Rollica Reed [A tale.] ... Illustrated, etc

Front matter

rollica finds bathsheba insensible.— Page 295. Rollica Reed BY ELIZA KERR AUTHOR OF 'TWO SAXON MAIDENS,* ' KEENA KARMODY,' ETC. ILLUSTRATED BY A. S. FENN. LONDON GRIFFITH FARRAN OKEDEN & WELSH NEWBERY HOUSE, CHARING CROSS ROAD AND SYDNEY The Rights of Translation and Reproduction are reserz'ed. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. THE NEW ARRIVAL, .... 7 II. THE MEASURE OF A GOLDEN REED, . . 20 III. HER NAME, ...... 33 IV. AFTER THE PARTY, ..... 46 V. BATHSHEBA, ...... 59 VI. A VISIT TO THE HALL, . . . -73 VII. GOING HOME, ..... 85 VIII. OLD LACE, ...... 98 IX. A MEEK AND QUIET SPIRIT, . 113 X. OSCAR DOUGLASS, . . . . .128 XI. AN INTRODUCTION, . . . . -139 XII. ARTFULNESS, . . . . -151 XIII. EVIL SEED, . . . . . .165 XIV. A BEAUTIFUL BIRTHDAY, . . -177 XV. TENNIS, . . . . • .189 XVI. A CATASTROPHE, ..... 2l6 XVII.

WHAT ASTLEY SAID ABOUT IT, . . 228 Contents. CHAP. PAGE XVIII. ROLLICA'S CHARACTER, .... 240 XIX. A PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE, . . . 252 XX. MEASURE FOR MEASURE, .... 273 XXI. GOOD FOR EVIL, ..... 279 XXII. BATHSHEBA'S WILL, .... 292 XXIII. A LOVELY WORLD, .....

Chapter I. The New Arrival

jj^gjp THINK you said she was not a £x3 relation, mother,' said Adelaide Hamilton languidly, as she sat by the drawing-room fire one cold November afternoon. ' Why then are we extending our charity to her? If father has so much money that he must spend it on strangers in order to get rid of it, he might increase our dress allowance. I am sure no girls in the neighbourhood have such small allowances to dress on as Kate and I have. Amy Hudson has twice as much, and her father is not so very rich.' ' Dr. Hudson has a very good practice,' answered Mrs. Hamilton. ' But this girl, Rollica Reed, is a relation of your father's on her mother's side, and, now that she is left destitute, he finds it incumbent on him to take her into his house. Indeed he told me she was to be as a daughter,' added the lady wrathfully, and with a scornful toss of her head. ' Imagine my receiving an insignificant nobody as a daughter ! ' ' We cannot imagine it, mother dear,' laughed Kate Hamilton, who entered the room at that moment. ' All the Darcy pride would be up in arms at the bare idea.

I suppose the insignificant nobody is Rollica Reed ? ' ' You may laugh, Kate,' said Adelaide, an angry colour rising in her cheeks. ' But you won't like another girl in the house who will take the money that ought to be ours for dress.' ' No, I won't like that, certainly ; but if she does get money for dress, I will see that most of it goes into my own pocket' ' I would be glad to know how you are going to manage that,' spoke Adelaide, with an in credulous smile. ' I shall manage it. You are too lazy some times to look after your own interests, but I am never lazy. Perhaps I have not your repose of manner, or the calm pride of my lady mother, but I am successful enough in society, — what do I care for more ? I shall persuade, or make, our young relative give me what I want.' ' You must be careful what you do,' said Mrs. Hamilton quickly and somewhat anxiously ; her younger daughter was occasionally a source of vexation and trouble to her. ' Your father will not allow any injustice to his old friend's child, should it come to his ears.' ' Oh, I'll be careful enough,' returned Kate carelessly. ' F'ather won't hear any tales.' ' You were not careful about Bathsheba,' persisted Mrs. Hamilton almost angrily. ' You know how annoyed your father was about that affair.

I don't want any unpleasantness just now, for our party must be a success.' ' But Bathsheba is different, and perhaps I was rather too outspoken that time. Father is so queer in some things. Fancy having a cousin a charwoman in the very neighbourhood in which we live, and fancy being obliged to employ her in our own house ! ' 'She is not a cousin,' spoke Mrs. Hamilton haughtily. ' And many good families have poor relations.' ' Well, she said she was my cousin, as impu dently as possible, that day I met her on the stairs.' ' You should have taken no notice of her. People of her class are always very clever with their tongues ; they allow themselves a freedom of speech not permissible amongst ladies and gentlemen. She never insults me, or talks impertinently. You deserved what she gave you that day for interfering with her at all.' Kate turned away with an indignant move ment, She would have liked to have answered her mother saucily, but she dared not do so.

She was not afraid to laugh and talk with absolute freedom, but Mrs. Hamilton did not permit any outward disrespect, though Kate often spoke to her in a manner that she highly disapproved of. Mr. Hamilton was a wealthy solicitor, living with his wife, his two daughters, and his son, in the vicinity of Astley, a flourishing little town in the south of England. He was a good natured, upright man in many respects, well thought of by his neighbours, and rather feared by his wife and selfish daughters. His son George was in partnership with him, and was now about twenty-five years of age ; Adelaide and Kate were respectively two and three years younger. About three years before the opening of our story, a shabbily dressed woman, past her first youth, appeared in Mr. Hamilton's office, and announced to him that she was a cousin of his, that she was poor, and by trade a charwoman, and that she would be glad of his recommenda tion on her settling in the town and trying to obtain work.

At first he was considerably annoyed, and refused to believe her statements, until she proved clearly that she was speaking nothing but the truth ; then he tried to persuade her to settle in some other town, promising that, if she would do so, he would give her a sum of money, and a letter vouching for her honesty and respectability. No, she would try and get work in no other town but Astley, for she was alone in the world, and a stranger in England, she said. She grew more determined when she perceived how much Mr. Hamilton's pride was hurt by the relationship. He thought the matter over seriously for a few minutes. If he refused to help her, she would remain in Astley all the same, for she seemed a resolute woman, and tell every one that he was ashamed to own the relationship, and then people would laugh at him.

On the contrary, if he befriended her, she would probably hold her tongue about the relationship, and no harm would be done. The fact of his having a poor relation was in itself no disgrace, but it would have been better had she taken up her abode in some other town where he was not known. Having made up his mind at last, he said gravely to her, — ' As you are resolved to remain in Astley, I must help you. I will speak to my wife about you. I believe a woman comes to the house twice a week to help the servants ; I will ask Mrs. Hamilton to try you. If she is content with you, that will be introduction enough for you; a woman whom my wife employs will soon have work enough offered to her. Ifyou would keep our relationship as much as possible to yourself, I would be glad, but I place no restriction on you.' She was silent for an instant, then she answered quietly, — ' Thank you.

I believe you are a decent, upright man. I will try to hold my tongue about the relationship, but tongue and temper sometimes get the better of my discretion. I'll please your wife, surely. My mother was a well-known Dublin charwoman for many years ; I learned the trade of her.' ' I wish you had stayed in Dublin,' thought Mr. Hamilton. ' Where do your wife and children live ? and where can I get a clean lodging ? ' He did not like her easy question about his wife and children. ' You must remember,' he spoke very gravely, ' that my wife is a lady, and my daughters have been brought up and educated as ladies. If I acknowledge the relationship, they may not care to do so.' ' Oh, I want none of their society ! I only want to earn my bread honestly.' He then directed her where to go for a lodging ; when she had time she could find a suitable home for herself. ' You will want a little money to pay your way until you have regular work,' he said in conclusion, offering her some silver. ' No, thank you, sir, I have what'll keep me until I earn more ; I am no beggar.' Then she walked out of the office, a strange looking figure in her red cloak and close ' cottage ' bonnet.

Mrs. Hamilton was very angry when her husband told her of his relation, Bathsheba O'Connor, but she was obliged to do as he wished in the matter, and, after a few months, she ceased to trouble herself about her new charwoman. Bathsheba, though peculiar, was quiet in her manner, and gave no cause of offence either to Mrs. Hamilton or Adelaide ; but Kate and she had had one serious alterca tion, on which occasion the charwoman had been the victor, being an adept in the art of vituperation. On a cold, wet day late in November, Rollica Reed arrived in her new home. Because of some mistake about the trains, no one had gone to the station to meet her, and, feeling very lonely and weary, she stood in the hall of The Moat, Mr. Hamilton's house, which was about a mile outside the town. The housemaid opened the drawing-room door and announced her, while a strange-looking, black-eyed woman helped to carry in her trunks.

Mrs. Hamilton rose from her chair with an exclamation, and kissed her coldly. ' We thought you were not coming until the later train,' she said in a half explanatory tone. Mr. Hamilton entered the room hastily at that moment. ' Rollica Reed come, and no one at the station to meet her ! ' he said sternly. 'There was a mistake about the train,' replied his wife quickly. ' Oh ! — You are welcome, my dear,' he went on, turning to the stranger, and kissing her much more warmly than Mrs. Hamilton had done. ' You must have had a miserable journey. You will be glad of rest, and tea before dinner. These are my daughters Adelaide and Kate ; you will be good friends, I am sure. Kate, take Rollica to her room, and see that she has every thing she requires.' Then Mr. Hamilton, satisfied that he had done his duty, and shown his wife and daughters how he wished Rollica to be treated, took up a newspaper and waited for dinner.

Meanwhile Kate led Rollica to her room, a small, badly furnished one next to the servants' apartments. ' You are tall for your age,' she remarked, while Rollica took off her hat and jacket, and unstrapped one of her trunks. ' I don't suppose I shall grow any more,' replied the girl, with an involuntary smile at the patronizing tone ; ' I am sixteen.' ' Oh, I grew after I was sixteen ; you are little more than a child. You are not old enough to dine with us at night, but father is foolish about some things. I see you have not turned your hair up yet, you still wear it down your back in a plait.' ' My mother liked it arranged in this fashion,' was the answer, while a shadow fell across the girl's fair face. ' Oh, indeed ? I hear you have just come from France.' ' I am only two days in England.' ' Can you speak French ? ' 'Oh yes; I have spoken it all my life,' replied Rollica, wondering when Kate would cease questioning her and leave her alone to change her dress.

There was a knock at the bedroom door at that moment. ' I have brought Miss Reed some hot water,' announced Bathsheba, who had not yet gone to her home. Rollica took the can of hot water with a bright smile, and a pleasant ' Thank you.' She was so glad to get the water, and she had not liked to ask for it. ' I need not detain you, Kate ; I shall not be long until I am ready for dinner.' ' Oh, I must go and dress, of course, but no one expects you to dress. You cannot have many dresses, and you will not be noticed. I wonder what kept that woman so late to-night ; I mean the odd creature that brought the water. She is a charwoman who comes in to help our servants. It was most impertinent of her to bring you hot water unbidden ; I am sure no one told her to do so.' Rollica coloured hotly. ' Then it was very kind of her to think of me,' she said warmly. ' Is it against the rules of the house to use warm water in the bedrooms in winter ? ' B ' Certainly not ; we use it ourselves.

But you are different from us, you know ; you must not expect to be treated in the same fashion as a daughter of the house.' She left the little bedroom quickly after this unkind speech, and hastened down to her own room. ' Better to show her her place at once,' she muttered to herself. ' Father will give her false ideas of her position here, and I am the only one with sufficient energy to put her down. Adelaide will take very little notice of her ; and mother — well, mother will be herself, no doubt. A daughter of the house indeed ! Oh no, my dear, not until we are married. I am afraid she will be pretty ; her hair is nice now.' Poor Rollica felt more forlorn than ever when Kate quitted the bedroom. It was with trembling hands and a strong inclination to weep that she performed her simple toilette, and pre pared to descend to the drawing-room.

But she determined she would not be so foolish as to allow her feelings to overcome her, and she resolved to make the best of everything. Kate did not mean to be unkind ; perhaps it was only her manner. Mr. Hamilton had been almost affectionate in his welcome, and Mrs. Hamilton and Adelaide had kissed her. No, she would not be imagining trouble that did not exist.

Chapter II The Measure Of

A GOLDEN REED. S^^^HEN Rollica had been a month in fov|afq$ The Moat, she perceived that she was not a welcome addition to the household, and the knowledge naturally caused her to feel unhappy and uncomfortable. Mr. Hamilton was always kind to her, and that strange, black-eyed charwoman was very attentive to her when opportunity occurred for such attention ; but Mrs. Hamilton was always cold and polite, and Adelaide and Kate took little notice of her. She had as yet seen scarcely anything of George Hamilton. She had no other home to go to, and her father had left her to the care of his friend and kinsman, Mr. Hamilton, so she knew she must try to be happy where she was, and try — yes, try to win the love of her kinsfolk. In two years' time she hoped to be able to earn her livelihood as a governess, for she would then be eighteen ; at present she was too young to offer herself for such a position.

She had been very well educated, partly by her father himself, and partly by masters ; if only she could retain the knowledge she had gained, she might hope to obtain a good post as governess. One day, just before Christmas, she told Mrs. Hamilton of her design, and asked if she might practise regularly on the piano in the morning room, and study for a couple of hours every day. That lady would have refused the request at once, but that prudence forbade. If the girl forgot what she had learned, she would be unfit to be a governess, and then she would always be in the house in every one's way, whereas, if she obtained a situation in some respectable family at a distance from Astley, it would be a good thing for all parties concerned, and Mr. Hamilton could offer no objection. ' You are right to wish to support yourself,' she said, more graciously than usual. ' Mr. Hamilton, though wealthy, has enough to do with his money, and you have no real claim on him.

Adelaide and Kate are always requiring new dresses, for they go much into society, as you must have seen, and it is only just they should have every advantage their father's wealth can afford them, Yes ; you may sing and play every day, but shut the morning-room door, and make as little noise as possible. As to studying, you may remain in your own room as long as you like, only be sure you are punctual in your attendance at meals.' Glad of even that sort of permission to con tinue her studies, Rollica felt more light-hearted, and she resolved to endure the coldness of those around her as patiently as she could, for it would only be for two years. Ah, but two years was a long time — a very long time ! To have no one to talk to all that time, to have no one to walk with, sing to, no companionship at all !

The prospect was not an enticing one to a girl of sixteen. Her parents had been dead more than a year, but while they lived she was their almost constant companion, and after they left her she had been in a large public school, so the present loneliness was very hard to bear. One dull December day, when the family was assembled at dinner, Mr. Hamilton's attention was attracted by a curiously carved ring with one large diamond in the centre, which Rollica wore. So little had the ladies of the family seen of Rollica since her arrival in the house, that they had not noticed the ring until Mr. Hamilton's exclamation now made them turn their eyes to the girl's hand. ' It is a very quaint-looking article, and very valuable, I should say. May I see it, Rollica?' She handed it to him with a sad smile. ' My father gave it to me before he died,' she said softly. ' It has been in our family for many generations.' ' Her family ! ' thought Adelaide and Kate. ' One would imagine she was somebody, to hear her talk of her family.' Mr. Hamilton examined the ring carefully, and then passed it on to his son George, whose curiosity had been aroused and attention arrested by the girl's words and manner. ' It is a beautiful ring, my dear; you must be careful not to lose it.

What are those words so quaintly carved round the diamond ? ' ' That is the motto of our house,' she answered, still in grave, sad tones. ' The word is " Foursquare." ' ' Foursquare !' echoed Mr. Hamilton. ' What does that mean in this case ? How can that word be your motto ? ' ' It was chosen originally from a verse in the Bible : " And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth." The idea is that the character of every Reed should be foursquare, that is, good all round ; that no meanness, or hypocrisy, or wickedness should sully us ; that as heaven, our final home, is altogether beautiful, foursquare in fact, so should we aim to be. We must not be content with being partially Chris tians, we must always try to be Christlike all round.' ' What a strange idea ! ' replied Mr. Hamilton, with an uneasy sort of laugh. ' I don't suppose many wearers of your ring have come up to that standard of excellence.

Many a good man, and many a good woman, — good in a general large sense, I mean, — have little faults difficult to overcome, and difficult even to recognise as sins. Some are wanting in the charity described in the Bible, some tell what are called "white lies," some are bad-tempered. The Measure ofa Golden Reed. 25 Oh, there are many small faults, so many that we scarcely know them as faults in ourselves, though we may recognise them as such in others. No, no, the standard of excellence is too high — too high. Foursquare ! No, no, impossible ! ' He seemed to be talking to himself rather than to Rollica in the end, and finally relapsed into an abstracted silence. Adelaide and Kate stared at their father and at Rollica in amazement, and George returned the ring with a polite ' Thank you.' Mrs. Hamilton was longing to see this curious ring more closely, but it was against her principles to take so much notice of Rollica.

When dinner was over, and they were all seated in the drawing - room except Mr. Hamilton, Kate said, with a sneering laugh, to Rollica, — ' What a sensational tale you told my father at dinner ! I really feel a degree of interest in your ring. Will you take it off your finger once more for my special edification ? ' Although inwardly resenting Kate's manner, Rollica complied with her request. 'It is a fine article of jewellery, much too fine for a little girl like you to possess. Don't you want to see it, Adelaide ? ' ' Oh dear no ! I feel no interest in ghost stories or saintly relics. I suppose we shall have Rollica sitting in judgment on us presently, if we are not as puritanical as her ancestors.' But her want of curiosity was only feigned, for she and her mother had both looked at the ring when it was in Kate's hand. ' It is no ghost-story,' said Rollica hotly. ' It is a well-known fact.' ' I perceive, my dear young kinswoman, that you don't intend to make your character four square, or why this unseemly warmth, this want of meekness ?

I think a meek spirit is com mended in the Bible.' ' Yes, a meek spirit is commended, but it is very hard to speak gently when you are so cruel to me, Kate. How have I offended you ? I would be glad to do anything to please you ; I do want to love you all, but you won't let me be anything but an unwelcome intruder. It is not my fault that I am alone in the world, and that my father left me to Mr. Hamilton's care.' She spoke passionately, while tears filled her eyes, and a red colour rose to her face. At that moment Bathsheba, with a housemaid's cap on her black hair, entered the drawing-room almost noiselessly, put coal on the fire, and withdrew in the same slow, quiet manner. Both Adelaide and Kate exclaimed, as the door closed, but Mrs. Hamilton said calmly, — 'The housemaid is sick, and Bathsheba is taking her place for a few days.' ' Horrid creature ! ' cried Kate angrily. ' She slips about like a cat, and I believe she listens at the doors.

That door is not shut now.' ' Well, close it, and don't fuss yourself for nothing,' remarked Adelaide. ' I am not fussing myself for nothing. She is a most interfering creature. The night Rollica arrived, she brought hot water to her room. Most impertinent of her ! ' ' I think it was very kind of her,' said Rollica quickly. ' Let us have no more of this unbecoming quarrelling. Rollica, please say no more. You must not answer Kate in such a free fashion ; she is much older than you are, and in a different position in life, whatever your rightful station may be. You may feel that you are somebody when you have that ring on your finger, and when you are talking in a superior tone of your ancestors, but such false pride will not help you to be a good and successful gover ness. I have no objection to your practising what you preached at dinner ; I wish to see a meek and quiet spirit in you ; but I greatly fear that you are like many preachers of righteous ness, — inconsistent.

However, you are but an ignorant young girl yet. Let us hear no more on the subject.' Adelaide sat down to the piano and began to sing a new song that had been sent to her that day, and Kate opened a book. George had not taken any part in the previous conversation but had watched Rollica's rising indignation and heard Kate's irritating remarks with an amused smile. For the first time it occurred to him that the new inmate of The Moat was a pretty girl, or would be pretty by and by, and that she would be rather in the way of his sisters at future parties and entertainments. But his interest in her was of a very languid nature, all his thoughts being absorbed in the endeavour to find out how to make himself acceptable in the eyes of Amy Hudson, old Dr. Hudson's only child and heiress. Presently Rollica quietly left the drawing room and retired to her own room, feeling very miserable and unhappy.

She found a bright little fire burning in her grate, a bunch of Christmas roses on her dressing-table, and Bath sheba just drawing down the blinds. ' I brought you those flowers out of my own garden,' the woman said abruptly, when Rollica started, and uttered an exclamation of pleasure. ' I thought you'd be leaving the company soon to night, — it was more uninviting even than usual, — so I lit a bit of fire for fear you'd be cold.' 1 Oh, thank you, Bathsheba ! ' replied poor Rollica, her heart already warmed by the un expected kindness. ' I am so glad to have your flowers, they are lovely ! But ought you to have made a fire for me ? I don't think Mrs. Hamilton would allow me a fire in my bedroom.' ' Oh, it's all right for once in a way. I will look after the stranger and the orphan. I am a stranger without friends myself, and I'm an orphan too.

Poor little soul ! my heart went out to you that first night when I saw you standing so forlorn in the hall. I knew my cousins wouldn't love you.' ' Your cousins ! ' cried Rollica. 'Yes, my cousins ; that's what they are, though it's some degrees removed. Hush about it, though. I as good as promised Mr. Hamilton I wouldn't talk of the relationship to any one. You're different ; there's no harm in telling you. Kate hates me ; the mistress and Adelaide don't bother me, so we get on well enough.' 'Howcurious ly it sounds,' said Rollica wo nderi ngly. ' That is the reason Kate speaks so sharply of you.' ' Ay ; she's afraid to speak sharply to my face now, for she got the worst of it last time.' And Bathsheba laughed well pleased. ' But will you let me be your friend ? We are both orphans, and alone.

I have a snug little cottage on the road to the town ; will you come and see me sometimes ? Just now I'm staying here, but the housemaid '11 soon be well.' Rollica shrank back involuntarily from the proffered hand. This woman would be no fit friend for her; her pride forbade her having a friend in such a lowly station. ' I'm not worthy to shake hands with you, I know, Miss Rollica,' said Bathsheba humbly, as her hand fell to her side. ' I know a lady when I meet one, and you're a real lady. But I thought maybe you'd let the charwoman speak to you sometimes, and do little things for you ; it's so lonely having no one to love and no one to serve. Your sweet face 'd brighten my poor home like sunshine. I'd never have forgotten the difference between us, I'd never have presumed to think I was your equal.

But there — my dream has come to nothing. I must be contented with my loneliness. I dreamed that you would speak to me when you met me here in the house, and that you would come and sit in my poor cottage sometimes, and talk to me, and tell me lovely things, like you told to - night at dinner ; and I'd wait on you, and make you a bit of hot cake that you'd condescend to eat.' Tears were in her eyes as she uttered the last words, and a sorrowful smile, that touched Rollica inexpressibly, lent a gentler expression to her harsh countenance.