With Everything against her. A novel

Chapter I

Golden opinions. Shakespeare. Jack and Violet would have been thorough ly happy during their stay in London had it not been for the anxiety caused them by Mr. Manders' obstinate and relentless nature. Though still an invalid, and, for that matter, ahvays likely to remain such, Mr. Manders Avas noAV much better, and could get about in a bath-chair. Miss Manders, Lucy, and Alfred had VOL. II. B done all in their poAver to get him to for give Jack, but in vain ; at the mention of his son's name, he got so irritated that at last they Avere obliged to give it up, and trust to Avhat time would do. Jack had resumed his duty at Shorn cliffe, and used to come up to London every Saturday till Monday to be Avith Violet. She always looked fonvard to those days, and Monday seemed very black to her as it came round, and took her Jack aAvay ; but Violet Avas not given to despondency, and Avorked hard at drawing and painting during the Aveek, so that time did not hang as heavily as it might have done.

All Jack's brother-officers now kneAv the story of his marriage, for he no longer had any object in keeping it secret. They were very kind to him, and sympathized a good deal Avith him on his father's behaviour; but everyone gave him the advice to ' sit tight and not to bother the old gentleman, Avho Avas sure to come round in time.' Colonel Lumsden Avas particularly kind about it, and, happening to meet Jack and his wife in Piccadilly, asked to be intro duced to her, and then called on Mrs. Manders. On getting back to Shorncliffe, he said, ' An uncommonly nice little Avoman is Mrs. Jack ; a thorough lady, very pretty, and \rery clever too. I never Avas so sur prised in my life, and it only shoAvs one ought always to judge for oneself, and never believe A\rhat one hears.' This was said in the ante-room before most of the officers of the regiment, and did a great deal toAvards prepossessing them in favour of Violet, for Colonel Lumsden's opinion Avas generally worth having.

He AAras one of those reserved men not given to saying much ; when he did give a reason for anything, it Avas b ahvays after mature consideration, and all he said Avas to the point. One day, Avhilst Jack was aAvay at Shorn cliffe, Violet Avas surprised to hear from the maid that a gentleman AAras doAvn in the hall, and Avanted particularly to see Mrs. Manders. ' Ask him his name and Avhat he Avants, Sarah, for I don't expect anyone.' ' Please, mum, I did ask the gentleman his name, and he said it did not matter.' Violet got very red ; she remembered her scene Avith HaAvthorne, and might this not be the same man come again to annoy her? But now she Avas on her guard. CD ' Tell the gentleman that Mr. Manders is not in toAvn, and I cannot see him. If he likes to leave his card, I Avill give it to Mr. Manders Avhen he comes up from Shorncliffe.' Sarah, having dehvered the message, returned with a card in her hand, and said, ' Here is the gentleman's card, and he still says that he Avould like particularly to see you, mum.' Violet took the card, and, to her astonishment, read the name, ' Mr. Alfred Man ders.' She was much surprised at this visit, and Avondered Avhat it could mean.

Had he come as a friend, or the reverse ? Oh, hoAv she Avished Jack had been there to help her ! She dreaded seeing Alfred, and yet she Avould not send him aAvay ; so at last she said, ' ShoAv the gentleman up ; it is Mr. Manders' brother.' Both Violet and Alfred felt shy and aAvkAvard at this first meeting. As Alfred Avalked into the room, she came fonvard. He shook hands Avith her, and said, ' I hope you Avill forgive my coming to see you in this cool Avay, Avithout even Avriting to tell you of my visit ; but it Avas only last night that I found I had to come to London to-day, and I have so longed to make your acquaintance.' Alfred looked dreadfully pale and nervous, but his manner and speech at once reassured Violet ; for he had evidently come in a friendly spirit. ' It is very kind of you to call,' she said ; ' but I am so sorry Jack is not here.' ' On the contrary, fond as I am of dear old Jack, and much as I long to see him, yet I Avas anxious to meet you at first alone ; for I Avant us to knoAv one another, and this is so much more easily accomplished AArithout a third person.' ' It is very kind of you to say so, and I knoAv Jack will be delighted, Avhen I tell him of your visit.

I have ahvays felt that I might be the cause of estrangement be tAveen you tAvo, and this has grieved me a good deal. I feel I have done quite enough harm as it is, by making Jack's father go against him ; but if you only knew the difficult position I Avas in — caring for Jack Avith all my heart, and not knoAving Avhat Avas best to do. I Avould give up half my life iioav, if I could only bring father and son together ; for myself, I ask nothing, for I feel Mr. Manders has a right to be very angry Avith me. But do tell me hoAv a reconciliation could be brought about ?' Alfred Avas very much touched at her unselfish speech, and he Avarmed towards Violet as others had done before him, after a short conversation. 1 No one can wish a reconciliation be tween my father and Jack more than I do ; but you cannot imagine Avhat a difficult old man he is to deal Avith.

Once he gets an idea in his head, nothing can move him; and since his last illness he seems to have become Avorse in this respect. It makes it so uncomfortable for us all, too, for Ave dare not mention Jack's name before him. But, Violet — for you must let me call you Violet noAV — do not think I am given to flattery Avhen I say that I feel sure the only chance of reconciliation Avould be that he should see and speak to you, as I have done. Hoav this is to be brought about, however, beats me.' ' Hoav kind you are to me ! Jack has ahvays told me you would be ; but I never could have believed in your treating me so kindly, after the sorroAV and trouble I have brought on you all.' ' Never mind Avhat is past ; it is not your fault at all, and I will not alloAV you to blame yourself. Our business is now with the future, and I hope all may yet come right.

Lucy, my Avife, is longing to make your acquaintance, and you must let me bring her to see you when she next comes up to London. Of course Ave have to keep this all very dark, for, if it got to my father's ears that Lucy and I had called upon you, he Avould be furious.' ' I should so much like to see your Avife, of course,' said Violet, ' and T feel your kindness more than I can say ; but please do not do anything Avhich may further annoy your father.' 'We Avill take care he never knoAA^s about it, and I shall certainly bring Lucy; and, Avhat is more, you shall both like each other. I am so glad to have had this little talk, and I hope I may come again soon. Noav I must be off, as I have a lot of business to attend to, and return to Banby to-night.' His intervieAv made Violet so happy. Was there ever such a dear as Alfred? no, certainly not, if she excepted Jack ; but Iioav ill he looked.

Poor felloAV ; it Avas too good of him to come and see her. Lucy too must be nice. She sat doAvn and Avrote a long letter to her husband, and, after telling him of the visit, added all these little sentiments. AVITH EVERYTHING AGAINST HER. Alfred stepped out into the street, saying to himself, ' Jack is right, she is charming ; what pretty manners, and hoAv unselfish and considerate to others. That is no common girl ; I Avonder Avho she really is ? for Jack says she does not even knoAv herself. I am certain Lucy will like her, and, Avhat is more, I am certain that both Lucy and Violet Avill be the better for each other's companionship. I shall Avrite to Jack to morroAV, and tell the poor boy all I feel, and I hope it Avill cheer him up a little bit.' Lucy Avas most anxious to see Alfred on his return, and to hear all about Violet, so she Avalked out and met him on his Avay from the station.

Alfred Avas full of his intervieAv, and praised Violet so much that Lucy at last said, ' I believe you are trying to make me jealous of her.' ' Hoav can you talk such nonsense, Lucy darling, when you knoAv you are all-in-all to me.' ' Of course, dear Freddy, I Avas only chaffing you, and I have succeeded in making you rise. But really, I am long ing to see Violet, and do hope I shall like her and that she will like me. I cannot tell you, though, how nervous it makes me, for I shall be, oh ! so disappointed if she is not all I picture her.' ' Believe me, Lucy dear, Avhen I say I am sure you Avill like her, and Avill get on with her.' Of course dear old Aunt Dorothy Avas in their secret, and that night at dinner, Avhen ever the servants were out of the room, they talked of nothing but Violet.

After dinner, Alfred Avent up to see his father, Avho kneAv he had been to London for the day, but, of course, never suspected his visit to Jack's Avife. He found the old gentleman a little better, and sitting up in AVITH EATERYTHING AGAINST HER. his chair, but, beyond a short conversation on agricultural matters, nothing Avas said betAveen father and son. Jack Avas, of course, in the seventh heaven of bliss Avhen he read Violet's letter. ' Dear old Freddy, Iioav like his kind heart to go and see Violet and be so nice. Oh, I do hope things Avill get better.' He Avrote a long letter first to Violet and then to his brother, thanking him for all he had done, and Avent about his duty in the old cheery Avay AArhich had left him for some time. At stables he kept flicking his boot with his cutting-whip, an old habit of his Avhen he Avas pleased, but Avhich he Avas beginning to forget. ' Well, old man,' said SAvinton, 'you look better to-day than you have done for Aveeks ; I hope you have squared it Avith the governor at last, and that he is shelling out.' ' I wish I had, old chap ; but I'm afraid it will take some time ; anyhow, things are looking better, and all you felloAvs are so good to me that I feel a deal happier about everything.' Hoav often though, Avhen one looks a little better, and one has just thought what a fool one has been to be doAvncast, some thing comes to dash all one's rising hopes to the ground, and leaves one in a more miserable state of mind than ever.

Jack Avent into the ante-room after stables, and there he found a letter for him addressed in a copper-plate hand writing. He turned the envelope over to open it and saAV the names ' Sharp and Atyou' stamped on a garter round the seal. These he kneAv at once Avere his father's solicitors. He Avondered Avhat they could be writing to him about, but was soon painfully aware, for it Avas a short letter from the above firm stating that they had received instructions from Wil liam Manders, Esq., of Banby Hall, to inform him that in future he must expect no alloAvance from his father. Of course, they added, Mr. Manders could not touch the interest on the small sum left him under his mother's will, Avhich Avould be paid in as usual to his account Avith Messrs. Cox and Co., but beyond that he was never to expect anything from his father.

This Avas another blow to Jack; not that he cared personally for the money, but it Avould make a vast difference to Violet's comfort. Jack, it is true, had been accustomed to deny himself nothing, and, as a bachelor with a good alloAvance, he felt he •could do so ; but, iioav that he Avas married, to have this alloAvance suddenly stopped, Avould make a very great difference to him. He had inherited five thousand pounds under his mother's Avill, Avhich gave him about two hundred pounds a year. With that income it Avould be quite impossible for him as a bachelor to remain on in a cavalry regiment, much less could he do so iioav Avith a Avife to support. His father's letter, then, simply meant that he must give up his career. Of course he could exchange into an infantry regiment, but that alternative he felt Avould be Avorse than leaving the service altogether.

It seemed too hard, but he must grin and bear it. He sat doAvn and Avrote again to Violet. He hated himself for having so soon to spoil her neAV-born happiness, but, haAring promised to let her knoAv everything that happened to him, he Avould not hesitate iioav. He told her openly that he Avould have to give up the regiment he liked so much, and Avhat seemed doubly hard was that, with the unsettled state of the Sou dan, they might soon be called upon for active service. Violet Avas much put out ; she kneAv hoAv Jack loved his profession, and was determined he should not give it up through her, she would pinch and starve rather than this. Of course she did not like the idea of active service, but, being a true and noble Avoman, she Avas not going to state any of her fears. She wrote and told Jack that he must do nothing in a hurry, and, moreover, she proposed that, by Avay of retrenchment, he should give up his London rooms ; now that every one knew of their marriage, there Avas no harm her being near him, he could take her a small lodging in Sandgate, Avhere she could live much cheaper than in Lon don, and would, moreover, be much hap pier.

She finished by saying he had better get leave at once, and come up to help her to pack the few things she Avished to keep, and then they could return to Shorncliffe together. Jack got this letter tAvo mornings after he had received Messrs. Sharp and Atyou's communication, and was froAvning over the contents of it during stables. SAvinton had noticed hoAv short-lived his cheery mood had been, and noAV, hearing him sigh, he said he hoped nothing was wrong. Jack and SAvinton were great friends, so he told him Avhat had happened, and also Violet's advice to him. ' She must be a real good sort, and what she says is excellent. Look here, Jack, Ave can't spare you from the regiment, and stay on you must ; the old gentleman must come round soon, it isn't natural for him to go on in that way. If you Avant to give up your rooms, there is my brother Avho only the other day Avrote and asked me if I knew of any to let.

I feel certain VOL. II. c AVITH EVERYTHING AGAINST HER. yours Avould suit him, and he Avould take your furniture off your hands if you liked.' Jack thought it an excellent plan, and SAvinton promised to write to his brother b3^ the evening post. That afternoon Jack strolled doAvn to Sandgate and engaged some nice but modest rooms, overlooking the sea. The landlady promised to do the little cooking Avhich Violet Avould require, and Jack calculated that he would save a very con siderable sum by this change from London. He had Avritten a long account of all Ave have told to George Darley, Avho Avas aAvay shooting in the north, and therefore did not get the letter for some days ; but Avhen he did he sat doAvn and Avrote an ansAver in Avhich he fully approved of the steps Avhich Jack proposed taking : viz., of moving Violet to Sandgate.

He begged his friend not to think of selling out of the army, as AA'ithout a profession, as Avell AVITH EA^ERYTHING AGAINST HER. as minus an income, he Avould find himself in a worse state than ever, and probably set people against him who might otber- Avise have stuck by him. George regretted that he was so far aAvay and that he could not get doAvn south at present, but he promised to run doAvn to Shorn cliffe again as soon as he could, and he hoped by that time old Mr. Manders Avould have relented in some Avay ; but, if he had not, he (George) Avould go to Banby and see him. Having arranged this matter about the rooms, Jack Avent to see Colonel Lumsden and told him the state of his affairs and his proposed plans. Colonel Lumsden Avas quite of SAAdnton's opinion that he should try to stay on in the regiment, and Avas delighted to hear that Violet Avas coming to Sandgate. ' We Avill all look after her,' he said, ' and try to make her happy.

I knoAv Arery c2 well that everyone will take to her, and I was speaking about her yesterday to Mrs. Bell, Avho, Avhen she had heard all I had to say, ansAvered, " After Avhat I hear I should much like to make her acquaintance, and I feel she will be a great acqui sition to the regiment ; so do persuade Mr. Manders to bring his AATife doAvn." Noav you knoAA', Jack, that Mrs. Bell, being the major's wife, and he the senior married officer in the regiment, if she calls on your wife the others Avill all follow suit.' Jack thanked the colonel for all he had done for him ; and, having got three days' leave, Avent off to London by the early train next day, promising to bring Violet back Avith him.

Chapter II

Jly voice is still for -war. Addison. Sir Robert Swinton came to see Jack Manders' rooms, and liked them so Avell that he agreed to take them off his hands at once, and to buy any of the furniture he left. In talking of it aftenvards at the club he made the remark that he Avould not have objected to take Mrs. Manders into the bargain, for he was very much struck Avith Violet's looks as she shoAved him round the apartments. Jack and Violet had a busy time sorting their little property ; they had not much room at Sandgate. but there Avere several things they did not like parting Avith. The old Thompsons came to their help not only in packing, but in undertaking to stOAv aAvay at their house many pieces of furniture, and Jack delighted them by making them a present of various little things. On the second day, whilst Violet and Jack Avere hard at work packing and the rooms Avere in an utter state of confusion, Sarah rushed up to tell them that a lady and gentleman had called, and, before they had time to say anything, Alfred and Lucy Avalked in upon them.

Lucy went straight to Violet, threAv her arms round her neck, and kissed her on each cheek, saying, ' Violet, I am glad to meet you at last.' Violet Avas very much taken aback, but naturally much pleased at this reception. She tried to apologise for their disorder, but Lucy Avould not listen to her, and immediately offered to help her in her Avork. ' Freddy has a lot of business to get through in the city, so I Avant to ask you if I may stay here Avith you Avhilst he is gone. He will be away an hour or two, so mind you say if it bores you.' ' Of course I am only too delighted,' said Violet, ' but I wish the rooms were in order.' ' But Avhat are you doing ? it looks more like packing than dusting and putting in order ;' for Lucy kneAv nothing about their move. The tAvo girls sat doAvn, and Violet soon put her sister-in-laAV au fait to the situation ; she had heard nothing of Mr. Man ders' action Avith regard to Jack's income, and Avas very much distressed at the neAvs.

In the meanAvhile, the tAvo brothers Avere having a talk together in another room. Jack came in to say he Avas going Avith his brother to the city, and Avould leave Violet and Lucy together until their return. Shall we pry upon Lucy and Violet? shall Ave repeat all the little things Avhich, as tAvo young Avomen Avith the same strong and good feelings, though so differently brought up, they yet possessed in common ? Shall we Avatch them expanding tOAA'ards one another like tAvo floAvers in the garden, Avhen the sun shines on them after rain ? Shall we Avatch them as they finally kiss one another, and SAvear sisterly love ? We think not. We Avill leave them alone as Jack and Alfred did, and only return to them with the brothers. Although Jack and Alfred wTere away over two hours, the time seemed very short to the tAvo girls, as they Avalked into the rooms again.

Not that they Avere not both very glad to see the husbands they doted on ; but Avomen always have so many little things to say to one another, and especially so betAveen two like Violet and Lucy, Avho Avere mutually interested in each other's lives. ' I hope you tAvo have not been fighting since we went aAvay,' said Jack, playfully, as he entered the room and saAV the tAvo sitting close to each other. 'You are quite right,' said Lucy; 'Ave have had a terrible engagement, and iioav, like rival commanders-in-chief, are busily engaged in draAving up terms of peace, A\'hich terms you have come in upon and ruthlessly destroyed, for the present at least.' 'Well, I am sure Ave gave you time enough to get through several campaigns, and make and unmake peace over and over again. Look at us; why, Freddy and I have not seen each other for ages, and Ave had such a lot to say, and yet it is all said, and here Ave are.' 'And, Avhat is more,' added Alfred, ' much as I dislike saying so, I'm afraid, if Ave are going to catch the fast train back to Buckland, it is a case of saying goodbve.' J ' Freddy is ahvays such a fidget,' said Lucy ; ' he likes to be at the station a quarter-of-an-hour before the train starts.

I am sure Ave haAre heaps of time ; but, all the same, I will go Avith you to your room, Violet, if you don't mind, and put on my bonnet.' 'And spend another ten minutes in last Avords, you had better add,' said Alfred, Avho looked at his Avatch every tAvo minutes, and at last shouted so impatiently for Lucy that she Avas obliged to tear herself off, amidst promises to Violet of Avriting, and coining to see her as soon as she possibly could. Violet Avas quite delighted Avith her sister-in-laAV. ' Do you knoAv, Jack,' she said, Avhen Lucy left the room, ' I really think it is worth going through a lot of trouble, and haAring to deal Avith disagreeable people, if by so doing one is reAvarded in the end by meeting a person like Lucy. What a noble character she has ! Here is a girl brought up in the lap of luxury, has never been denied a thing in this Avorld, has never knoAvn an ache or pain in her little finger, nor any mental agony, and yet, Avith this, she is all sympathy, and can enter with such feeling into other people's troubles.' ' Yes, my darling, I have had excellent reason to knoAv of Avhat good stuff Lucy is made, and I am delighted you have become such friends ; for I feel sure your society Avill be as good for one as the other.' ' Hoav odd you should say so, Jack ; for that is just Avhat Alfred said to me.

And, noAV I knoAv Lucy, I feel the truth of it ; but Ave must not Avaste any more time at present, for all this packing has to be done.' After three days of real hard Avork, the rooms Avere cleared of everything they were to take aAvay. The last cart-load had gone off to the Thompsons', and Violet and Jack were on their way to Charing Cross Station. Violet Avas very happy in her bright little rooms, facing the sea, at Sandgate. It was so nice for her to be continually Avith Jack, Avho gave up his hut in camp, and lived Avith her in the toAvn. All the officers Avere very fond of Jack, and made it a point to call on Violet at once, and she having become great friends with Major and Mrs. Bell, the other officers' AATives, as Colonel Lumsden had prophesied, also took her up. She Avas much admired, as she strolled on the Lees at Folkestone, Avith Jack, of an afternoon and listened to the band.

In the meantime, great preparations had been made in England for the relief of General Gordon, shut up in Khartoum. The country had been in a state of excitement and impatience at the dilatory proceedings of Mr. Gladstone's government, and had shoAvn so many ominous signs of displea sure at the abandonment of this hero, after sending him on a dangerous and hopeless mission, that the government had been forced to do something, and were now sending out troops to Egypt. Sir Frederick Stephenson, who was com manding in that country, strongly urged upon the government to take the Suakim and Berber route, Avhich, besides being an easier and cheaper task, Avould have per manently opened out the Soudan, and finally led to its pacification ; but Lord Wolseley's idea of a Nile expedition prevailed, and iioav Ave Avere pouring into Egypt Canadian boatmen, Kroomen from the West Coast of Africa, and troops from England and India.

Lord Wolseley had determined to form a camel-corps composed of officers and men selected from most of the cavalry and Guards in England, and orders were now issued calling upon those Avho Avere se lected to prepare for immediate embarkation. Of course everyone Avished to go out and see some service, and there Avas a great deal of heart-burning amongst those Avho Avere left behind. For several days the absorbing topic amongst the officers of the — th Hussars Avas Avhich of them Avould be the lucky ones, and the morning that Colonel Lumsden received the orders there Avas a rush for the first neAvs. He soon put them out of suspense by telling them that Captain SAvinton's troop Avas the one selected, and that that officer and Jack Avere the lucky ones. Although many Avere bitterly dis appointed not to go out, yet one and all agreed that it Avas an excellent selection, and immediately congratulated and drank the health of the lucky fellows.

Jack's feelings Avere of a mixed kind. He had ahvays longed for active service, and had often bitterly lamented his luck at nothavingseen any; so that, under ordinary circumstances, he Avould have been in great joy at the neAvs. But iioav he had Violet to think of. Hoav Avould she take it, and Avhat Avould she do during his absence? She had no home and friends to go to as others had. It Avas very hard to part Avith her and to leave her quite alone, but there Avas no doubt he must do it. He hurried down the hill to Sandgate to break the neAvs to her. Of course they had been discussing the probabilities and chances of his being sent out to Egypt for some days, and Violet had thought over it a great deal, and had made up her mind how to act, should Jack be ordered out. She, Avhile feeling miserable in herself at the very idea of his going, Avas determined, if the fates so vsTilled it, that she Avould shoAv nothing of this to Jack, and that, in fact, even at the risk of being thought heartless, she Avould put a smiling face on Avhen the neAvs came.

As Jack entered the room, she saAV by his expression that Avhat they had been waiting for so anxiously had arrh'ed, and in an instant the play began on her part. It cost her the most bitter pangs. ' Jack dear, Avhy is it that you look so gloomy? Has the neAvs come, and are you to be left behind ?' ' My darling, it is just the contrary ; the neAvs has come, and it is you, darling, who are the one to be left behind ; so naturally I cannot feel cheery.' ' Oh, Jack, don't think of me, but of the glory you are going to bring on your name, and mine too. In t.AAro or three months, for I feel certain it Avill not last longer, you Avill come back as Captain or Brevet-Major Manders, covered Avith glory, and your father Avill be so proud of you he Avill forget and forgive all.' ' You unselfish little Avoman ; this is very fine, but all this time you do not think a moment about yourself.