The Dowager Lady Tremaine

Front matter

BY MRS. J. B. ALLIOTT. LONDON : ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 1895. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. AN ANXIOUS LETTER - - - I II. FAMILY VOWS - - - 1 4 III. TWIN SOULS - - - - 28 IV. FINDING OUR IDEAL - - "37 V. DUFTON GROVE - - - 5 1 VI. SIR LIONEL AT HISTRINGHAM - - 67 VII. THE UNPLEDGED TREMAINE - - 80 VIII. SIR LIONEL AT TREMAINE HALL - - 89 IX. THE SPIRIT BRIDE - - - 1 04 X. HINDERED LOVE - - - - I 1 5 XI. A PURE FRIENDSHIP - - - I29 XII. THE SPELL BROKEN, AND LOVE TRIUMPHANT

Chapter I. An Anxious Letter

In the breakfast-room of No. 3, Newburn Place, W., sat the Honourable Percy Tremaine frowning over a letter which he had just received. The Honourable Percy had risen earlier than usual on this particular morning in May, and the only reward for his virtue was this vexing letter. He did not swear ; that much must be said to his credit ; at any rate, he did not do so aloud. What went on in his mind can only be guessed, but all the perturbation that showed itself outwardly was seen in a frowning face, an impatient shrug of the gentlemanly shoulders, and a rather savage movement of the white hands, as he folded up the letter and replaced it in its envelope. When neither the butler nor the parlour maid was present, his voice might have been heard uttering a few polite anathemas on the devoted head of some unfortunate, ox fortunate, absentee. ' Simply tyrannical !

That is what I call it,' he muttered. ' To think that I should be ordered about in this way, to suit the whim of a woman of whom I know so little, and for whom I care so little, as Aunt Miriam Amberley! Now, I expect, if I refuse her invitation, she will alter her will, and cut me off with a shilling. I could not stand that, though. Ah ! good-morning, Katie,' he exclaimed, as a young girl entered the breakfast-room. ' Come here and look at this — I had nearly said "confounded letter," forgetting that the Tremaines are pledged not to use strong language. Here it is ; and I expect that you will feel as inclined as I am to use rather strong language when you have taken in its contents.' Kate Tremaine read the letter quietly through, and as her brother watched her, he noted with grim satisfaction the in dignant flush which grew deeper and deeper on her fair cheek. ' Oh, Percy, what a shame !

How dare she !' exclaimed the girl, at length raising her flushed face, with its indignant brown eyes, from the letter. ' To think of Aunt Miriam inviting you to that dull provincial town when the season is at its gayest, and when we were expecting to have such a lovely time. She knows you dare not use strong language about it, as other young men would be sure to do, and that you are pledged to honour the old and the weak ; and she takes advantage of that knowledge to tie y7ou to her apron-strings for the summer. I cannot help saying it is shameful !' ' She knows something else also, my dear innocent girl. She knows that I cannot afford to offend her, as I sorely need her money. We are not rich people, my Kate, as I think you know ; and though I do not get into debt, being, alas ! pledged not to do so, I have never much spare cash, and that is the truth of the matter.' ' Then you mean to sro ?' ' What else could I do, my fair sister ?' ' Well, I think it is just as dishonourable to be looking out for an old lady's favour, in the hope that she may leave you her money when she dies, as to use a few strong expressions, or to get a little into debt, or to marry again if your first wife dies.

Yet all these things the Tre maines pledge themselves against, while scheming to get money is allowed to pass.' ' Yes, but that is a sin which is easier to hide than those sins' which we are pledged to avoid, don't you know. And our Puritan ancestors, who originated those pledges — I nearly said " confounded " again — those old Puritans, in spite of their long faces, and their purity, and all that, had no objection to getting hold of all the money and all the property that they could. There is plenty of evidence to warrant my saying this, and they did not always use the most honourable means, either.' ' Do not talk like that any more, Percy. I think I hear father coming downstairs, and he does not like it. He says that we are the very first of the Tremaines who have been in the least inclined to rebel against those pledges.' ' I cannot believe that ; and as for the paterfamilias, bless him ! he would have been a happier man these eight years had it not been for these con — for these vows.

Without them he would probably have been acting now like a sensible man, in stead of wearing away his dear old life in the company of myths and phantoms.' ' Percy Tremaine ! what are you saying? I am ashamed of you !' exclaimed his sister in hot, indignant tones; and the next moment a gray-haired, mournful -looking man entered the room, who, after bidding his children a quiet 'good-morning,' took his seat at the breakfast -table. Kate seated herself on his right hand and Percy on his left, both of the young people becoming very subdued as they noticed the look of far-away and dreamy gravity on their father's handsome face. They knew the look well, for it had appeared at intervals on his usually animated countenance ever since the death of their mother, some nine or ten years previously. They could only guess at its meaning, however, for very few words were spoken by Lord Tremaine on those occasions.

Now and then he would address one or other of his children in this way : ' Kate, I saw your mother last night, and she gave me this message for you' — then the message would be repeated to her. Or : ' Percy, my boy, I have been talking with your mother in the library, and she wishes you to do so and so.' In spite of what he had hastily said to his sister concerning ' phantoms and myths,' Percy Tremaine, as well as Kate, stood in great awe of these communications, and also of their father's mood when re peating them. On this occasion, looking up from his seat a few moments after taking it, Lord Tremaine said to the butler, who was gray-haired like himself : ' Symes, I perceive that there is no place set opposite me. Please see to that at once.' Without any change of countenance, Symes did as he was bidden, but Kate and Percy could not avoid exchanging glances.

No one had ever been allowed to occupy the seat of Lady Tremaine since her death, either in the London house or at the old hall in the South of England ; and though Lord Tremaine did not refer to the subject, on these days when his children noticed the strange far-away look in his eyes, he was wont to gaze earnestly, from time to time, towards the opposite end of the table, as if scrutinizing some beloved, but to those around invisible, features. Before breakfast was quite over, Lord Tremaine roused himself sufficiently to ask if there were any letters. His son and daughter, however, had been the only recipients that morning, and the former handed his aunt's epistle over to his father for his perusal. Having read it, Lord Tremaine looked up and said : ' Do you intend to accept this invitation, Percy ?' 'What would you advise me to do, father?' ' My boy, I cannot advise you in this matter.

You must decide entirely for yourself. It would not be wise to offend your aunt, for many reasons ; nevertheless, there might arise evils out of your visit to her which would be greater even than those which would follow on yrour dis pleasing her.' ' What sort of evils, father ?' ' There might arise the evil of an un fortunate marriage,' replied Lord Tremaine quietly, fixing his eyes on his son's face. The Honourable Percy started. ' Father !' he exclaimed, almost indig nantly7. ' Yes, my boy, your mother warns you to beware.' Lord Tremaine spoke these words solemnly and emphatically ; then he left the room, and entered his own private sanctum on the other side of the hall. Percy and his sister were once more alone together, for the servants had disappeared before their master's last sentence had been spoken. ' How strange and weird it all seems !' exclaimed Kate. ' Oh, Percy, do you think we, too, are endowed with this wonderful gift of " second sight," which seems to possess father, and which all the Tremaines are supposed to have ?' ' I do not know, Kate.

At any rate, I am glad that we are precluded by our vows from forcing anything of the kind, and from using any sort of mesmeric powers that we may possess. It is only when such things come naturally and spontaneously that they are to be endured for a moment, and I trust fervently that to the end of my life I may be free from any thing of the kind. But let us change the subject, Kate. What are you thinking of doing to-night ? I have a few days to remain in town, and I mean to enjoy them.' ' Oh, Percy, will you take me to the opera to-night, if we can get seats ? For my part, I am glad that our vows do not preclude our going occasionally to see a good opera or play. I had several invi tations for to-night, but have not accepted any of them, so I shall be free if you are.' ' I have nothing of importance on hand, little one, so we will enjoy ourselves in our own way to-night, and I will go at once and try to secure seats.' ' Oh, Percy, it will be dreadful when you are gone, for I shall be obliged to depend on Cousin Charlie Meredith's wife to chaperon me everywhere.' ' Well, she is a nice little woman enough, is she not ?' ' Oh, nice enough for you, but not for me.

She can talk about nothing but men, and she flirts terribly. Still, I believe she is good-hearted, and certainly better than some. I wonder when father will allow me to attend more than one affair in an evening. ' Do not be in too great a hurry for that, my fair sister. You will soon lose your natural bloom, and have to resort to artificial helps, like my Lady Meredith, if you become an out-and-out Society dame, don't you know.' With which words of brotherly warning Percy Tremaine left his sister, and went to secure stalls for that evening's opera.

Chapter II. Family Vows

In the days of old, before the family gained its title, a certain John Tremaine had turned Puritan. He was an eccentric person, and thought a great deal of him self and of his own judgment. It was said that he was in the habit of seeing visions and dreaming strange dreams with a meaning, but he was not the first Tre maine who had held this reputation, neither was he to be the last. It was this John Tremaine who instituted the queer pledges and vows which had to be taken by every heir of the Tremaines before reaching man's estate. He himself took these vows and pledges, and caused his son to do the same. They were mostly vows of purity and wholesome living ; precluding swearing and drinking, enforcing honour to parents, and to the weak and old. But there was one pledge which differed in character from the rest, and which was only laid down as a law on account of old John Tremaine's personal feeling in the matter.

He had suffered in his youth through his stepmother, and having himself kept faithful to his own wife, who had died young, he instituted a pledge binding every heir of the house of Tremaine to one wife only7. A similar vow was to be taken by the bride of the heir before her marriage. And this John Tremaine, who thought himself somewhat of a prophet, had also been good enough to predict that, should this vow be kept, an heir would never fail to the house of Tremaine ; but should it be broken, or should there be any unfaithfulness between husband and wife, the direct line would immediately come to an end. The present Lord Tremaine was the first of the line since that time who outlived his wife, and he was keeping strictly to his pledge, and felt no inclination to do otherwise, for he had loved her dearly, and had chosen her somewhat late in life.

The vows taken by the heirs of Tremaine had materially helped to keep them from hurry ing into imprudent marriages. There were similar vows to be taken by the younger sons, and also by the women of the house ; but these do not concern us, and need not be further dealt with. The Honourable Percy Tremaine was the first of his line who felt disposed to protest against these vows. Not that he had any vicious tendencies, but, unlike his forefathers, he had been educated at one of the great public schools, and then at Oxford, where he felt some of his pledges to be rather burdensome, chiefly because some of his companions, being young men of the world, ridiculed these pledges as the unreasonable vagaries of a mad ancestor of the Tremaines. But if old John Tremaine was a madman, as he was held to be, not only by a few of the youth of the present generation, but by some of his contem poraries and friends, it could not be denied that there was a certain amount of reason in his madness.

Many of the vows which he had instituted had proved a stay and backbone to characters which, left to themselves, might have weakly yielded to the vices of their time. In relation to the gifts of ' second sight ' and intuition which were supposed to be in the family, old John Tremaine had shown his good sense by adding to his list of vows one which precluded any definite inquiry into the mystery of spiritualistic experience, or any deliberate seek ing for such experience. Such visions as came were to be looked upon as God given, but what were sought for were not to be traced to that sacred source. The generations which followed had kept healthy in mind and body, taken as a whole. The husbands loved and clung to their wives, and the wives to their husbands. Worldly pleasure had been indulged in with moderation, the men were strong and handsome, the women healthy and beautiful, and, in spite of a few complainings, both Kate and Percy Tremaine felt in their hearts thankful to their eccentric ancestor who had instituted the vows which they had been compelled to take in early youth.

But another and more powerful influence even than his vows had come into the life of Percy Tremaine while he was at school. His was the kind of nature which unfolds best when steadied by leaning against someone stronger in character and moral tone. Though healthy in mind and strong in body, Percy Tremaine was not very self-reliant, and the strengthening influence of a really helpful boy-friendship came into his life just at the right time, when he was in some danger of being led, by lads of a more daring and vicious type, not only to regard his vows with a sort of goodhumoured impatience, but even with such contempt as would have ultimately led either to his ignoring them altogether or wilfully breaking loose from their restraint. One day, while at Roden School, Percy was trying to explain to some of his wild and reckless companions the nature of the vows which he was required to take.

They were turning everything he said into ridicule, when the group was joined by the head boy of the school, one of those boys who are born to rule, and one whom all treated with respect, and many regarded with sincere affection. Lionel Forsyth had lately lost both his parents. His father, who was a soldier, had died abroad, and the shock of the news had proved too great a blow to his mother, who was a delicate woman, so that a month or two later, just as he was attaining the highest honours of the school, the boy found himself an orphan, cast on the mercy of an uncle from whose influence and example his parents had carefully guarded him. Lionel had been so well trained by both his father and his mother that he had passed unscathed so far through his pathway in life. He had chosen his companions from among the best boys at Roden, and having an intense loathing of everything vile and evil, he had used all his natural ruling power from the first in putting down all the wrong that came in his way ; and so great was his personal influence that his schoolfellows soon learned, if they planned anything mean or underhanded, it would have to be done out of Forsyth's sight.

He was feared by the bad boys as well as loved by the good. In his uncle's home, however, Lionel found that he would be required to lead a different life altogether if there was to be any peace for him. It was a reckless household. His uncle, Sir Anthony Forsyth, was an unmarried man who went his own way, and the way of the world, without thought or care for his future, and he wished his nephew to follow in his own footsteps. That nephew, however, was horror-stricken at what he saw in his uncle's home and life, and turned from it with a sickening sense of loathing. Sir Anthony was ready to make much of the boy, and would have treated him like a prince if he had been able to force him to do as he wished. But when he found Lionel obstinate, he flew into a terrible passion, and sent him back to Roden, telling him that there he should stay7, holiday or no holiday, until he had learned to submit to his betters.

The master of the house where Lionel boarded was astonished to have the boy sent back to him in disgrace, but a few quiet, guarded words that fell from Lionel soon let in some light on the matter, and the tutor felt that he had more reason than ever to honour such a nobly developing character as that which he found in this young pupil of his. The holidays were again approaching — they were the Christmas holidays, and Sir Anthony had written to Lionel begging him to fit into his ways of living, and offering him baits in the way of glowing accounts of the various pleasures which he would have that Christmas if he would only submit, pleasures the mere description of which was enough to make the heart of any healthy -minded boy beat fast, and Lionel was a thoroughly healthy -minded boy. Now he was tempted, terribly tempted, for he knew too well how dull it would be at Roden when all the boys had left and his tutor had gone to spend Christmas with friends.

Lionel Forsyth was pondering over these things on the evening when he entered the schoolroom and found a group of boys gathered round the fire discussing Tremaine's addle-headed vows, as one boy was pleased to call them, and he was soon interested in the talk. ' Tremaine,' he said, ' come here and tell me quietly about these vows.' Tremaine rose and left the group of boys, and he and Forsyth settled them selves in the recess of a window, where they could talk without being interrupted. ' And are you soon to take these pledges, Tremaine ?' asked Lionel. 'Yes, during these holidays, when I shall be fifteen ; but some I took when I was quite a little fellow.' 'Well, Tremaine, I'll tell you what — I should like to take those pledges too ; and I will, if you can send me a copy here, for I've got to remain at school these holidays.' ' You, Forsyth ?

Never !' ' I have, though. You see, I have no home now, Tremaine, and I cannot get on at my uncle's, so he won't have me ; and if I take these vows, he is all the more likely to banish me. But just you send me a copy, and I'll sign them, and next term, and all the rest of our lives, we'll see who can keep them best ; and, Tremaine, mind, those boys are only cads who call them names. You stick to them, my boy, and I'll help you.' 'Thanks awfully, Forsyth,' said Tre maine, with a flush of pride at being so much noticed by the head of the school. ' But,' he added, ' don't you think of staying here, Forsyth. I know the pater will like you, because you are going to sign these pledges, and if you come home with me, I am sure he will make it right with your uncle.' ' Well, I shall be only too glad, thanks, Tremaine, if your father can get Sir Anthony's consent.

You see, he is my guardian now, and I have to submit to him as far as I can.' Lord Tremaine not only obtained Sir Anthony's consent, but also an intimation that he might take the young rascal for good and all if he liked. So it came to pass that Lionel Forsyth spent a good deal of time with the Tremaines, and his influence over Percy was always for good ; and as for Kate, she regarded him as another brother. Lady Tremaine also, up to the time of her death, felt for him as for a son. He was now Sir Lionel Forsyth, as, before many years had passed, Sir Anthony succumbed to his excesses, and died repentant, leaving Lionel sole heir to the title and the estates.

Chapter III. Twin Souls

Mrs. Archibald Amberley sat in her artistically and elegantly-furnished drawing room waiting for her guest. That guest was no other than the Honourable Percy Tremaine, her great - nephew. Mrs. Amberley was aunt to the late Lady Tremaine, and had rather disgraced herself in the eyes of some of her aristocratic relatives by marrying a rich manufacturer. She was quite a middle-aged woman when her marriage took place, and she asked leave of no one, but took her own course. She had now been a widow for some two years, and since her husband's death she had visited London and become interested in the family of her niece, Lady Tremaine, more especially in the handsome and aristocratic Percy. His appearance of careless strength and grace quite fascinated the old lady7, who determined to make him her heir, should he prove a tractable and dutiful nephew.

Mrs. Amberley did not hesitate to make known her intentions in the Tremaine family, and the Honourable Percy was quite human enough to feel a good deal elated at the prospect of one day becoming a rich man, for riches had not abounded in the Tremaine family for many generations; not, indeed, since the time of the father of old John, the man who had instituted these unusual pledges. This earlier Tremaine had been a spendthrift, and had gone a good way towards ruining his house and forfeiting his estate ; but the quiet way of living and wholesome habits of his descen dants had warded off ruin, and even done something to retrieve the fallen fortunes of the family. Still, riches did not abound, and Percy Tremaine felt that his wisest plan was to fall in with his aunt's wishes, even though they might somewhat cross his own, and he therefore decided to accept her invitation to visit her at Histringham.

The old lady had been delighted on receiving the young man's polite and gentlemanly response to her invitation. ' Here is a young man who knows on which side his bread is buttered,' she said to herself, ' and we shall get on together, I think.' Mrs. Amberley was not only a very rich old lady, but a very popular one in the town of Histringham. She had always taken a delight in surrounding herself with young people. Her croquet lawn (it was before the days of tennis) was one of the most frequented in the place, and her croquet-parties, garden-fetes, and dances were thoroughly appreciated. Her husband had been a keen billiard-player, and the billiard-room was still open to many of his friends, both young and old. Playing for money was never allowed in Mrs. Amberley's house, but that did not seem to make any difference to the enjoyment of the players.

Mrs. Amberley crowed in secret over the coming of her guest. There were some young girls among her acquaintances who were educated, and refined, and lady-like, and in whose welfare Mrs. Amberley took a keen interest. If Percy Tremaine were to pick up one of them, it would be a great feather in her cap. So thought the old lady, having no knowledge of the strange ' beware ' which had left the lips of Lord Tremaine on the morning of the arrival of her invitation at Newburn Place. When the Honourable Percy took leave of his father and sister, the old man spoke again on the subject with good sense and feeling ; for, in spite of his strange experi ences, he was a sound-minded and in telligent man. ' Cheer up, Percy, my boy,' he said, seeing that his son looked somewhat down hearted. ' You have seen your aunt Amberley several times.

She is a lady herself, and it is very unlikely that at her house you will meet with any but ladies and gentlemen ; for I think it a great mistake to put down everyone who happens to be in trade, or in a lower social position than ourselves, as vulgar or unrefined. The highest education is received by many who are much our inferiors in social posi tion, and many of them have as refined feelings as ourselves, and as truly noble natures. I should be sorry for you to wed out of your own rank, but trust to your discretion, and I am sure that wherever you go you will prove yourself a true gentleman in both mind and manners, and I could not say this of all who belong to the peerage of Great Britain.' Forsyth met Tremaine at St. Pancras Station, and, having some minutes to spare, the two young men took a few turns up and down the platform together before Percy entered his railway-carriage. ' You will be sure to write me, old fellow, will you not ?' asked Sir Lionel. ' I am more interested in this provincial visit of yours than I was when I saw you off to New York.

I have a sort of feeling — I cannot define it — that great things will issue out of this visit you are making. Perhaps you will meet your twin soul at Histringham. Who knows? If you do, and she has a twin sister, send for me, you know, at once.' ' If I do,' returned Percy, with a slight curl of the lip. ' But, Forsyth, I think you are the one most likely to come across our twin sisters in town. Send for me by all means if you do ; I shall need no second bidding, I can assure O you. ' Trust me,' answered Forsyth, grasping his friend's hand as he turned to enter the carriage ; and soon the train was snorting and puffing away towards Histringham, bearing with it the Honourable Percy, who felt as if a strange cloud hung over him, a kind of fitful presentiment which he could not account for or control.

He and Forsyth had often described to one another the sort of wife each would choose for himself, and, strange to say, they had in their minds such precisely similar ideals that they had decided their suture wives would have to be twin sisters. Only there was this difference : While Forsyth felt that he must rule his wife and be her master, though finding in her a true friend and companion, to whom he would be devoted heart and soul, Tremaine leaned towards a bride with power over him, a strong original mind which should lead him rather than be led by him. The two young men were rather fond of talking about their sister souls, but so far the matter had been more a joke than a serious scheme — on the part of Percy Tre maine, at any rate.

Chapter IV. Finding Our Ideal

' My. dear boy, how pleased I am to see you ! And to think of your leaving your town pleasures at this season to visit an old woman ! That is indeed good of you !' Such was the welcome given by Mrs. Amberley to her great-nephew as he entered her luxurious drawing-room for the first time. ' Very pleased indeed to come, aunt. Awfully good of you to ask me !' answered the young man. Then, as his aunt bustled out to give her orders about the disposal of his luggage, he muttered : ' What a brute I am, and a hypocrite as well ! I dare say the old lady knows well enough why I have condescended to visit her house ; but, after all, should I not have been just as likely to do so had she been poor instead of rich ? Let me think. Yes, I believe I should. The Tremaines, on the whole, are not an ungallant race ; their vows preclude their being so, too.