simple, but comfortable and homely. Mrs. Hamilton won't like waiting,
but we must come again. I'll write to Mr. Staines and tell him to send
somebody to clench our matter. No money could pay you for your
generosity, so there's to be no bargaining."
Toney flew back and Lewis followed more leisurely, anxious to help her,
but wishing he could kick down the golden barrier.
"Maud was wondering if you were lost!" said Mrs. Hamilton.
"It seems so wonderful that I can really buy some land," said Toney
springing into the car. "Mr. Waycott is going to sell me Deep Hollow
Farm."
"We were bargaining about the price," said Lewis, stepping in. "Don't
you think we ought to make hay whilst the sun shines, Aunt Delia?"
"Business is very disagreeable for young ladies," was Aunt Delia's
answer, "it rubs off the bloom of youth."
Toney spun her wheel round and was off. She did not appreciate Aunt
Delia very much, and she felt she disliked her, but meant not to show
her feelings, first, because she was Lewis Waycott's aunt, and secondly
because she knew humility was to be cultivated, if she was to be like
St. Francis, or even like Brother Juniper, who played see-saw with the
children so that people might despise him and he might be humbled.
About a mile from the village Toney saw an old woman carrying a heavy
basket, and exclaimed,
"It's old Nancy Poulter. She's been carrying the washing home." She
pulled up the motor with wonderful precision as the old woman curtseyed
and smiled at Miss Tonia.
"How do you do, Mrs. Poulter; won't you let me give you a ride home?
You have still a mile to go, and that basket's too heavy."
The old woman looked at Mrs. Hamilton and then at Toney.
"No, no, my dear, when you be alone some day without the quality. 'Tis
a bit heavy, but lor', Miss Toney, I'll manage."
"No you shan't. The quality won't mind. There, get in behind, and we'll
take the basket in front." Lewis had learnt his lesson in politeness
long ago, and now got out and placed the big basket in front between him
and Toney, whilst the old woman was almost lifted in by her, the rug
being tucked in round her.
"You mustn't get a chill after getting hot, Mrs. Poulter. I'll whisk
you home in no time. You know Mrs. and Miss Hamilton, don't you?"
Toney was off again like lightning, and Mrs. Hamilton felt she was taken
in. She was a lady, and always spoke to the poor with kind
condescension, but she would never have dreamt of sharing her carriage
with a panting and perspiring old woman from the village. Maud was,
however, less particular than her mother, and remarked,
"It's nice to get such a quick carriage, Mrs. Poulter! We have been
round by Deep Hollow in no time."
"These new-fashioned carriages are a sight to see to be sure, ma'am, but
Miss Toney, she be that clever a-driving and a-riding, I don't mind
a-trusting of her. My son says he never saw such a one for
horses--though, to be sure, there ain't any in here. It is a long way
to Whitfield, and I was beginning to feel done up, that I was, and
'tain't often one gets a lift. To be sure, to be sure."
Then Toney pulled up at the cottage door in no time, and helped out the
old woman whilst Lewis carried her basket to the door, amidst her
profuse apologies of [Transcriber's note: word(s) missing here]
"Don't ee, now, sir, be a carrying my basket. 'Tain't fit for such as
you. But 'tain't no use going agin Miss Toney, she won't listen to
nothing if it's to save anyone a bit of trouble. Bless her."
"That's what a good many people say, Mrs. Poulter. Good afternoon," and
Lewis raised his hat and returned to his place beside Toney.
"You see what a useful machine I have! Poor old Nancy, she works too
hard for that selfish son. What luck! the gates are open. Now I'll just
spin you up, Mrs. Hamilton, in style. There are no Bobbies here."
The car flew, and Mrs. Hamilton and Maud held on tightly with one hand
and clutched their hats with the other, whilst Lewis laughed.
"This is quite your style, Toney. You do go a pace, I hope it isn't
kingdom come for us all."
"No fear; you will go and talk about the farm to his Royal Highness,
won't you, and just interest him."
They pulled up at the front door safe and sound, but surprises were not
over yet.
"If you please, Miss Whitburn," said Diggings severely, "there's five
persons come here asking for Mr. Russell, and her ladyship has 'em in
the drawing-room as Mr. Russell is out, and she says you were to come at
once when you came in."
Toney turned back to Lewis.
"Oh, come and help me; no, please go and find Mr. Russell, he's mooning
somewhere near by, I expect; for, do you know, I believe it's the _avant
garde_ who have got impatient. I did beg Mr. Russell to answer the
letters, but he wanted to tabulate. What will Aunt Dove say! Mrs.
Hamilton, will you and Maud go back with Jim, or come in the
drawing-room? There's only a few visitors. Who is there, Diggings?"
"Lady Southbourne and the Hon. Mr. Lang is there, miss, and a few more
visitors besides the five persons."
Mrs. Hamilton was not partial to Lady Dove and much preferred going home
in the motor, so Jim, who was on the spot, went off with alacrity.
Toney hurried towards the drawing-room. The five persons Diggings spoke
of so disdainfully must be either a doctor, officer, clergyman, or
relation of the above, and enjoying a bad quarter of an hour with Lady
Dove.
She was not mistaken; as she entered she caught sight of five shabby
genteel individuals, who were now evidently too much alarmed to do
anything more than sit dejectedly in the enclosure of a window.
"Antonia!" said Lady Dove in her most severe voice, "I believe there are
some persons here wishing to see you. Pray take them to your own room."
*CHAPTER XV.*
*GENTLE AND SIMPLE.*
Toney wished with all her heart her _avante garde_ had not been shown
into Lady Dove's presence, but now that they were here she would not for
the world hustle them out. She might hurt their feelings, and they must
consider that "something to their advantage" meant only a snubbing. She
hid her despair with extra energy. How she hated social distinctions!
The Honourable Edward came forward to greet her with great cordiality.
His mother, more slowly, did the same. Toney felt a difficulty in
introducing the _avante garde_, as she did not know one of their names.
However she made a dash at Smith, hoping one of them would respond to
the call.
"Oh, Mr. Lang, may I introduce Mr. Smith to you?" She seized on the
meekest and saddest individual, who wore large spectacles and looked
much depressed.
"My name is Dr. Harris," he said, raising himself to his full height.
"The Rev. Smith you may mean," and he indicated an old clergyman wearing
a threadbare coat, who also held the advertisement in his hand.
"Oh yes, of course, how do you do, Mr. Smith? You came to see Mr.
Russell, didn't you, but I can do just as well. Mr. Lang, this is Mr.
Smith and Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Harris."
"Miss Smith, if you please," corrected a prim lady with remains of faint
beauty.
Mrs. Harris, however, looked most disconcerted; Lady Dove's anger had
fallen especially upon her, so now she only murmured, holding out a
piece of newspaper.
"We only came to see about this advertisement, because we didn't get any
answer, and we were so anxious----"
"Of course, yes, it's all right." Then Toney turned to the last
individual, a man who looked somewhat superior to the others, and who
smiled without intermission.
"Mr.----" Toney paused, she couldn't say Smith again, but she got no
answer, only a nod and another smile.
"He's stone deaf," said Miss Smith, who by her manner was trying to show
Toney that a clergyman's sister is always a lady, little guessing that
Toney cared for none of such things.
"He joined us," said Dr. Harris, "but his infirmity makes it difficult
to converse with him, his name is, I believe, Grant--Captain Grant!"
Captain Grant smiled and nodded, and insisted on Toney's reading her own
advertisement, by pointing to it line by line with his first finger.
"Yes, of course--Mr. Lang, Captain Grant," she introduced the two, and
then hurriedly went to the tea-table, where Mrs. Faber was in her old
position of tea-maker.
"Chum, dear, I'm plunging about in a bog; give them some tea quickly;
that will be to their advantage anyhow. Mr. Lang will perhaps help me.
Aunt Dove is looking awfully churny with the poor dears."
For a few minutes Toney flew about helping her five friends to minute
cups of tea and tiny wafers of bread and butter, but the Honourable
Edward Lang came nobly to the front, though with an amused smile on his
face. The two elder ladies talked together earnestly and discussed the
injustice of Radicals and Socialists, for on these topics they were in
accord.
Dr. Harris was not however going to be put off with only tiny cups of
tea.
"I should be much obliged, madam, if you could tell me when we may
expect to see Mr. Plantagenet Russell? We, at all events, must catch
the earliest train back."
"There he is!" exclaimed Toney, catching sight of Lewis and Mr. Russell
coming hastily to the house. "I really think you had better go and see
him in his private room. Let me show you the way, and I'll order a
substantial tea there. You must be awfully hungry."
Toney headed the procession out of the drawing-room, Edward Lang,
hurrying to open the door for her, and hiding, as best he could, his
amused smile as Toney nodded at him, saying, "I'll come back soon."
Lady Dove gave a sigh of relief. She was so much annoyed that she
forgot her role of kind aunt.
"Antonia is incorrigible. You see how she collects strange people round
her. I tried hard to show her what an English lady should be like, but
it was trouble wasted."
"She will soon outgrow all that," said Lady Southbourne kindly; "in
these days young people are so original, but it does not last!"
Mr. Lang laughed heartily.
"I am sure Miss Whitburn will always be original. She certainly can't
help being kind."
"She drags Sir Evas into all kinds of queer things. He has really felt
the strain of so much work. General Stone was hardly kind to make him
the girl's guardian."
"He looked as if he enjoyed all the coming of age," said Edward Lang; to
himself he added, "I don't mind relieving him of the burden of fifty
thousand a year at all! Good heavens! the girl must be allowed to have
her head at first, then she'll soon calm down."
"Dear Lady Dove," said Lady Southbourne, gently laying her pale lavender
kid gloved hand on her hostess as a mark of sympathy, "young people will
be young people, I daresay when you were young----"
"No indeed, I was brought up by a very particular mother, who knew what
a young lady should be like."
"Ah! yes, those were indeed good old days!"
At this moment Toney rushed in again with breathless speed, and
addressed herself to Mr. Lang.
"There! it's all right, and they have unfrozen, poor dears. It's
strange, isn't it, how these stately English homes act like cold storage
on people."
"Cold storage brings us excellent things from abroad."
"I'd rather come over warm! Gracious stars! I had a trouble to thaw
them, but now they're sitting down to a proper meal."
"Are your friends Salvationists, Antonia, or did they come for begging
purposes?" said Lady Dove.
"They came hoping to hear of something to their advantage. You see,
Lady Southbourne, I advertised for people in reduced circumstances, and
the answers were so many that Mr. Russell couldn't keep ahead."
"Something to their advantage, and pray what is that, Antonia? You must
have taken leave of your five senses!" exclaimed Lady Dove, turning pink
with vexation.
Here Mrs. Faber threw herself into the breach.
"It's only one of Toney's kind schemes, Lady Dove. I will go and see
after the visitors, Toney, if you take my place."
This happily turned the stream of hot lava from poor Toney, and Lady
Dove remarked,
"It is most tiresome, my companion has influenza. I generally find,
don't you, Lady Southbourne, that middle-class people always give in if
even a little finger aches. Of course, poor things, they do not
understand our motto of 'noblesse oblige.'"
The Honourable Edward left the two ladies to their duet over the
cowardice of the middle-class, and went to sit by Toney, who was
drinking tea in earnest.
"It's rather warm work when you're taken by surprise. If I had been
here it would have been all right," she said, smiling once more.
"I think it's always 'all right' where you are," said the young man
gallantly. Toney looked up suddenly and gazed at him.
"Gracious stars! how awfully nice of you to say that, but it isn't true!
I always seem to raise the dust when I come into this room! Aunt Dove
was made of different paste, so somehow we don't blend. You see I was
just reared anyhow, never knew there were gentlemen and ladies till I
came here! Out home we were all men and women, and pretty rough at
that--ouf!"
"We are all going to become Socialists, whether we like it or not," he
said softly.
"You'll exclude Aunt Dove, won't you?" and Toney's merry laugh sounded
through the room.
"So little self-control," Lady Dove was heard to murmur.
"That's me!" said Toney, nodding her head, "but as you were kind enough
just now to overlook my 'bringing up,' as Aunt Dove calls it, I'll tell
you about my friends. I'm going to buy Deep Hollow Farm and build a
sort of a Home for stray folk that can't swim against the stream."
"Will these be your first inmates?"
"Perhaps, Mr. Russell will tabulate them all, and we'll take the worst
cases. No favour, but, of course, I must help them because they took
such a lot of trouble to come to-day, and because I expect they felt
pretty bad before I came!"
"I think it is a noble idea, Miss Whitburn--I hope you will let me help
you as much as I can. There may be some cases in which I can prove
useful."
"Of course there will be. Let me see, will you come and help to
tabulate? Mr. Russell groans over the work."
Mr. Lang had no intention of working hard, but he hid this intention.
"I'm at your commands, Miss Whitburn." He was wondering in what manner
and how soon he could make an offer to Toney! Would she be easily won?
He began to fear a title would not be a great attraction. He would have
to go in for Socialism or Individualism or some 'ism, to have a better
chance of getting L50,000 a year. It would be rather fatiguing, but his
debts were many, and the money was worth the effort. Miss Whitburn was
not likely to be particular about tying up money, and Sir Evas, her
guardian, was very easy-going, and would be glad to get her well
married. So argued Edward Lang, never doubting but that he would be a
welcome suitor. Unfortunately many mothers with marriageable daughters
were so very kind to him and had spoilt him. At the bottom he was not a
bad fellow, but terribly extravagant.
"Then let me command you to go away," said Toney laughing, "for Aunt
Dove won't like me to leave you, and those poor people will find
themselves thrown from the frying-pan into the fire. Mr. Russell will
want to tabulate them so minutely."
The Honourable Edward rose quite willingly. He was afraid of seeing more
of Toney's "friends" arriving, and in any case he could not very
conveniently make love to the heiress in this formal drawing-room.
"If I obey you now, tell me when I may come again?"
"Oh, whenever you like, there's sure to be something going on in the
tabulating line for some time to come." Toney's laugh was catching.
"But I may be rewarded with a talk with you, apart from the genteel
beggars," he said cheerfully.
"It's all very well laughing at beggars, but if one has nothing one does
strange things. Do you know when I first came here I was a beggar, and
not at all genteel, Aunt Dove would tell you--and I was glad to make a
whistle for five shillings!"
"Was it a successful whistle?"
"I rather think it was! I believe it was owing to it that General Stone
left me his money. Now do say good-bye, please."
"_Au revoir_ then, Miss Whitburn, I prefer saying that---- Mother, I
really think----" Lady Southbourne always obeyed her son and rose
immediately.
"So delighted to have seen you not looking a bit tired after your
delightful party," she said to Toney, keeping her hand affectionately in
her lavender kid, "I wish we could stay longer---- Now why not come
over and spend a few days at the Towers? Wouldn't that be delightful,
Edward?"
"It would indeed!"
Toney shook her head.
"Afraid I can't, thanks; besides, I shouldn't know what to do, and at
Aldersfield I've got heaps waiting to be settled."
"Of course we mustn't be selfish," said Lady Southbourne, not taking any
notice of Toney's reason for not going to the Towers!
At last they were off, followed by the most gracious remarks of Lady
Dove as Toney flew back to her own room.
There she found not only Dr. and Mrs. Harris, Mr. and Miss Smith, and
Captain Grant, but also Lewis and Mrs. Faber assisting the visitors to
make a square meal; whilst Mr. Russell was tabulating them, every now
and then making a dart at one of the individuals to get special answers.
"This is nice! How kind of you, Mr. Waycott. Lady Southbourne and the
Honourable Edward took so long to go I had to give him a hint."
"Oh, Toney! what did you say?" said Mrs. Faber.
"Why I asked him to go and he went. It's better to speak honest, isn't
it?--Dr. Harris, have some more veal pie. Our cook is just perfect at
veal pies."
Dr. Harris said he didn't mind if he did have some more, but at that
moment Mr. Russell made a dart at Miss Smith.
"What is the date of your birth, Miss Smith?"
Now Miss Smith's age was a hid treasure, and to be asked to dig it up in
this public way was more than she could bear. She blushed a vivid
purple.
"It's of no consequence whatever, Mr. Russell," she said. "I really
have forgotten my birthday." Mr. Russell went back and put down
"birthday forgotten."
"But the year?" he asked again, feeling his whole _raison d'etre_
depended on that date.
"Let me see--What year were you born, brother?"
Mr. Smith blinked very often as he answered, wishing to spare his
sister.
"I think I had better send you these particulars--if there is--any good
to be got by them."
"Oh, never mind," said Toney, seeing the difficulty. "Mr. Russell,
please put 'Uncertain.' It isn't easy to remember, if you are asked
suddenly how old one is, is it, Mr. Waycott?" Lewis was stifling a
smile.
"I am six-and-twenty, I know, because Aunt Honoria keeps my birthdays
and announces my age every year."
"Your relative knows that a man does not mind," said Dr. Harris, "but
ladies have rooted objections to telling their age." He bowed to Miss
Smith, and Miss Smith giggled softly.
Toney saw the motor drive up, and seized the occasion to dash away. She
soon returned.
"Now you shall all be driven to the station, when you are ready, and I
do hope you won't regret your journey. It's been so very, very nice,
seeing you. Just on the day, too, that I have taken the farm."
By the time they were squeezed into the big motor their faces were
wreathed with smiles, especially when Toney had thrust an envelope into
each of their hands, murmuring something about "Just to pay the
journey." The deaf gentleman opened it publicly, and nearly dropped the
five pound note, then nearly all tumbled out again to say "Thank you,"
but at a sign from Toney Jim flew off as if pursued by the furies.
*CHAPTER XVI.*
*UNEXPECTED NEWS.*
"Oh, Toney, what did you give them?" asked Mrs. Faber, when they all
returned to Toney's sitting-room. "Wasn't it a pity to----"
"Now Chum is against me. It was only five pounds each, as they had to
pay the journeys--Mr. Waycott, you are the only one who understands."
"I'm delighted you say so, but--in what way do I show my superior
wisdom?" said Lewis smiling.
"You don't think that money is a little china god that has to be handled
carefully."
"I suppose we all have crooked ideas of money," he said, conscious that
he didn't care much about these wayfaring beggars; certainly not at all
as Toney did.
"They shouldn't have been so impatient," said Plantagenet Russell,
turning over his big book. "I had only reached the letter H, but I'll
send a card at once to all the rest, or we shall have daily
processions."
"Well, I'm very glad they came, for now you see with your own eye, Mr.
Russell, that my poor clergy, doctors, sailors, and relations of the
above, do exist!" They all laughed.
"Of course they exist, Miss Whitburn, but if they had been properly
careful and hard-working they wouldn't now be out of elbows. And Miss
Smith was so ridiculous about her age!"
"She was a bit jibby about it, wasn't she? but I expect she had a lover
somewhere, and she doesn't like to let it out."
"Oh, Toney, you are too romantic--you always were," said Mrs. Faber.
"Anyhow, you can't complain of deaf Captain Grant. He looked so
cheerful, and did not want to hide his age."
Plantagenet turned over to the letter G in his book.
"Here he is; Grant, Charles, Captain. Lost hearing and work. Very
small income, age sixty, only poor relations, references."
"Of course they sound uninteresting as tabulated folk. I'm sure St.
Francis never tabulated people! There's a lovely story of one of the
brothers, who was nursing a leper, being told to go fifteen miles off,
and not liking to leave his patient, took him up on his back from dawn
to sunrise all the way, and no one could believe he could have done it
in the time, so everybody was awfully astonished."
"I'm thankful there are no lepers in England now, Miss Whitburn," said
Mr. Russell in his drawling voice; "I'm rather afraid you might wish me
to carry one of them fifteen miles if you sent me on a message.
Couldn't do it, I assure you!"
The idea made them all laugh.
"I must go back now," said Lewis, "and, short of lepers, what can I do
to help you?"
"I really think we must all help to answer the letters if you will come
to-morrow morning; Mr. Russell has composed a short note asking for all
particulars."
"Age and pedigree! Well, Russell, I'll turn up and help to-morrow,"
said Lewis, nodding towards the secretary.
"There's the bell," exclaimed Mrs. Faber. "I expect Lady Dove will want
her novel. Henry says I must come home to-morrow. I do hope Miss
Grossman will be well enough to come down."
"I'll find time, if she is not, Chum, dear. You are such an angel! You
are just like Santa Clara; isn't she, Mr. Russell?"
"I'm not acquainted with Santa Clara," he answered, "but I shall be
quite willing to do anything I can for Lady Dove, Mrs. Faber, when my
labours are lessened."
Toney went off with Lewis, she felt she must have a stretch after her
anxieties.
"I'm so happy about that land," she exclaimed, as the two crossed the
park in the twilight, "that I can't feel upset even! I shall write to
my architect to-night. You do seem to make everything straight."
"Do I?" said Lewis in a low voice. Was it ever going to dawn on Toney
why he tried to make everything straight? At present he feared she
credited him with pure love of humanity. If only he dared speak; but,
no, that money stood in the way. How he hated fifty thousand a year!
"Yes, you do; and that's why, when I have any plan, I always think first
of you. Dear Chum is so afraid of doing wrong, and Uncle Evas is so
just--straight-ahead-going, that a secret is really no use at all with
him! He blurts it out at the most inconvenient moment! He is a dear
old duck all the same! He sits up all night, or did, to write my
business letters because Aunt Dove couldn't bear to see him do it.
Well, but that's not what I wanted to ask you about."
"Any more stray sheep, Toney? They're pretty thick on the ground as it
is!"
"I hope they are all in the fold to-night, but I want to talk about
Jeanie and Maud Hamilton. I know you would like them to have something
nice and so you can best help me."
"My dear Toney, they wouldn't like being tabulated," said Lewis
laughing.
"No, of course not. I wish Mr. Russell had not that craze; however,
Pups used to say, 'every man knows what crutch suits him best.' I never
quite knew what he meant, but I do now: Mr. Russell finds that big book
his crutch."
"But what about the Hamiltons? You know Aunt Honoria and I are always
delighted to have them with us. My Uncle Hamilton was an easy-going
spendthrift, and never thought what would happen when he died, so when
he departed this life, they said he had quietly eaten more than half his
capital."
"I daresay he helped other people, so that's just the reason why other
people should take care of his children. Jeanie loves music and wants
to go to Vienna, I heard her say so, and Maud--Maud is nice, isn't she?"
"Yes, she is vastly improved."