Beechcroft at Rockstone Read online

  Produced by Sandra Laythorpe

  BEECHCROFT AT ROCKSTONE

  By Charlotte M Yonge

  CHAPTER I. -- A DISPERSION

  'A telegram! Make haste and open it, Jane; they always make me sonervous! I believe that is the reason Reginald always _will_ telegraphwhen he is coming,' said Miss Adeline Mohun, a very pretty, wellpreserved, though delicate-looking lady of some age about forty, as herelder sister, brisk and lively and some years older, came into the room.

  'No, it is not Reggie. It is from Lily. Poor Lily!Jasper--accident--Come.'

  'Poor dear Lily! Is it young Jasper or old Jasper, I wonder?'

  'If it were young Jasper she would have put Japs. I am afraid it is herhusband. If so, she will be going off to him. I must catch the 11.20train. Will you come, Ada?'

  'Oh no; I should be knocked up, and on your hands. The suspense is badenough at home.'

  'If it is old Jasper, we shall see in the paper to-day. I will send itdown to you from the station. Supposing it is Sir Jasper, and she wantsto go out to him, we must take in some of the children.'

  'Oh! Dear little Primrose would be nice enough, but what should we dowith that Halfpenny woman? If we had the other girls, I suppose theywould be at school all day; but surely some might go to Beechcroft. Andmind, Jane, I will not have you overtasking yourself! Do not take any ofthem without having Gillian to help you. That I stipulate.'

  Jane Mohun seemed as if she did not hear as these sentences were utteredat intervals, while she stood dashing off postcards at her davenport.Then she said, on her way to the door--

  'Don't expect me to-night. I will send Fanny to ask one of the Wellandsto come in to you, and telegraph if I bring any one home with me.'

  'But, Jane dear--'

  However, the door was shut, and by the time Miss Adeline had reached hersister's room, the ever-ready bag was nearly packed.

  'I only wanted to say, dear Jane, that you must give my love to dearLily. I am grieved--grieved for her; but indeed you must not undertakeanything rash.' (A shake of the head, as the shoes went into their neatbag.) 'Do not let her persuade you to stay at Silverfold in her absence.You cannot give up everything here.'

  'Yes, yes, Ada, I know it does not suit you. Never fear.'

  'It is not that, but you are much too useful here to drop everything,especially now every one is away. I would willingly sacrifice myself,but--'

  'Yes, I know, Ada dear. Now, good-bye, and take care of yourself, anddon't be nervous. It may mean only that young Japs has twisted hislittle finger.'

  And with a kiss, Miss Mohun ran downstairs as fast and lightly as ifher years had been half their amount, and accomplished her orders toFanny--otherwise Mrs. Mount--a Beechcroft native, who, on being lefta widow, had returned to her former mistresses, bringing with her adaughter, who had grown up into an efficient housemaid. After a fewwords with her, Miss Mohun sped on, finding time at the stationto purchase a morning paper just come down, and to read among thetelegrams--

  'COLOMBO, Sept. 3rd.

  'Lieutenant-General Sir Jasper Merrifield, G.C.B., has been thrown fromhis horse, and received severe injuries.'

  She despatched this paper to her sister by a special messenger, whom shehad captured by the way, and was soon after in the train, knitting andpondering.

  At Silverton station she saw the pony carriage, and in it her nieceGillian, a girl not quite seventeen, with brown eyes showing traces oftears.

  'Mamma knew you would come,' she said.

  'You have heard direct, of course.'

  'Yes; Claude telegraphed. The horse fell over a precipice. Papa's legand three ribs are broken. Not dangerous. That is all it says; and mammais going out to him directly.'

  'I was quite sure she would. Well, Gillian, we must do the best we can.Has she any plans?'

  'I think she waited for you to settle them. Hal is come; he wanted to gowith her, but she says it will cost too much, and besides, there is hisOrdination in Advent.'

  'Has she telegraphed to your uncles?'

  'To Beechcroft and to Stokesley; but we don't quite know where UncleReginald is. Perhaps he will see the paper.'

  Gillian's tears were flowing again, and her aunt said--

  'Come, my dear, you must not give way; you must do all you can to makeit better for your mother.'

  'I know,' she answered. 'Indeed, I didn't cry till I sat waiting, and itall came over me. Poor papa! and what a journey mamma will have, andhow dreadful it will be without her! But I know that it is horrid of me,when papa and my sisters must want her so much more.'

  'That's right--quite right to keep up before her. It does not sound tome so bad, after all; perhaps they will telegraph again to stop her. DidClaude ask her to come out?'

  'Oh no! There were only those few words.'

  No more could be learnt till the pony stopped at the door, and Hal ranout to hand out his aunt, and beg her privately to persuade his motherto take him, or, if she would not consent to that, at least to haveMacrae, the old soldier-servant, with her--it was not fit for her totravel alone.

  Lady Merrifield looked very pale, and squeezed her sister close in herarms as she said--

  'You are my great help, Jenny.'

  'And must you go?'

  'Yes, certainly.'

  'Without waiting to hear more?'

  'There is no use in losing time. I cannot cross from Folkestone till theday after to-morrow, at night. I must go to London to-morrow, and sleepat Mrs. Merrifield's.'

  'But this does not seem to me so very bad.'

  'Oh, no, no! but when I get there in three weeks' time, it will be justwhen I shall be most wanted. The nursing will have told on the girls,and Jasper will be feeling weary of being laid up, and wanting to takeliberties.'

  'And what will you be after such a journey?'

  'Just up to keeping him in order. Come, you have too much sense toexpostulate, Jenny.'

  'No; you would wear yourself to fiddle-strings if you stayed at home. Ionly want you to take Hal, or Macrae.'

  'Hal is out of the question, I would not interfere with his preparationon any account. Macrae would be a very costly article; and, moreover, Iwant him to act major-domo here, unless you would, and that I don't dareto hope for.'

  'No, you must not, Lily; Ada never feels well here, nor always atBrighton, and Emily would be too nervous to have her without me. But wewill take as many children as you please, or we have room for.'

  'That is like you, Jenny. I know William will offer to take them in athome, but I cannot send them without Miss Vincent; and she cannot leaveher mother, who has had a sort of stroke. Otherwise I should try leavingthem here while I am away, but the poor old lady is in no state forit--in fact, I doubt her living long.'

  'I know; you have been governess by yourself these last weeks; it willbe well to relieve her. The best way will be for us to take Mysie andValetta, and let them go to the High School; and there is a capitalday-school for little boys, close to St. Andrew's, for Fergus, andGillian can go there too, or join classes in whatever she pleases.'

  'My Brownie! Have you really room for all those?'

  'Oh yes! The three girls in the spare room and dressing-room, and Fergusin the little room over the porch. I will write to Fanny; I gave her ahint.'

  'And I have no doubt that Primrose will be a delight to her auntAlethea, poor little dear! Yes, that makes it all easy, for in theholidays I know the boys are sure of a welcome at the dear old home, orHal might have one or two of them at his Curacy.'

  The gong sounded for the melancholy dinner that had to go on all thesame, and in the midst all were startled by the arrival of a telegram,which Macrae, looking awestruck, actually delivered to Harry instead ofto his mistress; but it was not from Ce
ylon. It was from Colonel Mohun,from Beechcroft: 'Coming 6.30. Going with you. Send children here.'

  Never were twenty words, including addresses, more satisfactory.The tears came, for the first time, to Lady Merrifield's eyes at thekindness of her brothers, and Harry was quite satisfied that his unclewould be a far better escort than himself or Macrae. Aunt Jane wentoff to send her telegram home and write some needful letters, and LadyMerrifield announced her arrangements to those whom they concerned.

  'Oh! mamma, don't,' exclaimed Valetta; 'all the guinea-pigs will die.'

  'I thought,' said Gillian, 'that we might stay here with Miss Vincent tolook after us.'

  'That will not do in her mother's state. Mrs. Vincent cannot be moved uphere, and I could not lay such a burthen on them.'

  'We would be very good,' said Val.

  'That, I hope, you will be any way; but I think it will be easier atRockstone, and I am quite sure that papa and I shall be better satisfiedabout you.'

  'Mayn't we take Quiz!' asked Fergus.

  'And Rigdum Funnidos?' cried Valetta.

  'And Ruff and Ring?' chimed in Mysie.

  'My dear children, I don't see how Aunt Jane can be troubled with anymore animals than your four selves. You must ask her, only do not besurprised or put out if she refuses, for I don't believe you can keepanything there.'

  Off the three younger ones went, Gillian observing, 'I don't see howthey can, unless it was Quiz; but, mamma, don't you think I might go toBeechcroft with Primrose? I should be so much quieter working for theexamination there, and I could send my exercises to Miss Vincent; andthen I should keep up Prim's lessons.'

  'Your aunt Alethea will, I know, like doing that, my dear; and I amafraid to turn those creatures loose on the aunts without some one tolook after them and their clothes. Fanny will be very helpful; but itwill not do to throw too much on her.'

  'Oh! I thought they would have Lois--'

  'There would not be room for her; besides that, I don't think itwould suit your aunts. You and Mysie ought to do all the mending foryourselves and Fergus, and what Valetta cannot manage. I know you wouldrather be at Beechcroft, my dear; but in this distress and difficulty,some individual likings must be given up.'

  'Yes, mamma.'

  Lady Merrifield looked rather dubiously at her daughter. She hadvery little time, and did not want to have an argument, nor to elicitmurmurs, yet it might be better to see what was in Gillian's mind beforeit was too late. Mothers, very fond of their own sisters, cannot alwaysunderstand why it is not the same with their daughters, who inheritanother element of inherited character, and of another generation,and who have not been welded together with the aunts in childhood. 'Mydear,' she said, 'you know I am quite ready to hear if you have any realreasonable objection to this arrangement.'

  'No, mamma, I don't think I have,' said Gillian thoughtfully. 'The notliking always meeting a lot of strangers, nor the general bustle, is allnonsense, I know quite well. I see it is best for the children, but Ishould like to know exactly who is to be in authority over them.'

  'Certainly Aunt Jane,' replied Lady Merrifield. 'She must be theultimate authority. Of course you will check the younger ones inanything going wrong, as you would here, and very likely there will bemore restrictions. Aunt Ada has to be considered, and it will be a townlife; but remember that your aunt is mistress of the house, and thateven if you do think her arrangements uncalled for, it is your duty tohelp the others to submit cheerfully. Say anything you please fully andfreely in your letters to me, but don't let there be any collisionsof authority. Jane will listen kindly, I know, in private to anyrepresentation you may like to make, but to say before the children,"Mamma always lets them," would be most mischievous.'

  'I see,' said Gillian. 'Indeed, I will do my best, mamma, and it willnot be for very long.'

  'I hope and trust not, my dear child. Perhaps we shall all meet byEaster--papa, and all; but you must not make too sure. There may bedelays. Now I must see Halfpenny. I cannot talk to you any more, myGillyflower, though I am leaving volumes unsaid.

  Gillian found Aunt Jane emerging from her room, and beset by her threefuture guests.

  'Aunt Jane, may we bring Quiz?'

  'And Rigdum Funnidos and Lady Rigdum?'

  'And Ruff and Ring? They are the sweetest doves in the world.'

  'Doves! Oh, Mysie, they would drive your aunt Ada distracted, withcoo-roo-roo at four o'clock in the morning, just as she goes off tosleep.'

  'The Rigdums make no noise but a dear little chirp,' triumphantlyexclaimed Valetta.

  'Do you mean the kittens? We have a vacancy for one cat, you know.'

  Oh yes, we want you to choose between Artaxerxes and the Sofy. But theRigdums are the eldest pair of guinea-pigs. They are so fond of me, thatI know poor old Funnidos will die of grief if I go away and leave him.'

  'I sincerely hope not, Valetta, for, indeed, there is no place to puthim in.'

  'I don't think he would mind living in the cellar if he only saw me oncea day,' piteously pleaded Valetta.

  'Indeed, Val, the dark and damp would surely kill the poor thing, inspite of your attentions. You must make up your mind to separation fromyour pets, excepting the kitten.'

  Valetta burst out crying at this last drop that made the bucketoverflow, but Fergus exclaimed: 'Quiz! Aunt Jane! He always goes aboutwith us, and always behaves like a gentleman, don't you, Quizzy?' andthe little Maltese, who perfectly well understood that there was troublein the air, sat straight up, crossed his paws, and looked touchinglywistful.

  'Poor dear little fellow!' said Aunt Jane; 'yes, I knew he would begood, but Kunz would be horribly, jealous, you see; he is an only dog,and can't bear to have his premises invaded.'

  'He ought to be taught better,' said Fergus gravely.

  'So he ought,' Aunt Jane confessed; 'but he is too old to beginlearning, and Aunt Ada and Mrs. Mount would never bear to see himdisturbed. Besides, I really do not think Quiz would be half so well offthere as among his own friends and places here, with Macrae to takecare of him.' Then as Fergus began to pucker his face, she added, 'I amreally very sorry to be so disagreeable.'

  'The children must not be unreasonable,' said Gillian sagely, as shecame up.

  'And I am to choose between Xerxes and Artaxerxes, is it?' said AuntJane.

  'No, the Sofy,' said Mysie. 'A Sofy is a Persian philosopher, and thiskitten has got the wisest face.'

  'Run and fetch them,' suggested her aunt, 'and then we can choose.Oh,' she added, with some relief at the thought, 'if it is an object todispose of Cockie, we could manage him.'

  The two younger ones were gratified, but Gillian and Mysie bothexclaimed that Cockie's exclusive affections were devoted to Macrae, andthat they could not answer for his temper under the separation. To breakup such a household was decidedly the Goose, Fox, and Cabbage problem.As Mysie observed, in the course of the search for the kittens, in themake-the-best-of-it tone, 'It was not so bad as the former moves, whenthey were leaving a place for good and all.'

  'Ah, but no place was ever so good as this,' said poor Valetta.

  'Don't be such a little donkey,' said Fergus consequentially. 'Don't youknow we are going to school, and I am three years younger than Wilfredwas?'

  'It is only a petticoat school,' said Val, 'kept by ladies.'

  'It isn't.'

  'It is; I heard Harry say so.'

  'And yours is all butchers and bakers and candlestick makers.'

  On which they fell on each other, each with a howl of defiance. Fergusgrabbed at Val's pigtail, and she was buffeting him vehemently whenHarry came out, held them apart, and demanded if this were the way tomake their mother easy in leaving them.

  'She said it was a pet-pet-petticoat school,' sobbed Fergus.

  'And so it ought to be, for boys that fight with girls.'

  'And he said mine was all butchers and bakers and candlestick makers,'whined Valetta.

  'Then you'd better learn manners, or they'll take you for a tramp,'observ
ed Harry; but at that moment Mysie broke in with a shout at havingdiscovered the kittens making a plaything of the best library pen-wiper,their mother, the sleek Begum, abetting them, and they were borne off todisplay the coming glories of their deep fur to Aunt Jane.

  Her choice fell upon the Sofy, as much because of the convenience of thename as because of the preternatural wisdom of expression imparted bythe sweep of the black lines on the gray visage. Mr. Pollock's landladywas to be the happy possessor of Artaxerxes, and the turbulent portionof the Household was disposed of to bear him thither, and to beg MissHacket to give Buff and Ring the run of her cage, whence they hadoriginally come, also to deliver various messages and notes.

  By the time they returned, Colonel Mohun was met in the hall by hissister. 'Oh, Reggie, it is too good in you!' were the words that camewith her fervent kiss. 'Remember how many years I have been seasoned tobeing "cockit up on a baggage waggon." Ought not such an old soldier asI to be able to take care of myself?'

  'And what would your husband say to you when you got there? And shouldnot I catch it from William? Well, are you packing up the youthfulfamily for Beechcroft, except that at Rotherwood they are shrieking forMysie?'

  'I know how good William and Alethea would be. This child,' pointing toPrimrose, who had been hanging on her all day in silence, 'is to go tothem; but as I can't send Miss Vincent, educational advantages, asthe advertisements say, lie on the side of Rockstone; so Jenny hereundertakes to be troubled with the rabble.'

  'But Mysie? Rotherwood met me at the station and begged me to obtain herfrom you. They really wish it.'

  'He does, I have no doubt.'

  'So does Madame la Marquise. They have been anxious about little Phyllisall the summer. She was languid and off her feed in London, and didnot pick up at home as they expected. My belief is that it is too muchgoverness and too little play, and that a fortnight here would sether up again. Rotherwood himself thinks so, and Victoria has some suchinkling. At any rate, they are urgent to have Mysie with the child, asthe next best thing.'

  'Poor dear little Fly!' ejaculated Lady Merrifield; 'but I am afraidMysie was not very happy there last year.'

  'And what would be the effect of all the overdoing?' said Miss Mohun.

  'Mysie is tougher than that sprite, and I suppose there is somerelaxation,' said Lady Merrifield.

  'Yes; the doctors have frightened them sufficiently for the present.

  'I suppose Mysie is a prescription, poor child,' said her aunt, in atone that evoked from her brother--

  'Jealous, Jenny?'

  'Well, Jane,' said Lady Merrifield, 'you know how thankful I am toyou and Ada, but I am inclined to let it depend on the letters I getto-morrow, and the way Victoria takes it. If it is really an earnestwish on that dear little Fly's account, I could not withstand oldRotherwood, and though Mysie might be less happy than she would be withyou, I do not think any harm will be done. Everything there is sound andconscientious, and if she picks up a little polish, it won't hurt her.'

  'Shall you give her the choice?'

  'I see no good in rending the poor child's mind between two affections,especially as there will be a very short time to decide in, for I shallcertainly not send her if Victoria's is a mere duty letter.'

  'You are quite right there, Lily,' said the Colonel. 'The less choicethe greater comfort.'

  'Well done, sir soldier,' said his sister Jane. 'I say quite right too;only, for my own sake, I wish it had been Valetta.'

  'So no doubt does she,' said the mother; 'but unluckily it isn't. And,indeed, I don't think I wish it. Val is safer with you. As Gillianexpressed it the other day, "Val does right when she likes it; Mysiedoes right when she knows it."'

  'You have the compliment after all, Jane,' said the Colonel. 'Lilytrusts you with the child she doesn't trust!'

  There was no doubt the next morning, for Lady Rotherwood wrote anearnest, affectionate letter, begging for Mysie, who, she said, had wonsuch golden opinions in her former visit that it would be a real benefitto Phyllis, as much morally as physically, to have her companionship. Itwas the tenderest letter that either of the sisters had ever seen fromthe judicious and excellent Marchioness, full of warm sympathy for LadyMerrifield's anxiety for her husband, and betraying much solicitude forher little girl.

  'It has done her good,' said Jane Mohun. 'I did not think she had such asoft spot.'

  'Poor Victoria,' said Lady Merrifield, 'that is a shame. You know she isan excellent mother.'

  'Too excellent, that's the very thing,' muttered Aunt Jane. 'Well,Mysie's fate is settled, and I dare say it will turn out for the best.'

  So Mysie was to go with Mrs. Halfpenny and Primrose to Beechcroft,whence the Rotherwoods would fetch her. If the lady's letter had beenmuch less urgent, who could have withstood her lord's postscript: 'Ifyou could see the little pale face light up at the bare notion of seeingMysie, you would know how grateful we shall be for her.'

  Mysie herself heard her destiny without much elation, though she wasvery fond of Lady Phyllis, and the tears came into her eyes at thethought of her being unwell and wanting her.

  'Mamma said we must not grumble,' she said to Gillian; 'but I shallfeel so lost without you and Val. It is so unhomish, and there's thatdreadful German Fraulein, who was not at home last time.'

  'If you told mamma, perhaps she would let you stay,' returned Gillian.'I know I should hate it, worse than I do going to Rockstone and withoutyou.'

  'That would be unkind to poor Fly,' said Mysie. 'Besides, mamma saidshe could not have settling and unsettling for ever. And I shall seePrimrose sometimes; besides, I do love Fly. It's marching orders, youknow.'

  It was Valetta who made the most objection. She declared that it was notfair that Mysie, who had been to the ball at Rotherwood, should go againto live with lords and ladies, while she went to a nasty day-schoolwith butchers' and bakers' daughters. She hoped she should grow horridlyvulgar, and if mamma did not like it, it would be her own fault!

  Mrs. Halfpenny, who did not like to have to separate Mysie's clothesfrom the rest after they were packed, rather favoured this naughtinessby observing: 'The old blue merino might stay at home. Miss Mysie wouldbe too set up to wear that among her fine folk. Set her up, that sheshould have all the treats, while her own Miss Gillian was turned overto the auld aunties!'

  'Nonsense, nurse,' said Gillian. 'I'm much better pleased to go and beof some use! Val, you naughty child, how dare you make such a fuss?' forValetta was crying again.

  'I hate school, and I hate Rockstone, and I don't see why Mysie shouldalways go everywhere, and wear new frocks, and I go to the butchers andbakers and wear horrid old ones.'

  'I wish you could come too,' said Mysie; 'but indeed old frocks are thenicest, because one is not bothered to take so much care of them; andlords and ladies aren't a bit better to play with than, other people. Infact, Ivy is what Japs calls a muff and a stick.'

  Valetta, however, cried on, and Mysie went the length of repairing toher mother, in the midst of her last notes and packings, to entreat tochange with Val, who followed on tip-toe.

  'Certainly not,' was the answer from Lady Merrifield, who was beingworried on all sides, 'Valetta is not asked, and she is not behaving sothat I could accept for her if she were.'

  And Val had to turn away in floods of tears, which redoubled on beingtold by the united voices of her brothers and sisters that they wereashamed of her for being so selfish as to cry for herself when all werein so much trouble about papa.

  Lady Merrifield caught some of the last words. 'No, my dear,' she said.'That is not quite just or kind. It is being unhappy that makes poorVal so ready to cry about her own grievances. Only, Val, come here, andremember that fretting is not the way to meet such things. There is abetter way, my child, and I think you know what I mean. Now, to help youthrough the time in an outer way, suppose you each set yourself some onething to improve in while I am away. Don't tell me what it is, but letme find out when I come home.' With that she obeyed an urg
ent summons tospeak to the gardener.

  'I shall! I shall,' cried little Primrose, 'write a whole copy-book insingle lines! And won't mamma be pleased? What shall you do, Fergus? andVal? and Mysie?'

  'I shall get to spin my peg-top so as it will never tumble down, andwill turn an engine for drawing water,' was the prompt answer of Fergus.

  'What nonsense!' said Val; 'you'd better settle to get your longdivision sums right.'

  'That s girls' stuff,' replied Fergus; 'you'd better settle to leave offcrying for nothing.'

  'That you had!' said several voices, and Val very nearly cried again asshe exclaimed: 'Don't be all so tiresome. I shall make mamma a beautifulcrewel cushion, with all the battles in history on it. And won't she besurprised!'

  'I think mamma meant more than that,' said Mysie.

  'Oh, Mysie, what shall you do?' asked Primrose.

  'I did think of getting to translate one of mamma's favourite Germanstories quite through to her without wanting the dictionary or stumblingone bit,' said Mysie; 'but I am sure she meant something better andbetter, and I'm thinking what it is--Perhaps it is making all littleFlossie Maddin's clothes, a whole suit all oneself--Or perhaps it ismanners. What do you think, Gill?'

  'I should say most likely it was manners for you,' volunteered Harry,'and the extra you are most likely to acquire at Rotherwood.'

  'I'm so glad,' said Mysie.

  'And you, Gill,' inquired Primrose, 'what will you do? Mine is acopy-book, and Fergus's is the spinning-top-engines, and rule of three;and Val's is a crewel battle cushion and not crying; and Mysie's isGerman stories and manners; and what's yours, Gill?'

  'Gill is so grown up, she is too good to want an inside thing' announcedPrimrose.

  'Oh, Prim, you dear little thing,' cried both elder brother and sister,as they thought with a sort of pang of the child's opinion of grown-upimpeccability.

  'Harry is grown up more,' put in Fergus; 'why don't you ask him?'

  'Because I know,' said Primrose, with a pretty shyness, and as theypressed her, she whispered, 'He is going to be a clergyman.'

  There was a call for Mysie and Val from upstairs, and as the youngerpopulation scampered off, Gillian said to her brother--

  'Is not it like "occupy till I come"?'

  'So I was thinking,' said Harry gravely. 'But one must be as youngas Mysie to throw one's "inside things" into the general stock ofresolutions.'

  'Yes,' said Gillian, with uplifted eyes. 'I do--I do hope to dosomething.'

  Some great thing was her unspoken thought--some great and excellentachievement to be laid before her mother on her return. There was a talebegun in imitation of Bessie Merrifield, called "Hilda's Experiences".Suppose that was finished, printed, published, splendidly reviewed.Would not that be a great thing? But alas, she was under a tacitengagement never to touch it in the hours of study.

  CHAPTER II. -- ROCKQUAY