*CHAPTER XIX.*
*A REFUGE.*
The transformation of the farm seemed to take place by magic, for Toneyspared neither trouble nor money. She wished to have some place whereher visitors might be received with kindness and courtesy, two thingswhich were a very uncertain quantity at Aldersfield, that is if LadyDove was in the vicinity. Besides all this time, Toney was constantlywriting to the architect about plans for "Stone House," and to Mr.Staines about the purchase of the land. It was in all these ways thatthe girl's real ability was soon visible; what she did not understandshe grappled with till, as she expressed it, daylight came. Even Mr.Russell began to feel that his employer was not only a mere girl withwhims and fancies, for that had been his first opinion of her. He wasoften surprised at the grasp she had of subjects not included in a younglady's education, and a faint spark of enthusiasm began to appearoccasionally in his work. Certainly there was a great deal ofsecretarial work to do, but Toney's masterly scribbles on the letters tobe answered were seldom at fault, though expressed in somewhat quaintfashion. She appeared to remember cases in an extraordinary mannerwithout their being tabulated, for she possessed a royal memory, bred ofearly training and a perfectly healthy life.
Ten days later Toney rode off alone to the farm to see to last touches,for Miss Phipps and her mother were to come that very afternoon. Thedoor was opened by Mrs. Thomas, who had been a cook, and Mary, now atall girl, was to wait on the ladies, whilst Mr. Thomas was to see afterthe garden and make himself generally useful. As the whole familyadored Toney, there was no fear of the wheels not going round easily.She had made them think they themselves were going to confer greatbenefits.
"I do think, Miss Tonia, everything is ready!" said Mrs. Thomas.
"And I've put flowers in the sitting-room," added Mary. "I knew youwould wish them to have flowers."
"And we shall have a fine dairy, miss," added Thomas, "'twill supply allyour big house when it's built."
They all accepted Miss Tonia's big house quite naturally, and they allmeant to have a hand in its success.
Toney made a last inspection, her quick eyes seeing everything. Thenshe returned alone into the parlour to await Maud who had gone to meetMiss Phipps. Toney and Trick sat on the wide window seat looking intothe garden, in which beautiful chrysanthemums were to be seen, andcurled up here with Trick in her arms she had a good think.
It was very sweet of Maud to want to help her, she loved her for it, andshe loved her because Lewis loved her, and the two would perfect asmaster and mistress of beautiful Waycott Hall with all its arttreasures. It was very nice of Lewis never to have thought of money atall, as Lady Dove had formerly said he would, it showed he was whatToney had always thought him, one of King Arthur's knights. She didwish they had told her herself because she could have assured them howperfect she thought it, and she would try to be awfully nice to Maud forhis sake. Of course it was his influence that had made her so muchnicer, and now so willing to join in Toney's work.
As for herself, her work was marked out quite plainly, and she mustthink of nothing else; it would be years before it would run on allfours, and till then she must keep a watchful eye over everything andmust not think of personal pleasure. Then she would be following in herfather's footsteps, and doing her duty to her neighbour as General Stonehad expected of her.
The bright face was quite grave as she leant against Trick's shaggylocks. The burden felt just a wee bit heavy this morning, and thefuture, just like a hill that went up and up a long, long way, and notop visible at this moment. Then suddenly she shook herself and Trickto get rid of these grey thoughts.
"I do wish Pups could appear to me as the Brothers of Poverello did sooften to each other. I shouldn't be a bit afraid, as of course he isworking hard somewhere, and of course he sees me and does care about mywork. But the Brothers of Poverello were so very, very good and alwayspraying, so that they were fit to see the saints, and I'm not."
At this moment, happily for Toney's spirits, a fly drove up and she flewto receive her first visitors. Maud was there looking quite transformedfrom the discontented girl she had been into a woman with a purpose.
"Here we are, Toney, and Mrs. and Miss Phipps are very cold and tiredafter their journey."
Then all Toney's sadness flew away like a bird of evil omen, and she wasonce more the joyous creature that scattered delight about her. MaryThomas was helping the ladies as if they were princesses, and Thomas wasdealing with their boxes, and Mrs. Thomas was saying that tea was readyin the dining-room. Mrs. Phipps was a bustling, kind old lady devotedto her nearly blind daughter and telling her how beautiful everythingwas, and Miss Phipps was as cheerful as possible, talking and praisingeverything.
"The work will be quite easy," said Toney, "and Miss Hamilton will lookin every day to help you, and there are four spare rooms for anyone whowants to come and have a real good time, and you will make them veryhappy I know, and Mary is just a treasure."
So the party sat down to tea, and they made Mrs. Phipps take the head ofthe table because this was her home now, and she was to entertaineverybody who came, and she looked quite capable of it, and alreadyvastly proud of her position. And yet a month ago the workhouse hadbeen staring them in the face, because all their little savings hadgone. But they did not feel like paupers here, they were to work hard soas to make less fortunate folks as happy as they were.
At last Toney rose and said good-bye, and Mrs. Phipps murmured some verygrateful words, but Miss Phipps just took Toney's hand and kissed it,and Toney felt a tear on her hand, so she ran away, quickly followed byMaud.
They were going down by the lane across to Waycott Hall, and for a fewminutes they were silent, then Toney exclaimed,
"Gracious stars! Maud, aren't my Poverelli just ready-made saints, andit's so dreadful their thanking me, and I can't explain to them exactlyhow it's really nothing to do with me, but with General Stone, andreally also Mr. Waycott, who let me have all this land and this lovelyfarm, and you too for helping me. Do you know it's so awfully nice youtwo being sort of bound up together in a work."
"We two?"
"Yes, you know, you and--your cousin."
"Oh, Lewis, you mean. I do think he is so very--I suppose I oughtn't tosay so because he's my cousin--but he has altered so much, and thinkssuch a lot about his people now, I can't understand it."
"I always think he is one of Arthur's knights, and not a bit proud orstuck-up, though of course he might be, living as he does at WaycottHall, which is so beautiful. I like to think of--the future."
Toney paused, she dared not go on as Maud wouldn't tell her straightout.
"Well, I am thinking of the present, Toney! You can't think how the ideaof working has done me good. I told mother that Lewis had sold you thefarm, and she is quite pleased at my helping you. I didn't tell herabout your giving me a salary for it, as she has old-fashioned ideas,but you know we are poor, and I do want it."
"Of course I know." Toney said to herself, "She wants to save for hertrousseau, and it's quite right of her to work for it."
"I do mean to be in earnest this time," continued Maud, "looking back Inever seem to have done anything in downright real earnest as you have,not even my music--Jeanie was the cleverest, and I knew I could never befirst-rate as she will be if she works."
"But now of course you will have a real reason for bucking up. Wantingto be a little like Pups helps me awfully."
"My father wasn't like yours, he somehow spent all our money."
"But you will want to be like your cousin," said Toney, making aneffort, trying to rub this idea well into Maud. Of course she mustbecome worthy to be the mistress of Waycott Hall!
"Yes, seeing Lewis so much in earnest is a real help. By the way,Toney, as I was walking here I met Mr. Lang, and I asked him why hehadn't been to tabulate lately!"
"Did you? He's had enough of it," said Toney, pretending Trick was lostand n
eeded a loud whistle.
"He seemed rather low, and said you didn't want him any more, and--hereally is a nice fellow, Toney. Do you know that someone told motherthat he wanted to marry you! I wonder if he does?"
"Not _me_!" said Toney laughing. "Aunt Dove is quite right, no onewould care to marry me, only General Stone's money. I'm not sweet andpretty like you and Silvia Hales, and I'm not anything of a lady, andyour mother sort of sniffs at me I know!" Toney laughed very happily.
"We were brought up to think ladylike ways covered all our sins. I seeit differently now, and I don't mean to be a slave of that idea anylonger."
Toney suddenly pulled a newspaper cutting out of her pocket.
"Look, Maud, I want you to read this. I've got an idea." She handedMaud an account of the splendid reception given to the great musician,Frank Weston, in London.
"How interesting! He is a real genius. I hope Jeanie won't see it. Ibelieve she loves him all the time, and it's that which makes hermiserable, but--you know--his parents once had a shop."
"So did Lord Courthouse at home. I used to help him a bit when he washard put to it."
"But then he was Lord Courthouse!"
"Now that's right down silly, isn't it? Two people do just the samethings, and yet because one is born a lord he can do it and peoplepraise him, and the other man whose father was an honest tradesman issniffed at."
"Yes, it is foolish. I wish you could see him, Toney. He has abeautiful face and perfect manners, because he is so earnest andstraight to the point. But Jeanie refused him. I'm sure he would never,never ask her again, and there are no end of girls who would marry him.I wonder he isn't married by this time."
Toney stopped still to laugh.
"I must own up, Maud, I've asked him to come and play at Aldersfield.He thinks I'm a great lover of music, as I've offered him _carteblanche_ as to price! and you know, Maud, I don't know one note fromanother! How I shall sit out the concert I don't know, only it's goingto be one of my romances."
"What do you mean, Toney?" Maud looked distressed. "Has he accepted?"
"Yes, to-day. Mr. Russell is sending invitations for a concert atAldersfield House--supposed to be Aunt Dove's--all over the place, andyou'll get one. Now, mind, no refusals--and--I'll do the rest."
"Whatever did you have to pay? He nearly always refuses private people,he hates to be patronised. But you should see him. When he has hisviolin under his chin he is just inspired and you feel--lifted up almostto heaven. Oh, why did Jeanie refuse him? I know I never could have!"
Maud laughed and Toney joined her.
"You were destined for something better, but I am scheming how to doit."
"Toney! was it really all for Jeanie? If she knew he was going to be atthe concert she would not come."
"Well, mums the word. They'll see each other comfortably atAldersfield. I haven't invented any more yet!---- Isn't it perfect,that little party at the farm and that sweet blind woman who has workedall her life will be very kind to my _avant garde_ folk."
"I wish you had a romance of your own, Toney. If Mr. Lang----"
"Gracious stars! I hope he won't. Just imagine me as the future LadySouthbourne having to do the civil to the county, besides--he would wantmy money."
"But you would like him to have it."
"No, I shouldn't! You see, Maud, it's dedicated."
"But you could do good with it together."
"But _I_ might be out of it, besides I couldn't love him. I'm justgoing to be an old maid and look after the declining years of Aunt Doveand Uncle Evas! By the way, Aunt Dove has had a serious difference withMiss Grossman. I do hope she won't go. She is her discipline."
"I don't think anyone can stand it long," said Maud smiling.
"My Chum stood it fifteen years; ouf! Good-bye, Maud, and keep mysecret. I'm going to have a good think about it," and Toneydisappeared, and Maud was left to grieve over her sister's dead romance.