CHAPTER IV

Chelsea Buns

VIOLET seemed afraid (and yet why should she be?) to come near me, afterMark’sCommunication; and, as my dear Mother could ill spare me, I kept close House. We now felt the Blessing of having a discreet and godly Minister for our Inmate; for MasterBlowerread and prayed much with my Mother, and comforted her greatly by his Discoursings. I likewise derived Benefit from the good Seed he scattered, which fell, as it were, into Ground much softened by heavy Rain.

When I was able and inclined to stepacross toViolet, I found only MasterArmytagein the Shop; who said to me with some Shortness, “You will find my Daughters within,—I wish your Father would find Something more profitable for your Cousin to do, than to be always in our Parlour, a-hindering of Business.”

I knewMarkwas not there just then, at any Rate, having left him at Home; and, stepping into MasterArmytage’sBack-room, I only found there a pale, gentle-looking Girl, with large, brown Eyes, diligently putting Shop-marks to a Box of new Ribbons. I knew her forKitty, though her return Home was News to me; and, having not much to say to a Stranger, I asked her how she liked theBridge. She said, “Not at all; I have been used to look upon Trees and Fields, and miss the Green; theNoises make my Head ache, and my Mother keeps me so close to my Work, that I pine for fresh Air.” I said, “Sure there is enough of it blowing through that open Window from the River!”

“Do you call it fresh?” said she, rather contemptuously. “I do not, I can tell you! Instead of being scented with Cows’ Breath and new-mown Hay, it comes from Tan-yards and Butchers’ Shops.”

WhenVioletcame in, she blushed very red, but we only spoke of indifferent Subjects: and, strange as it was of two such close Intimates, we never, from that Time forward, had any closer Communication. Perhaps it was her Fault, perhaps it was mine: or perhaps, no Fault of either, but a just and becoming Sense of what was best for two modest Girls in our new Relation. For, though it needed not tobe supposed that she knew Anything of what was passing in my Mind, I am persuaded that she did.

And thus the Families fell apart; andMarknever renewed his Confidences to me after that first Evening; and, if he had Moments of keen Pleasure now and then, I am persuaded he had Hours of Pain he had never known before. ForVioletwas capricious and coquettish, and sometimes would vex him by being unreasonable and hard to please: at other Times, by laying herself out to please others, as MasterBraidfoot, and their Lodger MasterClarke. And though she gave out toMarkthat this was only for a Feint, to draw off the Attention of her Father and Mother from himself, yet sometimes it was certainly with no other Purpose than to plague him, and at other Times, I fear, with no better Purpose than to pleaseherself; and I know it cost him many a Tear.

PoorMark! how my Heart ached for him, and swelled against her, when I found him one Evening with his Arms on the Table, and his Head on his Arms, and saw, when he looked up, that he had been crying. He rose, and looked out of Window, and said, “Has it done raining yet? I think I have been asleep!” But I knew he had not.

All his Money now went in fine Clothes for himself, and Presents for her; so that if he needed a little Purse against his Marriage Day, he was not going the Way to fill it.

There was great Talk among the young People, about this Time, of an Excursion up the River, to eat Buns and drink Whey atChelsea. I was invited to join them, but declined, on account of my Mother:butMarkwas to go, and could think of Nothing else. I washed and starched his Collar and Bands myself, and sewed a new Lace on his Hat. He wore a plain silver-grey Cloth Suit, which was sober, but very becoming, for he never affected strong Contrasts, like my Father. Knowing he was fond of a Flower in his Button-hole, but was pressed for Time to get one, I gave a little Girl a Penny to run down to the Market for the best Moss-rose she could buy, and gave it him myself. He thanked me most pleasantly for it, and looked so comely and cheerful, that when he went forth, I could not help standing just behind the Window-blind, to look after him, and to see the gay Party set out from MasterArmytage’s. First, a Boy was sent forward, with a great Basket full of Veal-pies and other Dainties; then came out MasterArmytage, with MistressGlossop, who had condescended to join the Party, and wore a peach-blossom Silk, with pea-green Ribbons. Then MistressArmytage, with a little Basket covered up, no Doubt containing Something very precious; andHugh Braidfootby himself, with his Hands in his Pockets, as if he expected to be asked to carry it, and did not mean to offer, walking a little in Advance of her; thenViolet, looking sweet! betweenMarkand MasterClarke—(I know she liked having two better than one, whatever might be her Value for either;) and thenKitty, who by Rights should have had one or other of them, slowly following with Master and MistressBenskin. I observed her to be a very little lame, but Nothing to speak of.

Well! the Day was fine, the Water looked lovely, there was Nothing to prevent their having a most charming Partyof Pleasure, unless it were their own Fault. I thought of them many Times, as I sat quietly weaving Hair at my Mother’s Bedside; and fancied them floating on the River, landing under tall Trees, rambling among Meadows, sitting on the Grass, eating and drinking in the Shade, and scattering in small Parties. I fancied what I should do and feel if I wereViolet, and howMarkwould comport himself, and what he would say: but, when I looked on my Mother’s pain-worn Face, I did not wish to change Places.

They did not come Home till very late; much too late. I had persuaded my Father to go to Bed, and let me sit up forMark, for Fear of disturbing my Mother. He saidDollymight as well sit up too; however, she proved heavy to sleep, so I sent her to Bed.

And looked on the Bridge

Then I sat at my Window, which wasover MasterBlower’sSitting-room, and looked out on theBridge. The Harvest-moon, brightly shining, made our Side of the Way as light as Day, but MasterArmytage’sSide was in deep Shade. I heardSt. Magnus’sClock, andSt. Paul’s, andSt. Mary Overy’s, strike Eleven. Then I saw some dark Figures coming along in the Shade, and stop at MasterArmytage’sDoor, and knock up the Maid, who, after long Delay, came sleepily to the Door with a Candle. Then the others, who had been talking, but not much, like People who were very tired after too long a Day’s Pleasure, said “Good-night;” and I sawHugh Braidfootshake Hands with the Girl on his Arm, and step across to his own Door in the broad Moonshine. Master and MistressBenskinhad gone Home before, and let themselves in with the House-key. I counted those thatentered MasterArmytage’s, and only made out his own Family.Markhad doubtless seen MistressGlossopto her own Door, as was right and fitting. For him, then, I must expect to wait a good While longer: and Ididwait a good While; till all the Clocks struck Twelve. Just as they had done striking, I heard and knew his Step, and opened the Door without his knocking.

“Have you had a pleasant Day?” said I.

I looked at him as I spoke, and shall never forget his Face!

—“Good-night,” said he shortly; “we’ll talk it over to-morrow,”—

And impatiently took from my Hands his Candle, which I was trying to light for him at mine. But it had been snuffed too short, and would not light as readily as he wished; which made him curse itin a low, deep Voice. I had never heard him swear before.

“Mark,” said I, looking anxiously at him, “you are ill.”

“No, I’m not,” said he abruptly; “Good-night. Thank you for sitting up for me.”

“I’m not at all tired,” said I, “and there’s some Supper for you in the Kitchen. Let us go there, and have a little Chat over the Pleasures of the Day—you don’t look sleepy.”

From white he turned to deep red.

“The Day has not been so pleasant as you suppose,” said he huskily; “you have been better and happier at your Mother’s Bedside. I wish there were more such as you in the World. Good-night, dear, goodCherry!”

—And sprang up Stairs without another Word, taking two Steps at a Time. I went to Bed, but not to sleep; I couldnot get his strange Look and Manner out of my Head.

The next Morning, at Breakfast-time,Markdid not appear.Dollysaid he had gone out early. My Father was angry, and sent across the Way for him, knowing he was but too often at MasterArmytage’s. ButDollybrought back Word they had seen Nothing of him. Then we concluded he had gone for an early Walk, as was often his Custom, and had outstayed his Time. However, we breakfasted without him at length, and still he did not come back.

“Confound that Boy,” said my patient Father at last—(thus, the Fault of one Party provoked the Sin of another,)—“it’s plaguy tiresome of him to be playing Truant this Morning, of all Days in the Year, for I have pressing Business inEastcheap.”

“Leave me in Charge of the Shop,Father,” said I,—“my Mother’s Cough is quiet, now she is dozing; and I shall hear her Bell.”

“Well, I suppose I must,” said he very reluctantly; “but I shall trounce MasterMarkwell for his Conduct when I see him next, he may rely upon it!”

So he left me in Charge; and my loved Mother being in a Kind of lethargic Slumber, which often lasted many Hours, I left the Doors open between us, and sat in the Shop. As Fate would have it, not a single Customer looked in the whole Time my Father was away; which was lucky, though we did not feel very thankful, in usual, for this Falling-off in Business. Before he returned,Markcame in, and beckoned me into the Parlour.

“What is the Matter?” said I, with a violently beating Heart.

“I’ve done it!” said he breathlessly.

“Done what?” said I.

“Married!” said he: and hid his Face in his Hands.

“DearMark, how imprudent!” I exclaimed affectionately; “whatwilltheArmytagessay?”

“What will they,indeed!” repeated he, “Violetespecially! She drove me to it!”

“Violet?Droveyou to marry her?” I cried.—It sounded so strange!

“Oh,Cherry! whatwillyou say? It makes me shudder to tell you!” he rapidly said; “Nothing but that Girl’s incorrigible Coquetry could have made me break with her as I did; and then Reproaches led to Taunts, and Taunts to Threatenings, till bad led to worse, and she twitted me with my Poverty, and I told her I could be a richer Manin twenty-four Hours than her Father, and look down upon them all, and she dared me to it, and said a better Man than me was waiting for her, and so—Temptation to be revenged on her came in my Way, and—I’ve married MistressGlossop!”

“Oh,Mark!”

—“Nay,Cherry, don’t give way so,” said he, beginning to shed Tears himself when he saw me weeping bitterly,—“Love is not a Man’s whole Life, and what I’ve tasted of it hasn’t made me very happy. I’ve stepped into a famous Business, and I shall have a quiet Fireside, and a capital Table, and kind Looks if not pretty ones, and—a done Thing can’t be undone: so there’s an End on’t!”

Then, fancying he heard my Father’s Step, though ’twas only MasterBlower’s,he hastily exclaimed, “You must tell my Uncle—Good-bye,Cherry!” and hurried out of the House.

When he was gone, I sat in a Kind of Stupor....Married?and to such a Wife!—Howcouldhe?—how couldshe? ... and this increased my Amazement, for he had been beside himself with Anger and Jealousy, and hardly knew what he was doing,—but that she, cool, collected, and at her Time of Life, could have closed with his Proposals without the Delay of a single Day!—how disgusting!—Ah, she was afraid of losing him!

—Immersed in these sad Thoughts, with my Hands clasped on my Lap, I was unaware of my Father’s Return till he stood before me. I started.

“HasMarkreturned?” cried he.

“He came back, and is again gone,” said I.

“The young Rascal!” exclaimed my Father very passionately; “what does he mean by this outrageous Conduct? I’ve a great Mind to lock the Door against him when he comes back!”

“Father, he will never come back!—He is married! ... married to MistressGlossop.”

And, trying to speak composedly, all would not do; the Tears rained from my Eyes.

My Father remained perfectly mute. I could understand his Amazement, his Vexation, by my own; accompanied, as I knew it must be in his Case, by great Anger. I expected every Moment to hear some violent Expression of Indignation: he had been so unusually displeased with him already for what was comparatively a Trifle.

All at once, I found myself folded inhis Arms. He did not say a Word; but the longer he held me, the more and more I felt that his Hopes for me had been ruined as well as mine, that his Schemes and Visions of the Future were all dispersed and overclouded, that he knew Something of what was passing within me, and felt Sympathy without having the Power of expressing it.

“Well,—” said he, releasing me at last,—and I saw that his Eyes were wet,—“Man proposes, butGoddisposes. We’ve had an Escape from this young Man. Ungrateful young Fellow! And blind to his own Interest, too, for I could have done better for him,Cherry, than he knows of. But—he deserves his Fate. A miserable one it will be! He’ll never prosper!”

“Oh,Father!don’t prophesy against him! We need not wish him ill.”

“I don’t wish him ill,” returned he, “but he’ll come to no Good. He has done for himself in this Marriage. And so,Cherry, you’ll see!”

Back to Index Next