The Cottage in the Woods (29 page)

“I would be happy to attend the children’s lessons if you wish,” I responded, “but you give me far too much credit. I have done nothing to merit such praise.”

“Really, I’m sure your helpful hints to me made all the difference.”

I smiled and steered the conversation toward “goodbye,” while Reverend Wright proffered his hope that he would see me at Reverend Snover’s regular Saturday-night soiree. I had not attended one of the Snovers’ gatherings since my return from home, in light of the fact that Mr. Bentley had always accompanied me to and from the vicarage each Saturday night, and that, even if I knew that he were willing, I felt unequal to spending an evening in his company. I brushed off Reverend Wright with an excuse, and offered to see him to the door. As we walked,
we conversed in a desultory way about each of the youngsters, while I privately thought what an unusual bear he was: undeniably handsome except for the thick glasses magnifying his eyes to twice their normal size; good-hearted, but awkward and pedantic; and though conspicuously versed in knowledge gleaned from books, quite out to sea in ordinary relationships. I wondered how he might be improved by Reverend Snover’s care and guidance.

It was later that same day, just as Teddy, Goldilocks, and I were coming in from outdoors, that the summons came from belowstairs for the three of us to join Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn in the front parlor. Mystified, I gave a cursory wash to the youngsters’ faces, a brushing to Goldilocks’s hair, and and a straightening to their clothes. As we approached the room, a stranger’s raised voice could be heard within, which quieted suddenly as the little ones entered behind me, hand in paw. Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn were seated together on the divan, and standing directly in front of them was Chief Constable Murdley, with his mastiff-like jowls.

“Children,” Mr. Vaughn said, “this gentleman is Chief Constable Murdley, from the police.” Goldilocks immediately hid behind my skirts, but at my urging, managed an abbreviated curtsy and then ran to Mrs. Vaughn and climbed up on her lap. Teddy gave a little bow, then took his place next to his father. I stood off to one side, sensing the strained atmosphere, and wondered what Constable Murdley could possibly want with the children. He was stiff and imposing, and I hoped that he would not frighten them as much as he did me.

Mr. Vaughn calmly turned to Goldilocks and posed a question. “Constable Murdley wishes to ascertain whether you,
Goldilocks, are being well taken care of here. What is your opinion, young lady? Can you tell us yes or no?”

Goldilocks nodded vigorously and put her arms around Mrs. Vaughn’s neck.

“As you can see, Officer, she has come a long way since we found her here, ragged, half starved, wild as a Tasmanian devil. Now she is well fed, well clothed, civilized, and happy. Furthermore, she is being educated in all appropriate subjects, including religious instruction. Most importantly, she has formed bonds with the family; obviously, she is much attached to my wife, and she and Teddy are playmates, schoolmates, and fast friends.”

“But no
human
playmates? None of her own kind?” the constable interjected.

Mr. Vaughn’s brow lowered ominously, and for a moment I thought he would not answer. “No,” he finally said. “Mrs. Van Winkle, the woman who minds her, is human. Until recently the child has been too easily frightened to introduce new people to her.” Turning to me, he inquired, “Have you anything to add, Miss Brown?”

I wanted to shrink from the constable’s attention, but I sensed how important it was to speak up on the child’s behalf. “She is applying herself in school. She has nearly caught up with Teddy in a very short time. They work well together, and spur each other on.”

“Well?” the constable snorted. “How can you tell that when she doesn’t even speak? What about that? The girl doesn’t even speak!”

Mrs. Vaughn responded with elaborate courtesy. “Sir, we have had a specialist in to examine her. It was his opinion that
the child suffered some trauma before she came here, which caused her to lose her voice. No one can tell if it will return.”

“As for the schoolwork,” I added, trying to keep the resentment out of my voice, “it only takes a little ingenuity to test her comprehension. For example, I might write ‘Stand up’ or other instructions on the blackboard. If she follows the instructions, then I know she reads and comprehends.”

“If you please,” added Mrs. Vaughn, “now that you’ve seen the child, I’d prefer to send the little ones from the room rather than speak in front of them. You can see, can you not, that she is in good health and spirits and well cared for?”

Constable Murdley emitted a deep “Harrumph!” then added, “She needs to be with her own kind!
That’s
the truth of the matter.”

I felt as if I’d been slapped. With a few callous words he had dismissed all we’d done for Goldilocks! The Vaughns too looked affronted and appalled as the tension mounted.

Mrs. Vaughn ushered Teddy and Goldilocks to the door, requesting that Teddy lead her back up to the schoolroom, then she turned on the constable. “Her own kind left her starving and ragged, stealing for a living. I see no special virtue in that.”

“She belongs to someone, begad!” he expostulated. “You can’t deny it!”

Mr. Vaughn stood, his wrath like a force of nature. Pulling himself up to his full height, he looked down into the constable’s face and said tightly, “I know my rights, sir. We advertised in all the local papers, and no one’s claimed her. She’s had great care here, and I have the receipts to show for it, so unless you have a candidate with actual proof of parentage, she belongs to
us
!”

The constable harrumphed again, but he stepped back a
pace and slid a finger inside his collar as if it were suddenly too tight. His jowls trembled as he sought for words. “Well, ahem,” he spluttered. “Ahem, we may not have the parent, I grant you, but you can bet there’s one out there somewhere. I wouldn’t get too used to this unnatural arrangement if I were you, that’s all. No sense in getting attached to what don’t belong to you.”

“Thank you, Officer,” Mrs. Vaughn interrupted, playing the role of peacemaker. “We’ll take your words into consideration. Now, will you have some tea?”

“No, thank you, ma’am. I’ve said my piece, and I’ll just be on my way. But this isn’t over, I can tell you!”

Mrs. Vaughn called for Fairchild to see the constable to the door while Mr. Vaughn visibly restrained himself from saying more. Fairchild answered the call with such alacrity that he must have been standing directly behind the door, and I caught a glimpse of Betsy, too, so that I wondered if they had been listening at the keyhole. I speculated on how long it would take for the details of today’s interview to make the rounds of the staff.

No sooner had the constable departed than Mr. Vaughn erupted. “The officious, impertinent blackguard! The cur! If he’s so concerned about children, why isn’t he out rounding up those village brats who insist on trespassing on my land? Why isn’t he talking to
their
parents about
their
welfare? I’ll tell you why! He simply dismisses our household as an ‘unnatural arrangement’! ‘Unnatural arrangement,’ is it? As if kindness were unnatural! As if benevolence and affection were unnatural! If that isn’t the Anthropological Society for you! He’s one of their grand high chiefs, and so is Judge Slugby! And Babcock is the
grand high chief of them all! Ever since he took over the
Town Crier
, he’s been spreading his poison, and now it’s come to my own doorstep! They’ve somehow gotten word that the girl’s here, and they’re going to make as much trouble as they can, mark my words. Of all the venomous, detestable snakes!”

Mrs. Vaughn cleared her throat and, catching his glance, nodded over to me. Mr. Vaughn stopped short and turned to me.

“Oh. Pardon me, Miss Brown. I’m afraid my temper has gotten the better of me.” Then he turned back to Mrs. Vaughn, and continued: “The black-hearted swine! If he thinks we’re going to be intimidated by him throwing his official weight around, he’s sadly mistaken! I’m sending for my solicitor—I’ll hire a whole team of solicitors if necessary! As if what I do in my own home is any business of the likes of him!”

“Mr. Vaughn, dear,” interrupted Mrs. Vaughn, “couldn’t we make Goldilocks our ward? Would that put everything right?”

He looked at her as if a fairy had just materialized in front of him. “Why, Mrs. Vaughn,” he exclaimed, “that might just settle the matter! She
is
our ward, is she not? If we’re not her guardians, I don’t know who is! Won’t
that
set the society on end! Why, I’ll get Mr. Bentley moving on this right away!” He hurried toward the door, then stopped and turned to us, saying, “Oh. Please excuse me, ladies,” and made his exit. Fairchild, apparently having heard him coming, opened the parlor door and stood well aside, as if making room for a passing whirlwind.

Mrs. Vaughn gripped my arm for support and put her paw on her heart. “Oh, they mustn’t take her away!” she breathed. “Suppose she is claimed by some terrible people? People who will
neglect and abuse her the way she was before?” She pulled out a lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. “Poor little thing! Such an appealing child she’s become. And Teddy. Just think of Teddy if she is taken away. Oh, calamity! Whatever would we do without her?”

The
Plain Truth
 

I returned to the schoolroom, only to find it empty. On a hunch, I went down the hall, looked into the nursery, and discovered Teddy, Nurse, and Goldilocks kneeling next to the open trapdoor to the laundry chute, heads cocked to one side. Curiosity drawing me closer, I soon realized that they were listening to voices from down below, perhaps from the kitchen. I recognized Betsy’s voice, clear as a bell, resounding up the chute, giving a somewhat exaggerated account of the confrontation with Constable Murdley in the parlor.

“And then the constable, ’e says, ‘She belongs to
someone
, begad!’ An’ the master, ’e lit right into ’im. ‘I know my rights,’ ’e roars—”

“Teddy! Goldilocks! Come away from there,” I called, at the same time marveling that it had taken less than five minutes for the story to spread to the kitchen, and now to the nursery. Teddy and Goldilocks looked up, startled, while Nurse hissed, “Shush!” and listened on. Though I abhorred her eavesdropping, I could
think of nothing to do about it. I merely took the children into the schoolroom and tried to explain what had happened in terms they could understand. Teddy asked me, wide-eyed, “Did Papa fight the constable? Did he beat him up?”

“No, Teddy, that is not how civilized people solve their problems.”

“But is the constable going to take Goldilocks away?”

“Not if your mother and father can help it,” I answered. Since Teddy had implicit belief in the omnipotence of his mama and papa, this answer satisfied him.

Meanwhile, Goldilocks, her pale face taut with worry, fastened herself to Teddy’s paw. I knelt down to the child’s level and looked her in the eye, saying, “Mr. Vaughn is already making plans for how to keep you safely here, dear, and he’ll have many others helping him. You must try not to worry.”

“My papa will fix it!” Teddy added. “He can fix anything!” Somewhat reassured, Goldilocks still kept her grip on Teddy’s paw.

I suffered a sudden pang as I was reminded of my own papa, and the faith I once had in his ability to “fix anything.” Longing to feel that he was still watching over me, I would reflexively move my paw to the spot over my heart where my locket used to lie. Such a little thing it was, but so precious to me! I had even tried questioning Goldilocks about it, but my inquiry was met with only a blank stare. There was no use in getting angry at the child, but I wondered for the hundredth time if I would ever see my locket again. Putting away the thought, I turned my attention back to the children, and spent the rest of the afternoon with them out of doors in the snow, happily forgetting about the scene with Constable Murdley.

At teatime, I returned to my room determined to try one more time to elicit from the magic mirror some clue to the whereabouts of my locket, for I was sure that he knew more than his obscure riddle had revealed to me. Though all my dealings with him before had ended in frustration, I had now worked myself up into an angry heat, and was bent on having my own way. Accordingly, I rapped on the surface and urgently called to him. “Mirror! Mirror! Wake up!”

The mirror’s carnival mask appeared dimly, and groaned, “Please. I have a headache.”

“Then answer me quickly, and I’ll leave you alone. Where is my locket? No hints this time. I want the facts.”

“Oh, very well. You’ve caught me. The locket is inside the jade vase in the drawing room.”

“Really? Really, Mirror, are you telling me the truth? Don’t toy with me now!”

“The locket is inside the jade vase in the drawing room. Say it with me: The locket is inside the jade vase in the drawing room.”

“You really mean it? All this time, the locket has been inside the jade vase in the drawing room?”

“Yes, the locket is inside the jade vase in the drawing room. Come on, say it! The locket is inside the jade vase in the drawing room. The locket is inside the jade vase in the drawing room. Doesn’t that sound true?”