Four Verses
'In preparing a guide to immortality, Infinite Wisdom gave not a
dictionary, nor a grammar, but a Bible--a book of heavenly doctrine,
but withal of earthly adaptation.'--_J. Hamilton._
The old woman looked through her glasses at her four nurslings with a
loving eye; then she said very quietly, 'I have been hearing all about
your plans, Miss Agatha, and I'm thinking you have shown your wisdom in
keeping a home together. Forgive my plain speaking. I know 'tis an
age for young ladies to make homes for themselves, anywhere and
everywhere, but unless a woman is married, 'tis a risky undertakin'!
I've been inclined to fret that my working days are over, for dearly
would I like to have gone with you, and done what I could to make you
comfortable; but 'tis the Lord's will, and my age and helplessness
doesn't prevent me from prayin' for you all! You have the same psalm
in your mind, Miss Agatha, that I have been readin' and studyin' this
afternoon. I would dearly like to give you each a verse out of it, if
you won't take offence.'
'We're in for one of Nannie's preaches!' said Gwen, laughing, as she
placed a large-print Bible before her old nurse; 'but we shan't have a
chance of many more, so we promise to be attentive!'
'Ay, dear Miss Gwen, it isn't a preach! How often you come up here to
have a cup o' tea to refresh your bodies! and 'tis a bit of refreshment
to your souls that I'm now makin' so bold as to offer.' Nannie turned
over the pages of her beloved Bible with a reverent hand, then she
looked across at Agatha.
'My dear Miss Agatha, there are four verses here, with a command and a
promise. I should like to give you each one to think of, through all
the troubles and trials that may come to you. Will you mark it in your
own Bibles, and live it out, remembering it was Nannie's verse for you,
so that when I'm dead and gone you may still have the comfort and
teachin' of it?'
Agatha was touched by the old woman's solemn earnestness.
'Yes, Nannie, give it to me, and I will try and put it "into practice."'
Nannie's voice rang out in the dusky firelit room, as she repeated,
more from memory than by sight,--
'Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and
verily thou shalt be fed!'
'Thank you, Nannie,' said Agatha after a pause, 'I will look it up and
remember it.'
'Now mine, please,' said Gwen, looking over the old woman's shoulder.
'Is it the next verse for me?'
'No, my dear, I think not. It seems to me that this must be the Lord's
word to you: "Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He
shall bring it to pass."'
'You have given me that because you think I like choosing my own way
through life, now haven't you?'
'Maybe I have. Choosing our own ways and goin' in them always bring
trouble in the end. Now, Miss Clare, your verse is the beginning of
the one Miss Agatha was sayin': "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently
for Him"; and, Miss Elfie, this is for you, "Delight thyself also in
the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."'
'And I am the only one that has got a command without a promise,' said
Clare reproachfully.
Nannie looked at Clare, then at her big Bible again.
'You have a promise further on, Miss Clare, "Those that wait upon the
Lord, they shalt inherit the earth."'
'Ah, Nannie, that is too big a promise to realize. If it was to
inherit Dane Hall now!'
'My dear, since you were a little wee child, you have always been
looking for something big. You will inherit more from God Almighty, if
you wait for Him, than ever you could inherit without Him!'
There was silence for a few minutes; then Gwen said, trying to speak
lightly, 'We shan't forget your verses, Nannie; and though I'm afraid
none of us will ever grow into such a saint as yourself, it won't be
for want of an example before us. Now may we turn to business? Jacob
has gone, and we must bestir ourselves. I have cut out an
advertisement from the _Morning Post_, which I think sounds tempting.
And as Agatha seems so slow in making up her mind, I think I shall take
the train to-morrow morning and go and inspect the place myself.
Doesn't it sound as if it ought to suit us? "To Let. An old-fashioned
cottage residence, four bedrooms, two attics, three reception-rooms,
well-stocked fruit and vegetable garden. Owner called abroad suddenly;
will let on reasonable terms!"'
'Where is it?' asked Elfie.
'Hampshire. I wrote to the agent who advertises, and he said the rent
would be about 40 pounds. It is close to some pine woods, and only
three miles from a town. It sounds nice, I think; at any rate, it is
worth seeing about.'
'Do you like old-fashioned cottage residences?' said Clare very
dubiously; 'they always remind me of rotten floors, rats and mice, and
damp musty rooms.'
I hate modern villas,' retorted Gwen, 'with gimcrack walls and smoky
chimneys and bad drainage! This has an old-world sound. Let us, if we
live out of town, choose an Arcadia, with nothing to remind us of the
overcrowded suburbs. Are you willing I should go, Agatha, and come
back and report the land?'
Yes,' said Agatha; 'better you should do it than I, for what suits you
will suit me, but what would suit me might not suit you. We will talk
it over when you come back.'
And so it was settled; and after an early breakfast next day, Gwen
started on her quest.
She did not come back till between seven and eight o'clock in the
evening, and seemed so tired that Agatha insisted upon her eating a
good dinner before she gave an account of herself. Then, rested and
refreshed, she came into the drawing-room and settled herself in a
comfortable chair by the fire to give her experiences.
'I really think it will do,' she began. 'I arrived at the station
about twelve o'clock, and walked out the three miles, to see what the
country was like. Brambleton is a clean, empty little town, with no
one in the streets but a few tottering old men and children, a few good
shops, and there is a market every Friday. I walked along the high
road for a couple of miles, then turned up a lane with a ragged piece
of common at the end of it, passed one or two nice houses standing back
in their own grounds, a little country church with parsonage adjoining
in the orthodox fashion, a cluster of thatched cottages, and finally
came to the "cottage residence."'
'Is it in a village street?' asked Agatha.
'No, not exactly. It is in a side road leading to a farm. It is a low
white house with a great box hedge hiding it from the road, and a
stone-flagged path leading up to the door. A blue trellis verandah
runs right round it, which I rather liked, and a row of straw bee-hives
in front delighted me. There was an old woman in charge, who showed me
all over, and talked unceasingly.'
'Now describe the rooms exactly,' said Elfie eagerly; 'and did the
house smell musty and damp?'
'No, I shouldn't say it was at all damp; of course rooms that have been
shut up always seem fusty and close. It is a little place; you must
not think the rooms are anything like this. On one side of the door is
a long low room, the width of the house, with a window at each end; the
other side of the passage there are two smaller rooms; the kitchens,
etcetera, lie out at the back; and the stairs go up in the middle of
the passage. Four fair-sized bedrooms are above, and the two attics
are quite habitable. The back of the house has the best view; it
overlooks a hill with a cluster of pines, and woods in the distance.
Fields are round it, but the back garden has a good high brick wall,
with plenty of fruit trees, and all laid out as a kitchen garden. The
front piece is in grass, with a dear old elm in the corner.'
I don't like the sound of the box hedge,' said Agatha thoughtfully; 'it
seems so shut in, and very lonely, I should say.'
'Of course we shall not have many passers-by, except the carters to and
from the farm; but if you are in the country, what can you expect? We
can cut down the hedge. I like the place myself, and it is in good
repair, for the owner has only just left it. I must tell you about
him, for there is quite a story about him. Old Mrs. Tucker was his
cook. He is an eccentric widower, and has a brother with a lot of
property in the neighbourhood. He spends his time in carving,
painting, and writing about old manuscripts. That is one thing you
will like, Clare; all the doors and cupboards in the house are carved
most beautifully, even the low window sills, and mantelpieces. About
four months ago he had a dreadful quarrel with his brother, and told
Mrs. Tucker that he was going abroad till his temper cooled. He stored
all his furniture, and said he would let the house, but only to a
yearly tenant, as he might wish to return again. That is the
disadvantage of the house; but I think he will not be in a hurry to
return. There is an old carved cupboard let into the wall in the room
which was his study, and this he has left locked, and wishes any tenant
to understand that it is not to be opened. They take the house under
this condition.'
'A Bluebeard's cupboard,' said Clare delightedly. 'Why, this is most
interesting. I am longing to take the house now.'
'That is indeed a woman's speech,' said a voice behind her, and a tall
broad-shouldered man laid his hand gently on her shoulder.
Clare turned round, with a pretty pink colour in her cheeks.
'Oh, Hugh, is it you? Come and sit down, and hear about the cottage we
meditate taking. Gwen is our business man, and seems to have found
just the place we wanted.'
Captain Knox took a seat by his betrothed, and was soon hearing about
it all. Then after it was discussed afresh, and he agreed that it
might prove suitable, the other girls slipped away to the inner
drawing-room, and left the young couple alone.
Clare's wistful dreaminess had vanished now, and she was bright and
animated.
'I believe you girls are rejoicing in your sudden downfall,' said
Captain Knox at length; 'I hear no moans now over your lost fortunes.
It is the outside world that is pitying you. "Those poor girls," I
hear on all sides, "after the very marked way in which old Miss Dane
told everybody they would be heiresses at her death. It is most
incomprehensible."'
It is no laughing matter, Hugh,' said Clare gravely. 'We are going to
try and make the best of it; but when we think of James, our blood
boils!'
'Well, darling, you will never know actual want, that is my comfort.
How I wish I could offer you a home now! but I have been advised so
strongly to go with this party that I feel I ought not to refuse. It
will only be a matter of six months, I hope, and then I shall take you
away from your country retreat altogether.'
'I sometimes wish----' Clare stopped.
'Well, what?'
'I was going to say I wish you were not in the army, but that is wrong.
I do so much prefer a settled home to the incessant change in the
service.'
Captain Knox's brows clouded a little, for he was a keen soldier, and
was devoted to his corps, which was the Royal Engineers.
'But, Clare, I have heard you say before that you do not care for a gay
town life, nor a quiet country one; so what do you like?'
'I don't know what I like,' she said, laughing; 'generally it is what I
haven't got. Don't mind my grumblings. I shall be so tired of the
country, and the dull monotony of it all, by the time you come back,
that I shall fly to you with open arms, and entreat you to take me into
the very midst of garrison gaiety.'
Captain Knox smiled, though he still looked perplexed. Clare's moods,
and contradictions of humour, were inexplicable to a man of his frank,
straightforward nature. Yet she was so sweetly penitent after a fit of
discontent, and so delightful in her waywardness, that he only loved
her the more, and found, as so many others do, that woman is a problem
that few masculine brains can solve.
Whilst the two lovers were enjoying their _tête-à-tête_, Elfie had
crept upstairs to see Nannie, and a gravity had settled on her usually
sunny face as she entered her nurse's room.
'Have you come for a chat, Miss Elfie?' inquired the old woman,
brightening at the sight of her.
'Yes, Nannie. I have been thinking over my verse that you gave me. I
can't get it out of my head. It is a very lovely one, but very
difficult to put into practice, I should think.'
'Why, surely, no, my dear! And for you 'tis easier than most.'
'That is because I always say I find it is easy to be happy. But,
Nannie, delighting oneself in the Lord is a very different thing.'
'Ay, but the lark that rises with his song, and the flowers that turn
their faces to the sun, or soft refreshing showers, don't find it
difficult to delight themselves in the air and sunshine. I think, Miss
Elfie, you are one of the Lord's dear children, are you not?'
Elfie's face flushed; then sitting down in a low chair, she rested her
head against Nannie's knees.
'Yes,' she said softly. 'I told you how different everything had been
with me when last I was home, Nannie. That German governess was such a
help to me. But what I feel is this: I enjoy everything in life so; it
all seems so bright and sunny to me, that I feel the pleasure I take in
everything may be such a snare. I ought to have my enjoyment in the
Lord apart from it all. And I sometimes ask myself if I could be happy
shut up in a prison cell, away from all I love, and--and I almost think
I couldn't. Nannie smiled.
'You are a foolish child. Do you think the Lord loves to put His
children in miserable circumstances and keep them there? Your youth
and your gladness and your hopes are all gifts from Him. He loves to
see us happy. Doesn't the sun, and the brightness, and all the lovely
bits o' nature, come straight from Him? He didn't make London with its
smoke and fog and misery, 'tis us that have done that.'
'But I like London,' put in Elfie. 'I love the shops and the people
and the bustle, and at first I didn't like the idea of the country at
all, but now I am beginning to.'
'Wherever you may be, Miss Elfie, delight yourself in your
surroundings, unless they be sinful; but be sure o' this, you can
delight yourself in the Lord in the midst of it all, and have no need
to separate Him from all your innocent joys. Doesn't your verse say as
much? Will the Lord take all that is pleasant away from you, if you do
His command? No; "He will give thee the desires of thine heart." Could
you want more proof of His love? You may later on in life have another
lesson to learn, but 'twill come easier then, and you'll be able to say
with Habakkuk, "Although everything else fails, yet I will rejoice in
the Lord."'
Elfie was silent. Then she got up and kissed her old nurse.
'You're an old saint; you always do me such a world of good. I think
you have given me the best verse of them all, and I will try and make
it my motto. Now I must go. I only ran up to have a peep at you.'