Throstlethwaite

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THROSTLETHWAITE. NEW NOVELS AT THE LIBRARIES, LISETTE'S VENTURE. By Mrs. RUSSELL GRAY. 2 Vols. "Lisette's Venture is full of beautiful applied morality."— Academy. " The story is a very pretty one throughout, with many touches of real excellence. " — Graphic. "A capital story." —Court Journal. " It is a bright lirely little story'-" — Guardian. HEALEY : A ROMANCE. By Miss JESSIE FOTHERGILL. 3 vols., crown 8vo. HENRY S. KING & CO. THROSTLETHWAITE. BY SUSAN MORLEY, AUTHOP OF "AILEEN FERRERS." IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. Henry S. King & Co., London. 1875- All Rights Reserved. THROSTLETHWAITE.

Chapter I

" There is your letter, Agatha," said Colonel Kennedy one morning early in, the following week, entering the draAving-room, where his wife happened at the moment to be alone. " A pleasant, tempting plan, is it not ?" said Agatha, as she took back the letter. " More tempting than feasible," was her husband's reply. " It is quite out of the question." The letter was from Sir Everard Kennedy to Agatha. He had lately taken a house in VOL. II. i THROSTLETHWAITE. London, and noAV wrote to ask if she and Nigel would not come up to him for a few weeks, and then join him in a trip abroad. He was ordered to Homburg, for a course of the waters there, and thought of going on to the Engadine afterwards. He proposed that his nephew and niece should be his guests in London for five or six weeks from the begin ning of June, and that afterwards they should all go abroad together.

He was aAvare that the children might be a difficulty, but hoped that Agatha Avould be able to leave them for the summer Avith her mother. Agatha liked the idea of the variety and amusement, and before she passed on the letter to her husband had fully made up her mind to go. She would not have left her children on any account, except in her mother's care, but they could stay at Monks holme perfectly well. She knew that Colonel Kennedy would not hear of her asking such THROSTLETHWAITE. 3 a favour, and Avould decidedly assume that going Avas impossible ; but she had arranged her plans in her own mind quite to her satis faction, and had no doubt of carrying her point in the end. " I Avas afraid you might think so," she said quietly. " Not that papa and mamma Avould not be delighted to have the children for any length of time."

" I don't doubt that they Avould have them, if you asked it," replied Colonel Kennedy. " But I don't choose to ask any one to be plagued with all our children and their nurses for two or three months, while we are aAvay amusing ourselves. You Avould not be satisfied, any more than I should, to leave them in lodgings with only the servants; and, in deed, if we did send them to the sea any- Avhere in that way, this foreign expedition Avould be more expensive than would be wise, when we don't know how many months i — THROSTLETHWAITE. 4 may pass before I have another appointment." " Of course, it wouldn't do to be impru dent," said Agatha, who was always perfectly sensible and reasonable. "It would have been very pleasant ; but if Ave can't manage it, there is no use in thinking about it." " I must be in London for a week or two," said Colonel Kennedy.

" There are several things which I must do, — going to a Levee among them — and it Avould be just as well, perhaps, for you to go to a Drawing-room ; so I think we had better accept my uncle's invitation for a fortnight. I should not hesi tate to ask your mother to let the children remain here for that time, and then we must look out for some place to go to for the summer." " And don't you think we might take Ruth with us ? Sir Everard would like nothing better ; he delights in a young lady, THROSTLETHWAITE. 5 you know, and I know there is a room she could have. It Avould be such a great thing to get her away from here, now, you see ! I am sure mamma Avould be thankful — and the longer she stayed Avith us the better." " The better for us, certainly," replied Colonel Kennedy. " Whether she may wish to go is another question."

" Oh ! mamma will settle that," answered Agatha. " It is all made so awkward by this wonderful crotchet of Mrs. L'Estrange's. Of course, now, there is no certainty as to what Leonard's position may be, and the only thing to do is to get him out of Ruth's head if possible." Mrs. Charteris came in at this moment, and Agatha turned to her. " We were talking about Ruth, mamma. Nigel says that we must go to London, to Sir Everard, for two or three weeks in June. But after that we shall of course settle our- THROSTLETHWAITE. selves somewhere for the summer, and I was saying that I wish you [would let us take Ruth away for a good while, and try to put Leonard out of her head." " I should be most thankful if you Avould, my dear," replied Mrs. Charteris. " There is nothing like change and amusement.

Here she would see him constantly ; and not many people besides, at this time of year." " I am quite sure that my uncle will be delighted to receive Agatha's sister," said Colonel Kennedy ; " and the longer you will spare her to us afterwards, Avherever we may go, the better pleased Ave shall be, as long as she is happy with us." " You are very kind, and if you would really not mind having her " " Mind ? Mamma !" cried Agatha. " It would be odd if Ave did ! She is a charming companion for me, as good as a governess for Ethel, and quite a secretary to Nigel !" THROSTLETHWAITE. 7 " But I thought I heard you saying some thing to Ruth, at breakfast, of a plan for going abroad with Sir Everard ?" said Mrs. Charteris. "Oh !" Agatha ansAvered ; "he asks us to go with him to Homburg first, and then to the Engadine — but we can't quite manage that.

There are the children to consider, and expense, and all sorts of things — and we are wise and prudent domestic characters ! Or else, if we had been going, and papa Avould have let Ruth go too, that Avould have been reallyr a capital thing for her— would it not ?" Agatha's manner was as innocent and un conscious as possible ; but Colonel Kennedy recognized with considerable annoyance that her ready acquiescence had meant, as usual, very little, and that she was now manœu vring most skilfully to secure having her own way. THROSTLETHWAITE. " But, my dear, Avhy cannot you go ?" said Mrs. Charteris, before her son-in-laAv could speak. " Surely you could trust the children to me ? Where could they be better than here ? And if you leave them here it will not cost you more to go abroad than it would do if you all Avent to the sea."

" No," replied Agatha; "but Nigel thought He settles the plans, so you must ask him about it !" "Was it any scruple about leaving the children here, Nigel ?" asked Mrs. Charteris at once. " Because, if it was, there was never anything more absurd ! They will be only a pleasure ; and even if they were a charge, I should think nothing of it, if you will kindly take Ruth abroad with you ! Nothing could be so invaluable a service to us, just at this moment. It would be the greatest relief, for all this is terribly awk ward for her, and bad for her health and THROSTLETHWAITE. 9 spirits. She has neA'er been abroad at all, and Avould enjoy it extremely, of course ; and I am quite sure that Mr. Charteris will con sent at once to her going, if you will take her. It will be the greatest kindness." Colonel Kennedy could give no possible reason for refusing to do Avhat everyone seemed to Avish, and Avhat was also pleasant to himself.

He could only thank Mrs. Char teris for her hospitality to his children, and assure her that he should thoroughly enjoy taking charge of Ruth. He could also put aside any scruples as to their taking her Avith them to his uncle's, who he said always Avished to give Agatha every possible pleasure, and liked nothing so well as having young people to take about Avith him. Mrs. Charteris went away to speak to her husband about it at once, in order that Agatha might answer Sir Everard's letter THROSTLETHWAITE. 10 by return of post, as she said she ought to do. Colonel Kennedy was following her from the room, when Agatha called him back, and coming up to him said, Avith a mischievous smile, — " Now, Nigel, thank me for managing that delicate business so successfully !" He could not help laughing at her, though he tried to say, reprovingly, — " You know, Agatha, I always dislike to see you lower yourself by petty manœu vring, and Avhen I told you that I did not Avish to have any such favour asked, I meant it."

Agatha raised her hands and eyes in bur lesque despair. "Was there ever such unreasonable in gratitude ? I know you told me not to ask a favour, and a most unnecessary injunction it was, for it is a thing I never do by any chance ! It is much the best policy to confer THROSTLE THWA ITE. 11 them, and generally it only depends on putting the same thing in a different Avay. We are going abroad with Sir Everard, because he Avill like it so much better if we do, that we even make up our minds to leave our children ! We are going, also, because it will be so good for Ruth, and such a relief to mamma — and virtue, as we all knoAv, is its own reward !" " Nevertheless, Agatha, I like straight roads best," replied her husband. Agatha laughed. " But there wasn't a straight road in this case, you see !

You said I was not to ask, and as I always do as I am bid, I didn't ask. Mamma offered it all, you must admit ; and, after all, you know you like the plan much better than going to the sea, as we should otherwise have done." " I know you are incorrigible !" he answered with a laugh. " And it is of no use to scold THROSTLETHWAITE. 12 you. Seriously, though, what is the real question about Ruth ?" " That is just the point !" replied Agatha. " There isn't any question at all, or it would not be so troublesome a matter ! One thing I have made up my mind about — Ethel shall have no boy friends of that sort ; — but as to Ruth — well, of course, no one can doubt that she and Leonard Barrington look upon them selves as engaged to each other, and that is very provoking. Nobody can interfere, be cause nothing has ever been said about it.

Mamma let it go on all last winter, because she hadn't a doubt that he would succeed to Throstlethwaite, and Mrs. L'Estrange is so fond of Ruth that then there would have been no difficulty at all. I don't blame Leonard ; of course he expected it, and very reasonably, and it was only common prudence to wait to speak out till the time came. Ruth must have understood that, and cer- THROSTLETHWAITE. 13 tainly mamma did, but this crotchet of Mrs. L'Estrange's makes it all horribly awkward. It leaves Leonard absolutely at the mercy of her caprices, and if he does not contrive to satisfy her completely, for three whole years, she may very likely never give him the property at all ! This being the case, it is out of the question to let anything go on between him and Ruth, and yet there is nothing to stop !

It is all such nonsense, too. Leonard is very pleasant and gentlemanly, and quite as fit for the position as most eldest sons, and the only effect of Mrs. L'Estrange's set ting up a high standard and insisting on his reaching it will probably be to teach him to deceive her. It is offering a premium on hypocrisy !" " She probably has good reasons, of which we know nothing," replied Colonel Kennedy, " for she is a sensible Avoman, and both just and generous. I am sorry for Ruth. Three THROSTLETHWAITE. 14 years of waiting and doubt will be very trying to her." " Oh, absurd !" Agatha rejoined. ' To wait all that time, and then find nothing come of it, would not do at all. She could never marry Leonard without Throstle thwaite ; and that is now such an uncertainty, that we must do all we can to put the idea out of her head at once.

If she moons on for three years about Leonard, and then Mrs. L'Estrange throws him over, perhaps without much reason, she is just the sort of girl to think it all the more necessary to stick by him. Here she would see him constantly, and keep it up, but if we take her away and amuse her, there will be some chance of her forgetting him and giving it up entirely. She ought to marry well. Mamma says that Douglas Allonby admires her very much. We are sure to see plenty of him in London. That would really be a better match for her THROSTLETHWAITE. 15 than Leonard, even with ThrostlethAvaite, and Nethercroft is safely entailed." " Change and amusement will be good for Ruth, undoubtedly," replied Colonel Ken nedy, " and it is as Avell that she should have more knowledge of the world before being finally pledged to any one.

By all means let her see people and judge for her self ; but remember, Agatha, I will not have her tormented. I have not seen much of Leonard Barrington, and have no right to judge him, but, with or Avithout Throstle thwaite, I don't fancy he is really good enough for her. Still, it is for her to decide for her self, and she may be trusted to know what is for her own happiness. If Leonard is really the right man for her, she will not give him up because he may happen to be poor." " No! That is the provoking part of it! She is romantic and wilful, and if he satisfied her standard, she would not mind what Mrs. THROSTLETHWA ITE. 16 L'Estrange decided ; so the only thing to be done is to keep her out of his way, and do all we can to get her safely married to some one else in the meantime." " Give her the chance, by all means, but don't attempt to influence her.

Her vieAvs of life and yours are widely different, and if you did persuade her into anything against her OAvn judgment, you might make her wretched, for she is not gifted Avith the poAver of taking things easily." " Such a pity ! Is it not ?" said his wife. " But I never went in for vieAvs of life, Nigel, so you need not be afraid, Women with views are ahvay^s a nuisance, and do quan tities of mischief by trying to put the Avorld to rights. If Mrs. L'Estrange had only been content to take things as they came and just make the best of them, like an ordinary mortal, what a blessing it Avould have been ! But she will try to play the part of Providence, THROSTLETHWAITE. 17 and, of course, she'll only make a mess of it in the end, as people with high-floAvn ideas always do." Colonel Kennedy did not answer.

It was of no use to argue with Agatha on such points, and he merely made up his own mind to protect Ruth from the annoyances which might easily arise from the difference betAveen her ways of thinking and feeling and her sister's. When the plan was made knoAvn to Ruth, she entered into it readily and gratefully. She thought it very kind of the Kennedys to wish to have her with them, and very kind of her father to let her go. She was not blind by any means ; she was perfectly aware of her mother's reason for arranging such a long absence from home for her, and resented it ; but in a pleasant form the change would come, though she knew that in some Avays her going away would be a great loss both to 2 VOL. IL THROSTLETHWAITE. Mrs. L'Estrange and Leonard, in others she felt that it would be a gain.

Mrs. L'Estrange would be thrown more completely upon Leonard for companionship and sympathy, Avhich would be the greatest advantage to him ; and he would be more likely to make an effort to give her his confidence and consult her, when he had no chance of talking things over Avith Ruth herself. She was glad to go, for many reasons, on her own account. She felt that the change and amusement Avould help her to shake off the sense of disappointment and anxiety by which she could not help feeling herself rather overpowered, while so long an absence Avould naturally make it easier to meet Leon ard again on the same footing as formerly, and would remove the. painful consciousness of having a secret understanding with him. If she had remained at home, he would have constantly tried to make opportunities for THROS TLE TH WA ITE. 19 showing her anything he might Avrite, and for discussing his plans Avith her in a tone Avhich she could not check Avithout quarrelling Avith him, for she kneAv that he Avould not bear it, and Avhich yet she felt herself to blame for encouraging.

During the fortnight Avhich passed before she left home, she scarcely saAv him. On the first Sunday, the day after her OAvn return from ThrostletliAvaite, he had been entirely occupied in helping Mrs. L'Estrange to en tertain Mr. Wodehouse, and had been unable to come to Monksholme, though he had managed to give her a packet of manuscripts when they all met after church. He had contriA^ed to enclose it Avith a note in a parcel of books, knoAving that this would excite no remark, and remembering the success of the same device once before. He asked her to return the papers to him by the post to Edenford, with comments, thus securing, as 2 — THROSTLETHWAITE. 20 he thought, the beginning of a regular corre spondence. Ruth returned the papers as she was desired, and said all she had to say ; but she had a strong sense of honour — she in timated firmly enough that she would not do it again, and Leonard kneAv that it would be useless to try to persuade her.

He was fully occupied too in other ways, for the inspection of Mr. Wodehouse had ended in nothing. Mrs. L'Estrange considered him too young and inexperienced, too much the mere fashionable young man Avanting something to do, while he took fright at her serious vieAV of his duties. The question of Kester's Hill settled the matter, and Mr. Wodehouse disappeared. Mrs. L'Estrange gave Leonard a good deal of writing and other Avork to do for her, which for the present filled his leisure hours to the exclusion of ambitious attempts at literature ; but these were only postponed until the dis- THROSTLETHWAITE. 21 covery of a suitable agent should set him free again. Ruth had only one talk Avith him before she left home. She Avent with Colonel Kennedy on the last Sunday afternoon to Throstlethwaite, to say good-bye to Mrs. L'Estrange, and found Leonard there.

She took the opportunity to urge him to tell his schemes to his aunt, and to let her help and advise him. Her opinion would be valuable, and the confidence would give her pleasure. " I'll try to have courage," Leonard said. " I knoAv you are right ; but she is rather formidable, you must admit. I may get very admirable criticism if I screw up my nerves to ask for it, but it won't be at all inspiring, w as yours is. " It will be much more really useful to you," answered Ruth, trying to speak in differently. She had walked over to Throstlethwaite THROSTLETHWAITE. 22 with her brother-in-law by the fields, and Mrs. L'Estrange and Leonard were walking a little way back with them. Leonard stopped to fasten a gate, and was long enough about it to allow his aunt and Colonel Kennedy to increase the distance betAveen them and himself and Ruth.

Then he said, quickly, — " Ruth, my evil forebodings from Agatha's return are coming true ! I told you I dreaded her influence against me and in favour of " " Oh, don't !" exclaimed Ruth ; and her voice showed that she was hurt. " How can I help it ?" persisted Leonard. " She is carrying you off to London, and you will have Allonby Avith you for ever, I know ; and she will urge upon you that he has everything to offer, and that you are free to accept " Mrs. L'Estrange had stopped, intending THROSTLETHWAITE. 23 to go no further, and a few steps more must bring them within hearing. Ruth spoke quickly, — ■ " Why will you torment yourself and me so needlessly ? If you cannot trust me, hoAV are we to bear all these years before us ?" " I do trust you," he replied quickly, almost in a whisper. " I will try not to think about it — but it is very hard !"

They had joined the others, and no more words Avere possible. A feAv minutes were spent in leave-taking, and then, while Mrs. L'Estrange and Leonard turned back to- AA^ards Throstlethwaite, Ruth and Colonel Kennedy walked on homewards. He saw that she looked white and tired and unhappy. " She cares more for that fellow than he is worth," Avas his silent comment. " I am glad we are taking her out of his reach." Ruth was altogether wretchedly uncom- THROSTLETHWAITE. fortable. She felt that Leonard was unjust and ungenerous in doubting her, and incon siderate in thus forcing from her acknow ledgments Avhich she ought not to give un less he Avould openly avow the understanding between them and take the consequences. She Avas, however, more hurt than indignant, for she believed that he really could not help having these foolish, jealous fancies, and taking any means that he could think of to quiet them. She excused him and she pitied him, but she felt that what he had said would haunt her, and must tend greatly to destroy her pleasure.

Chapter II

The Kennedys and Ruth left Monksholme early in June, and were to be aAvay for at least three months. Ruth had never hitherto been out of England, nor had she ever had any real glimpse of life in London, and her friends not unnaturally hoped that the novelty and excitement might put all sentimental dreams out of her head. Mr. Charteris, who hated London and hated travelling, always excused himself from ever leaving home (except for short visits to old friends and relatives in their country houses, which he heartily enjoyed) by the THROSTLETHWAITE. unansAverable argument that he could not afford it. His fortune was handsome, but it Avas not more than sufficient to keep up Monksholme as he chose that it should be kept up, and to meet the inevitably heavy expenses of educating his five sons and start ing them in the Avorld.

Ruth could not, however, be said to have suffered from any want of society; for her parents were sociable and hospitable, and took their part fully in all county gaieties ; but her knoAvledge of the world had hitherto been gained exclu sively from having guests to entertain at home, and being entertained in their houses in return, and thus there had been little variety in her experience of life. She knew London only from occasional visits of a Aveek or tAvo at a time to friends or relatives, from Avhich she had invariably carried away an impression of confusion and fatigue quite overpowering enjoyment. Ex- THROSTLETHWAITE. 27 hibitions, concerts, plays and operas, were amusing, no doubt, but too many in one Aveek were beAvildering ; and what she had seen of society seemed to her simply intolerable.

She would have liked to meet (even if it had been merely to see them) really distinguished people, with names which she knew and reverenced ; but none such came in her way, for the friends Avith whom she stayed were all in the same sphere of Avell-born, affluent, semi-fashionable mediocrity, and the few parties at Avhiqh she had accidentally been present had appeared to her in no Avay en joyable. Accustomed to the country house form of society, where rooms were large and num bers feAv, she thought the crowd and noise and glare intolerable, and Avondered how any one could find pleasure under such circumstances. To stand for an hour in a room so full that breathing and moving were almost THROSTLETHWAITE. equally impossible, and in the midst of such a Babel of sound that she must speak at the highest pitch of her voice if she hoped to be heard, even by the person nearest to her, was simply a penance ; for even when she met people Avhom she had known and liked in the country, they seemed to her to have lost all their pleasantness in the fuss of their London engagements.

This year, however, she fully expected to enjoy herself much more, for six weeks must allow of more leisure for comfortable, rational sight-seeing, and it Avas impossible to imagine either Agatha or Colonel Kennedy encouraging a perpetual state of rush and whirl, whether of business or pleasure. Both in their different ways Avere so kind and pleasant that Ruth could not doubt that she should be happy with them, and she Avas not disappointed. Her expectations of pleasure were founded chiefly on the prospect THROSTLETHWAITE. 29 of Germany and Switzerland later in the summer, but she discovered to her surprise that it might be possible to enjoy London very much, even in the height of the season, for in Sir Everard Kennedy's house she was in a different atmosphere from any in Avhich she had ever been before.

He was a remarkable man, Avho had spent a long life in hard work, and of late years had held high official positions, and he numbered among his friends and acquain tances many people really worth knowing. He was now in rather bad health and could not go much into society, but as soon as he once more had Agatha to arrange it ail for him, he liked to receive his friends at his OAvn house two or three times a week. These parties Avere a totally neAV experience to Ruth, while even the ordinary routine of receptions and balls, through which she Avent with Agatha, ceased to be wearisome as she THROSTLETHWAITE. 30 knew more people, and those of a more in teresting kind. There was a life and movement, an eager ness of interest in questions of real impor tance, and a variety in the views of those questions, which amused and excited her in this, her first glimpse of political and pro fessional life at its centre ; and she ay as not as speedily disenchanted as she might have been, for she heard little of the small per sonalities Avhich play so large a part in even the real work of the world, because neither Sir E\rerard nor Colonel Kennedy ever en couraged gossip of any kind, while Agatha's laughing sketches of people and things were so obviously caricatures as to make little impression upon her.

Ruth was happy and bright, but Avhile Agatha hoped and believed that amusement and admiration were duly doing their work, and driving away all sentimental dreams of THROSTLETHWAITE. 31 patient constancy, and that keen interest in the active life of the Avorld Avas rapidly pre paring her mind to accept a position which Avould give her as near an approach to a share in it as was open to a Avoman, she was really looking forward to the time when public life would be the natural sphere for Leonard, and anticipating her own pleasure in sympathizing with all his interests. Her happiness was all the more complete, because she gathered from Mrs. L'Estrange's frequent letters that all was going well, and that she and Leonard were Avorking harmo niously together. Her affection for him and her trust in him so completely filled her heart that she almost forgot his warning about Agatha's intention of using all her influence in favour of Mr. Allonby, >and in truth did not think that his frequent visits Avere on her account, for he talked chiefly to her sister.

THROSTLE THWAITE. 32 Agatha had tact enough to know that Ruth must not be hurried or startled ; she managed matters Avith her usual dexterity, and at some sacrifice on her own part, for though she cordially desired that Mr. Al lonby should marry her sister, she personally thought him exceedingly tedious. The Allonbys of Nethercroft were almost the most important people in the county, and this man Avas the eldest son. It Avould be, as to position and fortune, a brilliant match for Ruth, and Mr. Allonby himself Avas unex ceptionable. He was one of the members for the county, and Avas rising into public notice as a useful, painstaking man ; he Avas tolerably clever, very Avell informed, perfectly conscientious, and capable of doing much really good work ; but he had not a spark of originality or enthusiasm about him, and Ruth, Avho had known him all her life, more THROSTLETHWAITE. 33 or less intimately, thought him narrow minded and dull.