PORTENTS.
It was somewhat hard on little Bess Hall that her aunt Judith was
determined she should grow up as fearless as she herself was, and had,
indeed, charged herself with this branch of her niece's education. The
child, it is true, was not more timid than others of her age, and could
face with fair equanimity beggars, school-boys, cows, geese, and other
dangerous creatures; while as for ghosts, goblins, and similar nocturnal
terrors, Judith had settled all that side of the question by informing
the maids of both families, in the plainest language, that any one of
them found even mentioning such things to this niece of hers would be
instantaneously and without ceremony shot forth from the house. But
beyond and above all this Judith expected too much, and would flout and
scold when Bess Hall declined to perform the impossible, and would
threaten to go away and get a small boy out of the school to become her
playmate in future. At this moment, for example, she was standing at the
foot of the staircase in Dr. Hall's house. She had come round to carry
off her niece for the day, and she had dressed her up like a small
queen, and now she would have her descend the wide and handsome
staircase in noble state and unaided. Bess Hall, who had no ambition to
play the part of a queen, but had, on the other hand, a wholesome and
instinctive fear of breaking her neck, now stood on the landing,
helpless amid all her finery, and looking down at her aunt in a
beseeching sort of way.
"I shall tumble down, Aunt Judith; I know I shall," said she, and budge
she would not.
"Tumble down, little stupid! Why, what should make you tumble down? Are
you going forever to be a baby? Any baby can crawl down-stairs by
holding on to the balusters."
"I know I shall tumble down, Aunt Judith--and then I shall cry."
But even this threat was of no avail.
"Come along, little goose; 'tis easy enough when you try it. Do you
think I have dressed you up as a grown woman to see you crawl like a
baby? A fine woman--you! Come along, I say!"
But this lesson, happily for the half-frightened pupil, was abruptly
brought to an end. Judith was standing with her face to the staircase,
and her back to the central hall and the outer door, so that she could
not see any one entering, and indeed the first intimation she had of the
approach of a stranger was a voice behind her:
"Be gentle with the child, Judith."
And then she knew that she was caught. For some little time back she had
very cleverly managed to evade the good parson, or at least to secure
the safety of company when she saw him approach. But this time she was
as helpless as little Bess herself. Dr. Hall was away from home;
Judith's sister was ill of a cold, and in bed; there was no one in the
house, besides the servants, but herself. The only thing she could do
was to go up to the landing, swing her niece on to her shoulder, and say
to Master Walter that they were going round to New Place, for that Susan
was ill in bed, and unable to look after the child.
"I will walk with you as far," said he, calmly, and, indeed, as if it
were rather an act of condescension on his part.
She set out with no good-will. She expected that he would argue, and she
had an uncomfortable suspicion that he would get the best of it. And if
she had once or twice rather wildly thought that in order to get rid of
all perplexities, and in order to please all the people around her, she
would in the end allow Master Walter Blaise to win her over into
becoming his wife, still she felt that the time was not yet. She would
have the choosing of it for herself. And why should she be driven into a
corner prematurely? Why be made to confess that her brain could not save
her? She wanted peace. She wanted to play with Bess Hall, or to walk
through the meadows with Willie Hart, teaching him what to think of
England. She did not want to be confronted with clear, cold eyes, and
arguments like steel, and the awful prospect of having to labor in the
vineyard through the long, long, gray, and distant years. She grew to
think it was scarcely fair of her father to hand her over. He at least
might have been on her side. But he seemed as willing as any that she
should go away among the saints, and forsake forever (as it seemed to
her) the beautiful, free and clear-colored life that she had been well
content to live.
And then, all of a sudden, it flashed upon her mind that she was a
player's daughter, and a kind of flame went to her face.
"I pray you, good Master Blaise," said she, with a lofty and gracious
courtesy, "bethink you, ere you give us your company through the town."
"What mean you, Judith?" said he, in some amazement.
"Do you forget, then, that I am the daughter of a player?--and this his
granddaughter?" said she.
"In truth, I know not what you mean, Judith," he exclaimed.
"Why," said she, "may not the good people who are the saints of the
earth wonder to see you consort with such as we?--or, rather, with one
such as I, who am impenitent, and take no shame that my father is a
player--nay, God's my witness, I am wicked enough to be proud of it, and
I care not who knows it, and they that hope to have me change my
thoughts on that matter will have no lack of waiting."
Well, it was a fair challenge; and he answered it frankly, and with such
a reasonableness and charity of speech that, despite herself, she could
not but admit that she was pleased, and also, perhaps, just a little bit
grateful. He would not set up to be any man's judge, he said; nor was he
a Pharisee; the Master that he served was no respecter of persons--He
had welcomed all when He was upon the earth--and it behooved His
followers to beware of pride and the setting up of distinctions; if
there was any house in the town that earned the respect of all, it was
New Place; he could only speak of her father as he found him, here, in
his own family, among his own friends--and what that was all men knew;
and so forth. He spoke well, and modestly; and Judith was so pleased to
hear what he said of her father that she forgot to ask whether all this
was quite consistent with his usual denunciations of plays and players;
his dire prophecy as to the fate of those who were not of the saints,
and his sharp dividing and shutting off of these. He did not persecute
her at all. There was no argument. What he was mostly anxious about was
that she should not tire herself with carrying Bess Hall on her
shoulder.
"Nay, good sir," said she, quite pleasantly, "'tis a trick my father
taught me; and the child is but a feather-weight."
He looked at her--so handsome and buxom, and full of life and courage;
her eyes lustrous, the rose-leaf tint of health in her cheeks; and
always at the corner of her mouth what could only be called a
disposition to smile, as if the world suited her fairly well, and that
she was ready at any moment to laugh her thanks.
"There be many, Judith," said he, "who might envy you your health and
good spirits."
"When I lose them, 'twill be time enough to lament them," said she,
complacently.
"The hour that is passing seems all in all to you; and who can wonder at
it?" he continued. "Pray Heaven your carelessness of the morrow have
reason in it! But all are not so minded. There be strange tidings in the
land."
"Indeed, sir; and to what end?" said she.
"I know not whether these rumors have reached your house," he said, "but
never at any time I have read of have men's minds been so
disturbed--with a restlessness and apprehension of something being about
to happen. And what marvel! The strange things that have been seen and
heard of throughout the world of late--meteors, and earthquakes, and
visions of armies fighting in the heavens. Even so was Armageddon to be
foreshadowed. Nay, I will be honest with you, Judith, and say that it is
not clear to my own mind that the great day of the Lord is at hand; but
many think so; and one man's reading of the Book of Revelation is but a
small matter to set against so wide a belief. Heard you not of the
vision that came to the young girl at Chipping Camden last Monday?"
"Indeed, no, good sir."
"I marvel that Prudence has not heard of it, for all men are speaking of
it. 'Twas in this way, as I hear. The maiden is one of rare piety and
grace, given to fasting, and nightly vigils, and searching of the heart.
'Twas on the night of Sunday last--or perchance toward Monday
morning--that she was awakened out of her sleep by finding her room full
of light; and looking out of the window she beheld in the darkness a
figure of resplendent radiance--shining like the sun, as she said; only
clear white, and shedding rays around; and the figure approached the
window, and regarded her; and she dropped on her knees in wonder and
fear, and bowed her head and worshipped. And as she did so, she heard a
voice say to her: 'Watch and pray: Behold, I come quickly.' And she
durst not raise her head, as she says, being overcome with fear and joy.
But the light slowly faded from the room; and when at last she rose she
saw something afar off in the sky, that was now grown dark again. And
ever since she has been trembling with the excitement of it, and will
take no food; but from time to time she cries in a loud voice, 'Lord
Jesus, come quickly! Lord Jesus, come quickly!' Many have gone to see
her, as I hear, and from all parts of the country; but she heeds them
not; she is intent with her prayers; and her eyes, the people say, look
as if they had been dazzled with a great light, and are dazed and
strange. Nay, 'tis but one of many things that are murmured abroad at
present; for there have been signs in the heavens seen in sundry places,
and visions, and men's minds grow anxious."
"And what think you yourself, good sir? You are one that should know."
"I?" said he. "Nay, I am far too humble a worker to take upon myself the
saying ay or no at such a time; I can but watch and pray and wait. But
is it not strange to think that we here at this moment, walking along
this street in Stratford, might within some measurable space--say, a
year, or half a dozen years or so--that we might be walking by the pure
river of water that John saw flowing from the throne of God and of the
Lamb? Do you not remember how the early Christians, with such a
possibility before their eyes, drew nearer to each other, as it were,
and rejoiced together, parting with all their possessions, and living in
common, so that the poorest were even as the rich? 'Twas no terror that
overtook them, but a happiness; and they drew themselves apart from the
world, and lived in their own community, praying with each other, and
aiding each other. 'All that believed,' the Bible tells us, 'were in one
place, and had all things common. And they sold their possessions and
goods, and parted them to all men, as every one had need. And they
continued daily in the Temple, and, breaking bread at home, did eat
their meat together with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God,
and had favor with all the people; and the Lord added to the Church from
day to day such as should be saved.' Such a state of spiritual
brotherhood and exaltation may come among us once more; methinks I see
the symptoms of its approach even now. Blessed are they who will be in
that communion with a pure soul and a humble mind, for the Lord will be
with them as their guide, though the waters should arise and overflow,
or fire consume the earth."
"Yes, but, good sir," said she, "when the early Christians you speak of
thought the world was near to an end they were mistaken. And these, now,
of our day----"
"Whatever is prophesied must come to pass," said he, "or soon or late,
though it is possible for our poor human judgment to err as to the time.
But surely we ought to be prepared; and what preparation, think you, is
sufficient for so great and awful a change? Joy there may be in the
trivial things of this world--in the vanities of the hour, that pass
away and are forgotten; but what are these things to those whose heart
is set on the New Jerusalem--the shining city? The voice that John heard
proclaimed no lie: 'twas the voice of the Lord of heaven and earth--a
promise to them that wait and watch for his coming. 'And God shall wipe
away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, neither crying, neither shall there be any more pain,
for the first things are passed.... And there shall be no more curse,
but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants
shall serve him. And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in
their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no
candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light,
and they shall reign for evermore.'"
She sighed.
"'Tis too wonderful a thing for poor sinful creatures to expect," she
said.
But by this time they were at the house, and he could not say anything
further to her; indeed, when he proposed that she should come into the
sitting-room, and that he would read to her a description of the glories
of the New Jerusalem, out of the Book of Revelation, she excused herself
by saying that she must carry Bess Hall to see her father. So he went in
and sat down, waiting for Judith's mother to be sent for; while aunt and
niece went out and through the back yard to the garden.
"Bess," said Judith, on the way, "heardst thou aught of a white figure?"
"No, Judith," said the child, who had been engaged all the way in
examining the prettinesses of her aunt's velvet cap, and ruff, and what
not.
"That is well," said she.
When she got into the garden, she could see that good man Matthew eyed
their approach with little favor--for Bess Hall, when her grandfather
had charge of her, was allowed to tear flowers, and walk over beds, or
do anything she chose; but Judith did not mind that much. On the other
hand, she would not go deliberately and disturb her father. She would
give him his choice--to come forth or not as he pleased. And so, quite
noiselessly, and at a little distance off, she passed the summer-house.
There was no sign. Accordingly, she went on idly to the further end of
the garden, and would doubtless have remained there (rather than return
within-doors) amusing the child somehow, but that the next minute her
father appeared.
"Come hither, Bess! Come hither, wench!" he called.
Nay, he came to meet them; and as he lifted the child down from Judith's
shoulder, something--perhaps it was the touch of the sunlight on the
soft brown of her short curls--seemed to attract his notice.
"Why, wench," said he to Judith, "methinks your hair grows prettier
every day. And yet you keep it overshort--yes, 'tis overshort--would you
have them think you a boy?"
"I would I were a man," said she, glancing at him rather timidly.
"How, then? What, now?"
"For then," said she, "might I help you in your work, so please you,
sir."
He laughed, and said:
"My work? What know you of that, wench?"
The blood rushed to her face.
"Nay, sir, I but meant the work of the fields--in going about with the
bailiff and the like. The maids say you were abroad at five this
morning."
"Well, is't not the pleasantest time of the day in this hot weather?" he
said--and he seemed amused by her interference.
"But why should you give yourself so many cares, good father?" she made
bold to say (for she had been meditating the saying of it for many a day
back). "You that have great fame, and land, and wealth. We would fain
see you rest a little more, father; and 'tis all the harder to us that
we can give you no help, being but women-folk."
There was something in the tone of her voice--or perhaps in her
eyes--that conveyed more than her words. He put his hand on her head.
"You are a good lass," said he. "And listen. You can do something for me
that is of far more value to me than any help in any kind of work: nay,
I tell thee 'tis of greater value to me than all of my work; and 'tis
this: keep you a merry heart, wench--let me see your face right merry
and cheerful as you go about--that is what you can do for me; I would
have you ever as you are now, as bright and glad as a summer day."
"'Tis an easy task, sir, so long as you are content to be pleased with
me," she managed to answer; and then little Bess Hall--who could not
understand why she should have been so long left unnoticed--began to
scramble up his knees, and was at last transferred to his arms.
Judith's heart was beating somewhat quickly--with a kind of pride and
gladness that was very near bringing tears to her eyes; but, of course,
that was out of the question, seeing that he had enjoined her to be
cheerful. And so she forced herself to say, with an odd kind of smile,
"I pray you, sir, may I remain with you for a space--if Bess and I
trouble you not?"
"Surely," said he, regarding her; "but what is it, then?"
"Why," said she, pulling herself together, "good Master Blaise is
within-doors, and his last belief is enough to frighten a poor
maiden--let alone this small child. He says the world is nigh unto its
end."
"Nay, I have heard of some such talk being abroad," said he, "among the
country folk. But why should that frighten thee? Even were it true, we
can make it nor better nor worse."
"Only this, father," said she, and she looked at him with the large,
clear-shining gray eyes no longer near to tears, but rather suggesting
some dark mystery of humor, "that if the end of the world be so nigh at
hand, 'twould be an idle thing for the good parson to think of taking
him a wife."
"I ask for no secrets, wench," her father said, as he sat little Bess
Hall on the branch of an apple-tree.
"Nay, sir, he but said that as many were of opinion that something
dreadful was about to happen, we should all of us draw nearer together.
That is well, and to be understanded; but if the world be about to end
for all of us surely 'twere a strange thing that any of us should think
of taking husband or wife."
"I'll meddle not," her father said. "Go thine own ways. I have heard
thou hast led more than one honest lad in Stratford a madcap dance. Take
heed; take heed--as thy grandmother saith--lest thou outwear their
patience."
And then something--she could scarce tell what--came into her head: some
wild wish that he would remain always there at Stratford: would she not
right willingly discard all further thoughts of lovers or sweethearts if
only he would speak to her sometimes as he had just been speaking; and
approve of her hair; and perchance let her become somewhat more of a
companion to him? But she durst not venture to say so much. She only
said, very modestly and timidly,
"I am content to be as I am, sir, if you are content that I should bide
with you."
"Content?" said he, with a laugh that had no unkindness in it. "Content
that thou shouldst bide with us? Keep that pretty face of thine merry
and glad, good lass--and have no fear."