Her Golden Forget-me-not

Front matter

HER GOLDEN Forgel-Me-Rot. BY MRS. GEORGE POSNETT, Author of "ON THE SQUARE:" "THE TOUCH OF FATE;" "WHO AM I?" &o. Dublin: SEALY, BRYERS AND WALKER, 94, 95 & 96 Middle Abbey Street. LONDON : SIMPKIN, MARSHALL AND CO. 1886. [All rights reserved] DUBLIN : SEALY, DRYERS AND WALKER 94, 95 & 96 Middle Albey Street. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. Wilsa's Arrival in Bunbury - - - - i II. First Impressions ------ 6 III. An Accident in the Tennis Field - - - 12 IV. Harry's Ghastly Adventure - - - - 21 V. A Surprise ------- 29 VI. Cecil -- 36 VII. A Mystery ------- 45 VIII. "Wilsa is Puzzled" ------ 52 IX. Hope Deferred ------ 61 X. Charley Lewis Surprises Wilsa - - - - 70 XI. A Small Supper Party ----- 78 XII. Dr. Dunbar's New Patient - - - - 86 XIII. Playing at Cross-purposes - - - - 99 XIV. Wilsa's Convalescence ----- 105 XV.

The Golden Wedding - - - - -116 XVI. A Scene in the Grotto - - - - - 127 XVII. An Unexpected Recognition - - - - 138 XVIII. The Shadow of Death - - - - - H9 XIX. Cecil -------- CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE XX. A Lonely Vigil ------ 168 XXI. Colonel Lambkin is Displeased - - '77 XXII. Another Summons to Castle Glynn - - -187 XXIII. Among the Haycocks - -200 XXIV. A Social Party ------ 2 0 I 2 XXV. Colonel Lambkin is Angry - --3- XXVI. The Lovers' Leap - - - - - - 231 XXVII. Dr. Dunbar is Surprised ----- 245 XXVIII. Reading the Will ------ 256 XXIX. A Stormy Interview ----- 269. XXX. The Concert ------- 280 XXXI. Conclusion -------

Chapter I

wilsa's arrival in bunbury. ■«■■•*> " SAY she is not pretty> Hubert-" TS^I " But ! say she is, Cecil." e^£J " Well, it is entirely a matter of taste. The f%Xyi- -**-&*; fumes of that everlasting pipe of yours must have dimmed your sight, for I never saw a more lovely pair of brown eyes in my life," replied Hubert. " Ah, here is the mother," said Cecil, taking his seat at the tea table ; " let us hear what she thinks." " Thinks about what, Cecil ? " said Mrs. Hazel, hearing her son's remark as she entered the room. Taking the tea caddy from the sideboard, she carefully measured five spoonfuls of the fragrant herb into the large old silver teapot. As Hubert turned the tap of the hissing urn, he said: a " We were discussing Wilsa, mother ; what do you think of her?" " I think she is pretty, but the poor girl is tired after her king journey, so it is hardly fair to judge of her looks."

" Ha ! ha ! ha ! " laughed Cecil. " You are sold, Hubert, the mother is very doubtful." Tilting his chair backwards, with his hands clasped behind his head, he watched his brother with a cynical smile. Hardly had the words left his lips when the subject of their conversation opened the door, and stood for a moment hesitating on the threshold. Giving a quick glance round, Wilsa noticed how comfortable everything looked. Although the Spring was far advanced a cheerful wood fire burned in the grate, casting a ruddy glow around. As her eyes rested on Hubert she thought what a tall, handsome, manly young fellow he was. A shudder passed over her as she noted the sarcastic expression on Cecil's face, the thin lips, and cold, grey eyes, that spoke so plainly of bad temper and selfishness. Hubert was the first to become aware of her presence, and, quickly placing a chair at the table for her, he said : "You might like to sit near the fire, as you must be chilly after your journey."

She thanked him, and turning to her aunt with a winning grace said : " I hope I have not kept you waiting ? " " Not at all, my dear. But why did you not let us know when you were coming, and the boys would have gone down to the station to meet you ? " ' " Papa said he would write and tell you that I had started. He thought it would be a pity for me to lose the chance of such a good escort as Miss Dunbar. She was comin°* direct to Bunbury." WILSA'S ARRIVAL IN BUSBURY. 3 " Of course Uncle Alfred forgot, as he generally does • will anything ever make him give up his habit of procras tinating ? " . " Cecil ! " " Y — es," languidly drawled her cousin. "Don't mind him, Wilsa,". said Hubert, handing her a cup of tea. Mrs. Hazel, Wilsa's aunt, had been left a widow four or five years ago. She was living, with her two sons, in the small town of Bunbury, in Warwickshire.

Hubert, the youngest, had just returned from Oxford, laden with honours. Cecil had been called to the Bar a few months previously. This had absorbed all his energy, apparently, his time since having been spent in idleness, as he said he must recruit his strength after the unwonted exertion. He spent his days lounging about the house, reading the latest novels, and smoking. Several of her friends had hinted to Mrs. Hazel that it was time her eldest son began work in earnest. She would reply in her calm, placid way : " Poor boy, he wants a rest, he has been working very hard." Wilsa was the daughter of Colonel Lambkin, Mrs Hazel's only brother, who had been stationed with his regiment in Jersey for the last two or three years. Wilsa was very ill during the winter, and it was thought advisable to send her to England for change of air as soon as she was well enough to travel.

Her journey had been postponed from week to week. At last, an unexpected escort appearing in the shape of Miss Dunbar, left her only a few hours to prepare; thus. it happened that Wilsa took her aunt by surprise. But to return to the party round the tea table. "You look very tired, dear child, I hope the journey has not knocked you up ? " " No ; but you must remember, Aunt Jessie, that I have been very ill." " Our splended air will soon give you strength," Hubert said, looking at her admiringly. Illness had left its trace in the delicate transparency of her complexion, and her soft brown eyes had in them an expres sion of great weariness. She answered quickly with a smile : " I am sure it will." "Indeed, it is wanted, for I never in all my life saw anyone fallen off the way you have done in the last year.

You used to be a rather pretty girl." " Don't mind Cecil, my dear," said her aunt. " Tell me how you liked Miss Dunbar." " I liked her so much ; she seemed quite a lady." "So she is." " But she told me she was matron of an hospital." " Ha ! ha ! ha ! " cried Cecil, rubbing his hands together ; " that is good. Why, her father is a doctor here, and no end of a swell." "I — I — did not know," stammered Wilsa. " Don't apologise ; we forgive your ignorance. But pray remember for the suture that it is a post held now almost entirely by ladies." " If you think, Cecil, that Wilsa has fallen off in appearance she must certainly feel that you have done the same in manners." "No, Hubert; I don't think he ever had any to lose." Not giving her cousin time to answer, she continued — " I WILSA'S ARRIVAL IN BUNBURY. 5 think, Aunt Jessie, if you will excuse me I will go to my room, as I feel very tired," pushing back her chair.

" Certainly, dear ; I will come up by-and-by and see how you are." Hubert opened the door and followed Wilsa into the hall. He lighted her candle, and, putting his hand on her shoulder, said : " Don't mind what Cecil says, he is a great tease." " I know it is silly of me to mind, but — oh, Hubert, can't you understand ? " and the hot tears of sorrow and mortifica tion that she could no longer restrain flowed down her pale cheeks. " I have never been from home before, and — and ," laying her head on his shoulder, she burst into uncontrollable sobs. For a few moments he did not try to check her tears, but put his arm round her slender waist, and held her closely to him. Then, as her sobs partially subsided, he whispered — " I know it must be all very strange, but don't cry, my sweet one. You are over tired ; let me carry you upstairs ?

" " Oh no, Hubert, I am all right now. How very foolish you must think me ; good night," holding out her hand. " Is that the way you are going to say good night to me ? " " Yes, how else should I say it ? " " This way," putting his arm round her again and kissing her pale lips. "Ahem!" coughed Cecil from the door. "It is most touching ; I am sorry to intrude, but here is Harry Dunbar." Wilsa freed herself suddenly from her cousin's embrace, and fled lightly up the stairs. Gaining her own room she locked the door and sat down panting on a chair.

Chapter II. First Impressions

Wilsa's first days in England passed slowly and wearily. She had a slight cold and her aunt deemed it advisable that she should not leave the house. Of Hubert she saw very little, as he spent his mornings reading for an examination he hoped soon to pass. Cecil lounged about the house and followed his cousin from room to room. His unkind remarks were sometimes varied by trying to draw her into a most unmistakable flirtation. But all his advances were met with a cool rebuff, which only seemed to stimulate his selfish nature and make him redouble his efforts. It was now nearly the end of April, the air was soft and balmy. Wilsa was standing at the open window of her own room, looking out over the Spinneys. The grey tower of the old church rose directly opposite, surrounded by tall elms, amongst which the rooks were busy, flying hither and thither, and cawing loudly to each other.

In a field, not far distant, she could see a bevy of schoolboys enjoying, during their recreation hour, a spirited game of cricket. The click of the bat and the shouts of the players first attracted her notice. She grew so interested in watching them that her aunt, who had entered the room, spoke twice before she heard her. Turning, with a smile on her lips, she said, apologeti cally — " I beg your pardon, Aunt Jessie ; I did not hear you come in." " I think, dear, it is such a beautiful day you might come FIRST IMPRESSIONS. 7 out with me — I am going to pay a few calls, and we can put your name down for the Lawn Tennis Club, it opens next week, and I suppose you would like to become a member ? " " Very much ; but will they allow such a novice as myself to join ? " " Oh, yes ; even if you don't play you can look on.

I shall be ready in half an hour, as I want to finish a letter I am writing." Wilsa equipped herself for the walk, and descended to the drawingroom, which she found empty. Opening the piano, she ran her fingers lightly over the keys, then began to sing. At first her voice was low, but as she proceeded with her song it swelled out, until the room was filled with its melodious tones ; then, again, gradually dying away in a lingering cadence. Music with her was a passion ; when singing, or listening to others, she became so enthralled by its seductive power, that she lost herself completely in a world far above the ken of ordinary mortals. Nature had endowed her with one of those rare voices, whose liquid tones once heard are never forgotten. This gift, so lavishly bestowed, had been trained with the utmost care.

Colonel Lambkin had grudged neither expense nor trouble in pro curing the best instructions for his daughter, and had been amply repaid, as Wilsa soon learned all that could be taught her. Cecil, who had been standing unperceived behind her, was perfectly enraptured. It was the first time he had heard Wilsa sing, and the effect on him was marvellous. His usual cold, cynical look had vanished, leaving in its place a softened expression, showing that under the hard exterior there were deeper feelings than many gave him credit for Could Wilsa have seen it, it would considerably have modified her opinion of her cousin, and she would not have answered him in the way she did a few moments later. He stooped down suddenly and kissed her cheek, saying, "Thank you." With a start she turned round, and, seeing Cecil, rose to her feet, her eyes flashing with passion.

" How dare you ? " she demanded, angrily. The soft expression vanished, and the old, hard look came into his eyes, as he replied : " I suppose if it had been Hubert you would not have objected. I really cannot see how he has any more right to kiss you than I have." " Don't you ? then I do. He is — is " "It is well you hesitate. I am sure you will find a difficulty in discriminating between us." " Hubert is a gentleman and you are not." " That is bad logic, for we are brothers ; so if one is a gentleman the other ought to be one." " You are right to say '•ought.' " " Dear me, how clever ! " "You are perfectly unbearable, Cecil. Do you know that you are the first person I ever hated?" she said, with a stamp of her foot. Taking her gloves from the table she turned to the window, her hands trembling nervously as she quickly drew them on.

" Allow me to button that for you." His cool voice and patronizing manner irritated her beyond measure. Not deigning to answer him, she turned and walked to the door. But he was too quick for her. Ere she gained it he stood before her, so as to prevent her leaving the room. FIRST IMPRESSIONS. 9 " Allow me to pass," she said, drawing her slight, ex quisitely moulded figure up to its full height. " No I won't, until you say we are friends." " That will never be ; I really cannot think, Cecil, why you take such delight in annoying me." " Because, my sweet little coz, it gives me such pleasure to see your eyes flashing with rage, and the rosy colour flame in those pale cheeks. 'Pon my word you look quite lovely." " And so, for your own gratification, you try to make me exhibit my temper, a thing I had almost forgotten that I possessed until I saw you."

" Then, it is well that I have reminded you of it, for it is a very great improvement " " Stop, Cecil ; you have now shown me plainly what a mean, shallow selfish nature you have ; and I shall take care you don't see the exhibition of my temper again, although it may be very diverting to you." " Wilsa ! Wilsa ! " called her aunt. Cecil, hearing his mother's voice, was compelled to move aside. Half penitently, yet with a lurking mockery in his tones, he said, extending his hand: " Forgive me." With a look of scorn she swept past him out of the room. In the hall she found her aunt talking to a singularly tall, handsome young man. " Come here, Wilsa, and let me introduce Mr. Dunbar whose sister took such kind care of you." As he clasped her little hand in his, he said : "I am delighted to see you looking so well ; my sister's description of you led me to believe that you were very ill."

" The change of air has certainly done her good ; but Wilsa, dear, what has given you such a colour ? " Before she could answer, a voice from the drawingroom called out : " Don't ask mother ; it is not fair, is it, Wilsa ? Ah, Harry, how are you ? — come and have a pipe." " I strongly advise you not, Mr. Dunbar." " Don't be afraid, Wilsa, I shan't tell tales." Mr. Dunbar looked inquiringly from one to the other. The carmine spot that burnt in each cheek, and the angry sparkle in Wilsa's brown eyes, made her look ravishingly lovely, at least so Harry thought. " Do leave her alone, Cecil, and don't tease," interposed Mrs. Hazel. " I did not think, Cecil, you would stoop so low as to tell a falsehood. Thank you, Mr. Dunbar," as he opened the hall-door. With a sigh of relief she walked for a moment or two down the garden path beside him in silence.

Then looking up into his honest face and kind blue eyes, she said : " Cecil makes me so angry. He sneers at everything." " I know he does, but believe me, at heart he is a good fellow." " Of that I am very doubtful," she replied. They stood for a few seconds at the wicket gate, waiting for Mrs. Hazel. Wilsa looked back at the house, which was one of a row of villas, and said : " How very pretty this is." " Did you not see it before, Miss Lambkin ? " " No ; this is the first time I have been out since I came here," she replied. " I suppose it is all very different from Jersey?" " Oh yes ; in St. Heliers the houses don't look at all like these, and it is much warmer there than it is here." FIRST IMPRESSIONS. 11 " I hope to see it some day. I promised my sister to accompany her the next time she goes.

My uncle has been living there for some years." " Oh yes, I know him very well, and his pretty little wife." " I am so sorry to have kept you waiting," said Mrs. Hazel. " I think we will go and see your sister first, Harry." " I am afraid you will not see much of her to-day, as I know there are some new patients coming to the hospital. I must let you into a secret, Miss Lambkin — the matron, as we call her, thinks of nothing, sleeping or waking, but her hospital." "Fie, Harry!" "It is a fact, Mrs. Hazel. And when she spends an afternoon with us, I always tell her I won't allow her to talk shop." "She may justly be proud of all the improvements she has made." " Yes, undoubtedly. But that is no reason why she should be eternally harping on the one subject. Talk of what you like, and I bet you anything before five minutes have elapsed Eliza will drag in that everlasting hospital.

But here we are, and I will say good-bye. You need not tell Eliza all I have been saying about her." " Naughty boy," said Mrs. Hazel, nodding good-bye to him. "We shall meet again by-and-by." "Au revoir, Miss Lambkin; don't let my sister con taminate you." " Not much fear of that."

Chapter III. An Accident In The Tennis Field

The small market-town of Bunbury was situated on an eminence, commanding an extensive view of the surround ing country, just now decked in its freshest verdure. Bun bury itself was a dull, sleepy place, famous for nothing in particular excepting a large college. The advantages of this quiet, educational centre had attracted many families to the neighbourhood. The roads bordering the town were dotted with picturesque villas and terraces. Here and there more imposing looking red-brick buildings, surrounded by gardens and pleasure grounds, broke upon the view. These were the residences of the masters, commonly called the boarding houses. A short way up the Cranby road stood a couple of magnificent cedars, whose cool shadows fell over the grey stone archway of a noble entrance. It led into the exten sive park of Castle Glynn, the ancestral home of the Glynns, the present Viscount being in his seventy-fifth year, and about to celebrate a rare event, his golden wedding.

Im mediately opposite, up a green shady lane, was a common iron gate leading into a field which had all the appearance of a beautifully kept lawn. It belonged to the tennis club, and had a pavilion on one side where the lady players could Obtain a cup of tea, and the gentlemen, what was more to their taste, a glass of beer or shandygaff. It was the first of May, and the opening day of the tennis season. The sun shone brightly over the gay scene ; the ladies' pretty white flannel dresses and striped petticoats harmonising with the pink and blue colours worn by the gentlemen. Wilsa sat beside her aunt on one of the seats that were comfortably placed under the wide-spreading chestnut trees. She had been watching a very spirited game between Hubert and Miss Lewis, the head master's daughter. Unseen by her Harry Dunbar had approached, and was standing by her side.

He watched her jealously as he saw how intently she was wrapped up in her cousin's play. Hubert threw his racquet in the air, and said triumph antly : "Ah, Miss Lewis, I have beaten you." " And so you ought," said Wilsa. " No ' ought ' about it, for Miss Lewis is a champion. Here, Harry, come along and we will have a set of four ; you and Wilsa against Miss Lewis and myself." " I am afraid to accept the challenge, Hubert, and I am sure to spoil your chance of the game, Mr. Dunbar, as I know so little about it." With more empressement than the occasion seemed to warrant he answered : " Nothing could give me greater pleasure than to teach you." "Nonsense, Harry," said Cecil, who had joined them. "You had far better go and play in the set I have just left. Let me teach Wilsa; her stupidity will tax your patience."

" I would rather not play at all," she answered proudly. She felt excessively annoyed with Cecil, and the eloquent blood mantled to the very roots of her hair, betraying how deeply she was wounded by his tone and manner. " I wish you would not interfere with our arrangements, Cecil," said his brother, hotly. " You are not such a good player yourself." " Miss Lambkin, if you won't be my partner I shall not play at all," and Mr. Dunbar handed her a racquet, looking beseechingly at her, adding in an undertone, " Do, please." " I think you had better, Wilsa," said her aunt " I know Harry will teach you well." " If you will be so obstinate I will score for you," Cecil cried, throwing himself on the grass next his mother. " Come, Wilsa and Harry, Miss Lewis and I are going to get a cup of tea." Hubert walked off with his cousin, followed by the others.

As they reached the end of the field they found a vacant net. " Now we will have a game in peace," Hubert said ; " tea won't be ready for the next half hour." "You managed very cleverly," laughed Harry Dunbar. " Yes : confound Cecil's impudence." " I think your brother meant kindly," said Miss Lewis, taking up the cudgels for the absent one. " I wish he had a better way of showing it." " I am afraid to play with you, Mr. Dunbar, I am sure to spoil your game." " You could not do that, Miss Lambkin." " It is very kind of you to say so." " Now then — play," cried Hubert. Wilsa took her balls splendidly, but Harry played very badly, as he was more interested in his partner's graceful movements than in the game. They were no match for the other two, and consequently they were ignominiously de feated.

"Why, Harry, what has come over you to-day?" cried Hubert, " you missed nearly every ball." " I think I can tell you why," said Miss Lewis, mis chievously. " Do." " Then it must be a secret." Hubert bent his handsome head and she whispered a few words in his ear. He drew himself up haughtily, and said in an offended tone : " You are quite mistaken, Miss Lewis." " I beg your pardon ; I did not know that you were in the same boat," she returned saucily, and with a light laugh entered the pavilion. Seeing the annoyance depicted in her cousin's face, Wilsa laid her hand on his arm, and said anxiously — " What has vexed you, Hubert ? " " Something Miss Lewis said." " Out with it, old chap ; I know that young lady can say very sharp things when she likes." " It is nothing very particular ; not worth mentioning," replied Hubert.

Turning sharply on his heel he strode off to the other side of the field. "What can be the matter?" asked Wilsa. " I never saw Hubert cross before." " Don't mind, Miss Lambkin. Here is a comfortable seat, we will wait until he comes back and make ourselves happy without him." Taking her parasol, he opened it and held it so as to shade them both from the sun. He felt very pleased at the unexpected chance of a few moments uninterrupted conver sation with Wilsa, and breathed a sigh of content as he watched the changing expression of her sensitive face. " This is what I call comfortable, and I hope no one will come and disturb us. Do you find Bunbury dull ? I suppose you were very gay in Jersey? " There was a look of surprise in the earnest eyes that met his as she replied quietly — " Oh, no ; I was so ill all last winter that I was not able to enjoy any of the gaieties."

"I am so sorry, and yet so glad." " Glad that I was ill ? That is kind ! I hope you are not going to follow Cecil's example," and she turned away her head with a pout on her pretty lips. " Miss Lambkin, you are most unkind. What I meant was that if you had not been ill we should not have had the pleasure of meeting." " Are you sure you meant that ? " and she raised the brown eyes with a questioning gaze. As he looked into their liquid depths, he answered fer vently — " Quite — don't you believe me ? " She met his eager, penetrating look steadily for a moment, then the deeply fringed lids drooped, and a pale, pink flush just tinged the ivory cheek. " You all say such strange things I never know when you are in earnest." "I never say anything I don't mean," he said, so gravely and earnestly that it startled her.

" Dear me, we have got quite serious," she said, with a nervous laugh. Determining to change the conversation, which was verging on dangerous ground, she continued with an effort : " I think it is such a pity Cecil does not set his mind to work ; an idle man is such a misery to himself and to everyone about him." " Is that a slap at me ? " " Does the cap fit ? " she asked naively, with a pretty little shrug of her shoulders. " Honestly — it does." " I am sorry for that. But I did not intend my remark as personal. I was thinking of the aimless way Cecil spends his days, and how much better it would be if he had some thing to occupy him. His whole object in life seems to be finding fault with other people, and turning them into ridicule." " So he does ; but promise me, Miss Lambkin, you won't believe anything he says against me."

" Why should not I ? " " Because I want you to have a good opinion of me, and I really have been working very hard." " Have you ? " she asked, in a slightly incredulous tone. " Yes ; my father wishes me to become a surgeon and help him in his practice." " Do you like the profession ? " " No." " Then, why do you enter it ? " " The governor has set his heart upon it, and I don't like to disappoint him. You see, I am rather old, but I hope to pass my final examination in six months." " Surely you have not been " and she hesitated. "Go on, Miss Lambkin, I know what you were going to say — plucked." " Yes ; but I was afraid you might think it unkind." " So I would ; I am delighted to tell you that you are wrong, I have not been plucked. I was in Florida with my uncle for two years, but when Eliza took the mad craze of B going into the hospital the governor wrote to me to come home, and here I am."