CHAPTER LVII.
BRIDAL VISITS AND ADIEUX.
The whole town of Hollingford came to congratulate and inquire intoparticulars. Some indeed--Mrs. Goodenough at the head of this classof malcontents--thought that they were defrauded of their right toa fine show by Cynthia's being married in London. Even Lady Cumnorwas moved into action. She, who had hardly ever paid calls "out ofher own sphere," who had only once been to see "Clare" in her ownhouse--she came to congratulate after her fashion. Maria had onlyjust time to run up into the drawing-room one morning, and say,--
"Please, ma'am, the great carriage from the Towers is coming up tothe gate, and my lady the Countess is sitting inside." It was buteleven o'clock, and Mrs. Gibson would have been indignant at anycommoner who had ventured to call at such an untimely hour, but inthe case of the Peerage the rules of domestic morality were relaxed.
The family "stood at arms," as it were, till Lady Cumnor appeared inthe drawing-room; and then she had to be settled in the best chair,and the light adjusted before anything like conversation began. Shewas the first to speak; and Lady Harriet, who had begun a few wordsto Molly, dropped into silence.
"I have been taking Mary--Lady Cuxhaven--to the railway station onthis new line between Birmingham and London, and I thought I wouldcome on here, and offer you my congratulations. Clare, which isthe young lady?"--putting up her glasses, and looking at Cynthiaand Molly, who were dressed pretty much alike. "I did not think itwould be amiss to give you a little advice, my dear," said she, whenCynthia had been properly pointed out to her as bride elect. "Ihave heard a good deal about you; and I am only too glad, for yourmother's sake,--your mother is a very worthy woman, and did her dutyvery well while she was in our family--I am truly rejoiced, I say,to hear that you are going to make so creditable a marriage. I hopeit will efface your former errors of conduct--which, we will hope,were but trivial in reality--and that you will live to be a comfortto your mother,--for whom both Lord Cumnor and I entertain a verysincere regard. But you must conduct yourself with discretion inwhatever state of life it pleases God to place you, whether marriedor single. You must reverence your husband, and conform to hisopinion in all things. Look up to him as your head, and do nothingwithout consulting him."--It was as well that Lord Cumnor wasnot amongst the audience; or he might have compared precept withpractice.--"Keep strict accounts; and remember your station in life.I understand that Mr.--" looking about for some help as to the nameshe had forgotten--"Anderson--Henderson is in the law. Although thereis a general prejudice against attorneys, I have known of two orthree who were very respectable men; and I am sure Mr. Henderson isone, or your good mother and our old friend Gibson would not havesanctioned the engagement."
"He is a barrister," put in Cynthia, unable to restrain herself anylonger. "Barrister-at-law."
"Ah, yes. Attorney-at-law. Barrister-at-law. I understand withoutyour speaking so loud, my dear. What was I going to say before youinterrupted me? When you have been a little in society you will findthat it is reckoned bad manners to interrupt. I had a great deal moreto say to you, and you have put it all out of my head. There wassomething else your father wanted me to ask--what was it, Harriet?"
"I suppose you mean about Mr. Hamley?"
"Oh, yes! we are intending to have the house full of LordHollingford's friends next month, and Lord Cumnor is particularlyanxious to secure Mr. Hamley."
"The Squire?" asked Mrs. Gibson in some surprise. Lady Cumnor bowedslightly, as much as to say, "If you did not interrupt me I shouldexplain."
"The famous traveller--the scientific Mr. Hamley, I mean. I imaginehe is son to the Squire. Lord Hollingford knows him well; but when weasked him before, he declined coming, and assigned no reason."
Had Roger indeed been asked to the Towers and declined? Mrs. Gibsoncould not understand it. Lady Cumnor went on--
"Now this time we are particularly anxious to secure him, and myson Lord Hollingford will not return to England until the very weekbefore the Duke of Atherstone is coming to us. I believe Mr. Gibsonis very intimate with Mr. Hamley; do you think he could induce him tofavour us with his company?"
And this from the proud Lady Cumnor; and the object of it RogerHamley, whom she had all but turned out of her drawing-room two yearsago for calling at an untimely hour; and whom Cynthia had turned outof her heart. Mrs. Gibson was surprised, and could only murmur outthat she was sure Mr. Gibson would do all that her ladyship wished.
"Thank you. You know me well enough to be aware that I am not theperson, nor is the Towers the house, to go about soliciting guests.But in this instance I bend my head; high rank should always be thefirst to honour those who have distinguished themselves by art orscience."
"Besides, mamma," said Lady Harriet, "papa was saying that theHamleys have been on their land since before the Conquest; while weonly came into the county a century ago; and there is a tale thatthe first Cumnor began his fortune through selling tobacco in KingJames's reign."
If Lady Cumnor did not exactly shift her trumpet and take snuffthere on the spot, she behaved in an equivalent manner. She begana low-toned but nevertheless authoritative conversation with Clareabout the details of the wedding, which lasted until she thought itfit to go, when she abruptly plucked Lady Harriet up, and carriedher off in the very midst of a description she was giving to Cynthiaabout the delights of Spa, which was to be one of the resting-placesof the newly-married couple on their wedding-tour.
Nevertheless she prepared a handsome present for the bride: a Bibleand a Prayer-book bound in velvet with silver-clasps; and also acollection of household account-books, at the beginning of which LadyCumnor wrote down with her own hand the proper weekly allowance ofbread, butter, eggs, meat, and groceries per head, with the Londonprices of the articles, so that the most inexperienced housekeepermight ascertain whether her expenditure exceeded her means, as sheexpressed herself in the note which she sent with the handsome, dullpresent.
"If you are driving into Hollingford, Harriet, perhaps you will takethese books to Miss Kirkpatrick," said Lady Cumnor, after she hadsealed her note with all the straightness and correctness befittinga countess of her immaculate character. "I understand they areall going up to London to-morrow for this wedding, in spite ofwhat I said to Clare of the duty of being married in one's ownparish-church. She told me at the time that she entirely agreedwith me, but that her husband had such a strong wish for a visit toLondon, that she did not know how she could oppose him consistentlywith her wifely duty. I advised her to repeat to him my reasons forthinking that they would be ill-advised to have the marriage in town;but I am afraid she has been overruled. That was her one great faultwhen she lived with us; she was always so yielding, and never knewhow to say 'No.'"
"Mamma!" said Lady Harriet, with a little sly coaxing in her tone."Do you think you would have been so fond of her, if she had opposedyou, and said 'No,' when you wished her to say 'Yes?'"
"To be sure I should, my dear. I like everybody to have an opinion oftheir own; only when my opinions are based on thought and experience,which few people have had equal opportunities of acquiring, I thinkit is but proper deference in others to allow themselves to beconvinced. In fact, I think it is only obstinacy which keeps themfrom acknowledging that they are. I am not a despot, I hope?" sheasked, with some anxiety.
"If you are, dear mamma," said Lady Harriet, kissing the sternuplifted face very fondly, "I like a despotism better than arepublic, and I must be very despotic over my ponies, for it'salready getting very late for my drive round by Ash-holt."
But when she arrived at the Gibsons', she was detained so long thereby the state of the family, that she had to give up her going toAsh-holt.
Molly was sitting in the drawing-room pale and trembling, and keepingherself quiet only by a strong effort. She was the only person therewhen Lady Harriet entered: the room was all in disorder, strewed withpresents and paper, and pasteboard boxes, and half-displayed articlesof finery.
"You look like Marius sitting amidst the r
uins of Carthage, my dear!What's the matter? Why have you got on that wobegone face? Thismarriage isn't broken off, is it? Though nothing would surprise mewhere the beautiful Cynthia is concerned."
"Oh, no! that's all right. But I have caught a fresh cold, and papasays he thinks I had better not go to the wedding."
"Poor little one! And it's the first visit to London too!"
"Yes. But what I most care for is the not being with Cynthia tothe last; and then, papa"--she stopped, for she could hardly goon without open crying, and she did not want to do that. Then shecleared her voice. "Papa," she continued, "has so looked forward tothis holiday,--and seeing--and--, and going--oh! I can't tell youwhere; but he has quite a list of people and sights to be seen,--andnow he says he should not be comfortable to leave me all alone formore than three days,--two for travelling, and one for the wedding."Just then Mrs. Gibson came in, ruffled too after her fashion, thoughthe presence of Lady Harriet was wonderfully smoothing.
"My dear Lady Harriet--how kind of you! Ah, yes, I see this poorunfortunate child has been telling you of her ill-luck; just wheneverything was going on so beautifully; I'm sure it was that openwindow at your back, Molly,--you know you would persist that it coulddo you no harm, and now you see the mischief! I'm sure I shan't beable to enjoy myself--and at my only child's wedding too--withoutyou; for I can't think of leaving you without Maria. I would rathersacrifice anything myself than think of you, uncared for, and dismalat home."
"I am sure Molly is as sorry as any one," said Lady Harriet.
"No. I don't think she is," said Mrs. Gibson, with happy disregard ofthe chronology of events, "or she would not have sate with her backto an open window the day before yesterday, when I told her not. Butit can't be helped now. Papa too--but it is my duty to make the bestof everything, and look at the cheerful side of life. I wish I couldpersuade her to do the same" (turning and addressing Lady Harriet)."But, you see, it is a great mortification to a girl of her age tolose her first visit to London."
"It is not that," began Molly; but Lady Harriet made her a littlesign to be silent while she herself spoke.
"Now, Clare! you and I can manage it all, I think, if you will buthelp me in a plan I've got in my head. Mr. Gibson shall stay as longas ever he can in London and Molly shall be well cared for, and havesome change of air and scene too, which is really what she needsas much as anything, in my poor opinion. I can't spirit her to thewedding and give her a sight of London but I can carry her off tothe Towers, and nurse her myself; and send daily bulletins up toLondon, so that Mr. Gibson may feel quite at ease, and stay with youas long as you like. What do you say to it, Clare?"
"Oh, I could not go," said Molly; "I should only be a trouble toeverybody."
"Nobody asked you for your opinion, little one. If we wise eldersdecide that you are to go, you must submit in silence."
Meanwhile Mrs. Gibson was rapidly balancing advantages anddisadvantages. Amongst the latter, jealousy came in predominant.Amongst the former,--it would sound well; Maria could then accompanyCynthia and herself as "their maid;" Mr. Gibson would stay longerwith her, and it was always desirable to have a man at her beck andcall in such a place as London besides that, this identical man wasgentlemanly and good-looking, and a favourite with her prosperousbrother-in-law. The "ayes" had it.
"What a charming plan! I cannot think of anything kinder orpleasanter for this poor darling. Only--what will Lady Cumnor say? Iam modest for my family as much as for myself. She won't--"
"You know mamma's sense of hospitality is never more gratified thanwhen the house is quite full; and papa is just like her. Besides, sheis fond of you, and grateful to our good Mr. Gibson, and will be fondof you, little one, when she knows you as I do."
Molly's heart sank within her at the prospect. Except on the oneevening of her father's wedding-day, she had never even seen theoutside of the Towers since that unlucky day in her childhoodwhen she had fallen asleep on Clare's bed. She had a dread of thecountess, a dislike to the house; only it seemed as if it was asolution to the problem of what to do with her, which had beenperplexing every one all morning, and so evidently that it hadcaused her much distress. She kept silence, though her lips quiveredfrom time to time. Oh, if Miss Brownings had not chosen this verytime of all others to pay their monthly visit to Miss Hornblower!If she could only have gone there, and lived with them in theirquaint, quiet, primitive way, instead of having to listen, withoutremonstrance, to hearing plans discussed about her, as if she was aninanimate chattel!
"She shall have the south pink room, opening out of mine by one door,you remember; and the dressing-room shall be made into a cosy littlesitting-room for her, in case she likes to be by herself. Parkesshall attend upon her, and I'm sure Mr. Gibson must know Parkes'spowers as a nurse by this time. We shall have all manner of agreeablepeople in the house to amuse her downstairs; and when she has got ridof this access of cold, I will drive her out every day, and writedaily bulletins, as I said. Pray tell Mr. Gibson all that, and let itbe considered as settled. I will come for her in the close carriageto-morrow, at eleven. And now may I see the lovely bride-elect, andgive her mamma's present, and my own good wishes?"
So Cynthia came in, and demurely received the very proper present,and the equally correct congratulations, without testifying any verygreat delight or gratitude at either; for she was quite quick enoughto detect there was no great afflux of affection accompanying either.But when she heard her mother quickly recapitulating all the detailsof the plan for Molly, Cynthia's eyes did sparkle with gladness; andalmost to Lady Harriet's surprise, she thanked her as if she hadconferred a personal favour upon her, Cynthia. Lady Harriet saw,too, that in a very quiet way, she had taken Molly's hand, and washolding it all the time, as if loth to think of their approachingseparation--somehow, she and Lady Harriet were brought nearertogether by this little action than they had ever been before.
If Molly had hoped that her father might have raised some obstaclesto the project, she was disappointed. But, indeed, she was satisfiedwhen she perceived how he seemed to feel that, by placing her underthe care of Lady Harriet and Parkes, he should be relieved fromanxiety; and how he spoke of this change of air and scene as beingthe very thing he had been wishing to secure for her; country air,and absence of excitement as this would be; for the only other placewhere he could have secured her these advantages, and at the sametime sent her as an invalid, was to Hamley Hall; and he dreaded theassociations there with the beginning of her present illness.
So Molly was driven off in state the next day, leaving her own homeall in confusion with the assemblage of boxes and trunks in the hall,and all the other symptoms of the approaching departure of the familyfor London and the wedding. All the morning Cynthia had been withher in her room, attending to the arrangement of Molly's clothes,instructing her what to wear with what, and rejoicing over the prettysmartnesses, which, having been prepared for her as bridesmaid, werenow to serve as adornments for her visit to the Towers. Both Mollyand Cynthia spoke about dress as if it was the very object of theirlives; for each dreaded the introduction of more serious subjects;Cynthia more for Molly than herself. Only when the carriage wasannounced, and Molly was preparing to go downstairs, Cynthia said,--
"I am not going to thank you, Molly, or to tell you how I love you."
"Don't," said Molly, "I can't bear it."
"Only you know you are to be my first visitor, and if you wear brownribbons to a green gown, I'll turn you out of the house!" So theyparted. Mr. Gibson was there in the hall to hand Molly in. He hadridden hard; and was now giving her two or three last injunctions asto her health.
"Think of us on Thursday," said he. "I declare I don't know which ofher three lovers she mayn't summon at the very last moment to act thepart of bridegroom. I'm determined to be surprised at nothing; andwill give her away with a good grace to whoever comes."
They drove away, and until they were out of sight of the house, Mollyhad enough to do to keep returning the kisses of the hand wafted toh
er by her stepmother out of the drawing-room window, while at thesame time her eyes were fixed on a white handkerchief fluttering outof the attic from which she herself had watched Roger's departurenearly two years before. What changes time had brought!
When Molly arrived at the Towers she was convoyed into Lady Cumnor'spresence by Lady Harriet. It was a mark of respect to the lady of thehouse, which the latter knew that her mother would expect; but shewas anxious to get it over, and take Molly up into the room which shehad been so busy arranging for her. Lady Cumnor was, however, verykind, if not positively gracious.
"You are Lady Harriet's visitor, my dear," said she, "and I hope shewill take good care of you. If not, come and complain of her to me."It was as near an approach to a joke as Lady Cumnor ever perpetrated,and from it Lady Harriet knew that her mother was pleased by Molly'smanners and appearance.
"Now, here you are in your own kingdom; and into this room I shan'tventure to come without express permission. Here is the last new_Quarterly_, and the last new novel, and the last new Essays. Now, mydear, you needn't come down again to-day unless you like it. Parkesshall bring you everything and anything you want. You must get strongas fast as you can, for all sorts of great and famous people arecoming to-morrow and the next day, and I think you'll like to seethem. Suppose for to-day you only come down to lunch, and if youlike it, in the evening. Dinner is such a wearily long meal, if oneisn't strong; and you wouldn't miss much, for there's only my cousinCharles in the house now, and he is the personification of sensiblesilence."
Molly was only too glad to allow Lady Harriet to decide everythingfor her. It had begun to rain, and was altogether a gloomy day forAugust; and there was a small fire of scented wood burning cheerfullyin the sitting-room appropriated to her. High up, it commanded awide and pleasant view over the park, and from it could be seen thespire of Hollingford Church, which gave Molly a pleasant idea ofneighbourhood to home. She was left alone, lying on the sofa--booksnear her, wood crackling and blazing, wafts of wind bringing thebeating rain against the window, and so enhancing the sense of indoorcomfort by the outdoor contrast. Parkes was unpacking for her. LadyHarriet had introduced Parkes to Molly by saying, "Now, Molly, thisis Mrs. Parkes, the only person I am ever afraid of. She scolds me ifI dirty myself with my paints, just as if I was a little child; andshe makes me go to bed when I want to sit up,"--Parkes was smilinggrimly all the time;--"so to get rid of her tyranny I give her you asvictim. Parkes, rule over Miss Gibson with a rod of iron make hereat and drink, and rest and sleep, and dress as you think wisest andbest."
Parkes had begun her reign by putting Molly on the sofa, and saying,"If you will give me your keys, Miss, I will unpack your things, andlet you know when it is time for me to arrange your hair, preparatoryto luncheon." For if Lady Harriet used familiar colloquialisms fromtime to time, she certainly had not learnt it from Parkes, who piquedherself on the correctness of her language.
When Molly went down to lunch she found "cousin Charles," with hisaunt, Lady Cumnor. He was a certain Sir Charles Morton, the son ofLady Cumnor's only sister: a plain, sandy-haired man of thirty-fiveor so; immensely rich, very sensible, awkward, and reserved. He hadhad a chronic attachment, of many years' standing, to his cousin,Lady Harriet, who did not care for him in the least, although itwas the marriage very earnestly desired for her by her mother. LadyHarriet was, however, on friendly terms with him, ordered him about,and told him what to do, and what to leave undone, without havingeven a doubt as to the willingness of his obedience. She had givenhim his cue about Molly.
"Now, Charles, the girl wants to be interested and amused withouthaving to take any trouble for herself; she is too delicate to bevery active either in mind or body. Just look after her when thehouse gets full, and place her where she can hear and see everythingand everybody, without any fuss and responsibility."
So Sir Charles began this day at luncheon by taking Molly under hisquiet protection. He did not say much to her; but what he did say wasthoroughly friendly and sympathetic; and Molly began, as he and LadyHarriet intended that she should, to have a kind of pleasant relianceupon him. Then in the evening while the rest of the family were atdinner--after Molly's tea and hour of quiet repose, Parkes came anddressed her in some of the new clothes prepared for the Kirkpatrickvisit, and did her hair in some new and pretty way, so that whenMolly looked at herself in the cheval-glass, she scarcely knew theelegant reflection to be that of herself. She was fetched down byLady Harriet into the great long formidable drawing-room, which asan interminable place of pacing, had haunted her dreams ever sinceher childhood. At the further end sat Lady Cumnor at her tapestrywork; the light of fire and candle seemed all concentrated on thatone bright part where presently Lady Harriet made tea, and LordCumnor went to sleep, and Sir Charles read passages aloud from the_Edinburgh Review_ to the three ladies at their work.
When Molly went to bed she was constrained to admit that staying atthe Towers as a visitor was rather pleasant than otherwise; and shetried to reconcile old impressions with new ones, until she fellasleep. There was another comparatively quiet day before the expectedguests began to arrive in the evening. Lady Harriet took Molly adrive in her little pony-carriage; and for the first time for manyweeks Molly began to feel the delightful spring of returning health;the dance of youthful spirits in the fresh air cleared by theprevious day's rain.