Arrested. A novel

Front matter

ARRESTED ARRESTED. A NOVEL By ESME STUART Author o/ '*"■" ' A Woman of Forty,' ' The Power of the Past,' 'A Mine of Wealth,' &c, &■_ IN ONE VOLUME LONDON F. V. WHITE & CO 14 BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, W.C PEINTED BY KELLY AND CO. LIMITED, 182, IS3 AND 184, niQE HOUBOBX, W.C., AND KINI3STOK-ON-THAME3. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGTC I. — Wooing Sorrow i II. —A Strange Offer .... 17 III. — Mr. Bruce's Conscience ... 32 IV. — No Traveller Returns . . 41 V. — Uneasy Slumber .... 50 VI. — A Knock at the Door ... 59 VII. — Mrs. Tilly's Surprise . . .71 VIII. — A Face at the Window. . . Si IX. — A Disappointment ... .90 X. — Wanted, Person or Persons . 100 XL — A New Lodger 112 XII. — Sailing Together .... 122 XIII. — A Dark Cave 131 XIV. — Through the Mist . . . 141 XV. — Mrs. Tilly is more Surprised . . 152 XVI. — The Return 161 XVII. — A Diamond Ring . . . .172 VI CONTENTS.

CHAPTER FAQI XVIII.— The Rivals 181 XIX. — A Knock at the Door . . .192 XX.— The Hand of Love ... 203 XXI. — Integrity the Best Mantle . .214 XXII. — In the Balance .... 224 XXIIL— The Dim Light . . . .235 XXIV.— In a Cell 244 XXV. — The Dead of Night . . . 253 XXVI. — What the Key Unlocked . . 265 XXVII. — The Repentance of Mrs. Tilly . 274 XXVIII. — Mrs. Giles Finds Excuses . . 285 XXIX. — Renunciation ..... ARRESTED ARRESTED.

Chapter I

wooing sorrow. It was a cold autumn afternoon, and the wind swept over the great lonely downs of East Melstead as if wishing to spend its fury upon the only obstacle which hindered its free passage to the sea. Oliver Englefield, the solitary pedestrian here to be seen, was hardly noticeable in this vast undulating country, though in his own mind his plans and his personality seemed to be the only things of importance in the whole wide world. He walked with the free, easy stride of a man who has an object in view, and one which he is anxious to reach. Now and then he raised his head higher and shook back his wind-tossed, curly hair with the energy of a warrior ready to charge an enemy, but at other times he looked discontentedly down upon the ground as if his difficulties were too many for him.

"But love conquers everything," he murmured to himself, "and Elsie is the sweetest woman on earth. If only I were sure that she loved me, and if I could make her understand how much I love her, and that I would do anything, yes, anything, for her, then " I ARRESTED. Suddenly the wind fell and a strange silence succeeded ; so strange was the change that Oliver paused, and his mind was brought back to his surroundings. He noticed that he had unconsciously left the high downs, and that he had begun the descent into the lower country, where lay the object of his walk. As he now picked his way more carefully down the precipitous sides of the hill, he suddenly found himself at the very edge of a steep chalk-pit, which had been quite invisible from above, and it was but the merest chance which had saved him from falling into the deep chasm.

This chasm might have proved to be his grave, or at least he might have been lifted out of it with broken limbs, if indeed he had been discovered at all, for if maimed by the fall, slow starvation would most probably have been his fate. But Oliver only laughed at the danger he had escaped as he said to himself, "Another step and my career would have ended. I hope so, at least, for death would be infinitely preferable to the pity she would have bestowed on the poor, crippled Oliver Englefield. Good God ! what would be her pity when I want her love?" Oliver now struck further westward and this time, avoiding the pit, he at last descended into a pretty winding lane, and soon found himself approaching the cluster of buildings known as Yule Farm. Nature had here been lavish of her gifts of beauty, and the golden foliage of the autumn leaves looked radiant, interspersed as they were among the old red roofs of the farm and of its outbuildings.

No strong wind was blowing in this hollow, and all seemed to speak of rest and beauty. But here, however, another sound replaced that of the windy blast, and this was the breaking of the not very distant sea waves upon the rocky shore. Oliver made short work of the lane, then he hurried up the garden walk leading to Yule Farm. This walk was bordered with old-fashioned flowers, but these were now all unheeded by Oliver, for his mind was again filled with one picture, his eyes saw but one face, and his ears heard but the sweet tones of one voice. A trim maid appeared in answer to his knock. In the gathering twilight she did not immediately recognise the visitor, till he remarked somewhat impatiently : " Well, Lizzie, don't you know me ? " " To be sure ! why, it's Mr. Englefield ! Who would have thought of you walking over from Norwold on this blustering afternoon ?

" "Why not?" answered Oliver quickly, "but I suppose I may come in, unless you have orders to the contrary." " What an idea, Mr. Englefield ! " answered Lizzie laughing. " Mrs. Kennerly was only talking of you this morning." " Mrs. Kennerly ? Didn't Miss Elsie say anything ? " Lizzie laughed again. " I don't rightly remember, for first Miss Elsie says one thing and then she says another." " I suppose we all do that. Didn't she answer her grandmother's remark ? " " If she did, Mr. Englefield, it has slipped my memory. I've enough to do with remembering Miss Elsie's orders ; it's Lizzie here and Lizzie there all day long, but all the same she's the bonniest and the merriest of us all ! i* ARRESTED. 4 Shall I take off your great coat ? It's mighty blustery up over the down, if so be you took the down path ?

" " Of course I did. It's a mile shorter," said Oliver smiling, for now he was in quite a cheerful mood, and his handsome face looked radiant with happiness. How tall and comely he was, notwithstanding that his clothes were made by an unfashionable tailor, and that poverty was, and had always been, his fellow-traveller. Lizzie led the way down a long stone passage, and then she flung open the door of the parlour. It was a lovely, old-fashioned room, wainscoted all over and possessing some fine wood carving. There were low seats to the windows, which overlooked a sweep of sea beyond the cliffs, and there were also nooks and corners in this charming chamber, whilst quaint pictures, both painted and worked, and quainter furniture of all patterns and all ages at once attracted the attention of strangers.

There were carved cupboards and coffin stools to be seen, also an old spinnet, and an older spinning-wheel, in fact everywhere one noticed some thing that added poetry and comfort to the quiet country home life of Yule Farm. " It's Mr. Englefield," said Lizzie, still smiling in rather an irritating manner. Of course the girl knew his secret, and she thought it vastly amusing to take note of Miss Elsie's lovers and of their various behaviours. None of the surrounding beauty, however, was realised by Oliver. In the first place he knew the chamber well, and secondly, his only thought was for the young mistress of Yule Faim, as his eyes at once sought her out. Then suddenly his boundless expectation fell a mile in depth, for Elsie did not seem at all surprised to see him, and came forward to shake hands with him as if it were the most natural thing in the world for a young man to walk five or six miles out from Norwold, after his day's work was over, for the mere pleasure of saying " How do you do ?

" to her. Then, too, it must be owned that the little demon jealousy entered Oliver's impatient heart and raged round it furiously, for another man sat in the chair which he usually occupied, and that other man was Mr. Simson, the tutor to little Lord Eastley at Yule Manor House, and a known admirer of Elsie Kennerly. How unjust Oliver was, and how ungrateful to the pretty, bright, sweet-faced Elsie, who came forward so graciously to meet him, and who said so kindly : " How do you do, Mr. Englefield ? I'm very glad to see you. Grannie, here is a proof of the truth of your saying, ' Talk of an angel ' " " Nonsense, child, I never said anything of the sort. How are you, Mr. Englefield ? It's very kind of you to come over and see two lonely women, and you have arrived just in time for tea. Excuse my rising, for I am very rheumatic, and the cold wind has not improved the pains in my old bones."

The white-haired lady held out her hand and looked searchingly at Oliver over her spectacles. She was keen-eyed but kindly, devoted to Elsie, whom she spoilt and scolded alternately, but whom she allowed to do exactly as she liked, knowing well that Elsie in the end always had her own way, and that way was, after all, ARRESTED. as good as any other. Elsie, sweet as she was, had a lively spirit of mischief strongly developed in her character. She could not help teasing those she loved, knowing all too well that one of her flattering speeches, or one of her bewitching smiles, would bring back her devoted slaves to their allegiance. As to her beauty, there was but one opinion about that ; but it was not mere beauty which made her so much beloved. There was something in all her ways which denoted plainly that she possessed a true, loving woman's heart.

However, she dearly liked to be trusted and beUeved in, and she could not understand how any one could resent her teasing words. To-day, seeing Oliver's face becoming gloomy, the spirit of mischief was roused within her, all the more so because she was, in truth, delighted to see him. She believed that one word from her would soon make him smile again ; so she made up her mind to punish him a little for being so tiresome and so jealous. After the coldest recognition of Mr. Simson, who was a quiet, somewhat dull man, five years older than the poor bank clerk, Oliver sat down as near to Elsie as possible, and, looking only at her, he remarked gravely : " There has been a press of work at the office, and they have kept us hard at work, Miss Kennerly, but to-day I was let out earlier, and as I sadly wanted to stretch my legs, I " "I wonder you chose this side of the coast, Mr. Englefield," interrupted Elsie.

" It is so very cold and lonely on these downs at this time of the year. You were just saying so, Mr. Simson, weren't you ?" "Yes, Miss Kennerly. The Manor is right on the top of the downs, and if it were not for the plantation round it, we should be blown out to sea." " I should be afraid to live up there ; it is so Ionel)'," said Elsie. " We are nervous even here at times, aren't we, grannie ?" "God is everywhere, Elsie. Those who indulge in foolish fears don't rightly trust Him ; that's what I say." "Well, of course you're right, dear grannie, but all the same you know that we both peep under our beds every night expecting to find the long-looked-for robber. There have been very rough characters about lately. I do wish our police were more numerous." "I'm sure we should hear your great bell, Miss Ken nerly, if ever you wanted help," said Mr. Simson quickly, but at these words the expression of Oliver's face became still blacker and more severe.

What business had anyone to defend Elsie but himself? — he thought, and his anger barely kept within bounds as Elsie laugh ingly answered : " Well, it is a comfort to me to think so, but all the same we are so far down below you that I can hardly believe it." At this moment Lizzie opened the door, and an nounced that tea was ready. " That's right," cried Elsie, jumping up. " Mr. Simson, give grannie your arm; and now, Mr. Engle field, we will lead the way." "I mustn't stay for tea, thank you," said Oliver, coldly. " Not stay to tea ! Oh, you must. Mr. Simson is going to tell us about his new discovery of fossils on our ARRESTED. shore. It is going to make him a famous man among all the clever people." "It looks already so dark, and — and my landlady expects me," was Oliver's answer. Elsie had, however, gently drawn him into the pretty, old-fashioned dining room, where tea was laid out on a snowy cloth, and where the kettle was singing merrily on the hob.

For a few moments Oliver's spirits rose, for the very touch of Elsie's gentle hand sent a thrill of happiness through him, and he felt that he was her willing slave. But when they were all seated, and Elsie had made tea and acted the gracious hostess to her guests, the conversation took a turn which again threw Oliver into a contrary mood. " Do you know, Mr. Simson, that I was talking about your discovery of a fossil submarine forest to young Mr. Roach the other day, and he says that you deserve the thanks of all the scientific men in England. You know Mr. Alfred Roach at Norwold, don't you, Mr. Engle field ?" " A rich young brewer who drives valuable horses is not very likely to desire my acquaintance," said Oliver. *' Does he come over here only to collect fossils ?" The young man's tone was extremely scornful.

" He has a natural taste that way," answered Elsie, laughing. " But of course he also likes to come and rest here after his labours." " Nature only reveals her secrets to those who wait patiently on her moods," said the tutor. " I told Mr. Roach that, didn't I, grannie ? I said that you, Mr. Simson, always walked with your eyes on the ground, and that that was why you discover these wonderful things, whilst he always looks at — the stars, shall we say ? " " Elsie ! Elsie ! " said her grandmother, reprovingly. " You give your opinions too freely." " No, grannie, it's Jonathan Hooper, my bailiff, who always expresses his opinions freely about my visitors, but he's very partial to Mr. Roach." Elsie looked side ways at Oliver, and noticed his looks of disgust. "Mr. Roach can buy favours," said Oliver, scornfully.

" He is very willing to learn," said the tutor, who had never been known to say an unkind word about any body, " and he is certainly very patient when I explain to him about the various " " But I'm not patient, Mr. Simson," interrupted Elsie, " and my private belief is that Mr. Roach pretends to more patience than he possesses, for the other day he was very willing to leave your fossils and go for a walk in the garden with us, wasn't he, grannie ? " " It's you that are frivolous, Elsie," said her grandmother. "Frivolous ! Mr. Simson, defend me. Didn't I attend all one afternoon when you read some learned book to me ? I forget what it was about." " It's a pleasure to read to you, Miss Kennerly. You are a very apt pupil." "They all come buzzing round her, and have time to waste with her, whilst I — I can only see her for a few minutes, and then not alone," said Oliver, bitterly, to himself.

Aloud, he remarked : ARRESTED. "People say that Mr. Roach, senior, does not ap prove of his son's extravagance." "Some people think that money is made to be hoarded," said Elsie, smiling. " Poor Mr. Alfred is not one of them. I saw him give half-a-crown to a beggar the other day, and he only laughed when I remonstrated with him." "It was very charitable of him," said Mr. Simson. " It was merely encouraging idleness in others," re torted Oliver. " Well, no one can live without money ; the more the better, eh, grannie ? There is my dear Aunt Giles, at Norwold, she is always wishing she had more money because she has so many pensioners, and yet she does not own that she wants more than she has." " Her husband was supposed to be a very rich man, but somehow when he died she did not get much," said Mrs. Kennerly.

" We never could understand it, but your aunt never would fuss herself about it. She says that God gives us what is good for us, and no one defrauds us unless he allows it. She is a true Christian." " How would the world go on if everyone said that ? " asked Oliver, impatiently. "But there would be many more good Christians, Mr. Englefield," said the old lady. " I doubt much whether there are many of us that have the right to the title at present." " If giving away freely is a sign of being a good Chris tian, then Mr. Alfred Roach nobly earns that title," said Elsie, looking sideways at Oliver, because she saw that the very mention of the young brewer's name made him cross. "Yes, yes, that's it," said Oliver, sarcastically; "let a man appear generous with no self-denial to himself, and then he gets the reputation of holiness.

For my part, I despise such false charity — I see it is getting dark, and I fear that I really must leave you, Mrs. Kennerly, having no other means of getting home than my own legs." "Mr. Englefield has certainly a long walk back, Elsie," said Mrs. Kennerly; "but, anyhow, you must drink just one more cup, and then we will let you go." Common politeness forced Oliver to accept, but as soon as possible he rose to take his leave, and Elsie followed him to the door, chatting all the time, and still pretending not to see Oliver's black looks. " Mr. Simson really is a very clever fellow, and, do you know, Mr. Englefield, I believe that he writes poetry," she added, lowering her voice, and smiling happily. Oliver bit his lips. Never before had he had a rival who wrote poetry ! "No man who respects himself wastes his time in scribbling poetry," he said, moodily.

"I must defend the absent; besides, I only guess it." And Elsie laughed outright. " I suppose you guess it because you have received verses ? " said Oliver, not imagining that Elsie was teasing him. "Well, not exactly; but Timothy Turner, that poor, queer old man who is half crazy, told me so, and Mr. ARRESTED. Simson lodges with him and his wife." Elsie was saying to herself, " Stupid Oliver, he is jealous of poor Mr. Simson. How ridiculous of him." " I have but once met Timothy, and I must own that then the fellow, with his bloodshot eyes, his hunchback, and his queer gestures, made my flesh creep. Surely his words can have no weight with you." " Oh, poor old Tim is harmless enough ; but he has a few crazes. He hates money and the very sight of gold, and very few of us do that, so of course it is a craze."

Again Elsie laughed happily. " Mr. Englefield, think better of your decision. Stay the night in the village, and to-morrow you can go with us to church." " No, thank you, Miss Kennerly. I will come over another day when you are less engaged. I have not time to idle about like a brewer or a tutor, for I have to carve out my own destiny. A man can do that if his mind is of the right stuff. A woman may be the play thing of fate, or of her own uncertain wishes, but a man " The two had now reached the front door, and Oliver paused. He was longing to fall at Elsie's feet, and to tell her how much he loved her, and to tell her also that she must give up every one else for his sake ; but the demon which possessed him had aroused his pride, and it had also increased his perversity. " Of course a man is better than a woman," said Elsie, with a touch of feminine scorn.

" You are always making fun, Miss Kennerly, and I had something serious to say to you ; that is why I came over." " Then why do you go away in such a hurry ? " said Elsie, and again her merry laugh rang out. She looked up into Oliver's face, and noticed how handsome he was. He certainly was the most manly man she knew, and the bravest, too, but then he was also the most exacting of all her admirers, and she must teach him better manners. " I have a thousand things to say to you," continued Oliver, impatiently ; " but how can a man express him self when he is only allowed to see you for a few minutes alone in an entrance hall ? " "Then let's go back to the parlour," said Elsie, demurely. " Pshaw ! " exclaimed Oliver. " You know very well what I want to say, Miss Kennerly. You know that I love you !

There ! I've said it. I can't beat about the bush as some mealy-mouthed fellows, but I mean what I say a thousand times more than they do. I'm poor ; I know it. It's a bitter truth that I cannot give you diamonds, as Mr, Roach could, but my love is worth more than " Elsie was in the shadow, and Oliver could not see her face distinctly. She was drinking in his words with delight and her heart was beating fast, but all the same his manner offended her, or she thought that it ought to offend her. Oliver was after all only a bank clerk, and he acted as if he were a lord. Why could he not woo her as other men did, why was he so jealous and so impatient ? She forgot at this moment that it was Oliver's fearless pride which had first attracted her, but she did not want to give in too easily. ARRESTED.

" You seem to think only of yourself," she said quietly. " You are rather bold " " Bold ! Oh, yes, of course I am. You think that because I am only a bank clerk with no fine prospects, I may not dare to speak out If I were rich " " If you were rich " began Elsie, she was going to say, " I would not care about you," but Oliver interrupted the end of her sentence. " I have kept my head above water all these years, and as long as my mother lived I worked hard for her. For years I have struggled against adverse circumstances and fought hard against fate, and against the world's pity, and the world's scorn, and then suddenly I had the misfortune to see you " " Indeed ! " said Elsie coldly, for she was really hurt now; "if you consider it a misfortune to see me, the remedy is easy. There are others " " Others ! yes, I know.

I know that this rich young brewer is wooing you, a man risen from " " Mr. Englefield ! " cried Elsie indignantly, " you forget that you are speaking of my friends and of their wealth in a way which " " Wealth ! that's it ! that's the key which unlocks a woman's heart. So be it, Miss Kennerly, you have let me fling my heart at your feet and you have rejected it, because I am poor ! I will go now and I shall only return when I can offer you the same heart enshrined in a golden casket, then — then, perhaps, you will deign to pick it up." He flung open the door and the cold blast blew right into the passage. The sudden draught extinguished the feeble glimmer of the lamp, and merely the moon light struggled in adding only sorrow's light to two sore hearts. Elsie had not been prepared for Oliver's sudden burst of anger.

She had not meant to rouse his passion. Of course she had meant before he left to say some kind word, and to give him some sweet look of sympathy, but instead of this she had teased him, and now she saw him stride away into the shadows of the leafy lane, where the sound of his footstep was lost in the moaning of the branches. "Mr. Englefield," she called out, "comeback, come back for one minute only. Oliver, Oliver, you mis understood me." There was no answer and, with an impulse Elsie could hardly believe possible, she ran out of the garden gate. "Oliver, Oliver, come back," she cried. She had never used his Christian name to him before, though in her own mind she had called him " dear Oliver." Why had he been so impatient — so violent? But how sweet it had been to hear him say that he loved her.

She had known it before of course, only how can a woman be quite, quite sure of the fact till those three words are spoken ? No, not quite certain, but he had said it and now he was gone, and he would walk all that long way home thinking unjust, wicked things of her. Gold, she cared nothing about it, for she had enough for both, but she did care about a good and a noble-minded man. She hurried half way up the lane, then she paused and listened. She thought she heard a faint sound of ARRESTED. footsteps. Was it really Oliver ? Then she smiled to think that she had even expected to overtake him, for his long strides were proverbial. She hastily climbed to the top of a gate and looked towards the open down. Yes, there he was, far away, a black speck in the twilight. It was useless and impossible to follow him, and as Elsie sadly turned back and retraced her steps, she gave a little sob as she murmured to herself, " Oliver, dear Oliver, why didn't you come back ?

" There was, however, no time to linger ; her grand mother would wonder at her absence, and she must go back and entertain that good, but rather tiresome Mr. Simson who, unlike Oliver, was in no hurry to go. She must hide her feelings, but was it her fault that he was angry? Well perhaps, a little, a very little. She loved teasing Oliver, he was so easily roused, but she was glad that he had said that he loved her, and she, oh, yes, she loved him ; none of her other admirers could be compared with him. What had she done ? Why was she feeling so sad about him ? She seemed to have a presentiment that something dreadful was going to happen, but what could happen ? Oliver would certainly come back again. On the first opportunity he would hasten to her side and say that he was sorry for having showed such hasty impatience, and she would tell him then, quite decidedly, that she cared nothing about his being poor.

She loved him whether he was poor or rich, she loved him as he was with all her heart, and she would tell him that he was never, never to believe that she would willingly hurt him. " Miss Elsie ! Miss Elsie ! ! " Lizzie's voice interrupted her sad thoughts as she ran indoors. " Oh, dear, Miss Elsie, there's Mr. Simson a-teaching of your grandmother about them nasty fossils of his, and she just give me a despairing whisper, she did. ' Lizzie,' says she, ' do fetch Miss Elsie, whatever can she be a-doing out in the cold?'" " I'm coming, Lizzie. I was only looking at the moon rising. It's so pretty this evening." As Elsie ran into the dining room Lizzie giggled to herself. " For all she says about a pretty moon, Miss Elsie had her back to it ! It was Mr. Englefield she was looking after, he was her pretty moon."

Chapter II

a strange offer. Oliver never heard the voice that was calling him. His own wild, passionate, angry feelings had got the upper hand of him, and he was now giving place to a mad, jealous discontent. As he strode on, heeding neither the wind nor the swaying of the trees of the lane, his whole soul seemed filled with rebellion against God and against his destiny. Why was he poor ? Why was he to be always struggling and never attaining? He looked back on his past life, and in that picture he could see nothing but trouble and disappointment. In his early childhood ne could just remember his father. He too had been a poor clerk, with a gentle, patient face, and a passionate love of music. But ARRESTED. Oliver's mind dwelt longer on his mother's face, for she had but lately left him. Hers had been a strong, brave character, a woman, who though left broken hearted by her husband's death, had always struggled on in spite of grinding poverty.