Jedwood Justice. A novel

Front matter

JEDWOOD JUSTICE H IRcvel BY ALBANY DE FONBLANQUE AUTHOR OF 'A TANGLED SKEIN," *CUT ADRIFT,* ' BAD LUCK,' ETC. IN THREE VOLUMES VOL. II. LONDON RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON flnblislurs in ©ruttwri) to $cr the (Jjtutu 1892 I All rights reserved I CONTENTS OF VOL. II. CHAI'TEK PAGE I. SETTLING DOWN - - - I II. 'the evening star' - - 17 iii. cut by the county - 32 iv. in face of the enemy - - "5° v. applejohn's ire - - - 69 vi. the truth - - 88 vii. 'god be with you, dick!' - - 105 viii. several mistakes - i 23 ix. 'is this black-maii.ing ?' - 142 x. the corporal scores - - 1 63 xi. fifty pounds reward - - CONTENTS IV CHAPTER PAGE XII. FIND LADY GAULT - - 203 XIII. 'ROBBED AND MURDERED' - - 222 XIV. MINE AND COUNTER MINE - 244 XV. ' I AM VINDICATED '

Chapter I Settling Down

Dick (we will not ' my lord ' him except in company) was up bright and early, and went all over the house, finding little more than what was contained in Patsey's inven tory. Having finished an excellent break fast, he bade her sit down and listen. ' You understand,' he said, ' why I can not keep up this house as others have done ; but it suits me to live here for — for the present, so I shall furnish two rooms. VOL. II. 1 And I want you to make me a list of the pots and pans and linen and things I must have. Will it suit you to stay on and cook for me ?' ' With all my heart. Mr. Di — my lord, and be proud to serve you.' ' That's good ! I shall want someone to wait at table and help you.' ' I don't want no help. I can do it all.' ' I won't let you. Never spur a willing horse, Patsey. Do you know of any light handed girl I could engage ?' Patsey thought she did — old Mrs. Wood's niece, who had been parlour maid in London and was now out of place. ' Now for another thing,' Dick went on. ' Is there anything in the shape of a horse here ?' ' No, my lord.' ' Or a trap ?' ' No ; leastwise, nothing but the state coach.' Dick laughed his first laugh as Earl Wadehurst.

This state coach had once been a gorgeous affair, built for one of his predecessors, who had been High Sheriff of the county soon after King William's memorable visit. Dick's earliest remem brance of it was as a mouldy vehicular wreck, used by erratic hens for surreptitious hatching. ' It was very considerate of them,' he said, when his laugh was over, ' to leave me the state coach. Well, I must get some thing rather more modern, and a horse. Perhaps I can induce John to give up his odd jobs and take charge of them.' So he walked to the station, took the train to Poundbridge, and went straight to Dr. Crawford. He found that his good friend Sam was now a full-fledged solicitor of the High Court of Justice, serving as managing clerk (with early prospects of a partnership) with Messrs. Scott and Mal comson, of London.

He was to learn hereafter that those gentlemen were the legal advisers of Sir Horace Gault. Sam always came home from Saturday till Monday, and so he (Dick) would soon see him. Then he heard for the first time the details of Frank's seizure and death. He listened with bowed head and set teeth, but when it came to the end and his loved cousin's last words — ' Oh, my Dick ! my poor dear Dick !'— were repeated, he broke down and wept like a child. ' I was on the sea then, doctor,' he said in a husky voice, and drying his eyes, ' and the saddest man in all this world. I did not know for more than a year that I had lost him — in that way. You know, I suppose, that I have lost everything else except the title, and that is a mill-stone round my neck ?' The upholsterer — a new man — was de lighted at the prospect of furnishing for Lord Wadehurst, and disgusted with the modest reality of his order.

Next he went to the bank, where he was recog nised (rather stiffly, as he thought), and asked about his silver. They showed him a book in which it was listed with great exactitude as to pattern, description, and weight in ounces. ' I haven't time to go through all this now,' he said. ' Please send me half a dozen spoons and forks and so on for my present use. Perhaps I shall sell the rest. What do you suppose it's worth ?' ' Much of it," replied the prudent banker, ' is very old-fashioned.' ' I thought there was a run on old fashioned plate ?' ' That is so, only these are mostly of a date ' ' I see. Old enough to be ugly, and not old enough to be curious. Roughly, what would they bring ?' The banker jotted up the totals at the end of every page, and replied : 'As old silver, by the ounce, about twelve hundred pounds.' 'Why, that's quite a sum! — a regular windfall to me, Mr. Brown, I can tell you !

I suppose I shall have to send it to Lon don ?' ' As your lordship pleases ; it is at your orders.' ' Thank you. I'll call again or write.' His next visit was to the Rose Hotel, where he was recognised and given a hearty welcome ; for many a time had he and its host — Job Pedley — ridden side by side in the hunting-field. ' I want a horse, Job,' he said, ' and I can't afford to pay old prices. Something to hack about the roads. Do you know of anything that might suit me ?' { I know of a horse that's for sale,' replied Job, rubbing his chin reflectively, ' and he's in my stable ; but whether he'll suit is another pair of shoes.' ' Let's have a look at him,' said Dick. He had a good look at him all over, patted his neck, looked at his teeth, felt his legs, and had him trotted out in the yard. ' Now,' asked Dick, half to himself, ' will anyone tell me why a horse like that is to be sold for thirty-five pounds ?' ' I will,' said a voice behind him, and Dick, turning, beheld a stout little man, with a face like a ripe crab-apple, and a large cigar in his mouth. ' That there 'or — that horse,' the speaker continued, 'is handsome to look at, sound, and fast to ride or drive.

He'll go along the road like a lamb till he comes to a wheelbarrow, or an empty cart, or anythink — anything — on wheels as might have an 'oss — a horse — in it, but hasn't. Then he will snort, and kick, and buck, and rear, and raise Cain. If there is anything a horse can do to be worked, and he doesn't know it, why then it ain't worth learning.' ' You seem to speak from experience,' said Dick, with difficulty repressing a smile. ' Well, he's my property.' ' Then, sir,' said Dick, ' you are the most honourable owner of a horse for sale that I ever met.' j ' Thank you, sir,' said the stout little man, taking off his hat. ' This is Lord Wadehurst,' insinuated Job Pedley, shocked at the ' sir.' 'Glad to meet you,' returned the little man, offering his hand. ' Fine day after the rain ?' but he did not raise his hat this time. ' Time was,' he went on, ' when I could have knocked the nonsense out of him ' (indicating the horse) ; ' but I ain't — I am not — as young as I was, and a good bit heavier, and my old woman — I mean Mrs. Applejohn — my name's Applejohn, at your service — my wife, she's nervous, and — well, he's for sale at half the money I give — I gave — for him.' Perhaps I might do something with him,' said Dick. ' He doesn't look vicious.' ' There ain't a finer horseman in the county than my lord here,' observed Job proudly. ' He's got to be, if he rides that brute,' Applejohn retorted, 'and there's a mowing machine in sight.

He was advertised as quiet to ride or drive, and had carried a lady, the property of an orficer going on foreign service. 1 guess he got off pretty quick on his foreign service soon as he had my money in his pocket, or I'd been after him with a sharp stick. If he didn't lie about the lady, I'm sorry for her.' ' You are indeed candid, Mr. Apple john.' ' If I worn't — if I wasn't — ' the little man replied steadily, ' I'd give someone else the right to think of me as I think of that there orficer going on foreign service as pocketed my seventy guineas on a false warranty, and I wouldn't do that tor seventy thousand.' ' Now look here,' Dick said, ' I'll make you this proposition. Will you let me try him, say, for ten days ? I cannot afford to buy a horse that will not suit me. If I can make him suit, I'll take him at your price.' ' Try him and welcome.' ' Remember, Mr. Applejohn, that al though Job flatters me about my riding, I have some reputation that way — candour for candour.

It might damage your chances of a sale if I had to send him back.' ' Suppose he breaks your neck ?' ' No one would suffer,' said Dick sadly. ' Is it agreed ?' 'Yes. I'm willing. I shall save ten days' feed, anyhow,' Applejohn replied, with a wink at Job. Dick was puzzled. What sort of a man was this, who told the truth about a horse, and chuckled over saving a few shillings' worth of hay and oats ? A few days afterwards he met Mr. Applejohn again. He was fishing for trout in the much - litigated brook, and having fine sport. ' Don't you come too nigh,' said he, ' or your shadow will scare my fish.' ' Your fish ? I was under the impression they were mine,' Dick replied ; but he stepped back not to spoil sport. ' How's that ? I pay the miller five pound a year for the fishing.' ' As lord of the manor the fishing is mine, Mr. Applejohn.

I have very few rights left, but these must be respected. The miller had no more authority to sell you this fishing than I have to sell him your fishing-tackle.' ' Then I'm a poacher ?' ' Oh no ; it's a mistake ! If you like, we will go to the mill and have it out.' They not only had the mistake out, but also the ten pounds which the wily man in white had pocketed. ' It's your money,' said Applejohn as they walked back, offering Dick the notes. ' Not at all — it's yours.' ' I've had its worth, and more. If you'd been — been here, you ' ' I should have given you leave to fish, sir. I do not sell my trout.' 'Well, don't be so stiff about it. If you won't take the money, I'll give it to the infirmary.' ' An excellent object. I did not mean to be " stiff," Mr. Applejohn. Excuse me if I seemed so, and come and fish when ever, and as often as, you like.' ' There weren't no lords,' said the little man, ' where I spent most of my life, only the governor, sometimes ; and I ain't — I'm not accustomed to the ways of 'em.

I thought they was a freeze-you-up, stand off lot, but I like you.' Dick laughed. ' I'm glad of it.' ' You ain't stuck up.' ' I stick up for some things, as you know7.' ' Right. I'd fight for a threepenny-bit that was mine. What I mean is, you don't think people dirt because they ain't all dukes and counts.' ' I take my fellow-man as I find him, Mr. Applejohn.' ' Then,' exclaimed the little man, ' you come and find me. Come home and lunch. My house is close at hand, and the folks will be only too glad to see you.' ' With all my heart,' Dick accepted cheerily ; ' but where are you going ? This lane leads to Wood End.' ' My house.' ' Why, it's a school.' ' Was a school, till I bought it. Come right in.' As the latch of the rustic gate clicked behind them, there came a voice from the house porch : ' Oh, you very bad man ! We've been waiting ' Then there was a flash of white in the hall as Dormouse fled from the proud invader.

Chapter II

' THE EVENING STAR At the head of the luncheon-table — which was most tastily decorated — -sat a lady with delicately-formed features and purely white hair, who must have been a beauty in her youth. As she was some ten years younger than Mr. Applejohn, we must conclude that Time's snow has fallen on her shapely head more from sorrows than from awe. She received Dick as thouo-h o o in the habit of entertaining the House of Peers at luncheon by batches, and was in the act of introducing him to the girl who vol. il sat on her right hand when interrupted by him. ' Why, Dormouse, this is a surprise !' ' I used to know Lord Wadehurst when I was a child,' she replied demurely. She did not speak again during the repast. At its close Applejohn took his guest out into the porch to smoke, and told his simple history.

Dick had noticed his habit of pulling up when he detected himself in some mistake in grammar or pronunciation. Doing this at table, he always looked at Dormouse, and got an approving nod and a smile in return. ' So,' thought Dick, ' she is a sort of governess, after all.' For the future I shall not give you the self-edited edition of Mr. Apple john's utterances, but render them straight. ' I am from these parts,' he began : ' I 'THE EVENING STAR' 19 was born within ten miles from where we sit ; and so was my wife — but I was a farmer's boy, and she a lady. My father and my mother died when I was a kid, and I was dragged up by an aunt. I don't know rightly what religion she had — Baptist or Methody, or what — but it was a stinger, and no mistake. It got things tangled up in my boy's mind so that I didn't know which to pray to — Almighty God or the devil.

They were much of a muchness according to her. She gave me to under stand that there was nothing for me but fire and brimstone in the next world ; and as she made this one pretty hot for me too, I bolted. I walked to Gravesend and stowed away in a ship bound for Australia. The captain gave me a hiding when I was found, and a sovereign when we parted. My first job ashore was to wash glasses in a bar-room, and — well, the Melbourne I knew then wasn't the Melbourne I left five years ago by a long way. I don't much think that a lad with no schooling, as I was, could land there with a sov., go to washing glasses, and make a fortune — notv. Things were different, and I did get on. That sov. had a family of twenty-one thou sand when I was a man of thirty. Don't you go thinking that mother in there mar ried me for my money — though poor she was.

Her folks came to grief by the bursting up of a bank, and she was forced to go out as a governess. She gave me the mitten over and over, but I worried on, and got her at last of her own free will — God bless her ! ' We had seven children,' here the nar rator's voice grew husky, 'so pretty — so pretty! Took after her— all of them. They ' THE EVENING STAR ' 21 were like little stair-steps, one just a head over the next — four boys and three girls — and the youngest of all was running about stout and hearty, when it seemed as though a blight fell upon us. Our eldest boy was the first to go — such a fine lad, so handsome and so smart ! and three others followed him to the grave in one wretched year. I he doctors couldn't tell what killed them. There was no consumption or decline, or that, in mother's family or mine.

They just drooped, and faded away, and nothing could cure them. After this we had some rest and hope, for we moved to another part of the country, and thought we were safe. Ah me ! it came again, and we were left with only one, our first-born daughter — Estelle. Then I said, " For God's sake, mother, let us get out of this. Let us take her home. Maybe the fresh Hopshire air that made us strong will keep the dear life in her." So I sold up, and came home, and after looking about a little found this house. You said at lunch that if you'd dropped down from a balloon in the front garden you wouldn't have known the place again. This is mother's work, and- — and Estelle's. My lord, what a grim place it was when those old cats,' meaning, pro bably, the Misses James, 'left it ! ' Our Estelle was nigh on sixteen when we came, and naturally wanted com panions of her own age.

The one she took to first and best was old Barbour's daughter, Stella — -what made you call her " Dormouse "? Tell me by-and-by ! Well, they got to be like sisters, and they were like enough to be it, with all but the same name, too. Same soft brown eyes and hair, and quiet, pretty ways. Old Bar- 'THE EVENING STAR' 23 bour didn't miss one girl out of all his flock, and so they were together here three weeks out of every month, I should say, and fretted at that short parting. It seemed more like old times to have two about the house ; but that didn't last. We've — only — one — now.' He covered his face with his hands, and sobbed the last words. ' Don't dwell on it,' said Dick ; ' I un derstand.' ' You can see now,' Applejohn con tinued, ' why mother's hair is white, and the light gone out of her eyes.

An old weather-beaten chunk like me don't show it __outside. It nigh broke our hearts, and if it hadn't been for Stella — but I haven't told you. When we lost our last darling, we couldn't bear to part with — with the one you call Dormouse. It seemed, somehow, as if our own child's soul had gone up to God and left this one's body for us to go on loving. She isn't- — she can't be our Estelle ; but she comes as near to it as we can get. She lives with us now altogether as mother's companion — so they call it — and gets a cheque every quarter, most of which goes to her father ; but bless you ! she's no companion — no hired one, I mean. She's our adopted child, and when we die shall have every penny we've got.' Here Mrs. Applejohn and Stella appeared, dressed for a walk, and the con versation turned back to the Dormouse incident, which Dick explained. ' The name is not in the least appro priate now,' said mother. ' The dormouse is a stupid little thing, always eating or sleeping.

Our dear one,' laying a fond hand on her shoulder, ' is all that is bright • THE EVENING STAR ' 25 and active. She is the evening star of our lives, Lord Wadehurst ; our morning star has set.' ' Now don't you make yourself a stranger,' said Applejohn, as Dick took leave. ' It must be awfully lonely for you all by yourself in that big house. Come and see us whenever you've a mind. Come over evenings and smoke a cigar, and Stella will give you some music. By the-by, how's the horse getting on ?' ' Splendidly. He has a wheelbarrow in his loose-box, and eats out of it.' ' Eats out of it ?' ' Look here : suppose you were a boy again, and you saw something that fright ened you, and you got a licking for being frightened, and you saw it again — wouldn't you think something like this : " Here is that confounded thing I don't understand and got licked about ;" and wouldn't you try to run away from it and the licking connected with it ?' ' That's common-sense. ' Then suppose, instead of beating you for being frightened,' they took you up to the thing, whatever it might be, and showed you what it was, and that there was no harm in it, you wouldn't be fright ened at it any more, would you ?' ' Of course I wouldn't.' ' Horses are not as easily taught as boys ; but you can teach them if you go the right way about it, and the worst teacher of all is whipcord.

I think you told me that a wheelbarrow was one of your nag's favourite abominations ; well, he considers it now as an excellent arrangement to eat oats and hay out of. And so it will be with the rest of them 'THE EVENING STAR' 27 when he finds out that they will not hurt him. I do not think I shall send him back, Mr. Applejohn. I fancy I've made a good bargain.' ' Don't grudge it. Ride him up soon and let's have a look at him.' The poor beast had not a bit of vice in him. He had simply been driven into desperation by fright and punishment. Long before the ten days were over, Dick could ride him up to a steam threshing machine and make him smell it. According to the laws of Mrs. Grundy, which, like those of the Medes and Per sians, cannot be altered, Dick should have waited for the county magnates to call on him ; but he argued thus : ' I am not offi cially " at home."

I cannot entertain. There will be no harm in my going round to those with whom I used to be intimate and telling them, in a friendly way, how I am situated.' And he did so without any unpleasant ness, and all seemed to be going well. He took old Applejohn at his word, improved his acquaintance with ' mother,' and Stella gave him Tosti in the twilight. Even Mr. Barbour was civil, but took care not to commit himself in the absence of Mrs. Mac, who held him between her pretty white finger and thumb. Mrs. Mac was away at some German ' cure,' and until she came back and resumed her seat upon the social bench, no verdict could be recorded. He hoped that the result would be favourable to Dick, for he began to dream dreams in which his daughter appeared as a peeress, and (with the aid of the Applejohn gold) holding her own 'THE EVENING STAR' 29 against the despot of Fairlock Manor House.

We do not, as a rule, love the people who hold us between their fingers and their thumbs. So in his capacity as a clergyman he had to sigh and say that Dick's conduct had been very, very sad, and in that of a merely human neighbour, to hint that bygones might be bygones, as the poor young man had been so severely punished, and was, no doubt, re pentant. Thus he balanced himself on the top of the fence, ready to come down on what might turn out to be the right side. Thus treated, Dick almost forgot the object which had brought him in such haste to Wadehurst. Long before this, the old family lawyers, J. H. Wainwright and Son, wrote him a very stiff letter, with a ' lordship ' in every line, apologizing for their apparent neglect, and suggesting that, as the late Lord oo C_> Wadehurst's executors, and also the chief legatees under his will, had done them the o * honour of retaining their services as solicitors, he (Dick) might — read between the lines — go to the devil !

This opened the way to Sam Crawford, who had already done good service by obtaining from his employers copies of the proceedings and evidence in the case of Gault v. Gault and Birkett, as prepared for the information of the present baronet, together with a statement of the reasons under which he sought (unsuccessfully, as we know) the intervention of her Majesty's Proctor. Bad reading for Dick! It made him set his teeth and stamp, and use bad words which he had learned abroad. But on the smart of it all would come echoes 'THE EVENING STAR' 31 of Tosti in the twilight, and of the dear voice that had given even that sweet music a melody of its own. Why stir up the past ? he thought, under this influence. Let sleeping dogs alone. There would come a whisper in quite another tone — ' Disloyal !' and he would recall those lines in the epic he loved : ' Ah, miserable and unkind, untrue, Unknightly, traitor-hearted. Woe is me !'

Chapter III. Cut By The County

Colonel Daly, always impulsive and fussy, thought it his duty to give a solemn dinner-party in honour of Lord Wade hurst's return, and bade the Right Hon. Alexander and Mrs. Macgruther (who had returned) to meet him. If there had been anything the matter with this lady, she did any 'cure' to which she might have sub jected herself infinite justice. She gave Dick two fingers of her left hand, and turned aside to converse with the curate. She did not usually affect the minor clergy. At dinner the social law placed her at one end of the table with her host, and sent Dick to the other with his hostess. When he joined the ladies in the drawing-room she avoided him pointedly. He met her afterwards in Poundbridge, shopping, and had an icy reception ; but Dick was not to be beaten off. ' I wish very much to have some con versation with you in private, Mrs. Macgruther.

May I call ?' ' I rather think we are going to Brighton very soon,' she replied. ' One of my children is not quite well' And with a distant bow she swept away to her carriage. The verdict had been given and re corded. Mrs. Mac's decision was that Lord Wadehurst should be cut ; but to her surprise and mortification, it was not vol. ii. obeyed as widely or as promptly as she desired. This necessitated further action (as discipline had to be maintained), and its result was effectual. It seemed to Dick as though a tap of iced water had been turned on him. Those who once were friendly drew back. Nine shoulders out of ten were cold ones. The change came on so suddenly as to take the delinquent's breath away. It spread over Poundbridge, Wadehurst and Fairlock like a flood, and he entered Wood End with a sinking heart, lest he should find its bitter waters surging there.

Fortunately for him, however, the Apple johns were not in society, as Mrs. Mac had declined to acknowledge their advent. For her they were ' some vulgar rich people from Australia, with an impossible name,' and did not count. So they heard nothing about it, not even from Mr. Bar bour — as yet. One haven of peace and happiness was still open to Dick. One Saturday, when Sam Crawford came on his usual visit home, he received a note from Wadehurst, earnestly begging him to come over and see Dick at once. He found him in his own room, looking as though night had misused him. There was a great smell of tobacco, and the writing - table was strewn with papers which Sam recognised. Dick gathered them together with a shaky hand, and made room for him. 'Is it a mistake ?' Sam asked. ' Did you mean to send for my father ?

You seem wretchedly ill.' ' I caught a glimpse of myself in the glass just now, and I looked like a drunkard ; but I haven't been drinking, Sam, and I want a lawyer to prescribe for what's the matter with me — not a doctor. The Wainwrights have thrown me over, as you know, and now my trust is in you. They have declared war on me, Sam. I am cut by the county be cause I ran away with Lady Gault six years ago.' ' I told you,' Sam replied, ' that it wasn't quite wise to come back — as you were.' ' I understand. If I had been rich, it wouldn't have mattered. Now sit down, and first of all tell me this : Do you think I ran away with Lady Gault ?' ' What's the good of discussing that now ? The thing's over and done with.' ' It is not over, and there is plenty to do yet. Answer me, Sam, like the friend you have proved yourself to be, and take off the lawyer for awhile.