Dick Chichester; or, the wooing of the county

Preface

. The following work Avas Avritten some years ago, and the political part has been untouched since. I need hardly say that the characters are Avholly fictitious. For one anachronism an apology is due. The poem quoted by Dick Chichester in his speech at Fernhampton in the spring of 1870 was not, I believe, written until 1872. E. M. R. Clifton, 1889. it DICK CHICHESTER.

Chapter I

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much." — Hamlet. r^fysgfO, mother! you will not convince me. (OT<^|Q Men are, morally7, immeasurably inferior r^t^vjF to women- They are not onl\- more selilp® fish, but have, in every way, less power l^^aeS of subordinating inclination to duty ; while, as for frivolity, Avho ever heard of a woman, except Georgina Carmichael, Avho openly professed to live solely for games and amusements, as nine-tenths of the men of our class are not ashamed to do?" "And what of the other tenth, Helen ?" asked Mrs. Wykeham, quietly. " Oh ! they are so proud of possessing some glim mering sense of duty, and of giving some serious consideration to the problems of life, that they expect every woman to boAv down and worship them, and to accept with silent admiration every opinion to Avhich they may deign to give utterance."

" I think, my dear," said Mrs. Wykeham, in the same tone of quiet irony7 in which she had spoken before, "that eA'en your large experience of the Avorld hardly justifies such SAveeping criticism. Possibly, Avhen you marry, you may think differently." " I shall never marry, mother. It is one of the things that I cannot understand, how any woman wiio could live as a single woman may7 live now in England, can not merely give up her freedom, but merge her very individuality in that of another, and that other too often one far inferior to herself. I would not do it for any man that breathes !" "The right man has not come yet, Helen," said Mrs. Wykeham, with a smile. "Mother!" exclaimed her daughter indignantly, Avhile her eyes almost filled Avith tears ; then, checking herself, she Avent on more quietly : " You ahvays speak as though I Avere still a child.

Now, I am not a child, but a woman ; and, on this point, I knoAV my own mind." " Well, my dear, so far as I knoAV, no man has as yet asked you to marry him ; and, for my own part, I am quite willing to wait till someone does before I give my consent." This time Helen could not keep back her tears, though she Avould not let them fall. " Mother," she said, " I do Avish that you Avould believe that I am speaking in earnest. It hurts me when you make fun of the strongest feelings of my nature," and she rose and stood by her mother's side. Mrs. Wykeham rose too, put her arms round her daughter's waist, and kissed her. " I do believe it," she said ; " only I think that you hardly know what you are talking of. The truth is, that no man has as yet touched your heart, or eAren your imagination. When that happens, you will feel, if you do not speak, differently.

And, my child, it is just because you are a woman that I think it -will happen some day;" and this time her tones had a tender thrill that contrasted curiously Avith herpreA7ious irony7. Helen felt the difference, and her reply Avas less indignant, though not less earnest. " It will never happen, mother," she said. Then added more lightly7, " Unless some man quite different from his sex in general is created for my especial benefit ; and I do not expect that." Mrs. Wykeham made no answer ; she only smiled softly as she gathered up her needleAvork, and Avent away to write some notes of invitation to a picnic Avhich she intended to give in the following Aveek. At first sight, Helen Wykeham seemed a girl most unlikely to entertain feelings of contemptuous bitterness toAvards the opposite sex.

Those av1io receive kindness and attention from others are not generally7 apt to despise the persons from Avhom they receive them : and Helen's soft brown hair, delicate colouring, and clearly cut, expressive features appeared to fit her to command love rather than to repel it ; while the rounded outlines of her slight figure, and her easy, elastic carriage, com pleted a picture of womanly grace that it was hard to associate with cynicism of any kind. Yet she was perfectly sincere in the expression of her feelings. At twenty-one a girl judges from a limited experience, but her judgment is apt to be sharp and stern. And Helen did in truth believe that the men of modern English society were rapidly sinking into a condition of ignoble selfishness and Aveak neglect of duty, that rendered them Avholly7 unfit to be the objects of the womanly love and devotion Avhich they, nevertheless, appeared to consider as their undoubted right.

And this conviction gave to her manner, when in conversation with men, and especially with young men, a touch of cold disdain that went far to neutralise her attractiveness, and to render her an object rather of avoidance than of admiration to those who suffered from it. As soon as her mother had left her, Helen sat down to Avrite to her most intimate friend, who lived at a feAV miles' distance. " My dear Sophy," her letter ran, — " Our picnic is at last fixed for next Tuesday. My mother is sending the formal invitation to yours. You really must come, and bring your cousin with you. You know that it has been one of the dreams of my life to meet Miss Chichester again. The last time I saw her I was but a child, and, of course, knew nothing of her greatness. In any case, you must come. " Yours affectionately, HELEN.

The answer to this note, when it came, was dis quieting : "Dear Helen, — You will be dreadfully disappointed, and so am I ; but Frances cannot come to us this week. Her new book is in the press, and she wants to stay in London till the proofs are corrected. Her brother is coming instead. He wishes to see if Crayden Manor can be rendered habitable for the winter, and talks of living there in future for six months in the year ; chiefly, I believe, for the sake of hunting, of which there is none worthy of the name near Oaksholm. At present, Crayden is in a very dilapidated state. No one but a keeper has lived there for years, so papa has asked Dick to stay here while he ascertains what repairs are needed. He will come with us on Tuesday ; but I fear you will think him a bad exchange for his sister.

I don't think you have seen him since he left Cambridge, and he has developed into the sort of man you most dislike ; if, indeed, there are degrees in your dislike of men. He is not only an enthusiastic sportsman, but you will think him insufferably conceited, so far as women are concerned. I have myself heard him say that, if only a mau were in earnest, he could marry any woman he pleased. When I heard the speech I thought of you, and the sublime indignation with which you would have received ii. But we cannot leave him behind, so I hope you will be able to endure his presence for one afternoon, for the sake of that of your most affectionate friend, ••SOPHY MAYNARD." Helen put down the letter with a sigh. " I am most truly sorry not to see Frances Chichester," she thought ; " but I really do not care whether her brother comes or stays aAvay.

One must have men at a picnic, I suppose ; and this one is not likely to be worse than the rest. I only hope," she added quickly, as a new thought struck her, "that Sophy is not falling in love with him. Her letter is full of him, and of nothing else." And in her anxiety for her friend, Helen read the note again, and shook her head sadly as she finished it. " I will keep Avatch on Tuesday," she thought; "and will speak seriously to Sophy, if I see any7 danger. She is just the girl to fall in love, if no one is by to Avarn her ; and this man is like all the rest. He Avas alway7s hunting or fishing Avhen he Avas at Woodbourne before : and noAV he is not e\7en ashamed to confess that it is only for the sake of hunting that he is coming to live on a part of his property that he and his father before him have neglected shamefully for years ; and that, on his OAvn shoAving, he Avould neglect still if it did not offer him the opportunity of indulging in his favourite amuse ment ! What wonder if the country is disturbed and discontented Avhen the gentlemen act like this !"

Chapter II

" Half light, half shade, She stood, a sight to make an old man young. Tennyson. K?Pfil|RS' WYKEHAM'S household v.as not a |||^R|H large one, and the preparations for the lljlillji picnic necessitated a good deal of personal 'iSy5E^£'*M suPervision on her own part and that of her tf~^nfs^!i daughter. But this Avas Avork which Helen liked, and she frequently asserted that half the pleasure of parties of all kinds consisted in the exercise of ingenuity in planning and preparing for them ; and she really pitied those unhappy persons who were sur rounded by so many servants that the}- were never allowed to enjoy this pleasure for themselves. When Tuesday afternoon came, everything was ready to Helen's complete satisfaction ; and she took the reins of her own little pony-carriage, to drive her mother to the spot selected for the picnic, Avith a sense of keen enjoyment, to which the beauty of the day, her own perfect health, and the consciousness of successful effort all contributed.

The party was to meet at four o'clock, in a corner of the Crayden Avoods Avhere there was a meadow-like opening, dotted Avith spreading chestnut trees, and sur rounded on three sides by the thick beech-Avoods ; Avhile the fourth was bounded by a sparkling stream, beyond Avhich the country stretched away in a broad undulating plain to the banks of the river of which the little stream was a tributary, and which, on such a day as this, sparkled silvery in the sunlight. Beyond the river, in the extreme distance, lay a range of low blue hills, scarcely to be distinguished from the light clouds which floated above them. The greater number of the invited guests reached the meeting-place soon after their hostess and her daughter, and the bustle of unpacking hampers and preparing tea began at once.

The Maynard party Avere the last to arrive, and at the moment of their approach Helen Avas on her knees building a fire with dry Avood that had been collected by some of the party. She Avas chatting gaily Avith tAvo girls, Avho Avere professedly helping her, but, in reality, were doing much to hinder her success ; and it seemed for some minutes as if the fire Avould never burn. When Helen at last rose from her knees, flushed and laughing, and proceeded to hang the kettle on the tripod prepared for it, she was looking her very best. She Avas dressed in fawn and pale blue, a combination of colours that ahvays suited her better than any other. Her eyes and cheeks Avere sparkling, and the grace of her figure being shoAvn to the utmost advantage by the action in which she was engaged, she made a picture that might Avell divide the spectators' attention AA7ith the beauty of the scenery around.

It certainly arrested that of Mr. Chichester, Avho came Avith his cousins. " Who is that by the fire," he asked, "in the faAvn and blue dress ?" " That is Helen Wykeham ; don't you remember her ? Hoav Avell she is looking ! " Avas Sophy's reply. " I did not recognise her at the moment : I expected, from Avhat you told me, to find her grown into a hard, angular young Avoman, bent on making herself hideous, in green spectacles. Sophy7, I believe you have maligned your friend ! " " Hush ! she will hear you ; not that she Avould care in the least what you thought of her," answered Sophy. And at that moment, the kettle having consented to hang steadily over the noAV brilliant flame, Helen turned and, perceiving her friends, came forward to greet them. She had, of course, to Avelcome Mr. Chichester also, and did so with sufficient civility and a polite assurance that her mother would be delighted to see him, but that she Avas at that moment unpacking plates at a little distance.

Having said this, she turned again to Lady Maynard and Sophy7, scolding them playfully7 for being late, and leading them aAvay7 to her mother, Avithout another glance at their companion, Avho folloAved meekly, Avith an uncomfortable feeling of having been politely snubbed. Mrs. Wykeham's welcome was more cordial than her daughter's. Mr. Chichester had always been a favourite of hers, and she was unfeignedly pleased to reneAv her acquaintance with him. Dick at once took upon himself the rest of the unpacking, leaving Mrs. Wykeham free to devote herself to Lady Maynard and her other guests ; while Helen led Sophy back to the fire, near which her late com panions, Minna and Ellen Carmichael, were still standing. The four girls thus grouped together were repre sentatives of very different types.

Helen has been described already : Sophy Maynard Avas undeniably plain, but had a high-bred air and a certain ladylike self-possession of manner, that gave the impression of greater age and more intellect than she, in fact, possessed. She was not really a clever girl, though most of her acquaintances thought she was ; and she had only just passed her twenty-second birthday, though nearly all strangers supposed her to be two or three years older. The Carmichaels, on the contrary, were short, good tempered-looking girls of eighteen and tAventy, Avith thick waists and untidy hair. Minna, the elder, was the fairer and shorter of the two. Ellen was taller, and had more decision of manner than her sister. They Avere the daughters of the Rector of Craybrook, by his second wife, a lady now occupied in cutting bread-and butter ; Avhile her step-daughter, Georgina, who was at least fifteen years older than the elder of her half sisters, was absorbed in the responsible occupation of choosing, with the help of one or two gentlemen, a suitable spot for a croquet-ground, and setting up posts and hoops for use after tea.

This young lady (she was very particular about the adjective) had few personal charms ; but she nevertheless had a reputation of her own. She excelled in every out-door game that could be played by a lady, and had a store of prizes won at archery meetings and croquet tournaments, of which she was quite as proud as any University athlete could be of his silver cups. Indeed, she almost avowed that excellence in games was to her the great object of existence. She habitually spoke of the summer as " the archery " or " the croquet season ; " while the winter was "the skating" or "the dancing season." Georgina Carmichael was the subject of some of Helen's most scathing criticisms. Helen was Avont to describe Georgina as " no better than a man;" while she Avas the unfailing champion of the unpretending younger sisters, who Avere, she asserted, more prac tically useful than any three other girls in the parish, besides having more brains than most.

But Minna and Ellen did not themselves share this opinion, and were always rather shy in the presence of Miss Maynard, of whose supposed cleverness they stood a little in awe. Nor could they quite join in Helen's warmly-expressed regret that Miss Chichester had been unable to accompany her cousin. It is true that they7, no less than Helen, admired and enjoyed her works ; but a well-knoAvn authoress seemed to them rather a person to be regarded with distant \7eneration, than to be welcomed cordially7 at a picnic. Sophy7 comforted Helen with the assurance that if her cousin settled at Crayden for the Avinter, his mother and sisters Avould be sure to be there also for at least a part of the time, so that the opportunity of meeting Frances Avas only7 deferred. " Only I Avarn you," she added playfully, " Frances Avill put you into her next book.

She says she never draws actual portraits, but I do not believe she Avill be able to resist the temptation in your case." "Never mind, Helen," said Minna Carmichael; " I don't believe Miss Chichester could be ill-natured. I think y7ou may trust yourself in her hands." " I am not sure," said her sister, " that I should like to be written about by anyone ; but if it had to be done, I would rather Miss Chichester did it than most people I know — much rather than you, Helen. If you eA-er write a book, please leave me out of it." " I Avon't promise that, Nellie. I should Avant you for the bread-crumbs of my stuffing, while y7our father stood for the solid meat, and Georgina for the onions," she added wickedly, as though unable to resist the sarcasm. " For shame, Helen ! I Avon's let you abuse Geor gina," said Minna.

" I won't again," was the reply. "I will send Mr. Chichester to play croquet Avith her instead. He seems to live for hunting, so I should think they would be kindred spirits." She glanced at Sophy as she spoke, half fearing she had gone too far, and yet determined to let' her know what she thought of her cousin, if yet it might not be too late. But Sophy only laughed. " I don't know that poor Dick lives entirely for hunting," she said. " Indeed, I believe he goes in a good deal for politics and county business. But he is certainly a croquet player, and will enjoy a game with such an antagonist as Miss Carmichael," she added courteously, turning to the two younger girls, who might, she thought, be hurt by Helen's open ridicule of their sister. But the kettle Avas now boiling, and it Avas time to make the tea and set the cups.

With so many hands the Avork was quickly done, and the Avhole party Avere soon gathered round the tablecloth. The gentlemen naturally waited on the ladies, and no one Avas more active in this way than Mr. Chichester. Helen took occasion to observe him more than once, to see if her fears for Sophy had any foundation. What she saAV did not reassure her. He was a well-made man of perhaps an inch under six feet in height, fair-haired, Avith a broad broAV and a square-cut jaw, that to an unprejudiced observer would have indicated power of mind and force of character, but which Helen interpreted as signs of mere physical strength, a quality which Dick undoubtedly possessed in that high degree which an active life, perfect health, and the habitual practise of athletic exercises usually confer upon young Englishmen of the higher classes.

But Helen could not deny that Dick's pleasant smile and gentle manners were likely to prove dangerous " to such a girl as Sophy." This, however, rather increased than diminished her disapprobation of the man. " Sophy will certainly marry him," she said to herself; and impressed with this idea, she failed to observe that Dick's manner to his cousin, though cordial and even affectionate, was devoid of any touch of lover-like tenderness. When tea was over, Mr. Chichester approached Helen. " I see you have a croquet-ground prepared," he said. " I hope you play." DICR CHICHESTER. " Occasionally," was her reply ; " but not this after noon. I have too many other duties. But I can intro duce you to a lady who will be delighted to play as much as you like, and who really excels in the game." And she turned and presented him to Miss Car michael, who was standing a few paces distant.

" I have told Mr. Chichester, Georgina," she said, " that you are a first-rate croquet-player, and I have no doubt you will both enjoy trying your strength against each other. I must leave you to select the rest of your set, as you know everyone's powers so much better than I do." And she moved away, leaving Georgina intensely pleased, and Mr. Chichester not a little disgusted. However, there was no escape, and he addressed himself manfully to the game, and soon found that he had met his match in Miss Carmichael. The partners of each were equally poor, so that the struggle lay between Georgina and himself. It ended, to her ex treme satisfaction, in a narrowly-won victory for the former. But when the game was over, Mr. Chichester found it no easier than before to obtain closer acquaintance with Helen.

He made several attempts to engage her in conversation, but they Avere always foiled, though he could not accuse his young hostess of Avant of courtesy. But it seemed to him that Avhile she Avas the life of the party, and unremitting in her endeavours to make the afternoon pleasant to everyone, he alone could get no speech with her. The veriest coxcomb could not have attributed Helen's manner to coquetry. It was perfectly civil, but at the same time perfectly indifferent. And the indif ference piqued Dick more than he would have cared to admit. He was no coxcomb, but he was certainly little accustomed to be treated in this manner by the young ladies whom he met in society; and he made up his mind to waste no more trouble upon Helen, but to find what amusement he conld in the rest of the company.

Nevertheless, his last waking vision that night was of a slight graceful figure in fawn-colour and blue, thrown into relief against a brilliant fire. And he was angry with himself when he awoke in the morning for having dreamed that he was in a wood, constantly fol lowing that same fawn-coloured dress, and finding every time he came up with it that the wearer Avas Georgina Carmichael.

Chapter III

Politics I politics ! what are they to me, sir ? \Vhat 's the good of talking, making such a fuss ? Give me open nouses, and a jolly spree, sir ; Church and education 's naught to do with us." Election Song. ICK CHICHESTER was the only son of a country gentleman. His father, Robert Chichester, was the owner of two considerable estates : the one, Oaksholm, in Normidlandshire ; the other, known as Crayden Manor, in Fernlandshire. For some reason Mr. Chichester had taken a dislike to Crayden, and during the last six years of his life, with the exception of brief visits to London, he lived entirely at Oaksholm, upon which he expended large sums of money, and succeeded in making it one of the show places of the county. But he had no sooner completed the alterations he designed than he died, leaving his wife with three children — of whom, Richard, the youngest, was then four years old.

The boy was left to the joint guardianship of his mother and Sir Thomas Maynard, who had married Robert Chichester's first cousin. As time went on, Dick was sent to school, and passed creditably through Eton, from whence he went to Cambridge. While at the University, he applied himself with great interest to the study ofthe social and political questions ofthe day, so far as they could be learned from books and newspapers, and allied himself with the Conservative, or more strictly speaking, the reconstructed Tory party, of which Mr. Disraeli was then the chief exponent and guide, though Lord Derby was its official head. A seat in the House of Commons became the goal of Dick Chichester's am bition, or rather the first step toAvards the goal ; and he determined to throw himself into every kind of public business that came before him, for the purpose of fitting himself for the career he desired to follow.

The management of his own property was, of course, the first thing that claimed his attention, and in this he displayed more judgment than might have been ex pected from his y7ears. He had received his estates entirely unencumbered from his father, and his long minority had alloAved a considerable sum of money to accumulate in his guardians' hands. He thus found him self in a position to undertake at once such improvements as he deemed desirable. In all he did in this way, he had his mother's advice and co-operation, and probably OAved more to her judgment and knowledge of the people with whom he had to deal, than he was himself aware. It will be remembered that in 1867 public affairs Avere in a critical state. The Tory Government then in office, though commanding a majority in the Lords, Avere supported j -only by a minority in the House of Commons.

They had, nevertheless, been able to pass their Reform Bill, and had also in a great measure successfully repressed the Fenian Rebellion ; but at the close of the session of that year, Mr. Gladstone was successful in persuading the House of Commons to pass his famous resolutions declaring the desirability of dis establishing the Irish Church ; and the Ministry, thus defeated, appealed to the country. Oaksholm lay on the confines of the Parliamentary borough of Cokington ; and the Conservative party of that borough found themselves, on the eve ofthe General Election of 1868, Avith only one candidate in readiness, in the person of Mr. Langworthy, a local banker. Mean while, their opponents were already in the field Avith two : one, an old-fashioned Whig who had represented the town for some time ; the other, a Mr. Symes, a Radical manufacturer Avho Avas standing for the first time.

Mr. Langworthy described himself in his address as a Liberal-Conservative ; and his vieAVS were of that negative type in which so many timid politicians found refuge at that time — frightened at Disraeli's trust in the English people, and only rather more frightened at Mr. Gladstone's revolutionary7 proposals. But there was a considerable section of the Conser vative party of the borough composed of sterner stuff; and this section, while willing to co-operate in the return of Mr. LangAVorthy in opposition to an avowed Liberal, were still desirous of having a man of their OAvn to stand Avith him. Much discussion took place ; and at last, at an in formal meeting of a few of the party leaders, some one suggested : " Why not try young Chichester ? He is the biggest landlord in the borough, and seems the natural representative of the party.

And, I am told, he is a clever fellow, too." " Too clever by half," said Mr. Fordham, a solicitor, who had contrived to push himself forward in political matters, and was now chairman of Mr. Langworthy's committee — " the sort of man to turn the party7 upside down." "He wants a seat," said another speaker : "and if the other side get hold of him, he is powerful enough to do us a great deal of harm ; and they want a county Member." " He won't rat," rejoined a fourth. " Indeed, I think, with Fordham, he is too strong a Tory for the borough; and will try to carry everyone with him on a wild-goose chase after a state of things that is impossible in the nineteenth century. I think we want a safer man." " We 're not likely to be too strong in this Parlia ment," rejoined the last speaker, "thanks to Disraeli's precious Reform Bill ; and one or two men like Chi chester will help to keep the party alive."

"What do you say, Langworthy? " asked someone. " You will have to act Avith him, you know." " I don't think he Avould be a bad man," said Mr. Langworthy. " He and I don't see eye to eye, of course ; and if we both stand, we must each go our own way. I don't know that he has much chance of getting in ; but he could certainly prevent anyone else doing so if he chose." " He won't use his influence against us," said Mr. Fordham. " I Avill do him that justice; indeed, I think he Avould work heartily to secure the return of any man whom the party might choose. And, as it appears to me, Ave could easily play a safer card. An older and better-known man would have more weight with the constituency, especially Avith the new voters." Now it was generally believed that Mr. Fordham Avould have been gratified if the choice of the party had fallen on himself; and Mr. LangAvorthy, Avho had reasons of his own for not wishing to stand in conjunction Avith him, replied : " I don't knoAV ; I fancy the new voters will be taken by extreme men on both sides.

I am certainly disposed to vote for Chichester." This meeting Avas folloAved by a larger one next day, at Avhich it Avas decided, though not unanimously, to invite Mr. Chichester to issue an address at once. The invitation was accepted ; and Dick sat doAvn with intense interest and eager excitement to the com position of his address. He had perfect faith in his political creed, Avhile he had too little acquaintance Avith the actual Avorking of the machinery of his party7 to realize Iioav far his A'iews Avere in advance of those of the men with Avhom he was noAV called upon to act. Of course, he consumed much time, ink, and paper, before he could satisfy himself in any7 degree ; but at last he composed the folloAving, and read it over with some complacency7 : " To the Electors of the Borough of Cokings on.