Roydenhurst. A novel

Front matter

REMINGTONS' NEW BOOKS, AT ALL LIBRARIES. EVENTS, ANECDOTICAL, HISTORICAL, AND BIOGRAPHICAL, IN THE LIFE OF AN OCTOGENARIAN, between the years 17Q6 and 1815. By George Washington Abbott, i vol., 7/6. " Recorded in a chatty colloquial style of remarkable zest and humour." Standard. SAUNTERS IN SOCIAL BYWAYS.— Bv Malcolm Doherty, B.A. 1 vol., 7/6. — " Pleasant articles on subjects of a very varied character, from the Grand Chartreuse to the Prisons in Paris ; from the Sussex Fig Orchards to Needle Making-. All instructive and well written." — Examiner. REMINGTON & CO., 5, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C. ROYDENHURST: & label. BY HESTER HOPE. IN THREE VOLS. VOL. II. S^mkrtu REMINGTON AND CO., 5, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C. 1878. \_AU Rights Reserved.^ ROYDENHURST.

Chapter I

"When Captain Cravenfield announced to his family that he expected a visit from his friend Moreton, there was quite a commo tion in the house at Foxhoe. " Why, Frank," said his mother, " how have you accomplished it ? I thought Mr. Moreton never went where he was likely to encounter ladies ! ' ' " Nor does he generally, mother ; but you will like him very much when you know him ; he is rather stiff and formal in manner at first.- If the girls talk to him all at once, I am sure it will frighten him out of the house." VOL. II. b ROYDENHURST. " Well, I am very glad that he is coming, and Frank, you must tell me exactly what he likes for dinner, and how to arrange his room." Now poor Mrs. Cravenfield was not at all a designing mother, still, it was the most natural thing: in the world that with five daughters, she should have hopes and wishes for them, and this event made her hopeful for Bella her eldest, who was the beauty of the family, the acknowledged belle of the county balls, the best dressed, the best dancer, in short " the rage of the room;" no wonder that Miss Bella knew it herself, and had conse quently made up her mind to marry well.

She had numerous admirers, but she would only just countenance younger sons, allowing them perhaps to present her with a flower, or pick up her fan, while on eldest sons and future heirs, a higher mark of favour would be bestowed. No wonder that the coming of the rich heir to the Kemberton estates and title should ROYDENHURST. create some fluttering hopes, some secret thoughts and wishes among the ladies of Foxhoe. " When do you expect your friend ? " said Mrs. Cravenfield to her son. " On Thursday next he said he would be here." " Pray, Frank, does he sing ? " " Sing!" shouted Captain Cravenfield, and he burst out laughing, "the idea of Moreton singing ! " " Does he draw ? " asked another sister. " No, at least I really don't know." " What does he do ? " asked a third. " Nothing at all to suit you girls ; now don't think that you are going to have much of his company."

"Well," said Miss Bella, looking at her self in the glass, and arranging a long carl on her beautiful neck. " I really think, Frank, you ought to leave him with us as much as you can." ROYDENHURST. " I dare say," observed Mrs. Cravenfield, " that after just the first he will feel quite at home, and like being with you girls." " Yes, if Frank will let him," said Miss Bella. " I am sure that I shall make him quite a lady's man," she added, with a little smile of satisfaction at the power which beauty gave ; and certainly Bella Cravenfield was very beautiful. Every feature was good and perfect ; there was perhaps a little ex pression or animation wanted, if any fault could be found. "Don't you think, Frank," she said, "it would be better if Lucy, Carry, and Mary, were not to appear the first evening.

Mr. Moreton will think there is no end of the Miss Cravenfields, if he sees all five of us, with mamma too, drawn up before him ? " Frank Cravenfield laughed heartily. " Capital ! What a predicament for More ton to be in. A man who never sees a lady, never is one admitted into his uncle's house, ROYDENHURST. 5 has no lady friends, to find himself all at once in the society of six ladies ! Why, he'll be like that prince in the ' Arabian Nights,' who found himself one day alone, in the centre of a ring of forty-one ladies." The idea amused Captain Cravenfield exceedingly. Mr. Moreton did arrive on the day he named, and was introduced, in due form, to the lady of the house and her two elder daughters. Captain Cravenfield took care to help his friend out at dinner, by keeping up a good chatter.

When the gentlemen returned to the drawing-room, the ladies noticed that Mr. Moreton did not feel sufficiently at home, or at his ease, for their satisfaction. Now Mr. Moreton was too well-bred ever to be in the least awkward, at the same time his formal politeness provoked Miss Bella; he would open the door, place a chair, ring the bell, and be ready with all those little attentions due to a lady, but he did not appear ROYDENHURST. to understand the thousand little acts of fascination which, from time to time, Miss Bella practised upon him, or if he did, he was as hard to move as a stone. He was the first hard-hearted man she had ever met with, and she began to be in despair. In vain she let her fan fall, he picked it up once, but, dull, insensible man ! he put it on the table ! Now she had a plan for to-morrow, which would at all events bring him to her side.

" Mr. Moreton, do you ride ? " " Why, Bella," said her brother, " how can you ask such a question ? Moreton lives on horseback, very nearly." " Oh," she said, " how delightful a canter over our hill would be ; why can't we go ? I do so enjoy riding," and she rode well, too, and looked so handsome in her hat and habit, it really was a bright stroke. "Don't you ride?" said Mr. Moreton, turning to Miss Lily, who on being noticed at all and so unexpectedly, turned, face, neck and arms, " red all over ! " ROYDENHURST. The following day was then fixed for a riding expedition, should it prove fine. " Won't you take that easy chair by the piano ? " said Mrs. Cravenfield, who, being a comfortable old lady herself, was quite con cerned at her guest's not looking more at home. " Thank you, I prefer this."

" Are you musical, Mr. Moreton ? " asked Miss Bella, who had prepared all her best songs. " Not practically." " Yes," said her brother, " he is very fond of music. The first thing he does, when he gets abroad, is to rush off to the opera." " I am sure to hear good music and sing ing there," said Mr. Moreton. " Then you don't like amateur perform ances ? " asked Miss Bella. " I seldom or ever hear any." Again he was dull, insensible man ! he ought to have known better, and have gone to the piano, played with the music, and asked her ROYDENHURST. to sing, but no, there he sat, looking over a book of prints. At last Mrs. Cravenfield was obliged to say— " Bella, my dear, won't you sing some thing. Do sing ' The Dream.' " " Oh," she said, in rather a pettish tone. " Mr. Moreton does not like amateur singing."

He got up instantly, and going a step nearer to the piano, said — " I beg your pardon, did 1 ? No, I think it is a mistake — I did not say so. I shall hope to hear the song which Mrs. Cravenfield has asked for." He did hear it, and liked it, but would have liked it much better if the young lady had sung it with less affectation. The next morning was fine, and the horses were ordered for the proposed expedition, at twelve o'clock. At breakfast, however, the letters arrived, and, no sooner had Mr. Moreton read his, than he said — ROYDENHURST. " I am sorry to leave so abruptly, Mrs. Cravenfield, but this letter calls me away." " No bad news, I hope, of Sir Edward," said his friend. " No. It is business which I cannot put off." " We are very sorry to lose you so soon," said Mrs. Cravenfield, " but you must come again."

Poor Bella ! when she thought of her ride, and all things she had got up to say to her companion, she looked sadly disappointed, and could scarcely eat any breakfast. Mr. Moreton said he hoped that his sudden departure would not interfere with the ride, which he was sure would be very enjoyable on so bright a day. It was the longest speech he had made to the ladies since he entered the house, and now just as he was beginning to talk more, they said it was very tantalising that he should be called away ! " When shall we make our fishing expedi- ROYDENHURST. tion to North Wales ? " asked Captain Cravenfield, as he was walking down the avenue by the side of his friend, who was on horseback. " Whenever you like — shall we say the 8 th of next month ? " " Yery well, so let it be." " Now good-bye, Cravenfield," and Philip Moreton was soon out of sight.

"Well," said Bella Cravenfield to her brother, after he had taken leave of his friend, " I think Mr. Moreton is a most disagreeable man, so dreadfully dull and reserved, I should not say there was much in him." " I don't know a pleasanter man," returned Captain Cravenfield, " he has a great deal of information ; why, he has been everywhere, travelled immensely." " Then his formal manners," said Miss Bella. " Well, I am sure he is everything that is polite." ROYDENHURST. 11 " Polite, yes ; his attentions are all by rule, he does not see, like other young men, when one means a thing to be taken in a different way ; he is all matter-of-fact," said the disappointed beauty. " Well," put in her youngest sister Mary, "I am sure he is good-natured ; he told me one or two anecdotes about animals and birds, and he said, if mamma would let me keep it, the next time he went abroad — I forget where — he would bring me a little dog.

I like him," added the little girl, " very much." " Your opinion, Miss Mary, was not asked. Children like you should be seen and not heard," said the dignified elder sister. " Come Bella, don't be cross," said her brother. " I assure you in this case Mary and I quite agree." " I dare say you do ; people always speak up for their friends." "Well, look! here is a friend of yours coming up the road." ROYDENHURST. " Who is he ? " said the young ladies, who had rushed to the window. " Oh, Mr. Charles Beantley," said one. Now as he happened to be one of Miss Bella's particular admirers, one of those young men whose zeal for her admiration she liked to encourage, her good temper returned at once. And after some time passed in laughing and chatting together, the little re buked child Mary whispered to one of her sisters — " Bella has put on her company manners again !

" The letter which had called Mr. Moreton so suddenly away was from the governor of the gaol, telling him the prisoner Perkins was to be removed, and if he wished to see him again, he had better lose no time about it. He found the prisoner reading ; a great change had come over him — natural affection for his mother and child, the fear of their suffering on account of him, preyed on his ROYDENHURST. 13 mind. When Philip Moreton entered his cell, the man was so overwhelmed with remorse and gratitude, that he was scarcely able to speak. " Pray, Perkins," said Mr. Moreton, " be firm, you will have every sort of temptation to try you, but remember my advice to you, ' stand firm.' " The prisoner seemed to wish to pour out his heart to Philip Moreton, who listened while he told his story. "My father and mother, sir, were careful and industrious people, they only had me and my sister.

I was always a hot-tempered fellow ; once, when I was at school, I had a quarrel with a school-fellow, and we fought. The master, he took the boy's part against me, and got me a good flogging. I hated him ever after, and whatever I could get of his, I used to dig a hole and bury. Well sir, one day he gave me the cane, and for only a small matter, so I gave it to him back in a black eye. I was punished severely, and then ROYDENHUEST. I ran away, and got on board a ship bound for America, but I was so dreadfully ill, I did not like the sea, sir, and as the ship put in at Liverpool, I got away and walked, begging as I went for a morsel of bread, all the way till I reached father's village. I had scarcely any clothes on, no shoes nor hat, so I waited about under the hedges until it was quite dark, and then I found my way to our own cottage.

I knocked at the door, poor mother, she instantly knew me ; I almost fancy I feel her arms round me now ; 'twas such a tug of joy to find I was alive, for she had feared that I was drowned at sea, or had made away with myself. Father, when he saw me, he talked to me, and said what is true enough, sir, ' I tell you what, James, your hot temper will some day bring you into greater trouble than this,' pointing to my naked feet and ragged clothes. After that I went on better at home, and mother tried to keep peace between me and father. I was lucky enough ROYDENHUKST. 15 to get under Squire Thorpe's bailiff ; he was very kind to me, and I did not care what I did for him ; he taught me many things, for he was a scholar, and then he would take me out and let me shoot with his gun. I was under this good man for three years or more, and here I took to like Mary Baker, his housekeeper's daughter; but she was afraid, she told me, of my temper.

She said she often saw me hasty when there was no occasion. I asked her to give me any time to mend it, but not to give me up. Well, sir, she did, and for more than a year I had the hardest work I ever had in my life with my self. Often and often have I nearly bit my tongue through when tempted to give way, and then the thought of Mary came to help rae," and here using that name which he had so long disused, overpowered him for a moment. " After waiting some time we were married ; I took a cottage near the Squire ; for I had got a higher situation under the ROYDENHURST. steward. We were so happy, and I don't believe, sir, in the two years we lived together, I ever gave her a cross word ; she made me as good as herself, nearly ; I went with her to church as regular as Sunday came, and a look from Mary put me to rights if ever I felt my temper rising.

Our baby was born, and — " here the poor man was again over come, and sobbed out, " Mary died ! " He had told his story so simply that Mr. Moreton could not help feeling touched ; he guessed the rest, but presently the prisoner went on — " Sir, I did not take this trial as I ouo-ht. I could not stay in that place ; I could not bear to see my child, so I went away and got into another situation ; here I fell in with bad companions, and though I tried to think of Mary, I could not ; so I went from bad to worse, and now sir, you know the rest." "Well, Perkins," said Mr. Moreton, rising to go, " as to your mother and child, I will ROYDENHURST. take care that they shall not want. I will go myself to find them out." The poor fellow, seeing him about to leave, fell on his knees before him, and seizing his hand, said — " I'll go through fire and water, aye the fiery temptation of sin, but, sir, I will come out a clean man, to earn your good will, to prove to you, sir, that I am not an ungrateful wretch.

You have worked on me, my flinty heart gave way at last. God be praised ; your words of home, father, mother, and child did it," and then again seizing his hand, he exclaimed, " Sir, your words shall never leave my heart — ' Pray be firm to the end ! ' " " That's right, Perkins," said Mr. Moreton, " and I believe you. You will be sorely tried, but stand firm ; read your Bible at such times as it is possible ; and remember, if, when your time is up, you bring me a perfectly satisfactory report of your conduct during the whole time, from your chaplain and from VOL. n. c ROYDENHURST. the governor of the prison, I will reinstate you in your former position in the world again." He just heard " I will," before the door closed between him and the prisoner Perkins. ROYDENHURST.

Chapter II

We left Jane Godfrey asleep, even the little canary bird in the drawing-room was not allowed to see the light, lest in his ignorance of his mistress's state, he should, as usual, sing his morning welcome to the sun. Still ness reigned throughout that little cottage ; in the kitchen window sat a woman from the village, knitting, and ready to answer at a moment's call. Upstairs in the dark and silence of the sick room, sat the faithful nurse, scarcely daring to breathe ; and suffering weariness, stiffriess, and exhaustion, rather than risk by the slightest movement, awaking that prostrate deathlike form on which her eyes were fixed. What were her thoughts ? not of herself, not ROYDENHURST. that she was earning her reward ; but in her own, simple way, she was pouring out her heart in prayer for those whom she loved.

" 0, God, bless this sleep, and spare my dear lady, and have mercy on Miss Laura." Then she would try to remember all the hymns and texts she had learnt in childhood, repeating them to herself every now and then. Hour after hour passed, at length Miss Godfrey seemed to breathe more heavily, and then to sigh, and after a little time she opened her eyes, fixing them on Tims ; she was too weak to speak, but she knew her, and Tims fancied she almost smiled, she was sure it was a look of recognition. Tims made a little sound on the floor, and the labourer's wife came to the door with nourishment for the patient. When Laura came down to breakfast, that morning, she found the Rector in the room reading his newspaper ; she went up to him and said — " Good morning, Mr. Hartleigh, I am ROYDENHURST. afraid I have kept you waiting for your breakfast."

" No, my dear, I have only just come down; we are not to wait for Mrs. Hartleigh." " I hope she is having some rest," said Laura. " Yes," replied the Rector, " but you don't look as if you had had any ! Come, a little fresh air will do you good ; drive over with me to Oakford this morning." Now Laura would much rather have said **■ no," but she knew the Rector always liked to have a companion in his drives, whenever he could, so she said — " Yes, I will. Do you go directly after breakfast ? " " I have one or two letters to write first ; and then I shall start," replied the Rector. How eagerly Laura watched the butler, every time he came into the room, hoping he would bring her some tidings from the Cottage. As she was waiting, the Rector came in, saying — ROYDENHURST. " My dear, your sister is still in a sound sleep ; she will, no doubt get better now.

But come, the carriage is at the door." In a few moments they were on their way to Oakford, a small hamlet belonging to the parish of Longworth. The air was fresh ; the morning dew, sparkling in the sun, made everything look bright and beautiful; the hopefulness in Laura's heart, and the cheerful conversation of the Rector, all contributed to make her feel happier than she had been for many days. They stopped before a small cottage, and Mr. Hartleigh told Laura to come in with him. The door was opened by a woman, with a little child in her arms. " How is your husband, Susan ? Can I go up and see him to-day?" " I fear he is too far gone to know you,. sir ; ever since you were here last, he has been getting weaker and weaker." "lam sorry to hear it. Have you heard anything of your son ? " asked Mr. Hartleigh.

ROYDENHURST. " No, sir, nothing; and the money has not been paid for three weeks. I can never make out, sir, why he don't write, I fear his hot temper has been getting him into trouble again." "Is that his child?" " Yes, sir ; I have had the care of him ever since his mother died." " How old is the little boy ? " asked Laura. " Why, miss, he must be going on to three years now." "Well, good-by, Susan," said the Rector, " I will call again soon, but I hope you are prepared for your husband's death. I fear that he cannot last long." " Indeed, sir, I do try," she said, wiping away a tear, " and I don't know, sir, how I shall ever thank you for your kindness to John. He is so happy, so different." " Poor woman ! I am afraid she is in great trouble," said Laura to Mr. Hartleigh, as they left the cottage.

" Yes, her son has not of late paid her for ROYDENHURST. taking charge of his child; she appears to fear that some misfortune has happened to him." " And then her poor husband dying. I am so sorry for her," said Laura, and she thought how much she had to be thankful for in the hope which had been given her of her sister's recovery. On arriving at the Rectory, Mrs. Hartleigh met them at the door; she kissed Laura, saying — " My dear, your sister is conscious. She awoke about two hours ago : she has not spoken, indeed she is too weak to do that, but I am quite sure that she knew me and Mrs. Tims. I waited, Laura, to tell you this, for now I am going to take Tims' place, in order to give her some rest." " Dear Mrs. Hartleigh, you have made me so happy. You really think dear Jane will now get better ?

" " Yes, my dear, in time ; but you must not begin to feel impatient yet." ROYDENHURST. 25 " Oh, no ! " exclaimed Laura, eagerly, " I don't expect to see her for a long time, only," she said, timidly, " I wanted to know what you really thought about her." " There is great hope now ; but Dr. Prior says that more care is required when the patient turns the corner, if possible, than before ; but now, my dear, I must leave you ; that faithful Tims needs rest." " Dear Tims ! " said Laura. " I am sure she must," and she hastened to her room where she took the " Christian Year " and read and thought, until the bell rang for luncheon. ROYDENHURST.

Chapter III

Mr. Bartholomew Shuffles sat perched on a hio-h stool before his desk, so absorbed in business, reading over papers before him, that even the word " dinner," for a wonder, did not rouse him. " Capital fellow you are, Drum," he said to himself, as he folded up a paper, " you deserve a bit of ' the advantage ; ' this document is first rate, proof sufficient for any man ! I must get Ju up to her pedigree, ha ! ha ! " laughed Mr. Shuffles. Now Drum, or more correctly Mr. Drum mond, had been as good as his word in helping his friend. He had taken advantage of his master's absence into the country, " to dip into that box which was the canopy over ROYDENHURST. 27 his head," containing the Roydenhurst papers. He quieted his conscience by thinking that as " old Catchall had over and over a°-ain promised to do something for him, and had hinted taking him one day into partnership, that he was only making himself acquainted with the deposits in this case beforehand," so he proceeded in his examination, making notes here and there, and casting aside papers of no use ; but what was the discovery that all at once so riveted his attention, and made his eyes expand to an unusual size ?

"Halloa!" he exclaimed, aloud. "What have I got here ? By Jove ! if I haven't caught old Catchall ! " then reading the papers again, " hang me if it is not so, and no mistaking this letter — ' Sir Godfrey Cul verton to his son Richard. Proviso of redemption — entail not cut off. Document not fully signed. Bond for £5,000. Fortis wood to Catchall to make it good in case of sale,' &c, &c. Hurrah, Drum ! " he exclaimed, ROYDENHURST. in ecstacy, "handle this cleverly and your fortune is made. Old Catchall caught, hurrah ! " To replace every deed and scrap, into the box, excepting these precious papers, was the first thing to do, and to restore the box to its accustomed place ; this done Mr. Drummond sat down to think, hugging the treasures securely buttoned up within his coat. Should he tell his friend Shuff what a discovery he had made?

"Not at present, keep quiet Drum, let old Shuff have his advantage first, before you disclose your secret." With this advice to himself, he first made a neat copy of all he thought useful and needful information, and despatched it to Mr. Shuffles, whose eagerness to peruse it, as we have seen, made him forget for a time even his " sinkings," so there he sat on his high stool, his hair more wiry than ever, his trousers so short, that they exhibited a pair of very thin legs, his feet ensconced in a dirty pair of slippers, down at heel. At last he began ROYDENHURST. 29 to shut up his papers, when in the movement to do so, one of his slippers fell off, which his wife took up, and seeing his work done, playfully tapped him on the back with it, saying gaily— " Come, Bart dear, don't you hear the dinner bell ?

" " Yes," this time the cheerful word " dinner " was heard, and he instantly made a pirouette on his high seat, and jumped on his feet, saying with a groan — " Oh ! Julia, I feel a sinking." Now Mrs. Shuffles was quite as clever as her husband, she knew how to get her own way, and had tact enough to say everything at the right time. It is wonderful what power the little word "tact " implies; power to prevent irritation, to have a perception, to prevent discord from wounding the feelings ; and at the same time gaining its own object. Mrs. Shuffles was determined to get a new silk dress, that was her object; but she ROYDENHURST. waited until she saw her husband comfortably seated at his dinner. " This is a capital eel pie, Ju," he said, helping himself for the third time, "a deli cious pie ; but what have you got there, Julia, my dear ?

" he asked, eyeing a little dish, covered over with a cloth, and which Mrs. Shuffles took care to have close by her. "What is that pie?" "Wait, dear Bart; this is an extra sur M prise. "Ah!" he said, "you're a jewel of a wife." "Now," she thought, " is my time. Bart, dear, I suppose Miss Laura?" " Culverton, my dear Julia ; you remember your name." " Oh, yes, by the time we have to appear I shall have learnt everything. But I was going to say, Bart, that of course Miss Laura Culverton's dresses are handsome, most likely all silk." ROYDENHURST. " Well, my dear," said Mr. Shuffles, "you must make that silk you had when we married, look as good as new. I know," he added, " you clever women have a little secret for that ! " " Bartholomew 1 " she exclaimed, in a tone of indignation. " Bartholomew !