The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Gold of Chickaree, by Susan Warner
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Title: The Gold of Chickaree
Author: Susan Warner
Release Date: November 21, 2007 [eBook #23584]
Language: English
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLD OF CHICKAREE***
Produced by Daniel Fromont.
Susan Warner, 1819-1885 & Anna Warner 1824-1915, The Gold
of Chickaree (1876), Putnam's edition 1876
Produced by Daniel FROMONT
_The Gold of Chickaree_ seen by _The Atlantic monthly_, Volume 39,
Issue 233, March 1877, pp. 370-371
"It is said to criticise _The Gold of Chickaree_, or stories like it,
without making use of such violent methods as excite the scorn of
those who criticise the critics. They say mere denunciation is of no
service and should never be employed; as if there were not too
many books already without truth or beauty, which cry aloud for
some one to point out in print, as every one does in conversation,
their utter worthlessness. _The Gold of Chickaree_ is a continuation
of _Wych Hazel_, and the two stories are as much alike as two
halves of a slate pencil. Wych Hazel herself is rich and
insufferably pert; her lover, Rollo, Dane, Duke, or Olaf, as he is
called indifferently, is rich and in his ways 'masterful.' The earlier
novel ends with the engagement of these two, and here is
described their sudden marriage, which they forebore announcing
even to their guests at dinner, who were unexpectedly delighted by
witnessing this wedding later in the evening. This is a capital
notion for entertaining company, and far superior to music,
singing, or charades. The other incidents of the novel are of the
flimsiest sort; round dancing and the theatre come in for intolerant
abuse. All the poor people get Christmas presents, and one son of
Belial, who is anxious to run away with his neighbors wife, is
bought off for thirty thousand dollars, a mere bagatelle in this
moral Monte Christo. For the same sum of money it might have
been possible to close a theatre for a winter or to bribe penniless
young men to give up dancing a dozen Germans. Besides their
lavish extravagance, the most noteworthy thing about the people is
their morbid self-consciousness; they are never at their ease; they
are forever trying to impress one another with their own brilliant
wit. It is a poor story."
THE
GOLD OF CHICKAREE
BY THE SAME AUTHORS.
WYCH HAZEL.
BY
SUSAN AND ANNA WARNER.
12mo, cloth. Price, $2.00.
"We have not the faintest hesitation in placing this work above
anything the authors have given us, and, furthermore, in placing it
among the very strongest novels in character development which
have been written within the past two years. * * * We can promise
every lover of fine fiction a wholesome feast in the book."
_Boston Traveller_.
"One of the best written and mots entertaining books recently sent
out by any of the favorites of the novel reading public." _Albany
Journal_.
"The Misses Warner have altogether surpassed themselves in this
story, and have produced one of the brightest and breeziest tales of
the season." _N.Y. Evening Mail_.
_Sent, post-paid, upon receipt of price_.
THE
GOLD OF CHICKAREE
BY
SUSAN AND ANNA WARNER,
Authors of "WIDE, WIDE WORLD," and "DOLLARS AND
CENTS," "WYCH HAZEL," etc.
_"Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no
number. Arise, therefore, and be doing; and the Lord be with
thee."_2 Chronicles.
NEW YORK
G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS
27 AND 29 WEST 23D STREET
COPYRIGHT
BY G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS,
1876.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.ON-DIT
CHAPTER II.WHAT COMES OF ON-DIT
CHAPTER III.CROSS THREADS
CHAPTER IV.ABOUT THE GUARDIANSHIP
CHAPTER V.ASLEEP AND AWAKE
CHAPTER VI.A MAN AND HIS MONEY
CHAPTER VII.THE EMERALD
CHAPTER VIII.ACORNS AND ACORN-CUPS
CHAPTER IX.ROLLO'S EXPERIMENT
CHAPTER X.ROLLO'S COMPANY
CHAPTER XI.STARLIGHT AND FIRELIGHT
CHAPTER XII.COFFEE AND BUNS
CHAPTER XIII.UNDER THE CHESTNUT TREES
CHAPTER XIV.THE WORTH OF A FEATHER
CHAPTER XV.CONFIDENTIAL TALK
CHAPTER XVI.DR. ARTHUR'S NEWS
CHAPTER XVII.ALONE IN THE FIGHT
CHAPTER XVIII.SETTLEMENTS
CHAPTER XIX.SCHOOLING
CHAPTER XX.ABOUT CHRISTMAS
CHAPTER XXI.THE LOSS OF POWER
CHAPTER XXII.PREPARATORY FREAKS
CHAPTER XXIII.FOR BETTER FOR WORSE
CHAPTER XXIV.ONE AND ONE ARE TWO
CHAPTER XXV.PRIM'S TRUNK
CHAPTER XXVI.AN ACCOUNT AT THE BANK
CHAPTER XXVII.THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE
CHAPTER XXVIII. PLEASURE BY EXPRESS
CHAPTER XXIX.SOCIAL DUTIES
CHAPTER XXX.A TRAVELLING CLOCK
CHAPTER XXXI.NOVICE WORK
CHAPTER XXXII.SUPPER
CHAPTER XXXIII.ABDICATION
CHAPTER XXXIV.GOLD AT INTEREST
THE
GOLD OF CHICKAREE
CHAPTER I.
ON-DIT.
'Papa,' said Primrose, very thoughtfully, 'do you think Hazel will
marry Duke?'
Dr. Maryland and his daughter were driving homeward after some
business which had taken them to the village.
'She will if she knows what is good for her,' the doctor answered
decidedly.
'But she has been away from Chickaree now nearly a year.'
'I don't know what her guardian is thinking of,' Dr. Maryland said,
somewhat discontentedly.
'Duke is her guardian too,' remarked Primrose.
'You land a fish sometimes best with a long line, my dear.'
'People say she has been very gay at Newport.'
'I am sorry to hear it.'
'Do you think, papa, she would ever settle down and be quiet and
give all such gayety up?'
'The answer to that lies in what I do not know, my dear.'
'Papa,' Primrose went on, after the pause of a minute, 'don't you
think the will was rather hard upon Hazel?'
'No,' said the doctor, decidedly. 'What can a girl want more?'
'But if she does not like Duke?'
'She is not obliged to marry him.'
'But she can't marry anybody else, papa, without losing all her
fortune, that is'
'Till she is twenty-five, my dear; only till she is twenty-five. She is
not obliged to wait any longer than that, and no woman need be
married before she is twenty-five.'
Primrose laughed a little privately at the statement which she did
not combat. She was thinking that Duke did not look at all
depressed, and querying whether it was because he knew more
than she did, or because he did not care. The old buggy stopped
before the door of the long, low, stone house, and the conversation
went no further.
Meanwhile, far away in the city, the young lady in question had
discovered what nobody knew, and at last had unveiled her own
secret. Not doubtingly, as she had glanced at it before, but beyond
question, as an accepted fact. She hid it well from other people;
she was at no pains to hide it from herself. Pains would have been
of no use. If, in the somewhat secluded quiet of the first part of the
winter, she had contrived a little to confuse things, it was no longer
possible the moment she was out in the world again. Well she
knew that she would rather live over three minutes in the red room
when she had unconsciously pleased Mr. Rollo's taste, than to
dance the gayest dance with such men as Stuart Nightingale, or do
miles of promenading with the peers of Mr. May. For to Wych
Hazel, to care for anybody so, was to care not two straws for
anybody else. The existence, almost, of other men sank out of
sight. She heard their compliments, she laughed at their talk, but
through it all neither eye nor ear would have missed the faintest
token of Mr. Rollo's presence; and since he was not there, she
amused herself with mental comparisons not very flattering to the
people at hand. She could not escape their admiration, but it was
rather a bore. She care to have them stand round her, and join her
in the street, and ask her to drive? She enjoy their devotion? 'In
idea' she belonged to somebody else, some time ago; now, the idea
was her own; and she cared no more for the rest of the world than
if they had been so many lay figures. It was not too easy,
sometimes, to hide this; not easy always to look long enough at the
hearts laid at her feet, to give them the sympathetic courtesy which
was their due. She never had tried her hand at flirting; but it was
left for this season to stamp Miss Kennedy as 'the most
unapproachable woman in town.' Which, however, unfortunately,
made her more popular than ever. She was so lovely in her shy
reserve; the hardwon favours were so delightful; the smiles so
witching when they came; and nobody ever suspected that what
she did with all her triumphs was to mentally bestow them on
somebody else. They belonged to him, now, not to her, and for her
had no other value.
It was a very timid consciousness of all this that Hazel allowed
herself, even yet. Thoughts were scolded out of sight and shut up
and hushed; but none the less they had their way; and the sudden
coming of forbidden thoughts, and the half oblivion of things at
hand, made the prettiest work that could be in face and manner. A
sweeter shyness than that of the girl who had nothing to hide
watched all doors that led to her secret; a fairer reserve than mere
timidity kept back what belonged to one man alone. A certain
womanly veil over the girlish face but made the beautiful life
changes more beautiful still. If anything, she looked younger than
she had done the year before.
All this being true, why then did Miss Kennedy throw herself into
the whirl of society, and carry her elder guardian about with her
from place to place, till they had nearly made the round of all the
gay scenes of winter and summer? Very simply and plainly, she
said to herself, because there was nothing else to do. Of course she
could not settle down permanently away from home; and as to
going back to Chickareeto rides, and walks, and talkswith
September hurrying on as if everybody was in a hurry to have it
that was out of the question. The very idea took her breadth away.
Till September Mr. Rollo had pledged himself to be quiet; longer it
could not be expected of him. No, she must keep her distance, and
keep moving; and if she had to meet her fate, meet it at least on a
sudden. She could not sit still and watch it coming, step by step;
she could not even sit still and think about it. If she could have
persuaded Mr. Falkirk, Hazel would have gone straight to Europe,
and stayed there tillshe did not know when. She had an
overpowering dread of going home, and seeing Mr. Rollo, and
having herself and her secret brought out into the open day. So she
rushed about from one gay place to another, and hid herself in the
biggest crowds she could find; and all the while went to his 'penny
readings' (in imagination), and counted the days that were yet left
before the end of September. But the tension began to tell upon
her, and her face took a delicate look that Mr. Falkirk did not like
to see, in spite of the ready colour that flickered there in such fitful
fashion. And then, Dr. Arthur Maryland, watching her one night at
the Ocean House, with his critical eyes, gave his opinion, unasked.
All that appeared was purely professional.
'She would be better at home, Mr. Falkirk, with different
surroundings, and more quiet. Just now she is attempting too
much. But do not tell her I say so.'
The advice chimed in well with Mr. Falkirk's own private notions
and opinions. It pleased him not to have his ward so given up to
society, so engrossed with other people, as for months he had been
obliged to see her. Mr. Falkirk had a vague sense of danger,
comparable to the supposed feelings of a good mother-hen which
has followed her brood of ducklings to the edge of the water. For
Mr. Falkirk's attendance seemed to himself not much more
valuable or efficient to guard from evil than the said mother-hen's
clucking round the pond. True, he stood by, and saw Wych Hazel
was there; he went and came with her; but the waves of the social
entertainment floated her hither and thither, and he could scarce
follow at a distance, much less navigate for her. What she was
doing, or saying, or engaging to do, was quite beyond his ken or
his management. Besides, Mr. Falkirk thought it ill that the
beautiful home at Chickaree should be untenanted; and ill that
Wych Hazel's tastes and habits should be permanently diverted
from home joys and domestic avocations. He was very much in the
dark about Rollo; but, knowing nothing about the secret compact
for the year, and seeing that Rollo did not of late seek his ward's
society, and that Wych Hazel shunned to come near his
neighbourhood, and affected any other place rather, he half
comforted himself with the thought that as yet his little charge was
his only, and her sweet trust and affection unshared by anybody
who had a greater claim.
So Mr. Falkirk issued his decree, and made his arrangements; that
is, he told Wych Hazel he thought she ought to go to Chickaree for
the rest of the season; and, seeing that she must, Wych Hazel
agreed.
It came to be now the end of August. And all through the season,
Rollo had kept at his work or his play in the Hollow, and he had
not sought out Wych Hazel in her various abiding places. Perhaps
he was too busy; perhaps he was constantly expecting that her
wanderings would cease, and she would return to her own home.
Perhaps he guessed partly at the reason for her keeping at a
distance, and would not hurry her by any premature importunity.
And, perhapsfor some men are sohe was willing that she
should run to the end of her line, see all that she cared to see, and
find, if she could find, anything that she liked better than him. It
might have been patiently or impatiently; but Rollo waited, and did
not recalldid not go after her. And now she was coming home.
It was September and one week of it gone. Rollo had ridden over
to Dr. Maryland's to dinner, and the little party was just sitting
down to the table, when Dr. Arthur arrived. He had been, we
know, at Newport, on business of his own, where Wych Hazel and
Mr. Falkirk were, and was just returned after an absence of some
weeks. He was a lion, of course, as any one is in a country home
who has ventured out into the great sea of the world and come
home again; and his sisters could hardly serve him fast enough, or
listen eagerly enough to his talk at the dinner-table. Though Prim
cared most for the sound of his voice, and Mrs. Coles for what it
had to tell.
'And you saw Miss Kennedy, Arthur, did you?' this latter lady
asked, with a view to getting intelligence through various channels
at once, keeping her ears for him and her eyes for Rollo.
'I saw Miss Kennedy.'
'How was she looking, Arthur?' said Prim.
'Not very well, I thought. That is, well according to you ladies, but
not according to us doctors.'
'_Not_ well?' echoed Prim in dismay; while Rollo said nothing and
did not even look.
'Rather delicate, it seemed to me,' said Dr. Arthur. 'But she is
coming to-morrow, Prim, so you can judge for yourself.'
'Is she as much admired as ever?' quoth Mrs. Coles, eyeing Rollo
hard by stealth and not making much of him.
'More. And deserves it.'
'How does she deserve more?' said Rollo.
'I am not good at descriptions,' Dr. Arthur answered, somewhat
briefly.
'I suppose she takes all she gets?' said Prudentia.
'Difficult to do anything else with it.'
'Who is her special admirer now, or the most remarkable? for she
reckons them by scores.'
'All seemed to be special. One or two young Englishmen made
themselves pretty prominent.'
'That Sir Henry somethingwas _he_ one of them? Is he there?'
'Crofton? Yes, he was there.'
'What do people say, Arthur? Who of them is going to have her?'
'People say something. And know nothing.'
'That's truesometimes. But whom does she dance with oftenest?
Did you notice?'
'I saw her dance but once, and so could not notice,' said Dr. Arthur.
'Well, what was that? and whom with? If you saw her dance only
once, that might tell something.'
'No, it might not; for I never went into the ball-room. This once
that I spoke of was at a private party, and the dancing was on the
lawn. Crofton was her partner then.'
'Crofton was her partner! Sir Henry Crofton. Waltzing with her?
Then he'll be the man, you see if he won't. Was he waltzing with
her?'
'Nonsense, Prudentia!' said her sister. 'He won't be the one; and it
proves nothing if she was waltzing with him. Why shouldn't she
waltz with him, as well as with anybody else?'
'You'll see,' said Prudentia. 'Answer my question, Arthur. Was it a
waltz?'
'A waltz they call it,' said Dr. Arthur, with considerable disgust. 'I
should choose a longer name, and call it an abomination.'
'I don't believe Arthur is a good witness, Prim,' said Rollo. 'His
testimony gets confused. Does he ever go walking in his sleep in
these daysnights, I mean?'
'I was awake then,' said Dr. Arthur. 'And why you women don't put
that thing down!'
'Arthur!' said Prim, half laughing but half fearful too, 'it's rather
hard on the people who don't go, to tell them they ought to put a
stop to it; and the people who do go, some of them, do it very
innocently.'
'Yes!' said Dr. Arthur, 'and any man who takes such a young, pure
face into the whirligig ought to be shot!'
'I daresay she'll marry Sir Henry Crofton,' said Mrs. Coles.
But Rollo did not seem terrified, and did not seem to pay much
attention to the whole thing, she thought. He was rather silent the
rest of the dinner; but so he had been the former part of it, ever
since Dr. Arthur had come home to talk. To Prudentia he never
said more words than were civilly necessary. As soon as dinner
was over he mounted and rode away.
CHAPTER II.
WHAT COMES OF ON-DIT.
Wych Hazel had not wanted to come home. But neither did she at
all wish to arouse Mr. Falkirk's suspicions by a too strenuous
resistance; and besides, when he really made up his mind to a
thing, she had to yield; so, with much secret trepidation, and a
particularly wayward outside development, she made the journey;
and late the next night after Dr. Arthur's revelations, laid her head
on the pillows on her own room at Chickaree, with a strange little
feeling of gladness, that half began to take the trepidation in hand.
Wellit was not the end of September yet: she would have a little
breathing space. And thenWych Hazel dropped asleep.
Things 'happen,' as we say, strangely sometimes. Threads which
should lie smooth and straight alongside of each other and make
no confusion, get all snarled, and twisted, and thrown crosswise of
each other by just a little breeze of influence, or some slight
impulse on one side. And so it fell next day.
Mrs. Powder, who had also been at Newport, and left it three days
before Wych Hazel, had engaged her and Mr. Falkirk to lunch for
this very day, the next after their arrival. That was one thread, not
necessarily touching, one would say, the grand event of the day,
which was Rollo's coming and visit at Chickaree. For that visit was
to have been made right early in the morning, and Collingwood
was ordered, and even mounted, when there came a message from
the mills. Some complication or accident of business made the
master's presence necessary. Rollo went to the Hollow, and stayed
there till he had but just time left to get to Chickaree before
luncheon. This thread was twisted.
The carriage at the door. Rollo threw himself off his horse and
went in. He was too late. Just within the door he met the little lady
he came to see, standing in her pretty draperies of mantle and veil,
ready for her drive; and Mr. Falkirk was behind her.
'O Mr. Rollo!' she said (fortified with this last fact) 'you have come
for lunch!'
'Have I?' said he, as he took her hand in the old-fashioned way. 'I
see I shall not get it.'
'Will getting it to-morrow help you to dispense with it to-day? We
are engaged at Mrs. Powder's. You see I _must_ go.'
'I see you must go. I have been delayed.'
Mr. Falkirk, according to his accustomed tactics, passed out upon
the veranda after giving his own greeting, leaving the others alone.
Rollo had come with a face flushed with pleasure and riding; now
a certain shade fell upon it; his brow grew grave, as if with sudden
thought.
'I will not detain you,' he said, after seeing that Mr. Falkirk was at
a safe distance; 'only let me ask one question. Arthur Maryland
says he saw you waltzing with that English Crofton. I know it is
not true; but tell me so, that I may contradict him. He was
mistaken.'
'Dr. Arthur! was _he_ there?' voice and face too shewed a sudden
check.
'But he did not see that?' said Rollo, with eyes which seemed as if
they would deny the fact by sheer force of will.
Her eyes had no more than glanced at him hitherto, shyly
withholding themselves. But now they looked full into his face,
using the old, wistful, girlish right of search; watching him as
keenly as sometimes he watched her. She answered gravely:
'How could Dr. Arthur be mistaken in what he says he saw?'
'Is it _true?_' came with an astonished, fiery glance of the gray eyes.
She draw herself up a little, stepping back.
'It is truesince he says sothat he saw me among the rest.'
It is not often that we see a man lose colour from intense feeling.
Wych Hazel's eyes saw it now. Rollo stood still before her, quite
still, for a space of time that neither could measure, growing very
pale, while at the same time the lines on lip and brow gradually
took a firmer and firmer set. Motionless as an iron statue, and
assuming more and more the fixedness of one, he stood, while
minute after minute slipped by. To Wych Hazel the time probably
seemed measureless and endless; while to Rollo, in the struggle
and tumultuous whirl of feeling, it was only a single sharp point of
existence. He stood with his eyes cast down; and without raising
them, without uttering another syllable, for which I suppose he had
not self-control, at last he bowed gravely and low, and turned
away. In another minute, the bay horse and his rider went past the
door and were gone.
On her part, Wych Hazel had stood waiting, expecting him to
speak, scanning his face with eager scrutiny. Then, with a grave
shadow of disappointment upon her own, looked down again,
nerving herself for the words of anger which must follow such a
look. But when he turned, she raised her head quickly and looked
after him, following with her eyes as long as eyes could follow,
listening as long as ears could hearthen drew her veil over her
face and went down and entered the carriage. Answering,
somehow, Mr. Falkirk's words; and, somehow, taking her part in
Mrs. Powder's festivities.
O the interminable length of those bridges from life-point to life-
point, over which we must sometimes pass at a foot-pace! Is
anything more intolerable than the monotonous tramp, tramp, of
the meaningless steps? Is anything more sickening than the easy
sway of the bridge, which seems to make the whole world reel,
while in truth it is only ourselves? If Wych Hazel had been asked
afterwards who was at Mrs. Powder's, and what was said, and
when she came home, she could not have told a word. She came
home with a scarlet spot on either cheek, burning brighter and
brighter. They were very beautiful, people said.
But to-morrow he would come, when his anger was cooled down.
What if he did?for pain this time had used a trident. He had
doubted her. Then he _could_ doubt her! _Then_, he never could trust.
And what was anything after that? Not her discretion merely, as
before; not her obedience; but her word! Well, he would come, and
she would tell himthat would be one little shred of comfort, at
least. But he had looked at her _so!_ and thenhe had turned his
eyes away. And no matter what she told him, or what he might
believe then, that look had gone down to the depths of her heart.
He had doubted her!
Well, the night wore away, somehow, between bitter waking pain
and snatches of exhausted sleep; and then the morningas
mornings sometimes willseemed to speak comfort. He would
come, and she would tell him.
But he did not come. And one day followed another, and still there
came not even a message; and Wych Hazel waited. No one
guessed how little she eat in those days, no one guessed how little
she slept; the one thing she knew of herself was, that no earthly
temptation could have made her leave the house for five minutes.
She rose up earlyfor he might come then; and she sat up till
impossible hours, lest they might be the only ones left free by
business. But under all this watching, the keen, three-pointed pain
never relaxed its pressure. What was the use of anything, after
that? and yet she longed for his coming with an intensity that could
not be measured.
Earlier in the year,certainly before his declaration,she would
not have waited so long, without taking the matter into her own
hands and writing. But the twenty-fifth was close at hand; how
could she do anything to bring herself to his notice, or call him to
her side? And he was almost a stranger now; she had seen him but
once since near a year ago. And on the twenty-fifth, at least, she
must see him. Alas! what could she say to him then? unless
that. But she could not think of it now. Her mind clasped hold of
just one thought: he will come then. 'He wants me to understand
how angry he is,' thought Hazel to herself as the tenth day crept
slowly by. 'Does he think I am made of iron, like himself, I
wonder?'
And so we judge and misjudge each other, the best of us; and how
can we help it? Misjudgments will be, must be; the only thing left
to human finiteness and short-sightedness is frank dealing. There
is one possible remedy in that.
Rollo did not come to Chickaree, and he did not write. How long
Wych could have borne to wait without herself writing, to clear
herself, it is difficult to say. A week passed, the second week was
in progress, the twenty-fifth was not more than a week off, when
Mr. Falkirk announced at dinner one day that Rollo was just
setting off upon a journey.
'He's going to see some great manufacturing establishment in the
northeast somewhere, and can't attend to my business, he tells me,
before the fifth or sixth of next month; he hopes to be back by that
time.'
Mr. Falkirk thought the non-intercourse between the Hollow and
Chickaree a very significant fact; but it was not his plan to annoy
his ward by seeming to see anything it was not necessary he
should see. It cannot be said that he was quite satisfied with the
condition of things, indeed; however, he knew it was hopeless to
attack Wych Hazel in the hope of getting information; and with
what patience he might, he waited too; the third in that unrestful
attitude.
With that strange double life which she had been leading of late,
Wych Hazel heard Mr. Falkirk's announcement and poured out his
'after-dinner coffee' with a steady hand. Then asked when Mr.
Rollo was to go. He had gone already, that very day. And till when
must this other business wait? Till the second week in October.
Then she knew that he had thrown her off. No other earthly thing
would have kept him away on the twenty-fifth, without even a
word. Could he have done it, unless his liking for her had
changed? _Would_ he have done it, caring for her asshe thought
he had cared a year ago? With these questions beating back and
forth in her mind,so she went though the rest of the day.
Receiving visiters, giving Mr. Falkirk his tea, sitting with him
through the evening; until, at last, it was done and he had gone,
and she could be alone. It never even crossed her mind to go to bed
that night.
Whatever the new day may do with things that are sure, it is yet
rather gentle with uncertainties; making fair little suggestions, and
giving stray touches of light, in a way that is altogether hopeful
and beguiling. And so, when that weary moonlight night had spent
its glitter, and the tender dawn came up, Hazel breathed free over a
new thought. Mr. Falkirk might be mistaken! His own business
might fill Mr. Rollo's hands until the second week in October,
that word proved nothing at all about his staying away. She would
wait and see. No use in trusting people just while you can keep
watch. And so, though the secret pain at her heart did never
disappear, and though at best her next meeting with Mr. Rollo
could not be very pleasant, still Hazel did hold up her head, and
hope, and wait, with a woman's ready faith, and a courage that died
out in the twilight and revived in the dawn, and kept her in a fever
of suspense and expectation. It wearied her so unspeakably, in the
long hours of practical daylight and unmanageable night, that
sometimes she could hardly bear it. The world seemed to turn
round till she could not catch her thoughts; and nerves overstrung
and on the watch, made her start and grow pale with the
commonest little sounds of every day and every night.
She had never had many people to love; she had never (before)
loved anybody very much; and the truth and dignity which had
kept her from all forms of love-trifling, so kept the hidden
treasures of her heart all sparkling with their own freshness. They
had never been passed about from hand to hand; no weather-stains,
no worn-out impressions were there. What the amount might be,
Wych Hazel had never guessed until in these dark days she began
to tell it over; making herself feel so poor! For, after all, what is
the use of a treasure which nobody wants?
Not the least among her troubles was the painful hiding them all.
She must laugh and talk and entertain Mr. Falkirk; she must guard
her face when the mail-bag came in, and steady the little hand
stretched out for her letters; must meet and turn off all Mrs.
Bywank's looks and words; must dress and go out, and dress and
receive people at home. Ah, how hard it was!and no one to
whom she could speak, no lap where she could lay down her head,
and pour out her sorrows.
Slowly, as the days went by, and hope grew fainter, and the dawn
turned cold, there grew up in Wych Hazel's mind an intense
longing to lay hold of something that was still; something that
would stand; something beyond the wind and above the waves;
and slowly, gradually, the words she had read to Gyda came back,
and made themselves a power in her mind:
"I will be with him in trouble."
Oh for some one to be with her! Oh for something she could grasp,
and stop this endless swaying and rocking and trembling of all
things else! And then, following close, came other words, more
lately learned. Not now read over, with those pencil marks beside
them; but read often enough before, happily, to have been learned
by heart; and now passing and re-passing in unceasing procession
before her thoughts.
"For the love of Christ constraineth us."
The love that could be counted on; the Presence that was sure!
And so, reaching her hands out blindly through the dark, the girl
did now and then lay hold of the Eternal strength, and for a while
sometimes found rest. But there came other days and hours when
she seemed to be clinging to she hardly knew what, with the full
rush and sweeping of the tide around her; conscious only that she
was not quite swept away; until when at last the twenty-third was
past, and three days of grace had followed suit, Hazel rose up one
morning with this one thought: if she did not see somebody to
speak to, she should die.
CHAPTER III.
CROSS THREADS.
And in all the world there was but one person to whom she could
speak, for but one had guessed her secret; even Gyda. It seemed to
the girl afterwards as if at this time again her mother's prayers
must have been around her; so clear and swift and instinctive were
her decisions, in the chaos of all other things. No danger now of
meeting any one at the cottage. But how to get there? Not through
Morton Hollow, not on Jeannie Deans,oh no, oh no! If she went,
she must go by that other almost impossible way, which was not a
way. She would drive to the foot of the hill, and leave the carriage
there, and not take Lewis to see where she went.
How she did it, Hazel never remembered afterwards. She left the
carriage with a cheery word to Reo, and then set her face to the
hill; the little feet toiling on with swift eagerness through briers
and over stones, finding her way she knew not how; conscious
only that she did not feel the ground under her feet, but seemed to
be walking on nothing, so that she had every now and then a sort
of fear of pitching forward. She had set out in good season, but it
was past midday when she stood before the cottage. If she knocked
as no other hand had ever knocked there; if her face at the opening
door startled Gyda beyond words; of this, too, the girl knew
nothing. For with the first sight of Gyda, there came such a surge
of the sorrows in which she was plunged, that Hazel stepped one
step within the door and dropped all unconscious at the old
Norsewoman's feet.
Gyda was quite unable to lift her, light as the burden would have
been; but what she could she was prompt and skilful to do. She
brought cushions to put under Wych Hazel's head, applied cold
water and hartshorn; for Gyda was too much in request as a village
nurse and doctor to be unsupplied with simple remedies. With
tender care she used what she had, till the girl opened her eyes and
found Gyda's brown face hovering over her. Even then the old
woman said not a word. She waited till Wych Hazel's senses were
clear, and the young lady had roused herself up to a sitting position
on the floor. Gyda's eyes were too keen not to see that the mind
was more disturbed than the body.
'My little lady,' she said wistfully, 'what ails thee?'
Hazel passed her hands over her face, and tried to collect her
thoughts.
'I am a great deal of trouble,'she said slowly; for the touch of the
wet hair was suggestive, and it seemed to her just then that she was
nothing but trouble to anybody.
'And what is it that is troubling _thee?_' said Gyda, stooping down
with her hand on Wych Hazel's shoulder, the wrinkled, sweet old
face looking earnestly for the answer.
'How can you set things right?' said Hazel, with her usual inroad to
the midst of the case. 'How can you set them right, when you do
not know where they are wrong?'
'Will my lady tell me what is wrong?' said the old woman,
probably judging this statement of the position too vague to be
acted upon. 'But come and sit down, and see the fire, and get
comfortable; and tell me; and then we'll know.'
Wych Hazel rose and came to the fire as she was bid, and looked
at it, seeing nothing; but her next words touched another point.
'Why do such things come upon people?' she said.
The old Norsewoman stood beside her, watching with all the
wisdom of her loving, wise heart to see where the hurt was and
what the medicine must be. She put her hand again upon Wych
Hazel's shoulder as she looked.
'What has come?' she said. 'It's notmy lad?' she added, with
evidently a sudden startle of apprehension.
'He is away, you know,' said Hazel, with an immediate reserve of
voice. 'I know nothing of him.'
'What has come to my lad's lady?'
A quick spasm of pain passed over the face she was watching.
'Hush!' the girl said under her breadth. 'I am not that.'
'Then something wants to be set right,' said the old woman quietly.
'What is it, dear? Tell me, and the Lord will shew us how to do.'
'If _He_ cared, he would have hindered,' said Hazel drearily.
'He doesn't hinder, sometimes, to shew us that he cares,' said Gyda.
'You may not question his love, dear; you'll be sure to get wrong if
you do.' And then bending nearer, so as to look close in the girl's
face, with her little black eyes shining both keen and tender, she
repeated, 'My lad's lady, what is it? I am his servant, and so I am
her servant.'
If anything could have broken down the fierce self-control in
which Hazel had been entrenched for the last ten days, it was
perhaps the repetition of those words. But tears were biding their
time; none had come, none could come yet. Only her lips
trembled.
'Please, please!' she said, raising her hand in mute pleading. Then
adding, in a tone that went to Gyda's heart, 'He has doubted my
word. There is nothing to be done.'
'My lad? Olaf?'
'Yes.'
'It seems ye've doubted him. Is that it?'
'His truth? Never.'
'Nein, not his truth. But you have doubted him, yet. What cause
had he to doubt your word?'
'Appearances. They were all against me. But there is no use in
trusting, unless you trust.'
'Has Olaf done you wrong, you think, and no cause?'
'I did not come to complain of him,' said the girl quickly. 'ButI
had nobody to speak toand I wasdying by inches.'
'Suppose you complain, dear,' said the old woman, with a smile
which was anything but unsympathetic. 'Complain, and make the
worst of it; then we will know how to begin. Say all he has done,
as bad as it is, and we will see what it means, maybe.'
The wistful eyes looked up at her, then down again. She answered
softly:
'He thought, he had reason to think, that I had broken my promise.
And he did not wait, nor try, for an explanation. That is one thing.'
'How could he have reason to think that, my lady?'
'Because of something I could not help,' said Hazel. 'You know
that can be,' she added with an appealing look, as if to see whether
Gyda doubted her too.
'Did you speak to him?'
'He gave me no chance. I have not seen him sincesincehe
looked at me so,' said Hazel.
'Maybe he had his own part to bear,' said the old woman. 'But Olaf
will be back again in a few days.'
'Yes,'said the girl slowly,'that makes no difference. He has
given me up.'
'Love doesn't give up,' said Gyda. 'He asked me, a few days ago, to
pray for him, that he might be strong to do right. I wot, it'll be an
easier part then he thought of!'
But the words touched a sore spot. 'No,' the girl thought to herself.
'Love does not give up!' She sat very white and still. Then, after a
while, looked up at Gydaone of her fair looks.
'You did not know,' she said gently, 'that he was asking you to pray
against me.'
Gyda met her eyes, first without replying; her hand left Wych
Hazel's shoulder and came upon her hair, touching it softly. That
old, brown, wrinkled face was so sweet and quiet that it seemed a
very stronghold of comfort and counsel and help. Counsel and
comfort came in a very simple form this time.
'Dear,' she said, in her slow utterance,'he loves you.'
But Hazel was not inclined to debate that question with anybody
but herself. She leaned her head back and shut her eyes, finding
curious soothing in the touch of Gyda's hand. Nobody ever
touched her so in these days, and she had been very, very lonely.
Then suddenly she started up, sitting forward and speaking
eagerly.
'You must not tell him!' she said; 'you must not even tell him that I
have been here. You must not say one word. Promise me!'
'Till you tell him?' said Gyda placidly.
'Will you promise?' Hazel repeated. 'Things that cannot stand of
themselves had betterfall.'
'What is it that cannot stand, dear?'
'I did not come here to talk about that,' said Hazel, laying her head
back again. 'I came to talk about myself. Or to do something,
besides think.'
'I'll hear,' said Gyda. 'Nothing's going to fall that ought to stand.
Talk, my dear.'
All the while she was standing just at Wych Hazel's shoulder,
touching her head with a slight touch; in her face and voice the
utmost soothing charm of tender tranquillity. She had been
doubtless a Norwegian peasant woman, and had known little of
what we call refining advantages in outward things; but love and
peace and sympathy had made her wonderfully delicate and quick
to divine the needs of those with whom she dealt. It was a hard
little hand, but a very soft touch upon Wych Hazel's curls.
Furthermore, it was evident, that beyond her sympathy with her
visiter's present distress, Gyda was not disturbed about the matter
in hand.
'The days have been so long, all these weeks,' said Hazel. 'And the
nights were longer than the days.'
'Ah, yes. And you couldn't trust the Lord with your trouble?'
'I thinkI did try, sometimes,' said the girl slowly, 'but I do not
quite know. I was in such confusion, and other things came in, and
I was afraid of doing itonly to please him, because'
'Eh,' said Gyda. 'Yes, to please who, dear?'
Hazel put up one little hand and laid it upon Gyda's, so giving her
answer.
'Because,' she began again presently, 'I had thoughtit had
seemed as ifmaybe_that_ was the reason of it all. Do such things
come upon people for doing wrong things, when they do not know
they are wrong?'
'Mayhap,' said Gyda, who through the obscurities of this speech
threaded her way to one thing only. 'It's only the straight way,
dear, that has no crooks in it. But seeisn't my lad's lady in the
straight way?'
'But I meanI do not know how to tell you,' she said, covering her
face with her hands. 'When he had grown so goodand I had
not,I thought, perhaps, that was the reason. I thought of it last
winter, before this came; and I have never seen him sincebut
once. I might seemdifferentto him, you know,' Hazel added,
in her girlish way. Then she took her hands down and looked at
Gyda, searching for her answer. But Gyda gently smiled.
'I think you'll soon know,' she said. 'Suppose you don't think any
more about it, till he comes.'
Hazel was silent a few minutes, but thinking all the while as hard
as she could. She was in no hurry now for Mr. Rollo to come; her
dread of seeing him again was extreme. And by this time another
matter claimed her attention, over and above everything else; she
must get home while she could. If physical prostration and reaction
went on at the rate they had begun, it would not take much longer
to make the scramble over the hill a sheer impossibility.
'I must go,' she said abruptly. 'But you will let me come once
more?'
Gyda was about to answer, when she turned her head sharply
towards the door. Her ears caught a sound in that direction, and the
next instant Wych Hazel's ears caught it too; the sound of steps,
quick steps, a man's steps, coming along the flag-stones outside the
cottage. A hand on the door, the door open, and Rollo himself was
there.
CHAPTER IV.
ABOUT THE GUARDIANSHIP.
He came in with the same quick, energetic footstep, looking grave,
certainly, but brown and ruddy, like a man with all his forces about
him, and with a bright greeting ready for Gyda. And then his face
changed suddenly, and his manner. He came up to Wych Hazels
side, bent down to take her hand, and said with grave earnestness
and all his wonted deferential gentleness,
I am glad to find you here!
One could almost have heard the bolts and bars with which, at the
sound of his footsteps, the girl shut herself in. But all colour was
shut off as well. She rose to her feet, laying one hand on the chair
back to steady herself, and answered simply, I am just going.
And she turned to Gyda. But Rollo prevented her.
Wont you sit down again? said he. A minute or two? I have
something to say to you, and now is the best time?
He turned to Gyda, but the old Norwegian was already leaving the
room, and the two were alone. And perhaps to give her timeor
himselfhe stood for a moment still and thoughtful by the side of
the fireplace. And Hazel, who had thought she would take the first
moment that offered to clear her name of the blot left upon it, sat
in a sort of spell, and could not speak.
I want you, he began at length, with that same grave gentleness;
he had himself well in hand now;I want you to give me, as a
friend, some explanation of that which you told me the other day.
As a friendhe had not then forgotten the day of the month.
That was one passing thought. And then, if Mr. Rollo had interest
in new displays of character, he had a chance to prosecute the
study, and see Wych Hazel as other people sometimes saw her; so
far off she seemed in her reserve. This was not the sprite who had
disputed his authority and pelted him with sharp speeches; nor the
shy girl who had blushed if he but came near her; there was not
even the faintest tinging of the cheeks, nor the least gleam from
out the deep shadows of the eyes. Only in one way did the slightest
agitation betray itself; but twice she began to speak, and twice
could not command her lips; the third time she conquered them
and went on. With down-looking eyes, and head a little bent, and
hands quietly folded, as if they were too tired to hold each other in
the old way, and that pathetic quiver still every now and then
sweeping round her mouth and chin, Wych Hazel went straight to
the midst of things, as if not daring to waste strength on
preliminaries.
Sir Henry Crofton had laid a wageror vowed a vowthat he
would not go back to England until he had waltzed with me. I saw
him once or twice in the fall, and in town he came often to the
house, and after that I met him everywhere. And he very often
asked me to waltz. And I always refused.
One nightshe drew her breath, as if the words stifled herthen
went on swiftly, as before, preventing all questions: One night, at
Newport, we were both at an out-door party. There was music, of
course; everybody was dancing. Except me. Sir Henry made his
usual request, and then asked me to walk instead.
"Do you really _never_ waltz?" he said, as we passed up and down.
I told him no.
"But why not?" I said, one of my guardians disapproved of it.
"Is he here to-night?"No.
"Then, he will never know what you do." I said then, that I had
promised.
"Then it was not for my own pleasure I had given it up?" I said,
no.
"Didnt I sometimes wish for the pleasure again?" Sometimes, I
confessed, when I heard the music.
"Had I promised for always?" No.
"O well!it was very easy to forget the precise date." I said
(here for an instant a flush came) that I had not forgotten it.
We were standing just then by the open lawn and the circle of
dancers; andI thinkmy foot stirred a little, answering the
measure if a new waltz which the band struck up. In an instant,
before I had time to think or speak, he had whirled me off among
the crowd. So much taller than I, so much stronger, so skilled a
dancer, that at first I could only go where I was taken, obliged to
keep the step, in my own self-defence. One hand of course he held;
but the otherdid nottouch him. And, presently, I made him let
me go. But (we had gone so fast) not till we had taken rather more
than one round, I think, I am not quit sure. And I always mean to
tell you.The voice fell a little, breaking off short.
She had not looked at him once since he came in; she did not look
now, to see how her story was received, but sat still, feeling as if
her very life were at stand. His face had changed notably as she
went on; its burden of grave care cleared away; his brow grew full
of light; the eyebrows came into their wonted line; but Rollos
eyes were the eyes of a man whose soul is on fire. He stood
breathlessly at first, then sitting down beside the girl got
possession of one of her hands, but only so speaking his sympathy
or eagerness; till as she finished he brought it to his lips, or rather
bowed his lips to it and kissed the little hand over and over. He
made no other answer; he said no word at all, till the dark flush
which had kindled in his face at her story a little faded away. Then,
still holding her hand perhaps unconsciously close, he said, low
enough,
And what about the guardianship, Hazel?
The girl was in that state when to withstand or to bear seems
equally difficult: there is no strength for either; and the colour
which flitted over her face at his demonstrations was less of
shyness than of intense feeling. It all went now, at his words.
I thought, she said (the words came too quick, but she could not
help it) that you had resigned, Mr. Rollo.
Rollo got the other hand into his keeping, and merely inquired in
the same tone what she wanted him to do?
I used to want you to trust me. But it would not be any use now.
Rollos lips touched her hand again, both hands. What about the
guardianship, Hazel? he repeated, with a glow and sparkle of the
gray eyes, which yet had an odd veil of softness over them. But a
man will be a man. I am afraid Rollo was smiling at the same time.
If anything could be called clear in Hazels mind, at that minute of
supreme and universal confusion, it was, that belonging to
somebody was getting to be much more than an idea. And that Mr.
Rollo should merely pay her the compliment of requesting to have
the fact put in words, might be highly characteristic on his part, but
was not exactly composing on hers. How could she think, or
speak, without even one hand free? And droop her head as she
might, what could the soft falling hair do, but touch up the
beautiful flushes which Hazel felt, if she did not see? Her words,
when they came, went to a very self-evident point.
Butif you wanted itwhy did you give it up?
Give upwhat? came with undoubted astonishment from
Rollos lips.
You stayed away said the girl, under her breath.
I have come back. And I want my sentence.
In a sort of desperation, Hazel gathered up her courage, as if
realizing that she was face to face with the one question of her life,
where she must risk anything but mistakes.
But, she said,but, Mr. Rollo,you did not mean to want it.
When you stayed away.
He laughed. Look here! said he, I want it now, Hazel. Ill stand
all your questions, after you have answered mine.
I think mine come first, she said softly,and something of the
sorrow which had hung about the questions crept into her voice.
Because, there might beat least, there might have beenthings
which I could not explain. And thenas you could doubt me once,
you would again. And I could not bear that twice! said Hazel,
with a sudden quickness which told more than it meant. Nerve
herself as she would, her hands were trembling now.
Rollo was not a man of more than average patience, sometimes.
Nevertheless, though sorely tempted, he controlled the desire to
give her kisses instead of rebukes, and answered quietly and
gravely:
I took your own word once against yourself. I will never do it
again, Hazel! So take care what you say to me. Have you nothing
to say to me now?
If she had, it was not forthcoming.
About the guardianship, Hazel?
She hesitated a littlenot much; thinking of the face she dared not
look at, and which she had scarcely seen for a year; answering then
with a grave quietness which again was very like herself, where
deep feeling was at work; the girlish voice falling and trembling
just a little:
If you want ityou can have it, Mr. Rollo.
He took her in his arms then, very tenderly and gravely, kissing
her on lips and cheeks with kisses which seemed to tell of a wish
to indemnify himselfand her too,for the last three weeks; but
then, having got what he wanted, for several minutes thereafter
spoke not; partly for his own sake perhaps, partly for hers. A
stillness more mighty than words, and quite beyond their sphere.
When he did speak again, it was in a different key.
How comes your hair to be wet?
Mine? O! said Hazel, starting,It is nothing but a little
water.
No, said Rollo laughing, nothing else. The question is, how
came a little water on your hair?
What a question! It was put there. And if you want to know why,
I will tell you. On purpose.
Who did it?
But that answer was slow to come. Gyda, she said at last.
'Gyda!' echoed Rollo, starting up a little, and removing Wych
Hazel to a little distance from him, that he might look in her face
better. 'For what purpose has Gyda been putting cold water on
your hair?'
'O! I was tired when I got here,' Hazel said, trying to look up
and laugh, and somehow failing. 'AndandAnd it does not
signify the least in the world now.'
Rollo looked at her a minute silently, and then demanded
imperiously to know '_what_ didn't signify?'
'Being faint is nothing,' she said. 'At least, after you have got over
it.'
'What made you faint?' in the same tone.
Now Hazel had no mind to go into that; partly for the intrinsic
merits of the case, but also with a growing consciousness that with
those waves of trouble which had ebbed away so fast her strength
was going too. That false strength of tension and self-control, by
means of which she had lived and held her head up, through all
these last weeks. Even excitement was giving way to reaction; and
Hazel dreaded lest, before she knew it, she should break down;
lest, before she could hinder it, that wilful fountain of unshed tears
might insist on having its way. She knew from old experience
what _that_ meant; but (except for the slight specimen before Prim's
eyes) nobody had ever seen her in one of her tear-storms, and she
did not mean that any one should. And at the same time, belonging
to somebody puts hindrances in the way of unseen escape; and the
next thing would be, that some tender word or touch would find its
way to the very depths which had been so lonely and sweep away
all her defences. Then there was the walk! She answered, studying
her case,
'I think, two or three things. But let me go now, please, Mr. Rollo.
I must go home,it is late.'
'Let you go?' said he, in a curious, considerative way, as if
studying several things.
'Yes,' she said, trying to get ready to get up from her chair. He sat
looking at her, then touched again the wet hair. What was he
thinking about?
'It seems to me,' he said slowly, 'you must have some of Gyda's
porridge before you go.'
'Oh, no!' she said with some eagerness. 'I could not! Just let me
go' and she rose up, steadying herself with one hand upon the
chair-back. Rollo rose too, but it was to take her in his arms.
'The carriage is not here,' he said, looking at her and noting how
well she needed the support he gave.
'Not just hereReo is waiting,' Hazel answered, flushing and
drooping her head, and feeling as if every minute took her more
and more out of her own reach.
'Where is he waiting?'
'Never mindWhere I left him. O Mr. Rollo! let me go!'
'But you see I must know, if I am to fetch him. Where is he,
Wych?'
'At the foot of the hill.'No use! She could not debate matters, but
her head bent lower.
'Reo was not at the foot of the hill when I came.'
'I meanthe other hill.'
'What other hill?'
'Oh!'she said deprecatingly; then went straight through. 'I came
the other way.'
'I don't know but one way,' he answered half laughing.
'WellI do.'
'You will have to teach me. But something else must be done first.
Come here and sit down again. You can hardly stand. You must
rest and have a cup of coffee before I let you go anywhere. What
sort of guardianship do you think you have come into?' he said
very gently.
He put Wych Hazel in her chair, and then stooped down upon the
hearth to lay brands together and coax up the decayed fire. Having
made it burn, he turned and took an observation of her face. She
had given one eager look after him as he turned away, but now
was not looking, apparently, at anything, unless at some hidden
point which she was trying to master; for her breath came a little
quick, and her hands held each other tight; she was not even
leaning back in her chair. And as to resting her head on her hands,
Hazel would as soon have dared do anything. Well she knew, that
with even that slight veil between her and the outer world, the last
remnant of self-command would go. No, she must face it out,
somehow, and drink the coffee, and wait. If only Gyda would not
come in! And what would she say when she did?'and I could not
stop her now,' thought Hazel to herself, 'If I say three words about
anything!'She passed her hands over her eyes with a quick
gesture, then put them down and held them tight. Could she run
away? No, she was not strong enough, if she had the chance. And
to be overtaken and brought back!she had tried that once. And
all the while, as she sat thinking, these surges of repressed sorrow
and joy and everything else that had filled her heart for the last
month and the last hour, seemed to be just rolling nearer and
nearer, gathering up their force as she lost hers; and how she was
to stop them Hazel did not know. Onlyshe must not break down
there. Not before him. But the colour left her face again in the
struggle.
Rollo needed very small observation to move him to action. The
first point was to bring up to the hearth a large wooden chair, half
settee, with arms of very ample proportions; looking as if anybody
less than a burly old ship-captain or fat landlady would be quite
lost and cast away in it. This chair Rollo proceeded to line and
partially fill with cushions from whence obtained, was best
known to himself; making sundry journeys into an inner room;
from which finally he brought a great soft gray shawl, looking
suspiciously like a travelling plaid, and laid it over the chair,
cushions and all. Taking Wych Hazel's hands then, he softly
transferred her from her own chair to this, and placed a cushion
under her feet. Then considered her with a grave face and eyes
from which no one of average self-confidence would have hoped
to conceal anything.
'Where is the carriage?' said he, taking one of the little hands in his
own.
'Justin the cross-road.'
'What cross-road? Didn't you come through the Hollow?'
'No.'The word just audible.
He was silent half a minute, considering this statement.
'How did you get here?'
'Over the hill.' Hazel was watching herself jealously, fending off,
as it were, the very tones of his voice. But the next step it was hard
to fend off. Guessing perhaps part, and with his quick eyes seeing
part, Rollo for a few minutes said nothing at all. But his lips came
upon Wych Hazel's face with a recognition of what she did not
want recognized, and an answering of it, touched and tender and
sorrowful, as if he would have kissed it out of existence. 'My little
Hazel!' he said at last; and that was all.
The girl struggled hard with herself to bear it. She had ventured
that one look as he went to the fire, but had known instantly that
she must not risk another; and then, somehow, she had controlled
her voice to answer his questions, and had nerved her face when he
placed her in the cushioned chair. But if he had turned her
defences!and, with that, Hazel gave way. She caught her hand
from him, and turning half round laid her head and hands upon the
chair, and let the flood come she had kept back so bravely.
Sobbing, as perhaps it had never entered his mind that anybody
could sob; her head bent as if one wave after another was going
right over it. A spring freshet after the winter frost, telling a little
what the ice had been.
Rollo's life had been a good deal of himself alone. Prim was all the
sister he had ever known, and nearly all the mother too; unless
Gyda might have the better claim to that title. All the readier,
perhaps, he was able to deal with this burst of thoroughly natural
passion, thoroughly womanish as it also was. His point of view
had not been spoiled by feminine pettinesses. He took this
paroxysm of what it was; something that must in the first instance
have its way and work its own relief. He did not speak to Hazel at
first, nor attempt to check the outflow of feeling which he
contemplated with a very grave brow. Indeed for a minute or two
he left the room and went out to speak to Gyda. Coming back, he
remained quite silent and still until the first violence of tears had
spent itself; then he sat down by Wych Hazel's side and began a
series of mute testimonials that he was there, and that he had
entered upon his life-long right to share and soothe whatever
troubles concerned her. His hand upon her hand, or upon her hair,
or on her cheek; and then her name half-whispered in her ear in a
grieved tone of voice.
'I did not mean' she said at last, trying for words. 'O you should
have let me go!I knew, I knew!'
Precisely what, Hazel dared not think; but perhaps, the idea that he
was learning anything about her, was as good a tonic as she could
have had just then. She came back to her quiet bearing very fast,
pushing her other self out of sight, locking it up and sealing it
down, and setting her little foot upon it with extraordinary
vehemence of purpose. Rollo did nothing to hinder this operation.
Indeed he rather left her to herself, while he as usual made himself
busy in helping Gyda, who came in to get her table ready. Rollo
drew the table up into Wych Hazel's neighbourhood, and when it
was set, took upon himself the oversight of Gyda's pot of coffee,
which was on the coals before the fire. He seemed to be quite at
home in the business; and smiling up at Wych Hazel as he stooped
to his cookery, asked her "if she liked the smell of coffee?"
'Yes, I think so,' she answered, not too sure of anything in the
world just then.
'Never smelt it before, perhaps?'
The lips gave way, but the smile so nearly turned into trembling,
that Hazel checked them both together.
'I don't believe you know how to make it.'
'Well' said Hazel somewhat vaguely, from under her shadowing
hands.
'That's a gentle confession of ignorance. Here comes Gyda, and
porridge. What else is to bring, Gyda?'
He went off, and came back in another minute with his hands full.
Porridge and flad-brod and cheese and cream and broiled fish were
set on the table; the coffee was at the fire. Rollo stood a moment
surveying things, the old woman by the table, the little woman in
the chair.
'You may kiss her hand, Gyda,' he said, in a tone that implied
everything.
Hazel received this announcement and its consequences with a
great flush. Only, with the way she had of putting some pretty
grace into the most disturbing things, the little fingers locked
themselves round Gyda's furtively, for a second, so giving the
recognition which she could not speak. And Gyda was too gently
wise to say a word. After that, both combined to wait upon Hazel,
though Gyda did not get a chance to do much. And Hazel tried
hard to obey injunctions and eat porridge, principally because it
gave her something to do; but her performance was unsatisfactory,
except in the matter of coffee, which she drank rather eagerly.
'Now,' said Rollo, 'tell me where to find Reo.'
'Where?'with a swift up-look, almost too swift to see,'why!'
And then Hazel remembered to her confusion, that she did not
know. 'II supposehe would have brought me to the nearest
point. Of course.'
As no doubt Reo would, if he had known where she was going!
_That_ thought confronted her next; and with a dim consciousness of
having stopped the carriage at a venture, for fear he _should_ know,
Hazel began again:
'At least,'. But there was no going on from that point. 'Is it
very far along the foot of the hill?' she ventured, without any look
this time.
'I should say,' returned Rollo gravely, 'it might be about some five
miles.'
Hazel leaned her head on her hand and tried to recollect,and
nothing stood out from all that morning's work but the pain and the
difficulty and the fatigue.
He sat down and took the little hand again.
'Which way did you come over the hill, Wych?'
'I do not know.'If it must come, it must!'I was thinking only of
getting up; and you know there are not many landmarks. At least, I
do not remember any.'
'Did you come through the wood?'
'No. I am sure of that.'
'Then did you come east or west of it?'
'I do not remember the wood at all,' said Hazel, feeling very much
ashamed of herself. 'I was not looking. But there were no houses
I am sure of that.'
'What _did_ you see, Hazel?' softly.
'I think, of all people to cross-examine one!' said the girl, in her
extremity sending a little bit of her old self to the front. 'I am
certain _I_ can find the way, Mr. Rollo, without the trouble of
considering what I did not see, or what I did.'
'May I venture to ask, what orders you gave Reo?'
'The usual orders; to wait till I came.'
Rollo laughed a little, but if his face did not mean that he
understood the whole matter, it did not mean anything. It was very
grave, though he laughed.
He went off, and left Wych Hazel again to herself, with only Gyda
moving about and keeping up the fire. It was a full mile over the
hill to the cross-road where the carriage was standing, and Hazel
had a good time of quiet all to herself. As once before that day, she
had looked up the moment Rollo turned and so watched him out of
sight. And now Hazel sat among her cushions, her head down
against the side of her chair, looking into the winking embers with
very grave wide-open eyes. Mentally, she knew there had come a
great lull over all troublous things; a lull which she was not just
then strong enough to disturb by handling it in detail. But
physically, she felt shattered, and very little able to practise self-
defence; and she began to long to get home, and by herself, where
no keeping-up of any sort would be needful. One thing was yet to
do, however. So when Gyda had ended her work and sat down at
the corner of the hearth, Hazel left her cushions and knelt down
beside her.
'Mrs. Boërresen'she said with a hand on her arm, her face
upraised.
'My lady,' said Gyda, turning her bright eyes upon Hazel with a
happy look.
'You will not tell him anything of all this? my coming, and all
about it? And what I said?'
'No need,' said Gyda placidly. 'My lady will tell it herself.'
A very resolved little gesture of the girl's head dismissed _that_
statement. She was silent a minute.
'And then,' she began again, more hesitatingly, 'at least you will
not speak of it. Norofa year ago?'
'Last year?' said Gyda. 'When my lady came here before? That was
not for him to know. That was only me alone. To-day my lady will
tell him about, when she pleases.' And Gyda smiled over this
statement benignly.
Hazel leaned her head against Gyda's arm gazing down into the
firelight; it seemed to her to-day as if she had to think over
anything a great many times to get used to it. She must be tired.
The afternoon light was waning fast when the quick step outside
was heard again, and Rollo came in. He surveyed the group
quietly, and then went off to his room to change his dress. And
when he returned to relieve the guard, it was with a most
composed and unexciting manner. He scarcely said three words,
till a boy brought the message that the carriage was waiting in the
Hollow. Then he wrapped the great plaid shawl round Hazel, for
the evening had fallen chill and her dress was thin, and they went
out into the dusky twilight for the walk down to the carriage.
Dusky, and yet clear; a cloudless depth of sky out of which stars
were brightening; a still air with almost a breath of frost in it;
outlines of the Hollow hills darkly drawn against the soft twilight
sky; the silence of evening, when mill-work was done, over all and
in everything. Rollo did not speak, and they heardif they
heardonly the sound of their own steps down the path. When
they were in the carriage, Rollo presently, with a gentle word,
untied Wych Hazel's flat hat and took it off; drew a corner of the
shawl over her head, and putting his arm round her made her lay
down her head upon his shoulder and lean upon him.
'But Mr. Rollo' said Hazel timidly, finding that her acted
remonstrance had no effect.
'What?'
'I am quite able to sit up.'
'I have no faith whatever in that statement.'
'If you will let me trythe other,'Hazel began.
'The other shoulder?'
But the answer to that tarried. Hazel knew perfectly well that if she
spoke in the first minute she would laugh; which was not at all
according to her present system of tactics. And in the second, her
words were not ready, and by the time the third came it was rather
too late. So silence reigned, while Reo sent the horses along, over
the level smooth road, and the evening air came in crisp and fresh
at the open window, and stars looked down winking in their quiet
way of saying sweet things. They always do, when one is happy;
sometimes in other states of mind they seem high above sympathy.
But to-night they looked down at Hazel confidentially, and
crickets and nameless insects chirruped along by the roadside; and
on and on the carriage rolled, mile after mile. Rollo was as still as
the stars, almost. And so was Wych Hazel, for a long time; still as
anything could be that lived. Suddenly a question broke from her.
'What was it you were going to say to me?'
'When?' The word came with a ring of many thoughts, through
which a grave tenderness most vibrated.
'You said, _that_ was the best time. And you did not take it,' said
Hazel.
'Hush,' said he softly and gravely. 'All has been said; except that I
shall never forgive myself, Hazel.'
CHAPTER V.
ASLEEP AND AWAKE.
Wych Hazel went to her room so utterly spent, so completely
prostrate, that even Phoebe could not talk during her ministrations;
nor dared Mrs. Bywank find fault. _Why_ Miss Wych must needs
tire herself to death, over nobody knows what, was a trial to the
good housekeeper's patience as well as her curiosity; but for that
night the only thing was to let her sleep. It was the only thing next
day. The reaction, once fairly set in, was strong in proportion to
the causes which had prepared for it and brought it about; and
Wych Hazel lay in a motionless stupor of sleep, from which
nothing could rouse her up. She would open her eyes perhaps, and
answer a question, but anything more than that was plainly beyond
her strength; and for three days and three nights she lay, as
helpless as a little child. "Sleeping her life out," Phoebe said, and
certainly frightening Mrs. Bywank half to death; but in reality
passing safely out from under the mortal illness that had hung over
her by a thread.
And so, on the fourth morning after the day of events, Hazel did
fairly wake up, and dress herself, and go down stairs; devoutly
hoping that nobody _but_ Mr. Falkirk might come to breakfast, and
extremely ready to dispense with him.
Wrapping herself in the soft folds of a crimson morning dress,
which at least would keep her in countenance; her face more
delicate than pale; her step rather hesitating than slow; her
thoughts in a maze of dreamland as misty and bright and shy as the
morning sunbeams that went everywhere and just kept out of
reach. What had happened _before_ these three days, that, Hazel
knew well enough. But what had happened since that? Had Jeannie
Deans been here, with her master?and not finding the lady of the
house on hand, had they then gone straight to Mr. Falkirk? And if
so, what was his probable state of mind?did _he_ know? or guess?
And how many more times had her other guardian come to
Chickaree? and what had he thought of the tidings about her?
and at what unexpected point of the day or the minute was she to
meet him, on a sudden? Her step lingered on the last stairwent
noiselessly along the hall; and then the next thing Mr. Falkirk
knew, was a light hand on his shoulder and a soft
'Good-morning, sir.'
'My dear!' said Mr. Falkirk suddenly rising, 'I am very glad to see
you.' And he took her hand, which was not common, and looked at
her as if to convince himself that all was right.
'Are you, sir?' she said with a laugh. 'You are sure it is not a
hallucination, Mr. Falkirk?'
'I am sure of nothing, Miss Hazel, except that I see you. At my
time of life, confidence in any conclusions is somewhat shaken.
What has been the matter with you?'
'I have been having my own way, sir,which has agreed with me
admirably,' returned Miss Hazel with an arch of her eyebrows.
'There is nothing like it, I find. Will you come to breakfast, Mr.
Falkirk?'
Her guardian cast two or three rather inquiring looks at her; but
seeing that she undoubtedly was well, and probably had not been
ill, he contentedly and unsuspiciously, man-like, dismissed the
subject and came to breakfast as she bade him.
'It is so long since I had my own way,' he remarked dryly, 'I have
forgotten how it feels. Your state of serene satisfaction is unknown
to me. How long do you intend to keep it up, Miss Hazel?'
'Until some restless person puts it to flight, sir, I suppose. That is
the usual fate of my serene states, as you call them.'
'It occurs to me,' Mr. Falkirk went on, 'that in our recent search
after fortune and in the general hallucination which in such a
search prevails, I am a good honest big Newfoundland dog
transformed into the present shape for the more efficient
performance of the duty of barking round his mistress. I feel that to
be about my present status and dignity, plainly expressed.'
'The way gentlemen make statements!' said Wych Hazel. 'Perhaps
you are aware, sir, who brought me home here, a month ago, when
I did not want to come?'
'I don't remember it,' said Mr. Falkirk. 'I only remember who took
me to all the watering-places on the continentwhere I didn't
want to go. I should like to be informed, Miss Hazel, when the
search after fortune is to endwhen I may reasonably hope to
resume my own shape again? You may not suppose it; but barking
tries a man's powers.'
'I had not perceived it, sir. On the contrary, your voice has been
particularly sonorous of late.'
'Are you aware it is the first of October, Miss Hazel?'
'Time for chestnuts, isn't it?' said the girl. 'I had forgotten all bout
them.'
'There are other nuts to crack besides chestnuts. The owner of the
house you had last winter has written to ask if you want it again
this year.'
'Talk of the restlessness of women!' said Hazel. 'Here are we but
just settled in the country, and Mr. Falkirk already proposing to
return to town.'
'I don't know what you are,' said Mr. Falkirk, 'but _I_ am not settled.
Of course, coming home at the end of the season, I have no cook;
and Gotham informs me that the kitchen chimney smokes. I should
think it did, to judge by the condition of my beefsteaks.'
'I am very sorry, sir! Suppose you condescend to _my_ beefsteaks
until the cook and the smoke change places? The blue room is in
perfect orderand would suit your state of mind,' said Miss
Wych, eyeing Mr. Falkirk with an air of deep gravity. 'Then there
is always Europe'
'Is _that_ the next thing!' exclaimed Mr. Falkirk, with a positively
alarmed air. 'I have been expecting it.'
'I wanted to go last year, you know, sir,and (if nobody said
anything against it) I think I should write at once and secure my
passage.'
'To what quarter of the world, miss Hazel?'
'We might go round, sir; and stop where things promised fairest.'
'We might. Then I am to understand you do not like the promise of
things at Chickaree?'
'What do you take to be the promise of things here, at present, Mr.
Falkirk?'
'Quite beside the question, Miss Hazel. Am I to tell this man you
don't want the house in Fiftieth street?'
'I should prefer another house, I think,' said Hazel gravely. 'Mr.
Falkirk, I had a letter from Kitty Fisher this morning, and she
sends you her love.'
Mr. Falkirk gave an inarticulate grumble.
'You may throw it back to her, my dear; her own love is all she
cares about; and as I don't care about it, we are suited. Do I
understand that you wish me to look for another house, then?'
'I did hint at Europe,'said Wych Hazel. 'But if it amuses you to
look for houses, sir, I have no sort of objection.'
Mr. Falkirk laid down his knife and fork, and looked across the
table.
'It don't amuse me to look for anything in a fog, my dear. Do you
want to go to Europe?'
'O well, we need not go this week, sir! Shall I invite all the
neighbourhood to a grand chestnutting, when Kitty Fisher comes?'
'Miss Hazel, that girl is not proper company for you. I hope you
will not ask her to help in your merrymakings; she understands
nothing but a romp. And, my dear, if you know your own mind I
wish you would be so kind as to let me know it. To go to Europe
this fall, you must be off in three weeks at latest. Have you spoken
to Rollo about it?'
'Truly, I have not!' said Wych Hazel, with a glow which however
Mr. Falkirk charged to displeasure. 'Did you ever know me speak
to him about anything connected with my own affairs, sir?'
'I don't know, my dear. He has a word to say concerning them. Do
you wish me to sound him on the subject, then?'
'Did you ever succeed in "sounding" him, sir? on any subject?' said
the young lady, consulting her watch, and with all her senses on
the alert for interruptions. What were 'business' hours at Morton
Hollow, she wondered? Then she rose up, and passing round to
Mr. Falkirk, gave him a smile that was very sweet and not a bit
teasing.
'I must go and rest, sir. I find sitting up tires me to-day. But you
will come to dinner?'
She went off with that quick step, betaking herself to the crimson
room; for to-day Hazel seemed to prefer high-coloured
surroundings. There sat for awhile before the great picture,
thinking of many things; and there, still down on her foot cushion,
laid her head in one of the easy chairs and went to sleep; with the
gray cat dozing and purring in the same chair, close by her head.
Only the cat's eyelashes were not wet, and Wych Hazel's were.
CHAPTER VI.
A MAN AND HIS MONEY.
It is a pity somebody had not come to see; and somebody would,
only that Rollo had a good many things to attend to just now
besides his own pleasure. Instead, when the morning was half
over, came Miss Phinney Powder, and the sleep and the attitude
were broken up. Hazel went to her in the drawing-room.
Miss Josephine was in an unsettled state of mind; for she first
placed herself on an ottoman by the fire-place, then got up and
went to the window and stood looking out; all the while rattling on
of indifferent things, in a rather languid way; then at last came and
sank down in a very low position at Wych Hazel's feet on the
carpet. She was a pretty girl; might have been extremely pretty, if
her very pronounced style of manners had not drawn lines of
boldness, almost of coarseness, where the lip should have been
soft and the eyebrow modest. The whole expression was
dissatisfied and jaded to-day, over and above those lines, which
even low spirits could not obliterate.
'It must be awfully nice to have such a place as this all to
yourselfhouse and all;just to yourself! You needn't be married
till you've a mind to. Don't you think it's a great bore to be
married?'
'People can always wait,' said Wych Hazel.
'Wait?' said Phinney. 'For what?'
'For such a great bore,' said Hazel, stroking the cat.
'How can you wait?' said Phinney.
'What hinders?'
'Why! you must be married, you know, some time; and it don't do
to stay till you can't get a good chance. It's such a bore!' said the
poor girl helplessly.
Somehow, Hazel's own happiness made her rather tender towards
these notes of complaint.
'What do you mean?' she said, leaning down by Phinney. 'I would
not take even "a good chance" to be miserable.'
'I'm just in a fix,' said Josephine, 'and I can't get out of it. And I
came to see you on purpose to talk. I thought maybe you would
have some sympathy for me. Nobody has at home.'
'Sympathy! What about?'
'Papa wants me to marry somebodywho comes pestering me
every other day.'
Josephine looked disconsolately out of the window. The weary
face was eloquent of the system under which she declared herself
suffering.
'Somebody you do not like?' said Hazel.
'O I like himI _like_ him pretty well; he's rather jolly on the whole;
butthat's another thing from being married, you know. I like
very well to have him round,bringing me flowers and doing
everything I bid him; I _have_ made rather a slave of him, that's a
fact; it's awfully ridiculous! He doesn't dare say his soul's his own,
if I say it's mine, and I snub him in every other thing. But then
it's another thing to go and marry him. Maybe he wouldn't like me
to snub him, if I was his wife. Mamma don't dare do it to papa, I
know; unless she does it on the sly.'
Hazel drew back rather coldly.
'I think it is extremely probable he would not like it,' she said. 'He
is not much of a man, to stand it now.'
'Not?' cried Josephine. 'Why what is the good of a man if you can't
snub him? And if a man pretends to like you, of course he'll stand
anything you give him. O I like the bridle figure in the German
that suits me;when I'm the driver; but the Germans are all over
for this season. Aren't you awfully sorry?'
'No. And a girl ought to be ashamed to talk as you do, Josephine!'
'Now hush! _You_ shan't snub me. I came to you for comfort. Why
ought I to be ashamed to talk so? Don't _you_ like to have your own
way?'
'My own way does not trend in that direction,' said Miss Kennedy.
'And I should scorn to have it over such a weak thing as a man
who would let a girl fool him to his face.'
'Men like such fooling. I know they do. I can do just what I like
with them. But then if I was married,I don't suppose I could fool
so many at once. Why, Hazel, if you don't have your own way
with men who let you, who _will_ you have it with? Not the men
who won't let you;such a bluebeard of a man as your guardian,
for instance. O do tell me! don't you sometimes get tired of living?'
'We are talking about your affairs this morning,' said Hazel. 'I
should get tired of living, very soon, I think, at your rate.'
'I am,' said Josephine. And she looked so. 'Sometimes I am ready
to wish I had never been born. What's the good of living, anyhow,
Hazel, when the fun's over?'
'Fun?' Hazel repeated,how was she to tell this girl what seemed
to her just now the good of living?
'Yes. You know all the summer there have been the garden parties
and the riding parties, and the Germans, and the four-in-hand
parties, and all sorts of delightful things; and now they're all over;
and it makes me so blue! To be sure, by and by, there will be the
season in town; but that won't be much till after the holidays,
anyhow; and I feel horridly. And now comes Charteris bothering
me. What would you do, Hazel?'
'What would I do?' Hazel repeated again, with a curious feeling
that there was but one man in the world, and so of course what
_could_ anybody do! A little shy of the subject too, and feeling her
cheeks grow warm in the discussion. 'Do you like him very much,
Josephine?'
'Very much?'deliberately. 'No. I don't think I like him very
much. But papa says that will come fast enough when I am
married. He says,you know Charteris is awfully rich,he says,
papa says, this marriage will give me such a "position." Mamma
don't conceive that one of her daughters can want position. But
then, papa is a little lower down than mamma, you know. Well, I
should have "position,' and everything else I wantcarriages and
jewels, you know; diamonds; don't you like diamonds? I could
have all I want. If I only could have them without the man!'
'You could live with him all your life, you think? by the help of the
diamonds?'
'Papa says so. And mamma says so. I don't get any feeling at
home. Annabella is wholly engaged in getting up parties to go to
Dane Rollo's readings in Morton Hollow; that's all she thinks
about. Isn't he too ridiculous?'
'I asked about Mr. Charteris,' said Wych Hazel, knitting her brows
a little. 'And it is you who must live with himnot your father and
mother. Could you do it, Josephine? with him alone?'
'One must live with somebody, I suppose,' said Josephine, idly
pulling threads of wool from a foot mat near her.
'Well could you live without him?' said her questioner, taking a
short cut to her point of view.
'Charteris? He ain't the jolliest man I know.'
'Answer!' said Hazel, knitting her brows again.
'Live without Charteris? I should say I could. From my present
point of view. Easy! But it comes back to that awful bore, Hazel; a
girl has got to be married. I wish I was a man.'
'Then I would,' said Wych Hazel quietly.
'What?'
'Live without Mr. Charteris. And as you cannot be a man, suppose
you talk like a woman.'
'What do you mean?' said Phinney, looking doubtfully at her. 'I
haven't come here to be snubbed, I know. Aren't you sorry for me?'
'No,not when you talk so. A girl has not "got to be married."
And if you marry some one you can live without, you deserve
what you will get.'
'What will I get?' said Josephine.
'John Charteriswithout the bouquets and the fooling.'
'I don't know but he's very good,' said Josephine meditatively. 'And
Hazel, a girl can't live without getting married. What should I do,
for instance?'
'Wait till the right person comes,' said Hazel. 'And if he never
comes, be thankful that you escaped the wrong one.'
'But suppose the right person, as you call him, is poor?' said the
young lady with a peculiar subdued inflexion of voice.
'O, is that it!' said Wych Hazel. 'Then if he thinks you can make
him rich. I would keep up the delusion.'
'But I _can't_, Hazel. Papa hasn't much to give any of us. He has just
enough to get along with comfortably.'
'There are other things in the world besides money, I suppose?'
said Hazel. 'And I know there could be no starvation wages for me,
like diamonds from a hand I did not love.'
'I like diamonds though,' said Josephine. 'And it's dreadful to be
poor. _You_ don't know anything about it, Hazel. You're of no
consequence, you have no power, nobody cares about you, even
you've got to ask leave to speak; and then nobody listens to you! I
mean, after you are too old to flirt. I don't want to be poor. And
Mr. Charteris would put me beyond all that. He has plenty. And
they say I would love him well enough by and by. It's such a bore!'
And the young lady leaned her head upon her hand with a really
disconsolate face.
'I thought you just said somebody does care about you?'
'Did I? I don't recollect.'
'You said "the right person" was poor. Which would seem to imply
that he is in existence.'
'Well, he might just as well not,' said Josephine in the same tone.
'They would never hear of my marrying _him_. It's all very nice to
drive four-in-hand with somebody, and dance the German with
him; and have good times at pic-nics and such things; but when it
came to settling down in a little bit of a house, without a room in it
big enough for a German; and ingrain carpets on the floorsI
couldn't, Hazel!' said the girl with a shudder. 'And there it is, you
see.'
Wych Hazel looked at herand then she laughed.
'There is nothing much more fearful than "the right person" on
ingrain carpets,' she said mockingly. 'Except, perhaps, the wrong
one on Turkey.'
'Turkey carpets are jolly under your feet,' said Josephine. 'And
after all, I wonder if it matters so much about the man? At least,
when you can't have the right one. Well, you don't help me much.
Annabella wanted to know if you wouldn't join a party to hear
Dane Rollo read, Saturday night? She is crazy about those
readings. _I_ believe she's touched about him. Will you go?'
'No. Josephine, it matters _everything_ about the man,' said Hazel
earnestly. 'What sort of a life do you expect, if you begin with a
false oath?'
'A false oath?'
'Yes. Think what you have to promise.'
'What do I have to promise?'
'You know,' said Hazel impatiently. 'You have seen people married
often enough to remember what they must say.'
'I never thought about what they said. It's just a form; that's all.'
'You would like to have Mr. Charteris consider _his_ part just a
form?'
'I never thought anything else about it. It is a form that would give
me a right to the diamonds, you know, or anything else his money
could buy. O dear! if one could have the things without the man!
Will you go to hear Rollo read?'
'Well you had better think about it,' said Hazel. 'If it is _only_ a form,
it will give you a clear right to be miserable. I advise you to go
straight home and study the words, and try them with different
names. And do not really say them to anyone they do not fit. Do
you hear me, Josephine?'
The girl was looking up in her face with a look strange for her; a
look studious of Wych Hazel herself; searching, somewhat
wondering, secretly admiring. The look went off to the window
with a half sigh.
' "Fais que dois, advienne que pourra," ' Hazel added softly.
'I don't know what I ought to do!' said Josephine. 'How can I? If
Stuart Nightingale had anything but what he spendsO what's the
use talking about it, Hazel? Suppose I hadn't money to dress
myself decently?'
'A man who has nothing but what he spends, spends too much,'
said Wych Hazel, with a smile to herself over the duration of Mr.
Nightingale's "life-long" heartbreak of the fall before. 'Do you
mean that he would not spare a little for you?'
'He hasn't enough for both,' said Josephine, looking very dismal.
'T'other one has enough for a dozen.'
'Did you never hear,' said her hostess laughing, 'thatin certain
circumstances
' "Half enough for one, is always
' " More than just enough for two?" '
'No,' said Josephine abstractedly. 'Who comes here that rides a
light bay horse?'
'Everybody comes here. But I seldom look at their horses. Why?'
'One went by just now. I was looking at the horse, and I hadn't
time to see the rider. He'll come in, I suppose. If Annabella knew
all, she wouldn't care so much about this match; for just as soon as
I marry John Charteris, papa'll sell Paul Charteris his piece of land;
and that's a job Dane Rollo wouldn't like.'
'Why not?' said Hazel with a desperate calmness, and her heart
beginning to beat so that it half took her breath away. 'Is it land
Mr. Rollo wants for himself?'
'He wouldn't like anybody else to have it, you bet!' replied Miss
Powder, at last getting up from the floor and shaking herself into
order. 'I must go.'
'But I said, why not?' Wych Hazel repeated. 'Thereyou have
ripped off your flounce.'
'I did that getting out of the phaeton. O well!it'll have to go so
till I get home. Everybody will know I didn't dress myself so on
purpose; and besides, nobody will see it. Not till I get there. You
haven't a needle and silk, have you, Hazel?'
'Yes, if you will come up to my room for it,' said Hazel, glad
enough of an excuse to get her away. But Miss Powder had no
mind to be spirited off. She had her own views, and excused
herself.
'O thank you! but it's not worth while; and I can't wait, either.
Well, I must go and meet my fate, I suppose.'
'What does Mr. Charteris want with more land?' said Hazel,
arranging the torn flounce.
'O, to serve Rollo out, you know, for being so mean.'
'Is that it!' said Wych Hazel. 'How? I do not understand.'
'Why,' said Josephine, watching the door, which she expected
would open to admit the rider of the bay horse whoever he might
be, 'papa has a bit of land not worth much to him, just above Mr.
Morton's ground that that pirate has bought; just above the mills. If
Paul Charteris can get that, he will know what use to put it to. That
will do, my dear, I dare say. I am awfully obliged for your care of
my respectability.'
'What use?' said Hazel seriously. 'Here is one more tear'
'O I don't understand those things. Do you know what _water power_
means?'
'Yes.'
'Wellif Paul Charteris gets that land,and if I marry John
Charteris he willhe'll cut off the water power. I don't know what
it means, nor how he'll do it; but Mr. Rollo's mills will stop. And
in that case, somebody at home will hate Paul Charteris! Well,
she'd better have stood by me then.'
The young lady detached herself at last, with a kiss to Wych
Hazel, and bowled away in her little basket-wagon.
CHAPTER VII.
THE EMERALD.
Hazel let her see herself out from the door of the drawing room,
and then stood still in the middle of the floor with a hand on each
side of her face. Not however considering the land question just
then. She had seen Mr. Rollo but three times for a whole year,so
ran the first thought. And she had not seen him at all, since the
other night,so chimed in the second. And these three days of
sleep and unconsciousness had confused the universe to that
degree, that whether the world was round or triangular or square
might be called a nicely balanced question. Had the bay horse
stopped?then where was his rider?
Hazel darted out of a side door, and stood still to consider. Walked
slowly along for a step or two, (flying about did not just agree with
her to-day) then took her way to the red room, entering
noiselessly; also by a side door. Blushing as if she had not done
her duty in that respect the other day, and so had large arrears to
make up; but not losing the delicate look even so.
'How do you do, Mr. Rollo?' she said softly, and holding out her
hand,rather, it must be confessed, across a great easy chair
which stood in the way. He had been making up the fire when she
came in, and had looked up and let the tongs drop just before she
spoke. Rollo was cool enough however to see the easy chair and
come round it; but his greeting was grave and wordless. Perhaps
he too remembered that she had not seen him since the other night.
At any rate, anxiety and sympathy and infinite tenderness had
more to express than could be put into words, for the power of
words is limited. When he did speak, it was a simple demand to
know how she did? 'Very well,' she said, softly as before.
'_Is_ it very well?' he said earnestly. 'And how has it been these three
days?'
'OI have been sleepy. As perhaps you heard,' she said, with the
pretty curl of her lips.
He looked at her a minute, then suddenly releasing her, turned
away to the fire and picked up his tongs again. 'I wish you would
do something to comfort me!' he exclaimed. And the strong grey
eyes were full of tears.
Hazel gave him an extremely astonished look, which went away,
and came again, and once more came back, growing very wistful.
She moved a step nearer to him, then stood still.
'What is it, Mr. Rollo?' she said with one of her sweet intonations,
which was certainly 'comfort' so far as it went. 'What am I to do? I
mean'she added timidly, 'what have I done?'for it was greatly
Hazel's habit to somehow charge things back upon herself. But
Rollo mended the fire with scrupulous exactness, put it in perfect
order, set up his tongs; and then stood by the mantel-piece, leaning
his elbows there and looking down at his work. Hazel watched
him, at first with shy swift glances, then, as he did not look up, her
look became more steady. What was he thinking of? It must be
something she had done,something which he had just heard of,
perhaps,some wild piece of mischief or thoughtlessness
executed last summer or in the spring. Was he wondering whether
he could ever bring her into order, and make her 'stand?'was he
meditating the form of some new promise for her to take? winding
in the ends of free action into a new knot which she was to draw
tight? But (so circumstances do alter cases) it did not terrify her
much, if he was; what _did_ try her, was to see him stand there
wearing such a face, and to feel that in some way she was the
cause of it. So she stood looking at him, not quite knowing all
there was in her own face the while; and began to feel tired, and
moved a soft step back again, and rested her hand on the great
chair.
'Mr. Rollo'she ventured,'you never used to mind telling me of
anywaysof mine, which you did not like; orthingsI had
done. And I suppose I can bear it just as well now. Though that is
not saying much, I am afraid.'
At her first word he had looked up, and when she had finished,
came and put her into the big chair and sat down beside it. She
dared not look at him now; his eyes were snapping with fun.
'What is all this?' he said. '_What_ do you want me to tell you,
Wych?'
'I thought Nothing,' she said rather hastily retreating within
herself again. 'But I did not quite understand you, Mr. Rollo.'
'What do you consider the proper thing to do, when you do not
understand me?'
A little inarticulate sound seemed to say that the course might vary
in different cases. 'Generally,' said Hazel, 'I wait and puzzle it out
by myself.'
'I would _always_ like to help you.'
She laughed a little, shyly, as if _asking_ help were quite another
matter, especially about unknown things. But pondering this one a
minuteit looked so harmless,out it came, in Hazel's usual
abrupt fashion.
'What you said about "comfort" Mr. Rollo,I did not suppose you
had ever wanted comfort in your life.'
'Didn't you?' He did not want much just now!
'Well, what did you mean?'
'You suppose that I have been in a contented state of mind all
summer, for instance?'
'The point in hand is, why you are less contented to-day,' said
Hazel preserving her gravity.
'What made you faint at Gyda's?and why have you slept three
whole days since?' he said gravely. 'You had better not bring it up,
Wych, or I shall want comfort again.'
'Othese three days?' said Hazel. 'I have just been having my own
way; as I told Mr. Falkirk; and it has agreed with me splendidly. It
was no doing of mine, to send for Dr. Marylandbut Byo always
fidgets over me.'
'And the fainting?and the walk over the hill? over rough and
smooth, where your little feet must have had a hard time of it;
and you laid it up against me?'
What had Gyda told him? Not _that_, for that was not true. But
what? Hazel's head drooped lower.
'Mr. Rollo,' she said seriously, 'if you do not cure yourself of your
habit of making statements, some day you will acquire the habit of
making mistakes.'
'No, I shall not,' he said coolly. 'You will not let me.'
If _that_ were one, Hazel made no attempt to correct it; having no
mind just then to deal with any of his mistakes, in any shape;
remembering too exactly what some of them had been. So she sat
very still, looking down at the two small folded hands, and
wondered to herself if Mr. Rollo had cross-questioned Gyda? if he
meant to cross-question her?and if he did, where she should
hide? That fainting, that walk across the hill!even now, with
three long days of oblivion between, and the sorrow and the doubt
all pushed aside; even now, she could hardly bear the recollection;
and just caught the deep sigh that was coming, and shut her lips
tight, and kept it back.
And _that_ was what had troubled him! The colour flitted and
changed in her cheeks, in the sort of _live_ way Wych Hazel's colour
had, and then the brown eyes gave a swift sidelong glance, to see
what the owner of the grey ones was about?
He was studying her, as if he had a mind to find out all her
thoughts in their secret hiding-places. But his attention was
diverted now to something in his fingers, which he was unfolding
and unwrapping; and presently he took one of the little folded
hands, the left one, and put upon the forefinger a ring set with a
very large emerald. The ring fitted; the stone was superb. Rollo
laid the little hand, so beringed, in his own palm, and looked at it
there; then his eye met Hazel's with a bright, sweet, peculiar smile.
'We shall never misunderstand each other again, Wych! Shall we?'
It was queer, to see the colour recede and get out of sight, as if
gathering strength for its vivid return. But Hazel did not look at
him, nor at the ring, not at anything,did not see anything,
probably, just then. She caught her breath a little, finding her
words one by one
'But Inevermisunderstoodyou,' she said.
'Would you like to stand an examination on that point?'
Hazel considered a little.
'I am willing to hear anystatements.'
'I thought just now you objected to them. However, it will be
necessary for me to make a good many, sooner or later, just to
make sure that you know what you are about in marrying me. But
to begin with this emerald.Do you know what it means?'
It did occur to the girl, as she went on a foray after her thoughts,
that she had no immediate intention of marrying anybody! But to
use her own words, that was not the point in hand.
'Means?' she repeated,which of all the five hundred and forty
things that it meant did Mr. Rollo wish to have set forth!'But
you are to make statementsnot ask questions,' she said.
'It is an old jewel that I have had reset for you. I preferred it to a
diamond, because it is a finer stone than any diamond in my
possession, and because of the meaning, as I said. In the
description of John's vision in the Revelation, it is said "there was
a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like to an emerald."In
Ezekiel's vision the word is, "as the appearance of the bow that is
in the cloud in the day of rain." '
Partly shielding her face with her other hand, Hazel sat studying
the ring, her eyes intent and grave and wide open as a child's.
'What does the rainbow mean?' he asked.
'It was a promise against desolationat first,' she said slowly; very
unconsciously betraying what already the emerald was to her.
'The promise was against desolationthe bow was the sign for the
faithfulness of the promiser. Where is your Bible?'
He went on, talking purposely to let Hazel find her composure, for
he saw she was scarcely able to take her part in any conversation.
So he went on. He knew she was listening.
'Do you see?the rainbow "like to an emerald"the rainbow
"round about the throne,"that is the same as, "_thy faithfulness
round about thee_," "O Lord,
who is like unto thee, or to thy
faithfulness round about thee!" So that is what the emerald
means;faithfulness. First, your faith, and mine; and then, the
strength and repose of that other faithfulness, which is round us
both; in whichwe will _both_ walk, Hazel, shall we not?'
He could not tell what she was thinking of. Not of him, apparently,
for the look on the face was far away, as if thought had followed
his words quite out of sight; yet more to something past than
towards other things to come. So leaning her head on her hand she
sat, and thenstill full of her thoughtlooked up at him, the same
child's look of intentness, with words all ready on her lips.
'Then in those days,' she began But then came the sudden
recollection of whom she was speaking to, and what a stranger he
was, and that he was not a stranger at all; with probably some
quick realization of what she was going to say; for the scarlet
flushed up all over her face again, and her head went down on her
hand, and she was silent.
'What "in those days?"I want the rest of it.'
'O, the rest of it is more than you think,' said Hazel. 'And it is a
great way off. I should have to take you miles and miles. And I
would rathernot.'
He smiled at her, seeing the beautiful shyness that did not separate
her from him, but only put such a bloom on the fruitsuch a
fragrance in the flower. He was content. The freedom and
fearlessness of older affection would come in time, and it would be
pleasant to see it come. He would not hurry her; indeed, as he once
had told her he never asked for what he could not have, so neither
did he care for what was enforced in the giving. Better a free smile
than a kiss bestowed to order. He saw now that she was hardly
ready for many things he had it in his heart to say. He could wait.
The readiness was there, only latent. He played with the hand and
the ring while he was thinking these things.
But now all through the old house rang out the sweet bugle call;
signal for luncheon. No bells, as has been remarked, were heard at
Chickaree. Just a moment's hesitation came over the young
mistress, with visions of Dingee and possibilities of Mr. Falkirk,
and one glance at her ring. Then she turned to Mr. Rollo, giving
her timid invitation as she rose up. 'You will come?' she said,
and flitted off quick to lead the way, having no sort of mind to go
in state. Rollo followed more slowly, smiling to himself.
'Do you often have company from the cottage at this time?' he
inquired when he had again caught up with Wych Hazel in the
dining room.
'Sometimesbut I gave Mr. Falkirk such a talk at breakfast that I
shall hardly see him again before dinner. Dingee, where is the
coffee? You know Mr. Rollo never touches chocolate.'
'Know dat_ sartain,' said Dingee; 'but Mas' Rollo come in so'
'Go fetch the coffee,' said Hazel, cutting him short.
Rollo remarked as he seated himself at the table, that he 'didn't feel
as if he could stand Mr. Falkirk to-day.'
'He is very much the same as on most days,' said Hazel. 'I thought
you always rather enjoyed "standing" him, Mr. Rollo?'
'It is becoming necessary for me to make so many statements,' said
Rollo, 'that I am getting puzzled. I am very sorry for Mr. Falkirk.
What sort of a talk did you give him?'
'Mr. Falkirk was so uncommonly glad to see me, that I should have
been all sugar and cream if he had not beset me with business. As
it was, I am afraid Iwasn't.'
'Not my business?'
'Your business? The mills?'
'_Our_ business, then.'
'Hush!No! I have not got any,' said Hazel, whose spirits and
daring were beginning to stir just a little bit once more, though she
felt a little frightened at herself when the words were out. 'Mr.
Falkirk wanted to know my sovereign pleasure about retaking the
house we had last winter.'
'I am very sorry for Mr. Falkirk!' Rollo repeated gravely. 'Do you
thinkby and by, when we have been married a year or two, and
he is accustomed to it,we could get him to come and make home
with us!'
Hazel looked at him for a second, as if he took her breath away;
but then she looked at nothing elseor did not see it, which came
to the same thing,for some time. Dingee appeared with baskets
and bouquets, after the old fashion, which had grown to be an
established one at Chickaree; and his mistress looked at them and
ordered them away, and read the cards, and did not know what
names she read. But in all the assortment of beauties there was
never a rose one bit sweeter or fresher than the face that bent down
over them.
CHAPTER VIII.
ACORNS AND ACORN-CUPS.
One afternoon, a day or two later, Rollo had begged for a walk in
the woods; proposing that they should 'begin to get acquainted
with each other.' The trees were beginning to shew crimson and
gold and brown and purple, and the October light wove all hues
into one regal drapery of nature, not richer than it was harmonious.
The warm air was spicy; pines and hemlocks gave out resinous
sweetness, and ferns and lichens and mosses and other wild things
lent their wild wood flavour. It was rare in the Chickaree woods
that day. Fallen leaves rustled under foot, squirrels chattered in the
branches, partridges whirred away. Down through the shadow and
the light they went, those two, talking irregularly of all sorts of
things. Rollo was skilled in all wild wood lore and very fond of it.
He could talk deliciously on this theme, and he did; telling Wych
Hazel about trees and woodwork and hunter's sports and
experiences, and then of lichens and the rocks they grew on.
Into the depths of the ravine they plunged, and then over a ridge
into another; away from paths and roads and the possibility of
wheels and riders. Then Rollo found a mossy dry bank where
Wych Hazel might sit down and rest, with her back against the
stem of a red oak. He roved about gathering acorns under the wide
spreading boughs of the tree, and finally came and threw himself
down at her feet.
'This is pleasant,' he said, looking along the brown slope, brown
with mosses and fallen leaves, on which the wonderful light came
so richly and so tenderly. 'This is pleasant! Is the sense of
possession a strong one with you?'
'I love my woodsdearly! I never had much elsethat was my
ownto care about.'
'I believe it is strong in me. I can enjoy other people's thingsbut I
think I like them better when they are my own. I fancy it is a man's
weakness.'
'What did you mean by "beginning to get acquainted?" ' said
Hazel, from under the protecting shadow of her broad hat, and
with her mind so full of unanswered questions that it seemed as if
some of them must come out, even if they did get her into
difficulties. 'I thought you _thought_ you knew me pretty
thoroughly.'
He rolled himself over on the bank, so that he could look up at her
comfortably, and answered laughing,
'What did you think about me?'
'O I knew about you,' said Hazel.
'How long ago?'
'Different things at different times. Mr. Rollo,'with a little blush
and hesitation,'will you tell me how you knew the size of my
finger?'
'Let me look at it.' And he took the little hand, tried the ring up and
down the finger, kissed it, and finally let it go.
'It fits' was all his remark.
If _that_ is the way you are always ready to help me!Hazel
thought. But as no such idea could venture out, and as the next
question that stood ready was altogether too much "in line," a
squirrel up in the tree had it all to himself for a few minutes. Rollo
waited for the next question to come, but as it tarried he remarked
quietly,
'You may remember, I had a glove of yours in my possession.'
'_You_. Where did you get it?'
'I picked it up. I have often done that for ladies' gloves;but I
never kept one before.'
'You picked it up?' Hazel repeated slowly. 'I _never_ lose my gloves.
And you are not one of those silly people who steal them. Where
did you pick it up, Mr. Rollo?'
A sort of shadow crossed his face, as he answered, 'One nightin
the woodswhere it was a mere little point of light in the gloom.'
'O!' she said eagerly, looking up,'did you? that night? I
remember. And you kept it. _Then_, Mr. Rollo?' The soft,
surprised intonation of the last three words left them anything but
incoherent.
'Well?' said he smiling.
'I wish I had known you had it. That glove gave me a great deal of
trouble.'
'Why?'
'I was so much afraid it had got into the wrong hands. But when
was _this_ done?' she said, eyes and words going back to the ring
again. 'Not sincethe other day?'
'Hardly! No. It was done last winter.' And Rollo's eyes flashed and
laughed at her, a kind of soft lightning. Hazel laughed the least bit
too, in return; but then her head went down as low as it gracefully
could, and under the shadow of her broad hat she questioned.
Had she betrayed herself _then_, to him? What has she said? what
had she done, that night? Her face rested on her hand in the very
attitude of perplexity.
'Come,' said Rollo, 'you are finding out a good deal about me that
you did not know before. You had better go on.'
'Did you buy up the whole Hollow?' said Hazel abruptly. 'All the
way from the mills up to Gyda'sMrs. Boërresen'scottage?'
'No,' said Rollo, with a somewhat surprised recognition of the
change of subjects; 'not yet. I have obtained possession only of the
mills which were held by Morton himself. Those are the two
cotton mills, and one of the woollen mills, which had lately
reverted to him from the closing of the lease term and the inability
of the former lessee to make any agreement for a new one. Further
down the Hollow below me, lie the woollen mills of Paul
Charteris.'
'And there is nothing above you yet, but the water and the land?'
'No. Nor like to be. The head of the valley is owned by Gov.
Powder; and he has neither means nor inclination to do anything
with it. It would be better for me to own it, though. Why,
Hazel?'with a smile.
'Why had you better own it?'
'I want to get control of the whole Hollow as fast as I can; and
then, I want to keep the control.'
'Well, but why _don't_ you then?' said Hazel. 'What is the use of
waiting?'
'I am not ready to build more mills yet. And there are other
reasons, Hazel. Mr. Falkirk thinks I am jeopardizing my money. I
do not think so, nor intend it. I believe in the long run I shall
prosper. But for the present, and for awhile, I shall be at a
disadvantage, it may be; because I am paying larger wages and
receiving less profits than my neighbours, and I must keep capital
free to bear me and my workmen out through the time of trialif
it is to come. I mean never to have so much capital embarked in
the mills, that I should have nothing to carry my hands and myself
through a dead calm. You see' Rollo continued with again a
smile,'being a careful navigator, I mean to carry the wind in my
pocket.'
Hazel followed his words with attentive eyes as well as ears, and
then went off into a brown study, with her chin on her hand.
'Well,' said Rollo, 'what is all this catechism for?'
'It is good practice,' she said, coming out of her abstraction with a
laugh. 'I suppose you never knew before that there are two sides to
a catechism?'
'Go on,' said Rollo. 'This is the beginning.'
'Beginningof what?'
'My catechism.'
'It is the end of it, for the present. But it seems to me, Mr. Rollo,
that is, I know it seems to you that I am talking great nonsense,'
said Hazel breaking off again. 'Do you live up at Mrs. Boërresen's
all the time?'
'For the most partexcept when I take a run down to my old
home. But yes, I _live_ at Gyda's.'
Unspoken questions came up in her eyes, but the words came not,
and the eyes themselves went down to the crimson leaf she was
thoughtfully drawing through her fingers. Rollo was silent too.
Half sitting half lying on the leafy slope, he was busying himself
with gathering together all the acorns and acorn-cups within his
reach, examining them carefully one by one, and yet with a face
that grew grave and became abstracted. More time passed than he
knew probably, and Hazel had leisure to come out of her own
abstractions and wonder at his. He did not look as if he
remembered her presence; and yet a sensible woman has no
objection to such indications in a man's face,even a man that
loves her,as Hazel saw now; the grave purpose, the manly
power, the thoughtful reserve. When at last he spoke and looked
up, he was grave still.
'Have you any idea what you are to expect, Hazel?'
'Expect!'Then rather slowly, 'I believe I am not given to
expectations.'
Then he smiled, but went on, 'Do you remember our talk that
evening, last winter?'
'Of course.'
'Then you know in what service I have taken a commission?'
'I know.'
The quiet reserved voice seemed suddenly to lose its flexibility,
and the crimson leaf came fluttering down from between her
fingers.
'Are you content, Hazel? This fact will make my life more or less
what people call singular.'
'But you were always called that,' she said without looking at him.
'Was I? It will be in another way now, Wych. How will you like
it?'
'It? your life?very well, I suppose. If I like you,' she answered
frankly, though in the same deliberate, abstracted way.
'But a soldier must obey orders, and has no choice. Are you
content to go with me, upon such conditions?'
She turned upon him with eyes that seemed half inquiry, half
surprise, her colour flitting back and forth in its vivid way. Then
she rose suddenly to her feet, and setting her back against the tree
and dropping her folded hands, stood looking down at him.
'Will you tell me exactly what you mean?' she said.
He rose too and stood beside her.
'It would never do for me to go one way, and my wife another.'
From under the shield of her drooping hat Hazel answered.
'Suppose you have to meet that difficulty? Suppose I should say I
am _not_ content?'
'I will tell you, when you have said it.'
'No,' she said,'before. I am not content with anything till you do.'
'I should know in that case I had something to do, Hazel.'
'That is waiving the question.'
'No, for that something would beto make you willing.'
She unclasped her hands, putting behind her round the tree.
'How, Mr. Rollo?'
'I suppose'demurely'I should use my influence.'
'Twenty questions!' said Hazel. 'If I were not content, it would
show that you had not much influence to use.'
'Are you content, Hazel?'
'How are you going to be singular?' she said abruptly.
'It's my turn'said he smiling, 'Hazel, are you content?'
'But you always ask suchunreasoningquestions.'
'Give me a reasonable answer."
'I am never anything but reasonable,' she said; 'it is you. You want
to know if I am content to have you true to yourself,that is about
the point, is it not? I think, on the whole, I am.'
'Will you help me?'
'So far as I can. But remember, that may not be very far.'
'I want your help a dozen ways at this moment.'
'Would you like to specify just a few?'
'You will see, as soon as you begin to get the run of what I am
doing. I want counselI want coöperation. I want you to set me
upon some of the woman's work that a man does not readily find
out for himself. I am going to take you off to the Hollow as soon
as you are quite strong enough.'
'I should think you would prefer to have me set myself upon the
"woman's work," ' said Wych Hazel.
He smiled provokingly and observed that there was enough for her
and him too.
'Well' said Hazel, with a certain postponement in her voice.
'Well, what?'
'There is no "what" in sight at present, Mr. Rollo.'
'I shall have to give you lessons severely! Look at that acorn.
Don't you like acorns?'
'Very much. But best, I think, in the spring, when they are
struggling into life,shooting up and shooting down,shewing
their possibilities. They are lovely then, with their little crumpled
pink leaves.'
'That's the next stage. I want to make my life like that acorn as it is
now, full rounded to its utmost fruitage. So many lives are like
these empty cups,with the fruit lost.'
Hazel balanced one of the cups on the tip of her finger,
thoughtfully. 'I suppose they are,' she said. 'Good for nothing but to
look at.'
'Do you think such lives good to look at?'
'Sometimes pretty to look at. Just as this cup is, till you remember
that it is empty.'
'Hazel, did you study the lesson I gave you last winter?'
'I have studied it. Yes.'
'And the result? '
Looking down at the olive moss tufts at her feet, she answered,
slowly,
'I am notquitesure.'
'You can talk just as well if you are resting,' said Rollo; and he
pulled her down to her place again, and threw himself on the bank
beside her. 'Now go on,' he said, 'and tell me all about it.'
But "all about it" was a great deal. As the fireside musings, the
long night watches, the fears and questionings and perplexities
came up one by one and flung their shadows over her face, Hazel
answered,
'No, I cannot do that.'
'I am the very person to help your perplexities.'
'But that is assuming you know what they are!'
'Never mind. You will find it is rue. What makes the confusion,
Wych?'
The voice was a temptation; manly and clear, and thrilled through
with a hidden tenderness in the last words. Rollo was not studying
her face, but piling up his acorns on the ground between them.
'Everything helped make it.'
'Yes. Well?'
'It was not "well" at all,' said Hazel. 'I do not like tangles. And this
was unmitigated. I could not pull out one single smooth thread,
and present it for your inspection, Mr. Rollo.'
'Unpractical,' said Rollo. 'Make some statement of what you do
know.'
'Statements are not precisely in my line,' said Hazel. 'And I am not
the least in the habit of telling all I know.'
'Hitherto.'
Hazel did not immediately answer. She sat watching the heap of
acorns and the hand that was arranging them, a quiet smile upon
her lips. What had she said to Josephine about "diamonds from a
hand that you do not love"?whereas even acorns, from a hand
that
With a sudden scarlet flush she turned away, and bending down on
the other side, began to gather mosses on her own account.
'Come, Hazel,' said her companion'the tangle has got to be
encountered, and I think we shall go into it most safely together.'
'I could not tell you,' she said, 'and you could not tell me. Nobody
but oneself can disentangle "why" and "whether" and "what".'
Rollo cast a quick glance up at her, which probably brought him
all the intelligence he wanted; for he only remarked audaciously
that she 'would know better some day.'
'I could not make you understand, Mr. Rollo. And unless you
understood, you would just think there could not be room in my
head for a single spark of sense.'
'You don't know what I think of your head. Wellif you see a
little shoot of confidence in me starting up in your mind,
encourage it, Hazel!'
'I shall never see it, Mr. Rollo.'
'Nor encourage it, of course. WellI am in a bad way.'
'Things pass the acorn stage, you know,' she said, laughing a little.
'Yes. Do you remember my having once had the honour to remark
to you, that I objected to be treated as an old guardian?'
'No,' said Hazel,'you asked me if I expected to do it. But perhaps
that meant the same thing in those days.'
'Perhaps it did. What do you think of it in these days?'
Hazel made a sudden transition.
'Will you like to come and go chestnutting in these woods, Mr.
Rollo? The Powders all say that I promised them such a day,
though I am sure I do not remember it.'
'I don't remember it,' said Rollo lazily.
'As you were not here when I am said to have made the promise, I
do not see how you should. But it is needful I should ask you, or
Mr. Falkirk will askas he did once before upon you non-
appearanceif you have offended me.'
'Is the day fixed?'
'No. But they say I have promised.'
'Then there's no help for it, I know. Hazelwhen you and I had a
ride home in the dark one night, a year ago, did I misunderstand
you then?'
Silence, instant and deep. Hazel took some time to frame her
answer.
'What did you understand?'
The supreme flash of Rollo's eyes was instantly hidden by the
lowered eyelids; and there was no laughter even in his voice as he
answered,
'We understand each other now.'
They took their way home again through the glowing woodland
and warm, still air, slowly and lingeringly. Near the house, Dane
asked when Wych Hazel would go to the Hollow?
'The first day I can. Perhaps I had better wait one day more.'
'To-day is Friday. Yes, and I cannot be here to-morrow, either.'
'It is one of your busy days?'
'One of my busy days, and nights. It is my Exhibition evening. I
cannot come here Sunday, either, Hazel. Monday you will be fit
for a ride; and we will lunch with Gyda.'
'I was invited to go to the Reading Saturday night!' said Hazel with
a half laugh, 'and I refused.'
'You had better. Don't _you_ come, to complicate matters.'
'What should I complicate!I am the most straightforward person
going.'
'I am getting too much distinguished society. But I want to talk to
you about that institution, Hazel. I have a great deal to talk to you
about. It is very singular that you have nothing to say to me.'
Arrived at the house, Dane lingered awhile in the red room,
surveying its pretty tokens of pretty life, where among other things
the two little Catskill sketches in dainty wooden frames hung upon
the walls; but he refused an invitation to stay and dine with Mr.
Falkirk.
'I cannot. Wych, I must get to the Hollow before the mills are
closed.'
She gave him a grave, wistful look, but said nothing.
'I shall open a shorter cut, across fields, between here and the
Hollow. It might save four or five miles. Gov. Powder owns some
of the ground, the Kingslands, and I think one or two more, have
the rest. I can easily manage it. Twelve miles is too far between
you and me,' he added smiling.
'Yes.'
He stood looking at her; perhaps considering what the proper
distance would be, or rather not be; and also probably thinking that
it was too soon to trouble her with that question, for he presently
came forward silently to bid her good-bye, and was off.
Miss Wych was still for a few minutes, till the last hoof-beat had
died away, and then began slowly to mount the stairs. And as the
tired little feet went on, one step at a time, of a sudden she burst
forth into one of her scraps of songthe first time for many a long
day. Apparently her talk with Josephine the other day, was still
running in her head, for these were the words that came:
"His very tread has music in't,
"As he comes up the stair."
'I wonder what sort of stair-carpets they have in that part of
Scotland!' she said to herself. And then suddenly realizing how
very full-fledged her thoughts had become, Hazel blushed
furiously, all alone as she was, and rushed up the remaining stairs
so fast, that there was nothing for it but to drop into the nearest
chair and take a lecture from Mrs. Bywank, before she was able to
get ready for Mr. Falkirk and dinner.
The most remarkable thing about Miss Kennedy's dress lately, was
that her fingers were so loaded with rings that the very glare would
have hindered Mr. Falkirk's distinguishing any particular
splendour.
CHAPTER IX.
ROLLO'S EXPERIMENT.
When people are just in the position, newly assumed, of these two,
sixty hours of absence, it will be allowed, is a long time; and
between Friday evening and Monday morning Dane could not
make it shorter. Therefore nobody will be surprised that he made
his appearance Monday morning in the breakfast room.
'You are early,' said Mr. Falkirk with an accent of some surprise,
as he dropped his napkin and rose to take his guest's hand. Rollo
picked up the napkin.
'It was necessary, if I meant to catch you at breakfast.'
'Wouldn't after breakfast do?'
'Well, no. I wanted a cup of coffee; and though no doubt my friend
Mrs. Bywank would have supplied me later, I should have had to
take it alone.'
'That is a very sensible way to get one's morning coffee,' returned
the growler.
'You do not seem to act upon your principles.'
'I have a charge on my mind, you see. My coffee, if Gotham gave
it to me, would always he flavoured with something worse than
grounds. So I come here to get it clear. Have you brought
business?'
'Not for you, sir, to-day.'
'Enough of your own in the Hollow by this time, haven't you?'
'Not so much but that I mean to have more.'
'More business?'
'If I can.'Then he asked Hazel how she did?
Hazel recollected in time that it would not be true to say that she
felt "more like herself" to-day, and changed that form of reply into
a demure 'Pretty well, I think.'
'Pretty well, I think,' Mr. Falkirk echoed. 'Nobody but one who has
tried it can tell what it is to have the care of a witch. I have been
trying for a week, Rollo, to discover when we are to go to town,
and whether I am expected to secure a house; and it is past my
power to find out, the one or the other.'
'You do not like Chickaree?' Rollo inquired with matter-of-fact
composure.
'_She_ don't, in winter.' It is to be remarked, that the elder guardian,
completely thrown off his suspicions by the course of the past
winter and summer, supposed himself indulging in safe
pleasantries with the only one almost with whom he could venture
them.
'My dear Mr. Falkirk!how can you say I dislike what I have
never tried!' said Miss Wych.
'Can you inform me distinctly, Miss Hazel, whether you wish to
try it?'
'Distinct information rather comes in the way of those vague
desires which are supposed to beset me, sir.'
'I beg your pardon, Miss Hazel; I never supposed any such thing.'
'Well, sirI do not see why October need worry itself about
December.'
'I do not see why it should,' chimed in Rollo lazily.
'Does it not, down in your Hollow?'
'Not at all.'
'What more work are you wishing for there?'
'I am thinkingby and byof building another mill.'
'Another mill!'Mr. Falkirk's surprise was evidently more than it
was polite to shew.'You have not ground room, have you?'
'Not a present. I hope to be able to secure it. There _is_ room, in the
valley.'
'Then you expect your ventures to succeed?'
'Or I should not think of enlarging them.'
'But Charteris and others are underselling you now.'
'Yes.'
'And they will.'
'While they are able.'
'And what under heaven is the use and purpose of it all?' exclaimed
Mr. Falkirk testily. 'I beg your pardonI know I am not your
guardianbut what are you aiming to do?'
'Not to ruin myself. To do that would spoil my plan. There are
several thousand people living in that Hollow, Mr. Falkirk.'
'I suppose so.'
'Do you know how they are living?'
'No. What business is it of mine?'
'Miss Kennedy is going this morning to see what business it is of
mine.'
Mr. Falkirk pushed himself away from the table and presently left
the room. The others mounted without delay and set off.
'When have you been on Jeannie before?' Rollo asked, when they
had got quit of the Chickaree woods and were indulging in a good
trot along the level country road.
'Not since the end of last November,the day before I went to
town.'
'My little Wych!' said Rollo, riding close up alongside,'what sort
of a year has this been?'
'Very mixed up. Part of the winter was pleasant.'
'The summer?'
'I suppose that was pleasant tooonly I did not enjoy it.'
'Why didn't you come home?'
'The old story,' she said laughing and colouring,'I did not want
to come. Mr. Falkirk thinks I never have any other reason to give.'
'Might be a very good reason to give Mr. Falkirk. Now, do you
know what you are going to look at?'
'Mill people and mill work.'
'In detail; but in general you are going to see what my friend Mrs.
Powder calls "my experiment." A problem of life-work, if you
will; the question being, what can be done with fifteen hundred
human beings accustomed only to poverty and hard work, to bring
them to their nearest attainment of happy and useful living.'
'Fifteen hundred unhappy people!'Hazel repeated. 'I should think
everybody would be trying experiments.'
'You rode through the place once. You remember how they
looked. Tell me what you would have tried first?'
'I remember. But I hardly knew what it meant, then.' There was a
little emphasis upon the last word.
'Go on, and say what would occur to you to do.'
'Ah, you will only laugh and call me unpractical,' said Hazel
smiling; 'but the first thing _I_ should do, Mr. Rollo, would be to
beautify the places where they live. I believe it does people good
to bejust a littlesmothered in roses.'
'I believe in roses; but they were not the first thing I set about. For
two reasons; they take time, and also they have to be in a certain
degree prepared for. The old dwellings could not be beautified; I
had to build new ones; but also, Hazel, and this is a more
important thing, the desire for something better than the people
knew, had to be excited. Roses are not a substitute for bread,to
the uncultured mind,' he added smiling; 'and men that are ground
in the dust of poverty need first of all to get ambition enough to
raise their heads and wash their faces. The _very_ first thing I did,
was to make the pay sufficient for decent living. That gave them
from the beginning some confidence in me, too.'
'Yes, of course. O that, I knew, you had done. I heard of it last
winter.'
'Then in that connection there is another thing. I am beginning now
to make the pay as far as it is possible follow the work done,
instead of the time. I had to wait a good while before attempting
this, because I could trust nobody to tell me or advise me, and
before I could be competent to form my own judgment in the
matter I had a great deal of study to do. And practice,' he added
smiling. 'As far as practicable, I will have the pay dependent on the
quantity and quality of the work. This stimulates effort and
ministers to the sense of character, and also obviates several
troublesome questions which are apt to come up between
employers and employed. The people are not enlightened enough
to like any change which they do not immediately feel for the
better; but they will come into it, for they must; and then they will
like it.'
Hazel looked amused. 'Is not that last clause an addition to the old
code?' she said. 'The first two sound natural.'
Rollo smiled a little, but vouchsafed no further notice. 'Now,' he
went on, 'to pursue your plan, I am building new cottages; and I
shall leave the rose-planting to you.'
'In-doors and out.Do you know, Mr. Rollo, I should think you
had done the very best possible preparatory work by getting it into
the peoples' heads that somebody cared whether they had roses, or
clean faces, or anything else. And there I can speak from
experience.'
'What sort of experience?'
'Because I never had anybody to care,' said Hazel. 'So I know how
it feels.'
'Never had anybody to carewhat?' said Dane, riding close up
alongside and looking earnestly for the answer.
'What I did, or how I dressed, or what became of me generally,'
said Hazel. 'O I suppose Mr. Falkirk _cared_, but he never shewed it
in any way to do me a bit of good. There was no one I could
please, and no one I could displease; and so while people thought I
had everything, I used to feel all alone, and thought I had nothing.'
Rollo was silent and grave.
'I knewvery soonthat you cared,' she said, with the pretty soft
fall of eyes and voice. 'I mean, cared for my sake.'
'Very soon?' said Rollo. 'How soon, you Wych?'
'Other people were thinking of what I was, and you of what you
thought I ought to be; and it was very easy to feel the difference.'
'When?' said Rollo, scarce controlling a smile, 'When did you see
it first, I mean?'
'I think you began to criticise me, almost as soon as I got here.'
'And then, Hazel, how long was it before you began to forgive
me?'
'O there was no forgiveness in question,' she said, passing his
words with a blush. 'The criticising shewed a little bit of real
interest. And that is what I had been as hungry for, as your mill
people for more tangible things. But I did not mean that I
thoughtI did not think about it at all. Not much.'
'Not allnot much,' said Rollo. 'No. Only a little. I understand.
And what should I have got for my pains, if I had pressed the final
question a year ago?'
'I did not think a _little_,' said Hazel, looking flushed and
downcast,'only when you made me. And when people talked.'
Rollo enjoyed the sight a minute or two, and then proposed a run.
He kept it a very gentle run, however, and when they came to a
talking pace again resumed the subject of the mills.
'How much have you thought about it?' he asked. 'What next
would you propose?'
'Does your increase of wages let the children stay at home when
they are sick? and the little ones when they are well?'
'I admit no children under twelve nor employ any families that
send their little children to other mills. That was one of the first
steps I took; to settle that. The other thing is somewhat less easy to
manage. I cannot make a rule. There would be endless shamming.
The only way is to keep a careful supervision myself, and send
home any child manifestly unfit for work. In such a case I keep on
the wages for one week; at the end of that time the child comes, or
doesn't come. If the latter, I know something is very much amiss,
and look after the case accordingly. And this matter, as yet, I can
trust to nobody but myself.'
'You can trust me,' said Hazel. 'In such matters women's eyes are
surer than men's.'
'At twelve miles distance?' said he smiling.
'You are going to open a short cut. And even twelve miles, upon
Jeannie, is not much.'
Rollo rode a few yards in silence.
'She is your property, of course you know?'
'Thank you, Mr. Rollo!' Hazel said softly. She was smoothing out
some locks of Jeannie's mane, which the wind and the run had
tossed out of place.
'Take care!' said her companion. 'I shall not take thanks from you
in that shape. Here is the Hollow. I am glad Charteris is at this
end.'
The banks of the dell had risen up about them and the mill
buildings began to appear. Paul Charteris' woollen mills came first,
brown and dismal as such things are apt to look, surrounded with
their straggling settlement of poor cottages. It was a glorious
October day; fair over-head and glowing over all the earth; if
atmosphere and colouring could have put a blessing upon misery
the houses of Mill Hollow would have owned the blessing. But the
clear golden light shewed the bare walls, the barren ground, the
dingy, forlorn hopelessness of everything, in the full blank
nakedness of the facts.
Slowly the riders walked their horses now, looking at it all. Slowly
passed one mill after another with its straggling tenements for toil
and discontent. Getting beyond these, and higher up the valley,
new signs began to appear. Mills are mills indeed, and own no
kindred with beauty. But along the slopes of the Hollow, behind
and between the mill buildings, were tokens of life. Numbers of
new cottages were risen, and rising, on the upper slopes of the
banks, the new village even flowing over the crest of the hill upon
the level land above. Most were of gray stone; some were frame
houses painted white; each one that was finished having a space of
ground enclosed within a little paling fence. You could see
indications of change everywhere. Here some of the old huts were
taking down, leaving room for new erections; there, certain old
rubbish heaps had disappeared; the people they met seemed to
wear a different air and to step more alertly. Further up the valley
and close upon the roadway Hazel could see a building going up
which was clearly no mill cottage; it was much too large. The
cottages indeed were of different sizes, to suit different families
and different tastes; this however was another affair. Low stone
walls of considerably extent were getting a roof put on; the
windows were large and many; yet it had hardly the look of a
church. Builders and teamsters were at work over all this part of
the valley.
The bright eyes had been very intent, the tokens of excitement in
either cheek growing deeper and more defined; clearly, for Wych
Hazel, Morton Hollow had changed names. But absorbed in her
scrutiny she had given neither word nor look to anything but the
Hollow.
Now she suddenly turned to her companion.
'What is that for?' she said. 'A church?'
'Not exactly. But given better wages and houses to live inwhat is
the next step you would take in dealing with a very ignorant
community, whom you wished to raise to a higher level?'
'Teach them, I suppose. Then is that your reading-room, Mr.
Rollo?'
'HithertoI will shew you where I read,' he said, suddenly
breaking off. And dismounting, he came to Wych Hazel and took
her down, ordering the horses forward to the bend. They went then
to the door of one of the mills near at hand and Rollo whistled. The
door opening, they were admitted to a great, long, low room, at the
back of which bales were stowed from floor to ceiling. A large
space was more or less filled with bales standing about; evidently
on the move, either to be hoisted away for use or stowed up like
the rest for keeping.
'Here is my place,' said Rollo. 'When Saturday night comes, all is
made snug as the deck of a frigate; this part of the floor is cleared
and supplied with benches; I have lamps hung from the rafters, and
yonder I stand on a cotton bale. Do you know what I do it for?
not mount a cotton bale, I mean, but what for I have gone into the
whole thing?'
'I suppose I know,' said Hazel. 'To identify yourself, in a sort, with
the people, and to give them good amusements, and to entice them
on.'
'All that. And to keep them out of the gin shops. Saturday night is
pay time. With his pockets full of money, what can a poor rascal
do but ruin himself with beer, if he knows nothing better? I am
following an English example in the endeavour to save them. I
provide coffee and buns, at cost prices; and then I manage to give
them entertainment, with a spice of instruction, till too late in the
night to allow of any foolery at the other places. I think I am
succeeding pretty well; the popularity of my readings has been
steadily on the increase. By and by I am going to vary the
programme with microscopic and other exhibitions,as soon as
the people are ready for it, and I am ready.'
Miss Wych walked over to a prostrate cotton bale, and mounting
upon it took a general survey of the room, ending with its owner
and a flash of fun.
'Now,' she said, 'I am you, and you are the audience. Would they
come to a regular night-school, do you think? And whereabouts in
the Hollow do you intend to place a cotton bale for me?'
'What will you do from it?'
'Something so different from what you do, that unless we run on
different evenings, one of us will draw empty houses,' said Hazel,
softly stepping along the cotton-bale from end to end. 'Where does
Miss Powder sit?'this with a sudden pause at one end of the bale.
'Where she will never sit again,' said Rollo. 'She was here Saturday
night with a party. I had wind of it before, and notified my people
that it would be a German night. So it was.'
Hazel laughed. 'And she went home to study German!Very
dangerous conduct, Mr. Rollo! Suppose _I_ had come with the
party?'
Rollo was here interrupted by a question of business. When it was
despatched, he came up to Wych Hazel's perch and jumped her
down.
'You must come away,' he said; 'it's too cold here for you. What is
in your mind, Hazel? What will you do, if I give you a bale? and
where will you have it? Go on, and tell me what is in your head?'
The wistful look came back again, humble and sweet. Clearly,
however well Hazel thought of her power to take care of herself,
she was less sure about taking care of other people. 'I doubt if I am
fit for any such elevation yet,' she said. 'But I suppose there are
some things I could teach the children. And I might be a Visiting
Committeeto go about in the houses and find out the women's
wants and troubles, and clear some of them away. I know at least
how people ought _not_ to live.'
'You can do that,' said Rollo; 'and that is just what you will do
admirably. Did you think I was going to set you to teach school?'
'Are you quite sure you are not?' said she, laughing up at him. 'I
could, Mr. Rollo,if I might learn first.'
'You could not teach these creatures. But you see another use for
my nondescript building over there. Shall we go and look at it.'
The short walk was enlivened for Hazel by the encounters that met
them. Every child gave a full smile, and every man a salutation
with good will in it. On the other side the master had a word for
every one, gracious as well as discriminating. It was evident that
he knew them all, and their ways and their needs.
The schoolhouse, if it were that, was found to be rather a spacious
erection. The main apartment was lofty, large and light; the fittings
were not in yet. On each side a narrower and lower room or hall
ran the whole length of the central one which was lighted from a
clerestory. The workmen were putting in window-frames and
hanging doors, and finishing the roofing. All the halls
communicated.
'This is for the children by day, and for the night-schools and my
entertainments in the evening. The hall to the west is for a coffee
room. My coffee and buns are popular.'
'Where do you get them? From the top of the hill?'
Rollo shook his head. 'No, that would not do. I arranged an old
office for a bakery, found my people, and got Gyda to teach them.
So several of the women in the Hollow turn a penny that way; and
then the bread is sold to the men at cost prices. Coffee the same.
And Saturday nights the throng is in earnest. Then they come to
me in good humour.'
'Well, do many of the older women work in the mills?'
'They all work that can,' said Rollo gravely.
'But Mr. Rollo!then I will tell you another thing you want; and
that is a room and a keeper for the little children. Don't you know?'
she said, facing round in her eagerness,'such a place as I have
read of in France, I think, where the women who go out to work
leave their children all day; so that they cannot burn themselves
up, nor fret themselves to death, nor do anything but play and be
happy.'
Dane looked at her with a smile.
'I told you I wanted your help,' he said. '_That_ is something I have
not thought of.'
'I am glad!'She could not say another word, for sheer pleasure,
and those were as quiet as three mice.
'I am but making a beginning as yet, Hazel,' Dane went on. 'The
first obvious things it is easy to get hold of. This for one: every
child shall go half the day to school. I will not have them on any
other understanding. There are few adult scholars at present; their
number will grow. What shall I do with the hall on the north side
of the school-room?'
'The people work from morning to night, every day?'
'From seven to seven. But come, you must not stand here any
longer looking at carpenters. Come on to Gyda's. I want you to see
one or two cottages on the way.'
Empty dwellings. One was a little frame house; the other was quite
a pretty, low, gray stone cottage. Neatly finished, provided with
snug little kitchens and small sheds adjoining for wood; the paling
fence, unpainted yet, enclosing a bare space that might one day be
a garden.
'Here will be work for you, Hazel, you see. All these garden plots
must have something in them; and as soon as may be I want to see
roses and vines creeping over these walls. But we must go slowly.
You and I cannot do it. The only way for permanent results, is to
rouse the desire, excite the ambition, and then supply the means.
Outside the gardens I mean to plant trees, of hardy shade kinds;
but I have not got so far as that yet.'
'I think you have done a great deal,' said Hazel. 'No wonder you
were too busyHow do you expect to rouse the desire, Mr. Rollo?
By a specimen cottage?or by tea-drinkings at Chickaree?'
He smiled and said 'they were far from that yet.' 'But desires grow,'
he added, 'and one thing leads to another. Now come away.'
CHAPTER X.
ROLLO'S COMPANY.
Gyda was expecting them, and certainly looked glad enough in her
quiet way. She took Wych Hazel off into an inner room, a little bit
of a clean, coarse furnished place, to remove her hat and refresh
herself. When she came out, Rollo was busy making one of the
great settle chairs into a resting place for her, with cushions and
shawl as once before. He put her in it and sat down beside her.
'You have helped me to-day, Hazel. True help. But you know what
was said of some of the early Christians"they first gave their
own selves to the Lord"so I want you to do. You will not be the
less, but the more, mine.'
She did not answer a word, only by the drooping head and the
curious pale alternations of coloursure tokens with her of
excited feeling. That thought had so run through the morning!
had so half spoiled it for her at times.
'Not a word?' said he softly.
'If one word would do itBut it would take many.'
'Many words? to do what?' he asked in the soft musical tone that in
itself was a caress.
'To tell why I cannot answer,why I cannot promiseto be all
you wish.'
'Lay your head down and rest,' said he; 'and don't promise, but _do_
it. Are you tired?'
He left her and went to help Gyda in serving her luncheon. This
was rather a more enjoyable meal than the last one, when nobody
could eat. There was happiness in every line of Gyda's shoulders,
and in every movement she made between the fire and the table;
and Dane was at home and at play. He was changed since a year
before. The always bright, gay, masterful face was full now of a
deeper purpose and a more centred energy; but the eye was as
quick and as flashing as ever. And Wych Hazel, not as mistress in
her own house but as guest in another's, was waited uponhow
shall I say?as such men can do it. And that is rather a rare kind
of petting.
A week? was it only a week ago? Hazel wondered. Those three
days of prostration had seemed to put whole continents of time
between her and the wild walk across the hill-top; though the
traces of that day, and of the weeks that went before, were still
visible enough. Not strong yet, to withstand and manage the
incoming tide of new thoughts and prospects and responsibilities,
she took all the petting and pleasure and care with the most
gravely girlish face imaginable. Watching her two companions,
listening to them, and giving them now and then a bright blush or
smile out of the midst of her thoughts, yet all the time conscious of
the thoughts as well.
No, she has not quite all he could wish; not all that he ought to
have. She knew that; she had known it ever since last winter; and
whatever love and devotion could do, let the supply be never so
unlimited, they could not do all. There would be ground he would
occupy, where she could not stand by his side; there would be
work he would do, which she was not fit to share. Would be? there
was now. This coming in among his labours and plans had brought
it home to her keenly. All the same, she could take no new stand
just to please him; it would not be true, she could not keep up to it,
could not act it out. Was she ready, for other reasons, to take such
a stand? The old tangle of perplexed questions seemed closing her
in again; and now and then, between whiles, when Rollo was
looking away, the brown eyes studied him; as if studying his face
would magnetize her out of her difficulties,the one person in all
the world who belonged to her, and to whom she belonged. But it
was intensely like Wych Hazel, that the more she realized this, the
more she hung back from following in the steps of his Christian
life merely because they were his. They should be true _for her_, or
she would not take them at all.
The talk at the table ran a good deal upon matters and things in the
Hollow. Gyda knew the ins and outs of many a house there; she
could illustrate and prove the truth of some of Rollo's statements,
and she could suggest wants, even if she did not know to contrive
the remedy.
'There's something you haven't thought of yet, Olaf,' she observed.
'They are just heathens and savages down there.'
'What makes you think I have not thought of it?'
'Well, you haven't begun to plan for it.'
'How can you venture to say that?'
'I haven't heard you say a word.'
'Do you think, Hazel, that proves anything?'
'It would not with me,' she said. 'But Mrs. Boërresen should know
you.'
'She should,' said Rollo. 'It appears she don't.'
'You talk of a great many other things,' said the old woman
smiling. 'I've been waiting to hear when _that_ would come up. What
are you going to do, lad?'
'Gyda is quite right,' said Dane turning again to Wych Hazel. 'They
are little better than heathen, and do not know much more. You
remember our first visit here? A party of the children had made a
plan to throw stones at our horses as we passed through the
Hollow on our return. There is no danger of that now. But what
would you do with such a community?'
'_I_ could not do much,' said the girl gravely. 'I suppose, if I were
youYou should ask people who know what they are talking
about, Mr. Rollo. Not me.'
'But I ask you. What occurs to you, as a good first step?'
'It did not "occur" to me,' said Hazel,'you made me think of it. I
suppose, thenif I knew what you know, Mr. Rollo; if I felt as
you feel; I should want to tell them _that_, first of all. I should set
them the lesson you set me,' she added, her voice changing a little.
'Andvery much as you set it for me.' A swift deprecating glance
begged him not to think that she was either criticising his work, or
assuming that she knew what it was; or in general, that she knew
anything about anything!
'And when and where would you do this?' said Dane, his manner
quite grave and quiet, his powerful eyes nevertheless absorbing
every indication of the changes in hers.
'I should think they would come any time when you wanted them,'
she said, making revelations in her unconscious way.'Sundays, I
suppose they would have most time. And Sundays, too, they would
be a little more dressed up and ready for the best things you could
tell them.'The words came simply, but very soberly, as if she
remembered all the while that in such plans she had nothing to do.
'Well,' said Dane, 'our thoughts lie sufficiently near together. That
is just what I have proposed to do, Wych.'
'Yes. I knew you would.'
'Do you think,' said he slowly, as he was helping her to something,
'do you think one ought to wait for anything _but_ an opportunity
before telling good news to people whom it concerns?'
'But I did not think you had waited.'
'No,' said Rollo gravely. 'I started a general proposition.'
'Opportunity is only the sand-paper,' said Hazel in her quick way.
'Of no earthly use without a match.'
Rollo's eye danced; nevertheless he answered as demurely as
possible'What do you consider a match?'
'Hidden fire. The complement of the opportunity,waiting for
it,ready for it. I suppose I meant that' she said, retreating into
herself again.
'I suppose you did,' said Rollo smiling, 'for it is a sharp truth. But
Hazel, there is also hidden fire in the good news we carry; and if
we cannot make it catch, perhaps God will. Suppose you have
nothing to give but the naked truth in your naked handwon't you
take it to the people whose lives it may light up for ever?'
She did not answer him, thinking of the timenot now long
pastwhen her own life had been like midnight. Hazel pushed
away her plate, and folding her hands in her lap, sat looking down
at them, or at her ring, or possibly seeing neither.
'Olaf,' said Gyda suddenly coming back from the outer door to
which she had been summoned, 'somebody is a wanting you down
yonder. There's always somebody wanting him now, my lady.'
'Who is it, this time?'
'Hans Heinrichhe has got hurt in some o' the wheels and things.'
'He is not one of my hands.'
'He is not; but he wants you, my lad, for all that. He's hurt bad; and
there's no one to tell 'em what to do; and Lina Heinrich, she sends
word to you to come for Christ's sake.'
Dane hesitated but a moment and turned to Wych Hazel.
'Can you wait for me?'
'O yes,I wish I could help.'
'You had better lie down and take a sleep. Look after her, Gyda.'
And he went off, losing no time.
Gyda had been clearing her table, and as soon as everything was in
order she took a chair and sat down opposite Wych Hazel.
'What do they want him for so often, Mrs. Boërresen?'
'Help, my lady. O there's sore need of it, certainly. But these are
not his own people; nevertheless there is no help but his for them.'
Hazel mused over the words, her own eyes going off to the fire
now. She understood it all well enough,felt from the depths of
her heart what delight it would be to help him, ever so little. And
what could he think of her, that she was not more ready? Ah, if he
only knew all the history of this year! all the questions and sorrows
and perplexities she had been through!And it was just what she
could not tell him, and just what he could never guess. So she
gazed at the twinkling fire, shewing brighter and brighter as the
afternoon began to die away; until at last, with her head somehow
nestled against shawl and cushions in the extemporised easy chair,
one sort of weariness claiming the right of way, Wych Hazel went
fast asleep; and Gyda might study the fair young face at her
leisure. Gyda's own face looked happy the while; and noiselessly
she made up the fire, and softly her old lips whispered prayers
oftentimes as she moved hither and thither.
The afternoon was waning, though evening had not yet set in,
when the door opened gently and Primrose Maryland appeared.
Gyda's finger at her lips stayed all but softly uttered words, till
Primrose came up to the fire and looked at the sleeper in the
cushioned chair.
Prim looked, and looked away. Her movement first was to go to
the table and take off her bonnet and lay down her shawl and right
herself a little. Yet Prim was nothing of a coquette, not the least in
the world, and never thought about her dress but to have it
respectable. Neither did she think about it now; for there was no
glass in the room, and the movement with which she pushed the
hair further back from her brow assuredly had no origin in regard
to appearances. However she came back after that and looked at
Hazel more steadily, and then sat down by Mrs. Boërresen to talk
in a soft undertone which could disturb nobody. The two girls had
scarcely seen each other since the fall before, except in the most
casual manner at church or in some chance meeting. Hazel had had
good reasons for keeping herself out of the way, and when they
met had wrapped herself in a triple veil of defences; so that it was
rather a revelation to see her as she looked now. A tired child
asleep, instead of the energetic lady of Chickaree. Her three days'
slumber had but partially done their work, and Hazel slept on now
in the profoundest way; her face and hands in rather noticeable
acceptance of the gray shawl, considering whose it was. Prim
looked, and looked, from time to time in the intervals of talking,
until the talking seemed to die away; and she sat drawn back into
herself. The light was failing now. Gyda mended her fire again,
and the heavy iron tongs slipped from her hands and fell with a
harsh clang upon the hearth. Wych Hazel awoke.
The greeting then was very affectionate.
'Wherever in the world did you come from?' said Hazel. 'Does it
take two people to keep watch of me?'
'I came here to be out of the way,' said Prim. 'Dane wanted Arthur,
or at least the hurt man wanted him. What in the world are _you_
here for, Hazel?'
'O I have been inspecting the mills,' said Hazel with a laugh; 'and
of course after such profound work I was tired. But I did not mean
to go to sleep. Has everybody else gone home?it is dinner time
this minute.'
'Nobody has gone home,' said Primrose; 'and they cannot help
about it's being dinner time, you know. Were you ever here
before?in this house, I mean.'
'YesO,' said Hazel with sudden recollection, 'has it taken all this
time to attend to that man?'
'Arthur is there.'
'Is he?that is good. But all this time!'with a shiver. 'I do not
see how I could sleep!'She stood looking grave, as if rather
disappointed in herself.
'Yes,' Primrose went on, 'Arthur and I were driving through the
Hollow, just to see the things; and Dane laid hold of Arthur and
sent me up here. He didn't tell me I should find you.' Primrose
paused, as her eye fell on Hazel's cushioned and draperied chair.
'You have changed your mind about Dane, haven't you Hazel?' she
asked abruptly. Hazel faced round upon her in undoubted surprise.
'Changed my mind!' she repeated, flushing all up,'what was my
mind?'
'You rememberlast year.'
'What about last year?'
'Why you remember, Hazel. You did not like him at all, and used
to get out of all patience with him.'
'Of course I did. There is no particular call to get out of patience
just now. And even I generally wait for a reason.'
'Have you made up your mind you will never get out of patience
again?' Prim asked, with a keen look to the answer.
'No.'
Prim's eye fell on the cushions and the gray shawl again.
'You aren't going to vex him, Hazel, are you?'
'Why Prim!'Hazel took hold of her shoulder and gave her a
gentle shake, though with a queer mixture of softness and
sharpness,'do I look like the good little girl in storybooks, that
you put me through such a catechism?'
'No; but I find you up here,'and again Prim's eye went to the
gray shawl and came back to her friend's face.
'I am not specially responsible for that. The thing just now is how
to get away. Mr. Falkirk will be out of his wits.'
Prim was uncertain and dissatisfied, and sat back. A moment after
came the steps of the two gentlemen at the door. As they entered,
Dane with a smile and a gesture of salutation, went through the
room to speak to Gyda in some of her offices. Dr. Maryland
remained.
'Shall we go home now, Arthur?' said Prim, rising, when he had
exchanged greetings with Miss Kennedy. Hazel was a little shy of
him; somehow she half fancied that his quick eye had read her
secret.
'Not possible, my dear. Rollo and I must be here all night, on duty.
And it is quite too dark for you to go alone.'
'That poor man?' said Primrose.'Does he want you _still?_ you and
Dane?'
'No, it's not that. But some of that poor man's fellow-workmen
have set their hearts, it is said, upon making a bonfire in one of
Dane's mills,to stop his making some people more comfortable
than others, I suppose; and the bonfire may need care.'
'A bonfire!' said Prim. 'I should think Duke would put a stop to
that.'
'So he intends. But you cannot always stop a thing before it is
begun.'
Dr. Arthur leisurely warming one foot as he stood at the fire, tool
notice now that the third member of the company, not saying a
word, was watching him with an interest before which even Prim's
grew tame. And (all things being fair in the pursuit of science)
suddenly intercepting the look, he found that it as suddenly
retreated, in some confusion. Whereupon, 'standing attention' a
little more, Dr. Arthur took the measure of the gray chair as
accurately as if he intended to have one made for himself, and then
with a smile came back to the more selfish business of warming
his other foot. Therewith entered the temporary master of the
house.
'Well, ladies!' said he; 'have you come to any conclusion as to what
is to be done?'
'We do not but half understand the case yet, Duke,' answered
Primrose.
He passed through the room to Wych Hazel's side.
'I have got to be in the Hollow to-night,' he said. 'The wife of the
man who was hurt, in an impulse of gratitude, I suppose, has
warned me that an attempt will be made before morning to fire one
of my mills. I do not half believe it; and yet I think I must be on
hand. What will you and Prim do? There are only two things; for
you to ride to Dr. Maryland'sand that is seven milesalongside
of Arthur's buggy; or that you should spend the night here. I think
Gyda can make you comfortable. I have sent a messenger to
Chickaree.'
'Excuse me for interfering,' said Dr. Arthur, 'but as my buggy
remains here, the honour of Miss Kennedy's company alongside
would be of doubtful expediency.'
'Nonsense Arthur!' said Dane; 'if she wanted to go, I should let you
take the buggy. What do you say, Miss Kennedy?'
'I shall stay,' said Hazel, just ready to laugh at the unwonted name.
'Unless I can go alone.'
'Sit down then,' said he taking her hands and putting her back in
her chair. 'Arthur, take off your overcoat and make yourself
comfortable if you can. Prim, I am glad to see you.' And he went
over to kiss her. 'Now we have got the evening before us. Gyda,
we are all going to stay. Is your kettle on?'
CHAPTER XI.
STARLIGHT AND FIRELIGHT.
He went out, probably to fill and put on the kettle himself; and
came back with an armful of wood for the fire. In the light of a
splendid blaze the four friends sat in a half circle round the
fireplace, and the evening was falling gray outside.
'Do you expect they will really set fire to your mills, Duke?'
Primrose asked.
'I do not know what to expect.'
'But I thought they liked you so much?'
'Those are not the people who are talking of lighting up Morton
Hollow. Do you know,' he went on to Wych Hazel, 'it is thought
by some parties down there, that my doings are so much in want of
explanation that the secret is probably to be found in Satanic
influence.'
' "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub," 'said
Prim, with her eyes fixed on the fire.
'And it would not pay to drench the cotton bales on an
uncertainty'said Hazel, her eye mentally fixed on one particular
bale for which she had a kindness.
'I can't conceive how they should think so, after all, Dane,' said
Primrose.
'It seems unnatural for a man not to take all he can get. Therefore it
has not been very difficult, I fancy, to persuade some of the
ignorant people that a deep scheme to wrong them must be hid
under the apparent plan for righting them. It is easier to believe
that than the truth.'
'A little natural envy too,' said Dr. Arthur. 'Just when is this
performance to come off?'
'Impossible to guess.Arthur,' said Dane suddenly, 'I want you for
my doctor.'
'You have me, sir,' said Dr. Arthur, bending his brows upon his
friend. 'What's the matter with you?'
'_Do_ I have you? I want for a permanency.'
'I see. The case promises great interest. Well?Begin with your
most unpleasant sensations.'
'You began with them this afternoon,' said Dane gravely. 'The case
does possess interest, for it regards the sensations of some fifteen
hundred people, or more. I want you to take charge of it;on a
salary to be fixed as hereafter agreed upon. What do you say?'
'Thank youI should like it very much,if it were only for the
pleasure of working with you. And they want better care than they
get.'
'Thank you,' said Rollo in his turn. 'I thought you would, and yet it
is a load off my mind.'
'Why it will be delightful,' cried Prim. 'Nothing could be nicer.'
'The next thing is, Arthur, where will you live?'
'Why at home, can't he?'
'No. I will build a house for you, Arthur, if you can put a
housekeeper in it.'
'Don't let such a trifle stand in your way,' said Dr. Arthur. 'There'll
be one in it when I am there. And when I am not, it's no matter.'
Dane uttered a low whistle, and looked at the other members of the
little circle.
'Shews how much he knows about housekeeping!'
'For a particular man, which he is,' said Prim.
'You wouldn't believe it,' said Dane, his eye coming round to
Wych Hazel, 'but I shall have to make the tea carefully to-night,
because that fellow is here.'
'All which proves that I know how to make it for myself,' said Dr.
Arthur composedly. 'But it is mere fudge, Dane, about building a
house for me. Get your hands roofed in, and then don't do one
other thing at present. I'll live somewhere.'
'Lodge under a hedge, and dine in the top of a beech tree. Where
would be a good place?I do not mean, for the beech tree.
Somewhere near the spot where the road to the Hollow leaves the
Crocus roadthat's about three miles. That would be in the way
of everything."
'But Duke,' said Primrose, 'are you in earnest? Couldn't he be at
home?'
'Seven miles off, Prim? He was only just in time this afternoon.
Arthur, I wish you would draw out a plan of a house that you
would like.'
'But who _could_ keep house for him? Prudentia?'
'No,' said Dr. Arthur, 'I cannot manage any prudence but my own.
But Dane, I am in earnest. I want you to let your reserve force rest.
You may reach corners where you will need it all.'
'What are "corners" in mill-work?' said the silent little figure in the
depths of the cushioned chair. Dr. Arthur turned to her instantly,
listening with almost critical attention while she spoke; but then he
drew back and waited for Rollo to give the answer.
'A corner,' said Dane with critical gravity, 'is a place where your
path is crossed by another. Which indeed usually makes two
corners; perhaps four.'
'What do you do then?'
'Turn. That is, if I cannot go straight on.'
'Therefore you see that with a train of fifteen hundred men, a
corner is an awkward place,' said Dr. Arthur.
Wych Hazel went back to her cushions and her pondering, making
no reply. And Dr. Arthur, waiting for the answer which came not,
took out his pencil and a card and began idly sketching an
imaginary house. 'There,' he said, handing it over to Rollo,'see if
you can execute that?'Across the house was written:
'Make her talk. I want to hear her.'
'There is another sort of corner,' Dane went on meditatively, after
glancing at the card;'a corner where ways end instead of
meeting. The corner of a wall, for instance, _inside_, where there is
no way out but to jump the wall.'
'Yes,' said Hazel. 'I thought perhaps that sort existed only in _my_
experience.'
'What is your experience of corners?'
'I have seen two fencesmeet.'
'Yes, but where were you?'
'Mr. Rollo, I am talking seriously. What corners may be "ahead,"
in this mill-work?'
'None, I hope, that I cannot get round. But if we are to speak
seriously, suppose that there should be a sudden failure of orders?'
'So that he could make in two days more than he could sell in six,'
said Dr. Arthur, who with arms folded and eyes on the floor was
listening keenly.
'But the men could not stop eating just because he stopped selling,'
said Hazel, with her usual short run to conclusions.
'Of course,' said Dane laconically.
'Then if the work went on as usual But how long could you do
it? _That_ is what Dr. Maryland means,' said Hazel.
'You see the corner.'
Hazel saw it, and retreated again to her own among the cushions.
'I am not in it yet,'said Dane looking at her.
'No. And I should not think you would call any place where you
ought to be, "a corner," ' said Hazel, who was generally impartial
in her reproofs.
'Not if it _was_ a corner?' said Rollo with the most innocent gravity.
'No.'
She laid her hand up against the side of the chair, leaning her face
upon it, watching the fire. Turning slightly, from under the shadow
of his own hand, Dr. Arthur studied her.
'Meanwhile, let us consider the plan of the doctor's house. I cannot
show you his card, for it is not all quite as straight as Dr. Arthur's
plans generally are; but I wish you two ladies would make any
suggestions that occur to you; and I will make a note of them.'
'It needn't be a large house, I suppose, Dane,' said Primrose.
'Mem. To be a small house.'
'O hush, Duke!' said Prim. 'That is not a suggestion. But this _is;_
have plenty of closet room.'
'Item; with large closets.'
'Hazel, do tell him something,' said Primrose. 'He is laughing at
me.'
Hazel smiled, but she was not much inclined to enter the lists.
'I am sure he has been laughing at me,' she said. 'And I do not
know about the houseonly it ought to be perfectly bright and
pretty in every way. Because Dr. Maryland will see so much pain
in the course of his work, that he ought to find nothing but a
welcome when he comes home.'
'Are you satisfied, Arthur?' said Dane, as he gravely added to his
notes.
'Quite. One should be, with perfection,' said the doctor. 'If Prim
will kindly let me arrange my own closets.'
Prim was silent, and what she was thinking of, this story does not
tell; but her next words made rather a bound from these.
'Dane,' she said suddenly, 'is there any necessity for your going
down to the mills to-night unless you are sent for?'
'I think it would be proper,' said Dane, making his notes.
'Then you will go?'
'I suppose so.'
'But if you had set men to watch, I should think they might have
prevented all the trouble.'
'I did not want to prevent it.'
'_Not?_ Why, Duke?'
'If it is to come, I would rather it should come now, when I am
here and expecting it.'
'Is there danger of any rough work?'
'Among the men? I cannot tell.'
'O Duke! if you had set men to watch, I should think they could
have put out a fire without you.'
Hazel roused up suddenly. 'Prim, how can you talk so?' she said
with quick emphasis. 'Of course he must go!'
Dr. Arthur smiled.
'I do not see the must,' Primrose answered. 'You don't know what a
mill-fight is, Hazel.'
The girl shrank back among her cushions. 'But he must go' she
repeated, half to herself.
'I do not expect to hear of many more mill-fights in Morton
Hollow,' said Dane very calmly. 'What is it, Gyda? Supper? Well,
some of our friends here will be very glad of it.'
There was porridge and cream and flad-brod, of course; there was
hung beef and honey; altogether it was rather a sumptuous meal.
Rollo attended to the coffee on the hearth, and made the tea; as
usual did half of the serving himself, and took care that his old
nurse should not exert her strength beyond very gentle limits. They
voted to disregard the table and keep their places round the fire. So
in grand red illumination from the blaze they took their cups of
coffee, which Dane filled from the pot on the hearth; and handled
their plates of porridge and cream; and but for the night's work in
prospect, would have regarded it as a piece of grand fun. To the
young men indeed that circumstance was not enough to make it
any less than fun, and to one of them it was much more. Gyda,
whose little black eyes watched them all keenly, found it a
pleasant sight; for the smile on her old lips was as sweet as May.
Though indeed Gyda's smile was quite wont to be that. She sat
where Rollo placed her and suffered him to attend to her wants;
but she said never a word unless spoken to.
It was still not far on in the evening when the supper was disposed
of and the room was again in company order. The little circle
gathered somewhat closer together. They had been talking gaily,
yet something in the social atmosphere hindered conversation from
the buoyancy natural to it in happy circumstances; it acted like a
wreath of chimney smoke in a damp morning. In a pause which
had come, no one knew why, Primrose remarked,
'I wish you would sing something, Duke.'
'Why?'
'Why, because I like to hear you.'
'Yes, do,' said Dr. Arthur. 'Prim's nerves are sadly out of tune.'
'I don't think my nerves are ever out of tune,' Prim answered
gently.
'Not when they have work to do,' said Rollo. 'Nor ever at another
time, that I know.'
'But you can sing, if I don't want tuning.'
'Certainly. But in all questions that are not of duty, you have to
consider the effect.'
The lazy deliberateness with which this was spoken, was at least as
provoking as it was comical. Wych Hazel from her place was
silently watching them all, her eyes going from one speaker to the
other with wide open consideration. Now, her lips just parted and
curled and came back to their gravity.
'Go onwill you?' said Dr. Arthur,'I have a perplexing question
to decide before to-morrow; and it rather helps me to have
somebody make a noise.'
'If you would tell us the question, perhaps it would help us make a
noise,' said Dane with the same placid gravity.
'Profound!'said Dr. Arthur. 'Wellgive us something in that
line.'
'What line?'
'Original and scientific observation.'
'That's your line. I was thinkinghow would you define "a
noise"?'
'Extraneous sounds come pretty near it, with me,' said Dr. Arthur.
'But you wouldn't call music "a noise," ' said Primrose.
'Wouldn't I!When Miss Powder has wandered off alone to the
Sands of Dee and doesn't want to be interrupted!'
'But what you would call a noise, isn't music, Arthur. Now Hazel, I
wish you would just sing one of your little songs and confound
him!' Primrose spoke entreatingly.
'I should be more happy to be confoundedin that waythan I
can tell,' said the doctor.
'Thank you,' Hazel answered laughing; 'my songs are quite too
small to do that for anybody. And besides, as I once heard
somebody say,"I was not asked first." '
'Your are asked to be the first,' said Rollo.
'I remember one night at Newport' Dr. Arthur began. Hazel
interrupted him.
'You need not remember anything about Newport!'
'Need I not?' said the doctor smiling. 'Agreed!I like this much
better. But one night when you were singing to Kitty Fisher, in her
room, _she_ had secretly posted an ambush underneath the window.
It would be hard to forget those songs, or to cease wishing to hear
them again.'
'Kitty Fisher!'
'You will certainly do for Prim what you would do for Kitty
Fisher,' remarked Rollo.
'I suspect I did it for myself then,' said Hazel; and "for herself' was
the way she liked best to sing. But if he wished it So without
more ado the song came. Not one of her gay little carols this time,
but a wild Border lament; inimitably sweet, tender, and true. As
effortless in the giving, as forgetful of auditors, as if she had been
a veritable bird among the branches; for Wych Hazel always lost
herself in her music.
Then more was called for, with a general soft shout. And then, by
and by, as Wych Hazel sang, a soft rich accompaniment began to
chime in with her notes. Those two had never sung together
before; doubtless that was forgotten by neither; and it is not too
much to say that the one voice came caressingly attending upon
the other; playing around her notes with delicious skill,
accompanying, supporting, contrasting, with a harmony as
gracious as it was wilful; till at the close of a somewhat longer
piece than usual there was a universal burst of applause. Small
audiences are not generally wrought up to such a pitch; and when
they had done they all sat and laughed at each other.
'Ah!' said Dr. Arthur, 'I asked for a noise, and after all had to make
it myself!'
They had got intoxicated with melody. They went on singing, of
course. Various and diverse things, but for the most part of the
deeper and thoughtful styles of music; sometimes together,
sometimes alone. At last Gyda asked for a hymn. Rollo looked at
Wych Hazel. The two spots of colour which had been burning in
her cheeks, changed suddenly to a grave flush.
'That is for you,' she said softly.
He waited a moment, and then sang,
"Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott"
To hear Rollo sing a hymn, or any other song, was to have the
meaning given with not less but more than speaking expression,
and Wych Hazel's winter studies had enabled her to follow the
words. The listeners were all very still, and no applause followed.
But when the last line was ended, Rollo rose and announced that it
was time to go. And soon as he and Arthur had left the cottage,
Hazel sprang up.
'Mrs. Boërresen, which window best commands the Hollow?'
'You can't see into the Hollow from any of 'em, my lady.'
'Where then?'
'You know there's a bend in the Hollow, Hazel,' Prim remarked.
'We cannot see into it from anywhere here.'
Wych Hazel stood looking down into the burnt out fire, her hands
knotted tight together. If she were but alone!Could she in any
possible way elude her companions and not be found out?
especially the first. Certainly she was a wayward creature, they
might think. Five minutes ago listening to that hymn with the most
quiet, subdued child's face; and now fairly sparkling with energy
and purpose. How could she manage? Prim was putting on her
bonnet and shawl.
'It is not very cold,' she remarked. 'I am going as far as the top of
the road.'
Hazel glanced at the gray chair,no, she could not disturb that.
She begged a shawl of Gyda, and was off, out of the door without
more ado. But not to find Primrose. It rather suited the young
lady's mood to be by herself; and so, noiselessly, Hazel flitted
along through the starlight, without however being able to reach a
point which looked straight down into the Hollow beyond the
bend. The uneven ground, the unknown distances, baffled her.
Standing still, she heard nothing. The starry sky overhead was not
more calmly quiet than this portion of the darksome earth appeared
to be. A little frosty, the air did not stir enough to rustle the leaves
on the trees. Crickets and some other fall insects had it all their
own way. Wych Hazel went over to the ground on the other side of
the road and tried that. Frosty, and still, and starlight, it was on the
other side of the road; in the bright gloom even her point of view
did not seem to be changed. Her next move was back to the
cottage. There she stood still upon the steps.
Presently the door opened behind her. 'My little lady' said Gyda.
'I am here, all safe.'
'Won't you come in?'
'But I cannot hear anything!' said Hazel. 'I might go a little bit
down the road'
'No,' said Gyda. 'He wouldn't have you, nor forgive me if I let you.
There'll be no great trouble, my lady; my lad's men will all do what
he bids them; and if there's trouble, he'll get it over.'
'Do you think so?'She drew a long breath, stepping down off the
stone again and listening. The old woman's hand came softly to
hers to draw her in, for the watch had already lasted long; but just
then a faint reddish light arose in the dark above the Hollow.
'What's that?'
'It's fire, my lady.'
'There!' Hazel exclaimed. 'O don't stay hereyou will get cold;
but just leave me.'
Gyda would not leave her however, nor lose sight of her. Their
words drew Prim to the door, who had earlier returned to the
cottage. They all stood looking. There was a glow of light
certainly; it brightened and spread for a while; yet it was rather like
the glare from a good-sized bonfire than the token of any more
serious conflagration. Nevertheless they watched it, the younger
women painfully; until they saw that the light was stationary, did
not increase, then certainly was less, then evidently fading. 'It's all
getting over,' said Gyda; 'and it's not great thing at all. Come you
in before the master gets back. It's your wisest.'
'I never was famed for being wise,' said Hazel, her spirits taking a
little spring as the fire went down. But she turned and went in, and
stood before the peaceful fire on the hearth, looking into its red
depths. Primrose sat down, but with a different face, sober and
meditative in another way. Gyda went out to her kitchen. Perhaps
Hazel was tired of standing, for she presently knelt down on the
hearth stone, holding out her fingers to the blaze, covered with the
red light from head to foot. She looked rather pale, through it all.
'Prim,' she said suddenly, 'did you ever stay all night up here?'
'No. Never.'
'Then of course you do not know where we are to make believe
sleep.'
'I suppose it will be in that room where our things were laid. Mrs.
Boërresen will tell us. Hazel, will you mind, if I say something I
want to say?'
'I cannot tell whether I shall mind or not.'
'Shall I say it?'
'Yes, if you want to,' said Hazel, devoting herself to the tongs and
the fallen brands.
'It is only just this.What are you going to do about dress?'
If ever anybody was astonished, it was perhaps Miss Kennedy just
then.
'Dress!' she echoed, looking at Primrose and then down at the trim,
invisible brown riding-habit, which, looped up and fastened out of
the way had been perforce retained through the evening. Very
stylish, no doubt, as all her dresses were; though in this case the
best style happening to be simplicity, the brown habit with its deep
white linen frills was almost severely plain. 'Prim,I have not the
faintest idea what you mean!'
'I don't mean now, to-night, of course.'
'Any time. What do you mean by "do"?'
'Manage' said Prim. She looked as if she were searching into the
subject, with a doubtful mood upon her. She went on. 'Do you
suppose Dane would like you to dress as you have been
accustomed to do?'
Wych Hazel rose to her feet. Whatever Mr. Rollo's own right to
comment upon her or her dress might be, she was not in the least
disposed to take the comments at second hand.
'I should think your recollection might tell you,' she said, 'that Mr.
Rollo feels quite free to find fault with me whenever he sees
occasion.'
'But Hazel,' said Prim meekly,'don't be angry,Do you want to
wait for that?'
Hazel gave a half laugh. 'People always think I am angry,' she
said.'I wonder if I am such a tempest?'
'You are not a tempest at all,' said Prim still meekly; 'not now,
certainly; but I know you can feel things, and I don't want you to
feel anything I say, except pleasantly. Indeed I don't, Hazel.'
'I'm glad you think I can feel things, but I suppose my
comprehension is less lively. I do not even know what "managing"
about my dress would be. I never "manage"!' said Hazel, with a
fierce onset upon the brands.
'I know you haven't. But don't you thinkperhapsyou will have
to? Don't you think it will be best?'
'I don't know how, and I never do it, and I do not know what you
mean,' Miss Wych answered, sending a column of sparks up the
chimney and shewing a few in her own eyes. Which however she
did not turn upon Primrose. Primrose eyed the sparks which flew
up chimney, with an unrecognizing face.
'You know, Hazel,' she began again, 'your dress is always so
beautiful.'
'Well? If my guardians ever find it out, they never object.'
'But you know, Hazel! you know!' exclaimed Primrose in some
distress. 'How shall I speak to you? Your _guardians_ would not
meddle, I suppose, either of them; but don't you think, _now_, that
Dane will want you to do a little as he does? Do you think he will
like you to dress so expensively? and you know you _do_, Hazel.
And he gave up his cigars long ago.'
If Prim could have known all the minute thorns she was sticking
into her friend! Hazel was vexed enough to laugh, or to cry, or to
do anything, almost.
'I am glad he has,'she said, 'but really I have nothing answering
to cigars in all my list of expenses.'
'O Hazel! don't you think so?'
'No. I suppose you like them better than I do.'
'What, cigars?'
'Yes. I should think any man would be thankful to get rid of them.
Mr. Falkirk never smokes.'
'I don't _like_ them. But men do. And Dane always smoked such
delicious cigarsI used to catch the sweet scent of them often in
summer time, when windows were open, and then I knew he was
lingering about somewhere near; in the garden or the meadow.'
Prim gave the least little unconscious sigh as she spoke. Hazel
glanced at her, and her own face grew very thoughtful. The subject
of dress was left quite in the distance.
'And he has given all that up,' Prim went on; 'and I thought,
perhaps, you had not thought about it. All this about dress, I mean.'
'No, I have not,' said Hazel. 'Especially as I do not know what "all
this" is. What to do with cigars seems clear; but my dresses hang
in the dark. Never mind,a girl with two guardians is not likely to
go very far in any direction.' And Hazel carefully set the tongs in
place, and swept up the hearth; and then suddenly caught up her
shawl again and wrapped it round her.
'What can have become of that fire?' she said. 'It is an age since we
came in. Let's go and see.'
But opening the door revealed only the quiet, clear, starry sky and
the still air. No glare of fire; no sound of voices; the crickets
seemed to be going on comfortably and much as usual. The air was
a trifle more chill, too; and after a few minutes of fruitless
watching the two girls came indoors again; but they would not
accept Gyda's proposition and go to bed. It was not very late, they
said; and once more the three women sat down round the fire to
wait. After a time however, Primrose gave it up and went off.
Hazel sat still, pondering. Not in her great chair now, but down at
the corner of the hearth; with a disturbed mind going over Prim's
enigmas. Something about her was sure to displease,that seemed
to be as near as she could come to it; and a restless, uneasy sort of
pain crept into her heart and over her face. But the minute
returning steps were heard outside the door, Hazel darted away to
where Prim was already asleep.
Could Prim have been set to talk to her? she thought as she looked.
But it was no use to raise that question to-night. Nevertheless the
question lifted its own head now and then,that, and one other
sorrowful thought which the evening had left: she was ready to
join him in singing anythingexcept just what he loved best! And
Hazel went to sleep with a sigh upon her lips.
CHAPTER XII.
COFFEE AND BUNS.
Wych Hazel sat watching her friend at her toilet.
'Prim,' she said, 'will _you_ be angry?'
'Me? Angry? No. About what?'
'Because,' said Hazel, 'your dress is not looped right. And I want to
alter it.'
Primrose laughed a little. 'What's the use?' she said. 'Next time it
will be wrong again. I can't reach the mystery of your loopings.
They _are_ loopings, but your dress is never in a bunch anywhere
only falls into place in a lovely manner. I can't be like that, Hazel.'
Hazel's busy fingers were making changes.
'There!'she said. 'Now it is a great deal more "beautiful." Do you
feel demoralized?'
'Hazel!' said Prim facing round,'did you suppose I mean _that?_
When Dane likes everything to be as beautiful, and as _right_, every
way, as it can be? Look at his horses; and look at his own dress.'
'Ask him to look at your's,'Hazel said with a laugh, and pushing
Prim gently before her into the next room.
Breakfast was well seasoned with talk, and the talkers lingered
over their meal, until Dr. Arthur declared that if the rest could stay
there all day, he could not; and so broke up the sitting.
'Miss Kennedy,' he said as they left the table, 'will you come to the
door a moment, before you put on your hat, and let me see your
eyes?'
'See my eyes!'Hazel followed him doubtfully.
'Yes, I want to know how they look now they are open. How
nearly do you feel like yourself again?' he said, in the midst of a
somewhat close and earnest examination.
'I am perfectly well, thank you.'
' "Perfectly well."For instance, did you thoroughly enjoy riding
on horseback yesterday?'
In spite of the evident good faith of the doctor's question, Wych
Hazel's cheeks gave such instant swift answer, that he was fain to
turn his eyes away.
'Not the October air,' he went on gravely, 'nor the coloured leaves,
nor the sunshine; nor even the exhilaration; but the _exercise_. How
is that, compared with a year ago?'
'I am not quite so strong for it, I think,' Hazel answered
unwillingly.
'_Im_perfectly well,' said Dr. Arthur. 'And for what are you most
inclined when the ride is over?'but again the tell-tale face
warned him of dangerous ground.
'I have not been riding much'she said deprecatingly. 'I am all out
of practice.'
'That goes for something. Always supposing that it always used to
be so when you happened to be "out of practice." '
Hazel was silent.
'These guardians!' said Dr. Arthur with some emphasis. 'I cannot
imagine what Mr. Falkirk was thinking of, when he kept you away
all summer, letting you wear yourself out!'
'He did not keep me. I kept myself,' said Wych Hazel.
'Did you! Suppose Mr. Falkirk had kept himself here?'
Rollo came to the conference at this point. He knew the reason of
his friend's care, for he had questioned him with relation to his
professional curiosity the evening before. But he had a clue to
Wych Hazel's three days' sleep, which Dr. Arthur could not have.
'Dr. Maryland, I thought you had more sense!' said the girl
impatiently. 'The last time you saw me, you said the only thing
was to let me have my own way.'
'Depends a little upon what direction the "way" takes,' said Dr.
Arthur. 'You don't want another sleep, do you?'
'Thank you,I have had one.'
'Had one!' Dr. Arthur exclaimed. 'Not like that?'
'Not precisely like that,' said Hazel demurely. 'I have had several
different ones.'
Dr. Arthur laughed, and gave up his research.
'I begin to comprehend Mr. Falkirk!' he said. 'Dane, if you can
brave this lady's displeasure, I wish you would see that she does
not overtax herself for three months to come. Nor then, without my
permission.'
'But it is miles and miles from here to Chickaree!' said Miss Wych
as she ran in.
The inconvenience of having two guardians is, that when you have
got rid of one you have to face the other. And that other had to be
faced at the dinner table to-day. It was well that the twelve miles'
ride had not taken down Hazel's strength below the mischief point.
Rollo, it must be remarked, had been obliged to gallop back again
after very slight tarrying.
'Good evening, Miss Hazel,' said her elder guardian as he met her
in the dining room. 'I think I have not seen you since this time
yesterday.'
'A little later than this, sir. It was after dinner when we parted.'
'Quite so. Why did we not meet at breakfast? I was here. You were
not.'
'No, sir. That seems to have been the reason.'
'Why were you not at home?'
'Well, sir, I was in charge of my other authority, and could not get
home till he said the word.'
Mr. Falkirk surveyed his ward.
'Miss Hazel, your motions are usually determined by your own
will, and by nothing else,in my experience.'
'My dear sir, if you remember your experience so imperfectly, it
cannot do you much good. Have I ever been allowed to go
anywhere alone?'
'Why did not Rollo bring you home in proper time?'very shortly.
'First there was a man in trouble, and then a mill,' said Miss Wych,
composedly pouring water from her carafe. 'And so of course such
small affairs as women had to wait.'
'What was the matter?'
'The man met with an accident. The mill was set on fire. But both
were cared for satisfactorilyyou need not be uneasy, Mr.
Falkirk. Two such energetics as Mr. Rollo and Dr. Arthur suffice
for all the common events of life.'
'And you,where were you?'
'Miss Maryland and I, sir, were summarily bestowed at Mrs.
Boërresen's for safe keeping.'
'Who is Mrs. Boërresen?'
'My dear Mr. Falkirk!if you only would stir about a little you
would learn so much!' said Wych Hazel. 'Mrs. Boërresen is a quite
remarkable person of foreign birth who lives near Morton Hollow.'
'Rollo's old nurse!' said Mr. Falkirk.
Wych Hazel bowed her head with extreme sedateness and went on
with her dinner. Mr. Falkirk made a gesture of extreme impatience.
'It seems to me, Miss Hazel, that your other guardian had time to
see you safe home, before allowing himself to be claimed by his
own affairs. If you had not discretion enough to come, he should
have had enough to bring you.'
'It needs valour as well as discretion to run away from one's
guardians,' said Miss Kennedy lifting her brows. 'I should have
been quite happy, sir, I am sure, to ride home alone.'
"Why didn't he bring you?' growled the elder guardian. 'Or why
didn't you make him bring you?'
'Yes, sir. Did you ever try to make Mr. Rollo do anything?'
'Quite out of order!' grumbled Mr. Falkirk; 'quite out of order!
Miss Hazel, it may need valour and discretion both, as you seem to
intimate, but I must beg that you will not have the like thing
happen again. If you cannot get home in proper time, I prefer that
you should not ride with him. I thought the fellow knew better!'
A glance, lightning-swift, from under the dark lashes fell upon Mr.
Falkirk's unconscious face. The girl waited a little before she made
reply.
'How am I to know beforehand, Mr. Falkirk? Mills are uncertain
things. And men. You are really sure of nothing but women in this
world.'
'What do you mean about a mill burning?' came very deep out of
Mr. Falkirk's throat.
'Some of the Charteris men set it on fire. The mill was not burned,
because watch had been kept; and at the first sign of fire all hands
went to work taking out cotton bales till the fire was reached.
There was something of a bonfire outside.'
'Hm. How much loss?'
'Not much. A thousand or two.'
Mr. Falkirk went no further into the subject, or into any other, till
the dessert had been taken away and he was fingering the nuts. Mr.
Falkirk took no dessert. And in the midst of cracking a hard nut,
effort availed to crack something else.
'Do we go to town this winter, Miss Hazel?'
'I have taken no thought whatever about the winter, sir.'
'Do you intend to stay here?'
'I thought we agreed, sir, to let the winter question wait?'
'I made no such agreement, Miss Hazel. On the contrary, if we let
the question wait, there will be no house to receive you when you
make up your mind to go.'
'Then we will wait.'
'No, Miss Hazel, if you please I will have your decision. If it
makes no difference to you, it makes some to me. Either here or
New Yorkbut you must say which.'
'O if you put me in a corner, Mr. Falkirk, I shall stay here,' said
Wych Hazel.
'I suppose so. And now, Miss Hazel, will you kindly go a little
further and give me your reasons?'
'My dear Mr. Falkirk, you know we agreed long ago, that between
you and me reasons should be left to take care of themselves. Do
let the winter question rest!'
'I thought we agreed long ago that between you and me there
should be confidence,' said her guardian somewhat bitterly.
Now Mr. Falkirk was unreasonable, but it is not in the nature of
men to know when they are unreasonable. So making a great and
ill-adjusted effort with his nut-cracker, it slipped and did Mr.
Falkirk's finger some harm, instead of the nut. Mr. Falkirk dipped
his finger into cold water, wrapped it in his handkerchief, and went
off, disgusted with the world generally.
'We never did!' thought Hazel to herself. 'I plainly told him it could
not be.' But for all that she felt just a little bit troubled and hurt.
Four days of storms, during which Mr. Falkirk passed himself off
for sugar and salt, and even Mr. Rollo was somewhat hindered of
his pleasure, ended at last in a brilliant Saturday afternoon. But
though Wych Hazel did send some wistful glances out of the
window, she knew perfectly well there could be no coming from
Morton Hollow that night. Still, the feminine mind is good at
devices; and Miss Kennedy was not the first girl who (for the
nonce) has enacted the part of Mahomet. The mountain could not
stir,therefore
She thought it all out, sitting opposite to Mr. Falkirk at dinner; and
when that gentleman had taken his departure, the young mistress
of the house fell into a sudden state of activity; her last move being
to smother herself in a huge dingy cloak, akin to those worn by the
mill people in their improved condition.
'Look at me, Byo,' she said, pulling the rough hood up over her
silky curls.
'My dear,' began Mrs. Bywank,'Miss Wych,if Mr. Rollo
should see you!'
'He would see nothing but my cloak.'
'My dear, I'm not so sure. He has wonderful sharp eyes. And you
don't wear your cloak like a mill girl.'
'Don't I look like a new hand?' said Hazel laughing.
'And if he _should_ find out, what would he think!' said Mrs.
Bywank.
'He would think you had a cold and couldn't come,' said Wych.
'There's the gig!'and down she ran, slipping out unseen to join
Reo in the darkness.
Riding in an old gig was rather a new experience. The way was
still, starlight, and lonely, until they came out into the
neighbourhood of the mills. When the lights were visible, and a
certain confused buzz of still distant voices gave token of the
lively state of the population in the Hollow, Hazel and her faithful
attendant left the gig and went forward on foot.
The Charteris mills were silent and dark; the stir was ahead, where
a cluster of lights shewed brilliantly through the darkness; and
soon Wych Hazel and Reo found themselves in the midst of a
moving throng. A large shed, it was hardly better, open to the
street and to all comers, was the place of illumination, and the
centre of savoury odours which diffused themselves refreshingly
over the whole neighbourhood. Coffee, yes certainly Mr. Rollo's
coffee and hot buns were on hand there; and truly they began to be
on hand more literally among the crowd. Wych Hazel loitered and
looked and kept herself out of the lamp shine as well as she could.
Men and women were going in and coming out, eating and
drinking, talking and jesting; there was a pleasant let-up to
business in the Hollow; it looked like a fair, except that there was
no buying and selling other than the viands. There were long deal
tables in the shed, besieged by the applicants for buns and coffee,
and served by women stationed behind the tables. The crowd was
orderly, though very lively. Reo's curiosity and admiration were
immense; I think he would have tried the buns for himself, if he
had not been in close attendance upon his mistress. Women came
out from the shed guarding a pile of the hot buns in their hands;
others stood by the tables taking their supper; men came out and
lounged about talking and eating, with a mug in one hand and a
bun in the other. To anybody that knew Morton Hollow it was a
pleasant sight. It spoke of a pause from grinding care and
imbruting toil; a gleam of hope in the work-a-day routine. The
men were all more or less washed and brushed up; for changing
their dress there had been no time.
Hazel was afraid to linger too long or scan too closely; she passed
on to the mill with the throng, waited near the door until the reader
went in, passing so close that Hazel could have touched him. Then
she followed and took her place at the end of a form near the door.
That was policy.
The reading room was the huge bare apartment where the fire had
been laid, and tracked, a few nights before. The rafters still shewed
some smoke, and there was a less number of bales piled up at the
end of the room than when Hazel had seen it the first time. Lamps
hung now from the beams overhead, enough of them to give a fair
illumination; for as Rollo explained to her afterwards, he wanted to
have a view of his hearers. Their view of him was secured by a
well arranged group of burners in that quarter. The audience room
was as rough as the audience.
It was a strange experience for the little lady of Chickaree. In the
midst of all that crowd of mill hands, with their coarse dresses and
unkempt heads and head gear, she was in a part of the world very
far from her own. A still, respectful crowd they were, however.
Looking beyond and over them, to the circle of lights at the end of
the cotton bales, she could just see Dane's head, where he was
standing and speaking to some one; then presently he mounted
upon his rude rostrum and the light illumined his whole figure.
'He ain't keerful about shewin' hisself,'said a drawling native
voice in Wych Hazel's neighbourhood. 'Hain't no objection to
folks' reck'nin' his inches.'
'He's baulder'n I'd loike to be' said another voice, Wych Hazel
could not guess of what nationality.
'A can bear it,' answered a woman. 'I'd loike to see _you_ a standin'
up for your picter, Jim!'
'He don't mind!' said a brisk lass. 'You bet, he knows all about it.
Don't he, though!'
'Is he a married mon?'
'Na, he's got nobody to look arter him.'
'He don't mind _that_, ayther.'
'He's mighty onconsarned, anyhow,' said the first speaker. 'Lawk, I
never could be a orator.'
'Don't, then,' said the girl. 'You hush, or he'll hear.'
Rollo did them justice, as far as not minding anything went. His
first action after taking his stand, was to fold his arms and take a
somewhat prolonged survey of the company. The quick gray eyes
came everywhere; did they know Hazel? It appeared not; for after
a few minutes of this silent survey, Rollo bade his audience 'good
evening' and began his work.
He gave them in the first place the principal items of the week's
news out of several papers which he had at hand. This, it was
plain, was an extremely popular part of the entertainment. He read
and talked, explaining where it was necessary, sometimes
responding to a question from some one in the crowd. The papers
were both English and German, American and foreign; the bits of
intelligence carefully chosen to interest and to stimulate interest.
This part of the programme took up something over a half hour.
The next thing was the story if the "Chimes." And here also the
reading was exceedingly successful. Knowing his hearers more
thoroughly than is the privilege of most readers, Rollo could give
them a word of help just where it was necessary to make them
understand the author; briefly, and only as it was needed; for the
rest, he made the story speak to their hearts. Perhaps the simplicity
of his aim, which had no regard whatever to his own prominence
in the performance, gave him an advantage over most people who
read in public; perhaps Rollo was uncommonly gifted; but Wych
Hazel certainly thought, when she had time to think about it, that it
was no wonder Miss Powder or anybody else should make parties
to come and hear him, and rather wondered the whole countryside
were not there. And as for the rough audience who were present,
they were entranced. They forgot themselves. They forgot
everything in the world but Tiny Tim and his father and all the
humble experiences of the family; and tears and laughter
alternately testified to what a degree the reader had them all in his
hand. Hazel for her part laughed and cried when the rest did,and
when they did not.
Just as this part of the reading was finished, there came a slight
disturbance down near the door; but all that appeared to the reader
was that one of the mill girls got up and went out.
'Where's the master?' a small frightened child had said, peering in.
'I wants him.'
'Well you can't have him,' answered the rough cloak imperiously.
'Don't you see he's busy?'
Whereupon the small girl lifted up her voice in lamentation, and
was instantly smothered in the cloak and swept out of the mill;
neither one appearing on those boards again that night. But the
reading went on, and the hours too; and it was eleven o'clock, all
told, before the audience were dismissed. Coming out at last into
the starlight darkness, Mr. Rollo ran full up against Dr. Arthur
Maryland.
'Arthur!What now?'
'Dane, you can tell meWhere is the Patrick who has no wife?
I've been to six and they're all happy men.'
'Patrick? who has lost his wife? It is Rafferty. What do you want
him for?'
'Something the matter there.'
'What?Come, I'll shew you the way. What is it?'
'A child hurt. The father away drinking, the young ones at home
fighting,as near as I can make it out. This one got a fall.'
Rollo had used his voice a good deal that evening, namely, for two
and a half consecutive hours. He said scarcely a word more until
they got to the house in question; but as he went he thought what
he would do with the gin shops whenever he should get control in
the Hollow. The cabin of the wifeless Patrick was high up the
valley and high up on the bank, a short way after all. A little
stream of light came out to meet them from the open door; and
once in line with this, Dr. Arthur stopped short with a suppressed
exclamation, and Rollo looked up.
The door had probably been left open of intent for air; for on some
low seat in the middle of the floor sat Wych Hazel, still muffled
partly in the cloak, which she had not taken time to throw off. The
hood had fallen back, and the cloak fell away on either side from
her silken folds and white laces; Hazel's attention was wholly
absorbed by the child on her lap. A little tattered figure lay with its
head on the young lady's breast; while both Wych Hazel's hands,
the one passed round the child as well as the other, were clasped
tight around one little arm. So they sat, quite still,the child's eyes
upon her face; while a small circle of great admiration stood
around; fingers in mouth, hands behind back, wholly absorbed in
the vision or spell-bound with the voice. For she was softly
singing.
'You'll never be in Adam's case of destitution,that's one thing!'
was Dr. Arthur's comment, as his friend sprang past him into the
cabin. Then however, like a wise man, postponing other things to
business, Rollo only demanded calmly what the matter was? Hazel
had not expected him, and there was a look of surprise and a
minute's flush; then her thoughts too went back to business.
'I think her arm is broken. I have been holding it in place.'
'And she let you?' queried Dr. Arthur.
'I would do it. She is more quiet now.'
'Sixteen carats fine!' said Dr. Arthur. 'Half the women I know
would have dropped the arm the moment they saw me, and nine-
tenths of the others would not have touched it at all! Now let me
see.'
But first a change was made. Rollo took the child into his own
arms. It was done too swiftly and skilfully for the poor little
creature to make any objection, but its dismay and displeasure
were immediately proclaimed. The new hands that held it were
however both kind and strong, and the master's voice was already
known, even by these little ones. So the worst was soon over,
thanks to the firmness that had kept the arm quiet till the doctor
came. It was true; she "had the fight in her," as Dane had once
said; though now the woman was taking her revenge, and Hazel
sat behind the others with blanched cheeks. Dr. Arthur glanced at
her once or twice.
' "Ever so far away to Chickaree"!' he said,'I should think it was!
Dane, can you find a substitute to watch this child to-night?'
'I'll see to that,' said his friend briefly; and laying the child out of
his arms as soon as its arm was made secure, he went to Wych
Hazel, pulled her hood on again, and drawing her hand through his
arm took her out of the cabin. Then asked her 'how she expected to
get home?'
'O Reo is here, somewhere.'
'With the carriage?"
'With an incognito gig.'
Rollo put her into a chair, stationed Dr. Arthur to keep ward over
her, and went to look for Reo. It seems that in the interest of the
reading Reo had missed the episode of his mistress's leaving the
assembly room, and had thereafter been wholly without a clue by
which to seek her. Near the mill Rollo found him, and presently
brought up the gig to Patrick Rafferty's cottage. Unsuspiciously
Wych Hazel allowed herself to be put into it. Then, standing with
the reins in his hand, Dane spoke to the doctor.
'It is late, Arthur; come up to my house and I'll take care of you.
Reo, take the road straight up to Mrs. Boërresen's.'
With which he jumped into the gig and put the horse in motion;
with such good will that before Dr. Arthur could get to the foot of
the hill the gig had climbed to Gyda's door, and Rollo had lifted
Wych Hazel out.
'But I did not mean to come here!' she said dismayfully. 'I was
thinking of something else! Mr. Rollowhat made you do so?'
'The obvious necessity of the case.'
'But I must go home.'
'To-morrow.'
He staid no further question. He opened the gate and led the little
lady across the few steps to the door.
'Gyda,' said he as they went in, 'let us have some coffee and
anything else that can be had quickly. Three people wanting it.'
And with that he went into the next room for the cushions.
'I shall stand for an upholsterer one of these days,' he remarked, as
he arranged and prepared Wych Hazel's easy chair. 'There! Now!'
He unfastened and threw off the rough cloak, much as if he did not
like it; took Wych Hazel's hands and put her in her place.
'What have you got to say to me?' he queried softly.
Hazel felt extremely shy and discomposed at the course things had
taken. It had been no part of her plan to have her escapade known
to any but the old servants at home; and here she was, not only
discovered but carried off,and that with Mr. Falkirk's strictures
still sounding in her ears. Yet her first words went to another point.
'You should not touch me,' she said with a gentle little push,'I
have not washed my face. And you know I had to use every means
I could think of to quiet the child.'
Hazel shivered a little, thinking what the screams had been at first
when she took the case in hand. Dane's eyes laughed and sparkled,
but he only disregarded her admonitions, and remarked that she
'did not answer him?'
'Mr. Rollo, I _must_ go home. Mr. Falkirk will be so vexed.'
'What else have you got to say me?'
'What do you want to hear about?' said Hazel demurely. 'I liked the
reading very much,all that I heard of it. And the people seemed
to like you.'
'Did you think I would not find you out?'
'And you did not!' she said triumphantly.
'I should have found you out in another half hour. I saw you, and
you bothered me very much, but the lights were in my eyes. Did
you hope I would not see you, Hazel?'
She laughed gaily. 'Of course I hoped that! How did I "bother"
you, please?'
'Something I did not understand. Gyda, won't you take Miss
Kennedy where she can wash her face?'
Gyda led the way to her kitchen, a little detached building
connected with the house by a covered way. It was warm and light
with fire and full of savoury odours from the cookery going on.
Here the young lady was supplied with a bowl of water and a
napkin, and Hazel came back very much refreshed.
It was now half-past twelve o'clock and more. Dr. Arthur was
come, and there were preparations on foot for supper. Reo had
come to, and was sent to Gyda's little kitchen to get some
refreshment, while the others supped.
'Now,' said Rollo, as he gave Wych Hazel some porridge and filled
her cup, 'you may begin and give an account of yourself.'
'Autocratic,' said Hazel. 'I am no longer a mill girl, Mr. Rollo.'
'You came into my dominions with my livery. There's no help for
you now.'
'Well,'said Hazel,'the only drawback to the pleasure of my
drive over from Chickaree, was the state of mind in which I had
left Mrs. Bywank.'
'Well?' said Rollo, proceeding to take care of the doctor's cup. 'Go
on. Arthur and I are very curious.'
'After that, I wanted a bun, and saw no invitation to strangers.'
'You were there, were you! Isn't it a good institution?'
'Veryfor people who are not strangers. Reo and I devoured
things with our eyes for some time. Then I When the reading
began, I was in my place.'
'I should say, you were in somebody else's place. Never mind! If it
was not so late, I'd send down and get a bun for you.'
'What came in between the "Then" and the "When"?' said Dr.
Arthur. 'If one may inquire. Mere blank space?'
'Not quite,' said Hazel laughing and colouring. 'Just private,
scientific business. I was testing theories.'
'We are both interested in that, the doctor and I,' said Dane.
'Theories, and scientific business. Pray explain, Hazel.'
'I once heard a short lecture on magnetism,' said Miss Wych, all
grave except the gleam in her eyes; 'and it occurred to me to put it
to the proof. So I stood by the door and saw the people go in.'
Dr. Arthur laughed, but asked no further questions.
'Your true lovers of science are always ready to venture a good
deal in the pursuit of it,' observed Dane drily.
Wych Hazel's lips curled with mischief.
'When I got in,' she said, 'before the reading, I heard a good deal
about the reader. Most of it striking, and some of it new.'
'That at least all may hear,' remarked Dr. Arthur. 'Science may
have its reserves; but public news about Dane!'
'It's very old indeed,' said the person concerned. 'Only new to this
witness. May be safely passed over.'
If Mr. Rollo was good at reading faces, he might see that remarks
about him were considered quite too much her own personal
property to be repeated to anybody in the world but himself. Wych
Hazel sat silent, stirring her coffee.
'We are ready to hear the rest,' he remarked with a smile. 'Go on to
the broken arm. How did you get hold of that?'
'One of the children came for you. And somebody had to go,' she
answered simply.
'And "somebody" had to keep the broken arm in place, I suppose.
But how came you to think of doing that?' said Rollo, who all the
while was looking after the comfort of his two guests in his own
fashion of quick-eyed ministry.
'I did not, till I had the child in my lap,' said Hazel; 'and then I
remembered all of a sudden something in one of my old
Edgeworth story books. So I tried, and succeeded.'
'I wish every one read story books to as good purpose,' said Dr.
Arthur. 'There is no describing from what you saved the child. But
at first I suppose she made great resistance?'
'Very great.'Hazel did not want to enlarge upon that part of the
subject. And here Reo entered.
'Ha, Reo! are you made up for your journey already?' said Rollo.
'You can report to Mrs. Bywank that Miss Wych was too much
fatigued to take the drive home; and bring the carriage over in the
morning.'
Wych Hazel looked up, but her courage failed her for a protest.
She was obliged to let the order stand.
The fire was bright, the coffee was excellent, the little party so
oddly thrown together were happy in mutual confidence and
sympathy. Such hours are not too common, and a certain kindly
recognition of this one sat upon every face. Gyda was busy
preparing a room for Miss Kennedy and had not joined them.
'How does the work of the world look to you, Arthur, from this
corner?' said Dane, when they had subsided a little from supper to
the consideration of each other.
'Every spot of true Christian work is a centre,' said his friend. 'The
"corners" are for darknessnot light. Work is the most enticing
thing in the world to me, Dane!'
'Gyda's fireside was the corner I meant,it's not dark just now!
and I was thinking, that from this nook of quiet the work looks
easy. So it is! It is a hand to hand and foot to foot battle; but it is
easy to follow the captain that one loves.'
'I don't know that it is always easy,' said Dr. Arthur; 'but it can be
done. Once in a while, you know, we are sent to carry a redoubt
with only his orders before us. The Lord himself seems to be in
quite another part of the field.'
'That is, to those who do not know.'
'Of course. I speak only of the seeming. But I like the fight, and I
like the struggle. I like to measure battlements and prepare my
scaling ladders, and lead a forlorn hope. It suits me, I believe.'
'Battlements?' Hazel repeated. 'Do you mean heights of difficulty?'
'Guarded by depths of sin,' said Dr. Arthur.
Hazel looked from one to the other. Yes, she could like that too, if
she were a man. How much could she do, being a woman?
'And that is all seeming too, Arthur,' his friend went on. '_Really_,
the fighter need never be out of that "feste Burg." I was thinking
just now, not only that work looks easy, but that it looks small.
Individual effort, I mean; the utmost that any one man can do. It is
a mere speck. The living waters that shall be "a river to swim in,"
are very shallow yet; and where the fishers are to stand and cast
their nets, it is a waste of barrenness. You have never been on the
shores of the Dead Sea, Arthur; you do not know how a little
thread of green on the mountain side shews where a spring of
sweet water runs down through the waste.'
'What then, Mr. Rollo?' said Wych Hazel.
'It is such a tiny thread of life upon the universal brown death.'
'Is that what the world looks like to you?' said Hazel, wondering.
'And the work is even far smaller than that, if you look at it in its
minute details. Did you ever read the life of Agnes Jones, Arthur?'
'Yes.'
'Prim lent me the book; and I found a good word in it the other
day. The writer says, I cannot give you the exact words,"If we
do every little thing that comes to us, God may out of our many
littles make a great whole." Therein lies the very truth of our work.
It is so in Morton Hollow. Not building schoolhouses or making
villages; anybody can do that; it is the word of interest to one, the
word of sympathy to another; the holding a broken arm; giving
help and refreshment in individual cases. Love, in short, like the
sun, working softly and everywhere. As those threads of green on
the mountain side are made up of multitudinous tiny leaves and
mosses, nourished by countless invisible drops of spray.'
'Working in all sorts of ways'said the Doctor; while Hazel sat
thinking of the green that was beginning to line the banks of
Morton Hollow. 'You may notice that a real spring goes literally
wherever it can. Men may wall it in with stone channels, or force it
into the air; but let it alone, it follows every possible opening. The
deep main stream, and the little side rills, and the single drops that
go each to a single leaf.'
Rollo looked up and smiled. 'There is Gyda coming to fetch you,
Hazel.'
'Well,' said Hazel. 'And you will go on talking all sorts of things
that I ought to hear.'
She rose up and stood looking down into the fire. The other two
rose also and stood looking at her. It was a pretty picture. Gyda, a
little apart, watched them all with her little bright eyes.
'But,' Hazel began again,'to do that,for every little drop to do
thatthere must be a head of water. It is not the mere trickling
down of something which happens to be at the top!'Whereupon
the little fingers took an extra knot.
'Each drop may do the ministry of one, may it not?' said Rollo.
'You need not count the drops. The only thing is that they be living
water.'
'Yes, the living water comes with a will. I remember,in Mme.
Lasalle's brook,how busy the drops were. Not in a hurry, but in
such sweet haste.'
'True!' said Dr. Arthur. 'Each with a clear bright purpose, if not a
plan.'
'Perhaps, best not the plan,' said Rollo.
She stood gravely thinking for a moment, then looked up and
shook hands with Dr. Arthur, wishing him good night. But no
words came when she gave her hand to Mr. Rollo; onlyperhaps
in default of wordsa beautiful, vivid blush.
The room to which the old Norsewoman conducted her was a very
plain little place, with whitewashed walls and the simplest of
furniture. Gyda manifested some concern lest her guest should
suffer for want of a fire. 'But the gentlemen had to have the other
room,' she said.
'O the fire is no matter,' said Hazel. 'But where do you sleepwith
such a houseful?'
'I have my little nest just by, my lady. I'd be glad to keep it! And
yet this is a strange place for my lad to have his home; and it's
been his home now for a year, nearly. How much longer will I
keep him, my lady?'
Gyda asked the most tremendous questions with a sort of
privileged simplicity; she looked now for her answer.
'Keep him?'Hazel repeated the words in a maze.
'Yes, my lady. I know I must lose my lad from _this_ home; but
when is it to be?'
'A great whileI don't know,nobody knows,' said Hazel very
much disturbed. 'Nobody thinks anything about it yet. So you need
not even recollect it, Mrs. Boërresen.'
Gyda looked at her with a tender, incredulous, pleased smile upon
her face. 'Do you think he will wait a great while, my lady?' she
said. And then she came up and kissed Wych Hazel's hand, and
went away.
CHAPTER XIII.
UNDER THE CHESTNUT TREES.
Mr. Falkirk did not go out to breakfast that Sunday morning; and
no one at Chickaree but the two old retainers knew how Miss
Wych had tired herself, nor where she had rested overnight.
Monday came and went in uneventful rain, and Tuesday was the
day of the party in the woods.
A simple enough affair,just chestnuts and lunch; but rarely had
the young lady of the domain been so hard to please in the matter
of her dress. For words do leave their footsteps, drive them out as
we will; and this Prim's words had done. Not quite according to
Prim's intent, however; for the one clear idea in Wych Hazel's
mind, was that Mr. Rollo was (or would be when he noticed it at
all) dissatisfied with her dress. And that was precisely the line in
which she had never before met criticism. Hazel took off one
colour after another, until Phoebe was in despair and Mrs. Bywank
turned away and smiled out of the window.
'And dear me, ma'am,' cried Phoebe at last, 'there comes a
carriage!'
Hazel looked towards the window, caught the old housekeeper's
eye, and suddenly embellishing her proceedings with a pair of
scarlet cheeks, she opened another press, seized the first white
dress that came to hand, and put it on without more ado. A dainty
white piqué, all on the wing with delicate embroideries and lace,
and broad sash ends of the colour of red gold.
'But Miss Wych!' Mrs. Bywank remonstrated. 'The wind is very
fresh.'
Wych Hazel made another plunge after sealskin jacket and cap;
turned over a box of gloves till she matched her ribbands; gave
Mrs. Bywank a laugh and a flash from her eyes, and was off. But
that carriage it seemed had rolled by, and there was no one at the
meeting place in the woods when the girl seated herself there to
await her guests.
' "Do you think Dane will like to have you dress as you do?" 'so
ran her thoughts. 'Well,how do I dress?'
She sat looking into the soft silence of the October air, feeling that
for her life was changing fast. The old bounds to her action had
somehow now stretched out to take in her will; her own pleasure
now often in the mood to wait, uncertain of its choice, till she
knew the pleasure of somebody else. There was the least bit of
rebellion at this here and there; and yet on the whole Wych Hazel
by no means wished herself back in the old times when nobody
cared. Ah how lonely she had been!and how full the world
seemed now, with that secret sense of happiness pervading all
things! Meanwhile, as Prim had said, what was she going to do
about dress?
It happened that the first interruption to her meditations came from
a visiter who did not intend to be a guest. No less than Gov.
Powder; a portly, gentlemanly, somewhat imposing personage,
who was less known to society than were his wife and daughters.
However, without wife and daughters, here he was.
'Good morning, my dear, good morning!' he began blandly,
shaking Wych Hazel's hand with a sort of paternal-official
benignity. 'Your guardian has not come upon the scene yet? I
thought I should find him here. Why how cool you look, for
October!'
'Yes, sirI like to look cool,' said Hazel, conscious that she could
not always accomplish the feat. 'Especially when I have the world
on my hands. Just now I am undefended., Gov. Powder; but I
suppose both my guardians will be here by and by.'
'What do you do with two guardians, eh? Keep 'em both in good
humour?'
'One at a time is as much as I often try for,' said Hazel. 'But Gov.
Powder, I wish you would let me have a little fun right over the
heads of them both.'
'I?' said the ex-governor, somewhat surprised. 'Eh? It does not
often happen to me now-a-days to have the honour of such an
appealunless from my own mad daughters. In what direction do
you want me to come over your guardians, Miss Kennedy? and
which of them?'
'O it is nothing mad at all, in my case,' said Hazel. 'And neither of
them must know. But will you walk a little way down the wood
with me, sir? I do not want them even to see a consultation.'
A man must be much set in his own purposes who would not go
more than 'a little way' after such a voice; and Gov. Powder was
but an ordinary man. So, finding the white ruffles a very pretty sort
of a convoy, the ex-governor strolled down among the golden
hickories and ruddy oaks, and never once guessed that he had a
siren at his elbow.
'Last winter,' Hazel began, speaking fast now, to keep pace with
the minutes, 'I had quite a large legacy left to me.'
'Somebody who wanted to protect you against misfortune, eh?'
said the governor.
'Or who did not believe in guardians, sir; for mine were to have no
control over it whatever.'
'I see!' said the governor. 'Pocket money to purchase sugar-plums.'
'But perhaps you know, sir, that we girls like sugar-plums of many
sorts.'
'Miss Kennedy, do you know my daughters?'
'Well sir,' said Hazel weighing her words, wondering to herself
whether diplomats get along without telling fibs; and if they do,
_how_ they do,'it would be quite a novelty of a bonbon to invest
this money in some splendid way, all by myself. Not the whole of
it, you know, sir,only a few thousands.' She was so eager! and
so terribly afraid of shewing her eagerness.
'That is a sort of bonbon that is very tempting to old fellows like
me; but, pardon me, I should think it was more in Mr. Falkirk's
way than in yours?'
'Mr. Falkirk may admire it afterwards, if he chooses, but _I_ want to
make the investment. And I learned from somebody,' said Hazel,
careful of her words, "that the best thing I could do, was to buy
that bit of land of yours, Gov. Powder, lying just at the head of the
Hollow. It is not worth more than twenty thousand, is it?' she went
on, suggestively. 'And I was told, sir, that you were ready to
dispose of it.'
'Somebody spoke too fast,' said the governor, looking
unmistakably surprised this time. 'Really, I am in no hurry to
dispose of that piece of land. Its value is in its water power. You
don't want to build mills, do you?'
'No, sir,the whole of my legacy would not cover _that_. And I
would rather not invest more than twenty thousand at first.'
'Twenty thousand' has a pleasant sound to a man with 'mad'
daughters, and other expenses! Nevertheless the governor looked
steadily into the face of facts.
'My dear Miss Kennedy, I must remark to you, that if you do not
want to put mills on that ground, it would be a very poor
investment for your twenty thousand. The water power is all the
value there. And Paul Charteris has been trying to get it of me for
his own purposes. Now I know what _he_ wants; but I do not see
what you want with land in Mill Hollow.'
'Why Governor Powder,' said Hazel, 'Mr. Falkirk would go to
sleep in luxury, if he could only see _why_ I want things! One might
as well be a manor Mr. Paul Charterisat once!'
'Isn't Paul Charteris a man?' inquired Gov. Powder laughing. Hazel
laughed too, but returned to the charge.
'I shall not invest in him,' she said, 'even so much as an opinion.
What I want is the land, and the water power, and the fun.'
Gov. Powder stepped back and took a survey of the little lady.
'You mustn't break your teeth with a bonbon,' said he. 'Suppose
you let me speak to my friend Mr. Falkirk about it?'
'No indeed, sir! Mr. Falkirk never approves of anything he does
not suggest himself. All great men have their weak points, Gov.
Powder,' said Wych Hazel.
'Well, let us say Rollo then. I think he is a wild man with his own
fortune; but I reckon he would look out for yours. By the way! he
may want the land for himself? eh?'
'Of course he may,' said Wych Hazel, 'but not half so much as I do.
To consult him, would be saying no to me, Gov. Powder. And you
know you are going to say yes.'
'I don't understand doing business with ladies!' said the poor
governor, shaking his head. 'I can get along with my own sort.
Miss Kennedy, there are certain complications, which I cannot
explain to you. Paul Charteris has been at me to get those very
acres that you want. What would he say, if I threw him over and
sold them to you? I guess you must let me settle with him first.'
'Tell him you sold the land to somebody who offered more,' said
Hazel. 'That is easy enough. How much would he give, sir?'
'Ah but, the thing is, there are complications,there are
complications,' repeated the governor. 'Give? He don't want to give
above the half of your twenty thousand; and I couldn't in
conscience take the whole. The land is not worth so much as that,
Miss Kennedy. But young ladies don't understand complications,'
he added with a smile. 'I can't just throw Paul over, without a
word.'
'Push him off,' said Hazel. 'Nobody can teach me anything about
complications!Push him off, sir. Just give him a negative and do
not say why.'
'What do you want it for?'
'Just now,' said Hazel, 'I want to get ahead of Mr. Charteris.'
'I may tell him I have an offer of twelve thousand?' said the
governor, who was badly in want of money.
'Certainly, sir. If you will first say three words to make sure Mr.
Charteris shall not get ahead of me.'
'Well, well!' said the governor'here come people, Miss
Kennedy,he shall not get ahead of you. At any rate, I'll settle
nothing with him without letting you know. He can't outbid you
you're pretty safe. Do I understand that you want this affair kept
private, between you and me?'
'O yes, sir!' cried Hazel softly,'it is to be _terribly_ private. And if
you will only let women vote, Gov. Powder, I will certainly vote
for you.Mr. Falkirk, if you knew how long Gov. Powder has
been impatient for you, you would be grieved to have left him so
long with me!'And Miss Kennedy flitted off, with eyes in a
sparkle that was dangerous to come near. I think Gov. Powder's
eyes sparkled a little too, poor man; they had grown a little dull
with looking so long into ways and means.
And after this little bit of business, the pleasure of the day set in
with a flood tide. You have all seen such days. Nature had laid out
a wonderful entertainment, to begin with; and put no hindrances in
the way; and it appeared that every creature came with spirits and
hopes on tiptoe. Dresses were something captivating, so much
attention and invention had been exercised upon them. And the
facilities for flirtations which the scene and the sport afforded,
were most picturesque. The parties in the trees could display their
agility; the parties on the ground could show their costumes in
charming attitudes. For a time the care of the hostess was needed
in assigning the people to their proper posts of usefulness or
pleasure; but when all were come and all was in train, the thing
would run itself, and Wych Hazel became as free as anybody else.
'Look here,' cried Josephine Powder, 'I've been waiting all day to
speak to you. Nobody wants you now, Hazel; come here and sit
down. I'm in awful trouble.'
Wych Hazel sat down and pulled off her gloves, and then the
glittering fingers went diving into her pocket after chestnuts.
'Well?' she said,'what now? There is a big onetry that.'
'I used to like chestnuts once,' said Josephine looking at it. 'I
wonder if there'll be fun in anything ever any more for me?'
'Depends a good deal upon where you look for it,' said Miss
Kennedy, biting her nut. 'Are you playing pendulum still, for pity's
sake?'
'Pendulum? No. I'm fixed. I've accepted John Charteris.'
'Have you!' said Hazel, thinking that her business interview had
been just in time. 'How much down, Josephine? and how much on
bond and mortgage?'
'What do you mean?'
'The trouble is, you can never foreclose,' said Hazel. 'Are the
diamonds satisfactory?'
'You are not,' said Josephine energetically. 'Now be good, Hazel! I
came to you, because I thought you were the only creature that
would have a little feeling for me. Everybody else says it's such a
grand thing.'
'Well, I _have_ some feeling for you, and so I don't say it. Much
more feeling than patience. Why do you sell yourself, if you do not
like the price, Josephine Powder?'
'What can one do?' said the girl disconsolately.
'Let me see the first instalment,' said Hazel. 'Is it paid in?'
'I don't know what you mean,' said Josephine. 'I tell you, they were
all at me, and said I should be such a fool if I let it slip; and that I
should be very happy;but I don't feel so.'
'Not when everybody says you are?' Hazel enquired with slight
scorn.
'Of course one likes to have other people think one is happy,' said
Josephine; 'you don't want to have them pitying you. I thought I
should feel better when I was engaged and the whole thing settled.
I wish people could live without getting married!'
'Well,' said Wych Hazel, 'there is one thing I could not do
without,if I had to marry John Charteris.'
'What is that?'
'A pocket pistol.'
'A pocket pistol, Hazel! He isn't as bad as that. What's the matter
with him?'
'Just a trifle. You do not love him.'
'They said that would come,' said Josephine dolefully.
'By express, from the land of nowhere,' said Miss Wych nibbling
her nuts. 'Marked "Very perishable!!!" '
'But I don't find that it comes.'
'No,' said Hazel coolly, 'that land is a good way off. Isn't it cold
work waiting all alone with the diamonds?'
Josephine displayed a magnificent finger. But she looked at it with
no reflection of its light in her eyes. 'You speak very coolly,' she
said, then letting her hand drop. 'I thought you would feel for me
somehow.'
'I tell you I do, or I should not take the trouble of pinching you to
see if you have any feeling left for yourself. Does not that ring
make you shiver?'
'Sometimes. But what can I do, Hazel? It may as well be John
Charteris as anybody else, as long as one can't please oneself. One
must marry somebody. You know one _must!_'
'Look at them,' said Hazel. 'As cold and hard as he is. Flashing up
nothing deeper than the pocket they came from.'
'There is no fault in the diamonds,' said Josephine sulkily. 'They
ought to be hard. And these are beauties. And Charteris isn't harder
than other people, that I know of. It is only thatI don't want to
marry him. And he is in an awful hurry. If it was a long way off, I
wouldn't mind so much.'
Wych Hazel dropped the chestnuts.
'Josephine,' she said gravely, 'do you see these rings on my hands?'
'Yes. I have seen them and admired them often enough. There's a
splendid emerald though. I never saw that before. O Hazel!' the
girl cried suddenly. 'It's on _that_ finger!'
The hands were something to look at, in their glitter or strange old-
fashioned rings, with many-coloured stones and various settings.
Only a close observer would have noticed that the emerald alone
was a fit.
'Every one of all the eight is a betrothal ring,' Hazel went on, not
heeding; 'every one has been a token between people who chose
each other from all the world. They were not all rich, you see,
here is a poor little silver hoop among the diamonds. And they
were not all happy; for this ruby has seen a death-parting, and the
pearls are not whiter than the face that had waited for twenty years.
But not one ring has the stain of a broken troth, nor the soil of a
purchase. The people suffered, they waited, they died,but they
never so much as thought of any one but each other, in all the
world!' Wych Hazel folded her hands in her lap again, looking at
Josephine with eyes that were all alight.
'But _that's_ yours,' Josephine went in impatiently. 'Who put it on?'
The girl's accent was of more than curiosity.
'There are several of them you have never seen before,' said Hazel.
'Josephine, do you understand what I say to you? People starve to
death upon diamonds.'
'Ah well, but do tell me!' said the girl, with a curious mixture of
coaxing and distressful in her tone. 'Do tell me who it was, Hazel. I
just want to know.'
'You just want shaking, I think,' said Wych Hazel. 'I did not say
anybody put it there. And I thought you wanted to talk of your
own affairs? If not, I will go and attend to my guests."
'You are very cruel,' said Josephine, quite subdued. 'Just tell me if
it wasStuart Nightingale?'
'No I shall not. You have nothing to do with Mr. Nightingale. You
belong to Mr. Charteris.'
'You put me off!' cried Josephine, laying her face in her hands for
a moment. 'It don't matter. I can find out some other way; there are
ways enough.'
She looked towards the opening where gleams of colour could
now and then be seen flitting among the trees. Wych Hazel laid
one little hand on her shoulder.
'Josephine,' she said, 'I wish you would break this off!'
'What?'
'Any sort of engagement with John Charteris.'
'I can't,' said the girl drearily. 'They all want me to marry him.
There's be an awful row if I broke it off now. And what difference
does it make? If you can't have what you would like, all the rest is
pretty much one thing. It's a bore; but one may as well get all out
of it one can.'
'See!' said Hazel in her sweet persuasive tones,'you never know
what you can have. And you can always have yourself. I would
break itfeeling as you doif I were half way through the last
yes.'
'Yes, it will do for you to talk,' said Josephine; 'but everybody is
not rich like you. And even you, I suppose, don't choose to live as
you are for ever. You'll marry too; your finger says so. And I must,
I suppose. But I can't tell you how horrid it is. I tell you what,
Hazel; one must like a man very much to be willing to give up
one's liberty!'
Hazel was not fond of that way of stating the case, even yet. She
wet back to the former words.
'Horrid?' she said,'there is no English strong enough. And
"must" is absurd, so long as your liberty is in your own power. If
ever I "don't choose," as you say, it will be because I don't choose.'
Poor Josephine rose up, straightened herself, with a bearing half
proud half defiant, and looked away. Then in another minute,
seeing her chance, she darted or glided from her covert, and before
Hazel's indignant and pitying gaze, plunged into a gay bit of
badinage with her lover who was passing near. No trace of regret
or of unwillingness apparent; Josephine was playing off her usual
airs with her usual reckless freedom; she and Charteris were
presently out of sight.
'And she presumed to bring him here without my leave, and _then_
came down upon me for pity! Wellthe supply is unlimited,she
can have all she wants.'And Hazel looked down at her own ring,
which meant so much; thinking of the diamonds which meant so
little; and went off among her guests, to keep them in more
respectful attitudes than even ever before. For Miss Kennedy was
extremely remote this day, placing herself at such a dainty distance
as was about equally fascinating and hard to bear. Somehow she
evaded all the special little devotions with which she was beset;
contriving that they should fall through so naturally, that the poor
devotee blamed nothing but his own fingers, and followed the
brown eyes about more helplessly than ever. Only one or two
lookers-on saw deeper. Mr. Kingsland smiled, pursing his studies.
'This ethereal power which one cannot get hold of,' he remarked to
himself, 'becomes truly terrific in such hands. Now there is young
Bradford,he picked up out those chestnuts solely and
exclusively for the heiress of Chickaree,and in some
inexplicable way she has made him hand over to Molly Seaton.
Not a cent but what her brothers may give her. And how Tom
Porter comes to be walking off with Miss May, nobody will ever
know but the sorceress herself. She will none of him,nor of
anybody else. Who has won?'
'You are expecting more guests, I see, even at this late hour,' he
remarked aloud to Mr. Falkirk.
'Why do you judge so?'
'I notice a certain absence,' said Mr. Kirkland. 'Also a vacant place
which no one here is allowed to fill. "Trifles light as air,"
perhaps,and yet'
'Where is your associate counsel to-day, Mr. Falkirk?' said Kitty
Fisher, interposing her pretty figure. 'Do you and he take it "off
and on"?'
Now this young lady being Mr. Falkirk's special aversion, he
deigned no reply to her impertinence; confronting her instead with
an undeclarative face and manner of calm repression.
'What is on the carpet?' said a new comer.
'Now whatever possessed you to come on it?' said Miss Fisher
with a pout. 'We were just going to scare up a German!'
'Perhaps I can be of some slight assistance.'
Kitty Fisher clapped him affectionately on the shoulder.
'Thanksmy dear fellow,' she said. 'We all know what your
"slight assistance" amounts to in such cases. Too mean of you to
come! And Hazel has not had one bit of fun yet this whole day.'
'What have you been doing to her?'
'It's a wicked shame,' Kitty went on. 'And Sir Henry coming and
everybody. I was going to take out Mr. Falkirkit's leap year, you
know; and he might be short of partners,' said Miss Fisher,
prudently dropping her voice at this point.
'What is a shame, if you please?'
'For you to walk in and play marplot.'
'Let me walk you off instead, and be useful. You can explain to me
your plans as we go.'
'I can help you to find the brown eyes, poor things!' said Kitty.
'Well, they do lots of mischief when you're not by,that's one
comfort.'
Through the bright woodland, from group to group of chestnutters,
the gentleman and the young lady went. The scene was pretty and
lively, but Wych Hazel was not with any of the groups; having in
fact escaped from her admirers into the deeper shadow of trees that
did not bear chestnuts. At last Miss Fisher's curiosity waked up.
Bidding her companion keep watch where he was, in a shadowy
corner of red oaks and purple ashes, she ran off, "to beat the bush,"
as she said; and hardly were her footsteps out of hearing, before
lighter ones came through the wood, and Hazel's white dress
gleamed out among the colours. She was walking slowly, quite
alone, the brilliant fingers twisted together in some knot of a
puzzle; but even as Rollo looked from his corner still other steps
were heard, and another lady and another gentleman came on the
scene.
'O here she is!' cried Miss Burr. 'Et toute seuleby all that's lucky.
Here fair lady, I've brought you an escort. I knew Sir Henry
Crofton might come without being invited.' And Miss Burr,
conscious that she had done a bright thing, walked off to find an
escort for herself. Then ensued a peculiar little scene.
The gentleman advanced eagerly, holding out his hand. And Wych
Hazel, taking not the least seeming notice, stopped short in her
walk, and leaning back against one of the red oaks began to fit on
her gloves with the utmost deliberation.
'Sir Henry Crofton knew,' she remarked, 'that it was the only
possible way in which he could come.'
'You have not forgiven me!' said the young man with much
mortification.
'No,' said Wych Hazel. 'I think I have not.'
Sir Henry was silent, watching the hands and the sparkling fingers,
and the gloves that went on so ruthlessly. Then burst forth with
words, low spoken and impetuous, which Rollo did not hear. Hazel
interrupted him.
'I said I had not forgiven you,' she said. 'I will forget youif you
will give me chance. That may answer as well.'
'Forget!' the young man said bitterly,'I shall never forget _you!_'
but he turned off abruptly and left her; and Hazel came slowly
forward, with a troubled face.
'Are you "due" anywhere?' said Rollo, suddenly standing, or
walking, at her side.
'_You!_yes, I am due everywhere, at this precise moment.'
'Exceptto me, that means.'
'Your notes are not payable till afternoon. And if I do not go and
end the morning comfortably with luncheon, afternoon will never
come. See what it is to have a logical head.'
Hazel paused and took her former position against a tree stem,
leaning back as if she was tired.
'I should like to leave the whole thing on your hands,' she said,
'and then I could lose myself comfortably in the woods, and when
everybody was gone you could come and find me. No, that would
not do, either' She roused herself and walked on. 'There is
nothing for it to-day but to go straight through. I think people are
all bewitched and beside themselves!'
He laughed at her a little, and let her go with a consoling assurance
that they "would soon end all that." And as the day was wearing
on, and the pleasure of such pleasure-seekers as then filled Wych
Hazel's woods was especially variety, they were very ready to quit
the chestnuts and saunter up to the house; in hope of the luncheon
which there awaited them. Mrs. Bywank knew her business; and
the guests knew, not that, but the fact that somebody knew it and
that the luncheons at Chickaree were pleasant times and very
desirable. So there was soon a universal drawing towards the hill
top, from all the forsaken chestnut trees, which were left by no
means despoiled of their harvest. They had served their turn; now
came the turn of patties and cold meats and jellies and ices and
fruits. The gathering was rather large; larger than it had shewn for
in the woods. The Chickaree house was full and running over; and
chestnutters were found to have fearful appetites; and flirtations
took new life and vivacity in the new atmosphere; and the whole
of it was, people would not go away. Not only Wych Hazel but
both her guardians had sharp work for hour after hour attending to
the wants and the pleasure of the guests; who at last, when the day
was waning, and not till then, slowly made up their minds to take
their departure, and one by one took leave of their hostess with
thanks and flatteries expressive of highest gratification and
admiring delight. Party after party Dane saw to their carriages and
bowed off; the house was emptied at last; Mr. Falkirk had betaken
himself to the seclusion of his cottage already some time before;
and when the afternoon was really darkening, enough to make the
glow of the fires within tell in ruddy cheer upon walls and curtains,
Dane left the hall door and the latest departure and went into the
house to find Wych Hazel and get his "notes" paid.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE WORTH OF A FEATHER.
The door of the red room stood open now, and the room was filled
with firelight which came streaming out into the hall to usher him
in. Hazel was down before the fire, sending persuasive puffs from
her bellows into the very depths of the coals.
'What is left of you?' said Dane coming and taking the bellows
from her hand.
'Much more than you are aware of. Have some chestnuts?just
for variety,'and Hazel took from her pocket and poured into his
hand her collection of extra specimens. Then quietly slipping from
her fingers all the disguising rings she dropped them one by one
into the empty pocket, until the emerald was left alone.
'Good fruit'said Dane viewing the big chestnuts.
'I have been saving them up for you all day. You know I could not
always help taking them.'
'Do you mean that people have been paying tribute to you in your
own chestnuts?'
'Having nothing of their own that I would touch.'
'In the meanwhile, what besides have you touched? I want to
know.'
'Never mindwe will have tea by and by. Dr. Maryland said you
were to wait here for himor for a message. Whichever came
first, I suppose.'
'I am not going to wait here for him,'said Dane, ringing the bell.
'Will this bring Dingee?'
'No,' said Hazel laughing; 'that will bring Phoebe. Dingee
acknowledges nothing but my whistle.'
'Where is that?'
'Here'touching the little gold toy at her belt. 'But you do not
know how to blow it, Mr. Rollo.'
Dane lifted the trinket and examined it, and then remarking that 'a
whistle is a whistle,' put his lips to it and made the call sound loud
and clear through the house.
'What do you want?' said Hazel laughing at him. 'Dingee will
know better than to think me responsible for that. Tell me what
you want, and I will obey ordersas usual.'
'Dingee will know better than to think anybody else has blown
your whistle. Dingee!'as the boy appeared,'go and say to Mrs.
Bywank, with my compliments, that your mistress has had nothing
to eat all day, except chestnuts. I think she will know what to do.'
Dingee took in the situation and went off with a flourish.
'Did you see John Charteris here to-day?' Hazel said suddenly.
'I think he crossed my line of vision,' said Dane carelessly.
'Well I did not ask him.'
'What then?' said Rollo looking amused at her.
'I did not want you should think that I would.' And Hazel, full of
her own successful schemes in the mill business, smiled down
upon the fire a whole sweet fund of triumph and delight, to which
not only lips but eyes bore witness. Still looking amused, but with
a great tenderness coming upon that, Rollo considered her.
'It is beyond the power of John Charteris to give me any
uneasiness,' he said. 'And you are forgetting my emerald, Hazel.'
'I? What? Forgetting?'
'Forgetting what it means. Hazelwhat is your ideal of a
wedding?'
Rollo was drawing one of Hazel's brown curls through his fingers
and spoke in the coolest manner of abstract speculation. But the
question came too close upon emeralds not to call up a vivid start
of colour. As soon as she could, Hazel answered that 'as she had
none, it was impossible to tell.'
'Let me state mine,' said Rollo. 'It may be useful to find out
whether we think alike. In the first place, then, as to the scene of
action.The main thing is, to be where a large number of people
can see us, and where we shall make part of an imposing picture. I
can think of nothing better, in this country, than the Capitol of
Washington. That would be showy, and central. I have no doubt it
could be obtained for the occasion. I cannot think of any place
more public or more demonstrative; can you?'
'Well?' said Hazel, stifling a laugh, for Dane's face was perfectly
grave.
'We should of course in that case invite the Senate and House of
Representatives, and give a cold collation to the city of
Washington. With your money and mine, we could not well do
less.'
' "We" is rather superfluous.'
'How so?' very innocently.
'Never mind now; go on.'
'You approve, so far?' enquired Rollo, with dangerous demureness
in the wise gray eyes.
'O I have nothing to do with the matter,' said Hazel. 'It is _your_
imagination that has slipped its bridle, and I am simply curious to
see where it will bring up.'
'I don't know myself,' said Rollo. 'I am trying to fancy what the
presents will be. Of course, since we ask the Senate and House of
Representatives to the wedding, every man of them will send you a
piece of plate; probably the majority of them will be teakettles. As
I do not drink tea, it hardly concerns me much; but they will be
very convenient for you. The arrangement of them for inspection is
a matter of some difficulty;I would suggest a pyramidal
scaffolding on which they might be all disposed with very striking
effect; indeed if it were done cleverly I conceive it might be
possible to give the impression of a solid pyramid of teakettles;
which would be imposing. The Hall of Representatives would be a
good place, I should think; allowing of an effective display of the
bronze statuettes which will probably accompany the teakettles.
Every giver's name, of course, is to be appended to his own piece
of plate; so that it can be seen at a glance who has given most; and
then with the income tax reports in your hand, you can see who
_ought_ to have given most. I think all New York would be there. Be
a good thing for the railway companies!'
Wych Hazel laughed a little bit, but she was too shy of the subject
and too conscious of hot cheeks, to enter upon it very freely.
'There is one thing you have forgotten,' she said. 'Your "ideal" is
not complete, Mr. Rollo.'
'What do you suggest?'
'An ideal woman. I am waiting for that.'
'Did you think I was going to have a wedding without a bride?'
'Wellcan you match the colours? You have put in the teakettles
rather strong.'
'I hope they'll be strong,' said Dane, 'if they are anything. If there is
anything I don't like, it is weak ware.'
Hazel was silent, looking rather intently into the fire.
'I think I have mentioned everything except the bride's dress and
the wedding journey. And the first subject I feel myself
incompetent to approach. In general, the main thing is that it
should gratify curiosity and be somehow in advance of anything of
the kind ever worn before. Is not that the great point?'
'Did you ever set Prim to talk to me about my dress?' said Hazel,
facing round upon him with a wide change of subject in her own
mind. Dane, with his own still before him, laughed and said no;
and then asked with some curiosity why she enquired?'
'I was afraid you had,that is all.'
'That is a little too much. I never set other people to do my work.'
He could see a gleam of pleasure cross her face, but she only said
quietly, 'I am glad.'
'What did Prim say to you?'
'O it was some time agothe night we were in Norway together.
Prim asked me what I was going to "do" about dress. And to this
day I do not know what she meant.'
'Your wedding dress?'
'Ah be quiet!' said Hazel. 'I am talking sense. Is your imagination
too exhausted to bring you back to the land of reality?'
'I am speaking the most commonplace sense I possess. If Prim was
not referring to your wedding dress, what did she mean?'
'That is just what I do not quite know. Prim asked that all of a
sudden, and I said, I did not know what she meant by "do;" and she
said "manage;" and I said I never managed. And then she saidat
least asked'
'What?' said Dane, a trifle imperatively.
'Whether I thought you would like to have me dress as I do,'said
Hazel in a low voice.
The gray eyes took quick account of several items in the little
lady's attire, then turned away; and Dane remarked that 'Prim had
meant no harm.'
'No, not a bit. But it puzzled me,and I looked down at my dress,
justas you did now. And Prim said, of course she did not mean
what I wore _then_, but that I always dressed so beautifully. And
then I thought,' said Hazel with the laugh in her voice, 'that maybe
she thought it was wrong to have one's dress hang right. And next
morning I was naughty enough to pull out her loopings and do
them over. Then I asked her if she felt demoralized, or something.
And Prim wanted to know if I thought she meant _that?_ and bade
me look at your dress. Which I have, very often,' Hazel added with
a shy glance, 'but I do not find that it gives me any help about my
own.'
Dane rewarded this speech with a look of grave deliberation,
which ended with the corners of his mouth breaking into all
manner of lines of fun. Hazel smiled too, partly at him, partly at
herself.
'You see what always happens when I talk out,' she said. 'I am sure
to be laughed at for my "confidence," as you call it. But Mr. Rollo,
I did not much mind what Prim said. Not a bit, only for two little
things.'
'What little things, Hazel?' and there was the force of a dozen
"dears" and "my loves" in the quiet intonation.
'I thought for a while that you had told her to talk to me. As you
did once before.'
A quick look denied all knowledge of such an occasion.
'At Greenbushthat night,' said Hazel.
'That night,' said Dane smiling again. 'But I did not set her to talk
to you then. I only sent her to do what I supposed at the moment
she might do more acceptably.'
'I know'said Hazel, 'but I never could take second-hand orders.
That was one of the times when you made a mistake in your
dealings with me.'
'Well? You know I shall not make such mistakes any more. And
yet, Hazel,' said he growing grave, 'that is too much for me to say
even lightly. Perhaps I shall make mistakes. Till we have lived
long enough together to know each other thoroughly, I might.
What will you do then?'
She laughed a little, half raised her eyes, and let them fall. 'No,' she
said, 'you will not repeat those two or three great ones; and others
do not matter.'
'Two or three!' said Dane; but then he began again.'What was
the other "little thing" that annoyed you in Prim's words the other
night?'
'About as wise as the first! I never supposed you noticed my
dress,or would,while I kept out of yellow feathers and sky
blue gloves. But Prim left a sort of impression, that if ever you
_should_, it would be to dislike it. And that troubled me a little bit at
the time, and has troubled mejust a little bitever since.'
Probably Dane's first thoughts were not put into words. What he
did, was to get hold of Wych Hazel's hand, and between the kisses
he gave it he remarked,
'I never noticed your dress without feeling a certain delight in its
perfect harmonies; andI never saw you without noticing your
dress.'
'_You?_' Hazel said with a quick, timid intonation. And then there
came a great flush of pleasure, and she looked away and was
silent; thinking to herselfwhat she herself would have called "all
sorts of things."
'Don't you think,' said Dane coolly, 'that as we have evidently so
much respectively to learn about each other, we had better begin as
soon as possible?'
'Are you expecting such new developments?But then,' she said,
the doubtful look waking up again, 'what did Primrose mean? She
meant something,and you know what it was.'
'Do I? I suppose Primrose felt that I had changed from my once
views of that, as of other subjects.'
'What were your "once" views?' said Hazel. 'I hardly knew that
people had what you call "views" about dress.'
Rollo smiled.
'I suppose mine were what yours are now.'
'Then yours never had existence.'
'And your dress _happens_. Do you mean that?'
'No, no!but if I had worn two or three necklaces to the woods
this morning, it would have been want of sense and taste, not of
views.'
'Certainly. Your "views" of dress are sense and taste. Or rather,
your instinct, I should say.'
'But,' said Hazel,'no, that is not what I mean. Sense and taste
have to do directly with the subject,they grow out of it, or are
mixed up with it,I wish anybody had ever taught me to talk,
among other things!I mean, they are intrinsic. And "views"
always seemed to take an outside stand, irrespective of everything.
I think I do not like "views." '
'You cannot help having them,' said Dane laughing at her. '
"Views" are merely the simplest word for _how you see a thing;_
under what light, and proportions, and relations.'
Hazel shook her head.
'I never was famous for seeing things,' she said. 'I think I go more
by instinct. What do you compliment me by supposing my views
of dress to be, Mr. Rollo?'
'That is something from which you are to get, and give, the sense
of beauty, in infinite variety.'
"Well, leaving that statement for the present, what are yours,
please?'
'That it is a usable thing, which I am to use, like everything else,
for my Master.'
Hazel glanced at him, and looked away.
'Up to a certain point,' she said, 'our views go side by side; we both
call it a power.'
Dane was silent, with a certain sweet, grave silence, that evidently
was not in want of thoughts. Hazel sat still too for a few minutes,
knotting her little fingers together. She glanced at him again before
she went on.
'But further than that, I do not understand. I think, generally, I have
dressed to please myself,not often for a purpose; though I could
do that, I suppose, upon occasion. That is, in my sort of way. But
in _yours_, Mr. Rollo,I should get in such a labyrinth of black
merino and green silk and blue velvet and white muslin, no line
that ever was twisted would be long enough to guide me out.'
'There's a short way out,' said Rollo. 'I will not let you get into a
labyrinth.'
'That may alter the case,' said Hazel with a half laugh. 'But just
Prim's words, and the thought of your criticising my dress, put me
in such confusion to-day that I was very near not getting dressed at
all; and was ever so much ashamed of myself.' The fluttering white
dress, by the way, had given place to one of the soft leaf-brown
silks in which she delighted. Perhaps Rollo's eyes liked it too; for
they took a complacent view and came back to her face with a
smile.
'It is a problem, to be worked out,' he said.
'In my way, to your ends?' queried Hazel. 'The difference lying in
the use or disposal of the power when in hand. Is that what you
mean?'
'That will do. But _sometimes_ it happens, that beauty of effect must
give way before more important uses.'
'Why? And how?' she said looking at him.
'Do you want me to go into it?'
'Yes, of course. And get me out.'
'I don't know about that. Well,I have seen you,to come to
personalities,I have seen you, for instance, wearing a hat and
feather. I have good reason to remember it; for the play of that
feather used to gratify and irritate me, both at once, beyond what
was on the whole easy to bear. The hat suited the feather, and the
feather became the hat; and hat and feather were precisely suited to
you. _Your_ purpose, or "views," in dressing, were perfectly
attained. Suppose I could shew you that the pretty brown plume
represented what would keep a certain poor family from suffering
through the winter months?'
If Hazel was ready to laugh at one point of this speech, she grew
grave enough over the remainder; the sensitive colour stirring and
deepening in her cheeks. Anything that ever came near direct
personal criticism was so new to her.
'But Mr. Rollo' she began.
'Yes,' he said gently and taking her hand, 'I am waiting for that.
Say just what is in your mind.'
'The poor family did not come forward, or they could have had
what they wanted. I did not know where they were. You do not
think I invest everything in feathers,feelings and all?'
'Hazel, I am putting a case. It is a constant case, certainly; but
brought forward just now to illustrate a principlenothing else.
Suppose the poor family did come forward and get its supply; then
I could tell you of a case of sickness, and shew you that your
feather represented the professional attendance and skill which
poverty could not command.'
'But, but,' said Hazel earnestly,'I mean. Suppose,I have
enough for them and myself too?'
'Then I could tell you of a poor invalid, to whom a few weeks in
the country would be life and health; but she cannot stop work. Or
I could tell you of a family just turned out of house and home
because illness has made them behindhand with the rent. I could
shew you friendless children, to one of whom your feather would
give safety and food for a year. Or feeble and ailing people, to
whom it would supply the delicacies they cannot get nor do
without. Or poor ministers, to whom it could go in an invaluable
parcel of books. Or ignorant poor, seeking instruction, to whom it
would be months of schooling. And then, I should but have given
you samples, Hazel, which you might multiply by the hundred and
the thousand, and still keep far within the literal fact.'
She listened with a grave face, trying to follow; but it is hard for
eighteen to realize at all what even fourscore takes in but dimly.
'You think I am extravagant,' she said.
'That would be a very harsh word in this connection. I do not mean
it. I was trying to answer you. You said, "Suppose I have enough
for them and myself too." '
'I wonder if I am?' she said with a half laugh and yet soberly.'I
wish I could stand off and look at myself. Mr. Rollo, will you give
me another instance? I shall have to forgive that feather, because it
had the honour of "irritating" you, and so enlists my sympathies;
but what else have you seen me wear, that could do so much more
than itself?'
'The red squirrel has no business to preach to the shrew mouse,'
said he lightly, but looking at her as if doubtful how far it were
best to go.
'I am not a shrew,' said Hazel with somewhat prompt decision.
'Nor a mouse. Nor spun glass. So all those little preliminaries are
disposed of. And I do not see why you should preach to everybody
else and not to me.'
Dane however had scruples. He looked at Wych Hazel, and though
his gray eyes were all afire with purpose and spirit, he pursed up
his lips with a low whistle and getting up from his chair took a turn
or two through the large room. Finally came and stood before
Wych Hazel.
'What is the cost of that dress you have on,' said he. 'I mean, by the
yard?'
'This? I have no idea. I order what I like, and pay the bills when
they come. What was the use of information with which I could do
nothing?' But the colour started again.
'We shall have to get the bills, then, before we can go on. If you
have kept them, that is.'
'Do you mean,' she said, looking up at him rather wistfully now,'
that I am _always_ what you call extravagant?'
'Never, that I know of,' said he smiling down at her. 'To be
extravagant, is to go beyond bounds; and one who has never been
conscious of the bounds, cannot be justly said to have done that.'
'One ought to be conscious of proper bounds,' said Hazel, as if she
were a good deal disappointed in herself.
'You are only just beginning to be conscious of anything,' said
Dane audaciously.
'StatementsI cannot think how you find time to get them all up.
Well, Mr. Rollo? what next?'
'I should like to know how soon you are going to let me come
home,' said he sitting down by her.
In an instant Hazel was absolutely still, even to the ends of the
small fingers that lay folded in her lap, peeping out from the broad
lace shadows. And, nicely timed for her, the tea bugle just then
rang out, and the door of the red room opened to admit Dingee and
the tea tray; with cold partridge, and salad, and delicate loaves of
bread, white and brown, and wonderful cake, and a shape of Mrs.
Bywank's own special quince jelly. Hazel sprang up to superintend
and give directions; but when the little table was spread and
wheeled up, she dismissed Dingee and went to making the tea
herself.
'I often have tea here when I am alone,' she said,'I mean, when
Mr. Falkirk does not come. And I thought perhaps you would like
it too.'
'Very much,' returned Dane demurely. 'So much that I am
impatient for it to become a stated fact. How long do you mean to
keep me at Gyda's?'
'You have such a peculiar way of putting questions,' said Hazel,
emulating the composure in everything but her face. 'Never
wording them so they can be answered. And there is no use in
disturbing them ages beforehand. Shall I give you coffee, Mr.
Rollo?'
'You are under a mistake. I am not going to be an age at Gyda's.'
'Wellthen Gyda will be disappointed.'
'And you?'
'You know you always have sufficient force of character to
disappoint me easily.'
'Have I? Would it disappoint you very much if I proposed to be
married at Christmas?'
'In that case,' answered Miss Wych, 'the force of character would
be on my side, and the disappointment on yours.'
'May I ask your views?' said Dane, with a coolness that was
provoking.
'Ah, be quiet!' said Hazel in desperation,'you are perplexing all
my ideas. Is it five lumps of sugaror sixthat go in when you
have control of the sugar bowl?'
'The question is, just now, how many go in when you have the
control?' But then he let the supper take its course for a while in
commonplace peace.
'I wonder,' Wych Hazel began suddenly, her thoughts flying back
to the talk before tea,'I was thinkingI have thought very
often,how many things you will find in me that you do not like?
And how little there is you would like to find!'
A flash of the eyes came to her across the table; and then Dane
remarked quietly that he had thought of that a number of times.
'Indeed I may say,' he added, 'that I am always thinking of it.'
She laughed a little bit, catching his meaning, but the serious look
came back.
'For instance,' she said,'all this that I spend on myself, you
wouldand dospend on other people.'
'I think nothing can equal my astonishment at that "statement,"
except the impossibility of answering it!'
'But I do not mean anything ridiculous,' said Hazel,'not bread
and butter and partridges. At least, I don't know about the
partridgesbut you understand. And I do not mean that I would
not give _them_ up,only'
'Did I convey the impression that I wished you to give up
partridges?'
'Yesif somebody else wanted them more,' said Hazel. 'And I am
willing enough. But then, but then!I wish you knew,' she said,
rising abruptly as Dingee came in to clear the table. 'I wish I could
tell you.'
CHAPTER XV.
CONFIDENTIAL TALK.
Dane waited, till Dingee's services had been performed and the
door was closed behind him again; then came beside Wych Hazel
where she was standing and drew her within his arm.
'What do you wish you could tell me, Hazel?' he said, with the
tenderness of eye and voice which, with him, came instead of
expletives of endearment. There was a faint quiver of the lips that
answered,
'Thingsabout me, that you ought to know. And it is very hard to
tell you some things, Mr. Rollo.'
'It would be easier, if you could call me something else,' he said,
bending to kiss her. 'I should like to know anything about you.
What are these "things"?'
'My thoughts and life. And I cannot tell them without saying so
muchthat I would not say, and, maybe, ought not.Only, when
you begin to start questionsand subjects,then,' Hazel paused
to gather her forces. 'Then I think it is right you should know
everything about me, first.' The last word came out very low, and
even the instinct of truth could hardly have carried her further just
then.
'Go on, and tell me,' said Dane gently. 'The words are as sweet to
me as a chime of bells; but, just yet, not so intelligible.'
She stood very still for a minute, her head bent down. Then softly
disengaged herself.
'I cannot talk to you so,' she said. 'Sit down, please, in the bergère,
and let me sit here; and I will tellwhat I can.'
"Here" meant a low foot cushion near the bergère, where the
young lady placed herself, but a little drawn back and turned away,
where only the firelight could look in her face.
'Stop!'said Dane, arresting this part of the arrangements. 'You at
my feet!'
'Yes, if I like it,' said Hazel. 'When you have to gainsay people in
great things, you should always let them have their way in small.'
She got up and crossed over to the fire, replacing a brand that had
fallen down; came back to her cushion and sat there a minute with
her hands folded.
'A year ago,' she said, 'when you drove home with me from
Moscheloo,you had no new views, Mr. Rollo. None in practice.
In a sense, you and I were on the same ground.'
'Well?'said he, a little anxiously.
'Then in the winter,I partly guessed first from Dr. Maryland's
words what you told me,in effect, yourself. And at first I liked
it,I thought I was glad.'
'At first'echoed Rollo.
'At first,' Hazel repeated. 'It suited me, to have you take the highest
stand you could, and Mrs. Coles stirred up enough antagonism to
keep me from knowing that I was anything but glad.'
'Why should you be anything but glad?' said Dane, in tones which
did not reveal the surprise which was growing upon him.
'I did not know that I wasuntil you came. Mr. Falkirk kept up the
antagonism, and I had not much time to think. But when you
came' She hesitated a little, then went steadily on. It was so like
Hazel, to do what she had to do, if it took her through fire and
water!'I had left you standing in one place,' she said, 'and you
had moved quite away to another. And I knewthat standing
thereyou would never have seen me.'
'That is a conclusion you have no right to,' said Dane calmly.
'No matterit is true. You eyes would have been set for other
things, and your appreciation would have been all changed and
different. I knew it then, that night. You talked of things I but half
understood, and your face was all shining with a light that did not
fall on me. And partly it mortified me,I was used to having at
least some vantage ground; and partly it brought back the old
loneliness, which hadperhapsjust a little bit gone away. Then
you left me a lesson.'
Dane sat where she had desired him, but leaning down towards
her, listening and looking very gravely and intently. 'Yes,' he
answered; 'and you studied it.'
'I tried.'The words came rather faintly. 'And that was there the
tangle began.'
'What made the tangle?'
'Becausebecause the lesson and you were all wrapped up
together. And I could never study it withoutstudying you. And
soso it came,'she drew her breath a little, holding her fingers
tight,'that before I _could_ know much about thatI had to decide
something elsedefinitelyfirst.'
Certainly some things are hard to tell!
'Well, you _did_ decide something else definitely,' said Dane, with
most delightful matter-of-fact gravity of manner, not seeming to
recognize her difficulty at all.
'Then the tangle grew worse,' said Hazel. 'I used to think I was
trying to be interested, or trying to understand, or trying to do, just
to please you,or because you would like me better. And
besides'
'Wellit would not have been very wicked if that had been partly
true.'
'No,' said Hazel,'but then the work would not have been real;
and I never could tell. And besides,' she went on again, 'you did
not come, and I did not hear,and it did not suit me to be always
thinking about youand I tried to put the whole thing out of my
head.'
'Did I make a mistake then?' said Rollo. 'But I found I could not
bear very well to meet you on the neutral ground of that year. I
was waiting.'
'Yes. I was not speaking of that,' she said. 'When you take such a
tangle into society, it ties itself into twenty new knots. That is all
that need be said of the summer and spring. Then I came home.'
'And _then_ I made a mistake,' said Rollo. 'You need not tell me
that.'
She sighed a little, answering to another point.
'You could not know that you had started all the old questions
again, and that I thought it was maybe your changed point of
viewthat made it so easy for you to give me up.'
'But why do you recal all this now, Hazel?' asked Dane, very
quietly. 'I never gave you up; it was a fancied somebody that was
not you.'
'It came in the course of my story. I could not pass it. Only for
that,' she said, turning her face towards him for a moment.
'Because then, in some of those days, I thoughtperhapsI had
learned the lesson you set me.'
'And you do not think so now?'
'I am not sure that it was true work,' she answered slowly. 'For in a
storm one flies to shelter,and just then my hands sought
anything that could stand and would not change. But now'
Dane was proverbially scarce a patient man after a certain line was
passed. He left his chair now, stooped and took Hazel's hands and
gently pulled her up from her low cushion; and then took her in his
arms and held her close.
'I understand all about it,' he said. 'You need not try to tell me any
more. My little Wych! Look here; there are just two things to be
said, one mediate, the other immediate. In the first place, no
uncertainty of motives need embarrass or delay your action in a
course that you know to be right. In the next place,Hazel,don't
you see, that when we have been married a while and I am become
an old story, I shall be more of a help and less of a hindrance? And
I know all about you; and I don't know it a bit better after all this
long exposition than I did before. And if I have changed my
standpoint relatively to some things, I have never changed it
respecting you, except to draw nearer. Now confess you have been
a foolish child.'
The soft laugh which answered him had more than shyness to
make it unsteady.
'I do not suppose you want to change me for anybody else,' she
said. 'But I do not want you to think I _am_ anybody else.'
There came just then rapid hoof-beats round the house, and in a
minute more Dingee presented himself in the red room, bearing a
request that Mr. Rollo would come to the side door for a moment,
to see Dr. Arthur Maryland.
CHAPTER XVI.
DR. ARTHUR'S NEWS.
The doctor was on horseback, but standing a little way off from the
steps.
'Stay where you are' he said, speaking low however. 'Dane, there
is ship fever among those Swedes that have just come to the
Hollow.'
'The Schiffers?'
'Yes. I was not certain till to-night, but I have been all day taking
precautions and making arrangements, and could not get away a
minute sooner. I was afraid you might miss a message; and I
would not write notes there to be opened here. Now I cannot stop
to talk, but if you will send me general orders every morning for
men and business in the Hollow, I will see them carried out. Good-
night.My respects to her Grace.'
'StopArthur!' said the other as he was moving off'I shall be
there presently.'
'On no account!' said Dr. Arthur wheeling round. 'I am too glad
that you were here to-day. Always depute that part of your work
which somebody else can do.'
'I will be there, Arthur, in an hour or two. Go onyou had better
not wait for me.'
Dr. Arthur sat still a minute, looking down between his horse's
ears.
'Well,' he said,'perhaps it is none of my business, but do you
know what a sensitive plant you have to deal with in there? She
must not have another shock like that mysterious one of a month
ago. Good-night!'
With a somewhat slow step, Rollo left the hall door and went back
to the red room. But his face shewed no change to disturb Wych
Hazel. He came back first to the fire, and somewhat thoughtfully,
quite silently, put it in order. By that time he was ready. He faced
Wych Hazel, and spoke in his ordinary tone.
'I am glad we have had this day, Wychand I am glad we have
had our talk this evening: for I find we cannot have another in
some time.'
'You are going away?' she said, rising and coming towards him.
'One of your business trips? Then this will be my time for a few
days in town, to "do about dress" a little. Do you suppose
honestlythat anybody wants my new gloves?' The question came
with a laugh and a flash which yet did not hide it. But silently
Dane folded his two arms about her and pressed kiss after kiss
upon brow and lips. That shewed feeling more than he meant to
shew it. Yet when he spoke his tone was clear and sweet, no
shadow at all in it.
'I am not going away.'
She drew off as far as she could, to look at him, with sudden
instinctive fear. Only her eyes put questions now.
'Yes,' he said,'there is sickness in the Hollow. And it is
contagious sickness.'
'O, is there?'with a grave look which yet told more of relief that
concern. 'And you are going to help Dr. Arthur take care of them!'
He answered absently, looking at her, as a man might who
expected to lose such an indulgence for some time to come. Her
face was very thoughtful for a minute; then she looked up with
almost a smile.
'Yes,' she repeated,'of course you must. Well, I am ready.'
'Are you?' said he. 'For what?'
'You think I do not know enough,' said Hazel with some eagerness;
'and I do not know much; but I can follow directions. And Byo
declares she was never so taken care of in her life as once by me.'
Instead of answering, at first, Dane clasped her closer in his arms
and kissed her, as if in anticipation of the hunger for the sight of
her which would shortly set in.
'I should like to have you take care of me,' he said at length. 'If I
needed a little care, that is.'
'Well,' said Wych Hazel, 'you may put it so, if you like. You will
need a great deal before you have been in that Hollow two days.'
'Need it. Do you think you can give it?' said he wistfully.
'Without a doubt.'
'But you are not my wife, Wychyou cannot be there with me
now. And if you were my wife, you could not. Do you think I
would let you?'
She shrank back a little, hanging her head. This view of the case
had certainly not come up.
'I thoughtI supposeanybody may come and go to see sick
people,' she said under her breath. 'I thought, anybody might stay
with them. And I think so now. I never heard of etiquette over
small-pox.'
'You could not "come and go" to these people. I shall establish a
strict quarantine, and probably be in it myself. You must not come
even near the Hollow.'
'But I need not have anything to do with you,' pleaded Hazel. 'I am
going to serve under Dr. Arthur.'
'That is just my place.'
'You may keep it,' said Hazel. 'A woman's place is not solid and
stationary like a man's. Nobody will know where I am, but some
poor sick child that everyone else is too busy for.'
Perhaps Dane smothered a sigh; but he only said, clear and clean-
cut the words were now,
'I cannot have you there, Hazel. You must keep your place and do
your work here. The Hollow is my business.'
'And you mean to leave me outside of your business?' she
questioned, with eyes incredulous even yet.
'Outside of this business. And you are not to come even near the
Hollow. I know you do not like to give promises, and so I do not
ask for one. This is not a request. You understand?'
'Olaf!'It was the sweetest of pleading tones. But no more words
followed,neither word nor look.
'Ah you have adopted me at last, have you!' said he. 'I have been
waiting for this. And the sweetness of it will be in my ears all these
days before me. The _next time_ you speak that word in such music,
Hazel, I will give you what you ask.'
'Not now?' she said softly. 'I may not go even to Gyda's?'
'Gyda will be with me.'
The words, the utterance, were cheery, clear and sweet; at the same
time strong and absolute. And Rollo wore a look which I think a
woman does not dislike to see on a face she loves, even though its
decisions be against her; there was sweetness enough in it, also
unmanageableness! No shadow, it must be noted. If he was going
into danger, and knew it, the fact did not shadow him.
Hazel stood still, struggling with herself; fighting the
disappointment and the restraint; most of all, the sorrow which
came in the train of the other two. For with the passing away of her
own thought of going, the thought that he must go came out clear
and strong. Into that infected place, to be shut up in quarantine
with no one knew what! Hazel passed her hands across her
forehead as if she were pushing the shadows right and left, bidding
them wait.
'I wanted to ask,' she said,and then the voice changed, and
suddenly the soft touch of her fingers came to his face, stroking
back some lock of hair to its accustomed place. But the look was
as intent and unconscious as if she never expected to see him again
in all her life. And he stood still, like a man under a spell, which he
would not break by the least movement.
'Those people,' she began again hurriedly, bringing herself back to
business and a business tone, 'will want a great deal. And there is
not much in the Hollow, nor on the hill. If you will let me, I can
have supplies sent from here every day. Mrs. Bywank will know
what. And my messenger need not go near that part of the Hollow;
the things can be left at any point you say.' She looked up
eagerlythen down again; not much fonder than he was of asking
what she could not have.
'Do that, by all means,' was the answer. 'Your supplies may be left
at the mill where I read.'
The shadow on her face deepened.
'Will you write?'
'No.' His face began to take on something of the yearning look of
the Huguenot in the picture.
'How then shall I hear?'
'I have been thinking about that. I do not know; unless Arthur can
carry reports now and then to Dr. Maryland, and Prim or her father
bring them to you.'
'He may come straight here at once,' said Hazel. 'I can talk out of a
window as well as anybody else. And if anybody ventures to come
here to comfort me, I shall'
'What?' said Rollo smiling.
'Send me no reports that way. I could not bear it. And Dr. Arthur
will stay in the Hollow while you stay.'
There was a moment's gesture that reminded him of the despairing
way in which she had flung herself down in the chair, that long
ago night at Green Bush.
'Dr. Arthur will go and come as a physician should, according to
the demand for him. What will _you_ do, my little Wych?'
'I do not know. Only one thing.'
'What is that one thing?'
Again Hazel was silent, struggling with herself, controlling her lips
to speak.
'Just one thing'the words came passionately now. 'If you are
sick, I shall come. And it is no use to lay commands on me,
because I should break them all in one minute. I know I should.
Promises or commands or anything else.'
He paused slightly before he spoke.
'Do you know, Mrs. Bywank once said in my hearing that you
were the lovingest little thing that ever lived. I knew she was right.
I have been waiting for this minute. It makes me a rich man. But
you will not come to the Hollow, Hazel, even though I were ill.
You must love me enough to mind my wishes. It is hard, I know. It
is the very last and uttermost proof of love.'
Hazel was bending down, busy detaching something from her
chatelaine. The fingers were quick and hurried, but the words came
slow.
'Hush,' she said. 'You must not say that. You are confusing things.
And your rights do not cover all the ground. There is a corner,
somewhere, where mine grow. Now'she raised her head,
drawing a long breath,how fast the gathering tide of anxiety and
sorrow came rolling in!'See here. I know you have nothing so
womanish as a vinaigrette about you,but womanish things are
useful just now and then. Will you fasten this to your watch
chainto please me?'The eyes were wistful in their beseeching.
She was so uncertain of having anything granted to-night!
He met them with a grave, searching attention, and releasing her
from the arms which had till then enfolded her, gravely fastened
the vinaigrette as she wished. He turned slightly then and rested
his elbow on the mantel-piece, looking down into the fire which
his care had caused to leap into brilliant life. As motionless on her
part Hazel stood, with fingers interlaced and still. But her eyes
were on the floor. Presently Rollo roused himself, and stretching
out his hand took Wych Hazel's and drew her nearer to him.
'I cannot go and leave this question undecided,' he said; 'and I must
go soon. How shall it be settled, Wych?'
Some things are hard to talk of, which yet are in the thoughts; and
contingencies take life and reality by being put in words. The
shadow on the girl's face grew deep as she answered,yet the
answer was quiet.
'You know, reverse the case, you would not be bound by any
words of mine. You knowthat you are what I have in the world.
And I know, that ifif' there was a moment's pause,'that if it
came to that, I should go. I could not be bound.'
The gravity of his face as he listened to her, you could hardly call
it a shadow, changed and flickered with a quivering smile; and the
eyes flashed and then darkened again. The end was, he drew Wych
Hazel into his arms, clasping her very tight.
'I knowI know,' he said, kissing her face with passionate touches
which had all the sorrow of the time, as well as all the joy, in them.
'I know. All the same, I will not have you there, Hazel, if I am ill. I
should settle the matter very quickly with anybody else; but you
disarm me. I cannot stir a step without hurting you. What shall I
say to you?' he went on, holding her fast, and stroking the hair
back from her forehead with the gentlest possible touch. 'It has
come sooner than I expected, this sort of trial, which generally
comes, I suppose, whenever two lives that have been separate join
together to become one. There will be differences of judgment, or
of feeling; and what is to happen then? And what am I to fall back
upon, when love and authority have both proved insufficient? for I
have authority as your guardian. I shall have to ask now for your
promise; the promise that you never break. For I will be secure on
this head, before I leave the house, Hazel.'
'People should have reasons for exerting their authority.'
'Of that,' said Dane with the same gentleness, but very steadily, 'he
who exerts it must be the judge himself.'
'Yes!' said Hazel, the impetuous element asserting itself once
more, 'but there is no use in beginning as you cannot go on. Do
you mean that alwaysI mean in futureif anything were the
matter with you, the first thing would be to send me out of the
house?'
'I hope not!' said Dane smiling. 'In my understanding of it, husband
and wife belong to one another, and are inseparable. There are
conceivable circumstances in which I might do it.'
A slight lift of the eyebrows dealt for a moment with this opinion
and let it drop. Into those imaginary regions Hazel did not see fit to
go. Nor into any others then. The flush of excitement died away,
and the weary look settled down upon brow and lips. She said no
more.
Rollo watched her a little while, then stooped and kissed her.
'I must go. Give me your promise, Hazel, that you will not come
near the Hollow without my leave.'
She answered with a certain subdued tone that matched the face,
'I have no intention of coming. Your command is enough. If I can
keep it, I will. No amount of promises could make my words any
stronger.' But she looked up again, one of her swift eager looks,
which again fell in silent gravity. There was scarcely another word
said; except one.
'Look away from second causes, Hazel.'
Linking her fingers round his hand, so she went with him silently
through the hall and down the steps; and stood there until he rode
away into the darkness and the light of his work, and she came
back into the light and the darkness of her own house.
CHAPTER XVII.
ALONE IN THE FIGHT.
Nature, with all her many faces, her thousand voices has seldom a
look or a tone to help our sorrow. Her joy is too endless in its
upspringing, her tears are too fresh and sweet; even the calm
steadiness of her quiet is to bewildered thoughts like the
unflickering coast light, against which the wild birds of the ocean
dash themselves, blinded, in the storm. Wych Hazel stood still at
the foot of the steps, until not even imagination could hear so
much as an echo of the rapid trot which she was not to hear again
for so long a time. The sweet October night, its winds asleep, its
insects silenced with a slight frost, its stars wheeling their brilliant
courses without a cloud, all smote her like a pain. Then some faint
stir of air brought, distantly and sweet, the scent of the woods
where they had been chestnutting that very day. With a half cry the
girl turned and fled up the steps, locking the door behind her;
remembering then keenly what else she was shutting out. She went
back to the red room, and stood thereshe and the spirit of
desolation. There was no tea tray, happily, with its cheerful
reminders; but there was the corner of the mantelpiece, and the
spot on the rug, and the firenow slowly wearing down to
embers, and the embers to ashes. There was her foot cushionand
the crimson bergère. But she could not touch anything,could not
take up the tongs which he had set down, even to put the fire in
safe order for the night; some one else must do that. Slowly she
went round the room, with a glance at everything; passed on to the
door and stood looking back; then shut it and went slowly up the
stairs. Midway she sat down and leaned her head against the
banisters. Sat there she knew not how long, until she heard Mrs.
Bywank's step going the rounds below; then rose and went on
again. But as Wych Hazel's little foot passed slowly up from stair
to stair, one thing in her mind came out in clear black and white, of
one thing she was sure: she _must_ lay hold of those immutable
things after which she had striven before. Mere hoping would not
do, she must make sure. In the happiness of the last weeks, she had
said, like David in his prosperity, "I shall never be moved,"
where was it all now? Above all other thoughts, even to-night, this
came: she could not live so. Tossed by one storm upon a roof here,
and by the next one carried out to sea. Something to hold her,
something that she could hold,that she must have.
Intensely bitter thoughts flocked in along with this. The hand she
had clasped so lately, and the way it had clasped her; a longing
that would hardly be gainsaid for the touch of it again. Was she
forgetting that? was she trying to loosen that bond? She paused,
leaning back against the wall, holding her hands tight. But even
with the answer the other cry came up: the world was all reeling
under her feet,she _must_ have something that would stand. For
the time everything else gave way. It was true, this trouble might
pass,then others would come: others from which even Dane
could not shield her. Already, twice in her little life, twice in three
months, had such a crisis come. Mrs. Bywank got no sight of her
that night; only gentle answers to enquiries through the closed
door; and Hazel lighted her study lamp, and opening her Bible at
the ninety-first psalm, and setting it up before her in the great easy
chair, knelt down before it and laid her head down too. No need to
go over the printed words,there was not one of them she did not
know. But was there anything there to help? She went them over to
herself, verse by verse, and verse after verse was not for her. It was
Dane who had taken that stand, who was leading that life; these
promises were all to him. No arrow of darkness was his fearshe
knew that well: no pestilence walking at his side could alarm _him_.
But as she went on, half triumphantly at first, with the detail of his
faith and his security, the vision of his danger come too; and a long
restless fit of pain ended all study for that time. Ended itself at last
in sleep,and the dreams of what was about him, and thoughts of
what he was about, gave no token of their presence but a sob or a
sigh, until the few remaining hours of the night swept by, and the
morning broke.
As I said somewhere else, the new day is often good for
uncertainties. The foolish fears, the needless alarms, the whole
buzzing troop of fidgets that come out in the darkness, go back to
their swamps and hiding places when the day has fairly come.
They cannot make head against the wholesome freshness of the
morning wind. Then painted hopes and lace-winged fancies flit out
to take their place: things certainly are better, or they will be better,
or they never have been bad.
But certainties are another matter. The new burdens, laid down in
sleep, but now to be taken up, and adjusted, and borne on through
all the ins and outs of the coming day. Morning does nothing for
_them_, but fasten them on securely, with a heavy hand.
Wych Hazel roused herself up as the day came on, and looked
things in the face so long, that her own face got little attention.
However, Phoebeand the force of habitsent her down in the
usual daintiness, at the usual time, to receive Mr. Falkirk, who
after all did not come. But Dingee was on hand, and so Hazel
made believe over her breakfast, quite successfully, and carried on
her mental fight of questions the while with no success at all. So
on through the day, until dinner time brought Mr. Falkirk; so on,
with a semi-consciousness, through all the evening's talk; and
when at length Wych Hazel went to her room again, it was with all
the trouble of last night, and a day's worry additional. She knew
what she wanted,she did not seem to know how to get it. Those
shining words lay up so high, above her reach: a mountain head
lifting itself out of the fogs of the valley wherein she dwelt. As for
the first verse of her psalm, it might as well have been a
description of Gabriel, for any use to her,so she thought,
shrinking back from the words. Then for the second verse,yes,
there was human weakness thereor had been. Some time a
refuge had been needed: but so long ago, that the years of calm
security had wiped out even the thought of defencelessness. That
was like Dane: she did not believe it ever occurred to him that he
wanted anything, or could. What was he doing now to-night, in the
darkness?Hazel rose and went to the window. What work it
must be, going round among the shadows of the Hollow, without a
moon!but then he would be in the houses,darker still! She
knew; she had sat there through one evening.She stood still at
the window, going over half mechanically to herself the next
verses. "Surely,"yes, it was all 'surely,' for him! was there
nothing for her? She was not in all the psalm, Hazel thought.
Unlessyes, that might fit well enough: she might stand for "the
wicked" in the eighth verse. For studying the shining words that
went before, there had come to her a feeling of soil, a sense of
degradation, all new, and utterly painful.
'No use to consider that now,' she said, knotting her hands together
as she went back to her seat. 'I want help. And I begin to think how
much I want it, I shall lose my wits.'Was there nothing for her?
Again the promises ran on as before, with new images, fresh
wording. There were angels enough keeping watch over Morton
Hollow to-night!was there no spare one to come to
Chickaree?Hazel put her head down and sobbed like a child in
her loneliness and desolation.
Next day she tried another plan, and began at the end of her psalm,
passing over the promise of long life as not just now of much
interest. And honour,she did not want that; nor deliverance,
where no devil was at hand. But this!
"I will be with him"
"I will answer him"
Was it for her?To whom was it said?
"He shall call upon me,"ah, that she had done a great many
times!this was not the whole description. Who was it then who
should be heard?She ran back over the words rapidly, fastening
then upon these few:
"Because he hath set his love upon me"!and Hazel knew she had
set her love upon some one else.
It was very bitter: the struggle was sharp and long: and duty and
possibility, and wrong and right, fought each other and fired upon
their own men.
She could not take back her love: that was impossible. She might
die, but that she could not do. And now with a certain gleam of
comfort, Hazel remembered that Dane had not withdrawn his.
How had he managed then? After all, it did not touch the question
much,he was a man, dependent of no one: she was a girl, with
nothing in the world but him. Yet she wanted more. A strength
above his, a love even more sure: "the things which cannot be
shaken."
So, slowly, she went back over the verses, laying hold still of but
that one thing in her way:
"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him."
Yes, it must be meant for her. And Hazel tried to shut her eyes to
the character that went with the promise. People like _that_, she
argued, would need nothing,it _must_ be for her. But oh she had
called so very often!Far back in the psalm, that is, close at the
beginning, another word flamed up before her in a sudden
illumination: a word she had read and reread, but now it stopped
her short. Another three words, that is:
"I will say."
Something that seemed to head the long list of blessings,
something for her. But it was something for her to do. What, then?
"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God;
in him will I trust."
"I will say."But close upon that followed "Surely."
_Could_ she say it? Was she ready for that absolute choice? The
words came to her as she had heard Dr. Maryland read them:
"You do now declare and avouch the Lord Jehovah to be your
God; and Jesus Christ to be your Saviour; and the Holy Spirit to be
your sanctifier.
"You do solemnly give yourself away, in a covenant to be revoked,
to be his willing servant forever."
She had noticed the words so often, half putting them to herself in
imagination, that now they came back to her with clear
distinctness. _This_ was what the psalm meant; nothing less. "A
willing servant?" Could she promise it? she, who hated control and
loved so dearly her own pleasure? But it all came to that:
"I will say of the Lord, He is my God."
Back and forth, back and forth, went thoughts and will and
purpose: sometimes almost persuaded, sometimes all up in arms.
Something gentler than need was lacking, something stronger than
fear must work. Slowly and sadly she turned over the leaves, far
on and on, to the other marked point: seeing them then, those
common words of print that she had read so often, seeing them
then in letters of flashing light.
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that
if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that
they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but
unto him which died for them, and rose again."2 Cor. 5. 14, 15.
Hazel laid her face down upon the open page, and said from her
heart,
"I will."
CHAPTER XVIII.
SETTLEMENTS.
To go back a little.
When Mr. Falkirk came to dinner that first day, he was very
taciturn and grumpy indeed until soup and fish and third course
were disposed of. Then when he got a chance with Dingee out of
the room, Mr. Falkirk opened his mouth for the discussion of
somewhat besides grapes and peaches.
'So I understand, Miss Hazel, you have arranged with your other
guardian to dispense with my services.'
Wych Hazel was not in a mood even for blushing, that day.
Thoughts were too deeply and abstractedly busy, and spirits were
under too great a weight, for the usual quick play of lights and
colours to which Mr. Falkirk was accustomed. A faint little extra
tinge was all that came with the grave answer,
'May I ask who has been talking about me, sir?'
'Your future guardian, Miss Hazel; no less. Stopped at my door last
night, on horseback, to say in three minutes what would have been
more fittingly talked of in three hours.'
Slowly at first, then quick and vivid, the roses stirred and flamed
up in the thoughtful face, but she said nothing. Only pushed away
her plate, as if peaches and _that_ could not go on together.
'I would like to know from you whether it is a thing fixed and
settled and unalterable; absolutely done? I suppose it is, or he
would not have said it.'
She darted a look at him.
'Do you found suppositions upon such slight circumstantial
evidence, Mr. Falkirk?'
'Sometimes, Miss Hazel, when the thing happens to be particularly
difficult of belief.'
'Unalterable?' Hazel repeated, half to herself,'few things are that.
Suppose your supposition were a mistake, Mr. Falkirk,what
then?'
'Can you tell me that it is?' he said, looking across the table to her
with a gaze that would find the truth.
'Would you be glad?' she answered. 'And will you tell me why?'
Then Dingee came in with coffee, and a bouquet; and Hazel sat
playing idly with the flowers while Dingee set out the cups, the
scent of heliotrope and geranium filling the room. While Dingee
was near, Mr. Falkirk was silent; but eyeing the girl however, the
flowers, her action, with a glance that took it all in and lost no
item; not a graceful movement nor a tint of the picture.
'Yes,' he said firmly when the boy was gone, 'I should be glad. You
are just fit for the play you are playing now; it is not played out,
and should not be, for some time to come. You are young, and
ought to be free; and you are rich, Miss Hazel, and ought not to
marry somebody who will ruin you.'
For a minute Hazel spoke not for surprise, and then she let a
prudent pause lap on to that. For she had no mind just then to get
up a tirade for Mr. Rollo's benefit, and all the same she felt her
blood stirring.
'Is this all I am fit for?' she said: but the laugh was a little nervous.
'I said nothing you need take umbrage at,' her guardian returned
somewhat bitterly. 'I spoke only in care for you, Miss Hazel; not in
depreciation. I am about the last man in the world to do that.'
'It is nothing very new for you to speak in depreciation of me, sir,'
said his ward, in her old privileged manner. 'You know you never
did think I was good for much.'
'Enough to be worth taking care of,' growled Mr. Falkirk in a tone
which bespoke a mingling of feelings.
'Well, sir,I never was fond of that processbut I have submitted
indifferently well, I hope.'
'Allow me to ask, Miss Hazel,what sort of care do you expect in
the future?'
Hazel fairly looked at him and opened her eyes. 'Really, Mr.
Falkirk,' she said, 'you are very amazing!'
'You know, I must suppose, that your_guardian_has proved
himself unfit to take care of your fortune, inasmuch as he has
thrown away his own. And when fortune is gone, Miss Kennedy,
the means of taking care of you are gone along with it. I warn you,
though it may not be in time.'
Wych Hazel's hands took a great grip of each other. It was pretty
hard to bear this to-day.
'For the last year and a half, Mr. Falkirk, the care of mein every
respecthas been referred, and referred, and referred, to other
judgment than your own. I used to think you were tired of me,
that you had lost your wits Now, you think I have lost mine.'
'The judgment which I was obliged to consult, and which could not
hurt you as long as I remained a consenting party, will have no
restraint when my decisions are dispensed with. He can pitch all
your thousands after his own, if he thinks proper.'
'Yes, you can do anything with an "if," ' said Hazel, trying to keep
herself quiet.
'He will think it proper,' said Mr. Falkirk.
'You must have learned a good deal in three minutes, sir.'
'He is an enthusiasta fanatic, I should call it; and an enthusiast
sees but one object in the universe, and _that_ the object of his
enthusiasm. It is all right, to him; but it is all wrong for you.'
It might have been the sheer pressure of excitement, it might have
been some idea that the present object of Mr. Rollo's enthusiasm
was nearer at hand than Mr. Falkirk thought; but Wych Hazel's
sweet laugh rang out. She knew again that the laugh was nervous,
but it was uncontrollable none the less.
Mr. Falkirk's countenance changed slightly, as though he had
winced with some secret pain; but it did not come out in words, if
the feeling existed. He waited till the laugh had died away, and
even the stillness spoke of reaction in the mind of the laugher; and
then he went on with a quiet unchanged tone,
'There is no use in going into this now. I wish merely to say, Miss
Hazel, that the habit of taking care for your interests is too old with
me, and has become too strong, to be immediately laid aside. I
shall do my best to procure a settlement of your proprietyas
much of it as possibleupon yourself; and I mention this now
simply to beg of you that you will not interpose any sentimental or
quixotic objection on your own part. I shall endeavour to get Dr.
Maryland to back me; he must see the propriety of the step. I only
ask you to keep still.'
Mr. Falkirk rose. In a moment Wych Hazel was at his side, linking
her little hands on his arm in the old fashion.
'What have I done,' she said, 'that you speak so to me? Have I been
so wayward and wilful that I have really chafed all your love
away, and there is nothing left but dry care?'
He touched her hand as he rarely had ever done, with a caressing,
glancing touch, slight and short; but the man was silent. Wych
Hazel drew him along, softly walking him up and down through
the room, but she too said nothing, feeling perplexed and hurt, and
not well knowing why. It was nothing new for Mr. Falkirk's words
to be dry, but to-night they were so hard!and when had he ever
called her Miss Kennedy, in the worst of times? For once her
instinct was at fault.
'I must go,' said Mr. Falkirk, stopping short after a turn or two.
'It is such an old story for me to make mistakes' Hazel began
hesitatingly.
'Have you made this one unwittingly?' he asked with sudden
eagerness.
Hazel dropped his arm and stood off with the air which Mr.
Falkirk knew very well.
'This one does not happen to exist,' she said. 'But I meanI should
think you were so used to the reality, sir, that the idea would not
give you much trouble. And there is one thing more I ought to say.'
'I am not troubled by an idea, Miss Hazel. What is the other thing?'
Not an easy one to speak, by the shewing, as she stood there
gathering her forces. But the words came clear and low.
'It will be a good day for me, Mr. Falkirk,I shall have more hope
of myself,when I am as willing to be poor for the sake of other
people, asMr. Rollois. Would you feel more sure of my being
taken care of, if you knew that he spent all he has upon himself?'
'Yes. He is spending it upon a vagarya chimera; and that is as
much as to say he is throwing it into a quicksand. He will go down
with it.'
'I wonder what will be the result of that?' said Wych Hazel, in the
cool way she could sometimes assume when she felt particularly
hot.
'I don't like to look at the result,' said Mr. Falkirk. 'I will go, if you
please, Miss Hazel.But if you will be so good as not to oppose
me, the result shall not be your destitution.'
'Oppose you!' said Hazel. 'With such an object in view!'But then
the mocking tone changed, and she said sorrowfully'I beg your
pardon, Mr. Falkirk!But you are vexed, sir, and then you always
vex me. AndI was not just ready for this to-night.'
'You need not be vexed that I want to take care of you,' Mr. Falkirk
returned.
'No, sir. There are great many things I need not be,' said Hazel.
'I will try to do it. I may not succeed. Good-night.'
She put her hands on his arm again, following his lead now
towards the door. But on the way another thought struck her.
'Mr. Falkirk,' she said suddenly, 'if you try to do something which
you know I would not likeor in a way I should not like,you
must remember that I will never say yes to it. Not if there were
fifty quicksands in the way!'
'Miss Hazel,' returned her guardian, 'I have not so long held my
office without finding out that it is impossible to tell beforehand
what you would like, or in what way you would like it. I must
work in the dark; unless you prefer to give me illumination.'
'I should like,' said Hazel bravely, 'what Mr. Rollo would have a
right to like. I suppose Mr. Falkirk will know what that is.'
'Pardon me. My only concern is with what _you_ would have a right
to like.'
'Very well,' she answered,'if you choose to put it so. But I could
have no right to like anything which should seem like a
reflection,anything that could cast the least possible shade of
dishonour.Further than that, I do not see how it matters.'
'Does it matter to you whether you are your own mistress or not?'
said Mr. Falkirk, confronting her now with the question.
'I suppose that is past praying for,' said Hazel with a deep blush.
'But I never have been, yet.'
'You have in money matters.'
'About my own silks and sugarplums. No further, sir.'
'Do you wish it to be "no further" always?'
'I like my own way better than anything in the world,' said Hazel,
'except'and she paused, and the crimson mounted again,
'except the honour and dignity and standing of the people I love.
You know better than I, Mr. Falkirk, whether both things can be
cared for together; but if one has to go down, it must be my will.'
'If it can be done consistently with other people's "dignity and
standing," you would like to have control of your own property?'
'It cannot be so done.'
'It can be so doneif I and Dr. Maryland do it.'
'No,' said Hazel, 'there is too much of it.'
'Will you please explain?'
'Too much money,too much land,the property is too large.'
'Too large to be divided, that is.'
Hazel turned off with a gesture of distressful impatiencethen
faced her guardian again.
'Don't you see, Mr. Falkirk?' she said,'do you need to be told?
Mr. Rollo could not possibly be only my agent.'
'I do not see that he need. You are competent surely to spend your
own money, in the way you like best.'
'Very competent!' said Hazel gravely. 'And to manage my estate.
Then I will begin at once, if you please, Mr. Falkirk, and you can
send up to-morrow all the deeds and leases and writings in your
possession. It will be quite a nice little amusement for me.'
'Miss Hazel, you talk nonsense,' said her guardian. 'I cannot deliver
up my charge, except in hands that will have absolute rule over it;
unless I can secure a separate portion for you. The will makes him
master, in the event of his marrying you.'
Hazel made no reply. The speech was full of words that she did
not like. And Mr. Falkirk quitted the room.
If he had wished to render his ward uncomfortable, he had made a
hit,stirring up thoughts and questions which had been ready
enough before, only always held in check by the presence and
influence that were stronger yet. But to-night she was heart-sore to
begin with, and it had chafed her extremely that not all her
pleading of the night before had carried a single point. The words
"master," and "absolute control," came with particular jarring
effect. She brought a foot-cushion to the front of the fire, there
where she was in the dining-room; and rested her head upon her
hands and thought.
CHAPTER XIX.
SCHOOLING.
All Hazel's news thus far had come from Dr. Maryland's house;
brought by Primrose or sent in a note. There was not much to tell;
at least not much that anybody wanted to tell. The sick-beds in the
two cabins, the heavy atmosphere of disease, the terrible
quarantine, the weary tension of day and night, the incessant strain
on the physical and mental strength of the few nurses,nobody
wrote or spoke of these. The suspense, nobody spoke of that either.
The weeks of October and November slowly ran out, and the days
of December began to follow.
One mild, gentle winter morning, Dr. Maryland's little old gig
mounted the hill to Chickaree.
Dr. Maryland had not been there, as it happened, for a long time;
not since the event which had made such a change in all the
circumstances of its mistress; nor in all that time had he seen
Hazel. The place looked wintry enough to-day, with its bare trees,
and here and there the remnant of a light snow that had fallen
lately; but the dropped leaves were carried away, and the sweep
shewed fresh touches of the rake; everything was in perfect order.
Dingee ushered the visiter into the great drawing-room, to warm
himself by a corresponding fire; and there in a minute Hazel joined
him, looking grave and flushed. The doctor had not sat down; he
turned to face her as she came in.
'Well, my dear!' said he cheerily. 'How do you do?'
'Very well, sir, thank you.'
'You are all alone? Mr. Falkirk is away, I understand; just gone?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Gone to a sick sister in England, and left you alone.'
'Yes, sir. It is nothing very new for me to be alone,' said Hazel.
'But for you to be so much alone? Well, I suppose he thought there
would be soon somebody to take care of you. We have the good
news now that those poor people seem to be all getting well.
Arthur reports that there are no new cases. I am most thankful!'
Hazel answered with merely a gesture of assent. She had no words
to say that she could say.
'I suppose Dane would be soon out of quarantine now.But he is
not quite well himself, Arthur tells me; knocked up by watching
and incessant exertions, I suppose.'
For a minute Hazel held her breathgrowing so white that even
the old doctor must see it. Then she turned away from him in a
gentle, noiseless way, and leaned her head down upon the back of
her chair. She must have support somewhere.
'It is nothing but a low feverish affection,' Dr. Maryland hastened
to say. 'May be tedious, perhaps, for a while, but shews no
dangerous symptoms at present. We must not anticipate evil, my
dear.'
Hazel did not answer that; but presently she sat up again and asked
one or two quiet questions as to time and place.
'He is at Gyda's, my dear; they took him up there, being the nearest
place. Mrs. Boërresen is a good nurse, and devoted to him; and so
is Arthur. He will not want anything. Hazel, my child, can you cast
your cares off on the one arm strong to help?'
She started up and went to the fire, picking up brands and pushing
the red coals right and left, until the wood burst out into brilliant
flame. And all the time she was saying to herself, 'He will not have
me,he does not want me.' But she came back to her place again
without a word. Dr. Maryland looked on, pitying, feeling for her,
and yet oddly without anything to say. He had lived so long and
seen so much of life and had got so far above its changes; more, he
had lived so much in his study and felt life so little except in
contemplation, and with so small an admixture of practical
experience of human nature, that he looked at the young thing
before him and was conscious of his unreadiness, and in some sort
of his unfitness, to minister to her.
'Are you lonely, my dear? Would you like to have Primrose come
and keep you company?'
'Oh no!' said Hazel hastily. Then she began again, and tried to
catch up her eager words and soften off their corners; speaking
with a wistful affectionate tone that was half pleading, half
deprecating. 'I meanI do not want anybody with me, sir. I am out
a great dealand sometimes very busy at home. Andsome other
time, maybe, Primrose will come.'
Dr. Maryland considered her with a recognizing smile on his lips,
and a very tender look in his thoughtful eyes.
'I understand,' he said. 'There is room in the house for only one
presence just now.Are you going to be a true helpmeet to Dane,
Hazel, in all his work?'
'I do not know, sir.'Hazel always classed such questions, coming
to a preoccupied mind, under the general head of "pins and
needles," and never by any chance gave them much of an answer.
'He will want a helpmeet. A wife can hinder her husband, or help
him, very materially. Dane has taken a great deal on his shoulders.
He thinks you will be a help to him; "the best possible," he told me
one day, when I ventured to ask him.'
The words shook her so, coming close as they did upon the news
of his illness, upon thoughts of his danger, that for a minute Hazel
moved like one in bodily pain; and more than one minute went by,
before she answered, low and huskily,'He knew I would try.'
'My dear, there is only one way,' the old doctor said very tenderly.
'Dane has set out to follow his Master. If you would help him, you
must follow with him.'
Hazel glanced up at the kind face from under her eyelashes. Could
she dare open her heart to him? No,young as she was, her life
experience had cut deeper channels than Dr. Maryland's own; he
could not follow her; it was no use; she must bear the trials and
work out her problems alone.
'I know, sir,' she said gently. But she said no more. And perhaps
Dr. Maryland had an intuitive sense that the right words could not
be spoken just then, and that the wrong ones would be worse than
an impertinence. For he only looked gravely at the young creature,
and added no more either of counsel or comfort at that time. He
did not stay long, nor talk much while he staid, of anything; but he
was thoughtfully observant of Hazel. He gave her a parting shot on
taking leave.
'Good-bye, my dear,' he said with a kind and shrewd smile. 'I hope
Dane will not let you have your own way too much for your
good;but I am afraid of it!'
The girl's eyes flashed up at him then, as if she thought there was
rather less danger of that than of any other one thing in the world.
Then she ran down the steps after her old friend, and gave little
finishing touches to his comfort in the shape of a foot-muff and an
extra lap-robe, and held his hand for a minute in both hers,all
with very few words and yet saying a great deal. And when Dr.
Maryland reached home, he found that a basket of game had in
some surreptitious manner got into his gig.
'Small danger of that!' Hazel thought, going back to his remark, as
she went back into the house. But it was not such a question that
brought the little hands in so weary fashion over her face. She
stood very still for a minute, and then went swiftly upstairs to
finish the work which Dr. Maryland had interrupted. _That_ could
not wait; and Hazel was learning, slowly, that the indulgence of
one's own sorrow _can_. So the work was well done; only with two
or three sighs breathed over it, which gave kind Mrs. Bywank a
heartache for the rest of the day. But then Hazel hastily swallowed
a cup of the chicken broth and went off to her room. It had come
now, without if or perhaps, and she could only sit down and face
it. The one person in all the world to whom she belonged,the
only one that belonged to her!
For a while, in the bitterness of the knowledge that he was sick,
Hazel seemed to herself half benumbed; and sat stupidly dwelling
on that one fact, feeling it, and yet less with a sense of pain than of
an intolerable burden. A weight that made her stir and move
sometimes, as if she could get away from it so. It was no use to tell
her not to anticipate; to say he was not much sick; that was thin
ice, which would not bear. And now on a sudden Hazel found
herself confronted with a new enemy, and was deep in the fight.
What then? Only her own will in a new shape.
She had come out so gently and sweetly, so clearly too, from the
months of restless perplexity and questioning; she had agreed, she
had decided, that her will should be the Lord's will. Now came a
sudden sharp test. She had chosen heaven, with earth yet in her
hand,how if earth were taken away? And what if to do the
Lord's will should be all that was left her, to fill her life? Did her
consent, did her acceptance, reach so far?
AndOh how hard that was!to study the question, she must
throw full upon it the light (or the darkness) of things that might
be. Things that she would not have let any one say to her, knife-
edged possibilities, came and went and came again, till Hazel
stopped her ears and buried her face in the cushions and did
everything in the world to shut them out. What use? she _had_ to
consider them. Was she willing now that the Lord should do what
he pleased with _him?_She could not word it any other way. And
the fight was long: and time and again pain came in such measure
that she could attend only to that. And so the day went by, with
occasional interruptions, and then the unbroken night.
She could submit,she must _submit:_ could she accept? Nothing
was anything without that. And she was getting almost too worn
out to know whether she could or not. So she would sit, with her
face buried in her hands, putting those fearful questions to herself,
and with answering shivers running over her from head to foot.
Then would come an interval of restless pacing the floor, thinking
all sorts of things; chiefly, that the very minute it was light she
would set off for Morton Hollow. What would that serve? what
could she do, if she were there? But one Hand could meddle with
these things, and work its will. And for a while a bitter sense of the
Lord's absolute power seemed to lie on her head and heart till she
felt crushed. She could not walk any longer, she could not debate
questions; she could only lay her head against the arm of the chair
and sit still, bearing that dull pain, and starting at the sharp twinges
that now and then shot through it.
There came to her at last, as she sat there, suddenly, the old words.
Words read to her so long ago, and learned so lately. They had
reached her need then, and there she had in a sort left them, bound
up with that. But once more now they came, so new, so glorious,
all filled with light.
"For the love of Christ constraineth us"!The key to life work,
but no less to life endurance. And the key turned softly, and the
bolts flew back, and Wych Hazel covered her face saying eagerly,
'Yes, yes!'
But then, even with the saying, she broke quite down, and a stormy
flood of tears swept over her, and left her at last asleep.
There was no going back when the day dawned. But Hazel soon
found that this question was not to be ended once for all, like the
other. It came up anew with each new morning, and must be so
met, and answered: in full view of what unknown possibilities the
day might bring or the night have brought, the assenting 'yes' must
be spoken. The struggle was long, sometimes, and sometimes it
was late before she left her room; but those who saw her face of
victory when she came would remember it always.
Still, the days were long. And hearts are weak; and Hazel grew
exceedingly weary. Chafing most of all against the barriers that
kept her from Morton Hollow. At first, when Dr. Maryland left her
that night she thought she should go with the sunrise next day.
Then recollected herself.
'I said I would follow his bidding _if I could_,' she remembered,
'and I _can_ wait one day.'
And so she _could_ wait two, and so she waited on. One day she
_must_ go; the next, she would write and ask permission. 'But he
never asked me to write!'she thought suddenly, covering her
face in shame. 'What would he think of me?' But oh, why had he
given such orders?
It was the old story,she was supposed to have no discretion.
'I dare say he thought I should rush over if I had a fingerache!' she
said with some natural indignation. Was she then really so little to
be trusted? Wych Hazel sat down to study the matter, and as usual,
before the exercise had gone on long, she began to foot up hard
things against herself. How she had talked to him that night!
what things she had told him! Then afterwards, what other things
she had proposed to do,propositions that were stamped at once
with the seal of impropriety. Hazel pressed her hands to her
cheeks, trying to cool off those painful flushes. Wellhe should
see now!She could wait, if he could. Which praiseworthy climax
was reachedlike the top of Mount Washingtonin a shower of
rain. But the whole effect of the musings was to make her shrink
within herself, and take up again all the old shyness which had
been yielding, little by little, before the daily intercourse of the
month past. Prim found her very stately over reports, after this; and
even good Dr. Maryland would often fare no better, and betake
himself home in an extremely puzzled state of mind. That the girl
was half breaking her heart over the twofold state of things,
nobody would have guessed. Unless, possibly, Mrs. Bywank.
Meantime, the purchase of the Hollow property from Gov. Powder
had been completed; and the fine fall weather tempting people to
stay and come, and the region being thus all full of guests,
Chickaree had been regularly besieged during most of these two
months. And almost at the time the sickness broke out in the
Hollow, Mr. Falkirk had been summoned to England, where his
only remaining sister was living, with the news that she was very
ill. Mr. Falkirk had nevertheless stood to his post, until the fever
was gone in the Hollow and he saw that Rollo would soon be able
to resume his place. And then he had gone, much to Wych Hazel's
disgust. 'It seems,' she said, 'that I can never want anybodyeven
my own guardians,so much as somebody else!'
CHAPTER XX.
ABOUT CHRISTMAS.
The days lingered along, but no worse news came. Rollo was
slowly regaining his usual condition. Still December was half gone
before with all his good will he could undertake the drive from the
Hollow to Chickaree.
Late one afternoon Dr. Arthur set him down at the old house door.
A cool winter breeze was fitfully rustling the dry leaves and giving
a monitory brush past the house now and then; whispering that
Christmas was near, and snow coming. Staying for no look at the
sunlight in the tree-tops, Rollo marched in and went straight to the
red room. He stood suddenly still on opening the door. No one was
there, not even the presence of a fire, but chair and foot-cushion
stood as they had been left two months before; the ashes had not
been removed, and the flowers in the vase had faded and dropped
with no renewal. Rollo next went down the hall to Mrs. Bywank's
quarters. Here a side door stood open, and Mrs. Bywank herself
stood on the steps shading her eyes and gazing down the road.
'What are you looking for, Mrs. Bywank?' said a cheery voice
behind her.
'Mr. Rollo!' cried the old housekeeper turning with a delighted
face. 'I am glad to see you again sir, surely! And well-nigh
yourself again! I am just looking for Miss Wychit is time she
was home.'
'Where is she?'
'Off and away,' said Mrs. Bywank, with the smile of one who
knows more than his questioner. 'She's a busy little mortal, these
days.'
'What does she find to be busy about?'
'I should like to tell you the whole story, sir,if we had time,' said
Mrs. Bywank with a glance down the road. 'She'll never telland
I think you ought to know. Step this way, Mr. Rollo, and you can
see just as well and be more comfortable.'
Mrs. Bywank led the way to a little corner room where fire and
easy chairs and a large window commanding the approach.
'I suppose you'd like to hear, sir,' she said as she replenished the
fire, 'how the world has gone on down this way for two months
back?'
'Very much,'Dane said gravely, with however a restless look out
of the window.
'Well sir, about the first days I cannot say much. I hardly saw Miss
Wych at all. She used to dress up and come down and meet Mr.
Falkirk, and then she'd go back to her room, and there she staid.
Only she'd given me orders about the articles for the Hollow.
'So one morning, just as the beef and things were brought into my
kitchen, and one of the maids had gone down for a kettle, in
walked Miss Wych. 'Byo,' says she, 'I am going to make
everything myself in future.''But my dear!' said I, 'you do not
know how.'
'I am going to learn,' says she.
'Well,' said I, 'you can look on and learn.'
'I will do it and learn,' says sheand she marched right up to me
and untied my big apron and put it on herself; for I don't believe
_then_ she had an apron belonging to her.'
Without ceasing to keep watch of the window, Dane's eyes gave
token of hearing and heeding, growing large and soft, with a flash
coming across them now and then.
'It's a nice business to hinder Miss Wych when she has a mind,'
Mrs. Bywank went on; 'but I couldn't see her tiring herself over the
fireso I said, 'But my dear, think of your hands! No gloves!'
'What about my hands?' says she.
'Cooking is bad for them, Miss Wych,' says I.
'Is it?' said she. 'Well, they've had their share of being ornamental.
What is the first thing to do, Byo?'
'So I felt desperate,and said I, 'My dear, when Mr. Rollo comes
back he will not like to find your hands any different from what
they are now.'She turned round upon me so,' said Mrs. Bywank
laughing a little, 'that I didn't know what she would say to me for
my impertinence. However, she only gave me one great look out
of her eyes, and then stood looking down at her hands, and then
she ran off,and was gone a good little while. And I felt so bad I
couldn't set to work nor anything, till at last I knew it must be
done, and I told the girl to set the kettle on. And just then back she
came, lookingWell, you'll know some day, sir, how Miss Wych
_can_ look,' said Mrs. Bywank with dim eyes. 'However, the gloves
were on; and she just took hold, steady and quiet as an old hand,
and never opened her lips but to ask a question. Of course I sat by
and directed, and I kept a girl there to lift and run; but from that
day Miss Wych made every single thing that went to the Hollow
or to you, sirwith her own little fingers. So that kept her fast all
the mornings.'
Dane's eyes did not leave the window. His lips took a firmer
compression.
'Then in the afternoons she just shut herself up again,and I knew
that would no do, and I begged her to go out. So she said at last
she couldn't go and come without such a trainand it did seem as
if people were bewitched, sure enough,' said Mrs. Bywank. 'I think
there never _was_ such a run on the house. What with you sick and
Mr. Falkirk somehow not taking much noticeYou know he's
gone, sir?'
'Yes.'
'Miss Wych took it rather to heart,' said Mrs. Bywank. 'She
couldn't see why he went. But I asked her then why she didn't ride
in the woods where nobody'd meet her.'If there was anything to
do there!' she said. 'But nobody lives in my woods.''Ask Reo,'
says I. 'He goes everywhere.'
'So I don't know what Reo told her, but now she's out all the
afternoon; busy somewhere. And there!' said Mrs. Bywank, as a
horseman passed the window,'it's hard to blame her for staying
late. But there she comes!'and the old housekeeper went softly
from the room.
At a little distance now he could see the brown horse and his rider,
with Lewis following. Coming slowly at first, then with sudden
haste as she saw a horseman at the door. Hazel knew her mistake
in a moment, but she kept up her pace as the unwelcome visiter
came on to meet her; and just at the steps deftly jumped herself
off, giving no chance to civilities. Then after a few words of
colloquy dismissed the intruder, and came slowly up the steps.
There paused, looking wistfully down the empty road, and finally
came in, taking notes and messages from Dingee.
'Give me tea directly,' she said. 'And admit no one, on any pretence
whatever.'
'Mas' Falkirk?' suggested Dingee. 'Spose done come home?'
'Mr. Falkirk never asks admittance.'
'Mas' Rollo?'
'Did you hear what I said!'exclaimed his mistress; and Dingee
vanished.
Wych Hazel turned for one more look at the road, drew a deep sigh
that was half patient and half impatient; and then slowly pulling
off cap and gloves came forward to the corner room, chanting
softly to herself as she came
' "Endlich blüht die Aloe,
"Endlich trägt der Palmbaum Früchte;
"Endlich schwindet Furcht und Weh,
"Endlich wird der Schmerz zu nichte;
"Endlich nah't das Freudenthal;
"Endlich, endlich kommt einmal!" '
But with the first step inside the door the girl stopped short,
folding her hands over her eyes as if they were dazzled.
'Endlich?' repeated Rollo. But then there was a long silence.
'Endlichwhat?'
'Kommt einmal.But I thought it never would!'
'Ah, what do you know about it? I am very tired of living without
you, Wych!'
'Yes.'Words were like sighs to-day.
'Yes? Do _you_ say so? What do you know? There has been all these
weeks a visionary presence of youthat was not youflitting
before me continually; standing beside me, coming and going, by
night and by day, with the very rustle of your garments and the
look of your brown eyes; but I could not touch it, and it did not
speak to me; it smiled at me, but the lips were silent; and the eyes
sparkled and were sometimes wistful, but it passed on and
vanished. It mocked me, it tantalized me. The experience was good
for me perhaps; I was obliged to remind myself that I had
something else to live for. In the night watches this presence came
and brushed by melooked in at the doorstood between the
rising sun and my eyeshovered like a vision in the moonlight;
sorrowed over me when I was weary, and comforted me when I
was sick. I mean, the vision did; but the fact of the vision
tantalized me. Is this hand true flesh and blood?' He tried it with
his lips. A shadow as of what had been came over the girl's face.
She answered unsteadily
'You did not stand by me in my watches. You have been off at the
very ends of the earth!AndO won't you let me go and get off
my habit?'
'How long will you take?'
'Two minutes.'
If there were suspicious wet eyelashes when Miss Wych came
back, she had at least by that time got herself in hand, as well as
got rid of her habit. She came in noiseless and grave and quiet, in a
soft shimmering rustle of deep red silk, and held out her hand
again.
'You should not have stirred out, such a cold day,' she said. 'But
come into the other room; it is warmer there.'
Dane had not sat down, he was standing watching for her; and now
drew her within his arms again, in a seeming ignoring of her
invitation.
'Have you been a good child all these weeks?'
'No.'
'Wherein not?'
'Primrose would have settled composedly down, and been happy in
obeying orders. I wasn't a bit.'
'People are not all good after the same fashion,' said Dane
laughing, holding her fast and looking at her. 'My little Wych was
not happy, nor submissivebut obeyed orders nevertheless.'
'No,' said Wych Hazel slowly, 'I am not sure that I did. I had said I
would keep away if I couldand I remembered how you might
look at me if I went. So it was better to stay and die quietly at
home.'
'Is that the footing on which we are to live in the future?' said Dane
laughing and kissing her. He evidently was rather in a gay mood.
For all answer, Hazel drew him across the hall to the dining room,
and sounding her whistle began to make preparations for tea; with
a speed and energy before which Dingee flew round like a cat.
Then, dismissing him, Hazel crossed over with soft steps to the
side of the lounge and stood there a moment, looking down,
searching out the traces of illness and fatigue. Dane was paler and
thinner certainly than he had been two months before. But his
colour was the colour of health, and his gray eye had certainly
suffered from no faintness. It was very bright now as it met hers,
and he sprang up.
'Nothing ails me,' he said. 'I am only tired with twelve miles in
Arthur's buggy. You will have no doubt how I am, when you see
how much work I mean to do before I go away.'
'You will not do any work to-night,' said Wych Hazel decidedly.
And then she made herself very busy about Mr. Rollo's tea, with
quiet dictatorship making him take and not take, as she saw fit. But
I suppose he was easy to rule to-night, and had besides matter for
study in the grave mouth and the eyes that would hardly meet his.
Perhaps he began to observe that there was more work to do than
he had been aware. Perhaps he saw, that in these two months of
separation the old timidity, the old reserve, had grown up and
flourished to an alarming extent. Just at first, when he came,
defences had not been up, or his sudden appearance had flung
them down; but it was rather the Wych Hazel of last year than of
last October who sat before him now. Betraying herself now and
then, it is true, by a look or a tone, but still on the whole keeping
close guard. Clearly this was not to be an evening of confidences.
Rollo made his observations for a little time; and then enquired
gravely,
'What have you done with Mr. Falkirk?'
'His sister in England wanted him. He went to her. One ought to
have six guardians, you perceive.'
'How do you expect to be taken care of this winter, in such a state
of things?'
'I ought to give more trouble than ever,' said the girl, shaking her
head,'after such an apprenticeship at taking care of myself.'
'I hope not,' said Dane demurely. 'But Hazel, it is time we began to
talk about business. There is a great deal to be said, at least, before
Arthur comes to fetch me. Do you know it is just a week, or little
more, to Christmas?'
'Yes,' said Hazel. 'I know.'
'I might divide my subject categorically in two parts; how
Christmas is to be kept in the Hollow, and how we shall keep it
here. I want your best attention on both heads.'
'I have not thoughtI tried not to think. I wished Christmas a
hundred miles away!'
'I am quite unable to fathom the mystery of that statement.'
'Yes, of course,' said Hazel; 'how should you know? But if you had
been shut off here' and she gave her plate a little push, sitting
back in her chair, as she might have done,and had donein
many of the weary days gone by.
'Meanwhile Christmas is not a hundred miles off,' said Dane
watching her. 'How shall we keep it?'
'I don't know. I never did keep it much.'
'First, there is the Hollow.'
'O in the Hollow!yes, certainly. They must all have a Christmas
dinner, for one thing.'
'Well, go on. I want your help. I suppose they never kept
Christmas much, either. What shall I do for them?'
'How many Christmas trees would reach through the Hollow?'
Dane shook his head. 'I am afraid we are hardly ready for that. And
there is scant time. I must be content to do without the poetry, this
year, and make everybody happy prosaically.'
'With roast beef and plum pudding,' said Hazel. 'But then I would
rather find out real wants, and supply them. Could that be done?'
'Hardly. Not in detail. The time is too short. In general, there is
always the want of good cheer and of joy-taking; or of anything to
give cause for joy. How would it do, for Christmas, to send in
supplies for a good dinner to every house? Then we can take
breath and think about New Year's Day.'
'I suppose that could not fail. But then, to make them feel really
like Christmas, they ought to have something they do _not_ need.'
'I am open to suggestions,' said Dane smiling. 'As much as they are
to the fruits of them. What shall I give them that they do not need?
I think you are quite right, by the by; though it is not the precise
light in which the subject is commonly viewed by the benefactors
of their species.'
'Yes,' said Hazel. 'As if sleighing on the bare ground was good
enough for people who generally walk. But you want them to
forget the ground for a while, and go softly, and hear the bells.'
'What shall be the bells in this case?' said Rollo with his lips
curling. 'Red apples? Or would pound papers of tea ring better? Or
both make a chime?'
'With a small tinkle of sugarplums.And oh,' said Hazel eagerly,
'do give them some little niceties to put on! Or let me. I have great
faith in the power of fresh collars and ribbands.'
'Cannot manage anything of that sort up here,' said Dane demurely.
'That will have to wait for New Year's Day. Three hundred and
fifty pieces of roasting beefthree hundred and fifty pounds green
teaditto bushels of red applesthree hundred and fifty pounds
sugar candy? Will that meet your notions of a chime of bells for
Christmas?'
Hazel mused over it.
'Perhaps'she said slowly. 'It is very difficult to know what will
meet one's notions. If I could, I should like to give a littlejust a
littlebit of a touch to every spot that wants touching. A touch of
light to the shadow, a touch of healing to the pain; a flower for
every barren place. And so I should not like to give them a
Christmas which they could eat quite all up.'
Dane's lips had been giving way, and now he laughed out.
'You are as impracticable as if you were a fairy. All that takes
_time_, Wych; and as I am not by nature knowing of all things, it
takes study. One day you will accomplish it. But in the mean time,
I should think they could not quite eat up their whole Christmas in
a moment; and as I said, we will see what can be done for New
Year. If you approve. At the same time, the subject is open for
discussion.'
'But you need not think me more visionary than I am,' said Hazel
with a shy glance and laugh. 'I did not mean anything quite silly.
Of course_all_ the barren places,only God could fill them. But a
touch to the sorrow, and a touch to the need, and a touch to the
forlornness,_that_ is what I meant.'
'I did not think you meant anything silly. Tell me more in
particular. I thought I was giving a touch to the need, with the
beef; and a touch to the pleasure, with the apples and candy; and a
touch to the comfort, with the tea. What shall I add to the list?'
'Perhaps nothing,' said Hazel. 'But I meant You know, all those
things are down on the same level,and I wanted to get in
strength and exhilaration of some other sort. Though I suppose,'
she added gravely, 'I cannot guess how much even of _that_ may be
in roast beef when one has never had it before. Strength and hope
and purpose may come that way too.'
'They do,' said Dane gravely.
'Well then, you have only to go straight on. Maybe they could not
understand some tunes yet, if the bells rang them out.'
'Straight on,' said Dane smiling. 'And that will furnish me with full
occupation between this and Christmas. Now another thing. I feel
for the people in the other mills,don't you?'
'O the other mills!' said Hazel. 'I feel for anybody who has any
connection with John Charteris.'
'What can I do?'
'One would like to buy them all up! But failing that What did
you think to do?'
'May I have your thoughts first?'
'I was only thinking,' said Hazel, 'that it would not be good taste to
go in among the Charteris men at all as among your own.
Anything there, I should think, must be more general and less
personal. Or done by somebody else.'
'Whom, for instance?'
'If Josephine had married anything but diamonds'said Hazel, 'I
might get hold of her. Or I might do it. But I suppose you would
not like that. How could one manage?' The question put to the
depths of her tea-cup.
'Why should I not like it?'
Wych Hazel laughed a little. 'Really,' she said, 'I do not know.
Only you generally do dislike what I doand I am seldom so
happy as to know why.'
'That is a statement which one may call unanswerable,' said Rollo
with a significant line of lip. 'And how you dare say it, is more
than I can understand. How could one manage? Nothing easier. I
draw you a cheque, and you write me an order. Unless you prefer
to employ another agent.'
'O I was not thinking of money,' said Hazel. 'But it would not be
quite courteous to enact Christmas in the mills without a word to
the ownerbad as he is. I wonder if I could get hold of Josephine
and hide behind her?'
'No. But you can try it.What have you been doing, these two
months?'
'Studying,in brief. I do not mean that I have done nothing else.'
'Learning what?' They had left the supper-table and stood together
before the fire.
'Learning?that is another matter. When you study between
fights, and fight between studies.'
'Hard learningwell learnt!' said he softly. 'Tell me more. Tell me
results, Hazel.'
Hazel leaned her chin upon her hand, looking thoughtfully into the
fire. 'Results?' she said. 'The result was unconditional surrender. At
least I thought sountil'
'Until?'
'Until to-night. It is so good to have you back again!'she said
with the same brown-study air.
Half laughing, with extreme tenderness at the same time and also
the expression of great gladness, both his arms enfolded her, and
they stood quite silent for a few minutes, till Dane stooped to reach
her lips.
'You shall tell me the rest when you like,' said he. 'Do you want to
tell me any more now?'
'You would not like the rest. It was a very dark time, at first, when
you failed me.'
He was quite silent again. Then drew her off to the sofa.
'I have another subject to talk about, Hazel.'
'Well, I am ready to listen.'
'You remember, I had two subjects to discuss with you.
Christmas in the Hollow we have arranged for. Now about
Christmas here. My time is disposed of till the day is over. Then I
must go to New York. I have a variety of business to attend to. I
want furniture for my new coffee room, books for the school,
furniture for the new cottages, gifts for New year. I intend to set up
a grocery store also. For all these affairs, and for others, I must go
to town the day after Christmas. I propose that we go together.'
'Yes, I want to go,' said Wych Hazel. 'I need a week in town, to get
ready for the winter here.'
'Perhaps I shall be gone longer than a week,' said Dane, keeping
his gravity.
'O wellI can easily find an escort back, if I get through first.'
'But I should not like that,' said Dane looking her in the face with
his gray eyes very much alive. 'I want your help in my workI
want you with me every minuteI am tired of living without you.
Don't you understand?'
'Yes, I understand that,' said the girl. Who should, if she did not!
Dane's lips gave way. 'You do not understand much!' said he.
'Don't you see, Hazel, I am making the audacious proposal that I
should carry my wife with me?'
The girl gave a spring away from him which at once put the
breadth of the fireplace between her and any such notion.
'You characterize the idea so happily,' she said, 'that I will leave it
there. Will you come into the other room, and rest, and be
reasonable?' And Hazel disappeared into the hall and blew a
ringing blast on her whistle for Dingee and lights. In the little
corner room, when Mr. Rollo arrived there, he found a grand fire,
and two arm-chairs on extremely opposite sides of the hearthstone,
and Dingee and his young mistress intent upon the first efforts of
the newly lighted wax candles. The tall white candles, their heavy,
old-fashioned silver holders; and the dark red dress, and dark
brown hair; and the swarthy cheeks of the little attendant,were
all aglow in the firelight. Wych Hazel's face was as far as possible
kept out of sight. Dane stood beside the mantelpiece, resting his
arm there and looking on; patiently, to outward seeming, so far as
any expression of impatience was concerned.
Wych Hazel stood still for a minute after Dingee had gone, then
with a slow, grave step went over and placed herself in one of the
armchairs.
'Why don't you sit down?' she said. 'It is not good for you to stand.'
'People sit down to rest.'
'Well, as you are tired already, it is the only thing for you to do.'
'I have not gained my cause, and I cannot rest till I do. Bid me rest,
Hazel! on that understanding of it.'
'Certainly not,' said Hazel. 'I cannot afford to lose my wits.'
'I am tired of living without you, Wych. Whether you have any
sympathy with that feeling I do not ask. I only ask you to consider
what regard it fairly deserves.'
'People do not feel apart, unless there is a barrier between,' said
Hazel. 'As when you barred me out of Morton Hollow.'
'Inconsistent'said Dane smiling; 'and weakly delusive. Hazel,
you must give me a Christmas gift, and you must let it be that
thing which of all others I want the most.'
'If you put it to me what you want,' said Wych Hazel, 'I should say,
patience, and moderation, and a little practical common sense.'
'You are not the embodiment of those things,' said he daringly,
'and yet I want you.'
'Everything that is worth having, is worth waiting for,' said Hazel
composedly. 'You have enough of me now to criticizethat ought
to content you.'
'Does it content you?'
Hazel started up, and went to him, just touching each arm with one
of her little hands.
'Olaf,'she said, 'will you please to sit downand hush? You
know what you promised when I should say that again'
He took her in his arms and kissed her very fondly, and laughed a
little; but holding her yet, became serious again.
'I am bound!' he said. 'But the nature of the case obliges me to
premise a question or two. Am I not to speak on this subject again
till you bid me?'
'No. Yes. That is preposterous. What is your next question?'
'How long must I wait first?'
'Just as long as you can.'
'Till to-morrow, then. Think of it, Hazel.'
Quitting the subject then, Dane went off into talk that would not
even remind her of it, unless by some delicate chain of association.
He gave her the story of his two months. The sick people had been
at the first removed to the end of the valley, in some shanties apart
from all the rest; and there he and they had been in quarantine
together. There the fearful disease had seized one after another of
that little band of poor Germans last-arrived, till ten of them were
down with it at once. Everybody fled the spot; would not come
near enough even to receive messages; and not for love nor money
could help be got for nursing. Only old Gyda; and she and Rollo
had had it all to do between them; even to washing the clothes the
sick persons wore or had on their beds. Dr. Arthur of course had
done all he could, but he had other sick beds to attend to; it was
out of the question that he should devote himself solely to those at
the end of the Hollow; especially as every visit there made needful
a careful disinfecting and purifying process before he could
approach anybody else, sick or well. Rollo and Gyda had struggled
on together, one watching while the other slept. And so Dane
would go from one sick-bed to the next, till he had made the
round, and begin again; through it all thinking of what he had left
at Chickaree, and of Hazel's pleadings that he had been obliged to
disallow, scarce daring to think of the possible joy of going back to
her again when the distress should be over. For he could not tell
that it would ever be over without first laying himself as low as
those whom he tended. The shanties where the sick lay, little better
than sheds, had been very good for them but very trying
sometimes to the watchers. However, the abundance of fresh air,
and the careful quarantine, with a blessing upon the means used,
had availed. No outsider had caught the infection, and only two of
the sick had died. Those two, Rollo and Arthur had buried, alone
and by night.
Softly, slowly, as a man who felt deeply the shadow of fear under
which he had been passing and from out of which he had come,
Dane told Hazel all this. And as one hears the verification of some
fearful dream, so Hazel listened. She had taken her foot-cushion
again, and sat with varying colour and averted eyes, and now and
then a "yes" of full intelligence. For the scanty details she had
received from time to time, had been more than filled out by her
imagination; and point by point she seemed to know the story
before it was told. By and by one hand came upon the arm of
Rollo's chair, and then she leaned her forehead down against that
hand, and so sat when the story was finished. Once or twice a
quick shiver went over her; otherwise she was quite still.
'I was not unhappy, Wych,' said Dane after a little pause. 'My
latent longing for you it is impossible to tell; but I could not let it
come to the front then. And there is a walk and a place "with Jesus
only," which at the time is joyful, and on looking back to it seems
to have wanted nothing.'
Her head stirred a little; presently, she answered,'I did not think
you were unhappy. If I had, I believe it would have been a help
sometimes.'
'Hey?a help? How?'
'You would not have seemed so far off. And I should not have
seemed so much alone.'
'That was a mistake, Hazel.'
'I only said it seemed so. But there was a certain truth in it, too;
because happy people never do guess exactly what goes on in the
rest of the world.'
'Pray, do the unhappy people?'
But Hazel caught the sound of steps, and started away from her
foot-cushion time enough to meet Dr. Arthur midway in the room.
'Rested, Dane?' said the doctor, standing before his late patient.
'That does not sound like a complicated question,' said Dane; 'but it
means a good deal. I am ready.'
'What he wants,' said Dr. Arthur, turning gravely to Wych Hazel,
'is a change. If your grace could persuade him to go off for a while,
in the right company, he would come back a new man.'
'I shall have a change this week,' said Dane rising. 'Come along,
old fellow, or I shall prescribe for you.I shall be here as early as
I can, Hazel; before dinner.'
CHAPTER XXI.
THE LOSS OF POWER.
Wych Hazel ordered an early lunch for herself, and a fire in the red
room, and fresh flowers for its adornment; and with these last she
was busyhumming over them the spell of an old German
choralwhen Rollo came in. The air was dainty with fragrance
and sweet sounds. He smiled at it, and at Hazel; but after the first
greeting was grave again.
'I have got news for you to-day,' he said.
'Have you?' said Hazel, intent on placing a Safrano rose. Then the
tone caught her attention and she looked up hastily.
'Not more sickness?'
He shook his head. 'Paul Charteris has stopped work.'
'Is that all?' said Wych Hazel. 'The wonder to me is that such men
ever go on.'
'He has not failed. He has stopped work. That is enough, of you
knew what it means.'
'Not that all his men are turned adrift?'
'Just that. Three or four hundred families.'
'But they cannot move off and find work in the dead of winter!
What is the man thinking of?'
'Only, I suppose, of what are called the exigencies of business.
There is not a good market, just now, for his cloths; he would be
largely out of pocket presently if he went on paying out, with
nothing coming in.'
'_Could_ he do it?'
'I cannot tell.'
She bent thoughtfully over her flowers for a minute, touching them
here and there; then looked up again.
'Have the same exigencies come near you?'
He smiled. 'No. I am sound yet.'
'ButI have heard business enough talked, if I could only
remember it!does not such a state of things by and by touch _all_
goods and mills and mill-owners?'
'Sometimes. But nothing threatens me at present. Perhaps Charteris
is less strong than he has been supposed. Perhaps he has been
speculating.'
Hazel finished her flowers with another touch or two, and
gathering up the scattered rose leavescrimson and white and
buffshowered them gently down upon the hand that rested near
her on the table. Then she glanced up with a laugh.
'You know,' she said, 'the Charteris mills are _my_ department.'
'Indeed! How am I to understand that statement?'
'Oyou thought Christmas was not susceptible of extensions.
Gentlemen's ideas, being so strong, sometimes move slowly.'
'Ladies' thoughts, being so subtle, are sometimes difficult to
pursue,' said Dane; but his brow was grave.
'I am talking nonsense,' said the girl, 'but I mean sense. There is
money enough,and those people cannot starve, either with
hunger or cold. And you have all your own men on your own
hands,andI begin to understand what Dr. Arthur meant by
"possible corners." Don't you see that the other part of the Hollow
falls naturally to me? What is the matter? Are you afraid I will
support them on pound-cake and sugarplums?'
Dane's eyes leapt, and darkened, and lightened; but after all, his
answer was sober.
'That will do; but you cannot permanently support Mr. Charteris's
mill hands on charity. The only sure method of relief would be to
buy up the mills.'
'Then we can run them against each other!' said Wych Hazel.
'What a splendid thought! I shall be a better neighbour that Mr.
Charteris. I will only undersell you just a little.'
Dane smiled, but this time he said nothing. Only watched her
continually.
'Then as Mr. Falkirk's consent might be difficult to get,he is a
little insane upon mills just now,perhaps the purchase had better
be made with the remains of my last winter's legacy. Over which,
you know, nobody has any control but my own wise self.'
'How much do you suppose the purchase of those mills might
require?'
'I have no idea. The legacy was largeand there is a good deal
left.'
'A few hundred thousands?'
No, not so much as that. Well,then I must have another ugly talk
with Mr. Falkirk. He would not listen to _you_, one minute.'
'I should not listen to you, either, Wych; and I should have to be
taken into consultation, you know.'
'Is not your consent enough, without consultation?'
'I could not properly give it.'
'Dear me,' said the girl, 'what a word 'properly' is! I think I never
wanted to do anything, or go anywhere, that it did not rise up
before me like a five-barred gate. What can I 'properly' do, sir, if
you please, in the premises?'
Looking with his mighty gray eyes into her face,soft they were
too, and persuading, as well as mighty,he said in a sort of
whisper,
'Go with me to New York, Wych! Then we can make it all right.'
Her face grew suddenly grave with a frightened look, as if she had
stepped into a net, or caught herself in a trap.
'We were not talking of that,' she said hurriedly,'and there is no
need to talk of that. And you promised.'
'There is no need to talk about it, if it is ever to be done,' said Dane
smiling. 'If you will think about itwhich I believe you never do,
you will perceive that unless we are to be separated all our lives,
we must some time or other be married. And the best way with
anything you are afraid of, is to do it, and have it over!'
He had smiled, and his accent was very winning; but he grew
grave again, and stood with folded arms looking at Wych Hazel.
Even then he would not use persuasions; he would not have her
against her will; but he watched her anxiously. If she refused him
now, it might be long before he brought up the subject again. He
would not tell her that, either; he left her free; and waited to see
how the delicate balances of her mind would turn. But he sighed a
little as she hesitated, and then smiled again as he spoke; a smile
very frank and sweet.
'Be brave, Hazel! If you are ever going to trust me, you may as
well do it at once.'
Hazel turned away and sat down on her foot-cushion, and buried
her face in her hands. Was she ever to be done with fights and
perplexities? was she ever to be quietly happy, like other people?
Last night she had been sober for very joy, at first; and now after
all those long, bitter two months, there was no sweet sunshine to
follow. For being married did not look at all sweet to Hazel: it was
true, she had hardly thought of it at all. Well, she could do as she
pleased. Yes,but she knew, without seeing, the disappointment
to somebody else. That she did not quite understand it, did not hide
the fact. And can a woman who loves, ever really prefer her own
pleasure? She looked up with even a pale face, and the wet
eyelashes that so few people had ever seen.
'You do not remember'she said. 'You do not seem to
understand!'
'You are the shyest bird that ever flew without wings!' said Dane
drawing another low seat to her side. 'I understand wet eyes too
well. I remember only that I have been waiting a year and half for
you. But if I wait all my life, Hazel, I will not have you at such
cost as that. If your heart is not as mine,that it would be our
happiness to be together,I will go back to my work and wait
another six months.'
He spoke gently and gravely, and stooped as he spoke to kiss the
wet eyes.
'Statements'said the girl, in an impatient tone which yet faltered
and broke before it got through.
'You shall make the statements,' said Dane, getting her hand in his,
and holding it with that gentle, firm clasp which, in some hands,
expresses so much; soothing and steadying and sympathizing, and
claiming too; all at once. 'What is the matter, my little Wych?'
Hazel paused, summoning her courage; enforcing quiet.
'It is no use to bring up such things,' she said, speaking very
slowly. 'To talk of trustandliking to be togethermixing them
up with 'if' and 'but.' Unless I have proved all that, I never can. But
there are a great many reasons,and you would call them fudge.
And I know they are not fudge. And if you were to knock them
down fifty times, they would rise up, fresh and strong as ever, after
all.'
'I shall not play at that game of ten-pins. Do you think in your
conscience I have any reasons?'
'Something that goes by the name, I daresay,' said Hazel sedately.
'But it is all different on your side,you wait, or you hurry, just
which you choose; and you are free through the one and through
the other, and after both.'
'Free? As a man whose heart is chained, and whose hands are
fettered. Was I free to marry you a year ago? or even to speak my
thought? Am I 'free' now, Hazel?'
She half laughed.
'How would you like to cut short the one time of your life when
you had a little power, even to say no? AndMr. Rolloyou
have been away two months. And October was very short.'The
girlish voice grew low and timid: Hazel knew that her arguments
were strong only to her.
Dane lifted to his lips the little fingers he held.
'And so you have made up your mind that your power will be at an
end when you are married? Am I going to love you less?or will
you love me less?'
'I did not mean power over you,' said Hazel; 'I meant independent
power. And I have not much now, except when you happen not to
care about using your own. As last night at tea.'
Dane could not help laughing a little again, but below that he was
desperately serious.
'I will not have you troubled,' he said. 'Rather than that, I will go
back and wait for you as Jacob did for Rachel; though I will not
emulate his estimate of time, the circumstances being not similar.
But, Hazel, there is something more to be thought of, which we
have not touched. I cannot have you living alone here as you have
been for the last three weeks or more.'
'Mr. Falkirk may be back. And you will be near enough to exercise
any amount of supervision. And I will be good. If I can!'
'Mr. Falkirk writes that he may be detained indefinitely. And at
twelve miles off, I am quite too far to be an efficient protector.
Winter days would give me only short and late visits to Chickaree,
except occasionally. And you know how it has been, Wych, since
and before Mr. Falkirk went away; it is not fitting that you should
be alone as you are; and exposed As your guardian, I cannot let
this go on any longer.'
It fell to Dingee just then, to appear as a witness for the plaintiff.
He came in, bearing a handful of wonderful hot-house flowers and
a card.
'I done told him you was engageddes'pate!Miss Hazel,' said
Dingee,'and he beg for jes' three minutes.'
'Say I cannot possibly give him three minutes!'Hazel's brows
were as near a frown as they could come.
'Then he say, tomorrer,' pleaded Dingee. 'Any hour Miss Kennedy
please. Three minutes, one minute. He done set out for home, Miss
Hazel.'
'I hope he will have a short, safe passage,' said Hazel: 'say that.
And that I cannot see him either to-night or to-morrow or any day
before he goes. And, Dingee!not a word more or less!'She
waited till the boy was out of sight, and then flung the flowers
from where she sat full into the fire.
If there was not a frown on Rollo's brow, there was a quiet set of
the lips which told as much. But he waited. Knowing well that it
made against her cause, but knowing too that it was his right,
Hazel turned and laid the card in his hand: it was Sir Henry
Crofton's. The frown came then, and the card was crumpled up in
Rollo's hand and followed the flowers.
'Well, Hazel?' he said. 'You must feel the justice of what I said just
now. There are only two remedies that I know. One of these you
startle at. The other, is that you should take up your abode at Dr.
Maryland's for the winter.'
'I could not do that!' she said hastily. 'ButOlafI have tried to
do just right all these weeks. And if you think I do not know what
discretion means, you can ask Mrs. Bywank.'
'I do not need to ask anybody for testimony concerning you, in that
or any other respect. It is no question of discretion; except in your
guardians; and that forbids them to leave you so.'
'Mr. Falkirk is not Mr. Falkirk!' Hazel broke out. 'He is all
changed.'
Rollo left this statement to take care of itself.
'What do you think we had best do?' he asked cheerfully, after a
minute. 'I will not tease you and hurry youShall I leave the
question to be settled by a note from you, when you have thought
it over? If you choose to go to Dr. Maryland's, I will make the
necessary arrangements. If you can make up your mind to go with
me, we'll arrange that. What do you say?'
'But you said you were going next week!'
'I must. The day after Christmas. I wait to see these apples and
pounds of tea safe home first. Then we will go and take care of
New Year.'
Wych Hazel leaned her head down in her hands again. How easily
he talked of it!this matter that her whole mind hardly found
room for. Yet she knew, better than he did,better than she liked
to tell him,that it was not the thing for her to live there alone.
Even discretion could not hinder what Mrs. Bywank called "a
raid," at home; nor keep her from being met and followed and
waited on whenever she ventured out. But she could not live at Dr.
Maryland's. To the tips of her fingers, Hazel knew that she should
fly at the end of a week thereup the chimney, if no other way
appeared. Prim's calm advice, and Mrs. Coles' sharp watch; even
the good doctor's easy discussion of her and her affairs; could not
be borne. She tried to smother the sigh that came up from the
depths of her heart, but enough escaped to betray the trouble and
perplexity.
'Shall I leave it?' said Dane very gently, though he on his part was
swallowing deep mortification, not hindered by the fact that he did
understand and feel for Wych Hazel's distress, in some measure.
'Shall I leave it? and you will write to me?'
'What about?' said the girl quickly. 'As you put it, I have no choice.
Because I will not go to Dr. Maryland's. Neither nownor ever
for safe keeping.'
'I do not want you to marry me just for safe keeping,' Dane said
with a half smile. 'How would _you_ put it, Hazel? Would you like to
take time to think about it?'
'But there is no time to take!And thinking for ever will not make
two alternatives out of one.'So thought Hazel to herself, but the
words did not come out. She sat resting her cheek on her hand,
studying this last hopeless fact; then by way of facing all her
difficulties at once, looked up at her companion. Not meeting his
eyes exactly,a wistful, examining gaze; trying to strengthen her
courage with the sight of whatafter allshe loved best in all the
world. For a second. Then hastily, as if still doubting her own
resolution, she put out her hand and laid it timidly on his. Dane did
not shew her the leap his heart made; and she could not see the
flush that mounted to his brow. He made no demonstrations
whatever, except to the hand which had come to him appealing in
its surrender, and those were outwardly very quiet. And then,
clasping the hand, he sat quite still; waiting to let Wych Hazel
grow calm, if that could be, and ready for further talk.
Perhaps it was well, however (for a young lady of her wayward
moods and tenses) that the next thing she had to do was to jump up
and receive Dr. Arthur, who had come by appointment to dine at
Chickaree. Dinner followed presently, and thus hostess cares and
responsibilities for a time took the first place. But so grave a young
hostess at the head of that table was a new thing. She did not forget
one of her smallest gracious duties and offices; and she talkedat
least as much as sometimes; but her face kept its soberness. The
eyes did not flash and the lips did not curl. Dr. Arthur gave her a
keen glance once or twice, at first; but finding a certain
complement to all this in the face at the foot of the table, he turned
at least his outward attention to other matters.
'Charteris takes it hard that you intend to keep running, Dane,' he
said.
'Some other people find it hard that _he_ don't.'
'Hard things affect people differently: they don't agree with him.
And he announces that he will try how they agree with you.'
'I don't see what he can do to me at present.'
'Self-confidence is not one of your undeveloped graces. But I wish
you had bought that gore at the top of the Hollow, as I bade you.'
'Powder did not care about selling it, at one time; and latterly I
have had my hands too full. Why do you wish that just now,
Arthur?'
'Because Powder _has_ sold it now. And if I remember, your lease of
the water power has not long to run.' Wych Hazel was listening,
intently, with a sparkle in her eyes at last.
'I have no lease of water power. What I own I own. But anybody
above me on the stream could make me trouble. To whom has
Powder sold?'
'Just what I cannot find out,' said the doctor, 'though I went to
himself. 'It is no matter,' he said, 'so long as the property was not in
the market.' But of course it is Charteris. Josephine's marriage
makes that pretty sure.'
Rollo laid down his knife and fork for a moment and sat with his
head leaning upon his hand.
'As the Lord will!' he said. 'But I will not give up until I know
more. I do not believe my poor people and I are to be in that man's
power. I will wait and see.'
But the interest of the dinner was gone for one member of the
party; and the attention he gave to other people or things was a
preoccupied and shadowed attention.
Wych Hazel stood it a little while, watching him, much wishing
that there was nobody else to hear: then she could not bear it any
longer. After all, Dr. Arthur was just his brother.
'Mr. Rollo,' she said timidly, 'what means do you think the Lord
can use to prevent thisthat you fear?'
It was worth something, to get the look he flashed across the table
to her; it was so brilliant with meaning and so sweet with
confidence.
'A thousand things!' he said heartily; 'and you remind me that I am
a fool to allow myself to be disturbed about it. I was thinking of
those hundreds of families. And I half forgot for a moment that the
Lord thinks of them too. I believe he will take care.'
'Would you like to know how?' said Wych Hazel. The tone was
indescribably sweet, but the eyes had gone down before his.
'Would I like it?' said Dane watching her. 'Yes! I am afraid I am
foolish enough still to like to know that, if I could. But I believe it
anyhow, Hazel.'
'Governor Powder sold the land to me.'
'To you!' said Dane in great amazement. 'What did you buy it for?'
'I thought it was well it should be bought,' said Hazel demurely.
'When did you do that?'
'A good while ago. Before the sickness in the Hollow.'
She got another look, if she could see it, which it was also worth
while to get. After which Dane remarked sedately,
'I am curious to know how Mr. Falkirk liked that investment.'
'Mr. Falkirk never knew. It is a great comfort sometimes,' she went
on, the loveliest roses waking up now all over her face, 'to have a
little independent power. And to be able to act without one's
guardians. Mr. Falkirk was not consulted,any more than Mr.
Rollo.'
Rollo's lips twitched and curved, but on the whole he maintained a
decorous composure.
'We don't know our privileges, Arthur,' he remarked.
'No,' said his friend concisely. 'How ever in the world came
Governor Powder to let the lady have the land? Why he has
refused half the county!'
'I do not know,' said Wych Hazel. 'I think I made him.'
Listening to her, looking at her, Dr. Arthur thought that extremely
likely.
'And did he tell you Charteris wanted it?' he said.
'O yes,and that, perhaps, Mr. Rollo might.'
'But he did not know that he was playing into my hands, in letting
you have it?' Rollo enquired.
'Of course not! I merely told him I wanted it more than Mr. Rollo,
and would give more than Mr. Charteris.'
'Witchcraft!when all's done,' said Dr. Arthur. 'Dane, when _your_
independent power is in the market, let me know.'He followed
them into the red room, and took a cup of coffee there, standing;
but then went off at once to see some patient, promising to call for
Rollo on his way home.
And for once Wych Hazel would have been quite willing to have
him stay. 'What would her "other guardian" say to her, for such
meddling in his affairs? such tampering with masculine business?'
She retreated behind her salver, and sat there sugaring Mr. Rollo's
empty cup, but not counting the lumps this time. Rollo however
hardly justified her fears. He did come and sit own beside her, and
he did relieve her hand of the sugar tongs and kiss it, and from
there the kiss did come to her lips; but it was all done so gently and
gracefully and deferentially, as if he had been a knight and she a
lady of olden time.
'How am I going to thank you, Wych?' he said.
'There is never a good way of doing needless things.'
'No. But hardly anything at this moment could have given me
equal satisfaction. The way is cleared for me to work without
hindrance. I'll plant the banks with wych hazel!'
'You will have a grand clearing away again, if you do. Then you
really are glad, Mr. Rollo?'
'You do not mean to say that you will pull up what I plant?'
'I said _you_ would. See,' she said, not ready for repartee or
discussion or much of anything else to-night, 'you have cut short
your allowance of sugar, and quite prevented the cream. Give me
the sugar tongs, please.'
Divining that it was in some sort a help to her, he quietly let her
have her way; and did not tell her how fully creamed and sugared
he tasted his cup to be that night.
'I have learnt a lesson,' he drily said after he had watched her.
'Whenever I want to give you anything, I shall know henceforth
that you would like nothing so well as power.'
She smiled a little bit, looking down at her folded hands, but she
did not say a word. And Dane drank his coffee, for form's sake,
without knowing whether there was either sugar or cream in it.
And then he took Wych Hazel away from the table, and talked of
things as far as possible from weddings and journeyings; till
Arthur came again.
Dr. Arthur did not come in. But when his friend, in obedience to
the summons, had reached the door of the red room, his progress
was stayed.
'Mr. Rollo,'came falteringly from the grave figure he had left
standing by the fire,'could you stop one minute?'
It is needless to say that Rollo's steps paused and came back
instantly.
'Nobody to speak but me, nobody to consult but him!' the girl
thought as he approached her. It was rather hard, just now. But
things had to be done.
'I will not detain you,' she said, hesitating over her words,'not
long,but you did not tell mewill you tell mehow much time
I have?'
As gently as if it had been her mother's, Rollo's arm came round
her.
'Just as much time as you choose!' he answered. 'I must go to New
York the day after Christmas,that is, Friday; but the times that
concern you are in your own hand. I was going to write you a note
to-morrow, to ask you about it. Supposing that you go with me, we
must be married either Friday morning, before we set out; or
Christmas evening. I must be all Christmas day busy in the
Hollow; but I could be here by five o'clock. What would you like
best?'
Hard to say!
'The Marylands were coming here to spend Christmas,' said
Hazel,'and they were so pleasedI do not like to forbid them.
So it cannot be Thursday. How early Friday?'
'Six miles to drive to the station, and must take the morning train.
It's not quite an "owl train"but comes along. I believe, by eight
o'clock. Why Hazel, if the Marylands will be all here Christmas,
that will just fit.'
'Fit Friday. You could reach the train in time still, could you not?'
she said timidly. It was dreadful to mix herself up with other
people's business in this way!
'It shall be as you like, Hazel. It would be a little sharp work, to
drive Dr. Maryland over here in the morning, time enough for
breakfast and for the other drive afterwards. The words to be said,
that you dread so much, I suppose will take very few minutes; but
they must have a few. I could drive all night contentedly, with
them in prospect; but it is somewhat different for him.'
Dr. Maryland!Yes, Hazel saw that at a glance. She had left him
quite out of her calculations. It must be Christmas.
'Then will you tell them they cannot come?' she said. 'Only do not
say why. Do not tell anybody that, till the last minute.'
'Tell them not to come? Why no, you do not mean that? Will you
forbid Prim, and Arthur, to be with us?'
'I am forgetting everything but myself,' said the girl with a gesture
of impatience. Of course,they were in effect his brother and
sister. And she could not be so discourteous as to bid them dine at
home. 'But you will not tell them, beforehand?' she said eagerly.
'Not a word!' he said smiling. 'But when shall we have the thing
done? before dinner, or after?'
'After. You know,' said Hazel, explaining her strange request,
'there is nobody in the world who loves me much, to say words or
send tokens,and I could not bear them from other people. You
may tell Dr. Arthurif you must tell somebody.'
'I shall not tell anybody,' said Dane comfortingly. 'Dear Dr.
Maryland, I suppose, would like a little forewarning of what is
coming upon him; but he has married enough people in his time to
be used to it. I shall tell nobody until the time comes.'
'I will not keep you' Hazel said then, after a minute's silence. 'I
have kept you too long now.' Then two impetuous words rushed
out. 'If only!'
'Well?' said Dane, without stirring.
'Nothing,it is not anything you could grant. I know it is
impossible; but if only I need not be at that dinner!'
'You need not, if you do not choose,' said Dane caressingly. 'I will
do my best to be head and foot of the table at once. But when the
time comes, you will choose to be there, Hazel. Christmas day,
and such a glad one for you and me!'
There came a quiver round the mouth and a glitter behind the
eyelashes, but Hazel kept her voice.
'Go now, please,' she said, laying her fingers on his hand. 'You
have had enough of my whims for one day,just goand forget
them all.'
CHAPTER XXII.
PREPARATORY FREAKS.
Hazel could not tell how she had borne herself, through all that
trying evening. But when the evening was over, then she felt as if
she could not have held out one minute more: with the wheels of
Dr. Arthur's buggy rolled away the last mite of her self-control.
One half minute longer of such tension, and she should have
broken down, and called back her promise, and done everything
else to be sorry for next day. It even seemed to her as she stood
there, with all the repressed excitement in "a light low," as if she
could not bear the room itself; and (almost) the people who had
been in it. As if she was wild and frantic and beside herself
generally. She flew off upstairsnot now to solitary musings and
lonely questionings, but straight to the housekeeper's room,and
was down on her knees with her face hid in Mrs. Bywank's lap,
before anybody, herself included, had chance to breathe. For there
are times, when in all the world there is nothing like a woman,
after all. And in all the world, this was the one woman to whom
she could come. But she would not speak nor look up nor at first
answer questions; only hid her face closer than ever.
Now Mrs. Bywank had seen enough of her young lady, to know
that every real heart sorrow Wych Hazel took to her own room
alone. Also that any emergency of accident or fear, would be acted
upon first, before getting the upper hand. Moreover the one look
she caught as Miss Wych came in, told her much: the sweet
flushed face, the shy eyes that avoided everything; the stirred,
moved, frightened set of the mouth,Mrs Bywank was old, and
drew her conclusions. Not for many contingencies would Miss
Wych have a fit of the nerves like this.
'So?' she said soothingly, laying her hand on the restless curls. 'Is
that it! I thought there wouldn't be much waiting now!'Which
brought such a sudden start and twist, that Mrs. Bywank smiled to
herself and knew she was right.
'And when is it to be, Miss Wych?'
'When I have breathed twice and turned round three times.'
'My dear!' remonstrated Mrs. Bywank. 'I am sure'
'You are sure of nothing!' said the girl quickly. 'And I am not. Not
sure of myself. Not sure of anybody or anything.'
'Except Mr. Rollo,' said the old housekeeper quietly; smiling softly
then at the success of her spell, for Hazel was silent. 'But that is the
great point. And as I was saying, Miss Wych, I am sure I am glad;
for I have been worried to death about you.'
'You ought to be worried to death about me now,' said Wych
Hazel. 'I am worried to death about myself.'
'Yes?' said the old housekeeper fondly, curling the dark hair round
her fingers. 'Are you my dear? What about, Miss Wych?'
'How can it go right, or be right, when it is all disagreeable?' said
the girl. 'It ought to be pleasantand it all isn't!'
'It's all new, just now, my dear.'
'Never to be free again!' said Hazel. 'Never to have my own way or
do as I please!'
'Ah,' said Mrs. Bywank, 'that was Eve's fault! But with a man like
Mr. Rollo, Miss Wych, it will be your own if it gives you much
trouble.'
'Things generally are, that do,' said Hazel. But she sighed a little,
putting her face closer down in her hands. 'Byo,' she said after a
pause, getting hold of the old housekeeper's hand now and laying
her face there, 'it is very, very hard to have it so soon! I have not
thought,I am not ready,I feel just as if I should fly!'
There was no gainsaying part of this, and Mrs. Bywank tried
petting and coaxing instead of reason, for awhile.
'But think how lonely Mr. Rollo is, Miss Wych,' she said, trying a
diversion. 'Think what a two months he has had just now!'
'I am thinking about myself,' said the girl shortly.
'And I am thinking about your cake,' said Mrs. Bywank. 'If it was a
little earlier, I'd go at the raisins to-night.'
Wych Hazel started up with an exclamation.
'Now stop!' she said. 'If you begin to make a bit of fuss, I shall run
away. Who wants cake? People can eat cake at other times, I
suppose.'
'I suppose they can,' said Mrs. Bywank laughing, 'but this is a good
time too. You must have your cake.'
'There will be no dress to stand with it,' said Hazel. 'The cake will
feel lonelylike me.'
Mrs. Bywank sighed a little, stroking the pretty head.
'My dear,' she said, 'you will be dressed, whatever you wear.'
'Can you guess how?' said Wych Hazel. 'I have not heart to put on
a white dress. And I could not get a new one here, if I wanted it,
and I could not have it made up, if I did. And I wouldn't, if I
could.'
'No,' said the old housekeeper, 'so my dear mistress said. "Bywank,
it will be dreary work for my little Wych to choose her own
wedding dress all alone. I must get it for her." Then she sat and
thought awhile"No," she said,"the white would turn yellow,
and the dark would fade." And she stopped for a good while then,'
said the old housekeeper in a trembling voice; 'but by and by she
spoke up, soft and tender"Bywank, if it is so,if it should be
so,tell her to take some one she has; and give her my veil.And
when she is wrapped in my loveand Dane's loveshe will not
mind the dress." And you were asleep on her lap all the while, my
dear.'
Hazel was sobbing quietly in the old housekeeper's arms before the
words were ended; but then she rose up, and kissed Mrs. Bywank
on both cheeks, and went away.
And for awhile she felt better,tears and coaxing can sometimes
do much. She went to bed and to sleep, prepared to wake up next
morning and do her duty, and be a pattern of all the wise, steady,
and practical virtues. Instead of which, Miss Wych opened her
eyes upon more freaks than had come at her call for many a day.
It was clear, sharp, winter weather, without snow; and the first
fancy that seized the girl, even while she was dressing, was to
spend every minute of spare time in the woods, while still they
were hers. No use to reason with herself, or refute such a statement
of things,out she must go; and out she didevery possible bit of
the next three days. Too conscious to let any one know where she
was, not liking to have even Lewis look on; she would elude Mrs.
Bywank, and post Lewis in some good open spot where he could
walk himself warm and be within hailing distance. Then she would
wander off, her whistle at her belt, and roam about from tree to
tree and rock to rock of her beloved woods, coming home so
tired!Always in time for Rollo, if he was expected, never seeing
any one else.
Then, except when he was there, she never sat a minute in the red
room, though the fire was made there regularly, but sometimes she
would wander over the old house in like manner, if the weather
kept her indoors; sitting up late and rising up early, as if she
grudged every minute spared from these last days. It was not good
for her, this way of going on, and did by no means tend to
steadiness of nerves; but no one knew who could interfere, and this
time Mrs. Bywank would not tell. She did all the worrying to
herself, with a sore heart.
It was a sore heart her young lady took with her in her
wanderings,in all her life Wych Hazel had never felt so utterly
alone. No wonder she was grave when anybody saw her; no
wonder reserve seemed to grow and deepen as Christmas came
near. And there was another disappointment: the pretty Christmas
doings of which she had thought so much, had lost all interest
now. She had written one order and given others concerning
supplies for the Charteris men; but all like a machine, with no
pleasure nor life. Nothing was _her_ doing any more,what did it
matter? And when in a quiet moment, at night perhaps, she would
get hold of herself, and look at her own goings on; then it turned
all to falsehood and treachery and every other hard name she could
think of, until Hazel felt as if her cup of troubles was quite running
over; and that if Rollo _could_ know, he would never want to set
eyes on her again. Ought she to tell him? Tell him what?that he
was the very centre of her life, only unhappily not just now a
centre of rest. That was the sum of it all, when she footed things
up; and no shyness nor freaks nor self-will would change _that_. The
mere fact that there was no one else in the world, for her, made her
cling to the very sound of his name, and so seem shyeras he
saidthan any bird that ever flew. It was to be hoped, in these
days, that he was good at interpreting negatives, and reading things
upside down, for not much else came to his eyes. Only somehow
she so far managed herself, that no slightest roughness ever came
out towards him. A little abruptness now and then,otherwise the
extremest grave reserve, but graceful to a point.
He was pretty good help. Wych Hazel did not, it is true, see very
much of him; the short days were full of business in the Hollow
and he could not always get away; however he managed to come
to dinner several times that week. And then he was full of talk and
interest, full of quiet care and attention, but as calm and
unconscious, seemingly, as if he had never heard of his wedding
day. Only, Wych Hazel felt more and more in his manner that
quality of reverential tenderness, which is the crowning grace a
man can shew to a woman, and which a man never shews to any
woman but one. It marks her as invested with a kind of halo in his
eyes; as sacred and separate from the common world for evermore;
while it is itself a sort of glory of division between her an them,
even in the apprehension of the same world.
CHAPTER XXIII.
FOR BETTER FOR WORSE.
The sun of that short Christmas day was already dipping behind
the tall Chickaree woods, laying bars of light and threads of gold
where once green leaves had been, when Dr. Maryland's little
sleigh came jingling up the long hill road to the door of the house.
There had been a heavy fall of snow two days before, and
wanderings and ridesand everything but sleighinghad been
effectually stopped. Only the doctor and his two daughters were in
the sleigh; for Dr. Arthur was helping his friend in the Hollow, to
appear with him by and by at dinner-time. But this day Wych
Hazel did not come running to meet them, as sometimes. The
ladies were ushered and waited on by Phoebe in one of the state
rooms; and Dr. Maryland was taken care of in another to match, so
full of wax candles and firelight and cheval glasses, that whether it
was himself or the attendant that confronted him at every turn, the
doctor could hardly tell. For though there was lingering sunlight
still out of doors, shutters were closed and candles lighted all over
the house, in every open room but Wych Hazel's own. In her
special room of rooms and retreat of retreats upstairs, the afternoon
sun came glinting in as long as it would, and for a successor had
only the twilight. And there she knelt by the window, gazing out
on the fired tree tops, and the gathering shades, till she heard the
sleigh bells come. Yes, till she heard the steps go down the
staircase, and the door of the great drawing-room open and close
behind her guests. O if Mr. Falkirk was there! she thought. And
then came Phoebe with a message, to know if Mrs. Boërresen
might see her. Gyda was at once asked to come upstairs.
Hazel met her standing, in the middle of the room. It was in half
gloom by this time; but even by the faint light Hazel could see the
glitter of the embroidery on the Norwegian jacket. Gyda was in
great state. The fair, mild, old face Hazel could not well see; the
voice was its fit interpreter. Gyda came forward and kissed her
hand.
'How is my dear lad's lady to-night?'
The adjective did double duty; but the tone was unmistakeably
tender and anxious. Hazel had met her with both hands stretched
out; now she drew her along gently to a chair.
'Sit down,' she said. 'I can be spared a few minutes.' But she herself
stood still, keeping fast her hold. 'I am glad you have come. Are
you well?after all that fatigue?'
'Doesn't my lady know, there is no evil to them that trust in Him?'
'Yes.'
'It is a glad day for me, my dear; but I know the heart of a young
maiden, and that it's not altogether a glad day for you. Can my
lad's old nurse be any use? He told me to see if I could; that's why
I'm bold to ask.'
Hazel passed her little fingers softly over Gyda's hand; she did not
speak at once.
'Perhapsafter dinner. Will you sit here after dinner till I come?
Now I must go.'
Hazel put her visiter in Mrs. Bywank's charge, and giving herself
no time to think ran down stairs.
The great drawing-room was all ablaze, with hickory sticks and
wax candles, and the reflected sheen from old chairbacks, and
brass andirons, and silver sconces. The turkey carpet on the floor
alone absorbed and hid the light. Into this glow came Wych Hazel
suddenly and softly. She was in one of her brilliant toilettes to-
night; one that made Mrs. Coles open her eyes, and forget for a
minute to open her mouth; and must have plunged Prim in a
puzzle. One vivid spot on either cheek, and the silky hair in curls
and waves and rings of its own making, and the brown eyes
looking somewhere where you could not follow,it was better
than a picture to see her, it was almost like music to hear her tread.
But old admirers of Miss Kennedy knew well, that a brilliant
toilette did not bespeak the lady to be easy of access. So it was to-
night; she was unapproachable. It was like looking at the fire
through a glass screen. Yet she was very affectionate to Primrose,
a little stately to Mrs. Coles; and gave Dr. Maryland's hand a grip
of her small fingers which would have gone to his heart had he
known what it meant.
'My dear!' said Mrs. Coles, 'you look as if you expected a party. It
isn't true, is it? I thought we were asked to just a family gathering.'
'I expect only the gentlemen from the Hollow,' said Wych Hazel.
'Prim, are you quite warm?'
'It makes me warm only to look at you,' said prim admiringly. 'Oh
Hazel, you do know how to dress _beautifully_.' Prim's eyes were
wondering as well as admiring, and a trifle speculative also.
'It is of no use to dress for gentlemen, Miss Kennedy,' said Prim's
sister, shaking her head, the fair bandeaux of which were in
excellent order. 'They never know what we have on. It is
mortifyingbut it's a fact.'
'Facts about oneself often are,' said Hazel. 'But fiction comes in to
set things straight.'
'I am thinking,' said Mrs. Coles, in a half whisper and with a smile,
'how Dane's principles will harmonize, by and by, with Hazel's
practice. Will he hold himself responsible, Prim, do you
suppose?or will he console himself with the reflection that he
cannot help it? Though if Dane Rollo does _that_, it will be the first
time in his life. What are his notions about dress, now-a-days,
Miss Kennedy? has he revealed them to you yet? I don't see any
change in his own.'
'I think I know more of my own notions,' said the girl. 'Dr.
Maryland, you have taken the very hardest chair in the room! This
is the one you ought to have, by me.'
'You have a pretty house, my dear,' said the old doctor as he
obediently made the change. 'I never saw it look prettier than it
does to-night. A handsome old house! I hope Dane won't want to
make any changes here. If he does, don't let him, my dear.'
'He won't,' said Prim. 'What an idea, papa! Dane has some sense.'
'When anybody gets in the spirit of change, though,' said
Prudentia,'you never know how far it will go. He may think one
end of the house suitable for a hospital; or build an addition for a
refuge.'
'Prue, you do talk nonsense,' said her sister. 'Hazel wouldn't like
that; and Dane wouldn't like what she wouldn't like.'
'Wouldn't he?' Mrs. Coles responded, with a little, most
disagreeable laugh.
'Hazel will be able to regulate all that,' said Dr. Maryland. 'I don't
think Dane would do what she would disapprove of. Ha, here they
are!'
The jingle of the sleigh bells was heard passing the windows; and
for a minute all the party were silent. And the Christmas wind
moaned in the chimney, as much as to say, 'I have seen many a
Christmas here; you are all new comers, compared to me.' And
Wych Hazel sat trying to manage herself, with her heart on the
jump. She had been breathless and speechless during the late
pleasant little discussion of her affairs, but now for the moment
even Mrs. Coles was forgotten. The next thing was a message from
Mrs. Bywank; could Miss Wych step to the housekeeper's room
for a moment? And in the housekeeper's room Hazel found only
one person, and that one was not Mrs. Bywank.
He met her eagerly, and at the same time with the manner of
reverential tenderness she was accustomed to have from him
lately; as if he remembered how alone she was, and that he must
be mother and lover and all in one. And she did her best to give
him a smile; but he got it most in the low-toned intonation, after
all, with which she answered his question, how she was?
'You did not get the Christmas gift I had intended for you,' he went
on; and if his eye had a sparkle of joy in it, his face and manner
were as grave and quiet as consideration for her could have
suggested. 'I have been disappointed, much to my mortification.
The carriage has not come. I had ordered a pony chaise to be here,
which I thought you would like. The pony is on the stable.'
She glanced up at him and down, with quick changes in her face,
but somehow words would not come. His words touched too many
things,and things would not bear touching, to-night. And she
could not say a common "thank you"; she could not talk of the
trouble he had taken; and pleasure was rather hull down at present,
with some leagues of uncertain weather between. No use!
'How could you find time?' she said timidly. But again the voice
supplemented the words; and Rollo probably did not feel himself
unthanked, for he went on with no want of content in his voice.
'I have left all happy in the Hollow. Every house has a Christmas
dinner; and your sugarplums are making life sweet to the souls of
young and old. Charteris men and all; every house has comfort in
it to-night. I wish you could have seen a few of the faces that came
to thank me. You know, I sent off the parcels to the several houses;
so for a while I worked on free enough; but when the thing began
to get wind, men, women and children came collecting about me,
looking on with great eyes of wonder, and some eyes of tears, and
muttered wordsI can tell you, I wished them all away!'
There was a suspicious sympathetic softness in Rollo's own eyes,
which complemented his words.
'Then the Charteris men at last set up petitioning. Wouldn't I have
mercy on them?'And Dane broke off short, and turned to the
table where lay a jewel case.
'Here is a sugarplum for you, Hazel,' he said presently, with his
voice clear again. 'You do not want sugarplumsbut I want you to
have this.'
What he took out was an old-fashioned, rather massive, gold
chatelaine; heavy and rich and quaint, with various trinkets
fastened and hanging to it.
'This makes you my castle-keeper,' said Dane, proceeding to attach
it properly to Wych Hazel's belt. 'My mother used to wear it.
This,'taking up a little gold key,'you will observe, is the key
of your money-box. These seals you will study at your leisure.
Here is a wee gold compass, Hazel; this is symbolical. It means,
"Know where you are, and take care which way you go." Your
vinaigrette you will never get again. I shall have to find you
another.'
The jewel hung richly at Wych Hazel's side, giving a curious touch
of stateliness to the little lady. Indeed little she was not, in matter
of stature; it was the extreme daintiness of every detail that gave
occasion to the epithet. Dane's eyes took the effect. Hazel stood
looking down, possibly taking the effect too. Then she turned short
about.
'I have nothing to give you,' she said,'exceptYou will think all
my gifts are in one line.'
She was gone out of the room in a moment, but in another moment
or two was back again, and holding in her hand a little gold locket.
'I found it one day among the old things, and I thought, perhaps,
you might like'
She touched the spring and laid the open locket in his hand. It was
an exquisite miniature of herself as a child; the Wych Hazel of six
years old, in a white frock. A few hurried words finished the
sentence.'Might like to see what they gave you, so long ago.'
In all true manliness there is a large element of tenderness; and
something stirred the tenderness in this man more than he cared to
shew. Wych Hazel's mood needed no exciting. He was very still
for a few minutes, looking at the locket, with eyelids dropped too
low for her to see his eyes; then he turned to kiss her.
'I do not take this from your hand, Hazel, but from your mother's.
You cannot give me anything to-day but the original. I hope she
will know how I hold both.'
It was time to rejoin the people in the drawing-room, but it suited
Hazel to let Dane go in by himself and to follow afterwards alone.
She did not so escape Mrs. Coles.
'I thought,' remarked that lady with a significant smile, 'that your
housekeeper was too skilled in her business to need consultation
with anybody.'
'Prudentia,' said Dane, 'you are not looking well.'
'That is very impolitefrom a gentleman to a lady.'
'Not from a brother to a sister, though.'
A flush rose into Mrs. Coles' cheeks, which were pale enough, and
a strange confusion of expressions for a moment reigned there. She
was plainly surprised, evidently gratified, as evidently very much
puzzled. Withal, so much moved, from whatever cause, that her
features were not quite under command and her answer was scarce
intelligible.
'She's been a little weakish, or so,' said her father, 'She don't
complain much.'
'What's good for you?' said Dane.
'It is good for her to be out,' said Prim. 'But you know we can't
much in this weather. Arthur drives her out sometimes; but Prue
don't like his driving so fast. Do all doctors drive fast? Why can't
they go like other people?'
'Policy. If we drove slowly, people would say we had small
practice.'
Dr. Arthur found it unusually hard to get his hands warm to-night,
and still stood up by the fire taking notice. Among other things
there was not a flower in all the rooms. Nor a wreath, nor anything
that even looked like decoration. The doctor's quick eyes went
from the unadorned rooms to Wych Hazel's dress, and her face,
and Dane's face. After which, Dr. Arthur professed himself
comfortable, and sat down. But a little silence had fallen upon the
people; and the wind moaned in the chimney again.
'It is a sweet time, this Christian time,' said Primrose. 'I always
enjoy it. It _feels_ like Christmas, somehow, here to-night. Listen to
that wind. I dare say it is going to snow again. But it sounds like
Christmas.'
'Why?' said Dane.
'I can't tell the why of things,' said Primrose. 'I suppose I have been
thinking of your doings in the Hollow, Duke. Wasn't it good?'
'It was very good, Prim. It is good now to think of. Yes, it does feel
like Christmas, as you say. All Mill Hollow is happy to-night. No!
I'm too hasty. The Charteris men cannot be happy; for they don't
know what is to become of them when their Christmas beef is
gone!'
'What _will_ become of them, Dane?' said Primrose, looking very
anxious.
'There is no hope for them, except in the mills going on with
work.'
'And is there any hope of that?' said Mrs. Coles.
'Not unless somebody buys them off Charteris's hands.'
'Perhaps you'll do that.'
'I should hardly think that would be prudent,' said Dr. Maryland.
'Dane's responsibilities are large as it is.'
'Miss Kennedy, perhaps?' suggested Mrs. Coles. 'Hasn't Dane
touched your heart for the mill people, Miss Kennedy?'
She turned for a better look into Hazel's face; but Rollo interfered
again.
'You forget she is under guardians, Prudentia. What would Mr.
Falkirk say?'
'How comes it Mr. Falkirk is not here?to-night of all nights!'
said Dr. Arthur suddenly. He was sitting by Wych Hazel, and she
answered pretty steadily, though certain intuitions were waking up
concerning _his_ face.
'Mr. Falkirk wrote that he could not come back for Christmas,
nor perhaps until spring.'
'He does not take the same pleasure in it that Prim does,' Rollo
remarked.
The dinner bugle, and the opened door, cut short all further
comment upon Mr. Falkirk. Wych Hazel went in upon Dr.
Maryland's arm, with a strange feeling of its being the last time,
the last of _her_ entertainments, which had been so pretty and
popular. So she felt when in her place at the head of the table, with
Dr. Maryland on her right and Dr. Arthur on her left. There were
flowers enough here, the table was in a glow. Not stiff baskets and
made-up bouquets, but cut flowers in every sort of dish and
arrangement for which there was room; from the low narrow
border of violets and rosebuds which fenced off the plates, to
parian shells and fairy glasses and a bewildering pyramid in the
centre. The very candlesticks were wreathed. No gardener's work;
those who had seen such before knew the touch of Wych Hazel's
own fingers. She hardly knew it herself; and eyes that watched her
might catch now and then a dreamy look at the flowers,
wondering if she had arranged them!if she should ever arrange
any more.
Besides this the table was bountiful of course with the old
Chickaree silver and china and glass; and by each plate, on the rich
damask, lay a separate, individual knot of flowers, with a scroll
around it, naming the guest. These were culled flowers; but Dr.
Arthur took notice that Wych Hazel did not even handle her own,
but left it where it lay.
Then, shielded under each napkin, was some pretty token of
Christmas. A weighty book, for which Dr. Maryland had been
longing; and for Dr. Arthur a fine field glass. Mrs. Coles rejoiced
in the prettiest ring she had ever possessed; while by Prim lay a
heap of little articles,a fruit knife, a gold thimble, a superb
cutting-out scissors a foot long.
'That must be the very tool employed by Bluebeard!' said Dr.
Arthur. 'I always marvelled at the clever celerity of his work. Prim,
when you are married you must give that to me.'
'Looks suspicious for _his_ wife!' said Dane.
'I like thoughts in such things,' said Dr. Arthur, looking towards
the foot of the table and the bonbonnière that stood by Rollo's
plate; a good-sized wheelbarrow loaded with cotton-bales of
French candy. 'Which is it Dane?work in sugar, or sugar in
work?'
'The two terms are so transposable, I need not trouble myself much
to find out which.'
So the dinner went merrily on. Of course Mrs. Bywank's part of it
was unsurpassed; and but one thing was missing to which guests
there were accustomedWych Hazel's laugh. But her attention to
the guests never failed, and if she only played with her dinner, and
if she was all the time living a double life and carrying on two
trains of thought, few people found it out. Once indeed, apropos to
some demand for roast beef, she wandered quite off to Morton
Hollow and the Charteris men; and then of a sudden the lips parted
in a full smile, and the brown eyes went down the table to Rollo
for sympathy. A moment of forgetfulness followed by one of great
confusion, as she remembered that he could not possibly know
what she was smiling at. Hazel was glad to drop her napkin or do
anything else to put her face out of sight. As for Dane, his part that
evening might be described as filling gaps. He did it admirably.
Perhaps he was not to be greatly credited for that, inasmuch as
happiness is a great lubricator of the social wheels. He did it, at
any rate, easily and coolly too, according to his usual wont. He
talked to Dr. Maryland, was affectionate to Prim, amused Mrs.
Coles, watched over Wych Hazel and took care of her if ever an
emergency in the conversation made it desirable.
The evening in the drawing-room sped quite merrily away, and
only the quick flutter of the lace round Wych Hazel's throat, told of
something hidden and not at rest. Some European views for the
stereoscope were brought out of their corner, and Rollo led the talk
in the direction thus indicated, where he had plenty to say.
Suddenly passing to Wych Hazel's side he sat down and said half
softly,
'There is another view we were going to shew thema new one
is it ready to be introduced? or will it come better later?'
He got another quick look then,searching, exploring,a look to
be remembered.
'Give me a few minutes'
And presently, when no one was looking, the little lady flitted
away out of the room.
It is fair to say that the gentleman so far lost his presence of mind
for some minutes thereafter, as to be justly chargeable with what is
called _absence_. He scarcely answered the observations addressed
to him, and made several on his own account without very well
knowing what he was talking about. And so, for a little, if Time
"gallopped" up stairs, he went rather slowly, with one or two at
least, in the drawing-room. Dr. Arthur presently drew off from the
views and took position again by the mantel-piece,probably to
hear the Christmas wind, which was very musical just then. And
probably the doctor's thoughts too wandered off; for after a while
he took a pair of white gloves from his pocket and began
abstractedly to fit them on.
'Arthur!' said Mrs. Coles severely, whose eyes were never known
to be off duty,'what can you be about?'
'That's the way some people do,' said Rollo after a quick glance;
'they are never ready for an occasion till the occasion is half over.'
'But what is the "occasion"?' said Mrs. Coles.
'Christmas day at Chickareedinnerand, Arthur seems to think,
ceremony.'
'Look at Arthur, Prim,' said her sister.
'It is a leisure moment,' said Dr. Arthur fastening a button,'and I
so seldom have leisure in which to try on new gloves. One of the
minor comforts of life, is having your gloves fit.' And Dr. Arthur
glanced at Dane from under his brows, and went back to his other
glove and the Christmas wind again.
'I declare,' said Prudentia, 'I think you are very unceremonious!'
'Extremes meet,here as often elsewhere,' replied Dane.
'But what have you been getting new white gloves for, Arthur?'
asked his younger sister.
'They look better than old ones, Prim,when they fit.'
'Has Molly Seaton sent you cards for her wedding?'
'I dare say.What about it?'
'She hasn't,nor anybody else,' said Rollo.
'Useless things'said Dr. Arthur. 'I am glad they have not come.'
Another time Dane might have discussed the subject; but not to-
night. He was silent. And as people catch the hidden influences
abroad in the air, the others grew silent too, not knowing why,
thinking it was the wind which drew their attention. Dr. Arthur,
leaning against the mantelpiece with his eyes on the floor, in an
attitude of keen listening, had plainly forgotten his gloves; and the
fire snapped softly, and the red coals fell, and still nobody spoke.
Until, when some little time had passed by, there came a sound of
steps in the hall,steps slow and rather heavy; and the door
opened softly, and a vision came in. Not hers the steps they had
heard; so noiselessly she came in, so vision-like she looked, so
lovely, so girlish in her loveliness, that a caught breath, a half
exclamation, greeted her on all hands. The glittering dress was all
changed. Not for the white clouds in which her mother might have
arrayed her, nor for anything that should make her conspicuous, or
could be so. More for seclusion than for show, Wych Hazel had
chosen her bridal dress. Dark,so dark that the depths of folds
might have been black, and only the light-touched edges threw off
a sea-green _reflet;_ with no ornaments but the châtelaine at her side,
with no adornment but her own silky hair in its own wayward
arrangement. To all this there was just one addition. Hazel had
taken the lace veil,exquisite in pattern, cobweb-like in texture,
and laid it across her head like a Spanish mantilla, from whence it
came down about her on all sides to the floor, leaving only the face
and the front of the dress clear. One little ungloved hand held the
lace lightly together; for gloves that there was nobody to take off,
Hazel could not put on.
Mrs. Bywank and Reo followed close behind her, behind them old
Gyda. But there is something in a crisis which stills some natures;
and while the faces of the faithful old retainers, weatherbeaten
with life's alternating wind and sun, worked and stirred with
emotion, the girl herself was quiet and composed, with almost the
grave childish calm of her own little picture. Her step was a little
quick, but even the colour did not stir, until when after the first
three steps into the room there came a minute's hesitation, as if she
did not quite know where to go, now she was there. If any others
of the household followedas probably they didthose who
looked saw only the three; and perhaps the glitter of Gyda's
embroidery just behind.
Just while Wych Hazel made those three steps into the room, there
was a pause upon all that saw her. A half smothered 'My dear!'
came from Mrs. Coles' astonished lips, and was arrested mid way.
For so many seconds Dane did not move, losing everything else in
the direct vision; but then he was at Wych Hazel's side
immediately and gave her his arm. A great light had come up into
his face, all the light of a smile, but he was not smiling. He led
Wych Hazel forward till they stood at the edge of the semicircle
which had spread out right and left of the table, everybody having
risen to his feet.
'You see what we want of you, Dr. Maryland,' he said. 'Will you
do us the greatest favour you ever can do us?'
'My dear boy!Dane!' exclaimed the old doctor in
bewilderment,'is it possible? Is this little lady ready on such
short notice?'
'She is ready,'replied Dane, with a hidden ring of strength and
tenderness in his voice that only one person could fairly
comprehend. And Dr. Maryland seeing them stand still waiting
before him was fain to believe his eyes and began to bestir himself
to make his preparations. Not many were needed.
'There is a Bible on that table yonder, Arthur,' said Rollo, standing
like a rock. Mrs. Coles by this time found breath.
'But Dane!My dear Miss Kennedy!you _don't_ surely mean to
do without having a wedding?'
'Hush, Prue!' said her sister.
'But I never heard of such a thing in my life!'
Nobody heeded her.
Dr. Maryland was ready, and Dane leading Wych Hazel to a place
in front of him, dropped her arm and stood beside her. It was time,
for a crisis will not bear tampering with; and the girl had grown
visibly paler under pressure of Mrs. Coles, and hands were
trembling a little, and lips almost. Then she drew herself up with
her old quick gesture, and sealed all that, and hid it away. And it
was but a few minutes. There was no want of sympathy in Dr.
Maryland's sweet, grave ministration; a little accent of gladness
was here and there perceptible, and his prayers were exceedingly
earnest and loving. The words of address he directed to the two
young people were searching and stirring words, such as Dr.
Maryland could well speak; but it was all swiftly over, though his
utterances were the reverse of swift. On the contrary, they were
tender and deliberate. But even so, it was quickly over, and Hazel
was receiving the congratulations of her little knot of friends.
Now character came out. The old Doctor's touch of her brow was
hearty enough but a little formal. Prim's kiss was trembling.
Prudentia's was the impact of wooden lips, moveless and hard; one
would have said, sinister, if an expressionless thing could be said
to have expression. All the notes of the scale were between her
husband's kiss and that, Dr. Arthur almost making up for the rest
with his glad, brotherly greeting for Hazel and a brother's wring of
the hand for Dane. But from them all, Wych Hazel turned and
threw her arms round Mrs. Bywank. Restraining herself then with
a great effort, she raised her head and took Reo's hand in both of
hers; but not a word passed on either side. And Gyda, who had
meekly waited her turn, drew near and lifted one of Wych Hazel's
hands to her old lips. She too said nothing audibly, and made way
for others of the household who were bashfully coming in.
'Now will you tell me, Dane,' began Mrs. Coles, when the pause at
her end of the room had lasted, as she thought long enough, 'why
you and Miss Kennedy have done things in this unheard-of sort of
style?'
Perhaps Dane thought it was not a proper question, for he folded
his arms and did not answer. Perhaps he did not hear her; for,
though with no outward token of it, he was somewhat anxiously
watching Wych Hazel.
'What made you do things in this way, to disappoint all the world?'
The lady's face wore a smile which was meant to be gracious,
however the words sounded not so.
'Prue,' said Prim, 'people have a right to be married in their own
way.'
'But my dear!Don't you think you owe something to society,
Dane? In your position?'
'I never understood my obligations to society,' said Dane
carelessly.
'But do you think it is fair, to disappoint all the world?'
'Always fair to disappoint improper curiosity.'
'Well, but why is that improper curiosity?'
'Curiosity about other people's business,' said Dane good-
humouredly.
'And do you call _that_ improper?'
'I suppose not,when custom has made it seem to be your own
business.'
'That's it; custom _has_ made it not only seem but be so. And I think
it is perfectly natural and reasonable and proper. When does a lady
show to more advantage than on her wedding-day? And why
should not the world have the benefit of it?'
'I do not know why not,' said Dane smiling,'if it suits the parties
concerned.'
'Why didn't it suit you, you jealous Musulman?'
'When a lady has never been seen to advantage,' remarked Dr.
Arthur,'that may alter the case. Her Grace is hardly one of
those.'
Not one word had come from Hazel's lips, that anybody heard,
since those few which nobody was likely to forget. Indeed she had
kept herself rather off from the group, among her own dependants,
one and all of whom had by degrees filled up the background. And
it was no trifle to give even a touch of the hand to all those eager
retainers; the touch and the look, which was all she ventured. Now
the room was clearing again; and whether Hazel had heard all the
talk or no, her cheeks gave swift token that Dr. Arthur's last
sentence had reached her ears. "Her Grace"she could not throw
off the title any more.
But whatever the rights of the public may be in the matter of
seeing, the right of discussing, with the parties at hand, Hazel
plainly thought needed a check. So the next thing that attracted
or distractedMrs. Coles, was the soft ringing peal of her little
whistle; and answering promptly to that, the tea bugle. Then the
door flew open, and Dingee brought in the tea-service. The tray,
with the rarest old china cups, which even Rollo had never seen,
followed by Mrs. Bywank's cakes and other home-like dainties.
And Wych Hazel glided off to the rather distant table, gathering in
Mrs. Bywank and Reo and Gyda for her train; and hid herself
behind the hot water kettle, putting its soft cloud of steam between
her and all disturbance for the time being. Then Reo was sent to
build up the fires,he was a rare hand at that; and Dingee was
despatched for something else; and Hazel demanded little bits of
help from the other two near her; talking softly to them, it was
plain, though still with the same grave young face. But the whole
picture was sweeter than anybody could tell.
Looking at it, from his place in the other group, something drew
Rollo's steps that way; slow, quiet steps, which however brought
him to Gyda's side, whom Hazel had seated at the table. While he
was safe with her, Wych Hazel watched her chance, and the next
thing Dr. Maryland knew, she had brought and set down by him on
the table the perfection of a cup of tea. Without a word she was
away again and back in her place behind the tea urn; where with
Gyda et her side and the delight of Gyda's eyes standing there near
the table, Hazel took up the sugar tongs again and tried to
remember what amount of sweetening commonly sufficed for Mrs.
Coles.
'Now Dane,' said that lady, with a kind of acid sweetness of
manner, as Rollo brought her the cup,'do tell me why you have
conducted things in that way?'
Rollo looked grave and asked what things.
'Why you know! Have you sent out any cards?'
'Have you sent out any cards, Hazel?'
'Things must be sent in before they can be sent out,' said the young
lady, who having dismissed Dingee had come herself for Dr.
Maryland's cup.
'Ambiguous'said Dane turning to Mrs. Coles; 'but I take the
sense of it to be, that no cards were sent. That is not
unprecedented.'
'For people situated just as you are, my dear, it is. Now tell me
don't you want all these peopleI mean, everybody in generalto
visit you?'
'Ambiguous again,' said Dane smiling at last a little. 'Suppose, for
the sake of argument, that we do!'
'Then why not pay them the customary compliment of telling them
so?'
'But suppose, on the other hand, that we do not?'
'Why you certainly know,' replied Mrs. Coles with some asperity,
'whether you want them. Do you? or don't you?'
'I think I might say,' answered Dane demurely, 'we do,and we do
not.'
'But that is nonsense, Dane.'
'Is it?'
'You ought to want them.'
'WellI have told you; we do.'
'Then _are_ you going, when a suitable time comes, are you going to
invite all these neglected people and give them a good Reception?
you and Hazel?'
'We will give them a good reception if they come,' said Dane with
provoking want of enthusiasm.
'O I never can get anything out of you!' said the lady discomfited.
'I might have known it. Papa, do _you_ think it is well to set all the
institutions of society at defiance?'
'Why Prue,' said Dr. Maryland somewhat astonished, 'you speak as
if Society were monarch of the realm. I believe we live in a
republic.'
'What do you mean by Society?' asked Primrose.
'Why!You know.'
'I do not, indeed.'
'It means,' said Dane, 'in this country, all people in general who
have incomes above a certain limit; them, and those whom their
powerful hands lift from a subjacent platform to the freedom of
their own.'
'All people who are rich enough to invite you as you invite them,'
said Dr. Arthur.'Prim, where is your comprehension? How can
you put your feet under a man's mahogany, if he happens to have
none?'
'Is it different in other countries?' asked Mrs. Coles.
'Yes. Birth counts there, and breeding, and what a man happens to
have inside his head.'
'And does not birth count for something here?' cried Mrs. Coles.
'I have no doubt it does.'
'But not with you?'
'I speak of things as I find them,' said Dane smiling slightly. 'And
in generalities.'
'Well, think what you like of society; are you not going to regard it
at all?'
Dane turned to the Bible which still lay upon the table, and opened
it. 'What do you say to this, Prudentia?'
' "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor
thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest
they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee." '
'Then you will live alone, I suppose, and make Hazel live so.'
'Not at all,' said Rollo coolly; 'that does not follow. The words I
was reading go on"But when thou makest a feast, call the poor,
the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they
cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the
resurrection of the just." '
'But my dear Dane!' said Mrs. Coles breathlessly; 'you don't mean
to say that you take all that literally?'
'I do not see how it is to be taken figuratively,' said Dane looking
at it.
'Why it means, of course, that we are to be kind to the poor.'
'But kinder to the rich? That looks like turning the figure topsy
turvy; and in that case you get a view which can hardly be called
correct.'
Hazel had left the tea-table now, and come softly up, taking a low
seat half behind Prim's chair, leaning her head against it. In the
shadow there she was looking and listening.
'It is a choice of invitations, that is all,' said Dr. Arthur. 'The Lord
returns all the civilities shewn to poor peopleand rich men return
their own. That is the only difference.'
'That is the comfort I have when anybody shews me kindness,' said
Dr. Maryland, with a wonderful, simple, bright smile, rising as he
spoke. 'I am one of the Lord's poor people; so I am never troubled
about the returns. Come, my childrenwe have four miles in the
snow before us.'
CHAPTER XXIV.
ONE AND ONE ARE TWO.
'They will never agree, those two!' said Prudentia Coles, the next
morning at breakfast.
'They will agree perfectly!' said Primrose.
Good Dr. Maryland lifted his eyebrows in astonishment at both
utterances.
'Their ways were too different,' said Mrs. Coles.
'Their ways will be alike,' said Prim.
'Of course, their ways will be _one_,' said the doctor. But he was
very old-fashioned.
And people do not change their natures because they happen to
love one another, nor even because they happen to be married. Still
less!
There happened to be a run of very bad weather for several days
after the two persons concerned arrived in New York. That did not
indeed hinder business in Wall street and elsewhere, but it put an
effective barrier to pleasure seeking out of doors. The best and
most exclusive appointments of the best hotel, did not quite
replace Chickaree, during the long days which Hazel perforce had
to spend by herself. At last there came a morning when the sun
shone.
'What have you got to do to-day?' Rollo asked her.
'One trunk to fill for other people, and two for myself.'
'Sounds large! Can you do it in a day?'
'I am an adept at filling trunks.'
'Let me see your purse.'
'O that needs no looking after,' said Hazel, flushing up.
'I only want to see it,' said Dane smiling. 'Not to rifle it. I want to
see what sort of a thing you carry.'
The "things" were two, and very like Hazel; a pocket-book and
purse of the daintiest possible description. Various coins shewed
through the gold meshes of the one; the Russia leather of the other
told no tales. Rollo turned them over, half smiling to himself.
'Is there enough here for to-day's work?'
'I have Mr. Falkirk's cheque for my last quarter's allowance. I
generally make that do,' said Hazel.
'Doesn't your stock need supplementing?'
'No, thank you,' she said softly and shyly.
'I will arrange all that presently, Hazel. Meanwhile I am very sorry
I cannot go along to help you fill those trunks; but I have several
people to see and less pleasant work to do. We'll get some of this
business over, and then we'll play. Take a carriage, and Byrom
shall wait upon you.'
'I do not want Byrom. He is not used to me. And perhaps I may
walk.'
'Byrom is used to me,' said Dane significantly.
'Proof positive of my two propositions,' said Hazel with a laugh.
'Waiting on me, is bewildering work to a new hand.'
'If I give it him in charge, he will do it well. Byrom has a head.'
'But I do not want to be given in charge. Have not I a head too?'
Rollo laughed at her, and remarked that it was 'one he was bound
to take care of.'
'So am I, I should hope,' said Hazel. 'What do you suppose I shall
do with itor with myself generallythat you call out a special
detail of police?'
'Did Mr. Falkirk let you go about by yourself?'
'Always! At least, so far as he was concerned,' said Hazel
correcting herself.
'I warned you what you were to expect,' said Rollo lightly. But
then they came to the breakfast table, and something else was
talked of. When the meal was over, and he was about going,
bending down by her chair, he asked,
'What time will you have the carriage?'
'No time,' said Hazel. 'I have decided to walk.'
'I want you to take a carriage and let Byrom attend youthe
sidewalks are in a state of glare ice this morning.'
'I am sure-footed.'
'I am glad of it,' said Rollo half laughing. 'What hour shall I say?'
'Why none!' said Hazel emphatically, with a passing thought of
wonder at his obtuseness, though at the moment she was deep in
her notebook. 'None, thank you.'
Rollo's eyes sparkled, as he stood behind her, and his lips twitched.
'Is that the way you used to handle Mr. Falkirk, when he expressed
his wishes about some point of your action?'
'Mr. Falkirk was indulged with a variety of ways.'
'Have you got a variety in store for me?'
'For any deserving objectI am extremely impartial,' said Hazel
turning a leaf.
'Won't you give me another variety then, this morning?' said he
softly. 'Because I am not going to let you go out on foot to-day,
Hazel.'
'Not _let_ me?' Hazel repeated, looking round from her notebook
now to ask the question. There was no explanation in the face that
confronted her, nor any consciousness of having said anything that
needed it. Hazel looked at him for a second, open-eyed.
'What can you possibly mean?' she said.
'If it means interference with your pleasure, I am sorry.'
Probably something in face and figure made this reply more
definite than the words, for Wych Hazel's face waked up.
'But it does!' she said. 'I told you so at first.'
'It would interfere with mine very much, to have you go as you
proposed.'
'But that is simply!' Hazel suddenly checked her rapid words,
and brought her face back over the notebook again; bending down
to hide the crimson which yet could not be hid.
'What is "simply"?' said Dane, touching his own face to the
crimson. But Hazel did not speak.
'I must go, Hazel,' said he now looking at his watch. 'I have not
another minute. I will send Byrom to you for orders.' And with a
very gentle kiss to the bowed cheek as he spoke, he went off. And
Hazel sat still where he left her, and thought,with her face in her
hands now. Thoughts, and feelings too, were in a whirl. In the first
place,no, there was no possible telling what came first. But was
he going to direct every little thing of her life? Well, she had given
him leave last winter, in her mind. That is, if he _would_ do it. But
would he really? Somehow she had fancied he would not. She had
fancied thatsomehowhe would find out that she had a little
sense, and trust to it. She felt so disappointed, and caged, and
disturbed.And then she had withstood him!a thing he never
pretended to bear. Maybe he had gone off disappointed, too. And
one of her old saucy speeches had been on the tip of her tongue!
and next time, as like as not, it would slip out, and what should she
do then? What should she do now?go out as she was bid, like a
good child? Hazel almost laughed at herself for the bound her
mind gave, straight back from this idea,which after all was the
only one to act out. For the old sweetness of temper had taken to
itself no edge, and the old dignity which had so often found its
safety in submission did not fail her now. Nevertheless, Wych
Hazel rose up and stood before the fire, knotting her fingers into
various complications. Yes, it was her duty to go. But when
Byrom knocked at the door, Hazel sprang away to the next room
and sent her orders by Phoebe. Then, after the old comical fashion,
she worked out her waywardness in every possible _proper_ way that
she could. She put on one of her wonderful toilettes, and then went
slowly down the broad stairs (thinking fast!)and flashed out
upon Byrom like a young empress in her robes. And a sinecure he
had of it for the next few hours. To stand at the carriage door and
receive the most laconic of orders; to see her pass from carriage to
store and from store to carriage, erect and tall and stately, and with
no more apparent notice of the icy sidewalks than if they had been
strewn with cotton wool. If he followed close to pick her up, Wych
Hazel took no notice and gave him no chance. In like manner she
did her work with an executive force and gravity which made the
clerks into quicksilver and drove one or two old admirers whom
she met nearly frantic. They hailed her by her old name; and Hazel
got rid of them she hardly knew how, except that it was in a blaze
of discomfort for herself. And after that she kept furtive watch;
quitting counters and stores, and rushing upor downin
elevators, after the most erratic and extraordinary fashion; a vivid
spot on either cheek, and eyes in a shadow, and a mouth that grew
graver every hour. O if she could but order the coachman to
driveanywheretill she said stop!but no such orders could go
through Byrom; she must work off her mood at home. And so at
last, in the darkest dress she had, Wych Hazel once more sat down
before the fire, and put her face in her hands. All through the day,
under and over everything else, the old shyness had green growing
up, mixing itself with the new,the old dread of having a man
speak to her in the way of comment, with a thought of blame.
Would anybody do it now? So she sat until steps came to the door
and the door opened; then she rose quickly up.
But the matter which had occasioned her so many thoughts, had
scarcely given Rollo one; and it was plain he had fully forgotten it
now in his gladness at seeing her again after the long day. His face
had nothing but gladness; and as he took her in his arms she felt
that the gladness was very tender.
'Work all done!' he asked.
'O no.'Hazel was glad too. The day _had_ been long.
'But I am going to play to-morrow!'
'Well, what about it?'
'Work must wait. We have got a great deal to do. Don't you agree
with me, that every full cup ought to flow over into some empty
ones?'
'Instead of into its own saucer?' said Hazel, who was rather
abstractedly brushing off an imaginary grain of dust from his coat
stuff. 'Perhaps it would be safe to allow that I do.'
'Well,' said Rollo laughing at her, 'there are plenty of empty cups.
How many can we fill to-morrow?'
'If you have been at work on that problem, no wonder you want
play. How many?I do not know. How much too full is your cup
to-night?'
'It feels like the widow's inexhaustible cruise of oil. And by the
way, I believe that the store from which anybody may supply
others, is inexhaustible. Now let us consider.' And he stood silent
and thoughtful a few minutes, Hazel not interrupting him.
'I can tell you one thing,' he began again. 'Prudentia Coles would
like a black silk dress; and she cannot afford it.'
'I certainly owe her that,' said Hazel,'and a royal purple to boot.'
'How do you "owe" it?'
'For tipping my cup over, once. I wonder whether she thought I
was too happy to be let alone?'
'Give her both the dresses, Hazel. _She_ is not a happy woman. It
will fill her cup for the time being.'
'Then, if you talk of debts,' said Hazel, 'I owe Prim the greatest
quantity of wholesome animadversion. It never was of the least use
to me,but she ought to be paid for it, all the same.'
'I suppose you deserved it,' said Rollo coolly.
'Do you?' said Hazel. _Had_ she? Her thoughts flew over the
confusions of the day,then before she began again, Rollo asked,
'Have you written to Mr. Falkirk, Hazel?'
'I? No. I have nothing to say to him.'
Rollo looked at her, first with a grave consideration, and then his
lips twitched.
'Nothing to say to him?' he repeated.
'Nothing whatever.'
'Does it fall to me to instruct you in the proprieties? It is due to him
to inform him that you are his ward up no longer; that you have
done what he would very much have disapproved, and married me
at a week's notice; which, you may tell him, was not at all your
fault, and done principally for the sake of the men in the Charteris
mills. Don't you see, Hazel, that you ought to tell him all this?'
'No,' said Hazel, with one of her old witch looks flashing out for a
moment. 'If your right of way does not cover all the disagreeable
business, I cannot see what use in the world I can make of it.'
'My right of way?' repeated Dane looking at her.
'Yes. The right to do what you please should be extended to take in
all that I do not please.'
'Across all which of mine, _your_ right of way, I suppose, takes a
zigzag track!'
'Underground.'
'It will be dangerous there!' said Dane, his eyes flashing. 'For pity's
sake, Hazel, keep it aboveground.'
'Collisions are bad things,' said Hazel,'and switching off on a
side track tries one's patience. But about Mr. Falkirkthere never
was the least atom of father and daughter between us; he always
kept me at arm's length. It was one of the trials of my life. And he
has been just throwing me off more and more,a year ago twenty
sisters would not have made him leave me alone. And he said
nothing but unpleasant things before he went,and I should have
to lay all the blame on you. And in short,' said Hazel summing up,
'he could not be angry with my letter, and he could with yours,
which would comfort him up.'
Perhaps it was the thought of Hazel's great loneliness that touched
him, the very remembrance of which he wished to kiss away;
perhaps something else had its share in the caresses which were as
tender as they were loving; but then he said softly,
'It would not be the proper thing, Hazel.'
'Well.' A rather long breath gave up the point.
'Don't you see it, Wych?'
'Not quite. But you do not know how he talked before he went
away.Nor what sort of a letter I shall be sure to write. I shall tell
him that as it distracted my attention to run counter to two
people'
'You will write a very gentle and careful one. He loves you very
much, Hazel. Which was one reason why he was so unwilling that
you and I should get acquainted.'
Wych Hazel looked up at him with absolute terror in her face.
'What do you mean?' she said.
'It is not very strange. I have the greatest respect for Mr. Falkirk
and not the less because he had sense enough to love you a little
too well. Do you remember your making him go to Catskill?'
Wych Hazel's head went down on her hands, without a word; but
outside the shielding fingers the distressful colour shewed itself in
every possible place. Remember!what did she not remember?
things she had done, things she had said.
'He was afraid,' Dane went on smiling, 'that if I had a chance to see
you I might choose to take the conditions of the will; he had good
reason to fear! You must write him the dutifullest, gentlest,
lovingest letter, Hazel; and lay off the blame of everything upon
the shoulders that can bear it. Mr. Falkirk knows me. And if, by
and by, we could coax him to come and make his home with us, I
should be happy.'
'And everybody knew it but me!'said Hazel, thinking out. 'It is
good I can do no more mischief.'
'What is that?' said Dane laughing. 'What mischief have you done?'
'HushI was talking to myself. But oh, I am so sorry!' Looks
and tones and words and recollections were pouring in upon her
like a flood.
'What are you sorry for? You need not be sorry, my little Wych,'
said he, changing his tone with the last words. 'You have done him
good and given him pleasure for so many years; and I am not
without hope that both good and pleasure will be renewed and
continued to the end of his life. So write a nice letter to him. And
come to dinner in the first place.'
But it was a very remorseful flushed face that came to the table.
'Done him good and given him pleasure!' she repeated;'teased
his life out, would be nearer the mark.'
'That did him good,' said Dane dryly. 'That is the way you expect
to give me pleasure, you know.'
From under a queer little lift of her eyebrows, Hazel looked up at
him. 'Is it?' she said with equal dryness.
'Does the leopard change his spots?'
'The other half of the simile is more like me,' said Hazel,
'however, if you prefer this But given the spots, the pleasure
may be to seek.'
'I can find it, as fast as you find the spots. Will you have cheese
with your soup?'
Hazel thought within herself, declining the cheese, that the day
when she ventured any of her old pranks with _that_ particular
person, was somewhat remote. Would she ever be "true witch"
again, she wondered?
'You forget,' she said. 'You told me once yourself that you thought
very few men could stand it.'
'I meantexcept me,' said Dane with great coolness.
'You'didn't, was on Hazel's tongue, but she let it stay there. A
quick, bright eye flash went over her, but Dane kept his
countenance and went on with his dinner. He understood very well
one or two things that were in Hazel's mind. He knew that she
thought she had lost liberty in marrying, and he knew that she was
mistaken in thinking so; but he also knew that the sweet growths
of the mind cannot be forced; and he could wait. He never said
"my dear" and "my love" to her, this man; he let Hazel find him
out for what he was, all hers; but it might take time. He thought he
would give her a little help.
'Have you been studying the third chapter of Genesis?' he asked
when the servant was out of the room.
'No. At leastI was thinking of Adam and Eve a little when you
came home.'
'In German or English?'
'English prose.'
'It is stronger yet in German. "Dein Wille soll deinem Manne
unterworfen sein, and er soll dein Herr sein." I think you have been
studying it in German. But Hazel, that is the form of the curse; and
the curse is done away in Christ.'
'But,' she said gravely, her timid reserve coming back with the
subject,'But the facts stand.'
'What facts? And take some nuts along with the facts.'
'The factsof the case,' said Hazel, using her nut-cracker and
laying the meats abstractedly on one side. 'The right of way,and
strength to enforce it,for two.'
Again Dane's eyes flashed and the corners of his mouth were a
little hard to keep in order.
'Neatly put' he said.
Hazel glanced at him, but she ventured no questions.
'But you forget, Hazel,' he went on gravely, 'that all that, the
odious part of it, belongs to a state of things that in Christ is passed
away. It remains true, no doubt, that "the man is the head of the
woman;" else the lesson-type would not answer to the lesson,
which is to set forth the beauty and nearness of the relation
between Christ and his church. But in a right marriage it is also
true that "the woman is the glory of the man." Not the
housekeeper, nor the nurse, or the plaything, still less the bond-
woman; but the GLORY. She is the flower of all humanity; the
good and beauty and grace of all earth, findsfor himits
perfectest bloom and expression in her.'
She listened, smiling a little bit, then grave again.
'But that'she said,'is _that_ what it means?'
'Excuse me. What what means, Wych?'
'The words you quoted. The last words.'
'Do they mean what I said? Certainly.'
'And only that?'
'Can you make them mean more?'
'For me, a good deal more.'
'Then it will be for me, probably. Go on, and explain.'
'No, perhaps not for you. You might be perfectly content with the
flower, as you call it, in your hand; content with your content;
looking no further.'
'You are mistaken,' said Dane, with a manner both amused and
pleased.'I should never be content with _my_ content.'
'But I mean' She was not very willing to tell her meaning, the
words came slowly,'I used to think, that being so much to him,
she must needs be something in herself. That only one who was a
glory in herself, _could_ be the glory of another. In my way'Hazel
added, dropping her voice, ' "She will do him good and not evil all
the days of her life." And he will be "known in the gates" by more
than the robe of purple and silk which her hands have woven!'
As far as the face could then, it went down, bending over the nuts.
Dane looked, and smiled, and took no advantage.
'I do not see the difference of your view from mine,' he remarked
quietly. 'You credit me surely with so much discrimination as to
perceive that some women are nobody's glory,even as some men
are fit to be nobody's head.'
'But people do not think so,' said Hazel. 'People make it out to be
just something supplemental,a sort of convenient finishing up
the few trifles of comfort or help wherein a man may be deficient.
That is what they all say.It is a very queer thing to be a woman!'
'Is it?' said Dane gravely.
'Yes!' said Hazel with one of her outbursts.'Prim tells me not to
vex you, and Dr. Maryland wants to know ifif I shall be a help
or a hindrance, in short; and he hopes you will not let me have my
own way too much. Nobody enquires if you are likely to vex me,
or to try my temper, or to develope my character, or help on my
work; nobody supposes that I _have_ any work, of my own. But if I
have not, that is only the more queer.'
Rollo left his seat, he had got enough of his nuts; and coming
behind Wych Hazel gently laid hold of both her hands and freed
them from what they held, then insinuated her chair backwards,
and lifting her out of it led her away to the fire and wrapped her in
his arms. What it was no use to say, he did not say, however; as he
had once told her he never asked for a thing he could not have, so
even now, he would not supplicate for confidence which must be
the growth of time. She would find out for herself, by and by, what
concerned him; and the rest he did not are about. So his answer
now was a departure. He did not kiss her; he stood pushing back
the brown curls from her brow, on one side and on the other,
looking down into her face with eyes which Hazel instinctively
knew were too mighty to meet just then. So standing he coolly
asked her,
'Do you love me, duchess?'
'I was talking of loving myself,' said Hazel, touching up her
flushed cheeks with vivid carnation.
'I can do that better than you can. How about your part?'
'Reasoning from factsprobablyI must!'
'You are afraid to confide that deep secret to me? Now I should
have no sort of difficulty in proclaiming mine to anybody who had
any business to ask it. It must be a queer thing to be a woman!'
said Dane, with a dry, humourous, but at the same time wholly
tender and sweet expression.
'Have I not confided it?' Hazel said under her breath. 'Do you think
I would be here? What makes you ask such things? Is it because'
But there she stopped.
'Because is a woman's reason. I never do things "because." What
did you mean to ask?'
'I think I have been very unlike myself,that is all.'
'I never saw you unlike yourself,' Dane said, in that gentle manner
and tone of his which was more than epithets and endearments
from other people. Much more; for those might be mere forms of
expression, and these could not be. And she enquired no further,
nor raised her eyes to search. Standing there with a host of other
questions in her mind; questions she would like to have discussed
and settled, but which never would be;so she thought. Unless
indeed in the slow, unsatisfactory way in which time settles all
things.
CHAPTER XXV.
PRIM'S TRUNK.
We cannot go into the next day's shopping, though it was a very
enjoyable day for the two people engaged. Some things however
must be mentioned, on account of words and thoughts to which
they gave occasion.
The business on hand this day was the getting of New Year's gifts
for everybody in general. And as, with the exception of the Hollow
people, it had also to be for everybody in particular, the work was
slow.
Wych Hazel wanted a secretary for Primrose, in the first place. A
very beautiful one was found, very perfect also, of some light-
coloured ornamental wood, finely inlaid, price three hundred
dollars. On the other hand, Rollo got one, a larger one, and equally
good, for Arthur Maryland, for just half the money. One for Prim
was to be had for a third of the money; but it was unadorned black
walnut, and less elegant in form, and Wych Hazel recoiled. She
would have got the first without hesitation, only she could not
coax any encouragement out of Rollo.
'Do you think she would like this plain one better? Do _you?_'
'Suppose the difference, in the charge of a note, lay in one of the
drawers, for Prim's poor people? Which do you think would give
her most pleasure?'
'O _that_,if you put it so. But I wish I could suit myself too.'
'You can suit yourself too,' said Dane smiling.
'I'll think about it as we go along. You see,' she said meditatively,
'I could put the cheque in, just the same.'
The next place in order was Stewart's.
'I have something to get for Prim, too,' said Rollo as the carriage
stopped. 'I have provided a new patent upright trunk; and I propose
to stock all its compartments. Will you help me? Else, I am afraid,
I shall never know all that ought to go in.'
'Well,' said Wych Hazel,'is it to be filled with Prim's ideas, or
mine?'
'Let us give her what she can use and enjoy; every comfort we can
think of; and nothing that would not be a comfort. You wonder at
my choice of a present, perhaps; but Dr. Maryland's means are
very limited, and I know Rosy often hesitates about a new pair of
gloves.'
'I can choose gloves,' said Hazel confidently. 'But thenDane"
'Well?' said he, smiling, as he pushed open the swinging door.
Hazel walked on in a brown study.
'Never mind,let me see you begin, and maybe I shall learn how
to go on,' she said, as they paused before one of the dress goods
counters.
It was no doubt new experience to her. For Rollo began with soft
merino and warm plaid pieces, choosing colours and qualities
indeed with care, yet refusing the more costly stuffs which were
offered. Except that he indulged himself and Primrose with a
delicate gray camel's hair at last. At the silk counter he would not
be tempted by the exquisite tender hues which the shopman
suggested to his notice; no, he looked, and called for others, and
finally bought a good dark green and a black, the mate to Mrs.
Coles' black silk. At the glove counter he handed the matter over to
Wych Hazel. She had watched all his proceedings with observant
eyes, saying hardly a word, unless upon some point of quality
where she knew best. Now she faced him again.
'How much do you want to invest in gloves, please?'
'That is not the point. I want to stock her glove drawer. Warm
gloves, cool gloves, dark gloves, light gloves; you have carte
blanche. I will look on now.'
Hazel laughed a little.
'There are more sorts of gloves than that. What about six buttons?'
'Six buttons!' repeated Rollo.
'Would you like more?'
'I do not understand the question. Excuse me.'
Wych Hazel held out her dainty wrist, turning it slightly that he
might see.
'I approve of that,' said he, looking gravely down at it.
'But you cannot have that for nothing,' said Hazel.
'What?' said Dane, his eyes coming now with a sparkle in them to
her face.
'Hush!Don't you understand? The more buttons, the fewer
glovesif you are limited. That was why I asked how much.'
'The buttons do not look costly.'
'But they arein effect.'
'What's the difference?'
'Every additional button counts for so much,' Hazel told him.
'How many buttons are needed for comfort?'
'Twelve are best for some occasions,and I think I have one box
with two.'
'But how many are needed for comfort?' said Dane, inquisitorially
now.
'Why!as I told you,' said Hazel. 'The comfort of a glove depends
on its fitting your dress and the occasion as well as your hand.'
Dane pulled a card out of his pocket and did a moment's figuring
on it with his pencil. Then shewed it to Wych Hazel.
'Do you see?' he said low and rapidly in French. 'If you are buying
so manythe difference between two buttons and four would keep
a fire all winter for one of Rosy's old women who has no means to
buy firing.'
Hazel looked at him with open eyes, shook her head, and moved
away. 'I see I must quit my side of the counter,' she said. 'That
would not suit Prim's "views" at all. May I get them with two?'
Practically the same thing went on in the lace and embroidery
departments. In the shawl room Hazel was better satisfied, though
even there Rollo was content with less than a cashmere. Furs,
linens, ribbands, what not, claimed also attention; and Prim's trunk
took a good while to fill.
The next thing was a new carpet for the long library at Dr.
Maryland's.
So went the day, with many an other purchasing errand, general
and particular. New Year's gifts for the mill hands and the
children; the supplies for the stores which Rollo was purposing to
open in the Hollow, where all sorts of needful things should be
furnished to the hands at cost prices; an easy chair for Reo, a
watch for Mrs. Boërresen; books, pictures, baskets. In the course
of things Hazel was taken to a Bank, where a dignified personage
was presented to her and she was requested to inscribe her name in
a big book, and a deposit was made to her account. Also a good
down town restaurant was visited, where they got lunch. It was a
regular game of play at last. Rollo bought, as Hazel never before
saw anybody, things he wanted and things he did not want, if the
shopman or shopwoman seemed to be of sorry cheer or suffering
from that sort of slow custom which makes New Year's day a
depressing time to tradespeople. And Hazel looked on silently. It
was so new to her, this sort of buying, and (it may be said) the
buyer was also so new! She did not feel like Wych Hazel, nor
anybody else she had ever heard of, and could hardly find self-
assertion enough to execute her Chickaree commissions when she
saw the right thing. She made a suggestion now and then indeed,
"strawberry baskets" and "fishing lines" and "worsted." 'Byo says
Trüdchen knit every minute she was at Chickaree,' she remarked.
And every suggestion she made Rollo acted upon as fast. Some
things were ordered at once to Chickaree; others were sent or taken
home with them to the hotel; whither at last, with their work but
half done, the two busy and tired people repaired themselves.
A pile of business letters demanded Mr. Rollo's time after dinner;
and while he was somewhat absorbed in them, Hazel softly
brought a foot cushion to his side and placed herself there. It was
almost a demonstration, the way she did this, but she ventured
nothing further, and sat there still and absorbed in her own
musings. Dark blue silky folds lay all around her, and hands and
arms came out a little from the wide lace sleeves and were crossed
upon her knees. Rollo's eyes wandered to her from his letters once
and again, and finally he tossed them aside, and stooped down to
look at her and pull her curls a little away from her face.
'Business can wait!'he said. 'What are you musing about,
duchess?'
'O, a host of things!'
'Take me along.'
'So I have.'
'In what capacity, pray?'
'General Superintendent.'
Rollo began to laugh. 'May I know what I am to superintend?'
'Well,' said Hazel, with a bit of a laugh on her side, 'you were
filling my trunkand I could not tell how!'
'Why not?' said Dane, drawing a long curl through his fingers.
'Would it be like Prim's?'
'I hope I have more discrimination!'
'As how?'
'Than to think the same things would suit two so different people.'
'O I did not suppose you would muffle me in stone-coloured
merino,' said Hazel,'but I mean You know what I mean!'
'I should not like you as well in stone-coloured merino as in blue.
Should a bird of paradise wear the plumage of a thrush or a quail?'
Hazel looked soberly down at the dark silky waves that rippled
along between her and the firelight. She said not a word. Dane
knew well enough what she was thinking of, but chose to have the
subject brought forward by herself if at all. He paused a minute.
'Would you like a trunk filled like Prim's?'
Hazel trilled her fingers thoughtfully over the hand that lay near
her, and then suddenly asked, 'Does that annoy you?'
'Not much,' said Rollo drily. She glanced up at him.
'Mr. Falkirk used to hate it.And I forgot what my hand was
about,' said Hazel; sedately folding it again with its small comrade.
From which it as brought back, first to her husband's lips.
'Have we got to the bottom of that trunk yet?'
'There was another point,' said Hazel. '_Should_ I ever get to the
bottom of it?'
'Never!' said Dane. 'If getting to the bottom of it implied using
what you took out.'
Hazel laughed a little.
'That was just how I felt, 'she said. 'But Olaf'growing sober
again'after all you do not answer the real intrinsic question.'
'How would you state that, as it presents itself to you?'
'Whether you would fill it _so_,' she said, looking musingly at the
fire. 'So,not in precise colour, of course, nor exact pattern,but
in general qualityand plainnessand' she paused for a word.
Dane said quietly, 'Probably not.'
Hazel went back into an unsatisfied muse.
'One would think,' she said with a half laugh, 'that I was an
inquisitor, and that you were answering under torture!'
'Come,' said he, 'you shall not say that again. Question, and I will
answer straight.'
'Perhaps my questions were not very straight,' said Hazel, still
arguing into the fire. 'But I really did bring two empty trunks from
home for myselfand in all these days'
It occurred to Rollo that he had heard and seen nothing of any
purchases for herself.
'What in "all these days"?' The words look bare, but the gentle,
fine intonation carried all of caressing tenderness that other people
are wont to express more broadly.
'I have not known what to put in them.'
'How is that? You never found such a difficulty before?'
'No. Nor now. I could fill them both in one hour. But then if I did
not want to take out what was there, I might as well have Prim's at
once.'
'Why should you not wish to take the things out?' said Rollo, with
an inward smile but perfect outward gravity.
'I made up my mindlast winter,' said Hazel rather low, 'that I
should not always like what you like,and that I would act as if I
did.'
The first part of his answer Rollo did not trust to words; but
presently he told her, half laughing, that he thought she was wrong
in both her positions.
'You think I willand you think I won't,' said Hazel. 'Is that it?'
'Not at all. Yes, half of it, the first. I think you will, as you say. But
I never want you to act contrary to your own feeling; and if I can
help it, I will not let you.'
Hazel laughed a laugh of frank amusement.
'Always excepting,' she said, 'the few occasions when my "feeling"
does not answer the helm! You see,' she added, growing grave
again, 'I have all my life bought just what I liked, and as much as I
liked, and _because_ I liked.'
'Precisely my own principle. I hope you will do it all the rest of
your life, duchess.'
'Because you hope my likings will be just right. Yes, but how shall
I know? For to begin with, they are as wayward as a west wind.'
'Let us see. What is your motive of choice in buying?'
'Just that I saidwhat I like. I can tell in a minute what suits me.'
'Beauty, harmony, and fitness, being your guiding objects.'
'Well.'
"Well. You cannot be too beautiful, or too harmonious, for my
delight.'
Hazel sat silent again, thinking, puzzling. 'I wonder if I understand
you?' she said. 'O I have had plenty of comments made on me
before,I think I was a sort of shock to some people. Good
people, you know,at least the best I saw; nice quiet old ladies,
and proper behaved young ones. But then'
'Go on,' said Rollo smiling.
'Well, I used to think they did not know _what_ they were afraid of.
Twenty duck shot would not have mattered, if only the gun had
been wrapped in green baize. It was just the glitter of lock, stock,
and barrel. Even Prim would have been easy if I had worn things
in a heap.'
'You must just reverse those conditions to express my feeling. I
believe we ought to make ourselves as beautiful as we can, for the
highest reasons. Only,and here perhaps I shall touch the hidden
point you have been feeling after,there is one other thing which
comes first.'
She looked up, waiting his answer. He looked deep into her eyes
as he gave it, with a slight smile at the same time that was very
sweet.
'Do you remember?"Seek _first_ the kingdom of God." Therefore,
before even beauty and harmony. So, if I can secure these with one
dollar, don't you see I must not spend two? The Lord wants the
other dollar. He _may_ want both. But generally, for all the purposes
of use and influence, I believe he means us carefully to make
ourselves, so far as we may, lovely to look at.'
Hazel clasped and unclasped her fingers, working out her problem
in the fire again.
'His kingdom in all the world,' she said slowly. 'The harmony
having its keynote from heaven, and then finding its accord in all
one's earthly life. I suppose that was what David meant"O God,
my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory."
'She laid her head down upon her arms and said no more.
'Is the tangle out?' said Rollo gently after a minute.
'That must be the right end of the thread,' said Hazel looking up. 'I
ought to be able to find my way. But I shall have to send my boxes
back empty, and take six months to find out what I want.'
'You do not know of anything that you want at present?'
'I thought I did!' said Hazel with a laugh,'but how do I know?
Maybe I have enough,maybe somebody else wants it more.
Olafis there an endless perspective of needy people in this
world?'
'What if?' said Rollo. 'What if Life were one long day of ministry?
does that look like a worthy end of life? and does it look pleasant?'
'I thinkit does,' said Hazel slowly. 'I mean, I think it will. I have
not looked yet. But then, at that rate'
'Yeswhat at that rate?'
'At that rate,' said Hazel, raising her eyes to his face, 'you would
want the buttons off my gloves as well as off Prim's?'
His fingers were slowly, tenderly, pushing back the curls from her
temples and caressing the delicate brow as he spoke, and his eyes
were grave now with thought and feeling.
'Hazel, I would like to pour flowers before your path all that long
day, and to set you with jewels from head to feet. Diamonds could
not be too bright, or roses too fair. And if the world were all right,
I believe I should dress you so. But it is not all right. Suppose we
were travelling in Greece, and I were captured by those brigands
who fell upon the English party the other day; and suppose the
ransom they demanded exceeded all you had in hand or could
procurehow would you dress till my recovery was effected?'
'That would be you' said Hazel quickly.
'And what is _this?_Our Master, in captivity, hungry, sick, and
naked,literally and spiritually,in the persons of his poor
people. And the question is, how many can you and I save?'
Wych Hazel rested her chin in her hand and said nothing. She felt
exceedingly like "a mortal with clipped wings." Not that she really
cared so much about dress, or the various other gay channels
wherein she had poured out her fancies; something better than
fancy had stirred and sprung and answered Dane's words in her
heart as he spoke them. And yet the sudden whirlabout to all her
thoughts and habits and ways, was very confusing. So she sat
thinking,with every dress she had in the world gravely presented
itself, like a spectre, and all the glove buttons insisting upon being
counted then and there. Suddenly, from the waves of blue silk a
little foot started out into the firelight,a foot half smothered in
trimming; rosetted, buckled, beribboned, belaced. Hazel gazed at
it,and then gave up, and broke into a clear soft laugh, hiding her
face in her hands. But as the laugh passed, she was very much
ashamed to find that the hidden eyelashes were wet.
Rollo watched her a little anxiously, but waited.
'What can one do but laugh, when one gets to the end of one's
wits?' said the girl, as if she thought it needed explanation. 'Olaf,
do you remember the time when you drew my portrait as all hat
and wild bushes? I begin to be afraid it was not a caricature, after
all.'
'I am afraid it was. Your representative was hardly gracious or
graceful, if I remember.'
'Didn't I know what you were thinking of me that day!' said Hazel
smiling at the recollection. 'But in serious truth, that is what I have
liked, and what I have done. I have been wayward and wild and
untrained and unpruned,and then, upon all that I have hung
every pretty thing I could get together. And I don't know what will
be left of me when I am made over all new. Olaf,' she went on
gravely, 'I do understand your harmony,I see how perfect it is,
taking in all the lowest notes as well as the highest, whereas mine
covered only the poor little octave of my own life. I do see that
every part of one's life ought to be in tone with every bit of outside
work and life-need and life-demand that can ever come. And I
know that only _un_fixedness of heart can make any discord. But
there my knowledge ends!' And Hazel leaned her cheek softly
against his arm, and looked up wistfully.
'How much more knowledge do you want just now?'
'Where to begin.'
'We will begin with one of those trunks to-morrow. I have a
presentiment, that if you do not fill it, I shall.'
Hazel shook her head.
'I fancy I have enough extravagance now on hand to last me some
time,' she said. 'Unless you prefer that I should come downor
come up!gradually, and not with a jump.'
'Neither come down nor come up. Only go forward keeping the
harmony we have chosen to walk in. I am so ignorant of all but
men's dress! or perhaps I could speak more intelligibly. But in
general, seek your old ends, of beauty and fitnessonly looking to
see that things more precious are not pushed out of the way by
them, or for them.'
CHAPTER XXVI.
AN ACCOUNT AT THE BANK.
'Duchess,' said Rollo the next morning at breakfast, 'which cabinet
maker is to have the honour of your patronage?'
'I suppose it is not fair to do people good against their will,' said
Hazel. 'If Prim would like the common oneand the money
best, she must have that. But I shall let her know _she_ chose it.'
'You would not like to be suspected of having practised economy?'
'Not unjustly.'
'How is that an unjust suspicion, which is founded on fact?'
'I am not practising economy a bit. Prim wants a secretaryand
you say she would like that best.'
'Excuse me! I said she would like that and the hundred and fifty
dollars best; and you will practise economy to give them to her.
Nicht?'
'Not at all. Only self-denial. I never did buy ugly things, and I don't
like it.'
'Self-denial is almost as good as economy, and one step towards it.
But I would remark, that economy and ugly things have no
necessary connection.'
'No,' said Hazel'_my_ alternative would be destitution.'
'Economy has no connection whatever with destitution.'
'O there you are mistaken,' said the girl arching her brows. 'But for
destitution, it need not exist. But I wish I could think of the right
explosive materials to put in Prim's trunk! She wants waking up,
Olaf,and you have just stroked her down for a nap.'
Dane's eyes snapped at the speaker across the table; and then he
asked in a quiet business tone, 'what sort of lethargy Prim had
fallen into?'
'I said nothing about lethargy. I must get a ream of paper initialed
in blue and gold, and another in crimson, to help line the secretary.
And three journal books in green bevelled antique, and fifty note-
books in yellow Turkey morocco. Andhow many gold pens does
Prim wear out in a year?'
'You made a profound remark just now on the origin of economy; I
should like to have your definition of the thing. Would you favour
me?'
'Mind,' said Hazel, laughing a little, 'it is an unproved definition,
the word itself being but lately introduced; but at present it seems
to me, the doing without what you want yourself, to give it to
somebody who wants it more.'
A line of white made itself visible between Rollo's lips, and the
curves of his mouth were unsteady. When they were reduced to
order again, he asked,
'What more shall we do for New Year in the Hollow?'
Certain cloaks and dresses for women and children, it may be
remarked, had already been sent up. Wych Hazel considered.
'Would it be possiblebut we shall not be at home to give them a
night Festival. There went no books nor pictures into the
Christmas work?'
'BooksI am afraidthey are not ready for. Picturespictures
are harmonizing; I am going to get you some; I would like to put a
picture in every house. What sort? I have thought about it and
failed to decide.'
'Do I want harmonizing in that sense?' Hazel asked with a laugh.
'You want all sorts of things. Go on.'
'Wellfor the picturesI would not get them all alike. It destroys
one's sense of possession.'
'True. But the more the variety, the greater the difficulty.'
'What are your nations?'
'Swedes and Germans, a few Irish, a sprinkling of Americans and
English.'
'Good pictures of animals, I should think,' said Hazel, going deep
into the matter; 'and of ships,and of children. Englishmen would
like King Alfred burning the cakes, and Canute at the sea, and I
suppose the queen in her royal robes, and the battle of Trafalgar.
Then there are bits of the Rhine, and Cathedrals, and Martin
Luther, and a Madonna or two, for your Vaterland people,and
mountains and ice and reindeer' Hazel broke off with a blush.
'How I run on!'
'We will have them all, for future use,' said Rollo smiling. 'The
time will come, but I believe it is not yet. The people are hardly
ready. It wouldn't be good economy. You do not understand that
subject, I know, but you will excuse me for alluding to it. Now for
business.'
Drawing Wych Hazel away from the breakfast table to another
table which stood in the room, he opened a bank cheque book
which lay there.
'Do you know what this is?'
'I see.'
'This is for your use and behoof. And this other little book
containsor will containyour account with the bank. They will
keep the account, and all you have to do is to send it to the bank
every quarter to be written up. There, in your cheque book,
opposite each cheque, you register the amount drawn by that
cheque; so as to know where you are. Verstanden?'
'Yes,' said Wych Hazel, 'I have watched Mr. Falkirk often over
his.'
'The capital which is represented by ten thousand a year,' Dane
went on with business quietness, 'I have settled, absolutely and
without reserve, upon you. That amount will be yearly paid in to
your account, to be drawn out at your pleasure.'
'Why do you let me have more than I used to have?' she said
quickly.
Rollo's lips played a little as he answered,'I think it is good for
your health to be duchess in your own right somewhere.'
'What makes you say that?'
'Conviction.'
'Ah hush!I am talking business. Did Mr. Falkirk talk to you
about it?'
'No. But Mr. Falkirk did go to Dr. Maryland; and urged that he
should prevail with me, before I married you, to settle your
fortuneor as much of it as possibleupon yourself. Dr.
Maryland refused to urge me, and would do no more than
represent to me Mr. Falkirk's wishes. So then Mr. Falkirk wrote to
me himself, though as he said, with very little hope of doing any
good. And I don't think he did any good'added Dane demurely.
'He did his best to vex me first.'
She stood looking down at the cheque book, her face a study of
changing colours. No,this would have been done, though Mr.
Falkirk had held his peace. 'Thank you!' she said, suddenly and
softly.
'Thank me for what?' said Rollo gayly. 'For giving you back a little
piece of your power, after you had lodged it all with me? How did
Mr. Falkirk vex you?'
'I suppose really he wanted to vex you,' said Hazel. 'And he knew
how to choose his words. Olaf'the soft intonation coming back
again'you are very good! But what makes you think I want
power?'
'Habit is said to be second nature.'
'Are you afraid of my missing what I used to have?'
'How should you miss it?' said he laughing. 'Are you less of a
witch than you used to be?'
She shook her head thoughtfully. 'I do not quite know what I am.
Do you expect me to spend all this money wisely?'
'I shall never ask how you spend it, Wych. Only this I would
say,_spend it_. We have far too much now to go on accumulating.'
'Ah,' she said with a breath of satisfaction, 'you are beginning to
understand me!'
'What new token have I given of such sagacity?'
'So long as you and Mr. Falkirk had a monopoly of the wisdom,
there was no use for my small supply,' said Wych Hazel. 'You
never gave me an inch of line. And how you dare suddenly let so
much out at once!'she laughed a little, breaking off.
There was infinite grave fondness in the way Dane drew her up to
him and putting his hand under her chin, lifted the changeable face
to study it. Then kissing her and letting her go, he remarked,
'The rest we hold together, subject to your demands, whenever this
stock happens to be insufficient.'
'Yes,'she said, not looking at him,'the first demands, I think,
will be to make myself into a business woman. How much of the
time are you going to let me work with you in the Hollow?'
'Let you?There is unlimited room for work. I have bought the
Charteris mills, Hazel.'
'Have you!I thought he would not be willing.'
'He had stopped work, you know; the people were in terrible
distress; the times might not encourage him to go on for some
time; and he concluded to accept my offer. I got his answer only
last night. I shall telegraph Arthur to-day to let the mills run again.'
'They will keep New Year,' was Hazel's comment.
'One of my new mills is a small one, doing very fine work in
cottons, and employs only tow hundred and fifty hands; the
woollen mills have eight hundred more. So you see, we have the
whole community now to manage and nobody to interfere with us.'
'How many people?'
'Altogetherover two thousand five hundred. And everything to
be done for them.'
'Then I can go over every day and busy myself with small matters
while you attend to the great.'
'There is enough to do!' Rollo repeated with a smile, but a
thoughtful one. 'How do you propose to manage on Sundays?'
'I do not know. As you manage.'
'I must be in the Hollow.'
'All day?'
'All day. I shall hold a service in the morning for the children, in
the afternoon for the grown people. My schoolhouse is nearly
finished now, quite enough for use. By and by we will have a
church there, if all goes as I hope;or two, perhaps; but the
people are not ready for that. They are half heathen, and will be
less prejudiced against my preaching than any other. So I must
give it to them for the present. I have sent up a load of Bibles and
hymnbooks.'
Hazel sat thinking.
'I could not preach,' she said. 'I do not know what I could do. Only
where there is so muchI suppose I could feel my way and do
something.'
'I would be glad of your help in the Sunday-school. Arthur will be
there; Prim has her own school at Crocus. Then we could lunch
with Gyda, and you could drive back in time for Dr. Maryland's
afternoon service. Hey?'
'Why should I drive back?' said Hazel.
'What a question! To go to church.'
'I can go to church in the Hollow.'
'Pardon me. There is no church there, visible or invisible.'
'There will be preachingand you know you always did like to
preach to me,' said Hazel with a gleam.
'Dr. Maryland would like to preach to you too.'
'He will find other opportunities.'
'He would, I think, with reason, if you were absent from both
services on Sundays. Speaking of work to doHow would you
like to send one of the carriages several times a week to take Mrs.
Coles to drive?'
'Whenever you likeif she can drive without me. But are you in
earnest about Sunday afternoon?' said Hazel with a look that was
certainly earnest.
'I am in earnest at present,' said Rollo. 'But we will see. It is
something for you to sacrifice, and something for me! but whoever
would follow the Lord "fully," Hazel, will find himself called to
lay down his own will at every step.'
'So I must economize in you, first of all!' she said. The words
slipped out rather too quick, and were followed by a shy blush
which did not court notice.
Rollo half laughed and told her that 'economy always enhances
enjoyment.'
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE.
The purchases for Chickaree and the Hollow, the various packages
that found their destination in Dr. Maryland's house, had all been
sent straight off where they were to go. There were however many
things bought during those two days of New York's work, which
had no destination; at least, none as yet known. Such articles had
been ordered to the hotel. And it followed, that in the course of a
day or two thereafter, the rooms of the suite occupied by Mr. and
Mrs. Rollo presented the appearance of a house from which the
inhabitants are meditating an immediate journey with all their
effects. Packages of all sizes and descriptions had accumulated, to
a number which became intrusive upon the notice of said
inhabitants.
'What shall we do to make a clearance?' Rollo had said, laughing,
as his eyes went round the parlour. 'I wish, Hazel, you would look
at these things, and see what use you can find for them. Take
Byrom to open packages and do them up again, and let him ticket
them according to your orders. Will you? and when I come home I
will help. It is a most ridiculous assortment!'
Accordingly, after luncheon, Hazel put on an apron and summoned
Byrom, whom she could not have earlier; she was not afraid of
interruptions, not being supposed, as she thought, to be in town.
The task set her was an amusing piece of work enough,
remembering as she did how and where and why many of the
articles had come to be bought. Here were baskets, what an array
of baskets! which had been purchased from a poor little
discouraged seller of wickerware. A large order had first gone off
to Morton Hollow; then as Rollo walked round the store he had
picked up this and that and bade the woman send it to the hotel; till
the dim eyes had brightened up and the hopeless face had taken
quite another expression. Here was a package of stationery. Hazel
remembered the sickly-looking man who had sold it, in a little
shop, far down Broadway; she recollected Rollo's cheery talk to
the man and some counsel he had given him about his health;
which counsel, coming from so free a purchaser, who paid cash
with so ready a hand, stood a fair chance of being followed. Here
were books, and there were books; here were pictures; there was a
package of hardware. Well Hazel remembered a little corner shop
into which her husband had turned to get a dog-chain; and where,
finding a slim girl keeping shop, and learning that she was doing it
for her father who was ill, he had gone on to buy a bewildering
variety of things, which he would not order sent to Chickaree,
there being perhaps no one in the shop to pack them. Hazel smiled
as she recollected how Rollo found out that he wanted all sorts of
things from that little establishment, and how the little girl had
looked at him and sprung to serve him before he got through.
Byrom was busy unpacking and Hazel examining; the room was in
a confusion of papers and twines and ropes; when the door opened,
and there entered upon the scene no less a person than Josephine
Charteris, née Powder. The lady's look, on taking the effect of
things, it is impossible to describe. Hazel was gloved in dainty buff
gauntlets, the folds of her scarlet dress half smothered in the great
white apron, ruffled and fluted and spotless,and looked
indescribably busy.
'Josephine Powder!I am not receiving company!' she exclaimed.
'Nonsense! I am glad of it. I want to see you, and I don't want to
see other people. How you _do_ look, Hazel! Wellhave you really
gone and got married, and told nobody? Is it true?'
'Telling people is not one of my strong points,' said Hazel. 'Phoebe,
bring a duster to this chair for Mrs. Charteris.'
'It is one your weak points, I think,' said Josephine. 'Never mind
the chair. What made you do things in that way?'
Wych Hazel dismissed her attendants, and went back to her foot-
cushion among the packages. 'What makes one do anything?' she
asked, beginning upon a series of troublesome knots.
'Hm!' said Josephine.'Not being able to help yourself.'
'O is that it?' said Hazel. 'Therehappily for you, I have found
some sugarplums. Do you buy so many now-a-days that you have
no taste for more?'
'What on earth are you about?'
'Hard at work on chaos!'
'What sort of chaos?'
'Don't you see?' said Wych Hazel. 'Here are six brackets together,
for instance, which _should_ be one in a place; and I am puzzled in
what light to hang these pictures;and these books have no place
where to be. And if you want needles, Josephine, or a thimbleor
a sewing-bird, or any little trifle like notepaper or a clotheshamper,
help yourself!'And her sweet laugh rung out, half for
nervousness and half for fun.
'How long have you been married?' was the other lady's impetuous
question.
'Since some time last year,' said Hazel, dragging up another
package.
'Don't be wicked, Hazel! Were you married at Christmas? Kitty
Fisher says so, and I didn't believe it. Were you really?'
'I suppose Dr. Maryland does such things "really," when he does
them at all.'
'Yes!' said Josephine, after a moment's pause and with a half
groan, 'that's the worst of it. I wish I could know it was a sham. _I_
think marriages ought to be broken, if people want them broken.
The law ought to be so.'
Hazel was silent.
'Don't you think, that when people are tired of each other, they
ought not to be bound to live together?'
'But you were tired to begin with.'
'No, I wasn't; not so. I thought I could get along with John
Charteris. He wasn't a beauty, nor a distinguished speaker, but I
thought I could get along with him. Hazel, I hated him before I had
been married a week. Men are at your feet till you are tied to them,
fast; and thenit's very hard, Hazel!the man is the master, and
he likes it.'
'Is that Mr. Charteris?' said Hazel.
'It is every man!'
'Some flourish their sceptres with a difference,' said Hazel, her lips
at play. 'Take another bonbon?'
'It's nothing to laugh at!' said the girl bitterly. 'I know you will tell
me you warned me,but what could I do? They were all at me;
mamma said I must be married some time; and I thought it didn't
make much difference; and nowI think I'll run away. Do you
like your husband?'
'No,' said Hazel with indescribable arch of her brows, which was
however extremely stately. But as she spoke, the very flush of the
morningall light and joy and promisestirred and mantled and
covered her face. It was unmistakeable; words could not have been
clearer. She bent down over her parcels. And Josephine, watching
her keenly, saw and read. It was very bitter to her.
'Why,' she said incredulously, though she was not incredulous,
'you used to hate him a year ago. Do you remember when he
would not let you ride home with us from the Seatons' one night,
and how furious you were? Has he changed?'
'As I never remember hating anybody in my life,' said Wych hazel,
'it is perhaps useless to discuss the question. Do you spend the
winter here?'
'He had money enough of his own,' Josephine went on,'he had
no business to marry you. Wellmarriage is a lottery, they say;
and I have drawn John Charteris. I suppose I must wear him out. If
I could wear him out!If it was only Jack Charteris!but he is
the sort of man you couldn't say "Jack" to. Spend the winter here?
No, I think not. I shall go to Washington by and by. But I don't see
that it signifies much where one is; life is flat when one can't flirt;
and John won't let me do that any more, unless I do it on the sly.
Do you expect to have anything in the world your own way, with
Dane Rollo?'
Hazel felt herself (privately) getting rather "furious" now. Yet the
girl at her side stirred her pity, too.
'What sort of man can you say "Jack" to?' she enquired, as if she
had heard no question.
'You know. A fellow that's anyhow jolly. What are all these things
here for?'
'If I were you,' said Hazel, 'I would make Mr. Charteris so "jolly"
(lend me your word for once) that he would be delighted to have
me say "Jack." '
'I don't want him to be delighted,' said Josephine, 'nor to call him
Jack. And a man that smokes all the time can't be made jolly. He
didn't use to let me see it, you know; and now he don't care. He
ought to live in a house by himself, that's all chimney!'
'Counter attractions would work a cure,' said Wych Hazel, ready to
laugh at her own suddenly developed wisdom. 'If you make
yourself disagreeable, Josephine, I should think he _would_ smoke,
and hide you in a haze.'
'I don't!' said the girl indignantly. 'And nothing on earth will cure a
man who smokes. He likes it better than anything except money;
far better than me. Try to get your husband'
Josephine broke suddenly off. The door had opened noiselessly,
and Mrs. Powder entered, followed immediately by Miss Molly
Seaton.
Greetings and congratulations passed of course, according to form.
'Dane is not at home, my dear?' said the elder lady.
'Husbands are not gallant in these days, mamma,' said Josephine.
'But Mr. Rollo is!' said Molly rashly.
'So it seems,' said Josephine laughing. 'Left his lady-love to put his
affairs in order; while he is having a good sleighride somewhere,
you bet! But you see, she is busy, like a good child.'
'And what _are_ you doing, my dear?' said Mrs. Powder.
Juts then the set of Hazel's head would have told keen eyes what
she was doing _mentally_. She was still in her camelshair morning
robe; the scarlet folds and the white apron, and herself, making a
brilliant spot down among the packages.
'I am putting Mr. Rollo's affairs in order,' she said composedly.
'My dear,' said Mrs. Powder benevolently, 'I am sure he does not
want you to open his packages for him.'
'I should think you were going to open a shop, if I didn't know
better,' remarked Molly in evident great curiosity.
'She won't tell,' said Josephine. 'I suppose she is keeping her own
secret. She wants me to believe that she don't feel the chains of
wedlock a bit.'
'Maybe it is too soon for that,' said Molly.
'O is it!' said Mrs. Charteris. 'I should like to see that. Just as soon
as the minister has done, and said, "I pronounce you man and
wife,"from that minute a man is changed. He is your very
obedient servant when he walks up the aisle; dear me, when he
comes down!'
'But you are joking, Mrs. Charteris,' said Molly, half alarmed.
'After that, he has the power, and you are queen no longer, but
must follow him round the world if he beckons; and he knows it,
and he lets you know it too.'
'That is a foolish way of talking, Josephine,' said her mother. 'Of
course, there is a certain truth in it, and there ought to be. A man is
the head of his house. The only thing to be desired is, that he
should rule it well.'
'I don't care whether it is well or ill,' rejoined Josephine. 'What I
object to is being ruled at all. It is horrid! _You_ can't talk, mamma,
because you know you always held the reins yourself. It's
intolerable to have to ask a man for money, unless he is your own
father; and to have him put his nose into your affairs and say this
must be and that mustn't be. Women know just as well as men how
things ought to be.'
'I think they do,' said Molly.
'And better,' added Josephine.
But at this point Hazel gave way and laughed. Such a ring of
appreciation and merriment and gladness of heart, as was good to
hear. The soft notes made Mrs. Powder smile; but poor Josephine,
who could not laugh so, turned aside quick to hide the very
different change which came over her face. Before anything
further could be said, the door opened again and Rollo came in. He
came in with a look upon his face which changed when he saw the
three people he had not expected to see. It did not grow less bright,
but it changed; the look that was for his wife was for no other upon
earth; nor even for her in the presence of others. He went through
the necessary greetings and congratulations with a manner of
courtly carelessness, which involuntarily made Hazel think of
those first days when she knew him at Catskill.
'Do you want to buy anything, ladies?' said he then, setting on the
table a bronze standish which Hazel had just freed from its
wrappings.
'Will you tell us what all this means, Dane?' said Mrs. Powder.
'Santa Claus's spillings out of his sleigh.'
'Spillings!' echoed the lady. 'What must the sleigh load have been!'
'O that's the way these people do things,' said Josephine. 'What I
should like to know, is where the sleigh load went to.'
'Down various chimneys, of course,' said Dane.
'Do you know,' the lady went on, 'it is very mean of you, Dane
Rollo, to have gone and married the only rich woman in our part of
the country. You ought to have left her for somebody else.'
'If you would like a basket,' said Rollo coolly, pulling some of his
wickerware into line, 'you may have one. I can afford it.'
'May I have one too?' queried Molly.
'Help yourself.Mrs. Powder, you are a housekeeperare there
none among all these varieties that would serve a purpose for you?
Mrs. Charteris, aren't you fond of flowers? I will bestow upon you
this big flower-holder.'
It was one of the best specimens of the poor basket-maker's work,
being a delicate wicker stand, pretty enough for the drawing-room
or a boudoir. Josephine silently accepted the gift, looking at it with
strange eyes; while Molly set about a search for what might serve
her turn. Mrs. Powder sat as a spectator, curious, and at the same
time amused.
'We have got more than baskets here,' Rollo went on, pulling off
twine and paper. 'Here is a tea-kettle. Who wants this article?
Here is an hour-glass.'
'O let me have that!' quoth Molly Seaton. 'I never saw an hour-
glass before. What's this in it?'
'Minutes and seconds,' said Josephine.
'No, but really. It would be dreadful to see one's minutes and
seconds running away in this manner. What is this in the glass?'
'Did you never hear of the sands of life, child?' said Mrs. Powder.
'They were brought from the shores of time, too,' added Josephine,
'by an adventurous traveller.'
'What is it?' cried a lively voice from the again opening door. 'A
reception at the opening of spring goods? I come in, because I hear
sounds' And Miss Kitty Fisher presented herself, stopping just
inside the door. 'I do vow!' she said. '_What_ is it?"All for Love"?
or "She stoops to Conquer"? Katharine and Petruchio seems to be
played out. Well, if I were a turtledove in a big cage!'
'You would coo, I suppose,' said Josephine scornfully. 'Turtledoves
always do, and they are a great humbug.'
'I should doubtless bob my head to the other turtledove,' said Kitty,
making a profound reverence to the gentleman present.
Rollo came forward and offered the lady his arm; then gravely led
her across the big room among baskets and packages to where
Wych Hazel was seated on her low cushion.
'Duchess,' said he with stately form, 'Primrose's cousin Kitty
desires to be recommended to your grace.'
'No, I don't,' said Kitty. 'That's a fib. The duchess and I were well
"acquaint" when Duke did not stand quite so high in favour. But I
am thankful for my part, you two people have given up mischief
and settled down. Sit still among your baskets, child; they become
you.'
'Perhaps you will sit down among the baskets too,' said Dane.
'Don't you want one?'
'It's only to look and choose, Kitty,' said Molly Seaton. 'Such
another chance you won't have again.'
'If you have one large enough to hold her valentines,' said Hazel
with a glance at "Duke,"'that might do.'
'Valentines!' echoed Kitty Fisher,'you'd better! Richard is going
into a decline, madam, I suppose you know. And the major is
drowning careand himself with it. And Lancaster's pining for
war and a stray bullet;and Stuart Nightingale Then in town
here there's a list of killed, wounded and missing as long as my
arm. O I must tell you the best joke. There was a parcel of men
dining at the club the other day, and toasting Miss Kennedy, witch,
sorceress, etc.till they couldn't see. Then in rushes Tom
McIntyre, out of breath, and says, "Miss Kennedy is extinct!"I'd
rather have seen their faces,' said Kitty, stopping to laugh, 'than get
Stuart's best philopoena!'
'It really is unkind,' said Josephine, 'to take people so by surprise,
without letting them get accustomed to the idea. Of course they are
liable to fall into all sorts of ridiculous situations.'
'You have undertaken a great deal, Dane,' said Mrs. Powder, 'in
venturing to marry a lady accustomed to so much admiration.'
'I like whatever I have to be admired,' said Rollo coolly.
'But how do you expect she will do without it in future?'
Dane lifted his eyes for a second to the lady with a certain hidden
sparkle in their gravity, and asked her, so seriously that she was
entrapped by it, 'If she thought admiration was bad for people in
general?' Mrs. Powder fell into the snare, and before she knew it
was involved in a deep philosophical and moral discussion, as far
as heaven from earth removed from all personalities. The younger
ladies however found this tiresome.
'Do leave that mamma!' said Josephine. 'The question is, whether
he and Hazel are going to give us a grand reception, and challenge
the admiration of the world by something the like of which was
never seen before. A scene out of the Arabian Nights, with
enchantment, flowers, fruits and singing birds. They ought, for
they can. What's the use of having money?'
'I dare say they will do something of that sort,' said the elder lady
smiling. 'It really is Society's due, I think; especially as they have
cheated the world with a private wedding.'
'I like to pay my dues,' said Dane carelessly, turning over and
unpacking things all the while. 'Mrs. Powder, there is a paper knife
for you.'
'But you don't do it,' the lady went on, smiling at the same time
over the paper knife, which was very pretty. 'Now will you and
Hazel hold a reception, as you ought to do, and let people see her
as your wife?'
'No fear they won't see her,' put in Kitty Fisher. 'I know some
people who mean to have a good time when he's away at the mills.
Where are your presents, child? I came to see you on purpose to
see them. I suppose they are the ninth wonder. You have seen
them, Mrs. Powder?'
'I have seen nothing,' said that lady blandly, for however she
disapproved of Kitty's style of application, I have no doubt she
would have liked it to be successful.'I have seen nothing, except
baskets.'
'There is a good deal here besides,' said Rollo. 'Mrs. Charteris,
don't you want a bread trencher? Or a rocking chair? And here are
pens.'
'Thank you. Are you going to set up a shop?'
'That is what I was going to ask him,' said Molly Seaton.
'When I do, you will not be able to buy it,' said Rollo; 'so make the
most of your advantage now.'
It was a very silent young duchess that sat there, all this while,
amid the medley of people and things. The colour sometimes
coming, and sometimes going; a smile ditto; the little fingers busy
with packages, the head of brown curls bent over them. Well she
knew how Rollo was shielding her by his play, amusing her
inquisitive visiters, at the same time attending to her slightest
movement; for his fingers came to help hers whenever a knot was
too hard, or a paper wrap too obstinate, or an article too heavy for
them.
'Well,' Kitty repeated, eyeing her, 'where are the presents?'
'Not on exhibition,' said Wych Hazel. 'Except in detail.'
'Don't see the details yet,' said Miss Fisher examining her. 'I have
seen that opal pin beforebewildering thing! Josephine, haven't
you seen them either?'
'Kitty, you are very impudent!' said Mrs. Powder laughing.
'Presents are good for nothing but to be shewn,' remarked Mrs.
Charteris.
'My present is worth more than that,' said Rollo. 'It has "Waste not,
want not," carved on it, if you will notice. That may be very useful
to you and Mr. Charteris.'
'I wonder who is impudent now!' said Josephine.
'Well what did you wear, child?' pursued Miss Fisher. 'Stephen
Kingsland fell back in a swoon when he found he had missed your
wedding dress.'
'Well, I think people have duties to society,' uttered Molly Seaton.
'And society's bound to make 'em pay,' said Miss Fisher. 'I won't
rest till I have seen those presents, you may be sure.'
'Use your eyes, then,' said Wych Hazel with a warning flush which
Kitty remembered. 'Because they are not labelledand never will
be.'
Kitty winked at Mrs. Powder.
'Stupid!' she cried,'use my eyes, to be sure! Why there's the big
apron! Of course that's a present, only she don't like to say so. The
child's turned economical. Nobody ever saw Miss Kennedy protect
her dress, I'll warrant. Pretty pattern, isn't it? I wonder if I could
get itagainst my moonso-calledof honey?'
'The apron would be no use without the economy,' said Rollo.
'What have people so rich as you to do with economy?'
'Nobody needs it more.'
'Hear him! Then I don't know what economy means,' cried Kitty.
'I doubt if you do, my dear,' said Mrs. Powder.
'What it means?' echoed Josephine. 'Economy is being mean and
pinching.'
'Economy is saving,' added Molly.
'Looks awfully proper and matronly,' said Kitty, going back to the
apron. 'When will you give your first ball, Hazel? It might be a
calico ball, you know,and then all the dresses would help out
with the mill hands.'
'The first ball I give,' said Hazel, gravely examining a pasteboard
box filled with the article, 'will probably be one of soap,but just
when it will be, I do not know.'
'And do you mean your first cards issued to be wool cards, my
dear?' said Kitty with secret delight.
'Kitty,' said Rollo, 'suppose you take a sugarplumand behave
yourself.'
'O I can't stay,' said Kitty giving way a little. 'I only came just to
'
'That's what I came for too,' said Josephine; 'and now I am going.'
'We have all got more than we came for, then,' said Molly; 'but I
have staid too long, too. Will you take me home Phinney.'
The ladies swept away; the room was full of rustling silks for a
moment, and then was clear. Rollo came back from putting them
into their respective carriages, and stood and smiled at Hazel.
'It has come at last!' he said.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
PLEASURE BY EXPRESS.
'It was to be expected,' Dane went on resignedly. 'I told Arthur to
send proper notices to the papers; and I suppose he had done it,
and this is the consequence. Never mind; we will run away as soon
as we can. Now, Hazel, what shall we do with all this lumber?'
'Lumber is something out of place, according to Byo,' said Hazel
contemplatively. 'Now one of these two foot rests would be _in_
place in Dr. Maryland's study;is there another tired minister
somewhere else?'
'Tired minister?' said Dane. I suppose there are hundreds of tired
ministers scattered all over the land, out west, and on the
frontiers.If one knew where!'
'Somebody must know.'
'I suppose somebody must.'
'Well cannot you find out?'
'I suppose I can!'
'They may want some of these books, too. Dr. Maryland always
wants books, although he has so many. And if the ministers are
tired, their wives must be,' said Hazel with a new fit of
contemplation settling over her face. Rollo stood in the middle of
the floor, looking at her, and at the same time considering the
confusion.
'I will make a bargain with you.'
'Well?'
'These things must go somewhere, that is clear. I will find out the
names and addresses of a hundred, say, who are in need of help.
We will send off so many boxes; and you shall arrange what is to
go in them.'
Wych Hazel folded her hands and looked up at him.
'OlafI never was tired in my life!At least, but once.'
'I thought I was tired five minutes ago,' said Rollo, 'but I have got
over it.'
'I could think of pretty things enough to send,' Hazel went on. 'Do
they want pretty things out there, I wonder? Good people here do
not always like them, I think. But I never saw a missionaryor his
wife.'
'Perhaps you did not look in the right place. You make your list,
and I will get mine. We might send off a couple of hundred boxes,
and put fifty dollars' worth of comfort in each. These things will all
find a place somewhere.'
'Fifty dollars!' said Hazel opening her eyes. 'My dear friend, have
you any idea how much one dress costs? Fifty dollars will not do
much for two people.'
'I will shew you what can be done with fifty dollars. And give you
your second lesson in economy. Where did you get that name for
me?'
'Picked it up, one day when you ceased to be an enemy.'
'In some place where worn-out were lying about. Worn-out things
are shabby.'
Hazel drew a protesting breath. 'There is nothing shabby or worn-
out about it! It is entirely new,spick and span. Please, is my next
lesson to go deeper than Prim's trunk, and take off _all_ the globe
buttons?'
'For people who have no gloves, Hazel?'
Hazel looked startled for a minute, but then she looked
incredulous.
'Go and find out all about it,' she said; 'and then we shall know
what to do. I am talking of _clergymen's wives_.'
Dane left that point uncombated. The next evening he came in
with his hands full of pamphlets. And after dinner, when the room
was clear, and the gas burners lighted up the warm, luxurious
comfort and seclusion, glowing and rich, around them, Dane took
his papers and sat down by Wych Hazel's side.
'I have found out several things about your clergymen's wives,' he
began. 'Here, as you see, is a bundle of Reports. They concern
certain funds of relief, established in various churches, for the help
of disabled or superannuated ministers and their families. And,
without going into details,there are hundreds of such cases.
Some of them are sick and old ministers, worn out in the service;
others are widows of such men; others again, orphan families,
whose mother and father are both gone. I have been told of the sort
of destitution that is found among them. What do you think of a
delicate child, for whom a bit of flannel could not be afforded?
What do you think of a family of women and girls getting their
own firing out of the woods, cutting it and backing it home, and
that by the year together? What do you think of an old minister
supported by the handiwork of an infirm and herself not young
daughter? And I could tell you of living without books, without
paper for writing, in want of calico for dresses, and muslin for
underclothing, without pocket-handkerchiefs, without yarn to knit
stockings or a penny to buy any, living on the coarsest food And
I am talking of _clergymen's wives_, Hazel.'
Hazel looked up at him with wide-open eyes while he spoke, then
down at herself, taking a sort of inventory of her own belongings.
What stores of embroidery and lace were there, even hidden away
and out of sight! And what sort of relation did these costly silken
folds bear to those needed calicoes? _Her_ note-paper was
monogrammed and edged to double its first cost;that shawl,
tossed carelessly on a chair, would have clothed in flannel a whole
hospital of sick children. Point by point she went over it all past
the thirty dollar buckle at her belt down toI dare not say how
many dollars' worth of shoes that covered the little feet.
And these people were life-long workers for goodor children of
such men and women, who had hazarded their lives for the Lord
Jesus,and she, an idler all her life! Hazel put her head down in
her hands, and answered not a word.
Dane waited awhile; then he ventured a gentle query.
'I cannot bear myself!' Hazel broke out. 'I feel as if I had been
stealing, and defrauding, and embezzling, and every other
dishonest word in the dictionary! O do you think the cry of _such_
labourers has been going up against me, all my life?'
'What shall we put in our boxes?' said Dane smiling.
Hazel caught up a bit of paper and ran off a list long enough to call
for good packing,then she stopped suddenly.
'Olafwe cannot send in the dark. One man may have ten
children, and another may have no wife. And people in Florida
don't want thick shawls, and Oregon can do without thin muslins.'
'We will pack every box according to its destination. Let me hear
your list.'
'Well,' said Hazel, folding her hands and gazing into the fire, 'let's
begin with an imaginary family. People rather old, five children,
and one of them delicate. And suppose they want a general
outfit,a great piece of white cotton, and plenty of flannel; and I
have seen Mrs. Bywank dispense ready-made felt shirts.'
'All right so far. Go on.'
'Then there must be dresses, of course; and one specially nice for
the minister's wife. And a shawl. For her, I mean. The delicate
child must have a soft quilted jacket, and bright-coloured warm
wrapper, for days when she wants to lie on the sofa.'
But here Dane caught his wife in his arms and between laughing
and kisses informed her that she was playing her "Rolle" of fairy
again and getting impracticable.
'There is no sofa to lie on, in many of these houses, Hazel,' he went
on more gravely. 'And it is better that we should send an essential
supply to many, than to a few all they might want. Keep to
essentials in the main. Now go on.'
'But Olaf!_those_ things not essentials? Then you will rule out
collars and cuffs and gloves and neck-ties? What _are_ essentials? I
do not believe I know.'
'All these, I should say. But even you and I cannot do everything.
The quilted jacket and crimson wrapper, however desirable, must
yield in importance to some other things. Is your list done?
Because I have some items to suggest.'
'I see,' Hazel answered gravely. 'Until everybody learns that the
workman is worthy of his meat, they must live according to the old
description"Be shod with sandals, and not put on two coats."
But Olafhow can the missionary go all about in the snow if he
has but one? And mayn't I send the sick child some delicate things
to eat? And if they have no money, how can they get books?and
papers?andeverything else!" she added, looking round the
room in bewilderment.
'The coat by all means; and the delicacies for those who are feeble.
Books can be sent by mail more conveniently, and more
intelligently when we come to know what is most wanted. But a
few might go in the boxes too; and some of them picture books.
Go on. What next?'
'House linen wears out here,' said Wych Hazel. 'Towels and
tablecloths and sheets. If we knew the names, we could have them
all marked ready,and so with handkerchiefs.'
'If we try to furnish the people and the houses too, we shall have
too much on our hands. These are not the only people in the world
to be helped. Suppose we keep to personalities, for this set of
boxes.'
'I think you must finish the list,' Hazel said after a pause. 'I believe
I count everything "essential" that I have always had. I do not
know how to choose, for people who always do without.'
'Your list is capital, so far. What do you think of a package of tea,
for another item? Chocolate perhaps, and cocoa. Letter paper, and
pens and pencils. A few pocket-knives, and fish hooks; perhaps
some pairs of scissors would not come amiss. Also toilet articles,
which on the frontiers and in the wilds are hard to get. Hey?'
'There is no end to the things,' said Hazel, facing round. 'But Olaf,
in getting them, you would not strike off _all_ good books, to keep to
mere good quality? I should think their eyes must ache to see
pretty things!'
Rollo smiled, making notes on a sheet of paper. 'I believe in the
uses of beauty,' he said. 'Let everything be as pretty as possible. I
leave the charge of that to you. You must go to Stewart's and order
muslin, calico, flannel, ribbands, and everything in that line. I will
take care of the hardware and groceries. Order the things sent here.
I will make arrangements for the reception of them, and Byrom
shall get us a store of packing-boxes and marking ink.'
'And Olaf,' said Hazel eagerly, 'when you have filled the box with
essentials, will you let me put "non"-s in all the vacant space?'
For the gratification of those of our readers who would like to
know how these young people spent the evenings of the remainder
of their honeymoon, a few words more may be added. Dane
secured a small room which could be devoted to receiving stores.
Here day by day Byrom piled stacks of drygoods as they came in;
packages of tea and spices, corn starch and arrowroot, and the like;
heaps of books and paper; and thither he carried all the
heterogeneous articles which had been sent home during that
eccentric New Year's expedition. Here also he provided a store of
packing-boxes, of varying dimensions, with hammer and nails and
marking-ink; much speculating to himself on the peculiarities of
the service in which he found himself. It is true, Byrom had been
now some time with Rollo, and had, as the latter said, got used to
him. He was an English servant, trained and steady as a mill,
eminently respectable, and head groom now at Chickaree.
These things being provided, as soon as dinner was done every
day, Mr. and Mrs. Rollo repaired to this room of supplies. Here
they amused themselves with packing the boxes. It is quick work,
reader, if you have plenty of materials to choose from. To help in
the selection and secure the better fitness of assortment, Rollo had
had a sort of circular letter copied and sent to several hundred of
the addresses with which he had been furnished. This circular
requested details as to the circumstances and special wants of the
family. The answers were directed to be sent to Hazel; to whom,
by the way, the reading and arranging of such answers when they
began to come in, furnished occupation for not a small part of her
mornings.
With half a dozen of the most pressing of these in hand, Rollo and
Hazel went to the packing room; and taking one for their guide in
each instance, threw into the box one after another the articles that
seemed specially called for. Ah, how pleasant it was! It was like
personal contact with the weak and the weary, giving a touch of
comfort and help each time. Hazel had learned the use of the cheap
calico counter, which once had excited her wonder and incredulity;
she chose the prettiest patterns she could, but even she was fain to
see that it was better to give prints or mohairs to a great many who
wanted them, than a silk gown to one here and there who perhaps
could rarely wear it if she had it. In like manner, flannel was to be
preferred to lace; also it became evident that at the rate they were
filling and sending boxes, economy was a very necessary thing;
meaning by economy, the most useful expenditure of money. Let
nobody think, however, that there went nothing but bare
necessaries into those boxes. Ribbands and collars and cuffs and
ruffles and shawls were scattered in with a free hand. Choice
books went into corners. Sometimes slates and maps. Pictures and
pencils, pens and writing paper; magazines and illustrated new
prints. And sugarplums stole in here and there, and even dolls and
tops and pocket knives and balls and jackstraws. Fishing lines and
hooks also. Sometimes an engraving, not costly, but lovely where
there is an utter dearth of all objects of art whatever. The
entertainment and delight of filling those boxes is something quite
beyond my pen to tell. Hazel and Rollo often worked the whole
evening at it; for the list of names was long. Not two hundred, but
four hundred boxes that month were filled and sent; and there went
more than fifty dollars' worth into every one; oftener it was eighty.
CHAPTER XXIX.
SOCIAL DUTIES.
Solitude and seclusion were at an end. The world had found out
where Hazel was and what she had been doing. So many millions
were out of the market certainly, but still they might be useful in
various ways; and the world came to put in its claim to be
remembered. And invitations began to pour in; and the baskets
which held cards and the like on Hazel's table flowed over and
threatened an inundation. Rollo, every day very busy and still held
fast in the city by business, had so far escaped much personal
contact with the aforesaid world, and only received reports upon it
from Hazel.
'Wych,' he said as he came in one evening just ready for dinner,
'I have found an old friend to-day.'
'O, are they beginning upon you?' said Wych Hazel. 'I hope it is
not a new one for me?'
'I hope it is a new one for you,' said he, looking somewhat
wonderingly at her. 'Or rather, I hope you will be a new friend for
him. What's the matter?'
'Some day when you come home,' said Hazel, 'you will find this
room tenanted solely by a heap of cards, invitations, enquiries and
congratulations. Exploring therein cautiously, you may perhaps
discover the top of my head!'
'Oh!'said Dane. 'I will carry you away before it gets to be so bad
as that. This is an old fellow-student of mine, Hazel; an odd,
clever, careless, unselfish fellow, who has never got along in the
world. He took to art, came to America, on account of some family
troubles at home; and here he was a good deal petted in society.
Now he is ill, and alone, and I fear very poor. He is at a boarding
house, where I suspect he cannot pay his bills; quite alone. He had
not a friend. Nor, I am afraid, a sou.'
'And you are going off to take care of him?' said Hazel, facing
round with sudden interest.
'Off, where?'
'Why, wherever he is. To his hotel, or his room.'
'I have just come from him. He is not suffering from acute illness
now; but he is pining away, I think, for want of good food and
fresh air, and home. You see, we were comrades together in
Göttingen; and he comes from over there. He was very glad to see
me.'
'Art?' said Hazel. 'Is he a painter?'
'He was a painter.'
'Do send him off to paint Dr. Maryland's portrait! There is nothing
Prim wants so much; Consign him to Mrs. Bywank.'
Rollo's eye brightened and warmed; but he went on. 'He may never
paint again, Hazel. If we receive him, it _may_ be that it will only be
to see him fade away in the midst of us.'
'Well What then?' she added softly after a minute.
'It may be a matter of months, Hazel.'
She looked gravely up and down. 'But nothing elsethat I can
think ofwould be so much like home.'
The kisses which answered her were energetic enough to speak
without words; and when a few minutes later dinner was served,
Rollo came to the table with the air of a satisfied man. And then he
told Hazel stories about Göttingen.
'Prim writes that Mrs. Coles is coming to town,' said Hazel, later in
the meal, when roast venison had superseded student life.
'Prudentia!When?'
'Next week. Shall we be away?'
'No,' said Dane smiling. 'I wish we could.' And then he was silent,
and the dessert was on the table before he alluded to the subject
again.
'Hazel,' he said suddenly, 'write and ask Prim to come with Mrs.
Coles and stay a few days. It will be a great delight to both of
them.'
'No, indeed,' said Hazel promptly.
'No? why?' said Dane with a laugh in his eyes which he let come
no further.
'I never ask people that I hope will refuse.'
'Ask and hope they will come! Don't you think you and I could
stand Prudentia for a week?'
Wych Hazel glanced at him from under her eyelashes. 'I can stand
most things,' she said, 'that you can. But you must write the letter.'
'Must I? Would you like to state the reason?'
'Hard to state euphoniously. BecauseIdo not mean to do it!'
Dane laughed. 'It will not save you from the consequences,' he
said; 'however'
Hazel raised her brows a little. 'You are forewarned,' she said.
'Then probably you will wish to accept all these invitations?'
'I do not precisely catch the connection of the argument.'
'I thought you seemed to be pining for variety,' she said with a
laugh. 'So I propose, for to-morrow and next day and the day
after,a breakfast, a wedding, three kettledrums, a dinner, two
receptions, and a ball.'
'Abgeschlagen' responded Dane, going on with his dinner.
'Which?'
'It would not do to be particular.'
'But you must choose,' said Hazel. 'Or I must.'
'Are you pining for variety?'
'No, I have got it.' This with a half laugh and a pretty flush.
'I am content,' said Dane. 'Then, if you are content, I do not see
what we want further.'
'But it is other people who want us just now.' And Hazel looked
over to her pile of invitations.
'Unfortunate for them.'
'Is it? You will refuse them all? Do you mean that you would never
go anywhere?'
'I do not mean that at all. I am longing to take you to Europe.'
'Yes, but keep to the point.'
'Wait till after dinner, then,' said he laughing.
So they waited; and when the servant had ended his ministrations
and gone, Dane took a position of ease beside Wych Hazel on the
sofa, and gathered up the notes in his hand.
'Now, Wych, what is the question here?'
'Why, as of courseof course I should not go anywhere now
without you, I must know first where you will go,' said Hazel with
one of her pretty shy looks. 'And as some occasions demand But
I am in inextricable confusion about my dress!'she said,
breaking off with a laugh. 'I may as well confess it at once.'
'Does my bird of paradise want room to spread her wings?' said he,
looking in her face.
'And shew herself? No, I have done enough of that.'
'If we keep the key-note of life's music clear and true, we shall find
the chords, Wych. How are you in confusion?'
' "If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light," ' she
answered thoughtfully. 'But do you know, light is very confusing
sometimes?'
'No.'
'Yes, it is. When I did not care what I did, I knew exactly what to
do.'
'What is it you are in doubt about now?'
'Everything. Ought I to refuse all invitations, and wear grey serge?
But the reverse of wrong is not right.'
Rollo laughed, while yet he looked serious. 'The question is,
Wych, what we will do with our life? There is not time enough,
nor strength, nor even in our case money enough, to meet the
demands of the gay world and of the other part of the world too.
Do what we will with our millions, there will be poor and suffering
and ignorant people that we cannot reach; and how can we take
hundreds and thousands for dresses and entertainments, when the
work of our Master wants it all? I propose that we be neither
hermits nor wear serge; but go wherever we can get goodor give
it; and dress for the utmost efficiency in both departments. What
do you think of that for a general principle?'
' "Good" 'Hazel repeated. 'I suppose pleasure might sometimes
come under that head.'
'Let us see how much of that article we are refusing just now,' said
Dane drily, taking a still more easy position and turning over the
notes in his hand. 'No. 1, Mrs. Schornstein's reception. I can see
that from here. Crowds, gaslights, twelve inches standing room for
one's body, one's mind in the condition of Noah's dove when the
waters were upon the earth!Mrs. Lefevre"German." As I do
not dance, and as you do not, what should we do, duchess?Mrs.
Post; that will be a repetition of Mrs. Lefevre's, only the rooms
will be dressed with flowers; but we can see flowers any day in a
greenhouse and by daylight, and without the necessity of waltzing
up to them.Bampton Foulard. Ah, that is a variety! Science and
Literature trying to play puss in the corner, while Fashion sweeps
over the floor and catches their feet in her train. I know Mrs.
Bampton's receptions; they are such a thorough "Durcheinander"
that if you by chance see anything there you want, you can't get it;
nor get at it.Southgate; the point there is supper; but it is a point
you cannot reach without ardent exertion. I never liked that sort of
exertion.Barsch; music. And the music will be fearful. I would
rather drive round Central Park till it is over.Wallings; cards and
supper and dancing.What do you say, Hazel? It is all one story.
The pleasure is to seek.'
'I was not thinking of my own pleasure. I am not in a going-out
mood. But suppose, pleasure to other people?'
'We will give them all we can, consistently with higher interests.
But our directions are,"When thou makest a feast, call not thy
_rich_ neighbours."You see, it is bad economy to take what would
give a year's pleasure to a hundred people, and use it to give
merely a languid moment's satisfaction to a dozen or two.'
'You mean,' said Hazel studying the point,'at least _I_ should
mean,that the care and the cost should be kept for people whose
lives are hard and empty.'
Dane was silent a minute. 'Hazel,' said he gently, 'do you dislike to
have Prim come for a few days?'
Hazel paused.
'Don't be curious,' she said. 'Once when a little mouse jumped out
of a dish, nobody could ever get it back again!'
'It would be a great pleasure, to Prim. I think we could bear it for a
week, even with Mrs. Coles? Hey?'
'I dare say you can.And if I cannot, you will never know,' said
Wych Hazel with a laugh. 'So the way is clear.'
'I know Prudentia wants to consult a physician here. So I will write
at once to Primand you will give Mrs. Bywank her orders about
the care of Heinert? And tell her, Wych, that Arthur will be at
Chickaree a good deal also, till we come home.'
Hazel wrought her fingers into a knot of peculiar ingenuity, at
thought of Mrs. Coles, but other remark made none.
A few days more brought the dreaded invasion. The ladies came of
course; and as it fell out, Hazel had to receive them alone, Dane
being down town at his business; for Prim and her sister arrived at
midday, having found it good to spend a night on the road. The
state of jocund delight in which they were, might go far to justify
Rollo in having given the invitation; Prim was beaming, and Mrs.
Coles proudly exultant. To be received into such an establishment;
to be at home there; and without a cent of expense! Visions of
pleasure filled the mind of both sisters; but very unlike; for while
Prudentia dreamed of visits and shops, Prim thought of sitting
beside Dane again, and at his own fireside.
The luncheon which Hazel dispensed to them, could not fail in
such a mood to be greatly enjoyed; and talk flowed freely.
Prudentia, being a guest, felt herself on vantage ground and a good
deal more unrestrained than usual. She was in a patronising mood
generally. But Prim was grateful.
'It seems almost like Chickaree, Hazel,' said the latter, 'to see you
sitting there. And have you all these rooms to yourself? How
delightful! What beautiful rooms!'
'But so high up!' her sister remarked. 'I am surprised that Dane did
not get you rooms on the first floor, Hazel?'
The young mistress of the 'rooms,' it may be noted, was a trifle
grand and stately to-day, and in a particularly unapproachable
dress.
'Yes?' she said calmly. 'I think one's friends very often surprise
one.'
'I know they do,' said Primrose. 'I wonder why they do. Other
people never surprise one so much.'
'And how does Dane behave, in his new character?' Mrs. Coles
went on, sipping her cup of tea with great satisfaction.
'Mr. Rollo is quite well, thank you.'
'To be quite wellwith himused to mean, that he had his own
way,' said the lady blandly, but with a peculiar look over the table.
'Dear me! how delicious this tea is. You don't get such at our little
country shops.Does it mean the same thing still? Do you let him
have his way as much as he likes?'
'Did you never dare cross him in the old time?' said Wych Hazel
with one of her mild looks of astonishment.
'_I_ dared,' said Mrs. Coles with a smile. 'O yes, _I_ dared, but I was
the only one. I always wondered how it would be with his wife.'
Nobody enlightened her, and the talk passed on to other subjects.
The truce held till the ladies left the table. Then began an
examination in detail of the various articles in the room which did
not come strictly under the head of furniture; and indeed they were
somewhat tempting. For the walls were hung with engravings,
there were one or two nice bits of marble and bronze, and a
number of small useful things which were at the same time made
to be beautiful as well. Primrose sat down to study a fine copy of
the "Shadow of the Cross."
'Do these pictures all belong to the house?' Mrs. Coles asked.
'None of them,' Wych Hazel answered, standing behind Prim's
chair.
'But what a quantity! Have Dane and you been picking all these
up?'
'Picking upchoosingwhat you will.'
'My dear!'
There was a good deal of unspoken thoughts half uttered in the
exclamation, and Mrs. Coles then went on.'But why don't he
have them in better frames? These are very common, it seems to
me.'
'You think they do not suit the pictures?'
'The pictures are valuable, are they not?Dane would not have
them, I know, if they were not worth a lot of money; and the
framesmy dear, just look at the frames; little slips of wood
frames, or passepartouts; nothing better. There is not a gilt one
here.'
'No,' said Wych Hazel. 'Look, Prim, how well the plain dark wood
sets off this old cathedral.'
'My dear! don't you think gold would set if off better?' But then
she changed the subject. 'Have you been very gay lately, Hazel?'
Hazel's thoughts were fast getting into a fight. She answered rather
absently,'I? No.'
'Did you go to Mrs. Schornstein's reception?'
'No, Mrs. Coles.'
'Weren't you invited?'
'O yes,' said Wych Hazel, facing round now. 'I was invited. And I
have been invited everywhere else. And I have staid at home. Now
_I_ shall have the honour of surprising you.'
'My dear!'said Mrs. Coles, thinking it was not the first time.
'Prim had a letter from Kitty that told us about the Schornstein's
reception, and we thought to be sure you would be there. Why
didn't you go? there, and everywhere else?'
Wych Hazel knit her brows, but then she laughed. 'Prim is so glad,
that she forgets to be curious,' she said. "And Mrs. Coles is so
curious that she forgets to be glad. Why should I have gone?
there, or anywhereif you please?'
'My dear!Society.'
'Yes, ma'am,' said Wych Hazel, meekly waiting for particulars.
'You will offend Society.'
'Shall I? But suppose I have no time to keep Society in good
humour?'
'My dear, that won't do. A honeymoon is all very well; but at this
rate you will lose all your friends.'
'That would seem to indicate that my friends can do without me.
Very mortifying, if true.'
'But Hazel, every one knows it is true in Society. If you do not let
yourself be seen, people will not keep you in mind.'
Wych Hazel stood thinking. Not in the least of Mrs. Coles, but of
what her words called up. So thoughtfully deep in some questions
of her own, that for a minute she forgot to answer her questioner.
'Maybe Dane is willing people should forget you,' the lady went on
chuckling. 'He has got what he wantsthat is enough.'
But here Hazel made a vigorous diversion, and insisted that her
guests should go and lie down until it was near time for dinner.
Then she herself stepped into her carriage and went out to think.
CHAPTER XXX.
A TRAVELLING CLOCK.
'How shall I stand it?' she was saying to herself, as the wheels
rolled smoothly on. 'How shall ever bear six more such days! Oh
how could he ask them!how could he, how could he!They
come right in between and put him ten miles away. My pleasure
should have come first.It is not fair.'
But here a troublesome question presented itself: what is "fair"
from people who have everything, to those who have not? And
then one of the new maxims which Hazel had but lately learned to
love came softly in.
"Use hospitality one to another"so it ran. But how? "Without
grudging."
'And I have grudged every minute since she came!' thought Hazel,
her hands folded over her eyes. 'Well, I did not want her.No, but
Dane did. Of course,yes,I must "use hospitality" for him. But
I do think, just now, he might have been content with me!But by
and by he could not give them this pleasure.Well, they needn't
have it!'
"Without grudging""without grudging"either time or trouble
or one's own pleasure. Wych Hazel drew a long sigh. Then the
words began again.
"Charity seeketh not her own.""Beareth all things.""Endureth
all things."
Wych Hazel pulled the check string and turned towards home.
'Resolved,' she said to herself; 'first, that Dane was extremely
unreasonable to ask them. Second, that that is none of my
business. Third, that I will do everything for them I can. If I keep
them on the go, they won't know how I feel.' But there came in
another message.
"Every man as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver." So it
must be heart work, after all!Wych Hazel sighed a little as she
went off to dress; and Rollo saw a thoughtful face opposite him at
table, and got none of the shy dainty looks to which he was
accustomed. Under the commenting eyes of Mrs. Coles, Hazel felt
as if she could not look at him at all!
Nevertheless that was not a bad evening. For when two people are
beaming with pleasure and through your means, a little reflection
of the pleasure, at least, falls upon you. And Mrs. Coles and Prim
were in a state of ecstasy; a fulness of satisfaction which at the
moment left nothing to be wished for. It was not the same in the
two. Mrs. Coles feeling herself for the time _bien placée_ and
foreseeing varieties of social and other delights attainable in such
circumstances; but Prim was happy in being with Dane again.
They had plenty to talk about all the evening; for there was much
to tell about things in the Hollow, and Arthur's reports, and Prim's
use of the money she had found in her new secretary; and Dr.
Maryland's delight in his new books, and how the new carpet on
the library made the old place look a different thing; also there was
some laughing pleasant chatter about Prim's trunk. It was funny to
see how both the ladies sat with their faces turned towards Dane
three-quarters of the time; Prudentia possibly with a desire to
propitiate, Primrose forgetting everything else in the moment's
pleasure of seeing him; and both of them being a little
unconsciously shy towards Hazel. However, that evening rolled
off well; and also the next day was filled with business which left
no leisure for spare.
The evening brought leisure. But Dane was a shield for Hazel
whenever he was present. Nothing of Mrs. Coles' could touch her;
it was sure to be caught midway, shuttle-wise, and turned back,
before even Hazel's battledore could have a chance at it. He was
gay and hospitable all the while; making Prim very happy, and
even Mrs. Coles too. The latter lady was on her good behaviour.
Nevertheless, she could not quite lose her opportunity. Nature is
stronger than policy.
'Hazel tells us you have been very selfish, and not taken her
anywhere all these weeks, Dane,' she remarked bridling, with her
peculiar smooth manner of insinuating a charge or a criticism.
'Yes,' said Dane carelessly. 'You see, we have really had so many
people to attend to.'
'But Hazel did not speak of your going anywhere?'
'Take my report of the matter, and let Hazel's alone.'
'Well, she certainly is right in one thing; you did not go to Mrs.
Schornstein's reception?'
'She is right; we did not.'
'Nor to the ball at Mrs. Powder's?'
'True; we did not.'
'Don't you think you ought?'
'If we had thought we ought, I suppose we should have gone,' said
Dane, with a manner of lazy indifference which sometimes came
over him.
'But my dear! There are things one owes to Society.'
'I believe I never understood what is meant by my obligations to
Society,' said Dane. 'What has Society done, that we should be in
debt to it?'
'Why!'said Mrs. Coles with a burdened breath, 'you should
remember what is due to your position.'
'What is my position?'
'Do, Prue, let him alone!' said Primrose. 'Do you think he doesn't
know what he is about?'
'He does not seem to know his position,' said her sister. 'Why you
and your wife ought to be leaders of Society, Dane.'
'I have no objection,' said Rollo imperturbably. 'I will lead
Societyif Society will follow me.'
'But if you want to lead Society, you must please Society,' said
Mrs. Coles.
'That is assuming that you know which way I want Society to go.'
'Prue, you can't lead Duke,' said Primrose laughing. 'Don't you
know that?'
Mrs. Coles looked puzzled and stayed her questions. Rollo was
putting some engravings into their frames, and in the intervals of
the work displaying them to the admiration of herself and Prim.
Prim's enjoyment of them was very hearty; Mrs. Coles looked on
with a divided and impatient, as well as curious mind. By and by
she broke forth again.
'Have you taken Hazel to hear Sacchi-süssi, the new prima donna?'
'No.'
'I can't find out that you have done anything! Well, tell me one
thing, and I'll forgive you; are you and your wife going to give a
grand entertainment by and by, and ask all these people you have
been slighting? Of course, I do not mean _here;_ you could not do it
here; but at home; by and by, at Chickaree. Will you do that?'
'I see one difficulty in the way,' said Dane, adjusting and arranging
a lovely photograph of Ischl, and speaking with a negligent regard
of the other subject in hand which greatly provoked his mentor.
'What can that difficulty be? You have everything'
'One thing more than you have reckoned. I have the poor, and the
maim, and the halt and the blind to look after.'
'What has that to do with the point?'
'Prior claim,that is all.'
'But you have rich neighbours too.'
'Yes. But they are not in so much need of me.'
'My dear Dane! you are absurd.'
'Prove it'said Dane quietly, laying Ischl out of his hands and
taking up another photograph, beautifully executed, of
Monteverde's marble "Genius of Franklin." This so excited
Primrose's interest and curiosity, that Mrs. Coles for a little while
could not get in a word. She sat, no doubt mentally cursing the fine
arts, and photography which had come to multiply the fruits of
them.
'Dane,' she began with restrained impatience as soon as she saw a
chance, 'why cannot you attend to the rich, as well as to the poor?'
'For the way you want me to attend to the rich, time fails. And
money. And I may add, strength.'
'You and Hazel have no end of money,' said Mrs. Coles
impatiently.
'It will not do all we want it to do, with the best economy.'
Mrs. Coles was silent a minute, remembering her two silks, one of
which she had on at this very time, and how handsome they were;
and her thought glanced to Prim's trunk, and the new secretaries,
and the library carpet. She spoke with a somewhat lowered tone.
'Won't you ask anybody to your house, Dane, if he happens to be
rich?'
'Not unless I have some other reason for asking him.Heinert
went off to-day, Hazel,'Dane added with a change of tone.
'But Dane,' Mrs. Coles said despairingly, 'you are flying in the face
of Society.'
'Mistaken, Prue; _my_ face is turned in quite another direction,' said
Dane with a slight glance at his wife which conveyed very merry
and sweet private intelligence. He had just received a small parcel
from Byrom, and was unrolling it in his hands; which also drew
Mrs. Coles' attention and stopped the flow of her arguments. When
the last fold of soft paper came off, there appeared a tiny clock; so
tiny that at first nobody understood what it was; but as Dane set it
upon the mantelpiece it struck the hour. The notes were like silver
bells, so liquid, clear and musical, that there was a general
exclamation of delight.
'My dear Dane? what is that?' exclaimed his interlocutor.
'Hazel's travelling clock.'
"Hazel's travelling clock!Where is she going?'
'Wherever I go,' said Dane coolly.
'But where are _you_ going? I thought your hands were full with
your mills.'
'Just now they are rather full.'
'Won't they be full a long time, Duke?' said Primrose.
'Perhaps. But when I get things in order, then I shall go, if I can.'
'Where?' asked Mrs. Coles.
'In generalto see the midnight sun, and the moonlight on Milan.'
'You have been there before.'
'Just why I want to go there again,' said Rollo, while his eye came
furtively over to Wych Hazel with a sparkle in it. And he went
on.'I know a little lake in the Bavarian mountains. It lies in the
midst of the tall stems of ancient forest trees. The water is so clear
that you can see the small stones at the bottom, sixty feet down.
Above the lake and above the tops of the trees, you eye can reach
the mountain walls of rock towering thousands of feet up, bearing
their everlasting snow fields. Then if you look down, you see in
the water the reflection of a cross that stands on the summit of one
of the mountains; the Zug-spitze. And the whole little lake, to use
the expression of an enthusiastic German , is "as green as the
dewdrop on a lettuce leaf." '
'My dear Dane!' said Mrs. Coles in bewilderment. '_Where_ is it?'
'In Bavaria.'
'That's in Germany, isn't it? Have you ever been there?'
'How else should I know how green it is?' said Dane, who had now
got into his manner of lazy apathy.
'And why do you want to take Hazel there?' Mrs. Coles went on.
'I would like her to see how green it is. I shall not take her to the
place where the cross stands on the Zug-spitzethough I have
been there too; for her head might turn. But I will take her a half-
day's walk from Windisch-matrei to G' schlöss, instead.'
'What is there, Duke?' asked Primrose, for Hazel did not speak.
'That is called the German Chamounix. The fields of blue ice come
down almost to the bottom of the valley.'
'And is it pretty?'
'Chamounix is reckoned so.'
'I should think you would go to the real Chamounix, while you are
about it,' remarked Mrs. Coles.
'Common,'said Dane. 'Never be common, if you can help it.
Then from G' schlöss we will mount the Grossen Venediger. It is
eleven thousand feet high, to be sure, but uncommonly easy to go
up; and from the top we shall have a good wilderness view of
rocks and ice and snowand little else, beside sky.'
'I do not see the pleasure in that,' said Mrs. Coles.
'O I do,' said Primrose. 'But Duke, Hazel could not walk half a day,
like you.'
'Yes, she could, in the high Alps.'
'It must be delightful!' Primrose said musingly.
'Another time I will take her over the Dobratsch. She can ride up
there.'
'Duke, you do use very odd words. What is the Dobratsch?'
'A mountain in Illyriaalmost as good as the Rigi.'
'Why not go to the Rigi?' said Mrs. Coles.
'Crowds. But I will go to the Rigi too, if Hazel makes a point of it.
The Dobratsch has more variety of scenery than the Rigi. Both
give you lakes and glaciers; but from the Dobratsch you have a
view of tremendous weatherworn limestone peaks, and riven
Dolomites. Then we will visit the Warmbad-Villach.'
'What is that, Duke?'
'A little watering place. You would like it. A warm clear spring
breaks forth just at the borders of the forest. It is a nice place to be
late in the season. Then there is another walk I want to shew her,
in the Rainthal, going from Taufers.'
'It sounds like a guide-book,' said Mrs. Coles chuckling. 'Where is
Taufers?'
'That is in the Austrian Tyrol. You go for a couple of hours beside
a glacier stream which is almost all the way a broad ribband of
white foam. The bed of the brook is so steep and rocky that the
water is dashed and shivered into spray, glittering in the sunshine,
and wetting you all the same. What do you say to that, Hazel? You
like brooks.'
Hazel had been deep in the intricacies of a bit of netting; the little
foot with the netting-stirrup perched up on a foot cushion, the long
needle flying swiftly to and fro. A stir of colour now and then, a
curl of the lips, were the only tokens that she heard what went on.
She answered sedately.
'They are good society, to follow.'
'And the lakes are not bad,' Dane went on. 'We should go to
München of course, to study art; and from there we will take flying
runs to the lakes; Ammersee, and Walchensee, and Königsee, and
the rest of them.'
'But won't you take her to Mont Blanc and Chamounix, and to see
the Matterhorn, where those people were lost?' said Mrs. Coles,
whose breath seemed to be taken away.
'Of course. But the mountains are just as good where people have
not been lost.'
'Have you been to all these other places already, Duke?' Primrose
asked.
'More than once, some of them. I have walked there for weeks
with Heinert,' he added, turning to Hazel with again the change of
tone.
'And that is your wife's travelling clock!' said Mrs. Coles. 'It seems
to me you are betimes about your preparations.'
'Always a good way,' said Dane coolly.
'It is a fine thing to be rich!' the lady went on, gazing at the clock.
'You are just about as rich as I am,' said Dane in the same tone.
'I! As you!!'
'Practically.'
'I don't know what you mean by practically. You have millions,
and I have a few hundred or so.'
'I mean only, that neither of us has anything that he can call his
own.'
Mrs. Coles stared, but her interlocutor seemed to be looking at
things in a very matter-of-fact way. He was now busy fitting
another engraving into its fame; a plain black walnut frame,
without carving or gilding, like the rest.
'I cannot conceive what you mean, Dane,' Mrs. Coles broke forth.
'It is perfectly simple. Surely the fact that we are only stewards of
what we hold, is not strange to you?'
It seemed to be strange however, for Mrs. Coles weighed the
statement.
'_But_ Dane,people do not take that so closely.'
'What then? There is the fact.'
'Prudentia, you have heard papa say the same thing, at least a
hundred times,' Primrose reminded her.
'He hadn't much to talk about,' said the doctor's eldest daughter.
'And Dane, _you_ do not take it so closely, either. What do you mean
by your fine proposal to go travelling? How will you do it, if you
have not the money?'
'I hold the money, to be used for the very best ends and interests I
know. If when the time comes, I see any way that I can spend the
money better, I'll not go.'
'But it would be spending the money on yourselfyourself and
your wifeif you went, at any rate,' persisted Mrs. Coles. 'And
you say, it is not yours.'
'Mine to spend.'
'On what you please.'
'No; in such ways as will best do the work the Owner of the money
wants done.'
'And what has your travelling to do with that? I don't see.'
'If _I_ don't see, as I said, I'll not go.'
'But how could it, you contradictory man?'
'Human nature often needs relaxation and recreation,' said Dane.
'Mine might.'
'Relaxation!' said Mrs. Coles. 'When you know as well as I do, that
you are a pine knot for endurance, and a very burr for persistence.'
'Don't take her statements, Hazel,' said Dane. 'She does not know
much about the vegetable creation, if she does about me.'
'But answer me, if you can.'
'Human nature also needs cultivation, I was going to add. A
servant must make himself the best servant he can. A man is bound
to give himself and his family the utmost of every kind of
cultivation that is possible to him without neglecting higher ends.'
'H'm. And is Mrs. Rollo's travelling clock Which class does that
come under?'
'Pleasure.'
'O you hold pleasure lawful then?'
'Certainly. Within the above limits.'
'Prue, Prue,' said Prim uneasily. 'Stop. You have gone far enough;
and too far.'
'I was seeking knowledge, Prim; and that, Dane says, is
commendable. May I ask one other question, Dane? What head do
these mean little picture frames come under?'
'You do not like them?' said Dane, surveying the one in hand with
its enclosed photograph of Dannecker's Ariadne.
'Why don't you have handsomer ones?'
'Economy.'
'You cannot mean it.'
'Neverthelessit is true.'
'You, who have such loads of money? '
'To use, as I told you,' said Dane, smiling now. 'The engravings
and photographs are both pleasure and education. I do not find
either the one or the other in gilded stucco.'
'Well, have them carved, then.'
'Can't afford it, as I said.'
'But my dear Dane! are you going to regulate your whole
household on such principles?'
Dane answered with the most matter-of-fact manner, that it was his
intention.
'But I should think elegant frames would come under the head of
pleasure.'
'They would not, to me, when I thought of the money they cost.'
'But Dane! with your means! Do you know what people will say of
you?'
'I know,' he answered. 'The world will always find a nice name for
a fellow that does not go by its rules.'
'You are so obstinate!' said the lady. 'You always were. Nothing _I_
could say would ever move you. I shall get Arthur to talk to you.
But what does your wife think of your doings?'
Dane was silent, only the corner of his mouth began to play.
'She has stockings on this minute that cost five dollars a pair, if
they cost a penny. How does that fit with your wooden picture
frames?'
Dane rose and rang the bell. 'You must be tired, Prudentia,' he said
without the change of a muscle. 'And Prim is, I know. I shall send
you to bed to get a good night's sleep, for you have a great deal to
do to-morrow.'
Mrs. Coles did not know how to answer. And the servant
appearing, Rollo ordered candles, and himself went with the ladies
to the door of their room. There he took leave of Prim, whose face
had clouded painfully, with a whispered word which brought a
flush of pleasure back to it. It was not yet late. The little travelling
clock was only ringing its ten musical silver peals, as Dane came
back into the room. Wych Hazel was still standing as the ladies
had left her, looking absently down at the picture frame. Dane
came silently up and stood beside her.
'Do you think I shall ever stop being perverse?' she said abruptly.
'How are you perverse now?' he asked in a very disengaged tone.
'I have been pretty nearly as perverse as I could be, all these two
days!' said Wych Hazel. 'Fighting everybody and everything. I
dressed just as much as good taste would let me, because I never
can put your friend down in a plain dress. And I have answered
five hundred questions.And I never thought about stockings in
that way.I thought one must have stockings!' said Hazel,
putting out her dainty foot and looking down at it ruefully. But
then the brown eyes came eagerly back to him. 'Do you think I
shall, Olaf?' she repeated.
Gently, very fondly, he gathered her into his arms and held her
close. And without saying a word, his manner gave assurance of
contentment enough to satisfy any woman.
'Then you are not going to scold me?' he asked at length, without
releasing her.
'For what?'
'Bringing you into such perverse circumstances.'
Hazel looked at him wistfully. 'I knew how it would be,' she said. 'I
knew myself. That was why I said no. At least, partly why.'
'Do you regret my action?'
'I was naughty enough yesterday morning to hope you would,' said
Hazel with a confessing laugh.
'I told Prim just now, privately, that if we ever went that journey I
spoke of, she should go too.'
The colour flushed up into Hazel's face, and went away again, but
she gave neither word nor look.
'You are sorry?'
'Never ask such questions afterwards!' said Hazel. And she would
have disengaged herself, but he would not let her. 'Do you not
know better than that?'
'Hazel,' he said, gravely though full of tenderness,'you and I are
not going to live to ourselves?'
Like a statue, so the girl stood; but with a rush of thoughts that for
a minute she could not head off.
'He might live to mejust a little bit,' so they ran. 'That is what
I shall do to him,under God,always!'Then tramp, tramp,
came the words:
"The man was not created for the woman, but the woman for the
man,"and if ever in her life Wych Hazel felt rebellious, she did
so then. The old grievance of man's right of way,the fact that it
_was_ a right,but with it a softer feeling, hurt and sore, that he
could even wish for anybody else but her on such a journey; that
_her_ right should not have come in there.
"The moon looks down on many brooks,
"The brook can see no moon but one!"
He might at least have consulted her. Suppose she had asked
somebody?Wych Hazel drew half of a very long sigh, choked
the rest back, then raised her grave brown eyes, and answered,
'No.'
Did he see what was beneath them? For a peculiar fire leapt into
the grey eyes. He spoke in the same tone he had used before.
'Suppose, Hazel, we lose twenty-five per cent. of our pleasure?
And suppose Primrose gains a hundred?' He was holding her
close and tenderly, looking down into her eyes with all the power
of his.
'Well,' said Hazel,'I suppose she would.'
'And I suppose _we_ should. I ask nobody for _my_ pleasure to be a
third with us. I suppose it will be a trial to me when we go home,
to have Heinert at the dinner table and talking to me in the
evening. And yet, Hazel, just because you are so much to me, I
dare not but pour pleasure into every cup I see standing empty;
even though I let a few drops of my own go.'
She answered softly 'Yes,'yet was very near adding, 'But you are
spilling _mine!'_It was rather hard. Would he be always doing
such things, over the head of her pleasure? But in the new life and
purpose awake in her, Wych Hazel had found a new set of answers
to trouble some questions. If the answers were also sometimes
difficult, they were at least conclusive. And now, as she stood
there, these words came:
"For even Christ pleased not himself."
"Even,"what was she, to set up _her_ pleasure against anybody's
good? A quiver crept round her lips for a minutebut then she
looked up and laughed.
'I am just as perverse as I can be, to-night,' she said. 'Stroked all
the wrong way. That disposes of everything.'
Rollo bent and pressed his lips to those soft trembling ones, and
still holding her fast, caressed face and hair with the free hand; his
face shewing more delight in her than Hazel was in a condition to
observe; though the tenderness of tone and touch spoke their own
language.
'Hazel' he said softly.
She looked up, listening.
'I am curious about something.'
'I cannot say I shall be happy to gratify your curiosity, until I know
what it is about.'
'It concerns the question, how you are going to ask my pardon for
the thought that has been in your head?'
'I am not going to do it.'
'You ought. And you know that what you ought, you always,
sooner or later,do.'
'Ought I?' said Wych Hazel. 'Is it one of your prerogatives to have
your pardon asked without cause?' But then she laid her face
against his, in a way that was extremely womanish and not a bit
self-asserting.
Rollo stood still and added no more. He had read what was going
on in her thoughts, and he knew that she was mistaken; but he also
knew that words prove nothing, and as before, he waited. Only as
at last he let her out of his arms, he said lightly,
'You will not lose anything in the long run, Hazel. People never
do, by doing right.'
CHAPTER XXXI.
NOVICE WORK.
Mrs. Coles did not improve her position next day. 'What nights
does Sacchi-süssi sing?' she asked, when Rollo had left the three
ladies alone. Hazel answered that she had not noticed.
'They say she is wonderful, and beautiful, and everything. Do you
suppose Dane will take us, if we ask him nicely?'
'I do not go.'
'To the opera? My dear! Not at all?'
'Not at all.'
'But why?'
Wych Hazel stood thinking. She was very shy of declaring
herselfyet sometimes it must be done.
'A few years ago,' she said slowly, 'when the war was going on,
two gentlemen came one night to see Mr. Falkirk. They told war
stories; and I with my book of some study in my hand, sat still and
listened. One story was this. A mutual friend of all the parties had
laid the United States flag down in her drawing room as a floor-
cloth, to be trodden under foot. Then the other gentleman spoke
out and said his wife would not enter that house again while the
war lasted! Mrs. Colesat the opera and the theatre my flag is
under foot.'
'Your flag!' said the lady in amazement.
'Yes,' Hazel answered with her colour stirring. 'You know what
service I have sworn into.'
'I don't see where the flags come in,' said Mrs. Coles.
Hazel answered softly, gazing into the fire,"Thou hast given a
banner to thy chosen, that it may be displayed because of the
truth."
'Then you mean to say,' broke out Mrs. Coles with a rising colour
of her own tinging the pale face, 'that no Christians ever go to the
theatre!'
'Do they carry their flag aloft there?' said Wych Hazel. 'Are they
marching to victory under its folds? I could not carry mine. It
would be trailing, drooping, union-down!'
'Prue, Prue,' said Primrose, 'you know what papa always says.'
'Papa does not know the world!' said Mrs. Coles, waving _that_
down. 'And how about your favourite German?' she said, returning
to the charge against Wych Hazel with equal ire and curiosity.
Wych Hazel answered again, still looking into the fire,
' "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this
life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." '
The girl spoke so "at liberty,"there was such freedom in the
loyalty, the folds of the banner waved so gladly above her head,
Mrs. Coles looked and hesitated. Then, spying as she thought a
joint in the armour, so to speak, she sent out an arrow.
'And you call _that_ a good marching uniform, I suppose,' she said
derisively, with a comprehensive glance that went from head to
foot.
Wych Hazel faced round upon her with eyes wide open at first in
displeased astonishment. But in a moment another look came,
startled, wondering, as when one finds a sudden unlooked-for clue.
Was _that_ it? Wych Hazel said to herself. Had it been left to Mrs.
Coles to tell her? "A good marching uniform?"Wych Hazel
thought she knew better now than ever before "what to do about
dress."
The ladies were going out, and the subject dropped. The morning
was filled with out-of-door business. At luncheon Mrs. Coles
declared herself fatigued and disposed to rest at home. She fondly
hoped the afternoon would be made lively by visiters; and to her
wish, so it was.
Among others came Miss Annabella Powder. This young lady had
not been wont to seem so fond of Hazel's society as the other
members of her family; indeed she rarely made her appearance at
Chickaree more frequently than civility demanded. To-day,
however, she made a long visit. It was not that she seemed to be
enjoying herself; she went languidly through a prolonged
conversation with Mrs. Coles, who had an endless number of
questions to ask about the winter, and especially about her pretty
sister Mrs. Charteris; with a latent view to supplemental
information also about Rollo and his wife, if such were to be had.
Annabella answered at random, made Mrs. Coles desperate, was
bored; and yet did not go away. At last she seized a chance and
moved to a seat beside Hazel. It was at a time when several other
people were present and just then engaged more or less with each
other and a common subject. Annabella had never been intimate
with Hazel. Therefore it was the more noticeable when with
depressed voice and somewhat hurried emphasis she said,
'I want to speak to youI want to say a word.How can I?'
'In this window' said Wych Hazel leading the way. 'They are
miles deep in Miss Burr's engagement.'
In the window was a most beautiful hyacinth. The two ladies
stood, one on this side and one on the other side, and spoke,not
about floriculture.
'I have no time here,' Annabella began breathlessly, bending down
to put her nose to the beautiful buff bells, which were sweet
enough at a greater distance. 'I want to see you alone, Mrs. Rollo.
You were always so kindWhen can I? I have a great deal to say.
Could you go and drive with me by and by? I don't know what
other way'
'It must be to-morrow, then,' said Hazel, straightening the stick
which supported the heavy head of flowers. 'To-day I am promised
to Mrs. Coles.'
'To-morrow, then? You are so kind, Mrs. Rollo!and you are the
only personAt three o'clock, then? and I will come in mamma's
carriage. You wont speak of it?'
'I never give such promises,' said Wych Hazel.
'But'Annabella's eye went anxiously to Mrs. Coles.
'Discretion is stronger than bonds.'
'And you are very discreet?' said the girl trying to laugh. 'Well, I
must trust you. But don't let any one know you are going out with
me!'
The next day Mrs. Coles was engaged to luncheon with a friend
and took Primrose with her. They had not returned when Miss
Powder came for Hazel, and the two ladies drove off in security. It
was not a day for a pleasure drive. Clouds hung low and grey; the
air had been keen and raw, with snow in its course somewhere.
Now it had become suspiciously milder. But neither lady was
thinking of pleasure.
'You are very good, Mrs. Rollo!' said Annabella, who evidently
had some difficulty in commanding herself, and was very unlike
her usual statuesque manner. For she was a handsome girl, of the
Madonna type, and either by temperament or for policy had long
adopted a calm style to match. To-day it was broken up.'I am
very much obliged to you!' she went on. 'I did not know whom to
speak to, and I _must_ get somebody to help me. And Josephine used
to think so much of you; I thought she would mind you if anybody.
I couldn't ask mammamamma don't know. O what shall I do?'
And with this most honest cry of despair, poor Annabella broke
down.
Hazel asked what was the matter? under the wild idea for a
moment that Miss Powder had found her heart and then rashly
broken it.
'Nobody knows' the girl began again, trying to get the better of
her agitation; 'it has not come out yet; nobody suspects; and I
thoughtif you could hinder it! If you cannot, there is no one that
can. Mamma has no idea. And it would just kill her to know. She
thinks it is all right. Poor mamma!'
'But what am I to hinder?' said Wych Hazel.
'Have you seen Josephine lately?'
'Yes.'
'Didn't she seem like herself?'
'Extremely like herself.'
'So she did when I saw her. And her house,did you see her
house?it was so nicely arranged and so pretty; and I thought she
was so happy'
'I never thought that,' said Wych Hazel.
'I did. I thought she had got what she wanted; we all thought so.
Nobody married this year had a better establishment than
Josephine; not one.'
'She got what she married for,' said Hazel; 'but Josephine's "wants"
were larger than that.'
'Were they?' said Annabella drearily. 'I didn't know it. I don't see
how they could be.'
Ironical words rose to Wych Hazel's lips; but she sent them back.
Somehow her own height of happiness made her strangely tender
and humble even towards such fallacy as this.
'Then you are not troubled about her?' she said enquiringly.
'Troubled!' Annabella echoed. 'Why she has left it all.'
'Left it!'Wych Hazel sat up straight in her place, facing round.
'Nobody knows yet; but she has left it. Mamma don't know. If I
can only keep it from mamma!'
'Keep it from Mrs. Powder?' Hazel repeated. 'Keep what? Where
has she gone? What can you be talking of, Miss Powder?'
'She has not gone far yet, but she means never to come back. I
know where she is; she is hiding. You see, Mr. Charteris is at
Albany; he has some business about some bill he wants to get
through the Legislature, and it will keep him there a while; and
Josey took the opportunity. She ran away; and I should never have
known where to, only that the person she went to came and told
me. It is a woman who used to be housekeeper for mamma; a very
respectable woman; and Josey went to her. Think of it! And she
won't come back. Not for me. And then I thought, if anybody
living could have any influence over her, it might be you. She
always thought all the world of you. Is it very bold in me to ask
you? But Mrs. Rollo, I was desperate!'
Poor Annabella's looks and tones did not belie her. Wych Hazel sat
back again, thinking.
'Marry a _man_,' she said slowly, 'and you may be able to live along
without an "establishment." But if you marry an establishment, the
small appendage that goes along with it But she must come
back, of course! at once,' Hazel exclaimed, retaking her impetuous
tones. 'Won't come?she _must_.'
'If you can only make her?' said Annabella. 'Nobody knows
anything yetand Charteris will not be home for days. But I have
not told you quite the whole. There is another person concerned. I
am afraid,'Annabella spoke with bated breath'she means to go
to Europe.'
'Stuart Nightingale'
'Oh do you know that?' Annabella burst forth with a cry that was
almost pitiful. 'Do you know that? Is there no hope? Can we do
nothing?'
Usually so calm and impassive, Miss Powder's manner to-day was
in a sort of shattered condition. Hazel's mention of Stuart's name
had startled her into an access of fear. And the difficulty of
managing a volcano from the outside came strongly into Wych
Hazel's mind. She answered slowly,
'I do not know. We will try.'
'And may I take you to her now? There is no time to lose.'
Hazel assented, thinking busily. 'This is _her_ resource,' she said to
herself. 'The pocket pistol would have been mine.'
The carriage rolled on now for a time without any more words
passing between its inmates. Both ladies were meditating, ways
and means and hindrances. The grey sky under which they had
begun their drive, seemed to be letting itself down closer and
closer upon the earth; and this low grey canopy was becoming
suspiciously smooth and uniform. The air was quite still, and had
as I said, suddenly grown mild. But neither of the two busy
thinkers noticed the signs abroad.
'Mrs. Rollo,' Annabella began after a long pause,'I am afraid you
can do nothing with Phinny. She always has had her own way, and
she is obstinate. Suppose you cannot make her listen to you; do
you think you could have any power with Mr. Nightingale?'
Hazel hesitated to answer, and Annabella went on.'I don't know
whether you knowMme. Lasalle has got one of her friends to
give him an office; and he is going out next month as consul to
Lisbon. If only he could be got off without her, then, you see, we
should be safe.'
'She would follow.'
'No, I don't think she would; she would not dare. Phinny is not
bold, in that way. Could you do anything with him, do you think?'
The accent of forlorn anxiety was touching from the usually so
imperturbable sister. She watched Wych Hazel's face and words
now.
It was a very mixed question. _Could_ she?truth to say, she felt
uncertain. Yet perhaps.But _might_ she? Would the attempt be
permitted, if Rollo knew? Was it breaking faith to try without his
knowledge? Or were there cases when she might lawfully and
secretly follow her own judgment against his? and was this one?
Hazel folded her hands over her "yes."
'Don't talk to me, please,' she said. 'I must think.'
Again the carriage rolled on with stillness inside. The grey air
outside grew almost tangible, it seemed so thick. Very fine snow
crystals were beginning to flicker down, but I think neither of the
ladies remarked it. Meanwhile the wheels of the carriage were no
longer rattling over paving stones; the streets and houses of the
city were left behind; a grey country, with houses scattered over it
and trees here and there standing, desolate and drear enough, was
to be seen from the carriage windows; but Wych Hazel hardly saw
it. At last the houses began again to stand apparently in some
regular order and took a more comfortable air; gardens and trees
and shrubbery lay between the houses and around them; then
suddenly the carriage turned round a corner and presently stopped.
Wych Hazel saw a small dwelling house of very humble
pretensions, but neat-looking, and with a small courtyard in front;
and now perceived by the signs that she was in a village. 'Where
have you brought me?' she said.
'O, Fort Washingtondidn't I tell you? Mrs. Rhodes lives here.
She is quite respectable.'
The snow was not yet falling, except in those fine isolated crystals.
But the branches of the trees that overshadowed the house were
beginning to sway hither and thither as if the wind were rising, and
a warning moan of the breeze came through the tree-tops. The
ladies went in at a little gate in the paling fence, and were admitted
immediately into the house by a neat elderly woman. A little entry-
way received them, having a door on each hand. Wych Hazel was
ushered into the room on the right, while Annabella disappeared
with the woman into the other opposite.
It looked dreary enough, for Josephine Charteris's hiding-place.
Respectable it was, to be sure. There was a gay ingrain carpet, a
little table set out with photographs of Mrs. Rhodes's friends and
relations, living and dead; around the walls hung a great number of
other pictures in cut walnut frames and resting on brackets of the
same. A large one of Abraham Lincoln held the first place among
these, and another engraving of a racehorse challenged attention,
with a large map of North America and the portrait of Jenny Lind.
Hazel felt as if she could not have borne the whole together for one
half hour, if she had been there on her own account. In a few
minutes Josephine came in. She was not different from what Hazel
had been accustomed to see her; not excited, not disturbed. Her
dress was rich, and a little careless; in both respects not unlike
Josephine. She received her visiter cordially enough.
'You are the only person I would see,' she said. 'How did you know
where I was? I have come here for rest. You know there _is_ no rest
as long as people know you are in town; it is nothing but go, go,
night and day. And here one has really a breath of country air. I
have brought a carriage load of books with meall the new novels
I could find; and I just lie abed and read all day. Dreadfully
useless, isn't it?' she went on, with a laugh; 'but you know I never
pretended to be anything else. Don't you think that is the great
point? not to pretend to be what you are not?'
'Well, why do you then?' said Wych Hazel.
'I?I don't. I think it's no use. People see through pretences. I only
pretend enough just to keep up appearances. Didn't I always tell
you exactly what I thought? I don't tell everybody.'
'Do you suppose I believe that you came here for the express
purpose of being snowed up,outside of theatres and Germans,
and other necessaries of life?'
'That is just what I want,' said Josephine. 'I wish it would snow
five feet deep. I would like nothing better than to be snowed up. I
would like to be desiccatedlike a man I was reading of
yesterday; he's in a French novel. Do you know, he was
_desiccated;_ he was a convict, you see, and the men of science
could try their experiments upon him; and they desiccated him and
laid him by; and he was forgotten, and years passed, and
everything changed in the world, and his children grew up, and his
friends diedif he had any friends; and people forgot what this
preparation was; and they cut off a bit of his ear to try under the
microscope whether it was an animal's skin or what it was. And
afterwards the skin was put in water and he came to life again
that was all he wanted, you know, like a rose of Jericho. I wish I
could be desiccated and kept awhile, till everybody was dead that I
know, and then come to life again.'
'What would be the pleasure of that?' said Hazel, watching her.
'I should never see Charteris any more. I suppose I shock youbut
what's the use of pretending? He's away in Albany now; and as
soon as he went, I ran. You see, it isn't at all a bad sort of a place
here. Little rooms, to be sure, but there's nobody in them but me;
and Rhodes is a capital cook, and she pets me, and I like to be
petted. And I have my own way here, and down in 40th street I
can't. With all the world outside the house, and a husband inside,
there is no place to breathe. I enjoy it here ever so much, and I
don't want to go back, ever! Don't you want to run away too, by
this time?'
'Then it is a real scheme, deep-laid and serious,' said Wych Hazel.
'Not the whim Mr. Nightingale calls it?'
'Mr. Nightingale!' said Josephine, her face changing and
darkening. 'What does he say of me? Has he spoken to you about
me? He doesn't know anything.'
'About anything.No. And never by any chance speaks the truth
about the few things he does know. He said that Mr. Charteris had
gone to Albany, and that Mrs. Charteris had the pretty whim to
follow him. "Touching," I think he called it.' The disdain in the
girl's voice was incomparable.
'That will do,' said Josephine. 'It's nobody's business whether I am
in Albany or not. Never mind him; talk to me. Why haven't I seen
you anywhere all winter? Does Dane Rollo want you to stay at
home, now he is married? like Charteris?'
'I am married too,' said Wych Hazel with a flash of her old self. 'So
take care what you say about him. Josephine, did _you_ tell that man
you were going to Albany?'
'Nonsense!' said Josephine laughing. 'I believe you are afraid to
answer. I know you used to like to have your own way. Did I tell
Stuart? No. What should I tell him for? I didn't tell him I was
going to Albany, because I wasn't. I was coming here; and that
wasn't worth telling a fib about. I came here to do what I like; and
I just do it from morning to night. I suppose you are learning to do
what you don't like. How does it feel?'
'I did not believe one word he said, all the time!' said Hazel, coolly
ignoring the insinuations. 'Why should Stuart Nightingale invent
falsehoods to cover the movements of Josephine Charteris?'
'Just as well as for anything else,' said Josephine laughing. 'I'm
much obliged to him for the attention, I'm sure. But you don't
answer, Hazel. I want to know how you and Dane get on together,
after all your fine theories? Dane Rollo was as lordly a man as I
ever saw, with all his easy ways; and you never were one to give
up your liberty. I suppose you won't confess. Now I am more
honest.'
Wych Hazel answered with a laugh,fresh and gladsome and
sweet,more convincing than a hundred words. But she was
grave again instantly. She left her chair and bringing a cushion to
Josephine's feet sat down there, leaned her arms on her friend's lap
and looked straight up into her face.
'Josephine,' she said, 'I am very, very much troubled about you.'
Josephine did not answer this. She looked at Hazel, and then her
look wandered to somewhat else; undeclarative, withdrawn into
herself.
'Josephine, you cannot have what does not belong to you, any
more in men than in money. And if you try to give away what
belongs to somebody else, nobody but a wretch will take it.'
'You are going to give me a moral lecture, because I came to Mrs.
Rhodes on a spree?' said Josephine, with a superficial kind of little
laugh. 'Isn't my time my own while Mr. Charteris is away?'
'No, it is not. Not to spend in a way that wrongs him. And you are
not your own, wherever he is.'
'You think I am a man's property just because I am married to him!
I don't. I think the man and the woman are equal, and both of them
are free. It is only among savages that women are slaves.'
Hazel let that pass. Keeping her folded hands on Josephine's lap,
she looked down, thinking.
'What sort of life have you led with Mr. Charteris so far?' she said,
not raising her eyes. 'Can you picture it for me?'
'Picture it!'Josephine put up her lip, and then she laughed with
seeming amusement. 'Did you ever see two chickens pulling at the
two ends of a worm? That's about it. John pulled one way, and I
pulled the other. Pleasant picture, isn't it? But that sort of thing
can't last forever.'
'No,' said Wych Hazel looking suddenly up,'but this _does_. A life
ignored by all respectable people; a name spurned with the foot
and scorned on the tongue. A dark spot, which only forgetfulness
can hide,and which nobody ever forgets! That other sort of thing
does end, Josephine, with death, or with patient endeavour; but _this_
thing, never!'
'You talk'said Josephine pouting. Then she suddenly broke out,
with her eyes full upon Hazel's face. 'Don't you think, if you had
never been happy in your life, you would like to try just for a little
how it feels?'
'Yes,' said Wych Hazel, 'but you are going to try misery;and not
for a little.'
'I am not trying misery here,' said the girl with a shrug of her
shoulders. 'I tell you, it's jolly. How did you know where to find
me?'
'There is a fair view, quite often, from the place where one step
towards it plunges you down thousands of feet. When you are left
alone in Lisbonand dare not come home to America_then_ you
will learn what misery is.'
Josephine started a little, and for once her colour stirred. Words
did not come readily. When they came, they were a somewhat
haughty enquiry what Hazel meant?
'Just what I say,' Hazel answered quietly.
'Did you come here to say it?'
'Yes.'
'That's Annabella. Well,I don't care. You know about it. You
know I can't live with Charteris.'
'Josephine, you _must_.'
'I _cannot_. You can't tell how it is. He don't care for me, and I don't
like him; and I don't think, for my part, it is religious for people to
live together that don't like each other.'
'This is a tragedy, not a farce,' Hazel said, knitting her brows.
'Leave fashions of speech a one side. John Charteris, with all his
faults, would never grow tired of you, Josephineif you gave him
half a chance to help it; but Stuart Nightingale _will_.'
'I am jolly tired of _him_,' cried Josephine with a burst. 'Charteris and
I can't live happy together. I know better. And it will be worse now
he has lost his money. I would rather die, Hazel. And I tell you, he
is tired of meand I should think he would. If you knew the life
I've led him, you would think so too. You needn't talk to me. I
would rather die right off, than go on living with him; and it would
kill me anyhow, and I'm not going to die that way.'
'There is honour in dying at one's post,' said Wych Hazel
thoughtfully,'even if it came to that. But to sail away on a
pleasure trip, with all one's dearest friends praying that the ship
might go down in mid-seas!'
Josephine sat still, looking with odd impassiveness into the fire;
then she remarked in the same way,
'My dearest friends don't do much praying. I guess they won't
drown me.'
'You may kill them,' said Hazel. 'Imagine people watching
Annabella and saying 'Poor thing!''What has become of the
other sister?''O you mustn't ask about her. You know'and then
heads will draw together. And your mother will see the shrugs and
catch the hints.'
'What makes you care?' said Josephine, without moving a muscle.
'I believe you must have liked him a little yourself.'
'I liked him such a very little,' said Wych Hazel, 'that a year ago I
cut up his heart into bits. He has patched them together again,
but the stitches shew.'
'Stuart was poor,' said Josephine. 'I knew it all the time.'
Wych Hazel's brows drew together, but the words got no further
notice.
'Josephine, you married for diamonds. I will give you diamonds
every week for a year, if you will go back to your place and stay
there.'
'I don't care for diamonds,' said Josephine very coldly.
'What _do_ you care for?'the grave young eyes looked up eagerly.
'Not much'said Josephine drearily, and the words were
inexpressibly sad from such young lips. 'But I am not going to live
in that prison in 40th street and with that jailer Charteris any
more!'
'Josephine, you could change all that. There is no prisonand no
jailerfor any woman of whom it is true: "The heart of her
husband doth safely trust in her." '
'It wouldn't be very safe for Charteris to trust me,' said Josephine,
with a hard, metallic laugh. 'I never was to be trusted. I know what
you have come for, Hazel, and I know who has brought you; it's
Annabella; but it's no use. You may give up the job. I know all you
want to say, and I'm not going to have you say it; and you have
said it, besides. Look here. A marriage isn't a real marriage when
people don't care for each other. Do you think a woman is bound
by a few words said over her by a man in a black silk gown? by an
incantation, like the savages? It would make me downright wicked
to go on living with John Charteris; you ought to want to save me
from that. I am always a great deal bettermore _religious_when
I am happy, than when I am miserable. It always rouses up all
there is bad in me, to try to make me do something I don't want to
do. I can't imagine how you get along with Dane Rollo; but that is
you affair; this is mine. Where is Annabella?'
Before Hazel could stop her, she had flown across the hall to the
room on the other side, whence she fetched back her sister. The
conversation was not renewed. In ignorance of what fruit the
interview might have borne, or what its results might be,
Annabella dared not touch the matter; and Josephine gave her no
chance. She kept up a rattling fire of nonsense, until the two ladies
were forced to leave her.
The day was darkening fast now towards the early evening. Fine
snow was falling thick, and the wind came in gusts. There was no
time to be lost in getting home. Yet Annabella paused at the very
coach door and looked at Hazel. 'Have you done anything?' she
asked anxiously.
At the instant a gentleman ran against them with an umbrella, and
lifting the same suddenly to make his excuses, a very familiar
figure was revealed to them. Stuart Nightingale himself. A flash of
disagreeable expression crossed his face for that one second of
surprise, then he had regained his usual manner.
'Quel plaisir!' he cried, bowing low. 'Two such ladies, in the snow,
here! at Fort Washington! The charms of the surprise is manifold.
What has procured it? mercy, or vanity? One or the other it must
be. A sick friend?or a French mantua-maker? But you are never
going to drive back to New York in this awful storm?'
Annabella drew herself up and made no answer. Wych Hazel
looked at the snow.
'Good evening,' she said. 'The storm is not much.'
They were to have more of it, however, than she had bargained for.
Stuart's remonstrances were not listened to; the ladies entered their
carriage and drove off. But their driver, who was not Mrs.
Powder's servant, had improved his leisure time during their stay
in the house by making visits to a neighbouring drinking saloon;
and now, confused by the mingled efforts of wind and brandy,
took the road north instead of south from the village. To spare her
sister, and indeed herself, Annabella had taken a hackney coach,
and this was what came of it. The ladies were thinking of
something else and did not see what their charioteer was doing.
Annabella broke at last a silence which had prevailed for some
time.
'What did she say?'
'Said she didn't care.'
'She would not listen to you!'
'Not this time.'
'Then there is no chance,' cried Annabella in despair. 'They will
make all their arrangements now. Stuart is going to sail the week
after next, I know.'
'I wish I could get speech of him!' said Wych Hazel, knitting her
brows in the darkness.
This too was to fall to her lot in an unexpected manner and
measure. It might have been three quarters of an hour, or more,
from the time of their meeting that gentleman in front of Mrs.
Rhodes's cottage, when Stuart happened to be in the street again
and crossing the main road at the corner where the carriage had
turned the wrong way. The storm had now grown to be furious;
wind and snow driving so across the street that to hold his
umbrella was no longer possible. As with difficulty he closed it, a
carriage stopped immediately before him, the door opened, and
two ladies sprang out into the storm. He had nearly run against
them again, before he saw that they were the same ladies. And they
saw him.
'O Mr. Nightingale!' cried the foremost, forgetting everything in
distress,'do help us. We've got a drunken coachman.'
'Miss Powder!But how are you here yet?'
'O he took us ever so far on the way to Albany before we found it
out. He's quite stupid. What shall we do?'
A few steps in the snow, taken with extreme difficulty, brought
them to the shelter of a village hotel. Here the matter was debated.
Stuart advised their spending the night quietly where they were.
But Annabella would not listen to this. "Her mother," "her
mother"she urged; "her mother would be frightened to death."
Write, Stuart suggested. Miss Powder did not believe any
messenger would go. Stuart offered to be the messenger himself.
Annabella refused, obstinately. I think she did not put enough faith
in him even for that. She would have a carriage and proceed on her
journey forthwith. Annabella shewed herself determined, and
Hazel did not oppose her decisions, nor have much to say in the
matter generally.
So a carriage was got ready; it was necessary to offer a huge fee to
tempt any man out that night, but however that was arranged; and
in half an hour the ladies were able to set forth again on their
interrupted journey. But one circumstance neither of them had
counted upon. Mr. Nightingale, after putting them into the carriage
and giving directions to the driver, coolly stepped in himself and
took the opposite seat.
'Mr. Nightingale!' said Miss Powder'_you_ are not going?'
'Certainly I am. You two ladies cannot be allowed to take such a
journey alone. I should expect Gov. Powder never to speak to me
again, and coffee and pistols with Rollo would be too good for me.
To say nothing of the punishment of my own conscience.'
The drive from that point was extremely silent, and never to be
forgotten by at least two of the party. The violence of the storm
was quite enough to justify the third in intruding himself upon
their company, though I am afraid nobody thanked him for it.
Wind and snow and darkness made any progress difficult, and any
but very slow progress out of the question. The horses crept along
the road, which they were not infrequently left to find by
themselves; the snow whirled and beat now against one window
and now upon the other with a fury and a rush which were
somewhat appalling. Still the horses struggled on, though all the
light there was abroad came from the glimmer of the snow itself,
unless when a gleam shot out into the night from the window of
some house. They did keep on their way, but it was doubtful at
times if they could. Within the carriage conversation was limited
to remarks about the weather and the cold, and did not flourish at
that, though the cold did. To keep warm became impossible.
It was a great relief at last to feel pavement under the wheels,
which they could do in the broad places where wind had swept the
street bare; and gaslights looked very kindly, flaring along the line
of way. They could see the storm then! How it raged and drove
through the streets, driving everybody to the shelter of a house that
had a house to go to; and those who had none were slunk away
into other hiding places. The wind and the snow had cleared the
deserted streets; an occasional carriage was rarely met.
'Set me down first, please,' said Annabella, pressing Wych Hazel's
hand to mark her meaning. 'My mother must be in distressand it
is just as near going that way.'
Stuart laughed a little, but he did not speak his thoughts which
went to the possible anxiety of some other people. With some
difficulty he hailed the coachman and gave the order, and presently
Miss Powder was deposited at her own door. Stuart gave the next
order and jumped in again.
Now what should Wych Hazel do? During that minute, while she
watched the two figures standing in the driving storm before Mrs.
Powder's door, she had taken a comprehensive view of the
situation, and made up her mind.
'Sit there, please,' she said, motioning the incomer to his former
place on the front seat. 'I want to talk business.' Since leaving Fort
Washington she had hardly opened her lips; but now the well-
remembered voice came out clear and sweet and with a ring of
grave dignity.
'Am I to suppose you do not think me worthy to talk business
alongside of you?' said Stuart lightly, and obeying.
Wych Hazel left that question to answer itself. She was silent a
minute, her hands holding each other fast.
'Mr. Nightingale,' she said, 'you once asked me if I liked to hear
the truth told about myself. Do you?'
'From you!anything,' he answered gallantly. 'Your voice never
speaks harsh judgmentsthough I am afraid the truth about
myself would be less than flattering. What is it, Mrs. Rollo? I am
curious. It is said, no man knows himself.'
'I have been told,' said Wych Hazeland she hesitated, and then
went on again with quick utterance,how intensely disagreeable it
all was to her!'I have been told this afternoon, that a year ago
you wanted my fortune. Stop!I do not care two straws whether
you did or not!But I wished to say, that upon certain conditions
you can have part of it now. Think before you refuse, Mr.
Nightingale. No one will ever offer you so much againin
exchange for so little.'
A pause.
'I am at a loss,' he began in a changed voice, 'how any one can
have induced you to believe' And there he stopped. But Wych
Hazel gave him no help. She sat looking out into the night, the
gaslights flaring in from time to time upon her face. Had she
grown fairer than ever?
'Everything is said about everybody,' he said haughtily after a
little. 'I do not know why I should fare better than others. The _truth_
about anybody is never public report. It is assumed in the case of
every woman who has a fortune, that the man who seeks her,
wants it. The gentleman who has had the honour of Miss
Kennedy's choice has certainly not escaped the imputation,
however he may deserve it no more than I.'
'That is not business,' she said in quiet tones. 'If you please, we will
discuss nothing else.'
'I am not so happy as to know of any business between us,' he said
in the same haughty manner,'great as the honour and pleasure
would be.'
'It will save time,' said Wych Hazel, 'to waste none in
preliminaries. I want to buy up your present bad undertakingand
the price is for you to name.'And she looked out again into the
white darkness, and wondered if this was to be her first night
adventure wherein Mr. Rollo did not appear to take her home.
'Pardon me, I am very much at a loss to know what you mean.
Only, through the confusion, I seem to perceive that Mrs. Rollo
has lost the kind opinion which Miss Kennedy used to have of me.'
He heard a soft exclamation of impatienceextremely like 'Miss
Kennedy!'Then came deliberate words again.
'Mrs. Charteris,' she said, 'has no money of her own. I offer you
what you will to let her alone. To break with her utterly. Do you
understand? I believe if you pledged me your word to that, you
would keep it.'
'Thank you!' he said in the same tone. 'May I venture to ask, how
you can possibly suppose that I have anything to "break" with any
other woman, after you have broken with me?'
The words were beneath notice. Wych hazel went on as if she had
not heard them.
'And if you will come to a decision soon,now, while I am
here,I shall be very glad.'
'Mrs. Rollo supposes that everything can be done with money!'
Stuart said scornfully. 'It is a not unnatural delusion with those
who have an unusual supply.'
'No,' said Wych Hazel in the same calm way; 'I do not suppose
that. I know better. But with nothing in the other scale, money and
honour have their weight.'
'Mrs. Rollo probably has for the moment forgotten that she is not
still Miss Kennedy. She will forgive me the remark.'
'I have not forgotten that either. If I had, I should not be here
talking to Mr. Nightingale.'
'Why not?' said he quickly.
'The fact is enough. I am dealing only with facts to-night. Business
facts.' And Wych Hazel leaned back and was silent; listening to the
dull roll of the wheels, and the sharper swirl of snow and hail
against the windows. A few minutes of silence allowed these to be
heard. Then the carriage stopped.
'You know,' said Wych Hazel suddenly, 'there are two names at
stake. What do you decide, Mr. Nightingale?'
The carriage door opened; he had no time to reply.
CHAPTER XXXII.
SUPPER.
It was not exactly a cheery evening in Hazel's deserted rooms.
Rollo had the entertainment of Prim and Mrs. Coles upon his
hands, and was besides all the time busied in baffling her efforts to
find out whether he was anxious, whether he knew where Wych
Hazel had gone, whether he was aware of what kept her, and
whether he did not think something ought to be done. This sort of
exercise grows wearisome in time; and Rollo finally gave it up and
fled. He put on coat and hat and repaired to the great entrance of
the hotel, which seemed to him just then if not a point of rest, yet
to be nearest to that point. Here he had a view of the storm, which
he studied at leisure in the intervals of watching everything on
wheels that went by. He knew who it was, when Hazel's carriage
drew up at last, and was by the side if it before it had fairly
stopped.
He opened the door and took Hazel out, and led her into the house,
without paying attention to anything but her. He took her up stairs
to her own room, which he reached without going through the
parlour where Mrs. Coles and Prim were. There he threw off his
own snow-covered wrappings and then hers, that he might wrap
her in his arms. He did not say what he had been feeling, but his
manner of great gladness left Hazel to infer several things. And for
a minute or two she was passive, shewing a pale, tired face. But
then there swept over her such a sense of what she had, and of
what she had escaped, that she could only lay her head down on
his shoulder and be still; a shiver running over her as she
remembered other souls adrift.
'Have you dined, in the snow, anywhere?' were Rollo's first
coherent words. He was not given to talking sentiment. At the
same time he was gathering Hazel's cold hands into his.
'I could not help it, Olaf!' Hazel broke out. 'I have been whirled
about like a brown snow-flake.'
'And come home frozen.' He rang the bell for Phoebe, admonished
her to be quick, and went back to the drawing room. When Hazel a
few minutes later followed him, she found a servant bringing in
supper. Primrose gave her a welcome kiss, but the other lady
exclaimed,eyes and senses on the alert,
'Well, my dear! we have been uneasy about you.'
'Nobody ever needabout me,' said Wych Hazel. 'Unless there is
something afoot more serious than a snow-storm.'
'It's a wild storm, isn't it?'
'Rather wild. You know, wild things are in my line, Mrs. Coles.'
'Not _now_, my dear, I hope. You have not come far in the snow,
surely?'
'A little way seems far in such a drive, don't you know it,
Prudentia?' remarked Rollo. And he took Wych Hazel out of the
chair where she had placed herself and transferred her to a softer
one.
'But Dane,' Mrs. Coles continued, with her own very peculiar
mixture of raillery and insinuation,'aren't you curious? or do you
know all already?'
'I know all I want to know at present, thank you.'
'Does he always let you do just what you like, Hazel?'
'What I like?' Hazel repeated dreamily, lifting her eyes to the
person in question: a swift, secret glance of allegiance which to-
night came to him very often. Then she laughed and coloured a
little. 'I hardly know,' she said. 'My "like" and his "let" are mixed
up in inextricable confusion.'
'My dear!' said Mrs. Coles in mock reprehension, but smiling.
'What an admission!'
And I think an inner voice of wisdom admonished her to let the
matter rest and say no more; but Mrs. Coles was in a sort of malign
fascination at the picture before her. Hazel was in her easy chair;
Dane had brought up a little low stand before her, and sitting
between her and the supper table he was taking care of both; but
the care bestowed at his left hand was something the like of which
was strange to see. The late Mr. Coles had never introduced his
wife to anything of the kind; indeed he had been one of the men
who rather expect that their wives shall wait upon them. It was not
Dane was neglecting other people, or that he was making any
parade whatever; on the contrary, he was fully attentive to every
want of everybody, and of Hazel he was only taking care; yet it
was a sort of care and given in a manner that put miles and miles
between her and all other women. I suppose Mrs. Coles felt herself
somehow out in the cold, for it was certainly with a little spice of
irritation that she opened her lips the next time she spoke.
'But Dane,' with an uneasy little laugh, 'I really think you are to
blame, to allow this little ladyso very young a lady as she isto
run about alone at night in this way. I have really been anxious. I
thought you would be a better guardian, when you had the keys
once safe.'
'Will you have some salad, Prudentia?'
'Salad?O no, my dear! I think it is very unwholesome.'
'Take some ice.'
A turn, or at least a check, was given to the conversation. Mrs.
Coles could not refuse the ice. Primrose would eat no supper, and
was evidently longing to get her sister away. Rollo cut for Hazel a
slice of game.
'But Dane,' said Mrs. Coles presently, 'don't you think it is very
imprudent to eat such heavy things late at night? Coffee and salad,
and game? This ice is delicious.'
'So is the salad,' said Dane. 'Will you have a bit of the pheasant,
Prudentia?'
'My dear! no. I don't see how you reconcile it with your new
principles, either, to have such suppers.'
Rollo's eye had a flash of laughter in it as it went to Wych Hazel.
He asked gravely, 'Why not?'
'Mr. Rollo and I have agreed about partridges,'said Hazel, in
whom also fun was beginning to stir, though her eyes kept a far-off
look now and then.
'Agreed about partridges!' repeated Mrs. Coles.
'Yes,' said Dane. 'You had better take some, Prudentia. Rosy,a
little bit with some bread would not hurt you.'
'But the expense, Dane!'
'Yes. What about it?'
'The expense must be fearful of such a supperin such a house as
this.'
'A man who wants his horse to do him good service never asks
about the price of oats.'
'Dane!' said Mrs. Coles laughing and bridling, 'do you mean to
compare your wife to your horse?'
Rollo was quite silent, long enough to have the silence marked.
And when he spoke, it was not to Mrs. Coles, neither did he
honour her by so much as a look, during the rest of her stay in the
room. Primrose made the stay as short as she could, and Mrs.
Coles who felt that she had lost her footing and did not know how
to regain it, suffered herself to be carried away. But while
Primrose got a kiss, she was dismissed by her host with a very
ceremonious reverence. He had opened the door for the two and
closed it behind them. Coming back he bent down to touch his lips
to Wych Hazel's cheek.
'If you have any remarks to make, make them!' he said. 'I am
defenceless, and at your mercy.'
But for once Wych Hazel was in a region of air quite beyond Mrs.
Coles. She looked up at him wistfully.
'I do not understand,' she said, 'how you ever came to care about
me! It always was a puzzle,and never so much as to-night.' The
brown eyes were strangely soft and luminous and humble.
'How is that?' said he quietly, taking his former place beside her
and making suggestions of addition to her supper. But Hazel laid
down her fork, giving her plate a little push, in the fashion of old
times.
'I have been looking into depths,' she said,'abysses. I think I was
never really near them, but I might have seemed so.'
'What sort of abysses? And in the mean time, take some iceMrs.
Coles was correct in one thing she said.'
'Dane,' Hazel said abstractedly, 'do you think you could be a
success where I have proved a failure?'
'Where have you proved a failure?'
Hazel neglected her ice and leaned back in her chair.
'I used to think I could do things,' she said. 'And I have spent this
whole afternoon and evening to no sort of purpose.'
'It is instructive, to learn sometimes that one cannot do things'
said Dane. I suppose he had a little curiosity, but not much, for he
knew he should hear what there was to hear; and he was thinking
much more of Hazel than of what she had or had not failed to do.
So he spoke in a rather careless amused tone.
'Very!' Hazel answered.'Dane, in buying up a man, is it more
skilful to set a priceor to let him name it himself?'
'If you want to buy me,I should say, let me set my own price.'
'Thank you. Even my extravagance does not desire such waste. But
I want to buy off that nephew of Mme. Lasalle's. Andbeing
worth nothinghow much is he worth? I believe I ought to have
offered a definite sum,' she went on, half to herself.
Dane roused up fully now, and demanded to know what she was
talking about?
'He is going to Lisbon,' said Hazel, too engrossed to be very
methodical in her details. 'And Josephine Charteris means to go
with him. I can do nothing at all with _her_and I _must_ do
something with him.'
'Not with Stuart Nightingaleif that is what you mean.'
'I must.'
'I can find a substitute for that "must." What do you want to do,
Wych?'
'Put them both under bonds. But I have tried, and failed.'
'You have tried Josephine? Do you say that she wants to go with
him?'
'Says she _will_ go. Will not even take diamonds insteadand they
were her price,' said Wych Hazel with sorrowful disgust. 'So then I
tried him.'
'Tried _him!_ Have you seen Nightingale?'
'O yes. Annabella let him get her carriage and drive home with us.
_I_ would not,' said Wych Hazel with energy. 'Not if I had waited
there all night.'
'Was he in the carriage with you?'
'Coming home,yes. And after Annabella was set down, I tried
him with everything I could think of,or everything _he_ could,
rather.'
'I am very curious to hear what arguments you made use of.' Dane
bent a little to look at the speaker, with a face half amused and
wholly intent. Wych Hazel laughed softly.
'I am not a very round-about person,' she said. 'And if he had had
either honour or conscience or feeling, there would have been no
need for my speaking at all. And Josephine had just assured me
that last year he wanted my fortuneso I asked him how much he
would like to have now. In effect.'
'With the understanding that he might have what he spoke for?'
'O yes. Of course,' she added with a flush and a glance, 'he knew
that I could only mean within certain limits. I did not tell him what
they were.'
Rollo looked at her for a moment almost sternly; but then he broke
into a laugh. 'It is like Wych Hazel!' he said.
'Was it absurd?' said the girl, the crimson starting again. 'But I do
not see why. I suppose that is like me too,' she added with a half
laugh.
'I do not think you absurd,' said Rollo, laughing still. 'Perhaps
just a trifleunbusinesslike.'
'But I thought it was good business to say exactly what you mean?'
'If you were practised in rifle shooting, I should tell you that you
forgot to allow for the wind.'
'Well, as I am not?'said Wych Hazel looking up at him.
'For instance. You are practising at a mark, perhaps eight hundred
yards off; the first time you aim for the bull's eye, and hit it.
Between the first shot and the second however, a breeze has
sprung up. That alters the case. The second time you will not aim
at the bull's eye, but perhapsaccording to the force of the wind
a dozen feet to one side of it.'
'Did that ever happen in your shooting?'
'Such a thing has happened in my shooting.'
'And you hit it, that second time?'
'I hit ityes.'
Wych hazel looked soberly into the fire. 'You will never make a
sharp-shooter of me, Olaf,' she said. 'I think nothing will ever
make me learn calculation.'
'What did Nightingale answer you?'
'He saidor intimatedthat I thought I had my old power still,'
said Hazel slowly.
'He is one of the men that have their price. But you forgot that his
pride must have its price too.'
'Pride? Can he have any pride left? It was just becausebecause
he used to like to do what I said, that he would not now.'
'I do not understand yet how he came to be driving with you.'
'Didn't I say that? Why,' said Wych Hazel running rapidly over
details, 'Annabella did not have their own carriage, but a hack and
a tipsy driver,for Josephine's sake, you know. And when we left
Josephine he set off up north to see where the snow came from.
And we made him turn round, and then jumped out when we got
back to Fort Washington. And there we ran against that man
again.'
'How came you in Fort Washington?' Rollo asked, his eyes
snapping in the midst of the very grave intentness with which he
was listening.
'That is where Josephine has hid away.'
'Nightingale drove in from Fort Washington with you?'
'Yes.'
'Does anybody know about this business?' Rollo asked after a
slight pause. 'Not Josephine's mother?'
'Nobody. Annabella thought I might have some influencebut if I
could not keep her from marrying Charteris in the first place
What _can_ be done?'
'I will try. But Wych, I am going to make one regulation.'
'Yes. Well?' said Wych Hazel, with a certain sheer at the name of
"regulations."
'Whenever you go out in a carriage, here or in the country, I wish
you always to be attended by a trustworthy servanteither Lewis,
or Byrom, or Reo.'
'But my dear friend, in this case I could not have taken either.
Don't you see?'
'I do not see anything,' said Rollo lazily. 'Not even that I am your
dear friend.'
'I have known you fail on that point before,' said Wych Hazel
demurely. 'But the thing to see is that Mr. Rollo's regulations
cannot always be carried out.'
'I cannot think of a case where I should allow the exception.'
'I'll tell you as they come. Then will you try what you can do with
that wretch?' she went on eagerly.
'I think we can manage him. But I shall not see him myself, Wych;
that would be to start his pride again; and of all human passions
pride is the strongest that I knowunless possibly jealousy. I must
have a medium, and I think I know the right one. I propose to offer
him, not carte blanche, but, say, five thousand a year for five years;
on condition that during that time he neither joins nor is joined by
Josephine, wherever he may be. He wants money badly, as you
say. I think he will accept my offer.'
'You had better say for life,' said Wych Hazel quickly.
'No,' said Rollo smiling; 'that would be bad economy. Some day
you will know what economy is; in the mean while, believe me.
He is not worth more than twenty-five thousand dollars; and _she_ is
not. And if she is obliged to wait five years, she will never go to
him after that. As to the rest,'and Rollo bent his head caressingly
by the side of Wych Hazel's'where my regulations cannot be
carried out, Hazel,do not go.'
'But Olaf'
'Well, Wych?' he said, looking at her with the grey eyes full of
love, and full of delight in her, and full of admiration of her; not
the less, soft as they were, full also of that expression which is
called masterful when people do not like it. Wych Hazel looked up
and then down, silently knotting her fingers in and out. Rollo put
his lips down to hers, but waited for what she had to say. It did not
come at once.
'I am trying to push myself out of sight,' she said frankly with one
of her sweet laughs. 'And I am a hard one to push, sometimes. But
for my worksuppose I have something to do which cannot be
done so?'
'Don't do it.'
'Really? Suppose it ought to be done?'
'It is quite plain that in such a case, it ought not to be done by you.'
'You leave me no more room for discretion, than Mr. Rollo did in
the old time,' said Wych Hazel soberly. 'WellI hope you will
succeed with that man,' she went on in her former tone; 'but he was
not in a pretty mood to-day.'
'We shall succeed with him. And when you get into any perplexity,
what hinders Mrs. Rollo from applying to her husband? Or in a
case of need, employing him?'
'I always did like to work out my own perplexities.'
Rollo laughed at her a little, and let the subject drop.
But the business of Nightingale he took up in earnest the next day.
Stuart shewed some fencing, which however was widely distant
from fight; and in the end gave in to Rollo's proposal, with the
exception that he contrived to bargain for five thousand down in
addition. Rollo and Hazel were well content. Stuart received the
guaranty of thirty thousand dollars, and Josephine Charteris was
saved to her family and to society. And nobody knew anything
about it.
Chapter XXXIII.
ABDICATION.
Chickaree again,and clear cold weather, although it was March.
Spring declared herself timidly on the sunny side of slopes, and by
the water courses; spoke softly in the scented wind, hung out her
colours where snow-drops and violets grew; and shoutedSpring
fashionfrom the feathered throats of blue birds and robins; but
otherwise, in byeways and corners, the snow lay and the ice
glistened. The world of Chickaree outdoors looked cold enough.
Not cold within! Sunlight flooded the breakfast room,and a gay
fire: and before the hearth the little lady of the house stood
crimson-robed and pink-cheeked, and just now very
contemplative. She was slowly balancing a great bunch of keys
large keys and smallupon her pretty fingers. Such was the
picture before the eyes of the new head of the house when he came
in to breakfast. I think he liked it too well to be willing to break the
spell of silence which seemed to be upon the dainty lady, for while
his eyes took keenest notice, he made no open demonstrations.
Hazel sorted her keys, choosing out one, changing it for another,
then swinging the bunch by a third and putting the rest in a certain
sequence. Then she turned suddenly round, growing more pink-
cheeked than before.
'I did not know you were here!'
'Pray what then?' said he smiling.
'Are you at leisure for breakfast?'
'I usually am, at this time in the morning. And to-day is not an
exception.'
Hazel sounded her whistle.
'Will you be at leisure _after_ breakfast, Mr. Rollo?'
'Depends on what meaning you attach to the words.'
'As we are not in theologicalneither scientificregions, you
might answer closer than that,' said Hazel. 'Well have you time for
a long excursion into parts unknown?'
'Where?'
'I thought,' said the girl, swaying her keys softly and looking down
at them'Would you like At least, shall I take you over the
house after breakfast?'
'You shall take me anywhere you please. Why over the house?
Does anything need repair?'
'You have never seen it all,you do not know where you are, yet.
Nor what you have to work with.'
'To work with?' Dane repeated looking at her. 'It strikes me the
house is for you to work with. I have six mills to run.'
'Yes, but' Hazel threw off her first words with a laugh, and
chose others. 'Not just as it used to be, you know,' she said
sedately. 'And part of it has been shut up,and you have never
seen the whole. And if I am to be house steward' Dingee came
in with the breakfast, and Wych Hazel turned off to that. It pleased
Dane to let her take her own time to explain herself on this
occasion; he would not hurry her. So he talked of other things until
breakfast was over. He had seen Heinert already, and the change in
him was wonderful. Feeling thoroughly at home in his old chum's
house, he was as happy as a child; not cumbering himself with
what he would do when he got well, which now he securely
expected to do. It might be some time first; for the present Heinert
was happy; and Hazel would see him at luncheon. And, meantime,
she had quite forgotten his existence in more pressing things.
'I want you to see all the house,' she said, handling her keys again;
'because then you will knowwhat you want done. And so shall
I.'
'I do not want anything done,' said Rollo, looking for the meaning
of all this, which as yet he did not see.
'Yes you do,' said Hazel. 'Or you will. All sorts of things. So
come.'
But instead of that, he put his arm round her and drew her to his
side, looking into her changing face.
'Who said you were to be a house steward.'
'Must a thing be said in order to be true?'
'No. But generally speaking, it had better not be said unless it is
true. Nicht?'
'I suppose I must be something!' said Hazel, with that pretty half
laugh which covered so many thoughts.
'Yes,' said he laughing and stooping to kiss her. 'Do you want me
to tell you what?'
'Keeping strictly to fact and not fancy'
'Strictly fact.' And folding her close, and watching her face,
sometimes touching it, he went on,'Something, of which it is
said that "her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband
doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She
will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." She does not
exactly "seek wool and flax"or if, it is Berlin wool, I believe; but
it is certainly true that "she considereth a field, and buyeth it." And
"she stretcheth out her hands to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth
her hands to the needy. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry;
her clothing is silk and purple." I do not think she "makes fine
linen;" nevertheless I hope it will be true that "she looketh well to
the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."
And if all her household are not "clothed in scarlet," she is very
fond of wearing it herself.'
Wych Hazel listened with eyes looking down, and lips that parted
yet did not speak. But now they curled unmistakeably.
'Ha, ha!' she laughed. 'What a mixed piece of fact that is! past,
present, and future, in one grand conglomerate. Do you suppose I
shall ever _again_ have a chance to dabble in land? And I thought
you had ruled out the 'silk and purple'?'
'Did you? I suppose, in Old Testament language the silk and purple
means that she was suitably dressed.'
'Scarlet ditto. But I do not know what 'spoil' can mean. If it said
'supervision,' I could understand that.'
'Spoil means, profits and honours.'
'That makes no sense of the rest of the verse.'
'Excellent sense. The heart of her husband hath such a trust in her,
that he can afford to dispense with what makes other men rich.'
'Ois that the way you put it. Romantic, but not practical,' said
Hazel, arching her brows. 'It might be so, but he would not find it
out. Now come and see the house.'
'I will go and see the house,' said Rollo, speaking with a cool
business tone now. 'In fact I suppose I should like to go anywhere
where you would go before and open the doors. But what is your
thought, Wych?'
'Only a small ceremony of investiture. I want to take you over my
haunts,and leave you in possessionof them, and any small
facts you may find there.'
But taking one of her hands and holding it, Rollo neither moved
towards the door himself nor let her.
'What is going to become of you,' said he, 'after you have left me
in possession of your haunts?'
'I shall linger round to do all the mischief I can,after the fashion
of abdicators.'
'In that case, what is going to become of me?' said he, not
changing his position.
'I have no idea! I feel fearfully like myself since I came home.'
'Do you! And what do you expect me to do with your 'small facts'?
Are they kittens?'
'No. Store them up for reference when I am hard to understand.'
'I do not want any references on that chapter. What _are_ your small
facts?'
'Little hints of how I have lived,and with what atmosphere and
influences. Specimens of the soil wherein Wych Hazel grew to be
"all hat and bushes." '
'And when did she abdicate?' said Rollo, bringing both arms round
her now.
'Othe precise day does not matter,' said the girl, as a very
'precise' day last winter came full into view. 'Dates are useless
things.'
'Tell me!' said he softly. 'When did you abdicate?'
'You mean' she said, hesitating, with her eyes on the ground.
'What you mean.'
'But Olaf' Hazel left her protestation unfinished. 'I suppose,
really, it was a year ago,' she said, not looking at him. 'Only that
week before Christmas I was worriedand of course I was full of
freaks. And soI felt as if I was doing every thing for the last
time.' Hazel hung her head, leaving the 'freaks' to their fate.
'How 'for the last time'?' said Rollo, with provoking apparent
obtuseness.
'Ah!' Hazel exclaimed,then again submitting to
circumstances,'My will had been the law of the houseand the
peopleand of myself.Do you understand, sir?'
'Where were your guardians?' said Rollo with cool self-command.
'In my way just often enough to give zest to all other times and
places.'
'And what is your opinion of the one guardian you have left? just
as a curiosity, I should like to hear it.'
'He gave so fine a comparative description of himself beforehand,'
said Hazel with the laugh in her voice. 'It would be quite
presuming to suppose he does not mean to act up to it.'
Dane was silent, perhaps considering how he should answer her;
for loosening one hand, he stood pushing back the thick curls from
her face, looking down at it thoughtfully. Then in the same tone he
had used before, he asked, "if she had not learned love's liberty
yet?"
'In what sense?' she said, after a moment's hesitation.
'In the sense of being rather more a free and independent sovereign
than at any previous time of your life.'
Hazel shook her head. 'If you make me go into that,' she said, 'I
shall surely say something you will not understand. I have been as
full of freaks this winter as ever in all my life before.'
'I am moved with curiosity to hear what you can say that I shall not
understand.'
'I will not gratify you this time, if I can help it,' said Hazel
laughing a little. 'Somebody must be headthat is plain, isn't it?
and if it is you, it is not I. And before Christmas just that last part
got hold of me,and since Christmas'
'Finish it! Since Christmas?'
'Since Christmas I have taken the first part into consideration,'
Hazel said demurely.
Perhaps Dane thought illogical treatment was the best, or his
patience gave out; for he answered with passionate kisses all over
Hazel's face.
'My little Wych!' said he'do you think you are less head at
Chickaree than you used to be?'
She answered shyly, arching her brows. 'Yes. Of course.'
'Don't you like it?' said he audaciously.
'_That?_ No. I think not. Why should I, if you please?'
'You are head, just because I am head. More than ever; because
you have my strength to back your decisions. Now let us go,
wherever you want opt take me.'
Wych Hazel's lips curled in a pretty laugh.
'There are two ways of 'backing' a decision,' she said. But then she
moved off, and led the way through all the long-unused part of the
great house. An old office room, with leather-covered chairs, and
empty inkstands, and dry pens, and forgotten day-books of
forgotten days! Suites of guest chambers, reception rooms, and
music room, and rooms of every sort. Broad bits of hall led to
them, and narrow entries, and unexpected stairways: the old bolts
turned slowly; the door knobs were dim with the mists of long ago.
Old portraits looked down on them suddenly, here and there; the
two bright young figures sprang out anew from mirrors that for
years had seen nothing but darkness. Wherever they went they
opened a window, throwing back blind and shutter; and the spring
sunshine streamed in, fresh and gladsome, making the dust of
years look even solemn in its still quiet. It was a labyrinth of a
house!and Hazel tripped along, in and out, as if she knew it all
by heart; with only words of explanation, until suddenly she
opened the door into a round apartment at the foot of the flagstaff
and the top of the house. The room was nearly all windows , and
the waving shadow of the blue banner curled and played in the
sunlight upon the floor.
Nearly all: only four broad pannels broke the lookout, one on
either side. Hazel laid her hand upon Rollo's shoulder, and softly
led him round. The first pannel held two full-length portraits; a
stately pair of olden time, in old-time dress; the founders of the
house. The ruffles and lappets and powder and hoop told of long
ago. Of later date, yet still far past, were the next two; short waist
and slim skirt and long silk stockings and small clothes; and
curious look of Wych Hazel herself in the lady's face. Hazel's own
father and mother came next; and then she passed round to the
fourth pannel, which was but half filled. A full length of herself
had apparently held first place there; certain marks on the wall told
of removal to the second place, where it was now. Hazel paused
before the empty side of the pannel.
'You see your duty,' she said with a laugh. 'It is a rule of the house.
Now come and look at the view.'
'I think we'll break the rule, Hazel. Why was I never here before?'
'This was one of my particular haunts,so I kept the key. Look,
there is Morton Hollow, off that way, where the smoke floats up.
And Crocus and the church spires shew from here. And _there_
comes in the road by which you drove me home that very first day.
I have lived a great many hours up in this place, with the old
portraits.'
On the whole, it was rather an eerie thing to have one's 'haunts' in
such a rambling, half-shut up, untenanted old house. One could
imagine the loneliness which had followed her about sometimes.
Dane took the effect, standing there in the Belvidere; however his
words were a very practical question'why his picture should take
her side of the pannel?'
'If you look at the order in which the others stand, you will see it is
_your_ side,' said Wych Hazel. 'I put mine there in a mood,when I
meant to be head always.'
'Two heads are better than one,' said Dan carelessly.
'YesI may be good for consultation.'She stood there, half
behind him, her hand laid lightly on his shoulder, looking off with
a smile in her eyes toward Morton Hollow. Had he not always had
his own way, already?
'Olaf,' she said suddenly, 'if I had been the Duchess May, what
would you have done?'
'I'll think of that,' said he laughing, 'and tell you when I come home
to-night. For I must go, Hazel.'
It was a long day before Rollo got home again. Not spent entirely
alone by Hazel, for Dr. Arthur came to see his patient, and she had
both gentlemen to luncheon. Mr. Heinert proved himself a very
genial and somewhat original companion. If he had ever been
disheartened on account of his illness, that was all past now; and
the simplicity, vivacity, and general love of play in his nature
made a piquant contrast with Dr. Arthur's staid humour and grave
manliness. He talked of Rollo too, whom he loved well, it was
plain; he talked of Göttingen; he talked in short till Arthur ordered
him back to his rooms and forbade him to come out of them again
even for dinner that day.
And then, as the sharp spring day was growing dusk, the clatter of
the horses' hoof beats was heard again before the door. Dan had
got home. He and Hazel had dinner alone; with endless things to
talk about, in the Hollow and at home; and after dinner the evening
was given to one of Doré's great works of illustration, which Hazel
had not seen. Slowly they turned it over, going from one print to
the next; pausing with long critical discussions, reading of text,
comparison of schools, and illustrations of the illustrations, drawn
from reading and travel and the study of human nature and the
knowledge of art. A long evening of high communion, wholly
unhelped by love-making, although it wanted, and they knew it
wanted, no other beside themselves to make it perfect.
Perhaps some consciousness of this was in Hazel's mind, as they
stood together over the books after they had risen to leave them.
'Sir Marmaduke,' she said suddenly, 'would it tend to your
comfortor discomfortto have people here?'
'Both,' said Dane laconically.
'I foresee that you will live in a mixed state of mind then!' said
Hazel. 'I am afraid I shall have to be asking people all the time.'
'Whom do you want to ask?' Rollo enquired in some surprise.
'Guess! I should like to get your idea of me,' she said smiling.
'Mr. Falkirk?'
'No!'with a great flush.
'I would try to endure Mr. Falkirk. But I do not at this moment
think of any other human being I could endure,besides Hans
Heinert.'
'Wellthere it is,' said Hazel, impressively, very busy at taking
the measure of his arm just then with her little fingers.
'I do not know. Perhaps not. Let us hear.'
'Olaf,' she said, softly now, 'is not this big empty house a 'talent?'
And if it is, you know it must be increased by 'trading.' And I can
think of no way but to make it reach out over heads thatfor any
reasonneed shelter. One would want to be able to say'Lord,
thy house has become ten houses'or a hundred, if it would
stretch so far!'
'Go on,' said Dane, his eyes sparkling and growing soft, both at
once. 'Who is to be your first guest?'
'_She_ will not trouble you. It is only a poor little embroiderer down
at Crocus who is dying for rest and good living. Dr. Arthur told
me; and I am going to bring her here for awhile. But thereit
seems as if I could not help hearing of things now!' said Hazel,
again with a half laugh. 'If it was a sick or over-worked guest of
some other sorts, they _must_ come where you would see them. So
what am I to do?'
'I can stand seeing them,' said Dane, watching her.
'But if there was always somebody needing fresh air and dainties,'
said Hazel, looking up wistfully. 'Then you would never see me
and I should never see youexcept across other people. Must I
give that up too?'
'No,' said her husband laughing. 'Where did you get all those
"mustesses"as Dingee would express it?'
'If there were always some one else on hand.'
'The house is big enough for them and us too. I am glad I went
over it this morning.'
'Yes, big enough for anything,' said Hazel eagerly. 'But then at
mealsin the evening.Just when the mills and I do not come
into competition!'
Dane smiled now very brightly. 'I will have nothing come in
competition with you,' said he. 'Except duty sometimes. And this is
not duty. Fit up some of those untenanted rooms, and let them be
homes for whoever needs them. And let all such guests be entirely
free, and at home, and served each with his meals in his own
apartment, except when you choose to ask them to your's. That
would sometimes be and sometimes not be; but the sanctity of our
own home must be preserved. Do you not think so?' he added
gently.
'O if we may!You know much more about it than I do. But
suppose somebody sick at heart, or mind-weary? You see I know
about that,' said Hazel, her girlish face all wistful again. 'I thought
the loneliness was often the chief thing.'
'Let them have drives, and flowers, and books; rest and leisure; the
sight of you occasionally; and now and then an invitation to
dinner.'
'That might do. I could see them when you are away. Olaf, I have
been thinking how I can possibly invest all this money-power you
have put in my hands.'
'Wych, it will flow away with the speed of mountain brooks; and
in as many and as inevitable channels.'
'But I want to know where it goes. And I have been studying the
question out. I want to send some of it _everywhere_, and take up
bonds all over the world!'
'That greed will make you at last learn economy!' said Dane
smiling.
'Will it? I do not know. You mean that I cannot reach round the
world, even with ten thousand a year? But if all hands are stretched
out, they will meet and so go round. To be sure, everybody cannot
afford so much,' said Hazel thoughtfully; 'and so my hands must
reach just as far as they possibly can.'
'Ten thousand a year has more to fall back upon,' Dane suggested.
'Yes. I am talking of _my_ power,' said Hazel with a laugh. 'You see
I have been reading up, and listening, and thinking, all winter. All
I find that the 'where,' is everywhere; and the 'how,' in every way;
and the 'what'just "what she could." Then there is another
thing But you are not obliged to listen to all this!' said Hazel,
checking the flow of her projects.
'I think you must be coquettinglike Jeannie Deans when she
goes over a bridge.'
'It was left for you to say that!' said Hazel with a glance. 'Nobody
else ever did. HoweverI read a story once which I thought
simply beautiful,and last night it suddenly announced itself as
practical. You remember how pleasant it was last night?'
'I remember very well.'
'In my story the people gave up one evening a week. On that night
they always had a particular good tea, and at least one invited
guest. The head of the house brought home one of his deserving
clerks, suppose,or perhaps some poor acquaintance who never
sawpartridges, for instanceat any other time: somebody
straitened in business and low in cash. Or he found at home,
already arrived, a hard-worked teacher, or a poor girl left alone in
the world with her needles and thread. But whoever it was, for that
evening they were made to forget everything but pleasure.'
'One evening in a week,' repeated Dane. 'That is not much. You
and I have given a great deal more of our time than that,often,
to the German, for instance.'
'It might seem 'much'with some people,' Hazel said thoughtfully.
'But it would be right to do.'
'Duchess, it would not be disagreeable. It is a good plan. Then one
evening in the week we will invite our poor friendshave them to
dinner and give them a good time. But for the rest, Hazel, except
in particular instances, it will be best on every account to leave
them to themselves; those who happen to be in the house, I speak
of now. With books, and good care, and all comforts around them,
and the freedom of the grounds, and drives when that would be
needful. Nothing but necessity would make it right or expedient to
have our home privacy broken up.'
'Our home privacy'how new and sweet and strange the words
sounded! A sense of all the threethe novelty, the strangeness, the
sweetnesswas in the shy brown eyes that looked up and then
down; not willing to tell too much. How strange it was, in truth!
she thought. Very natural that she should like the privacy, with
him to talk to her; but how it should be chosen by him, with only
such a wild, wayward, unformed personage as herself,and again
the eyes gave a swift glance, fraught with a little wonder this time.
But then the strangeness fell back, and the novelty stood aside, and
only the sweetness remained. Eyes might go down, and head bend
lower, but lips were treacherous and told it all.
The eyes that looked read it, well enough. Yet with a man's
wilfulness, drawing Wych Hazel into his arms and bending his
face to hers, Rollo asked maliciously,
'Do you love me, Duchess?'
'Well,' said Hazel with demure, 'witchful' face and voice, 'I
suppose so. Just a little more than you do me.'
Rollo took laughing revenge for this statement, but otherwise did
not attempt to combat it.
'Have you worked your way out of the puzzle you were in the
morning?'
'It is not a puzzle. It should be, I think, if nobody were head.'
'Ah!' said Rollo, very tenderly, if there was still a spice of mischief
in it. 'You have found out then the solution of Dr. Maryland's old
paradox"Love likes her bonds"?'
Hazel laughed a little, colouring too.
'No,' she said. 'Love likes you.'
'Comes to the same thing,' said Rollo heartlessly.
'No,' Hazel said again,'I think I do not like to be made to
"stand," any better than the bay. But he does it,for you.'
'He likes it.'
'In that sense,' said Hazel. 'For you. He has come out of his
apprenticeship of fear, and so have I; but you may find hidden
stores of wilfulness, yet.'
'I have never been under an apprenticeship of fear,' said Rollo
laughing; 'and I am not going to begin now.'
'No,' said Hazel, laughing too. '_You_ were always a master hand.
Do you remember when I meant to give up waltzing _for you_and
you would make me do it on compulsion?'
CHAPTER XXXIV.
GOLD AT INTEREST.
'Papa,' said Primrose a few days after this,'they are very happy!
Duke and his wife, I mean.'
'Yes, my dear, yes,' answered Dr. Maryland; 'they ought to be.'
'Well, papa, they _are;_ and they are happy in the right way. Papa, I
was up there to-day, and I saw Jane Best, that little dressmaker
Arthur spoke about, who had got broken down with work; Hazel
has invited her to come there and rest out, you know, and get well.'
'Yes, my dear, I remember.'
'Well, I saw her to-day, papa. I was there, and I went into her
room. And I wish you could have seen her! Such a bright cheerful
room, open to the garden; which to be sure is all bare now, but
there is the look-out, and a good piece of blue sky above the tree
tops;and it was as prettily furnished as any lady need have; and
a bunch of splendid greenhouse flowers stood on the table by her.
She was sitting in an easy chair, taking royal comfort, I could see.
And while I was there her dinner was brought in; a roast quail,
papa, and tea in a dear little china tea-pot, and everything as nice
and dainty as it could be. And she told me that the day before,
you know yesterday was so mild and pleasant, papa,Hazel had
taken her out for a long drive; with herself, papa, under her own
fur robes, and had given her a blue gauze veil to save her eyes
from the glare, because there is so much snow about yet. You
ought to have seen Jane's face when she was telling me! She says
she has got among angels.'
'Whose doing was all that?' Prudentia asked.
'And then, oh papa, just think of it! for it is so unlike the way of
the world;two nights ago they had her to dine with themwith
themselvesand entertained her all the evening. They sang for
her, and talked to her. Poor Jane said she thought she was in
heaven already!'
Prim's eyes were full of bright tears, and Dr. Maryland's glistened.
'But that does not strike me as judicious,' put in Mrs. Coles. 'That
is mixing up things very much. A sewing-woman to dine with
them! That is Dane's doing, you may be sure. Hazel never would.'
'They are not of two minds,' said Prim; 'and she likes _this_, for she
told me about it, when I repeated to her what Jane had said to me.
It is only one evening a week; but one evening a week they will
entertain whoever is in the house. Being their _guest_, Hazel says
Duke says, gives them the right. Papa, they are very happy!'
'Ay!' said Dr. Maryland. 'They will be happy; for it is written
"He that watereth shall be watered also himself." '
So the gold of Chickaree had begun its work; and if one main
channel of the fertilizing flow went through Mill Hollow, that was
but one; and the others, larger and smaller, wentto use the old
image of the brook on the mountain side, literally wherever they
could. To the well and able, men or women, Rollo rarely ever gave
anything but work, which he never refused. Every other need met a
ready hand and open ear at Chickaree. Let no one imagine that the
heads of that house led an easy life; to meet wisely the demands
that came, to sift the false from the true, to apportion the help to
the need, called for all their best strength incessantly in exercise.
Being stewards of so much, less than all their time would not
suffice to use it wisely. For let it be remembered, they had not
allotted a part to philanthropy and a part to themselves; but had
given the whole to God. They were hard workers; and if at evening
Rollo threw off work and would have nothing but play, that was
needful too.
And did Hazel spend all her income wisely? Not always perhaps,
at first; that could hardly be expected. It is not easy for even
experienced hands to escape a deception now and then. But
slowly, surely, she made progress; chiefly by two things. First, an
eager desire to be a good steward with the power put in her hands,
which just guided and warned and stimulated too the also eager
desire to help everybody. Then Wych Hazel "prayed her way," and
took counsel. And by dint of loving all people and feeling for all
need, the way generally opened out. One thing was soon
decided,she would put her finger in every good work;
everywhere her hand touched and left its token. But then went the
nameless rills and drops of refreshment to hidden spots and places
of need known to nobody else. Poor students fitted out and paid
through college; poor invalids served with the best of medical care.
Overworked ministers sent on a pleasure trip, _wife and all_. A nice
dress here, a barrel of flour there, a wonderful book somewhere
else. Ice to the sick, boxes of tea to the needy. Then from her odds
and ends storehouse she showered prettiness upon the lives that
were dry and dusty with toil. Flowers to one, a flower dish to
anotherwherever she went she left a touch of light and colour.
People did not bend to kiss her shadowas of Florence
Nightingale: they turned and shaded their eyes to catch the light.
Not the sheen of mere wealth, dazzling the sight of their poverty;
but the joy and brightness of truth and love, reflected down upon
her, and from her to them.
If you would know, dear reader, part of the sequel to all the
foregoing, you may, if you will take a walk some summer day
through Mill Hollow. We will say it is ten years since Wych
Hazel's marriage.
It is June, and you may smell the roses as soon as you get to the
entrance of the valley. Wych Hazel's dream has been realized. The
valley is a garden of roses. They climb the walls of the cottages,
they cluster on the palings, they stand by the way side. They are
set in a ground of smoothest green; for the turf everywhere is
perfectly cared for as if the valley were a park; smooth and rich
and luxuriant, it carpets the whole valley, except only where the
footpaths run and where the houses and gardens stand. The houses
nowhere stand close together; there is plenty of garden room; and
maples and oaks and American elms especially shade the valley
deliciously. In another ten years they will be very fine.
The place is as full of business as of roses, and as full of prosperity
as of either. You see that at every step. Not a house but is in
perfect repair and in perfect condition; the low white paling fences
glitter in their purity; the window are bright and clear. And meet
whom you will, man, woman or child, no rags or penury or squalor
will offend you; but the look is of respectable comfort and real and
hopeful life.
And why not? See that substantial stone building a little way up
the slope of the valley side; that is the Library. There are reading
rooms, for evening use, and well used by the hands. They have a
variety of papers and magazines and maps; and the stock of books
and pictures is large and excellent. Adjoining is the coffee room,
where refreshments of a simple kind are always to be had. There is
a reading room for the women and one for the men; large, lofty,
airy, well lighted, beautiful rooms, with every comfort of tables
and chairs and desks, for writing and reading.
On the other side of the valley, nearly opposite, is another large
and sightly edifice. It is the store. Everything the villagers need is
to be had there, at little over wholesale prices; it costs the owner
nothing, it saves the people a vast deal. Nobody can purchase
goods there except the hands and employees of Mill Hollow. There
is no place for the sale of liquor in all the village.
You see the two churches; one would not accommodate the
population. For Mr. Rollo has not ruined himself; on the contrary
his business has grown and spread and increased. He is a richer
man to-day than ten years before. That is, his income is larger; his
reserve capital never will be. Let us go up out of the valley by one
of these gentle and well-trodden ways.
Over the brow of the ridgeand there stretches before you a wide
landscape of cultivated park ground. It is a park, of many acres, for
the pleasure-taking of the hands of the Hollow. What is not here!
Groves and lawns, walks and seats under the trees; prepared places
for cricket and base ball and gymnastic exercises; swings for the
children. Flowers are cultivated here in profusion, of rare as well
as common kinds; and they are in abundance enough to be on hand
whenever floral decorations are wanted for a wedding or a funeral
in the cottages, or a festival in church or schoolhouse. For there are
festivals every now and then, besides the three national ones. The
park has great plantations of fruit trees also; the fruit free to all,
from the time it is officially declared to be ripe. And I assure you,
it is very little disturbed before such announcement. The park is
under an excellent police, and nothing but the most perfect order
prevails.
On the further edge of the park, if you go so far, you will see a low
elegant building of grey stone, with many cosy little windows and
doors. It is the home for the disabled and superannuated old
people. No herding in one common community of forlornness;
each small apartment or establishment is perfect in its way, with its
own entrance, and its own little kitchen and sleeping room. There
are people appointed to look after the comfort of those who are
finishing their days there, but nobody to interfere with it. Wych
Hazel is there very often, and her pony chaise never stops before a
door but to bring brightness within.
But down in the Hollow there are the schools yet to visit; they are
the pleasantest schoolrooms you ever saw. There is the bank.
There are the public baths. And I know not what beside. The
schools are provided with means and teachers for the art
instruction of those who show capability for art proficiency; and
designers and mechanics for Roll's work are growing up under
Rollo's eyes. And nobody enters work at his mills but wants to stay
with him; and nobody ever wishes, in all the Hollow, I think, to do
anything but what the master wishes; for they all know he does not
live to himself.
A visiter came to the Hollow however, about the time I speak of,
who was not ready to take the testimony of his eyes, not yet of his
ears, and he had both. It was an old gentleman who had left the
railway station a few miles from Crocus, and depositing his
baggage at the village inn desired to be driven on to the famous
manufacturing establishment in the neighbourhood. He was an
elderly man, but vigorous yet, of the sort of frame both of mind
and body which holds out a tough resistance to life's wear and tear.
That such he had seen, his somewhat set face, overhanging brows,
and keen, unrestful eyes, bore witness. The brows were
particularly drawn together to-day, and the eyes critical, almost
suspicious, in their glance.
It happened, as the old gentleman walked slowly up the Hollow,
for he had stopped the carriage at the entrance, that he fell in with
Dr. Arthur. It was a very frequent thing to see visiters in Mill
Hollow, strangers from other parts of the country and often
foreigners from abroad; and Dr. Arthur would have gone his ways
with a courteous salutation, but that in the instant of making it his
eye caught some indication which obliged him to look a second
time; and after that second look Dr. Arthur joined himself to the
stranger and offered to be his guide and attendant. Slowly, and
very taciturnly on the visiter's part, the various objects and places
of interest were gone over; Dr. Arthur explaining and enlarging
upon everything that seemed needful, but left very much in
ignorance all the while as to the impression made upon his
companion. At last, when they had reviewed the park and were
sitting down to rest and to look, on one of the many places
provided with seats, the old gentleman began to come out. They
had passed a great many cherry trees, hanging full of their just ripe
fruit; roses were all around them, as well as a multitude of other
flowers both old-fashioned and homely and rare; the grounds were
perfectly kept; the air was full of perfume. In the midst of all this,
the old gentleman began.
'This is all very fine, sir. Do you think the owner holds his own in
the matter of money? for after all, that is the test.'
Dr. Arthur smiled. 'One can hardly say of such a man that he has
grown "rich," ' he said; 'but Rollo's income increases with every
year.'
'Doesn't give it, or fling it, all away then?'
'All the increase he gives away. He does not "heap up riches, not
knowing who shall gather them." '
'Hm!Has he nobody to come after him? I am told he has
children. I should think this arrangement,' indicating the park and
the roses by a vicious movement of his stick, 'would be very
open to abuse.'
'Yet you can see that it is not abused. This is the pleasure-ground
of the workers, where they rest, and keep well, and _get_ well.
Where they learn to forget drinking saloons, and to do without low
excitements. We have fine band music here every evening in
summer, which is a great attraction. The park is kept in order, as
you see; the work is given by preference to mill peopletoo old or
too young for the steady mill labour. And any child may have his
own plot of flowers, _if_ he will give it good care. If you enjoy such
things, sir,' the young man went on with a glance at his companion,
'it will be worth your while to come here next week to the mill
fruit and flower show, and see Mrs. Rollo give out the prizes.'
'Does _she_ come here often?' the old gentleman asked in a stifled
kind of voice.
'I might say daily. Of all that look after the comfort of those poor
worn-out people over there, Mrs. Rollo is chief. An hour ago you
would have found her pony chaise here. If you choose to step in,
sir, you will find the fragrance _her_ roses have left. They will talk of
herthese poor old peopletill she comes again. They will watch
for her "in the gates" till she enters there!'
'Hm' said the discontented old man. 'Does she find time to do
anything else?'
'Else?' the doctor repeated.
'Yes. These people who do so much abroad are apt to be cyphers at
home, in my experience.'
Dr. Arthur laughed a little over the word "cypher."
'Any one who had known Chickaree years ago,' he said, 'with its
gay rush of surface pleasure, would find much to study in the full
literary and artistic life that now fills the old place.'
'Eh?' said the other in the same way, but pricking up his ears at the
same time. 'Literary? Then they do not go much into societyif I
understand you?'
'They goand they receiveboth "much," ' said the doctor; 'yet
both after an unusual fashion. Where they can confer a favour, or
shew a kindness, or get refreshment and help in their life-work,
they go. And they receiveall people!for everybody goes there.
Yet not to great entertainments; at Chickaree society is not
finished off at wholesale. It is the usual dinner, or breakfast, or
luncheon, to which rich friends and strangers are welcomed. If
there comes one who has known "the loss of all things," 'the
doctor paused a moment, with some thought he did not put into
words;'if one of the Lord's special guests comes,' he ended
abruptly, 'then indeed he is received as such.'
'Do I understand you, that they never give entertainments like
other people?'
'Neverwhat are called by that name. Unless to people who are
"entertained" nowhere else,' said the doctor with a tone of
satisfaction which was every now and then perceptible in his talk.
'Their "feasts" are all "Bible feasts,"but their hospitality is
boundless! And the cuisine at Chickaree is perfect.'
'It remains nevertheless,' said the other after a slight pause, and
speaking with a certain concealed grumble in his voice, 'that if
theyor anybodyneglects the world, the world will neglect
them. Concourse is not society, sir.'
'Chickaree hospitality is not precisely _neglect_,' said the doctor with
some quickness. 'I have yet to see the first personscientific,
literary, fashionablewho was not glad of a chance to enjoy it. It
is _the_ house in all this region where you are sure to meet whoever
is worth seeing.'
'Well, sir, well,' said the old gentleman, getting up and giving
himself an uneasy shake, 'perhaps I have something to learn!'
If he had, he began upon his course of lessons that very evening,
appearing at Chickaree for dinner. A few days after, Mr. Falkirk
took possession of his old cottage again; and he has no purpose to
forsake it any more.
Typographical errors silently corrected :
Chapter 1 : =On dit= silently corrected as =On-dit=
Chapter 2 : =of on dit= silently corrected as =of on-dit=
Chapter 13 : =speak very coolly'= silently corrected as =speak very
coolly,'=
Chapter 23 : =discomfitted= silently as =discomfited=
Chapter 24 : =make that do;= silently corrected as =make that do,=
Écrit : unshared / gray / eat (ate) / judgment / northeast / visiter /
mayhap / realizing / considerative / recognized / pettinesses /
troublous / chestnutting / merrymakings / bluebeard / pic-nic? /
beringed / promiser / realization / jeopardizing /
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