Rosslyn Hall. A novel

Chapter I The First Hunt After The Storm

It wanted only a few days to Christinas day, 1882. The snow had nearly gone. A few patches and drifts still lingered behind the hedges and walls, but the open fields were bare. The huntsman and the master had decided that it was time for them to hunt again, and Wednesday of the week before Christmas was the first hunting day after the storm. Fitzjonathan had gone away from Rosslyn Hall. He left just as he had arrived — no vol. m A Aviser. He had not asked Alice to be his Avife. He had not even paid much lover like attention to her during his visit. At least, not after Sir Robert Bassford had gone away. He had not heard Sir Robert mentioned nor referred to in any way, and, in his usual Avay, he had become easy and dilatory, and, as he had promised to come to Rosslyn Hall again at Christmas, he had decided to put off asking the question until his next visit, when he most certainly Avould have the matter settled. ' The matter affects the whole of our future lives, and I Avill have it settled.

I know what her answer will be, although her behaviour has not been very loveable to me. If she supposes that by coldness she Avill draw me on to a proposition, she is mistaken. Young Avomen are variable,' Fitzjonathan thought, as he reclined in a first-class carriage of the Great Northern Raihvay Company, Avhich Avas taking him due north. Young women certainly are variable. Alice had been purposely cold in her manner to him. She did not want him to ask her the great question during that visit. She did not know Avhether she would answer it in the affirmative or no. If he had asked it at Scarborough, she knew how she would have answered it ; but Sir Robert had not appeared then. So all through Fitzjonathan's visit she repelled all his advances, and now that he had gone away seemingly indifferent, she was uneasy and angry with her self.

Noav that he Avas away, she felt to care more for him. After all, she had knoAvn him for a long time, and a love that groAvs up gradually and steadily may not be as hot as one that springs up suddenly, but it is more to be depended upon. Then she kneAV nothing of Sir Robert's character. He might be only a lady-killer, he might have had many a flame, and broken many a lady's heart. Was she to cast away the steady time-proved love of Fitzjonathan for the new, untried passion of a rambling baronet ? Rambling ? A man Avho despised the privi leges of a high position, and the comforts of an easy life, and voluntarily underwent the hardships of a pioneer's existence in pursuit of and for love of science was surely not likely to be a mere lady-killer. No ; the love of such a man Avas certain to be a true, steadfast love.

If he loved science so well, would not his heart, when touched by human lovTe, cling to the object of its love ? Not a doubt of it. Alice Avas perplexed and uneasy. Sometimes she wished that Fitz jonathan would not come again, and some times she wished that Sir Robert Avould stay away. One thing she Avas decided about. She would hunt and enjoy herself, come Avhat might. ' You are all going to hunt to-day, of course,' she said, at the breakfast table on the Wednesday morning. ' I am not,' said Ada. ' Are Ave to leave Miriam here alone?' ' I don't mind it in the least,' said Miriam, who certainly did not look as if she regretted Fitzjonathan's absence. She had 'set her cap ' at so many young men and had seen them pass by her so often, that she had become used to failure and Avas not at all cast doAvn because Fitzjonathan had gone aAvay Avithout having spoken one tender word to her. ' I can talk to that intelligent man, Pool, who is certainly the politest Avorking-man that I ever saw, and eat grapes, until you return.

Don't stay away for me.' ' That is the very reason why I will stay aAA^ay,' said Ada. ' It is only a few days to Christmas now, and I won't have the best of the grapes eaten before then. I will stay at home. It Avill be heavy going to day. Fetlock deep in mud.' 'I think that I will stay at home too,' said Mary. ' I think that the country looks so cheerless after a thaw.' ' Then Rosslyn Hall can only turn out one lady rider,' said Alice. 'Papa, I will not disgrace you — I will hunt with you.' ' Quite right, Alice. I like to see a good meet. We shall havTe good sport to-day,' said Mr Rosslyn. ' The ground is very soft,' said Edward. ' The horses are fresh and strong,' said Alice. ' Noav let us all go, Miriam too, old Turpin Avill carry you quite safely.' ' Oh, dear, I would not leap a hedge on horseback for the world,5 said Miriam. ' A quiet trot on the roads is quite enough for me, and that only in summer.

I don't see any pleasure in getting covered Avith mud from head to foot myself. I would rather keep clean.' ' Well, if we were all alike the world would cease to exist,' said Alice, 'but Ada you ought to go. I don't Avant to be the only lady at the meet.' ' Then stay aAvay,' said Ada. ' I shall not hunt to-day.' Alice said no more, but after breakfast she followed Mary to her room, and asked her to Sso to the hunt. ' I really do not Avish to, Alice.' ' Why ? You must not give way so, Mary. Your health Avill suffer. Come, shake off melancholy. It is ATery romantic to die at the age of tAventy-one for loATe, but it is very foolish. See, I am not melancholy because Fitzjonathan has gone away Avithout asking me the question — not I. Never mind the men, I begin to think that they are asses, as Ada says.

Come, ring for your maid, and get ready.' ' I am afraid that he will be there, and I cannot meet him.' ' Why cannot you ? My word, I Avould meet any man who had insulted me and fling his insults at his face. Come, pluck up your spirits and meet him, and let him see that you do not care a fig for him. I am sure that will bring him to his senses sooner than anything else will. If he hears that you are dying, he will be pleased — his Aranity will be gratified ; but if he sees that you hav^e forgotten him, he Avill be as humble as a AAdiipped hound. Come, I long to meet him. I Avill see that you are not crushed.' ' Very well, I will go, Alice. Perhaps you are right.' ' I am sure that I am. Treat him with contempt to-day. Supreme contempt, and he will he here in three days, my word for it. Now you can act, Ave know, so although you love him, let him see only scornful indiffer ence — not hate, only indifference.' ' Not even that, Alice.

I will not shun meeting him, at any rate ; I have done him no wrong. Will you order the bay mare to be saddled ? ' ' She is not as strong as Lincoln.' ' I know ; but I don't feel equal to him to-day.' ' Very Avell. I will ride Lincoln then. The meet is at Harrowthorpe Vicarage, so it is time to be off.' Half-an-hour later, Mr Rosslyn, Edward, Percy, Alice, and Mary, rode away to the meet. They were all in high spirits ; even Mary's cheeks grew rosy as they jogged along. They had not been on horseback for nearly three weeks, and an indulgence after long abstinence is pleasant. Mr Rosslyn and EdAvard rode first, the three others a little to the rear. Percy Avas in rare spirits, and their laughter rang out in the still air. Alice looked at Mary, and rejoiced to see how much better she looked than she had done for some Aveeks back.

Alice saw that Mary was becoming herself again, and she was glad as she thought of the reception that Charlie Avould receive. He would see that Mary Avas not dying for him. As they got nearer to HarroAvthorpe they saw numbers of hunters going to the meet. ' There is going to be a good meet, at any rate,' said Alice, ' but the first quarter-of-an hour Avill be enough for some of them. It AviU be dreadfully heavy.' ' Hello, there's Charlie Rowell,' said Percy. ' I thought that he Avas ill. Hello there ! ' ' No, no, Percy : let him be,' said Mary, hastily. ' Why, what's the matter ? ' said he, looking at Mary. ' They are not friends, Percy — his fault of course,' said Alice. ' Hurrah !' shouted Percy, 'there's a chance for me again. I never felt much afraid of Charlie, Mary. Oh, you are blushing, are you? ' ' What do you mean, you ridiculous boy ? ' said Mary, smiling all over her face. ' Boy ! ' said Percy, in high dudgeon. 'Ridiculous boy!

Ah! well, I know the time will come when you will regret having said those words. I will be a man yet.' ' I have not a doubt of it, Percy. Don't be offended. I may be glad of you yet ; I am not very much older than you are, you know,' said Mary. ' No, I know ; but you call me " boy," as if you were fifty years old. I am offended. ' ' I Avould let Charlie see Avhat he has lost, Mary,' Avhispered Alice. ' You look beauti ful. Ride well, too, and you Avill be admired. I will change horses with you, ifyou like.' ' No ; thank you, Alice. I am lighter than you, and the mare will carry me quite well.' They soon reached the Vicarage, and mingled amongst the crowd of hunters. Mary did not look at Charlie, but Alice Avatched him, and saw him often look at Mary. Once he rode rather close past her, looking at her all the time.

He Avas got iq) fault lessly and evidently felt proud of himself, and had reckoned upon making a great impres sion upon Mary. When he saAV her looking so Avell and pretty, and never noticing him, but talking so gaily to young Mr Ingleby of Harrowthorpe, he drooped visibly. The starch seemed taken out of his collar, Alice thought, and rejoiced. ' I say, Charlie,' said Percy, ' I thought that you Avere ill.' Charlie was riding past them again. ' Not at all. I am quite well, thank you,' said he stopping. ' I missed you at the Hall, you know, that's all. I don't know that anyone else did, but I don't forget my friends so soon as some people do. Women are very fickle you know. We have had merry times, during the storm. You missed it, I tell you.' ' Oh, no ; I have been quite merry myself,' said Charlie. ' Oh, yes, you are looking well enough.

But when are you coming over again ? You will be cut out ifyou dont turn up soon, man.' Percy whispered the last sentence. Alice and Mary had heard all that Percy had said except the last sentence. Alice looked at Charlie and silently blessed Percy for making him look so utterly miserable — in fact, her antipathy to Charlie Avas groAving dangerous. ' What do you mean ? ' Charlie Avhispered to Percy. ' What do I mean ? You cannot guess, of course not. ' ' I say, is there some other felloAV after her ? ' ' Some other felloAV after her?' said Percy, aloud. ' Oh, yes, and she likes him too, you're in danger, man, your quiet girls don't like trifling with.' Percy AAdiispered the last sentence, and no one but Charlie heard it ; but Mary had heard the first part and her heart leaped Avithin her. Her indifferent manner to him was taking effect very quickly she thought, but she could scarcely help smiling at Charlie.

She could not help turning her face to him, and looking at him. He bowed and took off his cap, although she had not appeared to recognise him. She still did not recognise him, and made no ansAver in any Avay to his boAV, but looked at him as if he Avere a post. He turned his horse and rode aAvay, merely throwing a look of bitter hatred at Mr Ingleby. ' Capital, Mary,' said Alice, ' that cut him to the heart.' ' I wish I had not done it, Alice. He Avanted to be friendly and I Avould not. We should have been all right in half-an-hour, and now he will be bitterly offended. I did not do it in the heat of a quarrel, but in cold blood, and he Avill never speak to me again.' ' Never until to-night,' said Alice ' I am certain that he Avill follow you home this vTery day. You have just made him feel how much he loves you.

He nevTer knew it until he thought that he had lost you.' ' They are moving off to the covert, ladies,' said Mr Ingleby, riding up. ' Thank you. Suppose you shoAv Miss Brandon the Avay, Mr Ingleby. I am afraid the mare will not carry her well. She Avould persist in riding the mare, although it is such a heavy day. Percy will keep near to me no doubt.' ' I shall be delighted, Miss Brandon,' said Mr Ingleby, ' I know every yard of the country round here. You have often hunted from these coverts, Miss Rosslyn.' ' Oh, yes; I knoAV the country pretty Avell,' said Alice. They Avere soon off across country, and enjoyed moderate sport. Mr Ingleby kept so close to Mary, and Avas so attentive to her all day, that she became tired of him, and Avas glad Avhen they Avere jogging home wards again, in the fast closing darkness. ' Well, I havTe enjoyed myself,' said Alice. ' A thought of love had not troubled me.' ' I should have enjoyed myself too, but for Mr Ingleby,' said Mary ; ' he is quite a bore.

Whatever did you set him at me for ? ' ' To keep Charlie off. I knew Ingleby would stick to you all day. But why is one young man's society irksome, and another's pleasant ? Ingleby is a handsome young fellow.' ' His society is pleasant enough, but I did not want it to-day,' said Mary, ' you see Charlie is not following us.' ' I say, did not I make him horribly jealous ? ' said Percy riding up in time to hear Charlie's name mentioned. ' Horribly. You are a genius, Percy,' said Alice. ' Precocious, — I am only a boy. I Avon't speak to my cousin, Mary ; she is a woman.' ' Where are papa and Edward ? ' said Alice. ' Behind. They are Avalking their horses. They are too heavy to hunt this sort of weather. I am tired too.' They were all tired, horses and riders, and not many Avords were spoken all the ride home, and glad Avere all when they passed under the arch into the stable-yard at the Hall. ' Pleasure is a toil after all,' said Alice, as she dismounted. ' And toil is a pleasure too, sometimes, miss,' said the old groom ; for the head and oldest groom always attended to his mistress.

The stable-boys at Rosslyn Hall were proud of their mistresses, for the rest of the county could not turn into the hunting-field such lady riders as the ladiesf rom Rosslyn Hall. ' Well, I never tried that pleasure, Yates. I am glad that you find it so, hoAvever, or you Avould not have much pleasure. The horse is very tired.' ' So I see, miss.' ' Well, what have you been doing all day ? ' asked Alice of Ada and Miriam when they Avere in the sitting-room. ' Oh, just killing time,' said Miriam ; at least, I haATe. Ada has been busy in the conservatory. ' ' I shall haATe some beautiful flowers and fruit for Christmas,' said Ada ; ' much better than Ave have had before.' ' Pool is a genius,' said Alice. ' He is a real genius. I am almost tempted to elope with him,' said Ada. ' If Ave could take the glass-houses with us we would go to-night.

But, nonsense apart, he is the best gardener we have ever had. I am afraid that he is becoming a little unsettled. ' I don't wonder,' said Edward. ' You have praised him until he thinks that he is a clever felloAV, and he Avill be wanting his salary advancing. He is not very clever. We have had incompetent humbugs before, and no wonder, seeing that they have had no one but Miss Ada to look after them.' ' Edward, you are mistaken, Avilfully mistaken. We have ahvays had the best kept grounds in the neighbourhood, and noAv we have the best kept glass-houses, too,' said Ada. ' I say that Pool is a clever gardener, too.' ' Clever gardener or not,' said Percy, ' he is a cleArer football player. But he has refused to play ever since the day Ave played the Nomads. HaATe you refused to let him play ?

If so, I shall have to exert my authority.' ' Peace, boy,' said Alice. ' Boy or not, I am a match for one that Ave met to-day,' said Percy laughing. ' Is not his heart aching now ? Not at all, he has not one. There's the gong not too soon.' ArOL. Ill B

Chapter II Charlie Rowell Goes To London

Whether or no Charlie Rowell's heart Avas aching, he did not appear at Rosslyn Hall, that day, nor the next, nor the next after that neither. But Sir Robert Bassford's heart was aching, and had been aching ever since the day, nay evTer since the moment, when Fitzjonathan had entered the sitting room at Rosslyn Hall. He had believed at once, that Fitzjonathan was Alice's lover and in that belief he had left Rosslyn Hall. He Avas very miserable. He Wed Alice. He Avas nearly thirty years old, he had travelled CHARLIE ROWELL GOES TO LONDON 19 over a great part of the Avorld, both on the beaten tracks and on unbeaten tracks, and hitherto he had resisted the tender passion. He had mixed in the best society of the great American cities, and had resisted suc cessfully the blandishments of the fair American belles.

But he had returned to England, to meet his fate, in the person of Alice Rosslyn. He Avent home from Rosslyn Hall ; but his heart ached no less. It ached so bad, that he went up to London, and there in the society of scientific friends the aching abated considerably. If by any chance he thought of Alice, the aching returned, so he fixed his thoughts as much as he jjossibly could upon other matters. He was a brave man, and a sensible one, and having decided neither to go to Rosslyn Hall nor to keep up the friend ship Avith the Rosslyns, he was trying to forget them, and was succeeding, and in time would have succeeded so well that any chance thought of Alice Rosslyn Avould not have caused any ache at all. He did not believe that marriages are made in heaven. There is far too much selfish impurity and earthly dross in marriages, for any sensible man to believe that.

He did not believe that Alice and he had an affinity for each other, and for no other person. He did believe that he could be happy with Alice, and that she could be happy with him ; but he believed, also, that she could be happy with Fitz jonathan, and that he could be happy with any other worthy young lady. Therefore, seeing that Alice preferred Fitzjonathan, he AAras not fool enough to run his head against the wall ; he Avould put thought of her from his mind, and he kneAV that in time love of her Avould leave his heart. He would lead the life that he had led before he had seen Alice Rosslyn, and if he were not quite as happy at first as he had been, he would take care not to let others see that he was not. He Avould ahvays appear to be happy, and by degrees he Avould really be happy, Avithout any effort.

All this might have been, if he had not met Charlie RoAvell in London on the after noon of the Friday before Christmas. He CHARLIE ROAVELL GOES TO LONDON 21 AA'as walking along CromAvell Road towards South Kensington Museum Avhen they met face to face. ' Good-morning, Sir Robert,' said Charlie. ' I havTe been looking for you.' ' Indeed ! ' ' Yes. I went over to your place in Scant shire yesterday, and then up to London last night. I Avant a few Avords in private with you. Where can Ave go ? ' ' Into the Museum. It is close at hand.' ' Very Avell ; lead the way. ' They did not speak another Avord until they were standing in one of the rooms of the Museum. ' Now, Mr I beg pardon, but I have forgotten your name,' said Sir Robert. I met you at Rosslyn Hall. Hoav are they all there ? ' ' Don't ask me.

I believe that you have been there since I have. I have not for gotten your name. I want to knoAV Avhy you Avent there at all ? ' ' Why, I don't know ; I met Miss Rosslyn and Percy while hunting, and struck up a friendship Avith Percy.' ' And with one of the girls, did you not ? ' said Charlie. ' Well, what if I did ? Was I to ask your permission ? ' ' Yes, you Avere. Do you think it is honourable to come betAveen me and the girl to whom I am engaged, and to induce her to jilt me ? ' ' Man, you are mad. I haA'e induced no girl to do anything. I havTe not been to Rosslyn Hall for nearly three Aveeks,' said Sir Robert. ' But I thought that you were engaged to Miss Brandon ? ' ' So I Avas, until you ajipeared.' ' What have I had to clo Avith your en gagement ? I scarcely spoke tAventy Avords to Miss Brandon.

I thought you Avere meaning Miss Rosslyn. ' ' Hang Miss Rosslyn ! I tell you that after that evening Avhen you Avere there, Mary was cool with me — cool ! — so cold that she rang the bell and ordered me out of the room,' said Charlie, saying more in his anger than he intended saying. ' I am innocent of it.' ' You swear that you never made loAe to Mary ? Did you neA'er do anything to make her think that you loved her ? ' ' Certainly not.' ' Then why did she jilt me ? ' I cannot tell. Did you give her no cause ? ' ' Perhaps I did. I belieA'e that I've been an ass.' ' I think so too. You had better go see Miss Brandon, and demand an explanation from her, not from me.' ' That is the wisest course. You have taken a load off my heart, Sir Robert.' ' I am glad to hear it. Seemingly the load need never have lain there.

Perhaps my load is lying with as little cause. Is Miss Rosslyn engaged to a gentleman named Fitzjonathan ? ' ' No ; I'll stake my existence that she is not. Why, he is a radical, man.' ' But they seemed very fond of him ' Ay ; he's been EdAvard's friend from boy hood, and has visited at the Hall ever since he was a small boy. Don't be afraid of him. He's only a younger son, besides. I say, let us both go together.' ' I cannot go iioav. But Avhat in the Avorld made you jealous of me ? ' said Sir Robert. What made you jealous of Fitzjonathan ?' ' Miss Rosslyn seemed so fond of him and he of her.' ' Well, and did not Miss Brandon seem fond of you ? I'll tell you, Sir Robert, we men are not half up to their tricks. They both did it to make us jealous, but the mischief is that Ave got too jealous.

I'll never take anything seriously that a girl does again, hanged if I will. Well, when shall I tell Alice that you are coming ? ' ' To-morroAv. Do }rou knoAV this Fitz jonathan ? ' ' Oh, yes. I've met him, and hunted Avith him scores of times. He plays cricket in summer, and hunts and shoots in Avinter — and yet he has nothing much of his own. He Avill never ask Alice to have him, and if he does, she will refuse. Don't fear him. But I must catch the five o'clock train from King's Cross ; so Good-bye.' ' Good-bye ; I am very glad that I have seen you, but you haA'e not told me your name yet.' ' Charles RoAvell. Any message ? ' ' I think not.' ' I'll say that I saw you in London, at any rate. Will that do ? ' ' No ; do not mention me at all, please. ' Very well ; Good-bye. ' ' Good-bye.' 'He is a great fool,' thought Sir Robert, as Charlie Avent clattering to- Avards the entrance.

I do hope that he will not tell them that he has seen me. The idea of thinking that I was making love to Miss Brandon ! And folloAA'ing me to charge me with it ! What Avould he have done if I had not denied it ? Challenged me, or reasoned with me ? Well, if such an ass as he can win such a sensible girl as Miss Brandon, why may not I win Alice ? I will try, at any rate.' Sir Robert had arranged to spend the evening Avith several of his friends, and was obliged to go meet them, although he Avould much rather have stayed quietly at his club. In the midst of conversation and cigar smoke he lost the image of Alice from his mind. Charlie RoAvell, hastened to King's Cross and seated himself in a first-class carriage of the five o'clock express for the north. He behaved like a sane man until the train had started, then as he was alone in the compart ment, he whistled, shouted, sang, danced on the floor, tossed his hat about and behaved like an insane man until he Avas tired.

Then he sat doAAm and began to think. ' What in the world am I to say to her ? Tell her that I am an ass, and beg her pardon, and swear never to offend her again ? That will be a lot easier than confessing that I am a fool, though I don't see Avhy I should be so afraid to confess that, for everyone knows it already. Was not I an ass for coming up to London to see Sir Robert? Of course I was, he'll laugh at me every time he sees me. Go to her for an explanation, of course. Why if he liad been thinking of Mary, he would CHARLIE ROAVELL GOES TO LONDON 27 have cudgelled me. I'll go to the meet to morrow, and I will not be put off neither by Percy nor Alice, nor Ingleby neither. I am an ass. Why did I not speak to her as usual ? That's it. I will just ride up to her as if nothing had happened, and begin to talk.

That Avill be better than apologizing, and I shall not look so foolish, although looking foolish is my normal condition, and I should look a fool, if I did not look a fool. But I cannot be such a great fool or Mary Avould neA'er haA'e accepted me. Perhaps she has changed her mind. Perhaps she favours Ingleby. My word, I'll knock him off his horse if he speaks to her to-morrow. Peterborough already, impossible ! It is though, get out here. ' Charlie Avent to the meet on the folloAving' day. He felt happier than he had done since lie quarrelled with Mary, and consequently he looked better. The meet Avas at Crevding Hall, Avhich Avas nearer to Charlie's home than to Rosslyn Hall, and so Charlie was there before Mary Avas. He walked his horse about amongst the croAvd and by-anclbye he saAV the party from Rosslyn Hall appear.

There Avere the three gentlemen, and also three ladies, for Ada was also there. Charlie smiled and looked happy, until he saw Mr Ingleby ride up to Mary and at once begin to talk to her. Charlie rode up to the gentlemen, and bade Good-morning to Mr Rosslyn. ' Good-morning. I do not often see you at the Hall, now ? ' ' Well, sir the fact is that I have not been A'ery well.' ' Ah, it has certainly been a trying time, but you are young and strong,' said Mr Rosslyn. ' I take care of myself, sir. I Avant to live after this year.' Some one else speaking to Mr Rosslyn, Charlie dreAV up alongside Ada. ' Good-morning, Miss Ada,' said he, although she had not noticed him ; he was determined not to be put off.' ' Good-morning, Charlie. Have you been away ? I have not seen you lately,' said she. CHARLIE ROAVELL GOES TO LONDON 29 ' I have not been very Avell — that's all.' ' That is a great fib, Charlie.