CHAPTER XVII.
THE SCHOOL FEAST.
Not on combat bent, nor of foemen in search, was this priest-led andwoman-officered company; yet their music played martial tunes, and, tojudge by the eyes and carriage of some--Miss Keeldar, forinstance--these sounds awoke, if not a martial, yet a longing spirit.Old Helstone, turning by chance, looked into her face; and he laughed,and she laughed at him.
"There is no battle in prospect," he said; "our country does not want usto fight for it. No foe or tyrant is questioning or threatening ourliberty. There is nothing to be done. We are only taking a walk. Keepyour hand on the reins, captain, and slack the fire of that spirit. Itis not wanted, the more's the pity."
"Take your own advice, doctor," was Shirley's response. To Caroline shemurmured, "I'll borrow of imagination what reality will not give me. Weare not soldiers--bloodshed is not my desire--or if we are, we aresoldiers of the Cross. Time has rolled back some hundreds of years, andwe are bound on a pilgrimage to Palestine. But no; that is toovisionary. I need a sterner dream. We are Lowlanders of Scotland,following a Covenanting captain up into the hills to hold a meeting outof the reach of persecuting troopers. We know that battle may followprayer; and as we believe that in the worst issue of battle heaven mustbe our reward, we are ready and willing to redden the peat-moss with ourblood. That music stirs my soul; it wakens all my life; it makes myheart beat--not with its temperate daily pulse, but with a new,thrilling vigour. I almost long for danger--for a faith, a land, or atleast a lover to defend."
"Look, Shirley!" interrupted Caroline. "What is that red speck aboveStilbro' Brow? You have keener sight than I. Just turn your eagle eye toit."
Miss Keeldar looked. "I see," she said; then added presently, "there isa line of red. They are soldiers--cavalry soldiers," she subjoinedquickly. "They ride fast. There are six of them. They will pass us. No;they have turned off to the right. They saw our procession, and avoid itby making a circuit. Where are they going?"
"Perhaps they are only exercising their horses."
"Perhaps so. We see them no more now."
Mr. Helstone here spoke.
"We shall pass through Royd Lane, to reach Nunnely Common by a shortcut," said he.
And into the straits of Royd Lane they accordingly defiled. It was verynarrow--so narrow that only two could walk abreast without falling intothe ditch which ran along each side. They had gained the middle of it,when excitement became obvious in the clerical commanders. Boultby'sspectacles and Helstone's Rehoboam were agitated; the curates nudgedeach other; Mr. Hall turned to the ladies and smiled.
"What is the matter?" was the demand.
He pointed with his staff to the end of the lane before them. Lo andbehold! another, an opposition, procession was there entering, headedalso by men in black, and followed also, as they could now hear, bymusic.
"Is it our double?" asked Shirley, "our manifold wraith? Here is a cardturned up."
"If you wanted a battle, you are likely to get one--at least of looks,"whispered Caroline, laughing.
"They shall not pass us!" cried the curates unanimously; "we'll not giveway!"
"Give way!" retorted Helstone sternly, turning round; "who talks ofgiving way? You, boys, mind what you are about. The ladies, I know, willbe firm. I can trust them. There is not a churchwoman here but willstand her ground against these folks, for the honour of theEstablishment.--What does Miss Keeldar say?"
"She asks what is it."
"The Dissenting and Methodist schools, the Baptists, Independents, andWesleyans, joined in unholy alliance, and turning purposely into thislane with the intention of obstructing our march and driving us back."
"Bad manners!" said Shirley, "and I hate bad manners. Of course, theymust have a lesson."
"A lesson in politeness," suggested Mr. Hall, who was ever for peace;"not an example of rudeness."
Old Helstone moved on. Quickening his step, he marched some yards inadvance of his company. He had nearly reached the other sable leaders,when he who appeared to act as the hostile commander-in-chief--a large,greasy man, with black hair combed flat on his forehead--called a halt.The procession paused. He drew forth a hymn book, gave out a verse, seta tune, and they all struck up the most dolorous of canticles.
Helstone signed to his bands. They clashed out with all the power ofbrass. He desired them to play "Rule, Britannia!" and ordered thechildren to join in vocally, which they did with enthusiastic spirit.The enemy was sung and stormed down, his psalm quelled. As far as noisewent, he was conquered.
"Now, follow me!" exclaimed Helstone; "not at a run, but at a firm,smart pace. Be steady, every child and woman of you. Keep together. Holdon by each other's skirts, if necessary."
And he strode on with such a determined and deliberate gait, and was,besides, so well seconded by his scholars and teachers, who did exactlyas he told them, neither running nor faltering, but marching with cool,solid impetus--the curates, too, being compelled to do the same, as theywere between two fires, Helstone and Miss Keeldar, both of whom watchedany deviation with lynx-eyed vigilance, and were ready, the one with hiscane, the other with her parasol, to rebuke the slightest breach oforders, the least independent or irregular demonstration--that the bodyof Dissenters were first amazed, then alarmed, then borne down andpressed back, and at last forced to turn tail and leave the outlet fromRoyd Lane free. Boultby suffered in the onslaught, but Helstone andMalone, between them, held him up, and brought him through the business,whole in limb, though sorely tried in wind.
The fat Dissenter who had given out the hymn was left sitting in theditch. He was a spirit merchant by trade, a leader of theNonconformists, and, it was said, drank more water in that one afternoonthan he had swallowed for a twelvemonth before. Mr. Hall had taken careof Caroline, and Caroline of him. He and Miss Ainley made their ownquiet comments to each other afterwards on the incident. Miss Keeldarand Mr. Helstone shook hands heartily when they had fairly got the wholeparty through the lane. The curates began to exult, but Mr. Helstonepresently put the curb on their innocent spirits. He remarked that theynever had sense to know what to say, and had better hold their tongues;and he reminded them that the business was none of their managing.
About half-past three the procession turned back, and at four once moreregained the starting-place. Long lines of benches were arranged in theclose-shorn fields round the school. There the children were seated, andhuge baskets, covered up with white cloths, and great smoking tinvessels were brought out. Ere the distribution of good things commenced,a brief grace was pronounced by Mr. Hall and sung by the children. Theiryoung voices sounded melodious, even touching, in the open air. Largecurrant buns and hot, well-sweetened tea were then administered in theproper spirit of liberality. No stinting was permitted on this day, atleast; the rule for each child's allowance being that it was to haveabout twice as much as it could possibly eat, thus leaving a reserve tobe carried home for such as age, sickness, or other impediment preventedfrom coming to the feast. Buns and beer circulated, meantime, amongstthe musicians and church-singers; afterwards the benches were removed,and they were left to unbend their spirits in licensed play.
A bell summoned the teachers, patrons, and patronesses to theschoolroom. Miss Keeldar, Miss Helstone, and many other ladies werealready there, glancing over the arrangement of their separate trays andtables. Most of the female servants of the neighbourhood, together withthe clerks', the singers', and the musicians' wives, had been pressedinto the service of the day as waiters. Each vied with the other insmartness and daintiness of dress, and many handsome forms were seenamongst the younger ones. About half a score were cutting bread andbutter, another half-score supplying hot water, brought from the coppersof the rector's kitchen. The profusion of flowers and evergreensdecorating the white walls, the show of silver teapots and brightporcelain on the tables, the active figures, blithe faces, gay dressesflitting about everywhere, formed altogether a refreshing and livelyspectacle. Everybody talked, not very loudly, but merrily, and the
canary birds sang shrill in their high-hung cages.
Caroline, as the rector's niece, took her place at one of the threefirst tables; Mrs. Boultby and Margaret Hall officiated at the others.At these tables the _elite_ of the company were to be entertained,strict rules of equality not being more in fashion at Briarfield thanelsewhere. Miss Helstone removed her bonnet and scarf, that she might beless oppressed with the heat. Her long curls, falling on her neck,served almost in place of a veil; and for the rest, her muslin dress wasfashioned modestly as a nun's robe, enabling her thus to dispense withthe encumbrance of a shawl.
The room was filling. Mr. Hall had taken his post beside Caroline, whonow, as she rearranged the cups and spoons before her, whispered to himin a low voice remarks on the events of the day. He looked a littlegrave about what had taken place in Royd Lane, and she tried to smilehim out of his seriousness. Miss Keeldar sat near--for a wonder, neitherlaughing nor talking; on the contrary, very still, and gazing round hervigilantly. She seemed afraid lest some intruder should take a seat sheapparently wished to reserve next her own. Ever and anon she spread hersatin dress over an undue portion of the bench, or laid her gloves orher embroidered handkerchief upon it. Caroline noticed this _manege_ atlast, and asked her what friend she expected. Shirley bent towards her,almost touched her ear with her rosy lips, and whispered with a musicalsoftness that often characterized her tones when what she said tendedeven remotely to stir some sweet secret source of feeling in her heart,"I expect Mr. Moore. I saw him last night, and I made him promise tocome with his sister, and to sit at our table. He won't fail me, I feelcertain; but I apprehend his coming too late, and being separated fromus. Here is a fresh batch arriving; every place will be taken.Provoking!"
In fact, Mr. Wynne the magistrate, his wife, his son, and his twodaughters now entered in high state. They were Briarfield gentry. Ofcourse their place was at the first table, and being conducted thither,they filled up the whole remaining space. For Miss Keeldar's comfort,Mr. Sam Wynne inducted himself into the very vacancy she had kept forMoore, planting himself solidly on her gown, her gloves, and herhandkerchief. Mr. Sam was one of the objects of her aversion, and themore so because he showed serious symptoms of an aim at her hand. Theold gentleman, too, had publicly declared that the Fieldhead estate andthe De Walden estate were delightfully _contagious_--a malapropism whichrumour had not failed to repeat to Shirley.
Caroline's ears yet rung with that thrilling whisper, "I expect Mr.Moore," her heart yet beat and her cheek yet glowed with it, when a notefrom the organ pealed above the confused hum of the place. Dr. Boultby,Mr. Helstone, and Mr. Hall rose, so did all present, and grace was sungto the accompaniment of the music; and then tea began. She was kept toobusy with her office for a while to have leisure for looking round, butthe last cup being filled, she threw a restless glance over the room.There were some ladies and several gentlemen standing about yetunaccommodated with seats. Amidst a group she recognized her spinsterfriend, Miss Mann, whom the fine weather had tempted, or some urgentfriend had persuaded, to leave her drear solitude for one hour of socialenjoyment. Miss Mann looked tired of standing; a lady in a yellow bonnetbrought her a chair. Caroline knew well that _chapeau en satin jaune_;she knew the black hair, and the kindly though rather opinionated andfroward-looking face under it; she knew that _robe de soie noire_, sheknew even that _schall gris de lin_; she knew, in short, Hortense Moore,and she wanted to jump up and run to her and kiss her--to give her oneembrace for her own sake and two for her brother's. She half rose,indeed, with a smothered exclamation, and perhaps--for the impulse wasvery strong--she would have run across the room and actually salutedher; but a hand replaced her in her seat, and a voice behind herwhispered, "Wait till after tea, Lina, and then I'll bring her to you."
And when she _could_ look up she did, and there was Robert himself closebehind, smiling at her eagerness, looking better than she had ever seenhim look--looking, indeed, to her partial eyes, so very handsome thatshe dared not trust herself to hazard a second glance; for his imagestruck on her vision with painful brightness, and pictured itself on hermemory as vividly as if there daguerreotyped by a pencil of keenlightning.
He moved on, and spoke to Miss Keeldar. Shirley, irritated by someunwelcome attentions from Sam Wynne, and by the fact of that gentlemanbeing still seated on her gloves and handkerchief--and probably, also,by Moore's want of punctuality--was by no means in good humour. Shefirst shrugged her shoulders at him, and then she said a bitter word ortwo about his "insupportable tardiness." Moore neither apologized norretorted. He stood near her quietly, as if waiting to see whether shewould recover her temper; which she did in little more than threeminutes, indicating the change by offering him her hand. Moore took itwith a smile, half-corrective, half-grateful. The slightest possibleshake of the head delicately marked the former quality; it is probable agentle pressure indicated the latter.
"You may sit where you can now, Mr. Moore," said Shirley, also smiling."You see there is not an inch of room for you here; but I discern plentyof space at Mrs. Boultby's table, between Miss Armitage and MissBirtwhistle. Go! John Sykes will be your _vis-a-vis_, and you will sitwith your back towards us."
Moore, however, preferred lingering about where he was. He now and thentook a turn down the long room, pausing in his walk to interchangegreetings with other gentlemen in his own placeless predicament; butstill he came back to the magnet, Shirley, bringing with him, each timehe returned, observations it was necessary to whisper in her ear.
Meantime poor Sam Wynne looked far from comfortable. His fair neighbour,judging from her movements, appeared in a mood the most unquiet andunaccommodating. She would not sit still two seconds. She was hot; shefanned herself; complained of want of air and space. She remarked that,in her opinion, when people had finished their tea they ought to leavethe tables, and announced distinctly that she expected to faint if thepresent state of things continued. Mr. Sam offered to accompany her intothe open air; just the way to give her her death of cold, she alleged.In short, his post became untenable; and having swallowed his quantum oftea, he judged it expedient to evacuate.
Moore should have been at hand, whereas he was quite at the otherextremity of the room, deep in conference with Christopher Sykes. Alarge corn-factor, Timothy Ramsden, Esq., happened to be nearer; andfeeling himself tired of standing, he advanced to fill the vacant seat.Shirley's expedients did not fail her. A sweep of her scarf upset herteacup: its contents were shared between the bench and her own satindress. Of course, it became necessary to call a waiter to remedy themischief. Mr. Ramsden, a stout, puffy gentleman, as large in person ashe was in property, held aloof from the consequent commotion. Shirley,usually almost culpably indifferent to slight accidents affecting dress,etc., now made a commotion that might have become the most delicate andnervous of her sex. Mr. Ramsden opened his mouth, withdrew slowly, and,as Miss Keeldar again intimated her intention to "give way" and swoon onthe spot, he turned on his heel, and beat a heavy retreat.
Moore at last returned. Calmly surveying the bustle, and somewhatquizzically scanning Shirley's enigmatical-looking countenance, heremarked that in truth this was the hottest end of the room, that hefound a climate there calculated to agree with none but cooltemperaments like his own; and putting the waiters, the napkins, thesatin robe--the whole turmoil, in short--to one side, he installedhimself where destiny evidently decreed he should sit. Shirley subsided;her features altered their lines; the raised knit brow and inexplicablecurve of the mouth became straight again; wilfulness and roguery gaveplace to other expressions; and all the angular movements with which shehad vexed the soul of Sam Wynne were conjured to rest as by a charm.Still no gracious glance was cast on Moore. On the contrary, he wasaccused of giving her a world of trouble, and roundly charged with beingthe cause of depriving her of the esteem of Mr. Ramsden and theinvaluable friendship of Mr. Samuel Wynne.
"Wouldn't have offended either gentleman for the world," she averred. "Ihave always been accustomed to treat both with th
e most respectfulconsideration, and there, owing to you, how they have been used! I shallnot be happy till I have made it up. I never am happy till I am friendswith my neighbours. So to-morrow I must make a pilgrimage to Roydcorn-mill, soothe the miller, and praise the grain; and next day I mustcall at De Walden--where I hate to go--and carry in my reticule half anoatcake to give to Mr. Sam's favourite pointers."
"You know the surest path to the heart of each swain, I doubt not," saidMoore quietly. He looked very content to have at last secured hispresent place; but he made no fine speech expressive of gratification,and offered no apology for the trouble he had given. His phlegm becamehim wonderfully. It made him look handsomer, he was so composed; it madehis vicinage pleasant, it was so peace-restoring. You would not havethought, to look at him, that he was a poor, struggling man seatedbeside a rich woman; the calm of equality stilled his aspect; perhapsthat calm, too, reigned in his soul. Now and then, from the way in whichhe looked down on Miss Keeldar as he addressed her, you would havefancied his station towered above hers as much as his stature did.Almost stern lights sometimes crossed his brow and gleamed in his eyes.Their conversation had become animated, though it was confined to a lowkey; she was urging him with questions--evidently he refused to hercuriosity all the gratification it demanded. She sought his eye oncewith hers. You read, in its soft yet eager expression, that it solicitedclearer replies. Moore smiled pleasantly, but his lips continued sealed.Then she was piqued, and turned away; but he recalled her attention intwo minutes. He seemed making promises, which he soothed her intoaccepting in lieu of information.
It appeared that the heat of the room did not suit Miss Helstone. Shegrew paler and paler as the process of tea-making was protracted. Themoment thanks were returned she quitted the table, and hastened tofollow her cousin Hortense, who, with Miss Mann, had already sought theopen air. Robert Moore had risen when she did--perhaps he meant to speakto her; but there was yet a parting word to exchange with Miss Keeldar,and while it was being uttered Caroline had vanished.
Hortense received her former pupil with a demeanour of more dignity thanwarmth. She had been seriously offended by Mr. Helstone's proceedings,and had all along considered Caroline to blame in obeying her uncle tooliterally.
"You are a very great stranger," she said austerely, as her pupil heldand pressed her hand. The pupil knew her too well to remonstrate orcomplain of coldness. She let the punctilious whim pass, sure that hernatural _bonte_ (I use this French word because it expresses just what Imean--neither goodness nor good-nature, but something between the two)would presently get the upper hand. It did. Hortense had no soonerexamined her face well, and observed the change its somewhat wastedfeatures betrayed, than her mien softened. Kissing her on both cheeks,she asked anxiously after her health. Caroline answered gaily. It would,however, have been her lot to undergo a long cross-examination, followedby an endless lecture on this head, had not Miss Mann called off theattention of the questioner by requesting to be conducted home. The poorinvalid was already fatigued. Her weariness made her cross--too crossalmost to speak to Caroline; and besides, that young person's whitedress and lively look were displeasing in the eyes of Miss Mann. Theeveryday garb of brown stuff or gray gingham, and the everyday air ofmelancholy, suited the solitary spinster better; she would hardly knowher young friend to-night, and quitted her with a cool nod. Hortensehaving promised to accompany her home, they departed together.
Caroline now looked round for Shirley. She saw the rainbow scarf andpurple dress in the centre of a throng of ladies, all well known toherself, but all of the order whom she systematically avoided wheneveravoidance was possible. Shyer at some moments than at others, she feltjust now no courage at all to join this company. She could not, however,stand alone where all others went in pairs or parties; so she approacheda group of her own scholars, great girls, or rather young women, whowere standing watching some hundreds of the younger children playing atblind-man's buff.
Miss Helstone knew these girls liked her, yet she was shy even with themout of school. They were not more in awe of her than she of them. Shedrew near them now, rather to find protection in their company than topatronize them with her presence. By some instinct they knew herweakness, and with natural politeness they respected it. Her knowledgecommanded their esteem when she taught them; her gentleness attractedtheir regard; and because she was what they considered wise and goodwhen _on_ duty, they kindly overlooked her evident timidity when off.They did not take advantage of it. Peasant girls as they were, they hadtoo much of our own English sensibility to be guilty of the coarseerror. They stood round her still, civil, friendly, receiving her slightsmiles and rather hurried efforts to converse with a good feeling andgood breeding--the last quality being the result of the first--whichsoon set her at her ease.
Mr. Sam Wynne coming up with great haste, to insist on the elder girlsjoining in the game as well as the younger ones, Caroline was again leftalone. She was meditating a quiet retreat to the house, when Shirley,perceiving from afar her isolation, hastened to her side.
"Let us go to the top of the fields," she said. "I know you don't likecrowds, Caroline."
"But it will be depriving you of a pleasure, Shirley, to take you fromall these fine people, who court your society so assiduously, and towhom you can, without art or effort, make yourself so pleasant."
"Not quite without effort; I am already tired of the exertion. It is butinsipid, barren work, talking and laughing with the good gentlefolks ofBriarfield. I have been looking out for your white dress for the lastten minutes. I like to watch those I love in a crowd, and to comparethem with others. I have thus compared you. You resemble none of therest, Lina. There are some prettier faces than yours here. You are not amodel beauty like Harriet Sykes, for instance--beside her your personappears almost insignificant--but you look agreeable, you lookreflective, you look what I call interesting."
"Hush, Shirley! you flatter me."
"I don't wonder that your scholars like you."
"Nonsense, Shirley! Talk of something else."
"We will talk of Moore, then, and we will watch him. I see him evennow."
"Where?" And as Caroline asked the question she looked not over thefields, but into Miss Keeldar's eyes, as was her wont whenever Shirleymentioned any object she descried afar. Her friend had quicker visionthan herself, and Caroline seemed to think that the secret of her eagleacuteness might be read in her dark gray irides, or rather, perhaps, sheonly sought guidance by the direction of those discriminating andbrilliant spheres.
"There is Moore," said Shirley, pointing right across the wide fieldwhere a thousand children were playing, and now nearly a thousand adultspectators walking about. "There--can you miss the tall stature andstraight port? He looks amidst the set that surround him like Eliabamongst humbler shepherds--like Saul in a war-council; and a war-councilit is, if I am not mistaken."
"Why so, Shirley?" asked Caroline, whose eye had at last caught theobject it sought. "Robert is just now speaking to my uncle, and they areshaking hands. They are then reconciled."
"Reconciled not without good reason, depend on it--making common causeagainst some common foe. And why, think you, are Messrs. Wynne andSykes, and Armitage and Ramsden, gathered in such a close circle roundthem? And why is Malone beckoned to join them? Where _he_ is summoned,be sure a strong arm is needed."
Shirley, as she watched, grew restless; her eyes flashed.
"They won't trust me," she said. "That is always the way when it comesto the point."
"What about?"
"Cannot you feel? There is some mystery afloat; some event is expected;some preparation is to be made, I am certain. I saw it all in Mr.Moore's manner this evening. He was excited, yet hard."
"Hard to _you_, Shirley?"
"Yes, to _me_. He often is hard to me. We seldom converse _tete-a-tete_but I am made to feel that the basis of his character is not of eiderdown."
"Yet he seemed to talk to you softly."
"Did he not? Very gentl
e tones and quiet manner. Yet the man isperemptory and secret: his secrecy vexes me."
"Yes, Robert is secret."
"Which he has scarcely a right to be with me, especially as he commencedby giving me his confidence. Having done nothing to forfeit thatconfidence, it ought not to be withdrawn; but I suppose I am notconsidered iron-souled enough to be trusted in a crisis."
"He fears, probably, to occasion you uneasiness."
"An unnecessary precaution. I am of elastic materials, not soon crushed.He ought to know that. But the man is proud. He has his faults, say whatyou will, Lina. Observe how engaged that group appear. They do not knowwe are watching them."
"If we keep on the alert, Shirley, we shall perhaps find the clue totheir secret."
"There will be some unusual movements ere long--perhaps to-morrow,possibly to-night. But my eyes and ears are wide open. Mr. Moore, youshall be under surveillance. Be you vigilant also, Lina."
"I will. Robert is going; I saw him turn. I believe he noticed us. Theyare shaking hands."
"Shaking hands, with emphasis," added Shirley, "as if they wereratifying some solemn league and covenant."
They saw Robert quit the group, pass through a gate, and disappear.
"And he has not bid us good-bye," murmured Caroline.
Scarcely had the words escaped her lips when she tried by a smile todeny the confession of disappointment they seemed to imply. An unbiddensuffusion for one moment both softened and brightened her eyes.
"Oh, that is soon remedied!" exclaimed Shirley: "we'll _make_ him bid usgood-bye."
"_Make_ him! That is not the same thing," was the answer.
"It _shall_ be the same thing."
"But he is gone; you can't overtake him."
"I know a shorter way than that he has taken. We will intercept him."
"But, Shirley, I would rather not go."
Caroline said this as Miss Keeldar seized her arm and hurried her downthe fields. It was vain to contend. Nothing was so wilful as Shirleywhen she took a whim into her head. Caroline found herself out of sightof the crowd almost before she was aware, and ushered into a narrowshady spot, embowered above with hawthorns, and enamelled under footwith daisies. She took no notice of the evening sun chequering the turf,nor was she sensible of the pure incense exhaling at this hour from treeand plant; she only heard the wicket opening at one end, and knew Robertwas approaching. The long sprays of the hawthorns, shooting out beforethem, served as a screen. They saw him before he observed them. At aglance Caroline perceived that his social hilarity was gone; he had leftit behind him in the joy-echoing fields round the school. What remainednow was his dark, quiet, business countenance. As Shirley had said, acertain hardness characterized his air, while his eye was excited, butaustere. So much the worse timed was the present freak of Shirley's. Ifhe had looked disposed for holiday mirth, it would not have matteredmuch; but now----
"I told you not to come," said Caroline, somewhat bitterly, to herfriend. She seemed truly perturbed. To be intruded on Robert thus,against her will and his expectation, and when he evidently would rathernot be delayed, keenly annoyed her. It did not annoy Miss Keeldar in theleast. She stepped forward and faced her tenant, barring his way. "Youomitted to bid us good-bye," she said.
"Omitted to bid you good-bye! Where did you come from? Are you fairies?I left two like you, one in purple and one in white, standing at the topof a bank, four fields off, but a minute ago."
"You left us there and find us here. We have been watching you, andshall watch you still. You must be questioned one day, but not now. Atpresent all you have to do is to say good-night, and then pass."
Moore glanced from one to the other without unbending his aspect. "Daysof fete have their privileges, and so have days of hazard," observed hegravely.
"Come, don't moralize. Say good-night, and pass," urged Shirley.
"Must I say good-night to you, Miss Keeldar?"
"Yes, and to Caroline likewise. It is nothing new, I hope. You have bidus both good-night before."
He took her hand, held it in one of his, and covered it with the other.He looked down at her gravely, kindly, yet commandingly. The heiresscould not make this man her subject. In his gaze on her bright facethere was no servility, hardly homage; but there were interest andaffection, heightened by another feeling. Something in his tone when hespoke, as well as in his words, marked that last sentiment to begratitude.
"Your debtor bids you good-night! May you rest safely and serenely tillmorning."
"And you, Mr. Moore--what are you going to do? What have you been sayingto Mr. Helstone, with whom I saw you shake hands? Why did all thosegentlemen gather round you? Put away reserve for once. Be frank withme."
"Who can resist you? I will be frank. To-morrow, if there is anything torelate, you shall hear it."
"Just now," pleaded Shirley; "don't procrastinate."
"But I could only tell half a tale. And my time is limited; I have not amoment to spare. Hereafter I will make amends for delay by candour."
"But are you going home?"
"Yes."
"Not to leave it any more to-night?"
"Certainly not. At present, farewell to both of you."
He would have taken Caroline's hand and joined it in the same clasp inwhich he held Shirley's, but somehow it was not ready for him. She hadwithdrawn a few steps apart. Her answer to Moore's adieu was only aslight bend of the head and a gentle, serious smile. He sought no morecordial token. Again he said "Farewell," and quitted them both.
"There! it is over," said Shirley when he was gone. "We have made himbid us good-night, and yet not lost ground in his esteem, I think,Cary."
"I hope not," was the brief reply.
"I consider you very timid and undemonstrative," remarked Miss Keeldar."Why did you not give Moore your hand when he offered you his? He isyour cousin; you like him. Are you ashamed to let him perceive youraffection?"
"He perceives all of it that interests him. No need to make a display offeeling."
"You are laconic; you would be stoical if you could. Is love, in youreyes, a crime, Caroline?"
"Love a crime! No, Shirley; love is a divine virtue. But why drag thatword into the conversation? It is singularly irrelevant."
"Good!" pronounced Shirley.
The two girls paced the green lane in silence. Caroline first resumed.
"Obtrusiveness is a crime, forwardness is a crime, and both disgust; butlove! no purest angel need blush to love. And when I see or hear eitherman or woman couple shame with love, I know their minds are coarse,their associations debased. Many who think themselves refined ladies andgentlemen, and on whose lips the word 'vulgarity' is for ever hovering,cannot mention 'love' without betraying their own innate and imbeciledegradation. It is a low feeling in their estimation, connected onlywith low ideas for them."
"You describe three-fourths of the world, Caroline."
"They are cold--they are cowardly--they are stupid on the subject,Shirley! They never loved--they never were loved!"
"Thou art right, Lina. And in their dense ignorance they blasphemeliving fire, seraph-brought from a divine altar."
"They confound it with sparks mounting from Tophet."
The sudden and joyous clash of bells here stopped the dialogue bysummoning all to the church.