FORTUNATUS' PURSE.
'Out, base mechanical churl!'--_Shakespeare._
Weeks went on, and nothing more was heard of 'Marilda' except the
wishes and wonderings of the children. Alda decided that she was one
of the heartless fine ladies one heard of in books--and no wonder,
when her father was in trade, and she looked so vulgar; while Wilmet
contended against her finery, and Cherry transferred the heartlessness
to her cruel father and mother, and Robina never ceased to watch for
her from the window, even when Felix and Edgar for very weariness had
prohibited the subject from being ever mentioned, and further checked
it by declaring that Marilda looked like a cow.
There was plenty besides to think of; and the late summer and early
autumn rolled cheerily away. The wonderful remnant of Felix's birth-day
gift was partly applied to the hire of a chair for Geraldine upon every
favourable evening; and as the boys themselves were always ready to
act as horses, they obtained it on moderate terms, which made the sum
hold out in a marvellous manner. And not only were these drives delight
unimaginable to the little maid, but the frequent breaths of pure air
seemed to give her vigour; she ate more, smiled more, and moved with
less pain and difficulty, so that the thought of a partial recovery
began to seem far less impossible.
The children trooping about her, she used to be drawn to the nearest
bit of greensward, tree, or copse, and there would occupy herself
with the attempt to sketch, often in company with Edgar; and with a
few hints from her father, would be busied for days after with the
finishing them, or sometimes the idealizing them, and filling them with
the personages she had read of in books of history or fiction. She was
a sensitive little body, who found it hard not to be fretful, when told
that it was very ill-natured to object to having her paints daubed over
her drawings by Lance, Robina, and Angel--an accusation often brought
against her by rough, kindly Sibby, and sometimes even by Wilmet in an
extremity; while Mamma's subdued entreaty, that she would do something
to please the little ones, if it could be without mischief to herself,
always humiliated her more than anything else, and made her ready to
leave all to their mercy, save for deference to Edgar, and gratitude to
Felix. Robina would look on soberly enough in admiration; but Lance's
notions of art were comic, and Fulbert's were arbitrary, and both were
imperiously carried out with due contempt for the inferior sex, and
were sure to infect both the little sisters.
Then, of course, so many holiday boys were hard to keep in order.
Clement had a strong propensity in that direction; he was a grave,
quiet boy, without much sense of the absurd, and was generally the
victim of Edgar's wit; but, on the other hand, he was much in the
habit of objecting to anything Edgar or Fulbert proposed, and thereby
giving forbidden or doubtful amusements double zest. He was never _in_
mischief, and yet he was never an element of peace.
All this, however, was mitigated when the holidays ended, and Lance
was allowed to follow his brothers to school, while Bobbie importantly
trotted in the wake of her sisters. Mamma and Cherry felt it no small
comfort to have no one at home who did not sleep away two or three of
the morning hours; and the lessons that the little girl delighted to
prepare for her father went on in peace--the arithmetic, the French,
the Latin, and even the verses of Greek Testament, that he always said
rested him.
And he was 'quite well,' he said himself; and though his wife never
confirmed this reply, he was everywhere as usual--in church, in schools
of all kinds, in parish meetings, by sick-beds, or in cottages, as
bright and as popular as ever, perhaps the more so that he was more
transparently thin, and every stranger started at the sound of his
cough; though the Bexley people had grown weary of repeating the same
augury for four or five years, and began, like 'my Lady,' to call it
'constitutional.'
So came the autumn Ember Week; and Mr. Audley had to go to receive
Priests' Orders, and afterwards to spend the next fortnight with his
parents, who complained that they had not seen him once since he had
settled at Bexley. The last week was the break-up of summer weather,
and Mr. Bevan caught cold, and was rheumatic; there were two funerals
on wet and windy days, and when Mr. Audley, on Lady Price's entreating
summons, wrenched himself from a murmuring home, and, starting by an
early train, arrived half through the St. Michael's Day Service, it was
to see Mr. Underwood looking indeed like some ethereal ascetic saint,
with his bright eyes and wasted features, and to hear him preach in
extempore--as was his custom--a sermon on the blessedness of angel
helps, which in its intense fervour, almost rapture, was to many as if
it came from a white-winged angel himself. Mr. Audley glided into his
own place, and met Felix's look of relief. The sermon was finished,
and the blessing given; but before he could descend the steps, the
cough had come on, and with it severe hæmorrhage. They had to send
one startled boy for Mrs. Underwood, and another for the doctor, and
it was an hour before he could be taken home in a chair. No one ever
forgot that sermon, for it was the last he ever preached. He was very
ill indeed for several days, but still hopeful and cheerful; and as the
weather mended, and the calm brightness of October set in, he rallied,
and came downstairs again, not looking many degrees more wan and hectic
than before, with a mind as alert as usual, and his kind heart much
gratified by the many attentions of his parishioners during his illness.
During the worst, Mrs. Underwood had been obliged to keep one of the
elder girls at home--Wilmet at first, both by her own desire and that
of Alda; but it was soon made a special matter of entreaty by Miss
Pearson, that the substitution might not take place; the little class
was always naughty under Alda, and something the same effect seemed to
be produced on Angela and Bernard. They made so much less disturbance
when entrusted to Cherry, that the mother often sent Alda to sit by
papa, even though she knew he liked nothing so well as to have his
little pupil's soft voice repeating to him the Latin hymns she loved to
learn on purpose. Alda read or sang to him very prettily, and they were
very happy together; but then Wilmet could do that as well, and also
mind the babies, or do invalid cookery, and supplement Sibby's defects,
and set the mother free for the one occupation she cared for most--the
constant watching of that wasted countenance.
But all was better. He had been able to collect his children for
their evening's Bible lesson and Sunday Catechism, and to resume the
preparation of Edgar and Geraldine for their Confirmation, though it
was at least a year distant, and even had spoken of sending for others
of his catechumens. Wilmet and Alda were both at school, the two
babies out with Sibby, Mamma at work, Papa dreaming over a Comment on
the Epistle to the Philippians, which was very near his heart, and he
always called his holiday work, and Geraldine reading on her little
couch when there was a sharp ring at the bell, and after an interval,
the girl who daily came in to help, announced 'Lady Price.'
Even my Lady had been startled and softened by the reality of Mr.
Underwood's illness, and remorseful for having coddled her husband at
his expense; she had sent many enquiries, some dainties, and a good
many recipes; and she had made no objection to Mr. Bevan's frequent and
affectionate visits, nor even to his making it obvious that however
little his senior curate might do that winter, he would not accept his
resignation for the present.
It was enough to make Mr. Underwood feel absolutely warm and grateful
to his old tormentor, as he rose, not without some effort, held out
his hand to her, and cheerily answered her inquiries for his cough.
She even discussed the berries in the hedges, and the prospects of a
mild winter, in a friendly, hesitating tone; and actually commended Mr.
Underwood's last pupil-teacher, before she began--'I am afraid I am
come upon a disagreeable business.'
Mr. Underwood expected to hear of his own inefficiency; or perhaps
that Mr. Audley had adopted some habit my Lady disapproved, or that
the schoolmaster was misbehaving, or that some Christmas dole was
to be curtailed, and that he would have to announce it because Mr.
Bevan would not. He was not prepared to hear, 'Are you aware that--in
short--perhaps you can explain it, but has not your son Felix been
spending a good deal of money--for him, I mean--lately?'
'Felix had a present from his godfather,' said Mr. Underwood, not at
all moved, so secure was he that this must be an exaggeration.
'Last summer, I heard of that. It was laid out on a pic-nic,' said Lady
Price, severely.
'It was intended to be so spent,' said the curate; 'but people were
so good-natured, that very little actually went that way, and the
remainder was left in his own hands.'
'Yes, Mr. Underwood, but I am afraid that remainder has been made to
cover a good deal of which you do not know!'
Mrs. Underwood flushed, and would have started forward. Her husband
looked at her with a reassuring smile. My Lady, evidently angered
at their blindness, went on, 'It is a painful duty, Mr. Underwood,
especially in your present state; but I think it due to you, as the
father of a family, to state what I have learned.'
'Thank you. What is it?'
'Have you reckoned the number of times the chair has been hired?'
and as he shook his head, 'That alone would amount to more than a
pound. Besides which, your daughters have been provided with books and
music--fruit has been bought--all amiable ways of spending money, no
doubt; but the question is, how was it procured?'
'Indeed,' said Mr. Underwood, still pausing.
'And,' added the lady, 'the means can, I am afraid, be hardly doubted,
though possibly the boy may have done it in ignorance. Indeed, one of
his sisters allowed as much.'
'What did she allow, Lady Price?'
'That--that it was won at play, Mr. Underwood. You know Mr. Froggatt
gives his boy an absurd amount of pocket-money, and when she was taxed
with this, your daughter--Alda is her name, I believe--allowed that--'
'Papa, Papa!' breathlessly broke out Cherry, who had been forgotten
on her little sofa all this time, but now dashed forward, stumping
impetuously with her crutch--'Papa, it's all Alda, how can she be so
horrid?'
'What is it, my dear?' said Mr. Underwood. 'You can explain it, I see.
Tell Lady Price what you mean, Geraldine,' he added gravely, to compose
the child, who was sobbing with excitement and indignation.
'O Lady Price!' she cried, facing about with her hair over her face,
'he earned it--he earned every bit of it! How could any one think he
did not?'
'Earned it? What does that mean, little girl?' said Lady Price, still
severely. 'If he did the boy's exercises for him--'
'No, no, no,' interrupted Geraldine, 'it was old Mr. Froggatt. He asked
Felix to look over the papers he had to print for the boys' work at the
Grammar School, because it is all Latin and Greek, and Charles Froggatt
is so careless and inaccurate, that he can't be trusted.'
The faces of the father and mother had entirely cleared; but Lady Price
coughed drily, saying, 'And you did not know of this arrangement?'
Geraldine's eyes began to twinkle with tears. 'I don't know what Felix
will say to me for telling now,' she said.
'It must have come to light some time, though concealment is always a
proof of shame,' began Lady Price in a consoling tone that filled the
little lame girl with a fresh passion, drawing up her head.
'Shame! Nobody's ashamed! Only Mamma and Felix and Wilmet never will
bear that Papa should know how terribly we do want things sometimes.'
And Geraldine, overpowered by her own unguarded words, ran into her
mother's arms, and hid her face on her shoulder.
'Thank you, Lady Price,' said Mr. Underwood gravely. 'I am glad my
little girl has been able to satisfy you that Felix has honestly earned
whatever he may have spent.'
'If you are satisfied,' returned the lady, 'it is not my affair; but I
must say I should like to know of such transactions among my children.'
'Sometimes one is glad to have a boy to be perfectly trusted,' said Mr.
Underwood.
'But you will speak to him?'
'Certainly I shall.'
Lady Price felt that she must go, and rose up with an endeavour to
retract. 'Well, it is a relief to Mr. Bevan and me to find your son not
consciously in fault, for it would have been a most serious thing. And
in such a matter as this, of course you can do as _you_ please.'
To this Mr. Underwood made no reply, as none was necessary, but only
saw her out to the door in that extremely polite manner that always
made her feel smallest; and then he dropped into his chair again, with
a curl of the lip, and the murmur, 'Not consciously!'
'O Papa, Papa!' cried Cherry.
'Dear Felix!' said the mother, with tears in her eyes; 'but what can
Alda have been saying?'
Cherry was about to speak again, but her father gently put her aside.
'A little quietness now, if you please, my dear; and send Felix to me
when he comes in. Let me have him alone, but don't say anything to him.'
There was no need to send Felix to his father, for he came in of his
own accord, radiant, with a paper containing a report of a public
meeting on Church matters that his father had been wishing to see.
'Thanks, my boy,' said Mr. Underwood; 'where does this come from?'
'From Froggatt's, father. It was only fourpence.'
'But, Felix, repeated fourpences must exhaust even that Fortunatus'
purse of Admiral Chester's.'
Felix coloured. 'Yes, Papa, I wanted to tell you; but I waited till you
were better.'
'You will hardly find a better time than the present,' said Mr
Underwood.
'It is only this,' said Felix, with a little hesitation. 'You
know there's a good deal of printing to be done for the school
sometimes--the questions in Latin and Greek and Algebra, and even
when Mr. Ryder does have the proofs, it wants some one who really
understands to see that the corrections are properly done. Old Smith
used to do it, by real force of Chinese accuracy, but he has been ill
for some time, and Mr. Froggatt can't see to do it himself, and Charlie
won't, and can't be trusted either. So one day, when I was reading in
the shop, Mr. Froggatt asked me to see if a thing was right; and it
went on: he asked me after a time to take anything I liked, and I did
get some school books we all wanted; but after that, just when you
were ill, I could not help telling him I had rather have the money. O
Father!' cried the boy, struck by a certain look of distress, 'did I do
wrong?'
'Not in the least, my boy. Go on; what does he give you?'
'Exactly at the rate he gave Smith for doing the same work,' said
Felix: 'it always was an extra for being so troublesome. It was seven
shillings last week--generally it comes to three or four and sixpence.'
'And when do you do it?'
'I run in after I come out of school for half an hour. Last Saturday
I corrected a sheet of the Pursuivant, because Mr. Froggatt had to go
out, and that made it more. And, Father, Mr. Froggatt says that poor
old Smith will never be fit for work again.'
'Then I suppose these welcome earnings of yours will end when he has a
successor?'
Felix came nearer. 'Papa,' he said, 'Mr. Froggatt told me that if
Charlie would only have taken to the work, he would have done without
another man in Smith's place, and got him gradually into editing the
paper too. He said he wished I was not a gentleman's son, for if I
had not been so I should have suited him exactly, and should be worth
a guinea a week even now. And, Father, do not you really think I had
better take it?'
'You, Felix!' Mr. Underwood was exceedingly startled for the moment.
'You see,' said Felix rather grimly, leaning his head on the
mantelshelf, and looking into the fire, 'any other way I can only be an
expense for years upon years, even if I did get a scholarship.'
His face was crimson, and his teeth set. Mr. Underwood lay back in his
chair for some seconds; then said in a low voice, 'I see you know all
about it, Felix; and that I am going to leave you as heavy a burthen as
ever lad took on willing shoulders.'
Felix knew well enough, but his father had never uttered a word of
despondency to him before, and he could only go on gazing steadfastly
into the fire with an inarticulate moan.
Mr. Underwood opened the first leaf of a volume of St. Augustine,
beside him, a relic of former days, the family shield and motto
within--namely, a cross potent, or crutch-shaped, and the old English
motto, 'Under Wode, Under Rode.'
'Under wood, under rood,' he repeated. 'It was once but sing-song to
me. Now what a sermon! The load is the Cross. Bear thy cross, and thy
cross will bear thee, like little Geraldine's cross potent--Rod and
Rood, Cross and Crutch--all the same etymologically and veritably.'
'Don't call them a burthen, pray!' said Felix, with a sense both of
deprecation and of being unable to turn to the point.
'My boy, I am afraid I was thinking more of myself than of you. I am
an ungrateful fool; and when a crutch is offered to me, I take hold of
it as a log instead of a rood. I did not know how much pride there was
left in me till I found what a bitter pill this is!'
Felix was more crimson than ever. 'Ought I not--' he began.
'The _ought_ is not on your side, Felix. It is not all folly, I hope;
but I had thought you would have been a better parson than your father.'
There were tears in the boy's eyes now. 'There are the others; I may be
able to help them.'
'And,' added Mr. Underwood, 'I know that to be a really poor priest,
there should be no one dependent on one, or it becomes, "Put me into
one of the priest's offices, that I may eat a piece of bread." It is
lowering! Yes, you are right. Even suppose you could be educated,
by the time you were ordained, you would still have half these poor
children on your hands, and it would only be my own story over again,
and beginning younger. You are right, Felix; but I never saw the
impossibility so fully before. I am glad some inward doubt held me back
from the impulse to dedicate my first-born.'
'It shall be one of the others instead,' said Felix in his throat.
Mr. Underwood smiled a little, and put his finger on the verse in his
beloved Epistle--'Look not every man on his own things but every man
also on the things of others.'
'You really wish this. Do you consider what it involves?' he said.
'I think I do,' said Felix in a stifled voice.
'This is not as if it were a great publisher,' continued Mr. Underwood,
'with whom there would be no loss of position or real society; but a
little bookseller in a country town is a mere tradesman, and though a
man like Audley may take you up from time to time, it will never be on
an absolute equality; and it will be more and more forgotten who you
were. You will have to live in yourself and your home, _depending_ on
no one else.'
'I can stand that,' said Felix, smiling. 'Father, indeed I thought of
all that. Of course I don't like it, but I don't see how it is to be
helped.'
'Sit down, Felix: let us go over it again. I suppose you don't know
what our subsistence is at present.'
'I know you have £250 a year from Mr. Bevan.'
'Yes, I had £200 at first, and he added the £50 when the third curate
was given up. That goes with me, of course, if not before. On the other
hand, my poor good uncle, the wisest thing he ever did, made me insure
my life for £5000, so there will be £150 a year to depend on, besides
what we had of our own, only £2,350 left of it now. I have had to
break into it for the doctor's bills, but at least there are no debts.
Thank God, we have been saved from debt! I think,' he continued, 'that
probably it will have to be brought down to twenty-two hundred before
you have done with me. On the whole, then, there will be about £180 a
year for you all to live upon. Are you understanding, Felix?'
For the boy's anxious look had gone out of his face, and given place to
a stunned expression which was only dispelled with a sudden start by
his father's inquiry. 'Yes, yes,' he said recalling himself.
'I have left it all absolutely to your mother,' said Mr. Underwood.
'She will depend more and more on you, Felix; and I have made up my
mind to expect that no help will come to you but from yourselves.
Except that I hope some of you may be educated by clergy orphan
schools, but you are too old for that now. Felix, I believe it may be
right, but it is very sore to break off your education.'
'I shall try to keep it up,' said Felix, 'in case anything should ever
turn up.'
'A guinea a week!' said Mr. Underwood, thoughtfully. 'It would make you
all not much worse off than you are now, when I am out of the way. And
yet--' A violent cough came on. 'We must wait, Felix,' he said, when he
had recovered himself. 'I must have time to think; I will speak to you
to-morrow.'
Felix left him, very grave and subdued. He buried himself in his tasks
for the next day, hardly looked up or smiled at little Bernard's most
earnest attempts at a game of play, and had not a word for even Cherry,
only when Wilmet begged anxiously to know if he thought Papa worse, he
answered that he believed not particularly so.
Alda was sent to carry some tea to her father that evening. As she
set it down on the table before him, he said gently, 'My dear, I want
to know what has been passing among you and your school-fellows about
Felix.'
'Oh, nothing, Papa,' said Alda rather hastily. 'Some nonsense or other
is always going on.'
'Very true, no doubt; nor do I wish to be informed of general nonsense,
but of that which concerns you. What have you been saying or hearing
said about Felix?'
'Oh, it's nonsense, Papa. Some of the girls will say anything
disagreeable.'
'You need not have any scruples on Felix's account, Alda; I know
exactly what he has done. I want you to tell me what is being said--or
you have allowed to be said--about it.'
'That horrible Miss Price!' was all the answer he got.
He sat upright--laid on Alda's wrist a long bony burning hand, whose
clasp she did not forget for weeks, and forcing her to look at him,
said, 'Did you allow it to be believed that your brother Felix was a
gambler?'
'Papa! I never said so!' cried Alda, beginning to sob.
'Command yourself, Alda; I am not fit for a scene, and I may not be
able to speak to you many times again.'
These words--far more new and startling to Alda than to her
brother--appalled her into quietness.
'What did you say, Alda? or was it the deceit of silence?'
She hung her head, but spoke at last.
'I only said boys had ways and means! They did tease and plague so.
I do believe Carry Price counts every grape that goes into this
house--and they would know how I got my new music--and little Robina
would tell--and then came something about Mr. Froggatt; and if they
knew--'
'If they knew what?'
'Papa, you have no idea how nasty some of them are.'
'My poor child, I am afraid I have some idea by seeing how nasty they
are making you! Gambling more creditable than honest labour!'
Alda had it on the tip of her tongue to say winning things was not
gambling, but she knew that argument would be choked down; and she also
knew that though she had spoken truth as to her words, she had allowed
remarks to pass without protest, on the luck and licence that the model
boy allowed himself, and she was bitterly displeased with the treachery
of Miss Price.
'These old rags of folly don't look pretty on other folk,' he sighed
pleasantly. 'Alda, listen to me. What I have heard to-day gives me more
fears for you than for any one of my children. Did you ever hear that
false shame leads to true shame? Never shuffle again! Remember, nothing
is mean that is not sin, and an acted falsehood like this is sin and
shame both--while your brother's deed is an honour.'
Alda was obliged to go away murmuring within herself, 'That's all true:
it is very good of Felix, and I should not have equivocated, I know;
but those stupid girls, how is one to live with them?'
Felix was not quite dressed the next morning when his mother came to
the door of the attic that he shared with Edgar and Fulbert.
'He wants to speak to you before church, Felix. It has been a very bad
night, and the sooner this is settled the better.'
'O Mother, I am very sorry--'
'It can't be helped, my dear boy. I think it will really be a great
relief to him.'
'And you, Mother, do you mind?'
'Dear Felix, all _minding_, except to have you all well, and fed and
clothed, was worn out of me years ago. I can't feel anything in it but
that it will keep you by me, my dear good helpful boy.'
Felix's heart leapt up, as it had not done for many a long day; but it
soon sank again. The children had never been admitted to their father's
room in the early morning, and Felix thought he must be suddenly worse
when he saw him in bed propped by pillows, pale and wearied; but the
usual bright smile made him like himself.
'All right, old fellow,' he said brightly. 'Don't come up to me. I'm
_incog._ till I'm up and dressed. Are you in the same mind?'
'Yes, Father.'
'Then ask Mr. Froggatt to do me the favour of coming to speak to me any
time after eleven o'clock that may suit him. I must understand what he
offers you. The nonsense is conquered, Felix; more shame for me that it
has followed me so far; but the sense remains. I must try to be sure
that this sacrifice of yours is a right one to be accepted. Any way, my
boy, I thank and bless you for it, and God will bless such a beginning.
There's the bell, be off,' he concluded.
And, Papa,' blurted out Felix suddenly, 'would you _please_ be
photographed. I have the money for it. _Pray--_'
Mr. Underwood smiled. 'Very well, Felix; that is, if I am ever capable
of getting up all the stairs to Coleman's sky-parlour.'
'Oh, thank you!' and Felix ran away.
Mr. Froggatt came in due time. He was an elderly portly man, well
shaven and smooth-faced, intensely respectable, having been brought
up to inherit an old hereditary business as bookseller, stationer,
and publisher of a weekly local paper, long before Bexley had broken
out into its present burning fever of furnaces. He was a very good
religious man, as Mr. Underwood well knew, having been his great
comforter through several family troubles, which had left him and his
wife alone with one surviving and woefully spoilt son, who hated the
trade, and had set his heart upon being a farmer--chiefly with a view
to hunting. Mr. Froggatt was conscious of having been too indulgent,
but the mother and son were against him; and the superior tone of
education that the son had received at the reformed grammar school had
only set him above the business, instead of, as had been intended,
rendering him more useful in it.
Good Mr. Froggatt, an old-fashioned tradesman, with a profound feeling
for a real gentleman, was a good deal shocked at receiving Mr.
Underwood's message. He kept a reading-room, and was on terms of a
certain intimacy with its frequenters, such as had quite warranted his
first requests for Felix's good-natured help; and it had been really
as a sort of jesting compliment that he had told the young gentleman
that he wished he would take Smith's place, little expecting to see how
earnestly the words were caught up, how the boy asked whether he really
meant it; and when, on further consideration, he allowed that it might
be possible, begging him to wait till his father could be spoken to.
Poor as he was, Mr. Underwood had never lost general respect. Something
there was in his fine presence and gentlemanly demeanour, and still
more in his showing no false shame, making no pretensions, and never
having a debt. Doctors' bills had pressed him heavily, but he had
sacrificed part of his small capital rather than not pay his way; and
thus no one guessed at the straits of the household. Mr. Froggatt had
never supposed he would entertain for a moment the idea of letting his
eldest son, a fine clever and studious lad, undertake a little country
business, and yet the old bookseller had come to wish it very much on
his own account. As he explained to Mr. Underwood, he loved his old
business, and knew that with more education he should have been able
to make more of it. His elder son had died just as intelligence and
energy were opening up plans that would have made both the shop and the
newspaper valuable and beneficial; while Charles's desertion left them
to decline with his father's declining years, and in danger of being
supplanted by some brisk new light. Felix Underwood was indeed very
young, but he had already proved his power of usefulness, and a very
few years would make him capable of being a right hand to the old man,
and he might in time make a position for himself. Mr. Froggatt would
otherwise ere long be forced by his own infirmity, to dispose of the
business at a disadvantage, and this would, he confessed, go to his
heart. Mr. Underwood felt greatly reconciled to the project. There was
real usefulness in the work, great means of influencing men for good,
and though there would be much of mechanical employment, for which it
was a pity to give up the boy's education, yet it was a stepping-stone
to something better, and it gave present and increasing means of
maintenance. There was less temptation in this way of life than in
almost any that could be devised, and it would give Mrs. Underwood the
comfort of a home with him. The great difficulty for the future was,
that Felix was never likely to have capital enough to purchase, or
become partner in, the business; but Mr. Froggatt explained that if he
gained experience in the editing of the Pursuivant, he would be always
able to obtain profitable employment, and that it was possible that
he might eventually take the business, and pay an annual sum out of
the profits to the Froggatt family, unless, indeed, something should
turn up which would keep him in his natural station. Such was the hope
lurking in the father's heart, even while he thankfully closed with the
offer; and Felix was put in the way of studying book-keeping till the
New Year, when he was to enter upon his duties and his salary.
Mr. Audley was greatly troubled. It was with incredulous vivacity that
he inquired of Mr. Underwood if it were indeed true that Felix had
accepted such prospects.
'Quite true,' said Mr. Underwood. 'You need not argue it with me,
Audley; my own mind has said all you could say seven times over.'
'I should not venture on interference; but could you not let me try to
do--something?'
'And welcome, my dear fellow: there are so many to be done for, that it
is well one can do for himself.'
'But Felix--Felix out of them all!'
'As the voice I want to silence has said a thousand times! No; Felix
seems capable of this, and it is not right to withhold him, and throw
his education upon the kind friends who might be helping the other
boys--boys whom I could not trust to fend for themselves and others, as
I can that dear lad.'
'What he might be--'
'Who knows whether he may not be a greater blessing in this work than
in that which we should have chosen for him? He may be a leaven for
good--among the men we have never been able to reach! My dear Audley,
don't be a greater ass about it than I was at first!'
For the young curate really could not speak at first for a rush of
emotion.
'It is not only for Felix's sake,' said he, smiling at last, 'but the
way you take it.'
'And now, I am going to ask you to do something for me,' added Mr.
Underwood. 'I have left this magnificent estate of mine entirely to my
wife, appointing her sole guardian to my children. But I have begun
to think how much has been taken out of her by that shock of leaving
Vale Leston, and by that wonderful resolute patience that--that I shall
never be able to thank her for. I scarcely dare to let her know that I
see it. And when I look on to the winter that is before her,' he added,
much less calmly, 'I think she may not be long after me. I must add a
guardian. Once we had many good friends. We have them still, I hope,
but I cannot lay this on them. Our cousin Tom Underwood does not seem
disposed to notice us, and his care might not be of the right kind. Our
only other relation is Fulbert Underwood.'
'Who drove you from Vale Leston?'
'Who did what he had every right to do with his own,' said Mr.
Underwood. 'But he is not the style of man to be asked, even if I could
saddle him with the charge. Probably twelve children to bring up on
seven thousand pounds--a problem never put before us at Cambridge.'
'Do you honour me by--' asked the younger man, much agitated.
'Not by asking you to solve that problem! But let me add your name.
What I want is a guardian, who will not violently break up the home and
disperse the children. I believe Felix will be a competent young head
if he is allowed, and I want you to be an elder brother to him, and let
him act.'
'You cannot give me greater comfort.'
'Only, Audley, this must be on one condition. Never let this
guardianship interfere with any higher work that you may be called to.
If I thought it would bind you down to Bexley, or even to England, I
should refrain from this request as a temptation. Mind, you are only
asked to act in case the children should lose their mother, and then
only to enable Felix to be what I believe he can and will be. Or, as it
may be right to add, if he should fail them, you will know what to do.'
'I do not think he will.'
'Nor I. But there are ways of failing besides the worst. However, I do
not greatly fear this illness of mine taking root in them. It has not
been in the family before; and I am nearly sure that I know when I took
the infection, four or five years ago, from a poor man in Smoke-jack
Alley, who would let no one lift him but me. They are healthy young
things, all but dear little Cherry, and I hope they have spirits to
keep care from making them otherwise. You will say a kind word to my
little Cherry sometimes, Audley. Poor little woman, I am afraid it may
fall sorely on her, she is of rather too highly strung a composition,
and perhaps I have not acted so much for her good as my own pleasure,
in the companionship we have had together.'
So the will was altered, though without the knowledge of anyone but
Mrs. Underwood and the witnesses; and Mr. Audley felt himself bound
to remonstrate no further against Felix's fate, however much he might
deplore it.
Nobody was so unhappy about it as Edgar. The boy was incredulous at
first, then hotly indignant. Then he got a burnt stick, and after
shutting himself up in his attic for an hour, was found lying on the
floor, before an awful outline on the whitewash.
'What is it, old fellow?' asked Felix. 'What a horrid mess!'
'I see,' said Lance. 'It is Friday grinning at the savages.'
'Or a scarecrow on the back of a ditch,' said Felix. 'Come, Ed, tell us
what it is meant for.'
Edgar was impenetrable; but having watched the others out of the house,
he dragged Geraldine up to see--something--
'Oh!' she cried. 'You've done it!'
'To be sure! You know it?'
'It is Achilles on the rampart, shouting at the Trojans! O Edgar--how
brave he looks--how his hair flies! Some day you will get him in his
god-like beauty!'
'Do you think he has not got any of it, Cherry?' said Edgar, gazing
wistfully. 'I did see it all, but it didn't come out--and now--'
'I see what you mean,' said Cherry, screwing up her eyes; 'it is in him
to be glorious--a kind of lightning look.'
'Yes, yes; that's what I meant. All majesty and wrath, but no strain. O
Cherry--to have such things in my head, and not get them out! Don't you
know what it is?' as he rolled and flung himself about.
'Oh, yes!' said Cherry from her heart. 'Oh! I should so like to do one
touch to his face, but he's so big! You did him on a chair, and I could
not stand on one.'
'I'll lift you up. I'll hold you,' cried Edgar.
The passion for drawing must have been very strong in the two children;
for Geraldine was most perilously, and not without pain, raised to a
chair, where, with Edgar's arms round her waist, she actually worked
for ten minutes at Achilles' face, but his arm she declined. 'It is not
right, Eddy! look--that muscle in his elbow can never be so!'
'I can't see the back of mine, but you can,' said Edgar, lifting her
down, and proceeding to take off his coat and roll up his shirt-sleeve.
'That's the way. Oh! but it is not such an angle as that.'
'Achilles' muscles must have stood out more than mine, you know. I'll
get a look at Blunderbore's. O Cherry, if I were but older--I know I
could--I'd save Felix from this horrible thing! I feel to want to roar
at old Froggy, like this fellow at the Trojans.'
'Perhaps some day you will save him.'
'Yes; but then he will have done it. Just fancy, Gerald, if _that_
picture was as it ought to be--as you and I see it!'
'It would be as grand as the world ever saw,' said the little girl,
gazing through her eye-lashes at the dim strokes in the twilight. 'O
Edgar, many a great man has begun in a garret!'
'If it would not be so long hence! Oh! must you go down?'
'I heard some one calling. You will be a great artist, I know, Edgar!'
It was pleasanter than the other criticism, at bed-time.
'Hollo! Man Friday does not look quite so frightful!' said Felix.
'I'm sure I won't have him over my bed,' said Fulbert, proceeding to
rub him out; and though, for the moment, Achilles was saved by violent
measures of Edgar's, yet before the end of the next day, Fulbert and
Lance had made him black from head to foot, all but the whites of his
eyes and his teeth; Robina and Angela had peeped in, and emulated the
terror of the Trojans, or the savages; and Sibby had fallen on the
young gentleman for being 'so bold' as to draw a frightful phooka
upon their walls, just to frighten the darlints. Indeed, it was long
before Angela could be got past the door at night without shuddering,
although Achilles had been obliterated by every possible method that
Felix, Clement, or Sibby could devise, and some silent tears of Cherry
had bewailed the conclusion of this effort of high art, the outline of
which, in more moderate proportions, was cherished in that portfolio of
hers.
Another work of art--the photograph--was safely accomplished. The
photographer caught at the idea, declaring that he had been so often
asked for Mr. Underwood's carte, that he had often thought of begging
to take it gratis. And he not only insisted on so doing, but he came
down from his studio, and took Mr. Underwood in his own chair, under
his own window--producing a likeness which, at first sight, shocked
every one by its faithful record of the ravages of disease, unlightened
by the fair colouring and lustrous beaming eyes, but which, by-and-by,
grew upon the gazer, as full of a certain majesty of unearthly beauty
of countenance.
The autumn was mild, and Mr. Underwood rallied in some measure, so as
sometimes even to get to church at mid-day services on warm days.
It was on St. Andrew's Day that he was slowly walking home, leaning
on Felix's arm, with the two elder girls close behind him, when Alda
suddenly touched Wilmet's arm, exclaiming, 'There's Marilda Underwood!'
There indeed was the apparition of Centry Park, riding a pretty pony,
beside a large and heavily-bearded personage. The recognition was
instantaneous; Marilda was speaking to her companion, and at the same
moment he drew up, and exclaiming, 'Edward! bless me!' was off his
horse in a moment, and was wringing those unsubstantial fingers in a
crushing grasp. There was not much to be seen of Mr. Underwood, for
he was muffled up in a scarf to the very eyes, but they looked out of
their hollow caves, clear, blue, and bright, and smiling as ever, and
something like an answer came out of the middle of the folds.
'These yours? How d'ye do!--How d'ye do!--Mary, you don't get off till
we come to the door!--Yes, I'll come in with you! Bless me! bless me!
Mary has been at me ever so many times about you, but we've been had
abroad for masters and trash, and I left it till we were settled here.'
It was not many steps to the door, and there Wilmet flew on to prepare
her mother and the room, while Alda stood by as her cousin was assisted
from her horse by the groom, and the new-comer followed in silence,
while Felix helped his father up the steps, and unwound his wraps,
after which he turned round, and with his own sunny look held out his
hand, saying, 'How are you, Tom? I'm glad to see you--How d'ye do, Mary
Alda? we are old friends.--Call your mother, one of you.'
The mother was at hand, and they entered the drawing-room, where, as
the clergyman sank back into his arm-chair, the merchant gazed with
increasing consternation at his wasted figure and features.
'How long has this been going on?' he asked, pointing to him and
turning to Mrs. Underwood, but as usual her husband answered for her.
'How long have I been on the sick list? Only since the end of
September, and I am better now than a month ago.'
'Better! Have you had advice?'
'Enough to know how useless it is.'
'Some trumpery Union doctor. I'll have Williams down before you are a
day older.'
'Stay, Tom. Thank you, most warmly, but you see yourself the best
advice in the world could tell us no more than we know already. Are you
really master of old Centry Underwood? I congratulate you.'
'Ay. I'm glad the place should come back to the old name. Mrs.
Underwood and myself both felt it a kind of duty, otherwise it went
against the grain with her, and I'm afraid she'll never take to the
place. 'Twas that kept us abroad so long, though not from want of
wishes from Mary and myself. The girl fell in love with yours at first
sight.'
'To be sure I did,' said the young lady. 'Do let me see the little
ones, and your baby.'
'Take your cousin to see them in the dining-room, Alda,' said the
mother; the order that Alda had been apprehending, for the dining-room
was by many degrees more shabby than the drawing-room; however, she
could only obey, explaining by the way that little Bernard, being
nearly two years old, was hardly regarded as a baby now.
Wilmet was in effect making him and Angela presentable as to the hands,
face, hair, and pinafore, and appeared carrying the one and leading the
other, who never having closely inspected any one in a riding-habit
before, hung back, whispering to know whether 'that man was a woman.'
Marilda was in raptures, loving nothing so well as small children, and
very seldom enjoying such an opportunity as the present; and the two
babies had almost the whole of the conversation adapted to them, till
Alda made an effort.
'So you have been on the Continent?'
'Oh yes; it was such a horrid bore. Mamma would go. She said I must
have French masters, and more polish, but I don't like French polish. I
hope I'm just as English as I was before.'
'That is undeniable,' said Felix, laughing.
'Didn't you care for it? Oh! I should like it so much!' cried Alda.
'Like it? What, to hear French people chattering and gabbling all round
one, and be always scolded for not being like them! There was a poor
dog at the hotel that had been left behind by some English people, and
could not bear the French voices, always snarled at them. I was just
like him, and I got Papa to buy him and bring him home, and I always
call him John Bull.'
'But wasn't it nice seeing places, and churches, and pictures?' asked
Geraldine.
'That was the most disgusting of all, to be bothered with staring at
the stupid things. Mamma with her Murray standing still at them all,
and making me read it out just like a lesson, and write it after, which
was worse! And then the great bare shiny rooms with nothing to do. The
only thing I liked was looking at a jolly little old woman that sold
hot chestnuts out in the street below. Such dear little children in
round caps came to her! Just like that,'--endeavouring to convert her
pocket-handkerchief into the like head-gear for Robina.
'I have always so wanted to come here,' she continued, 'only I am
afraid Mamma won't like the place. She says it's dull, and there's no
good society. Is there?'
'I am sure we don't know,' said Wilmet.
'Lots of people are coming to stay with us for Christmas,' added
Marilda, 'and you must all of you come and have all the fun with us.'
'Oh, thank you! how charming!' cried Alda. 'If Papa will but be well
enough; he is so much better now.'
'He must come for change of air,' said Marilda. 'You can't think how
pleased my father was to hear I had met you. He talked all the way home
of how clever your father was, and how wickedly Cousin Fulbert at Vale
Leston had served him, and he promised me when I came here I should
have you with me very often. I would have written to tell you, only I
do so hate writing. This is much better.'
Marilda seemed to have perfectly established herself among them before
the summons came to her; and as the children herded to the door, her
father turned round and looked at the boys inquiringly. 'There,' said
Mr. Underwood, 'this is Felix, and this is Edgar, sixteen and fourteen.'
'Bless me, what a number, and as much alike as a flock of sheep,'
again exclaimed the cousin. 'One or two more or less would not make
much odds--eh, Edward?--Mary, what kissing all round?--D'ye know them
all?--I'll look in to-morrow or next day, and you'll give me your
answer, Edward.'
They were off, and at Mr. Underwood's sign Felix followed him into
the sitting-room, to the great excitement of the exterior population,
who unanimously accepted Alda's view, that one of them was going to
be adopted. Their notion was not so much out as such speculations
generally are, for Mr. Underwood was no sooner alone with Felix and
his mother, than he said, 'You are in request, Felix; here's another
offer for one of you--the very thing I once missed. What say you to a
clerkship at Kedge Brothers?'
'For one of us, did you say, Father?'
'Yes; the answer I am to give to-morrow is as to which. You have the
first choice.'
'Do you wish me to take it, Father?'
'I wish you to think. Perhaps this is the last time I shall have any
decision to make for you, and I had rather you should make your own
choice; nor, indeed, am I sure of my own wishes.'
'Then,' said Felix decidedly, 'I am sure I had better not. Edgar would
not, and must not, go to my work; there would be nothing coming in for
ever so long, and it would be a shame to throw old Froggy over.'
'I rather expected this, Felix. I told Tom you were in a manner
provided for, but when he found you had a turn for business, he was the
more anxious to get you.'
'I've got no turn that I know of,' said Felix, rather gloomily; 'but we
can't all of us set up for gentlemen, and Edgar is the one of us all
that ought to have the very best! Such a fellow as he is! He is sure
of the prize this time, you know! I only don't think this good enough
for him! He ought to go to the University. And maybe when Mr. Underwood
sees--'
'Not impossible,' said the sanguine father, smiling; 'and, at any
rate, to get put in the way of prosperity early may make his talents
available. It is odd that his first name should be Thomas. Besides,
I do not think your mother could get on without you. And, Felix,' he
lowered his voice, 'I believe that this is providential. Not only as
securing his maintenance, but as taking him from Ryder. Some things
have turned up lately when he has been reading with me, that have
dismayed me. Do you know what I mean?'
'A little,' said Felix gravely.
'I know Ryder would be too honourable consciously to meddle with a
boy's faith; but the worst of it is, he does not know what is meddling,
and he likes Edgar, and talks eagerly to him. And the boy enjoys it.'
'He does,' said Felix, 'but he knows enough to be on his guard. There
can't be any harm done.'
'Not yet! Not but what can be counteracted, if--Felix, you cannot
guess how much easier it makes it to me to go, that Edgar will not be
left in Ryder's hands. As to the younger ones, such things do not come
down to the lower forms. And they will be eligible for clergy orphans.
Audley spoke of a choristership for Clement in the clergy-house at
Whittingtonia. Was there ever such a raising up of friends and helpers?
I am glad to have seen Tom Underwood, hearty, kindly--sure to be always
a good friend to you all. What did you think of the girl, Felix?'
'She is a jolly sort of girl,' said Felix; 'not like ours, you know,
Father, but not half a bad fellow.'
Mr. Underwood smiled thoughtfully, and asked, 'Have you seen enough of
her to judge how she is brought up?'
It was treating his son so much more as a friend than as a boy, that
Felix looked up surprised. 'I should think her mother wanted to make
her no end of a swell,' he said, 'and that it would not take.'
Mr. Underwood lent back thoughtfully. In truth, his cousin had, in his
outburst of affection and remorse at long unconscious neglect, declared
his intention of taking home one of the girls to be as a sister to his
Mary, and then, evidently bethinking himself of some influence at home,
had half taken back his words, and talked of doing something, bringing
his wife to see about it, &c.
And when Mr. and Mrs. Underwood were again alone, they discussed the
probabilities, and considered whether if the offer were made they would
accept it. Mr. Underwood had only seen his cousin's wife once, in his
prosperous days, when he had been at the wedding, and his impression
was not that of perfect refinement. There was reason to think from the
words of her husband and daughter that there was a good deal of the
_nouveau riche_ about her, and Mrs. Underwood did not know how to think
of trusting a daughter in a worldly, perhaps irreligious, household.
But Mr. Underwood was a good deal touched by his cousin's warmth and
regret; he believed that the family kept up religious habits; he
thought that Providence had brought him friends in this last hour, and
his affectionate sanguine spirit would not hesitate in accepting the
kindness that provided for another of the children he was leaving. She
trusted him as sure to know best; and, after her usual mode, said no
more, except 'Wilmet would be safest there.'
'You could spare her least.'
'Yes, indeed, it would be losing my right hand; but poor Alda--'
'Poor Alda! but consider if there is not worse evil in keeping her
among girls who hurt her, if they do not Wilmet. Beauty and wounded
vanity are dangerous in a place like this.'
'Dangerous anywhere!'
'Less so in a great house, with that good honest Mary Alda, and Tom,
who will look after her in the main, than here, or as a governess, with
an inferior education.'
'It may be so. I know I can spare her better than her sister.'
'Wilmet is doing something for herself too--as Alda cannot, it seems.
Justice settles the point, dearest, as it did between the boys--that
is, if we have the offer.'
Perhaps the mother still had a lurking hope that the offer would not be
made. Her instinct was to keep all her brood round her; but, silent and
deferential woman that she was, she said nothing, and resolved to be
thankful for what so eased her husband's mind.
The handsome carriage tore up to the door, and violet velvet and
feathers descended, Mary Alda sprang after, and then came her father,
and hampers on hampers of game, wine, and fruits ensued; while Marilda
seized on Alda, and turned of herself into the dining-room, bearing a
box of sweets. 'Where are the little ones? Little Bobbie, here; and all
the rest.'
Not many calls were needful to bring a flock to share the feast, with
cries of joy; but Marilda was not yet satisfied.
'Where's the other of you?' she said to Alda. 'I don't know you well
apart yet.'
'Wilmet's in the kitchen,' thrust in Lancelot, 'ironing the collars for
Sunday.'
'Lance!' uttered Alda indignantly.
'Oh! what fun! do let me go down and see! I should so like to iron.'
'But, Marilda--your Mamma--'
'Oh nonsense, come along, show me the way. That's right, Robins, only
your hands are so sticky. What, down here!--Oh, Wilmet, how d'ye do?
what delicious work! do you always do it?'
'Generally, if Sibby is busy.'
'Do let me try.'
And she did try for ten minutes, at the end of which the mother's voice
was heard calling for Edgar, who, turning crimson, went upstairs,
leaving the others standing about the tidy kitchen, fresh sanded for
Saturday.
'What, not you!' said Marilda, pausing in her smoothing operations, and
looking at Felix.
'No,' said he. 'I have got my work.'
'Oh! don't talk of it,' said Alda. 'I can't bear it. I didn't think he
was in earnest, or that Papa would let him.'
Marilda turned full round. 'What, you won't go and be my father's
clerk, and be one of Kedge and Underwood, and make a fortune?'
Felix shook his head.
'And what is your work instead?'
'Printing,' said Felix stoutly. 'It gives present payment, and we can't
do without it.'
Both Marilda's hands seized on his. 'I like you!' she said. 'I wish I
were you.'
They all laughed, and Felix coloured, more abashed than pleased.
Lance--to make up for his ignominious rescue at their last
meeting--performed a wonderful progress, holding on by his fingers and
toes along the ledge of the dresser; and Marilda, setting her back (a
broad one) against the ironing-board, went on talking.
'And do you know what besides?' looking round, and seeing they did
not. 'One of you girls is to come and live with me, and be my sister.
I wanted to have this little darling Angela to pet, but Mamma wouldn't
have her, and I did so beg for Geraldine, to let her have a sofa and a
pony-carriage! I do want something to nurse! But Mamma won't hear of
anybody but one of you two great ones, to learn and do everything with
me; and that's not half the use.'
'But is it really?' cried Alda.
'Yes, indeed! You'll be had up for her to choose from--that is, if she
can. How exactly alike you are!'
'She won't choose me,' said Wilmet. 'Hark, there's Edgar coming down.'
Edgar ran in, with orders to the twins to go into the drawing-room.
Wilmet hung back. 'I will not be the one,' she said resolutely. 'Let
Alda go alone.'
'No,' said Felix, 'it is what you are told that you've got to do now.
Never mind about the rest! Let us all come out of this place.' And it
was he who took off his sister's ironing apron as they went up to the
dining-room together, while Marilda cried eagerly, 'Well, Edgar?'
'Well,' said Edgar, not in the enchanted voice she expected; 'it is
very good of your father, and what must be must.'
'Don't you like it?' said Marilda, half hurt; and Edgar, always a boy
of ready courtesy, answered, 'Yes, yes, I'm no end of grateful. I'll
get rich, and go abroad, and buy pictures. Only I did hope to paint
them.'
'Paint pictures!' cried Marilda. 'What, rather than be a merchant! Do
such stupid useless things, only to bother people with having to stare
at them, when you could be making money?'
'There's no reason one should not make money with pictures,' said
Edgar; 'but I'd rather make delight! But it can't be helped, and I am
very glad to have done with this horrid place.'
Meantime Wilmet and Alda found themselves before a large, florid,
much-dressed lady, with a most good-natured face, who greeted them with
'Good morning, my dears! Just as Marilda told me, so much alike as to
be quite romantic. Well, no doubt it is a pity to separate between you,
but my Marilda will be a true sister. She has spoken of nothing else.
Are you willing, either of you, my dears?'
'Ay!' chimed in Mr. Thomas Underwood; 'we'll make you happy whichever
it is! You shall be in all respects like our own child; Mary would see
to that, if we didn't.'
'As to choice,' said the lady, 'there's none that I can see--pretty
genteel girls both, that will do us credit, unless it is their own
fault. Excellent governess, London masters--you may be assured
everything shall be done for her.'
'Shall we toss up which it shall be?' laughed her husband.
'No,' said Mr. Underwood gently. 'We think that this one,' laying his
hand on Alda's arm, 'will value these advantages, and is not quite such
a home-bird as her sister. I hope you will find a grateful good child
in Alda Mary, and a kind sister to Mary Alda.'
The tears came into Alda's eyes, as her father seemed thus making her
over; a great rush of affection for all at home, and contempt for Mary
Alda in comparison with her own twin, seemed to take away any elation,
as Mr. and Mrs. Tom Underwood kissed her, and welcomed her, and
declared they should like to take her home at once.
'You shall have her soon,' said Mr. Underwood. 'Let me keep her for
Christmas Day.'
And for Christmas Day he did keep her, though at the bottom of Alda's
heart there were strong hopes of invitations to join the festivities
at Centry Underwood. Indeed, such a party was insisted on by Marilda,
one that was to include all the little ones, and make them happier than
ever they had been in their lives. It was to be on Twelfth Day, but
Mrs. Underwood hinted to the twins that they had better not talk to the
younger ones about it, for she scarcely believed they would go. She
had never before spoken out that conviction which had long crushed her
down, and Wilmet's whole soul seemed for the moment scared away by this
fresh intimation of the condition in which their father stood; while
Alda vehemently repeated the old declaration that he was better. He
said he was better. Alas! such a better as it always was.
'How well you ought to be!' said Mr. Audley one day at the reiteration,
'better every day!'
'Yes, and best of all at last!' was the reply, with a sweet smile.
For he was very happy. The partial provision for the four eldest
children, two by their own exertions, two through friends, had
evidently been received by him as an earnest of protection and aid
for the rest, even to the babe whom he scarcely expected ever to
see in this world. He said it would be ungrateful not to trust, and
he did trust with all his heart, cheered as it was by the tardy
cordiality of his cousin, and the indefinable love of kindred that
was thus gratified. Thomas Underwood poured in good things of
all kinds on the invalid and his house, fulfilled his promise of
calling in further advice, and would have franked half the family
to Torquay--Nice--Madeira--if the doctors had given the slightest
encouragement. It could be of little ultimate avail; but the wine
and soup did give support and refreshment bodily, and produced much
gratitude and thankfulness mentally, besides lightening some of Mrs.
Underwood's present cares.
No one was more anxious to help than Mr. Ryder; he had been assiduous
in his inquiries and offers of service ever since the attack at
Michaelmas; and it was evident that he really venerated the Curate,
while he was a severe and contemptuous judge of the Rector. But when,
after a brilliant examination, he became aware that he was to lose
both the elder Underwoods at once, his mortification was great; he
came to call, and Mr. Underwood had again to undergo an expostulation
on Felix's prospects, and an offer of keeping him free of expense.
The school-fee was a mere trifle, but Mr. Ryder would willingly have
boarded and lodged the boy himself--for the benefit of his authority,
as he said, over younger boarders.
'I am afraid,' said Mr. Underwood, kind and grateful as usual, 'that
there are too many younger boarders here for Felix to be spared. No,
thank you; I am sincerely obliged to you, but the hard cash is a
necessary consideration.'
'And you can sacrifice such a boy's prospects--'
'Bread and cheese _must_ be earned, even at the cost of prospects. He
cannot afford to wait to make his labour skilled.'
'Forgive me, Mr. Underwood, but I cannot think it is right to throw
away his abilities.'
'You can allow that it is a less wrong than to leave the rest to debt
or starvation.'
'You should trust--'
'I do trust; but I can do so better when I humble what is nothing
but pride and vanity in me, after all. I was foolish enough about it
at first, but I am quite content now that my boy should do his duty,
without being curious as to where it is to be done.'
'You will tell me a schoolmaster's vanity is concerned; and I allow it
is, for I looked to your sons to raise the reputation of the school;
but perhaps it is only put off a little longer. Will you let me have
Clement or Fulbert, on the terms I proposed for Felix?'
'No, Ryder; with many, many thanks, much feeling of your generous
kindness--it cannot be.'
'You do not trust me.' This was said with as much indignation as could
be shown to a man in Mr. Underwood's condition.
'No. Your very kindness would make the tone I regret in you more
perilous. Do not think Felix ungrateful, Ryder; the desire is mine--and
remember, it is that of a man who is dying, and who really loves and
values you greatly. It is that the younger boys should, as soon as may
be, go to schools where older systems prevail.'
Mr. Ryder was exceedingly mortified, and though he tried hard to
conceal the full extent of his annoyance, he could not help saying,
'You know how I respect your motives; but let me say that I doubt your
finding any place where the ideas you deprecate are not to be found.
And--pardon me--may not the finding their progress obstructed by your
scruples, the more indispose your sons to them?'
'I hope not,' said Mr. Underwood, calmly. 'I hope it may show them
how strong the approach of death makes that faith--nay, rather
assurance--with which your party are tampering.'
'You are not doing me justice, Mr. Underwood. You know that my faith
and hope are at the core the same as your own. All our question is what
outworks are untenable.' Again he spoke hotly, but Mr. Underwood's
gentleness seemed to silence him.
'And that there should be any such question proves--alas!--the utter
difference between our belief. Ryder, you are a young man, and as I
believe and trust verily in earnest; and some day, I think, you will
understand what faith is. Meantime, your uncertainties are doing more
mischief than you understand--they pervade all your teaching more than
you know. I dread what they may do to such as have not your moral
sense to restrain them and bring them back, as I pray--I hope ever to
pray--it may be with you. Thank you for all your kindness, actual and
intended, to my boys.'
Then rising from his chair, while Mr. Ryder remained uncertain how
to speak, he signed to him to remain still while he sought in his
book-case and returned with a small old copy of Jeremy Taylor's 'Holy
Living and Dying;' then sitting down again, wrote the schoolmaster's
name in it, above his own 'Under-wode, Under-rode' stamp. 'Keep it,
Ryder! I do not say that you will care for it now, but some day I think
you will, and if I am allowed to know of it, it will be joy.'
Mr. Ryder could only wring the hand that held it out to him, and with a
great effort say, 'Thank you.' He saw that Mr. Underwood was too much
tired to prolong the conversation; but he wrote a note of warm thanks
that evening, promising to do whatever lay in his power for the boys,
that their father would not think dangerous for them; and he added,
that whatever he should for the future think or say, such an example
as he had now seen was a strong weight on its own side. It was warmly
and tenderly put, and like everything that befell him, gratified Mr.
Underwood.
A very happy man he had been, as he sincerely told those who would have
grieved over him, and not without some remorse.
'Yes,' as he said to Mr. Audley, who watched him like a son, 'it is
indeed the Lord who hath led me all my life through. I never had a want
or a care unfulfilled till nine years ago. Then, just as I had become
sluggish and mechanical in fixed habits of easy country work, came
this thorough change, break, and rousing. I tell you, I can never be
thankful enough for the mercy. Not to leave them all provided for, as
the saying is, would I go back to be such a priest as I was becoming.
Happy--yes, I have been much happier here, since no choice was left me
but working up to my strength.'
'And beyond it,' said Mr. Audley, sadly.
'If so--well; so much the better!' he said. 'It is a blessing to be
allowed to be spent in that service. And for the children, I wish only
for work and goodness for them--and for that I may well trust my good
Master.'