Wilbourne Hall

Front matter

NEW NOVELS IN THE PRESS. TARANTELLA: A Romance. By Mathilde Blind, Author of "Life os George Eliot," &c. Two vols., Crown 8vo. ICHABOD : A Portrait. By Bertha Thomas, Author of "Life of Georges Sand," &c. Two vols., Crown 8vo. CAMILLA'S GIRLHOOD. ByLiNDAViLlari, Author of "On Tuscan Hills and Venetian Waters," &c. Two vols., Crown Svo. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE TYROL: A Historical Novel. By Herman Schmio. Translated by D. R. Two vols., Crown 8vo. T. FISHER UNWIN, 26, Paternoster Sq., London, E.C. BY MRS. CAUMONT Author of" Uncle Anthony sVNote Book" VOL. I gottinm T. FISHER UNWIN 26 PATERNOSTER SQUARE E.C 18S5 UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GKEbHAM PRESS, CHILWORTH AND LONDON. CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Cheesey's

UN round to Cheesey's " was one of the commonest expressions in our village in those dayg. If the lid came off a teapot or the handle off a besom, you could have it matched in " Cheesey's." If night closed in and no candle in the house, you were just to " slip over to Cheesey's." Everything in the grocery line from oatmeal to vanilla, everything in the hard ware line from a crowbar to a shirt stud, was to be had by " dropping in at Cheesey's." If a stranger hap pened to inquire in any other shop for a particular object, he was asked " had he tried Cheesey's ? " And when any new families took up house in the neighbourhood, they were always to be seen running to and from VOL. I. Cheesey's a great many times the very first day of their arrival. From this you will gather that " Cheesey's " meant a retail general shop such as is to be found in every village and small country town ; which indeed it was, with the addition of being also the village post-office.

The term included, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Cheesey — he, a middle-aged fat man, with a good-natured round face, dimpled cheeks, a double chin, and short, smooth hair combed straight forward, and ending in a curl on the forehead, reminding one of the new picture of Napoleon Bonaparte, only all in a smile ; she, his worthy help-mate, was his very counterpart in everything, his beaming shadow, so to speak, attired in a black net cap, with purple loops of ribbon round the border, and a blue checkered apron half encircling her waist when attend ing to her customers. It was at dusk one evening in the latter end of Sep tember when Mrs. Cheesey trimmed the lamp in the shop for the enlightenment of her husband and half a dozen of the Wilbourne people, who had gathered in to make their small purchases, and who lingered to enjoy a chat.

A tall sailor sitting on a barrel, his hands in his pockets, a pipe in his mouth, and his leathern leggings crossed one over the other ; three or four village matrons, and Mr. Cheesey himself leaning over the counter, formed the party. The topic of conversation was a well-worn one indeed in these assemblies ; namely, the " Squire.' It seemed to have some new interesting phase this time, however, by the way the women uttered different ejaculations, such as " Dearie me," " You don't say so, Mr. Cheesey ! " while CHEESEY'S. 3 the man on the barrel, gazing fixedly at his boots, muttered between every puff, " Ay ! . . . ay ! " " As I was just saying," continued Mr. Cheesey, " the long and the short of it is, Squire Wilbourne is nothing more nor less than a great oddity, as unlike his father and as unlike Miss Georgina as black from white ; nobody would take them for brother and sister."

" Nobody would, indeed," broke in one female. " Miss Georgina is the gay young lady, and can mount her horse, and can ride to the hunt with the hounds like a jockey, and " " Not so young, though, ha ! ha ! " says Mr. Cheesey. " Mark my words, she's out of her teens, is Miss Georgina ; and as for accomplishments, my missus here has reason to know she can swear like a trooper." " Oh ! Mr. Cheesey ! " " Oh dear, yes ! But I would rather have her than the Squire, mind you," added Mr. Cheesey, under his breath. " He's a niggardly peculiarity. They say up at the House that he goes to bed early for fear of burn ing the candles, and that the family is a deal better acquainted with fish than with butcher's meat." " It wasn't so in his father's time," muttered the sailor, from his barrel. " No, nor in my lady's time," said Mr. Cheesey.

" I wonder the cook stays on," chimed in one. "But I wonder Nurse Skellery stays on," said an other. "Well, well," said Mr. Cheesey, "the fact of the matter is that one or other will not be there long. You needn't repeat it, you know, but it is just my opinion, from what I see going on and by putting two and two together, that both want to be mistress, and that one or other will have to give in." " And which do you think it will be, Mr. Cheesey ? " " Well, you know, there is the child in the question — little Miss Maude or Claude, or whatever they call her. — Dear me ! I haven't set eyes on that child since she was just a baby. — Well, you know, as long as she is to be taken care of, and as long as she's delicate, it's Nurse Skellery who will have the upper hand at the Hall." " But Miss Georgina ought to be mistress until the young lady grows up, at any rate," remarked Mrs. Cheesey.

" Why, bless you, my dear ! Miss Georgina mistress ! " cried Mr. Cheesey. " Mistress ! ay, of the stables, behind the Squire's back. But she's not here half her time. Wilbourne is too dull for the likes of her. Now that we are on this subject, though, I may just tell you the bit of news I was referring to when you came in." Here several necks were stretched out and several heads came close together, like ducks after one piece of bread ; and the long sailor, taking the pipe out of his mouth, stood up and leaned over them all, with his left ear turned round to hear better. Moments like this composed the cream of the little shopkeeper's existence. Never did orator triumph more over his success than did Mr. Cheesey in his heart at the influence he had on the little group of customers. He smiled, rubbed his chin, and smacked his lips ; and Mrs. Cheesey, she smiled to see his satisfaction.

" The long and the short of it is," he said at last, " I have reason to suspect that Squire Wilbourne is going to be married." CHEESEY'S. 5 " Married ! ! " echoed half a dozen voices at once. " I don't know whether any of you may have observed but at all events Mrs. Cheesey and I have, a small altera tion in the Squire's dress lately. Little dandy shoes, if you please, patent leather, with strict orders for no blacking to be used ! Do you know what that means ? A barber all the way from Middleham ! Do you know what that means ? A message in here to know ' had Mrs. Cheesey such a thing as a bottle of Eau de Cologne ! ' And what may that mean ? " " Mercy alive ! That's not like Squire Wilbourne," was the reply of one. " I never see him but I know him far enough by his shabby, faded coat, and his shoes all down at heels."

" Oh, but I have remarked him drive past as Mr. Cheesey describes," said another, " when he was with the rectory folk." " That's it ! that's it ! " cried the little shopkeeper. " Ah, it's one of the young ladies perhaps," suggested one. " Tut ! they haven't a penny among them," broke in another. " And he's such an old screw," added a third. " You are all out," said Mr. Cheesey, shutting one eye, pursing his lips, and wagging his head from side to side. " But, you know, I shouldn't be mentioning all this," he added, completely changing his tone, "unless it is strictly between ourselves." " Oh, of course, Mr. Cheesey, of course, of course ! " murmured many voices ; " of course, it is strictly between ourselves." " Well, then," he continued, as if quite reassured, "you perhaps may have observed, or some of you may have observed, a certain lady on a visit with the rectory family."

" Oh, yes, / saw her, / saw her, I heard tell of her," broke in from all sides. " Well, that's the lady, that's herself." "They call her Mrs. Woodridge, for our Sarah did extra washing for her this week." " Right you are there, Mrs. Smiley, Woodridge is the name. And, mind you, the business has gone pretty far too. Matters are coming to a head, as I have reason to know, keeping the post-office." " Oh ! of course, the post-office," gasped they all in a breath. " There has been a letter then, Mr. Cheesey ? " was added in a whisper. " A letter," said Mr. Cheesey, " ay, and what's more, it's in the bag this minute. What would you all give to see it ! " " Oh, Mr. Cheesey, how good you are ! Do show it, just till we see his writing." "Jenny, dear, reach the mail-bag here. It's lying there in the parlour ready for the morning's coach."

In a moment the worthy postmaster of Wilbourne had on his spectacles, and was fishing out the squire's epistle from among the other letters in the bag. "There it is, if you want to see it," he said, laying i" on the counter. " Isn't that a sight for sore eyes ! Did you ever see such writing ? Upon my word, I had some difficulty in making it out. And yet they say he is very learned, and spends all his time among his books. But still, I should say, to look at that address, that it was a long time since he wrote any before." CHEESEY'S. 7 " Indeed I couldn't read it," declared several. " It's not addressed to the rectory," remarked one. " Oh dear no ; mark my words, the Squire is afraid people might know, — all the misses at the rectory, and the servants ; for if they saw the letter coming in the door, the whole affair would soon be out.

I'll read it for the benefit of you all : " ' Mrs. Woodridge, "'No. 14, Cleverleigh Gardens, " ' Kensington, " ' London.' Now, what do you think of that ? " No one had anything more to say, indeed, except the long sailor, who, stretching himself, and drawing his pipe out of his mouth, coolly remarked : " Maybe there's not a word of marriage in it, for all that." This was too much for Mr. Cheesey's good-nature ; he actually screwed up his mouth, and raised his chin in the air in token of the greatest contempt, while all voices cried : " Oh, Sam, Sam, you ungrateful, you nasty fellow ! you don't believe Mr. Cheesey!" Mr. Cheesey spoke at last. " I think it is time for you to go, Sam. I suppose you want me to open the letter, and let you read it aloud to us. A nice postmaster you would make, upon my word !

" After this the little party began to break up, for the customers remembered the different things they had come for, and hastened home to their households, which had already been left too long.

Chapter II Nurse Skellery

HE worthy shopkeeper and his lady were just sitting down to their comfortable cup of tea in their little back parlour, when the loud tapping of a copper on the counter announced the arrival of a customer in the shop. In the gloaming of the evening a tall female figure had emerged from Wilbourne Park by a postern-door in the old grey wall, and had taken with rapid strides the highway towards the village. It was a figure which, had you met it, you would have turned to look after — that of a woman, erect, thin, with fine features, jet-black eyes, that seemed to glisten as they turned ; with crisp, wavy, grey hair, which had once been as black as her eyes, and a mouth almost masculine in its decided set. Over her shoulders she wore a bright red tartan shawl, the startling hues of which gave the owner a gipsy-like appearance.

The expression of her countenance was either very bad or very good ; when the latter, she looked a very handsome woman ; when the former, a very passionate one. This was Nurse Skellery of Wilbourne. " Good evening, Mrs. Skellery," exclaimed Mr. Cheesey, entering the shop. " Good evening, Mr. Cheesey ; I am come for half a pound of sugar for Miss Maude's tea. Give me your best ; we like it good, Miss Maude and I." " Oh ! but you'll step in and see Mrs. Cheesey ; we're all alone to-night," and he opened the door leading to the little back parlour. Mrs. Skellery passed in without saying a word, only nodding good evening to Mrs. Cheesey. "Any news up at the Hall, Mrs. Skellery?" said Mr. Cheesey. " Do you know any ? " was the reply. " Oh ! well — no — how should I know any, if you didn't, that come from headquarters."

" Don't stand up there and make a fool of yourself, Mr. Cheesey!" cried Nurse Skellery, turning her piercing eyes straight at him, and lowering her eyebrows at the same time. Here Mrs. Cheesey broke in: "Oh, Mrs. Skellery! don't be taking offence where there's none meant. You know there will always be gossip, and everything comes to our shop. Look how many people are in and out here in the course of the day." " That's it," said Mr. Cheesey, gasping with relief at his wife's good defence ; " and so we heard the folk say that the Squire was thinking of getting married ; but of course we don't believe all we hear." " Married, indeed ! Him married ! The old idiot ! I declare he would look well. They'll have a nice handful that takes him, ha, ha, ha!" " Then you think there's nothing in it ? " said Mr. Cheesey, in a confidential voice.

" Show me that letter',' she cried, turning round on him with one of her fiercest looks. " What letter ? " asked the little man, feigning astonish ment. "Why, the letter the old fool has written to that sleek-faced simpleton of a Madam Woodridge up at the rectory." " Oh ! upon my word, Mrs. Skellery." " And upon mine, Mr. Cheesey, didn't I see you pro duce it like a penny peep-show to all Wilbourne village gathered in your shop half an hour ago? Ha, ha! you were all too busy to notice my face at the window-pane, but I didn't come in then to disturb you. You may well show it to me now, it must be pretty stale by this time." " Oh ! well, if it's any pleasure to you to read the address, I may let you see it, as we are old acquaint ances ; but, of course, you know that I am responsible for all the letters that come here, that they don't get too much handled."

When the letter appeared, Mrs. Skellery snatched it out of Mr. Cheesey's hand, so that he instantly cried : " Take care, take care, Mrs. Skellery ; if you clutch it that way, you'll crack the seal." The woman glanced rapidly at the address, and then deliberately broke the seal and unfolded the letter. " Goodness, gracious ! " cried Mr. and Mrs. Cheesey all aghast, " what have you done — opened the letter ! " " Never you mind," she said, in a commanding tone. " But if a youthful swain's love-letter to his sweetheart will amuse you, why then I'll read it aloud for your benefit : " ' Wilbourne Hall, " ' September 28, 182—. " ' Dear Mrs. Woodridge, — You were the best friend of my departed beloved wife, and, as such, you are the only lady whom I should desire to see mistress of Wilbourne Hall ; and the only person who could in any wise be to me all that she was during our brief married life.

" ' I ask you hereby to accept my hand in marriage, and to cast in your fortune in life with mine. ' An early answer will much oblige, " ' Yours devotedly, '"Frederick Augustus Wilbourne.'" " Then it's true," cried Mr. Cheesey. " And do you think she'll ever have him ? " exclaimed Nurse Skellery. " Never ! A nice life he'd lead her, the old villain ! A mummy from the museum would be more to his taste after the first fortnight ! It's money the old miser is thinking of. I'm going now, for I've got all I wanted." " But, Mrs. Skellery, you've opened the letter, you've broken the seal, and what is to become of me ? " cried the shopkeeper, in real distress. " Seal it up at your leisure, and don't trouble me with it," she said, striding out of the room. " And you know," she added, turning back, " you can say that / opened it ; and I can say that you were exhibiting it to all Wil bourne."

There was a long row of cottages in Wilbourne village, running at right-angles to the principal street. These faced the sea, and were, for the most part, only fishermen's huts with thatched roofs. It was into the last of these that Nurse Skellery entered after leaving Mr. Cheesey's. Her arrival was welcomed by a child who ran towards her, a boy of about eleven years, with fair hair, blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and a happy, beaming face. " Granny ! Granny ! It's you," he cried, catching her by the skirts, and dancing round her in wild merri ment. " Mrs. Hodge, here's Granny ; Uncle Adam, here's Granny ! " The former, a young woman, was kneeling at the fire blowing the bellows ; the latter, who was her uncle Adam, not the boy's, was an invalid old man, propped up in an armchair by the hearth. " Come, let me go, Dan," cried Nurse Skellery ; " and tell me if you have caught any fish to-day for Miss Maude's supper ?

" " Yes, Granny, a skate, and some small flat fish," cried the boy. " Mrs. Hodge has them all ready for you in the little basket." " Indeed the poor child was out all day in the skiff, and came in perfectly drenched." " Oh well, that doesn't matter, so that he got the fish," said Nurse Skellery. " I'm sure he's nothing the worse. Miss Maude must have her supper." " And guess where I caught them, Granny, just guess ! Near the Sandy Bay at Wilbourne Park. And didn't I see you and Miss Maude taking a walk, and didn't I shout to you, for I had the fish then ! But you never heard. You turned your heads, and went the other way. And I was just going to fasten the skiff, and come after you." "Look here!" cried Mrs. Skellery, fiercely, clutching the boy by the collar with one hand, and clenching her other fist in his face.

" You ever come into the park, or near the hall, and I'll . Do you know the Squire hates lads like you, that he has traps set in every direc tion for them ? And I thought I had told you all that before ! There ! Take that ! and keep you as far off Sandy Bay as you can ! Nancy," she said, turning to Mrs. Hodge, " if you give me that fish I'll be off again. My poor little lamb has waited long enough for me." " What was that she said about traps, Nancy ? " asked old Mr. Hodge, who was a little deaf, after Nurse Skel lery had gone ; " there were no traps in the park in my time." " It's only her way of talking to frighten the boy," replied Mrs. Hodge ; " but it may be the Squire doesn't like strange children in the park. Anyhow, she might speak a little pleasanter to her own grandchild. Come, Dan dear, I kept a fish for your own supper too."

It was very dark when Nurse Skellery, walking rapidly, regained the vicinity of Wilbourne Hall. At this hour already the park gate was closed for the night ; but she had a key to the little postern-door, and she knew her way as well in the dark as in the day time. There was a long avenue up to the house, thickly shaded by trees ; while on one side of it there rose a grassy bank, sloping away to the park wall, which was somewhat lower here than at any other part. She was walking here, when just at the same instant the sound of horses' hoofs was to be heard ; and Nurse Skellery, stopping, and listening intently, observed that they came from the stable-yard of Wilbourne House. There were two horses, but she could not see them, it was so dark ; presently, however, she heard a voice say, " Now, William, for the wall !

I shall clear it first, and see you don't drop that band-box, my ball-dress is in it." The horses' feet were heard now no more on the gravel, they were scampering off at right-angles towards the park wall. " That's Miss Georgina and William the groom," said Nurse Skellery ; and, as she listened still, she could hear the lady laugh, as her horse, with one leap, reached the high-road, while the groom had to spur his on the second and third time to perform the same feat. " She's a nice one, too, I declare," muttered Mrs. Skellery. " I wonder does she know she is going to have a new sister-in-law. Hey ! the old fool ! " " Oh, Nursey dear, you were a long time away," said little Maude Wilbourne, a white-faced, sickly-looking little girl, who strolled across the nursery floor to peep into the basket containing the fresh fish.

" Oh, my little darling, my own sweet love, and did the time seem long ? But we'll have such a nice supper to gether, eh ! Fried fish and good strong tea ! Nothing is too good for my own pet. I should like to see the one who would bring a step-mother in over my Miss Maude's head. I guess we sha'n't let your Pa marry, my dear ! " " Does Pa want to marry ? " asked Maude, screwing up her little white face. " Is it that lady who called here yesterday, and sent for me ? " " Ay, but it's not going to be, darling, never you fear," said Nurse Skellery. " What did she do on you, darling, when you went down ? " " Oh, nothing. She only took me on her knee, looked for a long time into my face, and then shook her head." " Shook her head, did she, the jade ! " " Oh, Nursey, I thought she had a very nice face," said Maude.

" Come to your supper, child," said Nurse Skellery after this. " Nursey, why did you pretend not to hear little Dan when he called us this morning?" said Maude, after a little. " And why don't you bring him here sometimes to play with me ? Poor little Dan ! " " I think you are too late up, child, when you begin to ask so many questions," was all the answer little Maude got.

Chapter III Castle Luftus

ASTLE LUFTUS was at the other side of Middleham, distant from Wilbourne fifteen miles " as the crow flies," and farther by the road. Here there were no venerable beeches and ancient mansion as at Wilbourne Park ; but a modern villa, built in imitation of the old Norman style, and situated on the summit of a bleak hill. A plantation of firs no older than the foundations of the house skirted the demesne. The farmers to-night for miles round beheld the lights gleaming from the Castle Luftus windows, and said to one another : " Young Lady Luftus and the Major are at home ; there is a ball at the castle, and over a hundred invitations have been issued." Inside everything was arranged for the occasion on a brilliant scale. All the rooms were thrown open. In the oak-panelled dining-hall, which ran down one side of the building, the supper was laid out for twelve o'clock, while the large apartment corresponding at the other end was the ball-room.

Here three elegant candelabras from the ceiling showed to advantage the delicate tints of the carpeting, and the brilliant crimson satin hangings. Lounges and sofas to match were placed all round the walls for the elderly part of the company, and those who were tired of dancing. Half-way down the room was a little gallery occupied by the musicians from Middleham, hired for the occasion ; while at the extreme end the apartment led to a cool conservatory, furnished with roses, geraniums, heliotropes, with the vine trailing along under the glass roof. In the corridors powdered domestics hovered about with refreshments all the time. The ball-room was already filled, and oh ! how gay, how dazzling everything appeared ! What a rustling of silks and fluttering of muslins, and quivering of ribbons and ladies' curls !

What an odour of white kid gloves, too, and bouquets, and perfumery ! And then the glit tering of the jewels ! The elderly people enjoyed the sight at any rate, seated on their satin sofas all round, and smiling to one another. Among these there were two ladies talking together, one certainly middle-aged and matronly, in a black moire antique dress, with a white silk shawl thrown over her shoulders, and lavender ribbons in her head dress matching her lavender gloves. The lady next her was younger, with light brown hair, combed evenly down on either side. Her face wore a sweet, peaceful expression, which expanded into a beaming smile when she spoke. "Now, Anna," said her companion to her,"the music has struck up, and the dancing is just about to begin. There is Lady Luftus herself going to open the ball with Lord VOL. I. Arthur Fitzmaurice.

You know, my dear, the ball was given for Lord Arthur ; he sails with his regiment on Friday for India. 'Twas the Major's regiment formerly; Major Luftus I mean, before he sold out." " Oh yes, my dear Mrs. Nevin, you must tell me who every one is, for I am almost a stranger in this part of the world, and should never have been here, you know, but through you." " Oh, my dear, I shall tell you all I know, though a poor country clergyman's wife is supposed to know more about parish work than balls and entertainments. But you had better look at the toilettes, for mind I don't see well, and the girls will be questioning us to-morrow. Poor things ! they will hardly close an eye to-night for wishing they were here. But clergymen's daughters can't afford this sort of thing ; they must all wait till they are married.

Heigho ! it wasn't so in my Uncle Vernor's time. I remember my sister Jane and me, after there was a rout in Vernor Hall, standing round the breakfast-room fire next morning and counting over our beaux ; and my old grandfather the bishop (he was still able to go about then) would be there, too, and would add half a dozen to the number." Just then a gentleman approached, and Mrs. Nevin shook hands with him, and introduced her companion. "Mrs. Woodridge, Mr. Andrews — Mr. Andrews, Mrs. Woodridge. I don't see the Major dancing, Mr. Andrews." " Oh dear, no, Mrs. Nevin ; he doesn't dance to-night ; he has his arm in a sling, did you not remark ? " " Anna, do you see him ? Oh yes, and who is that talking to him ? Gracious, if it isn't Miss Georgina Wilbourne ! " " Indeed, Mrs. Nevin, I didn't know Miss Georgina was to be here to-night."

" Miss Georgina's an old friend of the Major's," remarked Mr. Andrews. " Never misses an officers' ball, regatta, hunt, steeplechase — all that kind of thing ; but I don't think she and My Lady are very intimate." " No, but they will be before long," said Mrs. Nevin ; "you see My Lady has nearly all her husband's acquain tances to know yet. But I do wonder, Anna, how she got here." " I suppose in her brother's carriage, Mrs. Nevin." " I doubt it, my dear ; they say he is rather stingy with his horses, and, in fact, I don't remember the look of his carriage on the road. But if she did, it was very mean of her not to tell us, and offer us seats ; and then we needn't, or rather you needn't (for I never could have afforded it), have hired a coach from Middleham." " As for that, Mrs. Nevin, you may set your mind at ease," said Mr. Andrews, " for I heard Miss Georgina say, as she came into the room, that she had come all the way on the saddle, straight across country."