The Gernons had returned to the Castle for some days before Philip
Norton came home, his wife anxiously scanning his countenance, to find
him apparently quite happy and untroubled of mind. She had something
she wished to say to him, but she shrank from her task, hardly knowing
how to commence; her difficulty, though, was ended by Norton himself,
who, as they were seated at tea, turned the conversation in the required
direction.
"So the Castle folks are back," he said, quietly.
"Yes; they arrived last Thursday," said Mrs Norton, uneasily.
"Busy times there'll be there, then, I expect," said Norton. "Do the
old place good."
Mrs Norton looked searchingly at him, but not a muscle of his
countenance was moved.
"Do you know, love, I've been thinking over their return," he said,
after a few moments' silence, "and I fancy that, perhaps, it would be
better if the intimacy between you and Lady Gernon were not resumed.
Time works wonders, we know, but I cannot think that there could ever be
the cordiality that one would wish to feel towards one's friends."
"Can you read my thoughts, dear?" said Mrs Norton, kneeling at his
feet, so as to rest her elbows on his knees, and gaze up in his face.
"Well, not all," he said, laughing. "A great many, though, for you are
horribly transparent. But why?"
"Because you have been thoroughly expressing my wishes. Do not think me
foolish, but I do, indeed, think it would be better that there should be
no intimacy between the families."
"Foolish!" he laughed. "Why, that would be like blaming myself. But
there, I don't think we need trouble ourselves; for I suppose they will
be very grand, and take up only with the county families and grandees
from London; they will not want our society. And do you know, dear, we
shall have to pinch and save no end, for I have been investing heaps of
money in a speculation--one, though, that is certain to pay. Iron
mines, you know, that were found last year at Blankesley. Capital thing
it is to be, so they tell me."
"But was it not foolish?" said Mrs Norton. "Had we not enough, dear?"
"Well, yes," he said, rather impatiently; "enough for ourselves, but we
have the child to think of. You do not suppose he will be content to
lead his fathers dreary life."
"Dreary, Philip?"
"Well, no--not dreary. I don't mean that; but quiet, retired existence;
and besides, a little to do with this iron affair--a little occupation--
will be the making of me. I've grown so rusty," he said, laughing,
"that I have run to iron to polish it off."
That same night a similar conversation took place at the Castle, where,
in quiet, well-chosen words, Sir Murray expressed a wish that there
might be no communication held with the inmates of the Hall.
"Do you doubt me, Murray?" said Lady Gernon, rising, and standing
looking down upon her husband, as he leaned back in his chair.
"Doubt you!" he said, almost angrily. "My dear Lady Gernon, what a
question!"
"Then why should you ask me, now that at your wish we have returned to
the Castle, to give up the love, sympathy, and companionship of my
cousin? Why did we not stay abroad, if such coldness is to be
preserved. I ceased corresponding with her at her marriage, but with
what pain and cost you only know. Do not ask more of me."
"There--there," he said, "what a trouble you are making of this trifle.
It is my wish that the old acquaintanceship should not be renewed. No
good can result from it; but, perhaps, for all parties a great deal of
heartburning and pain. Be guided by me, Marion."
"Not in this," she said, firmly. "Murray, I never yet in anything
opposed your wishes, but in this I do. It is my intention to drive over
and call upon Ada to-morrow, and I ask you to accompany me. To be
distant now would be like disinterring old griefs and sorrows that
should before this have been forgotten. Let the past be buried in the
past, and let us be, with these our nearest neighbours, upon intimate
terms. You do not know Philip and Ada as I know them; and I love them
both too dearly to slight them even in thought."
"As you will," he said, with a shrug of the shoulders.
"And besides," she continued, "your wish is almost an insult to your
wife, Murray; it is cruel in tone, cruel in wording--harsh as it is
unjust--unfair."
"Do I not say," he exclaimed, angrily, "do as you will? I gave you my
opinion as to what I thought would be best, and you differ. Very well;
one of us must give way, and I have yielded. What more would you have?
Do I ever play the domestic tyrant? Am I ever unreasonable?"
Lady Gernon was silent, and stood pale and motionless, looking at the
table upon which she rested her hand. She was still very beautiful; but
there was a sharpness about her features that told of suffering, and the
workings of a troubled heart. It was evident that she wished to speak,
but the words would not come, and at last, fearing to display her
agitation, she glided back to her seat.
But she had gained her end: there was to be reconciliation, and a
friendly feeling preserved between the two families. And why not? she
asked herself. Were they to be always enemies on account of the past?
Sinking thoughtfully back in her chair, she rested her forehead upon her
hand, dreaming over the incidents of the past few years, and even while
feeling a dread of the impending meeting, she felt a longing desire to
look once more upon her old lover--upon the man who, upon her
wedding-day, had seemed, as it were, to cast a blight upon her future
life, as he appeared like one rising from the dead to upbraid her with
her falling away.
Lady Gernon did not see the curious way in which her husband sat and
watched her, marking every change in her countenance, noting every sign.
He had been startled by the earnestness with which she had combated his
wishes. Her manner had been so new, her eager words so unusual; for
during their married life her actions had been of the most subdued
nature, and, as if resigning herself to her fate, she had been the
quiet, uncomplaining wife, to whom his word had been law, while, proud
of her beauty and accomplishments, he had been content.
But no words passed till, rousing herself, Lady Gernon sought to remove
any strange impression her utterances might have made--sought, but in
vain, for she had unwittingly sown seeds that had already begun to
germinate, striking root deeply in her husband's breast, soon to
flourish for ill in a way that should defy her utmost efforts to uproot
them.
Book 1, Chapter XII.