Beechcroft at Rockstone Read online

  Without exactly practising to deceive, Gillian began to find thatconcealment involved her in a tangled web; all the more since Aunt Janehad become thoroughly interested in the Whites, and was inquiring rightand left about schools and scholarships for the little boys.

  She asked their master about them, and heard that they were among hisbest scholars, and that their home lessons had always been carefullyattended to by their elder brother and sister. In fact, he was mostanxious to retain Theodore, to be trained for a pupil-teacher, thebest testimony to his value! Aunt Jane came home full of the subject,relating what the master said of Alexis White, and that he had begunby working with him at Latin and mathematics; but that they had not hadtime to go on with what needed so much study and preparation.

  'In fact, said Miss Mohun, 'I have a suspicion that if a certificatedschoolmaster could own any such thing, the pupil knew more than theteacher. When your father comes home, I hope he will find some way ofhelping that lad.'

  Gillian began to crimson, but bethought herself of the grandeur of itsbeing found that she was the youth's helper. 'I am glad you have beenlending him books,' added Aunt Jane.

  What business had she to know what had not been told her? The sense ofoffence drove back any disposition to consult her. Yet to teach Alexiswas no slight task, for, though he had not gone far in Greek, hisinquiries were searching, and explaining to him was a different thingfrom satisfying even Mr. Pollock. Besides, Gillian had her own studieson hand. The Cambridge examinations were beginning to assume largerproportions in the Rockquay mind, and 'the General Screw Company,' asMr. Grant observed, was prevailing.

  Gillian's knowledge was rather discursive, and the concentrationrequired by an examination was hard work to her, and the time for itwas shortened by the necessity of doing all Alexis's Greek exercises andtranslations beforehand, and of being able to satisfy him why an errorwas not right, for, in all politeness, he always would know why it didnot look right. And there was Valetta, twisting and groaning. The screwwas on her form, who, unless especially exempted, were to compete for aprize for language examination.

  Valetta had begun by despising Kitty Varley for being excepted by hermother's desire and for not learning Latin; but now she envied any onewho had not to work double tides at the book of Caesar that was to betaken up, and Vercingetorix and his Arverni got vituperated in a waythat would have made the hair of her hero-worshipping mother fairlystand on end.

  But then Lilias Mohun had studied him for love of himself, not for dreadof failure.

  Gillian had been displeased when Fergus deserted her for Aunt Jane as anassistant, but she would not have been sorry if Valetta had been offher hands, when she was interrupted in researches after an idiom in St.John's Gospel by the sigh that this abominable dictionary had no verboblo, or in the intricacies of a double equation by despair at thishorrid Caesar always hiding away his nominatives out of spite.

  Valetta, like the American child, evidently regarded the Great Juliusin no other light than as writer of a book for beginners in Latin, and,moreover, a very unkind one; and she fully reciprocated the sentimentthat it was no wonder that the Romans conquered the world, since theyknew the Latin grammar by nature.

  Nor was Gillian's hasty and sometimes petulant assistance verysatisfactory to the poor child, since it often involved hearing 'Wait aminute,' and a very long one, 'How can you be so stupid?' 'I told youso long ago'; and sometimes consisted of a gabbling translation,with rapidly pointed finger, very hard to follow, and not quite sopainstaking as when Alexis deferentially and politely pointed out thedifficulties, with a strong sense of the favour that she was doing him.

  Not that these personal lessons often took place. Kalliope neverpermitted them without dire necessity, and besides, there was always anuncertainty when Gillian might come down, or when Alexis might be ableto come in.

  One day when Aunt Jane had come home with a story of how one of her'business girls' had confessed to Miss White's counsel having only justsaved her from an act of folly, it occurred to Aunt Adeline to say--

  'It is a great pity you have not her help in the G.F.S.'

  'I did not understand enough about her before, and mixed her up with theordinary class of business girls. I had rather have her a member for thesake of example; but if not, she would be a valuable associate. Couldnot you explain this to her without hurting her feelings, as I am afraidI did, Gill? I did not understand enough about her when I spoke to herbefore.'

  Gillian started. The conversation that should have been so pleasant toher was making her strangely uncomfortable.

  'I do not see how Gill is to get at her,' objected the other aunt. 'Itwould be of no great use to call on her in the nest of the Queen of theWhite Ants. I can't help recollecting the name, it was so descriptive.'

  'Yes; it was on her mother's account that she refused, and of course heroffice must not be invaded in business hours.'

  'I might call on her there before she goes home,' suggested Gillian,seeing daylight.

  'You cannot be walking down there at dusk, just as the workmen comeaway' exclaimed Aunt Ada, making the colour so rush into Gillian'scheeks that she was glad to catch up a screen.

  'No,' said Miss Mohun emphatically; 'but I could leave her there at fiveo'clock, and go to Tideshole to take old Jemmy Burnet his jersey, andcall for her on the way back.'

  'Or she could walk home with me,' murmured the voice behind the screen.

  Gillian felt with dismay that all these precautions as to her escortwould render her friend more scrupulous than ever as to her visits. Tohave said, 'I have several times been at the office,' would have been ahappy clearance of the ground, but her pride would not bend to possibleblame, nor would she run the risk of a prohibition. 'It would be theruin of hope to Alexis, and mamma knows all,' said she to herself.

  It was decided that she should trust to Kalliope to go back with her,for when once Aunt Jane get into the very fishy hamlet of Tideshole,which lay beyond the quarries, there was no knowing when she might getaway, since

  'Alike to her were time and tide, November's snow or July's pride.'

  So after a few days, too wet and tempestuous for any expedition, theyset forth accompanied by Fergus, who rushed in from school in time totreat his aunt as a peripatetic 'Joyce's scientific dialogues.' Valettahad not arrived, and Gillian was in haste to elude her, knowing that heraunt would certainly not take her on to Tideshole, and that there wouldbe no comfort in talking before her; but it was a new thing to have toregard her little sister in the light of a spy, and again she had toreason down a sense of guiltiness. However, her aunt wanted Valetta aslittle as she did; and she had never so rejoiced in Fergus's monologue,'Then this small fly-wheel catches into the Targe one, and so--Don't yousee?'--only pausing for a sound of assent.

  Unacquainted with the private door, Miss Mohun entered the officethrough the showroom, exchanging greetings with the young saleswomen,and finding Miss White putting away her materials.

  Shaking hands, Miss Mohun said--

  'I have brought your friend to make a visit to you while I go on toTideshole. She tells me that you will be kind enough to see her on herway home, if you are going back at the same time.'

  'I shall be delighted,' said Kalliope, with eyes as well as tongue,and no sooner were she and Gillian alone together than she joyfullyexclaimed--

  'Then Miss Mohun knows! You have told her.

  'No--'

  'Oh!' and there were volumes in the intonation. 'I was alarmed when shecame in, and then so glad if it was all over. Dear Miss Merrifield--'

  'Call me Gillian; I have told you to do so before! Phyllis isMiss Merrifield, and I won't be so before my time,' said Gillian,interrupting in a tone more cross than affectionate.

  'I was going to say,' pursued Kalliope, 'that the shock her entrancegave to me proved all the more that we cannot be treating her properly.

  'Never mind that! I did not come about that. She is quite taken withyou, Kally, and wants you more than eve
r to be a Friendly Girl, becauseshe thinks it would be so good for the others who are under you.'

  'They have told me something about it,' said Kalliope thoughtfully.

  'She fancied' added Gillian, 'that perhaps she did not make youunderstand the rights of it, not knowing that you were different fromthe others.'

  'Oh no, it was not that,' said Kalliope. 'Indeed, I hope there isno such nonsense in me. It was what my dear father always warned usagainst; only poor mamma always gets vexed if she does not think we arekeeping ourselves up, and she had just been annoyed at--something, andwe did not know then that it was Lady Merrifield's sister.'

  This was contradictory, but it was evident that, while Kalliope disownedconceit of station for herself, she could not always cross her mother'swishes. It was further elicited that if Lady Flight had taken up thematter there would have been no difficulty. Half a year ago the Flightshad seemed to the young Whites angelic and infallible, and perhapsexpectations had been founded on their patronage; but there had sincebeen a shadow of disappointment, and altogether Kalliope was lessdisposed to believe that my Lady was correct in pronouncing Miss Mohun'scherished society as 'dissentish,' and only calculated for low servantgirls and ladies who wished to meddle in families.

  Clanship made Gillian's indignation almost bring down the office, andher eloquence was scarcely needed, since Kalliope had seen the value tosome of her 'hands' from the class, the library, the recreation-room,and the influence of the ladies, above all, the showing them that itwas possible to have variety and amusement free from vulgar and perilousdissipation; but still she hesitated. She had no time, she said; shecould not attend classes, and she was absolutely necessary at home inthe evenings; but Gillian assured her that nothing was expected fromher but a certain influence in the right direction, and the showing theyounger and giddier that she did not think the Society beneath her.

  'I see all that,' said Kalliope; 'I wish I had not been mistaken atfirst; but, Miss Mer--Gillian, I do not see how I can join it now.'

  'Why not? What do you mean?'

  Kalliope was very unwilling to speak, but at last it came.

  'How can I do this to please your aunt, who thinks better of me than Ideserve, when--Oh! excuse me--I know it is all your kindness--but when Iam allowing you to deceive her--almost, I mean--'

  'Deceive! I never spoke an untrue word to my aunt in my life,' saidGillian, in proud anger; 'but if you think so, Miss White, I had betterhave no more to do with it.'

  'I feel,' said Kalliope, with tears in her eyes, 'as if it might bebetter so, unless Miss Mohun knew all about it.'

  'Well, if you think so, and like to upset all your brother's hopes--'

  'It would be a terrible grief to him, I know, and I don't undervalueyour kindness, indeed I don't; but I cannot be happy about it while MissMohun does not know. I don't understand why you do not tell her.'

  'Because I know there would be a worry and a fuss. Either she would saywe must wait for letters from mamma, or else that Alexis must come toBeechcroft, and all the comfort would be over, and it would be gossipedabout all over the place. Can't you trust me, when I tell you I havewritten it all to my own father and mother, and surely I know my ownfamily best?'

  Kalliope looked half convinced, but she persisted--

  'I suppose you do; only please, till there is a letter from LadyMerrifield, I had rather not go into this Society.'

  'But, Kally, you don't consider. What am I to say to my aunt? What willshe think of you?'

  'I can't help that! I cannot do this while she could feel I wasconniving at what she might not like. Indeed, I cannot. I beg yourpardon, but it goes against me. When shall you be able to hear from LadyMerrifield?'

  'I wrote three weeks ago. I suppose I shall hear about half-way throughDecember, and you know they could telegraph if they wanted to stop it,so I think you might be satisfied.'

  Still Kalliope could not be persuaded, and finally, as a sort ofcompromise, Gillian decided on saying that she would think about it andgive her answer at Christmas; to which she gave a reluctant assent, withone more protest that if there were no objection to the lessons, shecould not see why Miss Mohun should not know of them.

  Peace was barely restored before voices were heard, and in came Fergus,bringing Alexis with him. They had met on the beach road in front of theworks, and Fergus, being as usual full of questions about a crane thatwas swinging blocks of stone into a vessel close to the little pier,his aunt had allowed him to stay to see the work finished, after whichAlexis would take him to join his sister.

  So it came about that they all walked home together very cheerfully,though Gillian was still much vexed under the surface at Kalliope'sold-maidish particularity.

  However, the aunts were not as annoyed at the delay as she expected.Miss Mohun said she would look out some papers that would be convincingand persuasive, and that it might be as well not to enrol Miss White tooimmediately before the Christmas festivities, but to wait till thebooks were begun next year. Plans began to prevail for the Christmasdiversions and entertainments, but the young Merrifields expected tohave nothing to do with these, as they were to meet the rest of thefamily at their eldest uncle's house at Beechcroft; all except Harry,who was to be ordained in the Advent Ember week, and at once begin workwith his cousin David Merrifield in the Black Country. Their aunts wouldnot go with them, as Beechcroft breezes, though her native air, were toocold for Adeline in the winter, and Jane could leave neither her, norher various occupations, and the festivities of all Rockstone.

  It is not easy to say which Gillian most looked forward to: Mysie'spresence, or the absence of the supervision which she imagined herselfto suffer from, because she had set herself to shirk it. She knew sheshould feel more free. But behold! a sudden change, produced by onemorning's letters.

  'It is a beastly shame!'

  'Oh, Fergus! That's not a thing to say,' cried Valetta.

  'I don't care! It is a beastly shame not to go to Beechcroft, and bepoked up here all the holidays.'

  'But you can't when Primrose has got the whooping-cough.'

  'Bother the whooping-cough.'

  'And welcome; but you would find it bother you, I believe.'

  'I shouldn't catch it. I want Wilfred, and to ride the pony, and see thesluice that Uncle Maurice made.'

  'You couldn't if you had the cough.'

  'Then I should stay there instead of coming back to school! I say it ishorrid, and beastly, and abominable, and--'

  'Come, come, Fergus,' here put in Gillian, 'that is very wrong.'

  'You don't hear Gill and me fly out in that way,' added Valetta, 'thoughwe are so sorry about Mysie and Fly.'

  'Oh, you are girls, and don't know what is worth doing. I _will_ say itis beast--'

  'Now don't, Fergus; it is very rude and ungrateful to the aunts. Noneof us like having to stay here and lose our holiday; but it is veryimproper to say so in their own house, and I thought you were so fond ofAunt Jane.'

  'Aunt Jane knows a thing or two, but she isn't Wilfred.'

  'And Wilfred is always teasing you.'

  'Fergus is quite right,' said Miss Mohun, who had been taking offher galoshes in the vestibule while this colloquy was ending in thedining-room; 'it is much better to be bullied by a brother than mademuch of by an aunt, and you know I am very sorry for you all under theinfliction.'

  'Oh, Aunt Jane, we know you are very kind, and--' began Gillian.

  'Never mind, my dear; I know you are making the best of us, and Iam very much obliged to you for standing up for us. It is a greatdisappointment, but I was going to give Fergus a note that I think willconsole him.'

  And out of an envelope which she had just taken from the letter-boxshe handed him a note, which he pulled open and then burst out, 'CousinDavid! Hurrah! Scrumptious!' commencing a war-dance at the same moment.

  'What is it? Has David asked you?' demanded both his sisters at the samemoment.

  'Hurrah! Yes, it is from him. "My dear Fergus, I hope"--hurrah--"H
arry,mm--mm--mm--brothers, 20th mm--mm. Your affectionate cousin, DavidMerrifield."'

  'Let me read it to you,' volunteered Gillian.

  'Wouldn't you like it?'

  'How can you be so silly, Ferg? You can't read it yourself. You don'tknow whether he really asks you.'

  Fergus made a face, and bolted upstairs to gloat, and perhaps perusethe letter, while Valetta rushed after him, whether to be teased orpermitted to assist might be doubtful.

  'He really does ask him,' said Aunt Jane. 'Your cousin David, I mean. Hesays that he and Harry can put up all the three boys between them, andthat they will be very useful in the Christmas festivities of Coalham.'

  'It is very kind of him,' said Gillian in a depressed tone.

  'Fergus will be very happy.'

  'I only hope he will not be bent on finding a coal mine in the gardenwhen he comes back,' said Aunt Jane, smiling; 'but it is rather drearyfor you, my dear. I had been hoping to have Jasper here for at least afew days. Could he not come and fetch Fergus?'

  Gillian's eyes sparkled at the notion; but they fell at once, for Jasperwould be detained by examinations until so late that he would only justbe able to reach Coalham before Christmas Day. Harry was to be ordainedin a fortnight's time to work under his cousin, Mr. David Merrifield,and his young brothers were to meet him immediately after.

  'I wish I could go too,' sighed Gillian, as a hungry yearning for Jasperor for Mysie took possession of her.

  'I wish you could,' said Miss Mohun sympathetically; 'but I am afraidyou must resign yourself to helping us instead.'

  'Oh, Aunt Jane, I did not mean to grumble. It can't be helped, and youare very kind.'

  'Oh, dear!' said poor Miss Jane afterwards in private to her sister,'how I hate being told I am very kind! It just means, "You are a notquite intolerable jailor and despot," with fairly good intentions.'

  'I am sure you are kindness itself, dear Jenny,' responded Miss Adeline.'I am glad they own it! But it is very inconvenient and unlucky thatthat unjustifiable mother should have sent her child to the partyto carry the whooping-cough to poor little Primrose, and Mysie, andPhyllis.'

  'All at one fell swoop! As for Primrose, the worthy Halfpenny is quiteenough for her, and Lily is well out of it; but Fly is a little shrimp,overdone all round, and I don't like the notion of it for her.'

  'And Rotherwood is so wrapped up in her. Poor dear fellow, I hope allwill go well with her.'

  'There is no reason it should not. Delicate children often have it themost lightly. But I am sorry for Gillian, though, if she would let us, Ithink we could make her happy.'

  Gillian meantime, after her first fit of sick longing for her brotherand sister, and sense of disappointment, was finding some consolationin the reflection that had Jasper discovered her instructions to AlexisWhite, he would certainly have 'made no end of a row about it,' andhave laughed to scorn the bare notion of her teaching Greek to acounting-house clerk! But then Jasper was wont to grumble and chafeat all employments--especially beneficent ones--that interfered withdevotion to his lordly self, and on the whole, perhaps he was saferout of the way, as he might have set on the aunts to put a stop to herproceedings. Of Mysie's sympathy she was sure, yet she would haveher scruples about the aunts, and she was a sturdy person, hard toanswer--poor Mysie, whooping away helplessly in the schoolroom atRotherwood! Gillian felt herself heroically good-humoured and resigned.Moreover, here was the Indian letter so long looked for, likely by itsdate to be an answer to the information as to Alexis White's studies.Behold, it did not appear to touch on the subject at all! It wasall about preparations for the double wedding, written in scraps bydifferent hands, at different times, evidently snatched from manyavocations and much interruption. Of mamma there was really least ofall; but squeezed into a corner, scarcely legible, Gillian read, 'Asto lessons, if At. J. approves.' It was evidently an afterthought;and Gillian _could_, and chose to refer it to a certain inquiry aboutlearning the violin, which had never been answered--for the confusionthat reigned at Columbo was plainly unfavourable to attending to minutedetails in home letters.

  The longest portions of the despatch were papa's, since he was stillunable to move about. He wrote:--'Our two "young men" think it probableyou will have invitations from their kith and kin. If this comes topass, you had better accept them, though you will not like to break upthe Christmas party at Beechcroft Court.'

  There being no Christmas party at Beechcroft Court, Gillian, in spite ofher distaste to new people, was not altogether sorry to receive acouple of notes by the same post, the first enclosed in the second, bothforwarded from thence.