The pleasant years were slipping away, and Mrs. Thompson was just as
busy as she had ever been. She had long ago ceased to speak of retiring,
and now she did not even think of it. The success of Bence's had
continued to swell larger and larger; its trade grew steadily and
surely; its financial position was so strong that nothing could shake
it.
Prentice and Archibald Bence often advised the proprietress to turn
herself into a company, and she was more or less disposed to adopt their
suggestion. Some day or other she might do it. But it would be a big
job--the promotion of a company on the grandest scale, with enormous
capital involved, wants careful consideration. Perhaps she was a little
inclined to shrink the preliminary labours of the scheme--and in any
event the flotation could not bring her more leisure, because she would
certainly be obliged to remain at Bence's as managing director.
In these years Jane had made her bow at the Court of St. James's, and
had experienced the excitement of a London season; but as yet her
guardians had found her no suitable sweetheart. They were difficult to
please; and she herself appeared to be in no hurry. However, Jane at
twenty-two was so good-looking, so vivaciously amiable, so altogether
charming, that Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Kenion knew well that they would
not be able to put off the heavy day much longer. The right man, though
still unseen, must have drawn very near by now.
On Thursday afternoons, weather permitting, Mrs. Thompson liked to drive
in the carriage; and it was always an especial treat when the social
engagements of her ladies allowed them to accompany her. As the big bay
horses trotted along the smooth roads she leaned back in her seat with
luxurious contentment and beamed at Jane, at Enid, at all the world.
"Now is not this much nicer--the air, the quiet enjoyment, the gentle
motion--than if we were being whirled past everything in a motor-car?"
"Yes, granny, it _is_ very nice."
"I fear that you would have preferred the car, Enid?"
"Oh no, mother dear. I think horses are delightful when you don't want
to go far, and time is no object."
"That's just it," said Mrs. Thompson. "Time is no object. The horses
help me to remember that; and I like to remember it--because it gives
one the holiday feeling."
"Poor granny!" Jane had taken one of grandmamma's hands, and was
squeezing it affectionately. "And it's only a _half_-holiday. You don't
get enough of the holiday feeling.... Oh, where's my Kodak? I must snap
those children."
The carriage was stopped; Jane sprang out, and ran back to photograph
three little girls in a cottage garden.
"There," said Mrs. Thompson triumphantly. "If we had been in the car,
she wouldn't have seen them. We should have passed too quickly."
Jane stopped the carriage again, when they came to a point where the
road turns abruptly to cross a high bridge above the railway.
"Here we are, granny. Here's your favourite view."
Mrs. Thompson had always been fond of this view of Mallingbridge; and
though it was much too large for a snapshot photograph, Jane liked it,
too.
Looking down from the bridge you have Mallingbridge, stretched as a
map, at your feet. Once the clustered roofs made a large spot four miles
away in the middle of the plain. Now the roofs had encroached until very
little plain was left. The town and its suburbs had rolled out in all
directions, burying green meadows beneath warehouses and factories,
stifling the copses with red-brick villas, planting the flowery slopes
with tram-lines and iron standards. To-day the light was bad; the sun
only here and there could pierce the drab clouds of smoke that rose from
countless chimneys, and drifted and hung over the central part of the
town; but the three big towers showed plainly enough--the square tower
of St. Saviour's, the steeple of Holy Trinity, and the pinnacled
monument of Bence's clock. And very plainly, with the sunshine suddenly
striking it, one saw the huge dome of Bence.
A changed view, a widely extended map, since Mrs. Thompson first looked
at it. But there at her feet lay the world that she had conquered and
held.
Perhaps, while the horses stood champing their bits and the coachman and
footman stifled yawns of ennui, Mrs. Thompson extracted from the wide
view a warm and comfortable sensation of happiness and pride. She was
quite happy, with every fierce passion burnt out, with the disturbing
energy of the emotions nearly all gone; but with the full and satisfying
work still left to her, and the zest for the work growing always keener,
keeping her young of spirit, defying the years. And she was proud--very
proud in her undiminished power of protecting those she loved. She had
never failed to protect. Her mother,--her dull old husband,--her
daughter,--her daughter's daughter: all who had touched the orbit of her
strength with love had found security. And she had been able to break as
well as to make. All who had served her were guarded and safe: all who
had opposed her were crushed and done for.
"Shall I drive on, ma'am?"
"Yes, drive on."
The coachman and footman in their black liveries and white gloves had a
grand air; the bay horses were large highly-bred beasts; the carriage
was one of those four-seated victorias which are much affected by royal
persons--the whole equipage offered a majestic appearance. If the route
of the excursion led them by the avenues of new villas and through some
of the crowded streets of the town, Mrs. Thompson's weekly outing became
exactly like a queen's procession.
Hats off on either side; continuous bowing to right and left; men and
women staring from open doors, running to upper windows, bumping into
one another on the pavement.
"Who is it?"
"Mrs. Thompson."
"Oh!"
"What is it? I couldn't see. Was it the fire-engine?"
"No. Mrs. Thompson--taking her Thursday drive. Just gone round the
corner to Bridge Street."
In Bridge Street, people on the top of trams stood up to stare at her;
and if it chanced that there rode on the car some stranger to
Mallingbridge, the conductor and all the passengers volubly instructed
him.
"Who did you say it was?"
"Mrs. Thompson!... She's _Bence's_; she is ... Mrs. Thompson, don't I
tell you? But Bence's is all hers.... She built that tower what you're
looking at now.... She gave the money to build the new hospital that
we're coming to presently.... Mrs. Thompson! They say she's rich enough
to buy the blooming town."
When she got home she thanked her companions for giving her the treat.
"It is sweet of you both--and I hope you haven't been bored. It has
been the greatest treat for me."
Another of her great treats--enjoyed more rarely than the carriage
drive--was on a Sunday night, when she and her granddaughter went in to
Mallingbridge for the evening service at St. Saviour's Church.
"We won't ask your mother to come, because I fancy she is a little
tired. But if you feel up to it?"
"_Rather_," said Jane.
"Really and truly, you won't mind?"
"I shall love it, granny."
Then, time being an object, the small car was ordered, and the chauffeur
jumped gleefully to obey the sabbath-infringing order. He knew that he
would receive a thumping tip as guerdon for his extra pains.
She sat in the old pew, with Jane by her side. She had retained the
places, although she could so infrequently use them; and the card in the
metal frame once again read, "Mrs. Thompson, two seats."
The dim light fell softly on her white hair and pale face, on her ermine
fur and the purple velvet of her mantle; and the congregation, sparse
rows of vague, meaningless figures, sent shadowy glances at her back and
at her sides. There was no one here now who had seen her as a bride,
with her pretty hair and fresh, vividly coloured complexion; but all
knew who she was, and everybody seemed to be stirred by her dignified
presence. At her entrance a whisper and a movement had run along the
pews. "Look! Mrs. Thompson!"
A young curate conducted the service with a kind of languid hurry. The
old broad church vicar was dead, and a low church vicar had obtained the
living. So there was less singing and chanting than of past days; and
the choir boys, standing or sitting in the brightly illuminated chancel,
had not so much work to do. It was all one to Mrs. Thompson--the old way
or the new way. The sensible view, the _business_ view of the matter
remained unaltered. Given a consecrated house of prayer, anyone who
isn't a faddist ought to be able to pray in it.
The congregation had stood up, to recite the evening psalms in alternate
verses with the curate; and Mrs. Thompson, standing very erect, looked
from the darkness towards the light.
... "The Lord is with them that uphold my soul;" and then the
congregation recited their verse.
Jane glanced at granny's face--so fine, so strong, so brave; and
listened to her firm, resolute voice.
"He shall reward evil until mine enemies: destroy thou them in thy
truth."
While the curate read the next verse, Jane was still watching her
granny's face.
"For," answered Mrs. Thompson, "he hath delivered me out of all my
trouble; and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies."
"Glory be to the Father," said the curate, in a perfunctory tone, "and
to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;"
"As it was in the beginning," said Mrs. Thompson, firmly and fervently,
"is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen."