The Devil"s Garden.
by W. B. Maxwell.
I
The village postmaster stood staring at an official envelope that had just been shaken out of a mailbag upon the sorting-table. It was addressed to himself; and for a few moments his heart beat quicker, with sharp, clean percussions, as if it were trying to imitate the sounds made by the two clerks as they plied their stampers on the blocks. Perhaps this envelope contained his fate.
Soon the stamping was finished; the sorting went on steadily and methodically; before long the letters and parcels were neatly arranged in compartments near the postmen"s bags. The first delivery of the day was ready to go forth to the awakening world.
"All through, Mr. Dale."
The postmaster struck a bell, and glanced at the clock. Five fifty-six. Up to time, as usual.
"Now then, my lads, off with you."
The postmen had come into the sorting-room, and were packing their bags and slinging their parcels.
"Sharp"s the word."
Picking up his unopened letter, the postmaster went through the public office, stood on the outer threshold, and looked up and down the street.
To his left the ground sloped downward through a narrowing perspective of house-fronts and roof cornices to faint white mist, in which one could see some cattle moving vaguely, and beyond which, if one knew that it was there, one might just discern a wide s.p.a.ce of common land stretching away boldly until the dark barrier of woods stopped it short. To his right the ground lay level, with the road enlarging itself to a dusty bay in front of the Roebuck Inn, turning by the churchyard wall, forking between two gardened houses of gentlefolk, and losing itself suddenly in the same white mist that closed the other vista. Over the veiling whiteness, over the red roofs, and high above the church tower, the sky of a glorious July morning rose unstained to measureless arches of blue.
As always in this early hour of the day, the postmaster thought of his own importance. The village seemed still half asleep--blinds down wherever he looked--lazy, money-greedy tradesmen not yet alive to their selfish enterprises--only the poor laborers of the soil already at work; and nevertheless here was he, William Dale, up and about, carrying on the continuous business of the state.
But how long would he be permitted to feel like this? Could it be possible that the end of his importance was near at hand?
_On Her Majesty"s Service!_ He opened the envelope, unfolded the folio sheet of paper that it contained, began to read--and immediately all the blood in his body seemed to rush to his head.
"I am to inform you that you are temporarily suspended." And in the pompous language of headquarters he was further informed that the person appointed to take over control would arrive at Rodchurch Road Station by the eleven o"clock train; that he himself was to come to London on the morrow, and immediately call at the G.P.O.; where, on the afternoon of that day or the morning of a subsequent day, he would be given an opportunity of stating his case in person, "agreeable to his request."
Why had they suspended him? Surely it would have been more usual if they had allowed him to leave the office in charge of his chief clerk, or if they had given charge of it to a competent person from Rodhaven, and not sent a traveler from London? The traveling inspector is the bird of evil presage: he hovers over the houses of doomed men.
William Dale ran his hand round the collarless neck of his shirt, and felt the perspiration that had suddenly moistened his skin.
He was a big man of thirty-five; a type of the strong-limbed, quick-witted peasant, who is by nature active as a squirrel and industrious as a beaver; and who, if once fired with ambition, soon learns to direct all his energies to a chosen end, and infallibly wins his way from the cart-tracks and the muck-wagons to office stools and black coats. Not yet dressed for the day, in his loose serge jacket and unbraced trousers, he looked what was termed locally "a rum customer if you had to tackle un." His dark hair bristled stiffly, his short mustache wanted a lot of combing, a russet stubble covered chin and neck; but the broad forehead and blue eyes gave a suggestion of power and intelligence to an aspect that might otherwise have seemed simply forbidding.
"Good marnin", sir."
One of the helpers at the Roebuck stables had come slouching past.
"Good mornin", Samuel."
It was still music to the ears of the postmaster when people addressed him as "Sir." Especially if, like that fellow, they had known him as a boy. But he thought now that perhaps many who spoke to him thus deferentially in truth desired his downfall.
Quite possible. One never knows. He himself wished them well, in his heart was fond of them all, and craved their regard; although he was too proud to be always seeking it, or even going half-way to meet it.
And he thought, tolerantly, that you can not have everything in this world. Your successful man is rarely a popular man. He had had the success in full measure--if it pleased them, let the envious ones go on envying him his elevated station, his domestic comfort, and his pretty wife.
As he thought of his wife all his reflections grew tender. She was probably still fast asleep; and when, presently, he went up-stairs to the private part of the house, he was careful not to disturb her.
His official clothes lay waiting for him on a chair in the kitchen.
They had been brushed and folded by Mary, the servant, who sprang to attention at the appearance of her master, brought him shaving-water, arranged the square of looking-gla.s.s conveniently, a.s.sisted with the white collar and black tie, and generally proved herself an efficient valet.
She ventured to ask a question when Mr. Dale was about to leave the kitchen.
"Any news, sir?"
"News!" Mr. Dale echoed the word sternly. "What news should there be--anyway, what news that concerns _you_?
"I beg pardon, sir." Buxom, red-cheeked Mary lowered her eyes, and by voice and att.i.tude expressed the confusion proper to a subordinate who has taken a liberty in addressing a superior. "I"m sorry, sir. But I on"y ast."
"All right," said Dale, less sternly. "You just attend to your own job, my girl."
He went down into the office, and did not come up again until an hour and a half later, when breakfast was ready and waiting. He stood near the window for a few moments, meditatively looking about him. The sunlight made the metal cover of the hot dish shine like beautifully polished silver; it flashed on the rims of white teacups, and, playing some prismatic trick with the gla.s.s sugar basin, sent a stream of rainbow tints across the two rolls and the two boiled eggs. An appetizing meal--and as comfortable, yes, as luxurious a room as any one could ask for. Through the open door and across the landing, he had a peep into the other room. In that room there were books, a piano, a sofa, hand-painted pictures in gold frames--the things that you expect to see only in the homes of gentlemen.
"Sorry I"m late, Will."
"Don"t mention it, Mavis."
Mrs. Dale had come through the doorway, and his whole face brightened, softened, grew more comely. Yes, he thought, a home fit for a gentleman, and a wife fit for a king.
"Any news?"
"They"ve told me to go up and see them to-morrow;" and he moved to the table. "Come on. I"m sharp-set."
"Did they write in a satisfactory way?"
"Oh, yes. Sit down, my dear, and give me my tea."
He had said that he felt hungry, but he ate without appet.i.te. The roll was crisp and warm, the bacon had been cooked to a turn, the tea was neither too strong nor too weak; and yet nothing tasted quite right.
"Will," said his wife, toward the end of the meal, "I can see you aren"t really satisfied with their answer. Do tell me;" and she stretched her hand across the table with a gesture that expressed prettily enough both appeal and sympathy.
She was a naturally graceful woman, tall and slim, with reddish brown hair, dark eyebrows, and a white skin; and she carried her thirty-two years so easily that, though the searching sunlight bore full upon her, she looked almost a young girl.
Dale took her hand, squeezed it, and then, with an affectation of carelessness, laughed jovially. "They"ve appointed a deputy to take charge here during my absence."
"Oh, Will!" Mrs. Dale"s dark eyebrows rose, and her brown eyes grew round and big; in a moment all the faint glow of color had left her pale cheeks, and her intonation expressed alarm and regret.
"It riled me a bit at first," said Dale firmly. "However, it"s no consequence--really."
"But, Will, that means--" She hesitated, and her lips trembled before she uttered the dreadful word--"That means--suspended!"
"Yes--_pro tem_. Don"t fret yourself, Mav. I tell you it"s all right."
"But, Will, this does change the look of things. This is serious--_now_." And once more she hesitated. "Will, let me write again to Mr. Barradine."