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Won from the Waves, a novel by William H. G. Kingston |
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Chapter 19. The New Squire |
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_ CHAPTER NINETEEN. THE NEW SQUIRE Mr Reginald's funeral took place, and was conducted with the pomp usual in those days when a county magnate was carried to his final resting-place. Sir Ralph and his eldest son attended as chief mourners, and the heads of all the county families, from far and near, either came in person or sent representatives to pay their last tokens of respect to one who had been held in honour among them. The tenantry of the Texford property followed on horseback or foot. For many years so large a gathering had not been seen in that part of the country. Even the boatmen and fishermen from the neighbouring coast, among whom were Adam Halliburt and his sons, managed to get on shore in time to join the cortege, walking two and two, with the flags of their boats furled round the staff carried at the head of each party. There were several real mourners in the crowd. One of the most sincere probably was Mr Groocock. He had lost a kind and indulgent master, who had ever placed confidence in his honesty of purpose, and he had reason to doubt whether the new lord of Texford would treat him in the same way. As the assembly gathered round the family tomb of the Castletons, Mr Groocock, happening to look up, observed among the crowd, standing directly opposite where the chief mourners were collected, a dark bearded man, whose eye was fixed on Sir Ralph, his countenance exhibiting a peculiarly evil expression. "That man comes here for no good," thought the steward. "He had no love for Sir Reginald, and he is not one who would put himself out of his way for an object which could be of no advantage to him. Still he has not come without an object, of that I am very certain." The minister had uttered the last solemn words, "earth to earth, dust to dust, ashes to ashes," and the burial service was concluded. Those who felt disposed to do so moved down into the vault to take a last look at Sir Reginald's coffin ere the tomb was closed till another occupant might claim admission. Mr Groocock had been among the first to descend, and remained unwilling to quit the spot. As he stood there he saw the man he had observed among the crowd enter the vault just as the last of the other visitors had left. He did not appear to cast a glance even at Sir Reginald's coffin, but he was seen to stop before three others on the opposite side, not aware apparently that anyone else remained in the vault. The steward could not see his features, but the working of his shoulders showed that he was agitated by some strong feeling. A groan escaped his bosom. "I will have vengeance on your murderer," he muttered. Suddenly turning round as if by a powerful effort, he hastened out of the vault. "This is strange," thought the steward, "what can have made him say that." He was alone. "Good-bye, dear master," he said in a sobbing voice. "I shall not meet your like on earth, but I hope to see you in heaven when my time comes." Before he left the vault he turned to examine the coffins at which the stranger had been gazing. Above one of them was the name of "Ellen Castleton, aged 18." "I cannot make it out," muttered the worthy steward; "it's strange, passing strange," and his thoughts thus set to work, went back to years and events he had well-nigh forgotten. The funeral guests were dispersing with the exception of those of higher position, who had been invited by the young baronet to partake of a breakfast provided at the hall. As Adam and his party were making their way back to Hurlston, Miles Gaffin, mounted on the powerful horse he usually rode, galloped by apparently not observing the suspicious glances which were cast at him as he passed. "The miller looks as if the foul fiend had got possession of him," observed one of the men. "They say he has had dealings with him for long past." "Ay, ay, if it hadn't been for that he would have been in limbo before now for some of the things he has done in his time," observed another. "To my mind, mates, Satan lets them go on in their own way without ever showing himself to them; and as to helping them out of danger, depend on it he would leave them to perish soon enough if he had the power over them," observed Adam. "There is another more powerful than him who looks after human beings; and not one of us, good or bad, can leave this world without He thinks fit. Its only when He knows that the cup of their iniquities is full that He allows even the worst to perish." Sir Ralph remained some time at Texford after his uncle's death, giving directions for certain repairs and alterations which he wished to have executed immediately. Sir Ralph had summoned Mr Groocock to the library, a fine old wainscotted room, with bookcases against two of the walls, while over and on either side of the fireplace were hung family portraits. Sir Reginald was there, occupying the centre position, with those of his younger brother, Mr Herbert Castleton, with his wife and their two children, the long lost Ranald, and their daughter Ellen, hers executed when she had just reached her sixteenth summer, and Ranald when he was about nineteen. The features of Ellen fully bore out the description which Dame Halliburt had given of her beauty. Sir Ralph was seated with his legs crossed and his arm resting on the table when the steward entered. Sir Reginald would have desired him to sit down and welcomed him with a kind smile, and enquired after his health. Sir Ralph allowed the old man to stand before him while he issued his directions. The house was to be freshly painted, and the furniture for some of the best rooms sent down from London. "I purpose making Texford my summer and winter residence when my political duties do not require my attendance in London," he observed to Mr Groocock. Sir Ralph had sat in parliament for a close borough for the last three years, and he had let it be known that he intended to stand for the county at the next general election. "Hurry on with the work, Mr Groocock, for Lady Castleton wishes to come down as soon as possible." The steward promised to see that his master's orders were executed to the best of his ability. "But you see, Sir Ralph," he observed, "workmen are often dilatory, and we cannot always depend upon their doing what they promise." "They will do the work if you keep a watchful eye on them, Mr Groocock," answered the baronet. "I am not accustomed to have difficulties raised when I give orders. My late uncle has been somewhat over-indulgent, I suspect. You will get all the rent paid up and proceed against defaulters, according to the power the law affords you. I desire to have no injustice done to anyone, but I suspect that the rents of several of the tenants ought to be raised. You will give them notice that they must expect it." "I will act as you desire, Sir Ralph, but I venture to observe that it may be a hardship to some of them if we act according to the strict letter of the law. The tenant may, from unforeseen circumstances, have got into difficulties, or he may have expended a considerable amount on his farm, and thus increased its value, or he may have a large family, and find it a hard matter to make the two ends meet, or he himself, or his wife or children, may have been suffering from sickness. In such cases Sir Reginald was wont to give me discretionary power, and was always more inclined to lower than raise the rent of a farm." "I do not consider myself bound to be guided by what my uncle, an old bachelor without ambition or any other aim in life beyond enjoying existence, might have thought fit to do," answered Sir Ralph in an angry tone. "You will see that my directions are carried out." Mr Groocock bowed, and tried to suppress the sigh which he found rising from his bosom. "If Sir Ralph wishes to stand for the county he will find his object defeated by these proceedings. My dear old master would have grieved if he had known the changes likely to be made, but I must obey orders--I must obey orders," he thought to himself. Having received his final directions, Mr Groocock bowed and retired from the room. Sir Ralph went back to London. The steward felt relieved at his absence, though he had many unpleasant duties to perform. He spoke in consequence of the directions he had received to the tenants, and naturally tried to exonerate himself from the suspicion that he had advised the proceedings he was compelled to carry out, yet he gained more ill-will than he had ever before experienced since he became steward of Texford. The miller of Hurlston, whose rent had been, however, very small, was among the most indignant at receiving notice that it was to be raised considerably should he wish to renew the lease as he had the option of doing. He rode over to Texford to expostulate. "Very well, Mr Gaffin, you can give up the mill if you wish," observed the steward, who would have been glad to get rid of a person whose character he had reason to suspect was none of the best. "That may not be convenient, and it is very hard to have the rent raised on me after I have been working for years to bring a trade to the mill," answered the miller. "I'll not give it up, however, and you can tell your master that I'll pay the rent he demands." His eye kindled as he spoke, and a dark frown gathered on his brow, adding, in a low fierce mutter as he left the steward's room, "and with interest too, such as he does not expect." Mr Groocock, however, did not catch the words, and believing the matter settled was glad to get rid of his surly visitor. The house was at length got ready. Lady Castleton and her daughter Julia, with Madame De La Motte, who had now become rather her companion than governess, arrived, and were shortly after joined by Algernon. He had sometime before left college, where he had taken high honours, and was looked upon as a young man likely to rise in the world. He was, however, very delicate, and hard study had contributed to make him somewhat of an invalid. As his mother observed his spare figure and the hectic flush on his pale cheeks, she could not help at times fearing that he would be but little able to go through the career for which his ambitious father destined him. "He must get into parliament as soon as possible, and in a few years I hope we shall see him a Minister of State," Sir Ralph had observed to her as she was setting out from London. He himself, however, had little wish to commence the career his father proposed. "At present, at all events, let me enjoy Texford, and yours and Julia's society, mother, and when my father vacates his seat for Mumbleton it will be time enough for me to decide whether or not I wish to occupy it," he said to Lady Castleton when she spoke to him of his father's wish. When Sir Ralph arrived he did not appear to remark how ill his son looked; he was so occupied with politics and his various projects that he troubled himself about little else. When his wife tried to draw his attention to Algernon his only reply was-- "Yes, he reminds me very much of myself when I was of the same age that he is. I was slight and tall, and I suspect that my cheeks were paler than his, although I was accustomed to more exercise than he indulges in, and was fonder of riding and field sports. If he would take to hunting and shooting he would soon get round, and be well able to go through a political campaign in London." The time of mourning for the old baronet was over. Several guests had arrived, others had been invited, and whatever some of the tenants might have thought of the exactions, as they considered them, which the new baronet had imposed, there appeared every probability that Texford would become a far more lively and sociable mansion than it had been during the latter years of Sir Reginald's life. _ |
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