Works of Ellen Wood, page 716
“I was so shocked, Miss Strickland,” began Amy, trying to make some apology for her fainting, “and you know I am not very strong yet, and—”
“Do not make any excuses, Miss Neville; the sight was enough to frighten anyone. I felt sick myself, but there was not much occasion for it, as I have ascertained Mr. Vavasour is not much hurt; but I thought, as you did, he was dead.”
Amy made no reply, she was too truthful to do so. It was best Miss Strickland thought that the reason and cause of her faintness.
“Had you not better remain a little longer?” continued Frances. “There is little chance of any one coming in here; and they will be all at supper presently.”
But no — Amy felt well enough to go; longed to get away to the quiet of her own room, and went.
Dr. Bernard, hastily aroused from his sleep, came and stayed all night at the Park. He corroborated Charles’s opinion: Mr. Vavasour’s was but a slight wound. The faintness and insensibility that had alarmed them so, proceeded more from the effects of a severe blow on the head, which had stunned him for the time being. In a few days, with a little quiet nursing, he would be all right again; so the excitement and fears of everyone tamed down, and the supper prepared at Charles’s suggestion was partaken of heartily by everyone but himself, and he was nowhere.
Two of the poachers had been overpowered, after a desperate resistance, and taken; but the rest, all armed with sticks, or some other weapon of defence, had succeeded in getting clear away, though not without injuring, not only Robert Vavasour, but two of the night watchers also. One man kept his bed for weeks afterwards, and was unable even to appear and give evidence against the two men who had been taken; one supposed to be the man who had fired the shot, either purposely or accidentally, that had wounded Robert, while at the same moment a severe blow from some murderous weapon felled him to the earth, and in the confusion which this occasioned the rest got clear away, though not without a suspicion that some of them had been disabled by the shower of blows with which they were assailed; they proved themselves, as Charles and others had hinted they were, a desperate set of ruffians, whom the recent violent death of one of their band had in no wise alarmed, but the rather made them thirst to revenge it.
Charles Linchmore was up betimes the next morning, and away across the park long before any of its inmates save the servants were stirring. He had passed a sleepless night. At one time Amy’s love for Vavasour appeared as clear as day; the next he doubted, and could not make up his mind that it was indeed so. Morning found him still unreconciled to the thought, still undecided. Frances might have been mistaken; he would seek Joe, and find out what had been told Amy. It was impossible the man could have any interest in telling him a lie.
He had not far to walk, Joe met him at the lodge gate, where he was evidently detailing to the man and his wife who kept it, an exaggerated account of the last night’s affray.
“Good morning, Joe,” began Charles, “how are you and the rest after last night’s work? and where are you off to now?” as Joe touched his cap, and was proceeding onwards.
“Up to the house, Sir. The Master bade me bring news this morning of the two men who got hurt, Sir.”
“Well, how are they?”
“There ain’t much the matter with one, Sir; but Jem’s awful bad, his head swelled most as big’s two, Sir. Mr. Blane — the village doctor — wouldn’t give much for his life, I reckon.”
“Your Master will be sorry to hear it. And now, Joe, I want a word with you. How came you to tell one of the ladies last night that Mr. Vavasour was dead?”
“Please, Sir, I couldn’t help it; the lady did look so kind of beseeching at me, and tried to speak; but, poor lady, she was that bad at heart she couldn’t say a word. I could no more refuse nor tell her, Sir, I should have been afeard to; unless I’d had a heart as hard as a haythen’s, and I hadn’t, Sir, so just out with the news, and—”
“That will do; be more cautious in future.”
And away went Charles with still faster strides than before; half over the park and then home again, and up to his room, where he thrust his things hastily into his portmanteau; it was but a few minutes’ work, and then he was off downstairs again. Here he met Anne.
“Why Charles,” said she, “where have you been all the morning? We have finished breakfast. What a lazy creature you are!”
“I am going to make a start of it,” replied he. “I am off to join again.”
“Going back to your regiment!” exclaimed Anne in amazement at the sudden announcement. “When?”
“Now, this moment.”
“What will Isabella think? How surprised she will be!”
“No, not a bit of it, she is too accustomed to my sudden movements, and scarcely volunteered a remark when I told her.”
“But your leave is only half expired?”
“Isn’t it?” he replied, as if he had never thought at all about it. “Well, so much the better, I can knock about abroad for a short time. Good-bye.”
Anne looked in utter bewilderment, until she suddenly caught sight of the sorrowful, despairing expression of his face. What had happened?
“Don’t say good-bye like that, Charley,” said she, her kind heart roused at once at the sight. “Something has vexed you. Can I help you in any way? I am ready and willing, if you will only tell me how.”
“No. I am past help, Anne,” and he dashed away a tear which had started at the sound of her kind voice, and then added bitterly— “I am a fool to care so much about it!”
“About what, Charles? Do tell me, I am certain I could help you.”
She pitied him entirely, and would have braved a dozen Mrs. Linchmores to have seen the old happy, merry expression on his face again.
“You have always been kind, Anne, and so I do not mind telling you, what I dare say you have seen all along, although I’ve been such a blind fool to it! It’s no fault of hers, Anne, — but — but she loves another.”
“Impossible! I don’t believe it!” said Anne, hastily, forgetting all her wise resolutions of never helping him to find out Amy cared for him.
“Nor I, for a long time,” and he thought of the long sleepless hours he had passed in pacing up and down his room. “But it is so.”
“How did you find it out? Did she tell you?”
“No; but some one else did, little suspecting the interest I had in the matter. I could not believe, at first, that all my hopes were to be dashed aside at once in that way. I could have sworn she took an interest in me, but there I have convinced myself and — and — I am a miserable wretch, that’s all, with my eyes wide open to my dreadful fate. Bid her good-bye for me, Anne. I could not trust myself to do so without showing her I love her. Thank you for all your kindness.” And he wrung her hand. “Where is Frances?”
Frances! What had she to do in the matter? Anne’s curiosity was roused, and for once rightly, and in a just cause. She had long thought Frances bore no good feeling towards Miss Neville; perhaps she was jealous of her, for it was certain Amy had supplanted her in Charles’s affection; — if he ever had any for her. Ah! that was it. It was all as clear as day to Anne now. But if it was as she suspected, Charles was, indeed, a fool to believe it; she was certain if she were in his place she would not, but then men were so easily convinced of a woman’s falseness; but how could he look in Amy’s eyes and believe it? Miss Neville a flirt? Impossible! But then Anne suddenly recollected how she had thought so herself, simply because she and Robert Vavasour had walked home together. No, after all she could not blame Charles so much, perhaps she should have thought the same. At all events, she determined to watch Frances closely when she gave her his message.
“Charles wants to speak to you, Frances; he is in the dining-room.” And Anne fixed her eyes full on her face as she spoke.
But Frances was gaining experience every day; learning to attain a self-possession and control equal to any emergency.
Only a faint — very faint, colour tinged her cheeks as she replied,
“Charles must wait until I have finished reading this chapter; I am too interested to leave off in the middle of it.”
“Oh! very well. I will tell him so; but you will miss shaking hands with him, as he is going away.”
This time Anne succeeded. Frances’ face expressed the utmost astonishment, while her cheeks paled to an almost marble whiteness.
“Going away!” she gasped. “How? When?”
“How? By the train I suppose. When? Now this moment. You had better come at once if you wish to see him.”
She followed Frances to the dining-room, and stood at the window while she went up to the fire where Charles stood. Anne watched them.
He turned his face, still with the same gloomy, despairing expression, towards Frances and said a few words. What were they to cause her pale face to flush so hotly, while a proud, triumphant look shone brightly in her eyes? Anne would have given worlds to have heard them, certain as she was they contained some clue to the mystery shrouding his hasty departure.
They were said, those few words, and he moved towards the door. Frances followed him after an instant’s thought, and arrested his footsteps, slow and uncertain as they were. Anne could hear quite plainly now.
“One moment, Charles. I am so sorry you are going,” said Frances.
“Never mind,” he replied, “it is best I should go.”
“I suppose so. I suppose you must go?”
“You know I must. You best of all others,” he replied, sternly.
“Alas! yes,” was the reply.
The next moment he was whirling rapidly past the window in a dog cart; with Bob seated on the cushion at his side, instead of running at the horse’s heels as he usually did. “The only living creature who cared for him,” as Charles had once said to Miss Neville; become doubly dear now she had proved faithless. Bob nevertheless seemed uncomfortable in his exalted post, and did not approve seemingly of his new position in society; for while his Master cast not a glance behind him, saw not Anne’s sympathising face at the window or Frances’ tearful one; he seemed to give a wistful side-look — as well as the jolting of the cart on the hard gravel would allow — at the comfortable home he was leaving for the Barrack yard, and his old surly companions of the canine species he had so often fought and won many a hard earned battle with, for Bob, though not a savage dog, never allowed a liberty to be taken with him without resenting it.
CHAPTER X.
JANE.
“Oh, memory, creature of the past! Why dost thou haunt me still? Why thy dark shadow o’er me cast, My better thoughts to chill?
I spread my fingers to the sun, No stain of blood is there; Yet oh! that age might see undone, The deeds that youth would dare!” Anon.
Mrs. Marks had returned home. Her mother was dead, and she had brought back Jane as she had threatened, much to Matthew’s intense disgust. He was afraid of his wife’s tongue, but had been so long accustomed to hear it going, that he could not understand a woman who could keep hers quiet, and sit the whole day long by the fire-side, scarcely saying a word, in his own favourite corner too, — seldom lifting her eyes from her knitting. As he watched the progress of the socks she was making, he vowed in his own mind never to wear them when they were finished, believing as many of the ignorant in his class of life do, that they would be bewitched, and cause him to meet with some harm, perhaps fulfil Goody Grey’s prophecy that some one in the cottage was going to die.
He found it more difficult than ever to resist the temptation of going to the “Brampton Arms,” now that his home was even more uncomfortable than it used to be. How could he seat himself at the other corner of the fire-side, and smoke his pipe, with his sister-in-law’s eyes so constantly and intently fixed on him? Matthew longed to see Goody Grey to ask for a new charm to spirit away Jane and her unholy presence, which was a constant irritation to him. Meanwhile he had twice tried the effect of the charm and each time apparently without the slightest success; as not only had Mrs. Marks eyes, but her tongue also, flashed ten thousand furies at his extraordinary silence, while Jane, to whom during the storm he looked for sympathy, sat perfectly heedless, and mindful only of her dreadful knitting.
William Hodge was still with the Marks’, when he heard of the poaching affray and its consequences. His mind was at once filled with alarm, and he determined on going into Standale. What if his son should be one of the men taken, and now lodged in the jail there?
Hodge kept very quiet at first, and talked it over with Mrs. Marks, — who had returned a few days after, — and at length made up his mind to go to the town and gain a sight of the two men; but this was easier said than done, he had to wait quietly until they were brought up before the magistrates; when he returned to the cottage with the satisfactory intelligence that neither bore the slightest resemblance to his son Tom. Still he was more certain than ever that Tom was down there, for on mentioning his name casually to the landlord of the inn where he had put up, a man seated in the bar had turned round suddenly, eyed him keenly, and asked him to join him ‘in a glass.’ This, Hodge, who had his wits about him, was not slow to do, and both played at cross questions with the other, and tried to find out where each came from, and where bound to; but each proved a match for his fellow in cunning and sharp-sightedness, and they parted mutually dissatisfied, certain in their own minds that each could have revealed something of interest in which they both took part, had he so willed it.
A few days after Hodge’s return, as he was going across the fields, he again met with his acquaintance of the inn, who passed him close by without renewing their former intimacy, indeed, without a word or greeting of any kind, as though they were strangers, and now met for the first time. Hodge thought he must have been mistaken in his man; but no — a second and yet a third time, he met him on different days; and now Hodge was convinced he was right — they had met before; but why this apparent forgetfulness on his part? Why this perpetual crossing of his path? Hodge grew uneasy, perhaps the man was employed as a spy to watch him? If it was so, there was nothing for it but to return home; but the thought of his wife’s sorrowful face, as he should tell her of his fruitless search, deterred him, and he waited yet another day, hoping that a few hours might disclose his son’s whereabouts, and unravel the mystery of his absence; but no, the days crept on, and still found him as far from the clue as ever, while he never stirred from the cottage without seeing his mysterious friend, or it might be enemy, either close by or in the distance, too far off to distinguish his features; but there was the unmistakable slouching walk, awkward gait, and broad-brimmed hat.
“Mrs. Marks, Ma’am,” said Hodge one day, when they were alone, with only Jane in the chimney-corner for company, and she was supposed to be just nobody, “I’ve come across that man again, and I don’t like the look things are taking — I think they look sort of queer. I never done no harm to nobody, why should this chap follow me about like a dog? I’m beginning to think he’s a kind of spying to find out what my business is down here, leastways, I can’t see what else brings him so often in my road.”
“Why not up and ask him, like a man?” exclaimed Mrs. Marks.
“Well, Ma’am, you see, that’s just what I would like to do. Many’s the time I’ve had it in my heart; but somehow I’m afeard to.”
“Afraid! Well, Mr. Hodge, I thought you’d more pluck. I know there’s few men would frighten me, if I was in your place. Good Lord! what’s the world coming to when all the men’s so chicken-hearted!” said she, indignantly.
“And the women so uppish!” retorted Hodge, somewhat angrily. “I wouldn’t be afraid to knock him down with one blow of my fist,” and he stretched out his strong muscular arms, and clenched his knuckles, “if he came to me openly and insulted me; but it’s this underhand way of going to work that bothers me. I’d like to pick a quarrel with him, Ma’am, that I would, and bad luck to his walks for the future, if I did; that’s all!”
“If those are your opinions, William Hodge, I’m sorry I spoke. I’ve never set eyes on the man myself; but I think you’re over-suspicious, maybe.”
“Not a bit too much so. What for should he come across me wherever I go. I saw him the other night as Matthew and I came home. It was broad moonlight, and he was hidden away under the shade of the trees, just before you come to the mile-stone; but I saw him for all that, and so I do most every time I set foot outside the cottage. What the devil can he want with me? and why was I such a born fool as to tell my real name?”
“That’s it,” said Jane, from the chimney-corner, as if talking to herself. “It’s the devil puts all the badness into our hearts.”
“Don’t mind her,” said Mrs. Marks, seeing Hodge looked startled. “She understands nothing, and is only talking to herself. And now what do you mean to do?”
“I must go home agin, as wise as I was when I came.”
“And without a word of Tom? Why Mrs. Hodge will nigh break her heart.”
“It can’t be helped. I’ve done all I can. You see, I’ve been thinking this man may be a kind of spy of the Squire’s, and on the look-out for Tom, and if so, I may do him more harm than good by staying here. Who knows? perhaps he’s guessed I’m Tom’s father, and so thinks, by dodging me, to catch him, so, you see, I’d best be on the road home; he won’t learn nothing there, save a cracked crown, if he comes that way meddling.”
“I tell you what it is,” said Mrs. Marks, “you go along home, and leave me to ferret it all out. I’ve never said nothing all this time you’ve been racking your brains, and walking about most over the whole country, till I should think you knew every stone and stick in it. I warrant a few weeks don’t go over my head before I get at the bottom of it all. You men think yourselves mighty clever; but, after all, there’s nothing like getting a woman to help you over the stile.”
“Well, Mrs. Marks, I believe you’re most right. It’s certain I couldn’t leave the business in better hands. I know you’ll do the best you can for me.”
