"Then if I have no papa, mamma must be a wife that has lost her husband, and that, mamma told me at dinner yesterday, was a widow."
"Was the like ever seen!" exclaimed Mistress Pauncefort. "And what then, Miss Venetia?"
"It seems to me so odd that only two people should live here, and both be widows," said Venetia, "and both have a little child; the only difference is, that one is a little boy, and I am a little girl."
"When ladies lose their husbands, they do not like to have their names mentioned," said Mistress Pauncefort; "and so you must never talk of your papa to my lady, and that is the truth."
"I will not now," said Venetia.
When they returned home, Mistress Pauncefort brought her work, and seated herself on the terrace, that she might not lose sight of her charge. Venetia played about for some little time; she made a castle behind a tree, and fancied she was a knight, and then a lady, and conjured up an ogre in the neighbouring shrubbery; but these daydreams did not amuse her as much as usual. She went and fetched her book, but even "The Seven Champions" could not interest her. Her eye was fixed upon the page, and apparently she was absorbed in her pursuit, but her mind wandered, and the page was never turned. She indulged in an unconscious reverie; her fancy was with her mother on her visit; the old abbey rose up before her: she painted the scene without an effort: the court, with the fountain; the grand room, with the tapestry hangings; that desolate garden, with the fallen statues; and that long, gloomy gallery. And in all these scenes appeared that little boy, who, somehow or other, seemed wonderfully blended with her imaginings. It was a very long day this; Venetia dined along with Mistress Pauncefort; the time hung very heavy; at length she fell asleep in Mistress Pauncefort"s lap. A sound roused her: the carriage had returned; she ran to greet her mother, but there was no news; Mrs.
Cadurcis had been absent; she had gone to a distant town to buy some furniture; and, after all, Lady Annabel had not seen the little boy.
CHAPTER VI.
A few days after the visit to Cadurcis, when Lady Annabel was sitting alone, a postchaise drove up to the hall, whence issued a short and stout woman with a rubicund countenance, and dressed in a style which remarkably blended the shabby with the tawdry. She was accompanied by a boy between eleven and twelve years of age, whose appearance, however, much contrasted with that of his mother, for he was pale and slender, with long curling black hair and large black eyes, which occasionally, by their transient flashes, agreeably relieved a face the general expression of which might be esteemed somewhat shy and sullen. The lady, of course, was Mrs. Cadurcis, who was received by Lady Annabel with the greatest courtesy.
"A terrible journey," exclaimed Mrs. Cadurcis, fanning herself as she took her seat, "and so very hot! Plantagenet, my love, make your bow! Have not I always told you to make a bow when you enter a room, especially where there are strangers? This is Lady Annabel Herbert, who was so kind as to call upon us. Make your bow to Lady Annabel."
The boy gave a sort of sulky nod, but Lady Annabel received it so graciously and expressed herself so kindly to him that his features relaxed a little, though he was quite silent and sat on the edge of his chair, the picture of dogged indifference.
"Charming country, Lady Annabel," said Mrs. Cadurcis, "but worse roads, if possible, than we had in Northumberland, where, indeed, there were no roads at all. Cherbury a delightful place, very unlike the abbey; dreadfully lonesome I a.s.sure you I find it, Lady Annabel.
Great change for us from a little town and all our kind neighbours.
Very different from Morpeth; is it not, Plantagenet?"
"I hate Morpeth," said the boy.
"Hate Morpeth!" exclaimed Mrs. Cadurcis; "well, I am sure, that is very ungrateful, with so many kind friends as we always found.
Besides, Plantagenet, have I not always told you that you are to hate nothing? It is very wicked. The trouble it costs me, Lady Annabel, to educate this dear child!" continued Mrs. Cadurcis, turning to Lady Annabel, and speaking in a semi-tone. "I have done it all myself, I a.s.sure you; and, when he likes, he can be as good as any one. Can"t you, Plantagenet?"
Lord Cadurcis gave a grim smile; seated himself at the very back of the deep chair and swung his feet, which no longer reached the ground, to and fro.
"I am sure that Lord Cadurcis always behaves well," said Lady Annabel.
"There, Plantagenet," exclaimed Mrs. Cadurcis, "only listen to that.
Hear what Lady Annabel Herbert says; she is sure you always behave well. Now mind, never give her ladyship cause to change her opinion."
Plantagenet curled his lip, and half turned his back on his companions.
"I regretted so much that I was not at home when you did me the honour to call," resumed Mrs. Cadurcis; "but I had gone over for the day to Southport, buying furniture. What a business it is to buy furniture, Lady Annabel!" added Mrs. Cadurcis, with a piteous expression.
"It is indeed very troublesome," said Lady Annabel.
"Ah! you have none of these cares," continued Mrs. Cadurcis, surveying the pretty apartment. "What a difference between Cherbury and the abbey! I suppose you have never been there?"
"Indeed, it is one of my favourite walks," answered Lady Annabel; "and, some two years ago, I even took the liberty of walking through the house."
"Was there ever such a place!" exclaimed Mrs. Cadurcis. "I a.s.sure you my poor head turns whenever I try to find my way about it. But the trustees offered it us, and I thought it my duty to my son to reside there. Besides, it was a great offer to a widow; if poor Mr. Cadurcis had been alive it would have been different. I hardly know what I shall do there, particularly in winter. My spirits are always dreadfully low. I only hope Plantagenet will behave well. If he goes into his tantarums at the abbey, and particularly in winter, I hardly know what will become of me!"
"I am sure Lord Cadurcis will do everything to make the abbey comfortable to you. Besides, it is but a short walk from Cherbury, and you must come often and see us."
"Oh! Plantagenet can be good if he likes, I can a.s.sure you, Lady Annabel; and behaves as properly as any little boy I know.
Plantagenet, my dear, speak. Have not I always told you, when you pay a visit, that you should open your mouth now and then. I don"t like chattering children," added Mrs. Cadurcis, "but I like them to answer when they are spoken to."
"n.o.body has spoken to me," said Lord Cadurcis, in a sullen tone.
"Plantagenet, my love!" said his mother in a solemn voice.
"Well, mother, what do you want?"
"Plantagenet, my love, you know you promised me to be good!"
"Well! what have I done?"
"Lord Cadurcis," said Lady Annabel, interfering, "do you like to look at pictures?"
"Thank you," replied the little lord, in a more courteous tone; "I like to be left alone."
"Did you ever know such an odd child!" said Mrs. Cadurcis; "and yet, Lady Annabel, you must not judge him by what you see. I do a.s.sure you he can behave, when he likes, as pretty as possible."
"Pretty!" muttered the little lord between his teeth.
"If you had only seen him at Morpeth sometimes at a little tea party,"
said Mrs. Cadurcis, "he really was quite the ornament of the company."
"No, I wasn"t," said Lord Cadurcis.
"Plantagenet!" said his mother again in a solemn tone, "have I not always told you that you are never to contradict any one?"
The little lord indulged in a suppressed growl.
"There was a little play last Christmas," continued Mrs. Cadurcis, "and he acted quite delightfully. Now you would not think that, from the way he sits upon that chair. Plantagenet, my dear, I do insist upon your behaving yourself. Sit like a man."
"I am not a man," said Lord Cadurcis, very quietly; "I wish I were."
"Plantagenet!" said the mother, "have not I always told you that you are never to answer me? It is not proper for children to answer! O Lady Annabel, if you knew what it cost me to educate my son. He never does anything I wish, and it is so provoking, because I know that he can behave as properly as possible if he likes. He does it to provoke me. You know you do it to provoke me, you little brat; now, sit properly, sir; I do desire you to sit properly. How vexatious that you should call at Cherbury for the first time, and behave in this manner!
Plantagenet, do you hear me?" exclaimed Mrs. Cadurcis, with a face reddening to scarlet, and almost menacing a move from her seat.
"Yes, everybody hears you, Mrs. Cadurcis," said the little lord.
"Don"t call me Mrs. Cadurcis," exclaimed the mother, in a dreadful rage. "That is not the way to speak to your mother; I will not be called Mrs. Cadurcis by you. Don"t answer me, sir; I desire you not to answer me. I have half a mind to get up and give you a good shake, that I have. O Lady Annabel," sighed Mrs. Cadurcis, while a tear trickled down her cheek, "if you only knew the life I lead, and what trouble it costs me to educate that child!"
"My dear madam," said Lady Annabel, "I am sure that Lord Cadurcis has no other wish but to please you. Indeed you have misunderstood him."
"Yes! she always misunderstands me," said Lord Cadurcis, in a softer tone, but with pouting lips and suffused eyes.
"Now he is going on," said his mother, beginning herself to cry dreadfully. "He knows my weak heart; he knows n.o.body in the world loves him like his mother; and this is the way he treats me."