Open! Sesame!

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[FRONTISPIECE.] ' I only want lo get uway somewhere, and forget, if 1 can, that all this 7ias ever bun. ' OPEN! SESAME! BY FLORENCE MARRYAT. A NEW EDITION. Eontiott: CHATTO AND WINDUS, PICCADILLY. 1876. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. 'Why bib you not tell heb of this before?' ... 1 II. 'I WILL NOT MARRY LORB VALENCE ' ... ... 9 III. ' Have I your permission to tell poor Staunton ? ' 20 IV. 'My bays are numbereb, Bulwer' ... ... 29 V. 'DO YOU UNBERSTANB ME?' ... ... ... 46 VI. 'Frienb, Charley — frienb!... ... ... 57 VII. 'DO I LOVE HOI, OR BO I NOT LOVE HIM?' ... 67 VIII. 'YOU BON'T KNOW OF WHOM YOU SPEAK' ... 76 IX. 'By Jove!' ... ... ... ... ... 87 X. 'You are not ill?' ... ... ... 101 XI. 'I SHALL WAIT, EvERIL ' ... ... ... IU XII. 'For my sake' ... ... ••■ ... 126 XIII. 'I BECIBE TO MARRY MY COUSIN' ... ... 140 XIV. 'Come, Mrs. West, let it be a bargain' ... 151 XV. 'We UNBERSTANB EACH OTHER PERFECTLY NOW' ... 159 XVI. ' IT HAS COME AT LAST ' ... ... ... 165 XVII.

The Earl's biary ... ... ... ... 178 XVIII. 'Do you suppose I believe m such nonsense?' 189 XIX. The Earl's biary ... ... ... ... 202 XX. 'Agatha! this is some of youb boing!' ... 214 XXI. 'Coulb you love so?' ... ... ... ... CONTENTS. VI

CHAPTER XXII.

Chapter I

' WHY DID YOU NOT TELL HEE OF THIS BEFORE ? ' ' She has no more heart than a stone ! ' says General Hawke. ' She has so much heart she doesn't know what to do with it,' replies Mr. Mildmay. 'What! when she despises onr counsels, laughs at our threats, and disobeys our orders ? ' ' How much of her heart do you suppose is concerned in these things ? She is very thoughtless, but she is generous. Take her iu one of her softened moods and appeal to her feelings, and you will find her as tractable as an infant.' ' Pooh ! but you were always on her side,' grumbles General Hawke. ' And you were always against her ! ' retorts Mr. Mildmay, with a dash of clerical warmth. The person of whom they are speaking is an heiress, and their mutual ward, Miss West-Norman, and the place in which they are speaking of her is the library at Norman House in Hertfordshire.

It is a soft, mild afternoon in April, and the windows ai'e open to the ground. Beyond them stretches a wide expanse of garden and park and pasture land, which yet forms but a small part of the property that has been intrusted to their charge. General Hawke steps out upon the window-sill, and B points angrily to the close-shaven lawn that lies beneath the terrace. 'Look at that, sir — look at that! would such a state of things have been permitted in the days when my old friend West was master here ? — never, and you know it ! ' Mr. Mildmay, who has followed him to the window, sees that the carefully-tended grass is ploughed up in fifty different directions, as though cattle had been trampling it all night. 'Dear, dear! this is a great pity! ' he says, in his quiet way ; ' the gardeners must be answerable for this.

Is it possible they can have let the cows in through the west gate ? ' ' Cows ! ' repeats the General, in a voice of supreme con tempt ; ' no cows are at fault here, sir. It's your ward, Mr. Mildmay — your ward ! ' Here let it be observed that whenever Miss West-Norman is convicted of an offence in the eyes of her guardians, she immediately becomes, in those of General Hawke, the ward of Mr. Mildmay. When her beauty is admired, her wit repeated, her courage extolled, the General is ready to stand sponsor for all her good points ; but directly she fails (and Miss West-Norman, alas ! fails very often), he hands over the responsibility to his companion in distress, who accepts it meekly, and stands up for his troublesome charge staunchly, though in rather a feeble and deprecating way. ' My ward ! ' he echoes, as General Hawke throws the last imputation at his head. ' Tes, sir, your ward !

When I arrived here this morning to consult you on the best steps to take with respect to Miss West-Norman's coming of age next month, the first visit I paid was to the stables. What did I see there ? — seven fine horses, and three lamed. Who lamed them? Miss West- Norman. How ? By jumping two of them over the sunk fence into the park, and throwing down the third in driving tandem. I come down to the lawn — I find it cut up as though a charge of cavalry had gone over it. Who did this ? Miss West-Norman. How ? In teaching her horses to jump. OT EN! SESAME! 3 It's outrageous, sir — a good piece of grass cut up and three horses lamed for a girl's tantrums. It's not to be stood ! ' ' But after all it is her own lawn, and they are her own horses,' remonstrates the other. ' Her own lawn ! No such thing, sir. Her own horses !

Not a bit of it. Nothing here is her own until she comes of age, and not then unless she complies with the conditions of her father's will. Tou should know that as well as I do.' ' True, General, but until that event occurs, the very handsome maintenance provided for her almost justifies ' ' Her robbing the property until it will not be worth the acceptance of another — I don't agree with you, sir. I strolled through the conservatories this morning — hardly a flower to be seen — all stripped off for some confounded nonsense up at the church ' ' I must beg you to remember, General ' ' Oh ! no offence to the cloth, my dear Mildmay — you've known me too long to think that — but this girl is altogether too impetuous, too unreasonable ; where another woman would pull one blossom she tears off twenty.' ' It is her nature, which is as open as her mind.

Everil is large-hearted, large-handed, large-souled. She has no fear of public opinion, therefore she is too free of speech — of action. She has no idea of doing a thing by halves, therefore she is extravagant, reckless, and defiant. But she has a noble nature, that will show itself some day when people least expect it, and bear her up under circumstances that would crush ordinary women to the ground.' ' Humph ! can't say I follow you. But Barrett tells me that the poultry-yard and the forcing-houses have been nearly emptied this winter for the poor.' ' It has been such a hard season, and we have had so much sickness,' murmurs the rector. ' But I did remonstrate with her about that as far as lay in my power.' ' As far as lay in your power ! Everything should lie in your power, sir, living on the spot as you do, if you only knew how to use it.

And yet you talk about finding her as tractable as an infant,' sneers the General. 'But there is another point I wish to discuss with you. Who is this Captain Staunton of whom I hear as a visitor to the house ? ' ' I can tell you nothing of him beyond his name. Everil met him at the assize ball, and subsequently he was introduced here by his sister, Lady Russell. He is an agreeable young fellow, and our ward appears to take pleasure in his so ciety. But I have already cautioned Miss Strong upon the subject.' ' Tou have already cautioned Miss Strong ! There is need, then, of caution. Is Staunton here often ? ' ' Prom what I can gather, he is — but not more so, perhaps, than other people — there is always company coming or going at Norman House.' ' There should be no company here at all, sir. What can a girl like that want with company ?

Hasn't she got Miss Strong ? This is the way the bills are run up, until one would think one was catering for a hotel rather than a private house. It is your duty to forbid all such folly, Mildmay.' ' Oh ! if you are going to lay such a task upon me, I resign my office,' replies Mr. Mildmay. ' Miss West-Norman is no longer a child ; she will be twenty-one next month ; and she has — well ! a will of her own. We are on the best terms at present, and I prefer not to meddle with her household arrangements.' ' Let it be, then. A month, more or less, of extravagance cannot make much difference in the end. And her cousin, the Earl, will be setting things to rights before long.' ' Have you seen him lately ? ' ' I was at Castle Valence last week. My visit to him was the occasion of my requesting you to meet me here to-day.' ' How is his health ? ' ' Humph ! he looks much the same as usual, very pale, very thin, and very abstracted.

I never saw such a strange look as there is in that man's eyes. And though he perfectly under stands the conditions of his uncle's will, I could hardly arrest his attention sufficiently to make him agree to them.' ' He does agree to them, then ? ' ' Certainly — if the lady will follow suit ; and of that there is no doubt. She has known for the last five or six years that it was her father's wish she should marry her cousin.' ' But she has never heard that in the event of non compliance she loses her fortune.' ' There was no need she should. That will only form one more incentive to her doing what is best for her. The girl would be mad to throw away such a chance.' ' General, I don't feel quite easy about this matter. Everil is so high-spirited, so determined, so — what you would call — mad, that if she thought with the retention of her fortune she lost even the least bit of her own honour, she would cast it all to the winds, and consider there was something grand in going through the world a pauper.' ' But how could that be ? ' ' If she had given encouragement to another, for instance, fostered hopes — expectations ' * Has there been any confounded love-making going on between her and this fellow Staunton ? ' cries the General, abruptly. ' Not that I know of, General.

I should have been the first to let you hear of it if there had. But who is to account for all the vagaries of a young girl's heart ? And I am so much employed in my parish — I wish you'd speak to Miss Strong about it.' The General nearly pulls the Library bell down. ' Tell Miss Strong that I desire to see her for a moment.' ' Tes, sir,' and in a few minutes she appears. She is not at all like the stereotyped dragon in appearance, but a smiling, comfortable, and yet vigilant-looking woman, whose whole bearing seems to say that if the world has gone well with her, it is because she has grasped her nettle and defied the poisonous thing to sting. ' General Hawke and I have been talking of our ward, Miss Strong. We are anxious, if possible, to ascertain her feeling with respect to her betrothal to the Earl of Valence.

She attains her majority, as you know, next month, when the question of her marriage to him must be settled. Tou are in her confidence. Tou can assure us, no doubt, that there is no existing obstacle to the fulfilment of her father's wishes.' ' None that Miss West-Norman has done me the honour to confide to me, sir,' replies Miss Strong, as she ensconces herself in an arm-chair between the two guardians. ' But that won't do, madam,' commences the General, roughly ; ' we must have more than that. Does anybody ever come to the house, or has Miss West-Norman met any one out of doors that is at all likely to have taken her fancy, and make her obstinate about this business ? ' ' 0 ! now, General ! you really set me too hard a task. Tou will require a list of all the gentlemen your ward has spoken to whilst under my charge next.

Mr. Mildmay knows the names of the visitors to Norman House as well as I do.' ' She talks a great deal of this Captain Staunton,' remarks the rector, thoughtfully. Miss Strong purses up her mouth and smooths down the folds of her silk dress. ' I do not consider myself in the least responsible for Cap tain Staunton's visits here. His sister, Lady Russell, is the intimate friend of Mrs. West, and she brought her brother here with Mrs. West's approbation — whilst Mrs. West was staying in the house — ostensibly for Mrs. West's gratification, and he has continued to come here on the same terms.' It is evident that Maurice Staunton is no favourite with Miss Strong. 'Is Mrs. West staying here now?' demands General Hawke. ' Tes, General ; and as she is Lord Valence's sister-in-law, and perfectly aware of the engagement existing between his cousin and himself, I considered that, whilst her chaperona^e was extended to Miss West-Norman, mine was uncalled-for.

Not that I should, at any time, I hope, relax in my vi°-ilanco over the interests of your ward, but it was not my part to gainsay any of Mrs. West's wishes, nor object to the visitors who might call upon her.' ' Of course not. I perfectly understand your position, Miss Strong ; and Miss West-Norman is naturally safe under the care of her cousin. Tou think, then, that she will find no difficulty in ratifying her engagement with the Earl ? ' ' I have never heard her say otherwise, sir.' ' She speaks of him in a cordial, friendly manner — as a young girl might speak of her future husband ? ' ' I have never heard her mention him at all, sir.' ' Humph ! that's strange. I don't seem to see my way through this. Do you know the conditions of the will, madam ? ' ' I know nothing but what you and Mr. Mildmay have been pleased to tell me, General.' ' This young lady's father has left the bulk of his fortune to her on condition that she marries Lord Valence ; and if she refuses to do so, she'll be little better than a pauper.

And now, perhaps, you'll understand why we are so anxious to ascertain that she won't turn rusty at the last moment : for she's a difficult creature to deal with, madam. The sight of that lawn is perfectly disgraceful.' ' And she'll lose her fortune and all her property if she breaks her engagement ? ' cries Miss Strong, clasping her hands. ' 0 ! Mr. Mildmay ! why didn't you tell her of this before ? ' ' Should we have done so ? Surely there is no danger ? ' ' Confound it, madam ! she's not engaged herself to some one else ? ' ' Oh, no ! no ! but she is so impulsive, so self-willed — and then there's no knowing. The risk should have been put before her from the first.' ' Miss Strong ! if you're keeping anything from us ' ' But I'm not keeping back anything, Mr. Mildmay ; only you know her as well as I do.

The earl has never shown her any of the attentions of a lover ; and the very fact of a condition being attached to her engagement would be the very thing to make her break it. Just to show her strength, you know. We never could oppose her, even from a baby ; oppo sition always made her frantic' ' I am afraid we have let her have her own way a little too much,' says Mr. Mildmay, musingly. ' Let her have her own way ! — you've ruined her com pletely ! ' storms the General. ' And to think she should be the daughter of my old friend West — as fine a soldier as ever stepped ; brave as a lion ; submissive, under orders, as a lamb ! He knew what discipline was, and he followed it. I wonder what he would have said to hear you talking of his daughter in the way you do ! He would never have permitted such a state of things.' ' But how could he have helped it, General, with her spirit ? ' ' He would have thrashed her, madam !

He would have tied her up and given her six dozen, till her spirit came out of her ! But what's the use of argument ? We must get on to business. We thank you for your courtesy, Miss Strong. We will detain you no longer.' ' I care for nobody, no, not I, And nobody cares for me,' rings out a clear, fresh young voice upon the terrace. ' Barrett, what are you chopping up that grass for ? ' ' I'm goin to lay down fresh turf, miss ; the 'orses 'oofs ave 'acked about the lawn so.' ' Tou must do nothing of the sort. I shall have them out again directly they're fit for it. Do you suppose I'm going to let a couple of horses master me ? ' ' But the General gave orders, miss ' * A fig for the General ! I'm mistress here. By the way, Barrett, why was not that sea-kale sent down to the Jenkinses yesterday ? ' ' Well, miss, I know as 'twas ordered to be sent ; but when I came to look at it, what with cutting here and cuttinc there and the cartload as went over to the hospital last week, there wasn't above a few heads left for our own table • so I thought ' ' What is that to me ? ' imperiously. ' When I give an order, Barrett, I'll thank you to obey it.

And if there are not sufficient vegetables, buy them ! ' ' What ! go to market, miss, with all these gardens and pits and forcing-houses ? It seems a regular sin.' ' Well, then, make them yield more. I must have enough for my friends as well as myself ; and if they are not to be grown, they must be bought.' The three within the library have drawn nearer to the open window to listen to this conversation, which elicits more dis approval from General Hawke. 'Hear the way she talks ! As though gold were to be coined for the asking ! And then tell me that girl will, under any circumstances, prefer poverty to riches ! ' ' But you will tell her what you have just told me,' says Miss Strong, imploringly. 'It is a contingency that I am sure she has never dreamed of, and it might make a difference in her conduct — her feelings.' ' Mr. Mildmay and I will consult together on the subject, and decide what is best to be done, madam.' And the lady takes the hint, and leaves them to themselves.

Chapter II

'I WILL NOT HABBY LOED VALENCE.' As the door closes behind her, the two guardians turn to confront each other. ' Well, Mildmay ! ' 'Well, General!' ' Shall we tell the girl, or shall we not ? ' ' I see no reason against it : it is not forbidden by the conditions of her father's will.' ' The will itself is silent on the subject ; but in a private letter of instructions written for myself, West expresses a wish that his daughter shall be informed of his intentions on hor twenty-first birthday. Now, as Miss West-Norman will come of age next month ' ' But if there is danger in delay ' ' Pooh ! what harm can happen to her in a month ? ' ' Ah, General ! it's very evident you've not made a study of young women's hearts.' 'I thank the Lord, sir, that I've had no time for such rubbish. I've been better employed in looking after my soldier's drill.

But if you think it possible a month can make any difference to this girl's feelings, have her in, and I'll speak to her at once. I'm not afraid of her, sir ! — I'm not afraid of her ! ' And the General buttons up his coat, and slaps his chest, and takes a walk across the room, and looks the very personi fication of bravery. ' Everil ! ' pipes Mr. Mildmay from the open window. 'Are you here, Guardy? I was going to run across to the rectory to speak to you. I've just dismissed that new stableboy you thought so much of, Jacob Hollis.' ' Why, what has he done, my dear ? ' ' Struck the old watchdog across the head in passing, out of sheer mahce, when he was chained up, too, and couldn't retaliate. The cowardly brute ! I sent him off then and there. The coachman's in a rage about it ; says we're short of hands ; but I don't care.

Holloa, General ! ' peeping into the room ; ' where did you spring from ? ' ' I slept in Hertford last night, Miss West-Norman, and as I had business on which to consult your guardian, Mr. Mildmay, I sent over a note this morning, to beg him to meet me here. I hope I see you well ? ' ' I believe so ! ' she answers laughingly, as she enters the room and stands before him. She may well believe so, for she is the very personification of health. She is a tall girl, with dark blue eyes and bronze coloured hair, taken back plainly and twisted up in a great knot on the top of her head. She has just come in from riding, and the hat and habit suit her arch face and pliant figure admirably. There is more piquancy than perfection in her features — more energy than softness in her expression. We see before us a woman very impulsive and very strong willed — therefore apt to act hastily and keep to her resolution, even after she repents of it — but warm-hearted to a degree, though General Hawke will not allow it. ' Tou don't look ill,' he says, gruffly, as he shakes her by the hand. ' And what is all this fuss about the stableboy ? ' ' Just what I said, General !

I'll keep no one in my service who treats a defenceless animal with unkindness.' ' Hoity toity ! And what do you call laming three of your best horses, then ? ' ' Oh, that was sheer accident ! Tou don't suppose I'd do it on purpose, do you ? The grey was obstinate, very obstinate indeed ! He can take a jump double the height of that fence, but nothing would induce him even to look at it. He strained himself in swerving. As for the mare, she just rose short of it, and tumbled over into the park. It was a wonder she didn't break my neck.' ' And the chestnut, Miss West-Norman — the chestnut ? ' ' Ha ! ha ! ha ! That was fun ! I wish you had been with us. Alice Mildmay and I had a fancy to drive him and the roan tandem ' ' Tour daughter, I believe, Mildmay ! ' interposes General Hawke with a frown. ' Tes, yes ; Miss West-Norman is very kind in having AUce a great deal here ' 'Nonsense, Guardy! she's my dearest friend; besides, don't interrupt !

Well, to tell you the truth, General, but — now, mind, this is an awful secret — I had a bet on with Captain Staunton about it. He said that he didn't believe any one could drive tandem the first time without coming to grief, and I bet him twelve dozen pair of gloves that I'd drive them down to Coombe Wood and round by Rockingham Corner, you know, and bring them home in safety.' ' Twelve dozen pair of gloves ! ' echoes the General, ' and where is the money to come from ? ' 'Bother the money, General! Listen to the end of my story. I took them through the village and tho wood and round the corner in the most beautiful style — you should have seen them. There was I, perched up on the driver's seat with Alice beside me, and ' ' Pooh ! pooh ! pooh ! my dear ! Who won — who won ? ' ' How rude you are !

I did, of course. I never lamed him till we were inside the stableyard again, and I shouldn't have done it then if I hadn't touched him up at the last moment and made him stumble on the wet stones. Oh ! it was glorious ! I'm sorry I lamed him, poor brute. I'll have him out again the very moment that he's well.' ' And pray has this Captain Staunton — whose name is not at all familiar to me — paid his bet, Miss West-Norman ? ' At this she colours slightly. ' No ! and I don't wish him to do so. I wouldn't allow it. I won, that's enough for me.' ' And more than enough, apparently, for the chestnut. Do you ever consider that these freaks cost money ? ' 'Never ! I hate the name of money. Besides, I've more than I know what to do with.' ' I am not so sure of that. Toung ladies are usually ignorant upon the subject.

Tour guardian and I wished to have a httle conversation with you now upon this matter.' 'Tou can spare us a few minutes' attention, my dear Everil, can you not ? ' says Mr. Mildmay, nervously. 'What! now, Guardy — on such a beautiful afternoon? Oh, this is tyrannous of you. Can't we put it off till after dinner ? Tou will stay and dine with us, General Hawke ? ' 'I'm afraid I cannot. I must be in town to-night. I have not seen my home, Miss West-Norman, for more than a week. Last Thursday I was at Castle Valence.' 'Were you? Cousin Agatha is staying here now, you know. And how is my poor cousin Valence — still wrapped up in his musty old books ? I pity that man ! He doesn't know what life is.' At this remark the guardians exchange looks. ' It will be your part, my dear,' remarks the rector, timidly, ' to wean him from his studies and show him how agreeable a thing life may be.' ' Mine, Guardy ?

Oh, dear ! I hope not.' ' But you cannot profess to be ignorant that it was your father's desire that as soon as you came of age an alliance should be consummated between you and the Earl of Valence ' says General Hawke, pompously. ' I know that my father wished it, General, and that he hoped I should wish it too. But I don't. On the contrary, I should very much dislike it. Which means I wouldn't do it to save my hfe.' ' But, my dear ! my dear ! ' says Mr. Mildmay, in a tone of alarm ; ' you have never given the subject a moment's con sideration.' ' How do you know that, Guardy ? Now, as it happens, I have given it a great many moments. And the more I think of it the less I feel that it will be ! I can't marry my cousin, and I won't.' ' And pray what are your objections to the proposal ? ' demands the General ; ' this is a more important matter than perhaps you think for, Miss West-Norman, and I advise you to be guarded in your answers.' ' What could be more important to me than my own happiness ?

Four years ago Mr. Mildmay told me there was a question of my marrying my cousin, after which I began naturally to look upon him in the light of a possible husband. And the more I look the less I like it. He shuts himself up all the year round in that dreary old castle of his in Ireland, caring for nothing, as cousin Agatha says, but his books, and his science, and his drugs — ' and — his own beautiful self, I daresay she would have added if she had dared — ' and when we have met, which has been perhaps a dozen times, he has never paid me the slightest attention in the world. That's not my idea of a husband.' ' Gentlemen are not in the habit of paying attention to ladies unless they see it will be agreeable to them. Perhaps you have never given the Earl any encouragement ? ' ' Any encouragement !