*CHAPTER IX.*
*A BARN DANCE.*
The dinner party which Lady Dove had arranged was very select, with afew exceptions. She meant to reap some social benefits from Toney'scoming of age in order to make up for the "most unnecessary fuss overthe poor people." This evening she was quite gracious and pleasant toeveryone at her own dinner table. It must be owned, too, that Toney wasfor the moment rather tired and sleepy, and glad to sit still and almostsilent between Mr. Hales and Lewis Waycott, so that the aristocraticparty were quite surprised to see only a bright-haired young lady insnowy white, behaving very decorously. Strange stories had, of course,gathered round Toney's personality, one of which was that she was aterrible Socialist, a character which, in this part of the country,almost put the owner of it out of the pale of society. But to be kindto the poor was simply a duty, and an entertainment to the tenants was atime-honoured institution which no one could reasonably object to. Ofcourse these aristocratic people had not beheld Toney's dinner table,for they would have been truly shocked to see rare flowers and shiningsilver set before the lower orders; moreover, they would have felt thatpheasants were eternally disgraced by having appeared on that occasion.So all went well. Lady Carew took care to tell no tales to LordSouthbourne or to her own immaculate husband, who was talking countypolitics with Lady Southbourne whilst the dinner took its accustomedcourse, now and then urged on by a side remark of Toney's to Mr.Diggings not to be too long, as the ball was to begin directly dinnerwas over.
"I am sure, Toney, you will be tired out," said Mr. Hales, "but even ifthere were no more to come you have given them something to remember."
"A real good time for them, isn't it? But they are much too grateful!It's so easy to give away money."
"But not trouble and thought."
"I'm trying to behave well, but I really can't eat much, and I feelrather sleepy! Oh, Mr. Waycott, just look across and see how beautifulMr. Faber looks. You can't think what a good clergyman he is; those twolive just like the early Christians."
"How did they live? The present time is against the simple life."
"But, you see they can do it, they are not hedged in with parks andmoney and Society. It's like the life at Little Gidding, when you staywith them, except they have no organ playing during their meals."
"What is the special mark of the early Christian?" asked Lewis with asmile.
"They don't seem ever to complain of being poor, and always shareeverything they have, it seems to me; and especially, they are so happy.Mr. Faber has a text over his fire-place, 'Rejoice always,' and theyreally do it. Now, Aunt Dove is never happy. You should have seen meand Uncle Evas racing here from the barn. He really raced, it wasn'tmake believe--and I was laughing so much when we came into thedrawing-room to receive a scolding."
"Have you undertaken Miss Grossman, Toney?" asked Mr. Hales.
"Oh! no! but I do admire her; she isn't one bit afraid of Aunt Dove, andalmost enjoys having words with her."
"Will you give me the first dance, Toney?" said Lewis.
"No, not the first; there are ever so many of the men who will be tooshy to begin if I don't go and ask them, and they won't dare to say no!but I will have a dance with you after everyone is set going. Aunt Doveis coming to look on a few minutes, she says. Oh dear, somebody'sdrinking my health; I wish they wouldn't. I can't be any healthier thanI am, can I?"
Lord Southbourne had risen to propose the health of the heiress, and SirEvas seconded it with a few words of thanks.
"Shall I say thanks for you, Toney?" asked Lewis.
"Oh, no, thank you; they'll think I'm dumb," and then the girlish figurein white stood up straight and lithe.
"Thank you, everybody, very much; but I know no one would have made anyfuss about me if it hadn't been for the General's money, so it's themoney that ought to be returned thanks for, and I do. I know it will bevery hard to give it away properly, but I mean to try; and may I ask afavour? will you all come at once to the ball in the barn, and not stopto drink wine, because the people are longing to dance, and they won'tbegin without us."
"My dear Antonia!" exclaimed Lady Dove, smiling deprecatingly as thecompany laughed, "what will our guests think? Of course, we will excuseyou, and anyone who likes to follow you---- On her birthday she must beforgiven."
There was a general move, and most of the company followed Toney's whitefigure as she sped onward. Poor Sir Evas had risen, but dared notfollow without his wife. Happily Lord and Lady Southbourne solved thedifficulty.
"If Lady Dove does not mind, we should enjoy seeing the beginning of theball," and of course, Lady Dove was "only too delighted," and noweverybody followed Toney's lead.
There was no room for disappointment when the door was thrown open. Thewhole place had been cleared, the boards polished, one platform erectedfor the band and another for visitors. The wealth of flowers and wreathsmade the place look more like an enchanted palace than a barn on theDove estate. But it was not money alone that had done this, it was theloving heart of a girl of twenty-one which had planned it all.
The band struck up and the Hon. Edward Lang approached Toney.
"May I have the pleasure?"
"Of course you may; there's the bailiff's wife, she thinks no end ofherself, and if you dance with her we shall hear of it for the rest ofher life. Mrs. Farrant, Mr. Lang wants to dance with you, and oh, Mr.Waycott, do find someone proper for Lord Carew--unless he's too stiff.Isn't it nice of Lady Carew, she's got hold of Peter Smith herself.Real jolly of her!"
"And you, Toney, they are waiting for you?"
"Oh, anybody will do for me. There's Long Tom, he'll never get round ifI don't drag him by main force. Do see that Uncle Evas doesn't forgethis partner. Oh, isn't this scrumptious!"
The band began, a really good band from the garrison, and as if by magicthere was--we ought to have said a poetry of motion, but to the onlookerthe motion was there, though if the poetry was somewhat wanting,however, the seal of happiness was on all faces.
Lady Dove on her platform kept a few guests by her side, but very sooneven these were drawn into the whirlpool, and left her alone in companywith Miss Grossman, who had elected to come and look on for a shorttime, though as she sternly said she never danced.
"It's most extraordinary, Miss Grossman, that our guests care to dancewith this mixed company."
"One never knows what people will do," said Miss Grossman in a tone ofgreat decision, "I am never carried away."
It would indeed have been a strong, bold man who would have carried MissGrossman away--against her wish.
"You show your common sense, because it would want strength to get abumpkin through this quadrille. When I was young I was a famous dancer,everyone praised my figure and my deportment. Of course _young ladies_were carefully shielded in my youth from anything like familiarintercourse with the lower orders. Good gracious, Antonia is dancingwith the cowman! I see her pinning up her dress. It serves her right;but, of course, the poor girl was brought up most strangely inAustralia, so all this seems natural to _her_."
"Of course," said Miss Grossman, "that accounts for a good deal. Thoughmy family was in straightened circumstances, _I_ was brought up as agentlewoman." This was more than Lady Dove could stand from acompanion.
"It's strange how many people call themselves gentlefolks nowadays. Inmy youth you were in society or you were not. The Radicals have turnedpeople's heads. We are all gentlemen and ladies _now_."
"I don't think so; there are very marked lines of demarcation even now.Of course, Lady Dove, you have _generally_ had people of the class ofMrs. Faber with you, and cannot judge what is due to----"
"How ridiculous, Miss Grossman! We are talking at cross purposes. Imeant County people. There is dear Lady Carew looking quite tired out,pray go and ask her to come up here."
Miss Grossman reluctantly obeyed, and presently returned followed byLady Carew and Toney herself, fo
r both were coming to get pinned up.
"How distressing! Your lovely dress, Lady Carew! I always said no oneshould come in nice clothes to dance with----"
"Aunt Dove, you don't know how they admired our dresses! I've heardlovely remarks. Lady Carew, they thought you were just like the dove inthe ark!"
"How delicious! I don't mind my dress a bit, thank you; you seem tohave provided plenty of pins, Miss Whitburn, you have thought ofeverything!"
"Everyone has danced at least once, I've seen to it, though one mandeclared 'twas wonderful folks did like whirly-gigging round so much!'"
"He showed his sense," said Miss Grossman.
"I must find enough breath to dance with a few more of our men, butplease rest a little, Lady Carew; you have been a real helper!"
"Then I have earned a good character from you, I'm so glad!"
Lady Dove smiled sadly as Toney disappeared, then she remarked,
"It is most good-natured of you, indeed it is. There is even LadySouthbourne talking to one of the men, so very kind of her. Things havechanged very much, when I was young----"
"I am sure you never met such another as your niece!" said Lady Carew.
"Never! Miss Grossman, pray go and ask Lady Southbourne to come andrest. I insisted on having easy chairs here. Antonia would not havethought of our comfort. Bush life is not a good beginning for comingout into Society. It was a great mistake for our dear General to leaveher his money."
"I don't think Lady Southbourne wishes to rest," said Miss Grossmantartly, "but I will give her your message as I go out. I dislikealtering my hours."
Lady Dove would have remonstrated had not Lady Carew been close by, andMiss Grossman did not give her time to forbid her retiring. Near theentrance, however, she met Toney and Lady Southbourne together.
"You are not going yet, are you, Miss Crossman? This is ice time. Wemust all set an example in that line, because some of our friends arelooking rather doubtfully at them."
"Excuse me, Miss Whitburn, I prefer my bed to ruining my digestion.Nothing is more indigestible than an ice at night. Good night. LadyDove begs you will go and rest, Lady Southbourne," and Miss Grossmandisappeared from this world of folly.
Toney had seized on Lewis Waycott.
"Can you swallow unlimited ices? they really are the very best; Pupsalways said my digestion was one of the strongest he ever knew, but----"
"Toney, we have never had our dance."
"Then let's have one now. I do love dancing, that's the onlyaccomplishment that ever made friends with me. It's poetry, isn't it?"
Lewis thought so as Toney and he waltzed round the big barn.
"I hope you have had a happy birthday," said Lewis in a pause.
"Just about perfect. Could I have been happier, as you and the Fabers,and Dr. Latham, and uncle, and Trick are all here, and you have all beenso good and kind, and then Pups' picture! All through the evening Ihave been putting my hand up to stroke it. It was an inspiration onyour part and I shall never be grateful enough."
"I--I don't want gratitude--I--want----"
"Oh, what? Do let me give it to you," said Toney eagerly.
"It's nothing money can buy," said Lewis, smiling at the eager face."Some day, perhaps----"
"Some day, and why not now, to-night, but I'm glad it's nothing to dowith money. I heard Aunt Dove say to Mrs. Hamilton, 'Of course it's agreat misfortune for the poor girl, she has not an idea how to spendmoney.'"
"What did you think about it?"
"Oh, to myself I just said, 'you bet!' but of course I know that'svulgar! Aunt Dove says I was born vulgar--but what do you want?"
"Nothing now, Toney. Lady Dove is--well, she wants converting."
Mrs. Hamilton interrupted them.
"Oh, Lewis, Maudie is dying for a dance." Toney effaced herself, and atthat minute she came face to face with Mr. Hales.
"I've never had time, Toney, to give you my present." He took a littleparcel out of his pocket. "I have had these 'Little Flowers of St.Francis' bound in white for you. I could not think of anything moreappropriate. I don't think you have ever read it--but I am sure youwill like it."
"Of course I shall! Yours is the only book I have had. That is nicer,because it will do instead of Pups' old book of King Arthur. That onehas all come true, and it will be like a message from him to help mewith this new life."
"There's a message for all of us in it, Toney. The message of love andself-denial, but I think you do understand it already."
Toney shook her head.
"No, Pups did, but I want to."