The Project Gutenberg EBook of Thistle and Rose, by Amy Walton
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Title: Thistle and Rose
A Story for Girls
Author: Amy Walton
Illustrator: R. Barnes
Release Date: April 27, 2007 [EBook #21229]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THISTLE AND ROSE ***
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Thistle and Rose
A Story for Girls
By Amy Walton
________________________________________________________________________
A gently moving story for girls. Anna is aged fifteen, and her father
needs to go abroad on business for a while. Her mother had died before
Anna could remember. Anna is to go to Dornton to stay while her father
is away, and she is looking forward to meeting her relatives, including
her grandfather, who had been estranged from her father for many years.
The grandfather is living quietly in a small house "with no servants"
and has a job as organist in Dornton church. He is well-known as an
excellent teacher of music, especially the violin.
The story goes on from there. The book is not a long one, and the
audiobook takes a little over four hours. NH
________________________________________________________________________
THISTLE AND ROSE
A STORY FOR GIRLS
BY AMY WALTON
CHAPTER ONE.
THE PICTURE.
A countenance in which did meet
Sweet records, promises as sweet.
Wordsworth.
"And so, my dear Anna, you really leave London to-morrow!"
"By the ten o'clock train," added an eager voice, "and I shan't get to
Dornton until nearly five. Father will go with me to Paddington, and
then I shall be alone all the way. My very first journey by myself--and
such a long one!"
"You don't seem to mind the idea," said the governess, with a glance at
her pupil's bright, smiling face. "You don't mind leaving all the
people and things you have been used to all your life?"
Anna tried to look grave. "I see so little of father, you know," she
said, "and I'm sure I shall like the country better than London. I
shall miss _you_, of course, dear Miss Milverton," she added quickly,
bending forward to kiss her governess.
Miss Milverton gave a little shake of the head, as she returned the
kiss; perhaps she did not believe in being very much missed.
"You are going to new scenes and new people," she said, "and at your
age, Anna, it is easier to forget than to remember. I should like to
think, though, that some of our talks and lessons during the last seven
years might stay in your mind."
She spoke wistfully, and her face looked rather sad. As she saw it,
Anna felt ungrateful to be so glad to go away, and was ready to promise
anything. "Oh, of course they will," she exclaimed. "Indeed, I will
never forget what you have told me. I couldn't."
"You have lived so very quietly hitherto," continued Miss Milverton,
"that it will be a new thing for you to be thrown with other people.
They will be nearly all strangers to you at Waverley, I think?"
"There will be Aunt Sarah and Uncle John at the Rectory," said Anna.
"Aunt Sarah, of course, I know; but I've never seen Uncle John. He's
father's brother, you know. Then there's Dornton; that's just a little
town near. I don't know any one there, but I suppose Aunt Sarah does.
Waverley's quite in the country, with a lovely garden--oh, I do so long
to see it!"
"You will make friends, too, of your own age, I daresay," said Miss
Milverton.
"Oh, I hope so," said Anna earnestly. "It has been so dull here
sometimes! After you go away in the afternoon there's nothing to do,
and when father dines out there's no one to talk to all the evening.
You can't think how tired I get of reading."
"Well, it will be more cheerful and amusing for you at Waverley, no
doubt," said Miss Milverton, "and I hope you will be very happy there;
but what I want to say to you is this: Try, whether you are at Waverley
or wherever you are, to value the best things in yourself and others."
Anna's bright eyes were gazing over the blind into the street, where a
man with a basket of flowers on his head was crying, "All a-blowing and
a-growing." In the country she would be able to pick flowers instead of
buying them. She smiled at the thought, and said absently, "Yes, Miss
Milverton." Miss Milverton's voice, which always had a regretful sound
in it, went steadily on, while Anna's bright fancies danced about gaily.
"It is so easy to value the wrong things most. They often look so
attractive, and the best things lie so deeply hidden from us. And yet,
to find them out and treasure them, and be true to them, makes the
difference between a worthy and an unworthy life. If you look for them,
my dear Anna, you will find them. My last wish before we part is, that
you may be quick to see, and ready to do them honour, and to prize them
as they should be prized. Bless you, my dear!"
Miss Milverton had felt what she said so deeply, that the tears stood in
her eyes, as she finished her speech and kissed her pupil for the last
time.
Anna returned the kiss affectionately, and as she followed her governess
out into the hall and opened the door for her, she was quite sorry to
think that she had so often been tiresome at her lessons. Perhaps she
had helped to make Miss Milverton's face so grave and her voice so sad.
Now she should not see her any more, and there was no chance of doing
better.
For full five minutes after she had waved a last good-bye, Anna remained
in a sober mood, looking thoughtfully at all the familiar, dingy objects
in the schoolroom, where she and Miss Milverton had passed so many
hours. It was not a cheerful room. Carpet, curtains, paper, everything
in it had become of one brownish-yellow hue, as though the London fog
had been shut up in it, and never escaped again. Even the large globes,
which stood one on each side of the fireplace, had the prevailing tinge
over their polished, cracked surfaces; but as Anna's eye fell on these,
her heart gave a sudden bound of joy. She would never have to do
problems again! She would never have to pass any more dull hours in
this room, with Miss Milverton's grave face opposite to her, and the
merest glimpses of sunshine peering in now and then over the brown
blinds. No more sober walks in Kensington Gardens, where she had so
often envied the ragged children, who could play about, and laugh, and
run, and do as they liked. There would be freedom now, green fields,
flowers, companions perhaps of her own age. Everything new, everything
gay and bright, no more dullness, no more tedious days--after all, she
was glad, very glad!
It was so pleasant to think of, that she could not help dancing round
and round the big table all alone, snapping her fingers at the globes as
she passed them. When she was tired, she flung herself into Miss
Milverton's brown leather chair, and looked up at the clock, which had
gone soberly on its way as though nothing were to be changed in Anna's
life. She felt provoked with its placid face. "To-morrow at this
time," she said to it, half aloud, "I shan't be here, and Miss Milverton
won't be here, and I shall be seeing new places and new people, and--oh,
I do wonder what it will all be like!"
The clock ticked steadily on, regardless of anything but its own
business. Half-past six! Miss Milverton had stayed longer than usual.
Anna began to wonder what time her father would be home. They were to
dine together on this, their last evening, but Mr Forrest was so
absorbed in his preparations for leaving England that he was likely to
be very late. Perhaps he would not be in till eight o'clock, and even
then would have his mind too full of business to talk much at dinner,
and would spend the evening in writing letters. Anna sighed. There
were some questions she very much wanted to ask him, and this would be
her only chance. To-morrow she was to go to Waverley, and the next day
Mr Forrest started for America, and she would not see him again for two
whole years.
It was strange to think of, but not altogether sad from Anna's point of
view, for her father was almost a stranger to her. He lived a life
apart, into which she had never entered: his friends, his business, his
frequent journeys abroad, occupied him fully, and he was quite content
that Anna's welfare should be left in the hands of Miss Milverton, her
daily governess. It was Aunt Sarah who recommended Miss Milverton to
the post, which she had now filled, with ceaseless kindness and
devotion, for seven years. "You will find her invaluable," Mrs Forrest
had said to her brother-in-law, and so she was. When Anna was ill, she
nursed her; when she wanted change of air, she took her to the sea-side;
she looked after her both in body and mind, with the utmost
conscientiousness. But there was one thing she could not do: she could
not be an amusing companion for a girl of fifteen, and Anna had often
been lonely and dull.
Now that was all over. A sudden change had come into her life. The
London house was to be given up, her father was going away, and she was
to be committed to Aunt Sarah's instruction and care for two whole
years. Waverley and Aunt Sarah, instead of London and Miss Milverton!
It was a change indeed, in more than one way, for although Anna was
nearly fifteen, she had never yet stayed in the country; her ideas of it
were gathered from books, and from what she could see from a railway
carriage, as Miss Milverton and she were carried swiftly on their way to
the sea-side for their annual change of air. She thought of it all now,
as she sat musing in the old brown chair.
It had often seemed strange that Aunt Sarah, who arranged everything,
and to whom appeal was always made in matters which concerned Anna,
should never have asked her to stay at Waverley before. Certainly there
were no children at the Rectory, but still it would have been natural,
she thought, for was not Uncle John her father's own brother, and she
had never even seen him!
Aunt Sarah came to London occasionally and stayed the night, and had
long talks with Mr Forrest and Miss Milverton, but she had never hinted
at a visit from Anna.
When, a little later, her father came bustling in, with a preoccupied
pucker on his brow, and his most absent manner, she almost gave up all
idea of asking questions. Dinner passed in perfect silence, and she was
startled when Mr Forrest suddenly mentioned the very place that was in
her mind.
"Well, Anna," he said, "I've been to Waverley to-day."
"Oh, father, have you?" she answered eagerly.
Mr Forrest sipped his wine reflectively.
"How old are you?" he asked.
"Fifteen next August," replied Anna.
"Then," he continued, half to himself, "it must be over sixteen years
since I saw Waverley and Dornton."
"Are they just the same?" asked his daughter; "are they pretty places?"
"Waverley's pretty enough. Your Uncle John has built another room, and
spoilt the look of the old house, but that's the only change I can see."
"And Dornton," said Anna, "what is that like?"
"Dornton," said Mr Forrest absently--"Dornton is the same dull little
hole of a town I remember it then."
"Oh," said Anna in a disappointed voice.
"There's a fine old church, though, and the river's nice enough. I used
to know every turn in that river.--Well," rising abruptly and leaning
his arm against the mantel-piece, "it's a long while ago--a long while
ago--it's like another life."
"Used you to stay often at Waverley?" Anna ventured to ask presently.
Mr Forrest had fallen into a day-dream, with his eyes fixed on the
ground. He looked up when Anna spoke as though he had forgotten her
presence.
"It was there I first met your mother," he said, "or rather, at Dornton.
We were married in Dornton church."
"Oh," said Anna, very much interested, "did mother live at Dornton? I
never knew that."
"And that reminds me," said Mr Forrest, taking a leather case out of
his pocket, and speaking with an effort, "I've something I want to give
you before you go away. You may as well have it now. To-morrow we
shall be both in a hurry. Come here."
He opened the case and showed her a small round portrait painted on
ivory. It was the head of a girl of eighteen, exquisitely fair, with
sweet, modest-looking eyes. "Your mother," he said briefly.
Anna almost held her breath. She had never seen a picture of her mother
before, and had very seldom heard her mentioned.
"How lovely!" she exclaimed. "May I really have it to keep?"
"I had it copied for you from the original," said Mr Forrest.
"Oh, father, thank you so much," said Anna earnestly. "I do so love to
have it."
Mr Forrest turned away suddenly, and walked to the window. He was
silent for some minutes, and Anna stood with the case in her hand, not
daring to speak to him. She had an instinct that it was a painful
subject.
"Well," he said at last, "I need not tell you to take care of it. When
I come back you'll be nearly as old as she was when that was painted. I
can't hope more than that you may be half as good and beautiful."
Anna gazed earnestly at the portrait. There were some words in tiny
letters beneath it: "Priscilla Goodwin," she read, "aged eighteen."
Priscilla! A soft, gentle sort of name, which seemed to suit the face.
If father wanted me to look like this, she thought to herself, he
shouldn't have called me "Anna." How could any one named Anna grow so
pretty!
"Why was I named Anna?" she asked.
"It was your mother's wish," replied Mr Forrest. "I believe it was her
mother's name."
"Is my grandmother alive?" said Anna.
"No; she died years before I ever saw your mother. Your grandfather,
old Mr Goodwin, is living still--at Dornton."
"At Dornton!" exclaimed Anna in extreme surprise. "Then why don't I go
to stay with him while you're away, instead of at Waverley?"
"Because," said Mr Forrest, turning from the window to face his
daughter, "it has been otherwise arranged."
Anna knew that tone of her father's well; it meant that she had asked an
undesirable question. She was silent, but her eager face showed that
she longed to hear more.
"Your grandfather and I have not been very good friends," said Mr
Forrest at length, "and have not met for a good many years--but you're
too young to understand all that. He lives in a very quiet sort of way.
Once, if he had chosen, he might have risen to a different position.
But he didn't choose, and he remains what he has been for the last
twenty years--organist of Dornton church. He has great musical talent,
I've always been told, but I'm no judge of that."
These new things were quite confusing to Anna; it was difficult to
realise them all at once. The beautiful, fair-haired mother, whose
picture she held in her hand, was not so strange. But her grandfather!
She had never even heard of his existence, and now she would very soon
see him and talk to him. Her thoughts, hitherto occupied with Waverley
and the Rectory, began to busy themselves with the town of Dornton, the
church where her mother had been married, and the house where she had
lived.
"Aunt Sarah knows my grandfather, of course," she said aloud. "He will
come to Waverley, and I shall go sometimes to see him at Dornton?"
"Oh, no doubt, no doubt, your aunt will arrange all that," said Mr
Forrest wearily. "And now you must leave me, Anna; I've no time to
answer any more questions. Tell Mary to take a lamp into the study, and
bring me coffee. I have heaps of letters to write, and people to see
this evening."
"Your aunt will arrange all that!" What a familiar sentence that was.
Anna had heard it so often that she had come to look upon Aunt Sarah as
a person whose whole office in life was to arrange and settle the
affairs of other people, and who was sure to do it in the best possible
way.
When she opened her eyes the next morning, her first movement was to
feel under her pillow for the case which held the picture of her mother.
She had a half fear that she might have dreamt all that her father had
told her. No. It was real. The picture was there. The gentle face
seemed to smile at her as she opened the case. How nice to have such a
beautiful mother! As she dressed, she made up her mind that she would
go to see her grandfather directly she got to Waverley. What would he
be like? Her father had spoken of his musical talent in a half-pitying
sort of way. Anna was not fond of music, and she very much hoped that
her grandfather would not be too much wrapped up in it to answer all her
questions. Well, she would soon find out everything about him. Her
reflections were hurried away by the bustle of departure, for Mr
Forrest, though he travelled so much, could never start on a journey
without agitation and fuss, and fears as to losing his train. So, for
the next hour, until Anna was safely settled in a through carriage for
Dornton, with her ticket in her purse, a benevolent old lady opposite to
her, and the guard prepared to give her every attention, there was no
time to realise anything, except that she must make haste.
"Well, I think you're all right now," said Mr Forrest, with a sigh of
relief, as he rested from his exertions. "Look out for your aunt on the
platform at Dornton; she said she would meet you herself.--Why," looking
at his watch, "you don't start for six minutes. We needn't have hurried
after all. Well, there's no object in waiting, as I'm so busy; so I'll
say good-bye now. Remember to write when you get down. Take care of
yourself."
He kissed his daughter, and was soon out of sight in the crowded
station. Anna had now really begun her first journey out into the
world.
CHAPTER TWO.
DORNTON.
A bird of the air shall carry the matter.
On the same afternoon as that on which Anna was travelling towards
Waverley, Mrs Hunt, the doctor's wife in Dornton, held one of her
working parties. This was not at all an unusual event, for the ladies
of Dornton and the neighbourhood had undertaken to embroider some
curtains for their beautiful old church, and this necessitated a weekly
meeting of two hours, followed by the refreshment of tea, and
conversation. The people of Dornton were fond of meeting in each
other's houses, and very sociably inclined. They met to work, they met
to read Shakespeare, they met to sing and to play the piano, they met to
discuss interesting questions, and they met to talk. It was not,
perhaps, so much what they met to do that was the important thing, as
the fact of meeting.
"So pleasant to _meet_, isn't it?" one lady would say to the other.
"I'm not very musical, you know, but I've joined the glee society,
because it's an excuse for _meeting_."
And, certainly, of all the houses in Dornton where these meetings were
held, Dr Hunt's was the favourite. Mrs Hunt was so amiable and
pleasant, the tea was so excellent, and the conversation of a most
superior flavour. There was always the chance, too, that the doctor
might look in for a moment at tea-time, and though he was discretion
itself, and never gossiped about his patients, it was interesting to
gather from his face whether he was anxious, or the reverse, as to any
special case.
This afternoon, therefore, Mrs Hunt's drawing-room presented a busy and
animated scene. It was a long, low room, with French windows, through
which a pleasant old garden, with a wide lawn and shady trees, glimpses
of red roofs beyond, and a church tower, could be seen. Little tables
were placed at convenient intervals, holding silk, scissors, cushions
full of needles and pins, and all that could be wanted for the work in
hand, which was to be embroidered in separate strips; over these many
ladies were already deeply engaged, though it was quite early, and there
were still some empty seats.
"Shall we see Mrs Forrest this afternoon?" asked one of those who sat
near the hostess at the end of the room.
"I think not," replied Mrs Hunt, as she greeted a new-comer; "she told
me she had to drive out to Losenick about the character of a
maid-servant."
"Oh, well," returned the other with a little shake of the head, "even
Mrs Forrest can't manage to be in two places at once, can she?"
Mrs Hunt smiled, and looked pleasantly round on her assembled guests,
but did not make any other answer.
"Although I was only saying this morning, there's very little Mrs
Forrest can't do if she makes up her mind to it," resumed Miss Gibbins,
the lady who had first spoken. "Look at all her arrangements at
Waverley! It's well known that she manages the schools almost
entirely--and then her house--so elegant, so orderly--and such a way
with her maids! _Some_ people consider her a little stiff in her
manner, but I don't _know_ that I should call her that."
She glanced inquiringly at Mrs Hunt, who still smiled and said nothing.
"It's not such a very difficult thing," said Mrs Hurst, the wife of the
curate of Dornton, "to be a good manager, or to have good servants, if
you have plenty of money." She pressed her lips together rather
bitterly, as she bent over her work.
"There was one thing, though," pursued Miss Gibbins, dropping her voice
a little, "that Mrs Forrest was not able to prevent, and that was her
brother-in-law's marriage. I happen to know that she felt that very
much. And it _was_ a sad mistake altogether, wasn't it?"
She addressed herself pointedly to Mrs Hunt, who was gazing serenely
out into the garden, and that lady murmured in a soft tone:
"Poor Prissy Goodwin! How pretty and nice she was!"
"Oh, as to that, dear Mrs Hunt," broke in a stout lady with round eyes
and a very deep voice, who had newly arrived, "that's not quite the
question. Poor Prissy was very pretty, and very nice and refined, and
as good as gold. We all know that. But _was_ it the right marriage for
Mr Bernard Forrest? An organist's daughter! or you might even say, a
music-master's daughter!"
"Old Mr Goodwin has aged very much lately," remarked Mrs Hunt. "I met
him this morning, looking so tired, that I made him come in and rest a
little. He had been giving a lesson to Mrs Palmer's children out at
Pynes."
"How kind and thoughtful of you, dear Mrs Hunt," said Miss Gibbins.
"That's very far for him to walk. I wonder he doesn't give it up. I
suppose, though, he can't afford to do that."
"I don't think he has ever been the same man since Prissy's marriage,"
said Mrs Hunt, "though he plays the organ more beautifully than ever."
With her spectacles perched upon her nose, her hands crossed comfortably
on her lap, and a most beaming smile on her face, Mrs Hunt looked the
picture of contented idleness, while her guests stitched away busily,
with flying fingers, and heads bent over their work. She had done about
half an inch of the pattern on her strip, and now, her needle being
unthreaded, made no attempt to continue it.
"Delia's coming in presently," she remarked placidly, meeting Miss
Gibbins' sharp glance as it rested on her idle hands; "she will take my
work a little while--ah, here she is," as the door opened.
A girl of about sixteen came towards them, stopping to speak to the
ladies as she passed them on her way up the room. She was short for her
age, and rather squarely built, holding herself very upright, and
walking with calmness and decision.
Everything about Delia Hunt seemed to express determination, from her
firm chin to her dark curly hair, which would always look rough,
although it was brushed back from her forehead and fastened up securely
in a knot at the back of her head. Nothing could make it lie flat and
smooth, however, and in spite of all Delia's efforts, it curled and
twisted itself defiantly wherever it had a chance. Perhaps, by doing
so, it helped to soften a face which would have been a little hard
without the good-tempered expression which generally filled the bright
brown eyes.
"That sort of marriage never answers," said Mrs Winn, as Delia reached
her mother's side. "Just see what unhappiness it caused. It was a
bitter blow to Mr and Mrs Forrest; it made poor old Mr Goodwin
miserable, and separated him from his only child; and as to Prissy
herself--well, the poor thing didn't live to find out her mistake, and
left her little daughter to feel the consequences of it."
"Poor little motherless darling," murmured Mrs Hunt.--"Del, my love, go
on with my work a little, while I say a few words to old Mrs Crow."
Delia took her mother's place, threaded her needle, raised her eyebrows
with an amused air, as she examined the work accomplished, and bent her
head industriously over it.
"Doesn't it seem quite impossible," said Miss Gibbins, "to realise that
Prissy's daughter is really coming to Waverley to-morrow! Why, it seems
the other day that I saw Prissy married in Dornton church!"
"It must be fifteen years ago at the least," said Mrs Winn, in such
deep tones that they seemed to roll round the room. "The child must be
fourteen years old."
"She wore grey cashmere," said Miss Gibbins, reflectively, "and a little
white bonnet. And the sun streamed in upon her through the painted
window. I remember thinking she looked like a dove. I wonder if the
child is like her."
"The Forrests have never taken much notice of Mr Goodwin, since the
marriage," said Mrs Hurst, "but I suppose, now his grandchild is to
live there, all that will be altered."
Delia looked quickly up at the speaker, but checked the words on her
lips, and said nothing.
"You can't do away with the ties of blood," said Mrs Winn; "the child's
his grandchild. You can't ignore that."
"Why should you want to ignore it?" asked Delia, suddenly raising her
eyes and looking straight at her.
The attack was so unexpected that Mrs Winn had no answer ready. She
remained speechless, with her large grey eyes wider open than usual, for
quite a minute before she said, "These are matters, Delia, which you are
too young to understand."
"Perhaps I am," answered Delia; "but I can understand one thing very
well, and that is, that Mr Goodwin is a grandfather that any one ought
to be proud of, and that, if his relations are not proud of him, it is
because they're not worthy of him."
"Oh, well," said Miss Gibbins, shaking her head rather nervously as she
looked at Delia, "we all know what a champion Mr Goodwin has in you,
Delia. `Music with its silver sound' draws you together, as Shakespeare
says. And, of course, we're all proud of our organist in Dornton, and,
of course, he has great talent. Still, you know, when all's said and
done, he _is_ a music-master, and in quite a different position from the
Forrests."
"Socially," said Mrs Winn, placing her large, white hand flat on the
table beside her, to emphasise her words, "Mr Goodwin is not on the
same footing. When Delia is older she will know what that means."
"I know it now," replied Delia. "I never consider them on the same
footing at all. There are plenty of clergymen everywhere, but where
could you find any one who can play the violin like Mr Goodwin?"
She fixed her eyes with innocent inquiry on Mrs Winn. Mrs Hurst
bridled a little.
"I do think," she said, "that clergymen occupy a position quite apart.
I like Mr Goodwin very much. I've always thought him a nice old
gentleman, and Herbert admires his playing, but--"
"Of course, of course," said Mrs Winn, "we must be all agreed as to
that.--You're too fond, my dear Delia, of giving your opinion on
subjects where ignorance should keep you silent. A girl of your age
should try to behave herself, lowly and reverently, to all her betters."
"So I do," said Delia, with a smile; "in fact, I feel so lowly and
reverent sometimes, that I could almost worship Mr Goodwin. I am ready
to humble myself to the dust, when I hear him playing the violin."
Mrs Winn was preparing to make a severe answer to this, when Miss
Gibbins, who was tired of being silent, broke adroitly in, and changed
the subject.
"You missed a treat last Thursday, Mrs Winn, by losing the Shakespeare
reading. It was rather far to get out to Pynes, to be sure, but it was
worth the trouble, to hear Mrs Hurst read `Arthur.'"
The curate's wife gave a little smile, which quickly faded as Miss
Gibbins continued: "I had no idea there was anything so touching in
Shakespeare. Positively melting! And then Mrs Palmer looked so well!
She wore that rich plum-coloured silk, you know, with handsome lace, and
a row of most beautiful lockets. I thought to myself, as she stood up
to read in that sumptuous drawing-room, that the effect was regal.
`Regal,' I said afterwards, is the only word to express Mrs Palmer's
appearance this afternoon."
"What part did Mrs Palmer read?" asked Delia, as Miss Gibbins looked
round for sympathy.
"Let me see. Dear me, it's quite escaped my memory. Ah, I have it. It
was the mother of the poor little boy, but I forget her name.--You will
know, Mrs Hurst; you have such a memory!"
"It was Constance," said the curate's wife. "Mrs Palmer didn't do
justice to the part. It was rather too much for her. Indeed, I don't
consider that they arranged the parts well last time. They gave my
husband nothing but `messengers,' and the Vicar had `King John.' Now, I
don't want to be partial, but I think most people would agree that
Herbert reads Shakespeare _rather_ better than the Vicar."
"I wonder," said Miss Gibbins, turning to Delia, as the murmur of assent
to this speech died away, "that you haven't joined us yet, but I suppose
your studies occupy you at present."
"But I couldn't read aloud, in any case, before a lot of people," said
Delia, "and Shakespeare must be so very difficult."
"You'd get used to it," said Miss Gibbins. "I remember," with a little
laugh, "how nervous _I_ felt the first time I stood up to read. My
heart beat so fast I thought it would choke me. The first sentence I
had to say was, `Cut him in pieces!' and the words came out quite in a
whisper. But now I can read long speeches without losing my breath or
feeling at all uncomfortable."
"I like the readings," said Mrs Hurst, "because they keep up one's
knowledge of Shakespeare, and that _must_ be refining and elevating, as
Herbert says."
"So pleasant, too, that the clergy can join," added Miss Gibbins.
"Mrs Crow objects to that," said Mrs Hurst. "She told me once she
considered it wrong, because they might be called straight away from
reading plays to attend a deathbed. Herbert, of course, doesn't agree
with her, or he wouldn't have helped to get them up. He has a great
opinion of Shakespeare as an elevating influence, and though he _did_
write plays, they're hardly ever acted. He doesn't seem, somehow, to
have much to do with the theatre."
"Between ourselves," said Miss Gibbins, sinking her voice and glancing
to the other end of the room, where Mrs Crow's black bonnet was nodding
confidentially at Mrs Hunt, "dear old Mrs Crow is _rather_
narrow-minded. I should think the presence of the Vicar at the readings
might satisfy her that all was right."
"The presence of _any_ clergyman," began Mrs Hurst, "ought to be
sufficient warrant that--"
But her sentence was not finished, for at this moment a little general
rustle at the further end of the room, the sudden ceasing of
conversation, and the door set wide open, showed that it was time to
adjourn for tea. Work was rolled up, thimbles and scissors put away in
work-bags, and very soon the whole assembly had floated across the hall
into the dining-room, and was pleasantly engaged upon Mrs Hunt's
hospitable preparations for refreshment. Brisk little remarks filled
the air as they stood about with their teacups in their hands.
"I never can resist your delicious scones, Mrs Hunt.--Home-made? You
don't say so. I wish my cook could make them."--"Thank you, Delia; I
_will_ take another cup of coffee: yours is always so good."--"Such a
pleasant afternoon! Dear me, nearly five o'clock? How time
flies."--"Dr Hunt very busy? Fever in Back Row? So sorry. But
decreasing? So glad."--"Good-bye, _dear_ Mrs Hunt. We meet next
Thursday, I hope?"--and so on, until the last lady had said farewell and
smiled affectionately at her hostess, and a sudden silence fell on the
room, left in the possession of Delia and her mother.
"Del, my love," said the latter caressingly, "go and put the
drawing-room straight, and see that all those things are cleared away.
I will try to get a little nap. Dear old Mrs Crow had so much to tell
me that my head quite aches."
Delia went into the deserted drawing-room, where the chairs and tables,
standing about in the little groups left by their late occupiers, still
seemed to have a confidential air, as though they were telling each
other interesting bits of news. She moved about with a preoccupied
frown on her brow, picking up morsels of silk from the floor, rolling up
strips of serge, and pushing back chairs and tables, until the room had
regained its ordinary look. Then she stretched her arms above her head,
gave a sigh of relief, and strolled out of the open French windows into
the garden. The air was very calm and still, so that various mingled
noises from the town could be plainly heard, though not loudly enough to
produce more than a subdued hum, which was rather soothing than
otherwise. Amongst them the deep recurring tones of the church bell,
ringing for evening prayers, fell upon Delia's ear as she wandered
slowly up the gravel path, her head full of busy thoughts.
They were not wholly pleasant thoughts, and they had to do chiefly with
two people, one very well known to her, and the other quite a stranger--
Mr Goodwin, and his grandchild, Anna Forrest. Delia could hardly make
up her mind whether she were pleased or annoyed at the idea of Anna's
arrival. Of course she was glad, she told herself, of anything that
would please the "Professor," as she always called Mr Goodwin; and she
was curious and anxious to see what the new-comer would be like, for
perhaps they might be companions and friends, though Anna was two years
younger than herself. She could not, however, prevent a sort of
suspicion that made her feel uneasy. Anna might be proud. She might
even speak of the Professor in the condescending tone which so many
people used in Dornton. Mrs Forrest at Waverley always looked proud,
Delia thought. Perhaps Anna would be like her.
"If she is," said Delia to herself, suddenly stopping to snap off the
head of a snapdragon which grew in an angle of the old red wall--"if she
is--if she dares--if she doesn't see that the Professor is worth more
than all the people in Dornton--_I will_ despise her--I will--"
She stopped and shook her head.
"And if it's the other way, and she loves and honours him as she ought,
and is everything to him, and, and, takes my place, what shall I do
then? Why, then, I will try not to detest her."
She laughed a little as she stooped to gather some white pinks which
bordered the path, and fastened them in her dress.
"Pretty she is sure to be," she continued to herself, "like her mother,
whom they never mention without praise--and she is almost certain to
love music. Dear old Professor, how pleased he will be! I will try not
to mind, but I do hope she can't play the violin as well as I do. After
all, it would be rather unfair if she had a beautiful face and a musical
soul as well."
The bell stopped, and the succeeding silence was harshly broken by the
shrill whistle of a train.
"There's the five o'clock train," said Delia to herself; "to-morrow by
this time she will be here."
Mrs Winn and Miss Gibbins meanwhile had pursued their way home
together, for they lived close to each other.
"It's a pity Delia Hunt has such blunt manners, isn't it?" said the
latter regretfully, "and such very decided opinions for a young girl?
It's not at all becoming. I felt quite uncomfortable just now."
"She'll know better by-and-by," said Mrs Winn. "There's a great deal
of good in Delia, but she is conceited and self-willed, like all young
people."
Miss Gibbins sighed. "She'll never be so amiable as her dear mother,"
she said.--"Why!" suddenly changing her tone to one of surprise, "isn't
that Mr Oswald?"
"Yes, I think so," said Mrs Winn, gazing after the spring-cart which
had passed them rapidly. "What then?"
"He had a _child_ with him," said Miss Gibbins impressively. "A child
with fair hair, like Prissy Goodwin's, and they came from the station.
Something tells me it was Prissy's daughter."
"Nonsense, Julia," replied Mrs Winn; "she's not expected till
to-morrow. Mrs Forrest told Mrs Hunt so herself. Besides, how should
Mr Oswald have anything to do with meeting her? That was his own
little girl with him, I daresay."
"Daisy Oswald has close-cropped, black hair," replied Miss Gibbins,
quite unshaken in her opinion. "This child was older, and her hair
shone like gold. I feel sure it was Prissy's daughter."
CHAPTER THREE.
WAVERLEY.
Meadows trim with daisies pied,
Shallow brooks and rivers wide.
Milton.
While this went on at Dornton, Anna was getting nearer and nearer to her
new home. At first she was pleased and excited at setting forth on a
journey all by herself, and found plenty to occupy her with all she saw
from the carriage windows, and with wondering which of the villages and
towns she passed so rapidly were like Dornton and Waverley. It was
surprising that the old lady sitting opposite to her could look so
placid and calm. Perhaps, however, she was not going to a strange place
amongst new people, and most likely had taken a great many journeys
already in her life. Anna was glad this was not her own ease: it must
be very dull, she thought, to be old, and to have got used to
everything, and to have almost nothing to look forward to.
As the day wore on, and the hot afternoon sun streamed in at the
windows, the old lady, who was her only companion, fell fast asleep, and
Anna began to grow rather weary. She took the case with her mother's
picture in it out of her pocket and studied it again attentively. The
gentle, sweet face seemed to smile back kindly at her. "If you are half
as beautiful and a quarter as good," her father had said. Was she at
all like the picture now? Anna wondered. Surely her hair was rather
the same colour. She pulled a piece of it round to the front--it was
certainly yellow, but hardly so bright. Well, her grandfather would
tell her--she would ask him on the very first opportunity. Her
grandfather! It was wonderful to think she should really see him soon,
and ask him all sorts of questions about her mother. He lived at
Dornton, but that was only two miles from Waverley, and, no doubt, she
should often be able to go there. He was an organist.
Her father's tone, half-pitying, half-disapproving, came back to her
with the word. She tried to think of what she knew about organists. It
was not much. There was an organist in the church in London to which
she had gone every Sunday with Miss Milverton, but he was always
concealed behind red curtains, so that she did not even know what he
looked like. The organist must certainly be an important person in a
church. Anna did not see how the service could get on without him.
What a pity that her grandfather did not play the organ in her Uncle
John's church, instead of at Dornton!
She made a great many resolves as she sat there, with her mother's
portrait in her hand: she would be very fond of her grandfather, and, of
course, he would be very fond of her; and as he lived all alone, there
would be a great many things she could do to make him happier. She
pictured herself becoming very soon his chief comforter and companion,
and began to wonder how he had done without her so long.
Lost in these thoughts, she hardly noticed that the train had begun to
slacken its pace; presently, it stopped at a large station. The old
lady roused herself, tied her bonnet strings, and evidently prepared for
a move.
"You're going farther, my dear," she said kindly. "Dornton is the next
station but one. You won't mind being alone a little while?"
She nodded and smiled from the platform. Anna handed out her numerous
parcels and baskets: the train moved on, and she was now quite alone.
She might really begin to look out for Dornton, which must be quite
near. It seemed a long time coming, however, and she had made a good
many false starts, grasping her rugs and umbrella, before there was an
unmistakable shout of "Dornton!" She got out and looked up and down the
platform, but it was easy to see that Mrs Forrest was not there. Two
porters, a newspaper boy, and one or two farmers, were moving about in
the small station, but no one in the least like Aunt Sarah. Anna stood
irresolute. She had been so certain that Aunt Sarah would be there,
that she had not even wondered what she should do in any other case.
Mrs Forrest had promised to come herself, and Anna could not remember
that she had ever failed to carry out her arrangements at exactly the
time named.
"If it had been father, now," she said to herself in her perplexity, "he
would perhaps have forgotten, but Aunt Sarah--"
"Any luggage, miss?" asked the red-faced young porter.
"Oh yes, please," said Anna; "and I expected some one to meet me--a
lady."
She looked anxiously at him.
"Do 'ee want to go into the town?" he asked, as Anna pointed out her
trunks. "There's a omnibus outside."
"No; I want to go to Waverley Vicarage," said Anna, feeling very
deserted. "How can I get there?"
She followed the porter as he wheeled the boxes outside the station,
where a small omnibus was waiting, and also a high spring-cart, in which
sat a well-to-do-looking farmer.
"You ain't seen no one from Waverley, Mr Oswald?" said the porter.
"This 'ere young lady expects some one to meet her."
The farmer looked thoughtfully at Anna.
"Waverley, eh," he repeated, "Vicarage?"
"Ah," said the porter, nodding.
Another long gaze.
"Well, I'm going by the gate myself," he said at last. "I reckon Molly
wouldn't make much odds of the lot," glancing at the luggage, "if the
young lady would like a lift."
"Perhaps," said Anna, hesitatingly, "I'd better have a cab, as Mrs
Forrest is not here."
"I could order you a fly at the Blue Boar," said the porter.
"'Twouldn't be ready, not for a half-hour or so. Mr Oswald 'd get yer
over a deal quicker."
No cabs! What a strange place, and how unlike London! Anna glanced
uncertainly at the high cart, the tall strawberry horse stamping
impatiently, and the good-natured, brown face of the farmer. It would
be an odd way of arriving at Waverley, and she was not at all sure that
Aunt Sarah would approve of it; but what was she to do? It was very
kind of the farmer; would he expect to be paid?
"Better come along, missie," said Mr Oswald, as these thoughts passed
rapidly through her mind. "You'll be over in a brace of shakes.--Hoist
them things in at the back, Jim."
Almost before she knew it, Anna had taken the broad hand held out to
help her, had mounted the high step, and was seated by the farmer's
side.
"Any port in a storm, eh?" he said, good-naturedly, as he put the rug
over her knees.--"All right at the back, Jim?"
A shake of the reins, and Molly dashed forward with a bound that almost
threw Anna off her seat, and whirled the cart out of the station-yard at
what seemed to her a fearful pace.
"She'll quiet down directly," said Mr Oswald; "she's fretted a bit
standing at the station. Don't ye be nervous, missie; there's not a
morsel of harm in her."
Nevertheless, Anna felt obliged to grasp the side of the cart tightly as
Molly turned into the principal street of Dornton, which was wide, and,
fortunately, nearly empty. What a quiet, dull-looking street it was,
after the noisy rattle of London, and how low and small the shops and
houses looked! If only Molly would go a little slower!
"Yonder's the church," said Mr Oswald, pointing up a steep side-street
with his whip; "and yonder's the river," waving it in the opposite
direction.
Anna turned her head quickly, and caught a hurried glimpse of a grey
tower on one side, and a thin white streak in the distant, low-lying
meadows on the other.
"And here's the new bank," continued Mr Oswald, with some pride, as
they passed a tall, red brick building which seemed to stare the other
houses out of countenance; "and the house inside the double white gates
is Dr Hunt's."
"I suppose you know Dornton very well?" Anna said as he paused.
"Been here, man and boy, a matter of forty years--leastways, in the
neighbourhood," replied the farmer.
"Then you know where Mr Goodwin lives, I suppose?" said Anna.
"Which of 'em?" said the farmer. "There's Mr Goodwin, the baker; and
Mr Goodwin, the organist at Saint Mary's."
"Oh, the organist," said Anna.
"To be sure I do. He lives in Number 4 Back Row. You can't see it from
here; it's an ancient part of Dornton, in between High Street and Market
Street. He's been here a sight of years--every one knows Mr Goodwin--
he's as well known as the parish church is."
Anna felt pleased to hear that. It convinced her that her grandfather
must be an important person, although Back Row did not sound a very
important place.
"How fast your horse goes," she said, by way of continuing the
conversation, for, after her long silence in the train, it was quite
pleasant to talk to somebody.
"Ah, steps out, doesn't she?" said the farmer, with a gratified chuckle.
"You won't beat her for pace _this_ side of the county. She was bred
at Leas Farm, and she's a credit to it."
They were now clear of the town, and had turned off the dusty high-road
into a lane, with high hedges on either side.
"Oh, how pretty!" cried Anna.
She could see over these hedges, across the straggling wreaths of
dog-roses and clematis, to the meadows on either hand, where the tall
grass, sprinkled with silvery ox-eyed daisies, stood ready for hay.
Beyond these again came the deep brown of some ploughed land, and now
and then bits of upland pasture, with cows and sheep feeding. The river
Dorn, which Mr Oswald had pointed out from the town, wound its zigzag
course along the valley, which they were now leaving behind them. As
they mounted a steep hill, Molly had considerably slackened her speed,
so that Anna could look about at her ease and observe all this.
"What a beautiful place this is!" she exclaimed with delight.
"Well enough," said the farmer; "nice open country. Yonder pasture,
where the cows are, belongs to me; if you're stopping at Waverley,
missie, I can show you a goodish lot of cows at Leas Farm."
"Oh, I should love to see them!" said Anna.
"My little daughter 'll be proud to show 'em yer; she's just twelve
years old, Daisy is. Now, you wouldn't guess what I gave her as a
birthday present?"
"No," said Anna; "I can't guess at all."
"'Twas as pretty a calf as you ever saw, with a white star on its
forehead. Nothing would do after that but I must buy her a collar for
it. `Puppa,' she says, `when you go into Dornton, you must get me a
collar and a bell, like there is in my picture-book.' My word!" said
the farmer, slapping his knee, "how all the beasts carried on when they
first heard that bell in the farmyard! You never saw such antics! It
was like as if they were clean mad!"
He threw back his head and gave a jolly laugh at the bare recollection;
it was so hearty and full of enjoyment, that Anna felt obliged to laugh
a little too.
"Here you are, my lass," he said, touching Molly lightly with the whip
as they reached the top of the hill. "All level ground now between here
and Waverley.--Now, what are you shying at?" as Molly swerved away from
a stile in the hedge.
It was at an old man who was climbing slowly over it into the steep
lane. He wore shabby, black clothes: his shoulders were bent, and his
grey hair rather long; in his hand he carried a violin-case.
"That's the Mr Goodwin you were asking after, missie," said the farmer,
touching his hat with his whip, as they passed quickly by. "Looks
tired, poor old gentleman; hot day for a long walk."
Anna started and looked eagerly back, but Molly's long stride had
already placed a good distance between herself and the figure which was
descending the hill. That her grandfather! Was it possible? He looked
so poor, so dusty, so old, such a contrast to the merry June evening, as
he tramped wearily down the flowery lane, a little bent to one side by
the weight of his violin-case. Not an important or remarkable person,
such as she had pictured to herself, but a tired old man, of whom the
farmer spoke in a tone of pity. Her father had done so too, she
remembered. Did every one pity her grandfather? There was all the more
need, certainly, that she should help and cheer him, yet Anna felt
vaguely disappointed, she hardly knew why.
These thoughts chased away her smiles completely, and such a grave
expression took their place that the farmer noticed the change.
"Tired, missie, eh?" he inquired. "Well, we're there now, so to speak.
Yonder's the spire of Waverley church, and the Vicarage is close against
it--steady then, lass," as Molly objected to turning in at a white gate.
"It's a terrible business is travelling by rail," he continued, "to take
the spirit out of you; I'd sooner myself ride on horseback for a whole
day, than sit in a train half a one."
A long, narrow road, with iron railings on either side, dividing it from
broad meadows, brought them to another gate, which the farmer got down
to open, and then led Molly up to the porch of the Vicarage.
A boy running out from the stable-yard close by stood at the horse's
head while Mr Oswald carefully helped Anna down from her high seat,
took out her trunks from the back of the cart, and rang the bell. Again
the question of payment troubled her, but he did not leave her long to
consider it.
"Well, you're landed now, missie," he said with his good-natured smile,
as he took the reins and turned the impatient Molly towards the gate;
"so I'll say good-day to you, and my respects to Mr and Mrs Forrest."
Molly seemed to Anna to make but one bound from the door to the gate,
and to carry the cart and the farmer out of sight, while she was still
murmuring her thanks.
She turned to the maid-servant, who had opened the door and was gazing
at her and her boxes with some surprise.
"Yes, miss," she said, in answer to Anna's inquiry; "Mrs Forrest is at
home; she's in the garden, if you'll please to come this way; we didn't
expect you till to-morrow."
Through the door opposite, Anna could see a lawn, a tea-table under a
large tree, a gentleman in a wicker chair, and a lady, in a
broad-brimmed hat, sauntering about with a watering-pot in her hand.
When she saw Anna following the maid, the lady dropped her watering-pot,
and stood rooted to the ground in an attitude of intense surprise.
"Why, Anna!" she exclaimed.
"Didn't you expect me, Aunt Sarah?" said Anna. "Father said you would
meet me to-day."
"Now," said Mrs Forrest, turning round to her husband in the wicker
chair, "isn't that exactly like your brother Bernard?"
"Well, in the meantime, here is Anna, safe and sound," he replied; "so
there's no harm done.--Come and sit down in the shade, my dear; you've
had a hot journey."
"Where's your luggage?" continued Mrs Forrest, as she kissed her niece.
"Did you walk up from the station, and leave it there?"
"Oh no, aunt; I didn't know the way," said Anna.
She began to feel afraid she had done quite the wrong thing in coming
with Mr Oswald.
"Oh, you had to take a fly," said Mrs Forrest. "It's a most provoking
thing altogether."
"It doesn't really matter much, my dear, does it?" said Mr Forrest, as
he placed a chair for his niece. "She's managed to get here without any
accident, although you did not meet her.--Suppose you give us some tea."
"I took the trouble to make a note of the train and day," continued Mrs
Forrest, "and I repeated them twice to Bernard, so that there should be
no mistake."
"Well, you couldn't have done more," said Mr Forrest, soothingly.
"Bernard always was a forgetful fellow, you know."
"Such a very unsuitable thing for the child to arrive quite alone at the
station, and no one to meet her there! And I had made all my
arrangements for to-morrow so carefully."
As Anna drank her tea, she listened to all this, and intended every
moment to mention that Mr Oswald had driven her from the station, but
she was held back by a mixture of shyness and fear of what her aunt
would say; perhaps she had done something very silly, and what Mrs
Forrest would call unsuitable! At any rate, it was easier just now to
leave her under the impression that she had taken a fly; but, of course,
directly she got a chance, she would tell her all about it. For some
time, however, Mrs Forrest continued to lament that her arrangements
had not been properly carried out, and when the conversation did change,
Anna had a great many questions to answer about her father and his
intended journey. Then a message was brought out to her uncle, over
which he and Mrs Forrest bent in grave consultation. She had now
leisure to look about her. How pretty it all was! The long, low front
of the Vicarage stood facing her, with the smooth green lawn between
them, and up the supports of the veranda there were masses of climbing
plants in full bloom. The old part of the house had a very deep,
red-tiled roof, with little windows poking out of it here and there, and
the wing which the present Vicar had built stood at right angles to it.
Anna thought her father was right in not admiring the new bit as much as
the old, but, nevertheless, with the evening light resting on it, it all
looked very pretty and peaceful just now.
"And how do you like the look of Waverley, Anna?" asked Mrs Forrest.
Anna could answer with great sincerity that she thought it was a lovely
place, and she said it so heartily that her aunt was evidently pleased.
She kissed her.
"I hope you will be happy whilst you are with us, my dear," she said,
"and that Waverley may always be full of pleasant recollections to you."
Anna was wakened next morning from a very sound sleep by a little
tapping noise at her window, which she heard for some time in a sort of
half-dream, without being quite roused by it; it was so persistent,
however, that at last she felt she must open her eyes to find out what
it was. Where was she? For the first few minutes she looked round the
room in puzzled surprise, and could not make out at all. It was so
quiet, and clear, and bright, with sunbeams dancing about on the walls,
so different altogether from the dingy, grey colour of a morning in
London. Soon, however, she remembered she was in the country at
Waverley; and her mother's picture on the toilet-table brought back to
her mind all that had passed yesterday--her journey, her drive with the
farmer, her grandfather in the lane.
There were two things she must certainly do to-day, she told herself, as
she watched the quivering shadows on the wall. First, she must ask her
aunt to let her go at once and see her grandfather; and then she must
tell her all about her arrival at the station yesterday, and how kindly
Farmer Oswald had come to her help. It was strange that, now she had
actually got to Waverley, and was only two miles away from her
grandfather, that she did not feel nearly so eager to talk to him as she
had while she was on her journey. However, she need not think about
that now. Here she was at Waverley, where it was all sunny and
delightful; she should not see smoky London, or have any more walks in
the Park with her governess, for a long while, perhaps never again. She
meant to enjoy herself, and be very happy, and nothing disagreeable or
tiresome could happen in this beautiful place.
There was the little tapping noise again! What could it be? Anna
jumped out of bed, went softly to the window, and drew up the blind.
Her bedroom was over the veranda, up which some cluster-roses had
climbed, flung themselves in masses on the roof, and reached out some of
their branches as far as the window-sill. One bold little bunch had
pressed itself close up against the pane, and the tight pink buds
clattered against it whenever they were stirred by the breeze. The
tapping noise was fully accounted for, but Anna could not turn away, it
was all so beautiful and so new to her.
She pushed up the window, and leaned out. What a lovely smell! There
was a long bed of mignonette and heliotrope just below, but, besides the
fragrance from this, the air was full of all the sweet scents which
belong to an early summer morning in the country. What nice, curious
noises, too, all mixed up together! The bees buzzing in the flowers
beneath, the little winds rustling in the leaves, the cheerful chirps
and scraps of song from the birds, the crow of a distant cock, the deep,
low cooing of the pigeons in the stable-yard near. Anna longed to be
out-of-doors, among these pleasant sights and sounds; she suddenly
turned away, and began to dress herself quickly. The stable clock
struck seven just as she was ready, and she ran down-stairs into the
garden with a delightful sense of freedom. The sunshine was splendid;
this was indeed different from walking in a London park; how happy she
should be in this beautiful place! On exploring a little, she found
that the garden was not nearly so large as it looked, for the end of it
was hidden by a great walnut tree which stood on the lawn. Behind this
came a square piece of kitchen garden, divided from the fields by a sunk
fence, with a little wooden foot-bridge across it.
Anna danced along by the side of the border, where the flowers stood in
blooming luxuriance and the most perfect order. Aunt Sarah was justly
proud of her garden, and at present it was in brilliant perfection.
Anna knew hardly any of their names, and indeed, except the roses, they
were strange to her; she had not thought there could be so many kinds,
and all so beautiful. Reaching the kitchen garden, however, she found
some old friends--a long row of sweet-peas, fluttering on their stems,
like many-coloured butterflies poised for flight; these were familiar,
for she had seen them in greengrocers' shops in London, tied up in
tight, close bunches. How different they looked at Waverley! The
colours were twice as bright.
"I like these best of all," she said aloud, and as she spoke, a step
sounded on the gravel, and there was Aunt Sarah, in her garden hat, with
a basket, and scissors in her hand.
"You admire my sweet-peas, Anna," she said, kissing her. "I came out to
gather some. I find it is so much better to get my flowers before the
sun is too hot. Now, you can help me."
They walked slowly along the hedge of sweet-peas together, picking them
as they went.
"What a beautiful garden yours is, Aunt Sarah," cried Anna.
Mrs Forrest looked pleased.
"There are many larger ones about here," she said, "but I certainly
think my flowers do me credit. I attend to them a great deal myself,
but, of course, I cannot give them as much time as I should like. Now
you are come, we shall be busier than ever, because we must give some
time every day to your studies."
"Miss Milverton said she would write to you about the lessons I have
been doing, aunt," said Anna.
"I have arranged," continued Aunt Sarah, "to read with you for an hour
every morning; it is difficult to squeeze it in, but I have managed it.
And then I am hoping that you will join in some lessons with the
Palmers--girls of your own age, who live near. If their governess will
allow you to learn French and German with them, it would be a good plan,
and would give you companions besides.--By the way, Anna, Miss Milverton
says in her letter that you don't make any progress in your music. How
is that?"
"I don't care very much for music," said Anna. "I would much rather not
go on with it, unless you want me to."
She thought that her aunt looked rather relieved, as she remarked that
it was useless for people who were not musical to waste their time in
learning to play, and that she should not make a point of music-lessons
at present.
"Now I must cut some roses," added Mrs Forrest, as she put the glowing
bunches of sweet-peas into her basket. "Come this way."
Anna followed to a little nursery of standard rose-trees near the
foot-bridge.
"What are those chimneys I can just see straight over the fields?" she
asked her aunt.
"Leas Farm," she replied. "It belongs to Mr Oswald, a very respectable
farmer, who owns a good deal of land round here. We have our milk and
butter from him. Your uncle used to keep his own cows, but he found
them a trouble, and Mrs Oswald is an excellent dairy woman."
Here was an opportunity for Anna's explanation. The words were on her
lips, when they were interrupted by the loud sound of a bell from the
house.
"The breakfast bell!" said Mrs Forrest, abruptly turning away from her
roses, and beginning to hasten towards the house, without pausing a
moment. "I hope you will always be particular in one point, my dear
Anna, and that is punctuality. More hangs upon it than most people
recognise: the comfort of a household certainly does. If you are late
for one thing, you are late for the next, and so on, until the whole day
is thrown into disorder. I am obliged to map my day carefully out to
get through my business, and I expect others to do the same. I speak
seriously, because your father is one of the most unpunctual men I ever
knew; and if you have inherited his failing, you cannot begin to
struggle against it too soon."
Anna had not been many days at the Vicarage before she found that
punctuality was Aunt Sarah's idol, and that nothing offended her more
than want of respect to it from others. Certainly everything went like
clockwork at Waverley, and though Anna fancied that Mr Forrest inwardly
rebelled a little, he was outwardly quite submissive. All Aunt Sarah's
arrangements and plans were so neatly fitted into each other that the
least transgression in one upset the next, and the effect of this was
that she had no odds and ends of leisure to spare. Anna even found it
difficult to put all the questions she had in her mind.
"Not now, my dear, I am engaged," was the frequent reply. She managed
to learn, however, that a visit to her grandfather had already been
planned for that week, and that Mrs Forrest intended to leave her at
his house at Dornton and fetch her again after driving farther on to
make a call.
With this she was obliged to be satisfied, and it was quite strange how,
after a few days, the new surroundings and rules and pleasures of
Waverley seemed to make much that had filled her mind on her arrival
fade and grow less important. She still wished to see her grandfather
again; but the idea of being his chief comforter and support now seemed
impossible, and rather foolish, and she would not have hinted it to Aunt
Sarah on any account. Neither did it seem necessary, as the days went
on, to mention her drive with Mr Oswald and the accident of passing her
grandfather in the lane.
CHAPTER FOUR.
THE PROFESSOR.
...I have heard a grave divine say that God has two dwellings--one in
heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.--_Izaak Walton_.
"Del, my love," said Mrs Hunt, "I feel one of my worst headaches coming
on. Will you go this afternoon to see Mrs Winn, instead of me?" Delia
stood under the medlar tree on the lawn, ready to go out, with a bunch
of roses in her hand, and her violin-case. She looked at her mother
inquiringly, for Mrs Hunt had not just then any appearance of
discomfort. She was sitting in an easy canvas chair, a broad-brimmed
hat upon her head, and a newspaper in her hands; her slippered feet
rested on a little wooden stool, and on a table by her side were a cup
of tea, a nicely buttered roll, and a few very ripe strawberries.
"Hadn't you better wait," said Delia, after a moment's pause, "until you
can go yourself? Mrs Winn would much rather see you. Besides--it is
my music afternoon."
Mrs Hunt was looking up and down the columns of the paper while her
daughter spoke: she did not answer at once, and when she did, it was
scarcely an answer so much as a continuation of her own train of
thoughts.
"She has had a tickling cough for so many nights. She can hardly sleep
for it, and I promised her a pot of my own black currant jelly."
"It's a great deal out of my way," said Delia.
"If you go," continued Mrs Hunt, without raising her eyes, "you will
find the row of little pots on the top shelf of the storeroom cupboard."
Delia bit her lip.
"If I go," she said, "I must shorten my music-lesson."
Mrs Hunt said nothing, but looked as amiable as ever. A frown gathered
on Delia's forehead: she stood irresolute for a minute, and then, with a
sudden effort, turned and went quickly into the house. Mrs Hunt
stirred her tea, tasted a strawberry, and leant back in her chair with a
gentle sigh of comfort. In a few minutes Delia reappeared hurriedly.
"There is _no_ black currant jelly in the storeroom," she said, with an
air of exasperation.
Mrs Hunt looked up in mild surprise.
"How strange!" she said. "Could I have moved those pots? Ah, now I
remember! I had a dream that all the jam was mouldy, and so I moved it
into that cupboard in the kitchen. That was why cook left. She didn't
like me to use that cupboard for the jam."
"And, meanwhile, where is it?" said Delia.
"Such a wicked mother to give you so much trouble!" murmured Mrs Hunt,
with a sweet smile. "But, Del, my love, you must try not to look so
morose for trifles--it gives _such_ an ugly turn to the features.
You'll find the jelly in that nice corner cupboard in the kitchen.
Here's the key"--feeling in her pocket--"no; it is not here--where did I
leave my keys? Oh, you'll find them in the pocket of my black serge
dress--and if they're not there, they are sure to be in the pocket of my
gardening apron. My kind love to Mrs Winn. Tell her to take it
constantly in the night. And don't hurry, love, it's _so_ warm; you
look heated already."
In spite of this last advice, it was almost at a run that Delia, having
at last found the keys and the jam, set forth on her errand. Perhaps,
if she were very quick, she need not lose much time with the Professor,
after all, but she felt ruffled and rather cross at the delay. It was
not an unusual frame of mind, for she was not naturally of a patient
temper, and did not bear very well the little daily frets and jars of
her life. She chafed inwardly as she went quickly on her way, that her
music, which seemed to her the most important thing in the world, should
be sacrificed to anything so uninteresting and dull as Mrs Winn's black
currant jam. It was all the more trying this afternoon, because, since
Anna Forrest's arrival, she had purposely kept away from the Professor,
and had not seen him for a whole fortnight. A mixed feeling of jealousy
and pride had made her determined that Anna should have every
opportunity of making Mr Goodwin's acquaintance without any
interference from herself. It was only just and right that his
grandchild should have the first place in his affections, the place
which hitherto had been her own. Well, now she must take the second
place, and if Anna made the Professor happier, it would not matter. At
any rate, no one should know, however keenly she felt it.
Mrs Winn, who was a widow, lived in an old-fashioned, red brick house
facing the High Street; it had a respectable, dignified appearance,
suggesting solid comfort, like the person of its owner. Mrs Winn,
however, was a lady not anxious for her own well-being only, but most
charitably disposed towards others who were not so prosperous as
herself. She was the Vicar's right hand in all the various methods for
helping the poor of his parish: clothing clubs, Dorcas meetings, coal
clubs, lending library, were all indebted to Mrs Winn for substantial
aid, both in the form of money and personal help.
She was looked up to as a power in Dornton, and her house was much
frequented by all those interested in parish matters, so that she was
seldom to be found alone. Perhaps, also, the fact that the delightful
bow-window of her usual up-stairs sitting-room looked straight across to
Appleby's, the post-office and stationer, increased its attractions.
"It makes it so lively," Mrs Winn was wont to observe. "I seldom pass
a day, even if I don't go out, without seeing Mr Field, or Mr Hurst,
or some of the country clergy, going in and out of Appleby's. I never
feel dull."
To-day, to her great relief, Delia found Mrs Winn quite alone. She was
sitting at a table drawn up into the bow-window, busily engaged in
covering books with whitey-brown paper. On her right was a pile of
gaily bound volumes, blue, red, and purple, which were quickly reduced
to a pale brown, unattractive appearance in her practised hands, and
placed in a pile on her left. Delia thought Mrs Winn looked
whitey-brown as well as the books, for there was no decided colour about
her: her eyes were pale, as well as the narrow line of hair which showed
beneath the border of her white cap; and her dresses were always of a
doubtful shade, between brown and grey.
She welcomed Delia kindly, but with the repressed air of severity which
she always reserved for her.
"How like your dear mother!" she exclaimed, on receiving the pot of
jelly.--"Yes; my cough is a little better, tell her, but I thought I
would keep indoors to-day--and, you see, I've all these books to get
through, so it's just as well. Mr Field got them in London for the
library the other day."
"What a pity they must be covered," said Delia, glancing from one pile
to the other; "the children would like the bright colours so much
better."
"A nice state they would be in, in a week," said Mrs Winn, stolidly, as
she folded, and snipped, and turned a book about in her large, capable
hands. "Besides, it's better to teach the children not to care for
pretty things."
"Is it?" said Delia. "I should have thought that was just what they
ought to learn."
"The love of pretty things," said Mrs Winn, sternly, "is like the love
of money, the root of all evil; and has led quite as many people
astray.--All these books have to be labelled and numbered," she added,
after a pause. "You might do some, Delia, if you're not in a hurry."
"Oh, but I am," said Delia, glancing at the clock. "I am going to Mr
Goodwin for a lesson, and I am late already."
Mrs Winn had, however, some information to give about Mr Goodwin.
Julia Gibbins, who had just looked in, had met him on the way to give a
lesson at Pynes.
"So," she added, "he can't possibly be home for another half-hour at
least, you know; and you may just as well spend the time in doing
something useful."
With a little sigh of disappointment, Delia took off her gloves and
seated herself opposite to Mrs Winn. Everything seemed against her
to-day.
"And how," said that lady, having supplied her with scissors and paper,
"do you get on with Anna Forrest? You're with Mr Goodwin so much, I
suppose you know her quite well by this time."
"Indeed, I don't," said Delia. "I haven't even seen her yet; have you?"
"I've seen her twice," said Mrs Winn. "She's pretty enough, though not
to be compared to her mother; more like the Forrests, and has her
father's pleasant manners. If _looks_ were the only things to consider,
she would do very well."
"What's the matter with her?" asked Delia, bluntly, for Mrs Winn spoke
as though she knew much more than she expressed.
"Why, I've every reason to suppose," she began deliberately--then
breaking off--"Take care, Delia," she exclaimed; "you're cutting that
cover too narrow. Let me show you. You must leave a good bit to tuck
under, don't you see, or it will be off again directly."
Delia had never in her life been so anxious for Mrs Winn to finish a
sentence, but she tried to control her impatience, and bent her
attention to the brown paper cover.
"It only shows," continued Mrs Winn, when her instructions were ended,
"that I was right in what I said the other day about Mr Bernard
Forrest's marriage. That sort of thing never answers. That child has
evidently been brought up without a strict regard for truth."
"What has she done?" asked Delia.
"Not, of course," said Mrs Winn, "that poor Prissy could have had
anything to do with that."
The book Delia held slipped from her impatient fingers, and fell to the
ground flat on its face.
"My _dear_ Delia," said Mrs Winn, picking it up, and smoothing the
leaves, with a shocked look, "the books get worn out quite soon enough,
without being tossed about like that."
"I'm very sorry," said Delia, humbly.--"But do tell me what it is you
mean about Anna Forrest."
"It's nothing at all pleasant," said Mrs Winn, "but as you're likely to
see something of her, you ought to know that I've every reason to
believe that she's not quite straightforward. Now, with all your
faults, Delia--and you've plenty of them--I never found you untruthful."
She fixed her large, round eyes on her companion for a moment, but as
Delia made no remark, resumed--
"On the evening of your last working party but one, Julia Gibbins and I
saw Mr Oswald of Leas Farm driving Anna Forrest from the station. Of
course, we didn't know her then. But Julia felt sure it was Anna, and
it turned out she was right. Curiously enough, we met Mrs Forrest and
the child in Appleby's shortly after, and Mrs Forrest said how unlucky
it had been that there was a confusion about the day of her niece's
arrival, and no one to meet her at the station; but, fortunately, she
said, Anna was sensible enough to take a fly, so that was all right.
Now, you see, my dear Delia, she _didn't_ take a fly," added Mrs Winn,
solemnly, "so she must have deceived her aunt."
Mrs Winn's most important stories had so often turned out to be founded
on mistakes, that Delia was not much impressed by this one, nor disposed
to think worse of Anna because of it.
"Oh, I daresay there's a mistake somewhere," she said, lightly, rising
and picking up her flowers and her violin-case. "I must go now, Mrs
Winn; the Professor will be back by the time I get there--good-bye."
She hurried out of the room before Mrs Winn could begin another
sentence; for long experience had taught her that the subject would not
be exhausted for a long while, and that a sudden departure was the only
way of escape.
A quarter of an hour's quick walk brought her to Number 4 Back Row, and
looking in at the sitting-room window, as her custom was, she saw that
the Professor had indeed arrived before her.
His dwelling was a contrast in every way to that of Mrs Winn. For one
thing, instead of standing boldly out before the world of Dornton High
Street, it was smuggled away, with a row of little houses like itself,
in a narrow sort of passage, enclosed between two wide streets. This
passage ended in a blank wall, and was, besides, too narrow for any but
foot-passengers to pass up it, so that it would have been hard to find a
quieter or more retired spot. The little, old houses in it were only
one storey high, and very solidly built, with thick walls, and the
windows in deep recesses; before each a strip of garden, and a gravel
walk stretched down to a small gate. Back Row was the very oldest part
of Dornton, and though the houses were small, they had always been lived
in by respectable people, and preserved a certain air of gentility.
Without waiting to knock, Delia hurried in at the door of Number 4,
which led straight into the sitting-room. The Professor was leaning
back in his easy-chair, his boots white with dust, and an expression of
fatigue and dejection over his whole person.
"Oh, Professor," was her first remark, as she threw down her
violin-case, "you _do_ look tired! Have you had your tea?"
"I believe, my dear," he replied, rather faintly, "Mrs Cooper has not
come in yet."
Mrs Cooper was a charwoman, who came in at uncertain intervals to cook
the Professor's meals and clean his rooms: as he was not exacting, the
claims of her other employers were always satisfied first, and if she
were at all busier than usual, he often got scanty attention.
Without waiting to hear more, Delia made her way to the little kitchen,
and set about her preparations in a very business-like manner. She was
evidently well acquainted with the resources of the household, for she
bustled about, opening cupboards, and setting tea-things on a tray, as
though she were quite at home. In a wonderfully short time she had
prepared a tempting meal, and carried it into the sitting-room, so that,
when the Professor came back from changing his boots, he found
everything quite ready. His little round table, cleared of the litter
of manuscripts and music-books, was drawn up to the open window, and
covered with a white cloth. On it there was some steaming coffee, eggs,
and bread and butter, a bunch of roses in the middle, and his arm-chair
placed before it invitingly.
He sank into it with a sigh of comfort and relief.
"How very good your coffee smells, Delia!" he said; "quite different
from Mrs Cooper's."
"I daresay, if the truth were known," said Delia, carefully pouring it
out, "that you had no dinner to speak of before you walked up to Pynes
and back again."
"I had a sandwich," answered Mr Goodwin, meekly, for Delia was bending
a searching and severe look upon him.
"Then Mrs Cooper didn't come!" she exclaimed. "Really we ought to look
out for some one else: I believe she does it on purpose."
"Now I beg of you, Delia," said the Professor, leaning forward
earnestly, "not to send Mrs Cooper away. She's a very poor woman, and
would miss the money. She told me only the last time she was here that
the doctor had ordered cod-liver oil for the twins, and she couldn't
afford to give it them."
"Oh, the twins!" said Delia, with a little scorn.
"Well, my dear, she _has_ twins; she brought them here once in a
perambulator."
"But that's no reason at all she should not attend properly to you,"
said Delia.
Mr Goodwin put down his cup of coffee, which he had begun to drink with
great relish, and looked thoroughly cast down.
Delia laughed a little.
"Well, I won't, then," she said. "Mrs Cooper shall stay, and neglect
her duties, and spoil your food as long as you like."
"Thank you, my dear," said the Professor, brightening up again, "she
really does extremely well, though, of course, she doesn't"--glancing at
the table--"make things look so nice as you do."
Delia blamed herself for staying away so long, when she saw with what
contented relish her old friend applied himself to the simple fare she
had prepared; it made her thoroughly ashamed to think that he should
have suffered neglect through her small feelings of jealousy and pride.
He should not be left for a whole fortnight again to Mrs Cooper's
tender mercies.
"We are to have a lesson to-night, I hope," said Mr Goodwin presently;
"it must be a long time since we had one, Delia, isn't it?"
"A whole fortnight," she answered, "but"--glancing wistfully at her
violin-case--"you've had such hard work to-day, I know, if you've been
to Pynes; perhaps it would be better to put it off."
But Mr Goodwin would not hear of this: it would refresh him; it would
put the other lessons out of his head; they would try over the last
sonata he had given Delia to practise.
"Did you make anything of it?" he asked. "It is rather difficult."
Delia's face, which until now had been full of smiles and happiness,
clouded over mournfully.
"Oh, Professor," she cried, "I'm in despair about my practising. If I
could get some more clear time to it, I know I could get on. But it's
always the same; the days get frittered up into tiny bits with things
which don't seem to matter, and I feel I don't make any way; just as I
am getting a hard passage right, I have to break off."
This was evidently not a new complaint to Mr Goodwin.
"Well, well, my dear," he said, kindly, "we will try it over together,
and see how we get on; I daresay it is better than you think."
Delia quickly collected the tea-things and carried them into the
kitchen, to prevent any chance of Mrs Cooper clattering and banging
about the room during the lesson; then she took out her violin, put her
music on the stand, and began to play, without more ado; the Professor
leaning back in his chair meanwhile, with closed eyes, and ears on the
alert to detect faults or passages wrongly rendered. As he sat there,
perfectly still, a calm expression came into his face, which made him
for the time look much younger than was usually the case. He was not a
very old man, but past troubles had left their traces in deep lines and
wrinkles, and his hair was quite white; only his eyes preserved that
look of eternal youth which is sometimes granted to those whose thoughts
have always been unselfish, kindly, and generous. Delia played on,
halting a little over difficult passages, and as she played, the
Professor's face changed with the music, showing sometimes an agony of
anxiety during an intricate bit, and relaxing into a calm smile when she
got to smooth water again.
Once, as though urged by some sudden impulse, he rose and began to
stride up and down the room; but when she saw this, Delia dropped her
bow, and said in a warning voice, "Now, Professor!" when he at once
resumed his seat, and waited patiently until she had finished.
"It won't do, Delia," he said; "you've got the idea, but you can't carry
it out."
"Oh, I know," she replied, mournfully. "I know how bad it is, and the
worst of it is, that I can hear how it ought to be all the time."
"No," he said, quickly, "that's not the worst of it; that's the best of
it. If you were satisfied with it as it is, you would be a hopeless
pupil. But you've something of the true artist in you, Delia. The true
artist, you know, is never satisfied."
"I believe, though," said Delia, "that if I could shut myself up alone
somewhere for a time with my violin, and no one to disturb me, I should
be able to do something. I might not be satisfied, but oh, how happy I
should be! As it is--"
"As it is, you must do as greater souls have done before you," put in
the Professor--"win your way towards your ideal through troubles and
hindrances."
"I don't get far, though," said Delia, mournfully.
"Do you think you would get far by shutting yourself away from the
common duties of your life?" said Mr Goodwin, in a kind voice. "It's a
very poor sort of talent that wants petting and coaxing like that.
Those great souls in the past who have taught us most, have done it
while reaching painfully up to their vision through much that thwarted
and baffled them. Their lives teach us as well as their art, and
believe me, Delia, when the artist's life fails in duty and devotion,
his art fails too in some way."
"It is so hard to remember that all those dusty, little, everyday things
matter," said Delia.
"But if you think of what they stand for, they do matter very much.
Call them self-discipline, and patience, and they are very important,
above all, to an artist. I have heard people say," continued Mr
Goodwin, reflectively, "that certain failings of temper and self-control
are to be excused in artists, because their natures are sensitive. Now,
that seems to me the very reason that they should be better than other
people--more open to good influences. And I believe, when this has not
been so, it has been owing rather to a smallness of character than to
their artistic temperament."
Delia smiled.
"I don't know," she said, "if I have anything of an artist in me, but I
have a small character, for I am always losing my temper--except when I
am with you, Professor. If I talked to you every day, and had plenty of
time to practise, I should have the good temper of an angel."
"But not of a human being. That must come, not from outward things
being pleasant, but from inward things being right. Believe an old man,
my dear, who has had some trials and disappointments in his life, the
best sort of happiness is his--
"Whose high endeavours are an inward light
Which makes the path before him always bright.
"Those endeavours may not bring fame or success, but they do bring light
to shine on all those everyday things you call dusty, and turn them to
gold."
Delia stood by her music-stand, her eyes fixed with a far-away gaze on
the window, and a rebellious little frown on her brow.
"But I should _love_ to be famous," she suddenly exclaimed, reaching up
her arms and clasping her hands behind her head. "Professor, I should
_love_ it! Fancy being able to play so as to speak to thousands of
people, and make them hear what you say; to make them glad one moment
and sorry the next; to have it in your power to move a whole crowd, as
some musicians have! It must be a splendid life. Shouldn't _you_ like
it?"
Mr Goodwin's glance rested on his enthusiastic pupil with a little
amusement.
"It's rather late in the day for me to consider the question, isn't it?"
he said.
"Didn't you ever want to go away from Dornton and play to people who
understand what you mean," asked Delia, impatiently. "Instead of
playing the organ in Saint Mary's and teaching me, you might be a famous
musician in London, with crowds of people flocking to hear you."
"Perhaps," said the Professor, quietly; "who knows?"
"Then," she continued, dropping her arms and turning to him with sudden
determination, "then, oh, Professor, why _didn't_ you go?"
The question had been in her mind a very long time: now it was out, and
she was almost frightened by her own rashness. Mr Goodwin, however,
seemed neither surprised nor annoyed.
"Well, Delia," he answered, with a gentle shake of the head, "I suppose
two things have kept me in Dornton--two very strong things--poverty and
pride. I had my chance once, but it came in a shape I couldn't bring
myself to accept. `There is a tide in the affairs of men,' you know,
and if one neglects it--"
He broke off and bent over his violin, which he had taken up from the
ground.
"Of course," said Delia, looking at him with great affection, "I'm glad
you didn't go, for my own sake. You and music make Dornton bearable."
"You always speak so disdainfully of poor Dornton," said Mr Goodwin,
drawing his bow softly across his violin. "Now, I've known it longer
than you, and really, when I look back, I've been very happy. Dornton
has given me the best any place has to give--people to love and care
for. After Prissy's marriage, there were some lonely days, to be sure.
I could not feel very happy about that, for she seemed to be taken out
of my life altogether, and there came sadder days still when she died.
You were only a little toddling child then, Delia, and yet it seemed a
short while before we began to be friends; and"--holding out his hand to
her--"we've been friends ever since, haven't we? So, you see, I ought
not to be ungrateful to Dornton."
"And now," added Delia, with an effort, "there is Anna, your grandchild;
perhaps you will make her famous, though you wouldn't be famous
yourself."
Mr Goodwin shook his head.
"Anna will never be famous in that way," he said. "She has a sweet,
affectionate manner, but there's nothing that reminds me of her mother
at all, or of our family. It's quite an effort to realise that she is
Prissy's child. It's a very curious feeling."
"Have you seen her often?" asked Delia.
"Only twice. I don't at all suppose, as matters stand, that I shall
ever see much of her. I am so busy, you see, and she tells me her aunt
has all sorts of plans for her--lessons, and so on."
"But," said Delia, rather indignantly, "she _ought_ to come and see you
often."
"I shall not complain if she doesn't, and I shall not be surprised.
There was a matter, years ago, in which I differed from Mrs Forrest,
and I have never been to Waverley since: we are quite friendly when we
meet, but there can never be really cordial relations between us."
"If I were Anna," began Delia, impetuously--
"But you are _not_ Anna," interrupted Mr Goodwin, with a smile; "you
are Delia Hunt, and you are made of different materials. If I am not
mistaken, Anna is affectionate and yielding, and will be influenced by
those she is with. And then she's very young, you see; she could not
oppose her aunt and uncle, and I'm sure I do not wish it. I shall not
interfere with her life at Waverley: the Forrests are kind people, and I
feel sure she will be very happy there. She will do very well without
me."
He turned towards his pupil and added, rather wistfully, "I should like
_you_ to be friends with her, though, Delia; it would be a comfort to
me."
"Indeed, I will try my best, Professor," she exclaimed, earnestly. Her
jealousy of Anna seemed very small and mean, and she felt anxious to
atone for it.
"That's well," said Mr Goodwin, with a contented air. "I know you will
do what you promise; and now it's my turn to play the sonata, and yours
to listen."
As the first plaintive notes of the violin filled the little room, Delia
threw herself into the window-seat, leaned back her head, and gave
herself up to enjoyment.
The Professor's playing meant many things to her. It meant a journey
into another country where all good and noble things were possible;
where vexations and petty cares could not enter, nor anything that
thwarted and baffled. It meant a sure refuge for a while from the small
details of her life in Dornton, which she sometimes found so wearisome.
The warning tones of the church clock checked her flight through these
happy regions, and brought her down to earth just as the Professor's
last note died away.
"Oh, how late it is?" she exclaimed, as she started up and put on her
hat. "Good-bye, Professor. Oh, if I could only make it speak like
that!"
"Patience, patience," he said, with his kind smile; "we all hear and see
better things than we can express, you know, but that will come to us
all some day."
CHAPTER FIVE.
ANNA MAKES FRIENDS.
Sweet language will multiply friends; and a fair-speaking tongue will
increase kind greetings.--_Ecclesiasticus_.
Delia kept her promise in mind through all the various duties and
occupations of the next few days, and wondered how she should carry it
out. She began, apart from the wish to please the Professor, to have a
great desire to know Anna for her own sake. Would they be friends? and
what sort of girl was she? Mr Goodwin had told her so very little.
Affectionate, sweet-tempered, yielding. She might be all that without
being very interesting. Still she hoped they might be able to like each
other; for although the Hunts had a wide acquaintance, Delia had few
friends of her own age, nor any one with whom she felt in entire
sympathy, except the Professor. Delia was not popular in Dornton, and
people regretted that such a "sweet" woman as Mrs Hunt should have a
daughter who was often so blunt in her manners, and so indisposed to
make herself pleasant. Her life, therefore, though full of busy
matters, was rather lonely, and she would have made it still more so, if
possible, by shutting herself up with her violin and her books. The
bustling sociabilities of her home, however, prevented this, and she was
constantly obliged, with inward revolt, to leave the things she loved
for some social occasion, or to pick up the dropped stitches of Mrs
Hunt's household affairs.
There were endless little matters from morning till night for Delia to
attend to, and it was only by getting up very early that she found any
time at all for her studies and her music. In winter this was hard
work, and progress with her violin almost impossible for stiff, cold
fingers; but no one at her home took Delia's music seriously: it was an
accomplishment, a harmless amusement, but by no means to be allowed to
take time from more important affairs. It did not matter whether she
practised or not, but it did matter that she should be ready to make
calls with her mother, or to carry soup to someone in Mrs Hunt's
district who had been overlooked. She would have given up her music
altogether if her courage had not been revived from time to time by Mr
Goodwin, and her ambition rekindled by hearing him play; as it was, she
always came back to it with fresh heart and hope after seeing him.
For nearly a week after her last visit, Delia awoke every morning with a
determination to walk over to Waverley, and each day passed without her
having done so. At last, however, chance arranged her meeting with
Anna. Coming into the drawing-room one afternoon in search of her
mother, she found, not Mrs Hunt, but a tall girl of fourteen, with
light yellow hair, sitting in the window, with a patient expression, as
though she had been waiting there some time. Delia advanced
uncertainly: she knew who it was; there was only one stranger likely to
appear just now. It must be Anna Forrest. But it was so odd to find
her there, just when she had been thinking of her so much, that for a
moment she hardly knew what to say.
The girl, however, was quite at her ease.
"I am Anna Forrest," she said; "Mrs Hunt asked me to come in--she went
to find you. You are Delia, are you not?"
She had a bright, frank manner, with an entire absence of shyness, which
attracted Delia immediately. She found, on inquiry, that Mrs Hunt had
met Anna in the town with her aunt, and had asked her to come in. Mrs
Forrest had driven home, and Anna was to walk back after tea.
"And have you been waiting long?" asked Delia.
"It must have been an hour, I think," said Anna, "because I heard the
church clock. But it hasn't seemed long," she added, hastily; "I've
been looking out at the pigeons in the garden."
Delia felt no doubt whatever that Mrs Hunt had been called off in some
other direction, and had completely forgotten her guest. However, here
was Anna at last.
"Come up-stairs and take off your hat in my room," she said.
Delia's room was at the top of the house--a garret with a window looking
across the red-tiled roofs of the town to the distant meadows, through
which glistened the crooked silver line of the river Dorn. She was fond
of standing at this window in her few idle moments, with her arms
crossed on the high ledge, and her gaze directed far-away: to it were
confided all the hopes, and wishes, and dreams, which were, as a rule,
carefully locked up in her own breast, and of which only one person in
Dornton even guessed the existence.
Anna glanced curiously round as she entered. The room had rather a bare
look, after the bright prettiness of Waverley, though it contained all
Delia's most cherished possessions--a shelf of books, a battered old
brown desk, her music-stand, and her violin.
"Oh," she exclaimed, as her eye fell on the last, "can you play the
violin? Will you play to me?"
Delia hesitated: she was not fond of playing to people who did not care
for music, though she was often obliged to do so; but Anna pressed her
so earnestly that she did not like to be ungracious, and, taking up her
violin, played a short German air, which she thought might please her
visitor.
Anna meanwhile paid more attention to her new acquaintance than to her
performance, and looked at her with great interest. There was something
about Delia's short, compact figure; her firm chin; the crisp, wavy hair
which rose from her broad, low forehead like a sort of halo, which gave
an impression of strength and reliability not unmingled with self-will.
This last quality, however, was not so marked while she was playing.
Her face then was at its best, and its usual somewhat defiant air
softened into a wistfulness which was almost beauty. Before the tune
was finished, Anna was quite ready to rush into a close friendship, if
Delia would respond to it, but of this she felt rather in doubt.
"How beautifully you play!" she exclaimed, as Delia dropped her bow, and
shut up her music-book.
A very little smile curled Delia's lips.
"That shows one thing," she answered, "you don't know much about music,
or you would not call my playing beautiful."
"Well, it sounds so to me," said Anna, a little abashed by this
directness of speech, "but I certainly don't know much about music; Aunt
Sarah says I need not go on with it while I am here."
"I play very badly," said Delia; "if you wish to hear beautiful playing,
you must listen to your grandfather."
"Must I?" said Anna, vaguely. "I thought," she added, "that he played
the organ in Dornton church."
"So he does," said Delia, "but he plays the violin too. And he gives
lessons. He taught me."
She looked searchingly at her companion, whose fair face reddened a
little.
"I owe everything to him," continued Delia; "without what he has done
for me my life would be dark. He brought light into it when he taught
me to play and to love music."
"Did he?" said Anna, wonderingly.
She began to feel that she did not understand Delia; she was speaking a
strange language, which evidently meant something to her, for her eyes
sparkled, and her brown cheek glowed with excitement.
"We ought to be proud in Dornton," Delia went on, "to have your
grandfather living here, but we're not worthy of him. His genius would
place him in a high position among people who could understand him.
Here it's just taken for granted."
Anna grew more puzzled and surprised still. Delia's tone upset the idea
she began to have that her grandfather was a person to be pitied. This
was a different way of speaking of him, and it was impossible to get
used to it all at once. At Waverley he was hardly mentioned at all, and
she had come to avoid doing so also, from a feeling that her aunt
disliked it. She could not suddenly bring herself to look upon him as a
genius, and be proud of him, though she had every wish to please Delia.
"What a pity," she said, hesitatingly, "that he is so poor, and has to
live in such a very little house, if he is so clever!"
"Poor?" exclaimed Delia, indignantly; then, checking herself, she added,
quietly, "It depends on what you call poor. What the Professor
possesses is worth all the silver and gold and big houses in the world.
And that's just what the Dornton people don't understand. Why, the rich
ones actually _patronise_ him, and think he is fortunate in giving their
children music-lessons."
Delia began to look so wrathful as she went on, that Anna longed to
change the subject to one which might be more soothing. She could not
at all understand why her companion was so angry. It was certainly a
pity that Mr Goodwin was obliged to give lessons, but if he must, it
was surely a good thing that people were willing to employ him. While
she was pondering this in silence, she was relieved by a welcome
proposal from Delia that they should go down-stairs, and have tea in the
garden. "Afterwards," she added, "I will show you the way to Waverley
over the fields."
In the garden it was pleasant and peaceful enough. Tea was ready, under
the shade of the medlar tree. The pigeons whirled and fluttered about
over the red roofs all around, settling sometimes on the lawn for a few
moments, bowing and cooing to each other. Mrs Hunt, meanwhile, chatted
on in a comfortable way, hardly settling longer on one spot in her talk
than the pigeons; from the affairs of her district to the affairs of the
nation, from an anecdote about the rector to a receipt for scones, she
rambled gently on; but at last coming to a favourite topic, she made a
longer rest. Anna was glad of it, for it dealt with people of whom she
had been wishing to hear--her mother and her grandfather. Mrs Hunt had
much to tell of the former, whom she had known from the time when she
had been a girl of Anna's age until her marriage with Mr Bernard
Forrest. She became quite enthusiastic as one recollection after the
other followed.
"A sweeter face and a sweeter character than Prissy Goodwin's could not
be imagined," she said. "We were all sorry when she left Dornton, and
every one felt for Mr Goodwin. Poor man, he's aged a great deal during
the last few years. I remember him as upright as a dart, and always in
such good spirits!"
"I have a portrait of my mother," said Anna, "a miniature, painted just
after her marriage. It's very pretty indeed."
"It should be, if it's a good likeness," said Mrs Hunt. "There's never
been such a pretty girl in Dornton since your mother went away. I
should like to see that portrait. When you come over again, which I
hope will be soon, you must bring it with you, and then we will have
some more talk about your dear mother."
Anna readily promised, and as she walked up the High Street by Delia's
side, her mind was full of all that she had heard that afternoon. It
had interested and pleased her very much, but somehow it was difficult
to connect Mr Goodwin and his dusty, little house with the picture
formed in her mind of her beautiful mother. If only she were alive now!
"I suppose you were a baby when my mother married," she said, suddenly
turning to her companion.
"I was two years old," replied Delia, smiling, "but though I can't
remember your mother, I can remember your grandfather when I was quite a
little girl. He was always so good to me. Long before he began to
teach me to play, I used to toddle by his side to church, and wait there
while he practised on the organ. I think it was that which made me
first love music."
"It seems so odd," said Anna, hesitatingly, "that I should be his
grandchild, and yet that he should be almost a stranger to me; while
you--"
"But," put in Delia, quickly, for she thought that Anna was naturally
feeling jealous, "you won't be strangers long now; you will come over
often, and soon you will feel as though you'd known him always. To tell
you the truth," she added, lightly, "I felt dreadfully jealous of you
when I first heard you were coming."
Jealous! How strange that sounded to Anna; she glanced quickly at her
companion, and saw that she was evidently in earnest.
"I don't know, I'm sure, about coming to Dornton often," she said,
"because, you see, Aunt Sarah is so tremendously busy, and she likes to
do certain things on certain days; but, of course, I shall come as often
as I can. I do hope," she added, earnestly, "I shall be able to see you
sometimes, and that you will often come over to Waverley."
Delia was silent.
"You see," continued Anna, "I like being at Waverley very much, and
they're very kind indeed; but it _is_ a little lonely, and if you don't
mind, I should be _so_ glad to have you for a friend."
She turned to her companion with a bright blush, and an appealing look
that was almost humble. Delia was touched. She had begun to think Anna
rather cold and indifferent in the way she had talked about coming to
Dornton; but, after all, it was unreasonable to expect her to feel warm
affection for a grandfather who was almost a stranger. When she knew
him she would not be able to help loving him, and, meanwhile, she
herself must not forget that she had promised the Professor to be Anna's
friend; no doubt she had said truly that, she was lonely at Waverley.
She met Anna's advances cordially, therefore, and by the time they had
turned off the high-road into the fields, the two girls were chatting
gaily, and quite at their ease with each other. Everything in this
field-walk was new and delightful to Anna, and her pleasure increased by
feeling that she had made a friend of her own age. The commonest
wild-flowers on her path were wonderful to her unaccustomed eyes. Delia
must tell their names. She must stop to pick some. They were prettier
even than Aunt Sarah's flowers at Waverley. What were those growing in
the hedge? She ran about admiring and exclaiming until, near the end of
the last field, the outbuildings of Leas Farm came in sight, which stood
in a lane dividing the farmer's property from Mr Forrest's.
"There's Mr Oswald," said Delia, suddenly.
Anna looked up. Across the field towards them, mounted on a stout, grey
cob, came the farmer at a slow jog-trot. So much had happened since her
arrival at Waverley, that she had now almost forgotten the events of
that first evening, and all idea of telling her aunt of her acquaintance
with Mr Oswald had passed from her mind. As he stopped to greet the
girls, however, and make a few leisurely remarks about the weather, it
all came freshly to her memory.
"Not been over to see my cows yet, missie," he said, checking his pony
again, after he had started, and leaning back in his saddle. "My
Daisy's been looking for you every day. You'd be more welcome than
ever, now I know who 'twas I had the pleasure of driving the other day--
for your mother's sake, as well as your own."
Delia turned an inquiring glance on her companion, as they continued
their way. Would she say anything? Recollecting Mrs Winn's story, she
rather hoped she would. But Anna, her gay spirits quite checked, walked
soberly on in perfect silence. It made her uncomfortable to remember
that she had never undeceived Aunt Sarah about that fly. What a stupid
little mistake it had been! Nothing wrong in what she had done at all,
if she had only been quite open about it. What would Delia think of it,
she wondered. She glanced sideways at her. What a very firm, decided
mouth and chin she had: she looked as though she were never afraid of
anything, and always quite sure to do right. Perhaps, if she knew of
this, she would look as scornful and angry as she had that afternoon, in
speaking of the Dornton people. That would be dreadful. Anna could not
risk that. She wanted Delia to like and admire her very much, and on no
account to think badly of her. So she checked the faint impulse she had
had towards the confession of her foolishness, and was almost relieved
when they reached the point where Delia was to turn back to Dornton.
They parted affectionately, with many hopes and promises as to their
meeting again soon, and Anna stood at the white gate watching her new
friend until she was out of sight.
Then she looked round her. She was in quite a strange land, for
although she had now been some weeks at Waverley, she had not yet
explored the fields between the village and Dornton. On her right, a
little way down the grassy lane, stood Mr Oswald's house, a solid,
square building, of old, red brick, pleasantly surrounded by barns,
cattle-sheds, and outbuildings, all of a substantial, prosperous
appearance. It crossed Anna's mind that she should very much like to
see the farmer's cows, as he had proposed, but she had not the courage
to present herself at the house and ask for Daisy. She must content
herself by looking in at the farmyard gate as she passed it. A little
farther on, Delia had pointed out another gate, on the other side of the
lane, which led straight into the Vicarage field, and towards this she
now made her way.
She was unusually thoughtful as she sauntered slowly down the lane, for
her visit to Dornton had brought back thoughts of her mother and
grandfather, which had lately been kept in the background. She had
to-day heard them spoken of with affection and admiration, instead of
being passed over in silence. Waverley was very pleasant. Aunt Sarah
was kind, and her Uncle John indulgent, but about her relations in
Dornton there was scarcely a word spoken. It was strange. She
remembered Delia's sparkling eyes as she talked of Mr Goodwin. That
was stranger still. In the two visits Anna had paid to him, she had not
discovered much to admire, and she had not been pleased with the
appearance of Number 4 Back Row. It had seemed to her then that people
called him "poor Mr Goodwin" with reason: he was poor, evidently, or he
would not live all alone in such a very little house, with no servants,
and work so hard, and get so tired and dusty as he had looked on that
first evening she had seen him. Yet, perhaps, when she knew him as well
as Delia did, she should be able to feel proud of him; and, at any rate,
he stood in need of love and attention.
She felt drawn to the Hunts and the Dornton people, who had known and
loved her mother, and she resolved to make more efforts to go there
frequently, and to risk displeasing Aunt Sarah and upsetting her
arrangements. It would be very disagreeable, for she knew well that
neither Mr Goodwin nor Dornton were favourite subjects at Waverley; and
when things were going smoothly and pleasantly, it was so much nicer to
leave them alone. However, she would try, and just then arriving at the
farmyard gate, she dismissed those tiresome thoughts, and leaned over to
look with great interest at the creatures within. As she did so, a
little girl came out of the farmhouse and came slowly down the lane
towards her. She was about twelve years old, very childish-looking for
her age, and dressed in a fresh, yellow cotton frock, nearly covered by
a big, white pinafore. Her little, round head was bare, and her black
hair closely cropped like a boy's. She came on with very careful steps,
her whole attention fixed on a plate she held firmly with both hands,
which had a mug on it full of something she was evidently afraid to
spill. Her eyes were so closely bent on this, that until she was near
Anna she did not see her; and then, with a start, she came suddenly to a
stand-still, not forgetting to preserve the balance of the mug and
plate. It was a very nice, open, little face she raised towards Anna,
with a childish and innocent expression, peppered thickly with freckles
like a bird's egg, especially over the blunt, round nose.
"Did you come from the Vicarage?" she inquired, gravely.
"I'm staying there," replied Anna, "but I came over the fields just now
from Dornton."
"Those are puppa's fields," said the child, "and this is puppa's farm."
"You are Daisy Oswald, I suppose?" said Anna. "Your father asked me to
come and see your cows." The little girl nodded.
"I know what your name is," she said. "You're Miss Anna Forrest. Puppa
fetched you over from the station. You came quick. Puppa was driving
Strawberry Molly that day. No one can do it as quick as her." Then,
with a critical glance, "I can ride her. Can you ride?"
"No, indeed, I can't," replied Anna. "But won't you show me your cows?"
"Why, it isn't milking-time!" said Daisy, lifting her brows with a
little surprise; "they're all out in the field." She considered Anna
thoughtfully for a moment, and then added, jerking her head towards the
next gate, "Won't you come and sit on that gate? I often sit on that
gate. Most every evening."
The invitation was made with so much friendliness that Anna could not
refuse it.
"I can't stay long," she said, "but I don't mind a little while."
Arrived at the gate, Daisy pushed mug and plate into Anna's hands.
"Hold 'em a minute," she said, as she climbed nimbly up and disposed
herself comfortably on the top bar. "Now"--smoothing her pinafore
tightly over her knees--"give 'em to me, and come up and sit alongside,
and we'll have 'em together. That'll be fine."
Anna was by no means so active and neat in her movements as her
companion, for she was not used to climbing gates; but after some
struggles, watched by Daisy with a chuckle of amusement, she succeeded
in placing herself at her side. In this position they sat facing the
Vicarage garden at the end of the field. It looked quite near, and Anna
hoped that Aunt Sarah might not happen to come this way just at present.
"How nice it is to sit on a gate!" she said; "I never climbed a gate
before."
Daisy stared.
"Never climbed a gate before!" she repeated; "why ever not?"
"Well, you see, I've always lived in a town," said Anna, "where you
don't need to climb gates."
Daisy nodded.
"I know," she said, "like Dornton. Now there's two lots of bread and
butter, one for me and one for you, and we must take turns to drink.
You first."
"But I've had tea, thank you," said Anna. "I won't take any of yours."
Daisy looked a little cast down at this refusal, but soon set to work
heartily on her simple meal alone, stopping in the intervals of her
bites and sups to ask and answer questions.
"Was the town you lived in _nicer_ than Dornton?" she asked.
"It was not a bit like it," replied Anna. "Much, much larger. And
always full of carts, and carriages, and people."
"My!" exclaimed Daisy. "Any shops?"
"Lots and lots. And at night, when they were all lighted up, and the
lamps in the streets too, it was as light as day."
"That must have been fine," said Daisy, "I like shops. Were you sorry
to come away?"
Anna shook her head.
"Do you like being at Waverley?" pursued the inquiring Daisy, tilting up
the mug so that her brown eyes came just above the rim; "there's no one
to play with there, but I s'pose you don't mind. I haven't any brothers
and sisters either. There's only me. But then there's all the animals.
Do you like animals?"
"I think I should very much," answered Anna, "but you can't have many
animals in London."
"Well," said Daisy, who had now finished the last crumb of bread and the
last drop of milk, "if you like, I'll show you my very own calf!"
"I'm afraid it's getting late," said Anna, hesitatingly.
"'Twon't take you not five minutes altogether," said Daisy, scrambling
hastily down from the gate. "Come along."
Anna followed her back to the farmyard, where she pushed open the door
of a shed, and beckoned her companion in. All was dim and shadowy, and
there was a smell of new milk and hay. At first Anna could see nothing,
but soon she made out, penned into a corner, a little, brown calf, with
a white star on its forehead; it turned its dewy, dark eyes
reproachfully upon them as they entered.
"You can stroke its nose," said its owner, patronisingly.
"Shall you call it Daisy?" asked Anna, reaching over the hurdles to pat
the soft, velvety muzzle.
"Mother says we mustn't have no more Daisies," said its mistress,
shaking her little, round head gravely. "You see puppa called all the
cows Daisy, after me, for ever so long. There was Old Daisy, and Young
Daisy, and Red Daisy, and White Daisy, and Big Daisy, and Little Daisy,
and a whole lot more. So this one is to be called something different.
Mother say Stars would be best."
As she spoke, a distant clock began to tell out the hour. Anna counted
the strokes with anxiety. Actually seven! The dinner hour at Waverley,
and whatever haste she made, she must be terribly late.
"Ah, I must go," she said, "I ought not to have stayed so long.
Good-bye. Thank you."
"Come over again," said Daisy, calling after her as she ran to the gate.
"Come at milking-time, and I'll show you all the lot."
Anna nodded and smiled, and ran off as fast as she could. This was her
first transgression at the Vicarage. What would Aunt Sarah say?
CHAPTER SIX.
DIFFICULTIES.
No man can serve two masters.
Anna found her life at Waverley bright and pleasant as the time went on,
in spite of Aunt Sarah's strict rules and regulations. There was only
one matter which did not become easy, and that was her nearer
acquaintance with her grandfather. Somehow, when she asked to go to
Dornton, there was always a difficulty of some kind--Mrs Forrest could
not spare the time to go with her, or the pony-cart to take her, or a
maid to walk so far, and she must not go alone. At first, mindful of
her resolves, she made efforts to overcome those objections, but being
always repulsed, she soon ceased them, and found it easier and far more
pleasant to leave her aunt to arrange the visits herself.
In this way they became very rare, and when they did take place, they
were not very satisfactory, for Anna and her grandfather were seldom
left alone. She did not, therefore, grow to be any fonder of Back Row,
or to associate her visits there with anything pleasant. Indeed, few as
they were, she soon began to find them rather irksome, and to be
relieved when they were over. This was the only subject on which she
was not perfectly confidential to her new friend, Delia, who was now her
constant companion, for although Anna went very seldom to Dornton, Mrs
Forrest made no objection to their meeting often elsewhere.
So Delia would run over to the Vicarage whenever she could spare time,
or join Anna in long country rambles, and on these occasions it was she
who listened, and Anna who did most of the talking. Delia heard all
about her life in London, and how much better she liked the country; all
about Aunt Sarah's punctuality, and how difficult it was to go to
Dornton; but about the Professor she heard very little. Always on the
lookout for slights on his behalf, and jealous for his dignity, she soon
began to feel a little sore on his account, and to have a suspicion that
Anna's heart was not in the matter. For her own part, she knew that not
all the aunts and rules in the world would have kept her from paying him
the attention that was his due. As the visits became fewer this feeling
increased, and sometimes gave a severity to her manner which Anna found
hard to bear, and it finally led to their first disagreement.
"Can you come over to church at Dornton with me this evening?" asked
Delia one afternoon, as she and Anna met at the stile half-way across
the fields.
"I should like to," said Anna, readily, "very much indeed, if Aunt Sarah
doesn't mind."
"I'll walk back with you as far as this afterwards," said Delia. "You
would see your grandfather. You've never heard him play the organ yet."
"I don't _suppose_ aunt would mind," said Anna, hesitatingly, her fair
face flushing a little.
"Well," said Delia, "you can run back and ask her. I'll wait for you
here. You will just have time."
The bells of Saint Mary's church began to sound as she spoke.
"Only you must go at once," she added, "or we shall be too late."
Still Anna hesitated. She hated the idea of asking Aunt Sarah, and
seeing her mouth stiffen into that hard line which was so disagreeable;
but it was almost as bad to face Delia, standing there, bolt upright,
with her dark eyes fixed so unflinchingly upon her.
"I know," she said, appealingly, "that Aunt Sarah _has_ arranged for me
to go to Dornton next week."
"Oh," said Delia, coldly.
"And," pursued Anna, turning away from her companion and stooping to
pick a flower, "she does like me, you know, to go to the service at
Waverley with her. She says uncle prefers it."
Delia's glance rested for a moment in silence on the bending figure,
with the pale yellow hair outspread on the shoulders gleaming in the
sunshine; then she said in rather a hard voice:
"The fact is, I suppose, you don't _want_ to go. If so, you had better
have said so at first."
Anna rose quickly, and faced her friend:
"It's unkind, Delia," she exclaimed, "to say that. I _do_ want to go.
You know I like to be with you--and I should like to go to Dornton
church much better than Waverley."
"Then why don't you ask Mrs Forrest?" said Delia, calmly. "She can't
mind your going if I walk back with you. It's worth the trouble, if you
want to see your grandfather."
Anna cast down her eyes and fidgeted with the flowers in her belt.
"You don't understand," she began, rather nervously, "how difficult it
is to ask Aunt Sarah some things--"
"But this is quite a right, reasonable thing," interrupted Delia;
"there's nothing wrong in wishing to see your grandfather sometimes. Of
course, if you never ask Mrs Forrest, she thinks you don't care about
it."
"I do ask," said Anna. "I have often asked; but, you know I told you,
Delia, Aunt Sarah never likes me to go to Dornton."
"Then you mean to give it up, I suppose," said Delia, coldly.
"If I'm staying with Aunt Sarah, I suppose I ought to do as she wishes,"
said Anna; "but, of course, I shan't give it up entirely. She doesn't
wish me to do that."
Delia stood for a moment in silence, her eyes fixed on Anna's pretty,
downcast face. The sound of the church bells came softly to them over
the fields from Dornton, and "Well," she said, with a little sigh, "I
mustn't stay, or I shall be late, and I promised to meet the Professor
after church. He half expects to see you with me. What shall I say to
him?"
"Oh, Delia!" cried Anna, looking up into her companion's face, "I _do_
wish I could go with you."
"It's too late now," said Delia, turning away. "Good-bye."
Anna lingered at the stile. Would not Delia turn round once and nod
kindly to her, as she always did when they parted? No. Her compact
figure went steadily on its way, the shoulders very square, the head
held high and defiantly. Anna could not bear it. She jumped over the
stile and ran after her friend. "Delia!" she called out. Delia turned
and waited. "Don't be cross with me," pleaded Anna. "After all, it
isn't my fault; and I _should_ like to go with you so much. And--and
give my love to grandfather, please. I'm going to see him next week."
She took hold of Delia's reluctant hand and kissed her cheek. Delia
allowed the embrace, but did not return it. Her heart was hot within
her. Mrs Winn had said that Anna was not straightforward. Was it
true?
Anna had not much time for any sort of reflection, for she had to get
back to Waverley as fast as she could, and, in spite of her haste, the
bell stopped just as she reached the garden gate, and she knew that her
aunt would have started for church without her. It was barely five
minutes' walk, but she had to smooth her hair, and find some gloves, and
make herself fit for Mrs Forrest's critical eye, and all this took some
time. When she pushed open the heavy door and entered timidly, her
footfall sounding unnaturally loud, the usual sprinkling of evening
worshippers was already collected, and her uncle had begun to read the
service. Anna crept into a seat. She knew that she had committed a
very grave fault in Mrs Forrest's sight, and she half wished that she
had made up her mind to go to Dornton with Delia. She wanted to please
every one, and she had pleased no one; it was very hard. As she walked
back to the Vicarage with her aunt after service, she was quite prepared
for the grave voice in which she began to speak.
"How was it you were late this evening, Anna?"
"I'm very sorry, aunt," she answered. "I was talking to Delia Hunt in
the field, and until we heard the bell, we didn't know how late it was."
"If you must be unpunctual at all," said Mrs Forrest--"and I suppose
young people will be thoughtless sometimes--I must beg that you will at
least be careful not to let it occur at church time. Nothing displeases
your uncle more than the irreverence of coming in late as you did
to-day. It is a bad example to the whole village, besides being very
wrong in itself. As a whole," she continued, after a pause, "I have
very little fault to find with your behaviour; you try to please me, I
think, in every respect, but in this matter of punctuality, Anna, there
is room for improvement. Now, you were a quarter of an hour late for
dinner one night. You had been with Delia Hunt then too. I begin to
think you run about too much with her: it seems to make you forgetful
and careless."
"But," said Anna, impulsively, "my being late had nothing at all to do
with Delia this time. I was with Daisy Oswald."
"Daisy Oswald!" repeated Mrs Forrest, in a tone of surprise. "When did
you make Daisy Oswald's acquaintance?"
She turned sharply to her niece with a searching glance. Anna blushed
and hesitated a little.
"I--we--Delia and I met her father as we were walking home from Dornton.
He asked me to go and see his cows; and then, after Delia had left me,
I met his little girl in the lane just near the farm."
Mrs Forrest was silent. She could not exactly say that there was
anything wrong in all this, but she highly disapproved of it. It was
most undesirable that her niece should be running about the fields and
lanes, and picking up acquaintances in this way. Daisy Oswald was a
very nice little girl, and there was no harm done at present, but it
must not continue. The thing to do, she silently concluded, was to
provide Anna with suitable occupations and companions which would make
so much liberty impossible for the future.
To her relief, Anna heard no more of the matter, but it was easy to see
that Aunt Sarah had not liked the idea of her being with Daisy. It was
uncomfortable to remember that she had not been quite open about it.
Somehow, since that first foolish concealment, she had constantly been
forced into little crooked paths where she could not walk quite
straight, but she consoled herself by the reflection that she had not
told any untruth.
A few days later Mrs Forrest, returning from a drive with her face full
of satisfaction, called Anna to her in her sitting-room. She had been
able, she said, to make a very nice arrangement for her to have some
lessons in German and French with the Palmers. Miss Wilson, their
governess, had been most kind about it, and it was settled that Anna
should go to Pynes twice every week for a couple of hours.
"It will be an immense advantage to you," concluded Mrs Forrest, "to
learn with other girls, and I hope, beside the interest of the lessons,
that you will make friendships which will be both useful and pleasant.
Isabel Palmer is about your own age, and her sister a little older.
They will be nice companions for you, and I hope you will see a good
deal of them."
From this time Anna's life was very much altered. Gradually, as her
interests and amusements became connected with the Palmers and all that
went on at their house, she saw less and less of Delia, and it was now
Mrs Forrest who had to remind her when a visit to Dornton was due.
There were no more country rambles, or meetings at the stile, and no
more confidential chats. Anna had other matters to attend to, and if
she were not occupied with lessons, there was always some engagement at
Pynes which must be kept. And yet, she often thought, with a regretful
sigh, there was really no one like Delia! Isabel Palmer was very
pleasant, and there was a great deal she enjoyed very much at Pynes, but
in her heart she remained true to her first friend. If only it had been
possible to please every one! If only Delia would be kind and agreeable
when they did meet, instead of looking so cold and proud! By degrees
Anna grew to dread seeing her, instead of looking forward to it as one
of her greatest pleasures at Waverley. Everything connected with Pynes,
on the contrary, was made so easy and pleasant. Aunt Sarah's lips never
looked straight and thin when she asked to go there, and Isabel Palmer
was sure of a welcome at any time. The pony-cart could nearly always be
had if it were wanted in that direction, though it seemed so
inconvenient for it to take the road to Dornton. And then, with the
Palmers there was no chance of severe looks on the subject of Mr
Goodwin. Did they know, Anna wondered, that he was her grandfather?
Perhaps not, for they had lived at Pynes only a short time. There was
no risk of meeting him there, for Saturday, when he gave Clara a
music-lesson, was a specially busy day with Mrs Forrest, and she always
wanted Anna at the Vicarage.
It was strange that Anna should have come to calling it a "risk" to meet
her grandfather, but it was true. Not all at once, but little by
little, since her separation from Delia, the habit of dismissing him
from her thoughts, as well as keeping silence about him, had grown
strong within her. At first Delia's scornful face often seemed to flash
before her in the midst of some gaiety or enjoyment. "You are not
worthy of him," it seemed to say. But it had been so often driven away
that it now came very seldom, and when it did, it looked so pale and
shadowy that it had no reality about it. Anna threw herself into the
amusements which her new friends put in her way, and determined to be
happy in spite of uncomfortable recollections.
On her side, Delia had now come to the swift decision natural to her age
and character. Anna was unworthy. She had been tried and found
wanting. Gold had been offered to her, and she had chosen tinsel. It
was not surprising that the Palmers should be preferred to herself, but
that any one related to the Professor, able to see and know him, should
be capable of turning aside and neglecting him for others, was a thing
she could neither understand nor bear with patience. She ceased to
speak of it when she met Anna, and preserved a haughty silence on the
subject, but her manner and looks expressed disapproval plainly enough.
The disapproval grew stronger as time went on, for although no word of
complaint ever passed Mr Goodwin's lips, Delia soon felt sure that he
longed to see more of his grandchild. They often talked of Anna, the
Professor listening eagerly to any news of her or account of her doings.
No hint of disappointment was ever given, but affection has quick
instincts, and Delia was able to understand her old friend's silence as
well as his speech. She ran in to Number 4 Back Row one afternoon, and
found him looking rather uncertainly and nervously at his tea-table,
which Mrs Cooper had just prepared in her usual hurried manner--
slapping down the cups and plates with a sort of spiteful emphasis, and
leaving the cloth awry. He looked relieved to see Delia.
"You would perhaps put things a little straight, and make it look
nicer," he said. "I don't know how it is, but Mrs Cooper seems to
spoil the look of things so."
"You expect a visitor?" said Delia, as she began to alter the
arrangement of the little meal, and noticed two cups and plates.
"Yes," said the Professor, half shyly. "I got some water-cresses and
some fresh eggs. And that kind Mrs Winn sent me some trout this
morning. Mrs Cooper promised to come in presently and cook them."
Delia observed that the room had quite a holiday air of neatness. There
was no dust to be seen anywhere, and a special, high-backed arm-chair,
which was not in general use, was now drawn up to one side of the
tea-table.
"That was Prissy's chair," he continued, looking at it affectionately;
"she always sat there, and I thought I should like to see Anna in it."
"Oh, is Anna coming to tea with you?" exclaimed Delia. "I _am_ glad.
Is she coming alone?"
The Professor nodded. There was a faint pink flush of excitement on his
cheek. His hand trembled a little as he touched the bunch of mignonette
which he had put on the table.
"My flowers never do very well," he said, trying to speak in an off-hand
tone; "they don't get enough sun. And then, the other day I had to pour
my coffee out of the window, and I forgot that the border was just
underneath. I daresay it didn't agree with them."
"I suppose Mrs Cooper made it so badly that even you could not drink
it?" said Delia; "but it's certainly hard that she should poison your
flowers as well. Why don't you tell her about it?"
"Oh, she does her best, she does her best," said the Professor, quickly;
"I wouldn't hurt her feelings for the world."
"Well, she won't improve at that rate," said Delia; "it's a good thing
every one is not so patient as you are. Now"--surveying her
arrangements--"I think it all looks very nice, and as I go home I'll
call in at Mrs Cooper's and remind her about the fish. Perhaps I shall
have time to bring you a few more flowers before Anna comes."
Quite excited at the idea of the Professor's pleasure at having Anna all
to himself for a little while, she quickly performed her errands, and
finally left him in a state of complete preparation, with roses upon his
table, and the trout cooking in the kitchen; he himself, stationed at
the window, meanwhile pulling his watch out of his pocket every two or
three minutes to see if it were time for his guest to arrive.
During the week which followed, Delia thought more kindly of Anna than
she had done for some time past. Perhaps, after all, she had judged her
too hastily; perhaps she had been hard and unjust; very likely this
meeting would be the beginning of a happier state of things between Mr
Goodwin and his grandchild.
"Did you have a pleasant evening on Saturday?" she asked, when they next
met.
Anna was sitting in the Palmers' pony-cart, outside a shop in the town,
waiting for Isabel: she blushed brightly when she saw Delia, and looked
rather puzzled at her question.
"Where?" she said, vaguely. "Oh, I remember. I was to have had tea
with grandfather, but aunt made another engagement for me, and I didn't
go."
Delia's face clouded over with the disapproving expression Anna knew so
well.
"He didn't mind a bit," she said, leaning forward and speaking
earnestly. "He said another evening would do just as well for him."
"I daresay he did," replied Delia, coldly.
"And, you see, it was a cricket match at Holmbury," Anna continued, in
an apologetic voice; "such a lovely place! and the Palmers offered to
drive me, and another day wouldn't have done for that, and Aunt Sarah
thought--"
"Oh, naturally," said Delia, lightly, "the cricket match was far more
important. And, of course, the Professor wouldn't mind. Why should
he?"
She nodded and passed on, just as Isabel came out of the shop.
"Wasn't that Delia Hunt?" said Isabel, as she got into the pony-cart;
"what is the matter? Her face looked like the sky when thunder is
coming."
Delia felt as she looked, as though a storm were rising within her. She
thought of the Professor's little feast prepared so carefully, the
flowers, the high-backed chair standing ready for the guest who never
came. She could not bear to imagine his disappointment. How could Anna
be so blind, so insensible? All her hard feelings towards her returned,
and they were the more intense because she could speak of them to no
one--a storm without the relief of thunder. She had a half-dread of her
next meeting with Mr Goodwin, for with this resentment in her heart it
would be difficult to talk about Anna with patience, and yet the meeting
must come very soon.
The next day was Wednesday, on which evening it was his custom to stay
in the church after service and play the organ for some time. Delia,
who was generally his only listener, would wait for him, and they would
either stroll home together, or, if it were warm weather, sit for a
little while under a certain tree near the church. They both looked
forward to those meetings, but this week, when the time came, and Delia
mounted the steep street which led up to the church, she almost wished
that the Professor might not be there.
Dornton church was perched upon a little hill, so that, though it was in
the town, it stood high above it, and its tall, grey spire made a
landmark for miles round. The churchyard, carefully planted with
flowers, and kept in good order, sloped sharply down to old gabled
houses on one side, and on the other to open meadows, across which the
tower of Waverley church could be just seen amongst the trees. On this
side a wooden bench, shadowed by a great ash, had been let into the low
wall, and it was to this that Delia and the Professor were in the habit
of repairing after the Wednesday evening services.
Mr Goodwin's music had always power to soothe Delia, and to raise her
thoughts above her daily troubles; but to-night, as she sat listening to
him in the empty church, she felt even more than usual as if a mighty
and comforting voice were speaking to her. As long as the resounding
notes of the organ continued, she forgot the little bustle of Dornton,
and her anger against Anna, and even when the Professor had finished and
joined her in the porch, the calming influence remained.
"Can you stay a little this evening?" he asked, as they walked through
the churchyard together; "if you can spare time I should like a talk.
It's about Anna," he continued, when they were seated under the
flickering shadow of the ash tree; "I didn't see her the other evening,
after all--"
"So I heard," said Delia.
"No--I didn't see her," repeated Mr Goodwin, poking the ground
reflectively with his stick. "She went to some cricket match with her
friends; she's to come to me another time. It's very kind of Mrs
Palmer to give her so much pleasure. I suppose Anna enjoys it very
much? I hear of her going about with them a good deal."
"I think she does," said Delia.
"It's always such a comfort to me," he continued, his kind eyes beaming
upon his companion from beneath the brim of his wide-awake, "to think
that you are her friend. I don't see much of her. I told you I should
not be able to, when she first came, but the next best thing is to know
that you do."
Delia was silent. She did not meet his glance, but pressed her lips
together and frowned a little.
"Anna wants a friend," pursued the Professor, thoughtfully. "Little as
I see of her, I can tell that. She has the sort of nature which depends
greatly on influence--every one does, I suppose, but some of us can
stand alone better than others."
"Anna seems to get on very well," said Delia. "People always like her."
"Yes, yes, yes," said the Professor, nodding his head gently, "so I
should think--so I should think. But when I say a `friend,' Delia, I
don't mean that sort of thing; I mean some one who's willing to take a
little trouble."
"I don't see how you can be a friend to a person that doesn't want you,"
said Delia, impatiently. "If Anna wanted me--"
"You're not displeased with her about anything, I hope?" said the
Professor, anxiously; "she has not offended you?"
Delia hesitated. She could not bear to disappoint him, as he waited
eagerly for her answer.
"The fact is," she said at length, "I don't understand Anna. She
doesn't look at things in the same way as I do. She gets on better with
the Palmers than with me."
"I'm sorry for that," said the Professor, with a discouraged air, "but
Anna's very young, you know, in years and character too. I daresay she
needs patience."
"I'm afraid I've not been patient," said Delia, humbly.
Mr Goodwin was the only person in the world to whom she was always
ready to own herself in the wrong.
"Oh, well, patience comes with years," he said; "you're too young yet to
know much about it. It's often hard enough, even after a long life, to
bear with the failings of others, and to understand our own. People are
so different. Some are strong, and some are weak. And the strong ones
are always expecting the weak ones to stand upright as they do, and go
straight on their way without earing for praise or blame. And, of
course they can't--it's not in them--they stumble and turn aside at
little things that the others wouldn't notice. And the weak ones, to
whom, perhaps, it is natural to be sweet-tempered, and yielding, and
forgiving, expect those virtues from the strong--and they don't find
them--and then they wonder how it is that they find it hard to forgive
and impossible to forget, and call them harsh and unbearable. And so we
go on misunderstanding instead of helping each other."
Delia's face softened. Perhaps she had been too hasty with Anna--too
quick to blame.
"Listen," said the Professor, "I was reading this while I waited for
service to begin this evening."
He had taken out of his pocket a stumpy, and very shabby little brown
volume of Thomas a Kempis, which was very familiar to her.
"But now, God hath thus ordered it, that we may learn to bear one
another's burdens, for no man is without fault; no man but hath his
burden; no man is self-sufficient; no man has wisdom enough for himself
alone. But we ought to bear with one another, comfort, help, instruct,
and admonish one another."
He shut the little book, and turned his eyes absently across the broad,
green meadows. Delia knew that absent look of the Professor's well. It
meant that he was travelling back into the past, seeing and hearing
things of which she knew nothing. Yet, though he did not seem to be
speaking to her, every word he said sank into her mind.
"It's very hard for strong people to bear with weakness. It's such a
disappointing, puzzling thing to them. They are always expecting
impossibilities. Yet they are bound to help. It is a sin to turn
aside. To leave weakness to trail along in the mire when they might be
a prop for it to lean on and climb upwards by. The strong have a duty
to the weak, and lessons to learn from them. But they are hard
lessons--hard lessons."
Long after he had finished, Mr Goodwin sat with his eyes fixed musingly
on the distance, and Delia would not disturb his thoughts by a single
word. Even when they walked home together they had very little to say,
and were both in a silent mood. When they parted at the turning to Back
Row, Delia spoke almost for the first time.
"I'm not going to be cross to Anna any more, Professor. You may feel
quite happy about that."
CHAPTER SEVEN.
THE PALMERS' PICNIC.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend.
One very hot afternoon a little later, there had been a glee-practising
at the Hunts' house, a meeting which, of all others, was most
distasteful to Delia. The last guest had taken leave, and her mother
being on the edge of a comfortable nap in the shaded drawing-room, she
was just stealing away to her garret, when the bell rang.
"Don't go away, my love," murmured Mrs Hunt, half-asleep, and as she
spoke Mrs Winn's solid figure advanced into the room.
Delia resigned herself to listen to the disjointed chat which went on
between the two ladies for a little while, but soon the visitor, taking
pity on Mrs Hunt's brave efforts to keep her eyes from closing, turned
her attention in another direction.
"I'm afraid," she said, moving her chair nearer to Delia, "that poor,
old Mr Goodwin must be sadly disappointed about his grandchild, isn't
he?"
It always vexed Delia to hear the Professor called "poor and old."
"Why?" she asked, shortly.
"Well, because he evidently sees so little of her," said Mrs Winn. "It
has turned out exactly as I said it would. I said from the very first,
that sort of marriage never answers. It always creates discord. Of
course, it's a difficult position for Mrs Forrest, but she ought to
remember that the child owes duties and respect to Mr Goodwin. `Honour
thy father and mother,' and, of course, that applies to a grandfather
too."
"I believe Mr Goodwin is quite satisfied," answered Delia.
"Oh, I daresay," said Mrs Winn. "We all know he's a dear, meek, old
man, who could never say boo to a goose. But that doesn't make it
right. Now, I know for a fact that he expected Anna Forrest to tea with
him one evening, and she never came. I know all about it, because I
happened to send him some trout that morning, and Mrs Cooper went in to
cook them. Mrs Cooper chars for me, you know. `I was quite sorry,
ma'am,' she said, when she came the next day, `to see the poor, old
gentleman standing at the window with his watch in his hand, and the
trout done to a turn, and his flowers and all. It's hard on the old to
be disappointed.'"
Mrs Winn rolled out these sentences steadily, keeping her eyes firmly
fixed on Delia all the while. Now she waited for a reply.
"I heard about it," she said. "Anna was not able to go."
"Then she should have sent word sooner, or her aunt should have done so.
It was a great want of respect. I'm surprised, Delia, you should take
it so coolly, when you think so much of Mr Goodwin. Now, if _I_ should
see Anna Forrest, I shall make a point of putting her conduct in a right
light to her. I daresay no one has done so yet--and she is but a
child."
Delia shivered inwardly. She knew that Mrs Winn was quite capable of
doing as she said. How the Professor would shrink from such
interference! Yet she did not feel equal to saying much against it, for
Mrs Winn had always kept her and every one else in Dornton in order.
Her right to rebuke and admonish was taken as a matter of course.
"You don't know, you see," she began, "how it was that Anna was
prevented. Perhaps--"
Mrs Winn had now risen, and stood ready to depart, with her umbrella
planted firmly on the ground.
"My dear," she interrupted, raising one hand, "I know _this_. Wrong is
wrong, and right is right. That's enough for me, and always has been.
Now, I won't disturb your dear mother to say good-bye, for I think she's
just dropped off. I'll go softly out."
She moved with ponderous care out of the room, followed by Delia, but
came to a stand again in the hall.
"You heard about this picnic of the Palmers?" she said, inquiringly.
"You're going, of course. It seems to be a large affair."
"I'm not quite sure," said Delia.
"Julia Gibbins came in this morning," continued Mrs Winn, "quite
excited about her invitation. She wanted to know what I meant to wear.
Julia's so absurdly frivolous, she thinks as much of her dress as a girl
of sixteen. `At our age, my dear Julia,' I said to her, `we need not
trouble ourselves about that. You may depend on it, no one will notice
what we have on. For myself, I shall put on my Paisley shawl and my
thickest boots. Picnics are always draughty and damp.' I don't think
she quite liked it. Now, do you suppose the Palmers have asked Mr
Goodwin? Anna Forrest's so much there, that I should _almost_ think
they would."
"Why not, as well as other people in Dornton?" asked Delia.
"He never goes to Waverley," said Mrs Winn.
"That is by his own wish," said Delia, quickly. "He has told me about
that."
"Oh, indeed, by his own wish," repeated Mrs Winn, her wide open grey
eyes resting thoughtfully upon Delia; "that's strange, with his
grandchild staying there. However," with a parting nod, as she moved
slowly out, "we shall soon see about the picnic."
Delia smiled to herself as she watched her visitor's portly form out of
sight. How very little it would matter to the Professor whether the
Palmers sent him an invitation or not! He would not even notice the
absence of one. He had never cultivated the habit of feeling himself
injured, and was happily placed far above the miseries of fancied
slights and neglect. Nevertheless she resented, as she always did, the
tone of condescension with which Mrs Winn had mentioned him, and
returned to the drawing-room with a ruffled brow and a vexed spirit.
Mrs Hunt still slumbered peacefully, quite undisturbed by the little
agitations of Dornton. As her daughter entered, she gently opened her
eyes.
"Del, my love," she murmured, "I meant to ask you to go and inquire how
Mrs Hurst's little boy is this morning. Did I?"
"No, mother," said Delia.
"There's a beautiful jelly made for him," said Mrs Hunt, closing her
eyes again, and folding her hands in front of her comfortable person.
"I thought you might take it."
"I passed the door this morning," said Delia. "I could easily have
taken it if you had remembered to ask me. It's so late now."
"It won't keep firm this hot weather," continued Mrs Hunt's sweet, low
voice. "He ought to have it to-day."
Delia did not answer. She was tired. It was hot. Mrs Winn's visit
had come at the close of a most irksome afternoon. She was longing for
a little quiet time for her music.
"Poor Mrs Hurst!" pursued her mother. "So many children, and so few to
help her. Johnnie's been worse the last day or two."
As usual on such occasions, Delia shortly found herself, basket in hand,
making her way along the dusty High Street to Mrs Hurst's house.
Dornton and the Dornton people seemed to her at that moment almost
unbearable. Should she ever get away from them? she wondered. Would
her life be spent within the hearing of Mrs Winn's sententious remarks,
the tedious discussions of tiny details, the eternal chatter and gossip,
which still seemed to buzz in her ears, from the meeting that afternoon?
Then her thoughts turned to their usual refuge, the Professor, and she
began to plan a visit to Anna at Waverley. Since her last talk with
him, she had made up her mind that she would do her very utmost to renew
their old friendliness. She would not take offence so easily, or be so
quick to resent it, when Anna did not see things as she did. She would
be patient, and she would keep her promise to the Professor. She would
try to understand. For his sake she would humble herself to make the
first advance, and this, for Delia's somewhat stubborn spirit, was a
greater effort than might be supposed.
Anna, meanwhile, was quite as much interested as the Dornton people
about the picnic which the Palmers intended to give. All country
pleasures were new to her, and her companions at Pynes were _very_ much
amused to hear that she had never been to a picnic in her life, and had
most confused ideas as to what it meant.
"It will be a very large one," said Isabel Palmer to her one morning.
"Mother thinks it will be such a good way of entertaining the Dornton
people. We thought of a garden-party, but if it's fine a picnic will be
much more fun."
The three girls were alone in the schoolroom, their lessons just over,
and Anna was lingering for a chat before going back to Waverley.
"Have you settled on the place yet?" she asked.
"Alderbury," replied Isabel, "because it's near, and there's a jolly
little wood to make the fire in."
"How delightful it will be!" exclaimed Anna. "How I wish it was going
to be to-morrow, I'm so afraid something will prevent it."
"Bother this list!" put in Clara's voice, from the table where she sat
writing; "you might help me, Isabel."
"What do you want?" asked her sister.
"Well--Mr Goodwin, for instance--am I to put him down?"
Anna gave a little start, and gazed earnestly out of the window at which
she stood, as Isabel went up to the table and looked over Clara's
shoulder. Then they did not know! Aunt Sarah had not told them. How
strange it seemed!
"W-well, I don't know," said Isabel, reflectively. "We never have asked
him to anything; but a picnic's different. He's a very nice old man,
isn't he?"
"He's an old dear," replied her sister, heartily, "but he's an organist.
We shouldn't ask the organist of the church here."
"Mr Goodwin's different, somehow," said Isabel; "he's so clever, and
then he's a great friend of the Hunts, you know, and, of course, we
shall ask them."
"Well, what am I to do?" repeated Clara.
"Put him down, and put a query against him," decided Isabel, "and when
mother sees the list, she can alter it if she likes."
Anna expected every moment during this discussion that her opinion would
be asked. She stood quite still, her back turned to her companions, a
bright flush on her cheek, her heart beating fast. When all chance of
being appealed to was over, and the girls had gone on to other names,
she drew a deep breath, as if she had escaped a danger.
"I must go now," she said, turning towards them, "Aunt Sarah wants me
early to-day;" and in a few moments she was out of the house and on the
way home.
It was not until she was half-way down the long hill which led from
Pynes to Waverley, that she began to realise what difficulties she had
prepared for herself by her silence. If Mr Goodwin were asked, and if
he came to the picnic, the relationship between them must be known.
That would not matter so much, but it would matter that she had seemed
to be ashamed of it. Why had she not told them long ago? Why had she
not spoken just now, at the first mention of his name? What a foolish,
foolish girl she had been! What should she do now? Turning it over in
her mind, she came to the conclusion that she must make some excuse to
her Aunt, and stay away from the picnic. She could not face what might
happen there. The Palmers' surprise, Delia's scorn. Why did you not
tell us? she heard them saying, and what could she answer? As she
thought of how much she had looked forward to this pleasure, a few tears
rolled down Anna's cheek, but they were not tears of repentance. She
was only sorry for her own disappointment, and because things did not go
smoothly. It was very hard, she said to herself, and the hardest part
was that she was forced continually into crooked ways. She did not want
to be deceitful; she would much rather be brave and open like Delia,
only things were too strong for her. As she thought this, Delia's face
seemed suddenly to appear before her: it did not look angry or scornful,
but had a gentle, almost pleading expression on it: she was speaking,
and what she said sounded quite clearly in Anna's ears: "Go back and
tell them now. Go back and tell them now," over and over again.
Anna stopped uncertainly, and turned her head to where, over the tops of
the trees, she could still catch a glimpse of the chimneys of Pynes: she
even took two or three steps up the hill again, the voice still sounding
entreatingly and loud. But now it was joined by another, louder and
bolder, which tried to drown it. This one told her that, after all,
there was no need. Things would go well. The Palmers might never know.
Soon they would go to Scotland, and after that--well, that was a long
way off. Anna turned again, this time with decision, and finished the
rest of her journey to Waverley almost at a run, without stopping to
think any more.
As the days went on without any further mention of Mr Goodwin, she
began to hope that, after all, she might be able to go to the picnic.
How should she find out? She had not courage to ask the Palmers, and
though it would have been a simple matter to ask her grandfather
himself, she shrank from facing him and his gentle kindliness just now.
If only some visitor from Dornton would come over! This wish was at
last realised in a very unexpected way, and one which was not altogether
pleasant. It was the day on which her visit to Mr Goodwin was usually
made, and she had begged her aunt to allow her to remain at home. The
heat had given her a headache, and she would rather go to Dornton some
other day. Mrs Forrest received the excuse indulgently.
"I will call in and leave a message with Mr Goodwin," she said, "and
you had better lie down quietly in your own room. By the time I get
back you will be better, I hope."
But Aunt Sarah had hardly been gone ten minutes before there was a knock
at Anna's door:
"Mrs Winn would like to speak to you, miss. I told her you were not
well, but she says she will only keep you a few minutes."
Anna did not know much of Mrs Winn, and thought, as she went
down-stairs, that she had most likely some message for Mrs Forrest to
leave with her. Would she say anything about the picnic, or the people
who were going to it?
Mrs Winn had taken up a determined position on a stiff, straight-backed
chair in the middle of the room. There was severity in her glance as
she replied to Anna's greeting, and remarked that she was sorry to miss
Mrs Forrest.
"Aunt Sarah's only just started to drive into Dornton," said Anna; "I
wonder you did not meet her."
"I came by the fields," replied Mrs Winn shortly. "You were not well
enough to go out, I hear?"
"I had a headache," said Anna, with her pretty blush; "aunt thought I
had better stay at home."
"You don't look much the worse for it," said Mrs Winn, without removing
her unblinking gaze. "Girls in my young days didn't have headaches, or
if they did, they put up with them, and did their duty in spite of them.
Things are turned topsy-turvy now, and it's the old who give way to the
young."
Surprised at this tone of reproof, for which she was quite unprepared,
Anna's usually ready speech deserted her. She said nothing, and hoped
that Mrs Winn would soon go away. But that was evidently not her
intention just yet: she had come prepared to say what was on her mind,
and she would sit there until it was said.
"But, perhaps," she continued, "it's just as well you didn't go out, for
I've been wanting an opportunity to speak to you for some days."
"To me?" said Anna, faintly.
"I never shrink from my duty," went on Mrs Winn, "whether it's
unpleasant or not, and I don't like to see other people doing so. Now,
you're only a child, and when you neglect to do what's right, you ought
to be told of it."
Anna gazed in open-eyed alarm at her visitor. What could be coming?
"I don't suppose you know, and, therefore, I think it my duty to tell
you, that your grandfather, old Mr Goodwin, was extremely disappointed
the other day when you failed to keep your promise. I hear that he
waited for you until quite late."
"Aunt Sarah wished me to go out with the Palmers," said Anna.
"Grandfather said he didn't mind at all--"
"I knew your mother well," proceeded Mrs Winn, rolling on her way
without noticing this remark, "and a sweet, young creature she was,
though she made one mistake that I always regretted. And I know Mr
Goodwin, of course, and respect him, though he's not made of the stuff
that gets on in the world. Still, whatever his position is, you owe him
duty and reverence; and let me tell you, young lady, there may come a
time when you'll be sorry you've not given it. It's all very well, and
very natural, I daresay, to enjoy frolicking about with your gay young
friends now. But youth passes, and pleasure passes, and then we all
have time to remember the duties we didn't stoop to pick up when they
lay at our door."
Anna sat in sulky silence during this long speech, with her eyes cast
down, and a pout on her lips. What right had Mrs Winn to scold her?
Sullen looks, however, had no sort of effect on that lady, and when she
had taken breath, she proceeded to finish her lecture:
"I keep my eyes open, and my ears too, and I know very well, that though
your grandfather says nothing, and is the sort of man to bear any
neglect without complaint, that he feels hurt at your going so seldom to
see him. And, knowing this, it was my duty to come and tell you, as
there was no one else to do it. Your aunt and uncle are not intimate
with him, and Delia Hunt's too young to speak with any weight.--There's
another thing, too, I wanted to mention. Up to yesterday Mr Goodwin
had received no invitation to the Palmers' picnic."
Anna's heart gave a sudden leap of joy. Then she could go to the
picnic!
"I fancy, if she knew this, that Mrs Forrest would neither go herself
nor allow you to do so," continued Mrs Winn. "Considering his
connection with this family, it's a slight to her and her husband as
well as to him. It's extremely strange of the Palmers, when they take
so much notice of you. I almost feel inclined to go on to Pynes this
afternoon and point it out to them!"
She waited, looking at Anna for a reply, but none came, for she was
partly stunned by the force and suddenness of Mrs Winn's attack, and
also filled with alarm at the idea of her going to Pynes. That would
spoil everything. So she sat in silence, nervously twisting her fingers
in her lap, her downcast face strangely unlike that of the usually
bright, self-possessed Anna.
"After all," concluded Mrs Winn, "I'm rather tired, and it's a good
mile farther, so I'll go back over the fields as I came, though the
stiles do try me a good deal. You know how matters stand now, and you
can't say you've not been openly dealt with. So we'll shake hands, and
bear no malice."
Anna went with her visitor as far as the garden door, and watched her
until she was hidden from sight by the great walnut tree on the lawn.
What a tiresome, interfering old lady she was, and how angry Aunt Sarah
would be! Her head really ached now. It felt as though some one had
been battering it on each side with large, strong hands, and she was
quite confused and giddy; but through it all one triumphant thought came
uppermost. She could go to the picnic! Presently she strolled out into
the garden, fanning her hot face with her hat, as she turned things over
in her mind. On the whole, she would not mention Mrs Winn's visit to
her aunt, and, of course, she must not know that Mr Goodwin had not
been asked to the picnic. It was very near now, and as Mrs Forrest was
not fond of listening to Dornton gossip, she was not likely to hear of
it in any other way. To go to the picnic had now taken such full
possession of Anna's mind that nothing else seemed of much importance.
She was ready to bend and twist everything that came in her way to make
the road to it straight. A small reproving voice, which still sounded
sometimes, was getting less and less troublesome. "Afterwards," Anna
said to it, "after the picnic, I will behave differently. I will never
conceal anything, and I will go often to see grandfather--but I _must_
go to the picnic."
The stable clock sounding five disturbed her reflections. Aunt Sarah
would be home soon without fail, for at a quarter past there would be a
mothers' meeting at the schoolroom, at which she always presided. Anna
went too, sometimes, and helped to measure out calico and flannel, but
she hoped she should be excused this afternoon. The schoolroom was hot,
and she did not find the books Aunt Sarah read aloud to the mothers very
interesting.
There was the pony-cart in the distance! But who was the second figure
sitting beside Mrs Forrest? Could it be Delia? Anna ran through the
house and into the porch, from which she could see the long approach to
the Rectory gate. There had been a time when Delia's coming had meant
unmixed rejoicing, but that was over. She seemed to come now not so
much as a friend as a severe young judge, whose looks condemned, even
when she did not speak.
Mrs Winn had only put into words what Delia's face had said for some
time past, and, with the sound of them still in her ears, Anna felt more
alarmed than pleased, as she saw that it really was her old friend. Had
she, too, come to point out her duty?
With the mothers' meeting on her mind, Mrs Forrest descended quickly
from the pony-cart, and passed Anna in the porch without looking at her.
"Is your headache better?" she said, as she went straight into the
drawing-room, where tea was ready. "I overtook Delia on her way to see
you, and brought her on with me. You must take care of yourselves, for
I must start almost immediately. Please pour me out a cup of tea at
once."
When Mrs Forrest had drunk her tea, and set forth at a leisurely pace
for the schoolroom, provided with work-basket and book, the two girls
were alone together. There was a pause of embarrassment, which Delia
was the first to break.
"I was coming over," she said, "to ask if you would care to go and get
water-lilies down at the river this evening. You said you would like
some rushes too."
Her voice sounded kind, almost as it used to long ago, although there
was a sort of shyness in her manner. Anna was greatly relieved. Surely
Delia would not have begun like this if she intended to reprove her.
"Mrs Forrest said you might go, if your head was better," continued
Delia.
Anna replied eagerly that her headache was nearly gone, a walk would do
it good, she should like it immensely; and a few minutes later the girls
started on their expedition. It was one which had been planned in the
first days of their acquaintance, when Anna had thought no pleasure
could compare to a ramble in the country with Delia. Fresh from the
rattle and noise of London, its stony pavements, and the stiff
brilliancy of the flowers in the parks, it had been a sort of rapture to
her to wander freely over the fields and through the woods. Aunt
Sarah's garden was beautiful, but this was better still. All the
flowers found here might be gathered, and Delia knew exactly where they
all grew in their different seasons, and the best way of getting to
them. Anna had begun, under her guidance, to make a collection of
wild-flowers, but though started with great energy, it had not gone far.
It had ceased, together with the walks, shortly after her acquaintance
with the Palmers had filled her mind with other things. Yet those
rambles with Delia had never been forgotten. Anna thought of them
often, and knew in her heart that she had never been so really happy
since. This evening, as she walked along swinging her basket, she felt
as though the old days had come back, and the old Delia too. It could
not be so, really. If she knew--but she did not know. Meanwhile the
sky was blue, Delia was kind, the meadows were gay and pleasant, she
would forget everything disagreeable, and enjoy herself.
Their way lay for a short distance along the high-road, then over a
stile, and down through the rich flat water-meadows which spread out on
each side of the river. The Dorn was neither a rapid nor a majestic
stream, but took its leisurely course between its sloping banks, with a
contented ripple, disturbing no one. This course was a very winding
one, making all kinds of little creeks, and shallows, and islands on its
way, and these were full of delightful plants for any one who cared to
gather them. Tall families of bulrushes and reeds swaying to the wind
whistling through them; water-lilies, holding up their flat, green hands
to make a table for their white blossoms; forests of willow-herb on the
banks, wild peppermint and comfrey, and the blue eyes of forget-me-nots
peeping out here and there with modest confidence.
"There's an old punt fastened just about here," said Delia, as they
reached the river, "so we can get right out amongst the lilies, and then
we can reach the rushes too."
Delia was always the leader on such occasions, and Anna was used to
following her with perfect confidence, but when they came to the old
punt, a little higher up, she eyed it with some misgivings. It looked
very insecure, and shaky, and rotten.
"Oh, Delia," she cried, as her companion jumped lightly on to it and
waited for her to follow, "it's leaking--I can see the water through it.
Do you think it will bear us both?"
Delia laughed as Anna crept cautiously down the bank. It reminded her
of the time when she had had to encourage and help her to climb gates
and scramble through hedges.
"Come along," she said, holding out her hand, "it's as safe as dry land.
Why, I've seen four great boys on it at once."
"How beautiful!" cried Anna, as, after a little more encouragement, she
found herself safely on the punt by Delia's side, surrounded by
water-lilies and bulrushes. They set to work to fill their basket with
these, and when it was done there were always finer ones still almost
out of reach. These must be had at any cost. Delia would lie flat on
the punt, and while Anna held the skirt of her dress, would manage to
get hold of them with the handle of a stick. There was both excitement
and triumph in these captures, and while they were going on the girls
forgot that any coolness had come between them, or that the world held
much beyond water-lilies and bulrushes. When, however, they climbed out
of the punt with their dripping prizes, and sat down on the bank to rest
a little, recollections returned.
"What a pity," thought Anna, with a sigh, "that things are not always
pleasant. Delia is nicer than any one when she is kind."
Delia, on her side, as she packed the lilies into the basket, reminded
herself that there was something she had to say to Anna, and wondered
how she should begin.
As usual, she plunged straight into the matter of which her mind was
full, and said suddenly:
"Do you ever meet your grandfather at Pynes?"
Here was the tiresome subject again! All pleasure was over now.
"No, never," replied Anna. "He gives Clara lessons on Saturdays, and
Aunt Sarah always wants me at home then."
"You are going to this picnic, I suppose?" said Delia. "Does Mrs
Forrest know that the Professor has not been asked?"
"I don't know," murmured Anna.
She glanced quickly at her companion, and saw the severe look coming
back which she always dreaded.
"Of course," continued Delia. "It does not in the least matter, as far
as he is concerned, for he would not, in any case, go; but I should have
thought his relations would have felt it a slight; and I can't
understand Mrs Palmer."
Anna was silent. She wished now that Delia had not come, though she had
enjoyed the walk so much.
"But I didn't mean to talk about that," resumed Delia, with an effort.
"What I wanted to say has nothing to do with the picnic. It's about
you, Anna, and myself."
"About me?" repeated Anna.
After all, Delia _was_ going to be angry, yet her voice sounded quite
soft and kind.
"Yes. At first I didn't mean to say anything to you, because I thought
you ought to be able to see it for yourself. And when you didn't, I was
angry, and that kept me silent. But I know now, it was wrong. People
can't see things just alike, and I ought to have been kinder, and tried
to help you more."
At this new tone of humility Anna's heart softened at once to her
friend. When she spoke like that, she felt for the moment that she
would do anything she asked--even give up the picnic.
"Oh, Delia," she exclaimed, impulsively, "you've always been very kind.
Kinder than I deserve."
"That's nothing to do with it," answered Delia. "People can do without
friends when they deserve them. The thing is, that I promised the
Professor to be your friend, and I haven't carried it out."
"It's been my fault," said Anna, in a penitent voice, "but really and
truly, Delia, you may not believe me, but I _do_ like you better than
Isabel Palmer--or any one. I do indeed."
She spoke the truth. At that moment she felt that she would rather have
Delia for a friend than any one in the world. Yet she was conscious
that, if Delia knew all, she would find it hard to forgive her. What a
pity it all was!
"So, what I want to tell you," continued Delia, "and what I ought to
have told you before, is this. I've let you think that your grandfather
doesn't mind your going so seldom to see him--but I know that he does."
She paused and looked earnestly at Anna.
"Grandfather never says anything about it," Anna murmured.
"That's just it," said Delia. "He's so unselfish and good, he wouldn't
let you or any one know it for the world. He thinks so little of
himself, it would be impossible to offend him. It's not what he _says_.
Oh, Anna, if you really knew, and loved him, you _couldn't_ let
anything else come before him! Not all the Palmers, and Waverleys, and
Aunt Sarahs in the world. You _couldn't_ give him a minute's pain or
disappointment."
She was so moved by her subject, that the tears stood in her dark eyes
as she turned them upon Anna.
"I'll try, Delia; I really will," said the latter, "but it _is_ hard.
Harder than you think. It makes Aunt Sarah different for days
afterwards."
Delia snapped off the head of a water-lily in her impatient fingers.
"Aunt Sarah!" she repeated. Then more gently: "You see, Anna, you must
choose whether you'll pain the Professor or displease Mrs Forrest. You
can't possibly please both of them. You must choose which you think
right, and stick to it. You can't serve God and mammon."
How dreadfully earnest Delia was! It almost frightened Anna to hear her
talk like that.
"I will try," she repeated. "I will do my best, Delia, if only you
won't be angry any longer."
She put her hand softly into her companion's, and Delia's fingers closed
over it in a warm clasp. For the time, the old feelings of confidence
and affection had returned, and when, a little later, Anna walked back
to the Vicarage alone, she was full of good resolves. She would try to
deserve Delia's friendship. She would go often to Dornton, and be very
loving to her grandfather. She would turn over a new leaf.
"My dear Anna," cried Mrs Forrest, meeting her in the porch with her
basket of wet, shining river-plants, "do you know the time? Miss Stiles
has been waiting to try on your dress for the picnic. Dear me! what
dripping things! Let Mary take them."
The picnic! Anna had really for the moment forgotten the picnic. All
the good resolves trooped into the background again while she tried on
the new dress. But only till _after_ the picnic! When that was over
she would make a fresh start, and never, never, conceal anything again.
CHAPTER EIGHT.
THE BEST THINGS.
A rose which falleth from the hand, which fadeth in the breast,
Until in grieving for the worst, we learn what is the best.
Mrs Browning.
Everything went on quite smoothly until the day fixed for the picnic
came. Aunt Sarah gave no hint of any objection; the weather was
gloriously hot and fine; Anna's new white dress was very pretty--there
was nothing wanting to her long-desired enjoyment.
She stood amongst the nodding roses in the porch, waiting for the
Palmers to call for her in their carriage, on the way to Alderbury.
Aunt Sarah was, perhaps, to drive over and join the party later. Anna
had dismissed all troublesome thoughts. She felt sure she was going to
be very happy, and that nothing unlucky would happen to spoil her
pleasure. She was in gay spirits, as she fastened a bunch of the little
cluster-roses in her dress. Isabel had once told her that she looked
very pretty in white, and she was glad to feel that she suited the
beauty of the bright summer day.
"Anna!" said Mrs Forrest's voice from the hall within.
Anna turned. The hall looked dark and shadowy after the sunshine, but
it was easy to see that there was vexation on her aunt's face as she
studied the letter in her hand.
"I have just had a note from Dr Hunt," she said. "Mr Goodwin, your
grandfather, is not very well."
"What is the matter?" asked Anna.
She left the porch and went up to her aunt's side.
"Why, I can't quite make out. Dr Hunt talks of fever, but says there
is nothing infectious. Brought on by over-exertion in the heat, he
thinks. He says you may safely go to see him--"
There was a pause. Mrs Forrest and Anna looked at each other: each
waited for the other to speak. Must I give up the picnic after all?
thought Anna.
"I don't gather that it's anything serious," said Mrs Forrest at
length. "I think the best plan will be for me to go over to Dornton,
after you've started, and see Dr Hunt. Then, if there's really no
danger of infection, you can go there early to-morrow," She looked
inquiringly at Anna, as though half-expecting her to make some other
suggestion. The sound of wheels on the gravel, and the tramp of horses,
told that the Palmers were approaching: the wagonette, full of gay young
people, drove up to the porch.
"Are you ready, Anna?" called out Isabel's voice.
"Will that satisfy you?" said Mrs Forrest; "you must decide now."
"We're late, Anna," said Isabel again, "why don't you come?"
Anna hesitated. She looked out at the bright sunshine, where her
companions called her to gaiety and pleasure, and then at the letter in
her aunt's hand.
"Here's your cloak, Miss Anna," said the maid waiting at the door.
In another moment, it seemed almost without any will of her own, she was
squeezed into the carriage amongst her laughing companions, had waved a
farewell to Mrs Forrest standing smiling in the porch, and was whirled
away to the picnic.
The hours of the sunny day, filled with delight for Anna amongst the
pleasant woods of Alderbury, did not pass so quickly at Number 4 Back
Row. The Professor was ill. He had had a slight feverish attack to
begin with, which passed off, and seemed of no importance, but it had
left him in a state of nervous weakness and prostration, at which Dr
Hunt looked grave. Mr Goodwin must have been over-exerting himself for
some time past, he declared, and this breakdown was the result. It
would probably be some time before he could do any work. Perfect rest,
and freedom from all care and agitation, were the only remedies.
"Don't let him know, Delia," he said to his daughter as he left the
house, "that he's likely to be laid up long. Keep him as quiet and
cheerful as possible. I'll send a line to Mrs Forrest, and let her
know that his grandchild may be with him as much as she likes."
Delia prepared to spend the rest of the day with her old friend, and
having persuaded him to lie down on the hard little couch, and made him
as comfortable as she could with pillows, she sat down in the window
with her sewing. From here she could watch the little gate, and prevent
any one from entering too suddenly. Of course Anna would come soon.
The Professor was very quiet, but she thought he turned his eyes towards
the door now and then, as though looking for some one. Was it Anna? At
last she was thankful to see him fall into a doze which lasted some
while, and she was just thinking for the hundredth time that Anna _must_
come now, when she was startled by his voice:
"Prissy," it said, quite clearly.
Delia went up to the sofa. Mr Goodwin gazed at her for a moment
without recognition.
"You've had a nice sleep, Professor," she said, smiling, "and now you
are going to have some tea with me."
But in spite of his sleep, the Professor's face looked anxious, and he
hardly tasted the tea which Delia prepared. As she took his cup, he
said wistfully:
"Did Dr Hunt write to Mrs Forrest?"
Delia nodded.
"Did--did Anna happen to come while I was asleep?" was his next
question.
"She's not been yet," said Delia, "but they may not have had the letter
till late. She will come soon."
"I should like to see her," said the Professor.
Why did not Anna come? As the weary hours went by, and the sun got
lower and lower, he became very restless, looked first at his watch and
then at the door, and no longer tried to conceal how much he wanted to
see his grandchild. Delia tried in vain to divert his mind by reading
his favourite books, but it was evident that he was not listening to
her. He was listening for the click of the gate, and the footsteps
outside. Every subject in which she tried to interest him came back to
the same thing, Anna, and Anna's doings. Delia could not help one throb
of jealous pain, as she recognised how powerless she was to take her
place, a place she seemed to value so little. But it was only for one
moment; the next she put all thought of herself aside. Anna belonged to
the dearest memories of the Professor's life. She had a place in his
heart which would always be kept for her, whatever she had done or left
undone. To bring peace and comfort into his face again, Delia would
have been willing at that moment to give up her own place in his
affections entirely. If only Anna would come!
"I suppose it's too late to expect her now, my dear, isn't it?" said the
patient voice again.
Delia could not bear it any longer.
"I think," she said, as cheerfully as she could, "if you don't mind
being alone a little while, I'll just run over to Waverley. Mrs
Cooper's here, if you want anything, you know."
"Will you really?" said the Professor, with hope in his voice.
"There's perhaps been some mistake about that letter," said Delia.
"You'd like to see Anna to-night, wouldn't you?"
"Well, I _should_," said Mr Goodwin. "It's very absurd, I know, but I
had such a strange dream just now about her and Prissy, and I can't get
it out of my head. I suppose being not quite up to the mark makes one
unreasonable, but I really don't think I could sleep without seeing her.
It's very good of you to go, my dear."
"I'll be back in no time, and bring her with me," said Delia.
She spoke with confidence, but half-way across the fields she stopped
her rapid pace, checked by a sudden thought--the picnic!
In her anxiety she had forgotten it. Anna might have started before Dr
Hunt's note got to Waverley. Even then, though, she said to herself,
she must be home by now. So she ran on again, and half an hour later
she was on her way back over the darkening fields--without Anna. She
had gone to the picnic, and she knew the Professor was ill! Once Delia
would have felt angry; now there was only room in her heart for one
thought: "He will be disappointed, and he will not sleep to-night."
The church clock struck nine as she entered the High Street in Dornton,
and the same sound fell faintly on Anna's ears on her way back from
Alderbury. The picnic had been over long ago, but, shortly after the
party started to return, one of the horses lost a shoe; the carriage in
which Anna was had to proceed at a slow walk for the rest of the
distance, and it would be very late before she could reach Waverley.
No accident, however, could damp her spirits, or those of her
companions. It was all turned into amusement and fun. The whole day
had been more delightful than any Anna had known. It was over now, that
delightful day, and she gave a little sigh of regret to think that she
was at the end of it instead of at the beginning. The one shadow which
had fallen across the brightness of it, had been cast by the substantial
figure of Mrs Winn, whom she had seen in the distance now and then.
Once she had noticed her in earnest conversation with Mrs Palmer, and
thought that they had both looked in her direction, but it had been easy
to avoid contact with her amongst so many people. It had not spoiled
her enjoyment then; but now, her excitement a little cooled down,
unpleasant thoughts began to make themselves heard.
Here was the Rectory at last! Anna burst into the drawing-room, her
fair hair falling in confusion over her shoulders, a large bundle of
foxgloves in her arms, her cheeks bright with the cool night breeze.
"Oh, aunt!" she exclaimed, "we've had such a lovely, lovely day. Why
didn't you come?"
"You're very late, my dear Anna," said Mrs Forrest, gravely. "I
expected you more than an hour ago."
Anna explained the reason of her delay.
"Alderbury is the most perfect place," she repeated. "Why didn't you
come?"
"It's very unlucky that you should be late," said Mrs Forrest. "Delia
has been over asking for you."
Anna's face fell. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "My grandfather! Is he worse?"
"I don't think so. And from what I learned from Dr Hunt, he is not at
all seriously ill. But he was restless, Delia said, and wanted to see
you to-night."
"To see me," said Anna. She let her flowers fall in a heap on the
ground. "Oh, Aunt Sarah, I wish I had not gone to the picnic!"
"Now, my dear Anna, that is foolish. You shall go to Dornton early
to-morrow, and no doubt you will find Mr Goodwin better. Remember that
there is no cause for anxiety, and though the accident of your being
late was very unfortunate, it could not be avoided."
Aunt Sarah's composed words were reassuring. Probably her grandfather
was not very ill, Anna thought; but oh, why had she gone to the picnic,
and what would Delia say?
These last words were in her mind again next morning, as she arrived at
Number 4 Back Row, and stood waiting to be let in. The little house
looked very sad and silent, as though it knew its master was ill.
Presently the door opened a very little way, and the long, mournful face
of Mrs Cooper appeared. When she saw who it was she put her finger on
her lip, and then said in a loud, hoarse whisper, "I'll call Miss
Delia."
Anna was left outside. She felt frightened. Why did Mrs Cooper look
so grave? Perhaps grandfather was very ill after all!
It seemed ages before the door opened again, and when it did, it was
Delia who stood there. She did not look at all angry, but her face was
very sad.
"He has had a very bad night," she whispered, "but now he is sleeping.
He must not be disturbed. You had better come later."
That was all. The door was gently shut again, and Anna stood outside.
As she turned away, her eyes filled with tears. Yesterday her
grandfather had wanted her, and she had not gone--to-day the door was
shut. He must be very ill, she felt sure, whatever Aunt Sarah might
say. His kind, gentle face came before her, as she made her way along--
always kind, never with any reproach in it. How could she have gone to
the picnic, and left him to ask for her in vain?
As she reached the place where the pony-cart waited for her, Isabel
Palmer came out of a shop. She looked at her with a sort of cold
surprise.
"Oh, Anna," she said, "how is Mr Goodwin? We only heard yesterday he
was ill. I was going to his house to ask after him."
"Dr Hunt says there is no cause for anxiety," said Anna, repeating the
sentence she had so often heard from Aunt Sarah.
"It was Mrs Winn who told mother he was ill," continued Isabel,
observing Anna's downcast face curiously, "and--she said another thing
which surprised us all very much. Why didn't you tell us long ago that
Mr Goodwin is your grandfather?"
Anna was silent.
"We can't understand it at all," continued Isabel. "Mother says it
might have caused great unpleasantness. She's quite vexed."
She waited a moment with her eyes fixed on Anna, and then said, with a
little toss of her head:
"Well--good-bye. I suppose we shan't meet again before we go to
Scotland. Mother has written to tell Mrs Forrest that we're not going
on with lessons."
They parted with a careless shake of the hands, and Anna was driven away
in the pony-cart. Her friendship with Isabel, her pleasant visits to
Pynes, were over now. She was humbled and disgraced before every one,
and Delia would know it too. It would have been a wounding thought
once, but now there was no room in her heart for any feeling but dread
of what might happen to Mr Goodwin.
"Oh, Aunt Sarah," she cried, when she reached Waverley, and found her
aunt in the garden, "I'm sure my grandfather is worse--I'm sure he's
very ill. I did not see him."
Mrs Forrest was tying up a rebellious creeper, which wished to climb in
its own way instead of hers. She finished binding down one of the
unruly tendrils before she turned to look at her niece. Anna was
flushed. Her eyelids were red and swollen.
"Why didn't you see him?" she asked. "Does Dr Hunt think him worse?"
"I don't know," said Anna. "I only saw Delia for a minute. He was
asleep. I am to go again. Oh, Aunt Sarah," with a burst of sobs, "I do
wish I had not gone to the picnic. I wish I had behaved better to my
grandfather. I wish--"
Mrs Forrest laid her hand kindly on Anna's shoulder.
"My dear," she said, "you distress yourself without reason. We can rely
on Dr Hunt's opinion that your grandfather only needs rest. Sleep is
the very best thing for him. When you go this evening, you will see how
foolish you have been. Meanwhile, try to exercise some self-control;
occupy yourself, and the time will soon pass."
She turned to her gardening again, and Anna wandered off alone. Aunt
Sarah's calm words had no comfort in them. Delia's severest rebuke,
even Mrs Winn's plain speech, would have been better. She went
restlessly up to her bedroom, seeking she hardly knew what. Her eye
fell on the little brown case, long unopened, which held her mother's
portrait. Words, long unthought of, came back to her as she looked at
it.
"If you are half as good and beautiful," her father had said; and on the
same day what had been Miss Milverton's last warning? "Try to value the
best things."
"Oh," cried Anna to herself as she looked at the pure, truthful eyes of
the picture, "if I only could begin again! But now it's all got so
wrong, it can never, never be put right!"
After a while, she went into the garden again, and avoiding Mrs
Forrest, crossed the little foot-bridge leading into the field, and sat
down on the gate. The chimneys of Leas Farm in the distance made her
think of Daisy, and the old days when they had first met, and she had
been so full of good resolves. Daisy, and the good resolves, and Delia
too, seemed all to have vanished together. She had no friends now.
Every one had deserted her, and she had deserved it!
She was sitting during those reflections with her face buried in her
hands, and presently was startled by the sound of a little voice behind
her.
"What's the matter?" it said.
It was Daisy Oswald, who had come through the garden, and now stood on
the bridge close to her, a basket of eggs in her hand, and her childish,
freckled face full of wonder and sympathy.
Generally, Anna would have been ashamed to be seen in distress, and
would have tried to hide it, but now she was too miserable to mind
anything. She hid her face in her hands again, without answering
Daisy's question.
"Has some one been cross?" inquired Daisy at last.
Anna shook her head. Her heart ached for sympathy even from Daisy,
though she could not speak to her, and she hoped she would not go away
just yet.
"Have you hurt yourself?" proceeded Daisy.
Again the same sign.
"Have you done something naughty? I did something very naughty once."
Seeing that Anna did not shake her head this time, she added, in her
condescending little tone:
"If you like, I'll come and sit beside you, and tell you all about it."
She put her basket of eggs very carefully on the ground, and placed
herself comfortably by Anna's side.
"It was a very naughty thing _I_ did," she began, in a voice of some
enjoyment, "worse than yours, I expect. It was a year ago, and one of
our geese was sitting, and mother said she wasn't to be meddled with
nohow. And the white Cochin-china hen was sitting too, and"--Daisy
paused to give full weight to the importance of the crime, and opened
her eyes very wide, "and--I changed 'em! I carried the goose and put
her on the hen's nest, and she forsook it, and the hen forsook hers, and
the eggs were all addled! Mother _was_ angry! She said it wasn't the
eggs she minded so much as the disobedience. Was yours worse than
that?"
"Much, much worse," murmured Anna.
Daisy made a click with her tongue to express how shocked she felt at
this idea.
"Have you said you're sorry, and you won't do it any more?" she asked.
"When you're sorry, people are kind."
"I don't deserve that they should be kind," said Anna, looking up
mournfully at her little adviser.
"Father and mother were kind afterwards," said Daisy. "I had to be
punished though. I didn't have eggs for breakfast for a whole month
after I changed the goose. I like eggs for breakfast," she added,
thoughtfully. Then glancing at her basket, as she got down from the
gate, "Mother sent those to Mrs Forrest. I came through the garden to
find you, but I'm going back over the field. You haven't been to see
Star for ever so long. She's growing a real beauty."
Long after Daisy was out of sight her simple words lingered in Anna's
mind. They had made her feel less miserable, though nothing was
altered. "When you're sorry, people are kind," she repeated. If her
grandfather knew the very worst, if he knew that she had actually been
ashamed of him, would he possibly forgive her? would he ever look kindly
at her again? Anna sat up and dried her tears. She lifted her head
with a sudden resolve. "I will tell him," she said to herself, "every
bit about it, from the very beginning, and then I must bear whatever he
says, and whatever Delia says."
It was easy to make this brave resolve, with no one to hear it but the
quiet cows feeding in the field, but when the evening came, and she
stood for the second time at Number 4 Back Row, her heart beat quickly
with fear. When she thought of her grandfather's kind face her courage
rose a little, but when she thought of what she had to tell him, it fell
so low that she was almost inclined to run away. The door opened, but
this time Mrs Cooper did not leave her outside. She flung open the
door of the sitting-room with her other hand, and said in a loud voice,
"Miss Forrest, sir."
Anna entered, half afraid as to what she should see, for she had made up
her mind that her grandfather was really very ill. To her relief, the
Professor and his shabby little room looked unaltered. He was sitting
in his arm-chair by the window, tired and worn, as she had often found
him before, after one of his long walks, and held out his kind hand to
welcome her as usual.
"Oh my dear Anna," he said, "you've come to see me. That's right. Come
and sit here."
There was a chair close to him, and as she took it, Anna noticed a piece
of half-finished knitting on the table, which she knew belonged to
Delia. "If Delia comes in," she thought to herself, "I _can't_ do it."
"Are you better, grandfather?" she managed to ask, in a very subdued
voice.
"Oh, I'm getting on splendidly!" he answered, "with such a good nurse,
and so much care and attention, I shall soon be better than ever I was
before."
There was no mistaking the expression in his face as he turned it
towards her. Not only welcome and kindness, but love, shone from it
brightly. In the midst of her confusion Anna wondered how it was that
she had never felt so sure of her grandfather's affection before. And
now, perhaps, she was to lose it.
"You can't think how wonderfully kind every one is," he continued. "I
really might almost think myself an important person in Dornton. They
send messages and presents, and are ready to do anything to help me.
Mr Hurst came in just now to tell me that he has arranged to fill my
place as organist for a whole month, so that I may have a rest. They're
very nice, good people in Dornton. That kind Mrs Winn offered to come
and read to me, and then Delia is like another grand-daughter, you
know."
Anna's heart was full as he chatted on. Must she tell him? Might she
not put it off a little?
"And so you went to a picnic yesterday?" he went on, as she sat silently
by him. "Was it very pleasant? Let me see, did the sun shine? You
must tell me all about it. I am to be an idle man now, you know, and
shall want every one to amuse me with gossip."
"Grandfather," cried Anna, with a sudden burst of courage, "I want to
tell you--I've done something very wrong."
The Professor turned his gentle glance upon her.
"We all have to say that, my dear," he answered, "very often. But I'm
sure you're sorry for it, whatever it is."
"It's something very bad," murmured Anna, "Delia knows. She won't
forgive me, I know, but I thought perhaps you would."
"Is it to Delia you have done wrong?" asked Mr Goodwin.
"No. To you," replied Anna, gaining courage as she went on, "I--"
The Professor stroked her fair hair gently. It was just the same colour
as Prissy's, he thought.
"Then I don't want to hear any more, my dear," he said, "for I know all
about it already."
The relief was so great, after the effort of speaking, that Anna burst
into tears, but they were tears full of comfort, and had no bitterness
in them.
"Oh, grandfather," she sobbed, "you _are_ good. Better than any one. I
will never, never--"
"Hush, my dear, hush," said the Professor, patting her hand gently, and
trying to console her by all the means in his power.
"I wonder where Delia is!" he said at last, finding that his efforts
were useless.
Anna sat up straight in her chair at the name, and dried her tears. She
dreaded seeing Delia, but it must be faced.
"She was here the moment before you came in," he continued. "Call her,
my dear."
It was not possible to be very far off in Mr Goodwin's house, and
Delia's voice answered from the kitchen, when Anna opened the door and
called her. A few minutes afterwards she came into the room carrying a
tray full of tea-things; her quick glance rested first on Anna's
tear-stained face, and then on the Professor.
"Anna and I have had a nice talk, my dear Delia," he said, with an
appealing look, "and now we should all like some tea."
Delia understood the look. She put down her tray, went promptly up to
Anna, and kissed her:
"Come and help me to get the tea ready," she said; "it's quite time the
Professor had something to eat."
So Anna was forgiven, and it was in this way that, during her visit to
Waverley, she began dimly to see what the best things are, and to see it
through sorrow and failure. It was a lesson she had to go on learning,
like the rest of us, all through her life--not an easy lesson, or one to
be quickly known. Sometimes we put it from us impatiently, and choose
something which looks more enticing, and not so dull, and for a time we
go on our way gaily--and then, a sorrow, or perhaps a sin, brings home
to us that everything is worthless compared to Love, Truth, and
Faithfulness to Duty, and that if we have been false to them, there is
no comfort anywhere until we return to serve them with tears of
repentance.
THE END.
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