people. Use your eyes to-day, and see what the Fabers are like. Mrs.
Faber has developed so wonderfully you would not know her for the same
person, though she is still somewhat afraid of Lady Dove, which is not
surprising. That woman is simply odious."
Very soon they reached Aldersfield, and Lewis conducted his cousin to
the barn where he had worked so hard. The preparations were drawing to
a close, and at that moment Toney herself dashed out with a hammer in
her hand.
"Why, Toney, you look like Sisera going to do the deed! Is there
anything I can get?"
"Oh, you'll do for audience beautifully, I was just going to fetch Mrs.
Horner, but she is dreadfully busy. It's to hear Uncle Dove rehearse
his speech. We've put up the platform for him and all, and now he
declares he can't make a speech--but he must. Now do, Maud, you'll
represent the ladylike portion. Poor uncle is so shy, and only says
'Hum, hum!'"
They entered the barn, where Sir Evas was indeed looking supremely
unhappy.
"Oh, Waycott, I'm glad you've come. Toney declares I must make a speech
and it's quite beyond me!"
"Oh yes you can, dear, ducky uncle. Just say something that you really
mean out of your heart."
"That they won't make themselves ill with over-eating!"
"Oh, that's horrid, you wouldn't say that at your own table--but look,
Mr. Waycott, what do you think of the whole?"
"Oh!" exclaimed Maud, "why it's too beautiful for them, and everything
silver, and, oh, what lovely silver dishes!"
Lewis gave Maud a little nudge; he knew this speech would be like
gunpowder to Toney.
"Too beautiful! Of course not! How can anything be too beautiful?
Aren't these flowers exquisite, Mr. Waycott? That was all your doing."
"But it's like a grand dinner party," urged Maud.
"And so it is, a very grand dinner party. Do you see the little roses,
and the napkins folded like lilies? The servants have just been awfully
nice over it all, and the button-holes are ready for the men and a
little posy for the ladies. I'm just a wee bit afraid about the
children, but Chum says I'm to trust her."
"May I play something for them on the violin?" asked Maud eagerly.
"Oh, how lovely, yes; but--not one of your long fugues, please.
Something they'd all like, just a brisk jig or imitation of bagpipes."
Maud looked upon herself as a good player, but she nobly hid her
disgust.
"I see, a good stirring dance."
"Yes, just at first, something that will unloose their tongues, and that
they can talk all through it till the dance begins. Now, Uncle Evas,
it's your turn. You must practise your speech. Mr. Waycott, just sit
there to represent the men, and Maud will do the stuck-ups, and I'll do
the women. It must suit us all, uncle. You can just say how awfully
glad you are to see them, and that Toney Whitburn is too, and that--no,
I'll make my own, you'd go wrong."
Happily for Sir Evas a footman entered at the moment, and announced that
Lady Dove said would Sir Evas go at once, and see her on business.
*CHAPTER VII.*
*THE VISITORS ARRIVE.*
"What is the programme?" asked Maud, catching Toney's enthusiasm.
"Uncle Evas, and any of us who like, will sit down to dinner here, then,
when they are well started, we shall go to dine in the house, and hurry
a little to begin the dancing here. Poor people do like having plenty
of time to eat, so I think we can manage it all."
"When is Sir Evas to make his speech?"
"Just between their meat and pudding. It will help them to digest, and
they do like to hear speeches, so I'm going to make one, and anybody
else who feels moved. Won't you, Mr. Waycott?"
"But they are not my tenants, Toney."
"But they are your neighbours, and we ought to love our neighbour as
ourself."
"I expect my people will be very jealous!" answered Lewis laughing.
"Then you can have a party of your own. I'll come and help you in
return."
"That's a promise, but I don't know what Aunt Honoria would say!"
"Oh! My visitors are going to---- No, I won't tell you as you might
let it out to Aunt Dove. Uncle Evas gave leave, but----"
At this moment Sir Evas walked in, followed by Lady Carew.
"Oh! what a fairy palace!" exclaimed her ladyship. "Where is Miss
Whitburn? I've come to beg you to let me see all the fun, but I didn't
expect this! My husband is coming later, but I rebelled."
Lady Carew's face was all smiles. She had never forgotten Toney's first
tea-party at Aldersfield, besides the story of Toney's fortune and her
coming of age was known to everyone for miles round. Toney gave one of
her quick searching looks and settled that Lady Carew meant all she
said.
"Well, that is nice of you! You haven't come because I've got such a
heap of money! Oh dear! Uncle Evas, I do believe I see somebody
arriving in the distance."
Sir Evas looked too.
"Good heavens, Toney! it's the _avant garde_. Much too early!"
"But you are glad they should enjoy themselves as long as possible,
aren't you, and you said you wanted them to see your house, and you
know---- Did you tell Mr. Diggings!"
"Tell him what, Toney?" whispered Lewis, who was prepared for a
surprise.
"That the house is open to _everybody_ to-day! Fancy, Lady Carew, ever
so many of uncle's tenants have never been in the house at all! So now
Uncle Evas has been awfully kind, and said Aldersfield should be thrown
open, only----"
Sir Evas had hurried off.
"Only what?" laughed Lewis, who had jumped to conclusions.
"He wouldn't tell Aunt Dove, so I want my friends to act as sentinels at
her door! and we must all take parties round. No one is to see this
fairy palace till six!"
"Doesn't Lady Dove know?" asked Lady Carew smiling, "pray let me
personally conduct as I have never seen all the house either. I know
there are fine pictures."
"Well, no, Aunt Dove doesn't know. She would just have squirmed a bit
at seeing so many of them all about. I've just run round to open all
the doors, but I posted a warning near Aunt Dove's door. Oh, I do hope
she is safe for a long time. She said she was going to rest, and Miss
Grossman is reading to her."
Maud and Lady Carew could not help laughing.
"Won't they do funny things?" asked Maud "You know, Lewis, your aunts
wouldn't let your tenants roam about the house!"
"I'm afraid Toney will insist, but please let it be in the summer-time."
"It would be nicer for them, but I couldn't help my birthday, could I?
Just look down the drive, it's getting black with people. I'll run
round here first. Mr. Waycott, will you see if the children's room is
done, then we must all work and just talk and explain everything, and
please, Lady Carew pretend you know them all as there isn't time to
introduce."
In another moment there was a scuffle and rush round, which Trick seemed
to think, judging by his barking, was done specially to amuse him, and
then at the open front door and on the top of the stone steps, Toney,
Trick, and their special friends might be seen with very smiling faces,
standing to receive the first batch of visitors, though looking down the
drive the stream seemed continuous and thick. It must be owned that the
guests were very quiet and very shy, and the procession resembled a
funeral much more than the beginning of a most novel party. Never had
half the visitors come so near the big house, but then never had they
been invited. They all clutched their invitation cards as if they were
talismen. Toney had stationed the young footman at the bottom of the
stairs to receive the cards, but there the first hitch occurred.
A very sheepish labourer in his very best clothes shook his head as the
footman held out his hand to receive the card.
"'Tis only to show you, young man," he said in a loud whisper.
"Will you kindly give it to me," was the answer. "I have to collect
them."
"No, that you b'aint, I'm a-going to keep it; I've promised my lad I'll
frame it for 'im."
The second guest seeing the difficulty refused even to show his card.
"We be a-going to frame it too. If you can't a-read it just to get the
name in your head, I can't help you no further."
"Miss Whitburn said they were to be collected."
These two rebels had stopped the stream, and Lewis, seeing something was
happening, dashed down to the rescue.
"Afternoon, sir; the young man wants my card of invitation from Miss
Toney herself. I'd rather not come than give it to 'im."
Lewis was convulsed but soon set matters right.
"Pray keep them, but just show them as you come up. Miss Whitburn is
waiting up there for you."
"'T'aint likely we'd give it up to _he_," said yet another visitor,
casting looks of contempt on the footman who had tried to steal their
precious cards.
The children, open-mouthed, clung to their parents, but the Thomas girls
had been put first as they knew Miss Toney so well.
Up they came, men, women, and children, all sizes, dressed in varied
costumes, and all staring hard at Toney, who, in her simple morning
dress, was beaming with pleasure, and her eyes seemed to dance with
glee.
"How do you do? How do you? Oh, Mr. Grant, it is good of you to come
with your lame foot. Mrs. Chapman, the children are to go to their big
room straight, lots of amusements for them, and they'll be well taken
care of. Lady Carew and Miss Maud Hamilton have come to entertain you.
Oh please, Mrs. Curtis, do shake hands (Mrs. Curtis was curtseying).
What a lovely nosegay! How kind of you. Now, Miss Hamilton, will you
take the first party round the house. There are about thirty here," and
Maud went off.
"How do you do? This is nice of you to come. You're to go round the
house anywhere except in Lady Dove's room, she's got a headache or
something."
"Shan't we hurt the carpets, miss, with our boots?" said a patient
looking woman, "and here's some of our last roses, miss, for your
birthday. I'm sure we all wish you a very, very long life."
"Thank you ever so much," and Toney was already holding an arm-full of
very tight posies. "Now, Mr. Waycott, will you take the second party.
Show them my little room at the top of the house for they can see the
tops of their cottages and chimneys from there. Sir Evas is coming
soon. He had to see a bit to everything. Dinner's very punctual at six,
so please don't stop too long."
Lewis Waycott obeyed. He had come there to obey to-day, and it was no
good to think of shyness with Toney there. She was really happy with
these people, and could not have been condescending to them had she
tried. These poor cottagers, whose dull lives were seldom varied, were
to have a real good day, and enjoy themselves, that was the idea that
filled Toney's mind. Her one anxiety was the fear that Lady Dove would
wake and come forth. At last the stream left off and only a few
stragglers appeared. Toney was keeping the last batch for herself, and
the children were now safely housed in the barn house, listening
spell-bound to a ventriloquist with Mrs. Faber in charge. She was
indeed happy, there was a great affinity between herself and children.
The tea-tables were spread, and the enjoyment of the little ones was
doubled by secret glances at the good things which would soon find their
way down their throats.
"Hulloa!" called out the ventriloquist, putting his head up a chimney,
"are you there, Bill, why don't you come down? I say, what's to day?"
"A coming of old age." "You silly, not old age, a coming of age."
"Whose coming?" "Well, it ain't my coming, for I ain't a-coming for
anyone"--and so on till the children clapped and shouted, for suddenly
Miss Toney herself appeared like a sudden burst of sunshine, and stayed
ten minutes making fun.
"Oh, Chum, aren't they happy?"
"I should think they were," echoed Mrs. Faber.
Yes, the children were happy and tea followed very soon, and after tea a
conjurer, and then the children were all fetched home by the neighbours
from the other half of the village or by elder girls. After this Mrs.
Faber slipped away to get ready for the dinner and the dance.
In the meanwhile the multitude of fathers and mothers were tramping
round the great house with wide open eyes and cautious feet. To walk on
Turkey carpets and look at the beautiful pictures and china the gentry
looked at every day, was a new experience. It must be said that Toney's
party had a real treat, because she did showman in a very amusing style.
"It must be nice, miss, to live in such a wonderful house," said a poor
woman whose home was not a thing of joy.
"It's a job to keep it clean though," said Toney, "for my part I'd
rather have a wee cottage if I had the work to do. I used to keep our
cottage nice, and I would rather be you for that, but I guess if we
can't keep a cottage nice we should make a poor hand at keeping a big
place like this spick and span."
"Don't seem worth while, miss, to spend time on our poor places."
"Oh, but it is. Pups used to say that a cottage was the most healthy
place in the world if the doors and windows were always open to let in
God's sunshine, and if God's sunshine found no dust when it did get in
there. I'll tell you what, Mrs. Smith, we'll start a society for the
brightest cottage in uncle's part of the village. I'll give a beautiful
prize for the best kept and you must win it."
"Oh, miss!" exclaimed Mrs. Smith of the sorrowful countenance, "the
children do dirty things so."
"But they'll want you to win the prize. We'll have a model village,
never fear. I'm first-rate at cleaning kettles and can teach you."
Mrs. Smith began mentally scrubbing at once. Toney had another question
to answer.
"If you please, miss," said a labourer, nodding towards a picture
representing nymphs dancing, very scantily clothed, "it must be a warm
country where ladies have so little clothing on for dancing. I suppose
'tis the fashion there." Toney laughed.
"Oh, they are not real people, the artist just wanted to think of the
spirit of the wood. He means to represent all the happy thoughts one
has in a lovely lonely wood."
The man shook his head slowly. He found it difficult to grasp the new
idea of making your happy thoughts dance in light clothing.
"They be wonderfully tricky, the painters, miss. There was a gentleman
who come to paint in the village last summer, and who took our Ann's
picture without shoes nor stockings. I begged him not to show it to the
neighbours as our Ann never do go bare-foot."
"But it's very healthy, Mr. Carter. I used to run about without shoes
and stockings when I was young. I wish I could now, but you see----"
At this moment there was a cry heard from the end of the passage, where
Toney and her party and Mr. Waycott and his party were just converging.
"Antonia! Antonia!"
Toney was in front of a paper on which was written, "Please walk on
tip-toe down this passage." Now the tip-toes of many persons are not
noiseless and in the gathering twilight it had not been observed.
"Gracious stars!" exclaimed Tony darting down the passage, "it's Aunt
Dove who has done her rest!"
It was indeed Lady Dove and Miss Grossman who were standing in the
doorway, looking at the retreating figures with faces full of
displeasure.
"Antonia, who are these people?"
"Please, Aunt Dove, don't be frightened. They are not robbers, it's
your own tenants you know, just taking a peep round. But they are going
down now, and it's just dinner-time. Won't you come and see the entry?"
"Certainly not. I am quite upset enough. Our dinner is at half-past
seven, and I hope you will be ready. As to all those common people
tramping on my carpets----"
"Please don't let them hear you, Aunt Dove," pleaded Toney, "they would
be so distressed, for, honour bright! they've behaved better than
princes and princesses."
"I do not think your education or your bringing up ever brought you in
contact with princes, Antonia--Miss Grossman, pray read on again, the
maids are all taken from me and I shall not be able to dress till just
before dinner."
Miss Grossman looked most unwilling to accede to the request.
"I do not object for once to reading for twenty minutes longer, Lady
Dove, after that I must have my free time."
Toney did not wait to hear the stormy discussion that followed.
"It is lucky Aunt Dove won't appear," thought Toney. "Oh, Mr. Waycott,
follow me on tip-toe, please, or a bomb will explode, but they have
enjoyed themselves."
Lewis literally obeyed, and Toney, smothering her laughter, hurried
downstairs with him.
*CHAPTER VIII.*
*A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW.*
Toney made a dash to her bedroom where Rose was waiting to help her into
her white dress. It was very pretty and very simple, with soft lace
round the base of the neck showing off the pose of the head and Toney's
lovely hair.
"Miss Toney, you do look nice," exclaimed Rose, "what will you wear
round your neck?"
"My birthday present of course--Pup's picture. You can't think how I
value it."
"Won't you wear this coral bracelet for luck, Miss Toney?"
"Yes, it is Mrs. Faber's present, it belonged to her great aunt, whose
dress I once wore when I first came," and Toney laughed at the
recollection. "Now, I have not one minute more as uncle is going to walk
me in. The people will like it so. They love a show-off. Run, Rose,
and get ready for waiting on them. I wish I might do some of the
waiting, but uncle wouldn't hear of it, and also it would look too much
like a school feast. Oh, give me some of those flowers the dear people
brought to-day. Wasn't it sweet of them, because they know I love
flowers better than anything."
Toney and Rose each flew down different ways. For one instant Toney was
even tempted to slide down the balusters as in old days, but remembered
her frock in time.
"I wish I could feel old--I suppose I shall when I'm seventy. Oh dear,
where is Uncle Evas, I expect----"
She knocked softly at his dressing-room door and stooping down spoke
through the keyhole. "Uncle Evas! Hullo, are you there?"
She heard him cross the room on tip-toe, then he very softly opened the
door.
"Yes, Toney, I'm ready. Don't disturb your aunt, she is dressing. I
don't think she will be ready for your first dinner."
"But you are, come along, and I say, uncle, you'll really eat, won't
you, because they will think you're too proud if you don't."
"I've never dined at six o'clock before, Toney. It's a great trial to
one's digestion, but I'll try. Now, tell me the programme."
"I've got them all in the hall and in the passages waiting to go to the
barn. Come on, uncle! You mustn't keep your guests waiting."
Sir Evas wished himself anywhere but among so many guests. He knew that
his wife might appear in no enviable mood; but Toney had him well in
hand. Escape was impossible. Putting on as good expression of welcome
as he could, he followed her obediently. Their appearance at the top of
the staircase had a magical effect. All heads were turned towards the
vision of their Miss Toney in an evening dress, its very simplicity
making the angel idea more perfect to them, for the greater part had
never seen a young lady in an evening dress except in illustrated
magazines. But this vision was by no means like a novelette heroine,
calm, beautiful, and stately, whilst Toney never guessed she was worthy
of admiration, her one thought being that it was just six o'clock.
"Here we are! Sir Evas is so glad to welcome you all, and he's so glad
you've seen all his house. If you don't mind we'll lead the way to
dinner. People generally go two and two, but please don't bother about
that, it always seems to me like the animals in the ark." And Toney's
merry laugh made everybody feel at home as, taking her uncle's arm she
crossed the hall.
At this moment, Lewis, Lady Carew, Maud and the Fabers, and the Hales
came out of the small drawing-room. They were not going to miss this
part of the entertainment, having nobly done their duty as showmen.
"Oh, how nice--Mr. Hales, you know everybody, will you just go about the
middle and Mr. Waycott bring up the rear, and Mr. Tarrant, will you give
your arm to Lady Carew and set a good example."
Lady Carew meant to do the whole thing properly, for she knew she would
be only one of a crowd at Toney's coming of age party; in spite of this
she felt glad her lord and master was not there to see her introduced to
the bailiff, who blushed purple and offered her his arm, and held hers
very tightly as if he had been specially cautioned to see that she did
not run away. Maud, Silvia, and Mrs. Faber took the first-comers, but as
the male parts of the procession were quite uncertain as to which arm to
give to the ladies, but yet were determined minutely to follow their
leader, there were several _chasse croise_ during the short distance to
the barn, accompanied by the nervous apology of "Excuse me, miss, but I
think we're wrong. Miss Toney said we were to follow her, and I be on
her side instead of t'other."
The other ladies and gentlemen, though they had leave to come anyhow,
would not be singular, and whispered jokes might have been heard such
as, "Now, doey take he," "We ain't quite of the right age, Mr. Jones,"
"'Tis wonderful how the gentry remembers all these puzzling habits,
ain't it? Miss Toney looks like as if she'd just come down from heaven.
She be a rare 'un, 'tain't likely there's another like her in England,
now is it? We don't know nothing about furrin countries, but I'll take
my oath there's none in England like her."
"Nor Scotland, Ireland, nor Wales," said a young man who was a "mighty
scholard." "Well to be sure I was forgetting t'others of the family,
but the Scotch are very close-fisted, and the Orish is too cranky, and
the Welsh speaks gibberish, 'tain't likely there's any like her in their
countries."
But already the middle and tail of the procession silenced by a sudden
exclamation from the foremost guests. The doors were flung open and all
at once the dazzling lights revealed a scene none had even dreamt of for
beauty and gloriousness. Lady Carew was the first to exclaim.
"How lovely! Look at the flowers. How wonderful!"
Mr. Farrant opened his mouth, but what came from it was, "Bless my soul
and body!"
And then behind and behind came various "Lors! Me stars! Bless me's!
Did you evers!" Of course the helpers were more prepared, but even they
had not seen it fully lighted up. On and on they came, the guests, the
buzz growing into a blast, the blast into a hurricane of words, but by
this time Toney had dragged her uncle on to the platform and was
standing by him, seeing from her vantage ground that everybody was
seated. This was by no means as easy as it appeared. The partners got
mixed at the entrance, and thought it a point of honour to find each
other again, and, what with their anxiety and the astonishment they did
not know how to express adequately, Toney's guests were in danger of not
sitting down at all. Mr. Hales came to the rescue, mounted the platform
and called out, "Ladies and gentlemen, will you stand whilst I say
grace, and then sit down where you find yourselves."
"Praise God from Whom all blessings flow," began the clerk, not waiting
for Mr. Hales, and a great sound of thanksgiving rose among the rafters.
These guests at least were thankful even for the sight of their dinner!
"Thank you, Mr. Hales, I believe we should never have sat down but for
you! Now, uncle, come and take your place at the head of the table with
me, and mind you eat a bit of everything, you know!"
"But indeed I don't know, Toney. What's the menu? Ah! I see, good
Lord! Ox-tail soup, pheasant, beef. What else?"
But now another hitch occurred, no one would begin till Toney, in
despair, seized a spoon and began herself in earnest. The guests looked
at her and looked at each other, then with an evident effort and sigh of
content began the work of eating. The rest came naturally, at least
there was no longer any effort, and "the rich viands," as the reporter
chronicled afterwards, quickly disappeared.
Toney had not reckoned with time, however, and it was seven before the
meats were done, and then came the pause to bring on the sweets.
"Uncle, now's the time, you know; have you got it all right?"
"No, I haven't, and for goodness sake, let's have no speeches, there
isn't time, the other guests will be coming soon, and--your aunt----"
"There's heaps of time, uncle, screw your courage up, you know, and they
will be so pleased. Remember to begin about being awfully delighted."