Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.
[Illustration: "I HATE GRANDFATHER WITH ALL MY HEART!"]
E N E M I E S
_A TALE FOR LITTLE LADS AND LASSES_
BY
MARIAN ISABEL HURRELL
AUTHOR OF
"CECILY MORDAUNT," "A THREE-FOLD PROMISE," ETC.
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies . . . that ye may be the
children of your Father which is in heaven."
LONDON
S. W. PARTRIDGE AND CO.
8 & 9, PATERNOSTER ROW
CONTENTS
[Illustration]
CHAP.
I. HUGH'S WRATH
II. A COUNCIL OF WAR
III. UNCLE MATTHEW'S GENEROSITY
IV. THE BEGINNING OF THE FRAY
V. THE HOUSE OF YORK
VI. SCHOOL CONFLICTS
VII. A LITTLE SOLDIER
VIII. A TERRIBLE FALL
IX. SIR MATTHEW'S PENITENCE
X. A FRIEND INDEED
XI. PEACE AT LAST
E N E M I E S
[Illustration]
CHAPTER I
HUGH'S WRATH
"DO you mean to say, mother, that he wouldn't see you?"
"Yes, Hugh, I was turned away like a stranger from your grandfather's
door."
"Then he's a wickeder old sinner than I thought he was, and I'm ashamed
of belonging to him."
"That appears to be a mutual feeling, my son; on that one point you and
your grandfather evidently agree."
"He shall never have the chance of insulting you again, mother. We
shall soon be big enough to work for you, and then you needn't be
afraid of anything or anybody."
The lad who spoke thus impetuously looked up into his mother's face as
though for her dear sake he would war with the whole world.
"Never mind, Hughie boy," she answered soothingly. "It was a long
journey for nothing, but as he wouldn't answer my letters, what else
could I do?
"Ah well," she added, "so long as I have my children, and health and
strength to work for them, I am not afraid," but nevertheless, though
the mother uttered these brave words, there was a tremor of weariness
and disappointment in her voice.
She had anticipated so much from a personal interview with Sir Matthew
Rose—her father-in-law—but now all her cherished hopes were dashed to
the ground.
Mrs. Rose was the widow of a clergyman, and since the death of her
husband, about four years previously, she had had a hard struggle to
support herself and her children.
The three eldest were boys, Hugh, Frank, and Ronald by name, whose ages
varied from ten to seven. The youngest was a girl named Elsie, a little
maid of between five and six summers, who was the pet and plaything of
them all.
The house in which they dwelt (a roomy old residence known as The
Gables) was the property of Mrs. Rose, bequeathed to her by a
wealthy relative shortly before her husband's death. By means of
letting a portion of the house, the widow managed to eke out her
income sufficiently to provide for the actual needs of herself and
her children, but there was little margin left for education and
additional expenses. Not that the lack of regular lessons troubled her
light-hearted laddies one jot; they were well content with the home
tuition they received, but not so their ambitious little mother.
For this cause she had nerved herself to make one final appeal to their
grandfather for assistance, and with what result we have already seen.
Her husband, Gilbert Rose, was the eldest son of a wealthy baronet, and
for many years he was the apple of his father's eye.
At length came a day when their wills clashed, and in his wrath Sir
Matthew vowed he would have nothing more to do with him, and he
determined to make Wilfrid, his second son, his heir.
The cause of dispute was Gilbert's choice of a bride, who in his
father's eyes was neither fitted by birth nor worldly treasure to
become the wife of his eldest son.
Elizabeth Gilderoy (or Lisa, as Gilbert was wont to call her) was the
orphaned sister of one of his curates. She was both good and beautiful,
and it was little wonder that he loved her. Their married life was
exceedingly happy, but all too soon it came to a close. After a brief
illness he died, leaving his wife with four young children to battle
against the winds of adversity.
The blow fell upon her with crushing force, but despite her bitter
grief, her faith did not falter, for she realized that though earthly
props might fall, yet around her were the Everlasting Arms of Divine
love and tenderness.
Hugh's affection for his mother well-nigh bordered on worship, and the
idea of her being slighted or insulted was intolerable to his proud
spirit.
"It's no use being angry, my boy, we must talk things over calmly," she
said. "But I'm afraid now, as matters stand, there is nothing but the
Board school for you all."
"Oh, mother, as if you couldn't teach us all we want to know!" answered
Hugh impulsively. "Besides, we shan't want much learning for the
professions we've chosen."
Hugh's pleading look brought the sudden tears to his mother's eyes,
though his words made her smile.
"Well, laddie, and what are the professions to be?" she said gently.
"Oh! I'm going to be a sailor, and you don't want to go to school to
be taught the ropes; and Frank and Ronnie have made up their minds to
be sheep-farmers abroad, so as to make a fortune quickly; and Elsie
says—" here a broad smile came over Hugh's face—"she is going to keep a
sweet-shop."
Mrs. Rose laughed, but she soon grew grave again.
"Hugh dear," she said earnestly, "you are old enough now to know that
an ignorant boy has no chance in the world, and at a Board school you
will all three get a good education. In this matter you must put your
pride in your pocket, in the same way I did when I went to The Towers."
"Oh, mother, I hate being poor," cried Hugh, "and I hate—I hate
grandfather with all my heart!"
With these words Hugh left the room, and in his agitation, he nearly
ran into Miss Beaumont, the lady who occupied part of The Gables, and
who cherished for Hugh a sincere affection.
"Why, Hugh, what is the matter?" she asked in surprise.
"Nothing at all, Miss Beaumont, thank you," answered Hugh, seeking to
make good his escape.
But the lady was not to be put off in this manner. "Come into my room,"
she said authoritatively, "and tell me what has upset you."
Miss Beaumont's apartments were furnished with a view both to luxury
and elegance, but Hugh took little heed of his surroundings as he sat,
at the lady's bidding, beside her on the sofa.
"Mother says we must go to the Board school," he burst out impetuously.
"Very sensible too of your mother, if she is unable to send you
elsewhere."
Hugh flashed an indignant look upwards.
"Oh! You think it isn't good enough for you, I suppose. Well, upon
consideration, perhaps, the grandchildren of Sir Matthew Rose should
have other advantages. Why doesn't your mother apply to him?" inquired
Miss Beaumont.
"She has, but he refused to see her, and I've a good mind to write and
tell grandfather what I think of him!"
"Well, then, I won't keep you any longer," responded Miss Beaumont,
with a gleam of humour in her eyes. "If you should decide to write such
an important letter, I will post it for you with some of my own."
"Then I will," said Hugh with great decision.
As soon as the lad had closed the door behind him, Miss Beaumont
murmured to herself, "H'm! I wonder what Matthew will say to such an
epistle. He'll be a little taken aback, I think, but it won't do him
any harm in the end."
After which speech she sat down to her writing-desk, and wrote several
letters, one of which was addressed to Sir Matthew Rose, Bart.
At the end of half-an-hour Hugh reappeared, with a sealed letter in his
hand, which he gave into her keeping.
"This is a secret, I suppose, Hugh?" she said, interrogatively.
"Yes, please, Miss Beaumont."
"Ah, I understand; this isn't the first secret we've had, is it, my
boy?"
"No," said Hugh; "you are very good to us, only I wish you would let me
tell mother where the presents come from."
"No, Hugh, I'd rather not; perhaps she shall know some day, but not
yet."
And with this Hugh was perforce content.