*CHAPTER XIV.*
*THE FIRST-FRUITS.*
Toney drove up in her motor with a sudden dash very much like herself,and entered the drawing-room at Waycott Hall a few days after. Shelooked so radiant and happy as she stood in the doorway, that MissWaycott, who was sitting alone, could not help smiling at the charmingpicture.
"How do you do, Miss Waycott? Please forgive me, but I wanted to seeMr. Waycott and tell him----"
"Shall I do instead? Lewis is out about the place somewhere. Sit downif you have time."
"Time! Oh! I just spend my time in making time now! But you will beglad to hear one thing."
"What is it? It is evidently good news by your face."
"I can drive the motor quite well now, and so can Jim! Mr. Waycott sawus going up a hedge so he won't believe it; but I've got my certificate,and Mr. Hughes, the London man, said I took to it like a duck to water.It's lovely, glorious! You have such a go-a-head-and-be-jolly sort offeeling. You will let me drive you somewhere, Miss Waycott, won't you?"
Miss Waycott's keen face was all smiles.
"May I wait till you are quite proficient? I have delicate nerves!"
"Pity! I haven't any. Jim and I can go anywhere now. Of course it'snot so nice as driving horses, but it's exciting, and it's quicker ifyou are in a hurry, and you don't feel sorry for the animals."
Lewis had scented the motor-car and hurried in. Even a sight of Toneydid him good.
"I've got my certificate," she exclaimed, shaking hands, "I knew youwould be glad, and also"--she lowered her voice--"I wanted to show youthe plans."
Miss Waycott rose, saying,
"I know Maud will like to see you, I'll go and fetch her. She isplaying her violin somewhere."
Toney unfolded the roll in her hand.
"Here they are, look, lovely artistic buildings! South aspect, separatefront doors, and a nice big garden in front and behind. Now you musthelp me about the land, you said you would."
"I've thought deeply about it. Do you know Deep Hollow Farm? It's beenthrown on my hands, and there is a beautiful upland meadow with nicesouth aspect. There is a good water supply at the farm, and----"
"How just delightful! May I really buy it? Let me see, the high roadcuts across by the farm."
"Yes--but--I want to give it to you, Toney."
"Give it! Of course not. How can I give what costs me nothing. Marketprice, and--but you know, anyhow, it is a gift, because heaps of thosehigh and mighty landlords wouldn't let me buy anything. Uncle Evaswould but he daren't! You know there would be strained relationships, soI won't even ask him."
"We will have it valued then, and being so near I can give an eye to thebuilding. How about your letters, Toney? Mrs. Faber gave me adescription of the first post--I laughed!"
"It wasn't a very laughing matter. I thought his Royal Highness wouldpack up and go, but he's thought better of it, at least he's stillconsidering it. The worst was there were heaps more afterwards, and hecan't keep abreast of it so he says."
"Poor Plantagenet! You will be had up for cruelty."
"I think work can't kill people, it is toodling about which is sotiring. I escape every afternoon, for the visitors are numerous, andAunt Dove has a real good time telling them of her niece's wild doings.Miss Grossman did have influenza, and poor Chum has not been allowed togo home. Aunt Dove says that she only shows common gratitude bystaying. Do you really, really mean I may have Deep Hollow Farm and theland belonging to it?"
"The land is not good, the advantage will be on my side."
At that moment Miss Waycott returned, followed by Maud and Mrs.Hamilton. Both were cordial to Toney, but the cordiality from the lastlady did not ring quite true. Envy is a subtle poison and it requiredmuch Christianity not to envy the girl's splendid health and splendidfortune. Mrs. Hamilton could not imagine why some people were so luckyand why no legacies ever fell to her share--mere nobodies now had allthe money. Pride is not altogether a satisfying dish when served upungarnished.
"You have made all the county-side talk, Miss Whitburn, with yourgenerosity to Sir Evas' tenants."
"I don't see what there is to talk about, everyone could do the same ifthey liked."
"Alas! everyone has not your means,"
Toney turned the conversation, she did not want to say that very hardwork and not means only had made the success.
"Do you know, Miss Waycott, I've had to talk very seriously to Trick,for he hates Mr. Russell, who is dreadfully afraid of him."
Lewis burst out laughing.
"Poor man, I shall never forget your invitation to put his legs on thetable!"
"It would have been much simpler if he had done so, and I daresay hedoes it in private; but what a pity Trick can't read St. Francis' sermonto 'Brother Wolf.'"
"Those legends are quite foolish," said Mrs. Hamilton. "I never let youand Jeanie read legends when you were young for fear of your believingin them."
"I believe them all," exclaimed Toney. "Why not? The wolf wagged hishead and held out his paw to show he promised never to eat anyone again.I wish Brother Trick was as easily converted."
"My dear Toney!" said Miss Waycott, "wherever do you get these stories?"
"They are all right; Mr. Hales gave them to me, and of course he meantme to read, mark, and inwardly digest it--only it's very, verydifficult!"
"He was an original saint, anyhow, and so quite suits you," said Lewissmiling.
"I mustn't stay and talk so much. I am afraid I shall never be able tocopy Brother Juniper who resolved to keep silence for six months!Imagine that!"
"Pray don't imitate Brother Juniper," laughed Miss Waycott.
"Mrs. Hamilton, won't you trust yourself in the new motor? I've got mycertificate in my pocket."
"Yes, come along, Aunt Delia; I want to come, too, and go round by DeepHollow. Miss Whitburn thinks she will like to buy it, and I must get asmuch as I can out of her," said Lewis gravely.
"My dear Lewis, you always cheat yourself," sighed Mrs. Hamilton, whowas hopelessly literal.
"I know riches have no attraction for you! Yes, I will come. Is thereroom for Maud?"
"Of course, I bought a very roomy car; you see it's got to be veryuseful, but some of my friends won't mind being squashed."
Mrs. Hamilton was not going to let Lewis drive about alone with theheiress.
In a few minutes they were going rather briskly through the park wherethe trees were turning into gold, then out upon the lonely high roadtill Deep Hollow was reached.
"Will you wait a few minutes, Aunt Delia, as I must extol my wares," andLewis led Toney towards his unlet farm.
"You might make the farm, too, very useful for a caretaker or your chiefconstable!" said Lewis.
"I must go and live there myself!"
"What an idea! Look, on that high ground you could build your palace ofpeace, and there would be good views and good air."
"Do you really, really mean it? It is perfect, I want it all to be verysimple, but comfortable and homely. Mrs. Hamilton won't like waiting,but we must come again. I'll write to Mr. Staines and tell him to sendsomebody to clench our matter. No money could pay you for yourgenerosity, so there's to be no bargaining."
Toney flew back and Lewis followed more leisurely, anxious to help her,but wishing he could kick down the golden barrier.
"Maud was wondering if you were lost!" said Mrs. Hamilton.
"It seems so wonderful that I can really buy some land," said Toneyspringing into the car. "Mr. Waycott is going to sell me Deep HollowFarm."
"We were bargaining about the price," said Lewis, stepping in. "Don'tyou think we ought to make hay whilst the sun shines, Aunt Delia?"
"Business is very disagreeable for young ladies," was Aunt Delia'sanswer, "it rubs off the bloom of youth."
Toney spun her wheel round and was off. She did not appreciate AuntDelia very much, and she felt she disliked her, but me
ant not to showher feelings, first, because she was Lewis Waycott's aunt, and secondlybecause she knew humility was to be cultivated, if she was to be likeSt. Francis, or even like Brother Juniper, who played see-saw with thechildren so that people might despise him and he might be humbled.
About a mile from the village Toney saw an old woman carrying a heavybasket, and exclaimed,
"It's old Nancy Poulter. She's been carrying the washing home." Shepulled up the motor with wonderful precision as the old woman curtseyedand smiled at Miss Tonia.
"How do you do, Mrs. Poulter; won't you let me give you a ride home?You have still a mile to go, and that basket's too heavy."
The old woman looked at Mrs. Hamilton and then at Toney.
"No, no, my dear, when you be alone some day without the quality. 'Tisa bit heavy, but lor', Miss Toney, I'll manage."
"No you shan't. The quality won't mind. There, get in behind, and we'lltake the basket in front." Lewis had learnt his lesson in politenesslong ago, and now got out and placed the big basket in front between himand Toney, whilst the old woman was almost lifted in by her, the rugbeing tucked in round her.
"You mustn't get a chill after getting hot, Mrs. Poulter. I'll whiskyou home in no time. You know Mrs. and Miss Hamilton, don't you?"
Toney was off again like lightning, and Mrs. Hamilton felt she was takenin. She was a lady, and always spoke to the poor with kindcondescension, but she would never have dreamt of sharing her carriagewith a panting and perspiring old woman from the village. Maud was,however, less particular than her mother, and remarked,
"It's nice to get such a quick carriage, Mrs. Poulter! We have beenround by Deep Hollow in no time."
"These new-fashioned carriages are a sight to see to be sure, ma'am, butMiss Toney, she be that clever a-driving and a-riding, I don't minda-trusting of her. My son says he never saw such a one forhorses--though, to be sure, there ain't any in here. It is a long wayto Whitfield, and I was beginning to feel done up, that I was, and'tain't often one gets a lift. To be sure, to be sure."
Then Toney pulled up at the cottage door in no time, and helped out theold woman whilst Lewis carried her basket to the door, amidst herprofuse apologies of [Transcriber's note: word(s) missing here]
"Don't ee, now, sir, be a carrying my basket. 'Tain't fit for such asyou. But 'tain't no use going agin Miss Toney, she won't listen tonothing if it's to save anyone a bit of trouble. Bless her."
"That's what a good many people say, Mrs. Poulter. Good afternoon," andLewis raised his hat and returned to his place beside Toney.
"You see what a useful machine I have! Poor old Nancy, she works toohard for that selfish son. What luck! the gates are open. Now I'll justspin you up, Mrs. Hamilton, in style. There are no Bobbies here."
The car flew, and Mrs. Hamilton and Maud held on tightly with one handand clutched their hats with the other, whilst Lewis laughed.
"This is quite your style, Toney. You do go a pace, I hope it isn'tkingdom come for us all."
"No fear; you will go and talk about the farm to his Royal Highness,won't you, and just interest him."
They pulled up at the front door safe and sound, but surprises were notover yet.
"If you please, Miss Whitburn," said Diggings severely, "there's fivepersons come here asking for Mr. Russell, and her ladyship has 'em inthe drawing-room as Mr. Russell is out, and she says you were to come atonce when you came in."
Toney turned back to Lewis.
"Oh, come and help me; no, please go and find Mr. Russell, he's mooningsomewhere near by, I expect; for, do you know, I believe it's the _avantgarde_ who have got impatient. I did beg Mr. Russell to answer theletters, but he wanted to tabulate. What will Aunt Dove say! Mrs.Hamilton, will you and Maud go back with Jim, or come in thedrawing-room? There's only a few visitors. Who is there, Diggings?"
"Lady Southbourne and the Hon. Mr. Lang is there, miss, and a few morevisitors besides the five persons."
Mrs. Hamilton was not partial to Lady Dove and much preferred going homein the motor, so Jim, who was on the spot, went off with alacrity.
Toney hurried towards the drawing-room. The five persons Diggings spokeof so disdainfully must be either a doctor, officer, clergyman, orrelation of the above, and enjoying a bad quarter of an hour with LadyDove.
She was not mistaken; as she entered she caught sight of five shabbygenteel individuals, who were now evidently too much alarmed to doanything more than sit dejectedly in the enclosure of a window.
"Antonia!" said Lady Dove in her most severe voice, "I believe there aresome persons here wishing to see you. Pray take them to your own room."