"He wants imagination," said Mr Willet, very slowly, and after a long silence; "that"s what he wants. I"ve tried to instil it into him, many and many"s the time; but"--John added this in confidence-- "he an"t made for it; that"s the fact."
To record that Mr Chester smiled at John"s remark would be little to the purpose, for he preserved the same conciliatory and pleasant look at all times. He drew his chair nearer to the fire though, as a kind of hint that he would prefer to be alone, and John, having no reasonable excuse for remaining, left him to himself.
Very thoughtful old John Willet was, while the dinner was preparing; and if his brain were ever less clear at one time than another, it is but reasonable to suppose that he addled it in no slight degree by shaking his head so much that day. That Mr Chester, between whom and Mr Haredale, it was notorious to all the neighbourhood, a deep and bitter animosity existed, should come down there for the sole purpose, as it seemed, of seeing him, and should choose the Maypole for their place of meeting, and should send to him express, were stumbling blocks John could not overcome. The only resource he had, was to consult the boiler, and wait impatiently for Barnaby"s return.
But Barnaby delayed beyond all precedent. The visitor"s dinner was served, removed, his wine was set, the fire replenished, the hearth clean swept; the light waned without, it grew dusk, became quite dark, and still no Barnaby appeared. Yet, though John Willet was full of wonder and misgiving, his guest sat cross-legged in the easy-chair, to all appearance as little ruffled in his thoughts as in his dress--the same calm, easy, cool gentleman, without a care or thought beyond his golden toothpick.
"Barnaby"s late," John ventured to observe, as he placed a pair of tarnished candlesticks, some three feet high, upon the table, and snuffed the lights they held.
"He is rather so," replied the guest, sipping his wine. "He will not be much longer, I dare say."
John coughed and raked the fire together.
"As your roads bear no very good character, if I may judge from my son"s mishap, though," said Mr Chester, "and as I have no fancy to be knocked on the head--which is not only disconcerting at the moment, but places one, besides, in a ridiculous position with respect to the people who chance to pick one up--I shall stop here to-night. I think you said you had a bed to spare."
"Such a bed, sir," returned John Willet; "ay, such a bed as few, even of the gentry"s houses, own. A fixter here, sir. I"ve heard say that bedstead is nigh two hundred years of age. Your n.o.ble son--a fine young gentleman--slept in it last, sir, half a year ago."
"Upon my life, a recommendation!" said the guest, shrugging his shoulders and wheeling his chair nearer to the fire. "See that it be well aired, Mr Willet, and let a blazing fire be lighted there at once. This house is something damp and chilly."
John raked the f.a.ggots up again, more from habit than presence of mind, or any reference to this remark, and was about to withdraw, when a bounding step was heard upon the stair, and Barnaby came panting in.
"He"ll have his foot in the stirrup in an hour"s time," he cried, advancing. "He has been riding hard all day--has just come home-- but will be in the saddle again as soon as he has eat and drank, to meet his loving friend."
"Was that his message?" asked the visitor, looking up, but without the smallest discomposure--or at least without the show of any.
"All but the last words," Barnaby rejoined. "He meant those. I saw that, in his face."
"This for your pains," said the other, putting money in his hand, and glancing at him steadfastly." This for your pains, sharp Barnaby."
"For Grip, and me, and Hugh, to share among us," he rejoined, putting it up, and nodding, as he counted it on his fingers. "Grip one, me two, Hugh three; the dog, the goat, the cats--well, we shall spend it pretty soon, I warn you. Stay.--Look. Do you wise men see nothing there, now?"
He bent eagerly down on one knee, and gazed intently at the smoke, which was rolling up the chimney in a thick black cloud. John Willet, who appeared to consider himself particularly and chiefly referred to under the term wise men, looked that way likewise, and with great solidity of feature.
"Now, where do they go to, when they spring so fast up there," asked Barnaby; "eh? Why do they tread so closely on each other"s heels, and why are they always in a hurry--which is what you blame me for, when I only take pattern by these busy folk about me? More of "em! catching to each other"s skirts; and as fast as they go, others come! What a merry dance it is! I would that Grip and I could frisk like that!"
"What has he in that basket at his back?" asked the guest after a few moments, during which Barnaby was still bending down to look higher up the chimney, and earnestly watching the smoke.
"In this?" he answered, jumping up, before John Willet could reply-- shaking it as he spoke, and stooping his head to listen. "In this! What is there here? Tell him!"
"A devil, a devil, a devil!" cried a hoa.r.s.e voice.
"Here"s money!" said Barnaby, c.h.i.n.king it in his hand, "money for a treat, Grip!"
"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" replied the raven, "keep up your spirits. Never say die. Bow, wow, wow!"
Mr Willet, who appeared to entertain strong doubts whether a customer in a laced coat and fine linen could be supposed to have any acquaintance even with the existence of such unpolite gentry as the bird claimed to belong to, took Barnaby off at this juncture, with the view of preventing any other improper declarations, and quitted the room with his very best bow.
Chapter 11.
There was great news that night for the regular Maypole customers, to each of whom, as he straggled in to occupy his allotted seat in the chimney-corner, John, with a most impressive slowness of delivery, and in an apoplectic whisper, communicated the fact that Mr Chester was alone in the large room upstairs, and was waiting the arrival of Mr Geoffrey Haredale, to whom he had sent a letter (doubtless of a threatening nature) by the hands of Barnaby, then and there present.
For a little knot of smokers and solemn gossips, who had seldom any new topics of discussion, this was a perfect G.o.dsend. Here was a good, dark-looking mystery progressing under that very roof-- brought home to the fireside, as it were, and enjoyable without the smallest pains or trouble. It is extraordinary what a zest and relish it gave to the drink, and how it heightened the flavour of the tobacco. Every man smoked his pipe with a face of grave and serious delight, and looked at his neighbour with a sort of quiet congratulation. Nay, it was felt to be such a holiday and special night, that, on the motion of little Solomon Daisy, every man (including John himself) put down his sixpence for a can of flip, which grateful beverage was brewed with all despatch, and set down in the midst of them on the brick floor; both that it might simmer and stew before the fire, and that its fragrant steam, rising up among them, and mixing with the wreaths of vapour from their pipes, might shroud them in a delicious atmosphere of their own, and shut out all the world. The very furniture of the room seemed to mellow and deepen in its tone; the ceiling and walls looked blacker and more highly polished, the curtains of a ruddier red; the fire burnt clear and high, and the crickets in the hearthstone chirped with a more than wonted satisfaction.
There were present two, however, who showed but little interest in the general contentment. Of these, one was Barnaby himself, who slept, or, to avoid being beset with questions, feigned to sleep, in the chimney-corner; the other, Hugh, who, sleeping too, lay stretched upon the bench on the opposite side, in the full glare of the blazing fire.
The light that fell upon this slumbering form, showed it in all its muscular and handsome proportions. It was that of a young man, of a hale athletic figure, and a giant"s strength, whose sunburnt face and swarthy throat, overgrown with jet black hair, might have served a painter for a model. Loosely attired, in the coa.r.s.est and roughest garb, with sc.r.a.ps of straw and hay--his usual bed-- clinging here and there, and mingling with his uncombed locks, he had fallen asleep in a posture as careless as his dress. The negligence and disorder of the whole man, with something fierce and sullen in his features, gave him a picturesque appearance, that attracted the regards even of the Maypole customers who knew him well, and caused Long Parkes to say that Hugh looked more like a poaching rascal to-night than ever he had seen him yet.
"He"s waiting here, I suppose," said Solomon, "to take Mr Haredale"s horse."
"That"s it, sir," replied John Willet. "He"s not often in the house, you know. He"s more at his ease among horses than men. I look upon him as a animal himself."
Following up this opinion with a shrug that seemed meant to say, "we can"t expect everybody to be like us," John put his pipe into his mouth again, and smoked like one who felt his superiority over the general run of mankind.
"That chap, sir," said John, taking it out again after a time, and pointing at him with the stem, "though he"s got all his faculties about him--bottled up and corked down, if I may say so, somewheres or another--"
"Very good!" said Parkes, nodding his head. "A very good expression, Johnny. You"ll be a tackling somebody presently. You"re in twig to-night, I see."
"Take care," said Mr Willet, not at all grateful for the compliment, "that I don"t tackle you, sir, which I shall certainly endeavour to do, if you interrupt me when I"m making observations.-- That chap, I was a saying, though he has all his faculties about him, somewheres or another, bottled up and corked down, has no more imagination than Barnaby has. And why hasn"t he?"
The three friends shook their heads at each other; saying by that action, without the trouble of opening their lips, "Do you observe what a philosophical mind our friend has?"
"Why hasn"t he?" said John, gently striking the table with his open hand. "Because they was never drawed out of him when he was a boy. That"s why. What would any of us have been, if our fathers hadn"t drawed our faculties out of us? What would my boy Joe have been, if I hadn"t drawed his faculties out of him?--Do you mind what I"m a saying of, gentlemen?"
"Ah! we mind you," cried Parkes. "Go on improving of us, Johnny."
"Consequently, then," said Mr Willet, "that chap, whose mother was hung when he was a little boy, along with six others, for pa.s.sing bad notes--and it"s a blessed thing to think how many people are hung in batches every six weeks for that, and such like offences, as showing how wide awake our government is--that chap that was then turned loose, and had to mind cows, and frighten birds away, and what not, for a few pence to live on, and so got on by degrees to mind horses, and to sleep in course of time in lofts and litter, instead of under haystacks and hedges, till at last he come to be hostler at the Maypole for his board and lodging and a annual trifle--that chap that can"t read nor write, and has never had much to do with anything but animals, and has never lived in any way but like the animals he has lived among, IS a animal. And," said Mr Willet, arriving at his logical conclusion, "is to be treated accordingly."
"Willet," said Solomon Daisy, who had exhibited some impatience at the intrusion of so unworthy a subject on their more interesting theme, "when Mr Chester come this morning, did he order the large room?"
"He signified, sir," said John, "that he wanted a large apartment. Yes. Certainly."
"Why then, I"ll tell you what," said Solomon, speaking softly and with an earnest look. "He and Mr Haredale are going to fight a duel in it."
Everybody looked at Mr Willet, after this alarming suggestion. Mr Willet looked at the fire, weighing in his own mind the effect which such an occurrence would be likely to have on the establishment.
"Well," said John, "I don"t know--I am sure--I remember that when I went up last, he HAD put the lights upon the mantel-shelf."
"It"s as plain," returned Solomon, "as the nose on Parkes"s face"-- Mr Parkes, who had a large nose, rubbed it, and looked as if he considered this a personal allusion--"they"ll fight in that room. You know by the newspapers what a common thing it is for gentlemen to fight in coffee-houses without seconds. One of "em will be wounded or perhaps killed in this house."
"That was a challenge that Barnaby took then, eh?" said John.
"--Inclosing a slip of paper with the measure of his sword upon it, I"ll bet a guinea," answered the little man. "We know what sort of gentleman Mr Haredale is. You have told us what Barnaby said about his looks, when he came back. Depend upon it, I"m right. Now, mind."
The flip had had no flavour till now. The tobacco had been of mere English growth, compared with its present taste. A duel in that great old rambling room upstairs, and the best bed ordered already for the wounded man!
"Would it be swords or pistols, now?" said John.
"Heaven knows. Perhaps both," returned Solomon. "The gentlemen wear swords, and may easily have pistols in their pockets--most likely have, indeed. If they fire at each other without effect, then they"ll draw, and go to work in earnest."
A shade pa.s.sed over Mr Willet"s face as he thought of broken windows and disabled furniture, but bethinking himself that one of the parties would probably be left alive to pay the damage, he brightened up again.
"And then," said Solomon, looking from face to face, "then we shall have one of those stains upon the floor that never come out. If Mr Haredale wins, depend upon it, it"ll be a deep one; or if he loses, it will perhaps be deeper still, for he"ll never give in unless he"s beaten down. We know him better, eh?"
"Better indeed!" they whispered all together.
"As to its ever being got out again," said Solomon, "I tell you it never will, or can be. Why, do you know that it has been tried, at a certain house we are acquainted with?"
"The Warren!" cried John. "No, sure!"
"Yes, sure--yes. It"s only known by very few. It has been whispered about though, for all that. They planed the board away, but there it was. They went deep, but it went deeper. They put new boards down, but there was one great spot that came through still, and showed itself in the old place. And--harkye--draw nearer--Mr Geoffrey made that room his study, and sits there, always, with his foot (as I have heard) upon it; and he believes, through thinking of it long and very much, that it will never fade until he finds the man who did the deed."
As this recital ended, and they all drew closer round the fire, the tramp of a horse was heard without.
"The very man!" cried John, starting up. "Hugh! Hugh!"
The sleeper staggered to his feet, and hurried after him. John quickly returned, ushering in with great attention and deference (for Mr Haredale was his landlord) the long-expected visitor, who strode into the room clanking his heavy boots upon the floor; and looking keenly round upon the bowing group, raised his hat in acknowledgment of their profound respect.
"You have a stranger here, Willet, who sent to me," he said, in a voice which sounded naturally stern and deep. "Where is he?"
"In the great room upstairs, sir," answered John.
"Show the way. Your staircase is dark, I know. Gentlemen, good night."
With that, he signed to the landlord to go on before; and went clanking out, and up the stairs; old John, in his agitation, ingeniously lighting everything but the way, and making a stumble at every second step.
"Stop!" he said, when they reached the landing. "I can announce myself. Don"t wait."
He laid his hand upon the door, entered, and shut it heavily. Mr Willet was by no means disposed to stand there listening by himself, especially as the walls were very thick; so descended, with much greater alacrity than he had come up, and joined his friends below.
Chapter 12.
There was a brief pause in the state-room of the Maypole, as Mr Haredale tried the lock to satisfy himself that he had shut the door securely, and, striding up the dark chamber to where the screen inclosed a little patch of light and warmth, presented himself, abruptly and in silence, before the smiling guest.
If the two had no greater sympathy in their inward thoughts than in their outward bearing and appearance, the meeting did not seem likely to prove a very calm or pleasant one. With no great disparity between them in point of years, they were, in every other respect, as unlike and far removed from each other as two men could well be. The one was soft-spoken, delicately made, precise, and elegant; the other, a burly square-built man, negligently dressed, rough and abrupt in manner, stern, and, in his present mood, forbidding both in look and speech. The one preserved a calm and placid smile; the other, a distrustful frown. The new-comer, indeed, appeared bent on showing by his every tone and gesture his determined opposition and hostility to the man he had come to meet. The guest who received him, on the other hand, seemed to feel that the contrast between them was all in his favour, and to derive a quiet exultation from it which put him more at his ease than ever.
"Haredale," said this gentleman, without the least appearance of embarra.s.sment or reserve, "I am very glad to see you."
"Let us dispense with compliments. They are misplaced between us," returned the other, waving his hand, "and say plainly what we have to say. You have asked me to meet you. I am here. Why do we stand face to face again?"
"Still the same frank and st.u.r.dy character, I see!"
"Good or bad, sir, I am," returned the other, leaning his arm upon the chimney-piece, and turning a haughty look upon the occupant of the easy-chair, "the man I used to be. I have lost no old likings or dislikings; my memory has not failed me by a hair"s-breadth. You ask me to give you a meeting. I say, I am here."
"Our meeting, Haredale," said Mr Chester, tapping his snuff-box, and following with a smile the impatient gesture he had made-- perhaps unconsciously--towards his sword, "is one of conference and peace, I hope?"
"I have come here," returned the other, "at your desire, holding myself bound to meet you, when and where you would. I have not come to bandy pleasant speeches, or hollow professions. You are a smooth man of the world, sir, and at such play have me at a disadvantage. The very last man on this earth with whom I would enter the lists to combat with gentle compliments and masked faces, is Mr Chester, I do a.s.sure you. I am not his match at such weapons, and have reason to believe that few men are."
"You do me a great deal of honour Haredale," returned the other, most composedly, "and I thank you. I will be frank with you--"
"I beg your pardon--will be what?"
"Frank--open--perfectly candid."
"Hab!" cried Mr Haredale, drawing his breath. "But don"t let me interrupt you."
"So resolved am I to hold this course," returned the other, tasting his wine with great deliberation; "that I have determined not to quarrel with you, and not to be betrayed into a warm expression or a hasty word."
"There again," said Mr Haredale, "you have me at a great advantage. Your self-command--"
"Is not to be disturbed, when it will serve my purpose, you would say"--rejoined the other, interrupting him with the same complacency. "Granted. I allow it. And I have a purpose to serve now. So have you. I am sure our object is the same. Let us attain it like sensible men, who have ceased to be boys some time.-- Do you drink?"
"With my friends," returned the other.
"At least," said Mr Chester, "you will be seated?"
"I will stand," returned Mr Haredale impatiently, "on this dismantled, beggared hearth, and not pollute it, fallen as it is, with mockeries. Go on."
"You are wrong, Haredale," said the other, crossing his legs, and smiling as he held his gla.s.s up in the bright glow of the fire. "You are really very wrong. The world is a lively place enough, in which we must accommodate ourselves to circ.u.mstances, sail with the stream as glibly as we can, be content to take froth for substance, the surface for the depth, the counterfeit for the real coin. I wonder no philosopher has ever established that our globe itself is hollow. It should be, if Nature is consistent in her works."
"YOU think it is, perhaps?"
"I should say," he returned, sipping his wine, "there could be no doubt about it. Well; we, in trifling with this jingling toy, have had the ill-luck to jostle and fall out. We are not what the world calls friends; but we are as good and true and loving friends for all that, as nine out of every ten of those on whom it bestows the t.i.tle. You have a niece, and I a son--a fine lad, Haredale, but foolish. They fall in love with each other, and form what this same world calls an attachment; meaning a something fanciful and false like the rest, which, if it took its own free time, would break like any other bubble. But it may not have its own free time--will not, if they are left alone--and the question is, shall we two, because society calls us enemies, stand aloof, and let them rush into each other"s arms, when, by approaching each other sensibly, as we do now, we can prevent it, and part them?"
"I love my niece," said Mr Haredale, after a short silence. "It may sound strangely in your ears; but I love her."
"Strangely, my good fellow!" cried Mr Chester, lazily filling his gla.s.s again, and pulling out his toothpick. "Not at all. I like Ned too--or, as you say, love him--that"s the word among such near relations. I"m very fond of Ned. He"s an amazingly good fellow, and a handsome fellow--foolish and weak as yet; that"s all. But the thing is, Haredale--for I"ll be very frank, as I told you I would at first--independently of any dislike that you and I might have to being related to each other, and independently of the religious differences between us--and d.a.m.n it, that"s important--I couldn"t afford a match of this description. Ned and I couldn"t do it. It"s impossible."
"Curb your tongue, in G.o.d"s name, if this conversation is to last," retorted Mr Haredale fiercely. "I have said I love my niece. Do you think that, loving her, I would have her fling her heart away on any man who had your blood in his veins?"
"You see," said the other, not at all disturbed, "the advantage of being so frank and open. Just what I was about to add, upon my honour! I am amazingly attached to Ned--quite doat upon him, indeed--and even if we could afford to throw ourselves away, that very objection would be quite insuperable.--I wish you"d take some wine?"
"Mark me," said Mr Haredale, striding to the table, and laying his hand upon it heavily. "If any man believes--presumes to think-- that I, in word or deed, or in the wildest dream, ever entertained remotely the idea of Emma Haredale"s favouring the suit of any one who was akin to you--in any way--I care not what--he lies. He lies, and does me grievous wrong, in the mere thought."