AVERIL'S STEP-MOTHER.
As Averil asked this question in her usual quiet manner, her
step-mother's perturbation increased; she was brought face to face
with an unexpected difficulty--and Mrs. Willmot hated any sort of
complication. To eat, drink, and be merry were important items in her
code. She was indolent, and liked comfort, and, as she said, "Her girls
were too much for her."
"What shall you do?" reiterated Averil, patiently, as Mrs. Willmot only
sighed and looked unhappy.
"I think I am the most miserable woman alive," she returned, stung to
weak exasperation by Averil's quiet persistence. "You have no pity
for me, Averil; and yet I was your father's wife, and a good wife,
too. What is the good of asking me to settle this infamous bill--for
infamous it is, as I mean to tell Madame--when I have not a hundred
pounds left, in the bank, and that boy is always drawing on me?"
"Do you mean Rodney?" interposed Averil, eagerly. "Let us leave this
bill for a moment while I speak to you of him. Has he answered Mr.
Harland's letter?" For two days previously a letter had come to Rodney
from the lawyer, offering him a post in Canada that promised to be very
remunerative in the future. Mr. Harland had spoken very warmly of the
advantages attaching to such a situation, and Averil had indorsed this
opinion. The letter had arrived early on the morning of her reception;
but, in spite of all her business, she had talked for more than half
an hour to both Rodney and her step-mother, begging them to close at
once with the offer. Rodney seemed rather in favor of it: to use his
own phrase, he thought Canadian life would be "awfully jolly," and
he promised to talk his mother over; but until now Averil had heard
nothing.
"Has Rodney written to Mr. Harland?" she asked again, as Mrs. Willmot
hesitated, and seemed unwilling to answer.
"Yes, he has written," she said, at last, when Averil compelled her to
speak. "I declare, you make me so nervous, Averil, sitting opposite me,
and questioning me in that jerky fashion, that I hardly know how to
answer."
"And he has accepted the post?" still more eagerly.
"He has done nothing of the kind," returned her step-mother, pettishly.
"You have no heart, Averil. You do not understand a mother's feelings.
Do you suppose I am going to let my boy go all that distance? As though
there were no other places to be found in England. I should break my
heart without him. I was awake half the night, thinking about it. I
did not have a bit of peace until I got the dear fellow to write and
decline it this morning."
Averil's little hands were pressed tightly together. "Give me
patience," she whispered. Then aloud, "Mrs. Willmot, are you aware of
the advantages you have thrown away? Let me implore you to reconsider
this; it is not too late--a telegram will nullify the letter. I am
very unhappy about Rodney. He seems to be mixed up with a set of most
undesirable friends. They are all richer and older than he. They take
him to their club; they induce him to play for money. It is no use
warning you against Captain Beverley on Maud's account but for Rodney's
sake--"
But here Mrs. Willmot interrupted her.
"Don't say a word against Captain Beverley, Averil. Things will very
soon be settled between him and Maud, I can tell you that," with a
meaning nod. "I know he is not a favorite of yours; but he is one of
the best catches of the season. Every one will tell you that. Look at
Beverley House! And then Oliver, though he is only the second son, has
fifteen hundred a year, and they say he is his uncle's heir. No one
thinks much of his brother's health--he seems a sickly sort of person.
Mark my words--Maud will be Lady Beverley one day."
Averil gave vent to a despairing sigh. What impression could she
make on this weak, worldly nature? She had often argued with her
step-mother, and had encountered the same placid resistance to all
her appeals. Weak people are often obstinate. Mrs. Willmot was no
exception; she would listen to Averil, agree with her, and finally end
by doing exactly as she had intended at first.
On the present occasion Averil did not spare her.
"You are wrong," she said, vehemently. "One day you will know how
wrong you have been. Captain Beverley is only flirting with Maud--he
will never propose to her. The Beverley's will look far higher than our
family. You are encouraging her in this miserable infatuation, and both
you and she are sacrificing Rodney."
"What do you mean by this extraordinary statement, Averil?" And Mrs.
Willmot drew herself up with an affronted air.
"Captain Beverley is using Rodney for his own ends. Do you suppose a
man of his age has any interest in a boy like Rodney? It pleases him
to come here, and he throws a careless invitation to him now and then,
which he is far too pleased to accept. Rodney will be ruined, for
Frank tells me they are a wild, extravagant set. This Canadian scheme
would save him--it would break off his intimacy with those men; it
would remove him from the scene of his temptation. Mrs. Willmot, you
are sacrificing your boy to Maud's fancied interest--it is she who is
keeping him here."
But though Averil went on in this strain until she was exhausted,
she could not induce her step-mother to alter her decision. She was
evidently touched once or twice as Averil pleaded; an uneasy look came
over her face.
"You are prejudiced--Maud thinks very differently from that," she
observed, more than once. It was Maud who was evidently the mother's
adviser.
Averil had to desist at last with a sore heart; but before she broke
off the conversation she returned again to the subject of Mme.
Delamotte. She made far more impression here. Mrs. Willmot burst
into tears when she saw the receipted bill; she even kissed Averil
affectionately, and called her her dear, her dearest girl. There was no
want of gratitude for the timely help that had staved off the evil day
of reckoning. Mrs. Willmot spoke the truth when she said that she would
never forget this generous act.
"My girls have treated me badly," she said, with unusual
bitterness--"Maud especially. I know I am to blame leaving things
so much to Maud; but she is clever, and has a clear head, and never
muddles things as I do. I thought there were only two quarters owing--I
certainly understood that last year's account had been settled. I
remember drawing a check--Stop! was it for Madame Delamotte or Rodney?
My memory is so bad, and the children seem always pestering me for
money."
Mrs. Willmot's explanation was by no means lucid; but Averil, who knew
her perfectly, did not in the least accuse her of insincerity. She
was aware that her stepmother was a bad woman of business; that she
was indolent, and suffered herself to be ruled by her high-spirited
daughter. She had always shifted her responsibilities on to other
people.
To do her justice, she was extremely shocked at the want of rectitude
on Maud's part, and promised readily that such a thing should never
occur again--the quarterly bill should be settled in future. She even
acquiesced very meekly when Averil announced her intention of speaking
to Maud very plainly.
"I shall tell her," she finished--and there was a stern, set look round
Averil's mouth as she spoke, that showed she fully meant what she
said--"that if such a disgraceful occurrence ever takes place again in
this house, I shall consider it my duty to make different arrangements
for the future."
"I am sure she deserves to be frightened," returned Mrs. Willmot,
tearfully. She was plainly awed by Averil's manner, though she did not
in the least believe this threat.
But Averil had not spoken without due reflection. During the long
sleepless night she had tried to look her duty in the face; her
step-mother had claims on her, but was it right that her poor should
be defrauded--that her father's money should be squandered to satisfy
the rapacity of these headstrong young people? Was she not encouraging
them in habits of extravagance and idleness? She could bear her daily
martyrdom, the homely sacrifice; but that it should be in vain, that it
should be productive of evil and not good, this was intolerable to her.
She went to her own room, feeling weary and disquieted. The worst
part--her talk with Maud--was to come. She felt she had need to brace
herself afresh for the stormy discussion. As she sat down by the window
she saw Rodney lounging on the lawn; his brief sulkiness had vanished.
In reality he was a sweet-tempered fellow, and hated to be on bad terms
with any one.
"Halloo, Ave," he said, as he caught sight of her, "what have you
and the mater been talking about all this time? There seems to be a
precious row about something."
Averil was utterly spent--she put out her hand to him with a little sob.
"Why do you all make my life so miserable?" she said. "It is not fair.
I have done nothing to deserve it."
Rodney gave his usual shrug and kicked a loose pebble. He wished he had
not spoken. The least approach to a scene gave him an uncomfortable
sensation. Averil saw his dismay, and recovered herself at once.
"Come and sit down," she said, hastily. "I want to talk to you. Rodney,
why did you write to Mr. Harland without speaking to me again? It
troubles me inexpressibly to think that you have thrown away such a
chance. Do you know, Frank says--"
"Oh, Frank again!" returned Rodney, crossly. "I beg your pardon, Ave,"
as she looked somewhat offended at this; "I do hate to have a fellow
flung at me like that. How could I help writing when the mater and Maud
made such a fuss--"
"But you would have liked it yourself?"
"I don't know. It is rather a bore leaving all one's friends. Beverley
says there are better berths to be picked up here. There is Forbes's
brother, Alick--"
"Please do not tell me what Captain Beverley or Mr. Forbes think;
Mr. Harland is a far wiser adviser. Rodney, dear, I am very unhappy
about you. You are not choosing your friends wisely. I dread Captain
Beverley's influence. He is rich, a man of the world, and intensely
selfish. His habits can not be yours. Your mother's means are not
large; you have no right to live as though you had expectations. You
would be far safer and happier in Canada than staying on here in
idleness."
"It is not my fault," returned Rodney, impatiently. "I was quite
willing to go, only the mater cried about it, and Maud told me that
I was only thinking of my own interests. Don't you see, Ave," in a
coaxing voice, "I am in rather a difficult position--I can't turn a
cold shoulder on Beverley when he is making up to Maud. It is quite
true what she says--that I am the only son, and that it is rather
shabby to leave the mater if she does not want to part with me."
"Rodney, if you would only give up the society of these men. I think I
dislike Mr. Forbes even more than Captain Beverley. I never can trust a
man who does not look you in the face. Frank told me that he belongs to
one of the fastest sets in town."
"Nonsense! Forbes is a capital fellow--I don't know any one more
good-natured or amusing. He has done me a good turn more than once.
But"--interrupting himself--"you are only a girl--you would not
understand."
"I think I know more than most girls," returned Averil, with a sad
smile. "I am very old for my age. Try me, Rodney. I wish you would tell
me everything;" and she looked anxiously at the fair, boyish face,
with its handsome, irresolute mouth. If he would only confide in her!
But even as the thought passed through her mind Rodney threw off some
unwelcome reflection, and shook himself with a light laugh.
"You are a good little soul, Ave," he said, jumping up. "Don't bother
your head about me. Something is sure to turn up, so there is no need
to banish me to Canada;" and Rodney went off whistling.
Averil sat for a little time alone, then Lottie brought her some tea,
and after that she went in search of Maud.
No one knew what passed between them. Mrs. Willmot, in her selfish
policy, thought it wise not to inquire. Averil did not appear again
that evening--she had a headache, and remained in her own room.
Georgina noticed that Maud was in an unusually bad temper; she
snubbed Lottie mercilessly, and was positively rude to Annette. But
Georgina was not a very close observer; she failed to detect a certain
uneasiness and restlessness, that seemed to increase as the evening
wore on. Maud took no one into her confidence; if any expectation she
had formed had met with disappointment, she was strong enough to bear
it in silence.
"It has been a stupid day," said Annette, as she parted from Lottie
that night. "Something has gone wrong--my cousin is miserable."
But Lottie could give her no information. The evening had been a
failure; Maud had been cross and detestable; Rodney had gone out;
no one had ventured to speak. "Never mind; things will be better
to-morrow, and there is Grey-Mount on Monday," she said, with the gay
philosophy that was natural to her.
"Things will be better to-morrow"--a very Lottie-like speech. Lottie's
sanguine temperament never predicted misfortune; if matters were
unsatisfactory to-day, they were sure to mend. It was this bright
joyousness, this faith in an ultimate good, that had made the little
school-girl happy in spite of shabby clothes, hard task-masters, and
uncongenial labors; it was this sweet, unselfish nature, so child-like,
and yet so sound at the core, that was weaving the love that was to be
the blessing of her life.
It was not Lottie's pink cheeks, her bright eyes, and pleasant ways,
that were binding Ned Chesterton's heart to her so surely, for Ned was
an intelligent, shrewd fellow, and knew better than to build his life's
happiness on such shifting materials. It was the girl's frankness, her
honesty, her loyal devotion to those she loved, and her sweet yielding
temper, that had first attracted him. He was not a rich man: the young
lawyer would have to work hard at his profession before he could afford
the luxury of a wife; but he had long ago said to himself that that
wife should be Lottie Jones.