CHAPTERVII.
Whenshe descended to the parlour her father and mother were already seated at the breakfast-table. To her courteous ‘good-morning’ they vouchsafed no reply. They were evidently still displeased with her for her rebellion of the night before. Nell went up to the farmer’s side and laid her hand on his.
‘Father,’ she said in a trembling voice, ‘I have been thinking over what you asked me yesterday, and I am willing to do as you say. I will go to Lord Ilfracombe and ask him to intercede with Sir Archibald Bowmant about the raising of your rent.’
This avowal changed the manner of both the old people at once.
‘That’s my good lass!’ exclaimed hermother. ‘I knew you wouldn’t hold out against father and me for long.’
‘Well done, Nell!’ replied Mr Llewellyn; ‘and you’ll succeed, my girl, for it’s few men, be they lords or ploughboys, that would like to refuse anything to a face like yours.’
‘Lor’! father, don’t go puffing the maid up on her good looks,’ cried his wife. ‘Handsome is as handsome does; that’s my motto. But I don’t think his lordship will refuse her all the same; for he was rare generous to her whilst she was in service. Ah, Nell, ’twas the foolishest thing as you ever did to chuck up that place. You might find out, whilst you’re about it, if there should happen to be a vacancy in her ladyship’s house now.’
‘All right, mother,’ said Nell gently; and then, drawing a letter from her pocket, she continued—‘I wrote this note to Lord Ilfracombe last night, father; and, if you approve it, you might send it over to the Hall by Tom.’
She unfolded the paper and read,—
‘My Lord,—My father wishes that I should speak to you on a matter important to himself. If it should be quite convenient, will your lordship send word by the bearer at what hour this morning I could have a few minutes’ conversation with you?—Yours respectfully,‘E. Llewellyn.’
‘My Lord,—My father wishes that I should speak to you on a matter important to himself. If it should be quite convenient, will your lordship send word by the bearer at what hour this morning I could have a few minutes’ conversation with you?—Yours respectfully,
‘E. Llewellyn.’
‘A very proper note,’ said her mother approvingly.
‘Ay, and don’t our Nell write a neat hand?’ put in the farmer. ‘You’re a rare scholar, Nell, though I don’t know where you got it; for Hetty, who had the same advantages, can’t do more than manage a few words, and them not legible. It’ll do rarely, my lass, and is just the thing I wanted. His lordship can’t refuse so simple a request. I’ll send Tom over with it at once.’ And he rose from the table for the purpose.
‘Come now, my girl, sit down, do, andeat your breakfast,’ quoth Mrs Llewellyn, seeing that her daughter still lingered by the window.
‘No, thank you, mother. I don’t feel like eating this morning. I wrote the letter because I don’t like to cross father, but I’ve a faint heart about it. The earl may not like to be worried now he is out for a holiday, and I’d be loath to make him angry.’
‘Nonsense, Nell. He must be a cranky fellow if a little note like yours would put him out. He can but say, “No,†lass, and then there’ll be no harm done. But if you hadn’t writ it, father would likely have always thought you might have saved the rent if you’d a mind to, so it’s just as well to humour him. Come, take your tea, or I’ll be angry.’
The girl drank the cup of tea which her mother handed her, and took up her station again by the window.
If he should be angry, she thought; or if he should be engaged and unable to see her, how could she face the otherwithout knowing the worst, or the best? And if the best, what then? Her life seemed to have become a tangled coil which she had no power of unravelling. In about half an hour she saw the hedger, Tom, shambling down the dell with a white envelope in his hands. She rushed forward feverishly to intercept him. It was stamped with the earl’s coronet. Nell tore it open and devoured its contents.
‘My Dear Miss Llewellyn,—If you will be in Mrs Hody’s sitting-room at eleven o’clock, I will come to you there for a few minutes.—Yours faithfully,‘Ilfracombe.’
‘My Dear Miss Llewellyn,—If you will be in Mrs Hody’s sitting-room at eleven o’clock, I will come to you there for a few minutes.—Yours faithfully,
‘Ilfracombe.’
He would see her, then; she would see him! All, for the moment, seemed bright again.
Her parents were delighted with the news.
‘There, now, what did I tell ye?’ said Mr Llewellyn; ‘I knew no gentleman, let alone a lord, would refuse to see aservant as had done her duty by him. You’ve done the job now, Nell, as sure as a gun. The earl will persuade Sir Archibald to lower the rent again, and mother and me will feel we owe it all to you. Give me a buss, lass! It’s summat for a man to have such a handsome daughter to boast of. They may say as beauty’s deceitful, but it beats brains any day. You’ve saved the old farm to us, my girl, and I’m thankful to you for it.’
‘I’ll do my best, dear father,’ said Nell; ‘but you mustn’t make too sure. The earl, with all the good-will in the world, may not have the power, but I’m sure he’ll try to get it done.’
‘And when did you ever hear of a lord trying for anything that didn’t succeed?’ exclaimed her mother; ‘it isn’t as if he was a nobody! But come, my lass, you mustn’t go up to the Hall in that soiled dress. You’ve a clean print in your drawers, so go and put it on, and make your hair tidy. It looks as if you’d been up all night.’
And the old woman bundled her daughter upstairs to look after her wardrobe.
‘Now, where did you put that nasty poison?’ she asked, as they entered the bedroom together.
‘Where you told me, mother; on the top of the wardrobe,’ answered Nell.
‘Have you written a label for it yet?’
‘No; I forgot to do so.’
‘Well, don’t you put it off another day,’ replied Mrs Llewellyn; ‘for father was quite vexed with me for letting the bottle go out of my hands. He says a wineglassful of that stuff would kill the strongest man in Monmouth.’
‘No one can get at it there,’ said Nell, quietly.
‘That’s all right then, but I shouldn’t like for there to be an accident with it. Here, Nell, tie this blue silk handkerchief round your throat. You always look so nice in blue, I think.’
Nell assented passively to all her mother’s propositions, and, putting a straw hat on her head, walked slowly up themeadow and through the pine plantation, to the private apartments of the housekeeper at the Hall.
‘Well, Nell,’ said Mrs Hody when she arrived there, ‘and so you’ve come to have a private audience of his lordship. He came to tell me he would see you here at eleven o’clock, but as it was a private matter, he did not wish to have it discussed in the dining-room, so I was to send him word quietly when you arrived. And what can you have to say to the earl, I wonder, as all the world can’t hear?’
‘I asked to speak to Lord Ilfracombe on some business connected with my father, Mrs Hody,’ replied Nell, blushing; ‘he was my former master, you know, or father would have come himself, but he thought his lordship would rather see me.’
‘Ah! well, I suppose it’s all right,’ responded the virtuous housekeeper; ‘but I should have thought the study or the gunroom would have been a fitter place.However, now you’re here, please to sit down, and I’ll go and tell his lordship as you’re come. You may have to wait a bit, I’m not sure as they’ve finished breakfast, but he’ll be here, I suppose, before long. Bless me, but you do look dazed, Nell Llewellyn; that fever has run you down terrible. Will you have a glass of wine before I go?’
‘No thank you, Mrs Hody,’ replied the girl, as she sat down in a chair and leaned her aching head against the wall. Mrs Hody bustled out of the room, and it seemed ages to Nell before any one came to join her. She heard voices and laughter proceeding from the garden, and many other sounds indicative of life and enjoyment, but all about the housekeeper’s domains, the intensest quiet seemed to reign. At last it was broken by the sound of a light quick footstep which made Nell’s heart leap within her bosom, coming along the stone passage, and in another moment, the door opened and closed, and Lord Ilfracombe stood beforeher. Nell struggled to her feet to meet him.
‘Oh! Vernie,’ were her first words; ‘it is not my fault.’
‘Hus—h’ said the earl, as he opened the door again and listened to hear if by any chance they could be overheard; ‘you mustn’t call me by that name, Nell, lest any of the servants should have a mind for eavesdropping.’
It was a small thing and a very natural thing for him to say, but it fell on the girl’s excited spirits like a cold douche.
‘I forgot, forgive me,’ she recommenced; ‘it was not my fault (I was going to say) that you received that note,—my lord. I would not have sent it to the Hall on any account, but my father fancied I might have some influence with you in a certain matter, and insisted on my asking to see you.’
‘It is all right,’ he said kindly; ‘only we must keep to the business—you understand.’
‘Oh! yes,’ she answered, with a catch inher breath, ‘and it is soon told. My father has been a tenant of Sir Archibald’s for many years, twenty-five, I think, or more, he has lived at Panty-cuckoo Farm all his married life, and both I and my sister were born there. Father has done a great deal for the land, and spent a lot of money on it, but Sir Archibald Bowmant keeps raising the rent until he fears it will be impossible for him to keep it on, and he thought perhaps—father thought that—youmight be able to help him by your influence with Sir Archibald.’
‘But I don’t quite understand,’ said the earl; ‘what is it Mr Llewellyn wants me to do, Nell?’
‘He fancied you might be able to remonstrate with Sir Archibald, because it is so unfair.’
Lord Ilfracombe looked grave.
‘I am sorry to refuse any request of your father’s, but I really don’t see my way to it. I am not a friend of Sir Archibald’s, you see. I am quite a new acquaintance, and I know nothing of hismonetary affairs. I am afraid he would resent any interference on my part as a liberty.’
‘I told father so, replied Nell, whose eyes were fixed on the earl all the time. ‘I thought just the same myself, but he was so obstinate. I did not know how to refuse him, without—raising his suspicions.’
‘Ah—!’ replied Ilfracombe, thoughtfully, ‘now, don’t you see the imprudence of refusing to accept any settlement at my hands, Nell? You might have helped your father in this emergency.’
‘Not withyourmoney, Lord Ilfracombe, given in such a cause. You don’t know my father. He would have died sooner than have taken it.’
‘Like his daughter,’ said the earl; ‘well, you don’t know how unhappy you have made me by refusing all assistance at my hands; and since I met you the other evening and learned that you were alive, you have occupied all my thoughts, Nell. I will tell you what I will do, if possible. I will ask Sir Archibald Bowmant if hewill sell me Panty-cuckoo Farm, and if he will part with the property, and I become your father’s landlord, he need not fear my raising the rent to him, I should feel much more inclined to lower it. And then some day, Nell, when you marry, as I have done, you will let me settle the old farm on you as a wedding present, and set my poor conscience at rest for evermore, won’t you?’
Nell set her teeth hard together as she replied,—
‘Would you like to see me married, would it make you happier?’
There was not much need for him to answer, the light that illumined his whole face at the idea was sufficient answer.
‘Is there any chance of it?’ he asked her, eagerly.
‘There is an excellent chance if I chose to accept it. A man, a gentleman, who knows the circumstances of my life, and so cannot say afterwards that I have deceived him, has made me an offer of marriage, though I have not yet definitely accepted him.’
‘And do you like him, Nell? Willhe be kind to you?’ said Ilfracombe. He would have liked to see her respectably married, for whilst she lived as she was doing now she was a constant reproach to him, but, like all his sex, though unwilling to accept the responsibility himself, he did notquitelike the idea of any other man possessing what had been his. But he stamped down the feeling. It would decidedly be for the best, he said to himself.
‘Does he love you? Would he be good to you?’ he repeated anxiously.
‘Hesayshe loves me,’ she answered slowly, ‘and I shall take good care he is not unkind to me.’
‘A man would be a brute who could be unkind to you’ said the earl, with deep feeling in his voice, ‘Nell, I think that your illness has made you more beautiful than ever. It has refined your whole appearance. But this man—I am glad he is a gentleman; you are not fit to be the wife of a clown, and you can hold your own with any lady in the land.’
‘So you advise me to marry him,’ she said, raising her large liquid eyes to his face.
Ilfracombe remembered afterwards how much they looked like the eyes of a dumb animal that regard you patiently, never mind what pain you may be putting it to, but at the time he only saw their pathetic beauty.
‘My dear girl,’ he replied, drawing nearer to her, and taking her hand in his; ‘how can I do otherwise than advise you to accept this proposal, that is if the fellow has enough to keep you in a decent position of life. It is hard for a woman to fight the world alone, Nell. You are very beautiful, and the world will look kindly on you whilst you remain so; but beauty does not last for ever, and when the evil days of old age and perhaps penury come, it is well for a woman if she is an honoured and respected wife. You know I must feel very deeply on this subject, for the reason thatI, in my reckless thoughtlessness, have done so much to mar yourprospects of making a good marriage; but if I find that, spite of all, youdomarry well, I shall be a very grateful and a very happy man,’
‘If I knew that you would have no regrets,’ said Nell, with white parched lips; ‘if I were sure that you loved your wife, and she loved you—’
‘Oh, if that assurance will make your task easier, my poor Nell, let me give it you,’ cried Ilfracombe; ‘and indeed I am sure it is better in any case, since everything between us two is over, that we should understand each other perfectly on that point. Idolove my wife with all my heart, and I hope—nay, I believe she loves me almost as well. You could hardly suppose that I should have married her else—under the circumstances. She had no money, no particular birth, and no particular good looks. What should I have married her for, except for love? But she took me completely by storm the first time I met her, and I have been at her feetever since. So you need have no scruples on that score. And I believe, Nell—indeed, I feel sure that if you were married, and especially to a gentleman, Nora would prove a true friend to you. She is a warm-hearted girl without any affectation about her, and I told her the history of our acquaintance, and she was genuinely sorry for your fate. You need fear nothing from Nora. She will be as glad to hear you are happily married as I shall be.’
‘That is enough,’ said Nell, in a low voice, ‘that settles the matter my lord, but I thought I should like to hear you say so with your own lips first. The next thing you will hear of will be my marriage.’
‘But when is it to be Nell, and what is the happy man’s name?’ asked the earl in quite a new voice, it was so merry, and buoyant, and relieved.
‘Oh, you will know all that in good time,’ replied the girl, trying to imitate his cheerfulness; ‘it is not quite a settled thing yet, but it will be soon now.’
‘And you will not refuse to take a wedding present from me, Nell, for the old times’ sake, will you?’ said Ilfracombe, insinuatingly; ‘perhaps it may be Panty-cuckoo Farm, who knows? If Sir Archibald consents to part with it, and then you will be your father’s landlord. Wouldn’t that be funny? How surprised the old people would be when you showed them the title-deeds. And you will let me have the very first intimation of the event, won’t you?’
‘I will, my lord,’ said Nell, in a dull, constrained tone.
‘No, no, Nelly, not that. I was only obliged to caution you just now, because the servants are so beastly curious in this house. But we are quite alone, and you must call me ‘Vernie’ again, just once more, and kiss me as you used to do in the old days.’
She turned and caught him passionately to her breast, and murmured in his ear, ‘Vernie, Vernie. God bless you for ever.’
‘God bless you Nell,’ he responded as he kissed her heartily in return.
‘I am going now,’ she said presently with trembling lips, ‘and we may not meet again—not just yet. You offered to do great things for me, Vernie, but I would rather you were a friend to my old father. If—if—anything should happen to me, will you be kind to him for my sake? Give him a little help if he should need it, dear, or become his landlord if possible, which would please me better than anything.’
‘I will be his friend and yours, Nell, to my life’s end,’ replied Ilfracombe; ‘and if I cannot purchase Panty-cuckoo Farm, and matters grow worse here, he shall have one of my own farms in Huntingdonshire, and be comfortable for the rest of his days. But why do you say, “if anything should happen to you?†What should happen, my dear? You are getting well and strong, and shall live to a hundred years with your good man.’
‘Do you think so?’ replied the girl,with a sad smile. ‘Well, if I do, my parents shall owe their comfort to no other hand than mine; and if I don’t, you will not forget your promise to me.’
And before he could say another word to her, she was gone. The two old people were waiting her return with the greatest anxiety, and exuberant were their rejoicings when they heard the news she had to tell. The earl had not only promised to try and purchase Panty-cuckoo Farm, but had said that in the event of his failure, he would transplant them all to one of his own farms in Huntingdonshire.
‘Ay,’ exclaimed the old man, ‘though it’ll be a sore wrench to leave Panty-cuckoo, it will be a fine thing to live under his lordship’s tenancy. Sir Archibald, he’s only an upstart when all’s said and done. His father was the first baronet, and it takes centuries to make ’em know their places. He wouldn’t never have thought of sweating the tenantry for to pay his own rates and taxes, if he’s been a thorough-bred ‘un, but I supposehe knows no better. But the Earl of Ilfracombe, why, of course,heknows how to treat those that work to make the prosperity of the country. He’s a real aristocrat, born and bred, and wouldn’t demean himself to raise a man’s rent to pay for his own extravagances. Whatever we might feel at leaving the old farm, lass, I don’t know if we wouldn’t be wiser to take his lordship’s offer at once, and transplant all our goods and chattels to Huntingdonshire.’
‘But you mustn’t do anything in a hurry, father,’ exclaimed his wife, alarmed by the rapidity of her good man’s ideas; ‘you must wait till we have word from his lordship. But it’s a fine thing you thought of sending our Nell over to the Hall to speak with him. It’s made our fortunes. We shall all be the better for it, sha’n’t us, my lass?’
‘Yes,all,’ replied her daughter in a dull tone, as if she were dreaming.
‘Now I declare girl, if you haven’t got one of your muddly fits on again,’ saidMrs Llewellyn. ‘If you spoke to his lordship in that sort of way, I wonder he ever listened to you. He must have thought you were half asleep. It all comes of your taking no breakfast. Who ever heard of a healthy young woman beginning the day on an empty stomach? It’s absurd to think of such a thing.’
Nell went up to her mother, and kissed her wrinkled forehead.
‘Never mind, mother,’ she said gently; ‘don’t grumble at me to-day, for I don’t feel as if I could bear it. You shall think better of me to-morrow, I promise you.’
And she left the farmer and his wife to congratulate each other on the possession of so handsome a daughter, that no one could find it in their hearts to refuse her anything.
And Nell sat in her own room, thinking—thinking. It was nearing the hour when she had promised to give Mr Portland her answer. He had agreed to come to that place for it, and stand under herwindow till she appeared to give it him. He was more eager for it than one would have given him credit for. He had lain awake the night before, wondering if Nell had really meant what she said, and what his life would feel like when she brought her gracious presence into it. He could jest and be sarcastic with her when he saw no likelihood of her consenting to marry him, but now that she had half consented, his feelings seemed already to have become somewhat purified by the very possibility of such a thing. Perhaps those few hours of anticipation formed the best part of Jack Portland’s existence—the least like the years that had gone before it. He felt humbled as he looked back upon the past—fearful as he contemplated the future. For the first time, he knew himself to be utterly unworthy of the regard or the possession of a good woman. And as he stood beneath Nell Llewellyn’s window, he felt certain that she would tell him she could not consent to such a step. Fancy, his relief andpleasure when she looked for a moment from the casement and said:
‘Mr Portland, I have made up my mind, andit is to be.’