CHAPTER 22 2 Maiden Ladies of Uncertain Age How poor a thing is man, Alas, tis true, I'd have forget it when I chanced on you. Shiller, thy clothes are all the soul thou hast, Beaumont and Fletcher. The day of the Templeton's garden-fet was as bright and cloudless as the heart of man or woman could desire. Verity, who had dressed herself at an unconsciously early hour, sat at an upper window with babs in her arms, watching breaks and carriages drive past, filled with gaily attired people. Malcolm had issued his sovereign mandate that they must not be amongst the earliest arrivals, and Verity panted with impatience long before she could induce her household tyrants to lay aside pipe and cigarette. Malcolm was not in a festive mood. He had spent his morning restlessly, pacing up and down the woodlands, with an unread book under his arm. He was secretly chafed, and even a little hurt, that neither of the sisters had needed his help. He had dropped more than one hint on the previous day, when some errand took him to the woodhouse, and he found Elizabeth looking heated and tired, superintending the removal of some furniture. You might make use of an idle man, he had said, half-chestingly.  But though Elizabeth smiled, she did not avail herself of this friendly offer. But it was Dinah who gave him the real explanation. Oh, thank you, Mr. Harrick, she had returned gratefully.  David, in a pondering voice, and Dinah blushed as if she had been guilty of an indiscretion. Oh, we only call him that in order to distinguish him from his father. The two Carlyons are so puzzling. But he is an old and very dear friend. And at my age it does not matter, finished Dinah with her charming smile. Malcolm had to content himself with this explanation. They were old friends, yes, of course, and he was a comparatively new one. He expected too much. His demands were unreasonable. Nevertheless, Malcolm felt a pang of envy when he saw David Carlyon tearing breathlessly through the woodlands with his arms full of greenery from the vicarage garden and whistling like a schoolboy. When at last Malcolm and his friends turned in at the gates of the woodhouse that afternoon, they could hear the band playing in the distance. A group of village children were gathered in the road. Empty carriages passed them. A smart dog cart with four young men rattled down the drive, and through the openings in the trees the gleam of white dresses looked silvery in the sunlight. Miss Templeton was standing in the porch to receive her guests. Elizabeth had only just left her, she said, to arrange the tennis tournament. And then, as more guests were arriving, Malcolm left her. The next moment he came upon Cedric. He was looking rather bored and disconsolate. He lighted up, however, at the sight of his friend. Here you are at last, he grumbled. I have been looking all over the place for you. I came down with a lot of our fellows, but Betty has paired them all off for tennis. There are the Kestens. I must go and speak to them. But Malcolm had him by the arm. Wait a moment. No hurry, said the carpenter. I suppose you brought the Jacobis with you? Then Cedric's face clouded again. Oh, Jacobi came right enough. There he is, talking to David.  I am sorry to hear that, returned Malcolm. And he was sorry, for his cleverly devised plan had been frustrated. She was sorry too. Poor girl went on Cedric in a vexed voice. She had been so looking forward to the bean-fest ever since Betty's invitation arrived. It is my belief that Jacobi is to blame for the whole thing. For he was rowing her in her room, like anything last night. I could hear them through the ceiling, going it like hammer-and-tongs. Do you mean to tell me that Miss Jacobi and her brother, Quarrel, asked Malcolm in a disgusted voice? Then Cedric looked as if he had said more than he intended. No, not Quarrel, rather hesitatingly. It takes two to do that, you know. Said Leah, Miss Jacobi, I mean, biting his lip, is much too fond of her brother to Quarrel with him. But Jacobi has a temper, you see. Oh, he has a temper, has he? Well, lots of people have, if you come to that, returned Cedric, who evidently repented his frankness. Jacobi is a decent fellow, but he is hot and peppery, and when things go crooked he lashes out a bit. Everything must have vexed him last night, for he came into the drawing-room looking very much put out. Miss Jacobi had just gone upstairs, and he went after her at once. And then they quarreled? Well, not quarreled exactly, but there was a good deal of talking, don't you know? He kept her up late, and bothered her, and then she got a headache. But Cedric forbore to tell his friend that he had been so perturbed by the sound of Saul Jacobi's angry voice that he had stolen down the stairs to the passage below. How long he stood there transfixed with fear and pity it was impossible to say. No words reached him, only the harsh, vibrant tones of Saul Jacobi's voice, and Leah's low, piteous sobbing. He might have stood there until morning, but the door suddenly unlatched, and he had only just time to steal away. But before he could enter his room a few words did reach him. Oh Saul, please do not leave me like this. Don't I always do as you wish? Only I thought you approved that—that—but here's Sobs choked her voice. What is the use of turning on the waterworks like this, muttered her brother angrily?  A boy like that, too. But Saul, Saul—yes, I know, I have not changed my mind, but I mean to have my way about tomorrow all the same. If you had been sensible, I would have told you my reasons, but you chose to aggravate me, and I said a precious lot more than I meant. There, go to sleep and forget it—evidently a rough attempt to be conciliatory. But Leah's sad and weary face told its own tale the next morning. Malcolm did not ask any more questions, and after a few more casual remarks Cedric went off in search of the Kestens, and Malcolm sauntered across the lawn, looking at the various groups in the hope of seeing Elizabeth's tall figure. Presently he came upon Mr. Jacoby. He was standing by the sundial, looking smart and well groomed in his frock coat, and a rare orchid in his buttonhole. He was contemplating the house with fixed attention. A sudden impulse made Malcolm join him. Mr. Jacoby greeted him with his usual affability, and then, as though by mutual consent, they strolled together in the direction of the rustic bridge. Nice sleepy old place this, observed Mr. Jacoby condescendingly, seems as though it had been in existence for a hundred years at least. Do you know how long it has belonged to the Templetons? No, I have no idea, returned Malcolm stiffly, for he resented the question.  I am sorry to hear from Templeton that your sister is indisposed. Mr. Jacoby's eyes narrowed a little. He looked rather sharply at Malcolm. Oh, Templeton told you that? Nice fellow! As good a specimen of a young Briton as ever I wish to see. Sensible too, and a good companion.  It is in our family. My mother had them, and Leah takes after her. It is hard lines, poor old girl, continued Mr. Jacoby in a feeling tone, for she was longing to make the Mrs. Templeton's acquaintance. Malcolm returned a civil answer, and Mr. Jacoby continued, Templeton is a lucky fellow, between you and me and the post, in a jocular tone. It must be a good thing for him, that his sisters have set their faces against matrimony. Nice-looking women, both of them, but in my humble opinion, Miss Elizabeth is the most attractive. Templeton led out to Leah the other day, that she could have married a dozen times over if she had wished to do so. Only she vowed she was cut out for an old maid. I don't suppose he knows anything about it, returned Malcolm, feeling this speech was in the worst possible form. It revolted him to hear this man even mention Elizabeth's name. He would give him no encouragement. But Saul Jacoby, who could be dense when he chose, did not drop the subject. It is rather a big place for two maiden-ladies of uncertain age, he remarked blandly. But this speech irritated Malcolm beyond endurance. There is nothing uncertain about the second Miss Templeton's age, he said impatiently. She is still a young woman. Then it struck him that Mr. Jacoby looked a trifle crestfallen. Young, do you call her? Oh, no, very mature and sedate, like a middle-aged woman. Jip Campion told me as a fact, do you know Jip? He is in the hasars, and a tip-top swell in the bargain. Jip let out that his brother Owen had proposed to Miss Elizabeth Templeton years ago at Alasio. Oh, I daresay, indifferently. I think I must go back to the house now. It cost Malcolm an effort to be civil. I will walk back with you. What was I saying? Oh, she refused the poor chap, and told him that the holiest state of matrimony had no attraction for her, or some such rubbish. That is why I call Templeton a lucky fellow. There is not a creature belonging to them, except a distant cousin or two in New Zealand, so of course he will come in for everything. A pause here, and a furtive glance of inquiry. But Malcolm remained mute, and his face might have been a blank wall as far as expression was concerned. They have got a pretty penny saved, too, went on Mr. Jacoby, not in the least silenced by Malcolm's lack of interest. Pip told me a thing or two about that. It seems they had a farm in Cornwall. Here he sniffed at his sentless orchid with an air of enjoyment, a habit of his when his subject interested him. It was a rotten concern, farm buildings out of repair, and a few scrubby fields with more stones than grass. Miss Templeton was just going to sell it for a mere song when someone discovered tin. My word, those few acres rose in value. Jip declared they realized quite a small fortune on it. That was only three or four years ago. Indeed, returned Malcolm dryly, if you will pardon my speaking plainly, Mr. Jacoby, I do not think the Mrs. Templeton's business affairs are any concern of ours, and I would prefer to talk on any other subject. This was too manifest a hint to be disregarded even by the irrepressible Jacoby. But the next minute, Malcolm added, will you excuse my leaving you. I see some old friends of mine on their way to the pool, and they will expect me to join them. But if Malcolm intended to do so, he chose a most circuitous route. Rumpchap, that, observed Saul Jacoby turning on his seal, not easy to get any information out of him. This is though he had swallowed the poker first, and then the tongs as a sort of relish afterwards, and neither of them agreed with him. I wonder what young Templeton saw in him. He lays it on pretty thick, too. It is Herac this and Herac that, as though he were Solomon in all his glory, confound his heirs and impudence. Let me tell you, my young gentleman, with a sly smile, that the Mrs. Templeton's private business is a matter that concerns Saul Jacoby pretty closely. Meanwhile, Malcolm was in a white heat of righteous indignation. That wretched little cad, how dare he meddle and pry into the Mrs. Templeton's family affairs. There is something I mistrust in the man. He is smooth and plausible, but he is crafty, too. He is deep, deep. And if I do not mistake, he is clever, too. Then he added, I must get hold of Cedric. I am not comfortable at his associating with this man. Cedric is as weak as water. He is so easily lead. He would be the dupe of any designing person. But the Jacobes will have to reckon with me. And here, Malcolm, who had uttered the last words aloud, stopped and looked rather foolish, as a merry laugh greeted his ear, and Elizabeth, in all the glory of her Paris gown and picture hat, barred the way, and regarded him with her beaming smile. Mr. Herrick, you are quite dramatic. Hamlet, or the melancholy Jacques, could not have been more lost in gloomy meditation. If I may presume to ask the question, why will the Jacobes have to reckon with you? Did I say so? returned Malcolm with an uneasy laugh. I suppose I was thinking aloud, that fellow Jacoby has been rubbing me up the wrong way. He stuck to me like a burr, and I could not get rid of him.  You were quite right, Mr. Herrick. He is not a gentleman, and I dislike his manner excessively. It is too subservient, and he is too soft-tongued.  She looked quite bewildered. Elizabeth's eyes were dancing with amusement at the recollection, but Malcolm did not respond to her merriment. He felt things were too serious. I am not at all easy in my mind, he said, and then Elizabeth looked at him inquiringly. Jacoby seems to have got a hold on Cedric. He goes back with him to-night. Does he not? Ah, I thought so, as Elizabeth nodded. I must have some talk with him. I shall tell him that I disapprove of the Jacobes, and shall beg him to break off the acquaintance. Oh, thank you, thank you, returned Elizabeth earnestly. And there was a beautiful color in her face. She even held out her hand impulsively to him, as though her gratitude carried her away. How good you are to us, a real friend, to two lone, lorn women. And here something twinkled in Elizabeth's eyes. But perhaps she was a little taken aback when Malcolm very quietly and reverently raised the hand to his lips, as though he were vowing nightly service to his liege lady. I should ask nothing better than to be your friend, he said in a low voice. But perhaps something in her manner checked him, for he added hastily, and your sister's too. It was rather a lame conclusion, but Elizabeth accepted it graciously. I shall rely on you to help us, she said very seriously.  Hush, please do not mention names, whispered Malcolm. Someone might overhear us. But he was too late. Elizabeth's incautious speech had reached an unseen auditor. Malcolm felt a little ashamed of himself when he remembered his impulsive action. She will think it so strange, he thought. She will not understand that it was only the outward and visible sign of my inward reverence. But he was wrong, Elizabeth did understand, and she did not misjudge him. He has a high-minded gentleman, she said to herself, and then she sighed, and her face grew troubled. But I wish, I wish he had not done that. Malcolm found his work cut out for him, for the remainder of the afternoon he was hunting his quarry. But Cedric was never alone. He was either surrounded by a bevy of girls, or else Jacoby was beside him. Even Cedric seemed surprised at the tenacity with which his friend and host stuck to him. �Harrick wants me,� he said once, �I will come back to you right enough, old fellow.� But Jacoby still pinioned him. �We will go together, my dear boy,� he said pleasantly. �I have taken a fancy to your mentor. He seems a clever chap. He is a barrister, isn't he? And literary and all that sort of thing? �I have told you about him often enough,� returned Cedric, in rather a surly tone, as though the iron hand under the velvet glove made itself evident. Cedric felt he was being managed and coerced, and he waxed indignant. But Saul Jacoby was more than a match for him. And in spite of all Malcolm's efforts, Cedric went back to Henley without a word of warning. Malcolm was quite troubled and crestfallen over his failure. �I did my best,� he said to Elizabeth. �I followed him about the whole afternoon, but that fellow stuck to him like a leech. �So I saw,� she returned rather sadly. �It was no fault of yours, Mr. Harrick. I am quite sure of that. �Well, we must find some other opportunity.� And then Elizabeth smiled at him very kindly, and Malcolm went back to the crowsonest, feeling somewhat comforted. CHAPTER XXIII ST. ELIZABETH Love lies deeper than all words, and not the spoken but the speechless love waits answer, ere I rise and go my way, browning. When in after years Malcolm Harrick reviewed this portion of his life, he owned to himself that during the five weeks that followed the Templeton bean-fest, he had lived in a fool's paradise, in a state of beatitude that was as unsubstantial and fleeting as the sunset clouds that piled themselves behind the fir woods. He was very happy, almost pathetically so, and the new wine of youth seemed coursing through his veins. This is life, he would say to himself. �I have only existed before, but now I am reborn into a new world, and I have learned the secret of all the ages.� Every day his passion for Elizabeth Templeton increased, and the charm and sweetness of her personality attracted him more powerfully. He had never seen anyone like her.  Her nature was so rich, so original, and yet so womanly, that the man whom she blessed with her love could never have grown weary of her society. On an effort, simply by being herself a truthful, noble-hearted woman, she had dominated his strong nature and brought him to her feet. Was she conscious of his devotion? This was a question that Malcolm vainly tried to answer, but her manner perplexed and baffled him. She was always kind and friendly, and her cordial welcome never varied. Then Malcolm could not flatter himself that he received any special encouragement, or that she regarded him in any other light than a trusted and valued friend. Now and then, when he found himself alone with her, he fancied her manner had changed, that she had become quiet and reserved, as though she were not at her ease with him. Was it only his imagination he wondered that she seemed trying to keep him at a distance, as though she were afraid of him? But such was his blindness and infatuation that he drew encouragement even from this. To Malcolm, those summer days were simply perfect. His morning hours were devoted to his literary work, and the essays were taking shape and form under his hand.  He worked with a facility that surprised himself. I am inspired, he would whisper, I have a patron saint of my own now, and he would tell himself that no name could be so sweet to him as Elizabeth. He would murmur it half aloud as he wandered in the woodlands in the gloaming. Elizabeth, Elizabeth! And once, as he said it, something seemed to rise in his throat and choke him. He had not forgotten Anna, he had never forgotten her in his life, for his adopted sister was very dear to him. Every week he wrote to his mother and also to her, pleasant chatty letters full of affection and warm with brotherly kindness. If Anna ever shed tears over them, he never knew it. With what touching humility she acknowledged his thoughtfulness. Another letter, how good you are to me, she would say in her reply. Mother declares that you spoil me. I read her all your description of the bean-fest, oh, if I had only been there. But it is wicked of me to say that. But later on there was a touch of curiosity, almost a shadow of doubt.  It is always Miss Templeton. Is it heresy, dear? But I fancy I should like Miss Elizabeth best. Tell me more about her next time you write.  But Anna pleaded in vain. On the subject of Elizabeth's merits he kept silence. But it was quite true that he was at the woodhouse nearly every day, and that the sisters always welcomed him most kindly. Sometimes he dined there, either alone or with the Kestens, or he would stroll across at tea-time, or often or in the evening, when they were sitting on the terrace. David Carlyon was often with them. His father had left him by this time. The young men used to look a-scants at each other in the dim light, and Malcolm would shake hands with the curate rather stiffly. Carlyon was there again, he would say to Ammius, when he found his friend smoking in the porch. I don't dislike the fellow, but one may have too much, even of a good thing. Then Ammius looked at him rather queerly, but made no answer. Caleb Martin and Kit were established comfortably at the cottage under Mrs. Sullivan's motherly wing, and Kit's white-pinched little face filled out in the sweet country air. She is a different creature, Caleb assured Malcolm. I wish ma'am could see her. She is just as happy as the day is long. We are in the woods from morning to night picking up fur cones and building with them, and making believe that we are gypsies. She is ready to drop with fatigue before she lets me take her home, and then our good lady scolds us a bit. And poor Mrs. Martin is alone in Todd Morton's lane, remarked Malcolm. Lord love you, sir, return to Caleb. You don't need to be pitying ma'am. She is glad to be rid of the pair of us. She is whitewashing and papering the rooms. She is a handywoman, is ma'am, and she says we shall not know the place when we go back. I never knew such a woman for scrubbing and cleaning. It seems to make her happy somehow. Malcolm made frequent visits to Rotherwood to see Caleb and Kit, and he generally paid them on the days when Elizabeth was at the schools, so that he could walk back with her through the woodlands. The first time he did this, Elizabeth seemed rather surprised, though she offered no objection. But after that she took it as a matter of course, and chatted with him on all manner of subjects. She listened very kindly when Malcolm sounded her on the subject of Kit, and made all sorts of impossible plans for the child's future. And though she laughed at him good-humoredly, and told him that he was a visionary, impracticable person, she soon became serious and brought her shrewd common sense and feminine wits to his assistance. And so it was that one day he made a proposition that nearly took Caleb's breath away. Kit must certainly not go back to Todd Morton's lane until she was stronger, he remarked. Miss Templeton and he were fully agreed on this point. The fogs and low-lying mists from the river were harmful to her poor little chest. Caleb must leave her under Mrs. Sullivan's care. Miss Templeton had made all arrangements, and he would be responsible for the expense. There had been a pitched battle over this point, but for once Elizabeth had been forced to give in. Malcolm had been so stern and masterful. Caleb should come down for the weekend every three weeks or so. He could promise him that, and a whole week at Christmas. But Caleb looked too much daze to answer, and there was a misty look in the transparent light-blue eyes. I took all of a heap, he ejaculated at last. It is not that I don't thank you kindly, sir, for I am pretty nigh choking with gratitude. But you see there is Mam to reckon with. If Kit were her own little one, she couldn't be fonder of her. I dare say not, remarked Malcolm, and there was a trace of impatience in his tone. But after all, Mr. Martin, you are Kit's father. But Caleb only shook his head doubtfully, and went on in his slow, ruminating way. Most folk think that Mam is a bad-natured woman because she gives them the rough side of her tongue.   But Kit only laughs. It is Mam at her music, she says. But it ain't the sort of music I like. Yes, indeed, sir. I have heard her say that a score of times. Very well, then, you had better go and have a talk with your wife, returned Malcolm. And Caleb went, and came back to Rutherwood the next day, a sadder and a wiser man. Well, and what did Mrs. Martin say, asked Malcolm when he saw Caleb again. The little cobbler drew his hand across his eyes in an embarrassed fashion. He was evidently trying to recollect something. Mam sends her humble duty, he answered presently in a sing-song voice.  And Kit may stay along of Mrs. Sullivan. Those were her very words, sir. Mrs. Martin is a sensible woman, then. Oh, she is that, sir. She was scolding me all supper time for not thinking of the child's good.  And you call yourself a father, Caleb Martin? Drat all such fathers, I say. She made me clean ashamed of myself, did mam. And here the little man looked ready to cry. Well, Mr. Martin, I do think the child will be better here. And you can come down every three weeks or so to see her. You know we have arranged that. And now and then you can bring your wife too. And Caleb brightened up at this. But the day he left Rotherwood, he was so lugubrious and tearful that Malcolm felt quite sorry for him. But Kit took a less depressing view. I don't want you to go, dad, she said feelingly. But I like staying along with this good lady with a friendly nod of her head to Mrs. Sullivan. I have got a black kitten of my own and a yellow chick. And they are better than dolls because they can love me back. And the ladies from the woodhouse are going to take me out for drives. My, won't that be heavenly? Nevertheless, Kit shed a few tears when Caleb closed the little gate behind him. I want to stay here and I want daddy too, she said rather pitifully. All these weeks Malcolm had seen nothing of Cedric. His visit to the Jacobes had been prolonged for another 10 days. And then he wrote in high spirits to tell his sisters that Dick Wallace had invited him to go down to his father's place in Scotland. I expect I shall have rare sport there and stock a deer or two, he continued.  But I will run over to Staple Grove for a few hours. Tell Herrick I will look him up at his diggings. By some oversight, Elizabeth forgot to give Malcolm this message and Malcolm who had to go up to town on business was much chagrin to find that Cedric had called during his absence and had been greatly disappointed at missing him. He went across to the woodhouse directly after supper and found the lady sitting out on the terrace. Elizabeth was very contrite. It was dreadfully careless of me, she confessed. I meant to have sent you a note last night but someone called, who was it, Dinah? And put it out of my head. But Dinah could not recollect that anyone had called except David Carlyan and seemed rather surprised at the question. Oh, it must have been Mr. Carlyan returned Elizabeth but she colored slightly.  Cedric was quite put out about it. Oh well, it cannot be helped, observed Malcolm philosophically. Did he say much about the Jacobis? No, he only remarked that they had been very kind and that he had had a rattling good time. Those were his words, were they not die? And Dinah smiled dissent. We both asked him a heap of questions but they seemed to bore him.  Malcolm was not quite satisfied but he kept his doubts to himself. Elizabeth, who was as sharp as a needle looked up at him quickly.  He seemed very much excited. The Wallises are a good sort of people, are they not? Was Malcolm's next question. Oh yes, they are thoroughly nice. It was Dinah who answered him. So Richard is charming and so is Lady Wallis and of course Dick is an old acquaintance of ours. There are some daughters, I believe. Yes, but they are not very young or attractive, poor things, replied Elizabeth. Heavy, podgy sort of girls but very kind-hearted. By the by die, I wonder if Cedric will come across the Godfrees. They are somewhere in the neighborhood. And then she explained to Malcolm that Fetter Cairn Hall, where Sir Richard Wallis lived, was only a few miles from the shooting lodge where the Godfrees were staying and this fact appeared to give the sisters a good deal of satisfaction. It was the middle of September now and Malcolm reflected with some uneasiness that more than half his holiday was over. The Kestens had decided to return to Shane Walk in another three weeks or so and of course he must accompany them. His mother and Anna would be back in town by that time and his presence would be needed in Lincoln's Inn. The shadows of the prison house, as he called it, began to haunt him and he counted up his days as jealously as a miser counts his gold. Every day he saw Elizabeth and to each hour he was alone with her, he found it more difficult to keep silence but as yet he had had himself well in hand. Perhaps something in her manner had sealed his lips or he feared that the spell of this happy dream would be broken but during those wakeful summer nights when that sweet pain kept him restless he would tell himself that the time had not yet come that she did not know him well enough. She is not a young girl, he would say to himself, she is a mature woman who knows the world and has thought deeply why even to know her is a liberal education and then he repeated to himself in the darkness those lines of Shelley. Her voice was like the voice of his own soul heard in the calm of thought for all the sweet influences of summer and nature had only fed the passion and every day it seemed to grow stronger and stronger. She is my other self, she thinks my thoughts we have a thousand things in common how can she help loving me, he would say when his mood was jubilant and sanguine but at other times a chilled doubt would cross his mind. She is different from other women she will not be easily one that is why I fear to speak but all the same Malcolm registered a mental vow that he would not leave staple grove until the decisive words had been spoken. End of chapter 23 Chapter 24 of Herb of Grace This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Rita Butros Herb of Grace by Rosa Nuschet-Carrie Chapter 24 Down by the Pool The heaven of thy mild brows hath given grace to all things I see and in thy life I live and lose myself in thee J. Addington-Simmons I would love infinitely and be loved Browning Malcolm was no hot-headed boy to be moved by mere impulse nevertheless the day came when all his prudent resolutions were forgotten when silence and self-repression were absolute torture to him when he felt he must speak or forever hold his peace it was Elizabeth's birthday he only heard that afterwards or he would have brought her some choice offering in the shape of flowers or books in honor of his patron saint's fete day but happily Elizabeth was unconscious of this I am thirty-one today she said to him gaily is not that a great age oh no wonder Cedric calls me an old maid and then she laughed with an air of enjoyment as though her new title amused her old maids can be very nice can they not Mr. Herrick? they were sitting down by the pool and Dinah had just left them at Elizabeth's suggestion to tell the servants that they would have tea there and to answer a business note the afternoon was sultry more like August than September but down by the pool there was a pleasant shade and coolness as usual all the dogs were grouped round them and Elizabeth in spite of her thirty-one years looked quite youthful in her white gown a dark velvety crumb was he rose settled against her full throat Malcolm remembered suddenly that he had noticed that special rose in the garden of the white cottage when he last dined at the vicarage he wondered with a sudden fierce prick of jealousy if that fellow Carlyan knew it was her birthday and had brought it to her at the idea there was a dangerous throbbing of his pulses the previous evening he had strolled across to the woodhouse in the hope that Elizabeth would be in one of her gracious moods and then he could coax her to sing to him but to his disappointment his visit had seemed less welcome than usual and though Dinah received him with her wanted gentle courtesy he had a vague suspicion that something was amiss Dinah looked as though she had been shedding tears and Elizabeth's face was flushed and she was very silent if he had not known them so well and their intense love for each other he would almost have suspected that there had been a warm altercation between them but this was manifestly impossible no they had never quarreled even in their childish days he remembered Elizabeth had once told him that and assuredly they never quarreled now nevertheless there was something troubled in the atmosphere and even Dinah seemed to find it difficult to talk Malcolm raged inwardly over his disappointment but he had too much tact to prolong his visit he was rewarded for his forbearance when Dinah said in her gentle way I am afraid we are rather stupid tonight Mr. Herrick Elizabeth is tired and we have been talking for hours if you look in tomorrow afternoon we will promise to behave better but though Elizabeth did not endorse this Malcolm accepted this invitation with undisguised pleasure but his satisfaction would have been sadly damped if he had overheard Elizabeth's speech why did you ask him die you know hesitating a moment that I like to be quiet on my birthday he looked so dull returned Dinah apologetically I think we depressed him I am very sorry dear I ought to have found out your wishes first but he will not stay long unless we ask him Elizabeth made no answer to this she looked thoughtful and a little troubled and Dinah felt she had done the wrong thing but this afternoon Elizabeth was in her old sun-shiny mood and she made her little speech about being an old maid in a way that charmed Malcolm how still it was down by the pool only a dry leaf dropping into the water or the sleepy snapping of one of the dogs at the midges or the faint twitter of a far-off bird broke the silence the air was sweet with the warm resinous smell of the furs the strong perfume seemed to pervade his senses he was alone with her not a human creature was near them and he was so close that if he had stretched out his hand he could have touched her dress Malcolm's heart began beating dangerously and there was a curious throbbing at his temples when he tried to speak his voice was thick and indistinct then with a great effort he studied himself for his time had come and he knew it there is something I want to say to you that for weeks I have been trying to say will you let me speak now did he really say those words or did he whisper them inwardly but no he could see the sudden startled look in Elizabeth's eyes when she saw his face may I speak no no in a frightened tone Mr. Herrick for my sake for both our sakes I implore you to be silent I cannot I will not listen her agitation increasing with every word but she might as well have tried to control the wind you cannot mean that he returned gently but firmly forgive me if I do not obey you if it is not possible for me to keep silence any longer Elizabeth surely all these weeks you must have known that you were the one woman in the world for me no no she returned covering her face with her hands I never knew it how could I how could I but he mistook the cause of her emotion I think no woman was ever loved so well all these weeks that I have been dumb I have been living for you only for you then she put up her trembling hand to stop him but he caught it in his own Elizabeth will you try to love me a little hush hush endeavoring to free herself indeed indeed you must not say such things Mr. Herrick you are deceiving yourself we are friends and I like you and I am very very grateful to you for all your goodness to Cedric but I never meant it to come to this how do you mean he asked and his face was white with emotion surely you must have seen how things were with me and Malcolm's voice was a little hard I think I tried not to see she answered truthfully once or twice I was afraid and then I told myself I was mistaken Mr. Herrick I do not want to hurt you I would not add to your trouble for the world but at least you will do me the justice of owning that I never gave you any encouragement no he returned in a tone of forced composure you never encouraged me in my presumption I loved you because I could not help myself because you were Elizabeth Templeton and I was Malcolm Herrick then her eyes grew very sad dear friend it was no presumption any woman would have felt honored by such devotion but and here a burning flush came to her face it is too late I am not free Malcolm stared at her she was in some hideous nightmare but he would wake directly what an awful stillness seemed round them as though a storm were impending the water lilies on the pool looked like dead things and even the dragonfly hung motionless in midair only the dogs panted and snored round them Elizabeth pressed her hands together as though something paint her I am not free she repeated in a low voice but she did not look at Malcolm as she spoke last evening Mr. Carlyan spoke to me and and we are engaged good God but Malcolm did not say the words allowed for his tongue felt suddenly dry and pulsed it was only the cry of his soul to his maker in the hour of his agony but Elizabeth dared not look at him or her heart would have been rung with pity at the sight of his drawn haggard face we have cared for each other for a long time she whispered but he was poor and did not like to speak only Diana knows I had just told her when you came in last evening we did not want anyone else to know just yet but I forced your hand Malcolm had pulled himself together now thank you for telling me the truth but you were always a brave woman and he tried to smile oh no I have not been brave and then her eyes suddenly filled with tears Mr. Herrick I am so unhappy this has spoiled everything no no you must not say that if I have been a blind fool it is no fault of yours and I have no one to thank but myself for the misery that has come upon me Elizabeth oh how sad his voice was it thrilled her to hear it before I leave you let me wish you every happiness you and Mr. Carlyan too and then he rose to his feet must you go she pleaded yes I must go he returned hurriedly will you excuse me to your sister then Elizabeth stretched out her hand to him in silence and he saw that she could not trust herself to speak you must not be too sorry for me he said rather brokenly I am not the only man who has been denied his heart's desire into the little fur wood Elizabeth sat listening to his retreating footsteps the tears were running down her cheeks she was still weeping when Dinah rejoined her have I been long she observed cheerfully that tiresome Mrs. Carrick called about the mother's meetings whereas Mr. Herrick then as she caught sight of Elizabeth's face oh my dear Betty what is it what has gone wrong and on your birthday too Elizabeth wept afresh hush don't ask me not now David will be here directly and he must not see me like this you were right Dai you saw how it was and I would not believe you I did not want to believe you now let me go away and recover myself but Dinah held her fast you shall go in a moment dear but just tell me one thing did Mr. Herrick ask you to be his wife I would not let him go as far as that but Dai he loves me so and he is so unhappy then Dinah sighed and her hand dropped from her sister's arm you had better go she returned I see Mullins crossing the bridge if David comes I will make an excuse for your absence and Elizabeth nodded and turned away Dinah's heart was very heavy as she stood looking down upon the pool it is the looker on who sees most of the game and weeks ago she had vainly tried to open Elizabeth's eyes to a sense of her danger he has never said a word to me that the whole world might not hear I don't believe he ever will Elizabeth had replied obstinately but Dinah knew that she was willfully deceiving herself that her intuition was truer than her words and that in Malcolm Herrick's presence she was always on guard as if she feared an invasion of her woman's kingdom Dinah could have wept too in her grievous disappointment and passionate pity for Elizabeth's choice seemed to her a great mistake David Carlyon was a dear fellow and as good as gold but he was not equal to Malcolm if only they had met a year ago she thought before David's influence grew so strong she would surely have discovered then that they were made for each other Mr. Herrick is just the sort of man she would have admired there was something striking and original about him and then in spite of his cleverness he is so simple and good oh Betty my darling she went on why could you not have given me such a brother I should have been so proud of him and then Dinah checked herself in very shame for she remembered how she had promised a glorious evening that she would take David Carlyon to her sisterly heart it was not a very cheerful birthday tea though each one of the trio tried to do his or her best to promote innocent hilarity Elizabeth talked a great deal but her face was still flushed and she rather avoided her lover's eyes and as for David he talked principally to Dinah he told funny little parish stories which made her laugh Elizabeth listened with a manifest effort and he took no notice when she chimed in with some irrelevant remark Dinah wondered to herself more than once if he really had not noticed that Elizabeth's eyelids were still reddened in spite of cold water and odiculone David was certainly a little dense in his happiness she thought and then she sighed involuntarily as she thought of the lonely man who had left them she said to herself his nature is intense and he will suffer more than most men and as this thought passed through her mind she looked up and found David's keen bright eyes fixed on her and colored a little as though he had read her thoughts when tea was over Dinah made some transparent little excuse to go back to the house for in these sweet early days of their happiness she knew well she was not wrong before she was out of sight David had flung himself down at Elizabeth's feet and had taken her hands what is it dearest he said tenderly you have been shedding tears do you think I did not know that then Elizabeth blushed as though she were a child discovered in a fault tell me all about it darling he whispered but she shook her head I cannot David Elizabeth's voice quivered a little but she was very much in earnest must I not he returned with a smile don't look so frightened sweetheart perhaps there is no need to ask perhaps I know all you are trying to keep from me and then in a low voice full of meaning so Herrick has spoken at last at last it was evident those two words had startled Elizabeth David with some difficulty suppressed an irresistible smile do you mean he asked incredulously that you never noticed what everyone else saw so plainly that that poor fellow fairly worshipped the ground you trod on then again a painful flush came to Elizabeth's face I was not sure she stammered for her conscience did not wholly acquit her I would not let myself see or notice things besides I was thinking of you then David kissed the hands he held but there was a troubled look in his eyes poor beggar he muttered to himself then aloud do you know, my darling, what people will say when they hear you have thrown over a man like Herrick for me for a mere curate with empty pockets and not too many brains do you suppose I care what they say throwing her head back in rather a regal fashion they will say you are mad and upon my word there David knit his brows in a puzzled manner I am not sure that they will be wrong look at the difference between us Herrick is my superior in every way I used to shake in my shoes to hear him talk to the vicar Elizabeth my heart aches for that poor fellow but even you do not know what I have suffered on his account all these weeks there were times when I was tempted to throw up the sponge oh David, when you knew when you must have known my feelings yes, I knew but there were days when my courage failed me and I felt I had no right to stand in your light dearest, and here he was kneeling beside her with all a man's worship in his honest eyes you are too good for me do you think I do not know that it is your goodness and generosity that make you stoop to me but Elizabeth laid her hand upon his lips hush, you shall not talk so it is I not worthy of you I love you David, I love you oh so dearly that is enough for you and me too and Elizabeth looked at him with an adorable smile then for a little while Malcolm Herrick was forgotten End of Chapter 24 Chapter 25 of Herb of Grace this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Rita Butros Herb of Grace by Rosa Nushet Carey Chapter 25 it has gone very deep when you depart from me sorrow abides and happiness takes his leave Shakespeare fulfill the perfection of long suffering be thou patient teaching of Buddha all his life long Malcolm never spoke of the hours that followed that fateful interview down by the pool when he was as one who had just received his baptism of fire when he was scorched through and through with that new and terrible agony he will take it hardly Diana had said to herself his nature is intense and he will suffer more than most men and she was right Malcolm did suffer cruelly he had spoken his parting words to Elizabeth with outward calmness though his lips were blanched and his features drawn with pain for he was a gentleman and no bless oblige and why should he make her suffer when she had done him no wrong I am not the only man who has been denied his heart's desire he had said to her in a dull lifeless voice and in this he was certainly right all are not winners in the race many fail to attain their goal and retire baffled and disheartened from the contest but few suffer as Malcolm Herrick did and though he did not curse the day he was born as Job did the whole plan and purpose of his life seemed frustrated and the future a hopeless blank and the fault was his own even in his most despairing moments he never ceased to tell himself that she had never encouraged him never held out her woman's scepter for him to touch and even when she had been most sweet and winsome she had not abridged the distance between them nor in her noble sincerity and friendship attempted to draw him closer no it was he who had been a blind fool and he must pay the penalty of his madness the gates of his earthly paradise had closed behind him forever and the golden bells of his city of dreams were shining never more oh, never more his city of dreams what a good name thought he and through the long summer days he had dwelt there like a king and now the gates had closed and the golden pinnacles were no longer visible and the breath of the roses and the fragrance of the spices of araby the blessed would no longer steep in the sweetness never more oh, never more would those blissful dreams be his Malcolm never quite recollected what he did with himself that evening the idea of going back to the crow's nest in his present state of mind was simply intolerable how could he have joined in the simple meal and listened to Goliath's talk no it would be better to have a good long walk and look things in the face and if he tired himself so much the better but Malcolm never retained any clear recollection of that walk he had a vague idea that he passed Earlsfield station and presently he found himself on the open moor where he had driven with Elizabeth the day when she had so naively confessed her ignorance to him I am rather a desultory sort of person she had said to him and he had offered to make out a list of books for her to read he had done so and she had thanked him very sweetly and had sent for some of the books but he had never seen her read them perhaps Carlyan and at this thought he ground his teeth hard perhaps Carlyan had discouraged her horticulture seemed his chief hobby and he was always talking to her about a new fern house they were making at the woodhouse and Malcolm's poor books were neglected he flung himself down on the heather he would battle it out with himself he thought and when he was in a quieter frame of mind he would go home home he would never have a home now it was a glorious evening a fresh soft breeze had risen and blew refreshingly in his face but he never heeded it for in some moods we take the gifts and graces of nature as a matter of course and yield her no thanks or acknowledgement for her gentle benescent even the glowing crimson tints of the sunset clouds could not move him to admiration a line of browning came involuntarily to his mind I will not soil thy purple with my dust but he was thinking of Elizabeth and not of the sunset I must battle it out with myself he repeated but hours passed and the moon had risen and he still lay there plucking up the heather and flinging it aside it was only when the September darkness stole over the moor that he recollected himself and stumbled to his feet he was almost worn out when he unlatched the little gate at the crow's nest Ammius was smoking as usual in the porch and Verity was with him the lamplight from within fell full on Malcolm's face as he approached them Verity gave a start oh how tired you look at Verity's smile I have had a long walk he returned it was such a lovely evening so I resolved to miss supper for once he tried to speak in a jaunty fashion but it was a ghastly failure and he knew it he was so sick and faint with inannition that he felt as though he could not utter another word I am tired I think I will go to bed good night you too what is this pipe from his mouth and looked at his wife inquiringly what's come to Herrick he said in a concerned tone he looks dead beat we thought he was dining at the woodhouse at least you said so yay Verily my child and I believed you yes I know dear but we were both wrong and he has eaten nothing that is evident and then she got up quickly and told Martha to leave it I will make him some coffee and you shall take it to him and Ammias you dear old thing don't talk to him he is not fit for it tonight and so it was that a quarter of an hour later Ammias knocked at Malcolm's door and was reluctantly bidden to enter Malcolm was sitting still fully dressed by the open window and the moonlight made him look still more ghastly lighted the lamp and placed the tray beside him Verily sends her love and says you must eat your supper was all he ventured to say but his large hand rested kindly on Malcolm's shoulder for a moment Malcolm tried to thank him but the words would not come but when his friend had left the room he suddenly covered his face with his hands and cried like a child Elizabeth Elizabeth but there was no response stirred in the shrubbery in spite of his great intimacy with the Kestens and his very real friendship Malcolm did not confide in either of them he was undemonstrative and self-reliant by nature and as he said himself afterwards there are some things that a man ought to keep to himself but neither Ammias nor Verily expected any such confidence if Ammias seemed puzzled by the change in Malcolm she had never intended no explanation she had seen how things were from the first she had once caught sight of Malcolm's face when Elizabeth Templeton had passed him so closely that her dress brushed against him she had seen that look in Ammias's eyes in the dear old Langzine Verily was a loyal little soul and she never even hinted her suspicions to her husband neither did she attempt to find out what was amiss then the next evening Malcolm told them hardly that he would be obliged to return to town earlier than he thought she interrupted Ammias's clumsy exclamations of regret Mr. Herrick has been very good to give us so much of his company she said cheerfully of course we shall miss him and so will Babs and then in her pretty house-wifely way she said about making arrangements for his comfort and Malcolm felt inwardly grateful for his spoken sympathy he went over to the vicarage to bid Mr. Charrington good-bye on the way back he met David Carlyan the young curate looked rather nervous and discomposed but Malcolm was quite calm as I am leaving Staplegrove tomorrow he said quietly I am glad to have this opportunity of offering my congratulations and bidding you good-bye the lie came glibly to his lips I have gone a dozen miles to avoid his rival his successful rival nevertheless such hypocrites are the best of men the words flowed smoothly from his lips thanks awfully replied David prodding the dust with his stick are you going up to the woodhouse now I think that is I am sure the ladies are out which was certainly the fact as he had just seen them driving not this afternoon I think replied Malcolm well good-bye I'm a bit pressed for time and then the young men shook hands and David's grip was almost painful poor beggar he muttered to himself as he turned away but Malcolm could not give expression if he tried to those bitter thoughts of his David Carlyan her husband the husband of Elizabeth Templeton why the very birds knew how to mate more fitly he thought he is good and true but he is not worthy of her and David in his sad humility was saying the same thing of himself that evening Dinah received a note Amius Keston left it my dear Miss Templeton wrote Malcolm tomorrow I am leaving Staple Grove and I know you will understand the reason why I do not call to bid you good-bye and that you will not think me ungrateful after all the kindness and hospitality I have received from you your sister has often told me that you have no secrets from each other so you will know why it is better for me to return to town I have been to the vicarage this afternoon and have seen Carlyan with kindest regards to you and your sister yours very sincerely and gratefully Malcolm Herrick Elizabeth grew a little pale and bit her lip when Dinah showed her the note it has gone very deep she said to herself he said so and he was right it has gone very deep so Malcolm shook off the dust of Staple Grove and the gates of his city of dreams clanked behind him he must three his weird he said to himself as he sat down to his work in the gloomy room in Lincoln's Inn and in spite of heart sickness he worked on stolidly and well the evenings were his worst time when he went back to the empty house and sat on the balcony brooding over his troubles until the light faded and an eerie darkness crept over the river I suppose many men have to go through this sort of thing he would say to himself trying to philosophize in his old way but if anyone had seen his face what does our glorious will say men have died from time to time and worms have eaten them but not for love he says how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes and sometimes when the silence and solitude oppressed him terribly he would picture to himself the dreary future I shall never marry he would say there is only one woman in the whole world that I want and she will have nothing to do with me and my love and to no other woman shall ever be my wife would he be living on here with ameus and verity or would he go back to his mother and do his duty to her in her old age but with all his bitter ruminations he never let himself go again but battled manfully with his pain though as the days went on he grew paler and thinner and looked wretchedly ill Malcolm knew that his mother and Anna were back at Queensgate but it was quite ten days after he saw them he dreaded the ordeal of his mother's searching glances but at last one evening he plucked up his courage and went Anna, who saw him coming flew down the staircase to meet him she looked younger than ever and quite pretty with a soft pink color in her cheeks and her fair hair but her smile faded when she saw Malcolm's face oh Malcolm have you been ill she asked in an alarmed voice no dear not ill only a trifle seedy and out of sorts come let me look at you lady fair and he pinured her lightly good child he continued approvingly I shall tell the Mater you do her credit yes I am quite well and quite rested and oh Malcolm I am so glad to see you again then he smiled at her kindly and they went upstairs hand in hand Mrs. Herrick hearing their voices came out on the landing to greet her son her manner was more than usually affectionate my dear boy she said what an age it is since we saw you it is more than a fortnight since you even wrote when did you come back to town Malcolm had dreaded this question but he was compelled to answer it truthfully about ten days ago he returned coolly he knew his mother never tolerated excuses ten days and you have never been near us then her tone changed have you been ill Malcolm and she regarded him with undisguised anxiety Anna asked me the same question he replied impatiently I have only been out of sorts as I tell her rather off my feet and that kind of thing then Mrs. Herrick said no more on that subject but as they sat at dinner the keen grey eyes were often fixed on his face Malcolm did his part manfully he talked and questioned Anna about her doings he would not broke an instant silence Anna must tell him this and that about her water party and the picnic and those wonderful people who tried to force an acquaintance on them he would not let her off though more than once the girl looked wistfully at him why did he not tell them about Staple Grove he had not once mentioned the woodhouse and the Templetons was anything wrong with them he did not look himself and she had never before noticed those lines on his forehead he looked different somehow in these two months when he went on to the balcony to smoke his cigarette she followed and stood silently beside him until he turned and saw her anxious face well Anna Chen one of his pet names for her what is it little woman then her soft hands smoothed his coat sleeve Malcolm dear I don't like to ask but I am sure something has gone wrong with your friends at the woodhouse you have not once mentioned their name and there is such a sad, sad look in your eyes Malcolm took the girl's slender wrists and held them firmly Anna you are my dear little sister are you not oh yes in a shrinking voice for he was evidently waiting for an answer a faithful little sister who will not misunderstand her brother even if he doesn't confide in her Anna you are right and something is troubling me something that can never be set straight in this world but not even to you can I speak of it then she knew and in her innocent love she would feign have comforted him I am very sorry very very sorry was all she could find to say I am sorry too he returned gently and then he kissed her cheek and Anna stole away sadly to her own room if she shed tears they were for him and not for herself Anna's affection for her adopted brother was perfectly unconscious and selfless she never indulged in unwholesome introspection she never asked herself why her heart ached that night and a sense of loneliness and desolation stole over her Malcolm was unhappy that was her one thought things had gone wrong with him oh if she could only give him his heart's desire this wonderful unknown Elizabeth had she refused him someone else alas these questions were not to be answered she must play her part of a faithful little sister who must ask nothing refuse nothing Malcolm's ordeal was not yet over when he threw away his cigarette and went back to the drawing room he found his mother alone I thought Anna was with you he said apologetically or I would not have stayed out there so long I am afraid I must be going now maybe she returned quietly sit down a moment I want to speak to you Malcolm you are not yourself this evening something has gone wrong again Anna's very words he was silent why had his womankind such sharp eyes I am a bit flattened out he acknowledged but I shall be all right in a day or two but she passed this by almost contemptuously something is troubling you she continued I think you have grown thinner Malcolm oh I was always one of the lean kind he returned lightly but she seemed almost affronted at the little joke does that mean you do not intend to tell me your trouble and here her eyes grew very wistful you are my only son Malcolm she never called him her only child her adopted daughter was too dear to her is there anything that I can do to help you nothing nothing she kissed her hand gratefully for her motherly tone touched his heart mother dear forgive me if I cannot speak to you or Anna about this not even to poor little Anna no not even to her mother please do not misunderstand me or think me ungrateful but there are some things of which a man does not find it easy to speak then Mrs. Herrick said no more she must bide her time until then she could only pray for him and up in her pretty room Anna was praying her guileless innocent prayers and watering every petition with her tears how could she how could she she cried more than once how could any woman refuse my dear Malcolm can such prayers help yay a thousand times yay only he who reads human hearts knows the value of such prayers then the brother the lover has gone into the battle of life when his strength is failing and the Philistines are upon him it may be that the pure petition of some loving heart may be as an invisible shield to withstand the darts of the evil one or happily that arrow drawn at a venture which else had pierced between the joints of his armor I said little but I prayed much for you my son Mrs. Herrick once said to Malcolm after years when they understood each other better and he knew that she spoke the truth end of chapter 25 chapter 26 of Herb of Grace this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Rita Butros Herb of Grace this is a new shed to carry chapter 26 I see light now every man's task is his life preserver Emerson life is an opportunity for service Dr. Westcott it is in the silence that follows the storm and not in the silence before it that we should search for the budding flower Hindu proverb one gray October afternoon a fortnight later Malcolm was walking down Victoria street when he came face to face with Colonel Godfrey the Colonel who was full of business as usual seemed unfainedly pleased at the meeting this is a stroke of good luck he exclaimed in his hearty way you are just the man I want Herrick I was rather in a fix and was going to Victoria one of those boy messengers but you will do my business for me like a good fellow have you anything particular to do nothing special I was only going to the army and navy stores for some stationery then the Colonel looked still more delighted there I was sure of it my wife is in the tea room at this very minute expecting me to join her I should have been punctual to the minute only I came across Erskine of ours Erskine wants my advice about a mayor he is thinking of buying and he was so pressing that I felt I must send Catherine a message and I am to do the job for you alright Barcus is willing and then they both laughed at the familiar words for Colonel Godfrey loved and studied his dickens as some men study their classics tell her to be at the entrance at a quarter to six and I will be there well I must be off thank you for coming for me and the Colonel saluted Malcolm and marched off with his head in the air while more than one fashionable lounger turned round to look at the fine soldierly figure at this hour the refreshment rooms at the army and navy stores were generally crowded and for two or three minutes Malcolm searched them vainly before he discovered Mrs. Godfrey sitting alone at a table at the other end of the long room with the resignation when she saw him life is full of surprises she said with the bright vivid smile that always welcomed her favorite Alec promised to join me here and Malcolm sat down beside her and gave her the Colonel's message Mrs. Godfrey was evidently well used to these messages for she received it with becoming resignation I have ten minutes to spare she observed serenely so you had better order yourself some tea or news by the by how long have you been in town and when Malcolm told her nearly a month she seemed surprised I made up my mind you were still at stable Grove she replied though now I come to think of it there has certainly been no mention of you in Elizabeth's last two letters by the by turning to him with her customary quickness but Malcolm was just then studying the menu what do you think of this engagement I think it is for me to put the question to you he returned with admirable sang foie but one hand clenched itself so tightly under the table that the marks of the nails were in the palm then I may as well be frank and tell you that I would forbid the bands if I could Elizabeth ought to have married better she is far too fine a creature to throw herself away on David Carlyon he is a very good fellow observed Malcolm rather feebly it was hard lines that he should be expected to discuss this oh yes he is a good fellow a little contemptuously I remember I liked him very well when we were down at the wood house this spring there is nothing to say against the young man he is as good as gold and an excellent clergyman and he is gentlemanly too both the Carlyons are that but very decidedly he is not good enough for Elizabeth Malcolm agreed with every word but he dared not trust himself to say so he waited a moment and then said quietly it seems that Miss Templeton holds a different opinion she appears quite satisfied with her choice satisfied and here Mrs. Godfrey gave a little laugh to judge from her letters and we have been corresponding pretty freely lately one would think she was a girl in her teens she is absurdly happy even Dina says so and me I don't believe Dina is a bit better pleased than the rest of us what does the colonel think asked Malcolm feeling as though he ought to say something oh Alec always agrees with me though he expresses his ideas rather differently he took quite a fancy to Mr. Carlyon and they were always together last spring so of course he will not say much only he will have it that he is not big enough or strong enough for Elizabeth he will master him and make him look small that was what Alec said they are not to be married until Easter I hear and Dina wishes them to live at the woodhouse Malcolm had never felt anything like the sudden throb of pain that shot through him when Mrs. Godfrey said this he grew so pale that she rose hastily thinking the room was too hot for him shall we go downstairs she said kindly and to Malcolm agree to this he was just thinking that he would make some excuse to leave her went to his chagrin she led the way to the little waiting place by the entrance and seating herself back into him to follow her example there is something I ought to tell you she said rather seriously it is nice and quiet here and there is plenty of fresh air you are not looking the thing Mr. Herrick you are thinner, much thinner you have been working too hard oh no, I cannot lay that flattering unction to my soul he returned is this what you have to tell me for in that case I must remark that I have about a ton of stationery on my mind no, do be quiet a moment and her faultlessly gloved hand rested on his arm there is really something I want to say you know we saw Cedric when he was staying at Federcarron Malcolm's forced rigidity relaxed oh yes, Cedric told me that in one of his letters the Wallace's are nice people and in our cramped quarters the hall was rather refined Sir Richard and my husband took to each other and Lady Wallace and I followed suit that must have been a pleasant sort of arrangement observed Malcolm I liked the girls too they were so honestly frankly ugly and they were so good natured and so delightfully aware of their shortcomings that they were quite refreshing fancy Martha the eldest girl saying to me seriously Dick is the only one who takes after mother and father he is really nice looking you know but Ali and I are a couple of squat little toads now please don't laugh Mrs. Godfrey she went on for we are very fond of toads and they have such bright projecting eyes what on earth could I say for indeed poor Martha is almost grotesque looking and yet one can't help loving her I know I had a fit of laughing and both of them laughed with me Cedric always said they were good sort of girls Cedric oh he is their hero by the by Mr. Herrick did you know the Jacobi's were staying a mile and a half from Fettercairn ah I thought so as Malcolm started and frowned I was sure that bad boy never let any of you know were they there all the time yes they all traveled together Mr. Jacobi had taken the cottage they called Shepherd's Hut because at one time Sir Richard's Shepherd lived there but a room or two has been added and people take it for the fishing Alec rather thought of it himself only the rooms are so small and one of the chimneys smoked we were far more comfortable at the shooting lodge I suppose Mr. Jacobi was there too of course she was there in a significant tone and Cedric and Dick Wallace spent most of their time with them I believe they fished and wandered over the moors and when they were not at Shepherd's Hut the Jacobi's were at the hall Mr. Herrick I am afraid I am really afraid that that foolish boy Cedric is head over ears in love with the Leah Jacobi it looks rather shady acknowledged Malcolm who sings to himself then with a sudden change of tone did you tell his sisters I just mentioned the fact of their being there and then Elizabeth's engagement occupied my attention young Dick was half in love too Mr. Jacobi is really very handsome but as Alec says she ought to marry a man at least ten years older my dear lady she will never marry Cedric she is only fooling him a bit are you sure of that returned Mrs. Godfrey quietly you know I am rather observant and it struck me more than once that Mr. Jacobi was playing a double game he seemed at one time to take a great deal of notice of Dick Wallace and Cedric was rather shunted but one Sunday afternoon when Mr. Jacobi and Sir Richard had been having a long walk together he suddenly changed and Cedric was in favor again he would follow you returned Malcolm who certainly did not understand what she meant to convey to him Mrs. Godfrey arched her eyebrows in surprise my dear friend you are not generally so dense don't you see the poor man had never heard of the existence of Ralph Wallace and so he thought Master Dick was heir to the barren sea voila to oh I see light now Sir Richard who is immensely proud of his eldest son entertained his companion with graphic descriptions of Ralph Mrs. Ralph and all the Ralph Olive branches and of course Mr. Jacobi was immensely interested but he was rather cool to poor Dick that evening and now Cedric is in the ascent and again Malcolm reflected for a moment then he said in rather a puzzle tone of course I see my bearings now but all the same I am not out of the fog at the garden party at the woodhouse Jacobi was evidently fishing for information but he got precious little I can tell you but I remember he seemed to know far more than I did about the Templetons here Malcolm's voice unconsciously changed he even told me about the tin mine that had been discovered on a Cornish farm that belonged to them I wonder where he got his information observed Mrs. Godfrey thoughtfully but he was quite correct Mr. Templeton was not a rich man by any means he was just a country squire with a moderate income which his first wife brought him and of course her money was left to her daughters Cedric is absolutely dependent on his sisters oh Jacobi quite understands that so much the better well then three or four years ago this mine was discovered and that beggardly little farm virgin Elizabeth told me that their income was nearly doubled oh then Jacobi was right when he said they were rich and then Malcolm smiled bitterly as he remembered the two maiden ladies of uncertain age of course he was right Diana was talking to me on this very subject last May she said then that she felt that Elizabeth would marry and that in that case she would like her to have the woodhouse I'm telling you this in confidence Cedric will be my heir she continued but I do not wish him to know this at present it will be better for him to work and not eat the bread of idleness and of course I approved of this now Mr. Herrick I must not wait a moment longer why do you not come down to the manor house for a quiet Sunday but Malcolm excused himself he was busy he had been away so much he could not take any more holidays and so on Mrs. Godfrey looked as though she hardly believed him it would do you good she persisted looking at him very kindly this week we have a young American coming to us for two or three nights Hugh Rosseter the famous bear hunter I have often mentioned him to you Alec is devoted to him he says of all the acute Yankees he is the acutist and that he could see through any number of brick walls no he will not ask you to meet him bears are not in your line come the week after but Malcolm shook his head much as he valued his friends and dearly as he loved to be with them the manor house was the last place for him just then Elizabeth's name would be frequently mentioned and there would be constant references to the woodhouse and he fancied that at some unguarded moment he might betray himself at present Mrs. Godfrey had no suspicion she very naturally attributed his jaded looks to overwork and he had been able to mask his feelings except at that one dreadful moment when she spoke of the intended marriage the sudden sickening pain at his heart told him that he could not trust himself as he walked towards the station when he had done his business he pondered over all Mrs. Godfrey had told him was it possible that the sisters had known all these weeks that Cedric had been thrown into daily and hourly contact with Leah Jacobi and her brother was it likely that Cedric had told him that there was even such a place as Shepherd's hut perhaps he did not mean to willfully deceive them very probably he had his excuse ready Malcolm could almost hear his words I said nothing about the Jacobis because I knew your prejudice and I did not want to fluster you Mrs. Godfrey would spin her yarn and I left it to her it was not my fault if the Wallises took to them and that they were often up at Fettercann some such word Cedric would say when he saw his sisters what a blessing term had begun and he was back at Oxford he was safe from the Jacobis there they would be in town probably and then the fancy came into his head that he would find that out for himself before he went home his evening hours always hung heavily on his hands and a walk more or less would not hurt him that was the best of living with Bohemians no one questioned his movements or took in a miss if he were an hour or two late for meals he knew where the Jacobis lived Cedric had told him at 12 Gresham Gardens so he went on to Queens Road by train it was quite dark by that time but he would just pass by the house and see if it were lighted up his curiosity to know if they were there rather surprised himself when he came inside of number 12 the door opened and unwilling to be seen he stole into the portico of the next house which was dark and uninhabited and waited there for a moment he could hear Sol Jacobi's voice distinctly smooth and unctuous as usual and Leah's deep flute-like tones chiming in Sol Jacobi, a young man he guessed was answering her you will not be late on Monday I always like to be in good time for a new piece that is so like a woman interrupted her brother in a jeering voice don't attend to her old fellow we have seats in the stalls and you can please yourself you bet I always do that was the answer in a slightly nasal tone Tata Jacobi and then a muscular act of looking young man Malcolm had just a glimpse of a lean brown face and deeply set eyes and then the door closed another string to the Jacobi bow he thought as he followed him slowly I wonder how many he has and then as he walked back to the station he made up his mind that as soon as possible he would run down to Oxford and have a talk with Cedric I think I could manage it on Friday or Saturday he thought I should soon find out for myself if those people have done him any mischief Malcolm felt his conscience easier when he had planned this Mrs. Godfrey had really made him very anxious about the boy that evening he was less self-centered the conversation had roused him it gave him a dreary sort of satisfaction to know that there was still something that he could do for her he ate his supper with something of his old appetite and the next evening he went to Queensgate and made himself very pleasant to his mother and Anna I think I shall run down to Oxford tomorrow or the next day he said casually as he bade them good night and look up Cedric Templeton and he was still in the same mind when he woke the next morning he would go to Lincoln's inn and open his letters and see if he could get away that afternoon but as he entered his chambers Malachi handed him a telegram that had just come please come at once Hugh Rosseter here important news about Jacobi Godfrey End of Chapter 26 Chapter 27 of Herb of Grace this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Rita Butros Herb of Grace Rosa Nushet Carey Chapter 27 Hugh Rosseter spins his yarn Speak to me as to thy thinkings as thou dost ruminate and give thy worst of thoughts the worst of words a fellow the reward of one duty is the power to fulfill another George Elliot Malcolm read the telegram twice then he took up his timetable a quarter of an hour later he was in a handsome on his way to the station with all his impracticable fads and fancies he was not one to let the grass grow under his feet it was quite early, barely noon when he walked up the hill leading to the manor house nevertheless Mrs. Godfrey was evidently on the watch for him good man she said approvingly I knew you would not fail me and then she led him into the morning room special sanctum which opened into her husband's study Colonel Godfrey always called it his study though it may be doubted if he ever studied anything but his times, spectator and his three favorite authors Thackeray, Dickens and Kingsley but his wife was a great reader and there were few modern books that she could not discuss and criticize and now my dear lady what is wrong? asked Malcolm he spoke with the coolness of the well bred Englishman who refuses to give himself away in reality the telegram had made him very anxious his old friend would not have summoned him without a good reason but this was not apparent in his manner wrong she replied I think everything is wrong Mr. Rosseter has been making us so uncomfortable by his account Mr. Jacobi is a mere vulgar adventurer if not worse Mr. Rosseter knows him yes in a sort of way Mr. Jacobi is evidently the attraction there as he says himself he knocks up against lots of shady characters in his nomadic existence but you must question him yourself it was Alec who made me send you the telegram as Mr. Rosseter goes back to town this evening you were quite right to send for me returned Malcolm and then he followed her into a pleasant room in the bay window overlooking the front drive Malcolm gave a slight start of recognition when he saw the American it was not the first time he had seen the lean brown face and deep set eyes but he kept this to himself in spite of his nasal twang and a little surface roughness Hugh Rosseter was decidedly a gentleman the mere fact of his presence at the manor house was a sufficient proof of this very eccentric and unconventional being in age he was about 7 and 30 Malcolm who felt his position was somewhat delicate hardly knew how to begin the conversation but Colonel Godfrey soon put things on a comfortable footing look here Rosseter he said frankly we are all friends here and you may speak out Mr. Herrick is very much interested in this young fellow Cedric Templeton and acts as a sort of allied philosopher and friend to him he has always put his foot down as far as the Jacobis were concerned he and my wife were dead against them I never believed in the man observed Malcolm there was no ring of true metal about him you are about right there returned the American but I have come across worse fellows than Saul Jacoby he is a clever chap about as cute as they make him he is not too nice does not stick at trifles and the almighty dollar is his only deity do you mind telling my friend Herrick all you said to us asked Colonel Godfrey not in the least if you have a taste for chestnuts and you Rosseter laughed in a genial way I owe you a good turn Colonel but here Colonel Godfrey held up a warning hand well I suppose I must spare your blushes so I will take up my parable may I ask you one question first interrupted Malcolm how long have you known these people about six or seven years I should say was the answer Jacoby was a billiard marker in San Francisco when I first came across his trail and his sister had just married an Italian Count married? Leah Jacoby married what on earth do you mean that's so returned the American Cooley Count Antonio Ferrari that was the name? a Hori old sinner with a pedigree that nearly reached to Adam and as rich and miserly as Shylock he bid high for the girl I can tell you that but I believe our friend Saul had a tough job to get her to marry him he is a greater brute than I thought him returned Malcolm in a disgusted tone that poor girl then Hugh Rosseter looked grave it was a bit rough on her but Jacoby was in queer street and the old fellow gave him a helping hand Jacoby is an Italian Jew is he not? Mr. Rosseter nodded yes his father was an artist model in Rome a fine looking old fellow I believe and his mother sold flowers in the market someone told me she had been a model too and that they were rather a shady couple but peace to their mains they have joined the majority long ago and Saul Jacoby was a billiard marker yes till they turned him out and then he became valet to a young millionaire who had more dollars than brains I was shooting grizzlies in the Rockies then and did not come across him again until 18 months ago the millionaire was dead then he never had any constitution worth mentioning and he was evidently graduating for the idiot asylum you bet he would have taken a first class there for he had fits poor beggar so it was a mercy that he went where the good niggers go may I ask where you met Jacoby Mr. Rosseter? to be sure you may and I have no objection to answer it was the Hotel de Bellevue at Paris he was sitting opposite to me at table dot and his clothes were so new and glossy that I contemplated them with admiration not unmixed with awe he had a valuable ring on his finger and a superb orchid in his buttonhole and looked like a millionaire himself things had improved with him and the billiard marker and valet were safely shunted Mr. Jacoby was with him and here Hugh paused a moment and she was handsomer than ever Mr. Jacoby I suppose you mean the Contessa Ferrari? no Mr. Herrick the marriage had worked badly Count Antonio was an infernal brute excuse my strong language after a few months his behavior was so atrocious that the poor thing left him and fled to her brother for protection it would have been difficult nay impossible for her to obtain a divorce Count Antonio was a wily old rascal and he had too much influence at court there had been no proper settlements he had cheated them all through some people say he was mad that his father had been in a lunatic asylum but when he died he left all his money to charitable institutions when did he die? Hugh Rosseter hesitated a moment some time in September I do not know the exact date but he had been failing for months I know a cousin of his Count Orsino and he was asking me what had become of the woman he married but I did not give him much information but why does she call herself Miss Jacoby when she is really the Contessa Ferrari oh that is just her craze I believe she was a bit queer and unhinged when Jacoby got her back anyhow he was obliged to pacify her a bit she threw away her wedding ring and never again alluded to her wretched marriage and he is obliged to give in to her I believe Jacoby was properly frightened that time when I saw them in Paris Jacoby had just had a run of good luck it is my private opinion he gambles I once lost a good bit of money to him but a burnt child dreads the fire eh Colonel? no more baccarat for me and Miss Jacoby seemed in fairly good spirits? yes, hesitatingly but I fancied she had a fit of the blues sometimes as though Count Antonio's ghost haunted her oh by the by he was still in the land of the living then she and Jacoby seemed good friends though she was evidently afraid of him he told me one day when he had been rather too free with the burgundy that she was in his way that he wanted her to marry and that he intended marrying himself but he had promised her that her next husband should be young and an Englishman I remember that this greatly surprised me I understood that Count Antonio was living I observed but Jacoby only winked at me in a stupid sort of way oh we know all about that my boy but the gout will soon finish him and there is no hurry Leah is not thirty yet and she is handsomer than she ever was in her life and she filled himself another bumper Malcolm was silent Hugh Rosseter had apparently finished his recital for he took up his Mircham and polished it tenderly an action that was full of suggestion but Colonel Godfrey put his hand on his arm one moment my dear fellow he will go out and have a smoke before lunch in I can see Herrick has something else to ask you hurry up my boy or our friend here will lose patience I shall be sorry to tax Mr. Rosseter's patience replied Malcolm but I hope he will be good enough to satisfy me on one point is it your opinion turning to him that Saul Jacoby and his sister have any designs on my friend Cedric Templeton Hugh Rosseter opened his eyes rather widely at this well I suppose so at least Jacoby means her to marry him with a droll gesture this is getting a trifle hot you will be telling me next that you did not know they are engaged engaged my good sir excuse me but this is no joke Mrs. Godfrey's face grew anxious you never told us that Mr. Rosseter she said rather reproachfully I am not sure that I should have let the cat out of the bag now he replied with a laugh if Mr. Herrick had not asked such a direct question I am not one for meddling in other folks business but as this seems a grave matter and my friend Saul is evidently playing the dark horse I will tell you the little I know I shall be obliged to you if you will do so returned Malcolm and Hugh Rosseter nodded good humoredly well then I was dining at Gresham Gardens about a fortnight ago and Jacoby told me in the course of conversation that his sister had never been to Oxford and that they meant to run down for a day or two and that a friend of theirs had offered to be showmen and pilot them about the place Malcolm muttered something and Mr. Rosseter stopped and looked at him inquiringly but as he remained silent he resumed his narrative they put up at the rain law and had a good old time and I believe from a word Jacoby dropped that the job was done then I wanted to congratulate the lady but Jacoby said that would do later on his sister wished the engagement to be kept quiet she had not been a widow for many weeks and so on so of course I took my cue I am bound to say that Mr. Jacoby seemed in unusually good spirits and this is all you have to tell me asked Malcolm hurriedly well now I call that ungrateful Colonel with a droll look at his host here I have been talking myself dry for the last hour and I am infinitely obliged to you returned Malcolm trying to smile the question is what are we to do next there seems no time to be lost and then before anyone could speak he added I think it would be best for me to go down to Oxford at once and as they all agreed that this would be the wisest course to pursue Malcolm settled to go down by an early afternoon train they went down on the terrace after this and to you Rosseter entertained them with the description of his adventures in Colorado to which Malcolm listened somewhat absently but once when Colonel Godfrey had left them for a moment together the American broke off his story rather suddenly look here Mr. Herrick he said quickly I want to give you a straight tip if the youngster will not listen to reason and you find yourself in a fix just talk to the girl herself to miss Jacoby see? Prey was naturally surprised at this piece of advice yes to the fair Leah herself oh the girl is not so bad considering her antecedents and the way she has been educated think of her own flesh and blood selling her to that son of Belial old Beelzebub I call him no wonder she got a bit queer Jacoby knows how to manage her she is fond of him but she is afraid of him too you will have to get her alone remember that oh that's the difficulty besides I am not on visiting terms with the Jacobes my good sir what does that matter I am to give you a straight tip am I not well then to the best of my knowledge Miss Jacoby is in Kensington Gardens soon after ten every morning she takes the dog for an airing before her brother is up Saul is a lazy beast continued Hugh Rosseter and is seldom down before midday he takes his beauty sleep when the rest of the world is at work Malcolm thanked Mr. Rosseter cordially for this advice and then the Colonel came back to them but as they walked back to the house he stole more than one glance at the young American the thin brown face was both intelligent and sagacious and there was a keen searching look in the brown eyes why was this stranger so anxious to help him he wondered was it mere good humor or had he any private reason of his own for desiring to break off this engagement had Leah Jacoby's strange beauty ensnared him too he seemed to know her habits as though he were a constant visitor at Gresham Gardens but his cool and passive manner gave no clue to his feelings and at this stage of the proceedings Malcolm was not to be enlightened they parted in the friendliest manner good luck to you Mr. Herrick he said cordially don't forget my straight tip Mrs. Godfrey walked with Malcolm to the station she wanted a few last words she said and her mankind had had their innings there is one thing you must do if Cedric refuses to listen to reason she said very seriously to him you must go down to Staple Grove and tell his sisters everything I suppose I must he returned but he spoke under his breath for this new duty filled him with dismay he had shaken off the dust of Staple Grove as he believed forever and the thought that he must stand face to face with Elizabeth again turned him giddy I suppose in that case I must do it he went on his hesitating manner made Mrs. Godfrey look at him it is the only thing to be done she repeated firmly you must see them both and tell them all Hugh Rosseter said she will be very much upset but Elizabeth never loses her wits she will grasp everything in a minute Elizabeth has such a clear head and she never models things and then you can hold a friendly counsel of course I will do what I can to help them he replied quietly for he had been fully aware of Mrs. Godfrey's look but as he sat in the first class compartment he told himself with some irritation that his position was a cruel one it is Carlyon who ought to be the family advisor now he thought if I could only wash my hands of this business what a fool Cedric is to get himself into this mess good luck to think he has fallen among thieves for the second time the young jack and apes seem to have a natural affinity for sharpers and swindlers that infernal cad Jacobi and here Malcolm boiled with impotent wrath as he thought of that dastardly conspiracy to entrap a young and innocent girl I should like to horse whip him he went on how is one to keep one's hands off such a fellow he may be a dark horse as Rosseter says but he will have to reckon with me and Malcolm strained his shoulders with quite a martial air as though he were ready to fight to the death End of Chapter 27