_Chelsea Buns_
VIOLET seemed afraid (and yet why should she be?) to come near me, after
_Mark’s_ Communication; and, as my dear Mother could ill spare me, I
kept close House. We now felt the Blessing of having a discreet and
godly Minister for our Inmate; for Master _Blower_ read and prayed much
with my Mother, and comforted her greatly by his Discoursings. I
likewise derived Benefit from the good Seed he scattered, which fell, as
it were, into Ground much softened by heavy Rain.
When I was able and inclined to step across to _Violet_, I found only
Master _Armytage_ in the Shop; who said to me with some Shortness, “You
will find my Daughters within,—I wish your Father would find Something
more profitable for your Cousin to do, than to be always in our Parlour,
a-hindering of Business.”
I knew _Mark_ was not there just then, at any Rate, having left him at
Home; and, stepping into Master _Armytage’s_ Back-room, I only found
there a pale, gentle-looking Girl, with large, brown Eyes, diligently
putting Shop-marks to a Box of new Ribbons. I knew her for _Kitty_,
though her return Home was News to me; and, having not much to say to a
Stranger, I asked her how she liked the _Bridge_. She said, “Not at all;
I have been used to look upon Trees and Fields, and miss the Green; the
Noises make my Head ache, and my Mother keeps me so close to my Work,
that I pine for fresh Air.” I said, “Sure there is enough of it blowing
through that open Window from the River!”
“Do you call it fresh?” said she, rather contemptuously. “I do not, I
can tell you! Instead of being scented with Cows’ Breath and new-mown
Hay, it comes from Tan-yards and Butchers’ Shops.”
When _Violet_ came in, she blushed very red, but we only spoke of
indifferent Subjects: and, strange as it was of two such close
Intimates, we never, from that Time forward, had any closer
Communication. Perhaps it was her Fault, perhaps it was mine: or
perhaps, no Fault of either, but a just and becoming Sense of what was
best for two modest Girls in our new Relation. For, though it needed not
to be supposed that she knew Anything of what was passing in my Mind, I
am persuaded that she did.
And thus the Families fell apart; and _Mark_ never renewed his
Confidences to me after that first Evening; and, if he had Moments of
keen Pleasure now and then, I am persuaded he had Hours of Pain he had
never known before. For _Violet_ was capricious and coquettish, and
sometimes would vex him by being unreasonable and hard to please: at
other Times, by laying herself out to please others, as Master
_Braidfoot_, and their Lodger Master _Clarke_. And though she gave out
to _Mark_ that this was only for a Feint, to draw off the Attention of
her Father and Mother from himself, yet sometimes it was certainly with
no other Purpose than to plague him, and at other Times, I fear, with no
better Purpose than to please herself; and I know it cost him many a
Tear.
Poor _Mark_! how my Heart ached for him, and swelled against her, when I
found him one Evening with his Arms on the Table, and his Head on his
Arms, and saw, when he looked up, that he had been crying. He rose, and
looked out of Window, and said, “Has it done raining yet? I think I have
been asleep!” But I knew he had not.
All his Money now went in fine Clothes for himself, and Presents for
her; so that if he needed a little Purse against his Marriage Day, he
was not going the Way to fill it.
There was great Talk among the young People, about this Time, of an
Excursion up the River, to eat Buns and drink Whey at _Chelsea_. I was
invited to join them, but declined, on account of my Mother: but _Mark_
was to go, and could think of Nothing else. I washed and starched his
Collar and Bands myself, and sewed a new Lace on his Hat. He wore a
plain silver-grey Cloth Suit, which was sober, but very becoming, for he
never affected strong Contrasts, like my Father. Knowing he was fond of
a Flower in his Button-hole, but was pressed for Time to get one, I gave
a little Girl a Penny to run down to the Market for the best Moss-rose
she could buy, and gave it him myself. He thanked me most pleasantly for
it, and looked so comely and cheerful, that when he went forth, I could
not help standing just behind the Window-blind, to look after him, and
to see the gay Party set out from Master _Armytage’s_. First, a Boy was
sent forward, with a great Basket full of Veal-pies and other Dainties;
then came out Master _Armytage_, with Mistress _Glossop_, who had
condescended to join the Party, and wore a peach-blossom Silk, with
pea-green Ribbons. Then Mistress _Armytage_, with a little Basket
covered up, no Doubt containing Something very precious; and _Hugh
Braidfoot_ by himself, with his Hands in his Pockets, as if he expected
to be asked to carry it, and did not mean to offer, walking a little in
Advance of her; then _Violet_, looking sweet! between _Mark_ and Master
_Clarke_—(I know she liked having two better than one, whatever might be
her Value for either;) and then _Kitty_, who by Rights should have had
one or other of them, slowly following with Master and Mistress
_Benskin_. I observed her to be a very little lame, but Nothing to speak
of.
[Illustration]
Well! the Day was fine, the Water looked lovely, there was Nothing to
prevent their having a most charming Party of Pleasure, unless it were
their own Fault. I thought of them many Times, as I sat quietly weaving
Hair at my Mother’s Bedside; and fancied them floating on the River,
landing under tall Trees, rambling among Meadows, sitting on the Grass,
eating and drinking in the Shade, and scattering in small Parties. I
fancied what I should do and feel if I were _Violet_, and how _Mark_
would comport himself, and what he would say: but, when I looked on my
Mother’s pain-worn Face, I did not wish to change Places.
They did not come Home till very late; much too late. I had persuaded my
Father to go to Bed, and let me sit up for _Mark_, for Fear of
disturbing my Mother. He said _Dolly_ might as well sit up too; however,
she proved heavy to sleep, so I sent her to Bed.
[Illustration:
And looked on the Bridge
]
Then I sat at my Window, which was over Master _Blower’s_ Sitting-room,
and looked out on the _Bridge_. The Harvest-moon, brightly shining, made
our Side of the Way as light as Day, but Master _Armytage’s_ Side was in
deep Shade. I heard _St. Magnus’s_ Clock, and _St. Paul’s_, and _St.
Mary Overy’s_, strike Eleven. Then I saw some dark Figures coming along
in the Shade, and stop at Master _Armytage’s_ Door, and knock up the
Maid, who, after long Delay, came sleepily to the Door with a Candle.
Then the others, who had been talking, but not much, like People who
were very tired after too long a Day’s Pleasure, said “Good-night;” and
I saw _Hugh Braidfoot_ shake Hands with the Girl on his Arm, and step
across to his own Door in the broad Moonshine. Master and Mistress
_Benskin_ had gone Home before, and let themselves in with the
House-key. I counted those that entered Master _Armytage’s_, and only
made out his own Family. _Mark_ had doubtless seen Mistress _Glossop_ to
her own Door, as was right and fitting. For him, then, I must expect to
wait a good While longer: and I _did_ wait a good While; till all the
Clocks struck Twelve. Just as they had done striking, I heard and knew
his Step, and opened the Door without his knocking.
“Have you had a pleasant Day?” said I.
I looked at him as I spoke, and shall never forget his Face!
—“Good-night,” said he shortly; “we’ll talk it over to-morrow,”—
And impatiently took from my Hands his Candle, which I was trying to
light for him at mine. But it had been snuffed too short, and would not
light as readily as he wished; which made him curse it in a low, deep
Voice. I had never heard him swear before.
“_Mark_,” said I, looking anxiously at him, “you are ill.”
“No, I’m not,” said he abruptly; “Good-night. Thank you for sitting up
for me.”
“I’m not at all tired,” said I, “and there’s some Supper for you in the
Kitchen. Let us go there, and have a little Chat over the Pleasures of
the Day—you don’t look sleepy.”
From white he turned to deep red.
“The Day has not been so pleasant as you suppose,” said he huskily; “you
have been better and happier at your Mother’s Bedside. I wish there were
more such as you in the World. Good-night, dear, good _Cherry_!”
—And sprang up Stairs without another Word, taking two Steps at a Time.
I went to Bed, but not to sleep; I could not get his strange Look and
Manner out of my Head.
The next Morning, at Breakfast-time, _Mark_ did not appear. _Dolly_ said
he had gone out early. My Father was angry, and sent across the Way for
him, knowing he was but too often at Master _Armytage’s_. But _Dolly_
brought back Word they had seen Nothing of him. Then we concluded he had
gone for an early Walk, as was often his Custom, and had outstayed his
Time. However, we breakfasted without him at length, and still he did
not come back.
“Confound that Boy,” said my patient Father at last—(thus, the Fault of
one Party provoked the Sin of another,)—“it’s plaguy tiresome of him to
be playing Truant this Morning, of all Days in the Year, for I have
pressing Business in _Eastcheap_.”
“Leave me in Charge of the Shop, _Father_,” said I,—“my Mother’s Cough
is quiet, now she is dozing; and I shall hear her Bell.”
“Well, I suppose I must,” said he very reluctantly; “but I shall trounce
Master _Mark_ well for his Conduct when I see him next, he may rely upon
it!”
So he left me in Charge; and my loved Mother being in a Kind of
lethargic Slumber, which often lasted many Hours, I left the Doors open
between us, and sat in the Shop. As Fate would have it, not a single
Customer looked in the whole Time my Father was away; which was lucky,
though we did not feel very thankful, in usual, for this Falling-off in
Business. Before he returned, _Mark_ came in, and beckoned me into the
Parlour.
“What is the Matter?” said I, with a violently beating Heart.
“I’ve done it!” said he breathlessly.
“Done what?” said I.
“Married!” said he: and hid his Face in his Hands.
“Dear _Mark_, how imprudent!” I exclaimed affectionately; “what _will_
the _Armytages_ say?”
“What will they, _indeed_!” repeated he, “_Violet_ especially! She drove
me to it!”
“_Violet?_ _Drove_ you to marry her?” I cried.—It sounded so strange!
“Oh, _Cherry_! what _will_ you say? It makes me shudder to tell you!” he
rapidly said; “Nothing but that Girl’s incorrigible Coquetry could have
made me break with her as I did; and then Reproaches led to Taunts, and
Taunts to Threatenings, till bad led to worse, and she twitted me with
my Poverty, and I told her I could be a richer Man in twenty-four Hours
than her Father, and look down upon them all, and she dared me to it,
and said a better Man than me was waiting for her, and so—Temptation to
be revenged on her came in my Way, and—I’ve married Mistress _Glossop_!”
“Oh, _Mark_!”
—“Nay, _Cherry_, don’t give way so,” said he, beginning to shed Tears
himself when he saw me weeping bitterly,—“Love is not a Man’s whole
Life, and what I’ve tasted of it hasn’t made me very happy. I’ve stepped
into a famous Business, and I shall have a quiet Fireside, and a capital
Table, and kind Looks if not pretty ones, and—a done Thing can’t be
undone: so there’s an End on’t!”
Then, fancying he heard my Father’s Step, though ’twas only Master
_Blower’s_, he hastily exclaimed, “You must tell my Uncle—Good-bye,
_Cherry_!” and hurried out of the House.
When he was gone, I sat in a Kind of Stupor.... _Married?_ and to such a
Wife!—How _could_ he?—how could _she_? ... and this increased my
Amazement, for he had been beside himself with Anger and Jealousy, and
hardly knew what he was doing,—but that she, cool, collected, and at her
Time of Life, could have closed with his Proposals without the Delay of
a single Day!—how disgusting!—Ah, she was afraid of losing him!
—Immersed in these sad Thoughts, with my Hands clasped on my Lap, I was
unaware of my Father’s Return till he stood before me. I started.
“Has _Mark_ returned?” cried he.
“He came back, and is again gone,” said I.
“The young Rascal!” exclaimed my Father very passionately; “what does he
mean by this outrageous Conduct? I’ve a great Mind to lock the Door
against him when he comes back!”
“_Father_, he will never come back!—He is married! ... married to
Mistress _Glossop_.”
And, trying to speak composedly, all would not do; the Tears rained from
my Eyes.
My Father remained perfectly mute. I could understand his Amazement, his
Vexation, by my own; accompanied, as I knew it must be in his Case, by
great Anger. I expected every Moment to hear some violent Expression of
Indignation: he had been so unusually displeased with him already for
what was comparatively a Trifle.
All at once, I found myself folded in his Arms. He did not say a Word;
but the longer he held me, the more and more I felt that his Hopes for
me had been ruined as well as mine, that his Schemes and Visions of the
Future were all dispersed and overclouded, that he knew Something of
what was passing within me, and felt Sympathy without having the Power
of expressing it.
“Well,—” said he, releasing me at last,—and I saw that his Eyes were
wet,—“Man proposes, but GOD disposes. We’ve had an Escape from this
young Man. Ungrateful young Fellow! And blind to his own Interest, too,
for I could have done better for him, _Cherry_, than he knows of. But—he
deserves his Fate. A miserable one it will be! He’ll never prosper!”
“Oh, _Father!_ don’t prophesy against him! We need not wish him ill.”
“I don’t wish him ill,” returned he, “but he’ll come to no Good. He has
done for himself in this Marriage. And so, _Cherry_, you’ll see!”
[Illustration]
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