And not your mother? asked Cecil.
I dont think she was at home, said Anne.
Then had you a Presbyterian Kirk? asked Cecil, remembering that in Scotland gentle blood and Anglicanism did not go together as uniformly as she believed them to do in England.
There was one at Schneyders Kloof, but that was Dutch.
Then did you go nowhere? asked Cecil.
There was Mr. Pilgrims.
A clergyman?
No, a settler. He used to pray and expound every Sunday.
What does he call himself? said Cecil, growing more severe.
I dont know, said Anne. He gathers together a little flock of all denominations, who only care to hear the word.
Such a voice in the wilderness as often does good service, said Julius, with a perception that the side with which he least agreed best deserved support.
He and Rosamond were bent on a tour of parochial inspection, as were Raymond and Cecil on a more domestic one, beginning with the gardens.
Cecil was the first lady down-stairs, all in claret colour trimmed with gray fur, with a little fur and velvet cap upon her head.
There! it is a clear morning, and you can see the view, said Raymond, opening the hall door.
Very prettily undulating ground, she said, standing on the steps, and looking over a somewhat rapid slope scattered with trees to the opposite side of the valley, where a park with a red mansion in the midst gleamed out among woods of green, red, orange, and brown tints. How you are shut in! That great Spanish chestnut must be a perfect block when its leaves are out. My father would never let it stand so near the house.
It is too near, but it was planted at the birth of my mothers brother.
Who died?
Yes, at seven years old. It was her first grief.
Then it would vex her if you cut it.
Raymond laughed. It is hers, not mine.
I forgot. There was a good deal in the tone; but she added, What is that place opposite?
Sirenwood. It belongs to Sir Harry Vivian; but he does not live there.
Yes, he does, said Cecil. Your brothers say he has come back with his two daughters.
There is only one unmarried.
There is a widow come to keep house for himLady Tyrrell.
Very likely, said Raymond; my mother only writes with difficulty, so I hear little when I am from home.
Is it true that they are horrid people, very dissipated, and not fit for me to associate with?
That is putting it strongly, said Raymond, quietly. They are not likely to be very desirable acquaintances for you, but there is no reason you should not associate with them on ordinary terms of courtesy.
Ah! I understandas members wife.
I dont see what that has to do with it, said Raymond. Ah! Rosamond! as she came down in a Galway cloak over her black velveteen, on the way to view your domain?
Yes, and yours, she said, nodding to Cecil. You appreciate such English apple-pie order. It looks as if you never suffered a stray leaf to dance without an old woman to hunt it down. And whats that red house smiling across the valley?
Sirenwood, repeated Raymond; then to Julius he said, Did you know it was inhabited again?
Frank said so, answered Julius, without further remark, giving his arm to his wife, who clasped both hands on it; while the other couple looked on as if doubtful whether this were a trying duty incumbent on them.
What is it all about? said Rosamond, as they walked down the avenue of walnuts leading to the iron gates in the opposite direction from Sirenwood. Which of you was that womans victim? Was it a sailor love of Miless? I hope not! That poor little African might not stand a gay ghost cropping up again.
Miles is far removed from the conventional sailor.
Then it is reduced to the grave Raymond.
I wish I had betrayed nothing.
Now you may as well proceed to betray the rest, instead of leaving me to exercise my fancy.
It is no secret, only such things are best not brought up again. Camilla Vivian was poor Raymonds grande passion, and you may imagine what a grief that was to my mother, especially as the poor brother was then livingone of the most fascinating, dangerous men I ever saw; and the whole tone of the place was ultra gay and thoughtless, the most reckless extravagance. However, he was set upon it, and my mother was forced to consent to the engagement. She seemed equally devoted to him, till she met Lord Tyrrell at some country house, and then a quarrel was picked, either by her mother or herself, about my mother retaining the headship of her own house. It was a palpable excuse, but it served to break the affair off, and Raymond was cruelly cut up. My mother made herself everything to him from that moment, gave up all her former habits to be with him, sent the little boys to school, and fairly dragged him through the trouble!
How long ago was it?
Ten yearsyes, ten years. So far as ceasing to care a straw for a heartless woman like that, he has got over it, no doubt; but it has made a graver man of him for life, and I doubt whether, but for my mothers accident, he ever would have married.
Did you marry for your mothers sake, Julius, or only tell her so?
For shame, my Lady Mischief!
And do you think the fair Camilla returned with plans that she finds disconcerted?
How can I tell? I have not seen her since I was a lad of eighteen.Ah! how dye do, Betty? in a tone of relief; youve not seen my wife.
This was the first of a long series of introductions. Compton Poynsett was a straggling village, with the church, schools, and Rectory, ten minutes walk from the park gates. It had not been neglected, so that Julius had not the doubtful satisfaction of coming like a missionary or reformer. The church, though not exactly as with his present lights he would have made it, was in respectable order, and contained hardly anything obnoxious to his taste; the schools were well built, properly officered, and the children under such discipline that Rosamond declared she could no more meddle with them than with her fathers regiment.
The Rectory was at that moment level with the ground, and Julius explaining the plans, when up came the senior curate. Mr. Bindon, whom she, as well as Julius, greeted as an old friend, was the typical modern priest, full of his work, and caring for nothing besides, except a Swiss mountain once a year; a slight, spare, small, sallow man, but with an enormous power of untiring energy.
Scarcely had Rosamond shaken hands with him, standing where her drawing-room rug was to be in future days, when a merry whistle came near, and over the wall from the churchyard leapt first a black retriever, secondly a Skye terrier, thirdly a bull ditto, fourthly a young man, or rather an enormous boy, who for a moment stood amazed and disconcerted at the unexpectedly worshipful society into which he had jumped!
Ha! Herbert! is that you? laughed Julius.
I beg your pardon! he breathlessly exclaimed. I was just taking the short cut! I had no ideaHere, Mungo, you ruffian! as the Skye was investigating Lady Rosamonds boot.
Oh, I like him of all things! I am glad to welcome you to our future house! as she held out her hand to the Reverend Herbert Bowater, the junior curate, a deacon of a fortnights standing, whose round open happy blue eyes, ruddy cheeks, merry lips, and curly light hair, did not seem in keeping with the rigidly straight collar and waistcoat, and the long black coat, at present plentifully streaked with green tree-moss, while his boots and trousers looked as if they had partaken of the mud-bath which his dogs had evidently been wallowing in.
Ha! Herbert! is that you? laughed Julius.
I beg your pardon! he breathlessly exclaimed. I was just taking the short cut! I had no ideaHere, Mungo, you ruffian! as the Skye was investigating Lady Rosamonds boot.
Oh, I like him of all things! I am glad to welcome you to our future house! as she held out her hand to the Reverend Herbert Bowater, the junior curate, a deacon of a fortnights standing, whose round open happy blue eyes, ruddy cheeks, merry lips, and curly light hair, did not seem in keeping with the rigidly straight collar and waistcoat, and the long black coat, at present plentifully streaked with green tree-moss, while his boots and trousers looked as if they had partaken of the mud-bath which his dogs had evidently been wallowing in.
Off! off! were his words, as he shook hands with his rectoress. Get away, Rollo! with an energetic shove of the foot to the big dog, who was about to shake his dripping coat for the ladies special benefit. I saw you arrive last evening, he said, in the conversational tone of a gentlemanly school-boy; didnt you find it very cold?
Not very. I did not see you, though.
He was organizing the cheers, said Mr. Bindon. You shone in that, Bowater. They kept such good time.
You were very good to cheer us at all, said Julius, coming in the wake of the Squire as we did.
The best of it was, said the junior, that Charlie was so awfully afraid that he and poor Miless wife would be taken for the Squire, that he dashed in on his way to warn me to choke them off. If she hadnt been ill, I must have set the boys on for a lark! How is she, though? he asked in a really kind tone.
She looks very ill, poor thing, said Julius.
Here the bull terrier became assiduous in his attentions to Rosamond; and between his masters calls and apologies, and her caresses and excuses, not much more was heard, till Julius asked with mock gravity, And are these all youve brought over, Herbert?
Yes, all; Id half a mind to bring the two greyhounds, but my father thought they would get into trouble in the preserves, and there isnt room at Mrs. Hornblowers place, he answered, with apologetic simplicity.
What a pity Durham has been reduced! said Mr. Bindon, dryly. It would have been the right preferment for Bowater. The Bishop was obliged by statute to keep a pack of hounds.
But, sir, expostulated the deacon, turning to the Rector, colouring all over his honest rosy face, you dont object! You know, of course, Ive given up sport, he added ruefully; but only just as companions!Aint you, Rollo? he added, almost with tears in his eyes, and a hand on the smooth black head, belonging to such a wise benignant face, that Rosamond was tempted to pronounce the dog the more clerical looking of the two.
You are very welcome, said Julius, laughing, provided you can manage with the old womens cats. I should find such companions rather awkward in pastoral visits.
Ill teach them, sir! You may depend on it! We did have a little flare-up yesterday, but I showed them the sense of it. You might teach those dogs anything!Ha! what then, Tartar! Halloo, Mungo! Rats, rats, rats!
A prodigious scratching and snorting was audible in what had been a cellar of the quondam Rectory; and Rollo, becoming excited, dashed up to the scene of action, with a deep bass war-cry, while, to Rosamonds great amusement, rats was no less a peal to Rector and senior; and for the next quarter of an hour the three clergymen moved bricks, poked with their sticks, and cheered on the chase till the church clock struck one, the masons began to return from dinner, and the sounds of the bell at the Hall recalled the party to order.
There, Rose! Our first day! said Julius, aghast.
Youd better come to lunch at my rooms, said the young curate, eagerly. Do! Mother has brought the jolliest hamper! Game-pie, and preserved magnum-bonums, and pears off the old jargonelle.Come, Lady Rosamond, do.Come along, Bindon! Theres such a dish of damson-cheese! Do!
That do, between insinuation and heartiness, was so boyish, that it was quite irresistible to the lady, who consented eagerly, while Julius wrote a word or two on a card, which he despatched to the Hall by the first child he encountered. In a few minutes they reached the nice clean bay-windowed room over the village shop, comically like an undergraduates, in spite of the mothers and sisters recent touches.
There ensued a resolute quieting of the dogs, and a vigorous exertion of hospitality, necessitating some striding up and down stairs, and much shouting to Mrs. Hornblower and her little niece, who rejoiced in the peculiar name of Dilemma; while Rosamond petted Tartar upon her lap, and the two elder clergymen, each with an elbow against the window-frame and a knee on the seat, held council, based on the Rectors old knowledge of the territory and the curates recent observations during his five weeks sojourn.
The plans to be put in force next week were arranged during the meal, and the junior observed that he would walk home to-night and back on Saturday evening, since after that he should be tied pretty fast.
And he started with Julius and Rosamond on their further progress, soon, however, tumbling over another stone wall with all his dogs, and being only heard hallooing to them as they yelped after the larks.
That is a delicious boy! said Rosamond, laughing merrily. A nice fellowbut we mustnt make it a custom to be always going in to partake of his hampers, or we shall prey inordinately on Mrs. Bowaters preserves.
He was just like the hero of
Oh, I have a plum-cake,
And a rare feast Ill make.
I do like a boy with a sweet tooth!
Like him! Of course I do. The Bowaters are like ones own kindred! I only hope I shall not spoil him.
Hasnt his mother done that for you?
I wish he had spent a year or two at Cuddesdon! I ought to have seen him before consenting to give him a title at once, but his father and Jenny wished it so much. Ah! come in here. Bindon said Lucy Martin was a case for a lady.
Rosamonds hearty good-nature was much more at ease among ailing old women than prim school-children, and she gave great satisfaction in the cottages.
Julius did not of course come as a stranger, and had a general impression as to names and families; but he had been absent, except on short visits, for five years, so that Rosamond declared that this was a staple of his conversation: Then it was Tom Deaneno, it was John Deane that married Blakes sonno, it was Blakes daughter that died who is living in the next house.
They finished with a long and miry lane, lying along the valley, and leading to the cottages of a little clan, the chief of whom seemed to be a large-boned lively-eyed old dame, who, after minute inquiries after the Lady Poynsett, went on, And be it true, Master Julius, as that young gentleman of Squire Bowaters is one of your passons?
Julius admitted the fact.
And be ye going to put he up in the pulpit to preach to we? Pon my word of honour, says I to Sally when her telled I, we shall have little Dick out of the infant-school next!
Were all young, Betty! Cant you put up with any one that is not older than yourself! Im afraid he would hardly be able to get up the pulpit stair.
The Rectors reply delighted Betty; but she returned to the charge. No, no, sir, I be coming to hear ye next Sunday. Sally have turned my black bonnet a purpose. It be one of the Lady Poynsetts, as her gave I when my old gentleman was took two years after the Squirewhen bonnets was bonnets, you know, maam. Now tell me true, be ye to preach morning or arternoon, sir?