I think it is something that somebody was killed with, said Sophy, in a low voice.
Dear me, if it is, I am sure it is quite wicked to keep it. I shall be quite afraid to go into her room, and you know I slept there all the time of the fever.
It did not hurt you, said Sophy.
Albinia had been strongly interested by the touching facts, so untouchingly narrated, and by the characteristic account of the Huguenot emigration, but it suddenly occurred to her that she was promoting gossip, and she returned to business. Lucy showed off her attainments with her usual self-satisfaction. They were what might be expected from a second-rate old-fashioned young ladies school, where nothing was good but the French pronunciation. She was evidently considered a great proficient, and her glib mediocrity was even more disheartening than the ungracious carelessness or dulnessthere was no knowing whichthat made her sister figure wretchedly in the examination. However, there was little timethe door-bell rang at a quarter to twelve, and Mrs. Wolfe was in the drawing-room.
I told you so, whispered Lucy, exultingly.
This is unbearable, cried Albinia. I shall give notice that I am always engaged in the morning.
She desired each young lady to work a sum in her absence, and left them to murmur, if they were so disposed. Perhaps it was Lucys speech that made her inflict the employment; at any rate, her spirit was not as serene as she could have desired.
Mr. Kendal was quite willing that she should henceforth shut her door against company in the morning; that is to say, he bowed his head assentingly. She was begging him to take a walk with her, when, at another sound of the bell, he made a precipitate retreat into his study. The visitors were the Belmarche family. The old lady was dark and withered, small, yet in look and air, with a certain nobility and grandeur that carried Albinia back in a moment to the days of hoops and trains, of powder and high-heeled shoes, and made her feel that the sweeping courtesy had come straight from the days of Marie Antoinette, and that it was an honour and distinction conferred by a superiorsuperior, indeed, in all the dignity of age, suffering, and constancy.
Albinia blushed, and took her hand with respect very unlike the patronizing airs of Bayford Bridge towards poor old Madame Belmarche, and with downcast eyes, and pretty embarrassment, heard the stately compliments of the ancien regime.
Miss Belmarche was not such a fine specimen of Sevres porcelain as her mother. She was a brown, dried, small woman, having lost, or never possessed, her countrys taste in dress, and with a rusty bonnet over the tight, frizzly curls of her front, too thin and too scantily robed to have any waist, and speaking English too well for the piquant grace of her mothers speech. Poor lady! born an exile, she had toiled, and struggled for a whole lifetime to support her mother; but though care had worn her down, there was still vivacity in her quick little black eyes, and though her teeth were of a dreadful colour, her laugh was so full of life and sweetness, that Albinia felt drawn towards her in a moment.
Silent and demure, plainly dressed in an old dark merino, and a white-ribboned faded bonnet, sat a little figure almost behind her grandmother. Her face had the French want of complexion, but the eyes were of the deepest, most lustrous hue of grey, almost as dark as the pupils, and with the softness of long dark eyelashesbeautiful eyes, full of light and expressionand as she moved towards the table, there was a finish and delicacy about the whole form and movements, that made her a most pleasing object.
But Albinia could not improve her acquaintance, for in flowed another party of visitors, and Madame curtsied herself out again, Albinia volunteering that she would soon come to see her, and being answered, You will do me too much honour.
Another afternoon devoured by visitors! Every one seemed to have come except the persons who would have been most welcome, Mr. Dusautoy, and Winifreds friends, the Nugents.
When, at four oclock, she had shaken hands with the last guest, she gave a hearty yawn, jumped up and shook herself, as she exclaimed, There! There! that is done! I wonder whether your papa would come out now?
He is in his study, said the girls.
Albinia thought of knocking and calling at the door, but somehow it seemed impossible, and she decided on promenading past his window to show that she was ready for him. But alas! those evergreens! She could not see in, and probably he could not see out.
Ha! cried Lucy, as they pursued their walk into the kitchen garden, here are some asparagus coming up. Grandmamma always has our first asparagus.
Albinia was delighted to find such an opening. Out came her knifethey would cut the heads and take them up at once; but when the tempting white-stalked, pink-tipped bundle had been made up and put into a basket, a difficulty arose.
Ill call the boy to take it, said Lucy.
What, when we are going ourselves? said Albinia.
Oh! but we cant.
Why? Do you think we shall break down under the weight?
O no, but people will stare.
Whywhat should they stare at?
It looks so to carry a basket
Albinia burst into one of her merriest peals of laughing.
Not carry a basket! My dear, I have looked so all the days of my life. Bayford must endure the spectacle, so it may as well begin at once.
But, dear mamma
Im not asking you to carry it. O no, I only hope you dont think it too ungenteel to walk with me. But the notion of calling a boy away from his work, to carry a couple of dozen asparagus when an able-bodied woman is going that way herself!
Albinia was so tickled that she could hardly check herself, even when she saw Lucy looking distressed and hurt, and little laughs would break out every moment as she beheld the young lady keeping aloof, as if ashamed of her company, turning towards the steep church steps, willing at least to hide the dreadful sight from the High Street.
Just as they had entered the narrow alley, they heard a hasty tread, and almost running over them with his long strides, came Mr. Dusautoy. He brought himself up short, just in time, and exclaimed, I beg your pardonMrs. Kendal, I believe. Could you be kind enough to give me a glass of brandy?
Albinia gave a great start, as well she might.
I was going to fetch one, quickly proceeded Mr. Dusautoy, but your house is nearer. A poor mantherejust come homebeen on the tramp for workquite exhausted and he pointed to one of the cottages.
Ill fetch it at once, cried Albinia.
Thank you, he said, as they crossed the street. This poor fellow has had nothing all day, has walked from Hadminsterjust got home, sank down quite worn out, and there is nothing in the house but dry bread. His wife wants something nearly as much as he does.
In the excitement, Albinia utterly forgot all scruples about Bluebeards closet. She hurried into the house, and made but one dash, standing before her astonished husbands dreamy eyes, exclaiming, Pray give me the key of the cellaret; theres a poor man just come home, fainting with exhaustion, Mr. Dusautoy wants some brandy for him.
Like a man but half awake, obeying an apparition, Mr. Kendal put his hand into his pocket and gave her the key. She was instantly opening the cellaret, seeking among the bottles, and asking questions all the time. She proposed taking a jug of the kitchen-tea then in operation, and Mr. Dusautoy caught at the idea, so that poor Lucy beheld the dreadful spectacle of the vicar bearing a can full of steaming tea, and Mrs. Kendal a small cup with the spirituous liquor. What was the asparagus to this?
Albinia told her to go on to Mrs. Meadows, and that she should soon follow. She intended to have gone the moment that she had carried in the cup, leaving Mr. Dusautoy in the cottage, but the poor trembling frightened wife needed womans sympathy and soothing, and she waited to comfort her, and to see the pair more able to enjoy the meeting, in their tidy, but bare and damp-looking cottage. She promised broth for the morrow, and took her leave, the vicar coming away at the same time.
Thank you, he said, warmly, as they came out, and turned to mount the hill together.
May I go and call on them again?
It will be very kind in you. Poor Simkins is a steady, good sort of fellow, but a clumsy workman, down-hearted, and with poor health, and things have been untoward with him.
People, who do not prosper in the world are not always the worst, said Albinia.
No, indeed, and these are grateful, warm-hearted people that you will like, if you can get over the poor womans lackadaisical manner. But you are used to all that, he added, smiling. I see you know what poor folk are made of.
I have been living among them nearly all my days, said Albinia. I hope you will give me something to do, I should be quite forlorn without it; and she looked up to his kind, open face, as much at home with him as if she had known, him for years.
Fannymy wifeshall find work for you, he said. You must excuse her calling on you, she is never off the sofa, but And what a bright look he gave! as much as to say that his wife on the sofa was better than any one else off. I was hoping to call some of these afternoons, he continued, but I have had little time, and Fanny thought your door was besieged enough already.
Thank you, said Albinia; I own I thought it was your kindness in leaving me a little breathing time. And would Mrs. Dusautoy be able to see me if I were to call?
She would be delighted. Suppose you were to come in at once.
I wish I could, but I must go on to Mrs. Meadows. If I were to come to-morrow?
Any timeany time, he said. She is always at home, and she has been much better since we came here. We were too much in the town at Lauriston.
Mr. Dusautoy, having a year ago come out of the diocese where had been Albinias home, they had many common friends, and plunged into ecclesiastical intelligence, with a mutual understanding of the topics most often under discussion, that made Albinia quite in her element. A great Newfoundland dog of a man in size, and countenance, and kindness, thought she. If his wife be worthy of him, I shall reck little of all the rest.
Her tread the gayer for this resumption of old habits, she proceeded to Mrs. Meadows, where the sensation created by her poor little basket justified Lucys remonstrance. There were regrets, and assurances that the girl could have come in a moment, and that she need not have troubled herself, and her laughing declarations that it was no trouble were disregarded, except that the old lady said, in gentle excuse to her daughter, that Mrs. Kendal had always lived in the country, where people could do as they pleased.
I mean to do as I please here, said Albinia, laughing; but the speech was received with silent discomfiture that made her heartily regret it. She disdained to explain it away; she was beginning to hold Mrs. and Miss Meadows too cheap to think it worth while.
Well, said Mrs. Meadows, as if yielding up the subject, things may be different from what they were in my time.
Oh! mammaMrs. KendalI am sure Albinia let Maria flounder, but she only found her way out of the speech with Well! and is not it the most extraordinary!Mr. Dusautoyso rude
I should not wonder if you found me almost as extraordinary as Mr. Dusautoy, said Albinia.
Why would Miss Meadows always nettle her into saying exactly the wrong thing, so as to alarm and distress the old lady? That want of comprehension of playfulness was a strangely hard trial. She turned to Mrs. Meadows and tried to reassure her by saying, You know I have been always in the clerical line myself, so I naturally take the part of the parson.
Yes, my dear, said Mrs. Meadows. I dare say Mr. Dusautoy is a very good man, but I wish he would allow his poor delicate wife more butchers meat, and I dont think it looks well to see the vicarage without a man-servant.
Albinia finally made her escape, and while wondering whether she should ever visit that house without tingling with irritation with herself and with the inmates, Lucy exclaimed, There, you see I was right. Grandmamma and Aunt Maria were surprised when I told them that you said you were an able-bodied woman.
What would not Albinia have given for Winifred to laugh with her? What to do now she did not know, so she thought it best not to hear, and to ask the way to a carpenters shop to order some book-shelves.
She was more uncomfortable after she came home, for by the sounds when Mr. Kendal next emerged from his study, she found that he had locked himself in, to guard against further intrusion. And when she offered to return to him the key of the cellaret, he quietly replied that he should prefer her retaining it,not a formidable answer in itself, but one which, coupled with the locking of the door, proved to her that she might do anything rather than invade his privacy.
Now Maurices study was the thoroughfare of the household, the place for all parish preparations unpresentable in the drawing-room, and Albinia was taken by surprise. She grew hot and cold. Had she done anything wrong? Could he care for her if he could lock her out?
I will not be morbid, I will not be absurd, said she to herself, though the tears stood in her eyes. Some men do not like to be rushed in upon! It may be only habit. It may have been needful here. It is base to take petty offences, and set up doubts.
And Mr. Kendals tender manner when they were again together, his gentle way of addressing her, and a sort of shy caress, proved that he was far from all thought of displeasure; nay, he might be repenting of his momentary annoyance, though he said nothing.
Albinia went to inquire after the sick man at her first leisure moment, and while talking kindly to the wife, and hearing her troubles, was surprised at the forlorn rickety state of the building, the broken pavement, damp walls, and door that would not shut, because the frame had sunk out of the perpendicular.
Cant you ask your landlord to do something to the house?
It is of no use, maam, Mr. Pettilove never will do nothing. Perhaps if you would be kind enough to say a word to him, maam
Mr. Pettilove, the lawyer? Ill try if Mr. Kendal can say anything to him. It really is a shame to leave a house in this condition.
Thanks were so profuse, that she feared that she was supposed to possess some power of amelioration. The poor woman even insisted on conducting her up a break-neck staircase to see the broken ceiling, whence water often streamed in plentifully from the roof.
Her mind full of designs against the cruel landlord, she speeded up the hill, exhilarated by each step she took into the fresh air, to the garden-gate, which she was just unhasping when the hearty voice of the Vicar was heard behind her. Mrs. Kendal! I told Fanny you would come.
Instead of taking her to the front door he conducted her across a sloping lawn towards a French window open to the bright afternoon sunshine.
Here she is, here is Mrs. Kendal! he said, sending his voice before him, as they came in sight of the pretty little drawing-room, where through the gay chintz curtains, she saw the clear fire shining upon half-a-dozen school girls, ranged opposite to a couch. Ah! as he perceived them, shall I take her for a turn in the garden while you finish your lesson?