The reader is requested kindly to glance through the following batch of
letters, which, oddly enough, are all dated September 9th, 18---:
Number 1.--William Grover, M.A., Grandcourt School, to Mark Railsford,
M.A., Lucerne.
"Grandcourt, _September_ 9th.
"Dear Railsford,--I suppose this will catch you at Lucerne, on your way
back to England. I was sorry to hear you had been seedy before you left
London. Your trip is sure to have done you good, and if you only fell
in with pleasant people I expect you will have enjoyed yourself
considerably. What are you going to do when you get home--still follow
the profession of a gentleman at large, or what? Term opened here again
last week, and the Sixth came back to-day. I'm getting more reconciled
to the place by this time; indeed, there is no work I like better than
teaching, and if I was as certain it was as good for the boys as it is
congenial to me I should be perfectly contented. My fellow-masters,
with an exception or two, are good fellows, and let me alone. The
exceptions are harder to get on with.
"As for the boys, I have a really nice lot in my house. One or two
rowdies, who give me some bother, and one or two cads, with whom I am at
war; but the rest are a festive, jovial crew, who tolerate their master
when he lets them have their own way, and growl when he doesn't; who
work when they are so disposed, and drop idle with the least
provocation; who lead me many a weary dance through the lobbies after
the gas is out, and now and then come and make themselves agreeable in
my rooms when I invite them.
"I fancied when I came here I should get lots of time to myself--enough
perhaps to write my book on Comparative Political Economy. Vain hope!
I haven't time to turn round. If my days were twenty-six hours I should
scarcely then do all I ought to do here. Ponsford is getting old, and
leaves the executive to his lieutenants. He sits aloft like Zeus, hurls
a thunderbolt now and then, and for the rest acts as a supreme court of
appeal. Bickers, my opposite neighbour, is still a thorn in my side. I
don't know how it is, I try all I know, but I can't get on with him, and
have given him up. Moss, I believe, who is Master of the Shell and head
of a house, has come to the end of his endurance, and there is some talk
of his throwing up his place here. It would be a pity in many ways, and
it might be hard to get a good man in his place.
"By the way, if there is a vacancy, why should not you enter the lists?
I see you smile at the idea of anyone exchanging the profession of
gentleman at large for that of Master of the Shell. But it's worth a
thought, any how. Let us know where and how you are; and if you can run
down this way for a Sunday, do, and make glad the heart of your
friend,--
"W. Grover."
No. 2.--Arthur Herapath, Esquire, Lucerne, to Sir Digby Oakshott,
Baronet, Grandcourt.
"Dear Dig,--Here's a game! The gov's been and lost a lot of the
luggage, and ma won't go home without it, so we're booked here for a
week more. He's written to Ponsford to say I can't turn up till next
week, and says I'm doing some of the mug, so as not to be all behind.
Jolly good joke of the gov.'s, isn't it? Catch me mugging here!
"Stunning place, this! We went a picnic to--I say, by the way, while I
remember it, do you know it's all a howling cram about William Tell?
There never was such a chap! This is the place he used to hang out in,
and everyone says it's all my eye what the history says about him.
You'd better let Moss know. Tell him, from inquiries made by me on the
spot, I find it's all humbug, and he'd better get some chap to write a
new history who knows something about it. I was asking Railsford--by
the way, he's a stunning chap. We ran up against him on the Saint
Gothard, and he's been with us ever since. No end of a cheese! Rowed
in the Cambridge boat three years ago, Number 4, when Oxford won by two
feet. He says when you're rowing in a race you see nothing but the
fellow's back in front of you. He's 6 feet 2, and scales 12 stone 14
pounds. That's why they put him Number 4; but he rowed stroke in his
college boat. He's having a lot of fag about our luggage, but I'm in no
hurry for it to turn up.
"How are all the fellows? I guess I'm missing a lot of fun this week.
Get some of them to keep something; till I come back. How's Tilbury?
By the way, who am I stuck with this term? I don't want to get chummed
again with that young ass Simson. Tell Moss that. Any more rows with
Bickers's lot? There will be when I come back! I've got half a dozen
of them in my eye. Gov. says I'll have to wake up this term. What a
go! If I don't scrape into the Shell at Christmas, he says he'll know
the reason why! So look out for no-larks.
"This fellow Railsford's put me up to a thing or two about mugging. He
was a hot man at Cambridge, and says he knew Grover. He's gone with
Daisy up a mountain to-day. Wanted to take me, too, but I told them I
didn't see it. I tried it once, that was enough for me! Ta-ta, old
man; keep your pecker up till I come, and then mind your eye!
"Yours truly,--
"A. Herapath, Ll.D."
Number 3.--From Miss Daisy Herapath to Miss Emily Sherriff.
"Lucerne, _Tuesday_.
"My Dearest Milly,--We are in _such_ trouble! Two of our boxes have
been lost between Como and here. One of them contained my new black
grenadine with the Spanish lace. I have positively nothing to wear; and
had to appear at _table d'hote_ in my blue serge and one of mamma's
shawls. Just imagine! It is such a sad end to our holiday. I am
longing to get home. Travelling abroad is all very nice, but one gets
tired of it. I feel I shall like to settle down in town once more.
"Poor papa has had so much trouble with the boxes, and must, have spent
pounds in telegrams. It was really Arthur's fault. He sent the porter
who was booking the luggage for us to get him some chocolate from the
buffet, and the consequence was the train went off before all the boxes
were put in the van. Dear Milly, _never_ travel abroad with your young
brother!
"I have been quite lazy about sketching the last few days. I can't tell
you how lovely some of the sunsets have been. It is the regular thing
to sit out in the hotel grounds and watch them. I wish so often you
could be here to share my pleasure, for papa and mamma are afraid to sit
out, and Arthur is so unpoetical! There are a great many Americans
here. The fashion of short steeves seems quite to be coming in again!
I shall have to get mine altered as soon as I come home. Some of our
party went up the Rigi to-day. The view from the top was beautiful; but
the place is spoiled by the crowds of people who go up. I so much
prefer the quieter excursions.
"I must go to bed now, dearest Milly. It will be lovely to see you
soon. When one is away from home, one feels more than ever how nice it
would be to have one's friends always about one. (What a lot of
`ones'!)
"Ever your very loving friend,--
"Daisy.
"P.S.--We met the Thompsons at Como. Did you know Edith was to be
married this autumn, quite quietly, in the country? The Walkleys are
here, and one or two other people we know. Arthur has struck up with a
Cambridge fellow, named Railsford, whom we met on the Saint Gothard, and
who took _so_ much trouble about the luggage. It is so nice for Arthur
to have a companion. Dearest Milly, he (M.R.) was one of the party who
went up the Rigi to-day; he speaks German so well, and is so attentive
to mamma. Don't be too horribly curious, darling; I'll tell you
_everything_ when I get home. (He is _so_ good and handsome!)"
Number 4.--Francis Herapath, Esquire, Merchant, to James Blake, Esquire,
Solicitor.
"_Private and Confidential_.
"Dear Blake,--Being detained here owing to a miscarriage of some of our
luggage, I write this instead of waiting till I see you, as it may be
another week before we are home.
"During our travels my daughter has become engaged to a Mr Mark
Railsford, apparently a very desirable and respectable young man. You
will wonder why I trouble you about such a very domestic detail. The
young gentleman was very frank and straightforward in making his
proposal, and volunteered that if I desired to make any inquiries, he
was quite sure that you, his late father's solicitor, would answer any
questions. I have no doubt, from the readiness with which he invited
the inquiry and his satisfaction in hearing that you and I were old
friends, that you will have nothing to say which will alter my
favourable impression. Still, as my child's happiness is at stake, I
have no right to omit any opportunity of satisfying myself. Anything
you may have to say I shall value and treat as confidential.
"I understand Mr R., under his father's will, has a small property; but
of course it will be necessary for him now to find some occupation,
which with his abilities I have no doubt he will easily do. As usual,
the young people are in a hurry to know their fate, so it will be a
charity to them to reply as soon as convenient. Excuse the trouble I am
giving you, and, with kind regards to Mrs B. and your sister,--
"Believe me, yours faithfully,--
"Fras. Herapath."
Number 5.--Mark Railsford to William Grover, Grandcourt.
"Lucerne, _September_ 9th, 18---.
"Dear Grover,--You have often in your lighter moods laughed at the
humble individual who addresses you. Laugh once again. The fact is, I
am engaged. I can fancy I see you reeling under this blow! I have been
reeling under it for thirty-six hours.
"It's partly your fault. Coming over the Saint Gothard a week ago, I
fell in with a family party, Herapath by name; father, mother, boy and
girl. They had come part of the way by train, and were driving over the
top. The boy and I walked, and I discovered he was at Grandcourt, and
of course knew you, though he's not in your house, but Moss's. That's
how _you_ come to be mixed up in it. During the last hour or so Miss
H--- walked with us, and before we reached the Devil's Bridge my fate
was sealed.
"The ladies were in great distress about some lost luggage--lost by the
kind offices of the boy--and I went back to Como to look for it. It
lost me two days, and I never found it. However, I found the brightest
pair of blue eyes when I got back. I will draw you no portraits, you
old scoffer; but I challenge you to produce out of your own imagination
anything to match it. I don't mind confessing to you that I feel half
dazed by it all at present, and have to kick myself pretty often to make
sure it is not a dream. The father, whom I bearded yesterday, nods his
head and will say `Yes' as soon as he's looked into my credentials.
Meanwhile I am tolerated, and dread nothing except the premature turning
up of the lost luggage.
"But, to be practical for once in my life. Amongst much that is
delightfully vague and dreamy, one thing stands out very clear in my own
mind at present. I must do something. My loafing days are over. The
profession of a gentleman at large, with which you twit me, I hereby
renounce. She will back me up in any honest work--she says so. I've
confessed the way I wasted the last three years. She said she is glad
she did not know me then. Oh my, William, it is all very well for you
to scoff. I'm not ashamed to tell you what it is that has brought me to
my senses. Don't scoff, but help a lame dog over a stile. My object in
life is to have an object in life at present. Give me your counsel, and
deserve the benediction of someone besides your friend, M.R."
The patient reader must infer what he can from these five letters. They
are copied word for word from the original documents, and speak for
themselves. I am unable to say whether the luggage was found--whether
Miss Daisy got her sleeves altered to her liking--whether Arthur found
any "fun" left on his arrival, a fortnight late, at Grandcourt, or how
soon Mr Blake's reply to the father's letter reached Lucerne. All
these momentous questions the reader can settle for himself as well as I
can for him. He will at any rate be able to understand that when one
day in October a telegram reached Railsford from Grandcourt with the
brief announcement--"Vacancy here; see advertisement _Athenaeum_! am
writing"--it created no small stir in the manly breast of the worthy to
whom it was directed.
He went at once to Westbourne Park and held a cabinet council with his
chief adviser, and again, on returning home, called his sisters into
consultation. He wrote to his college tutor, drew up a most elegant
letter to the governors, read a few chapters of _Tom Brown's
Schooldays_, and then waited impatiently for Grover's promised letter.
"You will have guessed," said that letter, when it arrived, "from my
telegram that Moss has resigned, and that there will be a vacancy for a
house-master and Master of the Shell here at Christmas. You know how I
would like to see you appointed. But--"
"But what?" inquired someone who read the letter over the reader's
shoulder.
"I should not be your friend if I represented this place as a bed of
roses, especially Moss's house. You'll have hard work to hold your own
with the boys, and harder still with some of the masters. You will get
more criticism than backing-up from head-quarters. Still it is a
splendid opening for a man of courage like you; and all the school would
profit by your success. Talk to Podmore about it; he'll give you good
advice. So will Weston. Of course I can do nothing at all but look on
sympathetically, and, if you try for the place and succeed, promise you
at least one hearty welcome."
"It seems pretty clear it won't be child's play," said Railsford,
folding up the letter.
"It would not suit you if it was," replied his adviser.
This brave speech went far to make up Railsford's mind.
In the house at Westbourne Park, particularly, the career opening before
our hero was hailed with eager enthusiasm. "Dear Arthur" was in Moss's
house, and at Christmas he would get his remove to the Shell. In both
capacities he would have the protecting interest of his prospective
brother-in-law, spread like an aegis over his innocent head. "It really
seems almost a providential arrangement," said Mrs Herapath.
"I am sure it will be a great thing for Arthur," said Daisy.
"It makes one believe there's some truth in the saying that every man
has his niche waiting for him somewhere in life," moralised Mr
Herapath.
That evening a letter came from Arthur to Daisy. The boy, of course,
knew nothing of Railsford's candidature.
"Such a flare-up!" wrote the youth. "Moss has got kicked out! He's
jacked it up, and is going at Christmas. Jolly good job! He shouldn't
have stopped the roast potatoes in the dormitories. Bickers's fellows
have them; they can do what they like! Dig and I did the two mile spin
in 11.19, but there was too much slush to put it on. All I can say is,
I hope we'll get a fellow who is not a cad after Moss, especially as he
will be Master of the Shell, and I'll get a dose of him both ways after
Christmas. We mean not to let him get his head up like Moss did; we're
going to take it out of him at first, and then he'll cave in and let us
do as we like afterwards. Dig and I will get a study after Christmas.
I wish you'd see about a carpet, and get the gov. to give us a picture
or two; and we've got to get a rig-out of saucepans and kettles and a
barometer and a canary, and all that. The room's 15 feet by 9, so see
the carpet's the right size. Gedge says Turkey carpets are the best, so
we'll have a Turkey. How's Railsford? Are you and he spoons still?
Dig and the fellows roared when I told them about catching you two that
time at Lucerne in the garden. You know, when I thought the window was
being smashed? Could you lend me a bob's worth of stamps till
Christmas? I'll pay you back. Dig says he once had a cousin who went
spoons on a chap. He says it was an awful game to catch them at it.
So, you see, we've lots to sympathise about. Love to all.
"I am, yours truly,--
"Arthur.
"P.S.--Don't forget the stamps. Two bob's worth will do as well."
Daisy laughed and cried over this outrageous epistle, and hesitated
about showing it to Mark. However, that happy youth only laughed, and
produced half a crown, which he begged Daisy to add to her own
contribution.
"That's the sort of Young England I like!" said he. "It will be like a
canter on a breezy moor to come in contact with fresh life and spirit
like this, after wasting my time here for three years."
"I expect you will find it breezy," said Daisy, recovering her smiles.
"Arthur is a dreadful boy; it _will_ be so good for him to have you."
At the end of a fortnight came a summons to Railsford, as one of six
selected candidates, to appear and show himself to the governors. He
had expected thus much of success, but the thought of the other five
rendered him uncomfortable as he leaned back in the railway carriage and
hardened himself for the ordeal before him. Grover had deemed it
prudent not to display any particular interest in his arrival, but he
contrived to pay a flying visit to his hotel that evening.
"There's only one fellow likely to run you close--an Oxford man, first-
class in classics, and a good running-man in his day. I think when they
see you they'll prefer you. They will have the six up in alphabetical
order, so you'll come last. That's a mercy. Take a tip from me, and
don't seem too anxious for the place, it doesn't pay; and keep in with
Ponsford."
"Will he be there? Oh, of course. What sort of men are the governors?"
"Very harmless. They'll want to know your character and your creed, and
that sort of thing, and will leave all the rest to Ponsford."
Next morning at 11.30 Railsford sat with his five fellow-martyrs in the
ante-room of the governors' hall at Grandcourt. They talked to one
another, these six unfortunates, about the weather, about the Midland
Railway, about the picture on the wall. They watched one another as, in
obedience to the summons from within, they disappeared one by one
through the green baize door, and emerged a quarter or half an hour
later with tinged cheeks, and taking up their hats, vanished into the
open-air. Railsford was the only one left to witness the exit of the
fifth candidate. Then the voice from within called, "Come in, Mr
Railsford," and he knew his turn was come. It was less terrible than he
expected. Half a score of middle-aged gentlemen round a table, some
looking at him, some reading his testimonials, and one or two putting
questions. Most of them indulgent to his embarrassment and even sharing
it. Dr Ponsford, however, massive, stern, with his shaggy eyebrows and
pursed mouth, was above any such weakness.
"What have you been doing since you left college?" demanded he,
presently fixing the candidate with his eyes.
It was a home question. Railsford answered it honestly, if
hesitatingly.
"I was unfortunately not under the necessity of working," he added,
after going through the catalogue of his abortive studies, "that is, not
for my livelihood." Some of the governors nodded their heads a little,
as though they recognised the misfortune of such a position.
"And what places you under that necessity now?"
"I do not expect to remain a bachelor always, sir."
Here a governor chuckled.
"Ha, ha! Hymen comes to the rescue. Wonderful the revolutions he makes
in young fellows' lives."
The governor had left school fifty-five years ago, and was rather proud
to have remembered who Hymen was. The doctor waited with chilling
patience till the interruption was over.
"You feel yourself competent to take charge of a house of forty to fifty
boys, do you? as well as to conduct a class of seventy?"
"I have thought over the matter, and tried to realise the duties, and
think I can succeed."
"Quite right; I like that. No brag," said another of the governors, in
an aside.
"Your temper is good, is it? you are not likely to fall out with your
fellow-masters, are you?"
"Yes, that's important," interjected a governor.
"I believe I am good-tempered and patient."
"Well, Mr Railsford, you may retire. If you are not busy elsewhere,
you can remain a short time in the outer room."
Railsford retired, and for an interminable half-hour kicked his heels in
the ante-chamber. He got to hate the picture on the wall and the
ruthless ticking of the clock in the hall outside. Presently the door
opened and his name was called. This time the spokesman was the
chairman of the governors.
"We have been through your testimonials a second time, Mr Railsford,
and are satisfied with them, both those which refer to your scholarship
and those which relate to your character and other qualifications. We
are also glad to know from you that you have fully considered the
responsibilities of this very important post, and are prepared to enter
upon them in a firm yet conciliatory spirit. The governors and head-
master agree with me in considering that, taken as a whole, your
qualifications are higher than those of the other candidates, and they,
therefore, have agreed to appoint you to the vacant post. I trust it
may result in our mutual satisfaction and the good of the school."