The Calico Printer. A novel

Front matter

A NO VEL BY CHARLOTTE FENNELL LONDON HUTCHINSON & CO. 34 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. De&lcated TO MARY MACLEOD " Freedom is the only normal condition of one who cannot be a mere chattel, and who owns no sovereign except his Creator." "Equality means that it is reason which makes us per sons " a " Fraternity is the modern rendering of the golden rule of Christ. Thus the root, and stem, and blossom of the Tree of Liberty are nothing else than the sacred right of each man to be himself."

Chapter I

There are some people whose lives seem to be pitched in a minor key — mournful souls, who love " to count over link by link their chain of grief." Such an one was Mrs. Challis. With droop ing lips, and eyebrows perpetually strained into an arch of discontent, she bore "widow" and "small means " written, as it were, all over her in large letters. Chronic ill-health and chronic discontent, the one acting on the other, had reduced her to a feeble, injured state, which at times tried to the uttermost the temper of her daughter Leonora. I say temper advisedly, for no one seeing Leonora in this, the very pride of her youth, could question for a moment the soundness of her nerves. The locality of Mrs. Challis' tiny cottage was the Cornish coast ; the day, a brilliant one in A early autumn ; but in spite of these facts the invalid's Ilkley couch was drawn up to a flicker ing fire, which strove gallantly with the sun shine for existence.

At a distant window, panting in the over heated atmosphere, Leonora stood and fanned herself with an open letter. " Do you really wish me to go, mother ? " she asked incredulously. " Oh, yes, very much. Very, very much." " But surely not alone ? You cannot intend to send me alone to these people of whose existence I was barely cognisant till yesterday, when this arrived ? " waving the letter. "You must have known that I had a brother living in the North," answered the peevish voice. "But there ! you generally manage to forget that you belong to me as much as you did to your father, that my people are yours also. Your Uncle Thomas is just as much your uncle as Mr. Challis of Garth." " Now, mother, be reasonable, and for good ness sake make some allowance for the different way the two men have treated me.

Uncle Frank has been like a second father to me, Garth another home, Rosie and Jack and the others like sisters and brothers. Uncle Thomas, on the other hand, has shown no recognition of our existence within my recollection, till yesterday, when this letter came from a person you call my ' Aunt Patty,' offering to kiss and be friends. Why have you and your only brother been otherwise than friends all these years ? " " You must have heard that my marriage caused a complete rupture with my parents. You need not rub up old sores in this unfeel ing way." " But there was no occasion for your brother to carry on the feud ; your marriage did not injure him. And now, instead of coming to see you first, as is his bounden duty, he expects you to take a long journey to a dirty, smoky town in the North, that you may be kissed and forgiven.

He cannot know ordinary good manners, not to speak of kindness and con sideration. Oh, mother ! pray, do not expect me to go alone on a visit to people like these." Mrs. Challis twisted her hands, her lips trembled nervously. " You look at things with such prejudiced eyes," she complained. "You use such strong language. The Chastises are everything to you, I and my people nothing. You never consider my feelings ! " It is both unkind and unjust to say that, mother. You know I try to please you in most things. But I cannot see why I should be sent off to visit these relations of yours, who neither know nor want me. I am only alluded to as ' any child, or children, you may choose to bring.' They do not know whether I am male or female, one or half a dozen. It is you they want, of course, and if anyone goes it should be you."

" I ! Oh, I couldn't go back there after all these unhappy years," literally wailed Mrs. Challis. " At least, not just now. I am not strong enough. The journey, the agitation of seeing Patty mistress in my mother's place, everythingso altered, would kill me ! My parents were vulgar old people, I suppose, as your father always thought ; but for all that they were my parents." " I am quite sure dear father never told you he thought them vulgar old people ! " cried Leonora, starting up in defence of the dead father she adored. But by this time Mrs. Challis was reduced to tears and sobs, and in sudden contrition her daughter crossed the room, and went down on her knees by the couch. "Don't cry, dear," she said coaxingly. " Pray don't cry ! I did not mean to hurt your feelings, and I can well imagine what crowds of painful memories this letter awakens.

But oh, dear me, will nothing short of my paying this ghastly visit satisfy you ? " " I am so anxious for you to become known to my people," answered the widow between her sobs. " They are rich ; they might help you. I want so much to get in touch with them once more, and I could — through you. You might go to please me. I so seldom ask you a favour ; and when you stay at Garth for weeks at a time I never complain." Leonora drew back, and rose instantly to her feet. " If you put it in that way, of course I must go," she said coldly. " And if I am to go, it shall be at once. My little pupils are leaving home in a day or two on a visit to their grand mother, so I shall be free. Pray, lie still and compose yourself while I write to Aunt Patty." Mrs. Challis' father, Thomas Barnsdale by name, had begun life in the slums of Medlock, a large city in the north of England.

From the position of errand boy to that of master he had risen through his own exertions. But, though always a smart man of business, he had never grown into anything approachinga gentle man. Early in life he had married a mill hand, and of the two children he had by her, Thomas, the eldest, after a short education at the local grammar school, was put into the works to learn the business of calico printing ; while the daughter, Fanny, was sent to an expensive boarding-school in London. As she lay watching her daughter's hand move rapidly backwards and forwards over the paper, Mrs. Challis' thoughts were busy with the past. She quite shuddered as she remembered her feelings, when, on leaving her smart London school, she found that the upper tradesman class of society was the best her father's position could give her in spite of his wealth.

Her brother, Thomas, had already engaged himself to the daughter of an old family friend, a man who kept a large public house in one of the outskirts of Medlock. Patty Newton had acted as head barmaid in her father's establishment, but his death left her the possessor of so princely a fortune that she became not only an acceptable, but a highly desirable, alliance for the money-loving house of Barnsdale. Then came to Fanny's remembrance the most important event of her life, her meeting with Walter Challis. The regiment in which he was lieutenant was stationed for the time in Medlock, and the meeting took place at a public ball. She could recall distinctly her elation at his attentions — attentions from real gentlemen being rare to her. She was very pretty, and danced divinely, and she had acquired a certain refinement of manner and accent in her London school.

He was much struck with her at their first meeting. Scenes that followed passed rapidly before her mind's eye, and made her cheeks burn even after the lapse of years. From the first she had made no attempt to conceal her infatuation. When their affairs came to a climax there had been a stormy scene between Mr. Challis and her father, for if there was one thing old Barnsdale detested more than a poor man it was a soldier, and Walter would have accepted his dismissal in haughty disgust had not Fanny thrown herself on his mercy. In her secret heart Mrs. Challis knew that the elopement was mainly due to her own weakness, which worked upon his pity. Years of hopeless disappointment fol lowed — years in which she had to endure com plete estrangement from her family, scarcity of money, and worst of all, want of sympathy between her husband and herself.

Even the birth of their only child ended in disappointment, for at a very early age she discovered that Leonora was a thorough Challis, and a fretful, aching jealousy had eaten into her heart as she watched the warm affection between father and daughter deepen year by year. Not that her husband was ever anything but gentle with her ; he even bore with patience her grumblings at the expense of the high class school in Frankfort he chose for his child, and at the hole her education made in his small patrimony. By the time Leonora left school her father had retired from the army with the rank of captain, and the two happiest years she had known so far, were those spent with him before he died, in that cottage on the Cornish coast, where he had settled to be near his eldest brother, who now owned the small family estate, Garth.

It was Leonora who nursed her father through his last illness, who treasured his parting words, received his last looks of love and farewell. When this letter came from her brother's wife it awoke in Mrs. Challis a longing to be in communication once more with her own kin, as was only natural. Yet as soon as she had gained her point, doubts of another kind assailed her. The question as to how Leonora, with her fastidious tastes and haughty notions, would take to the ways and manners of the Barnsdale family, came cropping up un pleasantly. Did Thomas still speak in the provincial dialect, and drop his h's, and behave like a bear ? she wondered. Did Patty still bear evidence of the taproom in her dress, speech, and person ? Then a terrible recollection swept over her of a scene she had witnessed shortly before leaving home.

Patty had brought an aunt of her own to luncheon, a homely old body, hot and wretched in the stiff satin gown, for which she had so recently exchanged the costume of the Lancashire working woman. Standing near her on the table was a tall glass ewer of water with two goblets, and, seized with the desire for a cool and refreshing draught, she disdained the use of tumbler or goblet, and raising the glass jug to her lips, took a good pull. Mrs. Challis could distinctly remember stealing a furtive despairing glance at the butler's impassive countenance, and blessing him inwardly for his immovable calm. But twenty-five years had passed since that unhappy day. Things must have altered. No doubt Patty and Thomas had been swept onwards and upwards in the social scale, Tlie Calico Printer. 10 and many of their old associates would have passed away.

Then the young Barnsdales, with all that wealth at command, had no doubt been trained into decent form at schools and colleges. " What does Uncle Thomas do ? " asked Leonora, breaking across her mother's thoughts. " I thought you knew he was in business." " Business is such a wide term. Half man kind or more is in business. It means offering something for sale, I take it. What does Uncle Thomas offer for sale ? " " It is all very well for you to speak in that scornful sort of way about business and your Uncle Thomas," answered Mrs. Challis, with irritable inconsequence, " but, I can tell you, he could buy up Mr. Challis of Garth a dozen times over. I don't suppose even Lord Ros carron himself has a larger income." " I don't care anything about the size of his income, mother," replied Leonora, smiling.

" And I am sure I hope he won't ' buy up ' Uncle Frank even once. In laudable curiosity, I want to know what he sells; I have no intention of being scornful." " Oh yes, you have. I know your ways well enough by this time. Nobody except the Chastises of Garth are worth mentioning, in your estimation. And a nice poverty-stricken lot they are. They'll never do anything for you. I can tell you there's nothing like business for bringing in money, and money is the only thing worth having in these days, so you needn't turn up your nose at it." " Turn up my nose at money ! " cried Leonora. "Dear me! dear me! I only wish I had the chance ! " " I am in hopes you may pick up a husband in Medlock," continued her mother. " Some rich gentleman might take a fancy to you, if you do not give yourself too many airs.

You have no chance of settling comfortably here, for you never meet anyone worth having." Leonora turned and gazed at her mother. " Look here," she said, " if you say any more in this strain I shall not go at all. Pick up a husband, indeed ! Hideous idea ! And in Medlock too ! You need not be anxious about me, mother. I have years of work in me yet, and when I am superannuated, no doubt Jack will let me live in one of the alms houses at Garth." " There you go ! " cried the widows in great exasperation. " It is Garth, Garth, Garth, Challis, Challis, Challis, from morning till night ! Oh, I am sick of the very name ! "

Chapter II

The income accruing from her pension as officer's widow, and the remnant of her hus band's fortune, would have proved terribly out of proportion to Mrs. Challis' invalidish needs had not Leonora met with a stroke of luck shortly after her father's death. Stretching along the top of the cliff, below which stood their own cottage, were the park and gardens of Roscarron Hall, the owner, Lord Roscarron, being an old friend of the Challis family. He was away in Africa hunting big game when Walter Challis died, but Miss Barbara Frewen, the maiden sister who had dominated his household since his wife's death, was just then on the lookout for a governess for his two little daughters. Some mutual friend suggested Leonora as likely to meet her requirements. She was well educated, well bred, and fresh from her German school.

She had one or two modern languages at the tip of her tongue. She could teach music on the methods of the pure classical school. The idea somehow took root in Miss Frewen's mind. For Mrs. Challis she had the contempt and aversion that a strong upright nature such as hers must inevitably feel for so selfish and flabby a one as the widow's. But Leonora she had always liked and admired as her " father's own daughter." In a cautious way, she offered the girl a three months' trial as governess to the little Misses Frewen. Fortunately for Leonora, she had proved herself so admirably suited to the post that she had kept it ever since, a period now of three years. The work had come to her as a relief in a season of deep sorrow, and as time passed on, and warm affection sprang up between herself and her little pupils, it became still more con genial.

The refinement of life at Roscarron appealed to her senses, the kindly consideration shown to her by Miss Frewen, and even by Lord Roscarron, appealed to her gratitude, and the salary she earned made a most valuable addition to her mother's income. As she took her way leisurely up the cliff the morning after she had consented to visit her mother's relations, she was thinking somewhat dolefully of what she designated, in her own mind, her exile to the North Pole. In front of her, standing high against a background of autumn-tinted woods, was the grey, irregular pile of buildings commonly spoken of as " The Hall." Now and again she turned and stood looking over the bay and at the curve of golden sands below her. Every little wavelet danced and glittered, and the white sails of one or two distant vessels flashed in the morning sun.

Not a cloud was in the sky ; pure blue met purer blue and melted the one into the other on the distant horizon. From where she stood she could look down on to the very roof of the little home in which she had just left her mother, pecking, sparrow-like, at her breakfast in bed, and she could almost count the flowers in its tiny brilliant garden. To the left, the red-tiled roofs and lazy smoke wreaths of the small town of Polwyn furnished a touch of colour, and a suggestion of life. She dearly loved this Cornish land, her father's birthplace. The tender blue of sky and sea, the flash of golden sands, the towering cliffs, the deep mysterious woodlands, all spoke to her of him. " Miss Challis ! Miss Challis ! father says we need not do any more lessons now before we go away ! " was the cry that greeted her as she entered the schoolroom at Roscarron.

" But we hope you will remain till after Tlie Calico Printer. 15 luncheon, Miss Challis, as usual," said Miss Frewen ceremoniously. She always called Leonora Miss Challis, and treated her cere moniously on principle, to keep up her authority with the children, as she said. " Lord Ros carron thinks of taking his daughters a ride this lovely morning, and will be pleased if you will accompany them. We will send to the cottage for your habit." " How kind ! " answered Leonora gratefully. " I should dearly like a ride, but I am afraid I ought to go home if I am not wanted for lessons, Miss Frewen. I am leaving home next week, and as I came along I was wonder ing how I should get through certain prepara tions in the way of dressmaking that must be finished before I go. Thanks very much, but I feel I ought to make use of every minute."

Miss Frewen accepted the excuse with a gracious bend of the head, but the children began to clamour and deplore round her. In the midst of the discussion, a short, slightly-made, gentlemanly-looking man stepped into the room through the French window, which opened on to the terrace. " Only think, father, this naughty Lora can not go for a ride with us ; she has to go home and sew," said Iseult, the eldest girl. Lord Roscarron uttered a few polite words of regret, as he shook hands with Leonora. " The new mare is a great success," he said. "I should have liked you to try her, Miss Challis. However, it will be a pleasure to look forward to when we all meet again." Then followed some desultory chat concerning their different journeyings, while Leonora buttoned on her gloves. " Oh, Lora, by the by, the lions have come," said Iseult.

" They are in the biggest coach-house, and they are such lovely monsters." " They are standing on their hind legs ramp ing," said the younger child. " You must come and see them ; mustn't she, father ? " " Yes, Miss Challis, come and see my ' ramp ing ' lions before you run away," he said, with a smile. " They are resting in a coach-house till I decide where they shall stand permanently. In the hall, I think, if we can get them in at the door." " Aunt Barbara hates to look at them ! " laughed out Iseult. " She says it makes her quite tremble." They proceeded in a body across a corner of the garden towards the stable-yard, the children chatting all the way. Lord Roscarron had shot the lions out in Africa, and they had just arrived from the hands of the taxidermist. " Lovely monsters " they were indeed, — two full-grown males, standing on their hind legs, in the attitude of a furious fight.

So life-like did they appear that it needed but a slight stretch of the imagination to see the steam of panting breath issuing from their snarling jaws, sparks flashing from their fierce eyes, the muscles swelling on their power ful limbs. As Leonora stood gazing, there dawned on her mind the vision of such a conflict, on a wide sandy plain, beneath an African moon. In voluntarily she glanced at the slight, quiet figure by her side, and a little thrill of admira tion for the pluck of the hunter stirred her pulses. Baba, the little one, put up a hand to be clasped in " Lora's." Iseult hung on her father's arm. They all stood quite silent for a moment or two. Then Baba spoke in a sort of trembling whisper. " You can almost hear them roar." " Come, come, little woman, don't be silly ! " said Lord Roscarron, breaking the spell.

" They are as dead as mutton, you know. Shall we leave them, Miss Challis ? It won't do to make Baba nervous." B " May we come down the park with you, Miss Challis ? " asked Iseult. "No," struck in Lord Roscarron decisively. " I have a matter of business to discuss with Miss Challis, and cannot do with you children. I will see her down the park myself. You can prepare for our ride while I am away." Leonora experienced a disagreeable shock at these words. What matter of business could Lord Roscarron possibly have to discuss with her ? So far all business matters had been arranged by Miss Frewen. The word " business " had an ugly, disastrous sound as coming from him. She bade the children good-bye, however, with her usual cheerful affection. " Good-bye ! good-bye ! Say your French fables to one another sometimes.

And oh ! pray don't forget to practice. Iseult, I trust to you to see that it is done regularly." Once out in the park, strolling down the beach avenue, Lord Roscarron seemed in no hurry either to open his business or to hasten his footsteps. Switching with the thin cane he carried at the faded and yellow bracken by the path, he sauntered slowly along beside her in silence. The sunshine glinted on them through the branches of the trees, the fallen leaves rustled beneath their feet, now and then a rabbit scuttled across the path, or a covey of partridges rose with a whirr, and floated off up one of the shady glades that opened frequently along the beach drive. She glanced at him once or twice, longing for him to speak. At last her anxiety rose to so unbearable a pitch that she burst into the initial speech herself.

" I trust the business you are about to dis cuss with me is not of a serious nature, Lord Roscarron ? " He had observant hazel eyes set deep, and as she spoke he raised his head and looked at her. Once or twice before she remembered to have encountered a watchful questioning look from him, and the faint surprise and alarm she had then experienced recurred to her now. She felt the colour fly to her face. " To me it is of a very serious nature, Miss Challis," he answered gravely. " Then do speak out at once," she implored. " You are keeping me in most horrid suspense. Are you dissatisfied with my management of the children, or anything of that sort? " " I could never thank you enough for all you have done for my children these last three years. You came into their lives like sun shine." "Then what is it ?

Do tell me quick. Do you want to get rid of me as governess for any cause ? " " Yes, that is it. I want to get rid of you as governess." " Oh ! oh ! " she half whimpered. A little squirrel darted up the trunk of a tree close by, and peeped round at her with his sharp eyes, and a sudden turn in the path brought them face to face with an exquisite vision of sky and sea at the end of the avenue. But these fascinating items of Nature's beauty were viewed by Leonora through a sudden mist of tears. It was borne in upon her with painful reality, how much the happiness of her life depended on this daily occupation at Roscarron and the companionship of her bright loving pupils. How long and depressing the days would be spent in her mother's society ! And then the money ! How were they to pay the rent, the doctor's bill, Ryan's wages, and many other things without it ?

She winked hard, and did her best to drive back the slow, sad tear in either eye, but in spite of her efforts one escaped, and fell glittering down the cheek nearest to him, just as he was indulging in another long deep look. " But it is only as governess I want to get rid of you, Leonora," he said very softly. She started ; he had never called her by her Chris tian name before; she resented it almost as an im pertinence, coming at such a moment. " There is another post awaiting your acceptance." " Another post ! " she repeated wonderingly, "Another post! What can it be? Surely nothing of a housekeeping nature ? I should not like that at all." They were by this time nearing the little private gate, of which Leonora carried a key. The gate opened on to the path over the cliff. She used it as a short cut to and from home.

But as she drew the key from her pocket, he took it, and leaning his back against the gate, barred her passage in a very determined attitude. She stood before him, silent with astonishment. " Before I let you go, you must hear me out," he said. " The post I have to offer you is the highest I could offer to anyone, Leonora. It is the post of wife." "Oh, mercy!" she cried. "Oh, mercy!" She had never before in all her life been so thoroughly and completely taken aback. "You may think the father of a great girl like Iseult rather an elderly husband for so young and handsome a girl as yourself," he continued, "but if you will let me try, I think I could make you happy. And, after all, I am not so very old." " Oh, no ! It is not your age I'm thinking of; besides I am getting on myself; I shall soon be twenty-four.

Only I really am so awfully surprised ! Dear me, what would Miss Frewen think? I don't suppose she would like it at all," she stammered. " I do not consider my sister's opinion of vital importance," was the cool reply. " What ever Barbara might think she would be sure to behave like a lady. The question is one that rests between you and me, Leonora, without reference to any third person." " But I am only a governess. I don't feel suited to be the wife of a man in your position," objected she, kicking about a pebble with the toe of her boot. " I must beg to differ with you there. I consider you worthy to adorn a much higher position than I have to offer you." " I am sure it is very kind of you to say so," she answered with a sort of tame politeness. " Nay," he interrupted, " that is not at all the way to look at it.

Men do not say these sort of things to girls out of kindness. They say them because they cannot help themselves. It is from your side the kindness is to come. Now, what have you to say to me ? " " Nothing," she uttered vaguely, her eyes darting hither and thither as if seeking some outlet of escape beyond him. " Oh ! " she went on impatiently, " how can you expect me to say anything when I am taken by surprise like this ? I must have weeks, months, to think it over, or I must say ' No ' on the spot and have done with it." As she spoke she saw a look of anxiety settle on the thin face, bronzed by exposure to all weathers and divers' climates, that made him look fully the forty-five years he usually carried so lightly. While, at the same time, the searching sunlight revealed the plentiful sprink ling of grey in his close-cropped, reddish hair, with what seemed spiteful distinctness.