We must return to Texford. Julia had kept to her resolution of not
going up to London.
She had soon a reason for remaining in the country, which even her
father could not oppose. Algernon had joined a volunteer regiment
formed in the country, and the exposure to which he was subjected
rapidly tended to increase the pulmonary complaint from which he had
long suffered. He was soon confined almost entirely to the house,
except when the weather allowed him to be drawn about the grounds in a
wheel-chair.
Julia watched over him with the most affectionate solicitude, and all
that medical skill could accomplish was done to arrest the fatal malady,
but in vain.
Lady Castleton came back from London to assist in watching over him, and
she was soon, with a breaking heart, compelled to write to Sir Ralph to
tell him that she feared that their eldest son's days were rapidly
drawing to a close. He thought that she was over anxious, and he,
absorbed as usual in politics, delayed his journey.
Algernon still retained the pride of the family which had always
animated him, and though aware of the fatal character of the complaint
from which he was suffering, he was as anxious as ever to prevent his
sister from contracting a marriage with a man of unknown birth like
Headland.
He had desired to be wheeled out to a sunny spot where he could enjoy a
view of the lake. Having sent the servant away to the other side to
gather water-lilies, he broached the subject to Julia. He could not,
however, have chosen a more inappropriate locality, for it was here that
Headland had first declared his love, and she had accepted him.
"My dear sister," he began, "I may or may not recover from this
complaint, but, at all events, it would be a great satisfaction to me to
know that you had given up all ideas of marrying Captain Headland. It
was a most unfortunate thought of Harry's to invite him here. Though he
may be a very fine fellow, our brother ought to have known that a man of
his birth could not be welcome at Texford, and I must say it would have
been wiser in you had you inquired who he was before you allowed your
fancy to be captivated by him."
A fit of coughing prevented Algernon from continuing his remarks.
Julia felt deeply grieved. She was afraid of irritating him by replying
as her feelings prompted.
"My dear brother," she answered, "we will not discuss the subject, but
believe me I will endeavour to seek for guidance, and trust that I shall
be led aright in the matter."
"But what you think right our father and I may consider very wrong,"
exclaimed Algernon, petulantly. "You ought to promise to discard the
fellow at once when you know how we object to your marrying him."
"I have promised our father not to marry Captain Headland without his
sanction, and let me entreat you to rest satisfied with that," answered
Julia, looking out anxiously for the return of the servant.
"But I want to be satisfied that you never will marry him," exclaimed
Algernon. "It is still more important, as Harry has taken it into his
head to fall in love with this pretty little protege of our cousins, and
he is such a determined fellow that I should not be surprised if he
marries her notwithstanding all opposition."
"I am not surprised that Harry should have fallen in love with her, for
she is a lovely girl, and every time I have seen her I have admired her
more and more: her love and devotion to our poor cousins is most
admirable; but still even she would not consent to marry Harry without
our father's permission, and would not, I think, act in direct
opposition to our parents."
"Whether he does or does not, that will not alter your position with
regard to Headland," said Algernon, returning to the subject from which
Julia had hoped to escape. "Harry would raise his wife to his own
station; you will be lowered by marrying a man like Headland."
"That is impossible," exclaimed Julia, indignantly. "I should be raised
to the station which he has gained by his courage and gallantry; no lady
in the land could be degraded by marrying him. I did not wish to say
this to you, Algernon," she added, seeing the flush of anger rising on
his pale brow.
"I see how it will be," he said, after he had recovered from another fit
of coughing, "you will prove as obstinate as Harry."
Fortunately the servant returned with the flowers, which the poor
invalid let drop by his side after looking at them for a moment. Julia
signed to the man to wheel her brother home, for she felt very anxious
at the change she had observed since they left the house. He with
difficulty reached his room, but never again left it.
Julia, who, since Harry went away, had frequently ridden over to
Downside, wrote to Miss Jane, sending the carriage, and asking her to
come to Texford. Notwithstanding the neglect with which she and her
sister had been treated, sympathising with Julia and Lady Castleton in
their grief, she immediately complied. She did her utmost to comfort
her cousins, while she faithfully delivered the Gospel message to poor
Algernon, wondering that he should be so utterly ignorant of its tenor
and object.
Lady Castleton again wrote to Sir Ralph, but when he arrived Algernon
had ceased to breathe.
Miss Jane had returned to Downside in the morning. Brave as she was,
she did not wish to encounter Sir Ralph. Sir Ralph exhibited no
overwhelming grief at the loss of his eldest son; his thoughts seemed
immediately to centre on Harry.
"We must write and have him home at once," he said to Lady Castleton.
"I will get him into parliament, and with his nautical experience, he
will be able to make a figure on all naval matters, and if he follows my
advice, he must inevitably become a leading man. I hope he will have
got over his foolish fancy for that pretty girl at our cousins. He must
be kept out of her way, and we must take care that he does not come to
Texford. You and Julia must do your best to amuse him in London as soon
as he arrives. I have written to Fancourt, and he will arrange about
his coming home at the Admiralty."
Julia was still able to remain at Texford after Algernon's death, as
neither she nor her mother could mix in London society. Feeling sure
that Harry would prove restive, and not willingly enter into his
father's plans, she did not look forward to his arrival with the
satisfaction she might otherwise have done. In her heart she could not
wish him to give up May, whom she herself already loved with the
affection of a sister.
She had one day ridden over to Downside soon after Algernon's death,
when, the post arriving, a letter was put into Miss Jane's hands. As
she read it, the expression of her countenance changed; it first
appeared as if she was about to give way to tears, and then assumed a
firm and determined look.
"I must not conceal the contents of this letter from you, Julia, nor can
I from Mary and May."
May, turning pale, gazed anxiously at Miss Jane; the thought that the
letter had reference to Harry crossed her mind. She gasped for breath.
"What is it, Jane?" asked Miss Mary, in a calm tone. "From whom is the
letter?"
"From Mr Shallard; he writes that the M-- bank, in which most of our
property is invested, has failed, and he fears that but a small portion
will be saved."
"Oh, how terrible," exclaimed Julia.
"Not terrible, dear Julia," said Miss Mary, "though trying. I grieve
for others more than for ourselves," and she turned her sightless orbs
towards May. "It will be very sad to have to give up Downside; and oh,
dear May, it is sadder still to think that you will be so ill provided
for."
"Oh, do not grieve for me, dear ladies," exclaimed May, going to Miss
Mary's side, and taking her hand. "Perhaps you will not be compelled to
leave Downside. I will work for you with heart and hand; if you have to
dismiss your servants, I will serve you instead. I can attend to the
house, and to the garden too; surely you will then be able to live on
here."
"My dear, dear child," exclaimed Miss Mary, "I am sure you will do all
you can, but you would soon overtax your strength. We must take time to
consider what may be necessary to do."
"I am sure our dear May will not fail us. As you say, Mary, we must
take time to consider, and, at all events, we must be resigned to God's
will," said Miss Jane.
"Oh, how I wish that I could help you," exclaimed Julia. "Surely papa
will be ready to assist you, his nearest relatives, and I am confident
that mamma will gladly do so."
"We feel grateful to you, Julia, for your sympathy, but we must not
expect assistance from others. Mr Shallard says that our property is
not entirely gone. As I am thankful to say that we have lived within
our income, we may have enough to support us in our old age, without
relying on charity," answered Miss Jane, with a slight tinge of pride in
the tone of her voice.
Julia was at length compelled to return to Texford. She was struck with
the appearance of cheerfulness which May maintained, while she did
everything she could think of to cheer the spirits of her friends.
On her return home, Julia told her mother what had occurred.
"I fear that Sir Ralph will not even offer to assist our cousins;
however I will write to him, and suggest the propriety of his doing so."
Her mother's answer did not give Julia any strong hopes that she would
be successful.
Lady Castleton herself drove over to condole with her cousins. They
received her in their usual manner, and not till she introduced the
subject did they speak of their loss.
"We are much obliged to you for your sympathy," answered Miss Jane, "but
we do not contemplate leaving Downside for the present. We have
dismissed our servants with the exception of our faithful attendant,
Susan, who insists on remaining, and though we may be occasionally
pinched, it is only what our poorer neighbours constantly are, and we
should be ashamed not to bear it as well as they do."
"My good cousins, you are indeed wonderful women," exclaimed Lady
Castleton. "I suspect that had such a misfortune happened to us, we
should have broken down completely."
"You see we know in whom we trust, and He supports us," remarked Miss
Mary. "You would find the same support were you to seek it."
Lady Castleton did not quite comprehend her cousin's remark. Her heart,
however, was softened by her son's loss, and feeling compassion for her
cousins, she frequently drove over to see them, and sent presents of
fruit and vegetables, believing that she was thus affording them all the
assistance in her power. It did not occur to her to limit her own
expenses, and thus have the power of offering them more substantial aid.
Julia, however, was anxious to do so, but her own allowance was small,
and she found that she had saved so little that she was ashamed to offer
it, especially as she doubted whether her cousins would accept the gift.
May carried out her intentions as far as she could. Miss Jane would not
let her work as hard as she wished, and she herself and Susan attended
to the household affairs, while they left May to take charge of Miss
Mary.
May, with the numerous duties which now employed her time, was unable to
get down as frequently as formerly to see Dame Halliburt and Adam,
though the dame never passed Downside on her rounds without leaving a
dish of fish for the ladies' acceptance.
When May, at Miss Jane's desire, expostulated with her, the good woman
replied--
"Tell them it's they do Adam and me a favour, and it's no loss to us,
for Adam generally catches more fish than we can sell, and if we were to
send them a dish every day for the next hundred years, we could never
repay them what we owe; so just beg them, with our respects, never to
say another word about the matter."
As may be supposed, this constant supply was really very welcome, and
contributed to keep down Miss Jane's weekly bills. Thus, although their
means were greatly straitened, the ladies still hoped to pay the rent of
their pretty cottage.
Their lives were spent in a daily routine of duty. Miss Jane visited
the poor as she had been accustomed to do, although she had much less to
give them than formerly, and May took her daily walks with Miss Mary,
and read to her as much as usual, finding time notwithstanding for her
other duties.
As soon as Sir Ralph returned to Texford, Lady Castleton and Julia spoke
to him about their cousins' loss of property, and expressed their wish
that some means could be taken to increase their now very limited
income. Sir Ralph listened to them with more attention than they had
expected.
"You are both very kind and charitable ladies," he remarked, in a tone
they did not like. "I will ride over and call on our cousins."
"Let me accompany you, papa," said Julia. "I can take a stroll with May
in the garden, while you are discussing business matters with the elder
ladies."
"I do not wish you to be on intimate terms with that young person,"
answered Sir Ralph; "and as my visit will be on business, I must beg to
be favoured with your company when I ride elsewhere."
Julia felt grieved at her father's reply.
Sir Ralph rode to Downside. Miss Jane received him with her usual frank
and kind manner. She hoped that Algernon's death might have softened
his heart. He sat and talked for some time, addressing Jane and Miss
Mary, but, except the formal bow which he gave on entering, not noticing
May, though he now and then turned an involuntary glance at her--a
tribute to her beauty.