Sir Godfrey's Grand-daughters. A novel

Front matter

GRAND-DAUGHTERS GRAND- DAUGHTERS a iRovel i;Y ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY AUTHOR OF 'Nellie's memories,' ' lovek ok friend,' 'not like other girls,' etc. IN THREE VOLUMES AOL. III. LONDON RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON publishers ire (Drbinarg to gjtr the HJiuen 1892 [All rights resa-i'ed\ CONTENTS OF VOL. III. CHAPTER |.AGE I. DORIS - - - - - - I II. CAPTAIN EVERDEAN GETS HIS CONGE 25 III. A TAP AT THE WINDOW - - - 45 IV. JULIUS - - 63 V. KIPPLE AND KEDGE ARE SATISFIED - - 82 VI. BEAUTY-BRIGHT - - - 1 04 VII. 'IT IS ALL OVER' - - - - 123 VIII. A SILVER LINING - - - - 141 IX. 'IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT' - - - 159 X. MRS. MEREDITH POINTS A MORAL - - 1 75 XI. SIR GODFREY OPENS THE POST-BAG - - 1 95 XII. 'AT HEART I AM A REBEL' - - - 214 XIII. PHILOSOPHY VERSUS SENTIMENT - - 233 XIV. GERARD'S DIPLOMACY- - - 254 XV. SIR GODFREY IS LATE FOR DINNER - - 27 1 XVI. AN UNFORESEEN CONTINGENCY - - 290 XVII. DR. LYALL TURNS UP TRUMPS - - SIR GODFREY'S GRAND- DAUGHTERS

Chapter I. Doris

' She is a woman, one in whom The spring-time of her childish years Hath never lost its fresh perfume, Though knowing well that life hath room For many blights and many tears.' Lowell. Gerard did not enjoy the next three-quarters of an hour. In the first place, Sir Godfrey was too much surprised at his abrupt entrance to express any pleasure at his return. Gerard had to submit to a severe exam ination as to the reason of his eccentric VOL. III. SIR GODFRETS GRAND-DAUGHTERS 2 behaviour. Why, for example, had he walked all those miles, when the horses were eating their heads off in the stable ? Did he want to spoil a lot of idle, lazy domestics, who had nothing to do but to kick their heels about the place? He was astonished — he was excessively astonished — at Gerard's thought lessness and want of dignity !

Gerard answered all this with his usual careless good-nature. He thought his uncle had aged a good deal, and that he looked far from well. Sir Godfrey's fine old features were more pinched than usual, and his head and hands had a tremulous movement ; but he Avas very irascible Avhen Gerard inquired kindly after his health. ' Of course I am not Avell ! Do you sup pose that any man would feel well, when he is worried and badgered by a lot of silly women ?' And thereupon followed an end less tirade against Gerda's ingratitude and Dr. Lyall's gross impertinence. Dr. Lyall's second letter had been slightly peremptory and defiant — at least, so Sir Godfrey chose to interpret it. He had refused to accept an unconditional denial ; he claimed greater justice, and opportunity to plead DORIS 3 his cause in person ; he refused to be set on one side in that arbitrary fashion.

In a word, Dr. Lyall's will was as strong as Sir Godfrey's. Gerard found no fault with the letter. He handed it back Avith the remark that he thought his uncle would have to give in to a personal interview. ' You may as well get it over,' he observed easily. ' He has a right to be heard as well as any other man.' But Sir Godfrey would not listen to this for a moment. ' What is the use of having a scene ?' he said angrily. ' I should only lose my temper, and tell him to go about his business. I haA'e answered him civilly. I have treated him as I would treat any gentleman ; but he has no right to persecute me in this fashion, and I refuse to be persecuted ! My grand daughters must do better for themselves than that.' ' You talk as though they were royal prin cesses, Uncle Godfrey,' returned Gerard, losing patience at the old man's obstinacy. ' I think you ought to be satisfied if they marry gentlemen.

The Lyalls are per fectly respectable.' ' So is Smedley respectable — indeed, I have the highest respect for him — but I should not be willing to admit him as a suitor for Doris.' Then Gerard shrugged his shoulders in disgust. If his uncle Godfrey chose to place Dr. Lyall and his bailiff on the same level, there was little hope for the former. ' I don't see that we are so awfully grand as all that,' he said rebelliously. Then Sir Godfrey's brow grew very black. ' I do not know what you mean by grandeur,' he said stiffly, ' but our family is a very old one. There was a Hamlyn who fought at Agincourt, and long before we got the baronetcy, more than one Hamlyn had been knighted for his valour and excellent service. We have never de meaned ourselves by marrying beneath us, until my daughter Clare chose to oppose me, and now my grand-daughter is following her example ; but she shall rue it ' — working himself up afresh — ' unless she gives that fellow up, I will not have her here !

I will be master in my own house ! I told your aunt Honoria so, and I mean it!' DORIS 5 ' I don't believe you are serious, Uncle Godfrey.' ' Then I beg to tell you, sir, that I am perfectly serious.' ' No, no ; the thing is not credible. No one turns people out of doors nowadays because they insist on marrying as they please. It is a trifle too mediæval, Uncle Godfrey ; it is a little too gaudy and melo dramatic to suit the nineteenth century. You will think better of it soon, and Gerda will come home all riafft.' Gerard enunciated this statement in a soothing voice. The old man was in a bad way ; he must be cajoled, not threatened. Why, it Avas almost a case for a strait-waistcoat : gout and temper had been too much for him. ' Don't fret about it ; you will soon feel differently,' he said with affectionate irony ; and then he walked off, leaving the old man speechless Avith sup pressed wrath.

Gerard paid a visit to the stables after this; then he got rid of his dust, and dressed him self for dinner. Now and then he wondered what Doris could be doing ; he had an un easy notion that the poor little girl was crying her eyes out somewhere. And then his thoughts reverted to Mrs. Hake's solemn warning: 'Take my advice, Mr. Hamlyn, and do not treat Doris as though she were still a child.' ' If only I could make out what she meant!' he thought, as he sat by the hall fire in the spring twilight, with Sultan at his feet. Sultan wagged his tail rather lazily at that moment. The bearskin was soft and he was unwilling to move, but he was bound to acknowledge that light footstep. Gerard heard it, too ; for the moment he could have believed it was Gerda's quiet tread. Doris generally ran down the stairs ; she was brisk and nimble in her movements, and had not yet learnt that repose of manner that Sir Godfrey considered essential to a young gentlewoman's deportment.

Gerard found himself staring at her in surprise as she walked sedately round the screen, with her white gown flowing out behind her Doris still looked pale, and her pretty eyes were swollen with crying, which, as she had spent the best part of an hour sobbing noiselessly into her pillow, was not a matter of surprise. DORIS 7 Gerard regarded her gravely ; then he held out his hand. ' Haven't you forgiven me yet, Doey ?' ' Oh, don't ! don't, please !' ' Don't what ?' — for she had not taken any notice of his outstretched hand, and now she had turned her back on him, and Avas looking at the fire with an air of deep depression — '- what am I not to do ?' He was going to say ' You goose !' but hastily substituted ' You foolish child !' ' Don't be kind to me ; I cannot bear it !' Gerard began to whistle.

This was almost worse than Mrs. Hake's conundrum. ' No, you must not be kind, when I have been so dreadfully naughty. Oh, how could I, how could I have been so cross with you ?' And now she commenced to sob afresh. Gerard began to feel more cheerful. So this was what she meant. Well, she might be as penitent as she liked ; it would only give him an opportunity to be magnanimous ; he had never had a chance of forgiving her before. So he stepped up to her, and began stroking her soft curly hair in brotherly fashion ; but, to his surprise, she shrank away from him. ' Why, must I not do even that ? Why, what on earth has come to you to-day, Doey ? I can't make you out at all.' And then Mrs. Hake's singular paradox came into his mind : 'She is transparent, and yet she is deep.' He began to think she was deep. ' I can't understand myself,' she said tear fully ; ' but I never, never meant to be so naughty.

How could I have had the heart to be cross with you, when you are so un happy ? And I was only longing to comfort you !' ' All right,' returned Gerard cheerily ; ' I am quite Avilling to be comforted, if you will only turn off those Avaterworks. Come and sit down, like a good girl, and I won't even offer to shake hands with you.' And then Doris allowed herself to be coaxed. Gerard had only time to make his peace before the gong sounded and Sir Godfrey's measured footsteps were distinctly audible. ' I have forgiven you, you know,' he observed as they left the hall ; ' but remem ber you are never to be cross with me again.' And Doris nodded assent. During the long formal meal in which Sir Godfrey delighted, Gerard found himself DORIS 9 watching Doris rather curiously. She reminded him a little of Gerda.

Her face looked less round than usual, and, as she sat at the top of the table in girlish dignity, he thought she had never looked so pretty. When Sir Godfrey had fallen into his usual evening doze, they had a comfortable talk in the hall. Gerard preferred it to the drawing-room ; he could light his cigar and enjoy the companionship of his dogs. Only Mrs. Meredith's pug, Zoe, was allowed in any of the sitting-rooms. Sultan and Flip and Flop had each a corner in the hall. The big swinging oil-lamp only made dark ness visible, but there was always a wide circle of firelight ; and this evening a flood of pale white moonlight streamed through Doris's favourite window. Gerard pro nounced it awfully jolly, as he threw himself back on the great settle, while Doris, after a moment's hesitation, established herself cosily in the opposite corner.

Flip and Flop were nothing but tight breathing balls, and Sultan had laid his nose between his paws, and regarded the pair with grave approbation. The hour was propitious for confidences, and Gerard was soon unburdening himself; and this time he was not disappointed. Doris gave him all the sympathy he demanded without stint or limit. ' It must have been dreadful for you !' she exclaimed tearfully, when Gerard nar rated his first visit to St. Jude's Vicarage. ' Well, it was not exactly the happiest moment of my life. I am afraid I cut up rather rough at first ; it Avas so awfully sudden, you see. One has to get used to that sort of thing.' Then Doris's eyes vvere full of trouble. ' She has spoilt your life,' she said, clasp ing her little hands together, with almost tragical earnestness. ' Oh, I hope not !

A life is a long time, don't you know.' ' But you will never get over it,' in a tone of intense conviction. ' Well, I won't go so far as that. Fellows always do get over it, you see.' ' Yes, but you are not quite like other people,' returned Doris, gazing at him mourn fully ; a course of judicious novel reading, selected by her mother, had made her quite a connoisseur in love affairs. Not for worlds DORIS 11 would she have allowed herself to believe that Gerard would ever be otherwise than blighted ; of course he would pretend to be happy. In novels the despairing lover always puts a good face on his misery. 'Concealment, like a worm i' the bud,' would, of course, prey on his ' damask cheek.' In fact, Doris was a very sentimental and silly little girl. Gerard felt half inclined to laugh outright, when she told him, with innocent gravity, that he was not quite like other people.

He was anything but a hero in his own eyes. ' Of course fellows always get over it !' he had assured her with his usual sturdy honesty. Gerard hated humbug of all sorts; he declined to add to his very real heartache and misery by piling on fictitious agony. He liked Doris to sentimentalize over him, she did it so prettily ; but he would have scorned to take her speeches too literally.. ' I hope you mean to like your new brother in-law,' he said presently. Then Doris drew down the corners of her lips. ' He is a capital fellow, Doey.' ' Yes, I know ; and, of course, I was very grateful to him for saving Gerda's life. But —but ' ' You need not be afraid of speaking out. I am not too fond of him ;' and Gerard smiled a little grimly. ' He is not exactly the brother I wanted,' she returned, after a moment's hesitation. ' I feel as though I could never be fond of him.

He always seems as though he is laughing at one ; and then he is so dreadfully clever. I think I am afraid of very clever people.' ' Well, Gerda is clever, you know.' ' Yes, but somehow her cleverness does not seem to matter. But I am always un comfortable when a person looks at me as though he were trying to find out all my thoughts. Oh, I can't explain it ! but I always feel so young and insignificant when Dr. Lyall talks to me as though I were not quite grown up.' ' I should try and get over that feeling if I Avere you ; it is rather rough on Gerda.' Doris opened her eyes at this. ' One must do as one would be done by, don't you see,' returned Gerard, as he lighted another cigarette, for he felt Doris rather needed a word of caution. Her Avarm partizanship made her a little hard on Dr. DORIS 13 Lyall. ' Of course Gerda wants you to like him.' ' Well, I don't exactly dislike him.' ' Oh, but you must love him, you know !

Girls are always fond of their brothers-in law. Gerda will expect it. Why, one day she will have a brother-in-law, too. I mean ' — as Doris seemed puzzled by this — ' that you will be marrying yourself one of these days.' Gerard spoke in simple good faith, and without any arriere-pensee. He thought Doris needed a mild fraternal lecture, but her reply took him somewhat by surprise. ' Oh no, no ! I shall do nothing of the kind. You must not say that.' And Doris coloured almost painfully ; even her pretty little shell-like ears were pink. ' That will never happen,' she went on hurriedly, stoop ing to caress Sultan, who was evidently suffering from an uneasy dream, ' never, never !' Now it was not Doris's fault if a sudden strange thought came into Gerard's mind at that moment. Certain vividly wise thoughts will leap into existence, like Minerva new born from the head of Jove, when there seems no adequate reason for them.

Doris meant nothing by her girlish protest. She had long ago got it into her head that she would be an old maid. 'You see, I am not pretty,' she had said more than once to Gerda. ' No one will care for such a silly little thing;' for she was singularly humble-minded, and had no self admiration. But it was not likely that Gerard would comprehend this excessive modesty. To his chivalrous English nature every girl had a right to be loved. It was small wonder, then, that he entirely misunderstood Doris's little speech, and that he should ponder somewhat heavily on the real reason for this sudden dislike to matrimony. Was it possible that Doris cared for someone who she knew would never ask her to marry him ? Did she wish to remain single rather than listen to any other man ? ' None are so blind as those who will not see.' ' Oh, by Jove, that is impossible !' ' What is impossible ?' asked Doris in nocently, as she patted Sultan.

But Gerard did not immediately answer. Presently he observed that it was getting late, and that he must take the dogs for a run. DORIS 15 He forgot to bid Doris good-night, however, and he left his cigarette case on the settle. Doris thought he would come back for it, and waited up for more than an hour. But he did not return, so she went off to bed a little sadly. Gerard had never forgotten to say good-night to her before. The next fortnight passed delightfully to Doris. In her opinion Gerard was nicer than ever. He was very busy, for a great deal of business always passed through the young Squire's hands ; but he generally found time to ride with her, and in the evening, Avhile Sir Godfrey dozed, they had a chat by the hall fire. But he never again alluded to his trouble, either directly or indirectly.

And once, when Doris began to speak of it, he checked her kindly but decidedly. ' We will let it drop, Doey,' he said. ' That sort of thing does not pay. I have bored you quite enough, only you are too good to say so. But for the future we will keep our talk to pleasanter topics.' And then he asked her on which evening they were all to dine at Braeside. Doris felt vaguely troubled at Gerard's sudden strength of mind. She liked her position of confidante too well to relinquish it without regret. Why should he think she Avas bored ? — but she was too timid to assert herself, or to contradict him. So Gerard had his Avay, and his unhappy love affair was buried decently out of sight. Mrs. Hake found Mr. Hamlyn somewhat stiff on the night of her dinner-party. It was one of her ' house parties,' as she called them, and no one but the Hall people were invited to meet the guests who were staying at Braeside.

On this evening it consisted of a certain Honourable Mrs. Everdean and her son and daughter. Constantia EA'erdean was con sidered a great beauty, and it was supposed that a certain elderly nobleman, very high in the political world, was much smitten with her. Her brother, who was in the Hussars, was a handsome fellow, too, and Mrs. Hake considered them quite the creme de la crime of her acquaintance. Sir Godfrey made himself very pleasant to Mrs. Everdean. She was a small, flimsy woman, with half-closed blue eyes, and a sweet, drawling voice, and it was understood DORIS 17 by those who watched her closely that she was not one of those widows whom St. Paul called ' Avidows indeed.' Gerard took in Miss Everdean to dinner, and was much amused by her facility of con versation and her eye-play.

Constantia always focussed her victims before she talked to them, and she generally talked politics. In fact, one of her discarded lovers once humorously called her ' The Leading Article,' but that was before the brilliancy of her eyes had extinguished him. Doris and Captain Everdean were their vis-a-vis, and before the first course was over, Gerard became aware that Captain Everdean — Lewis, as his mother called him — was bent on making himself agreeable to his cousin. Doris looked very nice this evening — Mrs. Hake told her so as she kissed her. A long ride across country had given her a colour, and the clear brightness of her eyes and the little dimple in her soft cheek excited Captain Everdeans admiration. He was rather a sus ceptible young fellow, and Avas much given to falling into love somewhat suddenly. ' I declare that puppy is trying to get up a flirtation with her,' thought Gerard disvol. in. gustedly ; and then he caught Mrs. Hake's eye and stiffened slowly.

Strange to say, he was rather put out with his good-tempered hostess, which was, to say the least, un reasonable and ungrateful. He accused her secretly of putting notions into his head of which he could not rid himself; he felt vaguely as though she were fooling him. ' Did you speak to me, Mr. Hamlyn ?' she asked graciously. ' Constantia, my love, please do not refuse that entrde, or Lionel will never forgive you. It is his own recipe — the result of his own inspiration. When I give a dinner-party his first question is, " Have you put ' Benjamin's mess ' into the menu r • I think I would give it a more tempting name,' returned Constantia, as she helped herself to the delicacy. ' Is not the menu a daily trial, Mrs. Hake ? I tell mamma if I ever marry I will insist on a good housekeeper. I have no genius for house keeping.' ' I am quite sure, dearest, that you may insist on anything,' returned Mrs. Everdean, with a trifle too much meaning in her tone ; for Constantia knitted her brows in rather an DORIS 19 annoyed fashion, and began to talk to Gerard about the complication on the Continent. ' Are you staying long ?' asked Doris cheerfully, as Captain Everdean began praising the neighbourhood, and hinted his wish to explore Chesterton Park. ' Mother is coming back next week, and then you must bring your sister to luncheon, and we will show you the Hall and the Park ;' and Captain Everdean accepted this invitation rather eagerly. ' There is no need to wait until Aunt Honoria comes back if you want those people here,' observed Gerard, as they ex changed a few words by the hall fire that night ; ' we will ask them to luncheon, and Mrs. Hake will make it all right.

And we could have the washed-out little lady as well.' Doris looked up ; she was a trifle disturbed at Gerard's tone. ' Thank you ; but there is no hurry, is there ? Mrs. Hake rather wants us to ask them, I know ; she said something about it to-night. She always likes her friends to come to the Hall ; but I think it would be better to wait until mother comes home.' ' Oh, just as you like ; but I thought you might want a little more life. It must be rather dull with only Uncle Godfrey and me. Then Doris stared at him in amazement. ' Dull ! I am never dull, Gerard ; at least ' — her conscience pricking her — ' I am not dull when you are at home ;' and Doris spoke with convincing earnestness. ' All right, then, we will Avait for Aunt Honoria.' But he coloured a little as he spoke, and the subject dropped.

But before many days had passed Doris found the matter taken out of her hands. Captain EA'erdean simply haunted the Hall. He had conceived a sudden fancy for Mr. Hamlyn's company ; he invited him to walk or to fish with him, he smoked endless pipes in Gerard's den, and more than once Doris was inveigled into helping them both tie flies. When Mrs. Meredith returned she was rather aghast at the position of affairs. Before she had taken off her bonnet her father told her in a voice of pompous good humour that Doris had a beau. ' It is Lewis Everdean. You know Mrs. DORIS 21 Everdean ; nice little woman. Her daughter is a fine creature ; takes after old Everdean. He was a handsome fellow. Mrs. Everdean tells me that Lord Brooklyn will propose to her without doubt, only she is not quite sure what the girl will say to him.

Nice people, very ; only not rich. The son is in the Hussars. He has struck up with Gerard ; but, of course, I see through it, and Mrs. Hake sees through it, too.' ' Oh dear, oh dear ! I hope you are mis taken, father,' returned Mrs. Meredith. The poor woman was loath to part with another daughter. ' Doris is too young to be married.' ' Too young !' observed Sir Godfrey scorn fully. ' Pooh, my dear ; I married your mother when she was eighteen. That little puss is playing her cards very skilfully ; gives him no encouragement — does not seem to see it, and that tickles his vanity and eggs him on. Mark my words, Honoria, she will be married before her sister.' ' Do you mean that you approve of Cap tain Everdean ?' asked Mrs. Meredith help lessly. ' I do not see how I am to disapprove,' replied Sir Godfrey. ' The Everdeans are one of our oldest families, and they are well connected all the way round.' ' But I thought you told me that they were not rich ?' ' No ; but one cannot expect everything, and they are young enough to wait.

And, of course, if Doris marries suitably — marries suitably,' drawing himself up, ' I shall see what I can do for her.' Mrs. Meredith expressed her gratitude in her usual dutiful way, and then she pleaded fatigue and got out of the room. On her way through the hall she came upon Gerard. He looked a trifle sulky. 'That fellow is in there,' jerking his head in the direction of the draAving-room. ' My dear, what fellow do you mean ?' she asked, in vague alarm. ' Oh, Everdean, of course ! He's always about the place ; he Avas here all yesterday. We were potting rabbits together in the south field all the morning, and then Uncle Godfrey asked him to luncheon, and we were playing billiards all the afternoon.' ' Don't you like him, Gerard ?' ' Oh yes, I like him well enough — he is a DORIS 23 good companion, and all that — -but I could dispense with his company sometimes.' ' Your uncle thinks — but I am sure I hope not — that he admires my little Doris.' ' Of course he admires her ; anyone can see that.

But you don't seem pleased, Aunt Honoria. He is rather a catch in Uncle Godfrey's eyes — dates somewhere from the Conquest, you know.' And Gerard's tone was slightly ironical. ' Oh dear ! oh dear !' sighed Mrs. Meredith. ' What is the good of having children if one must lose them ? Doris is too young for this sort of thing.' ' You are making a mistake,' returned Gerard coolly. ' Take my advice, Aunt Honoria, and do not treat Doris as though she were still a child.' Gerard was repeating Mrs. Hake's speech with parrot-like precision, but Mrs. Meredith looked mildly surprised. ' I think Doris is younger than most girls of her age,' she said quietly. ' Then you do not consider her deep ?' ' Deep ! Are you out of your senses, Gerard ? My dear boy, whoever has put such an absurd notion into your head ?

She is perfectly natural and simple.' ' Oh, I dare say you are right. I don't profess to understand girls ; but I suppose that fellow has had his innings long enough.' And then Mrs. Meredith woke up to the fact that she was neglecting her maternal duties.

Chapter II Captain Everdean Gets His Conge

' We have all sufficient strength to support the misfortunes of others.' — Thoughts of a Queen. Doris was delighted to have her mother back. ' Grand has been as nice as possible, especially lately,' she observed, as they indulged in a twilight chat. Captain Ever dean had carried off Gerard. Mrs. Hake wanted him to fill up a gap in her dinner table, and Gerard had agreed with his usual good-nature. ' I am glad they have gone,' she continued comfortably ; ' I wanted to have you all to myself to-night. Captain Everdean is very pleasant — and of course Gerard is glad to get a companion — but he comes here rather often.' Mrs. Meredith breathed a sigh of relief. Doris was still heart-whole. She had watched her very narrowly during the last half-hour, and nothing could have exceeded the girl's utter unconsciousness. ' She takes his atten tions quite as a matter of course,' thought the anxious mother. ' She did not seem to notice that he never stirred from her side if he could help it.

And really there is no fault to find with him. He is very good-looking, and as nice as possible.' ' And so Gerda is tremendously happy ?' began Doris, when she had entered this mild protest against Captain Everdean's frequent visits. And Mrs. Meredith at once owned that this Avas the case. ' Dr. Lyall suits her perfectly ; she seems utterly and entirely satisfied with him.' And then she stopped, and after a minute added abruptly, ' I like him very much.' ' Really and truly, mammy ?' And Doris arched her eyebrows in surprise. ' Yes, dear ; I am sure he is a thoroughly good man, and if only your grandfather could be brought to consent to the marriage, I should be quite happy about it.' Doris smiled ; she knew her mother was an easy convert. Dr. Lyall and Gerda had of course coaxed and wheedled her round to their side.