And now by slow and beautiful degrees the cold and naked young year grew
warm, and expanded from weeping, shivering infancy into the delighted
consciousness of happy childhood. The first snowdrops, the earliest
aconites, perked up their pretty heads in Mary's cottage garden, and
throughout all nature there came that inexplicable, indefinite, soft
pulsation of new life and new love which we call the spring. Tiny buds,
rosy and shining with sap, began to gleam like rough jewels on every
twig and tree--a colony of rooks which had abode in the elms surrounding
Weircombe Church, started to make great ado about their housekeeping,
and kept up as much jabber as though they were inaugurating an Irish
night in the House of Commons,--and, over a more or less tranquil sea,
the gulls poised lightly on the heaving waters in restful attitudes, as
though conscious that the stress of winter was past. To look at
Weircombe village as it lay peacefully aslant down the rocky "coombe,"
no one would have thought it likely to be a scene of silent, but none
the less violent, internal feud; yet such nevertheless was the case, and
all the trouble had arisen since the first Sunday of the first month of
the Reverend Mr. Arbroath's "taking duty" in the parish. On that day six
small choirboys had appeared in the Church, together with a tall lanky
youth in a black gown and white surplice--and to the stupefied amazement
of the congregation, the lanky youth had carried a gilt cross round the
Church, followed by Arbroath himself and the six little boys, all
chanting in a manner such as the Weircombe folk had never heard before.
It was a deeply resented innovation, especially as the six little boys
and the lanky cross-bearer, as well as the cross itself, had been
mysteriously "hired" from somewhere by Mr. Arbroath, and were altogether
strange to the village. Common civility, as well as deeply rooted
notions of "decency and order," kept the parishioners in their seats
during what they termed the "play-acting" which took place on this
occasion, but when they left the Church and went their several ways,
they all resolved on the course they meant to adopt with the undesired
introduction of "'Igh Jinks" for the future. And from that date
henceforward not one of the community attended Church. Sunday after
Sunday, the bells rang in vain. Mr. Arbroath conducted the service
solely for Mrs. Arbroath and for one ancient villager who acted the
double part of sexton and verger, and whose duties therefore compelled
him to remain attached to the sacred edifice. And the people read their
morning prayers in their own houses every Sunday, and never stirred out
on that day till after their dinners. In vain did both Mr. and Mrs.
Arbroath run up and down the little village street, calling at every
house, coaxing, cajoling, and promising,--they spoke to deaf ears.
Nothing they could say or do made amends for the "insult" to which the
parishioners considered they had been subjected, by the sudden
appearance of six strange choirboys and the lanky youth in a black gown,
who had carried a gilt cross round and round the tiny precincts of their
simple little Church, which,--until the occurrence of this remarkable
"mountebank" performance as they called it,--had been everything to them
that was sacred in its devout simplicity. Finally, in despair, Mr.
Arbroath wrote a long letter of complaint to the Bishop of the diocese,
and after a considerable time of waiting, was informed by the secretary
of that gentleman that the matter would be enquired into, but that in
the meantime he had better conduct the Sunday services in the manner to
which the parishioners had been accustomed. This order Arbroath flatly
refused to obey, and there ensued a fierce polemical correspondence,
during which the Church remained, as has been stated, empty of
worshippers altogether. Casting about for reasons which should prove
some contumacious spirit to be the leader of this rebellion, Arbroath
attacked Mary Deane among others, and asked her if she was "a regular
Communicant." To which she calmly replied--
"No, sir."
"And why are you not?" demanded the clergyman imperiously.
"Because I do not feel like it," she said; "I do not believe in going to
Communion unless one really feels the spiritual wish and desire."
"Oh! Then that is to say that you are very seldom conscious of any
spiritual wish or desire?"
She was silent.
"I am sorry for you!" And Arbroath shook his bullet head dismally. "You
are one of the unregenerate, and if you do not amend your ways will be
among the lost----"
"'I tell thee, churlish priest, A ministering angel shall my sister be,
when thou liest howling!'" said Helmsley suddenly.
Arbroath turned upon him sharply.
"What's that?" he snarled.
"Shakespeare!" and Helmsley smiled.
"Shakespeare! Much you know about Shakespeare!" snapped out the
irritated clergyman. "But atheists and ruffians always quote Shakespeare
as glibly as they quote the New Testament!"
"It's lucky that atheists and ruffians have got such good authorities to
quote from," said Helmsley placidly.
Arbroath gave an impatient exclamation, and again addressed Mary.
"Why don't you come to Church?" he asked.
She raised her calm blue eyes and regarded him steadfastly.
"I don't like the way you conduct the service, sir, and I don't take you
altogether for a Christian."
"What!" And he stared at her so furiously that his little pig eyes grew
almost large for the moment--"You don't take me--_me_--for a Christian?"
"No, sir,--not altogether. You are too hard and too proud. You are not
careful of us poor folk, and you don't seem to mind whether you hurt our
feelings or not. We're only very humble simple people here in Weircombe,
but we're not accustomed to being ordered about as if we were children,
or as if our parson was a Romish priest wanting to get us all under his
thumb. We believe in God with all our hearts and souls, and we love the
dear gentle Saviour who came to show us how to live and how to die,--but
we like to pray as we've always been accustomed to pray, just without
any show, as our Lord taught us to do, not using any 'vain
repetitions.'"
Helmsley, who was bending some stiff osiers in his hands, paused to
listen. Arbroath stared gloomily at the noble, thoughtful face on which
there was just now an inspired expression of honesty and truth which
almost shamed him.
"I think," went on Mary, speaking very gently and modestly--"that if we
read the New Testament, we shall find that our Lord expressly forbade
all shows and ceremonies,--and that He very much disliked them. Indeed,
if we strictly obeyed all His orders, we should never be seen praying in
public at all! Of course it is pleasant and human for people to meet
together in some place and worship God--but I think such a meeting
should be quite without any ostentation--and that all our prayers should
be as simple as possible. Pray excuse me if I speak too boldly--but that
is the spirit and feeling of most of the Weircombe folk, and they are
really very good, honest people."
The Reverend Mr. Arbroath stood inert and silent for about two minutes,
his eyes still fixed upon her,--then, without a word, he turned on his
heel and left the cottage. And from that day he did his best to sow
small seeds of scandal against her,--scattering half-implied
innuendoes,--faint breathings of disparagement, coarse jests as to her
"old maid" condition, and other mean and petty calumnies, which,
however, were all so much wasted breath on his part, as the Weircombe
villagers were as indifferent to his attempted mischief as Mary herself.
Even with the feline assistance of Mrs. Arbroath, who came readily to
her husband's aid in his capacity of "downing" a woman, especially as
that woman was so much better-looking than herself, nothing of any
importance was accomplished in the way of either shaking Mary's
established position in the estimation of Weircombe, or of persuading
the parishioners to a "'Igh Jink" view of religious matters. Indeed, on
this point they were inflexible, and as Mrs. Twitt remarked on one
occasion, with a pious rolling-up of the whites of her eyes--
"To see that little black man with the 'igh stomach a-walkin' about this
village is enough to turn a baby's bottle sour! It don't seem nat'ral
like--he's as different from our good old parson as a rat is from a
bird, an' you'll own, Mis' Deane, as there's a mighty difference between
they two sorts of insecks. An' that minds me, on the Saturday night
afore they got the play-actin' on up in the Church, the wick o' my
candle guttered down in a windin' sheet as long as long, an' I sez to
Twitt--'There you are! Our own parson's gone an' died over in Madery,
an' we'll never 'ave the likes of 'im no more! There's trouble comin'
for the Church, you mark my words.' An' Twitt, 'e says, 'G'arn, old
'ooman, it's the draught blowin' in at the door as makes the candle
gutter,'--but all the same my words 'as come true!"
"Why no, surely not!" said Mary, "Our parson isn't dead in Madeira at
all! The Sunday-school mistress had a letter from him only yesterday
saying how much better he felt, and that he hoped to be home again with
us very soon."
Mrs. Twitt pursed her lips and shook her head.
"That may be!" she observed--"I aint a-sayin' nuthin' again it. I sez to
Twitt, there's trouble comin' for the Church, an' so there is. An' the
windin' sheet in the candle means a death for somebody somewhere!"
Mary laughed, though her eyes were a little sad and wistful.
"Well, of course, there's always somebody dying somewhere, they say!"
And she sighed. "There's a good deal of grief in the world that nobody
ever sees or hears of."
"True enough, Mis' Deane!--true enough!" And Mrs. Twitt shook her head
again--"But ye're spared a deal o' worrit, seein' ye 'aven't a husband
nor childer to drive ye silly. When I 'ad my three boys at 'ome I never
know'd whether I was on my 'ed or my 'eels, they kept up such a racket
an' torment, but the Lord be thanked they're all out an' doin' for
theirselves in the world now--forbye the eldest is thinkin' o' marryin'
a girl I've never seen, down in Cornwall, which is where 'e be a-workin'
in tin mines, an' when I 'eerd as 'ow 'e was p'raps a-goin' to tie
hisself up in the bonds o' matterimony, I stepped out in the garden just
casual like, an' if you'll believe me, I sees a magpie! Now, Mis' Deane,
magpies is total strangers on these coasts--no one as I've ever 'eard
tell on 'as ever seen one--an' they's the unlikeliest and unluckiest
birds to come across as ever the good God created. An' of course I knows
if my boy marries that gel in Cornwall, it'll be the worst chance and
change for 'im that 'e's 'ad ever since 'e was born! That magpie comed
'ere to warn me of it!"
Mary tried to look serious, but Helmsley was listening to the
conversation, and she caught the mirthful glance of his eyes. So she
laughed, and taking Mrs. Twitt by the shoulders, kissed her heartily on
both cheeks.
"You're a dear!" she said--"And I'll believe in the magpie if you want
me to! But all the same, I don't think any mischief is coming for your
son or for you. I like to hope that everything happening in this world
is for the best, and that the good God means kindly to all of us. Don't
you think that's the right way to live?"
"It may be the right way to live," replied Mrs. Twitt with a doubtful
air--"But there's ter'uble things allus 'appenin', an' I sez if warnings
is sent to us even out o' the mouths o' babes and sucklings, let's
accept 'em in good part. An' if so be a magpie is chose by the Lord as a
messenger we'se fools if we despises the magpie. But that little paunchy
Arbroath's worse than a whole flock o' magpies comin' together, an' 'e's
actin' like a pestilence in keepin' decent folk away from their own
Church. 'Owsomever, Twitt reads prayers every Sunday mornin', an'
t'other day Mr. Reay came in an' 'eerd 'im. An' Mr. Reay sez--'Twitt,
ye're better than any parson I ever 'eerd!' An' I believe 'e is--'e's
got real 'art an' feelin' for Scripter texes, an' sez 'em just as solemn
as though 'e was carvin' 'em on tombstones. It's powerful movin'!"
Mary kept a grave face, but said nothing.
"An' last Sunday," went on Mrs. Twitt, encouraged, "Mr. Reay hisself
read us a chapter o' the New Tesymen, an' 'twas fine! Twitt an' me, we
felt as if we could 'a served the Lord faithful to the end of the world!
An' we 'ardly ever feels like that in Church. In Church they reads the
words so sing-songy like, that, bein' tired, we goes to sleep wi' the
soothin' drawl. But Mr. Reay, he kep' us wide awake an' starin'! An'
there's one tex which sticks in my 'ed an' comforts me for myself an'
for everybody in trouble as I ever 'eerd on----"
"And what's that, Mrs. Twitt?" asked Helmsley, turning round in his
chair, that he might see her better.
"It's this, Mister David," and Mrs. Twitt drew a long breath in
preparation before beginning the quotation,--"an' it's beautiful! 'If
the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.' Now
if that aint enuff to send us on our way rejoicin', I don't know what
is! For Lord knows if the dear Christ was hated, we can put up wi' a bit
o' the hate for ourselves!"
There was a pause.
"So Mr. Reay reads very well, does he?" asked Mary.
"Fine!" said Mrs. Twitt,--"'E's a lovely man with a lovely voice! If
'e'd bin a parson 'e'd 'a drawed thousands to 'ear 'im! 'E wouldn't 'a
wanted crosses nor candles to show us as 'e was speakin' true. Twitt sez
to 'im t'other day--'Why aint you a parson, Mr. Reay?' an' 'e sez, 'Cos
I'm goin' to be a preacher!' An' we couldn't make this out nohow, till
'e showed us as 'ow 'e was a-goin' to tell people things as they ought
to know in the book 'e's writin'. An' 'e sez it's the only way, cos the
parsons is gettin' so uppish, an' the Pope 'as got 'old o' some o' the
newspapers, so that there aint no truth told nowheres, unless a few
writers o' books will take 'art o' grace an' speak out. An' 'e sez
there's a many as 'll do it, an' he tells Twitt--'Twitt,' sez he, 'Pin
your faith on brave books! Beware o' newspapers, an' fight off the
priest! Read brave books--books that were written centuries ago to teach
people courage--an' read brave books that are written now to keep
courage goin'!' An' we sez, so we will--for books is cheap enuff, God
knows!--an' only t'other day Twitt went over to Minehead an' bought a
new book by Sir Walter Scott called _Guy Mannering_ for ninepence. It's
a grand story! an' keeps us alive every evenin'! I'm just mad on that
old woman in it--Meg Merrilies--she knew a good deal as goes on in the
world, I'll warrant! All about signs an' omens too. It's just fine! I'd
like to see Sir Walter Scott!"
"He's dead," said Mary, "dead long ago. But he was a good as well as a
great man."
"'E must 'a bin," agreed Mrs. Twitt; "I'm right sorry 'e's dead. Some
folks die as is bound to be missed, an' some folks lives on as one 'ud
be glad to see in their long 'ome peaceful at rest, forbye their bein'
born so grumblesome like. Twitt 'ud be at 'is best composin' a hepitaph
for Mr. Arbroath now!"
As she said this the corners of her mouth, which usually drooped in
somewhat lachrymose lines, went up in a whimsical smile. And feeling
that she had launched a shaft of witticism which could not fail to reach
its mark, she trotted off on further gossiping errands bent.
The tenor of her conversation was repeated to Angus Reay that afternoon
when he arrived, as was often his custom, for what was ostensibly "a
chat with old David," but what was really a silent, watchful worship of
Mary.
"She is a dear old soul!" he said, "and Twitt is a rough diamond of
British honesty. Such men as he keep the old country together and help
to establish its reputation for integrity. But that man Arbroath ought
to be kicked out of the Church! In fact, I as good as told him so!"
"You did!" And Helmsley's sunken eyes began to sparkle with sudden
animation. "Upon my word, sir, you are very bold!"
"Bold? Why, what can he do to me?" demanded Angus. "I told him I had
been for some years on the press, and that I knew the ins and outs of
the Jesuit propaganda there. I told him he was false to the principles
under which he had been ordained. I told him that he was assisting to
introduce the Romish 'secret service' system into Great Britain, and
that he was, with a shameless disregard of true patriotism, using such
limited influence as he had to put our beloved free country under the
tyranny of the Vatican. I said, that if ever I got a hearing with the
British public, I meant to expose him, and all such similar wolves in
sheep's clothing as himself."
"But--what did he say?" asked Mary eagerly.
"Oh, he turned livid, and then told me I was an atheist, adding that
nearly all writers of books were of the same evil persuasion as myself.
I said that if I believed that the Maker of Heaven and Earth took any
pleasure in seeing him perambulate a church with a cross and six
wretched little boys who didn't understand a bit what they were doing, I
should be an atheist indeed. I furthermore told him I believed in God,
who upheld this glorious Universe by the mere expressed power of His
thought, and I said I believed in Christ, the Teacher who showed to men
that the only way to obtain immortal life and happiness was by the
conquest of Self. 'You may call that atheistical if you like,' I
said,--'It's a firm faith that will help to keep _me_ straight, and that
will hold me to the paths of right and truth without any crosses or
candles.' Then I told him that this little village of Weircombe, in its
desire for simplicity in forms of devotion, was nearer heaven than he
was. And--and I think," concluded Angus, ruffling up his hair with one
hand, "that's about all I told him!"
Helmsley gave a low laugh of intense enjoyment.
"All!" he echoed, "I should say it was enough!"
"I hope it was," said Angus seriously, "I meant it to be." And moving to
Mary's side, he took up the end of a lace flounce on which she was at
work. "What a creation in cobwebs!" he exclaimed--"Who does it belong
to, Miss Mary?"
"To a very great lady," she replied, working busily with her needle and
avoiding the glance of his eyes; "her name is often in the papers." And
she gave it. "No doubt you know her?"
"Know her? Not I!" And he shrugged his shoulders disdainfully. "But she
is very generally known--as a thoroughly bad woman! I _hate_ to see you
working on anything for her!"
She looked up surprised, and the colour came and went in a delicate
flush on her face.
"False to her husband, false to her children, and false to herself!"
went on Angus hotly--"And disloyal to her king! And having turned on her
own family and her own class, she seeks to truckle to the People under
pretence of serving _them_, while all the time her sole object is to
secure notoriety for herself! She is a shame to England!"
"You speak very hotly, sir!" said Helmsley, slowly. "Are you sure of
your facts?"
"The facts are not concealed," returned Reay--"They are public property.
That no one has the courage to denounce such women--women who openly
flaunt their immoralities in our midst--is a bad sign of the times.
Women are doing a great deal of mischief just now. Look at them fussing
about Female Suffrage! Female Suffrage, quotha! Let them govern their
homes properly, wisely, reasonably, and faithfully, and they will govern
the nation!"
"That's true!" And Helmsley nodded gravely. "That's very true!"
"A woman who really loves a man," went on Angus, mechanically fingering
the skeins of lace thread which lay on the table at Mary's side, ready
for use--"governs him, unconsciously to herself, by the twin powers of
sex and instinct. She was intended for his help-mate, to guide him in
the right way by her finer forces. If she neglects to cultivate these
finer forces--if she tramples on her own natural heritage, and seeks to
'best' him with his own weapons--she fails--she must fail--she deserves
to fail! But as true wife and true mother, she is supreme!"
"But the ladies are not content with such a limited sphere," began
Helmsley, with a little smile.
"Limited? Good God!--where does the limit come in?" demanded Reay. "It
is because they are not sufficiently educated to understand their own
privileges that women complain of limitations. An unthinking,
unreasoning, unintelligent wife and mother is of course no higher than
any other female of the animal species--but I do not uphold this class.
I claim that the woman who _thinks_, and gives her intelligence full
play--the woman who is physically sound and morally pure--the woman who
devoutly studies the noblest side of life, and tries to bring herself
into unison with the Divine intention of human progress towards the
utmost good--she, as wife and mother, is the angel of the world. She
_is_ the world!--she makes it, she rejuvenates it, she gives it
strength! Why should she condescend to mix with the passing political
squabbles of her slaves and children?--for men are no more than her
slaves and children. Love is her weapon--one true touch of that, and the
wildest heart that ever beat in a man's breast is tamed."
There was a silence. Suddenly Mary pushed aside her work, and going to
the door opened it.
"It's so warm to-day, don't you think?" she asked, passing her hand a
little wearily across her forehead. "One would think it was almost
June."
"You are tired, Miss Mary!" said Reay, somewhat anxiously.
"No--I'm not tired--but"--here all at once her eyes filled with tears.
"I've got a bit of a headache," she murmured, forcing a smile--"I think
I'll go to my room and rest for half an hour. Good-bye, Mr. Reay!"
"Good-bye--for the moment!" he answered--and taking her hand he pressed
it gently. "I hope the headache will soon pass."
She withdrew her hand from his quickly and left the kitchen. Angus
watched her go, and when she had disappeared heaved an involuntary but
most lover-like sigh. Helmsley looked at him with a certain whimsical
amusement.
"Well!" he said.
Reay gave himself a kind of impatient shake.
"Well, old David!" he rejoined.
"Why don't you speak to her?"
"I dare not! I'm too poor!"
"Is she so rich?"
"She's richer than I am."
"It is quite possible," said Helmsley slowly, "that she will always be
richer than you. Literary men must never expect to be millionaires."
"Don't tell me that--I know it!" and Angus laughed. "Besides, I don't
want to be a millionaire--wouldn't be one for the world! By the way, you
remember that man I told you about--the old chap my first love was going
to marry--David Helmsley?"
Helmsley did not move a muscle.
"Yes--I remember!" he answered quietly.
"Well, the papers say he's dead."
"Oh! the papers say he's dead, do they?"
"Yes. It appeared that he went abroad last summer,--it is thought that
he went to the States on some matters of business--and has not since
been heard of."
Helmsley kept an immovable face.
"He may possibly have got murdered for his money," went on Angus
reflectively--"though I don't see how such an act could benefit the
murderer. Because his death wouldn't stop the accumulation of his
millions, which would eventually go to his heir."
"Has he an heir?" enquired Helmsley placidly.
"Oh, he's sure to have left his vast fortune to somebody," replied Reay.
"He had two sons, so I was told--but they're dead. It's possible he may
have left everything to Lucy Sorrel."
"Ah yes! Quite possible!"
"Of course," went on Reay, "it's only the newspapers that say he's
dead--and there never was a newspaper yet that could give an absolutely
veracious account of anything. His lawyers--a famous firm, Vesey and
Symonds,--have written a sort of circular letter to the press stating
that the report of his death is erroneous--that he is travelling for
health's sake, and on account of a desire for rest and privacy, does not
wish his whereabouts to be made publicly known."
Helmsley smiled.
"I knew I might trust Vesey!" he thought. Aloud he said--
"Well, I should believe the gentleman's lawyers more than the newspaper
reporters. Wouldn't you?"
"Of course. I shouldn't have taken the least interest in the rumour, if
I hadn't been once upon a time in love with Lucy Sorrel. Because if the
old man is really dead and has done nothing in the way of providing for
her, I wonder what she will do?"
"Go out charing!" said Helmsley drily. "Many a better woman than you
have described her to be, has had to come to that."
There was a silence. Presently Helmsley spoke again in a quiet voice--
"I think, Mr. Reay, you should tell all your mind to Miss Mary."
Angus started nervously.
"Do you, David? Why?"
"Why?--well--because--" Here Helmsley spoke very gently--"because I
believe she loves you!"
The colour kindled in Reay's face.
"Ah, don't fool me, David!" he said--"you don't know what it would mean
to me----"
"Fool you!" Helmsley sat upright in his chair and looked at him with an
earnestness which left no room for doubt. "Do you think I would 'fool'
you, or any man, on such a matter? Old as I am, and lonely and
friendless as I _was_, before I met this dear woman, I know that love is
the most sacred of all things--the most valuable of all things--better
than gold--greater than power--the only treasure we can lay up in heaven
'where neither moth nor rust do corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through nor steal!' Do not"--and here his strong emotion threatened to
get the better of him--"do not, sir, think that because I was tramping
the road in search of a friend to help me, before Miss Mary found me and
brought me home here and saved my life, God bless her!--do not think, I
say, that I have no feeling! I feel very much--very strongly--" He broke
off breathing quickly, and his hands trembled. Reay hastened to his side
in some alarm, remembering what Mary had told him about the old man's
heart.
"Dear old David, I know!" he said. "Don't worry! I know you feel it
all--I'm sure you do! Now, for goodness' sake, don't excite yourself
like this--she--she'll never forgive me!" and he shook up the cushion at
the back of Helmsley's chair and made him lean upon it. "Only it would
be such a joy to me--such a wonder--such a help--to know that she really
loved me!--_loved_ me, David!--you understand--why, I think I could
conquer the world!"
Helmsley smiled faintly. He was suffering physical anguish at the
moment--the old sharp pain at his heart to which he had become more or
less wearily accustomed, had dizzied his senses for a space, but as the
spasm passed he took Reay's hand and pressed it gently.
"What does the Great Book tell us?" he muttered. "'If a man would give
all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned!'
That's true! And I would never 'fool' or mislead you on a matter of such
life and death to you, Mr. Reay. That's why I tell you to speak to Miss
Mary as soon as you can find a good opportunity--for I am sure she loves
you!"
"Sure, David?"
"Sure!"
Reay stood silent,--his eyes shining, and "the light that never was on
sea or land" transfigured his features.
At that moment a tap came at the door. A hand, evidently accustomed to
the outside management of the latch, lifted it, and Mr. Twitt entered,
his rubicund face one broad smile.
"'Afternoon, David! 'Afternoon, Mister! Wheer's Mis' Deane?"
"She's resting a bit in her room," replied Helmsley.
"Ah, well! You can tell 'er the news when she comes in. Mr. Arbroath's
away for 'is life wi' old Nick in full chase arter 'im! It don't do
t'ave a fav'rite gel!"
Helmsley and Reay stared at him, and then at one another.
"Why, what's up?" demanded Reay.
"Oh, nuthin' much!" and Twitt's broad shoulders shook with internal
laughter. "It's wot 'appens often in the fam'lies o' the haris-to-crazy,
an' aint taken no notice of, forbye 'tis not so common among poor folk.
Ye see Mr. Arbroath he--he--he--he--he--he----" and here the pronoun
"he" developed into a long chuckle. "He's got a sweet'art on the sly,
an'--an'--an'--_'is wife's found it out_! Ha-ha-ha-he-he-he! 'Is wife's
found it out! That's the trouble! An' she's gone an' writ to the Bishop
'erself! Oh lor'! Never trust a woman wi' cat's eyes! She's writ to the
Bishop, an' gone 'ome in a tearin' fit o' the rantin' 'igh-strikes,--an'
Mister Arbroath 'e's follerd 'er, an' left us wi' a curate--a 'armless
little chap wi' a bad cold in 'is 'ed, an' a powerful red nose--but
'onest an' 'omely like 'is own face. An' 'e'll take the services till
our own vicar comes 'ome, which'll be, please God, this day fort_night_.
But oh lor'!--to think o' that grey-'aired rascal Arbroath with a
fav'rite gel on the sly! Ha-ha-ha-he-he-he! We'se be all mortal!" and
Twitt shook his head with profound solemnity. "Ef I was a-goin' to carve
a tombstone for that 'oly 'igh Churchman, I'd write on it the old
'ackneyed sayin', 'Man wants but little 'ere below, Nor wants that
little long!' Ha-ha-ha-he-he-he!"
His round jolly face beamed with merriment, and Angus Reay caught
infection from his mirth and laughed heartily.
"Twitt, you're an old rascal!" he exclaimed. "I really believe you enjoy
showing up Mr. Arbroath's little weaknesses!"
"Not I--not I, Mister!" protested Twitt, his eyes twinkling. "I sez, be
fair to all men! I sez, if a parson wants to chuck a gel under the chin,
let 'im do so by all means, God willin'! But don't let 'im purtend as 'e
_couldn't_ chuck 'er under the chin for the hull world! Don't let 'im go
round lookin' as if 'e was vinegar gone bad, an' preach at the parish as
if we was all mis'able sinners while 'e's the mis'ablest one hisself.
But old Arbroath--damme!" and he gave a sounding slap to his leg in
sheer ecstacy. "Caught in the act by 'is wife! Oh lor', oh lor'! 'Is
wife! An' _aint_ she a tartar!"
"But how did all this happen?" asked Helmsley, amused.
"Why, this way, David--quite 'appy an' innocent like, Missis Arbroath,
she opens a letter from 'ome, which 'avin' glanced at the envelope
casual-like she thinks was beggin' or mothers' meetin', an' there she
finds it all out. Vicar's fav'rite gel writin' for money or clothes or
summat, an' endin' up 'Yer own darlin'!' Ha-ha-ha-he-he-he! Oh Lord!
There was an earthquake up at the rect'ry this marnin'--the cook there
sez she never 'eerd sich a row in all 'er life--an' Missis Arbroath she
was a-shriekin' for a divorce at the top of 'er voice! It's a small
place, Weircombe Rect'ry, an' a woman can't shriek an' 'owl in it
without bein' 'eerd. So both the cook an' 'ousemaid worn't by no manner
o' means surprised when Mister Arbroath packed 'is bag an' went off in a
trap to Minehead--an' we'll be left with a cheap curate in charge of our
pore souls! Ha-ha-ha! But 'e's a decent little chap,--an' there'll be no
'igh falutin' services with _'im_, so we can all go to Church next
Sunday comfortable. An' as for old Arbroath, we'll be seein' big
'edlines in the papers by and by about 'Scandalous Conduck of a
Clergyman with 'is Fav'rite Gel!'" Here he made an effort to pull a
grave face, but it was no use,--his broad smile beamed out once more
despite himself. "Arter all," he said, chuckling, "the two things does
fit in nicely together an' nat'ral like--'Igh Jinks an' a fav'rite gel!"
It was impossible not to derive a sense of fun from his shining eyes and
beaming countenance, and Angus Reay gave himself up to the enjoyment of
the moment, and laughed again and again.
"So you think he's gone altogether, eh?" he said, when he could speak.
"Oh, 'e's gone all right!" rejoined Twitt placidly. "A man may do lots
o' queer things in this world, an' so long as 'is old 'ooman don't find
'im out, it's pretty fair sailin'; but once a parson's wife gets 'er
nose on to the parson's fav'rite, then all the fat's bound to be in the
fire! An' quite right as it should be! I wouldn't bet on the fav'rite
when it come to a neck-an'-neck race atween the two!"
He laughed again, and they all talked awhile longer on this unexpected
event, which, to such a village as Weircombe, was one of startling
importance and excitement, and then, as the afternoon was drawing in and
Mary did not reappear, Angus Reay took his departure with Twitt, leaving
Helmsley sitting alone in his chair by the fire. But he did not go
without a parting word--a word which was only a whisper.
"You think you are _sure_, David!" he said--"Sure that she loves me! I
wish you would make doubly, trebly sure!--for it seems much too good to
be true!"
Helmsley smiled, but made no answer.
When he was left alone in the little kitchen to which he was now so
accustomed, he sat for a space gazing into the red embers of the fire,
and thinking deeply. He had attained what he never thought it would be
possible to attain--a love which had been bestowed upon him for himself
alone. He had found what he had judged would be impossible to find--two
hearts which, so far as he personally was concerned, were utterly
uninfluenced by considerations of self-interest. Both Mary Deane and
Angus Reay looked upon him as a poor, frail old man, entirely
defenceless and dependent on the kindness and care of such strangers as
sympathised with his condition. Could they now be suddenly told that he
was the millionaire, David Helmsley, they would certainly never believe
it. And even if they were with difficulty brought to believe it, they
would possibly resent the deception he had practised on them. Sometimes
he asked himself whether it was quite fair or right to so deceive them?
But then,--reviewing his whole life, and seeing how at every step of his
career men, and women too, had flattered him and fawned upon him as well
as fooled him for mere money's sake,--he decided that surely he had the
right at the approaching end of that career to make a fair and free
trial of the world as to whether any thing or any one purely honest
could be found in it.
"For it makes me feel more at peace with God," he said--"to know and to
realise that there _are_ unselfish loving hearts to be found, if only in
the very lowliest walks of life! I,--who have seen Society,--the modern
Juggernaut,--rolling its great wheels recklessly over the hopes and joys
and confidences of thousands of human beings--I, who know that even
kings, who should be above dishonesty, are tainted by their secret
speculations in the money-markets of the world,--surely I may be
permitted to rejoice for my few remaining days in the finding of two
truthful and simple souls, who have no motive for their kindness to
me,--who see nothing in me but age, feebleness and poverty,--and whom I
have perhaps been the means, through God's guidance, of bringing
together. For it was to me that Reay first spoke that day on the
seashore--and it was at my request that he first entered Mary's home.
Can this be the way in which Divine Wisdom has chosen to redeem me?
I,--who have never been loved as I would have desired to be loved,--am I
now instructed how,--leaving myself altogether out of the question,--I
may prosper the love of others and make two noble lives happy? It may be
so,--and that in the foundation of their joy, I shall win my own soul's
peace! So--leaving my treasures on earth,--I shall find my treasure in
heaven, 'where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do
not break through nor steal!'"
Still looking at the fire he watched the glowing embers, now reddening,
now darkening--or leaping up into sparks of evanescent flame,--and
presently stooping, picked up the little dog Charlie from his warm
corner on the hearth and fondled him.
"You were the first to love me in my loneliness!" he said, stroking the
tiny animal's soft ears--"And,--to be quite exact,--I owe my life and
all my present surroundings to you, Charlie! What shall I leave you in
my will, eh?"
Charlie yawned capaciously, showing very white teeth and a very red
tongue, and winked one bright eye.
"You're only a dog, Charlie! You've no use for money! You rely entirely
upon your own attractiveness and the kindness of human nature! And so
far your confidence has not been misplaced. But your fidelity and
affection are only additional proofs of the powerlessness of money.
Money bought you, Charlie, no doubt, in the first place--but money
failed to keep you! And now, though by your means Mary found me where I
lay helpless and unconscious on the hills in the storm, I can neither
make you richer nor happier, Charlie! You're only a dog!--and a
millionaire is no more to you than any other man!"
Charlie yawned comfortably again. He seemed to be perfectly aware that
his master was talking to him, but what it was about he evidently did
not know, and still more evidently did not care. He liked to be petted
and made much of--and presently curled himself up in a soft silken ball
on Helmsley's knee, with his little black nose pointed towards the fire,
and his eyes blinking lazily at the sparkle of the flames. And so Mary
found them, when at last she came down from her room to prepare supper.
"Is the headache better, my dear?" asked Helmsley, as she entered.
"It's quite gone, David!" she answered cheerily--"Mending the lace often
tries one's eyes--it was nothing but that."
He looked at her intently.
"But you've been crying!" he said, with real concern.
"Oh, David! Women always cry when they feel like it!"
"But did _you_ feel like it?"
"Yes. I often do."
"Why?"
She gave a playful gesture with her hands.
"Who can tell! I remember when I was quite a child, I cried when I saw
the first primrose of the spring after a long winter. I knelt down and
kissed it, too! That's me all over. I'm stupid, David! My heart's too
big for me--and there's too much in it that never comes out!"
He took her hand gently.
"All shut up like a volcano, Mary! But the fire is there!"
She laughed, with a touch of embarrassment.
"Oh yes! The fire is there! It will take years to cool down!"
"May it never cool down!" said Helmsley--"I hope it will always burn,
and make life warm for you! For without the fire that is in _your_
heart, my dear, Heaven itself would be cold!"