Pearla ... With illustrations, etc

Front matter

PEARLA ISBISTERS' HOME LIBRARY. FOR YOUNG READERS. Each volume complete in itself, priceThree Shillings and Sixpence- Toilers in Art. Biographical and Critical Sketches. Edited by Henry C. Ewart. AVith Illustrations. Stepping- Stones. A Story of our Inner Lives. By Sarah Doudney. "With .Numerous 11 ustrations. The Story of Chemistry. By Harold AV. Pjcton, B.Sc. "With Introduction by Sir Henry Roscoe, M.P. "With Numerous Illustrations. Leaders Upward and Onward. Brief Biographies of Noble Workers. Edited by Henky C. Ewart. With 80 Illustrations. The Romance of Animal Life. Short Chapters in Natural History. By the late Rev. J. G. Wood, M.A. With 80 Illustrations. Strangers Yet. A Story. By Sarah Doudney. With Numerous Illustrations. Round the Glohe- 7 h rough Greater Britain. Edited by W. C. Procter.

With 80 Illustrations. Britta. A Story of Life in the Shetland Isles. By George Temple, Author of "Lancelot Ward, M.P. &.c. With Illustrations by Lockhart Bogle. True and Noble "Women. Brief Biographies. Edited by Henry C. Ewart. "With numerous Illustrations. Thy Heart's Desire. A Story of Girls' Lives. By Sarah Doudney. With 24 Illustrations. Glimpses of Europe. A Round of Travel. Edited by W.C. Procter. With 100 Illustrations. The British Hive, audits Working Bees. By H. C. Miall Smith, B.A. With 100 Illustrations. Other Volumes in Preparation. "SAY NOT SO, DEAR LADY," SAID THE CLERGYMAN, NOW SPEAKING SOOTHINGLY, ENCOURAGINGLY. Frontispiece, page 124. PEARLA BY M. BETHAM-EDWARDS author of "doctor jacob" "exchange no robbery" etc. etc. WITH ILLUSTRA TIONS BY DA VID SON KNO WLES LONDON ISBISTER AND COMPANY Limited 15 & 16 TAVISTOCK STREET COVENT GARDEN LONDON : PRINTED BT J. S. VIRTUE AND CO., LIMITED, CITY ROAD.

CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE i. The Loves of Georgie and Geoff . . .11 11. Fated in a Day 25 iii. The Dream-JIother 38 iv. The World after an Island .... 49 v. The Island 56 vi. The World 65 vn. Pearla's Revengf. 76 vin. An Interlude 85 ix. Surprise upon Surprise 90 x. Lovers' Quarrels 98 xi. Geoff's Debut in Society 108 xii. The Suitors 11S xiii. Foresiiadowings 128 xiv. The Cry for Deliverance 136 xv. The Deliverer's Return 142 xvi. Lady Auriol's Petition — "For this my Son" . 150 xvii. Conscience makes Cowards 155 xviii. "What is thy Petition, Queen Esther?" . . 161 xix. "Fleeting it Goldenly " . . . . . 171 xx. Sprung to Manhood 177 xxi. "The Wheel of Fortune" 187 xxn. "All he shows her makes him dearer" . . 196 xxiii. " All of this is mine and thine "... 205 xxiv. A Revelation CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE xxv.

Chapter I. The Loves Of Georgie And Geoff

ERE ever Sundays so delicious as those spent by the fifteen-year-old Geoff and his tutor at Georgie's home near the sea ? Books were put by for a whole long day ; and Geoff, in spite of such teaching as few boys get, hated books except the " "Waverley Novels," and " Masterman Ready ; " beyond listening to a very long sermon, no mental exertion was then required of him ; the weather almost always admitted of the usual walk after church ; finally came the lively family dinner, eaten by Georgie's side, and nothing but perfect contentment till night. No evil chance ever marred the perfection of those Sundays, and though one was very much like the other, each seemed to the boy more charming than the last. Dressed in his Eton suit of fine blue cloth kept ex- PEARLA. 12 pressly for holiday use ; his chimney-pot hat, an article of apparel as delectable to English youths as without doubt was the manly toga to schoolboys of ancient Rome, scrupulously brushed ; a flower, if the season admitted, in his button-hole ; and a few drops of eau de Cologne on his white cambric handkerchief, Geoff was always ready full ten minutes before the last bell began to ring.

He would put his tutor's hat, coat, and prayer-book together, open the front door an inch, stand first on one foot, then on another, finally ven ture to tap at the study door and say, " It must be time to go, I think, sir." "Whereupon the usual careless reply would issue from within, not uttered impatiently, but in an indifferent tone, that rendered further remonstrance out of the question. So Geoff had nothing to do but open the door an inch wider, prick up his ears for the sound of the second bell, arrange hat, coat, and prayer-book, if possible, after handier fashion, and again begin the gymnastics before named, till at last he heard the wel come words, " Come, my lad, I'm ready now." A minute later, and tutor and pupil were on their way to the picturesque old church of St. Margaret's ; the former a tall, spare, scholarly man of eight-and thirty ; the latter, a well-grown, innocent-looking boy, in that stage of existence when ears are unusually conspicuous, long legs, in spite of a good deal of drill ing, given to dangle rather than walk, feet and hands the reverse of symmetrical, and cheeks glow with almost infantine smoothness and bloom.

The two descended the zig-zag path leading from their cosily nestled home on the slope of a green hill, and in a few minutes' time had taken their accustomed places, Geoff \_ looking up to see if Georgie were in hers, his companion, after bending his head for a minute or two in prayer, leaning back absently. At the very last moment, Georgie and a detachment of the large family to which she belonged would hasten up the aisle, the little ones looking aggrieved and un comfortable, much as if pins were pricking them, which might very likely be the case ; the elder girls flushed and triumphant ; and, indeed, to have dressed so many children in time for church, and themselves into the bargain, was an achievement. Georgie, a large promising girl of fourteen, with black hair tied up by vermilioncoloured ribbons, very properly frowned on encountering Geoff's smile ; then, having said her preliminary prayer, occupied herself with the children.

The boy in her charge had to have his collar pulled straight, the girl her shoes buttoned, gloves drawn on, and both had to be awed into silence by whispered admonitions from time to time. Bella, the eldest of the family, taller, larger, more imposing in appearance than Georgie, with the same abundance of black hair but no red ribbons coquettishly knotting it, and a less vivacious, slightly sentimental expression, was also obliged to divide her attention between the prayers and her young charges. On the whole, the little thiDgs behaved pretty well, for every thing was as yet old-fashioned and unattractive at St. Margaret's, except the benches. Only two hymns were sung, only the Te Deuni and Benedictus chanted, the Litany formed an invariable part of the service, and the sermons were always longer than those delivered from any other pulpit in the town.

Formerly, the time-honoured pews screened restless youngsters and drowsy veterans from the eyes of the PEARLA. ■4 congregation ; but these had been superseded by the new-fangled benches of modern days, which compel young and old alike to behave themselves, at least with some shown of decorum. Georgie and Bella had occa sionally a difficult task, but they performed it admirably, and could boast that, even in the hottest day of summer, they contrived to keep their little charges awake. The longest sermon, however, must come to an end, and Geoff's face wore a radiant look as the usual hand shaking took place outside the porch. Then the large party, reinforced by another detachment of Georgie's family who had attended morning service elsewhere — it was hardly to be expected that one church would accommodate them all — turned with the rest of the congregation towards the sea.

There was a certain portion of the parade in this southern watering-place that seemed by right to belong to the parish of St. Margaret's and its unfashionable inhabitants. Although it joined the long, unbroken promenade of the modern town, flanked with handsome new houses, the exact counterpart of marinas elsewhere, it remained St. Margaret's Parade always. Belgravia, in velvet and white feathers, seldom put her dainty foot within the precincts of her twin sister, the picturesque, rugged, grand old fishing-town, a "Wapping by com parison. And on Sundays, after church, Geoff and his old-fashioned friends preferred to stroll up and down the little parade adjoining the fish-market, rather than mingle with the aristocratic crowds further on. Geoff naturally fell into his place by Georgie's side, and the pair, without saying much that perhaps either of them could remember next day, found each other's society very agreeable.

Georgie, no longer frowning at is him, and relieved on account of the little ones that the long sermon was over, looked sparkling and rosy. She was a girl who liked the feeling of Sunday clothes, and the admiration they inspired in a companion of tho other sex. " Oh, Geoff," she said, looking at him almost affectionately, they were such very good friends, and always told each other everything. " You don't know it. I have got a new umbrella ! " "That is too bad," Geoff said, pouting, " I was going to give you one on your birthday. But let me carry it for you." "No! "she replied, stoutly. "Boys break every thing, and it has an ivory handle, as you see. You must not touch it on any account." " Ah, there is nothing too bad for you to say about boys ! " he said reproachfully. " Girls are perfect, I suppose ?

" " Not so loud, Geoff, please. People are looking at us. How absurd yo\» are ! As if breaking umbrellas had anything to do with perfection. You cannot help being awkward and breaking things, because you are a boy, you know." Thus they prattled on, as they had prattled a score of times before, neither in foolisher fashion nor wiser, not instructing or edifying each other, but certainly doing each other no harm. And their young hearts were as light as the little white clouds sailing overhead. How breezy and pleasant was this corner of the ancient town on such spring-tide Sundays ! A dozen little fishing-boats, flags up, signs of a good haul, were scudding before the south-westerly breeze into the harbour ; the sea, of deep olive green streaked with silvery lines, seemed the very personification of undying joy, I' SAR I. A. 16 youth, and strength ; the deep rushing of the waves exhilarated like tlie music ol' trumpet.*-*- and clarions ; tho sky, clean washed with recent storms of wind aud rain, gleamed in splendour above sea-encircling green hills.

Over against tho strollers by the shoro, cresting a bold rock, rose tho grey ruins of tho castle after which tho place, foremost of historic towns in England, is called. But, excepting tho character of antiquity lent by theso crumbling bastions to bo seen for miles around, what a welcome air of freshness and vitality was here! Surely by the sea we should never grow old. By-and-by, the little procession turned homeward. Georgie's lather, Ralph Garland, and his old college friend, Edgar Durham, Geoff's tutor, going first, the young people following, all, from tho youngest to tho oldest, making light of tho steep walk leading to their destination, a very eagle's nest perched on the edgo of tho cliff. Half an hour later tho family party, num bering nearly a score of souls, sat down to tho hospit able board.

Tho master presided, a largo, shaggy, handsome man, still young, with a dreamy expression but a fine practical flow of animal spirits, and a patriarchal uir that seemed to want a furrowed brow and whito board. By his right hand, in a high-backed chair, sat a very old woman ; indeed, she must have been verging on ninety, with that expression of almost, triumphant hilarity, soen in tho extromely aged who have outlived several generations without losing their health or faculties. Thoy aro proud of such singularity, and no wonder. Sho was muffled up in so muny wraps and shawls that you saw nothing of her but a withered, cheerful face, brown as an Arab's, and a pair of diminished eyes, bright as beads. She was the grand mother — by adoption — of the family, a great-aunt of the dead Mrs. Garland, who, being left homeless in her old age, had here found love and shelter.

On the other side of the master sat another adopted member of the family, generally known as Cousin Abee. THE LITTLE PAEADE ADJOINLN'O TH1 FTSH-MAEKET." She was no cousin of the Garlands, indeed nobody's cousin at all, for this poor little lame, crook-backed girl, or woman — who could guess her age ? — had not a single living soul with whom to claim kith or kin on the face of the earth. She also had been gathered to b PEARLA. 18 this warm friendly fold from the cold bleak wilderness of tho outside world, and although disinherited both by nature and fortune, hero felt herself rich as an heiress. The remaining places were occupied by the nino chil dren, ono of whom was also a little waif, by tho servants whoso Sunday privilege it was to dine in thc parlour, for the benefit of tho conversation, and by our old friends Geoff and Durham.

Two littlo girls sat opposite their father at tho other end of tho table. Sinco his wife's death four years before, Ralph never permitted anyone to preside in tho beloved Bertha's place. Grace was said ; then with thc relish of mountaineers ■ — as indeed they might bc called, seeing that they lived at an elevation of several hundred feet above the sea level — and the high spirit of school boys and girls on breaking-up day, thc company proceeded to dine. It was dining in earnest, for onc invariable feature of that Sunday banquet consisted in thc certainly of everything being eaten up. The happy household was not vexed with thc dire culinary problem of odds and ends. Nothing was ever spoiled, bocause everything straightway vanished. It seemed the rule of the house that it should bo so, and the duties of both cook and housekeeper were thereby much lightened.

There was no other certainty about thc dinner, for never was ordinary so made up of attractive variety as this, sometimes being on a scale of palatial costliness, at others as homely as that of a poor-house. One day the plumage of a pheasant would flash above such a pastry as baffles description, choicest old wine or golden liqueur would bo handed round in crystal of dainty pat terns. Tho next, a vast volume of steam would sercoa the guest from opposite neighbours, revealing, as it cleared away, a pyramid of potatoes steaming in their skins, the centre-piece and leading feature of that day's feast. These genial souls were everything by turn, epicu reans, wine-bibbers, vegetarians, total-abstainers, and it would be hard to say which condition became them best. How easy, how charming, how gracious was the master as he pressed everyone to partake largely of the best !

How readily the guests caught his mood and showed themselves in their gayest, pleasantest humour ! How the children listened, smiled, enjoyed ! It was incomparable. Geoff sat by Georgie's side as usual, and thought her new dress perfection. Bella had had the principal hand in making it, she told him, pointing admiringly to its scarlet trimmings. " And Bella's new dress will be ready by next Sun day," she added. " But please taste this pastry, it is of my making. I do not expect it to be very good. I am not fond of cooking. I think I should care more about Latin and Euclid." " Then when we live together, in our little house, you shall read in the study, and I will see to the dinner in the kitchen." Geoff made this little speech unblushingly. Most growing lads, with huge appetites and an affection for pastry, regard the career of a chef with envy.

Georgie turned the conversation demurely. It was an under stood thing that they were to be married some day, but she thought it folly to make such frequent allusions to it before other people. " Geoff," she began, by way of changing the con versation, " I do want to learn out of your books. "Will PEARLA. 20 you lend me somc of the hard ones P Papa gives us lessons at odd times in everything, but that is not often, sometimes scarcely onco a week. I think I shall never grow clever at that rate." " "What do you want so bo clever for ? " asked tho lad. " I havo already taught the little ones all that I know, and I want to bo able to go on with their studios," Gcorgio replied ; then, with a proud toss of tho largo curly black head, added, " I intend to bc a superior person." " Like Bella, I suppose ?

" " Bella would like to learn somo things too, though she is very superior already, but she has tho houso to keep and tho children to mind, and not a spare moment. Hush, papa is going to say grace." Tho benediction given, all rose from tho table Ralph, having conducted grannie to thc drawing-room and comfortably seated her in her easy-chair, retired with Durham to smoke a quiet cigar in his tiny study below. Somo went one way, some another ; every corner of the house was soon animated with gay young voices. Geoff and Georgie undertook to give tho litllo ones what they called a Scripturo object-lesson, by means of Noah's ark and other toys. Bella assembled the rest round the piano, and in a sweet, untrained voice taught them little songs and hymns, Cousin Alico joining, grannie waking up occasionally to nod and smile approval with tho pleasant assurance of beino perpetually amused.

Meantime thc two men, after tho usual long discus sion upon metaphysics, literature, or their immediate work — both were authors in widely different fields finished up with a littlo practical talk. " Is it decided that Geoffrey goes to a public school, then ? " asked Ralph. " I suppose so, although a definite answer has not come from his father. He now eoes to the erainmar school daily, as you know. I find that he wants more companionship than I can give him. Whilst the other lads were in the house, it did very well." __ __ — —^ — "• True. He needs what aU young people should have — life in a little world, before trying that of the great stage on which he must play his part. You make him good and happy, but you do not try him as he must be tried on a large scale hereafter." " There is the difficulty of home bringing-up.

A perfect education — at least so I take it — should not harden a boy's sensibilities, but teach him his exact re lations to society and the world at large." '• What do the wisest of us know about education as yet ? " Ralph answered, smiling. " Then I suppose, if Geoff goes you will carry out your long cherished scheme of a visit to .America, and educate yourself, eh? " " Yes, I have made up my mind to do that." "I should well Hke to go with you. Ah, there is the tea-bell. Let us go to Cousin Alice and the teacups." It was one of the numerous Sunday customs of the house, instituted by the master, that the poor deformed girl should preside at the tea-table, no matter how large or distinguished might be the company. Garland, with the instinct of true genius, well understood that feminine fondness for dispensing hospitality imputed bv our great poet to Eve in Paradise.

Cousin Alice, houseless, homeless, without a clan, without a name, felt herself for the time being mistress of the house, PEARLA. 22 lady of the feast, " cynosure of neighbouring eyes." She would put on her brightest ribbons, her cheers ulest smile for these occasions, and her little thin hands would tremble with delight as she handed a cup of tea to this guest or that, for guests in abundance and variety were always there. Sometimes illustrious writers or artists from the world of London would come on a flying visit ; at others poor waifs and strays like herself would pay much longer visits. All noticed her and made much of her. To Cousin Alice these Sunday tea-tables summed up the excellence of human enjoyment, and when Ralph himself took the chair beside her, and chatted about the last new book or railed her pleasantly as to the coquetry of her toilette, her happiness knew no bounds.

She adored him. What women could help adoring a man as tender-hearted as women themselves ? The poor humped-backed girl would have been wil lingly put to a cruel death if his safety had required such a sacrifice. The tea over — a meal taken at random, as it should ever be, sometimes in one room, some times in another, sometimes early in the evening, some times late — the younger children said good night, and the last part of the day's programme was carried out. All the company being seated and silent, Ralph, now conspicuously placed in their midst, produced a book and began to read. His Sunday readings were as varied as the guests, the meals, the hours of meals, and every thing else in this delightfully irregular household ; all seemed improvised on the spur of the moment ; nothing was constant but a pervading atmosphere of sweet charity, contentment, and benignant welcome.

So, when he leaned forward in his arm-chair, his shaggy locks overhanging the broad white brow, his large black eyes full of fervour and expectation, no one in the least knew what was coming. It might be a sermon of South or Jeremy Taylor ; just as likely it might be a passage from Milton or Shakespeare. Oc casionally it was some author, old or new, of whom even the most instructed part of the audience had never heard. But grave or gay, new or ancient, these readings always delighted beyond measure. The running commentaries of the reader or reciter — for Ralph knew scores of choice passages by heart, both in prose and poetry — might with impunity be interrupted by an intelligent query from the youngest listener in the room. Thus all took a minor part in the performance, al though none other ever read or recited on Sunday even ings but himself.

It was the head of the house preach ing a long sermon to his family, the father moralising to his children, the teacher instructing his pupils, and many a golden lesson did even the wisest and oldest carry away with him. Having closed the book — too often, alas ! with a look of pallid, even haggard, weariness, in striking contrast to the glow with which he had opened it — he leaned back in his chair, and beyond exchanging an affectionate good night with all, said no more. The blissful Sunday being thus brought to a close, each heart echoed a sweet and solemn Amen. Guests, children, servants, all went away, exuberating, in scriptural phrase, over a " day of gladness and feasting and a good day." Durham and his young companion turned back more than once in their steep descent to glance at the friendly little house, where lights still shone in every window, where, on week-days, a light often shone in PEARLA. 24 one till long past midnight.

To-day the pen no longer moved over the page ; the broad shadow of the writer was not cast upon the pane ; the breadwinner of the helpless, the homeless, the unhappy, rested from his labours. Garland's study was dark. Shine, friendly stars, on that haunt of peace and love and divine pity ! Hover, guardian angels, about that unworldly, peaceful dwelling. Shield it, 0 minis tering spirits, from malevolent influences, and bless the home of the guileless for ever !

Chapter II

fated in a day. UTOR and pupil separated on the threshold, Geoff, already full of sleep as a twelve month-old baby after feeding-time. Dur ham, still alert, trimmed his lamp and got out his books, preparing for that choice hour of scholarly delectation, when the noisy part of the world is asleep, and we know that nothing can disturb us till morning. This time he reckoned without his host. As he put the lamp in its place, his eye lighted on one of those brown missives which find their way to us even on certain hours on Sunday. It was an Australian telegram, to this pur port : — "From Lady Auriol to Edgar Durham. — Pearl Island, February 12, 186 — . "Break to my hoy the tidings of his father's death. I shall return to England as soon as possible. Please have everything ready." The golden glimpse of ineffable tranquillity was gone.

Durham sighed after its vanishing wings ; then push- PEARLA. ing away his book, he gave his entire attention to the new visitants — dismay, perplexity, and congratulation. He knew well enough that the death so decorously an nounced must be a breaking up of prison-bars to one poor prisoner, at least. Such things are. We may bid the undertaker and milliner to do what they can for us ; the sable plume, the crape veil, the ink bordered paper are bound to tell one story to the world, whilst our hearts sometimes — God pardon us ! even our faces — may tell another to Him and our friends. It was in this case no noble ship that had gone down in its pride, rather a battered hull that kind wave had hidden from sight. Pity, not grief, makes us weep over such graves, and they are many. Durham, under the circumstances, pondered more on the latter part of telegram, " I shall return to England as soon as possible."

Yes, he thought, with some ex ultation, his own prison -bars would soon be broken also, and he, too, should be like a bird suddenly set at Uberty. Geoff's mother once with him, the tutor's own respon sibility would end. The charge he had undertaken ten years before was about to be surrendered. In a few months he should be free ! Then he thought of the lad, and the effect such tidings would probably have on him. Would joy in the prospect of seeing an unknown mother console him for the loss of a father equally so ? And how would that mother shape his future career ? Wisely or unwisely ? He had a real fondness for his pupil, and pondered awhile on this new epoch in his existence with some anxiety. He determined to let him sleep on unmolested tiU the morning. Early next day, when Geoff's blue eyes were gradually opening, and he lay wondering how many FATED IN A DAY. 27 minutes of blissful repose still remained to him, Durham opened the door.

"Ami late, sir?" Geoff asked, starting up. "I am always twice as sleepyT on Monday mornings." " Lie still," Durham said, kindly ; then, sitting down beside him on the bed, he put one arm round his shoulder and with the other held up the brown envelope. " A telegram from mamma ? " the boy asked, greatly excited. " Then something has happened." " Yes. There is good news and bad news contained iu that telegram. I will tell you the good first. Your mother is coming to England immediately." " Then papa is coming too ? " " Nay ; that would be all good news. You know that y^our father's health has been failing of late. You must have expected to hear rather that he was worse than better." " Why does mamma leave him if he is worse ? What is it ? " said the boy, with scarlet cheeks, and tears already starting to his blue eyes.

"Your father is dead." " And I shall never see him now ! " was all that Geoff could say, the artless words going straight to Durham's heart. He consoled him as best he could ; he tried to lead him to think of his mother. He would not for worlds have seen him unmoved at the gloomy tidings, but this childish outburst of sobs unmanned him also. The two were now brought nearer together by the quarter of an hour's deep feeling shared in com mon, than by the long, long years of daily intercourse passed by. " Do not go, sir," said the toy, catching hold of Durham's long white hand, true hand of the scholar, PEARLA. as he rose from the bed : " stay with me a little longer." The other consented, smiling, and, after some further close talk, neither quite knew how it was, for the first time in their lives they kissed each other.

Both had always been capital friends, and it was hardly possible for tutor and pupil, with such a difference of age be tween them, to live on better terms. But Durham was not given to any outward show of affection, and Geoff's nature was retiring, almost timid where his likings were concerned. All on a sudden he felt himself growing expansive ; as if this grave, learned tutor, of whom he had really seen so little, whom he knew so imperfectly, was somebody to be loved. " Come," Durham said at length, " this idling will never do. Had you not better get up ? Remember that we have much to think about." " May I do my thinking in bed ? " Geoff asked. The everyday world seemed a confusing place to plunge into just then, and he wanted to lie quite still, ponder ing on what had happened. "By all means stay where you are for the present," Durham answered.