A LOVEBIRD
Thus again, without any effort of his own, was the clever stockbroker
quit of rivalry; for although the Earl did not leave the village for
some weeks, he was not in a condition to do much poetic wooing, even if
he could have found a partner. And this was not the only good result
from that serious double accident; for the necessity of daily enquiry at
our cottage became so pressing, and Stoneman so gallantly rose to this
occasion, that the stiffness and coldness which had hitherto marked my
mother's reception of him could no longer be maintained, but glided very
quietly into goodwill and gratitude. All of us began to forgive him,
more and more, for the crime of not belonging to an ancient county
family, while the merits of his affluence almost drove us to maintain
them against his own indifference.
"You go along," I said, for I had come to know him now, and could talk
of his cash without tapping at it; "you know as well as I do, that the
first consideration with nine out of ten of us is--Money."
"I am afraid it is," he answered, as he stopped to make a bow, across a
thousand cobblestones, to my sister, who was descending from the sky no
doubt to attend to her milk-pans, and to know of nothing else; "I am
afraid it is, with those who have not got it; and there is a great deal
to be said for them. But I should be ashamed if it were so, with those
who have obtained it. Moreover, it would be contrary to human nature,
for does any man value a thing that is his own? As long as it seems
beyond his reach, it is all that is lovely and charming; but the moment
he has reduced the _chose in action_, as the lawyers express it, into
possession, all its glory is gone, till he loses it again."
"Very well. There is your _chose in action_ over there." I pointed to
the dairy window. "I shall take care to tell her how you mean to
estimate her, if ever she becomes your property."
"For Heaven's sake," he cried, while he caught me by the sleeve, as if I
were going straightway to denounce him, "don't suppose that such impious
doctrines apply to--to the one exception of all human laws."
"I am afraid that they do, and ever so much quicker than they apply to
money. But once more, when are you going to try your luck?"
For he had pestered me perpetually about his feelings now, and I had
advised him not to be in too much of a hurry. I felt that he was further
on than I was, in acquaintance with the lovely object; for he must have
had about thirty opportunities, to my three, counting dog-dialogues and
everything. But he had not done half so much as I had; and women are
wise enough to take one deed deeper to the dear heart, than a hundred
thousand words. In fact, it is difficult to get that out again, if done
by a man of the right age and manner, and if they were sensitive just
then with fright. The thought of this bore me up against friend
Jackson's flowing opportunities, and made me an impartial critic of his
work.
He looked at me uneasily, when I brought him to this point; and all his
experience in "carrying over," and contingoes, and settling days, and
whatever else they call it, was of very little use to him with such a
ticklish stock.
"Come in here, George," he said; "how am I to talk, as if it were a
question of exchange and discount, when I see her bright hair dancing in
the sun like that? But let me look. Don't say a word, until she goes
away."
"Here are two cart-saddles and a pair of blinkers, and a truss of clover
hay. If her young spring-carrots can dance through all that, they must
beat Berenice's and Helen's of Troy. Don't be quite a fool, Jack. You
ought to know that girls can't abide being stared at with their slops
on. They have got a finer word for it--peg something, in the novels.
But Grace never gets herself up for a rustic surprise, like those
fashionable dairymaids."
"I should hope not indeed! She is nature itself. And all nature is
sweetest in the morning. But there is not a spark of poetry about you,
George. All that has gone into the female line. What would I give, to
see you frightfully in love!"
The piercing glance he gave me completely turned the tables; but I
pulled him back so briskly that he came home to himself; for he was got
up very bucklish in some Volunteer apparel, on his way to a swell
rifle-meeting; and it may be imagined that he longed for Grace to look
at him, almost as much as he longed to look at Grace. However, that was
no concern of mine. He returned very modestly to his own affairs, and
sat down where he could not see the window.
"Has she said anything about me lately? Does she seem to have the least
idea? You know how I have tried to keep myself in the background
according to your advice, which was most kindly meant. But meanwhile
other fellows have been making play. Thank God, we have settled
Melladew; I was most afraid of him. Coronet, and sonnets, and a head of
curly hair. Foremost of her sex although she is--but, no, what am I
talking of? Her mind is far too lofty. When I behold her in her graceful
simplicity, like an Angel ministering what they get out of the cows--but
allow me to hang that cart-saddle on the other peg, George."
To my vexation there was Grace again, standing in the doorway, with a
great spoon in her hand--for a type of the greater one not so very far
away--giving a taste of some white stuff to old Sally, who was stooping
a hunchified back to save spilling. To see the light poise of the
youthful figure, and the merry smile while the white froth was tilted
carefully into that ancient mouth, little would you think that within so
short a period, all this bright life had missed the grave by half an
inch.
"Thank God!" whispered Stoneman. "How little heed we take of their
goodness, George! All men in comparison ought to be killed."
"Not a bit of it," I answered. "Perhaps Melladew ought. He couldn't
have made more row if he had been kilt, as an Irishman is being always.
But perhaps he could not help it; for it is his nature to."
"In any other case I should not have blamed him much, though it is not
altogether perhaps the style of Englishmen. But one thing we always
forget--how intensely some people feel what to others is a flea-bite.
And the ankle is a very nasty place after all, though the shot only just
broke the skin, Hopmann says. You heard him claim the shot? Well, now he
puts it upon me! However, he is quite welcome, for the tale might go
against him with his 'bagients.' Ta, ta! I'm off to enquire for my lord,
and I always let him know where I come from. Won't Hopmann make a fine
thing out of this! I have lent him a trap and a man, to make the most of
it. The man drives like a fury and calls out to everybody, 'Can't
stop--very sorry--let them all know--the poor Hearl, he is in such
hagony!' Hopmann's new letter-box is full already, and his hat is a
hoarding of turnpike tickets."
"What a friend you are! What a friend to have!" I exclaimed, as he
jumped upon his highly polished horse, for Grace had tripped away with a
little turn of neck, which meant, "Wouldn't you like to come with me?"
And Stoneman was hoping to get another glimpse from the saddle over the
palings. Ay, and he did so too, as the light in his eyes made clear to
me.
A firm friend is likely to be a faithful lover, and a true husband when
the gloss is off the love; but whether Grace had any sense of this, or
even thought at all about him, was more than I could say at present.
Quick of perception as she was, it seemed almost impossible that she
could have failed to observe his attention, or it might be called his
entire devotion to her. Yet when I tried her with a lot of little
dodges, such as a brother must have at command, if he wants to keep time
with his sisters, she never turned a hair--as the sporting people
say--and she looked me out of countenance sometimes, as if I were
inferior to the female race. Knowing what she was, I was unable to
suppose that there could be any depth in her beyond my understanding, so
I said to myself, "Let her mind the milk. What can a sweet girl desire
beyond that?"
To do good, to be kind, to be always cheerful, and to find their
happiness in making ours--that was the proper thing, when I was young,
for the rising generation of the better sex. Of our faults they must
have no knowledge, but be as hard as possible upon their own; and in
that particular they had every help from their own sex, whose time was
ripening into criticism. Somehow or other they have changed all that,
and flung themselves far into the opposite extreme.
Nothing could have made me dwell upon such little things, unless there
had been one of them that was all the world to me. And while I was
endeavouring to explain my sister to the clearest of my understanding,
and blaming her for my failure, there must have been some other purpose
behind, which was even more than brotherly. I was able to give very good
advice to Jackson Stoneman, and he was quite right in adopting it; but
that masterful inaction did not seem to suit my case. What might be
going on even now--that was the great point for me to ascertain--in a
matter beyond all discretion or cold comfort? Saturday was come; and I
had been attending, with a grandeur of benevolence beyond all praise, to
a love-affair deeply interesting, but in which you might call me a
spectator only. Surely my own state of puzzle was enough, without trying
to make dovetails of another pair.
Therefore, as soon as I had paid the men, at three o'clock that
afternoon, which was the proper time, I saddled Old Joe, and without a
word to Grace, who might think what she liked--let her mind her own
affairs--off I set for St. Winifred's valley, where I knew an old shed
that would entertain the horse. Let this old fellow get enough to eat,
which he might pull from the hayrick, and all time, all friends, any
fatherland would be just alike to him.
The days were drawing in very fast, and although the sun was on the
shoulder of the hill, the sense of autumn and of night impending had
taken the cheer and the warmth away, and saddened the dignity of the
trees. My heart was beating fast, yet low, as I hurried down the slope
from the lonely shed: fast with some foolish jerks of hope that any
corner might show Dariel; yet low, as every corner went its way, without
any sign of my darling. When I came to the ruined chapel, and peeped in,
discovering only solitude, so flurried and tremulous was my condition--a
most unusual state for me--that the Lesghian chief, if he saw me thus,
might fairly think that some mischief from the old wound was at work
inside. To recover myself and appear before him in a decent manner, I
crossed the brook by a fallen tree, and wandered into the gloomy wood,
where the old approach had lost its way; and here I lingered so long
that dusk was deepening into darkness when I crossed the lonely stream
again.
Fearing that Sûr Imar might suppose me to be careless, and having
recovered my self-command in right of much moralising, I entered by the
lower door, and walked across the grass towards the quarters where the
people lived. All was quiet, dull, and foggy, darker than the land
outside, and damp enough to give love itself a touch of rheumatic fever.
Most of the men were gone, as their happy fashion was on Saturday, to
fetch good things of victualling--for no cart came down the valley--and
other delights, which we are so glad to deny to one another.
As I passed by a low ruined wall in the fog, I heard a click as of some
iron latch falling to, or flung to carelessly. This drew my attention
that way, and then a swish like the swing of a heavy cloak followed, and
then I saw a tall man coming from an angle in the wall that had a roof
to it. At the moment I was walking rather fast, and if I had continued
at that pace, my elbow and the stranger's might have struck one another;
for he was also walking fast, and his course--to use one of Slemmick's
words--was "slantindicular" to mine. He had not yet descried me, by
reason of the wall, and feeling that he had no right on these premises,
I drew back, and let him get in front of me. For I was never at all
comfortable about things here, since my interview with Nicolo.
Keeping my distance carefully, I followed that man towards the
buildings, while I tried to make out enough of him to learn his rank and
age, and anything else that could be known. If he were to turn and
resent my vigilance, gladly would I have it out with him; for a little
fight, even if I got the worst of it, would have been a comfort to my
bruised spirit then. But the fellow never turned, and seemed to be quite
indifferent whether there was any one to heed him. As for his
appearance, I could make out very little, except that he was not an
Englishman. Dark as it was, I could have sworn to that; whether by his
walk, or dress, or figure, or what else, I cannot say; but at any rate
he was a foreigner; and I could almost answer for it that on his hip was
swung a sword, which would have made short work of me, had he been so
desirous.
Instead of entering the passage of grey flint which led to the
households of the colony, the man I was following turned to the right,
where the wall curved in towards the upper door. _Kuban_ and _Orla_, who
dwelled for the best of their time in this part of the premises, came
forth and looked at him without a single sniff; and then lowered their
tails, and crawled away. "What a villain he must be!" thought I; "they
know him, but would rather not even speak to him."
But the impression he had made upon them was far beyond this. To my
surprise, they condemned the entire human race for the moment, reasoning
(as we must have taught them to do) from the particular to the
universal. For when I passed and held out my hand, not a word would they
have to say to me, which perhaps was the better for my safety. Then as I
followed with my temper rising, and resolved to bring the man to book as
he unbarred the door, what did he do but with one great vault gain that
coign of reconnaissance where the watch-dog loved to sit, and plunge
from it into the world beyond, with some strange headgear shown between
the battlements, and then a clank of hard metal, and a heavy flap of
ivy.
I have often been surprised, as every man must be, who lives to full
growth upon this wondrous earth; but this time my astonishment went
quite beyond its powers. Every one had always taken me for a great
jumper, but, to save my life, I could never have done that. I stood, and
looked up into the darkness of the sky, as if for some witness to
confirm my doubtful eyes; and then a deep conviction of the existence of
the Devil--which philosophers in mutinous ingratitude deny--came to my
aid, and calmed me with the sense of duty which his name inspires. And
now the two dogs, breathing calmly again, and with their tails
high-masted, came to apologise for that trimming which even they had
learned towards their dearest friend. Here was something genial; and I
forgave them, because I might have done the same, if touched with equal
insight.
"I will get to the bottom of this," thought I, "though the scoundrel has
put the wall between us." For I knew not at all how to open that door,
even if it seemed desirable. With a quick step, therefore, I retraced my
course, while _Kuban_ and _Orla_ came after me, sniffing my track with
happy puffs, to be sure of something wholesome. Keeping clear of the
dwellings, I went back along the wall, to investigate the corner from
which that demon of mystery had emerged. What superstition can there be
in a Winchester and New College man, who has eaten for the Bar, and
knows something of Stockbrokers, and as much as is good of Solicitors?
But it is better to avoid such subjects now.
Both dogs lay down at a certain spot, where a narrow track just visible
across the grass began; perhaps they were forbidden to come further down
that way. But I went on, treading gingerly, until I was stopped by a
pair of wire-doors. It was rather dark still, but not so murky as it had
been, for the moon began to lift herself a little through the mist. As
her faint light came glimmering over the black wall, I began to see what
the little structure was, and how it was sheltered and protected
overhead. Dariel had told me that she was very fond of birds, and had
some beauties of her own; and no doubt this was where she kept them. Now
if that hateful fellow with the strange headgear came out of this
enclosure, as appeared too manifest, it was equally plain that he must
have been inside it; and what could he be doing in this aviary so late,
unless the fair owner herself were there?
My wrath and indignation knew no bounds. If I were being treated in this
perfidious way, what steps could be too strong or too insidious, if
they led to the confusion of the traitors? Though the dogs were as
silent as if they were carved in stone, I went back to them and
threatened them with quick and painful death, if they dared to enquire
into my proceedings. Then by a little reconnoitring I found a corner of
the netting which formed the outer fence, from which I could see into
the inner room, which had been impossible from the gate. I could have
opened that gate perhaps, but not without noise enough to attract
attention; and now I could see as well as if I were inside, for the
wire-mesh made no difference.
At the end of the room which was nearest to me, and only a few yards
from the corner I had found, sat Dariel herself, with a purple cloak on,
or a mantle, or jacket--I never know the proper words, and it makes no
difference, except to women. Of the colour, I could not be sure by that
light; except that it was deep, and rich, and grand, and her white neck
shone forth it, like a hyacinth from dark tulips. There were two candles
burning on a rustic round table, and she, with her forehead gleaming
softly, kept her left hand partly closed, while the other hand went
round and round as if it were winding something slowly upon some little
object which I could not see; for around it fell the shadowy tresses
which had so often baffled me in quest of a sweet glance from her eyes.
Every now and then, I caught a glimpse of a very delicate and straight
nose (the beauty of which has never been surpassed), and once or twice
there came into view the perfection of a chin, a soft harmony conducting
from the roses of the lips to the lilies of the neck. All this was very
lovely, and my heart was wild about it; though my mind was fierce the
other way, that none was ever to be mine. For whom had she arrayed
herself in that homicidal beauty?
But while I was grinding my teeth and wrinkling my forehead into
wire-work, she softly turned her gentle face, and my rage was gone as
darkness flies when the quiet moon arises. There were great tears
rolling, and wet eyes beaming, and the pity of a world of sadness
speaking in the eloquence of a silent mouth. Also with love's
vaticination I seemed to discover terror there, and the call for some
strong form to shield her from troubles and dangers menacing. "There has
been no flirtation here," thought I. "What a jealous fool I am! In this
there must be some dark distress. How could I think so of my Dariel!"
And when I beheld the next thing she did, my self-reproach grew deeper.
For she opened the curve of her left palm, slowly and softly in fear of
rash release, keeping the fingers of the other hand in readiness for
repression; and there I saw, with his green fluff panting in a velvet
cradle, a small bird of bright plumage, with enquiring eyes regarding
her. He seemed to know her for his best friend, and though taken aback
by misfortune, to trust this member of the human race to do all that
mankind could do for him.
Made of hard stuff as I am, I do not feel ashamed to say, that the pity
which is in all of us, drew straws from the candle and made bars along
the mist, when I saw what the girl I loved had done. That poor little
bird had a broken leg, newly broken by violence, and Dariel had been
gently binding the splintered shank together, with cotton wool and a
reel of silk, as I could see on the table, and a strip of cane from a
chair hard by; and now she was shaking one finger at him, to let him
know that fluttering is no remedy for affliction.
But why did she cry so? She ought to be smiling and looking glad, when
the little chap's mate flew down so kindly, and perched on the reel of
silk to comfort him, and then fluttered round and round him with her
wings drooped down, and a tenderness of cooing which almost set him on
his legs again; for they were a pair of what are called "lovebirds," of
whom, if one hops the final twig, the other pines into the darkness and
dies. So at least the story of the bird-men goes, although that excess
of fidelity may be beyond the faith of other men.
Tell me not that love is blind. It has the swiftest of all sight. It
flies to its conclusion straighter than the truest lovebird. I saw why
Dariel could not smile at the success of her own skill: the tears on her
cheeks were not of pity only, but of anger at human brutality. That
fellow had done it, that miscreant whom even the dogs of his native land
abhorred--Prince Hafer had broken the pretty lovebird's leg! A rapid
conclusion of mine, but the right one; as became manifest, before many
days had passed.
Blessedness and bitterness at once possessed me. Would she ever accept
such a wicked beast as that? And when should I have the delight of
breaking--not his leg, that would not be half enough, but the haughty
head that he was carrying so high? I felt the black fury of the Caucasus
itself rising in a breast of the quiet Surrey stock. Cruelty to anything
that lives is loathsome; but cruelty to a little trusting pet, lent us
by the Father to teach us loving-kindness, and that pet the darling of a
sweet and gentle maiden! One more look at her--she has put him to his
roost in a soft warm corner where he can make no pretence to hop, but
the partner of his pain can feed him.
But I must be off, for I dare not intrude upon her quiet sorrow, and
perhaps I had no right to watch her as I did; but I meant no harm, and
the pretty sight has been a lesson of goodwill to me. Now for her noble
father's room! I ought to have been there long ago. What will he say to
me? But whatever it may be, what I say of his beautiful child is
this--"She is more than any angel; she is a tenderhearted woman."