The Ordeal of Richard Feverel. Complete - George Meredith 6 стр.

On the day preceding poor Toms doomed appearance before the magistrate, Dame Bakewell had an interview with Austin, who went to Raynham immediately, and sought Adrians counsel upon what was to be done. Homeric laughter and nothing else could be got out of Adrian when he heard of the doings of these desperate boys: how they had entered Dame Bakewells smallest of retail shops, and purchased tea, sugar, candles, and comfits of every description, till the shop was clear of customers: how they had then hurried her into her little back-parlour, where Richard had torn open his shirt and revealed the coils of rope, and Ripton displayed the point of a file from a serpentine recess in his jacket: how they had then told the astonished woman that the rope she saw and the file she saw were instruments for the liberation of her son; that there existed no other means on earth to save him, they, the boys, having unsuccessfully attempted all: how upon that Richard had tried with the utmost earnestness to persuade her to disrobe and wind the rope round her own person: and Ripton had aired his eloquence to induce her to secrete the file: how, when she resolutely objected to the rope, both boys began backing the file, and in an evil hour, she feared, said Dame Bakewell, she had rewarded the gracious permission given her by Sir Miles Papworth to visit her son, by tempting Tom to file the Law. Though, thanks be to the Lord! Dame Bakewell added, Tom had turned up his nose at the file, and so she had told young Master Richard, who swore very bad for a young gentleman.

Boys are like monkeys, remarked Adrian, at the close of his explosions, the gravest actors of farcical nonsense that the world possesses. May I never be where there are no boys! A couple of boys left to themselves will furnish richer fun than any troop of trained comedians. No: no Art arrives at the artlessness of nature in matters of comedy. You cant simulate the ape. Your antics are dull. They havent the charming inconsequence of the natural animal. Lack at these two! Think of the shifts they are put to all day long! They know I know all about it, and yet their serenity of innocence is all but unruffled in my presence. Youre sorry to think about the end of the business, Austin? So am I! I dread the idea of the curtain going down. Besides, it will do Ricky a world of good. A practical lesson is the best lesson.

Sinks deepest, said Austin, but whether he learns good or evil from it is the question at stake.

Adrian stretched his length at ease.

This will be his first nibble at experience, old Times fruit, hateful to the palate of youth! for which season only hath it any nourishment! Experience! You know Coleridges capital simile?Mournful you call it? Well! all wisdom is mournful. Tis therefore, coz, that the wise do love the Comic Muse. Their own high food would kill them. You shall find great poets, rare philosophers, night after night on the broad grin before a row of yellow lights and mouthing masks. Why? Because alls dark at home. The stage is the pastime of great minds. Thats how it comes that the stage is now down. An age of rampant little minds, my dear Austin! How I hate that cant of yours about an Age of Workyou, and your Mortons, and your parsons Brawnley, rank radicals all of you, base materialists! What does Diaper Sandoe sing of your Age of Work? Listen!

Murmuring, Get your parson Brawnley to answer that! Adrian changed the resting-place of a leg, and smiled. The Age was an old battle-field between him and Austin.

My parson Brawnley, as you call him, has answered it, said Austin, not by hoping his best, which would probably leave the Age to go mad to your satisfaction, but by doing it. And he has and will answer your Diaper Sandoe in better verse, as he confutes him in a better life.

You dont see Sandoes depth, Adrian replied. Consider that phrase, Ophelia of the Ages! Is not Brawnley, like a dozen other leading spiritsI think thats your term just the metaphysical Hamlet to drive her mad? She, poor maid! asks for marriage and smiling babes, while my lord lover stands questioning the Infinite, and rants to the Impalpable.

Austin laughed. Marriage and smiling babes she would have in abundance, if Brawnley legislated. Wait till you know him. He will be over at Poer Hall shortly, and you will see what a Man of the Age means. But now, pray, consult with me about these boys.

Oh, those boys! Adrian tossed a hand. Are there boys of the Age as well as men? Not? Then boys are better than men: boys are for all Ages. What do you think, Austin? Theyve been studying Latudes Escape. I found the book open in Rickys room, on the top of Jonathan Wild. Jonathan preserved the secrets of his profession, and taught them nothing. So theyre going to make a Latude of Mr. Tom Bakewell. Hes to be Bastille Bakewell, whether he will or no. Let them. Let the wild colt run free! We cant help them. We can only look on. We should spoil the play.

Adrian always made a point of feeding the fretful beast Impatience with pleasantriesa not congenial diet; and Austin, the most patient of human beings, began to lose his self-control.

You talk as if Time belonged to you, Adrian. We have but a few hours left us. Work first, and joke afterwards. The boys fate is being decided now.

So is everybodys, my dear Austin! yawned the epicurean.

Yes, but this boy is at present under our guardianshipunder yours especially.

Not yet! not yet! Adrian interjected languidly. No getting into scrapes when I have him. The leash, young hound! the collar, young colt! Im perfectly irresponsible at present.

You may have something different to deal with when you are responsible, if you think that.

I take my young prince as I find him, coz: a Julian, or a Caracalla: a Constantine, or a Nero. Then, if he will play the fiddle to a conflagration, he shall play it well: if he must be a disputatious apostate, at any rate he shall understand logic and men, and have the habit of saying his prayers.

Then you leave me to act alone? said Austin, rising.

Without a single curb! Adrian gesticulated an acquiesced withdrawal. Im sure you would not, still more certain you cannot, do harm. And be mindful of my prophetic words: Whatevers done, old Blaize will have to be bought off. Theres the affair settled at once. I suppose I must go to the chief to-night and settle it myself. We cant see this poor devil condemned, though its nonsense to talk of a boy being the prime instigator.

Austin cast an eye at the complacent languor of the wise youth, his cousin, and the little that he knew of his fellows told him he might talk forever here, and not be comprehended. The wise youths two ears were stuffed with his own wisdom. One evil only Adrian dreaded, it was clearthe action of the law.

As he was moving away, Adrian called out to him, Stop, Austin! There! dont be anxious! You invariably take the glum side. Ive done something. Never mind what. If you go down to Belthorpe, be civil, but not obsequious. You remember the tactics of Scipio Africanus against the Punic elephants? Well, dont say a wordin thine ear, coz: Ive turned Master Blaizes elephants. If they charge, twill bye a feint, and back to the destruction of his serried ranks! You understand. Not? Well, tis as well. Only, let none say that I sleep. If I must see him to-night, I go down knowing he has not got us in his power. The wise youth yawned, and stretched out a hand for any book that might be within his reach. Austin left him to look about the grounds for Richard.

CHAPTER VII

A little laurel-shaded temple of white marble looked out on the river from a knoll bordering the Raynham beechwoods, and was dubbed by Adrian Daphnes Bower. To this spot Richard had retired, and there Austin found him with his head buried in his hands, a picture of desperation, whose last shift has been defeated. He allowed Austin to greet him and sit by him without lifting his head. Perhaps his eyes were not presentable.

Wheres your friend? Austin began.

Gone! was the answer, sounding cavernous from behind hair and fingers. An explanation presently followed, that a summons had come for him in the morning from Mr. Thompson; and that Mr. Ripton had departed against his will.

In fact, Ripton had protested that he would defy his parent and remain by his friend in the hour of adversity and at the post of danger. Sir Austin signified his opinion that a boy should obey his parent, by giving orders to Benson for Riptons box to be packed and ready before noon; and Riptons alacrity in taking the baronets view of filial duty was as little feigned as his offer to Richard to throw filial duty to the winds. He rejoiced that the Fates had agreed to remove him from the very hot neighbourhood of Lobourne, while he grieved, like an honest lad, to see his comrade left to face calamity alone. The boys parted amicably, as they could hardly fail to do, when Ripton had sworn fealty to the Feverals with a warmth that made him declare himself bond, and due to appear at any stated hour and at any stated place to fight all the farmers in England, on a mandate from the heir of the house.

So youre left alone, said Austin, contemplating the boys shapely head. Im glad of it. We never know whats in us till we stand by ourselves.

There appeared to be no answer forthcoming. Vanity, however, replied at last, He wasnt much support.

Remember his good points now hes gone, Ricky.

Oh! he was staunch, the boy grumbled.

And a staunch friend is not always to be found. Now, have you tried your own way of rectifying this business, Ricky?

I have done everything.

And failed!

There was a pause, and then the deep-toned evasion

Tom Bakewells a coward!

I suppose, poor fellow, said Austin, in his kind way, he doesnt want to get into a deeper mess. I dont think hes a coward.

He is a coward, cried Richard. Do you think if I had a file I would stay in prison? Id be out the first night! And he might have had the rope, tooa rope thick enough for a couple of men his size and weight. Ripton and I and Ned Markham swung on it for an hour, and it didnt give way. Hes a coward, and deserves his fate. Ive no compassion for a coward.

Nor I much, said Austin.

Richard had raised his head in the heat of his denunciation of poor Tom. He would have hidden it had he known the thought in Austins clear eyes while he faced them.

I never met a coward myself, Austin continued. I have heard of one or two. One let an innocent man die for him.

How base! exclaimed the boy.

Yes, it was bad, Austin acquiesced.

Bad! Richard scorned the poor contempt. How I would have spurned him! He was a coward!

I believe he pleaded the feelings of his family in his excuse, and tried every means to get the man off. I have read also in the confessions of a celebrated philosopher, that in his youth he committed some act of pilfering, and accused a young servant-girl of his own theft, who was condemned and dismissed for it, pardoning her guilty accuser.

What a coward! shouted Richard. And he confessed it publicly?

You may read it yourself.

He actually wrote it down, and printed it?

You have the book in your fathers library. Would you have done so much?

Richard faltered. No! he admitted that he never could have told people.

Then who is to call that man a coward? said Austin. He expiated his cowardice as all who give way in moments of weakness, and are not cowards, must do. The coward chooses to think God does not see. I shall escape. He who is not a coward, and has succumbed, knows that God has seen all, and it is not so hard a task for him to make his heart bare to the world. Worse, I should fancy it, to know myself an impostor when men praised me.

Young Richards eyes were wandering on Austins gravely cheerful face. A keen intentness suddenly fixed them, and he dropped his head.

So I think youre wrong, Ricky, in calling this poor Tom a coward because he refuses to try your means of escape, Austin resumed. A coward hardly objects to drag in his accomplice. And, where the person involved belongs to a great family, it seems to me that for a poor plough-lad to volunteer not to do so speaks him anything but a coward.

Richard was dumb. Altogether to surrender his rope and file was a fearful sacrifice, after all the time, trepidation, and study he had spent on those two saving instruments. If he avowed Toms manly behaviour, Richard Feverel was in a totally new position. Whereas, by keeping Tom a coward, Richard Feverel was the injured one, and to seem injured is always a luxury; sometimes a necessity, whether among boys or men.

In Austin the Magian conflict would not have lasted long. He had but a blind notion of the fierceness with which it raged in young Richard. Happily for the boy, Austin was not a preacher. A single instance, a cant phrase, a fatherly manner, might have wrecked him, by arousing ancient or latent opposition. The born preacher we feel instinctively to be our foe. He may do some good to the wretches that have been struck down and lie gasping on the battlefield: he rouses antagonism in the strong. Richards nature, left to itself, wanted little more than an indication of the proper track, and when he said, Tell me what I can do, Austin? he had fought the best half of the battle. His voice was subdued. Austin put his hand on the boys shoulder.

You must go down to Farmer Blaize.

Well! said Richard, sullenly divining the deed of penance.

Youll know what to say to him when youre there.

The boy bit his lip and frowned. Ask a favour of that big brute, Austin? I cant!

Just tell him the whole case, and that you dont intend to stand by and let the poor fellow suffer without a friend to help him out of his scrape.

But, Austin, the boy pleaded, I shall have to ask him to help off Tom Bakewell! How can I ask him, when I hate him?

Austin bade him go, and think nothing of the consequences till he got there.

Richard groaned in soul.

Youve no pride, Austin.

Perhaps not.

You dont know what it is to ask a favour of a brute you hate.

Richard stuck to that view of the case, and stuck to it the faster the more imperatively the urgency of a movement dawned upon him.