*CHAPTER VI.*
*REAL SILVER.*
When Lewis Waycott entered the dining-room of Waycott Hall the samepeople were seated at the table as on the memorable day when Toney hadrushed in late to luncheon. These were his devoted Aunt Honoria and herwidowed sister, Mrs. Hamilton, who was somewhat of a "soft pussy cat,"as Toney had once described her. Her two daughters, Jeanie and Maud,were still unmarried, much to her disappointment. Jeanie played firstviolin at amateur concerts, and Maud, with less talent, stepped into thebreach when somebody had failed. The sisters belonged to the large armyof musical people whose performances are just not good enough to bevaluable, though Jeanie had real talent. Maud was pretty and gentle, butboth sisters had imbibed their mother's pride of birth, all the greaterbecause of their poverty. Mrs. Hamilton was a Waycott of Waycott Hall,and her husband belonged to a very old Scotch family. They might bepoor, but they were of the bluest blood, and because of this Jeanie hadruined her happiness. Four years ago a musician who was "nobody inparticular," except that his genius had raised him to eminence, hadfallen in love with Jeanie and had made her an offer, but the Hamiltonpride prevented her saying yes. She did not even dare tell her mothershe loved him. How could Jeanie Hamilton marry a man whose parents hadonce kept a shop? It was impossible! The ghost of that shop hauntedher, even though Frank Weston had long since pensioned his parents.Certainly the great people idolized Frank Weston, crowds filled any hallwhere he chose to play his violin, but how could Jeanie Hamilton accepthis parents? Mrs. Hamilton gently smiled as she said, "Impossible."
Frank Weston was not poor, for he earned a great deal of money, but hewas born a plebeian. Mrs. Hamilton had repeated and dictated Jeanie'srefusal for her, and he had not even the satisfaction of seeing againthe girl he worshipped. He had, however, guessed the truth, and, deeplywounded, he made no further effort to win her, but he could not forgether. On her part, Jeanie was always arguing the question with herself.Of course her mother had been right, but as time went on the girl beganto realise that she had thrown away her happiness. Her heart wasbreaking and her health was giving way. Maud, too, was as soft wax inher mother's hands, and Mrs. Hamilton meant her to marry her cousinLewis, and to be the mistress of Waycott Hall. She had taken the girlsto Dresden to finish their musical education, but now she had come backintending to marry Maud to Lewis and find a suitable match for Jeanie.When Aunt Delia determined to do something she was seldom known to fail,but she never mentioned it to her sister Honoria, because she was sosupremely happy as mistress of Waycott Hall that she did not wish herbeloved nephew to marry anyone--at least, not yet, though of course thetime for marriage must come some day, in order to carry on thesuccession of the old family of the Waycotts of Waycott Hall.
"How late you are, dear boy," exclaimed Miss Honoria, who, knowing everyexpression of her nephew's face, saw he was not in his best mood.
"I am sorry, Lady Dove hindered me a few minutes."
"It's most good-natured of you to go and help at Aldersfield," said AuntDelia softly. "Maud offered to go, but Antonia Whitburn said she hadenough helpers. I expect she prefers masculine help."
"Naturally, for standing on high ladders! The barn will astonish you,Aunt Delia. Already it is like fairyland, and imagine, Aunt Honoria,Toney has hired real plate for the poor people's dinner."
"Lady Dove would not lend hers, I expect," said Miss Honoria.
"Of course she would not! Imagine the expense though, and it will beall on the same scale. Toney sees no difference between poor and rich."
"It shows how unfit she is to deal with money," said Mrs. Hamiltondecidedly. "It is a real misfortune that old man left her his money."
"Yes, it certainly is," echoed Lewis firmly.
"She will make a mess of the whole thing, either she will give itfoolishly away, or she will be widely extravagant! She will never belike other people," continued Aunt Delia.
"Never!" echoed Lewis.
"I suppose my pale blue dress will do," said Maud, turning to hermother.
"You look sweet in it, dear, don't you think so, Lewis?"
"Why Maud looks well in everything," said Lewis, cheerfully nodding athis cousin. "Well, I must soon be off again. Here's a list of thingsToney wants you to lend her, Aunt Honoria."
"Yes, certainly," answered Miss Honoria, for she secretly admired Toney,though she dared not let her sister know this. It was a pity Delia wasso much prejudiced against this girl.
"How foolish of you, Honoria--if your things get stolen you can't blameanyone but yourself. Are you willing, Lewis, if so, Maudie will go withyou and help to carry the things?"
Lewis did not want Maud, but could not refuse.
"I shall tire Maud for I am walking."
"Oh no, I shall want some fresh air before the dance. How hot it willbe in the barn!"
"You girls must fill up your programmes early," said Mrs. Hamiltonpointedly.
"Oh, Toney won't have any! She says people must dance as the spiritmoves them."
"How inconvenient. Well, anyhow, Lewis, you'll see the girls getpartners."
"No fear! Think of all the tenants dying to trip it with such fairdamsels!"
"One has to _pretend_ one likes it," said Jeanie languidly; "but it'snot at all enjoyable."
"I asked Toney to let me go off with Sally the kitchenmaid, but shewouldn't agree; she says I must foot it with Mrs. Goodman, thehousekeeper. She weighs two tons at least and all the men fight shy ofher." Lewis' good temper had returned, and he was now ready to make funof everything. "But there is dancing in the dining-room, too, isn'tthere?" said Jeanie.
"We shall dance everywhere 'till gunpowder comes out of the heels of ourboots,'" answered Lewis.
"Now do be sensible, Lewis. There will be, I hear, many of the countyfolks," said Mrs. Hamilton, thinking that Jeanie might meet someoneeligible.
"I believe so. Lord and Lady Southbourne are coming, I know, and theireldest son, and George Lathom and heaps more. Oh, the Carews, ofcourse; I heard Lady Carew saying the other day that nothing shouldprevent her coming to Toney's coming of age."
"I really think it strange they all flock to a sort of party like thiswhen they come as seldom as possible to the house at other times," saidMiss Honoria.
"Honestly, Aunt Honoria, you wouldn't miss Toney's party yourself, wouldyou, and you know you only go very seldom to call on Lady Dove."
"I declare, Lewis, you are getting as direct as Toney herself," laughedMiss Honoria.
"I know Lady Dove is shuddering as to what is to happen to-night. Shesays, 'you never know with Toney,' and that is a truer word than sheoften says!"
"I expect all this fuss and this money will turn Antonia Whitburn'shead," said Mrs. Hamilton, who was jealous, but too ladylike to show itopenly.
"Turn Toney's head, Aunt Delia! You little know her, I really believeshe no more thinks of money as bringing her any personal advantage thanshe would think that--putting a crown on her head would make her aqueen."
"You always were good-natured in defending poor Harum Scarum," answeredhis Aunt Delia; "and I'm sure she needs a few friends to do it. Mrs.Hales told me she saw no change in Toney's character in spite of all theplaces they sent her to in order to improve her."
Lewis laughed heartily, and then rose to go. "Well, Maud, come along,I'm off. I'll order the dog-cart to bring us back so as to have time todress. You will all come later."
"Seeing poor people stuff doesn't interest me at all," said Jeanie; butMaud, who now always took her cue from Lewis, exclaimed,
"I should like to go early if the carriage can go, twice. I'll bring myviolin and play something for them if Toney likes."
"What a good idea," said Lewis brightly. "The carriage can certainlytake us early and go back for the lazy ladies."
"Please don't kill yourself, my dear boy," said Miss Waycott with asmile. She was torn between the pleasure of seeing Lewis happy andinterested, and the fea
r of her sister Delia thinking her very foolish.It is never easy to hunt with the hounds and run with the hare.
As the cousins were crossing the Park (having had special though privatepermission from Sir Evas to come that way whenever they liked) Lewis wassmiling to himself.
"Poor Toney," he said presently, "I believe she will regret even theterrible days of her first arrival at Aldersfield. This beastly moneywill swallow up all her time, and Sir Evas has dug up an Australiansecretary for her. I hope he'll not be too much of a cad."
"It will be like a novel, and he'll fall in love with her and marryher," said Maud. "She would like an Australian, and he would understandher strange ways."
"Perhaps; but I haven't heard that the Australians are less self-seekingthan other people. I think Toney is a _rara avis_."
"It does seem a little hard on Lady Dove to have fallen on this rarebird!" said Maud, laughing softly. She was so pretty and womanly thatLewis noticed her with pleasure. He liked Maud much better than Jeanie,who always looked discontented, but the idea of marrying either of themhad never entered his head.
"It was awfully nice of you, Maud, to think of playing to Toney'speople. I'm sure she will be delighted, but don't waste your pity onLady Dove!"
"The new companion is a tyrant, I hear; I want to see her. Motherthinks it rather silly of Toney to make such a fuss over Mrs. Faber. Itwill make her very uppish. That class of people, mother says, never canstand much notice."
Lewis laughed aloud.
"Pray, Maud, form your own opinions and don't quote those of otherpeople. Use your eyes to-day, and see what the Fabers are like. Mrs.Faber has developed so wonderfully you would not know her for the sameperson, though she is still somewhat afraid of Lady Dove, which is notsurprising. That woman is simply odious."
Very soon they reached Aldersfield, and Lewis conducted his cousin tothe barn where he had worked so hard. The preparations were drawing toa close, and at that moment Toney herself dashed out with a hammer inher hand.
"Why, Toney, you look like Sisera going to do the deed! Is thereanything I can get?"
"Oh, you'll do for audience beautifully, I was just going to fetch Mrs.Horner, but she is dreadfully busy. It's to hear Uncle Dove rehearsehis speech. We've put up the platform for him and all, and now hedeclares he can't make a speech--but he must. Now do, Maud, you'llrepresent the ladylike portion. Poor uncle is so shy, and only says'Hum, hum!'"
They entered the barn, where Sir Evas was indeed looking supremelyunhappy.
"Oh, Waycott, I'm glad you've come. Toney declares I must make a speechand it's quite beyond me!"
"Oh yes you can, dear, ducky uncle. Just say something that you reallymean out of your heart."
"That they won't make themselves ill with over-eating!"
"Oh, that's horrid, you wouldn't say that at your own table--but look,Mr. Waycott, what do you think of the whole?"
"Oh!" exclaimed Maud, "why it's too beautiful for them, and everythingsilver, and, oh, what lovely silver dishes!"
Lewis gave Maud a little nudge; he knew this speech would be likegunpowder to Toney.
"Too beautiful! Of course not! How can anything be too beautiful?Aren't these flowers exquisite, Mr. Waycott? That was all your doing."
"But it's like a grand dinner party," urged Maud.
"And so it is, a very grand dinner party. Do you see the little roses,and the napkins folded like lilies? The servants have just been awfullynice over it all, and the button-holes are ready for the men and alittle posy for the ladies. I'm just a wee bit afraid about thechildren, but Chum says I'm to trust her."
"May I play something for them on the violin?" asked Maud eagerly.
"Oh, how lovely, yes; but--not one of your long fugues, please.Something they'd all like, just a brisk jig or imitation of bagpipes."
Maud looked upon herself as a good player, but she nobly hid herdisgust.
"I see, a good stirring dance."
"Yes, just at first, something that will unloose their tongues, and thatthey can talk all through it till the dance begins. Now, Uncle Evas,it's your turn. You must practise your speech. Mr. Waycott, just sitthere to represent the men, and Maud will do the stuck-ups, and I'll dothe women. It must suit us all, uncle. You can just say how awfullyglad you are to see them, and that Toney Whitburn is too, and that--no,I'll make my own, you'd go wrong."
Happily for Sir Evas a footman entered at the moment, and announced thatLady Dove said would Sir Evas go at once, and see her on business.