In the drawing-room, after dinner, Mrs Thornton made herself agreeable
to the two girls, and was evidently full of interest and curiosity.
"Having the Court open again will make a great deal of difference to the
village in general, and to ourselves in particular," she said, smiling.
"Mr Farrell has been so invalided of late years that we have seen
nothing of him, and it is quite an excitement to dine here again. Dr
Braithey told us whom we were to meet, and that, of course, added
greatly to the pleasure. I hope you will like the neighbourhood, and
enjoy your visit. You must let me help you in any way that is in my
power. I hope you will, for I love being with young people and making
them happy."
One glance at the kindly face of the speaker proved the truth of her
assertion, and both girls assented gladly. A few hours' acquaintance
had proved Mrs Wolff to be a mere figurehead of a chaperon, and Ruth
shrewdly suspected that her very weakness had been the attraction in Mr
Farrell's eyes, since, in consequence, she would be less likely to
hinder that display of character and self-will which it was his object
to study. Failing Mrs Wolff, then, it was a comfort to meet this
brisk, motherly woman, who might be depended on as a helpful confidante.
Mollie glanced at the heaped-up fire, and, with a sudden impulse of
friendliness, pulled forward an armchair, saying eagerly--
"Do sit down! Let us all sit down and be cosy till the men come; and
will you tell us about the neighbourhood and the people we shall know?
We are to be here for three months, and uncle says we can entertain as
much as we like. He wants us to entertain, but of course we must know
the people first. Do you suppose we shall have many callers?"
Mrs Thornton laughed merrily.
"There's no doubt about that, my dear. Everybody who is anybody within
a radius of a dozen miles will think of nothing, and speak of nothing,
and dream of nothing else but you and your cousins until they have made
your acquaintance. We have not much to excite us in the country, and to
have the Court open again, with four young people to act as hosts, is a
sensation of the first water. There will be a stream of callers after
you have appeared in church on Sunday. You will have a busy time
driving over the country returning their calls, and after these
formalities are over the invitations will begin. I don't think you will
find any lack of hospitality."
The girls looked at each other with tragic glances which said "One black
dress!" so plainly to their own understanding that it seemed as if
everyone else must interpret the meaning. Ruth flushed, and asked
hurriedly--
"Are there many girls like ourselves living pretty near?"
"Oh dear, yes; girls are never at a discount in a country place. Let me
see, now, how shall I describe them! In the village itself there is
Dora Braithey, the doctor's daughter, a very good, useful worker in the
parish; and Lettice Baldwin, who lives with her widowed mother; and the
three Robsons, who are what they call good sportsmen, and go in for
games; and further afield there is Honor Edgecombe of Mount Edgecombe, a
charming girl, and very musical; and Grace and Schilla Trevor; and the
Blounts at the Moat have a London niece, Lady Margot Blount, who pays
them a long visit every year. She is staying there now, and is sure to
call. She is very elegant and distinguished-looking, and we all admire
her immensely. My husband thinks her a model of everything that a girl
should be."
Ruth and Mollie, staring fixedly into the fire, were naughtily conscious
of a dislike towards the immaculate Margot, who had suddenly loomed on
their horizon as a formidable rival in the favour of the neighbourhood,
while Mrs Thornton unconsciously proceeded cheerily with her recital--
"Of course there are many more, but I am mentioning the most attractive.
We have a few young men, too, and most of the big houses have constant
visitors for shooting or fishing, so that you can manage to get partners
if you want a little hop now and then. And then, as you would suppose,
I hope you will find time to take an interest in the parish. I don't
ask you to take up any active work, for, of course, as visitors your
time will not be your own, but I should like to tell you of our various
clubs and enterprises."
"I hope you will not only tell us of them, but show them to us as well.
Uncle Bernard wishes us to do exactly as we choose, so our time is our
own, and I should like to do some work. I should feel so idle doing
nothing but enjoying myself," cried Ruth eagerly.
Mrs Thornton's smile of approval had a somewhat wistful expression.
As her husband had done before her, she looked at these two young girls,
and wondered if the time to come would see one of them acting the role
of the squire and patron, and as such holding almost unlimited power
over the parish. They seemed kindly, natural creatures, who would be
well disposed towards the vicar and his family; and a woman had more
understanding of little things than any mere man.
In the flash of an eye Mrs Thornton's mind reviewed the damp patch on
her drawing-room wall, the ill-fitting windows which let in a constant
draught; the hopeless ruin of the tiny conservatory, wherein she reared
her precious "bedding-outs."
She could not but remember that other squires not only kept their
vicar's house in order, but assisted in sending sons to college,
daughters to finishing schools, and expressed their interest in the
family in a hundred helpful ways; but Mr Farrell had seemed unconscious
of the very existence of her precious olive branches, and had never gone
beyond the bare duties of his position.
Mrs Thornton was no vulgar schemer for her own benefit, but just a
mother of a large family, struggling to make the most of a small income;
and a quick repentance for the selfishness of her dreams prompted the
desire to help these two young things who were suddenly called upon to
fill a difficult position.
"Remember, I am always to be found at home or somewhere about the
village. You will soon get to know my haunts, so that you can run me to
earth if you need my services. Just come in and out as you like; the
oftener you come the better I shall be pleased, for I am so anxious to
help you, if you will allow me."
"We will, we will! it is lovely of you to offer; and do please help us
now!" cried Mollie eagerly, as the sound of an opening door was heard in
the distance, and footsteps crossed the hall towards the drawing-room.
"Talk, talk; do talk! I tried before dinner, and got snubbed for my
pains; and we are such strangers that it is difficult to know what to
say next."
Mrs Thornton laughed.
"I'll do what I can," she promised good-naturedly. "Someone may suggest
to Mr Farrell a game of whist. He used to be a crack player, so I
don't think he can resist the temptation, and that would leave you young
folks free to make each other's acquaintance."
As she spoke the gentlemen entered the room and approached the group by
the fireside. Judging from their appearance, the last half-hour had not
been particularly lively, for the vicar looked tired and worried, and
the young men unmistakably bored. Mr Farrell's set face showed few
changes of expression, but a faint gleam of pleasure manifested itself
at the mention of his favourite game, and presently the four elders of
the party were occupied, while the younger members stood together in a
somewhat embarrassed silence.
Left entirely to their own resources, no one knew what to say or what to
do; each girl looked first at her partner of the dinner-table, and then
shyly across at the other stranger who was to be a daily companion
during the next three months. Ruth met no answering glance, for Jack
Melland was frowningly regarding the carpet; but for the first time
Mollie had a direct view of the eyes which were habitually hidden behind
Victor Druce's thick eyelashes, and was surprised to find how bright and
friendly was their expression.
"Shall we investigate the conservatory?" he said at once, as if
answering an unspoken appeal. "They won't want us to stay here and
interrupt the game. I think we had better make a move."
"But may we? Would Uncle Bernard like it?"
"May we! Are we not told to amuse ourselves in any way we choose? Of
course we may," he replied laughingly, leading the way forward, while
the others followed, nothing loth.
The conservatory opened out of the drawing-room by means of a long glass
door, which, being shut, made it into a separate room. A room it was,
rather than the ordinary glass passage, for it had a wide, open floor,
broken only by spreading palms standing in wooden boxes, and in the
midst an old-fashioned pink camellia-tree. Stands of flowers encircled
three sides, and a lamp stood out from the walls in a bracket. Given a
few rugs and accessories, it would have made an ideal lounge. As it
was, there was no provision for visitors, and it was evident that no one
but the gardener took the trouble to enter. Mr Druce looked round
rapidly, spied a wooden box under one stand, a stool under another, and
brought them forward one after another, flicking off the dust with his
handkerchief.
"You must have something to sit on. Can you manage with these, or shall
I bring chairs from the drawing-room? I don't want to make a noise if I
can help it."
"No, no; please don't! These will do perfectly. But what will you do,
and Mr Melland? You must not stand all the time."
"Oh, don't trouble about us! We can look after ourselves," responded
Jack Melland, pushing the flower-pots nearer together on the staging,
and lightly swinging himself into the vacant space. Victor followed his
example, and thrust his hands into his pockets.
For the next few minutes silence reigned while the young men took in and
quite obviously admired the charming picture made by the two girlish
figures against the background of flowering plants.
Ruth's stool had been placed against the camellia-tree, and the pink
blooms matched the soft flush in her cheeks, and relieved the sombreness
of her black attire. Thus placed she looked charmingly pretty, and held
herself with an air of dignity, which was a new accomplishment.
Ruth was an adaptive creature, tremendously influenced by the
surroundings of the moment. At home her little head was wont to droop
with despondency, and the consciousness that she was poor and unknown
and shabbily dressed. At the Court she was intensely, delightfully
assured of being Miss Farrell--of possessing the family features, and of
being, so far, the recipient of her uncle's greatest favour. And so
Ruth now leant back with an air of languid elegance, smiling sweetly at
her companions.
Mollie's bright head peeped from beneath the shadow of a palm. She held
in her hand a spray of heliotrope, which she had picked in passing, and
from time to time bent to smell the fragrance, with little murmurs of
delight.
But Mollie was obviously longing to say something, and when the time
came that she met Jack Melland's eye she suddenly plucked up courage to
put it into words.
"Don't you think we ought to introduce ourselves properly?" she cried
eagerly. "We have been told each other's names, and talked politely at
dinner, but that's not really being introduced. We ought to know
something about each other, if we are to be companions here. I don't
know if you two know each other; but we did not know of your existence
until to-day. My mother used to stay at the Court when she was a bride,
and she loved Aunt Edna, and has often talked to us about her; but she
knew very little of her relations, and for the last twenty years or more
she has never seen Uncle Bernard until he suddenly descended upon us
last week.
"We live in the North--in Liverpool. People in the South seem to think
it is a dreadful place; but it isn't at all. The river is splendid, and
out in the suburbs, where we live, it's very pretty, near a beautiful
big park. The people are nice, too. We are rather conceited about
ourselves in comparison with the people in the towns round about. You
have heard the saying, `Manchester man, Liverpool gentleman,' and we are
proud of our county, too. `What Lancashire thinks to-day, England
thinks to-morrow.' I really must boast a little bit, because South-
country people are so proud and superior, and seem to think that no one
but themselves knows how to speak or behave. Someone said to me once,
`You live in Liverpool, then why haven't you a Lancashire accent?' I
was so cross. What should she have thought of me if I had said, `You
live in London, why don't you speak like a Cockney?' We are not at all
ashamed, but very proud indeed, of coming from the North-countree."
"`Oh, the oak and the ash,
And the bonnie ivy tree,'"
chanted Victor, in a pleasant baritone voice, at the sound of which
Mollie flushed with delight, and cried eagerly--
"Ah, you are musical! That's nice. We must have some grand singing
matches, but you mustn't sing that ballad. It's Ruth's special
property. She sings it with such feeling!
"`And the lad that marries me,
Must carry me home to my North-coun-tree!'"
"Mollie!" Ruth's tone was eloquent of reproof, but Mollie only laughed,
and said easily--
"Oh well, of course, if you inherit the Court you will have to change
your plans. I wish I could lift it up bodily and put it down among the
dear Westmorland mountains; but I'm afraid that's impossible. I think
that is all the history we have. No two girls could possibly have led a
less eventful life. We have had no money to travel and see the world,
and we are not in the least bit accomplished, but we have had a happy
time all the same, and we mean to be happy, whatever happens; don't we,
Ruth?"
Ruth did not answer, but sat with downcast eyes, staring at the ground.
She more than half disapproved of Mollie's candour, despising herself
the while for so doing, so she preserved a dead silence, until Jack
Melland nobly stepped into the breach.
"Well, if you are North-country, Miss Mollie, I suppose I am Colonial.
I was born in India, where my father's regiment was stationed. He died
when I was a youngster, and my poor little mother had a hard struggle to
keep herself and me. If a fortune had come to us in those days it would
have been a godsend, and she would probably be with me now; but she died
eight years ago, and I am alone in the world, with no one to think of
but myself. I have dingy diggings and a garrulous landlady, but, like
you, I manage to have a very good time. I am interested in my work--I'm
interested in life generally. I mean to make something out of it before
I am done."
He threw back his head with a proud, self-confident gesture. Young,
strong, high-spirited, he felt at that moment that the world lay at his
feet. All things seemed possible to his unaided powers, and the thought
of help was repugnant rather than welcome. The two girls looked at him
with the involuntary admiration which women pay to a strong man, while
Victor Druce smiled his slow, inscrutable smile.
"A good thing for you that you are not in my profession, Melland! A
barrister can't push; he must sit still and wait his turn. I have been
waiting a long time, and I can't say that I seem much nearer the
Woolsack. Still, one can amuse oneself in London, and I have my home in
the country to which I can retire whenever I need a rest. My old
parents are alive, and one sister--an invalid. Altogether, I have
nothing to complain of in the past, and the future looks pleasant just
now. Three months in this charming place--in such society!"
Victor Druce made a graceful little bow, which took in both the girls,
and his glance lingered on Mollie bending forward, the spray of
heliotrope still raised to her face.
"Stealing already, Miss Mollie! You will get into trouble with the
authorities. How do you know that plant was not being specially
preserved for exhibition at a show?"
"I hope it wasn't; but it's no use telling me to do as I like, and then
to object if I pick a flower. I shall pick them every day--several
times a day. I shall always be picking them! I think I shall take the
care of this house altogether, and do the watering and snip off the dead
leaves. I love snipping! And I shall arrange the flowers on the table,
too; they are very badly done--so stiff. Just like a man's taste!"