The Long Vacation
Page 32
Loath to depose the child, your brother's son.--SHAKESPEARE.
A telegram early the next day announced that the Rotherwood family wereon their way, and they came in due time, the kind embrace that Franciereceived from each in turn being such as to set doubts at rest.
In fact, the dread, first of Monte Carlo, and secondly of Maura White,had done much to prepare the way with Lady Rotherwood. If she hadfirst heard of her son's attachment to the pretty child who acted Mona,daughter to the upstart Vanderkists, and with a ruined father of no goodrepute, she would have held it a foolish delusion to be crushed withoutdelay; but when this same attachment had lasted eight or nine months,and had only found avowal on the removal of a supposed rival; when,moreover, her darling had been ill, had revived at the aspect of theyoung lady, and had conducted himself in a place of temptation so as tocalm an anxious mother's heart, she could see with his eyes, not onlythat Franceska was really beautiful, graceful, and a true lady, butlikely to develop still more under favourable circumstances; that shehad improved in looks, air, and manner on her travels, also that she hadnever been injured by any contact with undesirable persons, but had beentrained by the excellent Underwoods, whose gentle blood and breedingwere undeniable. Nor would "the daughter of the late Sir AdrianVanderkist, Baronet, of Ironbeam Park," sound much amiss. He was solate, that his racing doings might be forgotten.
Indeed, as the Marchioness looked up to the castle, she felt that shecould forgive a good deal to the damsel who had saved the family fromthe "sorry Rebecca," who had cried all night, and was still crying,whenever any more tears would come, and not getting much pity from anyof her relatives. Mr. White told her that she was a little fool to haveexpected anything from a young swell; her brother said she might haveknown that it was absurd to expect that any one could look at her whenMiss Franceska was by; and Mrs. White observed that it was wonderful toher to see so little respect shown for maiden dignity, as to endure tomanifest disappointment. Adeline might speak from ample experience, andcertainly her words had a salutary effect.
However, the Whites en famille were not quite the same externally. WhenLord Rotherwood, after luncheon, went to see old White at the works, andlook after his font, he met with a reception as stiff and cold as couldwell be paid to a distinguished customer who was not at all in fault;and for the first time Mr. White was too busy to walk back with him tothe castle to see Adeline, whom he found, as usual, on a couch on theterrace in the shade of the house, a pretty picture among the flowersand vines. She was much more open with him, as became one who understoodmore of his point of view.
"Well, Rotherwood, I suppose I am to congratulate you, though it isscarcely a fair match in a worldly point of view."
"For which I care not a rap. She is a good, simple girl, and a perfectlady."
"And Victoria? May I ask, does not she think it a misalliance,considering what these Vanderkists are--and the Underwoods?"
"There's no one I respect more than Lancelot Underwood. As to Victoria,she is thankful that it is no worse."
"Ah! I know what you mean, but you can't wonder that my husband shouldfeel it hard that there should have been some kind of flirtation. He isfond of Maura, you know, and he does feel that there must have been someslyness in some one to cause this affair to have been so suddenly sprungon us."
"Slyness--aye, I believe there was. Tell me, Ada, had you any notionthat that lad, Gerald Underwood, was engaged to Dolores Mohun?"
"No; who told you?"
"Mysie let it out. She had been warned not to mention it till hisposition was ascertained, Maurice's consent and all."
"I must say Mysie should have spoken. It was not fair towards me to keepit back."
"Still less fair of Maura, if that's her name, to hint at attachmentbetween Franceska and the boy. That was the embargo upon my poor fellow.He rushed off to have it out the moment he saw how matters stood."
"Well, it was a great shame; but girls are girls, especially with thoseantecedents, and Maura did not know to the contrary. You will believeme, Rotherwood, I never had any desire that she should succeed. I wouldhave sent her away if I could; but you can't wonder that Mr. White isvexed, and feels as if there had been underhand dealing."
"I see he is. But you will not let him make it unpleasant for theUnderwoods."
"Oh no, no! They have not much longer to stay. They are incorrespondence about a rheumatic clergyman."
Mrs. White, however, determined not to expose Maura to her husband,though she reproached her, and was rather shocked by the young lady'sself-defence. It was a natural idea, and no one had ever told her tothe contrary. It was all spite in Mysie Merrifield to proclaim it afterhaving kept it back so long.
She really was in such a state of mind that Mrs. White was ratherrelieved that the Rotherwoods had taken Franceska to San Remo to staytill Ivinghoe had to depart. Anna was left to send off the littlefelicitous note that she had written to her mother.
Each and all were writing letters that would be received withrapture almost incredulous, for no one but Sophia could have had anypreparation.
"It is pleasant to think of poor Alda's delight," said Geraldine, overher writing-case. "After all her troubles, to have her utmost ambitionfulfilled at last; and yet--and yet it does seem turning that prettycreature over to a life of temptation."
"In good hands," said Clement. "The youth himself is a nice honestfellow, a mere boy as yet; but it is something to have no harm in him attwo-and-twenty and in the Guards; and his parents are evidently ready towatch over and guide them."
"If her head does not get turned," sighed Geraldine.
"Just as likely in any other station," replied Clement. "The protectionmust come from within, not from the externals; and I do think thatshe--yes, and he too--have that Guard within them."
"I think the sooner we are away from this place the better," saidGeraldine. "There are such things as cold shoulders, and perhapsdispleasure is in human nature, though it is not our fault."
"Which is the worse for us," laughed her brother, "since we can't begpardon."
The cold shoulder was manifested by a note of apology the next morningfrom Mr. White. He was too busy to go with Mr. Underwood to SantaCarmela on this day, but had sent the young quarry-man to act asguide, and his foreman as interpreter. So Clement had his long ride onmule-back mostly in silence, though this he scarcely lamented, for hecould better enjoy the mountain peaks and the valleys bright with richgrass, with anemones of all colours, hyacinths, strange primulas andgentians, without having to make talk to Mr. White. But his journey waswithout result. He did find an exceedingly old woman keeping sheep andspinning wool with a distaff, who owned to the name of Cecca Benista.She once had a brother. Yes, Gian was his name, but he went away, asthey all did. He had a voice bellissima, si bellissima; and some onetold her long, long ago, that he had made his fortune, and formed acompany, but he had never come home--no, no, and was probably dead,though she had never heard; and he had sent nothing--no, no!
Then Clement tried the priest of the curious little church on thehill-side, a memory of Elijah and the convents on Mount Carmel. TheParrocco was a courteous man, quite a peasant, and too young to knowmuch about the past generation. He gave Clement a refection of whitebread, goats' milk cheese, and coffee, and held up his hands on thedeclining of his thin wine. There was a kind of register of baptisms,and Giovanni Batista Benista was hunted out, and it was found that ifalive he would be over seventy years old. But no more was known, andthere was no proof that he was dead twenty-two years before!
That long day had convinced Geraldine that the pleasantness ofintercourse with the Whites was over, and she was not sorry that aletter was waiting for Clement to say that the rheumatic clergyman wouldarrive, if desired, in another week. This was gladly accepted, and thequestion remained, whither should they go? Clement's year of absencewould be over in June, and he was anxious to get home; besides that,it was desirable to take Francie to her mother as soon as possible.The only cause for delay
was the possibility of Gerald's extractingsomething further from his mother, which might lead to furtherresearches on the Continent; but as most places were readily accessiblefrom London, this was decided against, and it was determined to go backto Brompton at the same time as the Rotherwoods returned from San Remo.
On the last Sunday Mr. White showed himself much more cordial than hehad been since the crisis. He waited in the porch to say--
"Well, sir, you have given us some very excellent sermons, and I am surewe are much obliged to you. If I can help you any more in investigatingthat unlucky affair of your nephew, do not hesitate to write to me. Ishall be delighted to assist you in coming to your rights."
"Thank you; though I sincerely hope they are not my rights."
"Ah, well. You are not so advanced in life but that if you came intoanything good, you might marry and start on a new lease! You are poundsbetter than when you came here."
Which last clause was so true that Clement could only own it, withthanks to his good-humoured host, who lingered a little still to say--
"I am sorry any vexation arose about those foolish young people, but yousee young women will wish to do the best they can for themselves, andwill make mischief too if one listens to them. A sensible man won't.That's what I say."
Clement quite agreed, though he was not sensible of having listened toany of the mischief-making, but he heartily shook hands with Mr. White,and went away, glad to be at peace.
CHAPTER XXXII. -- THE TEST OF DAY-DREAMS