There were three of them, little pale-faced, grave-eyed girl-children,
unmistakable Londoners in their lack of the healthy colouring and
sturdy limbs which would have marked country-bred children of their
age. The eldest was perhaps eleven; the younger ones, eight and six
years old respectively; and it was pretty, as well as pathetic, to see
the prematurely motherly care which the eldest sister—whom the little
ones called ‘Gertie’—bestowed upon the tiny mite whose responsible
protector she seemed to be.
When first I noticed them, they were walking demurely round the
gravel-path of the square upon which my study window looks out. Each
had a skipping-rope dangling loosely from her hands; and the younger
ones were evidently intent upon some grave story from the lips of
their sister. Presently, they came along the upper side of the garden,
towards my window, and I had my first glimpse of their faces. Each
was pretty in her childish way. The eldest, tall for her age, slight
and dark, had regular features and soft brown eyes, whose naturally
pathetic expression was heightened by the deep mourning-frock and
crape-trimmed hat which each alike was wearing. The two younger
children were less noticeable in appearance, the second being, I
fancied, ordinarily a merry, dimpled little maiden, whom, but for some
temporary cloud on her spirits, I could more easily have pictured
enjoying a good game of romps with some of the other small frequenters
of our garden; and the youngest, like Gertrude, a pensive-faced baby,
with sadly transparent colouring and fragile figure, betokening
constitutional delicacy. It was summer-time; and as they passed beneath
my widely opened window, I caught the word ‘Mother’ two or three times
repeated, gravely pronounced by Gertie; and I judged, from the reverent
expression of the three little faces and from their deep mourning,
that she was recalling to the memory of her charges some childish
reminiscences of a recently lost parent.
I had certainly never seen them before, or, child-worshipper that I
was, I could not have failed to recognise them. All the other young
people in the garden—from Tommy, surname unknown, aged two, with a
penchant for sticky sweetmeats, and an aversion to nurses, to Miss
Mildred Holford, verging upon sweet seventeen, and alternating between
spasmodic propriety and innate tomboyism—were intimately known to me—by
sight, at all events; and in my idle speculations upon the little
strangers, I jumped to the conclusion—subsequently verified—that they
were new-comers to one of the large empty houses facing mine on the
further side of our square.
From that day forward I saw them frequently, generally, as on the first
occasion, alone, the eldest in charge of the younger ones, sometimes
accompanied by a tall lady, also in deep mourning, whom they addressed
as ‘auntie;’ sometimes with a sober, matronly looking nurse, who
carried in her arms a bundle of white drapery, enveloping what I opined
to be a baby of tender weeks. This baby was the favourite toy of the
three little sisters. Nothing else possessed the slightest attraction
for them when their tiny brother was present; and it was a pretty study
to watch the pride and delight of the two elder girls, when their nurse
allowed each in turn to carry the white-robed atom a few steps away
from her side and back again. Nor was little Ethel, the youngest of the
trio, debarred from the privilege of playing nurse sometimes. Too weak
and frail to be safely trusted to carry the precious burden, it was her
chief delight to sit, still as a mouse, on the corner of one of the
garden-seats, crooning and talking baby-talk to the unconscious morsel
on her lap, while the nurse and elder girls kept guard at a few yards’
distance, their absence being clearly a highly valued condition of this
innocent ‘confidence-trick.’
Morning after morning, throughout the first week of their residence
in our square, was the same routine carried out; the younger ones
sometimes indulging in a run with their hoops, from Gertie’s side;
sometimes amusing themselves with dolls or skipping-ropes; or again
listening while their aunt or Gertrude read aloud to them. But on
Saturday morning they did not appear as usual, and I found myself quite
missing their company, and puzzling myself with vague speculations to
account for their absence. Even in this short time my heart had gone
out towards the little motherless girls, and I had begun unconsciously
to weave fanciful theories of their past and present life, to account
for the sweet seriousness and precocious womanly airs of the eldest
girl, and the influence of love—for her manner was untinged by any
assumption of elder-sisterly prerogative—which she clearly possessed
and exercised over the younger ones. Rightly or wrongly, I never
knew, but I pictured them the children of parents separated by a long
interval of years in age, but united by strong bonds of confidence and
affection. Gertrude’s sedate air suggested that she had been rather
the companion than the plaything of her mother; and that the mother’s
influence had been tender, without caprice, was apparent from her
child’s gentle gravity, and from the unquestioning attention paid to
her lightest hint or remonstrance by the younger sisters. The words,
‘Mother would not have wished it,’ or, ‘Father would not like to
see it,’ from her lips were sufficient in a moment to quell Edith’s
occasional fractiousness, or to dry Ethel’s ready tears; while the
confidence existing between all three was enough to show that no undue
favouritism had ever wakened jealousy of one another. Unselfish to
a fault, Gertrude was the one to give way in every question of mere
personal preference; but she never swerved from her adherence to what
she believed would be ‘mother’s’ wish or course of action, and an
appeal from her opinion to aunt or nurse was rare indeed.
Such were some of my dreams of these little ones that Saturday morning.
Luncheon-time came, and passed, without a sign; and so restless and
idle had I been all morning, owing to the absurd interest I had taken
in the non-appearance of my little friends, that, contrary to my usual
custom, I was obliged to forego my half-holiday and settle to work
again. Suddenly, glancing from my book for the thousandth time that
day, I spied the little trio approaching. They looked less grave than
usual, and were manifestly preoccupied, as I judged from the frequent
glances cast by one and all towards the entrance-gate, at the far
corner of the square. At last the cause became evident. The gate swung
open, and an elderly gentleman in deep mourning came hastily into the
garden. He was quickly perceived; and with a glad cry of ‘Father!’ all
three children scampered off to meet him. ‘Father’s’ half-holiday was
clearly the event of the week for his little motherless girls; and for
the first time since I had seen her, the sad cloud passed from Gertie’s
eyes, and for a few hours was lost in the light of unalloyed happiness.
Under ‘father’s’ generalship they played merry childish games, laughing
and romping as I had never yet deemed it possible they could laugh or
romp; and when the delicate little Ethel grew weary and could play
no longer, there was a knee for each of the younger pets, and a seat
at her father’s side for Gertrude, while it was evident that he was
spinning yarns and racking his brains for fairy tales, each of which
was rewarded with unanimous applause, and reiterated calls upon the
narrator’s memory or invention. So passed the happy holiday afternoon,
a peaceful idyll in the great prose volume of London life; and when at
length the father rose from his seat, and, with a tiny hand in each of
his, moved slowly homewards, I felt as if the colour had faded out of
the summer evening, and the workaday clouds had begun to close in upon
me again.
So the July days glided by, bringing no greater change into the lives
of my three little maidens than the regular alternations of grave
morning walks and gay Saturday afternoon romps. They seemed shy of
making friends among their light-hearted young neighbours; and the
other children appeared to be awed and checked in their advances by the
sombre crape and sedate looks of the new-comers. Now and then, a timid
overture was made, generally to Edith, the second of the trio, whose
dimpled cheeks looked more suggestive of successful negotiation than
her sisters’ demure faces; but such attempts were rare, and as a rule,
my own unsuspected interest was the only notice taken of their doings,
and they were left unmolested in the pursuit of their quiet routine.
By-and-by my vacation-time arrived, and I left the heat and bustle
of London for a country rest. On my return, the days had shortened
perceptibly, the sun was shorn of half his brightness, the garden
trees were shedding their leaves, and autumn fogs and winter frosts
were approaching apace. There, as usual, on the first morning after
my return to work, were the little ladies. But there were no longer
quiet hours of basking in sunshine on the seats, and much of the sober
confabulation seemed to have taken wing with the flight of their summer
surroundings. Time was acting its usual part as the disperser of clouds
and lightener of hearts. ‘Mother’ had become less a recent reality than
a sweet occasional memory, and the young blood of the younger sisters
called for more active exercise than the grave promenade that had
sufficed previously.
But as autumn faded into winter, and the London sky donned its
accustomed leaden-hued uniform, the fireside usurped the attractions of
the window-seat, and but for an occasional glimpse, accidentally caught
as I passed the window, I lost sight of my little triad of maidens.
* * * * *
The spring of 187- was unusually late in making its appearance. The
sun sullenly refused to pierce the shroud of fog and mist; the buds
seemed reluctant to shed their outer coats, and unfold their tender
greenery to the dangers of frost and blighting east wind. The grass
was still discoloured and sodden in our garden, and the costermonger
appeared to have forgotten his customers in our square, so tardy was
he in making the welkin ring with his hoarse vindication of his wares,
‘All a-blowin’ and a-growin’.’ Though the almanac stoutly averred that
we had entered upon the ‘merrie month of May,’ a fire was still an
absolute essential for comfort, and I hesitated long before wheeling
my writing-table to the window and taking up my fine-weather quarters.
However, the move was at length made; and the first group that met
my eyes, as they wandered from my work to the outer world, was the
now familiar one of the ‘serious family.’ But they were no longer
alone; with them walked a middle-aged lady, of precise and dignified
aspect, whom it required but slight knowledge of female human nature to
identify as a governess. The little ones too were changed. Gertie and
Edith had grown apace. The former, prettier and even more demure than
of yore, had shot up into a tall slip of a girl, giving promise of
graceful figure and carriage, though as yet showing the angularity and
awkwardness of too rapid growth. Edith was more roguish-looking, and
a trifle less roundabout than before, and had clearly a fine fund of
animal spirits, longing for a chance of making their escape. But Ethel!
Alas! more plainly than ever were the sure signs of delicacy noticeable
in the sweet wee face and unnaturally deep-set eyes. She had lost
rather than gained ground during the long severe winter. The effort
to take part even in her sisters’ quiet sports was clearly beyond
her strength, and it was sad indeed to catch the patient, hopeless
expression with which she urged her weariness, as a plea for resisting
Edith’s thoughtless, childish allurements.
Before long, I noticed that she had given up the attempt to join the
play; and Edith herself was forced to recognise her plea, and to find
allies in her romps among the other small-fry in the gardens, with many
of whom she had now struck up acquaintance. Presently, even the daily
walk grew to be too much for the feeble little frame, and a miniature
carriage was devised, in which, tended constantly and lovingly by
her eldest sister, she spent her outdoor hours. Many a long silent
morning did she while away under the trees, the baby on her lap, and
the sweet child-voice of her devoted sister reading to her, or telling
her stories, with unwearying patience. Many a time have I paused in my
work to watch the sad drama of pure unselfish love. Many a Saturday
afternoon have I spent at my window, unable to turn away from the
simple yet solemn scene, enacted in that commonplace London square, to
seek pleasure and distraction among the busy haunts of river-side or
park.
Those Saturday half-holidays were no longer joyous festivals for the
father and children. His coming was as regular, and as eagerly looked
for, as ever; but now there was no glad rush to meet him at the gate,
no merry romps, in which he was the youngest child among the group.
He saw, all too clearly, and Gertrude too had long since recognised,
the inevitable parting that was slowly but surely approaching, and
the tender devotion of both parent and sister was touching indeed to
witness. Again a little while, and the bright summer sun, falling on
the garden and its merry groups of children, kissed the little pale
cheek no more. I could see the sudden pause in game and romp, when the
two sisters appeared as usual for their morning walk. I could see the
players hasten to their side, and could imagine the eager inquiries for
the little invalid, the looks and words of childish sympathy offered
with heartfelt though transient earnestness, before they turned away
to resume their games, claiming Edith as a playmate, and leaving poor
Gertie alone with her sad thoughts. Till at length the day came when
inquiry was vain. The blinds were drawn close in the house across the
square; the accustomed walk in the garden was omitted; for the little
sister’s pure innocent spirit had passed away into eternal peace; and
ere yet the mourning-frocks worn for their mother were laid aside, baby
Ethel had gone to join her in the better home, and Gertrude had another
sweet memory to treasure up in her young heart, another heavy grief to
add intensity to the pathos of her soft brown eyes.
Many months passed without my catching more than a passing glimpse of
the young mourners. The garden had too many associations with the past
to be any longer the scene of Edith’s romps or Gertrude’s daily walks;
and it was only when I happened by accident to meet the children in the
street, or to get a distant peep at them in the gardens of the Temple,
now their chosen resort, that I could judge of my favourite’s recovery
of her spirits, or admire the delicate beauty which grew with her
growth. She was fulfilling the promise of her childhood, and ripening
into a quiet pensive style of beauty, forming a more marked contrast
than ever to the vivacious younger sister, whose chatter and merry
laugh rippled through the cloistered precincts of the Temple, and drew
many a backward glance from the blue-bag laden lads passing through
these quiet courts. Then came a long break in my connection with our
square. Duty called me from England for a spell of some years, and on
my return to the familiar scenes, I found it impossible to take up the
old threads of association, and to recognise, in the grown youths and
maidens who played lawn-tennis in the well-known garden, the little
ones whom I had seen playing under care of nurses and governesses on
those grass plots in my student days. I was forced to form a new circle
of acquaintances-by-sight, among another generation of children, and I
looked in vain for any among the gay tennis-players to remind me of the
sombre-clad sisters, in whose childish joys and sorrows I had learned
to feel so deep an interest.
Not long after my return to England, I was present, one summer night,
at a large party given by a neighbour of ours in the square. It was
a sultry evening, and the gas-lighted drawing-room, stripped of its
furniture, and given up to such indefatigable dancers as will not be
daunted by a thermometer standing at fabulous figures in the shade,
had no attraction for a lazy non-dancer like myself. I therefore
strayed, shortly after midnight, into the cooler atmosphere of an
anteroom, where card-tables were set out, and a few of the quieter
sort were enjoying a rubber within hearing-distance of the music. One
of the players rose from his seat as I entered, and moved towards the
folding-doors which opened into the drawing-room. There he stood for a
moment or two watching the waltz, and then beckoned to some one among
the dancers. From my quiet corner I saw a young couple approach in
answer to his sign, and a happy, ringing voice entreated for one more
dance.
‘I have promised it to Gerald, father, and he will be so disappointed
if I go before he has had it. Just this one more, and I will come.’
‘Very well, dear,’ he replied. ‘But then we must really be going.
Remember, you will have a tiring day to-morrow.’
‘It is because of to-morrow that I don’t want to disappoint Gerald
to-night,’ she answered, smiling to her partner. ‘He won’t care to
waltz with me after to-morrow.’ Gerald did not look as if he indorsed
this statement, which was made with a pretty affectation of despair;
and the couple were just turning to the dancing-room again, when the
gentleman she had addressed as ‘father’ asked: ‘Where is Gertrude?’
‘She was with Mrs Gaythorn a few minutes ago,’ replied the girl.—‘Oh!
here she comes.’
I glanced at the approaching figure, and instantly recognised my
favourite of days gone by. She had fully realised all my expectations
of her. Tall, graceful, beautifully moulded in face and figure,
there was all the old pensiveness and the sweet half-melancholy of
expression; and as she met my gaze, standing in her white cloud-like
draperies in the shadow of the doorway, I could see at once that
she was utterly unconscious of her loveliness, and unspoiled by the
admiration it must win. I could not, even at the risk of appearing
impertinent, resist the pleasure of studying her beauty and noting the
grace of every movement and gesture. Fortunately, the corner in which
I had ensconced myself was shaded, and my admiration passed unnoticed
and unrebuked. I watched her as she courteously but decidedly declined
the invitations of two or three eager candidates for the dance; and
when at last the waltz was over, and the pretty girl I had before
noticed came back, leaning on her partner’s arm, and showing me in her
_riante_ features a dim resemblance to the merry little Edith of my
earlier recollections, I followed the party down-stairs. Then having
seen them don their wraps and start two and two, Gertrude with her
father, and Edith with the happy Gerald, to walk round to their own
side of the square, I took my hat and strolled home, my mind full of
the sad memories of the old days when I used to watch the little trio
of serious faces from my study window.
The following morning broke with a cloudless sky and brilliant
sunshine, even in our gloomy old-fashioned quarter of London. I was
taking a half-holiday that day; but feeling disinclined for exertion,
I contented myself with a volume of Thackeray and a seat under the
plane-trees in the square garden, where the sparrows were twittering
with a specious make-believe of being in the country. My book lay
neglected at my side, and my thoughts were wandering again to the past,
prompted by my _rencontre_ of the previous night. Half curiously, I
turned from the contemplation of the groups of youngsters playing on
the grass, to look up at the windows of the house in which my little
friends had lived. A carriage and a cab stood at the door; and even
as I looked, the door itself was opened, and a procession of trunks
and bonnet-boxes was carried down the steps and deposited on the roof
of the cab. Among the luggage was an unquestionably male portmanteau;
and it needed not the white rosettes worn by the servants to suggest
to me the meaning of these preparations. The despairing glance and
mock-mournful suggestion that ‘Gerald will not care to waltz with
me after to-morrow,’ recurred to my mind, confirming my conclusion.
Five minutes more and the doorway was filled with a group of host and
guests bidding farewell to the happy couple. Edith—the brightness of
her eyes slightly dimmed as she clung to her father and sister in a
last embrace—forced a glad smile through her tears as she turned to
her young husband. Together they passed down the steps and entered the
waiting carriage. A parting cheer, a shower of rice and satin shoes, a
rattle of wheels upon the stony street, and in a moment the carriage
turned the corner of the square and disappeared from sight. Gertrude,
who with her father and one or two of their guests had remained at the
foot of the steps, to see the last glimpse of her sister, now turned
to re-enter the house. But before they passed out of earshot, I heard
one of the elder gentlemen exclaim, in a tone of banter: ‘Well, Miss
Gertrude, I suppose it won’t be long before we see some fine young
fellow coming to carry you off; and then, what will your poor father do
without his housekeeper?’
Gertrude turned at the words, and met her father’s eyes with an
expression of true, lasting, unselfish affection, which disposed of
any need for answering this question. There was no misconstruing its
meaning, no room to doubt its changeless truth. Her father took the
hand she had slipped into his own, and pressed it closely, without
speaking a word. So they moved slowly up the steps and into the house.
The door closed; and the picture of sweet unspoken confidence passed
from my eyes, to be engraved indelibly on my memory, the closing scene
of the simple drama of everyday life, of which I had so long been an
unknown and unsuspected witness.