DINNER AT MR DEANE'S IN NOTTINGHAM--JACK DEANE ANNOUNCES THE PROFESSION
HE HAS CHOSEN.
As the hour of dinner approached, the expected guests began to arrive at
the hall-door of Mr Deane's substantial mansion in the market-place.
With the exception of Mr Harwood and one or two others, they were
relations of the family, or connected in some way or other. Mrs Deane
received them in a cordial and hearty manner, showing, however, that she
entertained a becoming sense of her own importance. The Squire and
Alethea were evidently, from the style of their reception, amongst the
most honoured. The lady of the mansion wore a tower of fine Flemish
lace on her head, to which that on her gown, of handsome paduasoy,
exactly corresponded; and her general appearance was matronly and
dignified. Behind her, courtesying and smiling to the guests as they
approached, stood two well-grown unmistakably English girls, their
dresses ornamented with cherry-coloured ribbons, just then in fashion:
the eldest, Catherine, or Kate, as she was called, a brunette, tall and
slight, with a somewhat grave and retiring manner, and far more refined
than her rosy-cheeked, merry-looking younger sister Polly, who gave
promise of some day growing into the goodly proportions of her mother.
Mr Deane, with full wig, lace coat, and sword by his side, stood in the
old oak hall, accompanied by his son Jasper, ready to hand the ladies
from their sedan-chairs as they were brought into the hall. The last to
arrive, who was received with all due honour, was a Dr Nathaniel Deane,
a cousin of Mr Deane's, the only physician, and one of the greatest
men, in Nottingham. Jack was the last to enter the house, and had but
little time to slip into his room, and put on his grey dress suit,
before dinner was announced. For a few minutes he was seen standing
behind the door, unwilling to enter and go through the ordeal of paying
his respects to the assembled guests, little more of him being
observable besides a broad shoulder and a well-turned leg, with a red
clock to his grey stocking. Cousin Nat--for so Mr Nathaniel Deane was
called by his relatives--soon however spied him out, and though at that
moment tapping his jewelled snuff-box preparatory to offering it to Mrs
Bethia Harcourt, Mrs Deane's maiden aunt, he contrived directly
afterwards to find himself close to Jack, and to shake hands cordially
with the young man, for whom he evidently had an especial regard.
"Well, Jack, what scrape have you last got into, or out of rather, I
should say?" said Cousin Nat, "for I am told it is seldom you have not
something of the sort on hand. However, you do not look the worse for
that or for your studies either, boy, though I should be glad to hear
that you had determined to follow some steady pursuit, instead of
running your head into other people's quarrels, without any benefit to
yourself."
"That is the very thing I have been thinking of," answered Jack, as he
returned his respected cousin's greeting, "but I have no fancy for
sitting at a desk, nor for any other indoor work. Jasper is more suited
for that than I am."
He glanced as he spoke towards the slight figure of his brother, who
presented a considerable contrast to himself. The elder had handsome
features, with a somewhat sickly hue in his countenance, such as is
often produced by study and thought. His manner was refined, and the
expression of his countenance denoted an amiable and gentle disposition.
"We will not attempt to make an MD of you, at all events," answered
Cousin Nat. "Perhaps you would rather take to breaking men's bones than
attempting to cure them of their ailments, as I try to do, and as your
brother Jasper hopes to do also."
"Not especially," answered Jack: "I should like to see the world, but I
have not a fancy for knocking men on the head, and could never
understand the amusement some people find in it; but I have no objection
to stand up and defend my own if I am attacked, or to draw my sword in
the defence of a friend or a right cause."
Dr Nathaniel smiled at his young kinsman's remark. "You will not have
to wait long then, lad, before you find sufficient excuse for drawing
your sword, and fighting away with as hearty good-will as any of old
Noll's Ironsides ever did."
Just at this juncture dinner was announced, and the guests being
marshalled according to the strictest rules of precedence, took their
places round the well-covered table, on which the summer's sun, flaring
through the three tall windows, lighted up the goodly array of silver
tankards and pewter dishes, and a great store of blue oriental china.
Mrs Deane's duties were of no ordinary kind, every joint being placed
before her in succession, that she might employ her well-skilled hands
in carving it, the duty of passing the bottles in quick succession being
left to the host at the foot of the table.
The quiet, though far from retiring-mannered Jasper had enjoyed the
honour of handing down the fair Alethea, and had dexterously managed to
place himself by her side. Jack, who sat opposite, observed that she
listened attentively to his conversation, which, although he could not
catch the substance of it, he saw was of an interesting character. Dr
Nathaniel Deane, however, took upon himself the entertainment of a
larger portion of the guests, Mrs Deane occasionally keeping up the
ball of conversation by a hearty joke and a jovial laugh, while Mr
Deane, with more gravity of manner than his spouse, threw in a remark
here and there as occasion required.
Nottingham was at this time, as its inhabitants asserted, the most
genteel town in the midland counties, a distinction it owed in some
measure to the noble palace, built by the Duke of Newcastle as his
family residence, on the site of the old fortified castle that had been
identified with nearly all the chief periods of English history, from
the time of Isabella and Mortimer, who made it their stronghold, to that
when Cromwell, riding back towards London, the Civil War being over, saw
the greater part of the walls pulled down. On that occasion he told
Colonel Hutchinson, who had so bravely defended those stout walls for
the Parliament, that he was heartily vexed at it. The Colonel replied
that he had procured it to be done, and believed it to be his duty to
ease the people of charge when there was no more need for it. Some of
the tower? and walls, however, still stood conspicuous among the newer
parts of the edifice with which they had been incorporated by the
architect. In the market-place, as has been observed, there were a
number of fine old mansions belonging to the country families who were
accustomed to spend their winters in the town. There were also a good
many other handsome places in the immediate neighbourhood. None,
however, could be compared for beauty of situation with the castle which
crowns the rock rising abruptly from the Trent valley, with its stream
at the bottom, which, after coming down from the Yorkshire moors, finds
its way through the midst of that vast forest district, with its heaths
and leafy alleys, which was once all included under the name of Sherwood
Forest.
"Well, Neighbour Deane, what news do you bring from the big city of
London?" inquired Mr Samuel Pinkstone, a most respected burgess of
Nottingham, during a pause in the conversation. "I am glad to see that
you and Master Jasper have escaped all the dangers you had to encounter
there and on your way back. They say that housebreakers are as thick
there as gooseberries on a gooseberry-bush; and as for highwaymen, I
wonder any stage escapes being robbed from the number of them, I am
told, who throng the roads."
"Thank you, Master Pinkstone, we met with no accident of any sort or
kind," answered Mr Deane. "I did not set eyes on the muzzle of a
pistol either in London or on our way from it. Some of the young rakes,
who have not forgotten the pranks they played in the last king's reign,
occasionally had a scuffle with the watch, and a few heads were broken
now and then, but no brains were let out--for the best of reasons, that
there were none within. It is proposed, however, to light the city, if
our Greenland whalers would but bring us oil enough; but unless they
have a fortunate fishing season, there is but little chance of their
doing that. I saw some odd sights in the city, I must say; and unless
the ladies of quality mend their manners, I am afraid things will come
to a pretty pass before long."
"But as to public matters, neighbour," said Mr Pinkstone, "what about
them? We do not hear much about them down here. What is our fleet
about?"
"We have as fine a fleet as ever sailed, under Mr Russell," answered
Mr Deane. "All the year he has managed to keep master of the
Mediterranean, and has had the French fleet shut up within their ports,
though contrary winds have prevented him making a descent on Marseilles
or at Toulon, though he has had regiments of soldiers on board for that
purpose. Then we have another fleet in our Channel, ready to bombard
the French coast. They have destroyed Gronville, and have made an
attack upon Dunkirk, but they failed in that, I am sorry to say. But
the worst matter, however, is, that the Marquis of Carmarthen, with a
squadron under him, which lay off the islands of Scilly to protect our
trade, fancying that a superior French fleet was coming out to attack
him, when it was only a fleet of merchant-ships, left his station and
retired into Milford Haven. This mistake has caused a great blow to our
trade. Many of the Barbados ships have been taken by French cruisers,
and two rich ships coming from the East Indies have also been captured,
besides which three other large ships have fallen into the hands of
French privateers off the Irish coast. All the city of London therefore
complains that neither the Admiralty nor the Government take proper care
to preserve the wealth of of the nation."
"Nor are they likely to do so," observed Mr Harwood in an under-tone to
his next neighbour, "while we have men of the present stamp at the head
of affairs. Old England is going to rack and ruin, I see that very
clearly, with all her new-fangled schemes and arrangements. They are
yielding to the cry of the manufacturers, and are about to pass a law to
put a stop to our free trade in wool and corn; and they will soon shut
us up to our home markets, and not allow us to sell where we can get the
best price abroad."
Mr Harwood among country gentlemen was not singular in his opinions on
that subject.
The first course being removed, Mrs Deane folded her arms, to recover
after the fatigue of carving for so many guests; no slight labour,
considering the size of the joints which had been placed before her.
Now, the cloth being removed, and the dessert spread on the shining
mahogany table, came the usual accompaniment of pipes and tobacco, which
Kate and Polly Deane had to prepare with their own pretty fingers for
the use of the gentlemen. This being done, and small pieces of lighted
charcoal being brought from the kitchen, wreaths of smoke began to
ascend round the table.
"There is an important toast to be proposed, Neighbour Deane, is there
not?" said the Worshipful Mr Pinkstone, turning to the host; "but that
should be Dr Nathaniel's task, I opine, should it not?"
"To be sure, certainly," said Cousin Nat, "I will gladly undertake the
honour. Our friends are generally aware of the object which has called
us together this day. I have, then, the pleasure to announce that my
kinsman, Mr Jasper Deane, is about to enter into the profession of
which I have, for so many years, been an unworthy member, and I trust
that by devoting his mind to science, and his energies to the care of
those who are placed under him, he may be the means of largely
benefiting his fellow-creatures, which all will agree is the great
object a physician should have in view. I have infinite satisfaction,
therefore, in proposing the health of the future MD, my young kinsman
aforesaid, Mr Jasper Deane."
At the conclusion of Dr Nathaniel's short speech the guests rose to
their feet, and all turned towards the young Mr Jasper, wishing him in
succession health, happiness, and success in his proposed profession.
He received the compliments paid to him with due modesty. His voice
slightly trembling from nervousness, he returned thanks in a very neat
and proper speech, which it is not necessary here to repeat.
Mr Deane then rose, and filling his glass, did the same in his own
name, and in that of his dame, for the honour paid to their son, and
then drank to the health of all the guests present, beginning with the
ladies, and taking Mr Harwood first among the gentlemen, expressing at
the same time his gratitude to Dr Nathaniel for having undertaken to
introduce his son into the noble profession to which he himself was so
great an ornament.
Alethea watched the countenance of Mr Jasper as he was addressing his
guests, and she probably remarked that it lighted up with far more
expression and animation than a stranger who saw him under ordinary
circumstances would have supposed it capable of exhibiting.
"Well, Mr Jack, and what profession do you intend following?" asked Mr
Harwood across the table.
"That depends upon circumstances, sir," said Jack. "I have no fancy for
sitting indoors all day, and driving a pen, nor any other pursuit that
would keep me out of the fresh air. To say the truth, if I had a free
choice, I would follow some calling which would let me see the world at
large, and our own country in particular. Last year, during the
vacation, I took a trip with Will Brinsmead, Mr Strelley's head drover,
as far as Stourbridge, to the fair, and I never enjoyed any thing more
in my life. I thought then, and I think now, that for a young man who
likes being on horseback, and enjoys the free air of heaven, galloping
across country, there is not a pleasanter sort of life. And it is not
unprofitable either, if a man knows any thing about beasts, and where
are the best pastures on which to put flesh on their bones. If my
father and mother, therefore, have no objection, I have made up my mind
to turn drover."
Most of the company expressed their surprise at this announcement, by
their looks if not by their remarks. Mr Deane was evidently somewhat
annoyed at the announcement his younger son had made. Alethea
especially looked at him across the table with surprise, while the
colour mounted into his sister Polly's cheeks, for though she had heard
him express the same resolution, she little dreamed that he was in
earnest in the matter, thinking that it was only a way of talking in
which lads of his age were apt to indulge.
"I should think, my lad, that you are fit for a higher walk in life than
the one you have mentioned," said Mr Harwood across the table. "With a
trusty sword by your side, and a hundred men at your orders, you would
be more in your place, I suspect. There is plenty of work for gentlemen
in these days, if not in Old England, at all events out of it. There
are many wrongs to be righted, and many good causes to be sustained.
There are many I could tell you of who would willingly accept the offer
of your sword."
Mrs Deane looked highly pleased at the compliment Mr Harwood was
paying her son, and thanked him with one of her beaming smiles, although
Cousin Nat screwed up his lips in a peculiar manner and gave a
significant look at Jack.
"Thank you, sir," said Jack, "but I have no fancy for offering my sword
to any one out of the country, however high he may bid for it, or in
using it, indeed, except in my own defence, or in that of my country. I
do not see what is amiss in the life of a drover, such as I hope to be
one of these days. It is no easy task, I should say, to drive three
hundred head of cattle from the Yorkshire hills down South, and I hope
in time to deal on a large scale, like Mr Strelley, and other friends I
know of."
"Well, well, Master Jack, you must take your own way," answered Mr
Harwood, "or be guided by your honoured parents: we will have a talk
another time about these matters."
Mr Deane's lips had become considerably compressed while his son was
speaking, and there was an hysterical cry from Aunt Bethia, whose great
wish had always been to see her favourite Jack figure in what she called
good society.
"You may quit the society of your equals, for which you have so little
respect, Jack," said his father in somewhat stern accents; "those you do
not value will take little pains to keep you among them; but let me hear
no more of this matter. Now, friends," he continued, making an effort
to recover his usual tone of voice, "fill the ladies' glasses, and keep
the bottles moving among you. Lads often talk nonsense when they fancy
they are talking sense, and so may I beg you to forget what my son Jack
has just said? He will think better on the subject another day."
"Don't be too hard on the lad, cousin," said Dr Nathaniel, turning to
the host. "It is a great thing, in my opinion, to get a young man to
choose a profession for himself. There are too many men like Jack who
are not content unless they can mount a helmet and jackboots, and go
about the world slaughtering their fellow-creatures without rhyme or
reason, should they not find a good cause to fight for. So, Jack,
here's to your health, my boy, and success to you in whatever honest
calling you determine to follow!"
Dr Nathaniel's word was law in Mr Deane's family, as it was in several
others in the town, and he therefore quickly succeeded in smoothing down
the somewhat ruffled temper of different members of the family.
Other toasts and speeches followed, but the songs which were generally
sung on such occasions were reserved for the supper, of which all the
guests present were expected to partake, at a later hour of the day.
The ladies then rising, gracefully sailed out of the room, while the
gentlemen continued to pass the battle round for some time longer. It
was still broad daylight, though the fresh air of evening was already
blowing through the windows. Mrs Deane therefore proposed to her
female guests that they should enjoy the breeze for a while on the
Castle Terrace, which was the usual promenade of the gay world of
Nottingham, and there was a general call for hoods and gloves. The
party of ladies, as they glided out of the house, precedence being given
to the more elderly dames, took their way towards the castle, and
passing through the grand gateway which had stood so many attacks, soon
ascended the broad stone steps with massive balustrades which led in two
flights to the noble terrace in front of the building. It was well
paved with large flat stones, and with a breastwork of stone, and on the
south side of the castle a convenient arcade, where in rainy or hot
weather the gentry of the town could walk under shelter. On that
beautiful summer's evening, however, the ladies required only their
green fans to protect their eyes from the almost level rays of the
setting sun, which fans the young ones occasionally found useful for
other purposes--either to hide their faces from an unwelcome admirer, or
to beckon a too timid one, perchance. The park with its three long
avenues lay before them, and the steep declivities which ran down from
it to the river Leen were covered with woods, broken here by some old
tower which had withstood all attempts at its demolition, and there by a
jutting mass of grey rock, looking scarcely more solid than the
rock-like masonry of the tower. The new building had only been finished
the year Jack was born, as Mrs Deane was in the habit of telling any
friends who came to visit her for the first time at Nottingham. It was
built in the Italian style of architecture, with a fine double flight of
steps to the principal entrance, over which was an equestrian
alto-relievo of Charles the Second. The flat roofs were surrounded by
balustrades, and the spaces between the long terrace of windows were
filled up with architraves and entablatures, which produced a rich and
picturesque though somewhat heavy effect. On one side the view ranged
over the town, with its fine churches, and the distant sweeps of
Sherwood Forest, and the nearer woods of Colwick Park. On the other
side lay a rich and varied expanse of country, with the silvery Trent
winding through the valley, and round many a bold and thickly wooded
promontory; while the hills of Derbyshire and Leicestershire formed a
beautiful background to the peaceful and smiling landscape.
Kate and Polly Deane, with Alethea Harwood, after taking a turn or two,
sat down on one of the stone benches on the terrace. This was the first
moment that they had had the opportunity of speaking together on the
subject of Jack's determination to leave home, though neither Alethea
nor Kate could believe he really purposed following the calling of a
drover. Polly, who knew him better, was not so sure on the subject. He
had often described to her in glowing language the life which he
proposed to lead, and she could not help sympathising with him in that
as in most other matters in which he took an interest.
"But surely he is formed for better things than that," observed Alethea,
and Polly thought she saw a slight blush rise on the cheek of her
friend.
"He would never consent to associate with the rude, rough men which
drovers surely must be, even though he might meet occasionally with the
adventures you describe," she exclaimed.
"Oh! but he intends not only to be a drover, but a grazier; and that, he
tells me, is a sure road to wealth and independence," observed Polly.
"Here he comes to answer for himself," said Kate, and the young ladies,
looking up, saw Jack advancing towards them, and presenting a very
becoming appearance in his grey suit, with his hair brushed as smoothly
back from his smooth open forehead as its curly nature would admit of,
and his hat in his hand, a fashion he gladly adopted, to avoid the
necessity of constantly removing it as he passed his numerous
acquaintances.
Polly's affectionate little heart bounded at seeing many friendly
glances thrown at him, and she whispered to Kate, in a tone which
Alethea overheard, "He does not look as if we need ever be ashamed of
him, after all."
"If he follows the life he proposes, he will never wear a sword like a
gentleman," observed Kate.
"He is tolerably well able, I should say, to defend himself without
one," observed Alethea, "from the specimen he gave us of his prowess
this afternoon," and she described the scene which had occurred on their
entering the town, when Jack had so bravely taken the part of the poor
widow's cow.
While she was speaking, Jack himself came up to them. The sisters
immediately attacked him on the subject, and Alethea inquired whether he
had driven back the animal to Widow Pitt's paddock.
"Oh, yes!" he answered; "but I should have had a far better appetite for
dinner, had I been able to find the fellows who had been so cruelly
baiting her. However, they will not manage to escape me altogether,
I'll warrant; but, as you know, I do not expect to remain here much
longer, now that I have finished my course at the Grammar School. They
will be for sending me to college if I do, and that I could never brook.
But before I go, I must come and pay you a visit at Harwood Grange,
Mistress Alethea."
"We shall always be glad to see you," said the young lady, looking up
with a bright glance at Jack's honest countenance. "Here comes my
father to say the same."
"Yes, indeed we shall, Jack," said Mr Harwood, who came up at that
moment. "I may be able to give you some useful introductions, when I
hear where you are going. I have many friends scattered about the
country, north and south."
"And you will not mind introducing me," asked Jack with kindling eye,
"though I follow the calling of what Kate calls a poor, miserable
drover?"
"Oh, no, no!" answered the Squire, "not if you always show the spirit
you did this afternoon, and that I am sure you will wherever you go, or
whatever calling you follow."
Here he took Jack's hand, and pressed it kindly in presence of the
various people of fashion who were walking up and down the terrace.
Mrs Deane observed the action, and seemed well pleased with the
attention paid her younger son. Taking somewhat after herself, he was,
it must be confessed, her favourite.
The sun was now sinking over the distant hills, and as the mist began to
rise from the river below, the parties on the terrace gradually
dispersed, the Deane family and their friends returning to their
mansion, where they assembled once more round their well-spread board,
at eight o'clock precisely, the fashionable hour for supper. Jack, in
better spirits than he had been in the afternoon, joined the family
party. Songs were sung, and numerous stories told by Dr Nathaniel, Mr
Pinkstone, and other acknowledged wits of the party. Ere ten o'clock
had struck, the whole party retired to their chambers, our forefathers
being of opinion that early to bed and early rising was far more
conducive to health than the late hours adopted by the present
generation.