Beechcroft at Rockstone

  (PRIMROSE.)

  'MY DEAR MAMMA--I wish you a merry Christmas, and papa and sisters andClaude too. I only hooped once to-day, and Nurse says I may go out whenit gets fine. Fly is better. She sent me her dolls' house in a big boxin a cart, and Mysie sent a new frock of her own making for Liliana,and Uncle William gave me a lovely doll, with waxen arms and legs, thatshuts her eyes and squeals, and says Mamma; but I do not want anythingbut my own dear mamma, and all the rest. I am mamma's own littlePRIMROSE.'

  (FERGUS.)

  'COALHAM.

  'MY DEAR MAMMA--I wish you and papa, and all, a happy Crismas, and Isend a plan of the great coal mine for a card. It is much jollier herethan at Rockquay, for it is all black with cinders, and there are littlefires all night, and there are lots of oars and oxhide and fossils andferns and real curiozitys, and nobody minds noises nor muddy boots, andthey aren't at one to wash your hands, for they can't be clean ever; andthere was a real row in the street last night just outside. We are togo down a mine some day when Cousin David has time. I mean to be a greatjeologist and get lots of specimens, and please bring me home all theminerals in Ceylon. Harry gave me a hammer.--I am, your affectionateson, FERGUS MERRIFIELD.'

  (VALETTA.)

  'MY DEAREST MAMMA--I hope you will like my card. Aunt Ada did none ofit, only showed me how, and Aunt Jane says I may tell you I am reallytrying to be good. I am helping her gild fir-cones for a Christmas-treefor the quire, and they will sing carols. Macrae brought some for us theday before yesterday, and a famous lot of holly and ivy and mistletoeand flowers, and three turkeys and some hams and pheasants andpartridges. Aunt Jane sent the biggest turkey and ham in a basketcovered up with holly to Mrs. White, and another to Mrs. Hablot, andthey are doing the church with the holly and ivy. We are to eat theother the day after to-morrow, and Mr. Grant and Miss Burne, who teachesthe youngest form, are coming. It was only cold beef to-day, to let Mrs.Mount go to church; but we had mince pies, and I am going to Kitty'sChristmas party to-morrow, and we shall dance--so Aunt Ada has givenme a new white frock and a lovely Roman sash of her own. Poor old Mrs.Vincent is dead, and Fergus's great black rabbit, and poor little MaryBrown with dip--(blot). I can't spell it, and nobody is here to tell mehow, but the thing in people's throats, and poor Anne has got it, andDr. Ellis says it was a mercy we were all away from home, for we shouldhave had it too, and that would have been ever so much worse than thewhooping-cough.

  'I have lots of cards, but my presents are waiting for my birthday, whenMaura is to come to tea. It is much nicer than I thought the holidayswould be. Maura White has got the prize for French and Latin. It is alovely Shakespeare. I wish I had been good, for I think I should havegot it. Only she does want more help than I do--so perhaps it is luckyI did not. No, I don't mean lucky either.--

  Your affectionate little daughter,

  VAL.'

  (WILFRED.)

  'DEAR MOTHER--Fergus is such a little ape that he will send you thatdisgusting coal mine on his card, as if you would care for it. I knowyou will like mine much better--that old buffer skating into a holein the ice. I don't mind being here, for though Harry and Davy get upfrightfully early to go to church, they don't want us down till theycome back, and we can have fun all day, except when Harry screws me downto my holiday task, which is a disgusting one, about the Wars of theRoses. Harry does look so rum now that he is got up for a parson that wedid not know him when he met us at the station. There was an awful rowoutside here last night between two sets of Waits. David went out andparted them, and I thought he would have got a black eye. All the choirhad supper here, for there was a service in the middle of the night; butthey did not want us at it, and on Tuesday we are to have a Christmasship, and a magic-lantern, and Rollo and Mr. Bowater are coming tohelp--he is the clergyman at the next place--and no end of fun, and thebiggest dog you ever saw. Fergus has got one of his crazes worse thanever about old stones, and is always in the coal hole, poking afterferns and things. Wishing you a merry Christmas.--Your affectionate son,

  'WILFRED MERRIFIELD.'

  (MYSIE.)

  'ROTHERWOOD, Christmas Day.

  'MY OWN DEAREST MAMMA--A very happy Christmas to you, and papa andClaude and my sisters, and here are the cards, which Miss Elbury helpedme about so kindly that I think they are better than usual: I mean thatshe advised me, for no one touched them but myself. You will like yourtext, I hope, I chose it because it is so nice to think we are all one,though we are in so many different places. I did one with the same forpoor Dolores in New Zealand. Uncle William was here yesterday, andhe said dear little Primrose is almost quite well. Fly is much betterto-day; her eyes look quite bright, and she is to sit up a little whilein the afternoon, but I may not talk to her for fear of making hercough; but she slept all night without one whoop, and will soon be wellnow. Cousin Rotherwood was so glad that he was quite funny this morning,and he gave me the loveliest writing-case you ever saw, with a good lockand gold key, and gold tops to everything, and my three M's engraved onthem all. I have so many presents and cards that I will write out alist when I have finished my letter. I shall have plenty of time, foreverybody is gone to church except Cousin Florence, who went early.

  'I am to dine at the late dinner, which will be early, because of thechurch singers, and Cousin Rotherwood says he and I will do snapdragon,if I will promise not to whoop.

  '4.30.--I had to stop again because of the doctor. He says he does notwant to have any more to do with me, and that I may go out the firstfine day, and that Fly is much better. And only think! He says Rockquayis the very place for Fly, and as soon as we are not catching, we areall to go there. Cousin Rotherwood told me so for a great secret, buthe said I might tell you, and that he would ask Aunt Alethea to letPrimrose come too. It does warm one up to think of it, and it is mucheasier to feel thankful and glad about all the rest of the right sort ofChristmas happiness, now I am so near having Gill and Val again.--Yourvery loving child,

  M. M. MERRIFIELD.'

  (JASPER.)

  'VALE LESTON PRIORY,

  '25th December.

  'DEAREST MOTHER--Here are my Christmas wishes that we may all be rightagain at home this year, and that you could see the brace of pheasants Ikilled. However, Gill and I are in uncommonly nice quarters. I shall lether tell the long story about who is who, for there is such a swarm ofcousins, and uncles, and aunts, and when you think you have hold ofthe right one, it turns out to be the other lot. There are three houseschoke full of them, and more floating about, and all running in and out,till it gets like the little pig that could not be counted, it ran aboutso fast. They are all Underwood or Harewood, more or less, except theVanderkists, who are all girls except a little fellow in knickerbockers.Poor little chap, his father was a great man on the turf, and ruinedhim horse and foot before he was born, and then died of D. T., andhis mother is a great invalid, and very badly off, with no end ofdaughters--the most stunning girls you ever saw--real beauties, and nomistake, especially Emily, who is great fun besides. She is to beHelena when we act Midsummer Night's Dream on Twelfth Night for all thenatives, and I am Demetrius, dirty cad that he is! She lives with theGrinsteads, and Anna with the Travis Underwoods, Phyllis's young man'sbosses. If he makes as good a thing of it as they have done, she will beno end of a swell. Mr. Travis Underwood has brought down his huntersand gives me a mount. Claude would go stark staring mad to see hisCampeador.

  'They are awfully musical here, and are always at carols or something,and that's the only thing against them. As to Gill, she is in clover,in raptures with every one, especially Mrs. Grinstead, and I think it isdoing her good.--Your affectionate son, J. R. M.'

  (GILLIAN.)

  'DEAREST MAMMA--All Christmas love, and a message to Phyllis that Ialmost forgive
her desertion for the sake of the set of connectionsshe has brought us, like the nearest and dearest relations or more, butGeraldine--for so she told me to call her--is still the choicest of all.It is so pretty to see her husband--the great sculptor--wait on her, asif she was a queen and he her knight! Anna told me that he had beenin love with her ever so long, and she refused him once; but afterthe eldest brother died, and she was living at St. Wulstan's, he triedagain, and she could not hold out. I told you of her charming house, sofull of lovely things, and about Gerald, all cleverness and spirit,but too delicate for a public school. He is such a contrast to EdwardHarewood, a great sturdy, red-haired fellow, who is always about withJasper, except when he--Japs, I mean--is with Emily Vanderkist. She isthe prettiest of the Vanderkists. There are eight of them besides littleSir Adrian. Mary always stays to look after her mother, who is in verybad health, and has weak eyes. They call Mary invaluable and so verygood, but she is like a homely little Dutchwoman, and nobody would thinkshe was only twenty. Sophy, the next to her, calls herself pupil-teacherto Mrs. William Harewood, and together they manage the schoolroomfor all the younger sisters the two little girls at the Vicarage, andWilmet, the only girl here at the Priory; but, of course, no lessonsare going on now, only learning and rehearsing the parts, and making thedresses, painting the scenes, and learning songs. They all do care somuch about music here that I find I really know hardly anything aboutit, and Jasper says it is their only failing.

  'They say Mr. Lancelot Underwood sings and plays better than any ofthem; but he is at Stoneborough. However, he is coming over with allthe Mays for our play, old Dr. May and all. I was very much surprisedto find he was an organist and a bookseller, but Geraldine told me aboutit, and how it was for the sake of the eldest brother--"my brother,"they all say; and somehow it seems as if the house was still his, thoughit is so many years since he died. And yet they are all such happy,merry people. I wish I could let you know how delightful it all is.Sometimes I feel as if I did not deserve to have such a pleasant time.I can't quite explain, but to be with Geraldine Grinstead makes one feelone's self to be of a ruder, more selfish mould, and I know I have notbeen all I ought to be at Rockstone; but I don't mind telling you, nowyou are so soon to be at home, Aunt Jane seems to worry me--I can't tellhow, exactly--while there is something about Geraldine that soothes andbrightens, and all the time makes one long to be better.

  'I never heard such sermons as Mr. Harewood's either; it seems as if Ihad never listened before, but these go right down into one. I cannotleave off thinking about the one last Sunday, about "making manifest thecounsels of all hearts." I see now that I was not as much justified innot consulting Aunt Jane about Kalliope and Alexis as I thought I was,and that the concealment was wrong. It came over me before the beautifulearly Celebration this morning, and I could not feel as if I ought tobe there till I had made a resolution to tell her all about it, though Ishould like it not to be till you are come home, and can tell her thatI am not really like Dolores, as she will be sure to think me, for Ireally did it, not out of silliness and opposition, but because I knewhow good they were, and I did tell you. Honestly, perhaps there was someopposition in the spirit of it; but I mean to make a fresh start when Icome back, and you will be near at hand then, and that will help me.

  '26th.--The afternoon service of song began and I was called off. Inever heard anything so lovely, and we had a delightful evening. Ican't tell you about it now, for I am snatching a moment when I am notrehearsing, as this must go to-day. Dr. and Miss May, and the Lances,as they call them, are just come. The Doctor is a beautiful old man. Allthe children were round him directly, and he kissed me, and said that hewas proud to meet the daughter of such a distinguished man.

  'This must go.--Your loving daughter,

  'JULIANA MERRIFIELD.'

  (HARRY.)

  'COALHAM, Christmas Day.

  'It is nearly St. Stephen's Day, for, dear mother, I have not had aminute before to send you or my father my Christmas greeting. We havehad most joyous services, unusually well attended, David tells me, andthat makes up for the demonstration we had outside the door last night.David is the right fellow for this place, though we are disapproved ofas south country folk. The boys are well and amused, Wilfred much morecomfortable for being treated more as a man, and Fergus greatly comeon, and never any trouble, being always dead-set on some pursuit. It isgeology, or rather mineralogy, at present, and if he carries home allthe stones he has accumulated in the back yard, he will have a tolerablecharge for extra luggage. David says there is the making of a greatman in him, I think it is of an Uncle Maurice. Macrae writes to me ina state of despair about the drains at Silverfold; scarlet fever anddiphtheria abound at the town, so that he says you cannot come backthere till something has been done, and he wants me to come and look atthem; but I do not see how I can leave David at present, as we are inthe thick of classes for Baptism and Confirmation in Lent, and I suspectAunt Jane knows more about the matter than I do.

  'Gillian and Jasper seem to be in a state of great felicity at ValeLeston--and Mysie getting better, but poor little Phyllis Devereux hasbeen seriously ill.--Your affectionate son, H. MERRIFIELD.'

  (AUNT JANE AND AUNT ADELINE.)

  '11.30, Christmas Eve.'MY DEAREST LILY--This will be a joint letter, for Ada will finish itto-morrow, and I must make the most of my time while waiting for theWaits to dwell on unsavoury business. Macrae came over here with aconvoy of all sorts of "delicacies of the season," for which thank youheartily in the name of Whites, Hablots, and others who partook thereof,according, no doubt, to your kind intention. He was greatly perturbed,poor man, for your cook has been very ill with diphtheria, and thescarlet fever is severe all round; there have been some deaths, and thegardener's child was in great danger. The doctor has analysed the water,and finds it in a very bad state, so that your absence this autumn isprovidential. If you are in haste, telegraph to me, and I will meet yourlandlord there, and the sanitary inspector, and see what can be done,without waiting for Jasper. At any rate, you cannot go back there atonce. Shall I secure a furnished house for you here? The Rotherwoods arecoming to the hotel next door to us, as soon as Phyllis is fit to moveand infection over. Victoria will stay there with the children, andhe go back and forwards. If Harry and Phyllis May should come home, Isuppose their headquarters will be at Stoneborough; but still this wouldbe the best place for a family gathering. Moreover, Fergus gets on verynicely at Mrs. Edgar's, and it would be a pity to disturb him. On theother hand, I am not sure of the influences of the place upon the--

  'Christmas Day, 3 P.M.--There came the Waits I suppose, and Jane had tostop and leave me to take up the thread. Poor dear Jenny, the festivaldays are no days of rest to her, but I am not sure that she would enjoyrepose, or that it would not be the worse possible penance to her. Sheis gone down now to the workhouse with Valetta to take cards and teaand tobacco to the old people, not sending them, because she says a fewpersonal wishes and the sight of a bright child will be worth somethingto the old bodies. Then comes tea for the choir-boys, before Evensongand carols, and after that my turn may come for what remains of theevening. I must say the church is lovely, thanks to your arums andcamellias, which Macrae brought us just in time. It is very unfortunatethat Silverfold should be in such a state, but delightful for us if itsends you here; and this brings me to Jenny's broken thread, which Imust spin on, though I tell her to take warning by you, when you sorepented having brought Maurice home by premature wails about Dolores.Perhaps impatience is a danger to all of us, and I believe there is sucha thing as over-candour.

  'What Jane was going to say was that she did not think the place hadbeen good for either of the girls; but all that would be obviated byyour presence. If poor Miss Vincent joins you, now that she is free, youwould have your own schoolroom again, and the locality would not makemuch difference. Indeed, if the Rotherwood party come by the end of theholidays, I have very little doubt that Victoria will allow Valetta tojoin
Phyllis and Mysie in the schoolroom, and that would prevent anytalk about her removal from the High School. The poor little thing hasbehaved as well as possible ever since, and is an excellent companion;Jane is sure that it has been a lesson that will last her for life, andI am convinced that she was under an influence that you can put an endto--I mean that White family. Jane thinks well of the eldest daughter,in spite of her fringe and of her refusal to enter the G.F.S.; but Ihave good reason for knowing that she holds assignations in Mr. White'sgarden on Sunday afternoons with young Stebbing, whose mother knows herto be a most artful and dangerous girl, though she is so clever atthe mosaic work that there is no getting her discharged. Mrs. Stebbingcalled to warn us against her, and, as I was the only person at home,told me how she had learnt from Mr. White's housekeeper that this girlcomes every Sunday alone to walk in the gardens--she was sure it must beto meet somebody, and they are quite accessible to an active young manon the side towards the sea. He is going in a few days to join the otherpartner at the Italian quarries, greatly in order that the connectionmay be broken off. It is very odd that Jane, generally so acute, shouldbe so blind here. All she said was, "That's just the time Gillian is sobent on mooning in the garden." It is a mere absurdity; Gillian alwaysgoes to the children's service, and besides, she was absent last Sunday,when Miss White was certainly there. But Gillian lends the girl books,and altogether patronises her in a manner which is somewhat perplexingto us; though, as it cannot last long, Jane thinks it better not tointerfere before your return to judge for yourself. These young peopleare members of the Kennel Church congregation, and I had an opportunityof talking to Mr. Flight about them. He says he had a high opinion ofthe brother, and hoped to help him to some higher education, with a viewperhaps to Holy Orders; but that it was so clearly the youth's duty tosupport his mother, and it was so impossible for her to get on withouthis earnings, that he (Mr. Flight, I mean) had decided to let him alonethat his stability might be proved, or till some opening offered; andof late there had been reason for disappointment, tokens of beingunsettled, and reports of meetings with some young woman at his sister'soffice. It is always the way when one tries to be interested in thosehalf-and-half people,--the essential vulgarity is sure to break out,generally in the spirit of flirtation conducted in an underhand manner.And oh! that mother! I write all this because you had better be awareof the state of things before your return. I am afraid, however, thatbetween us we have not written you a very cheering Christmas letter.

  'There is a great question about a supply of water to the town. Muchexcitement is caused by the expectation of Rotherwood's visit, and it iseven said that he is to be met here by the great White himself, whomI have always regarded as a sort of mythical personage, not to say aharpy, always snatching away every promising family of Jane's to theItalian quarries.

  'You will have parted with the dear girls by this time, and be feelingvery sad and solitary; but it is altogether a good connection, and agreat advantage. I have just addressed to Gillian, at Vale Leston, acoroneted envelope, which must be an invitation from Lady Liddesdale.I am very glad of it. Nothing is so likely as such society to raise herabove the tone of these Whites.--Your loving A. M.'

  '10.30 P.M.--These Whites! Really I don't think it as bad as Adasupposes, so don't be uneasy, though it is a pity she has told you somuch of the gossip respecting them. I do not believe any harm of thatgirl Kalliope; she has such an honest, modest pair of eyes. I dare sayshe is persecuted by that young Stebbing, for she is very handsome, andhe is an odious puppy. But as to her assignations in the garden, if theyare with any one, it is with Gillian, and I see no harm in them, exceptthat we might have been told--only that would have robbed the entirestory of its flavour, I suppose. Besides, I greatly disbelieve theentire story, so don't be worried about it! There--as if we had not beendoing our best to worry you! But come home, dearest old Lily. Gatheryour chicks under your wing, and when you cluck them together again,all will be well. I don't think you will find Valetta disimproved byher crisis. It is curious to hear how she and Gillian both declare thatMysie would have prevented it, as if naughtiness or deceit shrank fromthat child's very face.

  'It has been a very happy, successful Christmas Day, full of rejoicing.May you be feeling the same; that joy has made us one in many a time ofseparation.--Your faithful old Brownie,

  J. MOHUN.'

  (GILLIAN AGAIN.)

  'ROWTHORPE, 20th January.

  'DEAREST MAMMA--This is a Sunday letter. I am writing it in a beautifulplace, more like a drawing-room than a bed-room, and it is all verygrand; such long galleries, such quantities of servants, so many peoplestaying in the house, that I should feel quite lost but for Geraldine.We came so late last night that there was only just time to dress fordinner at eight o'clock. I never dined with so many people before, andthey are all staying in the house. I have not learnt half of them yet,though Lady Liddesdale, who is a nice, merry old lady, with gray hair,called her eldest granddaughter, Kitty Somerville, and told her to takecare of me, and tell me who they all were. One of them is that LordOrmersfield, whom Mysie ran against at Rotherwood, and, do you know, Ivery nearly did the same; for there is early Celebration at the littlechurch just across the garden. Kitty talked of calling for me, but I didnot make sure, because I heard some one say she was not to go if she hada cold; and, when I heard the bell, I grew anxious and started off, andI lost my way, and thought I should never get to the stairs; but just asI was turning back, out came Lord and Lady Ormersfield. He looks quiteyoung, though he is rather lame--I shall like all lame people, for thesake of Geraldine--and Lady Ormersfield has such a motherly face. Helaughed, and said I was not the first person who had lost my way in thelabyrinths of passages, so I went on with them, and after all Kitty washunting for me! I sat next him at breakfast, and, do you know, he askedme whether I was the sister of a little downright damsel he met atRotherwood two years ago, and said he had used her truthfulness aboutthe umbrella for a favourite example to his small youngest!

  'When I hear of truthfulness I feel a sort of shock. "Oh, if you knew!"I am ready to say, and I grow quite hot. That is what I am reallywriting about to-day. I never had time after that Christmas Day at ValeLeston to do more than keep you up to all the doings; but I did think:and there were Mr. Harewood's sermons, which had a real sting in them,and a great sweetness besides. I have tried to set some down for you,and that is one reason I did not say more. But to-day, after luncheon,it is very quiet, for Kitty and Constance are gone to their Sundayclasses, and the gentlemen and boys are out walking, except LordSomerville, who has a men's class of his own, and all the old ladies areeither in their rooms, or talking in pairs. So I can tell you that I seenow that I did not go on in a right spirit with Aunt Jane, and that Idid poor Val harm by my example, and went very near deception, for Idid not choose to believe that when you said "If Aunt J. approves," youmeant about Alexis White's lessons; so I never told her or Kalliope, andI perceive now that it was not right towards either; for Kally was veryunhappy about her not knowing. I am very sorry; I see that I waswrong all round, and that I should have understood it before, if I hadexamined myself in the way Mr. Harewood dwelt upon in his last Sunday inAdvent sermon, and never gone on in such a way.

  'I am not going to wait for you now, but shall confess it all to AuntJane as soon as I go home, and try to take it as my punishment if sheasks a terrible number of questions. Perhaps I shall write it, but itwould take such a quantity of explanation, and I don't want Aunt Ada toopen the letter, as she does any that come while Aunt Jane is out.

  'Please kiss my words and forgive me, as you read this, dear mamma; Inever guessed I was going to be so like Dolores.

  'Kitty has come to my door to ask if I should like to come and readsomething nice and Sundayish with them in her grandmamma'sdressing-room.--So no more from your loving GILL.'

  CHAPTER XII. -- TRANSFORMATION