WHAT IS REST?
'Rest, there is nothing for it but immediate rest and warm baths,' said
Lady Northmoor to Constance, who was waiting anxiously for the doctor's
verdict some hours later. 'It is only being overdone--no, my dear, there
is nothing really to fear, if we can only keep business and letters out
of his way for a few weeks, my dear child.'
For Constance, who had been dreadfully frightened by the sight of the
physician's carriage, which seemed to her inexperienced eyes the omen of
something terrible, fairly burst into tears of relief.
'Oh, I am so glad!' she said, as caresses passed--which might have been
those of mother and daughter for heartfelt sympathy and affection.
'You will miss your Saturdays and Sundays, my dear,' continued the aunt,
'for we shall have to go abroad, so as to be quite out of the way of
everything.'
'Never mind that, dear aunt, if only Uncle Frank is better. Will it be
long?'
'I cannot tell. He says six weeks, Dr. Smith says three months. It is
to be bracing air--Switzerland, most likely.'
'Oh, how delightful! How you will enjoy it!'
'It has always been a dream, and it is strange now to feel so downhearted
about it,' said her aunt, smiling.
'Uncle Frank is sure to be better there,' said Constance. 'Only think of
the snowy mountains--
Mont Blanc is the monarch of mountains;
They crown'd him long ago
On a throne of rocks, in a robe of clouds,
With a diadem of snow.'
And the girl's eyes brightened with an enthusiasm that the elder woman
felt for a moment, nor did either of them feel the verse hackneyed.
'Ah, I wish we could take you, my dear,' said Lady Northmoor; then, 'Do
you know where Herbert is?'
'No,' said Constance. 'Oh, aunt, I am so sorry! I don't think he would
have done it if the other boys had not teased him.'
'Perhaps not; but, indeed, I am grieved, not only on the poor rook's
account, but that he should have the heart to vex your uncle just now.
However, perhaps he did not understand how ill he has been all this week.
And I am afraid that young Stanhope is not a good companion for him.'
'I do not think he is,' said Constance; 'it seems to me that Stanhope
leads him into that betting, and makes him think it does not signify
whether he passes or not, and so he does not take pains.'
Herbert was not to be found either then or at dinner-time. It turned out
that he had taken from the stables the horse he was allowed to ride, and
had gone over to display his victim to Stanhope, and then on to the
bird-stuffer; had got a meal, no one wished to know how, only returning
in time to stump upstairs to bed.
He thus avoided an interview with his uncle over the rook, unaware that
his aunt had left him the grace of confession, being in hopes that,
unless he did speak of his own accord, the vexatious knowledge might be
spared to one who did not need an additional annoyance just then.
Lord Northmoor was not, however, to be spared. He was much better the
next day, Sunday, a good deal exhilarated by the doctor's opinion; and,
though concerned at having to break off his work, ready to enjoy what he
was told was absolutely essential.
The head-keeper had no notion of sparing him. Mr. Best regarded him with
a kind of patronising toleration as an unfortunate gentleman who had the
ill-hap never to have acquired a taste for sport, and was unable to do
justice to his preserves; but towards 'Mr. Morton' there was a very
active dislike. The awkward introduction might have rankled even had
Herbert been wise enough to follow Miss Morton's advice; but his nature
was overbearing, and his self-opinion was fostered by his mother and Ida,
while he was edged on by his fellow-pupils to consider Best a mere old
woman, who could only be tolerated by the ignorance of 'a regular Stick.'
With the under-keeper Herbert fraternised enough to make him
insubordinate; and the days when Lord Northmoor gave permission for
shooting or for inviting his companions for a share in the sport, were
days of mutual offence, when the balance of provoking sneer and angry
insult would be difficult to cast, though the keeper was the most
forbearing, since he never complained of personal ill-behaviour to
himself, whereas Herbert's demonstrations to his uncle of 'that old fool'
were the louder and more numerous because they never produced the
slightest effect.
However, Best felt aggrieved in the matter of the rook, which had been
put under his special protection, and being, moreover, something of a
naturalist, he had cherished the hope of a special Northmoor breed of
pied rooks.
So while, on the way from church, Lady Adela was detaining Lady Northmoor
with inquiries as to Dr. Smith, Best waylaid his master with, 'Your
lordship gave me orders about that there rook with white wings, as was
not to be mislested.'
'Has anything happened to it?' said Frank wearily.
'Well, my lord, I sees Mr. Morton going up to the rookery with his gun,
and I says to him that it weren't time for shooting of the branchers, and
the white rook weren't to be touched by nobody, and he swears at me for a
meddling old leggings, and uses other language as I'll not repeat to your
lordship, and by and by I hears his gun, and I sees him a-picking up of
the rook that her ladyship set such store by, so it is due to myself, my
lord, to let you know as I were not to blame.'
'Certainly not, Best,' was the reply. 'I am exceedingly displeased that
my nephew has behaved so ill to you, and I shall let him know it.'
'His lordship will give it to him hot and strong, the young upstart,'
muttered Best to himself with great satisfaction, as he watched the
languid pace quicken to overtake the boy, who had gone on with his
sister.
Perhaps the irritability of illness had some effect upon the ordinary
gentleness of Lord Northmoor's temper, and besides, he was exceedingly
annoyed at such ungrateful slaughter of what was known to be a favourite
of his wife; so when he came upon Herbert, sauntering down to the
stables, he accosted him sharply with, 'What is this I hear, Herbert? I
could not have believed that you would have deliberately killed the
creature that you knew to be a special delight to your aunt.'
Herbert had reached the state of mind when a third, if not a fourth,
reproach on the same subject on which his conscience was already uneasy,
was simply exasperating, and without the poor excuse he had offered his
aunt and sister, he burst out that it was very hard that such a beastly
row should be made about a fellow knocking down mere trumpery vermin.
'Speak properly, Herbert, or hold your tongue,' said his uncle. 'I am
extremely displeased at finding that you do not know how to conduct
yourself to my servants, and have presumed to act in this lawless,
heartless manner, in defiance of what you knew to be your aunt's wishes
and my orders, and that you replied to Best's remonstrance with
insolence.'
'That's a good one! Insolent to an old fool of a keeper,' muttered
Herbert sullenly.
'Insolence is shameful towards any man,' returned his uncle. 'And from a
foolish headstrong boy to a faithful old servant it is particularly
unbecoming. However, bad as this is, it is not all that I have to speak
of.'
Then Herbert recollected with dismay how much his misdemeanour would tell
against his pardon for the more important act of disobedience, and he
took refuge in a sullen endeavour at indifference, while his uncle,
thoroughly roused, spoke of the sins of disobedience and the dangers of
betting. Perhaps the only part of the lecture that he really heard was,
'Remember, it was these habits in those who came before us that have been
so great a hindrance in life to both you and me, and made you, my poor
boy, so utterly mistaken as to what becomes your position. How much have
you thrown away?'
Herbert looked up and muttered the amount--twelve pounds and some
shillings.
'Very well, I will not have it owed. I shall pay it, deducting two
pounds from your allowance each term till it is made up. Give me the
address or addresses.'
At this Herbert writhed and remonstrated, but his uncle was inexorable.
'The fellows will be at me,' he said, as he gave Stanhope's name.
'You will see no more of Stanhope after this week. I have arranged to
send you to a tutor in Hertfordshire, who I hope will make you work, and
where, I trust, you will find companions who will give you a better idea
of what becomes a gentleman.'
In point of fact, this had been arranged for some time past, though by
the desire of Herbert's present tutor it had not been made known to the
young people, so that, coming thus, there was a sound of punishment in it
to Herbert.
The interview ended there. The annoyance, enhanced in his mind by having
come on a Sunday, brought on another attack of headache; but late in the
evening he sent for Herbert, who always had to go very early on the
Monday. It was to ask him whether he would not prefer the payment being
made to Stanhope and the other pupil after he had left them. Herbert's
scowl passed off. It was a great relief. He said they were prepared to
wait till he had his allowance, and the act of consideration softened
him, as did also the manifest look of suffering and illness, as his uncle
lay on the couch, hardly able to speak, and yet exerting himself thus to
spare the lad.
'Thank you, sir,' actually Herbert said, and then, with a gulp, 'I am
sorry about that bird--I wish I'd never told them, but it was Stanhope
who drove me to it, not believing.'
'I thought it was not your better mind,' said his uncle, holding out his
hand. 'I should like you to make me a promise, Herbert, not to make a
bet while I am away. I should go with an easier mind.'
'I will, uncle,' said Herbert, heartily reflecting, perhaps, it must be
owned, on the fewer opportunities in that line at Westhaven, except at
the regatta, but really resolving, as the only salve to his conscience.
And there was that in his face and the clasp of his hand that gave his
uncle a sense of comfort and hope.