Misconception

Chapter I

" So I find your new lodge is inhabited at last, Mrs. Carlisle ; I envy the new tenant." The speaker stopped in his walk and let his eyes roam over the beautiful expanse of country which lay before him. The lady Mr. Tomlin was addressing was tall and graceful, and though past the early years of woman hood, walked with a firm, buoyant step, and had nothing sad or worn in the hazel eyes, which responded with quick animation to her companion's remarks. " Ah ! I see," she said, " it looks in habited. I suppose our bailiff, Symonds, has put some one in; one of the carters most probably. It is a nice situation, as you say ; indeed, the North Lodge is better situated with regard to views than B Misconception. 2 the Court itself. People have often said, ' I wish you would give me the refusal of that lodge, Mrs. Carlisle.' I never thought we should have any trouble in finding some one to hve there ; but, you see, people of the lower class don't care a pin about views, good water, drainage, or any of these things we worry ourselves over so much in these days.

I do a great deal of visiting amongst our own people about here, and am very much struck by their utter indifference to sanitary matters, and as for the poetry of life " she sighed. "It is mere blank verse," broke in Mr. Tomlin ; " but tell me something more of Sevenacres, Mrs. Carlisle. I own to being acquainted with some of our southern counties, but this immediate spot is quite foreign to me, and I am quite struck with the beauties you have shown me this after noon. How came Carlisle to pitch upon such a happy spot whereon to build his house ? " " I shall leave him to speak for himself," she answered, waving a handkerchief to Misconception. 3 attract a tall, begaitered figure, who was coming towards them as she spoke. John Carlisle and Edgar Tomlin had been friends from childhood and fellow-sportsmen, but Mr. Tomlin had of late years been much tied to his work in the City, while his friend, a Russian merchant, had been able to live wherever his fancy led him, and only looked after his business if anything unusual occurred claiming his personal supervision.

One day, when out on a pedestrian ramble towards the New Forest, he had mistaken his road, and finding himself in the village of Sevenacres, he was so much delighted with what he had come upon, that he immediately began making inquiries about the land for sale. He found a tumble-down mansion with some five thousand acres, which he lost no time in making his own; pulled down what seemed to be past re newing about the old mansion, and built himself a beautiful and spacious house, known as Henfield Court. It was scarcely finished when he invited all his friends to stay and enjoy with him and his family the B Misconception. 4 treasure he had found. After repeated in vitations this was the first time Mr. Tomlin felt that London could spare him and his valuable services for a few days, but he was more than repaid by all he found in and about his old friend's new home.

Time must not be wasted in describing the Court, for after all it was much hke any other modern Tudor mansion, which is so wed and amply portrayed by any and every auctioneer's catalogue, with its spacious hall, palatial reception rooms, &c. It was all there and more of like description, with its artfully-designed drapings of tapestry, black oak panelling and carving, relics from ancient churches despoiled in some previous times when the Reformation did such ravages in Sussex and Surrey, deep moulded ceilings and large window recesses, where dogs and children played and slept on great cushioned seats, and wood logs burned and crackled and did their best to make modern ob servers fancy they were living in olden times, when harmony of colour reigned supreme, and gilding and mirrors had not brought Misconception. 5 their disfiguring adornments to beautify according to the vulgar taste of the nouveau riche.

There was certainly nothing approaching vulgarity at Henfield Court, and the inmates seemed part and parcel of their surroundings. The county had opened its narrow arms to Mr. Carhsle and welcomed him and his charming wife with unusual effusion. No one could do other than like them both, he was so hail-fellow-well-met with everyone, and she — but more of her anon. If by outward appearances one could come to any right judgment of character, hers was a spirit of sunshine ; all virtues shone out of her bright hazel eyes and echoed in the hght crisp step as she started off homewards, leaving her husband with his friend. She was always busy looking after her own people, as she called the farm labourers and their families on the Henfield estate. Her kind thought and sympathy made a separate world of it.

She taught the people to love their homes and to find and make interests within them ; she had her library, her mothers' meetings, her village Misconception. clubroom, which was in other words a private coffee palace . where men could smoke, read the papers, or have musical evenings. Time had dealt kindly with her hair ; auburn curls nestled on her unwrinkled forehead with all the lustre of youth. Her hfe up to this period had known so little sorrow ; no clouds seemed to rest upon her, which to many seemed strange, for she was a woman whose nerves were highly strung and whose heart was infinitely tender. Returning to her house she was tempted to go in by the garden entrance, and she paused on the threshold to listen to a deep manly voice as it was pouring out the words, " Dear I love you, so I only can leave you."

Peeping through the drawing-room door, which was partly open, she saw a tall handsome young man singing these words as if to her daughter, who was playing his accompaniment at the piano. " It is you, Beresford, is it?" she said, push ing open the door ; " I could not imagine who was singing here at this hour ; what a pretty song; but rather sad, is it not ? Anne must Misconception. 7 show you the music which came down yester day. There are some very pretty new things amongst it." So she chatted on, stirring the logs into a cheerful blaze, and then seated herself in a cosy chair to enjoy young Beresford Hamlyn's music. He was an especial favourite of hers — the son of a well-to-do neighbour, a retired general in the artillery!; and though she would have scorned the vulgar idea of being a designing mother, and seeing in this young man a future husband for her young daughter, she was not blind to the love she saw ripening in both these young people, a love which gave her pleasure to watch.

Beresford, in her eyes, possessed all that was charming and good in man, and if his chin receded slightly, and there was a want of resolution about the full red lips, Mrs. Carlisle had failed to detect it. Anne was a second edition of her mother, tall, graceful, with the same auburn tint in eyes and hair — in Beresford's eyes much more beautiful than her mother, or any other being he had ever known. Misco n ceptio n . " Wliat nonsense people write ! " Her voice had quite a sharp ring in it as she flung the song aside. " I shall play you the last waltz out, and then we shall be ready for tea. Mother, Beresford is getting into a sad vein from singing unhealthy songs. Tell me, did you meet father, and what do you think of his funny friend ? Poor Mr. Tomlin, everything with him is ' absolutely charming ' or ' absolutely ugly.' I shall nickname him Sir Anthony Absolute."

Forgiving a mother's partiality, one could not feel surprise at the look of fond admiration Mrs. Carlisle cast upon her daughter. Anne flung herself on the bearskin in front of the fire, and the ruddy glow from the flames played over her Titian coloured hair. " My belief is, mother, Beresford is going mad over vivisection, and I am quite frightened for poor Nero; I know he will be trying all sorts of experiments on him." Nero himself did not appear anxious as he stretched his long limbs on the rug beside, and gazed earnestly up into the young man's face ; he knew he was being talked about, but Misconception. 9 neither the sound of rabies, home for lost dogs, or muzzles, had any horrors for him. Brought up from a pup in the lap of ease and luxury, he knew nothing of the sufferings of other dogs.

Mr. Carlisle and his friend broke in upon a very merry group as the old clock in the hall chimed five. The tea table was drawn close to the fire, and the party near it were capping one another's stories. Mrs. Carlisle was always bright and young with her children. Beresford Hamlyn had just returned from a short trip to the south of France, full of wild tales — " travellers tales," indeed-- from the Monte Carlo district. Beresford was tacitly acknowledged to be Anne's lover, although no words of more than fraternal love had ever passed between them; as a matter of course no day passed without his putting in an appearance at some hour of the twentyfour. He walked, talked, and skated with her, and wasted many valuable hours dawdling beside the piano, or on the lawn at tennis. The serious side of life had never been Misconception. 10 presented to him ; he supposed his father was so well off that he should never lack butter on his bread ; he could not reahse that if he married Anne it would be necessary for him to work to make a home for her.

" What could I do ? " he would say with a yawn; " what on earth is there for a fellow to do in these days ? The market is glutted with such as I already." It was not such a bad life at Sevenacres after all ; a man could manage to exist fairly well with the fishing and shooting the neigh bourhood offered; a few weeks in London during the season, a run to Monte Carlo or Homburg when change was ordered, and a nice sweet girl in his neighbour's daughter, always blushing and smiling and ready to accept his little attentions, young enough and simple enough to let the future slide. It was having a very deteriorating effect upon this young man, nevertheless; his friends did not see it, but he was becoming each day more idle, selfish, and cynical. What other result could such a life have upon one gifted by nature with good looks and various untried Misconception. 11 and uncultivated talents ?

To Mrs. Carlisle he was the same dear, sunny-natured boy she had known for years ; she did not perceive that he was rapidly becoming a man — a man in all save that ruling passion, ambition, which was wanting to make him the guide and protector of her sweet daughter in the future. To her, he and Anne were yet children, and placed in such happy homes they did well not to trouble about the future ; and why, indeed, should she trouble for them ? it was a bright and happy time for her, sur rounded by her children and a most loving and devoted husband. Through the sun shine of those days she failed to distinguish the little cloud even now rising to dim some of its brightness. " The best of the weather has gone, Tomlin, we cannot expect many more fine clays until St. Luke's summer breaks upon us."

Mr. Carlisle was speaking as he drew down the blinds to shut out the autumnal mist rising up from the valley. " I hope we shall get a good day's sport to-morrow, but as my foreign friend said, ' The wind is Misconception. 12 tother, and the mechang is below,' otherwise the wind had changed and the glass gone down." "I am thankful to say, my dear boy, I am indifferent to weather, utterly indifferent to climate," answered his friend. " What do you say, Hamlyn ? " " Oh, you won't find me to the fore if it's beastly weather, it's not worth it, you know." Beresford drew himself up to his full height before the fire, surveyed his own handsome face in the opposite mirror, and looked horribly bored at the very idea. " Anne and I are going for a ride first if the day is at ad decent, but I may join you later if you want another gun.

I believe my father is going with you — he said something about it. What do you say to billiards, Tomlin ? there is time for 50 up before dinner." " Father," said Anne, laying a detaining hand upon his arm as the others sauntered out of the room, "you never told me the people were actually in the North Lodge. Who are they ? what are they like ? and have they any children ? " Misconception. 13 " I must refer you to our bailiff for most of the information you want ; I cannot say ; I have not seen them, for the man Crawford was at work amongst the turnips this morning, and a pair of very bright black eyes peered out upon me from the lodge, which I conclude must belong to Mrs. C, but they might have belonged to the man's daughter, if he has one. ■ I cannot enlighten you further, Miss Inquisitive ; if you want to know more you must go and see for yourself ; I conclude they are worthy folk or Symonds would not have given them the new lodge."

Such small events interest people living in the country ; a fresh face appearing at church was enough to set the whole village of Seven acres gossiping, and a new tenant in a new cottage naturally created great interest in the minds of the young people at the Court. And yet these new comers were not in themselves likely subjects to interest or amuse ; the man, an ordinary Sussex boor, who did as little work as possible in the shortest hours he could make ; while the wife, who had been the belle of a poorly populated village not many miles Miscon ception . 14 from Sevenacres, was a very ordinary young woman, but possessing a pair of fine black eyes which had worked as much mischief as those kind of orbs generally do. They had a way of expressing a great deal more than the owner of them was capable of feehng, and hiding within their depths a canine simplicity and sweetness.

Hetty Crawford, who had become to her neighbours such a subject for speculation and curiosity, was meantime setting her cottage in order and peering over the top of her short white blind and pots of scarlet geranium at the gentry whenever a footfad was heard ap proaching the lodge. She was as yet too strange to open the gate when she heard the wheels of a carriage, but set it open in the morning and closed it at night when there was no fear of being seen ; and yet shyness was not a great feature in Hetty's character, her retiring habits savoured more of that pride which apes humility ; indeed, Crawford and she had already had words between them when she found that she would have her duties to perform to her betters in the home to which Misconception. 15 he was taking her. Before Hetty married she had assisted the matron of the village hospital, a pet scheme of the Lady Bountiful in her village, and there her slow quiet ways had been of great use to the suffering poor.

If her sympathy was not of that depth depicted by the softness in her beautiful eyes, none could blame her ; she did her duty and gained praise from thp matron and admiration from the doctor, but alas ! she soon wearied of her monotonous life, and threw in her lot with John Crawford, happy to escape the dulness of home, assured that at Sevenacres she would be quite "the lady" and have nothing to do. So many " would-be " ladies amongst our work ing classes have to be disillusioned like poor Hetty, rudely shaken out of dreamland. At present all was new, clean and delightful; her neighbours came with eager curiosity to see what sort of people they were. The ladies from the Court called in on their way from church the first Sunday after her arrival, to make Mrs. Crawford's acquaintance. Mrs. Carlisle and Anne were on their best behaviour, putting a few polite queries to poor Misconception.

Hetty, who stood blushing and hesitating before the ladies of the Court; but little Kathleen gave reign to her opinions, admired the ghastly shell flowers which adorned the mantelshelf, the crochet parrots and other monstrosities which adorned the cane chairs. Kathleen did not mean to be insincere, she thought poor people liked to have their things praised. Kathleen had lived but a short part of her life at Sevenacres, but she had become a great favourite amongst the poorer classes. Kathleen had never in her experience met a Hetty before ; she stood now with a wistful inquiring look at the new comer as her mother discoursed about the church and the sermon ; and Hetty kept on reiterating that Mr. Weatherly was not like the gentleman she used to sit under. Kathleen could not make out whether this was said in praise or dis praise of their clergyman, who was a great favourite of hers.

Kathleen was much drawn to Hetty by her exceeding beauty; chdd-like, a pretty face had great attractions for her, but Hetty herself was a great enigma. The usual commonplace remarks she always found give Misconception. 17 r* satisfaction were not received with the usual consideration they merited ; a slight sneer played about the corners of Hetty's pretty mouth as if she would say: "Ah! yes, we must have all this trumpery about, but don't imagine I like it. I have been used to much better things." Hetty was not one of the women who take their apron to dust the chairs before the ladies are requested to take a seat. " What do you think of Mrs. Crawford, mother?" were Kathleen's first words almost before she had got out of earshot of the lodge, skipping along by Mrs. Carlisle's side on her way home; " she is awfully pretty, isn't she ?

And such nice white hands, she does not look as if she had done any rough work in her life, and poor old Crawford is such an old ruffian to look at." Mrs. Carlisle only smiled, she was quite accustomed to Kathleen rattling on without waiting for a reply — indeed, in this instance, she had no reply to make. Mrs. Crawford was a new experience to her, and she could not define exactly what she felt about her, c Misconception. but this new inmate of the North Lodge was not a pleasurable surprise to her. Mrs. Carlisle with ad her cleverness was simplicity itself; she had never studied women or their char acters, and those females she had been thrown with were of a very ordinary type, divided into two classes, rich and poor. This superior plebeian was quite an unknown person, whom Mrs. Carlisle felt might be rather a thorn in her path ; she httle guessed what would be the outcome of these new tenants.

" One must put people in these cottages and lodges," she was heard to say, " and it is best to put one's own people ; it is very difficult ever to know poor people thoroughly ; I have almost given it up as hopeless." Nevertheless, she went on in a most persevering manner, she loved her hfe with all its duties, and most of ad she loved her husband with that deep devotion which borders on idolatry. He had given her all the good things which surrounded her; he was very rich, and never thought anything too good for her; indeed, he would have spoiled her, had not her character been of too fine a kind to spoil ; and he loved her Misconception. 19 with the same devotion, and never by word or look had he caused her a moment's pain or jealous feeling; his wife and his children were all the world to him, he even begrudged the hours spent away from them when pressing business called him to London or St. Peters burg.

Life at this time was almost too smooth for these people; that little cloud which hangs over most destinies was even now moving towards them and gathering blackness and strength in its course ; so small and distant still as not to be discernible to those whom it most affected, but surely and steadily it was moving on, coming each day nearer, to burst with sudden violence on these poor unsuspecting but innocent victims. c2

Chapter II

" Nonsense, sir ! I call it nonsense ! Worse than nonsense, going on as you are doing now, wasting all the best years of your life, settling to nothing, because, forsooth, you fancy yourself in love. Indeed, and I wonder what Carlisle will say when you assure him you are devoted to his daughter; he will naturally say, ' What is your position, sir ? What have you to offer my daughter? and how much is your governor going to stand ? ' and, by George, sir, you will get no help from me unless I see you in a fair way to help yourself." General Hamlyn had come into his breakfast room prepared to "have it out" as he said with his son, whom he found lolling against a half-open French window, gazing out in a listless fashion over the beautiful park-like ground which lay before him. Misco nception. 21 The Hamlyns' place, hke all places in the neighbourhood, owned its own beautiful view; whichever direction you went in or about Sevenacres, beautiful trees, hills, or valleys met your gaze ; you could not go in a wrong direction, for even on what was considered the ugly side — where the new village had reared its innumerable red brick villas and cottages — the winding river lent a charm to the scene and sparkled and danced in the sunshine as it wound its way amongst them.

" What is amiss this morning, father, some thing gone wrong? Why this tirade?" Beresford brought himself into the room with a lazy swagger and half yawn. The cold October air was blowing in through the window and scattering some stray yellow leaves over the parquet border which sur rounded the Turkey carpet ; they played and crackled in a frolicsome manner, but to eyes that heeded them not. " I am in no jesting humour, Beresford; it is quite time you settled to something and squared it with that girl; she is a nice girl enough, and I won't stand any more of this shilly-shally business." Misconception. 22 The urn hissed on the table, the pine logs crackled on the hearth, the General fumed up and down the room; it was evident something had indeed put him out, and the only thing for his son was to try and soothe him at any cost.

" Come, dad, don't be specially angry this morning; nothing fresh has occurred I suppose ? I am quite ready to settle to anything you hke ; and as for Anne Carlisle, she and I quite understand one another ; but I will put it in such plain words to her that there won't be a ghost of a chance of her misunderstand ing my meaning. If that is what you want to see settled, you have only to say quietly what you want. I am quite ready to fall into any suggestion of yours." Beresford was much surprised at this out burst from his father; he fenced with him very skilfully until the timely entrance of his mother put a stop to further discussion. He found later, to his great relief, that gout was the cause of this sudden irritability, and that the parent who was always so indulgent and forbearing with him was simply goaded on by Misconception . 23 bodily infirmity to say more than he actually meant.

It was far from the General's real wish to hurry his son into an engagement with his neighbour's daughter. He, like Mrs. Carlisle, had been watching with kindly interest the dawning of love on either side ; and as for a profession for Beresford, he simply wished him to step into his shoes when he discarded them, and to take a position in the county ; " but not yet, let the boy see something of the world," he was wont to say, "more than his father ever saw before him, and not settle too early into the country gentleman ; " and it was not little the General had seen himself, for he had served his time in India, and he was proud to display the trophies he had brought home from the jungle. For the time being, Beresford was very glum and wretched ; he had not wil lingly vexed his father, but their late con versation had raised two very uncomfortable questions in his mind and he did not know how to solve them.

It was perfectly true he could not go empty-handed to Mr. Carlisle, and say, " Give Misconception. 24 me your daughter;" neither did he wish to give up his easy careless ways and settle down into an old family man in a hurry ; he was quite sure of Anne, so why disturb the happy state of things which now existed ? It was a great bore, to say the least of it. His riding horses came to the door and were sent away; his breakfast remained untasted before him. His father had broken in suddenly upon the serenity of his life, and never again would things be as they had been. Meanwhile, the unoffending victim of the General's tirade waited patiently on her father's doorstep for Beresford Hamlyn to take her as usual for an early morning gallop across the common. The young man making no sign, she quietly concluded something had detained him, and changed her habit for a walking dress.

It was not often Beresford forgot an engagement, but such a thing had happened before; therefore she was in no alarm, and went to her morning's occupations with an unruffled brow ; and a pretty brow it was, with its red-brown curls nestling over a per fectly smooth forehead, scarcely shading the Misconception. 25 fearless hazel eyes which danced and laughed in the sunlight. Anne was stdl studying music and foreign languages under good masters, so that her days were carefully portioned out from " early morn to dewy eve." There was little time for girlish day-dreams or idle speculating. Anne was " not out," her mother fondly told their neighbours ; a grand ball must be given at Henfield Court on that auspicious occasion. When Beresford sauntered in late in the afternoon he found her playing softly to herself in the waning twilight, and he sat down quietly by her without speaking.

There was great depth of feehng in Anne's playing. She allowed her fingers to wander from Schumann to Chopin, and then would dash into a brilliant fantasia of Rubinstein's until the very atmosphere seemed in a turmoil. Beresford had been all day trying to analyse his feeling for Anne Carlisle, but had even now come to no satisfactory con clusion. He had never cared to ask himself if he were in love, because he had often been Misconception. assured of her love for him. She had a hundred little ways of making him feel what she felt for him; the hand he took in his was often cold with emotion, or her voice would tremble when she addressed him. And had that love been given unsought ? That was the thought which was troubling him now ; he felt a very slight weight in the scale would suffice to settle the question for or against him.

" To-morrow, then, we will have as long a day as we can and shoot over the lower farm." The voice of Mr. Tomlin addressing his host broke in on these young people in the gloaming. "Why, Anne, my dear," he continued, " how can you see the piano keys in this hght, or rather darkness ? and who have we here ? " as Beresford's tall form became visible in the firelight. "I have been keeping silent," answered the young man ; " Anne always plays better without an audience." "Do I, sir?" said Anne, leaving the Misco n ceptio n . 27 piano and coming towards them ; " don't you suppose I did not for a moment know you were there, albeit you kept so silent ;" and she laughed that merry, happy laugh of youth. The lamp the butler then carried in with the tea, displayed a pair of sparkling eyes and a rosy hue on the girl's cheeks.

" Why, I have been playing your favourite things to you all this time. Were you so dense as to suppose I did not feel you come into the room ? But now silence is broken, perhaps you will condescend to explain why I was kept more than an hour waiting in my riding habit this morning ? " " Not, really ? " "Yes, really — ask Bateson." " I'm ajvfudy sorry, but, er — my father wanted me to settle a matter of business, and " " And you absolutely forgot all about it," broke in Mr. Tomlin. " I'm afraid I must plead guilty." " It's very tiresome of you, Beresford. You all go shooting to-isiorrow. I don't know when I shall get a ride again." Misconception . Anne turned away with a pout upon her lips, and was surprised to feel a quiet touch upon her arm as Beresford said in a half whisper meant only for her ears, " Do you care so very much?