The Outcaste

by F. E. Penny

  CHAPTER XIX

  Mrs. Hulver was in what she termed "a fine taking," as Eola could seewith half an eye. When they met as usual after breakfast to consulttogether on household matters the young mistress inquired what was thematter.

  "Never mind me, miss," said the housekeeper with resolution. "I'lltell you all about it when we've done the cook and butler business.Ramachetty!"

  He glided forward instantly, followed by his satellite, the cook; andthe daily routine followed. The supplies bought that morning weredisplayed. How Eola hated the sight of the raw meat and live fowlsexhibited for her inspection! The butler's accounts were rendered, andwhat was a more difficult matter, brought into accordance with her own.The patient servants received their dismissal; the butler happy in thethought that he had succeeded in over-charging his mistress exactly tenannas in spite of the eagle eye of the housekeeper; the cook equallycontent in having cheated the butler out of four annas; the cook boypleased with himself in the purloining of an onion, a potato,half-a-dozen leaves of the cabbage and as much ghee as an expert fingercould scoop out of the pot. Even the kitchen-woman wasself-congratulatory. She had substituted a rotten egg for a sound onebrought from market; adulterated the coffee during the pounding processwith burnt rice and charred crusts of bread.

  "Now tell me what has happened to upset you, Mrs. Hulver," said Eola,with a sympathetic kindliness that was one of her charms.

  "It's my son, miss. Last evening the post brought me a letter to saythat he was ill and was coming by the early mail this morning."

  "And he hasn't arrived?" suggested Eola.

  "On the contrary, Miss, he has come right enough; but you never sawsuch an object as he is in your life. Of course I'm his mother, and asWilliam--that was my second--used to say: 'Mother's love is the sameall over the world, whether her child is as beautiful as an angel or asugly as a graven image.'"

  "What has happened!"

  "It was this way, miss. Some of the men in the regiment who ought tohave known better--but as William--that was my third--used to say: 'Agewon't mend a born fool'--took advantage of my boy's youth andinnocence. They enticed him into the canteen and made him drink morethan was good for him. He doesn't lean that way, I am glad to be ableto say with truth; and this will be a lesson to him."

  "You haven't told me yet what is the matter," remarked Eola.

  "I'm coming to it all in good time. It appears he was quarrelsome inhis cups. That's the odd part about drink, miss; you never know howit's going to act on your temperament. As William--that was mythird--used to say: 'Liquor is like love, Maria, me dear; some it willmake joyful, others sad; some will want to be friends with everybody;others will fight on the smallest pretence.' So it was with youngWilliam; he must needs fight another man in the canteen who was just asfar gone as himself; and properly punished he was for his pains. Thesergeant treated him leniently as it was his first offence; and gavehim a few days' leave to recover. The boy is full of sorrow andrepentance. He doesn't trouble about his black eye one little bit.What he feels is the shame of it. As William--that was my second--usedto say: 'Shame cuts deeper than any whip, and the pain we bring onourselves is the hardest of all to bear.' My boy is feeling the truthof his father's saying nicely," concluded Mrs. Hulver, with grimsatisfaction.

  "What was it that provoked the quarrel?"

  "William was too far gone in drink to remember much; but he thinks thatthey were all talking about these sufferagette women--I'd make themsuffer if I was the King!--and the man he fought said something verynasty about the sex. I shouldn't have troubled if I'd been William.Just look at the harm the hussies do! Here's William that knockedabout and blackened over the eyes that his own father wouldn't knowhim, all through talking about them! As if God hadn't made my boy darkenough in his complexion without their interference! But as long asthere are women to love there will be men to fight over them. AsWilliam--that was my third--used to say: 'When the Almighty gave ouldAdam his wife, he handed him the shillelagh and told him to take careand use it like a gentleman. It was only after the devil interferedthat Adam thought of turning it against the lady herself.' It was thewoman that started men to fight and she will keep it up to the finish,"concluded Mrs. Hulver, with some heat.

  "I am sorry you are so troubled," said Eola.

  "And I'm vexed that any of my trouble should be passed on to you. Ifelt that I must tell you all about it; it wasn't right to keep it fromyou and the master. I should have come to you last night only I didn'tsee the good of worrying you before the morning. This morning, ofcourse, it's my duty to tell you the truth and to hide nothing. AsWilliam, the boy's own father, used to say: 'It's easier in the end toface the truth than to back a lie.'"

  "You have him in your room, I suppose?"

  "Yes, miss; on the camp bed. He has fever as well, through the coldwater they soused his head in when he got violent. He will be allright in a few days. I have put a piece of raw beef on his eye and apoultice on his jaw. He won't be able to talk for a day or two, butthat won't matter. As William, his father, used to say: 'Many sufferthrough too much talking, but very few through too much silence.' Iwant you to come and look at him, miss."

  "Me! Oh! Mrs. Hulver! I don't think I need come. I am sure that youknow what is best for him, and will see that it is done," said Eola,not at all in sympathy with the suggestion.

  "All the same, miss, I should feel more satisfied if you would glanceyour eye over him," said Mrs. Hulver, in her most determined manner,which, as Eola knew by experience, took no denial. "It will be goodfor him to see how seriously you take it. As William--that was mysecond--used to say: 'Get your shot in when and how you can; don't waitfor the enemy to come and ask for it.' It's just the same with adviceto the young."

  "I am afraid I can't do any good."

  "Oh yes, you can, miss; and it isn't you to take a back seat where dutycalls and you're really wanted. Of course I know that young soldiersare hot-headed, and we can't give them or any one else our experienceany more than we can give them our digestions. Experience unboughtteaches naught. They've all got to have it like the measles, and itseasons them and makes men of them. As William--that was myfirst--used to say: 'Man is like a curry; he needs a lot of seasoning,and it can't be done all in a minute.'"

  Eola rose very reluctantly. Visiting sick soldiers who were sufferingfrom their own indiscretions was not at all to her mind. Mrs. Hulver'stongue continued to run on. She bemoaned her boy's behaviour in onebreath, and made excuses for him in another, with many quotations fromthe sayings of the defunct Williams.

  "The boy had no business to go into the canteen at all; but he's youngand easily misled. As William--that was my first--used to say: 'Youcan't roll a good cigar with green leaf.'"

  Then as Eola lagged behind, showing increasing disinclination for hertask, she urged her more strongly. "Come along, miss, please! Comefor my sake and show yourself. It's for his good. You need not staylong. Just stand a minute near the bed and say as solemn as you canmake it: 'William, I'm sorry to see you like this. Let it be alesson!' Then you turn and go away quite slowly, and you say to me asyou leave the room: 'This is very sad, Mrs. Hulver, very sad in one soyoung!' he won't forget it in a hurry you may be sure. Dear! dear! whowould have thought it! As William--that was my third--used to say:'Reckless youth makes rueful age.'"

  As she talked she led the way to her little sitting-room. The door wasopen. At the further end was a camp cot and on it lay huddled theunhappy hero of the canteen row. He still wore his scarlet uniform toEola's relief. She was dreading lest she should find him tucked uplike a baby in bed. The poor fellow had undoubtedly suffered from hisindiscretion. His head was tied up with raw beef and poultices, andthe fever produced a shivering that necessitated the shawl muffledround his shoulders.

  "A miserable-looking creature for a mother to call son! isn't he, miss?As William, his father, used to say: 'Quarrels are like fire, moreeasily started than stopped; and those who g
et into them usually comeout burnt.'"

  "Poor fellow, I hope he isn't much hurt," murmured Eola, quiteforgetting her instructions. She stood about three feet away from thebed with as much ease as if she had been inspecting a sleeping cobra.

  "Miss Wenaston says she is sorry to see you like this, William," saidMrs. Hulver promptly, and in disapproval of Eola's weakness. "She sayslet it be a lesson to you to keep out of the way of them that want tohurt you. As your father used to say: 'Don't go into action if you canhelp it; but if you have to fight, take the measure of your enemy'sstrength.'"

  "You mustn't worry the poor fellow, Mrs. Hulver. Get him well firstbefore you scold him," said Eola, turning away with more haste than shehad come.

  "That's all very well, miss; but as William--that was my third--used tosay: 'What's the good of trying to beat the dog after you've let himloose?' Young William over there," she turned and looked towards theprostrate figure, raising her voice so that nothing should be lost tothe sick man, "has got to learn his lesson; who it is that he canfight, and who he had best leave alone. As William--that was mysecond--used to say: 'Men are like dogs; and until they have taken themeasure of their own strength against the strength of others there canbe no peace for anybody.' It was good of the sergeant to send him offat once to me. If the commanding officer had seen him in thatcondition there would have been trouble. William told me last time hewas here that the colonel was very stiff with all offenders, especiallyin the matter of drink. Likely as not he has never been drunk himselfand he doesn't know how easily a man may be overtook when once he getsamong others in the canteen. Commanding officers, like artillerydrivers, differ; one is easy with his team; another will take up everyfault; but as William--that was my third--used to say: 'A regiment islike a team; it doesn't have the choosing of its own C.O. any more thana bullock chooses its driver or its road.'"

  Eola made her escape at last, and when her brother came in to lunch shetold him the story of Mrs. Hulver's trouble. He was not muchinterested, nor had he much sympathy with the foolish young man. Heexpressed a hope that the worthy woman would not see too much of herson. His second visit had followed very closely on his first.

  "After all we mustn't forget that Mrs. Hulver, for all her excellentways, is a Eurasian. She possesses the family loyalty that marks therace, and will never turn her back on any relative while she has ashelter to offer, no matter what the character of the individual maybe."

  "I am quite sure," responded Eola warmly, "that she will not allow usto be worried or out of pocket, however worried she may be herself."

  "All the same there is a strain of the 'soft-hearted old fool' abouther that must not be disregarded; and she must be protected againstherself if necessary. If this boy turns up too often I shall havesomething to say to him. Did you see the precious young idiot himself?"

  "She insisted on it."

  "Was he quiet?"

  "As quiet as a bad go of fever and a black eye could make him."

  "I think I'll have a look at him myself, and if he is fit for it Ishall give him a bit of a lecture."

  "She hasn't spared him herself," remarked Eola. "He is poulticed withbeef and bread and admonished with the wise sayings of the threeWilliams continuously. I wonder how he can take it all so quietly."

  "Perhaps I had better defer my lecture if that is so. Any way I willgo and see him. He may as well be aware of the fact that his presencehere is known to us both."

  He went to the door of Mrs. Hulver's sitting-room. It was open andrevealed much the same sight as had met Eola's eyes, except that Mrs.Hulver was in the midst of dressing the damaged eye. She held a largeslice of raw meat in her hand which she was carefully adjusting overhis temple and cheek, covering his eye altogether. She turned her headat the sound of the master's footstep.

  "Is that you, sir? I'll come directly. This is nearly finished. I'mchanging the beef on young William's eye. Miss Wenaston told you thetrouble I am in over this budmash of a boy?"

  As she talked she adjusted the wrappings and tucked the shawl round thepatient's shoulders. He was lying on his side. At the sound of thePrincipal's voice he stirred uneasily.

  "Now, you keep quiet, William, or you'll fidget the plasters out ofplace. You have got to be patient. There's a time for fighting forsoldiers, and there's a time for keeping quiet, and that time is now."

  She came towards Dr. Wenaston, who had stopped on the threshold andcontinued, addressing herself to him instead of her son.

  "As William--that was my first--used to say: 'There's a season foreverything. Even the bamboo must be cut when the moon is waxing or itwill be good for nothing.'"

  "I am sorry this has occurred, Mrs. Hulver," said the Principal, with aseriousness that would have set the pulses of his pupils going, butwhich had no such effect on his housekeeper. "The hospital would havebeen the best place for him. He mustn't think that he can run to hismother at every bruise and scratch."

  "It would have been a case of guardroom not hospital, sir, if it hadn'tbeen for the kindness of the sergeant. As it is his first offence itwould have been the first step towards destroying his clean sheets; andwhere would have been his chance of promotion if he didn't keep themclean? The licking he has had will do him no harm. It will teach himto keep off drink. As William--that was my third--used to say: 'Whenbeer goes in wisdom goes out.' You'd like to look at him, sir. Comeup to the bed. He's too ashamed to make a salute, and his head is toobad to allow of his sitting up."

  Wenaston walked into the room, and like Eola stood for a short time bythe side of the cot. He felt that it would be like hitting a man whenhe was down to reproach the sufferer in his present condition.

  "I will see him again when he is better and have a talk with him," hesaid. "You must let me know how he gets on."

  "Yes, sir; a serious talking-to will do him no end of good." She bentover the patient and laid her hand on his head. "You need not shiver,William. The Doctor will treat you kinder than those budmashes treatedyou in the canteen." She turned to Wenaston again and continued: "Lor!sir, how easy fighting comes to men in the army. It seems like asecond nature to them."

  "It is their profession, Mrs. Hulver," said Wenaston, as he movedtowards the door.

  "That's exactly what William, my third, used to say. He was anIrishman and his blood was soon up. When I complained one day abouthis being quarrelsome with a neighbour his reply was: 'Maria, me dear,'he always began like that--he was such a gentleman--'Maria, me dear;it's second nature for soldiers to fight, the same as it is for dogs tobark and bite. That's what the Government keeps us for; and a soldierwho is worthy of the name doesn't think he is earning his pay withoutit.' I often used to look at the men loafing round barracks withnothing to do, and to think that in times of peace they were likechimneys that had no fire in them."

  "Quite so! quite so!" said Wenaston, making his way to the door.

  Mrs. Hulver followed closely with a continuous stream of remarks, fromwhich he strove in vain to escape.

  "As soon as ever young William is fit for it I'll send him to you, sir,for a good dressing-down. You must check him for his quick temper. Ashis own father used to say: 'A hasty man never wants for woe.' And Ishould be glad if you would point out the danger of drink and how itupsets the judgment. Also you might say a word or two on the folly offighting when the odds are against you. Don't let him talk. Fill himup with as much good advice as you can get in in the time that you canspare for him. As William--that was my second--used to say: 'Ifcounsel is good no matter who gives it.'"

  "All right, Mrs. Hulver; I'll do my best," said Wenaston, as he beat ahasty retreat towards the college buildings. The housekeeper's tonguehad won the day though she might not have known it, and his warning toher on softheartedness and the lecture to her son were stillundelivered. However, he promised himself that he would interview theman later on alone when he was less of an "object," as his motherexpressed it, and would talk to him seriously.

&n
bsp; Mrs. Hulver stood at her door watching the Principal as he hurriedaway. When he had disappeared she turned back into the room and wentto the patient. Leaning tenderly over him she placed her cool softhand on his forehead, slipping it underneath the bandages.

  "Cheer up, William; cheer up, sonnie!" she murmured. "God is where Hewas and He will help you through. It's no good fretting when grievingis no comfort. As William--that was my third--used to say: 'Things youcan't avoid are best taken cheerfully.' No, don't try to speak.You've got to be silent till you're well, and I'll see that you're letoff the master's lecture."

  She called to the butler, who appeared immediately followed by the cookcarrying a saucepan.

  "It's all ready, ma'am."

  He poured the chicken broth through a strainer into a cup and handed itto her.

  "That's all right, Ramachetty," she said with approval, as she leanedover it. "That's the kind of stuff that will make my boy well. Youcan go. Shut the door after you. I don't wish my son to catch cold.Tell the sweeper woman to sit outside the bathroom. I shall want herlater on to boil the kettle for fresh poultices."