OLIVE'S LIFE IN DEVONSHIRE
By the middle of May John Castlemaine and his daughter had settled at
Vale Linden, an old family mansion situated amidst beautiful and
romantic scenery. Even Devonshire, the garden of England, had no more
attractive place to offer. From the front of the house Olive could see a
wide panorama of beautiful country. Immediately beyond the lawns
stretched the park, dotted with giant trees, such as can be seen only in
the southern and western counties of England. Beyond the park was a fine
undulating country of wooded dells and rich pasture land. Here and there
she could see the farmsteads nestling amongst the trees, while still
beyond was the vast stretch of the moors, fast becoming a great blaze of
golden and purple glory. Everywhere the birds sang gaily, while the air
was filled with the perfume of flowers.
Spring comes early in Devonshire. Ofttimes when the air is cold and
biting in the more northern counties it is balmy and caressing there.
Not that it lacks the crisp vitalising elements which are supposed to
belong to the north. There is no air in England more invigorating than
that which sweeps across Dartmoor, and yet you feel that all nature is
generous and kind there. During the first few weeks of Olive's
residence in her new home, it was a constant revelation of new wonders.
Day by day she wandered along the lanes, and through the fields, almost
unconsciously revelling in the unfolding life around her. Primroses
simply bedecked the hedges, while the whole countryside was ablaze with
wild-flowers. She heard the ploughboys singing in the fields, and
watched the lambs sporting in the meadows; she listened to the River
Linden singing its way into the sea, and breathed the air of healthful
restfulness which pervaded the whole countryside.
John Castlemaine had acted wisely in buying Vale Linden. Knowing his
daughter's beauty-loving nature, he had been right in believing that if
anything could divert Olive's mind from her sorrow, it would be to place
her in surroundings like these. It seemed almost providential that the
post which brought news of Leicester's death also brought him the letter
telling him that Vale Linden was still for sale, and as he watched the
good effect that the place was having upon her, he rejoiced that he was
a rich man, and thus able to obtain what would have been impossible to
one who was poor. Not that John Castlemaine was blind to the sense of
his responsibilities as a rich man. He used his money wisely and well,
and while he did not appear before the public gaze as a philanthropist,
few men worked harder to use his money in order to minister to the needs
of humanity than he. He never advertised himself in the newspapers,
nevertheless he regarded himself as a steward of the Almighty, and used
his money accordingly. In buying Vale Linden, therefore, while he was
anxious to please and help his daughter, he was not forgetful of his
duties towards those who lived on the estate. Indeed, he felt sure that
it would not only be in the new scenes, but in the new duties which
would appear to Olive, that she would find that healing which she
needed.
Nevertheless for the first few weeks he rejoiced to see her revelling in
the beauties of the countryside. Often he accompanied her on her walks,
and went with her into the farmhouses, where she chatted with the
farmers' wives. He climbed with her to Linden Tor, from which they could
see the wide expanse of the moors; he sat with her in wooded dells, and
listened to the song of the birds, and the rill of the river.
"You are pleased with Vale Linden, Olive?" he said to her one day.
"You know, father," she replied.
"And you can be happy here?"
"I think so; I hope so--presently," she replied.
"But not yet?"
She was silent.
"We must get some friends down here, Olive. You must have girls of your
own age to stay here. It must be a bit lonely for you only having me."
"No," she said, "I am not lonely, and I want no friends--yet. I want to
be quiet for a little while--presently----"
"Presently you will want them?"
"No, I think not, father, and yet I don't know. Yes, perhaps I shall.
Besides, I think we ought. But it was not of that I was thinking."
"I daresay the people around here will be calling soon."
"No, I do not think so."
"Why?"
"Well, you see, the farmers will not dare to call; they will think it
presumptuous. As for the county people, they will not think it incumbent
upon them to do so."
"No?"
"Two things will stand in the way of their doing so. First, you are what
they call a dissenter, and that would be sufficient to ostracise us;
and, second, they would regard us as of the _nouveau riche_ order,
because you have made your wealth by commerce."
John Castlemaine laughed.
"I do not imagine we shall be much poorer because of their lack of
courtesy, Olive; still, I hope you are mistaken."
"Why, do you long for their society?"
"Oh, no; I was only hoping that broader and healthier ideas were coming
into the community."
"I am afraid it is a vain hope," said Olive. "Why, just think. When the
vicar called the other day he was simply stunned when you told him you
were a Nonconformist, while when you told him that you intended building
a chapel, I thought he was going to faint."
"Yes, he did seem overwhelmed," said John Castlemaine.
"Before you told him these things, he spoke of his wife and daughters
calling, but not afterwards. Neither, as a matter of fact, have they
called."
"Ah, but that is because of pure chagrin, I imagine. Besides, Mr.
Lestrange is noted for his bigotry, and is not therefore a fair sample."
"Of course there is an utterly different atmosphere here," said Olive.
"Not that it troubles me. The people whose intellectual outlook is so
limited that the question of religious opinion influences social
courtesies, are not very desirable companions. Still, we will have to
bear it in mind in considering our future. As for--by the way, are you
very rich, father?"
"Yes," said John Castlemaine quietly; "I suppose I am."
"That question will be inquired into, no doubt," said Olive, "and it may
be that in time the minor county families will overlook our other
failings on account of your being a wealthy man."
"Aren't you a bit cynical, Olive?"
"I was only wondering whether these people were worth considering,
father. As you know, I don't care a little bit about what is called
society, and I have been thinking about other plans for the future."
"What plans?"
"I have been trying to think what I shall do with my life."
"Yes?" said John Castlemaine eagerly.
"Yes. We cannot live here for ever idly; at least, I cannot. Besides, it
would not be right. Even if we were to take part in the social life of
the county, I could not content myself to be a mere butterfly. Following
the hounds, going to dances, paying calls, and the rest of it, is not a
very interesting programme."
"No, it is not," John Castlemaine assented.
"I love the country," said Olive, "far more than I love the city,
and--and I want to live in the country. Besides, there is as much work
to do here as there is in the city. Of another kind, perhaps, but just
as important."
"I think so, too; but what do you propose doing?"
"We have some responsibility towards the people here. Especially those
on the estate you have bought. As it is very large, that will involve a
great deal of work."
John Castlemaine nodded.
"But that is not all. I should like the house to be--well, a kind of
centre of life."
"That sounds very well; but tell me what you mean in greater detail.
Would you invite the villagers to it? Would you give them dinners, and
dances?"
"Perhaps so, but I was not thinking of that so much. As a rule, people
build great houses for purely selfish purposes. They invite people whose
presence will give them pleasure. They give dinners to those who live in
a land of plenty, they offer pleasure to those who are satiated with
it."
"Exactly," said John Castlemaine; "what then?"
"I think we could invite to our house those whom we could really benefit
by inviting."
"Start a sort of hotel for poor people. I am afraid it would not do,
Olive. They would be miserable amidst such surroundings."
"There are many people we know who would not be miserable, and to whom
we should be rendering real kindness by inviting. In this way we could
be using this great house for the good of needy people. There are young
professional men, ministers, doctors, and the like who are very poor,
and yet who are people of refined and cultured tastes. An invitation
here would be a perfect godsend to them, and at the same time we should
be meeting people who are our equals in the best sense of the word."
"Yes," said John Castlemaine, "there is Dr. Rickard's daughter, whom you
used to invite to The Beeches. A fortnight here would be like paradise
to the girl."
"There are hosts of such. But more than that, father; I think it is
possible to help those who might not be happy as our guests in the
house, or for that matter whom we might not like to have there."
"Well, what would you do for those?"
"I would choose one of the loveliest spots on the estate, and build a
large house, fitting it up on the lines of a good hotel. I would make it
open to those to whom it might possibly be a kind of health resort."
"Would you admit them gratis?" asked Mr. Castlemaine with a smile, "or
would they have to pay, like ordinary residents in an hotel?"
"I think they should pay; but their payment should be so arranged that
while no one should be pauperised, no one, whom it might be desirable to
receive, should be kept out because of money considerations."
Again the keen man of business smiled.
"And what would you do with them when you got them here, Olive?" he
asked.
"Well, as I said, the place should be fitted up on the lines of an hotel
or hydro, so that there should be plenty of opportunities for indoor
amusement."
"Yes, but this is essentially an outdoor place."
"Exactly, therefore you should have tennis courts, a cricket field, and,
what is more, golf links."
John Castlemaine lifted his eyebrows.
"Have you any idea what this would cost, Olive?" he asked.
"Yes, I have a pretty shrewd suspicion; but, as you told me just now,
you are a rich man, and no one has the right to either hoard up money or
to spend it entirely on one's self. Besides, there is a tract of
moorland just behind Hillhead Farm which, when laid out, would make a
perfect golf links. There I think a club house should be built."
"Would you allow intoxicants to be sold?" asked John Castlemaine, and he
was sorry he had asked the question the moment it had escaped his lips.
He knew it made her think of Leicester, and brought up many painful
memories. She did not speak for a few seconds, but presently she
answered quietly:
"No, father, and if the estate were mine, not a single public-house
should exist on it."
"Have you finished sketching your plans yet?" asked John Castlemaine.
"No, not yet," was the reply. "I would build a little church, and a
village hall. The parish church here is in a moribund condition, and the
services, owing to the vicar being out of harmony with the times, are
neither interesting nor inspiring. Among your guests you will have
ministers of all denominations. Many of these will be broad-minded,
cultured men, and these will be perfectly willing to conduct services.
Thus not only the visitors to the place, but the villagers also, will be
privileged with healthful religious teaching."
"But even then you would meet the needs of only a part of your visitors.
Many belonging to the State Church would come, we should hope."
"They would have the parish church; besides, I said I would have
ministers of all denominations to conduct the services in the church you
will build, so that the needs of people belonging to every section of
the Christian Church should be met."
"The Roman Catholics?"
"If they care to avail themselves of it."
John Castlemaine laughed quietly.
"You have large ideas, Olive," he said, "but such a scheme as you
mention would need an indefatigable secretary, one who would give a
great deal of time and labour to it."
"I would see to that, father."
"What! do you mean that you would superintend the whole affair?"
"Yes."
Mr. Castlemaine looked at her steadily.
"I do not say your scheme is impossible, Olive," he said. "It would cost
a great deal of money; but that fact should not stand in the way. I can
see, too, that no man should own such a place as this, and then
selfishly reserve it all to himself. What is more, I feel sure that you
could make it a great success, in the best sense of the word; but I see
one almost insurmountable difficulty."
"And that?"
"Well, to begin with, such an affair should have one controlling hand,
one controlling mind. While yours was the controlling hand, and the
controlling mind, all would be well; but presently you would not be able
to give the necessary time and attention, and then the thing would
become a matter of committeeism, and paid secretaryism, which would be
utterly out of accord with my ideas."
"But why should I not continue to give the necessary amount of time and
attention?"
"Well, for example, you might get married."
Her face became as pale as death.
"I shall never marry," she said.
"Nonsense!"
"I shall never marry," she repeated.
"You do not mean that you regard yourself as bound by that mad promise
to Leicester?"
She was silent, but she nodded her head in assent.
"But, Olive, this would be madness. The man is dead--a suicide. Even
although the promise were valid had he lived, it has no meaning now he
is dead."
"Yes, it has," she said.
An angry look shot from John Castlemaine's eyes. The girl's
determination was so absurd that he had difficulty in keeping himself
from speaking impatiently. He kept silence, however. He reflected that
the tragic death of Leicester was so recent, that Olive's mind was in a
morbid condition.
"Anyhow, I'll think over what you say, Olive," he said kindly. "I
imagine, moreover, that I shall do what you say. Even if the scheme
fails, it will be a splendid failure, and I do not think it will land us
either in the workhouse or the bankruptcy court."
A few weeks later Olive was busy examining architects' plans, listening
to professional golfers' ideas concerning the best way of laying out
golf links, and hearing protests from certain in the parish concerning
her wild, utopian, and unpractical scheme. Difficulties, however, did
not turn her aside from her purpose, and in her arduous labours she was
led to brood less over the tragic cloud which had fallen upon her life.
A year later a great change came over Vale Linden. The little wayside
station some three miles away, which had been seldom used, became quite
busy. The hills and vales, which had been well-nigh forsaken, echoed to
the laughter of many voices. Tired, over-worked men and women found
health and recreation amongst the wild moors, and roaming amidst wooded
dells, while many who, amidst the crowded thoroughfares of London, found
little to rejoice in, felt that their youth was renewed as they filled
their lungs with the balmy air of Devon.
The great house at Vale Linden, which during the late ownership never
received a guest, save those of a select class, was now often filled
with people they would have called plebeian; nevertheless, it had never
since its erection been such a centre of hospitality and gladness as
now.
The new homestead was filled almost as soon as it was opened, while in
the new church, which John Castlemaine had built, people who had
listened to no preacher but the prosy vicar, rejoiced in the thoughts of
men who had a real message to deliver, while those who had lived their
lives amidst turmoil and strife felt that their spiritual and
intellectual needs were met, in this quaint Devonshire village, "far
from the madding crowd."
And Olive Castlemaine was the presiding genius everywhere. It was she
who arranged for competitions on the golf links, and matches in the
tennis courts. No concert or lecture at the village hall seemed to be
complete without her. The ministers who came to the little church
declared that but for the organ which she played, and the choir she
trained, they would find it far more difficult to preach, while the
vicar of the parish sorrowed with a great sorrow that such a beautiful
and accomplished girl should be a dissenter.
Nevertheless, he could not deny that a new life was lived by the people.
Books which the villagers had never heard of before were now read
eagerly, while drunkenness was becoming more and more a thing of the
past.
Thus Olive Castlemaine entered upon a new phase of her life. In the
midst of her many new duties she tried to forget the one who crossed the
pathway of her life, and then had suddenly left it. Not that she
altogether succeeded. Often in her quiet hours the picture of this man
as she had first seen him came back to her. Again she saw the pale face,
and the straight, erect form, while the memory of his cynical and
faithless words haunted her. Even yet she could not help admiring him.
No matter who might be in the room, his was the most striking figure; no
one, in spite of his cynicism, had been listened to as eagerly as he.
Even while she grew angry at the thought of his wagering to win her as
his wife, she wondered whether she had done right in driving him away.
She knew that he had been drunk when he had done it, knew, too, that
within a few weeks of the wedding he had confessed that he was marrying
her to win his wager, and to participate in her father's wealth. No, she
could not have done otherwise. Her self-respect, her woman's pride would
not have allowed her; moreover, his professions of reformation were only
a part of his plan for deceiving her. Within three days of the time when
he should have married her, he had, while drunk, allowed her picture to
be exhibited before a crowd of gaping rustics; he had uttered maudlin
words about her, and then fallen on the platform in a condition of
drunken imbecility. No, she had done right, and yet she felt sure that
he must have loved her. Besides, in spite of his vices, he was a
noteworthy man. There was something fine even in his cynicism, something
almost noble in his scorn for conventional morality.
Still, it was all over. He had paid for his vices and his deceit with
his own life. He had preferred to die in the turbid waters of the Thames
to living a life of uselessness and regret. She ought to forget him; but
she could not. Sometimes she upbraided herself for being the cause of
his death; but not often. She was too healthy-minded, too sane for that.
The man who could throw away his life because of what she had done,
could never have been one whom she could respect.
Her solace was in work, in living for the benefit of others, and to this
she gave her life. Little by little, as the leading families of the
county came to know her, they paid her many attentions. Instinctively
they realised that she was no ordinary woman, while her father's great
wealth added charm to her accomplishments. Before two years had passed
away more than one county magnate had sought her hand in marriage, while
many wondered at her evident determination to remain single.
But as the years passed away her father thought he saw a change in her.
She no longer grew impatient when he spoke to her of marriage, and he
hoped with a great hope that his old age might be cheered by the shouts
of children's voices, and by the thought that his only child had buried
a dead past.