sudden hush fell on the company. Poor Sir Evas felt as if he were being
led to execution as he found himself on the platform, this time without
Toney. His speech had clean gone out of his head except Toney's two
words, "awfully delighted," and that did not sound quite dignified.
"Hum, hum, I'm awfully delighted--hum--to see you here to-night, but I
hope, my friends, you all understand that this is my niece's doing on
her coming of age. We men are rather up a tree when our female
relations determine to do something, and as people rarely come of age,
hum (that is idiotic), I mean only once in their lives, Miss Whitburn
has had her way. I hope you'll all think it a very good way." (Cheers
and thumps.)
"Never was one for speaking wasn't Sir Evas. There's folks 'as got oily
tongues and some as 'asn't." This from a sympathetic old lady.
"Time's getting on (that's idiotic too), so I must say no more than I
hope you will always remember this dinner, and I wish you all to drink
the health of my niece, Toney Whitburn."
A great cheering and drinking of health, with a perfect clatter of
glasses, followed. Toney was deeply disappointed, she had prepared such
a lovely speech for her uncle, and he had declared he would say it, or
"words to that effect," but he hadn't! She didn't want him to have
mentioned her, but all about the guests themselves.
In another moment Toney had sprung on the platform, and then there was
such a noise as never was, and simultaneously they all rose and sang,
"For she's a jolly good fellow," the only known equivalent in the
English language for great approval.
The words were nothing, as we know, but it was the great feeling of love
which upset Toney. All her own lovely speech fled out of her head, and
the view became misty. She felt as if she was far away on the
Australian land and that her father was close beside her saying,
"Courage, Toney, you know I hate tears." Then with the back of her hand
she brushed away something that was nearly falling and took courage.
"Thank you very much, kind friends, for giving me such a jolly chorus on
my birthday. I have given you a dinner such as I wish you had every day,
at least, no, not quite, but I want you to remember to-day because if I
were to forget it there would be ever so many of you to remind me of my
duty. Without Sir Evas you wouldn't have had this entertainment,
because it was he who insisted on his penniless niece coming over here,
and when the dear old General left me his money to spend on other
people, because he died and couldn't do it himself, well, then Sir Evas
took all the trouble of it--and money is an awful trouble--and he's been
helping me for weeks to arrange everything, and he really is a "jolly
good fellow"---- Great stamping of feet and great shouting, as if Toney
had made a tremendous good joke, and then a wild beginning again of "For
he's a jolly good fellow," till Mr. Hales begged for silence, and Toney,
convulsed with laughter, beckoned to Lewis Waycott and Mr. Hales to come
up to her, which they both did.
"Toney, go on," said Lewis, "they want some more."
"I daren't. Uncle is fidgeting. Time's nearly up. Aren't grandees a
bother? Mr. Hales, it's your turn now."
"Just wish them a happy evening," said Mr. Hales smiling.
Then Toney went a step forward, and the hubbub ceased like magic.
"I haven't anything more to say except to wish you a jolly evening and
plenty of dancing after the dinner is cleared away, and oh, one thing, I
want you to give a chorus for Dr. Latham, who is, as you know, the best
doctor in the county. I know it because my father was a doctor, and the
very best in the world. He never thought of himself, and I like people
to know about Pups, who was a hero, and if you please I should like you
to give a chorus for Trick, who came with me, and has been my dear
friend ever since, and for his sake I hope you will be kind to all
animals, as they do care and understand nearly everything--at least
Trick does. That's all, and time is up."
Such a chorus followed, but this time Sir Evas was firm, and left the
platform to Mr. Hales and Lewis Waycott, and led Toney forcibly down the
centre of the room, though she had to seize and shake many hands on the
way, promising right and left to come back and dance when the other
dinner was over.
Once outside the barn, it must be told that Sir Evas and Toney raced to
the house and ran up the steps just as a carriage and pair of bays
pulled up. Happily, they slipped in without being seen, only when Sir
Evas joined his wife in the drawing-room, he and Toney panted audibly.
"Evas, you are really too bad to be so late; Lord Southbourne's carriage
is at the door."
"Yes, I know, Melina; but we are in time, so where's the harm?"
"I should have had to receive them alone if you hadn't come----"
"Lord and Lady Southbourne and the Honourable Edward Lang," announced
the footman, and Lady Dove became affable.
"How do you do? How very kind of you to come. Here is the young lady
who has come of age to-day. The neighbourhood has responded so kindly.
Do come to this sofa, Lady Southbourne."
Lord Southbourne had never seen Toney before. The family had only lately
come to the neighbourhood, but this is what he heard her saying,
"I wish you hadn't come quite so early; we were having such a nice time
with the tenants, but you will come and dance presently, won't you?"
"We have all come to do your bidding," said Lord Southbourne, kindly
giving Toney a bow; but his son laughed.
"We heard marvellous tales of your entertainment, Miss Whitburn," said
he. "My father thinks you'll make our tenants' dinners blush in
future."
"Anyhow, the people are happy," said Toney; fanning herself vigorously.
"They've given us four 'jolly good fellows' already, and it's hot work,
I can tell you."
*CHAPTER IX.*
*A BARN DANCE.*
The dinner party which Lady Dove had arranged was very select, with a
few exceptions. She meant to reap some social benefits from Toney's
coming of age in order to make up for the "most unnecessary fuss over
the poor people." This evening she was quite gracious and pleasant to
everyone at her own dinner table. It must be owned, too, that Toney was
for the moment rather tired and sleepy, and glad to sit still and almost
silent between Mr. Hales and Lewis Waycott, so that the aristocratic
party were quite surprised to see only a bright-haired young lady in
snowy white, behaving very decorously. Strange stories had, of course,
gathered round Toney's personality, one of which was that she was a
terrible Socialist, a character which, in this part of the country,
almost put the owner of it out of the pale of society. But to be kind
to the poor was simply a duty, and an entertainment to the tenants was a
time-honoured institution which no one could reasonably object to. Of
course these aristocratic people had not beheld Toney's dinner table,
for they would have been truly shocked to see rare flowers and shining
silver set before the lower orders; moreover, they would have felt that
pheasants were eternally disgraced by having appeared on that occasion.
So all went well. Lady Carew took care to tell no tales to Lord
Southbourne or to her own immaculate husband, who was talking county
politics with Lady Southbourne whilst the dinner took its accustomed
course, now and then urged on by a side remark of Toney's to Mr.
Diggings not to be too long, as the ball was to begin directly dinner
was over.
"I am sure, Toney, you will be tired out," said Mr. Hales, "but even if
there were no more to come you have given them something to remember."
"A real good time for them, isn't it? But they are much too grateful!
It's so easy to give away money."
"But not trouble and thought."
"I'm trying to behave well, but I really can't eat much, and I feel
rather sleepy! Oh, Mr. Waycott, just look across and see how beautiful
Mr. Faber looks. You can't think what a good clergyman he is; those two
live just like the early Christians."
"How did they live? The present time is against the simple life."
"But, you see they can do it, they are not hedged in with parks and
money and Society. It's like the life at Little Gidding, when you stay
with them, except they have no organ playing during their meals."
"What is the special mark of the early Christian?" asked Lewis with a
smile.
"They don't seem ever to complain of being poor, and always share
everything they have, it seems to me; and especially, they are so happy.
Mr. Faber has a text over his fire-place, 'Rejoice always,' and they
really do it. Now, Aunt Dove is never happy. You should have seen me
and Uncle Evas racing here from the barn. He really raced, it wasn't
make believe--and I was laughing so much when we came into the
drawing-room to receive a scolding."
"Have you undertaken Miss Grossman, Toney?" asked Mr. Hales.
"Oh! no! but I do admire her; she isn't one bit afraid of Aunt Dove, and
almost enjoys having words with her."
"Will you give me the first dance, Toney?" said Lewis.
"No, not the first; there are ever so many of the men who will be too
shy to begin if I don't go and ask them, and they won't dare to say no!
but I will have a dance with you after everyone is set going. Aunt Dove
is coming to look on a few minutes, she says. Oh dear, somebody's
drinking my health; I wish they wouldn't. I can't be any healthier than
I am, can I?"
Lord Southbourne had risen to propose the health of the heiress, and Sir
Evas seconded it with a few words of thanks.
"Shall I say thanks for you, Toney?" asked Lewis.
"Oh, no, thank you; they'll think I'm dumb," and then the girlish figure
in white stood up straight and lithe.
"Thank you, everybody, very much; but I know no one would have made any
fuss about me if it hadn't been for the General's money, so it's the
money that ought to be returned thanks for, and I do. I know it will be
very hard to give it away properly, but I mean to try; and may I ask a
favour? will you all come at once to the ball in the barn, and not stop
to drink wine, because the people are longing to dance, and they won't
begin without us."
"My dear Antonia!" exclaimed Lady Dove, smiling deprecatingly as the
company laughed, "what will our guests think? Of course, we will excuse
you, and anyone who likes to follow you---- On her birthday she must be
forgiven."
There was a general move, and most of the company followed Toney's white
figure as she sped onward. Poor Sir Evas had risen, but dared not
follow without his wife. Happily Lord and Lady Southbourne solved the
difficulty.
"If Lady Dove does not mind, we should enjoy seeing the beginning of the
ball," and of course, Lady Dove was "only too delighted," and now
everybody followed Toney's lead.
There was no room for disappointment when the door was thrown open. The
whole place had been cleared, the boards polished, one platform erected
for the band and another for visitors. The wealth of flowers and wreaths
made the place look more like an enchanted palace than a barn on the
Dove estate. But it was not money alone that had done this, it was the
loving heart of a girl of twenty-one which had planned it all.
The band struck up and the Hon. Edward Lang approached Toney.
"May I have the pleasure?"
"Of course you may; there's the bailiff's wife, she thinks no end of
herself, and if you dance with her we shall hear of it for the rest of
her life. Mrs. Farrant, Mr. Lang wants to dance with you, and oh, Mr.
Waycott, do find someone proper for Lord Carew--unless he's too stiff.
Isn't it nice of Lady Carew, she's got hold of Peter Smith herself.
Real jolly of her!"
"And you, Toney, they are waiting for you?"
"Oh, anybody will do for me. There's Long Tom, he'll never get round if
I don't drag him by main force. Do see that Uncle Evas doesn't forget
his partner. Oh, isn't this scrumptious!"
The band began, a really good band from the garrison, and as if by magic
there was--we ought to have said a poetry of motion, but to the onlooker
the motion was there, though if the poetry was somewhat wanting,
however, the seal of happiness was on all faces.
Lady Dove on her platform kept a few guests by her side, but very soon
even these were drawn into the whirlpool, and left her alone in company
with Miss Grossman, who had elected to come and look on for a short
time, though as she sternly said she never danced.
"It's most extraordinary, Miss Grossman, that our guests care to dance
with this mixed company."
"One never knows what people will do," said Miss Grossman in a tone of
great decision, "I am never carried away."
It would indeed have been a strong, bold man who would have carried Miss
Grossman away--against her wish.
"You show your common sense, because it would want strength to get a
bumpkin through this quadrille. When I was young I was a famous dancer,
everyone praised my figure and my deportment. Of course _young ladies_
were carefully shielded in my youth from anything like familiar
intercourse with the lower orders. Good gracious, Antonia is dancing
with the cowman! I see her pinning up her dress. It serves her right;
but, of course, the poor girl was brought up most strangely in
Australia, so all this seems natural to _her_."
"Of course," said Miss Grossman, "that accounts for a good deal. Though
my family was in straightened circumstances, _I_ was brought up as a
gentlewoman." This was more than Lady Dove could stand from a
companion.
"It's strange how many people call themselves gentlefolks nowadays. In
my youth you were in society or you were not. The Radicals have turned
people's heads. We are all gentlemen and ladies _now_."
"I don't think so; there are very marked lines of demarcation even now.
Of course, Lady Dove, you have _generally_ had people of the class of
Mrs. Faber with you, and cannot judge what is due to----"
"How ridiculous, Miss Grossman! We are talking at cross purposes. I
meant County people. There is dear Lady Carew looking quite tired out,
pray go and ask her to come up here."
Miss Grossman reluctantly obeyed, and presently returned followed by
Lady Carew and Toney herself, for both were coming to get pinned up.
"How distressing! Your lovely dress, Lady Carew! I always said no one
should come in nice clothes to dance with----"
"Aunt Dove, you don't know how they admired our dresses! I've heard
lovely remarks. Lady Carew, they thought you were just like the dove in
the ark!"
"How delicious! I don't mind my dress a bit, thank you; you seem to
have provided plenty of pins, Miss Whitburn, you have thought of
everything!"
"Everyone has danced at least once, I've seen to it, though one man
declared 'twas wonderful folks did like whirly-gigging round so much!'"
"He showed his sense," said Miss Grossman.
"I must find enough breath to dance with a few more of our men, but
please rest a little, Lady Carew; you have been a real helper!"
"Then I have earned a good character from you, I'm so glad!"
Lady Dove smiled sadly as Toney disappeared, then she remarked,
"It is most good-natured of you, indeed it is. There is even Lady
Southbourne talking to one of the men, so very kind of her. Things have
changed very much, when I was young----"
"I am sure you never met such another as your niece!" said Lady Carew.
"Never! Miss Grossman, pray go and ask Lady Southbourne to come and
rest. I insisted on having easy chairs here. Antonia would not have
thought of our comfort. Bush life is not a good beginning for coming
out into Society. It was a great mistake for our dear General to leave
her his money."
"I don't think Lady Southbourne wishes to rest," said Miss Grossman
tartly, "but I will give her your message as I go out. I dislike
altering my hours."
Lady Dove would have remonstrated had not Lady Carew been close by, and
Miss Grossman did not give her time to forbid her retiring. Near the
entrance, however, she met Toney and Lady Southbourne together.
"You are not going yet, are you, Miss Crossman? This is ice time. We
must all set an example in that line, because some of our friends are
looking rather doubtfully at them."
"Excuse me, Miss Whitburn, I prefer my bed to ruining my digestion.
Nothing is more indigestible than an ice at night. Good night. Lady
Dove begs you will go and rest, Lady Southbourne," and Miss Grossman
disappeared from this world of folly.
Toney had seized on Lewis Waycott.
"Can you swallow unlimited ices? they really are the very best; Pups
always said my digestion was one of the strongest he ever knew, but----"
"Toney, we have never had our dance."
"Then let's have one now. I do love dancing, that's the only
accomplishment that ever made friends with me. It's poetry, isn't it?"
Lewis thought so as Toney and he waltzed round the big barn.
"I hope you have had a happy birthday," said Lewis in a pause.
"Just about perfect. Could I have been happier, as you and the Fabers,
and Dr. Latham, and uncle, and Trick are all here, and you have all been
so good and kind, and then Pups' picture! All through the evening I
have been putting my hand up to stroke it. It was an inspiration on
your part and I shall never be grateful enough."
"I--I don't want gratitude--I--want----"
"Oh, what? Do let me give it to you," said Toney eagerly.
"It's nothing money can buy," said Lewis, smiling at the eager face.
"Some day, perhaps----"
"Some day, and why not now, to-night, but I'm glad it's nothing to do
with money. I heard Aunt Dove say to Mrs. Hamilton, 'Of course it's a
great misfortune for the poor girl, she has not an idea how to spend
money.'"
"What did you think about it?"
"Oh, to myself I just said, 'you bet!' but of course I know that's
vulgar! Aunt Dove says I was born vulgar--but what do you want?"
"Nothing now, Toney. Lady Dove is--well, she wants converting."
Mrs. Hamilton interrupted them.
"Oh, Lewis, Maudie is dying for a dance." Toney effaced herself, and at
that minute she came face to face with Mr. Hales.
"I've never had time, Toney, to give you my present." He took a little
parcel out of his pocket. "I have had these 'Little Flowers of St.
Francis' bound in white for you. I could not think of anything more
appropriate. I don't think you have ever read it--but I am sure you
will like it."
"Of course I shall! Yours is the only book I have had. That is nicer,
because it will do instead of Pups' old book of King Arthur. That one
has all come true, and it will be like a message from him to help me
with this new life."
"There's a message for all of us in it, Toney. The message of love and
self-denial, but I think you do understand it already."
Toney shook her head.
"No, Pups did, but I want to."
*CHAPTER X.*
*THE PATH OF PERFECTION.*
Toney's coming of age had been the greatest success imaginable, both
rich and poor had declared, with perfect truth, that they had never
enjoyed themselves more; but some few of them also realised that the
result had been attained by weeks of thought and hard work on the part
of Toney and Sir Evas. All they had gone through to attain their object
was their own secret, and jealously guarded; but it drew them, if
possible, closer together, and the master of Aldersfield had his reward.
It was very early in the morning before the girl bade a last good-bye to
her rich friends, for the poor ones had gradually melted away about
eleven o'clock, the next day's toil having to be thought of. Lady Dove
had long before, happily, excused herself, pleading great weariness
after such a hard day's work, and the atmosphere cleared in consequence.
Toney seized her uncle and made him dance till he called for mercy, and
even Mrs. Faber was not let off, partners being provided for her. Mr.
Faber never danced, but waited on everybody or discussed clerical
questions with Mr. Hales.
Now at last all were gone, and Toney was alone in her simple room. Even
Trick was fast asleep as she knelt to say her prayers and returned
thanks to the Giver of all her pleasure. The excitement had taken away
her sleepiness, so before putting out her light she opened the little
book Mr. Hales had given her, and at the beginning read the story of how
Brother Bernard, of Quintavelle, was converted by St. Francis, whilst
this latter was still a secular. Bernard wished to find out whether the
young and once worldly Francis was really a saint, so he asked him to
sup and lodge with him, and prepared a bed in his own room for the young
man. Both pretended to sleep. Bernard snoring loudly, and St. Francis
hearing this, rose from his bed and began praying very earnestly till
morning, saying only, "My God, my God." But Bernard was watching him
all the time, and was so much touched that he determined to change his
life. In the morning he said to St. Francis that he would leave the
world and follow him, but St. Francis said they must first ask counsel
how to find the Path of Perfection. So they went to the Bishop's house,
and begged him to open the Bible three times and see what text he found.
The first was, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast and
give to the poor, and follow Me; "and the second was, "Take nothing for
your journey, neither staves nor scrip, neither bread, neither money;
"and the last was, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross and follow Me."
Bernard, being very rich, went out and sold all that he had, and with
great joy he gave all his possessions to the poor.
At this point Toney's eyes began to blink, so she closed the book and
put it under her pillow with a smile on her lips, murmuring, "'The Path
of Perfection.' Isn't that beautiful? Why can't we be like that now?
I know Pups would have liked this little book, and the 'Path of
Perfection,' ever so much."
Then Toney fell asleep and dreamt that St. Francis came to ask her for
_all_ her money, and that she refused it to him, saying, "You really
won't know what to buy for English people, because you have only had to
do with the nice, dirty Italian organ-grinders, who can live on almost
nothing."
It was quite late when the house party reassembled, and Toney was the
only one who showed no signs of fatigue.
She found a big pile of letters on the table. From henceforth her
simple, easy life would be a thing of the past; but at present, with the
unbounded confidence of youth, she faced the problem bravely.
"Is there anything further I can advise you about, Miss Whitburn?" said
Mr. Staines, "for I shall be going back to London very shortly."
"Yes, please, I want some last words with you, I think we had better
have a telephone between us. It will save a lot of letters. Aunt Dove,
you have forgiven us, haven't you?" asked Toney. "But you are rewarded
by the gratitude of the people. They just thought your house a lovely
museum."
"It's a great pity to put ideas into poor people's heads," answered Lady
Dove. "I hope this party will last their life-time."
"Miss Grossman was done up I suppose; it's very tiresome of her, she
sent word she must stay in bed to-day. If it's influenza of course I
don't want her near me."
"I do not think the poor envy luxury," said Mr. Faber thoughtfully,
"they sometimes envy the certainty of our meals."
"Education creates needs," said Mr. Staines, "but I once knew a man who
was perfectly happy if he had five shillings in his pocket, though he
had no idea where the next would come from."
"Pups was like that," exclaimed Toney, "so it shows money isn't
happiness. Aunt Dove, don't you think 'Brother Angel' would be a good
name for Mr. Faber? He was one of the followers of St. Francis. He
thought nothing at all about money. I read a lovely story in my new
book about him when I was brushing my hair."
"How ridiculous you are, Antonia--I suppose you must go this morning,
Mr. Faber, as I often tell Mr. Hales, a clergyman is nothing if he is
not among his people."
Mr. Faber was still smiling over Toney's last speech and did not even
notice the _sous entendu_ of her ladyship's remark.
"I am afraid I must return, but I am sure Anne would stay and take Miss
Grossman's place for a day or two, if it is the least convenience to
you, Lady Dove."
This was just what Lady Dove did want, but she did not wish to show
gratitude.
"Oh, I daresay you could not get your meals without her."
Mrs. Faber did not allow her deep disappointment to be seen. Henry was
always sacrificing himself, she must follow his example. Only Toney
noted the sad look in her eyes.
"Indeed our old Martha is far more necessary to my husband than I am.
She cooks beautifully."
"She must be rather wasted at your Vicarage. However, of course, Anne
Faber, if you like an extra holiday pray stay. Toney will be of no use
this week, and if Miss Grossman does not get better she must go home."
"Certainly I will stay," and she smiled across to Toney, who nodded her
satisfaction.
"You all covered yourselves with glory I can tell you. Bully! wasn't
it?"
"Antonia!" exclaimed Aunt Dove.