CHAPTER ELEVEN.
Owen did duty as a midshipman on the voyage home. He confided to MrLeigh the strange account which Ashurst had related just before hisdeath. Mr Leigh was more inclined to believe it than Langton had been.
"At all events, Hartley," he said, "it is a matter which must be lookedinto immediately on our arrival in England. I am glad you havementioned it to no one else, and as Lord Arlingford is not aware thathis brother had confessed the truth to you, he will be the less preparedto resist your claim. If you can find an honest lawyer I would adviseyou to put the matter into his hands Langton and your other companionson the raft can prove Ashurst's death, and I can give evidence of theextraordinary animosity he always exhibited towards you."
"I hope that it will not be necessary to mention that subject," saidOwen. "I would rather not have to refer to the poor fellow'sill-treatment of me. In regard to a lawyer, I know of one in whom Ihave thorough confidence. He will by this time, I hope, have set up forhimself, and I could not place the matter in better hands."
Owen had frequent conversations with Mr Leigh and Langton, but no oneelse on board had any idea that the apparently friendless youngmidshipman was the claimant to a title and handsome estate. Owenmaintained his usual demeanour, and endeavoured to think as little aboutthe subject as possible. Should he be disappointed he would placehimself under Mr Fluke again and return to the counting-house, orremain in the service, trusting to his own good conduct to make his wayin it, which he hoped to do, although he had lost the promised patronageof Captain Stanhope.
The "Kestrel" met with much heavy weather. She encountered a gale offthe Cape, and another in the Bay of Biscay, when she was "hove to" forseveral days. The voyage home thus occupied a much longer time thanusual. At last, however, the white cliffs of old England were sighted,to the joy of all on board. As she had been fitted out at Portsmouth,she returned to that port, where she was immediately paid off.
Mike's mother was living at Gosport, and he took Nat to stay with himuntil they should get another ship, as both had made up their minds toremain in the navy. Owen having obtained from Nat his grandmother'saddress, thoughtfully wrote to tell her of her grandson's safety,promising, as soon as he had the means, to send him down to see her.Mike promised not to go to sea again without communicating with Owen.
Mr Leigh and Langton accompanied Owen up to town, where they intendedto remain for some time. Leaving them at the lodgings they had taken,he set off to Wapping. He arrived at Messrs. Kelson, Fluke andCompany's office a short time before the usual closing hour. Owen stillwore his midshipman's uniform. During the three years he had beenabsent he had grown into a tall young man, his handsome countenance wellbronzed by tropical suns. He stood at the entrance for some secondswithout advancing. No one seemed to know him. Looking round he sawmany of the old familiar faces still there.
Mr Tarwig was at his desk. Several of the clerks glanced up at him,but supposing that he was a stranger, went on with their work. Headvanced to where the head clerk was sitting, and putting out his hand--
"I suspect you do not know me, sir?" he said.
"What is your business?" asked Mr Tarwig, putting the usual question toa stranger.
"I have come to see Mr Fluke, and to resume my duties in this office ifhe wishes it," answered Owen.
Mr Tarwig opened his eyes wider than he had ever opened them before.Then starting up, in his eagerness kicking over his stool, and verynearly toppling down on his nose, which he would have done had not Owencaught him by the hand, he exclaimed--
"Bless my heart! Can you be Owen Hartley? We had given you up for lostlong ago. But are you really yourself? Yes, I see you are, only doubleas big, and a naval officer to boot. Well, it will put new life intothe old man, for he grieved sorely for you. Well, I am glad, that Iam."
Here Mr Tarwig wrung Owen's hand in a way very unwonted with him whengreeting a fellow-mortal.
"Mr Fluke will be pleased," he continued; "but he went home to-day anhour earlier than usual. He did not feel quite well, and he wantedKezia Crump to give him something to do him good."
"I will follow him at once then," said Owen. "I can easily get to hishouse before dark, and I should not like to let another day pass withoutseeing him."
Owen, however, found it difficult to get away before he had answered thenumerous questions which Mr Tarwig put to him. None of his letters hadbeen received, and it was therefore supposed that he had been lost inthe "Druid," which ship had never been heard of since she had sailed.
"You may depend upon having your old berth here as soon as you like,"said Mr Tarwig; "but I am afraid, Mr Owen, seeing you have become anofficer in the navy, that you will not be so willing as formerly to takeit, though your hand, I'll warrant, has not lost its cunning."
"I intend to act as Mr Fluke wishes, and therefore cannot say what Imay do," answered Owen, feeling, however, that he should be veryunwilling to go back to his old occupation.
For once in a way all the clerks in the office were idle, as Owen wentround to shake hands with them. He then hurried off, and walked at aquick pace through the well-known streets. As he passed the spot wherehe had first met Reginald Ashurst the whole scene came vividly beforehis mind, he could even picture the countenance of the elder brother,whom he now knew to have been Lord Arlingford.
On reaching Mr Fluke's house he hesitated for a moment to considerwhether his unexpected appearance might not injuriously agitate his oldfriend. "I must leave it to Kezia to tell him. I can safely do that,"he thought. "She is a strong-minded woman, and glad as she will be tosee me, she, at all events, will not go into hysterics."
He rapped at the door, hoping that Kezia would answer the summonsherself. He was not mistaken. She opened it and stood gazing at him,looking exactly as she had done when he last saw her.
"Speak, speak, who are you?" she at length exclaimed.
Scarcely had Owen opened his lips to pronounce his name, than she threwher arms around his neck.
"I knew, I knew it!" she cried out, and burst forth into anuncontrollable fit of crying, followed by one of laughter, as she huggedhim again and again to her bosom. Strong-minded as Mrs Kezia was, shepossessed a woman's affectionate heart, and if she had never been inhysterics before, she was undoubtedly on this occasion. She very soongained the mastery over herself, however.
"What a fool I am; but you will not tell him of it, Owen," she said, "orhe will be putting his back up at me."
Looking out into the garden, where Mr Fluke was in earnestconfabulation with Joseph, Owen promised Kezia to say nothing about thedemonstrative way in which she had received him.
"I should be very ungrateful if I did," he added. "And how is MrFluke? Shall I go to him, or will you tell him I have arrived?"
"I will go to him," she answered, "for though he has got a heart of somesort, it may be like his outside, a little withered. He took on sadlywhen he thought you were lost, and as he has been rather shaky lately,it might upset him if he were to see you suddenly."
"Do, then, my dear Mrs Kezia, tell him that I have come, and am thesame Owen Hartley that was when I went away, although I have got somestrange things to talk to him about," said Owen.
"Well, then, go into the parlour, and wait until I fetch him," said MrsKezia, and she hurried out into the garden, nearly falling down thesteps in her eagerness.
Owen would have liked to watch her while she communicated the news ofhis arrival. He had some time to wait before he heard her voice callinghim. He at once went out; Mr Fluke was at the further end of thegarden.
"I got him down there before I told him nat a young gentleman had cometo see him, and that although he was a good deal bigger than Owen, anddressed in a naval uniform, that to my mind he was no one else. Evennow he is not quite certain whether or not he is to see you."
"You have acted prudently, as you always do, Mrs Kezia," said Owen.
Mr Fluke looked at Owen, and then began to walk towards him, increasinghis
pace until he broke almost into a run. His limbs refused to obeythe impulse of his feelings.
"Can it be? No! It is impossible! But yet, I don't know. Yes! It isOwen Hartley. It must be! Owen, my boy, are you really come back?"
These expressions burst from the old man's lips as he hurried forward.He grasped Owen's hands, gazing up into his face. Owen was now upwardsof a head taller.
"Are you yourself? Don't mock me, Owen."
"I am indeed myself," answered Owen, smiling as he spoke. "Mostgrateful I am for the kind way in which you have received me, after Ihad played truant so many long years; but I could not have come backbefore, unless you had sent for me, and I have received no letters sinceI left home."
For a few minutes they stood talking, when, after Owen had exchangedgreetings with Joseph Crump, he accompanied Mr Fluke into the parlour,where Kezia was busily employed in preparing supper.
"You need not be afraid of depriving him of his supper by not eating asmuch as you want," she said, nodding her head to Owen. "I've got plentyfor both of you." Then turning to Mr Fluke, she added, "You must getoff your boots, here are your slippers, and then Owen will tell you allabout himself, and I'll warrant there will be something worth listeningto."
Kezia was as good as her word, an ample supper being placed on thetable. Mr Fluke ate but sparingly. Owen saw that he was eager to hearhis adventures. He ran over them as rapidly as he could, dwelling onlyon the more important points. Occasionally Mr Fluke stopped him to aska question, then said, "Go on, go on."
When Owen got to the account of the confession made by Reginald Ashurstand his death, Mr Fluke paid the greatest attention.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, "there is something in that. Lord Arlingford; yes,I remember there was some doubt as to who was the rightful heir, andthat the name of the family was originally Hartley. How yourgrandfather or father never came to put in a claim, I don't know. It isjust possible that they never heard about the matter. They were poor,and the other Hartleys had money at command. That makes all thedifference. We shall now see what another generation can do; althoughpossession is nine parts of the law, yet the chances are that thepresent Lord Arlingford has not much at command to dispute your claims,should he not have a right to the title and estates."
As Kezia had supposed, Mr Fluke continued talking or listening until itwas far later than he was accustomed to retire for the night. She atlength came in.
"I have given you an hour's grace," she exclaimed. "You will be fit fornothing to-morrow if you don't go up to bed."
"She knows best," said Mr Fluke, looking at Owen, and taking the candlewhich Kezia handed to him; "every one obeys her in this house."
After Mr Fluke had gone to his room, Owen gratified Kezia's curiosityby giving her an outline of his adventures. When he told her of thepossibility of his inheriting the Arlingford estates she almost gaspedfor breath.
"You, Owen, you become a lord!" she exclaimed. "It may be pleasant, andwill be pleasant, if you do succeed; but have you thought, my boy, ofthe disappointment should you fail? I cannot say that I am the happierfor what you tell me, except that I shall be glad for you not to have togo back to the office or to follow a sea life; but, Owen, whateverhappens, you will not forget Kezia Crump?"
"Indeed I will not," said Owen, taking her hand; "you have ever been atrue friend to me, and the way you received me to-day proves youraffection, which I shall never forget."
The next morning Mr Fluke announced his intention of staying at homethat he might have time to discuss matters with his young friend.
Owen's first task was to write to David Rowe, requesting that he wouldcome up at once to London at Mr Fluke's desire. Owen also wrote toJohn, giving him a sketch of his adventures, though he did not mentionthe object for which he wished to see David. In spite of slow coaches,within three days David Rowe appeared at Mr Fluke's office, where Owenhad gone to meet him.
"You'll want money to carry out this undertaking," said Mr Fluke,turning to David; "draw on me for all you require. From the report ofyour friend here I will trust you, and that's more than Simon Flukewould say to every man."
"If our friend Owen has the right, we shall succeed, for right and mightin this case go together, as you, Mr Fluke, supply the might," saidDavid, slapping his pockets.
David having received his instructions, set about the necessarypreliminaries without a moment's delay.
Owen begged for leave of absence for one day to fulfil his promise toCaptain Aggett, by visiting his widow, who lived some way from London.
"I am thankful, most thankful for what you tell me, Mr Hartley," sheexclaimed, "that he died in peace as a Christian. Though I shall seehim no more on earth, we shall, I know, meet in heaven." It was asatisfaction to Owen to feel that his visit had brought comfort to theheart of his kind friend's widow, to whom he was afterwards able torender the material assistance her husband had expressed his anxiety toafford her.
Mr Fluke returned every day at an unusually early hour from the officethat he might have more of Owen's society.
Owen had mentioned his two naval friends. "Bring them here to dinner,"said Mr Fluke. "Kezia shall prepare a feast, for they deserve it, andI'll show them my tulips."
Owen found both Lieutenant Leigh and Langton, who had received hispromotion, at their lodgings. They willingly accepted his invitation,when he explained who Mr Fluke was, and how much depended on him.Kezia took care to have a handsome dinner, and a man-servant to wait,and had, moreover, induced her master to put on a new suit and wig, sothat when Owen came in he scarcely knew him. The two officers undertookto remain within call in case their evidence should be required at thetrial.
They had just taken their places at dinner when David Rowe wasannounced. Having paid his respects to the master of the house, shakinghands with Owen, and made his bow to the other guests, he took his seat.
"I do not want to spoil anybody's appetite, and I hope good news won'tdo that," he said, "for good news, and wonderful news, I have tocommunicate. Have I your leave to make it known in the presence ofthese gentlemen, Mr Fluke?"
"Certainly, certainly, if you think fit, Mr Rowe," was the answer.
"Then allow me to congratulate Lord Arlingford on his accession to hisfamily title and estates, but I hope, as I do so, that he will notobject to take the name of Ashurst. We have made quick work of it.From information I received, I was induced to go down and see the_ci-devant_ Lord Arlingford. I found him very ill and without aparticle of combativeness, so I told him of all the information Ipossessed, and gave him his choice to contest the point, assuring himthat we had unlimited supplies at command, or to yield at once, and savea family scandal. As he appeared inclined to take my advice, I promisedhim an annuity of a thousand a year, knowing from his circumstances thathe was not likely to enjoy even so much as that should he retain histitle. He immediately accepted my offer, acknowledging that your claimwas valid. Of course I made my offer subject to the approval of thetrue Lord Arlingford. There must be a trial _pro forma_, legally tosettle the point, but it will prove a very short one."
It was some little time before Owen could recover his equanimitysufficiently to eat his dinner; but fortunately midshipmen are notgiven, under any circumstances, to loss of appetite, and he was verysoon himself again.
Little more need be said. Mr Fluke bore all the expenses of the trial,which proved without doubt that Owen Hartley was the rightful possessorof the Arlingford title and estates. Indeed, on the death of hiscousin, which occurred while the trial was going forward, no otherclaimant appearing, Owen immediately came into peaceful possession.
Mr Fluke insisted on paying off all the mortgages, so that Owen mightcommence his new career free of incumbrances.
"Begin, my dear boy, out of debt, and never get into it," said the oldman; "you'll never regret following that rule, whatever else you may besorry for."
Owen's first care was to appoint a good man of business to look afterthe estate, and, as may be sup
posed, he selected David Rowe, whosebrother John became his head bailiff. His old shipmates, Captain Leighand Lieutenant Langton, were his frequent guests whenever they came onshore.
On the death of his kind relative, Simon Fluke, Mrs Kezia and JosephCrump came down, the one to become his housekeeper and the other hishead gardener.
"I hope you will find no tom cat to kill at Arlingford, Mrs Kezia!"said Owen, laughing, as she made her appearance.
"Please your lordship, I don't think there'll be any need," sheanswered.
Indeed Owen had never the slightest cause to complain of presumption,nor had Lady Arlingford--for by this time Owen was possessed of a fairyoung wife, who ruled as mistress of Arlingford Hall.
He placed his old nurse, Jane Hayes, who had lately married, in a prettycottage, which he had built expressly for her. He did not forget NatMidge. One of his first journeys was to visit Nat's grandmother. Hefound the old lady in great poverty, struggling to maintain hergrand-children. "You will, I hope, see Nat in a couple of days," saidOwen; "and though he may not have come back with his pockets full ofgold, he has gained a sincere friend, who can afford to support you andhis brothers and sisters till he is able to do so himself."
Nat arrived, and escorted his family to Arlingford, where Owen hadordered a cottage, which had been vacant, to be got ready for theirreception.
Nat, who had had enough of the sea, was apprenticed to a carpenteremployed on the estate, whose duties he ultimately was able toundertake.
Mike Coffey continued in the service until he lost a leg, when heretired on a pension. His mother having died, he came, at Owen'sinvitation, to Arlingford.
"I'm afther thinkin', my lord, of gettin' a wherry and settin' up as aboatman at Portsmouth," answered Mike to Owen's question as to the wayhe intended to employ himself.
"How would you like to become my commodore?" asked Owen, pointing to aminiature frigate which floated on the lake near the house, and to acouple of boats drawn up on the bank.
"With the greatest delight in the world, your honour--your lordship Imane," answered Mike. "The frigate wants re-fitting, and the boats willbe better for a coat of paint. I had a look at them as I came alongthis mornin'. Thinks I to meself, shure the young master hasn't hadtime to see afther his fleet, so I was just goin' to offer to do thework, to show me love to your lordship."
"I have no doubt that I shall find other work for you when that isfinished, so I appoint you to the berth, and you can take up your abodewith Widow Midge until you set up a home of your own."
Owen, although he still retained his love for the sea, retired from theservice and devoted himself--as is the bounden duty of everyproprietor--to the improvement of his estate and to advancing the moraland spiritual welfare of his tenants.
THE END.
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