It seemed to be a very long time before the inquest was over, and Aunt
Jane had almost yielded to her niece’s impatience and her own, and
consented to walk down to meet the intelligence, when Fergus
came tearing in, ‘I’ve seen the rock, and there is a flaw of
crystallisation in it! And the coroner-man called me an incipient
geologist.’
‘But the verdict?’
‘They said it was accidental death, and something about more care being
taken and valuable lives endangered.’
‘And Alexis White--’
‘Oh! there was a great bother about his not being there. They said it
looked very bad; but they could not find him.’
‘Not find him! Oh! Where is Cousin Rotherwood?’
‘He is coming home, and he said I might run on, and tell you that if you
had time to come in to the hotel he would tell you about it.’
With which invitation Miss Mohun hastened to comply; Gillian was ardent
to come too, and it seemed cruel to prevent her; but, besides that Jane
thought that her cousin might be tired enough to make his wife wish him
to see as few people as possible, she was not sure that Gillian might
not show suspicious agitation, and speech and action would not be free
in her presence. So the poor girl was left to extract what she could
from her little brother, which did not amount to much.
It was a propitious moment, for Jane met Lord Rotherwood at the door of
the hotel, parting with Mr. White; she entered with him, and his wife,
after satisfying herself that he was not the worse for his exertions,
was not sorry that he should have his cousin to keep him quiet in his
easy-chair while she went off to answer a pile of letters which had just
been forwarded from home.
‘Well, Jenny,’ he said, ‘I am afraid your protege does not come out of
it very well; that is, if he is your protege. He must be an uncommonly
foolish young man.’
‘I reserve myself on that point. But is it true that he never appeared?’
‘Quite true.’
‘Didn’t they send for him?’
‘Yes; but he could not be found, either at the works or at home.
However, the first might be so far accounted for, since he met at his
desk a notice of dismissal from White and Stebbing.’
‘No! Really. Concocted at that unlucky dinner yesterday! But, of course,
it was not immediate.’
‘Of course not, and perhaps something might have been done for him; but
a man who disappears condemns himself.’
‘But what for? I hope Fergus explained that the stone was not near the
spot when he showed it.’
‘Yes; Fergus spoke up like a little man, and got more credit than he
deserved. If they had known that of all varieties of boys the scientific
is the worst imp of mischief! It all went in order due--surgeon
explained injuries to poor little being--men how the stone came down and
they dug him out--poor little baby-sister made out her sad little
story. That was the worst part of all. Something must be done for that
child--orphanage or something--only unluckily there’s the father and
mother. Poor father! he is the one to be pitied. I mean to get at him
without the woman. Well, then came my turn, and how I am afflicted with
the habit of going where I ought not, and, only by a wonderful mercy,
was saved from being part of the general average below. Then we got
to the inquiry, Were not dangerous places railed off? Yes, Stebbing
explained that it was the rule of the firm to have the rocks regularly
inspected once a month, and once a fortnight in winter and spring, when
the danger is greater. If they were ticklish, the place was marked
at the moment with big stones, reported, and railed off. An old
foreman-sort of fellow swore to having detected the danger, and put
stones. He had reported it. To whom? To Mr. Frank. Yes, he thought it
was Mr. Frank, just before he went away. It was this fellow’s business
to report it and send the order, it seems, and in his absence Alexander
White, or whatever they call him, took his work. Well, the old man
doesn’t seem to know whether he mentioned the thing to young White or
not, which made his absence more unlucky; but, anyway, the presence of
the stones was supposed to be a sufficient indication of the need of the
rail, or to any passenger to avoid the place. In fact, if Master White
had been energetic, he would have seen to the thing. I fancy that is the
long and short of it. But when the question came how the stones came to
be removed, I put Fergus forward. The foreman luckily could identify his
stone by the precious crack of spar; and the boy explained how he
had lugged it down, and showed it to his friend far away from its
place--had, in fact, turned over and displaced all the lot.’
‘Depend upon it, Alexis has gone out of the way to avoid accusing
Fergus!’
‘Don’t make me start, it hurts; but do you really believe that,
Jane--you, the common-sense female of the family?’
‘Indeed I do, he is a romantic, sensitive sort of fellow, who would not
defend himself at the boy’s expense.’
‘Whew! He might have stood still and let Fergus defend him, then,
instead of giving up his own cause.’
‘And how did it end?’
‘Accidental death, of course; couldn’t be otherwise; but censure on the
delay and neglect of precaution, which the common opinion of the Court
naturally concentrated on the absent; though, no doubt, the first
omission was young Stebbing’s; but owing to the hurry of his start for
Italy, that was easily excused. And even granting that Fergus did the
last bit of mischief, your friend may be romantically generous, if you
please; but he must have been very slack in his work.’
‘Poor fellow--yes. Now before I tell you what I know about him, I should
like to hear how Mr. Stebbing represents him. You know his father was a
lieutenant in the Royal Wardours.’
‘Risen from the ranks, a runaway cousin of White’s. Yes, and there’s a
son in a lawyer’s office always writing to White for money.’
‘Oh! I never had much notion of that eldest--’
‘They have no particular claim on White; but when the father died he
wrote to Stebbing to give those that were old enough occupation at the
works, and see that the young ones got educated.’
‘So he lets the little boys go to the National School, though there’s no
great harm in that as yet.’
‘He meant to come and see after them himself, and find out what they
are made of. But meantime this youth, who did well at first, is always
running after music and nonsense of all kinds, thinking himself above
his business, neglecting right and left; while as to the sister, she is
said to be very clever at designing--both ways in fact--so determined to
draw young Stebbing in, that, having got proof of it at last, they have
dismissed her too. And, Jane, I hardly like to tell you, but somehow
they mix Gillian up in the business. They ate it up again when I cut
them short by saying she was my cousin, her mother and you like my
sisters. I am certain it is all nonsense, but had you any notion of any
such thing? It is insulting you, though, to suppose you had not,’ he
added, as he saw her air of acquiescence; ‘so, of course, it is all
right.’
‘It is not all right, but not so wrong as all that. Oh no! and I know
all about it from poor Gill herself and the girl. Happily they are
both too good girls to need prying. Well, the case is this. There was
a quarrel about a love story between the two original Whites, who must
both have had a good deal of stuff in them. Dick ran away, enlisted,
rose, and was respected by Jasper, etc., but was married to a
Greco-Hibernian wife, traditionally very beautiful, poor woman, though
rather the reverse at present. Lily and her girls did their best for the
young people with good effect on the eldest girl, who really in looks
and ways is worthy of her Muse’s name, Kalliope. Father had to retire
with rank of captain, and died shortly after. Letters failed to reach
the Merrifields, who were on the move. This Quarry cousin was written
to, and gave the help he described to you. Perhaps it was just, but
it disappointed them, and while the father lived, Alexis had been
encouraged to look to getting to the University and Holy Orders. He has
a good voice, and the young curate at the Kennel patronised him, perhaps
a little capriciously, but I am not quite sure. All this was unknown
to me till the Merrifield children came, and Gillian, discovering these
Whites, flew upon them in the true enthusiastic Lily-fashion, added to
the independence of the modern maiden mistrustful of old cats of aunts.
Like a little goose, she held trystes with Kalliope, through the rails
at the top of the garden on Sunday afternoons.’
‘Only Kalliope!’
‘Cela va sans dire. The brother was walking the young ones on the cliffs
whence she had been driven by the attentions of Master Frank Stebbing.
Poor thing, she is really beautiful enough to be a misfortune to her,
and so is the youth--Maid of Athens, Irish eyes, plus intellect. Gill
lent books, and by and by volunteered to help the lad with his Greek.’
‘Whew--’
‘Just as she would teach a night-school class. She used to give him
lessons at his sister’s office. I find that as soon as Kalliope found it
was unknown to me she protested, and did all in her power to prevent it,
but Gillian had written all to her mother, and thought that sufficient.’
‘And Lily--? Victoria would have gone crazy--supposing such a thing
possible,’ he added, sotto voce.
‘Lily was probably crazy already between her sick husband and her bridal
daughters, for she answered nothing intelligible. However, absence gave
time for reflection, and Gillian came home after her visits convinced by
her own good sense and principle that she had not acted fairly towards
us, so that, of her own accord, the first thing she did was to tell me
the whole, and how much the sister had always objected. She was quite
willing that I should talk it over with Kalliope before she went near
them again, but I have never been able really to do so.’
‘Then it was all Greek and--“Lilyism!” Lily’s grammar over again, eh!’
‘On her side, purely so--but I am afraid she did upset the boy’s mind.
He seems to have been bitterly disappointed at what must have appeared
like neglect and offence--and oh! you know how silly youths can be--and
he had Southern blood too, poor fellow, and he went mooning and moping
about, I am afraid really not attending to his business; and instead
of taking advantage of the opening young Stebbing’s absence gave him of
showing his abilities, absolutely gave them the advantage against him,
by letting them show him up as an idle fellow.’
‘Or worse. Stebbing talked of examining the accounts, to see if there
were any deficiency.’
‘That can be only for the sake of prejudicing Mr. White--they cannot
really suspect him.’
‘If not, it was very good acting, and Stebbing appears to me just the
man to suspect a parson’s pet, and a lady’s--as he called this unlucky
fellow.’
‘Ask any of the workmen--ask Mr. Flight.’
‘Well, I wish he had come to the front. It looks bad for him, and your
plea, Jenny, is more like Lily than yourself.’
‘Thank you; I had rather be like Lily than myself.’
‘And you are equally sure that the sister is maligned?’
‘Quite sure--on good evidence--the thing is how to lay it all before Mr.
White, for you see these Stebbings evidently want to prevent him from
taking to his own kindred--you must help me, Rotherwood.’
‘When I am convinced,’ he said. ‘My dear Jenny, I beg your pardon--I
have an infinite respect for your sagacity, but allow me to observe,
though your theory holds together, still it has rather an ancient and
fish-like smell.’
‘I only ask you to investigate, and make him do so. Listen to any one
who knows, to any one but the Stebbings, and you will find what an
admirable girl the sister is, and that the poor boy is perfectly
blameless of anything but being forced into a position for which he was
never intended, and of all his instincts rebelling.’
They were interrupted by the arrival of the doctor, whom Lady Rotherwood
had bound over to come and see whether her husband was the worse for his
exertions. He came in apologising most unnecessarily for his tardiness.
And in the midst of Miss Mohun’s mingled greeting and farewell, she
stood still to hear him say that he had been delayed by being called
in to that poor woman, Mrs. White, who had had a fit on hearing the
policeman inquiring for that young scamp, her son.
‘The policeman!’ ejaculated Jane in consternation.
‘It was only to summon him to attend the inquest,’ explained Dr. Dagger,
‘but there was no one in the house with her but a little maid, and the
shock was dreadful. If he has really absconded, it looks exceedingly ill
for him.’
‘I believe he has only been inattentive,’ said Jane firmly, knowing that
she ought to go, and yet feeling constrained to wait long enough to ask
what was the state of the poor mother, and if her daughter were with
her.
‘The daughter was sent for, and seems to be an effective
person--uncommonly handsome, by the bye. The attack was hysteria, but
there is evidently serious disease about her, which may be accelerated.’
‘I thought so. I am afraid she has had no advice.’
‘No; I promised the daughter to come and examine her to-morrow when she
is calmer, and if that son is good for anything, he may have returned.’
And therewith Jane was forced to go away, to carry this wretched news to
poor Gillian.
Aunt and niece went as soon as the mid-day meal was over to inquire for
poor Mrs. White, and see what could be done. She was sleeping under an
opiate, and Kalliope came down, pale as marble, but tearless. She
knew nothing of her brother since she had given him his breakfast that
morning. He had looked white and haggard, and had not slept, neither did
he eat. She caught at the theory that had occurred to Miss Mohun, that
he did not like to accuse Fergus, for even to her he had not mentioned
who had removed the stone. In that case he might return at night. Yet
it was possible that he did not know even now whence the stone had come,
and it was certain that he had been at his office that morning, and
opened the letter announcing his dismissal. Kalliope, going later, had
found the like notice, but had had little time to dwell on it before
she had been summoned home to her mother. Poor Mrs. White had been much
shaken by the first reports of yesterday’s accident, which had been so
told to her as to alarm her for both her children; and when her little
maid rushed in to say that ‘the pelis was come after Mr. Alec,’ it was
no wonder that her terror threw her into a most alarming state, which
made good Mrs. Lee despatch her husband to bring home Kalliope; and
as the attack would not yield to the soothing of the women or to their
domestic remedies, but became more and more delirious and convulsive,
the nearest doctor was sent for, and Dr. Dagger, otherwise a higher
flight than would have been attempted, was caught on his way and brought
in to discover how serious her condition already was.
This Kalliope told them with the desperate quietness of one who could
not afford to give way. Her own affairs were entirely swallowed up in
this far greater trouble, and for the present there were no means of
helping her. Mr. and Mrs. Lee were thoroughly kind, and ready to give
her efficient aid in her home cares and her nursing; and it could only
be hoped that Alexis might come back in the evening, and set the poor
patient’s mind at rest.
‘We will try to make Mr. White come to a better understanding,’ said
Miss Mohun kindly.
‘Thank you’ said Kalliope, pushing back her hair with a half-bewildered
look. ‘I remember my poor mother was very anxious about that. But it
seems a little thing now.’
‘May God bless and help you, my dear,’ said Miss Mohun, with a parting
kiss.
Gillian had not spoken all the time; but outside she said--‘Oh, aunt! is
this my doing?’
‘Not quite,’ said Aunt Jane kindly. ‘There were other causes.’
‘Oh, if I could do anything!’
‘Alas! it is easier to do than to undo.’
Aunt Jane was really kind, and Gillian was grateful, but oh, how she
longed for her mother!
There was no better news the next morning. Nothing had been heard of
Alexis, and nothing would persuade his mother in her half-delirious and
wholly unreasonable state that he had not been sent to prison, and that
they were not keeping it from her. She was exceedingly ill, and Kalliope
had been up all night with her.
Such was the report in a note sent up by Mrs. Lee by one of the little
boys early in the morning, and, as soon as she could reasonably do so,
Miss Mohun carried the report to Lord Rotherwood, whom she found much
better, and anxious to renew the tour of inspection which had been
interrupted.
Before long, Mr. White was shown in, intending to resume the business
discussion, and Miss Mohun was about to retreat with Lady Rotherwood,
when her cousin, taking pity on her anxiety, said--
‘If you will excuse me for speaking about your family matters, Mr.
White, my cousin knows these young people well, and I should like you to
hear what she has been telling me.’
‘A gentleman has just been calling on me about them,’ said Mr. White,
not over-graciously.
‘Mr. Flight?’ asked Jane anxiously.
‘Yes; a young clergyman, just what we used to call Puseyite when I left
England; but that name seems to be gone out now.’
‘Anyway,’ said Jane, ‘I am sure he had nothing but good to say of Miss
White, or indeed of her brother; and I am afraid the poor mother is very
ill.’
‘That’s true, Miss Mohun; but you see there may be one side to a lady or
a parson, and another to a practical man like my partner. Not but that I
should be willing enough to do anything in reason for poor Dick’s widow
and children, but not to keep them in idleness, or letting them think
themselves too good to work.’
‘That I am sure these two do not. Their earnings quite keep the family.
I know no one who works harder than Miss White, between her business,
her lodgers, the children, and her helpless mother.’
‘I saw her mosaics--very fair, very clever, some of them; but I’m afraid
she is a sad little flirt, Miss Mohun.’
‘Mr. White,’ said Lord Rotherwood, ‘did ever you hear of a poor girl
beset by an importunate youth, but his family thought it was all her
fault?’
‘If Mr. White would see her,’ said Jane, ‘he would understand at a
glance that the attraction is perfectly involuntary; and I know from
other sources how persistently she has avoided young Stebbing; giving up
Sunday walks to prevent meeting him, accepting nothing from him, always
avoiding tete-a-tetes.’
‘Hum! But tell me this, madam,’ said Mr. White eagerly, ‘how is it that,
if these young folks are so steady and diligent as you would make out,
that eldest brother writes to me every few months for help to support
them?’
‘Oh!’ Jane breathed out, then, rallying, ‘I know nothing about that
eldest. Yes, I do though! His sister told my niece that all the rents
of the three houses went to enable Richard to appear as he ought at the
solicitor’s office at Leeds.’
‘There’s a screw loose somewhere plainly,’ said Lord Rotherwood.
‘The question is, where it is,’ said Mr. White.
‘And all I hope, said Jane, ‘is that Mr. White will judge for himself
when he has seen Kalliope and made inquiries all round. I do not say
anything for the mother, poor thing, except that she is exceedingly ill
just now, but I do thoroughly believe in the daughter.’
‘And this runaway scamp, Miss Mohun?’
‘I am afraid he is a runaway; but I am quite sure he is no scamp,’ said
Jane.
‘Only so clever as to be foolish, eh?’ said the Marquis, rather
provokingly.
‘Exactly so,’ she answered; ‘and I am certain that if Mr. White will
trust to his own eyes and his own inquiries, he will find that I am
right.’
She knew she ought to go, and Lord Rotherwood told her afterwards, ‘That
was not an ill-aimed shaft, Jane. Stebbing got more than one snub over
the survey. I see that White is getting the notion that there’s a system
of hoodwinking going on, and of not letting him alone, and he is not the
man to stand that.’
‘If he only would call on Kalliope!’
‘I suspect he is afraid of being beguiled by such a fascinating young
woman.’
It was a grievous feature in the case to Gillian that she could really
do nothing. Mrs. White was so ill that going to see Kalliope was of no
use, and Maura was of an age to be made useful at home; and there were
features in the affair that rendered it inexpedient for Gillian to speak
of it except in the strictest confidence to Aunt Jane or Mysie. It was
as if she had touched a great engine, and it was grinding and clashing
away above her while she could do nothing to stay its course.