of St. Francis' brethren, uncle, I'm sure he'll take you. He told one
of the rich young men who offered themselves, to 'serve the brethren,'
and I know you did that yesterday, so you were in the path of
perfection. Isn't that an awfully nice name?"
"I don't think that sort of life would suit me," said Sir Evas smiling.
"Well, I shall go and meet your secretary this morning, Toney, whilst
you talk to Mr. Staines."
Toney led the way to her new sitting-room which did not feel half so
homely to her as the little sitting-room at the top of the house, but
she would not let her uncle see this. Mr. Staines sat down, and Toney
dropped into a chair and put her elbows on the writing table, after she
had thrown down a heap of letters.
"Ouf! Look at those, Mr. Staines; to think they will come every
morning."
"The new secretary will sift these for you, Miss Whitburn."
"Poor fellow! Well, what I want to say is this. Have you made it quite
right about Aunt Dove's money? Will two thousand a year make a
difference to her?"
"Yes, a very handsome gift."
"I can't cost her that in food, can I? though I have a good appetite."
"She does not really need it."
"But I want you to arrange about the capital and give it to her
entirely."
"Is that wise? Lady Dove might die and----"
Toney had on her resolute air.
"I am quite sure I want that: Uncle Evas would have it if she died, and
it will be off my mind. My General would like it, I think. Ouf! that
will be some of it disposed of, won't it?"
Mr. Staines smiled. This was not the usual tone of his rich clients.
"That's all now, Mr. Staines, and I want your firm well paid for all
your trouble, so that I shan't mind bothering you."
"About your will, Miss Whitburn, you must send me instructions as soon
as possible, you see you have the whole control, and it is not right to
leave anything uncertain."
"Of course---- You mean I might have a fit or break my head. My will
is soon arranged, I'll leave the whole to Uncle Evas, and tell him what
to do with it in case that happens, but it's only in case, for I have
other ideas."
"Of course, and you must want time to think it over. I'll draw up this
simple will and get it signed before I go."
"Uncle Evas says you are an awfully honourable lawyer. I'm so glad
because Pups always said it was best to avoid the man of law. However,
Pups' money was so wingy that he never needed a man to tie it up."
"He little guessed his daughter would be so amply provided for," said
Mr. Staines beaming with real delight, which the handling of money
always gave him, even though it was that of his clients and not his own.
"No, indeed. He was always make believing about King Arthur, and now I
mean to study 'The Little Flowers of St. Francis,' and 'The Path of
Perfection.' St. Francis was awfully simple about money, you know. Now
we have done, haven't we? Here is my will. 'I give everything I have
got to Sir Evas Dove, of Aldersfield House. Antonia Whitburn.' That
won't waste the time of your clerks. You quite frightened me when you
sent me the General's will The clerks must have racked their brains to
find odd and useless words. Thank you a thousand times. I'll call the
Fabers to sign it, but it's only in case of accidents. I've got lots
more notions, and Uncle Evas doesn't want money. He's really quite nice
about it, only he has to give in accounts."
"To give in accounts?"
"Yes, to Aunt Dove. She holds the purse-strings, uncle says, and
there's a little breeze if he exceeds."
Mr. Staines thought he had better draw a veil over this part of the
conversation, and very soon Toney's temporary will was signed and
deposited in Mr. Staines' pocket, who thought as he journeyed back, "I
never met such an extraordinary girl in all my life."
But it does not harm even a lawyer to think for a few minutes that money
is not the aim of all mankind!
It was wonderful how soon Mrs. Faber reverted to the habits of her long
bondage--though now she knew it was only an interlude--for Toney found
her writing notes and doing flowers and being bullied by Lady Dove, just
as if the beautiful reality of her wedded happiness did not exist. Mr.
Faber had jogged off home in his pony carriage, Toney promising to bring
back his dearest Anne as soon as Miss Grossman was able to return to
public life. Toney watched him disappearing down the park as she stood
alone on the steps of Aldersfield House, and as she looked at the lovely
trees now turning every shade of gold, orange, and red, the Past and the
Future appeared to her as two dream figures; the Past was a small,
poorly clad beggar, and the Future a big, rich giant, but the beggar had
a smile on his face and looked oh, so very happy, whilst the rich giant
knitted his brows and looked down sadly on the ground.
"No, no," cried the girl, "the giant is blind and he doesn't see that he
has only to give away all those gold brocaded clothes, and then he would
be happy! He shan't be sorrowful, I won't let him!"
A little cold nose at that moment thrust itself into Toney's hand as it
hung at her side, and a joyful bark brought her back to reality. She
seized her beloved mongrel in her arms, whereupon he licked her face and
showed that he understood her mood.
"Oh, Trick! Trick! we won't wear gold braid on our jackets and we won't
let it make us feel sad. St. Francis said it was tremendously wrong to
be sad, and so you are a real saint, Trick. You never are sad except
when you have had a gnaw at new heels and have to be punished. We're
getting old together, Trick; I'm twenty-one and I feel as if I were
much, much older, or I should have done so if St. Francis hadn't come
and given me such nice talks. He was just awfully fond of animals,
Trick, so he must have been a very, very good man, but he loved his
fellow-creatures best of all, so now you and I have both to seek and to
find the 'Path of Perfection.'"
*CHAPTER XI.*
*THE NEW SECRETARY.*
Toney had set apart two of her new rooms for the secretary, and she
looked round to see that all was comfortable before his arrival. A big
knee-hole writing table was so placed that it could look over the park,
and there was an easy chair and even a box of cigars for his comfort.
"He'll feel very strange at first," she thought, "and I expect he'll
hate messing about this work all day as much as I should if I had to be
a private secretary. Gracious stars! What a heap of writing money
brings with it. There's a mountain of letters already for him. I must
learn to drive the motor-car and then I'll take out tired workers, that
will be nice! if only I can get time for it all. Life is beautiful,
isn't it, Trick?" Trick wagged his tail and assented, then hearing the
carriage wheels they both flew into the hall to receive the new
secretary. Jim was driving the waggonette, and Sir Evas and the young
man were inside, and Toney's quick eyes caught sight of her new tall
pale secretary. Sir Evas was half smiling as he introduced her.
"Here's Mr. Plantagenet Russell, Toney---- Ehem---- Miss Whitburn. I
hope you won't be overwhelmed with the work expected of you."
"There's piles already," exclaimed Toney, holding out her hand, "but you
are to do them just when you like. The paper-basket will be the best
place for half of them. Uncle Evas has told you all my sins I expect.
Mr. Diggings, will you show Mr. Russell to his room. Lady Dove isn't
visible till lunch time."
"Thanks," said Mr. Plantagenet Russell slowly; he wore an eye-glass in
the right eye, and slightly raised the left eyebrow. So this was the
great heiress he had come to work for, he had expected somebody very
different. He was not at all pleased with life in general. He had been
brought up in the lap of luxury, when suddenly, just when he was
half-way through his college career, his father, a lawyer, died. Then
it was discovered that he had swindled his clients, and that his wife
and his only son were penniless. His mother's brother had given shelter
to both, and after trying several clerkships, Mr. Plantagenet Russell
had by chance heard of this post, and much to his surprise had obtained
it. Plantagenet had thought this would be a far easier life than mere
clerkships. The heiress was, of course, to be beautiful, and he could
take life in the leisurely fashion which he deemed to be consistent with
his early bringing up. The disgrace incurred by his father's
defalcation weighed heavily on Plantagenet Russell, but he hoped this
fact was but little known, and he himself was perfectly trustworthy as
far as money was concerned. Here again life had been very unfair to
him, and now he felt taken in because the heiress was so unlike his
expectations, her very movements denoted a youthful energy which might
prove most inconvenient, and which was not at all consistent with
riches. In Plantagenet's mind to be poor when you had once been rich,
was a disgrace very ill deserved.
Lunch time brought the members of Aldersfield together, and
Plantagenet's spirits rose when Sir Evas introduced him to Lady Dove.
Here was a lady of high degree who knew her own position. He bowed low
and with great deference, and Lady Dove immediately took a liking to
him. She saw that this young man recognised that she was Lady Dove, of
Aldersfield House, and she had heard he had once been rich.
"I am glad you are coming to assist my niece, Mr. Russell, with the many
duties wealth should entail upon her. You will, I hope, help her to
carry out these duties as she has had very little experience. Of course
those born to wealth know how hardly the duties of it press upon the
conscientious mind." She looked sympathetically at him, and Plantagenet
Russell was comforted.
"I shall endeavour to follow your wishes in all things, Lady Dove," said
the secretary with another bow. Lady Dove smiled upon him. A young man
who deferred to her wishes warmed her heart, "so unlike that stuck-up,
conceited Lewis Waycott," she mentally said.
"I am sure your presence here will be a real satisfaction to my niece"
(since her accession of fortune Toney had been usually spoken of as "my
niece"), "and she will benefit greatly by having you here. Do have some
of that pheasant, I daresay you will like a little shooting. Sir Evas
is so glad of a companion when he goes out with his gun. Our preserves
are really most satisfactory this year."
Both the lady and the young man were mightily pleased, one by being able
to offer and the other to accept the slaughter of aristocratic birds.
Sir Evas listened with an amused smile and Toney exclaimed,
"I wish one could decide if it is right to kill birds and fishes. St.
Francis wouldn't have shot a pheasant I'm sure, though there's nothing
about pheasants in my new book; but St. Anthony really preached to the
fishes at Rimini because the heretics wouldn't listen to him."
"Salmon?" inquired Sir Evas.
"All sizes and kinds, and they held up their heads above the water and
stood to attention, all according to their height, and then he preached
an awfully jolly little sermon, and reminded them how nice it was to
have fins and to be able to go where they liked."
"It's only a legend, dear," said Mrs. Faber, smiling.
"And how did they take it?" asked Sir Evas, hoping the new secretary was
not listening.
"They opened their mouths and bowed their heads and St. Anthony was
awfully pleased, and said the fishes were better than the heretics."
"They made less noise evidently. I hope the heretics were impressed."
"Yes, they were, and were converted by it."
Plantagenet Russell at this moment behaved like the fishes, for he
opened his mouth as if to remonstrate with Toney but thought better of
it. His heart sank within him. This heiress' brain was evidently
deranged, and however on earth should he deal with her? Thank heaven he
had Lady Dove to fall back upon. She was the real thing. Sir Evas
quickly changed the conversation.
"I hear the new motor-car is coming this afternoon, and that you and Jim
are both dying to take lessons in driving."
"Yes, I thought we ought. It will save time, but I can't do away with
my beloved Colon. It's not half a full stop, Mr. Russell, it's short
for Colonist--he'll do for the dog-cart as well as for riding; but you
must learn to drive the motor, too, uncle. You mustn't be behind the
times! The excitement will keep you young."
"I consider motor-cars are a vulgar ostentation of money. In old days
county families did not air their poverty or their wealth," said Lady
Dove.
"Wasn't that a sort of pretending anyway?" said Toney meditatively.
"'Noblesse oblige' is a motto only one class can really understand,"
retorted Lady Dove, looking sympathetically at Plantagenet Russell. She
concluded he was of _her_ class and would understand.
"No class was ever made that would fit you, Toney," said Sir Evas
laughing.
"By the way, if you are going in a horrid machine, Antonia, I wish you
would go to the Towers. Lady Southbourne has sent us a note asking us
to come to tea to-day, and I am quite too tired. Her son is there."
"All right, Aunt Dove, I'll go! Mr. Russell had better wait and see if
I can bring myself home safely before trying the motor. Chum, dear, I
think Brother Angel wouldn't like you to go either, but we shall soon be
back."
"I can't spare Anne Faber to-day," said Lady Dove decidedly. "You
forget I am alone."
When Mr. Russell was established in his room, which to his disgust Toney
called "his office," and left to his first pile of letters and the
cigars, all went to the hall door to inspect the new motorcar, which was
Toney's first big purchase for herself. It had been ordered some time
ago, and was very well planned. It could make a comfortable omnibus as
well as an open carriage. A professional chauffeur had come to instruct
the mistress and her groom, and off they sped to the Towers, the big
county house some eight miles away. But on going through the village
Toney found her car turned into a Juggernaut, all the people flew out of
the cottages shouting their welcome, Toney stopped the car and let them
all examine the monster as it was the first they had seen at such close
quarters; then some of the children had to be taken a little drive till
the chauffeur objected to it as waste of time, and Toney had to move on.
"When I can drive myself you shall have fine rides," she said, "besides
it's an awfully good way of teaching geography," and amid the shouts of
delight the heiress drove off, feeling warm within.
"It's like champagne, isn't it, Jim?"
Jim grinned and touched his hat and said, "Yes, miss," not knowing the
least what was like champagne, but of course it was like champagne if
Miss Toney said so.
When they arrived at the Towers, she told Jim and the chauffeur to
exercise round the park, and prepared to pay her first call alone. She
did not feel shy, that was not in her nature, but she shook her head as
she followed the stiff footman.
"It's all that basket of Gwyddnen Garanhir," she thought; "but I think
it works too well when it works at all: still, I had less bother when I
was only a poor relation. Oh dear, there's another man-servant; what is
the use of being thrown from one to the other like a bale. A good day's
digging with the Kanakas would do these men good."
But now Toney found herself in a big drawing-room full of pretty things,
very unlike Aldersfield where solid comfort reigned supreme. Lady
Southbourne was making lace for a bazaar, to save herself giving money.
Her son, a very bright young fellow, who had been charming at the ball,
was now sunk in the depth of an armchair chatting to his mother. Oddly
enough, their talk had been of Toney, and both looked rather guilty when
she entered.
"How very kind of you, Miss Whitburn, to come and have an early cup of
tea with us. It's such a long way. Did you drive?"
"I came in the new motor-car, and I only drove a little way as the
chauffeur says I give it the jumps, but I shall soon learn. It will be
so useful for people who want things in a hurry, and it will save the
horses."
"Of course. Lord Southbourne talks of getting one, but I don't know
when. We must congratulate you on your party very much."
"It was the best that I ever saw," said the Hon. Edward Lang; "I am glad
you have come to talk it over with us. But you will ruin the bumpkins."
"Oh, no, you see they were all our own personal friends. Even uncle,
who has a bad memory, has nearly learnt up all the children."
"Good heavens!" said Edward, "you don't mean to say you expect
us--to----"
"But you feel ever so much less stupid if you know the names of the
piccaninnies of your own people. I think I've got a talent for
genealogies. It was much harder to know the Kanakas from each other
because of the colour of their faces, but possible too."
"The contrast must be depressing," said Edward, and his mother joined
in:
"Lord Southbourne declares you are helping on Socialism; but then we
county people are getting poorer, and such windfalls as yours don't
happen every day," and Lady Southbourne laughed.
"By Jove, they don't!" echoed Edward.
Then they chatted happily about the various episodes of the party, and
Toney had no time to feel out of her element, so that she had really
enjoyed herself when she remembered the waiting chauffeurs.
"Oh, there's Jim and the grand gentleman from London waiting. I'm going
to make my groom a chauffeur, as he will do all he is told. Those
stuck-up reefed-in men are rather tyrants."
"We are all tyrannized over by our servants," said Lady Southbourne with
a smile.
"Wouldn't suit me," said Toney emphatically. "Aunt Dove's head gardener
is a tyrant, and there are ructions between them. They go out to
battle, but he _always_ wins!"
"So does mother's head gentleman," said Edward laughing; "but man is the
superior creature."
"I think co-operation is best. St. Francis never lauded it over his
brothers."
"St. Francis!" said Lady Southbourne interrogatively, not being at all
learned in saints.
"Yes; St. Francis of Assisi. It was one of my birthday presents, and
I've read a lot of it already, but I can't quite see clearly yet how one
is to imitate him!"
"Pray don't try, Miss Whitburn; you are much nicer as you are," said the
Hon. Edward as Toney went off.
"She's charming and original, mother!" he said on his return to the
drawing-room.
"She has fifty thousand a year; I have it on good authority," said his
mother. "I do think, Edward, you couldn't do better!"
"The point is, could she? Money just melts in my hands."
"Yes; so it's most important you should settle down and retrench."
"On fifty thousand a year? I don't mind trying, Lady Mother."
"There's a good boy--and she really is original, and originality is so
in the fashion just now."
*CHAPTER XII.*
*AN UNDIGNIFIED SITUATION.*
Lewis Waycott was shooting over a lonely ten-acre field with a copse at
the further end of it, when suddenly he heard a fearful noise, and then
beheld a huge black snout rise up on the hedge and look over it. On the
top of the snout was Toney and a man. Suddenly loud explicatives in
most unparliamentary language were heard as the snout disappeared.
Lewis threw his gun down and jumped over the hedge, to see the new motor
trembling with indignation and Toney laughing inordinately.
"Oh, Mr. Waycott, I turned the wheel the wrong way! and we had a peep
over the hedge. Mr. Hughes is very much displeased with me. The creature
is not hurt, is it?"
"No, madam; but if it had been a wall instead of a hedge it would have
been ruined, and your life would have been in danger."
Jim had fallen out, but was none the worse, and was grinning broadly as
he said:
"Them dratted beasts is so contrary, Miss Toney; better keep to horses."
"Good gracious, Toney, are you hurt?" exclaimed Lewis.
"Not a bit! I'm awfully elastic, you know. No harm done, Mr. Hughes.
Come in with us please, Mr. Waycott, and you'll see how nice it is."
Lewis fetched his gun, unloaded it, and accepted. He and Toney got
inside, and left the two men on the front seat.
"We have been to the Towers, and they were ever so kind. The Honourable
Edward Lang was just as charming as he could be."
Lewis felt aggrieved.
"Why didn't you come and see us instead?"
"Aunt Dove wanted to accept the invitation to tea, and yet didn't want
the trouble, whilst I enjoyed it. Isn't it odd why people ask other
people they don't want to see, and who don't want to come?" Lewis
laughed.
"The ways of Society, Toney. You must learn all that!"
"I never shall. Oh, Mr. Waycott, my new secretary has come, Mr.
Plantagenet Russell, and Aunt Dove is fascinated with him! Isn't that a
piece of luck?"
"And what do you think?"
"I haven't thought yet at all. I'm only sniffing round like Trick, who
glared at his heels, but I was firm. It wouldn't do the first day,
would it?"
"If Trick sent him away it would be all right."
"Oh, but you are cruel! I couldn't do it all myself!"
"I'd look in and do it for you!"
"You! What would Miss Waycott say? She would look
'Oh--you--dreadful--Toney' all over!"
Lewis laughed.
"I daresay she would think I was trying to do what I know nothing about,
being poor and having no superfluous money to dispense. Anyhow, will you
always ask me for help if you are in need of it. It would please me
very much to--to help you, Toney."
Toney looked straight up into Lewis' face, and for the first time in her
life she hesitated. Then she shook her head.
"I wouldn't bother you or try your patience so much. But I may want
help, and you are the only one who would understand. Gracious stars!
this animal is snorting and lurching! Is anything the matter, Mr.
Hughes?"
"I think there is a nut gone wrong from your having climbed that hedge,
madam. I fear it will take a little time to set right."
"That comes of new locomotives," said Lewis, rather pleased. "Anyhow
our legs are left to us. I'll escort you home."
Toney jumped out with great alacrity.
"One's legs are the best, aren't they? Come along and have a race."
"I prefer leisurely walks, Toney, if you don't mind. Happily there are
only two miles."
"Happily, because Mr. Plantagenet Russell is chained to my letters. Oh,
his name is fine, isn't it? Just the grand style, and Aunt Dove feels
warm and comfortable when she hears it."
"You chose him because he was born in Australia, didn't you?"
"Yes, I thought he would be just one of our simple kind of men, but--he
isn't---- A bit of a lord, still I'm glad as Aunt Dove likes him."
"Who is he?"
"He has lost his money, and seems a bit down in the mouth, so we must
deal tenderly with him at first, but oh!--Mr. Waycott, I want to
confess."
"To me!"
"Yes, because you won't disapprove too much. Did you look at the
advertisements in to-day's papers?"
"No, I don't generally read them, and in which papers?"
Toney counted on her fingers.
"The _Times_, the _Standard_, the _Morning Post_, and a few more. I
told a London agent to do it."
"To do what, Toney? I expect it is something surprising!" and Lewis
laughed.
"Not really, but I think there will be a good many letters for Mr.
Russell."
"Letters about what? But it's his duty to answer letters, that's what
he has come for. Most likely you are paying him handsomely for it."
"Oh, yes. I told Uncle Evas it must be enough for him to live on and
save. Pups had great ideas about a living wage. So we settled it
should be L500 a year as long as he is here. He can save it, and that
will help him for many a day."
"Then I don't think you need mind giving him some work."
Toney laughed happily.
"But he didn't guess what he was in for!"
"You haven't told me."
Toney thrust her hand in her pocket and drew out a crumpled paper.
"I haven't told anyone yet. I knew what uncle would say and Mr.
Staines. Listen--'Any broken-down doctor, officer, or clergyman, or
orphans of the above, wanting to hear of something to their advantage,
may apply to Plantagenet Russell, Esq., Aldersfield House, Winchley.'"
"Good heavens, Toney! You are not----"
"Yes, I want to help doctors because of Pups, and officers because of
the dear old General, and clergymen because they are often very hard up,
and the orphans of the above because, I'm an orphan."
Lewis stopped a moment, and laughed inordinately.
"Why, Toney, you'll have a hornet's nest about you!"
"Do you think so? I was a little afraid of the result, so I thought I
would tell you about it, and you might just talk it over with his Royal
Highness."
"The King?"
"Mr. Plantagenet Russell! He looks so like a descendant of somebody, so
I call him 'His Royal Highness' in my own mind."
"But what do you mean to do for this riff-raff?"
"They won't be riff-raff."
"Not a doubt about it, I assure you! It's only the ne'er-do-weels that
will answer such an advertisement! The decent ones will think it a
hoax."
"Why should they?"