Her Evil Genius

Chapter I

A RESCUE. Sir Fairfax had much trouble in finding a governess to suit him. A variety of conditions were essential on Nelly's account, and his own fancies were impera tive, of course. Several weeks passed. Under the threat of a mistress, the girl herself began to take pains, to think before she spoke, and to listen. This change of mood drew her to Hal ; ail she remarked, indeed, since coming to England, bad tended to correct that feel ing of impatience which broke the smooth ness of their early relations. A brain so quick and sympathies so keen would not suffer ber to remain long in ignorance of VOL. III. B the patent fact that every one smiled at her speech and manners when they did not venture to reprove. Sir Fairfax was hospitable. Persons came to dinner every night, and she saw their amused surprise ; but it was the behaviour of the servants, perhaps, which struck Nelly most.

She decided that her ways must be altered, and set about the business. Very bard work it was, though Louisa helped with a will. Sir Fairfax authorized Blanch to invite her brother without consulting Hal; the young men were friends, or near enough, and he did not chance to be in the way. It is to be observed that Henry Garbel had passed very lightly over the incident of the letter ; Sir Fairfax hardly remem bered it, and he knew nothing of Mr. Grant. Piecing all the story together, Hal had no doubt where the former gentle man got his information, but it did not actually follow that either he or Dick meant mischief. The question must be investigated, but there was no hurry. He did not hear of the reconciliation until the reply came. Dick wrote Sir Fairfax gratefully, announcing that he would take the first chance of leave — and thus his cousin learned what was impend ing.

The news shocked and irritated him ; in consequence, next day he went to town, and called upon Mr. Grant. There is no need to detail the interview — Grant owned the letter at once, declaring that he wrote at Dick's suggestion, who, it might naturally be supposed, was anxious to ensure his cousin's comfort in a foreign land. When told what had come of these good intentions, the American was distressed extremely, and protested on his honour and conscience that Mr. Plowden would be inexpressibly shocked. After giving this assurance he made no difficulty in writing an account of the transaction ; and then turned to business, calm and practical as if nothing particular had happened, beginning to explain the excellent position ofthe investment. Hal told him briefly to sell out, and left with the confession.

It was not his intent to use it unless Dick provoked him. b Kelly revolted with warmth against the motif which Oliver suggested for her likeness. All the ladies in the Garbel portrait gallery — all, that is, connected by blood with the family, were dressed in silks or muslins or decorous stuffs, and stood, or sat, in more or less decorous attitudes. It would be bad enough to take place among them in camice and short skirts ; but as for running full-tilt out of her frame, into the arms, as it were, of the spectator, all the authority and all the wit that Sir Fairfax could summon were unable to persuade her. In the end, they compromised. Nelly made herself an Indian dress — we may be sure that the camice was not so low, nor the petticoat so short by far, as Hal remembered — but she utterly refused to show her feet, declaring with truth that Nicaragua girls wear white satin slippers on a ceremonial occasion.

To find stockings that matched the costume puzzled Oliver sadly. That question was left to him. In such attire Nelly stood for twenty minutes, very red, very bright of eye and pouting of lip, while the artist made what he could of it. And most unwillingly she sat for the face in ordinary costume. Hal observed these proceedings with distaste. The painter's engagement had silenced him, for if Sir Fairfax approved he could not object ; but he watched with suspicion and hostility. The situation became yet more annoying when Oliver was thrown into familiar relations with Nelly. How she behaved Hal did not know, for he kept aloof at this time. The coolness that had arisen between them, upon grounds which I have hinted, he did not properly understand. This young man's character was open and simple and modest.

The resolute disinclination Blanch had shown towards him returned to his anxious memory when Nelly also o-rew cold. He began to think there was something in his honest face or manner that repelled a girl. The break between them widened therefore. But if he had been present at one of the sittings that annoyed him so much, a quickness of perception which he did not lack would have soothed his jealousy. The interest and attractions which Oliver possessed, no doubt, for the majority of women, made no appeal to Nelly. When she had overcome, to a certain extent, the instinctive dislike of being stared at, which is felt by the semi-civilized maiden, she was kind and grateful again, but quite inappreciative. Sir Fairfax kept them company in general, but whether he or Blanch were present, the conversation was not such as Nelly found diverting.

The train of ideas which seemed original to Sir Fairfax were commonplace to her, and naturally so, if one reflects. For Oliver's leading characteristic was his stubborn return to first principles, to the ways of thought that rule primeval man, rejecting complications and conventionalities. This peculiarity seemed strange to a man so utterly artificial as Sir Fairfax ; but Nelly, of course, found it too simple for remark. Had she listened and understood, or felt interest enough to take part in the conversation, she might have clenched or refuted many an argument. Oliver pere had come and gone, after arranging all that was necessary for the marriage, but his son made no sign. Sir Fairfax recognized that there might be various reasons for delay ; the bride, per haps, was not ready. All the same, his impatience grew.

Blanch also began to think it strange that her lover did not pro pose something definite about marriage. He spoke of it often enough, vaguely dis cussing this scheme and that for the future, but when a sort of project had been formed, next day something quite new arose. This may be very well in the early time of an engagement, though such loose talk did not please Blanch under any circumstances ; but when the settlement and all had been discussed between the elders she thought in her secret soul that some thing much more decided should be brought under consideration. No cool ness arose, however. Mrs. Oliver's visit was announced, and Blanch looked forward to that event for an explanation. Sometimes she felt a little jealous of Nelly, who was detested on other grounds ; but Oliver's manner reassured her.

At this date came a letter from Mrs. Poynings. Hubert Garbel had been a favourite of the old lady's, and she begged to see his daughter at Millingham. Judson wrote, of course, but in her name, and the familiar expressions of a near relative amused Sir Fairfax in the school-boy handwriting of a servant. He replied that a visit was im possible just then, and diverted himself by suggesting that Mrs. Poynings should come to Garbel Court. His astonishment was huge when she accepted, proposing to drive with her own horses, and to em ploy a week on the journey. Sir Fairfax summoned Hal to council. " There is something more in this," he said, " than a wish to see Nelly. Margaret is not so devoted as that." "I scarcely know her, sir. Our relations, such as they are, have been mostly conducted through Judson.

She used to send me a five-pound note punctually at the beginning of each half when I was at school, and I replied dutifully." " This is not Judson's doing. Great as be is, Margaret would not be persuaded nor coerced into taking a week's drive for his amusement. The motive must be stronger." " Well, sir, it's not a very important question, is it ? " " How can you tell that when you don't know what it is ? Your great-aunt must have a vast deal of money, Hal. The estates are at her own disposal, but Poyn ings requested her to bequeath them to his nephew, Jack, ancl she'll do it— a woman so short of ideas will not part with a single one that has ever found lodging in her brain. But there's a great accumu lation of money, and I have never been able to ascertain what she means to do with it. Take my word, that's the motive of her visit."

" To choose an heir ? " " Something of the sort." " Then the matter is certainly not im portant to me. The provision you have HEE EVIL GENIUS. made is much more than enough, grandfather. Nelly and Blanch and Dick are welcome to all Aunt Margaret can leave." " That's your feeling, of course, for you're a generous boy, Hal. But I don't think she'll divide her fortune much. And then, if she could not endure Blanch at Millingham — I told you about that — it does not look encouraging for her chance. Dick she never cared about, I fancy. Margaret is coming to see Nelly with the intention of making her an heiress — that's my belief. And so we come round to auother question." " If I guess what it is, will you spare me?" " I will spare you some remarks that would be superfluous if you guess right. Proceed."

" You were going to ask how I feel to wards Nelly ? I answer, that is not the question. She does not care for me." " Do I understand that you know so much for a fact ? " " It is unnecessary to ask. You can see how it is." " I see nothing of the sort. Half the time since you returned you have been away, and for the rest she scarcely meets you alone. Nelly liked you on the island, I believe ? If you think that a girl can keep exactly the same manners towards a youth whilst her little brain is seething with new ideas, you must suppose her a fool. But the same nature is there ; when she has digested all this novelty, it will come out again." " That's good philosophy, I daresay, grandfather, but you start with the as sumption that Nelly liked me for myself in the beginning. I see no ground for be lieving that.

Of course she was pleased to see a fresh face, and grateful to me for rescuing her, but that was all." " So you think, because you have lost confidence in yourself — as if Nelly had anything beyond mere sex in common with Blanch ! Now, observe, Hal. If I am right in my notion, and your great-aunt declares Nelly her heiress, the situation will be vastly changed. Young men who admire her now are bewildered. It is perfectly well known, because I published the fact, that you will have the great bulk of my fortune, and what Nelly may get is a speculative question. But if it becomes public, as it will, I believe, that she takes all Margaret's money — why, Frank Armitage and Gussy Sillinger, for instance, would propose to-morrow. Their eyes will be opened with avengeance. I knowr the world, Hal, and you may trust my experience."

" If Aunt Margaret's money would make such a difference in Nelly's — " £iWhat a perverse young animal is a lover ! I am not thinking of the effect on her, but on the young fellows of the neigh bourhood. They will come courting in shoals, whilst you stand on your dignity and leave the poor girl to think you don't care a button who wins her. There, get out, Hal ! If it were any other subject your stupidity would irritate me, but the dulness of a boy in love is proverbial." Sir Fairfax wrote at once, expressing the delight which his sister's visit would cause him. She had not waited the reply. When a lady of that size and temper makes up her mind to drive a hundred miles, she falls into one of two humours — eagerness to get the torment over hurries her to precipitation, or the flesh conquers the willing spirit, and she postpones from week to week.

It may be guessed that Mrs. Poynings pursued the former course. She needed a very long time to shape a resolve, and a strong impulsion at the end, perhaps, but she religiously carried it out when formed. The old lady's motive was not that Sir Fairfax imagined, though the matter had its weight as a secondary con sideration. On the very day of the scan dal at her bouse she resolved to tell her brother; but sucb delicate matters could not be entrusted to Judson, and, as Dick had foreseen, days grew into weeks while she pondered. But the discovery of Hubert's daughter, communicated by Sir Fairfax in the driest report possible, brought her hesitation to an end. Some time further passed before Mrs. Poynings could bring herself to act. But at length mental disquiet, and the wish to see Nelly, became more imperative than the dread of bodily inconvenience.

Post by post Judson reported the stages, thus : — "Dear Fairfax, — We left Sillibourne this morning at one p.m., partook of luncheon at Asley, and reached our destination for the night at 7.45 p.m. We are now at Calvesham. It is a dull place, and the hotel is very incommodious. The weather is inclement, but warm. To-morrow we shall take luncheon at Cowper, and sleep at Warwick. I hope you and all your dear ones are well. I support the fatigue tolerably. " Your affectionate sister, "Margaret Poynings." Blanch heard the news with dismay, and even Oliver was discomfited — a surprising complication the lady's appearance might bring. Face to face with her brother, she would doubtless tell the whole story of the disturbance, and Sir Fairfax wrould not overlook it. Then, Mrs. Oliver was ex pected on the day, probably, of Mrs. Poynings' arrival.

Dick also hoped to get leave about the same date. The materials were thus laid for a general con flagration. Oliver turned things over in his mind whilst Blanch sat in tearful expectancy. " You have not yet announced our en gagement to Dick ? " he said kindly, at length. " Not yet." " And Mrs. Poynings doesn't know it either ? " " Grandpapa was just going to write when he received her letter. It is very un likely she would hear by any other means." "Then I'll meet her at Warwick to night — I must start at once." " What a clever idea ! If you can only talk her over ! But, John, how will you get speech with aunt ? " " I shall take Mr. Judson into our con fidence first." " Of course ? Flatter him and treat him as a friend of the family, — then you can get anything from him. Oh ! I feel so relieved !

" " Then give me a grateful kiss — a long one, to last till to-morrow night." He started at once. Perhaps there was a look in Hal's face that evening which told Nelly that he was anxious and distressed. For some time, as I have mentioned, she had been drawing to him again. There were no guests, and she rejoiced. " You ain't got more friends to feed, grandpapa ? So glad ! Don't begin again ! Much comfortabler with you and Hal and Blanch ! " " Your sentiments are flattering, my dear. We shall lose Blanch soon, and do you think the party will be large enough then ? " " Oh, heaps ! But I hope Blanch is not gone yet." " Suppose Hal gets married too ? " Nelly threw a keen glance at him, and then at Hal, but neither could read it. " If he gets married his wife comes, no?" Dinner was announced, and Sir Fairfax offered his arm.

" That would depend," he replied. " Do you think you could love his wife ? " " That would depend ! Say, grandpapa, when young men marries in this country they go to a different house ? " " Generally. We call it the Union for brevity's sake." "Then if Hal marries and I marries, you left all alone in your glory ? But I'll not marries, grandpapa. I stop here till all's blue ! You look, Blauch ? Not pretty, eh ? Can't say better, but grand papa knows." "It's very pretty in your pretty mouth, expressing a pretty little fib. But I'm grateful all the same." Hal did not like this conversation before the servants, and he interrupted : " What a fine trout, sir ! " " If you had dined with us more fre quently of late, you would have seen larger. The stream appears to be very handsomely stocked this season."

" If Stimson can catch trout like that, I must try my hand. Why do you laugh, Nelly ? Do you think I can't throw a fly ? " VOL. III. o " Oh no, Hal. But, grandpapa, Stim son said he catched that fellow ? " " I suppose he did. Why ? " " Because it ain't true ! I catched bim with a worm ! " " Bless me ! Didn't Stimson tell you that fishing with any bait is forbidden in my stream ? " " I don't care ! It's such fun pulling the beggars out when they been to laugh at a chap throwing fly all morning ! " " But, Nelly," said Blanch, " do you really fish with a worm ? " " You come see, one morning ! " " And handle the poor thing ? Ugh ! " " Stimson handles — worms is dirty ! " " But the cruelty, Nelly ! " "Eh? Don't know that!" " These are revelations," said Sir Fairfax. " Then it is to poach my trout that you get up so early ?

" " No, it ain't ! I throw a fly now, and catch little fellows ! But big fellows laugh ; then I poach 'em and eat 'em ! Ah, so nice ! " To see Nelly's eyes sparkle with the humour of vengeance, and her small white teeth gleam, was a pretty sight indeed. " Oh, you folks snore the mornings ! How you do I can't think — when the sun burns, and the trees — I can't say ! And the water — ah ! " " What ! they all burn ! I am glad to have been spared the sight of this general conflagration hitherto. But, Hal, I expect you to look to it no later than to-morrow morning ; and to give me a detailed report of the damage to my property." Hal did not need the hint. To put it by, he said, " You have vastly improved in your English, Nelly." " Louisa and me works — I should think so. When Jack comes, he see ber talk lovely."

" When is Mr. Hammond coming ? Blanch asked. " Very quick. He written Louisa from Greytown three days ago." " She got the letter three days ago, you mean. We must think what to do with that good fellow, sir. I promised him employment, you know." c " I want just such a man on the moor. But he'll have to be married first, eh, Nelly ! You shall make a great ceremony for them." " Louisa marries here ? You dear, good grandpapa ! " She sprang up to kiss him . " Thank you, my dear. You shall have the privilege of catching one trout with a worm for the wedding breakfast." " I catch heaps, grandpapa, no ? Please ! Mornings so dull when a chap can't fish." " Depopulate the stream, my dear, if it gives you any satisfaction." Hal had speedily lost his babit of early rising, as he fell into the old ways of sitting up at night.

It was long after dawn when he awoke, and Nelly bad been out hours ago. Whether she had gone up stream or down stream he had no idea. Taking short cuts through the long fern, he surveyed the bank on one side up to the park wall ; then tried the other. Upon the further shore this way, beyond the house, was the buffaloes' enclosure, a belt of woods surrounding a water-meadow. To prevent the animals; crossing, a weir had been built at the edge of their domain, overhung by a grid, and the stream was embanked above. At this point Hal saw Nelly and Louisa and Stimson gesticulating, and evidently calling to some one across the river. He observed them from a considerable dis tance, for the ground was clear on either bank, though woods encircled it closely. What the cause of their agitation might be he could not conceive, since the cattle were not in sight, and their water-meadow was forbidden ground.

But if any tres passer had wandered there, his situation was perilous. He began to run. Nelly's voice reached him faintly, raised to its highest tone, and he hurried quicker. Presently bis eye caught sight of some thing in the long grass, a child, apparently, standing fifty yards or so from the water. Nelly might well be alarmed, if she knew the habits of the buffaloes. For the sun grew hot, and they, after their early morning feed, would come to drink and wallow in the pools dug for them beside the stream. They generally made their appearance with a rush, ponderously gambolling in the joy of their hearts. And whilst Hal toiled on, half a dozen huge and shaggy creatures trotted from the shelter of the trees, ran bither and thither, tossing their manes and bellow ing. The cows followed by twos and threes ; then in serried rank they thundered down the meadow.

He shouted with excitement and horror. The child stood still, paralyzed with fright. There was a movement in the little party ; Stimson thrust out his hands, but Nelly eluded him, ran lightly across the upper bar ofthe grid, and caught up the child. But the bulls saw her, and changed, their course with speed redoubled. Louisa fell on her knees, screaming ; Stimson yelled and threw his arms about. If the girl had slipped nothing could have saved her. But she ran swiftly, and gained the weir by such a narrow shave that the foremost buffalo brushed ber dress as he charged by. The bar on which she was poised had scarcely greater thickness than a tight rope, and the thuuder of their passage so close staggered the girl. Two or three quick, faltering steps carried her beyond danger ; then she lost her balance and fell into the pool.

Hal knew how deep it was, and remem bered that Nelly could not swim. He did not reflect in that moment of agony that the stream would carry her to the grating in a moment. Panting and breathless he hurried on. Louisa implored the saints in Spanish. Stimson ran out upon the bar, and forth with tumbled crash upon the wrong side. Nelly's laugh was always music to Hal's ear, but it sounded now, just as he gained the bank, like joy-bells of Heaven. She was holding on to the grid, the boy supported in her arms ; and thus watched Stimson struggling and spluttering in the shallow water below. " You will find the spectacle much more amusing on dryland ! " Hal cried, laughing also in relief. " But things catch me here, Hal ! Can't get ! " "What's catched you? A vengeful trout ? " " Don't chaff ! Look, see !

" Nelly showed that her dress was fast. It was no place to dive. Hal let him self drop from the bauk, and found the skirt tangled beyond extrication among the hooks of a stake designed to tear the nets of poachers. " Put the boy safe ! " Nelly exclaimed. " Little beggar cold." Her own teeth began to chatter. Hal landed him, and, swimming back, tore and cut ruthlessly until the dress was freed ; then he aided her to climb back, hand over hand, by the grating. Stimson and Louisa pulled them up the bank. Nelly snatched up the child, and kissed him triumphantly. " Look to them beasts, Hal ! " she cried. "Ain't they sold ! Ugb, you brutes ! Fetch my boy to the house, Stimson, quick ! Now, Hal, I run you for five bobs. One, two, three, away !" She picked up her wet and ragged dress and raced. It was much the best thing they could do.

Hal kept behind, but by the time the door was reached be could hardly have overtaken her had he tried. Nelly turned there, panting, her eyes aglow, and her wet hair all loose. " Ignorant girl knows to run, Hal, eh ? When we get dry I show you something, because you're good now. You wait." The affectionate tone would have brought comfort though he bad been asked to wait in his dripping clothes, but Nelly did not mean that. An hour afterwards she joined him in the breakfast-room, keeping ber hand behind her. " You think this chap a long while, Hal, no ? I ain't been dressing ali time — I've been writing." " Writing ? " She nodded, and with shy but conscious pride offered him an exercise book. It began witb the alphabet, and ended witb long copies, that showed improvement at every page. " You good child !

" he cried in delight. " How long have you been working at this iu secret ? Can you read ? " " Yes. Can you ? Look at the end." He turned to the last pages, and read " I am a naughty girl" down one side, and down the other, "Hal is good for naughty girls." " Then I gets tired," Nelly cried, merrily. " See, I begin, ' I love Hal ' —don't finish." " Never finish, dear ! Stop at that point, and never add nor take away a word ! " " But you mustn't keep my book, I say ! Grandpapa, here's Hal crib my book ! " " Never mind that ! How dare you pre serve a sucking poacher, and introduce him into my very house ? And how dare you risk your life, and the happiness of us all, you ungrateful little savage ? " "You know? — so glad! — Hal, give me my book ! I ain't done ! " " Never ! You would spoil the un finished copy with qualifications !

" "My! All that? But I want it, Hal ! " " It seems that you two don't want me ! " exclaimed Sir Fairfax, pushing them into the window-recess. " Settle your difficulties whilst I get breakfast ! " " There ! Grandpapa mad, and you do it ! Don't play the fool, Hal ! I won't learn no more — not a morsel ! " " You are learned enough for me, Nelly, if you can write .' I love you ! ' Say it in words." " I always knew that much," she answered, not colouring. " And you have learned no more ? No more than when I met you at Ome tepec ? " " Oh, you puzzle a chap ! Grand papa ! " she cried, escaping. " I'm so hungry ! " " Hal is hungrier, I think ! " Sir Fair fax answered, — his meaning look made Nelly blush, though she did not under stand. "Now tell us all about it, little heroine ! You saved a boy ? " " Oh, I forgot the kid !

Where's my kid ? Fetch him, Perkins." " He's asleep, miss, in Mrs. Bull's apartment." " Dear fellow ! He never kicked nor nothing, grandpapa ! Never cried a bit." " Have you found out who the child is, Perkins ? " " A son of Luke Barton, I understand, Sir Fairfax." The old gentleman's brow clouded. " Luke Barton ? I wish you had employed your humane impulses upon a worthier subject then, my dear." Luke was a squatter, that is to say, the representative of a family which in genera tions when land was not so valuable, and rights less strongly enforced than now, had built a wigwam ou some ground un occupied within a mile of the Park gates. They lived there unmolested years enough to give them a freehold of some twenty or thirty yards square ; and Luke's father had raised a hut upon it. In his early days, Sir Fairfax brought a hopeless action of ejectment, spent a deal of money, and lost his case disastrously ; for the Radical faction at Endsleigh supported Barton with cash and valuable evidence.

In his anger, disgust, and contempt at this behaviour of the townspeople, Sir Fairfax sold his property within the borough limits, thus losing all interest in a seat which the Garbels and the Ingrams had occupied turn about for a century. As a further consequence, the Radicals of Endsleigh gained, for a man from Bir mingham or somewhere bought all he could of the houses Sir Fairfax sold, and presently he was returned. Which dis astrous result befell the nation through the wickedness of the squatter at his gates. We may believe Luke Barton was not loved the more. It was not in the baronet's character to persecute any man before the world. I am not sure that he would have scorned to do it privately, but he could not con descend to treat a cottager as his foe. And therefore, when Barton applied for a beer license, Sir Fairfax did not oppose him, but rather the reverse.