No summer's day could be more bright and lovely than that on which the
fete at Texford took place. Visitors of high and low degree--for it was
to be a meeting of all classes--were seen at an early hour moving along
the roads from every direction towards the park, some in carriages, some
on horseback, others in light tilted waggons and carts, and no
inconsiderable number on foot.
The distance between Hurlston and Texford was upwards of two miles by
the road, but the inhabitants of the village could enjoy a pleasanter
and much shorter path across the fields.
The dame arrived at Downside in good time to escort May. She to the
last felt some hesitation, however, about going, as it was evident that
Miss Jane was doubtful as to the propriety of the proceeding, but Miss
Mary, with whom she had discussed the subject over and over again,
always concluded with the remark that though it might be dangerous to
trust a gay and a giddy girl in such a scene, their steady and sensible
May was not likely in consequence to gain a taste for the frivolities of
the world, and that, as she had never seen anything of the sort, she
could not fail to be amused, while, from her unremitting attention to
them, she certainly deserved a holiday. May, not to appear out of place
while in company with the good fishwife, had dressed herself in a
costume as much as possible like that which a well-to-do fisherman's
daughter would wear; and although she had not intended to produce any
such effect, her neat straw hat and cloak set her beauty off to even
greater advantage.
Adam, who had with the dame's earnest persuasion consented to accompany
her, waited outside. Jacob, strange to say, had declined accompanying
his mother and May. He had work to attend to on board the _Nancy_, and
had no fancy for jigging about with the girls of the village, while May
did not intend to join in the revels. Jacob, indeed, felt that he
should be out of place. He knew that it would not do to be seen
standing near his mother and May all the time, and he should take no
pleasure in wandering about away from them.
May was perhaps relieved when she heard that Jacob was not coming.
Although she regarded him with esteem for his honesty and bravery, and
his devotion to her, she felt instinctively that the less he was in her
society, the better for him.
"You will come home early," said Miss Jane, as she wished her good-bye;
"and you will keep to your resolution in not mixing with the throng more
than you can help."
"You must tell me all that takes place when you come back," said Miss
Mary. "If you see Miss Castleton and her brothers, and you will
scarcely fail to do so, I shall like to hear all about them. Julia must
have grown into a tall young lady, and Harry and Algernon into
full-grown men. I shall be interested in hearing what Harry is like
especially; he was a great favourite of mine when a boy. He has now
become a fine gallant officer. I wish I could let him know how much I
should like to see him; for although Sir Ralph and Lady Castleton have
been so inattentive, we should not, therefore, feel the less regard for
their son, and I am sure he would not hesitate to come, if he remembered
that we are here."
This was said in the presence of the dame.
"If I have a chance of speaking to Mr Harry, I will tell him," she
said. "I will remind him how he saved our Maiden May from the bull, and
maybe he will remember Adam and me, and come up and speak to us, as he
won't have forgotten his trip in the _Nancy_, though he is not likely to
wish to take another."
"Tell him, then, that we hope to see him," said Miss Mary.
The dame promised to deliver the message.
When the dame and her companions arrived at Texford, she remarked that
the appearance of the place was totally changed. There stood the house,
certainly, as usual, but the park looked like a huge fair. There were
numerous booths and tents in all directions, and swings and roundabouts,
targets for archery, courses marked off for running races, arrangements
for the old game of quintain, for Sir Ralph was somewhat of an
antiquarian, and wished to re-introduce it. There were three bands of
music, the best stationed near the house, and the others at, a
sufficient distance not to interfere with it. A band of Morris dancers
had been arranged by Sir Ralph's desire, and there were a couple of
jugglers who went about performing feats which greatly astonished the
rustics. As May and her friends passed along the lake, they saw a
number of boats which had been brought there from Morbury, that races
and other aquatic sports might be indulged in. Indeed, everything had
been prepared which could possibly be thought of for affording amusement
to the assemblage.
The sports on the lake were to be, as the dame suspected, under the
charge of Mr Harry and his naval friend, Captain Headland, who were,
however, both too energetic not to take a part in everything that was
going forward.
The guests of higher degree were already assembling on the broad steps
or the gravel walk in front of the house, when the dame and May found
themselves among the crowd of tenants and others on the lawn, who felt
that it would be disrespectful until invited to approach the
neighbourhood of their betters.
Mr Groocock was going about attending to the multifarious duties
imposed on him. Though he was as active as ever, his task appeared to
give him more trouble than pleasure.
"Glad to see you, dame, and Miss May and friend Adam," he said, as he
once passed close to where they were standing.
"Thank you, Mr Groocock. It's a beautiful sight," observed the dame,
in reply.
"Well enough," answered the steward, "but the work it imposes is more
suited to young limbs, than to mine," and he passed on to give some
directions.
The signal for the sports to begin was now given, and a large portion of
the people collected were soon engaged according to their tastes--some
dancing, some running races, others amusing themselves with the various
games, and others witnessing the feats of the jugglers, or looking on at
the pantomimic performances of the Morris dancers.
It required some exertion, however, of the directors of the fete to set
the guests in motion, or to keep them entertained in the variety of ways
which had been prepared for their amusement. Among the most active who
were thus engaged were Harry Castleton and his friend Headland, it being
more in accordance with Algernon's taste to devote himself to the guests
of higher degree.
"I must go and get yonder crowd of rustics under weigh again," Harry
observed to Headland, on seeing a number of people standing idle near
one of the spots devoted to dancing.
Dame Halliburt and her companions had taken up a position not far off
it, on a grassy mound under the shade of a tree, where, a little removed
from the crowd, they could observe all that was going forward. Harry
was passing by when he saw the dame, who had recognised him, following
him with her eyes. It is possible that at the same time he may have
caught sight of May's sweet countenance; at all events he stopped, and
going up to the dame, said--
"I think I ought to know you."
"Yes, please you, Mr Harry; and maybe you remember the trip you took in
the _Nancy_ with my good man here."
"Ah, how fares it with you, my friend?" he said, shaking Adam by the
hand. "I remember the trip right well."
"You have pretty nigh grown out of remembrance, but I am right glad to
see you, Mr Harry," answered Adam.
"Maybe you recollect, sir, saving our Maiden May from a wild bull?" said
the dame, looking towards May, who blushed as she spoke, for Harry
glanced up, and her eyes met his fixed on her lovely countenance with an
unmistakable expression of admiration.
"I was very glad, I know, to have been of service, though I suspect I
ran very little personal risk in performing the exploit," said Harry,
still looking at May, and wondering at the delicate beauty and refined
manner of the fisherman's daughter.
"I suspect that I was too young to have thanked you for the service you
rendered me as I ought to have done," she said, "for my mother has since
told me that had it not been for you I might have been killed by the
fierce creature."
"All I did I remember was to throw your red cloak at the animal, and
that required no great exertion of courage or strength," answered Harry,
smiling. "I then ran off with you, and lifted you over the gate. I can
only feel thankful, now you bring the circumstance to my recollection,
that I came up at the moment to save you," answered Harry. "But are you
not going to join the dancers?"
"I promised some kind friends with whom I live to avoid mixing with the
crowd," answered May; "and they would especially object to my dancing.
Indeed, I confess that I have never danced in my life."
"Very strange," said Harry. "Who are they, may I ask?"
"The Miss Pembertons," answered May. "You surely, Mr Castleton,
remember them, and they desired mother and me to express their great
wish to see you again."
"Oh, yes, my good cousins, of course I do. Pray tell them that I will
call upon them to-morrow, or the first day I possibly can. I am not
surprised that they do not quite approve of dancing; but have they
actually prohibited you? We shall form some fresh sets shortly nearer
the house, which my sister and other ladies will join, and can you not
be tempted to come too? You would have no difficulty, as the figures
are not intricate, and you need only move through them as you see others
do."
May smiled, but shook her head.
"No," she said, "the Miss Pembertons made no exception with respect to
those with whom I might dance, and I fear that they would object as much
to my dancing in a quiet set as they would to my joining those who are
rushing up and down so energetically out there;" and May looked towards
the spot where a country dance of rustics was going on, the swains
dragging their partners along at no small risk of pulling off their
arms, though sometimes the case was reversed, and the damsels were
engaged in hauling on their more awkward partners. "I must say that I
have no reason to regret not being among them," she added, with her eyes
full of laughter as she watched the vehement movements of the dancers to
which she had called Harry's attention.
"Oh, but we shall move much more quietly in the dance I ask you to join,
and I am sure it will suit your taste better," he said.
Still May declined firmly, though gently. Harry was convinced that she
was not to be persuaded. Had he consulted his own inclination he would
have stopped and talked to her as long as she remained, but he
remembered that he had numerous duties to perform.
"Are you likely to be walking about the grounds, or do you intend to
remain where you are?" he asked.
May turned to the dame for the answer.
"While this sort of fun goes on I do not think we can be better off than
where we are," answered the dame.
"I will see you again," said Harry, who admired the manner in which she
obeyed her friends' wishes, and hesitated to repeat his request.
"Perhaps my sister would like to send a message to our cousins. Pray
tell them that she regards them with the same feeling she has always
done."
"I will gladly carry the message to the Miss Pembertons," said May.
"Thank you," said Harry. "I will try to get my sister to give it you
herself," and he tore himself away.
"What a lovely creature that little girl with the blue eyes has grown
into," Harry thought to himself. "I remember she was a sweet child, and
now she is as near perfection as I can fancy any human being. I wonder
if I should think so if I saw her dressed as a young lady in a ball
room. Yes, I am sure of it--any dress would become her. I must get
Julia to see her. And yet I do not know, she might possibly say
something I should not like. Maiden May, what a pretty name. She
spoke, too, of living with our cousins. Can she be their servant? Yet
she does not speak or look like one. Her manner and tone of voice is
perfectly that of a young lady. But I must not think too much about
her, or I shall forget what I have to do."
Harry hurried on, trying to collect his thoughts, which the vision of
Maiden May had scattered.
He had now to set a troop of boys running races, now to arrange another
rustic dance.
It was some time before he made his way back to the house, where his
friend Headland had got before him, and was now engaged with Julia and
other friends in arranging the sets to be formed by ladies and
gentlemen, and in which some of the daughters of the upper class of
tenantry and shopkeepers would take their place.
Harry excused himself from leading out a partner on the plea that he had
so many duties to perform, and before long he again found himself
approaching the spot where Adam and his wife were standing. As he did
so he saw a man come up to them and make a low bow, beginning to speak
to May, at which she turned away with a look of annoyance, not unmingled
with scorn, while she put her arm into that of the dame.
So Harry interpreted the expression of her countenance. Had it not been
for this Harry would have hesitated to approach.
"I am sure, Miss, I do not wish to offend you, and I have a thousand
pardons to ask," he heard the stranger say. "It's all a mistake to
suppose that I intended to be otherwise than polite and respectful."
The dame, as she drew May nearer to her, looked up at her husband, and
was going to speak. Adam made a step or two towards the young man, and
looking him firmly in the face, said--
"This is not the place where I can treat you as you deserve; but there
is only one thing I have to say, that is to take yourself off, and don't
come near our Maiden May if you wish to keep a whole skin on your back."
Young Miles, for it was he, knowing that he was perfectly safe from
personal violence in Texford Park, putting on a swaggering look, was
about to reply, when he saw Harry coming up, and observed an angry frown
on the young officer's brow.
"I'll make you pay dearly for this, old fellow," he muttered between his
teeth, and turning round, slunk away towards the nearest group of
persons, among whom he soon concealed himself.
"Who was that young man?" asked Harry, glancing in the direction Miles
had gone. "He seems to have caused you some annoyance," and he looked
at May, who however did not reply.
The dame spoke for her.
"He is an audacious young fellow, who came to Hurlston a few days ago,
and has had the impertinence to speak to our Maiden May when she was
alone out walking; and if it had not been for our Jacob, I don't know
what she would have done. He is the son of the miller at Hurlston, and
we have reason to think he would speak to her again if he had the
chance, so she has had to keep inside the grounds at Downside ever
since, till she came out with my husband and me, and we little thought
he would have been here; but it only shows what he is capable of."
"What, did that fellow dare to speak to you against your wish?"
exclaimed Harry, indignantly. "I must take measures to prevent his
doing so again. If the miller cannot keep him in order, I must beg Mr
Groocock to desire him to send the fellow away again. You say he only
came here lately," he added, turning to the dame.
"Yes, Mr Harry, he only came to Hurlston lately, though he was born and
bred in the place. He was sent away after his mother's death some four
years ago, and has not been back that I know of till lately."
"Depend on it he shall not cause you any further annoyance," said Harry,
again addressing May, "and pray do not let the matter trouble you
further. I scarcely dare ask whether you are still resolved not to
dance?"
"Quite as resolved as at first," answered May. "Even if I greatly
wished to do so, I could not break my promise to my kind friends."
Harry took notice of her reply.
"Surely she would not speak of them as her kind friends if she was in
their service," he thought, and he longed to ascertain the position she
held in his cousins' family. Her costume gave him no clue, but her
manner, her tone of voice, and her mode of expressing herself, showed
him that she was a person of education. He was greatly puzzled. He
longed to ask her more questions, but was afraid of appearing
inquisitive.
"When the people begin to get tired of their present amusements, we are
going to have some boat racing on the lake, and as soon as it grows dark
there are to be fireworks, which will have a pretty effect on the water.
I hope that you will remain to see them," he said.
"I regret that we cannot do so," answered May. "Neither of the ladies
are well, and I never like to be absent, especially from Miss Mary, long
at a time, as Miss Jane having a cold there is no one else to read to
her."
"Are you fond of reading?" asked Harry.
"Yes. Indeed, it is the chief source of amusement I have," answered
May. "I have read, I believe, every book the Miss Pembertons possess,
and with their usual kindness they have procured a good many fresh ones
for me. Though Miss Jane is not an admirer of the French, she allowed
me to study their language, so that I can read it with ease, though I
fear that I should find myself greatly at a loss were I to attempt to
speak it."
"When you have the opportunity of hearing it spoken, I am sure you will
soon get over that difficulty," observed Harry.
"I hope to do so if I am ever able to mix with French people, or to
obtain a French master."
"I am considered to speak it well, and perhaps you will allow me when I
call to give you a lesson," said Harry, now thoroughly convinced that,
at all events, the fisherman's daughter was not in a menial capacity in
his cousins' family.
He felt relieved. There would be nothing derogatory in his attempting
to become better acquainted with the fair young creature with whom he
had been so greatly struck. Though very unwilling at present to leave
her, he was conscious that he ought not, with so many eyes likely to be
turned in that direction, to remain longer in her society.
"I must attend to my duties," he said, nodding to Adam and his wife.
Unconsciously he lifted his hat to May with the same respect he would
have shown to any high born young lady in the land.
May watched him till he was lost in the crowd. If he by chance
approached young Miles, that worthy kept out of his way. Harry had
undertaken to start the rowers on the lake with the assistance of
Headland. It was remarked that he made two or three mistakes, which
were, however, remedied by his friend. His eyes continually wandered
among the crowd on the banks as if in search of some one. Headland
rallied him when they were alone for a few minutes.
"Why, Harry, you look quite bewildered! Has anything happened?" he
asked.
"Yes, indeed," laughed Harry, who had no secrets with Headland. "I have
made a discovery. I have seen such a lovely girl. I wanted to point
her out to you and Julia, but I could not find you. I went a second
time myself to be satisfied that I had not gazed at her with
rose-coloured spectacles, but I found that she was even superior, if
possible, to what she at first appeared. I am romantic, you know, but I
tell you she is perfectly charming."
"Who is she?" asked Headland.
"Only a fisherman's daughter, but she is living with my cousins, and,
from what I understand, has been educated by them, though they certainly
could not have given her the graceful manner and sweet tone of voice so
remarkable in her had she not possessed them naturally."
"My dear Harry, charming as she may be do not lose your heart to her, or
attempt to win hers in return, if she is of the parentage you tell me,
for although I have no right to lay any stress on the point of birth,
yet I am very sure that others will, and you may be entangled in a way
which will produce much suffering, and may be painful to her as well as
to you."
"I have been thinking of that," answered Harry, "and if she were only an
ordinarily pretty girl I would at once put up my helm and run away from
her; but she is so perfectly lovely that I feel capable of overcoming
every possible objection, could I win her."
"Perhaps when you see her again you may discover some slight defects
which were not discernible at your first interview," observed Headland,
smiling. "Did I not think this very possible I would advise you not to
call at your cousins as you propose. Otherwise I should certainly say,
keep out of her way. I know you too well not to feel sure that you
would not wish to win her love without feeling sure that you could make
her your wife."
"I should be a wretch indeed if I wished otherwise," said Harry. "If
you saw her perhaps you would agree with me that she is the essence of
all that is pure and modest, and I could not approach her with any other
thought in my mind."
"For that very reason, Harry, I would advise you simply to pay your
cousins the visit you propose, and then keep away from Downside till you
are about to join another ship."
"At all events I will go there to-morrow," said Harry. "If I find that
I am mistaken there can be no harm done; but I am not blind, and I am
too well accustomed to ladies' society not to be able to distinguish
between what is refined, and graceful, and lady-like, and their
opposites," exclaimed Harry.
"Well, be cautious what you say, and how you look and act," answered
Headland, knowing Harry's impetuous character.
The friends again parted. The aquatic sports were concluded, the
fireworks over, and the fete in the park came to an end.
The more select guests, however, had been invited to remain for a dance
in the house.
Some of the young ladies thought Lieutenant Castleton was much less
entertaining than they had expected to find him, for though he danced
indefatigably, he had very little to say for himself.
Headland made himself as agreeable as usual, though it was remarked that
his eye brightened and a smile lighted up his countenance whenever Julia
Castleton passed near him, or he had an opportunity of speaking to her.