"Never! Edgar is too considerate."
"But he is exactly what Australia is over-stocked with already--a discontented clerk. If he be spoilt by luxury here, do you think he would bear with a rude colony? No. Fulbert is a gruff, obstinate boy, but not idle and self-indulgent; and I am not afraid to undertake him, but I should be of Edgar."
Felix had flushed up a good deal, for his love for Edgar was less paternal and more sensitively keen than that for any of the others; but he was more reasonable, and had more control of temper now, than when Mr. Audley had last crossed him; and he made answer, "I believe you are right, and that Edgar could not be happy in a colony. Any way, you are most kind to Fulbert. But I am afraid I must go now, or Theodore will wake."
"Do you still have him at night?"
"He is not happy with any one else. You have not seen him yet? I am sure he is improving! There"s his voice! Good-night." And Felix hurried away, leaving Mr. Audley feeling that though here and there the young pillar of the house might be mistaken, the daily unselfishness of his life was a beautiful thing, and likewise impressed by his grave air of manly resolution and deliberation.
By the morning, Clement had recovered his tone, so as not to obtrude his penitence or to be much more subdued in manner than usual. Mr.
Audley made him bring his books to the dining-room after breakfast, and the examination quite exonerated the authorities at Oxford from any prejudice except against inaccuracy, and showed that a thorough course of study was needful before he could even matriculate; and Clement in his present lowliness was not incredulous of any deficiency at St. Matthew"s, but was only meek and mournful.
"What shall I do?" he asked. "Perhaps some school would take me to teach and study at the same time. Or I might get an organist"s place, and read so that I might be ordained as a literate at last. It would come when I was fit, I suppose."
Mr. Audley only said he would inquire, and talk to Felix; and Clement pleased him by answering that he could not bear to be an expense to Felix. The good principle in the boys was quite to be traced, when presently after it was necessary to put Fulbert to a severe trial. On going to pay his respects at the Rectory, Mr. Audley found Mr.
Mowbray Smith there, and after some preliminaries, he was asked whether he knew how the young Underwoods had been going on of late; of course, though, it would be concealed from him: but it was right, etc. Then Mr. Bevan feebly suggested that he did not believe there was any truth in it, and was sharply silenced; and Miss Caroline observed that she was always sure that Clement Underwood was a great humbug; whereupon, between the mother, daughter and curate, the popular version of the Marshlands Hall affair was narrated--or rather versions, for all were beautifully entangled and contradictory.
Some one had been in the street, and had seen poor Clement"s exit from young Jackman"s dog-cart, and reported indiscriminately that it was "young Underwood." Lance had not been able to put a sufficiently bold face on his morning"s report of Clement"s indisposition and Felix"s absence; and this, together with the boys" hunting propensities, and Fulbert"s visits to Marshlands, had all been concocted into a very serious accusation of the whole of the brothers, including Felix, of having entered into a dangerous friendship with Captain Collis, and underhand enjoying the dissipations of the Hall, which had been the bane of many a young man of Bexley.
There were different measures of indignation. Miss Price expected a grand series of denunciations--to Mr. Froggatt--to Miss Pearson, "whose niece was always there--most imprudent;"--nay, perhaps to the Dean, and to the Vicar of St. Matthew"s. The least excitement she expected, was Felix Underwood"s expulsion from the choir.
Lady Price merely believed it all, and thought the friends ought to interfere, and save the poor young things while there was time for any of them. She would never mention it so as to injure them, but nothing else could be expected.
Mr. Mowbray Smith supposed there must be some exaggeration, but he had been surprised at Lancelot"s manner, and he did not think Felix"s absence accounted for; he did seem steady--but-- And there was something unnatural in the way of life at St. Matthew"s, that would make him never trust a lad from thence.
Yes; and even Mr. Bevan did not like St. Matthew"s (because it was not slack or easy), and he too could believe anything of Clement. No doubt poor Felix found those great brothers getting too much for him.
Mr. Audley was standing by the window. He saw Fulbert with Lance and little Bernard going down the street, and by one of the sudden dashes that had often puzzled the Rectory, he flew out at the door, and the next moment had his hand on Fulbert"s shoulder.
"Fulbert, they have made a terrible scandal of this affair at Marshlands Hall. They fancy Felix had something to do with it."
"Felix! I should like to punch their heads."
"You can do better. You can contradict it."
"But, Sir--"
However, Fulbert, while still following to plead with Mr. Audley, found himself where he never recollected to have been in his life before, among the cushions, arm-chairs, and tables covered with knick-knacks, of the Rectory drawing-room. Mr. Bevan in an easy- chair; Mr. Smith standing before the fire; Lady Price at work, looking supercilious; and her daughter writing notes at a davenport.
Mr. Bevan half rose and held out his hand, the others contented themselves with a nod, while the big, stout lad stood rather like a great dog under the same circ.u.mstances, very angry with everybody, and chiefly with Mr. Audley--to whom, nevertheless, he trusted for getting him safe out again.
"Fulbert," said Mr. Audley, "Mr. Bevan would be better satisfied if he could hear what intimacy there has been between your brothers and the Collises."
"None at all," said Fulbert, bluntly.
"My boy," said the gentle Rector, deprecatingly, "n.o.body ever suspected your eldest brother."
"I should think not!" exclaimed Fulbert, with angry eyes. "All he ever did was to warn us against going. More fools not to mind him!"
"Then," said my Lady, "it has been the insubordination and wilfulness of you younger boys that has nearly involved him in so grave an imputation."
"Of n.o.body"s but mine," returned Fulbert. "The others would have nothing to do with it."
"That cannot be the literal fact," said Mr. Smith, in a low voice, to Lady Price. "There were certainly two of them."
Fulbert heard, and turning to the Rector, as if he thought every one else beneath his notice, said, "The long and short of it is this: Lance and I picked young Collis out of a ditch, and took him home.
Then Captain Collis asked us rabbit-shooting. Lance never went again, because Felix did not choose it. I did; and, just by way of a joke, I took Clement there without his knowing what place it was. We fell in with them skating, and went into the house, the day before yesterday.
That is," said Fulbert, concluding as he had begun, "the long and short of it. Whatever happened was my fault, and no one else"s."
"A very honest confession!" said kind Mr. Bevan, pleased to have something to praise.
"And I hope it will act as a warning," said Lady Price.
"But," said Mr. Smith, partly incited by Carry"s looks, "it was true that you--two of you were brought home by young Jackman."
"Yes," said Fulbert, growing crimson, "he drove Clement and me home!"
"And," said Mr. Audley, "it was Clement"s great distress that kept Felix at home the next morning."
"Yes," said Fulbert, "there was n.o.body else but me, and Clem could hardly bear the sight of me, because I had led him into it. We thought no one in the house would know it--and I don"t believe they do."
"Ah!" said Lady Price, "it is false kindness to attempt concealment."
"From lawful authority it is," said Mr. Audley; "but in this case it was only from children and servants. However, Fulbert, I think you have fully satisfied Mr. Bevan as to the amount of intercourse between your brothers and Marshlands."
"Entirely," said Mr. Bevan, "in fact, you may a.s.sure your brother that I never believed anything to his discredit."
"I shall say nothing about it, said Fulbert, not choosing to see the hand held out to him. "I should be ashamed!--May I go now, Sir?" to Mr. Audley; and with an odd sort of circular bow, he made his escape, and Mr. Audley, having remained long enough to ascertain that the worst that could be said of him was that he was a cub, and that it was a terrible thing to see so many great hulking lads growing up under no control, took his leave, and presently came on the three boys again, consulting at the ironmonger"s window over the knife on which Bernard was to spend a half-crown that Mrs. Froggatt had given him.
"Can Lance and Bernard settle that? I want you a moment, Fulbert. Not to confront the Rectory again," he added, smiling. "It was a horrid bore for you, but there was no helping it."
"I suppose not," said Fulbert, gloomily, as if he did not forgive the unpleasant moments.
"It was not about that I wanted to speak to you, though," said Mr.
Audley. "I wanted to know whether you have any plans or wishes for the future."
"I?" said Fulbert, looking up blank.
"Yes, you. You are growing up, Fulbert."
"I suppose I must take what I can get," said Fulbert, in the same sulky, pa.s.sive voice.
"That may be a wise determination, but have you really no choice?"
"Well, when I was a little chap, and knew no better, I used to think I would be a soldier or a farmer--but that"s all nonsense; and I suppose I must have some abominable little clerkship," said Fulbert, with a certain steadiness for all the growl of his tone.
"Well, Fulbert, have you a mind to try whether the other side of the world would suit you better?"