WREN'S END
It stands just beyond the village of Amber Guiting, on the side furthest
from the station, which is a mile from the village.
"C. C. S. 1819" is carved above the front door, but the house was built
a good fifty years previous to that date.
One Charles Considine Smith, who had been a shipper of sherry in
Billiter Street, in the City of London, bought it in that year from a
Quaker called Solomon Page, who planted the yew hedge that surrounds the
smooth green lawn seen from the windows of the morning-room. There was a
curious clause attached to the title-deeds, which stipulated that no
cats should be kept by the owner of Wren's End, lest they should
interfere with the golden-crested wrens that built in the said yew
hedge, or the brown wrens building at the foot of the hedges in the
orchard. Appended to this injunction were the following verses:
If aught disturb the wrens that build,
If ever little wren be killed
By dweller in Wren's End--
Misfortunes--whence he shall not know--
Shall fall on him like noiseless snow,
And all his steps attend.
Peace be upon this house; and all
That dwell therein good luck befall,
That do the wrens befriend.
Charles Considine Smith faithfully kept to his agreement regarding the
protection of the wrens, and much later wrote a series of articles upon
their habits, which appeared in the _North Cotswold Herald_. He seems to
have been on friendly terms with Solomon Page, who, having inherited a
larger property in the next county, removed thence when he sold Wren's
End.
In 1824 Smith married Tranquil Page, daughter of Solomon. She was then
thirty-seven years old, and, according to one of her husband's diaries,
"a staid person like myself." She was twenty years younger than her
husband and bore him one child, a daughter also named Tranquil.
She, however, appears to have been less staid than her parents, for she
ran away before she was twenty with a Scottish advocate called James
Ross.
The Smiths evidently forgave the wilful Tranquil, for, on the death of
Charles, she and her husband left Scotland and settled with her mother
at Wren's End. She had two children, Janet, the great-aunt who left Jan
Wren's End, and James, Jan's grandfather, who was sent to Edinburgh for
his education, and afterwards became a Writer to the Signet. He married
and settled in Edinburgh, preferring Scotland to England, and it was
with his knowledge and consent that Wren's End was left to his sister
Janet.
Janet never married. She was energetic, prudent, and masterful, having
an excellent head for business. She was kind to her nephews and nieces
in a domineering sort of way, and had always a soft place in her heart
for Anthony, though she regarded him as more or less of a scatter-brain.
When she was nearly eighty she commanded his little girls to visit her.
Jan was then fourteen and Fay eleven. She liked them because they had
good manners and were neither of them in the least afraid of her. And at
her death, six years later, she left Wren's End to Jan absolutely--as it
stood; but she left her money to Anthony's elder brother, who had a
large family and was not particularly well off.
That year was a good artistic year for Anthony, and he spent over five
hundred pounds in--as he put it--"making Jan's house habitable."
This proved not a bad investment, for they had let it every winter since
to Colonel Walcote for the hunting season, as three packs of hounds met
within easy reach of it; and although the stabling accommodation at
Wren's End was but small, plenty of loose boxes were always obtainable
from Farmer Burgess quite near.
Amber Guiting is a big village, almost a little town. It possesses an
imposing main street wherein are several shops, among them a stationer's
with a lending library in connection with Mudie's; a really beautiful
old inn with a courtyard; and grave-looking, dignified houses occupied
by the doctor, a solicitor, and several other persons of acknowledged
gentility.
There were many "nice places" round about, and altogether the
inhabitants of Amber Guiting prided themselves, with some reason, on the
social and æsthetic advantages of their neighbourhood. Moreover, it is
not quite three hours from Paddington. You catch the express from the
junction.
Notwithstanding all these agreeable circumstances, William Bloomsbury
was very lonely and miserable.
All the friends he knew and loved had gone, leaving him in the somewhat
stepmotherly charge of a caretaker from the village, who was supposed to
be getting the house ready for its owner. To join her came
Hannah--having left her young ladies with an "orra-buddy" in the flat.
And after Hannah came the caretaker-lady did not stop long, for their
ideas on the subject of cleanliness were diametrically opposed. Hannah
was faithful and punctual as regarded William's meals; but though his
body was more comfortable than during the caretaker's reign, his heart
was empty and hungry, and he longed ardently for social intercourse and
an occasional friendly pat.
Presently in Hannah's train came Anne Chitt, a meek young assistant from
the village, who did occasionally gratify William's longing for a little
attention; but so soon as she began to pat him and say he was a good
dog, she was called away by Hannah to sweep or dust or wash something.
In William's opinion the whole house was a howling wilderness where
pails of water easily upset, and brooms that fell upon the unsuspecting
with resounding blows lay ambushed in unexpected places.
Men and dogs alike abhor "spring-cleaning," and William's heart died
within him.
There came a day, however, when things were calmer. The echoing,
draughty house grew still and warm, and a fire was lit in the hall.
William lay in front of it unmolested; but he felt dejected and lonely,
and laid his head down on his crossed paws in patient melancholy.
Late in the afternoon, there came a sound of wheels in the drive. Hannah
and Anne Chitt, decorous in black dresses and clean aprons, came into
the hall and opened the front door, and in three minutes William knew
that happier times were in store for him. The "station-fly" stopped at
the door, and regardless of Hannah's reproving voice he rushed out to
welcome the strangers. Two children, nice children, who appeared as glad
to see him as he was to see them, who wished him many happy returns of
his birthday--William had forgotten it was his birthday--and were as
lavish with pats and what little Fay called "stlokes" as Hannah had been
niggardly. There were also two young ladies, who addressed him kindly
and seemed pleasantly aware of his existence, and William liked young
ladies, for the three Miss Walcotes had thoroughly spoiled him. But he
decided to attach himself most firmly to the children and the very small
young lady. Perhaps they would stay. In his short experience grown
people had a cruel way of disappearing. There was that tall young man
... William hardly dared let himself think about that tall young man who
had allowed him to lie upon his bed and was so kind and jolly. "Master"
William had called him. Ah, where was he? Perhaps he would come back
some day. In the meantime here were plenty of people to love. William
cheered up.
[Illustration: William rushed out to welcome the strangers. Two ... nice
children.]
He wished to ingratiate himself, and proceeded to show off his one
accomplishment. With infinite difficulty and patience the Miss Walcotes
had taught him to "give a paw"; so now, on this first evening, William
followed the children about solemnly offering one paw and then the
other; a performance which was greeted with acclamation.
When the children went to the bathroom he somehow got shut outside. So
he lay down and breathed heavily through the bottom of the door and
varied this by thin, high-pitched yelps--which were really squeals, and
very extraordinary as proceeding from such a large and heavy dog.
"William wants to come in," Tony said. He still always accompanied his
sister to the bath.
Meg was seized with an inspiration. "I know why," she exclaimed. "He
expects to see little Fay in the big bath."
Fay looked from Meg to her brother and from her brother to Meg.
Another dismal squeal from under the door.
"Does he tluly espect it?" she asked anxiously.
"I think so," Meg said gravely, "and we can't let him in if you're going
to be washed in the little bath; he'd be so disappointed."
The little bath stood ready on its stand. Fay turned her back upon it
and went and looked over the edge of the big bath. It was a very big
bath, white and beautiful, with innumerable silvered handles that
produced sprays and showers and waves and all sorts of wonders. An
extravagance of Anthony's.
"Will William come in, too?" she asked.
"No; he'd make such a mess; but he'd love to see you. We'll all bathe
William some other time."
More squeals from outside, varied by dolorous snores.
"Let him in," said little Fay. "I'll show him me."
Quick as thought Meg lifted her in, opened the door to the delighted
William, who promptly stood on his hind legs, with his front paws on the
bath, and looked over the edge at little Fay.
"See me swim," she exclaimed proudly, sitting down in the water, while
William, with his tongue hanging out and a fond smile of admiration on
his foolish countenance, tried to lick the plump pink shoulders
presented to his view. "This is a muts nicer baff than the nasty little
one. I can't think what you bringed it for, deah Med."
"Deah Med" and Tony nodded gaily to one another.
Hannah had made William sleep in the scullery, which he detested. She
put his basket there and his blanket, and he was warm enough, but
creature comforts matter little to the right kind of dog. It's human
fellowship he craves. That night she came to fetch him at bed-time, and
he refused point-blank to go. He put his head on Meg's knee and gazed at
her with beseeching eyes that said as plainly as possible: "Don't banish
me--where you go I go--don't break my heart and send me away into the
cold."
Perhaps the cigarette smoke that hung about Meg gave him confidence. His
master smelt like that. And William went to bed with his master.
"D'you think he might sleep in the dressing-room?" Meg asked. "I know
how young dogs hate to be alone at night. Put his basket there,
Hannah--I'll let him out and see to him, and you could get him first
thing in the morning."
Hannah gave a sniff of disapproval, but she was always very careful to
do whatever Meg asked her at once and ungrudgingly. It was partly an
expression of her extreme disapproval of the uniform. But Meg thought it
was prompted entirely by Hannah's fine feeling, and loved her dearly in
consequence.
Nearly all the bedrooms at Wren's End had dressing-rooms. Tony slept in
Jan's, with the door between left open. Fay's little cot was drawn up
close to Meg's bed. William and his basket occupied the dressing-room,
and here, also, the door was left open.
While Meg undressed, William was quite still and quiet, but when she
knelt down to say her prayers he was overcome with curiosity, and,
getting out of his basket, lurched over to her to see what she was
about. Could she be crying that she covered her face? William couldn't
bear people to cry.
He thrust his head under her elbow. She put her arm round his neck and
he sat perfectly still.
"Pray for your master, William," Meg whispered.
* * * * * * * *
"I like to look at it," said Tony.
"Oh, London may be very gay, but it's nothing to the countryside," sang
Meg.
"What nelse?" inquired little Fay, who could never be content with a
mere snatch of song.
"Oh, there's heaps and heaps of nelse," Jan answered. "Come along,
chicks, we'll go and see everything. This is home, you know, where dear
Mummy wanted you to be."
It was their first day at Wren's End, and the weather was kind. They
were all four in the drive, looking back at the comfortable
stone-fronted Georgian house. The sun was shining, a cheerful April sun
that had little warmth in it but much tender light; and this showed how
all around the hedges were getting green; that buds were bursting from
brown twigs, as if the kind spring had covered the bare trees with a
thin green veil; and that all sorts of green spears were thrusting up in
the garden beds.
Down the drive they all four ran, accompanied by a joyfully galumphing
William, who was in such good spirits that he occasionally gave vent to
a solemn deep-chested bark.
When they came to the squat grey lodge, there was Mrs. Earley standing
in her doorway to welcome them. Mrs. Earley was Earley's mother, and
Earley was gardener and general factotum at Wren's End. Mrs. Earley
looked after the chickens, and when she had exchanged the news with Jan,
and rather tearfully admired "poor Mrs. Tancred's little 'uns," she
escorted them all to the orchard to see the cocks and hens and chickens.
Then they visited the stable, where Placid, the pony, was sole occupant.
In former years Placid had been kept for the girls to drive in the
governess-cart and to pull the heavy lawn-mower over the lawns. And
Hannah had been wont to drive him into Amesberrow every Sunday, that she
might attend the Presbyterian church there. She put him up at a
livery-stable near her church and always paid for him herself. Anthony
Ross usually had hired a motor for the summer months. Now they would
depend entirely on Placid and a couple of bicycles for getting about.
All round the walled garden did they go, and Meg played horses with the
children up and down the broad paths while Jan discussed vegetables with
Earley. And last of all they went to the back door to ask Hannah for
milk and scones, for the keen, fresh air had made them all hungry.
Refreshed and very crumby, they were starting out again when Hannah laid
a detaining hand on Jan's arm: "Could you speak a minute, Miss Jan?"
The children and Meg gone, Hannah led the way into the kitchen with an
air of great mystery; but she did not shut the doors, as Anne Chitt was
busy upstairs.
"What is it, Hannah?" Jan asked nervously, for she saw that this
summons portended something serious.
"It's about Miss Morton I want to speak, Miss Jan. I was in hopes she'd
never wear they play-acting claes down here ..." (when Hannah was deeply
earnest she always became very Scotch), "but it seems I hoped in vain.
And what am I to say to ither folk when they ask me about her?"
"What is there to say, Hannah, except that she is my dear friend, and by
her own wish is acting as nurse to my sister's children?"
"I ken that; I'm no sayin' a word against that; but first of all she
goes and crops her hair--fine hair she had too, though an awfu-like
colour--and not content with flying in the face of Providence that way,
she must needs dress like a servant. And no a weiss-like servant,
either, but one o' they besoms ye see on the hoardings in London wha act
in plays. Haven't I seen the pictures mysel'? 'The Quaker Gerrl,' or
some such buddy."
"Oh, I assure you, Hannah, Miss Morton in no way resembles those ladies,
and I can't see that it's any business of ours what she wears. You know
that she certainly does what she has undertaken to do in the best way
possible."
"I'm no saying a word against her wi' the children, and there never was
a young lady who gave less trouble, save in the way o' tobacco ash, and
was more ready to help--but yon haverals is very difficult to explain.
_You_ may understand, Miss Jan. I may _say_ I understand--though I
don't--but who's to make the like o' that Anne Chitt understand? Only
this morning she keeps on at me wi' her questions like the clapper o' a
bell. 'Is she a servant? If she's no, why does she wear servants' claes?
Why does she have hair like a boy? Has she had a fever or something
wrong wi' her heid? Is she one of they suffragette buddies and been in
prison?'--till I was fair deeved and bade the lassie hold her tongue.
But so it will be wherever Miss Morton goes in they fantastic claes.
Now, Miss Jan, tell me the honest truth--did you ever see a
self-respecting, respectable servant in the like o' yon? Does she _look_
like any servant you've ever heard tell of out of a stage-play?"
"Not a bit, Hannah; she looks exactly like herself, and therefore not in
the least like any other person. Don't you worry. Miss Morton requires
no explanation. All we must do is to see that she doesn't overwork
herself."
"Then ye'll no speak to her, Miss Jan?"
"Not I, Hannah. Why should I dictate to her as to what she wears? She
doesn't dictate to me."
This was not strictly true, for Meg was most interfering in the matter
of Jan's clothes. Hannah shook her head. "I thocht it my duty to speak,
Miss Jan, and I'll say no more. But it's sheer defiance o' her Maker to
crop her heid and to clothe herself in whim-whams, when she could be
dressed like a lady; and I'm real vexed she should make such an object
of herself when she might just be quite unnoticeable, sae wee and
shelpit as she is."
"I'm afraid," said Jan, "that Miss Morton will never be quite
unnoticeable, whatever she may wear. But don't let us talk about it any
more. You understand, don't you, Hannah?"
When Jan's voice took that tone Hannah knew that further argument was
unavailing.
Jan turned to go, and saw Tony waiting for her in the open doorway.
Neither of them had either heard or seen him come.
Quite silently he took her hand and did not speak till they were well
away from the house. Meg and little Fay were nowhere in sight. Jan
wondered how much he had heard.
"She's a very proud cook, isn't she?" he said presently.
"She's a very old servant," Jan explained, "who has known me all my
life."
"If," said Tony, as though after deep thought, "she gets very
chubbelsome, you send for me. Then I will go to her and say '_Jao!_'"
Tony followed this up by some fluent Hindustani which, had Jan but known
it, seriously reflected on the character of Hannah's female ancestry.
"I'll say '_Jao!_'," he went on. "I'll say it several times very loud,
and point to the door. Then she'll roll up her bedding, and you'll give
her money and her chits, and she will depart."
They had reached a seat. On this Jan sank, for the vision of Tony
pointing majestically down the drive while little Hannah staggered into
the distance under a rolled-up mattress, was too much for her.
"But I don't want her to go," she gasped. "I love her dearly."
"She should not speak to you like that; she scolded you," he said
firmly. "She is a servant ... She _is_ a servant?" he added doubtfully.
"How much did you hear of what she said? Did you understand?"
"I came back directly to fetch you, I thought she _sounded_ cross. Mummy
was afraid when people were cross; she liked me to be with her. I
thought you would like me to be with you. If she was very rude I could
beat her. I beat the boy--not Peter's boy, our boy--he was rude to
Mummy. He did not dare to touch me because I am a sahib ... I will beat
Hannah if you like."
Tony stood in front of Jan, very earnest, with an exceedingly pink nose,
for the wind was keen. He had never before said so much at one time.
"Shall I go back and beat her?" he asked again.
"Certainly not," Jan cried, clutching Tony lest he should fly off there
and then. "We don't _do_ such things here at home. Nobody is beaten,
ever. I'm sure Peter never beats his servants."
"No," Tony allowed. "A big sahib must not strike a servant, but I can,
and I do if they are rude. She was rude about Meg."
"She didn't mean to be rude."
"She found fault with her clothes and her hair. She is a very proud and
impudent cook."
"Tony dear, you really don't understand. She wasn't a bit rude. She was
afraid other people might mistake Meg for a servant. She was all _for_
Meg--truly she was."
"She scolded you," he rejoined obstinately.
"Not really, Tony; she didn't mean to scold."
Tony looked very hard at Jan.
In silence they stared at one another for quite a minute. Jan got up off
the seat.
"Let's go and find the others," she said.
"She is a very proud cook," Tony remarked once more.
Jan sighed.
* * * * *
That night while she was getting ready for bed Tony woke up. His cot was
placed so that he could see into Jan's room, and the door between was
always left open. She was standing before the dressing-table, taking
down her hair.
Unlike the bedrooms at the flat, the room was not cold though both the
windows were open. Wren's End was never cold, though always fresh, for
one of Anthony's earliest improvements had been a boiler-house and
central heating, with radiators set under the windows, so that they
could always stand open.
Jan had not put on her dressing-gown, and her night-dress had rather
short, loose sleeves that fell back from her arms as she raised them.
He watched the white arm wielding the brush with great pleasure; he
decided he liked to look at it.
"Auntie Jan!"
She turned and flung her hair back from her face in a great silver
cloud.
"You awake, sonny! Did I make a noise?"
"No, I just woke. Auntie Jan, will Daddie ever come here?"
"I expect so."
"Well, listen. If he does, he shan't take your things, your pretty
twinkly things. I won't let him."
Jan stood as if turned to stone.
"He took Mummy's. I saw him; I couldn't stop him, I was so little. But
she _said_--she said it twice before she went away from that last
bungalow--she said: 'Take care of Auntie Jan, Tony; don't let Daddie
take her things.' So I won't."
Tony was sitting up. His room was all in darkness; two candles were lit
on Jan's dressing-table. He could see her, but she couldn't see him.
She came to him, stooped over him, and laid her cheek against his so
that they were both veiled with her hair. "Darling, I don't think poor
Daddie would want to take my things. You must try not to think hardly of
Daddie."
Tony parted the veil of hair with a gentle hand so that they could both
see the candles.
"You don't know my Daddie ... much," he said, "do you?"
Jan shuddered.
"I saw him," he went on in his queer little unemotional voice. "I saw
him take all her pretty twinkly things; and her silver boxes. I'm glad I
sleep here."
"Did she mind much?" Jan whispered.
"I don't know. She didn't see him take them, only me. She hadn't come to
bed. She never said nothing to me--only about you."
"I don't expect," Jan made a great effort to speak naturally, "that
Daddie would care about my things ... It's different, you see."
"I'm glad I sleep here," Tony repeated, "and there's William only just
across the passage."