Kirkland Revels (15 page)

” Of course it’s Catherine,” said Aunt Sarah indignantly. ” We’re good friends. She so liked my tapestry.”

” I expect she would like to rest now.”

” We must not tire her,” agreed Sir Matthew.

Ruth nodded towards Aunt Sarah significantly, and Sir Matthew took his sister’s arm.

” We shall be able to talk to her when she is rested,” he said; and, smiling once more at me, he led his sister away.

Ruth sighed as the door shut on them. ” I’m afraid she’s becoming rather a trial. Her memory’s so up and down. Sometimes she’ll reel off all the dates of our births without an effort. It seems absurd that she can’t remember to which of us she’s talking.”

” I suppose that happens when one grows older.”

” I hope I escape that. There’s a saying, Those whom the gods love die young.” Sometimes I think it’s true. “

I immediately thought of Gabriel. Was he loved by the gods? I did not think so.

” Please don’t talk of dying,” I said.

” I’m sorry. How silly of me. That tea should be along soon. I expect you need it, don’t you?”

” It will be refreshing.”

She went to the bowl of roses and began rearranging them.

” They remind me …” I began; and she looked at me interrogatively, so I had to go on. “… of those you put in the room when I first arrived here.”

” Oh … I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me I suppose.” I guessed she was thinking that they would have to be careful in future, that when a tragedy had happened it was necessary to be very tactful to avoid bringing back memories.

One of the maids came in with the tea; she bobbed a curtsy to me and I said, ” Good afternoon, Mary Jane

Mary-Jane set the tea down on a table by the window and I thanked her.

” Mary-Jane will be your personal maid,” Ruth said. ” She will answer your bell.”

I was pleased. Mary-Jane was a rather tall, fresh-faced young woman who I was sure would be honest and conscientious. Because I showed my pleasure she allowed me to see hers, and I believed I had a friend in the house.

Ruth went over to the tray. ” She has brought two cups,” she said. “

Shall I join you?” 94 “Please do.”

” Then you sit down, and I’ll bring yours to you.”

I took the chair near the bed because I did not wish ai this moment, to look out of the window. I kept thinking of Gabriel and telling myself that anyone looking out of this window at the time of his accident would have seen him falling.

Ruth handed me the cup of tea; then she brought a foot stool and made me rest my feet.

” We’re going to watch over you,” she said, ” all of us.”

But I thought how cold her eyes were and that the note of friendship in her voice seemed forced.

Here I gol I thought. No sooner do I come to this house than my fancies grow.

“We are going to watch over you.” lt could be ambiguous.

She went to the table by the window and sat down there. She talked of what had been happening during my absence. Sir Matthew had recovered from his attack, but he was getting too old for attacks nowadays, and Deverel Smith was worried. ” Last week,” she said, ” he stayed all night. He’s so good. He gives himself to his patients quite selflessly. There was no need for him to stay. We could have called him. But tie insisted.”

” Some doctors are very noble,” I agreed.

” Poor Deverel, I don’t think his home life is very happy.”

” Really? I know little about his family.”

” Damaris is the only child. Mrs. Smith must be a great trial to him.

She is supposed to be an invalid. I would call tier a hypochondriac.

I imagine she indulges in illness as a way of attracting attention to herself. “

” Does she never go out?”

” Rarely. She is supposed to be too ill. I imagine that the doctor has made his profession his whole life because of the state of his domestic affairs. Of course he dotes on Damaris.”

” She is so very beautiful. Is her mother like her?”

” There is a resemblance, but Muriel was never half as beautiful as her daughter.”

” If she were half as beautiful she would be extremely attractive.”

“Yes, indeed. I’m so sorry for Damaris. I planned to give a ball for her, and for Luke too. But of course now that we are in mourning that is out of the question … for this year at least.

” She is fortunate to have such a good friend in you.” ^ ” We are fortunate to have such a good doctor. Would you care for more tea?”

” No, thank you. I have had enough.”

” I expect you want to unpack. Would you care for me to send Mary-Jane along to help you?”

I hesitated. Then I said I would; and she went out and shortly afterwards Mary-Jane appeared with another of the maids who took the tea-tray away, leaving Mary-Jane with me.

I watched Mary-Jane kneeling by my trunk taking out my clothes.

” I shall have to buy some new clothes soon,” I said. ” These will not fit me.”

Mary-Jane smiled. ” Yes, madam,” she said.

She was about my height and it occurred to me that she might like some of my clothes when I grew too large for them. I would give them to her.

” You look pleased, Mary Jane

” It’s t’news, madam. And I’m right glad to see you back.”

There was no doubt of her sincerity, and it made me happy.

The house was beginning to have an odd effect on me;

I had only been in it an hour or so and I was already looking round for friends . and enemies.

” It’ll be a long time to wait,” I said.

” Yes, madam. My sister’s expecting. Hers will be born in five months’ time. We’re hoping for a boy … though if it’s a girl, reckon we won’t fret about that.”

” Your sister, Mary-Jane? So you have a family.”

” Oh yes, madam. Etty’s husband works up at Kelly Grange, and they’ve a fine cottage on testate. At t’lodge, madam, and all their firewood free. It’s her first…. I get down to see her when I can.”

“I’m sure you do. You must let me know how she gets on. We have something in common, Mary Jane

She smiled. ” Time was, our Etty got terrible scared. The first .. that’s what it is. But they both was scared. Jim as well. First she’s scared she’s going to die; then she wonders whether the baby’s going to be a wreck ling Yes, scared our Ett was, that when t’baby was born it ‘ud be short of something. But Jim asked the doctor to see her and he put her right. He was wonderful to her. He’s a wonderful man .

the doctor. “

” Dr. Smith?”

” Oh … aye. He’s kind. Don’t care nowt whether you be gentry or poor folk. He said: Don’t you fret. Mrs. Hard- castle—baby won’t be a wreck ling or now’t like it. There’s every sign it’ll be bonny.”

That set our Ett to rights. “

” We are fortunate,” I said, ” to have such a good doctor to look after us.”

She smiled. And I felt happier at the sight of her, shaking out my clothes and hanging them in the wardrobe. With her not uncomely person and her bright Yorkshire good sense, she brought normality into the room.

After dinner that first evening we were all assembled in one of the sitting-rooms on the first floor—not far from my own room—when Dr.

Smith was announced.

” Bring him up,” said Ruth; and as the door closed on the servant, she said to me: ” He comes at all times. He’s so attentive.”

” He fusses too much,” grumbled Sir Matthew. ” I’m all right now.”

As Dr. Smith came into the room he was, I was sure, looking for me.

” I’m so pleased to see you, Mrs. Rockwell,” he said.

“You know the reason why she’s returned, eh?” Sir Matthew asked.

” Indeed I do. I prophesy that by the end of the week there won’t be one person in the village who doesn’t know it. I can assure you that it makes me happy … very happy.”

” You are not alone in that,” said Sir Matthew.

“We are going through the nursery together,” announced Sarah like a young child who had been promised a special treat.

” In fact,” put in Luke—and was his voice mildly sardonic? “—we are preparing to join in the chorus while Catherine sings the Magnificat.”

There was a slightly shocked silence at this irreverence, but Dr.

Smith said quickly: “We must take great care of Mrs. Rockwell.”

” We are all determined to do that,” Ruth assured him.

The doctor came over to me and took my hand briefly in his. There was a certain magnetism about this man, of which I think I had been aware before, but which now struck me forcibly. He was outstandingly handsome in his dark way, and I knew that he was capable of deep feeling. I guessed that, disappointed in his marriage as he must be, he sublimated his desires for a wife’s affection in his devotion to his patients,. “97’d f^Si 1 noticed that Sir Matthew, although complaining of his over’^liiJ zealousness, was nevertheless pleased to see him, and it was clear to me that the old man felt comforted by his presence. I remembered what Mary-Jane had said of his kindness to her sister. The people of this neighbourhood perhaps should thank that unsatisfactory wife of his since his devotion to their needs was the stronger because of her.

” I know you are so fond of riding,” he said. ” but I don’t think I should indulge in it too frequently … not after this month at any rate.”

” I won’t,” I promised.

” You’ll be a good and sensible young lady, I am sure of Aat.”

” Have you been visiting Worstwhistle to-day?” asked Ruth ” I have,” said the doctor.

“And it has depressed you. That place always does.” Ruth turned to me.

” Dr. Smith gives his services free, not only to patients who cannot afford to pay, but to this … hospital.”

” Oh come,” cried the doctor, laughing, ” don’t make a saint of me.

Someone has to look in on those people now and then . and don’t forget if I have poor patients here I also have rich ones. I fleece the rich to help the poor. “

” A regular Robin Hood,” said Luke.

Dr. Smith turned to Sir Matthew.

“Well, sir,” he said. ” I’m going to have a look at you today.”

“You think it’s necessary?”

” I think that since I am here …”

” Very well,” said Sir Matthew rather testily, ” but first of all you must join us in a toast. I’m going to have some of my best champagne brought up from the cellars. Luke, ring the bell.”

Luke did so and Sir Matthew gave the order.

The wine was brought, the glasses filled.

Sir Matthew filled his glass and cried: ” To my grandson.” He put his arm about me while we all drank.

Very soon after that the doctor went with Sir Matthew to his room and I went to mine. Mary-Jane, determined to be a real lady’s maid, was turning down the bed for me.

” Thank you, Mary Jane

” Is there anything else you’ll be wanting, madam?”

I did not think there was, so I said good night to her, but as she went to the door I called: ” By the way, Mary Jane do you know a place called Worstwhistle?” 98 She stopped short and stared at me.

“Why, yes, madam. It’s some ten miles off on the way 10 Harrogate.”

“What sort of place is it, Mary Jane

” It’s the place where mad people go.”

” Oh, I see. Good night, Mary Jane

The next morning I was awakened by Mary-Jane, who came in to draw the curtains and bring my hot water.

It was comforting to wake up and see her pleasant face. She was, looking a little shocked because there had been no need to draw the curtains as I had pulled them back before getting into bed; and I had opened the window. Mary Jane shared the belief that night air was ” dangerous.”

I told her that I always slept with my window open, except in the depth of winter; and I was sure that she had decided I should need a great deal of looking after.

I took my bath in the powder-room and went along to the first-floor dining-room for breakfast. I felt quite hungry. Two mouths to feed now, I reminded myself, as I took eggs, bacon and devilled kidneys from the chafing dish on the sideboard.

I knew the routine. Breakfast was taken between eight and nine, and one helped oneself.

I rang for coffee and when it was brought to me I was joined by Luke.

Later Ruth appeared and solicitously asked if I had had a good night and liked my room.

Had I any plans for the day? they wanted to know. Luke was going to Ripon and would be delighted to buy anything I needed. I thanked him and told him that I should need things, but I had not yet decided what.

“There’s plenty of time before the happy event,” he said; and his mother murmured his name indulgently, because she thought it was somewhat indelicate to refer to the birth of my child. I did not mind. It was something I wanted to think oi continually.

I told them that I would take a little walk during the morning; I was longing to have a look at the Abbey again.