GWLADYS.
The week that followed Gwynne Ellis"s induction to his new living had been too full of business to allow him to call upon his near neighbours, the most influential member of his congregation, Mrs.
Besborough Power of Carne Hall; but soon afterwards he began to look around him and make acquaintance with his parishioners.
The Vicarage was large and his ideas of furnishing were limited, so that after arranging and rearranging every room in the house he still looked at them with a dissatisfied air.
"I don"t know how it is, father; in spite of all this handsome furniture you have given me, there seems something wanting, doesn"t there?"
"Don"t see it," said the old man, "unless it is that wonderful piece of furniture--a wife--you want."
"Perhaps, but that will have to wait," and as he drew his handkerchief over the shining face of the sideboard he thought within himself, "Where shall I find one? There are not two Valmai"s in the world, and I declare she has spoiled me for every other woman. By the by, I must call on Mrs. Besborough Power, and see if I can"t bring her visitor into a better frame of mind."
The next day saw him entering the pleasant drawing-room at Carne Hall, where Mrs. Power was as usual dozing in her arm-chair, with a piece of wool-work in her hand, upon which she sometimes worked a few st.i.tches while she purred a little remark to Gwladys, who sat nearer the window, making believe to work also. She had already remarked, "Auntie, this is the new Vicar, I am sure," when the door opened and Gwynne Ellis entered.
Having shaken hands with Mrs. Power, he turned to Gwladys with a smile of greeting.
"Valmai!" he said, "I beg pardon--Mrs.--"
"No," said Gwladys, drawing herself up, "I am Gwladys Powell, Valmai"s sister--but do you know her?"
"Know her? well!" said Gwynne Ellis; "but I have never seen such an extraordinary likeness."
"Yes," said Mrs. Power, "they are twins, and apart, it is almost impossible to distinguish one from the other."
"Where is she?" he asked, "is she here?"
"No," answered Gwladys, "she has been here, but is now staying with some friends of ours in Radnorshire."
"Ah! I see, I am sorry; I should like to have seen her, but I can scarce say I miss her while you are present, for I certainly see no difference between you."
Gwladys was more talkative than usual. She and Mrs. Power were pleasantly impressed, and congratulated themselves upon having gained an agreeable addition to their very limited social circle in the person of their new Vicar.
"This is a charming neighbourhood. I saw by a little glint of sunshine, as I came up the drive, that you have a pond or lake in that firwood; and that is always tempting to an artist. Do you draw, Miss Powell?"
"Yes," said Gwladys. "My efforts are very humble, but I have one drawing of the lake." And she fetched it from a portfolio.
"Show him all your drawings, dear," said Mrs. Power; "or, better still, would you like to see the lake, Mr Ellis?"
"If it would not tire Miss Powell to show it me--"
"Oh, no! I can take you by it to the west gate, it will shorten your way home."
"But not yet, here is tea," said Mrs. Power; and they were soon chatting over all the parish news.
At last Ellis rose to go, and Gwladys, putting on a broad-brimmed straw hat, pa.s.sed out before him through the window--Mrs. Power detaining them with endless directions as to where to stop, where to turn to look at the sun through the fir trees, where to look back for a view of the house, etc., etc.
"This walk is lovely," said Ellis, as he watched the graceful movements of his companion, who glided over the velvet carpet of moss with noiseless footsteps, reminding him of a guardian spirit who walked silently beside some hum-drum man of the world.
"I wonder Valmai never mentioned you to me," she said.
"Did she not?" he asked thoughtfully. "Did she never mention Abersethin, Brynderyn, and the Berwen?"
"No, they are all strange names to me, except Abersethin; she lived there after her return from Patagonia."
Ellis was lost in thought again. "I should like to have seen her; I have something important to discuss with her."
"She is coming here the week after next, and then you can speak to her about this interesting subject," said Gwladys.
And Ellis thought he saw a look of displeasure on the lovely face.
Certainly he had never seen that in Valmai; but then, on the contrary, there was a high-souled n.o.bility of purpose in his present companion"s looks which was absent in Valmai.
"I daresay when I have seen her she will tell you about all these places."
"My sister shall do as she pleases," said Gwladys, a sweet smile chasing away the momentary look of anger; "it will make no difference in our love for each other--she is part of me, and the best part; I am part of her, and the worst part."
When they reached the west gate, both were surprised to find that half-an-hour had slipped away.
"I will bring my portfolio," said Ellis, as he took his leave, "and you will help me to find the best view of the lake."
During the next fortnight, Mrs. Power received frequent calls from the new Vicar; she was delighted with her neighbour, and did everything in her power to make his visits as pleasant to him as they were to herself. His paintings were a never-ending source of interest and admiration to her, and when he proposed to make a sketch of the lake, with its background of fir trees, and glint of blue sky, she was charmed with the idea, and almost every day she and Gwladys accompanied him down the "Velvet Walk" and settled him to his painting, and Gwladys was sent on frequent journeys of inspection during the afternoon.
"Go and see how he is progressing, dear." And she would go and linger over the picture with comments and praise; but it must be confessed that the drawing progressed more rapidly during her absence than during these visits of inspection.
One afternoon she came running down the "Velvet Walk" with an open letter in her hand, and a distressed look in her eyes.
"Oh, Mr. Ellis! such a disappointment! Valmai is not coming this week.
She has been feeling unwell lately, and the doctor advises a thorough change for her, so she and Mifanwy Meredith are thinking of going to Switzerland. Hear what she says:--"Mifanwy is longing for the Swiss lakes and mountains, and wishes me to accompany her. I suppose I may as well do so; but I must first make a hurried journey down to Abersethin, and to see you on my way back. I hear from Dr. Francis that dear old Nance is very ill, and it will depend upon how I find her whether I go to Switzerland or not."
"Now, isn"t that vexing! You would feel for me if you knew what Valmai is to me! I seem to love her with all the acc.u.mulation of love which had missed its object for so many long years before we met."
Gwynne Ellis was looking seriously into the distance.
"I do feel for you, Miss Powell; but don"t think me a brute if I say I am not sorry she"s gone--something good may come of it."
"I can"t understand you," she said, seating herself on a log in front of him. "You have never told me how you became acquainted with her.
Have you known her from childhood?"
"Oh, dear, no," said Ellis, laying aside his painting, and stretching himself on the mossy bank. "I will tell you all about it; it is very simple. Being rather out of health about two years ago, I went down to Abersethin to stay at the Vicar"s house, he being an old friend of my father"s. I found his son, Caradoc Wynne, a fine fellow--a splendid specimen of a Welsh country gentleman--and he and I became great friends during the three months that I spent there."
Gwladys"s blue eyes opened in astonishment.
"Caradoc Wynne?" she said, in an anxious tone, which surprised her companion.
"Yes. Generally known as Cardo Wynne at Abersethin. I found him over head and ears in love with Valmai Powell--your sister, it seems, though I had no idea she had a sister. His rhapsodies about her amused me at first; but when I saw how deeply in earnest he was, I sympathised with him, and took a great interest in the progress of their courtship. His father and her uncle--one being the Vicar of the parish, and the other a Methodist preacher--hated each other with a deadly hatred--but you are looking pale," he said anxiously. "What is it? Am I saying anything to disturb you?"
"Oh, yes! but go on. Tell me about this Cardo Wynne."
"Well, it"s a sad story. They were married; I married them without the knowledge of the two opinionated old men--I hope I sha"n"t fall too low in your estimation, Miss Powell."