Lord Oakburn's Daughters

Front matter

ij LORD OAKBURN'S DAUGHTERS. Have nothing to do with Lewis Carlton! " [Page 133. LORD OAKBURN'S DAUGHTERS. BY MRS. HENRY WOOD, AUTHOR OF "EAST LY-SSE," " VEBNER's PRIDE," "THE SHADOW OF ASHLTD etc., etc I don't like her a bit." [Page 3_>9. 1872. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY AND SOX. [All Sights reserved.] CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAG E I. — THE ARRIVAL 1 H. — HAPPILY OVER 10 III. — THE ENCOUNTER AT THE RAILWAY STATION . . 19 IV. — AN* ACCIDENT . . 27 V. — MR. CARLTONS VISIT 37 VI. — WAS THE HOUSE HAUNTED? 43 VII. — THE COMPOSING DRAUGHT 46 VIH. — THE COBWEBBED JAR 54 IX. — POPULAR OPINION IN SOUTH WENHOCK . . .62 X. — JUDITH'S PERPLEXITY 67 XI. — THE CORONER'S INQUEST 72 XH. MR. CARLTON RECALLED . . . . . . 83 Xin. — THE TORN NOTE 92 XIV. CAPTAIN CHESNEY'S HOME 96 XV. — CAPTAIN CHESNEY 103 XVI. — MISS CHESNEY'S PEAR . . . . ,. . . ill XVII. — MR. CARLTON'S DEMAND ....... 121 XVIU. — THE FACE AGAIN ........ 129 XIX. — THE LETTERS 13S XX. — DISAPPEARANCE ........ 146 XXI. — A DELIGHTFUL JAUNT 153 XXII. — NEW HONOURS . . . . . . . . 163 XXin. — THE RETURN HOME 172 XXIV. — THE WEDDING AT ST. MARK'S . . . . . 1S0 XXV. — A VISIT TO CEDAR LODGE 1SS XXVI. — MISS LETHWAIT 197 XXVII.— THE MISSING SLEEVES 205 XXVIII.— A FINE LADY 214 XXIX. — AN OMINOUS SHADOW 223 XXX. — A TEMPTING BAIT. . . ■ 232 XXXI. — TURNED AWAY. 242 XXXU. — AS IRON ENTERING INTO THE SOUL . - - . vi CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE XXXIII. — BACK AT THE OLD HOME 261 XXXIV. — FREDERICK GREY'S " CROTCHET " 26S XXXV. — AN UNLUCKY ENCOUNTER 274 XXXVI. — AN OLD ENEMY COME BACK AGAIN 2S5 XXXVII. — GOING OUT WITH THE TIDE ...... 290 XXXVHI. — THE NEXT DAY 300 XXXIX. — AN IMPROMPTU VISIT 307 XL. — THE FACE AGAIN ! 315 PAET TIIE SECOND. xli. — the watering-place 321 xlii. — changes ••....... 331 xliii. — rivalry 339 xliv. — a tale from mrs. perfep.fly ..... 349 xlv. mr. carlton's dreams ...... 356 xlvi. — a perplexing likeness . . . . . 364 xlvii. — mr. and lady laura carlton at home . . . 373 xlvi1i. — running for the ointment . .... 380 xl1x. an item of news ....... 3s3 l. taking the air in blister lane . . . . 390 li. — lady jane brought to her senses at last . . 397 iii. — danger . . . . . . . . . 406 lui. — sir Stephen's visit 413 liv. stolen moments ...... . 422 lv. — another shock for mr. carlton .... 427 lvi. — miss stiffing's expedition ...... 432 lvii. — a little light 439 lviii. — cross purposes 445 LIX. — JUDITHS STORY 45(j LX. — THE LAWYER'S TELEGRAM 4G3 LXI. — AN INTERRUPTED LUNCHEON ..... 471 LXII. — THE EXAMINATION 479 mil. — THE REMAND 4§g LXTV. — MR. POLICEMAN BOWLER'S SELF-DOUBT . . . . 497 LXV. — ESCAPED 595 LXVI. — the TURBULENT WAVES LAID TO REST . . .

Chapter I. The At

EIVAL. A SMALT, country town in the heart of England was the scene some few years ago of a sad tragedy. I must ask my readers to bear with me wMle I relate it. These crimes, having theU rise in the evU passions of our nature, are not the most pleasant for the pen to record ; but it cannot be denied that they do undoubtedly bear for many of us an interest amounting weU nigh to fascination. I think the following account of what took place -wUl bear such an interest for you. South Wennock, the name of this place, was Uttle more than a branch or offshoot of Great Wennock, a town of some importance, situated at two mUes distance from it. The Unes of rail from Lon don and from other places, meeting at Great Wennock, did not extend themselves to South Wennock ; consequently any railway traveUers arriving at the large town, had to complete theU journey by the omnibus if they wished to go on to the smaU one.

The two miles of road which the omnibus had to traverse were about the worst to be met with Ur a civiUzed country. When it, the omnibus, had jolted its way over this road, it made its entrance to South Wennock in the veiy middle of the town. South Wen nock might be said to consist of one long, straggUng street, called High Street. Much building had been recently added to both ends of this old street. At the one end, the new buildings, chiefly ter races and semi-detached houses, had been named Palace Street, from the fact that the wayr led to the country palace of the bishop of the diocese. The new buddings at the other end of High Street were caUed the Rise, from the cUcumstance that the ground rose there graduaUy for a considerable distance ; and these were mostly detached vUlas, some smaU, some large.

On the afternoon of Friday, the 10th of March, 184S, the raUway fc omnibus, a cramped vehicle, constructed to hold six, came jolting along its route as usual. South Wennock lay stretched out in a_ Une right across it Ur front, for the road was at a right angle with the town, and could the omnibus have dashed on without reference to houses, and such-like slight obstructions, as a raUway en gine does, it would have cut the town in half, leaving part of High Street and the Rise to its right, the other part and Palace Street to its left. The omnibus was not so fierce, however. It drove into High Street by the accustomed opening, turned short round to the left, aud pulled up a few yards further at its usual place of stoppage, the Red Lion Inn. Mrs. Fitch, the landlady, an active, buxom dame with a fixed colour in her cheeks, and a bustling, genial manner, came hastening out to receive the guests it might have brought.

It had brought only a young lady and a trunk : and the moment Mrs. Fitch cast her eyes on the former'^ face, she thought it the most beautiful she had ever looked upon. " Tour servant, miss. Do you please to stay here ? " "For a short time, whUe you give me a glass of wine and a bis cuit," was the reply of the traveUer : and the tone, accent, and manner were unmistakeably those of a gentlewoman. " I shaU be glad of the refreshment, for I feel exhausted. The shaking of the omnibus has been terrible." She was getting out as she spoke, and something in her appearance more particularly attracted the attention of Mrs. Fitch, as the landlady helped her down the high and awkward steps, and mar shalled her in-doors. "Dear ma'am, I beg your pardon ! It does shake, that omnibus — and you not in a condition to bear it !

And perhaps you have come far besides, too ! Tou shaU have something in a minute. I declare I took you for a young unmarried lady." " If you happen to have any cold meat, I would prefer a sand wich to the biscuit," was all the reply given by the traveUer. She sat down Ur the landlady's cushioned chaU, for it was to her own parlour Mrs. Fitch had conducted her, untied her bonnet, and threw back the strings. The bonnet was of straw, trimmed with wlUte ribbons, and her dress and mantle were of dark silk. Never was bonnet thrown back from a more lovely face, with its deUcate bloom and its exquisitely refined features. " Can you teU me whether there are any lodgings to be had in South Wennock ? " she inquired, when the landlady came Ur again with the sandwiches and wine. " Lodgings ? " returned Mrs. Fitch.

"Well, now, they are not over plentiful here ; this is but a smaU place, you see, ma'am — not but what it's a deal larger than it used to be," continued the land lady, as she stroked her chin in deUberation. "There's Widow Gould's. I know her rooms were empty a week ago, for she was up here asking me if I couldn't hear of anybody wanting such. Tou'd be comfortable there, ma'am, if she's not let. She's a quiet, decent body. ShaU I send and rnquUe ? " "No, I would rather go myself. I should not Uke to fix upon rooms without seeing them. Should these you speak of be engaged, I may see bUls in other windows. Thank you, I cannot eat more : I seem to feel the jolting of the omnibus stUl ; and the fright it put me into has taken away my appetite. Tou wiU take care of my trunk for the present." " Certainly, ma'am.

What name ? " " Mrs. Crane." The landlady stepped outside to direct the stranger on her way. Widow Gould's house was situated Ur the' first terrace in Palace Street, and a walk of six or seven minutes brought Mrs. Crane to it. It had a card in the window, indicating that its rooms were to let. Widow Gould herself, a shrinking Uttle woman, with a pinched, red face, came to the door. The lady wanted a sitting room and bed-room: could she be accommodated? Mrs. Gould repUed that she could, mentioned a very moderate charge, and in vited her Ur to see the rooms. They were on the first floor ; not large, but clean and nice and convenient, the one room opening into the other. Mrs. Crane liked them very much. "Tou perceive that I am expecting to be laid by," she said. " Would that be an objection ?

" "N — o, I don't see that it need," repUed the widow after some consideration. " Of course you would have proper attendance, ma'am 't I could not undertake that." " Of course I should," said Mrs. Crane. So the bargain was made. Mrs. Crane taking the rooms for a month certain, intimating that she preferred engaging them only from month to month, and the Widow Gould undertaking to supply aU ordinary attendance. Mrs. Crane went back to the inn, to pay for the refreshment of which she had partaken, and to desire her trunk to be sent to her, having ordered tea to be ready against her return to Palace Street. She found everything prepared for her, a nice fire burning Ur the sitting-room grate, the tea on the table, and Mrs. Gould Ur the adjoining room putting sheets upon the bed. The widow was in spirits at the prospect of her rooms being wanted for some months, as she beUeved they would be, and had placed the last weekly South b Wennock newspaper on the table beside the tea-tray, a Uttle mark of extra attention to her new lodger.

In obedience to the ring when tea was over, Mrs. Gould came up to remove the things. Mrs. Crane was seated before them. A fair young gUl she looked with her bonnet off, in her sUk dress and her golden brown haU. The widow kept no servant, but waited on her lodgers herself. Her parlours were let to a permanent lodger, who was at that time absent from South Wennock. " Be so good as take a seat," said Mrs. Crane to her, laying down the newspaper, which she appeared to have been reading. But Mrs. Gould preferred to stand, and began rubbing one shriveUed hand over the other, her habit when in waiting. "I have some information to ask of you. Never mind the tray ; it can wait. First of aU, what medical men have you at South Wennock ? " "There's the Greys," was Widow Gould's response. A pause ensued, Mrs. Crane probably waiting to hear the list augmented.

"The Greys?" she repeated, finding her informant did not continue. "Mr. John and Mr. Stephen Grey, ma'am. There was another brother, Mr. Robert, but he died last year. Nice pleasant gentle men aU three, and they have had the whole of the practice here. Their father and their uncle had it before them." " Do you mean to say there are no other medical men ? " ex claimed the stranger, in some surprise. " I never heard of such a thing in a place as large as this appears to be." " South Wennock has only got large lately, ma'am. The Greys were very much liked and respected Ur the place ; and being three of them, they could get through the work, with an assistant. They always keep one. But there is another doctor here now, a gentle man of the name of Carlton." " Who is he ? " " WeU, I forget where it was said he came from ; London I think.

A fine dashing gentleman as ever you saw, ma'am ; not above thirty, at the most. He came suddenly among us a few months ago, took a house at the other end of the town, and set up against the Greys. He is getting on, I beUeve, especiaUy with the people that Uve on the Rise, mostly fresh comers, and he keeps his -cabrioUy." " Keeps his what ? " " His cabrioUy — a dashing one-horse carriage with a head to it. It is more than the Greys have ever done, ma'am ; they have had thefr plain gig, and nothing else. Some think that Mr. Carlton has private property, and some think he is making a show to get into practice." . _ " Is he clever — Mr. Carlton P " " There are those here who'll teU you he is cleverer than the two Greys put together ; but, ma'am, I don't forgot the old saying, New brooms sweep clean.

Mr. Carlton, being new in the place, and having a practice to make, naturally puts out his best skiU to make it." The remark drew forth a laugh from Mrs. Crane. " But unless a doctor has the skill within him, he cannot put it out," she said. " WeU, of course there's something in that," returned the widow, reflectively. " Any ways, Mr. Carlton is getting into practice, and it's said he is Uked. There's a family on the Rise where ho attends constantly, and I've heard they think a great deal of him. It's a Captain Chesney, an old gentleman, who has the gout perpetual. They came strangers to the place from a distance, and settled here ; very proud, exclusive people, it's said. There's three Miss Ches neys; one of them beautfful ; t'other's older ; and ihe little one, she's but a chUd. Mr. Carlton attends there a great deal, for the old gentleman Good heart aUve ! what's the matter ?

" Mrs. Gould might weU cry out. The invaUd — an invaUd she evidently was — had turned of a ghastly whiteness, and was sinking back motionless in her chair. Mrs. Gould was timid by nature, nervous by habit. Very much frightened, she raised the lady's head, but it fell back unconscious. In the excitement induced by the moment's terror, she flew down the stairs, shrieking out in the empty house, burst out at her own back door, ran through the yard, and burst into the back door of the adjoining house. Two young women were in the kitchen; the one ironing, the other sitting by the fire and not doing anything. "For the love of Heaven, come back with me, one of you!" caUed out the widow, in a tremor. " The new lady lodger I told you of this afternoon has gone and died right off in her chafr." Without waiting for assent or response, she flew back again.

The young woman at the fire started from her seat, alarm depicted on her countenance. The other calmly continued her Uoning. " Don't be frightened, Judith," said she. " Tou are not so weU used to Dame Gould as I am. If a blackbeetle faUs on the floor, she'U cry out for aid. I used to think it was put on, but I have come at last to the beUef that she can't help it. Tou may as weU go Ur, however, and see what it is." Judith hastened away. She was a sensible-looking young woman, pale, with black hair and eyes, and was dressed in new and good mourning. Mrs. Gould was afready in her lodger's sitting room. She had torn a feather from the smaU feather-duster hanging by the mantelpiece, had scorched the end, and was holding it to the unhappy lady's nose. Judith dashed the feather to the ground. " Don't be so stupid, Mrs. Gould !

What good do you suppose that wUl do ? Get some water." The water was procured, and Judith applied it to the face and hands, the widow looking timidly on. As the lady revived, Mrs. Gould burst into tears. " It's my feeUngs that overcomes me, Judith," said she. " I can't abear the sight of illness." " Tou need not have been alarmed," the invaUd faintly said, as soon as she could speak. "For the last few months, since my health has been deUcate, I have been subject to these attacks of faintness ; they come on at any moment. I ought to have warned you." When fully restored they left her to herself, Mrs. Gould carrying away the tea-things ; having first of all unlocked the lady's trunk by her desire, and brought to her from it a smaU writing-case. " Don't go away, Judith," the widow implored, when they reached the kitchen.

" She may have another of those fits, for what we can teU — you heard her say she was subject to them — and you know what a one I am to be left with illness. It would be a charity to stop with me ; and you are a lady at large just now." " I'll go and get my work, then, and teU Margaret. But where's the sense of your calUng it a fit, as i£ you were speaking of apo plexy ? " added Judith. When the gUl came back — though, indeed, she was not much of a girl, being past tlurty — Mrs. Gould had Ughted a candle, for it was growing dark, and was washing the tea-things. Judith sat clown to her sewing, her thoughts intent upon the lady up-stairs. " Who is she, I wonder ? " she said aloud. ' ' Some stranger. Mrs. Fitch sent her down to me — I told Margaret about it this afternoon when you were out. I say, isn't she young ?

" Judith nodded. " I wonder if she is married ? " "Married!" angrily retorted Mrs. Gould. " J£ the wedding ring upon her finger had been a bear, it would have bit you. Where were your eyes ? " "All wedding-rings have not been put on in churches," was the composed answer of the girl. "Not but that I daresay she is married, for she seems a modest, good lady ; it was her being so young, and coming here in this sudden manner, all unprotected, that set me on the other thought. Where is her husband ? " " Gone abroad," she said. "I made free to ask her." " Why does she come here ? " " I can't teU. It does seom stange. She never was near the place Ur her life before this afternoon, she told me, and had no friends in it. She has been inquiring about the doctors " "That's her beU," interrupted Judith, as the bell hanging over Mrs. Gould's head began to sound.

" Make haste. I dare say sho wants Ughts." " She has got them. The candles were on the mantelpiece, and she said she'd Ught them herself." A sealed note lay on the table when Mrs. Gould entered the drawing-room. The lady laid her hand upon it. "Mrs. Gould, I must trouble you to send this note for me. I did not intend to see about a medical man until to-morrow ; but I feel fatigued and sick, and I think I had better see one to-night. He may be able to give me something to calm me." " Tes, ma'am. They Uve almost close by, the Greys. Bat, dear lady, I hope you don't feel as U' you were going to be Ul ! " Mrs. Crane smUed. Her nervous landlady was rubbing her hands together Ur an access of trembling. "Not Ul in the sense I conclude you mean it. I do not expect that for these two months. But I don't want to alarm you with a second fainting fit.

I am in the habit of taking drops, which do me a great deal of good, and I unfortunately left them behind me, so I had better see a doctor. Was that your daughter who came up just now ? She seemed a nice young woman." The question offended Mrs. Gould's vanity beyond everything. She beUeved herseff to be remarkably young-looking, and Judith was two-and-thUty i£ she was a day. " No, indeed, ma'am, she's not ; and I've neither chick nor chUd," was the resentful answer. "She's nothing but Judith Ford, sister to the servant at the next door ; and being out of place, her sister's mistress said she might come there for a few days whUe she looked out. I'll get her to carry the note for me." Mrs. Gould took the note from the table, and was carrying it away without looking at it, when the lady caUed her back.

" Tou see to whom it is addressed, Mrs. Gould ? " Mrs. Gould stopped, and brought the note close to her eyes. Sho had not her spectacles upstafrs, and it was as much as she could do to see anything without them. " Why— ma'am ! It— it — it's to Mr. Carlton." The lady looked surprised in her turn. " Why should it not be to Mr. Carlton ? " she demanded. " But the Greys are sure and safe, ma'am. Such a thing has never been known as for them to lose one of thefr lady patients." Mrs. Crane paused, apparently in indecision. " Has Mr. Carlton lost them ? " "WeU — no; I can't remember that he has. But, ma'am, ho attends one where the Greys attend ten." " When you were speaking this evening of the doctors, I nearly made up my mind to engage Mr. Carlton," observed Mrs. Crane. "I think men of skill struggUng into practice should be encou raged.

If you have anything reaUy serious to urge against him, that is quite a different thing, and you should speak out." " No, ma'am, no," was the widow's reply; "and I am sure it has been rude of me to object to him, U your opinion lies that way. I don't know a thing against Mr. Carlton ; people call him clever. I am naturally prejudiced in favour of the Greys, for Mr. John has attended me ever since he grew up, as his father did before him. I'U send this down to Mr. Carlton's." " Let it go at once, Uyou please. I should Uke, if possible, to see him to-night." Mrs. Gould descended to the kitchen. On the dresser, staring her in the face when she entered, lay her spectacles. She put them on, and looked at the superscription on the note. ' ' WeU, now, that's a curious thing, if ever there was one ! ' Lewis Carlton, Esq. ! ' How did she know his name was Lewis ?

I never mentioned it. I couldn't mention it, for I did not know it myself. Is his name Lewis ? " "For aU I can teU," responded Judith. "Tes," she added, more decisively, " of course it is Lewis; it is on his door-plate. Perhaps Mrs. Fitch told her." "There! that's it ! " exclaimed the widow, struck with sudden conviction. " Mrs. Fitch has been speaking up for him, and that's what has put her on to Mr. Carlton, and off the Greys. There was a traveUer Ul at the Red Lion in the winter, and he had Mr. Carlton. It's a shame of Mrs. Fitch to turn round on old friends." " I can teU you where she got the name from, though perhaps Mrs. Fitch did speak for him," cried Judith, suddenly. " There's his card — as they caU it — in that newspaper you lent her, ' Mr. Lewis Carlton : Consulting Surgeon.' She couldn't faU to see it.

Is she ill, that she is sending for him ? She looks not unlikely to be " " I say, Judy, don't go frightening a body Uke that," cried the woman, in tremor. " She won't be i!l for these two months; but that nasty omnibus has shook her, and I suppose the faint finished it up. Oh, it rattles over the road without regard to folk's bones. Tou'll take this for me, won't you, Judith ? " " I dare say ! " returned Judith. " Come, do ; there's a good woman ! I can't go myseff, for fear her beU should ring. It's a fine night, and the run wUl do you good." Judith, not unaccommodating, rose from her seat. " There now !" she exclaimed, in a tone of vexation, as she took the note, "how am I to get my things ? Margaret's gone out, and she is sure to have bolted the back-door. I don't Uke to disturb old Mrs. Jenkinson ; the night's coldish, or I'd go without my bonnet rather than do it."

" Put on mine," suggested Mrs. Gould. " Tou are welcome to it, and to my shawl too." Judith laughed ; and she laughed stiU more when arrayed in Mrs. Gould's things. The shawl did very well, but the bonnet was large, one of those called a "poke," and she looked Uke an old woman in it. " Nobody wiU faU in love with me to-night, that's certain," said she, as she sped off. Mr. Carlton's house was situated at the other end of the town, just before the commencement of the Rise. It stood by itseU, on the left ; a handsome white house, with iron raUs round it, and a pUlared portico in front. Judith ascended the steps and rang at the beU. The door was flung open by a young man in Uvery. " Can I see Mr. Carlton?" she asked. The man supercUiously threw back his head. Judith's largo old bonnet did not teU Ur her favour.

"Is it on perfessional business ?" he questioned. "Tes, it is." " Then perhaps, mem, you'U have tho obleegance to walk round to the perfessional entrance ; and that's on that there side." He waved his hand condescendingly to the side of the house. Judith compUed, but she gave him a word at parting. " Pray, how much wages do you earn ?" "If ever I heered such a question put to a gentleman!" cried the man in astonishment. " What is it to you ?" " Because I should judge that you get so much paid you for clothes, and so much for airs." Passing down the steps, and out of reach of sundry compliments he honoured her with in return, she went to the side, and found herself in front of a door with " Surgery" written on it. It opened to a passage, and thence to a smaU square room, whose walls were Uned with bottles.

A boy in buttons was lying at full length on the counter, whistling a shrill note, and kicking his heels in the air. The entrance startled him/ and he tumbled off, feet foremost. It was but twilight yet, and not at first did he gather in Judith's appearance ; but soon the poke bonnet disclosed itsefr to view. " Hulloa ! " cried he. "Who are you ? What do you want ?" " I want Mr. Carlton. Is he at home ?" " No, he isn't." "Then you must go out and find him. This note must be instantly given to him. A lady wants to see him to-night." " Then I'm afeard want must be the lady's master," returned the impudent boy. ' ' Perhaps we might get this note tied on to the telegraph wires, and send it to him that fashion ; there ain't no other way of doing it. Mr. Carlton went off to London this morning."

"To London ! " repeated Judith, surprise checking her incUnation to box the young gentleman's ears. "When is he coming home again ? " "When his legs brings him. There! He'U be home in a couple of days," added the boy, dodging out of Judith's reach, and deem ing it as well to cease his banter. ' ' His father, Dr. Carlton, was took Ul, and sent for him. Now you know." "Well," said Judith, after a pause of consideration, "you had better take charge of this note, and give it to him when he does come home. I don't know anything else that can be done. And I'd recommend you not to be quite so free with your tongue, unless you want to come to grief," was her parting salutation, as she quitted the boy and the house.

Chapter II. Happily Over

As Judith Ford went back through the lighted streets, the land lady of the Red Lion was standing at her door. " Good evening, Mrs. Fitch." "Why, who— why, Judith, it's never you! What on earth have you been making yourself such a guy as that for ? " Judith laughed, and explained how it was that she happened to be out in Mrs. Gould's things, and where she had been to. " After all, my visit has been a useless one," she remarked, "for Mr. Carlton is away. Gone to London, that impudent boy of his said." " I could have told you so, and saved you the trouble of a walk, had I seen you passing," said Mrs. Fitch. "His groom drove him to the Great Wennock station this morning, and caUed here as he came back for a glass of ale. Is the lady iU ? " " She does not seem weU ; she had a fainting-fit just after tea, and thought she had better see a doctor at once."