Master Dick's comments short. " I suppose," she continued, " the ponies are left."
" Oh yes ; pa would not condescend to look at them, so they may remain where they are. I may perhaps give them a touch," continued Dick, patronisingly, and then he went off to help the groom.
The morning hours went by ; assistance had been procured from the village, and Mrs Leppell breathed more freely.
The Colonel, happily, did not return ; and after one of those comfortable scrap -luncheons, which, if en- countered impromptu, form one of the most enjoyable of our repasts, the equestrians went forth.
Looking approvingly at the pair as they rode away, Mary Leppell thanked her stars that her friend had so decided a bent towards geology, and further, that she did not mind riding an unkempt-looking pony, and was never tired of Frank's scientific talks. So she, after standing for a moment in the porch, re-entered the house satisfied and content.
VOL. II. H
11-4 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
"What a comfort Lillian will be to me in the future," thought she.
So days and hours sped away, and then came the short-lived bustle of wedding preparations, and finally the wedding-day itself. It was a quiet, elegant affair, its great charm being that nothing was overdone, and the absence of all pretension seemed to make every- body happy and at their ease. Old Lord Hieover, at the eleventh hour, elected to be present : this, it was alleged by his son, the Colonel, was in consequence of no pressure having been brought to bear upon the Viscount concerning his opinions or intentions on the matter. " My father will come, or he will stay away, just as it may please him," Ealph had said to his wife ; " he has had a respectful invitation, and there's an end of it. But I forbid you or Mary to write again, or make it a matter of the slightest consequence whether the Viscount puts in an appearance or not."
"Mary had, a very nice letter from your brother Alick only last night," said Mrs Leppell, " apprising her that a parcel is on the way here containing her wedding-present from him. He seems to be very unwell, and I think he is really sorry he cannot be present at the wedding."
The gift arrived in the shape of a magnificent lace veil, and within the packet was a little fancy purse containing fifty sovereigns. " Now, after this," Willina Clavering had remarked, "never do you call your uncle mean or close-fisted." Mary laughed and sighed, and finally wore the veil with her bridal attire, to the
A COUNTRY WEDDING. 115
immense delight, as she afterwards was informed, of Uncle Alick, the donor.
The Viscount did come, as has been stated, and brought a handsome silver tea-service in his train for the bride. The old gentleman was greatly delighted at his own perspicacity in being the first of the family to seek the acquaintance of Mr Clavering, and he took care to make Mr Glascott aware of the fact. " Saw from the first, sir," he averred to that gentleman, — " saw from the first what was in Mr Clavering : recog- nised his talent, and made a point — a special point — of having him at Hieover, sir. A rising man, sir — will make his own way in the world ; and, above all, he will bring- practical ideas into the family."
And then he turned to lovely Mary, as she came to greet him in affection and duty, before she was led out from her father's house to be made a wife. " 0 grandpapa ! " she exclaimed, " what a pleasant surprise you have given me ! I am so glad to see you, — my wedding will now be quite perfect. I am so happy now."
It was a pretty sight, the bride standing on the landing-place in the sheen of satin and the shimmer of pearl, extending her arms to the old man, and the bridesmaids trooping from out the chamber behind her, all clad in innocent white, to which their own fair young beauty lent an additional charm. Lillian Fanshawe, unusually pale, but with a presence that was almost imperial, was looking her very best, and stood in fine relief to Willina Clavering, in whom
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pleasure and satisfaction showed themselves in the rich red of her smiling lips, and the soft healthy tinge of her cheek. Then the little troop of Leppell sisters, small and large, radiant in the good looks which, the tradition of many years informs us, were bestowed by the beneficent fairies for ever on all the race of the house of Hieover, and to which satin ribbons and muslin dress and sweet blush-roses lent their added charm, contributed a most effective body-guard.
Nor would it be fair to pass over the dogs' part in the family grouping : for at Hunter's Lodge these people — yes, they are people — formed a very com- ponent item in the establishment. They were there loved for their own sake, just as so many of us like them for sake's sake ; and in that home they sym- pathised in the joys and mourned the sorrows of their owners, just because the opportunity to do so was afforded them, and therefore these persons were to be remembered on Mary's wedding-day.
The redoubtable bull -terrier pup careered in the flower-beds, arrayed in a white satin ruff which had been stitched upon him, and which he was popularly supposed to have devoured half an hour after his toilet had been completed, and when he had re- ceived the last finishing -touch from Dick Leppell's hair-brush. The ruff was never seen again; but what did it matter ? he was so happy. " He knows all about it," quoth the lad ; " he knows it's Mary's wedding- day, bless you ! "
Then the Skye-terrier, who also knew all about it,
A COUNTRY WEDDING. 117
was outfitted with a white satin bow as big as a pan- cake, and stood half the day besides on his hind legs, begging for the bridal cake which nauseated him ; and the great collie-dog, with her dear soft eyes, was al- lowed for the first time in her life to walk up-stairs to visit "our heavenly Moll," and to be made lucky for ever from the first pat of a girl in her wedding- dress — when the sun was shining fair.
Very trivial, and very small, these innocent conceits may appear to some of us ; but oh, when the sharp rain of disappointment pelts its hail into our cup of life, and when the chilling mists of disillusion breathe their tarnish on the golden bowl, then do these little incidents return to remembrance : and if the wedding- day must be recalled as the first act of a lifelong mistake, be assured that, even amid regrets and tears, these fond conceits will evoke a smile, and go far, perhaps, to soften the bitterness which blighted pros- pects may have unconsciously called forth.
And, after all, we are mostly very jealous and very tender of those conceits which are purely the emana- tions of a great love towards ourselves. Mary Leppell never forgot the trouble the boys had taken to get the family pets trimmed up for her wedding-day. Every horse in the stable, too, underwent an extra grooming, and there was general rejoicing inside and outside the gates of Hunter's Lodge ; and even poor stricken Lady Asher struggled up from her pillows, and insisted upon being covered with some kind of festive array.
" I am not going to resign my place," said the
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Viscount to the Colonel, as he conducted his grand- daughter to the foot of the staircase where Balph was standing to receive her. " Let me take the child to church," the old man continued, in a beseeching tone ; " I have a fancy to do so. Remember it was at Hieover that these young people first met, — I intro- duced Mr Clavering myself to Mary."
Colonel Leppell hesitated a moment : in his heart of hearts he very much objected to bestow his daughter on Mr Clavering, for he disliked the match, and he disliked the connection fully as much. The whole thing and its manner of coming about was repugnant to him, and he had only yielded, as we know, from force of circumstances.
His hesitation proceeded partly from surprise, partly also from some apprehension as to how this would ap- pear in the eyes of the world, and of Mr Glascott. A moment's reflection, however, decided him on the last point: he would get Adelaide to tell the latter that he could not find it in his heart to refuse an old man, and his own father, a gratification upon which he was resolutely bent.
Mr Glascott would appreciate filial respect — which was true enough; and he would also appreciate the Viscount's offices in giving Miss Leppell to his cousin — which was untrue enough : all that Mr Glascott really cared for was that Francis Clavering should obtain the wife of his choice, by respectable means of course, and in the conventional manner of society in general — that was enough for him.
A COUNTRY WEDDING. 119
" Do, papa," said Mary ; " and mamma will be so pleased if you will give your arm to her. Then you can walk next after us, and it will be all the same thincr."
This was arranged, and the procession set forth, filing through the garden, down the meadow, afoot, for it would have been affectation to have had carriages for so short a distance, and in the glorious weather, moreover, of midsummer- day.
Marcia La Touche's rich dress of pea -green silk, whereon was depicted a lattice-work upon which climbed gorgeous birds of every shape and hue, formed a brilliant contrast to the simple colours and white dresses adopted by the younger ladies, and provided at the same time a curious ornithological study to Mr Glascott, who walked behind her, conveying Mrs Canon Braintree on his arm.
That lady was arrayed in violet silk, and looked well ; but she had her troubles in a vain attempt to reduce to order a peculiarly unmanageable feather, which art had placed in her bonnet, but which nature, in an unhandsome freak, would persist in sweeping over her brow and occasionally dipping into her eye.
Mrs Braintree, goaded to desperation, at length bent the ornament in twain, and so it hung at the side of her head, with that unhappy expression which a damaged feather, in whatever form, always manages to present to the gaze of a beholder. However, it did not signify, as no human being living had ever known
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Mrs Braintree in a perfect toilet, although her raiment was generally good of its kind, and she spent more money upon it than did many a fashionable woman of her standing and pretensions.
Percival La Touche, carefully excluded, through Miss Clavering's management, from the ranks of bride-men and bride-maids, escorted Miss Braintree, at which arrangement neither of the pair seemed to be par- ticularly well pleased. However, they had the consol- ation of knowing that this forced propinquity was not for life, and they therefore accepted the situation as their trial pace, previous to a ceremony in which each of them hoped and intended to act as principal performer at no distant date.
The church is at length reached, and Mr Clavering advances with his groomsman to meet the procession. He is perfectly composed and self-possessed, and has given his companion a mauvais quart -dlwure, by claiming that gentleman's undivided attention to a plan of warming the church by means of an apparatus of his own invention. The groomsman, who much preferred to scan the pretty village girls who crowded the gallery to see the ceremony, had little inclination to observe where a stove might be placed, or where a hot-air pipe might be run up, and was particularly delighted when the sexton (who had been listening to the propositions) burst out with : " Lord bless 'ee, sir ! we should ha' the whole place alight like a brick-kiln. This church ain't going to perish by fire — no, no ; a's sinking down gradual in the earth,
A COUNTRY WEDDING. 121
and Passon Vane says as how a's already three feet below the proper level."
" This is a very old church, is it not ? " inquired the groomsman.
" A is, sir ; a was built in the reign of Eichard the Second, and was dedicated to St Lawrence — the grid- iron saint, sir, as likely you knows. But here they comes. Now then, all on ye stand quiet " (addressing the people in the gallery) ; " and you, Mr Carter " (ad- dressing the schoolmaster), "please strike up a jyful song of praise as soon as you sees the first on 'em come in."
As Mr Carter was behind the little organ, which was tall and thin in its construction, a small boy was told off to make the necessary investigation, and in another minute the whoop of this young gentleman made it apparent that the time had arrived when the "jyful" strain should peal forth ; and it did peal forth with all the " timbre " that the performer could com- mand.
" A thanksgiving for getting a husband," observed one of the girls in the gallery to her friend ; " maybe it will bring us luck, for lovers are so scarce. Who knows ? "
A slight bustle ; a little marshalling and ordering ; then deep silence, and Mr Fane, without any ex- traneous assistance, performed the rite which made these two — Francis Clavering and Mary Leppell — man and wife. It was remarked that during the whole ceremony the Colonel remained mute and
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almost motionless, and that when it was concluded he made no attempt to salute his daughter. Mrs Leppell, not knowing very well what to do, did not venture to move towards the vestry; and Lillian Fanshawe, usually so self-possessed and so ready to meet every emergency, stood still, looking at the newly married pair, shaking in every limb, and her face drawn in a deadly pallor. At that moment she could not have moved had her life depended on it.
The common - sense of Mrs Braintree here acted most usefully. She advanced towards the bride, and, taking her hand, led her to her mother.
Their embrace was the signal for a universal move, and Ealph, recovering himself, shook hands with Mr Clavering and then with Mr Glascott. After the customary business of signing the register in the vestry, the procession returned to the house, and the wedding-breakfast took place forthwith.
This feast went off with great hilarity. The speeches, as had been stipulated beforehand, were delightfully brief, and the Colonel was charmed when Mr Glascott, in proposing the health of Viscount Hieover and that of all his family, dexterously introduced the name of that absent member, Marmaduke Leppell, to public recognition.
The Viscount responded to the toast, and remarked that as Marmaduke was at that moment paying the penalty for his indiscretion in the matter of his own marriage, by an enforced absence at the bidding of the law, it would be worse than unkind if he and the
A COUNTEY WEDDING. 123
company then present omitted to offer him their good wishes for the future. " We are none of us perfect," the Viscount continued, benevolently, " and on an oc- casion like this, we are all, I think, naturally led to palliate the mistakes of the absent, and those of the young more especially."
Thus the health of Mr and Mrs Marmaduke Lep- pell was drank with all the honours.
Ealph, although agitated by secret annoyance, which the presence of Mr Glascott considerably increased, certainly drew a good augury from this speech. It proved to him that whatever the Viscount might choose to do or say against Marmaduke in private, he was not the man to depreciate his own kith and kin on a public occasion like the present — for public it might be considered, as several acquaintances from Yarne and the neighbourhood, who were not included in the invitation to the marriage ceremony, were pre- sent at the breakfast.
As the state of Lady Asher's health precluded the possibility of a dance, it had been settled, at the eleventh hour, that a picnic to the neighbouring castle of Barkholme and its woods would be a capital en- tertainment wherewith to conclude the programme of the day ; and as the newly married pair were bound for Paris, and the train-service demanded early de- parture, the travelling-carriage was at the door at one o'clock precisely.
The bride went to see Lady Asher as soon as her travelling-dress was donned, and in the privacy of her
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grandmother's apartment did Mary take a fond and affectionate leave of her mother, comforting her with the assurance that she was really happy, and bidding her to abstain from all anxiety on her account. " Frank is not very demonstrative, I know," the girl said ; " but it is his nature, and perhaps that is better than a great show of affection at first."
Mrs Leppell replied that this was quite true ; and after a kiss to grandmamma, the rest of the adieux were made, and the travelling-carriage of Mr and Mrs Clavering disappeared through the gates of Hunter's Lodge.
Now all was hurry and bustle for the picnic, for the remains of the bridal feast were partly to furnish the cold baked meats of the next entertainment. The excitement of getting the carriages in order, and filling them suitably, was an agreeable diversion to Colonel Leppell, and the prospect of driving his coach, and handling the wildest team in the county, raised his spirits considerably. Mrs Leppell was to remain at home and take care of her mother ; whilst Prothero, and the nurses, and the babies, should preside at a high tea given in the village to every one who might choose to attend it.
Lord Hieover, on leaving, gave a handsome sum for this purpose, and taking the Colonel aside, he presented him with a cheque for one hundred pounds, expressing himself at the same time highly satisfied with the manner in which everything had been conducted. " ISTo outrageous show, no absurd expense, quite the proper
A COUNTRY WEDDING. 125
thing for a daughter who is marrying a simple gentle- man. I am very much pleased."
So also was his grandson Dick, who received a pat on the head and the gift of a guinea. It was a sight to see Dick in the clog-cart with two other choice spirits, and the stable dogs, Flames and Blazer, career- ing up and down the highroad, all impatience to take the lead of the picnic procession as soon as the won- derful coach could be proclaimed ready for business.
It took some time, but eventually that risky vehicle was announced to be in starting condition. It cer- tainly seemed to be a foolhardy proceeding on the part of those who occupied it, to venture with such un- broken cattle ; but Colonel Leppell's driving was re- nowned, and by a special providence, apparently, he never had come to grief.
It was therefore to his great delight that the " crack " was rilled both inside and out, and all appre- hensions as to safety cast to the winds.
Percival La Touche, who had hitherto played a secondary part in the programme of the day, now thought that the time was come when he should assert himself. He and Marcia had engaged a nice carriage with a good pair of chestnuts, which was retained for the picnic, and Mr La Touche was much exercised as to how he should induce Miss Clavering to take a seat in that conveyance.
Mr G-lascott's carriage was rapidly being converted into a huge pigeon-pie or sardine-box, by reason of a crowd of very young people having seized it, with the
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declaration that the owner had offered the use of it to each and every one of them ; and a fine noise and good-humoured wrangle was the consequence of this wholesale piece of generosity. This was just what Percival wanted. Miss Clavering surely could. not occupy her guardian's carriage with all that crowd ! He therefore desired Marcia to offer the vacant seat in their own carriage to Willina, and to be quick about it.
" Miss Fanshawe, you mean ? " said Marcia, who, all unconscious of her nephew's latest predilection, fan- cied that he had inadvertently confused the names.
" No, no ! " replied Percival, sharply ; " allow me to know my own mind. Go and ask Miss Clavering, and . be quick about it, or she will be snapped up by the party in Lord "Willows' trap."
Marcia did not venture a second remark, and was preparing to do as she was bid, when Mr Glascott suddenly stood near them. At the same moment a happy thought seized Percival. " Nothing like going to the fountain-head," said he — " nothing like it ; " and in a moment, with hat in hand, Percival preferred his request to Mr Glascott. The latter, taken as he was by surprise, could not well decline this civility.
" Oh, certainly, much obliged — that is, if she is not already bespoken," said Mr Glascott, answering for his cousin. " Perhaps you will be good enough to ascertain for yourself, as I must arrange matters a little in my own vehicle. Willina," he continued, as he perceived Miss Clavering, " Mr La Touche is good enough to
A COUNTRY WEDDING. 127
offer you a seat in his carriage with his aunt, and a —a "
* Harold Fanshawe," cut in Percival, as he remarked that youth retire in contempt, and disgust from Mr Glascott's vehicle, and saw that he was seeking more congenial company.
" Very nice," said Mr Glascott, who was pleased, for "VVillina's sake, that she would not be obliged to endure Mr La Touche wholly without some kind of mas- culine alloy ; so he continued, waxing benevolent —
" Mr La Touche's proposition is really very oppor- tune, and we are much beholden to him for it. Our own carriage is certainly in the hands of the Philis- tines, and I am sure you will enjoy the drive with a smaller party." So saying, Mr Glascott walked away, and left his cousin to Percival's escort.
He, meanwhile, had by means of telegraphic signals brought Harold Fanshawe towards his carriage, and intimated to that youth that he was to get in, and place himself opposite Miss La Touche. Harold did so, nothing loth ; and as Willina had no other alterna- tive but to accept the La Touche politeness with a good grace, she stepped without demur into the place allotted to her, and very shortly afterwards the whole corthge was on the move for the fair woods of Bark- holme.
Miss Clavering naturally looked about to see what had become of Mr Glascott, and was pleased when she descried him comfortably ensconced in the carriage of Canon Braintree, under the wing of the wife of that
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dignitary, and Miss Fanshawe occupying the fourth seat in their vehicle. Lillian had ceded her place in Lord Willows' waggonette, which was supposed to be especially reserved for the bridesmaids, to Miss Braintree.
On perceiving this substitution, both Marcia and Willina jumped to a conclusion which, as it happened, was utterly erroneous. They elected to believe that this was a manoeuvre on the part of Miss Braintree to improve her acquaintance with the noble driver of the waggonette, whereas the contrary was the case, as Miss Fanshawe, having her own reasons for preferring the quiet society occupying Canon Braintree's vehicle, had suggested the exchange, which of course the Canon's daughter was delighted to accept, offering as it did so much more amusement and excitement. Miss Fanshawe alleged a severe headache as the reason for making the request, and thus laid low any surmises that Sarah Braintree may have in- dulged in as to her having made this proposition at the very last moment.
Mr La Touche also looked into this vehicle, and had Miss Clavering chanced to observe him at the moment, she would have wondered what made him smile in such ironical fashion. The expression was merely momentary ; but it left Percival satisfied in his own mind that he had discovered the embryo of a secret, which, when developed, might possibly affect the des- tiny of more than one life. With the conviction that this day must decide his own fate for wife and dowry,
A COUNTRY WEDDING. 129
he turned, pleasantly, to the ladies. His deferential manner and sparkling conversation allured Miss Clavering out of the reserve in which she had in- tended to entrench herself ; whilst it delighted his aunt, and caused Harold Fanshawe to open both his mouth and his eyes, and maintain that dead silence which is generally declared to be the normal condi- tion of the stock-fish.
VOL. II.
130
CHAPTER VII.
THE FAIR WOODS OF BARKHOLME.
At length the procession arranged itself and was soon beyond the village of Yarne. It was amid the love- liest scenery of fair England that it made its way, — down mossy lanes, shaded by great trees which bore almost every tint that foliage can acquire, as they stood out grandly in the rich apparel of the leafy month of June.
Here and there a broad expanse of upland, bor- dered by a dark line of distant forest, which served as an enclosure to the ruddy ripening grain, enabled the party to meet together for a time, and to separate thankfully into the cool glens through which ran tiny streamlets watering the wealth of wild flowers which literally carpeted the ground. All was so fair and so sweet, — the glorious sunshine — the distant hazy veil of blue vapour, deepening in the far horizon to the richest purple — the air pierced as it were with subtle fragrant scent, — that it was no wonder that Dick Leppell should declare that he never in his
THE FAIR WOODS OF BARKHOLME. 131
life had known so magnificent a midsummer day ; and that Canon Braintree should fall fast asleep, chanted into the land of forgetfulness by the lazy murmur of distant brooks and the prolonged coo of the wood-pigeons and doves, challenged as these were by the wail of the widow - bird — that vox humana of sorrow — interspersing the monotony of calm content.
Canon Braintree sleeps, and his wife improves the shining hour. The situation was advantageous, for there were occasions in which the lady believed that she advanced the interests of her calling without the co-operation of her spouse. He was all very well in his place, and was no doubt eminently useful as a referee, but sometimes he spoilt enterprise by asking untimely questions, and by making uncalled-for re- marks. It was in the fine work of ecclesiastical busi- ness, Mrs Canon Braintree concluded to think, that her husband was not quite up to the mark ; and so it is with satisfaction that she hears him snore, and resolves to ask Mr Glascott for a subscription for the Dorcas Society of Yarne.
Had the Canon been awake, he would doubtless have considered it an unfair advantage to invite a man into his carriage, and having got him there, to open upon him with a request for money, for any object however laudable: he would have probably winked disapprobation, and would have perhaps opined with King Solomon that there was a time and a place for all things.
132 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
Mrs Braintree held that there was no time like the present time, according to the adage ; and acting on this conviction, she at once made her application, ton- ing it down with the assurance to Mr Glascott that she knew how delighted he would be to make a thank- offering for the blessings of the day.
Mr Glascott, who had made offerings enough in one shape or another, did not seem, at first, to meet this proposition with very hearty goodwill. Further dis- covery, however, convinced that gentleman that Mrs Braintree scrupulously restricted her advocacy to the claims of present and visible British misery, to the utter exclusion of unfeasible plans for African conver- sion a la hdte, or to the habilitation of the Patagonian in the flannel vest of respectability. Two guineas would let him off cheaply, and he therefore promised that amount. It was less than Mrs Braintree had ex- pected, but she wisely concealed her opinion, and registered the sum as a yearly subscription from Mr Glascott of Brydone, Island of Jersey.
It was highly satisfactory to think that the " thank- offering" would thus repeat itself for many years to come.
This business being concluded, Mrs Braintree sets her wits to work in another direction, for the benefit of her order, as she sometimes expressed it : a slight incident had suggested the idea, and she now thinks she must fulfil the Christian duty of turning Miss Fan- shawe into a well-endowed county woman. The material was present, and she would utilise the same ; no time
THE FAIR WOODS OF BARKHOLME. 133
like the present time, — for the Canon, like most sen- sible men, was averse to match - making, and still snored.
' The incident which attracted Mrs Braintree's atten- tion was this. Just as she had registered Mr Glas- cott's subscription, the carriage containing the La Touche party came up close to the side of her bar- ouche, and as it did so, she saw Lillian Fanshawe cast a glance at one of its inmates, of such peculiar expres- sion, that the good woman was convinced she had sur- prised a dart of furious jealousy in full flight.
The face of the young lady, which during the whole day had been unusually pale, was at that moment suffused with a crimson flush ; and a steady anger, at the same time, gleamed in her eyes.
Mrs Braintree could not quite satisfy herself as to whether it was towards Miss Clavering or towards Mr La Touche that the look was directed ; but she had seen enough to be assured that it was one, or perhaps both, of these individuals who had excited displeasure in her young friend's mind, — a displeasure so deep that the latter, apparently, made no sort of effort to control its outward expression — the habitual composure of her manner having quite deserted her. The girl, in fact, literally trembled.
At that moment an opinion rushed through the mind of the Canon's wife, and it took a very peremptory form. Mr La Touche must be secured for Miss Fan- shawe ; the daughters of clergymen nowadays must marry money ; Mr La Touche is the friend of the
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Fanshawes ; it is through the introduction by that family that he has become acquainted with the Leppells, and is here at all; the gentleman is not, by all accounts, one whom it is desirable to ally with the Church ; however, his fortune is large, and with a clergyman's daughter for wife, the manipula- tion of money would be advantageous to the clerical world.
So thinking, and so determining, Mrs Braintree proceeded to render herself agreeable to the La Touche party ; woke up the Canon, with the view of making him back up an invitation to dinner which she gave to Marcia and Percival for the following day, under the impression, real or assumed, that they were not immediately on the return to London.
Here Mrs Braintree's hospitality was of no avail ; for although Marcia seemed disposed to accept the courtesy offered, a sharp admonitory touch of the foot by her nephew quickly changed the current of her views, and she stated that both she and Mr La Touche were engaged in town for the evening of the morrow. Percival, for his part, testified his deep regret, but hoped on some happy occasion to see Canon and Mrs Braintree at Hinton Square.
So that device fell through. But the Canon's wife in most respects was a woman of resource, and in con- sequence she managed by some jugglery to mix the occupants of the two carriages in a general conversa- tion; and Miss Fanshawe, now herself again, talked vigorously with Marcia, and amongst other light in-
THE FAIR WOODS OF BARKHOLME. 135
quiries, she demanded of Percival, with some signifi- cance possibly, what had become of his brother Ste- phen, and how it was that he was not then present, he being such a favourite with all, and with the bride especially ?
" Ah, indeed ! " exclaimed Mr Glascott, following up the inquiry. " I thought I missed somebody, — very gentlemanly, good-looking man your brother, sir. I have scarcely seen him, but our slight acquaintance has left a very pleasant remembrance on my part." This to Percival, by way of compliment to that gentleman.
Now this was the particular subject which had per- plexed the mind of Miss Clavering for many hours ; and if the truth must be told, the absence of Stephen La Touche had very much militated against the pleas- ure of the day, as far as she was personally concerned. She believed that a formal invitation had been sent to that gentleman amongst others who were bid to the marriage-feast, and it was natural that she should feel some surprise at his non-appearance, and be at a loss to understand why his absence should not have been remarked by any of the Leppell family.
Her astonishment was further augmented as she re- membered that, when she was in London with Mary for the purpose of buying bridal finery, and had during that fortnight seen something of the La Touche family in the aggregate, it seemed lien entendu on all sides that Mr Stephen La Touche was to be a guest at Hunter's Lodge on Midsummer-day.
136 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
It was therefore with some interest that Miss Clavering listened to the response of Mr La Touche to the direct question which Miss Fanshawe had put.
Percival's reply was curt enough, although he red- dened a little, and looked somewhat discomposed as he gave it tongue.
"My brother has had no regular invitation," said he ; " besides, he is overwhelmed with business, owing to the long holiday he had taken before."
Here Marcia must needs chime in with the informa- tion that her nephew was very busy with the affairs of a rich widow, whom