Glitter and Gold

Front matter

GLITTEK AND GOLD. A GLITTEB AND GOLD. EY HORACE FIELD, B.A., AUTHOR OF "A HOIJE FOR THE HOMELESS; ' "HEROISM; " " JESUS CUBIST TFIE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD," ETC. Known and unknown ; human, divine; Sweet human hand and lips and eye ; Dear heavenly friend that canst not die. Mine, mine, for ever, ever mine. In Memoriam. LONDON: LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO. 1872. PBEFACE. Daily experience teaches us that the empire of the soul is in the hand of Christ. The first faint knowledge of this fact, waking into the endeavour to serve Him, soon passes on to the desire to absorb Him and live in Him — to be His alone ; until the gracious day comes in which we perceive that every act of enduring influence we perform is the act alone of the Christ in us. Having become satisfied by such personal experience that rule over the inner kingdom is in the hand of Christ, I have been anxious to pass outward and search for, and if possible recog nize the same hand exercising a like controlling and absorbing power in society — in the social man — in social order.

The imperial crown I could not help weaving for Christ with the busy fingers both of day and night, seemed but a weeping tribute if I could not twine amid its sprays emblems of an outer as well as of an inner power ; and in the search for the social leaves of an eternal green I needed, no course appeared so full of promise and so attractive as to follow the imaginary history of a Seeker after God planted amid our social conditions and observe whither he was led. Such has been the motive suggesting the tale in the reader's hand, and such the Seeker endeavoured to be portrayed therein. With how much success and faithfulness the proa

Preface

. VI gramme has been followed the reader must judge. Hoping he will find that in setting forth my theme I "Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice," I at the same time fear he may esteem the view of life the tale contains staid and sombre in its colouring. My chief critic indeed, to whose advice and help I greatly owe any merit the tale may possess, and to whose pen I owe some pages even of the tale itself, suggested " A Gray Day " as a name made suitable for the tale by the sober colouring it gives to life. If the reader esteem this name appropriate I would have him attribute all the grayness he beholds to the mists which, clouding round a being dwarfed through the fear of evil, shadow and veil from me the Imperial Light above. Until " A Sunny Day " has been written, we should perhaps forbear all dogmatism ; but if we do so forbear let the reader esteem it at all events possible that an essentially sunny day is reserved for his knowledge who, filled with a love of Christ for which I but hunger has grown to the full stature of man ; and thus regards scorn, contempt, crucifixion, death, as mere mole hills of time, and not as mountains to circumvent whose vast circumference we are excused if we avail ourselves of the petty lamp of expediency, or the delusive light of any lesser luminary than Christ ; let him see, in short, in the grayness of the light about me a probable sign alone of extreme feebleness in devotion to Him who has overcome the world. HORACE FIELD. 30 Thurlow Road, Hampstead, N.W., March, 1872. CONTENTS.

Book I. Tack Chapter

I. CHURCH EELLS, 1 II. THE YOUNG KINSMAN, . . . . .5 III. THE CARPET MANUFACTURERS, ... 9 IV. THE OLD MAN AND THE YOUNG, ... 14 V. THE GREAT HOUSE, ..... 24 VI. UNCLE AND COUSINS, 29 VII. THE BUSINESS OF LIFE, . . ... .33 VIII. HOW STRANGE AND UNEARNEST, ... 37 IX. AFLOAT AT LAST, ...... 47 X. SUNSHINE AMID CLOUDS, 50 XI. IS THE KNOT TIED 1 . . . . .56 XII. THUNDER, ....... 62 XIII. SUSPECTED, 72 XIV. DISCOVERED, ....... 77 XV. THE NEW CARPET, 83 XVI. THE BIRTHDAY, 88 XVII. A NEW LOOM, . . . • . . . .101 XVIII. IS IT THE LOOM SOUGHT FOR? . . . .104 CONTENTS. VIII TAGB

CHAPTER XIX. STORMS,

....... 108 XX. THE CRY " REPENT," ..... 114 XXI. WHAT IS TRUTH 1 122 XXII. THE CRY REPEATED, ..... 123 XXIII. I PRAY NOT FOR THE WORLD, . . . 130

Book II. Chapter

I. INTRODUCTORY, ...... 141 II. SPIRITS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, . . .148 III. HAVE TRUST AND PATIENCE, . . . .153 IV. THE FITFUL DREAM OF LIFE, . . . .160 V. THE RIDE, ....... 164 VI. MISTAKES, ....... 176 VII. LOST, ........ 179 VIII. THE LOSS DISCOVERED, . . . . .183 IX. NO CERTAIN TRACE, . . ... . 186 X. TRACES AT LAST, 194 XI. CAUSES, ....... 205 XII. PLOTS, O09 XIII. POACHERS, ....... 211 XIV. DISCOVERED, ....... 222 XV. RESCUE, 023 XVI. TWO SUITORS, 227 XVII. EARTH, 234 XVIII. MISTS, ....... 030 XIX. FOREBODINGS, „.o XX. THE BARKER BIT, CONTENTS. IX PAC.B

CHAPTER XXI. THE PERFECT LOOM,

248 XXII. THE STORM GATHERS, 252 252 XXIII. HE WILL BE WRECKED, . . . . 255 XXIV. THE LAST CHAPTER, ' . . . .257

Book III. Chapter

I. CHRISTMAS-DAY, 2C5 II. THE OLD MAN AND THE YOUNG, . . .272 272 III. THE STREAM OF LIFE, 277 IV. MARRIED, ....... 283 V. DOUBTS, ....... 292 VI. THE OLD MAN SATISFIED, .... 296 VII. GENEROSITY, 300 VIII. TRAITOR, ....... 305 IX. SUBSTANCE AND SHADOW, .... 315 X. TURN ON ME ! . . . . . . • 319 XI. THE MASTER, 322 XII. A DREAM, 329 XIII. SUSPICIONS, 338 XIV. VICTORY, 347 XV. A CHANGE, 352 XVI. LIFE, 357 XVII. DREAMS DOUBLE DISTILLED, . . . -364 XVIII. THE DOOR OPENS AGAIN, .... 374 XIX. OUR MASTER'S GARDEN,

Book I

" God that made the world and all things therein . . . aud hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the" bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after liim and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.-'

Chapter I. Church Bells

" At last," said Thornton as the church bells of Crowtaire burst in merry peal across the houses the village and the village green. The speaker was a small man with hair slightly gray and dressed in a black tail coat with black trousers and waist coat. The words were uttered to himself as he walked up and down a pretty room with a bay window which commanded a view of the green and of the picturesque schools on its farther side. Thornton was one of the two mill-owners in the south of England village of Crowtaire; he and Truman the owner of the other mill carrying on the only manufacture in the village — that of carpets. " I knew that Truman was busy getting those bells rung," he continued, when, moving to the side window his foot became entangled in a thread, and he looked down to see a ball of wool rolling on the ground.

The wool proceeded from a couch on which lay a delicate looking girl of twenty, who, notwithstanding the thoughtful, earnest expression of her face, looked scarcely more than a child. She was dressed in a simple white frock and her curls of light brown hair were kept off her forehead by a blue riband. She was Grace Thornton, his only child, the sole living memorial of a wife he had dearly loved and who had died soon after the birth of Grace. " There is your wool, child ! " he said. " Yes, papa," said Grace, "Maria will be in just now. Never mind it" she continued, as he stooped to pick it up; but Thornton had it in his hand and threw it somewhat im patiently beside his daughter, who added, after a pause, — E " You see the green nicely from here, papa. The children are come home from their excursion " and she pointed to two spring waggons standing before the school from which a tew of the eldest children were descending while the mothers and friends were gathered round.

Her father took no notice, and Grace continued,— " I was afraid Mr. Truman had forgotten to have the bells rung. I am glad he has not, I love to hear them." Thornton still made no reply, and again Grace said, — " I hope none of the children have been lost in Brocklaw wood as they were last year. I am glad, papa, you find my room useful to-night." _ " Why, Grace, do you remember those children being lost? said Thornton, " I thought you had been too ill to have recollected it. These bells stopped in the middle of ' Life let us Cherish,' as I finished my dinner and completed the tune, clashing and clanging about midnight when the two renegades were brought home, just as I was going to sleep." "I remember quite well," said Grace; "I was not so very ill, papa, but wakeful, and Maria wrapped me up and laid me here on the couch, and I saw Mr. Truman cross the green with a lantern after he had been looking for the children, and became very anxious."

"Truman looking for the children!" exclaimed Thornton, laughing and patting Grace's knees. " Bless you, phild, he didn't look for the children." "But he was there with a lantern, papa! I saw him myself as soon as the shutters were opened," said Grace. "You foolish child!" exclaimed Thornton. "And the window opened too I daresay." Grace did not reply, and Thornton continued " Well, if you did see Truman that explains the clash and clang which woke me. He came from the direction of Coltscray didn't he? not from Brocklaw along the Ridgway?" " That is true, papa," answered Grace as she stopped her knitting. " I could not understand that." " Then I'll explain it childie," answered Thornton, con temptuously. " He search for the children ! Certainly not ! He had offered a reward of one pound for the renegades, if brought in before midnight — and Rodman got ten shillings of it; — but as for searching himself!

Why, Grace, from the tower at Coltscray you can see a mile of the Ridgway, and Truman was doubtless told that Rodman signalled with lan terns the safety of the children and so hurried off to have the bells rung." CHURCH BELLS. " How do you know papa?" replied Grace doubtingly. " You saw Truman with a lantern " cried Thornton; "that tells the whole tale." " I did see him papa " answered Grace. " And then I sat and watched the stars and longed to know the wee things were safe when I heard the end of the tune with the clash and clang you speak of and saw the cavalcade with their three or four lanterns and was so glad." "Ah, you see, just so! Truman had the precise time before the calvacade arrived to reach the church," said Thornton exultingly. " Truman is as fond of the bells as you, besides loving all other noise and bustle, as much as you love quietness.

Why Crowtaire is not a big town. The children can pick handfuls of buttercups any day, and see lots of cows and sheep; but fuss and noise! — that's what these pic-nics are for — nothing else." Thornton again became silent in the window, through which Grace could see against the bright evening sky three figures on horseback — one lady and two gentlemen. They approached the children when a horse becoming restive they wheeled round, cantered across the green, bowed to Thornton, and disappeared. " Amelia Truman, Geoffrey, and young Heron, did you see Grace?" said Thornton. " The two horses Amelia and Geoffrey are riding must be Rodman's. He has got them for Amelia and Geoffrey." " Indeed ! papa " said Grace. " I thought they had horses of their own." "Well! they hire of Rodman," said Thornton.

"When I heard he was borrowing to buy these horses I meant to have told you to warn nurse. They are valuable horses — and Rodman you see looks to me. He should have remained coachman here and not married nurse. Confound it! — I shall have to leave him to take care of himself." " Why papa?" said Grace. " It is a mere trick of Geoffrey's " cried Thornton. " Tru man stints himself in nothing, whether he can afford it or not and will never let his children ride beside Heron on hired horses; so Rodman is made a cat's paw." " I did not understand about it " said Grace who in her girlish love had faith in a goodness deep in her father's heart which made such suspicious words as these appear, even to him, mere angry ripples on waters they belied. " Truman," continued Thornton, seating himself ""leads too many into trouble, and his son is following suit.

But I need not tease you about this, need I?" he added rising again and patting her cheek. " See, papa," said Grace, " Mr. Hardy has finished the list and the children are all here. I am so glad." " They don't go home," said Thornton. " No," said Grace. " There is Mr. Truman himself holding up his hand." " She pointed to a tall gentlemanly man in a black frock coat, light brown trousers and waistcoat, gold chain and white hat all well fitting and carefully put on who came bustling round the corner by the schools while a clear voice echoed through the open window saying, — " There are the bells children now ' God save the Queen before you go." " Oh, papa do save them " exclaimed Grace as the children tried to gather together. " Only look, one half should have been in bed two hours ago. Do tell Mr. Truman."

"Mr. Hardy has told him" said Thornton; "see! he will be satisfied to set the band going," and as he spoke the notes of the " National Anthem " burst in loud if not very har monious strains over the green while the children separated and wandered homeward and the bright after-glow spread over the evening sky. Thornton held the face of his watch toward the sky saying " A quarter to eight " and adding, as he put the watch back into his pocket with a jerk, " what a fool I am with my impatience; any one would think the three years I have possessed my own mill had made me forget the seven during which I was partner with Truman, not to mention the fifteen when I was with him and his brother Griffith and his father William. He has a dozen things to do yet. I know it as well as I know a Brussels carpet from sackcloth.

There, he has feed the band, and now has got the Curate's arm in his. Bah ! He cannot keep an engagement for the life of him but lie will spend a week to get up a testimonial and talk of schemes in a day which would take two lives to complete." Thornton now bustled out of the room while Truman was heard saying loudly, — " Think about this, Mr. Hardy, and see if any better plan strikes you. Something should be done. No man should be allowed to devote his means to the parish without some acknowledgment. We ought to raise a testimonial for you. My help you may rely on." A loud double knock now shook the door and Truman's voice was heard talking to Rover the house dog. THE YOUNG KINSMAN. 5 Her father gone, Grace sat for a time absorbed. Her knitting then fell from her hands and she gazed at the heavens still bright and with one or two stars appearing.

The darkness stole on apace and the green became obscure, then lights crept into the cottage windows and the heavens were bespangled while with the growing darkness the quiet girlish expression again stole over Grace's face.

Chapter II. The Young Kinsman

With the same free and easy air as that with which Truman had walked across the green he strode into Thornton's house. Merely saying to John with a nod " Is your master within?" he gave a slight tap upon the door of the business room which was close to the hall door, and entered. Holding out his hand and taking that of the angry Thornton his first words were, — "Why, Thornton, what a mess your papers are in!" " They are," said Thornton, biting his lip. " Bless me !" continued Truman, getting up and looking round. He saw books piled together papers labelled and unlabelled intermixed — a small writing table with old account and order books upon it and under it specimens of carpets and designs ; a model of a loom on the chimney piece — and the two candlesticks, the proper chimney ornaments, placed on the top of the book-shelves.

On the writing table at which Thornton sat more papers and designs also lay in disorder and a drawing of a loom. " If it had been my room " said Truman seating himself "all this might have been, — but you do want help." " If my want of help had been news " answered Thornton with some bitterness " you would not have been here to-night, I suppose." " I can't tell " said Truman; " I was close by." "I've been expecting you upwards of an hour " answered Thornton angrily taking out his watch but eyeing Truman " and have seen 3Tou hovering about quite careless of such a thing as an appointment, though it is one of your own making. You seem intoxicated with schools and levelling." "Why, Thornton, theschoolsare your building," said Truman. "I built them! Yes!" answered Thornton with some vexation; "and, after all to teach the children is one thing.

It was Grace's foolish whim— poor girl ! Left to the clergy men they might do the minimum of mischief — even possibly instil a little respect in the children for those above them but you swoop down even on them." " You know we differ " answered Truman " let us not discuss these things. If I spend money made by the men's labour and give time their time affords in making some return, selecting what is best for them, why not? But to your business Thornton. Since I saw you I have laid before the young man — whose name I could not then mention — the great temptations an engagement with you offers." "What temptations Truman?" said Thornton quickly, interrupting him. " What should they be " answered Truman looking up sharply and adding after a pause, "your experience, and skill, and the efficient opening of services being much wanted."

Thornton looked at Truman saying, " And his reply? " " He desires to come " said Truman. " He has none of your new fangled children-feteing reading room-establishing cricket-club-forming notions?" " I said he had had a college education " answered Truman. " That having associated with the rich, titled, and ambitious, it was my fear he might be above our work." " So you think he will suit me " said Thornton. " I may say I am sure " replied Truman. " Industry and steadiness I can promise. All his youth he has had a grievous need of money; and once burnt twice cautious, he has resolved to get on in life." " I should be afraid of a university man " exclaimed Thornton. " Well well," answered Truman moving. " You know where you will find what you want, I don't" and he rested his hand on the back of his chair as if about to rise' and then again seating himself continued, — "You are afraid of him because I name him; but that is nonsense.

Submissiveness cleverness, industry, not too great familiarity with the men' what can be better? You will see him Thornton?" And Truman rose. Thornton eyed Truman eagerly and shook his head while Truman played with a pen ; at last he said, — THE YOUNG KINSMAN. 7 " Who may this young man be? " " He is one you know something of" said Truman looking up. " Grace was fond of his mother." Truman paused and Thornton cried, — "Ernest Heath! your nephew! do you mean? I wonder you mention him." " Ah dear," said Truman with a sigh " may not those old grudges be buried in my sister's grave?" Thornton walked down the room and back pressing his hand against his mouth then stopped and said, — " Her husband, the artist — that grand man — left her with small means I think?" " He left her worse than nothing," answered Truman.

"And she leaves Ernest?" " Penniless 1 may say " said Truman. " Her interest in your mill, left by your father's will, was that a life-interest then?" " Not exactly " replied Truman with a little hesitation " but it has been bought over and over again. Her husband left her some debts and at my request — and Ernest's too for the matter of that — she determined to give her son know ledge and education for his inheritance rather than aim at leaving a few hundred pounds." " I heard that Dr. Greme assisted her with money for Ernest's college expenses?" " I believe it was so " said Truman; " I believe so." " It always puzzled me. You had not quarrelled with her then?" said Thornton looking up suddenly. "Your name occurred so often with your hundreds for churches and so forth." Truman winced but Thornton took no notice adding " The lad must have had some hard training.

I will see him." " Then I will send for him " answered Truman " and will give him a home in my house for the present. I shan't see your room like this when I next call I'll be bound. Good-night, Thornton " and he shook hands and left. Thornton rang the bell and as John closed the door he said to himself, — " Ernest Heath ! The stock from which he comes is independent — fearfully; but he has had a hard time of it poor lad and we must not condemn him at once, because of the blood in his veins." And now hearing Truman's step in the drive he added " Ernest Heath ! Depend on it he has more interest in Truman's business than he knows, if any one could unravel it. But," he added, shaking his head, "this won't be until the time the parsons talk of when all the past is laid bare; and this tells for me, Ernest Heath must know something of his uncle — or will soon find it out and then I shall have in him a steady helper, for Truman and I stand opposed, I may say, from head to heel.

I must see the boy." These thoughts had hardly subsided and John was lighting the lamp when Truman's step was again heard on the gravel and his knock on the door, a little less loud and jubilant than at first. John set down the lamp, Thornton reseated himself, and Truman again stepped in. " I think I may have a little misunderstood Thornton " he said. " I was afraid you had " replied Thornton. " With Grace's life so frail " continued Truman " and no chick or child dependent on you and yourself not young I had in my head that some sort of positive hold might be given any one who suited you." " It is possible, one day," said Thornton. "Just so! Ah! that is better," said Truman quickly. " That is perhaps quite sufficient. I told Ernest you were in want of a man who if he suited might one day become your partner.

If he suited, of course — nothing else. Then I was justified in saying this." " I — I — I — don't know," said Thornton. " A college man is not without his ambition " continued Truman eagerly. " Then I have not done wrongly? I suppose a letter — possibly to the effect that should he suit sufficiently to remain with you say, four or five years, a pernament share would be given him — might be got, one of these days? " I can give no sort of promise " said Thornton. " I know you can't " answered Truman. " You have not seen the lad. For a young man without capital to take up with our business which needs so much and throw aside the many chances which appear so plain to the eager eyes of a university graduate in professions where no capital is needed, is a serious step, or seems so to him. In my business Geoffrey is coming forward and I have many calls and so I dare not hold out any prospect with me."

" I quite understand " said Thornton. " Then we must — we must wait and see, Thornton," answered Truman. " I am very glad. Good-night." " Good-night " said Thornton and Truman now took his final departure. THE CARPET MANUFACTURERS. 9 John removed the lamp into the library and Thornton followed and seating himself read a few pages of Robertson's History of America when the book falling on his knees he fell into a reverie losing himself in the far distant scenes of his youth.

Chapter III. The Carpet Manufacturers

Truman's house — Coltscray — stood half a mile west of Crowtaire on ground elevated as compared to the country stretching away from Crowtaire but in a valley as compared to Crowtaire itself. The view from its windows looking north west had for a foreground a few hundred yards below the house a lake embosomed in trees. Over the lake rose a blue distance enclosed on either side by hills, well wooded; and until the eye fell on the middle distance, a mile away, the whole was part of the estate held by Truman. Coltscray was an old manor and among its treasures any labouring man would point out a ruined chapel in a dell so thickly girt with trees that though the chapel stood a few yards only from a bridle road which wound for a mile through the grounds it needed such friendly guidance for its reveal ment.

The chapel was the reputed scene of a tragic incident in the life of one of the Kings of England recorded in many histories every one of which could be found in the library at Coltscray. Should any local topographer project a work he would not fail to hear from Truman of the ruin and its legend nor to find in him his best subscriber if he received the history with thanks and approval; and this without enquiry as to the cost or value of his work. A visitor to Coltscray from the village or town turns off from the descending high road a quarter of a mile from the last cottage, passes by Truman's lodge and through his antique iron gates, with their massive stone piers. Still descending, he traverses a road embosomed in trees, whose stems, exhaustless in front of him and of every size from twigs to giants of the forest, form a belt only on his left and show between them the distance on which Brockton also looks shining with a blue made doubly vivid by their hoary bark and purple stems.

A quarter of a mile farther, and, with the trees still lacing and interlacing and wandering away before him interminably, the visitoi'turns sharply to the right round the stable quadrangle and enters the courtyard of the house where the prospect changes from green leaves waving branches and smooth and knotted stems to a rambling mansion two stories and an attic only in height with walls clothed in lichen-covered stone, a Tudor porch, antique gables, lofty roofs and grinning gur goyles; and with the offices rambling away from the main building on the left. There has been a steady descent from the village and yet a mile of the Ridgway— the highest road out of Crowtaire— is visible from the mansion. To see it however a climb on to the roof of a square tower at the corner of the house on the right hand, up which a turret staircase crept, had to be made.

This turret rose above the tower roof and perched on it again a slender flagstaff reared its capped head against the sky, from which, on those frequently-recurring days when the green park was dotted with gay revellers a flag bearing the Truman arms unfurled its delicate colours. Excepting one large tier the windows seen from the courtyard were for the most part small. The large tier, glazed with antique glass, coloured and stamped with coats of arms, lighted the staircaise, while to the others small rooms and passages alone belonged, for on the' opposite side of the house, overlooking a broad terrace and the lake were placed the principal rooms. Such was Coltscray, from which Brockton was very different. Thornton's house was for the most part Italian or Italian- Gothic. It would have been altogether Italian had not a desire for economy induced the incorporation of an old house in its erection; the chief benefit however being a partial pictur esqueness — and no small benefit was this.