Produced by Al Haines
[Frontispiece: 'I HAVE SEALED THE DIRECTIONS IN THIS ENVELOPE.']
THE CARVED CUPBOARD
BY
AMY LE FEUVRE
AUTHOR OF
'PROBABLE SONS,' 'TEDDY'S BUTTON,' 'LEGEND LED,' 'ODD MADE EVEN,' 'HEATHER'S MISTRESS,' ETC.
R.T.S., 4 Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4
1899
Contents
CHAPTER I A SUPPLANTER
CHAPTER II FOUR VERSES
CHAPTER III A COUNTRY HOME
CHAPTER IV BLUEBEARD'S CUPBOARD
CHAPTER V A QUIET SUNDAY
CHAPTER VI A DEPARTURE
CHAPTER VII UNREST
CHAPTER VIII ENTERTAINING A STRANGER
CHAPTER IX GWEN'S RESOLVE
CHAPTER X CLARE'S DISCOVERY
CHAPTER XI AGATHA'S LEGACY
CHAPTER XII OUT IN CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER XIII HIS LAST MESSAGE
CHAPTER XIV THE COUSINS' RETURN
CHAPTER XV ALICK LESTER
CHAPTER XVI BRINGING BAD TIDINGS
CHAPTER XVII ELFIE'S CHOICE
CHAPTER XVIII PATTY'S GRAVE
CHAPTER XIX THE RIGHTFUL HEIR
CHAPTER XX BROUGHT BACK
ILLUSTRATIONS
'I HAVE SEALED THE DIRECTIONS IN THIS ENVELOPE.' . . . . . ._Frontispiece_
AND SAW A MAN ON HIS KNEES BY THE CUPBOARD
THE CARVED CUPBOARD
CHAPTER I
A Supplanter
'For troubles wrought of men, Patience is hard.'--_J. Ingelow._
The firelight shone upon a comfortably-furnished drawing-room in one ofthe quiet London squares, and upon four girlish figures grouped arounda small tea-table. Agatha Dane, the eldest, sat back in her chair witha little wrinkle of perplexity upon her usually placid brow. Ratherplump and short of stature, with no pretensions to beauty, there wasyet something very attractive in her bright open countenance; and shewas one to whom many turned instinctively for comfort and help.
Gwendoline, who sat next her, and was doing most of the talking, was atall, slight, handsome girl, with dark eyes that flashed and sparkledwith animation as she spoke, and there was a certain stateliness ofcarriage that made some of her acquaintances term her proud.
Clare was toying absently with her spoon and tea-cup; she waslistening, and occasionally put in a word, but her thoughts wereevidently elsewhere. She had not the determination in her face thatwas Gwendoline's characteristic; and perhaps the varying expressionspassing over it, and so transparent to those who knew her, formed herchief charm. There was a wistfulness in her dark blue eyes, and a lookof expectation that one longed to see fulfilled; and her dreamypreoccupied manner often made her friends wonder if she spent all hertime in dreamland.
Elfrida sat on the hearth-rug with her sunny hair glistening in thefirelight. She was the youngest and prettiest of the four, and hadonly just returned from Germany that same day. It was her eagerquestioning that was making them all linger over their tea.
'But I don't understand,' she said, a little impatiently. 'How doesCousin James happen to be here at all? Aunt Mildred never cared forhim. She said last year when I was home that he was a regular screw,and that he only came on a visit to save his housekeeping bills. Now Icome back and find dear Aunt Mildred gone, and he in full possession ofour home, ready to turn us out to-morrow, you say! Aunt Mildred alwaystold us we should never want after her death.'
'We shall not actually do that,' said Agatha quietly, 'for she has leftus a legacy each, which will at any rate keep the wolf from the door.'
'But hasn't she left us Dane Hall? She always said she would.'
'No; a codicil to that will has been added since James has been here.'
'Yes; he has managed it beautifully,' put in Gwendoline, with scorn inher tone. 'He came down here directly he heard she was ill, andestablished himself in the dressing-room next to hers. Clare has beenaway, but Agatha and I were virtually shut out of the sick-room fromthe time he entered the house. He got a trained nurse; said Agatha wasworn out, and must rest; and told Nannie she was too old and toonear-sighted to be left alone with her mistress. The poor old soul hasbeen weeping her eyes out since! Then he took advantage of AuntMildred's state of weakness, and worried and coaxed her into makingthis unjust codicil. All in his favour, of course; I don't believepoor aunt knew what she was doing. And we shall have to shift forourselves now. I hope he will enjoy his unrighteous possessions. I--Ihate him!'
'What are we going to do?'
'Well,' said Agatha, rousing herself, 'we have been talking overmatters together. You see, we can be independent of each other if wechoose, for we are all of age, and have each about 100 pounds a year,besides what the sale of this house will bring us.'
'Oh, she left us this house, did she? Then why can't we go on livinghere?'
'The lease terminates at the end of this year, and we have not theincome to keep it up. Why, Elfie, a town house like this is ruinousfor people of small means! I feel anxious for us to have a hometogether somewhere, even if we have to go into the country for it; but,of course, I would not influence any of you to side with me againstyour inclinations.'
'It would be an establishment of old maids; single women, shall we say?It doesn't sound very nice, buried away in the country.'
Elfie spoke dubiously; then Gwen broke in, 'Well, if Clare is wise, shewill marry soon. I'm sure two years' engagement ought to be longenough in all conscience to satisfy her!'
Clare's soft cheeks flushed a little.
'Hugh is going out to Africa, you know, with a survey party. We couldnot settle till after that. He is quite of the same mind as I am onthat point!'
'Do you like the country plan, Gwen?' asked Elfie.
'Yes, I think I do. I am personally sick of town. A suburban lifewould be intolerable, and we have all resources enough to prevent usfrom stagnating.'
Elfie gave a little sigh.
'You don't know how I was looking forward to a London season. I havebeen in Germany ever since I left school, studying music. And now whatis the good of it? I shall be out of touch with it entirely.'
'Would you like to stay in town for a little?' asked Agathasympathetically. 'We could easily arrange for you to board with somenice people somewhere.'
'No, I will come with you, and see how it works. I suppose we shallnot be banished from London for ever? We can sometimes come up for ashort stay?'
'Oh yes, I think so. We have not settled where to live yet, but wehave been looking through some house agents' lists, and Gwen is full ofplans, as usual.'
'You would be badly off without me to keep you all alive,' said Gwenlaughing. 'If I were by myself, I would like nothing better than acaravan or a house-boat; but that wouldn't suit all of us.'
'Not me,' said Clare, with a little grimace of disgust.
'Oh, it is a shame!' exclaimed Elfie, springing up, and walking up anddown in her excitement; 'how dare Cousin James behave so treacherously!Can't we dispute the will? Can't we go to law?'
'It is useless to think of such a thing. We can prove nothing. He isa man, and has had a jealous feeling of us all our lives. Now fortunehas favoured him, and he is glorying in his prosperity. He is rightlynamed James, or Jacob, for he is a base supplanter!'
'Will you give me a cup of tea?'
Gwen started at the voice following her hot outburst so quickly, andElfie stopped her hurried walk, and turned a little defiantly towardsthe new-comer.
Mr. James Dane was a quiet-looking, sprucely-dressed man of over fortyyears of age. He seated himself with the greatest equanimity in themidst of the group, and Agatha in silence poured him out a cup of tea,and handed it to
him.
'I am afraid I have interrupted a very animated discussion,' he saidblandly. 'I suppose you are arranging future plans. Of course, youcannot well remain here. Would you like me to take any steps about thesale for you? I shall be a week longer in town.'
'Mr. Watkins will arrange all that for us, thank you,' replied Agathaquietly.
'Oh, very well. Why, Elfrida, I never noticed you! Just come backfrom Germany, have you? It seems to have suited your health. You arelooking quite bonny.'
'I don't feel so,' was the blunt reply; 'it is not a very happyhome-coming!'
'No, of course not. But, as my wife was saying this morning, you girlscan only have pleasant memories of your dear aunt, who did so much foryou all when she was alive. I remember when first you all arrived fromIndia, and she was in such an anxious state of bewilderment at thethought of the charge of four orphan children, my mother said to her,"Oh, well, Mildred, if you are good enough to educate them, they willnaturally do something later to relieve you of the burden ofmaintaining them." And my wife and I have been so surprised at yourall continuing to look upon her house as your rightful home. I supposein the goodness of her heart she insisted upon it. Still, nowadays,young ladies are so independent, and have such a wide scope for theirtalents, that we quite expected to hear you were supporting yourselves,after the liberal education that you have received.'
There was dead silence after this speech, which Gwen broke at last, andher tone was haughtiness itself.
'As you have met with such success in your visit here, Cousin James,you could at least afford to be generous towards us. You have onemercy to be thankful for, and that is, that we never have, and nevershall, look to you to maintain us!'
And then she left the room, shutting the door behind her with a ratherungentle hand. Mr. Dane smiled, passed his cup to be refilled, andthen turned to Clare.
'I suppose your marriage will be hastened now, will it not? When isthe happy day to be?'
'I will let you know when it is settled,' was the quiet reply.
'Come upstairs with me, Clare, and see Nannie,' said Elfie impetuously;'I haven't been near her yet, dear old thing!'
The two girls quitted the room together, and with a little sigh Agathasettled herself down to a _tete-a-tete_ with her cousin.
'You girls have all assumed such aggressive demeanours towards me, thatI really hardly know if you will take any advice from me. It isexceedingly foolish to adopt such airs. No doubt you are disappointedin not being the sole heiresses of our aunt, but you ought not to haveexpected it for a moment. She had for a long time regretted makingthat rash will, which was drawn up when her heart was full of pity foryour penniless condition. Only, being in such robust health, shealways put off doing it until this last sad illness of hers. Where doyou think of settling?'
'We have not made up our minds.'
'Have you heard from your brother lately? Is he doing better than hewas? It is such a mistake for a young fellow to think he will make hisfortune in the Colonies nowadays. I only hope you may not find himthrown on your hands soon.'
'Walter is doing very well, thank you. There is no chance of hiscoming back to England for a good long time.'
'I have been wondering whether you would like to settle somewhere nearLondon. I have some house property at Hampstead, and could let youhave a small villa there at a very reasonable rent. Of course,understand, this is entirely because I should like to give you any helpthat I can.'
At this Agatha could not help smiling.
'It is very kind of you, but we have decided to live in the country.'
'I am surprised. Have you ever tried a country life in the winter? Iam afraid you will find it a great failure. And, remember, unprotectedfemales, choosing an isolated position, run the risk of being robbed.If you do go to the country, be sure and get a house near others.Well, I must be going. Say good-bye to the others for me. I shalllook in again on you before long, and if you want me, you know my club.Your cousin Helen has left town, and I shall be taking a trip to theContinent with her very soon.'
He rose, shook hands politely, and directly the door closed upon him,Agatha hastened to find her sisters.
She knew where to look for them. In a small room at the end of thepassage past the best bedrooms, Nannie would now be taking herafternoon cup of tea. She had been with them all since they were quitetiny children; had brought them over from India after their parents'death, and had been kept in Miss Dane's service ever since--first astheir nurse, then as housekeeper, when they no longer needed her care.
She was an old woman now, crippled with rheumatism; but she was abright and happy Christian, and had a good influence upon all who camein contact with her. It had been already arranged that she was to gointo an alms-house when the house was sold, and Miss Dane had left hera small legacy, so that her future was provided for. Agatha's face asshe opened the door was a troubled one. She saw the old woman in hereasy chair by the fire; Gwen and the two younger ones making themselvescomfortable round her; and all were talking freely to her of what hadpassed downstairs.
'Come along, Agatha; has he gone?'
'Yes,' was the reply; 'and I have come to Nannie to be soothed. Allthe way upstairs I have been saying to myself, "Fret not thyself,because of him who prospereth in his way." But it is hard to see hisself-complacency.'
'Poor old thing! When Agatha is disturbed, it must be somethingindeed! Here is a seat. Nannie has been scolding us, and now sheshall scold you.'