For Love or Gold

Chapter I. Miss Davenant

"/^vNLY four o'clock! How early! I fancied I had been asleep for hours ; " and with a movement of intense weariness and impatience, the speaker returned his watch to his pocket, gave vent to a prolonged yawn, and, pulling his straw hat well over his eyes, settled himself again on his cushions, and was soon enjoying the sleep of the righteous. It was a hot afternoon early in June — as the poets call it, " the month of roses " — when the freshness of early summer lies over the land but newly awakened by spring's rosy fingers, and one feels that it is good to live in spite of late frosts and transient sunshine. The skies had for some time past been trying VOL. I. B how much rain they could possibly bestow on Mother Earth ; but on this, the first day of the week, they seemed to have somewhat repented them of their unkind behaviour, and were smiling brightly, whilst little white cloudlets, like angels' feathers, hovered softly upon the horizon, and the sun poured his warm beams upon leaf and flower, lighting in positive beauty the village of Fairwater, which lay like a jewel amongst the lovely Surrey hills.

The stream running through the valley was dear to many a disciple of Izaak Walton, with its moss-covered stones and boulders, over which the clear brown water splashed and gurgled, its quiet little pools overhung with tall bulrushes and water-flags, "And starry river-buds among the sedge, And floating water-lilies broad and bright, in whose shady depths the speckled trout lurked. The sleeper had evidently come out with the intention of indulging in the " gentle craft," for a fly-rod and a fishing basket lay on the bank ; but the river murmured invitingly at his feet without awaking him from his peaceful slumbers. He reclined upon what appeared to be the cushions of a boat, which he had arranged with a due regard to comfort, under a clump of alders. Some distance from him was a meadow ripe with seeding grasses and tall white mar guerites nodding their graceful heads to the dog-roses in the hedges, and within a few yards was a stile leading from the river bank into the meadow.

The afternoon wore on, and the trout were beginning to splash gently amongst the roots of the water-plants, when an inquisitive gnat settled upon the sleeper's hand, and with an exclamation he sat up, pushed his crisp, dark brown curls off his forehead, arranged his collar and tie, and was proceeding to light a cigar, when, lifting his eyes to the stile on his right, he beheld something which caused him the greatest astonishment, and, judging by the flush which stole over his face, not a little embarrassment also. Leaning calmly over the gate, with her cheek resting meditatively on her hand, was a girl. She was clad in a white dress of simple and somewhat old-fashioned make ; it was drawn into a slim round waist by a blue ribbon, whilst ribbons of the same hue adorned the large straw hat which dangled from the post upon which she leant.

The sunbeams had given their colour to the wavy masses of her fair hair, and her eyes were as blue as the forget-me-nots upon the river bank beneath. For nearly a minute the two gazed at one another ; then, seeing a faint smile dimple the girl's soft cheek, the young man rose quickly to his feet, and, hat in hand, approached her. Though he felt covered with confusion at the fact of being found fast asleep by this divinity (he devoutly hoped he had not snored ; the very idea of it made him colour to the roots of his hair), he could not resist smiling as the young lady said, demurely, " I hope I did not disturb your nap." " I really beg your pardon ; I had no idea — : he returned, hesitating. " Oh, don't apologise," said she, with great composure ; " I quite envied you ; I only wish I could sleep all my days away as peacefully as you were doing."

" I hope you had not been watching me long," he replied, in a tone of anxiety, his handsome young face reddening through its healthy brown. " Only about ten minutes or so," with an irrepressible gleam of mischief in her large eyes, at which cool speech he could not restrain a groan, and inwardly wished himself a hun dred miles away ; then, after a rapid survey of his tormentor's charms, he came to the con clusion that upon the whole he would rather remain where he was, for, experienced man of the world as he considered himself, he had never, during his twenty-six years, seen a more perfect face and figure than that confronting him. In this case distance did not lend en chantment. "Are you so very dull here?" he inquired politely, leaning on the gate, and thrilling at the near proximity to those forget-me-not eyes, which looked softly upward for an instant, and noted his tall, well-knit figure.

" Don't mention the word ' dull,' " she re plied, with a graceful shrug; "you have no idea what a dreadful place this is. I have lived here ever since I can remember, and I have been once to London." " Good gracious ! is it possible ? " he exclaimed, with sincere compassion, unable to realize the fact. " Am I not a heathen ? " she interrupted, breaking into a gay little laugh, rippling as silver bells, and which gave him a glimpse of teeth like tiny pearls. " Where do you live, then ? " he asked, the natural curiosity of the sex getting the better of his politeness. "With my aunt, Miss Dacres, at The Elms, near the church. Our establishment consists of two antiquated maid servants, an ancient coachman, and a still more ancient grey horse " " What an existence ! " he exclaimed im pulsively ; " but as you are so candid, you must allow me to introduce myself."

" Do not trouble to do so," she interrupted, with cold composure. " I know all about you. You are the Honourable Richard Anstruther, Lady Ravenholm's younger son, and you are staying at the White Hart, presumably for fishing." "How on earth did you discover that ?" he inquired, with eyes open to their widest ex tent. Oh," with another shrug, " do you not suppose that any stranger coming to this lively place is looked upon with the greatest curiosity ? I defy any one to preserve an incognito here. I knew all about you within twelve hours of your arrival on Friday." Dick Anstruther laughed ; he had had no notion that he was of so much interest to this small world. " You were not at church this morning," she remarked somewhat severely. He reddened, and said rather abashed, " No — I — that is— the river looked so lovely, I went for a row instead."

" You were quite right," returned this extraordinary young lady, nodding her head re assuringly ; "I should have preferred the river also. I have been to church every Sunday, wet or fine, snow or sunshine, for the last five years, with only one exception, and we always have such long, prosy sermons." "And what was the cause of the exception ? " inquired her companion, laughing heartily. "I shammed illness, but I have been perfectly well ever since, for the remedy was worse than any amount of sermons." Dick looked at her with some curiosity ; she was unmistakably a lady, but certainly the oddest compound of self-possession, quaintness, and beauty he had ever met. " Would you like a row now ? " he asked rather timidly, his eyes fixed on a slender white hand, whose taper fingers were trifling with a bunch of dog-roses in her waist-belt.

" I should like it immensely," she returned, with another shy upward glance which caused his heart to throb most unaccountably, " but I dare not ; if aunt only knew how I have been spending this afternoon, I should be condemned to solitary confinement, and bread and water, for at least a week." " What brutality ! " exclaimed Dick, with un necessary vigour, deciding at once in his own mind that the aunt must be a dragfon in petticoats ; " but have you no friends ? " " The two rectory girls, who are devoted to the old women, school children, and babies ! " " No — er — no young men ? " hesitatingly. The girl laughed, and shook her head. " There are two young men in Fairwater — the curate, who is very High Church, fasts once a week, has straw-coloured hair, and weak eyes ; and the doctor's assistant, who would not be so bad if he did not smell so dreadfully of the surgery."

" How awful ! " " Yes, it is rather unpleasant, especially as he sits near us in church, and on a hot Sunday the aroma of rhubarb is very noticeable." Captain Anstruther laughed. " You are really the only man worth looking at that I have seen since my visit to London, three years ago." At this extraordinary statement, made in the clearest and sweetest of voices, Anstruther felt a desperate inclination to blush, seeing which, she continued : — " You need not look conscious. Probably, if I went to town now, I should see dozens of young men quite as handsome ; " which speech had somewhat the same effect as a douche of cold water. Certainly this girl was very original. " It is getting late, and aunt will be wanting her tea ; so, sorry as I am to leave you, I must go," she said, after a pause. " Good-bye," replied Anstruther ; " but will you not shake hands with me," holding out a slim brown one, "and," eagerly, "we shall meet again, shall we not ?

" " The world is small," she replied, giving him a soft little hand, which he clasped with considerable warmth. "Au revoir" she con tinued, a faint smile curling her red lips ; " we shall meet again." He watched her until she was out of sight, admiring her tall, graceful figure, and hoping that she would vouchsafe him one more look : but he was disappointed ; not once did she turn her head ; and when a bend of the road hid her from his gaze, somehow the beauty of the day seemed gone, and it had grown dull and overcast. He took out his pipe and lighted it, and after the first enjoyable whiff, exclaimed, " What an adventure ! " After another interval of tobacco, " I wonder who she is." " Why," in a tone of intense disgust, " what a fool I must be not to discover her name ! Niece to Miss Dacres ; I must ask mine host of the White Hart ; doubtless he can give me all particulars.

What a lovely girl, to be sure ! There's not a woman in town who can touch her in point of looks. Poor child ! she must be lonely, too ! " and here he laughed heartily as he thought of the interesting description she had given him of her neighbours. "Not much chance though of improving our acquaintance if George Balfour comes to-morrow ; however, he may not turn up after all, especially as he says his governor thinks he has had too many holidays lately. Upon my word, I almost hope he won't ; " and Captain Anstruther, who had been anxiously looking forward to his friend's arrival, and longing for his company, for the last forty-eight hours, began to think that after all he would be able to dispose of his time very pleasantly without him. Impatient to discover more of the divinity who had crossed his path this afternoon, and unmindful of the gentle splashes in the river, where the speckled water beauties were en joying their evening meal, he got into his boat and pulled rapidly down the stream to the village inn, the two best rooms of which had been allotted to him.

Mine host was sitting in the porch enjoying the fresh air, with a pewter beside him, and a pipe of formidable size between his lips ; here Captain Anstruther presently joined him, and, handing him his tobacco pouch, commenced a few leading questions respecting Fairwater and its inhabitants ; and mine host, who dearly loved a gossip, and delighted with the con descension of his aristocratic lodger, soon put him in possession of everything likely to interest him. " Who lives in that pretty little place by the church ? " inquired Dick, drawing somewhat on his imagination, as his informant paused for a pull at the pewter. " Do you mean The Elms, sir ? " Yes, I think that is the name." " A maiden lady, sir, of the name of Dacres, — a very grim, starchy lady, too, though one as we all respect." " Does she live alone ?

" asked Dick, seemingly much engaged in making his pipe draw. " Yes, sir ; leastways, a horphan niece lives with her." " Indeed ! and is she a Miss Dacres, too ? " " No, sir; her name is Miss Cynthia Dave nant." Here Dick gave a sigh of relief; he had been so afraid it might be Sarah or Jane, or some other commonplace name, and so utterly unsuited to the lovely face of his new acquaintance. " Rather Frenchified sort of a name, too," continued the old man ; " they do say as her father was a foreign gent, but no one about here has ever seen him." "Really! and is she an old maid, too?" pursued Captain Anstruther calmly, pulling at a bush of late wallflowers, which were filling the air with their fragrance. Mine host gave a quiet chuckle. " Not she, sir ; she's a very likely young lady, about eighteen, I should say, but very high and haughty to all of us.

Ah, she's a proud 'un, she is." " Pretty ? " inquired Dick, with much gravity. " That's as you think, sir ; not colour enough, to my mind." " Confound his impudence ! " muttered Cap tain Anstruther, aglow with indignation, as, with an impatient gesture, he rose, and, mut tering something to the effect that his dinner must be ready, stepped into the house. He felt dreadfully put out by that last sen tence, quite needlessly so, he thought, as after all it could not possibly matter to him whether Tom Clark of the White Hart admired Miss Davenant's patrician style of beauty or not. After his solitary dinner, being possessed by a seeling of restlessness for which he could not account, Captain Anstruther set out for a long ramble. It was a perfect evening for a walk, the air blowing softly from the river laden with the odour of meadow-sweet and honeysuckle, the sun throwing purple shadows on the distant hills and cool green fields, where the patient cows stood knee-deep in lush grass and golden buttercups.

Either by intention or accident — which he scarcely knew — he returned to Fair water by the church, and turning a corner of the old churchyard, where the dust of many genera tions slumbered peacefully, he came upon The Elms. It was a low-built, rambling old house, surrounded by a high brick wall enclosing a large garden full of shady nooks and corners ; and having walked round it, he was quick to note that in one side of the wall was a wicket gate opening on to a rose walk, at the end of which was a small boathouse, now seemingly of little use, built upon the river bank ; and he also remarked that this same piece of the river was entirely out of sight of the house, and led to the backwater. As he passed the church, service was just over, and coming out of the gate was a tall, thin, angular old lady, who marched past him with her head very erect, and an expression which seemed to say that she considered him a veritable son of Belial.

She had a long, sallow face, with straight bands of black hair brought under her ears ; she wore an uncompromising bonnet of Quaker-like appearance, and carried her prayer-books in an old-fashioned reticule on her arm. By her side walked Cynthia Davenant ; and the young man flushed with surprise and pleasure at again beholding her ; but she did not glance at him, but walked demurely on, her eyes bent upon the ground, not the flicker of an eyelash, nor the smallest change in her beautiful, clear-cut face betraying recognition. " What an insufferable nuisance those young men are, idling about here on Sunday ! " remarked Miss Dacres, as she shut her gate with an angry click ; " it is a great drawback to Fair water, having so many good-for-nothing men here during the fishing season. That fellow was staring in a most impertinent manner."

" Did he stare at you, aunt ? I did not notice him," returned Miss Davenant, with calm disdain. The old lady looked at her sharply, and re plied with grim humour, " I did not accuse him of staring at me ; and I was glad to see, Cynthia, that you took no heed of him." " Idle young men do not interest me, aunt." Miss Dacres again looked at her, and shook her head rather dubiously. " What an old dragon ! " thought Captain Anstruther, as he watched them into the garden. " Poor little girl, what a life she must lead with that old woman ! How sweet, and pure, and lovely she looked ! " It is said that pity is akin to love — at all events, it very often leads to it. When Dick retired to rest that night he began to fear he was in danger of losing his heart, and by way of effecting a cure determined to do his best to enliven Miss Davenant's loneliness as long as he stayed at Fairwater.

Perhaps he would not have pitied his divinity so much could he have seen her in her room, after bidding her aunt good-night. Locking her door, she opened an old fashioned bureau, and drew out a volume of the Peerage, which she perused for some time with great attention ; then kneeling down before her looking-glass so that the light from her solitary candle fell upon her fair face, she surveyed herself for some seconds very critically. Then rising, she put away the ponderous volume, and giving a shrug with her lovely shoulders, exclaimed,— "Just like my luck! What a pity he is the younger son ! Why did not Fate send his brother here instead of him ? However, beggars must not be choosers." vol. 1. c

Chapter II. An Awkward Encounter

T3 ICHARD SARTORIS ANSTRU -*- THER was the only brother of the present Lord Ravenholm, who had succeeded to the title on the death of his father about two years previously, and with it to a handsome rent-roll, a fine estate in Leicestershire, a charming old castle with a deer forest and several thousand acres of shooting in the Highlands, and the family mansion in Belgrave Square, where his mother resided during the season and most of the winter months. Richard was now in the — th Lancers. Though very young at the time, he had greatly distinguished himself in the Zulu War, which occurred after he had joined the army about a year, and was the cause of his rapid pro motion. He was his mother's favourite son ; she doted on the handsome, high-spirited lad, who could do no wrong in her eyes, though his daring and upright nature, which scorned to hide a fault, often led him into sad scrapes both at Eton and at home.

Eustace, his brother, was three years his senior, and was still un married, though many and dangerous had been the matrimonial snares spread for him, but which, thanks to a cool head and heart, he had successfully eluded. Lady Ravenholm's chief ambition was to see him in Parliament, but unfortunately the young peer was too fond of racing, hunting, and other sports to indulge his mother in her favourite scheme. " No, mother," he would say, when she remonstrated with him on his useless, purposeless life ; " let me be ; one of these days I shall be bound to marry, then I may do my duty in that state of life, etc., as we say in the catechism ; but at present I am very happy as In am. And then Lady Ravenholm would sigh, and wish, not unnaturally, that her younger son had made his appearance in this world before his brother; though, had such been the case, Richard would have disappointed her, being quite as unfitted for a parliamentary career, as he was a thorough soldier, and devoted to his profession.

His friend George Balfour was of a very different stamp. He was the only son of a wealthy banker, whose name and reputation stood high in the City, and he and Richard Anstruther had been schoolfellows and firm allies from their earliest years. George was a partner in his father's firm, but had inherited a passion for art from his mother, who was of high birth, and had married Mr. Balfour for his pecuniary advantages, but who turned up her aristocratic nose at trade, the City, and all her husband's acquaintances. But she had not lived long to enjoy her wealth ; Mr. Balfour found himself a widower after three years of wedded bliss, and from the day his wife died a warm affection had sprung up in his heart for his little motherless son, whom he had before scarcely noticed, which was reciprocated in a degree somewhat remarkable in these days of progression, when young men are apt to think they possess the knowledge only to be gained by experience, and are inclined to treat parental authority as emanating from old fogies, whom it is scarcely worth their while to treat with deference or respect.

Certainly George Balfour disliked the City as much as his mother had done, but he generally put in an appearance at the smoky offices where Mr. Balfour spent the better part of his days, and, indeed, would have been anything but pleased had circumstances prevented him doing so. All George's spare time was given to paint ing ; he was an artist of no common merit, and would gladly have adopted it as a profession had not his affection for his father caused him to bow to his wishes. Mr. Balfour was a thorough man of business, and would fain have had his son follow in his footsteps ; but like a duck hatched in a hen's nest, the latter's tastes were utterly opposed to his own, and George went his way, made friends in a different circle to his father's acquaintances, and was popular everywhere. He was open-hearted, and gene rous to a fault ; could sing, play, ride, and dance, could be grave or gay according to the company in which he found himself ; but withal he had inherited one trait in the paternal character, he was extremely shrewd and self reliant ; as some of his friends would say laughingly, " One would have to get up very early in the morning to be even with George Balfour."

Such was the young man whom Captain Anstruther expected to join him at Fairwater, and whom he met at the station on Monday afternoon in compliance with a telegram re ceived an hour or so before. " Glad to see you, old man," was his greeting as he shook him warmly by the hand. " Well, I hope you have brought enough luggage," glancing at the numerous portmanteaus, hat boxes, fishing-rods, etc., surrounding him ; " really," laughing, " one would think you had come to the Antipodes ; may I inquire how long you think of remaining here ? " " Oh, about a week or so," returned Balfour coolly ; " the pater has given me leave for ten days, so I shall see how I get on. I shall let you fish whilst I paint ; the scenery here is delicious, and I hope to find a rustic maiden or two who will give me a sitting."

" Won't a rustic of the sterner sex do as well ? " inquired his friend as they got into Captain Anstruther's dog-cart, and drove off to the White Hart, distant about three miles. " Not so picturesque, my dear Dick ; femi nine element adds a charm to all artistic work. But I have no end of messages for you. Met Lady Ravenholm last night at Mrs. Raynor's 'reception'; she sent her love, and seemed rather astonished at your sudden freak of fish ing ; thought you were hard at work at Alder shot ; so I told her you were a little knocked up with the sun, field-days, etc., and that I was coming down to-day to take care of you. Seriously, though, Dick, I did not know that you cared for the ' gentle craft ' ; what pos sessed you to come here ? " asked Balfour, looking shrewdly at his friend with a pair of very dark, deep-set grey eyes.

" Fate," answered the other dreamily ; " no — nonsense, I mean that I was sick to death of the sand, dust, and everything else ; of course I ought to be in town, but town means high hats, stiff collars, tight boots, late hours, and " " Pretty girls," interpolated George. " And I thought a quiet week or so would suit me better ; we are in thoroughly comfortable quarters, George ; you shall paint uninter ruptedly, and I shall — er — fish." Balfour gave a quiet smile, which Captain Anstruther did not notice. " By the bye, George, what did Kitty say to my defection ? " " Miss Charteris sent her love, and said you were a bad boy, and that she did not believe in the fishing ; that she misses you dreadfully, and hopes you will be able to get a week in town before the season is over. And really, Dick, I think you ought to do so."

" Yes, I mean to run up for a few days after Ascot ; at present the dolce far niente suits me exactly." By this time they had arrived at their desti nation, and as they alighted, an antiquated looking chaise passed them, drawn by a fat, sleepy, grey cob, and driven by Miss Dave nant, Miss Dacres sitting bolt upright beside her. Captain Anstruther's hand went up involun tarily to his hat, but he checked himself in stantly, and a slight accession of colour came into his bronzed face as Balfour dryly remarked, " A lovely girl, Dick. I begin to suspect other attractions than fish. Any chance of making her acquaintance, or have you already broken the ice ? She would look charmingon canvas in that broad-brimmed hat." " Oh, shut up ! " growled Dick, disappearing into the house ; and George Balfour gave an amused laugh, and followed him.

Miss Davenant drove through the village and stopped at a low white house on the out skirts ; here the small boy, who sat behind, descended from his perch, and went to the cob's head, though it was scarcely necessary, as there was not the slightest fear of the animal bolting. Cynthia then assisted her aunt to alight ; the old lady entered the garden gate, which a neat maid-servant was holding open for her, and saying, " You will fetch me at six o'clock, Cyn thia ; do not be late," walked up the path and into the hall. Her niece took the reins and drove slowly off, but when she reached the turn in the road she laid the whip vigorously across the cob's back (much to the inward delight of the urchin behind, judging by his countenance), causing the animal to quicken his pace considerably, and to pass the White Hart in style ; but there was no one to admire her, not a soul to be seen.

Arriving at The Elms, she told the boy to be sure and bring the chaise round at a quarter before six, and then went into the parlour such a dull, dreary room, the furniture old and heavy, a shining mahogany table guiltless of covering in the centre, and a long row of stiff, back-dislocating chairs seemingly glued to the wall ; but this apartment opened on to a vel vety lawn, and beds gay with geraniums and roses. On the table was a pile of house linen, and Cynthia threw off her hat, and sitting down wearily in an arm-chair near the window, took up a tablecloth, and commenced darning, not very neatly either. " Oh, how sick I am of this life!" she sighed presently, letting the cum bersome work fall from her knees on to the floor — " fancy on a day like this being set to mend this hateful stuff!

Why was I not born a man ? then I could go out into the world and seek my fortune. I wonder who that was with Mr. Anstruther, perhaps his brother — he is not very good-looking. I wonder how long I shall go on dragging out this monotonous existence ? I hate it ! and I hate Aunt Ann, and every one, and everything, here ! " and she clasped her hands together, and a few bitter tears stole into her eyes. " If something doesn't happen before long to break this awful dreariness, I shall go mad, or run away. I wonder what Mr. An struther thought of me the other day ? I am afraid my conduct was scarcely exemplary — at least so Aunt Ann would say ; but what is the use of being pretty where there is no one to admire one " — here a soft smile crept slowly over her face — " I wonder what he is doing now ? it is only four o'clock, I am not to fetch aunt till six."