Queenie's Whim. A novel

Chapter I. In The Gloaming

" So she loved, and she was happy, As if walking in Paradise ; Naj', as heaven he seemed above her, This love of her own heart's choice. It was not his birth or riches, But that he was born to bless, With the treasure of his wisdom, And the wealth of his tenderness." Isa Craig-Knox. Dora's sleep was quite peaceful and unbroken, Avhile Garth tossed restlessly on his bed half the night, staring open-eyed into the darkness. She came doAvn in the morning in her pretty travel ling dress looking as fresh and bright as possible. in. She A\'as not eA^en pale as she had been the previous evening ; possibly the excitement of last night had stimulated her, and roused her from her sadness. She was thinkin.* more of Flo than of Garth this morning. With all her coolness of judgment, and her disposition to meddle in all things spiritual and material, Dora clearly loved her young sisters, and was warmly beloved by them in return.

Beatrix was at times almost too much for her, with her helplessness and impulsive Avays, but Flo was to her as the apple of her eye. "My poor Flo, I hope they Avill not have cut off her hair, papa," she observed, tenderly ■ " she has such pretty hair, though it is darker than mine." "Ab, Dorrie, my dear, it is a bad business I fear," returned her father mournfully. " I always said that I disliked those foreign schools ; and then those German doctors ! " " Now, papa, it is only Beattie's absurd letter has made you so faint-hearted," replied Dora cheerfully, " as though girls of seventeen are to be trusted, and Beattie especially ! " " I think Beatrix is remarkably sensible for her a_*e," observed Garth in a caustic tone. " I O 3 cannot understand your always under-valuing her ; in my opinion she has twice the amount of common sense that Florence has," he Avent on in a contradictory manner.

Garth had slept badly, a rare occurrence in his healthy, well-regulated life, and one that he Avas likely to remember for a long time Avith a sense of injury ; and he was irritable in consequence, and in a bad humor with himself and all the Avorld. Nothing would have pleased him better this morning than a downright quarrel AA'ith Dora ; but Dora's perfect temper was invulne rable. " That only shows hoAv men judge of girls' characters," she returned, with a little shrug and an amused smile. " Because Beattie is better looking, and has a nice complexion, she is en dowed with a double portion of common sense. Oh, you men ! " shaking her head and laughing in a pitying sort of way. " We men are tolerably hard in our judgment sometimes," returned Garth, looking at her Avith 40* a gleam of anger in his eyes ; but Dora took no notice of the illconcealed sarcasm.

It was so natural for him to feel sore, poor fellow, under the circumstances. She thought it would AA'ant a good deal of coaxing and finesse to charm him into good humor a_*ain. She was very considerate and mindful of his comfort throughout the whole of breakfast-time, sAA*eeten iug and preparing his coffee with extra care, and eATen bringing him some faArorite sauce Avith her own hands * but her little OA'ertures towards re conciliation were all rejected. Garth put the sauce away somewhat ostentatiously, and bore himself as though he had received an injury for A\*hich there could be no forgiveness. He stood aloof as the seiwants crowded round the door and the young mistress dispensed her parting injunc tion. When the luggage AA*as on the carriao-e, and the Vicar had taken clown his felt hat, he came forward and handed Dora into the carriaoe AA'ith much dignity.

" I hope you will have a tolerably pleasant journey, and find the invalid better," he said very gravely ; " please give my love to Beatrix." He had not spoken more than a dozen words throughout the whole of breakfast time, but he could not forbear this parting thrust. "And not to Flo! not to poor darling Flo ! " returned Dora, looking at him with re proachful sweetness. " Oh, you poor fellow, I am so sorry for you," her eyes seemed to say, as she waved her hand, and the carriage disappeared down the village. Garth threw his portmanteau into the dog cart somewhat vehemently when it came up to the door. The old nurse put her hand on his arm Avith the familiarity of a trusted friend, and tried to detain him, but he was in no mood for her garrulity. "Dear Miss Dora, she is a blessing to us all, is she not, Mr. Clayton ? such a pretty creature, and with such wise, womanly Avays * for all the world like her mother," cried nurse, A\*ith the ready tear of old age trickling down her wrinkled cheek.

" The others are dear girls, bless their sweet faces, but they are not equal to Miss Dora." " Of course not, nurse ; there could not be two such paragons in one house," returned Garth, squeezing the old Avoman's hard hand, and trying to whistle as he mounted to his seat and took the reins in hand, but the whistle was a failure. He looked up at the porch-room someAvhat bitterly as he drove off. He was shaking off the dust of the place from his feet, so he told himself, but there was a hard, resentful pain at his heart as he did so. No one knew what to make of the young master when he appeared hot and dusty at the works. Two or three of the men had been soundly rated for some slight omission of duty, and one of the severest lectures that he had eATer received from his brother had been dinned into Ted's astonished ear.

" I am sick of your laziness and want of punctuality ; if you cannot fulfil your duties properly you must find work elseAvhere," stormed the young master of Warstdale. With all his sweet temper, Ted had much ado not to flare up and get into a passion. " Haven't we all caught it nicely at the Avorks ! there is a screw loose somewhere," observed Ted confidentially to his sisters that evening, as Garth droATe the dog - cart round to the stables. The brothers had driven home from the quarry in perfect silence, and Ted, who was still a little sore over the rating he had received, had made no attempt to promote cheerfulness. " I hope there is nothing Avrong between him and Dora," observed Langley, dropping her work a little anxiously. Poor soul, her own troubles had made her nervous ; but on that point Ted could not enj lighten her.

Evidently Garth had attempted to recover his temper, for he came in presently, and greeted his sisters affectionately. " I hope you have lost your headache, Lang ley \ " he said, as he took up the paper knife and the latest periodical, and withdrew with them to the window. " Did you see them off ? Have they had any better accounts of Florence ? You look tired and done up, Garth," enquired his sister anxiously. " Yes ; they went off all right. Miss Cunning ham sends her love to you and Cathy. They made queenie's whim. me very comfortable as usual, and gave me my old room." Garth Avas trying to read by the evening light, and his face was hidden. " One is always comfortable at the Vicarage ; Dora is such a capital manager," returned Lang ley, feeling her Avay in feminine fashion. " Poor girl, Florence's illness must be a sad trial to her."

" Humph ! she takes it as coolly as she does most things. When are the lights coming, and what has become of tea ? " demanded Garth, a little irritably ; and Langley knew that she was not to ask any more questions. A good night's rest did much towards restoring Garth's outward equanimity, but he still chafed secretly under the mortification he had under gone with a soreness that surprised himself. The check he had received had angered and em bittered him. He was not in love Avith Dora, after the usual interpretation of the Avord ; nevertheless, her yoke lay heavy upon him. The friendship between them had grown with his growth ; he had learned to see with her eyes, and read Avith her judgment. In a cool, temperate sort of way he had loved and wooed her from his earliest manhood. He had been a trifle indifferent to Avomen in general.

When the time came to take a wife, that wife should be Dora. But noAV the plan of his life was disarranged. He had waited long enough, and now he told himself that no more time should be given her ■ he would shake off the dust of the place from his feet ; he would bear himself as a stranger towards her and her belongings ; but even Avhile his indig nation was hot Avithin him, he knew that such resolution Avould be vain. Not even now had he Avholly relinquished all hopes of her. True, she had sinned against him, and the gravity of the offence demanded a fitting punishment. Well, he Avould hold aloof from her, and treat her on all occasions Avith studied coldness, until she would rid her self of this womanish folly, and capitulate on his own terms. Then, and then only, Avould he for give her, and raise her to the former measure of his favor.

The surrender on her part must be total. There should be no softness, no half measures, no conciliating persuasion on his ; for queenie's avhim. 10 the future it should be yea, yea, or at least nay, nay, between them. Garth was just in that dangerous mood Avhen a straw might decide the current of his will, Avhen a trifle might Aviden the breach which a word at one time could have sj-anned. Dora had little idea of the danger she risked Avhen she sent her loA*er from her dis contented and dissatisfied. " You may find it A*ery difficult to recall me, Dora," he had said to her, with some instinctive prevision of the truth, but she had not believed him. For the first time the young master of Warstdale found himself restless and unhappy ; his sleep less night still abided in his mind as an unde served and lasting injury.

The next day had set in Avet and stormy ; heavy autumnal rains swept across the moors, and flooded the country road, and the little straggling* toAvn of HepshaAV. Garth had driven himself and Ted in the same taciturn fashion from the quarry, and both had entered the house, shivering and uncomfortable, in their dripping garments. " Oh you poor dear creatures," cried Cathy, flying out into the hall to receive them ; but Ted Avaved her off graA'ely, and shook himself like a wet NeAvfoundland. '"Talk not of wasted young raindrops ! these raindrops never are wasted. If they enrich not the coat of my brother, their waters returning Back to my hat, shall fill it full of brown moisture ; For that which the Ulster sends forth returns again to the oilcloth. Patience, accomplish thy labor ; accomplish thy shaking, my brother ; Broad-cloth and buckskin are strong, and patience and muscle are stronger.' " " Bosh," groAvled Garth in a sulky undertone, as he pushed past him somewhat curtly.

Ted shook his head mournfully. " ' I knew a young man nice to see,' ' continued the incorrigible boy ; " ' Beware ! beware ! Trust him not, he will bully thee ; Take care ! take care ! ' " Whatever is the matter Avith him, Teddie dear ? " asked his sister coaxingly. "Hush!" in a melodramatic tone; "meddle not with mysteries that belong not to thy female province, Catherina mia. How do you knoAv Avhat dark deed fetters the conscience of that queenie's whim. 12 unhappy young man ? Did you remark the gleam in his eye, the frown on his brow, as he rushed past me just noAv ? remorse only could have kindled that fury. Dora and despair speak in every feature." " Oh do be quiet, you ridiculous boy, and give me a sensible answer." But nothing was farther from Ted's purpose. His aggravated feelings needed some outlet.

And when Garth made his appearance, refreshed and re-habited, he found Cathy sitting on the stairs in fits of merriment, AA'hile Ted strutted to and fro spouting pages of nonsense. He stopped and looked a little foolish at this sudden apparition ; but his brother took no notice of his confusion. " If you keep your Avet things on any longer you will have an attack of rheumatism," he remarked coldly, as he made his way past them to the hall door. Both of them started as it slammed violently after him. " Where has he gone in all this rain ? " asked Cathy, in much distress, but Ted only shrugged his shoulders, and tried not to look pleased. For once his brother's absencewas a relief. Garth was in no mood to-night for his sisters' society and Ted's ceaseless fire of puns. The quiet home evening, with its work and music and gentle gossip, would have jarred on him in his present state of mind.

It was true, Langley's tact was seldom at fault, and the others could be chided and frowned into silence ; but still he would have been loath to mar their enjoyment. He AA'as jaded and tired ; the day's Avork had been done against the grain, and he needed rest and refreshment sorely. Some impulse, for which he could not account, led him across to the cottage. The rain was still falling heavily as he plodded down the miry lane ; but a warm, welcoming gleam shone enticingly from one lattice window across the road. He would step in and surprise them, he thought, as he gently lifted the latch. He and Cathy often stole upon them in this way ; they liked to see Emmie's delighted clap of the hands and Queenie's pleased start when they looked up and saw their friendly intruder. queenie's avhim. 14 The door of the parlor stood open.

He was in full possession of the pretty, homely picture long before they saw him standing on the threshold. Tea was on the little round table, but the candles Avere still unlighted ; Emmie was curled up on the rocking-chair, Avatching Queenie, as she knelt on the rug with a plate of crisp AA'hite cakes in her hand. They Avere evidently some chef-d 'œuvre of her oavu. She was still girded with her cooking apron ; the firelight shone on her white, dimpled arms and flushed face ; all sort of rudely gleams touched her brown hair. She gave a little satis fied laugh as she regarded the cakes. "They are just as light as Mrs. Fawcett's, are they not, Emmie ? " " Yes, they are lovely ; you are quite a genius, Queen ; but do go on with the story, we have just come to the interesting part. Poor Madeleine ! you must make it end happily.

I never, never could bear a sad finish." " Those sort of stories never end happily," returned Queenie, in a musing tone, shielding her face from the flame ; " they are just like life in that. We have no King Cophetuus now-a days to endoAv poor maidens with their noble ness ; it is all matter-of-fact prose now." " Why did you make poor Madeleine love the squire then ? the village carpenter w*ould have suited her much better ; and then she and he, and that dear little sister Kitty, could all have lived in that pretty cottage under the chestnuts. Can't you alter the story, Queen ? " Queenie shook her head remorselessly. " It is a pity, but one can't alter these sort of things, Emmie. Poor Madeleine loved, and suffered, and lost, as other women have done since this Avorld began ■ but she would not have been without her suffering for all that."

" I can't understand you," returned the child, with tears in her eyes. " It was such a beautiful story, quite your best, and now you have spoiled the ending." " Life is full of these sad finishes," replied the young story-teller, oracularly ; " there is a fate in such things, I believe. Don't be unhappy, darling, poor Madeleine would have been miser able in that cottage under the chestnuts ; she would much rather have lived in her attic with dear little Kitty, and watched the young squire riding by on his grey horse. Evening after evening, as they disappeared in the distance, she would think of the lovely young wife that awaited him. You may be sure that her heart was full of blessings for them both, even though she felt a little sad and lonely sometimes." "But she would not have been quite happy, eAren with Kitty," persisted the child in a troubled tone * " and then poor little Kitty Avould have been so sorry."

What was there in the child's artless wTords that made Queenie suddenly flush and tremble ? " Hush, you must not say that ; it is only a story we are telling, it is not true, any of it. No one is perfectly happy in this world ; there are always wishes unfulfilled, unsatisfied longings, troubles eA^ery where." " Yes, I knoAv ; but somehow it reminded me of you and me," interrupted Emmie, with a little sob. " If you were ever unhappy, Queen, — in that way I mean, — I think I should break my heart." "Oh, hush, my darling!" snatching the thin hands, and coATering them Avith kisses, " it is only a story ; you must not fret. Do you think Madeleine would have been Avicked and made herself miserable, just because she loved the noblest man that ever lived ? No, no, my pet ; not when she had her oavii little sister to loAre and cherish."

" Do you always tell stories in the gloaming ? that seems a very pretty one. I suppose I ought to apologize for being an uninvited auditor," observed Garth, as he quietly walked in and took possession of the hearth. Emmie gave a little shriek of surprise as her sister hurriedly disengaged herself from her embrace. " How long have you been standing there ? Did you mean to startle us ? You are very naughty ; you have made Queenie look quite pale, and she had such a color the minute before." " Have I startled you ? that Avas very wrong of me," returned Garth, taking her hand. Garth was speaking and looking in his usual Avay ; but in reality he was taken aback by Queenie's eA'ident agitation. She had always met in. 41 and greeted him brightly ; why had she groAvn so strangely pale at the sight of him this evening ?

The brown eyes that had often haunted him had not yet been lifted to his face. " Have I startled you ? " he persisted, still detaining her until she should answer him. "A little. I am sorry you should have heard all that foolish talk," she stammered, growing suddenly hot over the remembrance, and not venturing to encounter his candid glance. AVhat had possessed her to concoct such a story ? Would he read the secret meaning ? " I must make the tea, the kettle has been singing for the last half-hour," she observed hurriedly, glad of an excuse to move away and recoA*er herself. Garth did not ask any more troublesome questions ; he turned his attention to Emmie, takino- 3 O possession of the rocking-chair, while the child took her little stool beside him. Queenie left them to themselves for a lone time.

All sorts of preparations seemed needful before the meal was declared ready. The candles were still unlighted, and she made no attempt to kindle them. Garth threAv on another pine knot, and the Avarm ruddy light was soon diffused through the little room. As Queenie moAred about, contriving endless errands for herself, she had no idea that Garth was furtively watching her. " Why had she grown so pale ? what Avas there in his sudden appearance to confuse her . " the young man was asking himself with a little throb of curious excitement. Somehow this unusual agitation on Queenie's part soothed and tranquil lized him ; he began to think less bitterly of Dora ; some subtle influence, half painful and half pleasurable, seemed to steep his senses. Garth Avas quite unconscious why he wanted Queenie to look at him.

He watched her grace ful moA'ements about the room with quiet satisfaction. Two days before his fancy had been taken by the soft whiteness of a dress that flowed smoothly and did not rustle, and by the shining of golden hair in the lamp-light ; and now a black serge dress with snowy collars and cuffs charmed him with its nun-like simplicity. What was there in these two women, so utterly 41* queenie's avhim. dissimilar, that fascinated him ? As far as he knew he was not in love with either, although he had given the preference to Dora— Dora, who allured and yet repelled him, and for Avhom he now felt such bitterness of resentment. " Why are you so quiet, Mr. Garth ? no one has been telling you sad stories," cried Emmie, lifting her kitten on to his knee. " I wish you would speak to Queen, she always makes things end so badly."

" I am afraid your sister draAvs from life," he returned absently. He spoke without intention, but a shadoAv swept over Queenie's sensitive face. "You ought not to have listened," she said reproachfully. " It Avas only some nonsense to please Emmie. I make up things, any rubbish pleases her; sometimes it is a fairy story, or some odd bits one picks out of books ; nothino comes amiss," she Avent on, bent on defendino* herself. " And you think a girl can make herself happy Avith an unrequited love preyinoon her 1 " he observed in a quizzical tone. " I don't know what women would say to such heresy. I think Emmie was right, and that little Kitty would have a great deal to bear." Queenie was silent. " Confess that you don't believe such a thing could be possible." " As what ? " looking up at him with varying color.

" That a girl, that Madeleine, for example, could make herself comfortable under the circumstances." " Did I say a word about comfort ? " she re turned with spirit. " Of course Madeleine thought her trouble a trouble, and never called it by any other name." " And of course she made herself and little Kitty miserable ? " he rejoined, enjoying the play of words, but Avatching her keenly all the time. " She did nothing of the kind," flaring up with sudden heat. " You have not heard half my story, or you would not say such a thing." " Suppose you enlighten me," with some rail lery in his tone. " Your heroine is not different from the ordinary run of women ; and most of them make themselves miserable under the circumstances." " Not women like my Madeleine," with a sudden lighting-up of earnestness in her face.

"I don't think men are quite like that; they don't understand." " What is it they don't understand ? " he asked, somewhat puzzled. " The blesseduess of giving," she returned simply ; " the privilege of being able to see and love what is highest and best without hope or thought of return. Some Avomen feel like that." " But not many," he replied, touched by her earnestness, and conscious again of that strange thrill. " No, not many," looking at him gravely. " The great number dread suffering, and fear to enter into the cloud. They let men spoil their lives, and then the disappointment hardens and embitters them ; instead of which they oucdit to go on simply loving, and being sorry, but not too sorry, about things." " But suppose the object is not worthy ? You know how often that is the case," he demanded gravely.

" Ah, that is the greatest pity of all. There is no trouble like that, to see the degradation of one we love ■ indeed, that must be terrible ! " " Ah, your golden rule of giving will not hold there ! " " Why not ? " she asked quietly. " I heard a sad story once, when Emmie and I were at Granite Lodge. One of the governesses had had a dreadful trouble. She was engaged for some years to a man who professed a great affection for her, and suddenly the news of his marriage reached her." " Well ? " " Well, she staggered under the blow, but she bore it somehow. It would have nearly killed some Avomen. She just took up her life and did the best she could with it. ' I am keeping it all for him,' she said to me once, with such a mourn ful smile ; ' when he Avants it, it will be ready for him, but it will not be here.' ' " Keeping what ?

" asked Garth, somewhat absently. " Why the love he had thrown away as worth less," she returned with kindling eyes. *' Don't you think the faith of that poor German governess had something noble in it ? She had forgotten her own wrongs and his fickleness. In the world to come it should be all right between them." " Wasn't that rather far-fetched ? " " Not at all," returned the girl warmly ; " those who have sympathy here must have sympathy there. There will be no broken lives in heaven." " No ; of course not," feeling himself a little out of his element, but strangely attracted by the eloquence of Queenie's eyes. As for Queenie, she had almost forgotten to whom she was speaking. She Avas wrapped up, absorbed in her subject ; all sorts of deep thoughts stirred within her. These things were true to her, but she felt Avith a kind of wonder that he did not under stand.

Perhaps he felt with a young man's reverence the mystery of the world to come. Some men have a great dread of touching sacred things with unconsecrated hands ; but Queenie's young eyes had the fearlessness of the eagle, they looked unblenchingly up at the light. What Avas the use of separating things spiritual from things material in her creed ? Love was the ladder that Jacob saw reaching from earth to heaven ; evermore there Avere angels ascending and descending. The doctrine of the communion of saints had infinite readings. " Those that have sympathy here have sym pathy there," she had asserted with entire faith and simplicity. Why did not he, why did not everybody, understand ? As for Garth, he felt a little moved and excited, stirred by her earnestness, yet not Avholly comprehending it, and quite out of his element.

Chapter II

" DO YOU LIKE ME AS WELL AS YOU DID THEN ? " ' The true one of youth's love, proving a faithful helpmate in those years when the dream of life is over, and we live in its realities." — So/t they. Garth pondered somewhat heavily OArer Queenie's words that evening. In spite of his warm human sympathies his imagination Avas still undeveloped. Under the margin of those brief sentences lay unexplored meanings, Avhole Avorlds of thought and fancy that he only dimly comprehended, and yet he felt himself stirred by the girl's enthusiasm. "You have done me good," he said to her, Avhen tea was over and Emmie had betaken her self to Patience. He had risen to take leave, but he still lingered, as though loath to break the tranquillity of the scene. " Something had " DO YOU LIKE ME ? " 27 Avorried me and put me into a bad humor with myself and all the world, but now I feel better."

" I am glad I have done you good," she returned simply. When he had left her she knelt down by the hearth again and shielded her face from the flame. All sorts of bright, visionary pictures danced under the light of the spluttering fir knots ; thoughts almost too great and beautiful to be grasped brushed past her like wings. Queenie was only dreaming, as girls will some times, only somehoAv her dreams were better than other women's realities. She was thinking of Garth, marvelling a little over his manner that evening. He had been kinder, gentler, and yet somehow different. She was not quite so sure, after all, that he meant to marry Dora. She had mentioned her name once, and he had answered her in a con strained manner, and had then changed the sub ject. Could Miss Cunningham have given him cause for displeasure ?

Queenie was not sufficiently experienced in the Avays of the world to know hoAv quickly hearts are caught at the rebound. She had no idea of the real state of the case, and that Garth's first thought in his mortification had been to seek solace in her friendship. She only knew that somehow Garth had been nicer, and she had done him good. " What does it matter if one is disappointed here ? " thought the young visionary in that first sweet gush of satisfaction, "that it is all giATing and no return — at least, not the return that one Avants? life will not last for ever. In that bright hereafter there will be no marrying or giving in marriage, the Bible tells us that. Nothing but love, which, after all, is another name for life. We are only hiding our treasures now, heaping them up in silence and darkness, like that poor Fraulein Heldrig.