AFTER THE STORM.
ERIC had not gone far beyond the grounds of the Moat House when he
encountered Mr. Cole, the Vicar of Crumleigh, who drew up, and
addressed him with a smiling: "Good evening."
"Good evening," Eric responded. He recognised the Vicar, having seen
him at church on the preceding Sunday, when he had been favourably
impressed by his kindly, open countenance, and general appearance
of manliness. "Isn't it jolly after the storm? You were in shelter?"
"Yes, fortunately. I found refuge in a labourers' cottage. I was
bound for the Moat House when the storm overtook me. We are well met,
for it was you I wanted to see."
"Really?" Eric cried in surprise, a pleased and flattered expression
crossing his face. "Then, you know who I am?"
"You are Eric Wallis, if I mistake not?"
"Yes. And you are Mr. Cole, the Vicar of Crumleigh."
"Having made ourselves known to each other, suppose we shake hands,"
the Vicar suggested with a smile.
They accordingly did so. Their eyes were about on a level, for Eric
was tall for his age, and the Vicar, though broad-shouldered and
athletic, barely reached the middle-height.
"I wonder what you want of me," Eric remarked, not a little
curiously. "How did you find out my name? Who told you about me?"
The Vicar laughed at the perplexity in the boy's tone, and replied:
"Miss Pring told me about you, and it was from her I learnt your
name. I have met your mother on several occasions, but though
she mentioned her son, she did not say much concerning him. I hear
you are a great cricketer, and a first-rate hand at wicket-keeping.
Well, we have a cricket club at Crumleigh, and I want you to join it,
and give the members—farm lads they are mostly—a few lessons in the
noble game. Will you?"
"Of course I will!" Eric answered, flushing with pleasure.
"Thank you. I am sure Sir Jasper will raise no objection to your
giving me your help; he is a subscriber to the Crumleigh Cricket
Club, but, perhaps I had better go on and speak to him about it.
Are you going far?"
"No, only to meet my mother, who has been spending the afternoon
at Home Vale."
"Then I will proceed alone, and hear what Sir Jasper has to say."
The Vicar nodded, and went on, whilst Eric hurried forward, meeting
his mother at the next turn in the road. He had started from the
Moat House vastly indignant with Sir Jasper, but he had had time
to cool down, so instead of pouring into Mrs. Wallis' ears the tale
of Joy's wrongs to begin with, he first of all informed her that he
had seen Mr. Cole, who wanted him to join the Crumleigh Cricket Club.
"That would be rather nice for you, would it not?" she asked, herself
pleased with the idea. "You were saying only last night how much
you would enjoy a good game of cricket. This club is composed
of village lads, I suppose?"
"Yes. Mr. Cole had heard about my wicket-keeping, mother."
"Had he? I wonder who told him. I don't think I did."
"It was Miss Pring, I believe."
"Oh, very likely. How fresh and beautiful the country looks after the
storm! And what a storm it was!"
"Celia made herself ridiculous as usual. And, oh, mother,
Uncle Jasper was so disagreeable at tea-time!"
"Was he? How?" Mrs. Wallis inquired, anxiously.
Eric explained all that had taken place; his mother looking grave
and concerned as she listened.
"I wish I had remained at home this afternoon," she said, uneasily.
"Poor Joy! My dear little girl! It was too bad—" She checked herself
suddenly, and continued: "I cannot imagine why Uncle Jasper should be
so unjust to her. She took his unkind remark very quietly, you say?"
"Yes, but Celia began to howl at once, and that seemed quite to upset
him! I cannot think why he's so fond of Celia, unless it's because
she always agrees with what he says, and dances attendance upon him."
"Celia is very sweet-tempered, and desirous of pleasing, and she is
wonderfully patient with Uncle Jasper."
"That's what I can't understand, mother. She never used to put
herself out of the way for anyone. Oh, I'm not running out against
her; but she was never half so obliging, really, as Joy—at least,
not to me. Poor Joy! It must be dreadfully hard to be treated
so unjustly."
Mrs. Wallis agreed with her son, though she did not say so. Arrived
at the Moat House they ascertained that Sir Jasper was perfectly
willing for Eric to join the Crumleigh Cricket Club, and it was there
and then arranged that the boy was to take tea at the Vicarage on the
following afternoon, and in the evening was to make the acquaintance
of the village cricketers.
Mrs. Wallis, as soon as Mr. Cole had taken his departure, and she had
answered the questions Sir Jasper had put to her concerning the
inmates of Home Vale, hurried upstairs to the east wing in search of
her daughters. She found them in the sitting-room. Joy, with her
elbows on the table and her head between her hands, was apparently
deeply engrossed with a book whilst Celia was engaged in rearranging
the trimming on a hat. To look at the two quiet figures no one would
have imagined that there had been a stormy scene between them. Such
had been the case, however for Joy had spoken hard, bitter words
to her sister, which Celia had listened to silently though with many
tears.
Joy did not raise her head as her mother entered the room, but Celia
looked up from her work, and smiled a welcome, saying in her usual
level tones, for she had quite recovered her equanimity: "We were
so glad to know you were safe indoors during that dreadful storm,
mother. How are Miss Pring and Miss Mary?"
"Very well," Mrs. Wallis answered "Joy, come with me to my room.
I want you for a few minutes."
"Yes, mother," was the response in a subdued voice, as Joy closed
her book, and rising, followed Mrs. Wallis into the adjoining
apartment.
"Shut the door, my dear."
Joy did so, and waited for what was to follow. Mrs. Wallis took off
her bonnet and cloak, and put them away; then she turned to her
little daughter, and, laying her hands lightly upon her shoulders,
examined her downcast countenance with anxious, loving eyes. Joy had
not been crying, but she looked very sad, though her mouth was set
in hard, defiant lines.
"Eric has been telling me all that took place at tea-time,"
Mrs. Wallis said, gravely. "I am so sorry for you, my dear. It must
have been very hard to have been unable to right yourself."
Joy's big, grey eyes flashed, and for a moment she was undecided
whether or not she should tell her mother of Celia's cowardly
silence; but even now she felt she could not justify herself at her
sister's expense.
"Uncle Jasper is a cruel, wicked, old man!" she cried, passionately.
"I wish we had never come to the Moat House, that I do! We were
happier at home!" —and bursting into tears, she flung her arms around
her mother's neck, and sobbed out all her grief. "Why should Uncle
Jasper treat me like this?" she demanded, when she was more composed;
"why should he not believe my word?"
"I cannot understand it, Joy," Mrs. Wallis replied, greatly
distressed herself; "it is as much a mystery to me as to you; but do
have patience, my dear, and depend upon it Uncle Jasper will find out
he has formed a very false estimate of your character. You have
a clear conscience, and you know 'a good conscience is able to bear
very much, and is very cheerful in adversities.' If you are accused
wrongfully, remember there is One who knows the truth, therefore do
not grieve. You have a cross to carry, it has come to you through no
fault of your own, and it is a particularly heavy one for you to bear
because it is an accusation of insincerity, and that is an evil trait
which you do not possess. But take up this cross like a Christian,
little daughter, don't let it sour your temper, or fill your mind
with resentful thoughts."
"Oh, mother, how can I help being resentful against Uncle Jasper,
who is so cruelly unjust? I did try to keep my temper at tea-time;
but if you had seen the way he looked at me, you would have felt
angry, too. Eric stood up for me, though, but I am afraid Uncle
Jasper did not like his doing so."
"I hardly think Uncle Jasper would blame your brother for that.
By the way, Eric is going to join the Crumleigh Cricket Club; he met
Mr. Cole this evening, and it has all been arranged. I believe
the members of the club play in one of Uncle Jasper's fields near the
village; we shall be able to go and watch them. Eric is to coach
them."
"Oh, is he?" Joy cried, her face brightening. "He will like that.
I know the cricket field, it's close to the Vicarage, and I've often
noticed Mr. Cole there playing with a lot of boys. Oh, it will be
great fun to go and watch them!" Joy was delighted on her brother's
account. She forgot her troubles in thinking of his pleasure, and
went off in search of him, whilst Mrs. Wallis returned to the
sitting-room to Celia, to whom she imparted the news concerning Eric.
"Eric is going to join the village cricket club!" Celia exclaimed.
"Why, I thought the members were all common boys. I saw them playing
in a field near the Vicarage the other day, and they were such a
queer looking lot, with hobnail boots, and corduroy trousers, and—"
The girl paused suddenly, as she caught the look of displeasure on
her mother's face. She flushed, and did not finish her sentence.
"The club is comprised of village lads, I believe," Mrs. Wallis said,
quietly, "common boys as you term them, who work in the fields, wear
coarse clothing, and speak a broad dialect. Are you afraid that your
brother will copy them?"
"Oh, no, but—"
"You would ignore all those who are not well-to-do, or educated,
I suppose? Oh, Celia, if you had your own way what a narrow life
you would lead! I do not like to hear you talk of people as common;
to my mind to do so is a sign of vulgarity. Don't do it again."
"I will not," Celia answered, in a subdued tone, "I spoke without
thinking. I daresay it will be very nice for Eric to have a game
of cricket now and then. Does Uncle Jasper know about it, mother?
Does he wish Eric to join the club?"
"Yes. By the way, Celia, I am so distressed to hear how Uncle Jasper
spoke to Joy at tea."
"It was very unkind of him," Celia replied, the ready tears filling
her eyes; "but he promised he wouldn't speak to her like it again."
"I am glad of that. Don't cry, my dear. Uncle Jasper will find out
he has misjudged your sister one of these days."
This speech had anything but a comforting effect on Celia. Her mother
was touched by her very real distress, and continued kindly:
"I know how fond my little daughters are of each other, but you
mustn't take this matter so much to heart. I have been talking
to Joy, and I believe she will try to be patient with Uncle Jasper,
and not resent the fact of his injustice. Come, dry your eyes.
You have cried enough to-day."
"I have such a bad headache!" Celia sighed.
"Come, then, we will go out on the terrace, and the fresh air will do
your head good. I hear Joy and Eric's voices, I think. Yes, and
that's Joy's laugh. Dear child, she is recovering her spirits."
The remainder of the evening till supper-time, Mrs. Wallis and her
children spent out-of-doors. Sir Jasper did not join them, for he was
afraid to venture out after the rain; but he sat close inside the
dining-room window, and watched Joy and Eric, who were playing with
the spaniel puppy, whilst Celia and her mother strolled up and down
the terrace. He noticed the traces of tears still on Celia's cheeks,
and thought she had been grieving on her sister's account; then when
he turned his eyes upon that sister, and saw how much she was
enjoying her romp with her brother and the dog, he told himself that
she was a shallow little thing, and that his sarcastic remark had
made no lasting impression upon her; wherein he was greatly mistaken,
for his words had cut like a knife, and had sunk deeply into Joy's
tender heart.