Begun in jest

Front matter

BEGUN IN JEST. BT AIRS. NEWMAN, AUTHOR OP " HER WILL AND HER WAY," " WITH COSTS," "THE LAST OF THE HADDONS," ETC. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1891. ■ LONDON : FAI.tTKD BT WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS. CONTENTS OF A^OL. II. CHAPTEE PAGE I. Uncle Eeggie ... ... ... l II. A Great Surprise ... ... 34 III. Spreading the Net ... ... ... 54 IV. Dorothy's Sister ... ... 69 V. Mrs. Brandreth's Tactics ... ... 93 VI. Lucy May ... ... ... 117 VII. Mother Goose ... ... ... 132 VIII. A Eoland for an Oliver ... 169 IX. " The Shame of it ! " ... ... 194 X. "Peccati!" ... ... ...

Chapter I. Uncle Reggie

Mabel was beginning again to count up the remaining weeks and days of her six months' exile, although her pride was in ai*ms at the bare thought of returning home an hour before the time she had herself fixed, which Avould be to acknowledge herself vanquished. The life was, indeed, haA'ing its effect upon one so entirely untrained for it. There was something so mean and commonplace in it all, she told herself. Even the annoyances she experienced arose from such petty causes, that she was ashamed of feeling them. She VOL. II. B made one or two attempts to break the monotony of the daily walk up and down the avenue, and, finding them ineffectual, chiefly through Soames's interference, at length determined to give the children and herself a change on her own responsibility. They Avere to show her the prettiest spots about the park, and, Avhen they were all sufficiently fatigued to enjoy a rest, there was to be a story in the hollow.

Soames' warnings as to the advisability of not going too far, keeping in the shade, and so forth, notwithstanding, Mabel set forth the next day with her " three flies," as they persisted in calling themselves, for a long ramble in the woods. An hour or two later they made their way to the much-talked-of hollow ; cool, grassy, and well shaded from the hot sun by a clump of fine old elms, with a view down a beautiful sweep of green turf, and through an opening in the cliff, the sides of which were clothed with wild luxuriant foliage, of the sea. Mabel threw off her hat and sat gazing dreamily at the lovely scene, her thoughts turning to the dear old park at home, and the happy life there, before Gerard went away. How delightful had been the rambles under the trees, the boating on the lake in summer, and skating in Avinter ; above all, the truant days spent in the Avoods, when they cut themseh-es off from all communica tion with what they termed the " outer world," to dwell in the rarefied atmosphere of their own thought !

What battles they had imagined themselves fighting and win ning in the mental and moral world ! How solemnly they had dedicated themselves to the service of humanity ! " AVell, perhaps he is right in making a jest of it all, since so little has come of it. How is humanity the better for me ? " she asked herself, adding, with a little impatient sigh, " Oh, well, that does not concern him. Dorrie is pressing towards the mark, and she will show you, Gerard. As for me, I suppose I must be content if I can succeed so far as not to be turned out from here. If I can prove myself equal to the work of a third rate governess, it will be something ; better than being thought fit only to become a society woman." She had never understood Gerard's meaning in saying her proper sphere was in society, resenting the idea of being thought fit only for the kind of life he jested at.

That he, in fact, believed her proper sphere was in society because it was in dire need of such as she, did not for a moment occur to her. " When will Dorrie tell me ? It would be so much easier to write than speak my congratulations, just at first. AVhen the engagement is made known, all I shall have to do is to think of them as married, then the cure will be complete." The children were watching her Avith eager, expectant eyes. " Have you remembered it all, Aliss Leith, dear ? " presently asked impatient Algy. " Remembered what, Algy ? " " The story. Ob, please, do be quick and begin." " Story, oh dear ! Isn't it delightful enough being here ? " persuasively, her hands clasped above her head, as she reclined against the green bank, her eyes following the flight of a bird. " Send your fancy on an exploring expedition and you will soon find out beautiful stories for yourselves.

Come, Mima, fancy yourself down on the beach there, step into a cockle-shell, and sail gaily off to the Golden Isles." " Golden Isles ? AVhere ? " " They are form without substance, A mental mirage, And they kindle a thirst Which they cannot assuage," absently quoted Mabel. A long drawn-out " 0 — h ! " of disappoint ment, and a plaintive reminder from Mima that it took an hour to go down to the beach, and that she was ever so much too big to get into a cockle-shell. '•' I said, in fancy, and you can expand or condense that at will, you know." " That sounds like a lesson about steam, and we don't want lesson stories now," objected Algy. " You promised us a real story ; you promised, Aliss Leith." " Oh, yes ; I beg your pardon, Algy, so I did. Wrhat is it to be, ' The ugly duck ling' ? " "Oh, we know that," disappointedly.

"I shall have to inA'ent," thought Alabel. " Then I must try to tell you one you do not know. " 'Licious ! A real fairy story, please." " I have not known any fairies, therefore it could not be quite real, you know. But I have often taken a peep into Fancy -land, and I know there are fancies as curious and amusing as fairies, if you Avould like me to tell you a story about one of them." " Fancies ? They are not like people. You can't make a story out of them, can you ? " Shall I try ? " smiling to herself at the thought. They nodded, pressing up more closely to her, and she began : — " Once upon a time there was born a little Fancy, which, as it grew, became so beautiful that you heard of her everywhere. She was born in just such a spot as this ; a little green dell, with old trees and delightful hiding-places about it, where she nestled unseen, unless you had very keen eyes and looked in the right way."

" What way was that, please ? " " You will hear presently. One moonlight night, Fancy was disporting herself with the shadows among the trees, and playing hide and-seek with some one who had wandered that way and was looking for her, when she suddenly found herself caught," breaking off with a little laugh at herself. " Yes, yes ; what happened then ? " devour ing her with their eyes. " Did I say it was a bright, moonlight night ? " " Yes — no ; it is all the same." " Oh dear no. A great deal depends upon the light in which you view things, even in our world, you know. There must have been a moon, I think, because it was night, and how could the diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and the rest, have been seen had there been no light ? It requires all the light you can get to turn a dew-drop into a diamond.

Fancy knew how to do it, of course. She had only to wave her wand " " Like the fairies. Yes ; please go on. AVhat happened when she was caught ? " " Well, she was first imprisoned and then starved, till she grew smaller and smaller, and at last — now prepare for a great sur prise." Oh ! Ah ! Oh ! The children sprang to their feet with widely-opened eyes. They had found a surprise for themselves. Algy's face was crimson with excitement. Mima stood gazing open-mouthed ; and Sissy's eyes were beaming with a glad welcome. " Uncle Reggie ! " Hurriedly rising, and turning her eyes in the direction they were looking, Mabel beheld a gentleman standing on the knoll just behind where she had been sitting. A little awkAvardly — his right arm was in a sling — he lifted his hat with his left hand. The children were dancing about him in high delight.

" Oh, Uncle Reggie, how glad I am ! You said you wouldn't have another holiday for ever so long ! " " Have you come to stay ? " ejaculated Algy, jumping up in turn for a kiss. " What have you done to your arm, uncle ? " asked Sissy. Keeping his left hand on Sissy's shoulder, he said — " You must first introduce me to this lady, you know, and tell her that my name is Aubvn." " She is dear Miss Leith," returned Sissy, slipping her hand into Mabel's. " And, oh, Uncle Reggie," put in Algy, in a loud whisper, " Soames said she wasn't going to be nice ; but she is ! She's hardly ever cross, 'cept when we are too stupid and tiresome, you know," he added, already learn ing to be more literal and exact in his state ments than he had once been. " And she knows so many things, don't you, Miss Leith, dear? games, and fancy stories — as good as fairy stories, almost."

" Yes," smilingly. " I could not help listening to the Fancy story. I hope Aliss Leith will excuse me ; but I came up just at the beginning. You did not hear my foot steps on the turf; and it seemed such a pity to interrupt. But I am quite curious to hear Avhat became of that poor little imprisoned Fancy. I think it would do me good to knoAv," lifting his hat again, with a look towards Alabel. She smiled, and shook her head. " What do you say, Sissy ? " he went on, returning Alabel's smile. " Do you think a course of imprisonment and starvation ren dered Fancy so small, that she was at length able to escape on a moonbeam, and get back to her beloved Avoods, where she grew strong and beautiful again ? " " But that wouldn't have been much of a story," said Algy. " There ought to be some fighting — a prince who killed everybody that Avanted to stop him, and had a wonderful key, that opened the door, just as she was dying, to let her out !

" " And she ought to have been fed on delicious things ; that's the way to get strong," put in Alima. " Perhaps Aliss Leith will tell us which is right ? " said Air. Aubyn. " I think we must leave the story to be continued," returned Mabel ; adding, to the children, as they began protesting, " Mr. Aubyn looks tired." In fact, Alima had, in her effusiveness, pressed up a little too closely to his injured arm, and, as Alabel had noticed, the colour left his face. " Will you allow me to call my man ? " he said, in a low voice. AVith a whispered word to the children, Mabel drew them aside, and he beckoned to a man, whom they for the first time noticed, standing a short distance apart. He came shambling awkwardly forAvards, in obedience to Air. Aubyn's summons, as clumsy and dull-Avitted looking a man as could be imagined for a gentleman to choose to have about him.

He was clad in ill-fitting clothes, all of which, from bis hat to his boots, seemed to have been just purchased ready-made ; and there were evidences of the hurried and energetic, if not altogether effectual, application of soap and water ; as though at a loss how to dispose of all the accumulations of dirt, he had swept them into nooks and corners about his face, to be carried away next time. He seemed to shrink from notice, looking surreptitiously towards Mabel and the children, and shifting his eyes Avhen they glanced in his direction, restlessly moving his feet, and passing the back of his dis engaged hand over his mouth. "This bas shifted a little, Bloggs. Will you try to put it right for me ? " The man put down the bag he was carry ing, and awkwardly, though with an anxious carefulness that caused great drops to stand out upon his brow, began to readjust the sling.

" AVill you allow me to try ? " said Alabel, taking note of the man's nervous awkward ness. " No, thank you ; you are very kind ; but he likes doing it for me. Do you not, Bloggs ? " " Yes, master," — -a dark flush rising slowly to his brow, as his eyes turned for a moment towards Mabel, then fell again. " And I like you to do it," cheerily said Reginald Aubyn, making occasion to put his left hand upon the man's shoulder. " But what have you done to your arm, Uncle Reggie ? " " It got broken, Algy." " Broken ? Hoav dreadful ! How did you do it ? Can it be mended again ? " " Oh yes, Bloggs is helping to mend it ; so well, that I hardly regret its having been broken. I do not knoAv how I could manage Avithout him. Go up to the house now, Bloggs. Tell them to get my room ready, and Avait there until I come."

The man took up the bag again, aud turned to obey, though looking someAvhat doubtfully and hesitatingly towards the house. " Go straight through the plantation there, to the right, and round to the side offices, Bloggs." " Yes, master," and, with another surrepti tious glance towards him and the children, he shambled away. " How funnily he talks, and how could he mend your arm, Uncle Reggie ? He is not clever and nice to look at, like a doctor. He looks more like the men we meet sometimes on the roads — tramps, that it would be dreadful to know." " Something depends upon the light in which he is looked at, Alima. A certain amount of the light Aliss Leith has been telling you about, would make him appear to more advantage, no doubt," with a smile at Mabel. " How long are you going to stay with us now, Uncle Reggie ?

" asked Sissy. " I shall make a longer stay than usual this time, I think, Sissy — until my arm gets all right again, three or four weeks, perhaps. Where is mamma ? " " She is away — somewhere." Mabel explained that Airs. Brandreth had joined a yachting party for a three weeks' cruise. Aubyn was finding it difficult to avoid looking too pertinaciously at her ; and pre sently, by way of apology, said — " I have the pleasure of knowing a young lady whose name is the same as yours — a Miss Leith — living just now at Kensington ; and you are so much like her." The relation ship could not be a very near one, he thought, the likeness notwithstanding, or this Miss Leith would not be earning her bread as a governess. Mabel knew now this was the Mr. Aubyn Dorothy wrote so much about, and was all the more inclined in his favour.

But she saw that she must not explain that she was Dorothy's sister, until she could also explain her motive for Avhat she was doing. But neither was it possible to deny the truth, nor attempt to give any false colouring to it. Should he put the question, there Avould be nothing for it but to say, " Yes ; we are sisters." He easily accepted her silence as confirma tion of his own view, that the likeness was merely an accidental one. It was not at all likely that she would be there, were she related to the Aliss Leith he knew. Not naturally curious, nor inclined to suspect mysteries, he saw no significance in the fact of her evincing no desire to hear more about the young lady who bore the same name and so strongly resembled her. *# " What is your Miss Leith like, Uncle Reggie ? " " I have said she is something like this lady."

" 0 — h ! " ejaculated Mima, with a glance at Sissy. " Do you think she will want to marry you, uncle ? " inquired Algy. "That's not at all probable, Algy. And it is not the way to talk about ladies." Mabel was longing to ask questions about Dorothy, and had much difficulty in keeping back the words that rose to her lips. " But I shall soon be able to take him into my con fidence — he looks like one you can trust — and then I can talk Dorrie to my heart's content," she thought. Just then, there was no time for further conversation about any thing. Looking at her watch, she saw that VOL. n. c it was nearly time for tea, and that they must return to the house. Mr. Aubyn accompanied them, Algy and Alima dancing along by his side, plying him Avith eager questions, while Sissy availed herself of the opportunity to draw more closely to Alabel.

Dorothy had written quite enough about her new friend to arouse Alabel's interest in him ; and the impression she had received was strengthened by his bearing and appearance. Not to be compared with one other, of course ; but there was so kindly an expression in his brown eyes, so much firmness of mouth and chin, and he looked so strong and self-contained, and wore his shabby clothes so grandly. He was, to say tbe least, as much impressed in her favour, and not a little surprised to find her there, wondering how it was that his sister-in-law had happened to obtain a governess of this type for her children. Under the impression that they were being morally as well as intellectually starved, he had been very anxious about them, and desirous that a fitting governess should be engaged. He had begged Mrs. Brandreth to be very careful in making her selection, and had given her carte blanche in the matter of salary ; but he had not ventured to hope that much would come of it.

Nor would he have been a great deal surprised could he have known that Mabel had been selected for her readiness to accept whatever Airs. Brandreth might be inclined to give, in the matter of salary ; and that the latter had still further economized by doing without a head-nurse. What did surprise him, was to find one such as Mabel there. He was in the habit of spending as much time as he could spare with the children, when at BeecliAvoods ; but he felt that, at their age, it was the influence of a good woman they most needed. He had seen quite enough of the great world to be aware of the needs of some of its children ; and he considered that these, especially, required as much help as did the most neglected of the little waifs and strays in Grigg's Court. Between him and his sister-in-law there was no sympathy.

He saw her as she was ; and she regarded him as eccentric, to the verge of stupidity, almost despising him for the very liberality she was reaping the benefit of. She could not understand why a man should allow another to enjoy advantages to which he himself had a right, unless it were that he had not the capability of appreciating them ; and of this, his choosing to spend so much of his time among low people seemed sufficient proof. On his side, he contented himself with their being on good terms, without inquiring too closely into her motives in the matter. Meantime there was not the slightest question as to who was master at Beech woods. The estate was managed in a careful, and thoroughly business-like manner, by the agent he employed ; every labourer upon it, as well as every servant in the house, being made to understand that the best each was capable of was expected by that agent's master.

He had a much too keen sense of his own responsibilities to allow Airs. Brand reth to take the helm ; although it was his will that she should be treated with due respect while she was in the house. She and her children had, in the outset, been invited to spend a few months at Beechwoods, and had afterwards stayed on indefinitely. Under the impression that her stay was owing to her own tact and management, even more than to his good nature, she considered that it would be her home as long as she pleased. As they sat at tea, Alabel received a courteously worded message from Mr. Aubyn to the effect that he hoped she would favour him with her own and the children's company in the drawing-room that evening. Not daring to alter the message, nor express her disapproval in words, lest he should hear of it through the children, Soames had to content herself with looking it.

Here was a danger her mistress had not foreseen ! After all the care she had taken to prevent any meeting between Aliss Leith and Mr. Noel, always about the park of late, a worse thing had happened ! What could be worse for Airs. Brandreth than the possibility of being turned out of Beechwoods, which might very soon come to pass if Mr. Aubyn took it into his head to marry. Of course Aliss Leith would do all she could to attract the master of Beechwoods, now that she had so good an opportunity ; that was only natural, and to be expected, thought Soames. But she saw that nothing could be done until her mistress returned. Air. Aubyn had taken it into his head to make friends with the governess, and he was not a gentleman that any one in his own house at least could venture to cross, when he had once made up his mind to a thing.

Mabel welcomed the opportunity for an exchange of ideas with any one, and did not take the trouble to disguise what she felt. She made the slight change in her toilette she was accustomed to make ; although, to Soames's prejudiced eyes, she looked more adorned than usual ; and went down with the children, who were in high delight with the anticipation of a " company evening " in the drawing-room with Uncle Reggie. She was received with a courtesy, which seemed the more significant to her, as coming from the owner of Beechwoods to the governess. They had been mutually attracted from the first, each having very quickly recognized that in the other which satisfied their somewhat fastidious notions upon certain points. It was Alabel's first visit to the Beechwoods drawing-room ; a long, many-windowed, old fashioned, but thoroughly home-like and charming room ; with an outlook upon grass terraces and flower-gardens, and the un dulating well-wooded park beyond.

AVhen, after awhile, the children gathered round their uncle, she moved quietly about examining the not a few works of art, with Avhich the quaint out-of-date furniture seemed so much in keeping : as his eyes now and again folloAved her movements, he could not but notice their grace, and how much at home she looked there. Her refined face and figure, even what she wore — a simple white India muslin gown, with a few dead gold ornaments — seemed in such perfect harmony Avith her surroundings. " You do not think this room ought to be modernized, Miss Leith ? " he presently said as she stood examining a delicately carved triptych, his thoughts reverting to his sister in-law's frequent hints as to the desirability of refurnishing in the modern old style. " Alodernized ! No, indeed I do not, Mr. Aubyn.

It seems to me just perfection as it is, for an old country house. One expects to see odds and ends of old china, ivories, Indian grotesques, and all the rest of it, in such a room as this. Even the jumble of styles seems to form an harmonious whole ; I suppose because everything is good in its particular way. The very walls would protest, if you turned out the things that have lived within them so long. That quaint old painting in the recess- — Flemish, is it not ? — and this exquisite carving ; how different from the things made for money ! " He smiled. " The previous owner was a collector, but he did not get things without paying for them, I expect. They Avere made for money." " Oh no ; quite impossible ! " with an answering smile. " The artist who carved these flowers was thinking of flowers, and nothing else ; he has put his heart into this rose."

" The best work is done in that way, no doubt. It would be pleasant to think that all is. But very few put their hearts into their work, or we should not have so much that is inferior. Conscientious workers are rare, I fear, Miss Leith." Her eyes met his for a moment, with a conscious, dismayed expression, and the gay smile faded from her face, as she gently put the ivory she had been examining, back into its place. She was not a little relieved by the children pressing to her side, eager to take their share of the conversation ; unconscious that while talking to them she was not only increasing his admiration and respect for her, but strengthening his first impression as to her fitness for the office she had under taken. She did not know what it was that constituted fitness to his mind. In his estimation, indeed, certain qualities she so evidently possessed were more needed than anything besides, to counteract the bad effect of their previous training.

He saw that she had already Avon the children's confidence and respect, and this by legitimate means. Sissy Avas shyly expanding under her influence, and Algy and Mima beginning to step a little out of themselves. Algy's " that's mean, Mima ! " with a grand curve of his small upper lip, when she, by a little manœuvre, got possession of the stool upon which he had been sitting at his uncle's feet, was a revelation to Aubyn. A few Aveeks 'pre\*iously, Algy would have thought it clever, instead of mean, and would haA*e asserted his right with his fists, instead of his scorn. And Avhen presently Alabel thought Aubyn looked fatigued, and sat down to the piano forte at the far end of the room, and sang to the children some nonsense rhymes of her own composition, in which they delighted, there was Algy holding her fan, and Mima nestling her cheek against one shoulder, and Sissy against the other.

The more Aubyn saw of her the more was he surprised, not to say puzzled. Unmistakably a lady, she was at the same time so unconventional — so much more frank and uncompromising in one way, and daintily reticent in another, than most Avomen he had been accustomed to meet in society. And how independent — how evidently ■ without desire to attract ! How merrily she joined in the children's laughter at her nonsense rhymes ; and Iioav completely free she was from all anxiety as to what he might think of them ! Better still, her offer to sing one of the new songs that happened to be there, specially for him ; doing, as she told him, her " very best ; " and such a best ! filling the room with the melody of her fresh, clear, well-trained voice. In one of their pleasant little intervals of conversation he told her that he was expect ing on the morrow a friend, for a short visit, a friend whom he had not seen since just after they had quitted the University, re flectively adding, "At that time he ga\e promise of making some mark in the world, and I am a little anxious to know what he has been doing the last five or six years.

His society will be a real boon to me just now ; in truth, I made the most of my fractured arm to get him here." Mabel said something to the effect that it must be pleasant to meet after so long an interval, thinking what the meeting them at home would be to her after six months. " Five or six years may bring about so many changes in one's life," he went on, still a little absently, with the remembrance of what had been wrought in himself. " I am the more curious to see him, because I used to consider him a little extreme in certain directions. We shall meet upon even ground now, I think." The door opened, and Soames made her appearance, with the intimation that it was past the children's bed-time. Mabel was almost as ready as they to complain of the shortness of the evening, and she said one thing which almost took Soames's breath away.