*CHAPTER XII.*
*AN UNDIGNIFIED SITUATION.*
Lewis Waycott was shooting over a lonely ten-acre field with a copse atthe further end of it, when suddenly he heard a fearful noise, and thenbeheld a huge black snout rise up on the hedge and look over it. On thetop of the snout was Toney and a man. Suddenly loud explicatives inmost unparliamentary language were heard as the snout disappeared.Lewis threw his gun down and jumped over the hedge, to see the new motortrembling with indignation and Toney laughing inordinately.
"Oh, Mr. Waycott, I turned the wheel the wrong way! and we had a peepover the hedge. Mr. Hughes is very much displeased with me. The creatureis not hurt, is it?"
"No, madam; but if it had been a wall instead of a hedge it would havebeen ruined, and your life would have been in danger."
Jim had fallen out, but was none the worse, and was grinning broadly ashe said:
"Them dratted beasts is so contrary, Miss Toney; better keep to horses."
"Good gracious, Toney, are you hurt?" exclaimed Lewis.
"Not a bit! I'm awfully elastic, you know. No harm done, Mr. Hughes.Come in with us please, Mr. Waycott, and you'll see how nice it is."
Lewis fetched his gun, unloaded it, and accepted. He and Toney gotinside, and left the two men on the front seat.
"We have been to the Towers, and they were ever so kind. The HonourableEdward Lang was just as charming as he could be."
Lewis felt aggrieved.
"Why didn't you come and see us instead?"
"Aunt Dove wanted to accept the invitation to tea, and yet didn't wantthe trouble, whilst I enjoyed it. Isn't it odd why people ask otherpeople they don't want to see, and who don't want to come?" Lewislaughed.
"The ways of Society, Toney. You must learn all that!"
"I never shall. Oh, Mr. Waycott, my new secretary has come, Mr.Plantagenet Russell, and Aunt Dove is fascinated with him! Isn't that apiece of luck?"
"And what do you think?"
"I haven't thought yet at all. I'm only sniffing round like Trick, whoglared at his heels, but I was firm. It wouldn't do the first day,would it?"
"If Trick sent him away it would be all right."
"Oh, but you are cruel! I couldn't do it all myself!"
"I'd look in and do it for you!"
"You! What would Miss Waycott say? She would look'Oh--you--dreadful--Toney' all over!"
Lewis laughed.
"I daresay she would think I was trying to do what I know nothing about,being poor and having no superfluous money to dispense. Anyhow, will youalways ask me for help if you are in need of it. It would please mevery much to--to help you, Toney."
Toney looked straight up into Lewis' face, and for the first time in herlife she hesitated. Then she shook her head.
"I wouldn't bother you or try your patience so much. But I may wanthelp, and you are the only one who would understand. Gracious stars!this animal is snorting and lurching! Is anything the matter, Mr.Hughes?"
"I think there is a nut gone wrong from your having climbed that hedge,madam. I fear it will take a little time to set right."
"That comes of new locomotives," said Lewis, rather pleased. "Anyhowour legs are left to us. I'll escort you home."
Toney jumped out with great alacrity.
"One's legs are the best, aren't they? Come along and have a race."
"I prefer leisurely walks, Toney, if you don't mind. Happily there areonly two miles."
"Happily, because Mr. Plantagenet Russell is chained to my letters. Oh,his name is fine, isn't it? Just the grand style, and Aunt Dove feelswarm and comfortable when she hears it."
"You chose him because he was born in Australia, didn't you?"
"Yes, I thought he would be just one of our simple kind of men, but--heisn't---- A bit of a lord, still I'm glad as Aunt Dove likes him."
"Who is he?"
"He has lost his money, and seems a bit down in the mouth, so we mustdeal tenderly with him at first, but oh!--Mr. Waycott, I want toconfess."
"To me!"
"Yes, because you won't disapprove too much. Did you look at theadvertisements in to-day's papers?"
"No, I don't generally read them, and in which papers?"
Toney counted on her fingers.
"The _Times_, the _Standard_, the _Morning Post_, and a few more. Itold a London agent to do it."
"To do what, Toney? I expect it is something surprising!" and Lewislaughed.
"Not really, but I think there will be a good many letters for Mr.Russell."
"Letters about what? But it's his duty to answer letters, that's whathe has come for. Most likely you are paying him handsomely for it."
"Oh, yes. I told Uncle Evas it must be enough for him to live on andsave. Pups had great ideas about a living wage. So we settled itshould be L500 a year as long as he is here. He can save it, and thatwill help him for many a day."
"Then I don't think you need mind giving him some work."
Toney laughed happily.
"But he didn't guess what he was in for!"
"You haven't told me."
Toney thrust her hand in her pocket and drew out a crumpled paper.
"I haven't told anyone yet. I knew what uncle would say and Mr.Staines. Listen--'Any broken-down doctor, officer, or clergyman, ororphans of the above, wanting to hear of something to their advantage,may apply to Plantagenet Russell, Esq., Aldersfield House, Winchley.'"
"Good heavens, Toney! You are not----"
"Yes, I want to help doctors because of Pups, and officers because ofthe dear old General, and clergymen because they are often very hard up,and the orphans of the above because, I'm an orphan."
Lewis stopped a moment, and laughed inordinately.
"Why, Toney, you'll have a hornet's nest about you!"
"Do you think so? I was a little afraid of the result, so I thought Iwould tell you about it, and you might just talk it over with his RoyalHighness."
"The King?"
"Mr. Plantagenet Russell! He looks so like a descendant of somebody, soI call him 'His Royal Highness' in my own mind."
"But what do you mean to do for this riff-raff?"
"They won't be riff-raff."
"Not a doubt about it, I assure you! It's only the ne'er-do-weels thatwill answer such an advertisement! The decent ones will think it ahoax."
"Why should they?"
"Well, it's rather wholesale you know, Toney."
"And look here, Mr. Waycott, I've drawn out a plan. I want you to seeit."
"A plan for what?"
"Why to house my doctors, officers, and orphans."
"You don't mean to build?"
"Of course I do, only the difficulty is the land to build on. Aunt Dovewill never consent to have a Home on the estate."
"I expect she won't."
"Then I shall be up a tree, because I want it close by. I shall want tosee after it, and you promised you would help me, and Uncle Evas will beawfully interested."
Lewis gave a side glance at Toney. She was perfectly in earnest.
"We must manage it somehow I see. You'll give me a night to consider itin, won't you?"
"Of course! I've been thinking of it ever since I knew my General hadleft me his money. I've made lovely plans about all sorts of things."
"You have built castles in Spain?"
"No, only a stone house at Aldersfield. It will be hard work I know,but I love what Mr. Hales calls 'the strenuous life.'"
"You always were active-minded, but I think you will live to repent yourpalace."
"But you won't laugh about it, and you'll help, won't you?" Toney wasvery much in earnest. Lewis paused and took her hand suddenly.
"Of course I will. It is very, very good of you to trust me. It's acompact."
Toney looked at him suddenly. A faint blush spread where there wasroom, then the nervousness passed away.
"I do trust you ever so much.
Thank you. What shall we exchange for acompact. It ought to be half a button! But about his Royal Highness,do you think he had better be warned?"
"I really think I would let him enjoy one night more without anightmare."
Even Toney, who was terribly in earnest at this moment, could not resistlaughing.
"You must come and see him. He really is very nice looking, but I amrather disappointed that he does not care to talk of Australia. Youought to stick to your country through thick and thin."
"Especially through thick masses of begging letters. You are a bravewoman!"
"Come in and call on him. Do you know Aunt Dove is so happy as she canspeak her mind to my dear chum, who has taken Miss Grossman's place fora few days. It does bring back my first arrival to hear her patientlyreading a novel. Aunt Dove likes murders, because she can say, 'How veryshocking!' but Chum has the courage to skip now and then. She is freeat last!"
They had now reached Aldersfield, having taken a short cut across thepark, and they instinctively made for the garden door nearest thesecretary's room. Toney knocked, and there was a sound of moving beforethe "come in" allowed Toney to enter and find his Royal Highness seatedat his writing table looking very secretarial. There was a strong smellof smoke, and the big armchair was close to the fire.
"Mr. Lewis Waycott has come to call on you," said Toney. "He's our nextdoor neighbour; you must be tired of sorting letters."
The introduction was very correct. Plantagenet Russell was much afraidof condescension, so put on the superior and nonchalant tone.
"Will you kindly sit down," he said to his visitor. Toney had alreadysunk down on a low window sill. Lewis surreptitiously examined the newsecretary, and inwardly smiled at the grand manner. He would soon findthat he must climb down.
"Ah! fine country about here, but not a part of the world I know at all.Lady Dove has most kindly suggested some shooting, I suppose there isplenty."
"And there is some excellent golf," said Lewis cheerfully.
"Ah! I should have thought the neighbourhood was too scattered forthat."
"I think you'll find it a growing neighbourhood," said Lewis,remembering Toney's advertisement and glancing at her, but she turnedher head away in terror.
"Ah! I'm surprised at that. I shouldn't have expected it."
"The unexpected is frequently met with here."
"Indeed! As to society I always prefer solitude to second-rate people."
"We used to be very select, but--since----"
Toney looked reproachfully at him.
"England is changing very much in that respect; what with Socialists andRadicals, we are going to the dogs."
Whether Trick thought the remark too derogatory to be passed over, orwhether he was bent on mischief, certain it is that at this moment hetrotted in from the garden door, and seeing his mistress in company witha strange man, flew at his heels.
"Put your feet up, Mr. Russell, anywhere. Trick will gnaw your heels ifyou don't. Please forgive him, but I never can break him of the habit.Trick! Trick!"
His Royal Highness had not obeyed, so that he found himself attacked asif his heels were two rats, with sudden darts at one and then the other.It was really a most unpardonable position to put one into. Lewis couldnot restrain his amusement as Toney made ineffectual dashes. His RoyalHighness tried to kick the offender, which, of course, only increasedthe evil.
"Don't kick him, please; he'll never forgive you." Lewis came to therescue as he had done once before, and seized Trick by his shaggy coat,whilst Toney ran to open the door wider.
"How can you, Trick, I am so ashamed of you! I assure you, Mr. Russell,he has not done it for years. I only hope he won't remember your kicks.He's terribly sensitive."
Mr. Russell looked more than annoyed. The grand manner had forsakenhim, and Toney plunged into a business talk to help him to recover hiscalmness.
"I hope you have not found the letters tiresome."
"They are from various tradesmen, but I mean to put it all down indouble entry, a system of my own."
"I think you'll find single entry enough," laughed Lewis, and then toToney's delight he suggested the secretary coming for a stroll with him,and both men disappeared, but not through the garden door.