CHAPTER XXXI.
The first frenzy, which succeeded the reception of the secret impartedto Alfred Rayner at the Shrine of Kali had subsided. Never again afterthe terrible scene in the drawing-room at Clive's Road when he hadcrushed the ivory box with such ferocity, and the still more poignantone in which he had spurned his father when brought face to face withhim, had the unhappy man given way to any ebullition of temper.
Though these incidents were graven as if by hot iron on his wife'sheart, she made no allusion to them and even tried to forget them. Herattitude towards her husband was now more like that of a mother to aweak, erring child than that of a young wife to the husband of herchoice. Alfred's evident efforts at self-restraint were very patent toher and touched her tender heart many times every day. He seemed in factto cling to her with almost child-like affection, and she spared noefforts to make the days pass harmoniously. Being deprived of hismail-phaeton, he now accompanied her in her evening drives, neverlingering at the Club or other resorts as he had formerly done. Theoccasion on which they were met by Mrs. Rouat and her niece was one ofthe many in which no untoward incident had happened. They walkedpeacefully on the beach or sat in their landau enjoying the rising ofthe evening breeze, so welcome after the airless hours of the long hotday. But Leila Baltus judged truly when she said that Hester's brilliantbeauty had gone. She looked pale and wan, and there was an air oflanguor about her whole bearing. Her pretty frocks too were becomingstained by the damp red dust, and she was at no pains to replace them.Even her books grew spotted with the red powdering, and she could notopen an old favourite without seeing its baleful traces. Intenselassitude invaded her, and sometimes her effort to greet her husbandcheerfully seemed well-nigh impossible, though she still kept a braveheart and a cheerful mien, and still joined Mrs. Fellowes at the meetingfor the Eurasian girls.
Her friend, however, perceived that there was a subtle change in her.She seemed less frank and accessible than formerly. Recalling with whatpleasure she had welcomed the visit to Mr. Morpeth, Mrs. Fellowessuggested they should repeat it one afternoon, but Hester had rejectedthe proposal almost coldly. Neither did Mrs. Fellowes fail to note howpathetic Mr. Morpeth looked when in a conversation with him she haddwelt on her anxiety concerning their mutual friend. On confiding to himthat she and the colonel felt convinced her marriage was not a happyone, she observed that, though he had been about to make some reply, hesuddenly lapsed into pained silence and seemed unable to even rousehimself to interest over his schemes for the good of the Vepery people.Alfred Rayner had so often of late come back from the High Court with anair of depression that Hester was surprised one evening when he returnedhome in his office-bandy in high excitement.
"I've great news for you, my darling," he greeted her gleefully, as hehurried up the verandah steps. "I've been and gone and shaken the pagodatree, as the natives say, and I've brought down a crop of gold! To thehills at once, Hester, and gather your English roses once more. I can'tstand those pale cheeks a day longer."
"But, Alfred," she faltered, recalling her last disappointment anddeciding not to be too sanguine. "Why this sudden idea?"
"It's not sudden, I've been thinking of it for some time, and now I cando it," he cried, with an excited laugh. "Is it to be Ooty or Conoor?Which does your fancy turn to?"
"Oh, Ooty would be my choice if we were really going to the hills. ThoseBlue Mountains--those great grassy slopes they talk about have alwaysfascinated my imagination," replied Hester, with a dreamy smile.
"Well, Ooty, be it! I think you're right. I shall wire at once and seeif we can get rooms at an ideal boarding-house I know. I'm particularlyanxious to be off at once. I've a case in Court to-morrow, but the dayafter we can start. Now, all you've got to do is to pack up and 'Comeaway all for the sake of a holiday'"; and humming the then popular song,Rayner hurried off to his writing-room for the telegram forms.
The evening was spent in talk concerning the coming holiday and theplanning of expeditions, for Mr. Rayner had spent a vacation month atOotacamund previous to his furlough and knew it fairly well. He decidedthat it would be well to send a letter to follow his telegram to thelady-manager of the boarding-house where he hoped to get rooms. Onleaving for the High Court next morning he carried the letter with him.
"I'll not even trust it with my other _tappal_ in case of misadventure,"he remarked. "When the reply to my wire arrives be sure to open it sothat you may not be kept an unnecessary moment from your happy prospect.Won't it be joy to me to carry you off from these vile plains to theglorious Blue Mountains! It'll be worth everything," he addedenigmatically, as he drove off.
Her husband's delight in the prospect was infectious. Hester smiled insympathy and began to busy herself with preparations, bringing forth herwarmest garments which had been stowed away in camphor by her carefulayah.
The day passed all too quickly. The hour for Mr. Rayner's return and theevening drive had arrived, when a shabby bandy was driven up to theverandah steps. Two visitors descended from it and were shown to thedrawing-room by the butler. Hester, on going to receive them, at oncerecognised one of them as the haughty-looking girl who had mysteriouslypresented herself at the "Friendly" and in her verandah. It was,however, the older woman, unknown to her, who took the lead. She rosefrom the comfortable chair in which she had seated herself and addressedHester with a broad smile on her face.
"Maybe you'll not know me. I'm Mistress Rouat from Chandrychoke,Calcutta, on a visit to my sister-in-law--this young lady's mother inVepery."
"I'm glad to see you, Mrs. Rouat," said Hester, deciding that at lastthe wilful niece had been brought as a prospective member of the Girls'Club by this benevolent-looking aunt, though on glancing at the girl shewas obliged to admit that her haughty demeanour was not hopeful. Shemade no response to Hester's friendly outstretched hand, but stood quitestill, then with a nod to her aunt she resumed her seat.
Mrs. Rouat leaned back in her chair and fixed her eyes on Hester.
"Though you don't know me, my dear, and maybe your husband won't either,seeing he was but a babee when he last saw me, yet believe me, Mrs.Rayner, I am a veree old friend of the family! Your husband's deadmother, Rosina Castro, and me was veree chief when we lived next door inChandrychoke--thatt's the Eurasian quarter--or one of them, in Calcutta,in case you don't know, bein', as I hear, new from England. Also Mr.David Morpeth, your husband's father, was well known to me. In fact Ihad the pleasure of calling for him the other day----"
"Mr. Morpeth! I don't quite understand," faltered Hester. "I think youare making some mistake. Mr. Morpeth is in no way related to myhusband."
"Ain't he just," said Leila, with a harsh laugh.
"It's you thatt's makin' the mistake, ladee," Mrs. Rouat went on."Alfred Rayner is David Morpeth's veree own son, born in lawful wedlock,I do assure you, and there's others can vouch for thatt as well as me.The good man himself will not deny it if you was puttin' it to him, hewas always a truth-lovin' man was David, veree different from his latewife, Rosina."
Mrs. Rouat glanced uneasily at Hester, and reminded herself that shemust keep in mind the close relationship of the "parties."
"Your information is incorrect," said Hester firmly. "Unfortunately myhusband has no relatives in India or anywhere else. His father andmother both died when he was a child," she added placidly, neverdoubting the truth of her assertion.
"Tell thatt to your grandmother," interjected Leila, with a rude laugh."It's easy to see, Aunt Tilly, she's been taken in by Alfred's lies sameas I was till he jilted me," ended the girl, with a spiteful glance onthe paling face of the woman she hated.
Hester rose from her chair, folded her hands, and said in a restrainedvoice:
"I must ask you to excuse me! Boy, call the carriage," she added,calling the butler. Then she passed out of the room, leaving the auntand niece staring at each other with discomforted air.
"Perhaps I acted a little suddenly," murmured Hester to herself, as sheclimbed the stair to her room. "But Alfred m
ay be here at any time, andif he found these two Eurasians seated in the drawing-room, I reallycould not answer for the consequences! I suppose their extraordinarytale has been manufactured by that fat person. It does seem veryodd--and what was that the girl said about Alfred having jilted her?Perhaps she is under some hallucination, but I dare not mention it toAlfred. One of these terrible fits of temper would be sure to follow,and just when we are going to try to be happy and throw off all ourworries on the Blue Mountains."
But the longer Hester's thoughts dwelt on the visitors' tale, the moreuncomfortable she felt. She recalled how the woman had mentioned Mr.Morpeth, and decided that her husband's aversion to the good Eurasianmust be known to the community.
"There was evident malice in it all. What a cruel plot to spring upon usall of a sudden!" she said to herself, as she busied herself withpreparations for the coming journey, finding relief from her troubledthoughts.
Soon, however, she began to wonder why her husband was delaying hisreturn. The landau had been waiting for some time for the evening drive,but at length she dismissed it to the stables, not being inclined for asolitary drive. The hour for dinner arrived and still he did not appear,nor was there any message from him which surprised her, since he hadbeen unfailingly punctual of late. After her lonely dinner she betookherself to her home-letters for the outgoing mail on the following day,eager to share with her dear ones the great news that she was toexchange the hot winds and red dust for the breezy Neilgherry Hills.
It was not till nearly midnight that she began to grow really anxiousabout her husband's non-appearance. All was silent about the house. Thebutler had gone for the night to his own home in one of the villagesnear. The other servants had retired to their godowns, and the maty-boyin charge lay on his mat in deep slumber in a back verandah. Even theayah had retired to her corner in the room next to her mistress's,having first paid one or two visits to see whether "Dosani" was notthinking of going to bed. Still Hester sat in the verandah, looking outon the vivid dark blue of the cloudless sky, inhaling the penetratingscents of the aromatic shrubs which bounded the gravel sweep. Sometimesshe fancied she caught the sound of an approaching footfall, but decidedit was only a stirring among the ghost-like trees. Once or twice shedozed, to awaken with a start as if someone was whispering her name, butonly the mingling eerie sounds of the Indian night fell on her listeningear.
A Bottle in the Smoke: A Tale of Anglo-Indian Life Page 31