Cousin Dick

Front matter

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TINSLEY BROTHERS, 8, CATHERINE STREET, STRAND. COUSIN DICK. r.v LILY TINSLEY. y AUTHOR OF "A WOMAN'S REVENGE," "SHADOWS,1 "AT THE CROSS ROADS," ETC. "genian : TINSLEY BROTHERS, S, CATHERINE STREET, STRAND. 18S5. CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Under The Trees

THERE was no denying the fact that it was hot, very hot. If anyone cared to dispute this point, certainly Dick Marsden did not, as he lay swinging himself to and fro in a hammock suspended beneath the shadow of two tall fir trees in the garden of Burton Lodge. With his tall, well-built figure stretched out at full length, one hand supporting a head of very untidy brown hair, and the other languidly holding a book, he seemed the embodiment of ease and laziness. Around him everything told of the heat of the day which was now drawing to a close. The lawn at his feet, usually so soft and green, looked brown and dry ; while the numerous little chasms which intersected it seemed to open like thirsty mouths, eager for moisture ; the flowers and shrubs that covered the beds looked parched and shrivelled up in spite of the plentiful watering they had received before the sun rose, and the air around was filled with B myriads of tiny insects which buzzed hither and thither in full enjoyment of the glorious sunshine.

Save the perpetual humming of the insects, no sound was to be heard, for the Lodge stood back from the road, and the garden stretched far beyond it. The Lodge was the property of Mr. James Burton, and had been purchased by him to form one of those very indispensable retreats to which every member of that well-organised body which calls itself " society " retires, to plume bedraggled feathers and repair jaded looks and health — the results of a long and gay season — and from which oblivion to return armed and prepared for fresh conquests, fresh exertions. Mr. Burton was a fine-looking old gentleman, with a fondness for keeping open house and seeing people enjoy themselves, which characteristics made him a favourite with both young and old. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and his face was rendered pleasing by a pair of kind-looking brown eyes, and a long silky grey beard.

Mrs. Burton, a handsome, well-preserved lady about fifty years of age, and a daughter, com pleted the family circle. Beryl was now in her twentieth year. She was certainly pretty, if it was still a babyish style of prettiness. A little round face was hers, and a pair of large brown eyes, which tried to make one believe she was the most demure and the most shy of girls. The dimples in her chin, however, were sadly at variance with the expression of her eyes, and so were the short, loose, defiant curls which could never be induced to sit straight. She was little — she never would be anything else but little — although to be sure, she. had a plump figure of her own, of which she was rather proud. When quite a child she had insisted upon being called " Berry," because for some unknown reason she had taken a dislike to the name " her god father and godmothers " had given her, and somehow she always retained the baby title.

Dick Marsden, whom we left reclining in the hammock, was a nephew of Mrs. Burton's. He was tall, with hair of a rather remarkable length, grey eyes which could twinkle with fun at times, but grow tender and grave at others, and regular features — in fact, a young man who was generally considered by the fair portion of his friends as " not bad looking." Half asleep he lay in the hammock, idly rocking himself to and fro till the sound of a voice broke the silence, calling from the direction of the house : " Dick, Dick, Dick, where are you ? " Dick started slightly, made a motion as if to rise, but changed his mind and lay perfectly still, intent upon his book — yet he knew that voice belonged to his cousin Berry — Berry whom he had not seen for nearly five years. Before those five years the cousins had been so much together as to be like brother and sister, and B this was the way he behaved after so long a separa tion !

It did seem rather too bad, especially as she had been looking forward to the meeting with pleasure which she hoped was mutual. Do not for a moment imagine that she was at all in love with careless, easy-going Dick. True, he was only seven teen and she but just fifteen when they had seen each other last, but although these are somewhere near the ages when young people are generally first seriously attacked with the malady — love — such an idea as ever being anything more than cousins to each other never entered their heads. On this account each was freely made the confidant of the other's plans and aspirations, until circumstances occurred which changed the current of affairs. From quite a child Dick's ambition had been to enter the army, but the disastrous failure of his father, followed by that parent's death, came as a sudden and awful blow to his once bright prospects.

Always an affectionate and dutiful son, it was long ere Dick recovered from his grief, and when he did at length turn his attention to business, he found that one hundred pounds a year was all that remained to him and his mother. Thus Dick was left as the sole supporter of a widowed mother, whose delicate health had always been the object of solicitous care ; and the mother and son settled down temporarily in a tiny cottage on the Kentish coast, and tried to economise. Mr. Burton had offered a home to his sister-in-law, but it had been gently yet firmly refused, and Dick was at his wits' end what to do. To him one thing was certain, his mother must live in London, and how could she do so unless in the best neighbour hood ? For this, money, more money, was wanted. It took some consideration, but at length a plan was found and acted upon with an energy which sur prised even Dick himself.

Almost before he knew where he was, his mother was comfortably settled in a bijou house in Regent's Park, and he — the lazyi indolent Dick — installed as clerk in a wholesale house in the city, receiving as a salary an amount which was but one-third of the handsome allowance he had formerly possessed. At first he had hard work to settle to his duties, but gradually, as his mother recovered from the shock she had felt so deeply, her health improved, and Dick found himself rejoicing on seeing her once more herself again, and ceasing to bemoan their straitened circumstances. There was no romance about Dick, yet he had more than once thought that he would like to see his cousin, and wondered if she ever wished to see him. During the three years she had spent in travel, neither had considered it worth while to write.

True, Berry had more than once determined to do so, but always putting off the day until the time came, when, full of sorrow for her uncle's death and "poor old Dick's " trouble, she had sent him such a letter as might have showed him that she had not forgotten how to sympathise with all the warmth of her little heart. She did not expect any answer, nor did she get one, but she was glad she had written, very glad. Then, too, during the two years of the Marsden's settlement in London, Berry had spent part of the time in Paris, and on her return her days were always so occupied with pleasure and Dick's with work, that although she had paid more than one visit to his mother, the two had never met. At length Mrs. Marsden accepted an oft-repeated invitation to spend a few weeks at the Lodge. During the journey that morning, when his mother was comfortably settled in her corner of the railway carriage, Dick, declaring it too much trouble to read, had shut his eyes and composed himself for forty inks.

This attempt, however, proved a failure, owing partly to the noise and heat, and partly, it must be confessed, because his mind was occupied in recalling Berry as he had last seen her. " Wonder if she is pretty ? Suppose so." (Dick sometimes fell into the habit of chopping up his thoughts in a rather strange fashion, which made his conversation rather difficult to understand. When inclined to be extra lazy, the total abolition of personal pronouns rendered his meaning doubly obscure.) " The boys at the College used to rave about her, so suppose she is. Hope she will not expect me to be brimful of compliments and all that kind of thing. Wonder if she wears a pig-tail still. (Fancy a young lady making her debut in a pig-tail. Oh, Dick! Dick!) "Used to make me carry her over the brook. Wonder if she would want me to do it now?"

(Here a new and startling idea occurred to him, which was rather inconsistent with his former reflections, and actually roused him to open his eyes and sit upright.) " By Jove, though, she must be nearly twenty by this time — I am forgetting that — then as a natural consequence she has developed a propensity for flirting — twenty years of age — pretty — and, what's more, my cousin — this is serious. Hope she won't get trying her hand on me, just for practice, not" (excusing himself) " that I am such an eligible parti — no, my prospects, as they say, are anything but likely to inspire the tender passion — and, as to looks ? — well, I suppose I should pass in a crowd." And this young man, who was generally considered to have a very low opinion of himself, actually indulged in a prolonged stare at his reflection in the carriage window, which, as the train was just entering the tunnel, he was able to do without exertion.

The result was, when they once more dashed out into the glaring sunlight, Dick had arrived at two conclusions. Firstly, that his moustache was certainly an improvement which was sure to make an impression on his cousin — Dick only meant figuratively, of course. Secondly, that in spite of all the advantages in her favour, he was determined to let the said cousin see that he was not merely a plaything imported to amuse her during the absence of her rightful " prey." In spite of these very sage resolutions, Dick's arrival at a third conclusion, namely the end of his journey, found him stroking down the aforesaid moustache, and looking forward eagerly to his approaching meeting with his pretty cousin. When the Marsdens reached the Lodge, they found the whole of the family gone over to Barrington, the non-arrival of a letter leading them not to expect the travellers till the following day.

After partaking of dinner, Dick left his mother asleep in the dining-room, and sauntered down the garden book in hand. Lounging in the hammock, he did not notice how the time passed, till that voice calling " Dick " told him of the family's return. Determined in his own mind to give his cousin a specimen of the treatment she must expect, he made no attempt to go and meet her. If Dick had made up his mind concerning his manner, certainly Berry had not made up hers. She knew that five years would have changed him in many respects, but had he not always taken pains to impress upon her that " the uglier a girl was the more he liked her," which statement he certainly supported in one way, always being on very bad terms with his playfellow owing to her supreme contempt for his abominable laziness, so that she set no store upon his being at all complimentary as regards any change in her personal appearance.

Now, however, when he was down the garden, instead of being ready to greet her, she saw that he wished to continue the old relations, so determined to fall in with his views. But to return to the fir trees. Dick took no notice of the call, still paid the same rigid attention to the page held upside down before him, hearing nothing, seeing nothing, till the book was taken sharply from his hand, and the voice said, in just the same tone as when it used to break in upon his afternoon nap in days of old : " Now, do not pretend you did not hear me calling, for I know better — unless you have become stone deaf since I saw you last. Have you ? " Rather taken aback by this greeting, all the more surprising on account of the dainty, fashionably dressed young lady by whom it was uttered, Dick nearly forgot his part, but managed to say in a drawling tone : " Oh, I say, Berry, do give it (meaning the book) back.

I was so interested ; just in the middle of a proposal " What do I care about your proposals ? " " By Jove, refused already ! " groaned Dick, closing his eyes and sinking back with an air of despondency comical to behold. " T mean," went on Berry, wrathfully, taking no notice of the interruption, "that you are much more ill-mannered than I thought you were — which is saying a great deal — to let me make myself hoarse with calling you, and yet never to answer." " You call ! Ton honour, didn't hear you. Thought I heard the rooks, though, but was too interested in my book to take any notice. Give it to me back, do," holding out his hand, which was, however, sent flying into the air, and the coveted treasure was safely bestowed in Berry's pocket. " I shall do nothing of the kind, so do not expect it ; here have I been hunting for you all over the place, calling and shouting " " Very unladylike proceeding," put in Dick, not stirring from his comfortable position.

" And you never so much as move a finger to come and meet me." " Shouldn't have to stir my fingers, but my feet, dear, if I had run to receive your welcome, so the sting of your reproach is lost upon me." Berry thought best to treat this poor attempt at wit with the scorn it deserved, and began jerking her gloves unbuttoned with an aggrieved air, which really might have had great effect on any one but her sleepy cousin ; not that Berry was a coquette — at least not more than girls of her age usually are — but in spite of her resolutions it was rather trying to be treated in such an unceremonious manner. Dick, too, in his desire to tease, by appearing so indifferent to his cousin's presence, had to stifle a growing curiosity to take a general survey of her as she stood beside him. The one glance he had taken made him wish to see more, and yet he liked so much to hear that scornful little voice, that he lay back and shut his eyes, imagining himself a schoolboy again, nay, almost wishing he was one — even though he would then have been minus the telling moustache — that he might retaliate in some way upon his tormentor.

" Cannot you even rouse yourself to say ' How do-you-do ? ' " was the next question. At the same time the hammock received a violent jerk which caused it to bound to and fro, but took no effect upon its occupant, save to cause him to raise his eyebrows slightly, and say, in a very sleepy voice : " How do, cousin ? Go on rocking, will you ? I like it." " Brute ! " said Berry, with as much indignation as it was possible for her to assume. " I was sent to tell you to come in to tea, but since you have behaved so disgracefully, you may come in by yourself, and 1 shall tell Auntie the reason why." Thinking this would rouse him, she turned away, but he only nodded drowsily and said in a muffled voice : •'Thanks, so sleepy," closing his eyes once more, and heaving a deep sigh. Thoroughly out of patience as she was, or pretended to be, Berry could not help smiling ; then, with something of her old spirit, and regardless of any thoughts of being pronounced unladylike, she sent the objectionable novel flying at the owner's head.

If, however, she expected to have her revenge in this manner, she was disappointed ; for, in spite of the apparently closed eyes, the book was caught in Dick's right hand with another cool, — " Thanks ; so much obliged ! " This was adding insult to injury with a vengeance. With all the dignity it is possible to embody in four feet nine inches, Berry swept (romantic term) down the path, not being able, however, to resist one glance behind as she turned the curve, but it was only to see Dick still in the same position, apparently absorbed in his book; only apparently, however, for no sooner was she out of sight than the novel was flung straight into a bed of choice mignonette, as Dick, with a quiet smile on his face, jumped from his hammock and started for the house by a route of his own making namely, by scaling the wall, running along the side road, and entering the house by the front door.

Thus it happened that when Berry stepped through the open French window into the drawing-room, she found her mother, father and aunt already seated at the tea-table, while her cousin, without a trace about him of hurry, was helping his mother to the wing of a chicken, and attending to her with a care which was a pleasant contrast to his manner but a few minutes before. " Here you are at last," said Mrs. Burton, as Berry entered the room. " Where have you been child ? " " We've been waiting for you ever so long," put in Dick, endeavouring to take a survey of his cousin without appearing to do so, but she, without taking the slightest notice of his presence, took her place behind the urn, which formed an effectual barrier between them, and began pouring out the tea in quite an unconcerned manner.

During the meal the conversation turned on many subjects, but the cousins scarcely addressed each other. If by chance Berry did speak to Dick, his answers were always given in the same short, don't care way, which, however, appeared to take no effect on his questioner. She was as bright and full cf laughter as ever, and kept the table merry with her flow of good-natured criticisms of Barrington and its visitors. "You are our first arrivals," said Mrs. Burton, passing up her cup. " We have just said ' good-bye ' to one 'batch' of friends, as Berry calls them, and to-morrow we expect to have the house full again. I have put you in your old rooms, Lizzie, and given Mason special charge over you to see that your maid has everything you may want. I am glad you came to-night. Now we shall have a chat together, but not for long.

I see the journey has been rather too much for you. We will all retire early, as we have been very busy this week — have we not, Berry ? A quiet evening will be quite a change. I am sure I wonder the child is not worn out. What with the rowing, yachting, picnics, exploring parties and impromptu dances, one might as well have remained in town." " At any rate Berry looks none the worse for all her gaiety," replied Mrs. Marsden, with a loving glance at the pretty face smiling at her from behind the urn. " What is your recipe for such roses ? " " Plenty of exercise and a light heart, I think," was the answer. " Fancy a girl saying such a thing after two seasons. Do you mean to tell me, Berry, that there is not some little episode (I believe that is the right word to use), which you are treasuring up in your mind ; some little affaire de cœur, eh ?

" " No, indeed there is not," replied Berry, frankly. " I certainly have had several flirtations, but that is all they ever were. A girl must flirt to a certain extent, you know, or she loses all the fun." " Who is the present victim to your fascinations ? " asked her father, laughing, while Mrs. Burton shook her head reprovingly, and Dick opened his mouth to speak, but shut it again, evidently changing his mind. Berry registered a vow, to make him join in the conversation, and also to pay him out for his impoliteness. " Oh ! I am off duty now, you know, but a certain Mr. Probart is causing mamma some anxiety. He is only twenty-one, has heaps of money, and spends his time in the maddest freaks you could possibly imagine. I am quite longing for his arrival to morrow, for then we are sure to be kept alive ; that is, if he does not blow himself and us up, in a sort of second gunpowder plot, in his efforts to celebrate our meeting.

I hope he will be here early, so that we can all go over to Barrington together. Jessie Morris is dying to be introduced since I told her about that affair at Greenwood, where he nearly drowned himself trying to get me those water-lilies. I have the lilies now, and every time he comes he brings me some fresh ones to remind me of the sacrifice he was so willing to make for my sake." Berry rattled on in this fashion during the rest of the meal, recounting her experiences much to the amusement of all save Dick, who sat silently studying in turns everything in the room but the little face which every now and then peeped slyly at him from behind the barrier. Yet, although he was not looking, he saw that it was just the same face as he had remembered, only prettier, much prettier, and he wondered greatly if all the gaiety of two London seasons had left any of the old spirit in his cousin.

Something in her manner made him afraid not. Dick had altered so much into a grave, steady fellow lately, that he did not know whether he liked to hear her rattle on in the way she was doing. It was very funny to listen to her, but it struck him as being rather " fast," and he hated to have to apply such a term to his once playfellow. Stupid fellow ! he did not see that the girl was piqued at his behaviour, and took this way of revenging it, hoping to rouse him to some protest. But she was disappointed. Dick continued almost entirely silent until they rose from the table, and then joining Mr. Burton with a cigar, departed to pay a visit to the stables, while the three ladies ensconced themselves on the verandah with their work. It was nearly dark before uncle and nephew returned to the house.

Mrs. Burton and her sister were in the house — Berry, they said, had gone to meet them. "Dick, just go and find her, will you?" said his aunt. " I expect she is in the garden somewhere." Hardening his heart against any attempt to make him a recipient of her wiles, Dick went in search of his cousin. He had not to go far. Berry met him as he crossed the lawn. Without knowing it he made a mental picture of her — the moonlight falling on her white dress and the soft pink shawl thrown loosely over her shoulders; noted the absence of the well remembered and well-pulled pig-tail, and looked with approving eyes on the little brown curls which suited the round dimpled face so much better. She had noticed at tea how unconcerned and apparently unheeding he had appeared, and determined this once more to try and make him exert himself.

With this plan she again dashed off into some anecdote of her Paris life, looking up now and then into his face to note the effect ; but he still preserved the same indifferent, calm demeanour, and when they entered the house Berry was very nearly put out at having elicited as answers nothing more satisfactory than "Yes," "No," "Do you think so?" This was the cousin she had once been so fond of, looked up to in spite of his laziness! This was the cousin who was to have been almost an elder brother to her. Berry was disappointed, and before retiring to rest had determined to treat him as he did her, with indifference, setting him down in her own mind as either very dull or very indolent. And Dick, unaware of anything amiss in his manner, except as regards his greeting, and looking forward to a month of thorough rest and enjoyment after the bustle of business, made up his mind to be as indolent as possible, if only for the pleasure of seeing Berry's scorn, and have her endeavour to rouse, him to anything like exertion. How he carried out this pretty little plan further pages will show.

Chapter II. The Early Bird The

next morning, entering the breakfast-room, Dick found his aunt and uncle already there. "Only just down, eh?" said Mr. Burton, when the usual greetings were over. "I wonder such a lovely morning did not tempt you to take a stroll. I always do before breakfast ; I think it does one more good than when the sun is so hot. But I suppose your London habits are too strong yet ; or are you, as Berry always declares, too lazy?" "Berry seems determined to give me the worst character possible, I think," replied Dick laughing; "and always looks at me through the medium of my boyish days, which is rather unfair, as it gives me no chance to improve myself in her opinion. I own I used to be, as she gently puts it, 'abominably lazy,' but she will not wait to find if I am at all altered. She takes it too much for granted, I am thinking.

By-the-by, where is the young lady? Not down yet ? I hope that I may have the pleasure of lecturing her when she does make her appearance." "Who is that slandering me behind my back, pray? Here I am, so say what you have to say before my face," said a gay, laughing voice from the porch outside, and as if to dare him to say anything at all, Berry herself appeared at the open French window, her little figure in its light cotton morning dress set in a framework of roses. " Good morning, fair cousin," said Dick with a low bow. "It well becomes you to be humble after the remarks I overheard. Might I be allowed to ask what you hope I had not done that you might have the pleasure of lecturing me?" "I was merely supposing you might be late for breakfast, but " "What a good idea; only just down yourself and proposing to call me to order!

No, no, sir! you must wait a little longer before you assume the post of monitor. Fancy Lazy Dick lecturing me when I have been out of the house this two hours ; so you see I am the early bird after all." "Oh, I say, Berry, don't say that. Think to what a low position it reduces me!" interrupted a second, a stranger's voice, and a handsome laughing face with a drooping brown moustache appeared beside the girl's rosy one. " Poor fellow ! I was forgetting you. Come in and we will have something to eat as soon as ever you have said ' how do you do,' and given an explanation of your rather unceremonious arrival." Berry stepped into the room as she spoke, and the first thing which caught Dick's eye was a large bunch of waterlillies fastened at her throat. The young fellow followed and was warmly greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Burton.

"Why, my dear Probart, whatever train did you come by? There is no midnight express, is there ?" " No, the railway company do not so far oblige us. I received orders to be here as early as possible, so thought I might as well come to breakfast." " Quite right, my boy — very glad to see you," said Mr. Burton, with a pleasant smile. " But that does not explain how you got here so soon." " True. Well, I arrived at R last night, stayed with an aunt for the night, and walked over here this morning, instead of waiting for the train which would have delayed me till nearly eleven." " You certainly did not waste much time with your relation, Guy. How did the old lady take your leaving so soon ? " " On the whole I think she was rather glad than otherwise, as I told her my fondness for chemical experiments was as great as ever.