THE NEW HOUSE.
"Cobbler" Horn's new house, which was situated, as we have seen, on one of
the chief roads leading out of the town, marked almost the verge, in that
direction, of the straggling fringe of urban outskirts. Beyond it there
was only the small cottage in which had lived, and still resided, the
woman who had seen Marian as she trotted so eagerly away into the great
pitiless world. "Cobbler" Horn had not deliberately set himself to seek a
house upon this road. But, when he found there a residence to let which
seemed to be almost exactly the kind of dwelling he required, the fact
that it was situated in a locality so tenderly associated with the memory
of his lost child, in no degree diminished his desire to make it his
abode.
"It was here that she went by," he said softly to himself, at the close of
their visit of inspection, as he stood with Miss Jemima at the gate; "and
it was yonder that she was last seen."
What were Miss Jemima's thoughts, as she followed, with her eyes, the
direction of her brother's gaze, may not be known; for an unwonted silence
had fallen on her usually ready tongue.
It was a good house, with a pleasant lawn in front, and a yard, containing
coach-house and stables, behind. The house itself was well-built,
commodious, and fitted with all the conveniences of the day. As most of
the furniture was new, the removal of the family was not a very elaborate
process. In this, as in all other things, "Cobbler" Horn found that his
money secured him the minimum of trouble. He had simply given a few
orders--which his sister, it is true, had supplemented with a great many
more--; and, when the day of removal came, they found themselves duly
installed in a house furnished with a completeness which left nothing to
be desired.
On their arrival, they were received in the hall by three smiling maids,
a coachman, and a boy in buttons. "The Golden Shoemaker" almost staggered,
as the members of his domestic staff paid due homage to their master. He
half-turned to his sister, and saw that, she, unlike himself, was not
taken by surprise. Then he hastily returned the respectful salutations of
the beaming group, and passed into the house.
It was afternoon when the removal took place, and the remainder of the day
was spent in inspecting the premises, and settling down. With the aid of
his indefatigable secretary, "Cobbler" Horn had disposed of his morning's
letters before leaving the old house, and, as it happened, the later mails
were small that day. Miss Jemima stepped into her new position as
mistress of a large establishment with ease and grace; and, assisted by
the young secretary, who was fast gaining the goodwill of her employer's
sister, was already giving to the house, by means of a few slight touches
here and there, that indescribable air of homeliness which money cannot
buy, and no skill of builder or upholsterer can impart.
To "Cobbler" Horn himself that evening was a restless time. He felt
himself to be strangely out of place; and he was almost afraid to tread
upon the thick soft carpets, or to sit upon the luxurious chairs. And
yet he smiled to himself, as he contrasted his own uneasiness with the
complacency with which his sister was fitting herself into her place in
their new sphere.
Under the guidance of the coachman, "Cobbler" Horn inspected the horses
and carriages. The coachman, who was the most highly-finished specimen of
his kind who could be obtained for money, treated his new master with an
oppressive air of respect. "Cobbler" Horn would have preferred a more
familiar bearing on the part of his gorgeously-attired servant; but
Bounder was obdurate, for he knew his place. His only recognition of the
somewhat unusual sociability of his master, was to touch his hat with a
more impressive action, and to impart a still deeper note of respect to
the tones of his voice. His bearing implied a solemn rebuke. It was as
though he said, "If you, sir, don't know your place, I know mine."
"The Golden Shoemaker," having completed his survey of his new abode
and its surroundings, realized more fuller than hitherto the change his
circumstances had undergone. The old life was now indeed past, and he was
fairly launched upon the new. Well, by the help of God, he had tried to do
his duty in the humble sphere of poverty; and he would attempt the same in
the infinitely more difficult position in which he was now placed.
Entering the house by the back way, he paused and lingered regretfully for
a moment at the kitchen door. One of the maids perceived his hesitation,
and wondered if master was of the interfering kind. He dispelled her alarm
by passing slowly on.
After supper, in the dining-room, Miss Jemima handed the old family Bible
to her brother, and he took it with a loving grasp. Here, at least, was a
part of the old life still.
"Shall I ring for the servants?" asked Miss Jemima.
"By all means," said her brother, with a slight start.
Miss Jemima touched the electric bell, with the air of one who had been
in the habit of ringing for servants all her life. In quick response, the
door was opened; and the maids, the coachman, and the boy, who had all
been well schooled by Miss Jemima, filed gravely in.
The ordeal through which "Cobbler" Horn had now to pass was very unlike
the homely family prayer of the old life. He performed his task, however,
with a simplicity and fervour with which the domestics were duly
impressed; and when it was over he made them a genial yet dignified little
speech, and wished them all a hearty good night.
"Brother," Miss Jemima ventured to remark, when the servants were gone, "I
am afraid you lean too much to the side of familiarity with the servants."
"Sister," was the mildly sarcastic response, "you are quite able to adjust
the balance."
Amongst the few things which were transferred from the old house to the
new, was a small tin trunk, the conveyance of which Miss Jemima was at
great pains personally to superintend. It contained the tiny wardrobe of
the long lost child, which the sorrowing, and still self-accusing, lady
had continued to preserve.
It is doubtful whether "Cobbler" Horn was aware of his sister's pathetic
hoard; but there were two mementos of his lost darling which he himself
preserved. For the custody of papers, deeds, and other valuables, he had
placed in the room set apart as his office, a brand new safe. In one of
its most secure recesses he deposited, with gentle care, a tiny parcel
done up in much soft paper. It contained a mud-soiled print bonnet-string,
and a little dust-stained shoe.
"They will never be of any more use to her," he had said to himself; "but
they may help to find her some day."