"Learn that each duty makes its claim
Upon one soul, not each on all;
How if God speaks thy brother's name,
Dare thou make answer to the call?"
Cheriton had encountered greater sorrows, he had met with more startling
disappointments, but never, perhaps, had he endured such a complication
of feeling as when he turned away and left Alvar in the stable yard.
Perhaps he had never been so angry, for Alvar's accusation was
peculiarly galling, peculiarly hard to forgive, and impossible to
forget. And then there was the bitter sense of utter failure--failure
of influence, of tact, of affection, and, in so far as he identified
himself with the place and the people, there was yet a deeper sense of
injury. Every old prejudice, every old distaste, surged up in his mind,
and yet he loved Alvar well enough to sharpen the sting. He walked on
faster and faster, till want of breath stopped him, and brought on one
of the fits of coughing to which overhaste or agitation always rendered
him liable. He just managed to get back to the house and into the
library, where Jack started up, as he threw himself into a chair.
"Cherry, what _is_ the matter?"
Cherry could not speak for a moment; and Jack, much frightened,
exclaimed,--
"What _have_ you been doing? Let me call Alvar."
Cheriton caught his arm as he turned away; and, after a few moments, as
he began to get his breath,--
"Don't be frightened. I walked too fast up hill."
"How could you be so foolish?"
"Jack, I suppose I must tell you; indeed, I want to find out the rights
of it; and _I_ can ask no questions," he added, with a sudden hurry in
his accent.
"What do you mean? What has happened?"
The instinct of not irritating Jack enabled Cheriton to control his own
indignation, and he said very quietly,--
"When I went up to the stable I found Alvar giving little Chris Fleming
a tremendous licking. He was very much vexed with me for--I suppose for
trying to interpose; but there were so many people about that we could
not discuss it there. I wish you would go and ask old Bill what Chris
had been doing, then come and tell me. Don't say anything to Alvar
about it."
Jack was keen enough to see that this was not quite an adequate account
of the matter. He saw that Cheriton was deeply moved in some way; but
he was so unfit for discussion just then, that Jack thought the best
course was to hurry off on his errand.
He came back in about half-an-hour, looking very serious--too much so to
be ready to improve the occasion.
"Alvar has given old Bill warning--do you know that?"
"_No_. What was that for?" cried Cheriton, starting up.
"He would not speak a word to me, and Chris had gone off to his
brother's; but John Symonds told me what had passed." Here Jack
repeated the story of the ointment, old Bill's disobedience, and Chris's
declaration that it had been done by Cheriton's orders.
Cheriton's face cleared a little.
"Ah, I understand now. No wonder Alvar was vexed! I can explain that
easily. But old Bill, it _was_ very unjustifiable; but if Alvar will
not overlook it I do believe it will kill him."
"I don't see what he would have to live on," said Jack. "You know that
bad son spent his savings. But Alvar will let him off if you ask him, I
daresay."
"I think you had better do so," said Cheriton quietly.
At this moment Alvar came into the room, and Cheriton addressed him at
once.
"Alvar, when old Bill asked me about the ointment, I did not know that
you had been giving any orders about it. I am very sorry for the
mistake."
"It is not of consequence," said Alvar. "Do not trouble yourself about
it."
The words were kind, but the tone was less so; and there was something
in Alvar's manner which made it difficult even for Jack to say,--"I'm
afraid old Bill Fisher was provoking. He should have told you that he
could not get the stuff; but he is such an old servant, and so faithful.
I hope you won't dismiss him for it. He seems to belong to us
altogether."
"I shall not change," said Alvar.
"But it's an extremely harsh measure, and will make every one about the
place detest you," said Jack, still considering himself to be speaking
with praiseworthy moderation.
"I will judge myself of the measure." Then Cherry conquered his pride,
and said pleadingly,--
"I wish it very much."
"I am sorry to grieve you," said Alvar, more gently; "but I have
determined."
"Well," said Jack, losing patience, "we spoke as much for your sake as
for Bill's. Every one will consider it harsh dealing and a great shame.
You'll make them hate you."
"I will make them fear me," said Alvar.
"Claptrap and nonsense!" said Jack; but Cheriton interposed,--
"Hush, Jack, we have no right to say any more. What must be must."
To do Alvar justice, he was not aware how deeply he was grieving
Cheriton; he felt himself to be asserting his rights, and in the worst
corner of his heart knew that any relenting would be ascribed to his
brother's influence.
It was a very miserable day. After some hours of astonished sulking,
the poor old groom put his pride in his pocket, and came humbly "to beg
t' squire's pardon," and to entreat Cheriton to intercede for him,
recapitulating his years of long service, and his recollections of the
old squire's boyhood, till he nearly broke Cherry's heart; and induced
him to promise to make another attempt at interceding--a promise which
was not given without quite as severe a rebuke as Alvar had ever
inflicted, for disrespect to his master's orders.
He was closely followed by the eldest of the Fleming brothers, in great
indignation.
Nowhere but at Oakby, as the young man took care to observe, would Chris
have been allowed to take such a situation, in spite of his love of
horses, and troublesomeness at home.
"Chris was impertinent to Mr Lester," said Cheriton, hardly knowing
what line to take.
Young Fleming was very sorry; in that case he was better at home, and he
hoped it would not be inconvenient if he took him away at once.
"I suppose it might be best," said Cheriton, thoroughly sympathising
with the grievance, and thankful to Fleming for not obliging him to hear
or say much about it.
"Then, sir, maybe you will tell the squire that such is our wish."
"No; I think you had better write him a note about it."
The two young men looked at each other, and though Cheriton turned his
eyes quickly away, he knew well enough that Fleming understood the whole
matter.
"As you please, sir," he said; "I wouldn't wish for _you_ to be annoyed,
Mr Cherry, and _so_ I'll keep out of the squire's way. But
Westmoreland men are not black slaves, which no doubt the squire is
accustomed to, and accounts for his conduct. It's plain, sir, to any
one that can read the newspapers, that there's no liberty in foreign
parts, where they're all slaves and papists. Education, sir, teaches us
that. And folks do remark that the squire doesn't keep his church as
others do; and I _have_ heard that he means to establish a Popish chapel
like the one at Ravenscroft."
"Then you have heard the greatest piece of nonsense that ever was
invented. Education might cure you of such notions," said Cherry. "You
must do as you think best for Chris. I am very sorry."
The last words were involuntary, and Cherry hurried away before he was
betrayed into any further discussion.
Some hours later, as it was growing dusk, he was lying on the
window-seat in the library, thinking of how he could plead old Fisher's
cause without giving offence, and coming slowly to the conclusion that
his presence there was doing far more harm than good, that he was
risking peace with Alvar, and had better give up the straggle, when
Alvar himself came into the room, and came up to him.
"Are you not well?" he said, rather constrainedly.
"Only very tired."
"What have you been doing?" said Alvar, sitting down on the end of the
broad-cushioned seat, and looking at him.
The words certainly gave an opening; but Cheriton, famous all his life
for the most audacious coaxing, could not summon a smile or a joke.
"I have been tired all day," he said, to gain time for reflection.
"See," said Alvar suddenly, "you are unhappy about this old man, whom I
have dismissed."
"Yes. I don't defend him, far from it; but he is old and crochety, and
I think you were harsh with him," said Cherry resolutely.
"But it is I who should decide what to do with him," said Alvar.
"Of course. Don't imagine I dispute it," said Cheriton, thinking this
assertion rather foolish.
"You tell me that I should be master; you have told me so often. Well,
then, I can be harsh to my servants if I please."
"If you please, remembering that you and they serve the same Master
above."