by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER IV.--A SPARTAN BOY.
"Philip?"
"Yes, mother."
"You quite understand that you have got to be a very good little boy?"
"Oh, yes, mother, I understand."
"It's a big, grand place--it's what is described as an ancient place, anddates back hundreds and hundreds of years, and you, you--why, what is thematter, Philip?"
"Is it antediluvian?" asked Philip, jumping up from his seat oppositehis mother in the railway carriage. "Oh, I do hope and trust it'santediluvian!"
"How you do puzzle me with your queer words, Philip. Antediluvian!--thatmeans before the Flood. Oh, no, Avonsyde wasn't in existence before theFlood; but still it is very old, and the ladies who live there areextremely grand people. You haven't been accustomed to living in a greatancient house, and you haven't been accustomed to the manner of suchgrand ancient ladies as the Misses Griselda and Katharine Lovel, and Ido trust--I do hope you will behave properly."
"Hullo! There's a spider up in that window," interrupted the boy. "Imust try to catch him. There! he has run into his hole. Oh, mother,mother, look! there's a windmill! See, it's going round so fast! And, Isay, isn't that a jolly river? I want to fish and to shoot when I get tothe grand place. I don't care what else I do if only I have plenty offishing and shooting."
Philip Lovel's mother knit her brows. She was a tall, fashionablydressed woman, with a pale face, a somewhat peevish expression, and ahabit of drawing her eyebrows together until they nearly met.
"Philip, you must attend to me," she said, drawing the little boy downto stand quietly by her side. "I have got you a whole trunkful of nicegentlemanly clothes, and I have spent a heap of money over you, and youmust--yes, you must please the old ladies. Why, Phil, if this schemefails we shall starve."
"Oh, don't, mother, don't!" said little Phil, looking full up into hismother's face, and revealing as he did so two sensitive and beautifulbrown eyes, the only redeeming features in a very plain littlecountenance. "Don't cry, mother! I'll be a good boy, of course. Now, mayI go back and see if that spider has come out of his hole?"
"No, Philip, never mind the spider. I have you all to myself, and weshall be at Avonsyde in less than an hour. I want to impress it uponyou, so that you may keep it well in your memory what you are to do.Now, are you listening to me, Phil?"
"I am trying to," answered Philip. "I do hope, mother, you won't tell metoo many things, for I never can remember anything for more than aminute at a time."
Philip smiled and looked up saucily, but Mrs. Lovel was far too muchabsorbed in what she was about to say to return his smiling glance.
"Philip, I trained you badly," she began. "You were let run wild; youwere let do pretty much as you liked; you weren't at all particularlyobedient. Now, I don't at all want the Miss Lovels to find that out. Youare never to tell how you helped Betty with the cakes, and you are neverto tell about polishing your own boots, and you are not to let out for amoment how you and I did our own gardening. If you speak of Betty youmust call her your nurse; and if you speak of Jim, who was such atroublesome boy, you can mention him as the gardener, and not say thathe was only twelve years old."
"What a lot of lies I'm to tell," said Philip, opening his eyes widerand wider. "Go on, mother--what else am I to do?"
Mrs. Lovel gave the little speaker a shake.
"Philip, what an exasperating child you are! Of course you are not to beso wicked as to attempt to tell lies. Oh, what a bad boy you are even tothink of such a thing! I only want you to be a nice, gentlemanly littleboy and not to speak of vulgar things, and of course it is very vulgarto allude to a maid-of-all-work like Betty and to cleaning one's ownboots; but as to lies--what do you mean, sir? Oh, there, the train isslackening speed. We'll soon be at the station, and the carriage was tomeet us. Remember, Philip, always be on your best behavior at Avonsyde!Don't speak unless you are spoken to, and always be on the lookout toplease the old ladies. There are two little girls, I believe; but theyare not of the slightest consequence. Dear, dear, I feel quitetrembling! I hope--I trust all will go well! Philip, dear, you have notfelt that pain in your side all day, have you?"
"No, mother; I have not felt it for days. I am much better really."
"I don't want you to speak of it, love. I am most anxious that theladies should consider you a strong boy. The doctors say you are almostcertain to get over the pain; and when the Miss Lovels appoint you theirheir it will be time enough to mention it. If the pain comes on verybadly you will keep it to yourself--won't you, Phil? You won't groan orscream or anything of that sort; and you can always run up to my roomand I can give you the drops. Oh, Phil, Phil, if this scheme fails weshall simply starve!"
Philip, with his queer, old-fashioned face, looked full at his mother.
"I'll be a Spartan boy and bear the pain," he said. "I don't care a bitabout being rich or having a big place; but I don't want you to starve,mother. Oh, I say, there's that jolly little spider again!"
When the London express halted at last at the small country station,Philip was gazing in ecstasy at a marvelous complication of web anddust, at one or two entrapped flies, and at a very malicious but cleverspider. His mother was shaking out her draperies, composing herfeatures, and wondering--wondering hard how a very bold scheme wouldprosper.
"Jump down, Phil. Here we are!" she called to her boy.
The child, an active, lithe little fellow, obeyed her. Not a trace ofanxiety could be discerned on his small face. In truth, he had forgottenAvonsyde in the far more absorbing interest of the spider.
* * * * *
"I am glad to welcome you, Mrs. Lovel!" said Miss Griselda as she cameforward to greet the new-comers. She was standing in the old hall, andthe light from a western window of rich old stained glass fell inslanting hues on a very eager and interested group. Behind Miss Griseldastood her shadow, Miss Katharine, and Rachel's bold dark face andKitty's sunny one could be seen still further in the background. Rachelpretended not to be the least interested in the arrival of thestrangers, nevertheless her bright eyes looked singularly alert. Kittydid not attempt to hide the very keen interest she took in the littleboy who was so nearly her own age, and who was to be so greatly honoredas to sleep in the tower room. Miss Griselda and Miss Katharine woretheir richest black silks and some of their most valuable lace; forsurely this was the real heir, and they intended to give him a befittingreception. The old housekeeper and one or two other servants might havebeen seen peeping in the distance; they were incredulous, but curious.Mrs. Lovel took in the whole scene at a glance; the aspect of affairspleased her and her versatile spirits rose. She took Philip's littlehand in hers and led him up to Miss Griselda.
"This," she said in a gentle and humble voice--"this is my little boy."
"Philip Lovel," responded Miss Griselda, "look up at me, child--full inthe face. Ah! you have got the Lovel eyes. How do you do, my dear?Welcome to Avonsyde!"
"Welcome to Avonsyde!" repeated Miss Katharine, looking anxiously fromthe fashionably dressed mother to the precocious boy. "Are you verytired, my dear? You look so pale."
Phil glanced from one old lady's face to the other. His mother feltherself shaking. She saw at once that he had forgotten theirconversation in the train, and wondered what very malapropos remark hewould make. Phil had a habit of going off into little dreams andbrown-studies. He looked inquiringly at Miss Katharine; then he gazedsearchingly at Miss Griselda; then he shook himself and said abruptly:
"I beg your pardon--what did you ask me?"
"Oh, Phil, how rude!" interrupted Mrs. Lovel. "The ladies asked you ifyou were tired, love. Tell them at once that you are not in the leastso. Pale children are so often considered delicate," continued Mrs.Lovel anxiously, "whereas they are quite acknowledged by many physiciansto be stronger than the rosy ones. Say you are not tired, Phil, andthank Miss Katharine for taking an interest in your health."
Phil smiled.
"I'm not tired," he said. "
I had a pleasant journey. There was a spiderin the carriage, and I saw a windmill. And oh! please, am I to call youauntie, or what?"
"Aunt Katharine," interposed the lady.
"Aunt Katharine, do you fish? and may I fish?"
Here Kitty burst into a delighted chuckle of amusement, and goingfrankly up to Phil took his hand.
"I can fish," she said; "of course Aunt Katharine can't fish, but I can.I've got a rod, a nice little rod; and if you are not tired you may aswell come and see it."
"Then I'm going out with my book," said Rachel. "I'm going into theforest. Perhaps I'll meet the lady there. Good-by, Kitty-cat; good-by,little boy."
Rachel disappeared through one door, Kitty and Phil through another, andMrs. Lovel and the two old ladies of Avonsyde were left to makeacquaintance with one another.
"Come into the drawing-room," said Miss Griselda; "your little boy andthe children will get on best alone. He is a muscular-looking littlefellow, although singularly pale. Where did you say he was born--inMexico?"
"In Mexico," replied Mrs. Lovel, repressing a sigh. "The true Mexicanlads are about the strongest in the world; but he of course is really ofEnglish parentage, although his father and his grandfather never sawEngland. Yes, Phil was born in Mexico, but shortly afterward we movedinto the American States, and before my husband died we had emigrated toAustralia. Phil is a strong boy and has had the advantage of travel andconstant change--that is why he is so wiry. The hot country in which hewas born accounts for his pallor, but he is remarkably strong."
Mrs. Lovel's words came out quickly and with the nervousness of one whowas not very sure of a carefully prepared lesson. Suspicious peoplewould have doubted this anxious-looking woman on the spot, but neitherMiss Griselda nor Miss Katharine was at all of a suspicious turn ofmind. Miss Griselda said:
"You have traveled over a great part of the habitable globe and we haveremained--I and my sister and our immediate ancestors before us--in theprivacy and shelter of Avonsyde. To come here will be a great change foryou and your boy."
"A great rest--a great delight!" replied Mrs. Lovel, clasping her handsecstatically. "Oh, dear Miss Lovel, you don't know what it is to wearyfor a home as I have wearied."
Her words were genuine and tears stood in her pale blue eyes.
Miss Griselda considered tears and raptures rather undignified; but MissKatharine, who was very sympathetic, looked at the widow with newinterest.
"It is wonderfully interesting to feel that your little boy belongs tous," she said. "He seems a nice little fellow, very naive and fresh.Won't you sit in this comfortable chair? You can get such a nice view ofthe forest from here. And do you take cream and sugar in your tea?"
"A very little cream and no sugar," replied Mrs. Lovel as she leanedback luxuriously in the proffered chair. "What a lovely view! And what aquaint, beautiful room. I remember my husband telling me that Avonsydebelonged to his family for nearly eight hundred years, and that thehouse was almost as old as the property. Is this room really eighthundred years old? It looks wonderfully quaint."
"You happen to be in the most modern part of the house, Mrs. Lovel,"replied Miss Griselda icily. "This drawing-room and all this wing wereadded by my grandfather, and this special room was first opened for thereception of company when my mother came here as a bride. The exact dateof this room is a little over half a century. You shall see the olderpart of the house presently; this part is very painfully modern."
Mrs. Lovel bowed and sipped her tea as comfortably as she could underthe impression of being snubbed.
"I have never been in a very old house before," she said. "You know inMexico, in the States, in Australia, the houses must be modern."
"May I ask if you have brought your pedigree?" inquired Miss Griselda."Yes, Katharine, you need not look at me in such a surprised manner. Weneither of us have an idea of troubling Mrs. Lovel to show it to usnow--not indeed until she has rested; but it is absolutely necessary totrace Philip's descent from Rupert Lovel at as early a date as possible.That being correctly ascertained and found to be indisputable, we musthave him examined by some eminent physician; and if the medical manpronounces him to be an extremely strong boy our quest is ended, and youand I, Katharine, can rest in peace. Mrs. Lovel, you look very tired.Would you like to retire to your room? Katharine, will you ring thebell, dear? We will ask Newbolt to accompany Mrs. Lovel to her room andto attend on her. Newbolt is our maid, Mrs Lovel, and quite a denizen ofthe forest; she can tell you all the local traditions."
"Thank you," said Mrs. Lovel. "Yes, I shall be glad to lie down for alittle. I do hope Philip is not tiring himself--not that he is likely to;he is so strong. Thank you, Miss Lovel, I will lie down for a little.Yes, of course I brought the pedigree--and--and--a very quaint house; eventhe new part looks old to me!"
Mrs. Lovel tripped out of the room, and the two old ladies looked at oneanother.
"What do you think of her, Katharine?" inquired Miss Griselda. "You aredying to speak, so let me hear your sentiments at once!"
"I don't quite like her," said Miss Katharine. "She seems very tired andvery nervous, and perhaps it is unfair and unkind to say anything abouther until she is rested. I can't honestly say, however, that my firstimpression is favorable, and she may be much nicer when she is not sotired and not so nervous. I don't like her much at present, but I mayafterward. What are your opinions, Griselda?"
"Katharine," said Miss Griselda, "you are the most prosaic andlong-winded person I know. You don't suppose for an instant that I amgoing to say what I think of Mrs. Lovel to-day. After all, it is the boyin whom we are interested. Time alone can show whether these two are notanother couple of impostors. Now, I wonder where that child Rachel hastaken herself!"